Patents Examined by Bradley King
  • Brake system
    Patent number: 9522659
    Abstract: A brake system includes an electric brake force generator which brakes a wheel using a driving force of an electric motor and an electric motor controller that performs a field-weakening control of the electric motor. The electric motor controller performs the field-weakening control of the electric motor which then operates the electric brake force generator. Thus, the rotational speed of the electric motor is increased when the field weakening control is performed by the electric motor controller thereby quickly activating the electric braking force generator to enhance response of brake force generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Matsushita
  • Bicycle air spring
    Patent number: 9518630
    Abstract: An air spring comprising a pressurized first chamber including a gas, a first piston adjacent the first chamber and configured to slideably move relative to the first chamber, pressurized second chamber adjacent the first piston and opposite the first chamber, the air spring configured such that the first piston moves towards the first chamber during compression of the air spring and the first piston moves away from the first chamber during extension of the air spring, wherein as said first piston moves towards the first chamber during compression of the air spring, said first piston pushes at least a portion of said gas within said first chamber in a direction opposite said first piston, a second piston configured to slideably move relative to the first chamber, a pressurized third chamber adjacent the second piston and opposite the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: SPECIALIZED BICYCLE COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael McAndrews, Brian Lampman
  • Brake monitoring device for a disc brake
    Patent number: 9511755
    Abstract: A brake monitoring device for sensing a value which reflects the actuation and/or release stroke of a thrust element of a brake actuating mechanism, which thrust element is guided in a housing of a brake caliper. The thrust element acts via a brake lining onto a brake disc by a lever. A sensor is configured to detect variations of a physical quantity at least one component of the brake actuating mechanism. The sensor and component are arranged such that relative movement between them generates constantly repeating variations of the physical quantity along a path. The path is formed between the component of the thrust element and the sensor in axial direction of the thrust element by means of a linear extension from the end of the thrust element facing the brake disc, axially away from the brake disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Haldex Brake Products AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Seglo, Anders Larsson
  • Torsional vibration damper
    Patent number: 9506523
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper is disclosed. The torsional vibration damper comprises a first member having a radially outer surface that comprises a central concave section axially between convex sections and a second member having a radially inner surface that comprises a central convex section axially between concave sections and that opposes said radially outer surface. The radially outer surface and said radially inner surface are separated by a radial gap that defines a cross-sectional profile having an axial center and axial ends, and wherein said radial gap increases in thickness from said axial center to each said axial end of said cross-sectional profile. Alternatively, the first member may include a central convex section axially between concave sections and the second member may include a central concave section between convex section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: DAYCO IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Suhale Manzoor, William J. Piepsney
  • Shock-absorbing member
    Patent number: 9505362
    Abstract: Provided is a shock-absorbing member that does not increase the cost of automobile and that can increase the absorbed energy per unit weight of the shock-absorbing member. A shock-absorbing member 1 includes a tubular main body portion 3, a bent portion 5 that is formed continuous with the main body portion 3, and a flange 7 provided at the proximal end of the main body portion 3 via the bent portion 5. The main body portion 3 is caused to undergo eversion deformation by a shock power acting on the distal end of the main body portion 3 so that shock energy is absorbed. The main body portion 3 has regular polygonal cross-section orthogonal to the axial direction, and has a tapered shape that an area of the cross-section orthogonal to the axial direction decreases toward the distal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Osamu Kondo
  • Power-assisted braking system for a vehicle and method for controlling the power-assisted braking system
    Patent number: 9505389
    Abstract: A power-assisted braking system for a vehicle is described, including: a brake master cylinder having a chamber which is hydraulically connected to a wheel brake cylinder for braking a wheel of the vehicle; a hydraulic actuator which activates a piston of the brake master cylinder in order to pressurize the hydraulic fluid in the chamber; a low-pressure accumulator which stores the hydraulic fluid under pressure, and the actuator for activating the piston of the brake master cylinder; a pump which supplies the hydraulic fluid from the tank to the low-pressure accumulator; and a drive device which drives the pump. A method for controlling a power-assisted braking system is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Gerdes, Jochen Mayer
  • Disk brake
    Patent number: 9500240
    Abstract: A disk brake (1) including a connector portion (35) provided at a housing (30). The connector portion (35) includes supply terminals (131) for supplying power to a motor (32). The supply terminals (131) of the connector portion (35) and motor terminals (32C) of the motor (32) are connected to each other via bus bars (130) made of metallic plate. Further, the bus bars (130) are held in a loosely fitted state on another-side surface (138B) of a plate-like portion (138) of a support member (135) attached to the housing (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takaaki Fuse, Satoru Tsurumi, Jun Watanabe, Takayasu Sakashita
  • Damping device
    Patent number: 9494208
    Abstract: The damping device includes: a fixed cylinder that is configured to be fixed to a first structural body and formed into a cylindrical shape so as to comprise a hollow portion; a shaft member that is configured to be fixed to a second structural body, the shaft member being housed in the hollow portion of the fixed cylinder and having an outer peripheral surface provided with a helical thread groove; a nut member that is threadedly engaged with the shaft member, and converts an axial motion of the shaft member into a rotational motion; a rotor member that is formed into a cylindrical shape so as to cover the fixed cylinder and to form a cylindrical accommodation chamber between the rotor member and an outer peripheral surface of the fixed cylinder, and is rotated by the nut member; and viscous fluid that is sealed in the cylindrical accommodation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihito Watanabe, Ryoji Tomono, Hidenori Kida, Shigeki Nakaminami, Hisaya Tanaka
  • Hydraulic bearing
    Patent number: 9488245
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a hydraulic bearing which includes two connecting pieces, an annular rubber-elastic spring, a hydraulic chamber unit made of a working chamber and a compensating chamber and a partition unit having a connecting channel between the working chamber and the compensating chamber. The partition unit is configured as a disc and is disposed within the vertical elevation of the annular rubber-elastic spring and one of the connecting pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Volker Gedenk
  • Electro-mechanical brake
    Patent number: 9476470
    Abstract: Provided is an electro-mechanical brake (EMB) including a driving unit configured to generate rotational force by power selectively applied as a user operates a brake pedal, a differential gear unit including a first shaft and a second shaft disposed to be aligned to form rotational shafts and rotate in the same direction by rotational force from the driving unit, a first pad disposed on one side of a brake disk, a second pad disposed on the other side of the disk, a first braking unit configured to enable the first pad to be brought into contact with one side of the disk according to a rotation of the first shaft to generate braking force, and a second braking unit configured to enable the second pad to be brought into contact with the other side of the disk according to a rotation of the second shaft to generate braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Tae Sang Park, Dong Hwan Shin, Choong Pyo Jeong, Sung Ho Jin
  • Brake discs with bell
    Patent number: 9464680
    Abstract: Discs for disc brakes arranged around a rotational axis, comprising: a braking band and a drum, said drum comprising an edge arranged radially outside a portion for connecting the drum to a hub, said drum further comprising a drum body connecting said edge to the braking band and being suitable to create an interspace between the drum and the hub accommodated therein, said edge delimiting at least one opening with communicates the interspace present between the drum body and the hub with the external of the drum, said opening being arranged radially outside said housing for the hub, and said openings delimited by walls having at least one section inclined with respect to the axial direction are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: FRENI BREMBO S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gianluigi Maronati, Leone Oberti, Nino Ronchi
  • Magnetic damper
    Patent number: 9457635
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for damping movement of a first mass relative to a second mass by magnetically generating induced current are provided. A magnet is coupled to one mass and a nonferrous metallic member is coupled to another mass that moves relative to the first mass. First and second springs are coupled to opposing ends of the magnet, the magnet being positioned between the springs. A guide member channels the magnet as it moves relative to the nonferrous member, the magnet being slidable along the guide member. The magnet is in close proximity to the nonferrous metallic member as the magnet moves. Upon causing movement of the magnet by either mass, the magnet generates an electrical current in the nonferrous metallic member that induces a counter magnetic field that opposes the magnetic field generated by the current to damp movement of the magnet as it moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Renton Coil Spring Company
    Inventor: Charles F. Pepka
  • Heat-exchange dryer apparatus, system and method
    Patent number: 9457785
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a heat-exchange dryer apparatus are disclosed. In one embodiment, a heat-exchange dryer apparatus includes a desiccant cartridge comprising desiccant material, a purge-air reservoir secured to the desiccant cartridge, and a compressed-air conduit disposed inside the purge-air reservoir. In another embodiment, a vehicle air-brake system includes an air compressor, a desiccant cartridge comprising desiccant material, and a heat exchange dryer apparatus disposed between the compressor and the desiccant. The temperature of the compressed air is decreased while the temperature of the purge air is increased and the desiccant adsorbs a greater amount of contaminants form the compressed air for improved drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, LLC
    Inventors: David W. Howell, Fred W. Hoffman
  • Method and apparatus for improved vibration isolation
    Patent number: 9446841
    Abstract: A tunable vibration isolator having a housing, fluid chamber, and at least one tuning passage. A piston assembly is resiliently disposed within the housing. A vibration isolation fluid is allowed to flow from the fluid chambers through the tuning passage. A metering valve is actuated up and down in order to change the effective diameter of the tuning passage, resulting in a change to the isolation frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Smith, Frank B. Stamps
  • Hydraulic shock absorbing apparatus
    Patent number: 9441698
    Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorbing apparatus includes: an inner tube; and an outer tube that is placed outside the inner tube, in which a space is defined between an outer circumferential surface of the inner tube and an inner circumferential surface of the outer tube, and a protruding portion protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the inner tube toward the outer tube or a protruding portion protruding from the inner circumferential surface of the outer tube toward the inner tube is provided in the space, and the protruding portion is formed over an entire circumference of the outer circumferential surface of the inner tube or the inner circumferential surface of the outer tube, and has a waveform when viewed from a direction crossing the outer circumferential surface or the inner circumferential surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuro Suzuki, Seiryo Konakai, Mototsugu Yamanaka, Yuichi Enomoto, Takahiro Miura, Kunio Shibasaki
  • Temperature-independent vibration damper
    Patent number: 9441703
    Abstract: A temperature-compensating damping element, which is suitable for the temperature-independent reduction of vibrations, which has a fixed, non-elastic outer part and a fixed, non-elastic inner part, which is either inserted fully or partly into a mating cut-out or opening of the outer part. The outer and inner parts have contact surfaces which are connected to one another by an elastic layer which comprises an elastomer material and which is, or can be, pre-tensioned with respect to a desired frequency by a tensioning element. The elastic layer which is responsible for the vibration damping is directly connected at one or more points to an additional elastic volume. The additional elastic volume is a multiple of the volume of the elastic layer, and has the effect that the excitation frequency of the damping element changes in the case of a temperature change within a temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: ESM ENERGIE-UND SCHWINGUNGSTECHNIK MITSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Franz Mitsch, Mathias Dörsam
  • Damping device
    Patent number: 9435394
    Abstract: A damping device comprises a piston that partitions an interior of a cylinder into first and second working chambers. A flow-rate-dependent damping force generating element connects the first and second working chambers. A first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber divided by a free piston are formed integrally with the piston. A first connecting passage connects the first working chamber and the first pressure chamber, and a second connecting passage connects the second working chamber and the second pressure chamber. By providing a relief valve that allows fluid to flow from the first working chamber into the second working chamber, an increase in the generated damping force during a high speed operation of the piston can be suppressed, regardless of a vibration frequency of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Teraoka, Kazutaka Inamitsu
  • Disc brake for a vehicle and method for assembling the components thereof
    Patent number: 9416833
    Abstract: Disc brake incorporating an assembly of a crown (11) and a brake bowl (12), with the brake bowl (12) incorporating a circular base (12a), extended radially and externally by lugs (12b), with the crown accommodating a number of fingers (13) protruding externally into the interior volume of the crown (11). The lugs (12b) have a staged configuration with, at the end, a hood form (12d) internally establishing a housing for each of the fingers (13); the lugs have an access opening in unclosed ‘U’ form; the lugs (12b) are oriented in the same direction, with their opening part on the same side. After assembly of the brake bowl and the crown, the lugs are closed around the fingers, by distortion and flowage of the material around the finger, leaving them a capability for axial movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Saint Jean Industries
    Inventors: Veronique Bouvier, Romain Epale, Etienne Bocard, Richard Visee
  • Apparatus for absorbing shocks
    Patent number: 9410592
    Abstract: Apparatus for absorbing shock, particularly repetitive shocks, comprises a frame and a shock-absorbing component comprising a shape memory alloy (SMA). In one type of apparatus, one or more SMA rings (65) are mounted on brackets (64) on a frame (62, 63) so that shock received by the frame from one direction changes the shape of the rings into ellipses with major chords in a first direction, and shock received by the frame from the opposite direction changes the shape of the rings into ellipses with major chords in a second direction which is at right angles to the first direction. In other types of apparatus, SMA shock-absorbing components (16, 27, 37, 46, 89) are mounted in a frame (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17; 21, 22, 24, 25, 26; 31, 32, 34, 35; 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47) so that the way in which the shock-absorbing component is deformed is independent of the direction of the shock received by the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Inventor
    Inventor: Darel E. Hodgson
  • No-back arrangement
    Patent number: 9394980
    Abstract: A no-back arrangement is disclosed for use in applying a braking load to a rotary actuator member, the no-back arrangement comprising a no-back device operable to apply a braking load to the rotary actuator member when the rotary actuator member is subject to a tensile loading, and limit means operable to limit the magnitude of the applied braking load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Tony Jones, Michael Paul Somerfield, Edward George Hill