Electric Engine Patents (Class 477/3)
  • Patent number: 11110910
    Abstract: Method and system for starting an internal combustion engine of a hybrid vehicle, adapted to rotate a drive shaft providing torque via a transmission unit comprising a first clutch connecting the engine to an input shaft of a gearbox connected to a torque converter connected to a second clutch connecting the torque converter to the at least one driving wheel, where the input shaft is connected to an electric machine; the method comprising: disengaging the second clutch to a predetermined torque level such that there is a slip in the second clutch; engaging the lock-up clutch; engaging the first clutch to bring the engine to a first rotational speed; disengaging the first clutch when the engine has reached the first rotational speed; starting the engine, and engaging the first clutch when the engine has started and rotates with a second rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas Eriksson, Andreas Jansson, Jonas Forssell, Mathias Gylling, Mats Bohman, Mattias Kroon
  • Patent number: 11097721
    Abstract: A method and system for operating a vehicle that includes an electric machine and an internal combustion engine is described. In one example, the method includes arbitrating between providing torque compensation to a driveline via an internal combustion engine or via an electric machine to improve transmission gear shifting. The method may consider a plurality of vehicle operating conditions to aid the arbitration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Rajit Johri, Judhajit Roy, Christopher John Teslak
  • Patent number: 11084373
    Abstract: A system includes a PTO device that selectively couples to a driveline of a vehicle at each of two driveline coupling positions, and a motor/generator electrically coupled to an electrical power storage system. The system further includes a shared load selectively powered by the driveline or the motor/generator. The PTO device further includes a coupling actuator that couples the shared load to the motor/generator in a first position, and couples the shared load to the driveline in a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Glenn Clark Fortune, Mihai Dorobantu
  • Patent number: 11078815
    Abstract: A delivery device for delivering oil from an oil sump in a motor vehicle has an oil pump with two pressure stages. The pressure stages deliver oil from a common suction connection to different outlet connections. The oil is delivered by the pressure stages at different delivery pressures and in different delivery volumes. The delivery device furthermore has a direct drive, which is coupled to an internal combustion engine, and an activatable electric drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Boehm
  • Patent number: 11077856
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a vehicle that includes an engine and an electric machine are described. In one example, an actual total number of transmission gear downshifts are counted to determine whether or not a transmission clutch characterization is immature. The transmission clutch characterization may be adjusted if it is determined to be immature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jaewon Choi, Jianping Zhang, Steve Michael Cicala, Kendrick Morrison, Kurt Howard Nickerson
  • Patent number: 11066074
    Abstract: An electronic control unit to control an engine control module of an engine is disclosed. The electronic control unit may receive, from a load monitoring device, power command information associated with a load of an engine. The electronic control unit may determine, based on the power command information, a total power command of the engine. The electronic control unit may determine, based on the total power command, a target engine speed for the engine. The electronic control unit may cause an engine control module to control the engine to operate in association with the target engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Kuras, Ankit Sharma, Lance Cowper
  • Patent number: 11052746
    Abstract: A vehicle drive assembly with transverse dual-power-source, comprising two power sources and an automatic transmission. The automatic transmission has a first input shaft and a second input shaft, and the two power sources are respectively connected to the two input shafts; a first intermediate shaft is provided parallel to the first input shaft, a second intermediate shaft is provided coaxial with the first input shaft, a third intermediate shaft is provided coaxial with the first intermediate shaft, and a first gear and a second gear on the first intermediate shaft are in engaged transmission; a third gear shaft and a fourth gear on the second intermediate shaft are in engaged transmission; and a fifth gear and a sixth gear on the third intermediate shaft are in engaged transmission, and the sixth gear is simultaneously in engaged transmission with a seventh gear on a differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: JING-JIN ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ping Yu, Changqi Yang, Jianwen Li
  • Patent number: 11046168
    Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle includes a combustion engine and a drivetrain having a coupling with a first state of operation in which the input of the coupling is locked to the output of the coupling, and a second state of operation in which the input of the coupling is not locked to the output of the coupling for allowing slippage. The drivetrain also has a final drive configured for supplying torque to a drive wheel from the coupling, wherein the final drive is coupled to the coupling at a fixed gear ratio. The powertrain further includes one or more electric motors configured to supply torque to the drivetrain one or both of the input side and the output side of the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: ALPRAAZ AB
    Inventor: Christian V. Koenigsegg
  • Patent number: 11035463
    Abstract: A controller is configured to output a control command for controlling at least one driveline component according to a control map. The control map may define a dependence of the control command on at least one of: a control position of an input device, and at least one first condition of the driveline. The controller may also be configured to receive at least one input signal, the input signal may have a plurality of signal values recorded at different times. The signal values of the at least one input signal are indicative of at least one of: the control position of the input device, the at least one first condition of the driveline, and at least one second condition of the driveline. The controller may also be configured to derive a feature from the plurality of signal values and adapt the control map based on the derived feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: DANA ITALIA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Carlos Maximiliano Giorgio Bort, Giulio Ornella
  • Patent number: 11028907
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus for an electric vehicle including a motor as a power source may include: a compound planetary gear set formed as a combination of first and second planetary gear sets sharing a sun gear and a plurality first pinion gears; a first brake selectively connecting a first ring gear of the first planetary gear set to a transmission housing; and a second brake selectively connecting the shared sun gear of the first and second planetary gear sets to the transmission housing. In particular, a second ring gear of the second planetary gear set is fixedly connected to a rotor of the motor and thus continuously receives a torque of the motor, and the power transmission apparatus outputs a shifted torque through a planet carrier rotatably supporting the plurality of first pinion gears and a plurality of second pinion gears of the first planetary gear set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jin Young Hwang, Jong Sool Park, Jong Soo Kim, Sang Bum Baek, Jin Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 11015544
    Abstract: Method for controlling an internal combustion engine of an agricultural vehicle comprising the following steps, acquisition of a rated torque curve of said internal combustion engine, as a function of a rotation speed of said internal combustion engine, selection of a predefined speed value (PTS) of the internal combustion engine, introduction of a modified torque curve having torque values increased for speeds below said predefined speed value (PTS), switching from said rated torque curve to said modified torque curve when at least one operating condition has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: FPT INDUSTRIAL S.P.A.
    Inventors: Salvatore Musumeci, Simon Porter
  • Patent number: 11008097
    Abstract: An actuator for aviation may include an electromechanical drive unit connected with an output drive via a gearbox. The drive unit may have at least two partial drives that can be operated independently from one another. The gearbox may be located at least partially between the at least two partial drives such that the at least two partial drives are spaced apart from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Götte, Uwe Arnold
  • Patent number: 10994594
    Abstract: A transverse vehicle drive assembly, wherein the transverse vehicle drive assembly comprises a first power source and an automatic transmission (10), a first intermediate shaft (31) is provided parallel to a first input shaft (21) of the automatic transmission (10), a second intermediate shaft (32) is provided coaxial with the first input shaft (21), a third intermediate shaft (33) is provided coaxial with the first intermediate shaft (31), a first clutch (41) is provided between the first intermediate shaft (31) and the third intermediate shaft (33), and a second clutch (42) is provided between the first input shaft (21) and the second intermediate shaft (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: JING-JIN ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ping Yu, Xueliang Wang, Jianwen Li
  • Patent number: 10981623
    Abstract: A bicycle control device that easily maintains the ratio of the assist force generated by a motor to the human drive force input to a bicycle at a predetermined ratio includes an electronic controller that controls a transmission, which is configured to change the transmission ratio of the bicycle, and the motor, which assists propulsion of the bicycle. The electronic controller is configured to control the motor so that the ratio of the assist force generated by the motor to the human drive force inputted to the bicycle becomes equal to the predetermined ratio. The electronic controller is configured to control the transmission in correspondence with at least one of the output torque of the motor and the human drive force to maintain the predetermined ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Tsuchizawa, Hiroshi Matsuda, Takuya Katsuki
  • Patent number: 10981570
    Abstract: A machine is disclosed. The machine may include a continuously variable transmission, a location or movement module, and a controller. The controller may receive a first signal indicating a transmission output speed for the machine. The controller may receive, from the location or movement module, a second signal indicating location or movement information of the machine. The controller may determine a traction value based on the first signal and the second signal. The controller may determine a rimpull limit value based on the traction value. The controller may provide the rimpull limit value to the continuously variable transmission, wherein the continuously variable transmission is to determine a transmission output torque of the machine based on the rimpull limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Suman Goli, Dhanashekar Arcot Krishnamurthy
  • Patent number: 10967847
    Abstract: A method for controlling revolutions per minute (RPM) flare, in which an RPM of a transmission increases due to clutch slip, for a hybrid vehicle can include: determining whether gear-shifting is performed in a transmission of the hybrid vehicle; detecting whether RPM flare of the transmission occurs when it is determined that the gear-shifting is performed; and controlling a torque of a motor of the hybrid vehicle so as to reduce the RPM flare of the transmission by reducing the torque of the motor when the RPM flare of the transmission is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Won Woo Seo, Young Kwan Ko, Hoon Han, Jae Young Choi
  • Patent number: 10960758
    Abstract: A first planetary gear set includes a first sun gear to which power is input from a hydraulic motor. The first planetary gear set includes a first carrier and a first ring gear. The first carrier and the first ring gear are able to rotate in conjunction with rotation of the first sun gear. A second planetary gear set includes a second sun gear configured so as to rotate integrally with the first carrier. A hydraulic clutch mechanism allows or prohibits the rotation of the first ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Teruya Kubota, Ryutaro Kamachi
  • Patent number: 10947921
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing whether one or more intake air oxygen sensors positioned in an intake of an engine of a vehicle, are functioning as desired. In one example, a method comprises injecting fuel into one or more cylinders of the engine without combustion, routing un-combusted hydrocarbons from the one or more cylinders to the intake via a crankcase ventilation system, and indicating whether the one or more intake air oxygen sensors are functioning as desired based on a response of the one or more intake air oxygen sensors. In this way, the one or more intake air oxygen sensors may be periodically diagnosed which may improve engine operation, and reduce engine degradation, particularly with regard to hybrid electric vehicles with limited engine run-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 10933731
    Abstract: A combination starter-generator device is provided for a work vehicle having an engine. The starter-generator device includes an electric machine and a gear set configured to receive rotational input from the electric machine and from the engine and to couple the electric machine and the engine in a first power flow direction and a second power flow direction. The gear set is configured to operate a first, second, or third gear ratio in the first power flow direction and a fourth gear ratio in the second power flow direction. At least one clutch is selectively coupled to the gear set to effect the first, second, and third gear ratios in the first power flow direction and the fourth gear ratio in the second power flow direction. A magnetic cam assembly is configured to shift the at least one clutch from a disengaged position into an engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven R. Fliearman, Lisa R. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 10875398
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus of a hybrid electric vehicle may include an input shaft receiving an engine torque output from an engine, an output shaft disposed at a same axis with the input shaft and outputting a shifted torque, first and second motor/generators, a first shifting section including a first planetary gear set, outputting a rotation speed from the input shaft as inputted or increased, or forming an adjusted torque from the engine torque and torques of the first and second motor/generators, and outputting the adjusted torque, and a second shifting section including a compound planetary gear set formed as a combination of second and third planetary gear sets and outputting a shifted torque at least three stages from a torque received from the first shifting section to the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Yeongil Choi, Tal Chol Kim, Hyung Seuk Oh, Wan Soo Kim, Yeonho Kim, Kyungha Kim, Shin Jong Kim
  • Patent number: 10830342
    Abstract: A line pressure control method for a dual-clutch transmission (DCT), may include a hydraulic-pressure-decreasing operation of interrupting, by a controller, the supply of current to an electric oil pump and estimating a decrease in a line pressure using a line pressure model based on a pressure accumulator mounted in a hydraulic pressure line, a pump-driving operation of, when the estimated line pressure is equal to or less than a predetermined lower-limit value, driving, by the controller, the electric oil pump, and a hydraulic-pressure-increasing operation of determining, by the controller, the line pressure based on the current supplied to the electric oil pump and to determine whether the determined line pressure is equal to or greater than a predetermined upper-limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Young Ho Ko, Hwa Young Lee, Young Min Yoon, Jin Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 10807457
    Abstract: A transaxle device (1) for a hybrid vehicle including an engine (2), a first rotating electric machine (3), and a second rotating electric machine (4) individually transmits power of the engine (2) and power of the first rotating electric machine (3) to an output shaft (12) on the side of a drive wheel from different power transmission paths and also transmits the power of the engine (2) to the second rotating electric machine (4). Further, the transaxle device (1) includes a connection/disconnection mechanism (20) which is interposed on a first power transmission path (51) from the first rotating electric machine (3) to the output shaft (12). The connection/disconnection mechanism (20) enables or disables the transmission of the power of the first rotating electric machine (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daizo Ogino, Masahiro Matsushita
  • Patent number: 10794353
    Abstract: An ISG vehicle system may include an alternator supplying electric power of a vehicle and alternating engine power to electrical energy, a battery storing the electric power of the vehicle, an alternator supplying electric power of a vehicle and alternating engine power to electrical energy, a V2X controller receiving external infrastructure information and determining vehicle location, an ISG controller obtaining the external infrastructure information and the vehicle location through communication with the V2X controller and obtaining the status of the battery and charge amount information through communication with the battery sensor to determine operable time of ISG (Idle Stop and Go) function of the vehicle and whether the ISG function operates, and an engine controller receiving operation signal of the ISG function through communication with the ISG controller to determine whether the engine operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 10787071
    Abstract: A powertrain includes a first planetary gearset configured to establish a fixedly linear speed relationship among a first rotor, an engine crankshaft, and a second rotor. The powertrain further includes a gearing assembly configured to alternately selectively establish a plurality of proportional speed relationships between the second rotor and an output shaft. The gearing assembly further includes a second planetary gearset having a lockup clutch configured to selectively couple two rotatable elements of the second planetary gearset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: David Gon Oh, Gregory Daniel Goleski, David Allen Janson
  • Patent number: 10787161
    Abstract: Provided are a control device and a control method of a continuously variable transmission capable of preventing an endless member from slipping even when a parking lock is released. On a condition that a vehicle is in an idling stop state and a parking lock mechanism is in a parking lock state, rotation speed increase control configured to increase a rotation speed of an electric oil pump is executed so that the endless member can be prevented from slipping with respect to a driven pulley even when the parking lock mechanism is switched to a parking lock released state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihiro Akiyoshi, Kohei Sakai
  • Patent number: 10787271
    Abstract: The invention relates to the redundant supply of kinetic energy to a drive system of an aircraft in order to ensure in each case largely safe operation of the aircraft during normal operation of the system and also in various emergency scenarios. The system has two electrical machines (110, 130), each of which is connected to in each case one of the two propellers. A high-voltage battery (120) and an internal combustion engine (140) are also provided. These components of the system are, depending on the type of component, electrically and/or mechanically connected to one another and to the propellers, and a controller of the system controls energy flows between the components depending on the mode of operation or readiness for operation of the components in a redundant manner in such a way that the aircraft can be largely safely operated in various normal and emergency situations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Peter Barth, Klaus Braun, Stefan Dünsbier
  • Patent number: 10760650
    Abstract: A gearbox includes a first shaft operatively coupled to an output of an engine, with the first shaft having a first longitudinal axis. A second shaft is operatively coupled to a driveshaft of an electric machine, the second shaft having a second longitudinal axis. The second longitudinal axis is non-coaxial with the first longitudinal axis. A geartrain operatively couples the first and second shafts. The geartrain is structured to passively switch between a first gear ratio and a different second gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: John P. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 10723214
    Abstract: A drive device for a motor vehicle, having a first drive assembly, a second drive assembly that can be coupled to the first drive assembly with a fixed transmission ratio by an intermediate clutch, as well as a driven shaft that can be coupled to the first drive assembly and to the second drive assembly. Here, the first drive assembly is directly coupled or can be coupled to a third drive assembly, and that the driven shaft can be coupled to the second drive assembly, on the one hand, by way of a first shift clutch and a first transmission stage, and, on the other hand, by way of a second shift clutch, which is coupled to the second drive assembly parallel to the first shift clutch, and a second transmission stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Auerbach, Johannes Brunner, Stefan Weinzierl
  • Patent number: 10723216
    Abstract: A hybrid assembly, including: a torque converter; a shaft; a hybrid module; and a module hub. The torque converter includes: a cover; an impeller; a turbine; a stator; and an output hub arranged to non-rotatably connect to a transmission input shaft. The shaft is arranged to receive torque and includes a channel. The hybrid module includes: an electric motor including a stator and a rotor non-rotatably connected to the cover; and a transfer clutch arranged to control transmission of the torque from the shaft to the cover. The hub is non-rotatably connected to the cover and includes a channel: connected to the torque converter; and arranged to receive first pressurized fluid from a first channel in the transmission input shaft. The channel of the shaft is arranged to receive second pressurized fluid, from a second channel in the transmission input shaft, to control operation of the transfer clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kyle Nelson, Peter Rentfrow
  • Patent number: 10718386
    Abstract: A basic pulse time setting section determines a basic pulse time for initial invalid stroke elimination by applying current values of oil temperature and throttle opening to the basic pulse time map. A subtraction time setting section determines a subtraction time by applying current values of oil temperature and clutch oil pressure to the subtraction time map. A pulse time determining section determines a predetermined initial invalid stroke elimination pulse time by subtracting the subtraction time from the basic pulse time. An initial invalid stroke elimination permission/inhibition determination section, at a starting timing of initial invalid stroke elimination, inhibits this-time initial invalid stroke elimination if the elapsed time from the execution timing of the preceding initial invalid stroke elimination is within the predetermined inhibition period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Sakamoto, Shinya Nishiyama, Dai Arai
  • Patent number: 10696151
    Abstract: A transmission system selectively coupled to an engine crankshaft of an internal combustion engine arranged on a vehicle includes a transmission, a motor generator, a master clutch and a controller. The transmission includes an input shaft, a mainshaft, an output shaft and a countershaft offset from the input shaft. The countershaft is drivably connected to the first input shaft and the mainshaft. The motor generator is selectively coupled to the countershaft. The master clutch includes a driving portion connected to the engine crankshaft and a driven portion coupled to the transmission input shaft and adapted to frictionally engage the driving portion between open and closed positions. The controller selectively operates the transmission system in a first operating mode that includes defueling the engine while the vehicle is moving based on vehicle operating conditions and routes rotational energy from the output shaft, through the countershaft and into the motor generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas J. Stoltz
  • Patent number: 10683003
    Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle that selects a series mode in which an engine drives a motor generator to generate electric power and a driving motor drives drive wheels, the series mode is suspended to temporarily stop fuel supply to the engine, and the motor generator forcedly drives the engine using electric power supplied from a driving battery to perform motoring, and failure determination of the O2 sensors is performed based on oxygen concentrations of an exhaust gas from the engine detected by a front O2 sensor and a rear O2 sensor when the fuel supply to the engine is stopped and when the fuel supply is restarted after finish of the motoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideo Matsunaga, Hisakazu Ikedaya, Hitoshi Kamura
  • Patent number: 10618512
    Abstract: System and methods are provided for improving fuel economy of a hybrid vehicle. A hybrid vehicle may include an EV driving mode, where the motor alone powers the hybrid vehicle. However, use of such a driving mode may be limited to conditions involving low drive force and power requests due to motor and battery power specifications. In some circumstances, the conditions during which the motor can be used to power the hybrid vehicle can be expanded. Such conditions may include instances where the driver only seeks light accelerations for a short period of time. Such an expanded EV mode may be triggered when the hybrid vehicle is travelling a downhill grade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas S. Hawley, Shingo Eto
  • Patent number: 10618398
    Abstract: A transmission system (100) for vehicles comprising at least one set of plurality of input shafts (110 & 116) disposed concentrically and having an exposed portion; clutch means (108 & 114) at one end of the input shafts for connecting the input shafts to power sources; an output shaft (118) in communication with the input shafts for conveying the power to set of wheels; input gears (102 & 104) arranged in spaced parallel disposition on the exposed portion of the input shafts; dog clutch means (124 & 126) disposed between the input gears for locking the input shafts to respective input gears; and plurality of drive gears (120) arranged in spaced parallel disposition on the output shaft (118) for engaging in drive relation with the input gears, where the drive gears are configured to transmit power to the output shaft from the input shafts by means of the input gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Inventor: Atul Ranade
  • Patent number: 10608497
    Abstract: An electric power system includes an engine, a generator, a drivetrain including a driveshaft, and an energy storage system having a flywheel. In an implementation, a parallel-path continuously variable transmission is structured to transfer energy between the flywheel and the driveshaft, and in another implementation a parallel-path continuously variable transmission transfers energy between the engine and the generator. The transmission includes a variator and a differential geartrain. An electric motor is coupled to the flywheel and charges the flywheel such that stored flywheel energy is available for bringing up engine speed from a standby state and/or to accommodate generator load changes with limited generator speed changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Evan Jacobson, John Seipold
  • Patent number: 10604142
    Abstract: Method for control of a drive system comprising a combustion engine with output shaft, gearbox with input shaft, electrical machine, and planetary gear comprising a sun wheel, a ring gear and a planetary wheel carrier. The method comprises, if torque from the combustion engine and the electrical machine is sufficient for the operation of the vehicle with the planetary gear in the release position, and if the vehicle's fuel consumption with the planetary gear in the release position is lower than in the locked position, controlling the electrical machine and the combustion engine such that the requested torque is provided, with the planetary gear in the release position. Otherwise, set the planetary gear in the locked position. A second locking means adapted to divide the combustion engine's output shaft in two sections in a release position, kept in a locked position if the planetary gear is in the release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Johan Lindström, Mathias Björkman, Mikael Bergquist, Niklas Pettersson
  • Patent number: 10583826
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for controlling vehicle operations in response to a route identification reference for a vehicle based on route characteristics associated with the route identified by the route identification reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventors: Martin T. Books, Gary L. Parker, Arun Prakash Thunga Gopal, Jennifer Kay Light-Holets
  • Patent number: 10576962
    Abstract: Provided is a method to control a hybrid powertrain to achieve reverse drive, comprising an internal combustion engine, a gearbox with input output shafts; a first planetary gear connected to the input shaft and a second planetary gear; first and second electrical machines respectively connected to the first and second planetary gears; gear pair connected with the first planetary gear and the output shaft and one gear pair connected with the second planetary gear and the output shaft, wherein the internal combustion engine is connected with the first planetary gear via the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Mikael Bergquist, Mathias Björkman, Johan Lindström, Niklas Pettersson
  • Patent number: 10562514
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus has a power distribution mechanism which is connected to an engine and a first motor-generator an in which at least three rotation elements enable to rotate in differential motions to one another, a power combining mechanism which is connected to the power distribution mechanism, a second motor-generator and an output shaft and in which four rotation elements enable to rotate in differential motions to one another, a brake mechanism which enables to selectively fix a rotation element of the power combining mechanism and a brake mechanism which enables to selectively fix a rotation element of the power combining mechanism which is connected to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshinari Tsukada
  • Patent number: 10549746
    Abstract: When a hybrid vehicle slides down during a predetermined drive of the hybrid vehicle with disconnection of a first motor and a second motor from a power storage device by a relay, the hybrid vehicle controls the second motor, such that a torque in a direction according to a shift position is output from the second motor by regenerative drive of the second motor and controls the first motor, such that electric power generated by regenerative drive of the second motor is consumed by driving the first motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Ito
  • Patent number: 10532732
    Abstract: When an accelerator is turned on in a braking state in which the accelerator is turned off during predetermined traveling and a braking torque is output from a first motor to a drive shaft via a planetary gear set with negative rotation of the first motor and with a counter electromotive voltage of the first motor higher than a voltage of power lines on a high voltage side, a step-up and step-down converter and an engine are controlled such that a voltage of the power lines on the high voltage side increases and a rotation speed of the first motor increases in comparison with a case in which the accelerator is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Obitsu
  • Patent number: 10513253
    Abstract: A shift control device is configured to control switching between shift stages in a multi-stage automatic transmission such that a gear ratio selected at a predetermined vehicle speed and selected in a regenerative traveling mode that is a boundary region with respect to an EV traveling mode becomes greater than a gear ratio selected at the predetermined vehicle speed and selected in an HV traveling mode that is a boundary region with respect to the EV traveling mode, and is configured to control the switching between the shift stages such that a gear ratio of a shift stage selected when the traveling mode is switched from the regenerative traveling mode to the EV traveling mode is greater than a gear ratio of a shift stage selected when the traveling mode is switched from the HV traveling mode to the EV traveling mode under the same vehicle speed and parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Kuwahara, Yusuke Suzuki, Naoki Nakanishi, Kunihiko Usui
  • Patent number: 10495200
    Abstract: A drive device for a motor vehicle, having at least one first drive assembly, at least one second drive assembly, as well as a differential gearing. An input shaft of the differential gearing can be operatively connected to a drive shaft of the first drive assembly by way of a first gear train and to a drive shaft of the second drive assembly. The drive shaft of the second drive assembly is arranged at an offset relative to an intermediate shaft which is coaxial to the drive shaft of the first drive assembly, and is operatively connected by way of a second gear train to the intermediate shaft, and also by way of the intermediate shaft to the differential gearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Andreas Petz, Roman Straßer
  • Patent number: 10486680
    Abstract: The energization control apparatus can select a supercharging mode in which the energization control apparatus controls energization to an electric compressor so as to rotate the electric compressor to supercharge an intake air and an electric power consumption mode in which the energization control apparatus controls the energization to the electric compressor so as to deteriorate efficiency of a motor of the electric compressor than the supercharging mode to increase electric power consumption of the electric compressor. The energization control apparatus supplies regenerated electric power to the electric compressor and control the energization to the electric compressor with the electric power consumption mode when regenerative braking is performed by a generator and regenerated electric power for obtaining demand regenerative braking force is more than an input limiting level of a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohei Hosokawa, Masakazu Tabata, Naruto Yamane, Tatsuhiro Hashida
  • Patent number: 10486715
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle having an electric motor for providing drive torque to at least one wheel of the vehicle, an internal combustion engine for providing drive torque to at least one wheel of the vehicle, a manual transmission unit having a user selectable gear ratio that includes at least one user selectable forward gear and/or reverse gear, and a clutch actuator, the control system comprising a controller arranged to have three user selectable modes of operation, wherein in a first mode of operation the controller is arranged to allow the clutch actuator to engage and disengage the internal combustion engine from the manual transmission unit based upon a user selection, wherein when the clutch actuator is arranged to engage the internal combustion engine with the manual transmission unit, torque generated by the internal combustion engine is applied to the at least one wheel, and the electric motor is arranged to provide drive torque to the at least one wheel of the vehicle based on whether the u
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: PROTEAN ELECTRIC LIMITED
    Inventors: Tom Lucas, Andrew Whitehead, Mark Potter
  • Patent number: 10479188
    Abstract: A hybrid transmission is for a motor vehicle provided with a heat engine and a main drive electric machine. The transmission includes two concentric input shafts connected to a crankshaft of the heat engine and to the electric machine with no disconnect clutch, an output shaft connected to wheels of the vehicle by a differential, and a shaft for transferring movement from an input shaft to the output shaft and for coupling the input shafts. The electric machine is arranged at the end opposite the input shafts relative to the heat engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignees: RENAULT s.a.s., NISSAN MOTOR Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nicolas Fremau, Arnard Villeneuve, Ahmed Ketfi-Cherif, Antoine Vignon
  • Patent number: 10479186
    Abstract: A method for controlling a car with a parallel hybrid system comprising at least a combustion engine and an electrical machine in P0- or P1-configuration, with a clutch for connecting the combustion engine's output shaft with at least one drive shaft. Steps include determining a power demand Pd, and decoupling the combustion engine from the drive shaft if the power demand Pd is below a first threshold P1. Coupling the combustion engine with the drive shaft when the power demand Pd is above the first threshold P1 provides additional fuel savings when the method further comprises shutting off the combustion engine and providing power to the drive shaft by providing electrical power to the electrical machine to drive the car, when the power demand Pd is between the first threshold P1 and a second threshold P2. The second threshold P2 is greater than the first threshold P1, i.e. if P1<Pd<P2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: André Körner, Marc Nalbach, Sebastian Kahnt
  • Patent number: 10449864
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a motor/energy generator and energy storage device combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Larry A. Pritchard
  • Patent number: 10449847
    Abstract: A system for regenerating an emissions particulate filter that filters particulates from exhaust generated by an engine of a vehicle. The system includes an electric heater and a generator. The electric heater heats the emissions particulate filter to burn off exhaust particulates that have accumulated on the emissions particulate filter. The generator converts kinetic energy of the vehicle into electricity during regenerative braking of the vehicle. Electricity generated by the generator powers the electric heater. Energy used to power the electric heater can also come from engine load shifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhe Huang, Nicholas Polcyn
  • Patent number: 10449952
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is equipped with a drive unit, and an automatic transmission. The automatic transmission includes engagement elements that can transmit power between the drive unit and driving wheels. The drive unit includes an engine, a first motor generator, a second motor generator, and a planetary gear mechanism. The hybrid vehicle is further equipped with a mechanical oil pump and an electrical oil pump, and a controller. The controller continues operating the electrical oil pump while the internal combustion engine is not in operation after the internal combustion engine is stopped as a result of a system stop operation by a user while the vehicle is running at a vehicle speed equal to or higher than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Uchida, Yoshizo Akita, Tadaaki Watanabe, Mitsuru Maeda