Patents Examined by Lillian T Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11079007
    Abstract: A method of assembling an epicyclic gear train includes providing a unitary carrier that includes spaced apart walls and circumferentially spaced mounts interconnecting the walls, spaced apart apertures provided between the mounts at an outer circumference of the carrier, gear pockets provided between the walls and mounts extending to the apertures, and a central opening in at least one of the walls, inserting an intermediate gear through the central opening and moving the intermediate gear radially into the gear pocket to extend through the aperture, inserting a baffle into the carrier, and inserting a sun gear through the central opening to intermesh with the intermediate gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: William G. Sheridan, Michael E. McCune
  • Patent number: 11078999
    Abstract: A torque converter includes a case and a bypass clutch having a plate rotationally fixed to the case and a friction disk having a friction material configured to engage with the plate to rotationally couple the friction disk to the plate when the bypass clutch is engaged. The friction disk includes a first circumferential connection surface having a plurality of alternating convex and concave arcuate segments. A drive plate includes a second circumferential connection surface having a plurality of alternating convex and concave arcuate segments. The first and second connection surfaces are in meshing engagement with the convex segments of the friction disk meshing with the concave segments of the drive plate and with the concave segments of the friction disk meshing with the convex segments of the drive plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jorge Arturo Martinez Torres, Drew Hilty, Long Souers
  • Patent number: 11073183
    Abstract: A selectable clutch includes: input and output members; a pocket plate connected to the output member; struts accommodated in accommodation recess portions of the pocket plate; a notch plate connected to the input member; a selector plate, disposed between the pocket plate and the notch plate; contact portions, movable in an axial direction of the rotational axis, rotating integrally with the selector plate around the rotational axis; and an actuators, fixed so as to be non-rotatable, including a plungers connected with the contact portion via bearings, cases, and coils accommodated in the cases. Further, by the coils being energized and the plungers being sucked in the axial direction, the contact portions are pushed in the axial direction, and by the contact portions being pushed to the input member, the selector plate rotates and the struts rise up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shioiri, Taro Moteki, Yohko Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11073181
    Abstract: A transmission for a motor vehicle is provided. The transmission has a hydraulically or electrically operable gearshift sleeve, a clutch pack, an input shaft, and an output shaft, a gearshift sleeve, a gearshift sleeve claw, and an opposing output claw associated with the output shaft. The gearshift sleeve can be moved from an initial position into a first position, in which the gearshift sleeve transfers an axial force by way of the first ramp element and the second ramp element to the clutch pack for synchronization of the disks, and into a second position, in which the gearshift sleeve claw is connected to the output claw interlockingly in the direction of rotation and thus the input shaft and the output shaft are interlockingly coupled. A method for shifting such a transmission is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Nikola Brk
  • Patent number: 11067169
    Abstract: An automatic transmission assembly for mounting to a power-source includes a torque converter operatively connected to the power-source. The transmission assembly also includes a turbine shaft for receiving power-source torque from the torque converter. The transmission assembly additionally includes a torque transfer system, having a gear-train and a hydraulic pressure operated torque-transmitting device, for receiving the torque from the turbine shaft and selecting an input-to-output speed-ratio of the transmission. The transmission assembly also includes an output member for receiving torque from torque transfer system and outputting the torque to drive a load. The turbine shaft defines a first passage configured to supply hydraulic pressure to the torque-transmitting device and a second passage configured to vent to atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Charles Stepanian
  • Patent number: 11067135
    Abstract: An automatic transmission is provided, which includes a friction engaging element. The friction engaging element includes a plurality of friction plates disposed inside a transmission case, a piston configured to cause the plurality of friction plates to be engaged with each other, a spring configured to bias the piston, and a hydraulic chamber to which hydraulic fluid is supplied, the hydraulic fluid biasing the piston. The hydraulic chamber is disposed so as to overlap with the spring in a radially internal and external relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Shota Yamakawa, Tatsuhiko Iwasaki, Tomotaka Ishizaka
  • Patent number: 11067137
    Abstract: A selectable one-way clutch includes: a pocket plate including pockets provided along a circumferential direction on one surface; a notch plate that is rotatable with respect to the pocket plate, the notch plate including notches provided along a circumferential direction on a surface facing the one surface; struts that are plate-shaped and housed in the respective pockets; and a selector plate disposed between the pocket plate and the notch plate, and configured to switch, by rotating coaxially with the pocket plate, between: a state in which the struts have risen toward the notch plate; and a state in which the struts are housed in the respective pockets. The notch plate includes flat portions between the notches that are adjacent in the circumferential direction, and each flat portion includes a first recess at a position where the corresponding strut having risen toward the notch plate is brought into contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Shotaro Kato, Hiroyuki Shioiri, Hiroyuki Ogawa, Hiroyuki Shibata, Mitsuaki Tomita, Yuki Kurosaki, Joshua D. Hand
  • Patent number: 11060466
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for controlling an electric machine rotatably coupled to a rotatable shaft of an electronically-controlled one of a turbocharger and an exhaust-driven turbo supercharger fluidly coupled to an exhaust duct of an internal combustion engine. An operating temperature of a component of the engine is determined or estimated an operating temperature of a component of the engine or coupled to the engine, which is compared to a threshold temperature. The electric machine is controlled to operate as a motor in response to the determined or estimated temperature of the component being below a threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler R. Garrard, Christopher Meszaros
  • Patent number: 11054011
    Abstract: In at least one implementation, a method of assembling gears into a housing of an automotive differential includes, selecting a thickness dimension of first and second pinion gear washers, and first and second side gear washers, locating a pair of pinion gears, a pinion shaft and a pair of side gears at least partially within an interior of the housing with the pinion gear washers between the housing and separate ones of the pinion gears, and the side gear washers between the housing and separate ones of the side gears. The thickness of the side gear washers may be a function of target side gear apex positions and relative to a pinion gear apex axis. The thickness of the pinion gear washers may be a function of target pinion gear apex positions residing along a pinion gear apex axis and relative to a side gear apex axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: David E. Gall, Kevin J. Kaplan
  • Patent number: 11046166
    Abstract: A hybrid module has an intermediate element via which a counter plate, or at least one of the counter plates, of a coupling device is fixedly connected to a rotor element. At least one pressure plate and/or intermediate plate of the coupling device is here connected rotationally fixedly but axially displaceably to the rotor element via the at least one intermediate element. The result is a compact plate connection which is advantageous in particular for multiplate clutches. The intermediate element may be arranged radially outside the plates (pressure plate(s), counter plate(s) and any intermediate plates) of the coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co KG
    Inventors: Michael Baumann, Aurelie Keller, Karl-Ludwig Kimmig, Ivo Agner
  • Patent number: 11041532
    Abstract: A synchronizer apparatus for a transmission includes first and second shifting gears rotatable on output shaft, a hub spline-coupled with output shaft and having a slope portion having slanted surfaces, a sleeve spline-coupled with hub, a key coupled with the slope portion, first and second clutch gears disposed between hub and shifting gears, first and second outer rings and first and second inner rings disposed between hub and clutch gears, first and second synchronizer cones disposed between first inner and outer rings and second inner and outer rings and engaged with clutch gears, a poppet ball unit disposed at sleeve and contacting key through a poppet ball, first and second push blocks disposed at slanted surfaces, and first and second push springs inserted in spring holes formed at push blocks. In addition, the push springs is abutted by key such to force push blocks to tightly contact slanted surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chon Ok Kim, Minho Chae, Sun Sung Kwon, Yong Uk Shin
  • Patent number: 11035440
    Abstract: A multiple speed transmission includes an input member, an output member, first, second, third and fourth planetary gearsets each having first, second and third members, and a plurality of interconnecting members each connected between at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gearsets and at least another of the first, second, third, and fourth planetary gearsets. The transmission includes a plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms between the input and output members, wherein the torque transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of at least four to establish at least ten forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: ALLISON TRANSMISSION, INC.
    Inventor: Rayman E. Bazilio
  • Patent number: 11035423
    Abstract: An overrunning, non-friction coupling and control assembly, an engageable coupling assembly and locking members for use in the assemblies are provided. A centroid or center of mass of at least one of the locking members is offset from a pivot axis of the locking member so that as the locking member moves from an engaged position, a moment arm of the centroid relative to the pivot axis decreases from a maximum value to substantially zero in a disengaged position to facilitate disengagement of the locking member at high rotational speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Kimes
  • Patent number: 11022188
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an overload clutch, comprising a cylindrical clutch housing having a housing body and a housing cover, and comprising two clutch elements arranged within the clutch housing, via which a drive movement is transmissible in an engaged state, wherein the clutch elements, for transmitting the drive movement in the engaged state, are engaged with each other in an interlocking and/or frictional manner and, can be brought out of engagement when an overload occurs. The housing body comprises a plurality of engagement elements, and the housing cover comprises a plurality of retaining structures corresponding to the engagement elements, wherein the engagement elements are able to be brought into engagement with the retaining structures by rotating the housing cover relative to the housing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignees: MINEBEAMITSUMI TECHNOLOGY CENTER EUROPE GMBH, TESLA, INC.
    Inventors: Sasan Nawabi, Jan Egberink
  • Patent number: 11002351
    Abstract: A range-change transmission device includes a main shaft, an output shaft, and a range-change unit. The range-change unit has at least one planetary gearbox, which includes at least one first gearbox element, at least one second gearbox element, and at least one third gearbox element. The range-change unit also has at least one shifting device, which is provided at least for the selective connection of the main shaft to the first gearbox element and/or to the second gearbox element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: DAIMLER AG
    Inventors: Ingo Pfannkuchen, Detlef Schnitzer, Frank Steffens, Jens Luckmann
  • Patent number: 10995818
    Abstract: A torque transmission device for a powertrain of a motor vehicle has an input area and an output area. A torque path runs from the input area to the output area. A torsional vibration damping unit is positioned first, followed by a gear unit, along the torque path between the input area and the output area. The torsional vibration damping unit provides a first spatial area and an adjoining second spatial area along the torque path, and the gear unit provides an adjoining third spatial area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Paul Weber, Daniel Pittner, Peter Hammer, Alexander Strom, Kyrill Siemens, Steffen Einenkel, Peter Frey, Wolfgang Grosspietsch, Christoph Sasse, Martin Hertel, Alexander Manger
  • Patent number: 10995828
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transmission (100) for a hybrid drive arrangement which can be coupled to two drive assemblies (7, 8), comprising an input shaft (10) and an output shaft (11), at least one first and one second shifting element (SE1, SE2) and at least one double planetary gear (5). The input shaft (10) is connected to the planetary carrier of the double planetary gear (5) and the output shaft (11) can be coupled to the first ring gear of the double planetary gear (5) by means of the first shifting element (SE1) and can be coupled to the second ring gear of the double planetary gear (5) and by means of the second shifting element (SE2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Lucius Dempel, Dominik Eszterle, Thomas Huber, Christian Wirth, Simon Brummer, Tom Smejkal
  • Patent number: 10995803
    Abstract: An electromagnetic system for controlling the operating mode of a non-friction coupling assembly and a coupling and magnetic control assembly are provided. Magnetic circuit components include a ferromagnetic or magnetic element received within a pocket of a coupling member. The element controls the operating mode of the coupling assembly. A stationary electromagnetic source includes at least one excitation coil which generates a magnetic field between poles of the source when the at least one coil is supplied with current. Ferromagnetic or magnetic first and second inserts are received and retained within first and second spaced passages, respectively, of the coupling member. The electromagnetic source, the element, the inserts and air gaps between the various magnetic circuit components make up a closed loop path containing magnetic flux so that the element moves between first and second positions of the element when the at least one coil is supplied with current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Riley C. Moore, Brice A. Pawley, Joshua D. Hand, Ryan W. Essenmacher
  • Patent number: 10995838
    Abstract: The invention relates to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) comprising a ratio varying unit and a compound epicyclic gear set. The ratio varying unit has a rotating first side and a rotating second side, the rotational axes of the first and second sides being coaxial. The compound epicyclic gear set comprises a first set of planets, being rotationally mounted within a carrier and meshing with a sun gear. The epicyclic gear set also has a first annulus gear and a second set of planets; the second set of planets also being rotationally mounted within the carrier and meshing with a second annulus gear. One of the first or second rotating sides of the ratio varying unit is coupled to the carrier and the other of the first or second rotating sides of the ratio varying unit is coupled to the sun gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: ALLISON TRANSMISSION, INC.
    Inventor: Christopher Gaskell
  • Patent number: 10989277
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus may include a first input shaft fixedly connected to an engine output shaft, a second input shaft external and selectively connectable to the first input shaft, a third input shaft selectively connectable to the first input shaft, an intermediate shaft and an output shaft mounted in parallel with the input shafts, a planetary gear set having first to third elements and mounted on the intermediate shaft where two of the three elements are selectively connectable to the intermediate shaft, a plurality of gear sets allowing torque flows between the various shafts and the planetary gear set, first and second synchronizers mounted on the at least one output shaft to selectively receive torques from the second and third input shafts through a plurality of paths and to transmit the received torque to the at least one output shaft, and four clutches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Chon Ok Kim, Seong Wook Hwang, Soonki Eo, Minho Chae, Sun Sung Kwon, Yong Uk Shin