Patents Examined by James K. Hsiao
  • Patent number: 11473641
    Abstract: A vibration damper for vehicles includes a damper tube which is at least partially filled with damper medium and which has a longitudinal axis along which a piston rod is movable back and forth. A working piston is movable jointly with the piston rod, by means of which working piston the interior space of the damper tube is divided into a piston-rod-side working space and a piston-rod-remote working space. The vibration damper has a leakage indicator for the damper medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP BILSTEIN GMBH, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Tim Noruschat, Haris Bajramovic
  • Patent number: 11465483
    Abstract: A variable stiffness vibration damping device includes a first support member, a second support member, a main elastic member, a diaphragm, a partition elastic member, a first communication passage, a coil, a yoke, and a magnetic fluid. The first communication passage is provided in one of the first support member and the second support member such that a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber communicate with each other via the first communication passage. The first communication passage includes a first circumferential passage. The coil is wound coaxially with the one of the first support member and the second support member. The yoke is included in the one of the first support member and the second support member and forms a first magnetic gap overlapping at least partially with the first circumferential passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuho Ito, Toshio Inoue
  • Patent number: 11466747
    Abstract: A damping force generating mechanism includes: a flow passage formation part that forms a flow passage through which a liquid flows; and a valve that is configured to control a flow of the liquid in the flow passage. The flow passage formation part includes a first seat part that is provided radially outward of a flow passage port of the flow passage, protrudes from the flow passage port and contacts the valve, a second seat part that is provided radially outward of the first seat part, protrudes from the flow passage port and contacts the valve, and a circulation part having an orifice that allows the liquid to flow from the flow passage port toward the second seat part in a state in which the valve is in contact with the first seat part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Gota Nakano, Chikara Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 11460082
    Abstract: A rotary to linear actuator comprising: (a) a nut having a threading; (b) a spindle having an external threading and positioned at least partially within the nut; and (c) a drive shaft in communication with the nut to rotate the nut; wherein rotation of the drive shaft rotates the nut, and the threading of the nut engages the external threading of the spindle to move the spindle axially away from the drive shaft to drive a piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: AKEBNON BRAKE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Waleed Mahmoud Al-Mahshi, Aurelian Bahmata
  • Patent number: 11454291
    Abstract: A damper includes an inner tube. The damper includes a piston slidably disposed within the inner tube. The piston defines a first working chamber and a second working chamber within the inner tube. The damper also includes an outer tube disposed around the inner tube. The outer tube defines an outer chamber between the inner tube and the outer tube. The damper further includes a cover member mounted on an outer surface of the outer tube. The cover member defines a collector chamber between the outer tube and the cover member. The damper includes a first control valve mounted on the cover member. The damper also includes a second control valve mounted on the cover member and spaced apart from the first control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan Deferme
  • Patent number: 11440393
    Abstract: A fluid-enclosed engine mount may include an insulator mounted between a core configured to be connected to an engine and an external pipe configured to be connected to a vehicle body, the insulator being provided with an internal space enclosing fluid; an orifice module disposed at the inside of a lower side portion of the insulator to divide the internal space into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the orifice module being provided with a fluid passage for allowing fluid to fluidically-communicate between the upper chamber and the lower chamber; a support member disposed between an external surface of the orifice module and the lower side portion of the insulator to elastically support the orifice module to be vertically movable; and a pipe member disposed between the lower side portion of the insulator and the support member to support an external surface of the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hyo Seok Kim
  • Patent number: 11440569
    Abstract: The invention relates to a coil device for an electromagnetic track brake for a rail vehicle. The coil device has a winding wire, which has a first end and a second end. The coil device is the first end of the winding wire is formed as a first coil connection for establishing an electrically conductive joint connection to a first connection cable and/or the second end of the winding wire is formed as a second coil connection for establishing an electrically conductive joint connection to a second connection cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventors: Richard Rathammer, Volker Joergl, Marcin Widlinski
  • Patent number: 11441633
    Abstract: A damper assembly includes an outer tube and an inner tube disposed in the outer tube defining a fluid space therebetween. The inner tube defines an inner volume. A piston is slidably disposed in the inner tube and divides the inner volume into a rebound working chamber and a compression working chamber. An active rebound valve is fluidly connected to the rebound working chamber and the fluid chamber, and an active compression valve is fluidly connected to the reserve chamber and the compression working chamber. An intake assembly is positioned in the fluid chamber to control the fluid flow through the active rebound valve and into the compression working chamber during a rebound stroke and to control fluid flow from the compression working chamber through the active compression valve and into the rebound working chamber during a compression stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: DRiV Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Stefan Deferme
  • Patent number: 11428283
    Abstract: A brake disc assembly may have a brake band, a bell, and at least one connecting device, which forms a connection between the brake band and the bell. The connecting device and the bell cooperate by delimiting at least one axial band seat where the brake band may slide in an axial direction of a predetermined axial stroke. The bell may have at least a first end-of-stroke surface which forms a first abutment surface in the axial direction for the brake band. The connecting device may have a second end-of-stroke surface, opposite to said first end-of-stroke surface, which forms a second opposite abutment surface in the axial direction for the brake band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Freni Brembo S.p.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Matti, Hydra Rossi
  • Patent number: 11421748
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a coil spring support for a vehicular suspension system, which comprises a base plate and a support column protruding from the base plate, wherein a coil spring is coupled to the support column in such a manner that the lower end of the coil spring is fitted in and coupled to a coupling groove, which is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the support column and at a position having a predetermined height from the base plate, so that the coil spring support can be auxiliarily installed on a plate spring of a vehicle so as to compensate and improve a shock absorbing capability of the existing vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventor: Sang Wuk Lee
  • Patent number: 11420605
    Abstract: An electromechanical brake pressure generator for a hydraulic braking system of a vehicle. The electromechanical brake pressure generator includes at least one threaded drive system for converting a drive-side rotary motion into a translatory motion for the brake pressure generation. The threaded drive system includes a rotatable spindle nut, and a spindle cooperating with a thread of the spindle nut so that the spindle is axially displaceable with a rotation of the spindle nut. The threaded drive system includes a drive wheel, which is non-rotatably situated on the spindle nut and via which the spindle nut is connected to the electric motor, the drive wheel and the spindle nut being designed as separate plastic components, including a plurality of mutually corresponding connecting structures which, in the assembled state, engage one another in a form-locked manner in such a way that a torque required for rotating the spindle nut is transmittable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Mark Boehm, Claus Oehler
  • Patent number: 11413921
    Abstract: End mount assemblies include a mounting bracket dimensioned for securement to an end member of a gas spring and damper assembly. The end mount assembly can include an inner mounting element dimensioned for securement to an elongated damping rod of the gas spring and damper assembly. A first plurality of bushing elements can be operatively disposed between the inner mounting element and the mounting bracket. A second plurality of bushing elements can be operatively disposed between the inner mounting element and the end member. Gas spring and a damper assemblies including such an end mount assembly as well as suspension systems and methods of assembly are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventor: Joshua R. Leonard
  • Patent number: 11413924
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a suspension comprising a spring having a threaded member at a first end for providing axial movement to the spring as the spring is rotated and the threaded member moves relative to a second component. In one embodiment, the system includes a damper for metering fluid through a piston and a rotatable spring member coaxially disposed around the damper and rotatable relative to the damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Cox, Michael David Marquez, Everet Ericksen
  • Patent number: 11391339
    Abstract: Technologies are generally described for lead-lag dampers. An example lead-lag may include a single- or two-stage floating annular ring, elastomer bearings, a tension stop, a compression stop, and a plunger/spring volume compensator. The floating annular ring(s) form orifice(s) in conjunction with the remaining damper components may provide stable performance by tracking with any center shaft misalignment during operation. The lead-lag damper may also include a secondary spring system allowing or disallowing fluid flow between chambers based on slow or sudden movement of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises LLC
    Inventors: Mark J. Ott, Robert Misevski, Timothy J. Boerschig
  • Patent number: 11376914
    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: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: John Marking, Vegard Hamso
  • Patent number: 11376913
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a first end and a second end that reciprocate relative to one another. The shock absorber includes a gas spring chamber, a damping chamber, and a floating piston. The first side of the floating piston is in fluid communication with the gas spring chamber. The second side of the floating piston is in fluid communication with the damping chamber. The gas in the gas spring chamber applies pressure against the floating piston, which applies pressure to the substantially incompressible fluid in the damping chamber. This pressure transfer may be adequate to minimize or prevent cavitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Eko Sport, Inc.
    Inventors: Darek C. Barefoot, Eric Prinster, Scott Winans
  • Patent number: 11359683
    Abstract: A disc brake of a disc-brake apparatus includes an inner pad and an outer pad, a pressing device, and a housing. The pressing device includes: a first pressing member movable toward a rotation disc; a second pressing member movable away from the rotation disc; a frame; and an electric actuator that moves the first pressing member and the second pressing member. The electric actuator includes: a two-axis motor including a stator having coils and having a substantially cylindrical shape, an inner rotor, and an outer rotor; a first motion converter that converts rotation of the inner rotor to linear movement to transmit the linear movement to the first pressing member; and a second motion converter that converts rotation of the outer rotor to linear movement to transmit the linear movement to the second pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 11358428
    Abstract: The active damper upper mount includes an inner member (11, 111) to which an upper end portion of a rod (22, 122) of an active damper (21, 121) is fixed, an intermediate member (12, 112) that surrounds the inner member in a circumferential direction around a rod axis (O1, O2), an outer member (13, 113) that surrounds the intermediate member in the circumferential direction and is attached to a vehicle body side, a first elastic body (14, 114) that is disposed between the inner member and the intermediate member and supports the inner member and the intermediate member so as to be elastically displaceable relative to each other, and a second elastic body (15, 115) that is disposed between the intermediate member and the outer member and supports the intermediate member and the outer member so as to be elastically displaceable relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazutaka Otsu, Syogo Tsuji
  • Patent number: 11338778
    Abstract: A braking system for an autonomous car is provided, including a car body, a pedal, a braking mechanism, a resistance ruler, a driving motor, a connecting member, a first micro switch, a second micro switch, and a control unit. The pedal is pivotally connected to the car body, the braking mechanism is connected to the pedal, and the resistance ruler is disposed on the pedal. The connecting member is connected to the driving motor and the pedal. The control unit is electrically connected to the driving motor, the resistance ruler, the first micro switch, and the second micro switch. When the pedal is in a first position relative to the car body, the pedal contacts and actuates the first micro switch. When the pedal rotates relative to the car body from the first position to a second position, the pedal contacts and actuates the second micro switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: ACER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jiunn-Jou Lin, Yi-Wen Chen
  • Patent number: 11338787
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a hydraulic switch including a casing, a first cable, a second cable, an electrically conductive piston and a first magnetic conductive component. The casing has a chamber and a liquid channel connected to the chamber. The first cable is disposed through the casing, and the first electrical connection portion of that is located in the chamber. The second cable is disposed through the casing, and a second electrical connection portion of that is located in the chamber. The electrically conductive piston movably is disposed in the chamber. When the electrically conductive piston is in an electrically connected position, the electrically conductive piston is in electrical contact with the first electrical connection portion and the second electrical connection portion. The first magnetic conductive component is configured to provide a magnetic force to move the electrically conductive piston toward an electrically disconnected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: TEKTRO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: En-Liang Chu