Patents Examined by Thomas W Irvin
  • Patent number: 11448280
    Abstract: A device (1) comprises: a cylindrical shell (4); a first spring (5) encased inside the cylindrical shell (4); a second spring (6) encased inside the cylindrical shell (4); a separator (13) in the cylindrical shell (4) separating the first and second springs (5, 6); a first end plate (12) on a first side (13a) of the separator (13) and a second end plate (11) on a second side (13b) of the separator (13); a first rod (2) and a second rod (3) passing openings (20a, 20b) provided at each end of the cylindrical shell (4), with the first rod (2) connected to the first end plate (12) and the second rod (3) connected to the second end plate (11); and a spacer (14) inserted between the first end plate (12) and the first spring (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Charles Wang Wai Ng, Clarence Edward Choi, Dongri Song
  • Patent number: 11434974
    Abstract: A vibration absorber for absorbing a vibration of a vibrating component is provided and includes: a spring system and an absorber mass arranged on the spring system. The spring system includes: a first spring element with a first core, and a second spring element with a second core. The first spring element is arranged on the second spring element such that the second core borders the first core, and the vibration absorber can be fastened using a fixing element to the vibrating component in which the vibration is to be absorbed. Furthermore, a method of producing the vibration absorber is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Sumitomo Riko Company Limited
    Inventors: Jörg Ditzel, Sebastian Bös
  • Patent number: 11434969
    Abstract: A hydraulic damper assembly comprises a main tube extending between a first and a second end and defining a fluid chamber extending therebetween. A main piston slidably disposed in the fluid chamber divides the fluid chamber into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. A piston rod attaches to the main piston. An additional piston couples to the piston rod axially spaced from the main piston. The additional piston has a top surface and a bottom surface and defines at least one pathway extending through the additional piston. The additional piston defines a recess bounded by an upper surface and a lower surface. A ring slidably is disposed in the recess. The additional piston includes an anti-noise member located in the recess whereby the anti-noise member releases fluid pressure between the ring and the upper surface reducing noise generation during a compression stroke and a rebound stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: BEIJINGWEST INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Piotr Grzegorz Maton, Pawel Edward Kus, Dominik Kasprzyk
  • Patent number: 11421749
    Abstract: A vibration damper (11) including a movable section ((20) to move in at least one direction; a support section to movably support the movable section; a vibration detector (29) to detect a vibration received by the vibration damper; and a computing processor (30) to compute an amount of displacement of the movable section (20) in a first direction, which is associated with the vibration, based on a detection result of the vibration detector (29) to obtain an amount of correction corresponding to the amount of displacement. The support section moving the movable section (20) in a second direction opposite to the first direction based on the amount of correction obtained by the computing processor (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 11415194
    Abstract: This damper comprises: a housing accommodating a damping medium; and a rotor rotatable relative to the housing, inside the housing. A unidirectional clutch which stipulates rotation in one direction and a rotating shaft can be connected to each other coaxially. The unidirectional clutch, when supporting the rotating shaft, constitutes a first input object, whereas the rotating shaft constitutes a second input object when not being supported by the unidirectional clutch. A connection object comprises a first connection part capable of connecting to the first input object coaxially, and a second connection part capable of connecting to the second input object coaxially. Two separate connection states are provided, namely a state in which the first connection part and the first input object are connected to each other, and a state in which the second connection part and the second input object are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Makoto Muranaka
  • Patent number: 11408478
    Abstract: A transmissive joint has an elastic response for transmitting a torsional load capable of ensuring the transmission in the absence of coaxiality between two actuating and actuated devices, and allowing the internal passage of cabling or possible accessory components along the axis of transmission/torsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SCUOLA SUPERIORE DI STUDI UNIVERSITARI E DI PERFEZIONAMENTO SANT'ANNA
    Inventors: Nicola Vitiello, Francesco Giovacchini, Andrea Baldoni, Marco Cempini
  • Patent number: 11408482
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension damper comprises a cylinder and a piston assembly including a damping piston along with working fluid within the cylinder. A bypass permits fluid to avoid dampening resistance of the damping piston. A fluid path through the bypass is controlled by a valve that is shifted by a piston surface when the contents of at least one predetermined volume is injected against the piston surface which acts upon the valve. In one embodiment, the bypass is remotely operable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: John Marking
  • Patent number: 11408474
    Abstract: A guide assembly for a disc brake and a method of arrangement. The guide assembly includes a guide pin and a sliding bore that receives the guide pin. A first face mating interface of the sliding bore may define a first sliding interface between the guide pin and the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Braking Systems (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Dietmar Knoop
  • Patent number: 11401991
    Abstract: A drainage system for use with a slack adjuster for a railway brake rigging wherein the slack adjuster includes a main spring housing, a cone nut housing enclosing a critical operating area of the slack adjuster, and an over travel housing. The drainage system includes at least one opening extending through a sidewall portion of the main spring housing. The opening is configured to allow fluid and/or contaminates to drain therethrough to reduce exposure of the critical operating area of the slack adjuster to the fluid and/or contaminants. A seal/splash guard can be provided at the intersection of the main spring housing and the cone nut housing to prevent fluid and contaminants from entering into the cone nut housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: WESTINGHOUSE AIR BRAKE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shaun T. Whalen, Peter Paul Gregar, Scott Lee Natschke
  • Patent number: 11401995
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper that a torsional vibration damper having a planetary gear unit, and a manufacturing method of the torsional vibration damper for limiting damages on gears of the planetary gear unit due to dimension errors. In the planetary gear unit, at least one of a sun gear, a ring gear, and a set of planetary gears is/are formed by a press forming method. The gear formed by the press forming method is engaged with the remaining gears in such a manner that a thinner portion of each tooth is individually engaged with a thicker portion of the adjacent teeth of the remaining gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD., AISIN FUKUI Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Ishibashi, Hideyuki Nishida, Yoichi Oi, Takuya Yoshikawa, Katsunori Tanaka, Tomoyuki Hiramoto
  • Patent number: 11401994
    Abstract: An assembly for an air spring includes an outer gaiter defined in part by an interior portion, an inner gaiter defined in part by an exterior portion, at least one floating ring extending from a first floating ring end to a second floating ring end, the first floating ring end coupled with the inner gaiter and the second floating ring end is coupled with the outer gaiter, where the at least one floating ring allows the outer gaiter to move relative to the inner gaiter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunny Makkar, Joseph Jerisk, Garrett Mark Pniewski
  • Patent number: 11402021
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lifting bellows (1), for example for axle-lifting apparatuses of vehicles. The invention is based on the object of creating a lifting bellows (1) which is lightweight and of simple construction and which can be produced inexpensively. The object is achieved by virtue of the fact that the lifting bellows (1) has at least one hose-shaped elastomer main body (2) with an elastomer matrix and has reinforcing supports (6, 7) embedded in the elastomer matrix, two end covers (3, 3A) and two clamping elements (4), wherein the reinforcing support (6, 7) of the main body (2) is built up from at least two thread plies (6, 7), wherein each thread ply (6, 7) is arranged, in the non-loaded state, at a winding angle (11A, 11B) with respect to the circumferential direction, the absolute value of which winding angle (11A, 11B) is less than 35.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Atipong Boonphupontonti
  • Patent number: 11396344
    Abstract: A bushing bypass. The bushing bypass includes a bushing having a top surface and a bottom surface. The bushing also includes an inner diameter surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The bushing also includes an outer diameter surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The bushing further includes a channel formed in the outer diameter surface. The channel extends from the top surface of the bushing to the bottom surface of the bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel McCormick, Joshua Coaplen
  • Patent number: 11390354
    Abstract: Example brake systems and apparatus for providing pitch control on bicycles are described herein. An example rear brake caliper described herein includes a caliper housing to be coupled to the bicycle. The caliper housing includes a first port to be fluidly coupled to a first fluid line fluidly coupled to a front brake actuator and a second port to be fluidly coupled to a second fluid line fluidly coupled to a front brake caliper. The rear brake caliper also includes a valve between the first port and the second port. The valve is operable to affect fluid flow between the first port and the second port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Dunlap, III, Brian Jordan
  • Patent number: 11384808
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wrap spring for blocking an unwanted rotational movement of a rotary element. The invention further relates to an adjusting device for adjusting the wear of brake pads of a disk brake. An adjusting device comprises a guide sleeve in which a wrap spring is arranged, a grooved ring which encompasses the guide sleeve, wherein the grooved ring is coupled to a closure cap via a torsion spring, and an opening ring encompassing the grooved ring. The invention further relates to a disk brake for a vehicle, in particular for a utility vehicle, wherein the disk brake comprises an adjusting device with a wrap spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: WABCO Europe BVBA
    Inventors: Ralf Grosskopf, Eugen Kloos
  • Patent number: 11378152
    Abstract: A hydraulic bushing assembly comprises an inner tube, a travel limiter surrounding the inner tube, a first intermediate insert, a second intermediate insert spaced apart from the first intermediate insert, and an elastomeric bushing disposed around the inner tube and encapsulating the first intermediate insert and the second intermediate insert. The elastomeric bushing at least partially encapsulates the travel limiter such that a portion of the elastomeric bushing is positioned between the travel limiter and the inner tube. First and second snubbers limit displacement of the travel limiter and define first and second fluid chamber within the elastomeric bushing. A fluid passageway defined by the elastomeric bushing and an outer tube extends between the first and second fluid chambers, wherein relative movement between the inner tube and the outer tube causes fluid transfer between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: The Pullman Company
    Inventors: Zoren E. Gaspar, Scott W. Rawlings
  • Patent number: 11364849
    Abstract: A one-way damper mechanism, which can properly operate a damper by appropriately engaging a gear and a rotary damper so as to reduce wobbling, is provided. A one-way damper mechanism includes a gear-holding member provided with a gear engaging with a rack, which relatively moves to the rack; and a damper-holding member provided with a rotary damper, which relatively moves to the rack, and the one-way damper mechanism changes between a braking state wherein the gear and a damper gear are engaged, and a release state wherein the gear and the damper gear are separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Naoto Jinbo
  • Patent number: 11345324
    Abstract: An electric drive device for a vehicle includes: a rotating machine that is used as a driving force source for traveling of the vehicle; a differential device configured to distribute power transmitted from the rotating machine to right and left driving wheels; and a retarder provided in a power transmission path between the rotating machine and the differential device and configured to generate a braking force. The retarder is either an electromagnetic retarder or a fluid retarder. The rotating machine and the retarder are arranged on opposite sides of an axis of the differential device in a front-rear direction of the vehicle in a plan view seen from above the vehicle, the axis of the differential device being parallel to a width direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shin Kurosaki
  • Patent number: 11346414
    Abstract: A brake disk or drum has at least one working surface which opposes a braking member such as a brake pad or shoe. A plurality of spaced, raised island formations are provided across the working surface, with channels extending between the island formations. Each raised island formation has an outer surface which contacts a brake pad or brake shoe during braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: TECH M3, INC.
    Inventor: Nathan K. Meckel
  • Patent number: 11338786
    Abstract: A brake actuator assembly including a pressure plate presenting an opening, a push rod that is coupled to the pressure plate, a diaphragm that is coupled to the pressure plate, and a retainer that engages the push rod. The push rod has an outer surface and at least one protrusion extending outward from the outer surface. The retainer engages the protrusion such that at least a portion of the diaphragm is positioned between the pressure plate and the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: HALDEX BRAKE PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert L. Koelzer, Albert D. Fisher, Aaron C. Bradford, David C. Rhoads, Michael R. Jenkins