Patents Examined by Huan Le
  • Patent number: 11434960
    Abstract: A method for motion control of a shift sleeve in a stepped gear transmission during a synchronization and gear engagement sequence for avoiding gear teeth interference, wherein the stepped gear transmission includes an axially displaceable shift sleeve arranged on and rotationally secured to a shaft, and a constant mesh gear wheel arranged on and rotatable relative to said shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: NINGBO GEELY AUTOMOBILE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CO.
    Inventors: Johan Hellsing, Muddassar Zahid Piracha
  • Patent number: 11434986
    Abstract: A vehicle driveline component includes a torque converter including an actuator and a clutch. The actuator includes an actuator piston slidable within an actuator chamber and dividing the actuator chamber into loosening and tightening chambers. The actuator piston moves the stator blades between a plurality of pitch positions. The clutch selectively couples the turbine to the impeller. The clutch includes a spring and clutch piston. The clutch piston at least partially defines an apply chamber and a release chamber. The apply chamber is in fluid communication with the tightening chamber via a hydrodynamic chamber. The release chamber is in fluid communication with the loosening chamber. The clutch piston is movable between an engaged position which inhibits relative rotation between the housing and the turbine and a disengaged position permitting relative rotation. The clutch spring is supported by the turbine hub and biases the clutch piston toward the disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John Edward Brevick
  • Patent number: 11421552
    Abstract: Gearboxes for aircraft gas turbine engines, in particular to arrangements for journal bearings such gearboxes, and to related methods of operating such gearboxes and gas turbine engines. Example embodiments include a gearbox for an aircraft gas turbine engine, the gearbox including: a sun gear; a plurality of planet gears surrounding and engaged with the sun gear; and a ring gear surrounding and engaged with the plurality of planet gears, each of the plurality of planet gears being rotatably mounted around a pin of a planet gear carrier with a journal bearing having an internal sliding surface on the planet gear and an external sliding surface on the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Mark Spruce
  • Patent number: 11421731
    Abstract: A one-way bearing, a bearing assembly, and a free-wheeling mechanism for a bicycle are disclosed herewith. The bearing assembly, in one aspect, includes a one-directional bearing having an inner and an outer race, the one-directional bearing including a sprag clutch mechanism. The bearing assembly, according to this aspect, further includes a first thrust bearing and a second thrust bearing, wherein the inner and outer races of the one-directional bearing are formed to retain one or both of the first or second thrust bearings, and a one-directional bearing mechanism located between the inner and outer races. In at least one aspect, the inner race has a flange extending in a radially outward direction, the sprag clutch mechanism abuts the flange on an inner axial side of the flange, and the flange abuts the first thrust bearing on an outer axial side of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: FreeFlow Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Neil Edwards, Neil MacMartin
  • Patent number: 11415174
    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: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler Wayne Baldwin, Kyle Thomas Cravener, Tyson Henry
  • Patent number: 11415214
    Abstract: A shift operation determination apparatus includes: an operation member rotatably attached to the vehicle; a position detection section configured to detect a position of the operation member in a rotation direction; a shift determination section configured to determine, based on the position of the operation member, a shift range selected by the operation member; and a regulation section configured to regulate a rotation of the operation member, the regulation section being configured to regulate the rotation of the operation member when the operation member moves to a second position corresponding to the second range from a first position corresponding to the first range or a third position corresponding to the third range and moves to the third position within a predetermined time after being located at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi Harada
  • Patent number: 11414158
    Abstract: A stabilizer includes a receiving device, a guide plate element for connection with a chain, and a clutch device. The guide plate element is movably mounted on the receiving device and performing a rotation state through an elastic element. The clutch device is mounted on the receiving device and connected with the guide plate element and used for providing one-way resistance. When a vehicle body jounces, the guide plate element rotates upwardly under force, the chain is tensioned, and the clutch device is in a free rotation state. When the guide plate element moves towards an opposite direction under force, the clutch device provides one-way resistance, so that the guide plate element can maintain a tensioning state of the chain for a longer time, and the effect of stabilizing the chain is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: RUSH COMPONENTS LLC
    Inventors: Deng-Gang Hu, Yun-Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 11408501
    Abstract: Disclosed is a support structure for a ring gear, which includes: a clutch drum coupled by spline fitting with the ring gear; and first and second snap rings mounted to a circumferential wall of the clutch drum and supporting the ring gear. The first snap ring is positioned so as not to overlap with the ring gear in a radial direction. The second snap ring is positioned so as to overlap with the ring gear in the radial direction. A length of the first snap ring in the radial direction is longer than a length of the second snap ring in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Numata, Hiroyuki Matsushita, Akira Kamiyama, Ryousuke Katsuyama, Tsukasa Shiino
  • Patent number: 11400913
    Abstract: A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes a driveline disconnect clutch and a step-ratio transmission is described. In one example, the method includes shifting the step-ratio transmission to neutral and accelerating an engine to an expected input shaft speed of the step-ratio transmission via applying full output capacity of an electric machine to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Corey James Blue, Scott James Thompson, Kendrick Morrison, Scott Patrick Ries, Steve Michael Cicala, Kurt Howard Nickerson
  • Patent number: 11391329
    Abstract: A transmission mechanism for actuating a friction clutch, which can be disengaged against a spring force and is arranged between an internal combustion engine and a manual transmission, includes two lockable elements that are movable toward one another longitudinally to automatically change the length and compensate for clutch wear. The first element consists of a spindle which is coupled to a non-rotatable component of a disengagement mechanism of the friction clutch in a rotationally fixed and axially displaceable manner and has a steep-pitch external thread. The second element consists of a nut having a steep-pitch internal thread into which the spindle can be screwed, the pitch of the steep-pitch thread being dimensioned in such a way that no self-locking can occur between the two elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: ZF CV Systems Hannover GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Dieckmann, Gerd Schünemann, Robin Gucia
  • Patent number: 11384800
    Abstract: A jamming roller lock with a housing and at least two jamming discs, which are arranged in the housing such that they can be rotated and which each comprise at least one recess, in which a jamming roller is located, at least one driving projection and at least one driven projection, wherein the jamming discs are arranged and designed in such a way that a rotation of the jamming discs can be achieved by driving the driving projections and a rotation of the jamming discs is prevented by driving the driven projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Otto Bock Healthcare Products GmbH
    Inventors: Luis Sagmeister, Christoph Ledinger
  • Patent number: 11371555
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a transmission input shaft arrangement (100) for a vehicle transmission, the transmission input shaft arrangement comprising an input shaft (102); a clutch arrangement (104) and a bearing arrangement (106) arranged at a position spaced apart from the clutch arrangement (104). The bearing arrangement (106) comprises a bearing inner ring (108) rotationally connected to the clutch arrangement (104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Josef Landestorp, Kjell Haraldsson
  • Patent number: 11364784
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle includes an electric machine (EM1), a first input shaft (GW1), a second input shaft (GW2), an output shaft (GWA), at least two planetary gear sets (P1, P2), and at least four shift elements (A, B, C, D). Different gears are selectable by selectively actuating the at least four shift elements (A, B, C, D). In interaction with the electric machine (EM1), different operating modes are implementable. A drive train for a motor vehicle that includes such a transmission (G) and to a method for operating same are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Uwe Griesmeier, Stefan Beck, Matthias Horn, Viktor Warth, Michael Roske, Fabian Kutter
  • Patent number: 11359680
    Abstract: A clutch assembly includes a clutch disc configured to engage a prime mover, a pressure plate having a clutch biasing element, and a clutch engagement member structured to couple to a clutch actuation element at an engagement position. The clutch adjustment member maintains a consistent engagement position as a face of the clutch disc experiences wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Troy Scott Reinoehl, James Lee Whitaker, Steven Michael Peterson, Clinton Lee McClellan, Paige Elizabeth Canzonieri
  • Patent number: 11359715
    Abstract: A shaft (W) for a motor vehicle transmission (G) may have axial bore holes positioned within the shaft and configured to guide fluid within the shaft. The shaft may have first, second, and third axial sections (W1, W2, W3), the second axial section being axially between the first and third axial sections. Fluid enters the axial bore holes in the second axial section and exits the axial bore holes in the first and third axial sections. One of the axial bore holes (B2; B1, B1a) is arranged, at least partially, in the first axial section and is radially spaced from an axis of rotation (WA) of the shaft. Another of the axial bore holes (B1RS; B_SE5, B3a) is arranged, at least partially, in the third axial section. The one of the axial bore holes (B2; B1, B1a) is coaxial with the other of the axial bore holes (B1RS; B_SE5, B3a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Christoph Margraf, Carl Schilling, Martin Brehmer, Oliver Angele, Manuel Steinmann, Sebastian Freis, Stefan Benz-Breitweg, Robert Reiser, Christian Staiger, Felix Fink, Tamas Gyarmati
  • Patent number: 11353075
    Abstract: An electric actuator for a final controlling device having a safety actuator function for positioning an actuating element, (e.g. a valve element of, for example, a process-technical plant). The electric actuator can include an electric motor configured to provide a torque for actuating the actuating element. The electric motor can include a motor shaft configured to deliver the torque, an output shaft configured to transmit the torque from the electric motor to the actuating element, and an electromagnetic and/or currentlessly uncoupling coupling (e.g. electromagnetic and/or currentlessly uncoupling clutch) configured to provide and/or interrupt a torque-transmitting connection between the motor shaft and the output shaft. The output shaft, the motor shaft and the coupling can be arranged coaxially to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Samson Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Sebastian Krause
  • Patent number: 11351859
    Abstract: The electronic IWE actuator includes an electric motor, a worm gear connected to the electric motor, a ball ramp including a worm wheel configured to engage with the worm gear, a clutch ring configured to engage with a wheel hub of the vehicle, and a shift fork configured to engage with the clutch ring and the ball ramp and move linearly in a direction along an axis of the wheel hub in response to a rotation of the ball ramp. The clutch ring is configured to engage with the wheel hub in response to a rotation of the worm gear in a first direction, and disengage from the wheel hub in response to a rotation of the worm gear in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: ILJIN USA Corporation
    Inventors: Corbin Johnston, Richard Haehn, Jong Hyung Seo
  • Patent number: 11346429
    Abstract: A two-speed transmission for an electric vehicle includes a planetary gear set selectively coupling an input shaft and an output shaft. The planetary gear set is configured to provide two forward gear ratios and neutral. The planetary gear set includes at least one sun gear, at least one pinion in meshing engagement with the at least one sun gear, at least one ring gear meshingly engaged with the at least one pinion, and a carrier. The carrier supports the at least one pinion and is connected to the output shaft such that rotation of the carrier drives the output shaft. The two-speed transmission also includes one or more elements that rotatably couple the at least sun gear, the at least one pinion, the at least one ring gear, the input shaft, and the carrier with one another and/or a ground. Examples of such elements include clutches, brakes, and mechanical diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: AVL POWERTRAIN ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Mordukhovich, Hamid Vahabzadeh
  • Patent number: 11333230
    Abstract: A differential transmission includes a pin-gear type main body unit with a pin-gear type main body housing in which input or output is performed through a plurality of pins rotatably coupled in a circumferential direction of an outer circumferential surface thereof, a high-speed shaft provided at one side of the pin-gear type main body housing and through which input or output of a relatively high speed is performed, a low-speed shaft provided at the other side of the pin-gear type main body housing and through which input or output of a speed that is less than the relatively high speed is performed, and a reduction portion inside the pin-gear type main body housing and reducing an input speed; and a high-speed shaft connection unit connected to the high-speed shaft of the pin-gear type main body unit and through which input or output is performed through the high-speed shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Inventor: Sun Ho Lim
  • Patent number: 11320001
    Abstract: Provided is a structure for lubricating a clutch, the structure including: an oil capturing groove provided along an inner circumference of a ring gear at one side of a pinion gear; and an oil hole connected to an inside of a clutch hub through the oil capturing groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Hyundai Transys Inc.
    Inventor: Tae Hoon Kim