Patents Issued in March 28, 2017
  • Patent number: 9604503
    Abstract: A belt layer of a pneumatic tire includes an inner-side cross belt and an outer-side cross belt forming belt angles of mutually different signs with the tire circumferential direction with absolute values from 46° to 80°, inclusive; a circumferential reinforcing layer arranged between the inner-side cross belt and the outer-side cross belt and forming a belt angle of within ±5° with the tire circumferential direction; and a supplemental belt arranged inside of the inner-side cross belt in the radial direction of the tire and forming a belt angle with the tire circumferential direction with an absolute value from 10° to 45°, inclusive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Koshi Iga, Hideki Hamanaka, Koichi Kotoku
  • Patent number: 9604504
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire has an inboard tire tread edge and an outboard tire tread edge positioned towards the center of a vehicle body and away from the center of the vehicle body, respectively. The tire tread is divided by circumferentially continuously extending main grooves into a center land portion, a pair of middle land portions and a pair of shoulder land portions. In a meridian section of the tire, a center profile of a tread of the center land portion and a middle profile of a tread of each of the middle land portions protrude convexly, radially outwardly from a virtual tread profile defined as smoothly passing through the axial ends of the treads of the center land portion and the middle land portions. The peak of the center profile and the peak of the middle profile are off-centered toward the outboard tire tread edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Susumu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9604505
    Abstract: Tread for civil engineering tires, having blocks in the central part and edge ribs, each block having a width Ltb measured parallel to transverse edges and a width Lcb measured along the circumferential direction, wherein each edge rib has a plurality of recesses, forming housings, with a transverse width Lte and a circumferential length Lce, delimited over the whole of its height He by transversely orientated walls and a circumferentially orientated wall, having a suitable geometry to receive at least an end part of a block of the central region with a circumferential clearance Ac in the circumferential direction and a transverse clearance At in the transverse or axial direction, these clearances determined to ensure that, in the usual running conditions of the tire the end part of said block of the central region is at least partially in contact with at least one of the transversely orientated walls of each recess, thereby preventing each of the blocks, having its ends locked in said recesses, from coming i
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignees: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ESTABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, MICHELIN RECHERCHE ET TECHNIQUE S.A.
    Inventor: Dominique Chauvin
  • Patent number: 9604506
    Abstract: In a tread part (1), a tilted land portion (200) is divided into multiple blocks by a tilted narrow groove (300) and branched narrow grooves (350). Tilted main grooves (100) include an upper tilted main groove (101) and a lower tilted main groove (102). The branched narrow grooves (350) include first branched narrow grooves (350a) and second branched narrow grooves (350b). First blocks (210) and second blocks (220) have quadrilateral or pentagonal shapes. Of the first blocks (210), one first block and another first block adjacent to the one first block in a tilt direction KC have the same shape. Of the second blocks (220), one second block and another second block adjacent to the one second block in the tilt direction KC have the same shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoya Ochi
  • Patent number: 9604507
    Abstract: A tread profile of a vehicle tire has profile positives such as profile blocks or tread bands that have sipes. The sipes have an approximately ?-shaped geometry in plan view having two axial sections which are arranged approximately in an axial direction and which are arranged on a common, imaginary straight line with a spacing (a) to one another; a central bulge arranged between the axial sections, wherein the bulge has a maximum extent (b) measured in the axial direction; and, wherein a<b, such that undercuts are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Amelia Olga Goncalves Ankiewicz, Anastassia Pokutta-Paskaleva, Alexander Wuest, Thomas Buchinger-Barnstorf, Stefan Rittweger, Thomas Fernandez, Klaudia Dobczyk
  • Patent number: 9604508
    Abstract: A method for communicating data between a vehicle and a mobile computing device includes locating at least one NFC-enabled device on the vehicle. Vehicle user data is wirelessly transferred between the NFC-enabled device and the mobile computing device. Using the vehicle user data, the NFC-enabled device on the vehicle and the mobile computing device are paired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: iTIRE, LLC
    Inventors: Alan C. Lesesky, Samuel Duke Drinkard
  • Patent number: 9604509
    Abstract: A vehicle axle assembly includes a hub, which is mounted on a cylindrical axle body so that it can rotate about a central longitudinal axis, and an axially inner and an axially outer shaft sealing ring for indirect or direct sealing between the axle body and the hub. In order to enable an autonomous feed of pressure medium into a vehicle tire, the vehicle axle assembly includes an annular chamber that is formed between the two shaft sealing rings, the axle body and the hub, a first pressure medium line that extends through the axle body or one of the two shaft sealing rings and opens out into the annular chamber, and a second pressure medium line that extends out of the annular chamber through the hub and is designed to be connected to a wheel that is secured on the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: GV ENGINEERING GMBH
    Inventor: Konstantinos Tsiberidis
  • Patent number: 9604510
    Abstract: A TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) sensor setting method is disclosed to use a setting tool for selecting the ID codes of multiple TPMS sensors and burning a communication protocol into the multiple selected TPMS sensors at a time, significantly shortening the operation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: CUB ELECPARTS INC.
    Inventors: San-Chuan Yu, Tsan-Nung Wang, Chi-Hung Chen, Chao-Ching Hu
  • Patent number: 9604511
    Abstract: A tire assembly includes: a tire having a pneumatic cavity; first and second sidewalls extending respectively from first and second tire bead regions to a tire tread region, the first sidewall having at least one bending region operatively bending when circumferentially adjacent a rolling tire footprint; a sidewall groove defined by groove sidewalls positioned within the bending region of the first tire sidewall, the groove deforming segment by segment between a non-deformed state and a deformed, constricted state in response to the bending of the first sidewall bending region circumferentially adjacent the rolling tire footprint; an air passageway resiliently deforming segment by segment between an expanded condition and an at least partially collapsed condition in response to respective segment by segment deformation of the sidewall groove when circumferentially adjacent the rolling tire footprint; and an assembly mounted to the first sidewall the tire, the assembly including a pressure regulator with an el
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Robert Leon Benedict, Robin Lamgaday, Cheng-Hsiung Lin
  • Patent number: 9604512
    Abstract: A planter with a two-point hitch is converted to a drawbar configuration through use of an existing through-bore in the planter's pull tongue that originally served as part of a swiveling connection between the tongue and the two-point hitch. A pinned connection to the frame of the conversion unit via this existing through-bore of the planter tongue is augmented with a clamping mechanism that secures the planter tongue in place between two spaced-apart side plates of the conversion unit to prevent relative rotation between the planter tongue and the conversion unit about the axis of the coupling pin. The side plates are shaped so as not to interfere with connection lugs on the pull tongue of the planter where diagonal braces are connected between the tongue and foldable of the planter. Installation requires no modification to the planter, and the conversion unit is entirely removable in a non-destructive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SCHNELL INDUSTRIES INC.
    Inventors: Fred Plett Dueck, Brenton Leray Dueck
  • Patent number: 9604513
    Abstract: There are provided a cap having an expanded pad and an apparatus having a towing pipe provided with the cap. The cap includes a body having opened ends and an expanded pad attached to an inner circumferential surface of the body. The expanded pad does not close the opened ends of the body before being heated, expands when being heated, and closes the opened ends of the body after being heated. The body includes a ring-shaped ring plate and a plurality of legs that protrudes from one side of the ring plate and spaces apart from each other along a circumference of the ring plate. When the expanded pad is heated, ends of the legs are bent radially outwardly by expansion of the expanded pad. The body includes a head and a screw protruding from one side of the head. The head and screw are opened in a longitudinal direction of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Dong-Wook Kim, Hyun-Baek Jung
  • Patent number: 9604514
    Abstract: An electrical connection arrangement on a vehicle comprising vehicle contact means connectable to an implement contact means associated with an implement. The vehicle and/or implement contact means is connectable to a control unit which determines wear or damage of the vehicle and/or implement contact means and the wear or damage is communicated to the vehicle operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventor: Daniel Vonroth
  • Patent number: 9604515
    Abstract: A spring made of a fiber composite includes a metal thread which is connected to the spring and has an electrical resistance which changes in dependence on a deformation of the spring. The metal thread can be integrated inside the spring or may also be arranged on an outer side of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Joachim Schmitt
  • Patent number: 9604516
    Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle that is capable of preventing a lower pad from being separated from a lower arm by elastic force of a spring. The lower pad of the suspension system for a vehicle includes an elastically deformable part made of a material deformable by elastic force of the spring, and a base part made of a material harder than the material of the elastically deformable part, and coupled to the lower arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung Hwan Cha
  • Patent number: 9604517
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension having a frame attachment portion attached to a saddle, first and second bolster springs mounted to spring mounts on an outboard side of the saddle and mounted on walls of a spring mount on an outboard side of an equalizing beam, and third and fourth bolster springs mounted to walls of a spring mount on an inboard side of the saddle and mounted to spring mounts on an inboard side of the equalizing beam, wherein upwardly extending flanges on the bottom of the first and second bolster sprints are mounted to each other using a common fastener, and wherein upwardly extending flanges on the bottom of the third and fourth bolster springs are mounted to each other with a common fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Hendrickson USA, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Shawn D. Noble, Matthew J. Van Meter
  • Patent number: 9604518
    Abstract: A suspension strut for a vehicle has an air spring unit and a damper unit. The damper unit has a damper tube, which extends into a rolling tube of the air spring unit. The damper tube has supporting geometries distributed over its circumference, against which supporting geometries a radially expanded end of the rolling tube is supported. In order to support the rolling tube on the supporting geometries of the damper tube, a torsion element is provided. The torsion element is arranged between the radially expanded end of the rolling tube and the supporting geometries of the damper tube. The torsion element forms a form fit with the supporting geometries for the purpose of torque transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Bilstein GmbH
    Inventors: Olaf Reichmann, Steffen Werner, Georg Meinert, Mirco Adam
  • Patent number: 9604519
    Abstract: An assembly for supporting a vehicle chassis on a ground engaging element of the vehicle includes a first attachment component for attaching the assembly to the ground engaging element, a second attachment component for attaching the assembly to the chassis and an adjustment component for shifting the first attachment component between a plurality of operating positions relative to the second attachment component. A suspension component is operably interposed between the first attachment component and the second attachment component is configured to regulate motion transfer between the first attachment component and the second attachment component. The suspension component functions independently of the operating position. A locking mechanism mechanically locks the assembly into any of the plurality of operating positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: James Slawson
  • Patent number: 9604520
    Abstract: An air spring assembly or air spring damper with an integrated valve control for controlling a level position of a vehicle or of a driver's cab includes a rolling tube, a lid and an air spring bellows which together delimit a pressure chamber with compressed air. A control valve includes an actuation device for feeding compressed air into the pressure chamber or for discharging compressed air from the pressure chamber. A compression spring device has a first end operatively connected to the rolling piston or the lid and a second end operatively connected to the actuation device. The compression spring device is configured with at least two parts including a central spring facing towards the rolling piston or the lid and a control valve biasing spring facing towards the control valve. The central spring is biased to a greater extent than the control valve biasing spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: VIBRACOUSTIC CV AIR SPRINGS GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Weber, Stephan Dehlwes
  • Patent number: 9604521
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, an engine cooling system configured to cool the engine with a coolant, an air conditioning apparatus, a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the coolant and a refrigerant, and an ECU that controls the air conditioning apparatus. The air conditioning apparatus includes a compressor that compresses the refrigerant, and the compressor is driven in response to an air conditioning request to air condition a passenger compartment. Even in the absence of the air conditioning request, the ECU causes the compressor to be driven to heat the coolant by radiation of heat from the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hirabayashi, Kunihiko Jinno, Hiroaki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9604522
    Abstract: A method remotely activates an air-conditioning function of a motor vehicle by a mobile communication device. This involves transmitting an activation signal by a mobile communication device to a receiver device of the motor vehicle, receiving the activation signal by the receiver device of the motor vehicle, determining a current location by a location-determining device of the motor vehicle, transferring information about the determined location from the motor vehicle to the mobile communication device, and activating the air-conditioning function of the motor vehicle if the receiver device has received a confirmation signal transmitted by the mobile communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Martin Geissenhoener
  • Patent number: 9604523
    Abstract: Systems, kits and methods for transferring heat with a portion of a mammal are provided. Aspects of the subject systems include a negative pressure device configured to apply negative pressure to a portion of a mammal, and a temperature modulation device configured to contact the portion of the mammal under negative pressure in a manner sufficient to transfer heat with the contacted portion of the mammal, e.g., either remove heat or introduce heat into the contacted portion of the mammal. The disclosed systems and methods find use in a variety of different applications, including both therapeutic and non-therapeutic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: DR. SCHNEIDER KUNSTSTOFFWERKE GMBH
    Inventors: Josef Schwarz, Florian Leistner
  • Patent number: 9604524
    Abstract: A pair of tension adjustment blocks can include one or more positioning members receivable in the tension adjustment block mounting aperture to define a selected one of a plurality of distances from the aperture to a corresponding end of the tension adjustment block. When the tension adjustment blocks are selectively arranged in one of a plurality of orientations with one of the positioning members inserted into the tension adjustment block mounting aperture of each of the side rails to define a selected distance, the corresponding end of each tension adjustment block retains a header at a selected fore/aft position related to the selected distance that is different from the other adjustment tension adjustment block orientations and related distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TruXedo, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel L. Carlson, Michael R. Spencer
  • Patent number: 9604525
    Abstract: A vehicle-drive-device control device controls an operating point of the engine by adjusting a torque of a first electric motor, such that a sum of the engine torque and the first electric motor torque is balanced with a torque of an input-side rotating element of a fluid transmission device, which is generated depending on a speed ratio of the fluid transmission device. The control device obtains the input-side rotating element torque based on the engine rotation speed indicated by a target engine operating point, and to determine the first electric motor torque based on the obtained torque and the engine torque indicated by the target engine operating point. The control device adjusts the first electric motor torque while giving/receiving the electric power between the first and second electric motors, to make the speed ratio lower when a temperature of operating oil is low, than when the temperature is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Tatsuya Imamura, Tooru Matsubara
  • Patent number: 9604526
    Abstract: A method for controlling torque delivery in a vehicle powertrain using an enhanced limited operating strategy. The strategy is implemented when a powertrain controller fails to respond properly to a driver command for traction wheel torque whereby a modified wheel torque at vehicle traction wheels under driver control is made available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Greg Edward Gauthier, John Proietty
  • Patent number: 9604527
    Abstract: A hybrid powertrain for powering a vehicle includes a micro turbine assembly with multi-fuel capabilities and a turbine drive shaft extending therefrom. The turbine drive shaft has a turbine engaged position where a turbine rotational output of the micro turbine assembly is transferred by the turbine drive shaft to wheels of the vehicle, and a turbine unengaged position where the turbine rotational output is independent from the wheels. A generator is selectively connected to the micro turbine assembly in parallel with a portion of the turbine drive shaft. A power storage device is chargeable by the generator and can drive an electric motor. A motor drive shaft has a motor engaged position where a motor rotational output of the electric motor is transferred by the motor drive shaft to the wheels, and a motor unengaged position where the motor rotational output is independent from the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Vittorio Manente
  • Patent number: 9604528
    Abstract: A control apparatus is applied to a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine that is capable of changing over its combustion state between lean combustion and stoichiometric combustion. The control apparatus executes noise suppression control by limiting the operating point of the internal combustion engine to be upon a noise suppression line for lean combustion or to be upon a noise suppression line for stoichiometric combustion, so that the noise generated by a power transmission mechanism is suppressed. When changing over from lean combustion to stoichiometric combustion during execution of noise suppression control, the control apparatus of the present invention changes the air/fuel ratio after changing the operating point of the internal combustion engine from one point to a point that is more toward the lower torque side of the noise suppression line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Gohki Kinoshita, Yoshihito Kanno, Hiroki Morita
  • Patent number: 9604529
    Abstract: A four wheel drive power transmission system may include: a front wheel drive unit configured to selectively transmit power of an engine and power of a first motor/generator to a front wheel differential apparatus; and a rear wheel drive unit configured to transmit power of a second motor/generator to a rear wheel reduction gear unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Kum Lim Choi
  • Patent number: 9604530
    Abstract: A drive system for a hybrid vehicle, the drive system includes an engine (1), a rotary machine (MG1), a differential unit (20), and a transmission unit (10). The rotary machine (MG1) is arranged coaxially with the engine (1). The differential unit (20) connects the engine (1) and the rotary machine (MG1) to a drive wheel side. The differential unit (20) is arranged coaxially with the engine (1) and the rotary machine (MG1). The differential unit (20) is arranged between the engine (1) and the rotary machine (MG2). The transmission unit (10) changes rotation of the engine in speed and transmits the rotation to the differential unit (20). The transmission unit (10) is arranged coaxially with the engine (1), the rotary machine (MG1) and the differential unit (20). The rotary machine (MG1) and the differential unit (20) are arranged between the transmission unit (10) and the engine (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Omuro, Atsushi Tabata, Ryuji Ibaraki, Yuji Yasuda, Isao Sato, Toshiki Kanada, Tatsuya Imamura, Kouichi Okuda, Masafumi Yamamoto, Keita Imai
  • Patent number: 9604531
    Abstract: A suspension structure includes a pair of trailing arms (12) each having at its front end a pivot (14) that is attached to a vehicle body, a beam member (13) connecting the pair of trailing arms, and a pair of in-wheel motor drive devices (31) coupled and fixed to rear end regions of the trailing arms. The position of the pivot (14) in a lateral direction of a vehicle is included in a range A, B, and C from an inner end to an outer end of the in-wheel motor drive device (31) in the lateral direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiro Tamura, Minoru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9604532
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a mobile work machine, in particular in the form of a dump truck or truck, comprising a diesel electric traction drive and a cooling system, wherein a common cooling circuit of the liquid cooling medium is provided for the parallel cooling of one or more components of the power electronics and for the cooling of one or more drive components in the region of the driven vehicle axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Liebherr-Mining Equipment Colmar SAS
    Inventors: Sebastien Nicolas Hoffmann, Kai Kugelstadt, Burkhard Richthammer
  • Patent number: 9604533
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric power storage device, motors, a grille shutter and at least one ECU. The ECU is configured to: (i) control the motors and the grille shutter, (ii) calculate the SOC of an electric power storage device, and (iii) execute opening control of the grille shutter such that a first amount of the air exceeds a second amount of the air. The first amount of the air is an amount of the air introduced into the vehicle from the outside of the vehicle when the SOC exceeds a predetermined value. The second amount of the air is an amount of the air introduced into the vehicle from the outside of the vehicle when the SOC does not exceed the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takao Itoh
  • Patent number: 9604534
    Abstract: A system for powering an active grille shutter assembly comprising a linkage system connected to a shutter, a generator connected to the shutter, an energy storage device connected to the generator, an electric motor connected to and powered by the energy storage device, and connected to the linkage system, and a controller connected to the energy storage device and the electric motor. The position of the shutter is adjusted by the linkage system, the position of the linkage system is adjusted by the electric motor, the operation of the electric motor is controlled by the controller, the electric motor is powered by energy stored in the energy storage device, and the energy storage device receives energy from the operation of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Feng Zhou, Ercan Mehmet Dede
  • Patent number: 9604535
    Abstract: A vehicle (3) equipped with gas tanks (30a, 30b) has a common channel (34c) and branch channels (34a, 34b) that branch from the common channel (34c) to the gas tanks (30a, 30b), as a filling passageway (34) through which gas is supplied from an external gas station (2) to the gas tanks (30a, 30b). The gas tank (30a) is better in heat dissipation characteristic than the gas tank (30b). Only the branch channel (34a) that corresponds to the gas tank (30a) is provided with a shutoff valve (40) or a flow regulation valve (46) that is capable of restricting the amount of gas supplied to the gas tank (30a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Yahashi, Tsukuo Ishitoya
  • Patent number: 9604536
    Abstract: A drive train configuration is disclosed. The drive train configuration has a transmission or transaxle assembly which may be directly mounted to a vehicle frame. The drive train configuration also comprises an engine that may be attached to a housing of the transmission or transaxle portion. The drive train configuration may also have a power take off mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Michael L. Bennett, Raymond Hauser
  • Patent number: 9604537
    Abstract: A vehicle including a driving axle (10), a driven axle (20), a hydraulic pump (14) and a hydraulic motor (24) providing hydraulic assistance for driving the driven axle (20) by lapping off torque applied to the driving axle (10). The driving axle (10) comprising includes a differential (11) thus defining two output half axles on which wheels are mounted. Rotation of the box allows the output half axles to be rotationally driven at distinct speeds. The hydraulic pump (14) includes a rotor and a stator, the stator being mounted fixed with respect to the chassis and the rotor being connected to and rotating as one with the differential box (11). The hydraulic pumps (14) are rotationally driven at a speed equal to the average speed of the two half axles associated with the differential (11) on which the pump is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: POCLAIN HYDRAULICS INDUSTRIE
    Inventors: Jean Heren, Cyrille d'Hersignerie, Laurent Albert, Julien Lambey, Clement Recoura, Christophe Gouzou
  • Patent number: 9604538
    Abstract: A vehicle including an engine at a rear, and a clutch system including a hydraulic conduit passing below the vehicle and connecting a master cylinder placed at the front of the vehicle and a slave cylinder located at the rear thereof. The hydraulic conduit is positioned in a vicinity of a pre-existing heat source in the vehicle, to be heated by the heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: RENAULT S.A.S.
    Inventors: Benoit Janier, Vincent Blondeau
  • Patent number: 9604539
    Abstract: An apparatus designed to be used in vehicles with automatic transmissions, to cause the engines to stall or cut-off if the driver leaves the vehicle while it is in drive or reverse. The apparatus features a sensor in a driver's seat and a sensor along a brake pedal, both connected to the vehicle's computer system and working in parallel for improving safety of a motorist. When the seat sensor indicates the seat has been vacated, and the brake sensor indicates the driver has removed his or her foot from the brake pedal while the vehicle is in D or R, a signal will be transmitted via the computer system to cut off the engine for improving safety of the motorist by preventing a possible accident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventor: Lourens Blignaut
  • Patent number: 9604540
    Abstract: A display unit incorporated in the housing surface of an instrument panel changes its display variously together with other display devices of the instrument panel such as a liquid crystal display, and displays information such as driving information, danger notification information and entertainment information in coordination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Takamatsu, Tai Inoue, Masahide Nagata, Takayuki Ogawa, Gosei Sato, Takao Kanai
  • Patent number: 9604541
    Abstract: A method and system are presented for configuring a vehicle operating environment. An initial VOE configuration file and a VOE components file are provided to a VOE configuring application. A user employs the application to modify the VOE configuration file. The modified VOE configuration file is provided to a vehicle, where the vehicle uses the modified VOE configuration file to configure an operating environment of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nuri Gokhan Anter
  • Patent number: 9604542
    Abstract: An I/O device for a vehicle includes at least one touch-sensitive I/O display unit DT, at least one output display unit DI and a control unit CU connecting the I/O display unit DT and the output display unit DI with an information exchange unit IEU. The touch-sensitive I/O display unit DT is located in a readily reachable position for a driver and the output display unit DI is located in a readily discernible position for a driver, and the control unit CU communicates output data DD-I/O related to an interactive I/O communication to the I/O display unit DT, receives touchscreen input data TI from the I/O display unit DT and communicates output data DD-O to the output display unit DI in relation with the input data TI. An I/O method using the above mentioned I/O device for a vehicle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: HARMAN BECKER AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventor: Oliver Michaelis
  • Patent number: 9604543
    Abstract: Methods an apparatus are presented for identifying ground fault locations in multi-drive systems in which individual drives perform self-diagnosis for detected faults based on an identified fault signal frequency while the system drives continue operation, and a ground fault location system identifies suspected drives and individually confirms or exonerates individual drives by selective command speed adjustment while the drives remain operational within system tolerance ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiangang Hu, Lixiang Wei, Zhijun Liu, Jeffrey D. McGuire
  • Patent number: 9604544
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a cable connector (1) for establishing an electrical connection to a device connector, in particular a device connector of an electric vehicle or a charging device for the electric vehicle, wherein the cable connector (1) comprises a mechanical locking device (7), which is designed to lock the cable connector (1) to the device connector, and the locking device (7) is disposed at least partly on an outer side of a main body (2) of the cable connector (1), wherein the cable connector (1) has a covering device (14), which is designed to cover the locking device (7) at least partly on the outer side of the main body (2), and the covering device (14) has an actuating region (16) for actuating the locking device (7) via the covering device (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Fehler, Thomas Fuhrer
  • Patent number: 9604545
    Abstract: A carrier communication method and system based on charging-discharging of an electric vehicle and a carrier device are disclosed. The carrier communication method comprises: determining whether a carrier signal from a peripheral apparatus is detected at an interface harness and if yes, determining whether the carrier signal is correct, when the electric vehicle is powered on to start; when the electric vehicle detects the carrier signal and the carrier signal is correct, receiving the carrier signal via the interface harness; and performing a coupling and filtering on the carrier signal to convert the carrier signal into a standard carrier signal and demodulating the standard carrier signal into a digital signal to obtain information about the peripheral apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignees: Shenzhen BYD Auto R&D Company Limited, BYD Company Limited
    Inventors: Xianhong Ma, Weiqun Wang
  • Patent number: 9604546
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a thermal dissipation system of an electric vehicle that includes: a heat exchanger arranged at the front part of the electric vehicle for providing heating or cooling to an air conditioning system of the electric vehicle; a first heat sink and a second heat sink, which are respectively arranged at the two sides of the front part of the heat exchanger; a number of rotatable and adjustable air deflectors for changing the flow direction of the air flowing through the heat dissipation system. Temperature sensors are included within the thermal dissipation system for sensing the working temperatures and the environmental temperatures of a battery pack and a motor of the electric vehicle. Opening and closing states of the air deflectors are adjusted in accordance with data provided by the temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: THUNDER POWER HONG KONG LTD.
    Inventors: Yong-Syuan Chen, Ming-Hui Ho, Jen-Chieh Hsiao
  • Patent number: 9604547
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle for a magnetic levitation track having a coach body (1) and a propulsion and supporting device (4) as well as at least one levitation frame (2) fastened on the coach body (1) and the propulsion and supporting device (4). The levitation frame (2) can be deflected transversely to the longitudinal axis of the propulsion and supporting device (4) and a spring suspension system (12, 14, 20, 21) is arranged between the levitation frame (2) and propulsion and supporting device (4). The levitation frame (2) has a traverse (13) and a carrier (17) which are connected to each other in an articulated fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Max Bögl Bauuntemehmung GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Stefan Bögl
  • Patent number: 9604548
    Abstract: The driving force controller for an electric vehicle that controls driving force of a motor in the drive system of an electric vehicle includes: a target driving force setting unit for setting the target driving force based on a request from a driver; a dividing unit for computing a first motor torque command value by dividing the target driving force by a reduction ratio; a target acceleration computing unit for computing target acceleration by dividing the target driving force by inertia of the drive system; an actual acceleration computing unit for computing actual acceleration by differentiating actual rotational speed of the motor; a correction amount computing unit for computing a correction amount for reducing deviation between the target acceleration and the actual acceleration; and a command value computing unit for computing a second motor torque command value by adding the correction amount to the first motor torque command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kensuke Osamura, Toshiyuki Iwahana, Mitsuo Hirata
  • Patent number: 9604549
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a cushion pad having elasticity and configured to be bent by a load of an occupant, the cushion pad including: a foamed-resin body made of foamed resin and provided at an ischium corresponding portion of the cushion pad, which is configured to support at least an ischial tuberosity of an occupant, and a first high elastic body of a sheet shape having a degree of elasticity higher than that of the foamed-resin body and provided at a front end portion of the cushion pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Fumiya Makiguchi, Miki Azuma, Yasuhiro Kato
  • Patent number: 9604550
    Abstract: A seat drive device is provided with: a single rotary motor; a plurality of operating members, which are arranged to correspond to a plurality of positioning mechanisms; a plurality of tubular members, which are arranged to correspond to the positioning mechanisms and selectively connect an output shaft to the positioning mechanism corresponding to the operating member operated with the operation of any one of the operating members and input shafts rotated by the rotary motor; and a single switch, which passes an electric current through the rotary motor with a polarity corresponding to the direction of the operation with the operation of any one of the operating members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sadao Ito
  • Patent number: 9604551
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for locking a vehicle seat-rail that improves the assembly convenience of a lever assembly and enhances space utilization of the seat-rail upper portion, and an assembling method. The apparatus includes a fixing bracket that is fixed to an outer surface of a moving rail; and an unlock lever that is rotatably coupled to the fixing bracket at an interruption. In particular, a rotation stopper is formed to protrude from a side surface of the unlock lever, and a fixing stopper is provided in a rotation path of the rotation stopper to regulate the excessive rotation of the unlock lever in one direction at the time of rotation of the unlock lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI DYMOS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Hyun Soo Kim, Jong Tak Lee
  • Patent number: 9604552
    Abstract: A vehicle seat which can retract a seat body in a refraction floor with components of a refraction structure not arranged on a surface of the retraction floor is provided by a simple structure. This includes: a support leg detachably retained by a leg retaining member, located on a vehicle body floor, and supporting a seat cushion; and a support base connected to the vehicle body floor to support a pivotable seat back. The seat back pivots relative to the support base to move the seat cushion to the refraction floor. The support leg pivots relative to the seat cushion in accordance with a pivotal movement of the seat back and reaches from the leg retaining member when the seat back has reached a predetermined pivoted position. The support leg is positioned lower than the leg retaining member when the vehicle seat is in a retracted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignees: TS Tech Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Akutsu, Koki Sato, Mitsumasa Nakamura, Maki Yamaguchi