Patents by Inventor Brian T. THURGATE
Brian T. THURGATE 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).
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Patent number: 11928396Abstract: Disclosed is a method for evaluating computational fluid dynamic simulation results. The method includes: performing at least two baseline runs of a simulated area or volume containing a first vehicle body shape using a set of initial conditions, performing a change run using a second vehicle body using the set of initial conditions, creating a noise map based on differences between the second baseline run and the first baseline run, creating a change map based on differences between the change run and a selected baseline run, and comparing the change map to the noise map.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2019Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, Daniel B. Gidcumb
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Patent number: 11875091Abstract: Disclosed is a method for evaluating computational fluid dynamic simulation results. The method includes, based on a set of initial conditions, performing a first baseline run and a second baseline run of a simulated area or volume containing a vehicle body shape, and then performing a change run of the simulated area or volume containing a modified vehicle body shape, and performing the following actions within the simulated area or volume: plotting an iso line of the first baseline run and a corresponding iso line of the second baseline run, plotting an iso line of the change run that corresponds to the iso line of the two baseline runs, and comparing whether the iso line of the change run falls between the iso lines of the two basline runs. If not, then the modification to the vehicle body shape may be considered significant.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2019Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventor: Brian T. Thurgate
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Patent number: 11034219Abstract: A vehicle door includes an inner panel including an upper portion defining a window aperture, and a lower portion positioned opposite the upper portion in a vertical direction, and a support assembly coupled to the inner panel, the support assembly including a first torsion member extending along the upper portion of the inner panel in a lateral direction that is transverse to the vertical direction, the first torsion member defining holes extending through the first torsion member, a second torsion member extending along the upper portion of the inner panel toward the first torsion member, the second torsion member defining holes that are aligned with the holes of the first torsion member, and at least one fastener positioned in corresponding aligned holes of the first torsion member and the second torsion member, the at least one fastener coupling the first torsion member to the second torsion member.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, William A. Hardy, Kevin O'Beirne, Johnny Rose, Wasim Ukra, Rajesh Chennagowni, Herb Meingast
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Publication number: 20210073351Abstract: Disclosed is a method for evaluating computational fluid dynamic simulation results. The method includes, based on a set of initial conditions, performing a first baseline run and a second baseline run of a simulated area or volume containing a vehicle body shape, and then performing a change run of the simulated area or volume containing a modified vehicle body shape, and performing the following actions within the simulated area or volume: plotting an iso line of the first baseline run and a corresponding iso line of the second baseline run, plotting an iso line of the change run that corresponds to the iso line of the two baseline runs, and comparing whether the iso line of the change run falls between the iso lines of the two basline runs. If not, then the modification to the vehicle body shape may be considered significant.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2019Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventor: Brian T. Thurgate
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Publication number: 20210064721Abstract: Disclosed is a method for evaluating computational fluid dynamic simulation results. The method includes: performing at least two baseline runs of a simulated area or volume containing a first vehicle body shape using a set of initial conditions, performing a change run using a second vehicle body using the set of initial conditions, creating a noise map based on differences between the second baseline run and the first baseline run, creating a change map based on differences between the change run and a selected baseline run, and comparing the change map to the noise map.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2019Publication date: March 4, 2021Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, Daniel B. Gidcumb
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Patent number: 10836238Abstract: A method of installing a vehicle component to a vehicle panel is provided. The method includes aligning a rib receiving channel of the vehicle component with an alignment rib that is formed integrally with the vehicle panel while also aligning a fastening opening of the vehicle component with a fastening opening through the vehicle panel. The alignment rib is inserted into the rib receiving channel. A fastener is inserted through the fastening openings of the vehicle component and the vehicle panel. The fastener is tightened while the alignment rib and rib receiving channel inhibit rotation of the vehicle component.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2019Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, William Hardy, Kevin O'Beirne
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Patent number: 10836239Abstract: A method of installing a vehicle component to a vehicle panel is provided. The method includes aligning a fastening opening of the vehicle component with a fastening opening through the vehicle panel. The vehicle component abuts against an alignment rib that is formed integrally with the vehicle panel. A fastener is inserted through the fastening openings of the vehicle component and the vehicle panel. The fastener is tightened while the alignment rib inhibits rotation of the vehicle component.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2019Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, William Hardy, Kevin O'Beirne
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Publication number: 20200238801Abstract: A vehicle door includes an inner panel including an upper portion defining a window aperture, and a lower portion positioned opposite the upper portion in a vertical direction, and a support assembly coupled to the inner panel, the support assembly including a first torsion member extending along the upper portion of the inner panel in a lateral direction that is transverse to the vertical direction, the first torsion member defining holes extending through the first torsion member, a second torsion member extending along the upper portion of the inner panel toward the first torsion member, the second torsion member defining holes that are aligned with the holes of the first torsion member, and at least one fastener positioned in corresponding aligned holes of the first torsion member and the second torsion member, the at least one fastener coupling the first torsion member to the second torsion member.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2019Publication date: July 30, 2020Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, William A. Hardy, Kevin O'Beirne, Johnny Rose, Wasim Ukra, Rajesh Chennagowni, Herb Meingast
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Publication number: 20200238802Abstract: A vehicle door includes an inner panel formed from a resin and including an upper portion, and a lower portion positioned opposite the upper portion in a vertical direction, and a torsion bar assembly coupled to the inner panel, the torsion bar assembly including a lateral bar that extends across the upper portion of the inner panel in a lateral direction that is transverse to the vertical direction, a pair of vertical bars extending downward from the lateral bar, where the pair of vertical bars and the lateral bar define an inner cavity extending along the torsion bar assembly, and the lateral bar defines an access hole that provides access to the inner cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2019Publication date: July 30, 2020Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, William A. Hardy, Kevin O'Beirne, Johnny Rose, Wasim Ukra, Rajesh Chennagowni, Herb Meingast
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Patent number: 10717349Abstract: A vehicle door includes an inner panel formed from a resin and including an upper portion, and a lower portion positioned opposite the upper portion in a vertical direction, and a torsion bar assembly coupled to the inner panel, the torsion bar assembly including a lateral bar that extends across the upper portion of the inner panel in a lateral direction that is transverse to the vertical direction, a pair of vertical bars extending downward from the lateral bar, where the pair of vertical bars and the lateral bar define an inner cavity extending along the torsion bar assembly, and the lateral bar defines an access hole that provides access to the inner cavity.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2019Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, William A. Hardy, Kevin O'Beirne, Johnny Rose, Wasim Ukra, Rajesh Chennagowni, Herb Meingast
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Publication number: 20200215885Abstract: A method of installing a vehicle component to a vehicle panel is provided. The method includes aligning a fastening opening of the vehicle component with a fastening opening through the vehicle panel. The vehicle component abuts against an alignment rib that is formed integrally with the vehicle panel. A fastener is inserted through the fastening openings of the vehicle component and the vehicle panel. The fastener is tightened while the alignment rib inhibits rotation of the vehicle component.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2019Publication date: July 9, 2020Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, William Hardy, Kevin O'Beirne
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Publication number: 20200215884Abstract: A method of installing a vehicle component to a vehicle panel is provided. The method includes aligning a rib receiving channel of the vehicle component with an alignment rib that is formed integrally with the vehicle panel while also aligning a fastening opening of the vehicle component with a fastening opening through the vehicle panel. The alignment rib is inserted into the rib receiving channel. A fastener is inserted through the fastening openings of the vehicle component and the vehicle panel. The fastener is tightened while the alignment rib and rib receiving channel inhibit rotation of the vehicle component.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2019Publication date: July 9, 2020Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, William Hardy, Kevin O'Beirne
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Patent number: 9862418Abstract: A cross member including a base including a first side wall inclined at a first angle with the base and a second side wall inclined at a second angle with the base creating a hollow portion between the first side wall and a second side wall, a first outer flange and a second outer flange projecting from the first side wall and the second side wall, respectively, in a direction away from the hollow portion, and a first inner flange projecting from a top side of the first side wall into the hollow portion, wherein the base, the first side wall and the second side wall, the first outer flange and the second outer flange, and the first inner flange form an open cross-section.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2016Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Christopher M. Higgins, Brian T. Thurgate
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Publication number: 20180001931Abstract: A cross member including a base including a first side wall inclined at a first angle with the base and a second side wall inclined at a second angle with the base creating a hollow portion between the first side wall and a second side wall, a first outer flange and a second outer flange projecting from the first side wall and the second side wall, respectively, in a direction away from the hollow portion, and a first inner flange projecting from a top side of the first side wall into the hollow portion, wherein the base, the first side wall and the second side wall, the first outer flange and the second outer flange, and the first inner flange form an open cross-section.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2016Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Christopher M. HIGGINS, Brian T. THURGATE