Patents Examined by Gregory Prather
  • Patent number: 9776498
    Abstract: An assembly includes a transmission and an electric machine for a hybrid drive of a motor vehicle, and the transmission is a multi-stage standard transmission with first and second subtransmissions, each of which has a separate input shaft and shares an output shaft. Both input shafts are coupled to the shared output shaft via form locking shift elements of the subtransmissions. The assembly includes a first shiftable clutch which is allocated to a first input shaft such that the internal combustion engine is coupled to the first input shaft via the first shiftable clutch, and a second shiftable clutch which is allocated to the second input shaft such that the electric machine is coupled to the second input shaft via the second shiftable clutch. The electric machine is coupled to the internal combustion engine via a third shiftable clutch, and to the first input shaft via a fourth shiftable clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Timo Wehlen, Michael Roske
  • Patent number: 9772023
    Abstract: Plural ejector pins are made to project before a molten resin containing reinforcing fibers is injected into an inside of a cavity through pin point gates in a web forming portion in the inside of the cavity and at positions outside the pin point gates in a radial direction. The ejector pins are retracted from the inside of the cavity after a flow of the molten resin containing reinforcing fibers injected into the inside of the cavity through the pin point gates impinges on the ejector pins and is divided and before a tooth portion forming portion in the inside of the cavity is filled with the molten resin containing reinforcing fibers. Accordingly, weld lines which extend along the radial direction are formed at positions outside the ejector pins in the radial direction, and the molten resin is filled in portions formed after the ejector pins are retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: ENPLAS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaomi Hashimoto, Kazuma Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 9752654
    Abstract: A dual-clutch transmission has two input shafts for connection to a power shift clutch, at least one countershaft offset in parallel to the input shafts, an output gearwheel designed as an idler gear and situated coaxially with respect to the countershaft, at least one gearwheel plane having an idler gear situated coaxially with respect to the countershaft, and a shifting unit having a first shift position in which the output gearwheel and the countershaft are connected to one another in a rotationally fixed manner. The shifting unit has a second shift position in which the idler gear and the output gearwheel are directly connected to one another in a rotationally fixed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventor: Carsten Gitt
  • Patent number: 9719583
    Abstract: A linear actuator includes a housing, motors, actuator members, clutch members, a base, a clutch driver, and a pulling handle. The motors are disposed in the housing. The actuator members are respectively disposed in the housing and corresponding to a respective one of the motors. Each clutch member is connected between a respective one of the motors and a respective corresponding one of the actuator members. The base is disposed on an outer surface of the housing, a flange is disposed on an outer surface of the base, and a guiding slot is formed on the base. The clutch driver is in the base and connected to each of the clutch members. A cam contacting against the flange is formed on an end of the pulling handle, and a shaft is inserted through the end. The shaft is inserted through the guiding slot to connect the clutch driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TIMOTION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chou-Hsin Wu
  • Patent number: 9682721
    Abstract: An arm stopper mechanism, includes a pitman arm which includes an output shaft hole into which an output shaft is fitted, two tie rod holes onto which tie rods are respectively mounted, and two abutting faces to which a stopper is abutted; and the stopper which includes two contact faces, in which an angle formed by the two contact faces of the stopper is greater than an angle formed by the two abutting faces of the pitman arm and is 90° or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Murakami, Shinji Kuno
  • Patent number: 9683641
    Abstract: An apparatus for driving links is provided and includes a base onto which an actuator is installed and a plurality of connection links connected to the base via a plurality of hinge pins, and the respective end of which is connected via the hinge pin to form a series of a driving lines. A plurality of capstans are disposed on the plurality of hinge pins, respectively and a wire allows the respective capstan to be rotated when the actuator drives by sequentially connecting the actuator and the respective capstans. A plurality of clutches are disposed on the plurality of hinge pins, respectively, and allow the connection links and the capstans to be rotated together, or allow the capstans to be rotated by connecting or disconnecting the ends of the connection links and the capstans, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jun Hwan Park
  • Patent number: 9677665
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gearshifting device (1), which is intended for a transmission and comprises a selector lever (2) that can be moved in such a manner that different shift positions (P, R, N, D, S, M+, M?) can be selected in at least two gearshift gates (3, 4) and that it is possible to shift between one of the gearshift gates (3, 4) and the at least one other gearshift gate (4, 3), and comprises at least one lock (5), which is used to block the traversing path of the selector lever (2) with respect to one of the gearshift gates (3, 4), in order to shift from one of the shift positions (P, R, N, D, S) into another of the shift positions (P, R, N, D, S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: ESC Engineered Control Systems AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Patzold
  • Patent number: 9671212
    Abstract: A position sensor that detects operation positions of an operation member includes an element array having three stages, each including one or more detection elements. A detected subject is detected by each detection element in two adjacent upstream and downstream stages to determine an operation position of the operation member. Whenever the operation member is shifted by one operation position, the detected subject is moved relative to the element array by one stage. Each detection element outputs a detection result of the detected subject. The element array includes at least three detection elements of which the detection results change whenever the operation member is shifted by one operation position. A detection element in the upstream side stage detects the detected subject before the operation position shifting, and a detection element in the downstream side stage detects the detected subject after the operation position shifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventor: Masayoshi Iwata
  • Patent number: 9638317
    Abstract: A transmission device of a vehicle that can use a manual transmission. The transmission is provided with shift blocks for regulating shifting between gear positions so as to achieve automatic gear shifting. This vehicle transmission device includes the shift block for a reverse-1st speed, a 4th speed-5th speed, a 2nd speed-3rd speed, and a 6th speed arranged in this order in a selection operation direction. The vehicle transmission device also includes first through fourth shift levers that engage respectively with the shift blocks, a first select actuator that moves the first or second shift lever for a select operation, a first shift actuator that moves the first or second shift lever for a shift operation, a second select actuator that moves the third or fourth shift lever for the select operation, and a second shift actuator that moves the third or fourth shift lever for the shift operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Enami
  • Patent number: 9631719
    Abstract: A transmission having a plurality of shifting elements which are selectively engaged and disengaged when a gearshift is carried out, and a plurality of gearsets which, depending on the shifting position of the shifting elements produce a defined transmission ratio, and a shifting oil system which supplies the shifting elements with oil in order to operate them and a cooling and lubricating oil system which supplies assemblies of the transmission with oil for cooling and/or lubricating. From the shifting oil provided by the shifting oil system, a partial stream of oil can be tapped off for cooling and/or lubricating the shifting elements, such that a quantity of cooling and lubricating oil that is or can be supplied by the cooling and lubricating oil system can be reduced to the quantity required for cooling and/or lubricating those assemblies of the transmission which do not contain the shifting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Vyacheslav Brushkivskyy, Bernd Lutz
  • Patent number: 9618106
    Abstract: An assembly adapted to replace an automobile differential's spider gears, locking the axles together. The present invention comprises a pair of outer drive flange members that are adapted to engage with a pair of wedge locking members within the carrier of an automobile differential, replacing the differential's stock planetary or spider gears. The present assembly locks the rotation of the rear axles together, applying power equally to both wheels and enhancing the performance of the automobile during competitive drag racing events, without requiring expensive custom installation from a specialist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventor: Bobby Harris
  • Patent number: 9587707
    Abstract: A coupling unit includes an output gear, a coupling and a rubber cushion. A second rotatable shaft portion of the coupling includes a resilient projection that projects outwardly in a radial direction from an outer peripheral surface of the second rotatable shaft portion. The resilient projection is resiliently inwardly deformed in the radial direction during movement of the resilient projection along a deep side of a recessed groove of a through-hole formed in a first rotatable shaft portion of the output gear at a time of fitting the second rotatable shaft portion into the through-hole. When the resilient projection projects from the through-hole, the resilient projection is resiliently outwardly restored and is engaged to an engaging portion of the first rotatable shaft portion to limit removal of the second rotatable shaft portion from the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tetsuma Takeda
  • Patent number: 9580146
    Abstract: Electronic shifting systems, mechanisms and methods of using the systems to operate a bicycle that allows front and rear gear changer mechanisms to be controlled with only two switches. The switches can be arranged so that each hand is only required to operate one switch to shift the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Brian Jordan
  • Patent number: 9555773
    Abstract: Electromotive auxiliary drive, particularly a wiper drive, with an electric motor and a downstream gear forming an output shaft of the auxiliary drive, presenting at least two gear stages arranged in series in a drive train between the electric motor and the output shaft, of which one first gear stage is designed in the manner of a worm gear consisting of a worm and of a gearwheel or worm wheel interacting with this worm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Systèmes d'Essuyage
    Inventor: Siegfried Stefani
  • Patent number: 9556932
    Abstract: A reduction gear includes: an orthogonal shaft reduction gear having an orthogonal shaft reduction gear casing; and a parallel shaft reduction gear having a parallel shaft reduction gear casing, which is connected to the orthogonal shaft reduction gear, wherein the orthogonal shaft reduction gear casing and the parallel shaft reduction gear casing are connected through a joint plate, the orthogonal shaft reduction gear casing has a flange portion protruding to the outside of the orthogonal shaft reduction gear casing, and the orthogonal shaft reduction gear casing and the joint plate are connected by a first bolt inserted into the flange portion from the orthogonal shaft reduction gear side, and a second bolt inserted into the joint plate from the parallel shaft reduction gear side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyoshi Asano
  • Patent number: 9541161
    Abstract: Provided is an interlocking chain-type forward and backward actuating device, the device being configured so that an increase in the number of parts is minimized, an increase in the size of the device is avoided, the amount of scattering of lubricating oil to the outside of the device is reduced, the wear of connection pins is reduced, the breakage of the connection pins is avoided, and the striking noise and vibration of the chains occurring during the reception of the chains are reduced. Chain guide plates are respectively provided on both sides of a pair of interlocking chains in the chain width direction. Chain locus restriction members having chain locus restriction faces in contact with rigid chain portions, which are made rigid by engaging and integrating the pair of interlocking chains with each other, are disposed so as to be adjacent to the rigid chain portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Junichi Kaisaku, Toru Wada, Yoshifumi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9528545
    Abstract: A crosshead bearing is disclosed, in particular for stroke piston machines, including a bearing surface (1) that contains multiple oilways (2), each of which is connected through a rearward borehole (3) to a lubricant source. The goal of the invention is to lower the peak oil pressure at the central load positions (4a, 4b) of the crosshead bearing and thereby achieve an overall load increase. This is achieved according to the invention by having one oilway (2) at each of the opposing central load positions (4a, 4b) of the bearing surface (1) be designated as the main discharge oilway (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Neuman & Esser Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Klaus Hubert Hoff
  • Patent number: 9518550
    Abstract: Since a pinion gear unit which rotates according to the rotation of an output rotation shaft driven by the motor unit, a pushing mechanism which moves the pinion gear unit towards an engagement location of the pinion gear and an engine starting gear, and a bracket which includes a bracket main body unit which supports the motor unit and the pushing mechanism and a nose unit which extends from the bracket main body unit to a side opposite to the motor unit and rotatably bears a tip portion of the output rotation shaft on a side opposite to the motor unit, and which is attached to an engine side are included, a first stopper unit which restricts the movement of the rotation member to the direction of the engine starting gear is provided on the output rotation shaft, a second stopper unit which restricts the movement of the pinion gears to the direction of the engine starting gear by pushing and biasing of the elastic member is provided on the rotation member, and positioning the first stopper unit is positioned
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Abe, Koichiro Kamei, Kazuhiro Odahara, Naohito Kaneda, Daisuke Mizuno
  • Patent number: 9518634
    Abstract: A manual transmission including an input shaft Ai to which power is input from an internal combustion engine E/G through a clutch UT and an output shaft Ao from which power is output to drive wheels. This transmission has a plurality of EV travel gear stages (different from the neutral) in which no power transmission system is established between the input shaft Ai and the output shaft Ao, and a plurality of E/G travel gear stages in which a power transmission system is established between the input shaft Ai and the output shaft Ao. This transmission has a connection changeover mechanism which establishes and breaks connection between the output shaft of the electric motor and the output shaft. When an EV travel gear stage is selected, a “connected state” is always realized. When an E/G travel gear stage is selected, a “disconnected state” is realized in some cases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Aisin AI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuuki Masui
  • Patent number: 9512812
    Abstract: It is possible to obtain an engine starting device in which, at the time of initial engagement of a first pinion gear and an engine starting gear, in a case where the first pinion gear collides with the engine starting gear, the first pinion gear is inclined with respect to the second pinion gear, a void having a predetermined size for expanding the inclined state is formed between a surface of an end surface portion of the first pinion gear on the side of an end surface portion of the second pinion gear, and a surface of an end surface portion of the second pinion gear on the side of the end surface portion of the first pinion gear, even in a case where any one of the rotation speed of the engine starting gear and the rotation speed of the pinion gear is larger than the other, rotation synchronization of the engine starting gear and the pinion gear and phase focusing of the teeth between the engine starting gear and the pinion gear is further rapidly and further reliably performed at the time when the engine
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Odahara, Koichiro Kamei, Daisuke Mizuno, Masami Abe, Naohito Kaneda