Patents Examined by Greg Binda
  • Patent number: 11624408
    Abstract: A shaft coupling includes a first coupling member, a second coupling member, and a cushioning member. The first coupling member includes first protrusions. The second coupling member includes second protrusions. The cushioning member includes a plurality of radiating portions. When the first coupling member and the second coupling member are arranged coaxially and the first coupling member and the second coupling member are in an unloaded state, predetermined paired facing surfaces have a minimum clearance angle present on a radially outer side with respect to a center of the radiating portion in a radiating direction. The predetermined paired facing surfaces are at least one of first paired facing surfaces and second paired facing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naofumi Kawamura, Hideyuki Honkado
  • Patent number: 11623666
    Abstract: A drive includes at least one motor with a drive shaft and at least one output shaft which is in particular mechanically connected to a gear. The drive shaft and the output shaft are aligned substantially axially. The drive shaft and the output shaft each have a coupling portion through which a torque can be transmitted from the drive shaft to the output shaft by mechanical coupling. Each coupling portion is connected to the shaft thereof for rotation therewith and the coupling portions can be mechanically coupled by being axially plugged together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
    Inventors: Freerk Jacobus Oude Kotte, Bernd Pfannschmidt
  • Patent number: 11619271
    Abstract: An axle assembly for a driving wheel of a vehicle allows a wheel-side joint and a shaft to be rotated separately from a boot while driving so as to prevent generation of friction noise of the boot. The axle assembly includes the shaft rotated by receiving driving force from a powertrain; an axle housing disposed to pass through a center of a steering knuckle connected to a steering apparatus; a wheel bearing mounted between the steering knuckle and the axle housing; a joint bearing mounted on an outer part of the shaft; and a boot unit configured to have a first end coupled to an outer race of the joint bearing and a second end coupled to an outer race of the wheel bearing so as to form a space filled with a lubricant outside the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Sung Su Yoo, Seok Ho Bae, Hee Il Kim, Won Jun Choi
  • Patent number: 11614127
    Abstract: A method of transmitting torque through a flexible coupling includes driving a first rotatable member with a second rotatable member, applying an axial force component to the a flexible coupling connecting the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member by changing an axial offset between the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member interconnected by the flexible coupling, reducing one or more of the axial force component and cyclic equivalent stress born by a flexible diaphragm body of the flexible coupling by axially shifting the first end of the flexible diaphragm body relative to one of the interconnected rotatable members, and affixing a splined member to a second end of the flexible coupling, wherein the flexible diaphragm body has an inner diameter that is greater than an inner diameter of the splined member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Mathis, Raghu Iyer
  • Patent number: 11608852
    Abstract: A propeller shaft assembly for a vehicle including a first shaft extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end. The first shaft has an externally splined region presenting a plurality of external splines axially adjacent to the distal end. The externally splined region has a spline region outside diameter. A second shaft extends axially between a base end and a terminal end. The second shaft has a tube portion that extends from the base end, and an internally splined sleeve region that extends from the terminal end. The internally splined sleeve region receives the externally splined region of the first shaft and presents a plurality of internal splines interleaved with the external splines of the first shaft for providing relative axial movement between the first and second shafts while rotationally fixing the first and second shafts to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: NEAPCO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Rob Wehner
  • Patent number: 11608863
    Abstract: A damper device includes a first rotor, a second rotor, a plurality of elastic members and a stopper mechanism. The stopper mechanism includes a plurality of first cutouts, a plurality of second cutouts and a plurality of stop members. A pair of the first and second cutouts is provided on both circumferential sides of each of a plurality of accommodation portions of the second rotor so as to circumferentially extend therefrom. The stop members are fixed to the first rotor. Each stop member is circumferentially movable within the pair of the first and second cutouts. The second rotor includes a first protruding portion circumferentially protruding on one of a pair of pressing surfaces of each accommodation portion. Each of the first cutouts, which is a hole, extends at an end thereof located closer to each accommodation portion toward the first protruding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Uehara
  • Patent number: 11608862
    Abstract: A damper device includes a first rotor, a second rotor, a plurality of elastic members, and a spring seat. The spring seat includes an end surface support portion and an outer periphery support portion. The end surface support portion includes a recess on a radially middle part thereof. The recess is recessed toward at least one of the elastic members. The end surface support portion supports one end surface of the at least one of the elastic members. The end surface support portion is supported by a pressing surface of a first accommodation portion of the first rotor and a pressing surface of a second accommodation portion of the second rotor. The outer periphery support portion supports part of a radially outer part of the at least one of the elastic members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Uehara
  • Patent number: 11603889
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a rotatable shaft and a cover substantially covering an end of the rotatable shaft. The cover includes a passageway fluidly coupled from outside the shaft to inside the shaft. The cover further includes a fin configured to prevent oil from entering the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Adams, Zhijun Zheng
  • Patent number: 11603888
    Abstract: A torsion damper is configured to be disposed inside a coil spring. The torsion damper includes a body and a helical groove. The body is made of resin. Besides, the body has a columnar shape. The helical groove is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Uehara, Yoshiyuki Hagihara, Masahiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 11598378
    Abstract: A coupling includes a plurality of laminations forming a lamination package and having lamination holes arranged flush to form an assembly opening, a ring, and a bush accommodated in the assembly opening and having a first end area connected to the ring via a form-fit connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: FLENDER GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Kropp, Niklas Sondermann
  • Patent number: 11598380
    Abstract: A torque transmitting assembly including a first drum having a plurality of teeth formed at an end thereof and a sensor component annularly extending on an inner surface of the first drum. A gear assembly axially aligns with the first drum and has a plurality of teeth intermeshing with the plurality of teeth of the drum. The gear assembly includes an annular gear and a plate axially aligning with the gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: METAL FORMING & COINING, LLC
    Inventors: Erik Piper, Timothy J. Cripsey
  • Patent number: 11597063
    Abstract: A torque limiter for a surgical screwdriver that includes an outer sleeve (1); a snap sleeve (3), which is arranged in and rotates with the outer sleeve; a rolling element cage (6), which is arranged in the snap sleeve; an inner sleeve (10), which is arranged in the rolling element cage; and a force-transmitting shaft (11), which is received in and rotates with the inner sleeve. The inner wall of the outer sleeve is provided with recesses (8) that extend parallel to a rotational axis of the force-transmitting shaft. The rolling element cage is provided with a plurality of rolling element receiving areas (5), each of which holds a rolling element (4), and with a number of noses (7), which engage into the recesses. The inner sleeve is provided with a plurality of notches (9), which extend in a V-shape parallel to the axis and which receive the rolling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Inventor: Peter Witte
  • Patent number: 11585355
    Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) with reduced vibration is provided. In an implementation, an ESP section has radial bearings placed at shaft locations of reduced vibration to reduce wear. The locations of reduced vibration are selected to avoid areas of high vibration and vibrational waves that reinforce each other due to structure resonance and natural excitation frequencies. In an implementation, a radial bearing is positioned at a node of reduced vibration of a standing vibrational wave. In an implementation, a succession of multiple radial bearings are spaced at different intervals from each other to avoid conventional even spacing of the bearings that causes standing waves, resonance waves, and vibrational waves at natural excitation frequencies. In an implementation, a span between adjacent radial bearings is selected to spare other adjacent bearings at different spans the effects of vibrations that may extend over a range of excitation frequencies in the ESP section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hao Lam, Arthur I. Watson, Jacques Orban, Lauro De Camargo, David Milton Eslinger
  • Patent number: 11585389
    Abstract: A tripod constant-velocity joint including: an inner ring; three trunnions protruding from the inner ring; three roller units supported by the trunnions; and an outer ring storing the roller units. Each roller unit includes: an inner roller that is in contact with a convex outer-circumferential surface of the corresponding trunnion at a tangent point; an outer roller supported by the inner roller through rolling elements that are interposed between the inner and outer rollers; and a limiting portion protruding from the outer roller, so as to limit movements of the rolling elements and the inner roller. A clearance between the inner roller and the limiting portion is smaller than an axial length of a crowned end portion of each rolling element, and is larger than a stroke distance of reciprocating movement of the tangent point when a joint angle of the tripod constant-velocity joint is a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keishi Kobata, Yosei Ando
  • Patent number: 11585388
    Abstract: A constant velocity joint includes a trunnion extending radially outwardly about a trunnion axis. The joint also includes a ball surrounding the trunnion and rotatable relative thereto about a plurality of needle rollers. The joint further includes a retainer that is a single, unitary structure coupled to the trunnion and positioned to limit movement of the ball and the needle rollers in a direction parallel to the trunnion axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Jon N. Miller, Jeff P. Courville, Eduardo R. Mondragon-Parra
  • Patent number: 11578765
    Abstract: A torque limiter for a drive train includes a rotational axis extending in an axial direction, a drive side, an output side, a first friction surface on a one of the drive side or the output side, a second friction surface on the other of the drive side or the output side, and a friction lining. The friction lining has a first material with a first friction coefficient facing the first friction surface and a second material with a second friction coefficient, different from the first friction coefficient, facing the second friction surface. The friction lining is under a preload acting in the axial direction, torque-transmissively connects the output side to the drive side until a limit torque is reached, and is arranged to slip on the first friction surface when the limit torque is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Constantin Mingas
  • Patent number: 11578763
    Abstract: A universal joint contains a first joint yoke and a second joint yoke. The first joint yoke and the second joint yoke are connected by a journal cross, ends of the journal cross being mounted in the joint yokes by bearings. In order to lubricate at least one of the bearings, at least one lubricant feed-through is provided, which is provided outside of a central bore of the journal cross.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Simon Ritter, Dieter Maier
  • Patent number: 11578762
    Abstract: A space-saving method for early determination of wear of a universal joint with four journals projecting from a base is provided and relates to the field of drive technology. The journal cross of the universal joint is provided with a temperature sensor for the purpose of determining wear of the universal joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Off-Highway Powertrain Services Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Timur Mehmet Kisla, Max Krüger
  • Patent number: 11578764
    Abstract: A flywheel coupling assembly for transmitting torque between a shaft and a flywheel includes a clamp ring assembly and a flywheel attachment flange assembly. The clamp ring assembly includes a first clamp ring adapted to be coupled to the shaft, a second clamp ring coupled to a coupling hub of the flywheel attachment flange assembly, and an elastomeric center element coupling the first and second clamp rings. A planer plate element of the flywheel attachment flange assembly is adapted to be coupled with the flywheel. Also disclosed are a method of forming a flywheel coupling assembly and a method of coupling a flywheel to a shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Dodge Industrial, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher L. England, Galen E. Burdeshaw
  • Patent number: 11566657
    Abstract: A transmission shaft is provided comprising an input side for inputting torque, an output side for outputting torque, and a rod extending in a longitudinal direction between the input side and the output side to transfer torque along the transmission shaft. The rod comprises a first end provided at the input side, a second end provided at the output side and a torsional compliant section extending therebetween providing the transmission shaft with a torsional stiffness. The torsional compliant section comprises a cross-section which extends in the longitudinal direction to define a central core for transmitting torque directly from the first end to the second end and a radially outer section. This section also comprises a plurality ribs which extend radially and longitudinally from an outer periphery of the central core for increasing transverse stiffness of the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dariusz Kiełbowicz, Maciej Krulak