Patents Examined by Tinh Dang
  • Patent number: 11891065
    Abstract: A vehicle gear-shifting control apparatus is equipped with an engine, a motor, an automatic transmission, a friction brake system, and a controller which executes, during deceleration of a vehicle during which the friction brake system is distributing a braking force to front and rear wheels, a regeneration control of imparting a regenerative braking torque to the rear wheels by causing the motor to perform a regeneration operation and a gear-shifting control of changing a shift stage of the automatic transmission by outputting a gear-shifting signal in accordance with the rotation speed of an input shaft to the automatic transmission. When the controller determines an oversteered state of the vehicle during the regeneration control, the controller increases an input torque of the input shaft so that the regenerative braking torque decreases while maintaining the regeneration operation of the motor and, at the same time, limits the gear-shifting control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Yamada, Tooru Uematsu, Atsushi Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 11885413
    Abstract: A torque convertor and direct drive unit arrangement and operating methods are provided herein. In one example, a prime mover may be configured to be coupled to a transmission via one of a torque convertor and a direct drive unit, the direct drive unit including a higher range clutch and a lower range clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: DANA BELGIUM N.V.
    Inventors: Kurt Cattoor, Filip D. Schacht, Joachim Van Dingenen, Tommy Van Acker
  • Patent number: 11878581
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wheel for motor vehicles that incorporates a planetary gear system within the wheel assembly. The wheel aims to increase the mechanical advantage of the wheel by providing additional rotation to the wheel axis of the vehicle, thus reducing the amount of fuel exhausted by the vehicle during transit. By utilizing an internal and planetary gear system with integrated motors housed within the wheel, the tire of the wheel is able to rotate independently from the axel of the vehicle in the same direction, thus providing an increased power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventor: Nathan Joseph Simmons
  • Patent number: 11872888
    Abstract: A drive system of a hybrid utility vehicle includes: an internal combustion engine including a crank shaft; a continuously variable transmission connected to the internal combustion engine; a drive train that connects an output shaft of the continuously variable transmission to a driving wheel; an electric motor; a branch train that connects the electric motor to the drive train such that power can be transmitted from the electric motor to the drive train; and an engine clutch that can cut transmission of rotational driving power, which has been input from the electric motor through the branch train to the drive train, to the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kuji
  • Patent number: 11873893
    Abstract: A shift control device to be applied to a vehicle provided with an automatic transmission includes a detector and a shift mode control processor. The detector detects that the vehicle has passed through a tollgate through which the vehicle is able to pass without stopping. The shift mode control processor switches a shift mode of the vehicle from a first shift mode to a second shift mode the shift mode of the vehicle upon passing through the tollgate is the first shift mode and a predetermined condition regarding one or both of a speed of the vehicle and an accelerator opening degree of the vehicle is satisfied after the vehicle passes through the tollgate. In the first shift mode, a shift operation is performable by a driver, and in the second shift mode, a shift operation is performable by the automatic transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazufumi Maehara
  • Patent number: 11865908
    Abstract: A dual transmission with input shafts, output shafts, a transmission case and two separate single transmissions arranged in the transmission case is described. Each single transmission is a two-stage spur gear transmission with three positions for gear centers. A first position is occupied by an input shaft and a second position by an output shaft. A third position is for a middle stationary axle fixed to the transmission case. The three positions define a triangular arrangement having a first side defined by a distance between the first position and the second position, a second side defined by a distance between the first position and the third position, and a third side defined by a distance between the second position and the third position. The second side and the third side form respective angles with the first side. At least one of these angles has a value ranging between 5° and 70°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: HOFER POWERTRAIN INNOVATION GMBH
    Inventors: Mathias Lutz, Klaus Kalmbach, Markus Lee, Fabian Kelch
  • Patent number: 11858345
    Abstract: A method of controlling wheel slip of a vehicle and an apparatus thereof, the method includes determining, by a controller, a torque command for a driving device configured to drive the vehicle based on vehicle operation information obtained by an operation information detector while the vehicle is traveling, obtaining, by the controller, real-time vertical load information of a left wheel and a right wheel of the vehicle while the vehicle is traveling based on the vehicle operation information collected in the vehicle, determining, by the controller, a threshold engagement torque for control of a limited slip differential from the obtained real-time vertical load information, comparing, by the controller, a real-time torque command determined in real time based on the vehicle operation information, with the determined threshold engagement torque, and controlling, by the controller, the limited slip differential to be engaged so that differential action of a differential is limited when the real-time torque c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Ji Won Oh, Jeong Soo Eo
  • Patent number: 11859700
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a self-locking non-backdrivable gear system. The gear system may comprise a primary motor input and gear box. The primary motor input is for rotation of the gearbox about the axis of a drive shaft. The gearbox may comprise an input ring gear, one or more locking gears, fixed gear, and output gear. In operation, rotation of the primary motor input causes rotation of the ring gear which causes rotation of the locking gear which causes rotation of the output gear which causes rotation of the drive shaft. However, in the absence of rotation of the ring gear, a rotational force applied to the output gear causes the gear teeth on the fixed and output gears to lock the gear in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Agbotic Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephen John Kochan
  • Patent number: 11845329
    Abstract: An electric axle assembly includes a drive housing and a drive assembly. The drive assembly is housed in the drive housing and engages with wheels of a vehicle for rotating the wheels to move the vehicle along a ground surface. The drive assembly includes a drive input, one or more gearsets, and axle shafts. The one or more gearsets transfer motive force from the drive input to the axle shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikram Chopra, Christopher G. Baillie, Siva Srinivas Rajeev Mupparti
  • Patent number: 11841068
    Abstract: A differential gearing device includes a base gearing device and an actuator. The base gearing device including a first gear connected to a first output of the differential gearing device, a second gear connected to a second output of the differential gearing device, differential gearing connected to each of the first gear and the second gear, and a clutch connected between the first gear and the second gear. The actuator actuates the clutch to change a torque bias ratio between the first gear and the second gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: JTEKT AUTOMOTIVE NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick Desing, Noel R Barnes, II, Michael Kocevar
  • Patent number: 11827205
    Abstract: A vehicle gear-shifting control apparatus is equipped with an engine, a motor, an automatic transmission, a friction brake system, and a controller which executes, during deceleration of an automobile, a gear-shifting control of changing a shift stage of the automatic transmission by outputting a gear-shifting signal in accordance with the rotation speed of an input shaft and a regeneration control of performing regeneration by at least one of distributing a braking force by the friction brake system and imparting a regenerative braking torque to rear wheels by causing the motor to perform a regeneration operation. The controller executes a first coordinated gear-shifting control of reducing hydraulic pressure in the friction brake system and, at the same time, changing the shift stage while continuing the regeneration operation during brake regeneration and executes a second coordinated gear-shifting control of changing the shift stage after increasing an input torque during non-brake regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Yamada, Tooru Uematsu, Atsushi Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 11815168
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a vehicle body provided with a travel device; a prime mover provided in the vehicle body; a transmission device capable of speed-changing a driving force from the prime mover and transmitting the driving force to the travel device; a transmission case housing the transmission device and being filled with lubricating oil; and a control device capable of switching between a warm-up operation mode in which a gear of the transmission device is rotated in a state in which transmission of power from the transmission device to the travel device is blocked and a travel operation mode in which the gear is rotated in a state in which the power is transmitted from the transmission device to the travel device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Gono, Yuji Hirase, Atsushi Jinnai, Susumu Takeoka, Masahiro Sakaguchi, Kazuma Ishihara
  • Patent number: 11807100
    Abstract: A counter gear mechanism includes: a fifth gear in mesh with a third gear; a sixth gear in mesh with a fourth gear; and a seventh gear in mesh with a differential input gear. The seventh gear is disposed between the fifth gear and the sixth gear in an axial direction. A switching mechanism is disposed between the third gear and the fourth gear in the axial direction. The switching mechanism makes switching among: a state in which the third gear is coupled to a second input member; a state in which the fourth gear is coupled to the second input member; and a state in which the third gear and the fourth gear are decoupled from the second input member. This structure is able to make an entirety of an apparatus compact in size in the axial direction when the apparatus includes the switching mechanism to change the speed ratio between the second input member, which is drivingly coupled to an internal combustion engine, and output members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Kawamoto, Mitsuhiro Ichioka, Tomoka Yamamoto, Akira Inoue, Hiroshi Kato
  • Patent number: 11801849
    Abstract: An electrically controlled differential gear is disposed between a right front wheel and a left front wheel of a vehicle. The electrically controlled differential gear includes a clutch mechanism that limits a differential operation of the electrically controlled differential gear. A second ECU (control portion) obtains information as to failure associated with actuation of a right front electric brake mechanism. The second ECU obtains a physical amount relating to a required braking force which is applied to the left front wheel and the right front wheel. The second ECU outputs a differential limiting control command for limiting the differential operation of the electrically controlled differential gear to the clutch mechanism (or more specifically, a differential ECU that controls the clutch mechanism) based on the information as to the failure and the physical amount relating to the required braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Haruhiko Fujita, Daisuke Goto
  • Patent number: 11796052
    Abstract: A gear shifting apparatus in a new energy vehicle includes a primary power transmission unit, a secondary power transmission unit, an intermediate shaft, an intermediate shaft gear, a first clutch unit, a second clutch unit, and a third clutch unit. The intermediate shaft gear is fixedly sleeved on the intermediate shaft, and the first clutch unit is disposed between the intermediate shaft and the primary power transmission unit. The second clutch unit is disposed between the intermediate shaft and the secondary power transmission unit. The third clutch unit is disposed between the primary power transmission unit and the intermediate shaft gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: HUAWEI DIGITAL POWER TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhengyi Tang, Hai Guo, Huan Wang
  • Patent number: 11795862
    Abstract: A transmission system includes planetary gearing with a ring gear, a plurality of planet gears, a carrier, and a sun gear, a forward clutch operatively connected between the ring gear and carrier, a reverse brake operatively connected between the carrier and a rotationally fixed location, and a control subsystem to switch the transmission system between forward and reverse operational modes in the which the ring gear and the sun gear rotate in the same or opposite rotational directions, respectively. A control subsystem actuation stroke can actuate both the forward clutch and the reverse brake based on a common control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: HORTON, INC.
    Inventors: David R. Hennessy, Thomas Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11796047
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for ascertaining the backlash (40) of a gear (24) which is coupled to an electric machine (12) of a vehicle which has at least one electric machine (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Ries-Mueller
  • Patent number: 11794573
    Abstract: A power transmission device for a commercial vehicle having an electric axle, may include a first differential ring gear fixedly mounted on a first rear-wheel driveshaft; a second differential ring gear mounted on a second rear-wheel driveshaft; a propeller shaft, with a first differential drive gear engaged with the first differential ring gear being connected to a front-end portion of the propeller shaft and a second differential drive gear engaged with the second differential ring gear being connected to a rear end portion thereof; a reducer connected to the first differential ring gear or the propeller shaft; and a motor, an output shaft of the motor being connected to an input gear of the reducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Ju San Kim
  • Patent number: 11788604
    Abstract: A planetary gear mechanism includes a sun gear rotatable about an axis, a first shaft that is fixed to the sun gear and is rotatable integrally with the sun gear, a plurality of planetary gears that mesh with the sun gear and are rotatable about a center line thereof parallel to the axis, an internal gear that includes internal teeth facing inside in a radial direction to mesh with the planetary gears and is rotatable about the axis, a second shaft that extends in the axial direction to be connected to the internal gear and rotates about the axis together with the internal gear, and a reinforcing member that is fixed to an outer peripheral surface of the internal gear and is formed in an annular shape of a material having a higher specific strength than that of a material forming the internal gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Nagao, Hiroyuki Miyata
  • Patent number: 11773954
    Abstract: A multi-mode hydro-mechanical hybrid transmission device includes an input member, a hydraulic transmission mechanism, a mechanical transmission mechanism, a convergence mechanism, an output member, a clutch assembly, and a brake assembly. The clutch assembly connects an output end of the input member to an input end of the hydraulic transmission mechanism, the mechanical transmission mechanism, and the convergence mechanism. The clutch assembly connects an output end of the hydraulic transmission mechanism to the convergence mechanism. The clutch assembly connects the mechanical transmission mechanism to the convergence mechanism. The convergence mechanism is connected to the output member. Continuously changing transmission ratios are provided between the input member and the output member by adjusting a displacement ratio of the hydraulic transmission mechanism and selectively controlling engagement of the clutch assembly and the brake assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: JIANGSU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Zhen Zhu, Jie Sheng, Yingfeng Cai, Long Chen, Xiaodong Sun, Xiang Tian, Changgao Xia, Yihan Zhang, Rui Hou