Patents Examined by Bradley T King
  • Patent number: 10604129
    Abstract: Provided is a brake device capable of detecting abnormality condition of a subject valve without using a wheel pressure sensor and the vehicle brake device includes a valve which is configured to open and close a fluid passage connected to the master chamber and at the same time which is a subject valve for a subject of failure judgement and an abnormality judging portion which is configured to judge whether or not the subject valve is in an abnormal state based on an advancement amount of the master piston accompanying an opening of the subject valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignees: ADVICS CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsushi Kobayashi, Masaaki Komazawa, Yusuke Kamiya
  • Patent number: 10596712
    Abstract: A brake triggering device for a robot arm is provided in the invention, and the brake triggering device includes a controlling plate with an enhanced structural strength by its annularly symmetrical structure. By designating an end of the ring-shaped controlling plate as a pivot and actuating the opposite end, a movable end, with a solenoid, pressing protrusions protruding from the two sides of an inner rim of the controlling plate can provide a greater torque for braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: QUANTA STORAGE INC.
    Inventors: Sheng-Wen Chiu, Yao-Ting Kuo
  • Patent number: 10597113
    Abstract: A brake assembly has a lever configured to press a knee against a pushrod of a piston of a master cylinder assembly. The knee is configured to receive removable inserts that allow a user to modify the angle at which the lever activates the master cylinder assembly. The master cylinder assembly can include protrusions on the outer surface of the cylinder to protect the cylinder from impact damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Inventor: Robert L. Barnett
  • Patent number: 10598234
    Abstract: A brake apparatus for restricting rotation of a rotatable member of a mowing machine, thereby controlling rotation of a wheel of the mowing machine, includes a brake member fixable on the rotatable member, and a gripping member for engaging and disengaging the brake member for restricting or permitting rotation of the rotatable member. A thrust link is coupled to the gripping member such that movement of the thrust link causes the gripping member to engage or disengage a radially outer surface of the brake member. For example, the gripping member may be biasedly engaged with at least a partial circumferential extent of the brake member such that actuation of the thrust link causes disengagement of the gripping member from the brake member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: David Mark Heathcoat, Jr., Thomas Kevin Castle, Kenneth Todd Gilbert, Jason Scot Richardson
  • Patent number: 10598251
    Abstract: A vibration damper including a frame having at least a first cavity, a frame first end and a frame second end spaced from the frame first end; a shaft slidably coupled to and extending into the frame where the shaft extends through the first cavity; a first vibration isolator disposed within the first cavity where the shaft extends through the first vibration isolator so as to capture the first vibration isolator within the first cavity where the first vibration isolator interfaces with the frame second end; and a second vibration isolator disposed on the shaft, where the shaft extends through the second vibration isolator so as to capture the second vibration isolator on the shaft where the second vibration isolator interfaces with the frame second end opposite the first vibration isolator, where the first vibration isolator and the second vibration isolator act only in compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Douglas R. Ludin, Matthew S. Stauffer
  • Patent number: 10591005
    Abstract: A method for the production of braking elements for vehicles, in particular brake pads, includes a die forming step by means of fine and/or traditional shearing of a metal support and a molding step upon the metal support of a block of friction material. The friction material is selected from the group of asbestos free materials, while the metal plate is made of an aluminum alloy selected from the group consisting of aluminum alloys subjected to precipitation hardening (age-hardening alloys) and is made from the fine and/or traditional shearing of a metal sheet when the alloy is in a solubilized state. The alloy is not age hardened until a friction material baking step in order to gain the mechanical properties needed for its operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: ITT ITALIA S.r.l.
    Inventor: Pietro Bertoldo
  • Patent number: 10584758
    Abstract: A damper includes a piston provided with a rod, and a cylinder storing the piston, and generates a braking force by a movement or relative movement of the piston. The cylinder is provided with width-side wall portions and thickness-side wall portions, and a shape in a cross section of the cylinder in a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of the piston is flat. The cylinder has a connection portion on an open side thereof, and the connection portion bridges the width-side wall portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Shigemitsu Tomita
  • Patent number: 10588233
    Abstract: An electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber includes a piston positioned within a tube that divides a fluid chamber into a first working chamber and a second working chamber. A piston rod is attached to the piston and projects. An electronically-controlled valve is positioned within a rod guide. A circuit board is in communication with the electronically-controlled valve. A carrier includes an inner wall and an outer wall interconnected by a bottom wall thereby defining a pocket. A circuit board is positioned within the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Scott S. Dunaway, Matthew L. Roessle, Robert C. Harris, Michael J. Lepkowski, Corey L. Stewart, Michael S. Weaver, Gary Butzke
  • Patent number: 10583818
    Abstract: A brake device and an automatic driving vehicle using the same are provided. The brake device includes an electrically controlled brake assembly, a mechanically controlled brake assembly and a shaft. The electrically controlled brake assembly has a main body and a brake control link. The shaft is connected between the electrically controlled brake assembly and the mechanically controlled brake assembly. The mechanically controlled brake assembly includes a pedal, an elbow, a brake link group and a brake pump. The first end is connected to the pedal, and the fulcrum is between the first end and the second end and is located close to the second end. The brake link group is connected between the elbow and the brake control link. The brake pump has an adjustable rod, and one link of the brake link group is connected to the adjustable rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventors: Kuo-Hui Chang, Shao-Chi Chuang, Wen-Shu Lee
  • Patent number: 10578188
    Abstract: A vibration damping device (10) comprises a tubular outer attachment member (11) and an inner attachment member (12); a pair of main rubber portions (13) that couple the outer attachment member (11) to the inner attachment member (12), and that are arranged so as to be spaced in an axial direction along a central axis (O) of the outer attachment member (11); and a partition portion (15) that couples the outer attachment member (11) to the inner attachment member (12), and that partitions a liquid chamber (25) between the pair of main rubber portions (13), in the axial direction, into a first liquid chamber (26) and a second liquid chamber (27). The partition portion (15) comprises an annular rigid portion (30) in which a restricted passage (33) that connects the first liquid chamber (26) to the second liquid chamber (27) is formed, and an annular elastic portion (29) that is adjacent to the rigid portion (31) in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kojima
  • Patent number: 10578187
    Abstract: A vibration isolation device (10) of the present invention includes: a tubular first attachment member (11) coupled to one of a vibration generating part and a vibration receiving part, and a second attachment member (12) coupled to the other thereof; an elastic body (13) which couples both the attachment members together; and a partition member (16) which partitions a liquid chamber in the first attachment member (11) in which a liquid (L) enclosed into a first liquid chamber (14) and a second liquid chamber (15), in which at least one of the first liquid chamber (14) and the second liquid chamber (15) has the elastic body (13) as a portion of a wall surface thereof; and a communication passage (30) which communicates with the first liquid chamber (14) and the second liquid chamber (15), and a barrier rigid body (33) which is disposed in the communication passage (30) are provided in the partition member (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Ueki
  • Patent number: 10578182
    Abstract: Housing has first and second parallel tubular chambers. The first chamber contains a gas spring whose output shaft connects to a first piston of area A1. The second chamber contains a second piston of area A2<A1. Piston A2 connects to the device's output shaft. The housing has a valve block with an internal port in fluid communication with the two chambers between the first and second pistons. The valve block contains an incompressible fluid. A poppet valve is in the internal port. The poppet includes a flow restricting bore therethrough. A force on the output shaft causes the fluid to force open the poppet and displace the piston, A1, storing energy in the gas spring. Upon removal of the force on the device's output shaft, the gas spring pushes the fluid to close the poppet. Hence, only a low volume flow through the bore in the poppet is permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: ROM Acquisition Corporation
    Inventor: Avraham Y. Levi
  • Patent number: 10576946
    Abstract: An automatic braking system and method are provided for controlling the automatic operation of a pneumatic (air) brake system installed on commercial highway vehicles and the like, particular heavy trucks and buses. When a possible collision is detected or an object is detected in proximity to at least one side and/or end of the vehicle, the system automatically operates the existing, factory installed air braking system of the vehicle to avoid a collision or mitigate the collision impact by concurrently pressurizing each of the rear and front pneumatic service brakes of the vehicle. Pressing the existing vehicle brake pedal deactivates the automatic braking system, thereby permitting the driver to take over control of braking at any time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Inventor: Arnaldo C. Gomes
  • Patent number: 10576949
    Abstract: An electro-pneumatic tractor protection valve assembly (8) including a trailer supply input (84) for receiving a supply pressure, a trailer service output (87) for delivering a trailer supply pressure, a first supply input (81) for receiving a primary driver brake pressure, a second supply input (82) for receiving a secondary driver brake pressure, a dual brake valve (14) actuated by a brake pedal (10) and supplying the brake control pressures, a vent opening (86) for venting an internal conduit, a first electrically controlled pneumatic valve (92) to receive a first electric control signal for trailer assistance braking, and a trailer control output (85) for delivering a trailer brake control pressure. The valve assembly includes one single casing (8a) accommodating the first supply input (81), the second supply input (82), the trailer supply input (84), the trailer control output (85), the vent opening (86) and the trailer service output (87).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: WABCO Europe BVBA
    Inventors: Horst Eckert, Florian Schwagmeyer
  • Patent number: 10578183
    Abstract: Disclosed is a motor vehicle twin-tube damper comprising: a tube filled with a working liquid, a piston assembly disposed slidably inside the tube divides the tube into a rebound chamber and a compression chamber. A compensation chamber is located outside of the tube. A base valve assembly including a rebound valve assembly and a compression valve assembly controls the flow of the working liquid between the compensation chamber and the compression chamber. The rebound valve assembly includes a number of rebound flow channels covered by a main deflective disc. To suppress vibrations generated by the deflective disc due to pressure fluctuations occurring during rapid changes of the damper stroke direction, the rebound valve assembly includes an additional deflective disc disposed over the main deflective disc and separated from it by an annular gap with a thickness (G) that is less than the thickness of the main deflective disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: BEIJINGWEST INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Marian Sikora, Witold Palka
  • Patent number: 10576803
    Abstract: A shock absorber including: a first cylinder having an interior, first and second ends and defining an axis, wherein the interior includes a damping fluid chamber and a damping piston movably mounted therein for movement between the first and second ends, wherein the damping piston is mounted on a first end of a shaft, wherein the first end of the shaft is movably retained within the interior of the first cylinder; first and second bypass openings configured for opening into the damping fluid chamber at first and second axially spaced-apart positions; a bypass channel fluidly coupling the first and second bypass openings; a fluid metering valve; and a floating piston dividing a portion of the shock absorber into a gas chamber and the reservoir chamber, wherein the fluid metering valve and the floating piston define the reservoir chamber there between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: John Marking, Vegard Hamso
  • Patent number: 10563722
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic bushing, including a main spring and a cylindrical outer housing. The main spring comprising: a core shaft; a first rubber body arranged on an outer wall of the core shaft, wherein two liquid chambers diametrically opposite to and spaced from each other are formed on the first rubber body, each liquid chamber extending throughout the first rubber body along an axial direction thereof; and a sleeve mounted on an outer wall of the first rubber body, a groove being formed in an outer wall of the sleeve. The main spring is disposed inside an inner chamber of the outer housing, and a flow channel for connecting the two liquid chambers with each other is formed between the outer housing and the sleeve through the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: ZHUZHOU TIMES NEW MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bo Zou, Dan Luo, Xingwu Ding, Jiling Bu, Yaxin Zhang, Jianxun Liu, Jo Gross, Tao Wang
  • Patent number: 10562550
    Abstract: A slack adjuster for use with a railway braking system which has an increased let-out length that enables the use of brake shoes having an increased thickness. The slack adjuster includes at least one of a dual spring and canister assembly, an external yoke trigger, or a combination of both a dual spring and canister assembly and an external yoke trigger. A method of retrofitting a truck mounted brake system is provided, in which the slack adjuster is positioned within the brake system in order to increase the let-out length while maintaining a predetermined spatial envelope within the brake system. The slack adjuster has an increased let-out length enabling the use of thicker brake shoes without requiring modification of the interacting components of the truck mounted brake system since the overall size of the slack adjuster remains the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Koziol, Scott Lee Natschke, Peter Paul Gregar
  • Patent number: 10556477
    Abstract: A vehicle damper is described. The vehicle damper includes: a cylinder; a piston within the cylinder; a working fluid within the cylinder; a reservoir in fluid communication with the cylinder via the working fluid, the reservoir operable to receive the working fluid from the cylinder in a compression stroke; a valve in a flow path between the cylinder and the reservoir; and a remotely-operable valve having a position allowing the working fluid to significantly by-pass the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: John Marking
  • Patent number: 10550905
    Abstract: An integrated monitoring system for a vehicle including a brake pad wear sensor and a wheel speed sensor. A wheel speed sensor signal line is connected between the wheel speed sensor and an electronic control unit. A wheel speed power line is connected between the wheel speed sensor, the brake pad wear sensor, and the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to monitor the wheel speed sensor signal line for a signal indicative of a wheel speed and monitors the wheel speed power line for a signal indicative of a brake pad condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ket Seng Koh, Thomas Loebe, Martin Koegel, Helmut Binder, Robert Kaster, Walter Heinrich