Patents by Inventor Peter T. Tola, Jr.

Peter T. Tola, Jr. 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).

  • Vehicle suspension strut having a continuous position sensor
    Patent number: 6401883
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension apparatus according to the invention includes a vehicle suspension strut and a continuous position sensor coupled to the vehicle suspension strut and adapted to provide information indicative of a continuous position of a first portion of the vehicle suspension strut relative to a second portion of the vehicle suspension strut. The continuous position sensor includes a magnet coupled to the first portion of the vehicle suspension strut and a sensing mechanism coupled to the second portion of the vehicle suspension strut and responsive to the magnet to provide an output indicative of the continuous position of the first portion relative to the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: MTS Systems Corporation
    Inventors: David S. Nyce, Arnold F. Sprecher, Jr., Stephen W. Smith, Mauro G. Togneri, Peter T. Tola, Jr.
  • Magnetostrictive linear displacement transducer for a shock absorber
    Patent number: 5952823
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a housing having a chamber and a piston slidably disposed in the chamber. A piston rod is connected to the piston and extends out of the housing. The piston rod includes a bore extending longitudinally therein. A magnetostrictive transducer provides an output signal indicative of the piston with respect to the housing. The magnetostrictive transducer includes a magnetostrictive waveguide disposed in the bore and a magnet joined to the housing that is operably coupled to the magnetostrictive waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: MTS Systems Corporation
    Inventors: David S. Nyce, Stephen W. Smith, Arnold F. Sprecher, Jr., Mauro G. Togneri, Peter T. Tola, Jr.