Having Motor Shaft Parallel To Rotational Axis Of Driven Wheel Patents (Class 180/297)
  • Patent number: 12145651
    Abstract: A siderail member for a subframe assembly of a vehicle, including: an elongate body, wherein the elongate body includes a hollow extruded structure including an inboard wall, an outboard wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and one or more internal walls. Optionally, the bottom wall has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the top wall. Optionally, the outboard wall has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the inboard wall. Optionally, the one or more internal walls include a top internal wall and a bottom internal wall forming a plurality of horizontally-disposed cells within an interior of the elongate body. The bottom internal wall has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the top internal wall. The hollow extruded structure is manufactured from an aluminum material. Optionally, the top wall of the hollow extruded structure defines a flexure recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Johan Eklund, Anders Sandahl, Jens Raine, Domenico Macri, Emil Claesson, Per Zachrison, Kaldon Kalasho, Robin Larsson, Martin Granlund, Patrik Ljungbäck
  • Patent number: 12109859
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a ladder frame and a driving unit, the driving unit including a motor that generates driving force to be transmitted to an axle of the electric vehicle and a transmission mechanism that shifts the driving force passed from the motor. The electric vehicle further includes a motor housing that accommodates the motor of the driving unit, a leaf spring that suspends the axle from the electric vehicle, a first coupling part that couples the ladder frame to the motor housing, and a second coupling part that is integrated with the first coupling part and that couples the ladder frame to an end part of the leaf spring. The second coupling part has a rib-shaped portion that protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction and that is connected to the end part the leaf spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Daimler Truck AG
    Inventors: Kotaro Yamamoto, Senthil Arumugam, Gowtham Buthan
  • Patent number: 11951839
    Abstract: A side-by-side all-terrain vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body comprising a cockpit and a power compartment, the power compartment being located behind the cockpit; a powertrain comprising a power motor, the power motor being provided in the power compartment; and a power battery being provided in the cockpit, and the power battery being configured to supply power to the power motor. Thus, by using the power motor as a power source, exhaust gas emissions can be reduced, and the economic efficiency of an all-terrain vehicle can be improved. By providing the power battery in the cockpit, the interior space of the cockpit can be rationally used, so that insufficient rear space of the vehicle body is avoided, and the power battery suffers less external interference and has better usage safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: SEGWAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ronghua Wang, Ge Fan
  • Patent number: 11845329
    Abstract: An electric axle assembly includes a drive housing and a drive assembly. The drive assembly is housed in the drive housing and engages with wheels of a vehicle for rotating the wheels to move the vehicle along a ground surface. The drive assembly includes a drive input, one or more gearsets, and axle shafts. The one or more gearsets transfer motive force from the drive input to the axle shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikram Chopra, Christopher G. Baillie, Siva Srinivas Rajeev Mupparti
  • Patent number: 11772476
    Abstract: A utility vehicle automatic transmission powertrain mounting includes a front isolator under an internal combustion engine, a pair of mid isolators under an adapter plate between the internal combustion engine and an automatic transmission, and a rear isolator over the automatic transmission. Each of the isolators is on a frame member of a rear portion of an off road or recreational utility vehicle frame. The utility vehicle powertrain mounting may be used with multiple engine options on off road or recreational utility vehicles having powertrains behind the seats and under the cargo bed. The utility vehicle powertrain mounting provides easy access to service, repair or replace the transmission, and provides support and stability for the engine during transmission work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Jeremie A. Wade, Rupali Patil, Larry D. Swanson
  • Patent number: 11530009
    Abstract: A vehicle can have: (1) a first pair of rear wheels with a first pair of tires configured to be able to bear a weight of the vehicle and (2) a second pair of rear wheels with a second pair of tires installed on the second pair of rear wheels and configured to be selectively inflatable. The first pair of wheels can be disposed on a first pair of axles. The second pair of wheels can be disposed on the first pair of axles or on a second axle. In an inflated state, the second pair of tires can be configured to be able to bear the weight of the vehicle. In a deflated state, the second pair of tires can lack being configured to bear the weight of the vehicle. An individual or a controller can cause the vehicle to have a conventional configuration or a dually configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Corey Zwegers, Robert C. MacArthur, Claudia A. Ma, Shigenori Shibata, Adam R. VanAntwerp
  • Patent number: 11046365
    Abstract: A disengagement apparatus for a subframe of a vehicle includes an inclined wall having an inclined surface, two sidewalls, and a top wall. The inclined surface has a structural feature that may include a rib. The disengagement apparatus is configured to couple to the subframe and a subframe stay. The subframe may include an aluminum material, and the disengagement apparatus may include a steel material. Further, a front frame structure for a vehicle includes a vehicle body, and a subframe structure coupled to the vehicle body that includes a subframe, a subframe stay, and a disengagement apparatus. The subframe structure is configured to decouple from the vehicle body in the event of a frontal impact and deflect in a rearward and downward direction relative to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephen G. Rosepiler, Shivaprasad G. Rangaswamaiah, Gregory B. Resh, David J. Royak, Sartaj S. Ubhi, Michael J. Zimcosky
  • Patent number: 10843559
    Abstract: In a power transmission device of a four-wheel drive electrically driven vehicle, the power source includes a transverse engine supported on one side surface of a gear case, and a motor supported on the other side surface. A transfer case is supported on the same side surface of the gear case as the motor. The transfer case has a transfer input shaft arranged in the vehicle width direction, a transfer output shaft arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a bevel gear pair and a transfer gear pair. The bevel gear pair and the transfer gear pair transmit power by changing a rotational axis direction to an essentially orthogonal direction between the transfer input shaft and the transfer output shaft. An output shaft gear provided on the transfer output shaft of the transfer case is disposed in a position overlapping the gear case in a vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 10807455
    Abstract: A sub-roll rod device for mounting a powertrain of a vehicle can, in addition to mounting the powertrain in an engine room of the vehicle using a mounting member in a three-point supporting method, mount the sub-roll rod that can be assembled with the powertrain in a side member of a vehicle body, thus controlling forward-and-backward movement of the powertrain while maintaining Noise, Vibration & Harshness (NVH) performance by the three-point supporting method and improving ease of assembly of the powertrain with respect to the engine room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Seung Won Kim
  • Patent number: 10723213
    Abstract: An aspect of the invention provides a roll restrictor system for an automotive powertrain, comprising: a torque roll restrictor bracket configured for attachment to the automotive powertrain; wherein attachment is mediated by a bushing; wherein the bushing is provided within a bearing which facilitates rotation of the bushing within the torque roll restrictor bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Matt Sykes, Martin Hansen
  • Patent number: 10647198
    Abstract: A four-wheel drive vehicle is disclosed, which includes an engine, a rear propeller shaft, a rear differential gear, a transfer mechanism, a front propeller shaft, and a front differential gear. The front propeller shaft is arranged so as to pass through a vicinity of an outside of a room of a pedal working space of a driver's seat and extend toward a front part of the vehicle. In such a four-wheel drive vehicle, the gear ratio of the front differential gear may be RF, the final gear ratio of the rear differential gear may be RR, the transmission ratio of the transfer mechanism may be RT, and the relationships RF<RR and RT>1 may be satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Mito, Hideki Murata
  • Patent number: 10577024
    Abstract: A bracket for use in supporting a module within a vehicle. The bracket includes a first end, a second end, and a bracket body extending between the first end and the second end. The bracket body includes at least one attachment point defined at each of the first end and the second end, a first side that defines a mounting surface, and a second side opposite the first side. The bracket body also includes a reinforced side wall that extends about the at least one attachment point. The reinforced side wall is configured to define a bushing receptacle on both the first side and the second side of the bracket body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Evan D. Flickinger, Nobuteru Fujii, Akihiko Koike, Michael D. Lucas
  • Patent number: 10480631
    Abstract: An electric drive axle, including: a first and a second drive shaft being axially aligned, an electric drive module and a differential module, wherein the electric drive module includes an electric motor and a planetary gear set, wherein both the electric motor and the planetary gear set are coaxially arranged about the drive shafts, wherein output means of the electric drive module is connected to input means of the differential module, wherein the input means is or can be set in drive connection with the drive shafts, such that a drive force generated by the electric drive module can be transferred to the first and/or second drive shaft, and a coupling between the output means and the input means, wherein the coupling is arranged to allow for the output means and the input means to slide into engagement in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmet Dzafic, Mathias Jörgensson, Thomas Weiland
  • Patent number: 10464613
    Abstract: A vehicle front portion structure includes: a pair of front side members extending in a vehicle front-rear direction, the front side members being disposed at an interval in a vehicle width direction; an MC cross-member suspended between the front side members, the MC cross-member being provided with a front cross portion extending in the vehicle width direction and a rear cross portion provided behind the front cross portion and extending in the vehicle width direction; and motor mounts configured to connect a high-voltage component to the MC cross-member, the motor mounts being suspended between the front cross portion and the rear cross portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daiki Okura
  • Patent number: 10464407
    Abstract: A roll rod device for a vehicle includes a mounting flange mounted to a vehicle body; a housing of a cylindrical shape integrally formed at the mounting flange; a roll rod having a first end coupled to the housing to be slid and moved and a second end on which a bush unit is mounted; and an attenuation unit mounted to the first end of the roll rod and attenuating a vibration and an impact force while being slid and moved, or being compressed and tensioned in an axis direction of the roll rod inside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sang Hoon Han
  • Patent number: 10465788
    Abstract: A transmission mount is provided that has a stopper which is separately assembled from an insulator to obtain an improved attenuation effect. The transmission mount includes a transmission mount bracket and an insulator that has a body press-fitted into the transmission mount bracket and a center core disposed therein. The insulator includes a base supported on a bottom surface of the transmission mount bracket and a connector that connects the body and the base. A stopper is provided that includes a vertical movement restrictor configured to come into contact with a lower portion of the body and an upper portion of the base to restrict a vertical movement of a center core and a lateral movement restrictor configured to come into contact with sides of the base to be latched with the sides of the base to restrict a lateral movement of the center core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Yong Joo Kim, Jong Hwan Jang, Kwanho Lee
  • Patent number: 10308102
    Abstract: A torque roll restrictor assembly for a vehicle includes a first member configured for connection with a body of a vehicle, a second member rotatably connected to the first member and configured for connection with a powertrain of said vehicle, and a damper connected to the first member. A first member may include a first portion, a second portion to which the second member may be rotatably connected, and a third portion connecting the first portion and the second portion. A first portion of the first member may include an outer wall, an inner wall defining a channel, at least one bushing disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall, and a connector configured to connect the first member to said body of said vehicle. A connector may be at least partially disposed within the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: VIBRACOUSTIC USA, INC.
    Inventor: Andrew J. Kropp
  • Patent number: 10279760
    Abstract: A supply rail for a vehicle includes a first busbar which is designed to provide electrical energy with a first supply voltage for supplying energy to a large number of electrical modules of the vehicle. In this case, the electrical modules of the large number of electrical modules are arranged at different points of the vehicle. The supply rail includes means for data transmission designed to allow data interchange between at least two of the large number of electrical modules. The supply rail has a large number of slots for the large number of electrical modules, wherein a first slot of the large number of slots is designed to connect a first electrical module of the large number of electrical modules to the first busbar and to the means for data transmission by way of a first plug connection. The supply rail includes a temperature-control duct which is designed to conduct a thermally conductive medium past the large number of electrical modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Joachim Froeschl
  • Patent number: 10259318
    Abstract: A dual-independent powertrain for a vehicle includes a transmission enclosure that houses a first transmission and a second transmission that are mechanically decoupled from each other. The enclosure includes a central frame, a first enclosure cover that interfaces with the central frame to collectively define a first transmission region on a first side of the central frame, and a second enclosure cover that interfaces with the central frame to collectively define a second transmission region on a second side of the central frame. The first transmission is housed within the first transmission region, and the second transmission is house within the second transmission region. Each transmission includes a motor-interfacing shaft that interfaces with a respective electric motor, a drive-interfacing shaft that interfaces with a respective drive wheel of a vehicle, and a multi-stage gear train mechanically coupling the motor-interfacing shaft and the drive-interfacing shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: ARCIMOTO, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Douglas Frohnmayer, James Kevin Jordan, Paul Clark, Adrian Hawkins
  • Patent number: 10052943
    Abstract: An engine mount comprising a body having a cavity and a flange. The cavity comprises an opening having a central axis. The flange comprises bottom and top mounting surfaces and a centerline perpendicular to the central axis. The bottom mounting surface defines a first horizontal plane off-set from the central longitudinal axis. The flange further comprises a symmetric mounting hole pattern extending from the bottom mounting surface to the top mounting surface. The off-set and the symmetric mounting hole pattern allow a first use of the engine mount where the bottom surface of the flange is engaged directly with the engine mounting bracket and a second use of the engine mount where the top surface of the flange is engaged directly with the engine mounting bracket so that a different type of engine may be mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Hasport Performance, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Gillespie, Keith Gillespie
  • Patent number: 9873470
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a support structure component for connecting a spring strut to a vehicle body. The support structure component includes a connection section for connecting to the vehicle body and at least one flange section having a spring strut mount configured to mount a spring strut. In this manner, the support structure component can be used for assembling the spring strut into the vehicle body without requiring significant access from above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Udo Mildner, Lothar Teske
  • Patent number: 9731592
    Abstract: A vehicle front section air intake structure of a vehicle, equipped with a radiator support, comprises a radiator grille; a hood inner panel; a radiator support cover disposed between an upper end portion of the radiator support and the hood inner panel; and an air intake duct that guides air toward an engine. The radiator support cover includes a cover ventilation section that causes an air current from the radiator grille to flow between the radiator support cover and the hood inner panel, and an air guidance port that guides the air current toward the vehicle rear side. The cover ventilation section is provided with plural upper side bars and plural lower side bars, both extending along a vehicle front-rear direction. The upper side bars are disposed alternating with slits in the vehicle width direction and the lower side bars are disposed at a vehicle lower side of the slits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takayuki Kunimasa
  • Patent number: 9630485
    Abstract: An engine mount for a motor vehicle that is capable of being mounted in two orientations such that it allows two different series of engine designs to be installed in the vehicle while maintaining prescribed mounting elevations for either series of engine design. The engine mount is accompanied by a second engine mount of identical design serving the same purpose of determining the engine's mount height, but also providing a second attachment to support the engine and bear engine loads. Both of these engine mounts are attached to the vehicle's body or frame and also incorporate other known hardware such as brackets, bushings, and other common mechanical fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Hasport Performance, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Gillespie, Keith Gillespie
  • Patent number: 9506597
    Abstract: Various systems are provided for a support structure. In one embodiment, a system comprises a support structure including a plurality of support legs, a first end of each support leg of the plurality of support legs coupled to a respective cylinder head of a plurality of cylinder heads mountable to an engine block, the plurality of support legs configurable to support an exhaust aftertreatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Edward Arner, Paul Lloyd Flynn, Shishir Tiwari, Shashi Kiran
  • Patent number: 9464713
    Abstract: A modular assembly is described for a power train. An assembly housing includes first and second cavities connected by an inter-cavity passage. An input shaft and an output shaft linked by a first clutch are disposed, at least in part, in the first cavity. A hydraulic control assembly provides hydraulic control signals to control, at least in part, the first clutch device. A hydraulic quill insert disposed, at least in part, in the inter-cavity passage, includes a plurality of control passages. The hydraulic quill insert receives the hydraulic control signals and directs the signals to control power flow from the input shaft to the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Dwayne B. Watt, G. William Detrick, Cecil H. Wise, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9366294
    Abstract: An inner-shaft bearing bracket structure may include an inner-shaft that may be installed between a differential gear or a reduction gear connected to a motor or a engine for generating rotational power of a vehicle and a drive shaft for transmitting the rotational power to wheels of the vehicle in a vehicle width direction, bearings which wrap an outer peripheral surface of the inner-shaft and to which the inner-shaft may be rotatably coupled, and a bearing bracket which connects a pipe that houses and supports the bearings therein and a boss formed in the motor to project forward, wherein the bearing bracket may be disposed on a side surface of the boss and may be coupled by bolts in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jang-Ho Kim, Sung-Su Yoo
  • Patent number: 9346459
    Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a first axle, a second axle, an electric motor, an internal combustion engine, and a torque transfer device. The first axle is coupled to first and second wheels. The second axle is coupled to third and fourth wheels. The electric motor drives the first axle in a first direction and a second direction at different times. The internal combustion engine drives a transmission output shaft in one direction. The torque transfer device selectively drives the second axle in the first direction in response to rotation of the transmission output shaft in the one direction. The torque transfer device also selectively drives the second axle in the second direction in response to rotation of the transmission output shaft in the one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Trenton Munsell, Christopher K. Furman, Patrick Warden, Bradley Skaggs, John Chatfield
  • Patent number: 9221496
    Abstract: A suspension module for a vehicle. The suspension module may include a subframe, a skid plate, and a differential. The skid plate may be mounted to the subframe. The differential may be mounted to the skid plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Lawrence Barr, Gordon Aaron Weeks, Stephen A. Federighe
  • Patent number: 9022168
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine assembly configured to power a vehicle. The engine assembly defines a first engine end and a second engine end opposite the first engine end. The first engine end is spaced apart from the second engine end along a first direction. The engine assembly defines a third engine end and a fourth engine end opposite the third engine end. The third engine end is spaced apart from the fourth engine end along a second direction. The second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The vehicle further includes a steering assembly disposed in close proximity to the engine assembly. The steering assembly includes a steering body disposed closer to the first engine end than to the second engine end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alan W. Hayman, William A. Bear
  • Patent number: 9010479
    Abstract: A vehicle front structure includes: a motor unit for driving front wheels that is accommodated in a motor room formed in a front portion of a vehicle, and that has a driving shaft arranged coaxially with drive shafts connected to the front wheels; an air compressor that is securely attached to a rear portion of the motor unit in a vehicle longitudinal direction; a front side member that is arranged outward of the motor unit in a vehicle lateral direction, and that extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction; a cross member that is arranged above the motor unit in a vehicle height direction, that extends in the vehicle lateral direction, and that is connected to the front side member; and an inverter that is arranged above the cross member in the vehicle height direction, and that supplies electric power to the motor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taku Kambayashi
  • Patent number: 8978813
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine assembly configured to power a vehicle. The engine assembly defines a first engine end and a second engine end opposite the first engine end. The first engine end is spaced apart from the second engine end along a first direction. The engine assembly defines a third engine end and a fourth engine end opposite the third engine end. The third engine end is spaced apart from the fourth engine end along a second direction. The second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The vehicle further includes a steering assembly disposed in close proximity to the engine assembly. The steering assembly includes a steering body disposed closer to the first engine end than to the second engine end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alan W. Hayman, William A. Bear
  • Patent number: 8936130
    Abstract: An electric forklift includes: a drive unit including a unit case including a gear housing supporting a motor with an output shaft in a right and left direction and housing a gear train; and shaft housings protruding in the right and left direction from the gear housing, each of which houses a drive shaft, and each of which supports a wheel, wherein the drive shafts rotate via the gear train; support members, base end portions of which are rotatably engaged with outer peripheral portions of the shaft housings, and tip end portions of which are connected to a body frame so that the shaft housings are supported by the body frame via the support members; and a link portion between the gear housing and the body frame for preventing relative rotation of the unit case and the body frame about shaft centers of the drive shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Hirashita, Takayuki Mashiko
  • Patent number: 8919484
    Abstract: An automobile is provided with a body, a combustion engine and a transmission operationally connected to the engine. The crankshaft of the engine is substantially oriented in vehicle transverse direction and the engine seen in driving direction of the vehicle is arranged behind the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Frank Leopold
  • Patent number: 8733301
    Abstract: A general-purpose liquid-cooled engine delivers a coolant cooling an engine body to a radiator and delivers a cooling air to the radiator by use of a cooling fan to cool the coolant. A cover structure of the general-purpose liquid-cooled engine covers the engine body and the radiator. An engine cover is configured so as to allow the cooling air to be delivered to the radiator. A muffler cover covers a muffler disposed adjacent to an external surface of the engine cover. An exterior cover covers an entire engine including the engine cover and the muffler cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Sato, Takashi Ito, Keita Ito, Toru Kawai
  • Patent number: 8733492
    Abstract: A power unit 4 is mounted in a rear part of a vehicle, a shaft C shared by a motor 2 and a motor speed reducer 3 is disposed in a vehicle width direction, and a sub-frame 8 is provided around the power unit 4, a front cross frame 11 is disposed over a front portion of the power unit 4 in a front view of the vehicle and disposed in parallel with the shaft C of the motor 2, a rear cross frame 12 is disposed over a side portion of the power unit 4 in a side view of the vehicle, and left and right side portions of the power unit 4 are suspended from a vehicle body via suspension brackets 13 and 14 provided on side frames 9 and 10, circular mount rubbers 15 and 16, and motor-side mount brackets 17 and 18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Tachibana, Akihiro Nishikawa, Shuichi Yamane, Sunao Wakatsuki
  • Patent number: 8714295
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has an internal combustion engine mounted in a central tunnel of the vehicle floor pan. The internal combustion engine comprises an engine block assembly having a lower end closed by an oil pan and an upper end extending at an angle ? from a rear of the engine block assembly to a front thereof. An engine block closes the upper end and defines a crankcase that is configured to house a crankshaft for rotation therein. A cylinder housing assembly is reclined from vertical, towards the rear of the engine block, about an axis of the crankshaft by an angle ?. At least a portion of the cylinder housing assembly and the crankcase are disposed in the central tunnel of the vehicle floor pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alan W. Hayman, James J. Mazzola, III, William A. Bear
  • Patent number: 8651217
    Abstract: A structure of an engine mount is provided for a vehicle in which an engine is disposed in the front of the vehicle, a front wheel is driven, and the engine is integrally coupled with a transmission to be seated horizontally on a vehicle body in a transverse mounting direction. The structure may include a driveshaft coupled to receive the driving force of the engine through the transmission and penetrate a center bearing through a bearing bracket fixed to the engine, a subframe as a plate shape coupled to the vehicle body in a rear lower part of the engine and coupled to a lower part of the transmission through a main roll rod mounted on the front, and a sub-roll rod having one end connected to the subframe and the other end connected to the bearing bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Yong-Jin Kim, Seung-Won Kim, Kong-Sup Jung, Hyo-Seok Kim
  • Patent number: 8245810
    Abstract: The invention provides a buggy engine anchorage structure, which is characterized primarily by the fixing of the engine on a vehicle frame in a horizontal manner, where the output end of the engine is perpendicular to the rear wheel axle, and the output end of the engine and the rear wheel axle are perpendicular to each other to carry out a power linkage through a power output conversion structure by the output end of the engine, which enables the power at the output end of the engine to be transmitted through the power output conversion structure to the rear wheel axle. Accordingly, the engine fixed on the frame horizontally no longer squeezes the space of the vehicle operator and the passengers. Additionally, the engine and the frame can be then integrated into a single piece, which substantially avoids the vibrations due to the engine as the vehicle is moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignees: Aeon Motor Co., Ltd., Polaris Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Huei-Huay Huang, Benson Huang, Weily Chen, Paul Alan Krahn
  • Patent number: 8042793
    Abstract: A mounting scheme for attaching a power train to a motor vehicle frame includes a plurality of mounts. At least one of the mounts is a solid engine mount having a metal housing and an elastomeric bushing. The elastomeric bushing contains no voids other than a central bore used to attach the mount to a bracket. The elastomeric bushing includes frustoconical portions, where one end of each of the frustoconical portions is unconstrained by the metal housing. The stiffness of the mount may be tuned to reduce noise and improve handling. The stiffnesses of any of the axes may be adjusted so that the power train roll center aligns with the power train center of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Igami
  • Publication number: 20110232985
    Abstract: A power drive assistant system includes a wheel mover detachably fastened to the seat tube of a bicycle and holding an external rotor motor in friction contact with the rear wheel of the bicycle and controllable to rotate the rear wheel of the bicycle by means of a friction force, a rechargeable battery pack mounted on the seat pillar of the saddle of the bicycle to provide the external rotor motor of the wheel mover with the necessary working voltage, and a speed controller mounted on the handlebars of the bicycle for regulating the speed of the external rotor motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: CHIH HSING LEE
  • Publication number: 20110198145
    Abstract: The invention is a vehicle for ground operation that is an aerodynamic shell attached to wheels. The aerodynamic shell is shaped according to aircraft technology and it is elevated such that air flow around that shell is like air flow would be for that shell in flight. Elevation is accomplished by the attaching structure. Wheels at each side of the vehicle are arranged in wheel trains that are filled in and streamlined to form secondary aerodynamic units, with space between wheels used for equipment. This minimizes objects that would interfere with air flow. Special stability issues arise due to the resulting higher center of gravity of the elevated vehicle. These issues are addressed by significantly rearranging conventional vehicles. The result is a collection of novel vehicles such as trucks, automobiles, and buses that offer the benefit of large reductions in energy usage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventor: James Kenneth Bullis
  • Patent number: 7876561
    Abstract: A plastic liquid cooled variable speed drive or inductor provided. The cooler provides lightweight, space conservative, corrosive free cooling to the components as well as provides a mounting area for modules. A cooler can be mounted to the core of an inductor to absorb heat generated by the core losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Harold R. Schnetzka, Ivan Jadric, Steve Hoover, Kathleen S. Rogers, Mustafa Kemel Yanik
  • Publication number: 20100236856
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle in which an electric motor is disposed in the vicinity of a center of a vehicle body to reduce lateral expansion. The hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a motor, and a power transmission mechanism for transmitting power of the engine and the motor to a rear wheel. The engine is suspended on the vehicle body in a non-swingable manner with a cylinder extending in a substantially horizontal direction and a crankshaft provided to be oriented in a vehicle width direction. The electric motor is located in front of and above the crankshaft of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Akifumi NOMURA, Kazuyuki NAKAI, Kenichi OHMORI, Yoshiaki TSUKADA, Takashi TSUTSUMIZAKI, Shinichi WAGATSUMA
  • Patent number: 7575088
    Abstract: A powertrain mounting system includes a pair of engine and transmission mount assemblies. The engine mount assemblies include an isolator assembly having an elastomeric bushing with an encapsulated mounting member, an integral snubber, and a bracket assembly having a one piece can arranged to house the bushing and having an interlock arranged to engage the bushing. The bushing is press-fit into the can and arranged to isolate the mounting member from the can thereby dampening powertrain vibration and controlling powertrain movement, and the snubber is arranged to limit movement of the bushing relative to the can. The transmission mount assembly includes a support member, a pair of isolators positioned relative to each other, and a pair of mounting brackets positioned on the isolators; wherein the isolators are arranged to maintain the mounting brackets in spaced relation to the support member thereby dampening powertrain vibration and controlling powertrain movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Hamid Mir, Adrian VanCampenhout, Christopher A Wolfe, John D Richardson, John Boughton, Ted Thelen, Larry W Bell, Brian J Rahn
  • Patent number: 7571039
    Abstract: A rollover avoidance system for changing the damping characteristics of suspension dampers at each wheel of a vehicle so as to mitigate the potential for vehicle rollover. The system includes a plurality of vehicle parameter sensors for measuring vehicle parameters and providing vehicle parameter signals. The system also includes a controller for generating a damper suspension command signal for each damper using the vehicle parameter signals. The controller considers a roll control factor representing a rollover condition of the vehicle and a yaw stability control factor representing a yaw condition of the vehicle to set the damping of the dampers to mitigate the potential for vehicle rollover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Shih-Ken Chen, Nikolai K. Moshchuk, Cheng-Foo Chen
  • Publication number: 20090166122
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes two front wheels, two rear wheels, an internal combustion engine, a first motor/generator, and a second motor/generator. The first motor/generator may be rotatably coupled to the internal combustion engine, and the second motor/generator may be rotatably coupled to at least one wheel of the hybrid vehicle. The first motor/generator, the second motor/generator and a gear transmission are housed within the engine compartment and are located between two front wheels and arranged in a substantially linear manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: BYD CO. LTD.
    Inventors: HongBing Luo, Yi Ren, ShengLin Yang, Tao Wang, Yan Liu
  • Patent number: 7431116
    Abstract: A snow vehicle includes an engine containing a crankshaft and a balancer shaft, a track belt mounted behind the engine, and a front axle for transmitting the driving power from the engine to the track belt. The balancer shaft is located above a line connecting the crankshaft and the front axle and near the rear end of the crankshaft. The snow vehicle improves the stability of the vehicle during operation while minimizing an increase in the dimension of the engine in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Ashida
  • Patent number: 7360620
    Abstract: In a low floor type vehicle 10, a banking angle ?1 of a longitudinal V-type engine 100 mounted below a low floor is set to an angle equal to or exceeding approximately 90°. The V-type engine is arranged with a bisector L1 of the banking angle directed toward a head pipe 21 of a body frame 20. The body frame is composed of a pair of right and left upper frames 22 extended backward and downward from the head pipe and a pair of right and left down frames 23 extended downward from the head pipe and coupled to the front of a crankcase 104 of the V-type engine and is a diamond type frame from which the V-type engine can be suspended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Takenaka, Hideki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7240758
    Abstract: An all terrain vehicle (“ATV”) is disclosed having a frame with front, rear, right, and left sides. An engine and at least two wheel axes are disposed on the frame. A plurality of wheels are disposed on the at least two wheel axes. The engine includes a cylinder disposed adjacent a crankshaft and a generator operatively connected to the crankshaft. An output shaft, separate from the crankshaft, operatively connects to the engine to transmit power from the engine to at least one of the plurality of wheels through at least one of the wheel axes. The output shaft is disposed between the cylinder and the generator in a plane substantially perpendicular to at least one of the wheel axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Korenjak, Wilfried Ehlers, Johann Holzleitner
  • Patent number: 7216736
    Abstract: A heat exchanger, which performs heat exchanging between a lubricating oil circulating within a transfer device disposed behind an engine and an engine coolant, also functions as a mass member of a dynamic damper. The heat exchanger is disposed at an upper face of a transfer case via a resilient member. Herein, the resilient member is comprised of a first metal plate, a second metal plate, and a rubber member interposed between the first and second metal plates, and there are provided lubricating passages flowing within the resilient member. Accordingly, there can be provided the vibration suppression device of the power train that can suppress vibration properly regardless of the temperature changing and advantage the weight reduction without requiring any new disposition space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Yamamoto, Yuzou Ohkawa, Eiji Mito