Patents by Inventor Martin Houle

Martin Houle 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: 20070276556
    Abstract: A system and method for starting an ICE of a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle having a generator with a rotor rotating at an angular speed and a clutch provided between the ICE and the rotor. The method includes steps of disengaging the clutch so that the rotor and the ICE can operate independently; increasing the angular speed; upon the angular speed reaching a predetermined speed, engaging the clutch; allowing the ICE to crank; and starting the ICE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: TM4 INC.
    Inventors: Philippe Noel, Ghislain Lambert, Maalainine El Yacoubi, Jean-Marc Cyr, Martin Houle
  • Publication number: 20070119678
    Abstract: A multi-position clutch allows selectively coupling at least two of at least three rotatable shafts is described herein. The clutch comprises at least three cooperation elements respectively associated to one of the at least three rotatable shafts for selective engagement therebetween; the at least three cooperation elements are mounted to the at least three rotatable shafts so as to be sequentially positioned for selective coupling of at least two adjacent cooperation elements. An actuating mechanism is provided for selectively coupling at least two adjacent cooperation elements from the at least three cooperation elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Applicant: TM4 Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Houle, Pierre Blouin, Louis-Philippe Bibeau, Jianhong Xu
  • Patent number: 6992411
    Abstract: A cooling arrangement for electric machines comprising a heat storing element provided with generally C-shaped channels and a cooling tube so configured and sized as to be insertable in said C-shaped channels of said heat storing element is described herein. The cooling tube, once inserted in the channels is deformed to conform to the C-shaped channels, whereby heat stored in said heat storing element is extracted by circulating cooling fluid inside the cooling tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: TM4, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Houle, André Langlois
  • Patent number: 6960851
    Abstract: A cooling device for an internal stator of an electric machine. The stator includes a substantially cylindrical cavity having a substantially cylindrical internal surface. The cooling device includes a body defining an external substantially cylindrical contact surface. The cooling device further includes a biasing element connected to the body. The biasing element is so configured and sized as to bias the contact surface of the body against the internal surface of the rotor when the cooling device is positioned inside the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: TM4 Inc.
    Inventors: Stéphane Poulin, Martin Houle, Louis-Philippe Bibeau, François Messier
  • Publication number: 20050116553
    Abstract: A cooling device for an internal stator of an electric machine. The stator includes a substantially cylindrical cavity having a substantially cylindrical internal surface. The cooling device includes a body defining an external substantially cylindrical contact surface. The cooling device further includes a biasing element connected to the body. The biasing element is so configured and sized as to bias the contact surface of the body against the internal surface of the rotor when the cooling device is positioned inside the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Inventors: Stephane Poulin, Martin Houle, Louis-Philippe Bibeau, Francois Messier
  • Publication number: 20050067904
    Abstract: A cooling arrangement for electric machines comprising a heat storing element provided with generally C-shaped channels and a cooling tube so configured and sized as to be insertable in said C-shaped channels of said heat storing element is described herein. The cooling tube, once inserted in the channels is deformed to conform to the C-shaped channels, whereby heat stored in said heat storing element is extracted by circulating cooling fluid inside the cooling tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Martin Houle, Andre Langlois
  • Patent number: 6819016
    Abstract: A cooling arrangement for electric machines comprising a heat storing element provided with generally C-shaped channels and a cooling tube so configured and sized as to be insertable in said C-shaped channels of said heat storing element is described herein. The cooling tube, once inserted in the channels is deformed to conform to the C-shaped channels, whereby heat stored in said heat storing element is extracted by circulating cooling fluid inside the cooling tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: TM4 Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Houle, André Langlois
  • Publication number: 20040012272
    Abstract: A cooling arrangement for electric machines comprising a heat storing element provided with generally C-shaped channels and a cooling tube so configured and sized as to be insertable in said C-shaped channels of said heat storing element is described herein. The cooling tube, once inserted in the channels is deformed to conform to the C-shaped channels, whereby heat stored in said heat storing element is extracted by circulating cooling fluid inside the cooling tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: Martin Houle, Andre Langlois