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)
  • Patent number: 9650076
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eisei Higuchi, Ken Yasui
  • Patent number: 9648764
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaru Nakashima
  • Patent number: 9561823
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: DR. ING. H.C.F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Wilfried Eberle, Herbert Klamser, Franz-Rudolf Wierschem, Gerald Hekmann, Daniel Haag
  • Patent number: 9505444
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michitaka Tsuchida, Shunsuke Hayashi, Tatsuo Obata, Kazuaki Ishiura, Takeshi Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 9446724
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Syouta Hashimoto, Hiroshi Kato, Shintaro Kitakata, Atsushi Mikuni, Satoshi Funabashi, Harutoshi Motojima
  • Patent number: 9417834
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: AUTOCONNECT HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventor: Christopher P. Ricci
  • Patent number: 9415808
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Onoda, Shinpei Matsumoto, Takuma Ono
  • Patent number: 9409470
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Stephane Trentin, Gilles Mulato
  • Patent number: 9381941
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Segawa, Toshihiro Ayabe, Hiromi Tamo, Takatomo Watamori
  • Patent number: 9376008
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Abe, Kazuyuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9371009
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Choichi Ishikawa, Ryoichi Yoshitomi
  • Patent number: 9358864
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Steffen Meier
  • Patent number: 9333845
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Franz Winter, Reiner Essinger, Thomas Vogel, Michael J. Gorman
  • Patent number: 9266424
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: HAMM AG
    Inventors: Markus Golbs, Michael Zimmerer
  • Patent number: 9212716
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Hyoung-Jin Yoon, Sang-Il Lee, Dong-Wook Lee
  • Patent number: 9139070
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihito Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 9045173
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Franz Ulrich Brockhoff, Stefan Grottke, Stefan Schmitz
  • Patent number: 9045172
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Sriram Gopal, Bhimaraddi Venkaraddi Alavandi, John Vincent Fazio, Matthew B. Makowski, Djamal Eddine Midoun
  • Patent number: 9008906
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher P. Ricci
  • Publication number: 20150075890
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: RENAULT s.a.s
    Inventors: Guillaume Le Jaouen, Yannick Kerguelen, Thierry Ferron, Luan Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20150060179
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Michitaka Tsuchida, Shunsuke Hayashi, Tatsuo Obata, Kazuaki Ishiura, Takeshi Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 8948961
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Mack, Sascha Steinkogler
  • Patent number: 8936276
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Rajan V. Vyas, Bhushan W. Dandekar, Darek G. Villeneuve, Marcel R. Cannon, Young Doe, Krishnarao V. Yalamanchili
  • Publication number: 20140360798
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A.
    Inventors: Daniele Ghislieri, Sergio Bianco, Gianfranco Del Nero, Lorena Iezzi
  • Patent number: 8893843
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Hayano
  • Publication number: 20140339009
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Suzuki, Ryoji Tomokage, Tomoyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8862333
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Andres, Holger Faisst, Eric Mertz, Helmut Steurer
  • Publication number: 20140238765
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryoji Tomokage, Yuuichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8807597
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Akaki, Hideto Yamada, Soukichi Kikuchi, Osami Ohno
  • Publication number: 20140216839
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Benteler Automobiletechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Ulrich Brockhoff, Stefan Grottke, Stefan Schmitz
  • Patent number: 8777593
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yusuke Kinoshita, Yumin Hishinuma, Kazuhiro Kuroki, Tetsuhiko Fukanuma, Tomoyuki Miyoshi, Yasushi Kato, Yuji Nakane
  • Patent number: 8573647
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Norbert Enning
  • Patent number: 8540282
    Abstract: [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: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takehito Yoda, Yuichi Niiyama
  • Publication number: 20130204496
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventor: Roger Mark Sloman
  • Patent number: 8489289
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Mueller
  • Patent number: 8483945
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Richie Herink
  • Patent number: 8453779
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Sebastien Vezina
  • Patent number: 8417414
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Infosys Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Amul Atri, Gururaj Rao, Swapna P. Soman
  • Patent number: 8356687
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Baumann, Till Heinrich, Clark Ruedebusch
  • Patent number: 8326498
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph S. Witek
  • Patent number: 8246061
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hee Gon Kang
  • Patent number: 8140224
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Shimizu, Masahiko Itoh
  • Patent number: 8132640
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric Heitkamp, Stephen Rosepiler, Kishore Pydimarry
  • Patent number: 8122992
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Inoue, Kenichi Misaki, Kazuyoshi Kuroki, Hiroshi Furuse, Sunao Kawano
  • Patent number: 8028673
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Inventors: Paul Frederick Olsen, William Lyle Schell, Eric James Charles, Christine Cronin McKay
  • Patent number: 8016067
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Inventor: Jon Horgas
  • Patent number: 7997366
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7926609
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaoru Kusaka
  • Patent number: 7894959
    Abstract: In a method for actuating a vehicle occupant protection system, a sensor senses driving state data, and a reversible vehicle occupant protection device can be triggered to move into an effective position, prior to an imminent collision. A setpoint braking deceleration, which triggers the vehicle occupant protection device when a threshold value is exceeded, is determined by a predictive surroundings sensing unit in advance of an imminent collision. A check is made to determine whether the setpoint braking deceleration exceeds a threshold value, by referring to a deceleration characteristic curve that is dependent on the vehicle speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Werner Bernzen, Dominic Reutter
  • Patent number: 7886861
    Abstract: An electric vehicle has a first bracket (23) that supports a battery unit (10)-side end of a power unit (16) and extends in a width direction of the vehicle. The first bracket (23) is coupled to a vehicle body through a first coupling section (26) formed in one end of the first bracket (23) and a second coupling section (26) formed in the other end, and the power unit (16) is coupled to the first bracket (23) through at least two inner coupling sections (24) that are located more inside than the first and second coupling sections (26) as considered in the width direction of the vehicle. A first fragile portion (48) is formed between the first coupling section (26) and the inner coupling section (24) closest to the first coupling section (26), and between the second coupling section (26) and the inner coupling section (24) closest to the second coupling section (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuma Nozaki, Atsushi Takeda, Toshiaki Isogai