Patents Examined by Timothy Hannon
  • Patent number: 11713791
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) includes an engine, a first motor directly connected to the engine through a first shaft, a second motor directly connected to a second shaft, and an engine clutch of which one end is connected to the first shaft and the other end is connected to the second shaft so as to selectively connect the first shaft and the second shaft. The (HEV) includes a first controller unit configured to control each of the first motor and the second motor and a second controller unit configured to determine whether a preconfigured touch point learning condition is satisfied, control the first and second motors to respective first and second speeds when the learning condition is satisfied, and learn a touch point of the engine clutch on the basis of a torque change of the first motor or the second motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jae Woo Jeon, Weon Jae Lee, Gi Young Kwon, Dae Won Yang
  • Patent number: 11703095
    Abstract: A method for determining an output torque in a drive system capable of being power shifted in a vehicle includes providing the drive system having a drive unit for transmitting the drive torque, a dual clutch having a first clutch and a second clutch, and a power shift transmission. The power shift transmission has a first gear with a first gear ratio and a second gear with a second gear ratio. The method also includes measuring a first torque transmitted by the first clutch, calculating a distribution of the drive torque to the first clutch and the second clutch using the first torque, and determining the output torque from the distribution of the drive torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Markus Jost
  • Patent number: 11698111
    Abstract: A disconnect mechanism to disconnect an electric machine from an ancillary component includes a ramp shaft connected to a disconnect shaft of the electric machine, and connected to the ancillary component, such that when connected to the ancillary component the disconnect shaft transmits rotational energy between the electric motor and the ancillary component. The ramp shaft includes a disconnect feature. A plunger is selectably engageable with the disconnect feature to disconnect the ramp shaft from the disconnect shaft. The disconnect feature includes a drop-in window for initial engagement with the plunger, and a ramp surface extending in a circumferential direction from the drop in window at an acute angle relative to the drop in window. Engagement of the plunger with the ramp surface urges movement of the ramp shaft in an axial direction away from the disconnect shaft to disconnect the ramp shaft from the disconnect shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Aaron M. Finke
  • Patent number: 11698113
    Abstract: A hybrid module includes a torque converter and a clutch assembly. The torque converter includes a front cover. The clutch assembly includes a piston axially spaced from the front cover. The piston is axially slidable to engage the clutch assembly. The clutch assembly further includes a seal plate non-rotatably connected to the front cover and sealed to the piston. A seal is compressed between the seal plate and the front cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Natalie Allen, Brandon Heitger, David Avins, Nigel Gurney
  • Patent number: 11691694
    Abstract: A coupling arrangement for coupling members as a gear change coupling in a gear mechanism unit includes a first member and a second member. The first member has a coupling toothing system. At least one locking body arrangement is mounted pivotably on the second member. The locking body arrangement can be pivoted into a coupling position, in the case of which a driving section on the locking body arrangement engages into the coupling toothing system. The locking body arrangement can be pivoted into a release position, in the case of which the driving section of the locking body arrangement does not engage into the coupling toothing system. The locking body arrangement has a locking body carrier which is mounted pivotably on the second member, and has a locking body member which is mounted pivotably on the locking body carrier and on which the driving section is configured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: PINION GMBH
    Inventor: Michael Schmitz
  • Patent number: 11692600
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a hydraulic control system comprising a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber, each pressure chamber configured to receive a hydraulic fluid, a first movable member configured to assume a position depending on a hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the first pressure chamber and a second movable member configured to assume a position depending on a hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the second pressure chamber, a hydraulic command circuit configured to provide the hydraulic fluid and to control the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the first pressure chamber and/or the second pressure chamber, having a switchable valve in fluid communication with the first pressure chamber, wherein the switchable valve is configured to be pilotable depending on the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the second pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Dana Motion Systems Italia S.R.L.
    Inventors: Stefano Fasano, Daniele Dodi
  • Patent number: 11692624
    Abstract: A shift device includes: a shift switching member including a plurality of valley portions corresponding to shift positions; a motor that includes a rotor and a stator and that is configured to drive the shift switching member; and a positioning member configured to establish the shift positions in a state in which the positioning member is fitted into any one of the plurality of valley portions of the shift switching member. The shift device is configured to learn the shift positions based on a change amount of a load torque applied to the motor while the positioning member is moved to continuously pass through the plurality of valley portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsuto Ogino, Kota Ishikawa, Kentaro Baba
  • Patent number: 11686352
    Abstract: A clutch assembly comprising a sealed clutch and an adapter. The clutch being connected to the adapter and the adapter being connectable to a flywheel. The adapter including openings positioned for registration with the connection pattern of a flywheel for connecting the adapter to the flywheel. The openings of the adapter comprising at least two groups of openings for registration with the connection patterns of at least two different flywheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Clutch Industries Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Brad Davis
  • Patent number: 11680610
    Abstract: A clutch assembly that includes an actuator, an apply spring, a pocket plate, which has a pocket, and a strut (e.g., a teeter-totter strut) retained in the pocket, is provided. The apply spring continually acts on the strut for the strut to be in an engaged position. The strut, in response to the actuator additionally acting on the strut, pivots from the engaged position to a disengaged position. The clutch assembly is configured to prevent unintended deployment of the strut due to shock load so that, when the strut is in the disengaged position due to the actuator additionally acting on the strut, the clutch assembly prevents the shock load from causing the strut to pivot from the disengaged position to the engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: MEANS INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Todd M. Andrzejewski
  • Patent number: 11680627
    Abstract: A variable drive system of a power system is disclosed. The variable drive system may include an engine gearset to transfer power from an engine output of an engine to a variable input driveshaft of the variable drive system. The variable drive system may include a generator gearset to transfer power, generated by the engine, to a generator driveshaft of a generator. The variable drive system may include a variable drive, coupled to the variable input driveshaft, to enable a gear ratio between engine output and the generator driveshaft to be adjustable, the variable input driveshaft being offset from at least one of the engine output or the generator driveshaft. The variable drive system may include a direct drive clutch to bypass variable power transfer through the variable drive and enable direct power transfer from the engine output to the generator driveshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John Seipold, Gaurav Vasudeva, Evan Jacobson, Eric Manning
  • Patent number: 11673561
    Abstract: A vehicle control system receives a proximity signal at a sensor assembly from a vehicle system. The proximity signal indicates that the vehicle system is approaching a location of the sensor assembly. A sensor of the sensor assembly is activated responsive to receiving the proximity signal. One or more characteristics of the vehicle system are sensed as the vehicle system moves by the sensor assembly. A sensor signal that represents the one or more characteristics of the vehicle system is communicated to an onboard controller of the vehicle system and/or an off-board system to control operation of the vehicle system based on the one or more characteristics of the vehicle system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Transportation IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Claussen, Jeffrey D. Kernwein, Joseph Gorman
  • Patent number: 11674563
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, an actuator that includes a worm drive assembly having a worm shaft, and a worm wheel configured as a ring having a radially outer perimeter comprising a first collection of gear teeth extending radially outward from the radially outer perimeter and at least partly engaged with the worm shaft, and a coaxial radially inner perimeter comprising a second collection of gear teeth extending radially inward from the inner perimeter, and an epicyclic gear assembly having a sun gear and a planet gear engaged with the sun gear and the second collection of gear teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Thomas Kopecek
  • Patent number: 11668354
    Abstract: The present invention comprises: a synchronization start determination unit 110 for determining a synchronization start of a synchronization device 70; a half-clutch determination unit 130 for determining whether a clutch device 20 is in a half-clutch state where the clutch device has not been switched from a connection state to a disconnection state; and a damage determination unit 140 which, when the synchronization start determination unit 110 has determined the synchronization start and if the half-cutch determination unit 130 has determined a half-clutch state, determines that damage is applied to the synchronization device 70 caused by the differential rotation between the power transmitted from a driving force source 10 side via the clutch device 20 and the power transmitted from a driving wheels 16L, 16R side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventor: Akihiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11668380
    Abstract: An electric vehicle transmission (7) includes an input shaft (10), an output shaft (11), a first planetary gear set (P1), a second planetary gear set (P2), and a third planetary gear set (P3). The input shaft (10) is provided for coupling to an electric machine (6). A first shift element (A), a second shift element (B), and a third shift element (C) are provided at least functionally as well. Also disclosed is a drive system (4), a vehicle drive train (5), and an electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventor: Stefan Renner
  • Patent number: 11661981
    Abstract: A power transmission device has a first pressure member (5a), a second pressure member (5b) and a back-torque transmitting cam. The first pressure member (5a) presses the drive-side clutch plates (6) and the driven-side clutch plates (7) against each other. The second pressure member (5b) releases a press-contact force between the drive-side clutch plates (6) and the driven-side clutch plates (7). The back-torque transmitting cam moves the second pressure member (5b) relative to the first pressure member (5a) to keep pressing the drive-side clutch plates (6) and the driven-side clutch plates (7) against each other when a rotational force is input to the clutch member (4), via the output shaft (3), in a process where the weight member (8) moves from the radially-outer position to the radially-inner position and the first pressure member (5a) moves to follow the interlocking member (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha F.C.C.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Ozawa, Han Hiong Chen, Katsu Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 11662005
    Abstract: A drive system includes an electric machine that generates a torque. An output shaft rotates bi-directionally and receives the torque. A coupling is disposed between the electric machine and the output shaft. The coupling includes a torque converter that multiplies the torque. One clutch transfers the torque from the electric machine to the torque converter, when the electric machine operates in a first rotational direction. Another clutch transfers the torque from the electric machine to the torque converter, when the electric machine operates in a second rotational direction that is opposite to the first rotational direction. A gearset includes a number of meshing gears and is disposed between the electric machine and the output shaft to transfer the torque to the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Edward W Mellet, Dongxu Li
  • Patent number: 11655863
    Abstract: An electric driveline system is provided. The electric driveline system includes a first electric machine and a second electric machine mechanically coupled to a transmission and a power take-off (PTO) assembly coupled to the first electric machine. The PTO assembly includes a first clutch coupled to a PTO gearset and designed to selectively disconnect a PTO from the first electric machine and the PTO gearset is mechanically coupled to the first electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Dana Belgium N.V.
    Inventors: Jessica Versini, Joachim Van Dingenen, Bert Hannon
  • Patent number: 11643067
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an electric motor and a combustion engine. A K0 clutch couples the combustion engine to a drivetrain of the vehicle. A control module of the vehicle calculates a torque to be applied by the motor to the K0 clutch when initiating engagement of the combustion engine to the drivetrain. The control module calculates two separate torque lead values by two separate methods and calculates the torque by combining the two torque lead values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yang Xu, Akshay Bichkar, Zhengyu Dai, Hiral Jayantilal Haria, Hong Jiang, Jason Meyer
  • Patent number: 11639101
    Abstract: A universal wheel driving system includes a sun gear receiving power from a power source, a ring gear, of which a rotation axis moves relatively to a rotation axis of the sun gear on a rotation plane parallel to a rotation plane of the sun gear, the ring gear being concentrically connected to a wheel, a gear train allowing relative movement between the rotational axes of the sun and ring gears, and to generate a continuous power transmission between the sun and ring gears, a carrier forming the gear train, and supporting in position a rotation axis of a final pinion engaged with the ring gear constant with respect to the rotation axis of the ring gear, and a plurality of suspension modules providing shock-absorbing and damping during relative movements of the ring gear and carrier with respect to the sun gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Jong Sool Park, Hyung Joon Lee, Jong Chan Park, Jin Hyung Kong
  • Patent number: 11635112
    Abstract: A torque limiter device includes an input shaft having a first contact surface and an output shaft having a second contact surface. The input and output shafts are operable in an engaged position wherein the contact surfaces are brought into mechanical engagement, and a disengaged position wherein the contact surfaces are separated. A biasing mechanism provides a bias force that mechanically biases the input and output shafts in one of the positions and sets a threshold torque. An electromagnet is arranged to selectively provide an electromagnetic force that opposes the bias force when an activation current is supplied. A rotation sensor arrangement measures a respective rotation of the input shaft and of the output shaft. A controller determines a difference in rotations of the shafts and selectively supply the activation current to the electromagnet so as to disengage the input and output shafts when the rotation difference exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: RATIER-FIGEAC SAS
    Inventor: Bruno Seminel