Patents Examined by Allan D. Hermann
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Patent number: 6244125Abstract: Two of the three feed rings to beheld in a rotating cylinder are fitted into respective mounting holes, which are formed on both end of the rotating cylinder so as to have circular openings, and are fixed by locking rings so as not to slip off. The center feed ring is fitted into a mounting portion, which is formed at a predetermined position on a circumferential wall of the rotating cylinder so as to have a slit-shaped opening, and is engaged with a thread groove formed on a rack shaft which pierces through an axial center of the rotating cylinder. Moreover, a bearing is fitted inside the rotating cylinder. The bearing is brought into contact with a circumference of the rack shaft so as to stand a radial load applied to the rack shaft. Such a structure realizes firm engagement between the feed rings and moving shaft, and thus a movement transforming device, which has a simple and compact structure capable of secure movement transformation between rotational movement and linear movement.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1999Date of Patent: June 12, 2001Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.Inventor: Osamu Sano
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Patent number: 5937696Abstract: In an engine starter according to the present invention, an annular stopper disposed between the pinion unit and the solenoid device so as to determine the rest position of the pinion unit is formed with a tongue projecting radially outwardly from its outer periphery, and a shoulder surface defined in the gear cover so as to abut an end surface of the solenoid device and thereby determine the axial position of the solenoid device is formed with a recess for receiving the tongue of the annular stopper, with the tongue and the recess being dimensioned with respect to each other so as to allow the tongue to be resiliently interposed between the recessed part of the shoulder surface and the end surface of the solenoid device and to define a space which accommodates a corresponding deformation of the tongue.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1998Date of Patent: August 17, 1999Assignee: Mitsuba CorporationInventors: Masaaki Ohya, Koji Nara, Michio Okada, Yoshikazu Sato, Shinichi Nagashima
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Patent number: 5921139Abstract: A bicycle shift control device includes a first member; a second member rotatably mounted relative to the first member for rotation in first and second directions; a third member rotatably mounted relative to the first member for controlling the pulling and releasing of a transmission control element; and a fourth member disposed between the second member and the third member. If desired, the first member may be structured to immovably fix the shifting device relative to the bicycle handlebar, and the fourth member may function as a takeup element for pulling and releasing a control cable. The fourth member rotates around the first axis integrally with the third member. The fourth member also moves in the direction of the first axis between an engagement position in which the fourth member engages the first member and a disengagement position in which the fourth member is disengaged from the first member.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1997Date of Patent: July 13, 1999Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventor: Takuro Yamane
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Patent number: 5528946Abstract: A motion conversion system by which near 100% of a reciprocating motion, and a rotary motion, fluently converted from one to the other includes, a drive shaft (20), an intermediate circular element (22), externally teethed to near one-half of its circumference and an elongated element (24), having a pair of opposed internal teeth and internal curves, forming an elongated hollow to accommodate and constantly engage with the circular element. Due to their geometry and geometrical relationship, the three elements (20), (22) and (24), throughout the full cycle of reciprocating motion of the elongate element (24) and rotary motion of the drive shaft (20), remain fully engaged without interruption and with no further requirement for any additional gear engagement support. Simplicity, versatility, efficiency and easy to implement characteristics of the present invention, makes it the most practical arid effective motion conversion system of its kind.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1994Date of Patent: June 25, 1996Inventor: Iraj Yadegar
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Patent number: 5388482Abstract: A variable length crank arm in a windshield wiper system provides a depressed park position for an associated wiper blade when the direction of rotation of a drive motor is reversed. The crank arm relies on an eccentric driver to vary its length and between a first length a longer second length. When the eccentric driver is rotated in a first direction to wipe the windshield, a spring loaded pin keeps the eccentric driver rotatably fixed to an output arm with the crank arm consequently at the first length. The spring loaded pin also engages a cam slot in a cam plate, the cam plate rotating freely with the output arm and the eccentric driver in the first direction. To move the blade to the depressed park position, the direction of rotation of the drive motor is reversed. This causes the cam plate to become rotatably stopped, with the now stationary cam slot forcing the pin out of engagement with the output arm.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 1993Date of Patent: February 14, 1995Assignee: ITT Automotive Electrical Systems Inc.Inventors: Christopher H. Jones, Lloyd L. R. Kuck, Frank R. Lombardo
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Patent number: 5347883Abstract: A steering rod, in particular for a wheeled vehicle is connected to a steering column by a centrally located connecting arrangement. The connecting arrangement has an articulated arm that can be bent about at least one hinge pin and fixed in various locking positions by a fixing means. The locking positions are defined on two opposing locking surfaces that are inelastically formed in the articulated arm parts, by pins engaged in depressions. The clamping distance of the fixing means is smaller than the length of the pins. Additional means completely release the pins from the depressions.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1992Date of Patent: September 20, 1994Inventor: Franz Thony
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Patent number: 5129275Abstract: A pair of semi-spherical bevel gears comprising a plurality of gear teeth and grooves radially arranged within an angle of 360.degree. which are formed by driving shaft and a driven shaft through the mutual contact of the pair of semi-spherical bevel gears, and a hollow boss disposed in a gear head of the gears for receiving the shafts therein for forming a hollow portion so as to contain a coil spring, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 1990Date of Patent: July 14, 1992Inventor: Dong Kyu Park
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Patent number: 5111709Abstract: An industrial robot with a horizontal telescopic arm unit having an arm casing horizontally slidably mounted on a vertical upright column, a telescopic arm encased in the arm casing to be telescopically moved with respect to the arm casing and in synchronism with the horizontal sliding movement of the arm casing, and a common drive motor causing the horizontal linear sliding movement of the arm casing and the telescopic movement of the telescopic arm via a rotation to linear movement converting mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1990Date of Patent: May 12, 1992Assignee: Fanuc, Ltd.Inventors: Nobutoshi Torii, Susumu Ito, Masayuki Hamura, Akira Tanaka
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Patent number: 5090262Abstract: The disclosed lever-type gear works on a variable transmission ratio, with the degree of transmission being respectively dependent on the position of the levers and the position of the roller element between the levers. According to a preferred arrangement, the gear can be so designed as to provide a state of indifferent equilibrium once a force F.sub.P is applied to the associated lever by a rod located on the driving side, which force F.sub.P changes along with the stroke s.sub.p of the rod while a constant force is applied to rod applying force to the other lever, irrespective of the stroke s.sub.M thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 1991Date of Patent: February 25, 1992Assignee: Alfred Teves GmbHInventor: Hans-Christof Klein
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Patent number: 5088341Abstract: An engaging lever lock for rotor turning gear in a steam turbine includes a selectable lock that is disposed to hold the lever at its engaged position and control circuitry for activating the selectable lock. With a first embodiment, the selectable lock includes an electromagnet. On the other hand, with a second embodiment, the selectable lock includes a plunger-pin arrangement that is activated by a solenoid to extend into a hole formed in the lever, and is biased toward a retracted position away from the hole by a spring which is disposed around the pin between the plunger and the solenoid.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 1990Date of Patent: February 18, 1992Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.Inventors: Gilbert F. Hyde, David B. Berrong
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Patent number: 5063793Abstract: The present invention provides a 24 forward speed, 12 reverse speed transmission for use in a work vehicle, e.g., an agricultural or industrial tractor. The transmission uses 10 clutches, with six arranged in a speed section and four in a range section. The speed section arrangement can provide six forward and three reverse speeds, while the range section can provide four ranges. Optionally, the transmission may be provided with a selectively engageable power take-off shaft and a selectively engageable front wheel drive take-off. The entire structure provides a very small speed change requirement between the diffrent gear ratios.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 1990Date of Patent: November 12, 1991Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventor: John P. McAskill
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Patent number: 5052245Abstract: The operation device of a transmission in accordance with the present invention has a lock mechanism which can lock a shift rod in either a high speed range or a low speed range in a transfer in response to a detection signal when a control lever is positioned at a parking range, and has also alarm means for raising an alarm in response to a detection signal when the transfer is at a neutral position. When a vehicle is parked with the control lever being in the parking range, a driver can recognize the state of the transfer by the alarm if the transfer is at the neutral position, and shifts the shift rod to the high or low speed range by operating the transfer lever. The lock mechanism operates in the high or low speed range and a full driving system is connected so that the vehicle can be kept stopped and self-run of the vehicle on a slope or the like can be prevented.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1989Date of Patent: October 1, 1991Assignee: Isuzu Motors LimitedInventor: Kaoru Kigoshi
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Patent number: 5046373Abstract: A starter motor construction including a drive shaft and a spline having an external helical thread is disposed concentrically of the shaft and rotates therewith. An internally threaded pinion is engaged with the spline and moves axially outward on rotation of the drive shaft against the force of a biasing spring to effect engagement of the pinion with a ring gear on the flywheel of the engine. A cushioning mechanism is incorporated between the drive shaft and the spline and includes a pair of metal plates, one of which is secured to the drive shaft and the other to the spline. A resilient disc composed of a rubber-like material is bonded to the opposed faces of the plates and is provided with a continuous peripheral groove. The cushioning mechanism acts to absorb radial torque and axial force as the pinion is moved into engagement with the ring gear.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 1989Date of Patent: September 10, 1991Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corp.Inventors: Geoffrey P. Zabrowski, Robert L. Blohm
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Patent number: 5044220Abstract: A shifting arrangement of an automatic transmision of a motor vehicle has a selector lever which can be pivoted in two shifting paths. In the first shifting path of the selector lever, various operating positions and automatically shifting gears of the transmission may be selected via a transmitting device. The selector lever can be changed over into a second shifting path in which, by a one-time pivoting of the selector lever from a center position, an upshifting or return shifting may take place by one gear respectively. A locking device interacts with the transmitting device so that the transmitting device, from which the selector lever is separated in the second shifting path, is held in its intended position.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 1990Date of Patent: September 3, 1991Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AGInventors: Friedrich Raff, Ulrich Maier
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Patent number: 5035157Abstract: A method of shift control in an automatic transmission, wherein a shift map has a shift-up line and a shift-down line between each gear change which is used to conduct the shift control with a hysteresis zone being established between each shift-up line and shift-down line. The method includes the steps of shifting down a speed range when a point representing a traveling state on the shift map moves in the lower vehicle speed direction and crosses the shift-down line, shifting up a speed range when the point moves in the higher vehicle speed direction and crosses the shift-up line, and shifting down the speed range when the point is in the hysteresis zone after a shift and also the increasing rate of the engine power is greater than a specified value.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1989Date of Patent: July 30, 1991Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takashi Aoki, Satoshi Terayama, Junichi Miyake
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Patent number: 5027674Abstract: A steering column for motor vehicles with a steering shaft that is movable in the axle direction and held by a positive connection notching. The notching is formed between a jacket barrel (1) placed so that it is fixed from turning, and a solid body thrust bearing (2) and consists of toothed gearing segments (4, 5) on the width of the jacket barrel (1) and anchored toothed elements (6, 7) that are movable on the thrust bearing (2) with at least a gear tooth (9, 10). Wedge bodies (11, 12) are provided that by means of a control are movable in the bolt position brought about by the notching. The gearing tooth portions on the jacket barrel (1) include at least two segments (4, 5) developed with the same tooth spacing, that nevertheless are arranged around a half gear segment displaced with respect to each other.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1989Date of Patent: July 2, 1991Assignee: Lemforder Metallwaren AGInventors: Frank Nolte, Norbert Bauch
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Patent number: 5022504Abstract: In order to assure the safety of starting of an automatic transmission type motor vehicle, a safety device is equipped to a column shift. Due to locking function provided by the safety device, the shifting movement of a shift lever from Parking-position to the other positions is permitted only when the foot brake is kept depressed.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 1990Date of Patent: June 11, 1991Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., No. 2Inventor: Satoshi Kobayashi
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Patent number: 4976167Abstract: A tilt telescope steering column comprises a bracket pivotably supporting a housing between first and second pivot limits. The first and second pivot limits may be changed. A pair of screws attach the housing to the bracket and clearance between the screws and the housing is taken up. A tubular member is located within the housing and is axially movable relative to the housing. Axially spaced bearings engage the housing and the tubular member to take up clearance therebetween. A tilt blocking mechanism includes a lock member carried by the housing and movable to a position blocking relative pivotal movement between the housing and the bracket. The lock member is moved against a surface of the housing when the lock member is in its blocking position to take up clearance between the lock member and the housing. A telescope blocking mechanism includes a lock pin which is movable to a position blocking relative axial movement of the tubular member and the housing.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 1988Date of Patent: December 11, 1990Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventors: Frederick D. Venable, Bernard C. Hudgens
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Patent number: 4889004Abstract: An apparatus for driving an oscillating spout capable of pivoting about two orthogonal axes under the action of a pivoting control arm having the same degrees of liberties as the spout is presented. The driving apparatus includes a control mechanism which directs the control arm to perform the movement required by the spout and a transmission device which acts to transmit the control arm movement to the spout to reproduce it as spout movement, and vice versa. The apparatus further includes a rotary internal housing supported on a support frame via a bearing member and enclosed by an outer housing or cowl. The rotary housing is associated with a toothed rim which is actuated by a first motor fixed to or adjacent to the support frame. A control mechanism is also provided which includes a driving rod which is coaxial with the rotary internal housing and which is capable of sliding in the axial direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 1984Date of Patent: December 26, 1989Assignee: Paul Wurth S.A.Inventors: Pierre Mailliet, Emile Lonardi, Giovanni Cimenti
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Patent number: 4823630Abstract: A distributor for independent plural drive inputs (14,15) to plural drive outputs (12,13), especially for sailing craft, enables permutation of drives e.g. both to one output, both to the other or independently to each. Dog clutches (34-37) are engageable with both sides of the drive input sprockets (14,15) in various combinations. They are controlled by rotational setting of a cam shaft (20) with a plurality of face cams (21-24) respectively interacting with cam-follower discs (30-33) on the dog clutches.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1985Date of Patent: April 25, 1989Assignee: Lewmar Marine LimitedInventor: Richard D. J. Huggett