Patents Examined by Timothy Hannon
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Patent number: 11365055Abstract: A brake roller may comprise a brake shaft and a brake stack assembly located around the brake shaft. A one-way jaw clutch assembly may be configured to apply a force to the brake stack. A roller shell may be located radially outward of the brake stack. The one-way jaw clutch assembly may be configured to vary the force applied to the brake stack in response to a rotation of the roller shell in a circumferential direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2020Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: Goodrich CorporationInventors: Vinodkumar Shivalinga, Manu Siddharth Paliwal
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Patent number: 11346407Abstract: Provided is a centrifugal clutch configured so that a clutch capacity can be increased with a simple configuration. A centrifugal clutch 200 includes a drive plate 210 to be directly rotatably driven by drive force of an engine. The drive plate 210 includes each of swing support pins 214 and protruding bodies 218. The swing support pin 214 is fitted in a pin slide hole 231 formed at a clutch weight 230 to swingably support the clutch weight 230. The protruding body 218 is formed as a cylindrical roller. A driven portion 235 of the clutch weight 230 contacts the protruding body 218. The pin slide hole 231 is formed in a long hole shape allowing backward displacement of the clutch weight 230 in the rotary drive direction of the drive plate 210. The driven portion 235 is formed to extend inclined toward an outer rear side in a rotary drive direction of the drive plate 210.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2018Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha F.C.C.Inventors: Kaoru Aono, Yuta Yokomichi, Yuta Kine, Makoto Kataoka
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Patent number: 11346409Abstract: A vehicle transmission includes a shaft; speed-changing gears; switching mechanisms; and a shifting mechanism. The shifting mechanism is provided with a double-meshing preventing mechanism configured to switch between a one-way state in which the switching mechanisms are hindered from moving in a downshift direction and allowed to move in an upshift direction and a free state in which the switching mechanisms are allowed to move in both the downshift direction and the upshift direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2021Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tomoaki Yanagida, Yukihiro Inaba, Junichi Kato, Tomoyuki Kano, Tomomitsu Terakawa
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Patent number: 11339839Abstract: The reverse input shutoff clutch includes: an input member, an output member coaxially arranged with the input member, a pressed member having a pressed surface, and an engaging element. The engaging element, when rotational torque is inputted to the input member, moves in a direction away from the pressed surface due to engagement with the input member and transmits the rotational torque to the output member, and when rotational torque is reversely inputted to the output member, moves in a direction toward the pressed surface due to engagement with the output member, and prevents or suppresses relative rotation between the output member and the pressed member.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2018Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: NSK LTD.Inventors: Toshirou Toyoda, Kota Fukuda, Hiroki Nishii, Yuya Daikoku, Yuka Kaneko
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Patent number: 11333208Abstract: A vehicle includes a first axle, a second axle, a driveshaft, a first clutch, a second clutch, a third clutch, and a controller. The second axle has first and second half shafts. The second axle has first and second wheels. The driveshaft is disposed between the first and second axles and is coupled to the second axle. The first clutch is configured to selectively couple the driveshaft to the first axle. The second clutch is configured to selectively couple the first wheel to the first half shaft. The third clutch is configured to selectively couple the second wheel to the second half shaft. The controller is programmed to repeatedly connect the first axle to the second axle via the driveshaft by alternating between (i) closing the second clutch and then the first clutch and (ii) closing the third clutch and then the first clutch.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2020Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: Ford Global Technoogies, LLCInventors: Abhinav Kumar, Nicholas Edward McCubbin
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Patent number: 11326655Abstract: A material reduction machine including an engine, a material reduction tool, a drivetrain, and a control system. The drivetrain is between the engine and the material reduction tool, and includes a coupling and a power transfer element, the coupling having an engaged state and a disengaged state. When engaged, the coupling enables power transfer through the power transfer element and when disengaged, the coupling inhibits power transfer through the power transfer element. The control system includes a sensor to detect a speed of the engine or the material reduction tool, a drivetrain protection system to protect the power transfer element by disengaging the coupling, and a controller to enable the drivetrain protection system based on a first signal from the sensor indicating the speed is at or above a first threshold, and to disengage the coupling based on a second signal indicating the speed is below a second threshold.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2019Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing CompanyInventors: Joseph Edward Breja, John David Vande Noord, Daniel James Soldan
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Patent number: 11320005Abstract: A friction engagement element control system is provided, which includes a friction engagement element including friction plates, and an actuation system configured to engage an input-side friction plate with an output-side friction plate with a pushing force, the friction plates having a negative slope characteristic in which a friction coefficient thereof decreases as a rotational difference between the friction plates increases, a rotational difference sensor of the friction engagement element, a separator configured to divide a variation in the detected rotational difference into a high-frequency component that is a vibration component and other low-frequency components, and a controller configured to control a pushing force only for the vibration component of the rotational difference 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 eType: GrantFiled: January 21, 2021Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventor: Hirofumi Ebisumoto
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Patent number: 11320008Abstract: Method for measuring wear of a clutch including a casing, a first shaft member including a friction disk, a second shaft member, an interface member mounted on the second shaft member and including a friction disk, a biasing member urging the interface member towards the engaged position, an actuation device including a contact part moveable between a rest position in which a gap exists between the contact part and the biasing member, and an active position in which the contact part is in contact with the biasing member so as to let the interface member move towards the disengaged position, the wear measurement method including injecting pressurized fluid so as to put the contact part in contact with the biasing member, measuring an injection parameter related to the gap, determining the gap based on the injection parameter.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2018Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Volvo Truck CorporationInventors: Nicolas Moine, Dan Hjalmarsson
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Patent number: 11320006Abstract: A power takeoff control system and method sense proximity of an operator to a power takeoff and control operation of the power takeoff based upon the sensed proximity.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2021Date of Patent: May 3, 2022Assignee: Zimeno, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Travis Whitney, Rama Venkata Surya Kumar Varma Bhupatiraju, Mizbauddin Mohammed, Bhargav Ramakrishna Reddy
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Patent number: 11293498Abstract: The present invention relates to a generator drive disconnect device, of a generator arranged to be driven by an aircraft engine. The disconnect device comprises: a drive transfer means (1) having a first, connected configuration, and a second, disconnected configuration; a disconnect biasing means (200), configured to bias the drive transfer means to the disconnected configuration; and a fluid cavity (300), configured such that provision of a pressurised fluid in the fluid cavity biases the drive transfer means to the connected configuration.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2019Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: SAFRAN ELECTRICAL & POWERInventor: Paul David Flower
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Patent number: 11286998Abstract: A control device for a clutch, which is provided between an operation machine and a drive shaft of an engine, controls an operation of a valve member for opening and closing an oil supply port through which an oil reservoir chamber and a torque transmission chamber communicate. The control device refers to a desired rotation speed of a rotating body of the operation machine and to an acquired rotation speed of the rotating body of the operation machine, calculates a proportional term manipulated variable based on a deviation between an angular acceleration of the rotating body and a desired angular acceleration, and controls the operation of the valve member on the basis of this calculated proportional term manipulated variable.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2018Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITEDInventor: Yusuke Takahashi
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Patent number: 11280388Abstract: Methods and systems for seamlessly transitioning a load between two different actuators each having a different transmission ratio are described herein. A multiple drive, variable transmission ratio (MD-VTR) system includes two drive actuators, each having different reduction ratios, a locking mechanism, and a differential transmission subsystem. In one aspect, a MD-VTR system includes a locking mechanism disposed between a drive actuator and an input port of the differential. The locking mechanism couples the input port of the differential to a stationary reference frame element in a locked state. In an unlocked state, the locking mechanism couples the drive actuator to the input port of the differential. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism includes an actuator to actively transition between the locked and unlocked states. In some other embodiments, the locking mechanism transitions between the locked and unlocked states based on torque applied by the drive actuator.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2018Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Empower Robotics CorporationInventors: Alexandre Girard, Haruhiko Harry Asada
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Patent number: 11274713Abstract: A mean rate decision method for a clutch motor is disclosed. The method includes determining whether the clutch motor and a gear sensor are in an electrical failure state; when it is determined the clutch motor and the gear sensor are not in the electrical failure state, determining whether there is a driver's starting intention on the basis of state information on the clutch pedal; setting a target position of the clutch motor according to a pedal setting value set by the clutch pedal; and when it is determined that there is no driver's starting intention and that an actual position of the clutch motor exceeds the target position of the clutch motor, determining a failure of the clutch motor on the basis of an excess movement amount and an excess duration in the excess state.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2020Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: Hyundai Kefico CorporationInventors: Nam Hun Kim, Min Hyo Kim, Chang Min Cho
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Patent number: 11268596Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 15, 2019Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: John Seipold, Gaurav Vasudeva, Evan Jacobson, Eric Manning
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Patent number: 11261924Abstract: A method for operating a clutch of a drivetrain for a motor vehicle, in which at least one micro-slip of the clutch is adjusted in a targeted manner by means of an electronic computing device of the drivetrain, whereby the clutch is operated with the micro-slip during at least one operating phase, wherein an overpressing of the clutch is adjusted in a targeted manner by means of the electronic computing device), whereby the clutch is operated slip-free during at least one second operating phase that is different from the at least one operating phase.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2018Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: AUDI AGInventors: Andreas Birk, Dominik Gottlieb
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Patent number: 11261925Abstract: A clutch device has at least a multiplicity of clutch discs which are in frictional contact with one another, and a control unit which controls the clutch device. The clutch device is calibrated repeatedly during an operating time of the clutch device. A first calibration is performed at a first point in time. A second calibration is performed at a second point following the first calibration. The first point in time and the second point in time are within a first operating time of the clutch device and occur within a first time interval. At least a third calibration is performed in a subsequent second operating time at a third point in time. At least the second calibration is performed within a second interval of the third point in time. The first and second intervals are determined by the control unit based on a mileage of a vehicle or an energy input into the clutch device. The first interval is shorter than the second interval.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2017Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: GKN Automotive Ltd.Inventors: Rudolf Fitz, Eric Rene Esch
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Patent number: 11261944Abstract: A powershift transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft arranged parallel with the input shaft, a branching unit arranged on the input shaft through which a torque acting on the input shaft is divided between two power paths, a switch group including at least two switching stages arranged in the first power path, and a torque converter arranged in the second power path. A torque is transmitted from the input shaft to the output shaft via the switch group and the torque converter.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2020Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventor: Manuel Billich
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Patent number: 11254207Abstract: A method of determining clutch torque for a limited slip differential gear mechanism on a vehicle includes obtaining an estimated driveline torque. A desired bias torque is established. A necessary clutch torque required to achieve the desired bias torque is determined. The necessary clutch torque is commanded based on the estimated driveline torque to achieve the desired bias torque.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2019Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power LimitedInventors: Andrew N. Edler, John A. Grogg
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Patent number: 11255389Abstract: An adjuster for an air disc brake includes an over-torque clutch arrangement that includes an adjuster drive plate having ramped detents, and a ball-carrying plate having pockets for retaining ball bearings. Ball bearings are carried and retained in the ball-carrying plate, and transmit rotation between the adjuster drive plate and the ball-carrying plate below a torque threshold. Above a torque threshold, the balls move axially away from the adjuster drive plate against the force of a spring, and ride up the ramped detents. Above the torque threshold, rotation is not transmitted.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2020Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Inventors: Paul Roberts, Jonathan Leslie Christopher Jackson
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Patent number: 11248667Abstract: A method to control a road vehicle provided with a clutch, which connects an internal combustion engine to drive wheels and is arranged upstream of a servo-assisted transmission; the control method comprises the steps of: checking whether the tyres of the drive wheels are close to a grip limit; and opening the clutch so that the clutch transmits a torque to the drive wheels with a slip of the clutch that is constant and other than zero when the tyres of the drive wheels are close to the grip limit.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2020Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: FERRARI S.P.A.Inventors: Alessandro Barone, Andrea Nannini, Giacomo Senserini, Stefano Marconi