Vehicle Or Vehicle Component Patents (Class 219/202)
  • Publication number: 20140332518
    Abstract: A heatable luminaire cover is described. The heatable luminaire cover has a polymeric main body, a first busbar, a second busbar and at least two conductor tracks on the inside of the polymeric main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Lothar Lesmeister, Andreas Schlarb, Sebastian Schmidt, Marcus Guldan
  • Patent number: 8884191
    Abstract: When a seat heater and a planar electric heater on a surface of an interior member are used in parallel, the seat heater and the planar electric heater cannot be heated sufficiently due to a limitation on an electric capacity of a vehicle, and in particular, in a vehicle having good engine efficiency, heating of an interior of a passenger compartment by air conditioning utilizing hot air generated by heat expelled from an engine is not sufficient, whereby there sometimes occurs a situation where occupants feel cold. A heating device 2 is provided in a side door panel 1 of a vehicle and a seat heater is made to be heated mainly at an initial stage of heating after an occupant gets in the vehicle, whereas the heating device 2 is made to be heated after a predetermined period of time elapses, whereby the body of the occupant can be warmed quickly and efficiently without making the occupant feel cold physically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ogino, Noriyuki Yoneno, Hideaki Konishi, Naohito Asami, Satoshi Arima
  • Publication number: 20140326708
    Abstract: An improved heating element, comprising: (a) an electrically insulated resistive heating wire; (b) a flexible substrate that supports the electrically insulated resistive wire: (c) one or more electrical connection for an operational component of the heating element, the electrical connection including at least two wires that are joined together; (d) a spacer controlling spacing between the at least two wires approaching the electrical connection; wherein at least a portion of the electrical connection including the spacer is encapsulated in a shrunken heat shrinkable sheath that includes at least one mass of hot melt adhesive within the sheath so that the electrical connection is insulated from fluid penetration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Jack Barfuss, Syed Rafat Iqbal, Zoran Panic, Ricardo Edmundo Flores Gonzalez, Pedro Antunez, Wayne Swoyer Kauffman III
  • Publication number: 20140317871
    Abstract: The invention relates to an accessory for wiper of motor vehicle comprising at least one heating channel (16; 16a, 16b) for receiving a heating element of the wiper, characterized in that said accessory (6; 10; 26) is made of a first part (17; 27) movable with respect to a second part (18; 28) in order to open said at least one heating channel (16; 16a, 16b) longitudinally. This invention also relates to a wiper of motor vehicle comprising such accessory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: VALEO SYSTÈMES D'ESSUYAGE
    Inventors: Gérald Caillot, Philippe Carraro, Clémentine Derrepas, Frédéric Giraud, Giuseppe Grasso, Jean-Michel Jarasson, Michael Schaeuble, Pierre Sevellec, Denis Thebault, Marcel Trebouet
  • Publication number: 20140319115
    Abstract: A heating system for an aircraft or spacecraft with a control device which includes at least one power line data transmission transceiver and one sensor controller, and at least one remote component which has a sensor element and a heating element, the at least one power line data transmission transceiver being connected to the at least one remote component via a connecting cable, the control device being designed to supply the at least one heating element with power via the connecting cable and the sensor controller being designed to exchange first control signals with the sensor element via the connecting cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: Mehmet Altay
  • Publication number: 20140319114
    Abstract: An electric heater, and an apparatus, a heating and air conditioning system and a vehicle, each comprising the electric heater, are provided. The electric heater comprises an outer frame; a heating core configured to connect to a power source and disposed within the outer frame; and a sealing-waterproof glue member disposed within the outer frame and configured to encase at least one end of the heating core. The heating core further comprises: a plurality of heat dissipating components and heating components arranged alternately, and each of the heat dissipating component is coupled with a heating component via a thermal conductor. Each of the heating components further comprises a core tube and a positive temperature coefficient thermistor disposed in the core tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicants: SHENZHEN BYD AUTO R&D COMPANY LIMITED, BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Qing GONG, Xinping LIN, Maolin REN, Xiaofang LI, Tianyou DENG, Shumin WANG, Hui WU, Mengxiang WU, Hongmei QIU, Huaitong WEN, Weifeng ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20140305924
    Abstract: A heatable current collector for establishing an electrical contact between a current carrying line and an electric vehicle includes a lifting mechanism, a sliding contact rail, a rod, an electrical resistance heating conductor and a resilient hose. The rail is mounted on the lifting mechanism and has a longitudinal hole disposed perpendicular to the current carrying line. The electrical resistance heating conductor is disposed in grooves of an outer threading of the rod. One end of the resilient hose is sealed off and is connected to an end of the rod. The rod, the electrical resistance heating conductor and the resilient hose are disposed in the hole. The resilient hose presses the rod and the electrical resistance heating conductor against an inside surface of the hole. The hole is formed so close beneath a surface of the rail that a section of the hole forms a slit in the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventor: Paul Uchtmann
  • Publication number: 20140305923
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a polymer thick film positive temperature coefficient carbon resistor composition consisting essentially of; (a) organic medium consisting of: (i) a fluoropolymer resin consisting of a copolymer of vinylidene difluoride and hexafluoropropylene; and (ii) an organic solvent consisting of triethyl phosphate; and (b) conductive carbon powder. The composition may be processed at a time and temperature necessary to remove all solvent. The invention is further directed to positive temperature coefficient (PTC) circuits comprising the composition of the invention which has been dried to remove the solvent and to articles, e.g., mirror heaters and seat heaters, containing such PTC circuits as well as a method for making such PTC circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: JAY ROBERT DORFMAN, VINCE ARANCIO
  • Patent number: 8859938
    Abstract: A vehicle cabin heating system is provided basically with an infrared heater, a temperature sensor and a controller. The infrared heater is aimed to heat a target surface in front of the infrared heater within a vehicle cabin interior space. The temperature sensor is disposed in front of the first infrared heater to detect a measured temperature in front of the first infrared heater. The controller is operatively coupled to the first infrared heater to selectively operate the first infrared heater to a target surface temperature within the vehicle cabin interior space whenever an estimated surface temperature of a target surface is determined based on the measured temperature by the temperature sensor falls below a prescribed temperature range below the target surface temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald S Eisenhour, Alaa Meram
  • Publication number: 20140299591
    Abstract: There is disclosed a heater for an automotive vehicle or other article of manufacture. The heater typically includes a first conductive medium and a second conductive medium disposed upon a carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the first conductive medium includes a first section and a second section that are electrically connected by a second conductive medium. The second conductive medium preferably exhibits a positive thermal coefficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Shaun Calvin Howick, Goran Bajic
  • Publication number: 20140284314
    Abstract: A passenger compartment with an air distribution system for a means of transport and a method for regulating an air outlet temperature of an air distribution system in a passenger compartment of a means of transport are provided. In this arrangement the passenger compartment comprises a multitude of temperature zones in each case with several temperature regions with different heat loads. The air distribution system is designed to calculate the heating energy for a heating element in such a manner that the temperature in the entire temperature zone is as uniform as possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventor: Henning EVERTH
  • Patent number: 8841584
    Abstract: A deicing device for propfan-type aircraft propulsion unit blades, wherein the propulsion unit includes a turbomachine that drives in rotation at least one rotor including a plurality of blades arranged around an annular crown moving with the blades, which forms with its outer wall part of the outer envelope of the propulsion unit, the outer envelope being subjected to atmospheric conditions outside the propulsion unit, the turbomachine generating a flow of hot gases that exit via an annular hot vein, which is concentric with the moving annular crown, and defined for part of its surface by an inner wall of the moving annular crown. The deicing device includes: a mechanism transforming thermal energy into electrical energy, within the moving annular part; a mechanism transferring the generated electrical energy towards the rotor blades; and a mechanism transforming the electrical energy into thermal energy onto at least a part of the surface of the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: Guillaume Bulin, Severine Perret
  • Patent number: 8833322
    Abstract: A portable work apparatus has a combustion engine for driving a work tool. An air/fuel mixture is supplied to the engine via a carburetor which is provided with an electrical heating element for heating to a given temperature. The heating element is connected to a switch via which electrical energy, which is provided by a generator driven by the engine, is supplied. When a given temperature is exceeded, the switch interrupts the energy supply. To achieve an exact temperature control, the ohmic resistance value of the heating element is stored in a memory in dependence on the temperature. The current flowing through the heating element and the voltage drop at the heating element are measured and the instantaneous resistance of the heating element is calculated therefrom. This calculated value is compared to the value stored in the memory to open or close the switch in dependence on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heinrich Leufen, Jörg Präger, David Fallscheer, Rolf Walter, Michael Link
  • Patent number: 8822887
    Abstract: A heater assembly used in connection with a diesel emissions fluid tank in a vehicle, the heater assembly including a first heater connectable to an alternating current power supply; a second heater connectable to a direct current power supply within the vehicle; wherein the first heater is adapted to operate at a higher power than the second heater; wherein the first heater is closer to the tank than the second heater; a temperature sensor in sensing communication with the tank and adapted to provide a tank temperature; a control circuit connected to the second heater and the vehicle power supply, wherein the temperature sensor communicates the tank temperature to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit selectively activates the second heater to obtain a desired tank temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Shaw Arrow Development, LLC
    Inventor: John Ross Koonce
  • Patent number: 8816257
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flexible transparent heating element using graphene and a method for manufacturing the same. The heating element comprises a flexible transparent substrate; a graphene layer formed to at least one side of the flexible transparent substrate; and an electrode connected with the graphene layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Graphene Square, Inc.
    Inventors: Young Jin Kim, Byung Hee Hong, Jae Boong Choi, Jonghyun Ahn, Junmo Kang, Hyeong Keun Kim, Su Kang Bae
  • Patent number: 8807483
    Abstract: An electrothermal heater mat (3) is provided for an ice protection system for an aircraft (1) or the like. The heater mat (3) is a laminated heater mat and comprises dielectric layers (50-58), a heater element (501) and a temperature sensor (507). Each dielectric layer (50-58) comprises thermoplastic material, and the temperature sensor (507) comprises a sprayed metal track (5010, 5012) deposited on a substrate (50, 5019) comprising thermoplastic material. The substrate may be one of the dielectric layers (50) or a separate carrier (5019) which is smaller than the dielectric layers (50-58).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: GKN Aerospace Services Limited
    Inventors: Stuart Martin Lewis, Peter English, Nicholas John Winter
  • Patent number: 8807446
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heating device with cathode oxygen depletion (COD) function for a fuel cell vehicle, in which an existing COD and a heating device for improving cold startability of the fuel cell vehicle are integrated. For this purpose, the present invention provides a heating device with COD function for a fuel cell vehicle, the heating device including: a housing having an inlet and an outlet formed on both ends thereof; a start-up heater and a shut-down heater provided in parallel on one side of the housing in a direction perpendicular to a coolant flow direction; and a plurality of heaters for heating coolant provided in parallel on the other side of the housing in a direction perpendicular to the coolant flow direction, wherein cross sections in the coolant flow direction of each of the respective heaters change periodically along the longitudinal direction of the heater so as to cause a flow disturbance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Su Dong Han
  • Publication number: 20140224782
    Abstract: A structural substrate for an aircraft structure and methods are presented. A multi-layer hybrid composite material comprises an outermost layer, an intermediate layer, and an innermost layer. The outermost layer comprises an electrically conductive metal matrix composite that conducts electricity to provide electric heating. The intermediate layer comprises an electrical insulator coupled to the outermost layer. The innermost layer comprises a composite coupled to the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer electrically insulates the outermost layer from the innermost layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: The Boeing Company
  • Patent number: 8803036
    Abstract: An electric heating device for a motor vehicle includes at least one PTC heating element with contact metal sheets extending substantially parallel to one another and accommodating between them at least one PTC element, and a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has formed therein at least one opening through which a contact tongue projects. The contact tongue serves to establish an electric connection between the PTC heating element and the printed circuit board. For providing an electric heating device having a compact structural design, a punched-out connection piece connected to a conductor path of the printed circuit board in an electrically conductive manner. The connection piece defines a fixing portion which rests on the printed circuit board, and also defines and at least one spring tongue projecting into the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Eberspacher Catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Niederer, Franz Bohlender, Kurt Walz
  • Patent number: 8803037
    Abstract: A steering wheel is provided and may include an armature having a rim and a coating at least partially surrounding the rim. A pair of electrodes may be respectively disposed within a pair of grooves formed in the coating. A polymer paint may be disposed on the coating and may include a plurality of carbon filaments that receive voltage from at least one of the pair of electrodes to selectively generate heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald James Paxton, Richard Lawrence Matsu, David Robert Palm, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140217079
    Abstract: A system for removing frozen precipitation that has accumulated on an upper exterior surface of a road vehicle. In an embodiment, the system includes a hydrophobic and/or low friction sheet attached to an upper exterior surface of the road vehicle. The system may further include a heating array attached to the surface and a power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: James R. NELSON, Todd J. HARTMAN
  • Publication number: 20140220874
    Abstract: A radiant heat raised access floor panel is provided. The panel includes a panel core. The core has four corner portions, four lateral edge portions, an upper load bearing surface, a lower plenum surface, a heating element, and an electrical connector in the lower surface adapted to connect to a pedestal head of a raised floor pedestal support system. A power and control circuit is in electrical communication with said connector and is adapted to variably and radiantly heat a predetermined lower occupied zone of an underfloor air distribution system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventor: Gary Meyer
  • Patent number: 8796588
    Abstract: A system for generating radiant heat in a transit vehicle includes at least one floor panel having at least one heating element disposed therein, and a power switch operably disposed intermediate a power supply source and the heating element for selectively providing and discontinuing a supply of a predetermined power generated by such power supply source to and from such at least one heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: RTR Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig M. Berger
  • Patent number: 8791394
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a heating substrate equipped with a conductive thin film and electrodes. The heating substrate includes a transparent substrate, a plurality of electrodes formed on a first face of the substrate, and a conductive thin film formed on the first face of the substrate and including a plurality of regions electrically connected each other in parallel by the plurality of electrodes. Furthermore, a method of manufacturing a heating substrate equipped with a conductive thin film and electrodes according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes forming the conductive thin film on a substrate, forming main electrodes so as to extend on the substrate while being adjacent to edges of the conductive thin film, and forming branched electrodes that are extended from the conductive thin film across one side of the conductive thin film while coming in contact with the conductive thin film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials
    Inventors: Chang-Soo Han, Jin-Won Song, Joon-Dong Kim, Yu-Hwan Yoon
  • Patent number: 8761586
    Abstract: An electrically heatable honeycomb body has cavities through which a fluid can flow and contains at least one power distribution structure. The power distribution structure can be connected to a power source via a power feed line. At least one of the power feed line and the power distribution structure contains at least one closed-loop control element made of a material with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) which can be placed at least in thermal contact with a fluid flowing through the honeycomb body. The electrically heatable honeycomb body permits, through the formation of a self-regulating closed-loop control element made for example from the PTC material, the implementation of a simple measure for performing closed-loop control on the heating power of the electrically heatable honeycomb body since the rest of the open-loop control or closed-loop control electronics can be significantly simplified or can even be dispensed with.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventor: Rolf Brück
  • Patent number: 8760116
    Abstract: A charger includes a charging cable and a charging connector. A heater is configured to heat the charging connector using electric power supplied through the charging cable. A state determining device is configured to detect a charge state of a vehicle-mounted battery and to determine whether a heating condition to heat the charging connector is met. A heating controller is configured to control heating performed by the heater based on a determination made by the state determining device. The heater is able to be switched into a post-charge heating state in which the heater heats the charging connector after completion of charging of the vehicle-mounted battery. The heating controller switches the heater into the post-charge heating state and controls heating performed by the heater when the state determining device detects that charging of the vehicle-mounted battery is completed and determines that a heating condition is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryo Fujii
  • Publication number: 20140151353
    Abstract: An ice protection system for de-icing an aircraft and/or for keeping the aircraft free of ice includes a composite structure for an aircraft component and a structural element of an aircraft with an ice protection system that is integrated in the composite structure. The ice protection system includes a flat surface-like electric heating element that is embedded in the composite structure below an outer layer of an outer surface of the aircraft component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Steinwandel, Martin Englhart, Dietrich P. Jonke, Helmut Piringer
  • Publication number: 20140151352
    Abstract: A low profile pass-through electrical connector is designed for aerospace applications. The connector allows voltage and current to pass-thru a conductive wing surface, while maintaining a low profile height for aerodynamic performance considerations. Examples of applications of the electrical connector include power for thin film heaters and communication antennae applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Brett Burton, Andrew Cox, Darren Wolfe
  • Publication number: 20140137695
    Abstract: An electrically powered heating system for a vehicle includes one of a footrest or accelerator pedal in a footwell of a vehicle having a structural substrate and an upper surface constructed for engagement with a driver's foot. A heating element that is electrically powered is embedded in the footrest and/or accelerator pedal between the upper surface and the substrate for heating the foot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventor: Steven L. Permut
  • Publication number: 20140138368
    Abstract: The invention describes a tank comprising a solution, dispersion or emulsion for selective catalytic reduction in combustion engines. The tank comprises an electrical resistive heating element immersed in the tank. The electrical resistive heating element comprises at least one heating cord. The heating cord comprises metal filaments. The metal filaments • comprise a copper layer or a layer in a copper alloy, and comprise a surrounding layer in stainless steel, • or comprise a steel layer, surrounded by a layer in copper or in a copper alloy, surrounded by a nickel, zinc or tin layer or a layer of alloys comprising such metals; • or comprise a layer of low carbon or high carbon steel, and comprise a surrounding nickel, zinc or tin layer or layer of alloys comprising such metals, and the heating cord comprises a polymer coating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventors: Steve Verstraeten, Filip Lanckmans, Inge Schildermans, Veerle Van Wassenhove, Lieven Tack
  • Publication number: 20140124494
    Abstract: A heater used in car interior compartment includes a framework and a heating module. The framework includes a first base and a second base arranged in interval with the first base. The heating module is provided between the first base and the second base. The heating module includes a PTC heating component, a thermal conduction glue, a pair of electrode plate, a insulation thermal conduction glue, and a pair of thermal diffusion body. The electrode plate is stuck to both sides of the PTC heating component by the thermal conduction glue. Each thermal diffusion body connects each electrode plate in an insulation way by the insulation thermal conduction glue, and the heat generating and the anti electricity leakage effect of the heater can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventors: Chih-Chang WEI, Etsuro HABATA
  • Patent number: 8714869
    Abstract: A pneumatic compactor includes a frame and a compacting member rotatably coupled to the frame and configured to rotate in contact with a substrate of paving material. The compacting member is a tire. The compactor further includes a heating element located within the compacting member, a sensor thermally coupled to the heating element, and an electronic control module. The electronic control module is in communication with the heating element and the sensor and is configured to energize the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Ries, Matthew S. Frantz, Jon M. Scharf, Paul D. Weiss
  • Publication number: 20140116077
    Abstract: An integrated truck and trailer power system comprises auxiliary power generation and storage devices mounted on a trailer, such as an array of solar panels mounted on the roof of the trailer and a storage battery mounted on the trailer, and switching devices for controlling flow of power there between and to an electrically powered HVAC system of the truck, whereby the truck can be maintained at a comfortable temperature by supply of power stored by the auxiliary power storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Arpin Renewable Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Philip R. Pierce, Peter Arpin, Norman Cook, Jay Johnson, Jeffrey C. Flath, Gary T. Wenger
  • Patent number: 8707624
    Abstract: A heated sliding window assembly for a vehicle that includes at least one fixed window. A rail is attached to the at least one fixed window. The fixed window may include an electrical contact. A sliding window is moveable along the rail and is moveable between open and closed positions. The sliding window includes a heater grid and an electrical contact. A drive mechanism is attached to the sliding window for moving the sliding window between the open and closed positions. An electrical circuit is included for carrying current to the heater grid. A switch is disposed within the electrical circuit that cuts off current to the heater grid when the sliding window is moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Dura Operating LLC
    Inventors: Ron G. Gipson, Charles Flynn, Brian D. Howe, Ken Keck
  • Publication number: 20140110387
    Abstract: A heater system for an electric vehicle that is void of engine coolant. The heater system can include an air duct having an opening into a passenger compartment of the vehicle and a heater unit attached to the air duct. The heater unit can have a self-contained quantity of oil within an oil reservoir and an oil channel in fluid communication with the oil reservoir. The oil channel can be located between a front wall and a back wall of the heater unit and the unit can also have an electric heating element at least partially within the oil reservoir. The electric heater unit can be operable to heat oil in the oil reservoir and thereby result in the oil flowing through the oil channel and heating the front wall and the back wall of the unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8704140
    Abstract: A heating element includes a support made of flexible material and a flexible grid structure with an electrically conductive paste disposed on the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Andreas Kapp, Helmut Zischka, Juergen Guenther, Benno Schmied, Michael Fuchs
  • Patent number: 8704139
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heating device comprising at least one tube housing in which at least one PTC heating element is arranged, and heat exchangers which are secured on the tube housing. According to the invention, it is provided that the heat exchangers are secured on the tube housing by stamping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Edgar Luppold, Alexander Dauth, Juergen Kochems, Klaus Lehmann, Joerg Weigold, Hans-Peter Etzkorn
  • Patent number: 8702164
    Abstract: A heated seat comprising: a cushion with one or more trench areas; a heater comprising: a carrier with a periphery, the carrier further including: a first electrically functional layer that is made of a conductive material that substantially circumscribes at least a portion of the carrier; and a second electrically functional layer that is made of a resistive material; one or more electrical conductors attached to the first electrically functional layer; a trim layer that covers the cushion when the heater is placed over the cushion; and wherein the periphery includes a first side edge and a second side edge, and each side edge includes a cutout, and the cutouts are located adjacent to each other forming a neck portion; wherein the heater is attached to the cushion by placing an attachment device over the neck portion of the heater and securing one or both ends of the attachment device to the cushion so that the neck portion is pulled into the trench; wherein the neck portion is free of the second electricall
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: W.E.T. Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Marinko Lazanja, Matthew Zuzga, Sergiu Csonti, Syed Iqbal, Igor Spasojevic, Tim Normand
  • Patent number: 8698043
    Abstract: A grip member with an electric heater, in which the surface of a core body when a heater is installed is flat. A metal conductive plate, such as a SUS plate with a thickness of about 30 ?m formed in a belt-like shape, is spirally embedded along a flat groove section provided in a core body, the surface of the core body is made flat, and the metal conductive plate is fixed at both ends to the core body. An electric current is passed through the metal conductive plate to cause it to generate heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Cable Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Fukuda, Michiyasu Watanabe, Kouzo Sasaki, Satoru Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20140091073
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heating element comprising a substrate (1) equipped with a thin-film multilayer, the thin-film multilayer comprising a film (3) suited to being heated, this film having a sheet resistance of between 20 and 200 ?/square, the heating element also comprising two conductive collectors suited to being fed with electrical voltage, the film suited to being heated being a transparent electrically conductive oxide film and the film (3) suited to being heated not being machined and being electrically connected to the two conductive collectors, the film (3) suited to being heated having a thickness of between 50 nm and 300 nm. The invention allows a heating element, with a film suited to being heated that is simple to manufacture, to be easily installed in an electric vehicle or easily connected to the national grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Stephane Laurent, Emilie Charlet, Bernard Nghiem, Emmanuelle Peter
  • Patent number: 8680435
    Abstract: An electrical heating device includes a flat heating block, which is held in a housing forming oppositely situated frame openings and which comprises parallel layers of heat dissipating and heat generating elements. The heat generating elements on the face side have fitting elements projecting beyond the heating block, and fitting element receptacles assigned to these fitting elements are formed on the housing. The fitting elements and the assigned fitting element receptacles of different heat generating elements are formed such that the heat generating elements cannot be inserted at just any random place in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Franz Bohlender, Michael Niederer, Michael Zeyen, Rainer Wuenstel, Detlef Stephan
  • Publication number: 20140076875
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an auxiliary battery and one or more accessory loads. An accessory load command is modulated such that the auxiliary battery outputs a discharge current to an accessory load. The discharge current has, in addition to a current component for driving the accessory load, an alternating current (AC) component to cause a temperature of the auxiliary battery to increase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Allan Roy Gale, Bruce Carvell Blakemore, Paul Theodore Momcilovich
  • Patent number: 8674265
    Abstract: A heating device is formed from an electrically conducting, flexible resistance material of carbon fibers arranged between at least two electrodes provided for electrical contacting. The carbon fibers are stretch-broken carbon fiber yarns with a titer of 30 tex to 800 tex and a resistivity of 100 to 600 ?/m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: SGL Carbon SE
    Inventor: Reiner Bode
  • Publication number: 20140070054
    Abstract: Anti-icing methods and aerodynamic structures having laminated resistive heaters for de-icing are described. Several of the inventive aspects utilize laminated resistive heaters comprising a carbon nanotube layer and/or capacitors to store and supply electricity. The invention also includes methods of making aerodynamic structures having de-icing or anti-icing functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Brett R. Burton, Ioan I. Feier, Timothy J. Lastrapes
  • Patent number: 8667955
    Abstract: A handheld work apparatus has a drive motor which drives a work tool and a generator. The work apparatus has a first electrical load and a connectable second electrical load. The generator provides the electrical power for the simultaneous operation of the two loads. The work apparatus has a control unit for controlling the power supplied to the first electrical load. In order to supply approximately the same power independent of voltage fluctuations, a voltage monitoring circuit is provided which, in a first operating state, sets a first signal sequence for operating the first load and, in a second operating state, sets a different second signal sequence for operating the first load. The mean power of the first signal sequence and that of the other second signal sequence are approximately equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Heinrich Leufen, Jörg Präger, David Fallscheer
  • Patent number: 8669493
    Abstract: In an electrically-heated glazing unit including a plurality of collector conductors configured to supply a plurality of heating conductors with an electric current used to heat up the heating conductors and the glazing unit, at least one partial region of the surface of the glazing unit includes an arrangement of parallel heating conductors in which the current flows in opposing directions. The arrangement of the heating conductors in the partial region of the surface is tuned to minimize by mutual compensation or eliminate the magnetic field acting locally within this partial region and perpendicularly to the plane of the glazing unit when the current flows. The operation of an apparatus sensitive to magnetic fields, for example a compass, in the immediate vicinity of the glazing unit thus becomes more reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sanit-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Marc Maurer, Stefan Ziegler, Martin Melcher
  • Patent number: 8668876
    Abstract: A configuration includes two exhaust gas treatment devices disposed in succession in an exhaust gas line. A first exhaust gas treatment device has a first subregion connected through at least one support body to a second subregion of a second exhaust gas treatment device. The support body has opposite ends connected by connections points to respective subregions. At least the second subregion is formed by metallic components that contact one another to form contact surfaces and at most 20% of the area of the contact surfaces have brazed or solder connections and/or diffusion connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brück, Kait Althöfer
  • Patent number: 8669492
    Abstract: A passenger seat device includes a seat heater embedded in a seat and a detector electrode embedded underneath the seat heater. Electric power is supplied to the seat heater from an on-board battery through seat heater switches. Alternating voltage or current is supplied to the detector electrode. The detector electrode potential relative to the ground is lowered when the seat is occupied by a passenger. The changes in the potential of the detector electrode is detected by an occupant detector including a microcomputer. The detection is performed when the seat heater is brought to a floating state to suppress an amount of capacitance formed between the seat heater and the detector electrode. Thus, a sensitivity of the occupant detector is improved. The detector electrode may be eliminated, and the occupant conditions may be detected based on a potential of the seat heater to which alternating current or voltage is supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ito, Tsutomu Kamizono, Shoichi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8662452
    Abstract: A structural article including an outer surface that serves as an aerodynamic surface when the structural article is subjected for an air stream. A resin matrix laminate includes an upper ply and a bottom ply. A heating element is arranged in contact with the bottom ply and coupled to a power supply unit in purpose to deice/anti-ice the outer surface. Each ply includes a thermally conductive filament structure having a filament orientation such that the prolongation of the filaments has an extension essentially perpendicular to the extension of the laminate. The thermally conductive filament structure of the upper ply is embedded in the upper ply in such way that at least a portion of the thermally conductive filament structure is exposed in the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventors: Per Hallander, Mikael Petersson, Björn Weidmann, Tommy Grankäll, Göte Strindberg, Pontus Nordin
  • Patent number: 8653419
    Abstract: A window defroster assembly having a transparent panel and a defroster. The defroster includes a conductive layer applied over the panel and an electrically conductive heater grid formed integrally with the transparent panel. The heater grid includes a series of grid lines and at least a portion of the conductive layer is located between adjacent ones of the grid lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Exatec LLC
    Inventor: Keith D. Weiss