FAST SWITCHING FOR POWER INVERTER
Granted: August 2, 2012
Application Number:
20120195087
An apparatus includes an inverter including a high-side switch coupled to a low-side switch, the inverter generating a time-varying drive current from a plurality of drive control signals, a positive rail voltage, and a negative rail voltage wherein controlling the switches to generate the time-varying drive current produces a potential transitory overshoot condition for one of the switches of the inverter; a drive control, coupled to the inverter, to generate the drive control signals…
Coolant De-Aeration Reservoir
Granted: July 19, 2012
Application Number:
20120180997
A coolant de-aeration system is provided that includes a coolant reservoir, a plurality of de-aeration chambers within the reservoir, a plurality of de-aeration chamber apertures that direct coolant flow through the de-aeration chambers, a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet that share a common coolant flow pathway that allows the majority of coolant to flow directly between the reservoir inlet and the reservoir outlet, and a reservoir inlet aperture that directs a portion of coolant…
Thermal Management System with Dual Mode Coolant Loops
Granted: July 19, 2012
Application Number:
20120183815
A dual mode, thermal management system for use in a vehicle is provided. At a minimum, the system includes a first coolant loop in thermal communication with a battery system, a second coolant loop in thermal communication with at least one drive train component (e.g., electric motor, power electronics, inverter), a dual mode valve system that provides means for selecting between a first mode where the two coolant loops operate in parallel and a second mode where the two coolant loops…
Apparatus for the External Application of Battery Pack Encapsulant
Granted: July 19, 2012
Application Number:
20120183826
An apparatus for simplifying battery pack encapsulation is provided. The battery pack includes a pair of complementary housing members with each housing member including a plurality of cell constraints into which the ends of corresponding battery cells are inserted during assembly. One or both housing members also include at least one, and preferably a plurality, of raised encapsulant injection ports. The raised encapsulant injection ports are designed to extend above the surface of the…
Front Rail Configuration for the Front Structure of a Vehicle
Granted: July 12, 2012
Application Number:
20120175897
A front structure for a vehicle is provided that includes a pair of front rails (i.e., front left hand rail and front right hand rail) spaced apart in a widthwise direction with each rail extending lengthwise and mechanically coupled to the vehicle's bumper and a torque box. Each front rail is comprised of a polygonal-shaped upper hollow channel and a polygonal-shaped lower hollow channel, where the upper and lower channels share a common wall.
Bumper Mounting Plate for Double Channel Front Rails
Granted: July 12, 2012
Application Number:
20120175898
A front structure for a vehicle is provided, the structure including (i) a pair of front rails (i.e., front left hand rail and front right hand rail) spaced apart in a widthwise direction with each rail extending lengthwise, and where each rail is comprised of a polygonal-shaped upper hollow channel and a polygonal-shaped lower hollow channel with the upper and lower channels sharing a common wall; and (ii) a pair of bumper mounting plates, where one bumper mounting plate is interposed…
Front Rail Reinforcement System
Granted: July 12, 2012
Application Number:
20120175899
A front structure for a vehicle is provided, the structure including (i) a pair of front rails (i.e., front left hand rail and front right hand rail) spaced apart in a widthwise direction with each rail extending lengthwise, where one end portion of each rail is mechanically coupled to the vehicle's bumper and the other end portion of each rail is mechanically coupled to a torque box, and where each rail is comprised of a polygonal-shaped upper hollow channel and a polygonal-shaped lower…
Dual Load Path Design for a Vehicle
Granted: July 12, 2012
Application Number:
20120175900
A system for absorbing and distributing front impact forces in a vehicle is provided, the system including a primary impact system and a secondary impact system, each of which includes a bumper and a structure for transferring impact loads. The primary impact system includes a primary bumper and a pair of front rails spaced apart in a widthwise direction with each rail extending lengthwise, where one end portion of each rail is mechanically coupled to the vehicle's bumper and the other…
Swept Front Torque Box
Granted: July 12, 2012
Application Number:
20120175916
A front structure for a vehicle is provided, the structure including (i) a pair of front rails spaced apart in a widthwise direction with each rail extending lengthwise, and where each rail is comprised of a polygonal-shaped upper hollow channel and a polygonal-shaped lower hollow channel with the upper and lower channels sharing a common wall; and (ii) a pair of curvilinear torque boxes, where one curvilinear torque box is mechanically attached to the upper and lower polygonal-shaped…
Vehicle Front Shock Tower
Granted: July 5, 2012
Application Number:
20120169023
A front structure for a vehicle is provided, the structure including a single piece shock tower and an upper control arm, where the front coupling of the upper control arm is attached to the shock tower at a location directly above a corresponding surface of the shock tower such that the front coupling is exposed from above, and where the rear coupling of the upper control arm is attached to the shock tower at a location directly below a corresponding surface of the shock tower such that…
Rear Vehicle Torque Box
Granted: July 5, 2012
Application Number:
20120169089
A rear structure for a vehicle is provided, the structure including (i) a pair of single piece rear torque boxes; (ii) a pair of rocker panels mechanically coupled to the rear torque boxes; (iii) a pair of rear rails mechanically coupled to the rear torque boxes; and (iv) at least one cross-member interposed between and mechanically coupled to the rear torque boxes.
Multi-Function Automotive Radiator and Condenser Airflow System
Granted: July 5, 2012
Application Number:
20120168125
A vehicle thermal management system is provided that includes two or more heat exchangers configured in a non-stacked arrangement, where separate air inlets corresponding to each of the heat exchangers allow a direct intake of ambient air. Corresponding to each heat exchanger is a set of adjustable louvers that control ambient air flowing directly into the heat exchanger. The adjustable louvers may be adjustable between two positions; fully opened or fully closed. Alternately, the…
Vehicle Battery Pack Ballistic Shield
Granted: June 28, 2012
Application Number:
20120160088
An improved protection system for a battery pack mounted between the passenger cabin floor panel of an electric vehicle and the driving surface is provided, the system utilizing a ballistic shield mounted under the electric vehicle and interposed between the battery pack enclosure and the driving surface, where the ballistic shield is spaced apart from the enclosure bottom panel. A layer of a compressible material may be interposed between the ballistic shield and the battery pack…
Integration System for a Vehicle Battery Pack
Granted: June 28, 2012
Application Number:
20120160583
An improved integration system for a battery pack mounted between the passenger cabin floor panel of an electric vehicle and the driving surface is provided, the system utilizing at least one insulating layer interposed between the battery pack enclosure and the passenger cabin floor panel, where the insulating layer provides noise isolation, thermal isolation and vibration damping, and where the insulating layer is compressed when the battery pack enclosure is mounted to the vehicle.
Augmented Vehicle Seat Mount
Granted: June 28, 2012
Application Number:
20120161429
A vehicle seat mounting assembly is provided in which the seat mounts are attached to body cross-members that are, in turn, mechanically coupled to battery pack cross-members contained within a battery pack enclosure mounted under the vehicle.
System for Absorbing and Distributing Side Impact Energy Utilizing an Integrated Battery Pack
Granted: June 28, 2012
Application Number:
20120161472
An energy absorbing and distributing side impact system for use with a vehicle is provided, the system utilizing a battery pack enclosure that includes a plurality of cross-members that transverse the battery pack enclosure and absorb and distribute at least a portion of the load received when either the first or second side of the vehicle receives a side impact. The battery pack enclosure is positioned between the front and rear vehicle suspension assemblies and mounted between, and…
Vehicle Door Secondary Sealing System
Granted: June 21, 2012
Application Number:
20120151843
A seal for use with a vehicle door is provided, the seal preferably used as a secondary or tertiary seal to provide additional passenger cabin sound isolation and weather proofing. The seal is attached to a seam within the door jamb, the seal formed by coupling a central body panel flange to a rear quarter panel flange.
Reinforced B-Pillar Assembly with Reinforced Rocker Joint
Granted: June 21, 2012
Application Number:
20120153675
A reinforced B-pillar assembly that achieves improved side impact resistance is provided in which the B-pillar assembly is mechanically coupled to an outer mounting surface of the rocker panel as well as to an extended brace that is attached to the upper and rear mounting surfaces of the rocker.
Single Piece Vehicle Rocker Panel
Granted: June 21, 2012
Application Number:
20120153682
A vehicle rocker panel is provided that is extruded as a single piece. As extruded, the rocker panel may include one or more interior reinforcing walls as well as interior and exterior design features.
Thermal Management System for Use with an Integrated Motor Assembly
Granted: June 21, 2012
Application Number:
20120153718
An integrated drive system assembly is provided that combines an electric motor, a power inverter assembly and a gearbox into a single, multi-piece enclosure. Combining these components into a single enclosure reduces weight, reduces drive system complexity, reduces system volume, simplifies assembly integration into an electric vehicle, reduces manufacturing cost, allows the flexible and lengthy electrical cables between the power inverter and the electric motor to be replaced with…
