Patents Examined by Xuan Lan Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10093293
    Abstract: A brake pressure modulator (1) of an electronic braking system of a utility vehicle includes pressure control circuits (13, 14) respectively associated with a braking circuit of a vehicle axle, each pressure control circuit (13, 14) comprises a compressed air supply system (4, 5), at least one redundancy control pressure path (21), at least one ventilation path (19, 19a) and a common electronic control unit (2). Said pressure control circuits (13, 14) can be controlled independently from each other by the electronic control unit (2). Each pressure control circuit (13, 14) has an independent ventilation path (19, 19a) and at least one of the pressure control circuits (13, 14) has an independent redundancy control pressure path (21) and at least one other of the pressure control circuits (13, 14) comprises a device (16a) for forced venting in the event of a failure by means of the associated ventilation path (19a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Ralph-Carsten Lülfing, Robert Otremba, Stefan Rehling, Hartmut Schappler
  • Patent number: 10088007
    Abstract: In a joint structure for joining an insertion shaft that is driven to rotate to a reception side shaft having an insertion groove into which the insertion shaft is inserted so that a rotation of the insertion shaft is transmitted to the reception side shaft, a plurality of pairs of opposing side face portions are formed on an outer periphery of the insertion shaft, the insertion groove includes an axial hole that is formed to open onto an end surface of the reception side shaft and coincides with a pair of first side face portions of the side face portions, and a radial hole that is formed to penetrate the reception side shaft in a radial direction and coincides with a pair of second side face portions of the side face portions, and the axial hole and the radial hole are formed such that respective parts thereof intersect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventors: Takahisa Mochizuki, Yuuki Amano
  • Patent number: 10059317
    Abstract: A pressure control valve arrangement for controlling fluid pressure in a brake system of a vehicle includes two diaphragm valves and two electromagnetic control valves, activatable by an electronic control device, for the pilot control of the diaphragm valves. The two electromagnetic control valves have a double magnet with two magnet coils and magnet armatures and are actuatable by current being applied to the magnet coils. The housing has at least one pressure medium connection, connected to a service brake valve, for acting with pressure upon and/or relieving the pressure of the pressure control valve arrangement and at least one connection for connecting to a brake cylinder. A plane of symmetry of the mid-axes of the magnet coils of the double magnet is arranged in parallel and offset by the amount of an eccentricity, with respect to a mid-axis of the pressure medium connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Jan Grebe, Dirk Brenner, Jochen Weippert, Wolfgang Rohn, Harald Jaehns
  • Patent number: 10054180
    Abstract: An axially damping elastomer bearing suitable for a motor vehicle, with a crucible-formed receptacle (13) for surrounding receiving an elastomeric support spring (15). The crucible-formed receptacle (13) is manufactured through casting and can be demolded in a demolding direction (39) and has a peripheral wall (19) with at least one drainage opening (33), wherein the at least one drainage opening (33) has a clearance (43, 45, 65) extending in the demolding direction (39).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignees: BOGE ELASTMETALL GMBH, VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Joerg Scharf, Jens Pape
  • Patent number: 10046747
    Abstract: Braking systems and methods having above atmospheric pressure applied to the working hydraulic fluid of the braking system. In certain preferred arrangements, the braking system includes at least one source of pressure, which pressurizes a fluid. The pressurized fluid acts on respective pressure surfaces of the master plunger(s) and the slave piston(s) that are opposite the active or working surfaces of the master plunger(s) and the slave piston(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: RG3 INPROP, LLC
    Inventor: Robert W. Henricksen
  • Patent number: 10030733
    Abstract: A honeycomb structure having high levels of recoverable energy absorption is provided. The honeycomb structure achieves high levels of recoverable energy absorption by incorporating cells that exhibit negative stiffness. In one embodiment, the cells exhibit negative stiffness via curved beam members configured to snap through to a second position upon experiencing a sufficient force. The cells may also be configured to snap back to their original position when the force is removed. Therefore, the honeycomb structure may be capable of repeatedly achieving a high level of recoverable energy absorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Carolyn Conner Seepersad, Michael Haberman, Timothy Klatt, Dixon Correa
  • Patent number: 10017168
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the brake system, the connection of the master cylinder and the slave cylinder to the wheel brakes can be switched by the first switching valve and the second switching valve, and the communication with the slave cylinder can be cut off by the first cutoff valve and the second cutoff valve. This enables the fluid pressures which are applied to the wheel brakes to be put in the various states without having a complex configuration, thereby making it possible to control the fluid pressures with good efficiency in such a way as to match suitably the conditions of the brake system and the conditions of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: AUTOLIV NISSIN BRAKE SYSTEMS JAPAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi Aoki, Hiroaki Tokoi, Nobuyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10018241
    Abstract: Provided is a vibration isolator (10) including a partition member (15) configured to partition a liquid chamber of a first attachment member (11) into a main liquid chamber (16a) disposed at one side in an axial direction and a subsidiary liquid chamber (16b) disposed at the other side in the axial direction, and a movable plate (18) displaced according to a pressure difference between the main liquid chamber (16a) and the subsidiary liquid chamber (16b), wherein an accommodating chamber (29) configured to accommodate the movable plate (18), a first communication hole (23) configured to bring the accommodating chamber (29) in communication with the main liquid chamber (16a), and a second communication hole (24) configured to bring the accommodating chamber (29) in communication with the subsidiary liquid chamber (16b) are formed in the partition member (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuya Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 10011257
    Abstract: A parking brake for a body mounted brake cylinder having either a single locking mechanism cooperates with a threaded shaft that is centrally mounted within the brake cylinder or with multiple locking mechanisms that are positioned symmetrically about the centerline of the brake cylinder push rod so that the push or piston rod can still accommodate arcuate motion of the level of the braking system. The locking mechanism may be controlled by a mechanical linkage or through a pneumatic circuit. Activation of the locking mechanisms prevents axial movement of the brake piston. As a result, engagement of the locking mechanism may be used to prevent a release of the brakes after then have been applied to provide an automatic parking brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: New York Air Brake, LLC
    Inventors: Howard Huber, Jr., Robert Neulieb
  • Patent number: 10011319
    Abstract: A bicycle brake assisting apparatus may comprise a main body, a traction apparatus, two control cable members, a rear brake tube, and a front brake tube, and the traction apparatus further comprises an operating block and a rotating piece which are pivotally connected with each other. The bicycle brake assisting apparatus of the present invention is configured to achieve the effect of stopping the rear wheel of the bicycle first and concurrently stopping the rear wheel and the front wheel of the bicycle thereafter regardless of pulling a left brake lever, a right brake lever, or both of the brake levers of a bicycle, thus increasing safety of use for a cyclist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Inventor: Dong-Her Wu
  • Patent number: 9994282
    Abstract: A bicycle hydraulic operating system is basically provided with first and second actuating devices and a hydraulic operated device. The first actuating device includes a first operating member, a first master cylinder and a first master piston. The first master piston moves in the first master cylinder in response to operation of the first operating member. The second actuating device includes a second operating member, a second master cylinder and a second master piston. The second master piston moves in the second master cylinder in response to operation of the second operating member. The hydraulic operated device includes a slave cylinder and a slave piston that is movably arranged in the slave cylinder. The slave cylinder has a slave fluid port that is connected to first and second fluid ports of the first and second master cylinders. Operation of either of the first and second operating members moves the slave piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Osamu Kariyama, Takahiro Yamashita, Masahiro Nakakura
  • Patent number: 9982732
    Abstract: A method of making a vehicle brake rotor is provided, including manufacturing a friction ring with an opening, an annular flange projecting axially relative to a face of the friction ring, and a plurality of spaced lugs projecting radially from the flange. A hub is manufactured with a plurality of recesses integrally upon the friction ring. Next, the hub is manufactured or machined so that outermost ends of the lugs are visible from an exterior of the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: GRI ENGINEERING & DEVELOPMENT, LLC
    Inventors: Mingxu Zhou, Edgar Calago
  • Patent number: 9969231
    Abstract: A damper assembly includes a housing. A method of forming a damper assembly includes extruding the housing formed of aluminum. The housing defines a first chamber and a first passage spaced from each other, with a first inlet fluidly connecting the first chamber and the first passage. A piston is disposed in the first chamber and is movable in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. A first restrictor valve is disposed in the first passage. The first restrictor valve is configured to restrict a flow of liquid into the first passage from the first chamber and the first inlet as the piston moves in one of the first and second directions which causes the liquid in the first chamber to increase a pressure applied to a first side of the piston to dampen movement of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Robert P. Marble, Robert G. Izak
  • Patent number: 9937910
    Abstract: A braking system includes a master cylinder including a master cylinder output, at least one wheel cylinder, a shuttle valve including a shuttle, a volume booster distinct from the master cylinder, a first hydraulic fluid path connecting the master cylinder output to the at least one wheel cylinder through the volume booster and the shuttle valve and a second hydraulic fluid path connecting the master cylinder output to the at least one wheel cylinder through the shuttle valve, bypassing the volume booster. Only one of the first hydraulic fluid path or the second hydraulic fluid path is operable at any one time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ryan Kuhlman
  • Patent number: 9925964
    Abstract: A vehicle braking unit comprises an operating braking pressure inlet which receives an inlet braking pressure built up by a braking cylinder, and at least one operating brake pressure outlet at which an outlet braking pressure is provided for an operating brake modulator, which is upstream of the operating brake and provides anti-lock functionality. At least one connecting channel hydraulically connects the operating brake pressure inlet to the outlet. Brake fluid is supplied from a storage unit through the brake cylinder, the connecting channel and the operating brake modulator. The braking unit has a brake fluid inlet, through which the brake fluid is received from the storage unit, a brake fluid pump, by which the brake fluid is suctioned through the brake fluid inlet and a supply pressure is built up, and a valve unit that controls the outlet braking pressure and/or a parking brake release pressure by the supply pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: WABCO GMBH
    Inventors: Heiko Claussen, Jurgen Eickhoff, Volker Heinrich, Ralph-Carsten Lulfing, Wolfgang Strache
  • Patent number: 9920808
    Abstract: A micromechanical spring including at least two bar sections which, in the undeflected state of the spring, are oriented substantially parallel to one another or are at an angle of less than 45° with respect to one another, and one or more connecting sections which connect the bar sections to one another, wherein the bar sections can be displaced relative to one another in their longitudinal direction, and wherein the spring has, in the direction of its bar sections, a substantially adjustable, in particular linear force-deflecting behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventor: Stefan Günthner
  • Patent number: 9919687
    Abstract: Vibrations of a hydraulic pressure in an upstream portion due to operations of a slip control device during anti-lock control are transmitted to a control pressure chamber via a pressurizing piston of a master cylinder and a control piston of a regulator. During anti-lock control, in contrast, a pressure-increase linear valve and a pressure-reduction linear valve are opened, allowing change in volume of the control pressure chamber, resulting in reduction in stiffness. This reduction suppresses vibrations of a hydraulic pressure in the control pressure chamber, resulting in suppression of vibrations of a hydraulic pressure in a front pressure chamber. As a result, it is possible to reduce the lowering in control accuracy for a hydraulic pressure in a brake cylinder in anti-lock control using the hydraulic pressure in the front pressure chamber, which can well avoid a long braking distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, ADVICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusuke Kamiya, Masaaki Komazawa, Kiyoyuki Uchida, Masaki Ninoyu, Akitaka Nishio, Masaki Maruyama
  • Patent number: 9908519
    Abstract: A braking system for a vehicle includes: a brake input element for an actuation to input a brake pressure signal by a driver; a brake master cylinder coupled to the brake input element and supplied with hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic fluid reservoir fluidically connected to the brake master cylinder; and a first brake circuit. The first brake circuit has: a switchover valve with controllable through flow rate for the hydraulic fluid; a pressure regulating valve with controllable through flow rate for the hydraulic fluid; a hydraulic pump for optionally building up an elevated hydraulic fluid pressure in the first brake circuit; at least one first wheel brake cylinder exerting a braking torque on a first vehicle wheel coupled to the wheel brake cylinder; and a first fluid line from the hydraulic fluid reservoir being fluidically connected to the pressure regulating valve and to the hydraulic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Bertram Foitzik, Otmar Bussmann, Matthias Kistner
  • Patent number: 9909633
    Abstract: A braking force generation device of a vehicle includes a rotary member, a frictional member, a pressing device, and a self-discharge type static charge eliminator provided on a surface of a particular member. The self-discharge type static charge eliminator changes air around the self-discharge type static charge eliminator into negative air ions, according to the quantity of positive charge carried by the particular member, and eliminate charge by causing the negative air ions to attract the positive charges of the particular member for neutralization, so as to reduce a quantity of charge of the particular member, and thereby reduce a quantity of charge of the lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshio Tanahashi, Yoji Kanehara, Koshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 9874253
    Abstract: A bicycle brake caliper apparatus comprises a caliper housing and a plug. The caliper housing includes a fluid chamber and an opening for receiving the plug therein, wherein the opening extends to an outside of the housing at a first location. The housing also includes a fluid passage in fluid communication with the fluid chamber, wherein the fluid passage is in fluid communication with an outside of the housing at a second location offset from the first location. The fluid passage is closed when the plug is in a first position. The fluid passage is open when the plug is in a second position so that fluid is allowed to flow from the fluid chamber, through the fluid passage and to the outside of the housing at the second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Kim Hong Kuan