Patents Examined by Tinh T Dang
  • Patent number: 10451125
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission and a controller. The transmission has clutches that are configured to establish multiple speed ratios, including a first clutch. The first clutch has a measured drag torque distribution. The measured drag torque distribution has a median and a standard deviation. The controller is programmed to increase a pressure at a rate to engage the first clutch and to increase the rate in response to a measured first clutch torque exceeding the median by a predetermined multiple of the standard deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Michael Pietron, Qi Wang, Yuji Fujii, Rohit Hippalgaonkar, Joseph F. Kucharski, Jason Meyer, Stuart N. Ford
  • Patent number: 10451155
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a self-locking non-backdrivable gear system. The gear system may comprise a primary motor input and self-lubricating 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 planet locking gears, fixed spur gear, and output spur gear. In operation, rotation of the primary motor input causes rotation of the ring gear which causes rotation of the planet locking gear which causes rotation of the output spur 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 spur gear causes the gear teeth on the fixed and output spur gears to lock the planet gear in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Inventor: Stephen John Kochan
  • Patent number: 10449944
    Abstract: A method for controlling engagement of a power take-off (PTO) clutch may include transmitting a PTO control command for initiating engagement of the PTO clutch, determining that an output speed for the PTO clutch has not increased within a predetermined time period following the transmission of the PTO control command, and determining an average engine pre-load for the work vehicle over a time period occurring prior to transmission of the PTO control command. Moreover, in response to determining that the output speed for the PTO clutch has not increased within the predetermined time period, the method may include transmitting a speed control command associated with increasing a requested engine speed for the work vehicle, determining an adaptive torque command for controlling the engagement of the PTO clutch as a function of the average engine-pre-load, and controlling the engagement of the PTO clutch based on the adaptive torque command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Ashraf Omran, Brian A. Hartman
  • Patent number: 10451120
    Abstract: A three-way switchable clutch, including: outer and inner rings; and pawls non-rotatably connected to the outer ring. For a free-wheel mode, the inner and outer rings are rotatable with respect to each other. For first and second clutch modes, the pawls are displaceable to engage the inner ring to non-rotatably connect the inner and outer rings. For the first mode: rotation of one of the inner or outer rings is in a first circumferential directions and the one of the inner or outer rings is rotatable with respect to the other of the inner or outer ring in a second circumferential direction. For the second mode: rotation of the one of the inner or outer rings is in the second circumferential direction and the one of the inner or outer rings is rotatable with respect to the other of the inner or outer rings in the first circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Marion Jack Ince
  • Patent number: 10443709
    Abstract: A shifter mechanism for a transmission of a motor vehicle controlled by a transmission controller includes a central processing unit for transmitting a shifting request to the transmission controller, a dial shifter including a rotatable shifter knob and a rotation mechanism in communication with the rotatable shifter knob and about which the rotatable shifter knob rotates, and a sensor connected to the central processing unit for detecting rotation of the rotatable shifter knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shawn P. Kelly
  • Patent number: 10443665
    Abstract: A belt pulley decoupler includes a belt pulley, a hub to be fixed on the shaft, and a series connection made up of a decoupler spring and a wrap-around band arranged in the drive torque flow between the belt pulley and the hub. The wrap-around band extends about direction of the axis of rotation of the belt pulley decoupler and is arranged radially between the belt pulley and the decoupler spring. Under transmission of the drive torque, both ends of the wrap-around band widen radially, with one end of the wrap-around band being braced against the inner surface of a first sleeve that is rotationally fixed in the belt pulley, and another end being braced against the inner surface of a second sleeve that is rotatable within the belt pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael Kastner, Roland Arneth
  • Patent number: 10443690
    Abstract: A heavy-duty industrial transmission is provided that can be implemented in a frac pump system with planetary gearsets with straightforward shift methodologies, slow back-driven speeds, and no recirculating torque in any of the ranges. The heavy-duty transmission has a high number of ranges and may be configured with no reverse range, no countershaft, no overdrive range(s), small and consistent steps of ratios between ranges, and a deep or large reduction ratio of the lowest range, such as at least about a 5:1 reduction. The heavy-duty industrial transmission may have a four-stage planetary arrangement that is configured to provide nine (9) ranges for the transmission that only requires two double pack shifts, with the remaining shifts being single pack shifts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Twin Disc, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew D. Van Hoorn, Gerald A. Matranga
  • Patent number: 10442293
    Abstract: A vehicle driveline component with an actuator and a rotary coupling. The actuator has an actuator housing, a motor, a transmission, a first cam, a second cam, and a first biasing spring. The motor is coupled to the actuator housing and includes a motor output member. The transmission has a transmission input member, which is driven by the motor output member, and a transmission output member. The first cam is housed in the actuator housing and is coupled to the transmission output member for rotation therewith. The first cam has a first set of cam features that are disposed about a first annular surface. The second cam has a cam body, which is received in the first cam, and a second set of cam features that are disposed about a second annular surface. The second set of cam features abut the first set of cam features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Frederick E. Zink, Brian A. Calomeni, Peyman Moradshahi
  • Patent number: 10442245
    Abstract: A hub for bicycles includes a hub shell which is rotatably supported relative to a hub axle by two roller bearings disposed on opposite ends of the hub shell, a rotor rotatably supported relative to the hub axle by two rotor bearings, and a freewheel device having an interacting hub-side freewheel component and a rotor-side freewheel component. The two freewheel components each have axial engagement elements and are axially movable relative to one another between a freewheel position and an intermeshing engaging position. The rotor is disposed in the same axial position both in the freewheel position and in the engaging position. A driving torque is transmitted in the engaging position. The hub-side freewheel component has an inner central receiving space with a bearing seat and a roller bearing received to rotatably support the hub shell. The hub-side freewheel component includes an appendix protruding outwardly from the axial body section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: DT SWISS INC.
    Inventors: Martin Walthert, Stefan Spahr
  • Patent number: 10443662
    Abstract: A selective torque transfer device is provided to transfer torque between one rotating component and a decoupled non-rotating component. The torque transfer device has an input shaft that extends along an axis and is connected to an input hub. The input shaft and input hub rotate about the axis on which they extend. A slider is disposed within the input hub and is capable of moving in a direction transverse to the axis. An output shaft extends along the axis and is connected to an output hub. The output shaft and output hub rotate about the axis on which they extend when the selective torque transfer device is in the engaged position. A link pivotally connects the output hub to the slider. The input hub is configured to rotate about its axis to create a torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Paul Moubarak
  • Patent number: 10442282
    Abstract: A vehicle drive system includes a left-wheel drive unit having a first motor and a first transmission, a right-wheel drive unit having a second motor and a second transmission, and a motor control unit. Each of the first and second transmissions has a first to third rotational elements. The first motor is connected to the first rotational element of the first transmission. The second motor is connected to the first rotational element of the second transmission. The left wheel is connected to the second rotational element of the first transmission. The right wheel is connected to the second rotational element of the second transmission. The third rotational element of the first transmission and the third rotational element of the second transmission are coupled to each other. Each of the first and second transmissions has a fourth rotational element which is supported to revolve around by the second rotational element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sei Shinohara, Masatoshi Noguchi, Satoshi Andou, Makoto Tsuchihashi
  • Patent number: 10443523
    Abstract: A method for controlling power takeoff (PTO) clutch engagement includes determining an output clutch speed, adjusting a clutch current at a predetermined rate, estimating an inertial load of a PTO implement and adjusting the clutch current for one or more times at a time interval, and selecting a clutch control algorithm configured for the inertial load of the PTO implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Kushan Vora, Haibo Guo, Brian Allen Hartman
  • Patent number: 10443715
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle drivetrain (1) includes decoupling, in the presence of a demand for realizing a sailing operating state of the vehicle drivetrain (1) during which a drive machine (2) is active and the power flow between the drive machine (2) and a drive output (3) is disconnected in a gearbox (4), the active drive machine (2) from the drive output (3) by opening of one of a plurality of shift elements (A to F) that is held in a closed operating state in order to realize the operating state present before the demand for decoupling of the active drive machine (2). The method also includes then actuating the plurality of shift elements (A to F) in a manner dependent on the present operating state profile of the vehicle drivetrain (1) and with the active drive machine (2) decoupled from the drive output (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Peter Schiele, Magnus Stiefenhofer
  • Patent number: 10443714
    Abstract: A drive control system of a vehicle includes a vehicle speed module configured to determine whether the vehicle is moving and set a state of a signal based on the determination. A shift control module is configured to shift a transmission of the vehicle based on a signal from a range selector. Independently of the signal from the range selector, the shift control module is configured to selectively shift the transmission of the vehicle based on a signal from a combination park and ignition switch and the signal from the vehicle speed module. An ignition control module is configured to selectively shut down an engine of the vehicle based on the signal from the combination park and ignition switch and the signal from the vehicle speed module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Orson S. Wang, Fred W. Huntzicker, Michael A. Van Camp, Pratyush Kumar
  • Patent number: 10443664
    Abstract: A synchronizing device for a transmission has a sliding sleeve comprising an internal toothing with a plurality of sliding sleeve teeth and a clutch body of a gear wheel, comprising n external toothing with a plurality of clutch body teeth formed without meshing bevel at their axial tooth end close to the sliding teeth, into which the internal toothing of the sliding sleeve can engage. A synchronizing unit is provided which can block axial movement of the sliding sleeve, until the speeds of the sliding sleeve and clutch body are adapted. During operation, an axial force of the sliding sleeve against the clutch body is built up and a speed difference between the sliding sleeve and the clutch body is produced, so that the end faces of the sliding sleeve teeth and the clutch body teeth slide along each other, and the sliding sleeve teeth finally are meshed between the clutch body teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: HOERBIGER ANTRIEBSTECHNIK HOLDING GMBH
    Inventors: Ottmar Back, Ansgar Damm
  • Patent number: 10443718
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system of an automatic transmission for a vehicle provided with an ISG system is disclosed. The hydraulic control system supplies hydraulic pressure to first and second friction members operated at a gear stage where starting control is performed. In particular, the hydraulic control system includes: a mechanical hydraulic pump; an electric hydraulic pump; first and second linear solenoid valves to control hydraulic pressure generated by the mechanical pump; first and second switch valves to selectively supply the controlled hydraulic pressure to the first and second friction members, respectively; and a third switch valve to selectively supply a portion of the hydraulic pressure of the first friction member to the second friction member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jin Young Hwang
  • Patent number: 10443713
    Abstract: An upshift target turbine rotational speed and a target primary rotational speed are calculated based on a target input shaft rotational speed restricted in a range of an upper limit guard value to a lower limit guard value. Thus, the difference between the upshift target turbine rotational speed and the target primary rotational speed is suitably decreased. When a torque transmission path is switched from a second transmission path to a first transmission path, the difference between an actual turbine rotational speed at a switching start time point and the actual turbine rotational speed at a switching completion time point is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Taichi Washio
  • Patent number: 10442291
    Abstract: A drive unit a drive unit which can prevent an occurrence of an unintentional relative rotation between the right and the left wheels is provided. The drive unit comprises: a first motor connected to the first driveshaft and a second motor connected to the second drive shaft; a first torque transmitting route between the first motor and the first drive shaft; a second torque transmitting route between the second motor and the second drive shaft; a first rotary member arranged in the first torque transmitting route; a second rotary member arranged in the second torque transmitting route; and a restriction device that restricts a differential rotation between the first rotary member and the second rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, ALCHEMICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isono, Nobuyoshi Sugitani, Aizoh Kubo
  • Patent number: 10436312
    Abstract: A control system for an automatic transmission, when hydraulically controlling the speed ratio of a belt type continuously variable transmission that transmits power from an engine to driving wheels by shifting or speed change, limits the shift speed to or below a predetermined value when an accelerator pedal is off and the engine rotational speed is at or below a predetermined speed. As a result, it is possible to avoid a driver from feeling uncomfortable when shifting with the accelerator off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daigo Kishi, Katsunori Satou
  • Patent number: 10359086
    Abstract: A selectable one-way clutch includes: a pocket plate including a plurality of housing concave portions; a notch plate including a plurality of engaging concave portions; plate-like engaging pieces, each being housed in each of the housing concave portions; elastic members, each being provided between a bottom portion of a corresponding housing concave portion of the housing concave portions and a corresponding engaging piece of the engaging pieces; and a selector plate provided between the pocket plate and the notch plate in a rotation axis direction of the notch plate. The bottom portion of the housing concave portion includes: a first bottom surface; and a second bottom surface formed at a position deeper than the first bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Kurosaki, Hiroyuki Shioiri, Hiroyuki Shibata, Shotaro Kato, Hiroki Yasui