Vehicular Structural Member Making Patents (Class 29/897.2)
  • Patent number: 12006021
    Abstract: A structure and equipment system installed in an aircraft includes vertical supports, a rail device, a connector, guiding elements, pivot joints, and locking devices. The rail device is arranged on the aircraft to guide the guiding elements along a rail device extension axis. Via the connector, the vertical supports are arranged in parallel and connect to form a grid arrangement with the guiding elements arranged thereon. The pivot joints are attached to upper ends of the vertical supports to pivot them. The locking devices each have a first and a second locking element. The grid arrangement is inserted into the aircraft as far as an installation position via the guiding elements on the rail device with vertical supports pivoted upwards from the vertical, by pivoting down into a vertical orientation, the first locking elements can interlock with correspondingly arranged second locking elements to form a load-bearing support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Hegenbart, Pierre Zahlen
  • Patent number: 11981268
    Abstract: An energy absorbing material includes a multi-cellular structure formed from a plurality of interconnected cells having a lattice structure. Each of the plurality of interconnected cells includes at least four nodes and at least one lattice element extending between each of the at least four nodes. The at least one lattice element has a diameter no greater than 2.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Varun Agarwal, Biswajit Tripathy, Rajamanickam Vs
  • Patent number: 11945504
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body and a mounted component provided in the vehicle body. The vehicle body includes a pair of side member, a first crossmember, a second crossmember, and a bracket. The side members extend in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the side members are provided on the opposite sides across the mounted component in the vehicle right-left direction when the side members are viewed from above in the vehicle up-down direction. The first crossmember extends in the vehicle right-left direction such that the first crossmember is joined to surfaces of respective inner walls of the side members. The second crossmember extends in the vehicle right-left direction at a position closer to the mounted component than the first crossmember such that the second crossmember penetrates through the respective inner walls. The mounted component is connected to the first crossmember and the second crossmember via the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihiro Yanaka, Shinji Kurachi, Tetsuji Shibata, Yoshinori Ikegami
  • Patent number: 11945508
    Abstract: A vehicle frame includes a first beam with a first wall and a second wall extended in a first beam longitudinal direction, wherein the first wall and the second wall are spaced from each other in a first beam transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the first beam longitudinal direction. The first beam includes at least one first beam reinforcement structure, the at least one first beam reinforcement structure including a first leg and a second leg disposed along the first beam and extended between the first wall and the second wall in the first beam transverse direction. The first leg and the second leg are angled toward each other along the first beam transverse direction from the second wall toward the first wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eric J. Boettcher, Mario Miranda Espinosa, Vijay Maccha
  • Patent number: 11913711
    Abstract: A method of assembling an outer cabinet of an enclosure includes: coupling a first panel of the outer cabinet to a second panel of the outer cabinet utilizing a first joint type; coupling a third panel of the outer cabinet to the first panel using a second joint type by rotating the third panel relative to the first panel; coupling a fourth panel of the outer cabinet to the first panel using the second joint type by rotating the fourth panel relative to the first panel; coupling a fifth panel of the outer cabinet to the first panel using a third joint type; coupling the fifth panel to the third panel and to the fourth panel using a fourth joint type; and coupling a sixth panel to each of the second, third, fourth, and fifth panels to form the outer cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Leer, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Muth, Patrik Gorun
  • Patent number: 11827068
    Abstract: A stabilizer comprises a main bar that is elastically deformable, a pair of connecting plates respectively configured to be connected to a pair of left and right suspension apparatuses, and transition sections connecting both end portions of the main bar and the pair of connecting plates, a size of one transition section of the transition sections in a plate thickness direction of one connecting plate of the connecting plates gradually decreasing from the main bar toward the connecting plate, wherein the minimum value of the Vickers hardness of the transition section is 200 HV or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Sugawara, Shogo Mori
  • Patent number: 11660830
    Abstract: Aircraft that incorporates a rounded-hat composite stringer connected to an inner side of the skin of the aircraft to form an elongate conduit that defines a conduit axis, where the conduit axis includes at least one curving portion. The rounded-hat composite stringer can be manufactured by constructing a lower forming die and an upper forming die, each forming die having a length and defining a curve along at least a portion of the length of the die, cutting a pre-cured flat composite charge dimensioned to form the rounded-hat composite stringer, pressing the flat composite charge between the lower and upper forming dies to shape the composite charge into a pre-formed stringer having an inner side between curved fillet portions, contacting a forming member against the inner side of the pre-formed stringer, applying radius fillers to the curved fillet portions of the pre-formed stringer, curing the pre-formed stringer, and removing the forming member from the cured stringer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Daniel Rotter, Lisa Carlson, Brad Andrew Coxon, Hyukbong Kwon, Khanh Mai Pham, Darrell D. Jones, Brian Robins
  • Patent number: 11454293
    Abstract: A diaphragm transfer device sucks and transfers a diaphragm that includes a first protrusion protruding in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the diaphragm. The diaphragm transfer device is provided with: a placing table on which the diaphragm is placed in such an orientation that the first protrusion faces downward; and a suction pad that sucks the diaphragm, placed on the placing table, from above on the outer circumferential side of the protrusion. The placing table includes an annular pedestal facing an outer-circumferential-side thick portion of the diaphragm, the thick portion being sucked by the suction pad, and a second recess recessed downward on the inner diameter side of the pedestal. The whole first protrusion of the diaphragm is located inside the second recess in a top view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: TOYO TIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11370563
    Abstract: A method includes making a first structure with a first plurality of pre-drilled holes at pre-defined locations, making a second structure with a second plurality of pre-drilled holes at pre-defined locations, making a third structure without pre-drilled full-size holes, measuring the location and orientation of the first and second plurality of pre-drilled holes in the first and second structures, determining the location of a third plurality of holes to be drilled in the third structure that correspond to first and second plurality of pre-drilled holes measured in the first and second structures, creating a program to drill the third plurality of holes in the third structure that align with the measured location and orientation of the first and second plurality of pre-drilled holes in the first and second structures based on the measure location and orientation of the first and second plurality of pre-drilled holes in the first and second structure, drilling the third plurality of holes in the third structu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Craig A. Charlton, Branko Lakic, Jerald A. Hull, Christopher A. Greer, Justin H. Pratt
  • Patent number: 11325653
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle frame that includes a first pillar and a second pillar. The first pillar includes an upper member that has a first upper flange and a second upper flange. The first pillar also includes a lower member that extends outwardly from the second upper flange. The lower flange includes a chamfer and a transition portion, such that the chamfer has an arcuate shape that extends from the second upper flange to the transition portion. Further, the chamfer includes a first portion a second portion, such that the first portion and the second portion are angularly displaced with respect to the horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph C. Rotellini, Ryan Gabrielli, Satish Ganti
  • Patent number: 11312505
    Abstract: To reduce the footprint of an installation for assembling a fuselage section, a support structure includes a chassis and a core mounted so that it can rotate relative to the chassis about an axis of rotation of the core. The core includes a fastener(s) for holding the longitudinal fuselage portions around the core, with a view to assembling them to form the fuselage section. The support structure includes one or more rolling elements provided on the chassis, in order to allow the movement of this support structure within the installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignees: Airbus (S.A.S.), Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Datas, Jacques Bouriquet, Jean-Mickael Brindeau, André Aquila, Patrick Guibert
  • Patent number: 11313452
    Abstract: A Powersports vehicle is disclosed which includes a frame, ground engaging members supporting the frame, comprising at least two front wheel, and a power source for driving the front wheels. A front drive is coupled to the power source and to the front wheels, the front drive being coupled to the frame through isolation mounts to reduce vibration of the front drive through the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Keith A. Hollman, Michael J. Whiting, Daniel S. Weber, Evan R. Wozniak, Anthony J. Ripley, Jason Carl Plugge, Na Her
  • Patent number: 11267586
    Abstract: An aircraft structure manufacturing device is provided with: a jig supporting a component of an aircraft structure; a plurality of raising/lowering stands; and a control unit for controlling positions of support parts of the raising/lowering stands. The control unit includes: an input unit inputting position information for a movement destination of a reference point provided to the component; a storage unit storing, in advance, master data, which is the relationship for position information of the support parts of respective raising/lowering stands corresponding to the position information for the movement destination; a unit position information acquisition unit acquiring position information for the support part of each of the raising/lowering stands, based on the master data and the position information for the movement destination; and the movement command unit for simultaneously moving the support parts of a plurality of raising/lowering stands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Shigemi Yamane
  • Patent number: 11214846
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a component from a medium-manganese flat steel product with 4 to 12 wt % Mn, preferably more than 5 to less than 10 wt % Mn, and with TRIP/TWIP effect. In order to improve the degrees of deformation of the shaped component while at the same time reducing the forming forces, the invention proposes shaping the flat steel product into a component in a first shaping step at a temperature of the flat steel product of 60° C. to below Ac3, preferably from 60° C. to 450° C. The invention also relates to a component produced according to said method and to a use for said components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Palzer, Thomas Evertz, Manuel Otto, Kai Köhler
  • Patent number: 11174042
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wing assembly for joining to a fuselage of an aircraft includes the steps of loading a center wing section into a wing join station, loading a right wing section into the wing join station proximate to the center wing section, loading a left wing section into the wing join station proximate to the center wing section, joining the right and left wing sections to the center wing section to form a complete wing assembly, moving the complete wing assembly to a processing station, performing drilling operations on the complete wing assembly at the processing station, installing fasteners in the complete wing assembly at the processing station, and moving the complete wing assembly to a wing-body join station to join the complete wing assembly to the fuselage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jessica Watkins, Patrick B. Stone
  • Patent number: 11148726
    Abstract: A front pillar structure includes a front side pillar frame member and rear side pillar frame member that structure a front pillar, a transparent member, a first joining portion and a second joining portion. The transparent member spans between the front side pillar frame member and the rear side pillar frame member and also structures the front pillar. At the first joining portion, an upper end portion of the front side pillar frame member is joined to a roof side rail that is disposed at a vehicle width direction outer side of a roof panel. At the second joining portion, an upper end portion of the rear side pillar frame member is joined to a rail outer panel. The first joining portion and the second joining portion are formed at the vehicle rear side relative to a front end portion of the roof panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya Kamimura, Toshiya Miyashita, Koki Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11135885
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a motor vehicle control arm, like a wishbone, having an integral main body configured in a materially integral manner. A first bearing receptacle is connected to the main body. The main body has a first end portion having a second bearing receptacle, and a second end portion having a third bearing receptacle. The main body comprises a central portion. Said central portion connects the first and the second end portion. The central portion is configured as a cavity profile. The second and the third bearing receptacle are configured integrally and in a materially integral manner from the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Stephan Meyer, Frode Paulsen
  • Patent number: 11124032
    Abstract: A method for producing motor vehicle controls from extruded profiles and a motor vehicle control. A length section of an extruded profile strand is provided and this is either processed by cutting technology and divided into several extrusion profiles or is first divided into several extruded profiles and they are then processed via shear cutting. By means of a mechanical processing of the extrusion profiles, the motor vehicle controls are formed. The length section has a double T-shaped cross-section with a brace and two belts aligned perpendicular to the brace, wherein the end-side of the belts are connected to flanges. During manufacturing, a motor vehicle control is produced with a steering element, which comprises a middle part and two side arms. In the middle part as well as in the side arms, bearing housings are configured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: BENTELER AUTOMOBILTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Frode Paulsen, Marco Füllgräbe, Arne Schnieders, Stephan Meyer
  • Patent number: 11110972
    Abstract: A rear bolster for a cargo transport includes a sheet metal stamping having a forward side configured to face under the cargo transport, and a rear side configured to face rearward of the cargo transport. A vertically-extending base surface is formed by the rear side. A left taillight mount is provided adjacent a left widthwise end of the sheet metal stamping. A right taillight mount is provided adjacent a right widthwise end of the sheet metal stamping. A relief is embossed rearwardly from the base surface to form a loading dock engagement feature. The relief includes a first portion extending over and/or under the left taillight mount, a second portion extending over and/or under the right taillight mount, and a third portion continuous with the first and second portions and extending between the left and right taillight mounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: STI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary L. Fenton
  • Patent number: 11077875
    Abstract: A rack for a steering gear includes a toothed portion with a toothing extending along a longitudinal axis, and a generally cylinder-segment-shaped back opposite the toothing and having a back radius. A method for producing such a rack includes forming a cylindrical blank with an unmachined radius between a toothed die part having a toothed mold clearance and a back die part having a back mold clearance in a die cavity. The die may have a generally cylinder-segment-shape. In an open position of the die, the blank may be inserted between the toothed mold clearance and the back mold clearance. The toothed die part and the back die part in a forging stroke for closing the cavity may then be moved in a closing direction to a closed position. The back radius of the back mold clearance may be larger than the unmachined radius of the blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Reinhard Bader, Markus Mages, Ralf Eckstein, Juergen Dohmann, René Feuerstein
  • Patent number: 11027499
    Abstract: A method is provided for connecting hollow profiles (1-4) in a joint (10) to produce a load-bearing structure (5). The method includes placing ends of hollow profiles (1-4) in a mold and pressing the ends together with at least one semi-finished product to connect the ends of the hollow profiles to the semi-finished product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Inventors: Markus Flaig, Philipp Scheiner
  • Patent number: 11027378
    Abstract: A method for assembly manufacturing including positioning a workpiece in an assembly position within an operational cell, positioning a fastening machine relative to the workpiece, wherein the fastening machine includes a robot frame comprising a throat, an assembly end effector coupled to the frame about the throat, and a plurality of linear actuators coupled to the frame, moving, by the plurality of linear actuators, the fastening machine about at least one of six degrees of freedom to receive at least a portion of the workpiece within the throat and position the assembly end effector relative to the workpiece, and performing, by the fastening machine, a fastening operation on the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Eric M. Reid, Matthew R. Desjardien, Edward J. Batt, Antonio C. Micale
  • Patent number: 10994377
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a railcar body includes assembling an underframe assembly, side walls, a roof and end walls made from laser cut sheet and plate components where the assemblies made from sheet components are robotically laser welded by solely using melt-through welds and where the assemblies made from plate components are robotically laser welded using solely butt welds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Laflamme
  • Patent number: 10995782
    Abstract: A method for assembling at least two parts, connected by main and secondary definitive connections arranged in predetermined positions, includes: secondary definitive connections each housed in secondary definitive holes passing through the parts to be assembled, made independently of one another before the parts are assembled, main definitive connections each housed in main definitive holes passing through the parts to be assembled, made during the same operation while the parts are held in place by the secondary definitive connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Inventors: Jacques Bouriquet, Cristobal Brito Maur
  • Patent number: 10974311
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning an end effector relative to a fuselage assembly. The end effector is positioned relative to an expected reference location for a reference point on the fuselage assembly using data from a first metrology system. After positioning the end effector relative to the expected reference location, an actual reference location for the reference point on the fuselage assembly is identified using data from a second metrology system. The end effector is positioned at an operation location based on the actual reference location identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Harinder S. Oberoi, John Willard Dorsey-Palmateer, Yuanxin Charles Hu, Branko Sarh, Kevin Marion Barrick, Melissa Ann Findlay, Jorge Alberto Arriaga, Gregory Gudzinski, Jeffrey Lawrence Miller
  • Patent number: 10934681
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include power machines and related structures of lift arms, implement carriers, follower links, and driver links which improve manufacturability, reduce component failures, and improve power machine design and functionality. In some embodiments, lift arm structures include cast lower lift arm portions. The cast lower lift arm portions include contoured upper ends which are sleeved onto contoured lower ends of upper lift arm portions to control stress points and to reduce stresses on welds. The follower link structures can include follower links which are configured to be positioned at least partially outside of the lift arm structure to improve rear visibility. The driver link structures can be configured to be laterally overlapping with innermost surfaces on the lift cylinder, but configured such that as the lift arm is raised the laterally overlapping portions are moved above the innermost surfaces of the lift cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
    Inventor: Branden Schiwal
  • Patent number: 10906592
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure satisfies at least one of the following (A), (B), and (C): (A) an adhesive amount per unit area of a first adhesive in a second adjacent part is smaller than an adhesive amount per unit area of the first adhesive in a first adjacent part; (B) an adhesive amount per unit area of a panel adhesive in a second panel adjacent part is smaller than an adhesive amount per unit area of the panel adhesive in a first panel adjacent part; and (C) an adhesive amount per unit area of a second adhesive in a stacking adjacent part is smaller than an adhesive amount per unit area of the second adhesive in a non-stacking adjacent part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Miyoshi, Tomoya Yoshida, Junichi Tanaka, Masanobu Kobashi
  • Patent number: 10548250
    Abstract: The outer layer is peeled exactly a predetermined length from the end portion of the electromagnetic shielding tube. That is, the metal layer is exposed exactly a predetermined range at the end portion of the electromagnetic shielding tube. A flexible conductor is connected to the exposed metal layer. A separated portion is provided in the inner layer. The separated portion is formed along the length direction of the electromagnetic shielding tube. Additionally, a depth of the separated portion is the same value as the thickness of the inner layer. As such, the inner surface of the metal layer is exposed at the separated portion. It is preferable that the separated portion be formed at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction. The inner layer is divided into a plurality of sections in the circumferential direction by the separated portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignees: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD., FURUKAWA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Masanori Yamasaki, Tatsuya Yuasa, Katsutoshi Sakai, Akihiro Nagao
  • Patent number: 10501134
    Abstract: A method for producing a motor vehicle having a body shell that includes a platform composed of metal and a vehicle body composed of metal which is fitted on the platform. The method includes producing, separately from a remainder of the body shell, a main floor module that includes a main floor of the body shell and at least one drive-specific component, and attaching the main floor module to an already dip-coated platform and/or to an already dip-coated vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG
    Inventors: Manuel Erlacher, Reinhard Hoermann, Franz Planka, Harald Zachnegger
  • Patent number: 10486487
    Abstract: A stabilizer having a tubular shape is provided so as to extend in a widthwise direction of a vehicle and coupled to a suspension arm at opposite end portions of the stabilizer. Each of the opposite end portions includes: a first large-diameter bar portion having an outside diameter greater than an outside diameter of an intermediate portion of the stabilizer; and a second large-diameter bar portion having an outside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the first large-diameter bar portion and having a wall thickness greater than a wall thickness of the intermediate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kyoei Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuzo Nagano, Yoshiyuki Mori, Arata Mikami, Nobuaki Taguchi, Koji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10486508
    Abstract: A vehicle door frame includes an upper sash and a side sash. The upper sash includes a first end face that extends in an oblique direction crossing a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, and a lower outer face. The side sash includes a second end face and an internal space. The top end face includes a first face that abuts on the rear end face, and a second face that is inclined with respect to the first face and directed upward and is provided with an aperture being one end of the internal space. The lower outer face of the upper sash covers the inner peripheral face and the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigenobu Osawa, Hiroaki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 10399519
    Abstract: A bumper assembly may include a pair of crush cans and a bumper beam. The pair of crush cans are for securing to a vehicle body. The bumper beam is secured to the crush cans and includes a first end and a second end each extending outboard of one of the crush cans, and a middle portion extending between the first and second ends. The bumper beam is thermally treated to provide the first and second ends with less tensile strength than the middle portion. The middle portion may have a tensile strength between 1000 MPa and 1900 MPa. Each of the first and second ends may have a tensile strength between 600 MPa and 900 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Raj Sohmshetty, Rohit Telukunta, Saied Nusier, Mohamed Ridha Baccouche
  • Patent number: 10329194
    Abstract: Highly mineralized natural materials often boast unusual combinations of stiffness, strength and toughness currently unmatched by today's engineering materials. Beneficially, according to the embodiments of the invention, these unusual combinations can be introduced into ceramics, glasses, and crystal materials, for example by the introduction of patterns of weaker interfaces with simple or intricate architectures, which channel propagating cracks into toughening configurations. Further, such deliberately-introduced weaker interfaces, such as exploiting three-dimensional arrays of laser-generated microcracks, can deflect and guide larger incoming cracks. Addition of interlocking interfaces and flexible materials provide further energy dissipation and toughening mechanism, by channeling cracks into interlocking configurations and ligament-like pullout mechanisms. Such biomimetic materials, based on carefully architectured interfaces, provide a new pathway to toughening hard and brittle materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: THE ROYAL INSTITUTION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING/MCGILL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Francois Barthelat, Seyed Mohammad Mirkhalaf Valashani, Ahmad Khayer Dastjerdi
  • Patent number: 10328882
    Abstract: A rollover protective device for a motor vehicle has a rollover protective body (1) with a top side. A deformation cross bar (2) is attached to the top side of the rollover protective body (1) and has hollow profile body (3). The deformation cross bar (2) has at least one reinforcing body (4) inserted into the hollow profile body (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans-Juergen Schmitt
  • Patent number: 10280478
    Abstract: A tool arrangement is disclosed for integration in a production line for producing a hot formed component from a blank which is produced from a hot forming steel strip. The tool arrangement includes a housing, which delimits an interior of the tool arrangement relative to a surroundings of the tool arrangement, a tempering station for tempering the blank and a hot forming station for hot forming the blank. The tempering station and the hot forming station are jointly arranged in the interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Martin Stillger
  • Patent number: 10260118
    Abstract: A formed and hardened component made from a metallic material is post-treated by a device for electric resistance heating that has at least one first pair of contact pieces and at least one second pair of contact pieces; contacting a first partial region of the component with the contact pieces of the first pair such that the first partial region is arranged between the contact pieces of the first pair; contacting the second partial region of the component with the contact pieces of the second pair such that the second partial region is arranged between the contact pieces of the second pair; heating of the first partial region of the component to a first temperature by conducting electric current through the component by the first pair of contact pieces; setting the second partial region of the component to a second temperature by the second pair of contact pieces, which is set independently of the first temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Muhr und Bender KG
    Inventors: Hubertus Steffens, Christoph Hahn, Benedikt Goddeke
  • Patent number: 10240219
    Abstract: Disclosed is a high frequency heat treatment method of hot-stamping-treated ultra-high strength parts, which comprises: a first step of heating the parts until the temperature of a heat treatment zone thereof becomes the AC3 transformation point or higher; a second step of maintaining the temperature until phase transformation of the heat treatment zone to austenite is completed; and a third step of cooling the heat treatment zone to transform the structure thereof to ferrite-pearlite. The present method improves the energy absorbing efficiency by increasing the parts' elongation ratio by locally forming a softening structure which absorbs energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Seung-Hyun Hong, Ji-Hong Yoo
  • Patent number: 10214173
    Abstract: A curtain airbag capable of applying tension in a vertical direction to improve occupant ejection mitigation performance. The curtain airbag is housed in an upper portion of a side surface inside a vehicle cabin and deployed along the side surface. The curtain airbag includes: a main chamber having a protection area for the occupant, and receiving an inflation gas and being inflated along a side window of a vehicle; a first chamber that overlaps an upper edge of the side window of the vehicle, the first chamber extends by being deployed toward an upper side of the main chamber along the upper portion of the side surface inside the vehicle cabin. The main chamber includes a second chamber positioned in a below portion of the first chamber to overlap the vehicle beltline upon deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Teruyuki Asada, Takayoshi Takeuchi, Atsushi Nakashima, Yosuke Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10160296
    Abstract: An object is to provide a sash coupling structure and a method for sash coupling that ensures omission of the process. The sash coupling structure is made such that on a door frame constituted of a column and an upper sash, a coupling cross-sectional surface of the column and a coupling cross-sectional surface of the upper sash are butted together. The column is constituted of a channel member and an inner member. The channel member and the inner member include adhering portions coupled one another along a longitudinal direction. The inner member is plated. A non-adhering portion, which faces a non-not-yet-adhering portion of the inner member, is formed on the channel member at a butted coupling portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: SHIROKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Makita, Yu Okumura, Hiroshi Enoki
  • Patent number: 10145625
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gasketed heat exchanger including a plurality of heat exchanger plates, wherein each of the heat exchanger plates has a plurality of dimples. The dimples have tops and bottoms. Furthermore, the tops of at least one heat exchanger plate are connected to the bottoms of another neighboring heat exchanger plate. In order to prevent plastic deformations of the heat exchanger plates under external forces and internal fluid pressures the dimples are elastically deformable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: DANFOSS A/S
    Inventor: Lars Persson
  • Patent number: 10137812
    Abstract: The invention relates to a seat-back frame for a vehicle seat, which seat-back frame has a frame region extending transversely and two frame regions extending vertically and is of a U-shaped form. The object to provide a seat-back frame of the generic kind which has a minimum of components and at the same time allows a seat-back frame for belt-integrated vehicle seats to be provided easily is met in that there is provided a first half-shell made of a metal, which first half-shell forms a sub-region of each of the vertically extending frame regions of the seat-back frame and forms a sub-region of the transversely extending frame region of the seat-back frame, and there is provided a second sheet-metal half-shell which is connected to the first half-shell by bonding and which reinforces at least the transversely extending frame region of the seat-back frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG
    Inventors: Cristina Matthey, Thomas Flehmig, Andreas Ulrichs
  • Patent number: 10065230
    Abstract: A frame component of a vehicle, such as a header beam that couples between the A-pillars of a vehicle frame, includes an extruded hollow member having top and bottom exterior walls and side walls that together enclose an elongated internal volume of the hollow member. A pair of interior walls extends along the internal volume separating outer load sections adjacent to the side walls from a central attachment section. The outer load sections are void of apertures for supporting continuous load paths. A formation on the bottom exterior wall protrudes into the internal volume in the central attachment section. The formation includes an inset surface angled, located, and otherwise configured for attaching a subassembly to the frame component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John Joyce, Christopher John May, Jack Lashbrook
  • Patent number: 10023023
    Abstract: A cowl cross assembly structure for a vehicle is provided. The cowl cross assembly structure includes a cowl cross bar which is connected horizontal at left and right sides between front pillars of a vehicle and a duct which passes through an aperture of a bracket which has been installed at the cowl cross bar and is integrally formed with the cowl cross bar. A fixing member is included on an exterior circumferential surface thereof to fix an installation position within the interior of the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hye Kyung Kim
  • Patent number: 10011306
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor vehicle facade module (1) comprising a support piece (3, 5, 7, 9) comprising: —a first part (11) comprising an upper crossmember (3) having a first reinforcement (10), —a second part (13) made of plastic and comprising: lateral uprights (7), and at least two portions (15) configured for assembly with the first part (11), the at least one portion (15) comprising a second reinforcement (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignees: Valeo Systemes Thermiques, Valeo Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Lanard, Issmail Meskin, Julien Dallery, Jean-Nicolas Guyomard
  • Patent number: 9988094
    Abstract: A vehicle body structure, includes a structural pillar that is located adjacent to a passenger compartment. The structural pillar has an elongate aluminum extrusion that has a peripheral wall that defines a closed cross-sectional shape. The peripheral wall has at least a first portion that is oriented toward the passenger compartment, and a stiffening structure that is connected to the first portion of the elongate aluminum extrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: G. Kyle Lobisser
  • Patent number: 9975310
    Abstract: A tailored semifinished part (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) is disclosed in the form of a metal sheet or strip which is formed from a first blank (1) and at least one second blank (2) and the first and at least one second blank are physically, frictionally and/or adhesively (3) joined to one another. The first blank (1) may be an ultrahigh-strength, monolithic material. A motor vehicle component (5?, 6?, 7?, 8?, 9?) may be made of the tailored semifinished part (5, 6, 7, 8, 9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignees: ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG, ThyssenKrupp AG
    Inventors: Erik Hilfrich, David Pieronek
  • Patent number: 9975477
    Abstract: A vehicle interior panel can be constructed to include accent lighting in the form of an electroluminescent element that includes a thin multi-layer film disposed over a substrate. The multi-layer film is sufficiently thin to conform to the shape of the substrate surface over which it is disposed, making it possible to integrate accent lighting with the panel in a manner that gives the impression that the light is produced at the visible outer surface of the panel. The substrate plays a dual role, providing both the overall shape, contour, and structure for the panel while additionally functioning as one of the electrodes of the electroluminescent element. The substrate includes an electrically active material that is integrated into a plastic material either by blending an additive with the plastic material prior to molding the substrate, or by insert molding and embedding electrically conductive material into the plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Faurecia Interior Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Twork, Daniel R. Vander Sluis
  • Patent number: 9873452
    Abstract: A drive-by-wire steering system on a vehicle requiring counter-steering includes a driver input mechanism, for example, a steering wheel, joystick, voice command receiver, or keyboard, and a control system. A sensor receives driver input and sends that information to the control system. An engagement mechanism, for example, a clutch, separates the driver input mechanism from controlling the vehicle. The control system further includes at least one actuator, a wheel, and a mechanical linkage controllable via the engagement mechanism in order for the control system to articulate a steering mechanism, for example, the front wheel of the vehicle, as appropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Lit Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Kee Young Kim, Colin Wade
  • Patent number: 9738194
    Abstract: A vehicle seat and frame thereof which minimize the size of an attachment mechanism of a support structure for supporting the back of a seated person are provided. A seat frame has side frames positioned at right and left sides of a seat back frame and extending in an up to down direction. The side frame has a side portion extending along a side portion of the seat, a rear portion projecting from a rear end of the side portion to an inner side of the seat, and a support member spanned between the right and left side frames, and receives a load of the seated person. The support member has a connecting portion for connecting to the side frame and is attached to the rear portion of the side frame in a state where the positional relationship between the connecting portion and the side frame is fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Hoshi
  • Patent number: 9682730
    Abstract: A motor vehicle body for light weight construction comprises at least a bottom unit, a roof and side units (3), which are assembled to form at least part of the motor vehicle body. At least the side units include an inner shell element (3a) and an outer shell element (3g) made of injection molded plastics material and are attached to each other by attachment areas (4) to form a torsion stiff box structure. The inner and/or outer shell element may comprise a strut structure (5) extending from an inner shell element surface in between the shell elements towards the opposing shell element to realize the torsion stiff box structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG
    Inventors: Florian Huber, Manuel Frank, Alexandre Rossier