Patents Examined by Melanie Talavera
  • Patent number: 6152433
    Abstract: A motor vehicle axle is made of metal and jacketed at least areawise with a bonded fiber material. Thereby the stiffness and strength of the motor vehicle axle is increased with a favorable axle weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Ralph Hettich, Guenter Hoelzel
  • Patent number: 6152270
    Abstract: A disc of a disc brake for vehicles in general and for high-performance cars in particular, which is of unusually low weight, comprises a hub and an annular brake member traversed by ventilation ducts extending between an internal annular face element and an external annular face element of the annular brake member interconnected by bridging columns, a projecting portion of the brake member being embedded in the hub during the manufacture of the hub by casting in a light alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Brembo S.p.A.
    Inventor: Alberto Giorgetti
  • Patent number: 6148969
    Abstract: A gas shock absorber has a pressure tube which defines a working chamber. A piston divides the working chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. A series of extension passages extend through the piston and are always left open. A series of compression passages extend through the piston and are opened and closed by a compression valve assembly. A rod guide assembly is located between the pressure tube and a piston rod. The rod guide assembly includes an oil chamber for sealing and lubricating the piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Inc.
    Inventor: Luc Lemmens
  • Patent number: 6142583
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an anti-lock hydraulic automotive brake system which includes a pneumatic brake force booster (6) operable in response to the driver and independently therefrom, and a master brake cylinder (8) connected downstream of the brake force booster (6) and having pressure chambers to which several wheel brakes (HR, HL, VR, VL) associated with the vehicle wheels are connected by way of an ABS hydraulic unit (11) with a pump (7). Means (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) are provided which sense the actution of the brake force booster (6), control the pump (7) and constitute a hydraulic connection between the master brake cylinder (8) and the suction side of the pump (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & CO. OHG
    Inventor: Helmut Steffes
  • Patent number: 6142582
    Abstract: A hydraulic vehicle brake system, especially for wheeled vehicles, in which a triggered alarm for excessively low pressure in a brake circuit is maintained and where the alarm can be reset first after a pressure sensor coordinated with the brake circuit downstream of the brake valve unit, registers a pressure in the circuit which exceeds a predetermined minimum pressure level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Volvo Wheel Loaders AB
    Inventor: Bo Karlsson
  • Patent number: 6138997
    Abstract: A piston-cylinder arrangement, in particular a shock absorber (1), has a housing (2) as well as a piston (3) guided therein and pushed against a damping medium, and on which a piston rod (5) acts. The shock absorber has a screw-in-plug (10), within which a position transmitter (19), constructed as a proximity sensor, is housed. The screw-in plug with the proximity sensor (19) located therein and evaluation electronics are arranged coaxially on the rear end of the shock absorber housing (2). The piston is connected on the rear end to a magnet (15), and the proximity sensor is constructed of at least one magnetic field-dependent sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Enidine GmbH
    Inventor: Eberhard Drager
  • Patent number: 6135579
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic automotive vehicle brake system with wheel slip control, in particular for driving dynamics control, including at least one pump and pressure modulation valves in the brake lines to control the wheel braking pressure, wherein the suction side of the pump is directly, or indirectly via the pressure modulation valves, connected hydraulically to a braking pressure generator. A diaphragm is interposed into the hydraulic connection between the braking pressure generator and the suction side of the pump and contributes to reducing the load on the sealing ring at the pump piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventor: Erhard Beck
  • Patent number: 6135572
    Abstract: An actuation unit for an electronically controlled hydraulic vehicle braking system, comprising a brake booster which can be actuated by a brake pedal and which comprises a master cylinder and a reservoir for hydraulic fluid, a first brake which is coupled with at least a first vehicle wheel and which is connectable with the master cylinder via an electronically controlled valve arrangement in a basic position or, in an actuation position is disconnectable from same, a brake pedal behaviour simulator which is connectable with the master cylinder and comprises a spring arrangement adapted to act against the hydraulic pressure from the master cylinder, and with which a characteristics modeling is associated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignees: Varity GmbH, Lucas Industries plc
    Inventors: Karl-Friedrich Worsdorfer, Gregor Poertzgen, Andrew Kingston, Thomas Weigert
  • Patent number: 6132013
    Abstract: A vehicular anti-lock and traction control braking system includes a master cylinder. A driven wheel brake is connected to the master cylinder via a first brake conduit. A non-driven wheel brake is connected to the master cylinder via a second brake conduit. A fluid supply is connected to an input of a pump. An output of the pump provides pressurized fluid to the driven and non-driven wheel brakes. A pump supply valve is disposed between the pump inlet and the fluid supply. A driven wheel isolation valve is disposed in the first brake conduit between the driven wheel brake and the master cylinder. The driven wheel isolation valve is opened to allow fluid communication between driven wheel brake and the master cylinder and closed to prevent fluid communication therebetween. A non-driven wheel isolation valve is disposed in the second brake conduit between the non-driven wheel brake and the master cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Co.
    Inventor: Blaise J. Ganzel
  • Patent number: 6126251
    Abstract: A brake controlling apparatus for electric vehicles provided with a transmission between an electric motor and wheels. Regenerative brake control furnishes a regenerative braking force to the vehicle. A transmission control switches a stage of gear of the transmission the basis of driver operation. A friction brake control furnishes a friction braking force to the vehicle by controlling a friction brake. During gear shifting control, the regenerative brake control sets a regenerative torque essentially to zero, and the friction brake control supplements the regenerative braking force that was furnished to the vehicle prior to gear shifting control with the friction braking force. Therefore, there is no drop in deceleration during gear shifting control, even if the driver downshifts during regenerative braking. Smooth gear shifting is then possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kinya Yoshii, Eiji Ichioka, Takeharu Koide
  • Patent number: 6119821
    Abstract: A hydraulic compensation device includes a container, a piston, a push member and an indicating rod. The piston is mounted slidably inside the container adjacent to a first end portion to confine a brake oil with the first end portion of the container. The push member is disposed rotatably inside the container adjacent to a second end portion that is opposite to the first end portion of the container, and abuts against the piston. The push member is threadedly movable relative to the container so as to push the piston toward the first end portion, thereby moving the hydraulic actuator and adjusting the position of the brake pad. The indicating rod projects axially from the push member, and extends outwardly of the container through the second end portion of the container for indicating the amount of displacement of the push member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Giant Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hai-Huan Chiang
  • Patent number: 6120009
    Abstract: A computer-controlled shock strut for a vehicle suspension system includes an infinitely adjustable damping valve connecting two internal fluid-filled chambers within the strut, such that compression and extension of the strut piston causes fluid to pass between the chambers through the damping valve. A microprocessor-based controller continuously and actively controls the position of the damping valve in response to input signals from various sensors associated with the strut, with the vehicle, and/or with the suspension system, so as to vary the damping rate of the strut to control piston position and motion. The strut also includes fluid supply and return valves which couple the two chambers to a pressurized fluid supply and a fluid return, respectively, to permit fluid to be added to or discharged from the strut. The supply and return valves are also controlled by the controller so that strut length can be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Colin P. K. F. Gatehouse, Alan C. Kernik
  • Patent number: 6119832
    Abstract: A pneumatic movement damper has a cylinder closed on one side, a piston that slides within the cylinder and is connected to a piston rod, a packing mounted on the piston and a throttle passage arranged in the piston for connecting the two cylinder spaces separated by the piston and the packing. The piston has a conical seat that widens away from the piston rod and a flange part adjacent to the largest diameter of the conical seat. The packing has a truncated recess that matches the conical seat and can move within limits in the axial direction between the flange part and a ring-shaped flange arranged on the piston rod at an axial distance from the flange part. Radial grooves are provided in the faces of the flange part and ring-shaped flange normal to the axis of the cylinder and oriented towards the packing. The groove provided in the flange part has a smaller cross-section than the groove arranged in the ring-shaped flange and forms the throttle passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Hoerauf & Kohler Verwaltungs KG
    Inventor: Heinz A. Hofmann
  • Patent number: 6119819
    Abstract: A transaxle drive unit including transmission gearing and drive wheel shafts interconnected by differential gearing all located within a casing. The novelty constituting brake apparatus directly mounted on a wheel drive shaft and located within the casing and installed simultaneously with the associated drive shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Von Kaler Corporation
    Inventor: Roland Von Kaler
  • Patent number: 6119799
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle having an engine and a motor to be controlled independently of each other for running the vehicle. This hybrid vehicle is given a. braking demand detecting function to detect a braking demand through an idle ON of the engine while the vehicle is running, and a first braking function to suppress the rise in the vehicle speed of the vehicle by a regenerative braking force of the motor if the braking demand is detected by the braking demand detecting function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunio Morisawa, Tatsuya Ozeki
  • Patent number: 6105736
    Abstract: An anti-squeal shim comprises a metal plate and a compound layer applied only to one face of the metal plate. The compound includes a nonmetal fiber other than asbestos, an elastomer and a filler. The thickness of the compound layer is determined to be from 200 to 800 micron. The anti-squeal shim is disposed between a forcing member that urges a friction pad against a disc rotor and a backing plate of the friction pad in a disc brake with the metal plate opposed to the forcing member without the intervention of a backing-up shim and with the compound layer opposed to the backing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: U-Sun Gasket Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Akita, Yoshimichi Okazaki
  • Patent number: 6102490
    Abstract: Disclosed is a braking system of an automobile, which can produce and store an electric power by means of the energy generated when the automobile is braked, thereby increasing efficiency in energy use, and simultaneously which can perform an anti-lock braking function and a traction control function. In the braking system, a master cylinder generates a hydraulic pressure when the brake pedal is pressed. A variably exhausting pump unit performs a pumping operation by the hydraulic pressure from the master cylinder. A control section senses a traveling state of the automobile and controls so that a proper braking force is applied to a wheel of the automobile. A flow control valve providing the variably exhausting pump unit with the braking force. A generating section generates electricity by means of a bypassed hydraulic pressure according to the order of the control section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Mando Machinery Corporation
    Inventor: Chang-Bok Ko
  • Patent number: 6102491
    Abstract: A multi-function EOT, or universal EOT (UEOT), may function conventionally for those trains not equipped with an ECP power line transceiver but which can automatically change its mode of operation to the ECP EOT function when mounted on trains so equipped. The UEOT may be an integrated unit manufactured for the purpose or it may be implemented as an adapter that converts a conventional two-way end of train unit (EOT) to a UEOT that operates in both standard and ECP modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Angel P. Bezos
  • Patent number: 6098765
    Abstract: A rotary damper includes: a pressure generating mechanism portion A for relatively pivoting swingable vanes 4a and 4b with respect to stationary vanes 2a and 2b located on a casing 1 so as to vary reverse proportionally a pressure of a fluid filled within two pressure chambers 5a, 5b, 6a, and 6b; and a damping force generating mechanism portion B which limits a movement of the fluid based on a pressure variation generation at the pressure generating mechanism portion A to generate the damping force. A first transmission mechanism portion C and a second transmission mechanism portion D are interposed between both mechanism portions A and B, each of the first and second transmission mechanism portions C and D being capable of moving the fluid and transmitting the fluid pressure via movable first bellows 12 and second bellows 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kato, Mitsuo Sasaki, Fumiyuki Yamaoka
  • Patent number: 6092878
    Abstract: In a device for presuming pressure of a pressure accumulator prepared for accumulating a fluid under a compression of an elastic pressurization medium to selectively supply the fluid therefrom at a raised pressure with a timely supplement of the fluid thereto by a pump, the device has a first pressure switch for detecting a first predetermined pressure level of the accumulator and a second pressure switch for detecting a second predetermined pressure level of the accumulator higher than the first pressure level, and a pressure increase gradient is calculated based upon the difference between the first and second pressure levels and the time duration lapsed for pumping up the pressure from the first pressure level to the second pressure level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryochi Watanabe