Patents Examined by Thomas J. Williams
  • Dual action magnetic brakes and related methods
    Patent number: 11401988
    Abstract: Dual action magnetic brakes and related methods are provided. In one aspect, such a brake includes a housing, a rotatable shaft extending through the housing, and a braking assembly in the housing. The braking assembly includes a coil and a braking member. The coil can generate a magnetic field when energized with electrical current. The braking member, and one or more flexible members attached thereto, can move in response to the presence or absence of the magnetic field to facilitate rotation or non-rotation of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: LORD Corporation
    Inventor: Alexandre Bondoux
  • Selective friction brake allocation during taxi
    Patent number: 11400900
    Abstract: An aircraft or other vehicle includes a system and method for selectively allocating which friction brakes of a plurality of friction brakes are utilized in response to a braking demand. Said differently, the present disclosure provides a system and method that includes dynamically switching which friction brakes of a plurality of friction brakes are active (e.g., in use) at a given time in response to a braking demand. This dynamic switching may not only be based on the received braking demand (e.g., from a pilot or auto-braking module), but may also be based on one or more of the following: respective measured brake parameters of the plurality of friction brakes (e.g., temperature, extent-of-wear), aircraft parameters, external parameters, and respective calculated brake conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael J. Menke
  • Dolly
    Patent number: 11400898
    Abstract: When a drawbar is inserted into a coupling hole, which is a necessary task to couple a towbar to a tractor, a brake device switches from a braking state in which a braking force is applied to each front wheel to a non-braking state in which the front wheel is released from the braking force. When the drawbar is removed from the coupling hole, which is a necessary task to uncouple the tractor from the towbar, the brake device switches from the non-braking state to the braking state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventor: Takanori Matsuki
  • Control device for a parking brake device of a vehicle
    Patent number: 11396281
    Abstract: A utility vehicle control device for a parking brake device of a trailer vehicle includes a pneumatic supply connection, a control connection for controlling a spring brake cylinder, a directly manually actuatable parking valve, a first connection line and a control valve for controlling the parking valve. The parking valve is arranged in the first connection line, and wherein as a result of the parking valve, the supply connection and the control connection can be connected via the first connection line. A control line branches from the first connection line. The control line is connected to a first pneumatic control input of the control valve, wherein the control valve has a second pneumatic control input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Gabor Farkas, Laszlo Koncz
  • Parking brake apparatus and method for a vehicle power unit to which a vehicle towed unit can be connected
    Patent number: 11390260
    Abstract: A parking brake apparatus is provided for a power unit having air brake parking components and to which a towed unit having air brake parking components can be connected. The parking brake apparatus comprises a controller arranged to monitor a pressure signal indicative of a delivery air pressure applied to the air brake parking components of the towed unit when the towed unit is connected to the power unit. The controller is also arranged to provide a status signal indicative of whether or not a towed unit is connected to the power unit based upon the pressure signal. The controller further enables the status signal to be processed to control application or release of any combination of air brake parking components of the power unit and the towed unit to park or unpark the power unit as well as the towed unit, if connected to the power unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Girish Barade, Christopher H Hutchins, Thomas J Weed, Andrew L Kennedy
  • Shock absorber configured with a deformable energy absorbing member
    Patent number: 11384585
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a first end configured to be mechanically fastened to a first component, a second end configured to be mechanically fastened to a second component, a main body, a main shaft, and a primary piston. The primary piston configured to move within the main body and further configured to provide a first damping force by movement of a fluid through the primary piston while the main shaft moves a first distance. The shock absorber also includes a deformable solid material arranged in the main body. The primary piston configured to further move within the main body and further configured to provide a second damping force by deforming the deformable solid material after the main shaft moves the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: ADAMS RITE AEROSPACE INC.
    Inventors: Morteza Yadollahi, Alan Manara
  • Stepped torque braking device
    Patent number: 11378145
    Abstract: A braking device of at least one rotary shaft (S) extending along an axis X includes an actuation unit (I) comprising at least one winding (B), two friction discs (D1, D2), an end flange (F1), an intermediate flange mounted between the two friction discs (D1, D2), and two magnetic armatures (A1, A2) biased by two series of springs (R1, R2). The magnetic armatures (A1, A2) are arranged in series along the longitudinal axis X, with each of the series of springs (R1, R2) respectively biasing a magnetic armature (A1, A2). A series of springs (R2) passes through the thickness of one of the two magnetic armatures (A1) in order to bias the other magnetic armature (A2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Warner Electric Europe S.A.S.
    Inventor: Arnaud Bardon
  • Vehicle brake system
    Patent number: 11370401
    Abstract: A highly reliable vehicle brake system including an electric brake is provided. A vehicle brake system (1) includes electric brakes (16a to 16d) provided with motors (80 to 85), drivers (60 to 65) that drive the motors (80 to 85), and a control device that controls the drivers (60 to 65). The electric brake (16a) includes two motors (80 and 81), and the control device includes separate drivers (60 and 61) respectively corresponding to the two motors (80 and 81). The control device includes a first master controller (30) and a first sub-controller (40). The first master controller (30) controls the driver (61) corresponding to the motor (81), and the first sub-controller (40) controls the driver (60) corresponding to the motor 80.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, NTN CORPORATION, HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD., HITACHI ASTEMO UEDA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromasa Satoh, Toshihiro Obika, Yusuke Koga, Hiromitsu Toyota, Haruo Kotera, Tatsuya Yamasaki, Yui Masuda
  • Spacer for a fastening arrangement, fastening arrangement with such a spacer and method for fastening a mounting part to a carrier part
    Patent number: 11365780
    Abstract: A spacer (1) for vibration-damped fastening of a mounting part (2) to a carrier part (3), wherein the spacer has a base body (4) with a first flange region (5) and a second flange region (6) which is opposite viewed in the longitudinal direction (L) of the base body and with a passage (7) in which a fastener (8) which is connected to the carrier part, can be received at least sectionally. The base body has an at least two-part design with a first body part (9) and at least a further, second body part (10), wherein the body parts can be detachable connected to one another to create the base body and wherein, in the connected state, a gap region (11) is provided between the first and second flange region, by which the border of a fastening hole (18) configured in the mounting part can be received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Florian Düll, Albert Sbongk, Torsten Klein
  • Joint locking mechanism of passive robotic arm
    Patent number: 11364083
    Abstract: A joint locking mechanism of a passive robotic arm includes: an output assembly, including a joint output shaft, and a friction disk fixed to the joint output shaft; a braking assembly, including a threaded shaft arranged coaxially with the joint output shaft, a threaded sleeve threaded to the threaded shaft, a rotary disk connected fixedly to the threaded shaft, an end cap rotatable relative to the rotary disk, and a scroll spring generating a rotational force on the threaded shaft. The scroll spring has one end connected fixedly to the end cap and the other end connected to the rotary disk or the threaded shaft. The threaded sleeve is abutted tightly against the friction disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: SOOCHOW UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shaolong Kuang, Jinzhong Li, Li Zhang, Andi Lin, Liansen Sha, Shumei Yu, Fengfeng Zhang, Lining Sun
  • Hydraulic block of electronic braking device for vehicle and electronic braking device for vehicle having the same
    Patent number: 11358577
    Abstract: A hydraulic block of an electronic braking device for a vehicle may include: a block body including a controller mounting part to which an electronic control unit (ECU) is coupled and a motor mounting part to which a motor is coupled; an input port part disposed closer to the controller mounting part between the controller mounting part and the motor mounting part; an output port part disposed closer to the motor mounting part between the controller mounting part and the motor mounting part; 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 housing a valve controlled by the ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung Ki Ahn
  • Motorcycle handlebar featuring active vibration damping
    Patent number: 11358674
    Abstract: A handlebar for a motor vehicle, in particular a motorcycle or a motorcycle-type vehicle, has a vibration damping mechanism designed to dampen a first vibration of the handlebar. The vibration damping mechanism is designed to detect the first vibration and is equipped with at least one actuator which is effectively coupled to the handlebar in a vibration-transmitting manner and which, in response to the detected first vibration, can be actuated to introduce a second vibration into the handlebar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Achim Gordner
  • Brake duct system and method
    Patent number: 11359687
    Abstract: The action of braking generates massive amounts of heat. It is known to install brake ducts 9, which channel air from the front of the vehicle to the brake discs 17. The air introduced by the brake ducts 9 is at an ambient temperature, much cooler than the brakes, and the airflow is closer to laminar (rather than turbulent) and continuously moves the hotter air away. This allows the brakes to shed heat at a faster rate and dramatically lowers the average operating temperature. The present invention provides a vortex tube 3 for supplying a stream of air 5 at a temperature substantially different from ambient temperature into brake ducts 9 to improve efficiency of the brake ducts 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Ogab Limited
    Inventors: Osama Elogab, Hatem Elogab
  • Front bicycle suspension assembly with inertia valve
    Patent number: 11346422
    Abstract: A front bicycle suspension assembly having an inertia valve is described. The front bicycle suspension assembly may include at least upper and lower telescoping tubes and include a damping tube containing an inertia valve. The inertia valve may include an inertia mass movable along the outer surface of a valve shaft as the inertia valve moves between first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Fox
  • Braking device and method
    Patent number: 11332103
    Abstract: A braking device and method utilizing gyroscopic braking to provide an improved braking device and method for obtaining desired amount of continuous braking power without directly converting kinetic energy into thermal energy which helps in reducing global warming and environmental pollution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: ERKE ERKE ARASTIRMALARI VE MÜHENDISLIK A.S.
    Inventor: Mustafa Naci Öztürk
  • System for and method of controlling driving of an electronic vacuum pump
    Patent number: 11332111
    Abstract: A system for and a method of controlling driving of a continuously-operable electronic vacuum pump includes determining conditions for allowing and disallowing first and second electronic vacuum pumps to operate for each braking situation according to vehicle state information associated with braking. The first and second electronic vacuum pumps are driven individually or concurrently according to the determined braking situation. Thus, an optimal negative pressure optimal suitable for the vehicle state information is easily supplied to a booster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Woo Pyeong Seo, Il Young Chang, Eun Bae Koh
  • Damper assembly and a piston for a damper assembly
    Patent number: 11326663
    Abstract: A damper assembly comprises a housing disposed on a center axis and defining a fluid chamber for containing a working fluid. A piston is slidably disposed in the fluid chamber dividing the fluid chamber into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. A piston rod attaches to the piston for moving the piston in the housing. The piston includes a first portion and a second portion defining a first perforation. An outer sleeve has an exterior surface and an interior surface and extends between the first portion and the second portion covering the first perforation. The piston includes a first entry valve and a second entry valve located in the piston and coupled to the piston for limiting the working fluid from flowing into the piston with the first entry valve being disposed adjacent the first portion and the second entry valve being disposed adjacent the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: BEIJINGWEST INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jakub Wrzesinski, II, Pawel Slusarczyk, Robert Kapolka
  • Suspension element lockout
    Patent number: 11325437
    Abstract: A suspension element includes a main body having an end cap defining an internal volume and a tubular element slidably engaged with the main body. The suspension element further includes a first piston and a flow control element. The flow control element is configured to prevent movement of the tubular element relative the main body in a direction. The suspension element may further include a locking member and a piston. The locking member may be configured to engage a barrier of the main body when the first piston traverses at least a predetermined distance towards the end cap. The locking member may be affixed to the tubular element and may fully surround the tubular element. Together the flow control element and the locking member are configured to prevent movement of the suspension element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Rositch, Erik Ellifson, Patrick Dillman, Kai Schubart
  • Brake valve, compressed-air brake system having the brake valve, and method for producing the brake valve
    Patent number: 11325575
    Abstract: A brake valve for a compressed air brake system of a utility vehicle includes a compressed air input configured to connect to a system pressure, a compressed air output configured to connect a brake control line, and at least one sensor configured to determine a brake valve actuation travel of an actuating element of the brake valve with a working interconnection to the brake pedal. The brake valve further includes a characteristic curve memory storing two stored characteristic curves and/or dependences and at least one determination device. The brake valve is configured to output at least two useful sensor signals, a first of which represents a brake valve output pressure and a second of which represents a percentage actuation position of the actuating element. The at least one sensor is configured to generate an actuating signal depending on the brake valve actuation travel of the actuating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: ZF CV SYSTEMS EUROPE BV
    Inventors: Torsten Wallbaum, Malte Berroth, Arnd Gaulke
  • Damper
    Patent number: 11326661
    Abstract: The present invention includes a damper assembly, method and kit to provide dampening to an airframe comprising: a mass to dampen the vibration of the airframe; one or more wire rope isolators having a first and a second portion, wherein the mass is attached to the one or more wire rope isolators and the mass is isolated from the airframe by the one or more wire rope isolators; and a first fastener and a second fastener, wherein the first fasteners attaches to the first portion of the wire rope isolator to the mass, and the second fastener attaches the second portion of the wire rope isolator to the airframe to dampen vibration of the airframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Michael Scott Seifert, Peter Quinn Romano, Thomas Parham