Patents Examined by James J Triggs
  • Vehicle battery pack support device
    Patent number: 11548363
    Abstract: A vehicle battery pack support device applicable to various classes of vehicles and allowing weight reduction and cost reduction. The vehicle battery pack support device suspends a battery pack at a side rail constituting a ladder frame of a vehicle and includes a frame-side bracket secured by bolts to an outer side face of the side rail at a plurality of bolt fastening parts thereof arrayed in a grid arrangement. An elastic coupling part elastically couples the battery pack and the frame-side bracket. A spacer is interposed between the outer side face of the side rail and the frame-side bracket. The spacer includes a plurality of columnar members corresponding to the plurality of bolt fastening parts and a connecting part that connects the plurality of columnar members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Daimler Truck AG
    Inventor: Naotatsu Kumagai
  • Kit for transforming a hot rod into an electric car
    Patent number: 11548483
    Abstract: A combination for transforming a gasoline powered Chevrolet V8 engine into an electrically powered Chevrolet V8 engine is provided, the combination comprising: a faux transmission housing; a bell housing attached to a front end of the faux transmission housing; a faux engine attached to a front of the bell housing; and an electric motor, wherein the combination is free-standing and comprises a plurality of castings assembled to provide a faux transmission case in which the electric motor is housed, and a faux engine case configured to house a plurality of rechargeable batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventor: Chris Webb
  • Electric vehicle having low-voltage component in rear portion of vehicle body
    Patent number: 11541943
    Abstract: An electric vehicle may include a body; a low-voltage component disposed in a rear portion of the body; and at least one coupling member securing the low-voltage component to a plurality of securing portions of the body. The plurality of securing portions may include at least one first securing portion located forward of the low-voltage component in a vehicle front-rear direction and at least one second securing portion located rearward of the low-voltage component in the vehicle front-rear direction. A center of the at least one first securing portion and a center of the at least one second securing portion are located at different positions from each other in a vehicle vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junya Okamura, Iwao Furukawa
  • Active grille, scalable design
    Patent number: 11541744
    Abstract: An active grille shutter arrangement having an assembled modular frame with a plurality of primary frame pieces formed by extrusion. Each one of the plurality of primary frame pieces has a first end, a second end and at least one key slot extending between the first end and the second end. Each of the plurality of frame pieces also includes a hollow bore extending through the each one of the plurality of primary frame pieces forming an aperture at the first end and an aperture at the second end. When the modular frame is assembled there is an upper frame portion and lower frame portion, both formed from one of the plurality of primary frame pieces. The arrangement also includes a number of alternate frame and vane pieces that allow several different active grille shapes and configurations to be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA EXTERIORS, INC
    Inventors: Braendon Robert Lindberg, Ross J. Parpart, Jeffrey B. Manhire
  • Battery mounting mechanism
    Patent number: 11527798
    Abstract: A battery mounting mechanism that allows for one or more battery assemblies to be mounted in various positions within a vehicle via a securely attached mounting assembly that may allow for quick and easy adjustment of the position of the battery assemblies while further preventing rotation of the battery assemblies. Further provided herein is a mechanism for connecting multiple battery assemblies into a single battery unit while still allowing these battery assemblies to take advantage of the battery mounting mechanism provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Gary M. Shapiro
  • Battery box with reinforcement element
    Patent number: 11518227
    Abstract: A battery box for a motor vehicle for receiving battery cells has a structural frame with at least two structural components joined to one another at the end face. Each structural component has at least one profile segment that is partially hollow and has a substantially L-shaped cross section. A reinforcement element for absorbing collision energy in the event of a collision is arranged within at least one of the profile segments. The reinforcement element is a molded part having a plurality of open cells, which are arranged adjacent to one another and with their longitudinal extent substantially parallel to one another. When the battery box is mounted in the motor vehicle, the open cells are oriented with their longitudinal extent substantially parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignees: Linde + Wiemann SE & Co. KG, BMW AG
    Inventors: Werner Schmidt, Alex Zeiser-Rasumak
  • Motorized convertible knee scooter
    Patent number: 11517493
    Abstract: A convertible, self-propelled, motorized mobility assistance device in a plurality of embodiments is provided, comprising a scooter-like chassis (1400) with support deck (300) portion, a handlebar (700), and at least one removable, interchangeable knee rest (800) or seat attachment (1300); wherein the device is mounted atop and driven by at least three motorized wheels (400, 500) which are connected to a source of power and propulsion (1200), and drive (1100). The device further includes a steering system, braking system, and mechanisms for height-adjustability, comfort, and portability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventors: Priscilla Tang, Steven Fogel
  • Cooling device for vehicle
    Patent number: 11518273
    Abstract: A cooling device for a vehicle, includes a cooling circuit including a first circuit in which a cooling liquid circulates through a power control unit and a second circuit connected in parallel with the first circuit and in which the cooling liquid circulates through a battery without passing through the power control unit; and a flow-rate control unit that controls a proportion of a flow rate of the cooling liquid between the first circuit and the second circuit, and when the battery is being charged with the electric power of the external power supply, the control unit controls so that the flow rate of the cooling liquid flowing through the second circuit is greater than the flow rate of the cooling liquid flowing through the first circuit on a side of the power control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daisuke Tokozakura
  • Power source device and electric vehicle equipped with power source device
    Patent number: 11511648
    Abstract: A coolant passage, which is included in a cooling plate thermally coupled to a plurality of battery cells and includes longitudinal coolant passages connected to an inlet side and an outlet side for a coolant and lateral coolant passages connecting the longitudinal coolant passages in parallel with each other, cools the battery cells by allowing the coolant to flow in both the longitudinal coolant passages and the lateral coolant passages via the cooling plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naotake Yoshida, Takahide Takeda
  • Battery assembly for vehicle for improving crash safety thereof
    Patent number: 11502364
    Abstract: A battery assembly for a vehicle, may include a battery case including a front wall structure, a rear wall structure, and a pair of side walls connected to the front wall structure and the rear wall structure; and a battery cover with which a top portion of the battery case is covered, wherein the front wall includes a front flat wall and a pair of front inclined walls which are opposite on both sides of the front flat wall, and each front inclined wall is formed to be inclined from the front flat wall to a front end portion of a corresponding side wall among the pair of side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hae Kyu Lim, Yu Ri Oh, Tae Hyuck Kim, Gyung Hoon Shin, Yong Hwan Choi, Ji Woong Jung
  • In-wheel electric motor provided with a control system
    Patent number: 11491861
    Abstract: An in-wheel electric motor includes at a vehicle side a connector stub, a stator body connected to the connector stub and on an outer surface equipped with stator windings, and further includes a rotor body coaxially enclosing the stator and rotatable around a rotation axis. The electric motor further includes a power electronics device for powering the stator and a detector for an angular position of the rotor body relative to the stator. The connector stub is provided with a support for coupling to the power electronics device which is mounted on the support inside the hollow stator body. The detector includes an angular position sensor mounted inside the hollow stator body and coupled to the rotor body wherein the detector is mounted on the power electronics device coaxially with the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: E-TRACTION EUROPE B.V.
    Inventor: Timothy Van Seventer
  • Land vehicles incorporating electric motors and methods therefor
    Patent number: 11485215
    Abstract: Land vehicles and methods of operating land vehicles are disclosed. A land vehicle includes a frame structure, a plurality of wheels, and a plurality of electric motors. The frame structure includes a front cage that at least partially defines an operator cabin and a rear compartment positioned rearward of the front cage in a longitudinal direction. The plurality of wheels are supported by the frame structure. The plurality of wheels includes a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels positioned rearward of the pair of front wheels in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Workhorse Group Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Willison, Donald L. Wires, Gary Cain
  • Frame-mounted battery enclosure
    Patent number: 11485214
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle frame having a first frame rail and a second frame rail spaced from each other. The vehicle frame includes a cross-member extending from the first frame rail to the second frame rail. A battery enclosure extends from the first frame rail to the second frame rail. The battery enclosure includes a first side member and a second side member. The first side member is connected to and deformable relative to the first frame rail. The second side member is connected to and deformable relative to the second frame rail. The battery enclosure includes a reinforcement connected to the first side member, the second side member, and the cross-member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mohamed Ridha Baccouche, Fubang Wu, Guosong Li, Saeed David Barbat
  • Hybrid power vehicle range extender power following control method and system
    Patent number: 11479128
    Abstract: Provided are a hybrid power vehicle range extender power following control method and system. The method includes: when a vehicle satisfies range extender power closed-loop control conditions, an actual charge-discharge power of a power battery and a charge-discharge power expectation value of the power battery are taken as control errors to adjust a total range extender electric power requirement, an engine torque requirement is calculated according to the total range extender electric power requirement, and an engine is controlled to perform the engine torque requirement; and when it is detected that a drive motor electric power suddenly changes and/or a load power suddenly changes, engine quick torque control is activated, and an engine quick torque requirement is taken as a feed-forward value of a generator speed setting controller to control a generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU AUTOMOBILE GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qiang Li, Tao Liu, Haiwei Long, Changhong Wei, Dan Wei
  • Fuel cell vehicle
    Patent number: 11479130
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle is disclosed. The fuel cell vehicle includes a front fuel cell mounted in a first space and a rear fuel cell mounted in a second space located at the rear side of the first space on the basis of the direction in which the fuel cell vehicle travels. The rear fuel cell includes a top surface lower than the top surface of the front fuel cell on the basis of the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Seung Jun Yeon, Myung Kwang Jin, Nam Chul Jung
  • Variable body vehicle
    Patent number: 11479143
    Abstract: A variable body vehicle may include a drive module having drive the vehicle wheels provided at a lower portion of the drive module; a body module coupled to an external side of the drive module and forming an internal space of the vehicle; and a battery-mounting portion formed in the drive module or the body module to mount a battery therein, providing electric power to the battery when the battery is mounted, and determining a driving mode of the vehicle by allowing the battery to be selectively mounted in the drive module, wherein a body of the vehicle is variable by a combination between the drive module and the body module according to a purpose of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Dong Eun Cha, Wan Jae Shin, Jin Ho Hwang, Ju Hoon Park, Seo Young Kim, Sang Heon Lee, Byung Woo Kim, Chang Woo Shim
  • Load-handling apparatus and methods
    Patent number: 11472458
    Abstract: A framework includes axially spaced apart stands each including a front extremity and a rear extremity extending upright between an upper end and a lower end, the front extremities, the back extremities, the upper ends, and the lower ends defining the framework's front section, rear section, top, and ground-engaging bottom, respectively, and an axle and a rung intermediate the top and the bottom, the axle between the front section and the rear section and coupled between the stands and the rung coupled between the back extremities. A load-supporting roller carried by the axle intermediate the top and the bottom between the front section and the rear section is above the rung and configured to rotate. The framework defines a load-reception area open to the roller between the stands along the rear section from the rung to the top and along the front section from the top to below the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Inventor: Steven B. Lillo
  • Battery housing
    Patent number: 11476536
    Abstract: A battery housing is arranged at a vehicle-longitudinal front side of a drive apparatus which transmits drive power to a rear axle of a vehicle. The battery housing encloses a battery for supplying electricity to the drive apparatus. The battery housing has an exterior surface including an air guide surface configured to guide airflow produced by the moving vehicle to the drive apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventor: Shogo Takeda
  • Traction battery protection assembly and method
    Patent number: 11472278
    Abstract: An electrified vehicle assembly includes, among other things, a traction battery, and at least one shield extending longitudinally and having a portion that is vertically beneath the traction battery. The shield is removably fastened directly to the traction battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Marshall, Ihab Grace, Rajaram Subramanian, Sean Brady, John Jardine, Micah Smith, Mike Popovski, Charles Moore, Suriyaprakash Ayyangar Janarthanam
  • Stationary transfer platform and cleaning device for supply transport device
    Patent number: 11473719
    Abstract: A stationary platform for supporting a supply transport device is provided. The stationary platform includes a frame having at least two longitudinal sides, a first end and a second opposing end, and a top surface and a bottom surface, and a plurality of legs extending from the bottom surface of the frame to support the supply transport device on the frame. The supply transport device is slidably received on the top surface of the frame. A wheel base assembly having a cleaning device for contacting a bottom surface of the supply transport device, to remove dirt and debris from or to disinfect the supply transport device, is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Veltek Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Churchvara, Arthur Vellutato, Jr., Yefim Gudesblat, Vladislav Gudesblat