Patents Examined by Abigail R Hymel
  • Patent number: 11964710
    Abstract: A crawler type traveling body includes a drive wheel, an in-wheel motor incorporated in the drive wheel, a plurality of rotating wheels disposed below the drive wheel, a crawler, and a tensioner. The crawler is wound around the drive wheel and the rotating wheels and configured to be rotated by the drive wheel. The tensioner is coupled to a drive shaft of the in-wheel motor and configured to press the drive wheel against the crawler and apply tension to the crawler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eichi Koizumi, Hiroshi Shimura, Ryota Yamashina, Taku Kitahara, Hiroshi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 11958549
    Abstract: A standard component of a vehicle equippable with a plurality of wheels or a plurality of track systems for engaging the ground, such as an axle housing or a frame of the vehicle, comprises a connector dedicated to connecting a given one of the track systems to the vehicle and provided during original manufacturing of the standard component of the vehicle. This may facilitate installation of the track systems on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Camso Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Lussier, Frederic Couture, Etienne Poulin
  • Patent number: 11926252
    Abstract: In one aspect, a liquid tank assembly is provided and configured to be mounted to a tractor. The liquid tank assembly includes a first tank configured to contain liquid, a second tank configured to contain liquid, a first support frame coupled to and supporting the first tank, and the first support frame includes a first mounting member configured to mount the first support frame to the tractor. The liquid tank assembly also includes a second support frame coupled to and supporting the second tank. The second support frame includes a second mounting member configured to mount the second support frame to the tractor, and the first support frame is coupled to the second support frame. In one aspect, a liquid tank assembly is provided and configured to be mounted to a tractor having a maximum width. A tank assembly width is no greater than a maximum width of the tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: 360 YIELD CENTER, LLC
    Inventor: Brady M. Holst
  • Patent number: 11926175
    Abstract: An autonomous delivery vehicle having one or more caster wheels that may be held off the ground for a portion of the time that the autonomous delivery vehicle travels. Each caster wheel is mounted in a pivot with a centering mechanism to hold the caster wheels in a design orientation. The caster wheel in the design orientation maximizes the view of forward-looking sensors on the autonomous delivery vehicle. The centering mechanism uses magnetic attraction/repulsion to center the caster wheel. The centering mechanism may incorporate a plurality of permanent magnets and or electro-magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Christopher C. Langenfeld
  • Patent number: 11891129
    Abstract: A rack bar assembly for a rack electric power steering system is provided. The rack bar assembly includes a first rack bar extending axially. The rack bar assembly also includes a second rack bar extending axially, wherein the first rack bar and the second rack bar are spaced a radial distance from each other and oriented parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney M. Sanderson, Christopher A. Fall, Richard A. Light, Troy M. Kinne
  • Patent number: 11878749
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tandem walking beam suspension system which comprises a main walking beam pivotably mounted to the vehicle sub-frame, a first pair of spaced apart and parallel secondary walking beams pivotably mounted about the main walking beam first end, a second pair of spaced apart and parallel secondary walking beams pivotably mounted about the main walking beam second end, a first pair of rollers rotatably mounted in-between and to the first pair of secondary walking beams, and a second pair of rollers rotatably mounted in-between and to the second pair of secondary walking beams, the first and second pairs of rollers being configured to roll along the track when the track-mounted vehicle is in displacement. The system may further comprise a compression device connecting the sub-frame and the main walking beam such as to provide vertical displacement of the main walking beam relatively to the sub-frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: UTV International
    Inventor: Andy Sztorc
  • Patent number: 11865879
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a front side member, a tow hook, a bumper assembly and a tow hook cover. The tow hook has an attachment end and a hook end. The attachment end is fixedly attached to the front side member and the attachment end extending away from the hook end. The bumper assembly is connected to the front side member and has at least one fascia panel. The tow hook cover is removably attached to the at least one fascia panel. The tow hook cover has an upright wall portion that defines an opening. At least a portion of the hook end of the tow hook extends through the opening such that the attachment end of the tow hook is at least partially concealed by the tow hook cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Paola Corina Salazar Calderón
  • Patent number: 11858565
    Abstract: A track joint assembly includes a first track chain and a second track chain, and a track pin including a first pin end, a second pin end, and a center section. A track guiding space extends between the first track chain and the second track chain. The center section of the track pin has an enlarged diameter, relative to first and second pin ends, and an outer wear surface exposed to the track guiding space. The outer wear surface may directly contact a rotatable track-engaging element in a ground-engaging track system, such as a sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: William Baar
  • Patent number: 11850936
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas tank arrangement (100) for an internal combustion engine (102), said gas tank arrangement (100) comprising a gas tank (104) for containing a combustible gas, a first fuel pump (106) arranged downstream said gas tank (104) and arranged to increase the pressure level of the combustible gas to a first pressure level, wherein the gas tank arrangement (100) further comprises a second fuel pump (108) arranged downstream the first fuel pump (106) and arranged to increase the pressure level of the combustible gas to a second pressure level, wherein said second pressure level is higher than said first pressure level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Marcus Leidefeldt, Sigurd Sonderegger
  • Patent number: 11833868
    Abstract: A multi-directional trailer hitch system may include a mounting frame; a first slide assembly configured to slideably engage with the mounting frame, wherein the first slide assembly is configured to slide longitudinally in and out from the mounting frame; a second slide assembly configured to slideably engage with the first slide assembly, wherein the second slide assembly is configured to slide laterally in a side to side direction relative to the first slide assembly; a third slide assembly configured to slideably engage with the second slide assembly, wherein the third slide assembly is configured to slide vertically in an up and down direction relative to the second slide assembly; and one or more actuators configured to selectively effect slide movement of one or more of the first slide assembly, second slide assembly, and third slide assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventor: Marcus Brian Ward
  • Patent number: 11834114
    Abstract: The invention relates to a deflector arrangement (100) for a tracked vehicle (V). Said tracked vehicle (V) comprises at least one track assembly (T1, T2) comprising two end wheels (1, 2) in the form of a front wheel (1) and a rear wheel (2), and further a plurality of road wheels (3) there between. At least one of the front wheel (1) and rear wheel (2) is a drive wheel (1) and at least one of the front wheel (1) and rear wheel (2) is a tension wheel (2). The track assembly (T1, T2) further comprises an endless track (4) disposed around said end wheels (1, 2) and plurality of road wheels (3). Said deflector arrangement (100) is configured to reduce ingestion of undesired material from the ground (G) into said track assembly (T1, T2) and remove such undesired material from said track assembly (T1, T2). Said deflector arrangement (100) is associated with an end wheel (1, 2) and is resiliently suspended and biasedly arranged so as to strive towards the inner surface (4a) of the endless track (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: BAE Systems Hägglunds Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Jonny Ljung
  • Patent number: 11827295
    Abstract: Techniques are directed to utilizing a suspension protector to deflect debris away from a set of suspension components of a tracked vehicle. The tracked vehicle includes a vehicle body, a suspension, and a set of suspension protectors. The suspension couples with the vehicle body and is constructed and arranged to control movement of the vehicle body using tracks. Each suspension protector couples with the vehicle body and is disposed a predefined distance from a respective wheel of the suspension to deflect debris thrown from the respective wheel and a respective track away from a respective set of suspension components of the suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Howe & Howe Inc.
    Inventors: Forrest Joel Tripp, Michael Howe
  • Patent number: 11787500
    Abstract: A control device for a human-powered vehicle including a motor that applies a propulsion force to the human-powered vehicle, a crank axle, a driving wheel, and a transmission that automatically changes a transmission ratio of a rotational speed of the driving wheel to a rotational speed of the crank axle in accordance with a travel state of the human-powered vehicle. The control device includes an electronic controller that controls the motor in accordance with a human driving force input to the crank axle. The controller changes an assist state related to at least one of an assist ratio of an assist force by the motor to a predetermined human driving force and the assist force by the motor in accordance with the human driving force and controls the transmission to maintain the transmission ratio upon determining a parameter related to the human driving force satisfies a predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Shahana, Hitoshi Takayama
  • Patent number: 11760143
    Abstract: A first crossmember is divided into a right crossmember and a left crossmember. A right fastened portion of a towing hook is inserted into the right crossmember, and a bolt is fastened by being passed through a bolt insertion hole of the right crossmember and a bolt insertion hole of the right fastened portion of the towing hook. A left fastened portion of the towing hook is inserted into the left crossmember, and a bolt is fastened by being passed through a bolt insertion hole of the left crossmember and a bolt insertion hole of the left fastened portion of the towing hook. Hereby, the attachment strength of the towing hook can be secured sufficiently, and even in a case where an input at the time of towing of a vehicle is excessive, the towing can be performed successfully.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsuya Asai
  • Patent number: 11753094
    Abstract: A track driven work machine including a body, a first track laying assembly pivotally connected to the body, and a second track laying assembly pivotally connected to the body. The second track laying assembly is spaced apart from the first track laying assembly in a direction transverse to a running direction of the track laying assemblies. In order to navigate uneven grounds, the track driven work machine includes a hydraulic system for synchronizing pivotal movement of the first and second track laying assembly and which is configured to pivot the second track laying assembly in an opposite direction to the first track laying assembly when the first track laying assembly is pivoted in a first direction, and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Turner Development Limited
    Inventor: Anthony Leonard Turner
  • Patent number: 11724756
    Abstract: A track system for a vehicle having at least three axles is disclosed. The track system includes a frame to which sprocket, idler and support wheel assemblies are connectable, an endless track and a pivoting assembly. The pivoting assembly has a casing connectable to a second axle and at least one pivotable member that has first and second portions respectively pivotally connected to the casing and to the frame. The at least one pivotable member is pivotable between first and second positions about a longitudinally extending pivot, in response to which the first portion is displaced laterally relative to the second portion, and pivotable between third and fourth positions about a lateral pivot axis in response to which the first portion is displaced longitudinally relative to the second portion. A pivoting assembly, a pivoting assembly including a resilient assembly, and a vehicle having the track system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: SOUCY INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jeremie Aubin-Marchand, Simon Bouchard, Samuel Lasnier Guillemette, Yan Roger, Stephane Genois Pelletier
  • Patent number: 11724757
    Abstract: A ground-engaging track system includes a track roller frame, an idler, and anti-backbending rollers supported by the track roller frame at locations between track rollers and the idler. The anti-backbending rollers define an idler space receiving the idler partially therein and positioned to oppose backbending of a deflection-sensitive section of a ground-engaging track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gennaro Suanno, Benoit Abello, Michael James Darges
  • Patent number: 11685450
    Abstract: A cantilevered coupling component for an interface area between a semitrailer and a tractor unit, which can be releasably connected to one another in the interface area by a pin element, the coupling component including a pin-side connection area for pivotally mounting the coupling component on the pin element, and a rail-side connection area for slidable mounting along a translation direction of the coupling component on a rail of the semitrailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: SAF-HOLLAND GmbH
    Inventors: Mark Hartmann, Mario Sebastian Köster, Stefan Wallmeier
  • Patent number: 11679826
    Abstract: In accordance with the present disclosure, a track chain assembly for a work vehicle may comprise of a link set, a unitary link, and a bushing assembly. The link set may include a first link and a second link. The unitary link may include a single link. The bushing assembly may couple the link set and the unitary link for relative rotation between the link set and the unitary link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Patrick J. Mulligan
  • Patent number: 11661125
    Abstract: A track assembly for providing traction to an off-road vehicle, such as an agricultural vehicle, a construction vehicle, or another work vehicle, in which the track assembly may comprise a suspension between a frame of the track assembly and a bogie carrying roller wheels of the track assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Camso Inc.
    Inventor: Dewaine Kautsch