Patents Examined by Tisha D Lewis
  • Patent number: 11535240
    Abstract: A control system algorithm is provided for the computer control of a solid-state switching device in a Stirling-electric hybrid vehicle. The algorithm satisfies the demands for electrical energy management, regulation, allocation and distribution to the electrical system of the vehicle during the operation thereof. The control system controls the management, regulation, allocation and distribution of electrical current throughout the vehicle's electrical system in response to the commands of the vehicle operator. This includes the operation of wheel motors, electrical storage systems, the drivetrain and a plurality of other components, accessories and subsystems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Inventors: Joseph S. McDowell, Mirley K. Balasubramanya, Kevin M. Chandler, Harold J. Idell
  • Patent number: 11536364
    Abstract: A simulation apparatus that generates a gradient pattern of a running road for a vehicle and a vehicle speed pattern for simulation. The apparatus includes a gradient pattern generation unit configured to generate a gradient pattern of a running road by sequentially deriving a gradient for each section, and a vehicle speed pattern generation unit configured to generate a vehicle speed pattern by, in a model including a lead vehicle that runs in accordance with a first vehicle speed pattern, a rearmost vehicle that runs in accordance with a first preceding vehicle following algorithm, and one or more intermediate vehicles that increase or reduce by one for each first period at an equal probability between the lead vehicle and the rearmost vehicle and that runs in accordance with the first preceding vehicle following algorithm, deriving a vehicle speed of the rearmost vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takaaki Tokura, Katsumi Kono, Takeshi Yasuda
  • Patent number: 11529862
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving propulsion of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes, in response to detecting a vehicle configuration associated with an arrangement of a set of hub motors that are selectively attachable on driven wheels of the vehicle, loading a control setting according to the arrangement to one of a series configuration and a parallel configuration to indicate a power source for the driven wheels as one or more of a motor of the set of hub motors and a central propulsion system. The set of hub motors is structured to be selectively attached to the driven wheels without removing the driven wheels from the vehicle. The method includes managing power delivery to the set of hub motors and the central propulsion system of the vehicle to propel the vehicle according to the control setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua D. Payne, Nathan C. Westover
  • Patent number: 11524674
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle may include an engine, an electric machine selectively coupled to the engine, a high-voltage traction battery electrically coupled to the electric machine and configured to selectively propel the electrified vehicle, an on-board generator including an inverter electrically coupled to the high-voltage traction battery and configured to convert direct current input to alternating current output, power outlets configured to receive power from the inverter of the on-board generator, a user interface, and a controller programmed to control the engine, the electric machine, and the high-voltage traction battery to provide power to on-board generator and to control the inverter to limit the power output by the inverter to the power outlets to one of a user-specified power limit based on input from the user interface, a powertrain power limit associated with the engine, the electric machine, and the high-voltage traction battery, and an inverter hardware power limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Seth Anthony Bryan, Adam J. Richards, Scott Steadmon Thompson, Nicholas Herhusky
  • Patent number: 11524675
    Abstract: A vehicle powertrain includes a battery, an electric machine, an electrical circuit, an electrical outlet, and a controller. The electric machine is configured to receive electrical power from the battery to propel the vehicle and to deliver electrical power to the battery to recharge the battery. The electrical circuit is configured to transfer electrical power between the battery and the electric machine. The electrical outlet is configured to deliver power from the electrical circuit to an external device that is connected to the outlet. The controller is programmed to, in response to a first set of conditions that is indicative of the vehicle powertrain overheating or a second set of conditions that is indicative of an inability to charge the battery to a requested charge value, issue a warning of an impending shutdown of the electrical outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Seth Anthony Bryan, Rian Edman, Sassan Farahmand, Fazal Urrahman Syed
  • Patent number: 11519499
    Abstract: An output is calculated using, as an input, a measured value of a pump discharge pressure in a neural network having the pump discharge pressure as the input and a pump rotational speed as the output. A leakage degree of oil of the hydraulic circuit of a transmission is estimated based on a difference obtained by subtracting a measured value of the pump rotational speed from the calculated value of the output. Learning of the neural network is performed using, as teacher data, the measured values of the pump discharge pressure and the pump rotational speed in the transmission in which the leakage degree of oil is within an allowable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naofumi Nishida
  • Patent number: 11519495
    Abstract: A heat load estimation device for a friction engaging element that estimates a heat load when at least one of a temperature, a heat generation amount, and presence or absence of seizure in the friction engaging element at a time of shifting of the transmission is regarded as the heat load, includes a storage device and an execution device. The storage device stores mapping data defining mapping. The mapping includes, as an input variable, a speed variable that is a variable indicating a relative rotation speed of members of the friction engaging element and a hydraulic pressure variable that is a variable indicating hydraulic pressure during the shifting of the transmission, and includes, as an output variable, the heat load. The execution device executes a calculation process for calculating a value of the output variable and a change process for changing an execution mode of the calculation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kota Fujii, Atsushi Tabata, Koichi Okuda, Ken Imamura, Hideaki Bunazawa, Keita Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11519490
    Abstract: A oil supply unit includes an axial body including an axial through hole along an axis and disposed so as to be rotatable around the axis, a pipe member disposed along the axis inside the axial through hole, a support member supporting an axial end of the pipe member, and a partitioning member partitioning a circular space between the axial body and an the pipe member to an axial direction. A first through hole and a second through hole are respectively formed to penetrate the pipe member and the axial body so that an oil supplied to an inside of the pipe member flows to a radial outside of the axial body through the circular space, and the partitioning member includes a tapered portion extending toward a radial inside and the axial direction of the axial body from the inner circumferential surface of the axial body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shin Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 11522416
    Abstract: An electric drive system (100) used in an electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle to drive the vehicle's wheels to rotate. The electric drive system (100) includes an electric motor (300). The electric motor (300) includes a housing in which a stator and a rotor are received. A transmission device (400) is operatively coupled to the electric motor (300); and an output shaft (500) is operatively coupled to the transmission device (400). The output shaft (500) extends from the transmission device (400) and is substantially parallel to the rotor's axis of the electric motor (300). The electric drive system (100) also includes an inverter (200) secured over the housing of the electric motor (300) such that the inverter is located between the output shaft (500) and the housing of the electric motor (300).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Shi Deng, Tao Zhu, Peter Ropertz, Heinz-Bernd Haiser, Takashi Shigematsu, Yanlin Li
  • Patent number: 11519337
    Abstract: An auxiliary power unit (APU) includes, in serial flow communication: an engine compressor, a combustor and a turbine, the turbine rotatable about an engine axis. A first shaft operatively connects the turbine to the engine compressor and extends non-parallel to the engine axis. A second shaft operatively connects the turbine to a load and extends non-parallel to the engine axis. A method of operating an APU is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Timothy Redford, David Menheere
  • Patent number: 11519496
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device for an auto transmission may include: an oil pump unit configured to supply oil; a line pressure control unit configured to form line pressure using the oil supplied from the oil pump unit; a lubricating pressure control unit configured to form lubricating pressure using the oil passing through the line pressure control unit; a reducing pressure control unit configured to form reducing pressure using the oil passing through the lubricating pressure control unit; a damper control pressure control unit configured to form damper control pressure using the oil supplied from the oil pump unit; a switch unit configured to supply the lubricating pressure or the reducing pressure to a torque converter; a collection unit configured to collect the lubricating pressure; and a retention unit connected to the switch unit, and configured to retain the lubricating pressure of the torque converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Hyundai Transys Inc.
    Inventor: Sang Seok Park
  • Patent number: 11519498
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling engine operation in response to a request to shift a transmission gear. In one example, a method may include maintaining operating conditions of an engine and redirecting electric power generated via the engine from a traction motor to a battery in response to a request to shift a transmission while the driveline is operating in a series mode. In this way engine efficiency may be improved and a time frame for shifting a transmission gear may be reduced responsive to a gear shift request while the powertrain is operating in series mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dushyant K. Palejiya, Jason Meyer, Rajit Johri
  • Patent number: 11511726
    Abstract: A method of distributing driving force of a four wheel drive (4WD) eco-friendly vehicle includes determining a first allowable range of driving force for each driving force based on determination of travel stability, determining a second allowable range of driving force for each driving wheel based on system limitations of at least one of the first driving source or the second driving source, determining a range of available driving force of the first driving wheel based on the first allowable range of driving force and the second allowable range of driving force, determining first target driving force of the first driving wheel in consideration of efficiency of the first driving source within the range of available driving force, and determining second target driving force of the second driving wheel based on the first target driving force and requested torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Joon Young Park
  • Patent number: 11506274
    Abstract: A vehicular power transmitting system including a power transmitting member, an oil pump, and an oil piping assembly, and the oil piping assembly includes an oil piping body having an oil inlet and fixed, and a branch pipe. The branch pipe has a width direction parallel to a longitudinal direction of the oil piping body, and includes proximal and distal end portions. The proximal end portion is connected to the oil piping body, and the distal end portion has a delivery nozzle from which the oil is delivered toward the lubricated portion. The branch pipe has an opening formed in the proximal end portion, for communication of the branch pipe with the oil piping body, the opening having a dimension in a width direction of the branch pipe, which dimension is larger than a dimension of the distal end portion in the width direction of the branch pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kiyokami, Tetsuo Hori
  • Patent number: 11505195
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain having an electric machine configured to power driven wheels, an accelerator pedal, and a brake pedal. A controller is programmed to, in response to driver-demanded torque corresponding to a position of the accelerator pedal, selectively brake the vehicle via operation of the electric machine, in further response to a speed of the vehicle being greater than a threshold, limit a rate of change of the driver-demanded torque commanded to the powertrain based on a first rate limit, and, in further response to the speed being less than another threshold, limit a rate of change of the driver-demanded torque commanded to the powertrain based on a second rate limit that is higher than the first rate limit such that, for a given driver-demanded torque, acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle is more responsive than when the first rate limit is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sergey Gennadievich Semenov, Bryan Michael Bolger
  • Patent number: 11498403
    Abstract: An electric powertrain includes a first electric motor that has an uninterrupted connection with a drive shaft of a vehicle. The electric powertrain further includes a second electric motor that has an interruptible connection with the drive shaft. In one form, this interruptible connection includes a clutch. The electric powertrain further includes a first gear train in the form of a first planetary gear and a second gear train in the form of a second planetary gear. To provide a compact configuration, the first electric motor and second electric motor are arranged in a centerline orientation with the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur L. McGrew, Jr., Isaac Mock, George S. Pelton, James Allen Raszkowski, John Andrew Byerly, John L. Saler
  • Patent number: 11499616
    Abstract: A hydro-mechanical hybrid transmission device with an energy management mechanism includes an input member, a mechanical transmission mechanism, an energy management mechanism, a power output mechanism, an output member, a convergence mechanism, a start mechanism, a hydraulic transmission mechanism, a clutch assembly, and a brake assembly. The clutch assembly connects the input member to the mechanical transmission mechanism, the power output mechanism, and the hydraulic transmission mechanism, and connects the energy management mechanism to the mechanical transmission mechanism and the power output mechanism. The clutch assembly and the brake assembly provide a continuous transmission ratio between the input member and the output member and/or the power output mechanism, between the energy management mechanism and the output member and/or the power output mechanism, and between the energy management mechanism together with the input member and the output member and/or the power output mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: JIANGSU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yingfeng Cai, Zhen Zhu, Long Chen, Changgao Xia, Juncheng Wang, Xiang Tian, Jiangyi Han, Jianguo Zhu, LongHui Lai, Xing Xu
  • Patent number: 11493096
    Abstract: An axle disconnect assembly, including: a housing and a clutch a shaft with first splines; a sleeve including second splines non-rotatably connected to the first splines, and axially extending teeth; a shift lever including at least one pivot pin, a first end connected to the sleeve, and a second end; and an actuation assembly including an actuation shaft engaged with the second end of the shift lever, and an actuator. In a connect mode, the teeth are non-rotatably connected to a power output. In a disconnect mode, the sleeve is rotatable with respect to the power output. To shift from the disconnect mode to the connect mode: the actuator rotates the actuator shaft; the actuator shaft pivots the shift lever around an axis of the at least one pivot pin; and the first end of the shift lever displaces the sleeve, with respect to the shaft, in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: SCHAEFFER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Brian Lee
  • Patent number: 11491970
    Abstract: A method of controlling stability of a vehicle and a stability control system for the vehicle. A driver command is determined based on driver input data. At least one output command is sent to one or more vehicle systems to control stability of the vehicle based on the driver command. A controller sends the output command based on a control hierarchy that provides an order in which the controller controls body motion of the vehicle, wheel slip of the vehicle, and standard stability of the vehicle to control stability of the vehicle. The order dictates that the controller controls the body motion of the vehicle and the wheel slip of the vehicle before the controller controls the standard stability of the vehicle. A state of one or more of the vehicle systems is controlled based on the sent output command as dictated via the control hierarchy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Seyedeh Asal Nahidi, SeyedAlireza Kasaiezadeh Mahabadi, James H. Holbrook, Hualin Tan, Bakhtiar B. Litkouhi
  • Patent number: 11485346
    Abstract: A method of controlling a continuously variable electric drivetrain (CVED) including a high ratio traction drive transmission and at least one of a first motor-generator and a second motor-generator is disclosed. The method includes the steps of receiving a output speed, determining a kinematic output speed, and determining a slip state of the high ratio traction drive transmission based on a comparison of the output speed to the kinematic output speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. David, Travis J. Miller