Patents by Inventor Aaron Heffelfinger

Aaron Heffelfinger has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240140154
    Abstract: A breakaway mitigation system is provided for addressing breakaway between a tractor and a trailer unit of a truck. The breakaway mitigation system can include a spool assembly, a sensor, and a controller. The spool assembly has a spool body configured to deploy a length of a tether coupled with the spool body and configured to couple with an energy source supply conduit and to retract the length of the tether. The energy source supply conduit is configured to convey a source of energy for use by a motor or by a fuel cell. The sensor is configured to detect the length of the tether that has been deployed. The controller is configured to receive an input corresponding to the detected length and to implement a countermeasure when the detected amount exceeds a threshold value. Mitigation can be provided by a coupler that decouples under a load over a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2024
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Ethan J. McKibben, Jordan C. Foster, Chris Forsberg, Andrew Taylor Gordon, Momchil Yordanov, Adam Attila Bosze, Aaron Heffelfinger
  • Patent number: 11919343
    Abstract: A breakaway mitigation system is provided for addressing breakaway between a tractor and a trailer unit of a truck. The breakaway mitigation system can include a spool assembly, a sensor, and a controller. The spool assembly has a spool body configured to deploy a length of a tether coupled with the spool body and configured to couple with an energy source supply conduit and to retract the length of the tether. The energy source supply conduit is configured to convey a source of energy for use by a motor or by a fuel cell. The sensor is configured to detect the length of the tether that has been deployed. The controller is configured to receive an input corresponding to the detected length and to implement a countermeasure when the detected amount exceeds a threshold value. Mitigation can be provided by a coupler that decouples under a load over a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignees: Hexagon Purus North America Holdings Inc., Agility Fuel Systems LLC
    Inventors: Ethan J. McKibben, Jordan C. Foster, Chris Forsberg, Andrew Taylor Gordon, Momchil Yordanov, Adam Attila Bosze, Aaron Heffelfinger
  • Publication number: 20230311597
    Abstract: A breakaway mitigation system is provided for addressing breakaway between a tractor and a trailer unit of a truck. The breakaway mitigation system can include a spool assembly, a sensor, and a controller. The spool assembly has a spool body configured to deploy a length of a tether coupled with the spool body and configured to couple with an energy source supply conduit and to retract the length of the tether. The energy source supply conduit is configured to convey a source of energy for use by a motor or by a fuel cell. The sensor is configured to detect the length of the tether that has been deployed. The controller is configured to receive an input corresponding to the detected length and to implement a countermeasure when the detected amount exceeds a threshold value. Mitigation can be provided by a coupler that decouples under a load over a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Ethan J. McKibben, Jordan C. Foster, Chris Forsberg, Andrew Taylor Gordon, Momchil Yordanov, Adam Attila Bosze, Aaron Heffelfinger
  • Publication number: 20220274494
    Abstract: A heavy duty power distribution system is provided that includes an electric vehicle control module and a cable interface coupled with the electric vehicle control module. The electric vehicle control module includes an electric vehicle frame assembly and a power distribution component coupled with the electric vehicle control module frame assembly. The electric vehicle control module frame assembly is configured to support components of the electric vehicle control module on a vehicle frame rail, e.g., behind a cab thereof. A cowling is disposed around the power distribution component. The cable interface has a first junction and a second junction which are configured to connect the power distribution component with a power source and a load respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Ethan J. McKibben, Aaron Heffelfinger, Todd F. Sloan, Eric M. Coupal-Sikes, Jordan Foster, Benjamin Parker
  • Patent number: 11345331
    Abstract: A heavy duty power distribution system is provided that includes an electric vehicle control module and a cable interface coupled with the electric vehicle control module. The electric vehicle control module includes an electric vehicle frame assembly and a power distribution component coupled with the electric vehicle control module frame assembly. The electric vehicle control module frame assembly is configured to support components of the electric vehicle control module on a vehicle frame rail, e.g., behind a cab thereof. A cowling is disposed around the power distribution component. The cable interface has a first junction and a second junction which are configured to connect the power distribution component with a power source and a load respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Hexagon Purus North America Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan J. McKibben, Aaron Heffelfinger, Todd F. Sloan, Eric M. Coupal-Sikes, Jordan Foster, Benjamin Parker
  • Publication number: 20210155224
    Abstract: A heavy duty power distribution system is provided that includes an electric vehicle control module and a cable interface coupled with the electric vehicle control module. The electric vehicle control module includes an electric vehicle frame assembly and a power distribution component coupled with the electric vehicle control module frame assembly. The electric vehicle control module frame assembly is configured to support components of the electric vehicle control module on a vehicle frame rail, e.g., behind a cab thereof. A cowling is disposed around the power distribution component. The cable interface has a first junction and a second junction which are configured to connect the power distribution component with a power source and a load respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Ethan J. McKibben, Aaron Heffelfinger, Todd F. Sloan, Eric M. Coupal-Sikes, Jordan Foster, Benjamin Parker