Vehicle Or Vehicle Component Patents (Class 219/202)
  • Patent number: 9593670
    Abstract: A method for reducing noise generated by a wind turbine includes measuring a reference temperature of the wind turbine. The method also includes regulating a trailing edge surface temperature of a trailing edge portion of a rotor blade attached to the wind turbine. In addition, the method includes measuring the trailing edge surface temperature. Further, the method includes regulating the trailing edge surface temperature to maintain a predetermined temperature differential between the reference temperature and the trailing edge surface temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lorenz Edwin Drack, Benoit Philippe Petitjean, Jorge Alejandro Carretero Benignos, Akil Abbas Rangwalla, Pratish Patil
  • Patent number: 9596719
    Abstract: A composite pane having an electrically heatable coating is described. The composite pane comprises: at least two individual panes; an intermediate layer, which connects the individual panes to one another; at least one transparent, electrically conductive coating on at least one side of at least one of the at least two individual panes, the at least one side faces the intermediate layer; and at least two bus bars, which are connected to the at least one transparent, electrically conductive coating, wherein a first bus bar is electrically connected to a first feed line provided for connection to one pole of a voltage source and a second bus bar is electrically connected to a second feed line provided for connection to the second pole of the voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Volkmar Offermann, Andreas Schlarb, Martin Melcher, Susanne Lisinski
  • Patent number: 9590419
    Abstract: A power switching assembly for switching power in a power distribution bus, and a power distribution system including such a power switching assembly, are disclosed. The power switching assembly includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a first semiconductor element and a second semiconductor element electrically coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal to provide controllability of a current flow from the first terminal to the second terminal and from the second terminal to the first terminal A controller for controlling the semiconductor elements may be configured to implement one or more of various control schemes such as a breaker, a current limiter, a load balancer, and a precharging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Ove Boe, Alf Olav Valen
  • Patent number: 9585198
    Abstract: A heater system includes a bag forming a cavity, a fluid bladder carried within the cavity and forming a fluidly sealed chamber. The fluid bladder being configured to store electrorheological fluid within a fluidly sealed chamber. The heater system further including an electrical wire in fluid communication with the electrorheological fluid and a heater blanket carried within the cavity. The method includes altering the electrorheological fluid with a current and providing heat with a heater blanket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Brian S. Modrzejewski, Carlos Fenny
  • Patent number: 9567921
    Abstract: In a vehicle including a power supply network for electrical consumers, a battery, an engine, and a generator coupled to the engine to supply electrical energy to the battery and to the power supply network, an operation saving device includes an electronic processor configured to raise an idling speed of the engine when the battery is disconnected from the power supply network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignees: RENAULT s.a.s., NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joelle Mollon, Andreea Balasete, Takeshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9545686
    Abstract: An arc welding apparatus is disclosed in one form including a conductor tube defining an internal passageway and a distal end portion. The internal passageway has an internal profile proximate the distal end portion. The apparatus further includes an alignment device comprising an exterior profile and an internal passage. The exterior profile is configured for mechanical attachment to the internal profile of the conductor tube. The apparatus also includes a conduit liner disposed in the internal passageway of the conductor tube and the internal passage of the alignment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Victor Equipment Company
    Inventors: Khalid Hassan, Glenn Redding, Mike Stephens, Jim Barker, Ross Fleishmann
  • Patent number: 9543556
    Abstract: A battery stack is provided having lower and upper battery tiers each formed of at least two battery cell arrays. A pair of brackets are provided for connecting the lower arrays along a top surface of the lower tier and connecting the upper arrays to a bottom surface of the upper tier. The lower and upper battery tiers are secured together by the brackets without hardware mounted to an exterior surface of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bhaskara Boddakayala, Thomas M. Gunther, Rajaram Subramanian
  • Patent number: 9516702
    Abstract: There is disclosed a honeycomb structure including a tubular honeycomb structure part having porous partition walls with which a plurality of cells are formed and an outer peripheral wall, and a pair of electrode parts arranged on a side surface of the honeycomb structure part, an electrical resistivity of the honeycomb structure part is from 10 to 200 ?cm, each of the pair of electrode parts is formed into a band-like shape extending in a direction in which the cells extend, in a cross section perpendicular to the extending direction of the cells, the one electrode part is disposed opposite to the other electrode part via the center of the honeycomb structure part, and the electrode part has portions having a thickness of 0 to 70% of the maximum thickness of the electrode part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Noro, Kazumi Nagareda, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Shuhei Kuno, Tadato Ito
  • Patent number: 9493122
    Abstract: A rear-view mirror arrangement for a motor vehicle, having a mirror assembly held on a carrier plate. The mirror assembly includes a liquid-crystal cell to view following traffic, and which has a variable reflectance controllable via a control device. The mirror assembly has a transparent plate arranged on a front side thereof and a rear-side reflective coating adjacent to and pointing toward the carrier plate. The rear-view mirror arrangement is automatically dimmable and heatable, and includes an optical liquid-crystal cell to produce a permanently clear optical image for the vehicle occupant as a user. In order to provide a heatable effect, an areal heating element is arranged on the carrier plate to generate thermal radiation, and a housing gap is disposed between the carrier plate and the mirror assembly such that the thermal radiation is to transmitted to a radiation-absorbing coating arranged on a reflective coating of the mirror assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: MAGNA Mirrors Holding GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Krebs
  • Patent number: 9497801
    Abstract: The seat heater of the present invention comprises: a warming heater provided in a seat section of a seat; a warming heater provided in a back section; an overheating-prevention unit; and a heating unit that heats the overheating-prevention unit, the overheating-prevention unit being configured by a non-return type temperature switch. This configuration allows activating the non-return type overheating-prevention unit prior to reaching an unsafe event, and turns the warming heaters OFF reliably, whereby a seat heater with an aim of implementing both high output and safety can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Nishikawa, Norio Abe, Kazuaki Hioki, Yoshimitsu Fujiwara, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Patent number: 9488865
    Abstract: A display device includes a display panel and a backlight module. The display panel is bent in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The backlight module is disposed on one side of the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: AU OPTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Feng-Chi Wu, Shi-Ming Ou, Jen-Chuan Huang, Chi-Chen Huang, Po-Chun Chen, Ren-Mei Tseng, Ming-Sheng Lai, Pei-Ling Chiang
  • Patent number: 9484189
    Abstract: An arc discharge detection device is used for detecting arc discharges in a plasma process. The arc discharge detection device includes a comparator configured to emit an arc discharge detection signal and receive an instantaneous value of the signal or a signal proportional thereto, a minimum or maximum value detection device configured to receive the signal and to determine a minimum or maximum value of the signal within a predetermined time period, a setting means configured to receive the minimum or maximum value and to generate a reference signal from the minimum or maximum value, such that the reference signal is supplied to the comparator, and such that the comparator changes the signal level of the arc discharge detection signal when the comparator detects that the instantaneous value has reached the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: TRUMPF Huettinger GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Winterhalter, Peter Wiedemuth
  • Patent number: 9475466
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically removing snow and/or ice from a portion of a vehicle exterior surface are provided. The automatic removal is in response to a determined driving distance or driving time to a destination. The systems include a vehicle navigation unit in communication with a snow removal element. When the navigation unit determines that the current driving distance or driving time to a destination is less than a pre-determined activation point, the frozen precipitate removal element is activated. The systems and methods of the present disclosure can have the benefit of removing snow or ice from a vehicle exterior surface before the vehicle arrives at a destination such as a storage garage, thereby minimizing the deposition of snow or ice at the destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher L. Kowalk
  • Patent number: 9476398
    Abstract: A control device suitable for use in a vehicle includes a circuit board and a spring element. The circuit board includes a circuit element electrically connected thereat. The spring element is engaged with the circuit element and biased or urged towards the circuit element to exert a force at the circuit element in a direction generally parallel to a surface of the circuit board. The circuit element is electrically connected at the circuit board via a solder joint. When a temperature at the solder joint exceeds a threshold temperature, the spring element moves the circuit element along the surface of the circuit board to break the electrical connection at the solder joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Ralf Biegert
  • Patent number: 9468044
    Abstract: An electric heater includes a base, a bracket, a working head and a protecting structure. The bracket is disposed on the base. The working head is disposed on the bracket. The working head includes a supporter and a heating module. The heating module is disposed on the supporter. The heating module includes a heating element and at least two electrodes. The at least two electrodes are electrically connected with the heating element. The heating element includes a carbon nanotube layer structure. The protecting structure covers the heating module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chen Feng, Kai-Li Jiang, Liang Liu, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 9457641
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical heating device (1) including a heating body in which at least one electric heating element (8) is installed, the operation of said electric heating element being dependent on a control module (3) constituting the heating device, the heating body (2) including walls (5) at least partially defining a cavity (6) in which the control module (3) is accommodated, characterized in that the electrical heating element (8) and the control module (3) are suitable for being supplied with a so-called low voltage of between 80 and 600 volts, and in that an electrical insulator (17), which covers the walls (5) defining the cavity, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: VALEO SYSTEMES THERMIQUES
    Inventors: Frederic Pierron, Laurent Tellier
  • Patent number: 9446772
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes changing a scheduled preconditioning cycle of an electrified vehicle in response to a period without a key cycle of the electrified vehicle. Another exemplary method includes communicating an alert to an operator of an electrified vehicle in response to at least one preconditioning cycle of the electrified vehicle without a key cycle of the electrified vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Karin Lovett, Angel Fernando Porras, Christopher Adam Ochocinski, Ryan J. Skaff
  • Patent number: 9440567
    Abstract: An insert comprising: (i) a forward layer for facing a passenger; (ii) a rearward layer opposite the forward layer; and (iii) a spacer material located between the forward layer and the rearward layer creating an open space within the insert; (iv) an edge sealed substantially around a periphery of the insert; (v) a heater comprising; (a) polymer film having one or more openings for allowing air flow therethrough, (b) a resistive layer, (c) two or more buss bars that are spaced apart and electrically in communication with each other through the resistive layer; and (d) a protective layer; (vi) one or more air movers in fluid communication with the open space within the insert; (vii) a housing having a flange that attaches the one or more air movers to the insert, by the flange being fitted between the spacer material and the rearward layer; wherein the heater layer is attached to one or a combination of the forward layer, the rearward layer, or the spacer material; wherein the forward layer, the rearward layer
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: GENTHERM GMBH
    Inventors: Marinko Lazanja, Goran Bajic, Ed Marlovits, Dmitri Axakov
  • Patent number: 9434284
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a temperature control device with at least one heat source and, additionally or alternatively, a heat sink and with at least one temperature detector for monitoring the temperature of the temperature control device. It is provided that the temperature control device comprises a sensor temperature control device that can be selectably switched on in order to additionally temper the temperature detector at least in some operating stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: GENTHERM GMBH
    Inventor: Gabor Voros
  • Patent number: 9403461
    Abstract: A seat heater device initiates power supply upon operation of a switch by a seat occupant within a vehicle interior and includes a heater for warming installed in a seat within the vehicle interior and a control unit for controlling energization of the heater for warming. The control unit includes a low-voltage detecting means for detecting whether an input voltage is a regular drive voltage value of the control unit or a voltage value lower than a predetermined voltage value and a switching element that is turned on when the low-voltage detecting means detects the regular drive voltage value of the control unit and turned off when the low-voltage detecting means detects a voltage value lower than the predetermined voltage value. This configuration can avoid heat generation of the switching element even if a leakage occurs in an electronic circuit within the switch due to, for example, insulation failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Nishikawa, Masahiro Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 9399080
    Abstract: An air freshener is configured to be carried by a power outlet of an automobile. The air freshener includes a scent capsule disposed in a housing. A heat source is disposed in the housing adjacent and opposing a permeable membrane of the scent capsule. The heat source is configured to heat the fragrant material in the scent capsule and accelerate permeation of the fragrant material through the permeable membrane of the sent capsule. A hatch is pivotally coupled to the housing and substantially contained within a hatch cavity with an outer surface that is substantially flush with an exterior of the housing in a closed position. The hatch can include a capsule cavity therein, carrying the scent capsule, and facing an interior of the housing in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: American Covers, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Irvin, Nate Finlay
  • Patent number: 9389007
    Abstract: A thermal energy storage system (TESS) that enables the discharge of refrigerated air for cooling cargo or passengers in large compartments, such as the trailer of a semi-truck, for a period of time well in excess of several hours. The TES system is able to provide refrigeration without operating a conventional VCC unit, the truck engine, or the TRU diesel APU engine during all or a significant portion of the period of the typical range of time that a 53 foot refrigerated the truck is traveling over the road. The TES system includes a phase change material (PCM) reservoir, a cooling system-to-WF heat exchanger in fluid communication with the PCM reservoir, and a PCM-to-target heat exchanger in fluid communication with the PCM reservoir. The PCM reservoir contains a phase change material, a working fluid (WF) and a working fluid-to-PCM heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: New West Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Lee McKay
  • Patent number: 9352767
    Abstract: A method relates to applying an electrically conductive heating element to a surface of a rim of a steering wheel. The rim of the steering wheel is structured such that a plurality of heating elements formed of a conductive paste is applied to outer circumferential surfaces of a rim. A first connection element for electrically connecting the heating elements is applied along circumferential edges of the rim contacting a separation space. A second connection element formed of a conductive paste and adapted to electrically connect the first connection elements is applied in the separation space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Hwajin Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Man Ho Cho
  • Patent number: 9351343
    Abstract: A heater control device includes a current calculating unit (20) which calculates a third value of current based on a first value of current flowing through a first PTC element of a first PTC heater which is in an energized state and a second value of current estimated to flow through a second PTC element of a second PTC heater which is to be newly put into an energized state next, and a switching control unit (21) which maintains a non-energized state of the second PTC element of the second PTC heater until it is determined that the third value of current calculated by the current calculating unit (20) is less than a predetermined maximum allowable value of current and puts the second PTC element of the second PTC heater into an energized state when the third value of current is less than the predetermined maximum allowable value of current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES AUTOMOTIVE THERMAL SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keiji Nagasaka, Hidetaka Sato, Koji Nakano, Shiro Matsubara, Satoshi Kominami
  • Patent number: 9337760
    Abstract: An alternator control apparatus includes a first controller that controls an alternator; and a second controller that transmits an instruction signal to the first controller at a first predetermined cycle, the instruction signal being related to electric power generation of the alternator, wherein the first controller controls the alternator such that an amount of the electric power generated by the alternator is greater than 0, if the first controller does not receive the instruction signal from the second controller over a predetermined time period that is longer than the first predetermined cycle, and the second controller stops transmitting the instruction signal over the predetermined time period, if the second controller determines that the instruction signal from the second controller is received at the first controller as an abnormal instruction signal that does not meet a predetermined communication specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Ito
  • Patent number: 9327579
    Abstract: A vehicle engine warm-up apparatus includes a coolant temperature sensor, an intake temperature sensor, an air intake heater, a heating system and a controller. The intake temperature sensor measures a temperature of combustion air entering the engine. The coolant temperature sensor measures a temperature of engine coolant. The air intake heater is configured to heat the combustion air. The controller is operably coupled to the coolant temperature sensor, the intake temperature sensor and the air intake heater. The controller is configured to operate the air intake heater with the vehicle engine running to increase a rate of heating of the coolant by the engine to more rapidly make heat available to the heating system in response to determining that the air intake temperature is below a first temperature threshold and the coolant temperature is below a second temperature threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald S. Eisenhour
  • Patent number: 9326324
    Abstract: An electrical heating device for a motor vehicle includes a frame in which is accommodated a layer structure with corrugated-rib elements and heat generating elements. Each heat generating element includes a positional frame which forms a receptacle in which a PTC element is accommodated, and which includes contact plates abutting on two oppositely situated sides of the PTC element. The heat generating element is formed such that the receptacle is sealed and is accessible through at least one inspection channel that is accessible from the outside. The electrical heating device has a sleeve receptacle which is adapted for the sealing accommodation of a connection piece that protrudes from the heat generating element. Also disclosed is a method for the manufacture of an electrical heating device in which the sealing of the heat generating elements is checked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Eberspächer catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Franz Bohlender, Michael Niederer, Christian Morgen
  • Patent number: 9309001
    Abstract: A system and method for ice protection of a component, wherein the system is adapted to be adhesively bonded to a surface of the component. The system includes a heating element layer, at least one thermally conductive adhesive layer that adhesively bonds a first side of the heating element layer to the component, an insulation layer, at least one thermally insulating adhesive layer that adhesively bonds a second side of the heating element to the insulation layer, an electrical bus bar adapted to provide a connection between a power supply and the heating element layer, and at least one temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignees: MRA SYSTEMS INC., KELLY AEROSPACE THERMAL SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: David Patrick Calder, Julian Alexander Opificius, Erik Thomas Pederson, David Cenit Flosdorf
  • Patent number: 9210771
    Abstract: An exterior lighting system for a vehicle is disclosed. The lighting system may include a plurality of lights provided proximate the wheel-wheels of the vehicle. The plurality of lights may be illuminated upon a brake pedal of the vehicle being depressed, a turn signal lever of the vehicle being activated, or upon a driver entering a desired setting into an operator interface of the system. The lighting system may be used as a safety feature to provide approaching vehicles better warning of a braking, slowing, or turning vehicle. The lighting system may also be used during roadside repair to warn other vehicles and/or to provide illumination for the repair. The lighting system may also be used for entertainment or accessorizing purposes enabling the user to select from a plurality of lighting sequences stored in the memory of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Inventor: Gregory A. Day
  • Patent number: 9204493
    Abstract: A seat heater includes a seat-warming heater which is connected to a power source and warms a person sitting on a seat, an over-temperature-preventing part which disconnects the connection between the seat-warming heater and the power source when the over-temperature-preventing part is heated to a predetermined temperature so as to prevent over-temperature of the seat-warming heater, and a heater which heats the over-temperature-preventing part, wherein the over-temperature-preventing part is non-return type, and the heater for the over-temperature-preventing part is arranged to cover opposite portions of the over-temperature-preventing part, thereby realizing both higher output and improved safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Yoshimoto, Norio Abe, Masanori Nishikawa, Kazuaki Hioki, Yoshimitsu Fujiwara, Kazumi Nagayama
  • Patent number: 9174627
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle configured to allow charging from a source external to the vehicle includes a connector electrically connecting a battery with an external commercial power supply, an absorption unit absorbing fuel vapor, and an activation unit activating the absorption unit to facilitate disengagement of the fuel vapor during connection of the power storage device with the external power supply by the connector. The absorption unit includes a canister to which fuel vapor adheres. The activation unit includes a heater receiving electric power from at least one of the battery and external power supply to heat the canister. The hybrid vehicle further includes a purge mechanism conducting a purge relative to the canister. Thus, there can be provided a hybrid vehicle that can process fuel evaporating gas without reducing the EV allowed travel distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Atsumi
  • Patent number: 9139119
    Abstract: Provided are a warmer equipment which is excellent in quick warming property at a rising time and which can satisfy temperature stability later thereby to improve the comfortableness, and a warmer device for a vehicle seat. The warmer equipment includes a warming member having a heater element, a temperature controlling thermostat, a temperature detecting element for detecting the temperature of the warming member, and a temperature control circuit for controlling the temperature of the warming member with an output coming from the temperature detecting element. The temperature controlling thermostat and the temperature control circuit are connected in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: KURABE INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadahiko Ohashi, Yasuhiro Ohashi
  • Patent number: 9133714
    Abstract: An electrothermal heater assembly, configured to be embedded inside a component for anti-icing and/or deicing the component, includes a titanium foil configured for use as a heating element, at least one reinforcement layer adjacent the titanium foil, and an adhesive configured to bond the titanium foil to the at least one reinforcement layer. The heater assembly is configured such that the titanium foil carries a structural load within the heater assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John H. Vontell
  • Patent number: 9090434
    Abstract: A floor for an elevator cage has a base plate, a top plate and a support structure arranged therebetween. The support structure comprises a grating arrangement including a plurality of intersecting profile members standing on edge. For local reinforcement, the support structure additionally includes a second grating arrangement superimposed on the first arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Thomas Wüest, René Strebel, Urs Schaffhauser, Beat Brügger, Christoph Schuler, Lukas Zeder
  • Patent number: 9045066
    Abstract: A heater control unit controls electric power supplied to a heater provided in a seat. The heater control unit includes an outside air temperature measuring portion that measures an outside air temperature, a seat surface temperature measuring portion that measures a surface temperature of the seat, and a control portion. The control portion controls a time for which an initial electric power larger than an electric power in a steady state after the initial state is output to the heater, according to the measured outside air temperature and the measured seat surface temperature in an initial state immediately after the heater is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenichi Mizuno, Tomoko Hayakawa, Masahiko Onuma, Noriko Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9040876
    Abstract: A heating and cooling device is disclosed. The device has an outer covering, and a plurality of heating and cooling coils within the covering. A plurality of flexible air flow chambers inside the covering provide air flow over the heating and cooling coils, and a plurality of vents exit the outer covering from the plurality of air conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Inventors: Dick Bixler, Nancy Cudney Bixler
  • Publication number: 20150136752
    Abstract: An electrical heating assembly is provided for a defrosting device of an air-intake lip of a turbojet engine nacelle. The electrical heating assembly includes a current-conductive portion and a resistive portion, and the resistive portion includes strips spaced apart one another. Each strip is connected to the current-conductive portion so as to form at least one recess in the resistive portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Marc GEROME, Xavier CAZUC, David PEREIRA
  • Publication number: 20150136750
    Abstract: A windscreen wiper heating element for motor vehicle is disclosed. The heating element includes a circuit having a heating electrical conductor and a support of that circuit. The circuit includes a first loop, the ends of which are connected to electrical power supply terminals, and at least one second loop, the ends of which are connected to said terminals and the length and/or the section of the conductor of this loop is different from that or those of the conductor of the first loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Gérald Caillot, Vincent Izabel, Jean-Michel Jarasson
  • Publication number: 20150136751
    Abstract: A heated floor panel for an airborne vehicle and an airborne vehicle having at least one heated floor panel are described. The floor panel includes a controller housing, a first heated panel configured to heat the floor panel, a panel connector arranged in a wall of the controller housing, at least one power line coupled between the panel connector and the first heated panel and configured to supply electric power, which is input to the panel connector, to the first heated panel, a switch connected in one of the power lines, and a microcontroller connected to the switch and configured to actuate the switch for interrupting the electric power supply to the first heated panel in case of an electric fault in the floor panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Hanschke, Sebastian Scheffler, Wolfgang Fiss
  • Patent number: 9025942
    Abstract: A radiant heating device for a vehicle includes a radiant heater that radiates radiant heat toward a passenger and is provided together with an air-conditioner that selectively introduces air outside a passenger compartment or air inside the passenger compartment and then supplies conditioned air generated from the introduced air into the passenger compartment. The radiant heating device includes a controller that differentiates a radiant energy amount of the radiant heater when the introduced air into the air-conditioner is the air outside the passenger compartment from when the introduced air is the air inside the passenger compartment. According to the radiant heating device, the passenger can be provided with warm comfort feeling both in an outside air intake mode and in an inside air intake mode of the air-conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventor: Naohisa Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 9024236
    Abstract: A grip heater controlling apparatus controls an amount of current supplied from a power supply to a grip heater mounted on a handle grip on the steering handle of a motorcycle. The grip heater controlling apparatus has a single momentary switch operable by the driver of the motorcycle, and an amount-of-current controller for changing the amount of current cyclically to at least three levels, including 0, depending on the number of times that the momentary switch is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Faltec Company Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kurumagawa, Hideyuki Moriwaki, Ryuichi Okai, Yasuo Oishi
  • Publication number: 20150114945
    Abstract: A rotary blade includes a blade tip assembly with a first bus bar segment and a main blade assembly with second bus bar segment. The first bus bar segment is connected to the blade tip assembly and the second bus bar segment is connected to the main blade assembly. The blade tip assembly is connected to the main blade assembly such that the first and second bus bar segments are longitudinally offset from one another. A low-profile interconnect spans the first and second bus bar segments for resistively generating less heat than the bus bar segments for a predetermined current flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lindsay Miller, James Mullen
  • Patent number: 9016413
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to efficiently heat a vehicle cabin of a fuel cell vehicle by utilizing heat of air discharged from a fuel cell stack. In a fuel cell vehicle in which an exhaust duct configured to discharge air from a fuel cell stack is arranged below a floor, the exhaust duct includes: a lower surface wall facing at least a lower surface of the floor with a predetermined gap therebetween; and a pair of side walls extending from right and left side portions of the lower surface wall toward the lower surface of the floor, and the floor is configured to be heated by the air flowing in the exhaust duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Kengo Ikeya
  • Patent number: 9012812
    Abstract: A seat heater (10) that is provided on a seat (1) including a seat cushion (2) and a seat back (3) includes a first heating element (12U) provided in an upper section (3Lu) of a backrest (3L) in the seat back (3) and a second heating element (12L) provided in a lower section (3Ll) of the backrest (3L) in the seat back (3). In addition, a heat generation density of the first heating element (12U) is lower than a heat generation density of the second heating element (12L).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Anzai, Hiroki Nagayama, Hajime Oi
  • Patent number: 9012817
    Abstract: A heater control unit controls electric power supplied to a heater provided in a seat. The heater control unit includes an outside air temperature measuring portion that measures an outside air temperature, a seat surface temperature measuring portion that measures a surface temperature of the seat, and a control portion. The control portion controls a time for which an initial electric power larger than an electric power in a steady state after the initial state is output to the heater, according to the measured outside air temperature and the measured seat surface temperature in an initial state immediately after the heater is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenichi Mizuno, Tomoko Hayakawa, Masahiko Onuma, Noriko Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9004407
    Abstract: An anti-icing system includes a component surface having a composite structure including a composite layer, and at least one heating element formed within the composite layer, wherein the heating element is configured to provide a transfer of heat to the component surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Middle River Aircraft Systems
    Inventors: David P. Calder, Graham Howarth
  • Patent number: 9003595
    Abstract: A heated wiper blade for motor vehicles includes an elongated flexible beam and a heating element extending along the beam. The heating element may be configured to provide increased heat at the central portion of the blade and at the opposite ends of the blade. The flexible beam may include curved end portions and a flat or reduced curvature central portion. The heating element is preferably covered and sealed off to prevent loss of heat energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: HWB, LLC
    Inventor: Johnnie L. Jones
  • Patent number: 9006618
    Abstract: A combined seat heater and capacitive occupancy sensor comprises a heating element (10) connected between a first (21) and a second (22) node, and a capacitive sensing network connected to the heating element to apply an oscillating voltage thereto and to derive the capacitive load of the heating element. A common mode choke (16) connects the first and second node to a third (23) and fourth (24) node, respectively. The capacitive sensing network comprises an oscillator (28), AC-coupled to the third and/or the fourth node to drive oscillating voltage into that node, and a transimpedance amplifier (32), which has a first input to receive the oscillating voltage as reference voltage and a second input operatively connected to the heating element. The transimpedance amplifier maintains a voltage on its second input equal to the reference voltage by driving a current into the second input. An output signal (44) indicates the AC component of the current driven into the second input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.
    Inventors: Laurent Lamesch, Aloyse Schoos
  • Patent number: 8993940
    Abstract: A dielectric component with electrical connection is provided for a laminated heater mat (3) for an ice protection system for an aircraft (1). The dielectric component with electrical connection comprises at least one dielectric layer (50, 55) comprising thermoplastic material, and the dielectric layer (50) or a stack of the dielectric layers (50, 55) has first and second main surfaces and a hole (505) extending between the first and second main surfaces. A first sprayed metal coating (501) comprises a first portion (503) deposited on the first main surface (502) adjacent to the hole (505) and a second portion (5014) which projects into the hole. A second sprayed metal coating (5013, 5513) comprises a third portion deposited on the second main surface (506, 552) adjacent to the hole (505) and a fourth portion (5015) which projects into the hole (505). The second portion (5014) overlaps the fourth portion (5015) to form a continuous conductive path between the first main surface and the second main surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: GKN Aerospace Services Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas John Winter, Stuart Martin Lewis, Peter English
  • Publication number: 20150076133
    Abstract: In a heating-medium heating unit equipped with a first heating-medium circulation box and a second heating-medium circulation box which are in close contact with both surfaces of a PTC heater, in which heating-medium circulation passages are formed in the interior, and which are joined to each other in a liquidtight manner, wherein joining surfaces are sealed with liquid gaskets, the heating-medium circulation passages are provided with joining-surface cooling channels that cool the joining surface which is sealed with a liquid gasket and on which the heat from the PTC heater acts. The joining-surface cooling channels are provided at positions closer to the joining surface than to the PTC heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyasu Adachi, Nobuya Nakagawa, Shiro Matsubara, Naoto Kunieda