Patents Examined by Roger L Pang
  • Patent number: 10654542
    Abstract: A shifting control apparatus for a human powered vehicle comprises a position sensor and a transmission controller. The position sensor is configured to sense a rotational position of a plurality of sprockets relative to a rotational reference position. The transmission controller is configured to control a derailleur to move a chain guide of the derailleur relative to the plurality of sprockets in a shifting operation. The transmission controller is configured to change at least one of a speed relating to a movement of the chain guide, a start timing relating to the movement of the chain guide, and a distance relating to the movement of the chain guide based on a target shifting-operation position of the plurality of sprockets, and the rotational position sensed as an actual shifting-operation position by the position sensor at an actual timing of the shifting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Takayama
  • Patent number: 10647190
    Abstract: A control system for hybrid vehicle that can limit damage on a battery resulting from cranking of an engine. the controller is configured to shift an operating mode from an EV-Lo mode to an EV-Hi mode if a peak power applied to a battery during shifting the operating mode from the EV-Lo mode to the EV-Hi mode is expected to exceed an upper limit input power to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuma Aoki, Tatsuya Imamura, Yasuhiro Oshiumi, Yukari Okamura
  • Patent number: 10641385
    Abstract: A method for controlling a gearbox (2) that includes a main gearbox (6) provided with a splitter shaft (16) and a main shaft (14), connectable to a power source (4). The splitter shaft (16) is connected to a lay shaft (22) by at least a first and a second splitter gear pair (42, 45). The main shaft (14) is connected to a lay shaft (22) by at least a first gear pair (60). The method includes a) preparing a shifting of gear in the gearbox (2) by transferring essentially the same speed and torque between the splitter and the main shafts (16, 14), and b) shifting gear in the gearbox (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: SCANIA CV AB
    Inventor: Dieter Slapak
  • Patent number: 10640118
    Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain of a vehicle may include: controlling, by a controller, an engine of the vehicle to be operated when an ignition key of the vehicle is in an on state; and determining, by the controller, whether the controller generates a command changing a state of a clutch based on an operation state of the vehicle. The clutch connects or disconnects a crankshaft of the engine and a crankshaft pulley including the clutch. The crankshaft pulley is connected to a generator pulley and an air conditioner compressor pulley via a belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jeong Sung Kim, Keun Sang Kim, Hyoseong Wi, Dae Kwang Kim
  • Patent number: 10634221
    Abstract: A multi-speed transmission including a plurality of planetary gearsets and a plurality of selective couplers to achieve at least nine forward speed ratios is disclosed. The plurality of planetary gearsets may include a first planetary gearset, a second planetary gearset, a third planetary gearset, and a fourth planetary gearset. The plurality of selective couplers may include a number of clutches and a number of brakes. The multi-speed transmission may have four planetary gearsets and six selective couplers. The six selective couplers may include three clutches and three brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric S. Tryon, Douglas S. Burchett
  • Patent number: 10624262
    Abstract: A transmission speed control system for a walk-behind lawn mower includes a transmission, a transmission positioning assembly, and an electronic control unit. The transmission is tiltable about and operably engaged with a drive axle shaft. The transmission positioning assembly tilts the transmission between first and second angular positions. A belt tension between a drive belt and a transmission pulley of the transmission continuously increases from a minimum belt tension when the transmission is in the first angular position to a maximum belt tension when the transmission is in the second angular position. The rotational drive force exerted on the drive axle shaft by the transmission and a resulting driving speed of the lawn mower vary proportionally with the belt tension. The electronic control unit controls the transmission positioning assembly to tilt the transmission based on target and detected driving speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrew Edwin Bejcek
  • Patent number: 10626969
    Abstract: A variator unit of a power-split continuously variable transmission is fixed to a rotationally fixed component and has a primary side rotationally fixed to an input shaft and a secondary side rotationally fixed to a first element of a second planetary gear set via a third shaft. A third element of a first planetary gear set is rotationally fixed via a fourth shaft to a second element of the second planetary gear set, which is fixable to the rotationally fixed component via a first shift element and connectable to the input shaft via a second shift element. A third element of the second planetary gear set is rotationally fixed via a fifth shaft to a first element of the first planetary gear set fixable to the rotationally fixed component via a third shift element. The second element of the first planetary gear set is rotationally fixed to an output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Viktor Warth, Michael Wechs, Gerhard Niederbrucker, Jens Moraw, Lara Ruth Turner
  • Patent number: 10626955
    Abstract: A planetary gear train may include input and output shafts, first to fifth planetary gear set, respectively having first to third, fourth to sixth, seventh to ninth, tenth to twelfth, and thirteenth to fifteenth elements, a first shaft fixedly connected to the first and fifth elements and the input shaft, a second shaft fixedly connected to the fourteenth element and the output shaft, a third shaft fixedly connected to the sixth and tenth elements, a fourth shaft fixedly connected to the eighth and fifteenth elements, a fifth shaft fixedly connected to the eleventh and thirteenth elements, a sixth shaft fixedly connected to the twelfth element, a seventh shaft fixedly connected to the third and seventh elements, an eighth shaft fixedly connected to the second and fourth elements, and a ninth shaft fixedly connected to the ninth element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jin Ho Kim, Jae Joon Lee, Jong Sool Park, Kyeong Hun Lee, Jong Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 10626959
    Abstract: A variable-speed speed-up mechanism includes: an electric device which is configured to generate a rotational driving force and a planetary gear transmission device which is configured to change the speed of the rotational driving force transmitted from the electric device to a constant-speed input shaft and a variable-speed input shaft and transmit the rotational driving force to a target to be driven via an output shaft. The electric device includes a constant-speed electric motor including a constant-speed rotor which is configured to rotate the constant-speed input shaft of the planetary gear transmission device and a variable-speed electric motor including a variable-speed rotor which is configured to rotate the variable-speed input shaft of the planetary gear transmission device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Okamoto, Masahiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10619706
    Abstract: To provide an inexpensive and thin motor with a speed reducer capable of elongating lifetime of bearings by reducing the effect of internal moments acting on an output member without using expensive bearings. A motor with a speed reducer performing output with a gear mechanism rotating to reduce speed around an electric motor M and an eccentric shaft driven to rotate by the electric motor M, in which a plurality of external gears are respectively assembled to the eccentric shaft at positions where moments obtained by multiplying distances in an axial direction from a position of a bearing provided in a speed reducer housing by magnitudes of loads acting on output pins at the positions are cancelled out with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: SHINANO KENSHI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Uehara
  • Patent number: 10619728
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing shift changes of a multi-speed automatic transmission of a vehicle are provided. The multi-speed automatic transmission being capable of establishing a plurality of forward speed ratios. The vehicle may include a transmission shift selector having at least one operator selectable shift request input to request a shift change of the multi-speed automatic transmission. A control circuit operatively coupled to the multi-speed automatic transmission is provided which shifts the multi-speed automatic transmission from a first forward speed ratio to a second forward speed ratio in response to shift criteria. The shift criteria may be based on a plurality of operational characteristics related to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Maurer, Mark A. Rains, Edmond M. Etchason
  • Patent number: 10619727
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing shift changes of a multi-speed automatic transmission of a vehicle are provided. The multi-speed automatic transmission being capable of establishing a plurality of forward speed ratios. The vehicle may include a transmission shift selector having at least one operator selectable shift request input to request a shift change of the multi-speed automatic transmission. A control circuit operatively coupled to the multi-speed automatic transmission is provided which shifts the multi-speed automatic transmission from a first forward speed ratio to a second forward speed ratio in response to shift criteria. The shift criteria may be based on a plurality of operational characteristics related to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Brent Maurer, Mark A. Rains, Edmond M. Etchason
  • Patent number: 10612640
    Abstract: An output ring gear for use in an integrated drive generator has a gear body extending between a first end and a second end and having a disc extending radially outwardly. A boss extends from the disc toward the second end. There are outer gear teeth outwardly of an outer diameter of the disc. There are inner gear teeth inwardly of an inner surface of the disc. The outer and inner gear teeth have a unique gear tooth profile with roll angles A, B, C, and D. An integrated drive generator and a method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Derek R. Hochstetler, Ted A. Martin, Duane C. Johnson, Glenn C. Lemmers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10611231
    Abstract: A power transmission system of a vehicle may include a first input shaft selectively connected to an engine, a second input shaft as a hollow shaft, enclosing the first input shaft without rotational interference with the first input shaft, and selectively connected to the engine, a speed change portion including first and second planetary gear sets, each planetary gear set including three rotation elements, and four rotation shafts directly connected to at least one rotation element among the rotation elements of the first and second planetary gear sets, a motor/generator, an output shaft, and control elements including two clutches disposed at positions where the first and second input shafts are selectively connected to an output shaft of the engine, and two brakes disposed at positions where two rotation shafts among the four rotation shafts are selectively connected to a transmission housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Wonmin Cho, Seong Wook Hwang, Woochurl Son, Hyun Sik Kwon, Jae Chang Kook, Seongwook Ji
  • Patent number: 10589733
    Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for controlling MHSG of a mild hybrid electric vehicle may include: detecting data for controlling the MHSG; determining whether an entry condition of coasting is satisfied based on the data; releasing a shift clutch of a transmission when the entry condition of coasting is satisfied; determining whether a release condition of coasting is satisfied in a state in which the mild hybrid electric vehicle is coasting; determining a target speed of an engine when the release condition of coasting is satisfied; and controlling the MHSG such that a speed of the engine increases to the target speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 10591056
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus that includes a gear mechanism and a continuously-variable transmission mechanism including a primary pulley, a secondary pulley, a transfer element that is looped over the primary and secondary pulleys, and an actuator configured to apply, to the primary pulley, a thrust, based on which the transfer element is to be clamped by the primary pulley. The vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus defines a first drive-force transmitting path for transmitting a drive force through the gear mechanism and a second drive-force transmitting path for transmitting the drive force through the continuously-variable transmission mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Taichi Washio
  • Patent number: 10583836
    Abstract: Provided is a novel control apparatus for a vehicle which allows the number of stops and restarts to be reduced while performing engine stop and coasting control. The configuration is such that, when there is a high probability of restarting an engine under circumstances where engine stop and coasting control is performed, the engine is maintained in idling operation while only the clutch is disengaged. For example, if it is determined that there is a high probability of restarting due to a change in the acceleration of a host vehicle or a preceding vehicle, the clutch is disengaged and the vehicle is coasted. Since the engine is maintained in an idle state, there is no need for restarting, and the number of restarts can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nahoko Takada, Naoyuki Tashiro
  • Patent number: 10577118
    Abstract: A method of operating a twin engine helicopter power plant, the power plant comprising: two turboshaft engines each having an engine shaft with a turbine at a distal end and a one-way clutch at a proximal end; a gear box having an input driven by the one way clutch of each engine and an output driving a helicopter rotor; a bypass clutch disposed between the proximal end of each engine shaft and the input of the gear box; and power plant management system controls for activating the bypass clutch; the method comprising: detecting when a rotary speed of an associated engine shaft is less than a rotary speed of the gear box input; activating the bypass clutch to drive the associated engine shaft using the rotation of the gear box input; and starting an associated engine by injecting fuel when the bypass clutch is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Lazar Mitrovic, Eric Durocher, Keith Morgan
  • Patent number: 10576816
    Abstract: A transmission for electric vehicles may include a first input shaft receiving a rotational force from a first motor; a second input shaft receiving a rotational force from a second motor; a one-way clutch mounted between the first and second input shafts, transferring only a forward rotation of the first input shaft to the second input shaft, and transferring only a reverse rotation of the second input shaft to the first input shaft; an output shaft disposed in parallel to the first and second shafts; a gear shifting device coupled to the first input shaft and the output shaft and coupled to the second input shaft and the output shaft, wherein the gear pairs have different shift ratios, and a gear pair corresponding to a driving speed is selected by a clutch device; and an idler gear coupled between gears coupled to the second input shaft and the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Soon Ki Eo, Seong Wook Hwang, Chon Ok Kim, Il Han Yoo, Jong Yun Park, Seong Wook Ji
  • Patent number: 10569776
    Abstract: A tractor includes an engine, a transmission coupled to the engine, a hydraulic pump driven by the engine, at least one of a tractor implement, attachment, or control moved by the hydraulic pump, a sensor, and a controller coupled to the transmission. The controller is configured to downshift the transmission based on a signal from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Andy B. Appleton