Patents by Inventor Tim M. Dangel
Tim M. Dangel 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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Patent number: 7047868Abstract: A piston and cylinder assembly in which the rear end of the piston defines an arcuate concavity opening in the rear face of the piston, a retainer having an arcuate configuration matching the arcuate configuration of the piston concavity is positioned in the concavity and defines a spherical socket capturing a spherical front end of the pushrod of the assembly, and a clip coacts with a circumferential groove on the interior surface of the concavity and an external groove structure on the retainer to fixedly secure the retainer to the piston and preclude displacement of the retainer and captured pushrod from the concavity.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2004Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: FTE Automotive USA Inc.Inventors: Michael Joe Nolan, Tim M. Dangel
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Publication number: 20040026208Abstract: A hydraulic clutch actuator system having a vibration damper provided in the system between a master cylinder and a slave cylinder of the system. The damper includes an elastomeric diaphragm and a spring steel diaphragm. One face of the elastomeric diaphragm is in fluid communication with hydraulic fluid in the system so that the elastomeric diaphragm may deflect in response to low frequency vibrations transmitted through hydraulic fluid in the system to effect damping of the low frequency vibrations. The spring steel diaphragm is positioned in the system generally parallel to and proximate the other face of the elastomeric diaphragm so as to form a back-up for the elastomeric diaphragm so that the elastomeric diaphragm may deform against the spring steel diaphragm in response to high frequency vibrations transmitted through the hydraulic fluid to cause deflection of the spring steel diaphragm to effect damping of the high frequency vibrations.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2002Publication date: February 12, 2004Inventors: Richard A. Nix, Michael James Woodard, Tim M. Dangel
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Patent number: 6581380Abstract: A master cylinder formed of a forward plastic part snapingly secured to a rearward plastic part. The forward part has a tapered draft angle bore and the rearward part has a purely cylindrical bore aligned with the draft angle bore of the front part and conforming to the diameter of the piston of the cylinder. An annular groove is defined by the parts in surrounding relation to the aligned bores and an annular bearing, having a true cylindrical inner surface corresponding to the diameter of the piston, is positioned in the groove to guide the front end of the piston as the piston moves forwardly into the tapered bore of the forward part.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2001Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Automotive Products (USA), Inc.Inventors: Tim M. Dangel, Paul L. Barr
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Patent number: 6550246Abstract: A master cylinder assembly in which the casing defines an annular seal groove defining a forward bore portion forwardly of the annular groove and a rearward bore portion rearwardly of the annular groove. The front end of the piston in the retracted position of the piston is received in the forward bore portion to provide total bearing support for the piston and axial grooves are provided in the forward bore portion to allow recuperative fluid to flow from the associated reservoir and through the axial grooves to the forward bore portion forwardly of the retreating piston.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2001Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Automotive Products (USA), Inc.Inventors: Paul L. Barr, Tim M. Dangel, Paul M. Regula
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Publication number: 20030010027Abstract: A master cylinder formed of a forward plastic part snapingly secured to a rearward plastic part. The forward part has a tapered draft angle bore and the rearward part has a purely cylindrical bore aligned with the draft angle bore of the front part and conforming to the diameter of the piston of the cylinder. An annular groove is defined by the parts in surrounding relation to the aligned bores and an annular bearing, having a true cylindrical inner surface corresponding to the diameter of the piston, is positioned in the groove to guide the front end of the piston as the piston moves forwardly into the tapered bore of the forward part.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2001Publication date: January 16, 2003Inventors: Tim M. Dangel, Paul L. Barr
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Publication number: 20030010028Abstract: A master cylinder assembly in which the casing defines an annular seal groove defining a forward bore portion forwardly of the annular groove and a rearward bore portion rearwardly of the annular groove. The front end of the piston in the retracted position of the piston is received in the forward bore portion to provide total bearing support for the piston and axial grooves are provided in the forward bore portion to allow recuperative fluid to flow from the associated reservoir and through the axial grooves to the forward bore portion forwardly of the retreating piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2001Publication date: January 16, 2003Inventors: Paul L. Barr, Tim M. Dangel, Paul M. Regular
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Patent number: 6389956Abstract: A concentric slave cylinder for use in a clutch actuator in which the housing of the slave cylinder is a two-part construction with one of the members having an injection molded polymer member. In one embodiment, both the inner and outer cylindrical members forming the annular chamber for the piston are formed as injection molded polymer members; in a second embodiment, the outer cylindrical member is formed as an injection molded polymer member and the inner cylindrical member is formed as a cold formed steel member; and in a third embodiment, the inner cylindrical member is formed as an injection molded polymer member and the outer member is formed as a cold formed steel member. The use of injection molded members reduces the cost of the housing assembly and the use of a two-part construction allows the provision of a small annular chamber for receipt of the piston.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2000Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Assignee: Automotive Products, Inc.Inventors: Larry Ray Corria, Jr., Keith V. Leigh-Monstevens, Tim M. Dangel, Bryan M. Stevens
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Patent number: 6374724Abstract: A concentric slave cylinder for motor vehicle manual transmissions in which the cylinder housing is fabricated from an inner cylindrical member having a base flange and an outer cylindrical member having a base flange wherein the annular fluid chamber between the outer wall of the inner cylinder and the inner wall of the outer cylinder has a radial dimension of not more than about 4 millimeters.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2000Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: Automotive Products (USA) Inc.Inventors: Keith V. Leigh-Monstevens, Tim M. Dangel, Bryan M. Stevens
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Patent number: 5863077Abstract: A retainer for releasably locking the male and female components of a quick connector. The retainer is releasably insertible into a transverse bore in the female component and is blocked from full insertion by a projection. An extension projects from the retainer and has an aperture sized to receive the tip end of the male component, but not a radial flange on the male component when the retainer is partially inserted into the female component. Forced insertion of the male component breaks off a ring portion of the extension thereby enabling the radial flange on the male component to fully move into the female component. The retainer can then be urged into the fully latched position locking the male and female components.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1996Date of Patent: January 26, 1999Assignee: ITT Automotive, Inc.Inventors: George Szabo, Tim M. Dangel
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Patent number: 5730481Abstract: A retainer for releasably locking the male and female component of a quick connector together. The retainer is releasably insertable into a transverse bore formed in the female component and includes an edge slidable over a radial flange on the male component only when the male component is fully coupled in an axial bore in the female component. The engagement of the edges and the radial flange on the male component permits full insertion of the retainer into the transverse bore in the female component around the male component to lock the male component and female component together. Lock projections on the retainer engage grooves in the housing to releasably lock the retainer in a partially inserted, shipping position in the transverse bore in the female component and engage exterior lock surfaces on the housing on full insertion of the retainer to lock the retainer and the fully inserted male component to the female component.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 1995Date of Patent: March 24, 1998Assignee: ITT Automotive, Inc.Inventors: George Szabo, Thomas E. Grooters, Tim M. Dangel
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Patent number: 5577779Abstract: A snap fit locking mechanism is provided for releasably joining a pair of components. The locking mechanism contains a resilient locking arm integrally formed on a first component. The locking arm includes an outwardly extending projection which defines a step portion and a cam surface. A rigid rectangular locking frame extends outwardly from a second component and defines a substantially rectangular aperture adapted to receive and secure the locking arm. A resilient tab extends outwardly from the second component and into the locking frame aperture and is deflected upon insertion of the locking arm into the locking frame aperture. The resilient tab maintains the locking arm in a secure engagement with the locking frame.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1994Date of Patent: November 26, 1996Assignee: Yazaki CorporationInventor: Tim M. Dangel
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Patent number: 5494245Abstract: A wiring harness retainer clip for securing a wiring harness to a vehicle body panel. The retainer clip includes a first clip portion and a second clip portion connected together using one or more flexible webs. The first clip portion includes an extending axle which is pivotally engageable with an extending bushing on the first clip portion. The two clip portions are rotatable between an open position and a closed position. A mechanism is provided for securing the first clip portion to the second clip portion in the closed position. A mechanism for securing the clip assembly to the vehicle body panel is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 1994Date of Patent: February 27, 1996Assignee: Yazaki CorporationInventors: Yasutaka Suzuki, Tim M. Dangel