Patents Examined by Stephen M Bowes
  • Patent number: 12103511
    Abstract: Provided is a brake system including a main automatic driving ECU, a main actuator, a sub automatic driving ECU, and a sub actuator. The main actuator is configured to receive a braking request from the main automatic driving ECU or a braking request made through an operation of a brake pedal, and to apply a braking force to a vehicle. The sub actuator is configured to receive a braking request from the sub automatic driving ECU, and to apply a braking force to the vehicle. When the main automatic driving ECU has failed, the sub automatic driving ECU is configured to acquire the braking request from the main actuator through the sub actuator, and to cause the main actuator to apply the braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Eisuke Terada, Yasushi Konishi
  • Patent number: 12084027
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electronically slip-controllable power braking system and a braking system. This power braking system has a brake circuit and a pressure generator including a plunger piston for applying a circuit pressure to the brake circuit. The plunger piston delimits a pressure chamber of the pressure generator and is drivable by an activatable drive unit into a forward or reverse movement. During its forward movement, pressure medium is displaced by the plunger piston out of the pressure chamber into the brake circuit, while during the reverse movement, pressure medium flows out of a reservoir of the power braking system via a flow path into the pressure chamber of the pressure generator. The speed of the reverse movement of the plunger piston is adapted by the electronic control unit so that cavitation at the pressure generator of the power braking system, is avoided or at least minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Jens Wagner, Bertram Foitzik, Stefan Zahariev
  • Patent number: 12084171
    Abstract: A detection method for detecting a blocked or unlocked state of a parking brake member including a bistable linear electromagnet connected both to a power supply component arranged to generate a control voltage and to a current sensor arranged to measure the control current. The detection method includes controlling the power supply component to generate a test voltage across terminals of a coil and thus generate a test current flowing in the coil, the test voltage having an amplitude less than a predetermined voltage threshold so that a test magnetic field generated by the test current does not move a shuttle, acquiring measurements of the test current as produced by the current sensor, analyzing the measurements of the test current, and detecting the blocked or unlocked state of the parking brake member based on the analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Brian Goyez, Guillaume Durand, Eric Clairardin
  • Patent number: 12078218
    Abstract: An electromagnetic brake comprises an electromagnet arranged about a central axis SA; a slide movable with respect to the electromagnet in a slide actuation direction upon actuation of the electromagnet, and an air gap provided between the electromagnet and the slide through which a magnetic field passes when the electromagnet is actuated, wherein the slide is arranged radially inside or outside of the electromagnet with respect to the central axis SA. The electromagnetic brake is silent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Tuukka Korhonen, Jorma Mustalahti
  • Patent number: 12071993
    Abstract: A latching mechanism for a brake actuator is provided. The latching mechanism comprising an annular flange and a plurality of resilient elements extending radially inwardly from the annular flange. Each of the plurality of resilient elements comprises a U-shaped cross-section and a tooth on a radially inner end. The tooth is configured to conform to and engage with ratchet teeth of a wear compensation sleeve of a brake actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kamil Babicki, Maciej Krulak, Artur Luber
  • Patent number: 12071989
    Abstract: A brake assembly having a retraction spring. The retraction spring may be mounted to a first brake pad module and a second brake pad module. The retraction spring may have an anti-rotation feature that inhibits rotation of the retraction spring. The anti-rotation feature may engage the first brake pad module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Alex Adkins, Daniel Philpott, Phil Leicht, Matthew McGinn
  • Patent number: 12049213
    Abstract: A brake control device includes an electric pump, a pressure adjustment valve that adjusts a hydraulic pressure of a brake fluid discharged by the electric pump to an adjustment hydraulic pressure and supplies the brake fluid in a rear wheel cylinder, and a master unit provided with a servo chamber into which brake fluid at the adjustment hydraulic pressure is supplied and in which the adjustment hydraulic pressure is converted into a forward force of a master piston, and a master chamber fluidically separated from the servo chamber by the master piston and connected to the front wheel cylinder and in which a rearward force converted from the hydraulic pressure in the front wheel cylinder and is applied to the master piston. Also included is an input unit provided with an input chamber and a simulator, and a controller configured to control the electric pump and the pressure adjustment valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takayuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 12031598
    Abstract: A brake device including a guide receiving area for connecting to a bearing component, forming a brake device bearing moveable in the direction of a first straight line. The brake device has a brake caliper with a first frictional surface and a first actuation surface, a pressing part being linearly guided along the first straight line relative to the brake caliper. The pressing part has a second frictional surface and a second actuation surface, and the brake device has a spreading element which interacts with the first actuation surface and the second actuation surface. The rotation of the spreading element changes the minimum distance between the frictional surfaces. A movement damping part coupled to the spreading element is designed to damp a translational movement of the spreading element relative to the bearing component in the guide receiving area parallel to the first straight line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Inventor: Michael Putz
  • Patent number: 12025196
    Abstract: The invention relates to a brake device having a frame, at least one pair of mutually opposing braking elements, at least one actuation element in operative connection with each braking element, and a spring device, wherein each braking element has three joint sections which are arranged in a row and are connected to one another via flexure bearings, and the middle joint section of which has a contact section, and the two joint sections adjoining the middle joint section are each connected integrally to the frame via a flexure bearing, wherein a force is exerted on each braking element by means of the spring device, by means of which force the respective contact section can be pressed with a defined force against an element to be braked, and a force which counteracts the force exerted on the braking elements by the spring device acts on the braking elements by means of a continuous energy input into the actuation elements and, when the energy input into the actuation elements is absent, the force exerted by t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: PHYSIK INSTRUMENTE (PI) GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christian Sander, Philipp Mahl
  • Patent number: 12017727
    Abstract: A bicycle apparatus comprises an assist motor, an ABS unit, an assist selection switch and a control device. The ABS unit is configured to control a braking force that is applied to a bicycle wheel. The assist selection switch is configured to switch the assist motor between an ON mode in which the assist motor is ON and an OFF mode in which the assist motor is OFF. The control of the ABS unit by the control device is dependent on an operation of the assist selection switch. The control device is configured to control the assist motor to add the assisting force to the manual drive force when the assist motor is in the ON mode. The control device is configured to set the ABS unit to an ABS operating mode to begin control of the ABS unit when the assist selection switch selects the ON mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Makoto Shimoda, Shinichiro Noda
  • Patent number: 12009721
    Abstract: Described herein are eddy current brakes and associated methods of their use, particularly configurations that have a kinematic relationship with at least two rotational degrees of freedom used to tune operation of the brake or apparatus in which the brake is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: EDDY CURRENT LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Christopher James Allington, Andrew Karl Diehl, Kevin A. Wright, Weston Hill, Dave Walters
  • Patent number: 11970147
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns an assembly (100) for an electromechanical brake booster (200) of a vehicle braking system (1000). The assembly (100) comprises a housing (160) which has a longitudinal axis (L) and can be loaded with an electromechanically generated actuating force, and an output element (150) which extends away from the housing (160) and is configured for transmitting the actuating force to a brake cylinder (300) of the vehicle braking system (1000). The assembly (100) furthermore comprises an elastic element (190) which is supported on the housing (160) and configured to move the housing (160) away from the brake cylinder (300) into a starting position, and a guide (180) which is arranged on the housing (160) for the output element (150) and is configured to guide an angular deflection of the output element (150) with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) of the housing (160).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: José Manuel Calvo Martinez, Jennifer Klein
  • Patent number: 11964640
    Abstract: A method for operating a brake system having a brake fluid reservoir having a first and a second reservoir chamber which are separated by a first partition wall, wherein a first filling level in the brake fluid reservoir is determined by a first sensor element, and a second filling level in the brake fluid reservoir is determined by a second sensor element, wherein the brake system is operated in a first fallback operating mode when the determined first filling level in the brake fluid reservoir falls below a first predetermined level (p1), and wherein the brake system is operated in a second fallback operating mode when the determined second filling level in the brake fluid reservoir falls below a second predetermined level (p2), wherein the second level (p2) is lower than the first level (p1), and to a brake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventor: Harald Biller
  • Patent number: 11959523
    Abstract: The invention relates to a brake assembly, including a brake housing; a wheel rotor rotatable around a rotational axis; a friction member coupled to the wheel rotor; a first braking member and a second braking member arranged to sandwich the friction member; and a wear indicator assembly for indicating wear of the at least one friction member at an indication position on an outside of the brake housing. The wear indicator assembly includes an indicator rod having a first end inside the brake housing and a second end visible from the outside of the brake housing. The second end of the indicator rod is at a second distance from the rotational axis, greater than the first distance of the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AB
    Inventors: Johan Abrahamsson, Arto Honkanen
  • Patent number: 11945419
    Abstract: A brake system for a motor vehicle, wherein the brake system is divided into two blocks, wherein a separate electric pressure generator is arranged in each block, and a motor vehicle having such a brake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Dieter Dinkel
  • Patent number: 11938912
    Abstract: A module for providing control signals for a brake system of a vehicle which has a supply source, including: at least one interface to be connected to a compressed-air source; at least one interface to transmit the control signals to at least one processing unit for the purposes of generating brake pressures; wherein the module is configured to be provided with a supply by a further supply source. Also described are a related redundancy system, an electronically controlled brake system, and a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBH
    Inventors: Falk Hecker, Adnan Mustapha, Oliver Jundt
  • Patent number: 11920656
    Abstract: A dual piston system for independently controlling compression and rebound flowpaths therein, the dual piston system comprising: a first adjustable orifice configured for controlling rebound fluid flow, wherein the first adjustable orifice controls the rebound fluid flow through a first pathway associated with a low speed rebound flow and a second pathway associated with a high speed rebound flow; and a second adjustable orifice configured for controlling compression fluid flow, wherein the second adjustable orifice controls the compression fluid flow through a third pathway associated with a low speed compression flow and a fourth pathway associated with a high speed compression flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan Wesley Anderson
  • Patent number: 11884361
    Abstract: A bicycle apparatus is basically provided with a housing, an assist motor and a case. The housing is configured to be provided to a bicycle. The assist motor housed in an internal space of the housing. The assist motor is configured to add an assisting force to a manual drive force inputted from a bicycle crankshaft. The case that is separate from the housing. The ABS unit provided in an internal space of the case. The ABS unit is configured to control a braking force that is applied to a wheel of the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Makoto Shimoda, Shinichiro Noda
  • Patent number: 11866022
    Abstract: An electronic hydraulic brake device includes a main braking part and an assist braking part. The main braking part is configured to drive a motor to provide hydraulic pressure to a plurality of wheel cylinders. The assist braking part is connected to the main braking part. The assist braking part is configured to provide auxiliary hydraulic pressure to the plurality of wheel cylinders in response to an operation error of the main braking part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Se Young Cheon, Jae Woong Hur
  • Patent number: 11866025
    Abstract: One embodiment of a braking system for vehicles may have a first brake group and a second brake group. The first and second brake groups may have respective braking devices and electro-hydraulic actuator devices operatively connected to the first braking device. The system may also have an interconnection branch between first and the second hydraulic actuation ducts, provided with a control valve. The system may also have at least one control unit that may be programmed to actuate the control valve to control the ducts and fluidly connect the ducts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Brembo S.p.A.
    Inventors: Massimo Di Stefano, Samuele Mazzoleni, Beniamin Szewczyk