Patents Examined by Christopher Schwartz
  • Patent number: 9279468
    Abstract: A brake assembly for a vehicle. The brake assembly may include a sensor assembly that may be disposed proximate a housing assembly. The sensor assembly may detect a position of an adjuster mechanism, a position of an indicator that may be provided with a slide pin assembly, and/or rotation of an operating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Philpott
  • Patent number: 9272593
    Abstract: One variation may include a product comprising a top mount for a strut having a first inner strut rod attachment component comprising a metal, a second strut attachment component having at least a portion received in the first strut rod attachment component, a resilient or elastomeric material interposed between the first inner strut rod attachment component and the second inner strut rod attachment component, the second inner strut rod attachment component being constructed and arranged to receive a strut rod. One variation may include a product comprising a top mount for a strut having an inner strut rod attachment component, a first damping material and embedded in a resilient or elastomeric material, and wherein the first damping material has a greater damping property than the resilient or elastomeric material. One variation may include a product comprising an attachment collar for a strut rod, a microcellular urethane covering at least a portion of the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Bryan D. Wilson
  • Patent number: 9267377
    Abstract: A coupling apparatus has an input piston disposable on a braking input element and an output piston disposable on a brake master cylinder, to which a driver braking force is transferable via the input piston. In a first operating mode, the input piston displaced out of its initial position over a brake application distance less than a first minimum brake application distance, is spaced apart from the output piston. In a second operating mode, the input piston displaced out of its initial position over a brake application distance less than a second minimum brake application distance, is spaced apart from the output piston, and the driver braking force is transferable via the input piston to the output piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Reinhard Weiberle, Timo Jahnz
  • Patent number: 9260006
    Abstract: Provided is a hydrostatic transmission including a hub having a plurality of radially outwardly protruding teeth circumferentially spaced around the hub and at least one jaw having at least one tooth for engaging teeth on the hub to prevent rotation of the hub, thereby preventing rotation of an output shaft of a motor. When the at least one tooth on the jaw engages teeth on the hub, rotation of the output shaft is prevented by interference rather than friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: PARKER-HANNIFIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mike Crosby, Jason Emmette, David Heathcoat
  • Patent number: 9260093
    Abstract: A brake apparatus includes: a displacement member which is displaced with respect to a disk rotor; a friction member which presses the disk rotor by being pressed by the displacement member thus displaced so as to generate braking force; a hydraulic braking apparatus which displaces the displacement member using hydraulic pressure; an electric-powered braking apparatus which displaces the displacement member using a force that differs from the hydraulic pressure; and a brake ECU which controls the hydraulic braking apparatus based on information acquired from a detection unit which detects information having a correlation with the hydraulic pressure applied to the displacement member. When the electric-powered braking apparatus operates in a state in which braking is being performed by the hydraulic braking apparatus, the brake ECU controls the hydraulic braking apparatus or otherwise the electric-powered braking apparatus so as to suppress hydraulic pressure fluctuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takayuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9255618
    Abstract: An internally ventilated motor vehicle brake disc which includes at least in parts of a fiber composite material, having two parallel friction surfaces on one or more friction rings with cooling channels, wherein the friction ring or rings are arranged on a brake disc hub in a non-rotating manner, and wherein the two friction surfaces include fiber composite material, a disc-shaped carrier for the friction surfaces is provided parallel to the friction surfaces, and wherein the carrier is connected to the brake disc hub as one piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Wilhelm Beer, Wolfgang Frank, Frank Hollstein, Bianca Stauzebach
  • Patent number: 9249855
    Abstract: Provided is a damper configured so that a compact pedal unit can be obtained using the damper and so that the damper can be easily retrofitted to a pedal unit. A damper (1) comprises elements such as: a pair of cams (slide cam (4) and stationary cam (5)) which rotate relative to each other about the axis (O1) to cause the sloped cam surfaces (4132, 5211) thereof to make sliding contact with each other; a coiled spring (3) which presses the sloped cam surface (4132) of the slide cam (4) against the sloped cam surface (5211) of the stationary cam (5); a case (2); and a resin roller (8) which is fitted in a rotatable manner on the shaft (7A). The rotational motion of the slide cam (4) about the axis (O1) is restrained by the case (2), and as a result, the slide cam (4) rotates about the axis (O1) relative to the stationary cam (5) in association with the rotation of the case (2) about O1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: OILES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Kumazawa, Daisuke Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 9243678
    Abstract: An impact absorbing unit for a vehicle which is subjected to an axial compressive force from the impact in the event of a traffic collision, which includes a columnar piece of wood and a metallic housing covering lateral faces of the piece of wood. The housing has an uneven configuration formed in an outer surface or an inner surface, and the housing bulges outwards when subjected to an axial compressive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Shatai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhisa Okuda
  • Patent number: 9242626
    Abstract: A master cylinder 5 includes: a first liquid chamber 51 generating a liquid pressure in response to a brake operation of a driver; and a second liquid chamber 52 communicated with a reservoir 4 and connected to a suction port 70 of a pump 7. In a state in which the reservoir 4 and a suction section 70 of the pump 7 are communicated via the second liquid chamber 52, a liquid pressure of the first liquid chamber 51 can create a wheel cylinder liquid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD
    Inventors: Ryohei Maruo, Chiharu Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 9238452
    Abstract: A lock assembly for use in automotive and industrial transmission systems comprises: an actuator (2) having an impeller (6) movable between two rest positions by energizing the actuator, wherein the impeller is retained in each of the two rest positions by passive magnetic forces generated by the actuator; a locking arrangement (10, 22; 42, 52; 62, 64; 70, 74; 80, 96) switchable between a first configuration in which rotation of a shaft is unimpeded by the locking arrangement and a second configuration in which rotation of said shaft is blocked by the locking arrangement; and a linkage (14, 16; 44, 46, 61, 88) between the impeller and the locking arrangement, wherein the assembly is arranged such that in one of the impeller rest positions, the locking arrangement is in its first configuration and said shaft is freely rotatable, and in the other of the impeller rest positions, the locking arrangement is urged towards and into its second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Camcon Auto Limited
    Inventors: Fred Hyde, David Kelly, John Morton, Mark Findlay
  • Patent number: 9234531
    Abstract: A damping element for attenuating hydraulic pressure pulses is integrated into a hydraulic chamber of a motor vehicle hydraulic system. The damping element includes a end cap support body and a membrane that fits over a portion of the support body. The membrane has a first side facing towards a source of hydraulic fluid and a second side facing away from the hydraulic fluid source. At least one space is provided between the second side of the membrane and the end cap support body to allow for deformation of the membrane under hydraulic pressure. The membrane has a collar with a lip seal provided for fitting into place on the wall of the hydraulic chamber. At least one second space for receiving hydraulic fluid is defined between the lip seal and a region of the membrane opposite the lip seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignees: Kelsey-Hayes Company, Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Wald, David Lopez-Larequi, Georg Kedak, Joseph F. Zeoli, Joseph A. Starr, William P. Caldwell, Richard A. Swarich
  • Patent number: 9234559
    Abstract: A joined body includes a first member having a female portion, and a second member having a male portion inserted in the female portion at one end, and an annular groove along an outer circumference of the male portion. The first member and the second member are fitted to each other. A plurality of joint portions is formed on a side wall of the female portion. The joint portions are joined to the male portion by being pushed in the annular groove. A pressing portion is formed at the female portion so as to face a position of the male portion axially different from the annular groove of the male portion. The pressing portion pressed against the male portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Maegawa, Fumiyuki Yamaoka, Makoto Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9234557
    Abstract: Flexible spring members can be dimensioned for securement to an associated gas spring end member. The flexible spring member can be at least partially formed from elastomeric material. The flexible spring member can also include a marking disposed along a surface thereof that includes one or more indicia. The marking can be at least partially formed by an indicia layer and an outer layer. The indicia layer can include one or more quantities of material that at least partially form the one or more indicia. The outer layer can be formed from a quantity of material that is disposed overtop of the indicia layer such that the one or more indicia of the indicia layer are substantially encapsulated. Gas spring assemblies, suspension systems, methods of manufacture and manufacturing systems are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventor: Graham R. Brookes
  • Patent number: 9228632
    Abstract: Provided is a damping force variable shock absorber in which an additional valve is installed in a rod guide so as to implement performance that could not be implemented by a main valve. The damping force variable shock absorber includes: a base shell in which a damping force variable valve assembly is attached to an outside thereof; an inner tube which is installed inside the base shell and in which a piston rod is installed to be movable in a length direction; a piston valve which is connected to one end of the piston rod to partition an internal space of the inner tube into a rebound chamber and a compression chamber; a separator tube which is installed to partition a space between the base shell and the inner tube into a low-pressure chamber and a high-pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kwang Su Lee
  • Patent number: 9227693
    Abstract: An auxiliary device for a hydraulic brake assembly used on a two-wheel vehicle includes a body and a transmission device. The body has four cylinders respectively connected to the left and right brake lever hoses, and front and rear wheel brake hoses. By the operation of the transmission device, the front and the rear wheels are braked by either pulling the left brake lever or the right brake lever. The front wheel brake unit and the rear wheel brake unit are simultaneously activated by pulling either the left brake lever or the right break lever. The front wheel is braked right after the rear wheel is braked, and the braking force applied to the rear wheel is larger than that to the front wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ansure, Inc.
    Inventor: Ton-Rong Tseng
  • Patent number: 9228648
    Abstract: An electric linear motion actuator is provided which can set the clearance during normal braking operation of an electric brake system. The linear motion actuator includes a load sensor for detecting the magnitude of the load with which a friction pad is pressed against the brake disk, a temperature sensor for compensating for the influence of temperature on the load sensor, and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is adapted to calculate a target rotational angle from the position of the electric motor corresponding to the magnitude of the load detected by the load sensor to the position of the electric motor where the clearance is at a predetermined value, and control the electric motor to rotate the electric motor by the target rotational angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Yamasaki, Yui Masuda, Makoto Muramatsu, Masaaki Eguchi, Yuki Saoyama
  • Patent number: 9222534
    Abstract: A caliper disk brake, particularly for commercial vehicles, comprising a carrier, a caliper, at least one brake pad, and an indicating device capable of indicating wear of said brake pad. Said indicating device comprises a screw drive converting a linear movement of said pad with respect to said carrier into a rotational move-ment. Moreover, the invention may include a wear indicating device of such a disk brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: WABCO Europe BVBA
    Inventors: Thomas Corcoran, Norman Oha, Markus Stafflinger
  • Patent number: 9217479
    Abstract: An electric brake system includes a plurality of planetary rollers kept in rolling contact with the radially outer surface of a rotary shaft, a carrier which is restrained from axial movement, an axially movable outer ring member, and a friction pad provided at the axially front end of the outer ring member. The rotation of the rotary shaft is converted to axial movement of the outer ring member, thereby pressing the friction pad with the outer ring member. The brake system further includes a reaction force receiving member provided axially rearwardly of the outer ring member for receiving an axial rearward reaction force applied to the outer ring member when the friction pad is pressed by the outer ring member. A displacement sensor measures the displacement of the reaction force receiving member, thereby detecting the pressing force of the friction pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yui Masuda, Toru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9212713
    Abstract: A caliper body (1) of a disc brake caliper, said body being adapted to arrange astride of a brake disc, said body (1) comprising a first (5) and a second (11) wheel side elongated portion, the second wheel side portion comprises at least one wheel side opening (21; 22; 45) which places a channel for receiving the disc in communication with the outside of the wheel side caliper body (23), and wherein said at least one opening (21; 22; 45) is an axial central opening (45) which places said channel for receiving the disc in communication with the outside of the wheel side caliper body (23), and wherein said axial central opening (45) has a closed edge which delimits said opening at a face thereof substantially in axial direction, and wherein said at least one axial central opening (45) is arranged at least partially substantially radially overlapping at least one wheel side cylinder (12; 33), wherein said at least one axial central opening (45) is arranged substantially in the center of said second wheel side el
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Freni Brembo S.p.A.
    Inventors: Massimo Preda, Armando Puddu, Fabio Scotti, Cristian Crippa
  • Patent number: 9211871
    Abstract: A vehicle and a method for controlling regenerative braking may utilize the maximum available regenerative braking torque for some time during a braking event. As the vehicle speed and/or powertrain torque decreases, the regenerative braking torque is controlled to deviate from the maximum. The point at which the regenerative braking torque deviates from the maximum is chosen based on the level of vehicle deceleration. The regenerative braking torque is then smoothly blended out until it reaches zero. The regenerative braking torque is brought to zero when the vehicle speed is very low, thereby eliminating the inefficiencies associated with operating a motor at a very low speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dale Crombez, John Czubay