Patents Examined by Jacob S Scott
  • Patent number: 11702064
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine and an electric motor as driving power sources, a clutch of a hydraulic type provided between the engine and the electric motor, an electric oil pump that supplies hydraulic pressure to the clutch, a mechanical oil pump that interlocks with a rotation of the electric motor and supplies hydraulic pressure to the clutch, and a controller that controls the electric motor and the electric oil pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Guodong Tan, Atsushi Onomoto
  • Patent number: 11691182
    Abstract: A method and system of recycling aluminum alloy rims, the method and system comprising providing a feed of a plurality of aluminum alloy rims of different alloys, for each rim in the feed of aluminum alloy rims, determining a composition of that aluminum alloy rim, determining a plurality of recycled aluminum alloy composition ranges, and dividing the feed of aluminum alloy rims into a plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims, each batch of aluminum alloy rims in the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims corresponding to an associated recycled aluminum alloy composition range in the plurality of recycled aluminum composition ranges, such that each rim in the plurality of aluminum alloy rims is allocated to an associated batch in the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims based on the composition of that aluminum alloy rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: HOUSE OF METALS COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Daniel Bitton
  • Patent number: 11686354
    Abstract: A dual clutch transmission includes an input shaft having a first clutch having a first input disc carrier, a first output disc carrier, a first force transfer region, and a first actuation piston. The transmission includes a second clutch having a second input disc carrier, a second output disc carrier, a second force transfer region, and a second actuation piston. A first sub-transmission includes a first sub-transmission input shaft and a second sub-transmission has a second sub-transmission input shaft. The input shaft, the first input disc carrier, and the second input disc carrier are connected to one another for fixedly conjoint rotation. The first output disc carrier is connected to the first sub-transmission input shaft for fixedly conjoint rotation. The second output disc carrier is connected to the second sub-transmission input shaft for fixedly conjoint rotation. The second sub-transmission input shaft is arranged coaxially with and radially surrounding the first sub-transmission input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG
    Inventors: Peter Hahn, Carsten Gitt
  • Patent number: 10940826
    Abstract: A passenger airbag inflator for a vehicle includes: a housing having a first gunpowder therein, including a vent hole, and communicating with an airbag cushion; a first chamber located in a first side inner space of the housing, having a first booster and a first igniter, and configured to be triggered forwardly when the first igniter is ignited; and a second chamber located in a second side inner space of the housing, having a second booster and a second gunpowder, including a second igniter, and configured to be triggered forwardly when the second igniter is ignited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Yeol Choi
  • Patent number: 10875373
    Abstract: An axial ball joint for a length-adjustable two-point link having a housing and a ball stud supported in the housing by a joint ball to be rotatably and swivelably movable and which extends in an axial direction out of the housing in undeflected state. The housing has a connection pin integrally connected to the housing that extends perpendicular to axial direction. A length-adjustable two-point link has two angle joints connected to one another via a connection element, particularly a connection pipe. One angle joint is formed as an axial ball joint connected to the connection element to be adjustable in length. The other angle joint is formed as a radial ball joint and is rigidly connected to the connection element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Günter Reddehase, Janina Altmeppen
  • Patent number: 10859145
    Abstract: A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift actuator selectively couples the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. An integrated actuator housing is operationally coupled to the shift actuator and a linear clutch actuator. The linear clutch actuator is a self-adjusting actuator, and the transmission includes a self-adjusting clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Peterson, Graeme Andrew Jackson, Timothy Scott Smith, Paul Wilson, Christian Chimner, Andrzej Wota, Kirk Strehlow
  • Patent number: 10851882
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes a flex plate, a transmission input shaft, a torque coupling, a one-way clutch, and a damper assembly. The flex plate is configured to be connected to a crankshaft of an engine. The torque coupling connects the transmission input shaft to the flex plate while allowing slip between the transmission input shaft and the flex plate. The one-way clutch is configured to couple the flex plate to the torque coupling. The damper assembly couples the flex plate to the one-way clutch and is configured to inhibit vibration transmission from the flex plate to the one-way clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chunhao J. Lee, Farzad Samie, Derek F. Lahr, Norman K. Bucknor, Dongxu Li
  • Patent number: 10851885
    Abstract: A planetary transmission, comprising a housing, a drive part, an output part having an output shaft that is rotatable about an output axis of rotation, and at least one gear stage between the drive part and the output part. The drive part, the at least one gear stage, and the output part are mounted in the housing, the housing has an output flange on the output side, wherein the output flange has a first lateral surface with circularly symmetrical in radial planes about an axis of symmetry, wherein the first lateral surface is arranged eccentrically with respect to the output axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: GUEDEL GROUP AG
    Inventors: Walter Zulauf, Christian Marie, Romain Bopp, Nicolas Laval, Stefan Baumann, Mathieu Amiet
  • Patent number: 10851850
    Abstract: A controllable powertrain input module, placed between an input torque source and an automated ratio changing device, all of which is controlled by a powertrain control module (PCM) to optimize efficiency while satisfying an infinite number of input and output application scenarios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Linamar Corporation
    Inventors: Malcolm E. Kirkwood, Woodrow Lee Barrie, Tom Reedy, Arnold Byron Gomez-Mesquita
  • Patent number: 10851880
    Abstract: A transmission includes an input shaft coupled to a prime mover, a countershaft, main shaft, and an output shaft, with gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. A shift actuator selectively couples the input shaft to the main shaft by rotatably coupling gears between the countershaft and the main shaft. The shift actuator is mounted on an exterior wall of a housing including the countershaft and the main shaft. An integrated actuator housing is operationally coupled to the shift actuator and a linear clutch actuator. The linear clutch actuator is a self-adjusting actuator, and the transmission includes a self-adjusting clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Peterson, Graeme Andrew Jackson, Timothy Scott Smith, Paul Wilson, Christian Chimner, Andrzej Wota, Kirk Strehlow
  • Patent number: 10844913
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for an automatic, electric hub lock with a manual override capability. In one example, the electric hub lock may be actuated responsive to one or more of a manipulation of a manual dial proximate a vehicle wheel and an electronic control inside a passenger compartment. In another example, a method includes overriding the automatic control of the hub lock responsive to manual request for operating the vehicle in four-wheel drive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: WARN AUTOMOTIVE, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Boudreau, Oliver B. Randall
  • Patent number: 10844937
    Abstract: A transmission includes a compound planetary gear set. The compound planetary gear set includes multiple sun gears and a non-input/output ring gear, a long pinion gear meshed therebetween, and an output planetary carrier carrying the long pinion gear. The long pinion gear includes multiple steps, and is meshed with the sun gears respectively at the steps and with the non-input/output ring gear at one step. With each sun gear alternatively being input-only or non-input/output, the sun gears are selectively input-only one at a time. Moreover, the non-input/output ring gear is anti-rotary and the output planetary carrier is output-only when the sun gears are input-only one at a time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Luke A. Rippelmeyer
  • Patent number: 10837548
    Abstract: A method of operating a motor in a hydraulic control system can comprise determining a keyon event. A motor of a pump unit can then be turned in a first direction a first predetermined amount to pump a hydraulic fluid in a first flow direction. The turning of the motor in the first direction can be limited to prevent hydraulic actuation of a downstream device via the pumped hydraulic fluid. The motor can then be turned in a second direction a second predetermined amount to pump the hydraulic fluid an opposite second flow direction. Like restriction on the downstream device can be implemented. Subsequent to turning the motor in the first and second directions, hydraulic fluid is delivered to an actuator of the downstream device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Robert J. Kanda, Matthew R. Busdiecker
  • Patent number: 10821963
    Abstract: A control strategy is provided for a hybrid vehicle that will increase drivability during low or decreasing driver demands. Coordination between shifting the transmission and stopping or (non-demand) starting of the engine can increase drivability. The vehicle includes a motor/generator with one side selectively coupled to the engine and another side selectively coupled to the transmission. The control strategy acts when an engine start or stop is requested while driver demand is decreasing and a shift of the transmission is demanded. To inhibit these events from proceeding simultaneously, the control strategy delays the engine from starting or stopping until the transmission has finished shifting, or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard D. Nefcy, Daniel Scott Colvin, Matthew John Shelton, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Marvin Paul Kraska
  • Patent number: 10814749
    Abstract: A clutch unit includes a lever-side clutch part to control transmission and interruption of rotational torque input through a lever operation and a brake-side clutch part to transmit the rotational torque from the lever-side clutch part to the output side and interrupt rotational torque reversely input from the output side. The brake-side clutch part includes an outer ring constrained in rotation, an output shaft to output the rotation, cylindrical rollers to control interruption of the rotational torque reversely input from the output shaft and transmission of the rotational torque input from the lever-side clutch part through engagement and disengagement between the outer ring and the output shaft, a friction ring to apply a rotational resistance to the output shaft, and a variable part to change the rotational resistance applied to the output shaft between the transmission and the interruption of the rotational torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naotsugu Kitayama, Koji Sato
  • Patent number: 10808834
    Abstract: An axle system and a method of control. The axle system may include an axle controller that may be directly electrically connected to a first speed sensor and a second speed sensor. The axle controller may control movement of a shift collar that may be selectively engageable with first and second gear ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Rodrigo Soffner, Mark Smith, Chetankumar Ghatti
  • Patent number: 10808770
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for the rotational decoupling of shafts, in particular drive shafts. The invention also relates to a generator protection system on a connection between a generator and a gas turbine engine. FIG. 1C illustrates the shaft-decoupling system in the decoupled position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN ELECTRICAL & POWER
    Inventors: Fernand Rodrigues, Yves Courtois De Lourmel
  • Patent number: 10801554
    Abstract: A multiplate friction clutch includes: a pressure plate having a boss portion which penetrates a clutch center; a clutch lifter plate joined to the boss portion and receiving a drive force in a axial direction at a time of disconnection between a friction plate and a clutch plate; and a spring sandwiched between the clutch lifter plate and the clutch center, and capable of generating an elastic force in a direction that the friction plate and the clutch plate are pressed to each other. A position restricting portion is provided on the clutch lifter plate, the position restricting portion being brought into contact with the boss portion from an outside in a radial direction of the clutch lifter plate so as to restrict a position of the clutch lifter plate with respect to the pressure plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Ito, Akira Takahashi, Kinya Mizuno
  • Patent number: 10801552
    Abstract: A torque-dependent, releasable clutch for a hand-held power tool is specified, which includes a first clutch element, which interacts with a second clutch element to transmit a torque, at least one of the two clutch elements being movable with respect to the other clutch element and being pretensioned by a spring element, the spring element having a nonlinear load-displacement characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: C&E Fein GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Walz
  • Patent number: 10801597
    Abstract: A cap for a helical LSD is provided with: a clutch member including clutch teeth; a clutch ring including a ring portion including clutch teeth so as to mesh with the clutch member and one or more tab portions projecting radially outwardly from the ring portion; a cap main body fixed on an axial end of the casing; a receding portion of the cap main body receding from a first face toward a second face and being so dimensioned as to receive and allow the clutch ring to be axially movable, the receding portion including one or more dock portions respectively receiving the tab portions; an opening to allow access to the tab portions; side faces of the tab portions and inner faces of the dog portions so that the faces in combination axially press the clutch ring toward the clutch member; and one or more base portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Inose