Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100151986 | PLANETARY CARRIER PINION PIN RETAINER PLATE - A shaft retainer for a planet gear carrier of a planetary gear assembly both retains the pinion shafts within the carrier and maintains their angular orientation to achieve improved oil flow to the pinion bearings. Each of the pinion shafts includes an opening and an axial passageway that communicates with a radial passageway at the middle of the shaft. At the end of the pinion shaft opposite the axial passageway opening is a flat extending across the shaft. The flat is normal to the axis of the radial passageway. The pinion shafts are slip fit into suitable bores in the planetary gear carrier and support a needle bearing and planet or pinion gear. At one end of the carrier, the flats are engaged by a circular retainer so that the radial passageways of each of the pinion shafts are oriented radially outwardly. The circular retainer may either be a flat circular plate or have an L-shaped cross-section. The circular retainer may be affixed to the planetary gear carrier by a snap ring or a plurality of fasteners. At the end of the carrier having the axial shaft passageway openings, a lube dam directs a flow of lubricating oil from a source such as a hollow drive shaft to the open axial ends of the pinion shafts. | 06-17-2010 |
20100279811 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR AND CLUTCH ARRANGEMENT - A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque-transmitting devices. Further, a hydraulic fluid control circuit is provided for controlling the operation of the plurality of torque-transmitting devices. The hydraulic fluid control circuit receives pressurized hydraulic fluid from an off-axis hydraulic fluid pump and has a plurality of fluid passages disposed in the transmission house, input member and other coupling members. | 11-04-2010 |
20100285919 | PINION GEAR SUBASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING A PLANET CARRIER ASSEMBLY - The pinion gear assembly thus includes a first and a second pinion gear arranged with generally parallel axes of rotation. A first and a second washer, referred to herein as stationary washers, are provided. Each of the washers has two openings spaced to generally align with two predetermined, spaced mounting locations on the planet carrier member. The first and the second washers are positioned on opposing sides of the first and second pinion gears, with the axes of rotation of the first and second pinion gears generally centered at the respective spaced openings of the washers. Because the stationary washer spans the two pinion gears, which are secured to the carrier member, the stationary member is operatively connected at two locations to the carrier member, eliminating the need for anti-rotation features and corresponding carrier features. | 11-11-2010 |
20100304918 | PLANETARY CARRIER ASSEMBLY WITH INTEGRATED PARK GEAR FOR A TRANSMISSION - A planetary carrier assembly for a transmission includes a first carrier portion and a second carrier portion. The first carrier portion includes a spider flange portion and at least one first carrier arm half extending along the longitudinal axis. The second carrier portion includes a park gear flange and at least one second carrier arm half extending along the longitudinal axis into abutting engagement with the at least one first carrier arm half. The first carrier arm halves and the second carrier arm halves are welded together at an approximate midsection along the longitudinal axis between the spider flange portion and the park gear flange portion to minimize internal stresses within the output shaft assembly. | 12-02-2010 |
20110111917 | GEAR RETENTION ASSEMBLY - A gear retention assembly for retaining a gear that has a plurality of gear outer splines includes a gear housing and a retaining ring. The gear housing has a first end, a second end, and a plurality of inner splines each including a ramp portion. The second end of the gear housing includes an annular continuous rolled lip, where the continuous rolled lip and the ramp portions of the plurality of inner splines define a groove. The plurality of inner splines engage with the gear outer splines of the gear to transmit torque between the gear and the gear housing. The retaining ring is disposed in the groove and axially retains the gear. The rolled lip axially retains the retaining ring. | 05-12-2011 |
20110244970 | ENGINE DRIVE PLATE CONNECTION - Two embodiments of an improved connection between an engine output shaft and a transmission input shaft reduce or eliminate axial shaft loading and spin losses. In a first embodiment, the transmission input shaft includes an annular flange which is received within a slightly larger annulus or a plurality of axially extending tabs from the engine flex plate. After the transmission and engine are assembled, a plurality of fasteners are installed in radial openings in the flex plate annulus or tabs and extend into threaded openings in the annular flange. Since the output and input shafts are connected after the engine and transmission are assembled there is essentially no deflection of the flex plate, no axial loads on the shafts and no spin losses. In a second embodiment, a plurality of axially oriented threaded fasteners extend through openings in the flex plate and are received within nuts in a transmission drive plate. The nuts include eccentric flanges and are retained in the drive plate by snap rings. This eccentricity creates a reaction torque when the threaded fasteners are tightened. Because the nuts are free to travel and accommodate a small axial distance, deflection of the flex plate does not occur. | 10-06-2011 |
20120028748 | LUBRICATION SYSTEM FOR A PLANETARY GEAR SET - A planetary gear set for a transmission, the planetary gear set having a sun gear, a ring gear and a carrier assembly. The carrier assembly includes an annular first carrier member, at least one pinion pin, and at least one planet gear assembly. The first carrier member has at least one radial groove connecting a step surface to an inner surface of a pinion pin bore. A pinion pin has a bearing surface and a bore. The bore has a first and a second open end, the first open end in communication with the bearing surface the second open end in communication with the radial groove of the carrier member. | 02-02-2012 |
20120129640 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR AND CLUTCH ARRANGEMENT - A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque-transmitting devices. Further, a hydraulic fluid control circuit is provided for controlling the operation of the plurality of torque-transmitting devices. The hydraulic fluid control circuit receives pressurized hydraulic fluid from an off-axis hydraulic fluid pump and has a plurality of fluid passages disposed in the transmission house, input member and other coupling members. | 05-24-2012 |
20120322604 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR AND CLUTCH ARRANGEMENT - A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque-transmitting devices. Further, a hydraulic fluid control circuit is provided for controlling the operation of the plurality of torque-transmitting devices. The hydraulic fluid control circuit receives pressurized hydraulic fluid from an off-axis hydraulic fluid pump and has a plurality of fluid passages disposed in the transmission house, input member and other coupling members. | 12-20-2012 |
20120322606 | ROTATING PLANETARY GEAR CARRIER LUBRICATION DEVICE - A planetary gear assembly having improved planet gear lubrication includes a thrust bearing assembly mounted to the planet gear carrier which provides a friction reducing interface between the carrier and a hub or stationary transmission member. A lubrication dam located radially outwardly of the thrust bearing assembly collects transmission fluid (oil) that has been supplied through a centrally disposed shaft and driven to and past the thrust bearing and into the dam by centrifugal force. Transmission fluid collecting within the dam and between the thrust bearing assembly and the planet gear carrier generates a biasing force which drives the thrust bearing assembly away from the planet gear carrier, thereby ensuring that the bearing position is not indeterminate and positively locating the thrust bearing assembly and providing an annular flow path for the transmission fluid which is then directed into a plurality of axial passageways in stub shafts which support the planet gears. At least one radial passageway in each stub shaft provides lubricating transmission fluid to a bearing assembly disposed between the stub shaft and the planet gear. | 12-20-2012 |
20140106924 | MULTI-SPEED TRANSMISSION - A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes including a selectable one-way clutch actuatable in combinations of two to establish a plurality of forward gear ratios and one reverse gear ratio. | 04-17-2014 |
20140113760 | ELECTRICALLY-VARIABLE TRANSMISSION FOR A VEHICLE - An electrically-variable transmission for a vehicle is disclosed. The transmission includes an input member and an output member each rotatable about a first axis. The transmission includes a casing defining a cavity between a first end wall and a second end wall. The transmission includes a first motor/generator and a second motor/generator disposed in the cavity with a second planetary gear set disposed between the first and second motor/generators along the first axis. The transmission includes a first torque-transmitting mechanism disposed between the first and second motor/generators along the first axis. The transmission includes a second torque-transmitting mechanism disposed between the first end wall and the first motor/generator along the first axis. The first motor/generator is disposed between the first and second torque-transmitting mechanisms along the first axis. The transmission includes a damper mechanism disposed between the second end wall and a first planetary gear set along the first axis. | 04-24-2014 |
20140271040 | BALANCED SNAP RING - A balanced snap ring and method of making a balanced snap ring is disclosed. The snap ring has a circular shape wherein the circular shape has a circumference. The snap ring has a body section and a protrusion extending axially from the body section. The protrusion is formed partially around the circumference. Additionally, a transmission with a balanced snap ring is disclosed. | 09-18-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100332413 | FUTURE VALUE DRIVERS - A computer-implemented method for analyzing corporate investments to measure the performance of a company is provided. The method may include: receiving financial data, the financial data including a plurality of operating investments of the company and a Future Value (FV) of the company; determining with a data processor a plurality of data points from the financial data, each of the plurality of data points indicative of a ratio between one of the plurality of operating investments and the Future Value (FV) of the company; determining a first benchmark and a second benchmark, the first benchmark indicative of a threshold ratio between the FV and the operating investment, the second benchmark indicative of a threshold operating investment; and displaying the data points, the first benchmark, and the second benchmark to advise a user of an effectiveness of the operating investments. | 12-30-2010 |
20110208564 | TOTAL RETURN TO SHAREHOLDERS TARGET SETTING - The performance management system and method enable users to set performance targets and analyze performance measures for a company based on financial information. The system displays three template areas respectively containing historical financial data for a first time period, predicted financial data for a second time period, and financial performance measurement changes from the first time period to the second time period, where financial performance measures are displayed for each of the time periods. The second template area receives target input variables that include target NOPAT growth, target TRS, and target dividends per share. The system and method enable the recursive adjustment of at least one of the target input variables for a future time period until a percentage change in the target TRS displayed in the second template area is equal to a user selectable target TRS value. | 08-25-2011 |
20110208625 | ENHANCED BUSINESS REPORTING METHODOLOGY - The Enhanced Business Reporting Methodology provides a way to assess the performance of a company. The method includes receiving financial data about the company, calculating a Total Economic Profit (TEP) value based in part on the financial data, the TEP value including a current value component and a future value component, determining a business component of the company that drives the current value component and/or the future value component, and assessing the business component based in part on the TEP value, the current value component, and/or the future value component. A Total Return to Shareholders (TRS) value may be calculated from this data. The TRS may be decomposed into components and mapped onto a computer-generated display. The data may also be incorporated in corporate management systems and investment analysis systems, and used to generate a set of supplemental financial reports. | 08-25-2011 |