Patents Examined by Ha Ho
  • Patent number: 7390281
    Abstract: Method and arrangement for providing a range gearbox with a planetary gear (1) for a motor vehicle that is configured to be connected to the output side of a basic gearbox. The ring gear (18) of the planetary gear is axially displaceable. The ring gear (18) can alternatively engage coupling rings (10, 16). A synchronizing ring (15) is intended to synchronize the rotational speed difference between the ring gear (18) and one or other coupling ring (10, 16). The synchronizing ring (15) and the coupling ring (16) are arranged coaxially outside the ring gear (18). Bars (25) for engaging the coupling ring (16) and bars (25, 25b) for driving said synchronizing ring (15) are arranged on the radially external side of the ring gear (18). The coupling ring (16) is arranged between the synchronizing ring (15) and the fork (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventor: Sverker Alfredsson
  • Patent number: 7322899
    Abstract: A powertrain has an electrically variable hybrid transmission having an electro-hydraulic control system, plurality of electrical power units, and a plurality of torque transmitting mechanisms selectively engageable by the electro-hydraulic control system to provide four forward speed ranges, a neutral condition, an electric low and high speed mode, an electrically variable low and high speed mode, and a hill hold mode. The electro-hydraulic control system permits operation in the electrically variable low mode of operation if the electrical power is interrupted when the powertrain is operating in the first forward range, electric low speed mode, electrically variable low speed mode, and hill hold mode. Additionally, the system permits operation in the electrically variable high speed mode of operation if the electrical power is interrupted when the powertrain is operating in the second through fourth forward range, electric high speed mode, and electrically variable high speed mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Charles F. Long, Michael D. Foster
  • Patent number: 7316627
    Abstract: A vehicle drive assembly includes an integrated two-speed motor that can selectively drive an output at a high operating speed or a low operating speed. The two-speed motor includes a stator mounted to a non-rotating outer housing, and a rotor that is mounted for rotation relative to the stator. The rotor is supported an inner rotor support that defines an inner cavity. A two-speed shifting mechanism is incorporated into the inner cavity and is used to drive an output. The two-speed shifting mechanism includes a gear assembly and first and second clutch assemblies that cooperate with each other to provide low and high speed output capability as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventor: John L. Bennett
  • Patent number: 7311633
    Abstract: A vehicular drive unit comprises a central differential mechanism and a front-wheel side axle differential mechanism. The central differential mechanism comprises a first planetary gear train 10, which includes an output gear body 50, a first carrier 13, which is provided in a one-piece body with this gear body, a first sun gear 11, a first ring gear 14, and a rear-wheel drive gear 15, which is a helical gear formed around this ring gear in a one-piece body. In this drive unit, a differential limiter C is provided between the output gear body 50 (input rotating member) and a drive gear body 55 (output rotating member) to generate a rotational resistance, which acts to reduce the rotational difference between the output gear body 50 and the drive gear body 55.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taiji Maruyama, Kanji Kita, Mikihiro Takano, Kazunori Miyata
  • Patent number: 7282004
    Abstract: The electrically variable transmission family of the present invention provides low-content, low-cost electrically variable transmission mechanisms including first, second and third differential gear sets, a battery, two electric machines serving interchangeably as motors or generators, and up to five selectable torque-transfer devices. The selectable torque transfer devices are engaged singly or combinations of two to yield an EVT with a continuously variable range of speeds (including reverse) and up to four mechanically fixed forward speed ratios. The torque transfer devices and the first and second motor/generators are operable to provide five operating modes in the electrically variable transmission, including battery reverse mode, EVT reverse mode, reverse and forward launch modes, continuously variable transmission range mode, and fixed ratio mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Madhusudan Raghavan, Norman K. Bucknor
  • Patent number: 7276016
    Abstract: A working vehicle in which while an operation degree of a speed change operation member is increased from 0 to a certain value, the increase of the vehicle traveling speed is produced by a first increase rate of an engine rotation speed and a first increase rate of a speed ratio (output/input rotation speed ratio of a speed change mechanism) and while the operation degree of the speed change operation member is increased from the certain value, the engine rotation speed is kept to be the rated value and corresponding thereto, the increase rate of the speed ratio is set to a second increase rate of the speed ratio larger than the first increase rate of the speed ratio so that the vehicle traveling speed is always increased substantially in proportion to the acceleration operation of the speed change operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Inventors: Norihiro Ishii, Hiroaki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7273442
    Abstract: Drivetrain for a motor vehicle including an engine (1), a gearbox (9) having an intermediate shaft (11) with intermediate shaft brake (17) and a friction clutch (3) coupled between the engine and the gearbox. A torque sensor (19) is provided, which detects the input torque to the gearbox. The intermediate shaft brake and the clutch are controlled by a control unit (12), which is programmed in predetermined instances, when the gearbox is in the neutral position, the clutch is engaged and the intermediate shaft brake is released, to measure and store the torque loss from the gearbox and then to set the brake to a predetermined level and to register and store the torque increase during the setting until constant torque is attained. This is registered and stored in the control unit together with the time for the torque increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Marcus Steen, Svante Karlsson, Erik Lauri, Helene Panagopoulos
  • Patent number: 7261666
    Abstract: The family of transmissions has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide at least eight forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission family members include three planetary gear sets having seven torque-transmitting mechanisms and one interconnecting member. The powertrain includes an engine that is selectively connectable to at least one of the planetary gear members and an output member that is continuously connected with another one of the planetary gear members. The seven torque-transmitting mechanisms provide interconnections between various gear members, the input shaft and the transmission housing, and are operated in combinations of five to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick B. Usoro, Madhusudan Raghavan, Norman K. Bucknor
  • Patent number: 7261657
    Abstract: The electrically variable transmission family of the present invention provides low-content, low-cost electrically variable transmission mechanisms including first, second and third differential gear sets, a battery, two electric machines serving interchangeably as motors or generators, and four or five selectable torque-transfer devices (two clutches and two or three brakes). The selectable torque transfer devices are engaged singly or in combinations of two to yield an EVT with a continuously variable range of speeds (including reverse) and four mechanically fixed forward speed ratios. The torque transfer devices and the first and second motor/generators are operable to provide five operating modes in the electrically variable transmission, including battery reverse mode, EVT reverse mode, reverse and forward launch modes, continuously variable transmission range mode, and fixed ratio mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman K. Bucknor, James D. Hendrickson, Madhusudan Raghavan
  • Patent number: 7261658
    Abstract: The electrically variable transmission family of the present invention provides low-content, low-cost electrically variable transmission mechanisms including first and second differential gear sets, a battery, two electric machines serving interchangeably as motors or generators, and five selectable torque-transfer devices. The selectable torque transfer devices are engaged in combinations of two or three to yield an EVT with a continuously variable range of speeds (including reverse) and three mechanically fixed forward speed ratios. The torque transfer devices and the first and second motor/generators are operable to provide five operating modes in the electrically variable transmission, including battery reverse mode, EVT reverse mode, reverse and forward launch modes, continuously variable transmission range mode, and fixed ratio mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman K. Bucknor, James D. Hendrickson, Madhusudan Raghavan
  • Patent number: 7252621
    Abstract: A transmission having plural clutches includes a first clutch for connecting and disconnecting transmission of driving force to a first input shaft including a driving gear configured to be engaged with a driven gear provided at an output shaft of the transmission driven by a driving force generating device, a second clutch operating independently from the first clutch for connecting and disconnecting transmission of driving force to a second input shaft including a driving gear configured to be engaged with a driven gear provided at the output shaft, a driving force detection device for detecting driving force, a slip detection device for detecting physical quantity related to a slip of a driving wheel, and a device for controlling the second clutch for importing the physical quantity related to the slip and the driving force and for controlling engagement ratio of the second clutch where the first clutch is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Aisin Ai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Tanba, Shiro Ogami
  • Patent number: 7252623
    Abstract: A method is provided wherein when an auxiliary device is being powered by the PTO driveline the PTO clutch is periodically slowly ramped down in pressure until slippage is detected in the clutch. Slippage is determined by monitoring the shaft speed into the clutch as well as the shaft speed downstream of the clutch. By determining the commanded pressure where slippage occurred, the equivalent engine power that is going to the auxiliary function is calculated. With this information, the proportion of the engine load signal that is going to the auxiliary function versus the drive wheels is determined. After slip is detected in the PTO clutch, pressure is ramped back up in the clutch so as to minimize the amount of slippage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Duane Fredrick Meyer, Joel Lee Mason, Daniel Avery Allen, Bradley Allen Merrill
  • Patent number: 7252613
    Abstract: The electrically variable transmission family provides low-content, low-cost electrically variable transmission mechanisms including first and second differential gear sets, a battery, two electric machines serving interchangeably as motors or generators, and two or three selectable torque-transfer devices. The selectable torque transfer devices are engaged singly or in pairs to yield an EVT with a continuously variable range of speeds (including reverse) and at least one mechanically fixed forward speed ratio. The torque transfer devices and the first and second motor/generators are operable to provide five operating modes in the electrically variable transmission, including battery reverse mode, EVT reverse mode, reverse and forward launch modes, continuously variable transmission range mode, and fixed ratio mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman K. Bucknor, Madhusudan Raghavan
  • Patent number: 7249531
    Abstract: A control moment gyro comprising a wheel support structure which is mounted on a base by a motor, which is used to rotate the support around a first axis and bearing a wheel arrangement for driving the wheel spinner at a high speed around a second axis perpendicuIar to the first. The support structure includes a tubular part which rotates on the base and a flange which is disposed on only one side of the wheel and which is fixed both to the wheel and the tubular part. The diameter of the wheel and the point at which the wheel is fixed to the flange are proportioned such that the wheel penetrates the tubular part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Eads Astrium SAS
    Inventors: Ange Defendini, Pascal Guay, Philippe Faucheux
  • Patent number: 7250019
    Abstract: The family of transmissions has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide at least eight forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission family members include three planetary gear sets having seven torque-transmitting mechanisms and three interconnecting members. The powertrain includes an engine that is selectively connectable to at least one of the planetary gear members and an output member that is continuously connected with another one of the planetary gear members. The seven torque-transmitting mechanisms provide interconnections between various gear members, the input shaft and the transmission housing, and are operated in combinations of two to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Norman K. Bucknor, Patrick B. Usoro, Madhusudan Raghavan
  • Patent number: 7247127
    Abstract: A method for shifting gears of a transmission of a vehicle, which, during a shift, a first shift element opens and a second shift element closes. To increase the spontaneity and reduce the shifting frequency a downshift from a first gear to a second gear is interrupted without delay and the first gear returned to when an interruption criterion is recognized. The interruption criterion is established when the driver upshifts before a current transmission input speed deviates from a synchronous speed of the first gear or before a time interval, which begins when the speed deviates from the synchronous speed of the first gear, has exceeded a predefined, time-related limit value or before the current transmission input speed has deviated from a synchronous speed of the first gear by a predefined, speed-related limit value or before a pressure of the first shift element falls below a pressure-related limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Popp, Klaus Steinhauser
  • Patent number: 7247121
    Abstract: A position sensor for an automatic transmission has multiple switches, each of which generates “ON” or “OFF” signal depending on a selected position of a shift lever. Signal patterns (“ON” and “OFF” signals) of the normal operation are memorized as a map of signal patterns in a first memory portion. A second memory portion memorizes the respective signal patterns at the respective selected positions of the shift lever. The signal pattern and the change of the signal patterns in the second memory portion are compared with those memorized as the map of the signal pattern in the first memory portion, and determines that a malfunction has occurred in the position sensor, if at least one of the signal patterns and the changes of the signal patterns does not coincide with any of those memorized the map of the signal pattern. The malfunction of the position sensor can be surely detected at an earlier stage of operation of the shift lever for the automatic transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Takagi
  • Patent number: 7244213
    Abstract: A drive arrangement for a motor vehicle door or hatch which can be moved by a motor with a planet gear and a brake device with a brake. The brake device has a brake drive which is separate from the drive which drives the drive shaft and the brake is able to be moved at least from one of two positions into the other of the two positions by the brake drive. The brake can be an arc-shaped clip pivotally supported by a pivot axle with an inner periphery which is matched to an outer periphery of an element of the planet gear. The brake can be combined with the brake drive as an eddy current brake or can be operated by a further gearing or use of a permanent magnet with which an electromagnet is able to interact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Brose Schliesssysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Mehmet Gueler, Slawomir Kortyrba, Andreas Heinrich, Peter Bartel, Axel Kamberg
  • Patent number: 7243574
    Abstract: A rotating regulating device for the rotation and/or linear displacement of an actuating element of a valve, throttle, blowout preventer or similar, in particular in the field of gas or oil supply, exhibits a spindle drive and a drive train rotationally driving the spindle drive, the drive train exhibiting at least one reduction gear unit and a drive device. The rotating spindle or nut of the spindle drive exhibits at least one engaging element, essentially protruding radially outwards, which engages guide slots, whereby a first guide slot is fixed relative to a device housing and a second guide slot can be rotated relative to the device housing and/or is supported for displacement in the longitudinal direction of the rotating spindle. The guide slots exhibit at least different slopes in the longitudinal direction of the rotating spindle and the movable guide slot is connected for movement to the actuating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Klaus Biester
  • Patent number: 7240578
    Abstract: A transmission apparatus includes an interlock member having a restraining portion movable together with a shift and select member in a right-angled direction and, while fork heads are at neutral positions in the right-angled direction, extending in the right-angled direction along a notch of the tip end of each fork head. The restraining portion has a gap into which the tip end of each fork head extends. A dimensional relationship among an outer span of the tip end of each fork head, an inner span of the notch, an outer span of the restraining portion, an inner span of the restraining portion, a width of the tip end of the shift and select member, and a shift stroke of each fork head is set to be: H2?P1?0; P2?H1+2S?0; and H2?2S?I?0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Aisin Ai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shiro Ogami, Toshio Tanba