Ducts Or Conduits Patents (Class 296/208)
  • Patent number: 8870266
    Abstract: A vehicle rear outlet structure includes: an outer member constituting an outer surface of a rear vehicle body and defining a flow path space inside of the vehicle body; and a protrusion portion provided on an outer surface of the outer member to protrude in an outboard direction. The outer member is provided with an air outlet opening through which the flow path space and a space outside of the vehicle body communicate with each other. The protrusion portion is arranged forward of the air outlet opening in the vehicle longitudinal direction and continuously in a vertical direction of the vehicle, such that the flow of air flowing along the outer surface of the outer member sucks out air in the flow path space through the air outlet opening to an outboard side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Iinuma, Hideyuki Kawamata, Makoto Iijima
  • Patent number: 8864217
    Abstract: A panel element is provided for arrangement on a water box of a front wall of a motor vehicle body, with a fastening edge for forming a fastening of the panel element arranged upstream of the water box in travelling direction of the motor vehicle and adjoining the water box and with at least one water-conducting depression for the controlled discharge of accumulating water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Joerg Schneider, Joachim Lacroix
  • Patent number: 8857900
    Abstract: A water box, in particular for a motor vehicle, is provided. The water box includes a back wall, which rises from a lower side up to below a front window frame from where it continues as a covering the longitudinal direction of which is arranged transversely to a traveling direction in order to create an impact protection, and a front wall, which extends from the lower side in the direction of an engine compartment. The back wall, the covering and the front wall are embodied unitarily. A method for producing a water box is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Marc Juettner, Juergen Vollhardt
  • Publication number: 20140252792
    Abstract: A pass-through element for a motor vehicle front of dash panel system includes a body portion having an outer edge that surrounds a central web. A conductor pass-through member is provided in the central web, and a sound enhancing element provided in the central web alongside the conductor pass-through member. The sound enhancing element is configured and disposed to condition and conduct motor vehicle engine sound from an engine compartment to a passenger compartment through the motor vehicle front of dash system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Roggenkamp, Alan V. Parrett
  • Patent number: 8821225
    Abstract: Condensation is suppressed from developing on a front face of an instrument panel main body. A instrument panel of the present invention is configured including: an instrument panel main body formed with a center air conditioning outlet and a center defroster outlet; a first panel that is joined to the instrument panel main body and is formed with a top side wall section that configures the vehicle top-bottom direction top side of a center air conditioning duct and a first wall section that configures part of a center defroster duct; and a second panel that is joined to the instrument panel main body and is formed with a bottom side wall section that configures the center air conditioning duct in combination with the top side wall section and a second wall section that configures the center defroster duct in combination with the first wall section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Niwa, Yasunobu Yamazaki, Toru Kondo
  • Patent number: 8783762
    Abstract: For facilitating mounting of a head section of a sleeve, which is used for guiding a line, in a mounting opening, a reinforcing part is provided. The reinforcing part is placed in the radial direction on the line only after the guiding-through of the line and the insertion of the head section in the mounting opening. The reinforcing part is divided at least into two mutually displaceable sections. After the placing of the reinforcing part on the line, the two sections of the reinforcing part are guided together. Subsequently, the reinforcing part is inserted in the axial direction into the head section of the sleeve. By use of the reinforcing part, the sealing effect of the sleeve is improved, and a twisting of the sleeve in the mounting opening is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Manfred Gaemmerler, Michael Gabriel, Johann Brunner
  • Patent number: 8777301
    Abstract: An instrument panel arrangement for a motor vehicle is provided. The instrument panel arrangement includes an instrument panel and a ventilation duct housing connected to the instrument panel. A middle region of the ventilation duct housing has, in an impact direction, a flexibility that is at least as great as 0.8 times a flexibility of the instrument panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Lummitsch, Andreas Marutschke
  • Patent number: 8740293
    Abstract: An acoustic insulator assembly for disposition adjacent a rear wall of a vehicle body, between the rear wall and a trim panel includes a substrate formed as a single unit from an acoustic fiber. The substrate includes a first portion, a second portion and a living hinge interconnecting the first portion and the second portion. The second portion is rotated about the living hinge into interlocking engagement with the first portion to define at least one air pocket with at least one baffle. The air pocket and the baffle limiting sound intrusion between a pressure relief valve in the wall of the body and a passenger compartment of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Hayes
  • Publication number: 20140117722
    Abstract: A drainage device is provided for a motor vehicle, which serves for discharging liquid out of the water box of a motor vehicle. The drainage device includes, but is not limited to a line portion, which is at least partially incorporated in an insulating structure for the front wall of the motor vehicle. A motor vehicle is also provided with a water box and a drainage device that is fluidically connected to the water box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Joachim LACROIX
  • Patent number: 8695742
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a body outer panel; a battery; a second seat including a seatback; a seatbelt apparatus including a webbing; and a side trim positioned behind the seatback of the second seat in a vehicle front-rear direction. The side trim includes an insertion opening through which the webbing of the seatbelt apparatus is inserted, an exhaust opening through which exhaust air after cooling the battery is discharged into a space between the side trim and the body outer panel, and an inlet opening which is positioned behind the insertion opening in the vehicle front-rear direction, and through which the exhaust air in the space is drawn into a vehicle room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Motor East Japan, Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuhisa Fujita, Kazuyuki Ueno
  • Patent number: 8684446
    Abstract: An energy-saving vehicle including a housing, a pair of front wheels, a pair of rear wheels, and a steering wheel. The housing includes an outer portion, an inner portion, an air-flow channel, at least a first air inlet, and at least an air outlet. The air-flow channel is disposed between the outer portion and the inner portion of the housing. The first air inlet is disposed in the front of the vehicle. The air outlet is disposed at the back of the vehicle. The first air inlet and the air outlet are connected to the air-flow channel. The front wheels and the rear wheels are driven by a power unit. The length of the air-flow channel is no less than that of the upper portion of the housing. The vehicle consumes less energy and travels more stably compared to conventional vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Inventor: Xiaoyi Zhu
  • Patent number: 8668245
    Abstract: A front underfloor structure of a vehicle (EV) includes a protruding member protruding downward from a front underfloor surface of the vehicle, and redirects a flow of traveling air that flows around a front underfloor while traveling. The protruding member is configured as a protruding member with curved surface (31) disposed at a position closer to the vehicle front than front tires (1L, 1R) and in a central portion of the front underfloor straddling a vehicle center line (CL). The protruding member with curved surface (31) has a circumference of protrusion in a vehicle longitudinal direction that is longest at the position of the vehicle center line (CL), and the circumference of protrusion in the vehicle longitudinal direction becomes gradually shorter with increasing distance from the vehicle center line (CL) on both sides in a vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kakiuchi, Masahiro Ataka, Youhei Ogawa, Kazuaki Nakajima, Yuji Ishihara
  • Patent number: 8668254
    Abstract: A vehicle underfloor structure includes under covers (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) that cover an underside of a vehicle, and drain members (D) provided in the under covers (3, 4, 5, 6, 7). The drain members (D) each include: a front inclined wall (21) provided with a water drain opening (33, 34, 42, 43, 44, 72, 74); and a rear inclined wall (22). A recess is formed in each under cover in a front-back direction of the vehicle in such a manner that a first interior angle (?1) formed by the front inclined wall is larger than a second interior angle (?2) formed by the rear inclined wall and a length of the front inclined wall is different from a length of the rear inclined wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Onodera, Yasutsune Terashima
  • Patent number: 8641134
    Abstract: An air duct for an automotive vehicle is blow molded with an elongated, hollow structural member to be used as a portion of a body of the vehicle. The structural member has an inner wall defining an elongated cavity communicating with first and second access holes at respective longitudinal positions along the structural member. A parison comprised of a thermally insulating material is inserted into the internal cavity. A source of inflation gas is connected to a mouth portion or the parison. The parison is heated and inflated within the internal cavity to an expanded shape to form the air duct disposed against the inner wall and spanning the first and second access holes. The air duct at one of the access holes is configured as an air inlet. The air duct at the other one of the access holes is configured as an air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Sawyer, Mukesh Kumar, Martha E. Nefcy
  • Publication number: 20140015286
    Abstract: A water drain valve is provided for a water box drain channel of a motor vehicle, which includes, but is not limited to a support that can be attached to the water box drain channel, on which an elastically bent sealing lip supports itself in its middle region, which extends on both sides of the support in downstream direction and sealingly presses at least one part of a downstream sealing lip edge against a sealing surface that can be connected to the water box drain channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventor: Joachim Lacroix
  • Patent number: 8616619
    Abstract: A suction duct (19) provided in a floor member (9) comprises an internal air duct portion (20) connected to the internal air inlet port (10A3), an external air duct portion (21) connected to an external air inlet port (10E3), and a common duct portion (22) for connecting the internal air duct portion (20) and the external air duct portion (21) to a blower fan 18B suction side of an air conditioner unit (18). The suction duct is constructed to form a hollow column (23) having a hollow closed section structure with the internal air duct portion and the common duct portion formed integrally in the upper and lower directions. Therefore, the hollow column formed of the hollow closed section structure can increase strength of the floor member as a strong column while circulating internal air between the internal air inlet port and the air conditioner unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shougo Kimura, Hajime Ishii, Hiroshi Tabeta
  • Patent number: 8608239
    Abstract: A precipitation management system for mobile equipment with multiple modules is provided. The precipitation management system may include a water-resistant seal coupled to a first module, and a seal housing bracket coupled to a second module. The precipitation management system may also include a seal housing assembly configured to receive the water-resistant seal. The seal housing assembly may have two sides, a first side coupled to the first module, and a second side coupled to the seal housing bracket. The water-resistant seal may be disposed within the seal housing assembly, and the precipitation management system may be configured to deter liquid from entering the mobile equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining LLC
    Inventors: Andrew F. Lawson, Douglas F. Zahn
  • Publication number: 20130306389
    Abstract: Vehicle wheels may be equipped with a stator and rotor to induce current to generate electricity as the vehicle wheels rotate or to slow down the vehicle wheels in response to the application of a brake of the vehicle. Air may be sucked through the vehicle wheels through mesh screens to create air flow that passes through ductwork to reach a turbine generator, which generates electricity in response to blade rotation from air flow. A roof mounted solar energy conversion system may generate electricity. A vehicle power supply boosts its energy from all the electricity generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventor: Krassimire Penev
  • Patent number: 8550510
    Abstract: A vehicle bumper is provided that can increase the rigidity while ensuring a superior drainage capability in the vicinity of the location where the bumper is attached to a side face member. A vehicle bumper includes a middle portion extending in vehicle width direction, two lateral portions extending from the two ends of the middle portion towards side face members (front fender panels), an upper flange protruding inward, with respect to a vehicle body, from an upper edge of the lateral portions, an attachment flange that is continuous with the upper flange near an end of the lateral portions and protruding further inside the vehicle body than the upper flange, a long groove formed by a depression in an upper face of the upper flange, at least one rib that partitions the long groove in vehicle width direction into depressions, and water drainage holes formed in the depressions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroo Mizoguchi, Yusuke Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20130257107
    Abstract: A wiper blade for a windscreen wiper of a motor vehicle includes a clamp for fixing a wiping element that wipes the screen during the wiping operation of the windscreen wiper. The clamp has a base plate with at least one contact element. The contact element is to be brought against a water deflector that restricts the wiping movement of the wiper blade during the wiping operation. The contact element is a cushioning element, which has a higher level of flexibility than the base plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: DAIMLER AG
    Inventors: Andreas Zygan, Uwe Renz, Christina Nestler, Alexander Mittler
  • Publication number: 20130257106
    Abstract: An air duct for an automotive vehicle is blow molded with an elongated, hollow structural member to be used as a portion of a body of the vehicle. The structural member has an inner wall defining an elongated cavity communicating with first and second access holes at respective longitudinal positions along the structural member. A parison comprised of a thermally insulating material is inserted into the internal cavity. A source of inflation gas is connected to a mouth portion or the parison. The parison is heated and inflated within the internal cavity to an expanded shape to form the air duct disposed against the inner wall and spanning the first and second access holes. The air duct at one of the access holes is configured as an air inlet. The air duct at the other one of the access holes is configured as an air outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robert S. Sawyer, Mukesh Kumar, Martha E. Nefcy
  • Patent number: 8544583
    Abstract: A cooling airflow intake structure that can efficiently channel an airflow for cooling from outside a vehicle to a body to be cooled is obtained. The cooling airflow intake structure includes: a power unit that generates a driving force for an automobile to travel; an undercover that covers, from a vehicle underside, a power unit chamber in which the power unit is placed; a cooling unit that is placed on a vehicle rear side of the power unit; a first duct that channels air to the cooling unit from a first inlet port that is formed opening toward a road surface in the undercover; and a second duct that channels air to the cooling unit from a second inlet port that is formed opening toward a vehicle front side in a bumper cover. The second duct is disposed between the power unit and the undercover in a vehicle vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Ajisaka
  • Publication number: 20130249251
    Abstract: An air guide structure for a saddle type vehicle by which influence of exhaust air from a radiator on a fuel tank can be reduced effectively. A fuel tank is formed with a tank extension section extending to above the upper end of the radiator. A front wall of the tank extension section is inclined forward by obliquely extending rearwardly downward. A front lower cover disposed forwardly of the radiator and rearwardly of a front wheel is provided. The front lower cover is provided with a radiator opening section having a plurality of openings for guiding airflow to the radiator, and with a fuel tank opening section for guiding the airflow to the fuel tank inclusive of the tank extension section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Nakamura, Hiroyuki Sasazawa
  • Patent number: 8540304
    Abstract: A rear aerodynamic device for a vehicle and vehicle equipped with such a device are provided. The aerodynamic device can be fastened under a rear end of a vehicle frame of a cargo body of an industrial vehicle, behind the wheels. It includes a nozzle having an inlet positioned on a lateral external face of the device and capable of canalising air flowing along the vehicle and an outlet positioned at the rear part of the device and capable of ejecting the air flow underneath a vehicle rear face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Renault Trucks
    Inventor: Laurent Kint
  • Patent number: 8534740
    Abstract: A motorcycle of a type having its front region covered with a fairing has an outer side surface of the fairing formed with a guide groove extending from a location in the vicinity of a front end of the fairing to a location downwardly of a grip of a handlebar then held at the zero steering angle. The guide groove guides the incoming air towards a position forwardly of and in the vicinity of the grip and then deflects the incoming air at the position forwardly of and in the vicinity of the grip so that the incoming air can be guided outside the motorcycle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8528965
    Abstract: The operator's cab 8 is provided with a floor frame 10 having an opening for maintenance 20 located at a floor base 10a and a lid body 23 for closing the opening for maintenance 20. The lid body 23 includes an upper inspection cover 22 and a lower inspection cover 21 which are aligned in a vertical direction with spacing so as to be attachable and detachable relative to the opening for maintenance 20. Disposed in a space between the upper inspection cover 22 and the lower inspection cover 21 is a floor duct 30 that can be disassembled and is provided for circulating supply air sent from an air conditioner 27.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Nagami, Makoto Yomogita, Masamichi Miyazaki, Shinji Hirose
  • Patent number: 8485593
    Abstract: A drain plug includes a head part arranged on a peripheral edge of a drain hole from a front side, and an engaging leg engaged with the peripheral edge of the drain hole from a back side. The engaging leg includes a frame wall extending in a direction in which a space between a pair of panels forming a body panel is widened; an opening part facing the a connecting part of the pair of panels of the body panel; engaging parts formed on both side walls of the frame wall, to be engaged with the peripheral edge of the drain hole from the back side; and a guide surface formed on a front wall of the frame wall, to guide the engaging parts to pass through the drain hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Piolax Inc.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogawa, Tomoki Yamaguchi, Hajime Saito, Toshiya Ohba
  • Patent number: 8480166
    Abstract: An air duct for a vehicle includes a housing and a ductile member. The housing is formed from a first extrudable material having a first elastic modulus, and a second extrudable material having a second elastic modulus that is different from the first. The housing has a central longitudinal axis, defines a cavity therethrough along the axis, and is transitionable from a preform configuration in which the axis is substantially straight, to an installation configuration in which the axis is tortuous. The ductile member is embedded within the housing and is formed from a third extrudable material having a third elastic modulus that is greater than each of the first and second. The ductile member is bendable to transition the housing from the preform configuration to the installation configuration and is configured for retaining the housing in the installation configuration. A vehicle includes the air duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Readwin, Richard E. Bartos, Michael G. Leffert, Michael E. Nishek
  • Patent number: 8469434
    Abstract: In a saddle-type vehicle having a structure for guiding a flow of air toward the rear side of a screen, to provide a technology by which thermal influences on the rider can be alleviated. A screen stay is integrally provided at its lower portion with a bridge-like section spaced upward from a front cover, and has left and right connection sections extending in the vehicle width direction from the bridge-like section and connected to the side of a body frame at positions on outer sides relative to a fork member in the vehicle width direction. This ensures that the flow of air guided in via a flow of air guide section is permitted to flow between an upper edge of the front cover and the bridge-like section toward the vehicle rear side. A meter for indicating operating conditions of the vehicle is supported on the screen stay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Tsukui, Yoshitaka Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8459727
    Abstract: A tractor cab has a floor (12) at least part of which is of a double layer construction having an upper layer (12a) and a lower layer (12b) spaced vertically below the upper layer to define a cavity (29,30) between the layers. The cavity being used for a) the passage of air associated with heating, ventilating, demisting or air conditioning the cab and/or b) the passage of electrical wiring or hydraulic pipes and hoses and/or c) the storage of fluids or other materials or equipment. Part of the floor supports an HVAC unit (11) whose output is directed between the upper and lower layers. The upper layer (12a) includes output apertures (27a, 28a) through which air from the HVAC unit can be discharged or recirculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: AGCO GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Mayr, Roland Pest, Hermann Geiss, Andreas Stieglitz
  • Patent number: 8444216
    Abstract: A vehicle wiring structure equipped with a pipe (20), the two ends of which are inserted into the vehicle through an electrical-load-side through-hole and a power-source-side through-hole provided in the floor, and power cables (40a, 40b, 41), which are inserted in the pipe (20) and connect a power source and electrical loads. The power cables pulled out of the end part of the pipe (20) inserted through the power-source-side through-hole (60) are restrained by a first cable guide (70) provided inside the vehicle and are wired to a power source connection part, while the end part of the pipe (20) inserted through the power-source-side through-hole (60) reaches as far as the position where the first cable guide (70) is provided. The pipe (20) is supported by a through-hole seal member (61) that has a pipe through-hole (62) through which the pipe (20) passes and that closes the power-source-side through-hole (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroo Yamaguchi, Harumi Takedomi
  • Publication number: 20130088050
    Abstract: An arrangement of a water box and a drain is provided for draining off water from a region between a windshield and an engine hood in a motor vehicle. The water box can include a depression with an upwardly directed water-directing region. The drain can include a drain valve housing with a drain valve. The drain valve of the drain is arranged above the water-directing region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
  • Patent number: 8408635
    Abstract: An energy-saving vehicle including a housing, a pair of front wheels, a pair of rear wheels, and a steering wheel. The housing includes an outer portion, an inner portion, an air-flow channel, at least a first air inlet, and at least an air outlet. The air-flow channel is disposed between the outer portion and the inner portion of the housing. The first air inlet is disposed in the front of the vehicle. The air outlet is disposed at the back of the vehicle. The first air inlet and the air outlet are connected to the air-flow channel. The front wheels and the rear wheels are driven by a power unit. The length of the air-flow channel is no less than that of the upper portion of the housing. The vehicle consumes less energy and travels more stably compared to conventional vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Inventor: Xiaoyi Zhu
  • Patent number: 8366166
    Abstract: An air duct assembly for a motor vehicle is provided. The air duct assembly can include a U-shaped duct having a center portion with a first air duct and a second air duct extending therefrom. In addition, the center portion of the U-shaped duct can have a flange attached to and extending outwardly therefrom, the flange having a predetermined thickness. The U-shaped duct attaches to a console within the motor vehicle, the console having a surface with a first arm and a second arm extending outwardly therefrom. The second arm can be oppositely disposed and spaced apart from the first arm a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance between the first and second arms extending from the console can be generally equal to the predetermined thickness of the flange extending from the center portion of the U-shaped duct, for the purpose of attaching the U-shaped duct to the console.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Lauren M. Abro
  • Patent number: 8336679
    Abstract: A brake system for a vehicle can include a brake actuator, an equalizer operably connected to the actuator, and two brake wires that are each connected to the equalizer and extend to first and second brake assemblies. The first and second brake wires can extend in a first direction extending from a front of the vehicle toward a rear of the vehicle. The first brake wire can cross over the second brake wire at least once and possibly twice, each time in a direction transverse to the first direction. Additionally, the first and second brake wires can each include a cover that protects a respective wire. The covers can be in contact with each other at the crossover point for the wires to minimize noise, friction and to improve operating ability and durability of the brake wires. The various features, such as the cross-over configuration, the contacting wires, and/or the covers, also make it possible to minimize the space requirements for the wires in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joseph Aaron Mears, Hiroki Ishikawa, Kevin Scott Katerberg
  • Patent number: 8322782
    Abstract: Generally provided is a roof-liner assembly for attaching a wire harness to a roof liner, the assembly having a wire harness that is attached to a roof liner by a harness clip and a harness-clip base, wherein the harness clip has a substantially closed-loop element that substantially surrounds the exterior surface of a wire-harness longitudinal section, and wherein the harness-clip base is secured to the roof liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Shallcross, Todd Hemmert, Saeed Namakydoost
  • Publication number: 20120292949
    Abstract: A panel element is provided for arrangement on a water box of a front wall of a motor vehicle body, with a fastening edge for forming a fastening of the panel element arranged upstream of the water box in travelling direction of the motor vehicle and adjoining the water box and with at least one water-conducting depression for the controlled discharge of accumulating water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joerg SCHNEIDER, Joachim LACROIX
  • Publication number: 20120286541
    Abstract: Provided is a protective structure for vehicle electrical components that can prevent the infiltration of water from above and more reliably protect electrical components (high-voltage electrical components). As a representative configuration of the present invention, a protective structure for vehicle electrical components for protecting an electrical component mounted on the vehicle floor panel includes a lid that covers the electrical component from above, and a front panel, rear panel, and pair of side panels that are arranged around the lid and parallel to an upper face of the lid, and the panels have gutter-shaped edges that support the periphery of the lid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Katsufumi KASHIWAGI
  • Patent number: 8308226
    Abstract: A storage panel assembly for a vehicle includes a panel having a louvered exterior and internal surfaces. A vent structure is formed on a portion of the panel. At least one jack wrench clip assembly is formed on the portion of the panel including the vent structure. The exterior louvered surface of the panel remains unblemished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Frank Parkinson, Robert Charles Steinbrecher
  • Publication number: 20120280538
    Abstract: An instrument panel arrangement for a motor vehicle is provided. The instrument panel arrangement includes an instrument panel and a ventilation duct housing connected to the instrument panel. A middle region of the ventilation duct housing has, in an impact direction, a flexibility that is at least as great as 0.8 times a flexibility of the instrument panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Stefan LUMMITSCH, Andreas MARUTSCHKE
  • Patent number: 8297687
    Abstract: In a vehicle body for a motor vehicle, a crossbeam is situated between two longitudinal girders of a front frame. The crossbeam is formed from the vehicle front wall, the cover plate and the bulkhead plate. The bulkhead plate is led up to a plate of a wheel arch laterally outside the longitudinal girders. The vehicle body thus has a particularly high stability at a low weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Udo Mildner
  • Publication number: 20120248867
    Abstract: An electric component (electric-power convertor) and a pair of air-conditioning ducts are arranged side by side in a vehicle width direction. In case in which a rear end portion of the electric component is located in back of an outlet of the air-conditioning duct, the electric component is formed in a notch shape such that a duct-side edge portion thereof extends obliquely rearward and in a specified direction, in the vehicle width direction, away from the air-conditioning duct. Accordingly, it can be properly prevented that a conditioning air toward a passenger seated in a rear seat is blocked with the electric component arranged between a seat cushion of a front seat and a floor panel and receives any improper influence of heat emitted by the electric component, or the electric component receives any damage from the conditioning air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuki YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20120248824
    Abstract: There is provided a cooling air introduction apparatus for a vehicle. A space that communicates with air introduction ports that are respectively formed in a bumper face of a front bumper and a front grille is partitioned by a vertical partition member. A space that communicates with the air introduction ports that are formed in the bumper face is partitioned by a horizontal partition member. Thus, streams of introduced cooling air are guided to heat exchangers without interfering with each other. The partition members are provided such that a bumper beam moves backward without any trouble upon a light collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji FUJIU, Yoshiyuki Shimizu, Atsushi Koizumi, Shiro Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8272685
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle seat back adapted for movement between an upright position and a lowered position has an air duct with an intake located adjacent an upper portion of the seat back and an outlet located adjacent a lower portion of the seat back. The air duct takes in ambient cabin air at its upper end and that air is directed to an electronics compartment located behind the seat in order to cool the electronics regardless of whether the seat back is in the raised or the lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marc Jonathon Lucas, Louis Paspal, Neil Robert Burrows
  • Patent number: 8262156
    Abstract: A wire harness guide for accurate placement of a wire harness onto a component and protection of the wire harness from rubbing against a surface in near proximity thereof is provided. The wire harness guide can include an elongated bracket having a channel portion extending along a length of the bracket, the channel portion located between an upper flange and a lower flange. The upper flange can extend along at least a portion of the elongated bracket, as can the lower flange. A side wall can extend between the upper flange and the lower flange and a bend extending transversely across the elongated bracket can be present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Marta Ann Fabiilli
  • Patent number: 8251135
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fixing device (8) for a expansion valve (4) of a motor vehicle air-conditioning system (1), said expansion valve (4) being connected to two lines (5, 6). The two lines (5, 6) are positioned in relation to each other by means of a line positioning element (7) which is embodied as a sheet metal stamped part, said line positioning element comprising two slits which are used to receive the lines. The expansion valve (4) can be arranged on the housing (2), with the aid of the line positioning element (7), and can be fixed in an at least rotationally fixed manner, wherein one part of the motor vehicle air-conditioning system (1) is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Frape Behr S.A.
    Inventors: Francesc Santanach, Jorge Guzman, José Cremades Blasco
  • Patent number: 8240750
    Abstract: An air duct system which mates an air duct attached to the roof of an automotive vehicle and an air duct attached to a nonexposed surface of a headliner is provided. The air duct system is attached to an air supply which delivers directed air and is disposed between an inner surface of the roof and the nonexposed surface of the headliner. The headliner includes an opening into the passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle. The air duct system includes a first air duct and a second air duct. The first air duct is attached to the inner surface of the roof, and the second air duct is attached to the nonexposed surface of the headliner. Upon installation of the headliner to the roof a portal on the first air duct registers with a portal on the second air duct so as to provide an air flow passage between said first air duct and said second air duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Michael Ludwig, Jeff Charles Hills, Donald Federico
  • Publication number: 20120200123
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a support structure and support structure attachment within a vehicle adjacent a vehicle seat. The support structure including a bolster having an external surface wherein the bolster has a cavity recessed behind the external surface wherein the cavity originates and opens to the external surface, an airbag mounted within the cavity, and an elongated bracket mounted to the bolster operable to secure the bolster and airbag assembly to the vehicle. The elongated bracket of the bolster attaches to a child restraint system existing within the vehicle while simultaneously securing the airbag within the cavity of the bolster. A trim piece having a weakened seam covers the cavity and the external surface of the bolster thereby covering the airbag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-Ru Chen Sosnowski, Vikas Bhatia, Shelley Bridget Szalay
  • Patent number: 8231168
    Abstract: In an arranging structure of a wire harness for a door, the wire harness is spanned between a door of a motor vehicle and a vehicle body at an indoor side inside of a weather strip. The wire harness is drawn out from a space between a door inner panel and a door trim at the door side and is provided with an excess length portion that follows opening and closing operations of the door. The excess length portion is drawn out from the space when the door is opened. The excess length portion is drawn along an arcuate outer periphery of a speaker disposed in the space to be contained in the space when the door is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Sytems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Morihiko Toyozumi, Isao Tsuji, Daiki Nagayasu, Tsutomu Sakata, Tetsuya Fujita, Sung-Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 8215707
    Abstract: A motor bus body (8) has multiple wall extrusions (18, 48) that join respective sides to the roof (16). Each extrusion has an exterior wall (20) that when viewed lengthwise of the extrusion is concave toward an interior passenger space (10) and convex away from the interior passenger space to form a rounded exterior corner of the body. The extrusion also comprises an interior wall (22) that is concave toward the exterior wall (20) and that cooperates with the exterior wall to enclose a space that contains additional walls (36, 38) of the extrusion joining with the interior and exterior walls (20, 22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Navistar Canada, Inc.
    Inventors: Leo P. Oriet, Jules Cazabon, Michael D. Roeth, John W. Randall