Patents Examined by Minh Truong
  • Patent number: 12276330
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a case that stores oil inside, wherein the case includes a drain hole that discharges the oil to an outside, and a tubular portion that protrudes in a direction intersecting a direction of gravity, and the drain hole opens in a direction intersecting the direction of gravity on the tubular portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Itou
  • Patent number: 12276202
    Abstract: Aircraft engine oil tanks, lubrication systems, and associated methods are provided. The oil tank includes a first tank portion defining a first volume for holding oil and a second tank portion defining a second volume for holding oil, in fluid communication with the first volume. The first tank portion includes an oil outlet for delivering oil to a lubrication load via a pump. The first volume is in fluid communication with a vent opening for venting the oil tank. At least part of the second tank portion is disposed higher than the vent opening for retaining a quantity of oil inside the oil tank during a negative-g force flight condition and facilitate the recovery of the lubrication system following the negative-g force flight condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Sebastien Bergeron, Marion Daniel
  • Patent number: 12276335
    Abstract: An electric drive arrangement for a vehicle includes a housing. The electric drive arrangement includes an electric machine with a stator connected to the housing and a rotor with a rotor shaft rotatably supported in the housing. The electric drive arrangement includes a transmission to transmit a rotary movement from the rotor shaft to drive a driveline of the vehicle. The electric drive arrangement includes a hydraulic circuit for circulating a fluid to cool and lubricate the electric machine and the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Theodor Gassmann, John Foulsham, Daniel Beeby
  • Patent number: 12270466
    Abstract: A fluid distribution system is disclosed herein for mechanical systems, such as vehicle transmissions with forced lubrication. The fluid distribution system may comprise: a fluid distribution system, comprising: a fluid distribution device positioned in a hollow shaft comprising a coaxial passage and a plurality of radial channels, the fluid distribution device comprising: a cartridge coaxial with the hollow shaft, comprising a first circular side having a coaxial inlet opening and a second circular side having a plurality of tube openings positioned equidistantly from an axis of rotation of the hollow shaft; and a plurality of pipes, each pipe extending from one of the plurality of tube openings parallel to the axis of rotation of the hollow shaft, where a length of each pipe corresponds to axial positions of the plurality of radial channels axially spread apart along the hollow shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: DANA ITALIA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Michelangelo Marini, Matteo Dallapiccola, Pier Paolo Rinaldi
  • Patent number: 12259037
    Abstract: On a partition wall splitting the interior of a case into a gear chamber and a motor chamber, a through hole and a gutter member are provided. The through hole is provided for communication between the gear chamber and the motor chamber. The gutter member extends into the gear chamber below the through hole, and a tip end part thereof is provided above an oil storage part. Oil guided from the motor chamber into the gear chamber through the through hole of the partition wall is guided to the oil storage part through the gutter member, so that, for the oil storage part provided at a wall part not the partition wall of the case and not in contact with the partition wall, more oil can be stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Moe Watanabe, Yoshihito Kurizuka, Kazuaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 12253000
    Abstract: An oil system of a gas turbine engine, includes a first oil circuit and a second oil circuit. Via the oil circuits, oil is supplied to a hydraulic load of a transmission of the engine. Downstream of the load, in the region of a return of the transmission, oil is introduced into the oil circuits from the transmission. Upstream of the load, in the region of inlets, oil can be introduced into the transmission from the oil circuits. The second oil circuit includes an oil accumulator between the return and the inlet of the second oil circuit. The oil accumulator is configured such that, according to a feed pressure of the oil upstream of the inlet, oil is stored in the oil accumulator or oil stored in the oil accumulator is fed toward the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
    Inventors: David Williams, Stefan Menczykalski, Stephan Uhkötter, Uwe Kracht, Wolfram Kurz-Hardjosoekatmo
  • Patent number: 12247503
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for the lubrication of the engine of an off-road vehicle, such as when the vehicle is airborne or upside down due to tipping over. The apparatus includes an upper chamber and a lower chamber. Fluid communication is established between the upper chamber and the lower chamber by way of a central tube. One or more vanes are arranged in the interior of the central tube to inhibit oil flow from the lower chamber to the upper chamber when the vehicle is upside down. An inlet hose connector is configured for receiving engine oil from an oil cooler and supplying the engine oil to the lower chamber. An outlet hose connector is configured for conducting the engine oil from the lower chamber to the engine. A bypass hose connector is configured for allowing the engine oil to exit from the upper chamber to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Inventor: Robby Gordon
  • Patent number: 12241540
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes a housing that defines a reservoir. A shaft is rotatably disposed in the housing, and the shaft defines a bore. A cap is positioned to seal the reservoir. The cap defines an opening configured to supply lubricant to the shaft. The opening in the cap is positioned proximal the shaft to spray the lubricant into the bore. In one form, the cap has a nozzle, and the nozzle defines the opening configured to supply the lubricant to the shaft. The shaft is configured to rotate about a rotational axis, and the bore extends along the rotational axis of the shaft. The nozzle is aligned with the rotational axis of the shaft to spray the lubricant into the bore in order to lubricate bearings and other parts of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventor: Austin Morris
  • Patent number: 12215777
    Abstract: A smart system for oil delivery including a dispenser assembly, a pressure supply assembly, a gearbox assembly, and an electronic assembly. The dispenser assembly including a dispenser. The dispenser being an enclosure with a hollow interior with a valve located at one end. The hollow interior of the dispenser defining a reservoir for the storage of oil or other lubrication fluids. The interior of the dispenser further including a pressure supply assembly. The pressure supply assembly including a spring and a plunger that are oppositely located with respect to the valve within the interior of the dispenser. The electronic assembly includes a flow meter, a solenoid valve, and a microcontroller unit. The electric valve being actuated by the microcontroller unit to allow the pressure supply assembly to expel oil stored within the reservoir via the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Zulu Pods, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd M. Currier, Robert Sladen, Troy P. Cunningham, Adam Smedresman
  • Patent number: 12209653
    Abstract: A system for a decentralized emergency lubrication system including a dispenser assembly, a pressure supply assembly, a gearbox assembly, and an electronic assembly. Self-contained packaged oil delivery dispensers that generate its own pressure supply independent of a pump. It is possible to design systems of these packaged oil delivery systems which are strategically placed in a gearbox housing to provide the optimal amount of lubrication during a loss of lubrication (LOL) event. The benefit of dispensers driven LoL solution is that the technology is decentralized in nature, meaning that the supply of pressure does not rely on a single pump or the plumbing of nozzles to a pump. Dispensers offer system redundancy as well as the option to place satellite units strategically mounted in a gearbox housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Zulu Pods, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd M. Currier, Robert Sladen, Adam Smedresman
  • Patent number: 12202599
    Abstract: A drive system for an aircraft includes a first gearbox assembly and a second gearbox assembly that is in mechanical communication with the first gearbox assembly. A first pressurized lubrication system is configured to circulate a first lubricant through the first gearbox assembly. A second pressurized lubrication system is configured to circulate a second lubricant through the second gearbox assembly. An emergency lubrication system is configured to autonomously supply a portion of the first lubricant to the second gearbox assembly responsive to a loss of pressure in the second pressurized lubrication system. The emergency lubrication system is also configured to autonomously supply a portion of the second lubricant to the first gearbox assembly responsive to a loss of pressure in the first pressurized lubrication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Stephen Olson, Ezra Mike Tiprigan
  • Patent number: 12203506
    Abstract: A greasing device that feeds grease to a portion requiring greasing that is housed inside a housing, and includes a jig and a greasing pipe fixed to the jig. The housing includes a though-hole that extends through the housing. The jig includes an insertion part that is inserted into the through-hole of the housing. A side surface of the insertion part bear a marking-off line at a position a predetermined distance away from a leading end side of the insertion part. A positon of the marking-off line is a height position that the greasing pipe does not come into contact with inner components of the housing when the jig is inserted into the through-hole up to the positon of the marking-off line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsuhiro Takenaka
  • Patent number: 12181100
    Abstract: A fluid draining system, for serving as an aid in emptying waste oil or other fluid from a fluid container to a fluid collection container, includes a main body, which may be made of injection molded plastic and may be at least partially transparent. The main body may have an opening for entrance of fluid from the fluid container, and a lower downward sloping chute for the exiting of the fluid towards the fluid collection container. A sleeve with one or more elastic seals may be provided at the main body to fluid-tightly yet operatively accommodate a socket extension or other tool for operating a drain plug of the fluid container. The fluid draining system may provide a unique hands free, confined fluid flow channel through which fluid will flow while draining from the fluid container, such as from an engine oil pan, crankcase, or transmission sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Inventor: Bruce Crater
  • Patent number: 12180039
    Abstract: A sliding guide shoe for guiding a counterweight includes a single-piece guide element made of a plastic material. The guide element has an engagement element that extends in the longitudinal direction and can be brought into interlocking engagement in a cutout formed in a yoke of a counterweight frame. The guide element further includes a collar engaging around the cutout and forming a stop for positionally securing the guide element, the collar adjoining the engagement element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Romeo Lo Jacono, Alessandro D'Apice
  • Patent number: 12181101
    Abstract: A system for a motor vehicle may include a reservoir, a plurality of lubricant paths extending through the reservoir, a plurality of coolant paths extending through the reservoir, a plurality of delivery devices attached to the reservoir, and a plurality of coolers attached to the reservoir. The reservoir may include two sumps for lubricant. The reservoir may include (i) a plurality of reservoir lubricant inlet connections and a plurality of reservoir lubricant outlet connections through which the lubricant paths extend, (ii) a plurality of reservoir coolant inlet connections and a plurality of reservoir coolant outlet connections through which the coolant paths extend, (iii) a plurality of fluidic pump connections fluidically connected to the plurality of delivery devices, and (iv) a plurality of reservoir lubricant outlets, a plurality of reservoir lubricant inlets, a plurality of reservoir coolant outlets, and a plurality of reservoir coolant inlets fluidically connected to the coolers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Jauss, Hans-Martin Ruppert, Josef Rutha, Kai-Torsten Schmiedl
  • Patent number: 12173783
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission has an oil pan, an oil strainer located above the oil pan and a control valve unit located above the oil pan. The control valve unit has a shape having a cutting portion formed by a part of the control valve unit being cut out when viewed from an oil pan side. The oil strainer is arranged so as to overlap the cutting portion. With this structure, it is possible to ease a restriction on layout in terms of a height direction in the continuously variable transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Numata, Tahei Toyoshima, Daisuke Yanagawa, Tomoya Otaki, Akira Higashiyama, Fuminori Satoh, Naoya Shimizu
  • Patent number: 12163584
    Abstract: In some examples, an aircraft gearbox comprises a plurality of gears and a hybrid lubrication system to lubricate the plurality of gears. The plurality of gears comprises a first gear and a second gear. The plurality of gears operable to rotate based on torque received from a driveshaft. The hybrid lubrication system comprises a pressurized lubrication system and a non-pressurized lubrication system. The pressurized lubrication system comprises a nozzle to spray a lubricant onto the first gear. The non-pressurized lubrication system comprises a reservoir to catch a portion of the lubricant from the pressurized lubrication system. The second gear is operable to disperse the lubricant across others of the plurality of gears based on the second gear rotating through the portion of the lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Russell L. Mueller
  • Patent number: 12152635
    Abstract: There is provided a guide jig including a guide jig body and an engagement portion provided on the guide jig body and configured to be engaged with an engagement partner with the guide jig body positioned with respect to the engagement partner. The guide jig body includes a guide through hole provided as a through hole extending toward a relevant portion with the engagement portion engaged with the engagement partner and configured to guide the direction of insertion of an insertion portion to be inserted into the through hole and moved toward the relevant portion. The engagement portion includes at least two projecting portions. The at least two projecting portions are disposed in line in the direction of insertion. A gap between adjacent projecting portions, among the at least two projecting portions, is set to have a length corresponding to the thickness of the engagement partner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsuhiro Takenaka
  • Patent number: 12140058
    Abstract: An engine end cover integrated oil pump assembly comprises an engine end cover, an oil pump, a crankshaft driving gear and a crankshaft driving gear retaining structure. The oil pump comprises a pump body, an oil pump shaft and an oil pump driving gear, wherein the pump body is integrated with the engine end cover, and the oil pump driving gear is connected to the oil pump shaft. The crankshaft driving gear is rotatably arranged on the engine end cover and externally meshes with the oil pump driving gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG KEBODA INDUSTRY CORP.
    Inventors: Jianhao Ke, Zhanxun Li, Pijin Wan
  • Patent number: 12140221
    Abstract: A lubrication assembly and operating method are provided herein. The lubrication assembly includes a rotating component an axial recess positioned on an axial side of the rotating component, and a lubricant conveyor that remains stationary relative to the rotating component and extends into the axial recess to form a gap between axial recess and the first lubricant conveyor. The lubricant conveyor directs a lubricant toward the axial recess during rotation to generate a lubricant spray focused in a targeted direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: DANA ITALIA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Matteo Dallapiccola, Pier Paolo Rinaldi, Michelangelo Marini