Abstract: A torque converter includes a housing, and an impeller shell disposed within the housing. The impeller shell has a back wall, and a plurality of fins radially arranged and extending outwardly from the back wall. The torque converter further includes a backing hub rigidly coupled to the back wall of the impeller shell. The backing hub has a barrier element extending therefrom. A free end of the barrier element is disposed proximal to the housing to restrict a flow of fluid therebetween.

Abstract: A variable state planetary shifting transmission can include an input shaft, an output shaft; and a planetary system having a sun gear associated with the input shaft, a planetary carrier, and a ring gear associated with a ring housing. The transmission can include an overrunning clutch operably coupled to the planetary carrier. The transmission can include a clutch assembly coupled to the planetary carrier. The transmission is capable of changing the speed ratio between the input shaft and the output shaft by selective engagement of the clutch assembly against the ring gear which can cause either the freeing or locking of the planetary carrier by the overrunning clutch.

Abstract: A crank permission system includes first and second permission modules and a crank module. The first permission module selectively generates a first permission signal, based on a first gear range engaged within a transmission, when an ignition system transitions to crank. The second permission module selectively generates a second permission signal, based on (i) the first gear range stored when the ignition system last transitioned to off and (ii) a second gear range of the transmission requested by a driver using a transmission range selector, when the ignition system transitions to crank. The crank module begins cranking an engine via a starter, in response to the generation of at least one of the first and second permission signals, when the ignition system of the vehicle transitions to crank.

Abstract: An air clutch cover for an air clutch assembly of an agricultural planter is provided. The air clutch cover includes a shell which may be removably installed onto the air clutch assembly. The shell has an opening sized to sealingly receive an air cylinder of the air clutch assembly therethrough. Sidewalls of the shell include cut-outs for allowing portions of the air clutch assembly to protrude outwardly from the air clutch cover.

Abstract: A drive control system for a hybrid vehicle is provided to shift an operating mode smoothly to an electric vehicle mode in which an engine is stopped. A controller is configured to select the electric vehicle mode to be established from the first electric vehicle mode and the second electric vehicle mode upon satisfaction of the determination to shift the operating mode to the electric vehicle mode, to select the clutch to be engaged from the first clutch and the second clutch to establish the selected electric vehicle mode, and to stop the engine while engaging the selected clutch.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling a clutch of a vehicle include determining whether a vehicle is moving under a condition in which a gearshift is coupled to the clutch. A clutch torque is learned in which the clutch is maintained in a micro-slip state by decreasing a target clutch torque for a corresponding gear level when it is determined that the vehicle is moving under the condition in which the gearshift is coupled to the clutch. Learning reliability is calculated by reflecting a difference between an engine torque and clutch torque. The clutch is maintained in the micro-slip state for the clutch torque learning or converting the clutch into a lock-up state, depending on a learning reliability level.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor positioned between an engine and a driveline connected to a vehicle wheel, and a controller. The controller controls engine torque and maintains motor torque during wheel torque and driveline component torque reversals to limit a vehicle output torque rate of change through a lash region associated with a range of driveline torque ratios. A method of controlling a hybrid vehicle includes controlling engine torque to a specified profile and maintaining motor torque at a generally constant value during at least one of wheel torque and driveline component torque reversals to limit a vehicle output torque rate of change through a lash region associated with a range of driveline torque ratios.

Abstract: A control method of a vehicle includes summing weight values according to shift types through a controller during kickdown shifts of the vehicle, calculating a control constant based on the acquired sum of the weight values and the number of times of kickdown shifting through the controller, after summing of the weight values, and adjusting at least one of a shift pattern and an engine RPM based on the calculated control constant through the controller, after the calculation of the control constant.

Abstract: A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft receiving torque of an engine, an output shaft outputting changed torque of the engine, a first planetary gear set including a first rotation element, a second rotation element, and a third rotation element, a second planetary gear set including a fourth rotation element, a fifth rotation element, and a sixth rotation element, a third planetary gear set including a seventh rotation element, an eighth rotation element, and a ninth rotation element, a fourth planetary gear set including a tenth rotation element, an eleventh rotation element, and a twelfth rotation element, and first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rotation shafts, each connected to at least one of the first to twelfth rotation elements.

Abstract: A clutch assembly includes an axle, a gear seat, at least one one-way bearing, an outer limiting sleeve and a hub. The gear seat is rotatably positioned around the axle. The at least one one-way bearing includes an outer race and an inner race. The inner race is securely fitted around the gear seat. The outer race is rotatably positioned around the inner race. The outer race is rotatable relative to the inner race in only one direction. The outer limiting sleeve is securely fitted around the outer race. The hub is securely fitted around the outer limiting sleeve.

Abstract: A differential device includes pinion; pinion shaft; paired side gears connected to paired output shafts and having at outer peripheral portions gear portions meshing with the pinion; and oil introduction passage introducing lubricant oil to mutually-facing surfaces of the side gears. An oil reserving portion facing space adjacent to end surface of the pinion on radially inner side and capable of catching and holding lubricant oil splashed to the space is formed in portion where the pinion and the pinion shaft mutually face, so as to communicate with fitting portion between the pinion and the pinion shaft where they are relatively rotationally slidable. A step portion is formed in at least one of the mutually-facing surfaces, separates part of oil from lubricant flow flowing radially outward along the one surface by centrifugal force, and guides the oil into the space.

Abstract: A damping pulley assembly is disclosed including a pulley with an outer flange and a fixed pulley plate. A floating pulley clutch plate is located within and engaged with the outer flange. Circumferentially spaced apart leaf springs are connected to a pulley hub. Second ends of the leaf springs are connected to a driven hub that includes a fixed hub plate. Floating clutch plates are located between the fixed pulley plate and the fixed hub plate, which are biased toward the fixed pulley plate by the leaf springs so that the clutch plates contact one another and/or the fixed hub or pulley plates.

Abstract: In engaging (connecting) a dog clutch by operating a synchromesh mechanism, when there occurs an uplock at the time when a first pressing force is caused to act on a hub sleeve, tooth tips of spline teeth of the hub sleeve contact with tooth tips of spline teeth of a synchronizer ring, and these spline teeth cannot be engaged. However, when a second pressing force is caused to act on the hub sleeve, the uplock is easy to be released. In addition, when torque from an engine is caused to act on the hub sleeve, a displacement is caused to occur in a rotation direction between the mutually contacting spline teeth. Thus, the uplock is reliably released.

Abstract: A tractor, including: a link mechanism fixation-member which regulates rotation of the HST trunnion shaft by abutting the link mechanism; a link mechanism fixation-member operation lever which makes the link mechanism fixation-member about the link mechanism, or makes the link mechanism fixation-member move in a direction so as to get apart from the link mechanism; a brake pedal which is provided at the other side of the left-and-right sides of the step floor; and a link mechanism joining-cancellation mechanism which makes, in a case where the link mechanism fixation-member is abutting the link mechanism, the link mechanism fixation-member move in a direction so as to get apart from the link mechanism when stepping-on of the brake pedal is performed.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle operable in a user-controlled driving mode and an automatic driving mode includes a hand-operated control element and a contact sensor configured to detect whether a driver of the vehicle is holding the control element. The system further includes a controller to monitor an alertness of the driver while the vehicle is in the automatic driving mode depending on whether the driver is holding the control element and/or switch operation of the vehicle between the user-controlled driving mode and the automatic driving mode depending on whether the driver is holding the control element.

Abstract: An automatic transmission is provided. The transmission includes clutches coaxially arranged in layers in a radial direction of the transmission. The transmission includes a piston provided to each clutch, the pistons being aligned in the radial direction on a same plane perpendicular to an axis of the transmission, without overlapping with each other in an axial view. The transmission includes a common rotational member having a wall, commonly used for the clutches, and disposed at a predetermined position of the transmission in an axial direction, wherein the wall is formed along the plane. The transmission includes operational hydraulic passages parallely arranged in the wall of the common rotational member in a circumferential direction of the transmission on the same plane perpendicular to the axis, each of the operational hydraulic passages communicating with one of operational hydraulic chambers of the respective clutches.

Abstract: A transmission structure of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) may include an engine connected to a front wheel of the hybrid vehicle, a planetary gear part connected to the engine, a first motor generator connected to the planetary gear part, an overdrive brake connected to the first motor generator, and a second motor generator connected to a rear wheel of the hybrid vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of using the apparatus for learning a clutch torque of a Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) includes judging whether shifting begins, controlling torque transmission of a coupling-side clutch and a release-side clutch to cross each other while following a coupling-side target clutch torque when shifting begins, and calculating and storing a learning value, after the controlling has begun, using a function determined by the relationship between an average value of an engine angular acceleration and a coupling-side shifter input-shaft angular acceleration, engine rotation inertia, and a torque compensated to the torque transmission of the coupling-side clutch for reducing a slippage of the release-side clutch by feedback control during a torque handover interval.

Abstract: A transmission includes a first hydraulic clutch, a second hydraulic clutch, a third hydraulic clutch, a pump and a controller. The first, second, and third hydraulic clutches are configured to established a parked-ready condition upon engagement of all three clutches. The pump is configured to generate hydraulic fluid pressure. The controller is programmed to, in response to a command to start an engine that powers the pump, engage the first and second clutches. The controller is further programmed to, in response to engagement of the first and second clutches and obtaining operating hydraulic fluid pressure, engage the third clutch.

Abstract: A multi-function torque converter, comprising: a cover rotatable about a rotational axis and comprising opposite first and second sidewalls, the cover further comprising an outer wall extending between and interconnecting the opposite sidewalls; an impeller coaxially aligned with the rotational axis and comprising an impeller shell; a backing plate extending radially inward from and non-rotatable relative to the outer wall of the cover and being spaced between the opposite sidewalls of the cover, the backing plate having a first engagement surface; and, a turbine-piston coaxially aligned with and hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller, the turbine-piston comprising a turbine shell including a radial extension having a second engagement surface axially movable toward and away from the first engagement surface of the backing plate to position the torque converter into and out of a lockup mode in which the turbine-piston is mechanically locked to and non-rotatable relative to the backing plate.