Patents Examined by Vishal R Sahni
  • Patent number: 10710569
    Abstract: A method for bleeding at least one part of a hydraulic brake system of a vehicle, wherein the brake system includes a brake circuit whose pressure can be selectively increased by a pump. The increased pressure is applied by the pump to the part of the brake system to be bled for a specified period of time without opening bleed valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kim Stephen Jones, Clive John Barton, Ludwig Fein
  • Patent number: 10704639
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for attaining maximum unidirectional response to vibration damping of a printed circuit board (PCB) or other planar surface utilizing a defined travel displacement of a single tungsten (or other material) cylindrical rod in a single or plurality of sealed cylindrical chambers in a particle impact damper (PID). The single tungsten (or other material) cylindrical rod is not weighed down, constrained, encumbered within the chamber; accordingly, providing unrestricted freedom for the cylinder to quickly respond in a unidirectional direction at the first occurrence of excessive vibrational acceleration over 1G. The structure of a single cylindrical particle within a sealed cylindrical chamber also provides a path of minimum distance for the cylinder to travel before colliding with the ceiling or floor of the PID chamber. A plurality of cylindrical chambers can be arranged in a variety of patterns within the PID housing such as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: TopLine Corporation
    Inventor: Martin B. Hart
  • Patent number: 10696285
    Abstract: This electric braking device for a vehicle imparts to the wheels of the vehicle a braking torque in accordance with the output of an electric motor. A vehicle body-side electronic control unit calculates a command value for the output of the electric motor on the basis of the amount of operation performed on a braking operation member. A wheel-side electronic control unit adjusts the output of the electric motor on the basis of the command value. The vehicle body-side electronic control unit calculates the vehicle body speed on the basis of the wheel speed. The wheel-side electronic control unit adjusts the output of the electric motor so as to prevent an increase in slippage of the wheels on the basis of the vehicle body speed and the wheel speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignees: ADVICS CO., LTD, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yasui, Naoki Yabusaki
  • Patent number: 10696281
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an electric brake system and an operating method thereof. The electric bake system includes a master cylinder discharging pressure medium according to a displacement of a brake pedal, a simulator providing a sense of pedal to a driver, a hydraulic supplier generating hydraulic pressure by operating a hydraulic piston in response to an electrical signal output by corresponding to the displacement of the brake pedal, and a hydraulic control unit controlling hydraulic pressure of the pressure medium supplied to each wheel cylinder. The electric brake system performs a normal operation mode having a low pressure mode and a high pressure mode, an abnormal operation mode and an inspection mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hyojin Jeong, Seong Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 10690211
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a cylinder and a piston dividing the cylinder in first and second cylinder chambers. The piston includes a first main channel and a first main non-return valve allowing a first main fluid flow from the second to the first chamber; and a second main channel and a second main non-return valve allowing a second main fluid flow from the first to the second chamber. The piston includes a connecting member; a first central member received into the connecting member such that the parts of the first main channel in the connecting member and the first central member are in line; and a second central member including another part of the second main channel and received into the connecting member such that the parts of the second main channel in the connecting member and the second central member are in line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: KONI B.V.
    Inventor: Paul De Kock
  • Patent number: 10690216
    Abstract: A control arrangement for a frequency-dependent damping valve having a control pot and an axaially displaceable control piston that axially limits a control space in the control pot and is connected to the damping valve device via an inlet connection. A spring element is arranged between the control piston and the damping valve that introduces a spring force axially into the control piston and the damping valve. When the control piston displaces towards the damping valve and the spring element increases the pressing pressure of the valve disks to increase the damping force. An axial position of a stop in the control arrangement is adjusted by plastic deformation of the pot base. A deformation portion produced by the plastic deformation and a depression partially receives the guide bush. A cross section of the depression corresponds to an outer cross section of the guide bush received in the depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Andreas Förster
  • Patent number: 10670094
    Abstract: A brake lining includes friction structures, back boards fastened to respective the friction structures, a base plate supporting the friction structures. Each of the friction structures includes two adjacent friction portions with a groove formed in the front surface in between, and a thin portion with a smaller thickness than thicknesses of the friction portions, the thin portion located in a position corresponding to the groove. Each of the friction structures is supported by the base plate on two support points located in the two friction portions respectively. The thin portion has a constant length, the length being equal to a maximum width of the friction portions and satisfying a condition that L/D is equal to or greater than 1.1, where D denotes the length of the thin portion and L denotes a distance between the two support points located in the friction portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignees: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION, CENTRAL JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY
    Inventors: Takahiro Fujimoto, Atsushi Sakaguchi, Naruo Miyabe, Tomohiro Otsuka, Seiji Kanamori, Jun Asano
  • Patent number: 10654457
    Abstract: An electric brake system and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The electric brake system includes a hydraulic control device, a sensing unit, and a controller. The hydraulic control device generates hydraulic pressure using a piston operated by an electric signal generated in response to a displacement of a brake pedal. The sensing unit detects driver's braking intention. When an electronic stability control (ESC) of a vehicle operates, the controller calculates a change amount of stroke of the piston needed to output brake pressure corresponding to the driver's braking intention, and acquires the calculated stroke change amount so as to boost pressure of each wheel at a predetermined slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Young-Jae Kim
  • Patent number: 10648522
    Abstract: A brake caliper housing includes a first end wall, a second end wall, and a transverse wall that extends from the first end wall to the second end wall. The brake caliper housing includes a first bearing protrusion that extends from the first end wall and the transverse wall, and that defines a first lateral bearing surface and a first arcuate bearing surface that extends from the first lateral bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Philpott, Soumar Jabbour, Geoffrey Hooper
  • Patent number: 10640160
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to vehicle and machinery in agriculture, construction, forestry, mining and powersport. It further generally relates to track systems and traction assemblies used with such vehicles. The track system comprises a drive wheel and a plurality of idler wheels mounted on a support frame. At least one of the plurality of wheels is operatively mounted on the support frame via a damping system adapted to provide a damping value dynamically varying as a function of the load applied. Track systems do not benefit from the damping provided by the layer of air within the tires. The disclosed damping system has the objective to overcome one this drawback by providing a smooth ride for tracked vehicles. The damping system comprises a cylinder fluidly connected to a reservoir. Damping ratio is varied by varying a flow circulating area between the cylinder and the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: SOUCY INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Yves Sauvageau, Jonathan Pellerin
  • Patent number: 10618369
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a shock absorber for a vehicle having a gas spring with first and second gas chambers, wherein the first chamber is utilized during a first travel portion of the shock absorber and the first and second chambers are both utilized during a second portion of travel. In one embodiment, a travel adjustment assembly is configured to selectively communicate a first gas chamber with a negative gas chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Laird, Sante M. Pelot, William M. Becker, Dennis K. Wootten
  • Patent number: 10619694
    Abstract: A shock absorber including: a first passage (101) allowing working fluid to flow out from one chamber (19) as a result of movement of a piston (18); a second passage (181) provided in parallel with the first passage; a damping force generating mechanism (41) provided in the first passage, and configured to generate a damping force; a tubular case member (140) including at least a part of the second passage formed therein; an annular disc (134) supported on an inner peripheral side or an outer peripheral side in the case member. An annular seal member (156) configured to seal a gap to the case member is provided on a non-supported side of the annular disc. The shock absorber further includes two chambers (171, 172) in the case member, which are defined and provided by the disc. The disc is configured to block flow to the second passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Mikio Yamashita
  • Patent number: 10612618
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension damper for providing a variable damping rate. The vehicle suspension damper comprises a first damping mechanism having a variable first threshold pressure, a second damping mechanism having a second threshold pressure, and a compressible chamber in communication with a damping fluid chamber, wherein the second damping mechanism is responsive to a compression of said compressible chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Benjamin Yablon, Dennis K. Wootten, Robert C. Fox, David M. Haugen, Sante Pelot
  • Patent number: 10605316
    Abstract: A braking system for safely collecting brake dust produced by operation of a braking mechanism. The braking system comprises a collector apparatus coupled with a braking mechanism. The collector apparatus is able to include a shroud that surrounds the braking mechanism and a catch element coupled with the shroud for collecting brake dust exiting the shroud. As a result, when coupled with the braking mechanism, the collector apparatus is able to ensure that most or all brake dust, such as copper or other particles from the braking mechanism that break off from the breaking mechanism during operation of the braking mechanism, are removed from the braking mechanism and collected by the filter/catch of the collector mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Inventors: Peter C. Kunzler, Gary R. McLuen, Daniel R. Baker
  • Patent number: 10604127
    Abstract: A brake system comprises a cylinder-piston unit movable by an electromechanical actuator. Wheel brakes associated with at least one axle can be supplied with braking pressure via the hydraulic pressure chamber. The electromechanical actuator comprises a rotation-translation transmission and an electronically commutated synchronous machine having a stator with at least two phase windings, a rotor comprising at least one permanent magnet and at least one rotor position sensor. A torque-forming current and/or a magnetic field attenuating current are adjusted in a co-ordinate system which is fixed relative to the rotor. Voltages in the co-ordinate system are detected to serve as control variables and are transformed into a voltage phasor, which indicates for each phase winding of the stator, a voltage to be applied, and a set value for the magnetic field attenuating current is limited to a maximum value being determined from a predetermined characteristic map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Tom Kaufmann, Peter Stauder
  • Patent number: 10589728
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling wheel brakes on a trailer in a tractor-trailer are provided. Upon receiving a command to apply a trailer wheel brake, the system determines a speed of the tractor-trailer responsive to a speed signal generated by a vehicle speed sensor. The system also estimates a threshold speed based on a level of friction between the tractor-trailer and a road surface on which the tractor-trailer is travelling. The system then generates a control signal to control delivery of fluid pressure to the trailer wheel brake. The control signal causes delivery of a first fluid pressure to the trailer wheel brake when the speed meets a predetermined condition relative to the threshold speed and a second fluid pressure, less than the first fluid pressure, when the speed does not meet the predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Thomas S. Miller, Jr., Jeffrey M. Carbaugh
  • Patent number: 10569753
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake device includes (a) a master fluid passage for supplying a working fluid from a master cylinder to a wheel brake, (b) a master shut-off valve provided in the master fluid passage, (c) a return fluid passage, (d) a return passage opening valve provided in the return fluid passage, (e) an electromagnetic control valve provided in the return fluid passage and configured to control a flow of the working fluid or to allow a flow of the working fluid without controlling, and (f) a stroke simulator having first and second fluid chambers defined by a partition member, the first fluid chamber being connected to the master fluid passage between the master shut-off valve and the master cylinder, the second fluid chamber being connected to the return fluid passage on one on opposite sides of the return passage opening valve that is nearer to the wheel brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10557516
    Abstract: A module for a braking system includes a movable housing configured to transfer a braking force from an input shaft to an output shaft, a first movable member slidably received within the housing and connected to the output shaft, a second movable member slidably received within the housing, a first resilient member biased between the first movable member and the second movable member, such that a force applied to the second movable member is applied to the first movable member via the first resilient member, and a second resilient member biased between the second movable member and the housing, such that a force applied to the housing is applied to the second movable member via the second resilient member. The first resilient member yields or compresses upon application of a first braking force to the input shaft, and the second resilient member yields or compresses after the first resilient member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: RATIER-FIGEAC SAS
    Inventor: Bertrand Prouzet
  • Patent number: 10550909
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for regulating the function of a suspension system are disclosed herein. Suspension characteristics often contribute to the efficiency of a suspended system. Depending on the desired operating parameters of the suspended system, it may be desirable to alter the functional characteristics of the suspension from time to time in order to maintain or increase efficiency. The suspension hereof may be selectively locked into a substantially rigid configuration, and the damping fluid may be phase separated and/or cooled to increase damping rate during use (or offset rate degradation). The suspension hereof may generate power usable to achieve any or all of the foregoing or to be stored for use elsewhere in the suspended system or beyond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: David M. Haugen
  • Patent number: 10549594
    Abstract: A leaf spring device includes a main leaf made of a steel plate including an elastic section configured to generate elastic force when bent; and an eye section formed in an end portion of the elastic section, the elastic section and the eye section being tempered. There is also provided a method for manufacturing the leaf spring device. The eye section is formed by rolling the end of the elastic section into a circular form. The eye section is tempered at a higher temperature than the elastic section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidenori Chihara, Hiroto Tsuji, Shinichiro Kuwatsuka