Patents by Inventor Benjamin Duffau

Benjamin Duffau has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12168380
    Abstract: A motor vehicle rear axle is of the type having two longitudinal trailing arms. Each trailing arm has a stub-axle bracket at one rear end and, at an opposite front end, a substantially transverse axis of rotation defined by a first joint and a second joint which are intended to be connected to the vehicle body. A first and a second support element are located respectively in front of and behind a trailing arm on the side of its second joint. The free ends of these support elements, located in the longitudinal and vertical median plane of the rear axle, are kept at a longitudinally fixed distance by a connecting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: RENAULT S.A.S.
    Inventors: Benjamin Duffau, Jean-Pierre Millon, Remi Rollet
  • Publication number: 20240246379
    Abstract: A motor vehicle rear axle is of the type having two longitudinal trailing arms. Each trailing arm has a stub-axle bracket at one rear end and, at an opposite front end, a substantially transverse axis of rotation defined by a first joint and a second joint which are intended to be connected to the vehicle body. A first and a second support element are located respectively in front of and behind a trailing arm on the side of its second joint. The free ends of these support elements, located in the longitudinal and vertical median plane of the rear axle, are kept at a longitudinally fixed distance by a connecting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: RENAULT S.A.S.
    Inventors: Benjamin DUFFAU, Jean-Pierre MILLON, Remi ROLLET
  • Patent number: 12023973
    Abstract: A suspension element of a vehicle includes a coil spring, and a bearing part provided with a main stop. The spring is mounted on the bearing part in such a manner that a first end of the spring comes to bear against the main stop. The bearing part includes a secondary stop placed in front of the main stop, against which secondary stop the first end of the spring bears during a method for assembling the suspension element. The secondary stop is capable of moving away under the effect of pressure exerted by the spring on the secondary stop during a stage of compressing the spring after the spring has pivoted about the spring's rotational axis during a stage involving straightening the spring, so that a second end of the spring is made to interact with a centering element, in order to come to bear against the main stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Benjamin Duffau
  • Publication number: 20220227193
    Abstract: A suspension element of a vehicle includes a coil spring, and a bearing part provided with a main stop. The spring is mounted on the bearing part in such a manner that a first end of the spring comes to bear against the main stop. The bearing part includes a secondary stop placed in front of the main stop, against which secondary stop the first end of the spring bears during a method for assembling the suspension element. The secondary stop is capable of moving away under the effect of pressure exerted by the spring on the secondary stop during a stage of compressing the spring after the spring has pivoted about the spring's rotational axis during a stage involving straightening the spring, so that a second end of the spring is made to interact with a centering element, in order to come to bear against the main stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Benjamin Duffau
  • Patent number: 9109627
    Abstract: A sliding device includes a sliding bearing, and a shaft which is rotatable and in slidable contact with the sliding bearing in presence of a lubricating oil. The sliding bearing has a surface hardness smaller than a surface hardness of the shaft. Additionally, the sliding bearing has a surface roughness Ra of not larger than 0.2 micrometer, and the shaft has a surface roughness of not larger than 0.05 micrometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Higuchi, Yutaka Mabuchi, Benjamin Duffau, Alain Pasgrimaud, Carmelo Gugliotta
  • Publication number: 20100266227
    Abstract: A sliding device includes a sliding bearing, and a shaft which is rotatable and in slidable contact with the sliding bearing in presence of a lubricating oil. The sliding bearing has a surface hardness smaller than a surface hardness of the shaft. Additionally, the sliding bearing has a surface roughness Ra of not larger than 0.2 micrometer, and the shaft has a surface roughness of not larger than 0.05 micrometer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Higuchi, Yutaka Mabuchi, Benjamin Duffau, Alain Pasgrimaud, Carmelo Gugliotta