Patents by Inventor James William Zehnder, II

James William Zehnder, II 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: 11274725
    Abstract: A hydraulic mount apparatus includes a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion disposed on a center axis and defining a housing chamber. A partition member is disposed in the housing chamber dividing the housing chamber into a pumping chamber and a receiving chamber. The pumping chamber extends between the upper portion and the partition member. The receiving chamber extends between the lower portion and the partition member. A decoupler is attached to the partition member separating the pumping chamber and the receiving chamber. A moving member is disposed in the pumping chamber and attached to the decoupler. The moving member is made from a non-elastomeric polymer sheet secured to the decoupler for providing the additional damping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: BEIJINGWEST INDUSTRIES CO., LTD
    Inventors: James William Zehnder, II, Michael William Hurtt, Scott D. McCoy, Timothy Michael Schlangen, David John Barta
  • Patent number: 11156263
    Abstract: A hydraulic mount apparatus includes a housing having an upper and a lower portion disposed on a center axis and defining a housing chamber. A partition member is disposed in the housing chamber dividing the housing chamber into a pumping chamber and a receiving chamber. The pumping chamber extends between the upper portion and the partition member. The receiving chamber extends between the lower portion and the partition member. A decoupler attaches to the partition member separating the pumping and the receiving chambers. A moving member of elastomeric material, disposed in the pumping chamber, attaches to the decoupler. The moving member is molded from a first elastomeric material having a first hardness level and a second elastomeric material having a second hardness level with the first hardness level and the second hardness level being different from one another. The second hardness level is less than the first hardness level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: BEIJINGWEST INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: James William Zehnder, II, Timothy Allen Haerr
  • Publication number: 20200080615
    Abstract: A hydraulic mount apparatus includes a housing having an upper and a lower portion disposed on a center axis and defining a housing chamber. A partition member is disposed in the housing chamber dividing the housing chamber into a pumping chamber and a receiving chamber. The pumping chamber extends between the upper portion and the partition member. The receiving chamber extends between the lower portion and the partition member. A decoupler attaches to the partition member separating the pumping and the receiving chambers. A moving member of elastomeric material, disposed in the pumping chamber, attaches to the decoupler. The moving member is molded from a first elastomeric material having a first hardness level and a second elastomeric material having a second hardness level with the first hardness level and the second hardness level being different from one another. The second hardness level is less than the first hardness level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: James William Zehnder, II, Timothy Allen Haerr
  • Publication number: 20200080614
    Abstract: A hydraulic mount apparatus includes a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion disposed on a center axis and defining a housing chamber. A partition member is disposed in the housing chamber dividing the housing chamber into a pumping chamber and a receiving chamber. The pumping chamber extends between the upper portion and the partition member. The receiving chamber extends between the lower portion and the partition member. A decoupler is attached to the partition member separating the pumping chamber and the receiving chamber. A moving member is disposed in the pumping chamber and attached to the decoupler. The moving member is made from a non-elastomeric polymer sheet secured to the decoupler for providing the additional damping force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: James William Zehnder, II, Michael William Hurtt, Scott D. McCoy, Timothy Michael Schlangen, David John Barta
  • Patent number: 6374721
    Abstract: A brake vacuum booster assembly is provided that includes a power piston with a two-piece member movable relative thereto for opening a valve when a brake pedal is applied. The two-piece member includes a cylinder and a cylinder cap. The cylinder has a passageway vented to atmosphere for providing air to air chamber in the booster. An electric actuator is retained within a cavity in the cylinder for coacting with the valve to more quickly open the valve during a rapid brake pedal apply. A cylinder cap is connected to an end of the cylinder for retaining the electric actuator within the cavity. The cylinder cap has an opening aligned with the passageway. A retaining mechanism is arranged between the cylinder and the cylinder cap for preventing axial and rotational movement of the cylinder cap relative to the cylinder to securely retain the electric actuator within the cavity and maintain alignment of the opening and passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James William Zehnder, II, Gary Chris Fulks, Larry R Miller
  • Patent number: 6324845
    Abstract: A self contained, supplemental vacuum assist unit is provided for use with a vacuum brake booster and a source of vacuum in a motor vehicle. The unit includes, within a single housing, an electric motor, an air pump driven by the motor, a manifold defining air exhaust and assist vacuum chambers, a pair of check valves permitting air flow from the pump outlet and the assist vacuum chamber to the air exhaust chamber, an outlet from the air exhaust chamber with a fitting for connection to the vacuum source, an opening from the assist vacuum chamber with a fitting providing communication directly to the interior of the vacuum chamber of the booster, and a pressure sensor including a diaphragm, plunger, magnet with a Hall effect sensor and motor control circuitry on a circuit board within the assist vacuum chamber. The unit is compact, light weight and efficient and is designed for attachment directly to the booster with no intervening vacuum hose therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Chris Fulks, Douglas E. Poole, James William Zehnder, II, Timothy Allen Haerr, Timothy M. Schlangen, Vivek V. Mohile
  • Patent number: 6301883
    Abstract: A brake booster provides additional boost capacity without unduly increasing booster size and weight by providing a vacuum pump connected so as to add its additional vacuum capacity to that of the normal vacuum source when activated in response to sensed approaching run-out. The additional vacuum is provided by connecting the vacuum pump in a second conduit between the vacuum source and the booster vacuum chamber in parallel with a first conduit connecting the vacuum source directly with the booster vacuum chamber, with check valve means in the first and second conduits preventing substantial vacuum loss from the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Chris Fulks, James William Zehnder, II, Douglas E. Poole, Timothy Allen Haerr, Michelle Kay Goecke, Timothy M. Schlangen
  • Patent number: 6209442
    Abstract: A vacuum brake booster provides a braking speed of application enhancement by increasing the air valve opening when a vehicle operator applies braking force quickly and forcefully. This is accomplished with a two part air valve which is normally expanded axially to a normal length by an internal spring but which may be shortened to open the air valve by a greater amount when the brake pedal input force is sufficient to move the air valve axially against another spring into contact with a shoulder of the power piston. The internal spring has a much higher preload than the other spring so that the booster operates with a fully axially expanded air valve in normal, low force brake activation. Once the air valve axially engages the power piston, however, the increase in air valve opening is immediate and substantial with any further increase in braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Allen Haerr, James William Zehnder, II, Gary Chris Fulks
  • Patent number: 6164183
    Abstract: A vacuum booster for a vehicle brake system provides a working pressure valve seat on a valve member axially movable with respect to an input member. A rotary electric motor within the booster has an output shaft coupled through rotary to linear motion conversion apparatus to move the valve member with its working pressure valve seat relative to the input member. The combination of elements is designed as a drop-in replacement for a standard air valve member. The motion conversion apparatus provides much greater mechanical force than a linear solenoid; and this allows a more straightforward design of the valve arrangement, particularly the use of a high friction seal such as a simple "O"-ring in a groove. In further contrast to a linear solenoid, it further provides positive control of the working pressure valve seat position and an extended range of travel with constant force throughout the range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Chris Fulks, Donald Lee Parker, James William Zehnder II
  • Patent number: 6006520
    Abstract: A brake apply system includes a power booster in which, when released and at-rest, a leg of a stop engages a clip and an extension of a valve body engages the clip so that an annular rib of the valve body is axially spaced away from the stop by a distance G. At the same time, a first valve seat is engaged with a first annular valve element closing a pressure supply conduit off from a variable pressure chamber and a second valve seat is spaced away from a second annular valve element by a distance T, opening the variable pressure chamber to an atmospheric pressure chamber. When the power booster is applied, the second valve seat moves the distance T and engages the second annular valve element closing the variable pressure chamber off from the atmospheric pressure chamber and the first valve seat separates from the first annular valve element opening the pressure supply conduit to the variable pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: James William Zehnder, II, Donald Lee Parker, Timothy Allen Haerr, John Dudley Altevers, Craig Alan Osterday, Robert Lee Phillis
  • Patent number: 5927827
    Abstract: A braking system generally provides pressure equalization between the sides of a split braking circuit. The amount of equalization provided is limited to enable the introduction of purposely induced pressure variances. A result is that unintentional pressure variations are moderated and intentional target pressure variations are easily obtainable. The braking system provides power braking operation in response to a manually actuated master cylinder. Fluid pressure is transmitted through isolation valves directly to the wheel brakes. The braking system also provides power operation in response to a powered pump. The pump delivers pressurized fluid through a controllable supply valve. When the supply valve is open, the isolation valve(s) are shifted to provide open fluid communication path between proportional pressure control valves and the wheel brakes. The pressure equalization effecting device is isolated from the master cylinder pressurized circuit during base brake operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David Fredrick Reuter, James William Zehnder, II, Gary Lee Johnston
  • Patent number: 5855417
    Abstract: In a vehicle braking system, integral control and isolation valves are used to individually control the brake line pressure to each wheel brake and to provide pedal isolation for each brake channel. The system is operable on a single fluid or a separated fluid system with an integrated power source. Full proportional anti-lock braking and traction control is provided to each selected wheel independently. The system is applicable as a two, three or four channel base brake system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Lee Johnston, James William Zehnder, II, William Charles Kruckemeyer, Michael Leslie Oliver
  • Patent number: 5715680
    Abstract: A hydraulic power booster for a brake apply system includes a mechanically actuated hydraulic booster of compact design that can be integrated in line with a conventional type master cylinder. Additionally, a combination of twin mechanically actuated check valves is arranged to provide a structure with essentially no leakage when the hydraulic booster is at rest and when the hydraulic booster is at poise. A mechanically actuated check valve is normally held open and is positioned in a passageway between the power piston and a fluid reservoir. This check valve is substantially, immediately closed upon the application of force to the brake pedal. Another mechanically actuated check valve is provided in a passageway between the hydraulic power supply and the power piston. This check valve is mechanically opened to supply a selected amount of pressurized fluid to the power piston which generates a selected amount of vehicle braking in response to actuation of the brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William Charles Kruckemeyer, Michael Leslie Oliver, James William Zehnder, II, Gary Lee Johnston
  • Patent number: 5690319
    Abstract: A turnable pneumatic suspension system is provided wherein proper air flow to the diaphragm is ensured through a charging route that is maintained in a securely sealed condition and which includes a nonrotatable point of attachment to a remote pressurization device. The pneumatic suspension system includes an air spring and a damper in combination, mounted to rotate relative to a vehicle with a dynamic seal provided between a nonrotatable seal ring and mating components of the air spring facilitating rotation of the suspension module while the entrance to the air charging route of the suspension module remains stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Robinson, James William Zehnder, II, William Charles Kruckemeyer, Herbert Stanley Summers, III, Jay Michael Shores, Stephen Carey Hagwood
  • Patent number: 5690396
    Abstract: A proportional fluid pressure regulation system is provided using a combination of a proportional valve and a shuttle valve for fluid flow control. A system of fluid pressure regulation is achieved where the desired pressure output is provided by one of two pressure input sources. The two pressure input sources are alternately selected by operation of a pilot operated shuttle valve and a solenoid operated proportional valve. The two pressure sources may comprise a manually actuated vehicle braking system's master cylinder and a power operated fluid pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Lee Johnston, James William Zehnder, II, William Charles Kruckemeyer, Richard Edward Longhouse, Michael Leslie Oliver