Patents Examined by Douglas C. Butler
  • Patent number: 6685279
    Abstract: A brake control system includes an ECU constructed to carry out pressure-increase assist control for restraining the opening of an OUT-side gate valve and opening inlet valves during a predetermined time when active brake control is switched from the state that it is effective for only one wheel cylinder to the state that it is effective for only another wheel cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Unisia Automotive, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kotaro Koyama
  • Patent number: 6684983
    Abstract: A brake adjustment mechanism maintains a brake actuating piston (17) stroke within a preferred range compensating for brake wear by repositioning the piston along a deformable adjustment tube (33). The tube is deformed when excessive piston travel draws the tube along a tube expanding member (51). Adjustment mechanism stresses are minimized by insuring the annular regions of contact between the outer surface (59) of the expanding member (51) and the tube (33) as well as between the inner surface (57) of the expanding member (51) and an expanding member retaining groove (55) in a cantilevered pin (49) are smooth lacking both sharp corners and flat regions. The expanding member (typically a split ring) engaging the deformable tube along an annular surface (59) of the tube and also engages the annular groove along an annular surface (55) of the pin groove. Normals (63) to the deformable tube surface are more nearly orthogonal to the pin axis (43) than normals (61) to the pin groove annular surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph J. Pajot
  • Patent number: 6681900
    Abstract: An electric brake actuator for actuating a brake arrangement. The actuator includes an electric drive unit (15, 15′) and a load multiplier (17). the electric drive unit (15, 15′) is in cable connection through a first cable unit (16, 16′) with the load multiplier and the load multiplier (17) is arranged for cable connection through a second cable unit (19) with the brake arrangement. Whereby the electric drive unit (15, 15′) is operable to apply a load to the load multiplier (17) through the first cable unit (16, 16′) and the load multiplier (17) is operable to multiply the load for application to the brake arrangement through the second cable unit (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: PBR Australia Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Nui Wang
  • Patent number: 6681905
    Abstract: A magnetorheological fluid actuated damper. At least a first and a second cylinder with the first cylinder positioned axially within the second cylinder are provided. A gap is formed between the cylinders. The second cylinder is mounted to a stationary mount of the vehicle chassis and a control arm is mounted at an end of the first cylinder. The first cylinder is mounted on bearings to allow it to rotate relative to the chassis. The gap between the cylinders contains a magnetorheological fluid having an adjustable viscosity in reaction to the application of a magnetic field. A magnetic field is generated over the fluid in the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy R. Edmondson, Joshua D. Coombs, Carlos F. Osorio
  • Patent number: 6682153
    Abstract: By a method for detecting an output-stuck fault of a car body acceleration sensor, an absolute value of a relative difference between the logical car body acceleration operated on the basis of a wheel speed and the physical car body acceleration output from a car body acceleration sensor is obtained, and the obtained absolute value of the relative difference is compared with a first rated value. When the absolute value of the relative difference exceeds the first rated value, a fail counter is made to start to count up at that point of time. When a counted value of the fail counter exceeds one second during the absolute value of the relative difference is exceeding the first rated value, the difference of the maximum value and the minimum value of the physical car body acceleration during the period is compared with a second rated value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Bosch Automotive Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Okai
  • Patent number: 6679569
    Abstract: In a method and a device for controlling a brake system, the wheel brake pressure is set at the wheel brakes electrically as a function of the driver's braking input. The high-pressure supply arrangement for pressure buildup, for which at least one pump and one accumulator are provided, is monitored by comparing the change in accumulator pressure to a least one permissible limiting value. In the case of a fault in the pressure supply, it is made possible for the driver to grip through hydraulically to the wheel brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Günther Schmidt, Jürgen Binder, Hermann Winner, Ulrich Gottwick
  • Patent number: 6679357
    Abstract: A brake drum includes a plurality of ribs formed on an outer surface with each rib extending about the circumference of the drum. Recesses are formed between the ribs that also extend about the circumference of the drum. Wedges are secured between the ribs, within the recesses, to direct air flow away from the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Scott Jenkinson
  • Patent number: 6672434
    Abstract: A method and a device for influencing the transfer of vibrations of a vibration generator to an object connected to it, in particular of engine vibrations to the body of a motor vehicle. At least one piezo element is arranged as an actuator in the region of an intermediate element connecting the vibration generator to the object. Primary vibrations are transferred between the vibration generator and the object via the intermediate element. The actuator is induced in a controlled manner to undergo secondary vibrations. The total energy and/or the composition of the frequencies of the vibrations transferred via the intermediate element are changed by the actuator, and the remaining residual vibration is measured and used for controlling the secondary vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Juergen Schnur, Silvia Tomaschko
  • Patent number: 6668987
    Abstract: A shock absorber for a motor vehicle includes a compression valve having one or more deflectable discs mounted on the piston on the rebound chamber side. It also includes a rebound stroke valve having one or more deflectable discs mounted on the piston on the compression chamber side. The deflectable discs of the compression stroke valve have fluid flow apertures aligned with the rebound flow passage. The compression stroke valve also has an annular stop member and an annular orientation disc positioned between the stop member and the deflectable discs on the side of the deflectable discs remote from the piston. The stop member and the orientation disc have fluid flow apertures aligned with fluid flow apertures in the deflectable discs. An orientation disc has a pin folded therefrom and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the pin extending through corresponding apertures formed in the deflectable discs into a corresponding slot formed in the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Bataille, Louis Sinbandhit
  • Patent number: 6669180
    Abstract: The gas-hydraulic shock absorber assembly comprises a sleeve member and a ram member movable relative to the sleeve member. In the interior of the ram member, a gas chamber is provided that is pressurized by means of a gas. In the interior of the sleeve member, an oil chamber is provided that is filled with a hydraulic medium and which decreases in volume the more the ram member is moved relative to the sleeve member. Between the two chambers, a gas-hydraulic control assembly is provided. Upstream of the control assembly, there is a bleeding assembly, comprising a transfer channel opening into a portion of the oil chamber remote from the control assembly. Further provided is a bleeding channel, opening into an upper portion of the oil chamber and connecting the transfer channel to the control assembly when the shock absorber assembly is at rest. The bleeding assembly comprises several channels connecting the oil chamber to the control assembly and comprising each a V-shaped valve flap to close the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Schwab Verkehrstechnik AG
    Inventor: Otto Ziegler
  • Patent number: 6669181
    Abstract: The vibration isolating apparatus includes, an outer tube, an inner tube disposed at an inner peripheral side of the outer tube, an elastic body disposed between the outer tube and the inner tube, a main fluid chamber which contains a fluid with the elastic body serving as a portion of a partitioning wall of the main fluid chamber and whose internal volume changes due to deformation of the elastic body, a first auxiliary fluid chamber which contains a fluid and a portion of a partitioning wall of the first auxiliary fluid chamber is formed by a diaphragm so as to expand and contract a space between the first auxiliary fluid chamber and the outer tube, a first passage which communicates the main fluid chamber and the first auxiliary fluid chamber, and a second passage which communicates the main fluid chamber and the first auxiliary fluid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignees: Bridgestone Corporation, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Someya, Shigeki Okai
  • Patent number: 6666305
    Abstract: The invention relates to a brake application device for a motor vehicle brake, in particular to a brake application device for a rail vehicle brake and preferably to a brake application device for a rail vehicle disc brake, comprising a braking force generator for applying and/or releasing the vehicle brake and a braking force converter for converting the energy delivered by the braking force generator into a brake application motion. The brake application device is characterised in that the braking force converter is configured in such a way that the force which is to be exerted by the braking force generator during braking, in order to generate a defined brake application force which is greater than zero and less than the maximum brake force, measures zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fur Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Vohla
  • Patent number: 6666304
    Abstract: A bicycle disk brake system includes two linings located on two sides of a brake disk and an arm is fixed to a bicycle frame. Two adjusting rods are fixed to the arm and two mounting pieces made of flexible material are mounted to the two respective shanks of the two adjusting rods. A clamp portion is defined around the hole of each mounting piece and the two shanks are clamped by the clamp portions. Two spring portions extend from each of the mounting pieces and two extensions extend from the two spring portions so as to be fixed to a frame through which the two shanks extend. The frame is shifted by the spring portions and the clamp portion when braking so as to adjust the gaps of the linings and the brake disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Inventor: Tan-Cheng Huang
  • Patent number: 6666310
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fiber-reinforced ceramic body and a method for producing same. The ceramic body consists of a core and a boundary layer (93, 94) which is joined to the core and has at least one outer surface (96, 97) which can preferably be subjected to tribological stress. The core consists of one or more layers (92) of which at least one is reinforced with long fibers. The boundary layer (93, 94) is reinforced with short fibers. The fibers are preferably reaction-bonded in a matrix by melt infiltration and are made of high-temperature resistant fibers with covalent bonds on the basis of silicon, carbon, boron or nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Universitat Stuttgart, Institut fur Fertigungstechnologie Kermaischer Bautelle
    Inventors: Karl Berreth, Marcus Speicher, Rainer Gadow
  • Patent number: 6666303
    Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly is provided which can suppress brake judder. A film is disposed between the brake rotor-mounting surface of the wheel mounting flange and an abutment surface of a brake rotor to fill a gap therebetween to suppress the deformation of the brake rotor. Also, by concentrating the contact force between the wheel-mounting flange and the brake rotor when a disc wheel of the wheel is tightened to the hub bolts to a portion near the hub bolts, the contact between the wheel-mounting flange and the brake rotor on the surfaces between the hub bolts is suppressed so that undulation of the flat surfaces between the hub bolts will not cause deformation of the brake rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Torii, Shigeaki Fukushima, Eiji Tajima
  • Patent number: 6663088
    Abstract: A gas spring and a method for filling a gas chamber of a gas spring does not require the use of a gas filling valve. Gas spring (5) includes a rod member (20), a cylinder main body (21), a gas filling chamber (22), first and second sealing members (23, 24), a plurality of pin members (25), and a plurality of slots (26). A gas filling implement (30) makes it possible to fill the gas filling chamber (22) with compressed gas in a simple and reliable manner without providing the gas spring (5) with a gas filling valve having a nonreturn valve. Consequently, the entire gas spring (5) is configured symmetrically about the axial center of the rod member (20), and its center of gravity is aligned with the axial center of the rod member (20), making it possible to prevent the gas spring (5) from inducing vibrations in the main shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Pascal Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Kimura
  • Patent number: 6663197
    Abstract: A vehicle brake system (10) is provided which compensates for brake pedal feel variation so as to provide for enhanced braking feel to the vehicle operator. The brake system (10) includes a brake command input (10), an accelerometer (22) for sensing longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, and friction brakes (26) and regenerative brakes (29) for generating braking force to be applied to brakes on the vehicle. The vehicle brake system (10) further includes a controller (12) for detecting a brake torque variation as a function of the sensed acceleration and the brake demand signal. The controllers (12) further adjusts a torque command signal to adjust the amount of braking torque generated by the brakes (26) so as to compensate for brake torque variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John Patrick Joyce
  • Patent number: 6662914
    Abstract: A hydraulic dashpot with a cylinder (1) full of shock-absorbing fluid, with a piston (3) mounted on the end of piston rod (2), traveling back and forth inside the cylinder, separating the cylinder into two compartments (4 & 5), and provided with ports and shock-absorption valves, and with a variable bypass system accommodated in an axial bore (13) in the piston rod provided with lateral radial openings (11 & 26) extending through the rod. The object is to allow fixed independent establishment of the cross-section of the bypass system available for the fluid to flow through as the piston rod travels in the direction associated with the suction phase and of the cross-section of the bypass system available for the fluid to flow through as the piston rod travels in the direction associated with the compression phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Krupp Bilstein GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Hönig, Walter Wirtz, Marcello Di Fina
  • Patent number: 6659242
    Abstract: In a hydraulic shock absorber in which a piston is slidably in contact with an inner periphery of an inner tube, a cross sectional area S1 of an annular oil chamber which is sectioned by an inner periphery of an outer tube and an outer periphery of the inner tube is formed larger than a cross sectional area of a piston rod. A check valve which inhibits a flow from an oil chamber to an oil storage chamber at a time of an expansion side stroke is provided in a partition member which is provided in an inner periphery of the inner tube, and a micro flow passage which communicates the oil chamber with the oil storage chamber is provided in the partition member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Nagai
  • Patent number: 6659238
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electromagnetic brake. In an electromagnetic brake (11) comprising an electromagnetic brake body (13) having yoke members (15a and 15b) with a coil winding (14) and a brake movable member (16) formed of a magnetic material, which is disposed via an air gap (18) in a magnetic path formed by the electromagnetic brake body (13) and is fixed to a motor rotating shaft (2b), a magnetic fluid (20)is filled in the air gap (18), and a sealing member (19) for rotatably sealing the motor rotating shaft (2b) is disposed between the electromagnetic brake body (13) and the motor rotating shaft (2b) to prevent the magnetic fluid (20) from leaking, whereby the electromagnetic brake (11)is applied when the coil winding (14) is excited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Oriental Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Saito, Masami Nakano