Patents Examined by Daniel S Collins
  • Patent number: 11834020
    Abstract: An electromechanically drivable brake pressure generator for a hydraulic braking system of a vehicle, including an electric motor unit, which is activatable with the aid of an electronic control unit in accordance with a brake pressure to be applied and whose rotary motion generated thereby is converted by a reducing gearbox unit including an output-side spindle drive unit into a translatory motion for actuating a piston of a hydraulic piston/cylinder unit. A hydraulic block of the piston/cylinder unit also at least partially accommodates the electric motor unit in such a way that a motor shaft of the electric motor unit extending at least predominantly in the area of the hydraulic block is situated axially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the piston of the piston/cylinder unit which is movable in the hydraulic block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Mark Boehm, Claus Oehler, Matthias Greiner
  • Patent number: 11821114
    Abstract: An object of the present disclosure is to provide an actuator having even better durability than the conventional actuator. Specifically, an actuator has an actuator main body constituted of a cylindrical tube capable of expanding/contracting by hydraulic pressure and a sleeve for covering an outer peripheral surface of the tube, the sleeve having a cylindrical structure formed by cords woven to be disposed in predetermined directions, wherein: the inner diameter r0 (mm) of the tube, the thickness t (mm) of the tube, the storage elastic modulus E? (MPa) of the tube at 25° C., and the mesh aperture ratio A of the cords constituting the sleeve in a pressurized state satisfy the following formula (1): 50?E?×(t/r0)/A?600??(1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kanesugi
  • Patent number: 11795659
    Abstract: A mobile hydraulic system includes a hydraulic actuator coupled to a load, and a control unit coupled to the load and/or to the hydraulic actuator. The control unit is adapted to anticipate an over-center transition of the load relative to a gravity vector prior to the over-center transition through the use of sensors configured with accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers. In some examples, the over-center transition is from an overrunning driving of the load to a passive driving of the load. In some examples, the over-center transition is from a passive driving of the load to an overrunning driving of the load. In some examples, the control unit is adapted to control change in a metered flow through one or more ports of the associated actuator to minimize and/or prevent one or more hydraulic effects of the anticipated over-center transition. In some examples, the control unit controls the metered flow by causing one or more actuators (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: DANFOSS A/S
    Inventor: Aaron H. Jagoda
  • Patent number: 11788562
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a pneumatic, hydraulic, or otherwise inflatable or pressurized artificial muscle. Also provided are methods for making, controlling, and using such a muscle useful for prostheses, movement aids, or wearable robots to assist the movement of impaired subjects or to improve the function of healthy subjects. Muscles can be made by densely winding tension wires around pressurized expandable tubes having one or more specific geometric shapes removed from the tube cross section. The curve of output characteristics such as output force vs. contraction ratio can be adjustable by changing parameters of the sectional view of the tube. The appropriate shape of tube and related output characteristics can be selected according to application area or body part to be assisted to achieve the most flexible and optimal design for one or more muscle groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: The Chinese University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Kai Yu Tong, Disheng Xie, Jing Shu, Junming Wang
  • Patent number: 11773883
    Abstract: A hydraulic circuit includes a pump connected to a tank for supplying hydraulic liquid under pressure to a component via a directional control slide valve provided with a feed port connected to an inlet of the component and with a return port connected to an outlet of the component. The hydraulic circuit further includes a pressure limiter connected to the inlet of the component and the tank, and a feed control system for the hydraulic component including a pressure sensor installed upstream of the hydraulic component downstream of the feed port for supplying information about the pressure of the hydraulic liquid and a setpoint pressure. The feed control system further including an actuator for controlling the movement of the directional control slide valve, and a control unit for generating a control signal for the actuator based on information about the pressure measured at the feed port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Gilles Florean
  • Patent number: 11772621
    Abstract: According to at least one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a brake oil reservoir for a vehicle comprising: an elongated link unit; a first reservoir tank coupled to a first end of the link unit, and including a float guide having a hollow portion and a float moving in the float guide; and a second reservoir tank coupled to a second end of the link unit, and coupled to be biased to one side with respect to a central axis of the link unit extending in a longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ji Ho Yoo, Jae Hoon Pi, Si Woo Park
  • Patent number: 11761465
    Abstract: A hydraulic system includes at least one hydraulic unit (2) having at least one flow path (14, 16, 18), an hydraulic actuator (22), provided for influencing a hydraulic flow through the flow path (14, 16, 18), at least one sensor device (24, 26), and a control device (10) for controlling the hydraulic actuator (22). The at least one sensor device (24, 26) includes a storage device (32) provided for containing information specifying the hydraulic unit (2). The control device (10) is configured to receive the information stored in the storage device (32) of the sensor device (24, 26) and to set up a control of the hydraulic actuator (22) based on the received information specifying the hydraulic unit (2). A method is provided for controlling the hydraulic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: GRUNDFOS HOLDING A/S
    Inventors: Karsten Dyrbye, Kim Hulegaard Jensen, Henrik Kragh
  • Patent number: 11754098
    Abstract: A valve structure (1) for driving reversible ploughs (40), comprising a first port (3) adapted to be in fluid communication with a pump (P) in a first configuration of the plough (40) and adapted to be in fluid communication with a tank (T) in a second reversed configuration of the plough (40), and a second port (4) adapted to be in fluid communication with the tank (T) in the first configuration of the plough (40) and adapted to be in fluid communication with the pump (P) in the second reversed configuration of the plough (40), a body (2) which includes a first seat (5) and a second seat (6), the seats housing respective moving spools (13, 14), a first interconnection port (7a) for the connection of the valve structure (1) to a first chamber (10a) of a first hydraulic cylinder (10) for longitudinally aligning the plough (40), and a second interconnection port (7b) for the connection to a second chamber (10b) of the first hydraulic cylinder (10), a third interconnection port (8a) for the connection of the val
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Oleodinamica Marchesini S.p.A.
    Inventor: Robert Jonathan Valenta
  • Patent number: 11724384
    Abstract: An artificial muscle including a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, the housing defining an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion, a strain sensor integrated into at least one of the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion of the housing, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing. The electrode pair includes a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the electrode pair is configured to actuate between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region, expanding the expandable fluid region to deform the strain sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Rowe, Shardul S. Panwar
  • Patent number: 11724385
    Abstract: An artificial muscle stack that includes a plurality of artificial muscle layers. Each artificial muscle layer includes one or more artificial muscles having a housing with an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair having a first and second electrode positioned in the electrode region. The first and second electrodes each include two or more tab portions and two or more bridge portions. The two or more bridge portions interconnects adjacent tab portions. At least one of the first and second electrode includes a central opening positioned between the tab portions and encircling the expandable fluid region. The plurality of artificial muscle layers are arranged such that the expandable fluid region of the artificial muscles of each artificial muscle layer overlaps at least one tab portion of one or more artificial muscles of an adjacent artificial muscle layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Rowe
  • Patent number: 11724760
    Abstract: A linear actuator system includes a linear actuator including an outer body, an inner body disposed within the outer body, a fluid chamber at least partially extending between the inner body and the outer body, a piston chamber extending at least partially within the inner body, a valve configured to selectively fluidly couple the fluid chamber and the piston chamber to each other, a piston assembly including a piston, a variable volume within the piston chamber that extends between the piston and the valve, and a gas collector assembly including a fluid passageway. The piston assembly is disposed within the piston chamber, wherein a movement of the piston assembly causes a gas separated from a liquid within the variable volume to flow through the fluid passageway, through the valve, and into the fluid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Wolf Tooth Components, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey Scott Jordan
  • Patent number: 11725725
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a transmission are provided herein. In one example, a hydraulic system is provided that includes a boost pump, a relief valve in fluidic communication with the boost pump and a reservoir, and a plurality of control valves in fluidic communication with the boost pump, positioned downstream of the relief valve, and in fluidic communication with a plurality of hydraulic devices. The hydraulic system further includes a controller designed to actively adjust a position of the relief valve based on an aggregate hydraulic pressure demand of the plurality of hydraulic devices to alter a boost pressure of a hydraulic fluid supplied to the plurality of control valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: DANA ITALIA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Mario Gelmini, Lorenzo Dalla Palma
  • Patent number: 11713777
    Abstract: Aircraft power system is disclosed having a hydraulic reservoir, a bi-directional hydraulic pump for pumping hydraulic fluid to and from the reservoir, and an electric motor. The electric motor is connectable to a first driveable component of the aircraft such that the electric motor is arranged to drive the first driveable component of the aircraft. The hydraulic pump is connectable to the first driveable component of the aircraft such that the hydraulic pump is arranged to pump hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to drive the first driveable component of an aircraft. Thus, in a first driveable mode of operation, the first driveable component is driven by both the electric motor and the hydraulic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew David Sadler
  • Patent number: 11705800
    Abstract: A hydraulic actuator device for a hydraulic system filled with an electrically conductive medium, the hydraulic actuator device being situatable or being situated on and/or in the hydraulic system, and including at least one actuator module, which in each case is designed in such a way that at least a portion of the electrically conductive medium is acceleratable into at least one partial volume of the hydraulic system due to its interaction with an electrical current flow generated with the aid of the respective actuator module and/or with a magnetic field created with the aid of the respective actuator module, as a result of which a pressure build-up is creatable in the at least one partial volume of the hydraulic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rico Alf Klein, Vaclav Kocourek, Thomas Friedrich
  • Patent number: 11696821
    Abstract: An artificial muscle that includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing, the electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode, and an electrode insulator having one or more insulation layers. The electrode insulator is disposed on an inner electrode surface of the first electrode of the electrode pair. The second electrode includes a free inner electrode surface exposed to the dielectric fluid when the electrode pair is in a non-actuated state. The electrode pair is actuatable between the non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region, expanding the expandable fluid region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Rowe, Maduran Palaniswamy
  • Patent number: 11686330
    Abstract: A manufacture configured to and process for inhibiting, from wear, a lock in a latching system comprising: a gland surrounding an actuator translating the lock through: a first fixed lock receptor and a moveable lock receptor. The manufacture and process include: inhibiting a skewing, of a lock central axis of the lock with the lock translating through the first opening and the opening in the moveable lock receptor, away from substantially aligning with: a first central axis of a first opening of the first fixed lock receptor, and an actuator central axis of the actuator, via fitting a first translation guide into the first fixed lock receptor. Also included is inhibiting: wear of a gland around an actuator in the lock while translating, and leaking, past the gland, of an actuator fluid within the lock; and skewing of an actuator central axis of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Eric S. Kamila, Charles E. Jokisch, Renato S. Felicio
  • Patent number: 11685044
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an actuator including a pouch which is sealed and formed with an asymmetric structure, a dielectric fluid which is filled in the pouch, and an electrode which is attached to one surface of the pouch and the other surface opposite the one surface, wherein the pouch includes a first part provided on one side and having a predetermined area, and a second part provided on the other side opposite the one side and having a smaller area than the first part, and when power is applied to the electrodes, the first part or the second part of the pouch is expandable by movement of the dielectric fluid due to the asymmetric structure, and an active plate having the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Sohyun Kim, Youngsu Cha
  • Patent number: 11678597
    Abstract: A downforce control system for an agricultural ground engaging unit provides individual control of each agricultural ground engaging row unit by providing a proportional pressure control valve connected to the retracting chamber of a double acting cylinder which varies the upward force produced by the retracting chamber of the cylinder against a constant counteracting downward force produced by an extending chamber of the cylinder, the valve control based on a comparison of a sensed resultant downward force on the agricultural ground engaging row unit and a predetermined target downward force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventor: David C. Schulte
  • Patent number: 11673623
    Abstract: An improved master cylinder for use with a hydraulic clutch or hydraulic brake system. The master cylinder has a master cylinder body defining a bore. A piston is configured to slide in the bore when an actuation lever is compressed by a user. Sliding of the piston as a result of the depression of the lever causes the piston to depress a spring and to increase hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic line leading to the brake or clutch. A spring is configured to return the piston when pressure is released from the actuation lever. The master cylinder body in some embodiments is configured for lateral position adjustment relative to a mounting bracket. In some embodiments the master cylinder has a reservoir. The reservoir can be oriented at a tilted angle relative to the body of the master cylinder. In further embodiments the master cylinder has an outlet nut that is configured for attachment to the hydraulic line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Rekluse Racing LLC
    Inventors: Dayne H. Konrad, Ian R. Shelman, Karl E. Jensen, Sean G. Brown
  • Patent number: 11674509
    Abstract: A long sleeve cartridge for being inserted into a fluid end block of a pump is disclosed. The long sleeve cartridge includes a body and a sleeve bore extending through the body. The sleeve bore includes a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter. The first inner diameter is less than the second inner diameter. A first aperture is located on the body, and a second aperture is located on the body in a radial position substantially diametrically opposite of the first aperture. A packing seal assembly is secured within the long sleeve cartridge. The packing seal assembly includes one or more seals and a biasing mechanism to provide a compression force on the seals. The packing seal assembly is arranged within the second inner diameter when the packing seal assembly is disposed within the long sleeve cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: SPM Oil & Gas Inc.
    Inventors: Daryl J. Belshan, James Barnhouse, Jacob Brown, Todd R. Kabrich