Patents Examined by Anna Momper
  • Patent number: 9097304
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for retaining brake pads in disc brakes, such as air-operated disc brakes utilized on commercial vehicles, and for installing and removing brake pads, without the need to employ brake pad retaining devices which radially over-top the brake pads. A preferred embodiment includes a retaining element, preferably a spring steel clip, having protrusions which face in opposite directions to engage corresponding slots in a brake pad lateral edge and in a brake pad carrier brake pad-facing surface. When installed in a radially-inward direction, the brake pad carrier side protrusion engages the brake pad carrier slot, and cooperates with the brake pad lateral side protrusion to resist brake pad movement in the radially-outward direction. The brake pad carrier side protrusion may be manually pressed toward the brake pad to disengage the protrusion from the carrier slot to permit withdrawal of the brake paid from the carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald S. Plantan, Lonnie F. Cool, Harish Radhakrishnan
  • Patent number: 9090308
    Abstract: A brake auxiliary device includes a first connecting module, a brake cable unit connected with the first connecting module, a second connecting module connected with the brake cable unit, a first brake cable connected with the second connecting module, and a second brake cable connected with the second connecting module. The brake cable unit is connected to a front brake of a bicycle. The second brake cable is connected to a rear brake of the bicycle. Thus, when one of the two brake levers of the bicycle is driven, the rear wheel is initially braked, and the front wheel is then braked after the rear wheel is braked. In addition, when the other one of the two brake levers is driven, the rear wheel is braked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: AP Machinery Corp.
    Inventor: Chih-Hsiang Chiang
  • Patent number: 9091313
    Abstract: A full contact brake comprising: (a) an inboard housing including: an inner and outer seal groove including a seal; (b) an outboard housing including: an inner and outer seal groove including a seal; and (c) a bridge tube between the inboard housing and the outboard housing; wherein the inboard housing, the outboard housing, and the bridge tube form a housing comprising: (i) an inboard piston between the inner and outer seal groove; (ii) an outboard piston between the inner and outer seal groove; and (iii) a rotor between the inboard and outboard piston so that the inboard piston is moved towards an inboard side and the outboard piston is moved towards an outboard side of the rotor; and wherein the seal of the inboard housing forms an interference fit around the respective piston so that rotation of the inboard and outboard piston respectively are substantially prevented during a brake apply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: AKEBONO BRAKE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Galus Chelaidite, Gang Lou
  • Patent number: 9091319
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hydraulic shock absorber. A solid main piston is designed to slide in a damping cylinder parallel to the movement generated when the shock absorber is subjected to a compression or a rebound stroke, the main piston dividing the damping cylinder into a first damping chamber containing the piston rod and a second damping chamber which does not contain the piston rod. A pressurization reservoir is pressurized by a force acting on a moving piston. The pressurization reservoir is arranged outside the damping cylinder and oriented at an angle relative to the damping cylinder. Two separate, adjustable valves generate a damping force acting in opposition to the stroke movement by restricting a damping medium flow between the damping chambers. A fourth defined chamber is hydraulically connected via separate flow paths to both the first and the second damping chamber and the pressurization reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Ohlins Racing AB
    Inventors: Atsushi Ishii, Alexandra Jarlmark
  • Patent number: 9091315
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wave spring (2) which comprises a spring strip (4) which is coiled in a substantially circular-ring-shaped manner and, over the circumference, describes a wavy line which oscillates about a radial reference plane and has wave crests (6) and wave troughs. The ends of the circular-ring-shaped spring strip (4) are connected by means of a weld seam (10) which is arranged in a low-tension region of the wavy line of the spring strip (4) between a wave crest (6) and an adjacent wave trough (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Scherdel Innotec Forschungs—Und Entwicklungs—GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Doetterl
  • Patent number: 9086693
    Abstract: A safety brake device for moving machine elements to prevent injury to the extremities of the operator of a machine if the distance of said operator from the moving machine element is less than a defined safety area. The device is characterized by an arrangement for detecting the operator position, in order to permit operation of the machine only if the operator remains within the defined working area, an arrangement for detecting the position of the extremities of the operator within a predefined safety zone, which enables the required work activities to be performed, and a brake device, by means of which the moving machine element can be immediately stopped if the extremities of the operator go beyond the safety area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Inventor: Umberto Calliari
  • Patent number: 9085896
    Abstract: An energy absorber has at least one hollow core post filled with coolant, two supporting boards, multiple first material layers and second material layers. The supporting boards are mounted respectively on two ends of the at least one hollow core post. The first material layers and second material layers are alternately mounted between the supporting boards. Accordingly, the operation temperature of the energy absorber can be prevented from increasing by the coolant in the core post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Inventor: Chong-Shien Tsai
  • Patent number: 9080634
    Abstract: A shock absorber has a pressure tube with a piston assembly slidably disposed within the pressure tube and attached to a piston rod. The piston assembly divides the pressure tube into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. The piston assembly includes a frequency dependent valve assembly attached to the piston rod which defines a housing attached to the piston rod and a piston disposed within the housing. The piston moves within the housing to control the fluid flow through a bypass fluid passage that bypasses the piston assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Nowaczyk, Gunther Bismans
  • Patent number: 9080630
    Abstract: Methods and systems for preventing vacuums within a snubber during a predetermined condition are disclosed. The snubber includes a body at least partially filled with fluid, a piston capable of sliding within the fluid in the body, a lockup valve that allows the piston to move freely under operating conditions and limits the motion of the piston under a predetermined set of conditions, and a reservoir positioned within the piston rod containing a reserve of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventor: Richard E. Richards
  • Patent number: 9079573
    Abstract: An assembly includes a fluid reservoir and a master cylinder for a motor vehicle hydraulic brake system, the fluid reservoir being fastened to the master cylinder by a releasable connection and including at least one connection fitting, which is received in a corresponding connection aperture of the master cylinder. The fluid reservoir includes one or more components, which under a defined force applied to the fluid reservoir, allow a movement of at least one part of the fluid reservoir in the direction of the master cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Neumann, Peter Tandler, Swen Ottmann, David Sibr, Stepan Vit
  • Patent number: 9080584
    Abstract: A pneumatic cylinder having end position damping of the cylinder piston is controlled by means of a vent path and a control valve, the control valve comprises a control piston, the control side of which is pressurized by a pneumatic pressure which exists in a control chamber. The movement of the control piston into its closing position is pneumatically controlled by the increasing pressure in the damping chamber during the beginning of the damping. No additional components or controls are to be provided, so that the control of the end position damping occurs exclusively by the pressure conditions prevailing at the time when the damping begins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: PARKER-HANNIFIN MANUFACTURING GERMANY GMBH KG
    Inventors: Axel Fröschle, Peter Rohatschek, Thomas Henke, Rainer Schweizer, Alexander Buchhauser
  • Patent number: 9074648
    Abstract: A braking mechanism operably engaging at least one wheel where the mechanism is capable of transitioning the at least one wheel between unlocked and locked states is provided. The braking mechanism includes a flipper and a cam. The flipper is adapted to move in X, Y and Z-directions and includes a discontinuous track having an open slot portion and a surface path portion. The open slot portion includes a home position and an engaged position. The cam includes a pin which cooperatively moves along the discontinuous track. When the at least one wheel is in an unlocked state, the pin is in the home position and when the at least one wheel is in a locked state, the pin is in the engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventor: Travis Spoor
  • Patent number: 9068306
    Abstract: An impact attenuator for vehicles, including an energy absorbing device for decelerating forces, including a housing, at least two pins arranged in the housing which are arranged in parallel to each other in the housing, as well as a metallic, elongated draw element, which can be positioned within the housing such that it extends between and in contact with the pins, wherein the pins and the draw element are positioned such that a change of direction appears on the draw element when passing by each pin such that at mutual moving of the draw element and the housing in relation to each other, the movement is decelerated due to deformation of the draw element at passage of each pin. The pins and the draw element are positioned such that the draw element obtains a change of direction of at least 90° when passing at least two of the pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: BIRSTAVERKEN AB
    Inventor: Lars-Åke Gisslin
  • Patent number: 9068618
    Abstract: A piston assembly of a shock absorber is provided. A compression retainer and a rebound retainer are disposed above and under a piston body. A blow-off reducing unit is disposed between the compression retainer and an auxiliary valve and on a bottom surface of the auxiliary valve to form a plurality of blow-off points, so that a rapid variation in a damping force can be considerably reduced even in a low-speed and middle-speed transition period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chun Sung Yu
  • Patent number: 9068623
    Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator (100) comprises magnets (109, 111, 113, 115, 11), and a ferromagnetic structure (103) accommodating control conductors (118, 121, 123, 125). The magnets and the structure can move with respect to one another under control of control currents in the control conductors. The magnetic field in a gap (107) between the magnets and the ferromagnetic structure is oriented perpendicular to the direction of relative movement. The structure (103) accommodates damping conductors (127) that form closed loops of an electrically conductive material, different from the ferromagnetic material. The damping conductors (127) provide a damping force induced by the relative movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: SKF BV
    Inventors: Bart Ludo Jozef Gysen, Johannes Jacobus Hubertus Paulides, Elena Andreevna Lomonova, Laurentiu Encica, Bernardus Gerardus Van Leeuwen
  • Patent number: 9067764
    Abstract: A swing damper (1) for dampening swinging motion of working element, comprising an upper part (2), that is connected to a suspension, and a lower part (3), that is connected to a rotator, wherein the upper part (2) and the lower part (3) are pivotally connected to each other, wherein between the upper part (2) and the lower part (3) are arranged discs (7, 8, 9,10, 11), which can swing around central axis (6), wherein at least one of said discs (7, 8) is secured against rotation relative to the upper part (2) and at least one of said discs (9, 10, 11) is secured against rotation relative to the lower part (3), whereby the upper part (2) and the lower part (1) are pivotally connected to each other through a whole center pin (14), and whereby the swing damper (1) comprises tensioning elements (20, 21, 22) operating to press the discs (7, 8, 9,10, 11) together during the swing dampening operation, wherein the tensioning elements (20, 21, 22) are arranged at least in one or more discs (7, 8, 10, 11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: BALTROTORS, SIA
    Inventor: Andris Martinsons
  • Patent number: 9062737
    Abstract: A shock absorber has a first pressure tube and a second pressure tube. A first piston is disposed within the first pressure tube and a second piston is disposed within the second pressure tube. Movement of the first and second pistons within their respective pressure tubes control both damping characteristics for the shock absorber and stiffness for the shock absorber. Valving in the pistons and/or external valving associated with each pressure tube generates both the damping characteristics and the stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: McLaren Automotive Limited
    Inventor: Will Hoult
  • Patent number: 9062733
    Abstract: A gas spring includes a housing having an end configured to receive a rod therethrough, the rod extending to a piston movably positionable within the housing. A spacer separates a pair of sealing devices and forming a compartment containing oil that is positioned near the end of the housing, the compartment having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is defined by the sealing devices, the spacer and the rod. The second portion is defined by the sealing devices, the spacer and the housing. The first portion is in fluid communication with the second portion permitting circulation of oil therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Ryan Lee Swenson
  • Patent number: 9062725
    Abstract: A disc brake assembly includes a brake pad having a first pad abutment spaced from a second pad abutment and a third pad abutment positioned between the first pad abutment and the second pad abutment. An actuator is operable to apply a force to the brake pad to apply the brake. The disc brake assembly has a first reaction abutment facing the first pad abutment, a second reaction abutment facing the second pad abutment, and a third reaction abutment facing the third pad abutment. The first, second and third pad abutments are operable to transfer brake pad drag torque to the first, second and third reaction abutments respectively. The disc brake is configured such that under no load conditions with the third pad abutment engaging the third reaction abutment, the first pad abutment is spaced from the first reaction abutment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Braking Systems (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Jason Morris, Paul Roberts, Norman Breakwell, Peter K. Gibbens, Martin P. Taylor, Arvinash Ullagaddi, Darshan Pateel, Sanjeev Kulkarni, Kishan Kumar Udupi
  • Patent number: 9050955
    Abstract: A hydraulic vehicle brake system has a pedal travel simulator having a primary chamber and a secondary chamber, between which a piston is situated so as to be displaceable, the secondary chamber being fluidically connected to a storage chamber. Brake fluid from the storage chamber is able to be supplied via a hydraulic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Kunz, Stefan Strengert