Patents Examined by Lillian T Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10465766
    Abstract: A torque transmission device is disclosed that comprises a torque converter and a vibration damping device arranged outside the torque converter housing. The torque converter includes an impeller, a turbine wheel, and a stator. The torque transmission device further includes a power split device disposed inside the torque converter housing and connected to a lock-up clutch and the turbine wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thorsten Krause
  • Patent number: 10457134
    Abstract: A drive train includes a shaft, a first gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, a second gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear and planetary gears coupling the sun gear to the ring gear, a first motor/generator coupled to the first gear set, a second motor/generator coupled to the second gear set, a first clutch that selectively engages the shaft with the second motor/generator and the first gear set, and a second clutch and a third gear set that cooperate to selectively engage the ring gear of the second gear set with the planetary gear carrier of at least one of the first gear set and the second gear set. The planetary gears of both sets are rotatably supported by respective planetary gear carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Jon Morrow, Dave Steinberger, Eric Braun, Andrew Kotloski, Nader Nasr
  • Patent number: 10458519
    Abstract: A geared motor, comprising a direct current motor having a motor shaft, a planetary gear unit with sun wheels, planetary gears, a ring gear, a gear unit casing, a gear unit output shaft, and pinion cages. A plate axially holds the sun wheels, the planetary gears and the pinion cages in the gear unit casing. The plate has a shaft passage to form a preinstallation module. One of the sun wheels has a central shaft receptacle which is formed with a positive fit contour acting in the rotation direction and coupled in a rotationally fixed manner with the motor shaft via a corresponding positive fit contour; and wherein, in the preinstallation module, an engagement of teeth of one of the sun wheels with teeth of one of the planetary gears is provided both before and after a final installation of the direct current motor at the preinstallation module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: BÜHLER MOTOR GMBH
    Inventor: Richard Guttenberger
  • Patent number: 10451163
    Abstract: A trim ring gear for use in an integrated drive generator has a ring gear body extending between a first end and a second end. Outer gear teeth are formed on an outer surface, and inner gear teeth are formed on an inner surface. The outer tooth roll angle at A is between 16.0 and 17.5°, at B is between 17.5 and 190°, at C is between 22.0 and 23.5°, and at D is between 23.0 and 24.5°. The inner tooth roll angle at A is between 31.5 and 33.0°, at B is between 30.0 and 31.5°, at C is between 25.5 and 27.0°, and at D is between 24.0 and 25.5°. An integrated drive generator, and a method of replacing the trim ring gear are also disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Derek R. Hochstetler, Ted A. Martin, Duane C. Johnson, Glenn C. Lemmers, Jessica M. Friedberg
  • Patent number: 10451121
    Abstract: A bi-directional clutch assembly, method of construction thereof and method of setting a preset gap between a magnetically permeable core and armature thereof is provided, An outer race has inner ratchet teeth and an inner race has outer ratchet teeth. A passive one-way clutch has passive struts pivotally supported for locked engagement with the inner ratchet teeth in a first direction. A selectable one-way clutch has an active strut selectively pivotal from an unlocked position to a locked position for engaging the outer ratchet teeth during rotation of the inner race in a second direction opposite the first direction. A protrusion extends radially outwardly from the outer race and has an orifice extending therethrough. A coil is operably supported by the protrusion. The magnetically permeable core is operably fixed in the orifice to be magnetized by the coil to move the at least one active strut to the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian C. Cioc, Darrell F. Greene, David V. Dorigo, Sean A. Steele, Myron R. Samila, Dennis T. Loui
  • Patent number: 10443688
    Abstract: A driving device includes a motor and a gearbox. The gearbox includes a first sun gear, first planetary gears surrounding and engaged with the first sun gear, and a first internal gear ring surrounding and engaged with the first planetary gears. The first sun gear is coaxially fixed to a rotary shaft of the motor. Meshing planes of the first sun gear and the first planetary gears are slanted with respect to the rotary shaft. Each of the first planetary gears is subjected to an externally-exerted first force and exerts a transverse component of force toward the rotary shaft on the first sun gear. The motor structure of the driving device is simplified, which makes the driving device have a more compact structure, lighter weight and lower cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Electric International AG
    Inventors: James Ching Sik Lau, Jing Ning Ta, Qiu Mei Li, Bin Yu
  • Patent number: 10435012
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprising: a pair of drive wheels; an internal combustion heat engine; an electrically controlled transmission; a control unit of the heat engine; a control unit of the transmission; a passenger compartment having a driver's seat provided with a plurality of controls that can be operated by the driver and comprise a steering wheel, an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal and transmission control means; and an electronic control unit of the transmission control means that is physically installed in the passenger compartment close to the transmission control means, fulfills the function of acquiring the current position of the transmission control means and also fulfills the function of vehicle management unit by receiving the orders given by the driver and by providing the control unit of the heat engine and the control unit of the transmission with the corresponding objectives to meet the driver's needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNETI MARELLI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giovanni Gaviani, Cesare Sola, Giuseppe Medico
  • Patent number: 10436307
    Abstract: An axle housing for a vehicle is provided. The axle housing includes a polymeric composite body. The polymeric composite body includes a polymer and a plurality of reinforcing fibers. The polymeric composite body has a modulus of greater than or equal to about 10 GPa. The polymeric composite body defines an inner surface and at least one bearing region. The inner surface defines an interior cavity. The interior cavity is configured to receive an internal gear set including a bearing. The at least one bearing region includes a bore. The at least one bearing region is configured to be disposed around the bearing of the internal gear set. The axle housing may unibody, such that a body portion is free of joints or seams, or it may include multiple pieces. Methods of manufacturing composite axle housings are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Bradley A. Newcomb, Hamid G. Kia
  • Patent number: 10428924
    Abstract: A turbine assembly for a hydrokinetic torque converter. The turbine assembly is rotatable about a rotational axis and comprises a first turbine component coaxial with the rotational axis, a second turbine component formed separately from and non-moveably secured to the first turbine component coaxially therewith, and a plurality of grommets. The first turbine component has a plurality of first turbine blade members integrally formed therewith. One of the first and second turbine components has a substantially annular mounting portion provided with a plurality of mounting holes. Each of the grommets is mounted in one of the mounting holes through the mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventors: Xuexian Yin, Alexandre Depraete
  • Patent number: 10414272
    Abstract: A gear reduction apparatus includes a first gear set and a second gear set connected to a motor shaft, a clutch assembly located between the first gear set and the second gear set and being configured to occupy an engaged state and a disengaged state, wherein the engaged state enables torque transmission from the first rotatable shaft to the second rotatable shaft, and the disengaged state disables torque transmission from the first rotatable shaft to the second rotatable shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Michael L. Bennett
  • Patent number: 10415703
    Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling an automatic transmission including a torque converter to which a driving force of an engine is input includes a specifying unit configured to specify a drag torque of a wet friction type lock-up clutch, and a transmission unit configured to transmit load information including at least the drag torque specified by the specifying unit to a control apparatus of the engine. The specifying unit specifies the drag torque of the lock-up clutch during in-gear based on a slip ratio of the torque converter before in-gear when the lock-up clutch is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventor: Yuya Tachibanada
  • Patent number: 10400833
    Abstract: A clutch piston assembly increases the clamping pressure within a transmission or torque converter, without increasing the oil pressure, in order to reduce the slippage of the clutches against the reaction plates and has a piston housing that receives a cylinder bore ring atop of which is seated a cylinder bore. The cylinder bore has a series of progressively wider inner grooves with the uppermost groove being the widest yet substantially narrower than either of the cylinder bore ring's grooves, thereby decreasing the overall apply area of the central bore thereby increasing the clamping pressure that can be exerted by the clutch piston assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Inventors: Ronald Wayne Wolverton, Christopher Bradly Posadas
  • Patent number: 10393221
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dynamic damper provided with a planetary dear device and damper springs and aims to obtain an increased adjustable range of gear ratio for obtaining a desired reduction of rotating fluctuation and to reduce a size in a radial direction. A plurality of planetary gears 34 are provided, each forms a stepped shape (Ravigneau type planetary gear device) and is constructed by a small diameter pinion 42 and a large diameter pinion 44 juxtaposed in an axial direction so as to be rotated integrally. Rotating elements, which are selectively and desirably arranged to mesh with the small diameter pinion 42 and the large diameter pinion 44, are large diameter and small diameter ring gears and large diameter and small diameter sun gears. In addition to a carrier connecting the plurality of stepped shaped planetary gears 34, two rotating elements are selected from the large diameter and small diameter ring gears and the large diameter and small diameter sun gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: UNIPRES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Kobayashi, Yutaka Murata
  • Patent number: 10385969
    Abstract: A magnetic lock device includes a lock shaft having an abutting portion capable of abutting against a roller of a piston rod of a hydraulic pressure actuator, a transfer shaft configured separately from the lock shaft, the transfer shaft abutting against an end surface of the lock shaft, and a magnetic portion locking (restricting movement to the right side in the drawing) the lock shaft, the transfer shaft, and a plunger by attracting the plunger toward an attracting portion using a magnetic force. The lock shaft is surface-hardened to have a higher hardness and the transfer shaft is made of non-magnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Kokubu, Masaya Nakai
  • Patent number: 10376921
    Abstract: A vibrator for generating vibrations. An exciter cell having rotationally drivable unbalanced masses that are rotatably supported in an exciter cell housing and having an adjustment unit for adjusting the phase position of the unbalanced masses relative to one another. The adjustment unit is configured as a planetary gearing that has at least two input trains to which the unbalanced masses of the exciter cell are coupled that are adjustable in phase relative to one another and that has an adjustment input train for changing the phase position of the output trains of the planetary gearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Liebherr-Components Biberach GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Hausladen, Viktor Schindler
  • Patent number: 10359104
    Abstract: A powertrain includes an engine having a crankshaft. The engine is operable to rotate the crankshaft about a central axis. A torque converter includes a housing that is rotatable about the central axis. A selectable one way clutch system interconnects the housing of the torque converter and the crankshaft. The selectable one way clutch system includes a notch plate and a pocket plate. One of the notch plate and the pocket plate is defined by the housing of the torque converter, and the other of the notch plate and the pocket plate is connected to the crankshaft for continuous rotation with the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC.
    Inventors: Farzad Samie, Derek F. Lahr
  • Patent number: 10359102
    Abstract: A friction roller-type reduction gear includes a sun roller concentric with an input shaft, a ring roller having a stationary ring roller element and a moveable ring roller element, intermediate rollers in rolling contact with an outer peripheral surface of the sun roller and an inner peripheral surface of the ring roller, a coupling part coupling the ring roller and the output shaft, and a loading cam mechanism having a cam ring for changing contact surface pressure of each rolling contact surface. The outer surface of the sun roller is a concave curved surface of which a shape of an outer edge in an axial cross-section is a single circular arc-shaped concave curve, and an outer surface of the intermediate roller is a convex curved surface of which a shape of an outer edge in an axial cross-section is a single circular arc-shaped convex curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawahara, Hiroyasu Yoshioka, Tetsu Takehara, Yuji Shimomura
  • Patent number: 10352373
    Abstract: In a multiple plate clutch having a main spring which is provided between a clutch center fixed in an axial direction and a pressure plate displaceable in the axial direction and presses plural clutch plates in a clutch engagement direction, and a lifter plate for lifting the pressure plate in a clutch release direction, a sub spring for urging the pressure plate in the clutch engagement direction through the lifter plate is provided between the clutch center and the lifter plate, and the lifter plate is lifted by a predetermined amount or more to cut off the urging force of the sub spring to the pressure plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Adachi, Yoshiaki Tsukada, Yoshiaki Nedachi, Junya Ono
  • Patent number: 10352374
    Abstract: A new method of manufacturing a torque-transmitting clutch component is provided. The method includes coining an interface between a flange segment and a hub segment of the clutch component. Additionally, a torque-transmitting clutch component manufactured by the new manufacturing method is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN, INC.
    Inventors: Mike Fisher, Peter Heidbuechel
  • Patent number: 10337567
    Abstract: An apparatus case of a driving force transmission apparatus includes a first case member having an accommodating chamber that accommodates a clutch mechanism including a friction clutch, a second case member combined with the first case member to form a storage chamber that stores lubricating oil, and a partition wall member that partitions the accommodating chamber and the storage chamber from each other. The partition wall member is retained by being sandwiched between the first case member and the second case member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasufumi Nakamura, Shin Komatsu