Motor Vehicle Patents (Class 192/218)
  • Patent number: 11608685
    Abstract: A cutting head has a mounting bracket for attachment to a pipe and a cutter wheel. A double tapered bearing is connected between the mounting bracket and the cutter wheel. The bearing allows the cutter wheel to be rotated without rotation of the pipe. A drive shaft connector on the cutter wheel is connectable to a pilot hole drive shaft for rotating the cutter wheel and pulling it and the pipe. A pilot hole is drilled in a conventional manner. The pipe is attached to the mounting bracket and an end of the pilot hole drive shaft is then connected to the cutter wheel. Simultaneously the pilot hole is enlarged and the pipe and cutter wheel are pulled along the enlarged hole by the drive shaft. The cutter wheel advances along the pilot hole and the pipe is simultaneously advanced through the enlarged hole immediately behind the cutter wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Inventor: Charles E Kirk
  • Patent number: 11441672
    Abstract: A shift lever mount assembly including a rotatable member having a ball portion formed with at least a partially arcuate surface and a shift lever connection portion extending from the ball portion to be connected to a shift lever, a casing formed to at least partially surround the ball portion of the rotatable member and having an inner surface forming a spherical bearing with the ball portion, the casing having a top opening through which the shift lever connection portion extends, a plurality of position fixing members to selectively contact the rotatable member so as to fix the rotatable member at a desired position, and a coupling member to selectively couple the casing to a control lever of a transmission shift assembly, wherein the spherical bearing allows rotational and angular movement of the rotatable member so that the rotatable member is selectively movable to the desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventor: Kevin Ford
  • Patent number: 11339872
    Abstract: Provided is a lever type vehicular remote shift switching device. The switching device includes: a lever housing (100) disposed at a steering shaft of a vehicle; a lever substrate (200) disposed within the lever housing (100); a lever rotary switch unit (300) at least partially rotatably disposed at an end of the lever housing (100) and comprising a rotary switch part (360) disposed on the lever substrate (200); a lever button switch unit (400) at least partially disposed at an end of the lever rotary switch unit (300) in a movable pressing manner, and including a lever button switch 460 at least partially disposed on the lever substrate (200), wherein the lever button switch unit (400) is at least partially disposed in the longitudinal direction of the lever housing (100) so as to pass through an at least part of the lever rotary switch unit (300).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: LS Automotive Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Hun Kim, Ki Nyeong Ko
  • Patent number: 11248702
    Abstract: A parking lock unit for a transmission assembly of a motor vehicle includes a parking ratchet wheel defining a longitudinal axis and a first spring arrangement. A second spring arrangement is arranged radially outwards of the first spring arrangement with respect to a longitudinal axis. A supporting sleeve is arranged coaxially to the parking ratchet wheel and is supported in a circumferential direction by the transmission assembly. The supporting sleeve has at least one opening. At least one locking element is arranged between the first and second spring arrangements and is radially movable in the at least one opening with respect to the longitudinal axis. The locking element is spring loaded by at least one of the first and second spring arrangements. The at least one locking element is movable radially inwards into a locked position and radially outwards into a release position by rotation of an actuating ring about the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Ltd.
    Inventors: Artur Grunwald, Sascha Miebach
  • Patent number: 11014450
    Abstract: A rotary shift knob having a telescopic structure including a knob and a housing that are secured together to move axially and pivotally relative to each other within a limited range in either direction. The knob and housing are moved axially relative to each other to shift into the park position from the other positions. The inner and outer members are pivoted relative to each other to shift between reverse, neutral and drive positions. The knob is connected by a shaft to a piston that moves within a cavity defined by the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Keenan, Angelo Patrick Bastianelli
  • Patent number: 10920879
    Abstract: A vehicular transmission includes a movable unit coupled to a lever and rotated to select one of a plurality of shift stages and including a first internal gear centered on a first axis, an eccentric gear unit centered on a second axis eccentric from the first axis and including a first external gear and a second external gear eccentrically engaged with the first internal gear, a rotation unit centered on the first axis and including a second internal gear eccentrically engaged with the second external gear, an insertion unit including an eccentric shaft inserted into a center of the eccentric gear unit and a central shaft inserted into a first aperture formed at a center of the rotation unit, and a locking unit configured to fix the rotation unit based on a source of a driving force for rotating the movable unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: SL Corporation
    Inventor: Jihoon Yang
  • Patent number: 10281949
    Abstract: A cable wiring structure includes a cable, a first holder, and a second holder. The cable connects a first appliance mounted in a work machine and a second appliance mounted in the work machine to transmit an electric signal. The cable includes a first held part and a second held part different from the first held part. The first holder holds the cable at the first held part. The second holds the cable at the second held part. A first range in which the cable bends at the first held part is smaller than a second range in which the cable bends at the second held part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Kuroda, Keisuke Miura, Hiroaki Nakagawa, Hayato Kawano, Hiroyuki Anami
  • Patent number: 10118478
    Abstract: An input shaft (1) connectable to an engine (5), an output gear (2), a transmission case (3) and a Ravigneaux planetary gear unit (4) are provided. Four rotational elements of the Ravigneaux planetary gear unit (4) are a single pinion side sun gear (Ss), a carrier (C), a ring gear (R) and a double pinion side sun gear (Sd) which are arranged orderly on a common speed diagram. The single pinion side sun gear (Ss) is constantly connected to a motor/generator (6), and the ring gear (R) is constantly connected to the output gear (2). And, with usage of a low & reverse clutch (L&R/C), a high clutch (H/C) and a low brake (L/B), a first speed (1st), a second speed (2nd), a third speed (3rd) and a stepless change speed (eCVT) are established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Kenichi Watanabe, Takeshi Morita
  • Patent number: 9906098
    Abstract: A method for operating a drive device for a motor vehicle, said method includes: permanently supplying an entire exhaust gas of a drive aggregate of the drive device to a turbine of an exhaust gas turbocharger of the drive device via a variable turbine geometry and providing compressed air by means of a compressor coupled with the turbine for the drive aggregate; operating in at least one operating mode of the drive device in each operating point of the drive aggregate an electric machine, which is mechanically operatively connected with the turbine and the compressor, as a generator for braking the turbine; and braking the turbine by means of the electric machine the stronger the further a throttle flap arranged fluidly between the compressor and the drive aggregate is opened, while maintaining the operating point of the drive aggregate constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Uwe Rosenberger, Markus Sonner, Robert Kersten
  • Patent number: 9751603
    Abstract: Disclosed are a propulsion device for a ship and a ship having the same. The propulsion device may include a rotational shaft, a rear propeller fixed to the rotational shaft, a front propeller rotatably supported by the drive shaft in front of the rear propeller, a counter rotation unit disposed in an installation space of a stern of a ship body and including a plurality of gears configured to reverse rotation of the rotational shaft and transmit the reversed rotation to the front propeller and a gear box configured to receive the plurality of gears, a coupling unit configured to separably connect the rotational shaft with the counter rotation unit and cut off power transmission from the rotational shaft to the counter rotation unit upon disconnection therebetween, and a rotation preventing unit configured to prevent rotation of the front propeller when the coupling unit is separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Heavy Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Hyun Lee, Jong-Soo Seo, Tae-Goo Lee, Kwang-Jun Paik, Kwang-Kun Park, Seung-Myun Hwangbo, Ji Nam Kim, Hyuk Kwun
  • Patent number: 9651128
    Abstract: A thrust assembly for a torque converter is provided. The thrust assembly includes a drivable mating component and a thrust washer connected to the drivable mating components. The thrust washer includes a thrust surface on a first axial side thereof and at least two axial contact surfaces on a second axial side thereof opposite the first axial side. The at least two axial contact surfaces include a first axial contact surface at a first axial distance from the thrust surface and a second axial contact surface at a second axial distance from the thrust surface. The first and second axial contact surfaces are configured for alternatively contacting the axial contact surface of the drivable mating component so as to vary an effective height of the thrust surface with respect to the drivable mating component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG Co. KG
    Inventors: Aditya Dattawadkar, Michael Resh
  • Patent number: 9534676
    Abstract: A power unit for a vehicle includes a clutch actuator mounted to a clutch cover covering first and second hydraulic clutches provided between a crankshaft and first and second main shafts of a transmission. A first actuator body is mounted to the clutch cover at such a position that at least part of the first actuator body overlaps with the first and second hydraulic clutches when viewed from the direction along the axis of the first and second main shafts. A first set of valves, out of a plurality of valves constituting part of the clutch actuator, are disposed in the first actuator body, with their axes of operation set along a plane intersecting the axis of the first and second main shafts. A second set of valves are disposed in a second actuator body mounted to the clutch cover so as to overlap with the first actuator body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimasa Mitsubori, Dai Arai, Yasushi Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 9309962
    Abstract: A shifting device of manual transmission apparatus for automobile is provided, shifting device which reduces fluctuations in operational loads at the time of selecting operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN AI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryuichi Matsushita, Hiroyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9194485
    Abstract: A sector plate assembly for a shift mechanism in an automotive vehicle includes a first sector plate being rotatable about an axis and including a peripheral edge having a camming surface. A second sector plate is rotatably coupled to the first sector plate for rotation about the axis. The second sector plate includes an accurately contoured slot. A biasing member is connected to the first and second sector plates to urge the sector plates toward a predetermined relative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Chad McCloy
  • Patent number: 9156463
    Abstract: A vehicle has a drive train comprising a drive unit, a hydrostatic-mechanical power-split gear unit operatively connected to the drive unit and an output, and at least one braking device. An additional actuating device is allocated to the braking device and is operatively connected with a power request element and/or a driving direction selection element. Upon the presence of a deceleration of the vehicle requested by the driver through the power request element and/or the driving direction selection element and, the braking device is actuated to an extent that initiates a braking torque in the drive train. Upon the presence of a requested deceleration of the vehicle, a driving torque on the side of the drive unit is provided in the area of the output for a braking device that is not actuated by the driver. If the rotational speed of the drive unit exceeds a defined threshold of rotational speed, the braking device is operated to an extent that initiates a braking torque in the drive train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Jürgen Legner
  • Publication number: 20140162844
    Abstract: A transmission with a countershaft brake includes a countershaft, a positive displacement pump including a pump housing having a chamber with an inlet and an outlet, the pump being driven by the countershaft, and a flow restrictor disposed at or downstream of the chamber outlet, the flow restrictor being adjustable to increase and decrease an amount of flow restriction from, the outlet of the chamber. Torque needed to drive the pump increases with an increasing flow restriction by the flow restrictor. A method for braking a countershaft in a transmission is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Mack Trucks, Inc
    Inventors: John Jerwick, Michael E. Kahl
  • Patent number: 8746393
    Abstract: An engine unit 5 is arranged in the middle of the vehicle body frame 2 with respect to the widthwise direction of the vehicle and rearward of the steering shaft 28, and the fuel tank 10 with a built-in fuel pump 11 and the rear gear unit 31 comprising a wet brake 45 are arranged rearward of the cylinder head 20b of the engine unit 5 and such that at least a portion of the fuel tank 10 and of the rear gear unit 31 is located in the middle with respect to the widthwise direction of the vehicle, and the power steering unit 47 comprising an electric motor 49 is arranged forward of the cylinder head 20b and such that at least a portion of the unit is located in the middle with respect to the widthwise direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignees: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha, Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America
    Inventors: Harold Bolich, Christopher Gervais, William McClendon
  • Patent number: 8662276
    Abstract: A braking apparatus for a vehicle, in particular a heavy goods vehicle, includes a drive axle having a transmission gear, such as a differential, around which an amount of oil for lubrication is variable. The brake apparatus further includes at least one friction brake and at least one retarder that is capable of operating to slow the vehicle through the transmission gear. The braking apparatus comprises a brake operating device for operating the at least one friction brake and the least one retarder, and a determining feature to determine an oil level around the transmission gear. The brake operating device, on operation by a user, is arranged to apply the retarder when the oil level around the transmission gear is above a threshold level, and, if the oil level is below the threshold level, the brake operating device is arranged to initiate an increase in the oil level around the transmission gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Meritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Ralf Leiter, Roberto Gianone, Marco Fratelli, Marco Bassi, Chiara Cesari, Fabio Santinato, Clemente Magnago, Jon Honig, Karthik Kayyar, Juchirl Park, Cesare Bonfa
  • Publication number: 20130299303
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission includes a housing part, a shaft extending from the housing part, and a spring element having a plurality of spring windings wound around the shaft, a first end of the spring element being fixed to the housing part. An actuating means is attached to a second end of the spring element and is configured to twist the second end in a circumferential direction of the spring element to thereby cause the spring element to tighten and frictionally contact an outer circumference of the shaft. The spring element is comprised of a hollow cylindrical metal base body having a helical-shaped incision that defines the plurality of spring windings. The incision may be formed in the hollow cylindrical base body by a plasma beam process, by a laser cutting process, by a flame cutting process or by a water jet cutting process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Helmut Hauck, Patrice Ribault, Sylvain Bussit
  • Patent number: 8565985
    Abstract: A transmission control device includes a load increase rate computation portion and a transmission control portion. The load increase rate computation portion is configured to compute an increase rate of a load acting on the work vehicle. The transmission control portion is configured to shift a high-speed gear down to a low-speed gear with producing a lock-up state in which a lock-up clutch is engaged when the load increase rate is less than a load increase rate threshold in shifting the high-speed gear down to the low-speed gear, and producing a torque converter state in which the lock-up clutch is disengaged when the load increase rate is equal to or greater than the load increase rate threshold in shifting the high-speed gear down to the low-speed gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Nakagawa, Shigeru Yamamoto, Kenjiro Shimada
  • Patent number: 8548695
    Abstract: A method is provided for emergency unlocking of an automatic transmission in a vehicle. The transmission may be unlocked from a blocked state for protection against unauthorized use, by an emergency unlocking unit. Upon actuation of the emergency unlocking unit, the automatic transmission cannot be operated in a forward driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Jaegers, Frank Gielisch, Rainer Andres
  • Patent number: 8540067
    Abstract: A power transmission arrangement includes a differential gear adapted to transfer power from an input shaft to a first output shaft, and a first brake adapted to effect the first output shaft and a second brake adapted to effect the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Timothy Kingston, Mats Akerblom, Thomas Andersson
  • Patent number: 8527168
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining a rotational speed parameter for determining a setpoint torque for driving a drivetrain. The drivetrain comprises a first and at least one second drive assembly for driving a hybrid vehicle. The first drive assembly can be coupled to the drivetrain by means of a clutch. The second drive assembly is mechanically coupled to the drivetrain. When the hybrid vehicle is being driven by means of at least the first drive assembly, the rotational speed parameter corresponds to the value of a shaft rotational speed. When the hybrid vehicle is being driven only by means of the second drive assembly, the rotational speed parameter corresponds to the value of a determined rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Maass, Christian Vienken, Manfred Hellmann, Kai Moegle
  • Patent number: 8515640
    Abstract: A device for determining, when driving a vehicle, a mapping of torque transmitted by a clutch of the automobile based on a position of a clutch control member. The device includes a mechanism updating the mapping based on position thresholds of the clutch control member. The updating modifies values of the thresholds based on minimum and maximum values of the positions of the control member stored in the mapping and on current values of the thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Renault S. A. S.
    Inventors: Alessandro Monti, Richard Pothin, Christophe Desfriches
  • Patent number: 8483898
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a clutch set, a tank with fluid, an auxiliary battery, an electric fuel pump, and a controller. The electric fluid pump delivers some of the fluid from the tank to a designated oncoming clutch of the clutch set. The controller calculates a predicted flow value for the oncoming clutch during the shift event, and selectively controls the speed of the pump using the predicted flow value during the shift event. The controller controls the pump using an actual flow value when the vehicle is not executing a shift event, i.e., when holding torque. The speed of the electric fluid pump is increased to a first calculated speed determined using the predicted flow value when the shift event is initiated and before filling of the oncoming clutch commences, and is reduced to a second calculated speed determined using the actual flow value when the shift event is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ali K. Naqvi, Jy-Jen F. Sah
  • Patent number: 8321108
    Abstract: A method of controlling an automobile clutch in an automated transmission system with a CMPC control is disclosed having application to vehicle clutch control in an AMT system. The driver's request is translated in terms of sliding velocity ?sl. Constraints on the engine and clutch actuators are defined to respect their operating limits, and driving quality constraints are defined to guarantee comfort during the clutch engagement phase. In order to meet these quality constraints, a reference trajectory is defined for ?sl as a function of the clutch engagement time. An analytical expression allowing real-time calculation of a set of control trajectories with a CMPC control law is then defined from the expression of this reference trajectory. The trajectory respecting the constraints on the actuators is selected from among all these control trajectories. Finally, the clutch is controlled with the selected control trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: IFP
    Inventors: Paolino Tona, Rachid Amari, Mazen Alamir
  • Patent number: 8281913
    Abstract: A motor vehicle transmission device is described. The transmission has an actuating unit, used for canceling a tooth-on-tooth position of coupling elements, wherein the actuating unit actuates a transmission brake when the tooth-on-tooth position is detected. The transmission also has a second actuating unit for actuating a disconnect clutch, the second actuating unit actuating the disconnect clutch when the tooth-on-tooth position is detected. The actuating unit for actuating the transmission brake and the second actuating unit for actuating the disconnect clutch are actuated in coordination with one another, in order to cancel the tooth-on-tooth position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Manfred Guggolz, Werner Hillenbrand, Wilhelmus Kok, David Ulmer
  • Patent number: 8210324
    Abstract: A device for braking an elongated rotating body, includes at least two parts with coaxial conical surfaces, able to be slipped onto the body, and one, a so-called male cone, mounted integrally in rotation with the body, and the other, a so-called female cone, mounted fixed in rotation relative to the body. The female cone assumes the shape of a wheel with an axial bore with a conical bearing, and the male cone has a center recess. The cones are controlled in terms of axial relative movement by a control element. The male cone is, when the cones are close to one another, corresponding to the braking position, housed inside the axial bore of the female cone, with its conical external peripheral surface being held, by contact with a support, with the conical bearing of the female cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: France Reducteurs
    Inventor: Robert Blanchard
  • Publication number: 20120111691
    Abstract: A braking apparatus for a vehicle, in particular a heavy goods vehicle, includes a drive axle having a transmission gear, such as a differential, around which an amount of oil for lubrication is variable. The brake apparatus further includes at least one friction brake and at least one retarder that is capable of operating to slow the vehicle through the transmission gear. The braking apparatus comprises a brake operating device for operating the at least one friction brake and the least one retarder, and a determining feature to determine an oil level around the transmission gear. The brake operating device, on operation by a user, is arranged to apply the retarder when the oil level around the transmission gear is above a threshold level, and, if the oil level is below the threshold level, the brake operating device is arranged to initiate an increase in the oil level around the transmission gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventors: Ralf Leiter, Roberto Gianone, Marco Fratelli, Marco Bassi, Chiara Cesari, Fabio Santinato, Clemente Magnago, Jon Honig, Karthik Kayyar, Juchirl Park, Cesare Bonfa
  • Patent number: 8056697
    Abstract: A brake/differential lock pedal linkage includes a two-stage manual control that may lock a differential before progressively engaging a brake. The manual control may be a foot pedal or hand lever. The linkage may include a brake cam lever that pivots on a brake cam shaft in response to movement of the manual control, a differential lock link connected between the brake cam lever and an actuator that can move a differential lock shaft to lock the differential, and a lost motion coupling between the brake cam lever and the actuator allowing the brake cam lever to pivot to a differential lock position in which the actuator moves the differential lock shaft sufficiently to lock the differential, before the brake cam lever pivots further to progressively engage the brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Eley, David L. Sprinkle, Brian E. Biles
  • Patent number: 8010060
    Abstract: RF signal noise in a powertrain utilizing a power inverter module and electric motor is attenuated by providing a low impedance connection between a transmission output shaft and housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: William T Ivan, Edward L. Kaiser, Grantland I. Kingman, David J. Trzcinski
  • Patent number: 7992698
    Abstract: A system is provided for preventing gear hopout in a tooth clutch in a vehicle transmission, the tooth clutch including an engaging sleeve having sleeve clutch teeth. The tangent function for at least one of driving back-taper angle and braking back-taper angle is larger than the average value of clutch coefficient of friction and spline coefficient of friction multiplied by the sum of unity and the ratio of clutch teeth pitch diameter and spline teeth pitch diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Anders Hedman, Hans Erhard, Bengt Karlsson
  • Patent number: 7958799
    Abstract: A brake assembly is activated by a vehicle brake. The brake assembly is mounted upstream from a transmission and either up or downstream from a clutch. A controller for the transmission brake allows the driver to adjust both a transmission brake lead/lag time and force relative to the vehicle wheel brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventors: James A. Cillessen, Gabriel A. Chihoski
  • Publication number: 20110005890
    Abstract: A parking lock for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle is provided, wherein the automatic transmission has an actuator which can disengage a locking element in the automatic transmission, the locking element is held in a locked position by spring force, and a locking assembly (1) is provided which is connected via an actuating element (2) to the locking element and which has a knee lever (3) which can fix the actuating element (2) so as to prevent engagement of the locking element in the automatic transmission. The invention is characterized in that the knee lever (3) fixes the actuating element (2) in an overextended position, wherein a fixed counter support (4) is attached at the overextended side of the knee lever (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicants: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, BAYERISCHE MOTORENWERKE AG
    Inventors: Michael Völz, Ludger Rake, Andreas Giefer, Sascha Rosentreter, Roland König
  • Publication number: 20100072021
    Abstract: A power transmission arrangement includes a differential gear adapted to transfer power from an input shaft to a first output shaft, and a first brake adapted to effect the first output shaft and a second brake adapted to effect the input shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Timothy Kingston, Mats Akerblom, Thomas Andersson
  • Publication number: 20100038203
    Abstract: A wrap spring moves from a relaxed state to an energised state for braking rotation of the output shaft in a vehicle transmission. The wrap spring may constrict for engagement on the shaft or expand for engagement with an adjacent ground member. Two wrap springs, concentric or axially spaced, provide bi-directional braking. A split ring energises both wrap springs, e.g. using an epicyclic differential arrangement to move opposing ring portions in opposite directions The wrap spring may be mounted in a relaxed state for rotation with the shaft, with a mechanism for inducing drag torque to energise the spring for a braking operation. Means is provided preventing an actuator from energising the wrap spring, e.g. if the shaft is rotating above a predetermined speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: Ricardo UK Ltd
    Inventor: Jonathan Charles Wheals
  • Publication number: 20100038204
    Abstract: A transmission braking system includes a vehicle drive train and at least one hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor includes a front shaft and a rear shaft. The rear shaft has an anti-rotation element. An engagement mechanism is slidably affixed to the vehicle drive train, and selectively couples with the anti-rotation element to militate against a rotation of the front and rear shafts. A four-wheel locking system is also provided. The four wheel locking system includes a shaft-coupling engagement mechanism slidably affixed to one of the hydraulic motors. The shaft-coupling engagement mechanism selectively couples with the anti-rotation elements of the motors for allowing a summing of the output torque. The transmission braking system and the four-wheel locking system may be provided in a combined system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventor: James A. O'Brien, II
  • Patent number: 7445101
    Abstract: System for reversing the movement of a vehicle, in particular for an agricultural tractor, comprising an electro-hydraulic reverser including a hydraulic clutch and a valve assembly able to activate the clutch in conditions of forward travel or of rearward travel and able to modulate the engagement of the clutch, a control member which can be operated by the driver to select an operative condition of the reverser selected among: neutral, forward travel, and rearward travel, and an electronic control unit adapted to receive a first signal indicating the position of the control member, a second signal indicating the operative state of a braking system of the vehicle, and a third signal indicating the speed of the vehicle, the electronic control unit being adapted to control the valve assembly according to said first, second and third signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Same Deutz-Fahr Group SpA
    Inventors: Massimo Ribaldone, Bruno Paggi
  • Publication number: 20080119315
    Abstract: A motor vehicle transmission includes a power splitter connected with the vehicle engine and two differential clutches connected with the outputs of the splitter. Separate gearboxes including alternating sequential gear mechanisms are arranged in each gearbox. The clutches are independently operated under control of an electronic control unit to provide continuous flow of power from the engine to the gearboxes which may be simultaneously operated. The clutches are driven by motors, respectively, under control of the electronic control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas Towles Lawson
  • Patent number: 7344012
    Abstract: A transmission brake assembly for controlling an output of a transmission of a motor vehicle includes a solenoid which is operatively engagable with a transmission. The solenoid selectively engages and disengages the transmission. A solenoid driver is electrically connected to the solenoid to drive the solenoid into and out of engagement with the transmission. The transmission brake assembly also includes a controller electrically connected to the solenoid driver. The controller turns the solenoid driver between an on state, an off state, and an intermediate state such that the solenoid partially engages the transmission to allow the motor vehicle to move forward at a minimal speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: TCI Automotive, LLC
    Inventors: Lance Ward, Kevin Winstead
  • Publication number: 20080017472
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for an electro-mechanical transmission includes an electrically-powered main pump, a battery powered auxiliary pump and an output pump. The main pump provides fluid to transmission components such as a torque-transmitting mechanism. The auxiliary pump provides fluid pressure to engage the torque-transmitting mechanism when electric power to the main pump is unavailable or the main pump is otherwise inoperable. The engaged torque-transmitting mechanism enables rotation of an output member which mechanically powers the output pump so that it may provide fluid to the transmission components in lieu of the main pump. A method of providing fluid to transmission components is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: James A. Redelman, Clifford H. Oehme, James P. Ordo
  • Patent number: 7296663
    Abstract: The rotation of an automotive tarmac wheel with tire having integral gear teeth (10) is translated into counter rotation of a an associated brake disk having integral gear teeth (16) through the use of a spin translation gear (18) which is mounted to the wheel axel mounting frame (26). This counter rotation acts to counteract the gyroscopic reaction moments induced by the application of off-axis torques to the tarmac wheel and axel assembly. The brake disk is rotationally separated from the tarmac wheel and is allowed to rotate about the wheel axel (12) via a separate brake disk roller bearing (28). The spin translation gear meshes with the tarmac wheel gear teeth and the brake disk gear teeth to create rotational direction translation and is held in place via a spin translation gear axel (20), translation gear roller bearing (22), and translation gear mounting frame (24). The translation gear mounting frame (24) is rigidly attached to the wheel axel mounting frame (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Inventor: Mario Joseph Spina
  • Patent number: 7216753
    Abstract: A vehicle drive apparatus (10) for dividing torque between primary and secondary drive axles (16, 18) of a motor vehicle and including a hydraulically actuated clutch pack (26) that transfers torque to a secondary drive axle (18) of an automotive vehicle. A hydraulic channel (30) extends and provides hydraulic fluid communication between a hydraulic pressure source (22) and the clutch pack (26). The source of hydraulic system power is shared with a hydraulically-actuated wheel braking system (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: David E. Bruder
  • Patent number: 7092809
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a system for controlling braking equipment with a function for the driveaway assistance of a motor vehicle. After setting an initial operating state of the braking equipment in which the function for the driveaway assistance is selectively switched on or off, an operating state of the motor vehicle in which the motor vehicle is stationary or nearly stationary is determined. If the motor vehicle is stationary and a characteristic control parameter capable of being influenced by the driver is detected, the braking equipment of the motor vehicle is controlled in such a way that, by switching on or off the function for the driveaway assistance of the motor vehicle, an operating state of the braking equipment differing from the initial operating state is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Franz-Josef Endres
  • Patent number: 7040187
    Abstract: A P-ECU determines whether or not energization to an actuator is shut off when a shift-range switch instruction is unissued. If energization to the actuator is shut off, the P-ECU obtains a current rotational position of the actuator according to a count value obtained by an encoder. If a difference between a target rotational position and the current rotational position exceeds a predetermined amount, positional correction control is exercised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sumiko Amamiya, Tatsuya Ozeki, Shigeru Kamio, Yasuhiro Nakai, Kazuo Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 6974401
    Abstract: A planetary gear arrangement having at least three rotatable members with intermeshing gears and a primary torque path defined therein. At least one active friction damper is disposed between two of the planetary gear members, for example, a sun gear and a ring gear. The active damper is selectively operable to apply frictional engagement between the two members with which it is interconnected to establish a controlled secondary torque path therebetween. The active damper is effective to reduce gear lash changes between the gear members of a planetary assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Francis O'Leary, David Allen Gilbert, Jeffrey S. Rayce
  • Patent number: 6957731
    Abstract: A drive assembly for a bilaterally symmetrical machine such as a vehicle or aircraft is provided to precisely control and vary engine power delivered to a pair of opposed drive mechanisms of the assembly. Each drive mechanism includes a first differential clutch connected with a power source via a power splitter, a drive element such as a wheel or propeller connected with the first differential clutch, and a first braking device connected with the first differential clutch to independently control the delivery of power to the drive element. A second differential clutch may be provided for each drive mechanism to control movement of the drive mechanism in an opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Inventor: Thomas Towles Lawson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6883630
    Abstract: A brake system is provided for a straddle-type ATV. The brake system includes a brake caliper configured to mount to a gear box of the ATV and a brake disk configured to connect to a coupling member of the gear box coupled to a shaft and positioned in operative relation relative to the caliper. The brake system additionally includes a brake-actuating control mechanism in communication with the brake caliper. The brake-actuating control mechanism controls the brake caliper to provide selective frictional engagement between the brake caliper and the brake disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.
    Inventor: Vincent Morin
  • Patent number: 6811015
    Abstract: A system for a motor vehicle has a motor vehicle gearbox by means of which a reversal of the direction of travel can be initiated, a vehicle brake unit which is separate from the motor vehicle gearbox, and a control unit. When there is a reversal of the direction of travel from at least one first direction into a second direction when there is still a positive vehicle velocity in the first direction, the control unit generates a braking torque which reduces the vehicle velocity, by means of an actuation unit and by means of the vehicle brake unit. The actual direction of travel of the motor vehicle is determined here by means of a sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventor: Frank Tietze
  • Patent number: 6697727
    Abstract: A method of operating a retarder control system for a drivetrain retarder such as an engine compression brake of a heavy-duty truck vehicle is disclosed. The method of operation includes three novel subsets each of which controls the operational state and the resistance level at which the drivetrain retarder is operated dependent at least partially upon one or more factors including speeds of one or more drivetrain components, vehicle speed, rotational speed of one or more undriven wheels, position of a brake control member, elapsed time of activation of a brake control member and/or elapsed time from a change in a selected resistance level at which the retarder control system is commanded to effect operation of the drivetrain retarder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Stanton E. Miller, Chris L. Wilson, Lawrence D. Hasfjord, Erik C. Wilson, Brian P. Marshall, David V. Rodgers