Patents Issued in November 1, 2016
  • Patent number: 9481212
    Abstract: On the tread surface, land portions are defined by a pair of circumferential main grooves and divided, by circumferential narrow grooves 3 and multiple lateral grooves 4 connecting between the circumferential main groove and the circumferential narrow groove or between the circumferential narrow grooves, into block rows L each of which including polygonal blocks arranged in a tire circumferential direction, wherein a block arrangement having the polygonal blocks 5 arranged in a line-symmetric manner with respect to the tire equator as an axis of symmetry includes side regions R1, R2 facing each other across the tire equator C and displaced from each other in the tire circumferential direction by a phase difference of 0.2 to 0.4 times of a repetition pitch of a pattern of the block row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9481213
    Abstract: A tire inflation system that includes a seal. The seal may have an annular mounting portion and an annular lip portion. The annular lip portion may have a sealing side and a non-sealing side. Leakage of pressurized gas may be inhibited when the sealing side faces away from the annular mounting portion. Leakage of pressurized gas may be enabled when the annular lip portion is rolled such that at least a portion of the sealing side faces toward the annular mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Keeney, Nicholas S. Lakin
  • Patent number: 9481214
    Abstract: A vehicle hub unit that supports a wheel that attaches to a pneumatic tire and is attached to a joint and an air pressure adjusting device that has this vehicle hub unit, provided with a first air passage that is formed with a first opening in at least one location on a surface that attaches to the wheel, is attached to pneumatic piping of the joint that supplies air, and supplies air from the first opening to the wheel; and a second air passage that is formed with a second opening in at least one location on a surface that attaches to the wheel, is attached to pneumatic piping of the joint that exhausts air of the joint, and collects air of the wheel from the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Atsushi Tanno
  • Patent number: 9481215
    Abstract: A system for controlling bicycle tire air pressure on the go is provided. The system has a wheel mounted portion and a control unit in communication with one another. The wheel mounted portion attached to each wheel has a gas source, manifold, regulator to control air flow into and out of the tire, and a communication device. The control unit monitors air pressure in each tire, and has a user interface allowing input of a higher or lower tire pressure. Based on user input, the control unit instructs operation of the wheel mounted portion, controlling pressure within the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Inventor: Brian Reiss
  • Patent number: 9481216
    Abstract: The tire pressure sensor module contains a casing, a nozzle, a sleeve element, a fastening element, and a two-way tire information transmission and sensory system inside the casing. The casing has a trough and an air opening. The nozzle contains a nozzle mouth and a nozzle base. The nozzle base is joined to the casing, and the mouth is threaded through the sleeve element. The nozzle and the sleeve element are secured to the casing by the fastening element through the trough. The two-way tire information transmission and sensory system contains a battery, a micro-controller circuit, a low-power-consumption Bluetooth wireless transceiver circuit, a boosting/regulating circuit, a pressure sensor, an operation amplifier, a gravity sensor, a temperature sensor, and an antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: SYSGRATION LTD.
    Inventors: Tsaichiang Chow, Shihchin Cho, Shihyao Lin, Tzu-Wen Ko, Chi-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 9481217
    Abstract: In a computerized method for generating a finite element model of a pneumatic tire provided in the tread portion with a zero-degree band, a 2D tire model is firstly generated based on the finished tire shape in a tire vulcanization mold, where the 2D tire model includes a 2D model of a band ply. Secondary, a residual stress is computed and defined on each element of the band ply model. Then, a deformation calculation is made on the 2D tire model to obtain the deformed 2D tire model. Finally, a 3D tire model is generated by duplicating the 2D tire model around the tire rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Naoaki Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 9481218
    Abstract: The dual trailer system adapted to be towed by a pick-up truck having a fifth wheel on a bed thereof, the dual trailer system comprising: a lead trailer having a wheeled frame with a gooseneck-mounted kingpin at a front end thereof, for coupling to the fifth wheel of the pick-up truck, and a lead trailer fifth wheel at the rear of the lead trailer; a tail trailer having a wheeled frame with a tail trailer kingpin at a front end thereof, the primary trailer hitch having a kingpin matching the lead trailer fifth wheel for attachment thereto. The lead trailer can have an extendible portion at the rear to allow selectively extending and retracting the fifth wheel for use together with or independently from the tail trailer, and the tail trailer can also be usable independently from the lead trailer such as by way of an additional coupler which can also be provided on an extendible frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: 9306-6801 QUÉBEC INC.
    Inventors: Sylvain Harvey, Christian Pichette
  • Patent number: 9481219
    Abstract: A vehicle (20) consisting of a frame (22) with a pair of paddles (72) extending longitudinally and rotatably supported by the frame (22) in pendulum fashion for swinging movement between an extended position engaging the surface and a retracted position moved vertically out of engagement with the surface. A pair of foot platforms (74) are operatively connected to the paddles (72). A pair of depressors (84) interconnects the foot platforms (74) and the paddles (72) to rotate the paddles (72) between the extended position and the retracted position. The paddles (72) include a propulsion bar (86) and an oar (88) connected by a lost-motion connection to slide relative to one another between the extended position and the retracted position. The oars (88) have a fin-shape to propel the vehicle (20) over water and include a striker (90) to propel the vehicle (20) over land. The vehicle (20) allows movement over a surface of water and land using an elliptical motion similar to the natural motion of walking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Inventor: Andrew Raymond Dovel
  • Patent number: 9481220
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for producing a transverse member having a securable ball joint receiving member from a transverse member having an integral ball joint receiving member. The transverse member is the kind used for connecting a vehicle wheel to a vehicle structure. The method comprises providing a transverse member having an integral ball joint receiving member, separating the integral ball joint receiving member from the transverse member, and connecting a securable ball joint receiving member to the transverse member to replace the removed integral ball joint receiving member. This method may be performed to correct the position and orientation of a ball joint as provided by the integral ball joint receiving member or to further utilize a production tool that already produces a transverse member with an integral ball joint receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christoph Meier, Theo Kueppers
  • Patent number: 9481221
    Abstract: A hydraulic actuator includes a shock absorber and a control system that is separate from the shock absorber and which generates damping loads for the hydraulic actuator. The control system generates the damping load by using a pair of variable valves, a pair of check valves, an accumulator, a pump/motor and a flow controller. The forces are generated in all four quadrants of compression/rebound and active/passive. A device which recuperates the energy generated by the hydraulic actuator can be incorporated into the hydraulic actuator to generate energy in the form of electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventor: Koenraad Reybrouck
  • Patent number: 9481222
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning device is provided that makes it possible to avoid the occurrence of condensation at a heat exchanger, and to avoid decreases in the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger caused by uneven temperature distribution in the heat exchanger itself. This vehicle air-conditioning device employs a configuration comprising: a heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between air passing through a first flow path and air flowing through a second flow path; and a switching means that alternately switches either the first flow path or the second flow path from a discharge path that discharges the air inside the vehicle toward the outside of the vehicle to an intake path that guides air from outside of the vehicle into the vehicle, and switches the other flow path from the intake path to the discharge path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Nakaya
  • Patent number: 9481223
    Abstract: A cabin for a work vehicle comprises: a driver's seat positioned within the cabin; cabin frames including at least a transverse frame located in a rear region of the cabin; a roof supported by at least some of the cabin frames; at least one air-conditioning duct located within the roof; an air-conditioning unit located rearwardly with respect to a rearward end of a seat portion of the driver's seat and adjacent the transverse frame for conditioning air and for feeding air-conditioned air into the at least one air-conditioning duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventor: Nobushige Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9481224
    Abstract: An active airflow outlet for a vehicle and method for facilitating airflow through an active airflow outlet are provided. The active airflow outlet may operate in one of a static mode and an active mode. The active airflow outlet may include a motor, a gear assembly, a plurality of vent blades, and at least one control mechanism. The gear assembly may be operatively connected to the motor and the plurality of vent blades. The plurality of vent blades may be capable of occupying one of an open position and a closed position. The at least one control mechanism may be configured to signal the plurality of vent blades to rotate from the closed position to the open position and signal the motor to rotate the gear assembly and the plurality of vent blades in the active mode to facilitate additional airflow through the active airflow outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Gerard Brinas
  • Patent number: 9481225
    Abstract: A modular vehicle air-conditioning unit for heating and cooling air includes a housing having at least one blower and a plurality of flaps for setting air flow paths and a refrigerant circuit in fluid communication with the housing. The refrigerant circuit includes a condenser, an evaporator, a compressor, and an expansion device. An evaporator air flow path through the evaporator and a condenser air flow path through the condenser are formed in the housing. At least one of the evaporator air flow path and the condenser air flow path receives air from at least one of an environment, a passenger compartment of a vehicle, and any mixture of thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventors: Gerald Richter, Marc Graaf, Florian Wieschollek
  • Patent number: 9481226
    Abstract: A vehicular air-conditioning system includes: a vehicle interior air-conditioning apparatus which includes a device cooling circuit of a heat generating device mounted in a vehicle, and a refrigeration cycle circuit; and an intermediate heat exchanger for heat exchange between a device cooling medium of the device cooling circuit and an air-conditioning cooling medium of the refrigeration cycle circuit. A vehicle control apparatus is configured to determine a temperature of the cooling medium, and select a shorter control cycle timing of the vehicular air-conditioning system when the temperature of the cooling medium is greater than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Tadashi Osaka, Hiroaki Matsushima, Sachio Sekiya, Riichi Uchida, Yuki Akiyama
  • Patent number: 9481227
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes an air conditioning housing and a mode door. The air conditioning housing has a discharge chamber through which conditioned air is discharged out of the air conditioning housing. The discharge chamber includes a defrost vent, a main vent, floor vents and a rear seat vent. The floor vents are formed on opposite sides of a rear portion of the air conditioning housing. The rear seat vent is formed between the floor vents. The mode door has a front opening hole which is formed in a front portion of the mode door, a pair of main opening holes which are formed in a rear portion of the mode door at positions spaced apart from each other, and a rear-end opening hole which is formed behind a first portion provided between the main opening holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, Halla Visteon Climate Control Corp.
    Inventors: Myung Hoe Kim, Jae Min Yang, Seung Wook Kim, Jong Heon Lee, Hyung Joo Kim, Sang Chul Byon
  • Patent number: 9481228
    Abstract: There is provided a vehicle windshield which can decrease chances of a fogging to occur by having an antifogging property, and under a situation that a fogging occurs, it is able to allow a driver to easily and surely recognize an occurrence state of the fogging in its initial state without adversely affecting visibility. The vehicle windshield has a window glass, a strip-shaped black ceramic layer, and a water absorbing antifogging film, wherein the water absorbing antifogging film has a thin-film area located outside a visual field area where a visual field of a driver is ensured in the vehicle windshield and inside an area where the black ceramic layer is formed, the thin-film area having a maximum film thickness in a range of 30% to 70% of a minimum film thickness in the visual field area and having a size recognizable by the driver when a fogging occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Hideki Ishioka
  • Patent number: 9481229
    Abstract: A protection device for a vehicle interior having a flexible planar formation movable between stored rest and tensioned protection positions. The formation is provided at a front end region in a tensioning direction with a dimensionally stable draw-out profile member guided between the rest and protection positions by at least one guide arrangement. The draw-out profile member includes a longitudinal compensator to compensate for deviations between movement directions of the guide arrangement and the draw-out profile member. The guide arrangement has at least one linearly guided carrier element, and the draw-out profile member includes an undercut compensation groove which extends in the longitudinal direction of the draw-out profile member and which is open towards the carrier. The carrier comprises a longitudinally displaceable sliding or rolling element which is retained in a positive-locking manner in the receiving groove in the opening direction of the compensation groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: BOS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Martin Fischer, Christoph Beutel, Danja Sperr, Nina Roeschinger, Darren Ketteringham
  • Patent number: 9481230
    Abstract: A sunvisor with for a vehicle, including a sunvisor body having a front surface and a rear surface, a hinging arrangement for hinging the sunvisor body to a roof structure of a vehicle body, the hinging arrangement including a hook member located above an upper side portion of the sunvisor body, an upper rod unrotatably connected to the sunvisor body, a detent member rotatably coupled to a lateral end portion of the upper rod outside the sunvisor body and to the roof structure and includes pivot means to swing the sunvisor body between a first screening position and a second screening position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GRUPO ANTOLIN-INGENIERIA, S.A
    Inventors: Ignacio Marcos Primo, Vincent Bernard
  • Patent number: 9481231
    Abstract: A method includes providing a vehicle door having an inner panel, an outer panel, and a bracket assembly. The inner panel and the outer panel cooperate to define a door cavity and a window opening. The bracket assembly is mounted with respect to the inner panel inside the door cavity. The method further includes inserting the division post into the door cavity through the window opening, and engaging the division post with the bracket assembly such that the bracket assembly secures the division post to the inner panel. A corresponding door assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Terrence P. Costigan, James K. Platt, James C. O'Kane, Matthew M. Kunz
  • Patent number: 9481232
    Abstract: A folding type awning board for electrically driven scooter, including: a frame fixed to the electrically driven scooter in which both side armrests are folded; and an awning screen installed at least one of the front, rear, left, right sides and a ceiling of the frame. The frame includes a ceiling frame; a seat fixing section which is hinge combined to the ceiling frame; and first and second armrest fixing rods, the upper end portions of which are hinge connected to said ceiling frame at a portion of said ceiling frame in the front of said seat fixing section, and the lower end portions of which are connected to the armrests of the electrically driven scooter. First and second armrest fixing rods and the ceiling frame are folded together so as to be erected or laid down when the armrests are folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Inventor: Chun Bok Lee
  • Patent number: 9481233
    Abstract: A sheet winding apparatus has a sheet, a winding axis to which one end of the sheet is fixed and having a cylindrical shape, a spring that is arranged in the winding axis and gives a biasing force to the winding axis in an opposite direction of drawing-out direction of the sheet, and a soundproof tube that is arranged between an outer periphery of the spring and inside the winding axis. The soundproof tube has first projected portions projecting outward from an outer periphery of the soundproof tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: HAYASHI TELEMPU Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Nakatsuka, Kenji Yamada, Makoto Oguri, Koichi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9481234
    Abstract: A vehicle driving system includes an engine, an electric motor, a clutch, a torque converter, a transmission, a front module, and a housing. The clutch is configured to selectively connect or interrupt a power transmission path between the engine and the electric motor. The front module includes the clutch and the electric motor. The housing has an accommodation space that accommodates the front module and an accommodation space that accommodates the torque converter. The housing is a single member. The engine, the electric motor, the clutch, the torque converter and the transmission are arranged in series with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiko Ideshio, Shinji Matsumoto, Daiki Suyama, Katsuhiko Hattori
  • Patent number: 9481235
    Abstract: A control device performs a control process such that when there is a request in a series/parallel mode to switch the current mode to a parallel mode, and the current speed ratio also has a value faster than a Lo rotation synchronization speed ratio, the control device performs the step of switching the running mode to the parallel mode via a series mode with asynchronous switching, whereas when the current speed ratio has a value slower than the Lo rotation synchronization speed ratio, the control device performs the step of switching the running mode to the parallel mode via the series mode with synchronous switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidehiko Banshoya, Atsushi Tabata, Toshiki Kanada, Haruhisa Suzuki, Atsushi Kawamoto, Tatsuya Imamura, Kiyonori Takagi
  • Patent number: 9481236
    Abstract: A powertrain is disclosed. A ring gear is attached to a first distal end of a crankshaft such that the ring gear and the crankshaft are rotatable in unison about a longitudinal axis. A motor-generator includes a motor/generator shaft rotatable about a first axis spaced from the longitudinal axis. A starter mechanism includes a first starter gear coupleable to the motor/generator shaft and rotatable about a second axis spaced from the longitudinal axis. The first and second axes are spaced and substantially parallel to each other. The first starter gear is movable along the second axis between a first position engaging the ring gear such that torque is transferred from the motor/generator shaft through the first starter gear and the ring gear to the crankshaft to start the engine, and a second position disengaged from the ring gear to rotatably disconnect the starter mechanism from the ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alan G. Holmes, Michael G. Reynolds, Alexandru Rajala, Chandra S. Namuduri
  • Patent number: 9481237
    Abstract: A system for controlling an air flow in a vehicle may include a front air introduction apparatus mounted in front of an engine, a condenser provided to the front air introduction apparatus, an intercooler provided behind the condenser, a radiator provided between the intercooler and the engine, an active air flap for controlling air flow being introduced to the front air introduction apparatus, a side air introduction apparatus mounted to a side of an engine compartment for forwarding air to the engine, a connection line connected between the side air introduction apparatus and the front air introduction apparatus, a control valve for controlling air flow through the connection line, a plurality of sensors for measuring an operation state of the vehicle, and a control unit for determining an operation state of the vehicle based on a plurality of sensor signals, and controlling operation of the control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jongwoo Nam, Hyun Cho, Joonho Lee, Hanshin Chung
  • Patent number: 9481238
    Abstract: A crash-tolerant system arrangement in an engine compartment situated in the front end region of a motor vehicle includes an exhaust emission control system having an essentially cylindrical first catalytic converter housing situated in front of the exhaust gas turbocharger in the travel direction. The exhaust gas turbocharger is mechanically connected to an exhaust gas manifold via a first fastening device, and to an engine block via a second fastening device, the first and the second fastening devices being designed in such a way that a detachment of the connection of the exhaust gas turbocharger to the exhaust gas manifold and/or a detachment of the connection of the exhaust gas turbocharger to the engine block take(s) place within a predefined upper value range for the pressure force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Gerd Tiefenbacher, Roland Huss, Stefan Schaible, Peter Raitschev, Johannes Kipp, Georg Georgs, Gerd Duerr
  • Patent number: 9481239
    Abstract: A misfuelling prevention apparatus for vehicles can prevent a diesel vehicle from being filled with a wrong fuel. The apparatus for vehicles may include an upper housing at an entrance of a filler neck, an internal housing located at a bottom of the upper housing while being supported by an interior of the filler neck, a stopper and a stopper spring, and a flapper and a flapper spring. The stopper may be at one side of the internal housing to be rotated around a pin by a contact with an oil gun. One end of the flapper may be rotatably installed in a pin structure at an opposite side of the internal housing with respect to the stopper and the other end of the flapper may be caught in a recess of the stopper. The flapper is to be pushed and selectively opened by the oil gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Bu Yeol Ryu, Pil Seon Choi, Bo Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 9481240
    Abstract: A cover assembly for a filling port of a vehicle includes a hinge structure and a cover portion. The hinge structure includes an interface portion having a plurality of retention tabs. Each of the plurality of retention tabs include an inboard surface that is spaced from an outboard surface of the interface portion. The cover portion includes a plurality of cover tabs. Each of the cover tabs include an outboard surface that is spaced from an inboard surface of the cover portion. The cover portion is disposed adjacent the outboard surface of the interface portion. Each of the retention tabs is engaged with one of the cover tabs in interlocking engagement. Each of the cover tabs is disposed between one of the retention tabs and the interface portion. Each of the retention tabs is disposed between one of the cover tabs and the cover portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Matthew M. Stack, Robin L. Champion
  • Patent number: 9481241
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes an engine, a vehicle body panel, a photovoltaic unit attached to the vehicle body panel, and a cooling arrangement. The cooling arrangement includes a heat exchanger and a first cooling loop configured to accept heat from the engine and reject heat through the heat exchanger. The cooling arrangement also includes a second cooling loop configured to accept heat from the photovoltaic unit and reject heat through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Jackson
  • Patent number: 9481242
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a suspension system coupled to a main frame of ride-on equipment including a subframe coupled to the main frame with a pivot including a pivot axis. Some embodiments include a transaxle assembly supported on the subframe coupled to a drive wheel, and a power source supported on the main frame coupled to the transaxle assembly. A rider can control the transaxle assembly with a compensated control linkage assembly that can compensate for movement of the subframe. Some embodiments include driven pulleys, idler pulleys and backside idler pulleys supported by the subframe coupled to the power source not supported by the subframe. In some embodiments, the pivot axis resides between the power source and the transaxle assembly. In some embodiments, the drive wheel can be driven by an electric motor supported by the subframe and the power source can be a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark J. Melone, James F. Marshall, Richard Smith, Mark Lynch, Travis Rasch, Erik Slegelis, Steven J. Weber, Denis Oswald
  • Patent number: 9481243
    Abstract: A method controls a powertrain that directs power from an engine and a transmission to all four wheels or to just front wheels or to just rear wheels. The method includes monitoring information transmitted over a communications network. The method determines whether one or more components of the powertrain are in an active condition or in an inactive condition. The one or more components of the powertrain are in the inactive condition when not connected to the transmission and not connected to the front wheels or the rear wheels. The one or more components of the powertrain are in the active condition when connected to the transmission and connected to the front wheels and the rear wheels. The method switches the one or more components of the powertrain between the inactive condition and the active condition based at least in part on visual data provided by an on-board camera system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Magna Powertrain of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley R. Larkin, Johannes Quehenberger
  • Patent number: 9481244
    Abstract: A utility machine including a frame, a prime mover supported by the frame, a pair of wheels rotatably coupled to the frame, a drive disk coupled to the prime mover to be driven by the prime mover, and a friction disk assembly. The friction disk assembly includes a friction disk in engagement with the drive disk for transmitting rotation of the drive disk to the pair of wheels, and a carrier disk coupled to the friction disk for rotation therewith. The utility machine also includes a shifter mechanism including a bearing disposed directly between the friction disk and the carrier disk. The shifter mechanism is operable to move the friction disk assembly with respect to the drive disk to selectively vary a drive speed of the pair of wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Ariens Company
    Inventors: Scot A. Koehler, Kyle T. Roggenkamp, Perry L. Prochnow
  • Patent number: 9481245
    Abstract: A vehicle sobriety interlock system including a sobriety testing apparatus for testing a driver of a vehicle for intoxication and an interlock system responsive to test results from the sobriety testing apparatus for controlling ignition of an engine of the vehicle. The interlock system, in response to a test result indicating that the driver is sober, allows the driver to start the engine of the vehicle. During a vehicle warm-up time period of a predetermined length following start of the engine and before a transmission of the vehicle has been engaged for putting the vehicle in motion, the interlock system delays a retest of the driver with the sobriety testing system for intoxication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: 1A Smart Start LLC
    Inventor: Aaron Theodore Nelson
  • Patent number: 9481246
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle control apparatus and a control method thereof, and the vehicle control apparatus may include a body portion comprising an outer frame constituting an external appearance of a vehicle and an inner frame formed to allow a user to get on, a sensing unit configured to sense a user's input from at least one sensing region formed on the body portion, and a controller configured to drive at least one of functions that can be executed in the vehicle based on at least one of a location of the sensing region at which the user's input is sensed and the user's input to the sensing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seonghwan Kim, Hyunsun Lyu, Minah Han
  • Patent number: 9481247
    Abstract: A vehicular display apparatus includes a meter main body, and a translucent window held in the meter main body. The translucent window has a translucent glass main body portion, a first extension portion extending in a display direction from an outer edge portion of the main body portion, a second extension portion extending in a backward direction from a leading end portion of the first extension portion, and an engaging tab extending in the backward direction from the second extension portion to be engaged with a catch portion. In the configuration, a warp length that is required for the engaging tab can be ensured by cooperation between the engaging tab and the second extension portion. Therefore, even when the position of the engaging tab is moved in the display direction to ensure a space between a vehicle component and an attachment structure, the attachment structure can be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Minoru Sumiya
  • Patent number: 9481248
    Abstract: An embodiment provides a method, including: receiving input via a sensor positioned within a vehicle; determining, using the sensor input, a passenger is within the vehicle; and analyzing the input received via the sensor to selectively disable a feature of an information handling device within the vehicle. In some embodiments, different sets of instruments or features thereof may be selectively disabled depending on the presence of a driver and/or passenger. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: John Scott Crowe, Nathan J. Peterson, Amy Leigh Rose, Jennifer Lee-Baron
  • Patent number: 9481249
    Abstract: An electric vehicle equipped with an automotive battery. The automotive battery has a charging unit on the left side surface, discharging units on the right side surface, and a battery-side power supply terminal on the lower surface. The automotive battery drives an electric motor when the vehicle is moving, supplies power to external electrical products when the vehicle is not moving, and is configured so as to be usable at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takayuki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9481250
    Abstract: A mining vehicle includes electric components, devices or machines operating at alternating voltage and having a specific nominal voltage. Power is fed to the mining vehicle from an alternating current network with a specific voltage level. The mining vehicle further includes a transformer arranged to transform the voltage level of the alternating current network into the nominal voltage. When a voltage higher than the nominal voltage is fed to the transformer, the transformer lowers this higher voltage to the nominal voltage. When a voltage lower than the nominal voltage is fed to the transformer, the transformer raises the voltage to the nominal voltage. The transformer is arranged to feed the electric component, device or machine both when a voltage lower than the nominal voltage is fed to the transformer and when a voltage higher than the nominal voltage is fed to the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: SANDVIK MINING AND CONTRUCTION OY
    Inventors: Jukka Osara, Samuli Kouhia
  • Patent number: 9481251
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling regenerative braking of a hybrid electric vehicle are provided and that adjust a regenerative braking torque by classifying as at least two or more regenerative braking modes and applying different regenerative braking slopes to each mode. The apparatus includes a motor controller that is configured to adjust a driving torque of a motor and a brake controller that is configured to adjust hydraulic pressure supplied to a brake cylinder of a wheel by calculating a braking torque. A hybrid controller is configured to adjust a regenerative braking torque by classifying as at least two or more regenerative braking modes and applying different regenerative braking slopes based on each mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jee Wook Huh, Kyoung Cheol Oh
  • Patent number: 9481252
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for reducing engine fuel consumption during regenerative braking. According to certain embodiments, the regenerative braking system has an engine, a generator, a rectifier, a first inverter, a traction motor, and a reverse recovery unit. The generator is configured to be driven by the engine to produce AC electrical power. The rectifier is configured to receive AC electrical power from the generator and convert the AC power to DC power. The first inverter is configured to receive the DC power and convert the DC power to AC power. The traction motor is configured to be driven by the AC power in a traction mode, and to produce regenerated power when rotated in reverse in a regenerative braking mode. The reverse recovery unit has a second inverter and a filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Baojun Si, Dustin C. Selvey, William J. Tate, Mary Jill Trumper, Alexander Cameron Crosman, III
  • Patent number: 9481253
    Abstract: An energy storage system for connection to a traction power supply that provides power to an electric vehicle. The energy storage system includes a power controller that controls a DC-DC converter to transfer electrical energy from the traction power supply to electrical energy storage when the train is braking. The power controller also controls the converter to transfer electrical energy from the electrical energy storage to the traction power supply when the train is accelerating. The controller slows the rate of energy transfer when upper and lower voltage boundary limits of the electrical energy storage are approached, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: ABB Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Inniss, Omar Messas
  • Patent number: 9481254
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for improving acceleration performance of an electric vehicle that includes an electric motor for propulsion. An exemplary system may include an inverter configured to drive the electric motor. The inverter may include at least one power electronic device. The system may also include a torque capability controller. The torque capability controller may be configured to receive information indicative of a selection between a first mode and a second mode. The second mode may correspond to a higher torque to be output by the electric motor than the first mode. The torque capability controller may also be configured to apply a switching frequency to the at least one power electronic device. The switching frequency may have a lower value when the received information indicates the selection of the second mode than when the received information indicates the selection of the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: FARADAY&FUTURE INC.
    Inventors: Steven E. Schulz, Silva Hiti
  • Patent number: 9481255
    Abstract: A method for controlling an on-board charger (OBC) of an eco-friendly vehicle can widen the range of an AC input power frequency at which the charging operation of the OBC is possible without increasing the capacity of a power factor correction (PFC) capacitor. According to the method, an increase in output voltage ripple of the PFC capacitor is suppressed by sensing an AC input voltage frequency and then performing variable control of decreasing output power of the OBC based on the sensed frequency, i.e., a variable control of decreasing the output power of the OBC as the AC input voltage frequency decreases, so that the range of the AC input power frequency at which the charging operation of the OBC is possible can be extended without increasing the capacity of a PFC power element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jeong Bin Yim, Jae Hwa Jeon, Dae Woong Han, Sang Kyu Lee
  • Patent number: 9481256
    Abstract: An electric vehicle utilizes an internal combustion engine to drive the vehicle's main electric drive system in the regeneration mode and to charge the battery when the vehicle is stopped. The electric vehicle's main drive controller and motor are used as the generator to recharge the battery when the vehicle is stopped via a clutch mechanism allowing the motor to act as a generator while the vehicle is at rest. As the vehicle proceeds throughout the drive cycle, the vehicle is powered by the electric motor from the battery. The battery is recharged to a specified state of charge when the vehicle is parked. The internal combustion engine only operates to charge the battery, and the electric motor is used to propel the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: AMP Electric Vehicles Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Arkus, Stephen S. Burns, Donald L. Wires
  • Patent number: 9481257
    Abstract: An electric vehicle battery charging device includes: a series resonance part, which receives a rectified voltage, and which includes a transformer, a resonant inductor, and a resonant capacitor; a rectifying part, of which a first input end is connected with one end of a secondary winding of the transformer, a second input end is connected with the other end of the secondary winding of the transformer, and an output end is connected with an electric vehicle battery; and a switching part, of which one end is connected with one end of the secondary winding of the transformer and the first input end of the rectifying part, and the other end is connected with the other end of the secondary winding of the transformer and the second input end of the rectifying part, where the switching part controls the current from the secondary winding of the transformer to the rectifying part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Myongji University Industry and Academia Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Jun-Young Lee, Gwang-Min Yoo, Seung-Hee Park
  • Patent number: 9481258
    Abstract: A vehicle (3, 3A) is provided with: a power receiving coil (3a) that is provided so as to face a ground power supply coil (2a) and that receives electric power from the ground power supply coil (2a); a storage battery (3d) that stores the electric power received by the power receiving coil (3a); and a power supply coil (3f) that supplies the electric power received by the power receiving coil (3a) to the outside. A transporting system is provided with: a plurality of travel tracks (1A, 1B) along which the plurality of vehicles (3, 3A) travel; and power transfer areas (Ka, Kb) where a vehicle (3, 3A) traveling along a travel track (1A) and a vehicle (3, 3A) traveling along another travel track (1B) are able to mutually transfer electric power to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Motonao Niizuma
  • Patent number: 9481259
    Abstract: Disclosed is a charging apparatus to supply a power to a battery of an electric vehicle. The charging apparatus includes a bidirectional power conversion unit including three pairs of switching device groups and having one end connected to a power system and an opposite end; an energy storage unit connected to the opposite end of the bidirectional power conversion unit to store the DC power output through the opposite end of the bidirectional power conversion unit; a multi-DC power output unit to output the DC power to an outside in the first inverse operation mode; and a charging control unit to detect a charging condition of the charging apparatus. The switching device groups serve as buck-converters, respectively, in the first inverse operation mode to convert the DC power into another DC power having a level different from a level of the DC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Heon Soo Choi, Gi Hyun Kwon
  • Patent number: 9481260
    Abstract: An industrial vehicle includes a battery that includes battery cells including a battery liquid and connected in series, an battery liquid shortage detection unit detecting a shortage of the battery liquid by detecting a voltage value between the battery cells, an battery liquid-shortage time calculation unit calculating a battery liquid-shortage time, which is a cumulative time of the shortage of the electrolyte detected by the battery liquid shortage detection unit, a memory storing the battery liquid-shortage time calculated by the battery liquid-shortage time calculation unit, and a communication controller attaching time information to the battery liquid-shortage time stored in the memory and outputting the battery liquid-shortage time with the time information to a management server, at a predetermined timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Feng Hua
  • Patent number: 9481262
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric motor, a direct current power source, and an inverter operatively connected to the direct current power source and the electric motor. The inverter is configured to convert direct current from the power source to alternating current and to transmit the alternating current to the electric motor. The inverter is characterized by an on status and an off status. A controller is operatively connected to the inverter and is configured to control whether the inverter is on or off. The controller is configured to selectively cause the inverter to enter a mode of operation in which the inverter cycles between being on and off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Min-Joong Kim, Jinming Liu, Sean W. McGrogan