Patents Issued in December 14, 2021
  • Patent number: 11198326
    Abstract: Axle system for use in utility vehicles includes a suspension arm and a clamping unit, wherein the clamping unit has a base element and a clamping element, wherein the base element is substantially arranged on a first side and the clamping element on the second side of the suspension arm lying opposite the first side, wherein the base element is configured to be secured to an axle element, and wherein a tensile element is configured to apply a tensile force between the clamping element and the base element, such that the suspension arm is held by force fit between the clamping element and the base element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: SAF-HOLLAND, GmbH
    Inventors: Jean Khoury, Christopher Nagel
  • Patent number: 11198327
    Abstract: A replaceable replacement spindle assembly for both drive (tractor) axles and trailer axles comprises a spindle and seal ring. The spindle is an elongate cylinder having inner and outer bearing surfaces and a threaded portion at one end. The seal ring is a short annular or tubular component having a circular opening sized to achieve an interference fit on a portion of the spindle adjacent the inner bearing surface. The interfering surfaces of the spindle and the seal ring are complementarily dimensioned and tapered so that the surfaces contact when the spindle is properly positioned in the seal ring. Adjacent the end of the spindle opposite the bearing surfaces and threads is an end region with features such as openings or a channel which receive complementary fasteners such as plugs, short bolts or a through bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Inventor: James L. Ebert
  • Patent number: 11198328
    Abstract: A tire includes an electronic device, such as a RFID chip, within the body of the tire. For particular embodiments, a RFID chip is disposed within a tire belt. The RFID chip may be disposed on an inner or outer belt. The RFID chip is connected to at least one steel cords forming an antenna for the RFID chip. The steel cords are disposed at a first angle and second angle with respect to the tire equator. A method of joining the RFID chip to a tire cord is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas A. Sams
  • Patent number: 11198329
    Abstract: A heavy-duty tire includes a tread portion including a crown land portion, a shoulder land portion with a tread edge and a middle land portion disposed therebetween. In a tire cross-section of a 5% inflated state, the tread portion comprises a surface profile which comprises an inner arc portion having a radius (R1) of curvature with a center located in a tire equatorial plane and an outer arc portion having a radius (R2) of curvature smaller than the radius (R1) of curvature of the inner arc portion and intersecting the inner arc portion at an inflection point (P). The inflection point (P) is located on the middle land portion, wherein a distance (Lp) in the tire axial direction from the tire equatorial plane to the inflection point (P) is in a range of from 0.35 to 0.50 times a tread half-width (Wt).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Atsushi Maehara
  • Patent number: 11198330
    Abstract: A tire includes a tread portion being divided into four land portions by one circumferentially extending crown main groove and two circumferentially extending shoulder main grooves arranged one on each side of the crown main groove. The four land portions include two crown land portions disposed one on each side of the crown main groove. Each of the crown land portions is provided with first crown lateral grooves each extending from the crown main groove and terminating within the crown land portion and second crown lateral grooves each extending from the adjacent shoulder main groove and terminating within the crown land portion. In each of the crown land portion, the first crown lateral grooves and the second crown lateral grooves extend at least to an axial center location of the crown land portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Teppei Nakamichi
  • Patent number: 11198331
    Abstract: A tyre comprises a tread portion comprising a first tread edge and a second tread edge, and the tread portion is provided with a plurality of oblique grooves. The plurality of the oblique grooves includes a first oblique groove and a second oblique groove. Each of the first oblique grooves and the second oblique grooves has an open end and a terminating end, and a first steeply-inclined portion positioned on a side of the open end, a second steeply-inclined portion positioned on a side of the terminating end, and a mildly-inclined portion positioned between them. The second steeply-inclined portion includes a part in which an angle thereof with respect to a tyre circumferential direction is gradually decreased as it goes toward the terminating end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuki Higashiura
  • Patent number: 11198332
    Abstract: A tyre includes a tread portion provided with blocks each protruding toward a ground contact surface thereof from a tread bottom surface, and axially spaced side portions each extending from the tread portion to a respective bead portion. The blocks include shoulder blocks spaced. The shoulder blocks each include an overhanging portion located axially outside the corresponding side portion. The overhanging portion includes a pair of first walls extending in substantially parallel with a tyre meridian cross-section. The shoulder blocks have shoulder block lengths which are lengths in the tyre circumferential direction measured between the pair of first walls along the ground contact surface, wherein the shoulder block lengths are shorter than gap lengths which are lengths in the tyre circumferential direction measured on the tread bottom surface between adjacent shoulder blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masahiro Hikita
  • Patent number: 11198333
    Abstract: In a tire 2, each of sidewalls 6 includes a first layer 36 disposed axially outward of a corresponding one of beads 8, and a second layer 38 extending outward from the first layer 36 in a radial direction. When Pc represents a position of an axially outer end of an interface between a carcass 10 and the sidewall 6, an outer end 40 of the first layer 36 is disposed radially inward of the position Pc. A hardness H1 of the first layer 36 is greater than a hardness H2 of the second layer 38. A ratio (H2/H1) of the hardness H2 to the hardness H1 is preferably not less than 0.70 and preferably not greater than 0.95.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masafumi Otani
  • Patent number: 11198334
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes: paired bead portions respectively including annular bead cores and bead fillers disposed on an outer side in a tire radial direction of the bead cores; sidewall portions respectively extending outward in the tire radial direction from the bead portions; a tread portion connected to outer ends in the tire radial direction of the sidewall portions to form a tread; a carcass layer suspended between the bead portions; and a belt layer provided on an outer side in the tire radial direction of the carcass layer in the tread portion. The carcass layer has a first ply that continuously extends between the bead portions and that has opposite end portions and a second ply that extends from a position in contact with an inner peripheral face of an end portion, wherein the second ply has higher tensile strength than the tensile strength of the first ply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hirokazu Sakata
  • Patent number: 11198335
    Abstract: An assembly (8) for a central tire inflation system includes a housing having a first end and a second end. The housing defines a fluid conduit disposed through the first and second ends. The assembly also includes one or more sensors (205, 210) having a portion disposed in the fluid conduit. Further, a power source (245) is in electrical communication with the sensor. The assembly additionally includes a kinetic energy device (220) in electrical communication with the power source. The kinetic energy device may comprise a magnet (255) sliding on a guide (265). As an alternative, the kinetic energy device may comprise a turbine (275).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Lewark, Jason M. Sidders, Douglas D. Turner
  • Patent number: 11198336
    Abstract: A tire air pressure detection device includes a plurality of transceivers and a receiver. The plurality of transceivers are correspondingly provided in a plurality of wheels of a vehicle. Each wheel has a tire. The receiver is attached to a vehicle body. Each of the plurality of transceivers outputs a detection signal indicative of an air pressure of the tire of the corresponding wheel. Each of the plurality of transceivers processes the detection signal, and generates a frame storing the processed detection signal as data related to the air pressure of the tire. The receiver receives the frame. The receiver detects the air pressure of the tire based on the data stored in the received frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takatoshi Sekizawa, Nobuya Watabe
  • Patent number: 11198337
    Abstract: A sensor is configured to infer a rotational speed of a tire of a vehicle. A frequency generator is configured to synthesize frequencies of a tire cavity resonance according to the rotational speed of the tire to generate a sense signal. An active noise control filter is configured to generate an antinoise signal from the sense signal. A loudspeaker configured to convert the antinoise signal into antinoise and to radiate the antinoise to a listening position. The antinoise signal is configured so that the antinoise reduces sound of the tire cavity resonance at the listening position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Harman International Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Kevin J. Bastyr, James May
  • Patent number: 11198338
    Abstract: A device for determining a rotational speed and a vibration of a wheel end of a vehicle, in particular a truck, is disclosed. The device includes a single sensor measuring a signal during a rotation of the wheel end. The sensor is arranged at the wheel end, and a determination unit for determining the rotational speed and the vibration of the wheel end using the signal of the single sensor is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Simon Hubert, Jens Graf
  • Patent number: 11198339
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and checking defects on a tire at the end of a production process, the apparatus comprising a workstation comprising a workbench comprising a rotating table for supporting a tire; a profilometer; a high-resolution color linear camera for scanning outer surfaces of tire tread and tire shoulders; mechanical supports for the profilometer and color linear camera; a data processor for storing and processing data detected by the profilometer and the color linear camera means, for providing a three-dimensional model of a tire, and for management of a database including parameters referring to surface characteristics of defect-free tires; an interface for facilitating interaction between an operator and the apparatus; wherein the profilometer and the color linear camera are configured to operate simultaneously and perform a full scan of all the profiles of inner and outer surfaces of a tire while the tire is in rotation at a controlled speed on the rotating table; and wherein the data proce
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Inventors: Michele De Stasio, Salvatore Romano, Angelo Pagliuso
  • Patent number: 11198340
    Abstract: A method of detecting and localizing a coupler of a trailer hitch associated with a trailer positioned behind a tow vehicle is provided. The method includes determining a region of interest within images from a rear camera. The region of interest includes a representation of the trailer hitch. The method includes determining a three-dimensional (3D) point cloud representing objects inside the region of interest. The method includes determining a camera plane based on the images. The method includes projecting the cloud points onto the camera plane and determining a coupler location based on the projected cloud points onto the camera plane. The method includes determining a path based on the coupler location. The path ending when the tow vehicle is attached to the trailer. The method also includes sending instructions to a drive system causing the tow vehicle to autonomously drive in a rearward direction along the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eduardo Jose Ramirez Llanos, Julien Ip
  • Patent number: 11198341
    Abstract: A method for autonomously maneuvering a tow vehicle. The method includes receiving images from one or more cameras positioned on a back portion of the tow vehicle and receiving sensor data from an inertial measurement unit supported by the tow vehicle. The method also includes determining a pixel-wise intensity difference between a current received image and a previous received image. The method includes determining a camera pose and a trailer pose with respect to a world coordinate system. The camera pose and the trailer pose are based on the images, the sensor data, and the pixel-wise intensity difference. The method includes determining a tow vehicle path based on the camera pose and the trailer pose. The method also includes instructing a drive system supported by the tow vehicle to autonomously maneuver along the tow vehicle path in a reverse direction causing the tow vehicle to hitch with the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Xin Yu, Matthew Donald Berkemeier, Julien Ip, Eduardo Jose Ramirez Llanos, Kyle P Carpenter
  • Patent number: 11198342
    Abstract: The present invention is a trailer hitch protector. The trailer hitch protector comprises a supporting bar adapted to be mounted to a rear of a vehicle. The trailer hitch protector further comprises a protective structure supported from the supporting bar and extending rearwardly from the supporting bar. The trailer hitch protector further a ball hinge cover made of compressible material and fixed to the protective structure, the ball hinge cover adapted to accommodate a ball element of a trailer hitch of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Inventors: Efrain Rodriguez, Vanessa Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11198343
    Abstract: To enlarge a collapsible flap and store the collapsible flap appropriately. In an amphibious vehicle (1) in which a flap (13) which receives lift from water in water navigation is provided to be deployable and storable at a front side in a travel direction of a vehicle body (11), the flap (13) includes a lower flap (21) which is stored to come close to a front surface (11a) of the vehicle body (11) and an upper flap (22) which is stored to come close to an upper surface (11b) of the vehicle body (11), and at least one of the lower flap (21) and the upper flap (22) includes a first flap member (31) and a second flap member (32) and is configured such that a flap length (L13) in a direction orthogonal to a vehicle width direction is variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Sato, Tetsuya Miyamoto, Takashi Matsunaga, Katsuhiko Nakajo, Taichi Omura, Yuta Shimizu, Takenori Kawana, Takashi Mizumoto
  • Patent number: 11198344
    Abstract: A suspension device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure which is equipped with an upper arm which is supported by a knuckle of the vehicle wheel so as to be capable of oscillation, and also supported by a side member which extends in the vehicle front-rear direction so as to be capable of oscillation, wherein: the upper arm has a tip end section positioned at the outside end in the vehicle widthwise direction, and also has arm sections which fork from the tip end section toward the inside in the vehicle widthwise direction; and the upper arm is formed in a manner such that the cross-sectional area of one arm section is greater than the cross-sectional area of the other arm section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMI TED
    Inventors: Daisuke Senoo, Atsushi Itou
  • Patent number: 11198345
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, there is provided an air conditioning system for a vehicle. The vehicle may be a locomotive. The air conditioning system includes a combination module for mounting in or on a vehicle. The combination module includes a condenser coil and a compressor assembly. The compressor assembly includes an electric motor. The combination module may be mounted to cover a hole in an outer wall or floor of the vehicle, such that air enters the hole ventilates the condenser coil. The system also includes at least one air handler for mounting in a cab of the vehicle, remote from combination module. Each air handler comprises a respective evaporator coil. A combination module including a compressor assembly is also provided. A method for installing the combination module is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: INPS ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventor: Christer Gotmalm
  • Patent number: 11198346
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vapor-injection heat pump having a refrigerant loop with an evaporator configured to cool cabin air, the evaporator coupled to an electronically controllable pressure regulating valve having a fully-open position with near-zero pressure drop, and a cabin conditioning coolant loop having a heater core configured to selectively heat the cabin air. A controller is configured to control the valve to maintain temperature and pressure of the refrigerant loop above a freezing threshold to inhibit or prevent evaporator icing. The valve may be controlled to throttle flow during a parallel dehumidification mode and to fully open to minimize pressure drop during other operational modes, such as a cooling mode, heating mode, de-icing mode, and series dehumidification mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Noah Blatchley, Loren John Lohmeyer, Angelo Patti
  • Patent number: 11198347
    Abstract: An evaporator assembly (10), in particular for a fuel-operated vehicle heater (12), comprising a pot-like evaporator reception (14), an evaporator body (16) inserted into the pot-like evaporator reception (14), a plate-like designed hold-down element (18), which is fixed to the evaporator reception (14) and fixes the evaporator body (16) in the evaporator reception (14), and wherein the plate-like designed hold-down element (18) has at least one retaining claw (22), which has an upper part (26) on an upper side (24) of the plate-like designed hold-down element (18) and a lower part (30) on a lower side (28) of the plate-like designed hold-down element (18), wherein the upper part (26) and the lower part (30) point away from the plate-like designed hold-down element (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: WEBASTO SE
    Inventors: Klaus Mösl, Bengt Meier, Vitali Dell, Jan Steffens
  • Patent number: 11198348
    Abstract: A pressure relief assembly includes a housing defining an air passage chamber having at least one opening, and a flap secured within the air passage chamber. The flap is configured to move into an open position to expose the opening(s) to relieve air pressure. At least one liquid diverter extends from the housing. The liquid diverter(s) is configured to direct moisture away from the flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel David Carlson, Gregory Scott Mamelson, Jason Ray Pranger
  • Patent number: 11198349
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system may comprise an evaporator core including an upstream inlet face in which humid air is received, a downstream outlet face from which dehumidified air is discharged, and a plurality of air-contacting surfaces extending between the inlet and outlet faces. In one form, an antimicrobial coating may be formed on the air-contacting surfaces of the evaporator core. The antimicrobial coating may comprise an ionic material having immobilized ionic groups of one type of charge and mobile counterions of another type of charge. The mobile counterions may be ionically associated with the immobilized ionic groups. In another form, an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED) may be used to direct UV light onto the air-contacting surfaces of the evaporator core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Chapaton, Mahmoud Abd Elhamid, Michael J. Moore
  • Patent number: 11198350
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a convertible sliding top assembly for use with a vehicle. The convertible sliding top assembly can create an opening on the top of the vehicle by rotating a plurality of arms and folding over a soft cover. The assembly can be designed and shaped to improve aerodynamics when the vehicle is moving and prevent the buildup of water on the soft cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: LUND MOTION PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony Nicholas Smith, Carlos Gutierrez, Chris Schumacher, Scott Cover
  • Patent number: 11198351
    Abstract: A vehicle body member manufacturing method and a vehicle body member joint portion seal structure are obtained that are capable of suppressing sinking of a sealing material filled into a recess formed by a first member and a second member. A sealing material is filled into a recess provided between a general face of an upper end portion of center pillar R/F and a general face of side rail R/F. After the sealing material has cured, sealing material is filled into the recess on top of the initial sealing material. This enables the surface of the sealing material to be levelled, thus enabling sinking at the surface of the sealing material to be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoki Matsumura, Koki Ikeda, Shunsuke Kanagai, Shinya Kamimura
  • Patent number: 11198352
    Abstract: A relay (25) connects and disconnects an electrical circuit to which an inverter (16) and an electricity storage device (19) are connected. A BCU (22) controls the electricity storage device (19). An HC (27) controls an electric motor (15), the inverter (16) and the BCU (22). The HC (27) and the BCU (22) respectively have FET switches (30, 31) for controlling supply and stop of the excitation current in the relay (25). When the electricity storage device (19) is determined to be in an abnormal state, the BCU (22) transmits an abnormal signal to the HC (27), and when a predetermined time has elapsed, turns off (opens) the first FET switch (30) of the BCU (22). The HC (27) executes stop processing based upon the abnormal signal received from the BCU (22) and then turns off (opens) the second FET switch (31) of the HC (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignees: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd., Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Itaru Naya, Seiji Ishida, Ken Takeuchi, Mutsumi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 11198353
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a drive unit. The driving unit includes an electric rotary machine and a power conversion device. The drive unit is connected to a cooling liquid introduction pipe for introducing a cooling liquid to the drive unit, and the drive unit is connected to a cooling liquid discharge pipe for discharging the cooling liquid from the drive unit. The cooling liquid introduction pipe is connected to a cooling liquid introduction pipe connecting portion. The cooling liquid discharge pipe is connected to a cooling liquid discharge pipe connecting portion. The cooling liquid introduction pipe connecting portion and the cooling liquid discharge pipe connecting portion are provided above a lower end portion of the drive unit to connect the cooling liquid introduction pipe and the cooling liquid discharge pipe from the vehicle width direction of the drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Hoshinoya, Manabu Yazaki, Heisuke Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11198354
    Abstract: A hybrid power system includes a CVT, an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a clutch, and a synchronization apparatus. The CVT has a CVT input shaft and a CVT output shaft. The internal combustion engine has an internal combustion engine output shaft and the electric motor has an electric motor shaft. The clutch is provided between the internal combustion engine and the CVT. The synchronization apparatus is provided between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. The clutch and the synchronization apparatus can be adjusted to connect the internal combustion engine output shaft to the electric motor shaft via the CVT, and connect the internal combustion engine output shaft to the electric motor shaft without the CVT. In an example embodiment, the synchronization apparatus includes a first synchronizer between the internal combustion engine and the CVT, and a second synchronizer between the CVT and the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hongxi Zhang, Chenfei Dong, Yingjie Chen
  • Patent number: 11198355
    Abstract: A hybrid power driving system includes an engine, a planetary gear device, a first motor, a clutch gear, a brake device, a first clutch, a second clutch, an intermediate shaft, and a second motor, wherein the engine and the first motor are connected by the planetary gear device, the planetary gear device includes a first rotating element, a second rotating element and a third rotating element, the first rotating element is connected to the first motor, and the second rotating element is connected to the engine, and the clutch gear is connected to the intermediate shaft; the brake device is configured to brake or unlock the third rotating element; and the second motor is connected to the intermediate shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU AUTOMOBILE GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Yang, Jiangling Zhao, Yang Shang, Zeqing Dong, Guoqiang Zu, Qianru Su
  • Patent number: 11198356
    Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a drive arrangement for a vehicle including a housing, a double planetary gear set partially or fully contained within the housing, an input shaft selectively engaged with the double planetary gear set, a first clutch assembly coupled to the input shaft and selectively engaged with the double planetary gear set, a second clutch assembly coupled to the input shaft and selectively engaged with the double planetary gear set, and a sliding spline coupled to the input shaft and selectively engaged with the double planetary gear set. The double planetary gear set including a first sun gear, a second sun gear, a first set of planetary gears, a second set of planetary gears, a planetary gear carrier, and a ring gear, wherein components of the double planetary gear set are lockable thereby providing three different gear ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew T. Brammer, Michael D. Cook
  • Patent number: 11198357
    Abstract: A hybrid module for a motor vehicle for coupling an internal combustion engine includes a disconnect clutch, an electrical machine, a dual-clutch device, a disconnect clutch actuating system, a first actuating system, and a second actuating system. The disconnect clutch is for transmitting a first torque from the internal combustion engine to the hybrid module and disconnecting the hybrid module from the internal combustion engine. The dual-clutch device includes a first partial clutch and a second partial clutch. The disconnect clutch actuating system is for actuating the disconnect clutch. The first actuating system is for actuating the first partial clutch. The second actuating system is for actuating the second partial clutch. The disconnect clutch actuating system, the first actuating system, and the second actuating system are arranged next to one another in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Dirk Reimnitz
  • Patent number: 11198358
    Abstract: A motor vehicle drive apparatus includes a device configured to connect an internal combustion engine to an electromechanical energy converter, and first and second drive trains. The second drivetrain is arranged parallel to the first drivetrain in relation to torque transmission between the electromechanical energy converter and the internal combustion engine. The first drivetrain has a one-way clutch which is set up in such a manner that torque is transmittable via the first drivetrain from the electromechanical energy converter to the internal combustion engine during starting of the internal combustion engine. The second drivetrain has a speed-sensitive clutch which in a first state is open until a first speed threshold is reached, so that in the first state no torque is transmittable with the second drivetrain from the internal combustion engine to the electromechanical energy converter. The speed-sensitive clutch is closed from the crossing of this first speed threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Georg Koetzinger
  • Patent number: 11198359
    Abstract: A system for selectively locking two coaxial axle shafts of an electric axle is provided. The system includes a first electric motor having a first rotor shaft configured to drive a first axle shaft. The system also includes a second electric motor having a second rotor shaft configured to drive a second axle shaft coaxial with the first axle shaft. An actuator is configured to selectively activate to operate in a safety mode. When operated to assume the safety mode, the actuator causes the first rotor shaft to lock to the second rotor shaft, such that the two shafts rotate in unison. This allows one of the two motors to drive both axle shafts in the event of a fault in one of the motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Matthew Payne
  • Patent number: 11198360
    Abstract: An automatic opening and closing device for a fuel inlet of a vehicle may include a cap cover mounted at the fuel inlet of the vehicle, a fuel cap pivotably mounted at the cap cover and configured to selectively open or close the fuel inlet by being pivoted inside the fuel inlet, and a fuel cap operating mechanism mounted in the fuel inlet and configured, when the fuel door is closed, to pivot the fuel cap by being pressed by the fuel door to close the fuel inlet, and, when the fuel door is opened, pivot the fuel cap to open the fuel inlet according to release of pressing by the fuel door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Korea Fuel-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Tae Yoon Lee, June Young Park, Seung Hoon Choi, Sung Won Lee, Tae Suk Lee, Jun Sik Lim, Ki Hong Kim, Dong Chul Lee
  • Patent number: 11198361
    Abstract: A drainage portion extending from one to the other of a bottom wall of a recess and a lid is provided at least above a hydrogen filling port in the recess when the lid is in a closed state. Therefore, water, which has entered the recess from a gap (parting) when the lid is in a closed state, reaches an upper surface of the drainage portion and flows along the upper surface of the drainage portion, and then, the water flows down from the drainage portion while avoiding the hydrogen filling port. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the water having entered the recess while the lid is in a closed state from adhering to the hydrogen filling port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takanori Uehata
  • Patent number: 11198362
    Abstract: A fuel tank for a vehicle, having a plurality of chambers, the chambers fluidly connected to allow a flow of fuel between the chambers, where at least one of the chambers has a flexible fluid container contained within an expandable rigid outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Erich Freytag, Guido Naegele, Andreas Dornach
  • Patent number: 11198363
    Abstract: A motorized, voice-activated ‘smart’ mobile workstation incorporating casters, a base support member, a work surface with height-adjustment feature, a power source for recharging electronic devices held on the mobile workstation, a power cord which plugs into an electrical wall outlet for recharging of mobile workstation, and a battery which extends the operation of the mobile workstation while the mobile workstation is not plugged into an electrical wall outlet. The mobile workstation further includes a motor which gives the mobile workstation rotational energy, smart technology which comprises a computerized ‘brain’ which helps humans communicate with the mobile workstation by giving simple voice commands, which control the directional and elevational movement of the mobile workstation. A remote control apparatus powers on and off the mobile workstation and is also an alternative means for controlling the directional and elevational movement of the mobile workstation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Inventor: Jeanita Jinnah
  • Patent number: 11198364
    Abstract: A pair of outside view displays that are provided on an instrument panel, are located outside a steering in a vehicle width direction, and display captured outside view images and displays that are provided inside the outside view displays in the vehicle width direction and have display regions from a driver seat to a front passenger seat are provided, and the outside view displays are provided so as to face the inside in the vehicle width direction and are disposed such that inner ends of the outside view displays are located on a front side of the vehicle relative to closer left and right ends of the displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Hayashida, Akinori Myoi, Susumu Seki, Yasuyuki Shigefuji
  • Patent number: 11198365
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrified vehicle and a method for gradually adjusting a displayed state of charge. An exemplary electrified vehicle includes a battery, a display configured to display a state of charge of the battery, and a controller configured to adjust the displayed state of charge such that the displayed state of charge gradually converges to an estimated state of charge of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Heinrich Enslin, Lila Ghannam, Charles Everett Badger, II, Xu Wang, Jeffery R. Grimes
  • Patent number: 11198366
    Abstract: A solar power generation system of a vehicle includes a solar panel configured to generate power by sunlight, a first load, an auxiliary battery configured to supply the power to the first load, a second load configured to drive the vehicle, a driving battery configured to supply power needed to drive the vehicle to the second load, a first power converter configured to supply the power generated by the solar panel to the auxiliary battery, and a second power converter configured to bidirectionally exchange the power between the auxiliary battery and the driving battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Hirano
  • Patent number: 11198367
    Abstract: Provided is a hybrid vehicle including: an engine longitudinally positioned on a front side of a vehicle body; a first motor; a rear wheel to which output torque of the engine and the first motor is transmitted to generate driving power; a second motor; and a front wheel to which output torque of the second motor is transmitted to generate driving power. Both the first motor and the second motor are disposed between the engine and an automatic transmission, coaxially with the engine and the automatic transmission. A power transmission mechanism that increases or decreases the driving power of the front wheel is provided. The second motor is coupled to the power transmission mechanism without being coupled to the engine and the automatic transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohei Habata, Seiji Kuwahara, Akira Ijichi
  • Patent number: 11198368
    Abstract: A vehicular charging control system using a solar panel includes: a first battery; a calculation unit that calculates a chargeable electric power amount (an amount of electric power with which the first battery can be charged until the SOC of the first battery reaches a predetermined value); a determination unit that determines whether regenerative electric power is being generated; and a control unit that controls charging of the first battery with electric power generated by the solar panel. The control unit allows the first battery to be charged with the electric power generated by the solar panel up to an upper limit set to the chargeable electric power amount when regenerative electric power is not being generated, and up to an upper limit set to an electric power amount obtained by subtracting the regenerative electric power amount from the chargeable electric power amount when regenerative electric power is being generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Shizuka
  • Patent number: 11198369
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus acquires peripheral information regarding whether a living body is present outside a vehicle near a power supplying unit, during power supply to the vehicle. The power supply apparatus acquires in-vehicle information regarding whether a living body is present inside the vehicle, during power supply to the vehicle. The power supply apparatus restricts supplied electric power when in-vehicle information indicating that a living body is present inside the vehicle is acquired or when peripheral information indicating that a living body is present near the power supplying unit is acquired. The power supply apparatus changes a restriction amount of the supplied electric power when at least either of in-vehicle information indicating that a living body is present inside the vehicle or peripheral information indicating that a living body is present near the power supplying unit is acquired, compared to that when neither piece of information is acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomomi Hase
  • Patent number: 11198370
    Abstract: A position measurement method for position alignment with a vehicle, performed by a charging pad, may comprise performing synchronization with a vehicle entering a vicinity of the charging pad, transmitting low frequency (LF) signals having a same strength through a plurality of LF spots of the charging pad, receiving information on reception strengths of the LF signals from the vehicle, adjusting a transmission strength for the plurality of LF spots according to the information on reception strengths received from the vehicle, and transmitting the LF signals according to the adjusted transmission strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, HYUNDAI AUTOEVER CORP.
    Inventors: Jae Yong Seong, Kyung Taek Kim
  • Patent number: 11198371
    Abstract: A power circuit for a dual voltage range charging station is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: AddÉnergie Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Mailloux
  • Patent number: 11198372
    Abstract: An ECU of a vehicle performs processing for diagnosing sticking of a charge relay with an SMR being open. The sticking diagnosis processing is performed while electric power is being supplied from a DC power feed facility to the vehicle. The sticking diagnosis processing includes both-element sticking diagnosis processing and one-element sticking diagnosis processing. The ECU performs both-element sticking diagnosis processing by outputting an output command to the DC power feed facility. When it is determined that both of the charge relays have not stuck in the both-element sticking diagnosis processing, the ECU performs one-element sticking diagnosis processing and diagnoses whether or not sticking has occurred in each of the charge relays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yamato Niwa
  • Patent number: 11198373
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for operating a charging device for charging energy stores of vehicles, preferably electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles, wherein the charging device is connected to an Internet-enabled server. In a method step, at least one receiver vehicle with a flat or partially charged battery communicates its charging demand to the charging device. Furthermore, in a method step at least one donor vehicle with an at least partially charged battery communicates its readiness to charge to the charging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Nonnenmacher, Helmut Randoll, Holger Leege
  • Patent number: 11198374
    Abstract: A device for charging an electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a charging inlet for receiving charging information and power from electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE); a control module for determining a charging mode on the basis of the charging information, and outputting a control signal according to the determined charging mode; and a charging unit for charging a battery of the electric vehicle according to the control signal from the control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kwang Seob Shin, Do Hyeong Kim, Hyoung Dong Kim, Myoung Kyu Rhee, Myung Keun Lim, Soo Bum Cho, Jeong Jae Jo, Yong Hyun Han
  • Patent number: 11198375
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery pack including a secondary battery and a first control device, a second control device provided separately from the battery pack, and a converter. The converter is configured to select a conversion formula from options depending on a situation and use the selected conversion formula to convert at least one of a first current upper limit value and a second current upper limit value into at least one of a first power upper limit value and a second power upper limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kikuchi, Junichi Matsumoto, Akio Uotani