Patents by Inventor Madhu Nambiar

Madhu Nambiar 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).

  • Yoke assembly for a power steering apparatus
    Patent number: 7631571
    Abstract: A rack and pinion steering system including a rack slidably supported within a housing that engages in a pinion gear. A yoke assembly, including a yoke member engaging the rack, operates to guide the rack and maintain engagement of the rack and pinion during operation of the steering system. A retainer member holds a yoke plug, used in the yoke assembly, in position and also seals the yoke assembly to provide a sealed interface that protects the internal components of the steering system from water and other contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: John David Douma, Madhu Nambiar, Luis Carballo, Jr., Brian Robert Burchart, Michael Patrick Rodgers
  • Self-sealing yoke assembly for a steering apparatus
    Patent number: 7458291
    Abstract: A rack and pinion steering system including a rack slidably supported within a housing that engages in a pinion gear wherein the housing includes a cylindrical sleeve having an outer seal surface with a slight medial taper at one end thereof. A yoke assembly, which is received by the cylindrical sleeve, operates to guide the rack and maintain engagement of the rack and pinion during operation of the steering system and includes a yoke member engaging the rack. A retainer member holds a yoke plug, used in the yoke assembly, in position and has a compliant annular seal member having an inner sealing surface that has a complementary slight outward extending taper to provide a self-sealing interface with the medial taper of the outer seal surface of the cylindrical sleeve to protect the internal components of the steering system from water and other contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: John D. Douma, John F. Laidlaw, Madhu Nambiar
  • Yoke assembly for a power steering apparatus
    Publication number: 20080006110
    Abstract: A rack and pinion steering system including a rack slidably supported within a housing that engages in a pinion gear. A yoke assembly, including a yoke member engaging the rack, operates to guide the rack and maintain engagement of the rack and pinion during operation of the steering system. A retainer member holds a yoke plug, used in the yoke assembly, in position and also seals the yoke assembly to provide a sealed interface that protects the internal components of the steering system from water and other contaminants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: John David Douma, Madhu Nambiar, Luis Carballo, Brian Robert Burchart, Michael Patrick Rodgers
  • Self-sealing yoke assembly for a steering apparatus
    Publication number: 20080006111
    Abstract: A rack and pinion steering system including a rack slidably supported within a housing that engages in a pinion gear wherein the housing includes a cylindrical sleeve having an outer seal surface with a slight medial taper at one end thereof. A yoke assembly, which is received by the cylindrical sleeve, operates to guide the rack and maintain engagement of the rack and pinion during operation of the steering system and includes a yoke member engaging the rack. A retainer member holds a yoke plug, used in the yoke assembly, in position and has a compliant annular seal member having an inner sealing surface that has a complementary slight outward extending taper to provide a self-sealing interface with the medial taper of the outer seal surface of the cylindrical sleeve to protect the internal components of the steering system from water and other contaminants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: John D. Douma, John F. Laidlaw, Madhu Nambiar
  • Assisted steering system with out-of-phase driver and assist pinions
    Patent number: 6705421
    Abstract: An assisted steering system is provided. In preferred embodiments, the system has driver and assist pinions that are out of phase with each other. As a tooth of the driver pinion is fully engaged with a rack tooth, a tooth of the assist pinion is only partially engaged with a tooth of the rack. Preferably, the driver and assist pinions have differing rack speeds and numbers of teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunil Palakodati, James Richard Robertson, Madhu Nambiar
  • Assisted steering system with out-of-phase driver and assist pinions
    Publication number: 20030221895
    Abstract: An assisted steering system is provided. In preferred embodiments, the system has driver and assist pinions that are out of phase with each other. As a tooth of the driver pinion is fully engaged with a rack tooth, a tooth of the assist pinion is only partially engaged with a tooth of the rack. Preferably, the driver and assist pinions have differing rack speeds and numbers of teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Sunil Palakodati, James Richard Robertson, Madhu Nambiar