Patents Examined by Vu Q. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9580136
    Abstract: A bicycle disc brake rotor, having a rotational center axis, comprises a base portion including iron and a surface portion including iron, aluminum, and chrome. The surface portion is formed on an external surface of the base portion. A concentration gradient of chrome of the surface portion is formed in an axial direction parallel to the rotational center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Bungo Sasaki, Makoto Souwa, Toru Iwai
  • Patent number: 9523228
    Abstract: A damping device with damper is arranged on a first part of a piece of furniture or furniture fitting, operable by a second part of a piece of furniture or furniture fitting thus damping a relative movement of both parts. The damping effect of the damper may be deactivated by a switchable coupling switched by a preferably manually operated switch body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Krammer, Andreas Holzapfel
  • Patent number: 9487191
    Abstract: The brake control device applied to a hydraulic pressure braking force generating device having a driving hydraulic pressure generating device and a pilot hydraulic pressure generating device. The brake control device includes a judging portion which judges whether or not an operating amount of a brake operating member is equal to or less than a predetermined value and a pilot hydraulic pressure control portion which controls the pilot hydraulic pressure generating device to generate a preparatory hydraulic pressure in the pilot hydraulic pressure chamber which is larger than an atmospheric pressure set to a value so that a hydraulic pressure in the wheel cylinder is kept substantially to an atmospheric pressure level when the judging portion judges that the operating amount of the brake operating member is equal to or less than the predetermined value to suppress occurrence of brake dragging during non-braking operation with keeping the braking force responsiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignees: ADVICS CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshio Masuda, Hiroaki Niino, Kiyoyuki Uchida, Yusuke Kamiya, Masaaki Komazawa
  • Patent number: 9475469
    Abstract: An electric brake system includes a linear motion mechanism for converting the rotation of a rotary shaft to a linear motion of an outer ring member, and configured such that the friction pad is pressed against the brake disk by the outer ring member. The brake system further includes a reaction force receiving member adapted to receive an axially rearward reaction force generated when the friction pad is moved axially forwardly and pressed against the brake disk, and a stationary member provided axially rearward of the reaction force receiving member. A magnetic pole row is mounted to the reaction force receiving member, while the magnetic sensor is mounted to the stationary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Takahashi, Yui Masuda
  • Patent number: 9476472
    Abstract: A brake having an adjustable tappet for applying a brake force to a brake pad, a tappet having a rotating part in threaded engagement with a non-rotating part, the rotating part including a tappet gear, an adjuster mechanism for selectable rotating the tappet gear, the adjuster mechanism having a clutch with a driving clutch plate in frictional engagement with a driven clutch plate, the driven clutch plate having external teeth in direct meshing engagement with the tappet gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Braking Systems (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Refaat Malki, Martin Taylor
  • Patent number: 9457778
    Abstract: A braking device for agricultural machines includes a body which supports in a sliding way at least two thrust elements operatively connectable to relative valves for the braking of a right wheel and a left wheel of a vehicle and associable with respective braking pedals operable by an operator, the thrust elements being mobile along a sliding direction between an idle configuration and a maximum braking configuration. The device includes at least a connection element having at least two connection areas, each being associated in a rotating way with a relative thrust element to connect them reciprocally and to allow the independent operation of the braking pedals, and abutment elements suitable for contacting the connection element during the translation of both the thrust elements to limit their forward movement towards the maximum braking configuration, the connection element and the abutment elements being reciprocally mobile along the sliding direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: STUDIO TECNICO 6 M S.R.L.
    Inventors: Eronne Mamei, Enrico Mamei, Andrea Mamei
  • Patent number: 9453545
    Abstract: The invention relates to a disk brake, in particular for utility vehicles, having a brake application shaft and having an adjusting device for wear-dependent adjustment, wherein a rotational axis of the brake application shaft is perpendicular to a rotational axis of the adjusting device and a pin serves to couple the brake application shaft to the adjusting device. A longitudinal axis of the pin encloses an acute angle with the rotational axis of the brake application shaft. The invention also relates to an adjusting device for a disk brake, in particular for utility vehicles, having an adjusting element in the form of an adjusting nut or an adjusting screw, and having a slipping clutch for limiting the torque which can be transmitted to the adjusting element. The slipping clutch has a friction element which is rotationally coupled to the adjusting element in both rotational directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: WABCO RADBREMSEN GMBH
    Inventors: Hans-Christian Jungmann, Marcus Keller
  • Patent number: 9435391
    Abstract: A disc brake for a commercial vehicle includes a brake caliper, which surrounds a brake disc and which is retained on a stationary brake carrier by way of guide bushings. The guide bushings are fastened to the brake carrier by screws and are arranged parallel to and at a distance from each other and form plain bearings. The brake caliper is retained in such a way that the brake caliper can be moved in a brake-application direction. The disc brake is designed in such a way that each guide bushing is wedged together with the associated screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Alfred Loew
  • Patent number: 9410593
    Abstract: A nodal-mounted spring arrangement for an electronic toothbrush includes a V-shaped spring member secured at both ends so that it can operate in out-of-phase torsion mode along the axial dimension thereof. In one embodiment, the V-shaped spring member includes two extended end regions, which extend below a longitudinal edge of the middle portion of the V-spring. The free ends of the extended portions are joined by a flat cross-piece. This “closed end” region is present at both ends of the V-spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Tyler G. Kloster, Hendrik Richard Jousma, Michiel Allan Aurelius Schallig, Martinus Bernardus Stapelbroek, Patrick A. Headstrom, Scott E Hall, Wolter F. Benning
  • Patent number: 9403512
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake control apparatus including a body portion, a hydraulic brake control mechanism, and a lever portion. The body portion has a first section configured to fit within an interior of a bar opening and a second section configured to be mounted outside of the interior of the bar opening. The hydraulic brake control mechanism includes a hydraulic brake pressure cylinder having a piston chamber therein, where at least a portion of the hydraulic brake control mechanism is housed within the first section of the body portion. The lever portion connected to the body portion and configured to actuate the hydraulic brake control mechanism. The body portion includes a port fluidly connected to the piston chamber by a conduit. The port is provided on the second section in order to allow bleeding of air from within the piston chamber when the body portion is mounted to the bar opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Matsushita, Daisuke Nago
  • Patent number: 9404551
    Abstract: A shock absorber may include a piston rod, a first rod guide member, a second rod guide member, and an electronically controlled valve assembly. The first rod guide member is concentrically disposed about the piston rod, and the second rod guide member is concentrically disposed about the piston rod and is adjacent the first rod guide member. The electronically controlled valve assembly may include a coil assembly and a valve guide assembly. The valve guide assembly may be disposed adjacent to the coil assembly and may be concentrically disposed about the second rod guide member. The valve guide assembly includes a spool and defines a valve inlet, a valve outlet, and a chamber. The spool is disposed within the chamber and controls the flow of fluid between the valve inlet and the valve outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew L. Roessle, Scott S. Dunaway, David R. Blankenship, Jeffrey T. Gardner
  • Patent number: 9403516
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling the activation of a brake of a hydraulic vehicle brake system of a hybrid vehicle which can be braked by the generator mode of an electric drive motor. The invention proposes equipping the vehicle brake system with an electromechanical brake booster and generating a pedal force at a brake pedal with the brake booster when braking by the generator mode of the electric drive motor occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Strengert, Reinhard Weiberle, Timo Jahnz
  • Patent number: 9394656
    Abstract: A passive method for protecting taut cables from vibrations comprising the perpendicularly attachment of a device comprising a unilateral spring or a shape memory alloy wire to a taut cable at an attachment position wherein the device (especially the unilateral spring of the shape memory alloy wire of the device) acts on the taut cable only when the vibrating taut cable exceeds a switch position (SP); a device for protecting a taut cable from vibrations, as well as the use of such a device in a construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: THE EUROPEAN UNION, REPRESENTED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
    Inventors: Daniel Tirelli, Armelle Anthoine
  • Patent number: 9381899
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for protecting an intact portion of a service brake system from a failed wheel end of a vehicle is provided. A failure in a wheel end is detected by determining an operation state of each of the wheel ends by monitoring parameters including the pressure in a parking brake air supply line. When it is determined that a failed wheel end is present in the service brake system, an antilock braking modulator or a service brake isolation valve is switched to a state in which the failed wheel end is isolated from the rest of the brake system. The service brake of the failed wheel end is disabled, while the service brakes of the other wheel ends are enabled for normal operation including antilock braking. And the parking brake of the failed wheel end is enabled, while the parking brakes of the other wheel ends are disabled to prevent immobilization of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Eberling, Fred W. Hoffman, Ronald S. Plantan
  • Patent number: 9340252
    Abstract: A suspension device interposed between a vehicle body and a wheel includes a shock absorber, a suspension spring, a tube member accommodating the shock absorber and the suspension spring, a sealing member closing a one-side opening of the tube member and holding a piston rod of the shock absorber, a damping force adjustment portion, which includes a coil generating a magnetic field in a passage and a wiring penetrating the piston rod and the sealing member and conducting the coil, electrically adjusting resistance caused when an operating fluid, which is a magnetic viscous fluid whose viscosity changes by a magnetic field's action, passes through the passage allowing two chambers defined and formed by a piston in a cylinder to communicate with each other in the shock absorber, and a reaction force adjustment portion, which is mounted on the sealing member, for adjusting a reaction force of the suspension spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventors: Takahisa Mochizuki, Naoki Ito, Keiji Saito
  • Patent number: 9321605
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing brake squeal in a web tension brake. The apparatus comprising an anti-squeal friction pad assembly having a friction pad mounted on a back plate and a rubber isolation layer sandwiched between the back plate and a second back plate. The rubber isolation layer to dampen vibrations and break up the symmetry of the brake assembly minimizing acoustic resonances that cause the objectionable squeal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: DOVER FLEXO ELETRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Kenneth Ekola
  • Patent number: 9314101
    Abstract: A furniture member rocker spring assembly includes first and second bracket members arranged in mirror image configuration. First and second springs are positioned between and in direct contact with each of the first and second bracket members. A restrictor bolt assembly is positioned between the first and second springs. The restrictor bolt assembly includes at least one sleeve member received in an aperture of the first and second bracket members. The sleeve member is in sliding contact with the first and second bracket members. A fastener extends through a sleeve bore of each of the first and second sleeve members. The fastener retains the first sleeve member in contact with the second sleeve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: La-Z-Boy Incorporated
    Inventors: Eric B. Harwood, Larry P. LaPointe
  • Patent number: 9315127
    Abstract: A damper includes a vessel for accommodating a viscous fluid in its interior; hampering walls for hampering the flow of the viscous fluid; a partitioning member which partitions each of interior portions into two chambers and is provided rotatably; a communicating hole formed in the partitioning member so as to allow the two chambers to communicate with each other via a variable passage whose passage cross-sectional area changes; a flow limiter to limit the flow of the viscous fluid in the chamber into the chamber through the communicating hole, when the internal pressure of the viscous fluid accommodated in the chamber has exceeded a fixed value on the basis of the rotation of the partitioning member; and a resilient structure to resiliently urge the partitioning member in a direction with respect to the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Oiles Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Okimura, Yoshiteru Igarashi, Naohiro Horita
  • Patent number: 9296314
    Abstract: A spiral spring for a reclining adjustment mechanism for a vehicle seat in which ridges are formed on both ends in a direction perpendicular to a coiling direction of a surface of a spring plate member formed by a band-like steel plate having high hardness so that the ridges project from the surface, projected surfaces of the ridges are curved, and the spring plate member is spirally formed into a coil. The spring plate member has a pitch coiled structure in which a gap between an intermediate spring plate member and an inner spring plate member is formed to be smaller than a gap between an outer spring plate member and the intermediate spring plate member. An engagement piece bent in the radial direction is formed at the end of the outer spring plate member, and an engagement coiled core section is formed in the inner spring plate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: NIHON TECHNICA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nobuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 9249852
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for damping vibrations within a physical object that is subject to vibration. In one version, a highly flexible enclosure includes at least one interior cavity that is substantially filled with a damping material in which the flexible enclosure is wrapped and secured about the exterior of the physical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey N. Weisbeck