Plural, Diverse Or Diversely Controlled Driving Motors (e.g., Driving Differential Gearing) Patents (Class 318/8)
  • Patent number: 11679400
    Abstract: A method of operating a plurality of machines. Each of the machines uses a servo motor and a motor drive coupled to the servo motor, and the motor drive incorporates a regenerative braking system. The method comprises synchronising the servo motors in order to achieve overlap of the acceleration phases of some machines with the deceleration phases of other machines and providing electrical power from the regenerative braking systems of machines in a deceleration phase to machines in an acceleration phase. A controller for a machine implementing the method, and a system comprising such a controller and a plurality of machines are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Egerton
  • Patent number: 11209470
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method of measuring insulation resistance, which separate a region in which insulation resistance is positioned by installing a device performing a function equivalent to a relay on a path in which insulation resistance of an electric vehicle is measured and measure an insulation resistance value for each region, to recognize a region in which insulation resistance breakdown occurs when breakdown of insulation resistance occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventor: Lyang Wook Jo
  • Patent number: 11121650
    Abstract: A vehicular propulsion system is described that uses a plurality of direct current (DC) motors operatively attached to a common drive shaft or shafts of an electric vehicle (EV) or boat. Each motor is powered separately by direct current from a battery cassette or trays swappably inserted into the chassis of the vehicle. The battery cassettes are secured in racks, with one or more individual battery cassettes connected to each of individual motors. The individual battery cassettes are sized to have a weight suitable so as to be readily swapped out as needed for recharging, maintenance or replacement, enabling vehicle range to be extended en route by exchanging depleted battery cassettes for new batteries whenever needed. DC motors may be selected to obtain efficiencies greater than obtainable with AC motors, but require no expensive inverter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventor: Michael L Froelich
  • Patent number: 10859140
    Abstract: A gear-shifting device includes a first motor having a first stator. The first stator turns clockwise and counter-clockwise, creating a wobbling action. The device further includes a compound planetary transmission, made up of a transmission ring attached to a ring gear. The compound planetary transmission receives power from the first stator. A second motor having a second stator, turns clockwise and counter-clockwise. The device further includes a shift assembly, made up of a drum, a cap, and a pinion gear. The pinion gear receives power from the second stator. The drum locks with the pinion gear such that the drum rotates with the pinion gear. The transmission ring is attached to the drum, such that the transmission ring moves laterally as the drum rotates. The ring gear locks and unlocks with the cap as the drum rotates. The wobbling action enables the locking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Daniel Madsen, Joe Fox, Nathan Davis, Halle Murray
  • Patent number: 10855269
    Abstract: In a drive circuit, one of an upper-arm switch and a lower-arm switch being in an on state by a main driver is referred to as a target arm switch. The other of the upper-arm switch and the lower-arm switch being in an off state by the main driver is referred to as an opposite arm switch. An intrinsic diode connected in antiparallel to the opposite arm switch is referred to as an opposite arm diode. The drive circuit includes a protective driver configured to determine whether a failure has occurred in the target arm switch. The protective driver is configured to change the target arm switch from the on state to the off state, and the opposite arm switch from the off state to the on state upon determining that a failure has occurred in the target arm switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kengo Mochiki, Mitsunori Kimura, Yoshinori Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9431868
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a manual override tool for an electric actuator. The manual override tool includes an accessible first end, a shaft operably connected with the first end and is movable in a linear direction and is rotatable, and a plurality of gear teeth on the shaft. The accessible first end is used to engage and disengage the plurality of gear teeth with a plurality of notches provided on an interior rotor of the electric actuator, such that the accessible first end may be used to manually operate the electric actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: TOLOMATIC, INC.
    Inventors: Gary Rosengren, Jeremy R. Forbord, Igor Glikin
  • Patent number: 9290266
    Abstract: A speed control assembly includes an input drive shaft coupled to a first gear subassembly having a rotatable gear, a second gear subassembly coupled to an output drive shaft, and a linkage coupling the first and second gear subassemblies, wherein the input drive shaft, the first and second gear subassemblies, and the linkage are configured such that a rotational speed of the rotatable gear adjusts a ratio of a rotational speed of the output drive shaft to a rotational speed of the output drive shaft. In some embodiments, the first gear subassembly includes a sun gear coupled to the input drive shaft, one or more planet gears, and a ring gear as the rotatable gear. In some embodiments, the second gear subassembly includes a sun gear coupled to the output drive shaft, one or more planet gears, and a fixed ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Robertson, Dudley E. Smith, Carlos A. Fenny, Walter West Riley
  • Patent number: 9124044
    Abstract: An electric plug system includes a stabilizing base, a vertical support element extending from the base, an electrical socket block having a plurality of female electrical sockets that is coupled to the top of the vertical support element, and an electrical wire extending from the electrical socket block, down the vertical element, and along or through the base and there-beyond and terminating in a male electrical plug adapted to plug into a standard wall or floor electrical outlet. The vertical support element can be a telescoping tube with a height control knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: BELPOWER SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Gwen Beldock, Donald T. Beldock
  • Publication number: 20150105199
    Abstract: An actuator for an aircraft is provided. The actuator comprises a first motor, a second motor and an actuator output, which are interconnected by a gear assembly. The actuator output is driveable by the first motor independently of the second motor; the actuator output is driveable by the second motor independently of the first motor; and the actuator output is driveable by the first and second motors in combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Terence Ross Golding
  • Publication number: 20150084551
    Abstract: A motor driving circuit has a supply line connected to a DC power source, an inverter whose input side is connected to the supply line and whose output side is connected to a motor, a power switch inserted in the supply line for switching the supply line between conducting and cut-off states, a voltage detector for detecting a voltage between the direct-current power source and the power switch, and an insulation resistance detector for first detecting, based on a result of detection by the voltage detector with the power switch in the cut-off state, an insulation resistance on the preceding-stage side of the power switch and subsequently detecting, based on a result of detection by the voltage detector with the power switch in the conducting state, an insulation resistance on the succeeding-stage side of the power switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Hayashi, Hoshihito Okada, Yoshihiko Maeda, Yoichi Enomoto, Hiroshi Takao
  • Publication number: 20140354193
    Abstract: Disclosed is an analyzing apparatus including a first drive part (71) for rotating a turntable (101) on which an analyzing device is set, a second drive part (72) selectively engaged with the first drive part (71) to reciprocate the analyzing device, and a third drive part (73) for relatively moving the first drive part (71) and the second drive part (72) a position where the first and second drive parts are engaged with each other and a position where the first and second drive parts are not engaged with each other. Thus in the mixing and agitation of a small amount of fluid, necessary acceleration can be obtained even in a short time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Kenji NAKANISHI, Yoshiyuki FUJII
  • Publication number: 20140354192
    Abstract: Disclosed is an analyzing apparatus including a first drive part (71) for rotating a turntable (101) on which an analyzing device is set, a second drive part (72) selectively engaged with the first drive part (71) to reciprocate the analyzing device, and a third drive part (73) for relatively moving the first drive part (71) and the second drive part (72) a position where the first and second drive parts are engaged with each other and a position where the first and second drive parts are not engaged with each other. Thus in the mixing and agitation of a small amount of fluid, necessary acceleration can be obtained even in a short time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Kenji NAKANISHI, Masahito SHIRAISHI, Tsugio WAKITA
  • Patent number: 8760088
    Abstract: A truckle for a mobile medical device is provided. The truckle includes at least one electromagnetism torque balancing motor mounted on the truckle and configured to balance out friction generated by the truckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
    Inventors: Wei jiang Ding, Lihui Jiang
  • Patent number: 8760087
    Abstract: What is described is an actuator system (2) comprising at least one actuator (29, 29?) and an associated control system (8) which is designed for at least two operating modes, at least one of which may be deactivated, whereby one of the operating modes is a high efficiency operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Technische Universitat Wien
    Inventors: Alexander Schulz, Michael Wehse, Johann Wassermann, Manfred Neumann
  • Patent number: 8648551
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for continuously reorienting a solar panel array while maintaining a substantially stationary footprint for the solar panel. A cylindrically shaped knuckle is provided that is formed with a bottom surface and a top surface that is slanted relative to the bottom surface at a slant angle ?. One end of an upper pole is positioned against the top surface of the knuckle, and one end of a lower pole is positioned against the bottom surface of the knuckle. An upper and lower motor respectively connect the knuckle to the upper pole and the lower pole. These motors are used to continuously rotate the knuckle at an angular velocity ? relative to the upper and lower poles. When the knuckle rotates, the upper and lower poles remain stationary to allow the solar panel to continuously reorient while maintaining a substantially stationary footprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Envision Solar International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Noble, Desmond Wheatley
  • Patent number: 8648553
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for controlling rotational speed on a rotating process machine (P), which for example is a turbine or a propeller, where the rotating process machine (P) is connected to at least one motor (M1) and arranged to rotate with a given rotational speed given by the motor (M1), the motor (M1) is connected to a control system (C) and the rotational speed of the motor (M1) is arranged to be controlled by a control system (C). The rotating process machine (P) comprises a load control (PC) arranged to be adaptable, the control system (C) is connected to the rotating process machine (P). With the invention, one achieves soft transitions between several selectable rotational speeds and lower energy consumption by step by step adjusting the size and the rotational speed of the motor (M1) to varying energy requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: In Motion AS
    Inventor: Hallvard Slettevoll
  • Patent number: 8618752
    Abstract: An electric vehicle accomplishes speed changes through the use of electronically controlled, multiple electric motor configurations that are coupled to an output drive shaft instead of a speed change transmission. A parallel-coupled motor configuration includes at least two motors that are each coupled to the output drive shaft through respective gear arrangements, each gear arrangement having a respective gear ratio. In a serially-coupled motor configuration, the stator of the second motor is coupled to the rotor of the first motor, where the rotor of the second motor is coupled to the output drive shaft. The required torque to reach or maintain a desired vehicle speed can be obtained by selective energization of either one or both of the motors (in both multi-motor configurations). Two motors are also coupled to a differential gear so that the rotational speed contributed by both motors are additive at the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Superior Electron, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Zing, Joachim H. Wiest, Henry T. Fung
  • Patent number: 8584459
    Abstract: A forced induction system for an engine comprising a compressor for increasing the pressure of gas into the engine and a turbine arranged to be driven by engine exhaust gas. The system further comprises a generator and an electric motor. The generator is arranged to be driven by the turbine and the motor is arranged to drive the compressor, wherein the generator and motor are electrically connected. The system comprises electrical control means arranged to receive the electrical signal output by said generator during operation and to apply an AC control signal to said electric motor whereby the compressor is driven at least in part by an output torque of the turbine via the electrical connection therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Aeristech Limited
    Inventor: Bryn Richards
  • Publication number: 20130249444
    Abstract: An actuator for an aircraft is provided. The actuator comprises a first motor, a second motor and an actuator output, which are interconnected by a gear assembly. The actuator output is driveable by the first motor independently of the second motor; the actuator output is driveable by the second motor independently of the first motor; and the actuator output is driveable by the first and second motors in combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventor: Terence Ross Golding
  • Publication number: 20130233230
    Abstract: The invention concerns a ship comprising at least one motor for driving the ship and at least one crane. To lift the motor at least one crane can be brought into engagement with the at least one motor through at least one closable opening. The invention further concerns a ship drive for driving a ship as well as a method of exchanging ship motors arranged within a ship for driving the ship together with peripheral devices. The invention further concerns the use of a wind power installation generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: WOBBEN PROPERTIES GMBH
    Inventor: Rolf Rohden
  • Patent number: 8461783
    Abstract: An electric drive unit for a water-bearing domestic appliance having a converter to provide a supply voltage from a multiphase voltage system; a control device to control the converter in order to operate a first electric motor connected to the multiphase voltage system; a load-current-carrying DC link arranged upstream of the converter; and an electrical device connected to at least part of the multiphase voltage system or the load-current-carrying DC link via a connection device, wherein the electrical device has a second electric to operate a hydraulic pump and/or a blower and/or a valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Pietro Navarra, Michael Rosenbauer, Hans-Dieter Rossteuscher
  • Patent number: 8274244
    Abstract: An actuator system for assisting extension of a biological joint is provided with a motor assembly, a rotary-to-linear mechanism, and an extension stop. The rotary-to-linear mechanism includes a screw that accepts rotational output of the motor assembly, and a nut that cooperates with the screw to convert rotational movement of the screw to linear movement of the nut. The extension stop is driven by linear movement of the nut in an extension direction to cause extension of the biological joint. The motor assembly, the rotary-to-linear mechanism and the extension stop cooperate to allow unpowered flexion of the joint. The system is configured without a flexion stop, and is configured such that the nut cannot drive the joint in a flexion direction. Methods of use are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Tibion Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Horst, Richard R. Marcus
  • Patent number: 8130478
    Abstract: A power limiting system for multiple electric motors includes an electrical power generating component, such as an alternator, and a plurality of motor controllers connected to an electrical bus. Each motor controller compares the voltage on the bus to a specified minimum voltage and a specified maximum voltage, and reduces its electric power output if the voltage on the bus is less than the maximum voltage while continuing to operate the electric motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Clement Vanden Godbold, Patrick Wilson Cross
  • Publication number: 20120038294
    Abstract: What is described is an actuator system (2) comprising at least one actuator (29, 29?) and an associated control system (8) which is designed for at least two operating modes, at least one of which may be deactivated, whereby one of the operating modes is a high efficiency operating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN
    Inventors: Alexander Schulz, Michael Wehse, Johann Wassermann, Manfred Neumann
  • Publication number: 20120019172
    Abstract: An electric vehicle accomplishes speed changes through the use of electronically controlled, multiple electric motor configurations that are coupled to an output drive shaft instead of a speed change transmission. A parallel-coupled motor configuration includes at least two motors that are each coupled to the output drive shaft through respective gear arrangements, each gear arrangement having a respective gear ratio. In a serially-coupled motor configuration, the stator of the second motor is coupled to the rotor of the first motor, where the rotor of the second motor is coupled to the output drive shaft. The required torque to reach or maintain a desired vehicle speed can be obtained by selective energization of either one or both of the motors (in both multi-motor configurations). Two motors are also coupled to a differential gear so that the rotational speed contributed by both motors are additive at the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Christopher P. Zing, Joachim H. Wiest, Henry T. Fung
  • Patent number: 8058823
    Abstract: An actuator system for extending and flexing a joint, including a multi-motor assembly for providing a rotational output, a rotary-to-linear mechanism for converting the rotational output from the multi-motor assembly into an extension and flexion of the joint, and a controller for operating the actuator system in several operational modes. The multi-motor assembly preferably combines power from two different sources, such that the multi-motor assembly can supply larger forces at slower speeds (“Low Gear”) and smaller forces at higher speeds (“High Gear”). The actuator has been specifically designed for extending and flexing a joint (such as an ankle, a knee, an elbow, or a shoulder) of a human. The actuator system may, however, be used to move any suitable object through any suitable movement (linear, rotational, or otherwise).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Tibion Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Horst, Kern Bhugra, Robert L. Jardine
  • Patent number: 7948203
    Abstract: An arrangement for the control of a soft starting or stopping of a three phase current motors (1), a so-called soft starter, is furnished for starting of heavy mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic drives. In order to obtain a space savings with individual or multiple installation and to obtain a better accessibility during servicing, at least one switch cell (3) is formed in a switching cabinet (2), wherein the switch cell (3) comprises at least a three phase power block (4), and the power electronic (5) as well as contactors (6, 18) and is as a unit towards the front easily demountable or inversely incorporatable and is arranged without attachment at the rear or side wall (8) of the switch cabinet (2). In addition, it is furnished that in contrast a separating switch (9) attached at the switch cabinet wall (2) with a collection rail connection (10) by way of a pluggable contact coupling (10a) is connectable upon shifting inside and disengageable upon pulling out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Inventor: Andreas Siemes
  • Publication number: 20110018471
    Abstract: A method for regulating a first printing unit is provided. The first printing unit includes a plate cylinder, a first blanket cylinder carrying a tubular blanket and an impression cylinder. The first blanket cylinder defines a region of contact with the plate cylinder. The impression cylinder defines a region of counter-pressure with the first blanket cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: GOSS INTERNATIONAL MONTATAIRE SA
    Inventor: Patrick Lepeltier
  • Publication number: 20100219777
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for controlling rotational speed on a rotating process machine (P), which for example is a turbine or a propeller, where the rotating process machine (P) is connected to at least one motor (M1) and arranged to rotate with a given rotational speed given by the motor (M1), the motor (M1) is connected to a control system (C) and the rotational speed of the motor (M1) is arranged to be controlled by a control system (C). The rotating process machine (P) comprises a load control (PC) arranged to be adaptable, the control system (C) is connected to the rotating process machine (P). With the invention, one achieves soft transitions between several selectable rotational speeds and lower energy consumption by step by step adjusting the size and the rotational speed of the motor (M1) to varying energy requirement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventor: Hallvard Slettevoll
  • Publication number: 20100176754
    Abstract: An electric drive unit for a water-bearing domestic appliance having a converter to provide a supply voltage from a multiphase voltage system; a control device to control the converter in order to operate a first electric motor connected to the multiphase voltage system; a load-current-carrying DC link arranged upstream of the converter; and an electrical device connected to at least part of the multiphase voltage system or the load-current-carrying DC link via a connection device, wherein the electrical device has a second electric to operate a hydraulic pump and/or a blower and/or a valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Pietro Navarra, Michael Rosenbauer, Hans-Dieter Rossteuscher
  • Patent number: 7699731
    Abstract: A transmission mechanism between two or more shafts of devices that interact or could possibly interact with people. The transmission mechanism has a particular application to the sector of machines for muscular training and/or rehabilitation, devices for entertainment such as carousels and amusement-park rides, service machines and robots that physically interact with human beings, and industrial robots that operate in close proximity to the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Inventors: Antonio Bicchi, Giovanni Tonietti
  • Publication number: 20100039052
    Abstract: An actuator system for extending and flexing a joint, including a multi-motor assembly for providing a rotational output, a rotary-to-linear mechanism for converting the rotational output from the multi-motor assembly into an extension and flexion of the joint, and a controller for operating the actuator system in several operational modes. The multi-motor assembly preferably combines power from two different sources, such that the multi-motor assembly can supply larger forces at slower speeds (“Low Gear”) and smaller forces at higher speeds (“High Gear”). The actuator has been specifically designed for extending and flexing a joint (such as an ankle, a knee, an elbow, or a shoulder) of a human. The actuator system may, however, be used to move any suitable object through any suitable movement (linear, rotational, or otherwise).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Robert W. Horst, Kern Bhugra, Robert L. Jardine
  • Patent number: 7583036
    Abstract: In an electrically driven vehicle having a controller, the vehicle has a steering angle sensor for outputting a detected value of a steering angle of the vehicle, the controller includes a first torque order pattern along which a torque order for a first electric motor is determined and a second torque order pattern along which a torque order for a second electric motor is determined, and the first and second torque order pattern are modified on the basis of the detected value of the steering angle so that the torque order determined along the second torque order pattern is greater than the torque order determined along the first torque order pattern under the identical velocity when the vehicle turns to the left, and the torque order determined along the first torque order pattern is greater than the torque order determined along the second torque order pattern under the identical velocity when the vehicle turns to the right.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Takashi Ikimi, Keizo Shimada, Naoshi Sugawara
  • Publication number: 20090115352
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes a transmission operative to transfer power between an engine coupled to an input member and a plurality of torque machines and an output member, A method for controlling the powertrain system includes monitoring system operation and determining an output torque request, determining a closed loop speed error, determining motor torque offsets to the torque machines based upon the closed loop speed error, determining output torque constraints based upon the motor torque offsets and the system operation, determining an output torque command based upon the output torque request and the output torque constraints, determining preferred motor torque commands for the torque machines based upon the output torque command, reducing the preferred motor torque commands for the torque machines using the motor torque offsets to the torque machines, and adjusting the reduced preferred motor torque commands for the torque machines based upon the closed loop speed error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Jason J. McConnell
  • Publication number: 20090115349
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical transmission is operative to transmit mechanical torque originating from an engine and first and second electric machines to an output member. The electric machines are electrically-operatively connected to an energy storage system for electrical power flow therebetween. A Method for operating the electro-mechanical transmission includes operating the electro-mechanical transmission in a fixed gear operating range state, determining a minimum power flow between the energy storage system and the first and second electric machines to meet an operator torque request based upon electrical power constraints and motor torque constraints, commanding a motor torque from the first electric machine based upon the minimum power flow, and commanding a motor torque from the second electric machine based upon the minimum power flow, a torque input from the engine and the commanded motor torque from the first electric machine to meet the operator torque request in the fixed gear operating range state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Anthony H. Heap
  • Publication number: 20090115354
    Abstract: A powertrain system is operative to transfer power between an input member and a plurality of power actuators and an output member to generate an output torque. The power actuators are connected to an energy storage device. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes monitoring operating conditions of the powertrain system, determining an electric power limit for output power of the energy storage device, selectively enabling electric power boost based upon the operating conditions of the powertrain system, and increasing the electric power limit when electric power boost is enabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Goro Tamai, Scott J. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20090115350
    Abstract: A method for controlling a transmission operative to transfer power between an input member and torque machines and an output member includes determining available power, motor torque constraints, and other constraints on torque transfer. Equations are provided, transformed to a second coordinate system and simultaneously solved. An achievable torque operating region is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Anthony H. Heap
  • Publication number: 20090115351
    Abstract: A powertrain system includes a transmission operative to transfer power between a plurality of power actuators and an output member, and an energy storage device. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes establishing a first set of electric power limits and a second set of electric power limits for the energy storage device, determining a preferred input power from a first power actuator based upon the first set of electric power limits, determining a first set of power constraints for constraining input power from the first power actuator and a second set of power constraints for constraining output power from the output member based upon a second set of electric power limits, and controlling operation of the powertrain system based upon the preferred input power, the first set of power constraints, and the second set of power constraints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, William R. Cawthorne
  • Publication number: 20090115353
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission is operative to transfer power between an input member and first and second torque machines and an output member in a fixed gear operating range state. The first and second torque machines are connected to an energy storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicants: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC., Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerishe Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: ANTHONY H. HEAP, TUNG-MING HSIEH
  • Publication number: 20080211432
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of electric-motor-driven vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, scooters, electric-motor trains, etc. Embodiments of the invention seek to provide an economic all-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicle possessing high dynamic characteristics and a relatively simple scheme of control over the operation of electric motors. An AWD vehicle according to the disclosed invention contains at least two gearless (direct-drive) electric motors, an electric power supply source, and an electric motor power supply control unit. At least one of said motors is a start-up (barring) motor and at least one is a cruise (propulsion) motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventor: Vasily Vasilievich Shkondin
  • Publication number: 20080197791
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicular drive system controls an engine rotation speed (NE) in a way not to exceed an engine upper limit rotation speed (NELIM). The engine upper limit rotation speed is altered depending on a second electric motor rotation speed (NM2) such that a second electric motor increasing possible rotation speed (NM2max), influenced with the engine upper limit rotation speed (NELIM), is altered depending on the second electric motor rotation speed (NM2). Consequently, when the second electric motor rotation speed (NM2) is relatively high, the engine upper limit rotation speed (NELIM) can be lowered, and the second electric motor increasing possible rotation speed (NM2max) can be altered to a lower level for suppressing an increase in rotation speed of a second electric motor (M2). Thus, the second electric motor is improved in durability thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Imai, Hiroyuki Shibata, Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata, Yuji Iwase, Tatsuya Imamura, Kenta Kumazaki, Koichiro Muta, Masakazu Kaifuku, Hidenori Kato
  • Publication number: 20080150454
    Abstract: The Objective of the present invention is to provide a multi-drive motor, which can easily fabricate responding to the design and reduce the backlash caused by meshing gears connecting to the rotation axis, comparing to the conventional motor. The objective is solved by providing a the multi-drive motor comprises: a rotor 101 having an internal gear, a plurality of element motors 11˜14 for rotating a driving gear 102 meshing from the inside with the internal gear and thereby rotating the rotor 101, and a fixing flange 103, to which the rotor 101 is fixed rotatably and the element motors 11˜14 are fixed. The bearing 104 is sandwiched between the fixing flange 103 and the opposite outer ring flange 105, further sandwiched between rotor 101 and the inner ring flange 106, and thereby the rotor 101 is fixed on the fixing flange 103 rotatably. The outer ring flange 105 is fixed on the fixing flange with screws 107, and the inner flange 106 is fixed on the rotor 101 with screw 108.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Masataka Ito, Yuichi Komazawa, Tsutomu Nishibori
  • Patent number: 7205730
    Abstract: The invention provides an article transport vehicle that includes: a vehicle body; a first wheel that supports the vehicle body; a second wheel that is disposed spaced apart from the first wheel in a fore-and-aft direction, and that supports the vehicle body; a first drive motor capable of driving the first wheel; a second drive motor capable of driving the first wheel; velocity sensor for obtaining information necessary for obtaining a velocity of the vehicle body; and controller for controlling the first and the second drive motors, wherein the controller performs a first travel velocity control with respect to the first drive motor so as to control the first drive motor based on a difference between a target travel velocity and a travel velocity based on a detection by the velocity sensor, and performs a first conflict suppress control with respect to the second drive motor so as to control the second drive motor to reduce conflict with driving of the first wheel by the first travel velocity control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Taguchi
  • Patent number: 7026780
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for stabilizing the motion of an articulated chain of a chain block, especially to prevent the formation of resonance oscillation of the chain, in which an articulated chain is led across a polygonal chain wheel with non-uniform pitch, which is driven by an electric motor. In order to create a method to prevent the formation of a resonance oscillation of the articulated chain, it is proposed that a periodic and/or stochastic and dampening actuating variable is superimposed on the velocity of the chain wheel (4) and the dampening actuating variable produces a change in the chain velocity so as to prevent a formation of a resonance oscillation. The chain drive with reduced polygon effect is characterized in that an electronic damper (8) is hooked up in front of the electric motor (2), which produces a control of the electric motor (2) such that a formation of a resonance oscillation of the articulated chain (5) is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Demag Cranes & Components GmbH
    Inventors: Eberhard Schröder, Giuliano Persico
  • Patent number: 6759818
    Abstract: To realize structure simplification and reduction in manufacturing cost without lowering power transmission efficiency and reliability. The present invention includes a first motor 5 and a second motor 6, and a lead 2 of a ball screw 12 is disposed coaxially with a motor rotary shaft 5a on a first motor 5 side and a nut 3 of the ball screw 12 is disposed coaxially with a motor rotary shaft 6a on a second motor 6 side so that the first motor 5 and the second motor 6 are connected to each other via the ball screw 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: IHI Aerospace Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Oyori
  • Publication number: 20040061336
    Abstract: For enhancing the operational safety of an electric drive unit of a vehicle comprising a generator (G), which is operated by a combustion machine (V), and drive motors (M1, M2), which are connected to said generator via a direct-voltage intermediate circuit, the generator and drive motors are each subdivided into partial units (TG1, TG2; TM11-TM22), and these partial units have partial power electronics units (TGLE1, TGLE2; TM1LE1, TM1LE2 . . . ) associated therewith. The mutually corresponding partial units of generator, motors and power electronics units each constitute a drive circuit (AK1, AK2) of their own, with control signals being supplied to components thereof by a specifically assigned system control unit (1, 2). The system control units that are interconnected via an information exchange channel (IAK) can undertake compensation measures in their drive circuit or in the other drive circuits in the event of a complete or partial failure of a drive circuit (AK1, AK2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Peter Ehrhart, Christof Scherg, Werner Weck
  • Patent number: 6680589
    Abstract: A device for monitoring the state of relay contacts is especially useful for controlling motor windings in air conditioning systems. When a first relay switch, which is operative to supply power to a first motor winding does not open as desired, a switch monitoring module responsively controls the second relay switch energization to prevent the second relay switch from being closed. This prevents power that would be supplied to a second motor winding from being also supplied to the first motor winding and causing potential damage to the first motor winding. A disclosed example includes an opto isolator that is energized only when the first relay switch is open as desired. The opto isolator controls an output signal to a second relay control portion, which only operates the second relay if the first relay has opened as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: A-l Components, Corp.
    Inventors: David D. Neranjan, Mark O. Gerwig
  • Publication number: 20030184243
    Abstract: In control apparatus and method for at least one electrical rotating machine, two rotors are disposed in the electrical rotating machine on the same axis of rotation and being driven independently of each other by means of a generated compound current and are associated with at least one stator and a position of at least one of the rotors is controlled in such a manner that a maximum value of the compound current is reduced as low as possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kan Akatsu
  • Publication number: 20030178953
    Abstract: Two methods for operating a motor vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine (VM) and by two electrical machines (E1, E2) are proposed. The motor vehicle has a transmission (G) with two power paths (LP1, LP2) controllable independently of one another. Each power path (LP1, LP2) is coupled via a respective epicyclic gear (P1, P2) to one of the electrical machines (LP1, LP2) and to the input shaft (KW) of the transmission (G) and can be coupled via shiftable gears (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, R) to the output shaft (AW) of the transmission (G). The object is to make it possible to operate the motor vehicle more efficiently. This is achieved in that to reduce circulating mechanical power flow between the two power paths (LP1, LP2), particularly in the boost mode or upon recuperation of braking energy, the gear combination (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, R) is varied, or the engine rpm is lowered, or only one electrical machine (E1, E2) is used as a generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Stefan Tumback, Klaus-Peter Schnelle
  • Patent number: 6583590
    Abstract: A string drawing electrical device for a racquet has a casing, a string holder, an actuating device and a control unit. The string holder is rotatably attached to a panel of the casing. The actuating device is mounted in the casing and provides two functions, feeding and reversing, to the string holder. The control unit is mounted in the casing for controlling the actuating device to act. Accordingly, the string drawing electrical device can tighten and loosen the string, and the tensile force of the string of the racquet can be accurately controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventor: David Chu