those are cute, check these out: 5558595 5558589 5558588 those took me ~3 seconds to find, all of them are transmissions using planetary gear assemblies, owned by GM, issued before toyotas.
I'm confused. Is this in response to another thread somewhere else? Why not just post to the original thread?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brandon @ Jun 14 2006, 03:28 PM) [snapback]271283[/snapback]</div> it got locked because some of you guys cant handle the truth.
The original thread was closed. I''m allowing this one as long as it can stay on topic and not get hostile.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(You're nuts @ Jun 14 2006, 02:31 PM) [snapback]271285[/snapback]</div> :lol: lol! I love it when people can't take a hint.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(You're nuts @ Jun 14 2006, 02:42 PM) [snapback]271253[/snapback]</div> It's one of those obscure automotive facts, but GM did mass produce a planetary gear automatic transmission for many, many years starting in the late 30s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydra-Matic
Good God people. Play nice or don't play. No one claimed that Planetary gears/systems were "invented" by Toyota. Planetary gears have been around for a very long time for various uses. However, noone used one in quite the same ingenious way that Toyota has in the HSD. It's in the implementation.
My understanding of US patent system is that it is very messed up. The reviewers are NOT doing their due diligent. The inventors are not responsible for filing somethings that prior art exists (no penalty). Basically, a US patent does not mean much. By granting you a patent, the US govenment does not endorse your invention. It just means you have passed the process of official review. It is up to the court (after tons of money spent) to decision who has the ultimate right of the invention. P.S. I personally own 5 US patents, 2 pending. I have dealt with more than 5 patent attorneys.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(You're nuts @ Jun 14 2006, 02:42 PM) [snapback]271253[/snapback]</div> Automatic transmission use multiple planetary gearsets. HSD use just one as a Power Split Device and interconnected ICE and two electric motors. So, the whole hybrid powertrain becomes the transmission eCVT. The patents I posted before described the operations in detail. If you want to learn more about PSD, I have a couple of great links. http://www.ecrostech.com/prius/original/Un...ng/Contents.htm (Click on the Power Split Device link from there.) How Toyota hybrid is different (hybrid of hybrids) from other type of hybrids. http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/tech/environment/ths2/what.html Dennis
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ceric @ Jun 14 2006, 04:11 PM) [snapback]271316[/snapback]</div> this is a fairly accurate assessment. In a class with crowded art, any minor change can get you a patent. I often times find myself getting frustrated at them because they are so incompetent that it truely is a waste of time. I'm sure you have heard of companies getting patents, and then losing patent infringement suits (such as amazon.coms 1 click shopping) this really shouldnt be happening, as the USPTO should be doing their jobs instead of just sending everything through.
FYI, the Model T used a dual planetary transmission. B) :lol: There was no clutch or fluid coupling. Each planetary had a band around the ring gear, which was tightened by pressing a pedal. There were two pedals, in the now-normal brake and clutch positions. For an emergency stop, you just pressed both as hard as you could and hauled like hell on the brake lever. :blink: