Patents Examined by Ramya Burgess
  • Patent number: 9663108
    Abstract: A method for operating a powertrain system of a vehicle includes determining an initial creep torque command in an operator-selected direction of travel, adjusting the initial creep torque command responsive to an operator braking request and responsive to a change in direction of vehicle speed relative to the operator-selected direction of travel, and operating the hybrid powertrain to generate axle torque in response to the adjusted creep torque command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Adam J. Heisel
  • Patent number: 9664260
    Abstract: A rotational power transmission apparatus is provided including an input coupler having first and second input shafts, a differential engine coupled to the first input shaft and transmitting power to a first output shaft. First and second one-way bearings are coupled to the first output shaft. A first torque converter is coupled to the first one-way bearing, and a second torque converter coupled to the second one-way bearing. An output coupler is coupled to output from the first torque converter, output from the second torque converter and a second output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: CVET Patent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Ervin Weisz
  • Patent number: 9656658
    Abstract: A power transmission device for a hybrid vehicle includes: a power distribution mechanism including a plurality of rotation components; a friction engagement device which is interposed between the engine and the rotation component connected to the engine; and a control device which performs a stop control for the engine and a release control for the friction engagement device so as to cause the vehicle to travel only by the power of the second rotary machine and performs an engagement control for the friction engagement device while the vehicle travels only by the power of the second rotary machine so as to perform a push-start of the engine, and the control device controls the first rotary machine so that the friction engagement device is maintained in a half engagement state at a differential rotation speed higher than a predetermined rotation speed during the push-start of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kensei Hata, Yuji Iwase, Seitaro Nobuyasu
  • Patent number: 9650760
    Abstract: A control device of a wheel loader obtains a first ratio between a value corresponding to a target traveling distance for the wheel loader, when it travels to a discharge position where an excavated substance is discharged after an excavation with a bucket, and a value corresponding to a target elevation amount for an elevation of a boom after a motion is started. The control device also obtains a second ratio between a value corresponding to an actual traveling distance after the wheel loader starts its motion to the position where the excavated substance is discharged after the excavation with the bucket, and a value corresponding to an actual elevation amount of the boom after the motion is started. The control device then controls a transmission toque transmitted to a drive wheel from an engine in order that a difference between the first ratio and the second ratio becomes zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuu Sakon
  • Patent number: 9649926
    Abstract: A power transmission device for a hybrid vehicle includes: a transmission device that includes a carrier to which an engine rotation shaft is connected; a differential device that includes a plurality of rotation components individually connected to a drive wheel, an MG2 rotation shaft, an MG1 rotation shaft, and a ring gear of the transmission device; a gear shift adjustment device that is able to control the transmission device to a neutral state where the transmission of power between the carrier and the ring gear is not allowed or to a state where the transmission of power is allowed; and an HVECU that includes a first step of controlling the transmission device to the neutral state in a state where the transmission of power between the carrier and the ring gear is allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunya Kato, Atsushi Tabata, Tatsuya Imamura, Tooru Matsubara, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki, Yasuhiro Hiasa, Hiroyuki Shioiri, Hiroyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 9651147
    Abstract: In an apparatus for determining failure of a double-clutch automatic transmission having a line pressure-regulating valve, pressure-regulating valves and select valves, it is determined whether the pressure regulated by the line pressure-regulating valve is equal to or greater than a predetermined pressure and it is determined that the line pressure-regulating valve has failed if the pressure regulated by the line pressure-regulating valve is determined to be less than the predetermined pressure, whereas it is determined that one from among the pressure-regulating valves and select valves has failed if the pressure regulated by the line pressure-regulating valve is determined to be equal to or greater than the predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Yoshimura, Takuya Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 9651148
    Abstract: Within of the method for improving the shifting quality at the start of the commissioning of a new automatic transmission or an automated transmission of a motor vehicle, a filling pressure adaptation is carried out by individual gearshifts. At least one adaptation counter is monitored, which indicates the number of the carried out filling pressure adaptations of at least one shifting element with one individual gearshift from the commissioning of the new automatic transmission or automated transmission. As long as the value of a specified number of monitored adaptation counters falls below a specified threshold value, no D-R and R-D reversing operations are permitted by the transmission control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christoph Hess, Philipp Koelbl
  • Patent number: 9651140
    Abstract: An arrangement for estimating the input torque of a dual-clutch transmission for a vehicle is provided. The transmission includes an inner input shaft and an outer input shaft arranged concentrically with respect to the inner input shaft. The arrangement further includes a dual-clutch assembly connecting the shafts to an output shaft of an engine. A torque sensor is arranged on the outer input shaft and connected to a transmission control unit. By torque sensor, a measured torque value is provided during operation of the outer input shaft and for providing an estimated torque value during operation of the inner input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Mattias Åsbogård, Krister Fredriksson
  • Patent number: 9643608
    Abstract: A vehicular power transmission device that includes a parking gear that is drivingly coupled with wheels; a parking pawl that is capable of meshing or unmeshing with or from the parking gear; a hydraulic pressure actuator that unmeshes the parking pawl from the parking gear when a release hydraulic pressure is supplied; a first oil pump that generates a hydraulic pressure; a second oil pump that generates a hydraulic pressure, the second oil pump having a capacity smaller than the first oil pump; a hydraulic pressure control device that is capable of deriving the release hydraulic pressure from the hydraulic pressure generated by the second oil pump or the hydraulic pressure generated by the first oil pump and supplying the release hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic pressure actuator; and a control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoru Kasuya, Masashi Kito, Yuichi Seki, Makoto Iwanaka
  • Patent number: 9644733
    Abstract: A method of determining at least one drag torque acting on the input side of an automatic transmission, such that prior to the determination a separator clutch located between the transmission and an engine is disengaged. To be able to carry out the determination regardless of the type of transmission concerned, also prior to the determination, the transmission is shifted to neutral and subsequently the drag torque is calculated when the engine is deactivated. For this, a first gradient of a transmission input rotational speed is determined, before an engine rotational speed of the engine falls below the transmission input rotational speed, and a second gradient of the transmission input rotational speed is determined, after the engine rotational speed falls below the transmission input rotational speed. The method is stored as a computer program stored on data carrier of a drive-train control unit of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Marcus Gansohr, Benjamin Berger, Florian Schneider
  • Patent number: 9643590
    Abstract: Systems and methods for shifting a transmission of a hybrid driveline that include a torque converter with a lockup clutch are presented. The systems and methods may adjust a feedforward motor torque command to match application of motor torque to a time that a gear clutch closes so that shifting may be improved and so that driveline torque disturbances may be less noticeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander O'Connor Gibson, Felix Nedorezov, Matthew John Shelton, Stuart N. Ford, Todd McCullough
  • Patent number: 9638314
    Abstract: A number of variations may comprise a method comprising: a lubrication system for a transfer case comprising: actively managing an oil level in a plurality of sumps in a transfer case by rotating at least one rotating element in the transfer case to transfer oil through the transfer case to lubricate the transfer case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy L. Cradit, Christopher J. Kowalsky, Kristoffer Nilsson, Daniel Kent Rosengren, John Rode
  • Patent number: 9631680
    Abstract: A dual clutch transmission for motor vehicles, has two transmission sections, a dry dual clutch (1), which transmits the torque from the engine selectively to one of the two transmission sections, and a cooling system having a fan impeller system for active air cooling of the dual clutch (1). To optimize the individual functional parts of the cooling system and to reduce the clutch masses, it is proposed that the central disk (3) and/or at least one contact pressure plate (4, 5) is/are designed as a fan impeller of the fan impeller system (21). The central disk (3) and/or at least one of the contact pressure plates (4, 5) has/have passages which extend radially or have a radial component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Johann Kirchhoffer
  • Patent number: 9631707
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a multiple speed transmission having an input member, an output member, a plurality of planetary gearsets, a plurality of interconnecting members and a plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms. The plurality of planetary gear sets includes first, second and ring gears. The input member is continuously interconnected with at least one member of one of the plurality of planetary gear sets, and the output member is continuously interconnected with another member of one of the plurality of planetary gear sets. At least eight forward speeds and one reverse speed are achieved by the selective engagement of the five torque-transmitting mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Jorg Muller, Rico Resch, Mirko Leesch
  • Patent number: 9624847
    Abstract: A method for controlling operation of a multi-mode powertrain system includes periodically determining a power cost difference between a first power cost and a second power cost. This includes determining the first power cost associated with operating the powertrain system with the engine operating in a presently commanded engine state in response to an operator torque request and determining the second power cost associated with an expected powertrain operation with the engine operating in a non-commanded engine state in response to the operator torque request. The first power cost is compared with the second power cost, and successive iterations of the periodically determined power cost difference between the first power cost and the second power cost are integrated to determine an integrated power cost difference. A transition to the non-commanded engine state is commanded when the integrated power cost difference is greater than a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kee Yong Kim, Anthony H. Heap, John Janczak, Samantha Victoria Lado, YaoYao Wei
  • Patent number: 9625001
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper, including: an axis of rotation; a drive plate; an output flange; and a spring retainer plate including a first side facing in a first axial direction, a second side facing in a second axial direction, and a plurality of spring stops formed of a same material forming the spring retainer plate. Each spring stop: extends from the first side at least partially in the first axial direction; and includes first and second circumferentially separated end surfaces separated, in the first axial direction, from the first side by first and second gaps, and a plurality of springs. Each spring includes a first circumferential end engaged with a respective first end surface and a second circumferential end engaged with a respective second end surface. The spring retainer plate partially surrounds the plurality of springs and retains the plurality of springs in a radially outward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Alfredo Jimenez Perez Mitre, Brian C. Zaugg, Victor Norwich, Joshua David Cerreta, Frank Wolf
  • Patent number: 9625021
    Abstract: An electric portal axle (1) for electrically driving a motor vehicle has a housing (28), a single electric machine (2) and two spur gear stages (13, 14) for driving two wheels of the axle. A shiftable transmission (5) is downstream of the electric machine (2) and is embodied as a planetary gear mechanism with a freewheel (6) and a differential (7). The portal axle (1) has a shifting mechanism (23) for shifting two gear stages of the portal axle (1). In a first gear stage, a ring gear (9) of the transmission (5) and a clutch body (27) that is fixed to the housing are connected, and a clutch (29) between the ring gear (9) and a planetary carrier (11) of the transmission (5) is opened. In a second gear stage the ring gear (9) and the clutch body (27) are disconnected and the clutch (29) is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Daniel Knoblauch, Falk Heilfort
  • Patent number: 9618088
    Abstract: A multi-speed transmission in planetary design for a vehicle with a housing includes a first shaft provided as a drive and a second shaft provided as an output that is arranged axially parallel to the drive. Three planetary gear sets and additional shafts along with six shifting elements are provided, through which the actuation of several gears are realized. Machine elements are provided for the transfer of torque between the drive and the output. The first shaft is connectable, as a drive, to the sun gear of the third planetary gear set, to the planetary gear carrier of the second planetary gear set, to the planetary gear carrier of the third planetary gear set, and is connectable or connected to the sun gear of the first planetary gear set. The second shaft is connected or connectable, as a drive, to the first machine element and to the second machine element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Christian Sibla, Wolfgang Rieger
  • Patent number: 9598069
    Abstract: In a control device for a limited slip differential that limits a differential operation of front and rear wheels of a four-wheel-drive vehicle having mounted thereon a vehicle behavior control device that controls a braking force, an ECU that controls a torque coupling as the limited slip differential includes: a differential limiting force calculating device that calculates target torque of the torque coupling based on a vehicle traveling state; a differential limiting force correcting device that makes a correction to reduce the target torque based on a command from the vehicle behavior control device; and a thermal load calculating device that calculates a thermal load of the torque coupling. The differential limiting force correcting device limits the correction of the target torque based on the command from the vehicle behavior control device, when the thermal load of the torque coupling is equal to or larger than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoaki Kato
  • Patent number: 9598082
    Abstract: In consideration of an amplification effect of a braking force at the time of brake operation, upper-limits (?, ?) of a brake operation force (Brk) with which the execution of free-run coasting and neutral coasting is started may be different, on the basis of whether or not a brake booster can be filled with a negative pressure. Therefore, while the braking force at the time of brake operation is secured, the range of the brake operation force (Brk) with which coasting is executed can be enlarged, and an improvement in fuel economy can be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takeaki Suzuki, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita