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).

  • Patent number: 11928396
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, Daniel B. Gidcumb
  • Patent number: 11875091
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Brian T. Thurgate
  • Patent number: 11034219
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20210073351
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventor: Brian T. Thurgate
  • Publication number: 20210064721
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, Daniel B. Gidcumb
  • Patent number: 10836238
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, William Hardy, Kevin O'Beirne
  • Patent number: 10836239
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, William Hardy, Kevin O'Beirne
  • Publication number: 20200238801
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: 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
  • Publication number: 20200238802
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: 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
  • Patent number: 10717349
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20200215885
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, William Hardy, Kevin O'Beirne
  • Publication number: 20200215884
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian T. Thurgate, William Hardy, Kevin O'Beirne
  • Patent number: 9862418
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Higgins, Brian T. Thurgate
  • Publication number: 20180001931
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher M. HIGGINS, Brian T. THURGATE