Patents Examined by Thomas Irvin
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Patent number: 9291229Abstract: An inner tube as a cylinder includes an axially extending tubular portion, a large-diameter portion, and a tapered portion. The large-diameter portion is located at one end side of the tubular portion and is formed so as to have a diameter increased radially outwardly. The tapered portion is located between the large-diameter portion and the tubular portion, and is formed in such a manner that the diameter thereof increases in a flaring manner from the one end of the tubular portion to the large-diameter portion. A tubular protrusion of a rod guide is fittedly attached to the inner circumferential side of the large-diameter portion. A valve mounting portion is formed at the inner circumferential side of the tubular portion. A valve mechanism is mounted on the valve mounting portion. A seat surface is formed at the back side of the valve mounting portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventor: Kazuaki Shibahara
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Patent number: 9285000Abstract: A disc brake includes a caliper main body configured to have a pad assembling space that is disposed across over a disc rotor and opens toward an approximate middle thereof in a rotor radial direction and a connector part that crosses the pad assembling space in a rotor axial direction, and a pad spring that is engaged with the connector part of the caliper main body by a pair of claw portions facing each other, is installed on the caliper main body, and biases the brake pads in a rotor rotational outlet direction and inward in the rotor radial direction. The pad spring has a symmetrical shape with respect to the center in a longitudinal direction thereof, and the pair of claw portions are engaged with the connector part in a state in which the center in the longitudinal direction is offset in a rotor rotational direction with respect to the center in the rotor rotational direction of the brake pads.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2014Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventor: Keisuke Nanri
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Patent number: 9284975Abstract: An elastomeric bushing and a bearing which is equipped with the bushing in question. The bushing can, even after installation in the bearing, be pretensioned or calibrated, by displacement of elastomeric material in the interior of the bushing, where the displacement is carried out by different pressing means and tensioning means in the bushing and/or in the surrounding bearing.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2012Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: FM Energie GMBH & Co., KGInventor: Franz Mitsch
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Patent number: 9278676Abstract: According to the present invention, limited electric power is consumed so as to achieve long-lasting use of electric power during brake control with the use of an auxiliary power supply source when there is a malfunction of a vehicle power supply source. In addition, a brake control device for ensuring responsiveness at the beginning of braking or when emergency braking is necessary is provided. The brake control device of the present invention is a brake control device for detecting electric signals generated depending on the degree of brake-pedal operation and calculating the driver's demanded braking force based on the electric signals so as to generate the demanded braking force, which comprises an auxiliary power supply source for supplying electric power to the brake control device when there is a malfunction of a vehicle power supply source and controls braking depending on the charged capacity of the auxiliary power supply source.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2010Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Kimio Nishino, Toshiyuki Innami, Norikazu Matsuzaki, Masayuki Kikawa, Ayumu Miyajima, Toshiyuki Ajima
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Patent number: 9278678Abstract: A vehicle brake system includes a source of fluid pressure adapted to supply a braking force to at least one brake actuator and a modular valve unit fluidly coupling the brake actuator to the source of fluid pressure. The modular valve unit includes a plurality of valve modules. Each of the plurality of valve modules includes a housing in which working elements of the valve module are contained and at least one port in the housing adapted to be an input port or an output port, the at least one port being adapted to cooperate with and be directly fluidly connected to at least one port of another of the plurality of valve modules, thereby obviating the need for tubing or piping. Each of the plurality of valve modules is self-contained and defines a stand-alone unit capable of operating independently of any other of the plurality of valve modules.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2005Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: HALDEX BRAKE CORPORATIONInventors: Robert Rudolph, Joe Hoover, David G. Engelbert
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Patent number: 9260098Abstract: According to one embodiment, a vacuum booster includes a booster shell and a booster piston which divides an interior of the booster shell into a front vacuum chamber and a rear operation chamber. The vacuum booster further includes a valve cylinder in which a control valve controls a communication state of the operation chamber depending on a movement of an input rod. A bearing cylinder is provided on a rear wall of the booster shell. A bearing bush is mounted in the bearing cylinder to support the valve cylinder, and a seal lip is provided at a rear end of the bearing bush integrally therewith to contact elastically closely with the valve cylinder. A grease reservoir is provided in an inner surface of the bearing bush, and an extension grease reservoir is provided in an inner surface of the seal lip.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2013Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: NISSIN KOGYO CO., LTD.Inventors: Kiyoaki Tanizawa, Shuichi Yatabe
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Patent number: 9254828Abstract: Systems and methods of overriding a conventional trailer emergency brake system to preclude and alert others as to inadvertent or premature movement of the trailer are described herein. One implementation includes a safety valve operatively positioned in the emergency braking system of a trailer that may be engaged to override the brake valve located in a tractor to prevent a truck driver from prematurely or inadvertently moving the trailer. In addition, the system may include a one way check valve to allow air upstream of the safety valve to bleed out of the brake system when the safety valve is closed (to prevent movement of the trailer) before the emergency brakes for the trailer are set by the driver. A communication system may also be provided to alert the driver via a remotely located computing device that the emergency brakes for the trailer need to be set.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2014Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Inventor: Edwin Bernard Simpson
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Patent number: 9249854Abstract: A piston valve assembly for a shock absorber is disclosed. In a high-frequency mode, a damping force control is achieved through an open passage that is always opened. In a low-frequency mode, a guide assembly moves downward due to an increase in a pressure of a first pressure chamber by a fluid moved through an inlet hole of the first pressure chamber. At this time, the guide assembly blocks the open passage and the damping force control is achieved through only a rebound passage. Consequently, it is possible to solve a fluid bottle neck through a passage formation. A disk is installed on the inlet hole to prevent a continuous increase in the pressure of the first pressure chamber, thereby effectively preventing the reduction of the damping force.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2014Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: MANDO CORPORATIONInventor: Tae Ju Kim
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Patent number: 9234560Abstract: A damping valve includes an annular valve seat, a valve body, an actuator for driving the valve body and a valve case including a valve hole into which the valve body is slidably inserted. The valve body includes a valve main body and a shaft for transmitting a thrust force of the actuator to the valve main body. The valve main body includes a flange partitioning the interior of the valve hole into a valve seat side chamber and an opposite valve seat side chamber, a shaft portion extending from the flange and a valve head to be seated on and lifted from the valve seat. The valve seat side chamber and the opposite valve seat side chamber communicate via a communication passage and the valve seat side chamber and the flow path communicate via a throttle passage.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2012Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: KAYABA INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventor: Takahisa Mochizuki
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Patent number: 9233668Abstract: Taking a stroke within a period from when an operation of a brake operating member is started to when a predetermined stroke operation is performed as an ineffective stroke in which the master cylinder pressure is not generated, a control means controls an amount of differential pressure formed by a differential control valve such that a hydraulic braking force that corresponds to a stroke of the brake operating member is generated during the ineffective stroke, and even after the stroke of the brake operating member exceeds the ineffective stroke, increases the wheel cylinder pressure by performing raising of the amount of differential pressure formed by the differential pressure control valve by a predetermined raising amount with respect to the amount of differential pressure during the ineffective stroke.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2012Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Masaki Ninoyu, Masayuki Naito, Yasuhiro Koike
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Patent number: 9227616Abstract: A blocking device for attaching to an entry aperture structure of a spring brake cylinder of a vehicle includes a blocking fastener having a head and a shaft extending from the head. The head has a plurality of cylindrical recesses that extend generally parallel to the shaft. At least a portion of the shaft is threaded. A fastener receiver has an insertion portion and a base extending generally transversely to the insertion portion. The insertion portion has an interior surface that is threaded and is configured to receive the shaft of the blocking fastener. The base has a first tier that extends generally radially from the insertion portion and has a diameter that corresponds to the diameter of the entry aperture structure such that the base engages the entry aperture structure radially. A fastener receiving component is disposed on the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2013Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLCInventors: Terry E. Hively, Jeff G. Kohler, Michael R. Krueger, Allen D. Sprunger
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Patent number: 9221374Abstract: A spring for a vehicle seat comprising a foam body having an outer surface and a plurality of outwardly-extending walls defining a plurality of recesses, wherein top and bottom surfaces of the foam body are operable between an extended position and a compressed position, wherein the plurality of recesses are vertically compressed and the top surface rotates a predetermined distance relative to the bottom surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2013Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Kolich, Lorne Joseph Lovelace, Michael Hulway
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Patent number: 9221315Abstract: A cylinder unit includes a cylinder, a rod guide, a piston, a piston rod, and a rebound member provided between the rod guide and the piston to absorb impact generated when the cylinder unit is fully extended. The rebound member includes a coil spring arranged around an outer circumference of the piston rod and a pair of upper and lower holder members fitted to the fixing portions formed in both ends of the coil spring so that the piston rod is inserted into a shaft center hole. The center portion formed between the fixing portions of the coil spring has a diameter smaller than that of the fixing portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2012Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignees: KAYABA INDUSTRY CO., LTD., CHITA KOGYO CO., LTD.Inventors: Hisato Shii, Akira Naito, Tatsuya Sukegawa, Kazuhiro Hayashi, Takashi Ominami
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Patent number: 9217486Abstract: A magnetorheological fluid shock absorber includes a piston slidably arranged in a cylinder in which magnetorheological fluid is sealed. The piston includes a piston core which is attached to an end part of a piston rod and on the outer periphery of which a coil is provided, a flux ring which surrounds the outer periphery of the piston core and forms a flow passage for the magnetorheological fluid between the piston core and the flux ring, a first plate which is arranged on the outer periphery of the piston rod and specifies the position of one end of the flux ring in an axial direction with respect to the piston core, a second plate which is arranged on the inner periphery of the other end of the flux ring, and a first snap ring which is fitted to the inner periphery of the flux ring and fixes the second plate.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2013Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: KAYABA INDUSTRY CO., LTD.Inventors: Keiji Saito, Kazuhisa Nakamura, Takashi Teraoka
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Patent number: 9217482Abstract: The invention relates to a leaf spring (1) for motor vehicles, which is made of a fiber-reinforced synthetic material and can absorb potentially occurring lateral forces and transfer them to a leaf spring receiving device, comprises a first end (2) and a second end (3), which can each be fixed in a leaf spring receiving device in a torsion-proof and non-displaceable manner, and a bending joint section (11), which can compensate for a change in length of a resilient section (8) of the leaf spring (1) during a load-induced deformation of the resilient section (8). The leaf spring (1) comprises a first spring limb (5) and a second spring limb (6) which are connected to each other via a transition section (7). In a non-loaded state, both the first spring limb (5) and the second spring limb (6) are approximately planar and disposed at an angle relative to each other. The first spring limb (5) forms the resilient section (8). The bending joint section (11) contains the second spring limb (6).Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2011Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: Muhr und Bender KGInventors: Helmut Schürmann, Tobias Keller
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Patent number: 9206868Abstract: Braking bands of discs for disc brakes, capable of both the efficient discharge of heat and of high mechanical performance at low weight are provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2013Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: FRENI BREMBO S.P.A.Inventors: Aristide Veneziano, Silvio Persico, Raffaello Passoni
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Patent number: 9205821Abstract: A motor vehicle brake system operable in a brake-by-wire and fallback modes. The system includes a brake pedal (1), a master cylinder (2), a reservoir (4), a travel simulator (3), an electrically controllable pressure source (5), isolation valves (23a, 23b) pumps (32a, 32b) and a low-pressure accumulator (14a, 14b), an inlet valve (6a-6d) and an outlet valve (7a-7d) for each wheel brake (8, 9, 10, 11), valves (34a, 34b; 134a, 134b) connected to the pumps (32a, 32b), and a control and regulation unit (110, 210). A valve arrangement (23a, 23b) establishes for each brake circuit (I, II) a connection from the pressure chamber (17, 18) of the master cylinder (2) to the modulator admission pressure line (13a, 13b; 113a, 113b) and disconnects the connection when unenergized, the valve arrangement (23a, 23b) preventing the pressure source (5) from being subjected to pressure from the pressure chambers (17, 18).Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2012Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO. OHGInventors: Harald Biller, Peter Stauder, Marco Beisier, Hans-Jörg Feigel
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Patent number: 9199621Abstract: A vehicle brake device is provided with a master piston which is driven to generate a master cylinder pressure. The device includes a pressure accumulation portion that accumulates the brake fluid under pressure; a servo pressure generation portion that is configured to be able to generate the servo pressure using the brake fluid in the pressure accumulation portion regardless of the operation of the brake operation member; brake fluid consumption correlative value detection means for detecting a brake fluid consumption correlative value relating to a consumption of the brake fluid in the pressure accumulation portion; and failure detection means for driving the master pistons only by the servo pressure using the servo pressure generation portion in a state where the brake operation member is not operated, and detecting a failure of a master system, based on a brake fluid consumption correlative value detected by the brake fluid consumption correlative value detection means at that time.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2012Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Kazutaka Noro, Yasunori Sakata, Yoshinori Suzuki, Satoshi Ishida
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Patent number: 9194452Abstract: Vibration damping apparatus, systems, objects including such apparatus and systems, and vibration damping methods. The vibration damping involves amplifying a vibration-induced displacement and damping the amplified displacement.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2012Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: The Aerospace CorporationInventors: Gary F. Hawkins, Ching-Yao Tang
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Patent number: 9186948Abstract: Apparatus are provided for a jounce bumper system for use with a damper. The jounce bumper system includes a first mount and a jounce bumper having a first end coupled to the first mount and a second end. The jounce bumper system includes a flexible striker cap spaced apart from the second end of the jounce bumper in a first position. The flexible striker cap includes a first surface in contact with the second end in a second position and defines a cavity opposite the first surface. The jounce bumper system further includes an insert received within the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2013Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Ravindra P. Patil, Robert L. Geisler, Joseph A. Schudt, Daryl R. Poirier, Maolin Tsai