Patents Examined by Ramya Burgess
  • Patent number: 9599215
    Abstract: A hydraulic actuation system (10) and method of assembly for disconnecting a secondary driveline (27) can be used in an all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicle (14) having a power take-off unit (PTU) (42) for transferring rotary power to the secondary driveline (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Larry A. Pritchard, Thad Kopp, Keith Feldt, Mark Buchanan, Peizhang Tu
  • Patent number: 9593723
    Abstract: A disconnect clutch and method of controlling the connection of a parasitic load to an engine disposed on a machine is disclosed. The disconnect clutch may comprise a flywheel assembly, a friction plate and a coupling. The flywheel assembly may include a flywheel having a cavity, a chamber, a piston moveable between a contracted position and an expanded position, a pressure plate, a lever, and a coupling operably connected to the friction plate. The flywheel may include an end plate. The chamber may be defined by the flywheel and the piston. The lever may apply an activation force to the pressure plate when the piston is in the expanded position. The friction plate may be attached to and rotatable with the flywheel assembly when the piston is in the expanded position and generally stationary when the piston is in the contracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Douglas Anderson, Megan Alissa Brinkmeyer, Daniel P. Sergison, Thomas Alan Brosowske, Grant Steven Peterson, Michael G. Cronin, Raymond B. Derer
  • Patent number: 9594090
    Abstract: A planetary gearset is provided in a transmission for a vehicle. The planetary gearset includes a carrier that rotates about the axis. Tone wheels can be used as part of a speed-sensing mechanism in which the tone wheel includes surface features on an outside surface, and a speed sensor senses the surface features as they rotate about the axis and past the speed sensor. The tone wheel is connected to the carrier via a press-fit or interference-fit. To do so, the tone wheel includes legs or flanges that extend inward from an inner surface of the tone wheel. The legs or flanges flex as the tone wheel is pressed onto the carrier. The legs or flanges securely attach the tone wheel to the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley Ronald Heuver, Brandon David Lint, Peter Schultz
  • Patent number: 9592832
    Abstract: A method for controlling regenerative braking in a hybrid electric powertrain includes using an e-pump to supply fluid to a transmission provided an indication that a torque converter clutch disengagement will occur under current powertrain operating conditions is present, and discontinuing use of the e-pump and using a mechanical pump to supply fluid to the transmission provided the indication that a torque converter clutch disengagement will occur under current powertrain operating conditions is absent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIE,S LLC
    Inventors: Felix Nedorezov, Hong Jiang, Zhengyu Dai, Mark S. Yamazaki, Daniel S. Colvin
  • Patent number: 9593725
    Abstract: A self-adjusting clutch (10) can include an automatic adjustment mechanism (20) for decreasing an axial dimension within a clutch pack (14). The adjustment can compensate for wear of the facing surfaces of interposed members located within the clutch pack (14), resulting from repeated engaging and disengaging under a clutch apply load within the clutch (10). The adjustment mechanism (20) can include a reaction plate (12) normally biased toward the clutch pack (14) by a plurality of first springs (22). The adjustment mechanism (20) can further include a plurality of pawls (24) supported for rotation by the reaction plate (12) and biased by a plurality of second springs (26) toward a locking position with respect to a ring member (36). The plurality of pawls (24) can lock the reaction plate (12) against axial movement in a direction of the clutch apply load during clutch actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Larry A. Pritchard
  • Patent number: 9587682
    Abstract: A clutch includes a clutch housing configured to hold a clutch plate, and a clutch gear configured to transmit rotary drive power to the clutch housing via a damper. The clutch housing has a rib that regulates a position, of the damper, in an axial direction. The dampers are accommodated in accommodation holes that are spaced from each other in a circumferential direction of the clutch gear. The rib is formed in an annular shape so as to be aligned with the accommodation holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Inagaki, Yasushi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9586590
    Abstract: A control device for a drivetrain of a vehicle, includes a drive engine, a starting element, and a coupling element. The coupling element brakes a secondary side when the control device receives an input signal indicating a switching off of the drive engine. The starting element includes a mass damper torsional damper arrangement with at least one damper mass. The starting element is coupled with the drive engine by a primary side and with the mass damper torsional damper arrangement by a secondary side so as to be fixed with respect to relative rotation, and the coupling element is constructed to brake the secondary side by coupling with the primary side of the starting element and/or by coupling with a reference component that stationary when the vehicle is stationary. This makes it possible to find a better compromise between comfort, responsiveness, economical, and ecological aspects of the drivetrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Weber, Axel Rohm
  • Patent number: 9579991
    Abstract: A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, controlling a torque output of an electric machine of an electrified vehicle based on estimated loads present during a transmission engagement of the electrified vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Steven Yamazaki, Hai Yu, Bernard D. Nefcy, Felix Nedorezov, Wei Liang
  • Patent number: 9581240
    Abstract: A control apparatus of an automatic transmission includes a first anomaly determination device and an energization interrupting device. The first anomaly determination device is configured to determine whether high-pressure anomaly has occurred in a first pressure regulating device. The high-pressure anomaly is to cause the first pressure regulating device to perform regulation to high pressure only. The energization interrupting device is configured to interrupt energization to a first switching device in a case where the first anomaly determination device determines that the high-pressure anomaly has occurred in the first pressure regulating device and in a state where a first switching valve is located at a first position connected to a first oil passage so as to supply hydraulic pressure of a hydraulic oil regulated by the first pressure regulating device to a second clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideaki Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9581221
    Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, at least four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and a brake actuatable in combinations of four to establish a plurality of forward gear ratios and at least one reverse gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Edward W. Mellet, James M. Hart, Daryl A. Wilton
  • Patent number: 9574622
    Abstract: A system is provided for latching and draining a torque transmitting device. The system may include a clutch feed channel having an inlet portion and a clutch portion. The inlet portion is configured to provide hydraulic fluid from a pressurized source to the clutch portion. The clutch portion is configured to provide hydraulic fluid to a torque transmitting device. An inlet valve connects the inlet portion of the clutch feed channel to the clutch portion of the clutch feed channel. The inlet valve is configured to open to allow the hydraulic fluid to flow from the inlet portion to the clutch portion when the torque transmitting device is engaged. The inlet valve is configured to close and to trap hydraulic fluid within the torque transmitting device when the torque transmitting device is not actively pressurized. A multispeed transmission is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Craig S. Ross, Paul G. Otanez
  • Patent number: 9573582
    Abstract: A control device of a continuously variable transmission for a vehicle to which power of a drive force source is input through a transmission path connecting/disconnecting device changes a gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission to a lower vehicle speed side during vehicle deceleration when the transmission path connecting/disconnecting device is in a power transmission interrupted state of interrupting power transmission through a power transmission path between the drive force source and the continuously variable transmission, earlier as compared to when the transmission path connecting/disconnecting device is in a power transmittable state enabling the power transmission, and the control device changes a gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission earlier to the lower vehicle speed side when vehicle deceleration is larger, when the transmission path connecting/disconnecting device is in the power transmission interrupted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shuhei Ishikawa, Motonori Kimura, Atsushi Ayabe, Shinya Toyoda
  • Patent number: 9568098
    Abstract: A controller for a vehicle transmission is disclosed. The controller may include an electronic control unit configured to carry out a change shift for changing a path of the transmission of power between a first transmission path and a second transmission path by engaging a predetermined clutch mechanism. The electronic control unit may also be configured to set a change speed ratio region that defines a range of a speed ratio of the first transmission mechanism such that a rotation speed difference between engagement members of the clutch mechanism, which are engaged with each other in carrying out the change shift, is smaller than or equal to a predetermined value. When a speed ratio outside the change speed ratio region is set in the first transmission mechanism, the change shift is not carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motonori Kimura, Daisuke Inoue, Atsushi Ayabe, Shuhei Ishikawa, Hiroki Kondo, Akira Hino, Kenji Matsuo, Takuro Shimazu
  • Patent number: 9568076
    Abstract: An epicycloid planet gear cam that converts rotational movement of a driveshaft into linear movement of an output device is disclosed. An epicycloid planet gear is assembled inside a stationary housing with an internal stationary ring gear. A driveshaft eccentric is connected to a driveshaft. The driveshaft eccentric rotates freely in a mounting hole of the epicycloid planet gear. When the driveshaft rotates, the driveshaft eccentric engages the epicycloid planet gear against the stationary ring gear and causes the epicycloid planet gear to rotate. A cam follower pin attached to an output device is held, via a follower roller ball against a cam track of the epicycloid planet gear. As the epicycloid planet gear rotates, the recessed cam track depth causes the cam follower pin to move up or down thereby moving the output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Patrick James McGrath
    Inventor: Patrick James McGrath
  • Patent number: 9568051
    Abstract: A spring type one-way clutch includes an outer ring rotatable about a rotary shaft and having an inner tubular portion, and a clutch spring mounted in the outer ring. The clutch spring includes a large-diameter coil spring portion, a transition portion connected to the winding end of the large-diameter coil spring portion, and a small-diameter coil spring portion connected to the radially inner end of the transition portion and wound in the opposite direction from the large-diameter coil spring portion. When the outer ring is rotated in the direction opposite the winding direction of the large-diameter coil spring portion, the large- and small-diameter coil spring portions are radially compressed and pressed against the inner tubular portion and the rotary shaft, allowing the rotary shaft to rotate together with the outer ring. The transition portion spirals radially inwardly in the winding direction of the large-diameter coil spring portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiichi Takada, Chiyori Satou
  • Patent number: 9566973
    Abstract: Control apparatus for internal combustion engine in which alcohol fuel can be used includes: acquisition unit for acquiring alcohol concentration of fuel; electric motor for driving internal combustion engine; and a control unit configured to control the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. The control unit is configured, when the running time from a low-temperature start to the stoppage of the internal combustion engine or a parameter increasing with an increase of the running time is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, to cause, after the stoppage of the internal combustion engine, the electric motor to subject the internal combustion engine to motoring and to set the motoring time of the motoring to be shorter when a fuel alcohol concentration acquired by the acquisition unit is relatively high compared to when a fuel alcohol concentration acquired by the acquisition unit relatively is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kanai
  • Patent number: 9562576
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining a biting point of a friction clutch device of a motor vehicle that is actuatable between a disengaged and an engaged position, the friction clutch device having a hydrostatic actuator device with at least one position sensor and at least one pressure force sensor, the friction clutch device being actuated in the disengagement and/or engagement direction, and data are obtained with the help of the at least one position sensor and the at least one pressure force sensor, while based on the obtained data a position force characteristic curve having a first section and a second section is obtained, the first section being approximated with the help of a linear equation and the second section being approximated with the help of a parabolic equation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Erhard Hodrus
  • Patent number: 9562575
    Abstract: A ratchet type one-way clutch is provided that includes an outer race having a pocket on an inner circumference thereof, an inner race arranged on an inner diameter side of the outer race so as to be coaxial therewith, the inner race having a notch on an outer circumference thereof, a pawl member housed in the pocket and engaged with the notch of the inner race to transmit torque between the inner race and the outer race, and a spring for urging the pawl member to the inner race. The ratchet type one-way clutch is provided with urging force stabilizing means for stabilizing an urging force of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: NSK-WARNER K.K.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kawai, Kazuyuki Fujita, Masahiro Yamada, Sousuke Kawai
  • Patent number: 9555806
    Abstract: A method for controlling rollback of a work vehicle may include receiving a signal indicating that a pedal of the work vehicle has been depressed, wherein the work vehicle is initially traveling in a first direction up an inclined surface such that at least one clutch of the transmission is engaged. In addition, the method may include reducing a pressure within the at least one clutch after receiving the signal in order to decelerate the work vehicle in the first direction and engaging a parking brake of the work vehicle as the work vehicle reverses direction and travels in a second direction down the inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Garth Harvey Bulgrien, Peter J. Dix, Pawel Kuros
  • Patent number: 9546697
    Abstract: A vehicle power transmission system includes a clutch having a friction plate, a clutch plate, and a pressure plate for elastically pressing the friction plate or the clutch plate by a pressure elastic body, a clutch actuator that applies a clutch OFF pressing force to the pressure plate, and a control device. When causing the clutch to shift to a clutch ON state, the control device controls operation of the clutch actuator to make the clutch OFF pressing force less than an elastic force of the pressure elastic body and apply an anti-assist force to the pressure plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA F. C. C.
    Inventors: Ryohei Chiba, Shouji Makita, Kaoru Iida, Makoto Sato, Kazuyoshi Miyachi