Patents Examined by Robert Hodge
  • Patent number: 9381800
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus 1 for a hybrid vehicle having an engine 6 and a motor 7 is provided with a planetary gear mechanism 31 configured to differentially rotate a sun gear 32, a carrier 36, and a ring gear 35. The sun gear 32 is connected to one of a first input shaft and a second input shaft and to the motor 7. The ring gear 35 is connected to a lock mechanism capable of stopping a rotation state. The carrier 36 is configured to transmit power to a counter shaft 14. The other of the first input shaft and the second input shaft is configured to transmit power to the counter shaft 14 without passing through the planetary gear mechanism 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Sakai, Shinji Fujimoto, Takefumi Ikegami, Seiichi Mogi
  • Patent number: 9377095
    Abstract: In a differential device, an outer tube portion is formed in one of a side gear and a sleeve, and an inner tube portion fitted to an inner periphery of the outer tube portion is formed in the other. An engagement portion is provided in the outer tube portion. A key member movable between a first position where the member is detached from the engagement portion to allow withdrawal of the sleeve and a second position where the member is engaged with the engagement portion, is attached to the inner tube portion. The member is forcibly held at the second position by a drive shaft when the shaft is fitted and inserted into the sleeve to be spline-fitted to the gear. Accordingly, a differential gear mechanism is disassembled by removing the sleeves from the gears and when the shafts are attached, connection between the sleeves and the gears is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Musashi Seimitsu Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoichi Yanase
  • Patent number: 9371065
    Abstract: A method of controlling a transmission includes determining if the transmission is currently executing a first torque controlled shift from a first gear ratio to a second gear ratio. A torque controlled shift is defined as a shift control operation in which the speed of the engine is controlled to perform a shift operation. When a second torque controlled shift is detected while the transmission is currently executing the first torque controlled shift, a dual torque controlled shift strategy is executed, which merges a first shift control strategy for executing the first torque controlled shift with a second shift control strategy for executing the second torque controlled shift. The dual torque controlled shift strategy seamlessly executes the first torque controlled shift and the second torque controlled shift without a time delay and engine torque disruption therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Harinath Atmaram, Brian H Fiore, David Szpara
  • Patent number: 9371866
    Abstract: A wet clutch for a motorcycle having an outer basket having a first toothing as the input side of the wet clutch, an inner basket which is coaxial to the outer basket having a second toothing as the output side of the wet clutch, first frictional elements which are torsionally connected to the outer basket, second frictional elements which are torsionally connected to the inner basket, the first and second frictional elements being situated axially alternating between the inner basket and the outer basket, and a clamping element to compress the first and second frictional elements axially in order to produce a torsional connection between the input side and the output side. The inner basket and/or the outer basket can essentially be produced from one or more sheet metal parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Raber, Rainer Ganter, Martin Chambrion, Marion Keller, Florian Decker, Raimund Ritter, Juergen Stoelze, Matthias Sperber, Frank Kozlowski, Joachim Raatz
  • Patent number: 9366298
    Abstract: A clutch assembly includes a first clutch including a cam plate, a pocket plate and axially pivoting struts that driveably connect the plates for rotation in a first rotary direction, and disconnect the plates when the cam plate rotates in a second direction relative to the pocket plate, and a second clutch including a first cam plate, a first pocket plate, a coil and first struts that driveably connect the first cam plate and the first pocket plate for rotation in the second direction and disconnect the first cam plate and the first pocket plate when the coil is energized and the first cam plate rotates in the first direction relative to the first pocket plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Norman J. Bird
  • Patent number: 9353802
    Abstract: A wedge clutch, including: an inner hub; an outer race; and a conical outer race: including a first portion aligned with the outer race in a radial direction orthogonal to an axis of rotation for the wedge clutch and in an axial direction, and a second portion aligned with the outer race in an axial direction parallel to the axis. The conical outer race is axially displaceable with respect to the outer race to bring the first and second portions into contact with the outer race to non-rotatably connect the inner hub and the outer race and to separate the first and second portions from the outer race to enable relative rotation of the inner hub and the outer race. The wedge clutch includes a wedge plate radially located between the inner hub and the conical outer race and engaged with the inner hub and the conical outer race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Brian Lee, Carsten Ohr
  • Patent number: 9346469
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for expediting updating a vehicle's powertrain calibration table. The table is updated with data generated on-board a given vehicle while being matured with data downloaded from a cloud-based network, the downloaded data generated on-board one or more other vehicles having matching powertrain characteristics. Regions of a vehicle's calibration table where sufficient data is not generated on-board a given vehicle is populated with data from one or more other vehicles having sufficient data for those corresponding regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Paul Glugla, Michael Damian Czekala, Garlan J. Huberts, Douglas James McEwan
  • Patent number: 9346354
    Abstract: A driveline component that includes an input member, a differential case, a differential gearset housed in the differential case, a first clutch and a second clutch. The first clutch is configured to selectively transmit rotary power between the input member and the differential case. The second clutch is configured to selectively transmit rotary power between the input member and the differential case. The first clutch has a first engagement time and that is less than a second engagement time of the second clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Valente
  • Patent number: 9334905
    Abstract: A clutch for selective transmission of torque and power, utilizing pairs of coded arrays of permanent magnets affixed respectively to the driving member and the driven member. A shape memory alloy actuator brings to driving member and the driven member into proximity to engage the clutch via a higher-order mutual magnetic correspondence between the coded magnetic regions of the permanent magnet arrays. Also provided is a clutch having a magnetorheological fluid between the driving member and the driven member, to increase the torque and power transfer through the fluid when its viscosity is increased by the magnetic field of the arrays in proximity. Sets of corresponding teeth on the driving member and driven member mesh when the rotation of the members is synchronized, providing positive direct drive to prolong the service life of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Nilesh D. Mankame, Shivaram Ac, John C. Ulicny
  • Patent number: 9333858
    Abstract: A PTO transmission system in a vehicle for transmitting power to a PTO shaft driving an implement comprises a planetary drive unit having first and second input and output coupled to the PTO shaft. The first and second input means are coupled to an output shaft of the vehicle engine and to an output shaft of a drive motor, respectively. A control system controls the transfer of power from a power source to the drive motor. The power source is a variable power generating source driven by the PTO shaft. The drive motor is configured and adapted to decrease or increase the rotational speed of the output of the planetary drive unit on an increase or decrease of the power transferred to it, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Christian Huber, Riccardo Morselli, John Posselius
  • Patent number: 9331545
    Abstract: In a rotation apparatus including a motor and a speed reducer, the speed reducer includes a casing, an internal gear integrated with the casing, a planetary gear internally engaged with the internal gear, and a carrier body arranged in an axial side portion of the planetary gear, the motor and the speed reducer are connected with each other via an adapter, the adapter includes a motor-fixed surface fixed to the motor, a carrier-fixed surface fixed to the carrier body, and an externally fixed surface that is not parallel with the carrier-fixed surface and is fixed to an external member, a driven member is connected to the casing, the driven member, the speed reducer, and the externally fixed surface are overlapped with each other when viewed from a radial direction, and the driven member is rotated within a range of 180 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Sakae Mitsufuji, Shinichi Nishibe, Yuichi Nishitani, Tetsuzo Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9328802
    Abstract: Planetary gear set with several gear stages, comprising an annular ring with which the planet gears are in engagement with at least one gear stage; according to the invention it is provided that at least one circular insert part with external and internal gearing is arranged in an annular ring, whereby the external gearing is in engagement with the annular ring and the internal gearing meshes with planet gears of another gear stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: IMS GEAR GMBH
    Inventor: Markus Kruselburger
  • Patent number: 9328822
    Abstract: A parking brake system for a work vehicle may include an internal braking mechanism and an external brake actuator. The brake actuator may generally include a housing at least partially defining a rod-side chamber, a secondary chamber and a piston-side chamber extending between the rod-side and secondary chambers. The brake actuator may also include a primary piston movable between a first position at which the braking mechanism is actuated to an engaged state and a second position at which the braking mechanism is actuated to a disengaged state. In addition, the brake actuator may include a secondary piston at least partially housed within the secondary chamber that is configured to apply a force against the primary piston when fluid is supplied within the secondary chamber in order to move the primary piston from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Hill, Michael Tyler, William H. Adamson, Jerry L. Brinkley
  • Patent number: 9321485
    Abstract: A smart parking assistant system and a method of controlling parking alignment are provided. The smart parking assistant system includes a determination controller configured to confirm a driver intention of whether to perform an automatic parking alignment function. A parking alignment controller is configured to perform the automatic parking alignment function when the driver intention is confirmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jin Ho Park, Gilwon Seo, Joo Woong Yang
  • Patent number: 9322441
    Abstract: A clamping element freewheel including an inner ring and an outer ring that can be rotated relative to the inner ring in at least one rotational direction. A cage for clamping elements is between the inner ring and the outer ring, with a plurality of clamping elements. The clamping elements are pivotable between a clamping position, in which they prevent relative rotation between the inner and outer rings, and a release position, in which they enable relative rotation between the inner and outer rings. A clamping element preload is provided to preload the clamping element radially inwardly and in the clamping position direction. The clamping element preloading is provided by springs that are configured separately for each clamping element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Oswald Friedmann
  • Patent number: 9313955
    Abstract: A safety device for agricultural machines is provided. The safety device includes a stop element, which can be associated functionally with a kinematic transmission chain interposed between a motor assembly of a working shaft and the working shaft itself to control the working shaft with the complementary stop element. The stop element is movable on command from a passive configuration to an active configuration, in which the stop element is arranged so as to interfere with the trajectory of the complementary stop element, for the forced locking of the latter and of the working shaft, and vice versa. Moreover, either or both of the stop element and the complementary stop element are associated with a unit for damping the forced locking, which can be actuated automatically upon impact of the stop element against the complementary stop element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: KVERNELAND GROUP RAVENNA S.R.L.
    Inventor: Paolo Ravaglia
  • Patent number: 9303730
    Abstract: A twin clutch type transmission connected to an engine of a vehicle and the like in which an end portion of the main shaft is held in the secure and compact manner to contribute to efficient operation of the transmission. In the twin clutch type transmission, the first and second hydraulic disk clutches are coaxially provided to be adjacent with each other, and the inner and outer shafts of the main shaft as a coaxial dual structure are connected to the respective disk clutches coaxially. The ball bearing fixed to the transmission case with the holder plate pierces the left end portion of the inner shaft so as to be supported, and further to be tightened and fixed to the ball bearing with the locknut screwed with the leading end of the left end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoo Shiozaki
  • Patent number: 9303699
    Abstract: An electromechanical assembly to control the operating mode of a coupling apparatus is provided. The assembly includes a first subassembly including a stator having at least one electromagnetically inductive coil to create a magnetic flux when the at least one coil is energized. At least one bi-directionally movable rod has a free end adapted for connection to a strut of the coupling apparatus for selective, small displacement strut movement. An actuator is operatively connected to the at least one rod for selective bi-directional shifting movement along a rotational axis between a first position of the actuator which corresponds to a first mode of the coupling apparatus and a second position of the actuator which corresponds to a second mode of the coupling apparatus. A magnetic control force is applied to the actuator when the at least one coil is energized to cause the actuator to move between positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Kimes, Patrick J. McCleer, Terry O. Hendrick
  • Patent number: 9302419
    Abstract: An extruder having an operative unit composed of a cylinder and at least two screw shafts which are rotatably accommodated therein, a gear unit having at least two output shafts, wherein each output shaft, via a connecting element, is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to one screw shaft, a motor which drives the gear unit and is coupled to the gear unit via a clutch, and a controller installation, wherein each connecting element or each output shaft is assigned a separate measuring installation for determining the applied torque, wherein the measuring installations communicate with the controller installation which, depending on the individual determined torques, controls the clutch which is implemented as a switchable clutch, wherein the controller installation is configured for opening the clutch both when a determined torque exceeds a torque limit value and also when the difference between the two determined torques exceeds a limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: LEISTRITZ EXTRUSIONSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Rechter, Sven Wolf
  • Patent number: 9303749
    Abstract: A power switching device includes a power transmission unit and a driving unit. The transmission unit includes a differential, an axle aligned with the differential, and a coupler sleeved movably on one of the differential and the axle. The driving unit includes a controller, a first transmission mechanism driven by the controller, and a second transmission mechanism driven by the first transmission mechanism. The controller is a solenoid or an electric actuator, and is operable to activate the second transmission mechanism. The coupler can be moved by the second transmission mechanism to interconnect the differential and the axle, so as to allow for co-rotation of the axle with the differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: KWANG YANG MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi-Han Chang, Chao-Chang Ho