Patents Represented by Attorney Ken C. Decker
  • Patent number: 5161375
    Abstract: A caging arrangement for limiting the extension of springs in a bore. The caging arrangement includes cylindrical members which are connected to pistons in a master cylinder. The cylindrical members which are joined to the pistons and communicates the force of piston return springs to urge the pistons toward a rest positions while a valve return springs retained by the cylindrical members urges valves toward stops to control fluid communication between a reservoir and pressure chambers associated with the pistons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Donald A. Crumb, Robert K. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5161451
    Abstract: A spring and lever arrangement for imparting a spring force to a plunger of a control valve in a brake booster. The spring force is combined with an input force applied to the plunger during a brake application. A reaction force created by the resistance to movement of a pressurizing member by a output force developed in response to the input force overcomes the spring force and input force to control the development of an operational pressure differential such that the resultant output force for effecting a brake application varies as a nonlinear function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas A. Fecher
  • Patent number: 5161960
    Abstract: A turbocharger is provided with a tubular insert that carries engine coolant to an area adjacent the bearing supporting the end of the shaft upon which the turbine wheel is attached to provide cooling so that the temperature of the bearing does not increase to an unacceptable level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Michael M. Smith
  • Patent number: 5161452
    Abstract: A poppet valve for a vacuum brake booster. The poppet valve is connected to a key number which retains a control valve in a bore of a hub of a brake booster. The poppet valve controls fluid communication between a first chamber and a second chamber in the booster while the control valve only controls fluid communication between the bore and the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Charles B. Horner, Jr., Walter W. Last, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5161454
    Abstract: A guard means for protecting a valve body extending from a hub of a servomotor. The valve body has a base with a plurality of openings therein through which mounting bolts attach the guard means to the housing of the servomotor, a bellows section having a first diameter extending from the base and connected to a second diameter by a taper, and an end member connected to the second diameter of the bellows section. The bellows section has a plurality of pleats, a portion of which are selectively locked in either a compressed position or an extended position to locate the end member adjacent the end of the valve body when the valve body is in its fully extended position. The pleats in the first diameter of the bellows section have a different closure force than the second diameter to selectively establish which of the first and second diameters of the bellows section that will initially move to locate said end section adjacent the end of the cylindrical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Scott T. Frasier
  • Patent number: 5161648
    Abstract: The disc brake (100) with variable width caliper comprises first and second bridge members (14, 15) which are connected with a pair of movable members (20, 30) extending over the periphery of the rotor (51). Each of the movable members (20, 30) is mounted upon an anchor extension (37A, 38A). An inboard end of each movable member (20, 30) includes threads (26, 36) upon which is threadably mounted a nut (28, 29). The nut (28, 29) has rachet teeth (12, 13) on one axial end which engage rachet teeth (10A, 11A) of an associated actuator sleeve (10, 11) disposed slidably about the movable member (20, 30). The second bridge member (15) is mounted slidably upon the movable members (20, 30). The actuator sleeves (10, 11) may be rotated by an actuator mechanism (70) which, through the engaged rachet teeth (10A, 11A; 12, 13), causes the nuts (28, 29) to rotate and effect translational movement of the movable members (20, 30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Alistair G. Taig
  • Patent number: 5161453
    Abstract: A method of establishing a spring force for a push rod of a control valve in a brake booster to set the force which opposes an operational input force. After attaching the push rod to a plunger, the plunger is located in the bore of a hub of a movable wall of the brake booster. When the plunger is installed in the bore, a groove located adjacent a threaded end of the push rod extends past the hub. A spring and sleeve are placed on the push rod and a fixture attached to the rear shell of the booster. The push rod and sleeve pass through an opening in the fixture to align the push rod within the axial center of the bore of the hub. A force is applied to the push rod to move the push rod within said bore to establish a rest position of the plunger with respect to a seat on a poppet valve. Thereafter, a force is applied to the sleeve to initially move the sleeve on said push rod to bring the spring into engagement with the hub and thereafter compress the spring until a predetermined spring force is established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Linda S. Yared, Mark P. Cencelewski
  • Patent number: 5161650
    Abstract: The disc brake (10, 106, 108, 206) with powered integral parking mechanism comprises a twin piston disc brake (106, 108, 206) having a screw member (22, 24; 122, 124; 222, 224) and nut (28, 29; 228, 229) adjuster mechanism. The twin pistons (16, 18; 216, 218) receive service braking hydraulic pressure to effect a service braking application, and also may be displaced mechanically for a parking application by way of the rack (80, 180) and pinion (47, 48; 247, 248) parking mechanism that is operated by hydraulic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Alistair G. Taig
  • Patent number: 5154056
    Abstract: The assembly comprises a brake-booster and a master cylinder having, in an outer casing (10), a space divided in leakproof fashion into a front chamber (12) and a rear chamber (14) by a movable partition (16), at least a first resilient mechanism (18) tending to displace the movable partition towards the rear chamber. The front chamber is connected to a vacuum source, and a pressure difference is established between the front and rear chambers by a valve mechanism (20) capable of connecting the rear chamber to the atmosphere upon actuation of a control rod (22) in order to displace the movable partition towards the front chamber. A master cylinder (30) is fixed on the front wall of the casing and has a bore (40) in which a tappet (42) integral with the movable partition and delimiting an enclosed space (28) in the master cylinder slides in leakproof fashion. This tappet has a bore (32) in which a reaction piston (24) subjected to the pressure of the enclosed space (28) slides in leakproof fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Bendix Europe Services Techniques
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Gautier, Ulysse Verbo
  • Patent number: 5154492
    Abstract: The load sensing brake proportioning valve of a vehicle comprises a first piston (14) sliding in a stepped bore made in a body, and carrying a normally open shutter (18) arranged between a source of fluid under pressure and the associated brake circuit, the first piston (14) being moveable counter to a spring (16) under the effect of the pressure of the fluid which tends to close the shutter (18), a sliding rod (24) normally bearing between a pusher (20), the position of which is a function of the load of the vehicle, and the shutter (18). The proportioning valve comprises a locking mechanism immobilizing the sliding rod (24) as soon as the pressure of the fluid in the associated brake circuit exceeds a specific threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Bendix Europe Services Techniques
    Inventors: Roland Levrai, Philippe Castel, Patrice Moinard
  • Patent number: 5153976
    Abstract: The ball-and-socket assembly (10) comprises a rod (12) having a ball head (14) at one end thereof, the ball head (14) having a diametrical groove (16) with a flexible member (30) disposed therein and extending radially beyond the outer surface (14A) of the ball head (14). A body (44) includes a bore (46) having a flared entrance wall (50) communicating with an open end (48) of the bore (46), the flared entrance wall (50) extending axially inwardly to a radial shoulder (52) defined between end of the flared entrance wall (50) and a large diameter portion (54) of the bore (46), a small diameter portion (58) of the bore (46) being located axially inwardly of the bore (46) relative to the large diameter portion (54), and a frustoconical wall (56) extending between the small and large diameter portions (54, 58).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed L. Benchaar, Larry E. Isakson, Daniel A. Mauro
  • Patent number: 5154106
    Abstract: A pneumatic brake booster of the tandem type for the brake boosting of motor vehicles, comprises a movable hub (15) driving a push rod (11) by of a reaction disk (17), a closed containment composed of a front shell (1) on the same side as the master cylinder and of a rear shell (3) on the same side as the actuating pedal, which define a front chamber and a rear chamber separated by a separating element (5) having an annular partition (9), and a front piston (25) and a rear piston (35) respectively arranged coaxially in the front and rear chambers. These chambers are themselves respectively divided by a sealing diaphragm (27, 37) fixed to each of the pistons (25, 35), in order to define, within each of these, a sub-chamber of constant pressure (21, 31) and a sub-chamber of variable pressure (23, 33), the pistons (25, 35) being movable in the axial direction under the effect of the differences in the pressures prevailing between the sub-chambers of each chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Bendix Europe Services Techniques
    Inventors: Philippe Castel, Pierre Pressaco
  • Patent number: 5154282
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical contactor intended to be connected to an electrical brake warning circuit and to be mounted with sealing engagement in an orifice (5) in a rear wall (1) of a pneumatic brake booster housing divided into a front chamber (3) and a rear chamber (4) intercommunicating selectively via a piston mechanism (2) movable from a rest position near the rear wall (1), the contactor comprising a plastic body with a first body part (6) intended to be engaged into the orifice (5) in the rear wall (1) and a second body part (7) remaining outside the housing and containing at least one pair of metal electrical contacts (20, 21) actuable by way of a follower (13) equipped with a head (14) and slidably mounted in a bore (11) of the first body part (6) and stressed by a spring (19) toward the outside of the first body part, so that its head normally bears against the piston means (2) in the vicinity of its rest position, the pair of contacts comprising a stationary contact blade (20) and a mo
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Bendix Europe Services Techniques
    Inventor: Le Normand Pascal
  • Patent number: 5154107
    Abstract: The tandem master cylinder comprises, in a bore, a primary piston defining with a secondary piston a primary chamber, the secondary piston defining with the bottom of the bore a secondary chamber, the primary and secondary chambers having respectively primary and secondary outlet orifices, the primary and secondary chambers being respectively associated with primary and secondary expansion holes, able to be closed respectively by the primary and secondary pistons.The method for adjusting the lost motion of the secondary piston comprises the following steps:placing the pistons and springs in the boreleaving the primary piston in contact with its rest stopmoving the secondary piston until it closes the secondary expansion holedetecting the closure of the secondary expansion holemoving the secondary piston until the secondary expansion hole just reopensdetecting the reopeing of the expansion holesetting the maximum separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Bendix Europe Services Techniques
    Inventors: Gerard Morin, Francois Gaffe
  • Patent number: 5154203
    Abstract: A proportional modulator includes valve elements actuated by a proportional solenoid that controls communications between an inlet port, an outlet port, and an exhaust port. The pressure level at the outlet port is controlled to vary directly with the current applied to the coil of the solenoid controlling the valve elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Krause, Paul W. Wozniak, Ronald E. Squires
  • Patent number: 5144976
    Abstract: The vented screw-in proportioning valve (30) of the present invention comprises a proportioning valve body (32) having threads (36) on the proportioning valve body (32) connected with threads (23) of a master cylinder boss (22). A stepped bore (38) of the proportioning valve body (32) includes a differential area piston which is generally U-shaped, a pair of seal members (52, 54) located axially spaced-apart and disposed about the piston (40) in order to define a vented chamber (60), a vent (62) extending through the proportioning valve body (32) and communicating with the vented chamber (60), a snap ring (70) located adjacent an inlet (34) of the proportioning valve body (32), a retainer (80) spring-biased into engagement with the snap ring (70), a spring (90) disposed between the retainer (80) and an interior cavity (42) of the piston (40) in order to bias the piston (40) toward the outlet (33), and a fluid seal (50) disposed adjacent a head (46) of the piston (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Donald A. Crumb
  • Patent number: 5145495
    Abstract: A compressed air system for an automotive vehicle includes an air compressor which generates compressed air which is dried by an air dryer and stored in an air storage reservoir. The air dryer is regenerated by using compressed air stored in the storage reservoir instead of compressed air stored in a purge volume within the air dryer. A timer actuated solenoid operated valve controls the length of the purge cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Naman A. Elamin
  • Patent number: 5144878
    Abstract: A hydraulic actuator (1) with automatic wear take-up, is formed with a first piston (17) sliding in a blind bore (13), a second piston (33) in a bore made in the first piston, and an output rod (3) bearing on the second piston. A first chamber (27) is formed between the blind bore and the first piston and a second chamber (37) is formed between the bore and the second piston. A piece (19) having a shoulder (23) is fixed, on its side of smaller diameter, to an end (21) of the first piston confronting the first chamber, forming an annular space. The annular space contains an annular gasket (39) and stop (41), so as to divide the first chamber into two volumes (43, 45), one (45) connected to a pressure generator (7) and the other (43) communicating with the second chamber through a duct (47) made in the end of the first piston. The two volumes communicate with one another, at rest, via a passage provided between the gasket, the stop and the piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Bendix Italia S.p.A.
    Inventor: Leonardo Cadeddu
  • Patent number: 5145334
    Abstract: A turbocharger includes a rotating shaft which is supported within the turbocharger center housing by rotational bearing elements. The bearing cartridge is located axially within the housing 14 by a pin which extends through orifices drilled in the center housing and in the bearing outer ring. The pin is relatively smooth, so that excursions of the bearing cartridge assembly with the shaft is permitted when the shaft is accelerated through critical rotational speeds. These excursions are damped by lubricating fluid communicated into grooves circumscribing the bearing outer ring through lubrication passages extending through the pin. The lubricating fluid in the grooves communicates into the intersticial space defined between the outer ring of the bearing cartridge assembly and the center housing to thereby dampen the excursions of the bearing cartridge assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel A. Gutknecht
  • Patent number: 5142935
    Abstract: The parking brake lever cable retainer (90) comprises a wire form spring retainer (90) attached to a parking brake lever (40) in order to couple a cable (50) and cable ball (82) with the end of the lever (40). The lever (40) includes a pair of spaced-apart end feet (44, 45) with a longitudinal recess (46) extending therebetween such that the cable (50) is disposed within the longitudinal recess (46) and extends from one side (41) of the lever (40) to the opposite side (43) where the cable ball (82) is received within complementary-shaped openings (42) in each of the feet (44, 45).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Clyde E. Carr