Patents Examined by James J Triggs
  • Patent number: 11945512
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a floor panel formed with a floor tunnel; a transmission; a transmission support member; an inverter attached to a case of the transmission; a battery unit disposed behind the transmission and on an outer side in a vehicle width direction of the floor tunnel; and a harness disposed such that an intermediate portion between a first end portion connected to the inverter and a second end portion connected to a front end portion of the battery unit 4 extends across the floor tunnel from inside to outside thereof. The battery unit has a substantially rectangular shape in a bottom view, and a corner on the floor tunnel side of a front end portion of the battery unit is cut out to form a free space between the front end portion of the battery unit and a portion of the floor tunnel behind the transmission support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Katayama, Muneyuki Ohga, Ryuhei Sumita, Shuntaro Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11938803
    Abstract: A battery container, a battery pack, and a vehicle are provided. The battery container includes a battery compartment and a first beam. The battery compartment is configured to accommodate a plurality of batteries. The batteries are arranged along a first direction. The first beam extends along the first direction and forms a first side wall of the battery compartment. A first adhesive receiving groove is recessed from an inner wall of the first beam. The first adhesive receiving groove extends along the first direction. The first adhesive receiving groove is configured to be filled with a connection adhesive to connect the first beam to the batteries. The inner wall of the first beam is a side wall of the first beam facing the batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: CALB Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fangfang Pan, Fanming Kong, Ruisheng Tian, Xincheng Cao
  • Patent number: 11932099
    Abstract: A method for mounting a battery system to a chassis floor of an electrical vehicle is provided, wherein the battery system is adapted for providing electrical power for driving rolling movement of said electrical vehicle, and wherein a plane extends through and parallel to said chassis floor with a first side of said plane facing in a downward direction during use of the electrical vehicle, the method including: fixing a plurality of battery modules to the chassis floor at the first side of said plane, each battery module including electrical terminals; subsequently electrically connecting the electrical terminals of the battery modules to each other to form the battery system; and fixing a cover plate to the chassis floor such that the cover plate covers the battery modules. A vehicle chassis and a vehicle including such a chassis are provided as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Klas Persson, Simone Vizzini
  • Patent number: 11932097
    Abstract: A battery unit for a vehicle is provided. The battery unit includes a lower case having two battery compartments arranged in a direction toward opposite sides of the vehicle, respectively, and a connecting portion bent to be convex upwardly between the two battery compartments. A reinforcing structure is disposed on the connecting portion. Two battery modules are installed in the two battery compartments, respectively and a power wire is electrically connected to at least one of the two battery modules and extends from one of the two battery compartments to the other one of the two battery compartments through the connecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Sang Wan Kim, Kyung Ho Kim, Hyeon Su Jin
  • Patent number: 11932124
    Abstract: An electrically driven vehicle includes at least one wheel driven by a motor, a vehicle body including a floor panel, a battery pack arranged on the lower side of the floor panel and configured to supply power to the motor, at least one wire harness extending in a front-rear direction of the electrically driven vehicle between the floor panel and the battery pack, and a harness cover extending in the front-rear direction of the electrically driven vehicle along the at least one wire harness and interposed between the at least one wire harness and the battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyosuke Kawase, Ryo Kimura, Kazuya Kushibiki
  • Patent number: 11929517
    Abstract: A battery pack assembly includes, among other things, a tray, a lid secured to the tray to provide an enclosure having an interior, at least one battery module disposed within the interior, a cross-member disposed within the interior adjacent to the at least one battery module, and a stanchion secured to the cross-member. The stanchion disposed entirely within the interior. The assembly further includes a fastener that extends through an opening in the lid to engage the stanchion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Derek Langley, Dave Moschet, Micah Smith, Melissa Kathryn Christensen, Brent Zapczynski, Michael Luchtman, Saravanan Paramasivam
  • Patent number: 11929479
    Abstract: Power supply device includes a plurality of secondary battery cells, a pair of end plates that cover both end faces of battery stack in which the plurality of secondary battery cells are stacked, a plurality of fastening members that fasten end plates to each other, a plurality of pressing parts that press upper surfaces of the plurality of secondary battery cells respectively, and buffer interposed between pressing parts and the upper surfaces of secondary battery cells. Buffer includes a plurality of covers made of resin, and a connecting part, having flexibility, for connecting two of the plurality of covers. Buffer is configured such that each of the plurality of covers is disposed on the upper surface of corresponding one of secondary battery cells, and each of pressing part abuts on the upper surface of the corresponding cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Go Yamashiro, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11926207
    Abstract: A trailer mountable power storage and distribution system is provided. The power storage and distribution system includes a battery assembly and an auxiliary component assembly. The battery assembly includes a housing configured to be mounted to a chassis assembly of a trailer unit. The auxiliary component assembly is configured to be mounted to the chassis assembly of the trailer unit. The auxiliary component assembly has a thermal management component and a power distribution module. The thermal management component is configured to remove heat from the battery assembly. The power distribution module is configured to electrically connect the battery assembly to a load disposed on a tractor configured to tow the trailer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Hexagon Purus North America Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan J. McKibben, Jordan Foster
  • Patent number: 11926286
    Abstract: A retractable vehicle step is attachable to a vehicle or truck. The vehicle step facilitates access to a cargo hold, interior, or roof of the vehicle. Advantageously, the vehicle step may provide clearance space relative to a tailgate of the vehicle by displacing a stepping member of the vehicle step in a generally lateral direction. The vehicle step desirably has a covered and protected biasing mechanism for transitioning between retracted and extended positions of the stepping member. Advantageously, the vehicle step may be pulled out from under the vehicle by the foot of a user. Another advantage is that the vehicle step is readily attachable to the vehicle using already existing connection members, thereby generally eliminating or mitigating the need for customized retrofitting and avoiding undesirable installation cost and time. Finally, the vehicle step may be configured into at least two different arrangements for attachment to a vehicle utilizing the same components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Lund Motion Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Horst Leitner, Anthony Smith
  • Patent number: 11919154
    Abstract: A method includes moving a stabilization device comprising a stabilization surface relative to a base of a surgical cart, wherein the moving comprises moving the stabilization device from a retracted position in which the stabilization surface is spaced from the ground surface to a deployed position in which the stabilization surface is in contact with the ground surface, and wherein the moving comprises overcoming a biasing force biasing the stabilization device toward the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: David Robinson, Matthew R. Cavalier, Gregory W. Dachs, Michael Hanuschik, Jason Jiang, Paul W. Mohr, Bruce M. Schena, Mark W. Zimmer
  • Patent number: 11919571
    Abstract: An electric vehicle may include: a cowl; a charging lid disposed outward of the cowl in a vehicle width direction, and a charging cable disposed between the cowl and the charging lid. A drain hole is defined in a bottom wall of the cowl, the bottom wall of the cowl may include a first bottom wall portion and a second bottom wall portion, the first bottom wall portion is located more proximate to a central portion of the cowl than the second bottom wall portion, the second bottom wall portion is located between the first bottom wall portion and the drain hole and is adjacent to the drain hole, and an inclination angle of a surface of the second bottom wall portion is greater than an inclination angle of a surface of the first bottom wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Ryuno
  • Patent number: 11912358
    Abstract: A personal vehicle having quick detachable modules and wireless communication between modules. In one embodiment, a scooter is provided that has a chassis frame and a vehicle body module detachably attached to the frame chassis. The vehicle body module includes one or more batteries. The scooter also includes a rear wheel module having a hub motor detachably attached to the frame chassis, and a controller that directs power from the battery to the hub motor and wirelessly transmits data between the modules to enable vehicle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Inventor: Vidyadhar Gurram
  • Patent number: 11912155
    Abstract: A battery pack locking mechanism, used for unlocking or locking a battery pack on the bracket, and comprising a fixing portion. The fixing portion has a locking space. When the battery pack is placed relative to the bracket, the locking mechanism is used for locking a connecting portion on the battery pack in the locking space. On one side of the locking space, the locking mechanism is provided with an opening facing towards the battery pack and entering the bracket along the horizontal direction, so that the connecting portion enters the opening along the horizontal direction and moves into the locking space. According to the locking mechanism, effectively reducing the complexity of the process and the step of mounting and fixing the battery pack on the bracket. Also provided are a bracket assembly, an electric vehicle, and a battery pack locking method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignees: AULTON NEW ENERGY AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY GROUP, SHANGHAI DIANBA NEW ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jianping Zhang, Chunhua Huang
  • Patent number: 11912141
    Abstract: A battery storage device includes a battery case (42), a case side connection terminal (43), a lid member (8), a lock mechanism (133), and an operation member (44). The lock mechanism (133) is capable of fixing a battery (62A or 62B) stored in the battery case (42) to the battery case (42) below the lid member (8). The operation member (44) is constituted such that at least a part thereof overlaps an inserting/removing port (136) on an upper side in a view in an insertion direction of the battery (62A or 62B) in a state at a lock operation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Okubo, Akira Kuramochi, Shogo Nishida
  • Patent number: 11912123
    Abstract: A traction battery pack venting system includes a plurality of battery arrays within a traction battery pack. The battery arrays each have a plurality of individual battery cells. The system further includes a divider system that provides a plurality of vented gas receiving compartments. Each of the vented gas receiving compartments are separate and distinct from the other vented gas receiving compartments within the plurality of vented gas receiving compartments. Each of the vented gas receiving compartments are associated with one of the battery arrays. Each of the vented gas receiving compartments can be associated with a manifold. The vent gas produced from thermal runaway can be discharged to the vented gas receiving compartments, directed to a manifold, and discharge to the external atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chung-Hsing Kuo, Yongcai Wang, LeeAnn Wang, Che-chun Chang
  • Patent number: 11904675
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle assembly includes a frame that has a passenger side rail and a driver side rail. The assembly further includes a battery support plate and a battery pack. The battery support plate is secured to the passenger side rail and the driver side rail. The battery pack has a plurality of cross-members. To secure the battery pack to the battery support plate, mechanical fasteners each extend through an aperture in the battery support plate to engage one of the cross-members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Scott J. Bell, Shane Edward Foley, Sukhwinder Singh Dhindsa, Jeffrey Ronald Bohmer
  • Patent number: 11904710
    Abstract: The invention relates to a battery-powered vehicle comprising a chassis extending between the rear end and the front end of the vehicle. The chassis comprises an upper frame plate and a lower frame plate, wherein the lower frame plate is located vertically below the upper frame plate. The battery-powered vehicle further comprises a battery stack, which comprises a plurality of traction battery packs stacked on top of each other between the upper and lower frame plates, wherein each traction battery pack is vertically tightened to a neighboring traction battery pack and wherein at least one traction battery pack is tightened to one of said upper and lower frame plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Jan Hendriks, Sondre Landvik, Jörgen Andersson
  • Patent number: 11904676
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle, comprising a rear end, a front end located forwardly of the rear end, a chassis extending between the rear end and the front end, a battery protection structure provided at the rear end of the vehicle, the battery protection structure comprising a frame portion defining an opening for housing a traction battery, the frame portion having a rear side and a front side, and a projecting portion which projects forwardly from the frame portion and which is connected to the chassis at the rear end of the vehicle, wherein the projecting portion is configured to remain in a fixed connection relative to the chassis under normal operating conditions and to move forwardly along the chassis when the rear side of the frame portion is subjected to a forwardly directed impact force which is greater than a threshold force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventor: Jesper Blomstrand
  • Patent number: 11904674
    Abstract: A battery pack is placed on a battery frame. The battery frame has a lateral frame which extends in a lateral direction. A connection bracket for connecting the battery frame and a floor of a vehicle is joined to an end of the lateral frame. With the joining of the end of the lateral frame with the connection bracket, a crank shape is formed in the lateral direction. A reinforcement plate functioning as a brace is placed at a corner portion of the crank shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomotake Kosuge
  • Patent number: 11897322
    Abstract: A power storage device is a power storage device provided on a lower surface of a floor panel of a vehicle, the power storage device including: a housing case; a power storage module housed in the housing case; and a cooler housed in the housing case to cool the power storage module, wherein the housing case includes a bottom plate, a refrigerant passage through which a refrigerant flows is formed in a portion of the housing case, the portion being located above the bottom plate, and the refrigerant passage is connected to the cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yutaroh Gotoh, Yukinari Tanabe, Yugo Mochizuki