Patents Examined by Justin Holmes
  • Patent number: 11841067
    Abstract: A transmission structure of the present invention changes capacity of pump body so that vehicle speed detected by vehicle speed sensor increases and reduces according to speed-increasing and speed-reducing operations of speed-change operating member while fixing capacity of motor body at a low-speed motor capacity when the vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a switching speed that is realized by setting motor body to the low-speed motor capacity and setting the pump body to a predetermined pump switching capacity, and changes capacity of motor body so that vehicle speed increases and reduces in accordance with speed-increasing and speed-reducing operations of speed-change operating member while fixing capacity of the pump body at the pump switching capacity when vehicle speed is higher than the switching speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., LTD
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Owada, Koji Iwaki
  • Patent number: 11840235
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a drive motor configured for generating power required for driving of the vehicle, a twin clutch which may include a first clutch and a second clutch and configured to adjust distribution of the power supplied from the drive motor to a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel of the vehicle through the first clutch corresponding to the first drive wheel and the second clutch corresponding to the second drive wheel, and a controller electrically connected to the twin clutch and configured to, when a control condition for a deceleration turning of the vehicle is satisfied, determine a control torque of the twin clutch as a larger value of an initial torque to prevent slip of the twin clutch and a base torque determined based on output torque of the drive motor, and distribute the control torque to the first clutch and the second clutch depending on a drive mode of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, Hyundai WIA Corporation
    Inventors: Taewoo Lee, Jeong Won Song, Sung Keun Lim, Junseok Park, Jong Chan Lee, Heon Kang
  • Patent number: 11833898
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle system. In one example, the vehicle system includes a first electric drive axle assembly and a second electric drive axle assembly. Each of the first and second axle assemblies has a gear train with a planetary gear set axially offset from a motor-generator and each planetary gear set is rotationally coupled to a differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: DANA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventor: Eric M. Engerman
  • Patent number: 11834028
    Abstract: A vehicle gear-shifting control apparatus is equipped with an engine, a motor, an automatic transmission, a friction brake system, and a controller which executes, during deceleration during which the friction brake system is distributing a braking force to front and rear wheels, a regeneration control of imparting a regenerative braking torque to the rear wheels and a gear-shifting control of changing a shift stage of the automatic transmission by outputting a gear-shifting signal in accordance with the rotation speed of an input shaft to the transmission. When the controller determines an oversteered state of the vehicle during the regeneration control, the controller increases an input torque of the input shaft so that the regenerative braking torque decreases while maintaining the regeneration operation of the motor and, at the same time, interrupts motive power transmission between the input shaft and an output shaft of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Yamada, Tooru Uematsu, Atsushi Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 11835129
    Abstract: A control unit is provided for an automatic transmission of a vehicle. The vehicle has a gear selection operating element which allows a user of the vehicle to set different gear stages of the transmission by actuating the gear selection operating element, and the vehicle has at least one setting operating element which allows the user to change the value of a parameter of a function of the vehicle by actuating the setting operating element when the function of the vehicle is activated. The control unit is designed to detect an actuation of the gear selection operating element for a period of time which is equal to or longer than a minimum duration and to determine that the function of the vehicle is deactivated. In response thereto, the control unit is additionally designed to allow a manual change of the transmission gear by actuating the at least one setting operating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stephan Peters
  • Patent number: 11827085
    Abstract: In one aspect, an improved electric transmission assembly is provided that includes a hydrodynamic bearing. The electric transmission assembly includes a stator arranged inside of an outer housing. A rotor is configured to be rotatably driven by the stator. The rotor can include a rotor shaft having a first gear configured to driveably engage with a differential. A hydrodynamic bearing is arranged between the rotor shaft and the outer housing. The hydrodynamic bearing is formed from a non-conductive material. Specifically, the hydrodynamic bearing can be formed from a polymeric or plastic material. In one aspect, the hydrodynamic bearing is formed from a non-metallic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Arjun Kailassh Magalingam Adithyan, Matthew Frary, Jitesh Modi
  • Patent number: 11820216
    Abstract: An axle assembly for frame rail vehicles is described herein. The axle assembly includes a first axle shaft and a second axle shaft orientated along a first axis of rotation. A first electric machine is orientated along a second axis of rotation and a second electric machine is spaced from the first electric machine and orientated along a third axis of rotation. A differential gear set is disposed about the first axis of rotation and is coupled to and driven by a common gear reduction to transfer rotational torque from the first and second electric machines to the first and second axle shafts. A speed change mechanism is coupled between the common gear reduction and the differential gear set to change the rotational torque transferred to the first and second axle shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikram Chopra, Shaun Mepham, Christopher G. Baillie, Siva Srinivas Rajeev Mupparti
  • Patent number: 11821492
    Abstract: A transmission having a housing (18), at least a first input (20) rotatable about a first input axis (IA1), and at least a first output (26) rotatable about a first output axis (OA1). The transmission further includes a first outer side gear (14) connected to and drivable by the first input, a first planet gear set comprising a first inner planet gear (11) and a first outer planet gear (15) with the inner and outer planet gears being rigidly connected to, and in axial alignment with, one another. The first planet gear set is rotatable (22, 24) via the first outer side gear and is also rotatable (23) about the first output axis. The transmission further includes a second outer side gear (16) in mesh with the first outer planet gear, and a second inner side gear (12) connected to the first output and being rotatable about the first output axis via the first inner planet gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: THE GLEASON WORKS
    Inventor: Hermann J. Stadtfeld
  • Patent number: 11820217
    Abstract: An axle assembly for frame rail vehicles is described herein. The axle assembly also includes a drive unit housing that includes an interior cavity enclosing first and second electric machines, a common gear reduction, a differential gear set, and a speed change mechanism with the first and second axle shafts partially disposed within the interior cavity and extending out of the drive unit housing. The drive unit housing includes a central cavity, a lower cavity, a first machine cavity, and a second machine cavity. The central cavity includes the common gear reduction and the axis of rotation of the first and second axle shafts. The lower cavity accumulates a volume of gearbox fluid with the speed change mechanism at least partially immersed in the lower cavity. The first machine cavity includes the first electric machine and the second machine cavity includes the second electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher G. Baillie, Vikram Chopra, Shaun Mepham, Siva Srinivas Rajeev Mupparti
  • Patent number: 11808334
    Abstract: A drive axle assembly includes a motor; a first shaft and a second shaft. A right planet row mechanism is disposed on the first shaft, and a left planet row mechanism is disposed on the second shaft. A right sun gear of the right planet row mechanism is connected with the first shaft. A left sun gear of the left planet row mechanism is connected with the second shaft. The right sun gear has a right central oil passage and a right radial oil passage. The right central oil passage is in communication with the first shaft. The left sun gear has a left central oil passage and a left radial oil passage. The left central oil passage is in communication with the second shaft. The first shaft is in communication with the second shaft to supply oil to the second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Zeming Fang, Hailong Wei, Chupeng Quan, Huiyue Liu
  • Patent number: 11807336
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device is provided for controlling a human-powered vehicle. The human-powered vehicle control device includes an electronic controller controls a transmission device in accordance with a control state including first and second control states. The electronic controller changes the transmission ratio in accordance with a shifting condition including a reference value related to a traveling state of the human-powered vehicle in the first control state. The electronic controller changes the transmission ratio in accordance with an operation performed on an operation portion in the second control state. The electronic controller changes the shifting condition in accordance with a converging reference value for a case where the human-powered vehicle is in a riding converging state. The electronic controller changes the shifting condition in accordance with the converging reference value for a case where the control state is the second control state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Mitsuhiko Kawasaki, Takehiko Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11808326
    Abstract: Infinitely variable multi-epicyclic friction transmission system including a main shaft, ball race discs, a splined tube, and twin planetary cone assemblies attached to a planetary carrier and disposed circumferentially around the splined tube. Each twin planetary cone assembly comprises a torque tube and a planetary cone-hemisphere structure comprising a planetary cone integral with hemisphere at its apex, wherein the planetary cone-hemisphere structure rolls inside the torque tube via the hemisphere, and wherein a slant height of the twin planetary cone assemblies is parallel to the main shaft. System also includes a series of spherical planets, a reaction ring disposed around the twin planetary cone assemblies configured to slide along the planetary cone assemblies to vary a gear ratio, and ball gear retaining rings. Each of the ball gear retaining rings is mounted on one of a plurality of ball gears which are mounted on the ball race discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventor: Aidan McAnulla
  • Patent number: 11801760
    Abstract: A method for controlling torque vectoring of an xEV includes detecting vehicle speed information using speed sensors mounted in the xEV, and estimating a vehicle speed of the xEV in driving based on the detected vehicle speed information, setting a state of the xEV based on the estimated vehicle speed, determining whether there is an intervention request based on the set state of the xEV, detecting a steering angle of the xEV when the intervention request is rejected, and when the detected steering angle of the xEV is within a predetermined reference angle range, determining the xEV as being in a first slip state in which the xEV slips in a longitudinal direction, and resetting the vehicle speed of the xEV through output of a torque vectoring (TV) motor mounted in the xEV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Sok Young Yun, Ye Ahn Yoon, Sang Hyun Jeong, Joo MI Park
  • Patent number: 11796038
    Abstract: An electric powertrain includes a first electric motor that has an uninterrupted connection with a drive shaft of a vehicle. The electric powertrain further includes a second electric motor that has an interruptible connection with the drive shaft. In one form, this interruptible connection includes a clutch. The electric powertrain further includes a first gear train in the form of a first planetary gear and a second gear train in the form of a second planetary gear. The first gear train, second gear train, and clutch are arranged downstream from the first electric motor and second electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur L. McGrew, Jr., Isaac Mock, George S. Pelton, James Allen Raszkowski
  • Patent number: 11788605
    Abstract: A modular high precision gear box arrangement includes first and second gear boxes. The first gear box has a first rotatable hollow wheel, a second fixed hollow wheel and at least one double planet having a first planet and a second planet arranged on a planet shaft. The first planet meshes with the first hollow wheel, the second planet meshes with the second hollow wheel, and the first hollow wheel is coupled with an output. The second gear box includes a fixed hollow wheel that is the second hollow wheel of the first gear box and at least one planet that is the second planet of the at least one double planet of the first gear box. The second gear box further includes an input for driving the planet shaft, wherein the input is arranged centrically or eccentrically to a central rotation axis of the gear box arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventor: Ingo Schulz
  • Patent number: 11787280
    Abstract: Systems and methods for driving an accessory of a vehicle. The system includes a power take-off (PTO) device, a mechanically driven accessory, a battery, and power conversion circuitry electrically connected to the battery. The system also includes a first electric motor mechanically coupled to the PTO device and a second electric motor mechanically coupled to the mechanically driven accessory. The system further includes an engageable mechanical connector that, when engaged, mechanically couples the PTO device and the mechanically driven accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Gerty, Constantin Emil Nedelcu, Uday Vadlamani, Iner Martin Jorgensen, Mark G. Malowicki
  • Patent number: 11787277
    Abstract: A drive includes a rotatably mounted planet carrier, planet gears, a ring gear having internal teeth and external teeth, a rotatably mounted sun gear, and a first gear wheel meshing with the external teeth of the ring gear. The first gear wheel is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the rotor shaft of a first electric motor, the drive has a second gear wheel meshing with a toothed part, the second gear wheel is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the rotor shaft of a second electric motor, and the toothed part is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the sun gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Schwesinger, Matthias Schneider
  • Patent number: 11781619
    Abstract: A planetary transmission (2) includes a stepped planetary gear (24), or planetary gears, which are connected to each other, that is/are disposed radially between a first shaft (6) and axially-adjacent first and second ring gears (12, 16). The stepped planetary gear, or connected planetary gears, include(s) a first gearing region (26) that meshes with a sun gear (8) on the first shaft (6) and the first ring gear (12), as well as a helically-toothed second gearing region (28) that meshes with the second ring gear (16). A cylindrical support region (32) is coaxially provided on/around the first shaft. The stepped planetary gear or the connected planetary gears is/are supported on the cylindrical support region of the first shaft by the outer circumferential surface of the second gearing region. The second gearing region lies on the addendum circle of the second gearing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: HÖHN GMBH
    Inventor: Bernd-Robert Höhn
  • Patent number: 11781475
    Abstract: One embodiment is a system comprising an internal combustion engine including an output shaft, a pulley system structured to be driven by the output shaft, a first alternator and a second alternator structured to be driven by the pulley system, and an electromagnetic clutch integrated within one of the pulley system, the first alternator and the second alternator and structured to selectably couple and decouple at least one of the first alternator and the second alternator from the output shaft. The system includes a controller in operative communication with the internal combustion engine system and structured to evaluate power demand and power production capability parameters of the system and to control the electromagnetic clutch to engage or disengage in response to the evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Kieran J. Richards, David George Sharpe
  • Patent number: 11780329
    Abstract: A power transfer assembly for a vehicle including an input shaft, at least one output shaft, and at least one clutch configured to perform at least one of changing a gear ratio between the input shaft and the output shaft, and coupling the input shaft with a second output shaft of the at least one output shaft. An actuator assembly is configured to activate the at least one clutch. The actuator assembly has a motor with an output drive, a worm gear coupled with the output shaft, and a spur gear meshed with the worm gear and coupled with the at least one clutch for activating the at least one clutch. The worm gear and the spur gear have opposite gear hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: David Wenthen