Patents Issued in April 16, 2024
  • Patent number: 11958537
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a hood. The hood includes a hood outer and a hood inner. The hood inner has a plate shape, covers a lower surface of the hood outer, and is made of resin. A space is provided between the hood outer and the hood inner. The hood inner includes a shock absorbing portion that is bent so as to project toward the space. The shock absorbing portion has a central portion located at a center of the shock absorbing portion in a right-left direction of the vehicle and side portions located on respective sides of the central portion in the right-left direction. A thickness of the hood inner in the central portion is thicker than a thickness of the hood inner in the side portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiro Yanaka, Shinji Kurachi, Hidenori Iwayama
  • Patent number: 11958538
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a mud flap for a vehicle having a mounting section and a barrier section. The barrier section is configured to deflect matter discharged from a tire during vehicle operation. The width of the mounting section is greater than the width of the barrier section. The mounting section optionally includes a first set of mounting features, each of the mounting features forming a recess or aperture. One mounting feature of the first set of mounting features is arranged at and/or beyond a widthwise extent of the barrier section width. The one mounting feature is also arranged at least partially within a portion of the mounting section width extending outwardly from a widthwise extent of the barrier section width. Further embodiments include mounting a single wide mud flap on a vehicle configured to receive a dual wide mud flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventors: Justin Morgan, Parker Baxter, Calvin Rhett Bradley
  • Patent number: 11958539
    Abstract: According to the present embodiments, noise can be reduced by compensating for clearance caused by the wear of a rack bar support member, assembly convenience can be improved by simplifying a structure, and an installation space can be easily ensured by reducing the overall size of a steering apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seongmoo Heo
  • Patent number: 11958540
    Abstract: An off-road vehicle includes a vehicle body with a passenger compartment and a cargo compartment adjacent to, and rearward of, the passenger compartment. A base is supported by the vehicle body and disposed over the cargo compartment, the base having a forward end, a rearward end, a first side, and a second side. A partition extends from the forward end of the base. A side panel is pivotally attached to the first side of the base about a longitudinal axis and attachable to the partition in a first configuration to facilitate storage, and moveable in an outward direction to provide a raised platform with the base in a second configuration. A rear panel is pivotally attached to the side panel about a transverse axis and connectable to the vehicle body in the second configuration to support the side panel without engaging an underlying external surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: MAHINDRA AUTOMOTIVE NORTH AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: John P. Pacella, Anthony A. Pacella, Timothy L. Sheldon, Robert B. Georgeff
  • Patent number: 11958541
    Abstract: An outrigger coupled to a cab frame. The outrigger including a base wall, a first side wall, an opposite second side wall, a reinforcement flange, and a reinforcement bracket. The first side wall and the opposite second side wall extend from the base wall. Each of the first side wall and the second side wall include an interior edge, an opposite exterior edge, and an inner surface. The reinforcement flange extends along the exterior edge of the first side wall, the second edge, and the exterior edge of the second side wall. The reinforcement bracket is coupled to the interior edge of the first side wall and the interior edge of the second side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob M. Kemppainen, Scott B. Smith
  • Patent number: 11958542
    Abstract: Disclosed are a clutch mechanism, a steering system, and an automobile. The clutch mechanism includes a slidable block and a driving component. The slidable block can be accommodated in a radial spacing between a first end shaft and a second end shaft that are coaxially arranged and radially spaced apart from each other, and is configured to translate along an axial direction of the first end shaft and the second end shaft to realize decoupling or coupling between the first end shaft and the second end shaft. The driving component is configured to drive the slidable block to translate along the axial direction of the first end shaft and the second end shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Min Zhao, Chong Sun, Guanjia Xiao
  • Patent number: 11958543
    Abstract: A motor control system includes an inverter, and a control calculation unit that feedback-controls the inverter. The control calculation unit includes a voltage control calculation unit that calculates a voltage command value indicating a voltage to be applied to the motor from the inverter on the basis of a current deviation between a current command value and an actual current detection value, a torque ripple compensation calculation unit that adds a compensation value for compensating a torque ripple in the motor to a signal value on at least one of an upstream side and a downstream side in a signal flow that passes through the voltage control calculation unit, and a current limit calculation unit that limits the current command value by adaptive control based on an actual angular velocity value indicating an angular velocity at which the motor rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shuji Endo, Tokuji Tatewaki, Tomoya Ueda, Masanori Watahiki, Tomonari Mori
  • Patent number: 11958544
    Abstract: A control device for an electric power steering device includes an inverter converting direct current voltage into alternating current voltage, and apply to a synchronous motor; and a controller for converting three-phase current flowing in the synchronous motor into d-axis and q-axis currents, performing proportional integral control for a deviation between q-axis current command and the q-axis current so that the q-axis current follows the q-axis current command, to calculate q-axis voltage command, performing proportional integral control to calculate d-axis voltage command, converting the d-axis and q-axis voltage commands into three-phase voltage command, and controlling the inverter based on the three-phase voltage command. A q-axis proportional gain used in the proportional integral control for the q-axis current is obtained using a time constant of a q-axis current control system, a q-axis or d-axis inductance, and a constant greater than zero and less than one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Mori, Yu Hirotani
  • Patent number: 11958545
    Abstract: Provided are a power steering method and a power steering device applied in a vehicle including a power steering assembly. The method includes detecting whether a direction changing wheel of the vehicle is a driving wheel; determining a power assisted gear position of the power steering assembly according to whether the direction changing wheel of the vehicle is the driving wheel; and controlling the power steering assembly to generate a power steering torque according to the power assisted gear position of the power steering assembly. The direction changing wheel of the vehicle is a front wheel or a rear wheel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SEGWAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jiachun Liu
  • Patent number: 11958546
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a steering control device and a steering assist system including same. Particularly, a steering control device according to the present disclosure comprises an input-side steering control device which includes: a first controller connected to an output-side steering control device via at least one first communication bus; and a second controller connected to the output-side steering control device via at least one second communication bus and connected to the first controller via at least one third communication bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Min Woo Jeong, Sun Hong Park, Hyun Chul Tae
  • Patent number: 11958547
    Abstract: In a steering device of the present invention, an electric motor rotates a steering shaft through a reduction mechanism, and the reduction mechanism and a torque sensor are accommodated in an integrally-structured housing. With this, the present invention can provide a steering device that is capable of suppressing increase in size of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Commercial Vehicle Systems Japan Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuya Ishihara
  • Patent number: 11958548
    Abstract: An adjustable trailer hitch and king pin assembly that may be moved longitudinally to adjust the position and weight distribution of a trailer relative to a truck. The disclosed assembly may allow a trailer to be utilized with various different sized and configured trucks while maximizing the cargo carrying capability and efficiency thereof. In one example, an adjustable trailer hitch is provided having a slidable king pin assembly that may be adjusted forwards or backwards to move the king pin to the desired location relative to the truck and trailer. In another example, a removable king pin may be provided that may be removed and moved to a different location according to the weight and desired weight distribution of a truck and trailer combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: MAC TRAILER MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Scott A. Kibler, Allen Gordon
  • Patent number: 11958549
    Abstract: A standard component of a vehicle equippable with a plurality of wheels or a plurality of track systems for engaging the ground, such as an axle housing or a frame of the vehicle, comprises a connector dedicated to connecting a given one of the track systems to the vehicle and provided during original manufacturing of the standard component of the vehicle. This may facilitate installation of the track systems on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Camso Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Lussier, Frederic Couture, Etienne Poulin
  • Patent number: 11958550
    Abstract: A track system for traction of a vehicle (e.g., a compact track loader or other construction vehicle) which may be designed to improve ride quality (e.g., reduce vibrations) for an operator and/or enhance other aspects of its performance or that of the vehicle. For example, a track of the track system may be frictionally driven and without transversal rigid parts (e.g., metallic cores). Also, power generation and transmission functions may be implemented by the track system. For instance, a motor and a transmission may be at least mostly contained within the track system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Camso Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Lussier, Frederic Couture, Etienne Poulin
  • Patent number: 11958551
    Abstract: A swage tool includes a plurality of swage projections that each defines an angular circumferential extent, and the sum of each of these angular circumferential extents is at least 290 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Isaac Jones, Stan Robert Parrott, Allen J. Weeks, George H. Meiner, IV, Scott A. Hudson
  • Patent number: 11958552
    Abstract: A bionic robot is provided, which includes a body; a plurality of sets of wheeled leg devices arranged at intervals in a front-rear direction, each comprising two wheeled leg devices arranged symmetrically in a left-right direction, each comprising a leg assembly and a travel wheel, and a power output shaft connected to the travel wheel; and a suspension device disposed in the body and connected to at least two sets from the plurality of sets of wheeled leg devices. The at least two sets of wheeled leg devices are located at the foremost end and the backmost end respectively. The suspension device comprises a plurality of drive assemblies, each connected to a corresponding leg assembly, which each comprise: an electric cylinder being configured to drive a telescopic rod to extend or retract; a damper connected between the body and the leg assembly; and an elastic member fitted over the damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: INNER MONGOLIA SU MENG TECHNOLOGY POWER EQUIPMENT CO., LTD., CHINA UNIVERSITY OF MINING & TECHNOLOGY, BEIJING
    Inventors: Jianwei Zhao, Hai Zhang, Zhikang Chi, Haichao Zhang, Chaoyi Liu, Xiaofei Ma
  • Patent number: 11958553
    Abstract: A working vehicle includes a steering device to steer a vehicle body, a working device connected to the vehicle body, an automatic steering controller to perform automatic steering of the steering device based on a difference between a scheduled traveling line and a position of the vehicle body, and a parameter changer to change a control parameter of the automatic steering depending on the working device connected to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Miyashita, Yasuaki Morioka, Kunihiko Nishino, Kumiko Kobayashi, Misako Kawai
  • Patent number: 11958554
    Abstract: Model-based control of dynamical systems typically requires accurate domain-specific knowledge and specifications system components. Generally, steering actuator dynamics can be difficult to model due to, for example, an integrated power steering control module, proprietary black box controls, etc. Further, it is difficult to capture the complex interplay of non-linear interactions, such as power steering, tire forces, etc. with sufficient accuracy. To overcome this limitation, a recurring neural network can be employed to model the steering dynamics of an autonomous vehicle. The resulting model can be used to generate feedforward steering commands for embedded control. Such a neural network model can be automatically generated with less domain-specific knowledge, can predict steering dynamics more accurately, and perform comparably to a high-fidelity first principle model when used for controlling the steering system of a self-driving vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Funke, Gowtham Garimella, Marin Kobilarov, Chuang Wang
  • Patent number: 11958555
    Abstract: An embodiment can provide a torque sensor comprising: a housing; a rotor that is arranged inside the housing; a stator that is arranged on an outer side of the rotor; a circuit board that is arranged in the housing; a Hall-effect sensor that is arranged on the circuit board; and a collector that is arranged adjacent to the Hall-effect sensor, wherein the collector includes a body portion and an extension portion extending from the body portion, the body portion is arranged to be spaced apart from the housing, and the extension portion is directly in contact with the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Su Hyoung Lee, Myung Chul Woo
  • Patent number: 11958556
    Abstract: An assembly tool for assembly of a window pane in a window frame of a vehicle is provided. The assembly tool includes a tool body with a support for supporting and holding the tool body on a first edge of the window pane and a tool arm extending along a longitudinal axis. A distal end of the tool arm includes a distance gauge extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the tool arm and configured to be inserted between a second, guided edge of the window pane and a pane guide part which guides the guided edge of the window pane within the window frame. The assembly tool also includes a push arm that is displaceable relative to the tool body and configured to clamp the tool body between the first edge of the window pane and a frame part of the window frame. The push arm is actuated by external force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marvin Wagner, Daniel Zwetkow
  • Patent number: 11958557
    Abstract: A construction machine, especially to a paver, comprising an engine, a machine frame, a pair of front wheels with at least one right-side front wheel and at least one left-side front wheel in the forward direction of the construction machine, each front wheel being steerable about a separate vertical steering axis, a steering structure connected to the front wheels for controlling and coordinating the steering movement of the front wheels about the vertical steering axes, the steering structure comprising a steering actuator mounted on the machine frame and comprising a driven control member that is linearly moveable in a horizontal plane and perpendicular to the forward direction along an adjustment axis in relation to the machine frame, the driven control member comprising link elements at each end on its right and left side with regard to the forward direction of the construction machine, wherein the link elements are part of link joints of steering linkages in functional connection with the front wheels f
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: BOMAG GMBH
    Inventors: Maurizio Pedriali, Fabio Baldrati
  • Patent number: 11958558
    Abstract: Systems for controlling the speed and direction of vehicles, including vehicles that have low to zero turning radius capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: MTD Products Inc
    Inventor: Peter Buchanan
  • Patent number: 11958559
    Abstract: Seat for a bicycle including a frame and a cover. The frame includes a front portion, a rear portion, and a central portion between the front portion and the rear portion. The cover includes a seating panel and at least one side panel or at last one tensioning panel. The seating panel includes a seating surface facing an upward direction. The seating panel is supported by the front portion of the frame and the rear portion of the frame and spans from the front portion of the frame and the rear portion of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Terry Hermanson
  • Patent number: 11958560
    Abstract: A kids bicycle balance training handle is provided, including a fastening base, a handle bar, and a grip cover. The fastening base includes a handle clamp portion and a seat-post clamp portion. The handle clamp portion and the seat-post clamp portion are arranged opposite to each other. The seat-post clamp portion is movably clamped on and fixed to a seat post of a bicycle. The handle clamp portion is movably clamped on and fixed to a fixed section of the handle bar. The handle bar includes the fixed section and a sleeved section, and the fixed section is arranged non-coaxially with respect to the sleeved section. The grip cover is sleeved on an outer surface of the sleeved section. The seat-post clamp portion can be clamped on an outer surface of the seat post, and the handle clamp portion can be clamped on the handle bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: CYCLINGDEAL USA, INC.
    Inventor: Haidong Gu
  • Patent number: 11958561
    Abstract: A straddled vehicle having a body frame including a head pipe, a front cover disposed in front of the head pipe, a duct disposed in front of the head pipe and extending rearward from an opening in the front cover, to thereby form a traveling wind pathway for traveling wind taken in through the opening, and an aero-stabilizing member. The aero-stabilizing member includes a middle portion disposed below a lower distal end of the front cover, directly below the opening in a front view, a lateral portion extending from the middle portion to a more outer side than the opening in a width direction, apart from the front cover with a gap therebetween in an up-and-down direction, and a front edge slanted forward and downward from the middle portion and the lateral portion, the front edge being partially disposed further forward than a lower front end of the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Souichirou Imazeki
  • Patent number: 11958562
    Abstract: A drive activation control unit in a control apparatus of a motorcycle controls a drive apparatus. An identification signal transmission unit intermittently transmits an identification signal without any operation by an operator who carries a portable terminal. A response signal reception unit receives a response signal transmitted from the portable terminal in response to the identification signal. In response to reception of the response signal, a request signal transmission unit makes a request of the portable terminal for key information. The key-information signal reception unit receives a key information signal including the key information. A drive-activation permission determination unit determines whether or not to permit activation of a drive control unit based on the key information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kotaro Onishi
  • Patent number: 11958563
    Abstract: A straddled vehicle including a communication module configured to communicate with a mobile communication terminal, a display that displays infotainment information received by the communication module from the mobile communication terminal, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive temperature data relating to a temperature of the mobile communication terminal from the mobile communication terminal via the communication module, and display an image corresponding to the temperature data on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichi Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 11958564
    Abstract: An integrated control device is provided, having a support body configured for attachment to curved bicycle handlebars. The support body has a brake lever for controlling the brake, and a pair of control levers. The pair of control levers are configured for manual operation. Each control lever has a respective control region and the control regions of the pair of control levers are arranged behind the brake lever and above each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: CAMPAGNOLO S.R.L.
    Inventors: Gaetano Dalla Guarda, Christian Marangon
  • Patent number: 11958565
    Abstract: A crank assembly for a bicycle includes a crank axle rotatably mounted to a frame of the bicycle, and a carrier shaft slidably mounted on the crank axle and configured to slide in a direction substantially parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the crank axle and relative to the crank axle. The crank assembly also includes an elliptical sprocket mounted on the carrier shaft. The elliptical sprocket rotates to move the bicycle in response to a rotation of the crank axle. A start time of a power stroke of the elliptical sprocket is changed by sliding the carrier shaft relative to the crank axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Lance A Heitz
  • Patent number: 11958566
    Abstract: A control device of an internal speed change device of a wheel hub for clutching operation includes a rod; a lever installed on the rod; the lever being connected to a controlling claw sliding block; an electric sliding block installed on a lever sleeve; the lever sleeve serving to receive a back end of the lever; an electric bushing located at an outer side of the lever sleeve; a controlling ring located at an outer side of the electric bushing; and wherein force of attraction or repulsion between the controlling ring and the electric sliding block drives the electric sliding block to rotate or move axially so as to drive the lever to move forwards or backwards axially; and moving of the lever drives the controlling claw sliding block to control clutching of the internal speed change device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: NEW KAILUNG GEAR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jen-Chih Liu
  • Patent number: 11958567
    Abstract: A coaxial mid-drive power device of a bicycle includes a reducing structure and a hollow shaft motor engaged with the reducing structure that are disposed in a motor base. An output end of the reducing structure is operatively coupled with a one-way bearing bracket with a sprocket base via a one-way bearing. A crank spindle engaged with the one-way bearing bracket through another one-way bearing penetrates through the motor base. The two one-way bearings respectively have opposite rotation directions and are respectively located on different sides, i.e., an inside and an outside, of the one-way bearing bracket. A strain gauge disposed on the crank spindle is electrically connected to an annular conductive rail assembly engaged with the crank spindle and an elastic sheet assembly on a control circuit board in the motor base, hence the strain gauge could directly obtain a change in a torque of the crank spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: MOBILETRON ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng-I Teng, Yi-Hsing Hsu
  • Patent number: 11958568
    Abstract: A motor unit comprises a torque limiter and a transmitting structure. The torque limiter includes a first member and a second member. The first member and the second member are movable relative to each other in a state where a torque applied to the torque limiter is equal to or higher than a torque threshold. The first member and the second member are movable together with each other in a state where the torque is lower than the torque threshold. The transmitting structure includes a first race, a second race, a first intermediate element at least partially provided between the first race and the second race, and a second intermediate element at least partially provided between the first race and the second race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Shota Suyama, Yuta Mizutani, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 11958569
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a float assembly that can prevent the floats from flipping. The present invention provides a float assembly including a plurality of floats connected together comprising: a filled float having a hollow portion, wherein the hollow portion has a part filled with a filler, and the filled float is arranged at a position facing an assembly periphery surrounding the float assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: KYORAKU CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Sakaguchi, Hirofumi Nagai, Yasunobu Ueda, Takaya Niimi, Ayumu Yukawa
  • Patent number: 11958570
    Abstract: A sandwich cable fairing designed for attachment to cables that are towed at operational speeds by marine vessels. The sandwich cable fairing has a design that combines layers of elastic and damping materials. The fairing dampens the vibration caused when the cable is towed at operational speeds. The outer layers (“bread”) of the fairing are made from a material with a modulus of elasticity that provides a desired amount of stiffness. In the middle of the sandwich cable fairing is damping layer made from a viscoelastic material. The layering of materials allows the fairing to have the flexibility to be crushed by cable equipment while maintaining the requisite stiffness to reducing flapping and the resulting vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: David B Coakley
  • Patent number: 11958571
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a maritime wireless communication system comprises a communication module installed in the at least one buoy, providing sensing information, identification information, and location information for the at least one buoy and a gateway device installed in each of a fishing vessel terminal device and a managing vessel terminal device, performing communication with the at least one buoy and a land control center via a long range (LoRa)-based communication network to provide various types of fishery information, and setting different communication options for a normal condition and the event condition in performing a communication connection function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: GWANGJU INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Ki Seon Kim, Myoung Shin Kwak, Pranesh Psthapit, Min Seok Kim
  • Patent number: 11958572
    Abstract: The invention comprises a paddle board apparatus and method of use thereof, comprising: a manual crank connected to a drive shaft, a rotatable housing, and a set of paddle wheels connected to an outer surface of the rotatable housing, where a child manually turning the crank simultaneously propels the paddle board forward in water through use of the paddle wheels and drives an air pump in the rotatable housing to blow bubbles about the paddle board for enjoyment of the child riding the paddle board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Merton W. Pekrul
  • Patent number: 11958573
    Abstract: A kayak rack or structure that is reversibly attachable to a kayak and used to help carry, stow, or attach articles to the kayak. Kayak rack includes two support arms or support beams that are flexibly attached together with a special flexible support coupling that allows the two support arms or support beams to pivot relative to each other but still keeps the two support arms or support beams permanently attached together, along with an angled stanchion rigidly attached to each support arm or support beam, wherein each angled stanchion is angled at the precise angle required to mate with and reversibly rigidly attach to an existing, original equipment manufacturer's fishing rod holder that is built into the kayak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Theodore George Rodehorst
  • Patent number: 11958574
    Abstract: The application relates to systems and techniques for remotely navigating a marine vessel. The systems can include a dynamic positioning system and/or a marine location management system for remotely navigating a marine vessel. The marine location management system can include a communication module for receiving a geographic location of the marine vessel and transmitting a navigation plan to a vessel control system. The marine location management system can also include a processor adapted to determine the geographical coordinates of the marine location and the marine vessel. In some cases, the marine vessel can include a thruster system adapted to receive the navigation plan and determine a set of thrust vectors based on the navigation plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Rhodan Marine Systems of Florida, LLC
    Inventor: Lindsay Ambler
  • Patent number: 11958575
    Abstract: A method and system for the offshore production of fuel includes an offshore marine platform on which is mounted a hydrogen production unit. The hydrogen production unit may produce hydrogen utilizing raw materials sourced adjacent the marine platform, including seawater and electricity from offshore wind turbines. The produced hydrogen may then be blended onboard the marine platform with liquefied natural gas delivered to the marine platform in order to produce a blended fuel comprised of the delivered natural gas and a portion of the produced hydrogen. The blended fuel may be subsequently liquified and transported away from the marine platform, or conveyed to a remote location via a seabed pipeline, or combusted by onboard combustion turbines that can in turn drive electric generators onboard the marine platform to produce electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Stena Power & LNG Solutions AS
    Inventors: Svein Borge Hellesmark, Göran Hermansson
  • Patent number: 11958576
    Abstract: A method of determining the draft of a vessel comprising the steps of: measuring the draft of the vessel using at least one optical imaging device to provide optical draft measurement data; measuring the draft of the vessel using elevation data provided by at least one GNSS or GPS device so as to provide elevation draft measurement data; and using the elevation draft measurement data and the optical draft measurement data to determine the draft of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGICAL RESOURCES PTY. LIMITED
    Inventors: Troy Epskamp, En-Shan Looi, Jonathon Zeelenberg
  • Patent number: 11958577
    Abstract: A modular boat that includes a main body that is hollow and has suitcase like dimensions; inflatable floating elements that are detachable coupled to the main body via first mechanical interfaces; a boat control unit that is movably coupled to the main body and is configured to move between a first position to a second position, the first and second positions differ from each other by at least a distance of a distal part of the boat control unit from the main body; a propulsion unit; wherein a when the modular boat is at a disassembled state, the one or more inflatable floating elements are not detachably coupled to the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Moshe Katz
  • Patent number: 11958578
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power supply system, especially for a floating vessel, comprising at least two segregated power sections, each constituting a main redundancy group, and each comprising at least one of a power generator adapted to generate an electrical power to a main switchboard and a power consumer, such as a propulsion unit, drawing power from said switch board, and a bus-tie connecting the main switch boards of each redundancy group. The system also comprises at least to segregated directly powered thruster redundancy groups, each including a thruster drive, each being connected to the main switch board of a corresponding one of the main redundancy groups, respectively, the thruster redundancy groups including AC/DC converter means and a DC interconnection connecting the thruster redundancy groups thus proving a loop structure, the thruster redundancy groups being able to draw power from both main switchboards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Kongsberg Maritime AS
    Inventor: Rune Van Ravens
  • Patent number: 11958579
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a system and method for performing an inspection of an underwater environment. Embodiments may include providing an autonomous underwater vehicle (“AUV”) and performing an inspection of an underwater environment using the AUV. Embodiments may further include acquiring real-time sensor data during the inspection of the underwater environment and applying an active simultaneous localization and mapping (“SLAM”) algorithm during the inspection, wherein applying includes estimating one or more virtual landmarks based upon, at least in part, at least one past measurement and a current estimate of AUV activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: Schlumberger Technology Corporation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Brendan J. Englot, Jinkun Wang, Tixiao Shan, Timothy Paul Osedach
  • Patent number: 11958580
    Abstract: An underwater communications network may include spaced apart nodes on a bottom of a body of water. The underwater communications network may also include fiber optic cabling connecting the spaced apart nodes. Each node may include a frame, a node short-range navigation device carried by the frame, and an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) carried by the frame after delivering a fiber optic cable along a navigation path from an adjacent node. The UUV may be configured to cooperate with the node short-range navigation device during an end portion of the navigation path adjacent the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: EAGLE TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Donna M. Kocak, Mario Miranda, Fraser R. Dalgleish
  • Patent number: 11958581
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (1) for setting the drive position of an electric drive of a boat, having a housing (14) with two receiving elements (15a, 15b) arranged on two opposing side walls (140) of the housing (14) for defining a pivot axis (17) and a drive lever (10) that can be pivoted around this pivot axis (17), wherein the drive lever (10) is received by two receiving elements (15a. 15b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Torqeedo GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Despineux, Moritz Mueller
  • Patent number: 11958582
    Abstract: A marine power system may include an engine arranged to provide mechanical output power for a boat, and a controller coupled to the engine, the controller configured to determine an idle condition of the boat, deactivate the engine based, at least in part, on the idle condition, determine a demand for the mechanical output power for the boat, and activate, using an auxiliary power source, the engine based, at least in part, on the demand. The controller may be configured to determine the demand based, at least in part, on a throttle control for the boat. The controller may be configured to determine the demand based, at least in part, on a position of a mechanical component of the throttle control. The controller may be configured to determine the demand based, at least in part, on a sensor on the throttle control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: David Michael Yasnoff
  • Patent number: 11958583
    Abstract: This automatic setting device for automatically setting control devices for a plurality of ship propulsion apparatuses for generating ship propulsion forces is provided with: an input operation setting unit that sets an input operation for a ship; a target behavior acquisition unit that acquires a target behavior of the ship corresponding to the input operation set by the input operation setting unit; a ship information acquisition unit that acquires ship information about the position and/or the bearing of the ship; an actual behavior calculation unit that calculates the actual behavior of the ship on the basis of the ship information acquired by the ship information acquisition unit; and a propulsion force setting unit that sets the magnitudes and the directions of the propulsion forces generated by the respective ship propulsion apparatuses on the basis of the actual behavior of the ship acquired by the actual behavior calculation unit and the target behavior of the ship acquired by the target behavior acq
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Shirao, Marino Akita, Takafumi Oshima
  • Patent number: 11958584
    Abstract: In a method for producing a PBO fiber with increased resistance against UV-caused degradation, a coating is provided on the PBO fibers, wherein the coating comprises graphene oxide cross-linked by polymerization with glutaraldehyde and resorcinol. The fibers are useful for lighter than air vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SCEYE SA
    Inventors: Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, David Kim, Tobin Filleter, Sudeep Parambath Mundayodan
  • Patent number: 11958585
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a system for midair deployment of an aerostat may include an inflatable structure including a balloon at least partially defining a volume, a reaction vessel defining a chamber in fluid communication with the volume, a fuel package disposed in the chamber, the fuel package including a container and water-reactive aluminum, the container fluidically isolating the water-reactive aluminum from an environment of the chamber, and an actuator actuatable to release the water-reactive aluminum from the container into the environment of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: LTAG SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan T. Slocum, Alexander H. Slocum
  • Patent number: 11958586
    Abstract: The integration of a hinged door with a door leaf in a non-pressurized aircraft. The non-pressurized aircraft includes a canopy frame with a canopy frame cross-section profile. The canopy frame cross section profile has first and second canopy frame faces that are arranged at a predetermined angle relative to each other, and a third canopy frame face that is arranged between the first and second canopy frame faces. The non-pressurized aircraft further includes a hinge that is entirely arranged within the outline of the non-pressurized aircraft and pivotally mounts the door leaf to the third canopy frame face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Trautmann, Eric Dersahakian