Electric Clutch Patents (Class 477/13)
  • Patent number: 10090732
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting structure for mechanical connection of a first housing with a second housing, whereby one face of the second housing has a hollow cylindrical recess for inserting the first housing; according to the invention it is provided that (i) the hollow cylindrical recess is formed of a ring-shaped collar, and (ii) for producing a frictional connection of the first housing with a second housing, the collar has at least one tensioning element, which in radial direction with respect to the collar is in active connection with the first housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: IMS GEAR SE & CO. KGAA
    Inventor: Dominik Bea
  • Patent number: 9413217
    Abstract: An electromagnetic braking system of a power generation system includes an electrically conductive disc coupled to a rotatable shaft operatively coupled between a prime mover and a generator; a controller for receiving a status signal from the power generation system and for generating a control signal based on the status signal; and an inducting unit for applying an electromagnetic braking force on the electrically conductive disc when commanded by the control signal to regulate a rotational speed of the rotatable shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ara Panosyan, Simon Herbert Schramm, Jan Erich Hemmelmann, Christof Martin Sihler, Francesco Papini, Xiaoting Dong, Johannes Huber
  • Patent number: 9221534
    Abstract: A device for connecting a gearmotor to an aircraft wheel, the device comprising: a casing rotatably carrying a shaft that is to be driven by the gearmotor, and on which a pinion is mounted idle by means of a rolling bearing; a toothed ring for being constrained in rotation with the aircraft wheel and arranged to mesh permanently with the idle pinion; and rotation securing structure for selectively constraining the idle pinion in rotation with the shaft. A bushing is interposed between the shaft and the rolling bearing of the idle pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventor: Daniel Bucheton
  • Publication number: 20150038291
    Abstract: [Problem] A drive unit (10) for driving, via a first and second geared cable (8, 9), a first and second member to be driven (sun roof and shade) provided to an opening part formed on the secured roof of a vehicle, wherein while being able to switch between a state in which the power from a motor (18) is transferred to both the first and second members to be driven and a state in which the power is selectively transferred to the first or second member to be driven, the member to be driven, in which the transfer of the power from the motor (18) is blocked, is prevented from moving during an impact when the vehicle collides in the selective transfer state. [Solution] The output path of the motor (18) is divided into a first and second output shaft (22, 42).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Niki Kenichi
  • Patent number: 8918257
    Abstract: In a linear solenoid 107n, an electromagnetic coil 71n, a pressure sensor 72n, and label resistors 73n and 74n for correcting an inherent variation in a pressure detection characteristic are integrated; the standard characteristic of the pressure sensor 72n is stored in a control module 120M; when driving is started, the resistance values of the label resistors 73n and 74n are read, the pressure detection characteristic of the utilized pressure sensor 72n is corrected, and an excitation current for the electromagnetic coil 71n is controlled in such a way that a target adjusted hydraulic pressure is obtained. Even when due to a change in the oil temperature, the valve opening characteristic of the linear solenoid 107n changes, the adjusted hydraulic pressure is controlled to be constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shozo Kanzaki, Fumiaki Arimai, Hiroyoshi Nishizaki
  • Publication number: 20140342874
    Abstract: A positive-locking clutch for a motor vehicle comprises a coupling element with a toothing, a rotatable counterpart element with a counterpart toothing, and an electromagnetic actuator. The coupling element can be moved by means of the electromagnetic actuator between a disengaged position and an engaged position, and wherein the toothing of the coupling element is meshed with the counterpart toothing of the counterpart element in the engaged position. Even after the engaged position of the coupling element has been fully reached, a backlash is provided between the toothing of the coupling element and the counterpart toothing of the counterpart element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Markus Kohlbock, Daniel Prix, Dominik Schober, David Willam
  • Patent number: 8821346
    Abstract: A clutch actuator unit is provided that includes a housing having a mounting space and a penetration aperture for receiving an operating rod. A slide pad and slider are disposed along an inner side surface of the mounting space, and are configured to move back and forth within the housing. An operating rod that is connected to the slider through the penetration aperture is moved back and forth, along with the slider and slide pad, through the aperture via a drive portion. A stopper is also integrally formed along the front surface of the slide pad to limit the movement of the slider accordingly. In doing so, the disclosed actuator is able to dynamically locate certain stroke positions and provide an improved shifting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Pyeong Hwa Valeo Co., Ltd., Motonic Corporation, Keyang Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taewon Kim, Yeonho Kim, Hee Ra Lee, Baekyu Kim, Junglyung Choi, Myung-Kweon Kang, Wookyo Jang, Yoon-Sub So, Jinho Jang, Namhun Lee, Man-Dae Hur, Hongcheol Moon, Chang-Hwa Kim
  • Patent number: 8755980
    Abstract: A vehicle with a transmission having a crankshaft and an output shaft. A clutch located between the output shaft and a drive wheel is engaged and disengaged according to a rotational speed of the output shaft. An idle speed control device performs idle speed control to adjust an idle rotational speed of an engine. An electronic control unit (ECU) suppresses or stops the idle speed control when the clutch is engaged, or when an abnormality in the transmission is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichiro Sawada
  • Patent number: 8727941
    Abstract: An electric tool causes a drive mechanism to drive a tip tool to thereby cause the tip tool to perform predetermined work, and the drive mechanism is provided with a driving gear and a driven gear which meshes with the driving gear. The electric tool is configured in such a manner that an axial force or a radial force generated by the meshing between the driving gear and the driven gear is measured to detect the state of torque acting on the tip tool, and drive control of the drive mechanism is performed according to the detected state of torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventor: Yonosuke Aoki
  • Patent number: 8590495
    Abstract: In a control device 1 for a clutch unit 20 for transmitting rotation of a crankshaft 18 of an engine 100 to a water pump 2 for circulating cooling water within the engine 100, it is determined that whether engagement or disengagement of the clutch unit 20 when a request to start the engine 100 is made, and the clutch unit 20 is caused to be in an engagement state based on a determination result before cranking of the engine 100 starts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Kobayashi, Kunihiko Hayashi, Akihito Hosoi, Masahide Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8306707
    Abstract: A system and method of dithering speed and/or torque for shifting a transmission of a vehicle having an engine, a reversible, variable displacement hydraulic motor/pump which can be driven by the engine, a hydraulic accumulator supplied by said motor/pump, and at least one reversible hydraulic driving motor for propelling the vehicle supplied with fluid by the hydraulic accumulator and/or by said motor/pump operating as a pump. A transmission unit connects the engine with the variable displacement hydraulic motor/pump during a first mode of operation (city mode) and connects the engine to a vehicle drive wheel during a second mode of operation. The system utilizes stored hydraulic energy to dither the output of the driving motor in order to achieve quick and smooth shifts between city and highway mode, or between various ranges within the city mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Yisheng Zhang, John Loeffler
  • Patent number: 7641583
    Abstract: A first aspect of the present invention is concerned with a series hybrid drive train for a vehicle comprising a traction motor, an electric generator, a three-position clutch (20) and a controller. The three-position clutch allows the generator to be connected to an internal combustion engine (12) of the vehicle, to the traction motor or to remain freewheeling. In a second aspect of the present invention, a four-position clutch is used to further allow the internal combustion engine to be connected directly to the wheels to thereby yield a series/parallel drive train. A third aspect of the present invention is concerned with a method of operating such a hybrid drive train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: TM4 Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Houle, Pierre Blouin, Louis-Philippe Bibeau, Jianhong Xu, Ghislain Lambert, Philippe Noël
  • Patent number: 6771031
    Abstract: An improved control method activates an electric motor to drive a torque-to-thrust converter for controlling the torque capacity of a clutch mechanism. The control utilizes a model-based feed-forward control in combination with a closed-loop position feed-back control. The desired clutch torque capacity is characterized in terms of a desired motor position, and the feed-forward control models the motor speed and position response to changes in the desired motor position. The modeled speed and position, in turn, are used to create a feed-forward command, and the feed-forward command is combined with a feedback command based on actual position error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Shushan Bai
  • Patent number: 6569054
    Abstract: A parallel hybrid vehicle can achieve regeneration efficiency in a regenerating operation by employing an electromagnetic two-way clutch which is superior in engaging and disengaging, can shorten a length in axial direction and can provide great freedom in layout. The parallel hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a motor generator having both functions of a generator and a motor, a transmission, a torque combining mechanism combining an output torque of the engine and an output torque of the motor generator by a planetary gear mechanism for outputting torque, control means for controlling output torque of the motor generator and rotating condition, and an electromagnetic two-way clutch mechanism selectively controlling engaging and disengaging between respective elements of the planetary gear mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Jatco Transtechnology, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Kato
  • Patent number: 6524218
    Abstract: A vehicle has a power extraction mechanism 8, 9, 10a, 10b, 10c, which transmits the rotation of the power transmission mechanism to the auxiliary machines 20, 21, a solenoid clutch 11, which enables or disables the transmission of rotation to the auxiliary machines by the power extraction mechanism, and a determination device 30, 31, 32, which determines whether a control system of the motor 22 for auxiliary machines is operating abnormally or normally. The solenoid clutch 11 is maintained in a disengaged state when the control system of the motor 22 for the auxiliary machines is operating normally. In contrast, when an abnormality is detected in the control system, the auxiliary machines are driven by the rotational force of the power transmission mechanism because the solenoid clutch 11 is engaged at that time. In this manner, it is possible to maintain normal operation of the vehicle by driving the auxiliary machines even when there is an abnormality in the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Nissan Diesel, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Yamada, Jun Yamada, Masakazu Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6377883
    Abstract: By preventing engagement of an engaging part (clutch) under appropriate conditions, it is possible to effectively avoid the so-called surging phenomenon. When there is an engaging directive for the clutch, the rotational speed of the engaging element positioned at the output shaft side of the drive/regeneration motor (the clutch output rotational speed) is detected, and the gear ratio of the CVT is detected, and when the product of the rotational speed of the engaging element and the gear ratio of the CVT is equal to or below a predetermined value, complete engagement between the engaging elements is prevented, and control is conducted which makes the gear ratio large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eijiro Shimabukuro, Shigeru Aoki, Kazuhiro Ueda, Yusuke Tatara
  • Patent number: 6345216
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus for a vehicle, including a vehicle velocity sensor; an engine rotational speed sensor; a first clutch switch which becomes off when a clutch is fully engaged, and successively from the fully engaged state becomes on just before the clutch is placed in a partially engaged state; a second clutch switch which becomes off when a clutch is fully released, and successively from the fully released state becomes on just before the clutch is placed in a partially engaged state; and a motor control device for controlling so as to generate electricity by the motor, determining as the approval of the idling power-generating control state, when at least one of the following two conditions is satisfied: the condition that a vehicle velocity is zero and an engine rotational speed exceeds zero, and the condition that a vehicle velocity is zero and the second clutch switch is off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Morimoto, Yoshiaki Omata
  • Patent number: 6217469
    Abstract: A control system controls a line pressure applied to a CVT upon taking account of a certrifugal pressure caused by a rotation of pulleys. The control system determines whether the centrifugal pressure is greater than a predeterminied value only by which the pulley transmits an input torque from an engine. When the determination is affirmative, a lower limit of a duty ratio for operating a line pressure control valve is switched from a lower limit of a linear range to 0% duty ratio. Therefore, an actual transmissiou ratio control range is expanded while preventing an undershoot of the line pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Sawada, Hirofumi Okahara
  • Patent number: 6149544
    Abstract: The invention concerns a drive system, especially for a motor vehicle, with a drive assembly, especially an internal combustion engine (1); and at least one electric machine (4), which acts as an electromagnetic coupling in the drive train (2) of the drive system and/or as an active transmission synchronization device. The invention is also oriented to a method of operating a drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignees: ISAD Electronic Systems GmbH & Co. KG, Grundl und Hoffmann GmbH
    Inventors: Ullrich Masberg, Thomas Pels, Klaus-Peter Zeyen, Andreas Grundl, Bernhard Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 5989151
    Abstract: A vehicle engine cooling system includes a coupling assembly to be connected to and rotated by a vehicle engine output shaft. An electric motor includes a motor shaft having first and second ends. An impeller is coupled to the first end of the motor shaft. A clutch structure is integral with the electric motor and includes an input member carried by the second end of the motor shaft for rotation therewith. An end of the coupling structure is operatively associated with the input member to cause rotation of the input member upon rotation of the coupling assembly. An electro-magnet structure is disposed about the input member. The clutch structure also includes output structure having a mounting member fixed to the motor shaft. A movable element, including magnetically permeable material, is mounted with respect to the mounting member for rotational movement therewith and for movement between a non-engaging position and an engaging position. A spring biases the movable element towards the non-engaging position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Canada Limited
    Inventors: Peter A. Kershaw, Marek Horski, Andrew Lakerdas, Oliver Stegelmann
  • Patent number: 5905346
    Abstract: A power output apparatus (20) of the present invention includes a clutch motor (30), an assist motor (40), and a controller (80) for controlling the clutch motor (30) and the assist motor (40). The clutch motor (30) includes an outer rotor (32) linked with a crankshaft (56) of a gasoline engine (50) and an inner rotor (34) connecting with a drive shaft (22). The assist motor (40) includes a rotor (42) connecting with the drive shaft (22). A control CPU (90) of the controller (80) controls a first driving circuit (91) to make the clutch motor (30) carry out power operation, so that the drive shaft (22) is rotated at a revolving speed higher than that of the crankshaft (56). The control CPU (90) also controls a second driving circuit (92) to make the assist motor (40) carry out regenerative operation. The electric power regenerated by the assist motor (40) is supplied to the clutch motor (30) to cover the electric power consumed by the clutch motor (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Yamada, Takao Miyatani, Yasutomo Kawabata, Ryouji Mizutani, Ryuji Toh
  • Patent number: 5873801
    Abstract: A power output apparatus (20) includes an engine (50), a clutch motor (30) connecting with a crankshaft (56), an assist motor (40) connecting with a drive shaft (22), and a controller (80) for controlling the clutch motor (30) and the assist motor (40). When an electrical angle of the rotors in the clutch motor (30) is equal to .pi./2, a constant current is made to flow through three-phase coils (36) of the clutch motor (30) in order to enable a torque equal to or greater than a maximum torque ripple of the engine (50) to be applied from the clutch motor (30) to a drive shaft (22) and the crankshaft (56). This locks up an outer rotor (32) and an inner rotor (34) of the clutch motor (30). This structure enables the torque and rotation of the engine (50) to be directly transmitted to the drive shaft (22) at a high efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Taga, Eiji Yamada, Takao Miyatani, Yasutomo Kawabata
  • Patent number: 5773904
    Abstract: An electric machine which can be operated optionally as a motor or generator and in particular can be installed in the drive train of a motor vehicle with a hybrid drive. The machine includes a stator and a rotor of substantially cylindrical shape, The rotor is positioned about the stator to form a circumferential air gap between the stator and the rotor. An integrated switchable clutch is provided for the transmission of torque. The rotor is arranged on the outside (external-rotor machine) of the stator and the clutch is arranged within the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Schiebold, Wolfgang Thieler
  • Patent number: 5628704
    Abstract: A drive system for driving at least one and preferably, a plurality of driven components. The drive system includes a multi-drive plate for securedly mounting and accurately positioning a plurality of drive system components on a single support structure. The drive system also has a single drive belt for being driven by at least one driving member. The multi-drive plate supports and aligns pulleys connected to the driving member and the driven component so that the single drive belt drives at least one driven component. The driving device may include a clutch for allowing the drive system to be driven by a main driving device or by an auxiliary drive device. The driving device and the at least one driven component are mounted on the same side of the multi-drive plate. The pulleys attached to the driving device and the at least one driven component and the serpentine belt are mounted on another side of the multi-drive plate so that the serpentine belt is easily accessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Inventors: Richard Fischler, James D. McCusker
  • Patent number: 5617758
    Abstract: In a permanent magnet starter, a pinion clutch is smoothly engaged with a rotating shaft of an electric motor through a helical spline. A rotation restraint member is arranged at an outer periphery portion and this rotation restraint member is forcibly arranged by a magnetic field coil which is controlled from an outside portion. In a permanent magnet type motor having no magnetic field coil for exciting the motor, it is unnecessary to alter a motor unit. By the rotation force of an armature a pinion gear of the pinion clutch is moved, accordingly the permanent magnet starter for reducing the collision force during the meshing time of the pinion gear to a ring gear can be obtained. Further the permanent magnet starter having a superior gear meshing withstanding property and further without the lowering in the sealing property in the motor unit can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsumi Nishida, Koki Ueta, Yasuhiko Maruhashi