Patents Issued in May 7, 2019
  • Patent number: 10279799
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric rear axle drive (eRAD) includes, responsive to a vehicle being in DRIVE, operating the eRAD such that any torque output by the eRAD to drive rear wheels forward is less than torque output to drive front wheels forward. The method further includes, responsive to the vehicle being in REVERSE, operating the eRAD such that torque output by the eRAD to drive the rear wheels backwards is more than any torque output to drive the front wheels backwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric De Hesselle, Raymond C. Siciak
  • Patent number: 10279800
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an electronic control unit configured to switch a use mode between a first use mode in which an owner of the hybrid vehicle is a user and a second use mode in which any of persons other than the owner is the user. The hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a first MG, an electric power storage device electrically connected to the first MG, and the electronic control unit. When the use mode is the second use mode and the hybrid vehicle reaches a location near a destination, the electronic control unit executes recovery processing of recovering a SOC of the electric power storage device in a manner to bring the SOC closer to an initial value at time when the user starts using the hybrid vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 10279801
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprises an engine configured to be driven with a fuel supplied from a fuel tank; a motor configured to input and output a power for driving; and a control device configured to drive the engine and the motor. When a remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank is lower than a predetermined level, the control device provides a smaller absolute value of a torque lower limit value of the motor during deceleration at a vehicle speed of lower than a predetermined vehicle speed, compared with an absolute value during deceleration at the vehicle speed of not lower than the predetermined vehicle speed. This configuration suppresses a deceleration torque of a large absolute value from being output from the motor during deceleration at the low vehicle speed and accordingly suppresses a loss of the motor or the like from becoming greater than the regenerative energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noritsugu Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 10279802
    Abstract: As a control of an inverter, a first pulse width modulation control switches a plurality of switching elements by generating a first pulse width modulation signal of the switching elements, and a second pulse width modulation control switches the switching elements by generating a second pulse width modulation signal of the switching elements based on a voltage modulation rate, a voltage phase, and the number of pulses per unit cycle of an electrical angle of the motor based on the torque command and has a smaller number of switchings of the switching elements than the first pulse width modulation control. The first pulse width modulation control and the second pulse width modulation control are executed in a switched manner. Execution of the second pulse width modulation control as the control of the inverter is restricted when the quietness is needed, compared with when the quietness is not needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyotaka Matsubara, Kenji Yamada, Toshihiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10279803
    Abstract: A backup assist system for a vehicle reversing a trailer includes a brake module and a throttle module. The system further includes a controller having a vehicle speed detector and coupled with the brake module and the throttle module for implementing a backup mode including detecting an adverse operating condition and then adjusting at least one of the brake module and the throttle module and terminating the backup mode upon detecting the adverse operating condition for a time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Roger Arnold Trombley, Thomas Edward Pilutti, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes, Michael Hafner
  • Patent number: 10279804
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting an accident of a vehicle, the method including: receiving a movement dataset collected at least at one of a location sensor and a motion sensor arranged within the vehicle, during a time period of movement of the vehicle, extracting a set of movement features associated with at least one of a position, a velocity, and an acceleration characterizing the movement of the vehicle during the time period, detecting a vehicular accident event from processing the set of movement features with an accident detection model, and in response to detecting the vehicular accident event, automatically initiating an accident response action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Zendrive, Inc.
    Inventors: Jayanta Pal, Bipul Islam, Romit Roy Choudhury, Pankaj Risbood, Jonathan Matus, Vishal Verma
  • Patent number: 10279805
    Abstract: A vehicle movement state determination device includes: a yaw rate determination unit configured to determine a yaw rate based on at least one of a detection yaw rate detected by a yaw rate sensor and a calculation yaw rate calculated by a yaw rate calculation unit; and a yaw rate reliability determination unit configured to determine whether a reliability of the detection yaw rate is low. The yaw rate determination unit determines the detection yaw rate as the yaw rate at the time the yaw rate reliability determination unit does not determine that the reliability of the detection yaw rate is low, and determines the yaw rate based on the calculation yaw rate at the time the yaw rate reliability determination unit determines that the reliability of the detection yaw rate is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsutomu Hattori, Hiroshi Onuma, Akira Nagae
  • Patent number: 10279806
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a lane estimating apparatus and method. The apparatus includes: a lane determiner, an obstacle position calculator, a vehicle position corrector, and a lane estimator. The lane determiner compares a first lane detected by a first sensor with a lane on an actual road or a second lane on a local map to determine reliability of the first lane. The obstacle position calculator detects, when the reliability of the detected first lane is less than a preset reference, a first obstacle in the vicinity of a vehicle and a second obstacle on the local map, and calculates a difference between slopes and positions of straight lines extracted from the first obstacle and the second obstacle. The vehicle position corrector corrects a heading direction and a position of the vehicle based on the difference between the slopes and positions of the straight lines. In addition, the lane estimator estimates a driving lane on the local map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Young Chul Oh, Ki Cheol Shin, Byung Yong You, Myung Seon Heo
  • Patent number: 10279807
    Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure includes a lane boundary module, a vehicle trajectory module, an intersection location module, a lane departure module, and a driver warning module. The lane boundary module is configured to determine a boundary of a lane within which a vehicle is travelling. The vehicle trajectory module is configured to predict a trajectory of the vehicle. The intersection location module is configured to determine M locations of M intersections between the vehicle trajectory and the lane boundary at M times, where M is an integer greater than one. The lane departure module is configured to identify a potential lane departure based on the M locations. The driver warning module is configured to activate a driver warning device to warn a driver when the potential lane departure is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul A. Adam, Kevin K. Hoang
  • Patent number: 10279808
    Abstract: A controller for an adaptive cruise control system having a speed based mode includes an input for receiving a signal indicative of a detected target object, an input for receiving the speed of the host vehicle and control logic. The control logic is capable of transmitting messages to maintain the vehicle at a preset time gap from the target object upon receiving the signal indicative of a target object and transmitting messages to set the vehicle at a predetermined following distance from the target object in response to the speed of the host vehicle being less than or equal to a minimum speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery E Drown, Vipin A. Guda
  • Patent number: 10279809
    Abstract: A travelled-route selecting apparatus includes a first route selecting unit to select, from travelled routes of other vehicles generated by a route generating unit, one or more travelled routes. The one or more travelled routes each have a relative distance relative to an own vehicle equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value. The travelled-route selecting apparatus includes a second route selecting unit to select, from the travelled routes selected by the first route selecting unit, a travelled route corresponding to a selected other vehicle. The selected other vehicle is the closest to the own vehicle among the other vehicles corresponding to the travelled routes selected by the first route selecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiya Habu, Takahisa Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 10279810
    Abstract: System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to preemptively adjusting operating parameters of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes determining a control profile for the vehicle based, at least in part, on an environmental context and in response to identifying that the vehicle is located proximate to a roadway location for which the operating parameters are to be optimized. The environmental context characterizes at least current surroundings of the vehicle including the roadway location. The control profile indicates a predicted control input that is expected to be received through a driver input system for controlling the vehicle. The method includes adjusting the operating parameters of the vehicle according to the control profile to preemptively optimize the vehicle in anticipation of the predicted control input. The method includes controlling the vehicle according to the operating parameters upon receiving a driver control input through the driver input system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Shannon Alicia Wrobel
  • Patent number: 10279811
    Abstract: A vehicle speed control device for an industrial vehicle is configured to control a vehicle speed of the industrial vehicle. The vehicle speed control device includes an operation detector that is configured to detect whether an accelerator pedal is being operated and a controller that is configured to control the vehicle speed of the industrial vehicle by controlling the rotation speed of the engine. The controller is configured to derive a vehicle speed limit value that increases during an operated state of the accelerator pedal and decreases during a non-operated state of the accelerator pedal, and set an upper limit value of the vehicle speed to the derived vehicle speed limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Yukikazu Koide, Norihiko Kato
  • Patent number: 10279812
    Abstract: A driving force control system for a vehicle is provided to control an output torque of a prime mover and a torque split ratio to right and left wheels to improve stability of the vehicle. A controller is calculates target torques delivered to the right wheel and the left wheel based on a required drive torque and data relating to an attitude of the vehicle, and corrects the target torques based on slip ratios of the wheels. The drive motor is control based on a first current value calculated based on a total torque of the corrected target torques to be delivered the wheels, and the differential motor is controlled based on a second current value calculated based on a difference between the corrected target torques to be delivered to the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isono, Takanobu Nasu
  • Patent number: 10279813
    Abstract: A vehicular drive assist system performs drive assist for a vehicle traveling in each predetermined area while receiving a feedback on evaluation relating to ease of travel on a road in each of the areas. In the system, a management center performs evaluation of ease of travel on a road for each of the areas on the basis of information obtained from the vehicle and feeds back the evaluation result to the vehicle. In this case, a variation width of the evaluation relating to ease of travel is restricted on a basis of static factors of road environment for each of the areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Uno
  • Patent number: 10279814
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for determining a driving state are provided. The apparatus includes a jerk calculator configured to determine a minimum prediction jerk generated in an interval until an ego vehicle arrives at a location of a preceding vehicle, using location, velocity, and acceleration information of the ego vehicle at a current time and location, velocity, and acceleration information of the preceding vehicle and determine a permission jerk of a driver of the ego vehicle, a determiner configured to determine whether the minimum prediction jerk is greater than the permission jerk of the driver and determine a careless driving state based on a driving operation state of the driver when the minimum prediction jerk is greater than the permission jerk of the driver, and a signal processor configured to output an alert when it is determined as the careless driving state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jin Kwon Kim, Seong Sook Ryu, Byoung Joon Lee, Sam Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 10279815
    Abstract: A vehicle can include throttle, braking, and steering systems. The vehicle can further include a computing system that obtains, from one or more sensors, data representing one or more of a velocity or an acceleration of the vehicle. The computing system can further determine an estimated weight of the vehicle based on the one or more of the velocity or the acceleration of the vehicle, and autonomously operate the throttle, braking, and steering systems of the vehicle based on the estimated weight of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Burnette
  • Patent number: 10279816
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a controller for a vehicle includes determining configuration information associated with the vehicle and determining vehicle operating states associated with a plurality of conditions. A statistical analysis is executed to correlate a plurality of faults with the vehicle operating states and the configuration information associated with the vehicle. The plurality of faults in the controller can be isolated to one of a hardware fault or a software fault based upon the statistical analysis and the configuration information associated with the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shengbing Jiang, Sandeep U. Menon, James K. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10279817
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a hybrid vehicle having an electric operating mode selectively modify a pressure point for an accelerator pedal in response to current vehicle and/or ambient operating conditions to reduce unintentional starting of an internal combustion engine and maintain electric mode operation while the accelerator pedal position is less than the pressure point. The vehicle operating conditions or mode may indicate a parking maneuver, stop-and-go traffic, or an eco mode where electric operation may be desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Harald Stoffels, Moritz Klaus Springer, Christian Hofmann, Joachim Hansen
  • Patent number: 10279818
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for guiding passengers of public transport, in particular of trams or trains respectively, at stations or in station areas and/or inside the transportation unit. The passengers embark and disembark in the embark-/disembark area via at least two doors, and the embark-/disembark area extends to the length of the vehicle. The method includes: generating a prediction of the occupancy level of the vehicle with regard to the resulting situation in the vehicle after disembarking at each stop; distributing of the passengers which are moving to the entry area and/or waiting in the entry area ready for embarking corresponding to the prediction to the area of the doors for an approximately uniform distribution of the passengers inside the vehicle; and if applicable, distribution of the passengers inside the vehicle under consideration of the predicted, preferably section-wise occupancy level and of the passengers actually ready for embarking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: INIT INNOVATIVE INFORMATIKANWENDUNGEN IN TRANSPORT-, VERKEHRS—UND LEITSYSTEMEN GMBH
    Inventors: Ulrich Schmidt, Georg Koenig
  • Patent number: 10279819
    Abstract: An articulating mount for a moveable front hatch of a train car includes a linear actuator configured to be rotatably connected to the car at a first connection point. The linear actuator includes a moveable end configured to be connected to the front hatch at a second connection point, and is effective, when actuated, to change a distance between the first and second connection points. The mount further includes a first guide configured to be rotatably connected to the car. The first guide includes a guide rail defining an opening sized to receive a first protrusion connected to the front hatch for guiding movement of the moveable end of the linear actuator, responsive to actuation of the linear actuator, along a first guide path between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Dellner Couplers AB
    Inventors: Thilo Koch, Norman Dix
  • Patent number: 10279820
    Abstract: A spring lock for a secondary spring that is arranged between the car body and the under frame of a rail vehicle. A spring locking element is provided which in the mounted state is supported on the car body and projects through a cutout and is connected to the secondary spring in such a way that it is prevented from extending. This facilitates the mounting of anti-wear washers under the secondary spring to a considerable degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens AG Oesterreich
    Inventor: David Kreuzweger
  • Patent number: 10279821
    Abstract: The invention relates to a railway axlebox bearing assembly including a radially outer mounting surface configured to be mounted so as to face a radially inner mounting surface of an axlebox housing. It is proposed to further provide the assembly with least two spacer elements configured to be mounted between the radially outer mounting surface and the mounting surface of an axlebox housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: François Champalou, Thierry Le Moigne
  • Patent number: 10279822
    Abstract: A telescopic type collision energy absorption device includes a first tube, a second tube telescoped within the first tube, and a telescopic mechanism connected with the second tube by passing through the first tube, the first tube being mounted with a cutting mechanism for cutting an outer wall of the second tube, when the device is in a non-operating state, the telescopic mechanism pulls the second tube to retract into the first tube; in a state prior to the collision of a vehicle, the telescopic mechanism under an effect of high-pressure air pushes the second tube to eject outwards, the cutting mechanism is pressed against locating slots of the second tube under an effect of a spring force, the cutting mechanism cuts the second tube and absorbs energy when the second tube is subjected to an external force and retracts towards interior of the first tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Central South University
    Inventor: Guangjun Gao
  • Patent number: 10279823
    Abstract: A method includes generating a trip plan that dictates operational settings to be implemented by a vehicle system moving along a route. The trip plan is based on a temporary work order issued for a restricted segment of the route. The work order provides a maximum speed through the restricted segment for a limited time period that is expressed using a time standard. One or more of the operational settings of the trip plan specify movement of the vehicle system through the restricted segment at a vehicle speed that is less than or equal to the maximum speed. In response to determining that the temporary work order has expired, the method includes at least one of prompting an operator of the vehicle system to confirm that the work order has expired or generating a new trip plan in which the vehicle system exceeds the maximum speed through the restricted segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ankit Sharma, David Allen Eldredge, Saravanan Thiyagarajan, William Cherrick Schoonmaker, Joseph Daniel Wakeman, Kaitlyn Ann Hrdlicka, Prakarsh Paritosh
  • Patent number: 10279824
    Abstract: A system for visually assisting an operator of a railcar mover that provides a visual display and a pair of alignment lines superimposed on the image of the display to assist the operator to properly align a railcar mover to the railroad rails when transitioning from driving on the road to driving on the railroad rails. The system further includes a set of cameras positioned around the railcar mover and a processor, which can create a composite image of a top view of the railcar mover to further assist the operator position the railcar mover properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Trackmobile LLC
    Inventors: Thomas William Trammell, Justin Ryan Mantle
  • Patent number: 10279825
    Abstract: A system includes one or more processors configured to communicatively link a remote-control system disposed off-board a vehicle system with an onboard vehicle control system on the vehicle system. The remote-control system and the onboard vehicle control system are configured to control movement of the vehicle system, wherein the one or more processors are configured to transfer control of the movement of the vehicle system from the remote-control system to the onboard vehicle control system based on one or more of a location, a condition of the vehicle system, or by one or more of a request or condition of an operator or from the onboard vehicle control system to the remote-control system based on the one or more of the location, the condition of the vehicle system, or by the one or more of the request or condition of the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: So Young Kim, James Brooks, Neeraja Subrahmaniyan
  • Patent number: 10279826
    Abstract: Dollies support steered skis of a snowmobile on wheels to enable the snowmobile to be moved along an underlying surface with carbides on the bottom surfaces of the skis free of contact with the underlying surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Inventor: Timothy J. Crynick
  • Patent number: 10279827
    Abstract: A self-loading dolly apparatus. Each of a pair of support bars has a saddle bracket and an inside wheel assembly rigidly affixed with the support bar and offset from the vertical axis. A lift bar is secured to the saddle brackets, then raised so that an outside pair of wheel assemblies can be positioned adjacent the respective saddle bracket. The outside wheel assemblies are secured when the lift bar is raised, whereupon the inside wheel assemblies and the saddle brackets realign with the vertical axis and the support bars are angled upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Inventor: Paul Mason
  • Patent number: 10279828
    Abstract: A rolling cart has a wheeled frame, telescoping vertically extendable members with glide strips, and a tiltable frame having glide strips interspersed with transfer balls to easily slide slabs or sheet materials for construction such as when installing countertops. A method is also described for measuring a minuend desired install height, subtracting a geometrically predetermined subtrahend, and adjusting the height from a floor surface to a pivot axis on the cart to equal the difference, said adjustment being effected by powered lifting means incorporated or ancillary to the cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Inventors: Aaron Crowley, Roger Crowley
  • Patent number: 10279829
    Abstract: Embodiments of various ergonomic carts for metal forming operations and methods of use are enclosed. Each ergonomic cart eases transport of a machine tool between a machine tool storage rack and a manufacturing machine. Some forms of the ergonomic carts comprise an elevator portion to adjust to various machine and storage rack heights. Some cart embodiments include a tumbler mounted to a superior portion of a cart for rotating a machine tool in space for movement between a storage configuration and a load configuration. Various forms of tumblers are described and illustrated. Each tumbler comprises a punch channel which is rotatable within said tumbler portion between a superior facing position and an inferior facing position. In other embodiments, a clamp rack system offers a convenient method to store press clamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Inventor: Charles William Walkner
  • Patent number: 10279830
    Abstract: The present invention provides a dolly having a polygonal-shaped platform having an upper surface, a lower surface, a peripheral edge having four corners, a torus-shaped pocket positioned at each corner and dimensioned to receive a wheel from an adjacent dolly, and a plurality of wheels extending from the lower surface and attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: ORBIS Corporation
    Inventors: Edward L. Stahl, Eric P. May, Benjamin Joel Thompson, Scott James Buss
  • Patent number: 10279831
    Abstract: A collapsible child's stroller with a handle frame (30), a front wheel frame (10) and a rear wheel frame (20), mutually connected at a hinge joint (12, 22, 42) for mutual angular displacement between folded and unfolded configurations. The hinge joint has two spaced apart, parallel hinge axes, about which the frames (10, 20, 30) mutually rotate. The stroller is further provided with a locking element (43, 44) moveable between a locked position in which the frames (10, 20, 30) are locked in the unfolded configuration, and an unlocked position allowing the frames (10, 20, 30) to rotate to the folded configuration. The locking element (43, 44) moves in a direction traverse to the parallel hinge axes to better transfer loads between the frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: DYNAMIC MOTION, LLC
    Inventors: Ying Hui Huang, Anthony Michael Young, Lee Barker, Mark Bayly
  • Patent number: 10279832
    Abstract: A child transport carrier includes a handle bar and a rotatable brake actuator disposed along a lengthwise axis of the handle bar. A first cable having a first end and a second end is coupled to the rotatable brake actuator. A first wheel brake of a first wheel is coupled to the first end of the first cable. Rotating the rotatable brake actuator around the lengthwise axis of the handle bar activates the first wheel brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Thule Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley Fleming, Roger McPherson, Karl Mendes
  • Patent number: 10279833
    Abstract: Construction is achieved of a cam device that is able to effectively prevent a drive-side cam from rotating relative to a driven-side cam in a locked state. Tip-end butt sections 63 are provided on the outer-diameter side portions of tip-end surfaces 41a (40a) of convex sections of one of drive-side convex sections 34a of the drive-side cam surface 31a and driven-side convex sections 36a of the driven-side cam surface 32a, and tip-end concave sections 64 that are further recessed in the axial direction than the tip-end butt sections 63 are provided on the inner-diameter side portions of the one convex sections. In the locked state, only the tip-end butt sections 63 come in contact with the tip-end surfaces 40a (41a) of the other convex sections of the drive-side convex sections 34a and the driven-side convex section 36a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Seiichi Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 10279834
    Abstract: A rake adjustment mechanism of a steering column assembly includes a lower jacket defining a first tapered slot and a second tapered slot, the first and second tapered slots disposed on opposing sides of the lower jacket. Also included is a rake bracket coupled to the lower jacket. Further included is a first rake guide and a second rake guide, each rake guide a single, integrally formed component and disposed between the lower jacket and rake bracket, the first rake guide disposed at least partially within the first tapered slot and the second rake guide disposed at least partially within the second tapered slot, each rake guide translatable within the tapered slot in an axial direction of the lower jacket. Yet further included is a rake bolt extending through the lower jacket, the rake bracket and the first and second rake guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott A. Stinebring, Robert D. Maida, Nicholas M. Messing
  • Patent number: 10279835
    Abstract: In a steering system, a guide member faces the rack shaft on the opposite side of the rack shaft from the pinion shaft, and an opposed member faces the guide member at a first distance. The rack shaft is supported by the first rack bush so as to be slidable in the axial direction. The rack shaft is supported so as to be slidable in the axial direction X at a position closer to the guide member than the first rack bush is by the second rack bush disposed away from the inner surface. An elastic member that can be elastically deformed is disposed between the inner surface and the second rack bush. The second rack bush has an opposed portion disposed on the opposite side of the rack shaft from the pinion shaft and facing the inner surface at a second distance that is larger than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akitake Kawakubo
  • Patent number: 10279836
    Abstract: A steering system includes: a steering shaft to which a steering member is coupled; a worm wheel attached to the steering shaft so as to be rotatable integrally with the steering shaft; a housing that houses the worm wheel; an output shaft that is coaxial with the steering shaft and rotatable relative to the steering shaft and coupled to a steering operation mechanism; and a clutch mechanism that enables and disables transmission of power between the steering shaft and the output shaft. The clutch mechanism is housed and disposed in an internal space in the housing. A solenoid in the clutch mechanism is disposed on the opposite side of the worm wheel in an axial direction from a mechanical portion of the clutch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiko Shiina
  • Patent number: 10279837
    Abstract: A vehicle steering angle detecting apparatus and an electric power steering apparatus equipped therewith. The apparatus connects a motor, which assist-controls a steering system of a vehicle, to the steering shaft via a reduction mechanism, and includes a first angle sensor which detects the steering shaft angle of the steering shaft and the second angle sensor which detects the motor shaft angle of the motor, including: a function that updates a static characteristic map and a dynamic characteristic map by iteratively learning a static characteristic and a dynamic characteristic of the nonlinear elements including the reduction mechanism, and mutually estimates the steering shaft angle and the motor shaft angle by using the static characteristic map and the dynamic characteristic map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Minaki, Hideki Sawada, Takayoshi Sugawara
  • Patent number: 10279838
    Abstract: A wheel mount, particularly for the front axle of a motor vehicle, has a basic body that has at least individual ones of the following accommodations or recesses: for accommodation of a kingpin for a wheel bearing, for connection of a brake caliper, for mounting of an upper wishbone fork, for mounting of an upper semi-trailing arm, for mounting of a tie rod, for mounting of a lower spring link, for mounting of a further lower wishbone, for positioning of a sensor, particularly an rpm sensor, for attachment of a sensor, particularly an rpm sensor, wherein the wheel mount is produced as a die-cast component made in one piece with these accommodations or recesses and connecting them with one another, preferably from light metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: KSM Castings Group GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Buschjohann, Stefan Geisler, Klaus Greven, Aribert Simmack, Heiko Kauert, Jan Roemhild
  • Patent number: 10279839
    Abstract: A steering input system for a trailer backup assist system includes an input apparatus having a housing and a user-manipulable input element coupled with the housing. The system further includes a controller determining a state of a use condition of the input apparatus and, based on the state of the use condition, one of implementing or disabling a trailer backup assist mode. The trailer backup assist mode generates a vehicle steering command based on an instantaneous position of the input element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Roger Arnold Trombley
  • Patent number: 10279840
    Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle includes the vehicle receiving a start signal for starting the vehicle via a communication network, and responding to the start signal only when one or multiple predetermined conditions are met. Additionally, a device for operating a vehicle, a parking facility management server, and a computer program can be provided for restricting a response to a start signal to only when the one or multiple predetermined conditions are met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Nordbruch
  • Patent number: 10279841
    Abstract: A vehicle front portion structure including: a front side member that extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction at a vehicle transverse direction outer side portion of a vehicle front portion and includes a projecting portion that projects-out toward a vehicle transverse direction outer side at an outer side wall at a front end portion; a spacer that is provided at a vehicle transverse direction outer side of the front side member and is fastened to the outer side wall at a vehicle front side of the projecting portion, and that has an adjacent portion that is adjacent to a vehicle transverse direction outer side of the projecting portion; and an engaging portion that is formed at the spacer and is disposed at a vehicle front side with respect to the projecting portion, and that engages with a front end of the projecting portion in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keita Ito, Yuji Takahashi, Ryoji Matsumoto, Hironori Kadoi, Yutaka Yamada
  • Patent number: 10279842
    Abstract: A strengthening member for a motor vehicle and a vehicle including a strengthening member are provided. The strengthening member can have twenty-eight sides arranged to create twenty internal angles and eight external angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Tau Tyan, Yu-Kan Hu, Leonard Anthony Shaner
  • Patent number: 10279843
    Abstract: A reinforcing body is disposed in a closed cross sectional portion constituted by one or more vehicle body components. The reinforcing body is provided with a joining portion to be joined to the vehicle body components. The joining portion includes hard connecting portions connected to the vehicle body components in an abutting state, and a soft connecting portion connected to the vehicle body components via a vibration damping member. The storage shear rigidity (KB?) of the vibration damping member is set in the range: 800 N/mm<KB?<57500 N/mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kohya Nakagawa, Kuniaki Nagao, Kenichi Yamamoto, Motoyasu Asakawa, Katsuya Himuro
  • Patent number: 10279844
    Abstract: A beam comprising a first portion having a U-shaped cross-section, wherein the U-shape comprises a bottom and a first and a second side wall extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom, and wherein the first and/or the second side wall comprises a first substantially straight portion, a second substantially straight portion and a side transition zone between the first and the second substantially straight portion. The disclosure further relates to bumpers, rocker panels, side impact beams and B-pillars comprising such beams and to vehicles incorporating such components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: AUTOTECH ENGINEERING A.I.E.
    Inventors: Xavier Valencia Carrio, Sergi Marquez Duran, Lluis Espana De Juan, Christophe Cazes, Gregory Gatard, Vincent Barelli, Emmanuel Leroy, Matthieu Dunand, Matthieu Niess
  • Patent number: 10279845
    Abstract: A vehicle rear body structure includes left and right rear pillars extending forward and upward from rear lower ends of left and right rear side frames, left and right rear wheel houses provided between the left and right rear side frames and the left and right rear pillars, and left and right damper bases provided at upper parts inside the left and right rear wheel houses. Left and right spaces between left and right top plates of the left and right rear wheel houses and the left and right rear pillars are closed by left and right gussets. The left and right rear pillars, the upper parts of the left and right rear wheel houses, and the left and right gussets are combined in closed cross-sections. The left and right damper bases are surrounded by the left and right gussets through the left and right rear wheel houses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Saito, Yuki Matsubara
  • Patent number: 10279846
    Abstract: Provided is a rear end structure of a vehicle body, with which it is possible to reduce vehicle weight and achieve satisfactory vehicle body rigidity. The rear end structure of a vehicle body is equipped with a floor panel having a low floor part, a high floor part provided rearward of the low floor part, and a floor recess formed in the high floor part and describing a protuberant configuration when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a brace connecting the low floor part and the bottom surface of the floor recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Takahashi, Satoru Kawabe, Ken Yasui, Masaaki Yamane
  • Patent number: 10279848
    Abstract: A sandwich element (10) including a first restriction layer (21) and a second restriction layer (22) and a distance core (23) of a light weight material, preferably of a foam material, between said restriction layers, whereby the second restriction layer (22) includes stiffening elements (11) arranged in parallel with each other and individually or together with a corresponding abutting stiffening element (11) form a closed hollow profile (24). Furthermore the invention refers to a load floor shaped as such a sandwich element and also that such a load floor is a part of a cargo vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: SSAB TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventor: Anders Isaksson
  • Patent number: 10279849
    Abstract: A skid plate for a powertrain component of a vehicle includes a base and first and second flanges at opposing edges of the base. The base includes a notch to form a tow point when attached to a V shaped tow frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dakota D. Kirtland, Daniel T. Sellars