Patents Examined by Bradley King
  • Vehicle braking system
    Patent number: 9290166
    Abstract: A vehicle braking system includes a brake actuator, a braking control valve assembly and an emergency apply valve having a control port which is connected to the supply line by a further control line. The braking system also includes an electrically operable brake apply valve that is movable between a first position in which fluid flow along the further control line is permitted and a second position in which fluid flow along the further control line is substantially prevented and the control of the emergency apply valve is connected to a low pressure region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Haldex Brake Products Limited
    Inventors: Dudley John Harrison, Carl Robert Mellings
  • Vehicle compressed air supply device
    Patent number: 9283942
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle compressed air supply device, comprising pressure maintenance valves for service brakes, which are positioned between a junction chamber and compressed air channels for primary brakes; a pressure maintenance valve for the parking brake, which is positioned between the junction chamber and a compressed air channel for the parking brake; and a pressure maintenance valve, positioned on a supply path that connects the pressure maintenance valve for the parking, brake with the junction chamber, and which is closed until the pressure of the compressed air that is supplied to the compressed air channels for the primary brakes reaches a prescribed pressure value. The pressure maintenance valve has the same structure as the pressure maintenance valves for service brakes and the pressure maintenance valve for the parking brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: NABTESCO AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ichiro Minato, Hiroki Hasebe
  • Belt park brake and methods
    Patent number: 9273738
    Abstract: Park brake systems comprising a motor shaft coupled to a brake drum, wherein the brake drum comprises a first groove and a second groove, wherein the brake drum is mounted to the motor shaft so as to rotate with the motor shaft, a first belt at least partially disposed in the first groove and about a first pivot linkage, a second belt at least partially disposed in the second groove and about a second pivot linkage, a first actuator piston coupled to an actuator and the first pivot linkage, a second actuator piston coupled to the actuator and the second pivot linkage, and a pivot base coupled to the first pivot linkage and the second pivot linkage are disclosed. Methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Rehfus, David B. Drennen, Robert French, Harald Klode
  • Vibrating member attachment structure
    Patent number: 9267565
    Abstract: A vibrating member attachment structure includes: a sound insulation layer made of elastomer and including an accommodating portion that defines an accommodating space in which a vibrating member is accommodated, and a folded-back portion having a hem portion connecting to the accommodating portion, a contact portion placed so as to face the hem portion and contacting a mating member, a joint portion connecting the hem portion and the contact portion, and an insertion space defined by the hem portion, the contact portion, and the joint portion; a support member having higher rigidity than the sound insulation layer and including a sealing portion that seals an opening of the accommodating space, and an insertion portion that connects to the sealing portion and that is inserted in the insertion space; and an attachment member and including a shaft portion and a deformation suppressing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Sumitomo Riko Company Limited
    Inventors: Koji Tomiyama, Akio Yabu
  • Piston valve of shock absorber
    Patent number: 9261160
    Abstract: Provided is a piston valve of a shock absorber which can achieve both an effect of varying an attenuation force according to a pressure and an effect of varying an attenuation force according to a frequency region. The piston valve includes: a main valve unit coupled to a lower end of a piston rod formed with an orifice hole, to divide an inside of a cylinder into an extension chamber and a compression chamber, the main valve unit generating an attenuation force according to a difference of pressure between the extension chamber and the compression chamber; and a frequency sensitive valve unit installed at one side of the main valve unit and configured to generate an attenuation force according to a frequency of hydraulic fluid delivered through the orifice hole of the piston rod, wherein the frequency sensitive valve unit is installed within the main valve unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jin Kee Lee, Kyong Hag Yoon
  • Coiled spreader spring
    Patent number: 9261152
    Abstract: A spreader spring comprising: (a) a locking arm that connects the spreader spring to a brake component; (b) a retraction arm; and (c) a bias device located between the locking arm and the retraction arm; wherein the bias device includes six helical loops or more that store energy during a brake apply and once the brake apply is complete assist in retracting a brake pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: AKEBONO BRAKE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenneth Eric Gutelius, Muhammad Farooq
  • Pressure control reservoir with check valve
    Patent number: 9260100
    Abstract: A pressure control reservoir for a vehicle brake system is disposed in a hydraulic line extending from a master cylinder to a wheel cylinder through a pump. The pressure control reservoir includes a check valve which consists of a valve seat and a valve. The check valve is closed when an excessive pressure of brake fluid produced by the master cylinder. The valve is stationary. The valve seat is moved in response to an elevated level of the pressure of brake fluid into engagement with the valve, so that the check valve is closed. With these arrangements, the check valve is closed before a piston starts to move to change the volume of a reservoir chamber, thus permitting the volume of the brake fluid required to close the check valve to be decreased, which minimizes the uncomfortable feeling given to a driver of the vehicle when actuating the brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Murayama
  • Air spring modular piston
    Patent number: 9261157
    Abstract: A modular piston assembly is associated with an air spring assembly that has a bellows rolling over a surface of the piston assembly. The modular piston assembly includes a first piston portion adapted to fasten to an associated air spring bellows. A second piston portion separate from the first portion, is adapted to fasten to an associated mounting component. Interlocking members are provided to secure the first and second piston portions together, and/or any desired intermediate piston portions. Discrete air reservoirs may also be included in the modular piston assembly to increase the volume of the air spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventor: Joshua R. Leonard
  • Motor vehicle brake disc
    Patent number: 9249848
    Abstract: A brake disk for a disk brake includes a brake disk chamber and a friction ring fastened thereto. By way of particularly six to twelve centering and/or fastening extensions directed inward from an inner diameter of the friction ring, the friction ring is placed in the axial direction on the face side on centering attachments of the brake disk chamber, and is fixed on the brake disk chamber by way of fastening devices, particularly screws and/or rivets that extend in the axial direction. The centering attachments of the brake disk chamber are recesses in the brake disk chamber edge or in the brake disk chamber edge and in the brake disk chamber jacket, one centering and/or fastening extension of the friction ring respectively projecting into them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Kordian Kokott
  • Shock absorber with frequency dependent passive valve
    Patent number: 9239092
    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 spool valve assembly. The spool valve assembly includes a spool valve and a bypass valve assembly that controls fluid flow through bypass passage that bypasses the piston assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Nowaczyk, Gunther Bismans
  • BBW brake device
    Patent number: 9233673
    Abstract: A brake fluid pressure electrically generated by a slave cylinder (23) in accordance with an operation amount by a brake pedal (12) is supplied via a VSA system (24) to wheel cylinders (16, 17; 20, 21) provided respectively for wheels. This enables smooth braking by the wheel cylinders (16, 17; 20, 21) by using a brake fluid pressure pressurized by the slave cylinder (23) and including little pulsation. When the VSA system (24) is to individually control the brake fluid pressures supplied respectively to the wheel cylinders (16, 17; 20, 21) to control vehicle behavior, the slave cylinder (23) generates a brake fluid pressure corresponding to a total of the brake fluid pressures required for the wheel cylinders (16, 17; 20, 21). This configuration allows the slave cylinder (23) to generate a brake fluid pressure in just proportion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Ohkubo, Takashi Nishioka
  • Mounting system for disk brake pad
    Patent number: 9228622
    Abstract: A mounting system for a brake pad in the housings of a disk brake yoke in which the brake pad comprises at its ends two mounting ears (10), each ear being mounted in a housing of a disk brake yoke. The mounting system comprises for each pad ear, a spring (5) of linear or lamella shape, intended to bear, on the one hand, below a lower face (12) of the ear and, on the other hand, on the lower face of the housing of the yoke so as to separate the lower face (12) of the ear from the lower face of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Chassis Brakes International B.V.
    Inventors: Magali Rossignol, Pascal Champion, Daniel Audinay, Thierry Pasquet, Jan Vinck, Matthieu Legendre
  • Vehicle brake device
    Patent number: 9227613
    Abstract: Vehicle brake device comprises a master cylinder including a master chamber connected to a wheel cylinder, a drive pressure chamber in which a drive pressure is generated for driving a master piston and a fluid pressure chamber in which a fluid pressure is generated in response to a stroke position of the master piston and an operating characteristics setting device for setting operating characteristics of an electromagnetic valve. The operating characteristics include a relationship of the pressure differential in the fluid conduit between the master cylinder side and the wheel cylinder side with respect to the electromagnetic valve based on the supply amount of the electric power detected by the supplied electric power detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Kuki, Yoshimitsu Ozeki, Hiroaki Niino
  • Check valve and braking system using the same
    Patent number: 9227614
    Abstract: In a check valve in which a valve part is disposed in a valve part accommodating recess movably relative to a piston part, among the valve part accommodating recess, an anti-valve seat side accommodation space formed between a surface of the valve part accommodating recess in an anti-valve seat side of the valve part and a wall surface of the valve part accommodating recess are communicated to exit side fluid passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidenobu Kajita, Masaaki Omi
  • Electronic control unit and vehicle behavior control device
    Patent number: 9221438
    Abstract: An electronic control unit which includes: a sensor board to which a sensor for detecting a predetermined physical quantity is attached; a control board which controls an operation of an electric part based on the physical quantity detected by the sensor; and a housing which accommodates the sensor board and the control board, wherein the housing has a first room for accommodating the electric part, a second room for accommodating the sensor board and the control board in a stacked condition, and a partition portion for separating the first room and the second room from each other, wherein a recess which is opened to the second room is formed in the partition portion, and a sensor accommodating portion for accommodating the sensor is formed using the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: NISSIN KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Iyatani, Naoki Obuse
  • Differential emergency/park electric brake system
    Patent number: 9216720
    Abstract: A system, apparatus and method provide emergency differential braking for effecting braked steering of an aircraft. A brake input device is provided that not only allows for emergency and parking brake functions, but also enables differential braking. The brake input device (e.g., a parking and/or emergency brake lever, pedal, handle, etc.) can be used in a brake system including a brake system control unit (BSCU), one or more electro-mechanical actuator controllers (EMACs) and a brake assembly including one or more electrical actuators. Each EMAC is electrically coupled to one or more of the actuators so as to provide electrical power for driving the actuators. Each EMAC is also communicatively coupled to the BSCU so as to receive braking data therefrom. In an emergency, the input device sends braking signals directly to the brake actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: Eric D. Cahill
  • Amplitude sensitive hydraulic damper
    Patent number: 9217484
    Abstract: A hydraulic damper (2) includes a slidable piston assembly (4) attached to a piston rod (6) to form at least one valve assembly of the damper. The damper further includes at least one chamber in which a slidable partition assembly (54) separates this chamber into an additional compression chamber (101) hydraulically connected with a main compression chamber (10) and an additional rebound chamber (91) hydraulically connected with a main rebound chamber (9, 09). The slidable partition assembly (54) comprises a piston (541) making a sliding fit with an inner surface of the chamber and at least one spring (543) supporting the piston (541). The slidable partition assembly (54) additionally comprises at least one internal piston (542) disposed slidably within the external piston (541) and supported by an internal spring (544) disposed between the internal piston (542) and the external piston (541).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Beijing West Industries
    Inventors: Pawel Slusarczyk, Janusz Goldasz, Zbigniew Szklarz
  • Brake system having simultaneous or partially simultaneous pressure generation and reduction in the wheel brakes from differing wheel cylinder pressure levels
    Patent number: 9211874
    Abstract: A braking system may include a brake booster, the piston-cylinder system of which is driven by an electric motor, wherein at least one working chamber of the piston-cylinder system is connected by hydraulic lines to at least two wheel brakes, a wheel brake being allocated a 2/2-way switching valve in each case and the hydraulic connection lines between the wheel brakes and the piston-cylinder system being closable, optionally separately or jointly, by means of the 2/2-way switching valves, so that a pressure can be adjusted in the wheel brakes one after the other in terms of a multiplex method and/or simultaneously. The electric motor and switching valves may be activated by a control device configured to adjust or control the piston movement and piston speed during the pressure generation and pressure reduction as a function of the pressure-volume characteristic of the wheel brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: IPGATE AG
    Inventors: Heinz Leiber, Anton V. Zanten, Christian Koglsperger
  • Damper with air spring
    Patent number: 9206874
    Abstract: A damper with an air spring includes: a damper main body having a cylinder and a piston rod inserted into the cylinder; and a cylindrical diaphragm attached to a side of the cylinder at a first end thereof and to a side of the piston rod at a second end thereof and forming an air chamber around the damper main body, in which a first attachment case to which the first end of the diaphragm is attached is fitted on an outer periphery of the cylinder, and an inner-diameter step portion of the first attachment case is brought into abutting contact with an upper end portion of the cylinder in an axial direction thereof, while a second attachment case to which the second end of the diaphragm is attached is fixed to the piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Norihisa Sugata
  • Leaf valve structure
    Patent number: 9200692
    Abstract: A leaf valve structure according to this invention comprises an annular valve seat, and a leaf that is seated on the valve seat under a predetermined elastic supporting force against a pressure of a working fluid on an inner side of the valve seat. A recessed depression portion having an opening portion on both an inner periphery of the valve seat and a seating surface of the leaf is formed in the valve seat, thereby creating a site where the pressure of the working fluid on the inner side of the valve seat can act more easily on a seating surface between the valve seat and the leaf valve. Accordingly, an effect of a surface adsorption force applied to the leaf valve by the valve seat on a cracking pressure can be suppressed, and as a result, the leaf valve can be lifted under a stable cracking pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignees: KAYABA INDUSTRY CO., LTD., FINE SINTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Yamada, Tomoharu Murakami, Tadashi Oikawa, Tomohito Amino, Yoshinori Nomura