Patents by Inventor Jean-Marc Blond

Jean-Marc Blond 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: 11273679
    Abstract: The invention relates to stabilizer bar (10) for use with the suspension of a vehicle such as a truck. The stabilizer bar (10) comprises a shaft (12) supported by bearings (18), cranked parts for example in the form of crank arms (30) being provided at or adjacent each end of the shaft (12), each cranked part having a connection point (32) for connection, in use, to a respective link member (34), wherein each connection point (32) is substantially aligned with a respective one of the bearings (18) relative to the axis of the shaft (12). The invention also relates to a vehicle incorporating such a stabilizer bar (10) and to a roll stabilization method using such a stabilizer bar (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Lamotte, Jean-Marc Blond
  • Patent number: 10597075
    Abstract: A bar is designed for attaching a steering cylinder of a vehicle to a wheel axle. The bar is twisted around its longitudinal axis. The bar is manufactured by cutting out a rectangular plate of metallic material or of composite material, clamping the longitudinal ends of the cut-out plate, and pivoting one end or pivoting both ends in opposite directions, around a longitudinal axis of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jerome Chaudet, Jean-Marc Blond, Jean-Baptiste Doray
  • Publication number: 20190315175
    Abstract: The invention relates to stabilizer bar (10) for use with the suspension of a vehicle such as a truck. The stabilizer bar (10) comprises a shaft (12) supported by bearings (18), cranked parts for example in the form of crank arms (30) being provided at or adjacent each end of the shaft (12), each cranked part having a connection point (32) for connection, in use, to a respective link member (34), wherein each connection point (32) is substantially aligned with a respective one of the bearings (18) relative to the axis of the shaft (12). The invention also relates to a vehicle incorporating such a stabilizer bar (10) and to a roll stabilization method using such a stabilizer bar (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher Lamotte, Jean-Marc Blond
  • Patent number: 10328969
    Abstract: A method and a system are provided for optimizing the steering assistance of a vehicle. The method includes the step of comparing the steering angle of the steered wheels with a theoretical value or with the steering angle of the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Blond, Jérôme Chaudet, Jean-Baptiste Doray, Olivier Villot
  • Publication number: 20180354551
    Abstract: A method and a system are provided for optimizing the steering assistance of a vehicle. The method includes the step of comparing the steering angle of the steered wheels with a theoretical value or with the steering angle of the steering wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jean-Marc BLOND, Jérôme CHAUDET, Jean-Baptiste DORAY, Olivier VILLOT
  • Patent number: 9926004
    Abstract: A power steering system includes a first steering mechanism designed to control the steering of at least one of the wheels of a steered axle and includes a mechanical transmission of the movement from a steering wheel of the vehicle to the wheel, a first actuator controlled by a parameter related to the steering wheel movement and capable of providing a steering assistance effort to the wheel. The power steering system further includes a second steering mechanism which includes a second actuator capable of providing a steering assistance effort to at least one of the wheels of the same axle, the second actuator having a housing which is secured to the axle, a first and a second piston rods able to slide through the housing and extending, on opposite sides, beyond the housing, with the piston rods being substantially parallel to the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Blond
  • Publication number: 20180015949
    Abstract: A bar is designed for attaching a steering cylinder of a vehicle to a wheel axle. The bar is twisted around its longitudinal axis. The bar is manufactured by cutting out a rectangular plate of metallic material or of composite material, clamping the longitudinal ends of the cut-out plate, and pivoting one end or pivoting both ends in opposite directions, around a longitudinal axis of the plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jerome CHAUDET, Jean-Marc BLOND, Jean-Baptiste DORAY
  • Patent number: 9556942
    Abstract: A drive arrangement for a least one auxiliary equipment of a hybrid vehicle includes a gearbox having at least one input shaft connected to a drive internal combustion engine and one output shaft connected to driven wheels of the vehicle. The drive arrangement includes a power split device having no more than three separate input/output couplings, with a first coupling connected to the input shaft, a second coupling connected to the output shaft, and a third coupling connected to the at least one auxiliary equipment. The drive arrangement includes an auxiliary electric machine connected to one of the couplings of the power split device, and adapted to deliver torque to the at least one auxiliary equipment. The drive arrangement further includes an arrangement to disconnect the first coupling from the input shaft of the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Blond, Thomas Justin
  • Patent number: 9452779
    Abstract: A power steering system includes a first steering device which controls the steering of the first wheels of the vehicle according to a first steering angle ?1 and includes a first actuator capable of providing a steering assistance effort, a second steering device including a second actuator controlled by a controller as a function of a parameter related to the steering wheel movement, and controlling the steering of the second wheels, according to a second steering angle ?2. In normal operation of the power steering system, ?2 is set according to a first rule depending on the first steering angle ?1. In case the steering wheel torque is greater than a predetermined threshold, the second steering device is operated in a forced mode by setting the second steering angle according to a rule depending on the first steering angle and taking into account at least one different or additional data, in order to cause an offset-oversteering of the second wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Blond, Jean-Baptiste Doray
  • Publication number: 20150307128
    Abstract: A power steering system includes a first steering device which controls the steering of the first wheels of the vehicle according to a first steering angle ?1 and includes a first actuator capable of providing a steering assistance effort, a second steering device including a second actuator controlled by a controller as a function of a parameter related to the steering wheel movement, and controlling the steering of the second wheels, according to a second steering angle ?2. In normal operation of the power steering system, ?2 is set according to a first rule depending on the first steering angle ?1. In case the steering wheel torque is greater than a predetermined threshold, the second steering device is operated in a forced mode by setting the second steering angle according to a rule depending on the first steering angle and taking into account at least one different or additional data, in order to cause an offset-oversteering of the second wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jean-Marc BLOND, Jean-Baptiste DORAY
  • Publication number: 20150298729
    Abstract: A power steering system includes a first steering mechanism designed to control the steering of at least one of the wheels of a steered axle and includes a mechanical transmission of the movement from a steering wheel of the vehicle to the wheel, a first actuator controlled by a parameter related to the steering wheel movement and capable of providing a steering assistance effort to the wheel. The power steering system further includes a second steering mechanism which includes a second actuator capable of providing a steering assistance effort to at least one of the wheels of the same axle, the second actuator having a housing which is secured to the axle, a first and a second piston rods able to slide through the housing and extending, on opposite sides, beyond the housing, with the piston rods being substantially parallel to the axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Blond
  • Patent number: 9162571
    Abstract: A dual drive arrangement has three way power split device such as an epicyclic gearing system converting input rotation from a gearbox or from an electric motor into an output rotation driving a hydraulic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Volvo Trucks AB
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Blond
  • Publication number: 20130281245
    Abstract: A dual drive arrangement has three way power split device such as an epicyclic gearing system converting input rotation from a gearbox or from an electric motor into an output rotation driving a hydraulic pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: RENAULT TRUCKS
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Blond
  • Publication number: 20130255440
    Abstract: A drive arrangement for a least one auxiliary equipment of a hybrid vehicle includes a gearbox having at least one input shaft connected to a drive internal combustion engine and one output shaft connected to driven wheels of the vehicle. The drive arrangement includes a power split device having no more than three separate input/output couplings, with a first coupling connected to the input shaft, a second coupling connected to the output shaft, and a third coupling connected to the at least one auxiliary equipment. The drive arrangement includes an auxiliary electric machine connected to one of the couplings of the power split device, and adapted to deliver torque to the at least one auxiliary equipment. The drive arrangement further includes an arrangement to disconnect the first coupling from the input shaft of the gearbox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: RENAULT TRUCKS
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Blond, Thomas Justin
  • Publication number: 20130175111
    Abstract: In a vehicle including a traction engine designed to drive wheels through a driveline that includes an upstream portion which is connected to the engine and a downstream portion which is permanently connected to the drive wheels, the power steering system includes a hydraulic circuit including a fluid tank and a steering actuator. The power steering system further includes a first pump which is driven by mechanical power from the downstream portion of the driveline, and a second pump which is driven by an electric motor. The first and second pumps are arranged in parallel between the fluid tank and the steering actuator and are capable of supplying fluid from the fluid tank to the steering actuator at the same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: RENAULT TRUCKS
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Blond, Olivier Villot