Patents by Inventor Kai-Michael Graichen

Kai-Michael Graichen 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: 9969373
    Abstract: A tandem master brake cylinder for a hydraulic motor vehicle brake system, which is impinged upon by a pneumatic brake booster, including at least one piston which is displaceable in a housing and has a plurality of follow-up connections the follow-up connections allowing a hydraulic connection between the pressure chamber and a pressureless follow-up chamber at the start of a braking operation. At least some of the follow-up connections are formed as transverse bores through a wall of at least one piston and are arranged at a same distance relative to the piston edge in a main plane, wherein the overtravel thereof by the sealing collar defines a closure path of the piston. In order to allow a smooth, quiet and yet sufficiently reliable braking initiation, the follow-up connections are arranged in a distributed manner on at least three planes, the planes being arranged at a distance to one another and in parallel to the piston edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Harald König, Kai-Michael Graichen, Stephan Krebs, Michael Kollers, Horst Krämer, Andreas Macher
  • Publication number: 20150353066
    Abstract: A tandem master brake cylinder for a hydraulic motor vehicle brake system, which is impinged upon by a pneumatic brake booster, including at least one piston which is displaceable in a housing and has a plurality of follow-up connections the follow-up connections allowing a hydraulic connection between the pressure chamber and a pressureless follow-up chamber at the start of a braking operation. At least some of the follow-up connections are formed as transverse bores through a wall of at least one piston and are arranged at a same distance relative to the piston edge in a main plane, wherein the overtravel thereof by the sealing collar defines a closure path of the piston. In order to allow a smooth, quiet and yet sufficiently reliable braking initiation, the follow-up connections are arranged in a distributed manner on at least three planes, the planes being arranged at a distance to one another and in parallel to the piston edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Harald König, Kai-Michael Graichen, Stephan Krebs, Michael Kollers, Horst Krämer, Andreas Macher
  • Publication number: 20050172801
    Abstract: In order to improve the deformation behavior of a vacuum brake booster provided with force transmission pins that are used to transmit forces onto a body splashboard of a motor vehicle, the invention discloses that the force transmission pins are made up of two sections having different strength. To achieve a sufficiently low strength when a fastening screw is used for a first section, the first section is embodied as a hollow body, and the fastening screw extends only over the length of a second section of the pin. Because the first section is configured as a hollow body, the screw arranged in the second section can be actuated through the first section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventors: Kurt Saalbach, Wilfried Wagner, Kai-Michael Graichen
  • Patent number: 6050174
    Abstract: The deformation behavior of a transmission pin transmitting forces to the body fender of a motor vehicle and being found in the vacuum brake booster, is improved by equipping the transmission pins with predetermined breaking points or segments with smaller diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Jurgen Schonlau, Kai-Michael Graichen, Kurt Saalbach, Wilfried Wagner
  • Patent number: 5680807
    Abstract: To prevent a rolling diaphragm (13), which forms the movable wall (4) of a vacuum brake booster along with a metallic diaphragm disk (12), from becoming detached from an annular groove (52) accommodating a radially inner bead (32) of the rolling diaphragm (13), the rolling diaphragm is connected to the edge of the bead (32) located away from the (first) diaphragm disk (12). By connecting the rolling diaphragm (13) to the edge of the bead (32) located away from the (first) diaphragm disk (12), a pneumatic space (27) is defined by the rolling diaphragm (13) and the (first) diaphragm disk (12). Pressure occurring in the vacuum chamber(s) (28, 30) can be admitted to the pneumatic space (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Wagner, Ralf Jakobi, Kai-Michael Graichen
  • Patent number: 5540053
    Abstract: An actuating unit for a hydraulic brake system for automotive vehicles includes a vacuum brake power booster and a master brake cylinder. To transmit the reaction forces, developing during actuation in the master brake cylinder, to a vehicle body wall which carries the actuating unit, a centrally positioned force-transmitting element is provided, which is arranged between the master brake cylinder and the vehicle body wall in terms of effect. The force-transmitting element is formed of a continuous bolt which extends in an axial direction through the control housing of the vacuum brake power booster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
    Inventor: Kai-Michael Graichen
  • Patent number: 5518305
    Abstract: To infinitely variably adjust the distance between a reaction disc and an interacting second part of a bipartite valve piston in a completely assembled vacuum brake power booster, which is already mounted to the automotive vehicle, a tubular sleeve is provided, arranged coaxially to a piston rod that actuates the valve piston, and is in engagement with a first part of the valve piston, connected with the second part by a threaded union, to apply a torque to the first piston part. For this purpose, the sleeve has at its end projecting from the control housing with an extension permitting rotation of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Jakobi, Kai-Michael Graichen
  • Patent number: 5452644
    Abstract: In order to be able to adjust the distance between a reaction disc and a second part of a a two-part valve piston interacting with the former in a completely assembled vacuum brake power booster, a tubular sleeve is provided according to the invention which is disposed coaxially with a piston rod actuating the valve piston, which is axially slidable and which is engageable with a first part of said valve piston being coupled to the second part by means of a threaded union in order to apply a torque to the first piston part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Jurgen Bauer, Kai-Michael Graichen
  • Patent number: 5297471
    Abstract: A construction and fabrication process for a two piece vacuum brake power booster housing is described which eliminates the surface tensions which are caused by forming during assembly to prevent damage to a protective surface finish. Localized radially weakened zones are each formed by two opposing tongues created by circumferential and axial slots which tongues in the assembled condition of the housing engage behind an outwardly and reversely formed rim (3) of the other housing half (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Boehm, Wilfried Wagner, Lothar Schiel, Manfred Ruffer, Ralf Jakobi, Kai-Michael Graichen, Lothar Mattheis
  • Patent number: 5224410
    Abstract: A vacuum brake power booster with a connecting member (23) for the connecting nozzle (2) of the vacuum line and for the vacuum non-return valve (3). The connecting member is configured in the shape of a housing for a sensing device which detects the position of the diaphragm retainer (16) within the servo-cylinder (15). The sensing device consists of a scanning pin (22) which allows rotation of a gear (9) by means of a flexible toothed rack (6). The gear allows rotation of a tap (12) on an ohmic resistance. The different voltage values generated in this manner indicated the position of the diaphragm retainer within the servo-cylinder. By an appropriate selection of components, by their configuration, by their mutual adaptation, and by the appropriate assembly of these components into a compact overall assembly unit, the contour of a conventional vacuum brake power booster is not exceeded. The mounting space requirements of the booster are thus reduced. The booster is universally applicable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Inventors: Kai-Michael Graichen, Christof Kornas
  • Patent number: 4970940
    Abstract: A vacuum brake booster in which the guiding sleeve (14) for the push rod (29) has an annular ring which defines a cylindrical guiding surface (22) and is guided, in axial movements of the guiding sleeve, by a guide bore in the housing (10) of the control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Boehm, Wilfried Wagner, Kai-Michael Graichen, Ralf Jakobi