Patents Issued in May 28, 2019
  • Patent number: 10300754
    Abstract: A vehicle floatation system for protecting a vehicle from water damage includes a vehicle. A floatation unit is provided and the floatation unit is coupled to the vehicle. The floatation unit is selectively inflated to float the vehicle on water. In this way the vehicle is protected from being damaged by flood waters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph Miller, Caroline Jackson
  • Patent number: 10300755
    Abstract: A suspension device for a non-steered driving wheel including a wheel carrier having an in-wheel motor incorporated therein for driving the driving wheel, and a suspension arm pivotally supported on a vehicle body and connected to the wheel carrier by a connecting structure. The connecting structure includes a plate member fixed to the wheel carrier by fastening and a pair of elastic bushing devices attached to the plate member. The suspension arm has an open cross sectional portions for receiving portions of the plate member and the elastic bushing devices, and the elastic bushing devices are fixed to the open cross sectional portions at both ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Kato, Satoshi Adachi
  • Patent number: 10300756
    Abstract: To provide a suspension coil spring capable of reducing a bowing amount and friction generated in a shock absorber, under a compressed state. A suspension coil spring (10) that is mounted between an upper seat (22) and a lower seat (24) in a strut suspension (12) for an automobile, includes an upper end turn (32) that sits on the upper seat (22); a spring active portion (11) that includes one or more coils each of which is formed such that a portion whose curvature is the largest is positioned at an automobile outer side under a mounted state; and a lower end turn (34) that sits on the lower seat (24) while substantially contacting the lower seat (24) at a single lower contacting point (P3) that is positioned at the automobile outer side with respect to a center point of the lower end turn (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI STEEL MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hironobu Sayama
  • Patent number: 10300757
    Abstract: A hydraulic mount apparatus includes a housing defining a cavity. The apparatus also includes an annular member disposed in the cavity. The annular member is secured to the housing to split the cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber. The apparatus further includes a pressure relief apparatus coupled to the housing. The pressure relief apparatus is configured to allow fluid communication between the first and second chambers in response to a predetermined pressure threshold being reached in at least one of the first and second chambers. A suspension system including a shock absorber and a link is coupled to the shock absorber. The suspension system further includes the hydraulic mount apparatus coupled to one of the shock absorber and the link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Oblizajek, Wojciech E. Suchta
  • Patent number: 10300758
    Abstract: A ride-height adjustment system for a vehicle. The system has a first detector, to detect a preliminary end-of-journey (EOJ) event, such as seat belt unbuckling or ignition switch-off. A controller adjusts the vehicle's suspension system in a first movement in response to detection of the preliminary EOJ event, to change the ride height of the vehicle towards an access ride height of the vehicle. The access ride height is a predetermined ride height that facilitates egress from and entrance to the vehicle. A second detector detects opening of a door of the vehicle. When the ride height of the vehicle remains different from the access ride height after the first movement, the controller adjusts the suspension system in a second movement in response to the door-opening detection. This further changes the ride height of the vehicle towards the access ride height of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Philip Guest, David Waide, Rory Manning, Adam Grzywaczewski, David Grace
  • Patent number: 10300759
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining whether or not ground contact loss is imminent for a wheel of a vehicle, the vehicle including a vehicle body having a vertical extension in a vertical direction, the wheel being allowed to be subjected to a relative vertical displacement, in the vertical direction, in relation to the vehicle body, the vehicle further being such that a maximum value of a vertical displacement of the wheel relative to the vehicle body is limited to a relative vertical displacement limit, the method including determining an actual relative vertical displacement of the wheel relative to the vehicle body, determining a limit margin as the difference between the actual relative vertical displacement and the relative vertical position limit, and determining that ground contact loss is imminent for a wheel if the limit margin is within a predetermined vertical threshold range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Stefan Andreasson, Håkan Johansson
  • Patent number: 10300760
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a fully-actuated suspension system which can provide adjustable displacement of a sprung mass from a neutral suspension position over an unsprung mass. The system includes a variable pressure air spring which can adjust the neutral suspension position and execute low-frequency displacements and a hydraulically-driven piston which can execute high-frequency displacements. The system can communicate information to a driver, via haptic feedback provided via actuator displacements, which can augment the driver's situational awareness. The system can provide augmented vehicle braking via displacing the unsprung mass of the vehicle towards the surface upon which the vehicle rests to increase the normal force and contact area of the unsprung mass on the surface, unload torsion of the wheel induced by applied braking pressure to the wheel, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Randol W. Aikin, Thaddeus Stefanov-Wagner
  • Patent number: 10300761
    Abstract: A selective filtration system for an operator cab attached to an agricultural vehicle. A HVAC unit supplies conditioned air to an operator space selectively from a CAT 4 filter and a CAT 2 filter. A pressurization blower and two way valve controls flow from the CAT 4 filter to the HVAC unit. Control of flow or isolation of the CAT 2 filter is provided by pressure variations within the system. The CAT 4 filter and CAT 2 filter are isolated from the ambient when they are not in use by valves. A calibrated orifice enables positive pressurization to the CAT 2 filter to hold the valves closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Angela Falagario, Gianluca Fava, Adriano Vaccari
  • Patent number: 10300762
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method to form arbitrarily shaped, uniform, lightweight, thermally insulating and acoustically absorptive automotive components with controllable density, thickness, porosity, and surface integrity. The method is based on natural cellulosic fibers such as those found in cardboard and paper and uses a thermoplastic fiber and particle slurry to form fusible components. The method produces components having the benefit of commercially available thermoformed fiber mats or open-cell extruded foam components with excellent acoustical properties, enhanced thermal insulation, and are light weight, which limits engine inefficiency, and the high cost of such products so as to allow large scale implementation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Toledo Molding & Die, Inc.
    Inventors: Erich James Vorenkamp, Charles David Satarino, Karthik S. Jayakumar, Christopher Paul Durand, Peter Ermie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10300763
    Abstract: A system for controlling an air conditioner for vehicles may include a sensor configured to sense surface temperature of a passenger sitting part of a rear seat of a vehicle, a reference temperature estimation device configured to estimate surface temperature of the passenger non-sitting part of the rear seat as a reference temperature, a passenger boarding recognition device configured to compare the surface temperature of the passenger sitting part sensed by the sensor, with the reference temperature estimated by the reference temperature estimation device and to judge that a passenger is seated on the rear seat when a difference between the surface temperature of the passenger sitting part and the reference temperature exceeds a critical value, and an air conditioner operation controller configured to differently control volume and temperature of air discharged from the air conditioner according to whether or not a passenger is seated on the rear seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jae Hyun Park, Sang Hun Kim, Chang Won Lee, Joon Hyung Park
  • Patent number: 10300764
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method for monitoring the performance of a blower motor for a blower unit positioned in a vehicle. The method may include: diagnosing the motor based on predefined criteria and one or more physical parameters sensed by one or more sensors; identifying a performance mode from among a plurality of modes based on the diagnosis, where the plurality of modes are predefined; determining a mode message based on a signal code protocol, where the mode message is indicative of the performance mode identified and the signal code protocol associates each of the plurality of modes with a different coded signal; and transmitting a diagnostic signal that includes the mode message to a climate control module located in the vehicle separate from the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignees: DENSO International America, Inc., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsumi Nishikawa, Claudia Gonzalez, Kazuki Kita, Shunji Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 10300765
    Abstract: A heat exchanger arrangement (10), especially for a fuel-operated vehicle heater, includes an outer pot-shaped housing (12) having an outer bottom wall (16) and an outer circumferential wall (18) extending along a longitudinal axis (L). An inner pot shaped housing (14) has an inner bottom wall (20) and an inner circumferential wall (22) extending along the longitudinal axis (L). A flow space (24) for fluid whose temperature is to be regulated is formed between the inner housing (16) and the outer housing (12). At least one liquid uptake volume (46, 48) for taking up liquid condensed in the inner housing (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Eberspächer Climate Control Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Haefner, Andreas Alber, Thomas Bauer
  • Patent number: 10300766
    Abstract: A system including mode, engine, and battery modules, where the mode module determines whether to operate in an engine mode or a battery mode based on parameters. The engine module, while operating in the engine mode, runs a compressor at a first speed based on a temperature within a temperature controlled container of a vehicle and permits passage of refrigerant through eutectic plates independent of the temperature. A battery, while in the engine mode, is charged based on power received from an electrical source. The battery module, while operating in the battery mode and based on the temperature, runs the compressor at a second speed and prevents passage of the refrigerant through the eutectic plates. While in the battery mode, the battery is not being charged based on power from a shore power source and the electrical source from which power is received during the engine mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shawn W. Vehr, Joseph J. Rozsnaki, Louis Siefker
  • Patent number: 10300767
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a heat exchanger for a vehicle. The heat exchanger includes a relay block and a base member. The relay block has a first passage and a second passage. The relay block includes a first connecting surface and a second connecting surface. The base member is formed of plastic. The first connecting surface is configured to be connected to a first connector that is in fluid communication with a first in-vehicle component. The second connecting surface is configured to be connected to a second connector that is in fluid communication with a second in-vehicle component. Heat medium flows into the first in-vehicle component through the first passage and the heat medium flows into the second in-vehicle component through the second passage. The relay block is integrally formed with the base member by molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Sean Schoneboom
  • Patent number: 10300768
    Abstract: A structure for attaching a blocking member displaces the blocking member from an insertion position where clamping pawl parts are arranged in a notch part to a fixation position where an opening edge portion is clamped in clearances between the clamping pawl parts and a main body part of the blocking member, thereby to attach the blocking member to an attachment object member. A projecting part that projects toward the blocking member is formed around an opening. At least a part of the projecting part is a side surface projecting part that projects along an outer peripheral side of a side surface of the blocking member when the blocking member is displaced to the fixation position. At least one of the clamping pawl parts is a low-load clamping pawl part. A clearance size between the low-load clamping pawl part and a main body part of the blocking member is provided to be larger than a clearance size between another clamping pawl part and the main body part of the blocking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seiichirou Kitagishi
  • Patent number: 10300769
    Abstract: A visor for use in a vehicle is disclosed. The visor comprises a pivot rod and a carrier arranged over the pivot rod. The visor also comprises a first and second shell being engagable to form a visor body and a vanity arranged therein. The visor also comprises a light base secured to the second shell and a circuit board engaging the light base. The visor also comprises a light emitting diode secured to a surface of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Irvin Automotive Products, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony R. Janowiak, Leslie Hinds, Martin Rathsburg, Jr., Robert J. Mayne, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10300770
    Abstract: A door beam for a vehicle may include a beam portion having a rod shape which extends along a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body, a front mounting portion disposed at a front end portion of the beam portion to mount the front end portion of the beam portion to the door, and a rear mounting portion disposed at a rear end portion of the beam portion to mount the rear end portion of the beam portion to the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Naresh K, Si Yun Kim
  • Patent number: 10300771
    Abstract: A vehicle impact absorption structure includes a door trim and an impact absorption member located on an outer side of the door trim in a vehicle width direction. The impact absorption member includes a base plate arranged to face the door trim, a plurality of legs extending from the base plate toward the door trim, and a plate-shaped rigid wall extending from the base plate toward the door trim. Each of the legs is bent between a distal end of the rigid wall and the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Arimoto, Kohei Nasu, Taisuke Nonaka, Kazuhiro Kawamura, Yasuomi Tanaoka
  • Patent number: 10300772
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a door system for a vehicle having a roll cage. For example, the vehicle may be a multi-use vehicle. The door system may include a door hinged to a vehicle body and releasably engaged to the vehicle body in a closed position by a latch. The door system may include a net extending from the door to the roll cage. The net may be releasably attached to the roll cage by a clip actuatable by a cable connected to the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dane R. Marsack
  • Patent number: 10300773
    Abstract: Even when a heavy load is applied to a tailgate of resin, deformation of the tailgate is inhibited. The tailgate includes a window frame portion of resin forming a window opening portion. The window frame portion includes a bottom wall located on the vehicle interior side, and an outer sidewall and an inner sidewall each of which extending from the corresponding either one end of the bottom wall. The tailgate connects the exterior ends of an outer sidewall and an inner sidewall to form a closed cross-section, and includes a hinge reinforcement member fitted to a hinge mechanism. The hinge reinforcement member includes an outer sidewall reinforcement portion along the outer sidewall. The hinge member is fastened to the outer sidewall reinforcement portion and the outer sidewall together by a connection bolt and a nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Miyake, Masaru Takata
  • Patent number: 10300774
    Abstract: An element to be integrated in a guide rail for a sliding roof of a motor vehicle, having a vertical wall and a flange surface which protrudes from the vertical wall and is configured to be screwed to a guide rail and to a frame part of the motor vehicle, wherein in an operationally mounted state, the flange surface points in the direction of an outer side of the vehicle, and the flange surface tapers in the direction of the vertical wall with respect to a main direction of extent of the vertical wall. According to other embodiments, a roof arrangement and a motor vehicle are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventors: Ulrich Sommer, Mustafa Yurt, Michael Passenheim
  • Patent number: 10300775
    Abstract: A mounting assembly comprising: (I) a retainer connected to one or more side rails of a cargo box of a vehicle, the retainer having: (i) a receiving portion having an axis; and (ii) a supporting portion extending away from the receiving portion and positioned substantially perpendicular to the axis of the receiving portion; and (II) a rotary member having: (i) a rotary portion rotatably engaged to the receiving portion to rotate about the axis of the receiving portion; (ii) a lever extending away from the rotary portion and positioned substantially perpendicular to the axis of the receiving portion; and (iii) a cover seal connected to the rotary member, the cover seal configured to compressibly engage a tonneau section to create a seal between the rotary member and the tonneau section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: TRUXEDO, INC.
    Inventor: Michael R. Spencer
  • Patent number: 10300776
    Abstract: A weather strip includes an installation base member and a seal member. The installation base member is configured to operably couple to a peripheral edge of a panel. The seal member is integrally molded with the installation base member and configured to make elastic contact with a peripheral edge of an opening in a body of an automobile when the panel is in a closed position. The seal member includes sponge material which has a specific gravity that falls within a range of 0.35 to 0.65 and a loss elastic modulus of not more than 0.25 MPa. More preferably, the sponge material has a loss elastic modulus of not more than 0.20 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: NISHIKAWA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Nishimoto, Takeshi Ueda, Hiroyuki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 10300777
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a truck bed, tailgate, and cover. The tailgate is rotatably secured to the bed. The tailgate has internal and external panels secured to each other via a sidewall extending therebetween. The external panel defines an outer periphery. The sidewall and internal panel collectively form a first radius extending adjacent and internal to a corner of the periphery. The cover is secured to the tailgate and over the first radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Marchlewski, Joshua Robert Hemphill, Jeffrey Gray, Robert Reiners, Jeffrey Alan Firzlaff, Casey Ray Tanner, Sara E. Veyo
  • Patent number: 10300778
    Abstract: An engine unit support structure (1) which includes an engine unit (2) having a three-cylinder engine (22), a mount (3) for mounting the engine unit, and a plurality of elastic support bodies (4) coupled to the engine unit and the mount to support the engine unit, in which the plurality of elastic support bodies (4) has a plurality of first elastic support bodies (4A) and a plurality of second elastic support bodies (4B), the second elastic support bodies (4B) are so disposed as to be orthogonal to a pitching rotation central axis (22B) of the engine unit and astride a virtual plane (22D) including a rolling rotation central axis (22A) of the engine unit, and the first elastic support bodies (4A) are disposed in a position closer to the pitching rotation central axis (22B) than the second elastic support bodies (4B) and astride the virtual plane (22D).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Juichi Nomizo
  • Patent number: 10300779
    Abstract: A failsafe device is provided to perform an operation including at least a part or all of one or more of a mechanical system, a hydraulic system, an electrical system, and a chemical system. The failsafe device includes at least one electronic system and an least one non-electronic system. The at least one electronic system is controlled by at least one computer and/or microprocessor. The at least one non-electronic system includes at least one of the mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, and chemical systems. The failsafe device is configured to operate in two modes, a normal mode and an emergency mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Frampton Ellis
    Inventor: Frampton Ellis
  • Patent number: 10300780
    Abstract: A support structure for rotating shafts of a vehicle, including: a drive shaft operatively connected to a power transmitting shaft to which a drive force of an engine is transmitted; and a rotor shaft of an electric motor spline-coupled to the drive shaft, each of the rotor shaft of the electric motor and the drive shaft is being supported by at least one bearing, in the support structure, one of the rotor shaft and the drive shaft is constituted by a first rotary shaft and a second rotary shaft which are operatively connected to each other, and an elastic member is interposed between the first rotary shaft and the second rotary shaft such that the first and second rotary shafts are operatively spline-connected to each other through the elastic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Yokouchi, Hiroki Kuwamoto, Haruo Isomura, Akitaka Ichikawa, Hiroatsu Endo
  • Patent number: 10300781
    Abstract: A drivetrain for a hybrid vehicle comprising an electric machine and a double clutch device (which has an input side assigned to a drive unit, a first clutch arrangement assigned to a first transmission input shaft of a transmission for selective torque transmission between the drive unit and the first transmission input shaft, and a second clutch arrangement assigned to a second transmission input shaft of the transmission for selective torque transmission between the drive unit and the second transmission input shaft, wherein the first clutch arrangement has a first clutch input side which interacts with the electric machine, and the second clutch arrangement has a second clutch input side, wherein the first clutch input side of the first clutch arrangement is connected to the input side of the double clutch device via a freewheel or to the second clutch input side of the second clutch arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Florian Schneider, Viren Saxena, Hans Juergen Hauck, Alexander Moser, Rolf Koestel
  • Patent number: 10300782
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus includes: a planetary gear set configured to output a reduced speed or a same speed as a rotation speed of an engine; a first input shaft selectively connected to an engine output shaft through a first clutch; a second input shaft disposed on the outer circumference of the first input shaft and selectively connected to the engine output shaft through a second clutch; a third input shaft disposed in parallel with the first input shaft; an output shaft disposed in parallel with the first input shaft; an idle shaft disposed in parallel with the first input shaft; and a fixed transmission for selectively shifting torque input according to gear ratios of four speed gear trains. The four speed gear trains are disposed by externally connecting drive gears and driven gears to the first, second, and third input shafts, the output shaft, and the idle shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wonmin Cho, Seong Wook Hwang, Hyun Sik Kwon, Ki Tae Kim, Jae Chang Kook, Seongwook Ji
  • Patent number: 10300783
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle including a chassis and a pair of wheels supported in spaced apart relationship by the chassis for rotation about a common axis. A pair of drive modules is associated with the respective wheels. The drive modules and the chassis are connected for rotation as a sub-assembly relative to the wheels about the common axis with the centre of mass of the sub-assembly below the common axis in a static equilibrium position. Each of the drive modules is housed substantially within the respective wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
    Inventors: Mark Calleija, Salah Sukkarieh
  • Patent number: 10300784
    Abstract: A wheel unit includes a motor, a pinion gear fixed to a rotating portion of the motor, a wheel including an annular ground surface and rotating around a final gear support shaft, and a final gear disposed on one side in an axial direction with respect to the wheel. The wheel unit further includes a speed reduction mechanism which decelerates rotation of the pinion gear and transmits the rotation to the final gear and a gear case which accommodates the pinion gear. When viewed from the axial direction, the final gear support shaft and the motor shaft are disposed in different positions. An initial stage composite gear of the speed reduction mechanism meshes with the pinion gear. The initial stage composite gear is supported by the final gear support shaft such that the initial stage composite gear and the final gear are rotatable relative to the gear case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tadayuki Kanatani
  • Patent number: 10300785
    Abstract: A cooling system for an automotive propulsion system is provided. The cooling system includes a housing defining a housing inlet and a housing outlet. An exhaust pipe may be configured to be fluidly connected to an automotive engine, the exhaust pipe and defining a passageway for exhausting exhaust gases originating with the automotive engine. The housing outlet is connected in fluid communication with the passageway of the exhaust pipe, which may be through a cooling conduit. The exhaust pipe is configured to suck air from the housing outlet into the exhaust pipe to define a cooling air flow path from the housing inlet to the passageway of the exhaust pipe. In one variation, the outlet of the cooling conduit has an open end placed in a slipstream of the vehicle rather than in the exhaust pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Demetrio Vettorazzo Neto, Paulo A. Riedel, Luiz H. Riedel, Robert Delmotte
  • Patent number: 10300786
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a plurality of ground-engaging members, a frame supported by the ground-engaging members, and a powertrain assembly. The powertrain assembly includes an engine, a shiftable transmission, a continuously variable transmission, and a charger. Additionally, the utility vehicle may include a cooling assembly fluidly coupled to at least the engine and the charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Nugteren, Adam J. Schlangen, Hans-Rudolf Jenni, John LaFata, David Hicke, Christopher J. Hurd, Ricky Jaeger, Aaron D. Deckard, Urs Wenger
  • Patent number: 10300787
    Abstract: Provided is a roll over fuel-vapor valve is provided including a housing defining a valve having a valve inlet port extending through a wall of the housing and a valve outlet port and a float member disposed between the inlet port and the outlet port and being displaceable between an open position and a closed position the hosing further comprising a fluid flow channel extending along a top portion thereof and having a first end and a second end, wherein the outlet port extending into the channel such that in the open position fluid flow is facilitated between the valve inlet port and the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: RAVAL A.C.S. LTD.
    Inventors: Omer Vulkan, Alon Rahamim, Vladimir Olshanetsky, Denis Kleyman
  • Patent number: 10300788
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electrical device in which a high-voltage part is disposed within a case, and a fuel tank. The high-voltage part is disposed near a first side end of the case in a vehicle width direction. The fuel tank has a first end portion in the vehicle width direction and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion. When a collision load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied to the fuel tank from the outside in a vehicle front-rear direction, the fuel tank is configured to be horizontally rotated about the first end portion of the fuel tank, and the second end portion of the fuel tank is configured to contact the second side end of the electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daiki Nishiumi, Masanori Miyakawa, Keijiro Ohshima, Nobuhito Mori
  • Patent number: 10300789
    Abstract: A display system for a vehicle. The display system includes a display engine that displays an image visible to a driver of the vehicle. In a first configuration, the display engine projects vehicle operating information directly in front of the driver. In a second configuration, the display engine projects an augmented reality image of an environment ahead of the vehicle directly in front of the driver. In a third configuration, the display engine projects entertainment images at a center of a dashboard of the vehicle between a driver's seat and a front passenger seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Silviu Pala, Robert Wunsche, III, Michael Murzyn
  • Patent number: 10300790
    Abstract: A power transmission system facilitates the location of an insulation fault in the power transmission system by providing a power transmission network, an insulation fault locating unit and a connecting line system which is electrically connected to the insulation fault locating unit and to the power transmission network. The connecting line system includes a switch constructed to interrupt and re-establish an electrical connection between the power transmission network and the insulation fault locating unit. A vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, including a power transmission system and a method for operating a power transmission system, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
    Inventors: Marco Brandmeier, Stefan Di Bonaventura, Markus Herzog
  • Patent number: 10300791
    Abstract: A trolley interfacing device for interfacing a traction load to a voltage source is presented. The trolley interfacing device includes a first charging unit coupled in parallel to the voltage source. Further, the trolley interfacing device includes a second charging unit coupled in parallel to the traction load, where the second charging unit includes at least one inductor. Also, the trolley interfacing device includes a pre-charging unit coupled in parallel to the second charging unit and configured to pre-charge the first charging unit with a voltage across the at least one inductor prior to electrically coupling the first charging unit to the voltage source. In addition, the trolley interfacing device includes a voltage converting unit disposed between the first charging unit and the second charging unit and configured to step down a voltage provided by the voltage source to the traction load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: GE GLOBAL SOURCING LLC
    Inventors: Said Farouk El-Barbari, Alvaro Jorge Mari Curbelo, Paolo Soldi, Simon Herbert Schramm
  • Patent number: 10300792
    Abstract: A device for a motor vehicle, includes a housing, in which electrical components are arranged, which are supplied with electrical energy across at least one electrical power supply line, which is arranged inside the housing. The housing has at least one impact switch. In the event that a mechanical force acts on the at least one impact switch in excess of a threshold value, the housing is deformed at a position of the at least one impact switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Martin Schüssler
  • Patent number: 10300793
    Abstract: A system and method for providing power to a plurality of moving elements in a transport system that include: tracking a position of each of the plurality of moving elements in the transport system; and selectively operating a power system provided to the transport system based on the position of each of the plurality of the moving element such that power is independently transferred to each of the plurality of moving elements. In another embodiment, the system and method include: adapting the plurality of moving elements to receive power from a drive component used to drive the plurality of moving elements along the transport system; and controlling the drive component to provide power to the plurality of moving elements, and, in particular, while the moving elements are moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: ATS AUTOMATION TOOLING SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Darragh Staunton, Albert Kleinikkink, John Ditner, Scott Lindsay, Javan Taylor
  • Patent number: 10300794
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for a vehicle includes at least one electrical contact device for an intermittently detachable electrical connection to a vehicle-external electrical network, a vehicle-internal electrical network and at least one detector device which determines if a connection exists between the contact device and the vehicle-external network. The circuit has at least one switching device which closes the electrical connection between the contact device and the vehicle-internal network depending on the connection determined between the contact device and the vehicle-external network. A method for making contact and/or breaking contact of a vehicle with a vehicle-external electrical network is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
    Inventor: Maik Noack
  • Patent number: 10300795
    Abstract: A regenerative braking control device of an electric vehicle, wherein, in an electric vehicle system that includes an electric motor coupled to a drive wheel, the regenerative braking control device has an electric motor controller that controls powering or regeneration of the electric motor, and a regeneration amount setting unit that sets a regeneration amount by a driver operation and that can change the regeneration amount according to an intention of a driver. The electric motor controller includes a regeneration instruction torque limitation unit that limits, immediately before stop of the vehicle with a motor rotation speed in a low-speed area, the regeneration amount to be decreased as a motor rotation speed is lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Sawada
  • Patent number: 10300796
    Abstract: A drive device includes a first energy storage, a second energy storage, a voltage converter, a driver, and circuitry. The first energy storage has a first power weight density and a first energy weight density. The second energy storage has a second power weight density higher than the first power weight density and a second energy weight density lower than the first weight density. The voltage converter converts a voltage output from the second energy storage. The driver is driven with power supplied from at least one of the first energy storage and the second energy storage. The circuitry is configured to interrupt current from the driver or from the second energy storage to the first energy storage. The circuitry is configured to control the voltage converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ito, Daijiro Takizawa, Kenji Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 10300797
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a start of a fuel cell vehicle are provided. The method includes providing hydrogen and air to a fuel cell and operating a converter to maintain a voltage of a high voltage bus constant. The converter is disposed between a high-voltage battery and the high voltage bus to which an output stage of the fuel cell is connected, and the voltage of the high voltage bus becomes a preset lowest control voltage. A charge current of the high-voltage battery is set as a charge limit current and an air supply amount is adjusted and the converter is operated to provide a current corresponding to an amplitude of the charge limit current to the high-voltage battery. The charge limit current is changed based on comparing a sensed charge current, obtained by sensing a current input to the high-voltage battery, with the charge limit current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Dae Jong Kim
  • Patent number: 10300798
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring battery cell DC impedance by controlling charging of the battery cell. The method includes real-time characterization of a battery, (a) measuring periodically a DC impedance of the battery to determine a measured DC impedance; (b) ratioing the measured DC impedance to a reference DC impedance for the battery to establish an impedance degradation factor; (c) obtaining, during use of the battery and responsive to a set of attributes of the battery, an operational reference impedance for the battery; and (d) applying the impedance degradation factor to the operational reference impedance to obtain a real-time effective impedance for the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: TESLA, INC.
    Inventor: Anil Paryani
  • Patent number: 10300799
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a cover, a front protector, and a rear protector. The cover has a cover lowest portion projecting from the bottom of the vehicle body toward an outside of the vehicle by a first distance. The front protector is provided on a front side of the cover in a front-rear direction. The front protector has a front protector lowest portion projecting from the bottom of the vehicle body toward the outside of the vehicle a second distance longer than the first distance. The rear protector is provided on a rear side of the cover in the front-rear direction. The cover is provided between the front protector and the rear protector in the front-rear direction. The rear protector has a rear protector lowest portion projecting from the bottom toward the outside of the vehicle by a third distance longer than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Kume, Shuta Fukuda
  • Patent number: 10300800
    Abstract: A wireless power system for powering a television includes a source resonator, configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field, and at least one television component attached to at least one device resonator, wherein the at least one device resonator is configured to wirelessly receive power from the source resonator via the oscillating magnetic field when the distance between the source resonator and the at least one device resonator is more than 5 cm, and wherein at least one television component draws at least 10 Watts of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: WiTricity Corporation
    Inventors: Andre B. Kurs, Aristeidis Karalis, Morris P. Kesler
  • Patent number: 10300801
    Abstract: A system for exchanging an electrical energy storage system (EESS) of an electric vehicle includes. An EESS station is configured to position an electric vehicle in x and y directions. A vehicle lift raises the electric vehicle to a predetermined height. An EESS lift supports and lowers the EESS and replaces the EESS with a differing EESS. The vehicle lift may be an inboard lift and the EESS lift may be an outboard lift. The system may also include one or more rollers configured to guide the electric vehicle. The system may include a horizontal door having at least one tube positioned thereon for guiding the electric vehicle and/or at least one vehicle chock for positioning the electric vehicle in at least one of the x and y directions. The vehicle lift may include lifting arms to engage jack pads of the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: TESLA, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Orlando Gaffoglio, Alan Clarke, Matthew Lee Brown
  • Patent number: 10300802
    Abstract: A charging system 1 including a charging apparatus 10 and a data base 20, the charging apparatus 10 including a power supply unit 11, a control unit 12, and a plurality of charging connectors 13-1 to 13-3 compliant with different charging standards. When authentication of identification information succeeds, the control unit 12 determines a charging standard on the basis of vehicle information of the data base 20 and when the authentication of the identification information fails, determines a charging standard on the basis of vehicle information input by a user. Further, the control unit 12 unlocks a charging connector compliant with the determined charging standard and notifies of unlocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: NICHICON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Katayama, Ryosuke Koguchi, Hiroyuki Sumimura, Masaya Nishi
  • Patent number: 10300803
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and a method of operating an inductive power transfer system for transferring power to a vehicle. The inductive power transfer system includes a primary winding structure for generating an alternating electromagnetic field and a secondary winding structure for receiving the alternating electromagnetic field and generating an alternating current output voltage, wherein the alternating current output voltage is rectified and supplied to at least one energy storage element. The rectified output voltage is adjusted by varying a gap size of a gap between the primary winding structure and the secondary winding structure, wherein the gap size is adjusted to prepare and/or to initiate and/or to control an energy transfer process depending on charging characteristics of the at least one energy storage element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Bombardier Primove GmbH
    Inventors: Marnix Lannoije, Dominik Anders, Robert Czainski, Jürgen Kett, Martin Dechert, Christian Apelt