Patents Examined by Thomas J. Williams
  • Patent number: 11702055
    Abstract: A brake control valve arrangement includes an electro-pneumatic brake control valve block having a hold valve and a vent valve, a main regulator valve and an emergency and a tare pressure regulator. The valve block has an inlet for a brake supply pressure and an outlet for a brake cylinder, wherein an inlet and a vent pneumatic opening is provided for the hold valve and vent valve. The arrangement also includes a configuration module in pneumatic connection with the brake supply pressure and providing a pneumatic path to the inlet, and a pneumatic path to the vent valve from the brake cylinder, the arrangement also including at least one choke configured to control air flow in pneumatic paths to the inlet opening and vent opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventor: Mark Hemmings
  • Patent number: 11703101
    Abstract: An electrically controlled valve for a shock absorber. The valve comprises a piston providing a primary fluid channel for damping fluid and a housing in which a piston holder is provided with an internal secondary fluid channel for damping fluid. Fluid flow (23) through the secondary fluid channel for damping fluid. Fluid flow through the secondary fluid channel is controlled by a spool movable within the piston holder wherein the movement of the spool is enabled by an electrically controlled actuator. Fluid flow through the secondary fluid channel is controlled by restriction at the inlet of the secondary fluid channel the inlet comprising one or more radial holes through the piston holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: ÖHLINS RACING AB
    Inventor: Geir Lindblad
  • Patent number: 11702056
    Abstract: A hydraulic block of an electronic braking device for a vehicle may include: a block body; an input port part disposed on the block body, and connected to an output line of a main braking device to brake a vehicle using hydraulic pressure; an output port part connected to a hydraulic brake line for individually adjusting one or more wheels; and a hydraulic circuit part formed in the block body so as to extend from the input port part to the output port part, and configured to control hydraulic pressure for redundancy of vehicle braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung Ki Ahn
  • Patent number: 11692605
    Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber including a housing and an absorber unit. The absorber unit is movable relative to the housing in the axis direction of an absorber unit middle axis A-A and includes a piston which is arranged on a piston rod and which subdivides the housing into a first and a second working space which is filled with damping fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventor: Rüdiger Kranz
  • Patent number: 11691608
    Abstract: The invention concerns an electronic parking brake system (2), comprising an air supply (4), a check valve (6), connected to the air supply, an electro-pneumatic control unit (8), at least one park brake actuator (10), a relay valve (12), comprising a first port (12a) connected to the check valve, a second port (12b) connected to the electro-pneumatic control unit, a third port (12c) connected to the park brake actuator and a fourth port (12d) which is in communication with the atmosphere, and an electrically actuated valve (14), which is controlled by the electro-pneumatic control unit (8) and which includes a first orifice (14a) connected to a compressed air line (16) extending between the check valve and the air supply, a second orifice (14b), a third orifice (14c) connected to the electro-pneumatic control unit (8), and preferably a vent orifice. The second orifice (14b) is connected to another compressed air line (18) extending between the check valve (6) and the first port (12a) of the relay valve (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO LASTVAGNAR AB
    Inventors: Lionel Farres, Christophe Long
  • Patent number: 11686363
    Abstract: An energy absorber includes a flexible tensile member having lengthwise sections arranged serially along a length of the flexible tensile member. Lengthwise sections define convolutions. Features are provided for both restricting straightening of the convolutions and automatically reconfiguring, in response predetermined tension in the flexible tensile member, to allow straightening of the convolutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Barrier1 Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Michael John Lamore
  • Patent number: 11685352
    Abstract: A vehicle braking system comprising a spring brake actuator having a spring brake chamber, a spring brake control assembly and an immobiliser valve which is movable between brake release position in which the spring brake control assembly is operable to cause the flow of pressurised fluid into the spring brake chamber or to vent the spring brake chamber to a low pressure region, and an immobilise position in which the spring brake control assembly is operable to connect the spring brake chamber to a low pressure region but cannot be operated to cause the flow of pressurised fluid into the spring brake chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Haldex Brake Products AB
    Inventors: Dudley John Harrison, Carl Mellings, Mark Pieczko, Neil Brightman
  • Patent number: 11686366
    Abstract: A shock absorber for a wheel suspension of a vehicle may include an outer cylinder, an outer piston that is axially displaceably guided in the outer cylinder, an inner piston that is axially displaceably guided in the outer piston, and a piston rod that is connected to the inner piston and that is guided out of the outer piston. A surface, which is located remote from the piston rod, of a piston portion of the outer piston, which is axially displaceably guided on an inner lateral surface of the outer cylinder, is connected so as to communicate partially with surroundings of the shock absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Marc Simon, Felix Fischer, Teiwen Fehse, Olivier Reinertz, Katharina Schmitz, Ralf Hintzen, Achim Lordick
  • Patent number: 11680620
    Abstract: A damper assembly comprises a main tube extending along a center axis between a first end and a second end defining a fluid chamber. A main piston is disposed in the fluid chamber dividing the fluid chamber into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. A piston rod extends along the center axis coupled to the main piston. An external tube extends about the main tube and defines a compensation chamber therebetween. The external tube includes a protrusion extending radially inwardly from an opened end to abut the main tube. An external piston is located in the compensation chamber and coupled to the main tube, dividing the compensation chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment. The first compartment extends between the protrusion and the external piston for containing a working fluid. The second compartment extends between the closed end and the external piston for containing a gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: BEIJINGWEST INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pawel Slusarczyk, Jakub Wrzesinski
  • Patent number: 11673777
    Abstract: A braking system for a motor housing is provided. In one example, braking system comprises a double disk brake configuration arranged in a motor housing. A working position of the double disk brake is configured to automatically adjust based on a condition of a friction pad of a friction disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Forcome Co. Ltd
    Inventor: Ronald L. Elliot
  • Patent number: 11673539
    Abstract: A pressure equalization valve arrangement for a rail brake system includes a hold valve and a membrane vent valve each having a control chamber. The hold valve and vent valve are piloted by a respective solenoid valve. A further solenoid valve is connected to the control chamber of the vent valve to allow the pressure across the vent valve membrane to be equalized with the brake cylinder pressure to decrease the pressure difference across the membrane. This results in an improved vent time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Inventors: Mark Hemmings, Nigel Anstey, Justin Peare
  • Patent number: 11661990
    Abstract: A formation method for liquid rubber composite nodes with a tubular flow channel is provided. The formation method includes adding a middle spacer sleeve between an outer sleeve and a mandrel, bonding the middle spacer sleeve and the mandrel together through rubber vulcanization and assembling the integrated middle spacer sleeve and the mandrel into the outer sleeve; installing a tubular flow channel in the mandrel; hollowing the middle spacer sleeve to form a plurality of spaces; after vulcanization, forming a plurality of interdependent liquid cavities by using rubber and the plurality of spaces; and arranging liquid in the plurality of liquid cavities and communicating the plurality of liquid cavities through the tubular flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: ZHUZHOU TIMES RUIWEI ANTI-VIBERATION EQUIPMENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Jun Luo, Wensong Liu, Sheng Lin, Zhongsan Jiang, Junhui Chen, Yuxiang Zhang, Xianhui Zeng, Jing Li, Juan Zhou
  • Patent number: 11655865
    Abstract: A separating device that receives via a lower inlet an air flow laden with impurities, namely dust produced by pads of a brake assembly, and makes it possible to separate and collect heavy dust. The housing of the device contains a multi-cyclone cluster, with cyclones distributed annularly and supplied tangentially by a central collector surmounting an axial duct communicating with the inlet. The centrifuged and separated liquid and solid particles are directly collected below the cyclones in a trapping zone around the duct, the cluster forming a transverse barrier connected in a sealed manner to the duct so as to prevent the liquid collected in the trapping zone from rising towards a downstream zone, only gravity discharge orifices of the cyclones allowing the trapping zone to be filled during the operation of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignees: Sogefi Filtration, TALLANO TECHNOLOGIE
    Inventors: Nicolas Arnault, Lucie Riviere, Stephan Pignol, Florent Collicard
  • Patent number: 11655875
    Abstract: A damping valve includes a valve seat member, a first valve element stacked on the valve seat member, a second valve element provided between an inner circumference valve seat of the valve seat member and the first valve element, the second valve element being configured to open and close a hole of the first valve element, and a biasing member configured to bias the first valve element towards the second valve element, wherein a surface of the second valve element on an opposite side from the valve seat member is higher than the outer circumference valve seat of the valve seat member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: KYB CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Kobayashi, Tomoyasu Abe, Yuusuke Furuta
  • Patent number: 11655869
    Abstract: A brake adjuster with a housing configured to be coupled to a brake actuator push rod, and a control unit rotatably coupled to the housing. The control unit is configured to be coupled to a reference point of a vehicle and to cause adjustment of the brake as the brake actuator push rod retracts. One of the housing and the control unit has a first indicator and a second indicator, and the other of the housing and the control unit has a third indicator. The third indicator is adjacent the first indicator when the brake actuator push rod is retracted in a brake disengaged position, and the third indicator is adjacent the second indicator when the brake actuator push rod is extended to a brake over-stroke position. The indicators may be any combination of notches, protrusions, marks, or pointers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: HALDEX BRAKE PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Glen Heman, Chad Collins
  • Patent number: 11649742
    Abstract: An attachment structure for a vehicle motor is applied for the purpose of attaching a vehicle motor to in-vehicle equipment. The attachment structure for a vehicle motor is provided with an axial gap motor that includes a rotor and a stator facing each other in the axial direction. The motor is attached to the in-vehicle equipment in a mode in which the axial direction is perpendicular to the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiya Yokoyama, Takahiro Tsuchiya, Shigemasa Kato, Yoji Yamada, Koji Mikami, Akihisa Hattori
  • Patent number: 11649608
    Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for an adaptive park braking system and method of operation thereof. The method of operating an adaptive park braking system includes providing a vehicle having a motor, a front axle system, a rear axle system, wherein the front axle system has one or more front axle braking systems and the rear axle system has one or more rear axle braking systems. Identifying when the vehicle is engaged in a digging operation. Disconnecting the front axle system or the rear axle system from driving engagement with the motor of the vehicle. Activating the one or more braking systems of the disconnect axle system to apply an amount of force to the disconnected axle system of the vehicle. Then applying an amount of torque with the motor to the axle system in driving engagement with the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: DANA ITALIA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Ettore Cosoli, Matteo Grott, Davide Moser, Giulio Ornella, Mark M. Schneider, Lorenzo Serrao, Bernhard Vecchioni, Fabrizio Zendri
  • Patent number: 11648967
    Abstract: A locking system is provided for fall protection. The locking system includes a housing. The housing defines a guide path through which the housing is slideably attached to a guide member. The locking system also includes a braking lever having a braking surface and an attachment end. The braking lever is configured to rotate so as to allow a braking surface to engage the guide member. The locking system further include a locking lever that is rotatably coupled to the braking lever. The locking lever is rotatable such that it rotates from an unlocked position to a locked position. In the unlocked position an activation end of the locking lever is positioned in a first location that is proximate to the attachment end and in the locked position the activation end is positioned in a second position distant to the attachment end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: David {hacek over (S)}ulc, Michal {hacek over (R)}eho{hacek over (r)}
  • Patent number: 11649876
    Abstract: A restriction for a vibration damper, comprising an annular element with variable diameter which is supported by a support and which occupies a restriction position depending on a flow velocity of a damping medium within the restriction proceeding from an open position through a radial closing movement in direction of a flow guiding surface. The annular element has at least two legs supported so as to be movable around a pivot bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Jörg Rösseler, Aleksandar Knezevic
  • Patent number: 11644079
    Abstract: A multi-mode air shock is disclosed herein. The air shock includes an air spring having a primary air chamber, and a damper having an insertion end to telescope within the primary air chamber and a coupler to couple with a portion of a vehicle. An adjuster housing is fixedly coupled to an end of the air spring opposite of the damper, the adjuster housing having a secondary air chamber in communication with the primary air chamber and a mounting structure to couple with a different portion of the vehicle. There is a bulkhead with a valve to open or close the fluid communication between the primary air chamber and the secondary air chamber. The air shock also includes a tertiary air chamber in fluid communication with the secondary air chamber but not in fluid communication with the primary air chamber except via the secondary air chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Laird