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).
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Hydraulic linear actuator with a locking system for locking the compression movement of the actuator
Patent number: 10962080Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 23, 2018Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: SISTEMI SOSPENSIONI S.p.A.Inventors: Walter Bruno, Piero Antonio Conti, Giordano Greco, Massimo Seminara, Matteo Vergani -
HYDRAULIC LINEAR ACTUATOR WITH A LOCKING SYSTEM FOR LOCKING THE COMPRESSION MOVEMENT OF THE ACTUATOR
Publication number: 20200325954Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2018Publication date: October 15, 2020Applicant: SISTEMI SOSPENSIONI S.p.A.Inventors: Walter Bruno, Piero Antonio Conti, Giordano Greco, Massimo Seminara, Matteo Vergani -
Patent number: 10160282Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 26, 2016Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: SISTEMI SOSPENSIONI S.p.A.Inventor: Massimo Seminara
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Publication number: 20180037083Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2016Publication date: February 8, 2018Inventor: Massimo SEMINARA
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Patent number: 9834058Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 1, 2015Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: SISTEMI SOSPENSIONI S.p.A.Inventors: Massimo Seminara, Massimo Trinchera
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Patent number: 9834059Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 17, 2014Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: SISTEMI SOSPENSIONI S.p.A.Inventor: Massimo Seminara
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Publication number: 20160229253Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2014Publication date: August 11, 2016Applicant: SISTEMI SOSPENSIONI S.p.A.Inventor: Massimo SEMINARA
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Publication number: 20160159191Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2015Publication date: June 9, 2016Inventors: Massimo SEMINARA, Massimo TRINCHERA
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Patent number: 9321319Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 17, 2013Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: SISTEMI SOSPENSIONI S.P.A.Inventor: Massimo Seminara
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Publication number: 20150028552Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2013Publication date: January 29, 2015Inventor: Massimo Seminara
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Publication number: 20110022266Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2008Publication date: January 27, 2011Inventors: Luigi Piero Ippolito, Massimo Seminara, Giordano Greco
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Publication number: 20070137906Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2006Publication date: June 21, 2007Inventors: Massimo Seminara, Marco Raimondi
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Patent number: 6151544Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 4, 1998Date of Patent: November 21, 2000Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.A.Inventors: Fabrizio Amisano, Massimo Seminara
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Patent number: 5609545Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 4, 1995Date of Patent: March 11, 1997Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.A.Inventors: Cesare Sola, Biagio Termine, Massimo Seminara