Patents Represented by Attorney Nicolas E. Seckel
  • Patent number: 8105727
    Abstract: The invention concerns a bipolar plate for fuel cell, of the type comprising a cathode bipolar half-plate and an anode bipolar half-plate attached to each other, each bipolar half-plate (1) consisting of a plate including in its central part an active region (2) and at its peripheral part a plurality of cut-outs (4) designed to form at least two oxidant boxes, at least two fuel boxes and at least two coolant boxes, the bipolar plate including at least one connecting channel between each peripheral cut-out and the active region. The invention is characterized in that each connecting channel of a peripheral cut-out with the active region consists of at least one rib (8) in a bipolar half-plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignees: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA, Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Damien Lemasson, Guillaume Joncquet, Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier
  • Patent number: 8100168
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for reheating the water of the windscreen washers of a motor vehicle comprising, in the engine compartment thereof, a degassing box (1) forming part of the engine cooling system, and at least one tank (3) for pressurised washing water, said tank being associated with a circulation pump which pumps water therefrom and supplies said water to nozzles for spraying the same over the windscreens. The inventive device is characterised in that the tank (3) at least partially surrounds the degassing box (1), leaving a separation space of a determined thickness thereinbetween, and a double-walled hollow body (4) is integrated into said space, defining a closed thermal insulating volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Gerard Jeuffe
  • Patent number: 8060277
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling the suspension of the body shell of a motor vehicle. According to the invention, the device comprises: a sensor for sensing wheel travel in relation to the body shell for each wheel, a first means (20, 21) for calculating a variable modal shock absorption gain bmod as a function of at least the travel measurements in order to calculate a first set modal shock absorption stress Fmod using formula: Fmod=?bmod·Vmod and a second means (22) for calculating the set force of the shock absorber as a function of the first stress Fmod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Francois Poilbout
  • Patent number: 8055415
    Abstract: The invention essentially relates to a method for blocking wheels of a vehicle when stopped in which a transmission device (1) is placed between an output (2) of a heat engine (3) and a wheel (5) axle shaft (4). This device (1) comprises an input shaft (13) connected to the output (2) of the engine (3), an output shaft (31) connected to the wheel axle shaft (4), and at least one electrical machine (6, 7). The device also comprises a mechanical assembly (12) interconnecting the input shaft (13), the output shaft (31) and the shaft (8, 9) of the machine. This assembly (12) is connected to a bridge (15) that, in turn, is connected to the wheel (5) axle shaft (4). The invention provides that, in order to block the wheels when the vehicle is stopped and to limit an observable torque on the elements of the assembly (12), the wheel axle shaft is blocked by the mechanical assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventors: Serge Belmont, Olivier Boury, Sebastien Besnard
  • Patent number: 8047173
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a stop and automatic restart device for a thermal engine of a vehicle, comprising electric energy storage means and a reversible alternator connected to the thermal engine. The method comprises: comparing (16, 18) the temperature of the alternator (10) with a first predetermined temperature detecting (16, 18) the occurrence of at least one of the two following conditions concerning the electric energy storage means: a temperature (12) lower than a second predetermined temperature and a charge level (14) lower than a predetermined threshold; and if the alternator temperature is higher than the first predetermined temperature and if at least one of said two conditions occurs, inhibiting (26) the automatic restart of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Philippe Jourdes
  • Patent number: 8020539
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for distributing the incoming gases in an internal combustion air supply system. This system comprises a fresh air intake pipe (1) and an exhaust gas recirculation intake pipe (2) and the internal combustion engine comprises, for each cylinder, a cylinder head that forms a lid over it, at least one inlet gas intake valve (3, 4) and at least one exhaust valve (5) which are mounted in the cylinder head and, in the case of a multi-cylinder engine, a distributor (7) connecting at least the fresh air intake pipe (1) to the cylinders. In this device, the fresh air intake pipe (1) and the exhaust gas recirculation intake pipe (2) are connected to each of the cylinders independently of one another, each of them (1, 2) via an intake valve (3, 4) dedicated to it (1, 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Bertrand Maunoury
  • Patent number: 8005604
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting the operation parameters of an injection internal combustion engine (10), that comprises the following steps: setting a stability setpoint Ss, calculating an engine stability index Is, calculating the stability deviation Es equal to the difference between the stability setpoint Ss and the stability index Is, processing the stability deviation Es using a regulator (18) that provides an setpoint to be applied to one of the engine operation parameters, said parameter being selected by a calculator (20) or supervisor that controls the adjustment so that the corrective action applied optimizes the effluent level and/or the thermal energy available at the exhaust while respecting the stability setpoint Ss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Frederic Gourves
  • Patent number: 8005591
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling the suspension of the body shell of a motor vehicle. According to the invention, the device comprises: a means for measuring the travel speed (VDEB) of a front wheel in relation to the body shell, a means (51, 52) for detecting an impact when the travel speed exceeds a determined threshold, a means for determining a corrected lateral acceleration of the vehicle, a means for inhibiting the impact detected when the corrected lateral acceleration is greater than or equal to a determined lateral acceleration inhibition threshold in terms of absolute value, and a means (53, 54) for calculating a set value (ERP) for the actuator of the shock absorber of the rear wheel located on the same side as the above-mentioned front wheel when an impact is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Peugeot Citrogen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Francois Poilbout
  • Patent number: 7964321
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bipolar plate for a fuel cell, of the type that comprises anode and cathode bipolar half plates (1, 1?) which are placed next to one another. The central part of each bipolar half plate comprises an active zone (2), while the periphery thereof comprises a plurality of cut-outs (4, 4?, 5, 5?, 6) which are intended to form at least two oxidant tanks, two fuel tanks and two coolant tanks. Moreover, at least one bipolar half plate comprises at least one connecting rib (8, 8?, 10, 12) between a peripheral cut-out and the active zone. Projecting out from the outer face, each coolant tank cut-out is surrounded by a sealing rib (7, 7?) and the periphery of each bipolar half plate comprises a rib (15, 15?) for sealing the active zone, which connects the coolant tank sealing ribs and which surrounds the oxidant and fuel tanks. Furthermore, each channel formed by a rib segment (15, 15?) between two coolant tanks is blocked by a blocking means (17, 17?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Commissariat A l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Francis Roy, Damien Lemasson, Jean-Philippe Poirot-Crouvezier, Patrick Le Gallo
  • Patent number: 7949445
    Abstract: A device for controlling the suspension of the body shell of a motor vehicle performs calculation of a relative modal body shell speed in relation to the mid-plane of the wheels, and calculation of the set modal stress of the damper as a function of the relative modal body shell speed in relation to the mid-plane of the wheels. The control value includes a determined shock absorption principle from among a plurality of different shock absorption principles that impose the force of the damper as a function of its travel speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Francois Poilbout
  • Patent number: 7946110
    Abstract: In a system for assisting the regeneration of depollution apparatus associated with an oxidation catalyst implementing an OSC function, constituting a supply of oxygen and integrated in an exhaust line of a motor vehicle diesel engine, in which the engine is associated with a common rail for feeding its cylinders with fuel, the running conditions of the vehicle are analyzed and compared with predetermined threshold values, to control the engine in a first regeneration mode of operation with a lean mixture when running conditions are above the threshold values, or in a second regeneration operating mode implementing sequences in which engine operation alternates between stages of rich mixture operation and of lean mixture operation when conditions are below the threshold values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Christophe Colignon
  • Patent number: 7908070
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a coupling device between an input shaft driven by a motor and an output shaft that can transmit a maximum torque according to the position of an actuator of the coupling device 5 complying with a law of behavior of the coupling means according to which: a set value (Cemb,cons) of maximum torque to be transmitted is defined; the actual position (Xemb,mes) of the actuator of the coupling device is measured; a set value (Xemb,cons) is determined for actuating the coupling device and is sent to the actuator of the coupling device, while using a law of behavior of the coupling means obtained by interpolation between a first law of reference of behavior of the coupling means and at least one second law of reference of behavior of the coupling means, and; an auto-adaptation of the law of behavior of the coupling means is carried out for taking into consideration its evolution resulting from the use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventors: Yvan Le Neindre, Gaetan Rocq
  • Patent number: 7900763
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for coupling a rotor of a rotating electrical machine with the gearbox primary shaft of a motor vehicle heat engine. The device is characterized in that the hub (7) of the rotor (6) is coupled with the primary shaft (8) by a mating part (25) comprising an externally toothed crown (26) meshing in the hub (7) and a central sleeve (27) coupled with the primary shaft (8) through a splined connection (28) and in that ends (29) and (30) of the toothed crown (26) and of the central sleeve (27) of the part (25) are centered respectively in the hub (7) and on the primary shaft (8) in sliding arrangement. The invention is applicable in the automotive industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventors: Alain Paumier, Thomas Boutou
  • Patent number: 7900472
    Abstract: A heat exchange and heat transfer device comprises an evaporating/absorbing arrangement connected to a binary mixture flow circuit containing a first refrigerant fluid and a second absorbing fluid. The refrigerant fluid is evaporated in the evaporator part of the arrangement and subsequently absorbed in the absorber part by an absorbing fluid-enriched mixture. The evaporating/absorbing arrangement comprises at least two oppositely disposed reference surfaces defining evaporation and absorption components, respectively, an evaporator mass for supplying the liquid refrigerant fluid to the reference surface of the evaporation component and an absorber mass for supplying the absorbing fluid-enriched mixture to the reference surface of the absorption component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventors: Emmanuel Boudard, Vitale Bruzzo
  • Patent number: 7881854
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of control of an internal combustion engine comprising at least one electrically controlled inlet valve. To reduce hydrocarbon emissions by the cold engine, the opening of the valve is controlled in two successive phases (32, 34), the first phase (32) corresponding principally with the admission of fuel and the second phase (34) mainly corresponding with the air inlet. The opening of the valve is substantially lower during the first phase than during the second phase in order to pulverize the fuel into fine droplets during the first phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventors: Fabien Lanteires, Raphael Penet
  • Patent number: 7881835
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a system for controlling start-up of a motor vehicle by dialogue of the engine controlling computer with the piloted mechanical gearbox, during a restart of the vehicle in stop and start mode. A “start-up authorization” is transmitted to the gearbox at a time t when the following three conditions are fulfilled: a) verifying the position of the accelerator pedal relative to a predetermined “threshold” position; b) the engine is in sequential injection phase; c) verifying a so-called “autonomous condition”, calculated on the basis of the engine speed and of an engine speed gradient compared to a predetermined threshold value. The invention is applicable to motor vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Jean-Christophe Denis
  • Patent number: 7869129
    Abstract: The invention relates to a retractable display device for a motor vehicle comprising a light source (8) for generating a displayable information and a retractable blade (1) for reflecting information towards the vehicle user. Said blade (1) is mounted on a movable support (2) displaceable between a rest position and at least one display position in such a way that said blade (1) is retracted when the movable support (2) is in the rest position and the blade is unfolded when said movable support (2) is in the display position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Etienne Lebreton
  • Patent number: 7823798
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of heating a motor vehicle cabin by means of a circuit (20) for circulating a cooling fluid for cooling an engine (10) and including a pump (23), an air heater unit (22), and a heat exchanger (21) disposed in an exhaust system (15) that is also provided with a depollution assembly (16). The exhaust gas is directed towards the heat exchanger (21) or towards a bypass duct (18) downstream from the depollution assembly (16) as a function of engine operating conditions, of the outside temperature, of the heating temperature requested in the vehicle cabin, and of the temperature of the engine cooling fluid. The invention applies more particularly to direct injection diesel engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Armel Le Lievre
  • Patent number: 7823443
    Abstract: The invention concerns a system for determining inflating pressure of tires mounted on a motor vehicle front and rear wheels. Said system comprises means (12, 14) for acquiring inflating pressures of the front and rear wheels, means (16, 18) for acquiring vertical accelerations of the front and rear wheels, and means (32) for emerging the acquired pressures and the acquired accelerations to estimate the inflating pressures of the front and rear tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Zahir Djama
  • Patent number: 7823670
    Abstract: The invention concerns a hybrid drive train comprising a heat engine (2), at least one first electrical machine (31) and at least a second electrical machine (32) each including a stator and a rotor, a battery (BAT) connected to the first and second electrical machines (31, 32), and a controlling member (5) for controlling the charge or discharge of the battery (BAT), the heat engine (2) and the first and second electrical machines (31, 32). The invention is characterized in that the first electrical machine (31) is arranged between the transmission member (4) and one (7D) of the driven wheels (7G, 7D), and in that the second electrical machine (32) is arranged inside the heat engine (2), the rotor of the second electrical machine (32) being fixed on a crank web and its stator (34) being fixed in the housing (36) of the heat engine (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Christian Noiret