Patents Examined by Thomas Irvin
  • Patent number: 9701295
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a selector valve situated in a hydraulic brake system of a motor vehicle, the selector valve is opened by applying an electrical signal having various control phases having different current intensities. The thermal load and the noise of the valve are significantly improved if the lengths of the control phases for the pilot stage or the holding phases are variably adapted to the driving situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Bunk, Jose-Maria Rodelgo Lucas
  • Patent number: 9701269
    Abstract: A wheel guard or skirt is disclosed for use with a wheel of a machine or appliance. The wheel guard is designed to push an obstruction such as a wire, cable or other debris away from the wheel as the machine is moved along a floor. The wheel guard is designed to push objections away from the wheel to prevent the wheel from running over the obstruction. The wheel guard may be of one-piece construction or multiple-piece construction. The wheel guard includes means which causes the wheel guard to move upwardly with the wheel to which it is attached. The wheel guard includes means to limit the upward movement of the wheel guard with respect to the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Inventor: Bryan D. Dubas
  • Patent number: 9701296
    Abstract: A booster includes a valve body and a boosting assembly with a ball screw. The ball screw includes a screw rod, a nut, and a plurality of balls cooperating with and between the screw rod and the nut. The nut is linked with the valve body and moves along a straight line on its cooperated screw rod so as to drive the valve body to move along a straight line. A brake system includes the booster and a hydraulic system that includes a braking main cylinder with a piston. The valve body is connected to the piston. The booster is configured to provide high transmission efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Qiusheng Zhang
  • Patent number: 9695897
    Abstract: A brake disc for a vehicle has a wear indicator disposed in a braking surface of the brake disc and embodied such that its appearance in a top view of the braking surface changes across a reducing level of wear. The brake disc further has a reference indicator disposed in the braking surface of the brake disc and is embodied such that its appearance in a top view of the braking surface does not change across the reducing level of wear or changes differently in a specified manner relative to the change in the wear indicator so that wear progression can be discerned from the appearance of the wear indicator in relation to the appearance of the reference indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: MAN TRUCK & BUS AG
    Inventors: Matthias Butz, Florian Orgler
  • Patent number: 9694642
    Abstract: A seal arrangement for an air spring system for sealing off a shock-absorbing damper is disclosed. The shock-absorbing damper is situated in a rolling tube and in another tube, where the air spring system has at least one integrated control valve for the admission of compressed air into a pressure chamber formed between the outer tube, the rolling tube, and an air spring bellows that connects the outer tube and rolling tube. The seal arrangement is arranged between an inner circumferential surface of the rolling tube and an outer circumferential surface of the shock-absorbing damper and/or between an inner circumferential surface of the outer tube and the outer circumferential surface of the shock-absorbing damper. A support ring which is of step-shaped form on an outer circumferential surface is arranged on a distal end of the rolling tube and/or on a distal end of the outer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Kornel Kantor, Miklos Tanczos
  • Patent number: 9695900
    Abstract: A shock absorber is disclosed which has a base valve assembly for controlling a flow of a working fluid between a reservoir chamber and a working chamber of the shock absorber. The base valve makes use of at least one digital valve assembly. The digital valve assembly communicates with an intermediate chamber formed between an intermediate tube and a pressure tube of the shock absorber. The digital valve assembly controls flow of the working fluid between the intermediate chamber and the reservoir chamber, to help control a damping action provided by the shock absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew L. Roessle, Karl C. Kazmirski, Jeroen K. Paenhuysen, Darrell G. Breese, Daniel T. Keil, Thomas P. Mallin, Jeffrey T. Gardner
  • Patent number: 9689456
    Abstract: The entire length of a piston (20) of a magnetorheological fluid shock absorber (100) is reduced. The piston (20) includes a piston core (30) mounted on an end portion of a piston rod (21) and having a coil (33) provided on an outer periphery, a flux ring (35) surrounding the outer periphery of the piston core (30) and forming a flow passage for a magnetorheological fluid, a plate (40) formed annularly, arranged on an outer periphery of the piston rod, and joined to one end of the flux ring (35) through brazing, and a stopper containing a fixing nut (50). The flux ring (35) and the plate (40) are joined by a metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventor: Keiji Saito
  • Patent number: 9689445
    Abstract: A fixed caliper brake includes a caliper housing that includes two opposing blocks. Each of the opposing blocks includes an axial recess, an axial surface for supporting a brake pad, and elements for mounting and axially and slidably guiding the brake pad. The elements include a pad spring that is attached to each related lug of the brake pad, and a steel lamellar element having a spring and being received in the related recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: CHASSIS BRAKES INTERNATIONAL B.V.
    Inventors: Sandra Merrien, Andre Gaye, Thierry Bindner
  • Patent number: 9689453
    Abstract: An active vibration absorber is attachable to a structure incorporating a positioning system which serves to vibrate the structure during its operation. The active vibration absorber comprises a mounting portion for attachment to the structure, an inertial mass that is resiliently coupled to the mounting portion and a force actuator which is operative to controllably move the inertial mass relative to the mounting portion. The force actuator is configured to move the inertial mass relative to the mounting body according to a motion profile during a motion cycle of the positioning system in order to attenuate vibrations in the structure. The motion profile is determined from a motion command which is operative to drive the positioning system during the motion cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: ASM TECHNOLOGY SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Ping Kong Choy, Jinchun Huang, Xianghua Xing, Hoi Yue Yung
  • Patent number: 9677636
    Abstract: An anti-vibration rubber member includes: a rubber elastic body that is made of a self-lubricating rubber containing an elastomer and a bleeding lubricant; a coating film that covers at least a portion of a sliding inner surface that is a surface of the rubber elastic body disposed on an inner side of a sliding surface, contains a resin having a mercapto group and a solid lubricant containing polytetrafluoroethylene particles and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene particles, and is deformable to follow up deformation of the rubber elastic body; and a lubricating film that covers at least a portion of a surface of the coating film, is formed by including the bleeding lubricant having penetrated the coating film from the rubber elastic body and oozing onto the surface of the coating film, and forms at least a portion of the sliding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignees: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED, STT INC.
    Inventors: Yorikazu Nakamura, Hiroyuki Matsumura, Takahisa Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9670979
    Abstract: A resilient expandable pressure vessel configured to function like a spring. The resilient expandable pressure vessel includes a body portion, a cavity defined within the body portion, and at least one port in communication with the cavity defined in the body portion. The at least one port is configured to receive a fluid into the cavity and discharge the fluid from the cavity. The resilient expandable pressure vessel has a predetermined expansibility across a range of operating pressures of the fluid in the cavity. The range is at least 200 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: LIQUIDSPRING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Gary B. Ford, Richard J. Meyer, Peter M. Schmid
  • Patent number: 9669818
    Abstract: A method for detecting leaks in at least one brake pressure line, under braking pressure, of a compressed air brake device of a rail vehicle having an indirect electro-pneumatic brake, wherein the indirect electro-pneumatic brake has a master air vessel line to hold a master air vessel line pressure, and a compressed air source supplying the master air vessel line with compressed air and is controlled by the master air line pressure in a master air line, wherein the at least one brake pressure line under braking pressure extends between a valve device, which controls the braking pressure in dependence upon the master air line pressure in the master air line, and at least one brake actuator, and where the braking test method is carried out when the rail vehicle is stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUR SCHIENENFAHRZEUGE GMBH
    Inventors: Alexander Kull, Bodo Minnecker, Daniel Feucht
  • Patent number: 9662952
    Abstract: A vibration damper for damping spring retraction and extension forces on vehicles includes an inner pressure medium cylinder, in which a piston with a piston rod is axially slidably arranged to divide the inner cylinder into a retraction chamber and an extension chamber in which an electrorheological fluid is contained as a pressure medium. The two chambers are connected through at least one throttle gap between the inner cylinder and an electrode tube arranged coaxially thereto. The electrode tube is surrounded coaxially by an outer tube which forms a gas pressure chamber connected with the retraction chamber through a bottom valve. Axially linear or helical seals are arranged between the inner cylinder and the electrode tube, and divide the throttle gap into at least two valve partial gaps. A throttled non-return valve opens toward the gas pressure chamber between the extension chamber and the gas pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Funke, Matthias Bruns, Nils Herrmann, Lucien Johnston, Dorothea Adams
  • Patent number: 9663181
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension damper is described. The vehicle suspension damper includes: a pilot valve assembly; a primary valve; and an adjuster, wherein the pilot valve assembly meters fluid to the primary valve, and the adjuster moves the primary valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Everet Ericksen, Robert C. Fox, David Batterbee, John Marking
  • Patent number: 9657791
    Abstract: An actuator is provided for preventing rotation of a rotary component and includes a first pawl pivotable about a first pivot axis and engageable with the rotary component for preventing rotation of the rotary component in a first rotary direction. A second pawl is pivotable about a second pivot axis and engageable with the rotary component for preventing rotation of the rotary component in a second rotary direction opposite the first rotary direction. The pawls are each biased toward an engaged position with the rotary component by a pawl spring. A first and a second solenoid each include an electrically activated solenoid and an armature movable from a first position for holding the pawls out of engagement with the rotary component to a second position for allowing the pawls to be engaged with the rotary component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Anthony J. Corsetti, Nicholas Kokotovich, David Patrick Balgaard
  • Patent number: 9657795
    Abstract: A fluid cooled vehicle brake includes a fluid flow passage disposed in fluid communication with a brake shoe rim carrying a layer of friction material. A pair of spaced support webs are coupled to an inner surface of an annular inner surface of the rib. A water jacket is sealingly joined to the pair of webs and the inner surface of the rim to form a fluid flow passage between an inlet port formed in one of the support webs along the inner surface of the rim and out through an outlet port formed in one of the support webs. High thermal conductive members may be disposed within the layer of friction material to conduct heat to the rim. Heat radiator members are mounted within the coolant passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Inventor: Richard Annis
  • Patent number: 9651109
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a telescopic tube member configured to include a vehicle body side tube and a vehicle wheel side tube, a cap member that closes an upper side opening of the vehicle body side tube, a cylinder erected in an axial center portion of the vehicle wheel side tube, a piston rod held by the cap member and configured to enter and exit the cylinder, a reservoir formed between the tube member and the cylinder, a cap interior passage formed in the cap member and configured to connect the rod interior passage to the reservoir, a plurality of valve bodies provided in series or in parallel midway in the cap interior passage, and a plurality of adjusters attached to the cap member and configured to be capable of adjusting a valve opening pressure or an opening amount of the plurality of valve bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Noguchi
  • Patent number: 9643584
    Abstract: A method for operating a braking system includes: limiting a brake pressure buildup in a brake circuit of the braking system to a response pressure of a storage volume of the brake circuit by controlling a first wheel outlet valve of a first wheel brake cylinder of the brake circuit into an opened state at least temporarily during an increasing activation intensity of an activation of a brake actuating element connected to a master break cylinder; providing an additional reduction of a brake pressure in the brake circuit to below the response pressure during a constant activation intensity by controlling the first wheel outlet valve into a closed state; and activating a brake booster in such a way that an internal pressure present in the master brake cylinder is reduced with the aid of the activated brake booster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Strengert, Yasutaka Nagakura
  • Patent number: 9643553
    Abstract: Provided is an impact absorber capable of effectively absorbing impact even if an impact receiving position deviates from a desired position. An impact absorber according to an aspect of the present disclosure has a front wall for receiving impact, a rear wall opposed to the front wall, and surrounding walls for connecting the circumferences of the front wall and the rear wall, wherein thin portions are formed at corner portions for connecting the front wall and the surrounding walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: KYORAKU CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Teruo Tamada, Naoto Tani
  • Patent number: 9638272
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic brake and a method for making an electomagnetic brake. The electromagnetic brake comprises a frame part, an armature part movably mounted on the frame part and having a magnetic core, one or more spring elements for activating the brake by moving the said armature part forwards, an electromagnet fitted to the frame part and arranged to release the brake by pulling the said armature part backwards by resisting the said one or more spring elements, and a planar, elastically bendable damping plate fitted to be bent when the armature part is moving and, while being bent, to produce a damping force resisting the bending to dampen brake noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Mika Olkkonen, Antti Saarelainen