Railcar, Bus, Or Trailer Patents (Class 454/83)
  • Patent number: 8955804
    Abstract: An aircraft structure is provided with load-bearing hollow structural elements that form an aircraft fuselage. The cavities in the structural elements are designed as air ducts for an air conditioning system of the aircraft. An aircraft is also provided with such an aircraft structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Nicholas Brownjohn, Georg Mühlthaler, Stefan Osternack
  • Patent number: 8794187
    Abstract: A trailer for transporting living fowl is provided and includes an enclosure defined by a top, a front wall, a rear wall, a floor, and first and second side walls. The side walls are made of fabric so that the living fowl may be loaded and unloaded from the sides of the trailer. A main air supply duct extends a substantial portion of the length of the enclosure and receives conditioned air from an apparatus for generating conditioned air. A plurality of spaced apart vertical side ducts are connected to the main air supply duct and provide support for the top of the enclosure. A plurality of spaced apart floor ducts are connected to the vertical side ducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Smithway, Inc.
    Inventors: Rocky L. Smith, G. D. Smith
  • Patent number: 8764526
    Abstract: An air duct system for vehicles, in particular for passenger rail vehicles, has at least one roof venting duct, which has a component venting duct for warm air and a component venting duct for cold-air. A separating means which is arranged inside the roof venting duct is designed so it can be deformed or is held in a movable fashion in such a way that the cross section of each of the two component venting ducts can be enlarged by making the respective other component venting duct smaller. These changes in cross section are brought about solely by the air pressure and volume flow conditions without external energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Höfler, Rainer Wichmann
  • Publication number: 20140087645
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body, an inner cover disposed in the body and a textile channel conducting conditioned air, extending between the body and the inner cover and being made of a textile fabric. In order to provide such a vehicle having a textile channel that is easy to install, the textile channel is provided on the body and held against the inner cover by a hook and loop fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Werner Hoefler, Dirk Rohwerder
  • Patent number: 8534432
    Abstract: A resistive grid enclosure for a vehicle having a dynamic braking capability, the grid enclosure defining an air inlet, an air outlet, and an airflow path through the enclosure from the air inlet to the air outlet. A resistive grid disposed within the enclosure is cooled by air flowing through the airflow path from the air inlet to the air outlet. The airflow path is configured so that an inlet airflow is heated by absorbing heat from the resistive grid and directed toward the air outlet forming a heated outlet airflow. The airflow path is further configured to direct at least a portion of the heated outlet airflow into the air inlet to reduce blockage of the air inlet by ice or snow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Gregory Alan Marsh, Theodore Clark Brown
  • Patent number: 8136643
    Abstract: In a locomotive having a dynamic braking capability, a method for maintaining an airflow path to a resistive grid disposed within a resistive grid enclosure having an enclosure inlet and an enclosure outlet is provided, wherein the method includes generating an inlet airflow into the enclosure inlet, creating a heated inlet airflow by associating the inlet airflow with the resistive grid such that the inlet airflow absorbs heat generated by the resistive grid, directing the heated inlet airflow toward the enclosure outlet to generate a heated outlet airflow, redirecting at least a portion of the heated outlet airflow to be thermally associated with a structural portion of the enclosure inlet such that the temperature of the structural portion of the enclosure inlet is increased above a predetermined temperature to reduce blockage of the enclosure inlet by snow and recirculating the redirected heated outlet airflow with ambient air being drawn into the resistive grid enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Alan Marsh, Theodore Clark Brown, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar
  • Patent number: 7959220
    Abstract: A people carrier with an air-conditioning duct which is guided in a long stretched-out intermediate space delimited by walls is disclosed, and with at least one barrier between the air-conditioning duct and the walls, the barrier running essentially perpendicularly to the air-conditioning duct, wherein the at least one barrier is produced from a textile fireproofing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Werner Höfler
  • Patent number: 7947318
    Abstract: A method for maintaining produce in a near “just harvested” state during transport in a truck trailer by limiting the formation of Ethylene, scrubbing the atmosphere to remove any that does form, and by exhausting the atmosphere of any residual Ethylene. The system will also limit the amount of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide to preset limits, and exhaust the excess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Inventor: John Martin Tracy
  • Publication number: 20100279595
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing air. The apparatus includes an air distribution vent that distributes air into a compartment, wherein the distribution of air into the compartment causes compartment air from the compartment to be drawn from the compartment. The apparatus also includes a contaminant removal system, wherein compartment air drawn from the compartment is processed to remove contaminants before being distributed back into the compartment by the air distribution vent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Raymond H. Horstman, Richard A. Johnson, Chao-Hsin Lin
  • Patent number: 7721855
    Abstract: In a locomotive having a dynamic braking capability, a method for maintaining an airflow path to a resistive grid disposed within a resistive grid enclosure having an enclosure inlet and an enclosure outlet is provided, wherein the method includes generating an inlet airflow into the enclosure inlet, creating a heated inlet airflow by associating the inlet airflow with the resistive grid such that the inlet airflow absorbs heat generated by the resistive grid, directing the heated inlet airflow toward the enclosure outlet to generate a heated outlet airflow, redirecting at least a portion of the heated outlet airflow to be thermally associated with a structural portion of the enclosure inlet such that the temperature of the structural portion of the enclosure inlet is increased above a predetermined temperature to reduce blockage of the enclosure inlet by snow and recirculating the redirected heated outlet airflow with ambient air being drawn into the resistive grid enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Alan Marsh, Theodore Clark Brown, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar
  • Publication number: 20090308621
    Abstract: A people carrier with an air-conditioning duct which is guided in a long stretched-out intermediate space delimited by walls is disclosed, and with at least one barrier between the air-conditioning duct and the walls, the barrier running essentially perpendicularly to the air-conditioning duct, wherein the at least one barrier is produced from a textile fireproofing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventor: Werner Höfler
  • Publication number: 20090130967
    Abstract: An air duct system for vehicles, in particular for passenger rail vehicles, has at least one roof venting duct, which has a component venting duct for warm air and a component venting duct for cold-air. A separating means which is arranged inside the roof venting duct is designed so it can be deformed or is held in a movable fashion in such a way that the cross section of each of the two component venting ducts can be enlarged by making the respective other component venting duct smaller. These changes in cross section are brought about solely by the air pressure and volume flow conditions without external energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Werner Hofler, Rainer Wichmann
  • Publication number: 20090098816
    Abstract: A method for handling air when distributing air inside an elongated vehicle includes supplying air to a roof air duct (15) inside the vehicle. A device for handling air when distributing air inside an elongated vehicle is also disclosed. It is significant of the method according to the present invention that in connection with the supply of air to the roof air duct (15) the air is actively directed in at least one chosen direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: MCCII HOLDINGS AB
    Inventors: Fredrik MANNERHEIM, Stefan SPEHAR, Eric WEISS
  • Publication number: 20080146136
    Abstract: A vented hatch cover comprising a cover body, an intake filter element, a discharge filter element and a gasket. The cover body has a plurality of walls defining an air intake passage, an air discharge passage, and a plenum extending from the air intake passage to the air discharge passage. The cover body includes a plurality of ribs extending across the air intake passage. The intake filter element is disposed over the air intake passage and includes a plurality of latches engaging the ribs to secure the intake filter element to the cover body. The cover body further includes an inner rim and an outer rim located radially outward of the inner rim. The inner rim and the outer rim define a pocket. The gasket is retained in the pocket of the cover body. The discharge filter element is disposed over the air discharge passage and includes a plurality of upward extending portions or latches located radially between the inner rim and the gasket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Salco Products Inc.
    Inventors: Alex V. Degutis, Michael S. Ryan, Peter Gubricky
  • Patent number: 7094268
    Abstract: Systems and methods for removing hydrocarbons and other pollutants from roadway surfaces are provided. The systems can include a pollution trap attached to a vehicle, where the pollution trap comprises an absorbent pad, filter, or membrane. The pollution trap is affixed to the vehicle, for example, in the wheel well, on a mud flap, on the underside of a vehicle or another suitable place where the pollution trap can be exposed to a roadway pollutant. The methods described herein can include liberating roadway pollutants from a roadway and using a pollution trap to collect the liberated roadway pollutants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: 3K Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Krantz
  • Patent number: 6776451
    Abstract: A unitized heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system ventilates and regulates the air temperature inside a motorhome. Air is drawn from inside the motorhome and is directed to a furnace and an air conditioning unit via a common air return. A filter is positioned within the common return. The HVAC unit is compact and adapted for placement below the living area of motorhome so as to reduce the noise inside the cabin generated by the HVAC system and to reduce the center of gravity of the motorhome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Alfa Leisure, Inc.
    Inventor: Johnnie R. Crean
  • Patent number: 6709328
    Abstract: Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems for busses achieve improved air distribution by the use of ducts to distribute the air throughout the passenger compartment. The ducts have a varying cross sectional area so that the impedance to air flow appears constant at all points along the duct. The quantity of air distributed from each of a plurality of vents is substantially even is effectively equalized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Sunil K. Jain, Aaron D. Lindsey, Kenneth J. Smith
  • Patent number: 6638036
    Abstract: A ventilating device capable of being easily assembled and disassembled, wherein, after setting a blower for exhaust and a blower for air supply on an electric motor (55), the electric motor is installed in an exhaust flow path (122) of a silencer box (100). The inside of the silencer box (100) is divided by partitions into the exhaust flow paths (122, 123) and air supply flow paths (132, 134) and sound absorbing material is installed on the wall surfaces of the air flow paths (122, 123, 132 and 134). Each blower aligns with each of the air flow paths when an air blow device is inserted, and an opening into which the air blow device is inserted is covered by a cover (150). The blowers can be assembled and disassembled from the side and the air blow devices can be inserted from the upper side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kobayashi, Tomoyuki Shibuya, Koji Okada, Takaaki Matsubara, Haruo Hirakawa
  • Patent number: 5509853
    Abstract: A manufacture and method by which particulate in the polluted ambient air is collected and retained, thereby purifying the ambient air. The manufacture is mounted amid a vehicle (17, 38, etc.) at a location always accessible to the ambient air in the atmosphere. Relative motion between vehicle and the polluted ambient air (37, 65) provides confrontation of the polluted air with a confronting receptacle (14) in which loosely gathered together pellets (13) are gathered together. Receptacle (14) comprises wire mesh (15) having interstices (31) smaller than the size of the pellets (13). As relative motion occurs between vehicle (17) and polluted air (37, 65), receptacle (14) confronts the polluted air, its pellets (13) entrapping particulate in the polluted ambient air, thereby purifying the ambient air and thereafter it being directly returned to the ambient air in the atmosphere. Alternative embodiments (43, 55) provide cages (26) into which receptacles (14) with their pellets (13) are put.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Inventor: Del Wells