Motor vehicles inventions 10/08

20080257614 - Reads-77: Renewable Energy Advanced Device Solution is at least wind powered and comprises at least a motor, a battery cell, a clutch means, a generator armature, a communication means configured with a capacitance means and operatively connected to an accelerator pedal. The communication means is configured for directing the flow of... Agent: Joseph A. Tabe

20080257615 - Climbing devices based on thermo-reversible dry adhesives: One embodiment of the invention includes an application of multilayer thermo-reversible dry adhesives in climbing devices.... Agent: General Motors Corporation C/o Reising, Ethington, Barnes, Kisselle, P.C.

20080257616 - Tracked vehicle, especially a snow scooter: A tracked vehicle, especially a snow scooter, that has two laterally spaced-apart front drive-track assemblies (10), each of which is turnable around a substantially vertical axis and which are coupled for common turning. Each drive-track assembly is carried by a vehicle chassis (11) via a vertically movable link device, which... Agent: Dickstein Shapiro LLP

20080257617 - Traveling device: In a traveling device according to the present invention, self-support and conveyance of the device by dragging are facilitated. Two wheels 1L, 1R are provided in parallel, and the wheels 1L, 1R are provided respectively with independent driving means (motors) 2L, 2R. The driving means 2L, 2R are connected by... Agent: Kenyon & Kenyon LLP

20080257618 - Power-assisted cart retriever with attenuated power output: The present invention is a motorized shopping cart retriever that includes a controller that attenuates the power provided to the drive system of the retriever to prevent the retriever from being utilized to move an excessively heavy load of shopping carts. By preventing the retriever and carts from being subjected... Agent: Devan V. Padmanabhan, Esq. Dorsey & Whitney LLP

20080257620 - Hybrid vehicle drive system: A plug-in hybrid vehicle drive system, including an internal combustion engine for driving one or more wheels of an automobile, at least one on-wheel electrically powered motor for driving at least one wheel of the automobile, each on-wheel motor including a stator fixed outboard of the at least one wheel... Agent: St. Onge Steward Johnston & Reens, LLC

20080257619 - System and method of inhibiting the affects of driveline backlash in a hybrid propulsion system: A hybrid electric vehicle is provided. The hybrid electric vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a mechanical torque transmission device for transmitting engine torque to at least one wheel, the mechanical torque transmission device having a lash region, an electric energy conversion device connected downstream of the mechanical torque transmission... Agent: Alleman Hall Mccoy Russell & Tuttle, LLP

20080257621 - Fuel cell vehicle system: A fuel cell vehicle system includes: a propulsion motor capable of driving a vehicle; a fuel cell which generates electric power by supplying a reactant gas to give an electrochemical reaction; an energy storage device which is charged by a generated output of the fuel cell and regenerative electric power... Agent: Lahive & Cockfield, LLP Floor 30, Suite 3000

20080257622 - Motor vehicle comprising a solar module: The invention relates to a mortor vehicle comprising an air-conditioning unit (10) that is provided with an electrically operated compressor (12). Said motor vehicle further comprises a generator (16) which can be operated by a vehicle drive unit (14) in order to generate electric power, a battery (18) that can... Agent: Dickinson Wright PLLC

20080257624 - Cooling device for electric apparatus mounted on vehicle: Exhaust air from an electric-powered battery cooling fan which draws in an exhaust airflow from a battery for traveling purpose is diffused in a direction to a ventilating opening provided in a first cross member, as shown by an arrow C (10), an arrow C (11), and an arrow C... Agent: Oliff & Berridge, PLC

20080257623 - Swing-type operation machine: To realize a mounting structure on the rear side of the seat of the operator station on which the seat and equipment for operation are installed in the swing table of a swing-type operation machine, the mounting structure being simple in construction yet imparted with a sufficiently large strength without... Agent: Mcginn Intellectual Property Law Group, PLLC

20080257625 - Transmission oil pan: An oil pan includes a chamber for containing a liquid, a first passage for containing a coolant and forming a first flow path along a length of the chamber, including a first surface located between the chamber and the first passage, and a second passage for containing the liquid coolant,... Agent: Macmillan, Sobanski & Todd, LLC

20080257626 - Suspension system for a wheeled vehicle and a wheeled vehicle equipped with such a suspension system: A suspension system for a wheeled vehicle is provided, the suspension system being adapted to support at least one wheel of the vehicle and comprising at least one shock absorbing device adapted to be activated as a result of the motion of the at least one wheel in a substantially... Agent: Paul A. Fattibene Fattibene & Fattibene

20080257627 - All-terrain powered vehicle and method of steering: A steering mechanism for a recreational vehicle includes a foot support and a steering device connected to the foot support, the steering device being moved by a motion of the foot support. A recreational vehicle is also disclosed that includes a front portion, a body connected to the front portion,... Agent: Mardson Q. Mcquay

20080257628 - Lightweight propulsion device for providing motive force to a skate equipment user: A propulsion device for use with skate equipment includes a frame having an upper end and a lower end, an engine mounted on the frame, a single wheel and first and second hand grips. The single wheel is mounted at the lower end of the frame and operatively connected with... Agent: Tillman Wright, PLLC

20080257629 - Method for controlling rotation speed: A method for controlling rotation speed of at least one rotary element in the driveline of a vehicle is provided. At least one operating parameter is detected repeatedly, which operating parameter corresponds to an actual value of a torque in the driveline, which is delivered to the rotary element. A... Agent: Wrb-ip LLP

20080257630 - Engine arrangement structure of saddle-ride type vehicle: An engine arrangement structure of a saddle-ride type vehicle includes an engine having a crankcase and a cylinder part overhung upwardly from the crankcase. An alternating current generator is provided at one end of the crankshaft with a power transmission system member being provided at the other end thereof. The... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20080257631 - Override control circuits for a lawn and garden tractor: Control circuits for a riding lawn mower providing an override condition for selectively allowing the cutting blades of the lawn mower to operate when the vehicle is traveling in reverse. The circuits incorporate a multi-position ignition switch, an override switch, a vehicle reverse switch, a PTO switch and a park... Agent: Wegman, Hessler & Vanderburg

20080257632 - Electric component arrangement structure for vehicle, vehicle having the same, and method for arranging electric component in vehicle: An electric component arrangement structure for a vehicle includes a plurality of electric components, a support member, and a body frame of the vehicle. The plurality of electric components includes a battery and an ECU. Couplers of the electric components are arranged in the support member. The body frame includes... Agent: Ditthavong Mori & Steiner, P.C.

20080257633 - Hydro-mechanically coupled electric power steering system: A power steering system provides improved steering feel whenever negligible power assist is required is required such as during on-center operation or at very high vehicular speeds. The power steering system includes fluid lines used for directly coupling a motor driven pump to a power cylinder. The fluid lines are... Agent: Carlson, Gaskey & Olds, P.C.

20080257634 - Hydraulic power steering system: In order to provide an electrohydraulic power steering system which is as compactly designed as possible in the region of its actuator and can be used flexibly for different classes of vehicle, it is provided according to the invention to combine the action of the rack (7) and the piston... Agent: Kenyon & Kenyon LLP

20080257635 - Magnetostrictive coat forming method, magnetostrictive torque sensor manufacturing method, and electric power steering apparatus employing the sensor: For forming an annular magnetostrictive coat on an outer peripheral surface of a rotational shaft associated with a magnetostrictive torque sensor, a magnetostrictive-coat forming method comprises a step of fitting a cylindrical masking jig over the outer peripheral surface of the rotational shaft and securing the masking jig to the... Agent: Hamre, Schumann, Mueller & Larson, P.C.

20080257614 - Reads-77: Renewable Energy Advanced Device Solution is at least wind powered and comprises at least a motor, a battery cell, a clutch means, a generator armature, a communication means configured with a capacitance means and operatively connected to an accelerator pedal. The communication means is configured for directing the flow of... Agent: Joseph A. Tabe

20080257615 - Climbing devices based on thermo-reversible dry adhesives: One embodiment of the invention includes an application of multilayer thermo-reversible dry adhesives in climbing devices.... Agent: General Motors Corporation C/o Reising, Ethington, Barnes, Kisselle, P.C.

20080257616 - Tracked vehicle, especially a snow scooter: A tracked vehicle, especially a snow scooter, that has two laterally spaced-apart front drive-track assemblies (10), each of which is turnable around a substantially vertical axis and which are coupled for common turning. Each drive-track assembly is carried by a vehicle chassis (11) via a vertically movable link device, which... Agent: Dickstein Shapiro LLP

20080257617 - Traveling device: In a traveling device according to the present invention, self-support and conveyance of the device by dragging are facilitated. Two wheels 1L, 1R are provided in parallel, and the wheels 1L, 1R are provided respectively with independent driving means (motors) 2L, 2R. The driving means 2L, 2R are connected by... Agent: Kenyon & Kenyon LLP

20080257618 - Power-assisted cart retriever with attenuated power output: The present invention is a motorized shopping cart retriever that includes a controller that attenuates the power provided to the drive system of the retriever to prevent the retriever from being utilized to move an excessively heavy load of shopping carts. By preventing the retriever and carts from being subjected... Agent: Devan V. Padmanabhan, Esq. Dorsey & Whitney LLP

20080257620 - Hybrid vehicle drive system: A plug-in hybrid vehicle drive system, including an internal combustion engine for driving one or more wheels of an automobile, at least one on-wheel electrically powered motor for driving at least one wheel of the automobile, each on-wheel motor including a stator fixed outboard of the at least one wheel... Agent: St. Onge Steward Johnston & Reens, LLC

20080257619 - System and method of inhibiting the affects of driveline backlash in a hybrid propulsion system: A hybrid electric vehicle is provided. The hybrid electric vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a mechanical torque transmission device for transmitting engine torque to at least one wheel, the mechanical torque transmission device having a lash region, an electric energy conversion device connected downstream of the mechanical torque transmission... Agent: Alleman Hall Mccoy Russell & Tuttle, LLP

20080257621 - Fuel cell vehicle system: A fuel cell vehicle system includes: a propulsion motor capable of driving a vehicle; a fuel cell which generates electric power by supplying a reactant gas to give an electrochemical reaction; an energy storage device which is charged by a generated output of the fuel cell and regenerative electric power... Agent: Lahive & Cockfield, LLP Floor 30, Suite 3000

20080257622 - Motor vehicle comprising a solar module: The invention relates to a mortor vehicle comprising an air-conditioning unit (10) that is provided with an electrically operated compressor (12). Said motor vehicle further comprises a generator (16) which can be operated by a vehicle drive unit (14) in order to generate electric power, a battery (18) that can... Agent: Dickinson Wright PLLC

20080257624 - Cooling device for electric apparatus mounted on vehicle: Exhaust air from an electric-powered battery cooling fan which draws in an exhaust airflow from a battery for traveling purpose is diffused in a direction to a ventilating opening provided in a first cross member, as shown by an arrow C (10), an arrow C (11), and an arrow C... Agent: Oliff & Berridge, PLC

20080257623 - Swing-type operation machine: To realize a mounting structure on the rear side of the seat of the operator station on which the seat and equipment for operation are installed in the swing table of a swing-type operation machine, the mounting structure being simple in construction yet imparted with a sufficiently large strength without... Agent: Mcginn Intellectual Property Law Group, PLLC

20080257625 - Transmission oil pan: An oil pan includes a chamber for containing a liquid, a first passage for containing a coolant and forming a first flow path along a length of the chamber, including a first surface located between the chamber and the first passage, and a second passage for containing the liquid coolant,... Agent: Macmillan, Sobanski & Todd, LLC

20080257626 - Suspension system for a wheeled vehicle and a wheeled vehicle equipped with such a suspension system: A suspension system for a wheeled vehicle is provided, the suspension system being adapted to support at least one wheel of the vehicle and comprising at least one shock absorbing device adapted to be activated as a result of the motion of the at least one wheel in a substantially... Agent: Paul A. Fattibene Fattibene & Fattibene

20080257627 - All-terrain powered vehicle and method of steering: A steering mechanism for a recreational vehicle includes a foot support and a steering device connected to the foot support, the steering device being moved by a motion of the foot support. A recreational vehicle is also disclosed that includes a front portion, a body connected to the front portion,... Agent: Mardson Q. Mcquay

20080257628 - Lightweight propulsion device for providing motive force to a skate equipment user: A propulsion device for use with skate equipment includes a frame having an upper end and a lower end, an engine mounted on the frame, a single wheel and first and second hand grips. The single wheel is mounted at the lower end of the frame and operatively connected with... Agent: Tillman Wright, PLLC

20080257629 - Method for controlling rotation speed: A method for controlling rotation speed of at least one rotary element in the driveline of a vehicle is provided. At least one operating parameter is detected repeatedly, which operating parameter corresponds to an actual value of a torque in the driveline, which is delivered to the rotary element. A... Agent: Wrb-ip LLP

20080257630 - Engine arrangement structure of saddle-ride type vehicle: An engine arrangement structure of a saddle-ride type vehicle includes an engine having a crankcase and a cylinder part overhung upwardly from the crankcase. An alternating current generator is provided at one end of the crankshaft with a power transmission system member being provided at the other end thereof. The... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20080257631 - Override control circuits for a lawn and garden tractor: Control circuits for a riding lawn mower providing an override condition for selectively allowing the cutting blades of the lawn mower to operate when the vehicle is traveling in reverse. The circuits incorporate a multi-position ignition switch, an override switch, a vehicle reverse switch, a PTO switch and a park... Agent: Wegman, Hessler & Vanderburg

20080257632 - Electric component arrangement structure for vehicle, vehicle having the same, and method for arranging electric component in vehicle: An electric component arrangement structure for a vehicle includes a plurality of electric components, a support member, and a body frame of the vehicle. The plurality of electric components includes a battery and an ECU. Couplers of the electric components are arranged in the support member. The body frame includes... Agent: Ditthavong Mori & Steiner, P.C.

20080257633 - Hydro-mechanically coupled electric power steering system: A power steering system provides improved steering feel whenever negligible power assist is required is required such as during on-center operation or at very high vehicular speeds. The power steering system includes fluid lines used for directly coupling a motor driven pump to a power cylinder. The fluid lines are... Agent: Carlson, Gaskey & Olds, P.C.

20080257634 - Hydraulic power steering system: In order to provide an electrohydraulic power steering system which is as compactly designed as possible in the region of its actuator and can be used flexibly for different classes of vehicle, it is provided according to the invention to combine the action of the rack (7) and the piston... Agent: Kenyon & Kenyon LLP

20080257635 - Magnetostrictive coat forming method, magnetostrictive torque sensor manufacturing method, and electric power steering apparatus employing the sensor: For forming an annular magnetostrictive coat on an outer peripheral surface of a rotational shaft associated with a magnetostrictive torque sensor, a magnetostrictive-coat forming method comprises a step of fitting a cylindrical masking jig over the outer peripheral surface of the rotational shaft and securing the masking jig to the... Agent: Hamre, Schumann, Mueller & Larson, P.C.

20080251300 - Automated wheelchair: An automated wheelchair for moving over a contact surface. The automated wheelchair includes an operator chair for seating the wheelchair operator, a control computer, an operator input device for transmitting operator inputs to the control computer, and two wheelchair wheels for propelling the wheelchair. Each wheelchair wheel includes extendable and... Agent: Ross Patent Law Office

20080251301 - Vehicle: In one aspect, the vehicle is a relatively small-sized utility vehicle and includes front and rear wheels on the right and left sides of a body of the vehicle. A seat is located substantially midway between the front and rear wheels. At least part of a power unit is disposed... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080251304 - Drive system for a motor vehicle: The invention relates to a drive system for a motor vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine and at least one electric machine, said vehicle also being provided with at least one vehicle electric system for electric power supply. In addition, the drive system is provided with at least one energy... Agent: Continental Teves, Inc.

20080251302 - Hydro-electric hybrid drive system for motor vehicle: A hybrid electro-hydraulic drive system is provided for a vehicle and comprises a hydraulic transmission including a first hydraulic machine and at least one second hydraulic machine drivingly connected to drive wheels of the motor vehicle for driving thereof, an electric motor/generator operatively connected to the first hydraulic machine, and... Agent: Berenato, White & Stavish, LLC

20080251303 - Method for controlling a vehicle drive train comprising two cooling circuits: A method for controlling a vehicle drive train, which communicates or maintains in communication via at least one valve two cooling circuits operating normally and respectively associated with a heat engine and with at least one electrical member.... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080251305 - Engine hood door including variable door handle: An engine hood door including a variable door handle is provided, in which a protruding length of the door handle from an outer side of the engine hood door is varied. The engine hood door includes a door handle having a handle portion and extending portions extending from both ends... Agent: Ladas & Parry LLP

20080251306 - Front structure of vehicle: A tunnel-expansion portion is provided at a front portion of a tunnel portion. The tunnel-expansion portion projects upward greatly and widely so as to provide components of an exhaust system that extend rearward from an exhaust manifold therein (outside a vehicle compartment). Accordingly, there can be provided a front structure... Agent: Studebaker & Brackett PC

20080251307 - Speed limiting for a light-weight utility vehicle: A method of limiting speed of a light-weight utility vehicle is provided. The method includes receiving a terrain roughness signal generated from a motion sensor. The signal indicates a roughness of a terrain over which the utility vehicle is traversing. The method additionally includes determining a peak-to-peak amplitude of the... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20080251308 - Ground air water craft: A vehicle that is convertible in its operation between flying as an autogiro and driving as a motorcycle, in which the propeller rotates around a section of the fuselage. The propeller span can be as large as the space between the autogiro lifting rotor blade and the ground. The landing... Agent: Law Office Of Art Dula

20080251309 - All wheel steering scooter: Described is a vehicle for handicapped persons, thus persons who are limited in their mobility. They may be provided with a seat, but may also be used when standing. The vehicle includes a steerable front wheel and two rear wheels. The rear wheels are in each case individually held in... Agent: Fay Kaplun & Marcin, LLP

20080251310 - Vehicle steering system: A vehicle steering system for motor vehicles has a steering handle operable by the driver and connected to steerable vehicle wheels in terms of effect to determine a direction of driving. The vehicle steering system includes a hydraulic working cylinder having two directions of effect, as well as a hydraulic... Agent: Continental Teves, Inc.

20080251311 - Superimposed steering system comprising a mechanical return level: A superimposed steering system of a vehicle steering system, has an input shaft and an output shaft that are at least partially rotationally mounted on a support system fixed to the vehicle body, a servodrive comprising a rotor arranged in a coaxial manner in relation to one of the shafts... Agent: Notaro And Michalos

20080251312 - Vehicle steering apparatus: In a vehicle steering apparatus of a steer-by-wire system, front wheels are controlled to be turned by a computer program processing. A displacement/torque conversion section 51 converts a steering angle θ into a steering torque Td that is in relation of exponential function. A torque/lateral-acceleration conversion section 52 converts the... Agent: Oliff & Berridge, PLC

20080245584 - Leg type mobile robot: The center Pb of the force sensor is disposed on the position Pa where the distance to the remotest position of ground area provided on the bottom of each plate spring part S1 to S4 is minimum in the standing-still state of the robot R, and the distance L1, L2,... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.

20080245585 - Vehicle drive line: A vehicle includes a front axle and rear axle, where at least one of said axles is driven, an engine arranged in the vicinity of the rear or front end of said vehicle, the engine including an output shaft connected to the driven axle via a transmission system for transmitting... Agent: Wrb-ip LLP

20080245586 - Device and method for heating a crankcase ventilation system in a hybrid vehicle: A device and method for heating a positive crankcase ventilation system in a hybrid vehicle includes a ventilation device, provided on a crankcase, and a supercooling cycle for cooling power electronics for an electric motor of the hybrid vehicle. The ventilation device is heatable by way of the supercooling cycle... Agent: Crowell & Moring LLP Intellectual Property Group

20080245587 - Vehicle hybrid energy system: A hybrid energy storage system suitable for use in a vehicle having an electrified drivetrain includes a first energy storage module and a second energy storage module that is different than the first energy storage module. The first energy storage module may have a cell configuration, a cell chemistry, a... Agent: Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP

20080245588 - Moving apparatus: To provide a fuel cell moving body that can extend travel distance by the battery when fuel cell failure has occurred. A fuel cell vehicle 1 includes a fuel cell 10, a battery 11 and a control device 30. The control device 30 includes a liquid droplet removal scavenge portion... Agent: Lahive & Cockfield, LLP Floor 30, Suite 3000

20080245589 - Device for truck cab suspension: Device for truck cab suspension comprising a forward cab suspension which itself comprises a carrier frame fastened to the cab and the frame is arranged on each long side of the truck close to a stabilizer. An articulation device allows forward tilting of the carrier frame and the cab. The... Agent: Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen

20080245590 - Hybrid automotive vehicle with thermoelectric device: An automotive vehicle, such as an HEV, having an internal combustion engine and an electrical system. A thermoelectric device overlies the internal combustion engine and converts heat from the engine into electricity. The thermoelectric device is electrically coupled to the electrical system of the vehicle.... Agent: Gifford, Krass, Sprinkle, Anderson & Citkowski, P.C.

20080245591 - Anti spinning device, a vehicle comprising the device and a method for reducing slip during advancing of a vehicle: An anti spinning device for a powered vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes at least one driveline, the driveline including a power source and at least one rotatable element, which power source is connected to and arranged to transmit power to the at least one rotatable element. The anti spinning... Agent: Wrb-ip LLP

20080245592 - Electric foldable wheelchair: An electric wheelchair comprises: a chair assembly and a wheel assembly. The wheel assembly is mounted at the bottom of the chair assembly. The chair assembly includes a seat, a first frame, a second frame, and a third frame, which are pivotally connected to form a four-bar linkage mechanism, so... Agent: Dr. Banger Shia Int''l Patent Office Of Bang Shia

20080245593 - Hybrid light electric vehicle with all-wheel power train: The disclosure relates to automotive technology, particularly relating to an all-wheel power train adaptable to a three-wheeled land vehicle. A hybrid light electric vehicle having three wheels is disclosed, comprising three wheels suspended from a land vehicle chassis; three electric motors, each of the electric motors drivingly coupled to the... Agent: Richard J. Kim

20080245594 - Traveling apparatus: A coaxial two-wheeled vehicle includes a plurality of wheels disposed in parallel, a vehicle body, at least one of a step plate and a seat, an operating member, and a mechanism. The vehicle body supports plurality of wheels rotatably. The step plate is coupled to the vehicle body to carry... Agent: Kenyon & Kenyon LLP

20080245595 - Hybrid electric motor vehicle and a final drive unit therefor: In a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine driving a front final drive unit connected to a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels 21 driven through the rear final drive unit 18 by a longitudinal propshaft 19, the rear final drive unit 18 houses a... Agent: Ford Global Technologies, LLC

20080245596 - Vehicle limited slip differential: A limited slip differential for a vehicle includes an engine, a transmission, a differential mechanism operable to distribute an output from the engine which is transmitted by way of the transmission to one of a pair of left and right front wheels and a pair of left and right rear... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20080245597 - Braking systems: A reverse braking system for a commercial vehicle including sensors (102) for detecting an object in the path of the vehicle when reversing such that a park brake air supply (108) is connected to the brake chambers (111) to apply the brakes automatically when an object is detected. The brakes... Agent: Polster, Lieder, Woodruff & Lucchesi

20080245598 - Controlling driver behavior and motor vehicle restriction control: A system and method for motor vehicle restriction control enables an owner of a motor vehicle to restrict another person's use and operation of the owner's motor vehicle. The system includes a driver identification module identifying a driver operating the motor vehicle and a storage device for storing at least... Agent: Scully, Scott, Murphy & Presser, P.C.

20080245599 - Mounting system for modular frame components: A mounting system for a component to be mounted to a vehicle frame is provided utilizing keyhole features in the component, and fasteners having sacrificial spacers in the vehicle frame. The sacrificial spacers upon the fasteners prevent them from being pushed into the vehicle frame when the component having keyhole... Agent: International Truck Intellectual Property Company,

20080245601 - Clearance adjusting decelerator and electric power steering apparatus having the same: Disclosed is a clearance adjusting decelerator and an electric power steering apparatus having the same.... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20080245600 - Electric power steering apparatus: The present invention relates to an electric power steering apparatus for assisting steering of a steering shaft by the rotation power of an electric motor through a reducer based on the steering torque detected by a torque sensor. A rotary potentiometer is disposed in the reducer, and a portion of... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20080236907 - Robotic platform: An articulated tracked vehicle that has a main section, which includes a main frame, and a forward section. The main frame has two sides and a front end, and includes a pair of parallel main tracks. Each main track includes a flexible continuous belt coupled to a corresponding side of... Agent: Fish & Richardson PC

20080236909 - Active material, nonaqueous electrolyte battery, battery pack and vehicle: where M1 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Ge, Si and Al, M2 represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni and Sn, Ti has an oxidation number of +4, and x, a, b and z satisfy... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080236908 - Electric powertrain system with planetary drive: An electric drive unit for a vehicle wheel includes an electric motor that powers a planetary drive having a first stage gear set and a second stage gear set. Each of the first and second stage gear sets includes a sun gear that is driven by a motor output shaft.... Agent: Carlson, Gaskey & Olds, P.C.

20080236912 - Hybrid vehicle and control method thereof: In a hybrid vehicle according to the invention, upon satisfaction of a predetermined condition with regard to a gearshift position or a drive mode, a virtual gearshift position according to a driving condition is set to a tentative target gearshift position SPtmp (steps S471 and S472). An object gearshift position... Agent: Kenyon & Kenyon LLP

20080236910 - Low cost conversion of any internal combustion vehicle into hybrid electric vehicle: This invention pertains to an economical method of easy conversion of any internal combustion fueled vehicle into a fuel saving hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) by an add-on kit, without replacing the engine and with a minimal modification of the vehicle body. The converted vehicle has a substantially longer driving range... Agent: Joseph B. Kejha

20080236911 - Power output apparatus and method for controlling the same, and vehicle and drive system: When the shift stage of a transmission is not being changed, a change gear ratio Gr of a transmission is calculated by setting an inputted rotation speed Nm2 as a control rotation speed Nm2*, and when the shift stage of the transmission is being changed, the change gear ratio Gr... Agent: Kenyon & Kenyon LLP

20080236913 - Power output apparatus and vehicle equipped with the same, and method for controlling power output apparatus: When an exhaust gas switching valve is in a closed state, a target rotation speed Ne* and a target torque Te* are set in the same way as when the exhaust gas switching valve is in an open state to control an engine (S120, S130). A motor torque command Tm1*... Agent: Kenyon & Kenyon LLP

20080236914 - Saddle ride, fuel cell powered vehicle: A saddle ride vehicle includes a fuel cell formed in a rectangular, parallelepiped shape disposed below a vehicle seat. The fuel cell is inclined toward a vehicle rear. A pivot shaft is disposed in a range X defined forwardly of a vertex P of a side-view rectangle of the fuel... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20080236916 - Drive train for a motor vehicle and method for operating a drive train: In a drive train for a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine and a serial hybrid drive and a method for operating a motor vehicle with such a drive train, wherein the driving performance is increased and the fuel consumption of the internal combustion engine is reduced, and the... Agent: Klaus J. Bach

20080236915 - Hybrid drive train of a motor vehicle and method for controlling a hybrid drive train: A hybrid drive train includes an internal combustion engine, an electromagnetic transmission downstream of the internal combustion engine and an axle drive downstream of the electromagnetic transmission. The electromagnetic transmission includes a first and a second electric machine and a stator in common for the first and the second electric... Agent: Manfred Beck, P.A.

20080236917 - Power plant: A power plant which is capable of improving the drive efficiency and the power generation efficiency thereof when the electric power is generated using the power of a driven part thereof. A power plant has an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft, and a rotary motor having a rotor. A... Agent: Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.

20080236918 - Saddle-ride type four-wheel vehicle: A water-cooled engine mounted on a vehicle wherein a mass concentration keeps the center of mass at a low position. In a saddle-ride type four-wheel vehicle, a radiator and a fuel tank are supported on lower frames, and are arranged, side by side, so as to be distributed respectively on... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20080236919 - Electric grid for an electric machine: An electric machine including an engine, generator, and motor. The electric grid is positioned between an input passage and output passage of an exhaust system of the engine. While in retard mode, excess electric power is dumped to the electric grid. Continuous airflow from the engine through the exhaust system... Agent: Caterpillar Inc. Intellectual Property Dept.

20080236920 - All-electric motor car: Our invention is a four wheel, multi-speed, all-electric motor car, used to move personnel and powered by one or in the alternative two multi-wound three phase alternating current motor(s). The forward and reverse direction of the vehicle is accomplished by moving a forward and reverse switch before starting the vehicle... Agent: Edward Leroy Swindell

20080236921 - Method for controlling engine speed in a hybrid electric vehicle: A method for controlling operation of a hybrid powertrain is proposed, the hybrid powertrain comprising an internal combustion engine, an electric energy storage device, an electric machine, and an electro-mechanical transmission. The engine and the electric machine and the transmission are operative to transmit torque therebetween to generate an output.... Agent: General Motors Corporation Legal Staff

20080236922 - Windshield controller for motorcycle: A windshield controller for a motorcycle includes a receiver which receives a signal transmitted from a portable communication device; a start permission device which judges whether or not to permit start of an engine based on the signal received by the receiver; and a control device which controllably drives a... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20080236923 - Motorcycle: A motorcycle includes a front part having a steering mechanism with which a front wheel is steered based on the manipulation of the steering of a steering handle, and a swing mechanism extending from either a body frame and an engine for vertically movably supporting the steering mechanism. The steering... Agent: Rankin, Hill & Clark LLP

20080236924 - Saddle ride, fuel cell powered vehicle: A fuel cell powered vehicle includes radiators disposed on left and right sides on the skew rear side of a front wheel in relation to the vehicle body front-rear direction. A secondary battery is disposed between the left and right radiators. A thin plate-shaped inner cowl is disposed between the... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20080236925 - Motorcycle: A motorcycle includes a rear swing arm which has upper and lower arms and an arm body. The upper and lower arms are vertically swingably attached to either a body frame or an engine via pivot shafts that are disposed in vertically spaced relation to each other and extend parallel... Agent: Rankin, Hill & Clark LLP

20080236926 - Compact vehicle: To enhance a degree of freedom in the shape and the design of a swing arm without being influenced by the variation of a part for supporting an exhaust muffler on the side of the swing arm and a part for coupling a rear cushion unit to the side of... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20080236927 - Driving force transmission system for four wheel drive vehicle: Power of an engine is divided to be transmitted to a power transmission path to front wheels and a power transmission path to rear wheels by a transfer mechanism where the power has just passed through a transmission so as to be transmitted to front wheels and rear wheels. In... Agent: Mcginn Intellectual Property Law Group, PLLC

20080236928 - Safety system for vehicle occupants: A safety system for vehicle occupants includes at least one sensor, at least one actuator, and at least one control unit having output stages for controlling the at least one actuator. The safety system includes an arrangement for the activation of actuators not activated during an accident.... Agent: Kenyon & Kenyon LLP

20080236929 - Database apparatus, attention calling apparatus and driving support apparatus: An attention calling apparatus operates in the following manner. That is, eyes distribution pattern is generated from the behavior of the eyes of the vehicle driver captured by a camera in a predetermined time, and driver's condition is estimated based on the distribution pattern. Further, concentration of the driver on... Agent: Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C

20080236930 - Soft start fuel cell control strategy: A method of operating an electrochemical conversion assembly is provided. According to the method, an assembly warm-up operation is executed by increasing the temperature TSTACK of the membrane electrode assembly. Next, stoichiometry-based control of the relative humidity (RH) of one of the reactant flowfields is initiated when the temperature TSTACK... Agent: General Motors Corporation Legal Staff

20080236931 - Hydraulic steering system: The invention provides a steering system e.g. for a vehicle. The system comprises a system-pump, a steering actuator, a rotary valve, a rotary meter, and a motor. The system-pump is arranged to provide a flow of a fluid to the steering actuator via the rotary valve and via the rotary... Agent: Mccormick, Paulding & Huber LLP

20080236932 - Actuator control system: The invention provides a method and a system for moving an element, e.g. a rudder of a ship or a wheel of a vehicle. The element is moved by a hydraulic fluid. According to the invention, an operator indicates a desired movement, and in accordance with the desired movement, at... Agent: Mccormick, Paulding & Huber LLP

20080236933 - Vehicle steering system: A motor vehicle steering system includes a transmission mechanism for transmitting a power of an electric motor to a steering mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes an intermediate gear meshed with a driving gear and a driven gear. The intermediate gear includes: an annular teeth forming portion rotatably supported by an... Agent: Rabin & Berdo, PC

20080236934 - Electric power steering apparatus: When a current input to a step-up voltage device of an electric power steering apparatus is equal to or higher than a first threshold current and an input voltage applied to the step-up voltage device is lower than a first threshold voltage, the step-up voltage device of the electric power... Agent: Arent Fox LLP