With Failure Or Malfunction Detection Patents (Class 188/266.8)
  • Patent number: 11932340
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension pre-load management system is disclosed. At least one suspension component, such as a motorcycle shock absorber, has an expandable chamber that with increased volume of a nearly incompressible fluid increases the suspensions pre-load. In one embodiment the system utilizes a controller, a pressure sensor, a pump, and a number of solenoids in a manifold block to allow a user to set a desired pre-load level. In another embodiment the controller monitors the pressure of the chamber and maintains a desired pre-load setting. In yet another embodiment, the controller identifies a hard braking event such that would cause a brake dive and increases the pre-load to counter act the dive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: Robert Bosch LLC, Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Kurt Person
  • Patent number: 11833877
    Abstract: A spring damper apparatus for a vehicle, with a hydropneumatic system, via which a wheel of the vehicle can be braced spring-mounted and damped on a body of the vehicle. The hydropneumatic system includes a first chamber delimited at least partially by a partition element, in which a fluid acting on the partition element is accommodated. In addition, the hydropneumatic system includes a second chamber separated from the first chamber by the partition element and delimited by the partition element, in which a gas forming a gas spring and acting on the partition element is accommodated. In addition, the hydropneumatic system includes a housing in which the fluid is accommodated. In addition, the hydropneumatic system includes a piston shiftably accommodated in the housing and acting on the fluid, via which piston the wheel can be braced on the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Walter Schmidt, Michael Gradl
  • Patent number: 11738619
    Abstract: A suspension system configured to exhibit low variance in vehicle ride frequency over a large range of vehicle loads. The suspension system includes a strut having a cylinder and a piston configured to reciprocate in the cylinder. The suspension system also includes a vessel coupled to the strut, and a valve in an interior chamber of the vessel. The valve divides the interior chamber into a first liquid volume and a second liquid volume. The suspension system also includes a hydraulic accumulator having a volume and a liquid volume. The suspension system further includes a compressible liquid in the cylinder, the first liquid volume in the vessel, and the second liquid volume in the vessel, and a spring element in the volume of the hydraulic accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: LIQUIDSPRING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Dean F. Bartolone, David L. Nagreski, Carl D. Harr, Aaron Gebhardt
  • Patent number: 11642931
    Abstract: Disclosed is a continuous damping control shock absorber, which has a dual solenoid valve structure in which a rebound solenoid valve and a compression solenoid valve are provided, including a post port mounted on an outer side of a base shell and in which the rebound solenoid valve and the compression solenoid valve are installed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, wherein the post port is provided with at least one communication hole to directly communicate the rebound solenoid valve and the compression solenoid valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Youngjae Kim
  • Patent number: 11630164
    Abstract: Provided are a reliable high-voltage system and a failure diagnosis method thereof, in which a vibration damping mechanism using an electrorheological fluid as a working fluid is a load, and can prevent electric shock due to leakage current and the influence on surrounding electronic devices. There are provided a first circuit that includes a power source and a ground, a second circuit that is magnetically coupled to the first circuit via a transformer and includes a load connected to the ground, a controller that is connected to the ground, a third circuit that is connected to the second circuit and the ground, a first resistor that is provided between a connection point at a high potential end of the second circuit and the ground, and a second resistor that is provided between a connection point at a low potential end of the second circuit and the ground, and has a resistance value different from a resistance value of the first resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Ikarashi, Kenji Kubo, Michihiro Asanuma
  • Patent number: 11524544
    Abstract: A spring-absorber system for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle includes a suspension spring with a spring constant kT and an absorber filled with a fluid and mounted in parallel to the suspension spring. The spring-absorber system also includes at least two additional spring modules via which a total spring constant kG of the spring-absorber system can be varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Maximilian Dietrich, Uwe Schatzberger, Johannes Schroeder
  • Patent number: 11306798
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for position sensitive dampening with an active valve. In one aspect a fluid damper is provided comprising a damper chamber divided by a piston into a primary compression and a primary rebound chamber; a secondary compression chamber in fluid communication with the damper chamber; and an active valve controlling fluid flow out of the secondary compression chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Cox, John Marking, Everet Owen Ericksen
  • Patent number: 11085502
    Abstract: A valve includes a body that has a longitudinal axis. The body includes a conical portion positioned at an end of the body. The conical portion at least partially surrounds the body. The body includes a planar face circumferentially adjacent the conical portion. The planar face is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: QA1 Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Hulstein, Charles C. Olson, Marshall J. Fegers
  • Patent number: 10634209
    Abstract: A controllable shock absorber may include a cylinder tube with hydraulic fluid, a movable piston that divides the cylinder tube into two working spaces, and a piston rod connected to the piston. Two fluid leadthroughs in the piston may connect the two working spaces. Valve assemblies for damping piston movement in actuating directions may be arranged on the leadthroughs. Each valve assembly may have a pilot control chamber and a valve plate movable between open and closed positions. The valve plate can be prestressed into the closed position by pressure loading the pilot control chamber. Pressures in the pilot control chambers can be set by a pilot control valve having a valve body that is movable between open and closed positions. An outflow cross section between the pilot control chambers and the working spaces is settable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP BILSTEIN GMBH, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: Dmitrij Smeljanskij
  • Patent number: 10625555
    Abstract: A shock absorber system can includes a shock tube and a piston slidably mated to an end of the shock tube. The system can include a heat sink reservoir. The heat sink reservoir can be connected to the shock tube via a valved fluid connection. The valved fluid connection can limit or permit fluid flow from the shock tube to the heat sink reservoir depending on fluid velocity and/or pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: ICON VEHICLE DYNAMICS LLC
    Inventor: Dylan Samuel Evans
  • Patent number: 10487904
    Abstract: An intermediate cylinder is disposed between an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder. The intermediate cylinder forms a passage between the inner cylinder and itself, through which a hydraulic fluid as an electrorheological fluid flows. The intermediate cylinder is supplied (applied) with a voltage through an electrode connector. The intermediate cylinder includes a ring member. The ring member is provided with an extending portion which extends toward the outer cylinder. The extending portion of the ring member is inserted with an electrode pin as an imparting unit for imparting a voltage to the intermediate cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Motohiro Hirao, Umi Tanabe, Osamu Yuno, Shigeo Katayama, Tomoyuki Ri
  • Patent number: 10352392
    Abstract: A damper includes a piston rod, a damping piston, at least one cylinder containing a damping liquid, a fixed partition member for partitioning the interior of the damper into two liquid chambers, a pressure source, and a valve in communication with the pressure source which reacts as a function of the pressure. The valve can also be in communication with additional forces, such as mechanical spring forces, which can be adjustable. The valve can include a pressure intensifier. The valve generates fluid flow resistance during flow of liquid in a first direction through the partition member. The fluid flow resistance in the first direction varies according to the amount of force communicated to the valve by the pressure source and any additional forces. The partition member can include means for providing low-resistance return flow of liquid in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Fox
  • Patent number: 10145438
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a shock absorber. The shock absorber includes a reservoir communication path through which a damping force generator and a reservoir communicate with each other, a compression-side communication path through which a piston-side oil chamber and the damping force generator communicate with each other, and a compression-side inlet port which is provided in the damping force generator and into which oil flows from the compression-side communication path and which has a compression-side valve that generates damping force. The cross-sectional area of the reservoir communication path is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the compression-side inlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadashi Uotani, Koji Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 9333829
    Abstract: An adjustment control for adjusting the damping of a shock absorber includes an aperture seat to be secured to a bore of the shock absorber; a needle nut including a needle; an adjustment nut shaft stud including a threaded portion configured to engage with a threaded portion of the needle nut; an adjustment nut to be secured to the base and defining a non-circular cavity to receive at least a portion of the adjustment nut shaft stud and a noncircular region of the needle nut such that the needle nut cannot rotate relative to the non-circular cavity of the adjustment nut; and an adjustment knob, wherein rotation of the adjustment knob causes rotation of the adjustment nut shaft stud relative to the adjustment nut, and wherein rotation of the adjustment nut shaft stud causes axial movement of the needle nut relative to an orifice of the aperture seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Viking Performance, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. King, Jacob A. Neuman, Todd C. Westberg
  • Patent number: 8280603
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining aircraft brake pedal sensor failure are provided. A brake pedal sensor and/or a brake pedal may be “failed” if brake pedal sensor readings unlikely to be generated as a result of human input are detected. The method comprises acquiring brake pedal measurements from a brake pedal sensor, determining a state of the brake pedal sensor, and providing a notification of the state. Each brake pedal measurement comprises a brake pedal deflection amount. The brake pedal sensor test algorithm may be conducted at regular intervals, in preparation for aircraft landing, at the request of a human operator, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: Eric D. Cahill
  • Publication number: 20110180360
    Abstract: The invention relates to an overpressure and bottoming detector for a shock-absorber or the like, the detector including a hollow body inside which a piston slides sealingly and that is designed to be subjected to a pressure via an inlet of the body that is in communication with an enclosure in which said pressure exists, the piston being retained in position against the pressure by threshold retaining means adapted to release the piston when the pressure reaches or exceeds said threshold in such a manner that the piston is pushed under the effect of the pressure towards an indication position, and wherein the piston is secured to a pin that projects from the inlet of the body so as to be capable of being pushed against the threshold retaining means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: MESSIER-DOWTY SA
    Inventors: Pascal Martin, Dominique Ducos
  • Patent number: 7510060
    Abstract: A damper with a controllable variable damping force, includes a piston and a cylinder provided with a magnetic viscous fluid and piston therein. An interior of the cylinder is divided by the piston into first and second fluid chambers which communicate with each other. A controller energizes a coil provided to the piston, wherein a viscosity of the magnetic viscous fluid in the fluid passage is changed when the coil is energized. When the controller fails to energize the coil, an electric current supply circuit supplies a predetermined constant electric current to the coil. Alternatively, when the controller detects an abnormality in energizing control of the coil, the controller supplies the predetermined constant electric current to the coil. Further, a sub-coil may be provided with the piston, wherein the controller supplies the sub-coil with a predetermined constant electric current whenever the coil is not operating properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Izawa, Yoshio Onoe, Tsukasa Fukuzato
  • Patent number: 6698558
    Abstract: A brake system for garage doors including a piston assembly movable within a longitudinal housing assembly and including a central through opening and a threaded bushing rigidly mounted to the piston assembly. A threaded axle is cooperatively received by the threaded bushing so that the rotation of the axle causes the piston assembly to move at a predetermined speed longitudinally within the housing assembly. Longitudinal connecting apertures permit the flow of fluid adjacent to the ends of the piston assembly to flow through. A flapper valve assembly is mounted to one of the ends of the piston assembly by a separating spring member. When the movement of the piston assembly exceeds a predetermined magnitude, the spring member is compressed eliminating the clearance and closing the connecting apertures. This prevents any additional flow and rotational movement of the threaded axle, which in turn is mechanically connected to the counterbalance axle of an opening and closing mechanism for garage doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Inventor: Abelardo Caraballo