Patents by Inventor Paul M. Regula

Paul M. Regula 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: 6550246
    Abstract: A master cylinder assembly in which the casing defines an annular seal groove defining a forward bore portion forwardly of the annular groove and a rearward bore portion rearwardly of the annular groove. The front end of the piston in the retracted position of the piston is received in the forward bore portion to provide total bearing support for the piston and axial grooves are provided in the forward bore portion to allow recuperative fluid to flow from the associated reservoir and through the axial grooves to the forward bore portion forwardly of the retreating piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Automotive Products (USA), Inc.
    Inventors: Paul L. Barr, Tim M. Dangel, Paul M. Regula
  • Patent number: 5267637
    Abstract: A concentric hydraulic clutch actuator including a coil spring arranged to be stressed in response to expansion and contraction of the actuator and including end portions which are bent radially inwardly and coact with circumferentially spaced lugs on the cylinder and on the piston to preclude relative rotation between the piston and cylinder in either direction of relative rotation. Relative rotation in one direction is inhibited by contact of the bent portion with one of the lugs and relative rotation in the other direction is inhibited by abutting engagement of the end face of the bent portions with respective lugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: Automotive Products plc
    Inventors: Darrin F. Wilbur, Paul M. Regula
  • Patent number: 4993529
    Abstract: The hydraulic clutch actuator for a motor vehicle of the concentric type in which the actuator is mounted concentrically around the transmission input shaft of the vehicle within the housing of the clutch. The actuator includes a housing structure defining a central quill shaft surrounding the input shaft of the vehicle and slidably supporting the hub portion of the bearing carrier and further defines an annular piston bore spaced radially outwardly from the quill shaft to define an annular bore between the piston bore and the quill shaft into which the rear end of the hub portion of the bearing carrier may move during the operation of the actuator so as to provide overlap as between the annular piston and the bearing carrier and minimize the axial dimension of the actuator. The preload spring is also positioned in the annular bore between the quill shaft and the piston bore so as to further optimize the compact packaging of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Automotive Products plc
    Inventors: Keith V. Leigh-Monstevens, David L. Wrobleski, Paul M. Regula
  • Patent number: 4915202
    Abstract: A hydraulic clutch actuator for a motor vehicle of the concentric type in which the actuator is mounted concentrically around the transmission input shaft of the vehicle within the housing of the clutch. The actuator includes a housing structure defining a central quill shaft surrounding the input shaft of the vehicle and slidably supporting the hub portion of the bearing carrier and further defines an annular piston bore spaced radially outwardly from the quill shaft to define an annular bore between the piston bore and the quill shaft into which the rear end of the hub portion of the bearing carrier may move during the operation of the actuator so as to provide overlap as between the annular piston and the bearing carrier and minimize the axial dimension of the actuator. The preload spring is also positioned in the annular bore between the quill shaft and the piston bore so as to further optimize the compact packaging of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Automotive Products plc
    Inventors: Keith V. Leigh-Monstevens, Paul M. Regula
  • Patent number: 4856416
    Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder and the method of making such hydraulic cylinder of a tubular sleeve and a housing of dissimilar material cast or molded around the sleeve. The sleeve is provided at least at one end with a portion projecting into the material of the housing, such projection being preferably in the form of an annular bead with a corresponding internally disposed groove. The other end of the sleeve has an internally radially projecting flange projecting into the material of the housing, and the elastomeric O-ring is disposed at the junction between the internal surface of the flange and the surface of the sleeve bore to provide a seal for the pressure end of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Automotive Products plc
    Inventors: Richard A. Nix, Paul M. Regula