Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Atkins

Thomas M. Atkins 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: 6443539
    Abstract: The duration and average deceleration of a vehicle wheel are measured during a wheel speed departure and compared to duration and deceleration thresholds to determined if a wheel sneakdown condition exists for the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventor: Thomas M. Atkins
  • Patent number: 6398321
    Abstract: Reapply pulses for increasing the brake fluid pressure applied to controlled wheel brakes in an anti-lock brake system are generated as a function of vehicle speed. A reapply pulse is generated when the vehicle speed decreases by a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventor: Thomas M. Atkins
  • Patent number: 6357840
    Abstract: Upon detection of a potential transition from a low mu road surface to a high mu road surface, a rear wheel anti-lock brake system generates one dump pulse to increase the braking effort of the controller rear wheel as a test of the road surface. If the wheel accelerates following the test pulse, the transition is false and the anti-lock brake system continues as before. If the wheel does not accelerate following the test pulse, the transition is true and the anti-lock brake system proceeds to increase the braking effort of the controlled wheel brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventor: Thomas M. Atkins
  • Patent number: 6290312
    Abstract: During wheel speed sneakdown conditions, a deceleration threshold in an anti-lock brake system control algorithm is incrementally increased to enhance the anti-lock braking system effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventor: Thomas M. Atkins
  • Patent number: 6193327
    Abstract: The speed of a controlled wheel in a rear wheel anti-lock brake system is monitored during a spin-and-brake condition. Acceleration of the rear wheel following a string of dump pulses is an indication that the spin-and brake condition ended before the vehicle brakes were applied. A lack of acceleration of the rear wheel following a string of dump pulses is an indication that the spin-and-brake condition is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventor: Thomas M. Atkins
  • Patent number: 4886322
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a vehicle anti-lock brake control system which does not require the use of an auxiliary hydraulic pump and, in the preferred embodiment, is adapted to control only the rear brakes of a four-wheel vehicle. The control system includes a normally open solenoid actuated isolation valve connected between the master cylinder and the rear wheel brakes, and a normally closed solenoid actuated dump valve connected between the rear wheel brakes and a fluid accumulator. A computer control is connected to monitor the rear wheel speed and deceleration and, during braking of the vehicle, functions to control the application of hydraulic pressure to the rear brakes via the isolation and dump valves in order to correct wheel speed departures and prevent lock-up of the brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: Kelsey Hayes Company
    Inventor: Thomas M. Atkins
  • Patent number: 4865399
    Abstract: A vehicle braking system such as an anti-lock brake system and/or a traction control utilizes a separate solenoid-actuated, two position, three-way valve in each controlled channel of the brake system for controlling the application of pressure to the respective wheel brake circuit. The valve includes a first port connected to the controlled wheel brake(s), a second port connected to an outlet of a hydraulic pump, and a third port connected to the inlet of the hydraulic pump. The valve is only moveable between a first position wherein the outlet of the pump is connected to the wheel brake to increase pressure to the wheel brake, and a second position wherein the wheel brake is connected to the inlet of the pump to decrease pressure to the wheel brake. An electronic control is provided for operating the valve to control the application of pressure to the selected wheel brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Kelsey Hayes Company
    Inventors: Thomas M. Atkins, Brian C. Tuck, Edward N. Fuller, Peter Every
  • Patent number: 4790607
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a vehicle anti-lock brake control system which does not require the use of an auxiliary hydraulic pump and, in the preferred embodiment, is adapted to control only the rear brakes of a four-wheel vehicle. The control system includes a normally open solenoid actuated isolation valve connected between the master cylinder and the rear wheel brakes, and a normally closed solenoid actuated dump valve connected between the rear wheel brakes and a fluid accumulator. A computer control is connected to monitor the rear wheel speed and deceleration and, during breaking of the vehicle, functions to control the application of hydraulic pressure to the rear brakes via the isolation and dump valves in order to prevent lock-up of the brakes. In the event excessive rear wheel deceleration is detected during a vehicle stop, the computer control closes the isolation valve to hold pressure to the rear brakes at a relatively constant level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Kelsey Hayes Company
    Inventor: Thomas M. Atkins
  • Patent number: 4673226
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a normally open isolation valve is connected between a master cylinder and the selected wheel brakes, and a normally closed dump valve is connected between the selected wheel brakes and a fluid accumulator. A computer control module is connected to operate the isolation valve and the dump valve. In operation, when a slip condition of the controlled wheels is detected, the computer control module closes the isolation valve to hold fluid pressure to the controlled brakes at a relatively constant level. If the deceleration of the controlled wheels exceeds a predetermined amount, the computer control module will selectively open the dump valve to enable fluid to flow into the accumulator, thereby reducing the deceleration of the associated wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventors: Peter Every, Thomas M. Atkins, Roger L. Miller, Leonard T. Tribe
  • Patent number: 3981543
    Abstract: A hydraulically operated automotive skid control system. The system includes a regulator that regulates pump pressure that operates on the modulator in response to variations in braking system pressure. A combined bypass and isolation valve is incorporated for providing a direct source of actuating fluid in the event of failure of the pump to maintain adequate pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1976
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventor: Thomas M. Atkins
  • Patent number: 3966266
    Abstract: A skid control system utilizing a skid detector which is responsive to wheel deceleration, a skid recovery detector which is responsive to wheel acceleration, a holding circuit including a capacitor for modifying the response of the system in accordance with the level of charge on the capacitor, and charging and discharging circuits for charging and discharging the capacitor in accordance with various skid condition related signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1976
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventor: Thomas M. Atkins
  • Patent number: 3963276
    Abstract: A vehicular skid control system for relieving the brake pressure when an incipient skid condition is sensed. The system includes a combined check and bleed valve between the master cylinder and rear wheel brakes, a modulator assembly actuable by a ancillary source of fluid pressure, a fal safe bypass valve for communicating unmodulated master cylinder pressure directly to the rear brakes upon failure of the ancillary pressure source, and a regulator provided in the circuit connecting the source of ancillary fluid with the expansion chamber for maintaining at least a predetermind pressure in the circuit. Certain of the elements of the system may be automatically cycled each time the vehicle engine is started and stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1973
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1976
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventor: Thomas M. Atkins