Patents by Inventor Eric Leonard Branger

Eric Leonard Branger 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).

  • Publication number: 20190061453
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for producing a vehicle control arm for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle. The vehicle control arm is configured from at least one sheet metal part in such a way that, in a region of an insulating bushing to be inserted, two sheet metal portions are disposed at a distance from, and opposite, one another in such a way that a gap is formed between them. In this region, two bearing eyes are formed coaxially with one another in the two sheet metal portions. A reinforcing ring is inserted between the two sheet metal portions, being in coaxial alignment with the two bearing eyes. A respective die is pressed into each bearing eye. Edges of the bearing eyes are bent, and the reinforcing ring is retained by the edges of the bearing eyes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Leonard BRANGER, Fabio MIURA
  • Patent number: 9421844
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a torsion beam axle for a vehicle. The torsion beam axle comprises two longitudinal swing arms connected by a torsion profile and two bearing arrangements. Each bearing arrangement is configured to attach a respective longitudinal swing arm to a body of the vehicle. Each bearing arrangement has a rotational axis, and the rotational axes of the bearing arrangements run in parallel to or are aligned with one another. Each of the bearing arrangements has a bearing core, which is connected to one of the longitudinal swing arms, and at least one bearing arm which is coupled to the bearing core. The bearing arm comprises a supporting section, which is coupled to the bearing core, and an elastic bending section with a connecting region, via which the bearing arm can be at least indirectly attached to the body of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Andreas Carlitz, Eric Leonard Branger, Gunter Wuersig, Thomas Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20150076782
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a torsion beam axle for a vehicle. The torsion beam axle comprises two longitudinal swing arms connected by a torsion profile and two bearing arrangements. Each bearing arrangement is configured to attach a respective longitudinal swing arm to a body of the vehicle. Each bearing arrangement has a rotational axis, and the rotational axes of the bearing arrangements run in parallel to or are aligned with one another. Each of the bearing arrangements has a bearing core, which is connected to one of the longitudinal swing arms, and at least one bearing arm which is coupled to the bearing core. The bearing arm comprises a supporting section, which is coupled to the bearing core, and an elastic bending section with a connecting region, via which the bearing arm can be at least indirectly attached to the body of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Andreas CARLITZ, Eric Leonard BRANGER, Gunter WUERSIG, Thomas SCHMITZ
  • Patent number: 8973931
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension wheel strut, includes a first bushing; a wheel carrier journaled onto the first bushing; a first bracket at a first end of the first bushing; a second bracket at a second end of the first bushing; and identical damping elements positioned between the first bracket and wheel carrier at the first end of the first bushing and the second bracket and the wheel carrier at the second end of the first bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Leonard Branger
  • Publication number: 20130200587
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rubber metal bearing for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle comprising an elastic rubber body (10) arranged between an outer bushing (8) and an inner bushing (9) aligned coaxially therewith and fastened thereto. The outer bushing (8) has a front frontal surface (11) to which at least one front elastic rubber damping element (13) is attached, and a rear frontal surface (12) to which at least one rear elastic rubber damping element (13) is attached, wherein the front and rear rubber damping elements (13) are arranged asymmetrically to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventor: Eric Leonard Branger
  • Patent number: 6742620
    Abstract: A power steering system in which an electric motor (9) makes available a damping torque to a steering system via a mechanical transmission (4). The transmission (4) is arranged between the steering wheel (2) and a steering rack (5). The electric motor (9) is actuated by a control unit (1) in accordance with the steering torque sensed by a sensor (3) and the vehicle speed sensed by a sensor (10). In addition, a damping module (8) of the control unit (1) receives binary or continuous signals relating to the braking state, in particular relating to the brake activation (11) and to cornering (9). By means of these signals the damping torque which is generated by the electric motor (9) can be adapted in such a way that vibrations which are caused by unequal wear of the brakes in the steering system are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dirk-Uwe Eidam, Eric Leonard Branger, Stephan Presser
  • Publication number: 20030019687
    Abstract: A power steering system in which an electric motor (9) makes available a damping torque to a steering system via a mechanical transmission (4). The transmission (4) is arranged between the steering wheel (2) and a steering rack (5). The electric motor (9) is actuated by a control unit (1) in accordance with the steering torque sensed by a sensor (3) and the vehicle speed sensed by a sensor (10). In addition, a damping module (8) of the control unit (1) receives binary or continuous signals relating to the braking state, in particular relating to the brake activation (11) and to cornering (9). By means of these signals the damping torque which is generated by the electric motor (9) can be adapted in such a way that vibrations which are caused by unequal wear of the brakes in the steering system are reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Dirk-Uwe Eidam, Eric Leonard Branger, Stephan Presser