Patents Examined by Bradley King
  • Patent number: 9821366
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a disc brake rotor comprises preparing at least one elongated plate having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end in a longitudinal direction of the at least one elongated plate. The method comprises bending the at least one elongated plate in an arc shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Takeshi Ol
  • Patent number: 9815446
    Abstract: The operation of an air compressor is controlled to control engine performance to thereby improve the performance of the vehicle. A compressor (4) driven by an engine (3) of a vehicle and supplying compressed air to loads (51-54) is controlled by an ECU (2). A loaded state and an unloaded state of the compressor (4) are switched between each other according to the requirements from the loads (51-54). When the vehicle requires braking force, the compressor (4) is set to the loaded state irrespective of the requirements from the loads (51-54).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Nabtesco Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Ichiro Minato, Hiroki Hasebe
  • Patent number: 9802670
    Abstract: A gas spring curve control valve for a adjustable-volume gas-pressurized device is described. The valve allows for selection from among at least four spring curves and can be packaged in small spaces/devices. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a rotary cam having grooves and lobes that interact with spring loaded ball bearings and an external adjuster knob are used to easily change the gas spring curve “on-the-fly” and with minimal user effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Fox
  • Patent number: 9802593
    Abstract: A vehicle braking system includes a brake associated with a respective wheel of the vehicle, a multi-pressure valve associated with the brake, and a controller electrically communicating with the multi-pressure valve. The multi-pressure valve receives fluid at a first pressure at a supply port and is capable of delivering the fluid at a delivery port at a plurality of pressure profiles. A control signal is transmitted to the multi-pressure valve. The multi-pressure valve delivers the pressurized fluid to the brake, via the delivery port, at one of the plurality of delivery pressure profiles based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Frashure, Robert J. Custer, Richard J. Conklin
  • Patent number: 9796447
    Abstract: A gas spring curve control valve for a adjustable-volume gas-pressurized device is described. The valve allows for selection from among at least four spring curves and can be packaged in small spaces/devices. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a rotary cam having grooves and lobes that interact with spring loaded ball bearings and an external adjuster knob are used to easily change the gas spring curve “on-the-fly” and with minimal user effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Fox
  • Patent number: 9796367
    Abstract: A vehicle brake device includes a hydraulic pressure generating device, a valve device, a pump and an accumulation section forming an accumulation chamber connected to a fluid passage between the valve device and the hydraulic pressure generating device or to a master chamber. A dead band is set in which the change of force of the magnitude corresponding to the hydraulic pressure in the master chamber does not substantially act on a brake operating member. A characteristic representing the relation between the pressure and the brake fluid quantity in the accumulation chamber is set based on a characteristic representing the relation between the pressure and the brake fluid quantity in a wheel cylinder and the dead band so that, when brake fluid is flowing into and from the accumulation chamber, a force of the magnitude corresponding to the master chamber hydraulic pressure does not act on the brake operating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Miyata, Yasuhiro Hineno, Keita Nakano, Takanori Iida
  • Patent number: 9797462
    Abstract: An electric linear motion actuator includes an electric motor, a motion conversion mechanism for converting the torque of the electric motor to the linear driving force of an outer ring member, a load sensor, and a motor control device. The motor control device is configured to control the electric current applied to the electric motor such that the torque of the electric motor increases until the pressing force detected by the load sensor exceeds a target value, and then the torque of the electric motor decreases until the pressing force detected by the load sensor reaches the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yui Masuda
  • Patent number: 9791004
    Abstract: A disc brake includes a pair of end-side connector parts that connect a pair of cylinder parts across over a disc rotor, and an intermediate connector part that is installed between the end-side connector parts and that connects the pair of cylinder parts across over the disc rotor and brake pads. The brake pads are provided with protrusion segments that are formed at positions that are outer end sides in a rotor radial direction and that protrude in directions separated from middle portions of the brake pads in a rotor rotational direction, and the end-side connector parts are provided with pad engaging faces on which inner regions in the rotor radial direction of the protrusion segments are oppositely disposed and which are formed of the same member as a caliper main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Keisuke Nanri
  • Patent number: 9791005
    Abstract: A brake pad assembly having a table and a web. The web may extend from the table and include a flange that may be disposed opposite the table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Peter Moss
  • Patent number: 9776604
    Abstract: An integrated brake device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a master cylinder that generates a hydraulic pressure based on the operation of a pedal, a pedal simulator that provides a pedal stepping force to the pedal based on the hydraulic pressure, a motor that is driven based on displacement of the pedal, a pump that applies a braking pressure to wheels of the vehicle based on the driving of the motor, and a gear unit that converts rotational power of the motor into a linear motion of a piston included in the pump, wherein a rotating shaft of the motor is parallel to a direction of the linear motion of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chanhui Lee, Dong Yo Ryu
  • Patent number: 9776605
    Abstract: A brake control device includes a pilot-type pressure-increasing device. A pilot unit of the pressure-increasing device is connected to a power hydraulic pressure generating device via a pilot input passage. A linear control valve that is also used for adjusting a hydraulic pressure of a wheel cylinder is provided on the pilot input passage. A brake ECU checks whether the pressure-increasing device is normally activated or not based on a hydraulic pressure outputted from the pressure-increasing device when the linear control valve is energized for an activation check. Thus, the brake ECU can perform the activation check of the pressure-increasing device without requiring a driver's operation on a brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tetsuya Miyazaki, Kazunori Nimura
  • Patent number: 9771999
    Abstract: A mono-tube type hydraulic shock absorber includes a cylinder, a free piston that partitions the inside of the cylinder into a liquid chamber in which a hydraulic fluid is filled and a gas chamber in which a gas is filled, a piston slidably inserted into the cylinder, the piston partitioning the liquid chamber into two working chambers, a sealing ring provided on an outer periphery of the free piston, the sealing ring being configured to seal between the cylinder and the free piston, and a lubricating oil enclosed within the gas chamber to lubricate between the sealing ring and the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoo Kubota
  • Patent number: 9771974
    Abstract: The bearing assembly includes one or more elastomeric members loaded in a precompression by a shim that includes a shape memory alloy. The shape memory alloy is configured to generate the precompression in the elastomeric members upon a temperature change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Sottiaux, Frank B. Stamps
  • Patent number: 9765841
    Abstract: A damper assembly includes a tubular member, an outer cylinder positioned at least partially within the tubular member, an inner cylinder positioned at least partially within the outer cylinder, a cap coupled to the inner cylinder, a plunger received within the inner cylinder and coupled to an end of a rod extending at least partially within the inner cylinder, an annular piston fixed to the inner cylinder where the annular piston extends between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and a barrier extending between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. The rod has an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the inner cylinder. The plunger, the cap, and an interior of the inner cylinder at least partially define a first chamber. The barrier, the annular piston, an exterior surface of the inner cylinder, and the outer cylinder at least partially define a second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Oshkosh Defense, LLC
    Inventors: Erik Ellifson, Darin Rosenboom
  • Patent number: 9765845
    Abstract: An example mount assembly includes an upper mount and a lower mount. The assembly also includes an inertia track having a central opening defining an axis. The inertia track defines a passage in fluid communication with the first chamber and the second chamber. The inertia track is moveable along the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: COOPER-STANDARD AUTOMOTIVE INC.
    Inventors: Jeffery Michael Bradshaw, Chris Dowson, Raj Valliappan, Bernie Rice
  • Patent number: 9759283
    Abstract: A bicycle can include a suspension system with a shock absorber. The shock absorber can have a sag position which can be adjustable. Sag refers to the amount of movement experienced by the suspension under a static load, such as that of the weight of a rider. Methods and systems to set sag can include at least one valve in fluid communication with a gas chamber of the shock absorber. In some embodiments, the at least one valve can be used to automatically set the sag position based on an individual's weight and riding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: SPECIALIZED BICYCLE COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventor: Jan Talavasek
  • Patent number: 9759277
    Abstract: A shim assembly for a disk brake includes inside shim locking pieces which are provided in an inside shim main body of the inside shim plate and bent toward the pressure plate so that displacement of the inside shim plate in radial and peripheral directions is restricted and outside shim locking pieces which are provided in an outside shim main body of the outside shim plate and bent toward the pressure plate so that displacement of the outside shim plate in the peripheral direction is allowed and displacement thereof in the radial direction is restricted. Engaging pawls are provided in the inside shim main body and projected from a peripheral edge of the pressure plate. The outside shim locking pieces are respectively engaged with the engaging pawls so as to cover the engaging pawls, to prevent the outside shim plate against separation from the inside shim plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: AKEBONO BRAKE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoko Kobayashi, Daisuke Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9752634
    Abstract: The electric braking device is provided with: a pressing member, which has a thread portion with either an internal thread or an external thread and which applies a pressing force on a frictional member; a shaft member, which is rotated by an electric motor and is threadedly engaged with the thread portion; a first spherical surface member, which is separated from the shaft member, being capable of rotating relative to the shaft member around the axis of rotation of the shaft member, and the end surface of which is a spherical surface; and a second spherical surface member, which is in sliding contact with the spherical surface of the first spherical surface member, receives the reaction force of the pressing force, and is restrained from rotating with respect to the axis of rotation of the shaft member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yasui, Shinichiro Yukoku, Satoshi Hirata, Yasukuni Ojima, Eiichiro Iwase
  • Patent number: 9746042
    Abstract: In an opposed-piston disc brake caliper, a pair of reinforcement bridge portions, which are inclined relative to an axial direction, are provided on outside of a rotor in a radial direction of the rotor so as to define corner opening portions in an opening portion which is defined by an inner body portion, an outer body portion, and an entry-side connection portion and an exit-side connection portion connecting the inner body portion and the outer body portion. A torque receiving portion of one of the entry-side torque receiving portion and the exit-side torque receiving portion is exposed toward an outside in the radial direction via the corner opening portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: AKEBONO BRAKE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takefumi Morio, Tetsuya Noguchi, Tsuyoshi Suzuki, Yoshio Totsuka
  • Patent number: 9744949
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle speed control device with respect to which the speed at which a centrifugal brake operates can be easily changed from the outside without disassembling the device. A brake drum 11 is fixed to a vehicle body 101a. A brake shoe 23 rotates around a rotary shaft 20 of the wheel 101c, and reduces the rotation speed of the wheel 101c as a result of coming into contact with an inner circumferential side face of the brake drum 11. A spring 24 prevents contact between the brake drum 11 and the brake shoe 23 when the rotation speed of the wheel 101c is lower than or equal to a predetermined speed, and permits contact between the brake drum 11 and the brake shoe 23 when the rotation speed of the wheel 101c exceeds the predetermined speed. A position change mechanism 25 is installed within the brake drum 11, and changes the position of an end of the spring 24 on one end side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignees: NABTESCO CORPORATION, ACRO NAINEN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Takezawa, Shinpei Matsuo, Naoya Taniguchi, Satoshi Katsumoto