Patents Examined by Ernesto Suarez
  • Patent number: 11971086
    Abstract: An actuator includes a motor, a shaft, an actuator body, a first tension element, a cable tensioner, and a tension gauge. The shaft is mounted to the motor. The actuator body includes a first anchor body and a second anchor body. The first tension element is mounted to encircle the shaft and includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the first tension element is mounted to the first anchor body of the actuator body. The cable tensioner is mounted to the second anchor body of the actuator body and includes a tension adjuster, a second tension element, and a tension element terminator. The second tension element is mounted to the tension adjuster. The second end of the first tension element is mounted to the second tension element. The tension gauge is mounted adjacent the tension adjuster to indicate a tension of the second tension element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Vivero One Research, LLC
    Inventor: Arthur Quaid
  • Patent number: 11965587
    Abstract: An axle includes: a driven disc, an inner peripheral surface of the driven disc being a first contact surface; a half shaft connector in transmission with the driven disc, the half shaft connector including a second contact surface on its outer periphery, one of the first contact surface and the second contact surface being a circular ring surface, and the other thereof being a polygonal surface; and a differential lock device including rolling members, a rolling holder, a switching driving member, a switching driven member and a second elastic reset mechanism, a plurality of rolling members being arranged in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of faces of the polygonal surface, and the switching driving member selectively driving the switching driven member to move, to make the rolling members move to an engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SEGWAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhengchang Deng
  • Patent number: 11959549
    Abstract: A parking lock device includes a parking lock wheel, a locking pawl moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and an operating piston displaceable along a displacement axis. A movement of the locking pawl between the locked position and the unlocked position can be effected. The parking lock device also includes a latch lever pivotable about a pivot axis, and a solenoid by means of which the latch lever can be pivoted from one position to the other position. The pivot axis runs perpendicularly to the displacement axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventor: Jan Hasenkamp
  • Patent number: 11958566
    Abstract: A control device of an internal speed change device of a wheel hub for clutching operation includes a rod; a lever installed on the rod; the lever being connected to a controlling claw sliding block; an electric sliding block installed on a lever sleeve; the lever sleeve serving to receive a back end of the lever; an electric bushing located at an outer side of the lever sleeve; a controlling ring located at an outer side of the electric bushing; and wherein force of attraction or repulsion between the controlling ring and the electric sliding block drives the electric sliding block to rotate or move axially so as to drive the lever to move forwards or backwards axially; and moving of the lever drives the controlling claw sliding block to control clutching of the internal speed change device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: NEW KAILUNG GEAR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jen-Chih Liu
  • Patent number: 11959537
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a differential assembly that may have a differential case, a drive gear for driving the differential case, a first differential pin, and a connection member. The connection member fixedly connects the drive gear and the first differential pin to the differential case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: DANA ITALIA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Gian Mario Ravasi, Federico Bavaresco, Davide Deimichei
  • Patent number: 11953089
    Abstract: A transmission system associated with a vehicle includes a shaft to rotate about an axis of rotation. The shaft is coupled to a gear set. The transmission system includes a target wheel to be coupled to the gear set and to rotate with the gear set. The target wheel includes at least one void. The transmission system includes a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensor spaced apart from the target wheel by a gap. The giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensor is configured to observe the at least one void of the target wheel to determine a rotation speed of the shaft based on a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) effect. The transmission system further includes a rotating shell located in the gap between the target wheel and the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Angela M Hutcheon, Joel H Gunderson, Roman Shestakov
  • Patent number: 11945311
    Abstract: A shifting device for a hybrid drive system of a motor vehicle, with a centrally arranged shaft, a first gear wheel rotatably mounted relative to the shaft and a second gear wheel rotatably mounted relative to the shaft and offset along the shaft relative to the first gear wheel, a sliding sleeve slidably received directly in the first gear wheel and non-rotatably connected thereto, which sliding sleeve is configured such that, in a first displacement position, it connects the shaft in a rotationally fixed manner to the first gear wheel, while the second gear wheel is rotationally decoupled from the shaft, and in a second displacement position, it rotationally connects the shaft to both the first and second gear wheels, and in a third displacement position, it rotationally connects the two gear wheels to each other while the shaft is rotationally decoupled from the two gear wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Marcus Hoppe, Torsten Pieper
  • Patent number: 11940038
    Abstract: A differential comprises a case and a side gear. The differential further comprises a lockout mechanism having a first lock plate comprising a first side and a toothed side; a second lock plate comprising a first side facing the case and a toothed second side facing the toothed side of the first lock plate; a cam plate axially between the side gear and the first lock plate; and a clutch pack axially between the cam plate and the first lock plate. The differential further comprises an engagement mechanism configured to actuate the cam plate to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Sagar Pratap Tawade, Rupesh Madhukar Surve
  • Patent number: 11920643
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a clutch assembly which is comprised of (1) a cam plate which includes cams which are spaced about a central axis; (2) a rocker plate which includes at least one pocket, wherein the pocket includes a first rocker plate engagement surface and a second rocker plate engagement surface; and (3) at least one rocker which is pivotally situated within the pocket of the rocker plate, (4) a first solenoid, and (5) a second solenoid, wherein the solenoids can be activated or deactivated to allow for the clutch to be in a neutral position (to allow for free rotation in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions), to prevent rotation in a clockwise direction while allowing for free rotation in a counterclockwise direction, or to prevent rotation in a counterclockwise direction while allowing for free rotation in a clockwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Keystone Powdered Metal Company
    Inventors: Bradley Reiter, Gary L. Anderson
  • Patent number: 11920664
    Abstract: A limited-slip differential system including a housing, a differential carrier disposed within the housing and including first and second carrier portions, a differential, a clutch pack and a pressure system is disclosed. The differential is configured to distribute torque from a drive shaft to first and second axles in accordance with a speed difference between the first and second axles. The pressure system is configured to selectively exert an axial force on the clutch pack, which includes first and second plurality of clutch plates respectively connected to one of the first and second carrier portions and a hub member, for selectively causing frictional engagement of the clutch plates. At least one of the first and second carrier portions at least partially defines at least one lubrication channel extending radially, and fluidly connecting an exterior of the differential carrier to an interior thereof for lubricating at least two clutch plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Francois-Charles Dumas, Charles-Antoine Bonin, Rejean Simard
  • Patent number: 11906025
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle provided with a power source and a fluid transmission device that includes a lockup clutch. The control apparatus includes: (a) a follow-up-running control portion for controlling a follow-up running in which the vehicle automatically runs following a preceding vehicle with a predetermined inter-vehicle distance to the preceding vehicle; and (b) a lockup-clutch control portion for controlling the lockup clutch such that an operation state of the lockup clutch is placed in one of a released state, a slipping state or an engaged state. The lockup-clutch control portion is configured, during the follow-up running, to execute a fluid-temperature increase suppressing control for controlling the operation state of the lockup clutch in a manner that suppresses increase of a temperature of a working fluid which circulates in the fluid transmission device and which is used to switch the operation state of the lockup clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichi Okuda, Masafumi Yamamoto, Yoshito Sekiguchi, Yuuki Makino
  • Patent number: 11906034
    Abstract: In a drive apparatus, a ring gear of a differential device is rotatable about a third axis in a direction opposite to a counter gear of a deceleration device. The inner surface of the gear housing accommodating the deceleration device, the differential device, and the reservoir capable of storing a fluid includes first and second curved surfaces disposed in the +X direction with respect to the third and second axes, respectively. At least a part of the first curved surface faces the radially outer end portion of the ring gear in the radial direction and extends in the circumferential direction. At least a part of the second curved surface faces the radially outer end portion of the counter gear in the radial direction and extends in the circumferential direction. The position of the reservoir in the Y-axis direction overlaps the first curved surface and the second curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuhei Nakamatsu, Keisuke Aso, Ayumi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11904695
    Abstract: An assembly for power transmission between an output of a drive engine and an input of a transmission. The assembly includes a torque converter and a P2 module that are axially engage and retained for flexibility in assembling of the assembly. The P2 module including a clutch and an electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignees: Exedy Globalparts Corporation, BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Scott William Binder, Calahan B. Campton, Michael W. Campbell
  • Patent number: 11906005
    Abstract: A coupling and control assembly including a non-contact, linear inductive position sensor is provided. The assembly includes a coupling housing and a stator structure disposed within the coupling housing and including a stator housing. A translator structure is coupled to a coupling member of the assembly to rotate therewith about a rotational axis. The sensor is mounted on one of the housings. The translator structure includes a coupler element made of an electrically conductive material. The sensor is configured to create a magnetic field to induce eddy currents in the electrically conductive material. Movement of the coupler element changes a magnetic field caused by the eddy currents. The sensor provides a position feedback signal for vehicle transmission control. The signal is correlated with the linear position of the translator structure along the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan W. Essenmacher
  • Patent number: 11906006
    Abstract: A self-activated no-back device includes a housing, an input shaft, an output shaft, a reactor hub, first grooves, a brake hub, second grooves, a plurality of balls, a reactor plate, a brake pack, a reactor spring, and a load spring. The first grooves are formed on an interior side of the reactor hub interior side, and the second grooves are formed in an interior side of the brake hub. Each second groove is aligned with a different first groove to define a plurality of groove pairs. Each ball is positioned in a different one of the groove pairs. One side of the reactor plate contacts the reactor hub. The brake pack is selectively contacted by the brake hub. The reactor spring supplies a spring force to the reactor plate, and the load spring supplies a spring force to the brake pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jakub Chmelar, Jiri Berjak, Ronald Vaughan, Tomas Ripel
  • Patent number: 11892067
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a mechanical differential assembly for a wheeled vehicle is disclosed including a housing, a pinion gear operable to both rotate relative to the interior surface of the housing and be fixed relative to the interior surface of the housing, and a clutch portion fixed to the pinion gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey I. Peterman
  • Patent number: 11892065
    Abstract: A drivetrain component provides an electronically controlled, overrunning drivetrain disconnect, such as a differential with different operating modes. The drivetrain component includes a case and a ring gear connected to the case. A carrier is supported for movement relative to and independent of the case. The carrier includes a differential gear set. The differential gear set has a pinion shaft tied to the carrier, pinion gears mounted on the pinion shaft, differential gears engaging the pinion gears, and differential gear shafts connected to the differential gears. The drivetrain component including a first locking structure, the first locking structure coupling the case to the carrier for torque transmission from the case to the carrier in a first direction only, wherein the first locking structure does not inhibit carrier rotation in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Conner S. Jurs, Earl A. Getchel
  • Patent number: 11885405
    Abstract: A housing for a plastic gearbox and associated plastic gearbox and a robot. The housing includes a body including an inner engaging portion circumferentially arranged on an inner surface of the body, the inner engaging portion adapted to be engaged with a transmission assembly of the plastic gearbox; and an adjusting mechanism arranged around the body and operable to squeeze the body inwardly to reduce an inner diameter of the body. By using the adjusting mechanism to squeeze the body of the housing inwardly, the fit error between the inner engaging portion and the transmission assembly can be compensated in an efficient way. Furthermore, the adjusting mechanism is a part of the housing and thus the body of the housing which is made of plastic does not need to be too thick, which makes injection molding easier and manufacturing precision improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Hao Gu, Jibo Yang, Han Chen, Wei Song, Jiafan Zhang
  • Patent number: 11885395
    Abstract: An electric transmission (10) for a motor vehicle drive train (12) with a first electric prime mover (14) and a second electric prime mover (18), includes a first transmission input shaft (30) having a first transmission connection for drivingly connecting the electric transmission to the first electric prime mover, a second transmission input shaft (32) having a second transmission connection for drivingly connecting the electric transmission to the second electric prime mover, a countershaft (36), gearwheel pairs of idler gears (42, 44, 50, 52, 62) and fixed gears (46, 48, 54, 65, 64) for forming gear steps and arranged in multiple gear set planes, a plurality of shift elements (38, 40) for engaging the gear steps, a planetary gear set (22) with a sun gear (24), a planet gear carrier, and a ring gear (28), and a third transmission input shaft (34) drivingly connected to the planet gear carrier of the planetary gear set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Max Bachmann
  • Patent number: 11878582
    Abstract: A drive device for a motor vehicle has an electric drive machine which is operatively connected to a transmission via a driveshaft. The transmission has at least first and second planet gear stages and a differential stage. The first planet gear stage has a first planet gear set with planet gears rotatably arranged on a first planet gear carrier and mesh with a first sun gear and a first ring gear. The second planet gear stage has a second planet gear set with planet gears rotatably arranged on a second planet gear carrier and mesh with a second sun gear and a second ring gear. The planet gear stages are operatively connected to a double clutch device with first and second power-shift clutches, the ring gears are rigidly connected together to form a common ring gear, and the planet gear carriers are rigidly connected together to form a common planet gear carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Voelkel