Patents Examined by Christopher Schwartz
  • Patent number: 9605726
    Abstract: A shock absorber is disclosed having a secondary dampening assembly for dampening movement of an inner assembly within the shock absorber. The secondary dampening assembly includes a hydraulic stop piston and a hydraulic stop sleeve. The hydraulic stop piston is carried by an extender with a gap defined radially between the hydraulic stop piston and the extender to allow radial movement. The hydraulic stop sleeve has an open end for receiving the hydraulic stop piston and a flow groove that extends longitudinally along an inner surface of the hydraulic stop sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
    Inventors: Frederik Baldoni, Etienne Leruth
  • Patent number: 9605721
    Abstract: A brake pad for a disc brake with decreased wear characteristics is provided. The brake pad is configured with the distribution of brake pad friction material weighted toward the radially outer region of the brake pad, with the lateral sides of the pad material being generally aligned with radial lines originating at the rotation axis of the brake disc of the disc brake. The brake pad friction material distribution results in decreased brake application pressure between the brake pad and the brake disc while obtaining the same braking force provided by a comparable generally rectangular brake pad, resulting in lower brake pad wear at the same braking force levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC
    Inventor: Manouchehr Sabeti
  • Patent number: 9605727
    Abstract: An active engine mount for a vehicle includes an upper body which has a main rubber and an upper liquid chamber, and a lower body which is coupled to a lower portion of the upper body. An orifice circular plate divides an interior of the upper and lower bodies into the upper liquid chamber and a lower liquid chamber inside the upper and lower bodies, and has an orifice through which a fluid flows between the upper and lower liquid chambers. A diaphragm is installed below the orifice circular plate inside the upper and lower bodies, and forms the lower liquid chamber. A semi-active mount is in contact with a central portion of the diaphragm by a plunger inside the lower body, and operates by an electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Seung Won Kim
  • Patent number: 9599156
    Abstract: A sleeve bearing for being received in an outer sleeve includes an inner part which extends in the axial direction, a bearing body, and a cage which encloses the bearing body circumferentially. The bearing body encloses the inner part, is made from an elastic material, and has at least two chambers. The cage is formed from at least two cage parts, the spacing of which can be varied in the radial direction. A sealed joint area is provided between the cage parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: BOGE ELASTMETALL GMBH, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Volker Ludwig, Stefan Loheide, Thomas Conrad
  • Patent number: 9599182
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for lubricating suspension seals by pumping fluid to the seals using a compression or rebound action of a suspension component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Galasso, David Haugen
  • Patent number: 9592802
    Abstract: A brake control system of a vehicle, including a first electric motor, a second electric motor, a first piston cylinder and a second piston cylinder. Each piston cylinder includes a hydraulic chamber and a piston, where the position of the piston defines the volume of the hydraulic chamber. The system includes a plurality of wheel cylinders and a hydraulic control unit which includes two sets of electromagnetic valves. Each of electric motors are mechanically connected to the piston of respective piston cylinder via a motion converter that converts rotational motion of the electric motor to linear motion of the piston, thus changing the pressure of the hydraulic chamber. The hydraulic chambers are hydraulically connected with the respective set of the electromagnetic valves, further connecting to corresponding wheel cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Inventors: Weiwen Deng, Nenggen Ding
  • Patent number: 9593828
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing effective damping of first mode vibration for a range of different types of poles is disclosed. According to a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a housing having a horizontal floor with an inward curved surface to form an enclosed chamber and at least one damping weight disposed in the inward curved surface and adapted to freely roll inside the enclosed chamber. Preferably, the apparatus is mounted on the top end of a pole for damping wind-induced first, second or higher mode vibration of the poles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl J. Macchietto, Richard Christenson
  • Patent number: 9593727
    Abstract: A bicycle disc brake rotor having a rotational center axis is provided including an outer portion and an inner portion. The outer portion includes a first member having a first thermal conductivity and a second member having a second thermal conductivity that is higher than the first thermal conductivity. The second member is attached to the first member. The inner portion is disposed radially inwardly from the outer portion with respect to the rotational center axis. The inner portion is a separate member from the first and second members. The inner portion is attached to or contacts the second member of the outer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakakura, Yusuke Hosomi, Ryosuke Yamamoto, Masanori Taniguchi, Toru Iwai
  • Patent number: 9593737
    Abstract: A pneumatic spring strut assembly comprises a cylinder wall defining an interior volume having a working end and a boosting chamber adjacent to the working end, the working end including a first volume of gas and the boosting chamber including a second volume of gas, a piston assembly disposed for reciprocation in the working end of the interior volume, a piston rod having a proximal end secured to the piston and a distal end projecting out of the interior volume, a temperature control valve assembly disposed in the interior volume separating the working end from the boosting chamber and including an engineered portion that is configured to prevent fluid flow between the working end and the boosting chamber while the first volume of gas is present in the working end and to permit fluid flow between the working end and the boosting chamber should the working end be evacuated of the first volume of gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Joel Colombo, Michael P. Balogh
  • Patent number: 9593728
    Abstract: A disk brake piston system having a piston having a metallic outer wall surrounding a central axis, the outer wall being of a material and a thickness which that could be formed by deep drawing; a metallic front wall closing one end of the outer wall, the front wall including a curved area extending toward an interior of the piston, the front wall being of a material and having a thickness that could be formed by deep drawing; and a sleeve positioned at least partially within the piston and configured to interface with an interior side surface of the outer wall such that the sleeve and the piston are restrained from rotating relative to one another around an axis parallel to the central axis, the sleeve comprising a flat or curved internal surface, having a non-circular cross-section, wherein the sleeve comprises a polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Antonio Eduardo DeMorais, Daniel Smith, Sangyong Lim
  • Patent number: 9587686
    Abstract: A disc brake assembly comprises: an anchor bracket having at least one bore formed therein, the bore defining a first axis; a brake caliper slidably secured to the anchor bracket; a pair of brake pads carried by the disc brake assembly; and at least one guide pin adapted to be disposed in the bore of the anchor bracket, the at least one guide pin defining a second axis; wherein when the at least one guide pin is disposed in the at least one bore of the anchor bracket, the second axis of the at least one guide pin is configured to be offset relative to the first axis of the at least one bore such that there is provided at least one defined point of contact between only a portion of a shank portion of the at least one guide pin and a portion of an inner surface of the at least one bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventors: Eduardo Morais, Kraig Gerber, Daniel Smith
  • Patent number: 9587690
    Abstract: A brake disc for providing a braking surface on a rotating body, such as a railway wheel is provided. The brake disc includes a plurality of arcuate segments (126) arranged to form a ring and a plurality of joining elements (38) for connecting the segments to adjacent segments. Each segment includes: an inner side configured to contact a surface of a wheel; an outer side having a braking surface for contacting a braking mechanism; at least one socket (140) on each radial end (142) of the segment (126) for receiving one of the plurality of joining elements (38); and a groove on the inner side of the segment configured to receive a coupling member to form a pivot joint (58) for positioning the segment (126) on the surface of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Wabtec Holding Corp.
    Inventor: Roberto Boffelli
  • Patent number: 9587697
    Abstract: The invention relates to a brake pad (2), comprising a lining carrier (4) and a friction lining (6), which is fastened to the lining carrier (4) by means of at least one bolt (10), wherein the friction lining (6) can be worn down to a wear limit (12). The bolt (10) protrudes into the friction lining (6) to a point below the wear limit (12), such that the at least one bolt (10) remains below a friction surface (6.1) of the friction lining (6), at least if the friction lining (6) has not been worn down completely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: TMD Friction Services GmbH
    Inventors: Maik Schubert, Kai Schmitz
  • Patent number: 9587687
    Abstract: A rotational speed control device maintains a shaft rotation speed. The device includes a housing containing a viscous fluid and a shaft disposed in the housing and rotatable relative to the housing. A rotor is coupled with the shaft for rotation in the viscous fluid. In one arrangement, the rotor is axially displaceable along the shaft between a low-shear position and a high-shear position. A spring mechanism is disposed in the housing and biases the rotor toward the low-shear position. In another arrangement, the rotor may be designed to cooperate with the housing or other nonrotating features within the housing to vary a shear gap according to radially expanding components of the rotor. The rotor, housing and spring mechanism can be designed to cooperate to create large changes in braking torque in response to small changes in shaft rotational speed. This allows the rotation speed to be controlled within a relatively narrow range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: NELSON IRRIGATION CORPORATION
    Inventors: George L. Sesser, Lee A. Perkins, Craig B. Nelson, Riley D. Greenwood
  • Patent number: 9586566
    Abstract: In a method for actuating a hydraulic braking system, a hydraulic fluid is temporarily stored in a storage chamber when the antilocking system is activated and recirculated back into the brake circuit with the aid of a recirculation pump. The target pump speed of the recirculation pump depends on the degree of filling of the storage chamber with hydraulic fluid and in addition on the control frequency of the antilocking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Florian Kurz, Michael Bunk, Thomas Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9581211
    Abstract: One variation includes a friction material and method of manufacture thereof wherein the friction material includes a transfer layer on a ferritically nitrocarburized component, wherein the transfer layer may be fabricated from glass, rubber, carbon, aramid fiber, filler material, abrasive, or a high-temperature resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael L. Holly, David B. Antanaitis, Richard A. Kaatz, Mark T. Riefe, Cara L. Learman
  • Patent number: 9581254
    Abstract: A pressure regulator configured to regulate a working fluid by a pilot pressure, including: a spool valve mechanism having a spool; a biasing mechanism having a pilot-pressure chamber and a pilot piston, the biasing mechanism being configured to bias the spool toward the other end of the pressure regulator in its axial direction by a pressure of the working fluid in the pilot-pressure chamber; a counter biasing mechanism having a regulated-pressure chamber and a counter biasing piston, the counter biasing mechanism being configured to bias the spool toward one end of the pressure regulator in the axial direction by a pressure of the working fluid in the regulated-pressure chamber; and at least one of a first damping mechanism configured to damp a movement of the pilot piston and a second damping mechanism configured to damp a movement of the counter biasing piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Isono
  • Patent number: 9574629
    Abstract: A brake rotor for attachment to a wheel of a vehicle may include an inner friction member and an outer friction member. The brake rotor may further include a plurality of posts connecting the inner friction member to the outer friction member, each post inclining at an angle between the inner friction member and the outer friction member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Fernando Octavio Torres Gutierrez, Juan Carlos Martinez Laurent
  • Patent number: 9574634
    Abstract: A damper includes a cylinder, cores and covers. The cylinder includes eccentric bores each confined in a wall formed with a thick portion and a thin portion located opposite to the thick portion. The thick portions of the eccentric bores are located on different sides of the cylinder. Each core is inserted in a corresponding eccentric bore. The covers close the eccentric bores to keep the cores in the eccentric bores. The cores are made with a volume smaller than that of the eccentric bores. The cores are separated from each other. The cores exert forces on the walls of the eccentric bores because of inertia to alleviate vibration of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: MONKULA ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kuo-Chi Lin
  • Patent number: 9573649
    Abstract: A suspension unit for a front fork of a vehicle includes an annular tube. The first tube defines a compression chamber and a damping chamber. A damper includes a first valve allowing gas to variably flow from the compression chamber to the damping chamber and a second valve allowing gas to flow from the damping chamber to the compression chamber. An external adjuster allows a rider to adjust the first valve to improve ride conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Eko Sport, Inc.
    Inventor: Darek C. Barefoot