Patents Examined by San Aung
  • Patent number: 8528707
    Abstract: Disclosed is a disc brake for a vehicle, such as an electronic wedge brake, capable of preventing a disc from being subject to the moment due to misalignment of inner and outer friction members with respect to a disc. The disc brake includes a disc rotating together with a vehicle wheel, inner and outer friction pads disposed at both sides of the disc, respectively, a wedge unit installed at rear sides of the inner and outer friction pads to press the inner and outer friction pads against the disc, a driving device that operates the wedge unit for a braking operation, and a sync member for synchronizing braking positions of the inner and outer friction pads with respect to the disc. Since the disc is prevented from being subject to the moment, uneven wear does not occur in the friction member and/or the disc and deformation of the disc is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Myoung June Kim
  • Patent number: 8528708
    Abstract: An air damper is provided which can exhibit an appropriate braking force in accordance with an input load. There is provided an air damper including: a tubular cylinder 1 in which both end portions are opened; a piston 2 which moves within the cylinder 1; and a cap 3 which closes a one-end opening of the cylinder 1, wherein the cylinder 1 has an annular seal surface 4 formed on a circumferential surface of the one-end opening, wherein the cap is mounted on the one-end opening side of the cylinder 1 so as to be moveable or deformable along an axial direction of the cylinder 1, wherein the cap is brought into contact with or separated from the seal surface 4 in accordance with a pressure change due to a movement of the piston 2 within the cylinder 1, and wherein a first orifice 14 is opened in a base plate 12 of the cap, characterized in that: a second orifice having an inlet area smaller than the first orifice is defined between the cap 3 and the cylinder 1 during an operation of the first orifice 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Piolax Inc.
    Inventors: Takahiro Sakai, Tomoyoshi Ohnuki, Takao Nagai
  • Patent number: 8511437
    Abstract: An elevator car braking apparatus includes a gear drive assembly for compressing one or more springs which are coupled by a cam follower to one or a pair of brake shoes. When the springs are released from a compressed state, the brake shoes engage and grip hoisting ropes, part of the hoisting apparatus or the car guide rails, within a predetermined time from the start of a brake application cycle. During a brake application cycle, the springs move the cam follower along cam surfaces shaped and disposed to cause the cam follower to move at least one of the brake shoes toward the other brake shoe. The gear assembly includes clutch means for disengaging from and engaging with a gear or axle of the gear assembly during decompression and compression of the springs, respectively. A resilient material in the braking apparatus initially accelerates movement of the cam follower when the springs begin to decompress, and may protect gears of the gear assembly from damage at the end of a brake release cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Hollister-Whitney Elevator Corp.
    Inventor: Walter Glaser
  • Patent number: 8511758
    Abstract: In a brake system, when setting a control origin position for a resolver for detecting a moved position of a booster piston, communication between a master cylinder and wheel cylinders is interrupted by cut valves. Thereafter, the booster piston is moved forward by an electric actuator in a direction in which a hydraulic pressure is generated so that a position detected by the resolver upon detection of generation of the hydraulic pressure by a hydraulic pressure sensor (position at a time of generation of hydraulic pressure) is obtained. A position obtained by moving backward the position at the time of generation of hydraulic pressure by a predetermined amount is set as the control origin position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumoto Sano, Masaru Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8499905
    Abstract: A front fork for easily optimizing an oil quantity in a damper cylinder with a relatively simple structure without affecting operability of a free piston even in an assembled state. An escape portion is formed on an outer periphery of a piston rod at a position where a seal member mounted on a sealing cap faces in an opposed manner when a front fork extends to the maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikio Uchiyama, Kazuhiko Gogo
  • Patent number: 8490759
    Abstract: A drum brake (10) is provided which has a pair of brake pads (12), each pad being moveable generally radially outwardly into contact with a brake drum by a respective operating lever (14) which is acted on at one end by a brake applying means (15) and pivoted (16) at the other end from a backplate (11). Each pad is contacted by a portion (14c) of the respective operating lever intermediate the lever ends and is moved radially outwardly between a pair of circumferentially spaced abutments (45) which extend generally perpendicular to the backplate (11) and which react braking torque when the brake is applied. The required pad to drum clearance is established by knock-back of the drum on the pads (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Automotive Products Italia (SV) S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marco Monopoli, Ivan Cecchelli
  • Patent number: 8485924
    Abstract: A bicycle chain guide includes a first guide plate, a second guide plate, a first connection part and a second connection part. The first guide plate has a first chain engagement surface and the second guide plate has a second chain engagement to form a chain receiving area. The first and second connection parts extend between the first and second guide plates to connect the first and second guide plates together at first and second spaced locations, respectively. The first connection part is fixed to the first guide plate by a fastener. The first guide plate has a first abutment and the first connection part has a second abutment. The first and second abutments are arranged at a rear end of the chain guide to limit relative movement of the first and second guide plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Fujii, Yoshiaki Nanko
  • Patent number: 8479899
    Abstract: Disclosed is a damper that is easy to mount and capable of attenuating to a sufficient degree a vibration generated by an electronic component; also disclosed are an electronic component and an electronic apparatus that are provided with such a damper. A mounting insertion portion is provided with a hard portion maintaining the configuration of the mounting insertion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Polymatech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Ohtake, Masayuki Itakura
  • Patent number: 8474580
    Abstract: The invention relates to a floating brake disc (1), particularly for a motorcycle, particularly an off-road motorcycle, which comprises an outer ring (2) which carries a brake band (23) and an inner ring (3) via which the brake disc (1) is connected to a wheel of the vehicle. According to the invention, at least one region (5) of contact, in particular a number of regions (5) of contact, between the outer ring (2) and the inner ring (3) is/are formed on a circular arc (6) extending, concentrically with the brake disc (1), between the outer ring (2) and the inner ring (3), the outer ring (2) and inner ring (3) being connected to one another in the at least one contact region (5) with at least one connecting means (16), in particular a rivet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventor: Stanislav Spacek
  • Patent number: 8474799
    Abstract: A fluid filled type vibration damping device including: a partition member having a communication passage connecting a pressure receiving and equilibrium chambers; an obstructing rubber elastic plate juxtaposed against the communication passage from a pressure receiving chamber side, adapted to obstruct the communication passage, and arranged to be exposed to pressure of the pressure receiving and the equilibrium chamber at both faces; and a constraining member provided for retaining an outer peripheral section of the obstructing rubber elastic plate in contact against the partition member at multiple locations. The constraining member provides an opening/closing control member operated to induce the obstructing rubber elastic plate to push against the partition member and close off the communication passage, and to induce elastic deformation of the obstructing rubber elastic plate to be separated from the partition member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wakako Michiyama, Kei Okumura
  • Patent number: 8469159
    Abstract: A brake assembly includes a brake pad, a bracket supporting the brake pad and having a first portion, a second portion spaced apart from the first portion, and a linkage interconnecting the first and second portions. The linkage is configured to transfer tensile loads between the first and second portion, but is characterized by the absence of any bending modes. The absence of bending modes prevents excitation of the linkage, thereby reducing sound generated during application of the brake assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brent D. Lowe, Mark T. Riefe, Omar S. Dessouki, Mohan Sundar, Chia N. Yang
  • Patent number: 8469162
    Abstract: A piston with a piston rod coupled thereto is inserted in a cylinder, which sealingly contains oil. An oil flow generated by movement of the piston is controlled by a damping force generation mechanism, thereby generating a damping force. A separator tube is disposed around the cylinder, and the oil is transmitted to the damping force generation mechanism through a branch tube integrally formed on a cylindrical sidewall of the separator tube. The branch tube is tapered at the outer circumferential portion thereof with the outer diameter thereof reducing toward the distal end of the branch tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Nishimura, Jin Yamasaki, Shinichi Kagawa, Tetsuo Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8464848
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heat dissipation plate which includes a heat dissipator and two elastic plates. The heat dissipation plate is adapted to be disposed in a bicycle disc brake. The elastic plates are fixed to the heat dissipator, and the elastic plates are disposed in the bicycle disc brake so as to fix the back panels of the brake linings in the disc brake. Thereby, the elastic plates of the present invention can conduct the heat, which is generated when braking, to the heat dissipator, so that it can prevent the brake linings from overheating when braking. The overheated brake linings may make the disc brake fail to stop the bicycle; therefore, the present invention can enhance the safety of the bicycle disc brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Inventor: Yuan-Hung Wen
  • Patent number: 8460140
    Abstract: A belt tensioner includes a support housing at least in part defining a spring cavity and an arm pivotally attached to the support housing. A spring is located in the spring cavity and is operatively connected to the arm and the support housing to bias the arm about a pivot axis toward an unloaded position relative to the support housing. A damping member includes a hub and deflectable, force-applying elements that are connected to and spaced apart about a periphery of the hub. The force-applying elements are biased toward a contact surface of the arm to apply a frictional force between the contact surface and the force-applying elements to impede rotation of the arm relative to the support housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Dayco IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Joslyn, James G. Quintus, Randy C. Foster
  • Patent number: 8460139
    Abstract: A belt installation guide is disclosed which accommodates the loading in a belt module of a new belt around drive rollers. The guide is placed opposite the end portions of the rollers, the belt is slipped over the guides and held by the guides until the belt is pushed over the rollers. The guides can be attached to the belt module or can be detachable therefrom. Once in place over the rollers, a tension is exerted on the belt to make it taut over all of the rollers. The guide is removed from near the rollers after the belt is in place over the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce J. Parks
  • Patent number: 8448927
    Abstract: An item assembly and a shock attenuation method for protecting an item comprising providing an item internal to an assembly and encasing the item in a fluid material such that the material and the item are approximately in hydrostatic balance upon an impact event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: David Falabella, Eric E. Roach, Bhikhabhai L. Patel
  • Patent number: 8448757
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromechanical friction brake, for example in the form of a disc brake having an electromechanical actuation device. The electric motor of the actuation device presses a frictional brake lining against a brake disc by means of a reduction gearbox and a ball ramp mechanism. The actuation device is supported by a spring washer that is pretensioned so strongly that when the disc brake is released it acts on a segment with a falling spring characteristic; that is, a spring force exerted by the spring washer on the frictional brake lining increases with increasing tension of the disc brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Vollert, Bertram Foitzik, Willi Nagel, Bernd Goetzelmann, Dirk Hofmann, Nguyet-Minh Cao
  • Patent number: 8448750
    Abstract: A machine lubrication system that includes an assembly for sensing the level of lubricant in the reservoir, the reservoir including a follower that travels axially within the reservoir and substantially conforms to an inner cross-sectional dimension thereof, a magnet being attached to the follower for actuation of a plurality of magnetically actuated switches. The system may include a first and second level sensor, which may be independently connected to one or more power sources, where the first level sensor may be associated with an operator station, and the second level sensor may be associated with a remote indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Susan J. Gaugush, Ted J. Loeffelholz, James Frances Blubaugh, Douglas D. Long
  • Patent number: 8443949
    Abstract: The cartridge (22) comprises a body (24), a rotary control plate (28) driving a push plate (30) in a translational movement, elastic means (38) of compressing the push plate (30) towards the control plate (28), and a cage (40) for holding the elastic means (38). The body (24) comprises a projection (42) for attaching the cage (40), collaborating with an attachment orifice (46) formed in an axial tab (44) of the cage (40). The cage (40) is capable of a rotational movement between an attachment position in which the attachment orifice (46) collaborates with the projection (42), and a release position in which the cage (40) is not attached to the body (24). The body (24) comprises a first limit stop (50) that limits the rotation of the cage (40) with which the tab (44) collaborates in the release position. The body (24) comprises a ramp (60), adjacent to the first limit stop (50). In the release position (40), the tab (44) rests radially against the projection (42) and the ramp (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Roger Mahoudeaux, Xavier Laurencin
  • Patent number: 8430213
    Abstract: Provided is an electric brake capable of accurately estimating the brake pad temperature and securing a sufficient braking force and response. An electric brake has a disc rotor rotating with a wheel, an actuator for rectilinearly actuating a piston in the axial direction of the disc rotor by using an electric motor, a drive controller for controlling the drive of the actuator, a brake pad pressed by the piston to give a frictional resistance to the disc rotor in the direction of rotation, and a braking start position detector for detecting a braking start position of the piston where the disc rotor is brought into contact with the brake pad. The drive controller stores the braking start position detected by the braking start position detector as the maximum braking start position. When the braking start position shifts in the pressing force-increasing direction, the drive controller updates the value stored as the maximum braking-start position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Yokoyama, Yoshinari Kawahara, Satoru Kuragaki