Patents Examined by Greg Binda
  • Patent number: 11566671
    Abstract: A constant-velocity universal joint including a generally cup-shaped outer joint member and an inner joint member that define first and second groove portions. A pinch angle by which a ball is pinched in the first groove portion is open toward an opening of the outer joint member. A pinch angle by which the ball is pinched in the second groove is open toward a bottom of the outer joint member. An absolute value of the pinch angle in a larger-pinch-angle groove portion that is one of the first and second groove portions, is larger than an absolute value of the pinch angle in a smaller-pinch-angle groove portion that is the other of the first and second groove portions in a reference state. A radial clearance in the smaller-pinch-angle groove portion is larger than a radial clearance in the larger-pinch-angle groove portion when torque is not transmitted in the reference state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Shinoda, Masahito Ikeo, Yoshinari Sakai
  • Patent number: 11555527
    Abstract: A damper device includes an input element to which a torque from an engine is transmitted, an output element, an elastic body arranged to transmit a torque between the input element and the output element, and a rotary inertia mass damper that includes a planetary gear that includes a sun gear arranged to rotate integrally with one element of the input element and the output element, a carrier that rotatably supports a plurality of pinion gears and is arranged to rotate integrally with the other element of the input element and the output element, and a ring gear that meshes with the plurality of pinion gears and works as a mass body. The other element includes two plate members that are opposed to each other and coupled with each other by means of a plurality of rivets disposed between the pinion gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Yoshikawa, Aki Ogawa, Akiyoshi Kato, Ryosuke Otsuka, Kazuyoshi Ito, Masaki Wajima, Kazuhiro Itou
  • Patent number: 11542988
    Abstract: A joint assembly and method of utilizing the same. The joint assembly includes a first joint member drivingly connected to a second joint member by using one or more third joint members. At least a portion of a cage member is interposed between the first and second joint members. When the first joint member is plunged in a first direction, at least a portion of one or more first engagement portions of the first joint member are in direct contact with at least a portion of one or more first engagement portions of the cage member. When the first joint member is plunged in a second direction, opposite the first direction, at least a portion of one or more second engagement portions of the first joint member are in direct contact with at least a portion of one or more second engagement portions of the cage member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventor: Seung Tark Oh
  • Patent number: 11536319
    Abstract: A constant-velocity rotary joint includes an outer joint portion with outer ball tracks, an inner joint portion with inner ball tracks, balls guided in a track pair formed by one outer ball track and one inner ball track, and a cage with windows to accommodate and retain the balls. Each outer ball track has an outer ball track center line. Each inner ball track has an inner ball track center line. When the constant-velocity rotary joint is straight, the inner ball track center line and the outer ball track center line of the track pair intersect in an intersection point and are not mirror-symmetrical with respect to a mirror plane through the intersection point, and the inner portion of the inner ball track center line widens more, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the outer joint portion, than the outer portion of the outer ball track center line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: NEAPCO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventor: Dominik Krings
  • Patent number: 11525484
    Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint includes outer and inner joint members that transmit torque while allowing angular displacement via balls, a power transmission shaft connected to the inner joint member in a torque transmittable manner, and a detachable mechanism between the inner joint member and the power transmission shaft to detach the power transmission shaft from the inner joint member. The detachable mechanism includes a cylindrical member externally fit onto the power transmission shaft, spheres movable in a radial direction in the cylindrical member, and an annular member movable in an axial direction on an outer periphery of the cylindrical member. Locking claws are provided at an end of an inner joint member side of the annular member, and a locking groove is provided at an end of an annular member side of the inner joint member. The locking claws are fitted into the locking groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Funahashi
  • Patent number: 11518429
    Abstract: The torque transmission joint includes an intermediate transmission member, and a first transmission member and a second transmission member that are arranged with one each on both side sections in the axial direction of the intermediate transmission member, with the outer side sections in the radial direction of each engaging with the inside section in the radial direction of the intermediate transmission member. The first transmission member and the second transmission member have a first preliminary engagement section and a second preliminary engagement section at the end sections in the axial direction on sides close to each other. The first preliminary engagement section and the second preliminary engagement section engage with each other with a circumferential gap interposed therebetween that does not disappear when torque transmission is performed between the first transmission member and the second transmission member via the intermediate transmission member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: NSK, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Kurokawa, Toru Segawa, Toru Ishii
  • Patent number: 11512733
    Abstract: A composite vehicle driveshaft assembly includes a composite tube and a yoke bonded to one of the ends of the tube. The yoke has an inner sleeve that is concentrically received in the end of the tube. The sleeve has an outer peripheral surface that faces the inner peripheral surface of the tube with a cavity formed therebetween. An adhesive injection passage is formed in the yoke and extends at an acute angle from an inlet that is formed in an axial surface of the yoke to an outlet that is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve and that opens into the cavity. Also disclosed is a method of bonding a yoke of such a driveshaft assembly to a composite tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Composite Drivelines, LLC
    Inventors: James Lee Dorman, Daniel P. Lentsch, Gregg Piper
  • Patent number: 11506245
    Abstract: In a lateral cross section passing through a center of a trunnion in the form of a retaining member that constitutes part of a constant velocity joint, and an orthogonal site where a virtual tangent line at a contact region is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of a guide groove, a curved surface having a first arcuate portion and a second arcuate portion is formed. The second arcuate portion is contiguous with the first arcuate portion, and has a smaller radius of curvature than the first arcuate portion. Further, the first arcuate portion and the second arcuate portion are arranged in this order from a side in proximity to an annular member of the trunnion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuharu Bono, Taisuke Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 11493093
    Abstract: A propeller shaft as a power transmission shaft is provided between vehicle-side first second shaft parts, and a first tube as a first shaft member is connected to the first shaft part through a first joint member and to the second shaft part through a second joint member. The first tube is connected to the first joint member through a first collar member and to the second joint member through a second collar member. The first collar member includes a first main body part exposed from a first end portion of the first tube, and a first insertion part inserted into the inside of the first end portion. In at least the first collar member, the maximum value of the outer diameter of the first main body part is set to be no greater than the maximum value of the outer diameter of the first insertion part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasutomo Mabe, Toshiyuki Masuda, Hiromichi Komai, Kenichiro Ishikura
  • Patent number: 11493094
    Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint has an outer joint member and an inner joint member that transmits torque while permitting angular displacement due to balls between the inner and outer joint members. An attaching and detaching mechanism for attaching and detaching a power transmission shaft to and from the inner joint member is provided between the inner joint member and the power transmission shaft such that torque can be transmitted between the two. The attaching and detaching mechanism has a cylindrical member that fits over the power transmission shaft, a retaining ring that is radially movable, and an annular member that is axially movable. By using a boot band to fixedly tighten, to the power transmission shaft, a small diameter end portion of a boot closing an opening portion of the outer joint member, the axial position of the annular member is restricted by the small diameter end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Funahashi, Shin Tomogami
  • Patent number: 11493092
    Abstract: A speed-reducing or -increasing apparatus, with first and second crown gears facing one another, with a cam unit that causes the first crown gear to incline with respect to the second crown gear so that the first crown gear meshes with the second crown gear, that causes the first crown gear to precess in such a manner as to move the meshing position, and couples to an input or output shaft. A rolling element is between the cam unit and the first crown gear, and the cam unit includes a first member that couples to the input or output shaft and a second member made of steel and including a rolling element rolling portion where the rolling element rolls, the second member configured to be incapable of rotating relatively to the first member, and at least part of the first member having a lower specific gravity than the second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Saito, Yuichi Mizutani, Kotaro Kushida
  • Patent number: 11493091
    Abstract: A shaft assembly. The shaft assembly includes a joint assembly having a first joint member, a second joint member and one or more third joint members drivingly connecting said first and second joint members. At least a portion of a first shaft is drivingly connected to the second joint member. Circumferentially extending from at least a portion of an outer surface of a second end portion of the first shaft is a first and second increased diameter portion having a wall portion that connects the first increased diameter portion to the second increased diameter portion. Drivingly connected to the second increased diameter portion of the first shaft is a second shaft. During a crash condition, an amount of force is applied to the wall portion until it fractures and at least a portion of the first shaft and/or the joint assembly translates into a hollow portion of the second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems, Group, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher B. Corpus, Jeffrey A. Dutkiewicz, Bao T. Luong, Thomas J. Marriott, Leah N. Matczak
  • Patent number: 11486449
    Abstract: A flexible coupling assembly for a power transmission system includes a first circular disk defining a u-shaped radial cross-section including a first leg and a second leg connected at an inner diameter thereof circumscribing an axial bore of the flexible coupling and disconnected at an outer diameter of the first circular disk configured to connect to a first rotating member interface and a second circular disk defining a u-shaped radial cross-section including a first leg and a second leg connected at an inner diameter thereof circumscribing the axial bore of the flexible coupling and disconnected at an outer diameter of the first circular disk configured to connect to a first rotating member interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin G. Morczek, Andrew Shuman
  • Patent number: 11486410
    Abstract: Devices to couple a drive hub to a driven hub. The devices may comprise a drive hub contoured end connected to a first end of a spacer column and to a spacer drive hub flange. A portion of the drive hub contoured end may project radially out from the spacer column with a first contoured side and a first flat side and may allow movement in an axial direction and transmit torque and an axial load. The devices may comprise a driven hub contoured end connected to a second end of the spacer column and to a spacer driven hub flange. A portion of the driven hub contoured end may project radially out from the spacer column with a second contoured side and a second flat side and may allow movement in an axial direction and transmit torque and an axial load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: ITT MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Stephen Miller, Paul Walter Behnke
  • Patent number: 11486439
    Abstract: A drive shaft body extends between axial ends and has an outer peripheral surface with undulations extending between relatively greater and smaller outer diameters. The undulations extend along a non-zero angle relative to a circumferential direction defined relative to a drive axis of the drive shaft. The undulations extend along a spiral. The drive shaft body is formed of a fiber-reinforced composite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Mark R. Gurvich, Brayton Reed, Joyel M. Schaefer, Michael King
  • Patent number: 11480218
    Abstract: A universal joint assembly includes a yoke including a serration hole to receive an end portion of a steering column and a bolt-hole to receive a bolt which is used to restrict the steering column received in the serration hole, and a misassembly prevention member coupled to the yoke and elastically movable from a first position in which the bolt-hole is at least partially blocked to a second position in which the bolt-hole is opened, thereby preventing a misassembly of the steering column and improving safety and reliability of the universal joint assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sung Hoon Chung, Dong Wook Lee
  • Patent number: 11472466
    Abstract: A steering shaft may include a hollow shaft in which an inner shaft is arranged telescopically coaxially in an axial direction. A rolling body may be held in a form fit manner in a circumferential direction and configured to roll in the axial direction in a rolling body holding element of a rolling body cage disposed between the inner and hollow shafts, which is arranged in the axial direction between radially projecting stop elements of the hollow shaft and of the inner shaft. The rolling body cage may have end-face axial support surfaces that are oriented in the axial direction against the stop elements. The rolling body cage may have at least one transfer element extending axially between the end-face axial support surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: René Marco Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11466724
    Abstract: A torsion bar assembly comprises an input shaft, an output shaft, and a torsion bar that connects the input shaft to the output shaft. An end stop face on the input shaft that co-operates with a respective end stop face of the output shaft to limit an angular deflection of the torsion bar assembly in a first direction away from the neutral position and an end stop face on the input shaft that co-operates with a respective end stop face of the output shaft to limit an angular deflection of the torsion bar assembly in a second direction that opposes the first direction. A first alignment feature is provided at or close to the end of the input shaft nearest the output shaft and a second alignment feature is provided at or close to an end of the output shaft nearest to the input shaft, the first alignment feature facing the second alignment feature across a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventors: Stephen Butler, Jose Martins, James Stephen Ironside
  • Patent number: 11466733
    Abstract: A coupling is disclosed for connecting rotating components of a generator and a prime mover in a power generation system. The coupling comprises a hub, a coupling flange and an elastomeric component located between the hub and the coupling flange. The elastomeric component is removable radially from the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Cummins Generator Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Rahul Bhardwaj, Dumitru Razvan Stanca, Daniel Ciochina, Radu Caplescu, Popescu Ionut
  • Patent number: 11460088
    Abstract: A damper includes: first and second rotating elements rotatable around a rotation center; an elastic element elastically expanding and contracting in response to relative rotation of the first and second rotating elements; and a limiter provided in the first rotating element. The limiter includes a lining plate having a first sliding surface, a first cover plate having a second sliding surface and a first abutting surface, a second cover plate having an outer edge part and an inner edge part, and a biasing member. When a difference in torque between the lining plate and the first cover plate is a predetermined value or more, the first sliding surface slides with the second sliding surface, and the second sliding surface is inclined with respect to the first abutting surface so as to face the second direction as going radially inward in a free state of the first cover plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Tachiuchi, Nobuaki Kurita, Sayo Yamanaka, Mitsuru Natsume, Toru Inagaki, Kento Mizuno, Toru Koyama