Electric And Mechanical Patents (Class 188/156)
  • Publication number: 20080185235
    Abstract: An electric parking brake control apparatus includes: an electric parking brake actuator that pulls cables connected to respective parking brake units of wheels; a brake actuator that controls braking pressures applied to the wheels by service brakes; a pressure-increase control unit that controls the brake actuator to increase the braking pressures to a predetermined value, when a tension of the cables falls below a predetermined target tension after the cables are pulled until the target tension is achieved; and a tension-increase control unit that controls the electric parking brake actuator to pull the cables until the tension of the cables exceeds the target tension, after the brake pressures are increased by the pressure-increase control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masakuni SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 7401866
    Abstract: A braking device for an industrial truck, comprising an electromagnetic brake unit on a load-bearing wheel and/or driving motor, a brake pedal the position of which is detected by an electric position detector which generates an analog electric braking signal, and a brake control into which the analog braking signal in input and which generates a control signal to actuate the brake unit electromagnetically in response to the analog braking signal, characterized in that the area of the end position of the brake pedal has associated therewith a signal transmitter connected to the brake control which provides a first signal to the brake control when the brake pedal is within the range of response of the signal transmitter and the brake control generates a control signal for the brake unit that causes a hard stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Jungheinrich Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Sebastian Hüther
  • Patent number: 7398846
    Abstract: A wheel assembly for a vehicle includes a rotatable wheel having a selectively adjustable steering angle. A steering actuator is operatively connected to the wheel and is configured to selectively adjust the steering angle of the wheel and not any other wheels. The wheel assembly allows independent control of the steering angle of the wheel. The wheel assembly also facilitates modular construction of vehicles by enabling the packaging of mechanical steering components in a preassembled wheel module with simple electrical connections to a vehicle chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Young, Mohsen D. Shabana, Christopher E. Borroni-Bird, Adrian B. Chernoff, Robert L. Vitale, Bruce Edward Zemke
  • Publication number: 20080142317
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spindle (1), in particular an electromechanical parking brake of a vehicle, which is embodied as a component of a spindle drive. The aim of the invention is to secure, in a detachable and simple manner, a standard cable pull comprising fittings to a spindle. Said aim is achieved in that a coupling part (7) comprising a receiving section (8) which is used to receive a fitting (9) of the cable pull (6) and a securing section (10) is provided on one free end section (11) of the spindle (1). The securing section (10) of the coupling part (7) are crimped to the free end section (11) of the spindle (1). The invention also relates to a connecting method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2005
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Uwe Probst, Bernhard Markus, Dietmar Konig, Markus Kummel, Stephan Roos
  • Publication number: 20080135355
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electric parking brake system with one cable that has only one cable between an actuator, serving as a power generator, and parking cables and high flexibility in laying-out for mounting to a vehicle. According to an electric parking brake system with one cable of the invention, an actuator that converts torque of a motor into axial moving force to operate parking cables is manufactured into a single module, a housing that defines the whole external shape of the actuator is formed into an integral unit by injection molding, in which vibration caused by rotation in the operation of the actuator is absorbed by elastic members, so that a small-sized actuator having improved workability in mounting can be obtained and desired performance, such as reduction of operational noise caused by absorption of vibration, can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jae Woo Jeon
  • Publication number: 20080135349
    Abstract: An electric brake assembly and method are characterized by a brake disk stack (12) and an actuator assembly (11) for applying braking force to the brake disk stack, the actuator assembly including an actuator mounting member (18), and at least one actuator module (27) removably mounted to the actuator mounting member, each actuator module including an electric motor (80) and a ram (26) carried by a respective housing (34), the housing of each actuator module having at least one mounting flange (36) for abutting an axially outwardly facing mounting surface on the actuator mounting member when in a first rotated position within an aperture (42) in the actuator mounting member, and the mounting flange having a configuration for axial passage through the aperture when in a second rotated position, thereby to facilitate easy disassembly of the actuator module from the mounting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy M. Himes, Eric J. Reed, Bud W. Runner, Tricia L. Botkin, Alan V. McDougal, Steve W. Anderson
  • Patent number: 7374026
    Abstract: A parking brake assembly for an air actuated disc brake includes an operating shaft for amplifying a force supplied by an air actuator and transmitting the force to brake pads. The operating shaft is pivotable about an axis between a rest position at which a braking force is not applied and an actuated position at which the braking force is applied. An abutment surface on the operating shaft is selectively engageable by a complementary latch of the assembly to retain the operating shaft in the actuated position and thereby apply the parking brake. The abutment surface has a helical configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Braking Systems (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Martin Pors Taylor, Mark Anthony Norman
  • Patent number: 7370739
    Abstract: A shock absorber has a function of transmitting electric power between sprung and unsprung electrical components. The shock absorber includes a pair of conductive elements. The conductive elements are coupled electrically to each other. One of the conductive elements is attached to the rod of the shock absorber. The other conductive element is mounted within the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Tsukamoto, Yasuhiko Kitajima, Kouichirou Yonekura, Tetsuya Niikuni
  • Patent number: 7364020
    Abstract: A force sensor for an electromechanical brake has a closed ring having a C-shaped profile that is open inwardly. Force is introduced along the inner circumference of the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johannes Ante, Stephan Heinrich, Andreas Ott
  • Patent number: 7354372
    Abstract: An electric actuator for an automatic transmission includes an adapter to transmit rotary motion between the adapter and the automatic transmission. An electric motor has an output shaft operably connected to the adapter by a gear set which includes a ring gear. The gear set reduces speed and increases torque supplied by the output shaft of the electric motor and applied to the adapter. A release mechanism is operably connected to the gear set and includes a lock member movable between a first position wherein the lock member is in engagement with the ring gear to lock the ring gear against rotary motion in both directions and a second position wherein the lock member is out of engagement with the ring gear to permit rotary motion of the ring gear in both directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Yong Qiang Wang
  • Patent number: 7353101
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to control electro-mechanical brakes are disclosed. A disclosed example method of controlling a brake actuator comprises receiving a value representative of a velocity of a piston associated with the brake actuator relative to a pressure plate mounted on a wheel, and determining a control input for the brake actuator based on the velocity value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: James Russell Phillips
  • Patent number: 7347306
    Abstract: The present invention discloses and claims an apparatus and method for operating a take-up mechanism. The system includes electric and manual actuating mechanisms engaged with a combiner mechanism to apply force to the take-up mechanism. In a first mode of operation, the combiner mechanism transmits rotation from the electric actuating mechanism, and in a second mode of operation, the combiner mechanism transmits rotation from the manual actuating mechanism. The method for operating the take-up mechanism uses a motor and a manual input shaft connected to a gear to operate the take-up mechanism in the first and second modes. The motor is engaged with the gear during at least the second mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Graham-White Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: William F. Ginder
  • Patent number: 7341127
    Abstract: A parking brake which is connected to at least two brake cables, in particular for a parking brake system of motor vehicles, comprising: an actuator with linking devices to which the at least two brake cables are coupled at linking places and an operator configured and connected to the actuator such that it can change the distance between the linking places in a controlled manner whereby a relative movement of the linking places to each other or away from each other is enabled. Preferably, the parking brake comprises a set of gears and an electric motor for generating and transmitting a rotation wherein the rotation is transformed into a linear movement by way of the actuator. The actuator includes a load sensing device for measuring the load applied to the brakes. The parking brake assures a uniform operation of the respective brakes and a comfortable control with reduced efforts for adjustment and maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Fico Cables, S.A.
    Inventors: Sergio Nieto Gil, Juame Prat Terradas
  • Patent number: 7337883
    Abstract: The actuator comprises a tubular nut (22) coupled by means of an external thread (21) to the casing (12) of the actuator. The nut has an internal thread (23) opposite the external thread, for engaging a threaded rod (11) which is prevented from rotating with respect to the casing. A geared motor (13, 14) rotates a pinion (15) which, through two straight spur gears (161, 162), causes the nut (22) to bring about a screwing movement along a longitudinal axis (x), while the rod (11) translates rapidly in telescopic manner with respect to the casing (12). The spur gears have a pinion portion of greater diameter (161a, 162a) meshing with the pinion (15), and a splined shaft portion (161b, 162b) meshing with a pinion member (22b) integral with the nut (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Andreas Geyer
  • Publication number: 20080047789
    Abstract: The housing of a motor-driven parking brake apparatus includes a pair of cable reaction-receiving portions for receiving reactions from cables generated due to tensions of the cables, and an axial load-receiving portion for receiving axial load from a screw shaft generated due to the tensions of the cables. These portions, which must be formed to have a large wall thickness, are provided on one side of the housing. This structure reduces the size of the housing. In addition, the axial load-receiving portion is provided between the paired cable reaction-receiving portions. This arrangement further reduces the size of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: Kaoru Tsubouchi
  • Patent number: 7334667
    Abstract: Selective actuation device (1) including an actuator (5) operating on an actuation mechanism (2). The mechanism (2) is equipped with at least one shaft (7) connected to a pusher element (8) to actuate a first operating group (12, 13) and with a rotating element (53) that moves between an activation mode, in which said element (53) acts on a second operating group (9, 10), and a rest mode where the activation of the first operating group (12, 13) is disengaged by the second operating group (9, 10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Piaggio & C. S.p.A.
    Inventor: Maurizio Marcacci
  • Patent number: 7328777
    Abstract: A brake system using an electric motor to provide sufficient braking force by generating the self boosting operation using the motor and rotational inertia of the brake disc, thereby stabilizing the braking operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: In-Hwan Han
  • Patent number: 7299905
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electric disc brake apparatus having a simple constitution in which the operating condition of a parking brake can be reliably detected. A controller detects the operating condition (steps S25, S26) of a solenoid for driving a parking brake locking mechanism (holding mechanism) by means of a motor current (step S24). As a result, a state in which thrust generated by the motor (first electric actuator) is maintained by the parking brake locking mechanism, and accordingly the operative and inoperative states of the parking brake can be understood easily. Further, detection of the motor current is performed using a current sensor that is also used to realize a function of the motor (a function for moving brake pads toward a disc rotor), and hence separate current detection means need not be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Hitachi Seisakusho
    Inventors: Tohma Yamaguchi, Takeshi Yamamura
  • Patent number: 7281612
    Abstract: A brake structure for a roll-up door includes a brake drum fixed to a transmission shaft of a speed reducer. The brake drum receives a pair of brake shoes in opposite inner sides thereof. The brake shoes are pivotably connected to each other at an end of each brake shoe. A linking resilient member is connected between the free ends of the brake shoes. A brake pad is attached to a surface of each brake shoe facing the inner surface of the brake drum. A controlling lever is disposed at the top of the speed reducer corresponding to the free ends of the brake shoes. One end of the controlling lever is connected to an end of a fixing resilient member. The other end of the fixing resilient member is connected to a moving iron of a first solenoid. A clasping block is connected to the moving iron of the first solenoid. The other end of the controlling lever is connected to a moving iron of a second solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Anchuan Corporation
    Inventor: Chung-Jung Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7267209
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electromechanically operable disc brake for motor vehicles comprising a brake caliper and an actuator arranged at the brake caliper, with two friction linings cooperating with each one lateral surface of a brake disc, with at least one of the friction linings being movable into engagement with the brake disc by way of the actuator, and the actuator having an electric motor that is driven by means of an electronic control and regulation unit. To achieve a compact disc brake, the invention discloses that the control and regulation unit is arranged directly at the actuator . This provision renders it possible to configure the electric connection as a plug coupling, which offers financial and safety advantages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Peter Rieth, Enno Kelling, Bernd Piller
  • Publication number: 20070175712
    Abstract: Spring brake for an industrial truck with a brake disc, which is splinedly mounted on a rotatable motor shaft, a brake magnet disposed in a vehicle-fixed brake housing, a splined axially movable pressure plate between brake disc and brake magnet, which is pie-tensioned against the brake disc by a spring arrangement, and a device for monitoring the switch status of the spring brake, characterised in that a proximity switch is fixed on the brake housing, an initiator for the proximity switch is connected with the pressure plate and the hysteresis for the proximity switch is smaller than the minimal travel path of the pressure plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: Jungheinrich Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Hargarten, Jan Herschel, Ansgar Kuckoff
  • Patent number: 7241244
    Abstract: An electric actuator for an automatic transmission includes an adapter to transmit rotary motion between the adapter and the transmission. An electric motor has an output shaft operably connected the adapter by a gear set which includes a ring gear. A release mechanism includes a solenoid which selectively moves a lock member. In a first position, the lock member engages the ring gear to lock the ring gear so that the adapter is rotated by rotary motion of the output shaft and the adapter rotates to a predetermined zone about a desired gear position. In a second position, the lock member is out of engagement with the ring gear to permit rotation of the ring gear so that the adapter is rotated by internal forces of the transmission and the adapter automatically self-aligns to the exact desired gear position when the adapter is within the predetermined zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Yong Qiang Wang
  • Patent number: 7205688
    Abstract: An actuator has an electric motor, a screw shaft connected to a rotational shaft of the electric motor in such a manner as to be capable of transmitting power, a nut member disposed on peripherally of the screw shaft and connected to the rotational shaft of the electric motor in such a manner as to be capable of transmitting the power and a ball rolling within a spiral groove formed between the screw shaft and the nut member, characterized in that the rotational speed of the screw shaft and the rotational speed of the nut member are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoichi Otaki, Koji Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 7188793
    Abstract: A spool control unit includes a circuit board, a plurality of electric components, an external device connector, and an insulating film. The circuit board includes a printed circuit on a surface thereof. The plurality of electric components include a microcomputer that controls the fishing equipment through a control program, and are disposed on the circuit board such that they are electrically connected to the printed circuit. The external device connector is mounted on the circuit board such that it is electronically connected to the printed circuit, and serves to connect to an external device. The insulating film covers at least a portion of the circuit board as well as the electric components but does not cover the regions of the circuit board on which the external device connector is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Ikuta, Ken′ichi Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 7182184
    Abstract: A disk brake apparatus with a readily- releasable wear adjuster, including a brake caliper which overlaps a brake disk, a tensioning device for tensioning brake pads and an adjusting system for compensating for brake pad wear, where the adjusting system includes at least one adjusting rotating device with an electric motor drive for adjusting the brake pad clearance and a release device that assists in releasing the adjusting rotating device when the electric motor drive retracts the brake pads to the specified clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Baumgartner
  • Patent number: 7182185
    Abstract: The invention relates to a disk brake, in particular for utility vehicles, comprising a brake caliper, which extends over a brake disk, an application device located in the brake caliper for applying the brake pads on both sides of the brake disk in the direction of the latter, in addition to at least one adjusting system located in the brake caliper for compensating wear and tear on the brake pad and/or disk. The disk brake is characterized in that the adjusting system is configured on one or both sides of the brake disk as a preassembled adjuster module, which has at least the following components: an electromotor, which acts as the drive, or a drive connection to an electromotor and a reduction gear connected downstream of the electromotor, the rotative drive being fitted onto the mounting plate(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Baumgartner, Dieter Bieker, Wolfgang Pahle
  • Patent number: 7182183
    Abstract: A disc brake assembly has a hub that is rotatable about an axis and at least a pair of discs supported on the hub for relative axial movement along the axis of the hub with the discs having opposite sides presenting braking surfaces. A non-rotatable support structure supports a plurality of friction elements for relative axial movement into and out of frictional braking engagement with the braking surfaces of the discs. An electric actuator is mounted on the support structure adjacent at least one of the friction elements and is operative when actuated to move the friction elements into frictional braking engagement with the braking surfaces of the discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. Osterday, Michele M. Fiste, Garry J. Hill
  • Patent number: 7143873
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor vehicle brake system, having at least one first and at least one second electromechanical wheel brake (10), which each comprise an electric actuator for generating an actuating force and a self-boosting device for automatically boosting the actuating force generated by the actuator in order to press a friction element against a rotatable component (14) of the wheel brake (10) that is to be braked, wherein each self-boosting device comprises a wedge (18), which is supported against an associated abutment (22) and has at least one wedge face (20, 20?) disposed at an angle of slope (?). In order to realize a parking brake function, the self-boosting device of the first wheel brake comprises at least one wedge face (20), which is used to boost the force in brake operations during forward travel, and the self-boosting device of the second wheel brake comprises at least one wedge face (20?), which is used to boost the force in braking operations during reverse travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Estop GmbH
    Inventors: Antonio Pascucci, Henry Hartmann, Martin Schautt
  • Patent number: 7140697
    Abstract: When a driver operates an activation switch, an electric parking brake apparatus performs a parking brake activation control in order to operate an electric motor until the tension of a base wire reaches a predetermined target tension to thereby bring parking brakes into an activated state. After that, the apparatus again performs the parking brake activation control when a re-activation time, which is set in accordance with the difference between an estimated temperature of a service brake and an ambient temperature, has elapsed; when the position of a shift lever has been changed; when the height of the vehicle has changed by an amount greater than a predetermined amount; or when the driver releases a brake pedal which has been continuously operated after completion of the parking brake activation control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Koga, Yoshikazu Tachiiri
  • Patent number: 7137489
    Abstract: An actuator, preferably a linear actuator for furniture, comprises a brake spring (20) in the form of a helical spring having a plurality of windings wound around a cylindrical element (10) of plastics rotatable at least during braking, said spring being tightened around the cylindrical element for braking. The frictional heat generated hereby can cause the plastics to be deformed, which adversely affects the braking power. This is solved by providing the cylindrical element (10) consisting of plastics with an insert (12) of metal for carrying off the frictional heat preferably into other metal parts of the actuator that may serve as cooling faces. To carry off heat additionally, it is proposed to arrange a second heat-conducting element (18) in intimate contact with the outer side of the spring (20), said element being likewise connected with other metal parts of the actuator that may serve as cooling faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Linak A/S
    Inventors: Jeppe Christian Bastholm, Karsten Westermann
  • Patent number: 7129658
    Abstract: A braking system is disclosed that includes a brake (22), a ram (20) shiftable in a linear direction relative to the brake (22) for actuating the brake (22), and a stop (24) for limiting movement of the ram (20). The system further includes a motor (12) for moving the ram (20) which motor (12) includes a stator and a rotor (13) and a commutation sensor (14) producing an output. A motor controller (28) receives a commutation signal based on the output and controls the motor (12) based on the commutation signal. A processor (31) also uses the commutation signal to generate a position signal indicative of the position of the ram (20) relative to the stop (24). Methods of using this system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Russ Ether
  • Patent number: 7111912
    Abstract: A control handle for electro-mechanical devices, such as the brakes of a train or other vehicle, is disclosed. The control handle incorporates elements for electrical switching as well as elements for measuring the angle of rotation between the control handle's rotating portion and its stationary portion. Some of the switching elements and measuring elements are combined onto a single printed circuit board in order to reduce size, complexity, and cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Peter F. Ticola
  • Patent number: 7108110
    Abstract: The invention is based on a braking device for an electric motor with a stator (14, 16, 18) and a rotor (10), in particular for a direct current series-wound motor, with a braking element (20) that can be moved between an operating position and a braking position depending on a magnetic flux in the stator (14, 16, 18), wherein there is an air gap (32) between the braking element (20) and the stator (14, 16, 18), and with a short-circuit ring (38) for suppressing mechanical vibrations. The invention proposes that the short-circuit ring (38) be inclined in relation to the air gap (32) between the stator (14, 16, 18) and the braking element (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Habele
  • Patent number: 7048095
    Abstract: A parking brake system including at least one braking unit actuated by at least one cable, a cylinder having a piston chamber and a rod chamber, a piston slidably received within the cylinder and having a rod connected thereto, the rod extending through the rod chamber and operably connected to the cable, a pressurized fluid source connected to the piston chamber, and a valve for controlling the flow of the fluid to the piston chamber, wherein the piston and rod move through the cylinder when the fluid pressurizes the piston chamber, thereby actuating the braking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest S. Baumgartner, Bryan P. Riddiford, Schuyler S. Shaw, John B. Hageman
  • Patent number: 7040463
    Abstract: An electromechanically actuated disk brake with mechanical self-boosting includes an automatic wear readjusting device, which can for instance have a positive-engagement detent device. An increased air clearance caused by wear of friction brake linings is prevented by the invention, which thus also prevents an increase in the displacement of the friction brake lining in the direction of rotation of the brake disk when the disk brake is actuated in order to attain the self-boosting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dietmar Baumann, Dirk Hofmann, Herbert Vollert, Willi Nagel, Andreas Henke, Bertram Foitzik
  • Patent number: 7011188
    Abstract: A sensing device for sensing an amount of force transferred between a first element and a second element includes a first attachment structure and a second attachment structure mounted to the first attachment structure to enable relative linear movement between the first and second attachment structures. The first attachment structure is connected to the first element and the second attachment structure is connected to the second element. An actuating member is provided on one of the first and second attachment structures. A biasing structure is positioned between the first and second attachment structures enabling a force to be transferred from the first element and the first attachment structure to the second element and the second attachment structure. A sensor includes a first switch and a second switch each being adapted to be actuated by the actuating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Ventra Group Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph F. Scheuring, III, Terry L. Reid
  • Patent number: 7007775
    Abstract: A screw actuator comprises a housing (1), a screw mechanism (4) with a nut (6) and a screw (5), as well as a motor (7) which is drivingly connected to the screw. The screw (6) is rotatably and translatably supported with respect to the nut (5), which is fixed with respect to the housing (1). The screw engages a translatable, non rotatable actuating head (29) through a swivel connection. The swivel connection comprises a pair of conformed surfaces (41, 42) having a common rotational axis of symmetry which is aligned with the axis of the screw mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: SKF Industrie S.p.A.
    Inventors: Henk Kapaan, Alexander De Vries, Carl Vissers
  • Patent number: 6991075
    Abstract: A disc brake assembly has a hub that is rotatable about an axis and at least a pair of discs supported on the hub for relative axial movement along the axis of the hub with the discs having opposite sides presenting braking surfaces. A non-rotatable support structure supports a plurality of friction elements for relative axial movement into and out of frictional braking engagement with the braking surfaces of the discs. An electric actuator is mounted on the support structure adjacent at least one of the friction elements and is operative when actuated to move the friction elements into frictional braking engagement with the braking surfaces of the discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig A. Osterday, Michele M. Fiste, Garry J. Hill
  • Patent number: 6978870
    Abstract: An electrically powered actuator mechanism for operating a vehicle parking brake including a reversible electrical motor having output gearing driving a sector gear. A wrapped spring clutch drivingly connects the sector gear to an intermediate operator cable wind up wheel. The intermediate cable is connected to the brake cable to set the brakes when the operator cable is wound up by energization of the motor in one direction, with a load sensor turning off the motor when a predetermined tension load is reached. Locking motor gearing holds the brake in the set condition. Reversal of the motor unwinds the cable to release the parking brake. A self adjusting feature is provided by a pretensioned clock spring creating a torsional bias on the wind up wheel tending to maintain a predetermined tension in the brake cable. A spring clutch is released by engagement of a release arm to allow the clock spring to adjust the wind up wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan Daniel Powrozek, Michael Andrew Slumba
  • Patent number: 6971485
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for a disc brake that retains a clamping force that holds first and second friction members into engagement with a rotor to sustain a brake application. The locking mechanism is characterized by a first threaded member integrally attached to a piston located in a bore. The piston is moved within the bore to establish a clamping force and is prevented from rotating with respect to the bore by means of anti rotation members associated with the piston. A second threaded member rotates on the first threaded member with movement of the piston. A third member is moved into contact with the second threaded member to prevent rotation of the second threaded member and retaining clamping force on the friction members to affect a parking brake application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: William E. Sherman II
  • Patent number: 6970761
    Abstract: Based on the realization that, at the instant a holding brake in the drive of a machine tool is actuated, it may not be necessary to precisely observe the setpoint values, it may be provided to adapt control parameters in the controller of the drive such that, given an engaged holding brake, oscillations may be avoided or substantially reduced. By applying a correction value to the controller, it may be possible to prevent the adaptation of the control parameters from resulting in a change at the output of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Kerner, Frieder Kohler
  • Patent number: 6959794
    Abstract: A parking brake monitor and adjustment control system controls parking brake operation of an electromechanically actuated brake system which applies a parking brake force to a wheel. The system includes a monitor circuit for producing an output signal which intermittently causes the brake system to readjust the parking brake force applied to the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Mihai Ralea, Eric Daniel Cahill
  • Patent number: 6953228
    Abstract: An actuating device for a brake unit of a vehicle EBS includes a tappet positioned in a housing of the brake unit for actuating a piston to operate a brake valve. A displacement sensor slide measures axial movement of the tappet. So that moving parts of the actuating device are guided with minimal friction and that torque acting on the tappet is compensated for, the tappet includes a base plate disposed non-rotatably in a receiver of a guide ring having spaced-apart oblong holes, a spacer ring disposed in the guide ring having angled edges which extend into the oblong holes, and a window on the guide ring protruding radially outwardly into a slit on the housing to receive the displacement sensor slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Olaf Leske, Bernd Christoffers
  • Patent number: 6954692
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of managing a braking system architecture for an airplane fitted with brakes having electromechanical actuators, in which some of the actuators are connected to a battery assembly of the airplane and other actuators are not connected to the battery assembly of the airplane, which method comprises a step of controlling at least one of the actuators that is not connected to the battery assembly to cause it to exert a force equal to a unit holding force, which force is determined independently of any braking demand from the pilot. The invention also provides an architecture specially adapted to implement the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti
    Inventors: Stéphane Dellac, Jérôme Sibre, Pierre Girod
  • Patent number: 6938735
    Abstract: An electromechanical wheel brake device has a helical gear for converting the rotating motion of an electric motor into a translating motion of a brake piston in order to press a brake pad against a brake disc in an advancing stroke or in order to release the brake pad in a restoring stroke. In addition, a clutch is provided, which operatively disengages a part of the helical gear from the electric motor should a permissible restoring stroke be exceeded. This prevents a mechanical failure or damage to the wheel brake device in the event of such a malfunction. The electromechanical wheel brake device can be used in motor vehicles such as cars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Juergen Hilzinger
  • Patent number: 6938736
    Abstract: An electric parking brake mechanism characterized in an electric parking brake for pressing a friction member to a braked member via a force transmission converting mechanism for converting a rotational movement of an electric motor to a linear movement, including an input shaft connected to a side of the electric motor, an output shaft connected to a side of a brake mechanism for pressing the friction member to the brake member and a cam mechanism interposed between the input shaft and the output shaft, the cam mechanism is provided with a plurality of cam members and each having a cam face having a radius gradually increasing relative to a rotational center and in driving only a side of the output shaft, rotation of the output shaft is hampered by operating all of the plurality of cam members to constitute sides of large diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kimio Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6926126
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromechanical disk brake (10). To attain brake boosting, the invention proposes embodying the disk brake (10) with a multiple brake cylinder (24), which is displaceable in a secant direction of a brake disk (20), and which has both a friction brake lining piston (22), which is displaceable transversely to the brake disk (20), and two brake booster pistons (26), disposed facing one another, which are displaceable parallel to the brake disk (20), and which are braced on fixed abutments (36), for instance on an inside of a brake caliper (12) of the disk brake (10). For actuation of the disk brake (10), the multiple brake cylinder (24) is displaced in the direction of rotation (46) of the brake disk (20), and as a result, the brake booster piston (26) that is at the front in the displacement direction moves into the brake cylinder (26) and, via the friction brake lining piston (22), presses the friction brake lining (18) against the brake disk (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dietmar Baumann, Herbert Vollert, Hanniel Schmidt, Frieder Keller
  • Patent number: 6923295
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a friction brake, in particular a disc brake, for a motor vehicle with a friction element, e.g. a brake disc, coupled to the rotation of a vehicle wheel, forming a friction pairing of the friction brake with at least one associated brake lining, and with at least one clamping device for pressing at least one brake lining to the friction element. At least one controllable friction clutch is provided for using the rotational energy of the friction element in order to obtain the clamping force of the friction brake, the friction clutch being coupled on its input end to the rotation of the friction element and on its output end to the clamping device. Functional advantages are achieved because a friction pairing of the friction clutch is provided independently of the friction pairing of the friction brake. This eliminates undesired mutual influences. Altogether, such a friction brake obviates the need for an additional energy source for generating a brake clamping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Georg Halasy-Wimmer, Stefan Johannes Schmitt, Andreas Pohlmann, Johannes Görlach
  • Patent number: 6915883
    Abstract: An electric braking apparatus is disclosed in which a rotational movement from a motor is converted into linear movement that moves a brake piston to generate braking force. The electric brake apparatus can perform full parking brake function without sacrificing its original braking function. In operation, immediately after generation of braking force caused by rotation of the rotor (26) supply of electricity to the motor is turned off. After supply of electricity is turned off, however, the rotor (26) is restricted from returning to its original position due to an engagement with an engaging claw (54) via a claw wheel (50), thereby keeping the barking brake remain effective. When electricity is thereafter supplied to the motor, the rotor (26) generates rotational torque sufficiently strong to push down the engaging claw (54) for disengagement, thereby releasing the parking brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Hitachi Seisakusho
    Inventors: Jun Watanabe, Takuya Usui, Hirotaka Oikawa
  • Patent number: 6913122
    Abstract: A braking device of a DC motor has a position detecting means to detect a position of a motor shaft, a rotational speed detecting means to detect a rotational speed of the motor and a braking means to generate a braking force based on a position signal and a speed signal detected by both of the means, and stops the motor shaft quickly and smoothly without making the motor shaft collide with a stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Youichi Fujita, Satoshi Kawamura, Sotsuo Miyoshi