...that Charles Goodyear performed some of his experiments on rubber while in debtor's prison? He was there so often he referred to it as his "hotel". Chronically in debt because of poor business sense and ill health, Goodyear depended on the generosity of friends and family. Even after he unlocked the secret to vulcanizing rubber, he was unable to improve his financial situation. When he died, his estate was $200,000 in debt.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8088037 | Straddle type vehicle, power unit and continuously variable transmission A straddle-type vehicle in which drivability is ensured when starting the vehicle. The vehicle includes a control device that controls a continuously variable transmission. A plurality of driving modes “A” and “B” are set in the control device. The control d... | 01/03/2012 |
| 8052572 | Control device of straddle-type vehicle, transmission, and straddle-type vehicle The preferred embodiments of the present invention allow for easy shift-down and adjustment of a shift-down amount. According to some examples, a transmission (20) includes an electronically controlled transmission mechanism (21), and a control unit ( | 11/08/2011 |
| 8047960 | Continuously variable transmission and straddle type vehicle A continuously variable transmission reduces slips between a primary sheave and a V-belt when decelerating. A target value setting section sets a control target value for control by a control device. In the target value setting section, a normal mode, a kick down mo... | 11/01/2011 |
| 7678015 | Efficiency based integrated power train control system A power train control system for a mobile machine is disclosed. The power train control system has a power source configured to produce a power output, a transmission device operatively connected to receive the power output and propel the mobile machine, and a contr... | 03/16/2010 |
| 7510501 | Hydraulic control system of belt-type continuously variable transmission for vehicle When gear ratio is abnormally increased due to failure of a secondary pulley rotation sensor or slip in a V belt, demand torque of an engine is rapidly reduced, and after upper limit regulation of a target secondary pulley pressure is performed for a second predeter... | 03/31/2009 |
| 7479090 | Method and apparatus for controlling a continuously variable transmission A method of controlling the ratio of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that is controlled by a CVT controller is provided. The method includes determining the torque produced by an engine, calculating an acceleration limit value based upon the torque value ... | 01/20/2009 |
| 7416512 | Shift control apparatus and method for continuously variable transmission A shift control apparatus for a continuously-variable transmission includes an operating condition sensing section; a normal-time speed ratio determining section; a normal-time control section; a kickdown-acceleration request determining section; a kickdown-accelera... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7373239 | Engine control device of work vehicle An engine control apparatus for a work vehicle having a cooling fan or an auxiliary device driven by an engine. The engine control apparatus is capable of operating the work vehicle with the importance placed either on amount of work or fuel economy depending on the... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7356399 | Failure determination system for stepless speed changer and failure determination device for start clutch There is provided a failure determination system for a continuously variable transmission of a belt type, which is capable of determining failure of control valves for performing speed varying operation, and enhancing maintainability. An ECU controls a transmission ... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7303505 | Method for controlling rate of change of ratio in a continuously variable transmission A method for controlling a rate of change of speed ratios in a continuously variable transmission (CVT) includes sensing a vehicle speed, sensing an engine speed, and sensing a change in a position of an accelerator pedal. The method includes determining a desired e... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7290779 | Bicycle shift control apparatus that cancels a tentative shift A bicycle shift control apparatus comprises a threshold value setting unit that sets a threshold value of a running condition for shifting a bicycle transmission, a decision unit that decides if a current running condition value passes the threshold value, and a ten... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7276016 | Speed control method for working vehicle A working vehicle in which while an operation degree of a speed change operation member is increased from 0 to a certain value, the increase of the vehicle traveling speed is produced by a first increase rate of an engine rotation speed and a first increase rate of ... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7264571 | Method and apparatus for controlling a vehicle power train containing a continuously variable transmission A method and apparatus to save fuel and to make efficient use of the possibilities of a power train including a transmission having a continuously variable transmission ratio. If the vehicle velocity exceeds a prescribed velocity the fuel supply to the engine is shu... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7249986 | Engine speed control system for outboard motor In an engine speed control system for an outboard motor, overrev prevention control is implemented which determines whether the engine overrevs by comparing the detected engine speed and a desired speed and responds to a determination that the engine overrevs (in wh... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7251555 | Exhaust gas recirculation system abnormality diagnosis device An exhaust gas recirculation passage connects an exhaust passage with an intake passage. A cooling device is mounted to the exhaust gas recirculation passage for cooling exhaust gas in the exhaust gas recirculation passage. An EGR valve adjusts a flow passage area o... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7247124 | Transmission control based on knock level An automated method for controlling a vehicle having an engine and a transmission includes sensing knock activity in the engine. A transmission ratio applicable to the transmission is selected based on the sensed knock activity. This method allows a vehicle to be op... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7229373 | Engine torque control system In case information such as an actual gear ratio is not stored in an EEPROM 28 due to a trouble of a backup power source 29 or like when an initialization operation of a step motor 27 is performed at the time of start of a vehicle or during stop... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7228209 | Vehicle-drive control system and method and program therefor The invention includes a target-engine-speed acquisition element that acquires a target engine speed necessary to reduce engine speed, thereby stopping the engine at a target stop position; a crank-angle acquisition element that acquires a crank angle indicative of ... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7200980 | Drive system of a self-propelled working machine A self-propelled forage harvester includes front and rear sets of driven ground wheels. The front set of wheels is driven through a transmission including an input shaft driven by a variable displacement motor and coupled to the front set of wheels by a gear train i... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7181908 | Torque compensation method for controlling a direct-injection engine during regeneration of a lean NOx trap A torque compensation method for controlling a direct-injection gasoline engine during regeneration of a lean NOx trap disposed in an exhaust path of the engine determines a desired torque in accordance with driver demands, cruise control settings or idle control. A... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7162353 | Automotive control apparatus and method An apparatus and a method for controlling an automotive vehicle are disclosed, in which a control amount for securing safety of the vehicle and the control amount for achieving a state intended for by the driver of the vehicle are switched in such a manner as to red... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7156376 | Carburetor electronic control system A carburetor electronic control system includes: transmission devices coupled to valves for opening and closing an intake path of a carburetor; electric motors that make the valves open and close via the transmission devices; and an electronic control unit for contr... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7143743 | Valve position controller The throttle position corresponding to the rotational angle of the throttle valve is calculated based on electric signals output from a rotor position detector constituted by three Hall ICs that detect the rotational position of a magnet rotor of a brushless DC moto... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7140991 | Shift control system, and control apparatus and method for belt-type continuously variable transmission A shift control system includes a belt-type continuously variable transmission (CVT) with primary and secondary pulleys, a shift actuator that regulates an oil pressure supplied to the primary or secondary pulley to vary an actual transmission ratio of the CVT, and ... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7101311 | Control system for continuously variable transmission of motorcycle A control system for a continuously variable transmission of a motorcycle, which is capable of improving the steerability of the motorcycle in a low-speed range of the motorcycle. The motorcycle includes a centrifugal clutch mechanism disposed between the transmissi... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7097587 | Ratio selection method for a continuously variable transmission A gear ratio selection method for a transmission in a motor vehicle includes detecting a power request, detecting a vehicle speed of the motor vehicle, and providing an engine speed of the motor vehicle. A first desired engine speed is calculated from a first variog... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7099722 | Work machine attachment control system A control system is provided for a work machine having a plurality of removably attachable work tools. The control system has at least one operator input device that is configured to control a movement speed of the work machine. The control system also has a tool re... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7066860 | Driving system of motor vehicle A driving system of a motor vehicle includes a driving power source that generates power, and a belt-and-pulley type continuously variable transmission that transmits the power received from the driving power source to drive wheels while changing a first speed of ro... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7048670 | Engine control method and device for a vehicle An engine speed control that avoid undesirable transmission conditions such as clutch chattering. This is done by sensing actual conditions, which are likely to result in the undesirable transmission conditions such as clutch chattering and only changing the engine ... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7044887 | Shift control system for automatic transmission A shift control system for a vehicle automatic transmission includes a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed, and a first control means normally performs a shift control of the transmission so that a target speed ratio of the transmission is achieved, w... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7022043 | Method for controlling slip on a clutch assigned to an automatic transmission The invention is directed to a method for controlling the operation of a clutch (19) which coacts with an automatic transmission stage (17). A variator controller (16) is assigned to the automatic transmission stage (17) and a contact-for... | 04/04/2006 |
| 7003387 | Method for controlling an automatic gearbox according to a road profile A method for automatically controlling the gearbox of a road vehicle uses a computer using information on displacement speed and transversal acceleration of the vehicle and engine load in order to apply various shifting rules according to the road profile. The gearb... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6993425 | Automotive lane deviation avoidance system A lane deviation avoidance system for an adaptive cruise control system equipped vehicle includes an electronic control unit that executes a host vehicle's lane deviation avoidance control in which a change in vehicle dynamic behavior occurs in a direction that avoi... | 01/31/2006 |
| 6971970 | Regeneration of diesel particulate filter A regeneration device for the diesel particulate filter (11) which traps particulates in exhaust gas discharged from a vehicle diesel engine (20) has a condition detecting sensor (12) which detects a condition of the diesel particulate filter, a... | 12/06/2005 |
| 6957139 | System for controlling drivetrain components to achieve fuel efficiency goals A system for controlling a vehicle drivetrain in a fuel-efficient manner includes a control computer operable to define a contour from substantially zero engine load to substantially full engine load, wherein the contour may correspond to a fuel-efficient path from ... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6945905 | CVT hybrid powertrain fueling and engine stop-start control method Methods are provided for controlling the fueling of a motor vehicle and specifically for controlling the cut off of fueling of a hybrid electric motor vehicle during deceleration of that motor vehicle. In a hybrid electric motor vehicle having an internal combustion... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6944532 | System for controlling an internal combustion engine in a fuel efficient manner A system for controlling an engine in a fuel efficient manner includes a memory having stored therein an engine output characteristics map bounded by a maximum engine output curve. The map defines a region of undesirable operation having a first border defined as a ... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6939264 | Method for controlling a continuously variable transmission The transmission ratio of a stepless transmission is adjusted in accordance with a selectable closed loop control strategy, whereby the transmission ratio is infinitely variable between two transmission ratio end values by actuator forces effective on axially adjust... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6935987 | Control methodology for inertial energy storage devices A wheeled vehicle incorporating a control methodology for regulating the power input and output of an inertial energy storage device, specifically a flywheel. The control methodology utilizes a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and comprises control of the CV... | 08/30/2005 |
| 6910990 | Engine control to reduce impacts due to transmission gear lash while maintaining high responsiveness to the driver An engine control system controls engine torque to transition through the transmission and driveline's lash zone. The transmission and driveline's lash zone is indicated using information of the speed ratio across the torque converter. This information is then suppl... | 06/28/2005 |