Patents by Inventor Charles F. Pepka
Charles F. Pepka 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).
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Patent number: 10408577Abstract: An armor assembly having an armor panel, a base plate, and a resilient member coupled between the armor panel and the base plate is disclosed. An impact blast or projectile will strike the armor assembly and deflect the armor panel and the resilient member. The resilient member and armor panel absorb sufficient energy from the impact blast or projectile to prevent harm to underlying structures. The resilient member can be a spring or a solid member having a desired spring coefficient to protect against a certain impact load.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: RENTON COIL SPRING COMPANYInventor: Charles F. Pepka
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Patent number: 9970503Abstract: End mounts are used to secure a helical tension spring to end fixtures with various shapes and sizes. These end mounts contain an inner hole to encase the inner spring end mount and secure the end mount making it like a cap. There is also a keyhole created in the top surface that goes through the end mount allowing it to fit over the fixtures but not over the inner end mount, holding it in place. Grooves are machined in a helical pattern on the cylindrical side wall of the end mount. The spring is wound onto the grooves of the end mount.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2017Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Renton Coil Spring CompanyInventor: Charles F. Pepka
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Patent number: 9944144Abstract: A vibration attenuation system for attenuating a transmission of an input signal is disclosed. The system includes a helical spring, a first terminal, and a first damping element. The helical spring includes a plurality of helical coils, a first end, and a second end. The plurality of helical coils define an inner volume of the helical spring intermediate the first and second ends. The first terminal includes a first inner member. The first terminal is coupled to the first end of the helical spring. The first inner member extends into the inner volume of the helical spring. The first damping element is positioned on the first inner member. The first damping element is within the inner volume of the helical spring. When the input signal is provided to the helical spring, the first damping element engages the helical coils and attenuates the transmission the input signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2015Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: Renton Coil Spring CompanyInventor: Charles F. Pepka
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Publication number: 20180010891Abstract: An armor assembly having an armor panel, a base plate, and a resilient member coupled between the armor panel and the base plate is disclosed. An impact blast or projectile will strike the armor assembly and deflect the armor panel and the resilient member. The resilient member and armor panel absorb sufficient energy from the impact blast or projectile to prevent harm to underlying structures. The resilient member can be a spring or a solid member having a desired spring coefficient to protect against a certain impact load.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2017Publication date: January 11, 2018Inventor: Charles F. Pepka
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Publication number: 20170241500Abstract: End mounts are used to secure a helical tension spring to end fixtures with various shapes and sizes. These end mounts contain an inner hole to encase the inner spring end mount and secure the end mount making it like a cap. There is also a keyhole created in the top surface that goes through the end mount allowing it to fit over the fixtures but not over the inner end mount, holding it in place. Grooves are machined in a helical pattern on the cylindrical side wall of the end mount. The spring is wound onto the grooves of the end mount.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2017Publication date: August 24, 2017Inventor: Charles F. Pepka
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Patent number: 9689451Abstract: End mounts are used to secure a helical tension spring to end fixtures with various shapes and sizes. These end mounts contain an inner hole to encase the inner spring end mount and secure the end mount making it like a cap. There is also a keyhole created in the top surface that goes through the end mount allowing it to fit over the fixtures but not over the inner end mount, holding it in place. Grooves are machined in a helical pattern on the cylindrical side wall of the end mount. The spring is wound onto the grooves of the end mount.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2010Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: Renton Coil Spring Co.Inventor: Charles F. Pepka
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Patent number: 9457635Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for damping movement of a first mass relative to a second mass by magnetically generating induced current are provided. A magnet is coupled to one mass and a nonferrous metallic member is coupled to another mass that moves relative to the first mass. First and second springs are coupled to opposing ends of the magnet, the magnet being positioned between the springs. A guide member channels the magnet as it moves relative to the nonferrous member, the magnet being slidable along the guide member. The magnet is in close proximity to the nonferrous metallic member as the magnet moves. Upon causing movement of the magnet by either mass, the magnet generates an electrical current in the nonferrous metallic member that induces a counter magnetic field that opposes the magnetic field generated by the current to damp movement of the magnet as it moves.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: Renton Coil Spring CompanyInventor: Charles F. Pepka
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Patent number: 9360073Abstract: End mounts are used to secure a helical tension spring to end fixtures with various shapes and sizes. These end mounts contain an inner hole to encase the inner spring end mount and secure the end mount making it like a cap. There is also a keyhole created in the top surface that goes through the end mount allowing it to fit over the fixtures but not over the inner end mount, holding it in place. Grooves are machined in a helical pattern on the cylindrical side wall of the end mount. The spring is wound onto the grooves of the end mount. A friction-resistant coating is applied between components of the assembly to mitigate wear and to prevent bending and twisting.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: Renton Coil Spring CompanyInventor: Charles F. Pepka
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Patent number: 9228806Abstract: Protective armor panels comprising a grid formed of a plurality of strips of material having a front edge, a back edge, and side surfaces and a sheet of material secured to the front surface of the grid are disclosed. The strips of material can be contoured to form an armor panel having virtually any arbitrary shape.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: Renton Coil Spring CompanyInventor: Charles F. Pepka
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Publication number: 20150198217Abstract: A vibration attenuation system for attenuating a transmission of an input signal is disclosed. The system includes a helical spring, a first terminal, and a first damping element. The helical spring includes a plurality of helical coils, a first end, and a second end. The plurality of helical coils define an inner volume of the helical spring intermediate the first and second ends. The first terminal includes a first inner member. The first terminal is coupled to the first end of the helical spring. The first inner member extends into the inner volume of the helical spring. The first damping element is positioned on the first inner member. The first damping element is within the inner volume of the helical spring. When the input signal is provided to the helical spring, the first damping element engages the helical coils and attenuates the transmission the input signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2015Publication date: July 16, 2015Inventor: Charles F. Pepka
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Patent number: 8701462Abstract: A shim stack testing apparatus and method of determining a stiffness of the shim stick may be employed to assemble a shim stack kit. The apparatus includes a testing jig that receives either a compression or rebound shim stack. The testing jig may be used with a variety of testing machines capable of determining force versus deflection. The test jig includes a simulated piston rod coupled to a simulated piston valve having apertures. The shim stack being tested may be coupled to the piston at a selected location and then deflected by a pre-determined amount by a loading fixture having elongated prongs. Once the pre-determined deflection is achieved, a corresponding force is identified and then an overall stiffness value for the shim stack is obtained. Tested shim stacks may be assembled into kits with each having an identified stiffness that may be compared to a baseline stiffness value.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Renton Coil Spring CompanyInventor: Charles F. Pepka
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Publication number: 20140015180Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for damping movement of a first mass relative to a second mass by magnetically generating induced current are provided. A magnet is coupled to one mass and a nonferrous metallic member is coupled to another mass that moves relative to the first mass. First and second springs are coupled to opposing ends of the magnet, the magnet being positioned between the springs. A guide member channels the magnet as it moves relative to the nonferrous member, the magnet being slidable along the guide member. The magnet is in close proximity to the nonferrous metallic member as the magnet moves. Upon causing movement of the magnet by either mass, the magnet generates an electrical current in the nonferrous metallic member that induces a counter magnetic field that opposes the magnetic field generated by the current to damp movement of the magnet as it moves.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2011Publication date: January 16, 2014Inventor: Charles F. Pepka
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Patent number: 8490285Abstract: Compression springs, such as helical compression springs, include end portions with selectively contoured inner contact surfaces. The selective contours of the inner contact surfaces may take the form of planar, grooved, concave, or other shaped, non-circular surfaces. In addition, enough of the inner contact surface is contoured to reduce the contact stress and/or stress concentration effects on the adjacent coils when the compression spring is placed under load and the adjacent coil engages or contacts the respective end portion. The selective contouring of the end portions may be accomplished by holding the spring in a holder and moving a cutter relative to the end portion of the spring to remove the desired amount of material from the end portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Renton Coil Spring CompanyInventors: Andy Knebel, III, Charles F. Pepka
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Publication number: 20130061651Abstract: A shim stack testing apparatus and method of determining a stiffness of the shim stick may be employed to assemble a shim stack kit. The apparatus includes a testing jig that receives either a compression or rebound shim stack. The testing jig may be used with a variety of testing machines capable of determining force versus deflection. The test jig includes a simulated piston rod coupled to a simulated piston valve having apertures. The shim stack being tested may be coupled to the piston at a selected location and then deflected by a pre-determined amount by a loading fixture having elongated prongs. Once the pre-determined deflection is achieved, a corresponding force is identified and then an overall stiffness value for the shim stack is obtained. Tested shim stacks may be assembled into kits with each having an identified stiffness that may be compared to a baseline stiffness value.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2011Publication date: March 14, 2013Inventor: Charles F. Pepka
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Publication number: 20120285316Abstract: Protective armor panels comprising a grid formed of a plurality of strips of material having a front edge, a back edge, and side surfaces and a sheet of material secured to the front surface of the grid are disclosed. The strips of material can be contoured to form an armor panel having virtually any arbitrary shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2012Publication date: November 15, 2012Inventor: Charles F. Pepka
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Publication number: 20120286462Abstract: The present invention relates to dual-spring assembly that may be employed in cooperation with a damper unit to form a shock absorber. The spring rate of at least one of the springs is adjustable with a preload mechanism, which in turn is movable relative to the damper unit. Further, the dual-spring assembly includes two compression springs arranged in series and each having selected, but different spring rates. The first spring primarily absorbs the energy of applied loads that are below a first amplitude or threshold of applied load. Once the applied loads exceed the first amplitude of applied load, the dual-spring assembly operates with an effective spring rate to absorb the energy of applied loads that exceed the first amplitude of applied load. After a second spring of the dual-spring assembly achieves a desired amount of deflection, the first spring continues to absorb energy from the applied loads.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2012Publication date: November 15, 2012Inventor: Charles F. Pepka
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Patent number: 8211814Abstract: Protective armor panels comprising a polymer layer having upper and lower faces generally forming a sheet and a plurality of metal strips each having an upper edge, a lower edge and side faces, said side faces being oriented generally traverse to the upper face of said polymer layer and positioned at least partially within the polymer layer, are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2008Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Renton Coil Spring CompanyInventor: Charles F. Pepka
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Publication number: 20120055324Abstract: Protective armor panels comprising a polymer layer having upper and lower faces generally forming a sheet and a plurality of metal strips each having an upper edge, a lower edge and side faces, said side faces being oriented generally traverse to the upper face of said polymer layer and positioned at least partially within the polymer layer, are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2008Publication date: March 8, 2012Inventor: Charles F. Pepka
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Publication number: 20120000073Abstract: Compression springs, such as helical compression springs, include end portions with selectively contoured inner contact surfaces. The selective contours of the inner contact surfaces may take the form of planar, grooved, concave, or other shaped, non-circular surfaces. In addition, enough of the inner contact surface is contoured to reduce the contact stress and/or stress concentration effects on the adjacent coils when the compression spring is placed under load and the adjacent coil engages or contacts the respective end portion. The selective contouring of the end portions may be accomplished by holding the spring in a holder and moving a cutter relative to the end portion of the spring to remove the desired amount of material from the end portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2011Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicant: Renton Coil Spring CompanyInventors: Andy Knebel, III, Charles F. Pepka
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Publication number: 20110291338Abstract: The present invention relates to dual-spring assembly that may be employed in cooperation with a damper unit to form a shock absorber. The spring rate of at least one of the springs is adjustable with a preload mechanism, which in turn is movable relative to the damper unit. Further, the dual-spring assembly includes two compression springs arranged in series and each having selected, but different spring rates. The first spring primarily absorbs the energy of applied loads that are below a first amplitude or threshold of applied load. Once the applied loads exceed the first amplitude of applied load, the dual-spring assembly operates with an effective spring rate to absorb the energy of applied loads that exceed the first amplitude of applied load. After a second spring of the dual-spring assembly achieves a desired amount of deflection, the first spring continues to absorb energy from the applied loads.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2010Publication date: December 1, 2011Inventor: Charles F. Pepka