Patents Examined by San A Aung
  • Patent number: 9676380
    Abstract: The brake cylinder comprises a cylinder body comprising an annular flange and a non-pressure head. The annular flange of the cylinder body defines a plurality of openings. The non-pressure head has an annular flange and a head portion extending from the annular flange. The annular flange of the non-pressure head has a plurality of bosses and a plurality of openings corresponding to and aligned with the plurality of openings in the annular flange of the cylinder body. At least one vent is positioned in one of the plurality of bosses. The cylinder body and the non-pressure head are secured to each other at the respective flanges. The vent is positioned in the boss disposed opposite a mounting portion so that when the brake cylinder is mounted to a railway vehicle, the vent is oriented in a bottom position on the cylinder body with respect to a ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Wabtec Holding Corp.
    Inventors: Lawrence James Andrews, Mark S. Krampitz, Gary M. Sich
  • Patent number: 9631685
    Abstract: An electric actuator includes a shaft member, a nut member, a power transmission member, and a guide portion. A spiral groove is formed on an outer circumference of the shaft member. The nut member is fitted onto the shaft member. A power transmission member is disposed between an inner circumference of the nut member and the groove. The guide portion is configured to guide linear motion of the shaft member. Rotation of the nut member about the shaft member by means of a rotational driving force of an electric motor results in the linear motion of the shaft member. The guide portion includes a rotating mechanism portion configured to rotate the shaft member about an axis when the shaft member is in the linear motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: AUTOLIV NISSIN BRAKE SYSTEMS JAPAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kouji Sakai, Nobuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9604518
    Abstract: A suspension strut for a vehicle has an air spring unit and a damper unit. The damper unit has a damper tube, which extends into a rolling tube of the air spring unit. The damper tube has supporting geometries distributed over its circumference, against which supporting geometries a radially expanded end of the rolling tube is supported. In order to support the rolling tube on the supporting geometries of the damper tube, a torsion element is provided. The torsion element is arranged between the radially expanded end of the rolling tube and the supporting geometries of the damper tube. The torsion element forms a form fit with the supporting geometries for the purpose of torque transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Bilstein GmbH
    Inventors: Olaf Reichmann, Steffen Werner, Georg Meinert, Mirco Adam
  • Patent number: 9587692
    Abstract: The present teachings relate to a brake assembly, and more particularly to a differential for a brake assembly that is unlocked or open in one configuration and locked or closed in another configuration. The brake assembly comprises a differential and one or more output shafts. During rotation of at least one of the one or more output shafts a brake apply is created or released. During creation of the brake apply, the differential distributes a rotational force to each of the one or more output shafts until at least one of the one or more output shafts experiences higher resistance and then the differential re-distributes the rotational force to at least one of the one or more output shafts with lower resistance. During release of the brake apply, the differential distributes an opposing rotational force equally to each of the one or more output shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: AKEBONO BRAKE INDUSTRY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Kenneth Eric Gutelius
  • Patent number: 9586678
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides devices and methods related to park brake systems and methods. In various embodiments, a park brake system may comprise a motor shaft having a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion, the second diameter portion having a greater diameter than the first diameter portion. A park brake system may further comprise a spring disposed at least partially around a circumference of the motor shaft, a wire coil disposed at least partially around a circumference of a bobbin, a one-way clutch disposed at least partially within the bobbin and coaxial to the motor shaft, an annular magnet disposed coaxial to the motor shaft and distal to at least a portion of the bobbin, and a clutch release mechanism disposed coaxial to the motor shaft and around the first diameter portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David Drennen, Kevin Rehfus, Robert French, Harald Klode
  • Patent number: 9586645
    Abstract: A bicycle fork includes a pair of fork leg assemblies, each of the leg assemblies having an upper leg telescopingly engaged with a lower leg. A damping assembly is provided in at least one of the legs. The damping assembly includes lock-out and blow-off compression circuits. These compression circuits are externally adjustable without tools. Furthermore, these two compression circuits may be adjusted independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: William M. Becker, Brian Lampman
  • Patent number: 9581217
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a shock absorber body interposed between a vehicle body and a wheel, a cylinder connected to a wheel side and standing in a shaft center portion of the shock absorber body, a liquid chamber formed in the cylinder and filled with an operating liquid, an annular rod guide fixed to the cylinder and closing a liquid chamber's vehicle body side, a piston rod connected to a vehicle body side, penetrating a shaft center portion of the rod guide, and going into and out of the cylinder, an annular seal member held on a rod guide's inner periphery and in sliding contact with a piston rod's outer peripheral surface, and a relief portion formed on a piston rod's outer periphery and forming a gap between the piston rod and the seal member when the piston rod retreats from the cylinder by a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Tomiuga
  • Patent number: 9574630
    Abstract: An electric linear motion actuator includes planetary rollers mounted between the radially inner surface of an outer ring member and the radially outer surface of a rotary shaft, and a carrier rotatable about the rotary shaft and including radially movable roller shafts rotatably supporting the respective planetary rollers. Elastic rings each having circumferentially separate ends are each wrapped around the roller shafts to radially inwardly bias the roller shafts, thereby bringing the respective planetary rollers into elastic contact with the radially outer surface of the rotary shaft. Each elastic ring is prevented from rotating relative to the roller shafts, thereby preventing one of the roller shafts from being axially aligned with the gap between the circumferential separate ends, causing the elastic ring to be radially compressed and thus making it impossible for the elastic rings to radially bias the roller shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Muramatsu, Masaaki Eguchi, Tatsuya Yamasaki, Tomomi Goto
  • Patent number: 9568053
    Abstract: There is a braking assembly for limiting rotation of a drive shaft in a reverse direction. A hub is fixed for rotation with the drive shaft. The hub has an external cylindrical section and at least one hub pocket on the external cylindrical section. An actuatable brake portion is sized and shaped to be mounted for rotation around the hub. The actuatable brake portion has an internal cylindrical section, at least one brake pocket on the internal cylindrical section corresponding with the at least one hub pocket, and at least one brake shoe. The braking assembly also includes at least one ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: BRIGHTLING EQUIPMENT LTD.
    Inventor: Derek Tebay
  • Patent number: 9555786
    Abstract: A motor vehicle braking system and method operable in a brake-by-wire mode and independently of the driver, with a master brake cylinder (2) operated by a brake pedal (1) having a piston (15, 16) and a pressure chamber (17, 18), connected with a brake circuit (I, II) and wheel brakes (8,9, 10, 11). An electrically controllable pressure supplying device (5) operates the wheel brakes; and a simulation device (3) with at least one elastic element (33), provides an acceptable brake pedal feel in the brake-by-wire mode. The simulation device (3) has a simulator chamber (29) connected, or is hydraulically connected, through a first hydraulic connection (54) to the pressure chamber (17) and which has an electrically actuated isolation valve (28) with a pressure means reservoir (4) under atmospheric pressure. A media separator device (47) is arranged in the connection (46) between the simulator chamber (29) and the isolation valve (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHG
    Inventor: Hans-Jörg Feigel
  • Patent number: 9551395
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to reduce the size of a shock absorber, and to facilitate adjusting of the damping amount of the shock absorber. The shock absorber 10 has an outer tube 11 and an inner tube 15, wherein a piston rod 14 projects from a base end of the outer tube 11, and a rotative operating part 19 provided in the inner tube 15 projects from a base end of the outer tube 11. An annular piston 27 separates a liquid accommodating chamber 16 into a shock absorbing chamber 28 and an accumulator chamber 29. A flow-rate adjusting hole 48 of the outer tube 11 is composed of a contact surface 51 and an eccentric surface 52. A bypass channel 53 communicating with a communication hole 49 is formed between the eccentric surface 52 and the inner tube 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Koganei Corporation
    Inventor: Shunsuke Fujihara
  • Patent number: 9545907
    Abstract: A control valve device for a highly available pneumatic brake system for a rail vehicle, having a compressed-air inlet which is or can be connected to an outlet of a discharge valve device; a compressed-air outlet which is or can be connected to a relay valve device; and a safety input which is or can be connected to a compressed-air source; wherein the control valve device fluidically connects the safety inlet to the compressed-air outlet in a first switching position and fluidically connects the compressed-air inlet to the compressed-air outlet in a second switching position; wherein the control valve device can modify the inlet pressure in the second switching position in accordance with a control device, in order to provide the outlet pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUR SCHIENENFAHRZEUGE GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Rasel, Marc-Oliver Herden, Achim Vollmer
  • Patent number: 9545901
    Abstract: In a method for optimizing the pressure setting accuracy, a hydraulic pressure is built up according to a pressure requirement of a hydraulic pump, and overflow control is performed using an analog-controlling hydraulic valve and a known control characteristic curve of the analog-controlling hydraulic valve, which overflow control counteracts a pressure build-up produced by the hydraulic pump that exceeds the pressure requirement. In addition to the known control characteristic curve of the analog-controlling hydraulic valve, at least one additional valve characteristic is taken into account for the overflow control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Holger Kollmann, Peter Leska, Ralph Gronau, Michel Wagner, Jörg Berntheusel, Erik Händler, Silvio Färber, Patrik Henke, Alexander Treib, Andreas Neu
  • Patent number: 9540021
    Abstract: A contaminant mitigation device for use with a slack adjuster for a railway brake rigging to protect the critical operating area of the slack adjuster. The critical operating area of a slack adjuster includes the components that are configured to operate together to adjust the brake rigging. The slack adjuster includes at least a main housing portion, a cone nut housing portion enclosing the critical operating area of the slack adjuster, and an overtravel housing portion. The contaminant mitigation device includes a sealing system configured for cooperating with at least one of the main housing portion, cone nut housing portion, and overtravel housing portion to seal the critical operating area against entrance of fluid and/or contaminants therein and/or to at least reduce the exposure of this area to fluid and/or contaminants. The contaminant mitigation device can also include a drainage system associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Wabtec Holding Corp.
    Inventors: Shaun T. Whalen, Peter Paul Gregar, Scott Lee Natschke, Wajih Kanjo, Michael Koziol
  • Patent number: 9527132
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention may include a product including a body portion including a first face and a frictional damping insert overlying the first face of the body portion. The body portion may include a second face overlying the insert. The insert may have a throughhole and a portion of the body portion may extend from the first face through the throughhole and the insert to the second face of the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brent D. Lowe, Mark T. Riefe, Omar S. Dessouki, Mohan Sundar, Kevin M. Thompson
  • Patent number: 9527580
    Abstract: A no-back assembly includes a first disc coupled to a first shaft and arranged radially outward of the first shaft. Also included is a first brake arranged radially outward of the first disc. Further included is a spring adjacent the first brake. Yet further included is a second disc coupled to a second shaft and arranged radially outward of the second shaft. Also included is a second brake arranged radially outward of the second disc. Further included is at least one pin operatively coupling the first brake and the second brake to a housing of the no-back assembly, a gain reduction spring disposed within a recess of the housing, and a piston disposed in contact with the gain reduction spring and a first side of the pin, wherein the gain reduction spring biases the piston against the first side of pin, wherein the pin is biased against the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: David J. Lang, Mark D. Miller, James M. Regan
  • Patent number: 9522665
    Abstract: Disclosed are an electronic brake system and a control method thereof. The electronic brake system includes a master cylinder including a piston, an output rod contacting the piston, an input rod configured to be moved forward by a driver's manipulation of a brake pedal and arranged coaxially to the master cylinder and spaced a predetermined isolation gap apart from the output rod, an electrically-driven booster including a motor, a ball screw to move the output rod, and a motion converting unit to move the ball screw forward and backward by converting rotational movement of the motor into linear movement, and an electronic control unit (ECU) to control operation of the motor based on the size of the isolation gap. When the ball screw is moved backward in an ABS mode, the ECU stops backward-movement of the ball screw before the output rod collides with the input rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kyu-Woong Choi
  • Patent number: 9511758
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake system includes: a brake hydraulic-pressure control device capable of controlling a hydraulic pressure in a brake cylinder of a hydraulic brake configured to reduce a rotation of a wheel, the brake hydraulic-pressure control device including (i) a piston, (ii) a hydraulic-pressure chamber provided opposite the piston, and (iii) a moving-force control device configured to apply a moving force to the piston and capable of controlling the moving force; and an air reducing device configured to control the moving-force control device to move the piston to reduce air in an air reduction target portion including the hydraulic-pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Nakata, Yusuke Kamiya, Takahiro Okano, Yoshio Masuda, Yosuke Yamasoe
  • Patent number: 9500248
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to an elastomeric line damper having a circumferential portion for enclosing a pipeline and having a toothed portion with teeth for placing against the pipeline, which teeth are arranged on the inner side of the circumferential portion and are formed from a porous elastomer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Poppe GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Schmid, Johannes Beckert
  • Patent number: 9499021
    Abstract: An elastic sheet includes: a seating portion by which the coil spring is supported and which has a circular arc shape in a view from the axial direction, one circumferential side of the seating portion being a side of entry of the coil spring; and a pair of sidewall portions extending from respective width-wise opposite ends of the seating portion toward the coil spring side, at least one of the sidewall portions has a wire contact surface that contacts a wire forming the coil spring and an inclined surface inclined so as to approach the spring bearing as the inclined surface extends widthwise outward from the wire contact surface, and a radius of curvature of the wire contact surface at least at a side closest to the inclined surface is smaller than a radius of the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gota Nakano, Kazuki Hirawata, Nariaki Sato, Kunio Shibasaki