Patents Examined by Clifford J Louden
  • Patent number: 7708644
    Abstract: A tripod constant velocity universal joint includes among others an inner joint member having a boss 22 and journals 24 radially protruding from the boss, a radius of curvature R1 as viewed in a cross section of a journal bottom part 23 connecting the boss 22 to the journal 24 and as measured at opposing locations in a circumferential direction of the joint is larger than a radius of curvature R2 of the journal bottom part as viewed in its cross section and as measured at opposing locations in an axial direction of the joint and R1 gradually decreases down to R2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Izumino, Minoru Ishijima
  • Patent number: 7632188
    Abstract: A pair of spherical gears connects the intersecting shafts of a CV-joint. One gear has internal teeth, and the other has external teeth. The gear design is based on pitch circles that are great circles on theoretical pitch spheres that are concentric and have identical radii. The internal teeth are either conically or spherically shaped, while the external tooth faces are cylindrical with tangential flat extensions. The spherical gears are shown on half-shafts. The preferred embodiments have six teeth on each gear, and one preferred embodiment also uses balls for the internal teeth. The gears, while rotating at high speeds under load, can intersect throughout a continuous maximum range of 60° or more in any direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Torvec, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith E. Gleasman, Paul W. Suwijn
  • Patent number: 7591730
    Abstract: A constant velocity fixed joint having an outer joint part (12) with outer ball tracks (221, 222), an inner joint part (13) with inner ball tracks (231, 232), the outer ball tracks and the inner ball tracks forming pairs of tracks (211, 231; 222, 232), the pairs of tracks each accommodate a torque transmitting ball (141, 142). Each two adjoining pairs of tracks comprise outer ball tracks with center lines in planes extending substantially parallel relative to one another, as well as inner ball tracks with center lines in planes extending substantially parallel relative to one another. An annular ball cage (16) is positioned between the outer joint part (12) and the inner joint part (13). In an aligned joint, centers of the balls are held by the ball cage in the joint center plane and when the joint is articulated, they are guided onto the angle-bisecting plane between the longitudinal axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: GKN Driveline Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Schwärzler, Heiko Harnischfeger
  • Patent number: 7585227
    Abstract: In a joint boot to be mounted on an outer housing having a non-circular outer peripheral configuration, the invention is designed for ensuring a high sealing capability without impairing the moldability. To that end, its large-diameter attachment part to be attached to the outer housing is configured, in its internal peripheral contour, to bulge radially inwardly in plural circumferential places thereof so that bulging portions each include an inner wall portion radially inwardly bulging in a curved form, an arc-like outer wall portion constituting part of an outer peripheral face of the large-diameter attachment part, a radially extending central strut wall linking these inner and outer wall portions in peripheral centers of both, and lateral strut walls linking on both sides of the central strut wall the inner and outer wall portions. The lateral strut walls are slanted such that their outward parts approach the central strut wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takenori Ohshita
  • Patent number: 7585226
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damping disk having receiving spaces for spring elements, particularly for bow spring elements, which are each arranged between two limit stop areas in the peripheral direction. In order to create a torsional vibration damping disk, which is producible easily and cost-effectively, the spring elements are each clamped with a slight pretension between two limit stop areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Adam Uhler, Todd Sturgin
  • Patent number: 7582020
    Abstract: In a universal joint boot including a bellows part, a ring-shaped mounting part that is formed at one end of the bellows part and into which a cup for receiving one member of two members moving relatively to each other is inserted; and a seal that is formed toward the peripheral direction of the inner peripheral surface of the mounting part to which the cup is mounted, the inner peripheral surface has protrusions protruding toward the axial center of the ring-shaped mounting part and the height of the seal lip becomes lower from the bottom of the protrusion to a peak and width of the seal lip becomes wider from the bottom of the protrusion to the peak, whereby sealing performance can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Ono, Takashi Shimazu, Yoshiaki Sugiura
  • Patent number: 7568977
    Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint shaft, capable of suppressing a rotational backlash when incorporated in the constant velocity universal joint, and improving the assembly efficiency as well as reducing the manufacturing cost. A constant velocity universal joint shaft has a spline that fits an inner race of the constant velocity universal joint. The shaft includes a shaft body with a spline formed thereon, and a yoke portion with a ring-shaped fitting portion. The shaft body and the yoke portion are integrally formed of medium carbon steel. By a pressing force of a pressing member the fitting portion of the yoke portion is tightened, so that such fitting portion fits a shaft external to the joint. In the constant velocity universal joint, the pressing member and an abutment member are elastically butted via an elastic member, so that a ball constantly remains in contact with a raceway of an outer member and a raceway of an inner member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Ishijima, Kenta Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7559844
    Abstract: A torque fluctuation absorber includes a disc fixed to a flywheel, a hub fixed to a transmission, first and second side plates fixed to the disc, a damper member, first and second control plates provided at axial both sides of the hub, the first and second control plates being riveted by a stopper pin, a first hysteresis mechanism including first and second low friction members and generating a small hysteresis, and a second hysteresis mechanism including first and second high friction members and generating a large hysteresis. The hub includes a flange portion having a through-hole into which the stopper pin is inserted. A relative rotational angle between the control plates and the hub is defined by a clearance formed between the through-hole and the hub. The first hysteresis mechanism is activated when the relative rotational angle is defined within the clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiro Saeki, Satoshi Nakagaito, Makoto Takeuchi, Masanori Suzuki, Masaru Ebata
  • Patent number: 7544130
    Abstract: A coupling system is disclosed for coupling rotating elements such as a pairs of shafts, flywheel and a shaft, and so forth. A first hub assembly is attached to a shaft via a tapered sleeve mechanism. A flexible element is captured by the hub assembly and is used to couple one rotating member to another. The hub assembly includes a hub, a flange, and an adjusting nut that are used in conjunction with fasteners to compress the flexible element. The flange has anti-rotation features that engage similar features on the outside diameter of the hub. The adjusting nut has internal threads that engage external threads on the hub outside diameter. The flexible element either mounts directly to the second rotating element or is captured by a second hub assembly. The second hub assembly is attached to the second shaft via a tapered sleeve mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Reliance Electric Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Donald L. Nisley