Eaton Corporation

Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC

Dana Corporation

Dana Italia Spa

Spicer Off-highway Belgium N.v.

Dana Belgium N.v.

Timothy J Morscheck

Donald J Remboski

Steven J Wesolowski

James Foltan Ziech

Mark R J Versteyhe

Richard A Nellums

James Lester Oliver

Haoran Hu

Kenneth E Cooper

Alan C Stine

Stephen A Edelen

Thomas R Stover

Kathryn A Miles

Patrick M Watts

Diane C Wiersma

Mathieu Dutré

Thomas A Genise

David M Preston

Joseph D Reynolds

Douglas A Hughes

Alan R Davis

Giulio Ornella

Lorenzo Serrao

Ettore Cosoli

Michael J Huggins

Fabrizio Zendri

Chia-Hsiang Liu

Marcel Amsallen

Douglas C Gooch

Craig Steven Jacobs

Lawrence Paul Wagle

Kevin D Beaty

Leo J Wenstrup

Robert E Crepas

Jeff Skorupski

Mark Edward Rodgers

Anthony Militello

Dale J Kubicek

Robert R Byar

Theodore J Deska

Bart De Beer

Bruno Meertens

Mark Rj Versteyhe

Donals J Remboski

Mathieu PE Dutre

Veerle MJ Van Doorsselaere

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.

Device and method for synchronizing a flywheel with a drivetrain

A series hydraulic hybrid driveline for a vehicle is described. The driveline has a power source, a hydraulic circuit having a first hydraulic displacement unit and a second hydraulic displacement unit, a hydraulic accumulator assembly with high pressure and low pressure hydraulic accumulators, at least one accumulator valve, at least one input device, and a control unit. The first hydraulic displacement unit is drivingly engaged with the power source. The accumulator assembly is selectively fluidly connected to the hydraulic circuit through the accumulator valve. The control unit is configured to compute a total power requested from the power source based on an input command from the input device, compare the computed total power to a threshold power, and control a valve state of the accumulator valve based upon the result of the comparison. A method of controlling the driveline is also described.

Hybrid powermode with series hybrid

A drive axle system for a vehicle drive train having a clutching device is provided. The drive axle system includes a first shaft, a first axle assembly, a second axle assembly, a first clutching device, a second clutching device, and an axle assembly housing. At least a portion of the first shaft, the second clutching device, and at least one of the first axle assembly and the second axle assembly are disposed in the axle assembly housing. The first axle assembly is drivingly engaged with the first shaft. The first clutching device divides one of a pair of output axles into first and second portions. The second clutching device selectively engages a driving gear of the second axle assembly with one of the first shaft and a portion of the first axle assembly.

Drive axle system having a clutching device

A drive axle system for a vehicle drive train having a clutching device is provided. The drive axle system includes a first shaft, a bevel gear inter-axle differential, a first axle assembly, a second axle assembly, a first clutching device, and a second clutching device. The first axle assembly is drivingly engaged with the first shaft. The first clutching device divides one of a pair of output axles into first and second portions. The second clutching device selectively engages a driving gear of the second axle assembly with a portion of the bevel gear inter-axle differential.

A drive axle system for a vehicle drive train having a clutching device is provided. The drive axle system includes a first shaft, a planetary inter-axle differential, a first axle assembly, a second axle assembly, a first clutching device, and a second clutching device. The first axle assembly is drivingly engaged with a portion of the planetary inter-axle differential. The first clutching device divides one of a pair of output axles into first and second portions. The second clutching device selectively engages a driving gear of the second axle assembly with a portion of the planetary inter-axle differential.

A method of operating a drive axle system is provided. The method comprises the steps of rotating a first shaft, drivingly engaging a first axle assembly, drivingly engaging a second axle assembly, moving a second clutching device into a position to disengage a second driving gear of the second axle assembly, and moving a first clutching device into a position to disengage a first portion from a second portion of one of a second pair of output axles, thereby allowing the second driving gear to coast to a substantially non-moving state.

A drive axle system () and a method for adapting a shift schedule of a drive axle system () based on an input is provided. The drive axle system () comprises a first shaft (), a first axle assembly (), a second axle assembly (), a clutching device (), a controller (), and a plurality of sensors (). The plurality of sensors () are in communication with the controller () for sensing at least one of an environmental condition and at least one operating condition the drive axle system (). Based on the information from the plurality of sensors () the controller () selects one of a plurality of shift schedules and places the clutching device () in one of a first position and a second position.

Multi-mode tandem axle function selection apparatus and method

A transaxle with a tandem axle includes an engine, a transmission and a driveshaft. The transmission has an integrated interaxle differential mounted remotely from the engine. The transmission and the integrated interaxle differential are mounted on at least one vehicle frame member so that both are sprung weight on the vehicle. The driveshaft spans a gap between the engine and the transmission.

Transaxle with tandem axle

A drive axle system for a vehicle drive train having a clutching device is provided. The drive axle system includes a first shaft, a first axle assembly, a second axle assembly, a first clutching device, and a second clutching device. The first axle assembly is drivingly engaged with the first shaft through a first pinion gear. The first clutching device divides one of a pair of output axles into first and second portions. The second clutching device selectively engages a driving gear of the second axle assembly with a second pinion gear of the first axle assembly through a propeller shaft.

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.

Method and apparatus for transferring power between a flywheel and a vehicle

A method of shifting a power distribution unit for a vehicle from a first operating state to a second operating state is provided. The method includes the step of adjusting a rotational speed of a portion of a second axle assembly using a clutching device to impart energy to a lubricant within the second axle assembly. A controller in communication with a power source of the vehicle adjusts an operating condition of the power source to facilitate moving the clutching device. The power distribution unit includes an inter-axle differential capable being placed in a locked condition by the clutching device and of accommodating a rotational difference between a first output gear and a second output gear with the inter-axle differential.

Method of shifting a tandem drive axle having an inter-axle differential

One aspect of the invention relates to a power generation system that has an internal combustion engine that operates in a low temperature combustion mode to produce an engine exhaust that is low in NOx and particulate matter. The exhaust is treated by a fuel cell to remove organic compounds and CO while producing useful power. Another aspect of the invention relates to controlling the adiabatic flame temperature by EGR drawing from upstream of the fuel cell. A further aspect of the invention relates to treating engine exhaust with a reducing catalyst and then with a fuel cell. A still further aspect of the invention relates to treating exhaust with an intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell. A further aspect of the invention relates to a system equipped with a valve allowing exhaust to selectively bypass a fuel cell.

Clean power system

One aspect of the invention relates to a clean power generation system in which an internal combustion engine is operated to produce shaft power and an exhaust stream. The exhaust stream is processed by a fuel cell. Fluctuations in power demand are met, at least in part, by increasing or decreasing power output from the fuel cell and/or power uptake or output from a power storage device. The engine can operate at a relatively constant rate, providing a steady exhaust stream, which facilitates pollution control and fuel cell operation. According to another aspect of the invention, the exhaust of an engine is treated with a fuel cell having an electrolyte that conducts protons. In addition to removing pollutants from the exhaust while generating useful power, the fuel cell can provide a supply of low acidity water. The water can be used in the fuel reformer.

A dual mode continuously variable transmission for use with motor vehicles includes a transmission input shaft, a transmission output shaft, and a variator disposed between the transmission input shaft and the transmission output shaft. A mixer gear set is operably disposed between the transmission input shaft and the variator output shaft. A clutching element is operably disposed between the input shaft the mixer gear set. The variator is configured to continuously vary a ratio of input torque to output torque between the variator shafts responsive to commands from an electronic control unit. The variator input shaft is drivingly connected to the input shaft and the variator output shaft is drivingly connected to the output shaft. The clutching element selectively connects and disconnects the input shaft and the mixer gear set to operate the transmission in a power splitting mode of operation and a variator only mode of operation. An electronic control unit incorporates logic rules by which the clutching element maintains the transmission in a variator-only mode of operation in a first vehicle speed range, and maintains the transmission in a power splitting mode of operation in a second vehicle speed range greater than the first vehicle speed range.

Continuously variable dual mode transmission

Growing community of inventors

Kalamazoo, MI, United States of America

Timothy J Morscheck