Patents Examined by Stephen M Bowes
  • Patent number: 10584758
    Abstract: A damper includes a piston provided with a rod, and a cylinder storing the piston, and generates a braking force by a movement or relative movement of the piston. The cylinder is provided with width-side wall portions and thickness-side wall portions, and a shape in a cross section of the cylinder in a direction orthogonal to a moving direction of the piston is flat. The cylinder has a connection portion on an open side thereof, and the connection portion bridges the width-side wall portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Shigemitsu Tomita
  • Patent number: 10578183
    Abstract: Disclosed is a motor vehicle twin-tube damper comprising: a tube filled with a working liquid, a piston assembly disposed slidably inside the tube divides the tube into a rebound chamber and a compression chamber. A compensation chamber is located outside of the tube. A base valve assembly including a rebound valve assembly and a compression valve assembly controls the flow of the working liquid between the compensation chamber and the compression chamber. The rebound valve assembly includes a number of rebound flow channels covered by a main deflective disc. To suppress vibrations generated by the deflective disc due to pressure fluctuations occurring during rapid changes of the damper stroke direction, the rebound valve assembly includes an additional deflective disc disposed over the main deflective disc and separated from it by an annular gap with a thickness (G) that is less than the thickness of the main deflective disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: BEIJINGWEST INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Marian Sikora, Witold Palka
  • Patent number: 10578182
    Abstract: Housing has first and second parallel tubular chambers. The first chamber contains a gas spring whose output shaft connects to a first piston of area A1. The second chamber contains a second piston of area A2<A1. Piston A2 connects to the device's output shaft. The housing has a valve block with an internal port in fluid communication with the two chambers between the first and second pistons. The valve block contains an incompressible fluid. A poppet valve is in the internal port. The poppet includes a flow restricting bore therethrough. A force on the output shaft causes the fluid to force open the poppet and displace the piston, A1, storing energy in the gas spring. Upon removal of the force on the device's output shaft, the gas spring pushes the fluid to close the poppet. Hence, only a low volume flow through the bore in the poppet is permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: ROM Acquisition Corporation
    Inventor: Avraham Y. Levi
  • Patent number: 10562550
    Abstract: A slack adjuster for use with a railway braking system which has an increased let-out length that enables the use of brake shoes having an increased thickness. The slack adjuster includes at least one of a dual spring and canister assembly, an external yoke trigger, or a combination of both a dual spring and canister assembly and an external yoke trigger. A method of retrofitting a truck mounted brake system is provided, in which the slack adjuster is positioned within the brake system in order to increase the let-out length while maintaining a predetermined spatial envelope within the brake system. The slack adjuster has an increased let-out length enabling the use of thicker brake shoes without requiring modification of the interacting components of the truck mounted brake system since the overall size of the slack adjuster remains the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Koziol, Scott Lee Natschke, Peter Paul Gregar
  • Patent number: 10563722
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic bushing, including a main spring and a cylindrical outer housing. The main spring comprising: a core shaft; a first rubber body arranged on an outer wall of the core shaft, wherein two liquid chambers diametrically opposite to and spaced from each other are formed on the first rubber body, each liquid chamber extending throughout the first rubber body along an axial direction thereof; and a sleeve mounted on an outer wall of the first rubber body, a groove being formed in an outer wall of the sleeve. The main spring is disposed inside an inner chamber of the outer housing, and a flow channel for connecting the two liquid chambers with each other is formed between the outer housing and the sleeve through the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: ZHUZHOU TIMES NEW MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bo Zou, Dan Luo, Xingwu Ding, Jiling Bu, Yaxin Zhang, Jianxun Liu, Jo Gross, Tao Wang
  • Patent number: 10549621
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hydraulic mount having a unidirectional damping membrane. A hole is formed in a membrane and a one-way closure having upper and lower portions, which are different from each other, is inserted into the hole to control a flow of a fluid. The one-way closure means includes: a body which intermittently closes a lower side of the hole formed at a center of the membrane; a column portion which is vertically formed at a center of the body; and a moving closure which is formed at an upper portion of the column portion and closes an upper side of the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jae-Hyung Yun
  • Patent number: 10525957
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a plurality of brake assemblies configured to control braking of a respective wheel of the vehicle. The brake assemblies includes a first brake assembly integrated with a smart actuator unit including a first actuator controller and a first electro-mechanical actuator that is configured to adjust a brake force applied to a first wheel coupled to the first brake assembly. A second brake assembly excludes an actuator controller and has installed therein a second electro-mechanical actuator that is configured to adjust a brake force applied to a second wheel coupled to the second brake assembly. At least one electronic actuator driver unit is remotely located from the first and second brake assemblies, and is configured to output a high-power signal that drives the first and second electro-mechanical actuators in response to receiving a digital command signal from the first actuator controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Alan J. Houtman, Christopher C. Chappell, Kevin S. Kidston, Paul A. Kilmurray, Eric E. Krueger, Patrick J. Monsere, Brandon C. Pennala, Michael C. Roberts, Steven J. Weber
  • Patent number: 10507808
    Abstract: A overrun brake system includes a gas spring with a gas-tight cylinder and a piston with holes allowing gas to slip through so that the pressure is the same on both sides. Since the free end of the piston has a larger area than the side where the piston rod is located, the gas spring will act as a compression spring. To prevent the overrun brakes from being activated during reversing, the gas spring has a solenoid controlled valve receiving current from the reverse light circuit and closing the flow of gas through the piston when the towing unit's gear is set into reverse. When the gear is set into forward position the solenoid loses its current and a mechanical return spring opens the valve, so that the overrun brakes may act normally again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: SVELA SOLUTIONS AS
    Inventor: Sverre Egil Larsen
  • Patent number: 10494047
    Abstract: A saddle-riding-type vehicle cable support structure is a cable support structure configured to support a first cable and a second cable that are joined to a side part of a wheel, the cable support structure including: a joint section provided on a middle of the first cable and which is fixed to a vehicle body; and a second cable support member attached to the joint section and which supports the second cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kenta Shuto
  • Patent number: 10487910
    Abstract: A tuned mass vibration damper for damping a vibration component of a rotational movement, includes at least three damper masses, at least one guide component part to movably guide the at least three damper masses such that the damper masses are arranged so as to be offset along a circumferential direction perpendicular to an axis of rotation and can carry out the oscillations, and a damping component part rotatable around the axis of rotation of the rotational movement opposite to the at least one guide component part and which comprises a support structure and at least two damping structures connected to the support structure. The damping structures extend radially from the support structure and are constructed and arranged such that one damping structure of the at least two damping structures when making contact with one of two adjacent damper masses prevents a contact of the two adjacent damper masses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Kyrill Siemens, Michael Wirachowski
  • Patent number: 10471945
    Abstract: A Brake-By-Wire (BBW) system for a vehicle includes a brake rotor, a caliper, a master cylinder, and a controller. The caliper is adapted to exert a hydraulic force upon the brake rotor during a braking action. The master cylinder includes a housing, a piston, an actuator, and a hydraulic fluid reservoir. The housing defines a piston cavity. The actuator is adapted to controllably move the piston within the piston cavity. A compensation opening is defined by the housing, and is in fluid communication between the reservoir and the piston cavity. A fluid opening is defined by the housing, and is in fluid communication between the caliper and the piston cavity. The controller is configured to receive a vehicle condition signal and send a command signal to the actuator that effects closure of the compensation opening based on the vehicle condition signal to prevent hydraulic fluid flowback to the hydraulic fluid reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Shaun M. Bailey, Anthony J. Rifici
  • Patent number: 10471943
    Abstract: A vehicle brake hydraulic pressure control apparatus includes a base body and a solenoid valve. The solenoid valve is attached to an attachment hole which opens on one surface of the base body. A plurality of press-fitting portions that are press-fitted to an inner peripheral surface of the attachment hole are provided on an outer peripheral surface of the solenoid valve at an interval in a hole axis direction. Contact lengths, in the hole axis direction, between the inner peripheral surface of the attachment hole and two of the press-fitting portions are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: AUTOLIV NISSIN BRAKE SYSTEMS JAPAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kosuke Sasaki, Keita Murai, Takaomi Shirase, Tetsuo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10451131
    Abstract: There is provided a shock-absorbing device disposed between a fixed member and a movable member to suppress movement of the movable member. The shock-absorbing device includes a case member; a shock-absorbing member; and a spring. The case member has a bottom portion, a supporting portion, a shaft portion, and a circumferential wall. The shock-absorbing member has an inner cylinder into which the shaft portion is inserted, an outer cylinder, and a spring bearing portion. A retaining member is provided between the case member and the shock-absorbing member. An outer circumference of the outer cylinder is disposed in an inner circumference of the circumferential wall to function as a first guide for the shock-absorbing member, and an inner circumference of the inner cylinder is disposed on an outer circumference of the shaft portion to function as a second guide for the shock-absorbing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventor: Hisashi Nakasone
  • Patent number: 10442419
    Abstract: A brake retarder valve for a tractor-trailer combination includes a valve housing and a valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a poppet valve biased by a spring and a gravity spool. The valve assembly is selectively operable between the operative closed configuration and an open configuration in response to a resultant of the fluid pressure between a trailer axle brake and a tractor axle brake. The tractor axle brake is actuated with a time delay from actuation of the trailer axle brake. This delay is actuation of the tractor axle brake prevents jack knifing of the trailer onto the tractor in a tractor-trailer combination, thereby ensuring safety during operation of a tractor-trailer combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Prashantha Kini, Rajgopal Raibagi, Ravi Ranjan Thakur
  • Patent number: 10435004
    Abstract: A system for converting an ABDW-type control valve to an ABDX-type control valve for use in a braking mechanism for a railway vehicle includes an ABDW-type control valve body in communication with an air supply system of the braking mechanism for controlling an application and release of brakes in response to changes in air pressure within the braking mechanism. A breather plate is mounted on an accelerated application valve interface on the control valve body. The breather plate has an internal stability volume for compensating a function of an accelerated application valve. A modified slide valve bushing is mounted inside the control valve body for establishing fluid communication with at least one passageway within the control valve body. At least one plug mounted is to at least one air passageway within the control valve body for sealing or choking the at least one air passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Wabtec Holding Corp.
    Inventors: Larren A. Burgess, Edward W. Gaughan
  • Patent number: 10436264
    Abstract: A brake (10,100) includes a piston (14,112) housing one or more springs (16,114) therein. The one or more springs (16,114) are adapted to urge an extension (30,140) of the piston (14,112) into contact with a disc stack (22,122) in a default position of the brake (10,100). Piston body (18,112) may be latitudinally offset from disc stack (22,122) by a distance (39,141). The brake (10,100) includes a manual release feature (70/72, 176).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: AUSCO PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Howard H. Baldeosingh, Brian P. Dennis, Kenneth A. Dodd
  • Patent number: 10435006
    Abstract: A method for checking the braking force in a vehicle includes adjusting a brake piston with a vehicle hydraulic brake that has a braking force booster and with an electromechanical braking device that has a brake motor so as to generate a braking force. The hydraulic braking medium volume that corresponds to the displacement of the brake piston via the brake motor is compared to a hydraulic reference volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Baehrle-Miller, Dieter Blattert
  • Patent number: 10436280
    Abstract: A fluid-filled vibration damping device including: an inner mounting member; an outer bracket formed by molding; a main rubber elastic body elastically connecting the inner mounting member and the outer bracket with each other; a fluid chamber for which a portion of a wall is constituted by the main rubber elastic body with a non-compressible fluid sealed therein; a caulking member whose material is different from a material of the outer bracket, the caulking member being fixed to the outer bracket in a projecting state; and a lid member constituting an other portion of the wall of the fluid chamber, the lid member being attached to the outer bracket by being fastened through caulking using the caulking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Komiya, Takashi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10436263
    Abstract: An internal expanding shoe brake comprises expansion pistons (17) for forcing opposing brake shoes (2) apart. In each expansion piston (17) one adjusting pin (30) is axially movably arranged and presses against a brake shoe web (4) by means of a pressure piece (34). Said pressure piece (34) is supported on the adjusting pin by means of a ball joint so as to pivot in any direction. In order to prevent the adjusting pin (30) from being twisted inside the expansion piston (17), an anti-rotation element is provided and comprises a pressure piece projection (39) which projects over the ball joint surface (36) of the pressure piece (34), said projection interlockingly engaging in a receiving opening (40) of the adjusting pin (30) with lateral play and forming a rotational coupling connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: KNOTT GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Klumpner, Wolfgang Buchauer
  • Patent number: 10428883
    Abstract: A drum brake assembly and method for designing the assembly are provided. The assembly includes a brake spider, a pair of brake shoes pivotally coupled to the brake spider at one end, and a pair of cam followers disposed at opposite ends of the brake shoes. The assembly further includes a camshaft having a shaft disposed along a rotational axis and a cam disposed at one end of the shaft. The cam has an inboard side proximate the shaft, an outboard side distant from the shaft and a cam surface extending between the inboard and outboard sides in engagement with the cam followers. The camshaft further includes a noise reducing mass disposed on the outboard side of the cam. The mass is configured to establish a natural frequency in the cam that differs from a natural frequency of the first and second brake shoes to reduce audible noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC
    Inventors: David R. Church, Bret Allen Engels, Edward Ray Green