[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 96 (Thursday, May 17, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29340-29341]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11965]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9673-3]


Intent To Grant Patent License

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Grant Co-Exclusive Patent License.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 207 (Patents) and 37 CFR part 404 (U.S. 
Government patent licensing regulations), EPA hereby gives notice of 
its intent to grant a co-exclusive, royalty-bearing, revocable license 
to practice the inventions described and claimed in the U.S. patents 
and patent applications listed at the end of this message, and all 
corresponding patents issued throughout the world, and all reexamined 
patents and reissued patents granted in connection with such patent 
applications, to American Hydraulic Power, LLC of Michigan.
    The inventions pertain to hybrid vehicle technology, particularly 
hydraulic hybrid drive systems, methods, and components. The proposed 
license will contain appropriate terms, limitations, and conditions 
negotiated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.5 and 404.7 
of the U.S. Government patent licensing regulations. EPA will finalize 
terms and conditions and grant the license unless, within 15 days from 
the date of this notice, EPA receives, at the address below, written 
objections to the grant, together with supporting documentation. The 
documentation from objecting parties having an interest in practicing 
the inventions listed in the patents and patent applications below 
should include an application for a nonexclusive license with the 
information set forth in 37 CFR 404.8. The EPA Patent Attorney and 
other EPA officials will review all written responses and then make 
recommendations on a final decision to the Director or Deputy Director 
of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality, who have been 
delegated the authority to issue patent licenses under EPA Delegation 
1-55.
    The proposed license will apply to the following patents and patent 
applications:

                                      Method or Vehicle Licensed Inventions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Patent No.                               Title                              Date issued
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5,495,912...........................  Hybrid Powertrain Vehicle............  March 5, 1996.
5,887,674...........................  Continuously Smooth Transmission.....  March 30, 1999.
6,719,080...........................  Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicle.............  April 13, 2004.
6,876,098...........................  Methods of Operating a Series Hybrid   April 5, 2005.
                                       Vehicle.
7,456,509...........................  Methods of Operating a Series Hybrid   November 25, 2008.
                                       Vehicle (div).
7,337,869...........................  Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicle with          March 4, 2008.
                                       Integrated Drive Module and Four-
                                       Wheel-Drive, and Method of Operation
                                       Thereof.
7,252,020...........................  Vehicle Drivetrain including a         August 7, 2007.
                                       Clutchless Transmission, and Method
                                       of Operation.
6,998,727...........................  Methods of Operating a Parallel        February 14, 2006.
                                       Hybrid Vehicle Having an Internal
                                       Combustion Engine and a Secondary
                                       Power Source.
7,104,349...........................  Hybrid Powertrain Motor Vehicle with   September 12, 2006.
                                       Homogenous Charge Compression
                                       Ignition (HCCI) Engine, and Method
                                       of Operation Thereof.
7,857,082...........................  Methods of Operating a Series Hybrid   December 28, 2010.
                                       Vehicle (Div.).
7,984,783...........................  Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicle with          July 26, 2011.
                                       Integrated Hydraulic Drive Module
                                       and Four-Wheel-Drive, and Method of
                                       Operation Thereof (Div.).
8,118,132...........................  Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicle Methods of    February 21, 2012.
                                       Safe Operation.
8,162,094...........................  Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicle with Large-   April 24, 2012.
                                       Ratio Shift Transmission, and Method
                                       of Operation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Application No.                            Title                               Date filed
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PCT/US2011/027667...................  Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicle with Safe     March 9, 2011.
                                       and Efficient Hydrostatic Operation.
12/654,321..........................  Methods of Optimizing Efficiency of a  December 17, 2009.
                                       Series Hybrid Vehicle with Multi-
                                       Gear Transmission.
12/711,603..........................  Hydraulic-Electric Regenerative        February 24, 2010.
                                       Energy Storage System.
PCT/US2011/031806...................  Methods for Safe Operation of          April 8, 2011.
                                       Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicles with Over-
                                       Center Pump/Motors.
12/731,326..........................  Regenerative Energy Storage System     March 25, 2010.
                                       for Hybrid Locomotive.
12/955,795..........................  Methods of Operating a Series Hybrid   November 29, 2010.
                                       Vehicle (Div.).
13/356,276..........................  Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicle Methods of    January 23, 2012.
                                       Safe Operation.
13/424,027..........................  Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicle with Large-   March 19, 2012.
                                       Ratio Shift Transmission, and Method
                                       of Operation Thereof.

[[Page 29341]]

 
61/619,123..........................  Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicle Control       April 2, 2012.
                                       Methods.
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                                     Hydraulic Component Licensed Inventions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Patent No.                               Title                              Date issued
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6,619,325...........................  Hydraulic Hybrid Accumulator Shut-off  September 16, 2003.
                                       Valve.
6,996,982...........................  Method and Device for Switching        February 14, 2006.
                                       Hydraulic Fluid Supplies, such as
                                       for a Hydraulic Pump/Motor.
7,014,429...........................  High-Efficiency, Large Angle,          March 21, 2006.
                                       Variable Displacement Hydraulic Pump/
                                       Motor.
7,108,016...........................  Lightweight Low Permeation Piston-in-  September 19, 2006.
                                       Sleeve Accumulator.
7,121,304...........................  Low Permeation Hydraulic Accumulator.  October 17, 2006.
7,305,914...........................  Hydraulic Actuator Control Valve.....  December 11, 2007.
6,170,524...........................  Fast Valve and Actuator..............  January 9, 2001.
7,305,915...........................  Efficient Pump/Motor with Reduced      December 11, 2007.
                                       Energy Loss.
7,374,005...........................  Opposing Pump/Motors.................  May 20, 2008.
7,500,424...........................  Hydraulic Machine Having Pressure      March 10, 2009.
                                       Equalization.
7,527,074...........................  Hydraulic Pressure Accumulator.......  May 5, 2009.
7,537,075...........................  Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicle with          May 26, 2009.
                                       Integrated Hydraulic Drive Module
                                       and Four-Wheel-Drive, and Method of
                                       Operation Thereof (Div.).
7,553,085...........................  Fluid Bearing and Method of Operation  June 30, 2009.
7,594,802...........................  Large Angle Sliding Valve Plate Pump/  September 29, 2009.
                                       Motor.
7,617,761...........................  Opposing Pump/Motors (divisional)....  November 17, 2009.
7,677,871...........................  High-Efficiency, Large Angle,          March 16, 2010.
                                       Variable Displacement Hydraulic Pump/
                                       Motor (Divisional).
8,052,116...........................  Quiet Fluid Supply Valve.............  November 8, 2011.
8,100,221...........................  Engine-Off Power Steering System.....  January 24, 2012.
8,020,587...........................  Piston-in-Sleeve Hydraulic Pressure    September 20, 2011.
                                       Accumulator.
7,987,940...........................  Hydraulic Accumulator and Fire         August 2, 2011.
                                       Suppression System.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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           Application No.                            Title                               Date filed
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11/233,822..........................  Independent Displacement Opposing      September 22, 2005.
                                       Pump/Motors and Method of Operation.
11/540,089..........................  Safe Over-Center Pump/Motor..........  September 29, 2006.
12/701,438..........................  Variable Length Bent-Axis Pump/Motor.  February 5, 2010.
12/567,938..........................  Hydraulic Circuit and Manifold with    September 28, 2009.
                                       Multi-Function Valve.
13/415,109..........................  Modular Hydraulic Hybrid Drivetrain..  March 8, 2012.
13/232,677..........................  Engine-Off Power Steering System.....  September 14, 2011.
12/215,438..........................  On-Demand Power Brake System and       June 26, 2008.
                                       Method.
13/433,839..........................  On-Board Hydraulic Fluid               March 29, 2012.
                                       Degasification System for a
                                       Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicle.
61/609,597..........................  Radial Hydraulic Motor for a           March 12, 2012.
                                       Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicle.
61/635,085..........................  Integrated Hydraulic Accumulator Dual  April 18, 2012.
                                       Shut-Off Valve.
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DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by EPA at the address 
listed below by June 1, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Read, Attorney Advisor, 
Environmental Protection Agency, National Vehicle Fuel Emissions 
Laboratory, Office of Air and Radiation, 2565 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, 
MI 48105, telephone (734) 214-4367.

    Dated: May 10, 2012.
Geoff Cooper,
Assistant General Counsel, General Law Office.
[FR Doc. 2012-11965 Filed 5-16-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P