Patents Examined by Steven B Christ
  • Patent number: 8771139
    Abstract: A power transmission unit, including: an engine; a plurality of speed change gear pairs, each having a different gear ratio, and to which a power outputted from the engine is transmitted; an output member outputting the power transmitted from any of the selected speed change gear pair; a differential mechanism, which has three rotary elements performing a differential action, and in which a first rotary element of the three rotary elements is connected with the engine; and an electric motor, connected with a second rotary element of the three rotary elements. The plurality of speed change gear pairs include a first gear pair connected with the first rotary element and the output member, and a second gear pair connected with a third rotary element of the three rotary elements and the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukihiko Ideshio, Hideaki Komada, Takashi Ohta
  • Patent number: 8771132
    Abstract: A brake hub (36) and a second gear shaft (22) are rotatably supported by a bearing (42) and a bearing (43), the bearing (42) interposed between a projection (11D-1) of a support member (11D) disposed on the inner side of a recess (36a) of the brake hub and the inner peripheral surface of the recess, the bearing (43) interposed between a support member (11E) surrounding a top end portion of the brake hub and the top end portion of the brake hub. The transfer further comprises a disc pressing pin (50) inserted through a hole (11D-4) in the support member, a pressing plate (51) disposed on the outer side of the support member, and plate pressing means. The plate pressing means presses the pressing plate, the pressing plate presses the disc pressing pin, and the disc pressing pin presses a press brake disc (35C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Nichiyu Forklift Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Fujimoto, Shigeyoshi Umeda
  • Patent number: 8764607
    Abstract: A start-stop system includes a fuel type module that determines a fuel type of a fuel supplied to an engine. A threshold module determines a first threshold based on the fuel type. A temperature module estimates a temperature of a catalyst of an exhaust system of the engine. A comparison module compares the temperature to the first threshold and generates a comparison signal. A power module adjusts power to a heating circuit based on the comparison signal. The heating circuit is configured to increase temperature of the catalyst. The power module adjusts the power to the heating circuit to increase the temperature of the catalyst when the engine is shutdown. An engine control module shuts down and restarts the engine to reduce idling time of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Inventors: Eugene V. Gonze, Halim G. Santoso
  • Patent number: 8721499
    Abstract: A method controls a clutch for vehicles. In a vehicle provided with a transmission such as a DCT or AMT which uses a dry clutch as a launch clutch, the clutch is controlled such that clutch control torque can smoothly vary when a driver manipulates an accelerator pedal during creep driving under a control logic so that the controlling of the clutch is converted into launch control, thus preventing the vehicle from jerking and improving the ride comfort of the vehicle, thereby enhancing the merchantability of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Joung Chul Kim, Young Min Yoon
  • Patent number: 8721497
    Abstract: Disclosed therein is an automatic speed control system for a manual transmission. Clutch operating means using a combination of a motor and gears, transmission lever operating means using a combination of a motor and gears, and a control part, which check a driving state of a vehicle in real time and controls the motor if gear-shifting is needed, are additionally mounted to a general manual transmission, so that the general manual transmission can automatically shift the gear like an automatic transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Donghwan Ind. Corp.
    Inventor: Jung Ho Beak
  • Patent number: 8708861
    Abstract: An electric power tool includes a motor; a speed reducer for transferring a rotational power of the motor at a reduced speed; and a reduction ratio changing unit for changing a reduction ratio of the speed reducer. The speed reduction mechanism includes an axially slidable changeover member and a gear member, the changeover member being engaged with or disengaged from the gear member depending on an axial slide position thereof. The reduction ratio changing unit includes a shift actuator for axially sliding the changeover member, a driving state detector for detecting a driving state of the motor, a slide position detector for detecting a slide position of the changeover member and a controller for driving the shift actuator and for temporarily decreasing or increasing a rotational power of the motor depending on detection results of the driving state detector and the slide position detector, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichirou Inagaki, Yutaka Yamada, Tadashi Arimura, Masatoshi Atsumi, Hiroyuki Kaizo
  • Patent number: 8696505
    Abstract: A hybrid power train for vehicles uses a double clutch transmission (DCT) to further improve the fuel efficiency of a vehicle, obtain a sporty transmission, and prevent the entire length thereof from being excessively lengthened, thereby sufficiently securing the ability of being mounted in a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jin Woo Lee, Jeong Heon Kam
  • Patent number: 8696516
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicular drive system having (i) an engine, (ii) an electrically controlled differential portion operative to control an operating state of an electric motor connected to a rotary element of a differential mechanism for power-transmissive state for thereby controlling a differential state between a rotation speed of an input shaft connected to the engine, and a rotation speed of an output shaft, and (iii) a shifting portion forming a part of a power-transmitting mechanism between the electrically controlled differential portion and drive wheels, the control device including high-speed rotation preventing means for preventing high-speed rotations of each rotary elements of both the differential mechanism and the shifting portion, when a drop occurs or drop occurrence is predicted, in a supplied hydraulic pressure applied to a hydraulically operated frictional engaging device of the shifting portion, to a level less than a given value, wherein the high-speed rotation preventing means red
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shibata, Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Masakazu Kaifuku, Hidenori Kato
  • Patent number: 8672797
    Abstract: A geared power train (100) for use in a wind turbine application to maximize a step-up ratio within a radial space that is defined by the planetary gearing system ring gear size. The geared power train (100) is configured as a split-compound planetary gearing system with a closed-carrier flex-pin planetary system in a high-torque stage (Stage 1) for receiving driving torque via an input shaft (IN) from a wind turbine, and an open-carrier flex-pin planetary system in a low-torque stage (Stage 2) coupled to the high-torque stage (Stage 1) for delivering the driving torque to an electrical generator via an output shaft (OUT).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventor: Gerald P. Fox
  • Patent number: 8668616
    Abstract: A transmission is connectable to an input member and includes first and second shaft members, first and second countershaft members, a plurality of co-planar gear sets, a compound planetary gear set, a plurality of torque transmitting elements, and an output member. The torque transmitting devices include a plurality of brakes, synchronizer assemblies, and clutches including a dual clutch assembly. The transmission is operable to provide at least three reverse speed ratios and at least nine forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Darrell Lee Robinette
  • Patent number: 8663067
    Abstract: A method of operating an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle. The automatic transmission, when the motor vehicle is driven with an actuated accelerator and an engaged starting clutch, and then coasts with the accelerator not actuated and the starting clutch engaged, during coasting with the engaged starting clutch the transmission remaining in the gear in which it was previously driven with the gas pedal actuated. When the transmission input speed of the automatic transmission drops below a limit value, during coasting, the starting clutch is disengaged. During coasting with a disengaged starting clutch in the automatic transmission, a gear is shifted that matches the current speed of the motor vehicle so that, when the starting clutch is subsequently engaged, a gear is available that matches the speed of the motor vehicle prevailing at the time the starting clutch is subsequently engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Roland Mair, Florian Schneider
  • Patent number: 8663054
    Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, 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 torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Andrew W. Phillips, Scott H. Wittkopp, James M. Hart, Clinton E. Carey
  • Patent number: 8657092
    Abstract: The safety coupling includes a driving part (10) and a driven part (12) able to rotate around the same rotation axis (X) and respectively provided with first torque transmission means (14, 24) and with second torque transmission means (30, 36, 40, 52, 60, 62) having front toothings (24, 40, 60, 62) normally meshing with each other for the transmission of torque between the two parts of the coupling (10, 12). The safety coupling also includes torque-sensitive opening means (66, 72, 110) arranged to disengage the front toothings (24, 40, 60, 62) of the first (14, 24) and second (30, 36, 40, 52, 60, 62) torque transmission means, thus interrupting the torque transmission, when the torque transmitted between the two parts of the coupling (10, 12) exceeds a given maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Maina Orani di Transmissione S.p.A.
    Inventor: Cesare Padovan
  • Patent number: 8652006
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes a multi-mode transmission having a plurality of torque machines. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes identifying all presently applied clutches including commanded applied clutches and the stuck-closed clutch upon detecting one of the torque-transfer clutches is in a stuck-closed condition. A closed-loop control system is employed to control operation of the multi-mode transmission accounting for all the presently applied clutches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: R. Anthony Hansen
  • Patent number: 8652005
    Abstract: A transmission configuration for a vehicle with at least a wet clutch (7) functioning as starting element. A coolant and a lubricant supply is provided via at least a pump device (5) which can be driven by a drive motor (1) of the vehicle. The pump device (5) can be driven in such a way that the conveyed flow volume of the pump device (5) is proportional to the rotational speed difference between the rotational speed of the drive motor (1) and the rotational speed of the clutch (7) which is designed and functions as the starting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Mark Mohr, Matthias Reisch, Jurgen Wafzig
  • Patent number: 8640841
    Abstract: A bidirectional driving device includes a ratchet wheel, a movable handle, a fixed casing, a pawl reset spring, a handle reset spring and a central shaft. The handle reset spring is in an inner hole of the ratchet wheel. A positioning column of the handle reset spring is placed in sliding slots of the movable handle and of the fixed casing. First and second pawls are disposed between the ratchet wheel and the movable handle. Tooth sections of the first and second pawls are engaged with ratchet teeth of the ratchet wheel. Positioning columns of the first and second pawls are connected with the movable handle. Bosses of the first and second pawls are placed in sliding slots of the fixed casing, each composed of two circular arc slot sections with different radius. The pawl reset spring is connected with the bosses and with the central shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hubei Aviation Precision Machinery Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chengxin Cai, Yuanhe Gao
  • Patent number: 8602187
    Abstract: An overrunning one-way clutch or coupling assembly includes a first outer coupling member and an inner coupling member which together have a first pair of annular coupling faces therebetween and a second outer coupling member which together with the inner coupling member have a second pair of annular coupling faces therebetween. Both pairs of coupling faces are formed with sets of pockets and locking formations. Forward and reverse sets of struts are located in pockets axially spaced apart from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey J. Prout
  • Patent number: 8602192
    Abstract: Multiple-disk clutch with outer disks supported by an outer disk carrier that is rotatable around an axis of rotation and with inner disks supported by an inner disk carrier that is rotatable around the axis of rotation. The outer disks and the inner disks form an annular disk stack with an inner radius and an outer radius. An axially movable actuator actuates the disk stack. The actuator engages in a central radius area of the disk stack with reference to the axis of rotation when actuating. The disk stack includes a resilient element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Grosspietsch, Angelika Ebert, Daniel Pittner
  • Patent number: 8597159
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle system including a selectively shut-down engine, a torque converter and a torque converter lock-up clutch. One example method comprises, during an idle-stop engine shut-down, restricting flow of transmission fluid out of the torque converter, and adjusting engagement of the torque converter lock-up clutch to adjust a drag torque on the engine to stop the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Michael Pietron, Seung-Hoon Lee, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Yuji Fujii, Roger Lyle Huffmaster, Peter John Grutter
  • Patent number: 8597147
    Abstract: A power transmission system of a hybrid electric vehicle includes an input shaft, a first planetary gear set having first, second, and third rotation elements, the second directly connected to the input shaft, and the third directly connected to a first motor/generator, a second planetary gear set having fourth, fifth, and sixth rotation elements, the fourth directly connected to the first rotation element and a second motor/generator, and the fifth selectively connected to the second rotation element, an output gear connected to the sixth rotation element, a first clutch selectively connecting the second rotation element with the fifth rotation element, a second clutch selectively connecting two rotation elements among the rotation elements of the first planetary gear set, a first brake interposed between the fifth rotation element and a transmission housing, and a second brake interposed between the third rotation element and the transmission housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Baekyu Kim, Jang Mi Lee, Sungik Bae, Yeonho Kim