Patents Examined by Thomas J. Williams
  • Patent number: 11644064
    Abstract: A bearing bush for supporting a motor vehicle part includes an inner tube made of a metal, a sliding sleeve made of a first plastic material and mounted rotatably on the inner tube, and an elastomer bearing which surrounds the sliding sleeve and has at least a first elastomer body and an outer sleeve. A sliding layer made of a second plastic material is applied to an outer circumferential surface of the inner tube, the first plastic material and the second plastic material forming a tribological pairing either of two different polymers from the groups of polyamides, polyoxymethylenes, polyketones, fluoropolymers, polyethylene terephthalates or polybutylene terephthalates, or the tribological pairing being formed from polyketone against polyketone, wherein the polymers of the tribological pairings each are present in a continuous thermoplastic polymer phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Vibracoustic SE
    Inventors: Philipp Werner, Hilrich Kardoes, Bartolomeo Firszt, Oliver Helmke
  • Patent number: 11643063
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining an available fluid volume in a tank for brake fluid of a braking system. The braking system includes a pressure generator fluidically connected to the tank on the one hand and to at least one brake circuit on the other hand, which is activatable for generating a hydraulic pressure in the braking system as brake fluid is withdrawn from the tank. A drop below a predefined limiting value for a fill level of the brake fluid in the tank is monitored with the aid of a binary sensor assigned to the tank. It is provided that an actuation of the pressure generator is monitored and that the available fluid volume is ascertained as a function of the actuation of the pressure generator when the instantaneous fill level drops below the limiting value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Florian Haag, Martin Marquart, Nikolas Loeffelmann
  • Patent number: 11639163
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic retarder having a rotor and a stator or a rotor and an oppositely running rotor, which together form a toroidal working chamber to filled with working medium, in order to transmit a torque by means of a hydrodynamic working chamber working medium circuit. An external working medium circuit has a heat exchanger that discharges heat from the working medium. The external working medium circuit is connected by a working medium inlet and a working medium outlet to the working chamber. The working medium inlet and outlet open to the working chamber at a torus outer diameter of the working chamber. A working medium feed line opens into the external working medium circuit. A core ring filling line is connected in working-medium-conducting fashion to the working chamber. The core ring filling line opens into a core ring of the working chamber radially within the torus outer diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Benedikt Goth, John Patrick Wittmann, Martin Blumenstock, Dieter Laukemann
  • Patent number: 11635114
    Abstract: A controllable rotary brake includes two non-magnetically permeable isolating rings, a shaft, an even number of magnetic field generating portions, at least one resistance disc, and at least one magneto-rheological fluid layer. The non-magnetically permeable isolating rings are spaced apart from each other in an axial direction, and each has a bottom wall. An even number of penetrating holes are formed on the bottom wall. The shaft is rotatably inserted in and adapted to pivot relative to the non-magnetically permeable isolating rings. Two ends of each magnetic field generating portion are tightly fitted to the corresponding penetrating holes. The resistance disc is sleeved on the shaft and is spaced apart from one of the non-magnetically permeable isolating rings. The magneto-rheological fluid layer fills between the resistance disc and one of the non-magnetically permeable isolating rings and contacts the resistance disc and one end of each magnetic field generating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: National Taipei University of Technology
    Inventors: Yaojung Shiao, Mahendra Babu Kantipudi
  • Patent number: 11634112
    Abstract: A hydraulic arrangement for connecting a tractor hydraulic brake circuit to a trailer hydraulic brake circuit is disclosed. The hydraulic arrangement includes a coupler stage fluidly connecting a source of fluid in pressure to the trailer braking hydraulic circuit and a trailer brake valve fluidly connecting the tractor hydraulic brake circuit and the trailer hydraulic brake circuit. The hydraulic arrangement further includes a selection pilot stage fluidly connected to the source of fluid in pressure and being fluidly connectable to the trailer hydraulic brake circuit via at least a connector and a selection stage fluidly connected to the selection pilot stage and to the trailer brake valve. The selection stage being configured to impart an actuation signal to the trailer brake valve in function of an hydraulic signal coming from the selection pilot stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
    Inventor: Marco Pietro Ciarrocchi
  • Patent number: 11629772
    Abstract: A valve includes: a valve case; and an annular valve body, one of the inner circumference end and the outer circumference end of the valve body being formed as the free end capable of moving towards both sides in the axial direction with respect to the valve case. The valve case has the annular opposing surface capable of opposing to the free end so as to form the gap therebetween, and the guide surface that is positioned on one side of the opposing surface in the axial direction, the guide surface being continuous with the part of the opposing surface in the circumferential direction. The guide surface is inclined in the direction away from the valve body as the distance from the opposing surface is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: KYB CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Kimishima, Tomohiko Baba, Takeshi Yasui
  • Patent number: 11629771
    Abstract: A damper valve with an adjustable effective stiffness of a shim. The damper valve includes a piston. The piston has a fluid path formed therethrough. A shim is disposed proximate the fluid path formed through the piston. A stiffness adjustment feature is coupled to the shim, and the shim is disposed between the piston and the stiffness adjustment feature. The stiffness adjustment feature is configured to adjust the effective stiffness of the shim without affecting a preload applied to the shim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Damon Gilbert, William O. Brown, IV
  • Patent number: 11624643
    Abstract: A unit for detecting a filling level of a liquid in a container. The unit includes at least one float gauge, which carries at least one permanent magnet, and including at least one switching unit, which is actuatable by the permanent magnet and is fastened in or at the container. It is provided that at least one energizable magnetic device for generating a magnetic field is assigned to the switching unit, which, when sufficiently energized, generates a magnetic field, which actuates the switching unit when the switching unit is functional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Kunz
  • Patent number: 11623623
    Abstract: A stoke simulator operable by an operation of a brake operation member that is operated by a driver, including: a housing: a movable member held by the housing so as to be movable relative to the housing, the movable member being connected to the brake operation member; a volume change chamber disposed forward of the movable member in the housing; and a plurality of elastic members disposed in the volume change chamber and capable of generating an elastic force in accordance with a movement of the movable member, at least one of the plurality of elastic members being a rubber-like member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 11618647
    Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided an elevator car parking brake comprising a brake carrier having a first plate and a second plate, the plates being spaced from each other and positioned to enable a guide rail to travel within the space between the plates, a caliper movably connected to the brake carrier, brake pads, and an actuator configured to move the brake pads against a guide rail in a braking operation. The elevator car parking brake further comprises at least one first compression spring arranged between the first plate of the brake carrier and a brake pad directly associated with the actuator; and at least one second compression spring arranged between the second plate of the brake carrier and the caliper, the first and second compression springs being configured to keep the brake pads substantially centered with respect to the brake carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Antti Koskinen, Antti I Maki, Jukka Turpeinen, Hilkka Hamalainen, Antti Saarelainen, Henri Wenlin, Mikko Puranen, Timo Vlasov, Jukka Penttila, Jorma Sarkkinen
  • Patent number: 11618426
    Abstract: A master brake cylinder includes a unique mounting arrangement for securing thereof to a firewall of a vehicle and a particular porting arrangement. A cylinder sleeve includes a series of ports that cooperate with movement of the piston allowing for by-passing of the piston at one end position and then movement of the piston past the ports for brake actuation. Additionally a two stage pressure intensifier is provided that is in-line between a master brake cylinder and brake pistons. The intensifier also includes a by-pass position at one end of the movable piston having a differential area between a forward and a rear face of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventor: Eric Siegrist
  • Patent number: 11603821
    Abstract: A novel rotation vibration damper and to vibration absorbers having the damper for wind turbines or other high and, relative to the height thereof, narrow installations or buildings. The disclosure particularly relates to vibration absorbers comprising at least one oscillating mass on a pendulum cable or pendulum rod, wherein the mass is caused to vibrate by an excitation frequency which can be damped by a rotation damper and, in particular, a rotating eddy current magnet damper which forms part of the absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: FM ENERGIE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Franz Mitsch
  • Patent number: 11592076
    Abstract: An apparatus comprised of a first portion comprising a generally flexible fabric, and a second portion or layer comprising a gel material formed in a generally planar rectangular shape. Positioned below the second layer is a third portion or a damping layer having a series of dampers positioned thereon, where the dampers are elastomeric flexible and compressible. The three portions are laminated together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventor: Geoff McCue
  • Patent number: 11590948
    Abstract: A fluid container for supplying a consuming device with a working fluid, including at least one connector piece having a shut-off valve arranged therein for preventing undesired escaping of the working fluid from the fluid container. In order to increase safety against undesired emptying of the fluid container, it is provided that the valve closure body, in the closed state of the shut-off valve, is accommodated in the fluid container completely inside a contour formed by an outer edge of the connector piece, and provision is made, for support against the valve closure body, of a support, which, upon insertion of the connector piece into the receiving seat, engages at least regionally into the connecting duct and in this way displaces the valve closure body in the connecting duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Werner Krebs, Horst Krämer, Manfred Rüffer, Stephan Schlicht, Jörg Loke, Zdenek Rozsypal, Jaroslav Masek
  • Patent number: 11590957
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for testing a brake fluid sensor of a vehicle braking system, wherein the brake fluid sensor can indicate the fluid level in the fluid reservoir, wherein the method has the following steps: (1) Altering the fluid level in at least one region of the at least one fluid reservoir by means of at least one braking force generating device; and (2) Detecting whether the at least one brake fluid sensor emits a signal indicating the modified fluid level in the at least one region of the at least one fluid reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventor: Heinrich Plewnia
  • Patent number: 11590949
    Abstract: Provided is a hydraulic unit of a brake system including a housing; an oil supply part configured to supply oil to the housing; an oil discharge part configured to discharge the oil, supplied to the housing through the oil supply part, to the outside of the housing; and a piston movably mounted on the housing, and configured to open and close the oil supply part and the oil discharge part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ran Heo
  • Patent number: 11584349
    Abstract: A relay valve (10) for a pneumatic valve unit (14), for example for a braking system of a utility vehicle, has a first assembly component (18) and a second assembly component (20). A hollow cylindrical guide portion (28) of a piston (24) of the relay valve (10) is received, in an axially guided manner, in the first assembly component (18). The second assembly component (20) includes additional valve components and the venting region of the relay valve (10). At least the first assembly component (18) and the second assembly component (20), when assembled, form a preassembly unit (26) first assembly component (18) and are joined by a bayonet connection (30). The preassembly unit (26) is inserted into a housing (12) of the valve unit (14), The interior of the housing is delimited by a cup-shaped inner wall (32), and the preassembled unit is fastened therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BV
    Inventors: Peter Beier, Hartmut Schappler, Christian Oeser
  • Patent number: 11584174
    Abstract: A retaining clip for constraining a heat shield for use with an aircraft wheel assembly. The retaining clip includes a first end and a second end axially opposite the first end, the first end being opposite the second end along a longitudinal axis. The retaining clip further includes a first side and a second side each having a curvature forming a U-shaped cross section such that an outer edge of each of the first side and the second side extends back towards the longitudinal axis. The retaining clip further includes a migration stop defined by the first side at the first end, the migration stop extending past the outer edge of the second side and configured to interface with hooks of the heat shield to resist axial movement of the retaining clip relative to the heat shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: Robert French
  • Patent number: 11584345
    Abstract: A valve arrangement (2a, 2b) of a hydraulically braked tractor vehicle for controlling the brake pressure of a pneumatically braked trailer includes an electronically controlled trailer control valve (6) with an inlet valve (14), an outlet valve (16), a pneumatical relay valve (18), a breakaway valve (20) and a brake control pressure sensor (24). The valve arrangement also has a hydraulically controlled backup valve (8) with a hydraulically activated relay valve (46), a redundancy valve (112, 112?) and a hydraulic control pressure sensor (50). Output-side brake control lines (40; 62) are connected via a shuttle valve (10) to a brake coupling head (82). The valves (14, 16, 18, 20) and the pressure sensors (24, 50) of the trailer control valve (6), the valves (46, 112, 112?) of the backup valve (8) and the shuttle valve (10) may be combined in one trailer control module (98) with a single housing (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: ZF CV Systems Hannover GmbH
    Inventors: Mirko Brütt, Michael Haverkamp, Jan Spremberg, Lars Volker
  • Patent number: 11566681
    Abstract: A spring damper device comprising a directional spring (e.g., coil) having first and second ends, and defining an inner diameter region. A damper (e.g., viscoelastic polymer slug) comprising an element of elasticity configured to be situated within the inner diameter region of the directional spring. In response to a load on the spring damper device, the directional spring operates to compress, and the damper operates to dampen vibration associated with the load. The damper can comprise a viscoelastic damper comprising both an element of viscosity and the element of elasticity. The damper can be substantially coaxially aligned with the directional spring. Spring damper device(s) can be preloaded in a micro adjustment mechanism to account for positional adjustments between two structures (e.g., between a scope and a firearm), such that the spring(s) attenuate a shock impulse event (e.g., when firing), while the damper(s) attenuate vibration (e.g., to prevent damage the scope).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Inventors: Kevin B. Wagner, John M. Connolly