Patents Examined by D. Rutherford
  • Patent number: 5293973
    Abstract: A deformation member having an eversion portion includes a central deformation portion made of unreinforced thermoplastic synthetic material and end portions made of fiber-reinforced synthetic material providing connections to neighboring parts. This permits simple manufacture by injection molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Holger M. Thum
  • Patent number: 5293967
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle brake and hub comprising a ring braking member having braking surfaces both to the interior and exterior of the member in combination with a cast hub which includes centrally disposed aligned bearing ports for receiving bearings. The cast hub includes an outwardly exposed securing surface which cooperates with the ring braking member to effect securement of the braking member to the casting and in a manner to accommodate heat transfer therebetween. The cast hub includes intermediate the securing surface and the align ports, fan blades which cause during rotation of the hub an axial flow of air to move across the bearing ports and to extract heat from the fan blades and the securing surface. The fan blades collectively interconnect and structurally secure the securing surface and the bearing ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Inventor: Eric Siegrist
  • Patent number: 5293964
    Abstract: A bicycle brake device includes a curved brake arm that is formed with an elongated slot, an annular retaining seat that has a front end which is formed with a pair of diametrically opposite retaining notches, an annular support seat that has a rear uneven friction face which abuts against one side of the brake arm, a spring unit that is disposed in the support seat to bias the support seat away from the retaining seat, a washer that is provided with an uneven friction face which abuts against an opposite side of the brake arm, and a bolt that has a spherical head and a threaded shank. The threaded shank extends through the retaining seat, the spring unit, the support seat, the elongated slot of the brake arm and the washer. A portion of the spherical head extends into the retaining seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Ah-Ping Lin
    Inventor: Jung-Hua Li
  • Patent number: 5286011
    Abstract: A bush type mounting device having outer and intermediate sleeves, an inner metal portion and a rubber spring between the inner metal and the intermediate sleeve. The device has an inertial damping channel in an annular space between the outer sleeve and the intermediate sleeve. Damping decoupling is provided by a decoupling plate which extends radially outward from the intermediate sleeve in close association with a holding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Miles E. Strand
  • Patent number: 5286096
    Abstract: An arrangement for enhancing a bail-off function a railway vehicle comprising, a non-recoverable bail-off circuit for supplying an output signal to a brake cylinder calculation circuit when a bail-off condition a freight operating mode, a drop in brake pipe pressure is present, and an emergency brake state is absent, a recoverable bail-off circuit for supplying an output signal to the brake cylinder calculation circuit when a bail-off condition and an emergency brake state is present, the brake cylinder calculation circuit supplying an automatic brake cylinder demand signal on one input of a relay valve emulation circuit and receiving an independent brake cylinder demand signal on another input of, the relay valve emulation circuit which supplies output signal to a feedback control circuit producing output signals which are supplied to an application valve and a release valve for controlling the level of air pressure in an air brake cylinder, and a transducer for sensing and feeding back a signal correspondin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventors: Vincent Ferri, Robert D. Dimsa
  • Patent number: 5286102
    Abstract: In a brake control device with a traction control function, there is provided a traction control valve for connecting a first conduit extending from a first pressure source to a brake valve to a second conduit extending from a second pressure source for arbitrarily switching the route of the pressure of air supplied from the traction valve to the modulator. With this construction, it is possible to obtain the compact brake control device capable of reducing the number of parts and enhancing the brake responsiveness with a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirotaka Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5284096
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided for moving within pipes to determine the condition of the interior of the pipes. The vehicle has at least one wheel which is capable of travelling on walls of magnetic material. Each wheel comprises an outer wheel member having an annular peripheral wall with an inner wheel member including a portion of magnetically permeable material. The inner wheel member has an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the outer wheel member and is rollable on the inner peripheral surface of the outer wheel member. A magnet is provided in the inner wheel member having magnetic poles in contact with the permeable portion of the inner wheel. The vehicle is capable of moving through pipes without being blocked by obstacles such as a vertical wall extending from a horizontal surface. A sensor is mounted on the vehicle and a sensor processing module receives distance and time data and processes the data to determine whether the pipe is clear or obstructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Company, Limited
    Inventors: Ronald E. Pelrine, Eric A. Edwards, Lawrence S. Gullman
  • Patent number: 5282521
    Abstract: A disc brake with a caliper housing having first and second side walls, the first wall having a cavity with a piston slidably mounted therein, the piston having a first shoe for frictional engagement with one of the sides of a rotor, the housing also having a bridge spanning the sides of the rotor and extending from the bridge, the housing having a second wall with an attached second shoe for frictional engagement with the rotor opposite the first shoe. A bracket is connected with the vehicle having first leading and second trailing reaction arms. The caliper is slidably mounted with the bracket arms. Extending the piston from the caliper housing to actuate the brake brings the shoes into engagement with the rotor and causes the inboard shoe to react on the trailing bracket arm and the caliper housing to react in the trailing direction into the leading bracket arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Scott R. Leist, Robert W. Hyde, Norbert J. Green, Jr., Robert N. Dawson, Irl S. Wallace
  • Patent number: 5282424
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is capable of high-speed transportation of passengers and/or freight. Vehicles (22) are operated along a guideway (14) as a result of the interaction between vehicle lift, steering and propulsion apparatus, each of which includes coil assemblies that are mounted on the vehicle (22), and magnet assemblies mounted on the guideway (14). Vehicle propulsion is provided by the interaction of currents on the vehicle (22) with time-varying magnetic fields that are generated along the guideway (14). The coils and magnets interact in accordance with the magnitude of electric current passing through the coils and the strength of the magnets' fields, to give lift and directional control to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Inventor: Gerard K. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 5280754
    Abstract: A system for detecting objects in the path of a power operated, movable door operating in a mass transit vehicle, which would obstruct door closing. The system also includes an integral method for detection of a "free wheeling" door occasioned by failure of the door mechanical drive. Method and apparatus disclosed utilize door handle locating devices such as electrical switches located at predetermined points along the door closure track. A combination of door locations along the closure track centrally define positions signaling either door linkage failure with attendant "free wheeling" door, and/or door obstruction, in each case, the system disclosed prevents train motion until the improper door condition is remedied. The combination provides a reduction in passenger hazards occasioned by train movement with defective operator linkage and/or door obstruction due to trapped passengers or other impediments to door closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: Mark IV Transportation Products Corp. (Vapor Div)
    Inventors: Daniel J. Flanagan, Robert M. Gutierrez, Patrick J. Udelhofen, William J. Patsch
  • Patent number: 5277127
    Abstract: The driven running gear is intended for low-platform rail vehicles with at least two body parts which are articulated to each other. It is provided with two individual running gears (2, 2') fitted with steering means (15, 15', 16). The running gears are interconnected to pivot about their horizontal axis beneath the axial center of the wheels (8, 8') by a connecting member (3). The connecting member has at its ends transversely directed support arms (4, 4') for the support of a body part. On the latter there are fastened at least one motor (21, 21') and a brake (23, 23', 24, 24') which drive and brake the running gear (1) via telescopic universal shafts (25, 25') and bevel gearings (26, 26') arranged on the outside of the wheels on both individual running gears (2, 2').
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: SIG Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft
    Inventors: Willi V. Euwijk, Gabor Harsy
  • Patent number: 5276945
    Abstract: A buffering device used in a hinge structure of a lid or cover, such as stool lid of a toilet stool of Western style, which is pivoted on a horizontal axis and generally opened upwards by hand and closed downwards by gravity, comprising two members such as of coaxial cylinder type having mutually facing surfaces, respectively, and being combined coaxially to enable relative rotation, and at least one idle member disposed within a gap between the facing surfaces to roll with the relative rotation, and including no buffering fluid, in which the torque for closure is made large as compared with the torque for opening, so that the lid can be opened lightly when it is opened by hand, while it is automatically braked for preventing it from colliding against the stool body to produce an undesirable strike sound when it is naturally closed by gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Inventor: Shuji Matsumura
  • Patent number: 5277409
    Abstract: A fluid-filled elastic mount wherein an elastic body elastically connecting a first and a second support partially defines a fluid chamber filled with a non-compressible fluid. The elastic mount includes an oscillating plate which partially defines the fluid chamber and which is supported by the second support such that the oscillating plate is displaceable relative to the second support, and an actuator for oscillating the oscillating plate to thereby change a pressure of the fluid in the fluid chamber. The elastic mount further includes an elastic support member for flexibly connecting the oscillating plate to the second support such that the oscillating plate is movable toward and away from the fluid chamber. This elastic support member is formed of an elastic material which substantially permits shearing deformation of the elastic support member and inhibits its compressive and tensile deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Goto, Akiyoshi Ide, Yutaka Ishioka, Rentaro Kato, Tetsu Matsui, Ryouji Kanda, Muramatsu, Keiichi Ishiba, Yoshiki Funahashi
  • Patent number: 5277485
    Abstract: A vehicle braking system including a braking sub-system comprising; a brake actuator responsive to a brake operating pressure supplied thereto to operate a brake; a supply valve having a fluid pressure inlet and a brake operating pressure outlet connected to the actuator; a control line connected to the supply valve to supply a fluid pressure control signal to which the supply valve is responsive to supply brake operating pressure to the actuator; a pair of solenoid valves in the control line and a managing device responsive to a wheel speed signal to energize the solenoid valves so as to effect one ofa) interruption in the supply of the brake operating pressure to the actuator;b) interruption in the supply of the brake operating pressure to the actuator and exhaust of the brake operating pressure from the actuator;characterized by the provision of a plurality of the braking sub-systems and by the managing device being arranged to energize the solenoid valves of the sub-systems such that the current consumpti
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Grau Limited
    Inventor: William S. Broome
  • Patent number: 5275111
    Abstract: The invention refers to a transport system with a minimum of two supporting points disposed on opposite sides of inter-connected ring frames, where within the annular tube (21) along tracks travel light rail vehicles with a passenger cabin. The structure of the cabin is similar to that of an airplane fuselage, where the cabins are at the same time supported by the lower and upper rotating bases which are disposed in the shape of rails (2,3) which include the side rails (10) also bonded to the opposite sides of the basic rings (1). The basic rings (1) are inter-connected by side supports (18) bonded by side bonds (19) for longitudinal central supports (12,13) and longitudinal side supports (14,15) disposed on horizontal frame beams (11) of double columns (10) as vertical supports (4b) of the support structure system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Inventor: Milorad Saviccevic
  • Patent number: 5273260
    Abstract: A seat suspension device for an automotive seat, in which an upper frame is movably connected with a lower frame via an X-shaped link in a vertically movable manner, with the arrangement that an upwardly curved section is formed at the frontal part of the upper frame whereas a downwardly curved section is formed at the frontal part of the lower frame, and that a damper is interposed vertically between those upwardly and downwardly curved sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Tachi-S Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Kojiro Nagata
  • Patent number: 5269225
    Abstract: An automatic rail securing device (10) mounted on a railroad car (12) upon which a device (20) for manipulating the track is mounted, as well as work positions to permit the placement of insulators (40) on the railroad ties (34) as well as clips (5). A clip securing apparatus (66) is slidably mounted to car 12 by means of wheels (15, 17) and struts (23, 25). The apparatus (66) includes two satellite stations (70, 72) which include a pair of compression members (74, 76) which automatically engage the clip (5) and secure it in a final position adjacent to the rail (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Burlington Northern Railroad
    Inventors: John H. Bosshart, Gary F. Lux, Terrance Cunningham, Ivan E. Bounds, George A. Hinsley, Doyle S. Russell
  • Patent number: 5263419
    Abstract: A vehicle with a noncontact drive mechanism includes a magnetic propelling device 7 for generating a propelling force derived from magnetic induction of an eddy current within a reaction plate 4 laid on a road surface, without contact between the magnetic propelling device and the reaction plate; a flux changing device 13 for changing magnetic flux of the magnetic propelling device; a chassis supporting device for holding a chassis with respect to the road surface; and running-direction control devices 3, 5 for controlling the direction of running of the vehicle. The vehicle is adapted to run by generating a magnetic force in noncontact with the reaction plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuzo Moroto, Masao Kawai, Hideki Aruga, Toshihiro Shiimado, Yoshihisa Ito, Koji Hori
  • Patent number: 5261650
    Abstract: A resilient mount is described as having a special spring steel retainer spring for locking the mount in a frusto-conically shaped opening which is defined by a hollow truncated rigid metal sleeve which has an annular abutment at its free outer edge. The mount has inner and outer rigid metal sleeves to which a resilient rubber insert is bonded. The insert essentially encases the outer sleeve and has a circumferential recess which extends inwardly of the insert adjacent the annular abutment. The recess is designed to receive the retainer spring which has a plurality of radially extending fingers for engaging the annular abutment to limit axial movement of the mount in one direction. The insert is also provided with an integral annular flange for engaging the opposite end of the truncated sleeve to limit axial movement of the mount in the other direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: GenCorp Inc.
    Inventor: Richard D. Hein
  • Patent number: 5261510
    Abstract: A brake retention pin rotatively mounted in a brake shoe having a spring cam portion secured to the brake retention pin where the spring cam engages a brake return spring hook as the brake retention pin is rotated thereby extending and translating the return spring for engagement with the retention pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Jay D. White