Abstract: A rotary electric machine, e.g., a cycloidal reluctance motor, includes a stator having stator teeth connected to a cylindrical stator core, and a rotor having a cylindrical rotor core. The stator core and/or rotor core are constructed of grain-oriented, spirally-wound ferrous material having a circular or annular grain orientation. The stator teeth may be constructed of grain-oriented steel having a linear grain orientation. Notches may be spaced around an inner circumferential surface of the stator core, with each stator tooth engaged with a respective notch. The rotor may be eccentrically positioned radially within the stator. The rotor core may define notches spaced around its outer circumferential surface, with salient rotor projections engaged with a respective rotor notch. The machine in such an embodiment may be a switched reluctance rotor. An electrical system using the machine and a method of manufacturing the machine are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle powertrain variable vibration absorber assembly can be equipped in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). The vehicle powertrain variable vibration absorber assembly includes a rotary device, a drive-ratio assembly, and a spring. The rotary device, in an example, is a motor-generator unit (MGU). The drive-ratio assembly, in an example, is a planetary gear assembly. The drive-ratio assembly receives rotational drive input from the rotary device, and transmits rotational drive output to a powertrain component. The spring, in an example, is a variable stiffness spring. The spring is connected to the drive-ratio assembly and is connected to a grounded component. During use, the vehicle powertrain variable vibration absorber assembly absorbs different frequencies of vibration brought about by a vehicle engine amid different operating modes. The operating modes can involve cylinder deactivation technologies.

Abstract: A rotary electric machine, e.g., a cycloidal reluctance motor, includes a stator having stator teeth connected to a cylindrical stator core, and a rotor having a cylindrical rotor core. The stator core and/or rotor core are constructed of grain-oriented, spirally-wound ferrous material having a circular or annular grain orientation. The stator teeth may be constructed of grain-oriented steel having a linear grain orientation. Notches may be spaced around an inner circumferential surface of the stator core, with each stator tooth engaged with a respective notch. The rotor may be eccentrically positioned radially within the stator. The rotor core may define notches spaced around its outer circumferential surface, with salient rotor projections engaged with a respective rotor notch. The machine in such an embodiment may be a switched reluctance rotor. An electrical system using the machine and a method of manufacturing the machine are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle powertrain variable vibration absorber assembly can be equipped in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). The vehicle powertrain variable vibration absorber assembly includes a rotary device, a drive-ratio assembly, and a spring. The rotary device, in an example, is a motor-generator unit (MGU). The drive-ratio assembly, in an example, is a planetary gear assembly. The drive-ratio assembly receives rotational drive input from the rotary device, and transmits rotational drive output to a powertrain component. The spring, in an example, is a variable stiffness spring. The spring is connected to the drive-ratio assembly and is connected to a grounded component. During use, the vehicle powertrain variable vibration absorber assembly absorbs different frequencies of vibration brought about by a vehicle engine amid different operating modes. The operating modes can involve cylinder deactivation technologies.

Abstract: A transmission includes an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, a coupling member and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes.

Abstract: A transmission includes an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, a coupling member and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle structure that extends along a longitudinal axis. An engine includes a crankshaft that defines a crank axis disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis. A transmission includes an output shaft that defines a transmission output axis substantially parallel with the crank axis. The transmission output axis is disposed nearer the forward end of the vehicle structure than the crank axis. The crank axis is disposed vertically above the transmission output axis a distance of about 140 mm. The engine includes at least one cylinder bore that defines a bore axis disposed perpendicular to and may intersect the crank axis. The bore axis may be angled toward the forward end of the vehicle structure to define an angle between the bore axis and a vertical plane. The angle between the bore axis and the vertical plane may be about 18°.

Abstract: A transmission of the present invention has an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes. The torque transmitting devices are each selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish a plurality of forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.

Abstract: A transmission includes an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, a coupling member and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes.

Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, at least four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes actuatable in combinations of two to establish a plurality of forward gear ratios and one reverse gear ratio.

Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes actuatable in combinations of two to establish a plurality of forward gear ratios and one reverse gear ratio. One of the torque transmitting devices includes a friction clutch disposed in parallel with a binary clutch.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle structure that extends along a longitudinal axis. An engine includes a crankshaft that defines a crank axis disposed substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis. A transmission includes an output shaft that defines a transmission output axis substantially parallel with the crank axis. The transmission output axis is disposed nearer the forward end of the vehicle structure than the crank axis. The crank axis is disposed vertically above the transmission output axis a distance of about 140 mm. The engine includes at least one cylinder bore that defines a bore axis disposed perpendicular to and may intersect the crank axis. The bore axis may be angled toward the forward end of the vehicle structure to define an angle between the bore axis and a vertical plane. The angle between the bore axis and the vertical plane may be about 18°.

Abstract: A composite accumulator includes a base having a closed end and an open end, the base having an inner surface that defines a cavity and having a fluid port in communication with the cavity for communicating a hydraulic fluid in and out of the cavity. A cover is disposed over the open end of the base and is secured to the base by a fastener. A piston is disposed within the base and the cover. The piston is sealed to the inner surface of the cover and is translatable along an axis. A biasing member is disposed within the base and the cover and located axially between the piston and the cover. The base and the cover are plastic.

Abstract: A transmission assembly for use in a motor vehicle is provided. The transmission assembly has a case for housing components of the transmission and an electromechanical device operable to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy. The electromechanical device is disposed within the transmission case. The case may have a main housing portion and a bell housing portion, with the electromechanical device housed in the main housing portion, in some variations. A transmission shaft may be rotatably supported within the case and configured to be connected to an engine of the motor vehicle. A connecting device may continuously interconnect the electromechanical device with the transmission shaft.

Abstract: A manual transmission includes an input member, an output member, a transmission input shaft, a countershaft, a reverse shaft, a plurality of co-planar gear sets, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include a plurality of synchronizer assemblies. The transmission is operable to provide at least one reverse speed ratio and a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.

Abstract: An automatic transmission includes an input shaft or member, an output shaft or member and three simple and one compound planetary gear assemblies each including a sun gear, a planet gear carrier with a plurality of planet gears and a ring gear. The input shaft or member is coupled to the sun gear of the second planetary gear assembly and the output shaft is coupled to the planet gear carrier of the fourth planetary gear assembly. An electric motor is coupled to and drives the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear assembly. The transmission also includes six torque transmitting devices: four friction brakes and two friction clutches.

Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, a plurality of planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. One of the plurality of torque transmitting devices is an integrated friction launch clutch. A disconnect clutch is in series relationship with the launch clutch and is configured to disconnect the launch clutch from at least one of the plurality of planetary gear sets. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes actuatable in combinations of two to establish at least ten forward gear ratios and one reverse gear ratio.

Abstract: A transmission is provided having a housing, a plurality of planetary gear sets, a structural member, a sprocket member, a first dog clutch member, a second dog clutch member, and a biasing member. The structural member is secured to the housing and includes a plurality of splines and defines a cavity. The sprocket member is rotationally supported by the structural member. The first dog clutch member is disposed in the cavity of the structural member and includes splines and dogteeth. The splines are engaged with the splines of the structural member. The second dog clutch member includes dogteeth that are aligned with the dogteeth of the first dog clutch member. The biasing member is disposed between the structural member and the first dog clutch member.

Abstract: A transmission of the present invention has an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes. The torque transmitting devices are each selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish a plurality of forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.

Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, at least four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes actuatable in combinations of two to establish a plurality of forward gear ratios and one reverse gear ratio.