Patents Issued in February 20, 2024
  • Patent number: 11904908
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a driving controller configured to control one or both of steering and acceleration or deceleration of a vehicle; and a mode determiner configured to determine a driving mode of the vehicle to be one of a plurality of driving modes including a first driving mode and a second driving mod, in which the second driving mode is a driving mode in which a task imposed on a driver of the vehicle is lighter than that of the first driving mode and one or both of the steering and the acceleration or deceleration are controlled by the driving controller, and to change the driving mode to the first driving mode on the basis of an operating state of a wiper mounted in the vehicle when the driving controller controls the vehicle in the second driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuma Kobayashi, Yoshifumi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11904909
    Abstract: The disclosed technology provides solutions for protecting the health of ride-sharing passengers by detecting passenger illnesses, and taking precautions to safely address potentially exposed vehicles. A process of the disclosed technology can include steps for: collecting sensor-data corresponding with one or more AV passengers, determining a likelihood that at least one of the AV passengers is suffering from a physical illness, and transmitting a wellness notification to a fleet management system if the likelihood exceeds a predetermined threshold. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: GM Cruise Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Olga Pronina
  • Patent number: 11904910
    Abstract: A transformer holding device for an electric locomotive having a transformer, includes at least one transformer support which is configured in such a way that the transformer can be displaced on an underframe of the electric locomotive during a maintenance operation so that the electric locomotive attains a predetermined center of gravity position. The transformer is fixed to the underframe of the electric locomotive during operation. A transformer arrangement for an electric locomotive and an electric locomotive are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Stoff
  • Patent number: 11904911
    Abstract: A rail-bound vehicle includes an energy storage device having a traction battery and a cooling device for cooling the traction battery using a coolant circulating in at least one coolant circuit. The energy storage device supplies a traction device of the vehicle with electrical energy. At least one air-conditioning device air conditions a passenger compartment of a car of the vehicle using a refrigerant circulating in a refrigerant circuit, and a control device controls the air-conditioning device. The air-conditioning device has a heat exchanger coupling the refrigerant circuit of the air-conditioning device to the coolant circuit of the cooling device of the energy storage device. The control device controls a flow of the refrigerant through the heat exchanger. An energy storage device, an air-conditioning device, an arrangement for cooling a traction battery and a method for controlling the arrangement are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Glinka
  • Patent number: 11904912
    Abstract: Various embodiments provided a railroad car brake beam wear guide for mounting in a brake beam guide bracket of a railroad car truck side frame and including a spacer that partially defines a slide-way for a brake beam lug of a brake beam and that limits lateral movement of the brake beam. In various embodiments, the wear guide can be employed for other uses besides for railroad cars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: STANDARD CAR TRUCK COMPANY
    Inventors: Ronald D. Golembiewski, Walter J. Peach
  • Patent number: 11904913
    Abstract: A Head-of-Train device suitable for mounting inside a cab of a train is disclosed. The Head-of-Train device includes a memory and a processing unit communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the processing unit is configured to execute one or more instructions in the memory to synthesize an audio message based on status associated with at least one equipment onboard the train. The Head-of Train device further includes an audio output device configured to output the audio message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility, Inc.
    Inventor: Harsh Piparsaniya
  • Patent number: 11904914
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes capturing, by a machine vision device, an image of an object in a railway environment. The machine vision device is attached to a first train car that is moving in a first direction along a first railroad track of the railway environment. The method also includes analyzing, by the machine vision device, the image of the object using one or more machine vision algorithms to determine a value associated with the object. The method further includes determining, by the machine vision device, that the value associated with the object indicates a potential deficiency of the object and communicating, by the machine vision device, an alert to a component external to the first train car. The alert comprises an indication of the potential deficiency of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: BNSF Railway Company
    Inventors: Dennis William Morgart, Joshua John McBain, Corey Tremain Pasta, Aaron Thomas Ratledge
  • Patent number: 11904915
    Abstract: An article transport vehicle that travels along a traveling path is provided with an obstacle sensor that detects an obstacle that exists in a detection area, and a control unit that controls the traveling speed of the article transport vehicle based on detection information of the obstacle sensor. A non-detection area where detection of the obstacle by the obstacle sensor is not performed is set within the detectable area of the obstacle sensor, and a situation in which the non-detection area exists on a detection line that joins a part of the detection area and the obstacle sensor is defined as a specific situation. The control unit, in the specific situation, and a situation where an undetectable area in which it is not possible to detect the obstacle exists in the detection area because a shield exists in the non-detection area, reduces the speed of the article transport vehicle to a second traveling speed slower than the first traveling speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takafumi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11904916
    Abstract: A system and a method automatically detect whether a vehicle entering a track section of a railway network is shorter than a predefined length. The method includes detecting at a time T0 an entry of the vehicle on a first track subsection. From the time T0, the occupancy states of at least a first subsection and a third subsection are determined in dependence on the time. The occupancy state is either “occupied” or “free”. The occupancy states for at least first and third subsections is reported to an evaluation unit at least until the occupancy state of the first subsection is “free”. The reported occupancy states determined for the at least first and third subsections are processed by the evaluation unit, and from a temporal evolution of the occupancy states of the first and third subsections, it is determined whether the entering vehicle is shorter than the predefined length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility SAS
    Inventor: Armand Pierre Bohe
  • Patent number: 11904917
    Abstract: An anti-collision control method and a rail vehicle control system are provided. The rail vehicle control system includes a control apparatus configured to implement the anti-collision control method to prevent a plurality of vehicles on a plurality of rails from colliding with each other. The anti-collision control method includes receiving a transfer requirement data to decide which one of the vehicles and which one of the rails are respectively an assigned vehicle and an assigned rail; planning a movement path and a movement space according to the transfer requirement data and a vehicle dimension data; determining whether any portion of the movement space is reserved; and in response to the movement space being reserved, the assigned vehicle is controlled to not move, or the movement space is reserved and the assigned vehicle is controlled to move according to the movement path along the assigned rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: MIRLE AUTOMATION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shih-Wei Lin, Hsing-Lu Huang, Wun-Jian Wei
  • Patent number: 11904918
    Abstract: A computer interlocking system includes: a first sub-system and a second sub-system that have a same structure and function, where the first sub-system and the second sub-system form a double 2-vote-2 architecture, respectively including a main control layer, a network layer, and a communication and execution layer; the network layer being configured to construct a communication network of a sub-system in which the network layer is located; the main control layer and the communication and execution layer in the first sub-system being respectively connected to a communication network of the first sub-system; and the main control layer and the communication and execution layer in the second sub-system being respectively connected to a communication network of the second sub-system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yejun Qin, Tao Yang, Faping Wang
  • Patent number: 11904919
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for assisting in removing a wheels-on-ground type daughter cart from a mother cart, and a mother cart incorporating such a method and apparatus, utilize a daughter cart ejector apparatus mounted on a mother cart and having a selectively actuatable ejector element for urging the daughter cart to move out of engagement with the mother cart in an unloading direction. The ejector element is configured and operatively connected to bear against the daughter cart and apply force in a manner that assists in initiating movement of the daughter cart in the unloading direction and reorienting casters supporting the daughter cart on an underlying surface from a rolling orientation that is generally parallel to a transport direction of the mother cart, to a rolling orientation that is generally transverse to the transport direction and parallel to the unloading direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventors: Edmund W. Brown, Eric Wayne Brown, Ryan Edmund Brown
  • Patent number: 11904920
    Abstract: A lift cart includes a lift table that moves between a raised position and a lowest position and a braking device attached to the lift cart. A braking device includes an actuator, a linkage bar, and a first brake assembly. The linkage bar connects to the actuator. The linkage bar translates in a first direction upon activation of the actuator. The first brake assembly connects to the linkage bar. The first brake assembly moves from a deployed state to a retracted state as the linkage bar translates in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: William Alexander Bernal, Caleb Daniel Rideout, Jacob L. Wymore, Herald Harrington, Kevin Brault
  • Patent number: 11904921
    Abstract: A handcart may include: a support frame; a container; a lock member configured to move between a locking position at which the lock member restricts rotation of the container relative to the support frame and an unlocked position at which the lock member allows the rotation of the container relative to the support frame; and a retainer member configured to move between a retaining position at which the retainer member restricts a movement of the lock member from the unlocked position to the locking position and a non-retaining position at which the retainer member allows the movement of the lock member from the unlocked position to the locking position. The lock member may be configured to move from the locking position to the unlocked position and be maintained in the unlocked position by a movement of the retainer member from the non-retaining position to the retaining position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuo Ifuku, Susumu Kato
  • Patent number: 11904922
    Abstract: The paint cart is a cart. The paint cart is adapted for use with painting equipment and supplies. The paint cart stores the painting equipment and supplies. The paint cart transports the painting equipment and supplies over a supporting surface. The paint cart comprises a pedestal pan, a plurality of tool pans, and a stanchion structure. The stanchion structure elevates each individual tool pan selected from the plurality of tool pans above the pedestal pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: Angel Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 11904923
    Abstract: A wheeled, pushable cart for transporting cargo that when not in use can be stacked or nested in telescoping fashion, and which can be used with carts having a base frame to which the wheels are attached, and various components, which can include one or more baskets, that are attached to the base frame. The manner in which the wheels are attached and arranged, and the orientation of the base frame, provide for increased storage and ease of access to the base frame and bottom shelf from the rear of the cart, and easy nesting (also referred to as stacking) of multiple carts in telescoping fashion when the carts are not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: RyanKart, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan M. Wolkov, Edward Nowak
  • Patent number: 11904924
    Abstract: Respective electric drive motors (13a, 13b) drive left and right drive wheels (10a, 10b) having friction brakes, including an electromechanical service brake (31a, 31b) and an auxiliary brake (32a, 32b) mechanically biasing them to a braked state. An elongate handlebar (16) for user control is mounted via a pair of force-sensing couplings (17a, 17b) including a resilient member (18) and a load sensor (19) sensing forces applied by a user to the handlebar and transmitting respective load signals. A controller (37) receives the load signals and controls a current applied to the electric drive motors (13a, 13b) so as to amplify the force sensed by the force-sensing couplings and to generate a torque proportional to a force applied by the user to the handlebar and to actuate an electric release actuator of the auxiliary brake (32a, 32b) when the force applied by the user to the handlebar exceeds a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN MULTITECH R & D CENTRE LIMITED
    Inventor: Wing Leung Chow
  • Patent number: 11904925
    Abstract: A folding stroller, including a frame capable of being unfolded and folded, and a front wheel and a rear wheel, wherein the frame including a push rod connected to the front wheel at a bottom, and a rear support connected to the rear wheel at a bottom, any two of the push rod, the front support and the rear support are rotatably connected with each other, the remaining one is rotatably connected to at least one of the two, and when the frame is in an unfolded state, the push rod, the front support and the rear support are unfolded with respect to one another, and when the frame is in a folded state, the push rod, the front support and the rear support are close to one another, and the front wheel and the rear wheel are turned so that axles thereof extend along a front-rear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: GOODBABY CHILD PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fusheng Ma, Xingrong Zhang, Yang Zhang, Pingzhong Shi
  • Patent number: 11904926
    Abstract: A child protection system is provided with a cover member that is interchangeable between different child carriers, such as an infant car seat and a stroller. The interchangeable cover member protects a child occupant from sun, wind, weather, insects, germs and provides privacy. The cover member is removably coupled to an anchor member, such as a canopy, of an infant car seat when in a first position. The cover member is removably coupled to an anchor member, such as a bumper bar, of a stroller when in a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Evenflo Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Ray Boissonneault, Kelly Chamberlin, Dorothy Chin Gerding, Jeremy Crossgrove, Michelle M. J. Wood, Brian Whitt
  • Patent number: 11904927
    Abstract: A steering column includes a steering column component. The steering column also includes a driven assembly operatively coupled to the steering column component. The steering column further includes a driving assembly. The steering column yet further includes a connection assembly that includes a connection gear having a first set of teeth operatively connected to the driving assembly, the connection gear having a set of gear clutch teeth. The connection assembly also includes a clutch member operatively connected to the driven assembly, the driven assembly moving along an axis in response to actuation from the driving assembly and causes the provided axially adjustable steering column to be adjusted along the axis, the clutch member having a set of clutch member teeth. The clutch member teeth and the gear clutch teeth are disengaged in an overload state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Rouleau, Shawn A. Haring
  • Patent number: 11904928
    Abstract: A method of operating a steering column of a motor vehicle, which includes a height adjuster including an electric motor and a controller to control the electric motor to raise and lower along an adjustment path of a steering assembly connected to the steering column. The control is effected by pulse width modulation and, by varying a duty cycle of the pulse width modulation, an electrical voltage is adapted in such a way that the raising and/or lowering is effected over an adjustment path at a constant adjustment speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: NIDEC MOTORS & ACTUATORS (GERMANY) GMBH
    Inventor: Max Schwing
  • Patent number: 11904929
    Abstract: A height adjustment device of a steering column of a motor vehicle includes an electric motor and a reduction gear. The electric motor drives a threaded spindle to raise and lower a steering assembly connected to the steering column. The threaded spindle is engaged with a spindle nut, a rotational movement of the threaded spindle is converted into a translational movement of the spindle nut in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the threaded spindle, and the threaded spindle is surrounded on a circumferential side by at least one spring that exerts a spring force on the spindle nut to counteract a weight force of the steering assembly acting in the direction of the axis of rotation of the threaded spindle. The at least one spring includes a compression spring between the reduction gear and the spindle nut and tensioned when the steering assembly is lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: NIDEC MOTORS & ACTUATORS (GERMANY) GMBH
    Inventor: Max Schwing
  • Patent number: 11904930
    Abstract: A steering column for a motor vehicle may include a casing unit in which a steering spindle is mounted so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis extending in a length direction. The casing unit may have at least two casings that are adjustably guided relative to one another through a range of adjustment travel in the length direction. Part of the adjustment travel may correspond to a transitional portion, and part of the adjustment travel may correspond to a functional portion. The casings may be guided with a greater play in the transitional portion than in the functional portion. One casing may have a guide track and another casing may have a guide element that engages in the guide track and is guided in the length direction and has a guide play in the guide track that is greater in the transitional portion than in the functional portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Benjamin Deeg, Eric Caron
  • Patent number: 11904931
    Abstract: A steering system configured to steer a vehicle includes a rotary shaft to which an operation member is coupled; a moving unit configured to move the operation member between a normal position that is a position where the operation member is operated by a driver, and a storage area located ahead of the normal position; an external force detection unit configured to detect an external force externally applied to the operation member while the operation member is moving; a determination unit configured to determine whether a direction of the external force detected by the external force detection unit is the same as a moving direction of the operation member; and a control unit configured to control operation of the steering system based on a determination result from the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi Watanabe, Yasuyuki Nozawa, Kei Kitahara
  • Patent number: 11904932
    Abstract: A steering shaft may include an inner shaft at least partially within an outer shaft where the inner shaft includes a sliding element with an outer profile portion. The outer shaft may be displaced relative to the inner shaft axially in a direction of a longitudinal axis between a storage position and an operating position. A steering column may include an inner covering pipe in which such a steering shaft is rotatably supported and an outer covering unit in which the inner covering pipe is retained. The outer shaft may have a bearing means having an inner profile portion that corresponds to the outer profile portion. In the storage position the outer profile portion is at least partially received in the bearing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Thomas Geiselberger, Benedikt Heigenhauser
  • Patent number: 11904933
    Abstract: According to a steering column for a vehicle according to the present embodiments, a wide convenient space can be secured for a driver in a teles-in state by increasing a teles-stroke while securing an installation space for the steering column, the installation of the steering column is spatially convenient despite the increased teles-stroke, and a teles operation can be quickly performed without increasing the output of a motor, and thus a convenient space can be quickly secured for a driver without degraded noise performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sang Chul Ku, Sung Hun Park, Kwon Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 11904934
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to running gear for transport devices comprising a guide ring, a wheel carrier configured and arranged to be pivoted within the guide ring about a vertical main axis of rotation and two wheels configured and arranged to be rotated about a common axis of rotation, and an inner ring pivotably mounted in the guide ring via a rotary bearing about the main axis of rotation, and the wheel carrier is pivotably mounted via at least one pivot bearing about a pivot axis perpendicular to the main axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: AGILOX SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventor: Meinhard Schwaiger
  • Patent number: 11904935
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus for controlling a vehicle based on surrounding area information of the vehicle, comprising: a control unit capable of controlling the vehicle in a first state in which gripping of a steering apparatus by a driver of the vehicle is needed and a second state in which the gripping is not needed, based on the surrounding area information; and a warning output unit configured to output a deviation warning when the vehicle has approached a boundary of a travel path, wherein if the vehicle is in the second state, the control unit suppresses output of the deviation warning performed by the warning output unit compared to a case where the vehicle is in the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toru Kokaki
  • Patent number: 11904936
    Abstract: A driving support device for a vehicle includes a separation line recognizer configured to recognize pairs of right and left separation lines ahead of the vehicle on vehicle's traveling roads, a target route setting unit configured to set a target route along center lines of lanes defined with respective centers of each of the pairs of the separation lines, a steering controller configured to perform steering control for driving the vehicle along the target route, and a target route corrector configured to correct the target route when an intersecting road is on the target route and an angle between a center line of the vehicle's current traveling road before the intersecting road and a center line on the intersecting road is a set angle or less, set a route correction section, calculate a arc tangent to the two center lines, and correct the target route based on the calculated arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryosuke Namba
  • Patent number: 11904937
    Abstract: A vehicle traveling controller according to the present disclosure performs automatic steering so that a vehicle travels along a target path. The vehicle traveling controller allows a driver to intervene in steering. When the driver intervenes in steering and thereby a traveling position of the vehicle deviates outside from a threshold line set apart from the target path in a lane width direction, the vehicle traveling controller increases a steering reaction force acting on steering operation by the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yutaro Hayashi, Yoshinori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11904938
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for guiding vehicles. A vehicle control system detects obstacles and avoids contact between the vehicle, and the obstacles by solving a path planning problem using a four-phase system. In a parking scenario, switching control laws are used to drive the vehicle to a target line, and a forward path segment and a reverse path segment defined. The two path segments are connected along the target line to define a path for entering or exiting the parking space. Objects in a driving environment may be avoided by identifying an obstacle corner, defining an avoidance circle (62), (185) around the obstacle corner, and determining a path that allows the vehicle to avoid penetrating the avoidance circle. A line-of-sight guidance method may be used to follow the path by defining target points on the path at a lookout distance l, and steering the vehicle using the target points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ohio University
    Inventors: Jianchao Zhu, Letian Lin
  • Patent number: 11904939
    Abstract: A parking assistance apparatus includes at least one camera sensor installed in a vehicle, a control unit configured to analyze an image obtained through the camera sensor to recognize a space and object in a parking lot by matching a detailed parking lot map to an object, search for an available parking space by calculating a parking region on the basis of recognized space and object information, and generate a path to the available parking space searched for, or perform autonomous parking until reaching the available parking space, and a storage unit configured to store the detailed parking lot map for recognizing the space and object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo Young Jang, Dong Yul Lee
  • Patent number: 11904940
    Abstract: A steering apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a rim member, a center member connected to a steering shaft at a rotation center of the rim member, a first sound output apparatus provided on a front surface of the rim member or the center member, and a first rim chamber unit provided in the rim member and in communication with a space behind the first sound output apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SOCIONEXT INC.
    Inventor: Katsumi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11904941
    Abstract: An adjustable front axle includes an axle housing; an axle tube connected to an end of the axle housing; an inner-C-forging disposed on the axle tube at an end away from the axle housing; and a mounting apparatus configured for detachably fixing the inner-C-forging to the axle tube. The inner-C-forging is provided with a first angle adjustment structure, the axle tube is provided with a second angle adjustment structure. The mounting apparatus is disposed on the axle tube, and capable of cooperating with the inner-C-forging to fix the inner-C-forging to the axle tube. The first angle adjustment structure and the second angle adjustment structure have different cooperation positions such that the inner-C-forging has different installation angles relative to the axle tube. A vehicle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SHANGHAI LINGHUO TRADING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dehui Du, Jia Fu, Bin Cheng
  • Patent number: 11904942
    Abstract: An adjustable front axle includes an axle housing; an axle tube connected to an end of the axle housing; an inner-C-forging disposed on the axle tube at an end away from the axle housing; and a mounting apparatus configured for detachably fixing the inner-C-forging to the axle tube. The inner-C-forging is provided with a first angle adjustment structure, the axle tube is provided with a second angle adjustment structure. The mounting apparatus is disposed on the axle tube, and capable of cooperating with the inner-C-forging to fix the inner-C-forging to the axle tube. The first angle adjustment structure and the second angle adjustment structure have different cooperation positions such that the inner-C-forging has different installation angles relative to the axle tube. A vehicle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SHANGHAI LINGHUO TRADING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dehui Du, Jia Fu, Bin Cheng
  • Patent number: 11904943
    Abstract: An embodiment chassis frame includes a plurality of partitions extending downwardly from an upper frame and having lower portions and a reinforcing member detachably connected to the lower portions of adjacent ones of the partitions. An embodiment chassis frame includes a plurality of partitions extending downwardly from an upper frame and having lower portions and a reinforcing member detachably connected to the lower portions of adjacent ones of the partitions, the reinforcing member including a first end portion and a second end portion opposing the first end portion, the first end portion and the second end portion detachably connected to the lower portions of the corresponding partitions, respectively, and a second reinforcing bracket at least partially surrounding an exterior surface of the second end portion, the second reinforcing bracket detachably connected to the lower portion of the corresponding partition through a second bolt and a second nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Han Jong Lee
  • Patent number: 11904944
    Abstract: A front wall module for delimiting a front of a passenger cell in a motor vehicle includes a planar carrier structure which forms a front wall portion where a functional shape for receiving a component is formed in the planar carrier structure and where the planar carrier structure is a cast aluminum structural part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hanno Pfitzer, Rudolf Schilling, Manuel Schurz, Jean-Marc Segaud, Thomas Wolff
  • Patent number: 11904945
    Abstract: An embodiment outer panel assembled to a vehicle body frame includes an outer plate portion, a plurality of flange portions extending from an edge portion of the outer plate portion and bent toward the vehicle body frame, and a fastening member installed in the flange portions and engaged to the vehicle body frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Won Ki Song
  • Patent number: 11904946
    Abstract: A press-hardened shaped sheet-metal part, in particular a pillar reinforcement for a motor vehicle bodyshell, which has different sheet thicknesses and strengths, with an unhardened first region, or a first region which is hardened only to a small extent, and with a press-hardened second region, wherein the second region has a larger or smaller sheet thickness than the first region. A transition region, which, starting from the first region, has a sheet thickness transition zone, an intermediate zone, and a strength transition zone, is formed between the first region and the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Sebastian Schnapp, Martin Sittenberger
  • Patent number: 11904947
    Abstract: Exemplary deployable splash guard systems for motor vehicles may include features designed for blocking road spray. The deployable splash guard systems may include a flap that is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position for blocking the road spray. In the deployed position, the flap is positioned within a spray field of a tire of the motor vehicle and is therefore positioned to block the road spray from spraying onto a door handle and/or other structures of the motor vehicle. A control module of the deployable splash guard system may be programmed to utilize a sensor weighting scheme for accurately determining when to deploy the flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Jeffrey Robert Seaman, Annette Lynn Huebner, David Brian Glickman, Paul Kenneth Dellock
  • Patent number: 11904948
    Abstract: This bonded structure includes a first member having a metal portion and a film portion disposed on at least a part of a surface of the metal portion; a second member; an adhesive layer for joining the first member and the second member to each other via the film portion. The film portion contains a resin and inorganic particles. The inorganic particles are formed of ferrosilicon or non-oxide ceramics containing V. Some of the inorganic particles protrude toward the adhesive layer. The particle size of at least some of the inorganic particles protruding toward the adhesive layer is less than the film thickness of the film portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsuo Koga, Masumi Koori, Kohei Ueda
  • Patent number: 11904949
    Abstract: A vehicular steering device includes a turning shaft, a housing storing therein the turning shaft, a stopper provided at a shaft end of the turning shaft, and an annular elastic body. An opening of the housing is formed in a U-shaped cross-sectional shape and in an annular shape opened toward the stopper by an external cylinder portion and an internal cylinder portion. The elastic body includes a first elastic portion and a second elastic portion. The first elastic portion is supported by an inner circumferential surface of the external cylinder portion and the bottom surface, and is provided with a first clearance from an outer circumferential surface of the internal cylinder portion. The second elastic portion extends toward the stopper from the first elastic portion, and is provided with a second clearance larger than the first clearance from the inner circumferential surface of the external cylinder portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Enomoto
  • Patent number: 11904950
    Abstract: Modular skid units are provided that are versatile and easily configurable for particular applications. In some examples, a modular design allows for many different combinations of modular components, such as seats, canine boxes, storage boxes, patient transport units, etc. In some examples, the modular and quick release nature of the system enables users to selectively remove and attach the modular components as needed for a given task, including the ability to quickly and easily change the modular components in the field to meet the specific needs of a mission or task. In some examples, the modular components include quick release locking mechanisms that include a set of locking elements for quickly and easily switching components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Kimtek Corporation
    Inventor: Kimball W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11904951
    Abstract: A cargo bed system includes a floor assembly for a cargo bed of a vehicle. The floor assembly is configured to transition back and forth between a standard floor position and an extended floor position. The floor assembly includes a plurality of floor sections each having a cargo support surface. The floor sections are folded when the floor assembly is in the standard floor position. The floor sections are unfolded when the floor assembly is in the extended floor position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael John Harmon, Ryan Mathew Sandor, Matthew B. Rutman, Vincent Anthony Chimento, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Jack Marchlewski, Amol Borkar, Kirk E. Sanborn, Ronald Meredith, Scott Culver Anderson, Daveanand Singh, Hussain Z Tajmahal
  • Patent number: 11904952
    Abstract: A cargo bed system includes a side wall assembly of a cargo bed. The side wall assembly is configured to transition back-and-forth between a standard wall position and an extended wall position. The side wall assembly include an extendable portion and a fixed portion. The extendable portion extends and retracts relative to the fixed portion when the side wall assembly transitions back-and-forth between the standard wall position and the extended wall position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael John Harmon, Ryan Mathew Sandor, Matthew B. Rutman, Dragan B. Stojkovic, Amol Borkar, Kirk E. Sanborn, Ronald Meredith, Jesse Rene Diephuis
  • Patent number: 11904953
    Abstract: A modular saddle mount and modified frame cross member for reducing vibration in heavy equipment cabs preferably includes a heavy equipment modified frame cross member, two modular saddle mounts and at least two vibration isolators. The modified frame cross member includes a frame cross member, two sets of opposed mounting blocks and two cutout filler plates. The two cutout filler plates are secured in first and second cutouts. Each opposed mounting block is secured to an outside of the frame cross member. The modular saddle mount preferably includes a saddle base member and a pair of fastening inserts. A fastening cutout is formed in each end of the saddle base member. The pair of fastening inserts are retained on an inside surface of the saddle base member at opposing ends thereof. At least one isolator opening is formed through the base saddle member to receive a vibration isolator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignees: ZOOMLION HEAVY INDUSTRY NA, INC., ZOOMLION HEAVY INDUSTRY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
    Inventors: Mark McKinley, Shawn Patrick, Steven Melotik
  • Patent number: 11904954
    Abstract: A skirt assembly adapted for use on a motor vehicle including a first panel that is pivotally attached to the motor vehicle, a second panel that is pivotally attached to the first panel, a first rod that is pivotally attached to the first panel, a second rod that is pivotally attached to the second panel, a first actuator that is pivotally attached to the motor vehicle and pivotally attached to the first panel and the second panel. The first actuator is adapted to move between a retracted position and an extended position, and the skirt assembly is adapted to be moved between an open position and a closed position when the first actuator moves between the extended position and the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: Barry Andersen
  • Patent number: 11904955
    Abstract: An active aerodynamic assembly that includes a lift gate having a cavity formed between two panels. An aperture of formed on the outer panel providing access to the cavity. A frame connected to the lift gate within the cavity. A spoiler slidably connected to the frame and moveable along the deployment axis between a stowed position and a deployed position. At least one coupler link connected between the spoiler and the frame that is driven by the actuator along one of the plurality of tracks on the frame. There is also a moveable D pillar contained with the cavity that moves between a stowed position within the cavity and an extended position such that a winglet of the moveable D pillar extends outside of the cavity past the outside surface of the lift gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: MAGNA EXTERIORS, INC.
    Inventors: Braendon R. Lindberg, Michael Cowan, Ted E. Peterson
  • Patent number: 11904956
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rear spoiler arrangement (3) including a displaceable air-guiding element (4) and a lower shell (5), wherein the lower shell (5) is arranged on a rear component (6) of a motor vehicle (1), wherein the air-guiding element (4) is arranged displaceably above the lower shell (5), and wherein the lower side of the lower shell (5) has a lip (9) which is composed of an elastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Thomas Huebener
  • Patent number: 11904957
    Abstract: According to embodiments, there may be provided a rack-driven steering device, comprising a ball nut coupled with a ball screw via balls and rotating to slide the ball screw, a ball nut gear provided on an outer circumferential surface of the ball nut, a motor gear provided on a shaft of a motor providing driving force to the ball nut and disposed in parallel with the ball screw, and a middle gear coupled between the ball nut gear and the motor gear and transferring the driving force from the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seong Moo Heo