Patents Examined by James J Triggs
  • Patent number: 11189877
    Abstract: The battery pack according to the present disclosure is a battery pack mounted under a floor of a vehicle. The battery pack comprises a lower case fixed under the floor and on which a battery stack is placed, an upper case attached to the lower case, and a support member extending upwardly from a rigid body provided inside the lower case to support a back surface of the upper case. The battery pack may further comprise an elastic member disposed on a surface of the upper case and sandwiched between the upper case and a lower surface of the floor. In such a configuration, it is possible to suppress the upper case of the battery pack from vibrating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsunori Kuno
  • Patent number: 11183741
    Abstract: A battery pack assembly includes a battery pack having a plurality of battery cells and an elongated terminal connector. Each battery cell having at least one terminal. The elongated terminal connector having at least one keyed slot corresponding to each of the at least one terminal. Each keyed slot having a first opening and a second opening. A first width of the first opening is greater than a second width of the second opening. The elongated terminal connector is configured to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position each terminal of the at least one terminal is positioned within the second opening to engage each terminal with the elongated terminal connector. In the disengaged position each terminal of the at least one terminal is positioned within the first opening to disengaged each terminal from the elongated terminal connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoffrey D. Gaither
  • Patent number: 11173939
    Abstract: A dolly includes a deck having a support area. A plurality of wheels support the deck. A peripheral lip projects upward relative to the support area of the deck and extends at least partially about a periphery of the deck. The peripheral lip includes a ramped portion. A stack of bakery trays can be tipped and slid onto the dolly over the ramped portion of the peripheral lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
    Inventor: Jon P. Hassell
  • Patent number: 11173970
    Abstract: A tractor-trailer is disclosed, with associated apparatuses. A tractor may include a tractor air duct disposed underneath a cab. The tractor air duct may extend between a front opening at a front of the tractor and a rear opening at a rear of the tractor. A trailer may include a duct system that receives airflow from the rear opening of the tractor air duct and directs the airflow to a location behind a cargo compartment. An air distributor may be disposed behind the cargo compartment. An air distributor may include a fairing with openings, so that airflow from the duct system enters a space between the cargo compartment and the fairing, and exits the openings behind the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: PYRO DYNAMICS, LLC
    Inventor: Gary G. Otterstrom
  • Patent number: 11177765
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for providing portable solar array support systems. Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus that holds four 60-cell rooftop-grade solar panels and folds up into a relatively small portable device that easily fits in a garage or shed. When open, the panels are displayed at near the nominal angle to the sun for the region. Adjustable angle supports are available in alternative embodiments. Embodiments of the foldable solar array system are constructed from steel components, and feature proprietary integrated hinges to minimize the size and complexity of the system. The hinges are specially-cut sections of steel angle iron that force a solid stop point in the open or closed positions. These may be 90° hinges on the panel arms and swing arms, and may be 180° hinges on panel-to-panel hinges. The panel-to-panel hinges also allow for an offset based on the thickness of the solar panels and make the solar panels lay flat when open and stack face to face when closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Inventor: Gregory K. Miller
  • Patent number: 11167742
    Abstract: An electrical passenger car, the electrical passenger car including: at least two electrically driven motors; motor control electronics; sensors; and wheels, where the wheels include a first front wheel and a first back wheel, where the first back wheel has a radius at least 20% greater than a radius of the first front wheel, and where during acceleration of the electrical passenger car, the motor control electronics receive signals from the sensors and provide traction control delivering more power to one of the at least two electrically driven motors accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Or-Ment LLC
    Inventors: Zvi Or-Bach, Brian Cronquist
  • Patent number: 11166783
    Abstract: The invention involves a system and method for controlling the movements of a multi-axis robot to perform a surgery at least on the spinal area of a human in vivo. The system includes controls and software coding to cause the robot to move in desired patterns to complete the surgery, which may include bone, disc and tissue removal, and may also include insertion of hardware for fusing adjacent bony structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Inventor: Peter L. Bono
  • Patent number: 11167919
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes a battery and electric power take-off system that includes a second motor configured to convert electrical power into hydraulic power, an inverter configured to provide electrical power to the second motor from the battery, a heat dissipation device in thermal communication with the inverter, wherein the heat dissipation device includes a plurality of conduits and a thermal fluid pump configured to pump cooling fluid through the plurality of conduits, a thermal sensor configured to detect thermal energy within the inverter, a flow meter configured determine a flow rate of cooling fluid through the plurality of conduits, and a controller configured to receive data from the thermal sensor and the flow meter and provide operating parameters to the heat dissipation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Koga, Emily Davis, Clinton T. Weckwerth, Vincent Hoover, Zachary L. Klein, Jerrod Kappers, Derek A. Wente, Logan Gary, Joshua D. Rocholl, Nader Nasr, Chad K. Smith
  • Patent number: 11165119
    Abstract: A battery unit comprises plural battery modules and a battery case storing the plural battery modules, and is arranged over a range from a first storage area located below a front seat to second and third storage areas located in back of the front seat. The number of front-side fastening portions of the battery modules corresponding to the first storage area is set to be smaller than the number of rear-side fastening portions of the battery modules corresponding to the first storage area. The fastening portion is arranged on an inward side, in a vehicle width direction, of the fastening portion provided at an outward side in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Morihide Yamada, Kazuhisa Hatano, Hidetaka Goto, Koutaro Takada
  • Patent number: 11161538
    Abstract: A transport device comprising a battery pack and a chassis member at least partially encased in the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nathaniel David McLean, Tharsika Nanthapalan
  • Patent number: 11161420
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply apparatus includes first and second power supply devices, an electrical conduction path, an accumulator, an electric device, and a power supply controller. In switching to a state with electric power supplied from the second power supply device to the electric device, the power supply controller determines whether a discharge state of the accumulator is normal, with a target voltage of the second power supply device lower than an inferior voltage, and with a target voltage of the first power supply device between the inferior voltage and a superior voltage. After determining that the discharge state of the accumulator is normal, the power supply controller allows the target voltage of the first power supply device to be lower than the inferior voltage, and allows the target voltage of the second power supply device to be higher than the superior voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumiyuki Moriya, Hirofumi Yabe, Yusuke Komatsu
  • Patent number: 11165118
    Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a battery system includes: a system frame configured to include a pair of first frame beams that extend in a first direction and a pair of second frame beams that extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and that are connected to the first frame beams; a plurality of traverses spaced apart in the first direction and coupled to the pair of first frame beams; and a plurality of battery modules respectively coupled to at least one of the traverses and each including a plurality of battery cells arranged in the second direction, wherein the pair of first frame beams includes a plurality of coolant supply lines, and at least one of the traverses is connected to the coolant supply lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ralph Wuensche, Oliver Stojanovic, Horst Krieger, Nikolaus Hochgatterer, Werner Amreich
  • Patent number: 11148890
    Abstract: An automated carrier system is disclosed for moving objects to be processed. The automated carrier system includes a base structure of a carrier on which an object may be supported, and at least two wheels mounted to at least two motors to provide at least two wheel assemblies, the at least two wheel assemblies being pivotally supported on the base structure for pivoting movement from a first position to a second position to effect a change in direction of movement of the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Berkshire Grey, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Wagner, Kevin Ahearn, John Richard Amend, Jr., Benjamin Cohen, Michael Dawson-Haggerty, William Hartman Fort, Christopher Geyer, Jennifer Eileen King, Thomas Koletschka, Michael Cap Koval, Kyle Maroney, Matthew T. Mason, William Chu-Hyon McMahan, Gene Temple Price, Joseph Romano, Daniel Smith, Siddhartha Srinivasa, Prasanna Velagapudi, Thomas Allen
  • Patent number: 11148738
    Abstract: A vehicle including: a pair of suspension towers, each of which houses, in an upright state, a suspension unit configured to provide suspension to a front wheel; a power unit compartment that is provided between the pair of suspension towers, and that houses at least a drive unit configured to drive the front wheels; at least one of a high voltage component or a low voltage component, configuring a sub unit disposed at a vehicle upper side of the suspension towers; and a driving seat that is disposed in a vehicle cabin at the vehicle upper side of the power unit compartment, and that is provided such that feet of a driver are positioned further toward a vehicle lower side than upper ends of the suspension towers and such that a head of the driver is positioned further toward the vehicle upper side than the sub unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Hara, Ayano Tsuruta
  • Patent number: 11148515
    Abstract: A driving device for an electric truck which can obtain good ride quality by decreasing the unsprung weight while achieving the adequate fuel efficiency performance by improving the power transmission efficiency and which can improve the mountability of a battery. The driving device includes a driving unit that accommodates therein a motor, a gearbox, and a differential device. The driving unit is supported by a first support part with respect to a ladder frame. Drive shafts coupled to the differential device are accommodated in hollow members. The hollow members are elastically supported by a second support part with respect to the ladder frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Maki Ito, Hiroshi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11148532
    Abstract: A luggage compartment of an electric traction vehicle has a floor, an electric/electronic unit for recharging a battery pack, and a support structure provided with a frame that supports such electric/electronic unit in a fixed position; the support structure has an attachment portion which is arranged in front of the frame, is fixed to the floor and is joined to the frame by means of a deformable portion, adapted to bend about an axis which is horizontal and transverse to a travel direction of the vehicle; the floor is provided with a pushing element having a support surface, on which a lower surface of the frame rests at a point which is higher than the bending axis of the deformable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: FCA ITALY S.p.A.
    Inventors: Federico Peirone, Daniele Ghislieri
  • Patent number: 11148698
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transporting objects using a cart that is driven by human action or self-driving vehicle is disclosed. The cart system and method comprises a chassis portion supporting a payload to be moved by the cart. The cart system further comprises of a first side rail and a second side rail. A first front wheel and first rear wheel is attached to the first side rail and a second front wheel and second rear wheel is attached to the second rail. The handle portion pushes the cart which comprises of a handle bar supported by vertical support members. The brake actuator is used to engage and release the brakes on the rear wheel. A horizontal engagement bar is used which comprises of a plurality of engagement pads. A payload-bearing surface bears payload such that the payload can be transported by the cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Clearpath Robotics Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Rendall, Daniel Cantor, David William Bergsma, Scott Waters
  • Patent number: 11148518
    Abstract: An electric work vehicle includes front wheels and rear wheels for traveling, right and left machine body frames extending along a front/rear direction and an electric motor. The electric motor includes at least one of a front output shaft protruding forwards and a rear output shaft protruding rearwards. The electric motor is supported to front portions of the machine body frames to be located forwardly of the front wheels as seen in a side view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Uemura, Hirokazu Ito, Yasuhiro Manji
  • Patent number: 11152665
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery pack, seats, and seat rails. The battery pack has a battery case and a battery unit accommodated in the battery case. The seat rails are frame members disposed over the battery pack and fixed to the vehicular body. The battery case has an upper portion with four openings located under the seat rails and formed through both an upper surface of the battery case and a side surface of the battery case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki Shimada
  • Patent number: 11142057
    Abstract: A drive unit includes a drive source, a case which is connected to the drive source and accommodates an electric motor, a control device which is mounted on an upper surface of the case and controls the electric motor, and an auxiliary machine placed on an upper surface of the drive source. The drive source and the control device are connected by a reinforcing member, and the reinforcing member is arranged so as to surround at least a part of the auxiliary machine in a top view. According to the drive unit, the vibration of the control device can be suppressed, and the auxiliary machine is protected while the number of parts is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Hanaoka, Yuichiro Ueno