Patents Examined by G. Graham
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Patent number: 5971499Abstract: An improved hydraulic brake system accommodates multiple, e.g. primary and secondary actuation forces while maintaining independence of operation between primary and secondary brake subsystems. A secondary subsystem line pressure booster draws its charging fluid from the primary system line using a split piston, free backflow, volume displacement approach. The improved brake system has a temperature sensitive condition sensing hydromechanical fuze to sense hydraulic line flow for velocity, volume, direction and pressure. The brake system also employs an input flow control valve to direct fluid flow in the secondary subsystem.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 1997Date of Patent: October 26, 1999Assignee: Robert G. StuttgenInventors: Steven G. Pape, Robert G. Stuttgen
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Patent number: 5582469Abstract: The invention relates to a valve unit with at least one pair of coaxial valves located opposite one another. According to the invention, a valve element common to both valves is designed as a one-piece sleeve-shaped valve element which is mounted fixedly in a bore of a valve housing and which, on each of its two end faces, has a respective valve seat for cooperation with the movable valve body of the respective associated valve.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1995Date of Patent: December 10, 1996Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Zechmann Jurgen
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Patent number: 5353466Abstract: A rearview mirror wiper system for use on a truck, bus, passenger car or similar vehicles. The basic system can be supplied as original equipment on a vehicle or as a replacement for a wiperless original equipment rearview mirror. The wiper system fits in any number of aesthetically pleasing enclosures that are harmonious with the overall vehicle design. It is further characterized by a low profile vertically oriented armless wiper assembly that wipes from side to side, an electric power control that regularly reverses polarity, and an assembly of pulleys and a cable that imparts motion to a wiper blade. At each end of the wiper blade's range of travel is a switch that cuts off electric power until the power control changes polarity. If two rearview mirror wipers are installed on one vehicle, a common power control assures the left and right wiper motions are synchronized.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 1992Date of Patent: October 11, 1994Inventors: Darrel L. Smith, Donnie Knight
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Patent number: 5332068Abstract: A shock absorber which is inertia responsive in both compression and extension strokes to provide rapid flow in either direction responsive to rapid large changes in loading as caused by a bump or dip. The inertia responsive valving is located in the piston or the piston rod or both affording simple shock absorber body design and simple cooling. The inertia responsive valving members are longitudinally slidable and of substantially uniform cross section so as to be substantially immune to acceleration forces due to turns and are substantially insensitive to pressure changes.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 1993Date of Patent: July 26, 1994Assignee: Richardson Technologies, Ltd.Inventors: Donald G. Richardson, J. Guy Cazort
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Patent number: 5219213Abstract: A vehicle braking system is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the system has an actuator frame with a bore fluidly connected to the wheel brake and to a master cylinder. A piston, mounted within the bore, is operationally associated with a non-rotative nut which is threadably engaged by a power screw. To maximize reaction speed, a high efficiency thread is utilized between the power screw and the non-rotative nut. Therefore, pressure within the actuator can backdrive the piston. To prevent backdriving of the piston, there is a spring locking mechanism. The spring locking mechanism has a driver, a driven member and a coil spring with an inward-directed tang at its end. The tang is nested within a generally radial bore of a tab of the driven member.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 1991Date of Patent: June 15, 1993Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Michael F. Matouka, William Pangos
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Patent number: 5065869Abstract: A vibration damping device includes first and second accelerometers which are used to determine the relative displacement between a body and a base between which the device is operatively connected. The output of one of the accelerometers is also monitored in a manner to determine the frequency of the vibration. This data is processed in a manner to ascertain the timing when the phases of a vertical spring input (produced by the compression of an elastomeric member which defines the main spring of the damper) and an expansion spring input (produced the displacement of rheopetic fluid between first and second variable volume chamber and the associated expansion characeristics of the members defining the same) are reversed. Using this data and the vibration frequency data the timing with which a voltage should be applied to electrodes disposed in an orifice interposed between the first and second chambers to increase the viscosity of the rheopetic fluid and increase the flow resistance of the orifice.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 1988Date of Patent: November 19, 1991Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuhiro Doi, Yasuhiko Fujiwara, Toshiro Abe, Shinichi Matsui
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Patent number: 5033798Abstract: A brake control system/method for preventing or minimizing trailer-swing (FIG. 6) in an articulated vehicle (10) is provided. The control system/method senses or calculates values indicative of articulation angle (AA) and time derivatives thereof (dAA/dt,d.sup.2 AA/dt.sup.2) and processes same to sense conditions indicative of an incipient or initial trailer brake induced trailer-swing event. An incipient or initial trailer brake induced trailer swing is sensed when the vehicle brakes are applied, the absolute value of articulation angle exceeds the absolute value of a reference value, the time derivative of articulation angle is in an opposite direction from articulation angle and/or the absolute value of one of the time derivatives of articulation angle exceeds the absolute value of a reference.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1989Date of Patent: July 23, 1991Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventor: Michael T. Breen
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Patent number: 5022113Abstract: A side mounted wiper uses independently pivoted pairs of longer and shorter support beams that are specially designed to operate within shared horizontal and vertical space, thus providing even blade support and pressure distribution within a compact height and area.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1990Date of Patent: June 11, 1991Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventor: Thadius F. Jozefczak
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Patent number: 4971449Abstract: A drum type agitating and mixing machine for treating garments or fabric in liquid such as in washing or dyeing wherein a rotatable drum partially submerged in liquid along one side includes inwardly projecting hollow ribs arranged to contain air when the rib is outside the liquid in the machine. Each rib defines a pumping chamber having an inlet opening arrangement for liquid and an outlet arrangement for air trapped within the rib and the liquid that fills the rib so that liquid enters each rib from at one area of the rib and pumps air trapped within the rib out through an outlet arrangement which is axially spaced from the inlet. Flow of air out the outlet openings is slower than inflow of liquid into the chamber. Liquid contained within the rib drains therefrom through the outlet openings as each rib moves over the surface of liquid in the drum and is inverted.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1989Date of Patent: November 20, 1990Assignee: American Laundry Machinery Inc.Inventor: Charles W. Hendren
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Patent number: 4970752Abstract: The present invention is concerned with retractable windshield wiper installations for vehicle, having a foldable wiper arm.The installation according to the invention includes a wiper arm comprising a blade carrier and a support arm, in which the blade carrier is moveable between a deployed position and a position in which it is folded back against the support arm. The wiper arm is driven in rotation by a drive spindle mounted on a support plate. A deployment mechanism is actuated by a deployment motor so as to move the blade carrier from its folded back position to its deployed position and vice versa. The deployment motor is fixed on the support plate so that it is not driven in rotation by the drive spindle. In this way, the inertia of the assembly which is driven in rotation during the wiping operation is very much reduced by comparison with installations in which the deployment motor is carried by the blade carrier support arm.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 1990Date of Patent: November 20, 1990Assignee: Valeo Systemes d'EssuyageInventor: Jean-Pierre Eustache
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Patent number: 4966201Abstract: A transfer tube is produced comprised of a high density ceramic oxide tube having a low density multi-layered ceramic oxide shell directly bonded to its outer surface wall.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1989Date of Patent: October 30, 1990Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Paul S. Svec, Marcus P. Borom, Lawrence E. Szala, Milivoj K. Brun, Steven A. Miller, David P. Mourer
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Patent number: 4956889Abstract: An improved hand held drain cleaning apparatus is disclosed which is of the type employing a flexible snake which is rotated and inserted into a waste line to remove blockage. The apparatus includes a housing in which the sanke is coiled and a guide tube extending from the housing and through which the snake passes for insertion into a waste line. A manually actuated sleeve assembly is provided on the guide for displacing resilient spring finger clamping elements into engagement with the snake to hold the snake against axial displacement relative to the housing during insertion and/or removal of the snake from the waste line and to clamp the snake against rotation relative to the guide tube and the housing during the drain cleaning operation.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 1989Date of Patent: September 18, 1990Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.Inventor: Karl L. Kirk
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Patent number: 4947504Abstract: An improved sponge mop includes a wringing mechanism for squeezing water from a sponge. The sponge extends several inches beyond the perimeter of the wringing mechanism to reach into a toespace without damaging the overhanging cupboard, cabinet, or other furniture item. The sponge has bevels on the ends thereof that facilitate cleaning corners within the toespace. The sponge is in two layers with a reinforcement plate sandwiched therebetween. The reinforcement plate enables water to be squeezed from the extended sponge ends when the sponge is folded against itself for wringing.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 1989Date of Patent: August 14, 1990Inventor: Judith D. Ostwald
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Patent number: 4937907Abstract: A cleaning plug assembly for cleaning condenser and heat exchanger tubes and the like is disclosed. The plug is adapted to be propelled through a tube by fluid pressure injected into the tube, and includes an elongated body supporting annular rings extending radially outwardly for contacting the inner surface of a tube. The rings are selectively removable from the body of the plug and are formed to circumferentially contract and expand within the tube to be cleaned. The rings are secured against free rotation on the plug body by projections formed in circumferential grooves formed on the body for receiving the rings. The projections are sized to allow contraction of the rings.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 1989Date of Patent: July 3, 1990Inventor: Michael P. Antal