Patents Examined by Vishal R Sahni
  • Patent number: 10300756
    Abstract: To provide a suspension coil spring capable of reducing a bowing amount and friction generated in a shock absorber, under a compressed state. A suspension coil spring (10) that is mounted between an upper seat (22) and a lower seat (24) in a strut suspension (12) for an automobile, includes an upper end turn (32) that sits on the upper seat (22); a spring active portion (11) that includes one or more coils each of which is formed such that a portion whose curvature is the largest is positioned at an automobile outer side under a mounted state; and a lower end turn (34) that sits on the lower seat (24) while substantially contacting the lower seat (24) at a single lower contacting point (P3) that is positioned at the automobile outer side with respect to a center point of the lower end turn (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI STEEL MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hironobu Sayama
  • Patent number: 10288132
    Abstract: An add-on brake system includes a housing accommodating a linear actuator including: an electric motor having a rotor and a stator; a nut arrangement coupled to the rotor; a linear threaded plunger associated having a first end linearly protruding from one end of the arrangement and a second end linearly protruding from an opposite end thereof; an inboard brake pad coupled to the housing; and an outboard brake pad associated with the second end, oriented transverse to the plunger. The plunger has an initial unclamped position in which the second end protrudes to an extent n1 from the other end of the arrangement, yielding a spacing S1 between the inboard and outboard brake pads, and a final clamped position in which the second end protrudes to an extent n2>n1 from the other end of the arrangement, yielding a spacing S2<S1 between the pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: David Elnekave, Yehuda Markus, Zeev Dvorkin, Eran Levy, Michael Barkan
  • Patent number: 10279641
    Abstract: A regenerative shock absorber that include a housing and a piston that moves at least partially through the housing when the shock is compressed or extended from a rest position. When the piston moves, hydraulic fluid is pressurized and drives a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor, in turn, drives an electric generator that produced electric energy. The electric energy may be provided to a vehicle, among other things. The regenerative shock absorber may also provide ride performance that comparable to or exceeds that of conventional shock absorbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Zackary Martin Anderson, Zachary J. Jackowski, Ryan Bavetta
  • Patent number: 10274037
    Abstract: Included are an outer attachment member 12, which is coupled to one of a vibration generator 16 and a vibration receiver, an inner attachment member 11, which is coupled to the other one of the vibration generator 16 and the vibration receiver, and an elastic body 13, which is positioned on the outer side of the inner attachment member 11 to couple the outer attachment member 12 and the inner attachment member 11. The outer attachment member 12 is disposed in at least one pair on the outer side of the elastic body 13, with the inner attachment member 11 being interposed between the at least one pair of outer attachment members 12. Each of the at least one pair of outer attachment members 12 includes an attachment surface 14, which is attached to the one of the vibration generator 16 and the vibration receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuaki Sato, Masayoshi Kawada
  • Patent number: 10274034
    Abstract: A friction disk may comprise a friction disk core and a wear liner coupled to the friction disk core. A depression may be formed in a surface of the friction disk core. The wear liner may comprise a protrusion extending from a non-wear surface of the wear liner. The protrusion may be positioned within the depression of the friction disk core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Fiala, Gary C. Riebe, Matthew R. O'Neil
  • Patent number: 10266227
    Abstract: An operating member is movably coupled to a base member. A hydraulic unit comprises a cylinder bore and a piston movably provided in the cylinder bore. The piston is coupled to the operating member to generate a hydraulic pressure in response to a movement of the operating member relative to the base member. A reservoir tank comprises a lid opening having a maximum width and a reservoir bore extending from the lid opening and having a maximum depth. The maximum depth is larger than the maximum width. The reservoir bore is connected to the cylinder bore and disposed above the cylinder bore in a mounting state where the bicycle operating device is mounted to the bicycle body. At least one of the cylinder bore and the reservoir tank is integrally provided with the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Komada
  • Patent number: 10259435
    Abstract: Systems and methods for aircraft braking are disclosed. The systems and methods may comprise a control mode executive configured to receive a pedal input and calculate a gear deceleration command comprising a desired deceleration rate based on the pedal input; a pedal deceleration controller in electronic communication with the control mode executive configured to receive the gear deceleration command from the control mode executive and calculate a gear pedal command based on at least one of the gear deceleration command and a deceleration feedback; and a pedal executive in electronic communication with the pedal deceleration controller configured to receive the gear pedal command, and generate a pedal braking command based on the gear pedal command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Marc Georgin
  • Patent number: 10259571
    Abstract: An electrically controlled park and emergency brake system is disclosed. The brake system may comprise a brake control module having a shut-off valve in fluid communication with an outboard servo-valve and an inboard servo-valve. An emergency/park power source may supply fluid to the shut-off valve. The brake system may also comprise a vehicle management system in electronic communication with the brake control module. The brake system may also comprise mechanical inputs, including a wheel well brake handle and a cockpit brake handle. The brake system may also comprise redundant emergency/park power sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Daniel Cahill, Paul R. Burte, Casey Canan, Efrem E. Ayichew, David B. Stein
  • Patent number: 10260582
    Abstract: A method for maintaining a brake system in a vehicle with a hydraulic vehicle brake and an electromechanical brake device with an electric brake motor includes preparing the brake system for maintenance operations by actuating the electric brake motor to displace a transmission member into a retracted position that is remote from a brake starting position in which a brake lining is located adjacent to a brake disk of the wheel brake device. The method further includes actuating the electric brake motor to displace the transmission member in the direction of the brake starting position after completion of the maintenance operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Blattert, Edith Mannherz, Frank Baehrle-Miller, Helmut Wolff
  • Patent number: 10260580
    Abstract: An apparatus for a vehicle is provided that includes and axle and an articulating brake component mounting plate carried by the axle. The articulating brake component mounting plate has an inner portion and an outer portion, and the position of the outer portion is adjustable with respect to the inner portion. Either the inner portion or the outer portion defines an adjustment nut aperture. An adjustment nut is located in the adjustment nut aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin
    Inventor: Zachary Alexander Merrill
  • Patent number: 10260590
    Abstract: Support and carrier assemblies are dimensioned for securement along a damper housing and dimensioned to operatively support an end member of a gas spring assembly on the damper housing as well as to form a substantially fluid-tight connected between the end member and the damper housing. The support and seal assembly can include a seal assembly with a seal carrier and at least one sealing element. The seal carrier can be dimensioned for securement along the damper housing. The at least one sealing element can be dimensioned sealingly engage the seal carrier and one of the end member and the damper housing to at least partially form the substantially fluid-tight connection therebetween. End member assemblies including such support and carrier assemblies are included. Gas spring and damper assemblies as well as suspension systems are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventors: Brian S. DeBruler, Brad W. Munchel
  • Patent number: 10259439
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric parking brake for a motor vehicle including a brake actuator having an electric motor disposed directly on the brake caliper. When the parking brake is utilized as an additional service brake, depending on a brake pedal brake command, the electric motor is initially energized on detection of an imminent or commencing brake-pedal actuation however the electric motor generates no braking force until a predetermined or specific brake command is received. As a result, an overload of the vehicle voltage source is avoided if simultaneous utilization of multiple parking-brake actuators occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marc Suermann, Jill Trappe, Rudolf Daniels, Thomas Svensson
  • Patent number: 10253836
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to three dimensional weaves composed of wires or yarns that offer the potential for damping not achievable with solid materials, including high temperature damping. Three damping mechanisms have been identified: (1) Internal material damping, (2) Frictional energy dissipation (Coulomb damping), and (3) inertial damping (tuned mass damping). These three damping mechanisms can be optimized by modifying the wire material chemistries (metals, ceramics, polymers, etc.), wire sizes, wire shapes, wire coatings, wire bonding, and wire architecture (by removing certain wires). These have the effect of modifying the lattice and wire stiffnesses, masses, coefficients of friction, and internal material damping. Different materials can be used at different locations in the woven lattice. These design variables can also be modified to tailor mechanical stiffness and strength of the lattice, in addition to damping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: James K. Guest, Kevin J. Hemker, Timothy P. Weihs, Stephen M. Ryan, Stefan Szyniszewski
  • Patent number: 10253835
    Abstract: A brake caliper is provided with a timing and retraction controller, a brake pad and a lock-connection comprising an engaging component and a locking component. The timing and retraction controller adjusts brake timing, eliminates parasitic brake losses and dampens out-of-plane vibration between the brake pad and rotor. The brake caliper includes a housing disposed over a brake rotor; first and second opposing brake pads extendably and retractably mounted on opposite sides of the caliper housing, brake pistons that extend and retract the brake pads into and out of frictional engagement with the rotor, and brake pad timing and retraction controllers disposed on opposite sides of the caliper housing. Each controller includes a Belleville spring or other resilient member with a short compression travel limited to between about 1.50 mm and 0.025 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: PERFORMANCE FRICTION CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mark Wagner
  • Patent number: 10240649
    Abstract: A caliper for disc brake comprising a caliper body housing at least one pair of pads disposed on opposite sides along an axial direction and comprising at least one thrust piston which interfaces with the pad so as to press it against the associable brake disc, and at least one return spring that exerts a return thrust on the support plate of the pad. The return spring comprises a fixing portion to the caliper body that extends from axially opposite sides in separate thrust branches, each thrust branch interfacing with a support plate of a related pad. Each thrust branch comprises a first rectilinear portion that extends towards the corresponding pad, a curved portion, integral with the first rectilinear portion and folded in approach to the fixing portion, a second rectilinear portion that extends from the curved portion in approach to the fixing portion. The second rectilinear portion terminates with a free cantilevered end and interfaces with an edge of the support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Freni Brembo S.p.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Teruzzi, Fabio Scotti
  • Patent number: 10240650
    Abstract: A parking brake reduced in size and simplified is installed on a rod-protruding side of a cylinder of a caliper braking device. A second piston is provided within the second cylinder that is coaxially coupled with the cylinder and movable coaxially relative to the rod. A one-way clutch is provided to switch ON/OFF due to a releasing/pressing by the second piston with respect to a switch disposed facing a cylinder side surface of the second piston. A parking operation auxiliary spring is provided on the side of the cylinder within a second cylinder, and a manual release piston is provided in a space of the second cylinder. A parking release lever pushes a manual release rod at the tip end of the manual release piston, pushing the second piston in the direction of retraction of the rod, at the same time as the manual release rod pushes into the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: NIPPON STEEL & SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryouichi Kimura, Kazuaki Fujita
  • Patent number: 10233986
    Abstract: A motor vehicle brake, in particular a combined hydraulically and electromechanically actuatable motor vehicle brake, with an actuator assembly comprising: a housing, an actuator which can be moved relative to the housing for hydraulically or electromechanically moving a brake lining, a motor drive, a movement mechanism which is arranged between the motor drive and the movable actuator, a gear arrangement which is paired with the movement mechanism, and a separate self-locking device which is designed to block the movement mechanism when necessary, wherein the movement mechanism has a ball screw drive with a rotatable spindle and a nut which can be moved in the housing in a linear manner. The nut can be moved within the housing in order to move the actuator by rotating the spindle, and the gear arrangement has at least two gear stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Gregor Poertzgen, Steve Scherer, Christian Dilla, Erwin Michels, Benedikt Ohlig
  • Patent number: 10233994
    Abstract: A damper device includes a cylinder, a piston, a seal ring member, and a transmitting portion. The piston includes an annular outer circumferential portion, a first stopper portion, a second stopper portion, and a projecting portion. The projecting portion has an inclined surface which is inclined radially outwards form a side of the second stopper portion towards a side of the first stopper portion. The seal ring member is configured to allow a first chamber to communicate with a second chamber when a portion of the seal ring member which is not restricted by the first stopper portion is deformed in a direction away from the second stopper portion due to friction caused between the seal ring member and the cylinder or a fluid pressure from the second chamber to ride on the inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 10228039
    Abstract: An air bleed system for a suspension fork or shock absorber includes: a fluid passage between an interior of the suspension and an exterior of the suspension; and a manually operable valve having a first position substantially closing the fluid passage and a second position allowing fluid flow between the interior and the exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: William M. Becker
  • Patent number: 10221914
    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: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Benjamin Yablon, Dennis K. Wootten, Robert C. Fox, David M. Haugen, Sante Pelot