Patents Examined by Tisha D Lewis
  • Patent number: 11970170
    Abstract: A drive system for an axle of a motor vehicle can be controlled. The drive system can have at least one drive unit driving a drive shaft, a first output shaft, and a second output shaft, as well as first and second clutches connecting the drive shaft to the first and second output shafts, respectively. A control unit of the drive system controls the clutches to operate at least at certain operating points with a micro-slip control in which a speed differential between the drive shaft and the output shaft of >0 revolutions per minute (RPM) and <50 RPM is set for the respective clutch. A travel state of the motor vehicle can be detected, including detecting: traveling straight ahead and cornering in the pull mode, and a control strategy can be selected and applied for each clutch, wherein the control strategy is different for different travel states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Ltd.
    Inventors: Harwin Niessen, Michael Höck
  • Patent number: 11970169
    Abstract: An antilock control method for a braking system of a vehicle has at least the following steps: upon the presence of a brake request signal, outputting a brake control signal and building up a brake pressure by a braking medium at a wheel brake of a vehicle wheel, measuring a wheel speed of the vehicle wheel to be braked, and determining a wheel slip of the vehicle wheel, upon meeting a first traction criterion or a locking tendency of the vehicle wheel, activating a wheel drive unit and applying a wheel drive torque on the vehicle wheel to increase the wheel circumferential velocity and to reduce the wheel slip until a second traction criterion is met. The brake force introduced in the wheel brake is controlled as a function of the wheel slip by releasing the brake pressure upon satisfying a first traction criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BV
    Inventors: Steffen Gerlach, Alexander Rodenberg, Michael Schomburg
  • Patent number: 11970153
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a driveline disconnect clutch of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a driveline disconnect clutch liftoff pressure is estimated according to a derivative of a driveline disconnect clutch pressure when a driveline disconnect clutch is being de-stroked. The driveline disconnect clutch may be prepositioned in anticipation of driveline disconnect closing based on the estimated driveline disconnect clutch liftoff pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Akshay Bichkar, Corey James Blue, Samuel Melville Glauber, Joseph Kucharski, Bradley Dean Riedle
  • Patent number: 11964592
    Abstract: An electric-axle device for a commercial vehicle that can minimize the frequency of using a main brake when braking, may include a first clutch device disposed between a motor and a differential casing to transmit or block power, a second clutch device disposed between the differential casing and a disc, an electromagnetic brake applying a braking force to the disc, and that can increase a coasting distance and improve energy efficiency and durability of the motor by disengaging the first clutch device and the second clutch device such that kinetic energy, which is transmitted to the motor from an axle shaft, is blocked as if a neutral gear of a transmission is engaged, when the vehicle coasts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Seong Hun Park
  • Patent number: 11951990
    Abstract: A gear shift control device of an automobile including a driving motor, a relay clutch capable of disconnecting an engine, includes memory storing a gear shift map for determining the switching start timing of the gear position, a transmission control unit that switches the gear position based on the gear shift map, a regeneration control unit, and a relay clutch control unit. The gear shift map includes a cooperative regeneration map and non-cooperative regeneration maps that define the thresholds of relatively low revolutions. The threshold of a predetermined low gear shift point is defined to be smaller than the thresholds of the gear shift points higher than the predetermined low gear shift point on the downshift side in the non-cooperative regeneration maps, and is defined to be smaller than the threshold of the predetermined low gear shift point on the downshift side in the cooperative regeneration map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Daigo Nishikori, Hiroaki Gotan, Akina Inagaki, Tomohiro Okubo, Kiminori Higo, Takayuki Mikami
  • Patent number: 11946535
    Abstract: A clamp building block differential (2) includes a differential cage (10) extending in a longitudinal direction (4), a transverse direction (6) transverse to the longitudinal direction (4), and a vertical direction (8) transverse to the longitudinal direction (4) and transverse to the transverse direction (6), having a cage bottom (12) extending in the longitudinal direction (4) and the transverse direction (6) from which a first cage wall (14) and a second cage wall (16) extend in the vertical direction (8) and which are spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction (6), and including a cage column (18) which extends in the vertical direction (8) and which is held on the cage walls (14, 16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: DOUBLEEAGLE INDUSTRY (CHINA) LIMITED
    Inventor: Martynas Puotkalis
  • Patent number: 11919400
    Abstract: A powertrain includes an engine; a driveline including a gearbox having an input shaft connected to the engine, an output shaft to be connected to driving wheels of the vehicle and a countershaft for transmitting a rotation of the input shaft to the output shaft which can be coupled to the input shaft; an electric machine; a gear reduction mechanism having a free wheel and at least three separate and rotatable junction elements, the rotational speeds of the junction elements being interdependent but not having a fixed ratio relative to one another: a first junction element that is connected to the electric machine; a second junction element that is connectable to the free wheel; a third junction element that is connected to the countershaft. The torque ratio between the third junction element and the first junction element can be selected from at least two different ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yann Boete
  • Patent number: 11919399
    Abstract: A hybrid power system includes an engine and a motor. A motor stator of the motor is connected with a drive shaft of a motor vehicle through a transmission mechanism, so that the motor stator can also rotate relative to the chassis and other structures of the motor vehicle, thus, the hybrid power system composed of the engine and the motor can meet the application of various working conditions such as starting, idling, forwarding and reversing of the motor vehicle, and the number of parts of the hybrid system is greatly reduced, thereby simplifying the overall structure of the hybrid power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: WEICHAI POWER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fenglong Lv, Lei Zhang, Yamei Xu, Fei Wang, Zhengxing Zhang, Bin Zhang
  • Patent number: 11919502
    Abstract: An electrified fire fighting vehicle includes a battery pack, an electromagnetic device, an engine, and a controller. The controller is configured to monitor a state-of-charge of the battery pack, operate the electromagnetic device using stored energy in the battery pack to provide a performance condition including (i) accelerating the electrified fire fighting vehicle to a driving speed of at least 50 miles-per-hour in an acceleration time and (ii) maintaining or exceeding the driving speed for a period of time, and start and operate the engine in response to a start condition to facilitate reserving sufficient stored energy in the battery pack such that the state-of-charge is maintained above a minimum state-of-charge threshold that is sufficient to facilitate the performance condition. The acceleration time is 30 second or less. An aggregate of the acceleration time and the period of time is at least 3 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Shively, Seth Newlin, David Kay, Jack Bermingham, Jon Morrow, David Steinberger
  • Patent number: 11920680
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a chain tensioner that serves as an oil damper using oil supplied from an oil pump. The vehicle includes a controller that controls a traveling mode of the vehicle in a BEV mode or a non-BEV mode. When shifting the traveling mode from the BEV mode to the non-BEV mode, the controller executes a high-pressure process for controlling the oil pump such that a supply pressure of oil supplied to the chain tensioner becomes higher when a duration of the BEV mode is greater than or equal to a specified time than when the BEV mode duration is less than the specified time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kentaro Mushiga, Junji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11912279
    Abstract: Systems and methods for limiting functionality of a vehicle are described. In one example, vehicle feature modules may specify vehicle behaviors and vehicle operation is limited according to the specified behaviors. Vehicle actuators may be adjusted to limit vehicle operation according to the specified vehicle behaviors. The vehicle behaviors may apply to powertrain systems, navigation systems, climate control systems, lighting systems and other vehicle systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Thompson, David Hancock, Scott Christensen, John Rollinger, Jeremy Russell, Jeffrey Tumavitch, Dennis Light, David Schmitt
  • Patent number: 11906031
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: an interrupter including a first connector connected to a driving source, a second connector connected to a transmission, and a fluid in a gap between the first and second connectors; and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry receives flowability information indicating a value related to flowability of the fluid. The processing circuitry determines whether or not a predetermined power interruption condition is satisfied. When the above condition is satisfied, and the processing circuitry determines that the value is less than a predetermined reference value, the processing circuitry controls the speed change actuator to set the transmission to a first gear stage. When the condition is satisfied, and the processing circuitry determines that the value is not less than the reference value, the processing circuitry controls the speed change actuator to set the transmission to a second gear stage having a lower reduction ratio than the first gear stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: KAWASAKI MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Shohei Mizuishi, Masahiro Mizuno
  • Patent number: 11906024
    Abstract: A vehicle drive device includes: a rotating electrical machine that functions as a driving force source for wheels; an input member drivingly connected to rotating electrical machine; a pair of output members each drivingly connected to wheel; a differential gear mechanism that distributes rotation transmitted from rotating electrical machine to pair of output members; a transmission gear mechanism that drivingly connects input member and differential gear mechanism; a hydraulic pump that includes a pump rotor and chamber housing the pump rotor and that supplies oil to at least the rotating electrical machine; and a case. The case includes a partition portion that separates in an axial direction a first housing chamber housing rotating electrical machine and a second housing chamber housing transmission gear mechanism and differential gear mechanism). Pump chamber is formed in partition wall so as to be located between first and second housing chambers in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryohei Inoue
  • Patent number: 11897476
    Abstract: Systems and methods for performing closed-in-bore diagnostics for a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, select operating conditions may be evaluated before closed-in-bore diagnostics may be initiated. In addition, charging of one or more batteries may be reduced to ensure that an engine throttle may operate with a small opening amount to evaluate the presence or absence of sludge in the engine throttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Justin Panhans, Minku Lee, Fazal U. Syed, Alec Bolthouse, Francis Thomas Connolly, Josh Holland
  • Patent number: 11898527
    Abstract: Systems and methods for selecting and scheduling which of a plurality of engine starting devices starts an internal combustion engine of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a scheduled start of the internal combustion engine via a driveline disconnect clutch is withdrawn during conditions when both a transmission gear shift is requested or in process and when a driver urgency level is greater than a threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Maruthi Ravichandran, Akshay Bichkar, Marin Assaliyski, Corey James Blue
  • Patent number: 11892068
    Abstract: A differential self-locking device includes a differential housing, a half-shaft output gear set disposed in the differential housing, an upper worm and worm gear mechanism, a lower worm and worm gear mechanism, a differential planetary gear set, and a worm gear shaft. The upper worm and worm gear mechanism and the lower worm and worm gear mechanism respectively convert a large output torque of the left half-shaft output gear and a large output torque of the right half-shaft output gear into small output torque thereof to lock the left half-shaft output gear and the right half-shaft output gear, thereby achieving automatic locking or unlocking of the differential self-locking device. A traction force of a vehicle is converted into torques of the left half-shaft output gear and the right half-shaft output gear, which improves passing ability of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN XINGKANG POWER ASSEMBLY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qingwen Zeng, Weiwei Xiong
  • Patent number: 11878675
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive train of a working machine, wherein a traction drive of the drive train is driven by an electric traction motor via a transmission and wherein, when a gear stage of the transmission is changed, a rotational speed of the traction motor is synchronised with the gear stage being engaged. The method further includes a computational model of the traction motor that is used for the rotational speed synchronisation. The model, taking into account a moment of inertia of the traction motor, describes a torque to be delivered for the rotational speed synchronisation. A corresponding drive train and a working machine is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Jürgen Legner
  • Patent number: 11878692
    Abstract: A method is provided for scheduling regenerative braking torque, comprising: sensing a position of an accelerator pedal; generating a torque request value in response to the sensed accelerator pedal position; determining a speed of operation of a motor/generator; determining a torque limit in response to the torque request value and the determined speed of the motor/generator; generating a regenerative braking command in response to the torque limit; and outputting the regenerative braking command to the motor/generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Martin T. Books, Joseph E. Paquette
  • Patent number: 11867285
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for operating a machine using energy stored in a compress gas are disclosed. Energy stored in the compressed gas may be used to pressurize a fluid, such as transmission fluid, and the pressurized fluid may be used to effectuate an operation of the machine, such as a transmission, and the operation of the machine may involve shifting of a transmission. The gas may be compressed with another fluid that is different from the fluid used to operate the machine, and the two fluid may be prevented from being mixed together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Cliff, Benjamin K. Dollins
  • Patent number: 11859715
    Abstract: A transmission is shifted into a reverse state. The transmission includes a clutch. The clutch includes a pocket plate, a notch plate, a first strut housed within a pocket of the pocket plate, and a second strut housed within another pocket. A command is received to shift the transmission to reverse. It is then determined whether the at least one second strut has retracted into the pocket plate. If it remains extended, the first actuator is activated. A first rotational torque is applied to the notch plate in a direction allowing the notch plate to abut the first strut. By doing so, the second strut is released from abutting engagement with the notch plate. A second rotational torque is applied to the notch plate opposite the first rotational torque to rotate the notch plate out of engagement with the first strut, resulting in the transmission entering the reverse state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Sigma Powertrain, Inc.
    Inventors: Graham Scott Russell, R. William Davis, Daniel E. Knieper, John W. Kimes