RICARDO, INC. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150134189 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REMAINING USEFUL LIFE PREDICTIONS IN DRIVETRAINS - Systems and methods for continually determining the remaining useful life of a drivetrain. The remaining useful life is continually determined during real-time operation of the drivetrain by determining a duty cycle based on torque and rotary speed measurements of the drivetrain. The duty cycle is converted into a useful life reduction, which is subtracted from the then-existing remaining useful life of the drivetrain. The systems and methods can additionally include displaying a remaining useful life during operation of the drivetrain, and generating an alert when the remaining useful life approaches or reaches zero. The drivetrain is optionally associated with an internal combustion engine, a wind turbine, or a gas turbine. | 05-14-2015 |
20130237360 | POWER SPLIT ELECTRIC ALL-WHEEL DRIVE - A front drivetrain capable of providing all-wheel drive to a rear-wheel drive architecture. The front drivetrain is coupled to the front end of the crank shaft and includes a power-split planetary gear arrangement that couples an electric machine to the front drivetrain. In one embodiment, the planetary gear arrangement includes a sun gear coupled to the crank shaft, a planetary gear set with a carrier coupled to the driveshaft, a ring gear coupled to the electric machine. The driveshaft may be connected to left and right front axles by a bevel gear set and a differential. In an alternative embodiment, sun gear may be coupled to the electric machine and the ring gear can be coupled to the crank shaft. In this alternative embodiment, the planetary gear set remain coupled to the driveshaft. | 09-12-2013 |
20130206533 | HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION - Control systems and methods for a dual clutch transmission are provided. The control system includes a first pump for providing a first fluid to actuate the dual clutch assembly, a second pump for providing a second fluid to cool the dual clutch assembly, and a motor operatively coupled to the first and second pumps. The motor is operable in first and second directions, wherein the first pump is responsive to operation of the motor in the first direction and the second pump is responsive to operation of the motor in the second direction. The first and second pumps can be coupled to the motor about a common transfer shaft. By selectively reversing motor rotation, the motor drives the first and second pumps to provide a flow rate of hydraulic fluid and to provide a flow rate of lubricating fluid, respectively. | 08-15-2013 |
20120298083 | TWO-STROKE HEAVY FUEL ENGINE - A two-stroke internal combustion engine is provided. The two-stroke engine can be integrated into a variety of devices, including for example unmanned aerial vehicles, and can operate on heavy fuels including JP-5 and JP-8, for example. In some embodiments, engine can include a crankshaft including first and second main shaft portions interconnected by an offset crank web. The offset crank web can include opposing end portions that are offset from each other and define spaced apart centerlines generally perpendicular to and coplanar with the crankshaft centerline. In other embodiments, the engine can provide improvements in engine cooling, engine exhaust, lubrication delivery, engine mounting, engine fuel delivery and propeller attachment, for example. | 11-29-2012 |
20100120580 | MULTI-MODE HYBRID TRANSMISSION - A multi-mode hybrid transmission for transmitting power from a prime mover and a stored source of energy to a final drive shaft. The transmission may include an input shaft to receive torque from the prime mover, a countershaft operatively coupled to the final drive shaft, a plurality of gear pairs each defining a torque path from the input shaft to the countershaft, a synchromesh clutch assembly to selectively couple the input shaft with a desired gear pair, and first and second electric machines rotatably carried by the input shaft. The first electric machine can provide a motive force to the final drive shaft and the second electric machine can covert rotary speed of the input shaft into electrical energy. Additionally, the first and second electric machines can provide supplemental torque to the output shaft during periods of reduced torque from the prime mover associated with a change in torque path. | 05-13-2010 |
20080228372 | OPTIMIZED FLEX FUEL POWERTRAIN - A fuel system and powertrain for a flexible fuel system vehicle utilizes a controller system to control variables in an engine and the final drive optimize operating efficiency of the vehicle while using an alcohol-gasoline blend. The controller system regulates engine operating variables such as fuel pressure, fuel flow, air-fuel flow, air-fuel temperature, and valve timing. The controller system regulates engine operating variables such as transmission gear selection and gear changing as well as differential ratio changes. | 09-18-2008 |