Patents Assigned to Chrysler Group LLC
  • VARIABLE VOLUME AIRBAG
    Publication number: 20140028006
    Abstract: In at least one implementation, a variable volume airbag includes an inflatable cushion and a tether coupled to the cushion. The inflatable cushion defines an inner volume in which a gas is received to inflate the cushion longitudinally and laterally within a passenger compartment of a vehicle, and has laterally opposed side surfaces defining part of the inner volume of the cushion. The tether is coupled to each of the side surfaces of the cushion and has a first state wherein the tether limits lateral separation of the side surfaces and a second state wherein increased separation of the side surfaces is permitted as compared to the first state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventor: James Webber
  • REMOVABLE STORAGE ARRANGEMENT FOR A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20140021232
    Abstract: A cargo management system can include a receptacle and a removable storage device. The receptacle can be formed relative to an exterior panel of the vehicle and can have a rear wall spaced apart from an outer surface of the exterior panel. The outer surface can have a first contour. The removable storage device can be removably received in the receptacle and selectively secured to the vehicle. The storage device can include an upper portion, a lower portion and a latch mechanism. The upper portion can be pivotable relative to the lower portion to provide access to an interior of the storage device. The latch mechanism can selectively secure the storage device to the vehicle when in a stored position in the receptacle. An outer surface of the upper portion and the lower portion can include a second contour, where the second contour can substantially match the first contour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Lazarevich, David B. Reed, Peter W. Mattes, Gary D. Lock
  • COMBINATION PUMP ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF USE
    Publication number: 20140023477
    Abstract: A combination pump assembly for circulation of a coolant and for providing suction includes a shaft and a coolant pump portion with a coolant pump housing that defines at least a portion of a coolant flow path. The coolant pump portion also includes a coolant pump member that is rotatably disposed within the coolant pump housing. The coolant pump member is operably coupled to the shaft to be driven by the shaft to pump the coolant through the coolant flow path. Furthermore, the pump assembly includes a vacuum pump portion with a vacuum pump housing that defines at least a portion of a suction path. The vacuum pump portion also includes a vacuum pump member that is rotatably disposed within the vacuum pump housing. The vacuum pump member is operably coupled to the shaft to be driven by the shaft to provide suction through the suction path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Mihail Nichifor, John W. Potts, Alan Falkowski
  • Stowable seat arrangement for a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 8632113
    Abstract: A seat assembly for a vehicle having a floor can include a seat bottom, a seat back, a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs. The seat bottom can have a seating side and an opposite lower side facing the floor. The front legs can be pivotably coupled to the vehicle and to the seat bottom via releasable locking mechanisms. The rear legs can be pivotably coupled to the seat bottom and releasably coupled to the vehicle. A pair of linking members can pivotably couple the front and rear legs to each other. The seat assembly can be movable from a deployed to a stowed position whereby the seat bottom can be pivoted forward about the front and rear legs while maintaining the seat bottom lower side facing the floor and the front and rear legs pivotably coupled to the vehicle and the seat bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, Todd R. Teasdale, David M. Savinsky, Dorinel Neag
  • Method and apparatus for controlling a hybrid powertrain system
    Patent number: 8631891
    Abstract: A vehicular powertrain system includes an engine, an electro-mechanical transmission and an electric machine arranged in an input-split hybrid configuration. A control system for the powertrain system includes a control module signally connected to a plurality of input devices and configured to execute program code stored on a computer readable medium to control the powertrain. The program code monitors operator inputs, determines an intent to service the vehicle based upon the operator inputs, commands the electric machine to generate a net torque output of zero, and controls the engine speed correlative to an operator depression of an accelerator pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marek L. Wilmanowicz, Matthew Leonard Kaufer, Mark J. Potter, Anthony H. Heap, William R. Cawthorne, Michael J. Bolton
  • Method for controlling an engine of a hybrid powertrain in a fuel enrichment mode
    Patent number: 8630776
    Abstract: An engine is coupled to an input member of a hybrid transmission. The hybrid transmission is operative to transfer torque between the input member and a torque machine and an output member to generate an output torque in response to an operator torque request. The torque machine is connected to an energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, Wilfried Brunssen, Scott J Thompson
  • FUEL SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20130340723
    Abstract: A fuel system having a fuel module for use within a fuel tank of a vehicle is disclosed herein. The fuel module includes a fuel reservoir having an inlet for receiving fuel from the fuel tank, a pump for pumping fuel from the reservoir through a fuel supply line and a temperature sensitive valve having a first port for receiving fuel from a return line, a second port for outputting the received fuel into the fuel reservoir, and a third port for outputting the received fuel into the fuel tank and external to the fuel reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Sharp
  • STOWABLE SEATING ARRANGEMENT FOR A VEHICLE
    Publication number: 20130341952
    Abstract: A seat assembly can include a seat bottom, a pair of front and rear legs and an articulation arrangement. The front legs can have an upper and a lower end, where each upper end can be pivotably coupled to the seat bottom. The articulation arrangement can include a pair of rotating members, a pair of guide channels, a pair of first and second guide members, and an assist arrangement. The rotating members can be rotatably coupled to the lower ends of the front legs, and the pair of guide channels can have the first guide members positioned therein. The second guide members can be coupled to the lower ends of the front legs and positioned in the guide channels. The assist arrangement can include a biasing member coupled to the vehicle and the front legs. The seat assembly can be movable from a deployed position to a stowed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Carl Mather, David M. Savinsky
  • METHOD OF PROCESSING SENSOR SIGNALS FOR DETERMINING MOTION OF A MOTOR SHAFT
    Publication number: 20130342140
    Abstract: Methods and systems of processing sensor signals to determine motion of a motor shaft are disclosed. This disclosure relates to the processing of sequences of pulses from a sensor for computing the motion of an electric motor output shaft. Furthermore, this disclosure relates to the processing of two sequences of pulses from sensor outputs, which may be separated by only a few electrical degrees, to compute the motion of an electrical motor output shaft while using a limited bandwidth controller. Motor shaft direction, displacement, speed, phase, and phase offset may be determined from processing the sensor signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Feisel Weslati, Behrouz Ashrafi, Chandan Lakshmanaiah
  • HYBRID VEHICLE CONTROL
    Publication number: 20130338864
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating a catalytic converter's catalyst to an efficient operating temperature in a hybrid electric vehicle when the vehicle is in a charge limited mode such as e.g., the charge depleting mode or when the vehicle's high voltage battery is otherwise charge limited. The method and apparatus determine whether a high voltage battery of the vehicle is incapable of accepting a first amount of charge associated with a first procedure to warm-up the catalyst. If it is determined that the high voltage battery is incapable of accepting the first amount of charge, a second procedure with an acceptable amount of charge is performed to warm-up the catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Iva Shallvari, Sashidhar Velnati, Kenneth P. DeGroot
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING DIAGNOSTICS OF AN ACTIVE GRILLE SHUTTER SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20130338870
    Abstract: A system and method for diagnosing a mechanical failure in an active grille shutter (AGS) system of a vehicle. The method includes receiving at least one mechanical fault condition signal, each of the at least one mechanical fault condition signals being indicative of whether a particular mechanical fault condition was detected in the AGS system. The method also includes receiving a temperature signal indicating a temperature at a location proximate to a grille shutter of the AGS and determining whether to perform an extended diagnostic based on the at least one mechanical fault condition signal and the temperature signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventors: David G. Farmer, Ankur Jaiswal
  • CONTROL STRATEGIES FOR A MULTI-MODE DRIVE SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20130338887
    Abstract: A method of operating a multi-mode drive system that precisely orchestrates a shift between gear ratios in a power take off unit and a rear drive module. The method first shifts between gear ratios in the power take off unit and then, depending upon the success or failure of the shift of the power take off unit, shifts between gear ratios in the rear drive module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Joseph E. Kubina, Aaron E. Thompson, Donald F. Schmanski, Michael W. Gapski, Kenneth M. Pachucki, Richard S. Silbert
  • HYBRID VEHICLE CONTROL
    Publication number: 20130338863
    Abstract: A method and powertrain apparatus for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain to maintain a catalyst within a catalytic converter at an efficient operating temperature while also maximizing the use of electric vehicle operating mode. The method and apparatus determine, during an electric vehicle operating mode, whether a catalyst efficiency is below a predetermined threshold and, if it is determined that the catalyst efficiency is below the predetermined threshold, suspend the electric vehicle operating mode and turn on the vehicle's engine to bring the catalyst efficiency to or above the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Iva Shallvari, Sashidhar Velnati, Kenneth P. DeGroot
  • TWO MOTOR ELECTRIC DRIVE HYBRID TRANSMISSION
    Publication number: 20130331216
    Abstract: A two motor electric drive hybrid transmission for a vehicle. The two motor electric drive hybrid transmission allows both electric motors to provide propulsive force during engine on and engine off operations when desired. The two motor electric drive hybrid transmission also provides improved and flexible operating configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Tuckfield, Klaus Kersting
  • Attachment clip
    Patent number: 8602445
    Abstract: An attachment clip for coupling an airbag to a motor vehicle is provided. The clip can include a first leg having a first aperture, a second aperture and a protrusion extending from an edge of the second aperture in an outward direction from the first leg. The clip can include a second leg spaced from the first leg and coupled to the first leg. The second leg has a threaded aperture substantially coaxial with the first aperture of the first leg. The space between the first and second legs can slidably receive a mounting member and a portion of the airbag. The protrusion can engage the portion of the airbag, and a fastener can extend through the first aperture of the first leg, through the portion of the airbag and through the mounting member to engage the threaded aperture of the second leg for attaching the airbag to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Shawn R. Williams, Joseph G. Lemmon, D. Scott Bittinger
  • STAMPING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE
    Publication number: 20130319068
    Abstract: A stamping apparatus includes a lower die defining a cavity, with a land portion surrounding the cavity. A movable upper die includes a drawing punch that corresponds to the cavity. A binder movable towards the land portion of the lower die engages an edge portion of the blank, wherein the land portion of the lower die and the movable binder each include a plurality of beads that crimp the edge portion of the blank when the movable binder engages the edge portion of the blank. The plurality of beads are oriented orthogonal to a terminal edge of the edge portion. By orienting the plurality of beads in this manner, the crimped edge portion of the blank is allowed to move inboard towards the cavity when the blank is engaged by the drawing punch before being constrained by a throat portion defined by the binder and the lower die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Dajun Zhou, Changqing Du, John F. Siekirk, III
  • Sliding door system
    Patent number: 8596710
    Abstract: A system may include a door track, a guide mechanism, and a sequencing mechanism. The door track is mounted to a door. The guide mechanism connects the door to a vehicle body. The guide mechanism may include a first member connected to the door track and a second member connected to the first member for rotation relative to the door track. The first member is movable relative to the door track. The second member may engage a body track in the vehicle body and may be movable relative thereto between a first and second ends of the body track. The sequencing mechanism may include a third member locking the first member relative to the door track when the door is between the intermediate and closed positions and a fourth member locking the second member relative to the body track when the door is between the intermediate and fully open positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Dorinel Naeg, Dennis G. Willyard
  • Method for determining wet clutch temperature
    Patent number: 8600636
    Abstract: A method for determining clutch temperature. The method provides an accurate real-time clutch temperature that can be used to improve shift quality and protect against failure due to clutch overheating. A counter is incremented every time the clutch exceeds a threshold temperature to track cumulative high temperature conditions. Determining the clutch temperatures includes taking account of heat generation, clutch cooling by transmission oil flow from a groove when the clutch is engaged, clutch cooling by open transmission oil flow when the clutch is disengaged, oil vaporization, and heat conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Gang Chen, Yimeng Jin
  • Wiper park switch input signal noise rejection circuit
    Patent number: 8598828
    Abstract: A wiper system is provided and may include a wiper that operates between a parked state and a use state, a motor associated with the wiper that selectively moves the wiper between the parked state and the use state, and a switch that generates a signal identifying whether the wiper is in the parked state or the use state. The wiper system may also include a controller in communication with the switch. The controller may include a second-order filter and a comparator, whereby the controller passes the signal through the second-order filter and the comparator to differentiate between the parked state and the use state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventor: Nazmi A. Sabi
  • System architecture for a blended braking system in a hybrid powertrain system
    Patent number: 8594867
    Abstract: An engine and a second power generating device transmit power through a transmission to a driveline to a wheel. A control module determines a regenerative braking axle torque capacity and a regenerative braking torque. Power output from the second power generating device is controlled based upon a regenerative braking axle torque request. A brake control module determines a total braking torque request and generates the regenerative braking axle torque request based upon the total braking torque request, the regenerative braking axle torque capacity, and the regenerative braking torque. The brake control module controls a friction brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler Group LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anthony H. Heap, William R. Cawthorne, Seamus T McGrath, Timothy M. Karnjate, William K. Manosh