Parking Pawl Patents (Class 192/219.5)
  • Patent number: 10724634
    Abstract: A parking lock device for a motor vehicle including a parking interlock gear and a parking pawl. The parking interlock gear has teeth and tooth gaps, wherein each of the teeth has a first and a second deflecting contour that are counter-revolving and radially increasing from a radial indentation toward a respective tooth flank. The parking pawl includes a ratchet tooth. The parking interlock gear is rotatable about an axis of rotation and the parking pawl is rotatable about or translational along a swivel axis parallel to the axis of rotation. The contours slidingly guide the ratchet tooth to catapult over the tooth gaps in a targeted rotational speed range of the parking interlock gear, the targeted rotational speed range being between a minimum limit speed and a maximum limit speed, such that contact is avoided between tooth flanks of the parking pawl and of the parking interlock gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Matthias List, Bernd Austermann
  • Patent number: 10718432
    Abstract: A method for controlling a shift-by-wire (SBW) transmission may include detecting whether a shut-down condition is met in a state in which a parking gear stage of a vehicle is released, when it is detected that the shut-down condition is met, starting to drive a parking release device of maintaining release of a parking gear on the basis of an oil pressure of a parking piston or an RPM of an engine, and controlling an ON/OFF duty ratio of electric power of driving the parking release device on the basis of oil pressure of the parking piston, after starting to drive the parking release device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporations
    Inventors: Young Suk Kim, Jung Min Lim, Kyeong Won Jeon
  • Patent number: 10626990
    Abstract: In a parking lock for an automatic transmission, an electrical parking lock actuator has an electric motor, a spur gear stage driveable by the electric motor, and a worm gear stage driveable by the spur gear stage. A worm shaft of the worm gear stage is connected rotationally conjointly to an output gear of the spur gear stage, and a worm gear of the worm gear stage is connected rotationally conjointly to a transmission-side parking lock shaft. The worm shaft is fixed in an axially displaceable manner in the output gear. A stop limits the pivoting movement of the worm gear when a parking lock position of the parking lock shaft is reached. A spring braces the worm shaft in an axial direction of the worm shaft against a holding mechanism which is situated in a stop position, in which the holding mechanism is fixed by an electrically energized electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Gausrab, Arne Krüger
  • Patent number: 10605364
    Abstract: A vehicle parking apparatus may include a parking rod having a first end portion connected to a detent plate and a second end portion on which a cam is placed, the parking rod rectilinearly moving in accordance with rotation of the detent plate and causing the cam to rotate a sprag about a rotation shaft; and a ‘U’-shaped stopper extending from the second end portion of the parking rod and operating to surround or release the sprag in accordance with the motion of the parking rod, the stopper allowing rotation of the sprag by releasing the sprag when the detent plate is rotated to a P range position and preventing the rotation of the sprag by surrounding the sprag when the detent plate is rotated to a certain range position other than the P range position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jang Mi Lee, Min Sung Kim, Wan Soo Kim, Bung Chul Rim, Kyung Ha Kim
  • Patent number: 10486655
    Abstract: While a transmission range selector is in a Park position, a controller engages multiple transmission shift elements to place the transmission in a tie-up state. In the tie-up state, both the transmission output shaft and the turbine shaft are held against rotation by the shift elements. To transition from Park to Drive, the controller releases one of the shift elements to place the transmission in a 1st gear state. To transition from Park to Reverse, the controller releases a different one of the shift elements to place the transmission in a reverse state. The controller may wait until the driver releases the brake pedal to release the shift element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott Patrick Ries, Kendrick Morrison
  • Patent number: 10458547
    Abstract: A detent lever 20 and a piston rod 42 are engaged with each other through engagement between a recessed portion 26 of the detent lever 20 and a pin portion 52 of a retainer member 50 attached to the piston rod 42. With this configuration, the detent lever 20 and the piston rod 42 can be engaged with each other easily and in a short time when assembling a parking device 10. As a result, the time required for the work of assembling the parking device 10 can be shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaya Nakai, Takahiro Kokubu, Tomonari Okamoto, Kazunori Ishikawa, Susumu Kato, Kenichi Naka
  • Patent number: 10415702
    Abstract: In a parking lock system, a link member that swings due to sliding of an operating shaft so as to make a perking lock operate and release the operation includes a counterweight for canceling out axial inertial force of the operating shaft. Therefore, even if the operating shaft attempts to slide in an axial direction with respect to a transmission case due to inertial force when a vehicle experiences sudden deceleration due to a frontal collision or sudden braking, mass of the counterweight resists the inertial force to thus prevent the link member from swinging, thereby making it possible to avoid a situation in which the parking lock is operated unintentionally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Nomura, Takao Ueno, Shunji Kamo
  • Patent number: 10408346
    Abstract: A parking lock apparatus includes an engaging mechanism, a slider, a hydraulic circuit, and a processor. The engaging mechanism is to prevent a rotation of a rotating body when the engaging mechanism is in a mechanical engagement state. The slider is to switch a state of the engaging mechanism between the mechanical engagement state and a mechanical disengagement state in accordance with a position of the slider. The hydraulic circuit is to change the position of the slider. The processor is configured to increase line pressure in the hydraulic circuit when the engaging mechanism is in the mechanical engagement state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ishikawa, Yuya Tachibanada, Tetsuya Mochizuki, Shunsuke Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10408348
    Abstract: A method for operating an automatic transmission apparatus having a parking lock device. The parking lock device has a hydraulic apparatus with a hydraulic cylinder and a hydraulic piston arranged therein, which can be placed in at least two positions by a lock apparatus and an emergency unlock apparatus. The hydraulic piston is operatively connected to a shifting shaft of the parking lock device, and a pressure can be adjusted in the hydraulic cylinder by a hydraulic valve. The shifting shaft can be shifted within an operating position range by the hydraulic apparatus. In doing so, upon activation of the emergency unlock apparatus, the shifting shaft is shifted into a position that is outside of the operating position range, and an operating state of the emergency unlock apparatus is checked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Stefan Ammler
  • Patent number: 10385969
    Abstract: A magnetic lock device includes a lock shaft having an abutting portion capable of abutting against a roller of a piston rod of a hydraulic pressure actuator, a transfer shaft configured separately from the lock shaft, the transfer shaft abutting against an end surface of the lock shaft, and a magnetic portion locking (restricting movement to the right side in the drawing) the lock shaft, the transfer shaft, and a plunger by attracting the plunger toward an attracting portion using a magnetic force. The lock shaft is surface-hardened to have a higher hardness and the transfer shaft is made of non-magnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Kokubu, Masaya Nakai
  • Patent number: 10315629
    Abstract: A driving system includes: a left electric motor which drives a left wheel of a vehicle; a first parking gear which is provided on a left power transmission path between the left electric motor and the left wheel; a right electric motor which drives a right wheel of the vehicle; a second parking gear which is provided on a right power transmission path between the right electric motor and the right wheel; and a rotation regulation unit that engages with both of the first parking gear and the second parking gear. The first parking gear and the second parking gear have different tooth tip diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takuji Yano
  • Patent number: 10234034
    Abstract: A parking lock apparatus includes a parking gear rotatable together with a rotating body of a transmission. A slider is to be switched between a parking lock position in which a parking pawl is in engagement with the parking gear and a parking release position in which the parking pawl is out of engagement with the parking gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Mukai, Shunsuke Yoshida, Tetsuya Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 10215279
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device is disposed forward of a case housing a speed change mechanism in an on-vehicle state. A detent lever is fixed to the control shaft, has a first end connected to a parking rod, and includes a detent recess with which a detent mechanism is engaged. A swing lever includes a shaft serving as a swing center, a first extension extending from one end of the shaft, and a second extension extending from the other end of the shaft. The first extension is connected to a second end of the detent lever. The second extension is connected to a manual valve. An axial position of the manual valve changes in accordance with a rotation angle of the control shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuji Iwatsuru, Yuki Kadokura, Kozo Yamamoto, Hirofumi Nakada, Hideki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 10167953
    Abstract: In a vehicular parking lock device, the parking lock is actuated when a line pressure is supplied to a left end of a hydraulic actuator (25) via a second solenoid valve (32A), or a hydraulic pressure of an accumulator (37, 38) is supplied to the left end of the hydraulic actuator (25) via a third solenoid valve (32B), and the parking lock is released when a line pressure is supplied to a right end of the hydraulic actuator (25) via a first solenoid valve (32C, 32D). The second solenoid valve (32A) and the first solenoid valve (32D) also function as a solenoid valve that supplies the hydraulic pressure to a torque converter (40) and a solenoid valve that supplies the hydraulic pressure to a hydraulic brake (41) for shift change, respectively. Thus, it is possible to decrease the total number of solenoid valves, thereby cutting the number of components of a hydraulic circuit (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Mukai, Shunsuke Yoshida, Yuya Tachibanada
  • Patent number: 10161518
    Abstract: A transmission for a vehicle includes an electro-mechanical park actuator mechanism that provides motive force to an actuator rod of a park actuator, a default to park mechanism that is internal to the transmission housing, and an electromechanical park inhibit mechanism that is internal to the transmission housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Inventors: Vijay A Neelakantan, Christopher G Benson
  • Patent number: 10151392
    Abstract: A vehicle including a transmission and an electronic transmission range selector system in communication with the transmission to shift the transmission to one of a park operating position and an out-of-park operating position. A clutch is movable between an engaged position grounding a portion of a planetary gear set to a transmission casing to operate the gear set in a first gear and a disengaged position. A first pawl is movable between a first position to mechanically couple the first pawl to the portion of the planetary gear set when the clutch is in the disengaged position such that the first pawl operates the gear set in the first gear, and a second position to mechanically decouple the first pawl from the portion of the gear set when the clutch is in the engaged position such that the clutch operates the planetary gear set in the first gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Dongxu Li
  • Patent number: 10107396
    Abstract: A locking arrangement for a transmission of a motor vehicle, comprising a locking toothing; a locking pawl, wherein the locking pawl is pivotable about a first rotary axis; a control element, wherein the locking pawl can be brought optionally into engagement with the locking toothing via the control element; a drive unit, wherein the control element can be brought by means of the drive unit into a release position and a locking position; a holding mechanism, wherein the control element can be held by means of the holding mechanism in the release position and in the locking position; and a safety mechanism comprising an electromagnet, an actuator and a first elastic element, wherein the actuator is pretensioned in a first actuator position by the first elastic element and can be held in a second actuator position by the electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN GMBH & CO KG
    Inventors: Rainer Hofkirchner, Stefan Merz, Christian Reisinger, Michael Schaffenberger, Bernhard Steiner, Andreas Schmidhofer, Christoph Öberseder
  • Patent number: 10088035
    Abstract: An electronic gear shift apparatus may include a housing, an up switch installed in a space portion formed by opening an upper side of the housing, a down switch installed in the space portion formed by opening the upper side of the housing, and spaced apart from the up switch so as to face the up switch, a touchpad installed below the up switch and the down switch, and a gear shift stage display device installed on a surface of the housing, and displaying a position of a gear shift stage, in which when the up switch is pushed upward or the down switch is pushed downward in a state in which the finger is in contact with the touchpad, the gear shift stage may be changed in a direction of an upper gear shift stage or a lower gear shift stage of the gear shift stage display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kyung Chang Industrial Co., Ltd., Kostal Korea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-Gil Park, Jung-Hun Lee, Se-Jong Park
  • Patent number: 10041591
    Abstract: A park-by-wire system uses a single spring to bias the system towards park and to permit a ratcheting feature which delays the engagement of park until vehicle speed drops below a threshold. A cam slides with respect to a rod. A stop on the rod limits travel in one direction. The spring biases the cam toward the stop but compresses as necessary to allow the cam to move during ratcheting operation. The spring reacts against the housing. Acting through the cam and the stop, the spring biases the rod toward the park position. The design limits the number of components that move during ratcheting operation. Specifically, the rod and actuator do not oscillate during ratcheting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vladimir Yasnogorodskiy, David P. Aeschliman, Bradley Ronald Heuver
  • Patent number: 9995390
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle powertrain assembly includes a combustion engine, an electric machine, an input shaft, a ratchet mechanism, and a controller. The input shaft selectively couples the engine and electric machine. The ratchet mechanism includes a base integrated with a transmission housing, a camwheel fixedly coupled to the input shaft, a pawl, and an actuator to move the pawl. The controller is programmed to, in response to receipt of an engine brake command, output an engagement command to the actuator to move the pawl toward the camwheel for engagement to prevent the input shaft from spinning. A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle powertrain is also provided herein. The method includes, responsive to receipt of an engine brake command, outputting via a controller a command for a ratchet mechanism to engage an input shaft coupled to an engine to prevent the input shaft from spinning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Emad Al-Regib, Ronald Gaw
  • Patent number: 9856980
    Abstract: In a vehicular parking lock device, supplying a hydraulic pressure from pressure regulation of a line pressure by a linear solenoid valve to a hydraulic brake via a switching valve operated by a first solenoid valve enables a transmission to carry out a shift change. If desired that a parking lock is not operated when an engine stops, the hydraulic pressure stored under pressure in an accumulator is discharged to a drain oil passage by connecting the linear solenoid valve selectively to the drain oil passage by the first solenoid valve, thereby making it possible to prevent the hydraulic pressure stored under pressure in the accumulator from being supplied to a locking oil chamber at the other end of the hydraulic actuator. The first solenoid valve is used for both controlling the operation of the hydraulic brake and discharge of the hydraulic pressure stored under pressure in the accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya Tachibanada, Tetsuya Mochizuki, Yutaka Ishikawa, Shunsuke Yoshida, Tomoaki Mukai
  • Patent number: 9777836
    Abstract: A park lock for an automatic transmission includes a primary actuator that is operable to move a primary rod such that the primary rod rotates a pawl and selectively meshes a tooth of the pawl with teeth of a park wheel. A secondary actuator is operable to move a secondary rod. A distal end portion of the secondary rod holds the tooth of the pawl in meshing with the teeth of the park wheel in a park configuration. The distal end portion of the secondary rod blocks the tooth of the pawl from meshing with the teeth of the park wheel in a drive configuration. A related automatic transmission is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Won Lee, Thomas Geiss, David Drosback, Abhishek Raydurga
  • Patent number: 9555777
    Abstract: A parking device for a vehicle has a parking rod which is movably driven from a position in which a parking gear is engaged to a position in which the engagement of the parking gear is released, a rotational lever which movably drives the parking rod, a drive device which rotationally drives the rotational lever, an elastic member which urges the rotational lever in a direction opposite from a direction in which the rotational lever is rotationally driven, and engagement device having an engaging portion in which the engaging portion is engaged with an engaged portion, in a position where the parking gear is engaged, which is provided at an end surface of the rotational lever which follows the radial direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadamasa Takei, Kenichi Naka, Akihito Iwata
  • Patent number: 9463040
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for fixing a joint structure. The device for fixing a joint structure, according to one aspect of the present invention, comprises: a first slider for fixing a first directional joint movement state of a joint structure that includes a first joint element and a second joint element; a first locking member included in the first slider; and a first corresponding locking member which operates relative to the first locking member and blocks a forward directional movement and a backward directional movement of the first slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: MOVASU, INC.
    Inventor: Chang Wook Jeong
  • Patent number: 9435428
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a transmission is provided. The hydraulic control system includes a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid that communicates with an electronic transmission range selection (ETRS) subsystem. In one example, the ETRS subsystem includes an ETRS enablement valve, an ETRS control valve, a park servo that controls a park mechanism, a plurality of solenoids, and a park inhibit solenoid assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Vijay A. Neelakantan, Joshua McDonough, Philip C. Lundberg
  • Patent number: 9409551
    Abstract: A parking lock device that is installed in a transmission of a vehicle includes a gear, a lock, a receiver, a cam, and a damper. The lock has a pawl that can be engaged in a tooth space between the teeth of the gear. The lock moves between an engagement position at which the pawl is engaged in the tooth space to lock the gear and a retreat position at which the pawl is not engaged in the tooth space. The receiver is arranged to be fixed to a case of the transmission. The cam moves forward and backward with respect to a gap between the receiver and the lock. The cam holds the lock at the engagement position when having entered the gap. The damper is provided in a vibration transmission path to dampen vibrations transmitted to the case of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruo Isomura, Hiroshi Takekawa
  • Patent number: 9327691
    Abstract: A transmission parking lock has an actuating rod that is essentially translationally displaceable, which bears an actuating element, and with a locking lever that is essentially rotationally displaceable, bears a locking element For inserting the transmission parking lock through the displacement of the actuating rod, the locking lever is pivotable from a resting position of the same into a locked position in such a manner that the locking element engages in a recess of a gear wheel (8) allocated to a gear shaft, and with a device that withdraws the actuating element of the actuating rod in the resting position of the same from the locking lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Matthias List, Bernd Austermann, Gert Hanker, Stefan Csajagi, Gerhard Spindler, Berthold Schraff
  • Patent number: 9188224
    Abstract: A gear shift arrangement for a motor vehicle gear mechanism comprises at least one clutch arrangement by means of which a gear of the gear mechanism can be engaged and disengaged. An actuator arrangement is coupled with the clutch arrangement via a first force transmission device. A parking block arrangement is coupled with the actuator arrangement via a second force transmission device. The actuator arrangement can be moved into a parking block position in which the parking block arrangement is activated. The actuator arrangement is configured to engage the gear on its travel to the parking block position and/or in the parking block position via the first force transmission device. The first force transmission device has a decoupling device which is configured to move or to let move the actuator arrangement into the parking block position even when the clutch arrangement is blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: GETRAG Getriebe- und Zahnradfabrik Hermann Hagenmeyer GmbH & Cie KG
    Inventors: Stefan Kapp, Georg Burgardt
  • Patent number: 9156442
    Abstract: A parking mechanism for a vehicle includes an automatic transmission, a parking gear, a parking pawl, and a parking-pawl turn member. The parking gear is fixed to a part formed by any of an output shaft of the automatic transmission and an intermediate member connected to the output shaft. The parking pawl is turnably attached to a turn shaft that is supported by a plate fastened to a transmission case by a first bolt and a second bolt. The parking-pawl turn member turns the parking pawl into engagement with the parking gear. An extending part formed by extending a support member that turnably supports the part of the automatic transmission is substituted for the plate. The extending part is fastened to the transmission case by the first bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toyokazu Tsubono, Hiroyuki Kita
  • Patent number: 9150214
    Abstract: A technique includes receiving, at a controller of a vehicle, the controller including one or more processors, a first request to calibrate a park lock system of the vehicle. The calibration can include commanding, by the controller, a first actuator to move a second actuator to maximum engagement/disengagement positions indicating maximum engagement/disengagement of a park pawl with/from a park gear of a transmission. The calibration can include determining, at the controller, full engagement/disengagement positions for the second actuator based on the maximum engagement/disengagement positions. The controller can then control the engagement/disengagement of the park lock system using the full engagement/disengagement positions for the second actuator, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Feisel Weslati, Behrouz Ashrafi, Chandan Lakshmanaiah, Salim Hamam
  • Patent number: 9139170
    Abstract: A hinge pillar assembly includes a hinge pillar including a panel. The panel including a body side outer door shut face and a defining an inner cavity and an access opening in communication with the inner cavity. The access opening is positioned in the body side outer door shut face and provides access to the manual park release actuator at least partially disposed in the inner cavity. The hinge pillar assembly further includes a cover removably coupled to the hinge pillar. The cover closes the access opening when coupled to the hinge pillar. The hinge pillar assembly further includes a manual park release actuator at least partially disposed in the inner cavity. The manual park release actuator is operatively coupled to a transmission and is configured to move relative to the hinge pillar to shift the transmission from a Park mode to an Out-of-Park mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Todd D. Albertson, David A. Provenza, William A. Biondo
  • Patent number: 9080670
    Abstract: A power transmission device for a vehicle configured with a rotary power member, and a mechanism configured with a plurality of operational states. A switching shaft changes the operational state of the operating mechanism and is moved by an electric actuator. A control transmission transmits the power from the actuator to the shaft. The housing for the rotary member includes is configured so that the switching shaft projects outwards from the housing. The electric actuator is arranged at a location facing, of a surface of the housing portion of the case, a portion that does not overlap another portion where the switching shaft projects, when viewed in the axial direction of the rotational axis of the rotary member. A part of the actuator is arranged on a case side relative to a vertical line passing through the portion where the switching shaft projects from the housing portion of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuya Komatsu, Tomoo Atarashi, Tatsuya Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9073522
    Abstract: A parking lock control element has an actuator coupled to a parking lock pawl, and a retaining device which works with the actuator to secure the parking lock pawl in the disengaged position. The connecting device is characterized in that the retaining device has a blocking slide connected to the actuator, and a blocking actuator having a slider gap, the width of the slider gap being modified in an actuating manner, wherein the blocking slide can move into the slider gap—when the slider gap is open—releasing the actuator. The connecting device reduces structural complexity and related costs. At the same time, the control element is comparatively robust with respect to manufacturing tolerances, acceleration forces, vibrations, and temperature stress. With minimal auxiliary energy, high holding forces can be achieved to secure the parking lock pawl. An emergency unlocking actuation can also be integrated in a simple manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Carsten Weifels
  • Patent number: 8985295
    Abstract: A parking interlock arrangement for an automatic transmission of a vehicle which comprises a parking interlock gear (1) operatively connected to an output shaft and which can be locked by way of a locking pawl (2) in a shift position (P) of a notched disk (4). The notched disk (4) is connected, in a rotationally fixed manner, to a selector shaft (5). The locking pawl (2) can be actuated by way of a connecting rod (3), and the connecting rod (3) is operatively connected to the notched disk (4) by way of a coupling device in order to limit the selecting torque to be applied to the selector shaft (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Heinz Reichert, Gert Hanker, Ulrike Ziereisen, Bernd Austermann
  • Patent number: 8978862
    Abstract: A park-brake actuator includes a cam including first serrations and an open-ended slot, a piston including second serrations displaceable relative to the cam in response to variable pressure applied to the piston, a spring, and a rod including a pin urged by the spring toward the slot and contact with the first and second serrations, the pin moved by piston displacement from the slot, onto one of the first serrations to a flat-tow position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Bradley R. Heuver
  • Patent number: 8950563
    Abstract: A transmission is provided with an engagement member rotationally moved between an engagement position where the engagement member is engaged with a parking gear to restrict the rotation of a drive shaft, and an engagement release position where the engagement member is disengaged from the parking gear to permit the rotation of the drive shaft; a support member provided in a case to be distanced from a rotational axis of the engagement member; and a pair of urging members urging the engagement member in a direction in which the engagement member rotationally moves from the engagement position toward the engagement release position, and supported on the support member respectively at symmetrical positions that are on both sides of the engagement member in a rotational axis direction of the engagement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Aisin Ai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Kayukawa, Shiro Ogami, Hiroyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 8931612
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for operating a parking lock of an automatic transmission in motor vehicles, with pawl which interacts with a ratchet wheel, which pawl is impinged upon by a spring energy accumulator (24) and for disengaging the parking lock can be hydraulically impinged upon against the preload force of the spring energy accumulator (24) by a hydraulic transmission control with corresponding control valves, wherein the control valves are controllable in accordance with operating parameters of the motor vehicle and a electromagnetically operable locking element (28), which in the controlled state in defined operating conditions additionally holds the pawl in the disengaged position. According to the invention, a purely hydraulically acting self locking valve (40) is integrated in the hydraulic transmission control (10), which locking valve maintains the controlled system pressure when the parking lock operation (14) is pressurized or when the parking lock is disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Martin Bauer, Wilhelmus Gieles
  • Patent number: 8925706
    Abstract: A vehicle parking brake control has an extendable pin with three faces, and a roller on a lower surface. The faces correspond to engage, hold, and disengage of a parking brake. The control also has a lever rotatably connected to it, where the lever has a roller at a lower lever surface. The roller being capable of rotational contact with the pin faces. Further, the control has a base with an upper surface for the pin roller to move across. When the parking brake is engaged the lever roller is in contact with a first face, when the brake is on hold the lever roller is in contact with a second face, and when the brake is in the disengage position the lever roller is in contact with a third face of the extendable pin. Consequently, the rollers provide a reliable lifelong operation of the control over prior controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas R. Rhoades, Linda S. Gulvas, Jason M. Sidders, Paul V. Mackalski
  • Publication number: 20140346004
    Abstract: A parking pawl actuation assembly for a transmission includes a shaft, a hub member rotatably supported by the shaft, a cam plate and lever plate rotatably supported by the hub member, a first resilient member disposed between the cam plate and the lever plate, and wherein the resilient member applies a rotational force on the cam plate in a first rotational direction when the lever plate is rotated in the first rotational direction, an actuator configured to selectively rotate the lever plate to one of a plurality of positions, and a parking pawl member configured to engage the cam plate and the parking gear of the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher J. Landino, Stephen W. Powell
  • Patent number: 8881883
    Abstract: A park lock of a transmission, including a park gear; a park pawl rotating about a pawl shaft, the park pawl having a pawl portion locking the park gear, the park pawl including a cam contact portion; a park rod responsive to an operation of a controller, the park rod having a cam portion pressing the cam contact portion to have park pawl engage the park gear; a park sleeve receiving the cam portion and defining a first contact point providing a reactive force to the cam contact portion of the park pawl pressing against the cam portion at a second contact point; a pawl torsional spring biasing the park pawl towards disengagement; and a pawl stopper limiting the rotation of the park pawl wherein motions are constrained within a plane of the transmission and components are rotatingly disposed in parallel axis bores in one half of a transmission case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignees: Tesla Motors, Inc., Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Augusto E. Barton, William Randall Fong, Gary Allen Pinkley, Edwin Marcum Pearce, Jr., Kunio Morisawa, Kazunori Kaneko, Koichi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20140318921
    Abstract: A parking mechanism for a vehicle includes an automatic transmission, a parking gear, a parking pawl, and a parking-pawl turn member. The parking gear is fixed to a part formed by any of an output shaft of the automatic transmission and an intermediate member connected to the output shaft. The parking pawl is turnably attached to a turn shaft that is supported by a plate fastened to a transmission case by a first bolt and a second bolt. The parking-pawl turn member turns the parking pawl into engagement with the parking gear. An extending part formed by extending a support member that turnably supports the part of the automatic transmission is substituted for the plate. The extending part is fastened to the transmission case by the first bolt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toyokazu TSUBONO, Hiroyuki KITA
  • Publication number: 20140305764
    Abstract: A parking lock device includes: a transmission shaft supported by a first case and a second case and connected to drive wheels; a parking gear fixed to the transmission shaft; and a parking pole engageable with the parking gear. A cover member is fixed to an inner wall surface of the second case. The cover member covers at least an outer peripheral surface of the parking gear with a predetermined clearance therebetween in a state where the second case is joined to the first case. When the second case to which the cover member is attached in advance is joined to the first case to which the parking gear is attached in advance, the cover member is guided by the outer peripheral surface of the parking gear. Thus, the second case 13 can be joined to the first case easily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Yokomachi, Noriaki Imaoka, Masashi Ohnuma
  • Patent number: 8851263
    Abstract: A parking lock device of a motor vehicle transmission comprising a transmission housing (11) with a housing wall (11a), a parking lock gearwheel (1), a parking lock pawl (2), a parking lock bolt (3) for mounting the parking lock pawl (2) and a blocking element (5). A carrier plate (7) is arranged alongside the parking lock pawl (2) and is fixed to the transmission housing (11), and the parking lock bolt (3) is held, on one side, by the carrier plate (7) and, on the other side, by the transmission housing (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Berthold Schraff
  • Publication number: 20140297139
    Abstract: In response to driver selection of PARK, a vehicle transmission is commanded to momentarily select and hold NEUTRAL before PARK, whilst a vehicle wheel brake is applied. Such an arrangement avoids trapping torque in the driveline, and thus can obviate pawl ‘thump’ when PARK is next disengaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Richard Clarke, Simon Sutton, Kevin Holt
  • Patent number: 8844703
    Abstract: A locking apparatus for a parking brake includes a parking lever, a parking lever spring applying a restoring force to the parking lever, a cylinder of which an oil hole is formed therein, a piston comprising a piston rod connected to the parking lever and a piston main body disposed within the cylinder, and the piston movable along length direction of the cylinder according to supplying or releasing of oil through the oil hole, a solenoid valve, a locking unit disposed within the cylinder for locking the piston when the solenoid valve is supplied electric power and for locking the piston when the solenoid valve is not supplied electric power and an emergency parking device which is connected to the locking unit and selectively forcibly moves the locking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Sung Wook Jang, Da Hui Kim
  • Patent number: 8839936
    Abstract: A parking system for a hybrid vehicle includes a transmission housing, a first motor section provided in the transmission housing, and mounted on an input shaft, a second motor section provided at the rear of the first motor section, and mounted on the input shaft, and a parking mechanism provided between the first motor section and the second motor section for selectively restraining a drive gear spline-coupled to the second motor section. The parking system for a hybrid vehicle can be reduced in overall size by improving the layout of the parking mechanism within the transmission with two motors and forming the parking gear integrally with the drive gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kyungha Kim, Min Sung Kim, Jinsook Lee, Yeonho Kim
  • Patent number: 8839937
    Abstract: Upon shifting a parking lock device from an unlocked state to a locked state, the power supply to a motor is interrupted when a fitting member reaches a first position of an outer peripheral surface of a position determining plate. At that moment, the rotational energy of a rotation body is absorbed by a rotational energy absorption member. Also, upon shifting the parking lock device from the locked state to the unlocked state, the power supply to the motor is interrupted when the fitting member reaches a second position. At that moment, the rotational energy of the rotation body is absorbed by the rotational energy absorption member as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichiro Hazama, Tatsuya Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8840506
    Abstract: A parking lock assembly for a motor vehicle is described that has at least one electrically drivable driving axle. The parking lock comprises an electric drive, a shaft which is arranged in the driveline of a motor vehicle and which is drivable by the electric drive, as well as a locking mechanism which is controllable in the locking sense in order to prevent a rotational movement of the shaft and which is controllable in the opening sense in order to release the shaft. The electric drive is controllable in order to transmit torque to the shaft if, in spite of the locking mechanism being controlled in the opening sense, the shaft is prevented from carrying out a rotational movement. Furthermore, a method of actuating such a parking lock assembly is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Schwekutsch, Theodor Gassmann, Mark Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20140251750
    Abstract: A transmission parking lock has an actuating rod that is essentially translationally displaceable, which bears an actuating element, and with a locking lever that is essentially rotationally displaceable, bears a locking element For inserting the transmission parking lock through the displacement of the actuating rod, the locking lever is pivotable from a resting position of the same into a locked position in such a manner that the locking element engages in a recess of a gear wheel (8) allocated to a gear shaft, and with a device that withdraws the actuating element of the actuating rod in the resting position of the same from the locking lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Matthias List, Bernd Austermann, Gert Hanker, Stefan Csajagi, Gerhard Spindler, Berthold Schraff
  • Patent number: 8820188
    Abstract: A park-position mechanism includes a selector mechanism that includes a cam mounted on a selector hub shaft, a park gear mounted on a main shaft and corresponding in position to the cam, a park arm arranged between the cam and the park gear. The park arm has a holed base fit over a stud that rotates and supports the park arm in a crankshaft case. A torsion spring is arranged between the park arm and the crankshaft case with ends attached to the park arm and the crankshaft case respectively. The park arm has a driven section and an engaging section respectively extending from opposite sides of the holed base. The engaging section forms a projection. The driven section forms a hole in which a guide rod is received in an axially movable manner. The guide rod is engaged with the earn and is thus selectively driven by the cam to cause engagement of the projection of the engaging section with the park gear. A resilient member is arranged between the hole and the guide rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Kwang Yang Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chao-Chang Ho