Patents by Inventor Kenneth J. Bunker

Kenneth J. Bunker 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: 6640937
    Abstract: An axially, slidable brake disc system employs leaf springs between a hub of a suspension casting or knuckle to float the brake discs for axial sliding movement, while holding the discs against wobbling, and employs brake pads which are biased by springs to float on a stationary bridge so that the contact between the brake pads and discs is a light random contact thereby resulting in reduced residual torque drag and disc thickness variation. The rotating brake discs will shift axially, slightly from the braking position to the off-brake position with the brake pads urged by their spring forces to keep their pad faces parallel to and slightly spaced from adjacent brake disc surfaces to prevent corner engagement and localized rubbing contact thereby reducing pad wear, residual drag torque and disc thickness variation. The brake force applicator may be mounted at a 12:00 position and in an integral bore in the suspension knuckle to reduce the size, weight, and space envelope of the braking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Bunker
  • Patent number: 6371250
    Abstract: An ABS brake system employs two axially slidable brake discs and four brake pads that are biased to have floating light random contact therebetween in the off brake position. The ABS controller operates the brake pads with about one half of the usual brake pressure and about double the number of the usual braking and release cycles. The floating axially slidable brake discs and four brake pads have reduced residual torque drag during the brake release cycle and have reduced hystersis. The result is operation at a higher frequency and with less amplitude, than the usual sliding caliper and fixed brake system, and a resolution of a modulating scale for cycling that is usually associated with a much lower coefficient of friction surface than is actually present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Bunker
  • Publication number: 20020038742
    Abstract: An axially, slidable brake disc system employs leaf springs between a hub of a suspension casting or knuckle to float the brake discs for axial sliding movement, while holding the discs against wobbling, and employs brake pads which are biased by springs to float on a stationary bridge so that the contact between the brake pads and discs is a light random contact thereby resulting in reduced residual torque drag and disc thickness variation. The rotating brake discs will shift axially, slightly from the braking position to the off-brake position with the brake pads urged by their spring forces to keep their pad faces parallel to and slightly spaced from adjacent brake disc surfaces to prevent corner engagement and localized rubbing contact thereby reducing pad wear, residual drag torque and disc thickness variation. The brake force applicator may be mounted at a 12:00 position and in an integral bore in the suspension knuckle to reduce the size, weight, and space envelope of the braking system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Applicant: Federal-Mogul Technology Limited
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Bunker
  • Publication number: 20020029939
    Abstract: An ABS brake system employs two axially slidable brake discs and four brake pads that are biased to have floating light random contact therebetween in the off brake position. The ABS controller operates the brake pads with about one half of the usual brake pressure and about double the number of the usual braking and release cycles. The floating axially slidable brake discs and four brake pads have reduced residual torque drag during the brake release cycle and have reduced hystersis. The result is operation at a higher frequency and with less amplitude, than the usual sliding caliper and fixed brake system, and a resolution of a modulating scale for cycling that is usually associated with a much lower coefficient of friction surface than is actually present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Applicant: Federal-Mogul Technology Limited
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Bunker
  • Patent number: 6247560
    Abstract: An axially, slidable brake disc system employs leaf springs between a hub of a suspension casting or knuckle to float the brake discs for axial sliding movement, while holding the discs against wobbling, and employs brake pads which are biased by springs to float on a stationary bridge so that the contact between the brake pads and discs is a light random contact thereby resulting in reduced residual torque drag and disc thickness variation. The rotating brake discs will shift axially, slightly from the braking position to the off-brake position with the brake pads urged by their spring forces to keep their pad faces parallel to and slightly spaced from adjacent brake disc surfaces to prevent corner engagement and localized rubbing contact thereby reducing pad wear, residual drag torque and disc thickness variation. The brake force applicator may be mounted at a 12:00 position and in an integral bore in the suspension knuckle to reduce the size, weight, and space envelope of the braking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Technology Limited
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Bunker
  • Patent number: 6244391
    Abstract: An ABS system brake system employs two axially slidable brake discs and four brake pads that are biased to have floating light random contact therebetween in the off brake position. The ABS controller operates the brake pads with about one half of the usual brake pressure and about double the number of the usual braking and release cycles. The floating axially slidable brake discs and four brake pads have reduced residual torque drag during the brake release cycle and have reduced hystersis. The result is operation at a higher frequency and with less amplitude, than the usual sliding caliper and fixed brake system, and a resolution of a modulating scale for cycling that is usually associated with a much lower coefficient of friction surface than is actually present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Technology Limited
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Bunker
  • Patent number: 6223863
    Abstract: A reduction in size and weight of a vehicle wheel suspension is achieved by locating a brake force applicator at a top portion of a stub axle and adjacent a wheel turning axis and providing a pair of axially slidable brake discs engageable by four floating brake pads. Preferably, the force applicator is disposed within an opening or bore in a top portion of the stub axle adjacent the vertical turning axis which also passes through the stub axle. This is in contrast to the conventional sliding caliper that is mounted at either the front or the rear of a fixed brake disc and projects substantially further outward with respect to the vertical turning axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Technology Limited
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Bunker