Patents by Inventor Massimo Seminara

Massimo Seminara 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: 10962080
    Abstract: The actuator comprises a cylinder and a rod. The cylinder comprises an inner cylindrical tube and an outer cylindrical tube which extend coaxially to each other along a longitudinal axis (z). The inner cylindrical tube accommodates a plunger which is rigidly connected to the rod and separates an inner volume of the inner cylindrical tube into a compression chamber and an extension chamber, wherein at least the compression chamber contains oil. The inner cylindrical tube and the outer cylindrical tube enclose with each other a reservoir chamber which is permanently in fluid communication with the extension chamber via at least one first passage provided in the inner cylindrical tube and contains a pressurized gas in a first portion thereof and oil in a remaining portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: SISTEMI SOSPENSIONI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Walter Bruno, Piero Antonio Conti, Giordano Greco, Massimo Seminara, Matteo Vergani
  • Publication number: 20200325954
    Abstract: The actuator comprises a cylinder and a rod. The cylinder comprises an inner cylindrical tube and an outer cylindrical tube which extend coaxially to each other along a longitudinal axis (z). The inner cylindrical tube accommodates a plunger which is rigidly connected to the rod and separates an inner volume of the inner cylindrical tube into a compression chamber and an extension chamber, wherein at least the compression chamber contains oil. The inner cylindrical tube and the outer cylindrical tube enclose with each other a reservoir chamber which is permanently in fluid communication with the extension chamber via at least one first passage provided in the inner cylindrical tube and contains a pressurized gas in a first portion thereof and oil in a remaining portion thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: SISTEMI SOSPENSIONI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Walter Bruno, Piero Antonio Conti, Giordano Greco, Massimo Seminara, Matteo Vergani
  • Patent number: 10160282
    Abstract: The suspension comprises a mechanical spring interposed between an unsprung mass (UM) and a sprung mass (SM) of the vehicle, a shock-absorber interposed between the unsprung mass (UM) and the sprung mass (SM), in parallel with the mechanical spring, a hydraulic linear actuator, an accumulator, a tank (T) containing an incompressible working fluid and a hydraulic circuit for hydraulically connecting, the hydraulic linear actuator, the accumulator and the tank (T) with each other. A single reversible pump (P) is arranged along the third hydraulic line. A reversible electric motor (M) drives the pump (P) in either direction, and a plurality of valves (V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, VS) control the flow of the working fluid between the accumulator, the tank (T) and the hydraulic linear actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: SISTEMI SOSPENSIONI S.p.A.
    Inventor: Massimo Seminara
  • Publication number: 20180037083
    Abstract: The suspension comprises a mechanical spring interposed between an unsprung mass (UM) and a sprung mass (SM) of the vehicle, a shock-absorber interposed between the unsprung mass (UM) and the sprung mass (SM), in parallel with the mechanical spring, a hydraulic linear actuator, an accumulator, a tank (T) containing an incompressible working fluid and a hydraulic circuit for hydraulically connecting, the hydraulic linear actuator, the accumulator and the tank (T) with each other. A single reversible pump (P) is arranged along the third hydraulic line. A reversible electric motor (M) drives the pump (P) in either direction, and a plurality of valves (V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, VS) control the flow of the working fluid between the accumulator, the tank (T) and the hydraulic linear actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventor: Massimo SEMINARA
  • Patent number: 9834058
    Abstract: A damper with a cylinder and a rod, a spring arranged around the damper and a linear actuator arranged to change in a controlled manner the axial position of a bottom end of the spring relative to the cylinder of the damper. The actuator comprises an inner cylindrical element arranged to be mounted around the cylinder of the damper, an outer cylindrical element, which is mounted so as to be axially slidable relative to the inner cylindrical element and is arranged to support the bottom end of the spring, and a working chamber arranged to be filled with a fluid under pressure to adjust the axial position of the outer cylindrical element relative to the inner cylindrical element. The working chamber is delimited, both radially and axially, only by the inner cylindrical element and by the outer cylindrical element. The outer cylindrical element is provided with a support flange arranged to support the bottom end of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: SISTEMI SOSPENSIONI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Massimo Seminara, Massimo Trinchera
  • Patent number: 9834059
    Abstract: The damper and spring unit comprises a damper, a spring member extending coaxially to the damper, a bottom spring plate and a vehicle height adjustment device for adjusting the height of the vehicle from the ground. A first damper element is connected to a wheel carrier of the suspension and a second damper element is slidable relative to the first damper element along the longitudinal axis (z). The adjustment device is interposed between the first damper element and the spring member to change the linear position of the bottom spring plate, and a bottom end of the spring member, relative to the first damper element. A hydraulic linear actuator comprising a cylinder is secured to the first damper element and a piston drivingly connected for translation with the bottom spring plate along the longitudinal axis (z) of the damper between a bottom end-of-travel position and a top end-of-travel position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: SISTEMI SOSPENSIONI S.p.A.
    Inventor: Massimo Seminara
  • Publication number: 20160229253
    Abstract: The damper and spring unit comprises a damper, a spring member extending coaxially to the damper, a bottom spring plate and a vehicle height adjustment device for adjusting the height of the vehicle from the ground. A first damper element is connected to a wheel carrier of the suspension and a second damper element is slidable relative to the first damper element along the longitudinal axis (z). The adjustment device is interposed between the first damper element and the spring member to change the linear position of the bottom spring plate, and a bottom end of the spring member, relative to the first damper element. A hydraulic linear actuator comprising a cylinder is secured to the first damper element and a piston drivingly connected for translation with the bottom spring plate along the longitudinal axis (z) of the damper between a bottom end-of-travel position and a top end-of-travel position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: SISTEMI SOSPENSIONI S.p.A.
    Inventor: Massimo SEMINARA
  • Publication number: 20160159191
    Abstract: A damper with a cylinder and a rod, a spring arranged around the damper and a linear actuator arranged to change in a controlled manner the axial position of a bottom end of the spring relative to the cylinder of the damper. The actuator comprises an inner cylindrical element arranged to be mounted around the cylinder of the damper, an outer cylindrical element, which is mounted so as to be axially slidable relative to the inner cylindrical element and is arranged to support the bottom end of the spring, and a working chamber arranged to be filled with a fluid under pressure to adjust the axial position of the outer cylindrical element relative to the inner cylindrical element. The working chamber is delimited, both radially and axially, only by the inner cylindrical element and by the outer cylindrical element. The outer cylindrical element is provided with a support flange arranged to support the bottom end of the spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Massimo SEMINARA, Massimo TRINCHERA
  • Patent number: 9321319
    Abstract: The system includes: a first pair of hydraulic linear actuators between a vehicle body and a respective rear wheel such that extension and compression the actuators causes increase and a decrease, respectively, in the height of the body from the ground at the rear axle; a second pair of actuators between the body and a respective front wheel such that extension and compression of the actuators causes increase and a decrease, respectively, in the height of the vehicle body from the ground at the front axle; a supply unit for generating a flow of fluid under pressure; a tank; a hydraulic circuit connecting the pairs of actuators, supply unit, and tank; and a flow controller arranged to control the fluid between the pairs of actuators such that, during raising or lowering of the vehicle body, the height at the front axle is always less than that at the rear axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: SISTEMI SOSPENSIONI S.P.A.
    Inventor: Massimo Seminara
  • Publication number: 20150028552
    Abstract: The system includes: a first pair of hydraulic linear actuators between a vehicle body and a respective rear wheel such that extension and compression the actuators causes increase and a decrease, respectively, in the height of the body from the ground at the rear axle; a second pair of actuators between the body and a respective front wheel such that extension and compression of the actuators causes increase and a decrease, respectively, in the height of the vehicle body from the ground at the front axle; a supply unit for generating a flow of fluid under pressure; a tank; a hydraulic circuit connecting the pairs of actuators, supply unit, and tank; and a flow controller arranged to control the fluid between the pairs of actuators such that, during raising or lowering of the vehicle body, the height at the front axle is always less than that at the rear axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventor: Massimo Seminara
  • Publication number: 20110022266
    Abstract: A control system of dynamics of a vehicle includes a processing and control electronic unit (10) arranged to adjust predetermined parameters of at least one control function. An on-board telematics platform (30) is connected to the processing and control electronic unit (10) and adapted to establish a communication link (L) with an autonomous portable personal electronic device (T) arranged to allow inputting adjustment data of the control function. The processing and control electronic unit (10) is arranged to assume a first autonomous operative condition wherein the processing and control electronic unit (10) is adapted to implement applications based on resident control strategies and a second coupled operative condition wherein the processing and control electronic unit (10) is adapted to establish communication with the telematics platform (30) to receive the adjustment data emitted by the portable personal electronic device (T) and implement the control function based on the adjustment data received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Luigi Piero Ippolito, Massimo Seminara, Giordano Greco
  • Publication number: 20070137906
    Abstract: A hybrid-drive vehicle having a pair of drive wheels; a combustion engine having a drive shaft; a first electric motor-generator having a first shaft connected mechanically to the drive shaft of the combustion engine; a second electric motor-generator having a second shaft; and an electric power supply device connected electrically to the two electric motor-generators and having a storage device; the first shaft of the first electric motor-generator is connected at one end to the drive shaft of the combustion engine, and is connected at the opposite end to the drive wheels with a fixed, non-adjustable velocity ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: Massimo Seminara, Marco Raimondi
  • Patent number: 6151544
    Abstract: The control method comprises the stages of: generating a reference torque signal, the instantaneous value of which indicates the desired value of the torque transmitted through the clutch; generating a reaction signal correlated to the position of an actuating member of the clutch, the position of the actuating member being comprised between a first end-of-travel position in which the clutch is completely open and a second end-of-travel position in which the clutch is completely closed; generating an estimated torque signal, the instantaneous value of which indicates the estimated value of the torque transmitted through the clutch, on the basis of the reaction signal and a transmissibility function of the clutch; and generating a control signal for adjusting the position of the clutch as a function of the reference torque signal and the estimated torque signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Amisano, Massimo Seminara
  • Patent number: 5609545
    Abstract: A control system for a servo-assisted automatic gearbox in which the gearbox control unit communicates by means of a data line with the engine management unit in such a way as to optimise the gear-change operation. In particular, the gearbox control unit transmits to the engine management unit, during the course of the various phases A, B, C, D, E of the gear-change operation, the target speed of rotation or desired torque and receives instantaneous information relating to the speed of rotation and delivered torque so as to be able to perform the clutch engaging and disengaging operations and the gear engaging and disengaging operations in an optimal manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.A.
    Inventors: Cesare Sola, Biagio Termine, Massimo Seminara