Motor vehicles inventions 12/07

20070295542 - Electric steering apparatus for floor transport vehicle: An electric steering apparatus, particularly suited for floor transport vehicles, comprises a housing, a steering motor operably connected to a reduction gear stage wherein the reduction gear stage is operably connected to rotating bearing assembly coupled in a torque-proof manner to a steerable running wheel. Precise steering motion with continuous... Agent: Goodman, Allen & Filetti PLLC

20070295543 - Method for regulating the state of charge of an energy accumulator in a vehicle having a hybrid drive unit: A method for regulating the state of charge of an energy accumulator in a vehicle having a hybrid drive unit, a motor vehicle in particular, including an internal combustion engine and at least one electrical machine which can be coupled or are coupled to a power train of the vehicle.... Agent: Kenyon & Kenyon LLP

20070295544 - Regenerative braking halo and method: A variably illuminable display is provided for use with a vehicle having a regenerative braking capability with a detectable recharging rate. The display has a variable width, variable color, and variable intensity that are proportionately and continuously variable in response to the detected charging rate. The display is adapted to... Agent: General Motors Corporation Legal Staff

20070295545 - Differential steering and traction control for electrically propelled mower: A differential steering and traction control system for an electrically propelled mower. Each of the front wheels has an electric motor wheel drive, and each rear wheel may have an electric steering motor. The operator's station has a steering wheel and a speed control. An electronic controller provides steering commands... Agent: Deere & Company

20070295546 - All-terrain vehicle: An all-terrain vehicle comprising a rear platform between the rear wheels providing standing room and access to the straddle seat of the all-terrain vehicle. The all-terrain vehicle may also featuring a rear passageway and a side passageway for the rider of the all-terrain vehicle to access to the straddle seat.... Agent: Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (brp)

20070295547 - Straddle-type vehicle: A motorcycle that secures engine cooling efficiency while reducing exposure of a radiator. A reserve tank disposed below the seat and inside an exhaust pipe in the vehicle width direction exchanges cooling water with the radiator. A first heat blocking cover is disposed between the exhaust pipe and the reserve... Agent: Hogan & Hartson L.L.P.

20070295548 - Prevention of inadvertent inertial engagement of a transfer case clutch: A method for controlling operation of a transfer case in a motor vehicle driveline that includes by an engine controlled by a throttle having a variable position, and a transmission driveably connected to the engine for producing multiple ratios of the speed of a transmission input relative to the speed... Agent: Macmillan, Sobanski & Todd, LLC

20070295549 - Vehicle steering apparatus: A vehicle steering apparatus includes a jacket for rotatably supporting a steering shaft, and an electric motor. The electric motor includes an annular rotor arranged coaxially with the steering shaft and rotating together with the steering shaft. The jacket includes a tubular upper jacket and a tubular lower jacket that... Agent: Rabin & Berdo, PC

20070295550 - Engine unit and straddle type vehicle: In an engine unit of a straddle type vehicle, a V-belt-type continuously variable transmission (CVT) has a secondary sheave shaft 62 that rotates with a clutch housing of a centrifugal clutch. The secondary sheave shaft is supported in a cantilever fashion via two bearings. The engine unit has a gear... Agent: Hogan & Hartson L.L.P.

20070295551 - Ergonomic machine control console: A control console for a machine having a seat with a plane of symmetry is disclosed. The machine also has an armrest extending from the seat in a forward direction generally parallel with the plane of symmetry. The armrest has an upper surface intended to support an operator's forearm. The... Agent: Caterpillar/finnegan, Henderson, L.L.P.

20070295552 - Electric power steering apparatus: This electric power steering apparatus is provided with: a motor; a worm gear provided on a rotational shaft of the motor so as not to rotate with respect to the rotational shaft; a worm wheel gear which meshes with the worm gear and links to a steering system; a gear... Agent: Arent Fox LLP

20070289785 - Dual lever steering control mechanism: A dual lever steering control mechanism for a mounting a control lever or stick to a mower is disclosed. The mechanism includes a housing with an opening, a forward/reverse lever insertable through the opening and pivoting on a first axis, and a neutral position lever pivotably attached to the forward/reverse... Agent: Deere & Company

20070289790 - Drive unit enclosure assembly: An enclosure assembly configured to enhance accessibility to a drive unit of a vehicular agricultural applicator is provided. The enclosure assembly generally includes a housing, and a hinged panel pivotal about an axis defined by a hinge assembly between an open and a closed position with respect to the housing.... Agent: Cnh America LLC

20070289791 - Sideloader with improved visual operability: A sideloader forklift vehicle has a chassis supported on a plurality of wheels, a forklift mechanism supported on the chassis, an operator's cab supported on the chassis, and a battery cabinet supported on the chassis for electrically powering the sideloader forklift vehicle. The battery cabinet is elongated along a line... Agent: The Law Office Of Randall T. Erickson, P.C.

20070289786 - Climbing with dry adhesives: A bio-inspired device is provided designed to scale smooth vertical surfaces using anisotropic frictional materials. The device draws its inspiration from geckos and other climbing lizards and employs similar compliance and force control strategies to climb (or hang onto) smooth vertical surfaces including glass, tile and plastic panels. Foremost among... Agent: Lumen Intellectual Property Services, Inc.

20070289787 - Wheelchair transporter: The present invention is a device adapted to transport wheelchairs. The device comprises a body, a motor driven wheel coupled to the body, and a hitch mechanism coupled to the body. The hitch mechanism includes a first wheelchair engagement member displaceable relative to rest of the hitch mechanism.... Agent: Dorsey & Whitney, LLP Intellectual Property Department

20070289788 - Cleaning cart: The invention relates to a cleaning cart which comprises a base, at least three wheels mounted laterally or under the base and a structure, arranged over the base, for receiving cleaning utensils, as well as a handle. On the underside of the base at least one electric motor is functionally... Agent: Wolf Greenfield & Sacks, P.C.

20070289789 - Cooling structure for secondary battery: In a cooling structure for the secondary battery, a first exhaust duct is connected to a first battery pack. The first exhaust duct includes a first center exhaust duct extending between the driver seat and the front passenger seat towards a vehicle rear side, and a first under seat exhaust... Agent: Oliff & Berridge, PLC

20070289792 - Composite body for a golf car and utility vehicle: A golf car or utility vehicle having a composite body. In some aspects of the invention, the golf car or utility vehicle has a composite body assembly that includes a front clam shell assembly and a rear shell-like body. In other aspects, the golf car or utility vehicle includes a... Agent: Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

20070289793 - Energy recovery system: An energy recovery system including a device that produces a magnetic field, which is adapted for mounting to a vehicle, and a stationary conductor adapted for placing in or adjacent the path of the vehicle wherein the magnetic field induces current to flow through the conductor when the vehicle moves... Agent: Van Dyke, Gardner, Linn & Burkhart, LLP

20070289794 - Alternating voltage generation apparatus and power output apparatus: A power output apparatus includes first and second motor generators, first and second inverters and a relay circuit. The first and second motor generators include first and second 3-phase coils, respectively. The first inverter alters periodically the potential at a first neutral point of the 3-phase coil. The second inverter... Agent: Oliff & Berridge, PLC

20070289795 - Slip-control method and device: A method for controlling the slip of a tire (1) of an automobile, said tire comprising a tread (3). The method comprises adjusting said slip using the measurement of a variable linked to the surface temperature (T2) of the tread in the contact area (2) of the tire.... Agent: Thomas Langer Cohen, Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane

20070289796 - Intra-wheel rear suspension system: Disclosed is an intra-wheel rear suspension system moveably supporting a rotating wheel relative to a frame via a concentric hub structure, the system exhibiting minimal side play or torsional play due to its unique bearing structure. The system includes an inner carrier assembly having an inner slide block with front... Agent: Myers Dawes Andras & Sherman, LLP

20070289797 - Drive axle assembly with torque vectoring drive mechanism: A drive axle assembly includes a pair of axleshafts connected to a pair of wheels, and a drive mechanism for selectively coupling a driven input shaft to one or both of the axleshafts. The drive mechanism includes first and second drive units that can be selectively engaged to control the... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20070289798 - Sideloader forklift with all wheel steering: A forklift apparatus with improved all-wheel steering includes: a chassis; a plurality of wheels; at least one motor; a plurality of idler pulleys; a plurality a traction belts; and a plurality of actuators. The plurality of wheels supports the chassis from a ground surface and steer the chassis on the... Agent: The Law Office Of Randall T. Erickson, P.C.

20070289799 - Vehicle occupant detecting system: The disclosed vehicle occupant detecting system may comprise a three-dimensional surface profile detector, a digitizer, a storage device, a position detector, and a processor. The three-dimensional surface profile detector is may detect a three-dimensional surface profile of a vehicle occupant from a single view point. The digitizer may digitize the... Agent: Foley And Lardner LLP Suite 500

20070289800 - Vehicle seat detecting system: A system is provided which is effective for precisely detecting the positional conditions of a vehicle seat. A vehicle seat detecting system which is installed in a vehicle employs a system for detecting a three-dimensional surface profile of a vehicle seat from a single view point by a camera to... Agent: Foley And Lardner LLP Suite 500

20070289801 - Control apparatus for a vehicle: A control apparatus having a moveable steering console for vehicles. The steering console includes a steering a steering platform carried by and moveable relative to the vehicle. The steering platform includes a steering device for receiving a user input, a moving means operably connected to the steering device for moving... Agent: Adams Evans P.A.

20070289802 - Recessed control panel: A recessed control panel for a grass mowing machine includes a panel mounted in a recess in a top surface of a side cover on the grass mowing machine. Several controls are attached to panel. The panel has a lower forward end and a higher rearward end, is hinged at... Agent: Deere & Company

20070289803 - Forward/backward movement operation device for work machine: A forward/reverse control system for a work machine cancels a second control state, in which forward/reverse switching control is performed by a second forward/reverse control means, by an operation of a first forward/reverse control means to return to a first control state in which forward/reverse switching control is performed by... Agent: Crowell & Moring LLP Intellectual Property Group

20070289804 - Steering device for vehicle: A vehicle including a steer-by-wire type steering device controlling yaw moment of the vehicle in correspondence with an operation of a steering wheel mechanically separated from each of wheels. The wheels are configured such that a steered angle cannot be changed. The steering device has a power distribution device capable... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20070289805 - Electric preload for variable effort steering system: The invention provides a method for controlling valve stiffness in a power steering system. The method includes the step of engaging a pinion and a spool shaft with respect to one another for turning at least two wheels of a vehicle in response to rotation of a steering wheel from... Agent: Delphi Technologies, Inc.

20070289807 - Motor and electric power steering system: To provide a motor in which a rattle is hardly caused even if a bearing and a shaft are made of different materials, a motor includes a cylindrical motor case having a bottom, in a bracket which supports a press-fitted output shaft side bearing and closes an opening of the... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20070289806 - Power steering apparatus: There is provided a power steering apparatus comprising a torque sensor detecting a steering torque capable of discriminating a normal input and an inverse input without a torsion bar. An intermediate gear engaging with rack teeth provided in an outer surface of a rack shaft and a pinion provided in... Agent: Darby & Darby P.C.

20070289808 - Steering control apparatus for a vehicle: A steering control apparatus is provided for a vehicle having a steering wheel for steering its steered wheels, a power source for generating power, and drive shafts for transferring the power to the wheels, to be served as driving wheels of the vehicle, and a traction control device for controlling... Agent: Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney PC

20070284156 - Firefighting vehicle: An improved firefighting vehicle of a type supporting a pump system (e.g., a fire pump system) is provided. The firefighting vehicle generally includes a chassis and an operator cab. The operator cab is movable (e.g.; tiltable, etc.) relative to the chassis between a transit position and a service position. The... Agent: Foley & Lardner LLP

20070284158 - Method and system for controlling charge and discharge amounts of a main battery for a hybrid car: A method for controlling charge and discharge amounts of a main battery for a hybrid car includes receiving signals from the main battery, a driving motor, and an inverter system; and controlling charge and discharge amounts of the main battery through adjusting and learning a scale factor of the main... Agent: Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (sf)

20070284159 - Storage battery system, on-vehicle power supply system, vehicle and method for charging storage battery system: A storage battery system includes a battery module A with a first nonaqueous electrolyte battery including a negative-electrode material which has an average grain size of 2 μm or more and is used to occlude and discharge lithium ions, a battery module B with a second nonaqueous electrolyte battery set... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20070284163 - Method and apparatus for control of a hybrid electric vehicle to achieve a target life objective for an energy storage device: A method for determining a preferred operating gradient for use in attaining a life objective for an electrical energy storage device in a hybrid vehicle is disclosed. A present state-of-life of the electrical energy storage device is provided and a life target for the electrical energy storage device is established... Agent: General Motors Corporation Legal Staff

20070284162 - Method for operating a hybrid electric powertrain based on predictive effects upon an electrical energy storage device: A hybrid electric powertrain includes an electrical energy storage device and electric machines. A method for operating the powertrain is disclosed to control the electric machines effective to attain a predetermined state of life profile for the electric energy storage device.... Agent: General Motors Corporation Legal Staff

20070284166 - Advanced controls concept for hybrid fuel cell systems: A system for controlling the power output of a fuel cell stack and a battery in a hybrid fuel cell system. The system includes a power damping filter that receives a power request signal, and damps the request to reduce large changes in the power request. A battery state of... Agent: General Motors Corporation Legal Staff

20070284165 - Vehicle hydraulic regenerative system: A regenerative system for a recharging vehicle batteries utilizing a hydraulic circuit having a hydraulic pump linked to a non-drive axle powering the pump, the pump providing power to at least one hydraulic generator so that the generator operates continuously within optimum operating parameters once the vehicle travels at or... Agent: The Parker Law Office, PLLC

20070284169 - 3d gauge face for vehicle dashboard: A system and/or method that displays images in a vehicle dashboard area that appear, to an operator of the vehicle, to float above and/or below the vehicle's gauge face in a three-dimensional manner. In certain example embodiments, a system and/or method is provided wherein a gauge face includes a first... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, PC

20070284155 - Wind-powered pneumatic engine and a motor vehicle equipped with the engine: A wind-powered pneumatic engine including one or more impeller chambers and one or more impellers disposed in the impeller chambers is provided. One or more air inlets for receiving external wind resistance airflow are disposed on the impeller chambers, and the external wind resistance airflow entering the air inlets drives... Agent: Jacobson Holman PLLC

20070284157 - Drive train for a motor vehicle comprising an electric machine: In a drive train for a motor vehicle, with a converter bell arranged between an internal combustion engine and a transmission, and a drive shaft extending through the converter bell and carrying a clutch device and an electric machine together with a power converter, which comprises at least one capacitor... Agent: Klaus J. Bach

20070284160 - By wire control of braking and acceleration: A rider surface maintenance vehicle with variable dynamic braking, in contrast to a mechanically-engaged braking system that uses a brake cable. A brake pedal engages a sensor that encodes the pedal position as an electronic signal. The electronic signal, along with the vehicle velocity, determines a machine deceleration rate, or... Agent: Altera Law Group, LLC

20070284161 - Engine start control device and method for a hybrid vehicle: An engine start control device for a hybrid vehicle equipped with an electric motor and an engine with an induction system, including a hybrid controller that performs an engine start determination to determine whether the engine should be started while the electric motor is running; an acceleration position sensor that... Agent: Young & Basile, P.C.

20070284164 - Motor vehicle with electric boost motor: A method and apparatus are provided for operating a motor vehicle having an electric motor and a hydrocarbon fueled engine. The method includes the steps of moving the vehicle using the electric motor and the engine when the vehicle is below a first predetermined speed wherein an instantaneous respective torque... Agent: Welsh & Katz, Ltd. Jon P. Christensen

20070284167 - Battery pack and motor vehicle: In the battery pack, a battery module cover is fixed to a lower case using a security bolt (break-head bolt) in an undetachable manner in order to prevent charge and discharge with respect to a battery module which is a secondary battery from/to an external source. An auxiliary component cover... Agent: Oliff & Berridge, PLC

20070284168 - Method for driving hydrogen internal combustion engine car: A car mounted with a hydrogen internal combustion engine is driven by supplying hydrogen gas fuel which is produced by vaporizing an aqueous hydrazine solution carried on the car and bringing the vaporized hydrazine into contact with a catalyst carried on the car to decompose hydrazine.... Agent: Nixon Peabody, LLP

20070284170 - Retarding control for hydromechanical drive machine: A method of dissipating power in a propelled machine having a hydromechanical transmission includes converting undesired power to retarding power, and driving an engine with at least a portion of the retarding power prior to substantially dissipating power with any other power-dissipating device.... Agent: Caterpillar Inc. Intellectual Property Dept.

20070284171 - Snowmobile: A snowmobile includes an engine room accommodating an engine body, a steering shaft transferring a steering force generated by the steering of a handle to steering skis, and an assist motor accommodated in the engine room and assisting the steering force, wherein the assist motor is mounted to the steering... Agent: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha C/o Keating & Bennett, LLP

20070284172 - Meter device of motorcycle: A meter device of a motorcycle decreases wind pressure caused by a travel wind without increased cost or design restrictions. A first portion of the meter device housing is positioned between the indicator portions and is inclined rearwardly upward to be directed above a rider's head. A second portion of... Agent: Hogan & Hartson L.L.P.

20070284173 - Multi-wheel vehicle: A vehicle comprises a steering operation device, a pair of running-driving wheels, which differentially drive when the steering operation device is manipulated, a pair of steerable running wheels interlocking with the steering operation device, and a steering mechanism interposed between the steering operation device and the pair of running-driving wheels.... Agent: Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.l.l.c.

20070284174 - Vehicle seat belt apparatus and control method therefor: Vehicle seat belt apparatus includes an electric-type pretensioner that includes a motor for rotationally driving a belt reel to take up a belt. The apparatus also includes: a take-up position detection section for detecting a take-up position of the reel; a traveling condition determination section for determining that a traveling... Agent: Carrier Blackman And Associates

20070284175 - Vehicle body structure: A front cross member is installed between a par of (right and left) front side members, and a plate-shaped sub-cross member, as a mounting member for a suspension or the like, is installed ahead of the front cross member. The front cross member and the sub-cross member are coupled by... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20070284176 - Method and apparatus to control hydraulic pressure in an electro-mechanical transmission: The invention comprises a method, an article, and a control system for controlling a powertrain having a main and an auxiliary hydraulic pump, with each pump operative to supply hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic circuit of the transmission. It includes determining a main pressure and a desired main pressure, and... Agent: General Motors Corporation Legal Staff

20070284177 - Pressurized fluid-based power system for devices, such as vehicle drivetrains: A power system for a vehicle drivetrain including a cylinder, first and second pistons, and a pressure source. The cylinder defines a central bore, a first inlet adjacent a first end, and a second inlet adjacent a second end. The pistons are coaxially disposed within the central bore, and each... Agent: Dicke, Billig & Czaja

20070284178 - Muffler and related systems: Mufflers are provided for a vehicle exhaust system having a combustion chamber and an exhaust pipe. The vehicle exhaust system is configured to reduce the noise of combustion gasses generated in the combustion chamber. An exemplary muffler includes a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being configured... Agent: Office Of Command Counsel, U.s. Army Materiel Command

20070284179 - Power transmission device for a motor vehicle and method for using said device: The invention mainly relates to a power transmission device (1) between an internal combustion engine (2) and vehicle wheels (3) consisting of a pair of electrical machines (4.1, 4.2) and a mechanical assembly (90), wherein said assembly (90) comprises at least two epicycloidal trains (5, 9) each of which is... Agent: Nicolas E. Seckel Patent Attorney

20070284180 - Electric power steering apparatus: There is provided an electric power steering apparatus having an electric motor 12 for generating a steering assist torque to a steering mechanism and a motor control part 24 for controlling the electric motor 12 by a pulse-width modulating signal in accordance with a current command value corresponding to a... Agent: Sughrue-265550

20070284181 - Vehicle steering control system: A vehicle steering control system is provided which can appropriately control a steering angle and provide sufficient braking force even when the brake pedal is fully pressed down during cornering thereby causing wheels to lock. When it is determined that the ABS is active during cornering while braking and the... Agent: Smith, Gambrell & Russell

20070278022 - Drive state shift control apparatus and method for vehicle: A drive state shift control apparatus and method switches a hybrid drive (HEV) mode to an electric drive (EV) mode without engine stoppage shock or eliminates gearshifting shock in an electric vehicle. In response to a decrease in accelerator opening APO, a request for fourth-to-fifth upshift is issued, then request... Agent: Young & Basile, P.C.

20070278024 - Transportation device and power system thereof: A power system suitable for use in a transportation device is provided. The power system includes an engine, a gas tank and a gas pipe. The engine has at least a gas cylinder with a piston. The gas tank is used for storing a high pressure noninflammable gas. The gas... Agent: Jianq Chyun Intellectual Property Office

20070278025 - Suspension system having active compensation for vibration: A suspension system for a seat of a vehicle comprises a base, a linkage, and a seat attached to the base via the linkage. A pneumatic shock absorber provides a respective resistance level against movement of the seat with respect to the base based on a corresponding pressure level of... Agent: Deere & Company

20070278021 - Method for controlling the torque of a hybrid drive unit and hybrid drive unit: A method is for controlling the torque of a hybrid drive unit, which includes a combustion engine and at least one electric machine capable of being operated alternatively as a motor or as a generator. The electric machine, when operated as a motor, is powered by an energy storage device... Agent: Kenyon & Kenyon LLP

20070278023 - Four-wheel rolling vehicle with electric drive: Four-wheel electric-drive rolling vehicle (10) with front steering wheels (11) connected to a chassis (12) by means of an articulated quadrilateral front suspension group (15) and rear wheels (14) connected to said chassis (12) by means of independent, longitudinal arm suspensions (16), comprising at least a pair of electric driving... Agent: Hedman & Costigan P.C.

20070278026 - Two person ruv with ergonomic seating and feet placement: A two or more person RUV (recreational utility vehicle) is provided with a multi-place multi-planar saddle seat assembly, multi-place multi-planar foot board assemblies, and grip handles.... Agent: Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S C

20070278027 - Hydraulic hybrid vehicle with integrated hydraulic drive module and four-wheel-drive, and method of operation thereof: A vehicle includes an integrated drive module coupled to an axle thereof. The module includes a hydraulic motor configured to provide motive power at an output shaft, and a differential for distributing the motive power to right and left portions of the axle. The hydraulic motor and the differential are... Agent: Seed Intellectual Property Law Group PLLC

20070278028 - Anti-aeration system for a suspension actuator: A hydraulically operated actuator is provided for controlling a roll of a vehicle that includes an actuator connected between a first mass and a second mass of the vehicle. An upper mount assembly is coupled to the first mass and a lower mount assembly is coupled to the second mass.... Agent: Macmillan, Sobanski & Todd, LLC

20070278029 - Hybrid drive system: A hybrid drive system is provided which includes a first damper that is connected to an output shaft of an engine; an electric motor which is provided adjacent to the first damper and connected to the output side of the first damper; a power split device that distributes power from... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20070278030 - Machine, in particular construction machine: This invention relates to a machine, in particular a construction machine and preferably a wheel loader or dumper, comprising a pump, an energy accumulator connected with the pump, which includes a first space which is gas-filled and which includes a second space which is designed such that in operation of... Agent: Dilworth & Barrese, LLP

20070278031 - Linear electromechanical actuator for a steering system of a motor vehicle: A linear electromechanical actuator, for a steering system of the ‘center take-off’ type in a motor vehicle comprises: two electric motors each having a stator, and a rotor, a screw mechanism having an axially stationary innerscrew coupled to the rotors of the motor for rotating about an axis, and an... Agent: Merchant & Gould PC

20070278032 - Electric power steering device: A highly safe electric power steering device including a control device for determining the failure of a motor current detector based on the difference between the motor current estimate value and the detected motor current value is provided. The abnormality determining unit computes the absolute value of difference between the... Agent: Sidley Austin LLP