Patents Examined by Tinh T Dang
  • Patent number: 10344830
    Abstract: A transmission gearing arrangement includes four simple planetary gear sets, three brakes, and four clutches. The transmission produces two reverse gear ratios and twelve forward speed ratios in response to engagement of the brakes in clutches in combinations of three. The transmission is suitable for use with a range selector. In a low range, one of the reverse ratios and all twelve of the forward ratios are utilized. In a high range, the other reverse ratio and eleven of the forward ratios are utilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Donald Edward Hoffman
  • Patent number: 10330186
    Abstract: A power split transmission and a method of merging the power flows of the power split transmission are provided. A power input shaft drives a planetary gear set splitting the input power into a power flow over a variable power branch and into a power flow over a mechanical power branch. The power flows can be merged for driving a power take-off shaft. A reverser includes a first clutch, a second clutch, a first gear set and a second gear set. By engaging the first clutch and disengaging the second clutch the first gear set is driven, if an output shaft of the variable power branch and a mechanical transmission shaft are counter-rotating. By engaging the second clutch and the first clutch disengaging the second gear set is driven, if the output shaft of the variable power branch and the mechanical transmission shaft are co-rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Danfoss Power Solutions GmbH & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Jens Bagusch, Torsten Kohmäscher
  • Patent number: 10330191
    Abstract: A control system for a transmission reverser having an output gear, a forward disconnect device, a first reverse disconnect device, and a second reverse disconnect device includes one or more controllers with processing and memory architecture configured to execute control logic to control the transmission reverser in a forward mode and a reverse mode. In the forward mode, the one or more controllers command the first reverse disconnect device to disengage and the forward disconnect device to engage to rotate the output gear in a forward direction. In the reverse mode, the one or more controllers command the first reverse disconnect device to engage and the second reverse disconnect device to engage to rotate the output gear in a reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Clayton P. Neumann, Mehawesh Alkhalil
  • Patent number: 10328797
    Abstract: To provide a device to facilitate protection of a clutch while minimizing degradation of the torque transmission performance. A hydraulic clutch for drive power distribution is provided between a drive power source and auxiliary driving wheels, and a commanded torque is determined depending on the travel situation. The hydraulic pressure corresponding to the commanded torque is supplied to the hydraulic clutch. The surface temperature of the clutch is estimated (detected). The device generates a limiting value to limit the commanded torque when the difference in rotation between input and output shafts of the clutch is not less than a predetermined threshold and the commanded torque is not less than a predetermined value and performs control so as to increase the limiting value with an increase in the surface temperature of the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuma Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10315658
    Abstract: A vehicle driving force control apparatus is mounted in a vehicle that runs by transmitting power from a plurality of drive sources to a plurality of wheels or a plurality of sets of wheels. The vehicle driving force control apparatus includes: a ratio determination unit; and a command unit. The ratio determination unit determines a target ratio at which a required driving force applied to the vehicle is to be distributed to the plurality of wheels or the plurality of sets of wheels. The command unit commands the plurality of drive sources to output power such that driving force distributed in accordance with the target ratio is generated in the plurality of wheels or the plurality of sets of wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumiyuki Moriya, Hiroshi Ienaga
  • Patent number: 10316968
    Abstract: An apparatus for ratio control of a continuously variable transmission includes a driver commanded ratio unit outputting a signal defining a commanded ratio. A clamp control portion is in communication with the driver commanded ratio unit. The clamp control portion includes: a ratio limits and override ring selecting a ratio matching the commanded ratio from an executable functions having stored ratio code data; a screening monitor continuously receiving output from the executable functions and using an input from a vehicle speed signal to compute minimum and maximum ratio limits for the ratio selected by the ratio limits and override ring; and a ratio control execution ring in communication with the screening monitor. The ratio control execution ring calculates a range of pressures allowed for operation of both primary and secondary pulleys of the continuously variable transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ronald F. Lochocki, Christopher J. Weingartz, Greg J. Perantoni, Stuart W. Parker, Paul G. Otanez, Bret M. Olson, Mary M. Whitley, Nathan A. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10308239
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle powertrain includes an internal combustion engine, first and second electric machines, traction wheels, and an output shaft having meshing gears configured to establish a final drive ratio between the output shaft and the traction wheels. The powertrain additionally includes a first mechanical linkage and a second mechanical linkage. The first mechanical linkage is configured to selectively transmit engine torque to the fraction wheels and selectively transmit electric machine torque to the traction wheels. The second mechanical linkage is configured to selectively transmit engine torque to the traction wheels. When transmitting engine torque to the wheels, the second mechanical linkage defines a fixed overdrive speed relationship between the engine and the fraction wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Walter Joseph Ortmann, Bernard D. Nefcy, Daniel Scott Colvin
  • Patent number: 10302174
    Abstract: A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft receiving torque of an engine, an output shaft outputting an output torque, a first planetary gear set including first, second, and third rotational elements, a second planetary gear set including fourth, fifth, and sixth rotational elements, a third planetary gear set including seventh, eighth, and ninth rotational elements, and a fourth planetary gear set including tenth, eleventh, and twelfth rotational elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jin Ho Kim, Jinseok Kim, Jae Chang Kook, Dong Hwan Hwang, Seong Wook Hwang, Woo Jin Chang, Tae Whan Kim, Seongwook Ji, Chon Ok Kim, Wonmin Cho, Hyun Sik Kwon, Jong Sool Park, Kyeong Hun Lee, Jong Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 10260612
    Abstract: A device includes a front cover, a torque converter main body, a lock-up device, and a dynamic damper. The dynamic damper is fixed to an output plate of the lock-up device. The dynamic damper has a base plate, an inertial body that includes inertia rings and lid members, and an elastic unit. The base plate is fixed to the output plate. The inertial body can rotate relative to the base plate. The elastic unit can generate a variable hysteresis torque according to a relative rotation angle difference between the base plate and the inertial body, and couples the base plate and the inertial body elastically in a rotation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Inventors: Yuki Kawahara, Yusuke Okamoto, Yusuke Okamachi