Patents by Inventor Robert P. Church

Robert P. Church 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: 10603970
    Abstract: A bushing for use in a vehicle suspension system, the bushing including a cylindrical sleeve including an internal passageway extending from first to second ends of the sleeve, the sleeve dimensioned to receive a shackle bolt therethrough; an elastomeric member at least substantially surrounding and extending radially outwardly from an exterior circumferential surface of the sleeve, and the elastomeric member having a pair of spaced-apart, circumferential channels positioned between the first and second ends of the sleeve and opening outwardly away from a radially outermost exterior circumferential surface of the elastomeric member, the channels dividing the elastomeric member into three radially-extending portions, one of which radially-extending portions is intermediate the other radially-extending portions; a rigid retainer ring positioned over the intermediate one of the radially-extending portions, the retainer ring having spaced-apart sidewalls extending into the circumferential channels so as to captur
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: ANAND NVH PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D Auten, Robert P Church
  • Patent number: 10047820
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fluid-filled, vibration damping bushing assembly, comprising the steps of: Forming, in a first molding step, a bushing member comprising a elastomeric core having an axial bore therethrough, the elastomeric core having a circumferential exterior surface including at least one fluid chamber, the circumferential exterior surface being partially surrounded by a metal cylinder vulcanized to the elastomeric core in the first molding step; reducing the outer diameter of the bushing member following the first molding step; in a subsequent, second molding step, mold-bonding one or more polymer sealing elements to an exterior circumferential surface of the metal cylinder; in a next step, disposing at least one fluid-channel member over a portion of the exterior circumferential surface of the metal cylinder; and providing a fluid in the at least one fluid chamber, and fluidly-sealing the bushing member, the one or more polymer sealing elements, and the at least one fluid-channel member, with
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Anand NVH Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D Auten, Robert P Church
  • Publication number: 20170166025
    Abstract: A bushing for use in a vehicle leaf-spring suspension system, the bushing including a cylindrical sleeve including an internal passageway extending from first to second ends of the sleeve, the sleeve dimensioned to receive a shackle bolt therethrough; an elastomeric member at least substantially surrounding and extending radially outwardly from an exterior circumferential surface of the sleeve, and the elastomeric member having a pair of spaced-apart, circumferential channels positioned between the first and second ends of the sleeve, the channels dividing the elastomeric member into three radially-extending portions, one of which radially-extending portions is intermediate the other radially-extending portions; a rigid retainer ring positioned over the intermediate one of the radially-extending portions, the retainer ring having spaced-apart sidewalls extending into the circumferential channels so as to capture the intermediate one of the radially-extending portions therebetween; lubricant disposed between t
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Auten, Robert P. Church
  • Publication number: 20160298717
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fluid-filled, vibration damping bushing assembly, comprising the steps of: Forming, in a first molding step, a bushing member comprising a elastomeric core having an axial bore therethrough, the elastomeric core having a circumferential exterior surface including at least one fluid chamber, the circumferential exterior surface being partially surrounded by a metal cylinder vulcanized to the elastomeric core in the first molding step; reducing the outer diameter of the bushing member following the first molding step; in a subsequent, second molding step, mold-bonding one or more polymer sealing elements to an exterior circumferential surface of the metal cylinder; in a next step, disposing at least one fluid-channel member over a portion of the exterior circumferential surface of the metal cylinder; and providing a fluid in the at least one fluid chamber, and fluidly-sealing the bushing member, the one or more polymer sealing elements, and the at least one fluid-channel member, with
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Jeffrey D Auten, Robert P Church
  • Patent number: 8087648
    Abstract: A hydraulic bushing including an elastomeric bellows having radially spaced axially extending arcuate chambers fluidly connected with axially spaced radially extending chambers to dampen axial as well as radial loads imposed upon the bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Group North American Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Auten, Juergen Weitzmann, Jin Kyu Han, Robert P. Church
  • Publication number: 20090178893
    Abstract: A hydraulic bushing including an elastomeric bellows having radially spaced axially extending arcuate chambers fluidly connected with axially spaced radially extending chambers to dampen axial as well as radial loads imposed upon the bushing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: Z F GROUP NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Auten, Juergen Weitzmann, Jin Kyu Han, Robert P. Church