Patents Examined by Roger L Pang
  • Patent number: 11052749
    Abstract: A drive assembly is provided with an automatic transmission, comprising a first input shaft, a first power source is connected to the first input shaft, an output shaft, and an intermediate shaft; a first stage of deceleration gear train is mounted through the first input shaft and the intermediate shaft, an Nth stage of deceleration gear train is mounted through the intermediate shaft and the output shaft, and N?2; and a second input shaft is provided parallel to the intermediate shaft or the output shaft, a second power source is connected to the second input shaft, a driving gear on the second input shaft is engaged with any the second stage to the Nth stage, and the power of the second power source is transmitted to the output shaft via the one stage of deceleration gear train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: JING-JIN ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ping Yu, Ting Wang, Jianwen Li
  • Patent number: 11046299
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a driveline of a four wheel drive vehicle that includes a high gear ratio and a low gear ratio. The driveline may be operated to shift between the high gear ratio and the low gear ratio while the four wheel drive vehicle is moving. In one example, a clutch is opened during shifting from the high gear ratio to the low gear ratio, which allows the vehicle to continue traveling during the gear ratio change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Jose Velazquez Alcantar, Rajit Johri, Kevin Ruybal, Dushyant K. Palejiya, Walter Joseph Ortmann
  • Patent number: 11040718
    Abstract: A launch control method is provided for a vehicle having an accelerator, a brake and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The method comprises determining: (i) a braking torque set by a vehicle operator by pressing a brake pedal of the vehicle; and (ii) a holding torque required to hold the vehicle in a stationary position. The method also determines that the operator has released the brake pedal. The brake is released whilst engaging a launch clutch of the CVT, wherein the launch clutch is engaged by increasing a clutch engagement pressure at a first pressure ramp rate, such that the sum of the braking torque and a clutch torque of the clutch remains equal to the holding torque. An acceleration torque requested by the operator via the accelerator is determined. The clutch engagement pressure is increased at a second pressure ramp rate when it is determined that the braking torque is substantially zero, such that the clutch torque is increased by the acceleration torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Perkins Engines Company Limited
    Inventors: Michael Beyer, Michael Cronin, Steven Spencer, Matthew Mauritzson, Kevin Stutzman
  • Patent number: 11041547
    Abstract: A shifting manipulation-assisting device and a hub-embedded transmission, wherein in controlling pawls that restrain rotation of sun gears to perform shifting in a planetary gear set, shifting control is properly performed even with a small manipulation force. The shifting manipulation-assisting device includes a pawl control ring having an inner peripheral surface to control laying-down of control pawls, and an outer peripheral surface formed with rotation restricting protrusions; an angle control member positioned on an inner periphery side of a driver; pressing members supported on the angle control member, and positioned between the unidirectionally inclined recesses and an inner peripheral surface of the driver; an elastic connecting body connected to resiliently support the pawl control ring; a fixed support member non-rotatably fixed to the shaft and rotatably supporting the driver; and a return spring connected to reversely rotate and accordingly return the angle control member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: MBI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyuk Yoo, Tae-Jin Jung, Seong-Cheol An, Moon-Soo Yoo
  • Patent number: 11035451
    Abstract: A torque vectoring apparatus receiving a vehicle driving torque from a motor-generator may include a speed reduction device engaged to the motor-generator and configured to reduce a rotation speed received from the motor-generator, a differential device engaged to the speed reduction device and configured to receive the speed-reduced torque from the speed reduction device and to differentially output torques to left and right output shafts, a vectoring control motor outputting a control torque, and a torque vectoring apparatus engaged to the vectoring control motor and including two planetary gear sets and controlling a torque ratio output to the left and right output shafts by the control torque of the torque vectoring control motor, wherein the differential device includes a differential case receiving a torque from the speed reduction device, the differential case is mounted between the two planetary gear sets rotatably on a connecting member connecting the two planetary gear sets, and side gears in the di
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Chulmin Ahn, SungGon Byun, Seok Joon Kim, Su Hyeon Maeng, Dong Hui Cheon, Baekyu Kim, Junyoung Ha
  • Patent number: 11034352
    Abstract: A control system, apparatus, and method integrates management of vehicle torque limits and gear shifting of a vehicle by determining future engine power requirements from the forward-looking route conditions to improve performance and drivability of the vehicle over what is achievable through default and/or currently selected torque limits and gear state shifting strategies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Nirav Shah, Daniel Reed Dempsey
  • Patent number: 11022201
    Abstract: A power train for an electric vehicle may include a planetary gear set including three rotation elements having a first rotation element, a second rotation element and a third rotation element, wherein the first rotation element is connected to a first shaft, the second rotation element is connected to a second shaft, and the third rotation element is connected to a third shaft; a first motor mounted to selectively supply power to the first shaft in two or more gear ratios; and a second motor mounted to selectively supply power to the first shaft in two or more gear ratios. The third shaft is configured to be fixed to a transmission housing, and any two of the first shaft, the second shaft, and the third shaft are configured to be coupled to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignees: Hundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jin Ho Kim, Jae Joon Lee, Jong Sool Park, Jin Young Hwang, Jong Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 11022210
    Abstract: A planet wheel shaft includes a bearing portion for acting as a slide-bearing in cooperation with a planet wheel of a planetary gear. On at least one axial region of the bearing portion, a cross-sectional shape deviates from a circular shape so that the bearing portion is thicker in a first direction than in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The deviation from the circular shape widens a wedge-shaped gap that is between the bearing portion and the planet wheel when there is load in the first direction. This facilitates oil supply to an area where hydrodynamic oil pressure is formed for carrying load in the first direction because the widening the wedge-shaped gap compensates for narrowing the gap due to ovalization of the planet wheel caused by load in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: MOVENTAS GEARS OY
    Inventor: Tuomo Kontinen
  • Patent number: 11014630
    Abstract: A human-powered vehicle control device controls the transmission that changes the transmission ratio of a human-powered vehicle. The control device includes an electronic controller that switches between a first control state for controlling the transmission to change the transmission ratio in accordance with a first prescribed set of conditions, and a second control state for controlling the transmission to suppress the change of the transmission ratio as compared with if the electronic controller is in the first control state, in accordance with at least one of the motion state of the body of the human-powered vehicle, the steering state of the human-powered vehicle, the surface conditions of a travel path on which the human-powered vehicle travels, and a pedaling preparation state related to the pedals of the human-powered vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Nobukatsu Hara, Hitoshi Takayama
  • Patent number: 11007859
    Abstract: A drive system for an engine arrangement includes a gear reduction mechanism having at least three separate and rotatable junction elements, the rotation speeds of the junction elements being interdependent but not having a fixed ratio the ones relative to the others, and wherein, in the mounted position, among the junction elements, a first junction element is connected to an engine crankshaft, a second junction element is connected to an accessory pulley which is drivingly connected to an electric machine and at least one accessory, and a third junction element. A free wheel is connected to a non-rotating part of the engine arrangement in the mounted position, and the third junction element is configured to be coupled to the free wheel in a first operating phase of the drive system. The third junction element is further configured to be coupled to the engine crankshaft in a second operating phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yann Boete
  • Patent number: 11001263
    Abstract: A vehicular breaking force control system includes: a plurality of actuators capable of generating a braking force for a vehicle; a coasting state detection unit configured to detect that a coasting state has been established; a target braking force calculation unit configured to calculate a target braking force on the basis of a state of the vehicle when the coasting state detection unit detects that the coasting state has been established; and a braking force distribution control unit configured to determine a distribution braking force that is a braking force to be caused to be generated by each actuator, such that the distribution braking force is equal to or less than a braking force generable by the actuator and a sum of the distribution braking forces is equal to the target braking force, and to perform control of causing each actuator to generate the distribution braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masato Shimizu, Shun Sato, Katsumi Kono, Atsushi Ayabe, Noritake Mitsutani, Hiroki Nakano
  • Patent number: 11001134
    Abstract: A hybrid drivetrain is provided. The hybrid drivetrain comprises a power source, a transmission, and a tandem axle assembly. The transmission includes a primary clutch and is drivingly engaged with the power source. The tandem axle assembly includes a first axle and a second axle and is drivingly engaged with the transmission. One of the transmission and the tandem axle assembly includes a first motor generator in electrical communication with a battery. The first motor generator and the primary clutch facilitate operating the hybrid drivetrain as a hybrid drivetrain in a plurality of operating modes. The hybrid drivetrain may further comprise second and third motor generators in electrical communication with the battery to facilitate operating the hybrid drivetrain in a plurality of operating modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: DANA HEAVY VEHICLE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond J. Haka, Krishna Kumar, Steven J. Wesolowski, James F. Ziech
  • Patent number: 11001140
    Abstract: An axle assembly having an electric motor module, a drive pinion, and at least one rotor bearing assembly. The electric motor module may have a rotor. The rotor and the drive pinion may be rotatable about a first axis. The first rotor bearing assembly may extend between the drive pinion and the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Tomaz Varela
  • Patent number: 11001235
    Abstract: A brake control device is a control device for a vehicle used in a vehicle on which the shift-by-wire system and the brake-by-wire system are mounted. A function of automatically operating the brake device without an operation of the driver of the vehicle is referred to as a BBW automatic operation function, and a request by the driver for disabling the BBW automatic operation function is referred to as a disabling request. A brake control device includes a disabling determination part configured to determine a presence or absence of the disabling request, the vehicle stop determination part configured to determine whether the vehicle is stopped, a slope determination part configured to determine whether the vehicle is located on a slope, and a BBW automatic operation part. The BBW automatic operation part operates the brake device when the vehicle is stopped on the slope even if the disabling request is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigeru Kamio
  • Patent number: 10994734
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline of a vehicle that includes an automatic transmission and a torque converter are described. In one example, vehicle launch is controlled according to a linear quadratic regulator that provides feedback control according to torque converter slip error and vehicle speed error. The vehicle launch is also controlled according to feed forward control that is based on requested torque converter slip and requested vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Weitian Chen, Yang Xu, Zhengyu Dai, Stuart N. Ford, Qi Wang, Hong Jiang
  • Patent number: 10994725
    Abstract: A four-wheel-drive vehicle including a powertrain operable to adjust a front- and rear-wheel driving force ratio that is a ratio between a driving force of front wheels and a driving force of rear wheels includes a control device that controls the powertrain and adjusts the front- and rear-wheel driving force ratio so as to reduce the driving force of the front wheels that are steered wheels, when it is detected that emergency avoidance to avoid collision with an avoidance target ahead in a traveling direction is necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroki Yajima
  • Patent number: 10995836
    Abstract: A drive unit assembly. The drive unit includes a motor drivingly connected to a motor output shaft which in turn is drivingly connected to a sun gear of a gear assembly. The gear assembly further includes a gear assembly housing, one or more planetary gears and a pinion gear. At least a portion of the one or more planetary gears are drivingly connected to the sun gear, the gear assembly housing and a plurality of gear teeth circumferentially extending from an inner surface of a drive unit housing. The pinion gear has a first side and a second side, where the second side of the pinion gear is integrally connected to a first end portion of the gear assembly housing. Drivingly connected to the pinion gear is a differential ring gear of a differential assembly having a first side gear, a second side gear and one or more bevel gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Ken E. Cooper, Thomas L. Nahrwold
  • Patent number: 10982735
    Abstract: A planetary gear set may include a first rotation element connected to a first shaft and having a second rotation element connected to a second shaft, among three rotation elements; a motor; a first shifting device configured to be selectively engaged to the motor to deliver the power of the motor to the first shaft directly or at a reduced speed; and a second shifting device provided to be configured to selectively deliver the power of the motor to the first shaft or the second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jin Ho Kim, Jae Joon Lee, Jong Sool Park, Jin Young Hwang, Jong Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 10975965
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a position learning system for an electric shift-by-wire system, which senses changes in the load of a motor according to operations of a four-stage detent plate and a detent spring to learn positions of shift stages of the electric shift-by-wire system, the position learning system including: a sensor for sensing the current generated from the motor; and a controller for receiving current data until a shift stage P is switched to a shift stage D or the shift stage D is switched to the shift stage P from the sensor, learning positions of shift stages R and N through the received current data, and performing offset operations on the basis of the learned positions of the shift stages R and N to learn positions of the shift stages P and D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: HYUNDAI AUTRON CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hyoung Sang Cho
  • Patent number: 10975937
    Abstract: A combination starter-generator device includes an electric machine and a gear set configured to couple the electric machine and the engine in first and second power flow directions. The gear set is configured to operate in one of at least a first mode, a second mode, or a third mode in the first power flow direction and at least a fourth mode in the second power flow direction. The starter-generator device includes a clutch arrangement with at least one clutch selectively coupled to the gear set to effect the first, second, and third mode in the first power flow direction and the fourth mode in the second power flow direction; and a cam plate configured to shift the at least one clutch between a disengaged position and an engaged position relative to the gear set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven R. Fliearman, Lisa R. Lloyd