Patents Examined by Thomas Williams
  • Patent number: 7234575
    Abstract: A magnetorheological damper system comprising a reservoir in communication with a damper. The damper comprises a damper cylinder defining a damper chamber, wherein the damper chamber contains a magnetorheological fluid and a movable damper piston. The damper piston comprises at least two coil windings on the outer surface of the damper piston, wherein the damper piston is capable of generating a magnetic field between the damper piston and a wall of the damper cylinder. The reservoir comprises a reservoir cylinder defining a passageway, wherein the reservoir includes a magnetorheological electromagnet capable of generating a magnetic field between the magnetorheological piston and a wall of the passageway. The combination of the an MR reservoir and MR damper leads to a damping system capable of damping a wide range of extreme forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: MillenWorks
    Inventors: Eric N. Anderfaas, Dean Banks
  • Patent number: 7234785
    Abstract: A parking braking system for a vehicle uses an electronic braking system (EBS) as a primary source for generating a parking brake force via pneumatic brake actuators. Each pneumatic actuator actuates a piston that is adapted to rotate a pivoted lever, which moves to apply brake pads against a brake disc. The parking braking system includes a hand control that controls actuation of the pneumatic brake actuators. Vehicle brakes for non-parking braking purposes are controlled by electronic signals generated in response to a driver's foot-generated braking demand. An electronic controller is adapted to control a supply of pressurized air to the pneumatic brake actuators in accordance with the driver's braking demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor, Inc.
    Inventors: Denis John McCann, Andrew John Ward
  • Patent number: 7232192
    Abstract: A system for braking the wheels of a hydraulic hybrid vehicle includes a brake pedal having a range of pedal displacement including a deadband displacement range, an accumulator containing fluid at relatively high pressure, a reservoir containing fluid at lower pressure, a pump/motor having variable volumetric displacement connected to the accumulator and reservoir, and driveably connected to the wheels; a system responsive to brake pedal displacement in the deadband range for placing the pump/motor in a pump state wherein the pump/motor is driven by the wheels and pumps fluid from the reservoir to the accumulator; and a control valve for changing the volumetric displacement of the pump/motor in response to displacement of the brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chris Teslak, Cliff Carlson, Ron Kepner, Chuanchi Tang
  • Patent number: 7228947
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and tools for producing a braking band (2) of a disk-brake disk (1) by casting, in which the disk comprises at least two plates (3, 3?) connected to one another by connecting elements (4) forming an internal air-duct (7) for the cooling of the braking band (2). With the method and the tools, a disk is produced in which at least one of the plates (3, 3?) has, in its surface (8, 8?) defining the air-ducts (7), at least one groove (10, 10?) having a cross-section which becomes wider towards the air-duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Freni Brembo S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Meroni, Simone Ravasio, Leone Oberti
  • Patent number: 7226135
    Abstract: A pneumatic operating device for direct braking and an electropneumatic valve unit of an anti-slip device have their outlets connected to the braking actuators through an interlock valve device which can selectively allow the greater of the pressures received from the said devices to pass towards the braking actuators. The electrical operating device for the direct braking is also connected to an electrical interlock device associated with the electrical valve unit of the anti-slip device. When the electrical operating device for the direct braking is operated, the electrical interlock device disables the electrical anti-slip valve unit and makes this unit open with respect to the braking pressure sent towards the braking actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Faiveley Transport Piossasco S.p.A.
    Inventor: Dario Barberis
  • Patent number: 7226044
    Abstract: An air spring includes a flexible member, a roll-off piston and a cover plate. The piston includes a slot at its upper end for receiving the end of the flexible member applied with the aid of a clamp ring. The piston includes a flange for deflecting the flexible member. The outer diameter of the flange corresponds approximately to the outer diameter of the clamp ring and the roll-off diameter of the piston. The flexible member is tapered at its lower region to avoid an uncontrollable collapse in the pressureless state of the air spring or a sharp snap-in of the flexible member exiting from the attachment. The flexible member exits at approximately 90° in the radial direction from the attachment. The peripheral slot and the flange are so configured that, in the pressureless state, a clear diameter jump is present between clamping diameter and diameter of the remainder of the flexible member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Stöter, Sven Klement
  • Patent number: 7222701
    Abstract: A backing plate for a friction assembly includes a body having a first surface and a second surface and a thickness defined therebetween. One or more retention members are provided on the first surface for engaging a friction material mounted thereon. Each retention member has an extruded protrusion and an groove. The extruded protrusion has a generally constant width and a free curved distal end. The groove has a bottom wall having an inclined section and a flat section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Capital Tool & Design Limited
    Inventor: Nghi Pham
  • Patent number: 7216745
    Abstract: Disk brake friction element mounting system provides spaced mounting elements or guides for the friction elements, the spacing of the mounting elements permitting at least one friction element to be located in its working position by insertion edgewise through the space between the mounting elements without removing the brake discs or disc. The friction element is supported and guided by laterally extending shoulder having downwardly facing receptors for the mounting elements. In this way friction element insertion and removal for servicing purposes is greatly simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Stanford Baylis
  • Patent number: 7216747
    Abstract: A dual tube shock absorber includes a spool valve located between the upper working chamber and the reserve chamber. The spool valve moves with the piston rod to open and close a flow path between the upper working chamber and the reserve chamber. This provides a low damping characteristic for small movements of the piston rod which changes to a high damping characteristic for larger movement of the piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell Breese
  • Patent number: 7213802
    Abstract: In a coil spring of closed-end type, the coil spring is characterized in that a coupler is fixedly mounted between: an outer peripheral surface of a terminal convolution of a coil element rod; and, an outer peripheral surface of a subsequent convolution subsequent to the terminal convolution of the coil spring of closed-end type, whereby an amount of initial deflection is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignees: Neturen Co., Ltd., Tokyo Hatsujyo Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Soga, Yoshiaki Arai, Keisuke Yokota, Yasuhiro Saito
  • Patent number: 7213891
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for providing protection against untimely braking, the device being specially adapted to an electromechanical brake including at least one actuator having a pusher suitable for being displaced by means of an electric motor controlled by a control module so as to press in controlled manner against a stack of disks, in which the device comprises a safety member suitable for being placed in a first state in which it prevents the pusher from being displaced by the electric motor, and a second state in which it leaves the pusher free to be displaced by the electric motor, the safety member being controlled by a control logic circuit which by default places the safety member in the first state and places the safety member in the second state only in response to the simultaneous presence of an order coming from the control module and a confirmation signal that does not come from the control module and that is independent thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Messier Bugatti
    Inventor: Jérômė Sibre
  • Patent number: 7213687
    Abstract: A vehicle emergency brake system has a second brake for braking a vehicle by increasing the frictional resistance with the road surface, a millimeter wave radar for detecting any obstacle in an advancing direction, a pedal speed sensor for detecting the step-in speed of a brake pedal for actuating a first brake, and a controller for actuating the second brake. If hard braking by the first brake is detected by the pedal speed sensor, the controller determines whether the vehicle is going to crash into an obstacle detected by the radar. If a determination is made that it will collide, the second brake is actuated. Thus, it is possible to reliably actuate the second brake in an emergency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Moriharu Sakai, Takashi Watanabe, Shoichi Masaki
  • Patent number: 7207552
    Abstract: A hydraulic damping mount, particularly to mount an automotive engine, is formed with a support spring. The support spring is produced from an elastically deformable material and supports a mount core connected to a supporting arm. The mount is provided with a working chamber, defined by the support spring and which may be filled with a hydraulic fluid. A compensation chamber is connected to the working chamber by an overflow channel. The supporting arm is detachably connected to the mount core. The mount is characterized by a relatively simple and economic embodiment as the overflow channel is integrated in the supporting arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Trelleborg Automotive Technical Centre GmbH
    Inventor: Laurent Bregeault
  • Patent number: 7204478
    Abstract: A height control valve for use in a vehicle suspension system for controlling the ride height of the trailer, the height control valve provided with a universal mounting for allowing greater flexibility in the mounting of the height control valve to a vehicle frame, the height control valve also having a position indicator to aide an installer in aligning a valve element contained within the valve according to a selected mounting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Haldex Brake Corporation
    Inventor: Victor A. Plath
  • Patent number: 7204352
    Abstract: A brake device includes a brake disk fixed to a power transmission shaft, and a brake caliper for braking the brake disk by a nipping action. The brake caliper includes a caliper bracket fitted to a final gear case, and a caliper body detachably fitted to the caliper bracket, wherein the caliper body is fitted to the caliper bracket by a pair of fixing bolts. The screw-fitting directions of the individual bolts of the pair of fixing bolts are opposite to each other. The aforementioned brake device for a vehicle permits maintenance work to be quickly and easily carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Bunzo Seki
  • Patent number: 7204354
    Abstract: In a rotary damper, an outer lid is attached to an outer side surface of a casing. A first oil passage and a second oil passage are in respective communication. A first oil chamber and a second oil chamber are provided in parallel between the outer side surface of the casing and the inner side surface of the outer lid. A first check valve is provided in the first oil passage, a second check valve is provided in the second oil passage, and an orifice plate is movably provided so as to face both the first oil passage and the second oil passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Tomonaga
  • Patent number: 7204351
    Abstract: The invention relates to a brake gear for a disc brake serving to transfer a force to a brake pad that acts upon a brake disc. The brake gear is accommodated in a brake caliper of the disc brake and comprises both a pressing element, which interacts with the brake caliper, as well as a rod. The pressing element is mounted in the housing of the brake caliper with the aid of the rod in such a manner that it is parallel to the rotation axis of the brake disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Haldex Brake Products AB
    Inventor: Stefan Sandberg
  • Patent number: 7201257
    Abstract: A disk brake device has a rotary brake disk, at least one pad, and a mount. The pad has a guide portion disposed on one end of the pad in the rotational direction of the brake disk. The mount has a support portion that slidably supports the guide portion, so that the pad can move in the axial direction of the brake. A radially outer pressure receiving surface and a radially inner pressure receiving surface are formed on an end of the pad in the rotational direction of the brake disk and serve to receive a reaction force from the mount in order to prevent the pad from moving in the rotational direction of the brake disk. A support member serves to bias the pad in an axial and rotational direction so as to reduce the production of audible sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Nakajima, Yoshiki Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 7201456
    Abstract: A pneumatic brake booster for a motor vehicle, comprising a piston (22) mounted between a control rod (24) actuated by a brake pedal and a push rod (34) actuating a piston of a brake master cylinder. Structure for increasing brake boosting during an emergency braking, comprising a cylindrical sleeve (46) mounted in an axially sliding and sealed manner inside the piston (22). The sleeve being retained in the rest position by locking arrangement (58) and released to push away the shutter (56) of a three-way valve and increase the supply of atmospheric air to the booster when the control rod (24) is moved at a speed that is greater than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Juan Simon Bacardit, Bruno Berthomieu, Fernando Sacristan
  • Patent number: 7198336
    Abstract: A vehicular brake control apparatus includes a braked member that rotates together with a wheel, a braking member, an electric driving device that presses the braking member against the braked member to apply a braking torque to the wheel, when being supplied with electric current, an operational state detector that detects an operational state of the vehicle and provides a quantity of state representative of the operational state of the vehicle, a braking torque change request determiner that selectively determines that the braking torque is to be increased and that the braking torque is to be reduced, based on the quantity of state, and a current controller that controls supply of electrical current to the electric driving device so that the electric driving device is caused to drive in a predetermined direction if it is determined that the braking torque is to be increased, and so that the electric driving device does not drive in the predetermined direction if it is determined that the braking torque is t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Yamamoto, Naoki Sawada