Patents by Inventor Josef Frania

Josef Frania has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5263556
    Abstract: A brake actuating device is furnished with a device for slack readjustment of a brake, in particular of a vehicle brake. Defects in the area of the readjustment device can result in an erroneous and defective brake behavior. The invention device furnishes a continuous control of the brake release gap and the brake lining wear. The motion of the slack readjustment device (5, 7) is used for generating a measurement distance (n) which is scanned by a signal generator (27, 31) for feeding a signal to an evaluation device and for indicating the readjustment situation. The evaluation device serves for a continuous surveillance and monitoring of the brake release gap and of the brake lining wear in a vehicle or in a diagnostic center, where the evaluation device can be connected to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: WABCO Westinghouse Fahrzeugbremsen GmbH
    Inventor: Josef Frania
  • Patent number: 5222579
    Abstract: An apparatus is furnished for the automatic adjustment of a brake in particular of a vehicle brake. The invention device provides generous assembly tolerances while employing relatively simple device components. The drive of the slack adjustment device (2, 4), formed from the gear rack drive (8, 9, 12), is surrounded in longitudinal direction of the gear rack by free spaces (30, 31), which furnish an appropriate clearance space to the gear rack (9). A pinion engages a second set of gear teeth of the gear rack. The pinion and a lost motion device drive the slack adjustment device. The drive device formed by the gear wheel, by the gear rack and by the pinion is disposed between the brake lever and a slack adjustment device. The device is suitable, in particular, to be employed in a brake lever with an automatic slack adjustment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: WABCO Westinghouse Fahrzeugbremsen GmbH
    Inventor: Josef Frania
  • Patent number: 4887513
    Abstract: The present invention teaches a brake cylinder which is formed by a cylindrical housing and a cylinder base. The cylindrical housing and cylinder base are joined together by a bayonet connection and form a pressure chamber. The bayonet connection is designed pressure-tight, and it is located on the pressurized-side of a circular sealing element which seals off the cylinder base from the cylinder housing. The bayonet connection is thereby protected from the entry of detrimental environmental influences, especially dirt and moisture, and it can still be easily disassembled at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: WABCO Westinghouse Fahrzeugbremsen GmbH
    Inventors: Jurgen Ewald, Josef Frania, Roland Glogowschek
  • Patent number: 4755196
    Abstract: An air-drying apparatus for use with compressed air-operated systems such as, for example, a vehicle suspension system, includes a housing having an inlet portion, a drying material portion, and an outlet portion. An activation piston is disposed within the inlet portion and is influenced by an operating compressed air in an operating phase, and is movable under the influence of a regenerative compressed air to open an exhaust valve during a regenerative phase. A throttle bypass opening between the inlet portion and drying material portion allows a secondary regenerative compressed air to contact the activation piston, thereby achieving a standby phase. An inlet check valve having a deflectable sealing lip portion is also formed on the activation piston. A discharge valve is disposed in the outlet portion to control the flow of compressed air to and from the vehicle-operating systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Assignee: WABCO Westinghouse Fahrzeugbremsen GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Frania, Wilhelm Haak, Erich Seewald
  • Patent number: 4729290
    Abstract: Disclosed is a spring brake cylinder for use on motor vehicles. The cylinder is actuated to a release position in response to fluid pressure. The cylinder includes a spring actuator inserted between the brake cylinder base and a spring brake piston. A tensioning device is provided which mechanically acts upon the spring brake piston and facilitates adjustment of the distance between the spring brake piston and the cylinder base. The spring brake piston and the spring actuator can be assembled into a pretensioned unit outside the spring brake cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: WABCO Westinghouse Fahrzeugbremsen GmbH
    Inventors: Jurgen Ewald, Josef Frania, Roland Glogowschek
  • Patent number: 4718522
    Abstract: An automatic adjustment apparatus for the brake lever of a vehicle brake with a worm drive, an adjustment mechanism and a one-way coupling. The automatic adjustment of the brake lever on the brake shaft takes place by means of a one-way coupling. When there is a manual adjustment of the brake lever in the direction of the release of the brake jaws, the one-way coupling can be mechanically disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Assignee: WABCO Westinghouse Fahrzeugbremsen GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Frania, Jorg Vanselow
  • Patent number: 4480531
    Abstract: A manually operable quick-release mechanism for use with a spring-loaded brake cylinder including an energy-storing piston operable by fluid pressure to a brake release position with a ball type clutch for locking said piston and a piston rod in said brake release position, and a manually rotatable member effective, when angularly displaced, for releasing the ball clutch and the piston and allowing the piston and piston rod to move to a brake-applying position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1984
    Assignee: Wabco Fahrzeugbremsen GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Mylius, Josef Frania, Momcilo Ristic
  • Patent number: 4161134
    Abstract: A fluid pressure control circuit for periodic operation of fluid pressure operable drives or motors of the type such as used for windshield-wipers as well as for fluid pressure operable pulsating drives having a double-acting operating cylinder and wiper motor, and an associated control piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1979
    Assignee: WABCO Westinghouse GmbH
    Inventors: Udo Stossberg, Josef Frania, Hans F. Meyer, Alfrons Kneuttinger
  • Patent number: 4088205
    Abstract: A brake cylinder device for railway vehicles including a built-in automatic slack adjuster and a manually axially positionable piston for resetting the piston and piston rod relative to the slack adjuster when necessary, such as when replacing worn brake shoes, the piston rod being interconnected through a nut and screw, friction clutch, and a key to a manually rotatable member, which, when rotated causes axial displacement of the piston rod and piston to desired adjusted position relative to the slack adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1978
    Assignee: WABCO Westinghouse G.m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Frania, Erhard Lehnert