Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090120071 | Hydrocarbon Retaining System for Flex-Fuel Combustion Engine - Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media are described in which exhaust gas is routed to a hydrocarbon retaining device during starting, and purged to the engine intake manifold. Various alternative approaches are described for controlling operation and diagnosing degradation. Further, various interrelated configurations are described. | 05-14-2009 |
20090260349 | AIR-INJECTION SYSTEM TO IMPROVE EFFECTIVENESS OF SELECTIVE CATALYTIC REDUCTION CATALYST FOR GASOLINE ENGINES - Embodiments are described to improve the durability of a lean NO | 10-22-2009 |
20090266063 | SELECTIVE CATALYTIC REDUCTION CATALYST SYSTEM WITH EXPANDED TEMPERATURE WINDOW - According to one embodiment of the present invention a selective reduction catalyst system with a broad temperature window for lean-burn gasoline and diesel engines is disclosed. The system includes a first and second zone, wherein the first zone is composed of an iron SCR catalyst and a second zone is composed of a copper SCR catalyst, and wherein the second zone is positioned downstream of the first zone. In another embodiment, a small copper SCR catalyst is placed in front of a second zone composed of an iron SCR catalyst and a third zone composed of a copper SCR catalyst, wherein the volume of the first copper SCR catalyst is a fraction of the volume of the second copper SCR catalyst. In yet another embodiment, a diverter valve would be included in the system to eliminate any NO | 10-29-2009 |
20100024396 | HYDROCARBON RETAINING AND PURGING SYSTEM - Method and systems are provided for operating an engine having a hydrocarbon retaining system coupled to an engine exhaust and an engine intake. One example method comprises, during an engine cold start, routing exhaust gas to the hydrocarbon retaining system to store hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon retaining system. The method further comprises, during a first purging condition where the exhaust gas is at a first temperature, purging the hydrocarbon retaining system with at least exhaust gas, and during a second purging condition where the exhaust gas is at a second temperature, said second temperature being higher than said first temperature, mixing the exhaust gas with an amount of fresh air to form a purging gas mixture, and purging the hydrocarbon retaining system with said purging gas mixture. | 02-04-2010 |
20100175372 | COMPACT DIESEL ENGINE EXHAUST TREATMENT SYSTEM - A diesel engine exhaust treatment system and method is provided which utilizes a diesel particulate filter positioned in the exhaust gas stream of a vehicle which includes an SCR catalyst, an ammonia oxidation catalyst, and/or a diesel oxidation catalyst. The system is capable of performing multiple functions including converting NO | 07-15-2010 |
20100266471 | EXHAUST AFTERTREATMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD OF TREATING EXHAUST GAS - A diesel exhaust aftertreatment system and method are provided. The system includes a lean NO | 10-21-2010 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110104558 | Electric Storage Battery Support Apparatus - An apparatus for supporting a battery comprises a tray including a support surface, a recess having a elevation that is lower than an elevation of the support surface, ribs located in the recess and extending to the elevation of the support surface, thermal insulation supported on the ribs and the upper surface, and a battery contacting the insulation and supported on the ribs and the support surface. | 05-05-2011 |
20120104292 | ACTIVE DRAIN PLUG FOR HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY APPLICATIONS - A drain plug assembly that has particular application for sealing a drain hole in a high voltage battery compartment on a vehicle. The plug assembly includes a plug that inserted into the drain hole. The plug assembly further includes a return spring coupled to the plug and causing the plug to be biased into the drain hole. The plug assembly also includes at least one shape memory alloy device coupled to the plug and a support structure. The SMA device receives an electrical current that causes the device to contract and move the plug out of the drain hole against the bias of the return spring. | 05-03-2012 |
20120155988 | REDUCED-CORROSION FASTENED ASSEMBLY - A reduced-corrosion assembly includes a first and a second component joined by a fastener having a head and a body. A coating covers a section of the body. The assembly also includes a washer, a compression limiter, and a nut arranged on the first component and adapted to engage the fastener body to thereby tighten the assembly. When the assembly is tightened, the compression limiter is arranged on the fastener body between the first and second components, while the second component is arranged on the fastener body between the compression limiter and the washer. Furthermore, the washer is arranged on the fastener body between the fastener head and the second component, while the coating covers the body substantially up to where the nut engages the body such that corrosion of the assembly is limited or reduced. A vehicle employing the reduced-corrosion fastening system is also provided. | 06-21-2012 |
20140020763 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MITIGATING BATTERY DAMAGE CAUSED BY COOLANT LEAKS - System and methods for mitigating battery damage in a vehicle including a liquid-cooled battery system. In certain embodiments, a system for mitigating damage caused by leaks of liquid coolant in a battery system may include a one or more coolant leak sensors. A coolant leak detection system communicatively coupled to the coolant leak sensors may be configured to detect an occurrence of a liquid coolant leak in the battery system based on information provided by the coolant leak sensors. One or more valves communicatively coupled with the coolant leak detection system may actuate by the coolant leak detection system when a leak of liquid coolant is detected, thereby allowing leaked liquid coolant to drain from the battery system. | 01-23-2014 |
20140178736 | BATTERY MODULE FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE, AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY THEREOF - A battery module for an electric vehicle includes an auxiliary power module (APM) and at least one battery pack assembly. The battery pack assembly includes a plurality of battery frames, each with at least one battery cell disposed within it, and a plurality of cooling plates, each in thermal communication with at least one battery cell. The cooling plates have an inlet and an outlet connected by at least one coolant channel through which coolant is circulated to cool the battery cells. The APM may also require cooling, in which case the battery module may further include at least one additional cooling plate in thermal communication with the APM. The APM and the battery pack assembly are held together under compression such that they may share a common cooling system, and coolant may flow through the APM and/or the battery pack assembly to the cooling plates. | 06-26-2014 |
20140190241 | Deflection Sensitive Coolant Activated Drain Plug Detection System For High Voltage Battery Packs - A battery pack with a drain plug and a circuit to detect when a liquid coolant has entered the battery pack. The drain plug includes a carrier defining a cavity internal to the carrier, an inlet disposed on a first surface of the carrier and an outlet disposed on a second surface of the carrier where the first surface and the second surface fluidly displaced from one another and coupled to the cavity. A soluble plug may be disposed within the cavity of the carrier; the soluble plug is configured to at least partially dissolve when fluidly coupled with a coolant allowing a portion of the coolant to flow between the inlet and the outlet and out of the battery pack. A strain gauge cooperative with the carrier such that a measured resistance change in the strain gauge corresponds to the soluble plug in contact with the liquid coolant. An associated circuit with the drain plug provides notification of the activation of the drain plug to the on-board computer systems. | 07-10-2014 |
20140190568 | Coolant Activated Rechargeable Energy Storage System Drain Plug - A battery pack with a drain plug. The drain plug includes a carrier defining a cavity internal to the carrier, an inlet disposed on a first surface of the carrier and an outlet disposed on a second surface of the carrier where the first surface and the second surface fluidly displaced from one another and coupled to the cavity. A soluble plug may be disposed within the cavity of the carrier; the soluble plug is configured to at least partially dissolve when fluidly coupled with a coolant allowing a portion of the coolant to flow between the inlet and the outlet and out of the battery pack. A first lead and a second lead are configured to signally connect an impedance element that is cooperative with the carrier, to a circuit such that when the continuity of the circuit is interrupted, the circuit provides notification of the activation of the drain plug to the on-board computer systems. | 07-10-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090301810 | Adjustable Sound Panel - A panel that can change its stiffness and/or surface roughness and thereby its sound quality is provided. The panel includes a layer having an outer surface and an inner surface oppositely disposed from the outer surface. The panel can also include an electroactive actuator that is operable to change its shape when a voltage is applied thereto. The change in shape of the electroactive actuator results in a change in stiffness and/or surface roughness of the panel and therefore a change in the panel's acoustic characteristics. In some instances, the electroactive actuator is at least partially within the panel and upon changing of its shape results in a change in the roughness of a surface that faces a sound source. In other instances, the activation of the electroactive actuator results in an increase in stiffness of the panel. | 12-10-2009 |
20100011666 | Seal For Sliding Glass Window - A seal for a sliding glass window is provided. The seal can include a sliding glass guide and an elastomeric channel member that is at least partially within the sliding glass guide. Located between the elastomeric channel member and the sliding glass guide can be an electroactive actuator that is operable to change its shape when a voltage is applied thereto. Also included can be an electrical source of power that is electrically connected to the electroactive actuator. In some instances, the electroactive actuator is an electroactive polymer and can be a dielectric electroactive polymer or an ionic electroactive polymer. If the electroactive polymer is a dielectric electroactive polymer, it can be made from silicones and/or acrylic elastomers. | 01-21-2010 |
20100036567 | Seat Assemblies for Vehicles - Seat assemblies for a vehicles include seat panels in communication with a controller and having a fiber optic sensing device that measures pressure exerted at various locations of the seat panels and cushioning materials comprising active materials, wherein upon receipt of pressure signals by the controller from the sensing device, the controller generates activation signals that adapt physical characteristics of the active materials. | 02-11-2010 |
20100237634 | Adaptive Door Handles - A force adjustment system that inhibits door handle actuation is provided. The force adjustment system includes a sensor configured to provide a signal in response to an input. An energy source is configured to provide an output in response to the signal. A force adjustment component is configured to be linked to a door handle assembly. The force adjustment component comprises a material having a property that is changed in response to the output provided by the energy source to change a force applied to a handle of the door handle assembly. | 09-23-2010 |
20100264629 | Adjustable Airbag Systems for Vehicles - Adjustable airbag systems for a vehicle may comprise an airbag assembly having an inflatable airbag within a housing and an actuator associated with the housing, a sensor operable to measure a physical characteristic of an occupant of the vehicle, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the actuator such that upon receiving a feedback signal from the sensor relating to the physical characteristic of the occupant, the controller sends a control signal to the actuator to adjust a position of the housing with respect to the occupant. | 10-21-2010 |
20100264693 | Prestressed Structural Members and Methods of Making Same - Methods of prestressing a vehicle structural member include forming a support structure, applying a preformed reinforcing component to the support structure, the preformed reinforcing component having a size changing material that changes in dimension upon application of a stimulus and transforming the preformed reinforcing component from a first configuration to a second configuration. | 10-21-2010 |
20100300096 | Systems and Method for Producing Mechanical Energy - A system is provided for producing mechanical energy. The system may include a solar collector configured to receive solar energy and an external heater configured to provide secondary thermal energy. Furthermore, the system may include an engine disposed in communication with the solar collector and the external heater. To this end, the engine may be operable to receive the solar energy from the solar collector, receive the secondary thermal energy from the external heater, and convert the solar energy and the secondary thermal energy to mechanical energy. Additionally, the system may include a controller in communication with the solar collector, the engine, and the external heater. The controller may be configured to control an amount of solar energy and an amount of secondary thermal energy received by the engine. | 12-02-2010 |
20110301816 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT USING AN ACTUATOR ATTACHED TO A HEADLINER - The present invention is a method and system for improving curtain air bag deployment using an actuator attached to a headliner. The present invention can include an automobile having a roof, a headliner, an actuator, a curtain air bag, a door, a sensor, and/or a processor. The roof can also include a roof rail. The roof rail and the headliner enclose the curtain air bag. The actuator is attached to the headliner. The sensor is located within the door and detects collision data. The processor analyzes the collision data to determine when to deploy the curtain airbag. In deploying the curtain airbag, the processor activates the actuator, which reduces the overlap between the headliner and the roof rail. The curtain airbags deploys by either pushing through the reduced overlap between the headliner and the roof rail or by easily forming through a gap between the headliner and the roof rail. | 12-08-2011 |
20120007409 | KNEE BELT RESTRAINT - A three-point seat belt assembly for an occupant sitting in a seat of a motor vehicle is provided. The three-point seat belt assembly can include a seat belt web that has a shoulder harness portion and a knee portion. The shoulder harness portion extends across the occupant's torso and the knee portion extends across the occupant's knees. In addition, a guide member can be included that prevents the knee portion of the seat belt web from sliding up above the occupant's knees and sliding down towards the occupant's shins. A pretensioner can further be included and be attached to the seat belt web. The pretensioner can have a release force of between 5 and 6 kilonewtons which is an improvement over current limits of between 2 and 3 kilonewtons. | 01-12-2012 |
20120204859 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO CONTROL A FOCAL LENGTH OF A CURVED REFLECTOR IN REAL TIME - The present invention relates to a method and apparatus to control a focal length of a curved reflector in real time. An energy generation system includes curved reflectors, a tower, and an energy storing unit connected to the tower. The curved reflectors reflect and concentrate light from a light source onto the tower. The tower converts the received light into usable energy which is stored in the energy storing unit. Each of the curved reflectors can include a curved body, a stand, and/or an actuation unit. The curved body reflects the light from the light source to concentrate it onto the tower. When the light source moves, the curved body pivots about the stand to track the light source. The actuation unit is activated to adjust a focal length of the focal point of the curved body to ensure that the reflected light is concentrated at the tower. | 08-16-2012 |
20120204862 | LOW COST PARABOLIC SOLAR CONCENTRATOR AND METHOD TO DEVELOP THE SAME - The present invention relates to a low cost parabolic solar concentrator and method to develop the same. The parabolic solar concentrator can be formed by deforming a hybrid plate. Force can be placed on an edge portion of the hybrid plate and/or a middle portion of the hybrid plate. The selective application of the force deforms the hybrid plate into a parabolic solar concentrator, instead of a sinusoidal shape. The hybrid plate can be formed from a first plate, a second plate, and a third plate attached to each other. The characteristics of the first plate, the second plate, and the third plate, can be chosen to allow the hybrid plate to be deformed into the parabolic shape with the selective application of forces. | 08-16-2012 |
20120285443 | ADJUSTABLE REFLECTOR FOR DIRECTING ENERGY TO A RECEIVER - The present invention may provide a low-cost and easy-to-operate solution for adjusting the curvature and the focal length of an adjustable reflector, which may include a curved plate, a rotation member, and a contour adjustor. The curved plate may have a curvature. The rotation member may engage the curved plate and rotate the curved plate about an axis and to an angular position. The contour adjustor may have an adjustment surface contacting the curved plate, such that it may cooperate with the rotation member to adjust the curvature of the curved plate according to the angular position of the curved plate. Advantageously, the contour adjustor may have a low manufacturing cost and a low installation cost. The contour adjustor may operate without relying on additional control circuitry because it may perform its intended function while the curved plate is being rotated. | 11-15-2012 |
20130340510 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING FIBERS - A method of determining the length distribution in the population of glass or plastic fibers in, for example, a fiber reinforced polymeric article wherein the fibers recovered from a representative article are immersed in a non-polar liquid and the combination of the liquid and fibers is passed through a sieve stack while an applied high electric field produces a relatively uniform alignment of the fibers as they pass through the sieves thereby improving the accuracy of the filtering process. | 12-26-2013 |
20130341837 | METHOD AND APPLICATION FOR CONTROLLING ALIGNMENT OF FIBERS DURING INJECTION MOLDING PROCESS - A method of controlling the orientation of glass or plastic reinforcing fibers in an injection molded polymeric/fiber article including the step of applying a high electric field to at least a portion of the mold cavity during the injection of the fiber/polymer mix and during a setup or packing time preceding the ejection of the article from the mold. | 12-26-2013 |
20140130491 | SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY LATCH WITH STABLE ON-OFF POSITION - A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator includes a SMA element connected to a first crown to move the first crown with respect to a second crown along an axis to toggle the actuator rod between a first position and a second position, the first position and the second position maintained when the SMA element is deenergized. | 05-15-2014 |
20140198309 | ENHANCED SCANNING OF TRANSPARENT FIBERS - An apparatus and methods for scanning and measuring transparent fibers. One example method includes placing the transparent fibers on a platen of a flat-bed style scanner and compressing the transparent fibers to the platen with a cover including a non-reflective surface adjacent to the transparent fibers. The method also includes spacing an image sensor apart from a light source on a carriage below the platen and transmitting light from the light source through the platen. The light refracts within the transparent fibers and reflects from the transparent fibers to the image sensor and is absorbed by the non-reflective surface of the cover. The method also includes capturing an image of the transparent fibers with the image sensor. | 07-17-2014 |
20150021238 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING FIBERS - An apparatus and methods for sorting and determining the length distribution of fibers in a sample are disclosed. One method of sorting and determining the length distribution of fibers includes immersing the fibers in a liquid to form a mixture; placing the mixture into a stack of sieves; progressively applying a predetermined number of frequencies of sound energy to each sieve in the stack of sieves; draining the mixture from the stack of sieves; and quantifying the collected fibers in each sieve in the stack of sieves. | 01-22-2015 |
20150047337 | TWO-DIMENSIONAL MORPHING STRUCTURE FOR WING - An apparatus and methods for changing the shape of a wing using a plurality of morphing structures. One example method includes coupling a plurality of morphing structures to each other. Each morphing structure includes an anchor, a plurality of hinges, a plurality of shape-memory alloy members wherein each shape-memory alloy member extends from the anchor to a different hinge, a plurality of springs wherein each spring extends from the anchor to a different hinge, and a plurality of rigid members wherein each rigid member extends between two hinges. The method further includes actuating the plurality of shape-memory alloy members in at least some of the morphing structures wherein the shape-memory alloy members contract when actuated to pull against the hinges and anchors within the actuated morphing structures to rotate the rigid members and change the shape of the actuated morphing structure. | 02-19-2015 |