With Means For (1) Protecting Motor From Impact Of Collision, (2) Utilizing Mass Of Motor To Absorb Force Thereof, Or (3) Protecting Occupant Region Of Vehicle From Impact-induced Shifting Of Motor Patents (Class 180/232)
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Patent number: 9694775Abstract: A bumper structure includes: a bumper reinforcement including: a hollow body portion extending in a vehicle width direction of a vehicle; and an extending portion arranged on one end portion of the hollow body portion in a longitudinal direction of the hollow body portion; and a side member, which is formed to extend in a vehicle front-and-rear direction of the vehicle, and is configured to support one end portion of the bumper reinforcement in a longitudinal direction of the bumper reinforcement. The extending portion includes: a proximal end portion to be sandwiched between the one end portion of the hollow body portion in the longitudinal direction of the hollow body portion and one end portion of the side member in a longitudinal direction of the side member; and a protruding portion formed to extend outward from the proximal end portion in the vehicle width direction. The side member includes a projecting portion protruding outward in the vehicle width direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2016Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignees: Aisin Seiji Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Keikinzoku Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takanobu Kaneko, Kiyoichi Kita, Jun Shobo, Yuta Takanami
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Patent number: 9676416Abstract: A vehicle body front portion structure is equipped with a front side member that is disposed along a vehicle front and rear direction at a vehicle width direction outer side of a power unit disposed in a vehicle body front portion. A spacer is attached to an outside portion at the vehicle width direction outer side of the front side member. The spacer has a rear side attachment portion that is joined to the outside portion of the front side member, an outside front wall portion that is positioned at the vehicle front and rear direction front side and the vehicle width direction outer side of the rear side attachment portion, and a load transmitting rib that interconnects the outside front wall portion and the rear side attachment portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2014Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shintaro Kitakata, Takanobu Kaneko
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Patent number: 9650076Abstract: A vehicle body includes left and right front side frames extending in a vehicle front-to-rear direction. A power unit is disposed between the front side frames. Each of the left and right front side frames includes an inner frame disposed at a vehicle widthwise center side and an outer frame superposed on a vehicle outer side of the inner frame, and has a closed quadrangular sectional shape that is formed by the inner frame and the outer frame. A front portion of the outer frame has a triangular portion that has a substantially triangular shape whose width decreases from front to rear. Each front side frame has a power unit mount-fastening portion at a location rearward of the triangular portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2015Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Eisei Higuchi, Ken Yasui
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Patent number: 9648764Abstract: Provided is a fixing structure of an electric apparatus in an engine compartment provided in a front portion of a vehicle. The fixing structure includes a tray, a removal mechanism, and a protecting plate. The tray is fixed in the engine compartment and configured such that the electric apparatus is placed thereon. The removal mechanism is configured to remove the electric apparatus from the tray when the electric apparatus receives a predetermined impact force or more from a front side of the vehicle. The protecting plate is attached to the electric apparatus, and is configured to abut with a structural object placed at a rear side of the vehicle relative to the electric apparatus when the electric apparatus is removed from the tray due to the impact force so as to move rearward.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2015Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masaru Nakashima
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Patent number: 9561823Abstract: A motor vehicle rear end has left and right longitudinal beams (12, 14) forming load-bearing structures of the vehicle, and a receiving housing (18) is between the left and right longitudinal beams (12, 14) for accommodating a traction battery. The receiving housing (18) has left and right side walls (22, 24) and a central wall (26) running in a forward direction of travel. An impact profile (26) is connected to the longitudinal beams (12, 14) at the level of the receiving housing (18) and absorbs impact energy in the event of a rear-end crash. The impact profile (26) has a left and right predetermined buckling points (36, 38) that enable the impact profile (26) to buckle toward the receiving housing (18) in a rear-end crash. The impact profile (26) that buckles in a rear-end crash strikes the receiving housing (18) along the longitudinal extent of the central wall (25).Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2015Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventors: Wilfried Eberle, Herbert Klamser, Franz-Rudolf Wierschem, Gerald Hekmann, Daniel Haag
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Patent number: 9505444Abstract: A vehicle front structure includes: a power unit provided on a front part of a vehicle; a front side member which is arranged outside the power unit in a vehicle width direction and which extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction; and a load receiving portion which is provided on a side portion on a front side member side of the power unit and which is located inside the front side member in a vehicle width direction while stiffness thereof in the vehicle width direction is higher than other location of the side portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2014Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Michitaka Tsuchida, Shunsuke Hayashi, Tatsuo Obata, Kazuaki Ishiura, Takeshi Kuwahara
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Patent number: 9446724Abstract: A vehicle body front structure includes: a front side member arranged in a vehicle body longitudinal direction at an outer side of a vehicle body front in a vehicle width direction; a protrusion member provided on or to an outer wall of the front side member so as to protrude outward of the outer wall in the vehicle width direction, a rear end portion of the protrusion member being located to a vehicle body rear side of a vehicle body front-side end portion of a power unit arranged to an inner side of the front side member in the vehicle width direction in plan view; and a coupling member having one end portion connected to the rear end portion of the protrusion member and the other end portion connected to the outer wall of the front side member to a vehicle body rear side of the rear end portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2015Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Syouta Hashimoto, Hiroshi Kato, Shintaro Kitakata, Atsushi Mikuni, Satoshi Funabashi, Harutoshi Motojima
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Patent number: 9415808Abstract: A vehicle front section structure comprising a side rail extending along a vehicle front-rear direction at a vehicle width direction outside of a vehicle front section, the side rail including a bent portion at the vehicle rear side of a front tire, and the bent portion bending toward the vehicle width direction outside on progression from the vehicle front toward the vehicle rear; and a projection projecting out from the bent portion toward the vehicle width direction outside, and having an angled face angled toward the vehicle width direction outside on progression from the vehicle front toward the vehicle rear at a face of the projection facing the front tire.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2015Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Masahiro Onoda, Shinpei Matsumoto, Takuma Ono
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Patent number: 9417834Abstract: The present disclosure describes a displayed object movement module that causes displayed objects or other content to be moved from a first source vehicle display to a second target vehicle display at the request of a source vehicle occupant associated with the first source vehicle display.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2015Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: AUTOCONNECT HOLDINGS LLCInventor: Christopher P. Ricci
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Patent number: 9409470Abstract: An arrangement for a motor vehicle including a mechanism for holding an energy storage device, and associated vehicle. The arrangement includes a chassis, an electrical energy storage device, a fixing device for fixing the energy storage device to the chassis of the vehicle, a holding mechanism configured to switch, in case of a breakage of at least a portion of the fixing device, from a passive configuration in which it does not support the energy storage device to an active configuration in which it supports the energy storage device in such a way to hold the energy storage device close to the chassis.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2013Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.Inventors: Stephane Trentin, Gilles Mulato
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Patent number: 9381941Abstract: A reinforcement part formed in an intermediate position of either one of left and right front side frames. The reinforcement part has an enhanced strength against a deformation due to a compressive load in front-and-rear directions and a bending load caused when a tip end of the front side frame is pressed from outside in the vehicle width directions, rather than a strength of an area forward of the reinforcement part. A fragile part is formed in an intermediate position of the other front side frame. The vulnerable part has a reduced strength against a deformation due to a bending load when a tip end of the other front side frame is pressed from inside in the vehicle width directions.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2015Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Takahiro Segawa, Toshihiro Ayabe, Hiromi Tamo, Takatomo Watamori
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Patent number: 9376008Abstract: A power plant for a vehicle of the present invention includes an electric motor attached to a transmission housing attached to an engine. The electric motor is attached to the side of the transmission housing toward the engine and is connected to the engine interposed by an anchor point. When the engine is viewed in a crankshaft direction, a line connecting the anchor point and the center of gravity of the electric motor intersects a line extending along a direction in which the electric motor vibrates due to vibration of the engine in the absence of an anchor point.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2013Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yutaka Abe, Kazuyuki Yamamoto
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Patent number: 9371009Abstract: A mount structure includes side mounts for holding a fuel cell stack to thereby fix the fuel cell stack to first vehicle frames, and rear mounts for fixing the fuel cell stack to a second vehicle frame. The strength of the side mounts is lower than the strength of the rear mounts. In the structure, when an external load is applied to a fuel cell electric vehicle, the side mounts are broken prior to breakage of the rear mounts.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2015Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Choichi Ishikawa, Ryoichi Yoshitomi
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Patent number: 9358864Abstract: A device is provided for fastening a battery module (2) to a bodyshell (1) of a motor vehicle. The battery module has a battery (15) and a support (16) connected fixedly to the battery. The support (16) has an undercut (22) that interacts with an undercut (11) on the bodyshell. Such a connection can be produced in a simple manner and, moreover, is reliably secure in the event of a crash, in particular a rear crash of the motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2013Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventor: Steffen Meier
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Patent number: 9333845Abstract: A power distribution unit for a vehicle includes a fuel cell stack, a bracket connected to the fuel cell stack and including at least one mount adapted to be connected directly to a vehicle to directly interconnect the fuel cell stack to the vehicle, a connection feature, and a traction system communicated with the fuel cell stack and carried by at least one of the fuel cell stack and the bracket with the connection feature disposed between the traction system and said at least one of the fuel cell stack and the bracket so that the traction system is indirectly connected to the vehicle. In one implementation, the connection feature includes an elastomeric pad disposed between a housing of the traction system and a mount or the vehicle frame. The pad provides a so-called “soft mount” of the traction system to the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2006Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Franz Winter, Reiner Essinger, Thomas Vogel, Michael J. Gorman
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Patent number: 9266424Abstract: A drive assembly, in particular for a construction machine, comprising a drive unit having a plurality of first fastening regions for the attachment to a machine frame and at least one functional unit that interacts with the drive unit, and a functional unit carrier assigned to said drive unit, is characterized in that the functional unit carrier can be swiveled around at least one swivel axis with respect to the drive unit in a swivel connection region.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2014Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: HAMM AGInventors: Markus Golbs, Michael Zimmerer
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Patent number: 9212716Abstract: An active roll rod for a vehicle may include a rod portion, a fastening unit, insulators, an end plate and a damper unit. The rod portion may have a main body portion with a front end connected to a power train, and an inner pipe formed at a rear side of the main body portion. The fastening unit may be mounted to a sub-frame, slidably coupled to the inner pipe and have a partition wall portion formed on an inner circumferential surface. The insulators may be mounted at front and rear sides of the partition wall portion and made of an elastic material. The end plate may be coupled to a rear end of the inner pipe. The damper unit may have a cooperating unit on which a permanent magnet is mounted, and a coil portion which generates electromagnetic force and controls an operation of the cooperating unit. The damper unit may be embedded in the fastening unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2014Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Hyoung-Jin Yoon, Sang-Il Lee, Dong-Wook Lee
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Patent number: 9139070Abstract: In an arrangement structure for an air-conditioning compressor in a hybrid electric vehicle, an engine, a power generating motor, a driving motor, and an air-conditioning compressor are disposed in an engine room, the engine and the power generating motor being arranged in series, in which the air-conditioning compressor is arranged on a side portion of the power generating motor. The power generating motor and the driving motor are provided in parallel with each other in a vehicle longitudinal direction and are accommodated respectively in separate motor cases, and one of the motor cases on which the air-conditioning compressor is fixed is arranged at a position behind and higher than another one of the motor cases.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2011Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATIONInventor: Yoshihito Mochizuki
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Patent number: 9045172Abstract: A catcher bracket disposed between a powertrain and a sub-frame of a vehicle. The catcher bracket defines a load path in a collision that is sufficient to displace the powertrain that directs the force of the impact through the catcher bracket to a sub-frame of the vehicle. The sub-frame is connected to the body structure of the vehicle by fasteners that fracture to decouple the powertrain and sub-frame from the body structure of the vehicle to reduce the collision pulse.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2013Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Sriram Gopal, Bhimaraddi Venkaraddi Alavandi, John Vincent Fazio, Matthew B. Makowski, Djamal Eddine Midoun
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Patent number: 9045173Abstract: A front-end structure of a motor vehicle includes a transverse member and two crash boxes. In addition a transverse reinforcement member is arranged according to the invention, wherein the transverse reinforcement member is supported via coupling beams on a subframe.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2014Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBHInventors: Franz Ulrich Brockhoff, Stefan Grottke, Stefan Schmitz
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Patent number: 9008906Abstract: The present disclosure describes a displayed object movement module that causes displayed objects or other content to be moved from a first source vehicle display to a second target vehicle display at the request of a source vehicle occupant associated with the first source vehicle display.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLCInventor: Christopher P. Ricci
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Publication number: 20150075890Abstract: An arrangement for a motor vehicle having an electric or hybrid engine includes a power supply battery and reinforcing elements to protect the battery from external stresses applied to the vehicle in a longitudinal and/or transverse direction of the vehicle, in particular in the event of an impact. The reinforcing elements are separate from the battery and separate from an enclosure of the battery in particular. The battery is attached to the reinforcing elements. First structural elements of the chassis of the vehicle are sandwiched and clamped between the battery and the reinforcing elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2013Publication date: March 19, 2015Applicant: RENAULT s.a.sInventors: Guillaume Le Jaouen, Yannick Kerguelen, Thierry Ferron, Luan Nguyen
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Publication number: 20150060179Abstract: A vehicle front structure includes: a power unit provided on a front part of a vehicle; a front side member which is arranged outside the power unit in a vehicle width direction and which extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction; and a load receiving portion which is provided on a side portion on a front side member side of the power unit and which is located inside the front side member in a vehicle width direction while stiffness thereof in the vehicle width direction is higher than other location of the side portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Michitaka Tsuchida, Shunsuke Hayashi, Tatsuo Obata, Kazuaki Ishiura, Takeshi Kuwahara
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Patent number: 8948961Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting a pedestrian impact, at least three acceleration sensors being provided which are respectively mounted on the inner side of the bumper cladding and each generate a signal. The pedestrian impact is detected as a function of a time offset between at least two of the three signals. The impact location is identified on the basis of the at least one time offset.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2006Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Frank Mack, Sascha Steinkogler
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Patent number: 8936276Abstract: A body structure of a vehicle includes a bulkhead, and a frame rail extending forward from the bulkhead along a longitudinal centerline. A powertrain system is disposed laterally inboard of the frame rail relative to the longitudinal centerline. The frame rail includes a flared section, a splayed section, and a reinforcing member. The flared section curves laterally outboard, away from the longitudinal centerline. The splayed section includes a variable cross sectional area that increases with an increase in distance from the bulkhead. The reinforcing member is operable to increase lateral stiffness in the frame rail, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal centerline. The frame rail is operable to deform into contact with the powertrain system in response to a load applied to a forward end of the body structure and laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline, to generate a lateral force in the body structure.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2013Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Rajan V. Vyas, Bhushan W. Dandekar, Darek G. Villeneuve, Marcel R. Cannon, Young Doe, Krishnarao V. Yalamanchili
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Publication number: 20140360798Abstract: A motor vehicle has two upper struts, which project forward from a passenger compartment and are arranged above two lower struts, which extend along respective substantially rectilinear axes inclined from the bottom upwards, going forward; the lower struts have respective intermediate portions with such a variation in cross section to define a preferential bending zone; the rear ends of the lower struts are fixed to a cross member connected to the upper struts by means of two connection members, which are substantially vertical and have respective breakable zones designed so as to break when a given load threshold is exceeded; the motor vehicle also has a powertrain connected to the cross member and to the upper struts by means of supports which are distinct from the connection members and are breakable in the event of a front crash.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2014Publication date: December 11, 2014Applicant: Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A.Inventors: Daniele Ghislieri, Sergio Bianco, Gianfranco Del Nero, Lorena Iezzi
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Patent number: 8893843Abstract: A protection structure is equipped with a protrusion a protector, and a protector fixation portion. An in-vehicle appliance is equipped with a corner portion, a first face, and a second face that the first and the second faces are adjacent to the corner portion. The protrusion is provided on the second face of the in-vehicle appliance. The protector covers the corner portion, equipped with a first portion and a second portion which the faces are opposed to the first face and the second face respectively, and equipped with a notch at an edge of the second portion thereof. The protrusion abuts on an edge of the notch. The protector fixation portion is provided on the first face of the in-vehicle appliance, and the protector is fixed to the in-vehicle appliance through the protector fixation portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2013Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Katsuhiko Hayano
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Publication number: 20140339009Abstract: The electric motor control unit of this electric vehicle is disposed at a first primary surface and/or a facing second primary surface of a plate-shaped member disposed along the anterior-posterior direction of the electric vehicle and having a higher rigidity than peripheral components or vehicle-configuring elements. An electricity storage device is connected to the electric motor control unit by means of wiring and is disposed on the vehicle cabin side of the plate-shaped member in the anterior-posterior direction. Furthermore, the electric motor control unit is provided with a low-voltage circuit unit and a high-voltage circuit unit. The high-voltage circuit unit is disposed on the vehicle cabin side in the anterior-posterior direction with respect to the low-voltage circuit unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2012Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuuichi Suzuki, Ryoji Tomokage, Tomoyuki Suzuki
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Patent number: 8862333Abstract: Disclosed is a method to determine a vehicle's lateral velocity during abnormal driving situations of a vehicle during controlled side-impact or rollover crash tests that involve the pulling of a vehicle sideways into an object. A high-resolution, low-range, lateral accelerometer is integrated to determine the lateral velocity. Furthermore, is a method to initiate the integration of the acceleration signal and a method to stop and reset the integration. The method recognizes special conditions associated with abnormal driving situations like controlled crash tests, and therefore will not be active during normal operating conditions. The method also includes a means to handle offset tolerances associated with accelerometers by finding the sensor's zero-g point while the vehicle is at rest.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2010Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.Inventors: Robert M. Andres, Holger Faisst, Eric Mertz, Helmut Steurer
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Publication number: 20140238765Abstract: In an electric car, a power control unit includes: a heat sink that has an electric device fixed thereto and performs a heat exchange with the electric device; and a case that is attached to a surface of the heat sink to which the electric device is fixed and that covers the electric device. A reserve tank that stores a circulation liquid is attached to a front end surface of the heat sink via a bracket, a bulkhead frame that retains a radiator is provided in a vehicle width direction ahead of the reserve tank, the reserve tank is arranged at a position that overlaps the bulkhead frame in a front view, and a front surface of the power control unit has a protruding portion that protrudes forward, at a position that overlaps the reserve tank and the bulkhead frame in a front view.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2012Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Ryoji Tomokage, Yuuichi Suzuki
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Patent number: 8807597Abstract: In a frontal collision energy absorption structure for a vehicle (1) including a chassis frame (9), an engine mount bracket (27) is attached to a main frame (10) of the chassis frame (9) extending in a vehicle length direction, and is, in the vehicle length direction, apart from a connection part of the main frame (10) and a suspension tower (101), a connection part of the main frame (10) and a second cross-member (12) arranged apart from the suspension tower (101) in front thereof, and a connection part of the main frame (10) and a third cross-member (13) arranged apart from the suspension tower (101) in rear thereof.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2010Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Akaki, Hideto Yamada, Soukichi Kikuchi, Osami Ohno
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Publication number: 20140216839Abstract: A front-end structure of a motor vehicle includes a transverse member and two crash boxes. In addition a transverse reinforcement member is arranged according to the invention, wherein the transverse reinforcement member is supported via coupling beams on a subframe.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2014Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: Benteler Automobiletechnik GmbHInventors: Franz Ulrich Brockhoff, Stefan Grottke, Stefan Schmitz
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Patent number: 8777593Abstract: An electric compressor is installed in a vehicle and includes a shell. The electric compressor includes an inverter, a cover, and a conductive component. The cover covers the shell and the inverter. The conductive component is electrically connected to the inverter and arranged outside the cover. The cover includes an outer guide surface inclined relative to a forward direction of the vehicle. The outer guide surface has a normal including a forward component directed in the forward direction. The outer guide surface is arranged closer to an outer side of the vehicle than the conductive component.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2011Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yusuke Kinoshita, Yumin Hishinuma, Kazuhiro Kuroki, Tetsuhiko Fukanuma, Tomoyuki Miyoshi, Yasushi Kato, Yuji Nakane
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Patent number: 8573647Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle having, at least in part, an electric drive which includes a traction battery (1), which vehicle has at least one predefined deformation zone (I, II) which in the event of a crash (A, B) acts to absorb energy, and at least one predefined zone (III), which has a substantial structural rigidity and which in the event of a crash (A, B) remains substantially without deformation. According to the invention, the traction battery (1) has a deformation region (18) which in the event of a crash can be deformed via a deformation path (a) and which is arranged in the deformation zone (I, II) of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2011Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Audi AGInventor: Norbert Enning
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Patent number: 8540282Abstract: [PROBLEMS] The present invention provides a protecting structure for a power source apparatus capable of suppressing the action of an external force on the power source apparatus when a vehicle is subjected to a shock. [SOLVING MEANS] A protecting structure for a power source apparatus, has a frame unit in which a plurality of frames (21a to 21h) are connected to each other and surround the power source apparatus (30) mounted on a vehicle; and an abutting member (22) connected to the frame unit and extending in a direction in which the abutting member abuts on a vehicle body. The abutting member is arranged so as to extend in a direction in which an external force in a predetermined direction acts on the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2009Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takehito Yoda, Yuichi Niiyama
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Publication number: 20130204496Abstract: A vehicle, apparatus, method and computer program are provided. The vehicle comprises: vehicle stabilizing means for ejecting at least one non-gaseous mass; means for detecting an explosion local to the vehicle; and control means for controlling, in response to detection of an explosion local to the vehicle, the vehicle stabilizing means to eject at least one non-gaseous mass in order to apply a force to the vehicle and stabilize the vehicle in response to the explosion.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2010Publication date: August 8, 2013Inventor: Roger Mark Sloman
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Patent number: 8489289Abstract: Disclosed is a converter (200) for signals between a safety device (300) and a universal safety control device (100) for a vehicle. At the converter (200) the safety control device (100) can be connected at a control device interface (200.1) and at least one type of safety devices (300.2) can be connected at at least one safety device interface (200.2) and wherein the converter (200) converts a signal of the safety control device (100) into a signal, which is suitable for the respectively connected type of safety device (300.2), to the respective safety device interface (200.2). It is proposed to embody the converter (200) such that it detects a condition at the safety device interface (200.2), in particular a diagnostics condition signal and converts it into a condition accordingly predefined at the control device interface (200.1), preferably in a manner which does not require an adaptation of the control device or of its software.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2008Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbHInventor: Andreas Mueller
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Patent number: 8483945Abstract: A system for a vehicle that executes a method to reduce the energy absorbed by the vehicle due to a collision, the method including actively decelerating the vehicle when it is determined that a collision with an object is possible, terminating active deceleration to allow the vehicle to move forward when it is determined that a collision with the object is inevitable just before the collision, and allowing the vehicle to make contact with the object and move generally in an opposite direction after the vehicle makes contact with the object.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2011Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Inventor: Richie Herink
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Patent number: 8453779Abstract: A snowmobile frame (106) is described, with a tunnel (108) having an inverted U-shape. An engine cradle (110) is attached to a forward portion of the tunnel. A suspension assembly (112) is disposed forwardly of the engine cradle. At least one support member (142) supports the suspension assembly on the engine cradle. The at least one support member forms a crumple zone between the suspension assembly and the engine cradle. The at least one support member resists plastic deformation in response to the first predetermined force exerted on the suspension assembly. The at least one support member undergoes plastic deformation in response to a second predetermined force being exerted on the suspension assembly. The second predetermined force is greater in magnitude than the first predetermined force. The tunnel resists plastic deformation in response to the second predetermined force.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2008Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products, Inc.Inventor: Sebastien Vezina
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Patent number: 8417414Abstract: A method and system for managing passenger and vehicle safety is disclosed. The method includes registering a passenger based on an identification parameter received from the passenger when the passenger boards a vehicle. The method further includes monitoring a set of vehicle status parameters associated with the vehicle in real time. The method also includes generating a notification when a predefined notification condition occurs. The predefined notification condition is associated with at least one of the vehicle status parameters and the identification parameter. The method further includes deregistering the passenger based on the identification parameter when the passenger exits the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2009Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Infosys Technologies LimitedInventors: Amul Atri, Gururaj Rao, Swapna P. Soman
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Patent number: 8356687Abstract: A vehicle has a crash detection device for detecting a crash that introduces a force acting in an effective direction into the vehicle. An acceleration device directly or indirectly cooperates with the crash detection device to absolutely accelerate at least one partial mass of the vehicle against the effective direction in which the force is introduced in case of a crash.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2008Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Daimler AGInventors: Karl-Heinz Baumann, Till Heinrich, Clark Ruedebusch
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Patent number: 8326498Abstract: A vehicle is provided which includes a closure member such as a powered window or a moon roof or sunroof that may be controlled in an auto close mode. The closure member may be controlled with anti-pinch control to provide a plurality of thresholds that are selected based on the presence of an occupant in close proximity to the vehicle, such as in the vehicle, so that an unsupervised control of the closure member provides a lower anti-pinch threshold than a supervised control of the closure member.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2009Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Joseph S. Witek
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Patent number: 8246061Abstract: A sub-frame mount for a suspension may include a frame structure having an upper plate and a lower plate, a front mounting portion provided at a front portion of the frame structure, and connected to a vehicle body through a first mount bolt, and a rear mounting portion provided at a rear portion of the frame structure, and connected to the vehicle body through a second mount bolt, wherein the respective rear mounting portion includes, a first hole formed at the upper plate, a second hole corresponding to the first hole and formed at the lower plate, width of the second hole corresponding approximately to the width of the body of the second mount bolt, and a third hole connected to the second hole so that a head of the second mount bolt can pass through the third hole.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2009Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventor: Hee Gon Kang
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Patent number: 8140224Abstract: A diagnosis apparatus for an airbag system includes a squib, a driving transistor connected in series with the squib to activate the squib by driving current when driven by a control circuit. The control circuit drives the driving transistor to supply small monitoring current periodically to the squib under slew rate control. As a result, a change rate of rise and fall of each monitoring current is reduced to about 0.1 mA/?s or less thereby reducing radio noise.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2007Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Nobuyoshi Shimizu, Masahiko Itoh
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Patent number: 8132640Abstract: A frangible mount for a vehicle differential that includes a first horizontal mounting flange, a second mounting flange parallel to and vertically offset from the first mounting flange, and a generally circular differential shaft bushing holder portion with a central axis transverse to the first and second mounting flanges. The mount also includes a first transition integrally formed with, and between, the first mounting flange and the receiver portion, a notch defined between the first mounting flange and the first transition, and a second transition integrally formed with, and between, the second mounting flange and the receiver portion. When an axial force is applied to the bushing holder portion in excess of a threshold value, either the first transition or the first mounting flange fracture and either the second transition or the second mounting flange fracture, thus, allowing the bushing holder portion to be displaced apart from the first mounting flange and second mounting flange.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2009Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Eric Heitkamp, Stephen Rosepiler, Kishore Pydimarry
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Patent number: 8122992Abstract: A saddle-type vehicle is provided with an impact member for deflecting a front wheel sideways in the event of a collision. The saddle-type vehicle includes a body frame having a head pipe for rotatably supporting a steering shaft for the front wheel, main frames extending rearwards from the head pipe, and an engine operatively mounted to the main frames. The impact member is disposed in front of a lower portion of the engine. The impact member includes a support part, which extends forwardly from the engine, and a load-receiving deflector plate mounted to the support part and which is inclined away from a vehicle width direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2010Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshihiro Inoue, Kenichi Misaki, Kazuyoshi Kuroki, Hiroshi Furuse, Sunao Kawano
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Patent number: 8028673Abstract: A fuel line protective cover is disclosed. The fuel line protective cover includes a first leg configured to be mounted to a top surface of an engine and configured to extend the length of an engine. The fuel line protective cover further includes at least one second leg configured to be mounted to a side surface of an engine. The first leg and the at least one second leg cooperate to at least partially enclose a high pressure fuel system.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2008Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Inventors: Paul Frederick Olsen, William Lyle Schell, Eric James Charles, Christine Cronin McKay
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Patent number: 8016067Abstract: A vibration isolation assembly is disclosed. The vibration isolation assembly comprises a first body member, a second body member, a first isolation member, a second isolation member, and a least one fastener. The first and second body members are configured to matingly engage one another and the first and second isolation members are partially retained by portions of the first and second body members, respectively. The fastener serves to securing the first and second body members together.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2009Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Inventor: Jon Horgas
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Patent number: 7997366Abstract: A vehicle body structure includes a dash panel that partitions an engine chamber from the vehicle interior. An intake manifold for an engine is housed in the engine chamber, and an air box extends in a direction of the width of the vehicle and is located above the dash panel. A linking member is connectible to both the dash panel and the air box. At least a portion of the linking member overlaps a portion of the intake manifold in the direction of the width of the vehicle. When an impact occurs external of the vehicle, the shock to which the dash panel is subjected is transmitted to the air box via the linking member. The rigidity of the dash panel is increased to facilitate fracture of intake manifold, and the dash panel is controlled such that the dash panel is prevented from moving toward vehicle interior.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2006Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Masahiro Tanaka
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Patent number: 7926609Abstract: Vehicle body structure includes: a sub frame mounted to a vehicle body frame via elastic members and having at least one of suspensions and a power source supported thereon; a collision detecting sensor; and load transmitting connection mechanisms for connecting the sub frame to the vehicle body frame once the collision detecting sensor detects a collision of the vehicle. Load transmission characteristic provided between the vehicle body frame and the sub frame by the load transmitting connection mechanism is greater than a load transmission characteristic provided by the elastic bushes.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2009Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kaoru Kusaka