Including Protective Shield For Retarder Patents (Class 188/322.12)
  • Patent number: 11940033
    Abstract: A dirt shield for shock absorbers having a piston assembly and a cylinder member with a metal dirt shield cap connected to a rod of the piston assembly. A plastic dirt shield bracket is adapted to be fixed to the metal dirt shield cap and includes a first portion and a second portion hingedly connected to one another. A dirt shield tube is connected to the plastic dirt shield bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: DRiV Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Michal Andrzej Nowak, Tomasz Gorski, Jan Wojtowicz, Mateusz Bibrzycki
  • Patent number: 11312310
    Abstract: A vehicle workbench assembly for the exterior side of a truck bed is provided. The vehicle workbench assembly includes an integral workbench pivotably connected to the exterior side of the truck bed so as to move between a latched position nested in a sidewall cavity of the exterior side of the truck bed and an operable position perpendicularly extending therefrom. The integral workbench provides a wheel gap for accommodating the trucks wheel or wheel well in the latched position. A wheel gap plate is provided to fill the void of the wheel gap in the operable position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Inventors: Phillip Lynn Symonds, Joseph Edward Fox
  • Patent number: 10994582
    Abstract: A forecarriage (8) of a rolling motor vehicle (4), comprising a forecarriage frame (16), a pair of front wheels kinematically connected to each other and to the forecarriage frame (16) by means of a first kinematic mechanism (20), each wheel being connected to said first kinematic mechanism (20) by means of a respective axle journal (60), a roll block system (100) comprising a second kinematic mechanism (110) that directly connects the two wheels to one another at the respective axle journals (60) between two connection points and can assume a free configuration in which the second kinematic mechanism (110) can passively follow the movements of the two wheels with respect to each other without interfering with them and a blocked configuration in which the second kinematic mechanism (110) can set the distance between said two points thus preventing rolling movements between the two wheels while allowing pitching and steering movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: PIAGGIO & C. S.P.A
    Inventor: Andrea Raffaelli
  • Patent number: 10752071
    Abstract: A pneumatic spring for a running gear of a motor vehicle, including a pneumatic spring cover and a pneumatic spring piston, wherein a pneumatic spring bellows composed of elastomer material is braced in air-tight fashion between the pneumatic spring cover and the pneumatic spring piston, wherein the pneumatic spring bellows is at least partially surrounded by a sleeve-like outer guide, wherein a corrugated bellows surrounds the pneumatic spring bellows and the outer guide, and wherein, between the outer guide and the corrugated bellows, there is provided a separately formed, air-permeable fastener by which the corrugated bellows is fixed to the outer guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Jens-Uwe Gleu, Tiberiu Popa-Bianu
  • Patent number: 10738855
    Abstract: A bumper stopper installed on the shock absorber of a vehicle to respond to the impact of a cylinder lifting or lowering in the vertical direction depending on the running state of the vehicle. The bumper stopper is constructed such that a cylindrical dust cover having an opening formed at the lower end thereof is connected to a buffer member formed of peaks and troughs. The buffer member has a through hole through which a cylinder and rod of a shock absorber passes via a connection plate so that the buffer member and the dust cover are integrated with each other. It prevents air from being compressed inside the buffer member, thereby preventing component damage due to high pressure. Also, it prevents abnormal noise from occurring in the process of contact and separation between the cylinder and the connection plate, thereby providing improved ride comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: KUNHWA ENG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Chun Kim, Jung Seob Kim
  • Patent number: 10703158
    Abstract: Air spring strut for a motor vehicle including an air spring with a shock absorber for spring-cushioning and damping oscillations of a motor vehicle running gear assembly. The air spring includes an air spring cover and an air spring piston. An air spring bellows made of elastomeric material is clamped air-tightly between the air spring cover and the air spring piston partially delimits a working space filled with compressed air and, while forming a rolling fold, rolls on the air spring cover and/or the air spring piston. The air spring cover is embodied in two parts with a first cover part for receiving an absorber bearing and with a second cover part for fastening the air spring bellows. The first cover part is manufactured from metal and the second cover part is manufactured from plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Ralf Pielock, Andreas Nessel, Susanne Tatter, Christian Schallmeier, Garrett Mark Pniewski, Sunny Makkar, Kranti Kiran Manga
  • Patent number: 10690214
    Abstract: A shield is slidably mounted to a cylinder of a shock absorber and fastened to a piston shaft of the shock absorber. The shield may include a circumferential slot that fits over a disk formed on the piston shaft to secure the shield to the piston shaft. The shield may include a partial cylinder that extends over a point of entry of the piston shaft into the cylinder. For example, the shield may have a cross section that is a 200 to 270 degree arc. The shield may include a guide along an interior surface that engages a slider secured to the cylinder. The guide may be a slot and the slider is a post seated in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Daystar Products International, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Alan Turner
  • Patent number: 10443695
    Abstract: A linear actuator including the gap compensating unit with the joints and the elastic units to provide the elasticity thereby compensating the offset during the linear motion and maintaining the stability and linearity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: HIWIN MIKROSYSTEM CORP.
    Inventors: Chin-Sung Liu, Wei-Min Chen
  • Patent number: 10428866
    Abstract: Provided are: a slide bearing configured so that degradation in sliding performance caused by the entry of dust, muddy water, etc. can be prevented at low cost; and a strut-type suspension using the slide bearing. A slide bearing (1) is provided with: an upper case (2); a lower case (3) joined to the upper case (2) in a pivotal manner and forming an annular space (5) between the upper case (2) and the lower case (3); and an annular center plate (4) disposed in the annular space (5). An annular lip (43) is formed integrally at the outer peripheral edge (423) of the flange (42) of the center plate (4). The lip (43) is in contact, while deflecting, with an annular protrusion (252) formed in an annular groove (24) in the upper case (2) and covers a thrust bearing surface (422) and a thrust supporting surface (251).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: OILES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 10195917
    Abstract: A jounce bumper for mounting in a vehicle suspension system having a bore extending therethrough, the bore configured to receive the piston rod, a nose having a predetermined inner diameter and a predetermined outer diameter, the nose being generally spherical or elliptical shaped and an undercut within the jounce bumper in the bore of the jounce bumper, the undercut creating an ununiformed thickness between the predetermined inner diameter and the predetermined outer diameter so as to provide improved handling characteristics of the jounce bumper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Vibracoustic North America, L.P.
    Inventors: Lee Hayden Dutton, Mickey L. Love
  • Patent number: 10166829
    Abstract: A strut mount and bearing assembly includes a strut mount having upper and lower ends, a central bore for receiving a shock absorber end and an annular upper race surface between the upper and lower ends and extending circumferentially about the bore. The upper end is fixedly connectable with a vehicle body and has a flat attachment surface disposeable against a vehicle surface of the vehicle body. A first bearing race is disposed on the mount and a spring seat having a second bearing race is movably coupled with the strut mount. The seat also has a lower end with spring engagement surface and a second bearing race is disposed on the seat spaced axially from the first bearing race. Rolling elements are disposed between the first and second bearing races to form a bearing. The various components are formed and sized to make an axially compact assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Mathieu Hubert, Thomas Lepine, Massimo De Francisco
  • Patent number: 10125840
    Abstract: An air spring includes a damper, a support ring associated with a portion of the damper, and a piston assembly. The piston assembly includes a first piston member press-fitted to the damper, and a second piston member fitted with the first piston member. The second piston member is supported by the support ring. The two-piece piston assembly allows for a large package for volume at low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Garrett M. Pniewski
  • Patent number: 9976623
    Abstract: A mounting section mounted on a rod side is provided at one end side of a protective cover in an axial direction. At least the other end side of the protective cover in the axial direction has reduced diameter parts and enlarged diameter parts, the reduced diameter parts and the enlarged diameter parts being alternately formed in the axial direction via small diameter parts in between. An end surface of the other end side of the protective cover is formed by a surface that is cut at a position. The end surface and an outer circumferential surface of a cylinder are situated at a position at which they are not in contact with each other in the radial direction in a state in which the small diameter part closest to the end surface comes into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Murata
  • Patent number: 9890829
    Abstract: A protective sheet enveloping an air suspension module of a vehicle is disclosed. The protective sheet comprises a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, a fourth edge, and a middle portion. The first edge, the second edge, the third edge, and the fourth edge having a pleat with a plurality of incises. The third edge and the fourth edge are in a perpendicular orientation with respect to the first edge and the second edge. The middle portion having a mesh encapsulated within the pleat of the first edge, the second edge, the third edge, and the fourth edge. The protective sheet envelopes around an outer circumferential surface of the air suspension module using fastening means. The plurality of incises provide flexibility for easy installation of the protective sheet over the air suspension module. The protective sheet protects the air suspension module during operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: AIR SPRING PROTECTION SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Ronnie L. Black, Sr.
  • Patent number: 9874262
    Abstract: The invention relates to a protective device for a shock absorber, in particular a commercial vehicle shock absorber, comprising a first base area and a second base area, wherein the first base area and the second base area are connected to one another in such a way that via a swivel axis they can be swiveled in relation to one another between an assembly state and an operating state, and wherein the first base area and the second base area in the operating state substantially form a hollow cylindrical shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: SAF-HOLLAND GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Schimetka
  • Patent number: 9657801
    Abstract: A shock absorber protector including an arcuate member having opposing arcuate member interior and exterior faces bounded by an upper edge, a lower edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, the arcuate member interior face defining an arc between the first and second side edges; a mounting flange outwardly extending from the arcuate member interior face proximate the lower edge; and an aperture element disposed in the mounting flange, the aperture element bounding an aperture element opening which communicates between opposing mounting flange interior and exterior faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Inventor: John E. Hansen
  • Patent number: 9636962
    Abstract: An air spring includes a bellow at least partially delimiting at least one working chamber that is constructed and arranged to be filled with compressed air. A guide tube surrounds at least a portion of the bellow. A bonding agent solely fixes a portion of the bellow to the guide tube. A piston is associated with the bellow. The bellow is constructed and arranged to roll with respect to an outer surface of the piston and an inner surface of the guide tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Christian Schallmeier
  • Patent number: 9556924
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a damper main body that has a tubular outer shell and a piston rod that advances and retreats freely into and from the outer shell, and that is configured to generate a damping force for suppressing relative movement in an axial direction between the piston rod and the outer shell. The shock absorber includes a tubular dust cover that is connected to the piston rod and is configured to allow the outer shell to advance into an interior thereof and a tubular extension cover that is attached to an outer shell side end of the dust cover in a condition where the outer shell is inserted therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Takeo
  • Patent number: 9488242
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a shock absorber body having a cylinder outer shell and a piston rod capable of going in/out of the outer shell and generating a damping force suppressing relative movement of the piston rod in an axial direction with respect to the outer shell, a cylindrical dust cover connected to the piston rod and allowing entry of the outer shell into an inside, and a cylindrical collar attached to the outer shell and arranged on an outer periphery of the piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Takeo
  • Patent number: 9446647
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension apparatus includes: a shock absorber that has a cylinder outer tube; a dust cover whose upper area is fixed on an upper support side; and a coil spring that surrounds the dust cover. The outer tube has a first engagement unit provided on a portion of the circumference of the outer tube. The dust cover a second engagement unit provided on a portion of the circumference of a lower area of the dust cover. The second engagement unit becomes engaged with the first engagement unit. The first engagement unit provided around the outer tube and the second engagement unit provided around the lower area of the dust cover become engaged with each other by rotating the dust cover around the shaft of the shock absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Kawahara, Katsumi Ishida
  • Patent number: 9435393
    Abstract: An air spring strut including an air spring and a damper for springing and damping vibrations of a motor vehicle chassis, the air spring strut being clamped between the body and the chassis of the motor vehicle, including an elastomer air spring bellows clamped between an air spring cover and an air spring rolling piston in an air-tight manner, and which rolls on the air spring rolling piston while forming a rolling fold; an outer guide surrounds the air spring bellows in a sleeve-like manner; a bellows protects the rolling fold from accumulating dirt and is fixed to an outer guide end facing away from the air spring cover; and a vent ventilates a space surrounded by the bellows. The vent has ventilation openings on a bellows end facing the chassis, and additional ventilation openings in the bellows for facilitating air flow within the bellows in the direction of the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Teves Ag & Co. oHG
    Inventor: Jens Uwe Gleu
  • Patent number: 9227477
    Abstract: A vibration damper for a motor vehicle with a support spring, includes a damper tube with a longitudinal extension axis A, a spring disk, a protective insert, and a protective accordion boot which has a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the protective accordion boot is secured at least indirectly to a piston rod by its first end portion, and wherein the protective accordion boot encloses damper tube in circumferential direction by its second end portion. The protective insert has at least one radially outwardly extending supporting portion, wherein the protective accordion boot is axially supported by the second end portion thereof at the supporting portion of the protective insert accompanied by a defined axial pre-loading, and wherein, with respect to the longitudinal extension axis A of the damper tube, the supporting portion extends radially beyond the inner diameter d of an end coil of support spring supported at the spring disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Frank Karl, Thomas Pflaum
  • Patent number: 9038994
    Abstract: An air spring for a vehicle suspension includes a resilient spring body that is partially surrounded by a protective cover. The protective cover protects the resilient spring body from rupturing when used in harsh vehicle conditions. The protective cover is comprised of a rigid or flexible armor material that is resistive to munitions, such as projectiles and razor wire, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: ARVINMERITOR TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Keeney, Edward J. Eshelman, Christine L. Lutz
  • Publication number: 20150096855
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a shock absorber body having a cylinder outer shell and a piston rod capable of going in/out of the outer shell and generating a damping force suppressing relative movement of the piston rod in an axial direction with respect to the outer shell, a cylindrical dust cover connected to the piston rod and allowing entry of the outer shell into an inside, and a cylindrical collar attached to the outer shell and arranged on an outer periphery of the piston rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: KAYABA INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoru Takeo
  • Publication number: 20150068855
    Abstract: A dust cover comprising a bellows tube portion with a plurality of main valleys being of a concave shape opening towards an outer periphery of the tube portion and arranged in a linked manner. Each of the main valleys includes a pair of slope wall portions that slope to opposite axial outsides while going to an outer peripheral side, and the slope wall portion has a slope angle at its outer peripheral portion smaller than a slope angle at its inner peripheral portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventor: Hiroyuki MATSUMURA
  • Publication number: 20150060220
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a damper main body that has a tubular outer shell and a piston rod that advances and retreats freely into and from the outer shell, and that is configured to generate a damping force for suppressing relative movement in an axial direction between the piston rod and the outer shell. The shock absorber includes a tubular dust cover that is connected to the piston rod and is configured to allow the outer shell to advance into an interior thereof and a tubular extension cover that is attached to an outer shell side end of the dust cover in a condition where the outer shell is inserted therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: KAYABA INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoru Takeo
  • Patent number: 8800734
    Abstract: Vibration damper includes a tubular body to which an external part, which acts as a stop, is fastened. A component such as a steering knuckle, which is supported against the stop, is also fastened to the tubular body. When a normal load on the component is exceeded, a deformation area allows the component to shift on the tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Günther Handke, Dieter Lutz, Janine Bull
  • Patent number: 8733745
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension system including a shock upper mount assembly mounted to vehicle structure, a jounce bumper being made of an elastomeric material and including a vertically extending rod bore around a rod of a shock absorber, and a jounce rate cup. The jounce rate cup is made of an elastomeric material and includes a horizontally extending support flange having a lower surface mounted on the jounce bumper, a horizontally extending dust boot attachment flange spaced from the support flange and having an upper surface located below and adjacent to the shock upper mount assembly, and a vertical flange extending between the support flange and the dust boot attachment flange to define a gap between the support flange and the dust boot attachment flange, with the jounce rate cup including a vertically extending rod bore mounted around the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ravindra P Patil, Robert T. Jane, Michael A. Ray, Robert L. Geisler, Joseph A. Schudt
  • Patent number: 8702072
    Abstract: An overhead wire tension balancer can prevent an oil component in the tension balancer from scattering to the outside due to entry of rainwater. In an overhead wire tension balancer for supporting a spanned overhead wire while applying tension thereto, a gap that easily allows entry of rainwater is covered by a waterproof cover. As a result, the rainwater can be prevented from entering the inside of the overhead wire tension balancer, and the oil component separated from grease by entering rainwater can be prevented from scattering to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Kimura
  • Patent number: 8689953
    Abstract: A gas spring assembly is used to control movement of a vehicle body panel relative to a vehicle body member. The gas spring assembly includes a rod and piston that are received within a tube or cylinder. A first rod end is coupled to the piston to move the piston back and forth within the cylinder. A second rod end is mounted to one of the vehicle body panel or the vehicle body member. The cylinder is mounted to the other of the vehicle body panel or the vehicle body member. The gas spring assembly includes a resilient cover that covers the rod and cylinder and extends from the second rod end to a distal cylinder end. The resilient cover extends and retracts with rod movement and is sealed at each end of the resilient cover to provide a completely sealed gas spring assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: AVM Industries
    Inventors: Walter Douglas Bauman, Benjamin Seth Adams, Mark M. Rose, Daniel J. Virga, Alton Dale Elvis, Hernan Dario Perin
  • Patent number: 8657270
    Abstract: A cover member having plural peak portions and plural trough portions, and freely stretched and shrunk in an array direction of the plural peak portions and the plural trough portions or freely bent, the cover member includes: a hollow part formed in each of the plural peak portions, the hollow part being hollowed toward an inner side from a peak of each of the plural peak portions, being formed in a circumferential direction, and having edge parts, a bottom part and side parts located between the edge parts and the bottom part. The edge parts of the hollow part are brought into contact with each other before the side parts of the hollow part are brought into contact with each other, when at least one of the plural peak portions is subjected to force in a direction intersecting with the array direction from an outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Takada, Shinichi Sutou
  • Patent number: 8646583
    Abstract: A bellows (2) of a dust boot (1, 30) having large diameter parts (3) and small diameter parts (4) disposed alternately covers a piston rod (R) projecting from a cylinder (C). A bump stopper (B) fixed to the cylinder (C) projects into the bellows (2) as a projecting portion. The bellows (2) comprises a first section (M) which passes a projecting end of the projecting portion according to the elongation and contraction of the piston rod (R) and a second section (L) located therebelow. By making the small diameter parts in the second section (L) have a smaller inner diameter than the small diameter part located at a boundary between the first section (M) and the second section (L), the bellows (2) can be made slim without interfering with the bump stopper (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignees: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd., Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Hisato Imaeda, Masaru Fukushima, Kazuhiko Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8418821
    Abstract: Piston-cylinder unit includes a piston rod guided with freedom of axial movement in a cylinder, where at least part of the piston rod is enclosed by a piston rod protector, which is designed with at least limited axial elasticity. At least one retaining surface of the piston rod protector enters into a positive connection with at least one stop surface on the cylinder side, and an auxiliary assembly bevel allows the piston rod protector to buckle over a certain stroke range of the piston rod during the installation of the protector, so that the retaining surface snap-locks onto the stop surface on the cylinder side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Robert Henneberg, Frank Partosch, Simon Strack, Andreas Zietsch
  • Patent number: 8348029
    Abstract: A strut top mount is optimized to provide a resilient response to jounce and rebound load rates that is symmetrical and linear over a predetermined range of travel. An annular tower is formed of the body structure. A central bracket has adhered thereto an outer resilient element that abuts the tower, and has adhered oppositely thereto an inner resilient element. A bearing is supported by the central bracket, and a spring seat is supported by the bearing. A sleeve is received by a strut shaft and adhered to the inner resilient element A lower washer abuts a lower end of the inner resilient element. An upper washer abuts an upper end of the inner resilient element. A retention washer is mounted onto the strut shaft, wherein a periphery thereof has a retention washer resilient element. The components are collectively tuned to provide the optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Paul A. Winocur
  • Publication number: 20120241267
    Abstract: In a dust cover structure of a hydraulic shock absorber 10 covering a piston rod 12 of the hydraulic shock absorber 10 with a bellows-like dust cover 30, the dust cover 30 is divided into upper, intermediate and lower regions A, B, and C extending in a longitudinal direction. Thicknesses Ta and Tc of bellows portions 33A and 33C in the upper region A and the lower region C are made thin, and a thickness Tb of a bellows portion 33B in the intermediate region B is made thick.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuyuki MURAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 8251354
    Abstract: A gas spring includes a rod body that has a base end side movable into and out of a cylinder body. The rod body is urged in a direction outward of the cylinder body by pressure from a gas sealed inside the cylinder body. A cylindrical cover body includes a base end portion connected to a distal end portion of the rod body that projects outside of the cylinder body. An end portion of the cover body receives a head end portion of the cylinder body inside a cylindrical cover member at an end portion of the cylinder body. The cover member covers a portion of the spring that would otherwise be exposed to the air between the end portion of the cover body and the end portion of the cylinder body when the cylinder body is contracted inside the cover body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignees: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd, KYB-YS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Asa, Yasushi Saito
  • Patent number: 7958980
    Abstract: A conventional solid protection device disposed on an exposed side of a cylinder for actuating a working device had a possibility of being permanently deformed by contacting an obstacle so as to be prevented from sliding properly corresponding to the telescopic movement of the hydraulic cylinder. An object of the invention is to provide a hardly deformable protection device. To protect an exposed side of a cylinder for a working device, a protection device includes a guard member and a slide guide into which guard member is telescopically fitted. Slide guide is attached to a cylinder tube, and a tip of guard member is attached to a tip of piston rod. Guard member is a flat plate made of spring steel. A width of guard member is larger than a diameter of the piston rod. Notches are provided on lateral opposite sides of a basic side end of guard member. Sliders are fitted to respective notches. The top of guard member is bent into a roll-shape so as to serve as a pivotal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Seino, Takao Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7926630
    Abstract: A mounting plate is provided for a linear damper with a cylinder, a piston, and a piston rod. The cylinder of the linear damper is held between holding jaws of the mounting plate. The holding jaws of the mounting plate form a movable bearing in which the cylinder is axially displaceable. A stop is provided, which is made at least partially of a material with rubber elastic properties, which strikes against the cylinder of the linear damper during damping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Julius Blum GmbH
    Inventor: Armin Baldreich
  • Patent number: 7896142
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a dynamic vibration absorber which is designed to suppress the vibrations of the piston rod of the shock absorber. The dynamic vibration absorber includes a damping mass which is formed as a dirt shield to protect the shock absorber from contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventor: Gert Vanhees
  • Patent number: 7837182
    Abstract: A dust boot retention system includes a jounce bumper having an end portion with an outer diameter and an annular recessed groove adjacent to the end portion. A dust boot is attached to the jounce bumper and has an upper flange including a radially inwardly extending portion and an axially extending portion extending from an innermost portion of the radially inwardly extending portion. The axially extending portion has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the end portion of the jounce bumper. A rate ring secures the dust boot to the jounce bumper. The rate ring includes an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the end portion of the jounce bumper. The rate ring includes an annular recessed channel in a first end thereof for receiving the axially extending portion of the dust boot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Vibracoustic North America, L.P.
    Inventors: David A. Mauceri, Robert S. Feldmann
  • Patent number: 7823709
    Abstract: A bellows for hydraulic, hydropneumatic, or pneumatic piston-cylinder units, especially for vibration dampers or MacPherson strut units for motor vehicles, is located between the end of a piston rod and a cylinder, and covers the part of the piston rod which projects out from the cylinder to provide protection against dirt and/or damage. An interior space of the bellows undergoes a change in volume as a result of the relative movement of the piston and cylinder. The end area of the piston rod distal from the cylinder includes at least one flow connection leading to the interior of the bellows. The flow connection allows an incoming and/or outgoing flow of air. The end area of the piston rod, i.e., the end which passes through a mounting bearing connecting the piston-cylinder unit to the body of the vehicle, is provided with a flow connection connecting the interior space of the bellows to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventor: Hubert Beck
  • Patent number: 7637520
    Abstract: A lower fork tube cover is comprised of a first cover member and a second cover member that is connectable to the first cover member. A mounting bracket attaches to an inner surface of the first cover member to mount the first cover member to a front brake caliper mount connected to the lower fork tube. An upper portion of the first cover member is configured to cover a first portion of the lower fork tube and the front brake caliper mount. A lower portion of the first cover member substantially surrounds a rear half of a second portion of the lower fork tube. A base wall extends from the lower portion. The second cover member is configured to substantially surround a front half of the lower fork tube. The second cover member includes a base wall at a lower end that overlaps with and is connectable to the base wall of the first cover member to cover a lower end of the lower fork tube. A front edge of the second cover member overlaps and is connectable to a front edge portion of the first cover member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Kuryakyn Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Madden
  • Publication number: 20090266661
    Abstract: A gas spring assembly includes a gas spring enclosed within a flexible, liquid-impermeable protective sleeve. The sleeve protects the gas spring against contamination during painting and pre-paint processes, and is then removable to leave the gas spring as a permanent component of the installation subject to the painting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Alan Jolley, Sardar Imtiaz Ahmed
  • Patent number: 7565955
    Abstract: A motorcycle brake and suspension system comprising: an outer tube, having an upper end and a lower end, a mainspring mounted inside the outer tube, a brake line traveling through the central axis of the outer tube and looped to allow slack, and a braking system actuated by the brake line. The brake line actuates an integrated padlock caliper disk brake, and is protected by a flexible plastic cover. A fender bracket is mounted on the brake caliper. The integrated padlock caliper disk brake system has integrally formed brake fluid passages in the fork leg, which are hydraulically operative inside the load bearing portion of the fork leg. An adjustable push rod supports the mainspring by adjusting its neutral position length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Inventor: Vincenzo F. Costa
  • Patent number: 7559272
    Abstract: A cylinder apparatus includes a cylinder and a rod contractibly extending from the cylinder. A cylindrical protecting cover is secured to the rod to cover the rod and the cylinder. The rod has a plate-shaped head cap secured thereto. The protecting cover is provided with clamp portions that axially clamp the outer peripheral portion of the head cap. The head cap is provided with circumferentially spaced projections projecting toward the cylinder, so that the axial dimension over which the head cap is clamped by the clamp portions is larger than the plate thickness of the head cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazumasa Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20090145707
    Abstract: Piston-cylinder unit includes a piston rod guided with freedom of axial movement in a cylinder, where at least part of the piston rod is enclosed by a piston rod protector, which is designed with at least limited axial elasticity. At least one retaining surface of the piston rod protector enters into a positive connection with at least one stop surface on the cylinder side, and an auxiliary assembly bevel allows the piston rod protector to buckle over a certain stroke range of the piston rod during the installation of the protector, so that the retaining surface snap-locks onto the stop surface on the cylinder side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Robert Henneberg, Frank Partosch, Simon Strack, Andreas Zietsch
  • Patent number: 7543687
    Abstract: A piston damper assembly includes a piston damper and a relative position sensor. The piston damper includes a damper body and a piston rod. The piston rod is axially movable within the damper body. The relative position sensor includes an axially-extending magnetic core, an excitation coil, and a position-sensing coil. The axially-extending magnetic core is movable with the piston rod, is located outside the damper body, and has first and second protrusions extending toward the damper body. The excitation coil is wound around the first protrusion, and the position-sensing coil is wound around the second protrusion. A piston-damper dust tube subassembly includes an axially-extending piston-damper dust tube and a relative position sensor. The relative position sensor includes an axially-extending magnetic core, an excitation coil, and a position-sensing coil. The axially-extending magnetic core is attached to the dust tube and has first and second protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Malakondaiah Naidu, Thomas W. Nehl
  • Patent number: 7497307
    Abstract: A motorcycle brake and suspension system has an outer tube, a mainspring mounted at least partially inside the outer tube. The mainspring has a smaller diameter than the outer tube, a pushrod mounted at least partially inside the mainspring. The pushrod has a smaller diameter than the mainspring. A brake line is mounted at least partially inside the pushrod. The brake line has a smaller diameter than the pushrod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Inventor: Vincenzo F. Costa
  • Publication number: 20090050426
    Abstract: The invention relates to an vibration damper (1) comprising a cylinder (15) on which a protection against stones (3) is arranged in a fixed manner in the form of a tubular part (5). Said tubular part (5) is supported by means of holding tongues (11a;11b) on a connection element (13) in which the holding tongues (11a;11b) are actively connected to the tubular part (5) by means of at least one catch connection. Each holding tongue (11a;11b) represents a separate component and comprises catch means (7a;7b) which enter into the catch connection with the tubular part (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2006
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Gunther Handke
  • Patent number: 7445096
    Abstract: A piston-cylinder unit, in particular gas spring, has a cylindrical pressure tube which has a surface protection on its outer surface. The piston-cylinder unit further has a piston, which is axially displaceable within the pressure tube and has a piston rod. The piston rod is led out of the pressure tube in a sealed manner through an end side opening at a piston-rod-exit end side of the pressure tube. To improve the corrosion prevention properties and the durability of the surface protection, an end region of the pressure tube which starts from the piston-rod-exit end side is excluded from the surface protection. A process for producing such a piston-cylinder unit is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventor: Dirk Mauer