Patents by Inventor Thomas Micheal Dalka

Thomas Micheal Dalka 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).

  • Method and apparatus for suppressing vibration in vehicle a steering system
    Patent number: 6681883
    Abstract: A system for reducing steering nibble and other vibrations in a power-assisted steering system increases the amount of damping force when a power steering boost system is applying little or no steering force to the steering actuator, and reduces the amount of damping force when the power boost system is applying significant steering force to the steering actuator. A damping member is formed of a polymer material and is urged into contact with the steering actuator by a spring-biased clamping member. A shuttle valve regulates pressure from the hydraulic steering boost system to overcome the spring biasing force whenever hydraulic pressure is applied to the steering actuator. The preload of the spring biasing mechanism is varied by an electronic control unit that receives inputs from a driver-activated switch, and from vehicle condition sensors to allow automatic, adaptive adjustment of the damping to optimize driving comfort and safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wei-Yi Loh, Thomas Micheal Dalka, Weiping Zhu, Jiansheng Weng
  • Method and apparatus for suppressing vibration in a vehicle steering system
    Publication number: 20030173138
    Abstract: A system for reducing steering nibble and other vibrations in a power-assisted steering system increases the amount of damping force when a power steering boost system is applying little or no steering force to the steering actuator, and reduces the amount of damping force when the power boost system is applying significant steering force to the steering actuator. A damping member is formed of a polymer material and is urged into contact with the steering actuator by a spring-biased clamping member. A shuttle valve regulates pressure from the hydraulic steering boost system to overcome the spring biasing force whenever hydraulic pressure is applied to the steering actuator. The preload of the spring biasing mechanism is varied by an electronic control unit that receives inputs from a driver-activated switch, and from vehicle condition sensors to allow automatic, adaptive adjustment of the damping to optimize driving comfort and safety.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Yi Loh, Thomas Micheal Dalka, Weiping Zhu, Jiansheng Weng