Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080296111 | Lock-up clutch control method - A torque converter lock-up clutch may be controlled by a lock-up clutch regulator control valve. The valve is utilized to selectively direct a fluid to the torque converter or to a pressure regulator valve. For example, in a hydrodynamic condition of the torque converter, the valve permits fluid to flow to the torque converter. In a lock-up condition of the torque converter, the valve directs fluid to a pressure regulator valve which selectively permits pressure to build in the torque converter. | 12-04-2008 |
20100267518 | Hybrid Transmission and Method of Use - A hybrid transmission for a vehicle and its method of use are described. The transmission may have an internal combustion engine and an electric device. A torque converter is connected between the internal combustion engine and a set of direction clutches. The direction clutches are also connected to an intermediate gear set. The electric device is also connected to the intermediate gear set for providing rotational energy to the intermediate gear set or absorbing energy from the intermediate gear set. The electric device is connected to at least one super capacitor. | 10-21-2010 |
20120240564 | ACCUMULATOR ASSISTED HYDROSTATIC DRIVELINE AND OPTIMIZATION METHOD THEREOF - A hydrostatic driveline for a vehicle, a method for minimizing a fuel consumption rate of the vehicle, and a method for tracking an optimal state of charge function for a hydrostatic accumulator are provided. The driveline includes a power source, a drive axle, a first fluid accumulator, a second fluid accumulator, an auxiliary circuit including a first pump drivingly engaged with the power source, and a drive circuit including a second pump drivingly engaged with the power source, a motor drivingly engaged with the drive axle, and a directional valve. The second pump is in fluid communication with the directional valve and the directional valve in fluid communication with the first fluid accumulator and the second fluid accumulator. The directional valve may be selectively controlled to direct fluid from the second pump and the motor to the first fluid accumulator and the second fluid accumulator. | 09-27-2012 |
20130090210 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SYNCHRONIZING A FLYWHEEL WITH A DRIVETRAIN - A vehicle driveline and a method for synchronizing a flywheel and the vehicle driveline are provided. The vehicle driveline includes a power source, a primary clutch drivingly engaged with the power source, a primary transmission drivingly engaged with the primary clutch, a secondary transmission drivingly engaged with one of a portion of the primary clutch and an input of the primary transmission, a controller in communication with the secondary transmission, and a flywheel drivingly engaged with the secondary transmission. The vehicle driveline facilitates a transfer of energy to and from the flywheel based on at least one of a state of charge of the flywheel, a power requirement of the vehicle driveline, and a state of operation of the power source. | 04-11-2013 |
20130150210 | SHIFTING PROCEDURE FOR POWERSPLIT SYSTEMS - A method for shifting a transmission capable of operating in a hydrostatic power transmission mode or a blended hydrostatic and mechanical power transmission mode is provided. The transmission includes a mechanical portion and a hydraulic portion. The method comprises the steps of placing the transmission in the hydrostatic power transmission mode, reducing an amount of engagement of a primary clutch, adjusting a rotational speed of the hydraulic portion, increasing an amount of engagement of a secondary clutch, and engaging the secondary clutch and disengaging the primary clutch. The method for shifting the transmission minimizes torque interruption, increases a fuel efficiency of a vehicle, and increases a range of operating speeds of the vehicle the transmission is incorporated in | 06-13-2013 |
20130190131 | TILTING BALL VARIATOR CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION TORQUE VECTORING DEVICE - A torque vectoring device is provided. The torque vectoring device includes a drive member engaged with a power source, a plurality of spherical adjusters configured to be tiltable and rotatable with respect to the drive member, a first output frictionally engaged with the spherical adjusters, and a second output frictionally engaged with the spherical adjusters. A torque distribution between the first output and the second output may be adjusted by tilting the plurality of spherical adjusters. The spherical adjusters also facilitate a differential action between the first output and the second output. | 07-25-2013 |
20130192413 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING POWER BETWEEN A FLYWHEEL AND A VEHICLE - A vehicle driveline and a method for transferring energy from a flywheel is provided. The vehicle driveline includes a power source, a clutch drivingly engaged with the power source, a transmission drivingly engaged with the clutch, a power transmission device drivingly engaged with one of the power source, the clutch, and the transmission, a controller in communication with the power transmission device, and a flywheel drivingly engaged with the power transmission device. The power transmission device facilitates a transfer of energy from the flywheel to one of the clutch and the transmission. The power transmission device also facilitates a transfer of energy from one of the power source, the clutch, and the transmission to the flywheel. The controller directs the transfer of energy to and from the flywheel. | 08-01-2013 |
20130192915 | APPARATUS FOR BRAKING FLYWHEEL SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR DISSIPATING ENERGY STORED THEREIN - A flywheel energy storage assembly and a method for dissipating energy stored in a flywheel assembly is provided. The flywheel energy storage assembly includes a flywheel rotatably disposed in a flywheel housing, a fluid source, a braking actuator in fluid communication with the fluid source and an interior of the flywheel housing, a sensor, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the braking actuator. In response to a stimulus detected by the sensor, the controller directs the braking actuator to facilitate fluid communication between the fluid source and the interior of the flywheel housing to dissipate energy stored in the flywheel energy storage assembly. | 08-01-2013 |
20130260961 | ACTIVE WHEEL HUB TRANSMISSION - A wheel hub transmission for a vehicle driveline is provided. The wheel hub transmission includes an input shaft, a planetary gear arrangement, a casing member, and a clutching device. The input shaft is drivingly engaged with a power source and the planetary gear arrangement. The planetary gear arrangement is drivingly engaged with the input shaft and is in one of driving engagement and selective driving engagement with the casing member. The clutching device may be selectively drivingly engaged with a portion of the planetary gear arrangement, wherein upon engagement of the clutching device the planetary gear arrangement is fixed. The wheel hub transmission facilitates a torque multiplication at the wheel hub transmission, which reduces an amount of torque applied to a portion of the vehicle driveline. | 10-03-2013 |
20140094336 | HYBRID DRIVETRAIN AND METHOD OF OPERATION THEREOF - A driveline for a vehicle is provided. The driveline includes a power source, a planetary gearset, a lockout clutch, a transmission, and a kinetic energy recovery system. The planetary gearset includes a sun gear, a carrier having a plurality of planet gears rotatably disposed thereon, and a ring gear. The power source is in driving engagement with a portion of the planetary gearset. The lockout clutch is capable of placing the planetary gearset in a locked out condition. The transmission is in driving engagement with another portion of the planetary gearset. The kinetic energy recovery system includes an accessory clutch and a flywheel. The accessory clutch facilitates driving engagement between the flywheel and another portion of the planetary gearset. The lockout clutch and the accessory clutch are selectively engaged to facilitate a transfer of energy to and from the transmission and the flywheel. | 04-03-2014 |
20140144136 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WASTE HEAT RECOVERY FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES - A combined internal combustion engine and waste heat recovery system is provided. The combined internal combustion engine and waste heat recovery system comprises the internal combustion engine, the waste heat recovery system, and a ratio adapting device. The internal combustion engine includes a turbocharger. The waste heat recovery system comprises a condenser, a pump, a heat exchanger, and an expander. The expander is in driving engagement with the turbocharger. The ratio adapting device is drivingly engaged with an output of the internal combustion engine and the expander of the waste heat recovery system. The ratio adapting device may be engaged to transfer energy from at least one of the turbocharger and the expander to the output of the internal combustion engine. | 05-29-2014 |
20140194243 | BALL TYPE CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION/INFINITELY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION - A variable transmission includes an input shaft, a planetary gear set drivingly engaged with a variator comprising, a variator carrier assembly, a first ring assembly, and a second ring assembly; and the output shaft, arranged with various combinations of brakes and clutches to produce transmissions with continuously variable or infinitely variable torque output ratios. | 07-10-2014 |
20140260777 | VARIABLE INERTIA FLYWHEEL - A variable inertia flywheel for an internal combustion engine is provided. The variable inertia flywheel device comprises at least two revolute joint assemblies, a roller guide, and a first actuator. The at least two revolute joint assemblies are in driving engagement with an output of the internal combustion engine. Each of the revolute joint assemblies comprises a member assembly and a roller. The roller guide is disposed about the revolute joint assemblies. An inner surface of the roller guide is in rolling contact with each of the rollers. The first actuator is in engagement with one of the roller guide and the revolute joint assemblies. The first actuator applies a force to one of the roller guide and the revolute joint assemblies to move one of the roller guide and the revolute joint assemblies along an axis defined by the output of the internal combustion engine. | 09-18-2014 |
20140260778 | TORSIONAL COMPENSATOR - A torsional compensating device for an internal combustion engine for an internal combustion engine is provided. The torsional compensating device comprises a first joint assembly and a torsional element. The first joint assembly is in driving engagement with an output of the internal combustion engine. The torsional element is in driving engagement with the first joint assembly and the output of the internal combustion engine. An angular deviation of the first joint assembly causes a cyclical acceleration of the torsional element. The cyclical acceleration of the torsional element applies a torque to the output of the internal combustion engine. The torsional compensating device may be passively or dynamically adapted for both an amplitude and a phase of a torque ripple while minimizing an interference with an operation of the internal combustion engine. | 09-18-2014 |
20140261282 | TORQUE RIPPLE COMPENSATING DEVICE - A torque ripple compensating device for an internal combustion engine is provided. The torque ripple compensating device comprises a first member, a second member, and a third member. The first member is in driving engagement with an output of the internal combustion engine. The second member is in driving engagement with the first member. The third member is in driving engagement with the second member. An angular deviation between the first member and the third member causes a cyclical acceleration of the third member. The cyclical acceleration of the third member applies a torque to the output of the internal combustion engine through the first member. The torque ripple compensating device is able to be passively or dynamically adapted for both an amplitude and a phase of a torque ripple while minimizing an interference with an operation of the internal combustion engine. | 09-18-2014 |
20140274536 | BALL TYPE CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE TRANSMISSION - A variable transmission includes an input shaft, a planetary gear set drivingly engaged with a variator comprising, a variator carrier assembly, a first ring assembly, and a second ring assembly; and the output shaft, arranged to produce transmissions with continuously variable or infinitely variable output ratios. | 09-18-2014 |
20140277978 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR LEARNING FILLING PARAMETERS FOR A CLUTCH - A method and a device for calibrating a wet clutch is provided. The clutch comprises a pump, a piston, a proportional valve, a controller, and a pressure sensor. The method comprises the steps of closing the clutch by sending a pressure profile with fill parameters from the controller to the proportional valve, recording a pressure signal of the hydraulic fluid, comparing the pressure profile with the pressure signal, determining whether at least one defined feature is in the pressure signal that is indicative of errors in the fill parameters, and if said feature is determined in the pressure signal, modification of the pressure profile by changing at least one of the fill parameters. | 09-18-2014 |
20140280593 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS USING A MULTI-LEVEL NETWORK - A system and a method for data collection and analysis that uses a multi-level network are provided. The system comprises a first client device and a central network. The first client device and the central network form the multi-level network. The first client device is configured to receive a first data and perform a first data fusing process based on the first data. The first data fusing process generates a second data. The central network is in communication with the first client device. The central network receives the second data from the first client device. The central network is configured to perform a second data fusing process based on the second data to generate a third data. The third data is communicated to the first client device so that the first client device can perform a third data fusing process based on the third data to generate a fourth data. | 09-18-2014 |