Patents by Inventor Kirk Rhoades

Kirk Rhoades 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: 9863494
    Abstract: A suspension damper including an actuator and a static fluid damper is provided. The actuator includes a first housing and a second housing positioned within the first housing and coaxially aligned with the first housing along an axis of the actuator. The second housing defines a passage. A piston is slidably positioned within the passage of the second housing to define a first chamber and a second chamber. A divider is positioned between an inner surface of the first housing and an outer surface of the second housing to define a third chamber and a fourth chamber. The static fluid damper includes a first damping chamber, a second damping chamber, and a third damping chamber. A separating member is positioned within the third damping chamber to define a gas chamber. First and second flow passages provide fluid communication between the actuator and the static fluid damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinghong Yu, Kirk Rhoades, Kazutaka Otsu
  • Patent number: 9752963
    Abstract: A suspension damper test apparatus is provided. The suspension damper test apparatus includes a first fixture having a force sensor, a first prying device, and a first torsion device, operatively coupled to a first end of a suspension damper. A second fixture having at least one of a displacement sensor and a speed sensor, is operatively coupled to a second end of a suspension damper. A controller is in signal communication with the force sensor and the at least one of the displacement sensor and the speed sensor. The controller is configured to record signals received from one or more of the force sensor, and the at least one of the displacement sensor and the speed sensor. The signals recorded are representative of a friction of the suspension damper while the suspension damper is actuated along a longitudinal axis of the suspension damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Jinghong Yu, Kirk Rhoades, Keith Malarik
  • Publication number: 20160160955
    Abstract: A suspension damper including an actuator and a static fluid damper is provided. The actuator includes a first housing and a second housing positioned within the first housing and coaxially aligned with the first housing along an axis of the actuator. The second housing defines a passage. A piston is slidably positioned within the passage of the second housing to define a first chamber and a second chamber. A divider is positioned between an inner surface of the first housing and an outer surface of the second housing to define a third chamber and a fourth chamber. The static fluid damper includes a first damping chamber, a second damping chamber, and a third damping chamber. A separating member is positioned within the third damping chamber to define a gas chamber. First and second flow passages provide fluid communication between the actuator and the static fluid damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Jinghong YU, Kirk RHOADES, Kazutaka OTSU
  • Publication number: 20160103041
    Abstract: A suspension damper test apparatus is provided. The suspension damper test apparatus includes a first fixture having a force sensor, a first prying device, and a first torsion device, operatively coupled to a first end of a suspension damper. A second fixture having at least one of a displacement sensor and a speed sensor, is operatively coupled to a second end of a suspension damper. A controller is in signal communication with the force sensor and the at least one of the displacement sensor and the speed sensor. The controller is configured to record signals received from one or more of the force sensor, and the at least one of the displacement sensor and the speed sensor. The signals recorded are representative of a friction of the suspension damper while the suspension damper is actuated along a longitudinal axis of the suspension damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Jinghong Yu, Kirk Rhoades, Keith Malarik