Patents Examined by Anna Momper
  • Patent number: 9505393
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a brake device capable of detecting a failure in each of components, by which booster control is performed, at an early stage even during vehicle running. The brake device is configured to discharge brake fluid into a communicating fluid path that connects a fluid path of a primary system and a fluid path of a secondary system, and to control a first communicating valve for restricting a flow of brake fluid from the communicating fluid path to the fluid path of the primary system and a second communicating valve for restricting a flow of brake fluid from the communicating fluid path to the fluid path of the secondary system in respective valve-closing directions, so as to check at least a state of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Asahi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9500253
    Abstract: In shock absorber system 10, solenoid 18 varies the damping force by changing the position of spring seat 24, and the effective preload force, at the same time. In the normal, de-energized condition (with no current), damping forces are generated by the piston valve 30 including piston 20. The actuated valve spring 16 is relaxed and set in such a way that it applies only a minimum preload force to the rebound-side disc stack 28. The motion of the plunger 14, pin 32 and movable spring seat 24 assembly changes the spring force by varying the distance between the movable spring seat 24 and the stationary spring seat 22. In the energized state, applying current to coil 12 generates a pulling force on the plunger 14 in the direction of the core element 34 to attract plunger 14 towards the core 34 and across the initial gap 36 until it is in a direct contact with the core's surface 38.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: BeijingWest Industries, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Janusz Goldasz, Thomas W. Nehl, Zbigniew Szklarz
  • Patent number: 9488244
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a cylinder, a piston, and a piston rod. The piston includes a first valve and a second valve. The first valve includes a first leaf valve, a first valve seat portion, a second valve seat portion, and a first oil passage. The second valve includes a second leaf valve and a second oil passage. The first valve and the second valve are arranged in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Mizuno
  • Patent number: 9475356
    Abstract: One variation may include a product comprising a top mount for a strut comprising a first shell portion and a second shell portion and a main resilient or elastomeric element housed by the first shell portion and the second shell portion, the resilient or elastomeric element being split into at least two pieces and construct and arranged to receive a portion of a strut rod. One variation may include a product for using in a strut top mount comprising an outer shell and a main resilient or elastomeric element received in the outer shell, the main resilient or elastomeric element being split into at least two pieces and being constructed and arranged to receive a portion of a strut rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Bryan D. Wilson
  • Patent number: 9475475
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake system includes: a plurality of hydraulic brakes; and a first hydraulic pressure generator including a first hydraulic pressure source and a first hydraulic pressure controlling portion that is configured to control an output hydraulic pressure of the first hydraulic pressure source to a target hydraulic pressure. The plurality of hydraulic brakes includes (a) at least one disk brake and (b) at least one drum brake. The first hydraulic pressure generator is in communication with a first brake cylinder that is the brake cylinder of each of the at least one disk brake, and is isolated from a second brake cylinder that is the brake cylinder of each of the at least one drum brake, in a case when a regenerative cooperative control is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Nakata, Takahiro Okano
  • Patent number: 9470289
    Abstract: A torque rod includes a rod main body, a first bushing and a second bushing. The rod main body is made of resin and provided integral with a first ring section and a second ring section on each end of an arm section. A first rib extends from the arm section to a front lateral surface of the second ring section. In a plan view, a second rib is provided to overlap with the first rib. The first rib projects forwardly of and in the left and right directions of the second rib. This projecting portion forms an enlarged diameter portion. Due to this enlarged diameter portion, an area of the first rib is made larger than an area of the second rib thereby to increase a rigidity of a forward side of the second ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: YAMASHITA RUBBER KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hitoshi Shimada
  • Patent number: 9464678
    Abstract: Calliper body (4) for disk brake having two elongated elements (5 and 6) on opposite sides of the disk and suitable for supporting and pressing pads (13 and 14) against the disk (2), each of said ‘elongated bodies (5 and 6) comprising an exit portion (97) of thrust means suitable for facing one of said pads (13, 14), each of said exit portions (97) having a boundary (96) delimited on the opposite side to the rotation axis (9) by an upper boundary (98) which borders a radially outer portion (21, 22) of the elongated body, said calliper body (4) having at least one connection bridge (3) with an inner bridge side (30, 31) facing towards the calliper body, said radially outer portion being divisible, along its direct tangential extension parallel to the circumferential direction, into three substantially equal sections (23, 24, 25 or 26, 27, 28), of which two lateral sections (23 and 25 or 26 and 28) and one interposed central section (24, 27), wherein said calliper body (4) comprises at least one reinforcement e
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: FRENI BREMBO S.P.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Cerutti, Davide D'Alessio
  • Patent number: 9464682
    Abstract: The non-asbestos frictional material composition containing a binder, an organic filler, an inorganic filler, and a fiber base material includes: copper in a content of 5 mass % or less as a copper element; a metal fiber other than a copper fiber and a copper alloy fiber in a content of 0.5 mass % or less; iron powder and tin powder as the inorganic filler in a total content of 1-12 mass %. The non-asbestos frictional material composition can provide a frictional material with excellent friction coefficient, anti-crack properties, and abrasion resistance even with the reduced content of copper and a copper fiber that possibly cause environmental pollution. The frictional material and the friction member are formed by using the above-mentioned non-asbestos frictional material composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI CHEMICAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Unno, Kazuya Baba, Takashi Kikudome
  • Patent number: 9456694
    Abstract: A seat support assembly including a substantially tubular containing jacket having a first end with an inwardly oriented return lip and a second end closable with a sealing closure, a guide portion adapted to be at least partially received by a seat stand, a resilient separator abutting a portion of the guide portion and the sealing closure, an adapter to attach to the guide portion and at least abut an inner surface of the containing jacket wherein the assembly damps oscillation between the adapter and the containing jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Muddie's Holdings Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Douglas Barrington Paul
  • Patent number: 9452744
    Abstract: A pedal force simulator for a hydraulic brake system of a vehicle has a simulator chamber and a simulator piston that can be moved along a working path within the simulator chamber. The pedal force simulator has a line arrangement by which the simulator chamber can be brought into fluid communication with a pressure chamber of a brake cylinder of the hydraulic brake system. The line arrangement has a valve arrangement, the throttling effect of which depends on the position of the simulator piston along the working path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Uwe Reuter
  • Patent number: 9453553
    Abstract: A spring retainer for a torsional vibration damper, including: first and second oppositely facing sides; at least one curved portion forming at least part of a radially outermost portion of the spring retainer and including: at least a portion of the first side enclosing at least one space and including at least one indentation extending in a circumferential direction; and at least a portion of the second side including at least one protrusion extending in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co.
    Inventors: Frank Wolf, Rolf Mueller
  • Patent number: 9441713
    Abstract: A vehicle braking system bias adjuster which includes a brake bias adjustment knob assembly which enables the driver of the vehicle to quickly and easily set, adjust, and visually and quickly determine the relative front to rear (or right front to left front) brake bias or brake bias setting of the vehicle before and while driving the vehicle. The brake bias adjustment knob assembly visually indicates the exact amount of brake bias, or if there is no bias at all. The ratio is expressed in numbers to enable the driver to reset the brake bias to a known value of ratio as needed for track conditions and vehicle weight changes. The value in numbers is reproducible. The present disclosure also provides a method and apparatus for retrofitting an existing vehicle with a brake bias adjustment knob assembly which enables the driver of the vehicle to quickly and easily set, adjust, and visually determine the relative brake bias or brake bias setting (i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Innovatech LLC
    Inventor: Bruce Nesbitt
  • Patent number: 9440663
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a spring device including a spring body substantially made of a polymeric material and defining an axial direction and a radial direction. The spring body, in the axial direction, has a central section located between a first end section terminating in a first outer end surface and a second end section terminating in a second outer end surface, the central section having at least one radially waisted section. The first end section has a recess extending, in the axial direction, from the first outer end surface towards the central section such that an axial spring body cavity is formed, the axial spring body cavity being confined by a compliant inner surface. An insert is inserted into the axial spring body cavity, the insert contacting the inner surface of the spring body to modify a rigidity of the spring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Bombardier Transportation GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Wolf, Michael Wusching
  • Patent number: 9422996
    Abstract: A wheel housing for a vehicle, such as a truck. The wheel housing includes a rotatable hub and stationary axle housing disposed within the hub. A wet brake assembly is disposed between the axle housing and the hub. The wet brake assembly includes a disc stack, which includes a plurality of friction plates that are coupled for rotation with the hub and that are separated from each other by a plurality of separator plates that remain stationary with the axle housing. The disc stack is cooled by coolant or oil that flows through a closed circuit. During a braking event, pressure spikes in the coolant circuit are alleviated by the placement of a compressible accumulator in the outlet passageway of the coolant circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew J Kleitsch
  • Patent number: 9416816
    Abstract: A damper for a drive shaft of a vehicle, which is installed to a predetermined position of the drive shaft for transmitting torque of an engine to a driven wheel, may include a bimetal or a metallic member corresponding to the bimetal; and a hollow body molded of a rubber material to surround the bimetal or the metallic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Won Goo Lee
  • Patent number: 9416843
    Abstract: Controllable hydraulic vibration-damping support comprising a main hydraulic circuit comprising a working chamber, a compensation chamber, and a first constricted passageway, and an auxiliary hydraulic chamber separated from the working chamber by a decoupling valve and communicating with the main hydraulic circuit by means of a second constricted passageway having a resonance frequency of less than 5 Hz. The auxiliary chamber is separated from a pneumatic chamber by a movable wall, and a control device is provided for selectively either connecting the pneumatic chamber to the open air, or bleeding air from the pneumatic chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: HUTCHINSON
    Inventors: Gabriel Lemaire, Alain Bellamy
  • Patent number: 9409558
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake system has: a force-pressure conversion element, which is in hydraulic connection with at least one wheel brake cylinder of at least one wheel; a volume-adaptation element in hydraulic connection with the at least one wheel brake and the force-pressure conversion element; and as an actuating unit for actuating the force-pressure conversion element, which actuating unit has an input element. The pressure in the at least one wheel brake cylinder is adjusted by operating the volume-adaptation unit and/or the actuating unit. For this purpose an actuating state of the input element is maintained by operating the actuating unit when the volume-adaptation unit is being operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Pfeiffer, Willi Nagel, Werner Harter, Martin-Peter Bolz, Urs Bauer
  • Patent number: 9403592
    Abstract: A shock strut is disclosed. The shock strut may have multiple pistons and multiple chambers. In this manner, the shock strut may compress different lengths for different applied forces at different points during its stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: Jeremy Daniel Kallio
  • Patent number: 9404514
    Abstract: A hydraulic block for a hydraulic unit of a slip-controlled hydraulic vehicle brake system includes a row of receptacles for brake pressure buildup valves and a row of receptacles for brake pressure reduction valves arranged parallel to the row of receptacles for the brake pressure buildup valves. The hydraulic block further includes installation spaces for damper chambers arranged between the receptacles for the brake pressure buildup valves and the brake pressure reduction valves to allow space-saving accommodation of damper chambers. The installation spaces emerge at longitudinal sides of the hydraulic block and run parallel to the rows of receptacles for the brake pressure buildup valves and the brake pressure reduction valves. The installation spaces for the damper chambers viewed from a front side are arranged below the receptacles for the brake pressure buildup valves and the brake pressure reduction valves, close to a rear side of the hydraulic block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Weh
  • Patent number: 9403518
    Abstract: A brake system for a vehicle includes: a main brake cylinder with a floating piston able to be shifted at least partially into the main brake cylinder, and a brake medium storage device into which a specified storage volume of a brake medium is able to be transferred without counterpressure, the brake medium storage device being hydraulically connected via an electrically controllable first valve to the main brake cylinder in such a way that, in response to a shifting of the floating piston partially into the main brake cylinder by a shift travel that is below a shift travel limit corresponding to the storage volume, a brake medium volume less than the specified storage volume is transferred without counterpressure from the main brake cylinder into the brake medium storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Strengert, Michael Kunz