Patents Examined by Alfred Muratori
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Patent number: 5417484Abstract: A hydraulic change-over valve is adapted for a vehicle brake system with anti-lock control and traction slip control which operates according to the return delivery principle during an anti-lock control operation and the self-priming pump of which takes in pressure fluid through the master brake cylinder during a traction slip control operation. The change-over valve is arranged in the suction line between a pump and a master brake cylinder and shuts off the connection during each pedal-operated braking operation and opens it during each traction slip control operation. To avoid negative effects on the brake pedal feeling, restrictors are provided which prolong the closing time of the switch-over valve so that the fluid volume for switching is received gradually and continuously. The switching position is determined by a diaphragm, whose effective surface depends on its flexure to afford a non-stick-slip operation.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1993Date of Patent: May 23, 1995Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbHInventors: Hans-Dieter Reinartz, Erhard Beck, Stefan Risch
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Patent number: 5415252Abstract: A twin wheel caster and brake assembly including a central body with an axle mounted thereto which extends outwardly from opposite sides of the central body. A pair of wheels are rotatably mounted on each end of the axle and include a plurality of radially inwardly extending ribs with adjacent ribs defining a recess therebetween. At least one slot is formed in the central body. A locking bar associated with a brake actuating lever is located within the slot and is moveable therein between a brake locked position wherein the locking bar is located within the recesses for engagement with the ribs of the wheels and an unlocked position wherein the locking bar is located out of contact with the ribs. A pivot member is associated with the brake actuating lever and the central body to facilitate movement of the brake actuating lever and locking bar between the locked and unlocked positions.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 1994Date of Patent: May 16, 1995Assignee: Shepherd Products U.S., Inc.Inventor: Michael H. Estkowski
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Patent number: 5413195Abstract: The invention provides a hydraulic shock absorber for controlling an attenuating force in a very low speed range and a medium or high speed range of the speed of a piston. A leaf valve for the high speed range and another leaf valve for the medium or high speed range are disposed for opening and closing movement at an exit end of a port formed in a partition wall member such as the piston. The leaf valve for the low speed range is supported at a rear face of an inner peripheral portion thereof for up and down floating movement on an upper face of a valve stopper. In the medium or high speed range, the leaf valve for the low speed range is deflected to move the inner peripheral portion thereof floatingly, which prevents the leaf valve from being deflected excessively and hence prevents a possible break of the leaf valve.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1994Date of Patent: May 9, 1995Assignee: Kayaba Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tomoharu Murakami
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Patent number: 5413404Abstract: A method for detecting trouble in a fluid pressure system which has a fluid pressure source including a fluid pump, a pressure tank connected to the pump, a pressure detector for detecting fluid pressure in the pressure tank, and a control device for controlling the operation of the fluid pump on the basis of an output signal from the pressure detector, comprising the steps of operating such fluid pressure systems with output fluid pressure from the fluid pressure source, detecting variation in the output signal from the pressure detector and when the output signal is less than a first predetermined value during operation of the fluid pressure system driving said fluid pump regardless of the output signal from the pressure detector, and when the variation in output signal from the pressure detector is less than a second predetermined value as a result of such driving of said fluid pump energizing a signal to indicate that the system is out of order.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 1994Date of Patent: May 9, 1995Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shinichi Inagawa
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Patent number: 5413320Abstract: A fluid mount (20) provides a flexible connection and fluid effects such as damping and/or fluid inertia for a supported member (22) attached to a supporting member (24) in a singular and unitary package. The fluid mount (20) includes a beam (34) and a laminated elastomer and shim construction bonded thereto, defining variable volume fluid chambers (44, 46, 48, 50) and interconnecting fluid passageways (52, 54). Fluid effects are provided in both a radial translational mode (loading at R) and a rotational mode (loading at T) to suppress vibrations of the supported member (22).Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1993Date of Patent: May 9, 1995Assignee: Lord CorporationInventor: Paul T. Herbst
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Patent number: 5411243Abstract: A hydraulic antivibration device comprises, between its two chambers, two passages (8, 10) connected in parallel, and it also comprises a rotary shutter (11) having the same axis (X) as the device and suitable for opening or closing, at will, at least one of the two passages and also slots that put the chambers into communication with a decoupling shutter member. Angular displacement of the shutter is controlled by successively exciting two small antagonistic electromagnets (14, 15) housed in the outer portion of the intermediate partition (7) and suitable for attracting a ferromagnetic armature (16) of the shutter member, which armature is urged towards an intermediate position by a small spring (17).Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 1994Date of Patent: May 2, 1995Assignee: HutchisonInventor: Andre Gennesseaux
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Patent number: 5411323Abstract: An automatic brake control apparatus includes a pressure intensifying solenoid valve in a hydraulic brake line connecting a source of hydraulic pressure with a brake, as well as a pressure reducing solenoid valve in a relief line branched from the brake line and connected to a low pressure reservoir. A pressure sensor is positioned to sense a hydraulic pressure in the brake line at a position downstream of a point where the relief line branches from the brake line. A controller receives a signal from the pressure sensor and determines desired brake pressure for producing a desired speed reduction rate. The controller outputs control signals to the pressure intensifying solenoid valve and the pressure reducing solenoid valve such that the detected brake pressure corresponds to the desired brake pressure. The apparatus may be incorporated into a brake pressure control valve having first and second stages.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 1994Date of Patent: May 2, 1995Assignee: Sumitomo Precision Products Co., Ltd.Inventors: Norio Takahashi, Mitsuhiro Tsujita
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Patent number: 5409090Abstract: A damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber includes a cylinder having a hydraulic fluid sealed therein. A piston is slidably fitted in the cylinder to divide the inside of the cylinder into two chambers. A main hydraulic fluid passage provides communication between the two chambers and has a damping force generating mechanism. A bypass passage also provides communication between the two chambers. A cylindrical guide member is provided in the bypass passage to provide communication between two portions of the bypass passage which lead to the two chambers, respectively, through ports provided in the side wall of the guide member. A cylindrical shutter is rotatably fitted in the guide member. The shutter has openings capable of aligning with the ports. The ports and the openings cooperate to provide a damping force which changes generally linearly as the shutter rotates.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 1993Date of Patent: April 25, 1995Assignee: Tokico Ltd.Inventors: Akira Kashiwagi, Takashi Nezu, Takao Kohara
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Patent number: 5403078Abstract: An hydraulic braking system for a vehicle comprises a pedal-operated combined hydraulic booster and master cylinder assembly (1) for applying a brake (15, 18) on a wheel (16, 19) and having a master cylinder (6) and a servo chamber (7), an auxiliary hydraulic power supply (10) defining a booster pressure in the servo chamber, a flow valve (17, 20) through which fluid is supplied to the brake, and a solenoid-controlled valve (27) for controlling the setting of the flow valve for brake re-application during ABS by the application to it of control fluid from the servo chamber (7) in response to signals from a control module (38).Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 1993Date of Patent: April 4, 1995Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited CompanyInventor: Glyn P. R. Farr
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Patent number: 5400878Abstract: One preferred embodiment of a rotary viscous damper that provides damping force constancy over the operating temperature range of a viscous working fluid includes a damper housing defining a stationary conical damping surface, a shaft member rotatably mounted in the damper housing, a rotor member having a rotating conical damping surface, a temperature compensation mechanism, and a bias spring. The stationary and rotating conical damping surfaces in opposed combination define the shear gap of the damper. The rotor member is mounted in combination with the shaft member, and is axially displaceable with respect thereto. The bias spring provides a constant spring force acting on the rotor member to axially position the rotor member to establish the baseline shear gap of the damper. The temperature compensation mechanism is mounted in compressive engagement with the rotor member and exerts a temperature-dependent biasing force thereagainst in opposition to the constant spring force.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1993Date of Patent: March 28, 1995Assignee: United Technologies CorporationInventors: Frank P. D'Anna, Anthony V. Russo
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Patent number: 5399001Abstract: An all-weather braking aid for a vehicle having brakes actuated by air pressure. The all-weather braking aid includes at least one motion detector responsive to inertia of the vehicle. A sensor is operatively engaged with the motion detector and a switch is activated by the sensor. The pressurized air is directed to a valve, the valve is normally in an open position to allow flow of the air pressure and movable to a closed position to interrupt the air pressure. The timer is engaged with the switch in order to close the valve for one selected duration and then open the valve for another selected duration, thereby providing controlled intermittent braking.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1993Date of Patent: March 21, 1995Inventor: Lee C. Flournoy
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Patent number: 5397173Abstract: The invention relates to an electro-hydraulic braking system for the wheels of aircraft landing gear. The system comprises two hydraulic pressure sources each feeding a hydraulic circuit that leads to the brakes of two groups of wheels via a single braking control stage. A circuit connects either a solenoid valve electrically controlled by the control unit or else a double metering valve mechanically controlled by the brake pedals via two shuttle valves, to one inlet of each control stage. A second circuit directly connects a solenoid valve to a second inlet of each of said control stages. Each control stage includes two symmetrical internal circuits having one servo-valve per corresponding brake, which servo-valves are cross-connected by means of a respective corresponding controlled valve. In the event of one of the circuits breaking down, the servo-valves associated with the other circuit then serve, after automatic reconfiguration, also to provide braking and anti-skid control in a paired tandem mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 1994Date of Patent: March 14, 1995Assignee: Messier-BugattiInventor: Vincent Bourguet
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Patent number: 5397174Abstract: A hydraulic braking system having an apparatus for anti-lock control and for generating a differential lock by brake engagement, has a structurally simplified control unit, without any reduction in function. In its brake circuit II for driven vehicle wheels, the braking system with TT brake circuit distribution has valve assemblies associated with the wheel brakes and having an inlet valve and at least one outlet valve for brake pressure modulation. On the master cylinder side, a blocking valve is disposed in a brake line leading to the wheel brakes. A high-pressure pump with a charging valve in a suction line is capable of pumping brake fluid into the brake line.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1994Date of Patent: March 14, 1995Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Karl-Heinz Willmann
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Patent number: 5395097Abstract: A spring wire core for use in bedding mattresses and/or upholstered furniture cushions and the like comprised of a pair of half units. Each half unit includes a surface portion and a plurality of springs projecting in one direction from the surface portion. Connecting elements are provided to enable a pair of half units, one inverted relative to the other, to be connected together forming a wire core with two spaced surface portions. Preferably, the spring portions are configured to enable a plurality of the half units to be nestably stacked one upon another to enable efficient shipping of the half units without compression of the spring portions.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 1993Date of Patent: March 7, 1995Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.Inventors: Upton R. Dabney, William C. Rodgers
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Patent number: 5392886Abstract: A liquid cooled shock absorber unit for a vehicle having an outer cylinder surrounding a shock absorber cartridge forming an annular chamber connected to a source of liquid coolant through a plurality of coolant delivery tubes extending through the annular chamber so as to provide an even circulation of the coolant fluid through the annular chamber and to act as reinforcing strengthening members for the unit. The shock absorber unit is connected in a liquid cooling system separate from the vehicle engine cooling system.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 1993Date of Patent: February 28, 1995Inventor: Jameson M. Drummond
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Patent number: 5393133Abstract: A brake fluid pressure control apparatus has a solenoid valve and/or other fluid pressure control elements in a housing, and the reactive force resulting from the fluid pressure acting on the fluid pressure control elements is carried by a support member fastened to the housing. The support member is a flat plate member. Mounting tabs are formed integrally to and on the same plane as the support member, projecting outwardly from the ends thereof. The mounting tabs are each fastened to the bracket of the vehicle body through a rubber bushing and mounting case. Thus, the structure used to fasten the control apparatus to the vehicle body is simplified and the number of parts required for installation is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1993Date of Patent: February 28, 1995Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Tsuyoshi Fujimoto
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Patent number: 5390770Abstract: A rotation deceleration device used for a sanitary cleaning device which includes a toilet seat and a toilet cover and is attached to a toilet bowl, thereby injecting warm water in the toilet bowl. The rotation deceleration device includes a cylinder having a hydraulic chamber filled with a control oil; a rotation shaft inserted through the cylinder; a control wall radially projected from the rotation shaft to divide the hydraulic chamber into at least two sub chambers; a control valve provided between the control wall and an inner surface of the cylinder. The control valve has a closing wall opposed to a side surface of the control wall so as to be attachable thereto and also has an engaging member opposed to the other side of the control wall so as to be engageable therewith in accordance with the rotation of the rotation shaft. The control valve is formed of a material which has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than that of a material forming the control wall and the cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 1993Date of Patent: February 21, 1995Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd.Inventors: Shinjiro Miyahara, Kazuaki Fujita
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Patent number: 5390995Abstract: A brake pressure control system for braking systems of a vehicle with anti-locking and drive slip control in which there is at least one expansion chamber provided between the wheel brake cylinders and the recirculating pump. The expansion chamber includes an inlet and an outlet on the same end with a piston having a closing mechanism thereon that is spring forced to seat the closing mechanism on a seat at the outlet. The valve seat is reduced in size compared with the piston and the spring is in a chamber which is open to the atmosphere. Due to the valve seat being reduced in relation to the area of the piston located in the expansion chamber, a steep closing force gradient is achieved, since even small pressure differences result in large closing force differences, so that the opening and closing pressures lie close together. Based on this additional closing mechanism, provided on the expansion chamber, the requirement for a separate valve for brake pressure control is no longer required.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1993Date of Patent: February 21, 1995Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Wilhelm Zirps
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Patent number: 5390994Abstract: A simplified and improved hydraulic brake system has at least one valve arrangement for the brake pressure modulation in a wheel brake. Furthermore, a high-pressure pump is provided to return pressure medium from the wheel brake into a main brake cylinder in the case of an anti-lock control operation or to deliver pressure medium from the main brake cylinder into a wheel brake during drive-slip control operation. A shut-off valve with a spring-actuated through-flow position and a shut-off position, which can be selected by the pressure at the main brake cylinder end, is arranged upstream on the suction side of the high-pressure pump. The hydraulic brake system with anti-lock and drive-slip control device is used in motor vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1993Date of Patent: February 21, 1995Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Wolf-Dieter Jonner, Wolfgang Bernhardt, Helmut Pueschel, Guenther Schmidt
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Patent number: 5388676Abstract: The invention is a hydraulic dashpot for motor vehicles. It comprises a shock-absorber cylinder and a shock-absorber piston and piston rod. The cylinder accommodates a shock-absorbing fluid. The piston divides the cylinder into two displacement compartments. The piston is connected to the vehicle's body or wheel mass by a neck-and-collar pivot that comprises two components. The first component is a collar. The second is a neck. The neck is preferably rubber and metal. The electric supply lines to one or more sensors and/or one or more variable valves extend outward and are connected to the connecting lines of the processing-and/or-actuating circuit by a plug-and-socket connection. An outer ring has a bore that corresponds with the inside of the cylinder or with the inside of the piston rod for the electric supply lines to extend through. A groove extends at least part-way around the inner surface of the outer ring and accommodates the electric supply lines.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1993Date of Patent: February 14, 1995Assignee: August Bilstein GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Herrn T. Sasse