Gundrill
Granted: May 13, 2004
Application Number:
20040091327
A method of forming deep holes and a gundrill therefore is disclosed. The gundrill has an elongate tubular shank and a cutting tip, each provided with a tubular central region supplying pressurized drilling fluid and a non-circular fluid cross-section defining a drilling fluid return path in conjunction with the hole being formed. The cutting tip flute defines a primary rake surface terminating in an offset point, and a secondary flank surface for forming an outlet with the hole being…
METHOD FOR PRODUCING A FREEZE-CAST SUBSTRATE
Granted: May 6, 2004
Application Number:
20040084169
One method of the present invention includes introducing a slurry into a mold unit comprised of a mold contained within a casting receptacle and lowering the temperature of the slurry to freeze the slurry and form a freeze-cast substrate while controlling temperature gradients within the mold unit to minimize distortion in the freeze-cast substrate. Another method includes introducing a slurry into a mold unit comprised of a mold contained within a casting receptacle, placing insulation…
Method and apparatus for metering a fluid
Granted: April 29, 2004
Application Number:
20040079416
An assembly 10 for metering fluid, including an intensifier 12 which selectively receives fluid from a supply 74. The intensifier 12 includes a reciprocally moving plunger 24 which selectively pushes the fluid through the intensifier 12 at a desired flow rate.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING POWER DISTRIBUTION IN A HYBRID FUEL CELL VEHICLE
Granted: April 29, 2004
Application Number:
20040083039
A power distribution control system for a hybrid fuel cell vehicle is provided. The system includes a high voltage energy converter (HVEC) for providing current from an electrical bus to the battery, or from the battery to the bus. As a vehicle load increases, the HVEC temporarily provides current to the bus from the battery. A feedforward signal is input into a fuel cell subsystem so that the fuel cell begins to generate additional current. As additional fuel cell current becomes…
METHOD OF SPRAY JOINING ARTICLES
Granted: April 22, 2004
Application Number:
20040076807
The present invention relates to a method of providing a spray formed composite article. The method comprises providing a first article. The first article is a spray formed article. A second article is located adjacent the first article. Metallic particles are sprayed onto the articles and allowed to form a metal deposit that extends between and connects the first and second articles.
Hybrid electric vehicle auxiliary oil pump
Granted: April 1, 2004
Application Number:
20040063533
An automatic transmission for a hybrid electric vehicle where an engine is shut down during vehicle stops to improve fuel economy. The automatic transmission includes a main pump that is driven off of a transmission input shaft, and an electronically driven auxiliary pump. A shut down shuttle valve switches a hydraulic circuit connection from the main pump to the auxiliary pump for a low-reverse clutch and a forward clutch when the vehicle stops in drive or low gear. A pressure…
Online method and system for advising customers on service needs, facilitating the scheduling of vehicle service appointments, and checking vehicle service status
Granted: March 25, 2004
Application Number:
20040059613
The present invention relates to an online method and system for advising customers on service needs, facilitating the scheduling of vehicle service appointments, and checking vehicle service status. A preferred method embodiment of the present invention includes receiving a service inquiry, receiving input information regarding the potential service of the vehicle, and transmitting the input information and an appointment request to a vehicle service provider to facilitate the…
Independent braking and controllability control method and system for a vehicle with regenerative braking
Granted: March 11, 2004
Application Number:
20040046448
A strategy is provided using feedback control algorithms to monitor and dynamically modify front and rear braking torque to maintain controllability in a vehicle that initially favors regenerative braking. Simple proportional-integral-derivative feedback controllers can be used. The controller can monitor wheel speed, lateral acceleration, yaw rate, and brake position to selectively activate non-regenerative braking independently for each individual wheel and regenerative braking in…
Method and system for capturing vehicle data using an RF transmitter
Granted: March 4, 2004
Application Number:
20040044451
A system (100) and method (10) for automated collection of data from a transportation vehicle (14) having a wireless transmitter (12) connected to a diagnostic service bus (16). The wireless transmitter (12) is in communication with a server (22) for processing and displaying the collected data.
Automated collection of vehicle data
Granted: March 4, 2004
Application Number:
20040044592
A method of inventory control at a service area site for transportation vehicles having an active RF transmitter connected to a service bus, whereby the service area site has a server in communication with the transmitter on the vehicle. The server automatically collects information from the vehicles relative to inventory management without the need for manual intervention. In another embodiment the inventory management method is expanded to include service management at a fleet or…
Online method and system for facilitating improvements in the consistency, deliverability and/or measurability of launch practices
Granted: March 4, 2004
Application Number:
20040044550
The present invention relates to an online method and system for facilitating improved consistency, deliverability and/or measurability of a launch practice. A preferred method embodiment of the present invention includes determining a launch practice item based on a set of key sources and transmitting the launch practice item to an at least one member of the launch practice team. The launch practice item is determined by an experienced committee separate from a launch practice team. The…
Vehicle systems controller with modular architecture
Granted: March 4, 2004
Application Number:
20040044448
A hybrid electric vehicle system controller 40. The vehicle system controller 40 is modular and is partitioned in a manner which takes into account a logical grouping of vehicle functions, while maintaining a hierarchy of control within the controller 40.
Method and an apparatus for transferring torque and a hybrid vehicle incorporating the method and apparatus
Granted: March 4, 2004
Application Number:
20040043861
A method and an apparatus 10 for transferring torque from at least one torque generator 12, 14 to at least one wheel 20 of a hybrid vehicle. The apparatus 10 includes a operatively coupled pair of clutches 24, 26 which cooperatively provide a dynamically adjustable gear ratio, effective to allow the vehicle to be quickly and efficiently launched and efficiently operated after launch.
Apparatus and a method for determining hybrid-electric vehicle performance
Granted: February 5, 2004
Application Number:
20040020695
A method and apparatus for determining the performance of a hybrid electric vehicle 10. The hybrid electric vehicle 10 includes a performance prediction and display assembly 12 which comprises a controller 16, speed sensors 20, and a display 22. Particularly, controller 16 calculates the maximum sustainable speed of the vehicle 10 and the calculated maximum sustainable speed and the current vehicular speed are continually calculated/determined, communicated to the display portion 22, and…
Air conditioning system for a motor vehicle
Granted: January 29, 2004
Application Number:
20040016258
The invention relates to an air conditioning system for motor vehicles, which contains a connection piece for a pressure switch/pressure sensor, said connection piece being suitable for evacuating and filling the air conditioning system after the removal of the pressure switch/pressure sensor, so that the two normally separate functions are combined in one connection piece.
Emergency-locking latch assembly for a vehicle door
Granted: December 25, 2003
Application Number:
20030234544
An emergency-locking latch assembly (14) is provided for securing a vehicle door (12) in a closed position. Specifically, in one embodiment, the emergency-locking latch assembly (14) is intended to secure a first door fastener (16) to an opposing second door fastener (18) when the vehicle door (12) is subjected to a substantial acceleration. In this embodiment, the emergency-locking latch assembly (14) includes a release lever (26) coupled to the first door fastener (16). This release…
Method and an apparatus for braking a vehicle
Granted: December 25, 2003
Application Number:
20030234577
A method and an apparatus 48 for allowing a vehicle 10 to be braked in both a regenerative and a distributive type or frictional manner, thereby reducing the amount of energy which is dissipated as the vehicle 10 is braked.
METHOD FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE AND A VEHICLE WHICH INCORPORATES THE METHOD
Granted: December 25, 2003
Application Number:
20030236149
A method and an apparatus 12 which uses or calculates a temperature gradient of a portion 16 of a vehicle 10 to determine a value equal to or representative of a time before a maximum allowable operating temperature is reached by the portion 16. If the value is less than a certain threshold, the apparatus 12 reduces the operating speed of the portion 16 and, in one embodiment, provides a warning signal to an operator of the vehicle 10.
System and method to control a switchable powertrain mount
Granted: December 18, 2003
Application Number:
20030230439
A strategy controls alternate anti-vibration modes in a switchable powertrain mount using vehicle operational status sensors and pre-selected thresholds. The switchable mount modes can include engine idle and a default engine off/run. Vehicle sensors and pre-selected thresholds can determine whether the engine is off, idle, or running and when in idle mode, whether the engine will likely remain in idle mode. From these determinations, the controller can command the switchable mount to…
Control of regenerative braking during a yaw stability control event
Granted: December 18, 2003
Application Number:
20030230933
The present invention is a method and system to control regenerative braking during the operation of a yaw stability control system. The method and system can use feedback control algorithms to monitor and dynamically modify regenerative and non-regenerative braking. The controller can use a simple proportional-integral-derivative feedback controller. A vehicle yaw stability control system can determine if a vehicle is experiencing an oversteer or understeer condition. The controller…
