Patents by Inventor François Gaffe

François Gaffe 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: 11273813
    Abstract: A system includes a helper piston that includes an axial sleeve that is integral with a guide bracket and that has a threaded exterior surface; a translationally fixed but rotational translation nut that has internal threads that complement those of the helper piston and that supports a gear connected to a drive motor; a plunger piston pushed by the helper piston and connected to a control rod; a trigger spring between the helper piston and the stop carried by the control rod for triggering brake assistance; a stop including a stop sleeve and a flange that is applied to the trigger spring, where the body of the control rod has a crimping area for securing the stop by crimping in an adjusted compression position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Francois Gaffe, Philippe Richard
  • Patent number: 11136014
    Abstract: A brake fluid container system for fastening on the upper side of the valve block of the braking system, the block including a rear side, a conducting side and a front side in the longitudinal installation direction of the block in the engine space of the vehicle. On its rear corner, the upper side of the container includes a transverse axle, and in the longitudinal distance equal to the distance of the front and rear sides of the block, the underside supports a fastening tab. On its rear wall, the block includes a transverse bracket for accommodating the axle of the container, and on the front side, a fastening point for the fastening tab of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Maciej Szymanski, Andreas Weh, Dieter Pflaum, Eligiusz Stefaniak, Francois Gaffe, Juergen Tandler, Piotr Lasmanowicz, Xingyuan Wang
  • Publication number: 20210122345
    Abstract: A brake fluid container system for fastening on the upper side of the valve block of the braking system, the block including a rear side, a conducting side and a front side in the longitudinal installation direction of the block in the engine space of the vehicle. On its rear corner, the upper side of the container includes a transverse axle, and in the longitudinal distance equal to the distance of the front and rear sides of the block, the underside supports a fastening tab. On its rear wall, the block includes a transverse bracket for accommodating the axle of the container, and on the front side, a fastening point for the fastening tab of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Maciej Szymanski, Andreas Weh, Dieter Pflaum, Eligiusz Stefaniak, Francois Gaffe, Juergen Tandler, Piotr Lasmanowicz, Xingyuan Wang
  • Patent number: 10940846
    Abstract: An electromechanical brake assist system driven by an electric motor cooperating with a master cylinder and having, along the axis of actuation, a helper piston in the shape of an axial sleeve solidly connected with a guide bracket and having a threaded surface. A nut, fixed in translation but free to rotate, has interior threads that complement those of the helper piston, which it receives, and exterior teeth that cooperate with the drive motor. A plunger piston carries a drive base so it can be pushed by the piston. Its other extremity is connected to the control rod, formed from a body and a head. The body has a crimping area and the head has a sleeve with an extremity that can be crimped along the crimping area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: David Patarra, Francois Gaffe, Philippe Richard
  • Publication number: 20200231134
    Abstract: An electromechanical brake assist system driven by an electric motor cooperating with a master cylinder and having, along the axis of actuation, a helper piston in the shape of an axial sleeve solidly connected with a guide bracket and having a threaded surface. A nut, fixed in translation but free to rotate, has interior threads that complement those of the helper piston, which it receives, and exterior teeth that cooperate with the drive motor. A plunger piston carries a drive base so it can be pushed by the piston. Its other extremity is connected to the control rod, formed from a body and a head. The body has a crimping area and the head has a sleeve with an extremity that can be crimped along the crimping area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: David Patarra, Francois Gaffe, Philippe Richard
  • Patent number: 10493969
    Abstract: A brake assist system comprising an intermediate spring combined with a compression thrust bearing, limiting the compression to a force greater than the response of the brake pedal under normal operating conditions. The spring and its compression thrust bearing are placed between the plunger piston (2) and the helper piston so that the spring transmits the thrust from the helper piston to the plunger piston that pulls the pedal under normal braking conditions. The helper piston pushes the plunger piston by way of the compression thrust bearing when the response of the plunger piston exceeds the compression threshold. A contact detector detects the contact between the helper piston and the thrust bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Francois Gaffe, Philippe Richard
  • Publication number: 20190023249
    Abstract: A brake assist system comprising an intermediate spring combined with a compression thrust bearing, limiting the compression to a force greater than the response of the brake pedal under normal operating conditions. The spring and its compression thrust bearing are placed between the plunger piston (2) and the helper piston so that the spring transmits the thrust from the helper piston to the plunger piston that pulls the pedal under normal braking conditions. The helper piston pushes the plunger piston by way of the compression thrust bearing when the response of the plunger piston exceeds the compression threshold. A contact detector detects the contact between the helper piston and the thrust bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Francois Gaffe, Philippe Richard
  • Publication number: 20180345932
    Abstract: A system includes a helper piston that includes an axial sleeve that is integral with a guide bracket and that has a threaded exterior surface; a translationally fixed but rotational translation nut that has internal threads that complement those of the helper piston and that supports a gear connected to a drive motor; a plunger piston pushed by the helper piston and connected to a control rod; a trigger spring between the helper piston and the stop carried by the control rod for triggering brake assistance; a stop including a stop sleeve and a flange that is applied to the trigger spring, where the body of the control rod has a crimping area for securing the stop by crimping in an adjusted compression position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Francois Gaffe, Philippe Richard
  • Patent number: 9726265
    Abstract: A transmission device for controlling the translational movement of an element includes: an exterior planetary gear equipped interiorly with teeth; an interior planetary gear connected to the controlled element and bearing a rack in the direction of translation; a satellite carrier having satellites with helical teeth engaged with the interior teeth; and a stationary housing accommodating the exterior planetary gear, the interior planetary gear, the satellite carrier. The rack is used to control the translational movement of the interior planetary gear. The transmission device is driven by a motor with a transmission acting either on the exterior planetary gear or the satellite carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Francois Gaffe
  • Patent number: 9505390
    Abstract: A brake-assist device for a motor vehicle having a servomotor is described. A servomotor has a plunger piston, a moving part, and an arrangement to move the moving part into position with respect to the plunger piston. The servomotor is actuated by a control rod. The control rod has a first end that presses upon the plunger piston and a second end to receive a force exerted by a brake pedal intended to be moved by a driver of the vehicle. The servomotor includes a sensor interposed in a contact space between the plunger piston and the moving part. A spring is compressed between the plunger piston and the moving part. The servomotor includes an arrangement for displacing the plunger piston in the contact space based on the driving mode. A stiffness of the spring is sufficiently high for an onset of braking to occur only with a striking force that is significantly higher during a reactive driving mode than it is during a calm driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Philippe Richard, Francois Gaffe, Bastien Cagnac
  • Patent number: 9381900
    Abstract: An electric brake booster includes an electric motor activating a booster piston acting on the master-cylinder during brake pedal activation. The booster piston is driven in the direction of the action of same on the master-cylinder by an electric motor linked to a mechanical transmission that includes a screw held by the motor shaft. The screw meshes with two symmetrical worm gears that are integral with respective transmission shafts housed in a bearing of the body of the brake booster. The two shafts each carry a spur gear that meshes with a rack of the booster piston. The shafts are free in translation relative to the screw and to the body of the electric brake booster but are integral with each other in the translational movement of same. The shafts are integrally connected in translation by a coupling member formed by a crosspiece carrying two rotation bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Roman Winkler, Philippe Richard, Bastien Cagnac, Francois Gaffe, Jean-Marc Ritt
  • Patent number: 9162661
    Abstract: A brake system is described with a master cylinder actuated by a control rod connected to a plunger piston and an actuator piston acting directly on the primary piston. A hydraulic reaction piston is housed in the piston so it can be subjected to the pressure of the primary chamber and to the opposing action of a reaction spring. The plunger piston can push the reaction piston directly to push the master cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Philippe Richard, Francois Gaffe, Bastien Cagnac
  • Publication number: 20150219191
    Abstract: A transmission device for controlling the translational movement of an element includes: an exterior planetary gear equipped interiorly with teeth; an interior planetary gear connected to the controlled element and bearing a rack in the direction of translation; a satellite carrier having satellites with helical teeth engaged with the interior teeth; and a stationary housing accommodating the exterior planetary gear, the interior planetary gear, the satellite carrier. The rack is used to control the translational movement of the interior planetary gear. The transmission device is driven by a motor with a transmission acting either on the exterior planetary gear or the satellite carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventor: Francois GAFFE
  • Publication number: 20150197231
    Abstract: An electric brake booster includes an electric motor activating a booster piston acting on the master-cylinder during brake pedal activation. The booster piston is driven in the direction of the action of same on the master-cylinder by an electric motor linked to a mechanical transmission that includes a screw held by the motor shaft. The screw meshes with two symmetrical worm gears that are integral with respective transmission shafts housed in a bearing of the body of the brake booster. The two shafts each carry a spur gear that meshes with a rack of the booster piston. The shafts are free in translation relative to the screw and to the body of the electric brake booster but are integral with each other in the translational movement of same. The shafts are integrally connected in translation by a coupling member formed by a crosspiece carrying two rotation bearings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: Roman Winkler, Philippe Richard, Bastien Cagnac, Francois Gaffe, Jean-Marc Ritt
  • Patent number: 8997482
    Abstract: Brake system comprising a thrust rod (130) driven by the servobrake (200) and actuating the piston (110) of the master cylinder (100), the servobrake (200) being linked by a hydraulic actuator (270) to the control rod (230) of the brake pedal (PF). The servobrake (200) comprises an actuator piston (220) controlled by an electric motor (265) via a rack drive (260). A simulator chamber (250) delimited by the hydraulic actuator (270) is subdivided by an intermediate piston (240) into a rear volume (V1) and a front volume (V2), respectively delimited by the intermediate piston (240). A duct (L1) links the rear volume (V1) to a duct (L2) linked to the front volume (V2) by a first solenoid valve (EV1) and the duct (L2) to the tank (115) by a second solenoid valve (EV2). The piston (240) is linked to the rod (130) bearing an abutment (132) to be thrust by the actuator piston (220).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Philippe Richard, François Gaffe, Bastien Cagnac, Chris Anderson, Raynald Sprocq
  • Patent number: 8919239
    Abstract: Actuator piston (100) formed by an injection-molded piece (120) consisting of a cylindrical body (121) and a collar (122) to receive the hydraulic actuator (110) and the travel detector (160). The piece (120) comprises a shell (150) covering its front face and receiving the return spring (250) and the thrust rod (130). The actuator piston (110) includes lugs (115) engaged behind the lugs (125) of the body (121), by a pivoting movement about the axis. The rotational position is blocked by a locking and guiding sleeve (180).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Philippe Richard, François Gaffe, Bastien Cagnac
  • Patent number: 8776665
    Abstract: Brake installation consisting of a master cylinder associated with a brake booster furnished with a motor driving an actuator piston and acting on the primary piston of the master cylinder by means of a reaction disk against which the piston rests. For a safety operation, the hydraulic actuator connected to the control rod actuated by the brake pedal rests on the rear face of the reaction disk. The actuator piston is combined with an auxiliary piston in order to interact with the reaction disk and it is guided by its sleeve-shaped portion in a bore of the body of the brake booster. An adapting shim is supported by the auxiliary piston in order to receive as a support the end of a rear rod, secured to the primary piston of the master cylinder. The thickness of the assembly formed by the adapting shim and the auxiliary piston is defined on mounting of the master cylinder and of the brake booster as a function of the free travel measured previously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Philippe Richard, Francois Gaffe, Bastien Cagnac
  • Patent number: 8708429
    Abstract: A hydraulic braking assembly (14) for a vehicle comprising an electric servomotor (15), a master cylinder (16), a hydraulic fluid tank (17) mounted on the master cylinder, a hydraulic fluid level sensor (25) situated inside the fluid tank and monitoring the hydraulic fluid level inside the tank. The fluid level sensor is connected from the tank to the computer of the electric servomotor by a cable (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Vincent Maury, Jean-Michel L'Aot, Antony Auguste, Philippe Richard, François Gaffe, Bastien Cagnac
  • Publication number: 20140041378
    Abstract: A brake-assist device for a motor vehicle having a servomotor is described. A servomotor has a plunger piston, a moving part, and an arrangement to move the moving part into position with respect to the plunger piston. The servomotor is actuated by a control rod. The control rod has a first end that presses upon the plunger piston and a second end to receive a force exerted by a brake pedal intended to be moved by a driver of the vehicle. The servomotor includes a sensor interposed in a contact space between the plunger piston and the moving part. A spring is compressed between the plunger piston and the moving part. The servomotor includes an arrangement for displacing the plunger piston in the contact space based on the driving mode. A stiffness of the spring is sufficiently high for an onset of braking to occur only with a striking force that is significantly higher during a reactive driving mode than it is during a calm driving mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Inventors: Philippe Richard, Francois Gaffe, Bastien Cagnac
  • Publication number: 20130312405
    Abstract: A brake system is described with a master cylinder actuated by a control rod connected to a plunger piston and an actuator piston acting directly on the primary piston. A hydraulic reaction piston is housed in the piston so it can be subjected to the pressure of the primary chamber and to the opposing action of a reaction spring. The plunger piston can push the reaction piston directly to push the master cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Philippe RICHARD, Francois GAFFE, Bastien CAGNAC