Patents Examined by Jacob S Scott
  • Patent number: 10787072
    Abstract: A vehicular control system for reducing shocks by inhibiting switching operation of a dog clutch when drive force cannot be assisted by an engine. A controller determines that an increase in the drive force by the engine is restricted. In a case that an increase in the drive force is not restricted when launching the vehicle, the controller establishes a first gear stage in the transmission to launch the vehicle, and shift to the second gear stage upon satisfaction of a predetermined condition during propulsion while increasing the drive force. In a case that an increase in the drive force is restricted when launching the vehicle, the controller establishes a second gear stage in the transmission to launch the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norifumi Takada, Seiji Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 10788085
    Abstract: A magnetorheological fluid clutch apparatus comprises an input rotor adapted to be coupled to a power input, the input rotor having a first set of at least one input shear surface, and a second set of at least one output shear surface. An output rotor is rotatably mounted about the input rotor for rotating about a common axis with the input rotor, the output rotor having a first set of at least one output shear surface, and a second set of at least one output shear surface, the first sets of the input rotor and the output rotor separated by at least a first annular space and forming a first transmission set, the second sets of the input rotor and the output rotor separated by at least a second annular space and forming a second transmission set. Magnetorheological fluid is in each of the annular spaces, the MR fluid configured to generate a variable amount of torque transmission between the sets of input rotor and output rotor when subjected to a magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: SOCIETE DE COMMERCIALISATION DES PRODUITS DE LA RECHERCHE APPLIQUEE SOCPRA SCIENCES ET GENIE S.E.C.
    Inventors: Jean-Sebastien Plante, Marc Denninger, Patrick Chouinard, Guifre Julio, Jean-Philippe Lucking Bigue, Nicolas Huppe, Jean-Francois Desrosiers, Raphael Pilon, Alexandre Landry-Blais
  • Patent number: 10773711
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electrical machine operable as a traction motor with a manual transmission arranged between the engine and the driving wheels and a clutch between the engine and the transmission generates an acoustic notification signal to indicate a gear shift that would result in either an excessive or insufficient engine speed. A different acoustic tone may be provided for a gear shift that would result in excessive engine speed than a gear shift that would result in insufficient engine speed. The acoustic notification signal may be a simulated engine noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Markus Espig, Matthew Allen Schneider, Tobias Emig, Julian David Pott, Markus Wilmes
  • Patent number: 10774917
    Abstract: A transmission including a hydraulic unit (advancing clutch, backing clutch, constant velocity clutch, acceleration clutch, and PTO clutch) which operates with a working fluid; and a housing (transmission housing) which accommodates or supports the hydraulic unit 321, 322, 341, 342, 351). The housing structures a passage for guiding a working fluid to the hydraulic unit. In the housing, an oil chamber is formed on an attachment seating surface of the hydraulic pump, and the oil chamber is plugged by the hydraulic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: YANMAR POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Terunobu Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 10767723
    Abstract: A torque converter for a vehicle including a front cover; an impeller which is coupled to the front cover and rotates together with the front cover; a turbine which is disposed at a position facing the impeller; a reactor which is positioned between the impeller and the turbine and changes a flow of oil flowing from the turbine to the impeller; a lock-up clutch which has a piston that directly connects the front cover and the turbine; and a torsional damper which includes a pair of retaining plates that receives driving power of an engine from the turbine or the lock-up clutch, and a driven plate that is disposed between the retaining plates, the torsional damper being coupled to the lock-up clutch and absorbing impact and vibration applied in a rotation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Valeo Kapec Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jun Yong Song, Soon Seok Hong, Soon Cheol Shin
  • Patent number: 10753467
    Abstract: In a transmission control device, a controller determines failure of one of a variator input side rotation sensor and a variator output side rotation sensor. A hydraulic control circuit and the controller variably control line pressure, and in a case where the failure is determined, fix the line pressure to a predetermined value or more. The hydraulic control circuit and the controller variably control a speed ratio of a variator by a double pressure regulation method, and in a case where the failure is determined, variably control the speed ratio of the variator by a single pressure regulation method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haruka Ozono, Masahiro Hamano
  • Patent number: 10753466
    Abstract: In a transmission control device for controlling a transmission, a controller determines failure of a specific section. The controller variably controls line command pressure and secondary command pressure, and in a case where the failure is determined, fixes the line command pressure to a line pressure set value and the secondary command pressure to a secondary pressure set value. In a case where the failure is determined, the controller further starts a change in the secondary command pressure after start of a change in the line command pressure, and controls the secondary command pressure in such a manner that the secondary command pressure takes a first predetermined time to have the secondary pressure set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haruka Ozono, Youji Itou, Kosuke Abe
  • Patent number: 10746272
    Abstract: Provided is a power transmitting device including an input side gear assembly that includes a single power input terminal and two power output terminals, an output side gear assembly that includes two power input terminals and a single power output terminal, the two power input terminals configured to operate using power received from the two power output terminals of the input side gear assembly, respectively, and a stopper module configured to block power to be transmitted through one of two power transmitting paths connecting the two power output terminals of the input side gear assembly and the two power input terminals of the output side gear assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jongwon Lee, Youn Baek Lee, Se-Gon Roh, Jeonghun Kim, Minhyung Lee, Byungjune Choi, Jungyun Choi, Hyun Do Choi
  • Patent number: 10731737
    Abstract: An angle-measuring device is provided for a rotationally-driven linear actuator, which can be implemented into a clutch actuator. A rotor element has an axis of rotation and rotates concentrically with a rotor of a rotary drive for an axially movable linear actuator element. A measurement magnet arrangement is fixed relative to the rotor element and has a polarization. The polarization is oriented in such a way that the magnetic field lines can change with a rotation of the rotor element so as to enable the angle to be precisely determined from at least one measurement position. At one location, a 360-degree sensor is provided for measuring angular positions based on the measurement magnet arrangement. At another location, a revolution-counting sensor is provided for counting a number of revolutions carried out based on the measurement magnet arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Markus Dietrich, Laszlo Man, Peter Greb
  • Patent number: 10731758
    Abstract: A parking lock having a locking pawl engageable into a parking interlock gear, a connecting rod with an interlocking element to prevent the parking lock from disengaging when in the locked condition, a spring for engaging the parking lock, a hydraulically actuatable actuator for disengaging the parking lock, and an emergency release device for emergency disengagement of the parking lock. The piston is articulatedly connected to a first disk rotatably mounted on a selector shaft, a second disk connected to the selector shaft in a torsion-proof manner is articulatedly connected to the connecting rod, the spring is tensioned between the transmission housing and the second disk, and the emergency release device is connected to the selector shaft in a torsion-proof manner. The first disk is operatively connected to the second disk such that rotation of the second disk by the emergency release device does not rotate the first disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Markus Herrmann, Marcel Gutzeit
  • Patent number: 10731710
    Abstract: A clutch for a lift fan comprising at least one output shaft lug key positioned in a keyway of at least two output clutch plates and extending axially from one to the other of the two output clutch plates. The output shaft lug key couples the rotation of the output clutch plates to the rotation an output shaft and allows axial movement of the two output clutch plates relative the output shaft lug key. The output shaft has an outer radial surface and an oppositely disposed inner radial surface, and the inner surface of the output shaft lug key extends radially to the seat of the keyway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Tyler Bouton, Kevin Beckner, Andy Copeland, Matt Starr, Doug Schwerin, Kyle Hassler
  • Patent number: 10724633
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a vehicle including a motor-generator, a transmission, a shift hydraulic control unit, and a CVT control unit (CVTCU). When a downshift of the transmission is performed without an acceleration request from a driver, the CVTCU sets a pulley thrust at a secondary pulley on the basis of a first lower limit as a lower limit, which is a sum of a fundamental thrust and a first correction thrust. The CVTCU also sets a pulley thrust at a primary pulley on the basis of a second lower limit as a lower limit, which is a sum of the fundamental thrust and a second correction thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Iwasa, Hironori Miyaishi, Sungpil Ryu, Tetsuya Izumi
  • Patent number: 10724607
    Abstract: Provided is a speed reduction or speed increasing apparatus where the rotational stiffness can be increased, including a housing, a first crown gear, a support unit placed radially outward of the first crown gear to support the first crown gear to be capable of wave motion and incapable of rotation with respect to the housing, a second crown gear configured to be rotatable with respect to the housing, the second crown gear having a different number of teeth from the first crown gear, the second crown gear facing the first crown gear, and a cam unit configured to incline the first crown gear with respect to the second crown gear in such a manner that the first crown gear engages with the second crown gear, and to cause the first crown gear to undergo wave motion in such a manner that the location of contact moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Saito, Yuichi Mizutani
  • Patent number: 10723216
    Abstract: A hybrid assembly, including: a torque converter; a shaft; a hybrid module; and a module hub. The torque converter includes: a cover; an impeller; a turbine; a stator; and an output hub arranged to non-rotatably connect to a transmission input shaft. The shaft is arranged to receive torque and includes a channel. The hybrid module includes: an electric motor including a stator and a rotor non-rotatably connected to the cover; and a transfer clutch arranged to control transmission of the torque from the shaft to the cover. The hub is non-rotatably connected to the cover and includes a channel: connected to the torque converter; and arranged to receive first pressurized fluid from a first channel in the transmission input shaft. The channel of the shaft is arranged to receive second pressurized fluid, from a second channel in the transmission input shaft, to control operation of the transfer clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kyle Nelson, Peter Rentfrow
  • Patent number: 10724630
    Abstract: In a control apparatus for an automatic transmission, in a drive train, a driving source and the automatic transmission having a plurality of gear-shift stages including the gear-shift stages at each of which a one way clutch is engaged during a drive are equipped, a gear-shift line correction by such coast correction lines as to provide such gear-shift line shapes projecting toward a lower vehicle speed side in a small accelerator opening area is added to up-shift lines of the gear-shift stages at each of which the one way clutch participates from among the gear-shift lines after the correction by vehicle speed correction lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Ogasawara, Hiroaki Shiokawa, Yuichiro Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 10718429
    Abstract: A slip lock-up control device for a vehicle includes a torque converter having a lock-up clutch, and a slip lock-up controller. The slip lock-up controller performs slip lock-up control using a lock-up pressure difference command to match an actual slip rotational speed to a target slip rotational speed based on engine torque information indicative of input torque, when a lock-up engagement condition is fulfilled when the lock-up clutch is in a released state. During the slip lock-up control, when in an engine torque unstable range for which an engine torque has a rise gradient with respect to a rise change of an engine speed, the slip lock-up controller sets the lock-up pressure difference command to a second lock-up pressure difference command for which a pressure difference fluctuation is averaged more than a first lock-up pressure difference command used in a range other than the engine torque unstable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Jatco Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeaki Ishibashi, Syunsuke Ogasawara, Taisuke Hikita, Tomotaka Hirano
  • Patent number: 10718417
    Abstract: A torque converter for a vehicle includes an impeller, a turbine, a stator positioned between the impeller and the turbine, a one-way clutch coupled to the stator and configured to couple to a fixed member, and a controllable clutch assembly. The controllable clutch assembly is configured to selectively engage the stator and the turbine such that the stator is able to rotate with the turbine to facilitate preventing the stator from reacting against the one-way clutch and applying a load to the fixed member and thereby facilitating reducing an output of the torque converter and reducing engine vibration during idle, and disengage the stator from the turbine to enable relative rotation between the stator and turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Thomas F. Wentworth, Gregory A Sbroglia, Jeffrey M Orzechowski
  • Patent number: 10710673
    Abstract: A crankset for a pedal-driven vehicle has a frame with a bottom bracket shell. The crankset includes a crank arm rotatably mounted to the bottom bracket shell of the frame; a spindle operatively connected to the crank arm at an end spaced-apart from the bottom bracket shell and rotatable about a spindle rotation axis. A stationary member fixedly mounts to the bottom bracket shell. A rotatable member operatively engages the spindle and is configured to engage the spindle in rotation. A connecting assembly operatively engages the stationary member and the rotatable member. The connecting assembly is configured to engage the rotatable member in rotation upon rotation of the crank arm about the bottom bracket shell. A pedal angular control assembly operatively connects to the spindle and is configured to control an angle of a pedal according to an angular position of the crank arm during rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: PROTO FAB INC.
    Inventor: Luc Jacques
  • Patent number: 10711867
    Abstract: A modular transmission assembly facilitates its use in all classes of trucks. The transmission is designed to receive one, two or three inputs. In addition, it can add torque multiplying gearsets when needed. The transmission assembly utilizes two gearsets configured in ring-carrier/ring-carrier configuration to operate as a four-node transmission. Two input shafts are coaxial with one inside the other (input shaft 1 inside input shaft 2) allowing torque from the second input to be received directly at the output shaft of the transmission. The transmission includes two controllable clutches coupling the second input with the two gearsets. Two controllable brakes selectively couple various gears of the gearsets to ground. Controlling the clutches and brakes controls the torque of the output shaft as a function of torques received by the first and second input shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Sigma Powertrain, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Patent number: 10711848
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to electrolaminate clutches and transmissions are disclosed. A device can include: an input shaft that can be coupled to an electrolaminate sheet; an output shaft that can be coupled rigidly to a spring positioned over the input shaft, where the spring includes a tab that fits a groove of a spring capture ring that can be positioned over the input shaft; and a drum connected to an electrical ground between the electrolaminate sheet and the spring capture ring, where the drum can be coupled rigidly to the spring capture ring. Then, when a voltage is applied to the electrolaminate sheet, the electrolaminate sheet can clamp to the drum and impart rotation of the input shaft to the drum. The imparted rotation can cause the spring capture ring and the spring to rotate and clamp down on the input shaft, imparting rotation to the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Karen Shakespear Koenig, Pablo Eduardo Garcia Kilroy, Brian Keith McCoy, Allegra Anna Lenta Shum, Joseph Stephen Eckerle