Other Machine Is Vehicle Accessory Patents (Class 180/53.8)
  • Patent number: 7174977
    Abstract: A fuel cell system incorporated in a vehicle has a main electric motor, a drive power transmitting mechanism for engaging and disengaging a fuel gas pump, a coolant fluid pump, a supercharger, and a compressor, which serve as auxiliary equipment, and transmitting a drive power to the auxiliary equipment, and an auxiliary electric motor coaxially connectable to the main electric motor for transmitting a drive power to the auxiliary equipment depending on the manner in which the vehicle is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoyuki Enjoji, Masaharu Suzuki, Hideaki Kikuchi, Yoshinori Wariishi, Masaru Oda
  • Patent number: 7007768
    Abstract: A work vehicle has an engine (1), a PTO shaft (6, 7) driven by power from the engine, an operator's seat (19), an operator's presence sensor (26) for detecting presence/absence of an operator at the operator's seat, and an automatic engine stop unit (39) operable to automatically stop the engine in response to detection of the operator's absence at the operator's seat. The work vehicle includes a utility member (A) for the vehicle selectively movable between a use position and a non-use position, a non-use state detecting sensor (27) for detecting movement of the utility member to the non-use position, and an override unit (40) operable to override the automatic engine stop function of the automatic engine stop unit, the override unit providing an override signal to the automatic engine stop unit in response to detection by the non-use state detecting sensor of the movement of the utility member to the non-use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Keishiro Nishi, Masao Takagi, Satoshi Machida, Kenji Kato, Masashi Osuga
  • Patent number: 7006902
    Abstract: An aircraft rescue fire fighting vehicle comprises a chassis module, a cab module, and a control system. The control system further comprises a plurality of input devices, a plurality of output devices, a plurality of interface modules, and a communication network. The plurality of interface modules is distributed throughout the fire fighting vehicle and are coupled to each other by way of the communication network. The plurality of interface modules are each coupled to the plurality of input devices and output devices. The plurality of interface modules are operative to control the output devices based on input status information from the plurality of input devices. Some of the plurality of interface modules are mounted on the chassis module and other ones of the plurality of interface modules are mounted on the cab module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Oshkosh Truck Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Archer, Duane R. Pillar, Bradley C. Squires
  • Patent number: 6949041
    Abstract: A vehicle driving system includes a pulley shaft synchronously rotating with a crankshaft of an engine, an auxiliary unit drive shaft driving an auxiliary unit, a planetary gear mechanism portion having elements such as a sun gear, a pinion carrier and a ring gear. The pulley shaft and the auxiliary unit drive shaft are adapted for connection to any two of the elements, respectively. The motor connecting to the remaining element of the planetary gear mechanism portion. A lock-up clutch connecting together the two or more elements of the planetary gear mechanism portion. A one-way clutch for restricting the rotation of the auxiliary unit drive shaft in one direction, wherein the planetary gear mechanism portion, the motor, the lock-up clutch, and the auxiliary unit drive shaft are coaxially disposed in line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Fujioka, Junya Tachikawa, Tatsuya Fukushima
  • Patent number: 6863139
    Abstract: Accessory-driving equipment connects an engine having an idle stop system, a motor-generator and an accessory including an air-conditioner compressor that is driven even at a time when the idle stop system is operated. The accessory is driven by the engine when the engine is running and driven by the motor-generator when the idle stop system is operated. The accessory-driving equipment includes a first shaft for connecting to the engine, a second shaft for connecting to the motor-generator, a third shaft for connecting to the accessory, a lock device for locking the third shaft and a clutch. The clutch and the lock device are operated so that a torque transmitted from the engine through the first shaft is distributed to the motor-generator and the accessory, or a torque is transmitted from the motor-generator to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuneyuki Egami, Tomoya Katoh, Jiro Asai
  • Patent number: 6854404
    Abstract: This invention provides devices and methods for adapting a motorcycle for use with an agricultural system. In a preferred embodiment, the agricultural system includes a motorcycle drive unit adapted for removable attachment to a tool assembly. In a further embodiment of the invention, power transmission from the drive unit to a tool assembly drive axle is at reduced speed and increased torque relative to the motorcycle drive unit output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Society for Research and Initiatives for Subtainable Technologies and Institions
    Inventor: Mansukhbhai Ambabhai Jagani
  • Patent number: 6845832
    Abstract: The present invention is made to operate auxiliary machine while an engine is stopped, to start an engine and to charge a battery by providing a single motor and a simple construction and by providing a simple control operation. An engine system comprises an engine, a motor, and auxiliary machine, and further comprises a planetary mechanism having three elements comprising a sun gear, a carrier and a ring gear, to which any one of an output shaft of the engine, an output shaft of the motor and a drive shaft of the auxiliary machine are respectively connected, a uniting connection device capable of uniting two or more elements of the planetary mechanism, and a rotation direction restriction device which restricts a rotation direction of the drive shaft of the auxiliary machine to one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuaki Takizawa, Tatsuya Fukushima, Katsuya Minami, Masato Fujioka, Kazuo Ooyama, Eijiro Shimabukuro, Junya Tachikawa
  • Patent number: 6814205
    Abstract: A dual clutch arrangement including two clutch areas, each with a pressure plate connected to a housing arrangement for rotation in common around an axis of rotation (A) and which can be shifted in the axial direction with respect to the housing; and a clutch disk, the friction surface areas of which can be clamped between the respective pressure plate and an opposing support arrangement. Each of the clutch disks is designed to be connected nonrotatably to a different power takeoff element. In addition a clutch cooling arrangement, through which a coolant can flow, is installed adjacent to the clutch areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Feldhaus, Markus Heiartz, Andreas Orlamünder, Jochen Kuhstrebe, Wolfgang Reisser, Thomas Wirth, Michael Peterseim, Jürgen Dudenhöffer, Manfred Zimmer
  • Patent number: 6814204
    Abstract: A crankshaft 2 of an internal combustion engine, which is supported with freedom to rotate around an axis of rotation 3, can be connected by a first clutch 1 to a flywheel 4, which is also supported with freedom to rotate around the axis of rotation 3. In addition, the flywheel 4 can be connected by a second clutch 5 to a transmission shaft 6, also supported with freedom to rotate around the axis of rotation 3. The flywheel 4 is provided with at least one permanent magnet and thus forms the rotor 8 of a crankshaft starter-generator. The pole fields of the permanent magnets can be moved past the stator coil of a stator 9 of the crankshaft starter-generator, this coil being mounted on a stationary component. Each of the first and the second clutches 1, 5 has its own separately operated actuating means and can be engaged and disengaged either independently of each other or in common.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Matthias Diemer, Christoph Kleuker, Markus Heiartz
  • Patent number: 6758112
    Abstract: In a power transmission arrangement, a working unit includes a hydraulic power unit and a valve unit enclosed in a first bulging portion of a transmission case closer to an upper side or on a top surface thereof and connected with each other along a vehicle lengthwise direction. The first bulging portion is closer to a first lateral side along the vehicle width direction of the transmission case, while a hydraulic pump is located closer to a second lateral side. Hydraulic fluid is drawn from the transmission case, around a lower side of the hydraulic pump, through a suction port thereof, and discharged to a suction port of the valve unit. The hydraulic power unit includes a cylinder tube and piston, extending in the lengthwise direction, and support shaft, extending along the width direction, which is supported by the transmission case and connected to a lift arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Inventors: Norihiro Ishii, Hirohiko Kawada, Hideki Kanenobu, Hiroshi Tottori, Kentaro Nagata
  • Patent number: 6729998
    Abstract: A shaft of a planetary gear mechanism is connected via a lock mechanism to an air-conditioner compressor. A shaft is connected to an engine, and a shaft is connected to a motor-generator. The shaft or the shaft of the motor-generator is linked to the shaft through a clutch mechanism. A control unit reduces shock by changing the rotation speed of the motor-generator on the basis of the engine speed and reducing a speed difference between the input shafts of the clutch mechanism and a speed difference between the input shafts of the lock mechanism before engaging of the clutch mechanism and releasing of the lock mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuneyuki Egami
  • Patent number: 6718782
    Abstract: A power distributing mechanism distributes a power at a first axis from the engine to a second axis coupled to a motor generator, and a third axis coupled to a compressor for air conditioning. A clutch mechanism provides the connection/disconnection of the second axis to/from the third axis, and a lock mechanism provides the locking and unlocking of rotation of the third axis. The control unit inhibits switching operations of the clutch mechanism and lock mechanism for a startup transition period of the engine and a to-stop transition period of the engine and controls the inverter to suppress the operation of the motor generator in the generator mode for a startup transition period of the compressor and a to-stop transition period of the compressor, while the engine is running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuneyuki Egami
  • Patent number: 6708787
    Abstract: Hybrid construction equipment leveling an engine load and effectively performing regeneration of energy is provided. For this purpose, the construction equipment includes a hydraulic pump (2) and a first electric motor (7) driven by an engine (1), a battery (9) for charging electric power generated by the first electric motor, a second electric motor (10) driven by electric power of the battery and functioning as a generator at a time of braking revolution, a swash plate angel sensor 33 and a pressure sensor 34 for the hydraulic pump, and a controller (5) for controlling the first electric motor as a generator by surplus torque when absorption torque is smaller than predetermined output torque of the engine and controlling the first electric motor as a motor to generate an amount of shortage of torque when the absorption torque is larger than the predetermined torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Naruse, Masatake Tamaru, Kenzo Kimoto
  • Publication number: 20040045748
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has an electric motor drive and an on-board power supply. Conventional on-board power supply systems can be operated with fuel cell modules. Here, the motor vehicle further comprises an air conditioning system providing cooling air that has an air conditioning compressor supplied by the electric systems of the vehicle. The electric systems can be either the hybrid drive of the motor vehicle or a separate electric motor driven by a fuel cell module already mounted in the vehicle. High-temperature PEM fuel cells are especially suitable for this purpose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Rolf Bruck, Joachim Grosse, Manfred Poppinger, Meike Reizig
  • Publication number: 20040007402
    Abstract: A powering device or power transferring device having an engine, frame, handle arms, first and second handles, wheels, support member, control panel, safety shutoff handle, power shaft and coupling for transferring power to various working attachments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventor: Roger D. Kujawa
  • Patent number: 6668953
    Abstract: A power train for a motor vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a power transmission, and an energy converter positioned between the engine and the transmission. A first clutch is positioned between the engine and the energy converter and a second clutch is positioned between the power transmission and the energy converter. The energy converter is operatively connected with at least one accessory for driving the accessory by energy derived either from the rotational motion of the engine crankshaft or from rotational motion transferred from the vehicle's drive wheels through the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: LuK Lamellan und Kunpplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Reik, Thomas Pels, Dierk Reitz
  • Patent number: 6668952
    Abstract: A removable shaft assembly having a drive shaft with internal splines defined therein and an output shaft positioned within the drive shaft and having a first set of external splines defined thereon adapted to engage the internal splines of the drive shaft is disclosed. The assembly further includes a cap axially aligned with the drive shaft having internal splines defined thereon which are adapted to prevent an axial movement of the output shaft relative to the drive shaft when the cap is in a first position and hallow axial movement of the output shaft relative to the drive shaft when the cap is in a second position. The output shaft may be removed from the drive shaft when the cap is placed in the first position by axially sliding the first set of external splines through the internal splines of the cap. A method of operating a removable shaft assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: John M. Seipold
  • Patent number: 6659209
    Abstract: A tractor having a mid-mount type mower includes a pair of frames extending in a fore and aft direction, and a transmission case extending and supported between the pair of frames. The transmission case houses a power take off clutch disposed above a rear wheel differential. A change speed gearing mechanism is disposed between a front surface of the transmission case and the rear wheel differential. With such an arrangement of the components, the transmission case has a reduced length in the fore and aft direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Osuga, Takashi Yoshii, Hiroshi Shimada
  • Publication number: 20030209373
    Abstract: Accessory-driving equipment connects an engine having an idle stop system, a motor-generator and an accessory including an air-conditioner compressor that is driven even at a time when the idle stop system is operated. The accessory is driven by the engine when the engine is running and driven by the motor-generator when the idle stop system is operated. The accessory-driving equipment includes a first shaft for connecting to the engine, a second shaft for connecting to the motor-generator, a third shaft for connecting to the accessory, a lock device for locking the third shaft and a clutch. The clutch and the lock device are operated so that a torque transmitted from the engine through the first shaft is distributed to the motor-generator and the accessory, or a torque is transmitted from the motor-generator to the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Applicant: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuneyuki Egami, Tomoya Katoh, Jiro Asai
  • Patent number: 6615963
    Abstract: A working vehicle is provided which can be smoothly started with a large driving force, and uniformly conducts a various types of works even if a travel speed varies. A working machine such as a working pump, which is also driven by an engine for driving the vehicle, is mounted on the working vehicle. The power is transmitted from a crank shaft of the engine to wheels through a torque converter provided with a lock-up clutch and an automatic transmission. The crank shaft is also connected to a driving unit for driving the working pump through gears. A transmission ratio of the automatic transmission is set to a predetermined value corresponding with work modes J1-J6. In such a way, the work modes J1-J6 are set according to characteristics of the work, in which there exists a predetermined relationship between a work amount and a vehicle speed. Therefore, fertilizer, sand, and chemicals can be appropriately and uniformly spread through a changeover of the modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ono, Yasuhiko Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20030094317
    Abstract: The present invention is made to operate auxiliary machine while an engine is stopped, to start an engine and to charge a battery by providing a single motor and a simple construction and by providing a simple control operation. An engine system comprises an engine, a motor, and auxiliary machine, and further comprises a planetary mechanism having three elements comprising a sun gear, a carrier and a ring gear, to which any one of an output shaft of the engine, an output shaft of the motor and a drive shaft of the auxiliary machine are respectively connected, a uniting connection device capable of uniting two or more elements of the planetary mechanism, and a rotation direction restriction device which restricts a rotation direction of the drive shaft of the auxiliary machine to one direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuaki Takizawa, Tatsuya Fukushima, Katsuya Minami, Masato Fujioka, Kazuo Ooyama, Eijiro Shimabukuro, Junya Tachikawa
  • Patent number: 6530426
    Abstract: A motor drive-control device drive-controls a plurality of auxiliary devices with a single motor while securing a necessary capacity of the auxiliary devices side in correspondence with usage conditions. As such, in an air-conditioning system, necessary speeds of auxiliary devices such as a compressor and a warm water pump are calculated based on a necessary cooling capacity and a necessary heating capacity. The higher of these two necessary speeds is set as the motor speed for driving the auxiliary devices. The motor is thus controlled to this speed. Therefore, even if the air-conditioning heat load varies greatly due to changes in the usage environment, cooling and heating capacities necessary for air-conditioning temperature control can be obtained at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: DENSO Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kishita, Yasuhiko Niimi, Yasushi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 6516905
    Abstract: A vehicle comprising a combustion engine capable of delivering mechanical power for driving at least one wheel drive shaft with driving wheels, auxiliary vehicular electric loads, an alternator powered by the combustion engine for generating electricity, an electric storage device for storing alternator generated electricity, and at least one auxiliary electric power supply for supplying electrical energy to said electric loads. The auxiliary electric power supply includes a fuel cell system with an anode fuel input and a cathode fuel input, and an electrolyzer which is capable of generating hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen production side of said electrolyzer is in fluid connection with the at least one anode fuel supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Ballard Power Systems AG
    Inventors: Rob Baumert, Craig Greenhill, Robert Hastings, Jim Smith
  • Publication number: 20020195285
    Abstract: A power distributing mechanism distributes a power at a first axis from the engine to a second axis coupled to a motor generator, and a third axis coupled to a compressor for air conditioning. A clutch mechanism provides the connection/ disconnection of the second axis to/from the third axis, and a lock mechanism provides the locking and unlocking of rotation of the third axis. The control unit inhibits switching operations of the clutch mechanism and lock mechanism for a startup transition period of the engine and a to-stop transition period of the engine and controls the inverter to suppress the operation of the motor generator in the generator mode for a startup transition period of the compressor and a to-stop transition period of the compressor, while the engine is running.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsuneyuki Egami
  • Publication number: 20020125052
    Abstract: Hybrid construction equipment leveling an engine load and effectively performing regeneration of energy is provided. For this purpose, the construction equipment includes a hydraulic pump (2) and a first electric motor (7) driven by an engine (1), a battery (9) for charging electric power generated by the first electric motor, a second electric motor (10) driven by electric power of the battery and functioning as a generator at a time of braking revolution, absorption torque detecting means (33, 34) for the hydraulic pump, and a controller (5) for controlling the first electric motor as a generator by surplus torque when absorption torque is smaller than predetermined output torque of the engine and controlling the first electric motor as a motor to generate an amount of shortage of torque when the absorption torque is larger than the predetermined torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Masami Naruse, Masatake Tamaru, Kenzo Kimoto
  • Patent number: 6394206
    Abstract: Control apparatus for maintaining constant speed of an AC generator carried aboard a motor vehicle having an engine, a transmission including a power take-off, and an AC generator. The control apparatus includes a hydraulic pump driven from the power take-off, a hydraulic motor drivably connected to the generator, a fluid circuit driving the hydraulic motor from the hydraulic pump, a closed center proportional servo control valve assembly controlling the fluid circuit, and a control circuit disposed to control the proportional control valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Inventor: Robert Fury
  • Patent number: 6346340
    Abstract: In an electric generating arrangement for a motor vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine, a fuel cell is provided to generate electric energy for operating electric consuming devices. For supplying the fuel cell with fuel, hydrogen gas is cracked from the liquid fuel for the internal combustion engine, and the remaining fuel constituents are either burnt directly in the internal combustion engine, or returned as a liquid condensate into the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Günter Abersfelder, Helmut Buchner
  • Patent number: 6318485
    Abstract: A tractor having a mid-mount type mower includes a pair of frames extending in a fore and aft direction, and a transmission case extending and supported between the pair of frames. The transmission case houses a power takeoff clutch disposed above a rear wheel differential. A change speed gearing mechanism is disposed between a front surface of the transmission case and the rear wheel differential. With such an arrangement of the components, the transmission case has a reduced length in the fore and aft direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Osuga, Takashi Yoshii, Hiroshi Shimada
  • Patent number: 6241038
    Abstract: A remote drop box can be provided for tractor hydraulic drives; however, a system for providing lubrication to and cooling of the remote drop box is necessary. Maximum drawbar pull and maximum road speed capability are both desirable when a variable hydrostatic motor defines the working range. The hydrostatic motor must be operated very close to its maximum rated operating speed during roading, which leaves very little margin for overspeeding that occurs when the tractor is roading downhill. An improved overspeed control is also desirable. A problem encountered when a hydrostatic drive is used with a high torque engine in that, as the engine speed drops, the available charge pump flow also drops and eventually reaches a point where the required servo pressure to maintain the hydraulic pump in stroke cannot be maintained. Such a condition needs to be alleviated to provide an effectively operating hydrostatic drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Young, Vladimir M. Kowalyk