Patents Examined by Pamela Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11021142
    Abstract: A trailer control valve for a tractor includes a body defining a supply port and first and second delivery ports. The supply port is configured for fluid communication with a fluid source on the tractor. The first and second delivery ports are configured for fluid communication with glad-hand connectors through which fluid is supplied from the tractor to a trailer for, respectively, releasing a parking brake and applying a service brake. The first delivery port is in fluid communication with the supply port. A relay valve is supported within the body and includes a valve member configured to move between positions preventing and permitting fluid communication between the supply port and the second delivery port. Pressure transducers in the body generate pressure signals indicative of fluid pressure at the delivery ports permitting detection of the presence of a trailer coupled to the tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Brian J. Riley, Paul C. Niglas
  • Patent number: 11015670
    Abstract: A vibration damper may include a damper tube and a damper piston disposed in the damper tube so as to be reciprocatingly movable. The damper tube may be connected to a piston rod extending out of the damper tube, and the damper piston may movably separate a first oil-filled damper chamber on a piston rod side from a second oil-filled damper chamber remote from the piston rod. A bottom element at one end of the damper tube seals the end of the damper tube. The bottom element may protrude into the end of the damper tube and thereby reduce oil volume of the second damper chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP BILSTEIN GMBH, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: Michael Fritz
  • Patent number: 11009096
    Abstract: A position-relative damper assist system (1) for use with a vehicle, the position-relative damper assist system (1) comprising top and bottom mounting components (5, 3), a piston assembly (9), an adjustment assembly (19), and a biasing assembly (21). The piston assembly (9) is operatively disposed between the top and bottom mounting components (5, 3), and has a piston head (11) being displaceable within a chamber (13), and being provided with at least one fluid passage (15) for allowing fluid (17) of the chamber (13) to travel therethrough, in order to provide a corresponding damping effect. The adjustment assembly (19) cooperates with the piston head (11) of the piston assembly (9) for adjustably varying an effective cross-sectional profile of the at least one fluid passage (15) in order to in turn vary a corresponding flow rate of fluid (17) passing through said at least one fluid passage (15), and in turn vary the resulting damping effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventors: Martin Lamoureux, Pierre-Yves Deneault, Claude Porlier, Daniel Van Hee
  • Patent number: 11009097
    Abstract: A hydraulic mount includes an inner tubular assembly, first and second elastomeric bodies and a fluid-track. The first and second elastomeric bodies are attached to the inner tubular assembly and cooperate to define a first fluid chamber. The second elastomeric body also defines a second fluid chamber that is in fluid communication with the first fluid chamber via the fluid-track. The fluid-track is attached to the inner tubular assembly partially disposed in the first fluid chamber. The fluid-track includes a central portion, a peripheral portion and a passage. The peripheral portion extends radially outwardly from a periphery of the central portion. The passage provides fluid communication between the first and second fluid chambers. Gaps are positioned between the peripheral portion and a wall of one of the first and second elastomeric bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: The Pullman Company
    Inventors: Scott W. Rawlings, Donald E. Schank, Zoren E. Gaspar
  • Patent number: 11007108
    Abstract: A rollator having an auto brake system made of a rigid frame assembly, a pair of forward facing swivel wheels, a pair of rearward facing non-swivel wheels, a pair of support handles, a pair of momentary electrical switches, a seat member, a back-rest member and a pair of electro-mechanical brake assemblies. The electro-mechanical brake assemblies are mounted on the frame assembly just above each rearward facing non-swivel wheel. The momentary electrical switches are mounted on the support handles. The brake assembly is actively engaged when the momentary electrical switches are not pressed and unengaged when the momentary electrical switches are pressed by the user. A preferred embodiment includes a pair of LED lights mounted on the front end of each the support handle, the LED lights being aimable by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Avenue Mobility, Ltd.
    Inventors: Helen Ix FitzPatrick, Geri W. Roper, Kenneth A Tarlow
  • Patent number: 11002328
    Abstract: A shield assembly is employed for a friction brake used to decelerate a road wheel of a vehicle. The vehicle has a body with a first body end configured to face an incident ambient airflow, a second body end opposite of the first body end, and an underbody section spanning a distance between the first and second ends. The shield assembly includes a first shield component arranged proximate the brake and rotationally fixed relative to the vehicle body. The shield assembly also includes a second shield component operatively connected to the first shield component for shifting relative thereto. The shield assembly additionally includes an actuator employing a shape memory alloy element to shift the second shield component relative to the first shield component in response to a temperature of the brake to thereby direct at least a portion of the airflow to the brake and control temperature thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard J. Skurkis, Paul W. Alexander, Anthony L. Smith, David Begleiter, Mark T. Riefe, Steven J. Weber
  • Patent number: 11001306
    Abstract: An isolation mount assembly includes a rubber isolator formed to be seated within an aperture in a supported member, with an extension located on an exterior surface of the isolator; and includes a washer containing an aperture corresponding with a location of the extension. The isolator may include a through-hole and an inner sleeve, and be seated within a supported member. A method for temporarily securing a washer to a rubber isolator includes aligning an aperture in the washer to a corresponding securing feature on the isolator, inserting the securing feature through the aperture, pulling a detached end of the securing feature, pushing the washer towards the isolator until it makes contact with the surface of the isolator, and releasing the detached end of the securing feature. An exemplary method may include trimming or deforming an excess part of the extension after releasing the detached end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., YUSA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Swapnil Kulkarni, Steven Spencer, Derek John Horton, Tsutomu Tamura, Brian S. Welch, Max B. Cruz Raygada
  • Patent number: 10994756
    Abstract: An ECP overlay system for a Russian distributor valve includes a manifold body having a pipe bracket face configured to engage a face of a pipe bracket of a brake system, a valve face configured to engage a face of a main portion of a Russian distributor valve of a brake system, and an electric manifold face. The system further including an electric manifold assembly engaged with the electric manifold face of the manifold body, with the electric manifold assembly having a pneumatic mode where the electric manifold assembly is configured to allow pneumatic-only control of a brake cylinder of brake system and an ECP mode where the electric manifold assembly is configured to allow electronic control of a brake cylinder of a brake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. Skweres, Michael S. Plechey
  • Patent number: 10995815
    Abstract: A damper system for a vehicle including a pressure tube, piston assembly, and stroke dependent damper assembly. The stroke dependent damper assembly is coupled to a piston rod at a position below the piston assembly. The stroke dependent damper assembly includes a disc chamber that slidably receives a flexible floating disc. The disc chamber has proximal and distal chamber surfaces, which can include holes. The flexible floating disc is moveable between a first position where it contacts the proximal chamber surface and a second position where it contacts the distal chamber surface. The proximal chamber surface defines a proximal tapered cavity and the distal chamber surface defines a distal tapered cavity. The flexible floating disc is resilient and can flex into the proximal tapered cavity or the distal tapered cavity when it makes contact with the proximal chamber surface or the distal chamber surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Jelle Van De Plas, Ioannis Trikalinos, Werner Bosmans, Frederic Baldoni
  • Patent number: 10989264
    Abstract: A method of making a brake pad retention plate and a brake pad retention plate is provided. The method includes upsetting a brake pad facing surface on the retention plate to form a first set of rows having a gutter, or a negative feature such as a depression in the primary plane, in the surface of the retention plate and a tooth feature on a first side of the gutter. The surface of the retention plate is upset to form a second set of rows having a gutter and a tooth feature on the second side of the gutter. The second set of rows being a single row. The second set of rows is placed adjacent to or between first set of rows. A mechanical press is used to deform the tooth to form a base portion and a mezzanine portion extending over a portion of the gutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: COMMERCIAL VEHICLE COMPONENTS, LLC
    Inventors: Guipu Xiao, Ebo Mao, Christopher Janech, Jeffrey Geist
  • Patent number: 10989259
    Abstract: In order to provide a brake disc unit the production and assembly of which is economically viable even with extreme mechanical and thermal load capacity, preferably without the application of intermediate elements, the disclosure proposes a brake disc unit with a friction ring and a friction ring carrier which are connected by a shaft-to-hub connection with an alignment gearing having a multitude of dogs, wherein the cross-section of the dogs provides a contour which, at least partly, runs along an extended trochoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventor: Adolf Kochsiek
  • Patent number: 10981552
    Abstract: A brake system includes first and second wheel brakes, a reservoir, and a brake pedal unit having a housing and a pair of output pistons slidably disposed in the housing. The output pistons generate brake actuating pressure during a manual push-through mode for actuating the first and second wheel brakes. The system further includes a plunger assembly having a housing having a motor driving an actuator, and a piston connected to the actuator. The piston pressurizes a chamber when the piston is moving in a first direction to provide fluid flow out of a first port and through a pair of parallel valves. The piston pressurizes a second chamber when the piston is moving in a second direction opposite the first direction to provide fluid flow out of a second port. The first and second ports are selectively in fluid communication with the wheel brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety US Inc.
    Inventor: Blaise Ganzel
  • Patent number: 10960870
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring air pressure applied to a brake cylinder of a braking assembly of a railway vehicle, including an empty-load device, and an RFID transducer in communication with the empty-load device, wherein the RFID transducer is configured to measure the air pressure delivered to the brake cylinder of the braking assembly, and generate data on the air pressure delivered to the brake cylinder of the braking assembly; and a remote data monitor configured to read data from the RFID transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edward W. Gaughan, William John Potter, Vincent F. Troiani
  • Patent number: 10962069
    Abstract: A friction disk includes a friction disk core having an inner diameter edge, an outer diameter edge, and a first surface with multiple mortises extending radially across the first surface, each of the multiple mortises having a different dimension at the inner diameter edge than at the outer diameter edge. The friction disk further includes a first wear liner having two wear liner segments each including a wear surface and a non-wear surface having a tenon with a complimentary shape to each of the multiple mortises, the tenon being configured to be received by a corresponding mortise of the multiple mortises to couple the wear liner segments to the friction disk core to form an annular liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew R. O'Neil, Ramesh Kurup
  • Patent number: 10960867
    Abstract: There is disclosed a motorcycle parking brake device adapted to be mounted to the master cylinder of a braking system. The brake device includes a bolt portion with a stem portion which extends to a head having a flange. The stem portion includes a threaded portion, a cylindrical first seat, a recessed portion, and a second seat. The stem portion has a stem channel with an O-ring slot containing an O-ring seal. A hydraulic fluid opening extends through the recessed portion and into the stem channel. The central stem channel extends to a head channel. A plunger is coupled to the bolt portion for reciprocal movement between a disengaged position and an engaged position. The plunger has a shank, a piston, and a push plate. The brake device also has a seal fitted about the second seat and a resilient D-ring seal fitted about the first seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Bullet Brake, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen Eric Normyle
  • Patent number: 10946844
    Abstract: A brake hydraulic pressure control unit capable of improving mountability of a brake system on a motorcycle is obtained. In addition, a brake system for a motorcycle including such a brake hydraulic pressure control unit and a motorcycle are obtained. In the brake hydraulic pressure control unit of the brake system for a motorcycle, an inlet valve, an outlet valve, and a pump in one of hydraulic circuits as a boost-type hydraulic circuit and a first valve and a second valve in the hydraulic circuit are separately provided in a primary base body and a secondary base body. The primary base body and the secondary base body are separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hiroaki Atsushi, Makoto Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10946848
    Abstract: An electropneumatic parking brake module includes a supply port configured to connect a compressed air supply, a spring brake actuator port configured to connect at least one spring brake cylinder, and a trailer control port, an inlet-outlet valve unit configured to control a spring brake pressure, and an electropneumatic pilot control unit configured to control at least one control pressure at the inlet-outlet valve unit and configured to perform a trailer control position function. The electropneumatic pilot control unit includes a 3/3-way valve that has a first switching position in which the at least one control pressure is controlled, a second switching position in which the trailer control position function is carried out, and a third switching position in which the inlet-outlet valve unit and the trailer control port are connected to a vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: WABCO GMBH
    Inventor: Julian Van Thiel
  • Patent number: 10941821
    Abstract: A four-state joint brake module is provided to selectably stop or allow motion in both directions resulting in a mechanism that has four possible states: 1) allowing rotation only in a clockwise direction, 2) allowing rotation only in a counter-clockwise direction, 3) allowing free rotation in both directions, and 4) stopping motion in both directions. In robotic and other motion control applications the use of this four-state joint brake module in a multi-segmented linkage allows for position holding without continuous application of power and “fail safe” behavior. It further allows for the ability to toggle this useful state behavior independently in either direction and is relevant for robotic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: J. Kenneth Salisbury, Jr., Peter Gerrit Lowe, Austin D. Epps
  • Patent number: 10941823
    Abstract: A friction disk may comprise a friction disk core and a wear liner coupled to the friction disk core. A depression may be formed in a surface of the friction disk core. The wear liner may comprise a protrusion extending from a non-wear surface of the wear liner. The protrusion may be positioned within the depression of the friction disk core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Joseph Reed, Gary C. Riebe, Matthew R. O'Neil
  • Patent number: 10940847
    Abstract: A brake control device adjusts a front wheel braking hydraulic pressure of front wheel cylinders provided on front wheels of a vehicle and a rear wheel braking hydraulic pressure of rear wheel cylinders provided on rear wheels of the vehicle. The brake control device includes a hydraulic pressure generating unit configured to adjust a hydraulic pressure generated by an electric motor to an adjusted hydraulic pressure and apply the adjusted hydraulic pressure as the rear wheel braking hydraulic pressure and a hydraulic pressure correcting unit configured to adjust to decrease the adjusted hydraulic pressure to be a corrected hydraulic pressure, and apply the corrected hydraulic pressure as the front wheel braking hydraulic pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignees: ADVICS CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Osayoshi Kato, Yoshio Masuda, Hiroyuki Kodama, Takayuki Yamamoto, Yasuji Mizutani