Patents Assigned to Akebono
  • Patent number: 5067578
    Abstract: In a traction control system for motor vehicles, a lower limit for throttle opening degree command with respect to each gear position of transmission is set up, and when the transmission is shifted up, the throttle opening degree command is decreased down to the lower limit for throttle opening degree command corresponding to the gear position assumed through the shift-up operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1991
    Assignees: Isuzu Motors Limited, Fujitsu Limited, Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd., Akebono Research and Development Centre Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Shirata, Hideaki Watanabe, Naoyuki Hagiya, Satomi Ookubo, Shigeki Moride
  • Patent number: 5066229
    Abstract: A jig for holding a plurality of disc brake pads during curing of the pads after the heat forming thereof, including, a frame, a pair of hanger shafts, a front support plate, a rear support plate, and a drive mechanism. The frame has a front plate and a rear plate. The hanger shafts extend from the front plate to the rear plate. The front support plate and the rear support plate are slidably fitted on the hanger shafts so that both support plates can be guided by the hanger shafts. Springs are provided between the rear plate and the rear support plate. The drive mechanism includes a gear and a bolt. The gear has teeth on its outside circumferential surface and is rotatably supported by the front plate. When the gear is rotated, the front support plate is pushed toward the rear plate by the bolt, and the pads are interposed in a compressed state between both of the support plates after the heat forming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaji Kitajima
  • Patent number: 5061016
    Abstract: Disclosed is a brake fluid pressure control apparatus in which an anti-lock control mechanism is connected to a hydraulic booster. A large-diameter piston is combined with a small-diameter piston so that the pressurization effected by the master cylinder M/C can be augmented by virtue of the difference in diameter between these pistons before it is transmitted to the wheel cylinder W/C. By moving forwards, the pistons cause a fluid supply passage between the fluid pressure source and a wheel cylinder W/C to be opened. With this structure, the size and weight of a brake fluid pressure control apparatus can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Hirobe
  • Patent number: 5061171
    Abstract: Apparatus for performing a friction material includes a friction material-charging device for charging an appropriate amount of a friction material into a cavity in an intermediate die member receiving a lower die member therein; a leveling device including a base having a plurality of narrow bars depending from the base, a first elevator mechanism for vertically moving the base, so that when the base is moved downward, the narrow bars are inserted into the cavity, and a device for imparting a horizontal reciprocal movement to the base when the base is moved downward, so as to level the friction material by the narrow bars; a recess-pressing device including a push rod, and a second elevator mechanism for vertically moving the push rod, so that when the push rod is moved downward, the push rod is inserted into the cavity in the intermediate die member so as to press the friction material into the recess; and a pressing device including a third elevator mechanism for vertically moving an upper die member, so t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yozo Akatsu
  • Patent number: 5053102
    Abstract: A brake bonding apparatus in which brake linings are positioned between a loop-like pressure-imposing band and a pair of brake shoes, which are disposed at opposite locations on the inner side of the band, and pressure-bonded to the brake shoes by expanding in opposite direction an expanding member which is urged by springs. The pressure-imposing band is provided with rigid strips at two circumferential locations for positioning itself in a predetermined position and is formed in substantially eliptic shape. The expanding member is arranged not to hold the rib in sandwich relation, but merely to abut the end portions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukio Iwata
  • Patent number: 5052811
    Abstract: Apparatus for blending a friction material includes a number of hoppers for holding components of the friction material, respectively, each of the hoppers having a discharge port for discharging the component. Screw feeders are connected respectively to the hoppers so as to transfer the components discharged from the discharge ports. Vibration feeders transfer the components, fed from the screw feeders, respectively. A plurality of weighing devices receive the components, fed from the vibration feeders, respectively, and weigh the components. The weighing devices have different weighing capacities. An agitator receives all the components from the weighing devices, and agitates the components. Each of the weighing devices is movable between each of the vibration feeders and the agitator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yozo Akatsu, Toshiyasu Ichimura
  • Patent number: 5047941
    Abstract: A wheel acceleration slip control device for a vehicle, such as an automobile, in which the degree of opening of the throttle is controlled according to the difference between a driven wheel corresponding speed or driven wheel speed and each of a first and a second threshold values which are determined with respect to a vehicle speed. Control maintains the degree of the degree of opening of the throttle when the driven wheel corresponding speed or driven wheel speed is between the first and second threshold values, whereby excessively large variations of engine torque are prevented, the engine speed can be stably increased, and the vehicle can be smoothly accelerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignees: Akebono Brake Industry Co. Ltd., Akebono Research and Development Centre Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Seki
  • Patent number: 5038898
    Abstract: The present invention involves an improvement in a conventional drum brake assembly which utilizes a pair of brake shoes separated by an adjustable strut. A parking brake lever is pivotally attached to one of the brake shoes and when it is rotated in a braking direction, causes both brake shoes to expand by interacting with the adjustable strut. A plate spring attached to a backing plate allows the parking brake lever to pass in the braking direction after assembly of the drum brake, thereby removing slack and properly adjusting the drum brake. The plate spring can be displaced from outside the drum brake to allow the parking brake lever to pass in the opposite direction for disassembly of the drum brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Inoue
  • Patent number: 5038288
    Abstract: A vehicle driving force controlling apparatus provided with a non-driving wheel speed detector, a driving wheel speed detector, an accelerator pedal opening degree detector, and a controller for supplying a throttle instruction signal to the throttle valve on the basis of outputs of the non-driving and driving wheel detectors, and the controller varies a lowest limit of the throttle instruction signal according to an output of the accelerator pedal opening degree detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd., Akebond Research and Development Centre Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeki Moride, Shohachi Nakaya, Kinji Ogino, Katsuya Miyake
  • Patent number: 5028095
    Abstract: The pressure increase of the brake hydraulic pressure starts again at a time point where the wheel speed, which has been decelerated due to an increase in the brake hydraulic pressure, recovers the speed due to the subsequent pressure decrease and holding of the brake hydraulic pressure and reaches the speed (Vv-Vx) which is lower than the computed vehicles speed Vv by a predetermined value .DELTA.Vx, where the predetermined value .DELTA.Vx varies in accordance with the magnitude of the friction coefficient of the road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignees: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd., Akebono Research and Development Centre Ltd.
    Inventor: Satomi Okubo
  • Patent number: 5025897
    Abstract: A disk brake of a floating caliper type having a disk rotating with a vehicle wheel, a caliper having a hydraulic cylinder mechanism, a support member secured to a stationary portion of a vehicle and a pair of friction pads mounted on the support member. The friction pads supported by the support member through wedge contact and resiliently urged by spring portions of pad clip members so that the friction pads are kept in surface contact with the support member at the time of non-braking. A sufficient area for transmitting the braking forces applied by the friction pads are stably maintained at the time of start of the braking, and the rotation moment on the pads are reduced and the braking forces are dispersedly transmitted to the disk run-in and run-out sides of the support member during the braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Hirashita, Seiya Odaka
  • Patent number: 5020623
    Abstract: A traction control system includes a control rod connected to a throttle lever and being slidable with respect to a housing to which an accelerator pedal is connected. The control rod is movable in response to a driving wheel acceleration slip signal so as to return the throttle lever. A control device controls the movement of the control rod. A set spring acts between the control rod and the housing. The set spring has such a spring force that the set spring is not compressed by the pressing-down of the accelerator pedal in the absence of the driving wheel acceleration slip signal, so that the control rod can be moved together with the housing. The spring force of the set spring is such that during the above movement of the control rod, the set spring is compressed when the accelerator pedal is strongly pressed down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignees: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd., Akebono Research Development Centre Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshifumi Maehara
  • Patent number: 5014602
    Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder that is capable of being set in three positions utilizing a movable cylinder with a fixed main piston and auxiliary pistons slidably mounted within the cylinder. Right and left fluid chambers are defined, within the cylinder, by the main piston and right and left auxiliary pistons respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukio Iwata
  • Patent number: 5009293
    Abstract: A multiple disc brake apparatus provided with at least one rotor rotatable with a vehicle wheel, a housing secured to an unrotatable portion of the vehicle, at least two pads supported by the housing and located on both sides of the rotors, a cylinder member secured to the housing, and a piston member mounted on the cylinder member to urge each pad against a frictional surface of the rotor responsive to a supply of a pressurized brake fluid to the cylinder. The cylinder member includes a main part fitted sealably in the cylinder member, a sub-part disposed between the main part and the pads, and a first heat-resistant member provided between the main part and the sub-part, in such a manner that the main part, the first heat-resistant member and the sub-part are arranged in series. The cylinder member is independently provided from the housing, and the cylinder member is fixedly secured to the housing through a second heat-resistant member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Assignees: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd., Akebono Research and Development Centre Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5002146
    Abstract: A traction control system comprises a control piston mounted within a control cylinder disposed between a throttle lever and an accelerator pedal, a first cable an end of which is connected to the control piston whereas the other end is connected to the throttle lever, a second cable an end of which is connected to the control piston whereas the other end is connected to the accelerator pedal, fixed pulleys guiding the second cable, a movable pulley urged by a balance spring toward a direction in which the second cable stretches, and a pressure control device supplying a fluid pressure to a control chamber of the control cylinder so that the control piston moves toward a direction in which the first cable slacks thereby allowing the throttle lever to return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignees: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd., Akebono Research and Developement Centre Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Sakai
  • Patent number: 5002148
    Abstract: A traction control method/apparatus for motor vehicles is arranged such that at an initial stage of the starting or accelerating operation of the motor vehicle where a large amount of slip of the driving wheel tends to be caused, a braking force is sufficiently applied to the driving wheel to restrain the slip thereof; and after the engine output is adjusted through accelerator or throttle control which is performed simultaneously with the application of the braking force, the procedure for controlling the brake hydraulic pressure is changed to eliminate the difference between the lefthand and righthand driving wheel speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignees: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd., Akebono Research and Development Centre Ltd., Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Katsuya Miyake, Kinji Ogino, Shigeki Moride, Hideo Akima
  • Patent number: 4991910
    Abstract: An anti-lock control system for motor vehicles is designed to have its computed vehicle speed modified as the motor vehicle is braked. In this invention, the computed vehicle speed persists along a reference deceleration gradient line representing a predetermined acceleration follow-up limit measured with respect to the wheel speed for a predetermined period of time from a point of time when the deceleration of the computed vehicle speed reaches the reference deceleration gradient line for the first time after the motor vehicle was braked. Thereafter, the computed vehicle speed is modified to follow a deceleration gradient line with a gradient that is gentler than that of the reference deceleration gradient line, until a threshold speed is reached, which is lower by a predetermined amount than and follows the computed vehicle speed with such a speed difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruki Shimanuki, Yuji Matsubara, Takao Maki
  • Patent number: 4992730
    Abstract: A method of computing the rotating speed of a rotating body includes the steps of setting speed computation reference time periods with respect to a pulse train signal obtained from the output of a rotating speed sensor; measuring time length from the last pulse edge in the previous speed computation reference time period to the last pulse edge in the current speed computation reference time period; and computing the rotating speed of the rotating body on the basis of the result of the time length measurement. The time point when the previous procedure of speed computation terminated corresponds to the time point when the current procedure of speed computation starts, thus making it possible to achieve continuous speed computation. In this way, an enhanced accuracy can be achieved in speed measurement for low speed range, which leads to improved control performance in anti-lock control and traction control for the low speed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoyuki Hagiya
  • Patent number: 4984164
    Abstract: An anti-lock control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising, a sensor for sensing wheel speeds of the vehicle, a braking system for braking the vehicle wheels, and a controller for controlling the braking system, according to an output of the wheel speeds sensors. The controller set a vehicle speed, a first and second threshold speeds, whereby the first and second threshold speeds follow over time the vehicle speed with a constant prescribed speed difference so as to satisfy the relation Vv>VT1>VT2, where Vv, VT1 and VT2 represent the vehicle speed, first and second threshold speeds, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignees: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd., Akebono Research and Development Centre Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshifumi Maehara, Satomi Okubo
  • Patent number: 4982806
    Abstract: In an anti-lock control system for a motor vehicle, the design is made such that such that computed vehicle speed is prevented from remarkably departing from real vehicle speed as driving wheel slips before anti-lock control is started, thereby preventing occurrence of non-braking condition when anti-lock control is started. To this end, the manner in which the computed vehicle speed is computed, is changed between during braking operation (when anti-lock control is being effected) and non-braking operation (when no anti-lock control is being effected).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yoshizawa, Satoru Eguchi, Haruki Shimanuki, Katsuya Miyake, Yoshiaki Hirobe