Control Mechanism Patents (Class 74/335)
  • Patent number: 9556954
    Abstract: A method for performing a shuttle shift with a transmission of a work vehicle is disclosed, wherein the transmission includes an input shaft, a counter shaft and a plurality of driven shafts extending generally parallel to the input and counter shafts. The method may include disengaging a clutch associated with a first directional gear of a directional shaft of the plurality of driven shafts. The first directional gear may be configured to rotate the directional shaft in a first direction. Additionally, the method may include engaging clutches associated with at least two gears of at least one secondary driven shaft of the plurality of driven shafts to reduce a rotational speed of the directional shaft and, after the rotational speed of the directional shaft is reduced, engaging a clutch associated with a second directional gear of the directional shaft such that the directional shaft rotates in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Yanming Hou, Garth Harvey Bulgrien
  • Patent number: 9528603
    Abstract: A shift-by-wire transmission system is provided. The system includes a gearbox that is configured and arranged to receive a rotational input and provide a select rotational output. The gearbox includes a plurality of gear assemblies that are operationally coupled together to provide the select rotational output from the rotational input. A shift assembly is operationally coupled to the plurality of gear assemblies of the gearbox to selectively change gearing of gearbox. An electric motor is operationally coupled to the shift assembly to activate the shift assembly to selectively change the gearing of the gearbox. A manual shift override is employed that is coupled between the shift assembly and the electric motor. The manual shift override is configured and arranged to manually disconnect the electric motor from the shift assembly and activate the shift assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: TEAM Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory L. Maki, Brandon P. Lenk
  • Patent number: 9512916
    Abstract: An on-board system for customizing a vehicle operation mode includes a processing unit, memory coupled to the processing unit and an interface configured to permit interaction between an operator and the memory to input customized vehicle controls and settings for control equipment in the vehicle. A control system is stored in the memory and configured to control the vehicle in accordance with the customized vehicle controls and settings and operator input using the control equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Inventor: Shawn Baumgartner
  • Patent number: 9506557
    Abstract: A shifter assembly for a manual transmission includes a shifter housing, a shift lever and a gear blockout. The shift lever includes a shift plane select member configured to move to a first and second gear shift plane and a gear engagement member configured to move along the first and second gear shift plane to a first gear position. The shift plane select member and the gear engagement member are each operatively coupled to the transmission. The gear blockout is positioned within the shifter housing and configured to be selectively actuated to (i) block movement of the shift plane select member to the shift plane position thereby preventing the manual transmission from being shifted into first and second gears, and (ii) block movement of the gear engagement member to the first gear position thereby preventing the manual transmission from being shifted into first gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Robert A Benson, Lawrence K Laba, Eugene H Polan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9500277
    Abstract: A hydraulic pressure supply system of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include a hydraulic pump receiving oil stored in an oil pan through an input line, generating hydraulic pressure, and discharging the generated hydraulic pressure in the oil through a low-pressure discharge port and a high-pressure discharge port, a first switch valve switching a first switch hydraulic line in order to supply the hydraulic pressure discharged from the low-pressure discharge port of the hydraulic pump selectively to the low pressure portion or the high pressure portion, a second switch valve switching a second switch hydraulic line in order to selectively supply the hydraulic pressure supplied from the first switch valve to the low pressure portion or to return the hydraulic pressure supplied from the first switch valve to the oil pan, a low-pressure regulator valve, and a high-pressure regulator valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Se Hwan Jo, Jin Young Hwang
  • Patent number: 9487241
    Abstract: A pair of left and right pads (40) extending in a front-rear direction are provided on opposite side edges of a console main body (4). Each of the pads (40) has a width, in plan view, wider in its rear part than in its front part, and a top surface of a rear end of the pad (40) is substantially flush with a top surface of a front end of an armrest (8). A recessed surface (41) is formed on a top surface of the console main body (4) between the pair of left and right pads (40), and a dial switch (20) is disposed on the recessed surface (41). An elevated portion (7) having a top surface higher than the recessed surface (41) and lower than respective top surfaces of the pads (40) is formed behind the dial switch (20) and in front of the armrest (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Iriguchi, Tatsunori Iwahara
  • Patent number: 9476501
    Abstract: An apparatus for a gear shifter for use with a transmission is provided. The gear shifter includes a housing that defines a gate and a gear shift lever having a first end and a second end. The gear shift lever is at least partially received within the housing so that the first end is guided by the gate. The gear shifter includes a shifter block received within the housing and including a plurality of detents. One of the plurality of detents includes at least one pocket defined adjacent to the one of the plurality of detents so as to be in communication with the one of the plurality of detents. The at least one pocket and the plurality of detents are each sized to receive a portion of the second end of the gear shift lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Orson S. Wang
  • Patent number: 9453576
    Abstract: An actuation device especially for actuating a transmission for selecting a gear step and engaging and disengaging the selected gear step and/or for actuating at least one clutch. The actuation device includes at least one rotatable roll element that has guide tracks, into each of which a contact element of a selector fork engages to move the selector fork in order to select and engage or disengage a gear step of a transmission, and an actuation region for a clutch actuation means for actuating the at least one clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Lars Schumann, Lászlo Mán, Peter Greb
  • Patent number: 9447873
    Abstract: A transfer case (30) and a method of assembly can include a range shifting assembly (60) and a clutch assembly (80) located axially adjacent to one another along a common primary axis. An actuating device (32) can include a concentric gear located coaxially interposed between the range shifting assembly (60) and the clutch assembly (80) for rotation about the common primary axis. The concentric gear (48) can actuate the range shifting assembly (60) during a portion of angular rotation about the common primary axis and can actuate the clutch assembly (80) during a mutually exclusive portion of angular rotation about the common primary axis. The actuating device (32) can include a barrel cam (59), a plurality of springs engageable between the barrel cam (59) and the concentric gear (48), and a shift fork (68) operably engageable with a cam surface groove (57) for guided axial movement to actuate the range shifting assembly (60) between a low-range and high-range drive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry A. Pritchard
  • Patent number: 9447867
    Abstract: A park shift assist mechanism of a shift lever assembly for a vehicle is provided. The park shift assist mechanism includes a pressing portion configured to apply a pressing force and a follower configured to cause rotation of a gear shift lever from a reverse position to a park position when the gear shift lever is positioned between the reverse position and the park position in response to the pressing force being applied to the follower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: STERRING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael C. Vermeersch, Arthur W. Nellett
  • Patent number: 9416868
    Abstract: A shift-by-wire controller is applied to a shift-by-wire system which switches a shift range of an automatic transmission by a driving force of a motor, and drives the motor according to an input signal. The shift-by-wire controller includes a position sensor, a position acquirement portion acquiring a switching edge corresponding to a position where the shift range is switched from the position sensor, an encoder detecting a rotational position of the motor, a determining portion determining whether the rotational position can be acquired as a present-position from the encoder, and a position determination portion. When the determining portion determines that the present-position cannot be acquired, the position determination portion drives the motor to switch the shift range, and determines a position of the motor based on the switching edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Yatou, Kenji Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9416870
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes: a first calculation processing portion outputting a calculation result based on an input value; and a second calculation processing portion acquiring the same input value as the input value of the first calculation processing portion, the second calculation processing portion detecting an abnormality of the first calculation processing portion based on comparison between the input value of the second calculation processing portion and the calculation result of the first calculation processing portion or based on whether the calculation result is a predefined highly safe state value at which a relatively high safety state of a vehicle is acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masato Matsubara, Masato Tateno
  • Patent number: 9410617
    Abstract: A method of detecting and enabling an evasive maneuver in a vehicle with an automated transmission, in which initially the method checks whether the reverse (R) drive is engaged, and checks whether the steering-wheel angle and the steering-wheel angular velocity are valid and in excess of threshold values. If so, a first timer is started and then the method checks to see if the yaw rate and the transverse acceleration of the vehicle exceed threshold values while the first timer is running, and when the yaw rate and the transverse acceleration of the vehicle exceed threshold values while the first timer is running, a driver's wish to carry out an escape turn is recognized and a second timer is started, and both timers have not yet run their course, the speed threshold for permitting engagement of the forward drive (D) is increased to exceed the normal threshold value for permitting engagement of forward drive (D) is a is a set is positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Witali Maurer
  • Patent number: 9410619
    Abstract: A gear shift system for a motor vehicle with a steering wheel. The gear shift system includes gear shift devices rotationally integral with the steering wheel and an electronic control device. Each of the gear shift devices is operable by a driver of the motor vehicle to carry out at least one respective gear shift function associated with the respective gear shift device. The electronic control unit is configured to receive a magnitude indicative of a current steering wheel angle, determine, on the basis of the received magnitude, whether the current steering wheel angle satisfies predefined conditions, and, if it determines that the current steering wheel angle satisfies the predefined conditions, reconfigure the gear shift functions associated with the gear shift devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: FIAT GROUP AUTOMOBILES S.P.A.
    Inventor: Mauro Pierallini
  • Patent number: 9410615
    Abstract: An activation apparatus is provided for a transmission of a motor vehicle, having a gear selector that is moveable in at least one shift gate for selecting different drive program of the transmission, a control device with which the selection of at least one drive program of the transmission can be locked, and at least two sensors designed for detecting a gear selector activation. The control device is designed for determining the plausibility of signals detected by the sensors and for enabling the selection of the drive program on the basis of the plausibility determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Matthias Lindner, Thomas Tille
  • Patent number: 9400049
    Abstract: A shifting apparatus and method for a vehicle is provided and the apparatus includes a transmission adjuster that shifts a gear position of an automatic transmission. In addition, a controller is configured to operate the transmission adjuster to shift the gear position of the automatic transmission to a neutral null position and the null position varies based on the gear position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: SL Corporation
    Inventors: Chun Nyung Heo, Jeong Ho Bak
  • Patent number: 9394991
    Abstract: A default-to-park mechanism for a transmission includes an output member, a rotatable plate, a latching mechanism, and a biasing member. The output member is rotatable to park, reverse, neutral, and drive positions. The rotatable plate is coaxial with the output member. The plate and the output member interfere with one another such that the plate is moved in a first direction of rotation by the output member and the output member is moved in a second direction of rotation by the plate. The plate is releasably held by the latching mechanism to prevent rotation in the second direction of rotation when the output member is in the reverse, neutral, and drive positions. The biasing member biases the plate to rotate in the second direction of rotation to return the output member to the park position when the plate is released by the latching mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Swaita, David A. Provenza, Brian Ganter, Robert DiTommaso, Karthik Kayyer, William Harrop
  • Patent number: 9383001
    Abstract: A shifting device for a transmission of a motor vehicle has an actuation lever (1) which can be selectively transferred into (a) a first selector gate, more particularly an automatic selector gate, in which the lever is mechanically coupled to a transmitting component (2) for actuating a gearshift cable or a gearshift linkage, or (b) a second selector gate, more particularly a sequential selector gate, in which the lever is decoupled from the transmitting component, the transmitting component being movably mounted, more particularly pivotably mounted. A locking means (11) can immobilize the transmitting component such that no force is exerted on the gearshift cable or the gearshift linkage as long as the actuation lever has been transferred into the second selector gate. The transmitting component may be released by a transfer of the actuation lever into the first selector gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: ECS Engineered Control Systems AG
    Inventors: Heiko Schirmer, Wei Yang
  • Patent number: 9316149
    Abstract: A method of operating a drive-train of a hybrid vehicle which comprises at least a hybrid drive with an internal combustion engine and an electric machine, an automatic or automated change-speed transmission connected between the hybrid drive and a drive output, and a clutch connected between the internal combustion engine and the electric machine. When starting the internal combustion engine from a purely electric driving mode, the clutch is initially disengaged. To start the internal combustion engine, the clutch is at least partially engaged and the internal combustion engine is drag-started by the electric machine, and, in parallel with starting the internal combustion engine, a downshift in the transmission is initiated once a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine reaches or exceeds an applicable threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Tobias Zollner, Bernd Allgaier, Clemens Kuhn, Patrick Peter, Lorenz Fehrenbach, Holger Bacher
  • Patent number: 9309968
    Abstract: Shift arrangement for a motor vehicle gearbox. The shift arrangement has a shift element which can be connected or is connected to a shift member. The shift arrangement has a hydraulic actuator by means of which the shift element can be moved in a first shifting direction and in an opposing second shifting direction. The hydraulic actuator comprises a double-acting hydraulic cylinder which has a first cylinder port and a second cylinder port. The shift arrangement has a hydraulic circuit which has a pump and is connected to the first and second cylinder ports. The pump is connected to an electric motor as a pump drive and is embodied as a bidirectional rotational pump which has a first pump port which is directly connected to the first cylinder port, and which has a second pump port which is directly connected to the second cylinder port. The shift element can be moved by changing the rotational speed and/or the direction of rotation of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: GETRAG GETRIEBE- UND ZAHNRADFABRIK HERMANN HAGENMEYER GMBH & CIE KG
    Inventors: Guenter Ruehle, Ralf Trutschel
  • Patent number: 9309964
    Abstract: A method of performing a shift operation in an automatic transmission with at least one form-locking shifting transmission part of a vehicle, with which, during a shift to a target gear (GZIEL), a rotational speed synchronization, between the transmission input rotational speed and the output side rotational speed, is performed. When a different rotational direction is detected between the transmission input and the transmission output, the rotational speed of the transmission input is reduced to a minimum and the target gear (GZIEL) is only shifted when the remaining rotational speed difference, between the rotational speed of the transmission input and the rotational speed of the transmission output can be at least substantially synchronized by the form-locking shift element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Florian Schneider, Mario Steinborn
  • Patent number: 9285029
    Abstract: A twin clutch controlling apparatus including a shift motor for carrying out a smooth changeover of a shift stage of a multi-speed transmission having a plurality of gear trains between a main shaft and a countershaft, a twin clutch configured from an odd number stage side clutch and an even number stage side clutch, a clutch actuator for controlling the twin clutch, and a manual operation clutch capacity arithmetic operation section for arithmetically operating, based on an operational amount of a clutch lever, a manual operation clutch capacity arithmetic operation value (tqc1tmt) corresponding to the manual operation. The twin clutch controlling apparatus further includes a manual operation clutch decision section for determining with a clutch capacity of which one of the odd number stage side clutch or the even number stage side clutch the manual operation clutch capacity arithmetic operation value (tqc1tmt) is to be interlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kojima, Kazuhiko Nakamura, Kazuyuki Fukaya, Yoshiaki Nedachi, Yasuyuki Mori, Satoshi Honma
  • Patent number: 9260109
    Abstract: In a control device for a hybrid vehicle (1) including a dual-clutch transmission (10), a first MG (3) connected to a first input shaft (13) of the transmission (10) in a power transmittable manner and a second MG (4) connected to a second input shaft (14) of the transmission (10) in a power transmittable manner, while the vehicle (1) is travelling with the use of an internal combustion engine (2), the transmission (10) is controlled such that power transmission between the input shaft, which is interrupted in power transmission from the internal combustion engine (2), and an output system (12) is interrupted when an accelerator pedal is depressed, and the transmission (10) is controlled such that power transmission between the input shaft, which is interrupted in power transmission from the internal combustion engine (2), and the output system (12) is established by a gear train of a speed position lower than a current speed position when depression of the accelerator pedal is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takaaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9249877
    Abstract: A position diagnostic test for a shift-by-wire system is provided. The shift-by-wire system includes a shift lever configured to move along a shift path, a first and a second position sensor configured to generate a first and a second position signal, respectively, of the shift lever along the shift path, and a controller configured to receive the first and second position signals. The first position sensor includes a first x-coordinate value and a first y-coordinate value, and the second position sensor includes a second x-coordinate value and a second y-coordinate value. The position diagnostic test includes performing a rationality test on each of the coordinate values. If at least one predetermined condition exists for a particular coordinate value, then it fails the rationality test, and the position signal containing the coordinate value may be disregarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Daniel A. Bialas, Anne Bliss, Orson S. Wang, Michael J. Abowd, Brian A. MacFarlane
  • Patent number: 9228638
    Abstract: A shift drive mechanism in which a special constant-meshing-type multi-speed transmission can be applied to a transmission case of a constant-meshing-type multi-speed transmission of a general type. In a shift drive mechanism of a multi-speed transmission where the transmission is configured such that a control rod is movable in the axial direction on a hollow-shaft center axis of a gear shaft formed in a hollow shape so that an engagement changeover mechanism is driven to perform a gear shift, and a shift pin, which is guided by a shift drum provided near a periphery of the gear shaft, moves the control rod in the axial direction, an intermittent drive mechanism intermittently rotates the shift drum for every position of each gear speed by transmitting the reciprocating rotation of a shift spindle, which is connected to a gear shift operating member, is arranged between the shift spindle and the shift drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinya Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9218059
    Abstract: An input apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus being used for operation input to various vehicular electronic devices, sets position input permission areas on a two-dimensional operation surface of an operation input device discretely by control of a main controller. In control modes of a reaction force, a guide input mode where position indication operations to the areas on the operation surface by the operation input device are guided along unique paths defined in the respective area and an arbitrary mode where the position indication operations are not guided but performed freely can be changed. The guide input mode is set at least during a vehicle travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Norio Yamamoto, Nozomi Kitagawa, Katsuhide Kumagai, Masahiko Miyata
  • Patent number: 9212740
    Abstract: A shift device includes a knob rotated to select a mode of a vehicle transmission. A rotary detent member is rotated to a rotation position corresponding to the selected transmission mode. The rotary detent member is coaxial with the knob. A connecting member connects the knob and the rotary detent member when located at the first position. The connecting member is disconnected from the knob when located at the second position. A motor rotates the connecting member and the rotary detent member. During a normal operation in which a certain condition is unsatisfied, a control circuit controls the motor to hold the connecting member at the first position. When the certain condition is satisfied, the control circuit controls the motor to move the connecting member to the second position and move the rotary detent member to a rotation position corresponding to a parking mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Hironori Watanabe, Makoto Yamamoto, Koji Imai, Munetoshi Makimura, Shosaku Watarai, Katsushi Miwa, Toshiharu Katagiri
  • Patent number: 9165450
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises at least one wheel supporting the vehicle and an engine. At least one axially rotating member operatively connects the engine with the wheel such that the wheel moves responsive to operation of the engine. At least one tag is disposed on the axially rotating member. At least one sensor is disposed on the vehicle so that the sensor can detect movement of the tag. A computer disposed on the vehicle is operatively connected with the sensor. The sensor sends a signal to the computer when the sensor detects movement of the tag. Means on the vehicle provides an operator of the vehicle with feedback indicative of movement of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: Tom Lee Sorensen
  • Patent number: 9163957
    Abstract: A position sensor for a transmission mode selector lever includes a magnet and three magnetic flux detection elements that detect magnetic flux of the magnet. A determination circuit determines an operation position of the transmission mode selector lever based on output levels of detection signals generated by the magnetic flux detection elements. The magnet includes first and second magnetized regions. The first and second magnetized regions are formed so that when the magnet is moved relative to the magnetic flux detection elements along a straight line, output levels of the detection signals generated by the magnetic flux detection elements change in accordance with a proportional relationship having a first or second gradient relative to the distance of the movement. The three detection elements are spaced apart from each other on a straight line that is parallel to the first and second straight lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventor: Masayoshi Iwata
  • Patent number: 9140354
    Abstract: A shift/tilt locking apparatus for shift lever of automatic transmission may include a shift knob, a main shaft slidably and rotatably disposed in a housing such that shift knob is slidable; a crossbar having shift knob at the upper end to tilt; a shift restriction device that allows shift knob to slide by selectively restricting sliding of main shaft; and a tilting restriction device controlling shift knob to tilt by selectively restricting the tilting of shift knob by using a third solenoid, which is controlled by a shift mode determining step that determines a shift mode by checking the position of shift knob and a lever locking step that restricts/releases shift knob by selectively operating first solenoid to third solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, SL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeehyuck Choi, Kwanggi Lee, Dongjae Kim
  • Patent number: 9139094
    Abstract: It comprises an operating device (gearshift command) for at least browsing and selecting one or more functions, and output device (e.g. a display) for sending information to an user about at least the selected function. Gearshift command is suitable for further setting a corresponding status of said function (on/off status, adjustable status). Functions comprise at least a function related to driving and other functions (comfort, multimedia, etc). The operating device may be provided with locking device for enabling or disabling operation of functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: FICO TRIAD, S.A.
    Inventors: Jordi Aubert Solà-Morales, Jordi Jornet Vidal, David Tuset Danís
  • Patent number: 9140353
    Abstract: An actuating device is provided that includes an actuating element (1) with at least three switching positions. The actuating device (1) can be deflected starting from its basic positions at least in one direction into an intermediate switching position for selecting an operating state of the technical system. For selecting at least one other operating state of the technical system, the actuating element (1) can be deflected, starting from an intermediate switching position, into at least one other switching position that is located farther away from the basic position. The undesired jumping of the actuating element over intermediate switching positions, during switching, is effectively prevented from occurring. An intuitively detectable tactile feedback of the switching state of the actuating element or of the state of the system is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Joerg Meyer, Andreas Giefer
  • Patent number: 9126589
    Abstract: This transmission include an input shaft to which power is input from an internal combustion engine and an output shaft to which power is input from an electric motor. This transmission has a gear stage (EV) for EV travel (different from the neutral) in which no power transmission system is established between the input and output shafts, and a plurality of gear stages (1-st to 5-th) for HV travel in which a power transmission system is established between the input and output shafts. “1-st” is used in place of “EV” so as to start a vehicle only when EV travel cannot be performed normally. On an H pattern, a “shift completion position for EV” is disposed at a position through which a shift operation member passes during a “shift operation” (operation in the front-rear direction of the vehicle) from a “1-2 selection position” to a “shift completion position for 1-st.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Aisin AI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Osuka, Yuki Masui
  • Patent number: 9115797
    Abstract: A method of setting a reference position of an actuator in an automated manual transmission, may include acquiring a full stroke by checking both ends in a shifting direction, determining whether or not the full stroke is within a normal range, moving a finger to a position that is half of a previous full stroke when the full stroke acquired at the procedure of acquiring the full stroke exceeds the normal range as a result of determining whether or not the full stroke is within the normal range, and determining whether or not a selection operation is carried out at the position that is half of the full stroke after moving the finger to the position that is half of the previous full stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Young Min Yoon, Hyung Wook Cho
  • Patent number: 9115803
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating and interfacing to a transmission of a vehicle are presented. In one example, a human machine interface allows a driver to assign gear ratios or simulated gear ratios to gear position slots of a shifter. The assignment of gear ratios to gear position slots of a shifter may allow a driver to experience the feeling of driving a manually shifted transmission without having to operate a clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yuji Fujii, Marvin Paul Kraska, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Joseph F. Kucharski, Gregory Michael Pietron, Eric Hongtei Tseng
  • Patent number: 9109675
    Abstract: A hybrid power train for a vehicle may include a gear module having a plurality of shift stages of a synchromesh type on a first input shaft and an output shaft arranged in parallel, a second input shaft driven by a motor and disposed coaxially with the first input shaft, a clutch means for connecting or disconnecting the second input shaft and the first input shaft, and variable shift ratio providing means for transmitting the torque of the second input shaft to the output shaft through an external engaged-gear pair selectively in two different shift ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jong Yun Park, Jae Young Choi
  • Patent number: 9109697
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes an input member, a planetary gear mechanism, a plurality of engagement mechanisms, an output member, a shift position detector, an input rotational speed detector, a controller, and a switching mechanism. The controller is configured to set the switching mechanism in a reverse-rotation prevention state when a shift position is set in a forward movement range and configured to set the switching mechanism in a fixed state when the shift position is set in a backward movement range. The controller is configured to control the plurality of engagement mechanisms so that the input member is capable of rotating and rotation of the output member is prevented in a case in which a vehicle is moving backward, the shift position is switched from the backward movement range to the forward movement range, and a vehicle speed is greater than or equal to a first predetermined speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya Tachibanada, Yutaka Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9096214
    Abstract: The gear shifting control device comprises a speed change operation completion detecting portion, a rotation difference judging portion for judging whether or not the absolute difference between the engine rotation speed and the input rotation speed exceeds a predetermined value and a clutch torque—operating amount correcting portion which replaces the clutch torque corresponding to the clutch actuator operating amount corresponding to the target clutch torque with a presumed clutch torque. Thus the correction accuracy for the clutch actuator operating amount can be improved by learning a speed change state by extracting a suitable state for learning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomomitsu Terakawa, Yasuhiro Hosoi, Yuichiro Kitamura, Yoshihide Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9086949
    Abstract: During the deactivation of a driving system of a vehicle, an ECU determines whether or not a P range abnormality occurs which exhibits that a shift signal transmitted from a shift position sensor includes a P signal and an MJ signal corresponding to the P range as well as a different-type signal other than the P signal and the MJ signal. When the P range abnormality occurs, the ECU determines whether or not the vehicle-stopped state can be assured based on whether or not a brake-ON state (a hydraulic braking force or a parking braking force are beyond the range capable of maintaining vehicle-stopped state) is present. In a case where a P range abnormality occurs, when ECU determines that the vehicle-stopped state can be assured, the ECU allows the activation of the driving system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiji Kaita, Masaya Amano, Takeshi Hoshiba, Koji Hokoi, Takahiko Hirasawa, Masashi Yoshimi
  • Patent number: 9074680
    Abstract: A system for shifting an automatic or continuously variable transmission of a vehicle. The system includes a plurality of wheels, an engine, a transmission, a memory, a processor, and a paddle shifter. The engine provides a torque to the plurality of wheels through the transmission. The transmission has a plurality of set gear ratios to shift through. The processor detects when the paddle shifter is pressed and held, to instruct the transmission to perform a first half shift. When the paddle shifter is subsequently released, the processor instructs the transmission to perform a second half shift, completing a full shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew W. Pekema
  • Patent number: 9038492
    Abstract: A hydraulic arrangement by which a plurality of shift rails of a transmission are actuated, including one double acting cylinder per shift rail by which the respective shift rail can be moved back and forth. A first hydraulic valve is connected upstream of the plurality of shift rails and has a first output and a second output, by which a first shift pressure and a second shift pressure for actuating the shift rails can be provided. A second hydraulic valve is connected between the first hydraulic valve and two of the shift rails, and by which it is selectively possible for the first output of the first hydraulic valve to be associated with one of the double acting cylinders of the two shift rails, and the second output of the first hydraulic valve to be associated with the other double acting cylinder of the two shift rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Eric Müller, Reinhard Stehr, Roshan Willeke, Ronald Glas, Martin Staudinger, Marco Grethel
  • Patent number: 9038493
    Abstract: An automatic shift device for an automated transmission for a vehicle includes a rotation shaft, a clutch ring, a clutch hub, a sleeve, a dog clutch portion, a shaft moving apparatus, and a control portion. The control portion includes a push force reduction control portion performing a push force reduction control reducing a push force of the sleeve that the shaft moving apparatus applies on the clutch rear teeth in response to a back and forth movement of the sleeve after the sleeve reaches an end surface of the clutch rear tooth. The control portion includes a retry control portion performing a retry control that re-applies the push force of the sleeve in response to a predetermined retry condition after the push force reduction control is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Iwasaki, Kyosuke Mori, Yusuke Yoshida, Keisuke Mishima, Masahiko Komura
  • Patent number: 9027425
    Abstract: A transmission device for an internal combustion engine for preventing components thereof from being damaged for making the components smaller in size and weight, reducing a load and a time required to shift gear positions for increased operability and for reducing overall size and weight. A transmission device for an internal combustion engine includes a shift drum angularly movable by a star-shaped drum plate that is turned when a change spindle is turned and a stopper roller for limiting the star-shaped drum plate against turning movement. The star-shaped drum plate includes peaks corresponding to a plurality of gear positions and valleys interposed between the peaks. A selected one of the valleys includes a curved wall for being more gently contacted by the stopper roller than curved surfaces of the other valleys which are contacted by the stopper roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogasawara, Noriaki Takano, Eiichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9021907
    Abstract: A housing slidably guides a slider, which is driven in response to selection of a shift range of an automatic transmission. Upper and lateral sides of a movable range of the slider are covered with the housing. Thereby, application of hydraulic fluid and foreign objects to guide rails is limited to limit malfunction of the slider. Furthermore, even when the hydraulic fluid and foreign objects adhere to the guide rails, the hydraulic fluid and foreign objects can be collected at ends of the movable range of the slider and can be expelled to an outside of the housing through open ends of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Takagi, Mikio Kanefusa, Shigeki Hirakawa, Takahiro Kimura, Akihiro Mitani, Shotaro Nagai, Keiichiro Sueshige, Takenori Kawano
  • Patent number: 9021908
    Abstract: A hydraulic system of an electric vehicle may comprise: an oil container; a first and a second clutch driving circuits connected in parallel; an internal pump driven by a driving system of the electric vehicle; a first check valve connected in series at an outlet side of the internal pump; an external pump driven by an external pump motor; and a second check valve connected in series at an outlet side of the external pump. The first check valve and the internal pump connected in series and the second check valve and the external pump connected in series are connected in parallel between the oil container and the first and second clutch driving circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignees: Shenzhen BYD Auto R&D Company Limited, BYD Company Limited
    Inventors: Yi Ren, Shenglin Yang, Jun Li
  • Patent number: 9016156
    Abstract: A dog clutch control apparatus for an automated transmission includes a rotary shaft, a dog clutch transmission mechanism including a clutch ring, a clutch hub, a sleeve including a spline, an axial driving device, a dog clutch portion provided at the clutch ring, a rotation speed detection sensor, the spline including high teeth and a low tooth, clutch rear teeth and clutch front teeth formed at the dog clutch portion, and a control unit controlling an operation of the axial driving device based on a deceleration gradient of a rotation speed of either one of the sleeve and the clutch ring detected by the rotation speed detection sensor and controlling the axial driving device so that a decreased thrust load is applied to the clutch rear teeth from the sleeve in a case where the deceleration gradient is smaller than a first predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Iwasaki, Yusuke Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9003908
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a working vehicle includes: a main change speed mechanism configured to transmit a rotating power, generated by a power source; a first auxiliary change speed mechanism configured to transmit the rotating power, transmitted through the main change speed mechanism, to drive wheels; a second auxiliary change speed mechanism configured to transmit the rotating power to the drive wheels; a first lever configured to operate the first auxiliary change speed mechanism to perform a first auxiliary shift operation; and a second lever configured to operate the second auxiliary change speed mechanism to perform a second auxiliary shift operation, wherein: the first auxiliary change speed mechanism is activated when the second auxiliary change speed mechanism in a neutral state; and the second auxiliary change speed mechanism is activated when the first auxiliary change speed mechanism is in the neutral state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Iseki & Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Sagawa, Takashi Wakino, Fumiaki Nishikawa, Tatsuzo Murakami, Satoru Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9001516
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic circuit unit to be mounted within a casing of an automatic transmission for a vehicle. An electronic circuit body including circuit-side terminals protruding in an outward direction from a main-body, connectors to be connected to the electronic circuit body, a cover, and a base member having a placing face on which the cover, the electronic circuit body and the connectors are placed. The cover is provided with a main-body covering part, fitting-portion covering parts and which cover a fitting-portion of the circuit-side terminals and fitting parts of the wire-side terminals from a side opposing to the placing face, and a restricting part for regulating the detachment of the connectors from the fitting position to the detached position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Nakayama, Kouichi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8997595
    Abstract: A transmission includes an input shaft, an output shaft and an intermediate shaft, a power transmission mechanism and a control unit. The power transmission mechanism includes a forward travelling lower speed clutch, a forward travelling higher speed clutch, a rearward travelling clutch and a plurality of speed stage switching clutches. The control unit is configured to switch a gear state into a shiftable rearward travelling gear stage by turning off either the forward travelling lower speed clutch or the forward travelling higher speed clutch and by turning on the rearward travelling clutch in executing an operation of switching from forward travelling to rearward travelling, and to switch a gear stage into a shiftable forward travelling gear stage by turning off the rearward travelling clutch and turning on the forward travelling lower speed clutch in executing an operation of switching from rearward travelling to forward travelling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Sasada, Hiroaki Takeshima, Yoshito Komatsu
  • Patent number: 8997596
    Abstract: An interlocking device arranged to prevent forbidden order of engagement/disengagement of two tooth clutches in a vehicle transmission is provided and includes a groove arranged in a first of shift rods, and a second and a third groove arranged in a second of shift rods, an interlocking element arranged coplanar with the shift rods, and directed and movable towards the shift rods. The length of the interlocking element is adapted to allow certain combinations and order of engagement/disengagement of the tooth clutches. A piston element partitions the second and third groove. The piston element is movably arranged in a hole in the second shift rod such that the interlocking element can push the piston element down in the hole, allowing the second shift rod to be displaced only one-way when the first shift rod is in an engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Klas Bergström, Anders Hedman