With Structure Adapted To Receive Or Support A Motor, Change-speed Gearing, Or Other Power Train Element Patents (Class 180/312)
  • Publication number: 20150107932
    Abstract: A sub-frame assembly for attachment to a unibody of a vehicle and for supporting at least one vehicular component is provided. The sub-frame assembly includes a pair of longitudinal members which are spaced from one another in a lateral direction and extend in a longitudinal direction between first and second ends. The longitudinal members at least partially converge towards one another from the first ends to the second ends such that the second ends are closer to one another than the first ends. A cross-member is coupled with and extends laterally between the longitudinal members. Each of the longitudinal members and the cross-member has a single and no more than one body mount for connection with the unibody of the vehicle such that the sub-frame assembly has exactly three body mounts in total.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Frank Gabbianelli, James Byrne, II, Julie Anne Schoenherr
  • Patent number: 9010481
    Abstract: Separate from the vehicle's engine, a self-contained internal combustion engine supplies hydraulic power to drive a product pump on a bobtail. The self-contained engine, which can itself run on propane, is provided as part of a preassembly which includes the hydraulic pump, the hydraulic fluid tank, a heat exchanger, and a solenoid controlled start-up valve. The preassembly is mounted as a unit to the side of the bobtail in front of the rear wheels, powering the product pump at the rear of the bobtail while the vehicle's engine is off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Stac, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Merth, Shawn Auxier
  • Patent number: 9004214
    Abstract: A three wheeled vehicle is disclosed having a vehicle frame with a frame sidewall providing a substantially flat surface, with recesses in the flat surface. Alignment arms have inner ends and outer ends, where the inner ends are mounted to the frame sidewall, and the outer ends mount a wheel hub. The inner ends have couplings with pivotal portions and fixed portions, the pivotal portions being at least partially positioned within the recesses, and the fixed portions being attached to the substantially flat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: James A. J. Holroyd, Gustavo A. Aramayo, Brian T. Utter, Jason J. Hohenstein, Donald Brett Gass
  • Patent number: 9008876
    Abstract: A vehicle having two forwardly positioned steerable road wheels and first and second rearwardly positioned wheels disposed on opposing lateral sides of the vehicle has first and second independently controllable electric motors to apply driving and braking torque to respective rearwardly positioned wheels. An angle sensor indicates a steering angle of the steerable road-wheels, and a speed sensor indicates vehicle longitudinal speed. A yaw-rate sensor indicates the vehicle's measured yaw-rate. The vehicle has control means to determine a target yaw-rate from the steering angle of the steerable road wheels and the longitudinal velocity; determine a yaw rate error by comparing the vehicle's measured yaw-rate with said target yaw-rate, and determine an amount of yaw torque to correct or reduce the yaw-rate error; and control the electric motors to apply an amount of differential torque to the respective first and second rearwardly positioned wheels to generate said amount of yaw torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Mira Limited
    Inventors: Lorenzo Pinto, Simon Aldworth, Maria Del Mar Franco-Jorge, Martin James Watkinson
  • Patent number: 8991530
    Abstract: An electrically driven axle of a two-track vehicle is provided having drive shafts which are assigned to the wheels and an axle carrier with a plurality of wheel-guiding steering arms which are attached thereto. At least one electric motor is attached to the axle carrier, and furthermore a housing containing elements for making available electrical energy for the electric motor is attached to the axle carrier or forms a component of the axle carrier in the form of a base body. At least one of the wheel-guiding steering arms is connected to the base body or housing, and arms extend from the base body of the axle carrier, on the end regions of which arms the vehicle body is supported via rubber bearings. The underfloor of the base body or housing facing the roadway is preferably essentially planar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Juergen Langer, Tobias Lorenz
  • Patent number: 8991546
    Abstract: A work vehicle comprises a chassis, a compartment, a vibratory power unit positioned in the compartment and mounted to the chassis to move in vibration relative to the chassis, a pump, a fluid attenuator, and a rigid tube. The pump and the fluid attenuator are mounted to the vibratory power unit to move in vibration relative to the chassis. The rigid tube interconnects the pump and the fluid attenuator for fluid communication therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Mark E. Hull, Zachary T. Flatley, Richard J. Ginsterblum
  • Publication number: 20150083514
    Abstract: A vehicle-body front structure includes a tower portion comprising a pole portion which extends substantially vertically and a tower top portion which is positioned at an upper portion of the pole portion and projects from the pole portion longitudinally along a front side frame, constituting attachment portions of an upper arm of a front-wheel suspension. A stabilizer-support pedestal for supporting a stabilizer is provided to be connected to the pole portion and the tower top portion. Thus, the pole portion of the sub frame can be properly reinforced by using the stabilizer-support pedestal, so that the rigidity of the upper portion of the pole portion can be properly increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norio ASANO, Shohei YOSHIDA, Fumitaka ANDOU
  • Patent number: 8985260
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame, an engine, and an exhaust system. The frame includes a main frame and a sub-frame movably attached to the main frame. The sub-frame includes an exhaust bracket that includes a hollow collar. The engine includes an engine casing and an exhaust port. The engine is releasably attached to the sub-frame. The exhaust system includes a conduit, a conduit bracket, and a muffler. The conduit includes an upstream end and a downstream end. The upstream end is connected to the exhaust port. The conduit bracket includes a first end and a second end. The first end is attached to the conduit at a location intermediate the upstream end of the conduit and the downstream end of the conduit. The second end of the conduit bracket is movably attached to the hollow collar. The muffler is attached to the downstream end of the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryan J. Holoweiko, Travis Barkey
  • Publication number: 20150075896
    Abstract: A vehicle subframe includes a hollow body part and a loft suspension support part provided to a left end part of the body part. The left suspension support part has a left front connecting part, and the left front connecting part is opened downward ward and laterally outward, whereby a left suspension arm is connected from a laterally outward side. A parting line mark of the subframe is formed in a bottom end part of a front connecting wall, and is formed in a laterally outward side part of the front connecting wall so as to extend upward from the bottom end part along the laterally outward side part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Tomoyuki IMANISHI, Nobuyuki OKABE
  • Patent number: 8979103
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tubular structure (1) that can form part of a motor vehicle axle, comprising at least one first tubular élément (15), at least one second tubular élément (16) and a Connecting piece (61, 62) fixing the first and second tubular éléments (15, 16) by welding, such that the Connecting piece (61, 62) is welded to one (15) of the two tubular éléments (15, 16) by at least one weld bead extending along a line forming said tubular élément (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroën Automobiles SA
    Inventors: Christophe Cazenave, Francois Le Gourvellec
  • Patent number: 8967318
    Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle (10) includes a vehicle body frame (11), a drive shaft (23) in the form of a constant velocity ball joint, and a lower arm (33) extending laterally of the vehicle. The drive shaft extends substantially parallel with the lower arm and includes an intermediate shaft (101) and a bearing portion (102) mounted to a vehicle-body-side end of the intermediate shaft. The bearing portion (102) is disposed to be positioned substantially on a vertical line passing over a vehicle-body-side connection portion (33a) of the lower arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Kuwabara, Bunzo Seki
  • Publication number: 20150035245
    Abstract: An automotive component including a composite casting is provided. The composite casting includes a steel member and an end cap fastened to an end portion of the steel member. A cast coupling member is cast about the end portion of the steel member including the end cap, thereby positively and rigidly securing the cast coupling member to the steel member. The automotive component can comprise an engine cradle, a control arm, an instrument panel support structure, a bumper assembly, or a twist axle. The cast coupling member is typically formed by casting-in-place aluminum about the end cap and the end portion of the steel member. The steel member is typically a tubular member, and the end cap typically includes a flange designed to provide a mechanical interlock surface with the cast coupling member. For example, the flange can have a polygonal shape, an outwardly extending member, or notches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Seetarama S. Kotagiri, Timothy W. Skszek, Frank A. Horton, Gregory P. Kiselis
  • Publication number: 20150034409
    Abstract: An axle support for a vehicle includes two longitudinal members and at least one cross member interconnecting the two longitudinal members. The at least one cross member is formed as a multi-part tailored blank component and is fixedly welded via its lateral cross member attachment zones arranged opposite in the longitudinal direction of the cross member to the respectively associated longitudinal member. The cross member is coated with a surface coating as a protective layer, in particular with a zinc layer. The lateral cross member attachment zones are each formed by an uncoated, in particular ungalvanized, single-part or multi-part sheet metal component, wherein the cross member midsection adjoining the two lateral cross member attachment zones is formed by a one-part or multi-part sheet metal component, which, when the axle support is installed, has at least one roadway-facing underside that is provided at least in some areas with the surface coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Peter Leibl
  • Patent number: 8944207
    Abstract: A chassis for a vehicle is suitable for mounting the engine of the vehicle between the forward and rear axle assemblies of the vehicle. A first forward rail is positioned opposite a second forward rail, and an engine cradle is positioned between the forward and rear axle assemblies. The engine cradle has first and second upper rails. A forward portion of the first upper rail is angled toward the second upper rail, and a rear portion of the first upper rail is angled toward the second upper rail. A middle portion of the first upper rail is parallel to a middle portion of the second upper rail. The engine cradle further includes first and second lower rails disposed below the first and second upper rails. A plurality of support members coupled the lower first and second lower rails to the first and second upper rails, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Larry F. Gulan, Gerald J. Angelo
  • Patent number: 8939250
    Abstract: Self-powered apparatus are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a front chassis portion and a rear chassis portion. The front chassis portion is to be coupled to the rear chassis portion. The front chassis portion is substantially the same as the rear chassis portion. When the front and rear chassis portions are coupled, the front chassis portion includes a first end of the apparatus and the rear chassis portion includes a second end of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Christopher Turner, Kendall Giesmann, Steven A. Duppong, Bryan K. Buerkle, Nicholas Adam Taylor
  • Publication number: 20150021115
    Abstract: A front subframe structure includes a pair of left and right side members extending in a vehicle front-rear direction, a center cross member of a closed cross-section structure extending in a vehicle-width direction to couple the a pair of left and right side members together, an inclined member having a pair of left and right inclined portions extending obliquely, in a plan view, outward in a vehicle-widthwise direction from a rear portion of a vehicle-widthwise middle portion of the center cross member, and a mount attaching portion of a powertrain mount housed in the center cross member and located behind a front edge of the center cross member and in front of a coupling portion between the inclined member and the center cross member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Komiya
  • Patent number: 8936131
    Abstract: In the case of a front structure of a motor vehicle two cross members are connected to one another by means of a longitudinal beam. One of the attachments of the longitudinal beam is displaceable by an amount X in the direction of travel and has an adapter made from plastic. During driving operation a transfer of vibrations between the cross members is prevented by means of the attachment. In the event of a crash, the cross member oriented in the direction of travel is supported by the longitudinal beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ralf-Dieter Bechtold, Stephan Blässer, Sascha Hoffeller
  • Publication number: 20150014084
    Abstract: A vehicle-body front structure includes: a front side member which has a closed section by joining an inner panel placed on a vehicle-width inner side to an outer panel placed on a vehicle-width outer side, the front side member being placed in a vehicle-body front portion along a vehicle-body front-rear direction and being provided with an energy absorption portion that is provided on a vehicle-body front side of the front side member; and a reinforcing member provided on an inner-panel side in an offset manner toward the vehicle-width inner side from a vehicle-width outer end of a rear end of the energy absorption portion in a plane view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiki IWAMA, Hayato KANEKO, Hiroshi MIZUO
  • Patent number: 8915323
    Abstract: A two-rear-wheel electric vehicle configured to lean its vehicle body frame when turning includes a vehicle body frame, a pair of right and left rear arms, a battery, and a shock absorber. The vehicle body frame includes a head pipe, a front inclined portion, a bottom portion, and a rear inclined portion. The front inclined portion extends obliquely downward and rearward from the head pipe. The bottom portion includes a front support portion that supports a front end portion of the shock absorber. The bottom portion extends rearward in a front-back direction of the vehicle from a rear end portion of the front inclined portion. The rear inclined portion includes a battery support portion, and extends obliquely upward and rearward from a rear end portion of the bottom portion. A swing shaft is positioned rearward of the front support portion and below the battery support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiichirou Tsujii, Junji Terada, Atsushi Ueno, Masatoshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8899372
    Abstract: A suspension system for a motor vehicle including a frame assembly; a differential supported on the frame assembly; a wheel hub connected to each of two half shaft assemblies engaging the differential and being pivotally connected to the frame assembly; and at least one air spring operatively positioned between the frame assembly and each of the wheel hubs. The air springs are connected to a rotating linkage which maintains a substantially linear axis of compression for the air springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Motor Trike, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Vey, John Petry, Jeffrey D. Vey, Christopher Vey, Adam Schumann, Ryan Reineck
  • Patent number: 8887859
    Abstract: A brake pipe structure of a motorcycle includes: a first brake pipe connecting a master cylinder and an ABS unit; and a second brake pipe connecting the ABS unit and a hydraulic wheel braking part. The first brake pipe and the second brake pipe are suspended and held between a front fork and a body frame so as to pass near a center axis of a steering shaft under a head pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Yohei Matsushima
  • Patent number: 8876160
    Abstract: A vehicle chassis for motor homes, busses and similar vehicles is provided. In an embodiment, the chassis includes anti-camber to counteract the bending action provided by the engine being mounted rear ward of the rear axle(s) of the vehicle such that the rear axle(s) act as a fulcrum causing crowning of the chassis. Further, embodiments of the invention utilize through the frame construction for lateral support members to increase storage space of a basement region and to increase strength of the welded joints of the various structural members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Spartan Motors, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Kyle Olson, Roy Frank Engelbrecht
  • Patent number: 8875834
    Abstract: A vehicle structure includes a frame having a first frame rail and a second frame rail. The first and second frame rails are spaced apart by a distance and are substantially parallel to one another. The vehicle structure also includes a vehicle body attached to the frame. The vehicle structure also includes a cradle mounted under the vehicle body to each of the first and second frame rails and configured to support a vehicle drivetrain subassembly. The vehicle structure additionally includes a panel attached to each of the first and second frame rails and the cradle, and configured to stiffen the vehicle structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Liviu Octavian Sirbu, Benjamin W Michajlyszyn
  • Patent number: 8875829
    Abstract: Provided is a construction machine, wherein an upper slewing body comprises a slewing frame and first and second power units, and wherein the second power unit comprises a second engine, a second controller to control driving of the second engine, a second hydraulic oil tank, a second hydraulic pump configured to be driven by the second engine to thereby suck hydraulic oil from the second hydraulic oil tank and discharge the hydraulic oil toward a hydraulic actuator, a second fuel tank configured to store fuel, and a second support member supporting the second engine, the second hydraulic oil tank, the second hydraulic pump and the second fuel tank, and wherein the second support member is configured to be attachable and detachable with respect to the slewing frame independently of a first support member of the first power unit, and the second hydraulic pump is detachably connected to the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kobelco Cranes Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiko Asakage, Hironori Takenaka
  • Patent number: 8869929
    Abstract: A vehicle body frame of a utility vehicle comprises: a main frame supporting an engine; and a pair of side frames attached to the main frame by a coupling member on respective left and right sides of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Teruaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8863884
    Abstract: A vehicle chassis in the form of a trough is ‘V shaped and encloses the vehicle driveline and is resistant to ballistic and blast damage. The chassis has a removable body attached by longitudinal pivot pins. A torsion bar suspension is pivoted on the axis of the torsion bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Ricardo UK Ltd.
    Inventor: Roland Jacob-Lloyd
  • Patent number: 8857060
    Abstract: A center section for a crossmember of a vehicle chassis comprises a driveshaft hoop, crossmember attachment areas extending generally from opposing sides thereof, and trailing arm mounts on either side of the driveshaft hoop for attachment of one or more trailing arms to the center section. The crossmember attachment areas have heights that allow attachment of crossmember portions to the center section at offset heights. A method of constructing a crossmember of a vehicle chassis comprises providing a center section having crossmember attachment areas of predetermined heights extending generally from opposite sides of a driveshaft hoop, and attaching crossmember portions within the crossmember attachment areas at heights that are offset from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Niranjan Singh, Patrick DiMarco
  • Patent number: 8844668
    Abstract: A combined heat shield and wire-holding structure for a saddle-type vehicle, where the vehicle includes a pair of right and left frame sections extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and a fuel tank disposed above the vehicle body frame sections. The combined heat shield and wire-holding structure comprises a heat shield, which is disposed below the fuel tank and which extends between the right and left body frame sections. The combined heat shield and wire-holding structure includes a wire-holding portion which extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction outside of the vehicle body frame, and the wire-holding portion holds a wiring harness routed through an inside portion of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Oshima, Masayuki Hojo
  • Patent number: 8839900
    Abstract: A structure of a roll-rod for a subframe filled with a hydro liquid therein, may include a bracket bar, an inner pipe including a cylindrical pipe and a supporting plate joined with the cylindrical pipe, an endplate joined to the cylindrical pipe, an outer pipe enclosing the inner pipe between the bracket bar and the endplate and including an extension part, where the supporting plate may be disposed with a gap in the extension part having a curved shape, an insulator forming a front liquid chamber and a rear liquid chamber with the supporting plate to receive the hydro-liquid therein, and a housing, wherein the supporting plate may move relative to the outer pipe such that the gap varies while the insulator is elastically transformed according to movement of the bracket bar and the endplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Seung-Won Kim
  • Publication number: 20140262591
    Abstract: Self-powered apparatus are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a front chassis portion and a rear chassis portion. The front chassis portion is to be coupled to the rear chassis portion. The front chassis portion is substantially the same as the rear chassis portion. When the front and rear chassis portions are coupled, the front chassis portion includes a first end of the apparatus and the rear chassis portion includes a second end of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: John Deere
    Inventors: Christopher Turner, Kendall Giesemann, Steven A. Duppong, Bryan K. Buerkle
  • Publication number: 20140251714
    Abstract: A chassis for a vehicle is suitable for mounting the engine of the vehicle between the forward and rear axle assemblies of the vehicle. A first forward rail is positioned opposite a second forward rail, and an engine cradle is positioned between the forward and rear axle assemblies. The engine cradle has first and second upper rails. A forward portion of the first upper rail is angled toward the second upper rail, and a rear portion of the first upper rail is angled toward the second upper rail. A middle portion of the first upper rail is parallel to a middle portion of the second upper rail. The engine cradle further includes first and second lower rails disposed below the first and second upper rails. A plurality of support members coupled the lower first and second lower rails to the first and second upper rails, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: PACCAR Inc
    Inventors: Larry F. Gulan, Gerald J. Angelo
  • Patent number: 8827028
    Abstract: The present invention relates to all terrain vehicles having at least a pair of laterally spaced apart seating surfaces. More particularly, the present invention relates to trail compliant side-by-side all terrain vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Larry Sunsdahl, Aaron David Deckard, Marcus Johannes Tullemans, Jason Carl Plugge, Alan A. Meyer, Geoffrey G. White, Brian Michael Safranski
  • Publication number: 20140246262
    Abstract: A wheel loader includes: a driver's cab; an engine; a chassis, at sides of which tires are provided; an engine room in which the engine is mounted on the chassis, the engine room being provided behind the driver's cab; front portion structures respectively standing at left and right positions of a surface of the engine room, the surface being located at the driver's cab side; rear portion structures respectively standing at left and right positions of a surface of the engine room, the surface being opposite to the surface located at the driver's cab side; and a coupling structure that couples upper portions of the front portion structures to upper portions of the rear portion structures and forms a peripheral device installation space at an upper portion of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA KCM, HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Mori, Takatomo Ohno, Toru Sonobe, Hiroyuki Ishida, Keisuke Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8820821
    Abstract: An operating machine comprises a machine body mounted on a lower propelling body. The machine body comprises an upper frame, and a line member mutually connecting a plurality of devices installed to the upper frame. The upper frame has a bottom plate, a pair of longitudinal plates each provided to stand on the bottom plate and extend in a front-rear direction, while being disposed in spaced-apart relation to each other in a right-left direction, and a transverse plate provided to stand on the bottom plate and extend in the right-left direction, while being joined to each of the longitudinal plates. A specific plate consisting of at least one of the pair of longitudinal plates and the transverse plate has an upper edge on which a pair of protrusions are provided in opposed relation to each other, and the line member is set to pass through between the pair of protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Asuka Ushiroguchi
  • Patent number: 8820467
    Abstract: Said device for mounting an electric propulsion assembly into the engine compartment of an electric vehicle includes a mounting member (4, 5) having a means for attaching onto the vehicle chassis and attachment means for an electrical machine (3), an electrical power unit (2), and a charging unit (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Patrick Lamoine, Michael Grosjean
  • Patent number: 8813891
    Abstract: A battery module mounting structure includes a housing structure housing a battery supplying electric power to the electric motor of a motor-driven two-wheeled vehicle and a PDU controlling the electric motor. The housing case is configured to be mountable to and dismountable from the swing arm with the electric motor and a control substrate housed in the housing case. The swing arm is formed as a cantilever type in which an arm portion disposed on the vehicle-widthwise right or left of a rear wheel supports the rear wheel. The battery shaped in a rectangular parallelepiped is housed in the housing case with a longitudinal direction thereof facing in a vehicle-width direction. The housing case is mounted from a vehicle-widthwise inside on a lateral surface of a swing arm housing at a position vehicle-body-forward of the rear wheel and vehicle-body-rearward of a through-hole, the swing arm housing supporting the arm portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Tsukamoto, Kazumi Shibata, Takashi Tominaga, Susumu Akutsu
  • Patent number: 8813883
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle power unit includes an engine, a generator and a traction motor. A mounting bracket includes a base portion and a plurality of junctions arranged along the outer edge of an end of the generator at a plurality of points spaced at interval to fasten the base portion to the end. Dividing the end by an imaginary vertical plane that includes a rotor axis of the generator into a front area and a rear area with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the number of some of the plurality of junctions located in the rear area is larger than the number of the remainder of the plurality of junctions located in the front area. A generator mount between an end portion of the mounting bracket and a side member is arranged in front of the imaginary vertical plane with respect to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Nobutaka Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8807597
    Abstract: In a frontal collision energy absorption structure for a vehicle (1) including a chassis frame (9), an engine mount bracket (27) is attached to a main frame (10) of the chassis frame (9) extending in a vehicle length direction, and is, in the vehicle length direction, apart from a connection part of the main frame (10) and a suspension tower (101), a connection part of the main frame (10) and a second cross-member (12) arranged apart from the suspension tower (101) in front thereof, and a connection part of the main frame (10) and a third cross-member (13) arranged apart from the suspension tower (101) in rear thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Akaki, Hideto Yamada, Soukichi Kikuchi, Osami Ohno
  • Patent number: 8807262
    Abstract: A vehicle (10) having a bearing frame (12) of the tubular trestle type, two front steered wheels (14, 16), two rear wheels (18, 20) with fixed axis (144), an engine unit (22), steering means (24), a front suspension unit (26), connecting the frame (12) to the front wheels (14, 16), a rear suspension unit (28), connecting the frame (12) to the rear wheels (18, 20), a transmission unit, interposed between the engine unit (22) and the axle shafts of the rear wheels (18, 20), a seat (44) for the driver of the vehicle (10), arranged at a central position with respect to such vehicle (10), and at least two seats (44?) for the passengers of the vehicle (10) adjacent to each other, arranged laterally and receded according to a predefined distance with respect to the seat (44) for the driver of the vehicle (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Piaggio & C.S.P.A.
    Inventors: Marco Lambri, Luca Marano, Davide Fabio Scotti
  • Patent number: 8800704
    Abstract: A wheel loader includes a vehicle body frame, an engine, a working unit a fuel tank and a cooling device. The fuel tank is attached to a bottom surface of a rear part of the vehicle body frame, and has a rear end surface slanted obliquely rearwards from up to down. The cooling device is configured to release heat of a coolant flowing through an inside thereof. The cooling device is supported by the rear part of the vehicle body frame. A bottom end portion of the cooling device is opposed to and separated away from a rear end surface of the fuel tank at a predetermined distance in a back-and-forth direction. A bottom surface of the cooling device is positioned lower than a top surface of a rear end portion of the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kitaoka, Ryuutaro Kato
  • Patent number: 8783405
    Abstract: A saddle-type electric vehicle is provided with a drive battery and an effectively placed motor unit. The drive battery is mounted directly under a main frame section of a vehicle frame, and the motor unit is fixedly supported to the vehicle frame. The motor unit includes a motor body disposed below a pivot connection of a rear swing arm, and at least a part of the motor body is disposed rearwardly of the pivot connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takafumi Irie, Masayoshi Hori, Yoshinori Koyama, Tomoyasu Motojima
  • Patent number: 8776937
    Abstract: A front differential-integrated engine support bracket, which may be mounted on an engine to connect the engine and an engine mount may include a connecting portion formed in a front thereof and connected to the engine mount, a fixing portion formed in a rear thereof and fixed to the engine, a fastening portion formed between the fixing portion and the connecting portion, wherein the engine support bracket may be fastened together with a front differential mounted on the engine by the fastening portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Seung Won Kim, Kong Sup Jung, Yong Jin Kim, Byoung Hyuk Lee
  • Patent number: 8746389
    Abstract: A head pipe of a vehicle body frame includes an upper side head pipe with a pair of upper and lower facing piece parts extending from an upper side pipe part so as to fit to upper and lower wall portions of a pair of right and left main frames, a lower side head pipe with a lower side pipe part joined to the upper side pipe part and a front side tongue piece part extending from the lower side pipe part so as to fit to a front wall portion of a down frame, and a reinforcing member joined to a rear portion of the upper side head pipe and having a rear side tongue piece part extending so as to fit to a rear wall portion of the down frame from a vertical wall part positioned between inner side wall portions of the main frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Togo Oe, Kuninari Kurabayashi
  • Patent number: 8733492
    Abstract: A power unit 4 is mounted in a rear part of a vehicle, a shaft C shared by a motor 2 and a motor speed reducer 3 is disposed in a vehicle width direction, and a sub-frame 8 is provided around the power unit 4, a front cross frame 11 is disposed over a front portion of the power unit 4 in a front view of the vehicle and disposed in parallel with the shaft C of the motor 2, a rear cross frame 12 is disposed over a side portion of the power unit 4 in a side view of the vehicle, and left and right side portions of the power unit 4 are suspended from a vehicle body via suspension brackets 13 and 14 provided on side frames 9 and 10, circular mount rubbers 15 and 16, and motor-side mount brackets 17 and 18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Tachibana, Akihiro Nishikawa, Shuichi Yamane, Sunao Wakatsuki
  • Patent number: 8727063
    Abstract: In a mounting structure of a power unit for a utility vehicle, the power unit includes an engine and a transmission coupled onto one side of the engine in a vehicular lengthwise direction. A lower end substantially at the center of the engine in a vehicular widthwise direction and a lower end substantially at the center of the transmission in the vehicular widthwise direction are mounted to an upper surface of a chassis frame by a front mounting mechanism with a damper and a rear mounting mechanism with a damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruaki Yamamoto, Akiyuki Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 8727062
    Abstract: Outer rear end surfaces of a pair of front frames are connected to corresponding inner front end surfaces of a pair of main frames with spacers being interposed therebetween. Accordingly, a width between the front frames is independent of a width between the main frames, so that maximum steerable angles of front wheels can be increased as much as possible without increasing a mounting pitch of the front wheels. The front frames can be arranged such that at least upper regions of the rear end surfaces thereof are located forward of the mount flange, and the engine unit and the flywheel unit are supported by the vehicle frames such that at least lower portions thereof overlap the vehicle frames in a side view, and the mount flange overlap the upper regions of the rear end surfaces of the front frames in a front view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Ibe, Shigemi Hidaka
  • Patent number: 8701806
    Abstract: An electric transaxle unit includes an axle, an electric motor for driving the axle, a motor shaft serving as an output shaft of the electric motor, the motor shaft being not coaxial to the axle, a deceleration gear train interposed between the motor shaft and the axle, a brake adapted to brake any element in a power train between the motor shaft and the axle via the deceleration gear train, and a casing. The casing incorporates the axle, the electric motor, the motor shaft, the deceleration gear train and the brake. The casing includes an attachment portion to be attached to a frame, and wherein the attachment portion has a constant height from a center axis of the axle regardless of whether the casing is vertically inversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihiro Ishii, Tomoyuki Ebihara, Kengo Sasahara, Masaya Itou
  • Patent number: 8695746
    Abstract: A three wheeled vehicle is disclosed having a vehicle frame with a frame sidewall providing a substantially flat surface, with recesses in the flat surface. Alignment arms have inner ends and outer ends, where the inner ends are mounted to the frame sidewall, and the outer ends mount a wheel hub. The inner ends have couplings with pivotal portions and fixed portions, the pivotal portions being at least partially positioned within the recesses, and the fixed portions being attached to the substantially flat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: James A. J. Holroyd, Gustavo A. Aramayo, Jason J. Hohenstein, Mathew Bradley Wiest, Jeffrey D. Bennett, Mark Alan Ziliak
  • Patent number: 8684382
    Abstract: The invention relates to an axle support for motor vehicles, for receiving components of the chassis of the motor vehicle. The axle support comprises frame side members (2, 3) running substantially in the driving direction, each having at least one cast connection point (5, 6), and a pipe section (7) that adjoins the cast connection point. The pipe section has an at least half-shell form in the region of the connection to the cast connection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: KSM Castings Group GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Buschjohann, Karsten Hoppe, Juergen Eickmann, Michael Wagner
  • Patent number: 8672080
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vibration source attachment structure equipped with a vibration isolation device. In the vibration source attachment structure, the vibration source (41) of an engine, or the like, is attached via the vibration isolation device (50) to a subframe (30) that has been attached in a downward position with respect to a vehicle body frame (20). The vibration isolation device (50) is provided with a first attachment (51) that attaches to the vibration source (41), a second attachment (52) that attaches to the subframe (30), and an elastic body (53) that connects the first and second attachments (51, 52). The subframe (30) is provided with fitting holes (31) that are formed in the vertical direction of said subframe. The second attachment (52) is detachably attached to the fitting holes (31) by means of press fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Tamura