Patents Examined by Tisha Lewis
  • Patent number: 9845006
    Abstract: A clutch control device is provided for a four-wheel drive vehicle for transmitting drive force to the rear wheels. The clutch control device includes a dog clutch and a friction clutch, and a controller that controls the engagement and disengagement of the dog clutch and the friction clutch. In this clutch control device, when there is a request to engage the dog clutch from a disengaged state, the controller, during the engagement control of the friction clutch, first controls the engagement of the friction clutch, monitors the change gradient of the clutch rotational speed difference of the dog clutch and starts engagement of the dog clutch upon determining that the gradient of the clutch rotational speed difference is no longer decreasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Ogawa, Atsuhiro Mori, Shunichi Mitsuishi, Makoto Morita, Tetsu Takaishi
  • Patent number: 9845844
    Abstract: A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle is provided. Ten or more forward speeds and one or more reverse speed are achieved by a planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle including an input shaft, an output shaft, four planetary gear sets respectively, having three rotational elements, and six control elements to selectively interconnect the rotational elements and a transmission housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Seongwook Ji, Seong Wook Hwang, Hyun Sik Kwon, Wonmin Cho, Jae Chang Kook
  • Patent number: 9845845
    Abstract: A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for vehicle may include an input shaft receiving power of an engine, an output shaft outputting shifted power of the engine, a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, a third planetary gear set, a fourth planetary gear set, a first shaft directly connected with the input shaft, a second shaft, a third shaft, a fourth shaft selectively connectable to the third shaft, a fifth shaft selectively connectable with the third shaft, a sixth shaft, a seventh shaft directly connected with a transmission housing, an eighth shaft selectively connectable with each of the fifth shaft and the sixth shaft, and a ninth shaft selectively connectable with the fifth shaft, and directly connected with the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Seongwook Ji, Seong Wook Hwang, Woo Jin Chang, Wonmin Cho, Hyun Sik Kwon, Jae Chang Kook
  • Patent number: 9841082
    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 changed torque of the engine, a first planetary gear set including first, second, and third rotation elements, a second planetary gear set including fourth, fifth, and sixth rotation elements, a third planetary gear set including seventh, eighth, and ninth rotation elements, a fourth planetary gear set including tenth, eleventh, and twelfth rotation elements, and seven friction elements disposed to selectively connect the rotation elements with each other and selectively connect the rotation elements with a transmission housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Chang Wook Lee, Sueng Ho Lee, JongSool Park, KyeongHun Lee, Dong Hwan Hwang
  • Patent number: 9835230
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes a second planetary gear mechanism having a sun gear, a carrier, and a ring gear being defined as first, second and third elements, respectively, when a single pinion type planetary gear mechanism is applied; the carrier, the ring gear, and the sun gear being defined as the first, second, and third elements, respectively, when a double pinion type is applied; a first brake, a switching clutch being switchable to a first position where the third element is selectively fixed to a housing; a first clutch, a second clutch, a third clutch, and a fourth clutch. The first brake fixes a sun gear of a first planetary gear mechanism to the housing, the switching clutch fixes the third element to the housing, and the fourth clutch connects the second element to a carrier of the third planetary gear mechanism when establishing a reverse speed stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Nakamura, Kiyoharu Takagi, Atsuhiro Mase
  • Patent number: 9827970
    Abstract: A vehicle, a vehicle speed control system, and a method of controlling vehicle speed are provided. The vehicle may include a powertrain and a controller. The controller may be programmed to reduce a powertrain output based on a braking comfort parameter such that a speed becomes less than a threshold speed associated with the parking maneuver prior to completion of the parking maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Erick Michael Lavoie
  • Patent number: 9829076
    Abstract: A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for vehicle may include an input shaft; an output shaft; first to fourth planetary gear sets and six control elements disposed at a portion selectively connecting the rotation elements and the rotation elements or a portion selectively connecting the rotation elements and the transmission housing, wherein the input shaft is continuously connected to the third rotation element, the output shaft is continuously connected to the eleventh rotation element, the second rotation element is continuously connected to the eleventh rotation element, the third rotation element is continuously connected to the fourth rotation element, the sixth rotation element is continuously connected to the eighth rotation element, the ninth rotation element is continuously connected to the tenth rotation element, the fifth rotation element is selectively connected to the transmission housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: JongSool Park, Sueng Ho Lee, Dong Hwan Hwang, Seong Wook Hwang, Seongwook Ji, Wonmin Cho, Hyun Sik Kwon, KyeongHun Lee, Jong Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 9822846
    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 changed torque of the engine, a first planetary gear set including first, second, and third rotation elements, a second planetary gear set including fourth, fifth, and sixth rotation elements, a third planetary gear set including seventh, eighth, and ninth rotation elements, a fourth planetary gear set including tenth, eleventh, and twelfth rotation elements, and seven friction elements disposed to selectively connect the rotation elements and to selectively connect the rotation elements with a transmission housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hyunda Motor Company
    Inventors: KyeongHun Lee, Chang Wook Lee, JongSool Park, Sueng Ho Lee, Dong Hwan Hwang
  • Patent number: 9821646
    Abstract: A power transmission system may include: an engine power delivery module configured to transmit power of the engine directly to the first motor/generator as driving power for generating electricity and to selectively transmit the power of the engine as driving power for driving the vehicle, and a motor power delivery module disposed in parallel with and independently from the engine power delivery module, and configured to directly transmit power of the second motor/generator as driving power for driving the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Seongwook Ji, Jae Chang Kook, Wonmin Cho, Myeong Hoon Noh, Kangsoo Seo, Seong Wook Hwang
  • Patent number: 9822831
    Abstract: A method for learning a touch point of a clutch in a Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) vehicle includes a synchronization determination step, a drive shaft slip inducement step in which the controller induces a clutch of the drive shaft to slip, a non-drive shaft torque application step in which the controller applies torque to a clutch of the non-drive shaft, and a touch point learning step in which, while the speed of the non-drive input shaft follows the engine speed in the non-drive shaft torque application step, the controller searches for a certain point at which the speed of the non-drive input shaft changes and differs from the speed of the drive input shaft, and learns the point as the touch point of the clutch of the non-drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Sung Hyun Cho, Seung Sam Baek, Ho Young Lee
  • Patent number: 9815473
    Abstract: A method for controlling a manual transmission includes using a controller to determine a desired torque transmitted through an input clutch for the desired gear after a shift lever is moved to a desired gear position and while a clutch pedal is being released for engaging the clutch; inferring torque in the vehicle drive assembly; using inferred torque to determine clutch torque; and using the controller to automatically adjust a clutch actuator such that a difference between the desired torque and the inferred torque is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yuji Fujii, Alex O. Gibson, Gregory M. Pietron, Joseph F. Kucharski
  • Patent number: 9815362
    Abstract: A control system for a hybrid vehicle configured to prevent an undesirable engagement of the selectable one-way clutch is provided. In order to reduce a drag torque resulting from a cranking of an engine to bring the selectable one-way clutch into engagement mode, the control system raises a temperature of lubrication oil before carrying out the cranking of the engine if it is too low, and carries out the cranking of an engine by a motor after the temperature of the lubrication oil is raised to a level at which viscosity thereof is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shioiri, Hideaki Komada, Yuki Kurosaki, Hiroyuki Shibata, Hiroki Yasui
  • Patent number: 9816589
    Abstract: An automotive multistage transmission may include an input shaft and an output shaft, a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, a third planetary gear set, and a fourth planetary gear set each including three rotary members and transmitting torque between the input shaft and the output shaft, and at least six shifting members connected to the rotary members of the planetary gear sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Won Min Cho, Jae Chang Kook, Myeong Hoon Noh, Seong Wook Ji, Kang Soo Seo, Seong Wook Hwang
  • Patent number: 9816594
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission (CVT) for a motor vehicle includes a transmission input shaft rotatably connected to an engine by a torque converter, the transmission input shaft defining a first CVT axis. A continuously variable unit connected for rotation by the transmission input shaft includes a first pulley assembly, a second pulley assembly, and a flexible member wrapped around the first pulley assembly and the second pulley assembly. A two mode transfer gear assembly is connected to the second pulley assembly and is coaxially aligned for rotation on a second CVT axis. A clutch assembly having at least one clutch is connected to the transfer gear assembly. A final drive unit connected to the transfer gear assembly is co-axially aligned with respect to the second CVT axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: James M. Hart, Daryl A. Wilton
  • Patent number: 9815453
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain and a method for controlling the powertrain are provided to convert an EV mode, a power slit mode, and a parallel mode based on a driving state. The powertrain includes an input shaft connected to an engine and first and second motors/generators installed within a transmission housing. A planetary gear set is installed on an input shaft and includes a combination of a sun gear, a planetary carrier, and a ring gear. A first output gear is connected to the second motor/generator and a second output gear is connected to the planetary carrier of the planetary gear set. A rotation restraint mechanism restricts a rotation of the input shaft. An overdrive brake is connected to the sun gear of the planetary gear set or the first motor/generator. An output shaft is supplied with power through the first and second output gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Kum Lim Choi
  • Patent number: 9809222
    Abstract: A braking force control apparatus in a motorcycle, includes a controller which controls a transmission to reduces driving force of an engine by a predetermined speed reduction ratio and transmits the driving force to a drive wheel of a vehicle, a clutch between the engine and the transmission, and brake devices which generate braking force on the wheels. The vehicle is switchable between a normal and a slow speed driving modes. In the slow speed mode the controller detects an inclination pitching angle ?, and causes the brake devices to generate braking force on at least one of the drive wheels when ??a predetermined value, then starts switching the clutch to a connected state when a driving operation is input, and gradually releases the braking force once driving force starts to be transmitted to the drive wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kaneta, Taisuke Nimura, Masayuki Fujita, Yoshiaki Sawano, Shunya Ishikawa, Hiroyuki Makita, Yasushi Fujimoto, Eiji Kittaka, Naoki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9803722
    Abstract: An automatic transmission has eight rotatable shafts, four planetary gear sets and seven shift elements for shifting several forward gears and one reverse gear. A first element of the second planetary gear set forms the first shaft designed as the drive shaft of the transmission. A second element of the third planetary gear set forms the second shaft designed as the output shaft of the transmission. A second element of the first planetary gear set forms the third shaft. A first element of the first planetary gear set forms the fourth shaft. A third element of third planetary gear set forms the fifth shaft. As the sixth shaft, a third element of the first planetary gear set, a second element of the second planetary gear set and a first element of the third planetary gear set are constantly connected. A third element of the second planetary gear set forms the seventh shaft. A first brake is arranged in the power flow between the third shaft and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Christian Sibla
  • Patent number: 9802618
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving shifting of a manual transmission coupled to an engine are presented. In one example, a load provided to the engine is increased in response to a transmission gear upshift so that engine speed may be quickly decreased to synchronize with transmission input speed, thereby allowing quicker manual transmission gear shifts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Nathan Banker, Hamid-Reza Ossareh, Baitao Xiao
  • Patent number: 9789754
    Abstract: A dual-motor power system or a dual-motor hybrid power system for a vehicle comprises a first motor, a second motor, an intermediate shaft, a first gear set disposed between a first driving shaft, and an intermediate shaft. The first driving shaft couples with the intermediate shaft via the first gear set, a second gear set disposed between the second driving shaft and the intermediate shaft, and a single synchronizer disposed around the second driving shaft. The synchronizer can be switched between a neutral position, a first-speed-ratio position, and a second-speed-ratio position. In the neutral position, the second driving shaft is decoupled from the first and second gear sets. In the first-speed-ratio position, the synchronizer couples the second driving shaft with the intermediate shaft via the first gear set. In the second-speed-ratio position, the synchronizer couples the second driving shaft with the intermediate shaft via the second gear set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: SAIC Motor Corporation Limited
    Inventors: Jun Zhu, Hailong Ge, Sidong Luo, Rui Li, Xu Chai, Bin Xu, Zhenxing Fu, Hongxiang Leng, Jian Wang, Jun Sun
  • Patent number: 9784354
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a differential, a clutch configured to lock the differential, and a controller. The controller is programmed to, in response to a condition or specified drive mode associated with locking the differential, adjust a clutch torque to lock the differential. The controller is further programmed to, in response to an output speed of the differential exceeding a threshold during the condition, decrease the clutch torque to allow the clutch to slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew Monticello