Patents Issued in April 28, 2020
  • Patent number: 10632786
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wheel having a rim portion including an air-tight rim formed in a cylindrical shape, and a protruded grid portion having a plurality of first recesses by being protruded from and equally spaced around the circumference of the air-tight rim. In this way, the honeycomb rim-type wheel can be readily manufactured to have lightweight using a single casting without sacrificing durability thanks to the protruded grid portion on the circumference of the air-tight rim, thereby reducing time and cost for manufacturing by reduced usage of molten metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: HANDS CORPORATION LTD.
    Inventor: Hyeon-Chang Seung
  • Patent number: 10632787
    Abstract: A wheel dolly for raising a vehicle wheel off the floor is disclosed. The dolly has at least two wheel straddle bars, each straddle bar having a non-swing caster assembly. A swing caster assembly is connected to each straddle bar. The assembly includes a stationary frame supporting a swing axle, a swing frame that rotates about the swing axle, and a swing caster connected to swing frame. The swing caster defines a swivel plane. A lift bar connects the two wheel straddle bars. The dolly can transition between two configurations: a lowered configuration, wherein the swivel plane is not parallel to the floor, and a raised configuration, wherein the swivel plane is substantially parallel to the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel B Goetsch, Clint Griffith
  • Patent number: 10632788
    Abstract: Provided are a rubber composition that achieves a balanced improvement in grip performance during the initial to late phases of running and abrasion resistance, and a pneumatic tire formed from the rubber composition. The present invention relates to a rubber composition containing a rubber component, sulfur, and a molten mixture of a solid resin and a plasticizer, the solid resin having an SP value of 9.2 to 13 and/or a softening point of 130° C. or higher, the plasticizer including at least one compound selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid esters, phthalic acid esters, aliphatic polybasic acid esters, trimellitic acid esters, acetic acid esters, and ricinoleic acid esters, the solid resin being present in an amount of 1 part by mass or more per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 10632789
    Abstract: A tire has a cap rubber formed of a nonconductive rubber and forms a ground surface, and a conductive portion provided in at least one side end portion of a pair of side end portions in both ends in a tire width direction. The conductive portion is formed of a conductive rubber, and reaches a side surface of the cap rubber from the ground surface through an inner portion of the cap rubber. The conductive portion is the smallest in thickness in the ground surface, is relatively large in thickness in the side surface of the cap rubber, is gradually increased in thickness from the ground surface to the side surface of the cap rubber, and is formed into a trumpet shape which is curved into an inner side in a tire width direction and an inner side in a radial direction, in a tire meridian cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kunihiko Nagai
  • Patent number: 10632790
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire is configured by a resin tire frame member. An inner face of the tire frame member is provided with an attachment section. The attachment section is configured so as to attach a sound-absorbing material inside the tire frame member. The sound-absorbing material employs, for example, a spongey material, and the sound-absorbing material is capable of absorbing sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji Kon, Yoshihide Kouno
  • Patent number: 10632791
    Abstract: A tire having a rubber body in which a steel cord is embedded, wherein a layer composed of ZnxCoyO is formed at the interface between the steel cord and the rubber body and x+y is 5/6 or more and 1 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Tochigi Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd., Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nakajima, Kenichi Yamashita, Takashi Tokuyama, Shinei Takamura, Masumi Suzuki, Koji Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 10632792
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a sidewall portion having an outer wall surface that is provided with a first protrusion extending to have an annular shape in a tire-circumferential direction, and a plurality of second protrusions disposed at intervals in the tire-circumferential direction. The first protrusion is provided, in a tire-radial direction, in a region having a range of 80% of a length H from a tire-maximum-width position to a tire-outermost-diameter point in the tire-radial direction with the tire-maximum-width position as the center. The second protrusion is provided with a connection portion that extends in the tire-circumferential direction and is connected to the first protrusion on the outer side in the tire-radial direction, and a pair of radial projection portions that projects outward in the tire-radial direction from both end portions of the connection portion in the tire-circumferential direction and is disposed at an interval in the tire-circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Fujioka
  • Patent number: 10632793
    Abstract: A tire (10) includes, in a tread surface (11): at least two circumferential grooves (12, 13) extending in a tire circumferential direction; and a land portion (14) sandwiched between the circumferential grooves (12, 13). The land portion (14) has a resonator (15) including: an air chamber (16); a first branch groove (17); and a second branch groove (18). The two circumferential grooves consist of: a first circumferential groove (12) having a smaller cross-sectional area in a cross section along a plane perpendicular to extending direction of the circumferential grooves; and a second circumferential groove (13) having a larger cross-sectional area in a cross section along a plane perpendicular to extending direction of the circumferential grooves. A centroid (C) of the air chamber (16) is situated to a side closer to the first circumferential groove (12) with respect to a tire widthwise center (CL) of the land portion (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tokumasa Akashi
  • Patent number: 10632794
    Abstract: A tire has a tread having a first tread edge, a second tread edge on the opposite side, and multiple inclined main grooves formed such that each inclined main groove is obliquely extending from one of the first and second tread edges toward a tire equator and is terminated without reaching the other one of the first and second tread edges. The inclined main grooves are formed such that each of the inclined main grooves includes a tire axial direction outer side portion obliquely extending in an inclined direction, a tire axial direction inner side portion inclining in the inclined direction, and a middle portion formed between the tire axial direction outer side portion and the tire axial direction inner side portion and inclining in the opposite inclined direction with respect to the inclined direction of the tire axial direction outer side portion and tire axial direction inner side portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ishino
  • Patent number: 10632795
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a tread portion having a pair of central block rows arranged on both sides of a tire equator. Each of the central block rows includes a plurality of central blocks arranged in a circumferential direction of the tire. Each of the central blocks includes a ground contacting face with an axially inner block edge facing the tire equator. The inner block edge includes a first inclined edge and a second inclined edge inclined in an opposite direction to the first inclined edge so that the inner block edge protrudes toward the tire equator. The first inclined edge includes a first circular arc portion with a center located on the side of the tire equator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10632796
    Abstract: In the pneumatic tire according to this disclosure, a plurality of sipes on a tread surface include a large intermediate width sipe 4 having: a pair of intermediate sipe wall surface portions 61, a pair of bottom-side sipe wall surface portions 62 and a pair of tread-surface-side sipe wall surface portions 63; and within a central region of the tread surface, a spacing along a tire circumferential direction between the large intermediate width sipe and another sipe or groove is 2.0 to 4.0 times of a sipe depth D of the large intermediate width sipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryunosuke Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 10632797
    Abstract: In a pneumatic tire according to one embodiment, at least one land portion provided on a tread portion includes a first lateral groove traversing the land portion, and a second lateral groove ending inside the land portion, these lateral grooves being arranged at intervals along a tire circumferential direction. A land portion section located between the first lateral groove and the second lateral groove includes a first inclined surface portion in a chamfered shape at an edge portion extending along the first lateral groove, a second inclined surface portion in a chamfered shape at an edge portion extending along the second lateral groove, and, at one edge portion in a tire width direction, a third inclined surface portion in a chamfered shape intervening between the first inclined surface portion and the second inclined surface portion to connect the two and extending along the tire circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoya Kubo
  • Patent number: 10632798
    Abstract: Each side piece 40 of a tire 2 includes a rim protector 42. A bob profile representing a contour of the rim protector 42 includes a first circular arc extending outward from a top PT of the rim protector 42, and a second circular arc extending inward from the top PT. A center of the first circular arc is located inward of the bob profile, and a center of the second circular arc is located outward of the bob profile. The side piece 40 includes a side apex 22, and the side apex 22 intersects a normal line LT that is normal to a carcass 12 and passes through the top PT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Shintaro Tomita
  • Patent number: 10632799
    Abstract: The subject invention relates to a method of preparing a tire inner surface to attain better adhesion of balance pads, puncture sealants, and noise reduction foams. In this method a strip of multi-axially stretchable film is adhered to the inner surface of an uncured tire with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Then a release agent coating is applied to the film strip on the inner surface of the uncured tire which is subsequently cured in a suitable mold at an elevated temperature. The cured tire is then removed from the mold and after allowing the cured tire to cool the annular circumferential film strip is removed from the inner surface of the tire to provide a circumferential release coating-free tire inner surface onto which balance pads, puncture sealants, and noise reduction foams can be adhered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Ramendra Nath Majumdar
  • Patent number: 10632800
    Abstract: A parking assistance device includes: a sensor configured to search for a parking space around a vehicle; a tire pressure monitoring system configured to measure and monitor a tire pressure of the vehicle; and an electronic control unit configured to calculate a moving distance of the vehicle moving to the parking space according to the tire pressure, to estimate a position of the vehicle by using the calculated moving distance, and to generate a parking command. The moving distance of the vehicle is calculated by using a moving distance per revolution of a tire measured and is set according to a tire pressure range to which the tire pressure of the vehicle belongs, a wheel pulse of the tire of the vehicle, and a reference wheel pulse per revolution of the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dong Ik Kim
  • Patent number: 10632801
    Abstract: A tire characteristic determination system is disclosed. The tire characteristic determination system includes a memory device that stores tire-engaging data related to one or more tire-engaging value to be utilized for spatially manipulating a tire about a wheel for forming a tire-wheel assembly. The tire characteristic determination device includes a tire-engaging test probe that is urged adjacent the tire at one or more tire displacement distances or is urged against the tire with one or more amounts of urging forces. The tire characteristic determination device is communicatively-coupled to the memory device for communicating the one or more tire displacement distances or the one or more amounts of urging forces to the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Android Industries LLC
    Inventor: Joshua James Hicks
  • Patent number: 10632802
    Abstract: A trailer hitch adaptor for connecting a hitch to a trailer, the trailer hitch adaptor including an adaptor assembly having a front end connected to the hitch and a rear end connected to the trailer, the adaptor assembly including a stop assembly disposed on the front end of the adaptor assembly; a bar attached to a trailer; and a cradle assembly disposed on the rear end of the adaptor assembly, the cradle assembly including an opening facing upwardly, wherein the cradle assembly is configured for receiving the bar, wherein the trailer hitch adaptor is engaged with the trailer by bringing the stop assembly towards the bar until the bar had come in contact with the stop assembly before the bar is dropped into the opening of the cradle assembly to be disposed within the cradle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Wagon-Ho Products
    Inventor: Raymond Gene Bertalon
  • Patent number: 10632803
    Abstract: A hitch assist system is provided herein that includes a sensing system configured to detect a trailer proximate a vehicle. The hitch assist system also includes a controller for detecting a coupler of the trailer; determining a trailer-heading direction-based on a coupler orientation; and determining a path for aligning a hitch assembly on the vehicle with a coupler on the trailer based on the trailer-heading direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Luke Niewiadomski, Chen Zhang, Bruno Sielly Jales Costa, Nikhil Nagraj Rao, Vidya Nariyambut Murali
  • Patent number: 10632804
    Abstract: A robotic vehicle has legs and propellers to enable it to walk, fly, and or swim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Imperial College Innovations Limited
    Inventors: Adam Braithwaite, Talib Alhinai, Mirko Kovac
  • Patent number: 10632805
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a support arm and a suspension element. The suspension element is rotatably connected to a support arm of a vehicle via a mounting pin that extends through an opening on the suspension element, a thrust washer, and a seal. The combination of elements prevent debris from migrating into the connection. The suspension element is configured to connect to a structural element of the vehicle via an upper mount. The suspension element may include a recoil damper having a piston with a plurality of grooves arranged to balance the forces on the piston during and after a recoil event or jounce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Rositch, Erik Ellifson, Patrick Dillman, Kai Schubart, Robert Sollenskog
  • Patent number: 10632806
    Abstract: The suspension beam or beams of a truck having a shortened bed are modified by bending a distal end of the suspension beam to decrease the distance between a frame mount point and a wheel mount (ball joint) point. The reduction in distance increases the structural support of the suspension sufficiently to eliminate non-uniform tire wear in shortened wheelbase vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Arrow Ford, Inc.
    Inventor: Clayton Paul Bounds
  • Patent number: 10632807
    Abstract: A powered vehicle suspension assembly includes a mounting bracket configured to be attached to a powered vehicle frame rail, a trailing arm assembly including a substantially rigid trailing arm having a first end pivotably coupled with the mounting bracket and a second end, where the trailing arm assembly is configured to operably couple with a powered vehicle axle arrangement, a spring arrangement supported by the second end of the trailing arm, and a structural reinforcement cross-member configured to extend between and couple with a pair of powered vehicle frame rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: SAF-HOLLAND, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Galla, Jason Heath, Jason Klein
  • Patent number: 10632808
    Abstract: A trailing arm device (1) of a drivable torsion beam axle (2) is described. The trailing arm device (1) has a housing (5) in which a drive-train (8) can be arranged and is connected to a trailing arm (4). The housing (5), as fitted into position within a vehicle, has a sidewall (11) formed integrally with a central housing region (9) on a side facing toward a wheel. The sidewall delimits a housing interior space (10) that accommodates, at least partially, the drive-train (8). On the side facing away from the wheel, the housing interior space (10) is delimited by at least one cover element (14) that can be detachably connected to the central housing region (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Josef Holtheide, Alfons Nordloh, Markus Wulf, Michael Beyer, Felix Kallass
  • Patent number: 10632809
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a leaf spring retaining element for rotationally and elastically mounting a leaf spring end of a leaf spring on a vehicle structure. The leaf spring retaining element includes a leaf spring mounting part having a receiving recess to accommodate the leaf spring end; an elastomer molded part configured to rotationally and elastically mount the leaf spring end, wherein the elastomer molded part is arranged in the receiving recess and shaped to at least partially enclose the leaf spring end; and a bearing configured to support the leaf spring mounting part on the vehicle structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: SGL CARBON SE
    Inventors: Rodscha Drabon, Ullrich Hammelmaier, Torsten Howe, Peter Koczar, Thomas Lange, Dirk Rochell
  • Patent number: 10632810
    Abstract: A suspension system may include a lower arm configured to perform a vibrating movement by vibration of the vehicle, a reducer connected to the lower arm so that the vibrating movement of the lower arm is transmitted thereto, and a motor unit connected to the reducer, and configured to receive power from the reducer. The reducer may include an input shaft unit rotatably mounted to the housing and connected to the lower arm to be rotated by vibration of the lower arm, a gear unit configured to receive a rotating force from the input shaft unit, an output shaft unit configured to receive power from the gear unit, and a clutch unit selectively connecting the gear unit with the output shaft unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kyung Ryul Park
  • Patent number: 10632811
    Abstract: A structure of rocking lock operation part for a saddle riding vehicle, the structure of rocking lock operation part includes a rocking lock mechanism configured to lock lateral rocking of a vehicle body and a lock operator configured to switch between locking and unlocking of the rocking lock mechanism, wherein the rocking lock mechanism and the lock operator are disposed on the vehicle body, and, when seen in a side view, a gripping section of the lock operator is disposed in front of a position overlapping a pivot support member configured to pivotably support the steering handle in the vehicle body and disposed in rear of a headlight disposed in front of the pivot support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yotaro Mori
  • Patent number: 10632812
    Abstract: The rocking control device for a two front wheels rocking vehicle includes a controller that executes a first rocking control which assists a rocking of the two front wheels rocking vehicle and a second rocking control which assists the two front wheels rocking vehicle so that the two front wheels rocking vehicle self-stands at a rocking balanced position where a rocking moment of the vehicle body is canceled out in a lateral direction, wherein controller is configured to switch the first rocking control and the second rocking control to OFF state, and is configured to operate the first rocking control and the second rocking control in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazunari Iguchi, Yotaro Mori, Yuichi Uebayashi, Shunichi Miyagishi, Tomohiro Kawakami, Hiroyuki Kaneta
  • Patent number: 10632813
    Abstract: Adjustable spring support comprising a spring plate which is axially adjustable by an annular actuator, wherein the actuator is supplied with pressure medium via a pressure medium supply system, wherein the annular actuator has a pressure medium connection to the pressure medium supply system, and the housing of the actuator is connected directly to a housing of the pressure medium supply system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Väth, Josef Renn, Tom Schneider, Jan Rossberg
  • Patent number: 10632814
    Abstract: A temperature control system for a vehicle seat includes a finish trim layer, a thermally conductive panel in thermal contact with the finish trim layer, a thermal device generating a temperature gradient, and a heat transfer structure connecting the panel and the thermal device. The panel and the heat transfer structure are adapted to together thermally conduct the quantity of heat between the finish trim layer and the thermal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventor: Mladen Humer
  • Patent number: 10632815
    Abstract: An air conditioning system for an open motorized vehicle can include a cab assembly defining an interior volume, the cab assembly includes an enclosed frame configured to be attached to an open vehicle, and an air conditioning unit positioned at least partially within the cab assembly, the air conditioning unit being configured to deliver conditioned air to the interior volume of the cab assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: B & D Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Orvell B. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 10632816
    Abstract: The present Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles comprises a tube fitting and a refilling duct. The tube fitting is connected to the refilling duct. The lower end of the tube fitting has a connection port to connect with gas cylinders. A pushrod is movably inserted into the tube fitting in its axial direction. Between the tube fitting and the upper end of the pushrod, there is an operating mechanism which can push the pushrod down to the lower end of the tube fitting. When the pushrod moves downwards, its lower end can make the gas cylinder connected to the tube fitting. The present Freon refilling apparatus for vehicles is applicable to different types of gas cylinders storing Freon. This provides a more convenient way to refill Freon for automobile air conditioners, with a lower cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Qianjiang Group Wenling Jennfeng Industry Inc.
    Inventors: Zhuo Cai, Weicai Jiang, Genfa Mao
  • Patent number: 10632817
    Abstract: One or more environmental control systems of a vehicle are automatically operated. A position of an occupant of the vehicle in their circadian cycle is determined. The operation of one or more of the environmental control systems is controlled to compensate for or adjust the position of the occupant in their circadian cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Liberty Fearns, Felix Noller
  • Patent number: 10632818
    Abstract: A method and device for mitigating environmental-control load for a hybrid vehicle are disclosed. In operation, a determination is made as to whether a hybrid vehicle is at a high-power operational mode. When the hybrid vehicle is at a high-power operational mode, a determination of an estimated time-of-travel to a low-power operational mode is made based on vehicle trajectory plan data. Heat-load buffer data is generated based on the estimated time to prolong a passenger comfort setting during the low-power operational mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Shannon Alicia Wrobel, Joshua D. Payne, Heraldo F. Stefanon
  • Patent number: 10632819
    Abstract: An HVAC system including a defrost manifold. The defrost manifold has a first side window outlet, a second side window outlet, and a windshield outlet. A first rib partially obstructs the first side window outlet. A second rib partially obstructs the second side window outlet. A control door is movable to open and close the defrost manifold. A first wall extends from a first portion of the control door that is opposite to the first side window outlet. A second wall extends from a second portion of the control door that is opposite to the second side window outlet. Movement of the control door varies the position of the first wall relative to the first rib, and varies the position of the second wall relative to the second rib, to control airflow through the first and second side window outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Wisniewski
  • Patent number: 10632820
    Abstract: A vehicle heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can reduce a load applied to a vehicle powertrain during certain conditions. The system can include a fixed compressor operable between an ON state and in an OFF state. Systems and methods can determine whether an engine water temperature meets a forced HVAC recirculation intake threshold. Responsive to determining that the engine water temperature meets the forced HVAC recirculation intake threshold, it can be determined if the engine water temperature meets a high water temperature threshold. Responsive to determining that the engine water temperature meets the high water temperature threshold, it can be determined if a vehicle pitch meets a vehicle pitch threshold. Responsive to determining that the vehicle pitch does not meet the vehicle pitch threshold, the compressor can be operated according to an AC cut cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Cosgrove, Hidekazu Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 10632821
    Abstract: A method for controlling an air plume expelled from an air register includes configuring a plurality of vanes of the air register to provide the air plume with a width W1 when in a first position to direct the air plume in a first direction, such as toward an individual in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, and a width W2 when in a second position to direct the air plume in a second direction such as away from the individuals where W1>W2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Nicholas Fidh, John Robert Tresh
  • Patent number: 10632822
    Abstract: An automotive solar protection plate, which is located hung on the side window of a car, through the use of fins or tongues that are an integral part of the plate and made from the same material, being plate and fins only one piece. The plate is adapted to be placed both on slightly curved windows or on straight windows of vehicles of different types (cars, trucks, off-road vehicles and others).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Inventor: Elaine Fernandes
  • Patent number: 10632823
    Abstract: A door module for a vehicle door assembly that includes a net assembly can include an assembly bracket, a latch assembly and a handle. The assembly bracket can include a net attachment portion configured to secure at least a portion of the net assembly when the net assembly is attached to the door assembly, a handle mounting portion, and a latch mounting portion. The latch assembly can be configured to releasably engage the vehicle frame when the door closes the opening, and the latch assembly is connected to the latch mounting portion. The handle can be supported on the handle mounting portion. The handle mounting portion can pivotally support the handle relative to the assembly bracket. The handle can be coupled to the latch assembly such that the latch assembly releases engagement with the frame assembly when the handle pivots in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sebastian Osorio
  • Patent number: 10632824
    Abstract: A moveable tonneau cover includes multiple wheels. A tonneau cover mechanism includes multiple tracks each including an upper portion and a lower portion, and a switch that transitions to connect with the upper portion and the lower portion based on a weight of the movable tonneau cover such that the moveable tonneau cover is configured to move between a first position above a truck bed and a second position above the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: DROPTOP, LLC
    Inventor: Edmund Jung
  • Patent number: 10632825
    Abstract: A vehicle including a passenger compartment having a roof support framework including a pair of roof rails, a header and at least one roof bow. A roof including several rigid removable roof panels is removably assembled to the roof support framework. Pins are removably assembled to the roof rails or to brackets attached to the roof rails that extend through the roof panels. A roof rack or cargo carrier is removably attached to upper ends of the pins and is spaced above the roof panels. A method of assembling a roof rack to a vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dragan B. Stojkovic, Colleen Marie Hoffman, Jack Marchlewski, Joshua Robert Hemphill, Ronald M. Lovasz, Mathias A. Huber
  • Patent number: 10632826
    Abstract: A vehicle rear structure includes a rear roof having: a pair of side wall portions located on an outer side in a vehicle width direction with respect to a pair of seats, and extending rearward of the seats; and a rear window for closing a window opening formed between the paired side wall portions. An upward standing deflection plate is provided between the paired seats and on a rear side of the seats. The deflection plate integrally includes a pair of outer air receiving portions away from each other in the vehicle width direction, and a middle air receiving portion connecting the outer air receiving portions in the vehicle width direction, and is made of a material having transparency. A length of the middle air receiving portion in an up-down direction is set shorter than a length of the outer air receiving portion in the up-down direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirofumi Saka, Hiroki Ohira, Masanori Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 10632827
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a vehicle lower portion structure including: a case main body portion, disposed at a vehicle lower side of a vehicle cabin floor and including a bottom wall and peripheral walls that extend toward a vehicle upper side from a peripheral edge portion of the bottom wall, and accommodating a battery at an interior thereof; a front portion extending portion formed integrally with the case main body portion at a vehicle front side of the case main body portion, at the peripheral wall that is at a vehicle front side of the case main body portion; and an impact absorbing portion, extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction and deforming due to input of collision load from a vehicle front side, a rear end portion of the impact absorbing portion being connected to a vehicle front side region of the front portion extending portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Ajisaka
  • Patent number: 10632828
    Abstract: A prime mover is combined with a flywheel storage device and a control system to implement a flywheel pulse and glide system in a vehicle. In one embodiment, the control system is configured to cycle power delivery between the prime mover and the flywheel storage device to power the vehicle. The prime mover, when activated by the control system, is configured to power the vehicle and spin up the flywheel storage device to capture a sufficient amount of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Larry M. Trase, Ralph H. Jansen, Peter E. Kascak
  • Patent number: 10632829
    Abstract: The distributor phase shifter for a hydraulic pump motor (300) is provided for a hydraulic pump motor (1) which includes a pump motor housing (2) and a pump motor central rotor (3) to which an input-output distributor (43) presents an input-output angular collector of an internal conduit (44) and an input-output angular collector of an external conduit (89), which phase shifter includes a phase shift acting element (301) which is supported on the housing of the pump motor (2) in order to make the input-output distributor (43) rotate around its longitudinal axis and over a determined angular range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Inventor: Vianney Rabhi
  • Patent number: 10632830
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a motor, a high-voltage device, and a power converter. The motor moves the vehicle. The high-voltage device is disposed inside a vehicle cabin of the vehicle. The power converter is disposed outside the vehicle cabin. The power converter is connected to the motor and the high-voltage device to convert electric power output from the high-voltage device and to supply the converted electric power to the motor. The high-voltage device is arranged to be juxtaposed to the power converter along a front-rear direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sugizaki, Tomohiro Fukazu, Noboru Fujiyoshi, Rieko Koyama, Kosuke Oguri
  • Patent number: 10632831
    Abstract: A fuel cell plug-in hybrid vehicle includes a fuel cell having an anode side and a cathode side with a compressor connected to the cathode side. An electric motor is drive-connected exclusively to the compressor. A converter is connected electrically on one side to the motor and on the other side to a high-voltage battery. A controller switches the vehicle between two different operating states. In a first operating state, the high-voltage battery supplies electrical power to the motor via the converter so that the electric motor drives the compressor. In a second operating state, an electrical voltage is supplied from a power supply system to the motor or to the converter via a power supply line. The motor can modify the amplitude of the system voltage with the modified voltage present across the converter, which converts the voltage into a DC voltage applied across the high-voltage battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Julio Orozco Santos Coy, Arnulf Sponheimer
  • Patent number: 10632832
    Abstract: A hybrid module is provided for the drivetrain of a motor vehicle, which drivetrain has an electric machine, an internal combustion engine and a transmission. The hybrid module has (i) a first unit with a rotor element and a separating clutch which is arranged within the rotor element, (ii) a second unit with a clutch device comprising at least one clutch, and (iii) a third unit with a housing part. The first unit and the second unit are connected to each other to form a preassembled overall unit, and said overall unit is installed projecting into the third unit and is connected here to the third unit. A hybrid module constructed in such a manner can be produced by means of particularly simple assembly and is very compact. A method for assembly of said hybrid module is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ivo Agner, Aurelie Keller
  • Patent number: 10632833
    Abstract: In a vehicle drive device, a case cover includes a cylindrical wall portion formed circumferentially in an outside space of a first rotating shaft and projecting toward the case parallel to an axial direction of the first rotating shaft, an oil pump includes a pump cover arranged in a space radially inside the wall portion and a pump chamber formed in a space radially inside the wall portion by the case cover including the wall portion and the pump cover to house the pump gear, and the wall portion includes a support portion disposed on the other axial end side of the first rotating shaft relative to the pump cover, having a bearing fitted thereto, and rotatably supporting a second rotating shaft via the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kiyokami, Yota Mizuno, Tatsuo Obata
  • Patent number: 10632834
    Abstract: A drive device for a motor vehicle having a first drive assembly, a second drive assembly, and a planetary gear unit, via which the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly are operatively connected to a drivable axle of the motor vehicle. The first drive assembly and the drivable axle are operatively connected to the planetary gear unit. The second drive assembly as well as an auxiliary drive having an auxiliary assembly are operatively connected permanently to the planetary gear unit. The auxiliary drive has a third drive assembly, which is coupled at least intermittently to the auxiliary assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Thomas Hoffmann, Markus Störmer, Karl Jägle
  • Patent number: 10632835
    Abstract: A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle comprising an upstream gear set (VRS), a main gear set (HRS) with a total of four shafts (W1, W2, W3, W4) referred to in order of rotational speeds as first, second, third and fourth shafts, an electric machine (EM), and at least five shift elements (A, B, C, E, F), the selective pairwise closure of which realizes at least eight selectable forward gear ratios (G1-G8) between a drive shaft (GW1) and an output shaft (GW2) of the transmission (G). The upstream gear set (VRS) provides a rotational speed at a fifth shaft (W5) increased relative to the rotational speed of the drive shaft (GW1), in a fixed transmission ratio with respect to the drive shaft (GW1). The main gear set (HRS) is a stepped planetary gear set (PS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Peter Ziemer, Stefan Beck, Martin Brehmer, Matthias Horn, Johannes Kaltenbach, Julian King, Bernd Knöpke, Jens Moraw, Eckehard Münch, Gerhard Niederbrucker, Juri Pawlakowitsch, Stephan Scharr, Viktor Warth, Michael Wechs, Uwe Griesmeier, Raffael Kuberczyk