METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR A CONTROLLING STRATEGY FOR ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS IN A HYBRID ELECRTIC VEHICLE
Granted: December 18, 2003
Application Number:
20030230996
A method for controlling a cooling arrangement for electronic components in a hybrid electric vehicle is disclosed. The method includes arranging an electronics cooling loop aboard a hybrid electric vehicle in which a DC to DC converter, DC to AC inverter, and an electronics radiator are placed in fluid communication, one with the others, for cooling the DC to DC converter and the DC to AC inverter; sensing a temperature condition in the electronics cooling loop; and discontinuing…
SNAP RING
Granted: December 4, 2003
Application Number:
20030223809
A snap ring having improved retention characteristics is configured for use inside a cylindrical cavity. The cavity includes a retention device having a retention surface forming an obtuse angle with the cavity wall. As an axial load is applied to the snap ring, it moves along the retention surface, thereby experiencing a reduction in diameter. The snap ring includes a circumferential discontinuity defined by two generally radial planar surfaces, or ring ends. The discontinuity is…
APPARATUS FOR FLANGING METAL SHEETS
Granted: November 27, 2003
Application Number:
20030217580
The present invention provides a flanging apparatus for metal sheets for use with metal sheets of the body structure in vehicle manufacturing, with a base frame, with a flanging bed movable up and down, and with flanging jacks movable into the work area of the flanging bed. The invention consists of the fact that a flanging tool has the main, workpiece-specific components, in particular the flanging bed and flanging jacks, and is arranged in the base frame as an exchangeable unit.
Diagnostic method for an electric drive assembly
Granted: November 27, 2003
Application Number:
20030218439
A method and an electrical drive assembly 10 which operates in accordance with the method. Particularly, the drive assembly 10 includes a diagnostic portion 18 which compares a voltage signal which is communicated to an electrical machine 28 and a voltage signal which is selected by use of a desired torque command signal 33 and which provides a diagnostic of the electrical drive assembly 10 based upon the comparison, effective to provide a positive indication to a user of the drive…
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING CHARGING AND/OR DISCHARGING OF A BATTERY FOR A HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE
Granted: November 27, 2003
Application Number:
20030218447
This invention is a method and apparatus for controlling charging and/or discharging a battery for a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV).
Compressed-radius hem-forming process and tool
Granted: November 13, 2003
Application Number:
20030209048
A tool and process utilizing the tool for forming a compressed-radius hem on a sheet metal assembly is provided. A concave portion on the tool is formed by at least two surfaces that together define a cavity. A flange on the perimeter of an outer panel is initially formed to an approximate perpendicular angle and is then formed to about 45°. In a final forming step, an intermediate portion of the flange is engaged by the cavity and is formed into a compressed-radius hem.
Method of manufacturing electromagnetic devices using kinetic spray
Granted: November 13, 2003
Application Number:
20030209286
A method of manufacturing electric machines comprised of geometrically patterned arrays of permanent magnets, soft magnetic materials, and electrical conductors deposited by kinetic spraying methods directly atop a carrier. The magnets and planar coils of the present invention may be integrally formed atop carriers to form electrical machines such as motors, generators, alternators, solenoids, and actuators. The manufacturing techniques used in this invention may produce highly defined…
AN APPARATUS FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC FORMING, JOINING AND WELDING
Granted: November 13, 2003
Application Number:
20030209536
There is disclosed herein an apparatus for electromagnetic forming, joining or welding a workpiece, the apparatus including at least two multi-turn solenoid coils wound in a manner that cooperatively encircles the workpiece to be formed. The apparatus also includes an electrically insulative shell encasing each coil and an electromagnetic current source electrically connected to the coils that generates an electromagnetic field. A hinge mechanism connects the insulative shells and a…
Remote vehicle immobilization
Granted: November 13, 2003
Application Number:
20030210129
A vehicle immobilization system (10) is coupled to a network system (20) and includes a vehicle that has a speed sensor (34) generating a vehicle speed signal, a telematics control unit (48) receiving and transmitting signals to and from the network (20), and a speed control module (72). An immobilization controller (30) is coupled to the speed sensor (34), the telematics control unit (48), and the speed control module (72). The immobilization controller (30) receives an immobilization…
Method for manufacturing an item
Granted: October 23, 2003
Application Number:
20030196312
A method for notifying installers 14-22 of the existence, type, and location of a portion 26 of an item within an assembly line 10. The notification allows the installers 14-22 to respectively ensure that the components 40 which are needed to be placed upon the portion 26 are available for use by the installer 14-22 in a timely manner.
DIAGNOSTIC METHOD FOR AN ELECTRIC MOTOR USING TORQUE ESTIMATES
Granted: October 16, 2003
Application Number:
20030193310
The present invention can diagnose a potential fault in an electric motor by generating two independent torque estimates using a plurality of current sensors and optionally a shaft position sensor. The invention provides a strategy to generate two independent torque estimates of a three phase electric motor comprising first and second systems to determine current in each motor phase, first and second systems to generate a first and second estimate of motor shaft position, and first and…
Tin- and zinc-based solder fillers for aluminum body parts and methods of applying the same
Granted: October 9, 2003
Application Number:
20030189086
One method of the present invention includes applying a paste-like fluxing agent to an aluminum body part; heating the fluxing agent to deoxidize the surface of the aluminum body part; applying a solder filler to the aluminum body part; and heating the solder filler to bond the solder filler to the aluminum body part. The melting point of the solder filler is at least 100 E C lower than the melting point of the aluminum body part. Another method includes forming a filler/flux mixture;…
Fan shroud with built in noise reduction
Granted: October 2, 2003
Application Number:
20030183446
The present invention is a system and method to significantly reduce noise associated with air-moving devices such as an axial flow fan using a fan shroud and barrel combination with built in silencers such as Helmholtz resonators. The invention can be applied to a variety of applications such as a thermal management system for a fuel cell powered vehicle. The resonator can be a hollow cavity in networks attached to an outer or inner barrel or shroud and tuned to reduce noise at…
Method and system to provide coastdown braking torque to an electrically propelled vehicle without regenerative braking
Granted: October 2, 2003
Application Number:
20030184147
The invention is a coastdown braking strategy for an electrically propelled vehicle without using an ability to absorb regenerative braking energy. The strategy simulates engine braking force such as when no braking or accelerator force is applied. The strategy can be activated in response to operator release of both the accelerator and brake and deactivated at a predetermined motor speed or when the accelerator or brake are applied. Deactivation in one embodiment can be gradually…
Regenerative braking system for a hybrid electric vehicle
Granted: October 2, 2003
Application Number:
20030184152
A regenerative braking system for use with a hybrid electric vehicle 10 including an internal combustion engine 14, an electric motor/generator or transaxle assembly 16, and a transmission assembly 18 which selectively receives torque from the engine 14 and transaxle 16 and delivers the received torque to vehicle's wheels 26, 28. The engine 14 is connected to the transmission assembly 16 by use of a clutch 20. During regenerative braking events, the system automatically disengages clutch…
Method and apparatus for vehicle regenerative braking
Granted: October 2, 2003
Application Number:
20030184153
18A method and an apparatus (12) which senses whether a vehicle (10) is being decelerated by the use of regenerative braking and which selectively and automatically activates frictional braking assemblies (60-66) if such regenerative braking has not been achieved.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BRAKING A HYBRID ELECTIC VEHICLE
Granted: October 2, 2003
Application Number:
20030184156
A method and system for braking a hybrid electric vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a traction motor coupled to a common output shaft, with the vehicle also having an energy storage battery. The method includes monitoring of the vehicle to determine if the vehicle's driver is operating the vehicle in a braking mode and if so, controlling the engine and traction motor so as to provide dynamic braking such that when the traction motor is operated regeneratively, the brake…
Low wear and low friction coatings for articles made of low softening point materials
Granted: October 2, 2003
Application Number:
20030186060
The present invention relates to an anti-friction and anti-wear liquid coating composition for use with parts made of materials that have softening points below about 300° F. and articles so coated. The present invention also relates to a method of coating parts made from a low softening point materials with an anti-friction and anti-wear hard coating composition. The coating composition comprises a mixture of (i) solid lubricants comprising boron nitride, graphite and molybdenum…
METHOD FOR ACHIEVING AND MAINTAINING DESIRED SPEED ON A GUIDEWAY SYSTEM
Granted: September 18, 2003
Application Number:
20030173172
A method is provided for controlling operation of a vehicle on a guideway system, wherein the vehicle includes a first element of a linear induction motor and an alternate power source, and the guideway system has an acceleration section including a second element of the linear induction motor, and a computer control system. The method includes utilizing the second element in cooperation with the first element so as to accelerate the vehicle on the acceleration section of the guideway…
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
Granted: September 18, 2003
Application Number:
20030173173
A transportation system includes a guideway lane and a power cable assembly extending along the guideway lane. The system further includes a vehicle configured to travel on the guideway lane. The vehicle includes a self-centering transformer that is movable along the cable assembly and configured to cooperate with the cable assembly to transfer power to the vehicle. In addition, the transformer includes a magnet array that creates a magnetic field for centering the transformer with…
