Patents Represented by Attorney Leo H McCormick
  • Patent number: 7082806
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a diaphragm backing plate for use in a brake booster comprising the steps of moving a coil of metal having parallel first and second sides that define a first width to a first station. Applying a stamping force to remove a section from the coil of metal and create a first plate defined by equal and parallel sides that are connected to each other by an arcuate segments each having a radius that is approximately equal to one-half of the width of the coil plus a minimum width of a lip. Moving the plate to a second station and thereafter rolling a peripheral surface thereon to define a uniform diameter for the plate that is approximately equal to the first width of the roll less twice the minimum width for the lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ryan M Hurlbutt
  • Patent number: 7082870
    Abstract: An arrangement (10) for the fixing of an axially oriented (A) brake booster (12) on a dashboard (14) of an automobile wherein a rear face (16) of the booster (12) is fixed on a front face (18) of the dashboard (14) through a first bayonet fitting (26) interposed between the rear face (16) of the booster (12) and the front face (18) of the dashboard (14) to prevent the brake booster (12) from rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Robert & Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ulysse Verbo, Jean-Charles Maligne, Philippe Richard
  • Patent number: 7077051
    Abstract: A pneumatic booster operated by a plunger (9) housed in a bore (61) and bearing on a moving seat (102) which co-operates selectively with a shut-off member (111). The shut-off member (111) is capable of selective co-operating with a stationary seat (101). The plunger (9) being characterized by a cylindrical body (91) and a ring (92). The ring (92) sliding between a front stop (911) and a rear stop (912) on the cylindrical body (91). A front section of the ring (92) being located between the cylindrical body (91) and the bore (61) while a rear section (922) is designed to bear against the moving seat (102). The ring (92) being temporarily retained in a stationary position in the bore (61) independent of any movement of the cylindrical body (91) through the action of a pivoting key (13) and an elastic snap ring (141) to allow permit and extended actuation of the booster after a sharp braking action has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Levrai, Olivier Castello, Philippe Richard
  • Patent number: 7077050
    Abstract: Pneumatic brake booster, in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a reaction disk (30) interposed between a plunger (28) carried by a control rod actuated by the brake pedal and a thrust rod (32) acting on the primary piston of a tandem master cylinder, the reaction disk (30) being housed inside an annular metal part (36) which cooperates with a stop (50) of the thrust rod (32) by the intermediary of thermal expansion element (48) designed to compensate for the thermal expansion of the reaction disk (30) and its effect on a point of change of assistance ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Juan Simon Bacardit
  • Patent number: 7069778
    Abstract: A fixture and technique for testing a coil spring selected from a supply of springs. Each spring has an unstressed generally helical configuration and the test determines an excess departure from the helical configuration of a spring under a compressive load. The first end of a selected spring is radially fixed in a first guide while a second end of the spring end is axially retained in a movable second guide that is supported on rollers to allow omni-directional transverse radial motion of the second end. An axial compressive force is applied to the selected spring while allowing the second end relatively free radial motion. When compression induced radial motion of the second end exceeds a predetermined threshold, the second end the selected spring closes a normally opened electrical circuit to inform an operator that the selected spring is excessively out of square and should be rejected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Richard E Strehler
  • Patent number: 7069725
    Abstract: When an element of the electro-hydraulic brake circuit (1) is malfunctioning, a master cylinder (2) can brake the vehicle. A brake actuation simulator (8) is then disconnected from the master cylinder (2) by means of an O-ring gasket (22) after the gasket has been compressed between a groove (16) in a secondary piston (11) and a bore (24) in the master cylinder. In order to prevent the gasket from being extruded from the groove during brake release (or brake pedal release) resulting from sudden braking, the invention makes provision for a pressure relief duct (32) to be provided inside the secondary piston. Extra pressure can then be discharged during brake release (or brake pedal release) through the brake release duct (32) from the inside of the chamber (30) of the simulator towards the primary chamber (10) of the master cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Delage, Philippe Bourlon, Jean-Louis Penigault, Omar Brahmi
  • Patent number: 7063001
    Abstract: A pneumatic servomotor for power-assisted braking for a motor vehicle having a control rod (38) for opening and closing at least one axial inlet valve (52) that is interposed between a front chamber (16) connected to a pressure source having a pressure (Pa) greater than a first pressure (P1) and a back chamber (18) and at least one axial balancing valve (50) for actuating a moving partition (14) located between the front chamber (16) and the back chamber (18). The servomotor being characterized by one-piece floating tubular element (76) having axially offset transverse faces (78,80) that have sealing elements (82,84) for sealing the axial inlet valve (52) and the balancing valve (50) with the control rod (38) being activated by a dish-shaped washer (49) carrying two springs (40,122) of different stiffnesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jean-Charles Maligne, Philippe Richard, Stéphane Lacroix, Ulysse Verbo
  • Patent number: 7052051
    Abstract: A quick-coupling device having a support (18) on which a female member (20) is mounted in a manner to move between a position of retaining a male member (14E) in a position fitted into the female member (20) to a position of releasing the male member (14E) from the female member (20). This device has a lever (24) articulated to the support (18) between a rest position, wherein the lever (24) is separated from the female member (20), to a position of collaboration that allows the female member (20) to be driven toward a position to allow the male member (14E) to be released. The lever (24) includes structure (26) for guiding the male member (14E) in such a way as to encourage guidance of the male member (14E) to mate with the female member (20) when the lever (24) is in the rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Francois Gaffe, Remi Demerssemann, Philippe Come
  • Patent number: 7051640
    Abstract: A pneumatic brake booster with reduced dead travel comprising a skirt (10) which can move in a sealed manner in a casing, delimiting a low-pressure chamber and a variable-pressure chamber, with respect to a pneumatic piston (16) over a certain travel. The displacement of the pneumatic piston being controlled by the skirt in a first direction when the skirt comes into contact with a first face of an annular plate (100) which is arranged in the low-pressure chamber and is fastened rigidly to the pneumatic piston, and the displacement of the piston in a second direction is controlled by an elastic means mounted in the low-pressure chamber and bearing by one of its ends on a second face of the annular plate (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Juan Simon Bacardit
  • Patent number: 7048342
    Abstract: A brake booster having a first shell joined to a second shell through a flange (26) on the first shell and a peripheral surface (204) on the second shell. Axial slots (36,36?, . . . 36n) on the flange that extend from an opened end toward a shoulder engage radial slots (38,38?, . . . 38n) to create a first plurality of arcuate projections (40,40?, . . . 40n) that are sequentially separated from a second plurality of arcuate projections (42,42?, . . . 42n). Each arcuate projection (40) has parallel sides that extend from a radial plane (11) on the flange while each arcuate projection (42) has first and second radial tabs (44, 46) thereon. Each arcuate projection (40) is deformed into sealing engagement with an edge (206) on the peripheral surface (204) to position the peripheral surface (204) under the flange while creating an axial gap (x) between the radial tabs (44,46) and the edge (206) to provide a visual inspection of the sealing engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Corporation
    Inventor: Ryan M. Hurlbutt
  • Patent number: 7044566
    Abstract: A caging arrangement for setting a spring height and correspondingly chamber size in a master cylinder. A cylindrical member has a convoluted surface that is placed in a bore of a piston and a ball is pressed into the cylindrical member to radially expand the convoluted surface into engagement with the piston. A spring is placed on the piston and a disc placed on the spring. A first end of a valve stem having a radial projection is passed through the disc and a force applied to the valve stem while holding the piston stationary such that the radial projection engages and outwardly moves an inward flange on the cylindrical body to allow the radial projection to move past the inward flange. The force is removed and the spring expands until the radial projection engages the inward flange to set distance between the piston and the valve stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: William John Penninger, Andrew Paul Wasson, Thomas David Rothbauer
  • Patent number: 7040718
    Abstract: A calibration process for a pneumatic-assistance servomotor in a braking circuit of a motor vehicle. The values of the output pressure (Pmc) of a hydraulic master cylinder associated with the servomotor and of the negative pressure inside the working chamber of the servomotor are measured and recorded with respect to a given negative-pressure value (Pfc) inside a negative-pressure chamber of a servomotor for several operating points P1, P2, P3, P4 of the servomtotor. The operating points being located on either side of a saturation point to precisely determine the coordinates of the saturation point and thereby provide an accurate control of advanced functions of the servomotor with respect to braking operation, the braking assistance and/or the monitoring of the performance or of the ageing of the servomotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Boch GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Quirant, Jean-Marc Piel
  • Patent number: 7040217
    Abstract: A first and second tie rods locating between a front shell and a rear shell of a brake booster through which a master cylinder is connected to a support member. Each of the first and second tie rods have a head that engages the rear shell and a first shaft that extends from the head in a first direction along a first axis through the front shell and the flange and a second shaft that extends from the head in a second direction offset from the first shaft along a second axis through the rear shell and the support member. Fasteners are secured to the first, second, third and fourth shafts such that the front shell and rear shell are compressed between the flange and support member and forces are transmitted into the support member without creating a moment that would change the axial alignment of the first and third shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Masato Wake
  • Patent number: 7032498
    Abstract: A braking amplifier for a vehicle having a vacuum chamber (10), a working chamber (12) separated by a housing (14), a shutter (30) and an intermediate chamber (64). The intermediate chamber (64) is located in the housing (14) and defined by a plurality of circular zones (44) arranged around and axis (6) of the amplifier that are in communication with the vacuum chamber (10). The end of the circular zones (4) have a rear section (50) that form a seat (52) for the shutter (30). The shutter (30) selectively engaging seat (52) to interrupt communication between the vacuum chamber (10) and the intermediate chamber (64) and thereafter place the intermediate chamber (64) in communication with the working chamber (12) to effect a brake application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Philippe Richard, Jean-Pierre Michon
  • Patent number: 7024854
    Abstract: A master cylinder with increased safety having a piston produced by molding a plastic or aluminum alloy. The piston slides in a bore blocked off by an end wall. A valve for the master cylinder bears at rest against a pin that is fixedly mounted in the body of the master cylinder passes through the piston via a longitudinal slot. The dimensions of the master cylinder are determined such that the piston bears against the pin before coming into contact with the end wall of the master cylinder body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hervé Pujol, Serge Aquino, Marc Noblet, Chris Anderson, Thierry Fausten
  • Patent number: 7017471
    Abstract: A method and structure for connecting a pneumatic booster (S) to a brake pedal (F) by nesting a second element (3) inside a second element (2) of a control rod (1). The second element (3) is held one inside the first element (2) by a spring clip (25) that is housed in a circular groove (26) of an adapter (5) to define an elastic attachment and allow for play to be taken up to stabilize the connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Philippe Richard, Olivier Castello, Stéphane Lacroix, Cyril Divoux
  • Patent number: 7011194
    Abstract: A parking brake having first and second brake shoes each of which has a first end that engages an anchor post on a backing plate and a second end that engages an adjuster. An actuator that is located adjacent an anchor post engages a first end and an adjuster engages a second end of webs for the first and second brake shoes. A brake cable that is connected to the actuator provides a force for moving the first and second brake shoes into engagement with a drum to effect a brake application. The adjuster is characterized by the adjuster mechanism including a yieldable member for reducing the space between the second end engagement between the webs to limit braking force to a predetermined maximum. A strut of the adjuster compresses at loads above a predetermined set load to thereby reduces the effective braking diameter, input loads and hence output torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: James E. Doolittle, William E. Sherman, II
  • Patent number: 7010913
    Abstract: A supply device for a braking system, comprising at least one reservoir (2) for supplying a master cylinder, and a rigid support (4) for the reservoir (2), characterized in that the reservoir (2) and the fastening support (4) comprise male (26) and female (28) elements collaborating with one another, and in that elastic sleeves (30) are inserted between the male elements (26) and the female elements (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jean-Michel L'Aot, Philipppe Come, Remi Demersseman, Sylvain Lenczner
  • Patent number: D519534
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: John Edmund Mackiewicz
  • Patent number: D525181
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Rober Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Charles Byron Horner