Patents Issued in August 22, 2017
  • Patent number: 9739327
    Abstract: A cushion clip may include an engagement leg that is capable of being attached to either one of a fixed member or a movable member moving toward and away from the fixed member; and a cushion that is capable of being elastically deformed by a load applied from the movable member moving toward the fixed member, thereby absorbing impact caused by movement of the movable member. The cushion has a hollow barrel shape such that an intermediate portion positioned between a bottom portion connected to the engagement leg and a top portion positioned opposite to the bottom portion is circumferentially expanded to a maximum circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: DAIWA KASEI KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruhisa Kamiya, Toshio Iwahara, Keiji Okaichi, Takeo Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 9739328
    Abstract: An impact attenuator including an impact head, coupled to a first end of an energy absorption body, which energy absorption body is arranged for fixation to an external structure at a second end opposing the first end of the energy absorption body, configured to at least partly absorb or dissipate energy from a collision of an object with the impact head, and including a first part and a second part extending substantially lengthwise behind each other, wherein the first and second part are mutually moveable and including a first and a second cutting edge, wherein, the first cutting edge is arranged for splitting the first part of the energy absorption body upon impact of an object colliding with the impact head, and the second cutting edge is arranged for consecutively splitting the second part of the energy absorption body upon impact of an object colliding with the impact head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Verdegro Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Sjoerd Degroot, Gerrit Verwijs
  • Patent number: 9739329
    Abstract: A lockable piston-cylinder unit having a cylinder that is closed at both ends and filled with pressurized fluid and in which a piston that is sealed relative to the inner wall of the cylinder is displaceably guided. The piston divides the interior of the cylinder into a first working chamber and a second working chamber. A piston rod is arranged at the piston and is guided out of the cylinder 1 through one of the working chambers and through a guiding and sealing unit which closes the one end of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Pooschen
  • Patent number: 9739330
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a shock absorber having a pressure tube which defines a fluid chamber, and a piston assembly. The piston assembly is disposed within the fluid chamber and divides the fluid chamber into upper and lower working chambers. A reserve tube surrounds the pressure tube to define a reservoir chamber between the reserve tube and the pressure tube. The pressure tube is disposed between a rod guide assembly and a lower mount. A structural integrity of the pressure tube is greater than a structural integrity of the reserve tube, and the pressure tube further operates as a principal load bearing component for the shock absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Koenraad Reybrouck, Thomas P. Mallin, Piotr Grzanka, Jacek Cylok, Frederik Balcaen
  • Patent number: 9739331
    Abstract: An air bleed system for a suspension fork or shock absorber includes: a fluid passage between an interior of the suspension and an exterior of the suspension; and a manually operable valve having a first position substantially closing the fluid passage and a second position allowing fluid flow between the interior and the exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: William M. Becker
  • Patent number: 9739332
    Abstract: A damping force controlling shock absorber includes: retainers respectively connected to top and bottom surfaces of the piston, a connection passage communicating with a main passage being formed to vertically penetrate the retainers; housings respectively disposed on corresponding opposite surfaces of the retainers to form pilot chambers on mutual corresponding surfaces of the housings, a pilot passage being formed to vertically penetrate the housings so as to communicate the pilot chambers with the outside; pilot valves that are in close contact with the connection passage between the retainers and the housings to generate a main damping force; and a spool guide that penetrate and connects to the retainers, the housings, and the pilot valves and guides the spool in a state of surrounding the outside of the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eun Joong Kim
  • Patent number: 9739333
    Abstract: A bracket-equipped vibration-damping device including: a vibration-damping device main unit including first and second mounting members disposed separately from each other vertically and connected by a main rubber elastic body mutually and elastically; and a bracket mounted to the device main unit in a state that the bracket is fixed to the second mounting member inserted into the bracket laterally. A guide part of the second mounting member is inserted into a guide groove of the bracket extending in an insertion direction to be positioned vertically. The bracket includes a compression wall surface superposed to at least one of upper and lower end surfaces of the device main unit. A groove width inner surface of the guide groove opposite vertically to the compression wall surface is tilted to the compression wall surface so that the surfaces approach each other vertically toward the insertion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Wakako Michiyama, Kenji Oki
  • Patent number: 9739335
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for mounting an object to a structure. The apparatus includes an elastic arrangement including at least two elastic partial arrangements. The two elastic partial arrangements are arranged at a distance in the direction of a main axis, and the two elastic partial arrangements are soft in the direction of the main axis and stiff in all directions orthogonal to the main axis. Each of the two elastic partial arrangements comprises an inner connection area close to the main axis and an outer connection area farther away from the main axis, and each of the two elastic partial arrangements comprises at least two leaf springs which extend between the inner connection area and the outer connection area and which are spirally wound into each other within a common leaf plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Jörg Melcher, Björn Timo Kletz, Julian Redlich
  • Patent number: 9739336
    Abstract: A magnetically damped mounting and isolation system with pointing capability. A payload is mounted to an isolator plate, a base plate is mounted to a satellite or other space vehicle, and the isolation system provides damping of all six degrees of freedom of isolator plate motion relative to the base plate. Three bidirectional magnetic dampers are connected between the isolator plate and the base plate and arranged to provide the required amount of temperature-independent damping. The bidirectional magnetic dampers can be connected to the base plate and the isolator plate in different configurations based on desired mass and natural frequency characteristics. Flexures which statically position the isolator plate are also designed to optimize normal modes of vibration. The isolation system may include a motion amplification feature to increase magnetic damping effectiveness, and the isolation system may also include active positioning of the payload relative to the satellite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Allen J. Bronowicki
  • Patent number: 9739337
    Abstract: A vibration damping device including: a first mounting member including a fitting tube part opening to a side for fitting and mounting of an inner bracket; a second mounting member; a main rubber elastic body elastically connecting the first and second mounting members; and a stopper rubber provided on a portion of a circumference of the fitting tube part while projecting to the side from an opening end surface of the fitting tube part, the stopper rubber being configured to overlap the inner bracket. The stopper rubber is configured to be elastically deformed by fitting and mounting of the inner bracket into the fitting tube part so as to abut and overlap the inner bracket in a state urged by an elasticity of the stopper rubber itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Takashi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9739338
    Abstract: A vibration-damping support device including: an inner shaft member to be attached to a first connection target; upper and lower mount rubbers externally fitted onto the inner shaft member; and upper and lower restraining members bonded to the upper and lower mount rubbers respectively and configured to be superposed against the second connection target. The upper and lower restraining members are configured to project to a peripherally inside of an opening edge of a mounting hole of the second connection target so that the upper and lower restraining members overlap with each other as viewed in axial direction there. The lower mount rubber includes a slot extending annularly on its outer periphery and an inner peripheral convex part projecting inward from an inside of the slot so as to have a curved shape that is convex inward at the inside of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Masaya Hattori
  • Patent number: 9739339
    Abstract: An isolating torque coupler includes a drive element assembled between annular cage elements of a driven element. The cage elements each include a plurality of aligned voids. The drive element includes a hub portion and a plurality of lobes with each of the lobes including a first edge and a second edge. Openings in the drive element are aligned with the voids of the cage elements to accommodate isolator springs. Each isolator spring is a helical coil compression spring having squared ends. A first edge of each of the lobes of the drive element is parallel to a second end of the corresponding one of the voids of the driven element. A second edge of each of the lobes of the drive element is non-parallel to a first end of the corresponding one of the voids of the driven element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Victor M. Roses, Peter W. Mack
  • Patent number: 9739340
    Abstract: A damper apparatus according to an embodiment includes a pair of first plates, a second plate, an elastic member, a first friction material and a second friction material. The elastic member is configured to elastically deform in a circumferential direction of a rotation axis by a relative rotation between the pair of first plates and the second plate around the rotation axis. The first friction material is configured to generate a first friction torque in a case where the second plate rotates relative to the pair of first plates in a first direction from an initial state. The second friction material is configured to generate a second friction torque greater than the first friction torque in a case where the second plate rotates relative to the pair of first plates in a second direction which is opposite from the first direction from the initial state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakagaito, Tomohiro Saeki, Masaru Ebata, Tsutomu Sekine, Masataka Sugiyama, Ryuji Ibaraki, Hiromichi Kimura, Hiroaki Kimura
  • Patent number: 9739341
    Abstract: A torsional vibration reducing device includes a rotating body, rolling bodies, and a connection member. The rotating body includes guide holes, and the connection member includes accommodating portions that has at least two contact portions. The accommodating portions are positioned in the guide holes, and the guide holes accommodate the rolling bodies. The accommodating portions are configured to hold the outer peripheral surface of each of the rolling bodies with the contact portions, in a direction in which the rolling body reciprocates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fusahiro Tsukano, Yu Miyahara, Hiroyuki Amano, Yuji Suzuki, Morihiro Matsumoto, Atsushi Honda
  • Patent number: 9739342
    Abstract: A motorcycle has a crankcase containing a crank shaft and a balancer shaft, and a cylinder and a cylinder head positioned above the crankcase, and an exhaust pipe extends from the cylinder head. The balancer shaft is positioned in front of the crank shaft, and the crankcase has a balancer shaft housing supporting the balancer shaft thereinside, and has a recessed part depressed rearward in a front end center part of the balancer shaft housing. The balancer shaft has balancer shaft weights apart from each other in one side and in the other side in an axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ken Shibano, Kunihiko Hiraoka, Takenori Muramatsu, Hidekuni Ota
  • Patent number: 9739343
    Abstract: A flywheel for use in an automobile between an engine and a clutch assembly is provided. The flywheel is a circular member having an engine side and an opposite clutch side. An aperture is formed in the circular member having an axis, and the aperture is used to operatively attach the flywheel to the engine. A plurality of clutch fins and/or grooves are formed on the clutch side adjacent the outer edge of the circular member and spaced radially about the axis of the aperture of the flywheel. The clutch fins have a face that is generally coplanar with the clutch side of the circular member. The fins and grooves work to cool the internal components of the engine. Optionally, a second set of grooves and fins may be formed on the engine side of the flywheel to further aid in cooling the clutch disc and other engine components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Accel Performance Group LLC
    Inventor: Ross A. McCombs
  • Patent number: 9739344
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a chain that reduces warping of connecting pins and prevents local wear in the bushings and connecting pins without causing an increase in the chain weight. Provided is a chain 10 including a plurality of inner links 20 formed by inner plates 30 and bushings 40, and a plurality of outer links 50 formed by outer plates 60 and connecting pins 70, wherein the plate height of each of the inner plates 30 as measured along an imaginary line L1 passing through the center of a bushing hole 31 and extending in a chain height direction is larger than a chain pitch P.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventor: Masanori Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 9739345
    Abstract: A transmission includes a transmission housing, five co-planar gear sets, a transmission input shaft, an output member, a first and second countershaft, and five synchronizer assemblies. The five synchronizer assemblies are selectively engaged to establish one of at least seven forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio between the transmission input shaft member and the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Yogesh Kumar Dewangan, Bhaskara Ch, Raphael Demelezi, Ganesan Sp
  • Patent number: 9739346
    Abstract: When a fourth sun gear is held stationary so as to be unrotatable, a Ravigneaux type planetary gear mechanism transfers power, which has been transferred from an input shaft to a third carrier, to a third sun gear and a third ring gear with the speed of the power increased such that the rotational speed of the third sun gear is higher than the rotational speed of the third ring gear. A clutch, which corresponds to the third sun gear which rotates at a higher speed than that of the third ring gear, is disposed between the Ravigneaux type planetary gear mechanism and a second planetary gear disposed in proximity to the Ravigneaux type planetary gear mechanism with respect to a first planetary gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Kato, Takashi Morimoto, Hiroshi Kato, Minoru Todo, Satoru Kasuya
  • Patent number: 9739347
    Abstract: A belt slip monitor system and method configured to determine whether a belt coupled to a motor-generator is slipping based on operational states of first and second movable portions of the belt slip monitor, wherein the operational states of the first and second movable portions are dependent upon the tension in the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Anthemios Philemon Petridis, Donatus Andreas Josephine Kees
  • Patent number: 9739348
    Abstract: A tensioner device for a belt or chain defines a housing defining a bore with a plunger disposed in the bore. A spring is engaged with the plunger for biasing the plunger in an outward direction. The housing further includes an oil chamber connected to an oil passage in communication with the oil chamber for delivering pressurized oil to the oil chamber, wherein when the oil chamber is pressurized the pressurized oil applies a counter force opposing a force of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Spix, Roxann M. Bittner
  • Patent number: 9739349
    Abstract: A tensioning system includes a drive assembly, an accessory mount coupled with the drive assembly, and an accessory system coupled with the accessory mount. The accessory mount is arranged to apply tension to at least one of the drive assembly and the accessory system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Mobile Climate Control Corp.
    Inventor: Adel L. Z. Gergis
  • Patent number: 9739350
    Abstract: The combination of: a) first and second spaced pulleys; b) an endless belt; and c) a belt installation jig having a body with: a pulley pressing part; a belt holding part; and a belt pressing part. The belt installation jig and belt cooperate so that with the belt operatively wrapped against the second pulley and partially operatively wrapped against the first pulley, turning of the first pulley causes the belt to progressively wrap around the first pulley to a fully operatively wrapped state, whereupon further turning of the first pulley situates the belt installation jig for separation from the belt and pulleys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsuboshi Belting Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Maruyama, Hiroki Takechi, Yasuhito Aoki
  • Patent number: 9739351
    Abstract: When a chain is wound around a pulley, a pin-pulley contact point as a contact point of a pin of the chain with the pulley slides and moves on a conical surface of the pulley. A contact point slip distance, namely the distance by which the pin-pulley contact point moves on the conical surface at this time, is associated with an offset. The offset is the distance between a pin-pin contact point, which is a contact point between the pins at the time the chain is in a linear state, and the pin-pulley contact point in a y-axis direction. Offsets that minimize the contact point slip distance at the maximum running radius and the minimum running radius of the chain are obtained, and the offset is set between these values. The pin-pulley contact point is set close to the pin-pin contact point of the chain in the linear state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Yasuhara, Taizou Wakayama, Teruhiko Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 9739352
    Abstract: A coupler assembly is provided for coupling components in a power transmission system, such as a rack and pinion drive system. The coupler assembly includes a floating mount and a pair of clamp members movable between an unfastened configuration in which the floating mount is adjustably supported between the clamp members and a fastened configuration in which the floating mount is fixedly secured between the clamp members. At least a pitch and a yaw of the floating mount are adjustable when the clamp members are in the unfastened configuration. Methods and systems which relate to or include the aforementioned coupler assembly are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Flow International Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn Michael Callahan, Richard Bernard Hageman, III, Ashley Owen Hetz
  • Patent number: 9739353
    Abstract: An active bearing at least for vibration reduction is described, comprising a) an interface (7) to be fitted to a load (8); b) at least one support element (3) in an operative connection with the interface (7) and a support unit (6); c) at least one linear actuator (5) supported indirectly or directly on the support unit (6); d) a gear unit (4) for the path transmission of an actuating path change originating from the linear actuator (5), said gear unit being in an operative connection with the at least one linear reactor (5); e) at least one decoupling unit (1), which serves for the decoupling of the static load transfer and for transmitting the dynamic load transfer; wherein the at least one linear actuator (5), the gear unit (4) and the at least one decoupling unit (1) are disposed serially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignees: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V., TU DARMSTADT
    Inventors: Roman Kraus, Timo Jungblut, Sven Herold, Tobias Melz
  • Patent number: 9739354
    Abstract: A flexure support apparatus for providing multiple axes support to reciprocating members for an energy conversion process includes a base having a sleeved opening disposed therethrough a central portion of the base and a plurality of apertures also disposed therethrough the base that are positioned outside of the sleeved opening, also included in a plurality of flexible finger assemblies that are positioned in an offset manner on opposing sides of the base. Further included is a pair of piston assemblies that are disposed within opposing ends of the sleeved opening being supported by the plurality of flexible finger assemblies, wherein the piston assemblies move in opposing and equal amounts in reciprocating movement within the sleeved opening being supported and controlled by the plurality of flexible finger assemblies, thus the pair of piston assemblies are able to do compressive work on a fluid within the sleeve without bearings or seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Paul Hendershott
  • Patent number: 9739355
    Abstract: A dual clutch transmission includes a pair of concentric clutches which selectively drive a pair of concentric drive shafts, pairs of gears in constant mesh, a first portion of which are associated with the first drive shaft and a first, parallel countershaft and a second portion of which are associated with the second drive shaft and a second, parallel countershaft. Synchronizer clutches disposed adjacent the gears on the countershafts selectively connect the gears to the countershafts. Both countershafts drive a single output shaft through transfer gears. The output shaft is coupled to a drive (input) pulley of a continuously variable final drive assembly which receives a chain which drives a driven (output) pulley which is coupled to and drives the cage of a differential assembly. A pair of axles are driven by the side gears of the differential and, in turn, drive the vehicle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Tushar P. Khanzode, Sachin Chandrakant Pagare
  • Patent number: 9739356
    Abstract: A transaxle for use as a drive apparatus of a vehicle is provided. The transaxle includes a main housing joined to a gear housing to enclose a transmission and a reduction gear set. The transmission includes a pump assembly and a motor assembly arranged in a parallel configuration on one side of a center section. A charge pump is contained within a pocket on an opposing side of the center section. A charge pump cover assembly secures the charge pump in the pocket and has a charge relief assembly that extends into a void volume defined by a ring gear of the gear reduction set. The gear reduction set drives an axle extending from the gear housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Nathan W. Bonny
  • Patent number: 9739357
    Abstract: A torque converter comprising a stator including a base and an impeller including: an impeller shell; and, a hydrostatic thrust bearing. The hydrostatic thrust bearing comprising: a first bearing surface facing the stator; a recess geometry arranged for maintaining at least one hydrostatic pressure region for preventing the first bearing surface from contacting the stator; and, a fluid pathway between the stator and the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Scott Schrader
  • Patent number: 9739358
    Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque coupling device includes a casing shell having a first engagement surface, a torque converter including an impeller and a turbine that is hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller and includes a turbine shell, an output hub, a damper-piston assembly including torsional vibration damping members and a piston retainer plate having a second engagement surface facing the first engagement surface, and a transmission component through which the torsional vibration damping members are interconnected to the output hub. The piston retainer plate engages the first ends of the damping members and the transmission component engages the second ends of the torsional vibration damping members. The damper-piston assembly is axially displaceable between a lockup mode and a hydrodynamic transmission mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Valeo Embrayages
    Inventor: Alexandre Depraete
  • Patent number: 9739359
    Abstract: A hydraulic power transmission includes a pump impeller, a turbine impeller, a cover member, a lock-up clutch, an output member, a plurality of primary springs, a plurality of secondary springs, an intermediate member, a first dynamic vibration absorber, and a second dynamic vibration absorber. The intermediate member holds the output member and connects the primary springs and the secondary springs. The first dynamic vibration absorber is attached to the intermediate member and has a first frequency. The first dynamic vibration absorber includes a first mass body and a first damper member. The second dynamic vibration absorber is attached to the intermediate member and has a second frequency different from the first frequency. The second dynamic vibration absorber includes a second mass body and a second damper member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoya Okaji, Fumiya Nishii
  • Patent number: 9739360
    Abstract: An integrated pinion, bearing and coupling (PBC) assembly for use with a hypoid gearset in power transfer assemblies of motor vehicles. The PBC assembly includes a pinion unit having a pinion gear segment and a pinion stub shaft segment, and a coupler unit having a coupling flange segment and a coupler shaft segment. The pinion stub shaft segment surrounds and is in press fit engagement with the coupler shaft segment. A portion of the coupler shaft segment is deformed to be retained within one of a receiver groove and raised projections formed in the pinion stub shaft segment so as to fixedly secure the coupler unit to the pinion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Bujold, Brad Ketchel, Wade Smith
  • Patent number: 9739361
    Abstract: A vehicle steering column assembly includes a first shaft having a first shaft cavity extending from an end of the first shaft. Also included is a second shaft operatively coupled to the first shaft, the second shaft having a second shaft cavity disposed therein. Further included is a torsion bar disposed within the first shaft cavity and the second shaft cavity. Yet further included is a stop tooth extending from the first shaft. Also included is a worm gear defining a slot with a slot wall, a first portion of the slot wall configured to engage a first side of the stop tooth to define a first radial boundary of the worm gear, a second portion of the slot wall configured to engage a second side of the stop tooth to define a second radial boundary of the worm gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: William D. Cymbal, Jeffrey E. Beyerlein, Joel A. Bickel, Daniel J. Diffin, Alan G. Turek
  • Patent number: 9739362
    Abstract: An actuator includes a housing with a linear motor slider. A portion of the linear motor slider is positioned in the housing. A transfer plate is disposed on an end of the linear motor slider. A transfer plate chamber is positioned within the housing and is divided by the transfer plate into aft and forward chambers. An aft vent is disposed in the aft chamber and includes a first membrane positioned over the aft vent. A forward vent is disposed in the aft chamber and includes a second membrane positioned over the forward vent. The first and second membranes include at least one of a hydrophobic or oleophobic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Derick S. Balsiger
  • Patent number: 9739363
    Abstract: A gearbox for a motor vehicle. The gearbox comprises at least one fluid supply system. The fluid supply system comprises at least one pump. The fluid supply system comprises at least one fluid sump. The fluid supply system comprises at least one fluid reservoir. The fluid reservoir comprises at least a first fluid outflow leading into the fluid sump. The first fluid outflow can be controlled as a function of a state variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: GETRAG GETRIEBE- UND ZAHNRADFABRIK HERMANN HAGENMEYER GMBH & CIE KG
    Inventors: Mark Schweiher, Ulrich Eggert, Andreas Hegerath
  • Patent number: 9739364
    Abstract: In a differential device, even when tooth portions of side gears are placed farther from output shafts due to increase in diameter of the side gears or even when a pinion rotates at high speed, seizure in meshing portions of the pinion and the side gears and a sliding portion of the pinion is prevented effectively. The side gears each include a shaft portion connected to corresponding one of the output shafts, and a flat intermediate wall portion integrally connecting the shaft portion and the tooth portion of the side gear separated outward from the shaft portion in a radial direction of an input member. A through oil passage is formed in the intermediate wall portion of at least one side gear, both ends of the through oil passage being respectively opened in inner and outer side surfaces of the intermediate wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Musashi Seimitsu Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Mori, Naoya Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9739365
    Abstract: A planetary gear drive system in which the planetary gears are made of a resilient plastic or polymer compound so as to allow slippage within the system in response to over-torqueing, and a reverse drive incorporating the planetary gear drive system for use on motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Richard D. Yelvington
  • Patent number: 9739366
    Abstract: A gear shift device for a shiftable gear unit of a power tool includes a housing, an operating element, and a transmission member that acts upon a displaceable gear unit component. A bearing sliding guide is disposed in the interior of the housing and configured to slidingly guide the transmission member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Duerr
  • Patent number: 9739367
    Abstract: A valve is mounted in a first bore in a first separable section of a transmission to block or allow fluid flow through the first bore to a second bore in a second transmission section depending on whether the first and second sections are joined together or separated. A movable portion of the valve is responsive to an actuator during relative movement of the transmission sections to shift between fluid flow open and fluid flow closed positions. The valve can include a valve housing fixed in the first bore and a carrying plunger biased to the fluid blocking position and responsive to the actuator for movement to the fluid flow open position. The valve forms a fluid flow path between the first and second bores across the gap between the facing surfaces of the joined transmission sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Oetiker NY, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Kujawski, Jr., Kip R. Steveley, James Caroll, James Messecar, Sr., Arthur J. Murray, Joseph Anthony Giarrizzo, Robert Stoll
  • Patent number: 9739368
    Abstract: A method for the safe operation of a drive of a motor vehicle, the drive being controlled by at least one control unit, including acceleration monitoring in which the allowability of an operating state of the drive results as a function of a comparison of an ascertained actual acceleration with an allowable acceleration, a fault response being initiated as a function of whether a braking request is present, if the comparison shows that an inadvertent acceleration is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias Schueler, Volker Gilgenbach, Magnus Oppelland, Dirk Wagner
  • Patent number: 9739369
    Abstract: A method for selecting a gear when Start-Stop Coasting (SSC) is released may include: determining whether a traveling vehicle satisfies a condition for releasing SSC after entry into SSC (S100); selecting a gear input to a transmission (S200) when the traveling vehicle satisfies the condition for releasing SSC after entry into SSC; determining a road gradient (S300) when the traveling vehicle satisfies the condition for releasing SSC after entry into SSC; and correcting the selected gear according to a pre-stored correction map so as to correspond to the determined road gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Hyung-Ju Lee, Kyu-Jin Jo, Seong-Kyu Park
  • Patent number: 9739370
    Abstract: A shifting control method for a vehicle may include a Wide Open Throttle (WOT) determination, by a controller, of determining whether the vehicle is in a WOT condition, a shift RPM determination, by the controller, of determining shift RPM using turbine RPM and slip RPM, when it is determined in the WOT determination that the vehicle is in the WOT condition, an estimated RPM determination, by the controller, of determining estimated RPM based on the shift RPM and a rate of change of the turbine RPM after the shift RPM determination, the estimated RPM being the shift RPM after a preset time period, an estimated RPM comparison, by the controller, of comparing the estimated RPM with a first preset RPM after the estimated RPM determination, and a shifting processing, by the controller, of performing upshifting when the estimated RPM is equal to or greater than the first preset RPM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jae Sik Yang
  • Patent number: 9739371
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for operating a lockup clutch of a torque converter of a motor vehicle. The torque converter includes a pump rotatably driven by a drive unit, a rotatable turbine fluidly coupled to the pump and configured to drive an input shaft of a transmission, and a lockup clutch selectively engageable to non-fluidically couple the pump to the turbine to transmit torque from the drive unit to the transmission. The operation of the lockup clutch is controlled by the system in response to detecting that the motor vehicle is coasting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: John Byerly, Jeff Shultz
  • Patent number: 9739372
    Abstract: A drift control method for a machine that includes a controller, a cutting tool, a motor having a motor shaft for driving a machine function, a control valve, and an operator control for commanding a machine function. The drift control method includes sensing a neutral position of the operator control, and when in the neutral position, further storing a first position of the motor shaft or cutting tool in the controller, detecting a change in position of the motor shaft or cutting tool with a sensor, determining a direction as a function of the change in position, and hydraulically controlling the motor shaft or cutting tool to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Bryon Neumann, Benjamin DiSabatino
  • Patent number: 9739373
    Abstract: A vehicle speed change arrangement that can perform automatic speed change using a manual transmission, including shift blocks such that a shift block of a reverse-1st speed, a shift block of 4th speed-5th speed, a shift block of 2nd speed-3rd speed, and a shift block of 6th speed are arranged in this sequence in a select operation direction. The arrangement also includes first to fourth shift levers for shifting the shift blocks, select actuators for selecting the first to fourth shift levers, a first shift actuator for shifting the first or second shift lever, a second shift actuator for shifting the third or fourth shift lever, a gear disengagement determination unit for determining whether a gear is disengaged when the gear engagement or disengagement is made using the first and second shift actuators, and a drive unit for driving the gear engaging shift actuator when gear disengagement is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Enami
  • Patent number: 9739374
    Abstract: A hydraulic pressure supply apparatus for automatic transmission having a first and a second regulator valves 50, 52 that are installed in a first and a second oil passages 46, 48 that connect a hydraulic pump 44 for pumping and discharging hydraulic oil from a reservoir 42 and a plurality of hydraulic actuators and depressurize the hydraulic oil discharged from the pump to pressure required by the hydraulic actuators, a third and a fourth oil passages 56, 58 that convey discharged hydraulic oil to lubrication system 54 and an ejector 60 having a nozzle 60a connected to one of the third and fourth oil passages and an intake 60b connected to the reservoir 42 such that hydraulic oil merged at a diffuser 60c is conveyed to the lubrication system 54 through a fifth oil passage 62, hydraulic energy generated by the hydraulic pump can be effectively utilized in an automatic transmission having the hydraulic actuators and lubrication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru Kanehara, Atsushi Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 9739375
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling transmissions and associated vehicles, machines, equipment, etc., are disclosed. In one case, a transmission control system includes a control unit configured to use a sensed vehicle speed and a commanded, target constant input speed to maintain an input speed substantially constant. The system includes one or more maps that associate a speed ratio of a transmission with a vehicle speed. In one embodiment, one such map associates an encoder position with a vehicle speed. Regarding a specific application, an automatic bicycle transmission shifting system is contemplated. An exemplary automatic bicycle includes a control unit, a shift actuator, various sensors, and a user interface. The control unit is configured to cooperate with a logic module and an actuator controller to control the cadence of a rider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC
    Inventors: Christopher M. Vasiliotis, Loren T. McDaniel
  • Patent number: 9739376
    Abstract: A cylinder head includes a plurality of exhaust ports provided corresponding to a plurality of cylinders, and configured to converge outlets of the exhaust ports inside the cylinder head, at least one of the exhaust ports not being provided with a water jacket there above, and a pair of oil passages arranged so as to sandwich the at least one of the exhaust ports above which the water jacket is not provided. An inclined surface provided on an upper surface of the cylinder head and positioned between the pair of oil passages, the inclined surface being inclined from one oil passage, of the pair of oil passages, toward the other oil passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Horie, Yukari Araki, Tatsuo Shitara
  • Patent number: 9739377
    Abstract: A triple sealing seat is provided in a conduit gate valve having at least one shut-off plate which is displaceable between an open and closed position with respect to the conduit. The triple sealing seat forms a substantially annular sealing surface. In order to increase the tightness, the annular sealing surface comprises a radial interior sealing and scraping edge which can be contacted with the shut-off plate during operation. Also provided is a first circumferential groove located radially further outside which is in communication with a first gas channel and to which a sealing gas pressure can be applied. Also provided is a second circumferential groove located radially further outside which is in communication with a second gas channel and to which a sealing gas pressure can be applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Z&J Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Travnicek, Peter Weidgang, Ingo Wirtz