Patents Examined by Chong H. Kim
  • Patent number: 7100742
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for controlling the delivery of lubricant between two parts which are movable relative to one another, in particular for lubricating rails, above all on curved tracks, in order to prevent or reduce squealing noises, wherein at least one sensor, e.g., a microphone, is provided for picking up sound vibrations, particularly structure-borne sound vibrations, the signal of the sensor being fed to a selective amplifier, e.g., an active bandpass filter, and used as an actuating variable for initiating the delivery of lubricant. For this purpose, at least two frequency bands are filtered out, the intensity of the sound vibrations of the filtered frequency bands is compared, and the determined difference or the ratio of the determined values is used as an actuating variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Hy-Power Flexomatic Hydraulik Handelsges M.b.H.
    Inventors: Christian Gunacker, Richard Gunacker
  • Patent number: 7100471
    Abstract: A control device is configured to be attached to the handlebar of a bicycle for controlling a brake mechanism and change speed mechanism. The control device comprises a bracket fixed to the handlebar, a brake lever pivotally coupled crosswise relative to the bracket and a release lever. The brake mechanism is controlled by fore and aft pivotal movement of the brake lever, while the change speed mechanism is controlled by sideways pivotal movement of the brake lever and the release lever. The brake lever and the release lever are further configured relative to the bracket for smooth easy operation by the rider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Irie, Hisayuki Sato
  • Patent number: 7100744
    Abstract: An engine is described having a hole for a dipstick which is closed by a cap from which the dipstick depends. The engine body is formed with an overhanging lip adjacent the mouth of the hole, and the cap comprises a spigot rotatably received in the mouth of the hole and a flange extending radially outwards from the spigot to cover the mouth of the hole. The flange is non-circular so that by rotation of the cap relative to the hole, a radially projecting portion of the edge of the flange may be selectively engaged beneath the overhanging lip to prevent axial displacement of the cap and the dipstick relative to the engine body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Kettle, Aldo Banchio
  • Patent number: 7080572
    Abstract: A mechanical fuse is used with ergonomic devices for seats such as automobile seats to allow the ergonomic devices to tolerate abusive loads without breaking a linkage, such as a traction cable, used to move the ergonomic supports. The traction cable is comprised of a sleeve with a wire disposed to slide axially through the sleeve. The mechanical fuse is installed with the sleeve divided into two sections, with an end of each section seated into a male component or a female component of the mechanical fuse. The male and female components of the mechanical fuse slide axially relative to one another but are restrained from sliding by insertion of a boss on one component into a detent on the other component. The boss and detent hold the male and female components together in a friction fit that resists axial movement. When an abusive force is applied to the fuse, the friction fit of the boss and detent is overcome so that the boss slides out of the detent in a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: L&P Property Management Company
    Inventor: Horia Blendea
  • Patent number: 7077029
    Abstract: A cycle handlebar is provided comprising a central cross piece, a pair of forearm pad supports extending from the cross piece, each of said pad supports having a length extending substantially parallel to the cross piece and a pair of laterally spaced steering arms extending generally forward from the cross piece. A steering arm and forearm rest assembly for a cycle handlebar is also provided, comprising: a handlebar stem, a pair of laterally spaced steering arms, and a pair of forearm pad supports each having a length to be positioned substantially parallel to and spaced from said cross piece. The steering arms and forearm pad supports have mating clamp parts forming first clamps for attaching a steering arm and pad support to each other and to the stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Jas. D. Easton, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. McColligan, Chris Hageman, Jim Sener, David Mathieu
  • Patent number: 7073408
    Abstract: An electronic accelerator pedal system with a foot pressure-adjusting function. The foot pressure is variably adjusted with respect to the pedal arm stroke during the depressing and releasing of the accelerator pedal to improve the accelerator manipulation sensation. A foot pressure-adjusting means is installed on the pedal arm that causes a foot pressure to be varied in accordance with the pivoting direction of the pedal arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Duck-Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 7073409
    Abstract: A pedal device has a main body, a connection device, a pair of torsion springs, an adjustment seat, an adjustment stud, and a main shaft. The connection device has a chamber, an inner socket, and an upper hook portion. The adjustment seat has a cushion body, an adjustment stud inserted through the cushion body, and a hollow disk enclosing the adjustment stud. The main body has an opening and a recessed panel having a through aperture. The torsion springs are inserted in the connection device. Each torsion spring has a first end to block the inner socket and a second end to block the adjustment seat. The main shaft is inserted through the main body and the torsion springs. The connection device engages with the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Inventor: Hsiao-Chin Ho
  • Patent number: 7069810
    Abstract: An adjustable pedal device including (a) a support shaft fixedly disposed on a bracket, (b) a pedal including a pivotal member and a pedal member, and a return spring interposed between the bracket and the pedal member, and wherein the pivotal member is pivotable about the support shaft, while the pedal member is movable relative to the pivotal member to a selected one of a plurality of relative positions, and has at its lower end an operating portion at which the pedal member is operated so that the pedal member and the pivotal member are pivoted together about the support shaft, the return spring biasing the pedal member so as to pivot the pedal about the support shaft in a first direction toward a non-operated position of the pedal, and producing a force of resistance to a pivotal motion of the pedal in a second direction away from the non-operated position when the pedal is operated, and wherein the positions of opposite end portions of the return spring at which the spring is fixed to the bracket and the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Toyoda Iron Works co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Hayashihara
  • Patent number: 7069811
    Abstract: An actuation device of an adjustment unit for automotive vehicle seats has a hand lever and a frame. The frame carries the hand lever and accommodates an output shaft. The hand lever adopts a central position when the actuation device is in a position of rest, and may be pivoted alternatively in the two directions of rotation against the action of an elastic means biasing it in the central position. The hand lever has a first driving region. An adjustment wheel having circumferential gear teeth is centred on the output shaft. A pivotal lever has a long hole surrounding the output shaft, has a left engagement region and a right engagement region substantially extending as a continuation of the long hole. These regions are both provided with teeth matching the gear teeth of the adjustment wheel and being disengaged from the teeth of the adjustment wheel in the position of rest of the actuation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: C. Rob. Hammerstein GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ernst-Reiner Frohnhaus, Ulrich Karthaus
  • Patent number: 7066049
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an accelerator pedal for a motor vehicle, especially one with an automatic gearbox. The pedal includes a pedal arm which in one end area thereof is pivotally mounted about a pivoting axis and which in the other end thereof is provided with a pedal plate which can be impinged upon the force by the driver. When force is exerted upon the pedal plate, the pedal arm can be pivoted into an absolute final position when a kick down switch is actuated, wherein a signal can be produced by the kick down switch and can be fed to a control electronics system. The kick down switch comprises a permanent magnet, the magnet force thereof being used to retain a magnetically conducting component on a magnetic return element whereby the component can be moved away from the magnetic return element as a result of the movement of the pedal arm into an end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens AG
    Inventors: Christian Reimann, Christian Weis, Joachim von Willich
  • Patent number: 7066048
    Abstract: A brake pedal (1) for a vehicle, in particular, a motor vehicle, includes a framework structure (2) mounted for rotation about a first rotation spindle (3) connectable to the bulkhead of the vehicle. A peg (5) is fixed to one end (4a) of a pedal web (4) and slides in a slot (21) provided in the framework structure (2). A movement mechanism (7) causes the peg to slide in the slot, defining a length (L) between the rotation spindle of the framework structure and the other end (4b) of the pedal web. A first link (8) is connected to the framework structure and is mounted for rotation about a second rotation spindle (9) connectable to the bulkhead of the vehicle. The first link includes a connection (13) for receiving an end of the rod of the brake booster of the vehicle at a distance (R) from the second rotation spindle. The brake pedal operates to provide a constant step-down ratio (L/R).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignees: Peugeot Citroën Automobiles SA, Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Franck Sauvonnet, Brian N. Orr, Waldemar W. Gmurowski
  • Patent number: 7066047
    Abstract: There is provided a rearward displacement prevention mechanism for a control pedal, which is constructed such that a front end of a pedal bracket supporting a control pedal such that the control pedal is capable of pivoting is connected to a vehicle compartment side of a dash panel that separates an engine room and a vehicle compartment from each other, a rear end of the pedal bracket is mounted on a cowl top panel disposed at the upper side of the dash panel via a releasing mechanism, and a regulating device is provided in the vehicle compartment to be opposed to the cowl top panel. With this arrangement, the pedal bracket can be surely released by operation of the releasing mechanism even in the case where the cowl top panel and the dash panel are moved rearward at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignees: Mitsuishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Jidosha Engineering Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Amano, Toshiyasu Shida
  • Patent number: 7059450
    Abstract: An automatic lubrication system for a vehicle, comprising a pump assembly having a plurality of outlet ports, a motor operable to drive the pump assembly, and a cartridge that is attachable to the pump assembly to provide a source of lubricant to the pump. The cartridge is removable from the pump assembly and has an interior space that is collapsible as lubricant is dispensed therefrom. A controller is provided to periodically initiate the motor to cause the pump to dispense lubricant to the outlet ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Lubriquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan J. O'Toole, Jim Wollbrinck, Jeff Conrad, Raymond J. Niemczura, Sr., Ryan Helman, Ron Sears, Tom Deblasis, Eric Colburn
  • Patent number: 7059212
    Abstract: An arrestable tensioning device 10, in particular for a parking brake system, is described. The tensioning device 10 comprises an actuating device 20, a tensioning element 40 coupled to the actuating device 20 for executing a tensioning motion, and a releasable arresting device 60 for the tensioning element 40. The arresting device 60 has a first contour 70 coupled to the tensioning element 40, as well as an arresting element 66, which for arresting the tensioning element 40 interacts with the first contour 70, i.e. for example, is brought into engagement with the first contour 70. A lagging element 64 is provided, which upon a reversal of motion of the first contour 70 follows on after a time delay and in said case is movable relative to the first contour 70 back and forth between a first relative position enabling e.g. an engagement of the arresting element 66 into the first contour 70 and a second relative position preventing an engagement of the arresting element 66 into the first contour 70.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Johann Von Der Heide
  • Patent number: 7055654
    Abstract: An oil filter cooler that has an arrangement of circular fins that are permanently incorporated into the top of an oil filter. These fins allow for an increase of heat dissipation of motor oil as it flows through the oil filter thereby, reducing the temperature of the motor oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Inventor: John B. Gasseling
  • Patent number: 7051616
    Abstract: An accelerator device includes an accelerator arm 12 provided with an accelerator pedal 11, a support case 13 internally holding and supporting an arm base part 12a through a support shaft 14, a return spring 16 and 17 for urging the arm 12 to rotate in a returning direction to return the pedal 11 to an initial position, and an accelerator sensor 15 for detecting a rotation amount of the arm 12 as an accelerator opening degree. A hysteresis producing mechanism includes friction pieces 20 and 21 attached to the arm base part 12a. A curved contact surface 20a of the friction piece 20 is held in contact with a contacted surface 19a of a friction part 19 of the support case 13. One end of the return spring 16 and 17 is hooked in one end of the friction piece 20 and 21, and the other end of the spring 16 and 17 is connected to the arm base part 12a in order to press the contact surface 20a and 21a of the friction piece 20 and 21 against the contacted surface 19a of the friction part 19.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsuneyuki Yokochi, Ryuji Kosugi, Yasunori Yamada, Akihito Kuno
  • Patent number: 7044018
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting element for the releasable connection of a first part with a second part, in particular a bowden cable with a lever wherein the connecting element comprises a housing which is rigidly mounted to the first part, an engaging element mounted to the second part and a slide having a receiving element complementary shaped to the engaging element for the releasable connection of the engaging element with the receiving element. The slide can inside the housing slide from a first position into a second position for latching the releasable connection between the engaging element and the receiving element. The connecting element further comprises at least one latching means for fixing the slide in the second position and at least one releasing means for manually acting onto the at least one latching means in order to release the slide from the second position for the unlatching of the releasable connection between the engaging element and the receiving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Fico Cables S.A.
    Inventors: Manuel Martin Sanchez, Juan M. Dona Contero
  • Patent number: 7040452
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a device for distributing lubricants in grooved rails, particularly for railborne urban traffic. An elongated plate is provided which can be arranged in the groove of the rail and which is provided with cutouts at least along one longitudinal edge, but preferably along both longitudinal edges. The cutouts start at the longitudinal edge and are accordingly open-edged. The lubricant can be supplied to these cutouts. The open-edged cutouts of the plate are covered by a cover plate which is constructed so as to be elastic at least in the covering area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Inventors: Richard Gunacker, Christian Gunacker
  • Patent number: 7040191
    Abstract: A device is provided for adjusting a connecting piece (6) mounted rotatably by a mounting device (5). The connecting piece is particularly part of a pedal mechanism of a motor vehicle coupled with a transmission unit (7) for transmitting the movement of the connecting piece (6). An adjusting mechanism (4) is provided for adjusting the position of the connecting piece (6). A locking unit prevents the unintentional adjustment of the connecting piece (6). The mounting device (5) comprises a bearing shell (3) and a baseplate (1). The bearing shell (3) is movably connected to the baseplate (1) arranged stationarily at the vehicle. The bearing shell (3) can be moved along the baseplate (1) upon the loosening of the locking unit such that the position of the transmission unit (7) coupled with the connecting piece (6) remains unchanged during the adjustment of the connecting piece (6) mounted in the mounting device (5), so that the adjusting mechanism (4) is integrated within the mounting device (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AB
    Inventors: Andree Burgstaler, Jan Dütz, Simone Papke
  • Patent number: 7028810
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a frame and an axle assembly coupled to the frame. The axle assembly includes a first axle shaft and a first axle housing, with the first axle shaft disposed substantially within the first axle housing; a first wheel coupled to the first axle assembly; an axle lubricating fluid disposed within the first axle housing; and a first axle cooling device disposed within the first axle housing, in contact with at least a portion of the lubricating fluid, and including a first coil. Also disclosed is a method of cooling an axle assembly of a work vehicle. The method includes steps of removing heat from the lubricating fluid by placing the lubricating fluid in contact with the outer surface of a coil, and removing the heat from the inner surface of the coil by circulating the cooling fluid through the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Edward L. Coyle, Donnell L. Dunn