Patents Examined by Huan Le
  • Patent number: 11718173
    Abstract: Provided are a speed changer device, a forward/reverse switchover device for converting output of the speed changer device into forward traveling power and reverse traveling power, a rear wheel differential mechanism for inputting output of the forward/reverse switchover device and transmitting it to rear wheels, and a gear transmission mechanism for transmitting power of an output shaft of the forward/reverse switchover device to an input shaft of the rear wheel differential mechanism. A transmission case is separable into a front case portion accommodating the speed changer device and a rear case portion accommodating the forward/reverse switchover device, the rear wheel differential mechanism and the gear transmission mechanism. The gear transmission mechanism is detachably provided at a portion of the inside of the transmission case which portion corresponds to a front end portion of the rear case portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomonari Tsuchida, Ryoma Iwase, Tomoyuki Tanaka, Takahiro Matsuo, Hidetoshi Hana
  • Patent number: 11719286
    Abstract: A clutch device with friction linings includes: a clutch housing, the friction linings including a first friction lining and a second friction lining, the first friction lining being arranged on the clutch housing, the clutch housing including a stop surface; a tapered ring, the second friction lining being arranged on the tapered ring, the plurality of friction linings being arranged relative to one another so that the plurality of friction linings can be brought into full contact with one another in a contact plane, the tapered ring including a reference surface; a spring element; a clutch actuating device, a wear gap being formed between the stop surface and the reference surface, the wear gap configured for becoming wider as the friction linings wear; and a locking element configured for being moved into the wear gap when the wear gap exceeds a definable maximum width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Jonny Pönitz
  • Patent number: 11713810
    Abstract: A transmission system efficiently performs efficiently and also provides the ability to perform full-power shifts. For example, a secondary clutch actuator, independent of fluid actuation, may eliminate the need for a pump to continuously provide high pressure during regular vehicle operation such that high pressures are only required during a shift event. This eliminates the need for energy at the pump to maintain application of the clutch, thereby allowing such energy to be used of other systems in the EV or to facilitate increased vehicle range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Isaac Mock, Jason Ellis, James Raszkowski
  • Patent number: 11713788
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses can be used to adjust the torque transfer capacity and improve the overall performance and longevity of a clutch assembly. Through the use of various improved clutch components disclosed herein, it is possible to: (1) increase clutch apply forces through an increase in the fluid pressure apply surface area, or piston reaction area, of a clutch piston, thereby increasing frictional forces generated within a clutch pack for transferring input torque from a drive shaft to a driven shaft; (2) improve clutch plate contact conditions through a more rigid clutch pressure plate configuration, thereby reducing clutch pack/plate distortion and supporting structure deformation and/or wear that can otherwise lead to excessive heat generation and overall clutch performance degradation and/or failure; and/or (3) improve the clutch assembly's ability to dissipate and/or tolerate heat generated through clutch plate friction by means of an improved clutch pack configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Sonnax Transmission Company
    Inventors: Brian T. Copeland, Gregg A. Nader
  • Patent number: 11708870
    Abstract: A reverse input blocking clutch has a pressed member having a pressed surface on the inner circumferential surface; an input member having an input-side engaging portion arranged on the inner side in the radial direction of the pressed surface and coaxially arranged with the pressed surface; an output member having an output-side engaging portion arranged further on the inner side in the radial direction than the input-side engaging portion and coaxially arranged with the pressed surface; an engaging element arranged on the inner side in the radial direction of the pressed surface so as to move in a first direction which is a far-near direction with respect to the pressed surface; and an elastic member arranged at a position overlapping the output-side engaging portion with respect to the first direction so as to be elastically stretched between the output-side engaging portion and the engaging element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: NSK, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nagao Dohi, Yuya Daikoku
  • Patent number: 11703093
    Abstract: During movement of a mass of a centrifugal clutch a radially inner position to a radially outer position and a resulting increase in torque transmitted from an input gear to an output shaft, a power transmission apparatus includes a first torque region where the apparatus restricts operation of a pressing assist cam and a second torque region where the apparatus allows operation of the pressing assist cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA F.C.C.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Ozawa, Han Hiong Chen, Katsu Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 11703088
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed to solid lubricant assemblies for providing over temperature protection for bearings and gears in rotorcraft systems. A solid lubricant enters a fluid state above a certain temperature and is positioned so that fluid lubricant is applied to the bearings or gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler Wayne Baldwin, Kyle Thomas Cravener, Tyson Henry
  • Patent number: 11703112
    Abstract: A torque converter assembly is disclosed that includes a front cover, a clutch plate assembly, a pump cover, and a plate including a base body extending in an axial direction with a first flange on a first end and a second flange on a second end. The first flange can define a friction face configured to engage with a corresponding surface of the clutch plate assembly, and the second flange can define at least one opening configured to receive a fastening element. In one aspect, the plate functions or serves as a reaction plate for the clutch assembly, and also serves as a connection or lug for a flex plate or other component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Condo
  • Patent number: 11703113
    Abstract: An electrified drivetrain system that maximizes power density, is readily packaged, and improves drivability is described. It includes a propulsion system having an axial-flux rotating electric machine, a torque converter having a selectable one-way clutch, and an output member that is couplable to a drivetrain. The axial-flux rotating electric machine include a first rotor coaxially arranged with a first electric stator. The torque converter includes a fluidic stator, a pump, a turbine and a torque converter clutch. The axial-flux rotating electric machine is arranged coaxially with the torque converter. The first rotor of the axial-flux rotating electric machine is coupled to the pump of the torque converter, and the turbine of the torque converter is rotatably coupled to the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chengwu Duan, Jian Yao, Lei Hao, Dongxu Li, Chunhao J. Lee, Norman K. Bucknor
  • Patent number: 11698112
    Abstract: A clutch release bearing for a motor vehicle includes a thrust element having an axial axis, a guide element in the form of a tubular bushing that supports the thrust element, and a self-aligning sleeve including an annular body and a plurality of radial ribs each having a free end. The plurality of ribs extend towards the guide element from the annular body. The free ends of at least a first set of the plurality of radial ribs radially contact the cylindrical external surface of the bushing, and the bushing includes at least one opening in a cylindrical external surface of the bushing that is configured to receive one of the plurality of radial ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Benoit Arnault, Mickael Chollet, Philippe Walter
  • Patent number: 11692894
    Abstract: An oil pressure estimation device for calculating an estimated differential pressure that is an estimated value of a differential pressure between two oil chambers generated in a torque converter including the two oil chambers and a lockup clutch includes a storage device and an execution device. The storage device stores mapping data defining a mapping, the mapping outputting as an output variable an estimated differential pressure variable indicating the estimated differential pressure, in response to input of an input variable, and the mapping having been trained by machine learning. The mapping includes an instruction differential pressure variable indicating the instruction differential pressure as one of a plurality of the input variables. The execution device executes an acquisition process of acquiring a value of the input variable and a calculation process of inputting the value of the input variable into the mapping to calculate a value of the output variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Koichi Okuda, Ken Imamura
  • Patent number: 11686374
    Abstract: A drive assembly for a work vehicle includes a housing arrangement, a drive shaft rotatable in first and second clock directions, and a two-stage planetary gear set coupled to the drive shaft. The gear set includes, or is coupled to, an output element. First and second clutch arrangements are configured to selectively engage the gear set to effect first and second gear ratios, respectively. A step ratio from the first gear ratio and the second gear ratio is 3:1. At least one first actuator and at least one second actuator are configured to effect movement of the first and second clutch arrangements, respectively, to selectively engage the gear set. The drive shaft and the output element rotate in a same clock direction with the first clutch arrangement engaged with the gear set, and in opposite clock directions with the second clutch arrangement engaged with the gear set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven R. Fliearman, Clayton G. Janasek, Lisa R. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 11668356
    Abstract: A clutch weight for a continuously variable transmission is disclosed. The clutch weight, in certain examples, includes a body having a first end having a pivot pin opening and a second end opposite the first end, a curvilinear surface disposed between the first end and the second end configured to engage a roller, and wherein the roller contacts the curvilinear surface at least at a first contact position, and a center of mass of the body disposed a distance Y from a center of the pivot pin opening and a distance X from the first contact position, and where a ratio of X to Y is in the range of between about 0.526 and 0.558.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Boondocker LLC
    Inventors: Rocklund D. Young, Rocklund D. Young, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11655862
    Abstract: The rotation transmission state switching device comprises a clutch device comprising a first rotating member having a first-rotating-member-side engaging portion, a second rotating member having a second-rotating-member-side engaging portion, a third rotating member having a third-rotating-member-side engaging portion; and an engaging element having an engaging-element-side first engaging portion engaging with the first-rotating-member-side engaging portion, an engaging-element-side second engaging portion engaging with the second-rotating-member-side engaging portion, and an engaging-element-side third engaging portion engaging with the third-rotating-member-side engaging portion; and a restriction device configured to switch between allowing and restricting rotation of the first rotating member, allowing or preventing torque transmission between the second rotating member and the third rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Nagao Dohi, Eiji Inoue
  • Patent number: 11644068
    Abstract: A clutch includes a clutch housing, a driving rotating body, a driven rotating body, a roller arranged between the clutch housing and the driven rotating body, a support member that holds the roller between the clutch housing and the driven rotating body, and grease arranged between the clutch housing and the roller. The support member includes a guiding portion that guides grease, which has been moved from a space between the clutch housing and the roller, to the space between the clutch housing and the roller during rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shusuke Kijima, Ryosuke Asaoka, Yuki Date, Daisuke Nishio
  • Patent number: 11643976
    Abstract: An engine for an aircraft includes an engine core having a turbine, a compressor, and a core shaft connecting the turbine to the compressor; a fan located upstream of the engine core, the fan having a plurality of fan blades; and a gearbox. The gearbox is an epicyclic gearbox and comprises a sun gear, a plurality of planet gears, a ring gear, and a planet carrier on which the planet gears are mounted. The radial bending stiffness of the planet carrier is equal to or greater than 1.20×109 N/m, and/or the tilt stiffness of the planet carrier is greater than or equal to 6.00×108 Nm/rad. A method of operation of such an engine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Mark Spruce
  • Patent number: 11639748
    Abstract: An electrified drivetrain system that improves drivability is described. It includes a propulsion system having a rotary electric machine including a rotatable shaft, a torque converter including a fluidic stator, a pump, a turbine and a normally-closed torque converter clutch; a selectable one-way clutch coupled to the fluidic stator; and an output member. The rotatable shaft is coupled to the pump of the torque converter, and the turbine of the torque converter is coupled to the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chengwu Duan, Dongxu Li, Jian Yao, Chunhao J. Lee, Norman K. Bucknor
  • Patent number: 11635138
    Abstract: A monitoring device and a method for operating an idling automatic transmission of a motor vehicle having a torque converter which includes at least one pump wheel and a turbine wheel that are designed to transmit torque hydrodynamically from one to the other. The method includes at least the following steps of: determining a rotational speed of the turbine wheel; determining a load on the motor of the motor vehicle; and recognizing whether there is a blockage in the drive-train of the motor vehicle or whether the torque converter is running dry, as a function of the turbine rotational speed and the motor load detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Ulf Lang
  • Patent number: 11635137
    Abstract: An apparatus for diagnosing an automatic transmission for detecting abnormality during driving of a vehicle includes a G-sensor configured to measure a vibration signal including a longitudinal vibration signal, a status detection unit configured to obtain the vibration signal of the G-sensor and status data of transmission and engine sensors of the vehicle, and a controller configured to check an operational element for each shifting operation by using a current shift-stage, a target shift-stage, and a shifting time detected as the status data, measure the longitudinal vibration signal of the G-sensor to calculate fluctuation level of the longitudinal vibration signal for each operational element, and determine a shift shock event when a longitudinal vibration signal value after adjustment based on driving acceleration of the vehicle exceeds a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Si Wook Kim, Jin Ill Kim, Jaeho Chun, Min-Gu Jeon, Do Hwan Ahn
  • Patent number: 11635123
    Abstract: A drive system for a vehicle includes a first planetary gear set including a first carrier, a second planetary gear set including a second carrier, and a third planetary gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear, a plurality of planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, and a third carrier rotationally supporting the plurality of planetary gears. The third planetary gear set is directly coupled to the first carrier and the second carrier. The drive system further includes a first electromagnetic device coupled to the first planetary gear set, a second electromagnetic device coupled to the second planetary gear set, and an output shaft coupled to the first planetary gear set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Steinberger, Jon J. Morrow, Eric E. Braun, Andrew J. Kotloski