Battery Mountings And Holders Patents (Class 180/68.5)
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Patent number: 9033078Abstract: A system for connecting a power-supply battery to a motor vehicle, including a device for ventilating the battery, and a multi-connection plate which includes openings for connecting to at least two ducts for circulating a heat-transport fluid, and for connecting to the battery so as to connect the at least two ducts to an inner circulation circuit of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2012Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: RENAULT s.a.sInventors: Thierry Fillion, Jean-Yves Faure, Stephane Trentin
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Publication number: 20150129337Abstract: Method for battery replacement in a vehicle (110), which vehicle is equipped with a storage space (150;200;300;400) for a battery (120,122;220;320;420;620), where an opening (151;204;304;404) into the storage space exists under the vehicle, wherein the vehicle assumes a first and a second predetermined position in relation to first and second battery transport devices (130;140) that bring a battery out from the vehicle and a battery into the vehicle. The transport devices are installed at least partly above ground (100) and beside the positions, and in that the batteries are brought along a respective path (121,123) running from the storage space, under a side beam (112) of the vehicle and up to a respective position above ground and beside the vehicle. A device for automatic battery replacement and a storage device for use in a vehicle are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2013Publication date: May 14, 2015Inventor: Sten Corfitsen
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Patent number: 9027684Abstract: A vehicular battery mounting structure (10) includes a floor panel (14), a battery frame (30) arranged below the floor panel (14), and a bracket (40) provided on both left and right sides of a vehicle, interposed between the floor panel (14) and the battery frame (30). The bracket (40) includes a bottom wall portion (42), an inside flange portion (48) that is on an inside in a vehicle width direction, and an outside flange portion (50) that is on an outside in the vehicle width direction. A shape of the bracket is a generally hat-shape opening upward in the sectional view taken along the vehicle width direction. The battery frame (30) is indirectly or directly fixed to the bottom wall portion (42). The inside and outside flange portions (48, 50) are joined to the floor panel (14) such that a joint strength between the outside flange portion (50) and the floor panel (14) is greater than a joint strength between the inside flange portion (48) and the floor panel (14).Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kosuke Araki
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Publication number: 20150122563Abstract: A battery includes a controller configured or programmed to manage battery cells disposed inside a housing. The controller is arranged one of forward or rearward of the battery cells. The housing includes right and left housing half bodies which define right and left portions of the housing, respectively, and are assembled together in a lateral direction. The battery prevents an increase in the width of a saddle-type electric vehicle while securing a sufficient capacity of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2014Publication date: May 7, 2015Inventors: Mitsuo KONDO, Hideo KOHDA
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Publication number: 20150122562Abstract: A vehicle includes a battery supported by an elastic member. The vehicle is provided with a connector that is electrically connected to a connector on the battery. The connector on the vehicle is switched between an unlock state in which the movement of the connector on the vehicle is allowed to follow the oscillation of the battery, and a lock state in which the movement of the connector on the vehicle is restricted. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a stress from being applied to the connector on the battery and the connector on the vehicle when a vehicle is travelling, and it is possible to smoothly connect the connector on the battery and the connector on the vehicle when a user mounts the battery on the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2014Publication date: May 7, 2015Inventor: Shidehiko MIYASHIRO
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Patent number: 9022457Abstract: A protective device for an onboard electronic equipment includes a vehicle body reinforcing member that is arranged around the electronic equipment, and of which each end is fastened to an onboard fixed member, and in which force required to unfasten one end is less than force required to unfasten the other end, and a protective member that is mounted to a facing surface of the electronic equipment that faces the vehicle body reinforcing member such that, when the electronic equipment moves to the vehicle body reinforcing member side due to receiving force from a side of a vehicle body, the protective member will contact the vehicle body reinforcing member before the electronic equipment does.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2012Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masahiro Hirano, Ai Matsumoto
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Patent number: 9022152Abstract: In an automobile body structure, since a floor panel disposed beneath left and right side sills and a battery support frame includes a center tunnel protruding upwardly and extending in the vehicle body fore-and-aft direction, and a main body portion of the battery support frame and the floor panel are connected via a linking bracket, it is possible to reinforce the battery support frame with the floor panel and prevent the battery support frame from warping into an arc shape and being bent by the collision load of a side collision and, moreover, since even if the battery support frame is formed into a straight line shape, interference with the center tunnel can be avoided, it is possible to reliably make the battery support frame buckle when the collision load of a side collision is inputted thereinto, thus enhancing the ability to absorb the energy of a collision.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2011Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shogo Imamura, Takafumi Hiragi, Keita Yoshinaga
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Publication number: 20150114733Abstract: A battery pack holding apparatus is disclosed that includes a high-voltage battery pack for a vehicle that has a protrusion at the front end, and a battery pack holder that is installed within a vehicle body and has a front end opening into which the high-voltage battery pack slides into. In addition, a fixed rail is disposed at a front end of the battery pack holder and a moving portion which slides in a width direction of the battery pack holder and along the fixed rail and has a contact portion that comes into contact with the protrusion of the high-voltage battery pack when the high-voltage battery pack slides when the high-voltage battery pack is in the battery pack holder. Further, an elastic portion is disposed in the moving portion to press the contact portion toward the protrusion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYInventor: Jung Moon Chang
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Publication number: 20150114734Abstract: A battery mounting structure includes a locking device 23 that fastens and releases a battery 13 mounted on a mounting part 16, and an auxiliary removal lever 24 that presses the battery 13 in a released state from the mounting part 16 in a removal direction. The locking device 23 has a cylindrical locking barrel 27. The auxiliary removal lever 24 has a pushing member 32 that presses the battery 13 in the removal direction and is pivotally supported by the locking barrel 27 so as to be fit onto the locking barrel 27.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2012Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: Panasonic Intellectual Property ManagementInventor: Mitsuru Ogawa
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Publication number: 20150114735Abstract: A modular axle concept for a motor vehicle with electric drive includes a structure that supports the bodywork of the motor vehicle. The structure has an integration point or preferably a connection point, in each instance, for attachment of a coupling module, in each instance, for each wheel of the front axle and/or rear axle that can be driven electrically. The module can be connected with the electrically drivable wheel, particularly with its wheel mount.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: KSM CASTINGS GROUP GMBHInventors: Thomas Buschjohann, Andreas Kiesel, Gregor Bechtle
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Publication number: 20150114736Abstract: An electrical vehicle includes a vehicle body defining a passenger cabin; at least one battery compartment with an openable hood that can be opened to expose the battery compartment; a battery including electrical electrodes removably stored in the battery compartment; at least three battery supports mounted substantially in a vertical orientation in the battery compartment, wherein at least two of the battery supports include electrical contacts that are configured to be electrically coupled with the electrical electrodes of the battery; the battery includes at least two downwardly depending projections which are spatially spaced and arranged relative to each other so that their spacing identically matches a corresponding spacing between said at least three battery supports in the battery compartment, and at least two of the three battery projections comprise said electrical electrodes configured to electrically mate with the electrical contacts of the battery compartment; and the battery supports and the baType: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Inventor: Meir Avganim
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Patent number: 9016417Abstract: A battery unit mounting apparatus for mounting a battery unit to a vehicle from a bottom face side of the vehicle comprises a table having a mount surface for mounting the battery unit, a lift for moving the table up and down with respect to the bottom face of the vehicle, and a connection mechanism for connecting the table and the lift to each other. The connection mechanism connects the table and the lift to each other such that the battery unit or table comes into contact with the bottom face of the vehicle so as to tilt the mount surface by a predetermined inclination with respect to the bottom face of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2014Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota JidoshokkiInventors: Ikkei Ohgitani, Takahiro Fukagawa, Yoshio Ojima, Akihiko Motoya, Hideyuki Maki
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Publication number: 20150107921Abstract: A battery pack held under a floor panel by a battery pan attached under the floor panel of a vehicle body is disposed at a position inside a over-floor framework formed over the floor panel by a pair of seat rails, a front upper seat cross member, and a right upper seat cross member.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2014Publication date: April 23, 2015Inventor: Toshiaki NARUKE
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Patent number: 9005796Abstract: A power storage unit includes a battery module housed in a battery case. The battery module has, as components, a plurality of battery cells stacked and arranged in a direction (direction Y) crossing a transverse direction. Reinforcing members arranged at a predetermined spacing are provided between the battery cells. The power storage unit of this structure can prevent damage to the power storage unit disposed between seats adjacent to each other in the transverse direction, when frame members provided in the seats are moved in the transverse direction in the event of a crash of a moving conveyance.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2007Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomohiko Shishido, Yoshinori Noritake, Kiyoshi Matsumoto
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Patent number: 8997912Abstract: Disclosed is an electric motorcycle provided with: an electric motor (M) for driving a rear wheel (110) which is a drive wheel; a battery (B) for supplying power to the electric motor (M); and a controller unit (130) for performing drive control of the electric motor (M). The electric motorcycle is of the scooter type in which a footrest section is constructed between the front wheel (105) and the rear wheel (110), and is provided with a controller housing compartment (129) disposed in the footrest section so as to be downwardly recessed. An opening (131) is formed in the bottom of the controller housing compartment (129), and a cooling fin (130c) is provided in the bottom surface of the controller unit (130) in a state in which the cooling fin (130c) is housed in the controller housing compartment (129) and downwardly protrudes from the opening (131) to face the outside. As a result, the controller unit (130) is directly and efficiently cooled by airflow produced during travel.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2011Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Suzuki Motor CorporationInventors: Osamu Hakamata, Akinori Honma, Kazuhiro Iida, Takeshi Nagao
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Patent number: 8993142Abstract: In a battery pack for an electric car, a plurality of battery modules are mounted to be divided between the front and rear of a middle cross member and a main switch and a junction board are disposed in the front and rear of the middle cross member respectively. A bent part of a second high voltage cable, which bends into a U-shape and pass through beneath the middle cross member, is held by a cable holder and fixed to a fixing part. Since only a bus bar disposed in the intermediate part of the first high voltage cable is bent into a U-shape and passed through beneath the middle cross member, not only is a wiring operation of the first high voltage cable easy, but it is also possible to minimize the length of the bus bar to thus enhance the reliability with respect to vibration.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2012Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideaki Sakai, Kosuke Tachikawa, Makoto Kawahara
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Patent number: 8991535Abstract: Described is an electric vehicle conversion system and method comprising one or more battery packs disposed within one or more battery pack enclosures, a frontal mounting subframe assembly and an electric motor mounting frame assembly. In one implementation, the vehicle conversion system incorporates six battery pack enclosures. The described components and assemblies are designed to simplify building an electric car on the basis of an existing vehicle chassis. The frontal mounting subframe assembly is designed to be securely attached to the vehicle frame using at least four bolts and is designed to securely hold two battery pack enclosures disposed under the front hood of the vehicle. The electric motor mounting frame assembly is designed to mechanically mate with the existing engine mounting points of the original vehicle and is attached to said points with at least two bolts.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2012Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Electric Motor Werks, Inc.Inventors: Henry Grishashvili, Valery Miftakhov
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Patent number: 8991536Abstract: To lower the fuel consumption of a vehicle having a pneumatic brake system during operation of the vehicle by utilizing existing components to their full capacity, thus contributing to energy conservation, a method and device for controlling pressure is provided, wherein modes of compressed air expansion are provided. In a second compressed-air expansion mode, compressed air is channeled from a second compressed-air storage container to the compression chamber of the air compressor during expansion phases of the air compressor. In a third compressed-air expansion mode, compressed air is channeled from a third compressed-air storage container to the compression chamber of the air compressor during expansion phases of the air compressor.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2012Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: WABCO GmbHInventors: Thomas Dieckmann, Ingo Stumberg, Christian Wiehen
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Publication number: 20150083507Abstract: An impact element (10) for a motor vehicle (70) has a flat basic body (12) formed from a rigid material and has connecting sections (16) on one side (50) to fix the basic body (12) to a supporting frame (72) of the motor vehicle (70). The basic body (12) has a gas-tight chamber (24) in which at least one opening (26) is formed to fill the chamber (24) with compressed air.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2014Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventors: Ralf Keller, Eduard Ewert
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Publication number: 20150075891Abstract: An arrangement structure of an electricity-storage device of a vehicle, which comprises a pair of right-and-left front side frames, a dash panel partitioning a vehicle-compartment front portion at rear end portions of the front side frames, and a pair of front tires arranged on an outside, in a vehicle width direction, of the front side frames. The electricity-storage device is arranged on the outside, in the vehicle width direction, of the front side frame at a position between the dash panel and the front tire in a vehicle longitudinal direction such that the electricity-storage device overlaps a rear end portion of the front side frame (the kick-up portion, the protrusion portion) in a vehicle side view.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2014Publication date: March 19, 2015Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Seigo SUZUKI, Sho KAWANARI
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Patent number: 8978804Abstract: A battery box includes a flange, a side wall and a bottom wall. The flange is connected to an inner peripheral edge of an installation hole formed in a floor panel of a vehicle. The side wall gently continues with the flange, and is extended downward. The bottom wall, has a periphery gently continuing with the side wall, and is formed with at least one open hole in a center of the bottom wall. Seat portions are projected upper than the bottom wall. At least one seat portion is disposed at each both sides of the open hole. A bottom cover closes the open hole. A corner portion gently continues with the side wall and the bottom wall forming curved surface. A center of curvature of the curved surface is set inside a corner of a battery to be placed on the seat portions.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2013Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignees: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Engineering Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideo Okada, Hideki Takeuchi
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Patent number: 8978800Abstract: A lifting vehicle having two axles with respective differentials; a constant-velocity, universal joint drive connecting the differentials; a telescopic arm; and a hydraulic circuit powered by a hydraulic pump to operate the telescopic arm.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2011Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Movimatica SRLInventors: Aurelio Soma', Nicola Bosso, Amilcare Merlo
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Patent number: 8979111Abstract: A bicycle on-board device having a body that includes a containment space and is sized for insertion into a tube of a bicycle frame. The device has fastener locations that are located to match fastener locations on the bicycle frame for attaching cycling items, such as a bottle cage.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Campagnolo S.r.l.Inventor: Massimo Dal Pozzo
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Patent number: 8978803Abstract: A divided dual inlet housing for an air-based hybrid battery thermal conditioning system which is configured such that HVAC air entering at the HVAC air inlet is prevented from partly backflowing out the cabin air inlet via a dividing wall disposed therein so that all the HVAC air exits the divided dual inlet housing at the air outlet.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Michael S. Foos, Ronald A. Swartz, Brooksie J. Pollack, Teresa A Walczyk
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Patent number: 8978617Abstract: There is provided a mounting structure for a battery and a fuel tank of a gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle. The mounting structure allows the battery to be disposed on one side of a propeller shaft, and the fuel tank to be disposed on the other side of the propeller shaft. The propeller shaft is disposed in the center of the vehicle and below the bearing surface of the rear seat, under the floor of the vehicle body so as to substantially extend in the fore-aft direction of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroshi Matsuda
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Publication number: 20150068826Abstract: A vehicle having a battery mounted thereon is provided. The battery includes a cell group having a plurality of cells, each of the cells including an electrolytic solution and a power-generating element within a case of cylindrical shape, and a holding member holding each of the cells in a diameter direction of the cell, wherein the cell group is placed in an area inside an edge of the holding member when viewed from a height direction of the vehicle. Each of the cells can be arranged to extend in the height direction of the vehicle. The holding member may be a heat dissipation plate allowing heat exchange between the cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2012Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kenji Kimura, Tsuyoshi Hayashi, Kosuke Kusaba
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Patent number: 8973883Abstract: A fastening apparatus (1) for a battery (2) in a motor vehicle (29) has a carrier device (31) for carrying the battery (2). A clamping strap (10) encloses the battery (2) at least in sections and has opposite first and second end sections (11; 12). The first end section (11) is fastened to the carrier device (31). A clamping arrangement (17) is coupled to the second end section (12) of the clamping strap (10) and connects to the carrier device (31). An actuator (26) of the clamping arrangement (17) sets a prestress in the clamping strap (10).Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2011Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AktiengesellschaftInventors: Steffen Meier, Volker Brunner
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Patent number: 8973692Abstract: A work vehicle includes a reducing agent tank, a battery, a reducing agent tank mounting member, a battery cover and a first guide member. The battery and the tank are positioned in a row. The mounting member has a bottom plate, and a partition plate extending upward from the bottom plate between the tank and the battery. The tank is mounted on the bottom plate. The battery cover has an upper plate above the battery, and a side plate extending downward from a side of the upper plate between the tank and the battery. The first guide member extends from the side plate toward the tank and slopes downward. Preferably, a first end of a second guide member disposed below the first guide member is positioned closer to the battery than a distal end of the first guide member, with the second guide member sloping downward toward the tank.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2013Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.Inventors: Kozo Okuda, Naoto Nakamura, Kiichirou Kouno, Kenji Ohiwa
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Patent number: 8973691Abstract: An off-road vehicle has four wheels and side-by-side driver and passenger seats. At least two of the wheels are driven by an electric motor powered by batteries disposed in the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2012Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.Inventors: Garrett Morgan, Gilbert Lefrancois, David Monfette, Marc Gagnon
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Publication number: 20150060170Abstract: A battery holder for securing a battery to a vehicle and for mechanically isolating the battery from the vehicle is provided. The battery holder includes a vehicle mounting plate, a battery containment plate, and a number of shock absorbing elements. The battery containment plate includes a number of open-topped cells for retaining leaking battery liquid therein. The shock absorbing elements prevent vibrations and shocks from being transferred from the vehicle to the battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Applicant: KING PRODUCTS, LLCInventors: Jon Clayton Templeman, Brock Christian Templeman
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Patent number: 8967312Abstract: A battery pack tray includes: a tray body including: a bottom which has a concave-convex portion that includes convex and concave portions which extend in a first direction; and a wall which is upward bent from a periphery of the bottom; reinforcement frames provided along opposed wall portions of the wall in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a cross member disposed on an upper surface of the concave-convex portion, and forming a first closed cross-section with the concave-convex portion, both end portions of the cross member being secured to the reinforcement frames; an inner cross member secured to an upper surface of the cross member, both end portions of the inner cross member being secured to the reinforcement frames; and attachment brackets secured to the reinforcement frames.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kenji Yanagi
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Patent number: 8968901Abstract: Disclosed herein is a middle- or large-sized battery module comprising: a battery cell stack including a plurality of battery cells or unit modules electrically connected with each other; a first module case constructed in a structure to entirely surround one side end of the battery cell stack and to partially surround the upper and lower ends of the battery cell stack; a second module case coupled with the first module case, the second module case being constructed in a structure to entirely surround the other side end of the battery cell stack and to partially surround the upper and lower ends of the battery cell stack; a sensing member mounted to the first module case or the second module case; and a battery management system (BMS) mounted to the first module case or the second module case.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2011Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.Inventors: Heekook Yang, Jongmoon Yoon, Jae Hun Yang
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Publication number: 20150053492Abstract: The invention relates to an earth-coupling arrangement (12) for a vehicle (10), with an earth-receiving element (14) for receiving an earthing object (16), a guide arrangement (18) by means of which the earth-receiving element (14) is mounted movably relative to the vehicle (10), and with coupling means (20) which are designed to couple the earth-receiving element (14) to a vehicle structure connected fixedly to the vehicle (10) and/or at least partially to decouple said earth-receiving element from the vehicle structure, wherein the coupling means (20) have an actuator (22) which is designed to adjust the degree of the coupling and/or the temporal profile of the coupling.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2013Publication date: February 26, 2015Inventors: Josef Kolatschek, Gian Antonio D'Addetta
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Publication number: 20150053493Abstract: A subframe assembly for a motor vehicle includes a suspension subframe defining a void and an ancillary device of the vehicle disposed at least partially within the void. The ancillary device may be a battery assembly or a urea tank. The battery assembly may include a heat exchange system, such as a fan configured to direct air flow to the battery assembly. At least a portion of the ancillary device may be integral to the suspension subframe.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2014Publication date: February 26, 2015Inventors: Donatus Andreas Josephine KEES, James Andrew STRAKER
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Patent number: 8960350Abstract: A vehicle includes a floor panel and an electric storage apparatus fixed to a lower face of the floor panel and outputting an energy for use in running of the vehicle. The electric storage apparatus includes a first electric storage stack including a plurality of electric storage elements, an electronic device used to control charge and discharge of the electric storage apparatus and located below the first electric storage stack in the vehicle, and a case accommodating the first electric storage stack and the electronic device and fixed to the lower face of the floor panel.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2010Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akihiro Kosaki, Shigeru Fukuda, Shigeto Ozaki, Takanori Kumagai, Yasutoshi Mizuno
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Patent number: 8960351Abstract: A utility vehicle equipped with a main frame for forming a framework of a chassis; a ROPS (Roll-Over Protective Structure) provided at an intermediate portion of the main frame in a front-rear direction of a body of the utility vehicle so as to enclose a cabin; a seat disposed inside the ROPS; an engine disposed under the seat; and a battery disposed under the seat and on an outside of the engine in a width direction of the utility vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2013Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuhiro Maeda, Teruaki Yamamoto, Itsuo Takegami
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Patent number: 8960344Abstract: An object of the present invention is to efficiently mount a fuel cell system below a floor of a vehicle rear portion and to protect the fuel cell system when a forward impact force acts on a vehicle rear portion. To achieve this, a fuel cell vehicle in which a fuel cell system includes a gas tank is configured to store a fuel gas and a fuel cell unit formed by integrating a fuel cell stack, an intake duct, and an exhaust duct, the gas tank is disposed in a space below a rear floor connected to a front floor via a vertical wall portion and adjacent to the vertical wall portion, and the fuel cell unit is disposed behind the gas tank.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2012Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Suzuki Motor CorporationInventors: Naoki Ozawa, Toru Eguchi
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Patent number: 8960781Abstract: A vehicle rocker panel is provided that is extruded as a single piece. As extruded, the rocker panel may include one or more interior reinforcing walls as well as interior and exterior design features.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Tesla Motors, Inc.Inventors: Peter Dore Rawlinson, Michael John Baldwin, Hitendra Laxmidas Gadhiya, Alexi Charbonneau
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Publication number: 20150047917Abstract: A utility vehicle includes a plurality of ground-engaging members, a frame assembly supported by the plurality of ground-engaging members, and a powertrain assembly. Additionally, the utility vehicle includes a body generally surrounding the frame assembly and including a hood, dashboard assembly, and a side panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2014Publication date: February 19, 2015Inventors: Daniel L. Burt, II, Brent C. Eaton, Michael C. Bohnsack, Andrew J. Miller, Michael J. Hanten, Anthony J. Kinsman, Brent J. Hanson, Timothy F. Melvin, James E. Rogala, Ryan Black-Macken, Kurt E. Stenberg, Garth H. Bracy, Jeff M. Goulet, Jeremiah T. Johnstun
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Patent number: 8955627Abstract: An electric vehicle has simple structure allowing effective cooling of on-board batteries collectively disposed within a swing arm. The electric vehicle includes a swing arm that houses an electric motor that is swingably mounted to a vehicle body and drives a drive wheel WR, and batteries of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. A wide case portion that houses the batteries is formed at a position toward a pivot shaft of the swing arm. Also, a protruding portion for forming an air reservoir space above the batteries is formed at a roof portion of the wide case portion. The batteries are disposed side by side in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body. The protruding portion, in a side view of the vehicle body, is substantially convex protruding upward across the batteries.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2012Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kaoru Hatanaka, Yoichi Taniguchi, Atsushi Yonehana
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Patent number: 8955632Abstract: A tubular frame structure is provided for a three-wheeled motor vehicle with an top upper frame extending in the vehicle longitudinal and vehicle transverse direction, and with a lower frame extending in vehicle longitudinal direction and vehicle transverse direction, which is structurally connected with the upper frame via several connecting tubes extending substantially in the vehicle vertical direction, to form at least one energy absorption structure.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2012Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Thorsten Schurna, Curd-Sigmund Boettcher
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Patent number: 8955630Abstract: An engine compartment of an automotive vehicle is provided. The compartment comprises an internal combustion engine including an air intake manifold and an electrical storage battery. The battery is housed in a storage box and an air intake system supplies air to the air intake manifold and the battery storage box. The air intake system has an inlet supplying air to a flow diverter. The flow diverter has a main channel including a bend dividing the main channel into a first passage and a second passage tangential to the first passage. The second passage is in fluid communication with the air intake manifold. The flow diverter includes an outlet facing the first passage which is in fluid communication with the battery storage box.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2012Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Joshua Stuckey, James Robinson, Justin J. Chiodo, Mahendra Kute, Brandy Kay Laakso
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Patent number: 8950537Abstract: A battery system for a vehicle. The battery system includes: a battery module; a junction box which connects the battery module to other electronic components; and a case which includes the battery module and the junction box. The junction box is integrally mounted on a side surface of the battery module which is fixed to the case, and at least the junction box is non-contact with an inner surface of the case.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2013Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yutaka Yokoyama
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Patent number: 8950536Abstract: A battery assembly, or module, for a vehicle having a battery compartment that defines an opening in the floor. The battery module is disposed partially within the battery compartment and extends through an opening in the floor of a battery compartment to be partially disposed below the floor of the vehicle. A method of installing a battery module into a vehicle is also disclosed. The battery module is inserted partially into an opening in a floor of a battery compartment with a lower portion of the battery module being retained below the floor and an upper portion of the battery module being retained above the floor. A seal is attached between the battery module and the opening in the floor.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2012Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Patrick Daniel Maguire, Mladen M. Marjanovic, Stephen W. Siu
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Patent number: 8944198Abstract: A vehicle generally includes a motor that drives wheels of the vehicle, a high voltage battery that supplies electric power to the motor, and an exhaust system that exhausts a gas generated by the high voltage battery from the vehicle. The exhaust system for a battery includes an exhaust fan that exhausts the gas generated by the high voltage battery, a control unit that controls operation of the exhaust fan, and a collision detection unit that detects a collision of the vehicle. The control unit has a structure that operates the exhaust fan when the collision detection unit detects a collision of a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2011Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Suzuki Motor CorporationInventors: Shogo Miyazaki, Hiroyuki Kawashima, Tomoaki Morikawa
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Patent number: 8944199Abstract: The present invention provides a working vehicle, including a power source unit, an air intake passage, and an air exhaust passage all of which are arranged inside a roof portion, wherein the power source unit is disposed in a portion close to a center in a vehicle body width direction, the air intake passage guides air taken from an air intake port that is provided in a center portion in the vehicle body width direction, to the power source unit, and the air exhaust passage is bent in a planar view such that air supplied to the power source unit flows in a bent manner toward an air exhaust port that is provided in one end portion in the vehicle body width direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2013Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Tomofumi Fukunaga, Keishiro Nishi, Hiroo Fujimoto
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Patent number: 8939246Abstract: To achieve efficient and proper transmission of an impact load from a floor frame on one side of a vehicle body to a floor frame on the other side to thereby protect a battery unit from damage, an automotive floor structure includes a first cross member upper and a first cross member lower. the first cross member upper extends in a lateral direction of the vehicle body and has ends attached to left and right side sills, respectively. The first cross member lower extends in the lateral direction below a front floor panel at a position under the first cross member upper, and has ends secured to the left and right floor frames, respectively. The first cross member upper and the first cross member lower vertically sandwich the battery unit therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2011Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshiyuki Yamaguchi, Shotaro Ayuzawa, Shinya Kobayashi, Koichi Yamamoto
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Patent number: 8939245Abstract: A system for connecting a set of batteries configured to supply at least one electric motor for powering a motor vehicle and configured to be accommodated inside a compartment provided on the vehicle. Each battery includes a logic processing unit, a communication module, and a mechanism for connecting to the motor. The vehicle includes a logic processing unit connected to a stationary auxiliary battery, a communication module capable of communicating with the communication module of each battery, and a mechanism for locking and blocking the batteries in position.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2011Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Renault S.A.S.Inventor: Xavier Jaffrezic
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Patent number: 8936125Abstract: A battery container which is to house a battery for a vehicle and which is to be attached between at least two frames disposed in the vehicle, includes: a bottom plate; a wall member which is raised from a circumference of the bottom plate and which includes a side wall member disposed along the frames; an outer frame which is attached to an outer side of the side wall member; and an inner frame which is attached to an inner side of the side wall member. The outer frame and the inner frame are extended in a substantially same direction along the side wall member, and the side wall member is clampingly held between the outer frame and the inner frame.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2013Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoji Nakamori
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Patent number: 8936124Abstract: A fixing device for releasable fixing an electrical energy accumulator to a carrying structure of a motor vehicle includes a retaining protrusion and a locking catch which are provided on the energy accumulator and on the carrying structure (or vice versa). To fix the energy accumulator to the carrying structure, a relative movement of the retaining protrusion to the locking catch is provided along a movement track in the direction of an end position, in which the locking catch can be swiveled between a release position and a locked position such that in the release position the locking catch is outside the movement track of the retaining protrusion and in the locked position the locking catch protrudes into the movement track of the retaining protrusion and there engages behind the retaining protrusion when the retaining protrusion is in the end position.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2011Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KGInventors: Thomas Auer, Martin Rodler