Patents Issued in August 9, 2018
  • Publication number: 20180222273
    Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle having a damper and a first and second springs mounted coaxially around the damper and a preload adjuster for partially compressing at least one of the springs independently of the compression stroke. In one embodiment the preload adjuster is remotely controllable. In another embodiment the shock absorber includes an additional mechanism for preloading at least one of the springs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Paul COX
  • Publication number: 20180222274
    Abstract: Air damping systems for lift axles are described herein. In some embodiments, lift axle systems configured in accordance with the present technology can include one or more air springs for carrying vehicle sprung mass (“load springs”) and one or more air springs (or, for example, air cylinders) for raising the lift axle (“lift springs”). One or more air lines can be connected between the load springs and the lift springs so that, in operation, compression and extension of the load springs in response to axle movement causes pressurized air to flow back and forth between the load springs and the lift springs. As a result, the lift springs provide an additional volume to receive the pressurized air and provide an opposing spring force to the suspension. Additionally, in some embodiments the air line or lines extending between the load springs and the lift springs can include an air flow restriction and/or other air damping feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Tye B. Davis, Joel Van Den Brink, Greg Hulstein
  • Publication number: 20180222275
    Abstract: An air management system and method are provided. The system includes a pressurized air source. A manifold block is coupled to the pressurized air source and includes a plurality of suspension valves in fluid communication with the pressurized air source and each defines a suspension orifice of a first diameter for controlling air flow to and from a plurality of air springs. A manifold pressurization valve is in fluid communication with the plurality of suspension valves and the pressurized air source and defines a manifold pressurization orifice of a second diameter that is less than the first diameter of the suspension orifice for opening under high pressure to allow pressurized air into the manifold block. An electronic control unit controls the manifold pressurization valve and the plurality of suspension valves to equalize a high pressure differential across the plurality of suspension valves from the plurality of air springs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: David Fredrick Reuter, Daniel Norbert Borgemenke, Bryan P. Riddiford
  • Publication number: 20180222276
    Abstract: An automatic tilting vehicle is provided that includes left and right wheels supported by knuckles, a vehicle tilting device, and a control unit. The vehicle tilting device includes a swing member, an actuator for swing the swing member, and a pair of tie rods pivotally attached to the swing member and the knuckles. When a tilt angle of the vehicle is equal to or less than an allowable maximum tilt angle, a pivot point of the pivotal attachment portion at the lower end of the turning outer tie rod is located inside the vehicle with respect to a line segment connecting a grounding point of the corresponding wheel and a pivot point of the pivotal attachment portion at the upper end of the same tie rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Yukihide KIMURA, Toshihide YANO, Junrou YAMAMOTO, Taku NAGASAWA
  • Publication number: 20180222277
    Abstract: A rear axle suspension includes a holder for pivotable connection of a connecting portion of a semirigid axle to a vehicle superstructure The holder is stationary relative to the vehicle superstructure and has a first and a second holding arrangement for an axle pin. The first and second holding arrangements are arranged on both sides of the connecting portion along a pin axis. In order to provide an optimized connection of a semirigid axle to a vehicle superstructure, the first holding arrangement has a stabilizing element with an arcuate portion. The arcuate portion, in the direction of the pin axis and tangentially, extends at least partially around the pin axis. The axle pin is mounted in the arcuate portion. Fixing portions are adjacent the arcuate portion on both sides and attach the stabilizing element to the vehicle superstructure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Hagen Kiehn
  • Publication number: 20180222278
    Abstract: The refrigeration device has an inverter device, an electric compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, a condenser fan, an evaporator fan, and a controller. An AC output from a power generator is supplied to the inverter device. A refrigerant discharge amount of the electric compressor is controlled by the inverter device. The refrigerant from the electric compressor flows in the condenser, and the condenser causes the refrigerant to radiate heat to outside air outside a container. The refrigerant from the condenser flows in the evaporator, and the evaporator cools an interior of the container. The condenser fan is driven by a DC output from a DC power supply device and blows air to the condenser. The evaporator fan is driven by the DC output from the DC power supply device and blows air to the evaporator. The controller controls at least the electric compressor, the inverter device, and the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventor: Ikuo MIZUMA
  • Publication number: 20180222279
    Abstract: Provided is a coolant heater, and more particularly, is a coolant heater capable of minimizing a mounting space and weight by integrating the coolant heater and a water pump with each other and improving a cooling effect of the coolant heater and a controller for controlling a coolant transporter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventor: Cha You LIM
  • Publication number: 20180222280
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) case for an HVAC assembly. The HVAC case includes a fastener for coupling a first portion of the HVAC case to a second portion of the HVAC case. A clip of the fastener is included with the first portion of the HVAC case. A retention member of the fastener is included with the second portion of the HVAC case. Cooperation between the clip and the retention member couples the first portion of the HVAC case and the second portion of the HVAC case together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Ross PERIGO, Carl WILLIAMS
  • Publication number: 20180222281
    Abstract: A remote air conditioning start system includes a terminal of a user, a center server, and a vehicle that includes an air conditioner and is configured to communicate with the center server. The remote air conditioning start system includes first and second transmission units, first and second reception units, a start controller provided in the vehicle and configured to, when the second reception unit receives a start request, start the air conditioner, a determination unit provided in one of the terminal, the center server, and the vehicle and configured to determine necessity of defrosting of a window of the vehicle, and a notification unit provided in the terminal and configured to, when the determination unit determines that defrosting of the window is needed, notify the user that defrosting of the window is needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuyuki TAMANE, Masato ENDO, Kenichi MURATA
  • Publication number: 20180222282
    Abstract: A remote air conditioning start system includes a terminal of a user, a center server that is configured to communicate with the terminal, and a vehicle that includes an air conditioner and is configured to communicate with the center server. The remote air conditioning start system includes a determination unit configured to determine whether a temperature condition is satisfied, and a controller configured to, after the air conditioner is started according to a start request that is transmitted from the terminal to the vehicle through the center server and that includes a set time for operating the air conditioner, when the determination unit determines that the temperature condition is satisfied, stop the air conditioner when the set time has elapsed from starting point that is set after the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuyuki TAMANE, Masato ENDO, Kenichi MURATA
  • Publication number: 20180222283
    Abstract: A remote air conditioning start system includes a portable terminal of a user, a center server configured to communicate with the portable terminal, and a vehicle that includes an air conditioner and is configured to communicate with the center server. The remote air conditioning start system includes a user positional information acquisition unit, a vehicle positional information acquisition unit, and a controller. The user positional information acquisition unit is configured to acquire positional information of the portable terminal. The vehicle positional information acquisition unit is configured to acquire positional information of the vehicle. The controller is configured to perform control of the air conditioner including a start timing of the air conditioner based on a start request transmitted from the portable terminal to the center server according to a predetermined operation of the user based on the positional information of the portable terminal and the positional information of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuyuki TAMANE, Masato Endo, Kenichi Murata
  • Publication number: 20180222284
    Abstract: A method of mitigating temperature buildup in a passenger compartment of a vehicle is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) monitoring a temperature differential between a temperature inside the passenger compartment and an ambient temperature of the passenger compartment; (b) generating power utilizing the temperature differential; and (c) actuating a passive mitigation accessory when the temperature differential is above a predetermined threshold. The method may include the additional steps of using the power generated utilizing the temperature differential to actuate said passive mitigation accessory and/or providing the power generated utilizing the temperature differential to said passive mitigation accessory via at least one standard wire harness of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Brian Joseph Robert, Kent Snyder
  • Publication number: 20180222285
    Abstract: A control element, in particular a mechatronic control element of a motor vehicle, for an electronic component, includes a sensor integrated in the control element. An electronic component having such a control element, and a motor vehicle with such an electronic component, are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventor: Thomas TILLE
  • Publication number: 20180222286
    Abstract: A thermal management system of a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes a battery-coolant system including a chiller defining a thermal capacity and an electronic expansion valve arranged to selectively route fluid to the cooler. The system includes a heater-core system including an outside heat exchanger and a heating expansion valve arranged to selectively route fluid to the outside heat exchanger. The vehicle also includes a controller that is configured to, in response to a battery charge rate exceeding a threshold, open the battery expansion valve, and in response to the battery chiller having an insufficient capacity to achieve a temperature threshold as defined by a heater core thermometer, open the heating expansion valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Timothy Noah BLATCHLEY, James George GEBBIE, Angel Fernando PORRAS
  • Publication number: 20180222287
    Abstract: A heat pump system includes a compressor that compresses and discharges a refrigerant, a decompressor that decompresses the refrigerant, an outdoor unit that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and an outside air, an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant, a condenser that condenses the refrigerant, an internal heat exchanger, an accumulator that separates the refrigerant into a gas refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant, and a flow pathway changing portion. The internal heat exchanger includes a high-pressure passage through which a high-pressure refrigerant flows, and a low-pressure passage through which a low-pressure refrigerant flows, the internal heat exchanger exchanging heat between the refrigerant flowing through the high-pressure passage and the refrigerant flowing through the low-pressure passage. The flow pathway changing portion that switches between a cooling pathway and a heating pathway. According to this heat pump system, a cooling capacity and a heating capacity can be improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi MIEDA, Ryohei SUGIMURA, Masaaki KAWAKUBO, Yuichi KAMI
  • Publication number: 20180222288
    Abstract: An air conditioner for a vehicle provided with a cooling line which includes an evaporator core, a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve, may include a heater core provided between the compressor and the condenser on the cooling line, configured to be introduced with a refrigerant from the compressor, to have the refrigerant circulated therein, and to discharge the refrigerant to the condenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Woong Kim, Jae Woo Park, Man Ju Oh
  • Publication number: 20180222289
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle device includes a pre-evaporator decompression unit that decompresses refrigerant which flowed out from an exterior heat exchanger, and an evaporator passage that guides the refrigerant which flowed out from the exterior heat exchanger to a suction port of a compressor while passing through a pre-evaporator decompression unit and an evaporator. Further, the refrigeration cycle device includes a bypass passage that guides the refrigerant which flowed out from the exterior heat exchanger to the suction port of the compressor while bypassing the pre-evaporator decompression unit and the evaporator, a pre-exterior device switching unit, and a passage switching unit that opens and closes the bypass passage. Further, the pre-exterior device switching unit and the passage switching unit form a coupled valve where the pre-exterior device switching unit and the passage switching unit are mechanically coupled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Masaaki KAWAKUBO, Tetsuya ITOU, Satoshi ITOH
  • Publication number: 20180222290
    Abstract: An air filtration system for a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle includes a filter bed positioned downstream from a blower motor and upstream from one or more vents. The air filtration system additionally includes a heater coupled to the filter bed, a sensor configured to measure a functional capacity of the filter bed, and a controller configured to regenerate the filter bed using the heater as initiated by the real-time sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Eric Anderson, Timothy John Wallington
  • Publication number: 20180222291
    Abstract: A glass article which has: a glass plate having a contour shape having an upper edge and a lower edge; a functional film formed on at least one of principal surfaces of the glass plate; and a holder having a recessed portion into which the lower edge of the glass plate is fitted, wherein the functional film has a first coverage area and a second coverage area, the second coverage area being formed in a manner to cover the principal surface, the first coverage area being formed on a lower side of the second coverage area, and a maximum film thickness of the first coverage area being smaller than a maximum film thickness of the second coverage area, and the holder is provided on a lower edge side of the glass plate, within the first coverage area of functional film, via an adhesive in the recessed portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Shimpei MORITA, Hirokazu KODAIRA, Masahiro YAMAZAKI, Syo MIYAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20180222292
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a vehicle hood shield for use in protecting a vehicle hood from damage while the vehicle is in motion. The vehicle hood shield can be attached through the use of different adhesive taping configurations. Further, in some embodiments an attachment clip can be used to retain the vehicle hood shield to the vehicle hood.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Brent Lorenz Rose, Roberto Melo Braga, Jonathan Shroyer, William Franklin Bibb, VI
  • Publication number: 20180222293
    Abstract: A vehicle door assembly according to the present disclosure includes a door inner structure and a storage bin. The door inner structure includes an outer side panel and an armrest. The armrest projects laterally inward from the outer side panel. The storage bin is disposed below the armrest, attached to the door inner structure, and translatable relative to the door inner structure between a rearward position and a forward position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Scott D. THOMAS, Ronald J. MESIC, JR., Sital K. SHAH, Jonathan KLINE, Joseph BILDERBECK, Stanley ROC, Toure D. LEE, Sara RAHIMIAN, Wendi REA
  • Publication number: 20180222294
    Abstract: A latch assembly for a vehicle door closure system is provided, with latch assembly having a strength module including a frame plate, a latching mechanism with components pivotably mounted by clinch nuts secured to retention apertures formed in the frame plate, and threaded fasteners in threaded engagement with the clinch nuts to mount the latch assembly to the vehicle door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Francesco CUMBO, Carlo QUARTIERI, Enrico BOERI
  • Publication number: 20180222295
    Abstract: An add-on part (1) of a vehicle body, such as a door (1) or tailgate, has interconnected inner and outer parts (2, 4) and reinforced portions (5, 6) and a reinforcing device (7) connecting said reinforced portions (5, 6). The reinforcing device (7) has arms (8, 9, 18, 19), and, in the region of the ends of the arms (8, 9, 18, 19), the reinforcing device (7) is connected in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner to the reinforced portions (5, 6). Such an add-on part, while having a structurally simple design and relatively low weight, ensures particularly good stiffening properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventor: Reimund Schlachter
  • Publication number: 20180222296
    Abstract: A roof apparatus for a vehicle includes: a movable panel configured to be movably attached to a roof of the vehicle; a guide rail that guides the movable panel; and a garnish connected to the movable panel and the guide rail, The garnish includes an attachment portion connected to an attachment panel of the movable panel, and an engagement portion slidably connected to the guide rail, the attachment portion includes an upper extension piece extending outwards in a vehicle width direction, and a lower extension piece extending outwards in the vehicle width direction below the upper extension piece, and the upper extension piece includes a first protrusion protruding downwards so as to be engaged with an engagement portion of the attachment panel, and a second protrusion protruding upwards, and is inserted into a gap between the movable panel and the attachment panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHISIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takanori HATTORI, Kinju UCHIDA
  • Publication number: 20180222297
    Abstract: A car having: a passenger compartment; a windshield, which defines the passenger compartment at the front; a roll bar, which defines the passenger compartment at the rear; a pair of seats, which are arranged inside the passenger compartment between the windshield and the roll bar; a rear parcel shelf, which is arranged inside the passenger compartment behind the seats; and a protection panel, which is arranged inside the passenger compartment and projects from the rear parcel shelf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Matteo Biancalana, Giuseppe Cuzzillo
  • Publication number: 20180222298
    Abstract: A tarpaulin system for an open cargo hold. The tarpaulin system includes a tarpaulin, a plurality of bows, a plurality of connectors, a cable, and a tail end system. The plurality of connectors connects the plurality of bows to the cable while the tarpaulin is draped atop the plurality of bows. The tarpaulin bracket system allows for quick, and easy, replacement, or fixing, of the plurality of connectors or damaged bows allowing for much easier and efficient replacement while traveling in harsh environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventor: Sor Philavong
  • Publication number: 20180222299
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a removable vehicle roof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventor: Gabrielle Volpicelli
  • Publication number: 20180222300
    Abstract: In a pane arrangement, in particular a body-pane arrangement, comprising at least one glass pane and a profile frame component bordering the glass pane, placed on the pane edge on one side of the glass pane, it is provided that the profile frame component is multi-layered, and that one layer that may be coated onto the glass pane is made of a hard material and at least one additional layer is made of a soft material, and in that the profile frame component has holding elements that may be engaged with the glass pane in its layer made of hard material, and has protruding projections protruding over the layer of hard material in its layer made of soft material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventor: Bernhard KREYE
  • Publication number: 20180222301
    Abstract: A belt molding that achieves a reduced separating/contacting noise includes a protrusion formed on an outer surface of a side portion, which is opposed to a glass, of a molding main body, a seal lip that is formed below the protrusion on the outer surface of the side portion, which is opposed to the glass, of the molding main body and is configured to be in contact with the glass, which rises and lowers, and is capable of being in contact with the protrusion when the glass is fully-closed. A skin is disposed on at least one of contacting portions among a seal lip contacting portion of the protrusion that contacts the seal lip and a protrusion contacting portion of the seal lip that contacts the protrusion. The skin is made of a harder material than a material of the protrusion or the seal lip that include the skin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Shiroki Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi HARADA, Katsuhisa FUKUI, Yasuhisa SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20180222302
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle door including a door body portion, a door frame portion and a door window that is retractable from the door frame portion and extendable into the door frame portion. The door frame portion includes an upper portion including a glass run channel that receives an upper edge of the door window with the door window in a closed configuration. A glass run sealing member is located in the glass run channel. The glass run sealing member includes an exterior side including an interior face that faces toward the glass run channel. The glass run sealing member includes a hinged sealing projection structure including an inboard sealing member that extends from the interior face into the glass run channel and an inboard sealing sub-member connected to the inboard sealing member. The inboard sealing sub-member rotates into contact with an exterior side of the door window as the inboard sealing member moves with an upper edge of the door window as the door window enters the glass run channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: BLAINE C. BENSON
  • Publication number: 20180222303
    Abstract: A vehicle protection assembly for protecting a vehicle from hail damage includes a tarp that is selectively placed over a vehicle thereby facilitating the tarp to completely cover the vehicle. A bladder is positioned within the tarp and the bladder is selectively inflated. The bladder absorbs impact energy from hail thereby inhibiting the hail from damaging the vehicle when the tarp is positioned on the vehicle. A plurality of straps is provided and each of the straps is removably coupled to the tarp. Each of the straps is extended beneath the vehicle when the tarp is positioned on the vehicle to retain the tarp on the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventor: Josh Martinez
  • Publication number: 20180222304
    Abstract: A mount member is located between a front cross member and a power unit of a suspension member. The mount member includes a damper fixed to the front cross member of the suspension member and a bracket fixed to an upper end of the damper. The bracket couples the damper to the power unit. An extension wall extends downward from the bracket. The extension wall at least partially overlaps the damper in a side view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventor: Hayato Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20180222305
    Abstract: A torque roll restrictor assembly for a vehicle includes a first member configured for connection with a body of a vehicle, a second member rotatably connected to the first member and configured for connection with a powertrain of said vehicle, and a damper connected to the first member. A first member may include a first portion, a second portion to which the second member may be rotatably connected, and a third portion connecting the first portion and the second portion. A first portion of the first member may include an outer wall, an inner wall defining a channel, at least one bushing disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall, and a connector configured to connect the first member to said body of said vehicle. A connector may be at least partially disposed within the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: VIBRACOUSTIC USA, INC.
    Inventor: Andrew J. Kropp
  • Publication number: 20180222306
    Abstract: A powertrain for an automotive vehicle comprising a thermal engine (10), a speed variation device (14) including an engine epicyclic gear train (26) with a sun gear (36) and a crown (48) which are each connected to shaft (12) of the thermal engine by a controlled coupling (28, 30) and to a fixed part (46) of the vehicle by a one-way automatic coupling (32, 34). A machine epicyclic gear train (90) is arranged on a machine shaft (92) substantially parallel to engine shaft (12) and connects the epicyclic gear train to a track for motion transmission to a drive axle. The machine epicyclic gear train comprises a sun gear (94) carried by a sun gear shaft (100), a crown (126) and a planet gear carrier (108). A speed variation device (14) comprises an additional epicyclic gear train (138) and an engine toothed wheel (168) carried by the shaft (12) and connects the shaft to a machine toothed wheel carried by additional epicyclic gear train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventor: Stephane VENTURI
  • Publication number: 20180222307
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a generator, and a motor. The engine burns a gaseous mixture in a cylinder to output a drive force. The generator generates electricity by being rotated by the drive force outputted from the engine. The motor drives by utilizing electric power generated by the generator or electric power that has accumulated in a battery charged with electric power generated by the generator, and the motor thereby outputs a vehicle-running drive force. A case covering the motor is of larger diameter than a case covering a differential. The motor has an output shaft outputting the vehicle-running drive force, and has the output shaft disposed parallel to a vehicle width direction. The generator is disposed such that part of the generator overlaps an upper section of the case covering the differential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tadashi FUJIYOSHI, Nobuki KAWAMOTO, Yukio KOSEKI, Takahiro SHIINA, Hideaki KOMADA
  • Publication number: 20180222308
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a clutch and a transmission unit configured to be able to switch into a neutral state. The hybrid vehicle is able to transmit power of an engine through any one of a first path through which power is transmitted from the engine to a first MG via a transmission unit and a differential unit and another second path through which power is transmitted from the engine to the first MG. The clutch is provided in the second path, and switches between an engaged state and a released state. The controller controls the engine, the first MG, the transmission unit and the clutch. The controller sets the transmission unit to a non-neutral state, sets the clutch to the engaged state, and then causes the vehicle to travel by using driving force from the first MG and driving force from the second MG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya IMAMURA, Atsushi TABATA, Toshiki KANADA, Hidehiko BANSHOYA
  • Publication number: 20180222309
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods disclosed provide for receiving internal hybrid vehicle information, external static information, and external dynamic information; determining a propulsion power for the hybrid vehicle at a particular location at a particular time based on at least one of the internal hybrid vehicle information, the external static information, and the external dynamic information, and wherein in response to the determined potential propulsion power, predicting a shift event at the particular location at the particular time; determining a current state of charge of a battery, wherein the battery is operatively coupled to an electric motor in the hybrid vehicle; and managing the state of charge of the battery at the particular location at the particular time based on the current state of charge and the determined propulsion power to eliminate the need for the potential shift event at the particular location at the particular time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Follen, Arun Prakash Thunga Gopal, Vivek A. Sujan, Pinak Jayant Tulpule, Mugdha S. Sane
  • Publication number: 20180222310
    Abstract: An autonomous guided vehicle includes a drive having a high power density, a high sustainable wheel load density, and sufficient moment of inertia. The drive includes a single pass gear set, a preload system for roller bearings, a flywheel, an integral motor, and encoders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Bernard E. Berlinger, JR., John Cross
  • Publication number: 20180222311
    Abstract: A vehicle has a frame, at least one ground engaging member, an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger fluidly connected to an air intake port of the engine, and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT has a CVT housing defining at least one CVT inlet for fluidly communicating an interior of the CVT housing with an atmosphere, a primary pulley housed in the CVT housing and operatively connected to the engine, a secondary pulley housed in the CVT housing and operatively connected to at least one of the at least one ground engaging member, a belt looped around the primary and secondary pulleys, and a CVT outlet conduit having an outlet portion. The outlet portion is oriented to generate a cooling air flow cooling at least one of: at least a portion of the turbocharger; and at least a portion of a component of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Pascal TOUPIN, Alexandre LECLAIR, Dave PROULX, Mathieu DUQUETTE, Eric BOUFFARD
  • Publication number: 20180222312
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to reduce the overall weight of a rear differential cooling system of a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes a body panel system. That body panel system includes (a) a rear diffuser, having a front air inlet, (b) an underbody panel, overlying the rear diffuser as well as (c and d) first and second air tunnels formed between the rear diffuser and the underbody panel, and (e) a rear valance, including first and second vent openings for discharging air received from the first air tunnel. A heat exchanger is provided between the air tunnels and the vent openings. A related method for improving weight distribution and reducing overall weight of a rear differential cooling system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: John Jeffrey Pfeiffer, Michael Joseph Pugliese, Michael George Aimone, JR., Andrew Robert Sourk, Fernando Andres Velez Garrett
  • Publication number: 20180222313
    Abstract: A work vehicle such as a tractor including an engine (5) and a fan shroud (21). The engine (5) includes a DPF (diesel particulate filter: 51) for purifying exhaust gas. The fan shroud (21) is disposed ahead of the engine (5). The DPF (51) includes a soot filter (62) for collecting PM (particulate matter) in exhaust gas. The engine (5) further includes a pressure difference sensor (65) for detecting a pressure difference between an upstream side and a downstream side of the soot filter (62) of the DPF (51) in a direction in which exhaust gas flows. The pressure difference sensor (65) is supported by the fan shroud (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke TAKII
  • Publication number: 20180222314
    Abstract: Provided is a component used in a fuel feed apparatus (500), containing: a conductive polyamide layer (25) formed of a conductive polyamide resin composition, in which the conductive polyamide resin composition contains: a polyamide resin, a conductive carbon black, an ethylene-?-olefin copolymer, and a conductive polyethylene resin, and satisfies the following characteristics (a) and (b): (a) initial volume resistivity of a flat plate obtained by injection forming is 1×105 ?·cm or less, and volume resistivity after exposing the flat plate to CM15 fuel for 168 hours is 1×107 ?·cm or less, and (b) charpy impact strength at ?40° C. of a test piece obtained by injection forming is 2.0 KJ/m2 or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Kiyofumi SAKAI, Osamu MABUCHI, Shuji KUBOTA, Nobuhiro YOSHIMURA, Yuhei FUKUMOTO, Kazuki IWAMURA
  • Publication number: 20180222315
    Abstract: A pressurized liquid fuel tank system arranged to contain a first mass of liquid fuel such, as Dimethyl-Ether (DME) is provided. The system includes a first tank having a first volume, a second tank having a second, volume, a first conduit, between a top of the first tank and a top of the second tank, and a second conduit between the first tank and a bottom of the second tank, wherein a sum of the first volume and the second volume is designed to equal a sum of a first mass volume of the first mass of liquid fuel plus an expansion volume equal to at least 5% of the first mass volume. A vehicle with such a fuel tank system is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dale Hoover
  • Publication number: 20180222316
    Abstract: A control apparatus that controls a four-wheel drive vehicle in which a driving force is transmitted to rear wheels via a dog clutch, a propeller shaft, and a driving force transmission apparatus is configured to, when switching to a four-wheel drive mode, reduce a difference in rotation speeds of an intermediate rotational member and a ring gear member by a frictional force between a friction surface of a friction member, which is configured such that its rotation relative to the intermediate rotational member is restricted, and a target frictional slide surface of the ring gear member, and then couple the intermediate rotational member and the ring gear member by a clutch member in a state in which engagement forces of friction clutches configured to transmit the driving force between each of first and second output rotational members and the intermediate rotational member of the driving force transmission apparatus are set to engagement forces that allow their relative rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Noriyuki FUJII
  • Publication number: 20180222317
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle axle and, more specifically, a transmission shaft on an automotive vehicle that can be connected and disconnected in order to allow selection of driving power for the vehicle. The shaft connection includes a first shaft segment; a second shaft segment; and a connector linking the first shaft segment to the second shaft segment. The connector selectively connects or disconnects the first shaft segment to the second shaft segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventor: José Francivaldo Pereira De Lemos
  • Publication number: 20180222318
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for displaying driving modes of a vehicle (6). The vehicle (6) can be operated in at least two different driving modes. In the method according to the invention, it is ascertained whether the vehicle (6) is being operated in a first or a second driving mode. In the first driving mode, a first actuator carries out a first action, and in the second driving mode, a second actuator carries out the first action. A first graphical element (7) which represents the first actuator and a second graphical element (8) which represents the second actuator are generated on a display surface (3). Depending on whether the vehicle (6) is in the first or the second driving mode, a first graphical action element (9, 10) which represents the first action is generated with the first (7) and/or second graphical element (8). The invention further relates to a system (1) for displaying driving modes of a vehicle (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ina Petermann-Stock, Ina Othersen, Agata Rogge-Solti
  • Publication number: 20180222319
    Abstract: The image display device includes a distance obtainer configured to obtain a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between a vehicle and a following vehicle. A controller is configured to: determine a magnitude of an image-cutout angle value based on the obtained vehicle-to-vehicle distance, such that a display state of a rear-view display unit is to be switched from a mirror-surface showing state to a display showing state such that a size of the following vehicle in the mirror-surface showing state is identical to a size of the following vehicle to be displayed in the display showing state; control a display to display a display image created from a cutout image that is cut out in the determined image-cutout angle value; and adjust the image-cutout angle value so as to gradually decrease a size of the following vehicle displayed on the display when the obtained vehicle-to-vehicle distance is greater than a set value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Satoshi Fujisaki, Takumi Kochiya, Kohji Usui
  • Publication number: 20180222320
    Abstract: An image display device includes: a camera that takes a rear-view image; a rear-view-image display unit including a mirror surface and a display for displaying the rear-view image; a distance obtainer that obtains a distance between a vehicle and a following vehicle; a cutout-image creator that cuts out a cutout image from the taken rear-view image based on a view-angle value; and a display controller that creates, based on the cutout image, a display image matching a size of a display region of the display and controls the display to display the created display image. The cutout-image creator is configured to, based on the obtained distance, determine the view-angle value to such a view-angle value that a size of the following vehicle to be displayed on the display image is equal to a size of the following vehicle that is to reflect in the mirror surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventor: Takumi Kochiya
  • Publication number: 20180222321
    Abstract: An interface panel or graphical gauge that can host applications from a mobile application platform and display content from the hosted applications on a display of the graphical gauge. The interface panel may include a native operating system supporting an interface application that generates interface graphical output fed by the native operating system to a graphics controller. The interface control system may be configured to support a guest system that generates guest graphical output fed to the graphics controller. The guest graphical output is representative of graphic information generated by the mobile application platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Martin Payne, Michael J. Sims
  • Publication number: 20180222322
    Abstract: An electronic control unit is configured to control an engine such that in specified traveling where the vehicle travels while operating the engine with a first inverter and a second inverter kept in a shutdown state, a first motor is rotated at a speed that causes a counter-electromotive voltage of the first motor to be higher than direct current-side voltages of the first inverter and the second inverter, and the first motor outputs torque to a driving shaft through a planetary gear. The electronic control units are configured to interrupt electric power supply from the side of the first inverter and the second inverter to the side of an electric storage device when an accelerator operating amount becomes equal to or below a specified operating amount in the specified traveling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yu SHIMIZU, Takashi ANDO