Patents Examined by Emily Cheng
  • Patent number: 9447855
    Abstract: An electric actuator is capable of easily achieving reduction in weight and size when compared to a hydraulic cylinder device, capable of being used in place of the hydraulic cylinder device, and capable of freely extending in response to a suddenly-applied impact load. An electric actuator converts rotation of an electric motor into advancing/retracting motion of an output rod using a screw shaft and a nut member mounted to the screw shaft. The output rod includes: a drive cylinder, to which the nut member is provided, the drive cylinder being arranged around the screw shaft; and a movable cylinder arranged to overlap the drive cylinder around the screw shaft and freely advancing and retreating with respect to the drive cylinder. The electric actuator further includes a releasing mechanism provided between the drive cylinder and the movable cylinder, for engaging the movable cylinder with the drive cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Mochizuki, Hiroomi Kuribayashi
  • Patent number: 9393703
    Abstract: An umbilical member attachment device including a first umbilical member-use first fastening part and second fastening part respectively fastening a first umbilical member to a first member and second member, and a second umbilical member-use first fastening part and second fastening part respectively fastening a second umbilical member to a first member and second member. These fastening parts are arranged offset in position from each other on a surface of the robot so that the first umbilical member and the second umbilical member do not cross, and at a reference posture, and so that a distance between the first umbilical member-use second fastening part and the second umbilical member-use second fastening part becomes broader than a distance between the first umbilical member-use first fastening part and the second umbilical member-use first fastening part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hirokazu Kume
  • Patent number: 9388865
    Abstract: A gearing mechanism includes a housing component and a shaft mounted in the housing component. The shaft is driven rotating relative to the housing component with regard to a rotation axis in a first rotation direction and in a second rotation direction opposite the first rotation direction. There is also a wrap element that wraps the shaft multiple times. A first end of the wrap element is fastened to the housing component. It is also possible that an inward oriented friction surface is provided and that the wrap element is arranged within the inward oriented friction surface at least in sections in order to interact with the friction surface. In an alternative embodiment, a brake element is provided, the shaft comprises a brake element receptacle that at least partially accommodates the brake element and a contact surface is allocated to the brake element for interacting with the brake element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Oberle, Wilhelm Braun, Willi Schmidt, Siegfried Reichmann, Roland Braun
  • Patent number: 9388891
    Abstract: A multi-shaft drive device is provided that is capable of obtaining an appropriate backlash in an enmeshed state of an output side bevel gear and an input side bevel gear. An output side bevel gear (35) that is biased in the direction of an input side bevel gear by a coil spring contacts a shaft support bush attached to a wall portion (17) in an enmeshed state with the input side bevel gear. A bias direction stroke end of the output side bevel gear (35) is accordingly restricted. Moreover, the wall portion (17) is provided to a gear holder (15) fixed to a device case (10) that supports the input side bevel gear, thereby enabling the axial direction position of the output side bevel gear (35) to always be positioned at a uniform position to enmesh appropriately with the input side bevel gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryohei Shigematsu, Takafumi Hirata, Takahiro Fujii, Kiyoshi Nakajima, Shinji Iino, Soichi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 9382999
    Abstract: An actuation device for selecting gear settings of a shift-by-wire gear shifting transmission comprises an actuation element, a mechanical transference for actuating the parking brake, and a coupling device disposed between the actuation element and the mechanical transference. An actuation of the transference occurs selectively by the actuation element only when the parking brake setting is selected or de-selected at the shift lever. It is possible, structurally as well as with respect to its installment, to simplify the transference mechanism necessary for the selective actuation of the transference means for the parking brake. Structural space and costs can be reduced, and the actuation device can be designed to be smooth and quiet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake
  • Patent number: 9370867
    Abstract: An industrial robot with parallel kinematics comprises a robot base; a carrier element used to receive a gripper or a tool; an elongated hollow body, having a continuous cavity, which is moveably connected directly or indirectly to the robot base, with a hollow joint, having a continuous cavity, with several degrees of freedom, via which the elongated hollow body is moveably connected to the carrier element; and the cavity of the joint adjoins the cavity of the elongated hollow body, wherein the elongated hollow body cavity and the hollow joint cavity form a channel from the robot base to the carrier element, with at least one supply line for a gripper or a tool arranged on the carrier element, which at least one supply line is guided from the robot base to the carrier element through the cavity of the elongated hollow body and penetrates the hollow joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: MAJATRONIC GMBH
    Inventor: Hartmut Ilch
  • Patent number: 9366324
    Abstract: Disclosed is an actuation system for adjusting the rigidity of elastic elements by using two sets of transmission modules together with a link gear and two sets of nonlinear elastic elements. The actuation system actuates an external arm by controlling the two sets of transmission modules to rotate in different directions and adjusts the rigidity of the elastic elements by controlling the two sets of transmission modules to rotate in the same direction, so as to achieve the effects of reducing the number of actuation modules used, minimizing the volume of the actuation system, and reducing production cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Han-Pang Huang, Ren-Jeng Wang
  • Patent number: 9358125
    Abstract: An improved mechanism for expanding or lifting a device in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention is a coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanism. In various embodiments, coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanisms includes a post with a threaded exterior surface and a corresponding sleeve configured to surround the post, the corresponding sleeve having a threaded interior surface configured to interface with the threaded exterior surface of the post and a geared exterior surface. A drive mechanism can be configured to interface with the geared exterior surface of the sleeve, causing a device utilizing such a mechanism to expand or lift between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: SPINEX TEC, LLC
    Inventors: Omar F. Jimenez, Nicholas Ransom Powley, Andrew G. Fischer, Yefim Safris
  • Patent number: 9353838
    Abstract: An electric linear actuator has a housing, an electric motor, a speed reduction mechanism, and a ball screw mechanism. The ball screw mechanism has a nut and a screw shaft. The nut is rotationally supported by bearings on the housing but is axially immovable. The screw shaft is rotationally supported on the nut and is axially movable with respect to the housing. The housing has a first housing and a second housing abutting against one another. Bores contain the screw shaft in the housing. The speed reduction mechanism has an input gear, an intermediate gear, and an output gear, secured on the nut, mating with the intermediate gear. The intermediate gear is rotationally supported, via a bearing, on a shaft. The shaft is supported at its opposite ends on the first and second housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinori Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9339847
    Abstract: A vibrating aggregate for moving the processing device, the vibrating aggregate including at least a frame, a shaft having an axial line and being arranged to rotate with respect to the frame, as well as a first element connected to the shaft in such a way that the center of mass of the element is not on the axial line, and fitted to move along a circular path. The vibrating aggregate also comprises a second element coupled to the shaft and arranged to move along a linear path. Furthermore, the invention relates to an apparatus for processing mineral material, and a method for moving the processing device of an apparatus for processing mineral material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: METSO MINERALS INC.
    Inventors: Aki Lautala, Antti Harju
  • Patent number: 9333469
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a stirring system has a stirring assembly, a threaded leadscrew, and a multi-motion assembly adapted to travel along the leadscrew and accompanying parallel guide rods. The multi-motion assembly (i) has a timing pulley for powering the stirring assembly via a timing belt and (ii) converts the rotation of the leadscrew into either travel along the leadscrew in an engaged state or rotation of the timing pulley in a disengaged state. The multi-motion assembly includes (i) a screw-nut having an inside thread matching the leadscrew's thread and (ii) a clutch sub-assembly. The clutch sub-assembly (i) prevents the screw nut from rotating with the leadscrew in the engaged state, such that leadscrew rotation causes linear movement of the multi-motion assembly and (ii) allows the screw nut to rotate with the leadscrew in the disengaged state, such that leadscrew rotation causes corresponding rotation of the screw nut and timing pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Distek, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Brinker, Michael Cai, William G. Van Ocker
  • Patent number: 9297449
    Abstract: Disclosed is a ring gear fastening structure in which a ring gear is fastened to the flange of a differential case configuring a differential sub-assembly. The inner circumferential surface of the ring gear is press-fitted into the outer circumferential surface of the flange, and the ring gear is swaged by means of a swage part which is disposed on at least one end of the flange in the axial direction. The inner circumferential surface of the ring gear is formed with a circumferential groove which extends in the circumferential direction of said inner circumferential surface. The circumferential groove is disposed facing the outer circumferential surface of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Taniguchi, Hiroyuki Shioiri
  • Patent number: 9279487
    Abstract: Double nut is capable of adjustment in a ball screw unit so as to regulate tension between the nut and the ball screw with their ball bearings such as to avoid or repair backlash in or maintain precision with the unit. The adjustment may be made without removal of the ball screw unit from a machine in which it operates or automatically. The double nut can be employed with or in methods of making, repair or adjustment of, and manufacturing with the ball screw unit with such a nut. A wiping contrivance for a ball screw nut or unit can be a member in annular form, and made and used in aspects analogous to those of the double nut. A depending foot, ball bearing return may be employed in a ball screw nut or unit in aspects analogous to those of the double nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Inventor: David B. Guglietti
  • Patent number: 9279483
    Abstract: A high-load linear actuator includes a driving mechanism, a worm shaft, a worm wheel assembly, a lead screw, a telescopic pipe and an outer pipe. The driving mechanism includes a base and a motor. The base has a supporting portion and an accommodating portion. The motor is fixed to the supporting portion. The worm shaft extends from the motor into the supporting portion. The worm wheel assembly includes a worm wheel and two bearings for supporting the worm wheel in the accommodating portion. The worm wheel is engaged with the worm shaft. The lead screw is disposed through the worm wheel and driven by the motor for rotation. The telescopic pipe slips on the lead screw to be threadedly connected therewith. The outer pipe slips on the telescopic pipe. The rotation of the lead screw drives the telescopic pipe to linearly extend or retract relative to the outer pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: TIMOTION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chou-Hsin Wu
  • Patent number: 9243698
    Abstract: A gear drive system includes a securing panel, a first slave gear, a drive gear, and an adjusting structure. The securing panel includes a panel body, a rack, and a rotating shaft. An upper part of the first slave gear is adjacent to the rack and aligned with the rack. The drive gear engages the first slave gear. The adjusting structure includes an elastic element, a slave element pivotally mounted to the panel body, and a third slave gear. The third slave gear defines a rotating hole. The rotating shaft is received in the rotating hole. The second slave gear is movable related to the panel body to enable the rotating shaft to be located in different positions of the rotating hole. The third slave gear is driven to move and rotate. The slave element is driven to rotate to press the elastic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Zhongshan Innocloud Intellectual Property Services Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ping-Yi Chen, Yao-Sheng Wu
  • Patent number: 9239108
    Abstract: In general, a shift-by-wire transmission range selector system consistent with the present disclosure may include an actuator one or more electric motors to allow the actuator to operate for shifting the gear position of a transmission. In the event of a power or system failure, a fail safe release motor may be actuated by energy stored in a capacitor. The fail safe release motor drives a slide cam to release a trigger arm. Upon release of the trigger arm, a spring-driven mechanism safely returns the transmission to the PARK position by rotating an output shaft. A redundant control link may be provided, configured to actuate the fail safe release motor in the event of a power or system failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Ganter, Robert DiTommaso, Norman Poirier
  • Patent number: 9239107
    Abstract: A neutral locking system for a vehicle includes a park release shaft and a neutral locking tool. The park release shaft is operatively connected to the transmission such that rotation of the park release shaft places the transmission in a neutral state. The tool is configured to couple to the park release shaft such that rotation of the tool rotates the park release shaft. The tool can also include a sliding locking pin having a first position allowing rotation of the tool within an engine compartment and a second position in which the pin contacts a component in the engine compartment to limit rotation of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daric J. Galden
  • Patent number: 9222556
    Abstract: A spindle drive has a spindle nut (1) and a threaded spindle (2) mounted in a rotationally fixed and axially displaceable manner on a reference body (3) by way of a linear guide, wherein the axis (9) of the threaded spindle (2) is arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction of the linear guide, and wherein the linear guide has a groove (4) and a guide element (5) engaging in the groove and comprises an elastic region (5b, 5b?, 5b?), the width of which perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the linear guide is greater than the maximum groove width in the region used for the linear guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Schlecht, Jürgen Stürzer
  • Patent number: 9212744
    Abstract: A combination torsion spring is configured such that a predetermined reaction force is generated in a coil circumferential direction without a center of a wound coil tilting even when applied with a load. A first torsion spring and a second torsion spring of the combination torsion spring are each provided with a coil. Each coil is formed by spirally winding a copper wire in a different winding direction from one another. The inner diameter of the coil of the first torsion spring is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the coil of the second torsion spring. In the combination torsion spring, the coil of the second torsion spring is inserted into the coil of the first torsion spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsushi Saitoh
  • Patent number: 9206891
    Abstract: A support structure for a ball screw includes a base, two pivot seats mounted on the base, a screw disposed between the two pivot seats, at least one guide rail fixed on the base, a first guide block fixed on the base and provided with a first slanting surface, a second guide block fixed on the base and provided with a second slanting surface, a support seat slidably mounted on the guide rails and located below the screw, a nut unit sleeved on the screw and slidably disposed on the guide rails, and a drive assembly fixed at the nut unit. The support structure for a ball screw has a simple structure, a low maintenance cost and a longer service life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: HIWIN TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventors: Lung-Yu Chang, Ying-Ju Lin