Patents by Inventor Chihping Kuan
Chihping Kuan 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: 7267390Abstract: A vehicle decklid system uses a planetary gear drive to move a decklid relative to a vehicle body. The planetary gear drive includes a rotatable gear that is disposed between two fixed gears. One fixed gear is rigidly mounted to the decklid and one fixed gear is rigidly mounted to the vehicle body. A rotating link connects centers of the rotatable gear and two fixed gears. The combination of the planetary gear drive and rotating link make it possible to provide powered complex, two-dimensional motion of the decklid requiring a four-bar linkage.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2005Date of Patent: September 11, 2007Assignee: AVM, Inc.Inventors: Chihping Kuan, Joseph Benjamin Saxon, Shelley Lynn Bolbrugge, Adam Kyle Cramton, Enrico Fin, Jack R. Roach, Karim Dayoub, Walter Douglas Bauman
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Patent number: 7204339Abstract: A wheel end assembly includes an output shaft that is directly mountable to a wheel adapter to drive a vehicle wheel. A gear assembly is coupled to the output shaft to transfer driving force from an input to the output shaft. The gear assembly includes an output gear that is directly coupled to the output shaft. Thus, the wheel adapter and output gear are both supported directly on the output shaft. The gear assembly and output shaft are substantially enclosed within a housing that is mounted to a non-rotating vehicle component. The output shaft is solely supported by a pair of bearings for rotation relative to the housing. The bearings are installed for direct engagement with the output shaft and housing.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2002Date of Patent: April 17, 2007Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLCInventors: Tomaz Dopico Varela, Chihping Kuan, John K. Ma, William C. Sullivan, Edward J. Eshelman, Dean M. House, John L. Bennett, Mark C. Smith
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Publication number: 20060237989Abstract: A vehicle decklid system uses a planetary gear drive to move a decklid relative to a vehicle body. The planetary gear drive includes a rotatable gear that is disposed between two fixed gears. One fixed gear is rigidly mounted to the decklid and one fixed gear is rigidly mounted to the vehicle body. A rotating link connects centers of the rotatable gear and two fixed gears. The combination of the planetary gear drive and rotating link make it possible to provide powered complex, two-dimensional motion of the decklid requiring a four-bar linkage.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2005Publication date: October 26, 2006Inventors: Chihping Kuan, Joseph Saxon, Shelley Bolbrugge, Adam Cramton, Enrico Fin, Jack Roach, Karim Dayoub, Walter Bauman
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Patent number: 7059649Abstract: A power mechanism for opening and closing a vehicle trunk decklid includes power-operated guides that move the linkages on the decklid. The guides are moved by push-pull cables operated by a motor and disposed in a guide rail located in a trunk sill. The motor may be controlled by a controller that receives a user signal and operates the motor based on the signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2004Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Chihping Kuan, Joseph Benjamin Saxon, Shelley Lynn Bolbrugge, Adam Kyle Cramton, Enrico Fin, Jack R. Roach, Karim Dayoub, Walter Douglas Bauman
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Patent number: 7034485Abstract: A powered system to selectively position a vehicle liftgate at a multiple of positions intermediate a fully open and a fully closed position. A controller receives commands from a remote, such as a key fob, and/or from a selector located within the vehicle to selectively operate the liftgate to move the liftgate through a multiple of liftgate positions through a combination of button presses or selector positions.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2004Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Chihping Kuan, Joseph Benjamin Saxon, Shelley Lynn Bolbrugge, Adam Kyle Cramton, Enrico Fin, Jack R. Roach, Karim Dayoub, Walter Douglas Bauman
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Publication number: 20060066278Abstract: A powered system to selectively position a vehicle liftgate at a multiple of positions intermediate a fully open and a fully closed position. A controller receives commands from a remote, such as a key fob, and/or from a selector located within the vehicle to selectively operate the liftgate to move the liftgate through a multiple of liftgate positions through a combination of button presses or selector positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2004Publication date: March 30, 2006Inventors: Chihping Kuan, Joseph Benjamin Saxon, Shelley Lynn Bolbrugge, Adam Kyle Cramton, Enrico Fin, Jack Roach, Karim Dayoub, Walter Douglas Bauman
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Publication number: 20060066125Abstract: A power mechanism for opening and closing a vehicle trunk decklid includes power-operated guides that move the linkages on the decklid. The guides are moved by push-pull cables operated by a motor and disposed in a guide rail located in a trunk sill. The motor may be controlled by a controller that receives a user signal and operates the motor based on the signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2004Publication date: March 30, 2006Inventors: Chihping Kuan, Joseph Saxon, Shelley Bolbrugge, Adam Cramton, Enrico Fin, Jack Roach, Karim Dayoub, Walter Bauman
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Patent number: 6793035Abstract: A suspension system includes a swing arm which pivots about a pivot axis. A hub assembly, hub gear box and input gear box are mounted to an independently pivoting swing arm. The pivot axis is located closer to the ground than a rotational axis defined by the hub assemblies and the input gear box. A coupling extends from the input gear box to receive an input driveline from a drive source such as vehicle engine. The coupling is located proximate the pivot axis to minimize relative movement during articulation of the swing arm. An axle housing extends between the input gear box and an opposite hub gear box to support a drive shaft and serves as a torsion bar.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2002Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLCInventors: John L. Bennett, Mark C. Smith, Chihping Kuan, John K. Ma, William C. Sullivan, Edward Jay Eshelman, Dean Mark House, Tomaz Dopico Varela
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Patent number: 6755093Abstract: A drive axle assembly for a low floor vehicle utilizes a single input gear assembly to drive a pair of laterally spaced wheel ends. The input gear assembly is positioned next to one of the wheel ends so that the vehicle floor can be lowered to facilitate passenger access to the vehicle. Each wheel end includes a gear reduction assembly with a ring gear rotatably mounted within a gear housing. A drive gear is operatively coupled to the input gear assembly and is in meshing engagement with the ring gear. The gear reduction assembly also includes an output or driven gear, which is larger than the drive gear, to provide the desired gear reduction. The driven gear is also in meshing engagement with the ring gear. A pair of idler gears is rotatably mounted within the gear housing and are in meshing engagement with both the drive and driven gear. The idler gears and drive gear do not have a common centerline.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2002Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLCInventors: John L. Bennett, Chihping Kuan, John K. Ma, William C. Sullivan, Edward J. Eshelman, Dean M. House, Tomaz Dopico Varela, Mark C. Smith
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Publication number: 20040000445Abstract: A hydrostatic drive system for a mass transit vehicle includes an engine that drives a hydraulic pump. The hydraulic pump circulates high-pressure fluid through a circuit to two slave motors disposed at each driven wheel. The slave motors include a shaft rotated in proportion to the flow of fluid to drive a driven gear disposed on an axle supported by the frame of the motor vehicle. The hydrostatic drive transmits power from the engine through fluid pressure circulated by a hydraulic pump to the slave motors through a circuit composed of tubes or hoses. The tubes or hoses require little space compared to an axle assembly of a prior art inverted portal axle system.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2002Publication date: January 1, 2004Inventors: Mark C. Smith, John L. Bennett, Chihping Kuan, John Ma, William Sullivan, Edward J. Eshelman, Dean Mark House, Tomaz D. Varela
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Patent number: 6659217Abstract: A drive unit assembly utilizes a single input to drive a pair of laterally spaced wheel ends. Each wheel end is suspended independently from the other. The input is operatively coupled to only one of the wheel ends and an exposed axle shaft assembly interconnects the input to the opposite wheel end. The axle shaft assembly includes multiple shaft members to interconnect the laterally spaced wheel ends. One of the axle shaft members is mounted to a vehicle floor structure with a bearing mount and includes connection joints at either end to accommodate the independent motion of each wheel end. The floor and the shaft member move together during suspension travel, allowing the floor to have a lower profile than is traditionally available.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2002Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLCInventors: Mark C. Smith, John L. Bennett, Chihping Kuan, John K. Ma, William C. Sullivan, Edward J. Eshelman, Dean M. House, Tomaz Dopico Varela
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Publication number: 20030218375Abstract: A wheel end assembly includes an output shaft that is directly mountable to a wheel adapter to drive a vehicle wheel. A gear assembly is coupled to the output shaft to transfer driving force from an input to the output shaft. The gear assembly includes an output gear that is directly coupled to the output shaft. Thus, the wheel adapter and output gear are both supported directly on the output shaft. The gear assembly and output shaft are substantially enclosed within a housing that is mounted to a non-rotating vehicle component. The output shaft is solely supported by a pair of bearings for rotation relative to the housing. The bearings are installed for direct engagement with the output shaft and housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2002Publication date: November 27, 2003Inventors: Tomaz Dopico Varela, Chihping Kuan, John K. Ma, William C. Sullivan, Edward J. Eshelman, Dean M. House, John L. Bennett, Mark C. Smith
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Publication number: 20030184038Abstract: A suspension system for a low floor vehicle includes an independent suspension system which includes a spring strut of the McPherson type. The spring strut essentially combines a spring and shock into a load bearing member of the suspension. The spring strut is mounted to the hub support structure and the top of each wheel box. An input gear box such as a differential is mounted to the vehicle underside or directly to a hub gear box.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2002Publication date: October 2, 2003Inventors: Mark C. Smith, John L. Bennett, Chihping Kuan, John K. Ma, William C. Sullivan, Edward J. Eshelman, Dean M. House, Tomaz Dopico Varela
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Publication number: 20030173137Abstract: A suspension system includes a swing arm which pivots about a pivot axis. A hub assembly, hub gear box and input gear box are mounted to an independently pivoting swing arm. The pivot axis is located below (closer to the ground) than a rotational axis defined by the hub assemblies and the input gear box. A coupling extends from the input gear box to receive an input driveline from a drive source such as vehicle engine. The coupling is located proximate the pivot axis to minimize relative movement during articulation of the swing arm. An axle housing extends between the input gear box and an opposite hub gear box to support a drive shaft and serves as a torsion bar between the independent swing arms.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2002Publication date: September 18, 2003Inventors: John L. Bennett, Mark C. Smith, Chihping Kuan, John K. Ma, William C. Sullivan, Edward J. Eshelman, Dean Mark House, Tomaz Dopico Varela
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Publication number: 20030155170Abstract: A drive unit assembly utilizes a single input to drive a pair of laterally spaced wheel ends. Each wheel end is suspended independently from the other. The input is operatively coupled to only one of the wheel ends and an exposed axle shaft assembly interconnects the input to the opposite wheel end. The axle shaft assembly includes multiple shaft members to interconnect the laterally spaced wheel ends. One of the axle shaft members is mounted to a vehicle floor structure with a bearing mount and includes connection joints at either end to accommodate the independent motion of each wheel end. The floor and the shaft member move together during suspension travel, allowing the floor to have a lower profile than is traditionally available.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2002Publication date: August 21, 2003Inventors: Mark C. Smith, John L. Bennett, Chihping Kuan, John K. Ma, William C. Sullivan, Edward J. Eshelman, Dean M. House, Tomaz Dopico Varela
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Publication number: 20030140717Abstract: A drive axle assembly for a low floor vehicle utilizes a single input gear assembly to drive a pair of laterally spaced wheel ends. The input gear assembly is positioned next to one of the wheel ends so that the vehicle floor can be lowered to facilitate passenger access to the vehicle. Each wheel end includes a gear reduction assembly with a ring gear rotatably mounted within a gear housing. A drive gear is operatively coupled to the input gear assembly and is in meshing engagement with the ring gear. The gear reduction assembly also includes an output or driven gear, which is larger than the drive gear, to provide the desired gear reduction. The driven gear is also in meshing engagement with the ring gear. A pair of idler gears is rotatably mounted within the gear housing and are in meshing engagement with both the drive and driven gear. The idler gears and drive gear do not have a common centerline.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2002Publication date: July 31, 2003Inventors: John L. Bennett, Chihping Kuan, John K. Ma, William C. Sullivan, Edward J. Eshelman, Dean M. House, Tomaz Dopico Varela, Mark C. Smith