Patents Issued in July 14, 2020
  • Patent number: 10710421
    Abstract: A towed implement for use with a work machine includes a main frame having a pivot hole and at least one hitch mounting hole. A hitch frame is coupled with the main frame and includes a towed end. The hitch frame is pivotable relative to the main frame about a pivot axis at the pivot hole. The hitch frame includes a chamber having an interior periphery with a plurality of notches. A height adjustment arrangement is associated with the main frame and the hitch frame for adjusting a height of the hitch frame. The height adjustment arrangement includes a stop key positioned within the chamber of the hitch frame. The stop key has a hole arranged for receiving a fastener associated with the at least one hitch mounting hole, a cam surface, and at least one tooth extending from the cam surface. Each tooth is received in a corresponding notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Barbara De Craemer
  • Patent number: 10710422
    Abstract: An amphibious pumping vehicle has a floatable vehicle body, a ground engaging propulsion structure, a fluid pump, a plurality of fluid nozzles comprising a first fluid nozzle connected by a fluid conduit to the fluid pump and at least one second fluid nozzle connected to the fluid conduit, a valve structure in the fluid conduit, the plurality of fluid nozzles and the valve structure co-operating to provide directional control and motive power for the vehicle when floating, and a power source configured to provide power to both the ground engaging propulsion structure and the fluid pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Nuhn Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Ian Nuhn
  • Patent number: 10710423
    Abstract: A cargo vehicle includes a composite floor assembly configured to support cargo, at least one wheel assembly configured to transport the cargo on the composite floor assembly, a suspension assembly associated with the at least one wheel assembly, and an intermediate adapter assembly. The intermediate adapter assembly is permanently coupled to the composite floor assembly and removably coupled to the suspension assembly such that the composite floor assembly is removably coupled to the suspension assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Wabash National, L.P.
    Inventor: Travis Smith McCloud
  • Patent number: 10710424
    Abstract: Embodiments and examples are disclosed for placement configurations of HVAC units for electric vehicles. For one embodiment, a vehicle includes a front compartment, a cabin compartment, a vehicle body, and a HVAC unit. The front compartment is at a front end of the vehicle. The cabin compartment is at a center of the vehicle to contain passengers. The body of the vehicle contains a dashwall separating the front compartment from the cabin compartment. The heat ventilation air conditioning (HVAC) unit is situated in the front compartment, separated from the cabin compartment by the dashwall, where the HVAC unit provides heat, ventilation, and air conditioning to the user in the cabin compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: BYTON LIMITED
    Inventors: Christopher Eckert, Shawn Slovesko
  • Patent number: 10710425
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a cooling arrangement that includes an air conditioning loop and a battery cooling loop connected together by a common chiller and arranged to cool each of cabin air and a battery. A coolant three-way proportional control valve is connected to the chiller and the battery. The control valve is configured to operatively control a capacity of the chiller for the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Jalilevand, Manfred Koberstein, Michael Steven Wallis
  • Patent number: 10710426
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner which introduces a sufficient amount of primary air without providing a guide, and possible to install an aspirator in a large area in a downstream region of an air-mixing damper while avoiding interference with a mode-switching damper or the like and includes a case main unit of an air conditioning unit, an aspirator that introduces air circulating in an air channel at an interior of the case main unit as primary air and that sucks in air in a vehicle cabin as secondary air via an installation portion of an indoor temperature sensor, the case main unit is provided with a boss portion that communicates with the air channel at the interior of the case main unit and protrudes diagonally outward so as to face an air-circulation direction, and a primary-air introducing unit of the aspirator is installed by being diagonally inserted into the boss portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES THERMAL SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Noriyuki Chikagawa
  • Patent number: 10710427
    Abstract: Recreational vehicles are provided with a tapered duct connector and/or a conditioned air receiving sleeve that is positioned in an infra-ceiling space of the vehicle. The tapered duct connector comprises a connector inlet coupled to a conditioned air passage on a wall of the conditioned air receiving sleeve, and a connector outlet coupled to the supply duct, to fluidly couple the sleeve to the supply duct. The tapered duct connector comprises a transitional duct height that increases from the connector outlet to the connector inlet. The conditioned air passage of the conditioned air receiving sleeve, the tapered duct connector, and the supply duct is contained such that air can pass from the conditioned air opening of the conditioned air receiving sleeve, through the conditioned air receiving sleeve, and into the supply duct without contacting structural components in the infra-ceiling space of the recreational vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Thor Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Bullock, Jon Brock, Bradd Giggy, Jeff Snyder
  • Patent number: 10710428
    Abstract: A rotary shaft assembly includes an outer shaft, an outer opening being formed on a circumferential wall of the outer shaft, and a nested shaft which is rotatably supported within the outer shaft, a nested opening being formed on a circumferential wall of the nested shaft. The nested shaft and the outer shaft are configure to be rotatable with respect to each other about a common axis such that a relative rotation angle between the outer shaft and the nested shaft varies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: John Klinkhammer
  • Patent number: 10710429
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for vehicle cabin odor detection and amelioration. An example vehicle includes an array of chemical sensors, a spectrograph, and an environmental control system. The example environmental control system generates a spectrum, with the spectrograph, of chemical components of volatilomes in air inside a cabin and classifies the volatilomes based on the spectrum, measurements from the array of chemical sensors, and occupant preferences. Additionally, the environmental control system, when the volatilomes are indicative of an offensive scent, applies a mitigation strategy to affect the composition of the air in the cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Perry Robinson MacNeille, Victoria Leigh Schein, Clay Wesley Maranville, Kerrie Kathleen Gath, Jeffrey Brian Yeung
  • Patent number: 10710430
    Abstract: A system for controlling a temperature a within an interior volume of a cargo trailer adapted to transport perishable goods is described herein. The system includes a fluid distribution assembly and a monitoring system. The fluid distribution assembly is configured to selectively channel a flow of cryogenic cooling fluid into the cargo trailer interior volume to facilitate adjusting a temperature within the interior volume. The monitoring system includes at least one sensor for sensing an environmental parameter of the cargo trailer, and a controller coupled to the sensor and to the fluid distribution assembly. The controller is configured to receive a monitoring signal indicative of the sensed environmental parameter, determine an environmental condition of the cargo trailer as a function of the environmental parameter, and provide a notification signal if the determined environmental condition is different than a predefined environmental condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: RSC Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Eric William Bryant, Edward John Bratkowski, Andrew D. Frost, Fred Jackson Norvell, III, James Madison Reid, Robert C. Rabine, Paul M. Walling, Thomas Zagotta, Robert S. Rau
  • Patent number: 10710431
    Abstract: A control system as disclosed in the present disclosure relates to the field of metal hydride air conditioning systems in vehicles. The control system improves cooling capacity and the coefficient of performance of the metal hydride air conditioner. The control system comprises a plurality of sensors, a memory, a time counter, a controller, and at least one actuator. The controller takes into account the pre-set half cycle time as well as the temperature of the exhaust gases at the outlet of a HT or LT reactor for changing fluid flow, i.e. from hot/cold fluid to the fluid at ambient temperature or vice versa, entering the reactors of the metal hydride air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: THERMAX LIMITED
    Inventors: Devadatta Pundlik Navale, Sachin Narayan Gunjal
  • Patent number: 10710432
    Abstract: A vehicle air conditioner has a compressor, a radiator, a pressure reducer, a cooling heat exchanger, a temperature detector, and a prohibition request output part. The compressor draws and discharges a refrigerant. The radiator dissipates heat of the refrigerant. The pressure reducer decompresses and expands the refrigerant. The cooling heat exchanger cools an air blown into a vehicle compartment. The temperature detector detects a temperature of the cooling heat exchanger. The prohibition request output part outputs a request, which prohibits the idle stop control, to an idle stop controller when the engine is operated. The request prohibits the idle stop control until the temperature of the cooling heat exchanger falls to a temperature being enough cool to cool the air and a required cooling time elapses. The required cooling time is estimated to be required to make a passenger feel cool by the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ichishi, Takeshi Wakisaka, Masahiko Morikawa, Takahiro Araki
  • Patent number: 10710433
    Abstract: System and method for operating the system for climatizing air of a passenger compartment and for heat exchange with drive components of motor vehicles includes a coolant circuit and refrigerant circuit with a compressor, a refrigerant-air heat exchanger, operated as condenser/gas cooler, at least one expansion element, at least one heat exchanger, operated as evaporator, for conditioning an air-mass flow supplied to the passenger compartment; this is implemented as refrigerant-air heat exchanger, and at least one heat exchanger, operated as evaporator, which is implemented as refrigerant-coolant heat exchanger and disposed within the coolant circuit for heat transfer from coolant to refrigerant. The refrigerant circuit includes a heat exchanger, operated as condenser/gas cooler, which acts as refrigerant-coolant heat exchanger and is disposed within the coolant circuit for heat transfer from refrigerant to coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Hanon Systems
    Inventors: Marc Graaf, Roman Heckt
  • Patent number: 10710434
    Abstract: A laminated glass includes a first glass plate; a second glass plate; an intermediate film located between the first glass plate and the second glass plate, and configured to be bonded to the first glass plate and the second glass plate; and at least one high reflection surface between a surface of the first glass plate on an outer side of the laminated glass and a surface of the second glass plate on an outer side of the laminated glass. The surfaces of the first glass plate and the second glass plate are high reflection surfaces. Each of the high reflection surfaces has optical reflectance of 1% or more with respect to an incident angle of a visible light from a light source. A portion arranged between adjacent high reflection surfaces of the high reflection surfaces has a wedge angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: AGC Inc.
    Inventor: Shunsuke Sadakane
  • Patent number: 10710435
    Abstract: A shading device for a pane or a glass roof region of a vehicle interior with a flexible shading structure mounted for, movement between a rest position in which it is stowed in a receiving region in a compact manner, and a shading position, in which it spans the pane or the glass roof region, and which is provided with a dimensionally stable pull-out profile. The pull-out profile extends substantially over an entire width of the shading structure and is positioned in a passage slot of the receiving region in the rest position of the shading structure. Resilient damping elements are arranged on opposite longitudinal walls of the passage slot, which damping elements flank the pull-out profile in the rest position of the shading structure and support the pull-out profile at a distance from the longitudinal walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: BOS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Roman Sauer
  • Patent number: 10710436
    Abstract: A motor vehicle is provided having a vehicle structure and a vehicle part that can be displaced relative to the vehicle structure with the aid of at least one drive cable that is provided with a plastics injection molded section for joining the drive cable to the vehicle part. A load reduction device may have at least one coupling member which allows a relative movement between the displaceable vehicle part and the drive cable in the case of an acceleration of the vehicle part relative to the vehicle structure and which interacts with a catch device during the relative movement, the catch means absorbing at least part of the kinetic energy resulting from the acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventors: Dominik Blendl, Thomas Weiderer
  • Patent number: 10710437
    Abstract: The adjustable fixture for a cover plate of a pickup truck includes a mounting seat, a sliding seat and a sliding block. The lower end of the mounting seat is provided with a horizontal sliding slot, and the lengthwise direction of the horizontal sliding slot is parallel to the lengthwise direction of the mounting seat. The sliding seat is engaged in and slidable in the horizontal sliding slot, and is provided with a first elongated slot. The sliding block is engaged in and slidable in the sliding seat A quick-detachable component passes through the first elongated slot and is connected with said sliding block. A tension spring is provided between the sliding block and the sliding seat. The upper end plane of the sliding block extends rearwards so as to form a connection part, and an end of the connection part bends upwards so as to form a clamping part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ningbo Motorman E-commerce Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Weizhen Chen
  • Patent number: 10710438
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for applying sealing profiles to vehicle bodies or parts thereof, includes drawing off the sealing profile from an unwinding unit and rolling the sealing profile onto the vehicle body or the part of the vehicle body along an application line provided for application purposes, by a pressure-exerting roller of an application head. An arrangement of an automatic optical inspection system within the application apparatus provides for direct detection of defects and discontinuities of the sealing profile by the user without any need for markings on the sealing profile wound up on the roll or for data handling between the manufacturer of the sealing profile and the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: TESLA GROHMANN AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventor: Lothar Thommes
  • Patent number: 10710439
    Abstract: A glass run channel is configured for mounting a vehicle window therein. The glass run channel includes a base portion, an inboard lip extending from the base portion to form a first wall of the channel, and an inboard glass seal portion extending from the inboard lip. A leap seal portion extends from one of the inboard lip and the inboard glass seal portion, along at least a portion of the glass run channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Engstrom, Hideaki Kanasugi
  • Patent number: 10710440
    Abstract: A glass run seal includes a glass run seal molding having a substantially c-shaped cross-section channel comprising a base, an inner sidewall, and an outer sidewall, the glass run seal molding extending along a length and comprising a top portion that extends substantially horizontally from a first end to an opposed second end; a first side portion that extends downwardly away from the top portion; a first corner portion joining the first end of the top portion and the first side portion, the first corner portion comprising a first rib protruding outwardly away from the base; a second side portion joining the second end of the top portion and the second side portion, the second corner portion comprising a second rib protruding outwardly away from the base, the first rib and the second rib configured to provide a predetermined gap between the base and top edge of the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Engstrom, Hideaki Kanasugi
  • Patent number: 10710441
    Abstract: A Hail Veil is a hail protection device that attaches to the strongest areas of a vehicle frame to support four rods; one at the very front of the car, one at the back of the car and two on the roof. Mesh is then strategically attached to the front, top, back and sides of the vehicle and fastened to create a barrier to the hail. The Hail Veil is portable and fits into the trunk of the vehicle for quick access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Inventor: Kathleen Lee Ann Tester
  • Patent number: 10710442
    Abstract: A transmission system selectively coupled to an engine crankshaft of an internal combustion engine arranged on a vehicle includes a waste heat recovery (WHR) system, a brake assembly and a phase-change thermal heat storage system. The WHR system selectively circulates a WHR fluid in the transmission system. The brake assembly selectively couples a transmission output shaft to a drive axle. The brake assembly is configured to operate in a braking mode that retards relative rotation between the transmission output shaft and the drive axle while generating heat. The heat storage system includes a housing defining at least one cavity and a fluid transfer manifold. A phase-change material is disposed in the cavity that is configured to change phase during the braking mode. The WHR system circulates the WHR fluid through the fluid transfer manifold collecting braking heat to be used at a later time in the form of driveline power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventor: Thomas Stoltz
  • Patent number: 10710443
    Abstract: A multi-ring disc motor is revealed. The multi-ring disc motor includes a plurality of stator rings and a plurality of permanent magnets. The stator rings are disposed in a stator base and the permanent magnets are mounted on a plurality of circular ribs of a rotor base. The permanent magnets on the respective circular rib of the rotor base are corresponding to a coil on the stator ring in a respective circular groove of the stator base by the stator base and the rotor base connected to each other. Thereby high torque and high horsepower are generated by the stator rings on the stator base and the permanent magnets on the circular ribs of the rotor base. The power consumption is reduced effectively. Thus the battery life of vehicles such as cars is extended and this eliminates the needs to stop for charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Inventors: Richard Chi-Hsueh, Chung-Yeh Hsu
  • Patent number: 10710444
    Abstract: A hybrid drive for a hybrid vehicle is provided. The hybrid drive includes an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft, and an electric motor. The electric motor is coupled to the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine by way of an automatically shifting transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Roland Gollmer, Michael Etzel, Ulrich Ohnemus
  • Patent number: 10710445
    Abstract: A powertrain for a hybrid vehicle may include a planetary gear set; a first motor-generator connected to one rotation element of the planetary gear set and an engine connected to the first motor-generator; a second motor-generator connected to another rotation element of the planetary gear set; a second clutch connected to the other rotation element of the planetary gear set and a second drive gear connected to the second clutch; a first clutch connected to the rotation element to which the first motor-generator is connected and a first drive gear connected to the first clutch; and an output shaft having a first driven gear and a second driven gear engaged in the first drive gear and the second drive gear, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jin Kook Kong, Yeon Min Cheong
  • Patent number: 10710446
    Abstract: An engine starting system for starting an engine promptly during propulsion without reducing a drive force. When a condition to crank the engine is satisfied during propulsion in a neutral stage, torque is applied to an input rotary element to crank the engine by reducing a rotational speed of a control rotary element by increasing a torque capacity of a first engagement device to utilize an inertial force of the free rotary element as a reaction force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayoshi Kawai, Naoto Kato, Naoya Takagi, Yasuhiro Kuze, Teruhiko Miyake, Teppei Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 10710447
    Abstract: A drive system of a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a first motor-generator, a power transmission path, a power division mechanism, a second motor-generator, a one-way clutch, a mode change mechanism, and an electronic control unit having a microprocessor and memory. The microprocessor is configured to control the first motor-generator so as to reduce a reaction force acting on the first motor-generator at a time at which a state of the one-way clutch changes from an unlocked state to a locked state, when a drive mode is changed from an EV mode to a HV mode through a start mode by the mode change mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Kasahara
  • Patent number: 10710448
    Abstract: A hybrid module is compact and easy to construct, with components for transmitting torque to at least one transmission input shaft. The disclosed hybrid module includes a counterplate, or at least one counterplate in the case of multiple counterplates, of a clutch device is connected to a rotor element. The connection may be a direct connection, or a connection without intermediate elements, in which no intermediate element is provided for bridging an axial spacing between the rotor and the counterplate. Thus, coupling of an electric machine of the hybrid module and of the clutch device is realized with a minimal structural space requirement. By means of this measure, the clutch device can project into a stator of the electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ivo Agner, Aurelie Keller
  • Patent number: 10710449
    Abstract: A geartrain for a powertrain system is disposed to transfer mechanical power between an internal combustion engine, an electric machine and a driveline. The geartrain includes a flywheel, a torque converter, an off-axis mechanical connection and a transmission gearbox. The off-axis mechanical connection includes a first element rotatably coupled to a second element. The flywheel is coupled to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. The torque converter includes a pump, a turbine and a pump hub, and the transmission gearbox includes an input member. The pump of the torque converter is coupled to the flywheel, and the pump hub is coupled to the first element of the off-axis mechanical connection. The second element of the off-axis mechanical connection is coupled to a rotor of the electric machine, and the turbine of the torque converter is coupled to the input member of the transmission gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Farzad Samie, Derek F. Lahr, Peter Beller, Chunhao J. Lee
  • Patent number: 10710450
    Abstract: An air flap arrangement for a motor vehicle comprises a housing having an air passage opening, at least two air flaps movably mounted on the housing, and a force- and motion-transmitting motion drive coupled to the air flaps. The air flaps are coupled by a transmission and/or linkage for mutual movement. The air flaps are movable between a closed position, in which the cross-sectional area of the air passage opening through which air can flow is reduced, and a passage position, which is different from the closed position, in which the cross-sectional area of the air passage opening through which air can flow is greater than in the closed position. At least one sensor is associated with each air flap of a plurality of air flaps, such that the position of the air flaps can be detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Röchling Automotive SE & Co. KG
    Inventor: Domenico Solazzo
  • Patent number: 10710451
    Abstract: A closure of a tank of a motor vehicle for closing a filler neck gas- and fluid-tight, having a closure fastened to a flap, the flap being fastened to a vehicle body of the motor vehicle such that it is movable into an open or closed position, the closure including a seal, which causes the closure to close against the filler neck. The tank closure should be easy for a user to handle and have a relatively simple design and be economical to manufacture. This is achieved in that the seal is electromechanically or pneumatically adjustable with the aid of an actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Olaf Husberg, Henning Irle, Ingo Niemeyer
  • Patent number: 10710452
    Abstract: A fuel lid structure includes: a lid box constituting a fuel opening portion of a vehicle body; a lid hinge that is made of resin and is pivotable with respect to the lid box; a fuel lid body pivotably attached to the lid box via the lid hinge; and an alerting unit configured to alert a replenishment worker to a body or the like of the replenishment worker hitting the fuel lid body in an open state by at least one of imparting of a sense of resistance and emission of a sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshinobu Takashi
  • Patent number: 10710453
    Abstract: A transfer case for a four-wheel drive vehicle having a disconnectable secondary axle assembly. The transfer case is configured to include a pumpless lubrication sump maintained in relation to a mainshaft for lubricating rotary components surrounding the mainshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Devin P. Ryman, Timothy J. Filkins
  • Patent number: 10710454
    Abstract: A disconnecting axle assembly with a planetary differential assembly and a coupling that selectively couples a planet carrier of the planetary differential assembly to an axle shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Valente, James P. Downs
  • Patent number: 10710455
    Abstract: A push-to-start ignition device measures biometric information of a driver to control activation of vehicle ignition. The push-to-start switch includes a touchpad that senses, using capacitive sensors, a vehicle driver's finger and provides signals using one or a combination of lights, audio, and haptic feedback to guide the vehicle driver into a suitable position for measuring the biometric characteristic. If the biometric measurement meets a predefined threshold, the vehicle ignition is activated. If the biometric measurement fails to meet a predefined threshold, the vehicle ignition is locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Automotive Coalition For Traffic Safety
    Inventors: Gilbert A. Todd, Chakravarthi M. Nagolu
  • Patent number: 10710456
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an antenna system and a controller. The controller may be configured to, responsive to wireless energy, received via the antenna system, exceeding a magnitude and duration indicative of a cellular connection from a nomadic device at a predetermined position in the vehicle in an absence of a connection with the device via a local protocol while the vehicle is in motion, operate a powertrain to limit a speed of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Anthon Mueller, Boris Gorovets, Gregory William Farrey, John Frederick Locke, Adam Weiss
  • Patent number: 10710457
    Abstract: The present approach relates to a vehicle having a plurality of devices and a human-machine interface (HMI) for the gesture- and/or facial expression-based actuation of a function of a vehicle device, which comprises a camera for recording a specific occupant of a vehicle and a control unit connected to the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Anil Thurimella
  • Patent number: 10710458
    Abstract: Arranged between a steering wheel (or more generally, steering handle) and a windshield of a motor vehicle, a control panel module has at least on e operator control element, each arranged on one side of a steering column of the steering wheel. The at least one operator control element is rotatable about an axis of rotation and/or movably at least along a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle with respect, to a driver's seat. An actuator device of the control panel module respectively moves the at least one operator control element response to a control device of the control panel module, depending on at least one enable signal, into an enable position and, depending on at least one position signal, from the enable position into position corresponding in each case the position signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Jacques Hélot
  • Patent number: 10710459
    Abstract: A method for supplying power from at least one power supply unit to transportation vehicles requiring a power supply, in which a position of a transportation vehicle-side power supply interface of a transportation vehicle requiring power is determined for each transportation vehicle and the transportation vehicle-side power supply interface is automatically coupled to a power supply interface of the power supply unit by the power supply interface of the power supply unit being moved by a robot to the transportation vehicle-side power supply interface and coupled thereto. A robot is responsible for coupling transportation vehicles to a suitable power supply interface of the power supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, KUKA DEUTSCHLAND
    Inventors: Daniel SchĂ¼tz, Michael Grote, JĂ¼rgen Stieg, Lutz Junge, Sven Horstmann, Thorsten Bagdonat, Sebastian Grysczyk, Andreas Weiser, Norbert Settele
  • Patent number: 10710460
    Abstract: An energy management device for controlling a charging control appliance in an electric vehicle is provided. The energy management device is designed to adjust a charging profile in the charging control appliance for the charging of a battery of the electric vehicle on a charging station or in the electric vehicle itself, the adjustment of the charging profile at least taking into account a planned time of use of the electric vehicle and a desired charging state of the battery as well as a pre-defined value for the maximum charging capacity of the electric vehicle. The energy management device is coupled to a measuring unit which is designed to measure an actual charging capacity provided for the electric vehicle by the charging station and, independently or as a result of a request from the energy management device, transmit same to the energy management device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michael Beer
  • Patent number: 10710461
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction battery and a controller. The controller, in response to termination of current flow from the traction battery to a tool that is plugged in to the vehicle that results in shutting down of the tool, actuates a switch such that current resulting from the shutting down flows from the tool to the traction battery for regenerative energy capture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Duane Wallace, Marvin Paul Kraska, Bernard D. Nefcy
  • Patent number: 10710462
    Abstract: A driving device includes a first one-way clutch OWC1 provided on a power transmission path between a driving source and a driven portion which becomes in an engaged state when rotational power in one direction of the driving source side is input to the driven portion side and becomes in a disengaged state when rotational power in the other direction of the driving source side is input to the driven portion side and which becomes in a disengaged state when rotational power in one direction of the driven portion side is input to the driving source side and becomes in an engaged state when rotational power in the other direction of the driven portion side is input to the driving source side, a connection/disconnection unit which is provided in parallel with the first one-way clutch OWC1 on the power transmission path, and a second one-way clutch OWC2 provided in parallel with the first one-way clutch OWC1 and in series with the connection/disconnection unit on the power transmission path which performs an opera
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobutaka Yamaguchi, Satoshi Ando, Yoshihito Kurizuka
  • Patent number: 10710463
    Abstract: The control device for the electric vehicle determines whether or not the starting operation of the vehicle has been performed by the driver, calculates the disturbance torque estimated value Td necessary for maintaining the vehicle stop state corresponding to the disturbance acting on the vehicle, and performs a control such that the driving torque of the motor converges to the disturbance torque estimated value Td when the vehicle is determined to be just before stop of the vehicle during running or determined to have undergone the starting operation. Then, the control device for the electric vehicle controls the responsiveness of the driving torque to the disturbance acting on the vehicle, and increases the responsiveness of the driving torque of the motor compared with the responsiveness of the driving torque just before stop of the vehicle when the starting operation is determined to have been performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Sawada, Ken Itou, Takashi Nakajima, Yuji Katsumata, Hiroyuki Komatsu
  • Patent number: 10710464
    Abstract: A motor vehicle drive train assembly includes an axial flux induction motor including a stator, a first rotor and a second rotor. The stator, the first rotor and the second rotor are concentric with a motor center axis. The first rotor is axially spaced from a first axial side of the stator by a first air gap and the second rotor is axially spaced from a second axial side of the stator by a second air gap. The axial flux induction motor is configured such that the first rotor is rotatable about the motor center axis by the stator at a first rotational speed to drive a first drive shaft non-rotatably connected to the first rotor while the second rotor is rotatable about the motor center axis by the stator at a second rotational speed that is greater than the first rotational speed to drive a second drive shaft non-rotatably connected to the second rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Md. Wasi Uddin, Markus Steinberger
  • Patent number: 10710465
    Abstract: This system allows the positioning of a vehicle in a recharging position with respect to a pad of a recharging station, wherein the vehicle carries a shoe gear which, once the vehicle is in the recharging position, is moved to come into contact with the pad. This system comprises: on the ground side, a generation module of a magnetic field, a characteristic quantity of which is a function of the position relative to a reference point of the generation module; and, on the onboard side, a magnetic field measuring module to measure the characteristic quantity and compare it with a reference value, in order to control the movement of the vehicle and stop it at a position relative to the reference point, wherein the relative position corresponds to the recharging position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: ALSTOM Transport Technologies
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Hourtane
  • Patent number: 10710466
    Abstract: A method of positioning an electric vehicle, such as a battery electric vehicle, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or similar vehicle relative to a charging point includes receiving at the vehicle a global positioning system (GPS) signal, receiving at the vehicle a global positioning system correction signal, correcting the global positioning system signal using the global positioning system correction signal, and positioning the vehicle relative to the charging point using the corrected global positioning system signal such that the vehicle can be charged by the charging point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Donatus Andreas Josephine Kees, Anthemios Philemon Petridis
  • Patent number: 10710467
    Abstract: An information providing system includes a plurality of vehicle, a charging station, and a management server. The management server is configured to communicate with the plurality of vehicles and the charging station. Each of the vehicles allows charging of a power storage device mounted therein using electric power from the charging station and performs inter-vehicle charging for charging another vehicle using electric power of the power storage device. The management server obtains a congestion degree in the charging station and a destination of a vehicle. When a charging station is installed as an annex at a destination of the vehicle, and when the congestion degree exceeds a threshold value, the management server selects a candidate vehicle capable of performing inter-vehicle charging from among other vehicles that aim at a destination identical to the destination of the vehicle, and transmits information about the selected candidate vehicle to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroki Sawada, Masato Tamaoki, Eisuke Ando, Masato Endo, Kuniaki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 10710468
    Abstract: A vehicle power supply device that includes a control unit that performs at least a quick charging control which causes the first voltage converter to perform the charging operation and causes the second voltage converter to perform the charging operation, and a charging/discharging control which causes the first voltage converter to perform the charging operation and causes the second voltage converter to perform the discharging operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Hao Teng
  • Patent number: 10710469
    Abstract: A dual voltage power supply having at least one battery with multiple battery modules and a first set of switches for connecting the battery modules in series to thereby provide a first voltage to a first circuit in case the first switches are closed and to disconnect the series connection case the first switches are open. At least one connection tap is connected to one of the battery modules to provide its voltage to a second circuit operating at a lower voltage than the first circuit and being connected in parallel by a second set of switches to other battery modules. The other battery modules are connected in parallel to each other and one of the battery modules, in case the second set of switches is closed and are not connected in parallel in case the second set of switches is open, can be charged with off the shelf generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: André Koerner, Sebastian Kahnt
  • Patent number: 10710470
    Abstract: A coolant passage of a vehicular cooling system includes a battery coolant passage through which a coolant is supplied from a radiator to a battery, a discharge coolant passage through which the coolant is supplied to the radiator, a first bypass passage through which the coolant is supplied from the discharge coolant passage to the battery coolant passage while bypassing the radiator, and a switching valve that switches a pathway of the coolant, between a first pathway through which the coolant is supplied from the discharge coolant passage to the battery coolant passage via the radiator and a second pathway through which the coolant is supplied from the discharge coolant passage to the battery coolant passage via the first bypass passage. An electronic control unit controls the switching valve such that the pathway is switched to the second pathway at the time of increasing a temperature of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Tominaga, Daisuke Tokozakura, Yushi Seki