Patents Examined by Thomas W Irvin
  • Patent number: 11320013
    Abstract: A brake cooling system uses a pair of subsystems to efficiently provide brake cooling and operation of the system. A first subsystem uses an axle assembly to drive one or more pumps to drive a variable speed cooling flow pump motor and a variable speed fan motor. A second subsystem includes one or more cooling flow pumps that are driven by variable speed cooling flow pump motor to supply a cooling fluid to an air-fluid heat exchanger for cooling and then supply the cooled fluid from the heat exchanger to brakes of the axle assembly. The variable speed fan motor drives a fan for the air-fluid heat exchanger for cooling of fluid passing therethrough. The system also includes a means for controlling the speed of the motors to regulate the heat exchanger operation and cooling flow through the heat exchanger and brakes of the axle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: TowHaul Corporation
    Inventors: Keith Bryon Fisher, Fred Wallace Bent
  • Patent number: 11313423
    Abstract: A caliper guide assembly for a heavy vehicle disc brake. The caliper guide assembly may include a wear sensor arranged to detect the position of a guide pin in relation to a guide bore. The guide pin and a guide surface may have different cross sectional profiles to define at least one void therebetween. The wear sensor may be at least partially accommodated within the void.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Braking Systems (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Martin P. Taylor, Sean Cleary, Matthew McGinn, Refaat Malki
  • Patent number: 11312198
    Abstract: Air spring strut for a motor vehicle comprising an air spring with a shock damper for the spring-cushioning and damping of oscillations of a motor vehicle chassis, wherein the air spring comprises an air spring cover and a rolling piston, wherein a rolling bellows of elastomer material is clamped in an airtight manner between the air spring cover and the rolling piston. The air spring cover comprises a damper bearing receptacle in which a damper bearing of the shock damper is arranged, and the air spring cover comprises a clamping base to which a first end of the rolling bellows is attached. At least the damper bearing receptacle of the air spring cover is produced completely from a plastic material, and the plastic material is a thermoplastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventor: Kai Marcus Rautenberg
  • Patent number: 11313426
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a disc brake caliper body comprising a mounting side bracket and a non-mounting side bracket extending along a circumferential direction of the body, each bracket being configured to hold at least one brake pad. In order to provide improved cooling efficiency while maintaining the required stability of the brake caliper, the caliper body further comprises at least one cooling duct formed by additive manufacturing, at least one cooling duct being an integral part of the caliper body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: ALCON COMPONENTS LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Charles Smith, Stephen James Hodgkins, Richard James Humble
  • Patent number: 11306793
    Abstract: A torque adjustment mechanism is provided for use with a torsion spring. The torsion spring is a coil spring having a plurality of helical coils that define a hollow core. A torque adjuster is positioned in the interior of the hollow core of the coil spring. The torque adjuster has a circular collar on one end and a securing flange on the other end. The circular collar is designed to fit into the hollow core of the coil spring. A clamp is positioned over the exterior of the coil spring in alignment with the circular collar. The clamp secures the coil spring to circular. The position of the collar in the spring defines the number of the coils that are active and establishes the level torque provided by the torsion spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: The McAlear Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald Schutt
  • Patent number: 11305746
    Abstract: A brake release system for a vehicle is described to transfer mechanical movement between two hydraulic actuators. The system includes a first hydraulic system on a removable portion of the vehicle and a second hydraulic system on a main chassis of the vehicle. The two hydraulic systems are mechanically engaged with each other where the removable portion of the vehicle attaches to the main chassis. In this way, a force applied to the removable portion of the vehicle when the vehicle's tow hook is engaged may be transferred to release the parking brake on the main chassis without a hydraulic connection between the removable portion and the main chassis. This may be useful when a removable battery frame with a tow hook makes up a separable rear portion of an electric vehicle, allowing the battery frame to be quickly and efficiently removed from the main chassis of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: ARTISAN VEHICLE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Kyle Hickey
  • Patent number: 11299135
    Abstract: A brake control device including a pressure adjusting unit including an electric pump and an electromagnetic valve, and that adjusts, using the electromagnetic valve, a brake liquid discharged by the electric pump to an adjusted liquid pressure and introduces the adjusted liquid pressure to the wheel cylinders of the rear wheels; and a master unit that includes a master cylinder and a master piston, and that includes a master chamber connected to the wheel cylinders of the front wheels and a servo chamber to which the adjusted liquid pressure is introduced and which provides, to the master piston, an advancing force that opposes a retreating force applied to the master piston by the master chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Kodama, Hiroyuki Ando
  • Patent number: 11299233
    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: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Everet Ericksen, Robert C. Fox, David Batterbee, John Marking
  • Patent number: 11300171
    Abstract: A spring apparatus (10), including: a spring (12); an elongated object (18A) disposed within and along the spring (12); and a mode-changing assembly (16), for providing a first mode in which a portion (38) of the spring (12) being along the elongated object (18A) is not springy, and a second mode in which an entire of the spring (12) is springy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Inventors: Gil Zohar, Eyal Eliyahu Ashkenazi
  • Patent number: 11293128
    Abstract: A shock absorber for a washing machine and a washing machine having the same are disclosed. The shock absorber includes: a shock absorber sleeve, and the shock absorber sleeve defines an accommodation cavity therein; a shock absorber rod, movably connected to the shock absorber sleeve; an elastic member provided on the shock absorber rod and/or the shock absorber sleeve; a first damping member fitted over the shock absorber rod and mounted on the shock absorber sleeve; and a second damping member mounted on the shock absorber rod and accommodated in the accommodation cavity. The first damping member and the second damping member generate damping when the shock absorber rod moves relative to the shock absorber sleeve. The shock absorber for the washing machine has a simple structure and favorable shock absorbing effects, and occupies little space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventors: Weiguo Yang, Yacheng Shi, Wei Zhou
  • Patent number: 11285774
    Abstract: A hydraulic vibration damper, in particular for a vehicle chassis, includes a cylinder tube for receiving a hydraulic fluid. A piston is axially movable within the cylinder tube along a cylinder tube axis and subdivides the cylinder tube into two working chambers. A piston rod is oriented parallel to the cylinder tube axis and is connected to the piston. At least one valve assembly for damping the piston movement in a direction of actuation is arranged at a fluid leadthrough. A bypass duct includes a sub-duct provided in addition to the fluid leadthrough between the two working chambers. A valve arrangement with continuously adjustable damping force is provided which regulates the throughflow through the fluid leadthrough and the sub-duct. The sub-duct includes a throttling mechanism, having a throttle, and a non-return valve. The throttle and the non-return valve of the sub-duct are arranged in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP BILSTEIN GMBH, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Hamers
  • Patent number: 11287005
    Abstract: An hourglass type air spring assembly includes an upper cover plate, an air bag, an upper end plate and a lower end plate. An outer periphery of the upper cover plate is connected with an outer periphery of the upper end plate through the air bag. A low-position hourglass elastomer and a high-position elastomer which are integrally formed are connected with each other between the upper end plate and the lower end plate. An annular notch is formed between the low-position hourglass elastomer and the high-position elastomer, and an annular rigid partition plate matched with the annular notch is arranged in the annular notch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: ZHUZHOU TIMES NEW MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenhai Chen, Te Ye, Canhui Chen, Haitao Cheng, Xuan Peng, Zhuangbing Jin, Jun Zhou, Qiang Chen
  • Patent number: 11287009
    Abstract: A rotary damper has a housing and a damper shaft rotatable in the housing. A damper volume contains magnetorheological fluid for influencing the damping of a damper shaft rotation relative to the housing. A partition wall on the shaft and a partition wall formed on the housing divide the damper volume into two variable chambers. A gap is formed between the partition unit of the housing and the damper shaft, and a gap is formed between the partition unit on the damper shaft and the housing. The magnetic field source includes a controllable electric coil for influencing the strength of the magnetic field and thus the strength of damping. A substantial part of the magnetic field of the magnetic field source passes through at least two of the gaps and influences the two gap sections in dependence on the strength of the magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: INVENTUS Engineering GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Battlogg
  • Patent number: 11287008
    Abstract: A rotary damper (1) has a first sealing ring (8a) and a first bushing (4a) which are located between a through-hole (23) of a circular cylindrical chamber (21) inside a case (2) and a lower end part (33a) of a rotor body (31) of a rotor (3), and a second sealing ring (8b) and a second bushing (4b) which are located between a through-hole (60) in a lid (6) and an upper end part (33b) of the rotor body (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: OILES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Watanabe, Ryohei Kaneko, Wataru Nishioka
  • Patent number: 11274727
    Abstract: A mount bush includes a tube member, a shaft member disposed coaxially with an axis of the tube member and having a coil, a first liquid chamber disposed at an upper side in an internal space between the tube member and the shaft member, a second liquid chamber in communication with a lower side of the first liquid chamber and containing a magnetic viscoelastic fluid, and a third liquid chamber in communication with a lower side of the second liquid chamber and having a porous body, wherein the coil is disposed such that a magnetic path that passes through the second liquid chamber in an orientation along at least one of an axial direction and a radial direction is formed through electrical conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignees: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD., NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORP KANAZAWA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Toshio Inoue, Toshihiko Komatsuzaki
  • Patent number: 11274725
    Abstract: A hydraulic mount apparatus includes a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion disposed on a center axis and defining a housing chamber. A partition member is disposed in the housing chamber dividing the housing chamber into a pumping chamber and a receiving chamber. The pumping chamber extends between the upper portion and the partition member. The receiving chamber extends between the lower portion and the partition member. A decoupler is attached to the partition member separating the pumping chamber and the receiving chamber. A moving member is disposed in the pumping chamber and attached to the decoupler. The moving member is made from a non-elastomeric polymer sheet secured to the decoupler for providing the additional damping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: BEIJINGWEST INDUSTRIES CO., LTD
    Inventors: James William Zehnder, II, Michael William Hurtt, Scott D. McCoy, Timothy Michael Schlangen, David John Barta
  • Patent number: 11266055
    Abstract: An air seeder cart has a fill auger pivotally mounted to the frame of the air seeder cart and moveable to position the fill auger for filling seed hoppers. The swivel joint for the air seeder has a brake assembly biased by a spring to prevent movement in the absence of an input. A remotely positioned lever and cable assembly unlock the brake assembly for movement to a new position upon an operator input to the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jack Turner, Gordon Anthony Engel
  • Patent number: 11268591
    Abstract: A vibrating machine including a first machine part that vibrates in operation, a second machine part connected to an installation area of the vibrating machine, and a vibratory drive. A resilient bearing is arranged between the machine parts and has at least one air spring per support point and at least one compressed air reservoir fluidically connected to the air spring. A throttle is switched intermediate the air spring and the compressed air reservoir. The first machine part bearing has a resonant or natural frequency lower than an operating frequency of the vibrating machine. The bearing system has a frequency-dependent lower stiffness level with high damping at low frequencies, an upper stiffness level with low damping at higher frequencies, and a transition zone at an intermediate transitional frequency. The throttle is dimensioned such that the transitional frequency is close to, preferably slightly above, the resonant or natural frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SPALECK GMBH & CO. KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jörg Halladin, Niklas Lohscheller
  • Patent number: 11255395
    Abstract: A spatial mass pendulum includes a pendulum mass and at least three, preferably four, pendulum rods. The pendulum rods are arranged distributed around the pendulum mass and are each coupled at a first coupling point to the object and at a second coupling point to a lower section of the pendulum mass. At least two pendulum rods are dimensioned and spread in such a way that the distance between their first coupling points is greater than the distance between their second coupling points, so that during a movement of the pendulum mass its center of gravity is guided by the pendulum rods on the surface of a virtual ellipsoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventor: Burkhard Dahl
  • Patent number: 11242906
    Abstract: Disclosed is a variable damping force shock absorber including a tube cylinder having an inner tube filled with a fluid and an outer tube, a valve housing coupled to a piston rod in the inner tube and having a connection flow path formed therein, a first piston valve coupled to the outside of the valve housing to partition the inner tube into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber, and a second piston valve provided inside the valve housing, wherein the valve housing includes a magnet provided at an upper portion thereof and connected to the piston rod, and a plunger disposed between the magnet and the second piston valve at a lower portion thereof to selectively open and close the connection flow path by a magnetic field of the magnet, and wherein the fluid passes only through the first piston valve when the plunger closes the connection flow path, and the fluid passes through the first piston valve and the second piston valve when the plunger opens the connection flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Wonbeen Im