Patents Examined by Stacey A Fluhart
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Patent number: 11371567Abstract: A disconnect apparatus including a first clutch member and a second clutch member in selective engagement with the first clutch member. The disconnect apparatus also includes a cam mechanism and a sensor assembly. The cam mechanism includes an axially movable first cam member and an axially fixed second cam member, wherein the sensor assembly generates a pulse pattern which is utilized to determine a position of the first cam member, and thereby a state of the disconnect apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2019Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLCInventors: Korneel Bolle, Michael Z. Creech, Stijn Goossens, Gaurav Krishnaraj, Mitchell R. Lawson
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Patent number: 11370413Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to limit a thermal damage to a starting clutch without generating a shock. The control system is applied to a vehicle in which a prime mover includes an engine, a first motor, and a second motor. In the vehicle, the first motor is connected to the engine, and a first clutch and a second clutch are disposed between the engine and drive wheels. A controller executes a transient slip control to cause the second clutch to slip while bringing the slipping first clutch into complete engagement if a temperature of the first clutch is high. If an engine speed is changed during execution of the transient slip control, the first motor generates a collection torque to suppress the change in the engine speed.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Junya Mizuno, Hideo Watanabe, Toshiyuki Tomita, Masami Kondo
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Patent number: 11365799Abstract: A drive device has a superimposed transmission, an input shaft connected a main drive machine, one or more auxiliary drives, a hydrodynamic retarder for braking the auxiliary drive, and an output shaft to be connected to a working machine. The superimposed transmission has a planetary transmission, with the input shaft connected to a ring gear and the output shaft connected to a sun gear. The retarder is incorporated into a lubricating oil system of the drive device in parallel. A feed line branches from the lubricating oil system and leads to the retarder. A return line leads from the retarder and opens into the lubricating oil system. A valve enables the feed line to be released in the event of a rapid disconnection or energy supply failure of one of the drives, and thus the retarder can be filled with oil.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2019Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Voith Patent GmbHInventors: Tobias Stolz, Peter Vogel, Tobias Seeberger
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Patent number: 11365770Abstract: A disconnect system for selectively engaging and disengaging one or more shafts of a power train unit. The disconnect system includes a plurality of cam members and an electromagnetic coil. At least one cam member rotates at the same speed as an input shaft. At least one cam member rotates at variable speeds. In operation, the electromagnetic coil is energized by rotation of the input shaft for selectively activating a clutch to engage one or more of the cams to connect and disconnect one or more output shafts.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2018Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Linamar CorporationInventors: Todd R Ekonen, Gary Monkaba, Steven Nance, Matt Griffith, Tod Verville
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Patent number: 11358582Abstract: A controller for a hybrid vehicle is configured to execute a shifting assist process of increasing torque of a motor when performing power-on downshift of an automatic transmission and an upper limit assist torque setting process of setting an upper limit assist torque that is an upper limit value of a travel assist torque to be a smaller value when a maximum step number of the power-on downshift is large than when the maximum step number is small.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2020Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shingo Akita, Takahiro Kondo, Akio Murasugi
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Patent number: 11359679Abstract: The present invention relates to a disk clutch comprising a first disk set (32) which is connected rotationally fixed to a first disk carrier (18) and a second disk set (42) which is connected rotationally fixed to a second disk carrier (24), wherein the disks (34 through 40, 46 through 52) of the two disk sets (32, 42) may be brought into frictional engagement with one another via friction surfaces (54, 56), wherein recesses and/or grooves are provided in at least one or more friction surfaces (54, 56) of the disks (34 through 40; 46 through 52) of the first and/or second disk sets (32; 42). A first type of recesses and/or grooves (68) is thereby provided, which is generated by a material shaping and/or a material casting and/or a non-material removing first manufacturing method, and a second type of recesses and/or grooves (70) is provided, which is generated by a material removing second manufacturing method.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2018Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.Inventor: Michael Wilhelm Schaefer
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Patent number: 11351855Abstract: A multi-mode hybrid module includes a fluid coupling, an electric motor and a first clutch. The fluid coupling includes a fluid coupling housing, an impeller drivingly connected to the fluid coupling housing, and a turbine arranged for driving connection to a transmission input shaft. The electric motor includes a nonrotatable stator and a rotatable rotor including a rotor carrier. The first clutch is arranged to drivingly connect the rotor carrier directly to the transmission input shaft. In some example embodiments, the first clutch is a dog clutch. In some example embodiments, the multi-mode hybrid module includes a first clutch actuator. The first clutch has an axially slidable sleeve arranged to selectively rotationally connect the rotor carrier and the transmission input shaft, and the first clutch actuator is arranged to displace the axially slidable sleeve to connect and disconnect the rotor carrier and the transmission input shaft.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2020Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KGInventor: Ullekh Raghunatha Gambhira
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Patent number: 11346443Abstract: An earth working machine (10), encompassing a drive motor (42) and a working apparatus (22) drivable by the drive motor (42) so as to move rotationally, the drive motor (42) being connected to the working apparatus (22), for transfer of a torque, with interposition of a shiftable transmission (50; 150) comprising at least two gearing stages having different torque transfer ratios, is characterized in that by means of a first gearing stage of the shiftable transmission (50), an input shaft (48), coupled on the input side to the drive motor (42), of the shiftable transmission (50) is connectable in torque-transferring fashion directly to an output shaft (52), coupled on the output side to the working apparatus (22), of the shiftable transmission (50) so as to rotate together at the same rotation speed; and by means of a second gearing stage of the shiftable transmission (50), the input shaft (48) is connectable in torque-transferring fashion, with interposition of a transmission assemblage (64), to the output sType: GrantFiled: July 14, 2020Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Inventors: Christian Berning, Tobias Stinner, Cyrus Barimani, Hardy Wilhelmi
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Patent number: 11345228Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle includes an electric machine (EM1), a first input shaft (GW1), a second input shaft (GW2), an output shaft (GWA), two planetary gear sets (P1, P2, P3), and at least five shift elements (A, B, C, D, E). Different gears are implementable by selectively actuating the at least five shift elements (A, B, C, D, E) and, in addition, in interaction with the electric machine (EM1), different operating modes are implementable. A drive train for a motor vehicle with such transmission (G) and to a method for operating such transmission (G) are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2019Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AGInventors: Stefan Beck, Johannes Kaltenbach, Matthias Horn, Fabian Kutter, Thomas Martin, Uwe Griesmeier
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Patent number: 11345326Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle that may be automatically stopped and started is described. In one example, the method includes starting an engine via expansion stroke combustion in response to a request to urgently start the engine. In addition, the method includes adjusting a position of a compression relief valve in response to a predicted urgency of an engine start.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2020Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Allen Doering, Kevin Ray Ruybal, Jason Meyer, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Rajit Johri, Ming Lang Kuang
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Patent number: 11333222Abstract: A power transmission apparatus of a hybrid electric vehicle includes an input shaft configured of receiving an engine torque, a motor shaft configured of receiving a torque of a motor/generator, first and second planetary gear sets respectively having first to third rotation elements and fourth to sixth rotation elements, a first shaft connected to the first rotation element and selectively connectable to each of the input shaft and the motor shaft, a second shaft fixedly connecting the second and fifth rotation elements, and selectively connectable to the input shaft, the motor shaft, and a transmission housing, respectively, a third shaft fixedly connecting the third and fourth rotation elements and selectively connectable to the transmission housing, a fourth shaft fixedly connecting the sixth rotation element and an output gear, and a plurality of engagement elements including at least one clutch and at least one brake.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2020Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Hyu Tae Shim, Bong Hyun Cho, Jae Young Jeon, Byung Dae Choi, Hyung Min Kim, Jin Yong Kim, Gwang Soo Hwang, Jun Seong Kang
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Patent number: 11326654Abstract: A friction engagement element control system is provided, which includes a friction engagement element including friction plates, which are an input-side friction plate and an output-side friction plate, and an actuation system configured to engage the input-side friction plate with the output-side friction plate with a pushing force, the friction plates having a characteristic in which a friction coefficient thereof decreases as a rotational difference between the friction plates increases. The device includes a controller configured to control the pushing force so that the negative slope characteristic becomes a positive slope characteristic in which a frictional force of the friction engagement element decreases as the rotational difference decreases, when engaging the friction engagement element.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2021Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Hirofumi Ebisumoto, Nobuhide Seo, Tsukasa Sori
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Patent number: 11320030Abstract: A two-speed transmission alternately establishes two speed ratios between a primary drive pulley and one or more accessories pulleys of an accessory drive system. The two-speed transmission includes concentric input and output shafts fixed to input and output pulleys respectively. When an actuator is disengaged, a one-way clutch transfers power between the input shaft and the output shaft. The input shaft is fixed to the planet carrier of a planetary gear set and the output shaft is fixed to the sun gear of the planetary gear set. When the actuator is engaged, the ring gear of the planetary gear set is held establishing an overdrive speed relationship between the input pulley and the output pulley.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2020Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KGInventor: Nicholas Hrusch
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Patent number: 11312226Abstract: A clutch device for a motor vehicle drive train includes an input shaft, a first clutch arranged on the input shaft, a housing wall, a support bearing on the housing wall, an actuating force introduction mechanism, and a first actuating unit. The first clutch has a first clutch component with a carrier and a second clutch component. The first clutch component is directly connected to and axially supported on the input shaft. The actuating force introduction mechanism is rotationally fixed to the first clutch component such that an actuating force which adjusts the first clutch from its open position into its closed position is introduced directly into the input shaft via the carrier and is supported by the input shaft via the support bearing. The first actuating unit is operatively connected to the first clutch and includes a movable actuating bearing arranged to interact with the actuating force introduction mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2019Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KGInventors: Ivo Agner, Aurelie Keller, Thomas Hurle
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Patent number: 11313462Abstract: A utility vehicle comprises a traveling driving power source which generates rotational driving power for driving a drive wheel; a continuously variable transmission including an input shaft to which the rotational driving power transmitted from the traveling driving power source is input, an output shaft which outputs the rotational driving power toward the drive wheel, a drive pulley provided at the input shaft, a driven pulley provided at the output shaft, and a belt wrapped around the drive pulley and the driven pulley; a clutch which is disposed in a driving power transmission path at a location that is between the belt and the drive wheel and is capable of disconnecting the driving power transmission path; and a clutch actuator which operates the clutch.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
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Patent number: 11305748Abstract: A vehicle includes a primary axle powered by an actuator and a secondary axle powered by a motor. The secondary axle includes a differential, first and second halfshafts, first and second wheels, a first electric clutch selectively coupling the first wheel to the first halfshaft, and a second electric clutch selectively coupling the second wheel to the second halfshaft. A vehicle controller is programmed to: responsive to a request to activate the secondary axle and a first speed difference between the first and second wheels being less than a first threshold, engage the first and second clutches at a same time, and, in response to the request to activate the secondary axle and the first speed difference between the first and second wheels exceeding the first threshold, engage one of the clutches and then subsequently engage the other of the clutches once the one of the clutches is fully engaged.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2019Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jose Velazquez Alcantar, Joseph Jay Torres, Matthew John Shelton
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Patent number: 11300165Abstract: Electromagnetically-operated coupling device for selectively connecting and disconnecting a first rotating member and a second rotating member in a driveline of a vehicle is disclosed, wherein the first and the second rotating members are coaxial with each other and rotatable about a same axis of rotation. The coupling device comprises: an engagement sleeve provided with a control disk made of a ferromagnetic material, the engagement sleeve being axially slidable between an engaged position and a disengaged position; and a control system for controlling the sliding movement of the engagement sleeve between said engaged and disengaged positions. The control system comprises a pair of magnetic coils which are placed on opposite sides of the control disk, coaxially therewith, and are arranged to be selectively activated by an electric current to generate a magnetic force acting on the control disk to axially move the control disk, and therefore also the engagement sleeve, in either directions.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2018Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: DANA GRAZIANO S.R.L.Inventors: Robert John Barnes, Benjamin Stubbs, Andrew Charles Osborne Smith
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Patent number: 11293499Abstract: A clutch device configured for a transmission may include a first body and a second coaxially mounted to the first body; a friction element mounted between the first body and the second body; a friction piston configured to axially press the friction element by use of hydraulic pressure; a retractable mechanism including a dog clutch, which is configured to restrict rotation between the first body and the second body, and repeatedly engaging and disengaging the dog clutch by repeatedly applying pressure in axial direction thereof; and an operation piston configured to provide pressure to the retractable mechanism in an axial direction of the retractable mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2020Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Seong Eun Yun, Dong Woo Gwak, Sung Wha Hong, Jong Yun Park
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Patent number: 11293497Abstract: The present disclosure provides a wet friction engaging device. The device includes: a plate group engaged with two connecting members and including two groups of friction plates housed in a plate housing chamber and alternately arranged; and a spring attached between a spring plate and an end plate. The plate group is switched between an engaged state in which the friction plates are in close contact with each other, and a disengaged state in which the friction plates are separable from each other. The spring plate is fixed to the end plate.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2020Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Hirofumi Ebisumoto, Tsukasa Sori
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Patent number: 11285806Abstract: A driving force distribution device includes a first output rotational member and a second output rotational member, an input rotational member, a first multiple disc clutch, a second multiple disc clutch, a pressure receiving member, a first pressing mechanism and a second pressing mechanism. The pressure receiving member includes an annular base portion and a plurality of projecting pieces, the projecting pieces include a plurality of first projecting pieces and a plurality of second projecting pieces. The first projecting pieces each have a first pressure receiving surface, the second projecting pieces each have a second pressure receiving surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2020Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATIONInventor: Noriyuki Fujii