Patents Examined by Benjamin A. Pezzlo
  • Patent number: 6669311
    Abstract: A method and system for operating an electrically controlled pressurized-fluid vehicle brake system having a brake cylinder for actuating a brake, a braking-pressure sensor for obtaining braking-pressure data which indicate the braking pressure in the brake cylinder, a valve device for influencing the braking pressure by which the brake cylinder can communicate optionally with a supply pressure or with a set pressure in order to feed pressurized fluid, and a set-pressure sensor for obtaining set-pressure data. Braking pressure is adjusted as dictated by the set-pressure data and/or by the braking-pressure data. The set-pressure data are checked by temporarily switching the pressurized-fluid feed path to the brake cylinder from the supply pressure to the set pressure by actuation of at least one part of the valve device, and then monitoring the resulting braking pressure based on the braking-pressure data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Hans Holst, Axel Stender, Norbert Witte
  • Patent number: 6669184
    Abstract: A compression spring comprising a plurality of composite wave rings stacked and attached to one another in crest to crest configuration. Each of the wave rings has a plurality of alternating peaks and troughs wherein one peak and one adjacent trough define a wave having a wave height measured axially from the peak to the trough and the wave heights vary such that the compression spring provides a varying spring rate as the compression spring is compressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Haimian Cai, Gary Walter Leevy, Lakshmana Gummadi
  • Patent number: 6666437
    Abstract: An anti-vibration sleeve comprising inner and outer strength members, an elastomer body connecting the strength members together and forming two hydraulic chambers, and a C-shaped intermediate member which is snap-fitted around the elastomer body and clamped between the elastomer body and the outer strength member, the intermediate member forming a throttled passage which connects the two hydraulic chambers together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Paulstra CRC
    Inventors: Franck Larmande, Michel Champrenault
  • Patent number: 6666302
    Abstract: A parking brake device for a vehicle, including: (a) a backing plate which is fixed to a body of the vehicle such that the backing plate is held substantially perpendicular to an axis of a wheel of the vehicle; (b) first and second arcuate brake shoes which are disposed on one of opposite sides of the backing plate such that the first and second arcuate brake shoes are movable toward and away from each other; (c) a moving mechanism which is positioned between the first and second arcuate brake shoes and which includes a pivotable brake lever, the moving mechanism moving the first and second arcuate brake shoes away from each other when the brake lever is pivoted in a predetermined direction; and (d) an operable member which is connected to the brake lever and which is operable by an operator of the vehicle to pivot the brake lever in the predetermined direction, wherein the brake lever has a connected portion at which the brake lever is connected to the operable member, and wherein the brake lever extends thr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Hosei Brake Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuyasu Mizuno, Naomi Mitsuoka
  • Patent number: 6663192
    Abstract: The invention relates to an architecture for a hydraulic braking system suitable for an aircraft of the type having at least one group of main landing gear units, each landing gear unit comprising a determined number of wheels each provided with a hydraulically actuated brake, the or each landing gear group being associated with a hydraulic circuit provided with hydraulic equipment and adapted to deliver hydraulic fluid under pressure to all of the brakes of the landing gear group, the hydraulic fluid being pressurized by at least one aircraft pressure generator system associated with an aircraft hydraulic fluid supply. According to the invention, accumulators are connected on the or each circuit in sufficient number for each accumulator to feed two pairs of brakes, each pair of brakes being mounted on a distinct landing gear unit, and an electrically-driven pump being arranged to maintain a predetermined pressure level in all of the accumulators of the circuit in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti
    Inventors: Vincent Bourguet, Walid Hamzeh
  • Patent number: 6663195
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an electrically operated parking brake-by-wire system is disclosed. More particularly to a method and system for control of electrically operated parking brake-by-wire systems that interfaces with various elements and systems of a motor vehicle; processes information obtained from vehicle systems, parking brake by wire systems, and the driver/user; and uses this information to safely control the operation of the parking brake-by-wire system, alerting the driver/user to potential problems associated with operation of the parking brake-by-wire system and related vehicle systems. The present invention also includes provisions to provide feedback to users and handle situations where the parking brake is actuated while the vehicle is in motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Orscheln Management Co.
    Inventor: James H. Arnold
  • Patent number: 6655512
    Abstract: A vehicle damper includes a valve having of an imperforate, deflectable variable orifice disk with an outer periphery that is only partially clamped against a valve seat, during low velocity operation of the damper, by a variable orifice support disk having an outer periphery that is not coextensive with the outer periphery of the variable orifice disk. The portion of the outer periphery of the variable orifice disk that is not clamped against the valve seat deflects away from the valve seat during low velocity operation of the damper, in response to force on the variable orifice plate generated by pressure of fluid in flow apertures closed off by the variable orifice plate, to provide a variable orifice for fluid flow through the valve and digressive performance of the damper. The valve may take the form of a compression or rebound valve on the piston of the vehicle damper, or a base valve in a dual tube damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jamshid K. Moradmand, Marcin Knapczyk, Robert A. Neal
  • Patent number: 6655667
    Abstract: Hydraulic damper bearing for the attenuation of movement. In one embodiment the hydraulic damper bearing has a first anchoring unit and a second anchoring unit, the second anchoring unit moveable in relation to the first anchoring unit. The hydraulic damper bearing also has a spring component working between the first and the second anchoring units, an operating chamber filled with damping fluid and an equalizing chamber separate from the operating chamber and in fluid communication with the operating chamber via a damping duct which is bordered by a duct wall. The volume of the operating chamber is changed during the relative motion of the first and second anchoring support units. During this relative movement, the damping fluid is moved in the damping duct between the equalizing chamber and the operating chamber. A displacing element is arranged on the first anchoring unit and extends into the operating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventors: Arno Hamaekers, Hans-Joachim Rudolf
  • Patent number: 6655753
    Abstract: A method for determining parameters for the viscosity or temperature of a brake fluid of a vehicle by way of a predetermined pressure build-up within time limits in at least one defined section of a brake circuit and for detecting a pressure in the said section and/or a time which is required for the build-up of the said pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventor: Jochen Führer
  • Patent number: 6655840
    Abstract: A translation table with a pair of bearing assemblies located between a first element and a second element. Each bearing assembly has a pair of roller bearings located at one end of a bearing separator strip, and another pair of roller bearings located at an opposite end of the separator strip. There are no bearings located between the outer pairs of roller bearings. Providing a roller bearing assembly with no roller bearings in the inner portion of the separator strip creates a relatively stiff bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Newport Corporation
    Inventor: Mullard A. Nunnally
  • Patent number: 6655507
    Abstract: An electrically operated parking brake apparatus that includes an electric motor and a screw mechanism The screw mechanism includes a screw-threaded shaft adapted to be rotationally driven by the electric motor, and a nut member meshing with the screw-threaded shaft, the nut member being movable along the screw-threaded shaft by the rotation of the screw-threaded shaft. The parking brake apparatus also includes a transmission member connected to the nut member for transmitting a brake operating force to a wheel brake, and a rotation preventing unit for preventing the rotation of the screw-threaded shaft so as to hold the brake operating force by fixing the position of the nut member relative to the screw-threaded shaft. The rotation preventing unit in one embodiment is an electromagnetic brake for confining the screw-threaded shaft to a stationary portion of a vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Miyakawa, Makoto Taniguchi, Fumikage Yamanaka, Yoshihiro Iwagawa, Keiyu Kin, Yutaka Kichima
  • Patent number: 6652783
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to improve the production efficiency by making its bonding process unnecessary to simplify the production process. The method of production comprises the step of integrally incorporating a magnetic material when the stationary holders 21 and 22 of the stationary member and the movable holder 31 of the movable member 30 are molded with a non-magnetic material such as a plastic material and the like. Therefore, a magnet unit in which the stationary magnets 23 and 24 or the movable magnet 32 is integrally incorporated into the stationary holders 21 and 22 or the movable holder 31 can be provided only by giving magnetization treatment on the magnetic material without using a bonding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Delta Tooling Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Etsunori Fujita, Yoshimi Enoki, Hiroki Oshimo
  • Patent number: 6651782
    Abstract: A brake cable connecting apparatus having a cable end insertion groove 120a formed by U-like folding the free end of a brake lever 120 on one of brake shoes 1, 2 and a guiding member 150 provided onto the cable end insertion groove 120a. The guiding member 150 tends to move toward the bottom of the insertion groove 120a by a coil spring 160. When the cable end 142 is advanced in the insertion groove 120a, the guiding member 150 moves upward, passage of the cable end 142 is permitted by displacement of the guiding member 150 in a direction away from the bottom of the insertion groove 120a, then the guiding member 150 immediately moves downward, thereby engaging a backward surface of the cable end 142; therefore, restricting the cable end 142 from coming off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Nisshinbo Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Seiji Asai, Junichi Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 6647825
    Abstract: A hand brake device for a wheeled cart includes a pivot pin, and a brake lever including a lever portion, a front lower portion with a rounded integral projection, and a curved slot unit for receiving the pin slidably. Upward movement of the lever portion about the pin can result in braking of the cart, which will be freed upon release of the lever portion. Downward movement of the lever portion about the projection can also result in the braking of the cart, which will be maintained unless an external force is applied to the lever portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventor: Ching-Hsu Lin
  • Patent number: 6644446
    Abstract: In a hydraulic shock-absorber comprising a cylinder, a piston rod provided with a rebound stopper secured thereto, and a rod guide provided at an end of said cylinder which rod guide butts against the rebound stopper at an extension stroke end of the piston rod, the rod guide is formed of a plate and comprises, at the location of butting against the rebound stopper, a butting planar portion extending radially of the cylinder from a lower end of the inner cylindrical portion against which butting planar portion the rebound stopper butts, and a butting slant portion extending downward obliquely toward the cylinder from an outer end of the butting planar portion against which butting slant portion an radially outer portion of the rebound stopper butts, thereby enabling the rod guide to be prevented from being deformed and also allowing the piston rod to always slide smoothly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Daido Metal Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Kachi, Kotaro Kashiyama
  • Patent number: 6640943
    Abstract: A shock absorber (2) includes a piston assembly (6) and a damping fluid cylinder (4) having a first end (22) and defining a damping fluid chamber (56). The piston assembly includes a piston (14) mounted to a shaft (8). The piston divides the damping fluid chamber into first and second variable-volume parts (58, 60). At least one restricted flow path is provided between the variable-volume parts of the cylinder, preferably one (18) for compression and one (19) for rebound or extension. A sealing ice scraper assembly (30) is mounted to the first end of the cylinder. The scraper assembly includes a sealing ice scraper sleeve (34) having a generally cylindrical scraper surface (36). A gap of a desired size, typically quite small, is provided between the scraper surface and the shaft. A recess (38) is formed into the scraper surface and houses an outer fluid seal (40) therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Daws, Dustin F. Janes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6641233
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake apparatus for a vehicle includes a hydraulic pressure generator which generates and outputs a power pressure irrespective of brake pedal operation, a regulation valve which regulates the power pressure to a predetermined pressure corresponding to the brake pedal operation force and outputs the predetermined pressure, and a master cylinder having a master cylinder pressure chamber and an auxiliary pressure chamber connectable to an output side of the regulation valve. The master cylinder is operated by auxiliary pressure in the auxiliary pressure chamber to generate a master cylinder pressure corresponding to the auxiliary pressure. A wheel brake cylinder is operated by the master cylinder pressure to apply braking force to a wheel. A pressure modulation device is disposed in a pressure passage connecting the output side of the regulation valve to the auxiliary pressure chamber to modulate the auxiliary pressure to a pressure less than the predetermined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihito Kusano, Satoshi Ishida
  • Patent number: 6634470
    Abstract: A brake pad, preferably used disc bakes, comprises a profiled metal back plate, to which at least one friction lining is attached, characterized in that a material with lower heat conductivity, relative to the friction lining, is provided in at least some profile sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Friction Products GmbH, Zweigniederlassung Technik Zentrum
    Inventors: Robert A. Emmet, Wilfried Strauss
  • Patent number: 6634208
    Abstract: The object of the invention is an assembly comprising a bearing (1) and a mechanical interface (5) associated, by means of association means (7), with the fixed raceway (2) of the bearing (1), this interface (5) being intended to be interposed between the fixed raceway (2) of the bearing (1) and the fixed structure, the said interface (5) comprising: first means (8) of fixing to the fixed structure; second means (9) of fixing a device (10) intended to apply a force to the rotating member (6); and at least one elastic deformation zone (29-33) able to be deformed under the action of forces exerted on the said assembly, at least one sensor (38) able to measure the said forces being functionally associated with the said elastic deformation zone (29-33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: S.N.R. Roulements
    Inventors: Arnaud Salou, Christophe Nicot, Olivier Blanchin
  • Patent number: 6626504
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for automated operation of the brakes on a towed vehicle, in particular the conventional hydraulic brakes on an automotive vehicle, by controlled actuation of its own brake pedal or other such conventional operating component which is normally manipulated by the operator of the vehicle. The preferred embodiment of the system utilizes a power-actuated tension member such as a cable which is attachable to the towed vehicle brake pedal to pull it downward and thus apply the vehicle brakes in controlled response to commands from a controller mountable at a remote location such as on the towing vehicle, and the controller preferably includes, and operates in response to, an inertia sensor and related system which monitors deceleration of the towing vehicle caused by application of its brakes etc., as well as a manual control for selective optional braking of the towed vehicle by the tow vehicle driver at any desired time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Tekonsha Engineering Company
    Inventors: John B. Harner, Marcia S. Albright, Dennis M. Morse, Bruce E. Smith