Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Robert P. Seitter
  • Patent number: 5388898
    Abstract: A hydraulic antilock brake system is described, with a multi-way valve hydraulically switched to connect the brake pressure generator (1) to the wheel brake (2), controlling, in response to the pump pressure prevailing in the auxiliary pressure conduit (4), the pressure fluid connection between the brake pressure generator (1) and the wheel brake (2). The valve (3) is switched by pump pressure in the absence of pressure from the brake pressure generator, but held or switched open if the brake pressure generator is operated. This allows a low-cost adaption to traction slip control with no need for additional electronic controls while substantially preserving the basic circuit configuration, especially the electronic control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Inventors: Hans-Dieter Reinartz, Helmut Steffes
  • Patent number: 5388482
    Abstract: A variable length crank arm in a windshield wiper system provides a depressed park position for an associated wiper blade when the direction of rotation of a drive motor is reversed. The crank arm relies on an eccentric driver to vary its length and between a first length a longer second length. When the eccentric driver is rotated in a first direction to wipe the windshield, a spring loaded pin keeps the eccentric driver rotatably fixed to an output arm with the crank arm consequently at the first length. The spring loaded pin also engages a cam slot in a cam plate, the cam plate rotating freely with the output arm and the eccentric driver in the first direction. To move the blade to the depressed park position, the direction of rotation of the drive motor is reversed. This causes the cam plate to become rotatably stopped, with the now stationary cam slot forcing the pin out of engagement with the output arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Electrical Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher H. Jones, Lloyd L. R. Kuck, Frank R. Lombardo
  • Patent number: 5386893
    Abstract: A controllable hydraulic vibration absorber is disclosed whose power cylinder and a tube defines a connecting duct which affords a balance of volume between both power chambers of the vibration absorber and a balancing chamber which is formed between the tube and an external tube disposed coaxially with it. The controllable vibration absorber valve affords variations of the vibration absorbing power and allows a flow through it in one direction only and is arranged between the connecting duct and the balancing chamber so as to be integrated as to its action in a valve assembly which is constituted by a non-return valve and by a switching valve. The switching valve is inserted between the second power chamber and the connecting duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Joerg Feigel
  • Patent number: 5386165
    Abstract: In order to be able to completely eliminate the axial play of an armature spindle of an electric motor, especially for a windshield wiping system of a motor vehicle, even though conditions change over time, a prestressing member acted upon by a spring leg continuously presses against the end of the armature spindle. The prestressing member does not necessarily have to abut directly on the end of the armature spindle, but rather a cap is inserted onto the end of the armature spindle and non-rotatably fixed to the motor housing or a gear housing. An eccentric formed as the housing of the prestressing member abuts on the outside of the bottom of the cap. In an alternative embodiment, a mushroom shaped prestressing member having a mushroom head presses against the end of the armature spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Bruhn, Bernd Walther
  • Patent number: 5385395
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with a slip-controlled brake system, adapted for use in automotive vehicles, provided with a master cylinder connected to wheel brakes through main pressure conduits. The brake system is made up of hydraulic auxiliary pressure pumps, wheel sensors and electronic circuits for determining the wheel rotation pattern and for generating electrical brake pressure control signals which control electromagnetically actuable pressure fluid inlet and outlet valves provided in the pressure fluid conduits for slip control purposes. At least one volume-displacing pressure pulsation snubber cooperating with the pressure column of the two main pressure conduits is being disposed between the wheel brakes and the appertaining inlet valves of two main pressure conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Volz
  • Patent number: 5385396
    Abstract: A method of assembling elements into a valve block is described, especially for use with slip-controlled brake systems, in which a sealing ball, valve covers or valve seats are inserted into the valve block to be sealed without using force fitting, swaging or other mechanical working of the parts, to avoid contaminating abrasive particles generated by these processes. The elements are inserted into openings in the valve block housing with a clearance fit, and heated to a temperature higher than the austenite starting temperature causing a memory shape to be restored, which provides a sealing fixation of the elements in respective openings in the valve block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Inventors: Erhard Beck, Albrecht Otto
  • Patent number: 5386090
    Abstract: An electric switch unit, in particular for the control of air conditioning units in automotive vehicles. The switch unit includes pushbuttons whose symbols are illuminated by light which is guided from a central source of light through a light-guiding member. The light-guiding member is composed of interconnected light-guiding bars to which projections are molded. From the projections the light exits toward the pushbuttons. The front faces of the projections are concavely curved, and as a result a uniform illumination of the symbol areas is provided. The light-guiding bars are furnished with totally reflecting surfaces, and as a result the total quantity of light incident upon them is reflected into the projections. The quantities of light exiting from each projection are equal. Due to the arrangement of a focusing lens at the transition of the light from the source of light to the light-guiding bars, a parallel beam of light is emitted into the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventor: Georg Hofmann
  • Patent number: 5383602
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper and washing system including a tube with two separate channels, a nozzle head with at least two washing nozzles, one of which is connected to the one channel and the other of which is connected to the other channel of the tube, and a connecting piece from which the tube starts off. In order to avoid wrong assemblies, coding the connections between the tube and the nozzle head as well as between the tube and the connecting piece are provided on the tube on the one hand, and on the nozzle head or on the connecting piece on the other hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Edele, Reinhard Johannes, Oldrich Krizek, Eckhardt Schmid
  • Patent number: 5383718
    Abstract: A brake system which can be employed both for brake slip control and for traction slip control, wherein the brake slip control is performed according to the return delivery principle, while an open-loop system is set up during traction slip control. In order to manage with the same pump (10) in both cases, a valve system composed of a first non-return valve (16) and a second non-return valve (17) is provided at the suction side of the pump. The opening pressure of the first non-return valve (16) is greater than that of the second non-return valve (17). Further, the initial pressure of a low-pressure accumulator (9) is in excess of the opening pressure of the first non-return valve (16). The first non-return valve (16) is operative during brake slip control, while the second non-return valve (17) is operative during traction slip control. Switch-over can be effected for instance by the master cylinder pressure via a control line (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Burgdorf, Hans-Dieter Reinartz, Helmut Steffes, Peter Volz, Erhard Beck, Joachim Maas, Peter Dinkel, Stefan Risch
  • Patent number: 5383087
    Abstract: A layered tubing for use in a motor vehicle composed of a thick outer tubing having an inner and an outer face, the outer tubing made of an extrudable thermoplastic such as a polyamide like Nylon 12; a thin intermediate bonding layer bonded to the inner face of the thick outer layer, the bonding layer composed of an extrudable melt-processible thermoplastic capable of sufficiently permanent laminar adhesion with the thick outer layer which is chemically dissimilar to the thermoplastic employed in the thick outer layer; an interior layer bonded to the intermediate bonding layer, the interior layer composed of a fluoroplastic which is resistant to permeation by and interaction with short-chain aliphatic and aromatic compounds; and an innermost electrostatic discharge layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: ITT Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Noone, Frank L. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 5378025
    Abstract: A release member for a quick-type connector includes an outer sleeve concentrically disposed about an inner sleeve and integrally joined to the inner sleeve at one end. A plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers are formed on the inner sleeve and extend axially from an opposite end of the inner sleeve. Radially outward extending projections are formed on the inner sleeve and engage an inward extending flange on a female connector part to retain the release member in the open end of a bore in the female connector part, with the outer sleeve slidably disposed over the tubular end portion of the female connector part. Engaging surfaces formed between the fingers on the inner sleeve engage deflectable legs on a retainer mounted in the bore of the female connector part when the release member is forcibly urged into the bore in the female connector part to deflect the legs radially outward so as to permit separation of a radially expanded flange on a male conduit from the female connector part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: ITT Corporation
    Inventor: George Szabo
  • Patent number: 5378055
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake system with anti-lock control, in particular for automotive vehicles, comprising a braking pressure generator (18), at least one wheel brake (5), an auxiliary-pressure pump (1), a low-pressure accumulator (22), and a shut-off valve and outlet valve (12, 7) for controlling the braking pressure. The shut-off valve is controlled to permit or prevent pressure fluid flow between the braking pressure generator and the wheel brake by a stepped piston positioned in a stepped bore in a housing. Initially, the stepped-piston maintains the shut-off valve open to permit pressure fluid flow. During slip control operation when pressure fluid from the low-pressure accumulator is delivered to the stepped-bore by the auxiliary-pressure pump, the stepped-piston closes the shut-off valve to prevent pressure fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Maas, Klaus Michaelis
  • Patent number: 5374777
    Abstract: Insertion of plug-in connections connected with cables of a first electric switch in a correspondingly shaped component of a second electric switch, so that the plug-in connections of the first electric switch and the plug-in connections of the second one can easily be connected to the motor vehicle electric network by a single counterplug eliminates the need for a separate plug housing for the plug-in connections of the first switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric
    Inventor: Georg Hofmann
  • Patent number: 5374114
    Abstract: An electrohydraulic pressure control device consisting of one or several electromagnetically operable hydraulic valves arranged in a block-shaped manner on a valve accommodating body. In order to provide both a compact and operationally optimized pressure control device which makes manufacture, checking and assembly as easy as possible and where different thermal expansions of the components are to be received possibly without any tensions, this invention provides that the coils (1), flexibly held frictionally and/or positively by an elastic or plastic holding device (4) arranged on the carrier element (2) of the cover (3), are flexibly alignable with respect to the valve accommodating body (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Burgdorf, Peter Volz, Heinz Loreck
  • Patent number: 5374089
    Abstract: The present invention is a high pressure quick connector especially for use in connecting brake lines of a vehicle. The connector includes a housing which selectively receives a tube retainer cap. Retaining means such as a garter spring or snap ring allow for a low force insertion of the cap into the housing with an very high pull-off force. The cap is used to trap a tube with a bead upset, and the tube may be removed after the cap is unlocked. A second way of releasing the tube includes the use of a tube retainer plug selectively received in the cap, the upset trapped between the plug and cap. The plug can be removed while the cap is still locked in the housing, releasing the tube. A release tool may be used to unlock the cap from the housing. An insertion indicator ring is used to establish the locking of the cap within the housing. A dust boot prevents contaminants from interfering with the operation of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: ITT Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Davie, David Noone, Gary Klinger, Craig Cheney, George Szabo, Duane Pontbriand, Anthony Carman, James D. McDaniel
  • Patent number: 5372308
    Abstract: A washing system for windshields of motor vehicles including a tank for washing water, a tank for a washing powder, and a washing pump. Water is drawn from the tank, and mixed with washing powder. The mixture of washing water and washing powder is transported to a washing nozzle for depositing on the windshield of a vehicle. Washing powder can be added to the washing water in the intake section of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Eletric GmbH
    Inventors: Bruno Egner-Walter, Hans-Michael Gloss, Jiri Mach
  • Patent number: 5372449
    Abstract: A wiper system for motor vehicles is described, which wiper system includes at least one wiper bearing as well as one drive member cooperating with a motor, which drive member is operatively connectable to the wiper bearing via a carrier. At least the connecting section between the wiper bearing as well as the carrier and/or the drive member is provided with a medium impermeable coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Inventors: Kurt Bauer, Eckhardt Schmid
  • Patent number: 5372223
    Abstract: A piston in cylinder shock absorber having a hollow piston rod attached to the piston and a central pipe extending within the piston rod and piston receiving limited flow upon stroking of the piston. A first damper valve creates a variable flow resistance from a reservoir when the piston moves outwardly and a second damper valve creates a variable flow resistance of flow through the piston when the piston is displaced inwardly. A regulating mechanism controls each damper valve by control over the limited flow through the central pipe including an electrically operated servo valve varying outflow from the central pipe to the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Koni B.V.
    Inventor: Cornelis DeKock
  • Patent number: 5370429
    Abstract: A bumper system including an extendable bumper resiliently disposed in the direction of impact. The system is compact and, even at elevated impact speeds, protects the automotive vehicle against damage. The bumper is extended by an adequate amount before or during the situation of danger. A progressive damping characteristic and a suitable drive to quickly extend and to safely return the bumper are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbH & Co., oHG
    Inventors: Gerhard Reuber, Achim Braun
  • Patent number: 5370450
    Abstract: A brake pressure control apparatus for automotive vehicles with an anti-locking control system is presented. It is comprised of a master cylinder, of one or of a plurality of wheel cylinders for wheel brakes, of a pressure modulator for the modulation of the hydraulic pressure in the wheel cylinders of the wheel brakes during a brake pressure control modus, of at least one motor-driven pump for the generation of a hydraulic pressure, of an electronic controller. The outlet valve associated with a wheel cylinder is furnished with a closing element (5) which is connected to the closing element (6) of the inlet valve through a captivating apparatus which is configurated and positioned in such a manner that in its closing position the said closing element (5) of said outlet valve opens the said closing element (6) of said inlet valve and in its open position it closes said closing element of the inlet valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Volz, Bernd Schopper