Did You Know...
...that the Eveready Battery began as an invention called the "electric flowerpot," which was a tube with a battery and light bulb inside? The idea was to fasten this gizmo to the side of a flowerpot so it would illuminate the flowers from the bottom. The idea died on the vine and the businessman who licensed the flower pot, Conrad Huber, was left with a pile of useless tubes -- until he found a way to market them as batteries to light the world!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8157044 | Drivetrain for an all terrain vehicle An all-terrain vehicle including a frame having longitudinally-spaced ends defining a first longitudinal axis, and an engine supported by the frame. The engine includes a crankshaft defining a second longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal... | 04/17/2012 |
| 8122993 | Power steering for an all terrain vehicle An all-terrain vehicle including a frame having longitudinally-spaced ends defining a first longitudinal axis, and a power steering unit supported by the frame. The power steering unit has an output shaft which is held at its free end in an aperture, and rotates wit... | 02/28/2012 |
| 8016065 | Split chaincase with fixed axles A tool carrier, such as a compact loader, has a main frame formed as a transmission housing that is all welded construction. The transmission housing has drives from motors and drive shafts on each side of the transmission housing. The drives are in enclosed chain c... | 09/13/2011 |
| 7845452 | Drivetrain for an all terrain vehicle An all-terrain vehicle including a frame having longitudinally-spaced ends defining a first longitudinal axis, and an engine supported by the frame. The engine includes a crankshaft defining a second longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal... | 12/07/2010 |
| 7845453 | Transaxle provided with power take-off device A power take-off support portion, including a shaft hole and an outer side surface formed around the shaft hole, is formed on a transaxle housing. The outer side surface of the power take-off support portion is shaped to fit a power take-off casing supporting a powe... | 12/07/2010 |
| 7836992 | Drivetrain for vehicles with all-wheel drive and a transmission arranged along the travel direction A drivetrain for an all-wheel drive motor vehicle which includes a longitudinally arranged central transmission, a transfer box, a Cardan shaft and two drive axles arranged normal to the direction of travel. The transfer box includes a central differential, an input... | 11/23/2010 |
| 7832518 | Torque distribution control in a motor vehicle In a vehicle powertrain that continually transmits power to a first set of vehicle wheels and selectively transmits power through a clutch to a second set of vehicle wheels, a method for controlling the clutch includes determining that brakes for slowing the vehicle... | 11/16/2010 |
| 7810601 | All terrain or utility vehicle having selectable drive configurations and method therefore An all-terrain or utility vehicle having various combinations of left and right front wheels, left and right rear wheels, a differential rotationally variably coupling the left and right front wheels together with a variable coupling torque and a source of motive po... | 10/12/2010 |
| 7806218 | Running vehicle and running vehicle system, and method for driving running vehicle A running vehicle has front and rear driving wheels, and a sensor for measuring the acceleration of the running vehicle. The vehicle determines a distribution rate of torque to each of the driving wheels in accordance with the found acceleration, and changes driving... | 10/05/2010 |
| 7735593 | Power train for a utility vehicle A power train for a vehicle includes a gearbox with an input shaft and an output shaft and is configured such that the input shaft drives the output shaft at a single speed ratio in a first direction and a single speed ratio in a second direction. The output shaft i... | 06/15/2010 |
| 7665564 | Power train for a utility vehicle A power train for a vehicle includes a gearbox with an input shaft and an output shaft and is configured such that the input shaft drives the output shaft at a single speed ratio in a first direction and a single speed ratio in a second direction. The output shaft i... | 02/23/2010 |
| 7637343 | Small-sized vehicle A small-sized vehicle, such as an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle), includes an engine having an output shaft, a front gear mechanism including a first shaft on a side of a front wheel to which a drive force from a front output shaft portion of the output shaft is transmit... | 12/29/2009 |
| 7624832 | Front and rear drive power distribution control device for vehicle With a drive power distribution control section, limited differential torque correction value TLSDS is estimated and calculated by a limited differential torque correction value calculating section based on input torque TCD. Also, a transfer torque calculating secti... | 12/01/2009 |
| 7610981 | Driving mode switching apparatus for four-wheel-drive vehicle A driving mode switching apparatus for a four-wheel-drive vehicle, which switches driving modes of the four-wheel drive vehicle, includes a motor, a reduction mechanism being transmitted with a rotational force of the motor, an output rod connected to the reduction ... | 11/03/2009 |
| 7610980 | Drive force control method for four-wheel drive vehicle In a drive force control method for a four-wheel drive vehicle using an estimated drive torque for the control, a delay element is added to a value for the estimated drive torque at the trailing edge thereof. With this control, the behavior of the four-wheel drive v... | 11/03/2009 |
| 7600597 | Travel vehicle and travel control method for the travel vehicle The height of the center of gravity of a stacker crane is determined in consideration of a height position of an elevation frame and the inertial force is determined from the travel acceleration and deceleration. Wheel pressures applied to front and rear drive wheel... | 10/13/2009 |
| 7594560 | Four-wheel drive vehicle A vehicle includes a sensor sensing external temperature, a 2WD/4WD switch operated to input an instruction to switch a two-wheel drive state and a four-wheel drive state, a transfer switching mechanical power transfer for the two-wheel drive state and that for the ... | 09/29/2009 |
| 7581612 | Drive force distribution device and method for distributing drive force An IG-off-timer measures the time t_off from when an engine is stopped, or an ignition is turned off. An ECU sequentially memorizes an estimated temperature of each of heat generating portions as a memorized temperature. Immediately after the engine is re-started, t... | 09/01/2009 |
| 7549497 | Four-wheel drive vehicle running normally and with object towed thereby A vehicle includes a wheel speed sensor sensing a vehicle speed V, a 2WD/4WD switch operative to input an instruction to switch between a two-wheel driving state and a four-wheel driving state, a transfer and an actuator switching the two-wheel driving state and the... | 06/23/2009 |
| 7540349 | Transaxle apparatus for four-wheel drive vehicle A transaxle apparatus for a four-wheel drive vehicle, comprises: a hydraulic pump; a housing; a hydraulic motor disposed in the housing so as to be driven in response to fluid from the hydraulic pump; an axle extended outward from the housing; a drive train disposed... | 06/02/2009 |
| 7530420 | Modular vehicle drivetrain A vehicle drivetrain (110) includes an engine (122) with a vertical crankshaft (124), a first transmission (126) below the engine and driven by the crankshaft, a second transmission (128) above the first transmission and horizontal... | 05/12/2009 |
| 7458437 | Arrangement in a four-wheel drive motor vehicle In a four-wheel drive motor vehicle with a primary drive axle and a secondary drive axle, at least one secondary drive axle coupling of the limited slip type is provided in the powertrain between the engine of the vehicle and the secondary drive axle. A primary driv... | 12/02/2008 |
| 7440834 | Drive force distribution system for four wheel independent drive vehicle A drive force distribution system for a four wheel independent drive vehicle is configured to suppress changes in longitudinal and lateral accelerations and change in yaw moment about the center of gravity of the vehicle that occur when the brake/drive force of one ... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7425006 | Live twist beam axle assembly A drive axle and suspension assembly for a vehicle having a power source and wheels including a torsionally compliant twist beam suspension and a driveline assembly. The twist beam includes a twist element defining a first lateral axis and arm portions adapted to ro... | 09/16/2008 |
| 7421324 | Drive system switching control method In a drive system switching control method of an automotive four-wheeled vehicle for switching two drive systems comprising a two-wheel drive and a four-wheel drive. The method has a step of detecting a steering angle, and a step of inhibiting the drive system switc... | 09/02/2008 |
| 7399250 | All-wheel drive train In an all-wheel drive train for a motor vehicle wherein the drive torque of the engine of the motor vehicle is transmitted from the transmission output shaft partially to the rear axle and partially to the front axle via an offset transmission structure and a latera... | 07/15/2008 |
| 7392871 | Hybrid vehicles A hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, a traction motor, a starter motor, and a battery bank, all controlled by a microprocessor in accordance with the vehicle's instantaneous torque demands so that the engine is run only under conditions of high ... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7377195 | Power take-off unit with worm gearset A power take-off unit for a transaxle is provided with a unique double enveloping worm/worm gear transmission which has a ratio of the number of gear teeth on the worm gear to the number of threads on the worm which is low. The worm/worm gear transmission is more co... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7377351 | Power train for a utility vehicle A power train for a vehicle includes a gearbox with an input shaft and an output shaft and is configured such that the input shaft drives the output shaft at a single speed ratio in a first direction and a single speed ratio in a second direction. The output shaft i... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7377342 | Transmission for four-wheel drive vehicle and four-wheel drive vehicle Disclosed is a mechanism of a four-wheel drive vehicle, for enabling an engine and a transmission to be arranged compact by using an empty space within a body frame of the vehicle. The transmission includes a power take-off part for driving front wheels of the vehic... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7374012 | Operation control system for small-sized vehicle An operation control system for a small-sized vehicle is capable of reducing an electric power consumption of a battery used for a power steering apparatus. The operation control system includes a main switch configured to turn on/off an engine, and a power switch f... | 05/20/2008 |
| 7373236 | Vehicle control device and vehicle control method Steering stability of a vehicle under a traveling state such as cornering is enhanced by controlling a state of the vehicle based on cornering powers of right and left wheels. A detecting unit 1 detects action force containing longitudinal force Fx, lateral f... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7370723 | Loading machine A loading machine is disclosed with at least one drive train, with at least one overload protection device for the drive train and with sensors for determining an overload state in the drive train. Critical operating conditions of the loading machine can be determin... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7367420 | All terrain vehicle (ATV) having a rider interface for electronic or mechanical shifting A rider interface for electronic or mechanical shifting of an ATV provided on the ATV handlebars. An up-shift mechanism is located on one side of the ATV and a down-shift mechanism is located remotely from the up-shift mechanism on an opposite side of the ATV. Prefe... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7357210 | Vehicle power transmission system A vehicle power transmission system comprises: a prime mover mounted on a vehicle body frame; a first axle and a first transaxle for driving the first axle disposed at one of front and rear portions of a vehicle, the first transaxle having a first input part project... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7357208 | Control system for an at least temporarily four wheel-driven motor vehicle A control unit of an at least temporarily four wheel-driven motor vehicle is provided. The control unit is arranged such that a displacement path for an actuator that actuates a transmission clutch is assigned to a setpoint clutch torque via a characteristic curve, ... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7353898 | Integrated heat exchanger and engine mount for a snowmobile An integrated heat exchanger and engine mount for a snowmobile that reinforces the snowmobile chassis is disclosed. The heat exchanger is formed with an internal passage through which a vehicle fluid may be circulated and cooled. The heat exchanger is also formed wi... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7354373 | Vehicle drive unit, and four-wheel-drive vehicle drive unit A vehicle drive unit including (a) a transversely-mounted engine, (b) a transmission receiving an output of the engine and having an output shaft, and (c) a differential gear device including a ring gear and arranged to transmit an output of the transmission to a pa... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7350603 | Hybrid drive unit and vehicle mounted therewith A hybrid drive unit includes a hybrid mechanism having at least one electric motor and a transfer that distributes driving force to front and rear wheels. The electric motor and the transfer are housed in a tubular shaped transmission case that extends in the front ... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7343998 | All-terrain vehicle with subtransmission detachably mounted to the engine An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) has a subtransmission detachably fastened to an engine casing. The engine crankshaft includes a drive pulley connected via a belt to a driven pulley in the subtransmission, thus providing a continuously variable transmission (CVT) betwee... | 03/18/2008 |
