Patents Examined by Chong H. Kim
  • Grease fitting coupler
    Patent number: 6920961
    Abstract: A grease fitting coupler device includes a body member with a slot on one side for engagement with a fitting and a series of passages through the body member connected with a lubrication source. A slidable valve member within the body member is pressurized against the fitting to seal the coupler device while lubricating fluid is passed therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Lisle Corporation
    Inventor: Randall J. Ploeger
  • Main shaft balancing device for machine tool
    Patent number: 6915879
    Abstract: A gas spring comprising a cylinder body filled with compressed gas and an upright rod passing through a rod side end wall member of the cylinder body. By supporting a main shaft unit with the gas spring, the load on a vertical displacement mechanism is reduced. A pair of upper and lower ring-shaped seal members, which seal between the rod end wall member and the rod, are provided inside the rod wall member. Ring-shaped oil filling chambers are formed in between the ring-shaped seal members and between the rod end wall member and the rod. An oil filling mechanism fills the oil filling chambers with lubrication oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Pascal Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Kimura
  • Vehicle drip tray and pet waste pan
    Patent number: 6913116
    Abstract: The present invention provides a roll-edge stamped metal drip tray with a wire retaining bar hinged at one end and secured at another end by a locking slot. The wire retaining bar holds an absorbent material in the drip pan. The wire retaining bar may be provided at a distance away from the edge of the drip pan to as to prevent the absorbent material from blowing out of the pan. The wire retaining bar may be released from its locking slot an one end, and the bar hinged upwards to a substantially vertical position, where the wire retaining bar is prevented from falling backwards by bends in the retaining bar hinge portion. Once an absorbent material is inserted into the pan, the wire retaining bar may be lowered into position and locked into place using one or more locking slots which accept a suitably formed wire portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Inventor: Elliot W. Lee
  • Bicycle stem including enhanced clamp and associated methods
    Patent number: 6912928
    Abstract: A bicycle stem includes a steering tube clamp with a pair of cooperating clamp members defining an imaginary cylinder and a recess therein for the steering tube. Each clamp member may also have at least one fastener receiving passageway therein offset a predetermined distance from an axis defined by the imaginary cylinder. The stem may include a body portion having opposing first and second ends, a handlebar clamping portion connected to the first end of the body portion, and a steering tube clamping portion connected to the second end of the body portion. The steering tube clamping portion may have a tubular shape defining a steering tube receiving passageway therethrough, and a clamp receiving passageway transverse to the steering tube receiving passageway and in communication therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: L.H. Thomson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Loronzo H. Thomson, Brian Thomson, Mark P. McJunkin
  • Fluid pressure-operated apparatus-connecting device
    Patent number: 6913115
    Abstract: A fluid pressure-operated apparatus-connecting device comprises a body to which an O-ring is installed, a bracket which is connected to the body, a fastening member which is connected to the body, a plate spring which is interposed between the body and the fastening member, a pin member which is engaged with a second engaging groove to fasten the fastening member thereby, and a bolt which integrally fixes the body, the bracket, and the fastening member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taku Tomita, Takehiko Kanazawa, Mitsutoshi Araki, Toshiharu Wada, Makoto Wada
  • Cooling an axle using series flow
    Patent number: 6907958
    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: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Edward L. Coyle, Donnell L. Dunn
  • Oil drain plug of engine
    Patent number: 6902038
    Abstract: A new type of plug incorporating a normally closed valve for draining oil from an oil pan of a car engine, wherein the normally closed valve is incorporated in a through hole provided as an oil draining path in a bolt type member fixed to the oil pan, an oil draining dedicated jig is assembled to the plug so as to open the normally closed valve in order to drain the oil contained in the oil pan by sucking it with a negative pressure, a movable valve disc member installed in the through hole is installed so that it is engaged with a valve seat provided near the outer end part of the through hole by a coiled spring so as to form the normally closed valve, and the tip end of the plug is made flush generally with the internal surface of the oil pan so as to prevent any structure from projecting toward the inside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignees: Nitto Kohki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tamotsu Takahara
  • Device and method for applying lubricating oil
    Patent number: 6896103
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10) for depositing a flowable medium, in particular lubricating oil, onto a workpiece (16). The device (10) has a base body (13) having a duct (14a) for supplying the lubricating oil, the duct (14a) ending in a cavity (14d). The cavity (14d) is covered by a mask (15) having an opening. The opening of the mask (15) is closed by a hard metal sphere (11) which is prestressed into this closure position by a spring (12). When contact is made with a workpiece the sphere is pressed into the cavity (14d) and thereby opens up the opening in the mask (15) for the discharge of lubricating oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Oliver Naumann, Ralf Michels
  • Automotive fluid exchange system
    Patent number: 6886664
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and process for exchanging an engine fluid for maintenance purposes. The fluid is accessed through the engines reservoir for that particular fluid. Used fluid is removed simultaneously with the introduction of new fluid. In order to maintain a constant level of fluid in the reservoir, and thus, prevent overflow or cavitation problems, a control module is presented that enables the user to control the rate of new fluid flow into the reservoir relative to the rate of used fluid and to activate and deactivate the new and used fluid pumps. During operation, the module is located in close proximity to the reservoir such that the user is able to observe the fluid level while relating the flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: BG Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold E. Erwin, Abram B. Kuipers
  • Oil injection apparatus
    Patent number: 6883646
    Abstract: An oil injection apparatus for injecting lubricating oil to gears, bushings and the like includes an oil injection dock, which has a housing section for holding a plurality of objects for oil injection, and an oil injection section corresponding to the housing section. The oil injection section has a plurality of oil injection outlets and a sensor. When the object for oil injection drops into the oil injection section, the sensor transmits a signal to an oil supply device to inject lubricating oil through the oil injection outlets to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Pan
  • Pedal device for a vehicle and automobile using the same
    Patent number: 6883398
    Abstract: Pedal device 10 has a pedal member 11 depressed by the driver, and arm member 12 engaged with the pedal member, for turning when the pedal member is depressed, and transmitting driver's force-on-pedal to the brake master cylinder. When the driver's force-on-pedal which acts on pedal member 11 is less than the fixed value, footrest means 13 restricts the turning of the arm member. Pedal member 11 is composed of footplate 11a to be depressed by the driver, and protruding portion 11b engaged with the footplate, on which driver's heel can be put.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Kojima, Toshimichi Minowa, Satoru Kuragaki, Kazuhiko Satou, Tokuji Yoshikawa
  • Adjustable brake, clutch and accelerator pedals
    Patent number: 6880427
    Abstract: An adjustable control pedal for a motor vehicle includes a pivotable upper pedal arm having a slot formed therein, a link pivotable relative to the upper pedal arm, and a lower pedal arm having an upper end pivotably connected to the link and a lower end carrying a pedal. A nut is pivotally connected to the link such that the link pivots relative to the upper pedal arm upon movement of the nut along a drive screw. A pin is connected to the lower pedal arm and laterally extends into the slot such that the pin moves along the slot upon pivotal movement of the link. Also disclosed is a control pedal having a drive block or a pair of spaced apart pins located in a single slot of the upper pedal arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Allen, Dean William Reynolds
  • Feed screw device
    Patent number: 6880676
    Abstract: A ring-like lubricant supply device 6 is fitted into a recess 4 of a nut member 2. The lubricant supply device 6 contains a lubricant and is formed in an outer peripheral surface with notches 7. Tubular members 8 each having an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the notch 7 are inserted into the notches, pushing and widening the notches 7 in a circumferential direction. One end of the tubular member 8 is fitted into a recess 9b of a retaining ring 9 and the retaining ring 9 is fixed to a nut member 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Tsukada, Soichiro Kato
  • Piston-rod assembly
    Patent number: 6877398
    Abstract: A piston-rod assembly with a piston rod having at least one attachment at one end. The piston rod is fabricated of fiber reinforced composite. The piston rod has a body of fiber-reinforced ceramic with a basic matrix of carbon fibers or ceramic fibers or both wherein at least silicon carbide is embedded and with an open porosity, at least at the surface layer, of no more than 3% of the volume of that layer admitting lubricants into the pores. The at least one attachment (2, 18a, 19, or 22) includes at least one component of a non-ceramic material that fits into and/or interlocks with the piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Krupp Bilstein GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Wirtz, Marcello Di Fina, Klaus Hofmann, Günter Poetsch, Walter Krenkel, Ralph Renz
  • Gear shift handle with push button mechanism for an automatic transmission in motor vehicles
    Patent number: 6877396
    Abstract: A shift handle with a push button mechanism for shifting an automatic transmission in motor vehicles which includes the shaft handle, a push rod for the automatic transmission, the push button and elements for transmitting movement from the push button to the push rod. The push button is provided with a toothed rack engaging in the teeth of a toothed wheel which is mounted in the shift handle so as to be rotatable by a cylindrical pin. A tension spring is arranged in the push button. The push rod has a region with teeth engaging in the toothed wheel which is mounted so as to be rotatable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: United Parts FHS Automobil Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Bohuslav Blascok, Axel Wack, Uwe Schlüsche
  • Steering wheel armature with detachable rim
    Patent number: 6874386
    Abstract: A steering wheel armature having a spoke joint allowing for the removal of the steering wheel rim from the hub plate. The steering wheel rim has a first plate that is aligned with a second plate from the hub plate whereby a fastening means secures the first plate with the second plate. A top cover and a bottom cover are utilized to conceal the spoke joint from the vehicle occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoping Xu, Shiro Ohara, Jiro Harada
  • Bicycle handlebar-fork clamp assembly
    Patent number: 6874385
    Abstract: A rear housing has a vertical bore for receipt of a bicycle fork tube and a horizontal bore for receipt of a movable piston slightly longer than the length of the horizontal bore. A front housing has a concave rear portion cooperating with a concave front portion of the rear housing to form a gripping enclosure for a bicycle handlebar. Threaded bores in the front housing are aligned axially with threaded bores in the rear housing so that tightening down on the front housing to the rear housing with threaded bolts causes the handlebar to be gripped tightly and the movable piston is urged backwardly to tightly hold the fork tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Profile Racing, Inc.
    Inventor: Corey J. Alley
  • Axle assembly cooler using parallel flow paths
    Patent number: 6871726
    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: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Edward L. Coyle, Donnell L. Dunn
  • Parking brake
    Patent number: 6868751
    Abstract: A parking brake including a lever (3) coupled to a brake wire (9) included in the brake system. The lever (3) is arranged to work in two steps to achieve the desired braking power. In the first step the lever is arranged to make a translational movement for taking up wire slack in the brake system, while in the second step the lever is arranged to execute a rotation whereby the force transmission to the wire (9) takes place at a higher ratio than in the first step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Volvo Personvagnar AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Sundqvist, Pär Marklund
  • Drain valve
    Patent number: 6866122
    Abstract: A drain valve for mounting as a replacement for the drain plug in the oil pan of a motor vehicle includes a body member having an upstream end threaded for attachment to the oil pan, a downstream end, and a passageway therethrough normally closed by a valve element adjacent the downstream end thereof. A valve actuator is mountable on the downstream end of the body member to displace the valve element to open the passageway, and the downstream end of the actuator receives a drain hose for directing the oil to a collection receptacle. A dust cap covers the downstream end of the valve between draining operations to protect the valve from damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Fluid Line Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Darko Brozovic