Electric Control Patents (Class 105/444)
  • Patent number: 10649483
    Abstract: Provided is a retractable pedal for an automobile. The pedal comprises a driving support (2), a drive mechanism (4) and a footrest (5), wherein both the driving support (2) and the drive mechanism (4) are installed on the same side of the bottom of an automobile body; the driving support (2) comprises a first transmission mechanism and a first connecting rod (2d), and the front end of the first connecting rod (2d) is fixedly connected to the footrest (5); the first transmission mechanism drives the first connecting rod (2d) to expand and retract; the pedal further comprises at least one driven support (3) which synchronously moves with the driving support (2). According to this pedal, a traditional gear transmission mechanism is omitted so as to reduce manufacturing costs and reduce the generation of abnormal sounds, and the footrest can be ensured to retract in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Anhul Aggeus Auto-tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Quanfu Liu, Fujing Lai, Kai Hu, Han Xu
  • Patent number: 10611309
    Abstract: A tailgate interlocking occupant step apparatus and method for a vehicle, includes a powered tailgate, a powered occupant step, a kick sensor mounted to the occupant step, and a controller having processing circuitry. The processing circuitry detects a signal from the kick sensor, operates the powered occupant step to move the occupant step to an extended position, operates the powered tailgate to lower the tailgate to an opened position, and when a pinch force is detected either in the occupant step or the tailgate, stops the operation of both the occupant step and the tailgate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Koji Nagase, Daisuke Yamada
  • Patent number: 10308289
    Abstract: A front fender includes: a first member, at least a part of which is disposed upward with respect to a front tire of a wheel loader; a second member which includes an upper plate having an upper surface facing a lower surface of the first member, and a rear plate which is connected to a rear end of the upper plate and disposed rearward with respect to the front tire; an inclined plate which is connected to a lower surface of the upper plate and a front surface of the rear plate; and a connecting member which connects the upper plate and the first member. The inclined plate includes: a through hole which is provided immediately below the connecting member and through which the connecting member can pass; and a notch hole which is provided at a lower end of the inclined plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Aoyama, Yohei Seto
  • Patent number: 9909355
    Abstract: A cover is provided to protect steps leading to a cab of a vehicle from accumulation of mud, snow, ice and other debris when the vehicle is driven. The cover is pivotally mounted for movement between an open position allowing a vehicle operator to climb the steps and a closed position covering the steps from top to bottom to maintain cleanliness of the steps as the vehicle is driven. The cover can be opened and closed from the top of the steps, either manually or with an actuator. The cover is normally closed when the vehicle is moving and open when the vehicle is stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Northwest Ag Systems
    Inventors: Stephen J. Jochum, Dane J. Munsch
  • Patent number: 9669767
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle step apparatus comprising a first extending and retracting device comprising a first mounting bracket, a first step bracket, and a first arm assembly coupled between the first mounting bracket and the first step bracket and configured to drive the first step bracket to move between an extending position and a retracting position; a second extending and retracting device comprising a second mounting bracket, a second step bracket, and a second arm assembly configured to drive the second step bracket to move; a step mounted on the first step bracket and the second step bracket; a single motor mounted on the first mounting bracket and having a motor shaft coupled with the first arm assembly; and a transmission shaft defining a first end coupled with the motor shaft, and a second end coupled with the second arm assembly via a braking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: T-MAX (HANGZHOU) INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD
    Inventors: Xinfa Du, Yongyong Zhan, Qi Zhang
  • Patent number: 9637057
    Abstract: A method for controlling an auxiliary step rotated in association with a door opening angle of a vehicle may include a start step of sensing the door opening angle of a door of the vehicle, a first determination step of determining whether the sensed door opening angle is zero, a second determination step of determining whether the sensed door opening angle is less than a preset reference angle, when the sensed door opening angle is not zero, and a first control step of rotating the auxiliary step by the sensed door opening angle, when the sensed door opening angle is less than the reference angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Myung-Kyu Lee
  • Patent number: 9308870
    Abstract: A vehicle and a vehicle step apparatus are provided. The vehicle includes: a body; a door; and a vehicle step apparatus including: an extending and retracting device mounted on the body, a motor configured to drive the extending and retracting device to extend or to retract, a detector configured to detect an opening-closing state of the door and to generate a signal indicating the opening-closing state of the door, an emitter coupled with the detector and configured to emit the signal, a receiver configured to receive the signal from the emitter via a wireless communication, a controller coupled with the motor and the receiver respectively and configured to control the motor to drive the extending and retracting device according to the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: T-MAX (HANGZHOU) INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD
    Inventors: Huizhong Yang, Zhaobo Qing
  • Patent number: 8297194
    Abstract: A track maintenance vehicle (1) has a covered loading space (12) resting on a machine frame (2) and a crane jib (16) pivotable by means of drives. A loading wall (20), connected to the machine frame (2) and provided for intermediate storage of goods (19) situated in the loading space (12), is adjustable into a horizontal working position (22) adjoining the loading space (12) laterally, with respect to the transverse direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Robert Fletzer
  • Patent number: 8196865
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a foldable step unit (10) for a rotorcraft, the step unit being provided with a bottom step (16) and a stationary support (11) that is secured to the structure of the rotorcraft (2). The step unit (10) comprises a left side beam (14) and a right beam (15) hinged on said stationary support (11), said bottom step (16) being arranged on a left free end (14?) and a right free end (15?) respectively of the left and right side beams (14, 15) via a pivot pin (16?), drive means (18) for said step unit (10) and connected via at least one control means (21, 22) to at least one side beam (14, 15) enable said step unit (10) to be retracted into and extended from a housing (2) formed in the rotorcraft (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventor: Eric André Martin
  • Patent number: 7793596
    Abstract: A retractable step for a rail vehicle includes a treadable region having lateral guides, a front edge, a guide region, a first roller disposed on the rail vehicle, and a second roller disposed in a guide. The guide has a configuration that is one or more of oblique, curved or bent. Also included is a transition area between the treadable region and the guide region. The transition area is configured to have one or more of a bend and a curvature and has an upwardly convex shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Ges. M. B. H.
    Inventor: Andreas Hirtenlehner
  • Patent number: 7516703
    Abstract: A retractable step for entering and exiting rail vehicles. The retractable step has a surface which can be walked upon and is configured to be extended in an essentially linear direction to bridge a gap between the rail vehicle and a platform. The retractable step includes a leading edge and has at least one sensor configured to prevent a collision with objects during an extension operation of the retractable step. The strip is movably connected to the retractable step and extends over an entire length L of the retractable step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Knorr —Bremse AG
    Inventor: Andreas Tazreiter
  • Publication number: 20080250966
    Abstract: A retractable step for a rail vehicle includes a treadable region having lateral guides, a front edge, a guide region, a first roller disposed on the rail vehicle, and a second roller disposed in a guide. The guide has a configuration that is one or more of oblique, curved or bent. Also included is a transition area between the treadable region and the guide region. The transition area is configured to have one or more of a bend and a curvature and has an upwardly convex shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventor: Andreas Hirtenlehner
  • Patent number: 7163221
    Abstract: A retractable step assist for a vehicle comprises a step, an actuator, an optical fiber sensor, and a safety. The step is movable between a retracted position and a deployed position that is downward and outboard from the retracted position. The actuator is mechanically connected to the step to position the step. The optical fiber sensor has an output that varies when pressure is applied to the optical fiber sensor. The safety is triggered by this output from the optical fiber sensor. The safety is configured to terminate retraction of the step when the optical fiber sensor senses pressure from an object pinched by the step deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: 89908, Inc.
    Inventor: Horst Leitner
  • Patent number: 6341563
    Abstract: A platform sensing and control system including a wireless sensor (10, 12) for sensing at least the presence of a platform (26) opposite a door (32) of a railcar and providing an output indication of at least a platform presence in response thereto, and a door control controller (14) operative in response to the output indication of at least platform (26) presence for enduring that normally a door (32) is not opened other than when a platform (26) is located opposite such door (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Sensotech Ltd.
    Inventors: Eli Gal, Uri Agam, Eli Ben-Bassat, Ronen Jashek
  • Patent number: 6264222
    Abstract: A stairway assembly is pivoted between deployed and stowed positions. The stairway in one form includes a sliding support from which the stairway is suspended at a location spaced from a stairway pivot. A link, which may be adjustable in length, couples the coupler to the stairway. A snubber is provided to limit vibration of the stairway when stowed. An actuator, which may comprise an electric motor, is positioned above and overlies a portion of a platform of the stairway. Extension and retraction of the actuator pivots the stairway between stowed and deployed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Freightliner LLC
    Inventors: David J. Johnston, Michael K. Smith, Nasser Zamani, William G. Massey, III, Luis A. Novoa, Michael von Mayenburg, Charles H. Blakewood, Jr., Paul M. Menig, Paul J. Delurey
  • Patent number: 6179312
    Abstract: A retractable stairway assembly for entering and exiting a vehicle with a cab has a stairway with steps. The stairway assembly is movable between a retracted position, in which the stairway is beneath the cab, and an extended position, in which the stairway is exposed to allow entering and exiting of the vehicle. The stairway assembly also has a panel that substantially hides the stairway when in the retracted position. An actuator moves the stairway assembly between the retracted and extended positions in response to closing and opening the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Freightliner LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Paschke, Michael von Mayenburg, Louis A. Novoa, Ducan Good, Charles H. Blakewood, Mark S. Hurayt
  • Patent number: 4110673
    Abstract: A step structure for mobile homes and the like. A base is secured to an underside of the vehicle and serves to pivotally mount a linkage which in turn carries a pair of step rails on which a step is slidably mounted. Extension and retraction of the step involves combined swinging travel of the step surface as well as travel in a lateral direction along the step rails to achieve a highly accessible step location well outward of the vehicle side. An electrical control system electronically limits motor operation to avoid motor burnout in the case of step obstruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1978
    Assignee: Kwikee Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Emery J. Magy, Rodney A. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 3997183
    Abstract: A step-grab element system is provided for ascending to or descending from an elevated position on a vehicle. A step and a grab element are each pivotally connected to the vehicle and are connected to one another for moving the step between an operable position and an inoperable, protected position in response to moving the grab element between an operable position and an inoperable, protected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1976
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventor: James W. Russey