Patents Examined by Duane A. Reger
  • Patent number: 4971299
    Abstract: An ERF filled engine mount features an annular member which is disposed within inner and outer coaxial tubular members. This member is formed with two short channels and one long one along its outer periphery. The short channels are formed so as to be essentially diametrically opposed sides of the annular member and to extend about 1/4 of the external perimeter thereof. The longer channel is axially offset from the two shorter ones and arranged to extend about 3/4 of the perimeter. The outer tubular member closes the channels and defines a pair of primary orifice passages and a single secondary one. An elastomeric member which operatively interconnects the inner and outer tubular members is formed to define a main chamber and an auxiliary one. Apertures formed in the ends of the passages permit the main and auxiliary chambers to communicate via the orifice passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Doi
  • Patent number: 4971179
    Abstract: The braking device has several groups of brakes (22 to 25), which can be applied separately by a control device (35) and each of which has at least one friction brake (16 to 19). The control device (35) controls the application of the groups of brakes (22 25) depending on their wear condition and temperature, such that application of the least-worn group of brakes (20 to 25) is favored, whereby the friction brakes (16 to 19) of each of the applied groups of brakes (22 to 25) quickly attain an advantageous temperature range with respect to minimum wear, and are maintained in such range. The entire braking of the rail vehicle or train (1) is always maintained in addition in agreement with a braking requirement signal for the rail vehicle or train (1). This produces equal wear of all brake shoes (20), whereby the friction brakes (16 to 19) are always operated at a temperature range most advantageous for wear and with the most wear-advantageous pressure with moderate braking strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse AG
    Inventors: Hannes Gebhardt, Kaspar Gehr, Eckart Saumweber
  • Patent number: 4971298
    Abstract: An engine mount has two support members which are interconnected by an elastomer element. The elastomer element is surrounded on its outer side by an annular chamber that forms a first hydraulic chamber to effect hydraulic damping of the engine mount. A second hydraulic chamber is provided inside the elastomer element. And the hydraulic chambers are in fluid communication with one another via throttle passages and an annular passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jurgen Roos, Wilhelm Konrad
  • Patent number: 4971341
    Abstract: A U-shaped frame has opposite pivoted jaws adapted to move to and from a position closing the frame gap. A releasable locking member is pivoted to the frame in half-bearings, and is held in place by a cover plate that similarly retains the journals of an actuator plate responsible for closing the jaws around an entered wheel. The locking member is rotated out of locking position by forces on a handle that cause the chair to be pushed out of the retainer coupling. Placement of the locking member in the release position causes warning projections to appear above the housing, and these retract into the housing when the unit is in locked condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: American Seating Company
    Inventor: Richard C. Magnuson
  • Patent number: 4966257
    Abstract: A shock absorber comprises a tube with a cavity therein and a piston rod extending through one end of the tube. At this end of the tube there is provided a gasket. Moreover, for guiding the piston rod, there are provided guiding rollers. These guiding rollers are distributed about the axis of the tube and engage the piston rod by a concave circumferential face, the curvature of which substantially corresponds to the curvature of the piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventor: Ludwig Axthammer
  • Patent number: 4964678
    Abstract: An anti-lock braking system which is adaptable to installation in a wide range of vehicles by means of a self-adjusting connecting linkage between the brake and the control system for anti-lock braking. The brake pedal is linked to the control system by a latched member which releases to permit the linkage to assume the appropriate length for the particular vehicle. The linkage includes frictionally engaged elements which move relative to each other as required and the braking system includes a hydraulic circuit which prevents depletion of hydraulic fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: Joseph Pollak Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Holloway, James A. Mallett
  • Patent number: 4964493
    Abstract: A shock absorber is provided a piston stroke dependent variable shock absorbing characteristics by means of a first and second flow restriction valves associated with a piston. The first and second flow restriction valves are arranged in a fluid path for communicating first and second working chambers defined within a shock absorber cylindrical housing in series. The first flow restriction valve is associated with an orifice forming a part of the fluid path and has variable flow restriction rate in response to a pressure difference between the first and second chambers greater. The second flow restriction means is disposed in tandem fashion with the first flow restriction valve for providing a predetermined constant flow restriction rate in response to the pressure difference smaller than a predetermined criterion and providing a variable flow restriction as a function of the piston stroke speed in response to the pressure difference greater than the predetermined criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: Atsugi Motor Parts Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tamotsu Yamaura, Fumiyuki Yamaoka, Mitsuo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 4964681
    Abstract: An anti-lock hydraulic brake system comprising a separating valve (14) and a regulating valve (19). A combined arrangement is provided wherein the valves are connected into each other. The movability (play s) of the piston (30) affords the event that a compensating volume for the control action in the event that the output of the pump is insufficient in specific situations requiring a large amount of fluid for control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Burgdorf, Hans-Dieter Reinartz, Helmut Steffes, Holger Von Hayn, Peter Volz, Hans Wupper, Gunther Buschmann, Erhard Beck, Gottfried Dehio, Dieter Dinkel, Juergen Rausch
  • Patent number: 4964680
    Abstract: A flow control valve for antilock control includes a housing having inlet, outlet and discharge ports communicating with a master cylinder, a wheel brake and a reservoir circuit, respectively, and a spool mounted in the housing so as to be slidable between two positions. When the spool is in one of the two positions, a large-flow channel is formed between the inlet and outlet ports, whereas in the other position, a restricted-flow channel is formed therebetween. In an intermediate position, both of the channels are closed by edge portions formed on the spool. A throttled bypass channel is formed so as to branch off from the restricted-flow channel so as to be connected to the outlet port. Even if the spool should get stuck in any intermediate position between the above two positions, hydraulic oil can be fed from the inlet port to the outlet port through this throttled channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Nokubo, Teruhisa Kohno, Koichi Hashida, Atsuo Matsumoto, Hideaki Higashimura
  • Patent number: 4964485
    Abstract: The device senses the impact of a vehicle backing into an object, and automatically applies the brakes of an ordinary hydraulic brake system to stop the vehicle very quickly, before any significant damage can be done. The device uses a pneumatic cylinder to quickly and powerfully pull on the brake pedal of the vehicle when the vehicle is in reverse gear and an impact is sensed. A small, light-weight and relatively inexpensive air compressor which runs off of the battery of the vehicle and a reservoir are used to supply the air cylinder. The brakes stay in the actuated condition until the vehicle is taken out of reverse gear; then the air cylinder is vented to atmosphere automatically, and the brake pedal is released to return it to its initial position and enable the normal operation of the vehicle. The device can be supplied in the form of a kit to be used to easily modify existing vehicles without invading the hydraulic brake lines or vacuum system of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: BackStop, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph R. Miele
  • Patent number: 4962833
    Abstract: A friction brake is associated with the single wheel of a wheelbarrow. A cable extends from the brake to a belt having a quick release mechanism and worn by the operator of the wheelbarrow. When tension is applied to the cable, as when the wheelbarrow moves away from the operator, braking force is applied to the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Inventor: Kal B. McCurdy
  • Patent number: 4962916
    Abstract: An elastomeric spring useful as an automotive shock or strut end-of-travel bumper having at least three distinct spring rates made possible by a series of roughly cylindrical, hollow elastomeric tubes stacked with the axes of the tubes normal to the axis of deflection of the spring. The tubes collapse sequentially to yield multiple spring rates. Non uniform wall thickness tubes, roll axially over the outer peripheral surface of the thicker walls of adjacent tubes during deflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Uniroyal Chemical Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard L. Palinkas
  • Patent number: 4962969
    Abstract: A regenerative and friction braking system for a vehicle having one or more roadwheels driven by an electric traction motor includes a driver responsive device for producing a brake demand signal having a magnitude corresponding to the level of braking force selected by the driver and friction and regenerative brakes operatively connected with the roadwheels of the vehicle. A system according to this invention further includes control means for operating the friction and regenerative braking subsystems so that maximum brake torques sustainable by the roadwheels of the vehicle without skidding or slipping will not be exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Roy I. Davis
  • Patent number: 4961483
    Abstract: A variable damping characteristics shock absorber includes a piezoelectric transducer which is responsive to piston stroke for producing a piston stroke indicative signal. The piston stroke indicative signal includes component indicative of piston strike direction so as to enable control of the damping characteristics depending upon the piston stroke direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: Atsugi Motor Parts, Limited
    Inventors: Fumiyuki Yamaoka, Shinobu Kakizaki, Shigeru Kikushima
  • Patent number: 4960188
    Abstract: The invention provides a single-tube vibration damper of variable damping force which consists of simple and easily produced components and permits problem-free assembly. This is achieved in that the cylinder comprises an open cylinder end provided with the cylinder diameter and is arranged therewith on the side remote from the piston rod exit in the container. The inflow passages for a damping device externally fitted on the container are formed by an annular space present between cylinder and container and divided by means of seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventor: Felix Wossner
  • Patent number: 4960187
    Abstract: A stop washer for a brake unit of a bicycle is generally a disc with a center hole. A stop is fixed on the disc and extends in a plane perpendicular to the disc. A brake unit of a conventional bicycle includes a pair of brake devices being respectively pivoted to two frame bars of a frame fork of the bicycle. The brake device includes a brake arm with a brake shoe. The brake arms are actuated by a cable. The stop washer is disposed on a pivot axle of the brake device such that the stop extends across a rotational plane of the brake arm for limiting the rotation of the brake arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Inventor: Yi-Chen Chi
  • Patent number: 4958810
    Abstract: A hydraulic mount assembly includes a pair of mounting members connected to each other through a hollow elastomeric body. The body is closed by a resilient diaphragm so as to form a cavity for damping liquid. A partition is provided to divide the fluid filled cavity into two distinct chambers. A primary chamber is formed between the partition and the interior wall of the body. A secondary chamber is formed between the partition and the interior wall of the diaphragm. The partition includes at least one orifice track connecting the two chambers. There is further provided a domed orifice plate in said primary chamber. The orifice within the orifice plate allows restricted fluid communication between the primary chamber and the flow passage in the partition. During operation, this orifice provides a passive tuning mechanism for the mount by lowering the dynamic rate at higher operating frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas P. Gold, James P. Hamberg, Darren K. Maness, Richard A. Muzechuk
  • Patent number: 4958704
    Abstract: A hydraulic telescopic shock absorber wherein damping characteristic can be varied by means of an electromagnetic valve arrangement, the coil of which is accommodated so as to be protected against the hydraulic medium of the shock absorber. The control preferably takes place as a function of the pressure difference between the spaces above and below the piston of the shock absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heinz Leiber, Walter Klinker, Gerhard Meier
  • Patent number: 4958811
    Abstract: A hydraulically damping elastic bearing comprises an outer tubular member and an inner tubular member disposed radially inwardly of the outer tubular member to be separated therefrom. An elastic member is disposed between the inner and outer tubular members and has at least one chamber filled with a damping medium. At least one elastic radial stop is mounted to extend at least partially from the outer tubular member toward the inner tubular member. The elastic radial stop is disposed outside of and displaced from the chamber of the elastic member. Such an elastic radial stop may be resiliently deformed to produce a radial force on the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member by a wedge which is disposed between an extended end of the elastic radial stop and the inner tubular member. Alternatively, the extended end may be radially spaced from the inner tubular member by a predetermined radial distance and a different wedge may be disposed between the extended end and the inner tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: Boge AG
    Inventors: Heinz Brenner, Horst Reuter
  • Patent number: 4957278
    Abstract: A coil spring has a strand having a width w and a thickness t, such that 1.1.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.1.7, where c is a ratio determined according to c=w/t. Further, the strand has a cross-sectional shape defined by a plurality of partial curves, which are portions of a clothoid, a curve whose radius varies inversely in proportion to its length. Further, the partial curves are combined to form a closed loop. The tangent lines of any adjacent two of the partial curves of the coil spring, at their boundaries where they are combined, are oriented in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: Sanko Senzai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Syoichi Komura, Hiroyuki Toyofuku