Patents by Inventor James Leroy Swayze

James Leroy Swayze 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: 7032723
    Abstract: A tuned mass damper for sound-dampening brake squeal noise is located within a hole formed in a brake component such as a backplate supporting a brake pad. The location of the hole and the weight and geometry of the tuned mass damper are tailored to provide effective damping for the particular frequencies that are to be eliminated in the brake system. Locating the tuned mass damper inside of a hole in the component has packaging and manufacturing advantages, and results in a tuned mass damper that is less susceptible to damage when in use. The hole may be blind, the bottom of the hole being thin enough to serve as a spring member to which a vibration damping mass is attached. In one embodiment, the tuned mass damper is a module adapted for insertion into the hole in the brake backplate. Contact between the module and inner surfaces of the hole transfers mechanical vibration of the backplate to the tuned mass damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Louis Quaglia, James Leroy Swayze, Fang Chen, Yitzong Chern
  • Publication number: 20040074712
    Abstract: A tuned mass damper for sound-dampening brake squeal noise is located within a hole formed in a brake component such as a backplate supporting a brake pad. The location of the hole and the weight and geometry of the tuned mass damper are tailored to provide effective damping for the particular frequencies that are to be eliminated in the brake system. Locating the tuned mass damper inside of a hole in the component has packaging and manufacturing advantages, and results in a tuned mass damper that is less susceptible to damage when in use. The hole may be blind, the bottom of the hole being thin enough to serve as a spring member to which a vibration damping mass is attached. In one embodiment, the tuned mass damper is a module adapted for insertion into the hole in the brake backplate. Contact between the module and inner surfaces of the hole transfers mechanical vibration of the backplate to the tuned mass damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Louis Quaglia, James Leroy Swayze, Fang Chen, Yitzong Chern
  • Patent number: 6367867
    Abstract: A cab-to-box damper assembly is provided for a vehicle having a cab and bed. The cab-to-box damper assembly includes at least one damping and/or spring element having a first end and a second end, a first bracket member operatively connecting the first end to a rear of the cab, and a second bracket member operatively connecting the second end to a front of the bed, whereby the damping element reduces relative movement between the bed and the cab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Lawrence Kolarik, James Leroy Swayze, Melanie Rodriguez Russell