Patents Examined by Melody Burch
  • Patent number: 9108657
    Abstract: A braking system for a cart is described herein. The braking system can include a pair of chocks positioned proximate to a wheel of a wheel assembly, where the wheel assembly is coupled to a cart frame. The braking system can also include a handle mechanically coupled to the cart frame, where the handle has an engaged position when a force is applied to the handle, and where the handle has a disengaged position when no force is applied to the handle. The braking system can also include a brake release mechanism coupled to the pair of chocks and the handle. When the handle is in the disengaged position, the pair of chocks are engaged with the wheel and the brake release mechanism is disengaged. When the handle is in the engaged position, the pair of chocks are disengaged from the wheel and the brake release mechanism is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventor: Kamil Mohd Hussain
  • Patent number: 9103403
    Abstract: Embodiments of a three parameter, multi-axis isolator configured to limit the transmission of vibrations between a mass and a base are provided. In one embodiment, the three parameter, multi-axis isolator includes an isolator housing configured to be mounted to the base, opposing bellows sealingly mounted within the isolator housing, and a damper piston movably suspended within the isolator housing between the opposing bellows. The damper piston is configured to be coupled to the mass. The opposing bellows deflect with movement of the damper piston along multiple axes to limit the transmission of vibrations between the mass and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Steven Hadden, Dale Thomas Ruebsamen, Ryan Goold
  • Patent number: 9103397
    Abstract: A double spring function seat spring assembly combines a U-shaped frame with a closed front, a number of leaf springs (26-28) connected between the front and a cross piece and a plurality of coil springs (36, 38, 40) supporting the cross piece from the frame, the leaf springs formed with a series of W and V arches to enable flexing and extension for improved durability and comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: FLEXSTEEL INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Patrick J. Maas
  • Patent number: 9097302
    Abstract: A brake actuating apparatus includes a caliper body with a cylinder. An electric motor is fixed to the caliper body. A piston is installed in the cylinder. A plug and a rotational shaft are installed in the cylinder to be rotated by the motor. A head is attached to the rotational shaft and the plug defines a fluid-receiving space. The rotation of head varies the volume of a fluid contained in the fluid-receiving space, thereby moving the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Wheel Corporation
    Inventor: Han-Yong Cho
  • Patent number: 9097307
    Abstract: A connecting rod including two non-connected rod elements coaxial with a longitudinal axis which are offset along the longitudinal axis, and an energy-absorption device that absorbs energy by plastic deformation. The energy-absorption device includes a coaxial hollow tube with a wall which deforms plastically when subjected to an axial compressive force exceeding a certain threshold, a coaxial pin having ends immobilized with respect to the rod elements in the event of tensile forces, and a sleeve fitting over the two facing ends of the rod elements which are positioned one on each side of the energy-absorption device, the sleeve being slidable with respect to one rod element in order to allow the hollow tube and/or the pin to deform and absorb energy. The sleeve limits a range of deformation so that a breaking point of the energy-absorption device is not reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Nicolas Boulet, Laurent Barizza
  • Patent number: 9086113
    Abstract: A link device for safety linking of a first member to a second member includes a first element, a second element, and a fluidic vibration transfer mechanism. The first element includes a first link end adapted to be directly linked to the first member, and a second link end adapted to be directly linked to the second member. The second element has a first link end adapted to be directly linked to the first member, and a second link end adapted to be directly linked to the second member. The fluidic vibration transfer mechanism links the first and second elements of the link device to one another, and includes at least two pressure chambers filled with a pressurized liquid, separated by at least one piston integral with the first or second element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: AIRBUS Operations S.A.S.
    Inventors: Mathieu Bonnet, Benoit Valery
  • Patent number: 9080629
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a piston disposed within a pressure tube. A valve assembly is attached to the piston. The valve assembly defines a first fluid flow through an always open fluid passage; a second fluid flow due to elastic deformation of a valve disc of the piston assembly; and a third fluid flow due to movement of the entire valve disc away from the piston. In one embodiment, the valve assembly is designed to be pre-assembled at an off-line and/or off-site location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: M'Hand Nait Oukhedou, Gert Mangelschots, Ward Opdekamp, Werner Bosmans
  • Patent number: 9080633
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a shock absorbing device (100) for mating an integrated deck to a jacket leg (51), characterized by: a hollow constraining cylinder (10) having a bottom closure (11), connected to the top of the jacket leg (51); an elastomer module (20) provided in the hollow constraining cylinder (10), wherein inner diameter of the hollow constraining cylinder (10) is larger than outer diameter of the elastomer module (20) thereby forming an annular space; a plurality of reinforcing plates (30) embedded within the elastomer module (20), vertically spaced apart from each other; a protective assembly comprising a elastomeric cap (41) and a minimum of one protective ring (42) mounted to the elastomeric cap (41); wherein during mating of the integrated deck to jacket leg (51), a support column (52) of the integrated deck abuts on the protective assembly and compresses the elastomer module (20) to secure the connection of the integrated deck to the jacket leg (51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Lembaga Getah Malaysia (Malaysian Rubber Board)
    Inventors: Kamarudin Ab Malek, Ismaliza Ismail, Hon Fei Wong, Shamsul Kamaruddin
  • Patent number: 9073523
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a master cylinder arrangement for a motor vehicle hydraulic brake system comprising a housing, in which two adjacent cylinder bores are provided, two piston arrangements, wherein a first piston arrangement is received in a first of the cylinder bores so as to be displaceable along a first bore longitudinal axis and wherein a second piston arrangement is received in a second of the cylinder bores so as to be displaceable along a second bore longitudinal axis, a force input piston, which is connectable or connected to a brake pedal, wherein in accordance with a movement of the force input piston the first piston arrangement and the second piston arrangement are displaceable, wherein the first piston arrangement with the housing delimits a first pressure chamber, which is fluidically connected to a hydraulic brake system, and wherein the second piston arrangement with the housing delimits a second pressure chamber, which is fluidically connected to the hydraulic brake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Schlüter, Monika Matthei
  • Patent number: 9061666
    Abstract: An electronic control unit includes: a sensor board on which a sensor is mounted; a control board configured to control an operation of each electric component, based on a physical quantity detected by the sensor; and a housing configured to accommodate the sensor board and the control board, wherein: in an internal space of the housing, a first accommodation chamber in which the electric component is accommodated, a second accommodation chamber in which the sensor board and the control board are accommodated in a hierarchical state, and a partitioning portion which partitions between the first accommodation chamber and the second accommodation chamber are formed; and the sensor board and the control board are supported by the partitioning portion, and a rib is protrudingly provided on the partitioning portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: NISSIN KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Iyatani
  • Patent number: 9046143
    Abstract: A caliper cover for brake calipers which is easily engageable using a clip having a slot to engage a bolt extending from a member engaged to the caliper cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Inventor: Michael T. Barland
  • Patent number: 9028012
    Abstract: A brake cylinder for pneumatic vehicle brakes, especially for commercial vehicles, includes in addition to a pneumatic locking mechanism, a manual release mechanism for manually releasing the spring brake section, and a device designed to visually recognize the manual release condition of the spring brake section outside of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Iraschko
  • Patent number: 9016807
    Abstract: An electric-hydraulic antilock braking system (ABS) installed in a trailer is coupled with a tow vehicle to facilitate controlled braking of the trailer. A trailer in-cab controller (TIC) monitors vehicle networks for diagnostic information used in determining appropriate braking actions to be taken. A communication network can interconnect the TIC, a trailer actuator controller (TAC), and an ABS controller. The ABS controller receives current tow vehicle speeds and current trailer wheel speeds, and dynamically adjusts the brakes based on the differences in the speeds. A three-way solenoid valve or an equivalent valve structure thereto allows for the ABS system to be quickly activated and deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Tuson RV Brakes, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Pieronek, Alan Hoogenakker
  • Patent number: 9010504
    Abstract: A damper includes a pressure-sensitive damping control circuit that selectively permits fluid flow from a first chamber to a second chamber. A piston varies a volume of the first chamber. A blow-off piston is movable between a closed position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is substantially prevented, and an open position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is permitted. The damper also includes a first source of pressure. A fluid pressure created by compression of the damper applies an opening force to the blow-off piston moving the blow-off piston in a direction toward the open position against a resistance force provided by the first source of pressure. The resistance force exceeds the opening force until the pressure created by forces tending to insert the piston rod into the first fluid chamber exceeds the pressure in the first source of pressure by a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: Dustin F. Janes
  • Patent number: 9010878
    Abstract: A brake apparatus that can achieve front-rear distribution in accordance with a traveling environment variation. At an intermediate point from a start point of a second mode, first interval to an end point of a second mode, second interval, the increasing rate of braking force for a front wheel with respect to an operation amount is changed. The increasing rate of the operation amount prior to the intermediate point can be represented by a first inclination of a curve while the increasing rate of the operation amount after the intermediate point is represented by a second inclination of the curve. The first inclination is less than the second inclination. Setting the increasing rate after an intermediate point to be higher than the increasing rate before the intermediate point, the vehicle body generation deceleration can be caused to increase in a linear proportion to the operation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Takenouchi, Yoshiaki Sawano, Shuichi Fukaya
  • Patent number: 9010881
    Abstract: An electronic control unit inputs from temperature sensors a temperature of the heating side of a thermoelectric conversion section assembled to each of brake units provided for left and right rear wheels. When the temperature of the heating side is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the electronic control unit drives and controls a brake hydraulic pressure control section so as to operate the brake units preferentially over brake units provided for left and right front wheels. With this operation, each of the brake units generates friction heat, and heats the heating side of the corresponding thermoelectric conversion section, whereby the thermoelectric conversion section efficiently collects thermal energy and generates electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihide Sekiya, Shiro Monzaki, Yasuaki Tsurumi
  • Patent number: 8998353
    Abstract: A method to control a vehicle including control of regenerative brakes and friction brakes includes monitoring a desired corner force and moment distribution, monitoring real-time actuator constraints including a braking torque limit of each of the regenerative brake, determining a regenerative braking torque for each of the regenerative brakes based upon the desired corner force and moment distribution and the real-time actuator constraints, determining a friction braking torque for each of the friction brakes based upon the desired corner force and moment distribution and the determined regenerative braking torque for each of the regenerative brakes, and controlling the vehicle based upon the determined regenerative braking torques and the determined friction braking torques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shih-Ken Chen, Valery Pylypchuk, Youssef A. Ghoneim, Weiwen Deng, Nikolai K. Moshchuk, Bakhtiar Brian Litkouhi
  • Patent number: 8997946
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical brake assembly comprising a brake disk stack having a center axis; and a plurality electro-mechanical actuators for applying braking pressure to the brake disk stack. The actuators are circumferentially arranged around the center axis, and each actuator includes a housing, a linearly movable ram, a screw for linearly moving the ram, a nut mounted for rotation in the housing and operatively engaged with the screw such that rotation of the nut effects linear movement of the screw for urging the ram into forceful engagement with the brake disk stack, an electric motor for rotating the nut, and an anti-rotation device for preventing rotation of the screw relative to the housing when the nut is rotated to effect linear movement of the screw. The foregoing arrangement provides for greater stroke than prior art actuators without sacrificing durability and performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Haydon, Michael J. Ortman, Steve Anderson, Eric Schwaigert
  • Patent number: 8960390
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle-mounted active vibration reducing device wherein vibrations in a plurality of directions are reduced by a single dynamic damper. Since an actuator is attached so as to be supported by an elastic member attached to a bracket, the actuator can be used as a mass of a dynamic damper. The moving directions of the actuator are the forward and rearward directions, and are different from the moving directions of the dynamic damper using the actuator as a mass, i.e., the upward and downward directions. Accordingly, vibrations can be controlled in the forward and rearward directions which correspond to the moving directions of the actuator as well as the upward and downward directions which correspond to the moving directions of the dynamic damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Kobayashi, Toshio Inoue
  • Patent number: 8944221
    Abstract: A disc brake, particularly for a commercial vehicle, includes a brake caliper configured as a sliding caliper, two brake pads, which are disposed in the brake caliper, at least one guide spar for fastening the brake caliper to a stationary carrier, a brake application device, effective via at least one adjusting spindle, an adjusting device, which is non-rotatably connected to the adjusting spindle, for compensating brake pad wear, and a restoring device, disposed on the action side and having a restoring element that is elastically deformable if the brake caliper is displaced as a function of the braking operation and by which the caliper can be automatically brought into a starting position. The disc brake is configured such that the restoring device has a supporting part, which remains in position relative to the brake anchor plate if the brake caliper is displaced as a function of the braking operation, and which interacts with the resilient restoring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Aleksandar Pericevic, Stephan Pitzing, Johann Baumgartner, Steffen Geissler, Robert Trimpe