Patents by Inventor Robert C. Lam

Robert C. Lam 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).

  • Friction matertial
    Patent number: 11199233
    Abstract: A friction material comprises a base and a friction generating layer penetrating into and integral with the base. The base presents a bonding surface. The friction generating layer presents a friction generating surface facing opposite the bonding surface of the base. The friction generating layer comprises fibrillated nanofibers, friction adjusting particles, and elastomeric particles. A curable resin is dispersed throughout the friction generating layer and the base of the friction material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Feng Dong, Robert C. Lam
  • FRICTION MATERIAL
    Publication number: 20190003544
    Abstract: A friction material comprises a base and a friction generating layer penetrating into and integral with the base. The base presents a bonding surface. The friction generating layer presents a friction generating surface facing opposite the bonding surface of the base. The friction generating layer comprises fibrillated nanofibers, friction adjusting particles, and elastomeric particles. curable resin is dispersed throughout the friction generating layer and the base of the friction material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Feng DONG, Robert C. LAM
  • Wet friction material
    Patent number: 9777785
    Abstract: A wet friction material for use in a wet clutch includes a friction interfacing surface for experiencing frictional engagement with an opposed surface in the presence of a lubricant. At least a portion of the friction interfacing surface comprises fibrillated nanofibers, which define a nanofibrous web, and friction adjusting particles held by the nanofibrous web. A cured resin may adhere the fibrillated nanofibers and the friction adjusting particles to provide structural support for the friction material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Feng Dong, Robert C. Lam, Timothy P. Newcomb
  • Friction material
    Patent number: 9677635
    Abstract: One variation includes a friction material wherein the friction material may be fabricated from fibers, particles, a chemical binder, and a resin bonding agent wherein the particles are aggregated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventors: Jason Bares, Robert C. Lam
  • Friction material including a plurality of binder particles with friction modifying particles bound thereto
    Patent number: 9657798
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment includes a friction material including a base including a plurality of fibers. The base including an engagement surface, and a plurality of binder particles and friction modifying particles at the engagement surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventors: Robert C. Lam, Feng Dong
  • FRICTION MATERIAL
    Publication number: 20150031787
    Abstract: One variation includes a friction material wherein the friction material may be fabricated from fibers, particles, a chemical binder, and a resin bonding agent wherein the particles are aggregated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Bares, Robert C. Lam
  • Porous friction material with nanoparticles of friction modifying material
    Patent number: 8603614
    Abstract: A friction material which includes a porous base material, at least one type of resin material, and at least one type of nanoparticle-sized friction modifying particle is disclosed. The resin material is substantially uniformly dispensed throughout the base material and a non-continuous layer of a predetermined amount of the nanoparticle-sized friction modifying materials forms a porous top surface on the base material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Lam, Yih-Fang Chen, Kenji Maruo
  • Carbon friction materials
    Patent number: 8394452
    Abstract: Sintered, carbon friction materials are made from fibrous materials that are impregnated with resins prior to sintering. Preferably, non-woven fibrous materials are impregnated with phenolic resin and sintered at 400 to 8000 C. The resulting material has an open porosity above 50 percent by volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Feng Dong, Robert C. Lam, Yih-Fang Chen
  • WET FRICTION MATERIAL
    Publication number: 20130037373
    Abstract: A wet friction material for use in a wet clutch includes a friction interfacing surface for experiencing frictional engagement with an opposed surface in the presence of a lubricant. At least a portion of the friction interfacing surface comprises fibrillated nanofibers, which define a nanofibrous web, and friction adjusting particles held by the nanofibrous web. A cured resin may adhere the fibrillated nanofibers and the friction adjusting particles to provide structural support for the friction material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Feng Dong, Robert C. Lam, Timothy P. Newcomb
  • FRICTION MATERIAL INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF BINDER PARTICLES WITH FRICTION MODIFYING PARTICLES BOUND THERETO
    Publication number: 20120108698
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment includes a friction material including a base including a plurality of fibers. The base including an engagement surface, and a plurality of binder particles and friction modifying particles at the engagement surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Robert C. Lam, Feng Dong
  • Fully fibrous structure friction material
    Patent number: 8021744
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a friction material having a fully fibrous content fibrous base material. The base material has dispersed therethrough, in a penetrating gradient, a desired amount of friction modifying particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Lam, In Seok Oh
  • Carbon Friction Materials
    Publication number: 20100304631
    Abstract: Sintered, carbon friction materials are made from fibrous materials that are impregnated with resins prior to sintering. Preferably, non-woven fibrous materials are impregnated with phenolic resin and sintered at 400 to 8000 C. The resulting material has an open porosity above 50 percent by volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventors: Feng Dong, Robert C. Lam, Yih Fang Chen
  • Friction material
    Patent number: 7806975
    Abstract: This friction material has a fibrous base material and preferably is a wet friction material for use in a fluid environment. The fibers have a small diameter and a high tensile modulus resulting in flexible fibers that performs well in a high temperature, high pressure fluid environment. The fibers have a diameter ranging from 1 to 20 micrometers and a tensile modulus greater than 70 Gpa. In the preferred embodiment, the small diameter fibers are small diameter carbon fibers or small diameter mineral fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Lam, Feng Dong
  • Porous friction material comprising nanoparticles of friction modifying material
    Patent number: 7749562
    Abstract: A method of making a friction material which includes a porous base material, at least one type of resin material, and at least one type of nanoparticle-sized friction modifying particle, is disclosed. The resin material and the nanoparticle-sized friction modifying particles are substantially uniformly dispensed throughout the base material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Lam, Yih-Fang Chen, Kenji Maruo
  • Mixed deposit friction material
    Patent number: 7696261
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a friction material having a fibrous base material as a primary layer and a secondary layer comprising a mixture of carbonaceous material and friction modifying particles on at least one surface of the primary layer for use as an anti-shudder friction material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Lam
  • Porous friction material comprising nanoparticles of friction modifying material
    Patent number: 7429418
    Abstract: A friction material which includes a porous base material, at least one type of resin material, and at least one type of nanoparticle-sized friction modifying particle, is disclosed. The resin material and the nanoparticle-sized friction modifying particles are substantially uniformly dispensed throughout the base material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Lam, Yih-Fang Chen, Kenji Maruo
  • Friction material with nanoparticles of friction modifying layer
    Patent number: 7294388
    Abstract: A friction material which includes a base material, at least one type of resin material, and at least one type of nanoparticle-sized friction modifying particle is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Lam, Yih-Fang Chen, Kenji Maruo
  • Friction material with friction modifying layer having symmetrical geometric shapes
    Patent number: 6875711
    Abstract: A friction material has a first layer of a base material and a second layer of at least one type of friction modifying particle having substantially symmetrical geometric shapes on a top surface of the base material. The second layer has an average thickness of about 30 to about 200 microns and the surface area coverage of about 80 to about 100% such that the top layer has a fluid permeability lower than the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Yih-Fang Chen, Robert C. Lam, Feng Dong, Bulent Chavdar
  • Friction material with friction modifying layer having symmetrical geometric shapes
    Publication number: 20040043243
    Abstract: A friction material has a first layer of a base material and a second layer of at least one type of friction modifying particle having substantially symmetrical geometric shapes on a top surface of the base material. The second layer has an average thickness of about 30 to about 200 microns and the surface area coverage of about 80 to about 100% such that the top layer has a fluid permeability lower than the first layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Yih-Fang Chen, Robert C. Lam, Feng Dong, Bulent Chavdar
  • Friction material with friction modifying layer
    Publication number: 20040043193
    Abstract: A friction material has a first layer of a fibrous base material and a second layer of at least one type of friction modifying particle on a top surface of the fibrous base material. The second layer has an average thickness of about 30-200 &mgr;m and a surface coverage of about 80% to about 100%, such that the top layer has a permeability lower than the first layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Yih-Fang Chen, Robert C. Lam, Feng Dong, Bulent Chavdar