And Lock-up Clutch Patents (Class 475/326)
  • Patent number: 10197135
    Abstract: A motorcycle wheel attachment or replacement of the existing drive pulley used on the rear rubber cushioned wheel of motorcycles and trikes. The attachment or replacement contains an apparatus that allows the operator of the motorcycle or trike to ride the motorcycle or trike in forward or reverse drive using a control linkage or electrical switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Inventor: Richard Yelvington
  • Patent number: 9739365
    Abstract: A planetary gear drive system in which the planetary gears are made of a resilient plastic or polymer compound so as to allow slippage within the system in response to over-torqueing, and a reverse drive incorporating the planetary gear drive system for use on motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Richard D. Yelvington
  • Publication number: 20140011627
    Abstract: The brake system includes a sun gear fixedly mounted to an input shaft. The sun gear is mounted inside a planetary chassis between two pinion gears. The sun gear has teeth protruding from its circumference on both sides thereof. The teeth are aligned in such a way that when the sun gear is turned to a neutral position, the teeth are engaged with the pinion gears, preventing a rotation of the pinion gears, and when the sun gear is rotated away from the neutral position, the teeth are disengaged from the pinion gears allowing the pinion gears to rotate. When no torque is applied to the input shaft, the sun gear is urged back to its neutral position. In a second embodiment, the sun gear is urged in a drag mode against the trailing side of the teeth on the pinion gears, for producing a pawl-and-latch noise during use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventor: Brian Lundrigan
  • Patent number: 8475324
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a speed variable system, and in the first input rotating direction, it is capable of controlling the output shaft to output in normal and reverse rotating directions, and the input shaft is in different speed ratios to the output shaft with respect to the normal and reverse rotation directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 8306715
    Abstract: A controller has a command section, a control section, a time measurement section, and a command fixing section. The command section generates a command regarding the actuation state of a lock-up clutch in accordance with a condition value that is determined by the accelerator operating amount and the vehicle speed. The time measurement section starts to measure time when the accelerator operating amount drops to 0 with the current condition value maintained in a hysteresis range and the command section generates the acceleration slip executing command. When the accelerator operating amount is increased from 0, the time measurement section stops the measurement of time and resets the measured time to 0. The command fixing section fixes the command of the command section as an acceleration slip executing command in the period from when the time measurement by the time measurement section has started to when the measured time reaches a determination value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Moriya, Yoshio Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8197373
    Abstract: A power unit includes: an energy dispensing/synthesizing system in which a first body of rotation is connected to an output shaft of a prime mover and a second body of rotation is connected to a driven unit via a first power transmission path; a first power transmission system selectively operable between an operating state for enabling power transmission in the first power transmission path and an operating state for disconnecting the power transmission; a second power transmission path connecting between the output shaft of the prime mover and the driven unit; and a second power transmission system selectively operable between an operating state for enabling power transmission in the second power transmission path and an operating state for disconnecting the power transmission, wherein an auxiliary device is connected to a second body of rotation of the energy dispensing/synthesizing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigemitsu Akutsu, Noriyuki Abe
  • Patent number: 7815542
    Abstract: A transfer case comprising a rotational input member, a rotational output member, a rotational planetary gear portion operatingly engaged between the input member and the output member, a moveable cam member selectively engagable with the planetary gear portion, whereby the rotation of the planetary gear portion is stopped when the cam member is engaged with the planetary gear portion, the rotational direction of the output member is in the same direction as the input member when the cam member is not engaged with the planetary gear portion, and the rotational direction of the output member is opposite the rotational direction of the input member when the cam member is engaged with the planetary gear portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: The Gates Corporation
    Inventor: Andrzej Dec
  • Patent number: 7608009
    Abstract: A planetary gear type transmission includes a planetary gear mechanism including a sun gear, a ring gear, and a planetary carrier which all have the same axis, an output shaft having the same axis as the planetary gear mechanism, a sleeve supported movable in an axial direction by the output shaft, an inner piece connected to the sleeve while the sleeve is approaching the planetary gear mechanism and including a first inner spline, and an outer piece connected to the sleeve while the sleeve is separating from the planetary gear mechanism and including a second outer spline. The sleeve includes a first outer spline fitted to the first inner spline and a second inner spline fitted to the second outer spline. A distance between the second inner spline and the planetary gear mechanism is smaller than a distance between the first outer spline and the planetary gear mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignees: Aisin Ai Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Saito, Satoshi Munakata
  • Publication number: 20080242463
    Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle that includes an engine and a motor-generator connected to the engine through a power split device, upon acceleration in a running state, there may arise a case where the rotational speed of the MG1 enters a lockup area and, then, the MG1 cannot pull out of the lockup state with ease in such a manner that the rotational speed of the MG1 is shifted from a normal rotation area to a reverse rotation area, in accordance with an increase of a torque produced by the MG1. In this case, the engine is controlled such that a torque produced by the engine is decreased. Thus, the rotational speeds of the engine and MG1 are reduced entirely, so that the MG1 can pull out of the lockup state without increasing the torque produced by the MG1 any more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Yamada, Takeshi Itoh, Noriaki Ikemoto
  • Patent number: 7390280
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transmission capable of providing a forward and a reverse drive for a model vehicle. The transmission comprises a drive gear and at least one transfer gear which is capable of engaging the drive gear. The at least one transfer gear is contained within a gear housing. An output gear is coupled to an output shaft, and the output gear is capable of engaging the at least one transfer gear. The transmission also comprises a locker ring capable of receiving the output gear and a shift lever assembly which is coupled to the locker ring. The shift lever assembly is also capable of engaging the gear housing. The invention also provides a method of changing a direction of travel of a vehicle and a system for controlling a direction of travel of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Hobbico, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Paul Duitsman, Richard Arlin Vessell
  • Patent number: 7311636
    Abstract: A motorcycle wheel attachment for replacement for a rear sheave or sprocket that attaches to the hub of the rear wheel. The outer perimeter of the apparatus resembles the outer perimeter of the replaced motorcycle sheave/sprocket so that the respective drive belt or chain can be affixed around the perimeter. With respect to the belt or chain, the engine and transmission, the attachment functionally replaces the sheave/sprocket. The attachment includes an enclosed inner gear system having a locked and unlocked position. In the locked position, none of the gears rotate with respect to the exterior of the attachment. In the unlocked position, the gears couple to the movement of the exterior of the attachment as well as the drive force exerted by the belt or chain. This coupled movement allows the attachment and wheel to rotate in a reverse direction using the forward drive of the engine, thereby giving the motorcycle reverse power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Inventor: Peter P. Regula
  • Patent number: 7094174
    Abstract: An automatic transmission of a motor vehicle includes a first rotating element provided by coupling sun gears of a first planetary gear set and a second planetary gear set to each other, a second rotating element provided by coupling carriers of the first and second planetary gear sets to each other, a third rotating element provided by a ring gear of the first planetary gear set, and a fourth rotating element provided by a ring gear of the second planetary gear set. The first rotating element is selectively fixed to a transmission case by a first brake or coupled to an input shaft by a first clutch, and the second rotating element is selectively fixed to the case by a second brake or coupled to the input shaft by a second clutch. The fourth rotating element is coupled integrally to a ring gear of a third planetary gear set, and the third rotating element is coupled integrally to an output gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Terufumi Miyazaki, Yoshihiro Iijima
  • Patent number: 7083541
    Abstract: An axle drive block for a motor vehicle, comprising a first and a second differential in a driven housing. Both of the differentials are coaxially aligned planetary spur gears, the sun wheels of which are drivably connected to the semiaxes of the first driven axle. The planet wheels of both differentials mesh the joint ring gear of the sun wheels. In order to lock the interaxle differential, the housing is provided with a first striking surface interacting with a second striking surface which is pressed thereto by ball ramps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hermann Pecnik, Helmut Stelzl
  • Patent number: 7044881
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes a first rotating element provided by a sun gear of a second planetary gear set, a second rotating element provided by coupling carriers of the second planetary gear set and a third planetary gear set to each other, a third rotating element provided by coupling ring gears of the second and third planetary gear sets to each other, and a fourth rotating element provided by a sun gear of the third planetary gear set. The second and third planetary gear sets are combined with a first planetary gear set so that the automatic transmission can provide seven forward gear stages by changing a combination of two engaging elements, such as clutches and brakes, for coupling or stopping the corresponding rotating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Yasuo Hojo, Akira Hoshino, Terufumi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7037233
    Abstract: An automatic transmission of a motor vehicle includes a first rotating element provided by coupling sun gears of a first planetary gear set and a second planetary gear set to each other, a second rotating element provided by coupling carriers of the first and second planetary gear sets to each other, a third rotating element provided by a ring gear of the first planetary gear set, and a fourth rotating element provided by a ring gear of the second planetary gear set. The first rotating element is selectively fixed to a transmission case by a first brake or coupled to an input shaft by a first clutch, and the second rotating element is selectively fixed to the case by a second brake or coupled to the input shaft by a second clutch. The fourth rotating element is coupled integrally to a ring gear of a third planetary gear set, and the third rotating element is coupled integrally to an output gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Terufumi Miyazakii, Yoshihiro Iijima
  • Patent number: 6976933
    Abstract: A powertrain includes a planetary gear arrangement, an engine, an input clutch, an input shaft, and an output shaft. The planetary gear arrangement includes a simple planetary gearset and a compound planetary gearset, each of which has connected therewith three synchronizer mechanisms. The synchronizer mechanisms are manipulated in various combinations to establish ten forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio between the input shaft and the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Raymond J. Haka
  • Patent number: 6758785
    Abstract: A family of power transmissions includes three planetary gearsets, which each have a member interconnected with one of the other planetary gearsets, and two of the planetary gearsets have a second member continuously interconnected. Each family member includes six torque-transmitting mechanisms which are engaged in combinations of two to establish at least seven forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio within the planetary gear arrangement between the transmission input shaft and the transmission output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Madhusudan Raghavan, Patrick Benedict Usoro, Norman Kenneth Bucknor, Chunhao J. Lee
  • Patent number: 6743145
    Abstract: The family of transmissions has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide at least seven forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio. The transmission family members include three planetary gear sets having six torque-transmitting mechanisms and a fixed interconnection. Also, one planetary gear member is continuously connected with the transmission housing. The powertrain includes an engine and torque converter that is not continuously connected with any of the planetary gear members and an output member that is continuously connected with one of the planetary gear members. The six torque-transmitting mechanisms provide interconnections between various gear members, the input shaft, the output shaft, and with the transmission housing, and are operated in combinations of three to establish at least seven forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Usoro, Madhusudan Raghavan, Norman Kenneth Bucknor
  • Publication number: 20040075536
    Abstract: A handle provided with sound and light effects by having a chamber in the middle of the handle to contain a generator unit and a sound device linked to the handle; one end of the handle containing a turning gear to drive a transmission gear set; a holder containing an induction coil connected to light emitting devices and a ring magnet penetrating by a shaft with both ends of the shaft formed with a driven gear to be engaged with the transmission gear set for the generator unit; the sound device disposed in relation to the turning gear gives sound whenever it is hit; the handle is turned to synchronously drive the generator unit for both of the ring magnet and the induction coil to rotate in relation to each other for generating power to turn on the light emitting devices, and to drive the turning gear to hit the sound device to give light and sound effects to the handle for adding more fun to the riding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventor: Ting-Hsing Chen
  • Patent number: 6716131
    Abstract: A family of power transmissions, which are individually employed in a powertrain, include three planetary gearsets and five torque-transmitting mechanisms. The torque-transmitting mechanisms are engaged in combinations of two to establish a reverse speed ratio and at least six forward speed ratios between a transmission input shaft and a transmission output shaft. Each of the family members has a member of a first planetary gearset continuously connected with a member of the second planetary gearset, another member of the second planetary gearset continuously connected with a member of the third planetary gearset, and a third member of the second planetary gearset being continuously connected with a transmission housing. The input shaft and output shaft are continuously connected with at least one respective member of the planetary gearsets. At least two members of the planetary gearsets are non-continuously connected members. These members are components of the first or third planetary gearsets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Usoro, Chi-Kuan Kao, Madhusudan Raghavan
  • Patent number: 6716133
    Abstract: The family of transmissions has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide at least five forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission family members include three planetary gear sets and four torque-transmitting mechanisms. The powertrain includes an engine and torque converter that is continuously connected to at least one member of the planetary gear arrangement and an output member that is continuously connected with another of the planetary gear members. At least one member of the second planetary gear set is continuously connected with the transmission housing. The four torque-transmitting mechanisms provide interconnections between various gear members and with the input and the output shaft, and sometimes with the transmission housing, and are operated in combinations of two to establish at least five forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Madhusudan Raghavan, Chunhao J. Lee, Patrick Benedict Usoro
  • Patent number: 6712733
    Abstract: The family of transmissions has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide at least five forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission family members include three planetary gear sets, first and second interconnecting members, and four clutches. The powertrain includes an engine and torque converter that is continuously connected to at least one member of the third planetary gear set and an output member that is continuously connected with another member of the third planetary gear set. The second interconnecting member continuously connects members of the first and second planetary gear sets with the transmission housing. The four clutches provide interconnections between various gear members, the first interconnecting member, and with the input and the output shaft, and are operated in combinations of two to establish at least five forward speed ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Madhusudan Raghavan, Chunhao J. Lee, Patrick Benedict Usoro
  • Patent number: 6669597
    Abstract: The family of transmissions has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide at least seven forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission family members include three planetary gear sets having six torque-transmitting mechanisms. A fixed interconnection continuously connects members of the first and second planetary gear sets with the transmission housing. The powertrain includes an engine and torque converter that is continuously connected to one of the planetary gear members and an output member that is continuously connected with another one of the planetary gear members. The six torque-transmitting mechanisms provide interconnections between various gear members, the input shaft, the output shaft, and with the transmission housing, and are operated in combinations of three to establish at least seven forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Usoro, Madhusudan Raghavan, Norman Kenneth Bucknor
  • Patent number: 6645116
    Abstract: A family of transmissions has a plurality of members each of which includes three planetary gearsets, five torque-transmitting mechanisms, an input shaft, and an output shaft. The torque-transmitting mechanisms are selectively engageable in combinations of three to establish at least six forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio between the input shaft and the output shaft of each family member. Each family member has two continuous interconnecting members, one of which interconnects a member the first planetary gearset with a member of the second planetary gearset, and the second of which connects another member of the second planetary gearset with a member of the third planetary gearset. The five torque-transmitting mechanisms complete the connections between the planetary gear members and/or the transmission housing which are necessary to provide the six forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Benedict Usoro, Norman Kenneth Bucknor, Chunhao J. Lee, Madhusudan Raghavan
  • Patent number: 6165098
    Abstract: A powertrain has an engine, torque converter and multi-speed transmission. The transmission has a simple planetary gear set and a compound planetary gear set. The gear sets are interconnected between the sun gear member of the simple planetary and the carrier assembly member of the compound planetary. The simple planetary ring gear member is continuously connected with an output shaft and the sun gear member of the compound planetary is continuously connected with an input shaft. Four clutches and two brakes are selectively engaged in pairs to provide six forward speed ratios and one reverse ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kumaraswamy V. Hebbale, Sekhar Raghavan, Patrick Benedict Usoro
  • Patent number: 5980419
    Abstract: A vehicle having a transfer case is provided with an overdrive unit including an input shaft, an output shaft drivingly connectable to the input shaft, a control means having a first position in which the input shaft drives the output shaft at a first relative rate of rotation and a second position in which the input shaft drives the output shaft at a second different relative rate of rotation, the input shaft and the output shaft being disposed on the same side of the overdrive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: GKN Drive Line Limited
    Inventors: Anthony Rouse, David Hiscox
  • Patent number: 5647817
    Abstract: A two directional multi-speed shifting sear of middle axle is made of outer ring, bearings ring, starwheel, freewheel screw cup, freewheel plate, core teeth, inner and outer pawls, and chainwheel etc. The chainwheel is fixed on the outer ring through thread or thread hole. The starwheel is geared with inner teeth of the outer ring and the core teeth. The outer pawl is mounted on pawl hub, the later is fixed on the bottom bracket case of the cycle frame. The middle axle is passed through and fixed with the freewheel plate, the core teeth and the right crank, and then inserted into the bottom bracket case. With such a shifting gear, a pedal cycle may be given a unique function that when the cycle is moving forward, the changing of it's moving speed in the very moving direction may be in-situ realized by variating the shifting gear through pedalling to enable the crank to be rotating in either positive or inversive directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Steven Siuwai Lam
    Inventor: Dianlin Chang
  • Patent number: 5607369
    Abstract: A differential motion gear system to control the output speed ratio by changing the input direction. The gear system utilizes a planetary gearset to achieve the desired results. The input shaft may be directly connected to the sungear, the differential motion gear set, or to the ring gear. One or more one-way drive mechanisms are connected between a stationary case and one or more of the planetary gearset elements and between the planetary gearset elements and the output shaft. Selective braking of the planetary gearset elements, in conjunction with the change of direction of the input shaft causes the output shaft to rotate in a single direction, but at different output speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang