Patents Examined by Richard W. Ridley
  • Patent number: 11965570
    Abstract: An actuator device of a braking device and a clutch may have a pump provided with a single operating device for pressurizing a fluid by a float, and a first delivery circuit and a second delivery circuit fluidly connected to an outlet of the pump. The first delivery circuit may be fluidly connectable to a braking device, the second delivery circuit may be fluidly connectable to a clutch. The actuator device may have a diverter device suitable for fluidly connecting the output of the pump alternately with the first delivery circuit and with the second delivery circuit, so as to alternately actuate the braking device or the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Brembo S.p.A.
    Inventors: Pierangelo Gherardi, Roberto Arienti, Andrea Odoni, Carlo Cantoni
  • Patent number: 11852223
    Abstract: A drive arrangement of a working machine includes a differential gear, a first drive unit coupled to a first element of the differential gear, a working machine coupled to a second element of the differential gear, and a second drive unit coupled to a third element of the differential gear. The speed of the second drive unit can be superimposed on a speed that is dependent on the speed of the first drive unit, whereby the first or second drive unit can be driven at a variably adjustable speed. When a switching element is closed, an auxiliary gear stage is load-transmitting and speeds of the first and second drive units are coupled as a function of at least one transmission ratio of the auxiliary gear stage, and when the switching element is open, the auxiliary gear stage is load-free and speeds of the first and second drive units are decoupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: RENK GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Boiger, Michael Heider
  • Patent number: 11840304
    Abstract: A bicycle handlebar stem or stem/handlebar assembly has an inclined linear travel approximately 45 degrees from horizontal. This inclined path mimics a rider's natural arm inclination and pitching moment. 45 degrees is nearly ideal for most dropped bar road bicycles but different style bicycles may have an ideal angle between 30 and 60 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Inventor: Christopher William Huber
  • Patent number: 11813939
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal system includes a pedal lever that performs an operation in accordance with a step-on operation, a lock mechanism configured to restrict the operation of the pedal lever, and an actuator configured to switch between a locked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is restricted by the lock mechanism and an unlocked state in which the operation of the pedal lever is not restricted by the lock mechanism. A controller includes a locking operation determination unit that determines switching of a locking operation by the lock mechanism, an actuator control unit that controls a driving operation of the actuator, and an information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle speed information. The locking operation determination unit locks the pedal lever when a vehicle is traveling in an automatic driving mode and when a vehicle speed is equal to or more than an activation-determination lower limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuusuke Yoshida, Soichi Kinouchi, Takuto Kita, Hideyuki Mori
  • Patent number: 11815930
    Abstract: A system for actuating a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal of a vehicle by hand. The system includes a planetary gear train having a sun gear, a ring gear, and planetary gears meshed with both the sun gear and the ring gear. The planetary gears are mounted to a carrier. A carrier flange is in cooperation with the carrier to rotate with the carrier. A sun gear flange is in cooperation with the sun gear. Rotation of the sun gear flange rotates the sun gear. A lever is mounted adjacent to the sun gear flange. An accelerator actuation assembly is connected to the lever and configured to couple with the accelerator pedal. A brake actuation assembly is connected to the carrier flange and configured to couple with the brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Patrick Nolan, Victor Wong, Cameron Tyler Knight
  • Patent number: 11809211
    Abstract: A foldable pedal apparatus of a vehicle includes a pendant-type configuration provided with a pedal arm and a pedal pad. The pedal pad rotates with respect to the pedal arm when the rotation motor operates so that the pedal pad pops up to protrude toward a driver or hide to block the exposure to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Eun Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 11794578
    Abstract: An integrated control apparatus for driving a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a lever housing mounted in an interior space of the vehicle; a joystick lever coupled to the lever housing and configured to be rotatable in a forward-backward direction and a leftward-rightward direction; and a gentle acceleration lever coupled to the joystick lever and configured to be rotatable in the forward-backward direction. When the gentle acceleration lever is operated, a gentle acceleration signal of the vehicle is generated, and when the joystick lever is operated, one of a sudden acceleration signal, a deceleration signal, a steering signal, or a braking signal of the vehicle is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Won Jin Jeong
  • Patent number: 11796179
    Abstract: A cooking appliance may include a panel provided with a through hole; a knob assembly installed at the panel; and a valve disposed inside of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Haemin Kim
  • Patent number: 11787403
    Abstract: A braking/driving force control system, during control for maintaining a target vehicle speed, performs fuel cut and then, when a required braking/driving force for maintaining the target vehicle speed reduces, makes a downshift while fuel cut is continued. The braking/driving force control system causes a brake to generate a braking force such that the sum of a braking/driving force that a powertrain generates and the braking force that the brake generates agrees with the required braking/driving three. Thus, good fuel efficiency and riding comfort are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomonori Nonami, Shin Nomura, Takeshi Inoguchi, Yoshihide Nakane
  • Patent number: 11772260
    Abstract: A planetary gear transmission device is provided including a planetary gear device including a sun gear, a ring gear, a plurality of planet gears, and a carrier, a motor to generate a rotational force input to the planetary gear device and including a motor shaft and a motor body, a fixing bracket formed to fix one of the sun gear, the ring gear, or the carrier of the planetary gear device to prevent rotation, and a recursive rotation bracket provided with the motor and fixed to one of the parts of the planetary gear device, which is not fixed by the fixing bracket, wherein when one of the parts of the planetary gear device connected to the motor shaft is rotated by the motor shaft, the motor body is rotated by the recursive rotation bracket and the rotational force of the motor shaft is output through the recursive rotation bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minhee Lee, Jaemyung Cho, Sanghyun Kang, Hyunsuk Kwak, Baeseok Lim, Jaehong Kim
  • Patent number: 11766934
    Abstract: A foldable pedal apparatus for a vehicle is configured so that a pedal pad is pop up in a manual driving mode in which a driver drives the vehicle himself or herself so that operation by the driver is possible, the pedal pad is hidden in an autonomous driving situation so that operation by the driver is impossible, and a gear device transmitting power of motors generates a boosting force to implement a foldable function of the pedal pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, Kyung Chang Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eun Sik Kim, Ji Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 11760405
    Abstract: A handle in which a sensor layer capable of detecting grip is disposed on a gripping portion that is gripped at a time of steering. The gripping portion includes a core material, a covering layer formed of urethane foam, which is disposed by die-molding so as to cover a periphery of the core material, the sensor layer, and a protective layer covering the sensor layer. The sensor layer is formed of a mold coat agent formed of a urethane-based paint containing a conductive material. The mold coat agent is applied to a die surface of a molding die of the covering layer. At a time of molding the covering layer, the sensor layer formed of the mold coat agent is disposed on a surface side of the covering layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Tsunekawa, Toshihiko Asai, Norio Umemura, Akira Nakiri
  • Patent number: 11755053
    Abstract: A pedal installation structure for a vehicle, the pedal installation structure including: a pedal provided at a front portion of a vehicle cabin interior, the pedal having a pedal pad to which stepping force is applied and that is supported so as to be able to pivot around a shaft portion provided along a vehicle transverse direction; a harness connected to the pedal, the harness having, at a vehicle longitudinal direction front side of the pedal, a surplus length portion by which slack is obtained; and a guiding member that guides the harness such that the harness is routed at an outer side of the pedal pad, as seen in a plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koju Kurihara
  • Patent number: 11753797
    Abstract: A working vehicle includes a vehicle body, a cabin on the vehicle body, a clutch pedal in the cabin, a clutch on the vehicle body, a clutch operator to engage and disengage the clutch, a linkage including first and second ends, the first end being connected to the clutch operator, and a linkage lock to interlock the clutch pedal with the second end of the linkage so that vibrations of the cabin are reduced or prevented from being transmitted to the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Tanigawa, Kenichi Aoyama, Michitaka Tanaka, Hitoshi Omachi, Megumi Sawai, Daisuke Inaba
  • Patent number: 11745784
    Abstract: A steering wheel 1 includes a rim section having a rim section main body section and a covering member that covers at least a part of the rim section main body section. The steering wheel 1 includes a decorative section attached to the rim section. The rim section main body section includes an attaching section to which the decorative section is attached in a direction intersecting a direction in which the rim section main body section extends. The covering member includes one split body and the other split body for covering one part and the other part of the rim section main body section with the attaching section as a reference. The one split body and the other split body are configured such that at least parts of end portions and facing each other in the attaching section have shapes complementary to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Iwao Asano, Takahiro Suwama
  • Patent number: 11745720
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a hybrid vehicle are described. In one example, the automatic engine stopping may be inhibited so that an engine may be restarted during change of mind conditions without generating a large driveline torque disturbance. The engine stopping may be inhibited based on a inhibit engine pull-down torque threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Maruthi Ravichandran, Akshay Bichkar, Jason Meyer, Rajit Johri
  • Patent number: 11746886
    Abstract: A transmission capable of being assembled as a coolerless transmission and a transmission having an oil cooler includes a housing and a lubrication system. The oil passage system includes an oil passage having an oil outlet opening extending out of the housing and an oil inlet opening extending into the housing. A bypass flow passage is disposed in the housing in communication with the oil outlet opening and the oil inlet opening. In a coolerless configuration a pair of plugs are inserted in the oil outlet opening and the oil inlet opening, respectively, to close off the oil outlet opening and the oil inlet opening so that oil flows from the oil outlet opening to the oil inlet opening through the bypass flow passage. In a transmission configuration having an oil cooler, an exterior oil cooler is connected to the oil outlet opening and the oil inlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Christopher Maurer, Graeme Andrew Jackson
  • Patent number: 11732763
    Abstract: A ramp actuator has a pivotable ramp disc, which on a first end face has at least one ramp, which is prepared for the rolling of a rolling body and, spaced apart therefrom, has a raceway for bearing rolling bodies of a rolling bearing prepared to receive radial and axial forces. A bearing ring can be fixed on a shaft, wherein the ratio of the axial width of the ramp disc relative to the support height thereof is between 2.9 and 4.1 and the ratio between the ramp radius of the ramp of the ramp disc relative to the support height of the ramp disc is between 0.7 and 1.3. A method for producing a ramp disc for such a ramp actuator includes drawing, upset forging and embossing, preferably carried out in that order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Willsch, Andreas Neudecker, Andreas Heinz
  • Patent number: 11726519
    Abstract: Described herein is a positioning spring configured to rotatably engage with a rotatable shaft. The rotatable shaft is configured to rotate relative to the positioning spring. The positioning spring comprises a first compliant lobe positioned at a first radial position. The first compliant lobe is configured to engage with one or more detent surfaces of the rotatable shaft to resist rotation of the rotatable shaft and to bias the rotatable shaft in one or more angular positions. The first compliant lobe is configured to flex upon engagement of the first compliant lobe with the rotatable shaft at a surface position out of contact with the detent surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Brent Carper, Eric P. Huelsmann
  • Patent number: 11708888
    Abstract: A shaft (W) for a motor vehicle transmission (G) includes four axial bore holes (B1, B2, B3, B4) for conducting fluid within the shaft (W). A central axis of each of the four bore holes (B1, B2, B3, B4) is spaced apart from an axis of rotation (WA) of the shaft (W). A radial distance (r1) between the central axis of at least two of the four bore holes (B1, B2, B3, B4) and the axis of rotation (WA) differs from a radial distance (r2) between the central axis of one of the remaining bore holes and the axis of rotation (WA). A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle with a shaft (W) is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Christoph Margraf, Carl Schilling, Martin Brehmer, Oliver Angele, Manuel Steinmann, Sebastian Freis, Felix Fink, Tamas Gyarmati, Stefan Benz-Breitweg, Robert Reiser, Christian Staiger