Patents Issued in June 18, 2019
  • Patent number: 10322600
    Abstract: A tie article that includes an attachment portion and a bib portion, where the bib portion includes at least one arm segment and at least one closure device (e.g., a retention wire, tin tie, clasp tie, and the like), where the attachment portion and the bib portion are integrally fabricated from a printed sheet having a first surface and a polymeric film adhered to the first surface of the printed sheet such that the closure device(s) is disposed between the first surface of the printed sheet and the polymeric film at the attachment portion. Multiple tie articles may be manufactured with an in-line process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Bedford Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin O'Donnell, David Schiller, Mike Schultz, Axel Wass, Terry Langland, Joshua Platt, Jay Milbrandt, Jeffrey Tschetter
  • Patent number: 10322601
    Abstract: A value and safety document comprises a substrate having a front side and a back side. An ink layer is applied to the front or back sides of the substrate. A first motif is incorporated into the ink layer, and is combined with a second motif. The second motif is arranged on the same side of the substrate as the first motif. The second motif is configured in the form of an emboss structure comprising a plurality of raised emboss elements having areas of different orientation. The emboss structure forms the second motif having a second tilt or motion effect, by different groups of emboss elements, having different characteristic parameters, reflecting incident light in different spatial areas. The emboss elements have respectively a lateral dimension of less than 30 ?m and a height of less than 10 ?m. The first motif is adapted at least partially to the second motif.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: GIESECKE+DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Mengel, Peter Franz, Thanh-Hao Huynh, Karlheinz Mayer, Christian Fuhse, Stefan Bichlmeier, Matthias Pfeiffer, Christof Baldus
  • Patent number: 10322602
    Abstract: A display includes one or more first relief structures. Each of the one or more first relief structures consists of a smooth first reflection surface and a plurality of protrusions or recesses, each top surface of the protrusions or each bottom of the recesses is a smooth second reflection surface parallel to the first reflection surface, each of the one or more first relief structures is configured to display a color as a structural color by emitting a plurality of wavelength components of visible light wavelengths in the same direction, and each of the second reflection surfaces has a height or depth relative to the first reflection surface in a range of 0.1 to 0.5 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: TOPPAN PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Nagano, Takashi Nishihara, Kazunari Mitsui
  • Patent number: 10322603
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for forming a surface relief microstructure, especially an optically variable image on a paper substrate are provided, the method comprising the steps of: A) applying a curable composition to at least a portion of the frontside of the paper substrate; B) contacting at least a portion of the curable composition with surface relief microstructure, especially optically variable image forming means; C) curing the composition by using at least one UV lamp (1, 2, 3) which is arranged on the backside of the paper substrate; D) optionally depositing a layer of a transparent high refractive index material and/or a metallic layer on at least a portion of the cured composition, wherein the lamp (1, 2, 3) having emission peak(s) in the UV-A and near VIS range and the curable composition comprises at least a photoinitiator which absorbs in the UV-A region and preferably in the near VIS range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Michelle Richert, Thomas Bolle, Roland Fleury
  • Patent number: 10322604
    Abstract: A hybrid wheel including a functional rim, a center disc, and a wheel face insert, wherein the wheel rim and the center disc are made of a specified material, and wherein the wheel face insert is made of a dissimilar material. The wheel face insert can be secured to the center disc by at least one of screws, pins, rivets, or structural adhesive, and/or the wheel face insert can be secured to the functional rim by at least one of screws, pins, rivets, or structural adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Inventor: Fredrick Taylor
  • Patent number: 10322605
    Abstract: A multi-piece rim structure for a wheel includes a rim base 10, a bead seat ring 20 (ring member) and a lock ring 30. The bead seat ring 20 receives a load in a radial direction and an axial direction from a bead portion of a tire. An annular ridge 35 of the lock ring 30 can be received in an annular lock ring groove 15 of the rim base 10. A receiving groove 15a is formed in an inner surface of the lock ring groove 15 of the rim base 10. A sacrificial anticorrosion material 80 is embedded in the receiving groove 15a. The sacrificial anticorrosion material 80 includes metal such as zinc and aluminum that has a greater ionization tendency than iron that is a base material of the rim base 10 and the lock ring 30. Corrosion of the rim base 10 and the lock ring 30 can be suppressed by ionization of the sacrificial anticorrosion material 80.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Topy Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keitaro Enami, Kentaro Oba, Zulkaizam Asri Bin Kassim Mohd
  • Patent number: 10322606
    Abstract: A wheel mechanism (10) is disclosed as including an outer wheel (12), two inner wheels (36) received in the outer wheel, and two rubber dampers (24) each separating a respective outer wheel and inner wheel, the rubber dampers being deformable between a first configuration in which the entire outer periphery (37) of the inner wheel is in contact with an inner wall (29) of a recess (28) of the rubber damper and a second configuration in which a part of the outer periphery of the inner wheel is out of contact with the inner wall of the recess of the rubber damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: OMNIMUS COMPANY (HK) LIMITED
    Inventor: Wai Kwon Tang
  • Patent number: 10322607
    Abstract: A compact mechanic?s creeper comprising an elongate body comprising a back rest portion and a head rest portion, a pair of ground contacting wheels, one of each of the wheels on either side of the back rest portion, each of the wheels rotating about a respective fixed axis of rotation positioned substantially at a right angle to a length of the elongate body and a ground contacting swivel towards a top end of the elongate body. When a user lies supine on the creeper with his head on the head rest portion, an upper edge of the pair of wheels are positioned on either side and substantially at a level of the user?s hips. In a particular embodiment the respective fixed axes of rotation are at an angle to one another and meet at a point above a center of the back rest portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Inventors: Erik Sieb, André Wagner
  • Patent number: 10322608
    Abstract: A tire is provided in a first half-tread portion with a first shoulder main groove and a first shoulder land region 4D and a first middle land region 4B on the axially outside and axially inside thereof, respectively. The first shoulder land region 4D is divided into first shoulder blocks 7D each provided with a first shoulder chamfer portion 10 at the corner portion 10 between the ground contacting surface and the groove side wall of the first shoulder main groove 3C. Both ends of the first shoulder chamfer portion 10 terminate without being connected to the first shoulder transverse grooves 6D. The first middle land region 4B is provided at the corner 14 between its ground contacting surface and the groove side wall of the first shoulder main groove with first middle chamfer portions 15 each positioned in a part of the range between the adjacent first middle rug grooves 6B. The first middle chamfer portions 15 are disposed so as face the first shoulder chamfer portions 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventor: Kozo Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 10322609
    Abstract: A tread pattern is provided with: shoulder lug grooves open at ground contact ends; center lug grooves each having opposite ends; circumferential primary grooves each formed in a wavy shape by connecting ends of the center lug grooves and the inner ends of the shoulder lug grooves in the width direction of the tire; and center blocks defined by the center lug grooves and the pair of circumferential primary grooves. The width of the circumferential primary grooves is smaller than the width of the shoulder lug grooves. The center lug grooves are tilted relative to both the circumferential direction and the width direction of the tire and each have a third groove turning portion and a fourth groove turning portion which protrude in the different directions in the circumferential direction of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Shoei Kakuta, Hideki Hamanaka, Yukihito Yamaguchi, Risa Tauchi, Toshiyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 10322610
    Abstract: Various methods and apparatuses for creating a visual effect on a rubber article are disclosed. In one embodiment, a rubber article having a visual effect is provided, the rubber article comprising: a surface having at least one surface feature; and wherein the at least one surface feature comprises a plurality of linear elements creating a camouflage-shaped appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Richard S. Parr, Kevin E. Scheifele, Jon I. Stuckey
  • Patent number: 10322611
    Abstract: A system is used with a pneumatic tire mounted on a wheel rim to keep a tire cavity of the pneumatic tire from becoming underinflated from a set pressure. The first system includes a plurality of pumps attached circumferentially to the wheel rim, each pump having a piston for inflating the tire cavity and a weight for moving the piston, and a stop mechanism for each pump, the stop mechanism including a stop piston, a stop cylinder, a first spring, and a second spring, when air pressure in the tire cavity reaches the set pressure, the set pressure overcomes a force of the first spring against the stop piston and moves the stop piston into a stopping engagement with the weight, when air pressure in the tire cavity is below the set pressure, the second spring overcomes the force of the first spring and moves the stop piston away from the weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Jin-Shy Steve Gau, Cheng-Hsiung Lin
  • Patent number: 10322612
    Abstract: An adapter for mounting an accessory to a fixed feature positioned below a load bed of a vehicle is described. The adapter may include a mounting member, an aperture positioned on the mounting member, and a locking member capable of being inserted through the aperture, where the locking member is capable of selectively engaging the fixed feature. The adapter may also include at least one rail attached to the mounting member, and an accessory securing member positioned on the rail, the accessory securing member capable of selectively engaging an accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventor: Richard W. McCoy
  • Patent number: 10322613
    Abstract: A kingpin adapter is provided having an upper wall and a lower wall that are affixed to each other through side walls. The upper and lower walls have a kingpin aperture and a hitch ball aperture that is spaced from and parallel to the kingpin aperture. The kingpin aperture receives a kingpin and the adapter is affixed to the kingpin using pins that extend through the side walls and extend through a portion of the undercut in the kingpin. The upper wall has jack screws that extend through to contact a skid plate that is affixed to the kingpin. The jack screws affix optional adjustable fences that rotationally constrain the skid plate by contacting lateral edges of it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Inventors: Randall A Pulliam, James M. Karasch
  • Patent number: 10322614
    Abstract: An amphibious vehicle that has combined structure of a snowmobile and a small water craft. The device has a front track that is connected to a steering mechanism of a snowmobile. A seat is provided for one or more riders. A track drives the snow mobile and helps to propel the boat when on water. However, the device also has a jet drive attached to the drive system of the motor. A water intake that is also driven by the motor is also provided to ensure adequate water for the jet drive. The device is steered with a handlebar much like a snowmobile. And can be easily moved from land to water and back to land again. The invention can be used for recreation, by first responders, or by other industry or government operations. Moreover, the invention can augment existing amphibious vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Inventors: William Naneng, Terence Naneng
  • Patent number: 10322615
    Abstract: A lookahead vehicle suspension system comprises a first independently adjustable suspension system associated with a front wheel; a second independently adjustable suspension system associated with a rear wheel; at least one detector configured to at least assist in delivering electrical signals relating to a front wheel roadway concern, the front wheel roadway concern relating to a roadway defect; and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to receive, in advance of the rear wheel encountering the roadway defect, both vehicle motion data and the electrical signals, and identify, based on the vehicle motion data and the electrical signals, adjustments with associated timing to be made to the second independently adjustable suspension system to accommodate the encounter of the rear wheel with the roadway defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Inventor: James D. Bennett
  • Patent number: 10322616
    Abstract: There is provided a commercial refrigerator vehicle for the transport of refrigerated produce, the commercial refrigerator vehicle comprising a wheeled chassis, a cab, an internal combustion engine, a refrigerator compartment on the wheeled chassis, and a refrigerator system for controlling interior temperature of the refrigerator compartment. The refrigerator system includes a refrigerator unit, a dedicated rechargeable electrical energy storage device housed in the cab, a vehicle battery pack chargeable directly or indirectly via the internal combustion engine and a charger for the electrical energy storage device. The charger preferably includes a controller for monitoring an activation status of the internal combustion engine and electrically disconnects the vehicle battery pack from the dedicated rechargeable electrical energy storage device when the internal combustion engine is deactivated. There is further provided a method of charging the refrigerator system via the electrical energy storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Perpetual V2G Systems Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Ling
  • Patent number: 10322617
    Abstract: A system for a motor vehicle for heating and/or cooling a battery and a motor vehicle interior is provided that includes a first coolant circuit thermally coupled to the battery, a second coolant circuit for heating the motor vehicle interior having an air heat exchanger for outputting heat from the second coolant circuit to the air of the interior of the motor vehicle, and a heating unit for heating the second coolant circuit. The first coolant circuit and the second coolant circuit are thermally coupled to each other for heating the battery using heat from the second coolant circuit and/or for cooling the air of the motor vehicle interior, in that heat from the second coolant circuit can be fed to the first coolant circuit by the circuit heat exchanger or the mixing valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: MAHLE International GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Kohl, Karl Lochmahr, Thomas Strauss
  • Patent number: 10322618
    Abstract: An odor reproducing apparatus of a HVAC system for the vehicle may include an odor reproducing device configured to reproduce and evaluate odor by applying a HVAC system module, a heat exchange outdoor device mounted at one side of the odor reproducing device to control a temperature and humidity of an experimental space, and a control device mounted at one side of the odor reproducing device and the heat exchange outdoor device to control an operation of the odor reproducing device and an operation of the heat exchange outdoor device to implement a field environment and vehicle conditions for evaluating an odor improvement effect of the HVAC system reflecting an odor reduction technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Kwang Mo Seong
  • Patent number: 10322619
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control module (13) for an electric appliance (10), comprising a printed circuit board (19) whereon electrical and electronic components (26) are mounted along with at least one power transistor (18) fixed to a first region (20) of the printed circuit board (19) and comprising a drain (D) connected to a first electrically conductive track (22) of said first region (20) and a source (S) connected to a second electroconductive track (23) of a second region (21) of the printed circuit board (19). At least one opening (27) forms a material discontinuity between the first and second regions (20, 21) of the printed circuit board (19), said opening (27) being arranged between the first and second conductive tracks (22, 23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventors: Bertrand Puzenat, Thierry Elbhar, Jean-Baptiste Audoye, Alain Renard
  • Patent number: 10322620
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning system is configured to cool a passenger compartment having a first zone and a second zone. An air handler has a recirculation door movable from a first position in which only fresh air from outside the vehicle enters the air handler and a second position in which only recirculation air from the first zone enters the air handler. A controller is connected to the first sensor, the recirculation door and a control panel. The controller is configured such that in response to the control panel being set to: provide cooling only to the second zone; the recirculation door being set to provide fresh air; and a first sensor's conditions being meet, the controller changes the setting of the recirculation door from fresh air to recirculated air to the air handler over-riding a manual setting of the position of the recirculation door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Takafumi Uehara, Xavier Ramiro
  • Patent number: 10322621
    Abstract: An inertial particle separator includes a body with an outer wall, an inlet, an outlet, an inner nozzle, a settling chamber, a serpentine channel, and a filter element. The inlet is disposed on an upstream end of the body. The outlet is disposed on a downstream end of the body. The inner nozzle is disposed radially inward from the outer wall and forms a primary flow passage. The settling chamber is disposed in the body and extends between the outer wall and the inner nozzle. The settling chamber forms a secondary flow passage and is fluidly connected to the inlet and the outlet. The serpentine channel fluidly connects fluidly connects the inlet and the settling chamber and is disposed radially between the outer wall of the body and the inner nozzle. The filter element is disposed in the settling chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Donald E. Army
  • Patent number: 10322622
    Abstract: A vehicular door structure has a side door adapted to open and close an opening of a vehicle body, and the side door includes a door storage part having a storage area, and a door speaker. The door speaker is located above the door storage part in a virtual up-down direction and disposed near a central part in the up-down direction of the side door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sotaro Hashiguchi
  • Patent number: 10322623
    Abstract: A roof closure assembly for a vehicle includes a frame configured to be fixed to the vehicle roof and having an upper and lower side. A movable closure for a roof opening is movably supported by a movable support mechanism on the frame. An operating device includes at least one drive motor, at least a guide rail including the movable support mechanism for the closure and an elongate connecting member attached to the movable support mechanism and in engagement with the drive motor to enable the drive motor to drive the closure to move between a closed position closing the roof opening and an open position opening the roof opening at least partly. The frame comprises a through-hole providing communication between the upper and lower side of the frame. The drive motor is mounted to a lower side of a motor support such that the drive motor is accessible through the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: INALFA ROOF SYSTEMS GROUP B.V.
    Inventors: Frijke Irene Land, Marcel Johan Christiaan Nellen
  • Patent number: 10322624
    Abstract: A frame assembly that includes a first frame member, a seal, a second frame member, and a coupling mechanism. The first frame member includes a first extension and a second extension. The seal extends between a surface of the first extension and a surface of the second extension. The second frame member includes a third extension. The coupling mechanism is adapted to connect together the first frame member and the second frame member. After the first frame member and the second frame member are connected together, the first extension, the second extension, and the third extension cooperate to form a channel. The channel is adapted to receive a tonneau cover enclosure panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Tectum Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome Facchinello, Ryan DeLong
  • Patent number: 10322625
    Abstract: A vehicle door structure includes two doors, a weatherstrip, a moving device and a control device. The two doors are disposed adjacently at a vehicle side portion with no pillar therebetween. The weatherstrip is provided at one of the doors and is disposed to change a distance between the weatherstrip and the other door. The moving device moves the weatherstrip in a direction of putting the weatherstrip into contact with and a direction of separating the weatherstrip from the other door. When it is determined that the two doors are closed and neither is opening or closing, the control device controls movement of the moving device to put the weatherstrip into contact with the other door. When a single door is closed and the counterpart door is opening or closing, the control device controls movement of the moving device in the direction of separating the weatherstrip from the other door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke Sakakibara, Masanobu Ohmi, Kazuki Sugie
  • Patent number: 10322626
    Abstract: A road paver or a feeder having a chassis driven by a drive unit, and a material hopper arranged in the working direction at the front of the road paver or the feeder, the material hopper having a hopper side wall extending in the working direction and a discharge flap tiltable about a pivot axis extending transversely to the working direction, the discharge flap comprising a flap base and a flap side wall which extends next to the hopper side wall and is fixed to the flap base and supported to be moveable relative to the hopper side wall, a protective cover, which at least partially engages around the edge of the flap side wall, being arranged on the hopper side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: BOMAG GMBH
    Inventor: Tobias Neumann
  • Patent number: 10322627
    Abstract: An energy storage system comprising at least one energy storage module adapted to supply electrical energy to a hybrid vehicle. The energy storage module comprises an enclosure, at least one battery array located within the enclosure, and an energy storage controller module located within the enclosure and electrically connected to the battery array. The energy storage module further comprises a compliant tipped thermistor which may be installed within a flexible clip. The thermistor is positioned to monitor the temperature of one or more of the batteries within the energy storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Maskew, Scott K. Bennett, Leonard F. Baxter, II, Daniel J. Youngs, Kurt Biehl, Edward Bass, Eric D. Schneider, Felice E. Bailey, Steven T. Reyburn, Dean M. Ford, Clyde E. Johnson, Bruce E. Miller, Richard Bletsis, Derek A. Delrymple, Markus Naegell, Jerry Wendling, Timothy A. Gasaway, Russell B. Hopkins, Brian C. Morrow, Robert A. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 10322628
    Abstract: A controllable air inlet for controlling airflow to a cooling device of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The air inlet includes a frame, a lateral member and a closure element moveably supported by the frame and the lateral member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA Exteriors GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Knauer
  • Patent number: 10322629
    Abstract: A method for assembling a tank including: providing a first shell and a second shell; putting edges of the first and second shells into contact with each other and mutually connecting the edges; providing the first shell with a first connecting member extending inwardly from an inner surface of the first shell, the first connecting member including a hole; and after the edges of the first and second shells are put into contact with each other, connecting the first connecting member to the second shell by inserting a pin shaped element through a hole in the second shell and the hole in the first connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Plastic Omnium Advanced Innovation and Research
    Inventors: Laurent Duez, Eric Boucaux, Jules-Joseph Van Schaftingen
  • Patent number: 10322630
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel tank which allows effective suppression of the deformation of a fuel tank body and has excellent durability. This fuel tank is equipped with: a fuel tank body; connecting members which partially connect the opposed inner wall surfaces of the fuel tank body to each other, and/or abutment portions where the opposed inner wall surfaces of the fuel tank body partially abut on each other; and reinforcing members which are provided integrally with the outer wall surfaces of the fuel tank body and reinforce the outer wall surfaces. The fuel tank is configured such that the reinforcing members are equipped with: base portions which are disposed at positions corresponding to the connecting members and/or the abutment portions; and extension portions which extend along the outer wall surfaces from the base portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 10322631
    Abstract: A fuel filling aperture opening and closing device includes a closing member turned to an open position to open a fuel filling aperture by an introduction of a fuel filling nozzle. The closing member is provided with a flap member having a ring-shaped seal member, and an urging device urging the flap member to be positioned at a closed position. The seal member is provided with seal portions respectively inside and outside, and one of the inner and outer seal portions is a plate-shaped portion pressed by the urging against a projection piece bordering an opening edge portion of a pass-through opening of the fuel filling nozzle, and the other of the inner and outer seal portions is formed by an inside circumferential projecting portion and an outside circumferential projecting portion respectively pressed against the flap member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sasaki, Hideaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10322632
    Abstract: A method for controlling a functional component of a transportation vehicle by a medical implant of a user of the transportation vehicle including transmitting a signal, which comprises authentication information and status information, from the medical implant to a control device of the transportation vehicle; receiving the signal; establishing validity or invalidity of the received signal; and providing a control command to the functional component of the transportation vehicle, in the case of established validity, in response to status information that indicates a critical health status of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Bastian Bartels
  • Patent number: 10322633
    Abstract: A regenerative brake control device of a vehicle, which is configured to control a rotary electric motor that is configured to drive wheels at a regeneration ratio corresponding to a selected regeneration stage to thereby obtain a regenerative brake force, includes: a selecting section which is manually operated to select a regeneration stage from a plurality of regeneration stages which have been set; and a control section which is configured to make control so that, when a predetermined operation is performed on the selecting section, a regeneration stage in which the predetermined operation has not been performed on the selecting section is automatically changed to another regeneration stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiro Murase
  • Patent number: 10322634
    Abstract: Vehicles that use electric power as a motive force may use accurate measurements of battery power for numerous purposes, e.g., battery characteristics, state of charge of the battery, travel distance remaining for the vehicle and the like. A traction battery measurement should be taken when the battery is fully relaxed, i.e., the battery is neither being charged nor providing power and a time period thereafter when the battery chemistry reaches a steady state. A controller or methods may determine if the battery is relaxed and if the battery is not relaxed, delay charging or discharging of the traction battery to allow accurate battery capacity determination. The controller may control a battery charger to ensure the battery is fully relaxed before sensing battery characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Xu Wang, Chuan He, Xiaoguang Chang
  • Patent number: 10322635
    Abstract: A charging apparatus (1) for a vehicle that can be driven electrically has a charging cradle (4) with an access opening (8) and an electrical charging socket (5) is arranged in the charging cradle (4). A closure cover (7) is mounted pivotably in the charging cradle (4) and, in a closed position, covers the access opening (8) in the charging cradle (4) and, in an open position, opens said access opening. A sealing ring (12) which extends around the charging socket (5), and the closure cover (7) has a ring attachment (13) that makes contact with the sealing ring (12) along a ring contour of the sealing ring when the closure cover (7) is closed. Thus, the charging socket is sealed off reliably to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sven Meinl, Siegfried Walter, Jochen Eppele
  • Patent number: 10322636
    Abstract: A charging method and an apparatus of an electric vehicle are provided. The charging is executed via connection even between an electric vehicle and a charger that employ different charging methods, irrespective of a charging method of a charger. The apparatus includes a gender converter that is connected between a vehicle inlet and a charger connector according to one of a DC combo standard specification charger and a CHAdeMO standard specification charger to supply DC power for battery charging, communication, and ground connection between a connected charger and the vehicle. A controller determines specifications of the charger connected to the vehicle inlet from a signal transmitted from the charger and executes high-speed charging according to specifications of the connected charger to perform high-speed charging of a vehicle battery with DC power supplied from the charger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Tae Woo Lee, Jin Cheol Shin
  • Patent number: 10322637
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes grid independent operation with DC microgrid capability. This fuel cell system has a capability of operation with and without the grid, and with DC micro-grid capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ramesh Srinivasan, Rajaram Swaminathan, Ranganathan Gurunathan, Arne Ballantine, James McElroy
  • Patent number: 10322638
    Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring transducer for charging stations of electric vehicles. In the measuring transducer, a measuring device is connected to a direct current charging circuit for detecting at least one direct current measurement variable. A transducer for converting the direct current measurement variable into an alternating current actuating variable is provided, and the measuring transducer also includes an actuating means for adjusting at least one alternating current variable in an alternating current measuring circuit as a function of the alternating current actuating variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: innogy SE
    Inventors: Holger Riemenschneider, Stephan Cater, JĂ¼rgen Waffner
  • Patent number: 10322639
    Abstract: Provided are a charging device and a vehicle capable of reducing the amount of noise flowing into a quick-charging facility. The pair of charging lines connecting the quick-charging facility (20) to an onboard battery (30) are referred to as quick-charging lines, and each of these quick-charging lines is provided with a relay (16-1, 16-2). Each relay (16-1, 16-2) is used to switch the current flowing in the respective quick-charging line on and off, the current being switched on during quick-charge and being switched off during normal charging. Each quick-charging line has a Y-capacitor (17) connected thereto closer to a QC port (15) than the respective relay (16-1, 16-2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shuhei Chizuwa
  • Patent number: 10322640
    Abstract: A vehicle having a traction battery and at least one electric machine for propelling the vehicle is provided. A high voltage DC bus electrically connects the traction battery to the electric machine. A controller monitors and commands power flow through the DC bus, the electric machine, and the battery. In response to a key-off event, the controller immediately discharges the DC bus by providing a current to the electric machines. This discharge continues until the voltage on the DC bus reaches a threshold. As the speed of the electric machine decreases towards a speed threshold, the voltage in the DC bus is maintained. Once the electric machine speed reduces past the threshold, the DC bus discharges the remaining voltage in the DC bus at a rate slower than the first immediate discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yuan Zhang, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 10322641
    Abstract: In order to detect failure of a charge/discharge current sensor for a battery and estimate and manage the state of charge of the battery when the charge/discharge current sensor has failed, provided are: a state-of-charge estimation unit for estimating the state of charge of the battery; an operation current estimation unit for estimating operation current of an electric load connected to the battery; and a charge/discharge current sensor failure detection unit for determining that failure occurs on the charge/discharge current sensor for detecting charge/discharge current of the battery, when a difference between the charge/discharge current and the operation current estimation value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, wherein, when failure of the charge/discharge current sensor is detected, the electric load is operated at low output, and the state of charge of the battery is estimated using the operation current estimation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hideaki Tani, Satoshi Wachi, Hiroyuki Saito
  • Patent number: 10322642
    Abstract: The present invention provides a power supply apparatus for a vehicle capable of supplying a stable voltage to an electronic system, and the power supply apparatus for a vehicle, which supplies power to a first electronic system and a second electronic system installed in the vehicle and includes the first electronic system including an inverter configured to drive a motor and an electronic control unit configured to control the inverter, a first battery configured to supply power to the second electronic system and the electronic control unit, a second battery configured to supply power to the inverter, and a charger configured to receive power from the first battery and charge the second battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gyung Hun Sim
  • Patent number: 10322643
    Abstract: A capacitive circuit with a supercapacitor is connected in series with a traction battery to provide a current sensor to produce a sensed signal that is linear across the operating range of the traction battery. The linear response of the capacitive circuit is an improvement over merely measuring the voltage across the battery, which is not linear over some ranges, e.g., 20% to 80% state of charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Poirier
  • Patent number: 10322644
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a cooling fan of a battery of a vehicle are provided. The apparatus includes a motor controller that drives a cooling fan motor of the battery based on information regarding control conditions of the cooling fan motor, and requests a backup process of a control of the cooling fan motor when an error in CAN communication by a CAN communicator or an error of the vehicle occurs. A backup processor then compensates for an output signal of the cooling fan based on at least one of an air conditioner pressure transducer (APT) output value, a vehicle speed, and a cooled water temperature and transmits the compensated output signal of the cooling fan to the motor controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Mun Soon Kwon
  • Patent number: 10322645
    Abstract: A power storage system for a vehicle includes a battery, a temperature sensor, a battery heater, a charger, and a controller. The battery is configured to supply electric power to a motor for traveling of the vehicle, and configured to be charged with external power supplied from an external power supply. The temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of the battery. The battery heater is configured to raise the temperature of the battery. The charger is configured to be connectable with the external power supply, and deliver the external power to the battery and the battery heater, respectively. The controller is configured to perform charge control. The charge control is a control that charges the battery with the external power. The controller is configured to store a map. The map specifies, for each temperature of the battery, a ratio of a temperature-elevating power supplied to the battery heater to a maximum power of the external power at the time when a charging time is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Murata
  • Patent number: 10322646
    Abstract: A fuel cell vehicle provided with an exhaust duct structure is capable of reliably diluting hydrogen flowing into an exhaust duct. The fuel cell vehicle includes a vehicle body, an air-cooled fuel cell mounted in the vehicle body to generate power by allowing hydrogen gas and oxygen in air to react with each other, an exhaust duct through which exhaust air of the fuel cell is guided to a rear end of the vehicle body and is discharged outside the fuel cell vehicle, and a fan guiding air into the exhaust duct to dilute hydrogen in the exhaust duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Gaku Shimonihara, Kengo Ikeya, Yoshifumi Takai
  • Patent number: 10322647
    Abstract: A fuel cell-equipped vehicle includes a fuel cell stack disposed in a front space of a vehicle body by a partition member, and an air conditioner disposed in a rear space of the vehicle body separated by the partition member, wherein external air is introduced into the air conditioner through an external air intake port formed at a portion of the partition member located on a first side with respect to a center in a vehicle width direction of the vehicle body, downstream end of the exhaust duct configured to discharge a reaction gas in the casing communicates with an outside of the vehicle body at a portion located on a second side with respect to the center in the vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideharu Naito
  • Patent number: 10322648
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control device for a voltage transformer of an electrically operated vehicle, which voltage transformer feeds an n-phase electric machine, n>1. The control device comprises an observer unit, which is designed to determine a present rotational speed of the electric machine and a present output current of the voltage transformer, a computing unit, which is coupled to the observer unit and which is designed to compute an instantaneous wheel speed of the wheels of the vehicle in dependence on the determined present rotational speed, and a slip control unit, which is coupled to the computing unit and which is designed to at least temporarily apply a current correction amount to the output current of the voltage transformer if the present change of the wheel speed of the wheels exceeds a first predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Emile Kruijswijk, Julien Kuehl, Markus Becker, Vincent Schulte-Coerne
  • Patent number: 10322649
    Abstract: The load-detecting device 1 includes a base 2 engaged with a pair of S springs 100, and a load detection sensor unit SU that is mounted on the base 2 and includes a first electrode 52 and a second electrode 62 facing each other and being brought into contact with each other by pressing force of the seat cushion SC when a load is detected, The upper surface 47S of the load detection sensor unit SU that is pressed by the seat cushion SC when a load is detected is located at the same height as or higher than the upper ends 101 of the respective S springs 100, with which the base 2 is engaged, and the contact surface between the first electrode 52 and the second electrode 62 is located lower than the upper ends 101 of the respective S springs 100, with which the base 2 is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru Nakazaki, Naohiro Kikukawa, Tetsuya Kawahira