Patents Examined by Melody M. Burch
  • Patent number: 10967841
    Abstract: A brake fluid pressure control system for a vehicle is provided with: a master cylinder activated by the operation of a brake pedal; a motor cylinder device that generates brake hydraulic pressure in response to an operation amount of the brake pedal; first brake fluid flow lines that allow the master cylinder to communicate with wheel cylinders; two-position three-way valves arranged at connection points between the first brake fluid lines and second brake fluid lines. The two-position three-way valves switch between a state in which the master cylinder communicates with the wheel cylinder and a state in which the motor cylinder device communicates with the wheel cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Autoliv Nissin Brake Systems Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Komaba, Hiroaki Tokoi, Kouji Sakai
  • Patent number: 10967932
    Abstract: A hydraulic operating device for a small vehicle including a bicycle is basically provided with a base member, an operating member, a piston, a handlebar fixing structure and a hydraulic reservoir tank. The base member includes a cylinder having a cylinder bore. The operating member is pivots about a pivot axis to move the piston within the cylinder bore. The handlebar fixing structure defines a handlebar arrangement area. The hydraulic reservoir tank has a hydraulic fluid chamber fluidly connected to the cylinder bore. The cylinder defines a hydraulic pressure chamber with a space between the piston and a fluid outlet port of the cylinder. The hydraulic reservoir tank is partially disposed on a first side of the handlebar fixing structure while the hydraulic pressure chamber is disposed on a second side of the handlebar fixing structure as view in the pivot axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Mototsugu Nakai, Kohei Obuchi, Natsuki Noma
  • Patent number: 10962080
    Abstract: The actuator comprises a cylinder and a rod. The cylinder comprises an inner cylindrical tube and an outer cylindrical tube which extend coaxially to each other along a longitudinal axis (z). The inner cylindrical tube accommodates a plunger which is rigidly connected to the rod and separates an inner volume of the inner cylindrical tube into a compression chamber and an extension chamber, wherein at least the compression chamber contains oil. The inner cylindrical tube and the outer cylindrical tube enclose with each other a reservoir chamber which is permanently in fluid communication with the extension chamber via at least one first passage provided in the inner cylindrical tube and contains a pressurized gas in a first portion thereof and oil in a remaining portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: SISTEMI SOSPENSIONI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Walter Bruno, Piero Antonio Conti, Giordano Greco, Massimo Seminara, Matteo Vergani
  • Patent number: 10953860
    Abstract: In a solenoid valve for a hydraulic braking system, a mechanical locking device is formed between a guide assembly and a valve armature or tappet. The mechanical locking device releases the valve armature or the tappet in a currentless closed position such that the restoring spring drives the valve armature and presses the closing element into the valve seat to seal and fastens the valve armature or the tappet in a currentless open position against the force of the restoring spring in an axial locking position such that the closing element lifts from the valve seat. The valve armature includes a main-stage armature having a first surface to which pressure is applied and a preliminary-stage armature having a smaller, second surface to which pressure is applied. The preliminary-stage armature is mounted axially movably in the main-stage armature and interacts with a preliminary-stage seat by means of a preliminary-stage closing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wolf Stahr, Pascal Godbillon, Massimiliano Ambrosi, Michael Eisenlauer, Edgar Kurz, Dietmar Kratzer
  • Patent number: 10953499
    Abstract: A brake system component axle mount for a vehicle axle/suspension system includes an axle having at least one depression formed therein. A sleeve is formed with at least one depression and disposed about the axle so that the axle depression and the sleeve depression matingly engage one another to form a mated pair of depressions. A brake mount assembly is rigidly attached to the sleeve. A method of forming the brake system component axle mount includes providing an axle and disposing a sleeve about the axle. At least one mated pair of depressions is simultaneously formed in the axle and the sleeve. A brake mount assembly is rigidly attached to the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Hendrickson USA, L.L.C.
    Inventors: R. Scott Fulton, Andrew J. Westnedge, Dmitriy E. Rubalskiy, Michael J. Keeler, Phillippi R. Pierce
  • Patent number: 10940844
    Abstract: The vehicular brake device includes a determination unit, a ratio setting unit, and the control unit. The determination unit determines the operating condition of a vehicular brake device. The ratio setting unit sets, on the basis of the result of determination by the determination unit, a first ratio which is the ratio of a wheel pressure generated by a piston drive unit to a target wheel pressure, and a second ratio which is the ratio of a wheel pressure generated by a hydraulic pressure adjusting unit to the target wheel pressure. The control unit controls the piston drive unit and the hydraulic pressure adjusting unit on the basis of the first ratio and the second ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsushi Kobayashi, Takayuki Yamamoto, Yasuhito Ishida
  • Patent number: 10935093
    Abstract: In some examples, a brake cooling system including a brake assembly including at least one brake pad configured to deaccelerate the vehicle during an active braking procedure, a controller configured to monitor a temperature of the at least one brake pad, an onboard inert gas generation system (OBIGGS) configured to receive air and produce a nitrogen enriched air (NEA), a NEA supply conduit connected to the OBIGGS and configured to deliver the NEA from the OBIGGS to the brake assembly, and a NEA control valve coupled to the NEA supply conduit. The controller, in response to detecting the temperature of the at least one brake pad exceeds a threshold value during the active braking procedure, operates the NEA control valve to control the flow of the NEA passing through the NEA supply conduit and delivered to the at least one brake pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Somashekhar M Maheswarappa Hosamane, Sudheendra Karkada Nagesha, Deepak Kumar Jagadeesan, Vadiraja Krishna Upadya, Karthik Sanga
  • Patent number: 10933845
    Abstract: Some embodiments relate to apparatus for enhancing vehicle performance along an inclined surface. The apparatus can include a brake modulator that is controllable to reduce or limit the vehicle speed. A controller can control the brake modulator to selectively operate in a hill start assist mode. In the hill start assist mode, the controller can control the brake modulator to hold the vehicle stationary after the vehicle is initially stopped while traveling along the inclined surface, until an acceleration input member is manually operated to control a power source to propel the vehicle. The controller can control the brake modulator to release fluid pressure at the friction members at a pressure release rate that is based on a current position of the acceleration input member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Matthew J. Alexander
  • Patent number: 10933983
    Abstract: A torque link assembly for a shock strut includes an upper torque link that is selectively retained in a stowed position when uncoupled from a lower torque link. The upper torque link includes first and second coaxial lugs that rotatably couple the upper torque link to an alignment feature. A latch mechanism includes a latch fitting rotatably coupled to either the upper torque link or the alignment feature. The latch mechanism further includes a stop fitting fixedly coupled to the other of the upper torque link and the alignment feature. The latch fitting engages the stop fitting to maintain the upper torque link in the stowed position. At least one of the latch fitting and stop fitting is positioned between the first and second lugs of the upper torque link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Safran Landing Systems Canada Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Dubrovsky, Peter Yu, Chris Bryant
  • Patent number: 10919507
    Abstract: A pedal-force simulator device is described as having a housing in which an actuable pressure plunger is mounted in an axially displaceable manner, and having at least two coil springs, which are disposed parallel to one another between an end face of the pressure plunger and an axial stop of the housing. It is provided that at least one disk spring is interposed between the coil springs and the axial stop and/or between the coil springs and the pressure plunger in each case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Chris Anderson, Juergen Vogg, Matthias Kistner, Raynald Sprocq, Simon Hansmann
  • Patent number: 10913435
    Abstract: A braking system includes a brake actuator, a control valve, a control assembly, at least one pressure sensor, and at least one flow sensor. The control valve is disposed to direct hydraulic fluid to the brake actuator at a rate corresponding to a magnitude of a control signal. The at least one flow sensor and the at least one pressure sensor, in communication with the control assembly, are disposed between the control valve and the brake actuator and configured to measure a respective flow rate and pressure of the hydraulic fluid to the brake actuator. The control assembly is configured to ramp the control signal from a first signal level to a second signal level at a predetermined rate of change. The control assembly is configured to determine a flow-based position of the brake actuator based on the flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Naison E. Mastrocola, Tyler Arsenault
  • Patent number: 10900537
    Abstract: A vibration isolator assembly includes a bellows component, a piston component, a shaft component, and a housing component, wherein at least one of the bellows component, the piston component, the shaft component, and the housing component is formed using additive manufacturing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Donald G. Godfrey, Brian Cottrell, Mark C. Morris, Zach Rogers
  • Patent number: 10903715
    Abstract: An assembly that includes a main housing. A motor is supported in a motor housing that is supported in the main housing. The motor has an output shaft and a locking mechanism. The motor is adapted to generate a first rotational direction torque and a second rotational direction torque. The motor is adapted to transfer the first rotational direction torque and the second rotational direction torque to a destination via the output shaft. The locking mechanism is adapted to prevent the output shaft from back driving in the second rotational direction after the first rotational direction torque has been transferred to the destination. The motor housing is adapted to rotate in the main housing to unlock the locking mechanism so that the second rotational direction torque can be transferred to the destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: AKEBONO BRAKE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Galus Chelaidite, Brian Lewis Boyle, Carla Thomas
  • Patent number: 10890225
    Abstract: The vehicle brake actuator which includes a screw, a tapped inner casing in mesh with the screw by means of an irreversible connection, an electric motor controlling movement of the screw in relation to the inner casing or of the inner casing in relation to the screw so that said movement actuates a braking element, threaded inner rollers, the inner rollers each being in mesh firstly with the screw and secondly with the inner casing by means of at least one thread, a tapped outer casing, and outer rollers each in mesh firstly with the inner casing and secondly with the outer casing, the outer rollers having at least one thread oriented in the opposite direction to a thread of the inner casing and in the same direction as a thread of the outer casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: CHASSIS BRAKES INTERNATIONAL B.V.
    Inventors: Thierry Pasquet, Philippe Telega
  • Patent number: 10876585
    Abstract: Embodiments of a parking brake and anti-theft apparatus for a vented disc brake system are described herein. Such embodiments may include a brake assembly, an actuator and a rocker or a locking arm. The brake assembly by include a first and second rotor plates separated by spacers and slots. The rocker and locking arm may include pawls extending from an edge, and may be positioned adjacent to a circumference of the rotor plates, aligned between the rotor plates. The actuator may move the rocker and/or locking arm between locked an unlocked positions such that, in the locked configuration, the pawls are inserted into the slots, and in the unlocked configuration, the pawls are disposed outside the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Stephen R. Hall, Jason Simpson, Joe Fox, Jedediah Knight
  • Patent number: 10830298
    Abstract: A brake disc for motor-vehicle disc brakes, includes a body with a hub and two opposite annular planar faces, wherein at least one of these faces is formed with one or more lines defining a surface irregularity, in the form of grooves or ribs, which extend between a radially inner edge and a radially outer edge of the respective face, so as to substantially cover the entire radial extension of the face. A height of the surface irregularity along said lines is less than 0.30 mm, so that during use, the lines defining the surface irregularity disappear, due to wear of the respective face, after an initial fraction of the life of the brake disc. During this initial stage, the lines defining the surface irregularity reduce the time necessary to obtain a bedding of the disc brake with respect to a case of a brake disc devoid of the lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: FCA Italy S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renato Badino, Stefano Luca
  • Patent number: 10801570
    Abstract: A sensor device for detecting brake pad and brake disc wear of a disc brake, in particular for a motor vehicle, includes a sensor device and a transmission unit. The sensor device has at least one transducer and at least one sensor transmission having at least one transmission input and is connected to a transducer. The transmission unit is connected to the transmission input and is designed to be connected to a threaded spindle of the disc brake to be associated therewith in order to transmit a wear-related rotary movement. The transmission unit has a drive sleeve for co-rotational connection to the threaded spindle, an output sleeve which is connected to the drive sleeve, at least one spring element and a driver for co-rotational connection to the transmission input, which is connected to the output sleeve for co-rotation therewith. A disc brake includes such a sensor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Staahl, Michael Blessing
  • Patent number: 10801564
    Abstract: A disk brake actuated preferably by compressed air, for a motor vehicle, includes an application mechanism. The application mechanism has a brake rotary lever which acts on a traverse in which there is arranged at least one readjusting spindle which acts on an application-side brake pad, having a readjusting device, and having a quick contact apparatus. The quick contact apparatus effects an advancing movement which is superposed on an actuation of the disk brake during the phase of overcoming an air gap. The quick contact apparatus has an intermediate element which is variable in terms of its position and which has at least a wedge-shaped design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Baumgartner
  • Patent number: 10787157
    Abstract: A vehicle brake system including a hydraulic brake device that includes: a brake actuator including a pump and a two-system electric motor that includes first and second coils; a battery; a first drive circuit for supplying electric power from the battery to the first coil; a capacitor; and a second drive circuit for supplying electric power from the capacitor to the second coil, wherein, in a normal mode in which the pump is driven by power not greater than set power, the motor drives the pump by the electric power supplied from the battery to the first coil, and wherein, in a high power mode in which the pump is driven by power that exceeds the set power, the motor drives the pump by both of the electric power supplied from the battery to the first coil and the electric power supplied from the capacitor to the second coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinya Kita
  • Patent number: 10781878
    Abstract: A brake including an adjustable thrust element for applying a brake force to a brake pad and an adjustment device for selectably adjusting the thrust element. The adjustment device includes a shaft having a cylindrical shaft surface, a sleeve having a cylindrical sleeve surface, wherein the shaft and the sleeve are arranged end-to-end, and a torque clutch including a wrap spring that is mounted on the cylindrical shaft surface and mounted on the cylindrical sleeve surface, the shaft including an integral drive pin for selectively rotating the shaft. The brake further includes an operating lever, wherein the drive pin extends radially directly from the shaft surface of the shaft and wherein the operating lever includes a groove that receives the drive pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Haldex Brake Products AB
    Inventors: Stefan Sandberg, Hans Welin