Patents Examined by Sherry Estremsky
  • Patent number: 9636880
    Abstract: A drive device (10) for a forming machine (11) includes a hypocycloid gear assembly (20) having an eccentric gear (23), a stationary annulus gear (24) and a planetary gear system (28). The planetary gear system (28) includes an orbiting gear (29) orbiting and rolling in an annulus gear (24). The orbiting gear (29) is connected to at least one first planetary gear (35). On the first planetary gear (35), a first planetary gear equalization mass (m2) is disposed diametrically opposite an output bearing. At least one first eccentric gear equalization mass (m3) is arranged on the eccentric gear (23). The first eccentric gear equalization mass (m3) is arranged diametrically opposite, relative to a planetary gear axis (PA) about which the planetary gear system (28) rotates. The resultant forces and torques acting on the annulus gear (24) can at least be reduced by the equalization masses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SCHULER PRESSEN GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Merkle, Roland Meier, Carola Lebschy
  • Patent number: 9630491
    Abstract: A transfer case includes an input shaft, first and second output shafts and a planetary gearset having a sun gear, a ring gear and a pinion gear meshingly engaged with the sun and ring gears. A range actuator includes first, second and third range sleeves abutted in series being axially translatable between a first position to provide a drive connection between the input shaft and the first output shaft, a second position providing a direct drive ratio connection between the input shaft and the first output shaft as well as the input shaft and a second output shaft, and a third position to provide a reduced speed drive ratio connection between the input shaft and the first output shaft as well as the input shaft and the second output shaft. The gears of the planetary gearset are not driven when the range sleeves are at the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley R. Larkin, Douglas O. Bradley
  • Patent number: 9625008
    Abstract: A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for vehicles may include an input shaft receiving torque of an engine, an output shaft outputting changed torque, a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, a third planetary gear set, a fourth planetary gear set, a first rotational shaft selectively connected to a transmission housing, a second rotational shaft directly connected to the input shaft, a third rotational shaft, a fourth rotational shaft, a fifth rotational shaft selectively connected to the first rotational shaft or the second rotational shaft, a sixth rotational shaft directly connected to the output shaft, a seventh rotational shaft selectively connected to the transmission housing, an eighth rotational shaft selectively connected to the fourth rotational shaft or the fifth rotational shaft, and six friction elements interposed between the rotational shafts, or between at least one rotational shaft and the transmission housing to connect selectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Wonmin Cho, Jae Chang Kook, Myeong Hoon Noh, Seongwook Ji, Kangsoo Seo, Seong Wook Hwang
  • Patent number: 9616881
    Abstract: A vehicle and a method of controlling a powertrain are provided. The vehicle may include a controller programmed to operate a powertrain in a hybrid mode. The controller may be further programmed to, responsive to a request to operate the powertrain in electric mode, transition powertrain operation from the hybrid mode to the electric mode without shifting gears until a change in accelerator pedal position exceeds a threshold following the transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard D. Nefcy, Daniel Scott Colvin, Marvin Paul Kraska
  • Patent number: 9598083
    Abstract: A controller is capable of controlling a coupled engine running mode, in which an engine is coupled to wheels and an engine brake is activated by driven rotation of the engine, and a coasting mode, in which an engine brake force is reduced with respect to that in the coupled engine running mode with mode with the engine brake on, and starts the coasting mode on the basis of the steering angle of a steering member. The controller starts the execution of a first coasting mode when the steering angle is equal to or less than a preset upper limit value and starts the execution of a second coasting mode when the steering angle is greater than the upper limit value. In the first coasting mode, the engine rotation is stopped, and in the second coasting mode, the engine remains rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeaki Suzuki, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9561799
    Abstract: A controller is capable of controlling a coupled engine running mode, in which an engine is coupled to wheels and an engine brake is activated by driven rotation of the engine, and a coasting mode, in which an engine brake force is reduced with respect to that in the coupled engine running mode with mode with the engine brake on, and starts the coasting mode on the basis of the steering angle of a steering member. The controller starts the execution of a first coasting mode when the steering angle is equal to or less than a preset upper limit value and starts the execution of a second coasting mode when the steering angle is greater than the upper limit value. In the first coasting mode, the engine rotation is stopped, and in the second coasting mode, the engine remains rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeaki Suzuki, Masaki Matsunaga, Yasunari Kido, Takayuki Kogure, Yukari Okamura, Rentaro Kuroki, Takuya Hirai, Masaki Mitsuyasu, Jonggap Kim, Akihiro Sato, Yusuke Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9556935
    Abstract: A multi-stage transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft, an output shaft, first to fourth planetary gear devices disposed between the input shaft and the output shaft to transmit rotary force, each of the first to fourth planetary gear devices having three rotary elements, and at least six shifting elements connected to the rotary elements of the planetary gear devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Won Min Cho, Jae Chang Kook, Myeong Hoon Noh, Seong Wook Ji, Kang Soo Seo, Seong Wook Hwang
  • Patent number: 9556941
    Abstract: A transmission having a variator drive capable of being placed in a continuously variable operating mode or an infinitely variable operating mode, capable of having a wide ratio range, and capable of transmitting large amounts of power. Variable transmissions comprising three clutches, three grounding clutches or brakes, and a variator comprising a plurality of tilting variators balls disposed between a first drive ring and a second drive ring allow a single variator to function as an infinitely variable transmission when power is inputted to the carrier assembly and as a continuously variable transmission when power is inputted through a first ring assembly. Certain embodiments include a differential that allows a parallel power path around the variator to improve the variator torque capacity and a direct drive mode to improve the efficiency of the variator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Dana Limited
    Inventors: James F. Ziech, Kenneth E. Cooper
  • Patent number: 9556939
    Abstract: A control knob for an appliance includes an outer control ring, a stationary hub, a rotation modulating mechanism coupled to the outer control ring and engaged with an outer surface of the stationary hub, wherein the outer control ring is rotationally operable about the stationary hub at a first rate, an indicial ring positioned around the stationary hub, wherein the indicial ring engages a portion of the rotation modulating mechanism, wherein rotation of the outer control ring at the first rate causes the rotation modulating mechanism to rotate the indicial ring about the stationary hub at a second rate, the second rate being different than the first rate and an encoder shaft positioned within the stationary hub, wherein an inner gearing mechanism extends between an exterior surface of the encoder shaft and one of the outer control ring and the indicial ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Edinger, Casey L. McCuan, Leif A. Norland
  • Patent number: 9551400
    Abstract: A power transmission device of a hybrid vehicle includes: a transmission including a planetary mechanism including a plurality of transmission rotational elements, one of the transmission rotational elements being connected to a rotary shaft of an engine; a differential device including a plurality of differential rotational elements including one connected to one of the transmission rotational elements of the transmission, one connected to a rotary shaft of a first rotary machine, and one connected to a rotary shaft of a second rotary machine and a driven wheel; a transmission control device configured to control the transmission; and a control device configured to control the first rotary machine such that pinion differential rotation of the transmission or the differential device is set to be not higher than a predetermined value at a time unique motor EV driving is performed only by power of the second rotary machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Hiasa, Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Tatsuya Imamura, Takeshi Kitahata, Kenta Kumazaki
  • Patent number: 9545818
    Abstract: A dual-wheel differential system includes an in inner hub, an outer hub, and a differential assembly mechanically coupled between the inner hub and the outer hub to allow the inner hub and the outer hub to rotate at different angular speeds. A user-actuatable locking system is configured to mechanically lock the inner hub to the outer hub. The user-actuatable locking system may include at least one axially-translating or radially-translating locking pin configured to engage at least one of the inner hub and the outer hub. The locking system may be pneumatically, hydraulically, or electromechanically actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: AXLETECH INTERNATIONAL IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Marius Frum, Dan Ursu, Barry Groves
  • Patent number: 9545842
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus for a vehicle is provided which is equipped with a power split device and a speed variator. The power transmission device is designed to set a speed ratio of speed of rotation of an output of a power source to speed of rotation of a driven wheel in a power circulation mode of a power split device to lie within one of a positive range in which a sign of the speed ratio is positive and a negative range in which a sign of the speed ratio is negative. This results in a decrease in degree of torque acting on the speed variator such as a continuously variable transmission, thus permitting a required degree of durability of the speed variator to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignees: NIPPON SOKEN, INC., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Kawasaki, Takenori Matsue
  • Patent number: 9541187
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally refers to a transmission comprising a transmission housing and at least one transmission stage arranged in the transmission housing. The transmission stage may include, coaxially with respect to an axis, a sun gear, a planet carrier with at least two planet gears rotatably mounted on the planet carrier; and an internal gear as transmission parts. At least one stop means may be provided for limiting the axial movement of two transmission parts which are movable relative to one another. The stop means may comprise a ball pair with a first ball assigned to a first transmission part and a second ball assigned to a second transmission part. The two balls may be arranged so as to be rotatable about their ball center on the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Kleinbongartz, Adam Gacka, Alexander Jänsch, Andreas Scheer, Dennis Grimm, Jessica Johnson, Michael Nafe, Peter Pientka, Thomas Hoelken
  • Patent number: 9541164
    Abstract: An axial conversion gear device includes: a crankshaft having a first eccentric portion and a shaft gear; a first oscillation gear having first external teeth; a transmitting gear having a first gear engaged with the shaft gear and a second gear spaced apart from the first gear in an axial direction of the first gear; an axial conversion unit having an external tooth gear engaged with the second gear and an axial conversion gear converting input torque into torque in an axial direction of the external tooth gear; and an outer cylinder having inner tooth pins engaged with the first external teeth of the first oscillation gear, wherein in the axial direction of the external teeth gear, the axial conversion gear is located between the first gear and the second gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Naruse
  • Patent number: 9541182
    Abstract: A drive device for a vehicle having a combustion engine and a multistage manual transmission having first and second sub-transmissions, each of which has a separate input shaft. A first input shaft of the first sub-transmission couples, via a first clutch, the combustion engine or is assigned an electrical machine. A second input shaft of a second sub-transmission couples, via a second clutch, the combustion engine. The first input shaft is additionally assigned a start-up element having at least one hydrodynamic transfer element, which has first and second functional wheels which together form a working chamber. The working chamber can be filled with fluid in order to generate a hydrodynamic transfer torque such that at least one start-up function, affecting the first sub-transmission, can carried out by way of the start-up element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Kai Borntrager, Johannes Kaltenbach
  • Patent number: 9528572
    Abstract: A gear unit for a compound transmission has a planetary stage that couples an input and an output shaft for different transmission ratios. The planetary stage includes a sun gear, a ring gear and planet gears rotatably supported at a planet carrier. The planet gears have a region with two different toothings arranged axially offset with respect to an axis of rotation of the planetary stage. A meshing engagement with a first sun gear and/or a first ring gear is produced via the first toothing. The planet gears mesh at the second toothing with a second sun gear and/or a second ring gear, and one component of the planetary stage is connected to the input shaft to be fixed with respect to rotation and one component is fixed at a housing, while the rest of the components can be coupled with the output shaft, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Raphael Himmelsbach, Michael Wechs, Karl Grad, Stefan Beck, Martin Rattay
  • Patent number: 9531238
    Abstract: A modular actuation device for an object, such as an aerodynamic control surface of a missile. The modular actuation device can include an outer support structure configured to couple with an external support member, such as a structural portion of a missile. The modular actuation device can also include an electric motor to provide an input torque and having an outer casing coupled to the outer support structure. The modular actuation device can further include an epicyclic gear train disposed within the outer support structure and operably coupled to the electric motor to receive the input torque. The epicyclic gear train can be configured to provide an output torque to move the object. In addition, the modular actuation device can include a torque output member disposed at least partially within the outer support structure and coupled to the epicyclic gear train to receive the output torque. The torque output member can be configured to couple with the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: John F. Bugge
  • Patent number: 9527382
    Abstract: An electric axle for a vehicle, including an electric motor, a reduction gear section, a torque-distributing differential and two output shafts, where the electric motor, the torque-distributing differential and the two output shafts are disposed coaxially with a main transmission axis, and where the electric motor generates a drive torque which is reduced by the reduction gear section and distributed to the two output shafts via the torque-distributing differential, and further including a differential mechanism. The torque-distributing differential is designed as a planetary differential, and the differential mechanism is operatively connected to the torque-distributing differential via a shaft means disposed coaxially with the main transmission axis. The differential mechanism makes it possible to vary a speed difference and/or torque difference between the output shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Tomas Smetana
  • Patent number: 9528575
    Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, two planetary gear sets one of which is a selectively speed reducing gear set, another two planetary gear sets that may be stacked or nested to form a planetary gear set assembly, 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 stacked or nested planetary gear set assembly has a carrier member for rotatably supporting a first plurality of pinion gears and a second plurality of pinion gears, a ring gear and a common gear member. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventor: James M. Hart
  • Patent number: 9512900
    Abstract: The present teachings provide for a transmission including a planetary gear set and a first displacement device. The planetary gear set can include a sun gear, ring gear, planet carrier, first planet gear and second planet gear. The sun gear, ring gear, and planet carrier can be disposed about a first axis. The first planet gear can meshingly engage with the sun gear and the ring gear, and can be coupled to the planet carrier for rotation relative thereto about a second axis. The first planet gear can be axially slidable relative to the planet carrier. The second planet gear can meshingly engage with the sun gear and the ring gear, and can be coupled to the planet carrier for rotation relative thereto about a third axis. The first displacement device can be configured to displace the first planet gear axially relative to the second planet gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: e-AAM Driveline Systems AB
    Inventors: Magnus Hederstad, Erik J. Sten