With Fluid Drive Patents (Class 477/38)
  • Patent number: 6361470
    Abstract: An adjustable pulley for use in a continuous variable transmission in the power train of a motor vehicle has an axially fixed first conical flange and an axially movable second conical flange. The hydraulic control system which moves the second flange relative to the first flange is provided with at least one first plenum chamber which receives pressurized fluid when the second flange is to move toward the first flange, and with an additional plenum chamber which receives pressurized fluid when the second flange is to move away from the first flange. The admission of pressurized fluid into the additional chamber is regulated in dependency upon the RPM of the flanges. Rapid evacuation of pressurized fluid from the additional chamber can take place by way of a relief valve which opens when the pressure of fluid in the additional chamber rises to a preselected value. This renders it possible to rapidly shift between overdrive and underdrive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: LüK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau GmbH
    Inventors: Oswald Friedmann, Bernhard Walter
  • Patent number: 6260440
    Abstract: A transmission assembly having a hydrostatic transmission with a variable displacement hydraulic device which controls a motor speed ratio. The transmission assembly further includes a mechanical transmission coupled to the hydrostatic transmission and having a first range and a second range and an output shaft driven at a travel speed ratio. The torque through the hydrostatic transmission reverses when the mechanical transmission shifts from the first range to the second range. A synchronous travel speed ratio is the motor speed ratio which produces the same travel speed ratio in both the first gear range and the second gear range. An equal displacement travel speed ratio is the travel speed ratio at which a displacement of the variable displacement device in the second gear range is the same as the displacement in the first gear range. A travel speed ratio differential is a difference between the synchronous speed ratio and the equal displacement travel speed ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Cronin, Brian D. Kuras
  • Patent number: 6142908
    Abstract: A gyration angle .phi. of a power roller (3) of a toroidal continuously variable transmission (10) is made to vary via a step motor (4) and control valve (5). A controller (61) calculates a feedback control amount v of a step motor (4) so that a real speed ratio i of the transmission (10) coincides with a target speed ratio i*. The controller (61) calculates a command value u by correcting a control value v based on a non-linear relation between the gyration angle .phi. and the real speed ratio i, and controls the actuator (4) based on the command value u.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kidokoro, Itsuro Muramoto, Yasushi Narita, Kazuhiro Takeda
  • Patent number: 6066069
    Abstract: A control system for a continuously variable transmission (17), especially for control of a lock-up clutch (10) of a torque converter (2). The lock-up clutch (10) is controlled according to a strategy whereby the torque converter (2) is considered as being serially mounted with the continuously variable transmission (17). Engagement and disengagement of the lock-up clutch (10) is exclusively a function of the control of the theoretical engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Ralf Vorndran
  • Patent number: 5924534
    Abstract: The invention provides a continuously variable transmission which is compact and high in operation efficiency, and allows smooth starting and smooth change-over between forward running and backward running. The continuously variable transmission includes a torque converter which in turn includes at least three runners of an impeller, a first turbine and a second turbine. The continuously variable transmission further includes a lock-up clutch operable to couple the impeller and the first turbine to each other, and a hydraulic brake disposed on a first turbine shaft connected to the first turbine and capable of being fixed to a housing. The second turbine is connected to a second turbine shaft connected to a pulley of a transmission via a one-way clutch which transmits a force only when the second turbine rotates in a direction reversed to the direction of rotation of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Exedy Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Okubo
  • Patent number: 5685800
    Abstract: In an engine of an automobile, when fuel injection is restarted by the operation of the accelerator pedal from the state in which fuel supply has been cut off during deceleration, fuel injection is controlled according to one of a plurality of fuel injection patterns, which specify a specific cylinder for fuel injection and a specific cylinder for which fuel is not to be injected, and which correspond with various speed change ratios. The engine output torque is kept smooth by performing fuel injection according to that one of these patterns which corresponds to the speed change ratio when the accelerator pedal is operated. Preferably, the fuel injection patterns are determined starting from whichever cylinder initially comes up for fuel injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobusuke Toukura
  • Patent number: 5487003
    Abstract: A method and device for simulating properties of a fluid torque converter such as torque ratio, capacity factor and efficiency includes involving the execution of the steps of finding a plurality of parameters including a fluid passage angle and a fluid passage resistance from a vane profile of a vane wheel of a fluid torque converter, and simulating the properties of the fluid torque converter according to the parameters and an input and output torque relationship based on an angular momentum theory. The fluid passage angle is corrected according to a slip ratio between rotational speeds of input and output ends of the fluid torque converter for the purpose of accounting for the influences of the occurrence of flow separation. Good results can be obtained by correcting the outflow angle of a stator vane array by using a correction value given as a mathematical function of the slip ratio. Thus, the accuracy of simulation can be substantially improved with a minimum increase in the computer time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenjiroh Iwasawa, Hiroya Abe
  • Patent number: 5383125
    Abstract: A slip control is effected by effecting a switch to a slip control ratio change control when a wheel slip exceeds a predetermined value. The usual ratio control in a continuously variable transmission is reinstated upon completion of the slip control ratio change control smoothly owing to modification of shift speed or provision of delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshifumi Hibi
  • Patent number: 5085885
    Abstract: A beam or flow of a reactive or metastable precursor such as a hydride or organometallic compound is created, and this beam or flow is used to treat (e.g. dope or coat or otherwise modify) a substrate, e.g. an advanced material such as a semiconductor layer, a photovoltaic cell, or a solar cell. The beam or flow can also be directed into a storage zone so that the precursor or precursors can be collected for future use. The beam or flow is created in an apparatus comprising at least three zones. Zone 1 is irradiated with microwave energy to generate a reactive gas rich in free radicals (e.g. rich in H.sup.., CH.sub.3.sup.., etc.) zone 2 (downstream from zone 1) is substantially free of microwave energy and contains a target which is impinged upon by the free radicals and becomes a source of the precursor; zone 3 (downstream from zone 2) is where the precursors are either collected for storage or are used to treat the substrate. In a typical apparatus of this invention, a feed gas such as H.sub.2 or CH.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: University of Delaware
    Inventors: Henry C. Foley, Robert D. Varrin, Jr., Sourav K. Sengupta