Patents Examined by Melody Burch
  • Patent number: 9279473
    Abstract: A fluid-filled cylindrical vibration-damping device including at least one orifice member attached to an inside of an outer cylindrical member so as to straddle openings of pocket portions and extend in a circumferential direction. An orifice passage is defined by covering an orifice forming groove of the orifice member with the outer cylindrical member. A stopper mechanism is constituted by contact between an inner shaft member and the outer cylindrical member via the orifice member. A reinforcing rib is formed in the orifice member so as to project from a bottom face of the orifice forming groove and extend in the circumferential direction while a projecting distal end face thereof is in contact with the outer cylindrical member. The reinforcing rib partitions at least a portion of a circumference of the orifice passage into a plurality of passages that have same fluid flow characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Toru Matsushita
  • Patent number: 9272695
    Abstract: An electric parking brake includes an actuator, first and second linings adjacent respectively to first and second end surfaces of a brake disk, and first and second braking members. Through operation of the actuator, the first lining is driven by the first braking member to move toward or away from the first end surface in a direction to thereby move the second braking member toward or away from the second end surface in an opposite direction, so that the first and second linings can be moved toward each other to clamp the brake dish therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Inventor: Chih-Hsien Liao
  • Patent number: 9267559
    Abstract: A dampening clip comprising: a body portion and a connecting portion extending from the body portion, the connecting portion being configured to connect the dampening clip to an adjacent component, and wherein the dampening clip includes a portion made of a supporting material and a portion made of a dampening material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: AKEBONO BRAKE INDUSTRY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Brian Lewis Boyle
  • Patent number: 9267568
    Abstract: At least one of fluid paths of a shock absorber is a bypass path including: a one-side opening opened to a chamber in one side; the other-side opening opened to a chamber in the other side; a one-side shaft member fluid path that is connected to the one-side opening and passes through an inner side of the shaft member; the other-side shaft member fluid path that is connected to the other-side opening and passes through the inner side of the shaft member; and a support member fluid path formed inside the support member to connect the one-side shaft member fluid path and the other-side shaft member fluid path. The valves provided in the bypass path are housed in the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: KYB CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Noguchi
  • Patent number: 9267526
    Abstract: A spring latching connector includes a housing having a bore therethrough, a piston slidably received in said bore, a circular groove formed in one of said bore and piston and a circular coil spring disposed in said groove for latching said piston and housing together. The groove is sized and shaped for controlling, in combination with a spring configuration, disconnect and connect forces of the spring latching connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Bal Seal Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter J. Balsells
  • Patent number: 9239090
    Abstract: A vehicle damper comprising a cylinder and a piston; a working fluid within the cylinder; a reservoir in fluid communication with the working fluid to receive working fluid from the cylinder in a compression stroke; and a remotely-operable valve, the valve operable to permit and restrict flow of the working fluid between the cylinder and the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: John Marking
  • Patent number: 9234553
    Abstract: A bicycle disc brake rotor basically has an outer portion and a cooling fin. The outer portion has first and second base surfaces facing in opposite axial directions. The cooling fin is disposed radially offset from at least one of the first and second braking surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Toru Iwai, Makoto Souwa
  • Patent number: 9222532
    Abstract: A brake carrier for a heavy vehicle disc brake includes an actuating side carrier portion including a support for an actuating side brake pad having a first material having a first property. The brake carrier also includes a separate reaction side carrier portion having a support for a reaction side brake pad for securement to the actuating side carrier portion. The actuating side carrier portion includes a first material having a first property, and the reaction side carrier portion includes a second material having a second property, wherein the second property differs from the first property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Braking Systems (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Paul Thomas, Jonathan Leslie Christopher Jackson
  • Patent number: 9215933
    Abstract: An elastomeric load bearing surface with different load support characteristics in different directions. In one embodiment, the surface includes an elastomeric membrane that is oriented in only a single direction, for example, by compression or stretching. In another embodiment, the surface includes mechanical structures, such as connectors and variations in thickness that vary the load support characteristics in different directions. In another embodiment, a surface is both oriented and includes mechanical structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Coffield, Daniel S. Sommerfeld, Andrew B. Hartmann
  • Patent number: 9205819
    Abstract: An electronic control device for a pressure controller, by way of which solenoid valves for pressure control are actuated with current via an actuating electronic system, and having a pump assembly is actuated as a function of a pressure request, which generates a volumetric flow with a periodically fluctuating amplitude. The wheel brake circuit isolating valve, during an active pressure build-up, discharging part of the delivery volume into a reservoir volume, at least in the case of a control operation which performs an intervention for driving stability which is not critical to safety, if the pressure which is built up by the assembly is higher than the pressure which is to be set, the electric coil current for the actuation of the isolating valve is modulated and the periodic actuation being interrupted at least when the control device has to carry out an intervention for driving stability which is critical to safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventors: Robert Schmidt, Joachim Bohn, Michael Hitzel
  • Patent number: 9200695
    Abstract: A spring and damper system, in particular for an assembly mount in a motor vehicle, includes a spring/damper element arranged between two mutually, relatively displaceable vehicle masses, wherein the spring/damper element includes a damper device and a positioning spring element, which are directly or indirectly coupled with one another and are connected in series and which are supported on or attached to a respective vehicle mass. A progressive spring element forms an additional component of the spring/damper element, wherein the progressive spring element is arranged on a side of the positioning spring element facing away from the damper device and is directly or indirectly connected to the damper device or to the vehicle mass facing the positioning spring element. The progressive spring element has a defined gap spacing representing a spring deflection in a defined rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Stephan Lamers, Thomas Conrad
  • Patent number: 9200691
    Abstract: For an elastic coupling member for a three (or more) point connection of a vibration absorber mass, like a gas generator for an airbag, to a motor vehicle part exposed to vibrations or oscillations, like a steering wheel structure, comprising a sleeve-shaped spring body firmly connectable to the vibration absorber mass and the motor vehicle part and having an axial direction, it is provided that the spring body has a different shape in its first radial sectional plane, in particular a vertical radial sectional plane, compared to a second, in particular horizontal radial section plane circumferentially offset from the first one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Anvis Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Boes, Joerg Ditzel
  • Patent number: 9193241
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a damper having a jounce shock. The damper includes a top mounting portion adapted to couple the damper to a vehicular frame and a bottom mounting portion adapted to couple the damper to a vehicular suspension system. The damper further includes a damper tube assembly disposed between the top mounting portion and the bottom mounting portion. The damper tube assembly includes a jounce shock system and a rod having a first piston and a second piston. The rod is movable within the damper tube assembly from a first position to a second position, and the second piston engages the jounce shock system as the rod approaches the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Wojciech E. Suchta, Donald G. Wirkner, Andrew Roby, Dennis Baker
  • Patent number: 9188184
    Abstract: A spring system that has first and second housings and a first mechanical spring connected to the first and second housings. The first and second housings each have a front portion having a front end and rear portion having a rear end and an internal chamber. The front end of the second housing is telescopically inserted into the internal chamber of the first housing. The first mechanical spring is at least partially positioned in the internal chamber of the first and second housings. The first end of the first mechanical spring is connected to a first connection arrangement in the first housing. The second end of the first mechanical spring is connected to a second connection arrangement in the second housing. The first and/or second connection arrangement threadedly engages the first mechanical spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Barnes Group Inc.
    Inventors: Jack W. Adoline, Phil McConnell
  • Patent number: 9168803
    Abstract: Air spring, in particular for a commercial vehicle, comprising a plunger piston, an air bellows, and a cover, said air bellows being movable between a first compressed position and a second extended position by a compressing or extending movement, wherein the air bellows has an axle-side region with a fixing portion for fixing on the plunger piston, and a body-side region, wherein the fixing portion is fixed between the cover and the plunger piston, and wherein the cover has at least one guiding portion on the cover circumferential edge, said guiding portion extending away from the body-side region and outwards over or beyond the fixing portion and being used as a support for the axle-side region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: SAF—HOLLAND GmbH
    Inventor: Josef Buttner
  • Patent number: 9169890
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a valve assembly which includes a valve disc engaging an inner and outer valve land defined by a valve body. The inner valve land is a non-circular valve land such that a radial dimension between the inner and outer valve land varies based upon a circumferential position of the radial dimension. The varying radial dimension provides a progressive valve opening for the valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Gary W. Groves, Ben Schaller, Darrell G. Breese, Daniel T. Keil, Andrew M. Jacobson, John P. McGahey
  • Patent number: 9138603
    Abstract: A rope adjuster device (14) is provided for allowing adjustable positioning of a load along a rope (12) extending through the device and includes a rope bite (20), a cam carrier (22), and a frame (24). The bite is open on a lateral side (32) to allow loading of the rope into the bite by moving the rope laterally with respect to the length (26) of the rope. The frame defines a connector opening (60) to receive a load connector for attaching a load to the device. The frame extends from the opening (60) to a pivot location (62) whereat the cam carrier is connected to pivot relative to the frame between an open position wherein a rope can be loaded from the lateral side and a closed position wherein the lateral side is closed by the frame to prevent removal of the rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Renaud Hutin
  • Patent number: 9126775
    Abstract: Example wheel restraint systems include example wheel chocks for blocking a wheel of a vehicle at a loading dock. In some examples, the wheel chock is movable between a stored position and a wheel-blocking position. In the wheel-blocking position, the chock latches onto a track that is mounted to a driveway of the loading dock. In the stored position, the chock is spaced apart from the track. In some examples, a lifting mechanism, such as a hoist or a spring-loaded articulated arm, helps carry at least some of the chock's weight as the chock is manually moved between its stored and wheel-blocking positions. In some examples, the chock includes a rotatable lever for selectively latching and unlatching the chock to the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew Brooks, Ben Wieberdink, Kurt Lessard, Timothy Cotton
  • Patent number: 9121467
    Abstract: A piston rod is connected to a piston and extends through a seal in the end face of a cylinder. A locking tube which surrounds the cylinder when the piston rod is retracted has a first end section mounted to the free end of the piston rod so that the locking tube is pivotable between a release position, wherein the locking tube is substantially coaxial to the piston rod, and a locking position, wherein the locking tube is inclined toward the piston rod. An opposed second end section has a supporting stop which can be positioned axially against the free end of the cylinder when the piston rod is extended and the locking tube is in the locking position. An actuable retaining device retains the locking tube in the locking position only by manually pivoting the locking tube into the locking position when the piston rod is extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Born, Rolf Mintgen, Dirk Rennecke, Bernd Rosenstein, Yukio Ushida, Masaru Kaneko, Hiroshi Aoyama
  • Patent number: 9120491
    Abstract: Systems and methods for accumulating air in an auxiliary reservoir of a railroad car are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method may include charging an air brake system. Air pressure in the air brake system may reach a predetermined value. Once this predetermined value is reached, additional or excess air may be bled from the air brake system and the additional or excess air may accumulate in an auxiliary reservoir. The auxiliary reservoir may be adapted to supply air to an auxiliary cylinder or other types of pneumatic components or equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: George S. Creighton