Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Davis and Bujold
  • Patent number: 8151713
    Abstract: The guidance system comprises two guidance devices (16) mounted in opposite directions either side of the axle (2) and each comprising: a guidance arm (17) terminated by at least one guidance roller (18); a set of articulated connecting rods serving as a deformable link interface (23) between the axle and the guidance arm; and a jack (29) with two independent and opposing rods (30, 31), having a “rods extended” position in which its two rods lock the set of connecting rods to render it rigid and orient the axle, and a “rods retracted” position in which the set of connecting rods is free and allows a lateral oscillation. Preferably, the jack (29) offers an additional function for damping the lateral oscillation. This invention is of interest in the field of the guidance of public transport road vehicles by a rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Lohr Industrie
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Andre
  • Patent number: 8146512
    Abstract: The invention relates to an anti-extraction safety device comprising, for each roller (13, 14), a rotatably fixed, preferably enveloping, shroud element (32, 33) forming a one-piece functional mechanical assembly with its counterpart. The base of the shroud elements has an extension (46, 47) which extends beneath the projecting flanks (21, 22) of the head of the guiding rail (19) in order to prevent any extraction of the guide assembly. At the front, the base of the shroud elements is preferably shaped as a lip for collecting and disposing of objects which may be present on the guiding track. The invention can be used for the rail guidance of road vehicles used for public transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Lohr Industrie
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Andre, Franck Lamanna
  • Patent number: 8147380
    Abstract: A hydraulic control device with a plurality of gear-actuating cylinders for engaging and disengaging the gears of an automated multi-step transmission, with pressure-controlled gear-regulating valves for controlling the pressure in one pressure chamber of the cylinders, and with a multiplex arrangement of singly switchable pressure-controlled selector valves for assigning the regulating valves to one pressure chamber of the actuating cylinders. The device includes a common pilot valve, designed as a regulating valve, for actuating one of the regulating valves and at least one of the selector valves. The pilot valve features a first control pressure range that contains the switching pressure of the selector valve and a second control pressure range that contains the regulating range of the gear-regulating valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Anton Fritzer
  • Patent number: 8146728
    Abstract: A transmission parking lock and an actuating element (1) for the parking lock. The actuating element includes a pull rod (2) and a roller carrier (3) on which are arranged a first roller (13) for rolling on a first rolling surface on the pawl of the parking lock and a second roller (14) for rolling on a second rolling surface on a guide element, such that the roller carrier (3) can be moved along a predetermined path in the longitudinal direction of the pull rod (2). The roller carrier (3) can move longitudinally on the pull rod (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Heinz Reichert
  • Patent number: 8141496
    Abstract: A sliding body (25) which includes an electrical contact shoe (32) that moves on a guide rail (5) along the length thereof. The sliding body (25) is mounted to the front of a guiding assembly, in the direction of movement of a vehicle, and articulated with the assembly by a connecting rod (26) that is designed to rupture upon exceeding a pre-determined limit. The sliding body (25) includes a device (43), which is located on at least one of the sides of the body, for lifting and releasing objects or debris. The loss of electrical contact between the shoe and the rail enables a risk of derailment to be detected. The invention is suitable for rail-guided vehicle manufactures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Lohr Industrie
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Andre
  • Patent number: 8142332
    Abstract: A transmission device has at least two change-under-load shift elements with transmission capacities that are varied an actuation device. A method for operating a drive train including transmission and drive engine includes a step that when the transmission is shifted, one of the shift elements, which is engaged in the force flow, is disengaged by the actuation device and the other shift element, which is engaged, is disengaged. The actuation device includes an actuator which applies an actuating force to actuate the shift elements and a coupling device by which the actuator communicates with the shift elements to actuate them, such that an actuating force of the actuator, which is actuating the shift element to be disengaged, can be reduced, while an actuating force of the actuator, which is actuating the shift element to be engaged can simultaneously be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Ralf Dreibholz, Matthias Reisch
  • Patent number: 8141272
    Abstract: A shoe sole comprising a foot engaging plate for accommodating a foot of a user and a ground engaging surface/plate. The foot engaging plate is sufficiently rigid so as to resist distortion of the foot engaging plate, during use of the shoe sole, so that the foot remains supported by the foot engaging plate during use of the shoe sole. A pivot member is located between the foot engaging plate and the ground engaging surface/plate to facilitate relative pivoting motion between the foot engaging plate and the ground engaging surface/plate. A layer of resilient material is sandwiched between the foot engaging plate and the ground engaging surface/plate. The resilient material may have one or more bores formed therein which accommodate a compressible material therein to facilitate programming of a desired compression characteristic for the shoe sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Bivab, LLC
    Inventors: Gordon G. Hay, Keith M. Orr, Derek Carroll
  • Patent number: 8141630
    Abstract: An improvement in a sucker rod having an elongated metal body with opposed ends and threaded couplings positioned at each of the opposed ends comprises a thread form on the threaded couplings defining at least two concurrent helixes. Each of the at least two helixes has a different starting position on a circumference of the threaded coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Dover Corporation (Canada) Ltd.
    Inventor: Ross Pliska
  • Patent number: 8136262
    Abstract: A drier information system is provided including display means relating to a given region of the system which means serves, at least while a drying cycle is in operation, to provide a visual display indicating at least one of the following parameters: the extent of the region; a boundary of the region; direction or example of manipulation of a pair of hands or other article while in the region to provide for a preferred drying sequence. The visual display can represent the parameters as a two dimensional array within or adjacent the region. Alternatively the visual display can represent the parameters as a virtual or actual three dimensional array within or adjacent the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Airdri Limited
    Inventor: Peter Collins
  • Patent number: 8140232
    Abstract: A process of controlling and/or regulating an automatic transmission in which a predetermined shifting speed of the gear shift is carried out and adjusted during a shift program, and in which the detection of a constant-speed driving of the vehicle is carried out at least during the shift program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Werner Wolfgang, Maik Wurthner, Ingo Sauter
  • Patent number: 8137557
    Abstract: A liquid aeration apparatus includes a vessel having sidewalls, a closed bottom end and, a liquid outlet being provided at or near the upper end. The sidewalls define a cross-sectional interior open area with a vertical depth. An air diffuser is positioned within the interior open area of the vessel. A liquid intake conduit is positioned with an inlet end located at or near the upper end of the vessel and an outlet located near the bottom end of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventor: Richard Ladouceur
  • Patent number: 8132511
    Abstract: A clean burning premeasured compressed charge for use in black powder firearms as well as cartridges. The premeasured compressed charge is manufactured to have a substantially desired shape which facilitates improved flame propagation by the leading end wall and along the exposed sidewall surfaces of the compressed charge to result in a more complete and rapid burning of the compressed charge both from the leading end wall toward the trailing end wall and also radially inwardly from each one of the four sidewalls toward a center of the premeasured compressed charge. The premeasured compressed charge has a leading end portion and a trailing end portion and the leading end portion is either the same size or a smaller dimension than the trailing end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: American Pioneer Powder, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Neal Epstein, Mark Andrew Griesbach
  • Patent number: 8128530
    Abstract: A method of automatically controlling a neutral position and parking lock of an motor-vehicle transmission to immobilize the vehicle depending on a drive position of the transmission selected by the driver with a selector device and subject to other operating parameters of the motor vehicle. Only when simultaneously the vehicle is essentially stationary, an ignition circuit is electrically interrupted and the selector device is in a “Neutral” position, can an Neutral-holding phase be activated, in which the transmission is in a non-frictionally engaged neutral position as long as the parking lock of the transmission has not yet been engaged. If the Neutral-holding phase has not been activated, the transmission remains non-frictionally connected in the Neutral position until the driver at least intends to exit the vehicle, at which time the parking lock of the transmission is automatically engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Walter Hecht, Armin Gierling, Klaus Steinhauser, Frank Worms, Bernd Zänglein, Stéphane Klein
  • Patent number: 8128465
    Abstract: An air displacing device for transferring air from a first location to a second location comprising a housing including a fan, a prime mover for the fan, means defining an air inlet to receive air from the first location, and an air outlet to deliver air to the second location and a duct for air through the housing from the inlet to the outlet, the fan being operable by way of the prime mover to cause air to be displaced along the duct from the inlet to the outlet, the housing serving to define a datum plane characterized in that the housing has external members adapted for displacement between a first, standby, configuration where the projection of the housing from the datum plane is a minimum and so the volume of the housing is a minimum and a second, working, configuration where the projection of the housing from the datum plane is a maximum and so the volume of the housing is a maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Airdri Limited
    Inventor: Peter Collins
  • Patent number: 8123657
    Abstract: A method of operating a drive train comprising a hybrid drive with a combustion engine and an electric motor; a transmission positioned between the hybrid drive and the output; and a clutch positioned between the combustion engine and the electric motor. When the electric motor exclusively drives the vehicle, the combustion engine can be started by engaging the clutch. At the time when the electric motor permanently or without traction force interruption is coupled to the output, and the rotational speed of the electric motor is greater than the starting rotational speed of the combustion engine, and a clutch, positioned between the combustion engine and the electric motor, is engagedly and disengagedly controlled so that the clutch is brought into slippage, via partial engagement, to start the combustion engine, and thereafter the clutch is completely disengaged before reaching a synchronous rotational speed between the combustion engine and the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Mittelberger, Johannes Kaltenbach, Stefan Blattner
  • Patent number: 8118629
    Abstract: A trimmable and controllable outside drive of a watercraft which comprises at least two actuators (113) for adjusting a thrust tube as well as at least one suspension apparatus (102) which can be fixed to a transom (101), for pivotally mounting the actuators (113). The drive comprises hydraulic (112) and electrical lines (111) for the actuators (113), the hydraulic or electrical energy for adjusting the actuators (113) and electrical signals from the sensors being transmitted by the lines. A bushing apparatus (100) is arranged on the transom (101) and the hydraulic (112) and/or electrical lines (111) are connected, via the bushing apparatus (100), both inside and outside the transom (113)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Fernando Gallato
  • Patent number: 8121762
    Abstract: A method of automatically engaging a parking lock of an automatic or automated transmission of a motor vehicle, which can be engaged by way of a selector device depending on a drive position selected by the driver of the motor vehicle and depending on other operating parameters. In order to achieve as little restriction of the drivability of the motor vehicle as possible, without neglecting the safety of the driver and the surroundings, five different variation of an Auto-P function are proposed for automatically engaging the parking lock: two of these variations are associated with an electrically interrupted ignition circuit of the motor vehicle; two variations are associated with an electrically closed ignition circuit and a simultaneously stopped vehicle drive motor and one variations is associated with an electrically closed ignition circuit and a simultaneously operating drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Armin Gierling, Walter Hecht
  • Patent number: 8118708
    Abstract: A method for controlling an automated friction clutch arranged in a drive train of a motor vehicle in the force flow between a drive engine (3) and a drive transmission (4), which is configured to close passively by spring pressure and can be disengaged and engaged by way of a pressure-medium-actuated clutch actuator (14), such that the actuation position x_K of the clutch actuator (14) or of an associated transmission element is determined and used for controlling the friction clutch (2). To improve the accuracy and reliability of the clutch actuation it is provided that in addition, an actuating pressure p_K of the clutch actuator (14) is determined and that a required change of the clutch torque M_K to a new nominal value M_K_soll takes place under pressure control, in that the actuating pressure p_K of the clutch actuator (14) is set to a nominal value p_K_soll which corresponds to the nominal value M_K_soll of the clutch torque M_K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Bernd Doebele, Martin Miller
  • Patent number: D656315
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventor: Soon Buem Kwon
  • Patent number: D656420
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Tour & Andersson AB
    Inventor: Daniel Jilderos