Patents Examined by Harold F. Macris
  • Patent number: 4817467
    Abstract: A vehicle driven by a super charged engine has a gear transmission that is automatically shifted between drive ratios under the joint control of vehicle speed and engine load demand, modified by a loading signal pressure derived from the engine carburetor to correctively influence the change in drive ratio so as to accommodate a super charged type of engine. Such loading signal pressure is applied to a shift valve of the transmission control system independently of control pressure reflecting vehicle speed and engine load demand in order to correctively modify the pressure control exercised during the drive ratio change interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen, AG.
    Inventors: Horst Furtner, Eugen Gerteiser, Georg Gierer
  • Patent number: 4817459
    Abstract: Operational efficiency in a combined engine starting and power generating system including an engine 110 connected to a dynamoelectric machine 142 useable as a motor or as a generator via a differential 114 and utilizing variable and fixed displacement hydraulic units 146, 156 is increased by sizing the variable and fixed hydraulic units 146 and 156 for power generating operation and by providing an auxiliary fixed displacement hydraulic unit 162 for use only during an engine starting mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Evans W. Erikson, Richard W. Reynolds, Daniel M. Ryan
  • Patent number: 4815334
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved form of drive arrangement for use in a motor vehicle comprising a first prime mover, a hydromechanical power branching transmission, driven by the prime mover, and having at least two hydromechanical transducers, by the inclusion of an emergency drive device which comprises a second prime mover adapted to act as a standby prime mover and an adjustable hydromechanical transducer arranged to be driven by the second prime mover. The second prime mover is adapted to supply hydraulic power via the adjustable hydromechanical transducer to the hydromechanical transducers of the power branching transmission and thence to a driven axle of the vehicle in the event of the first prime mover becoming inoperative, for example, if the first prime mover fails or (in the event of its being an electric motor) if its supply of energy breaks down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Man Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Gerald Lexen
  • Patent number: 4813302
    Abstract: A speed changing mechanism operable during both kinetic and static conditions. A gear 28 driven by bicycle pedals 30 in turn drives gear 32. Holes 38 in the face of the latter gear are engaged by gear 64 which is integral with output shaft 42. One end 72 of the output shaft is loosely supported in cup 78 whereby the shaft may be laterally shifted, then axially shifted so that gear 64 is withdrawn from one set of the holes 38, then reengaged with another set of the holes 38.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Inventor: Robert P. Davidow
  • Patent number: 4807493
    Abstract: A multi-speed twin countershaft transmission having a floating main shaft with no internal or external bearings or other support device at or adjacent its ends. The main shaft is positioned only by gears carrying the torque. At the forward end of the main shaft, positioning and support takes place by engagement of the main shaft gear to the main shaft and the two counter shaft gears driving it. Positioning and support at the output end of the main shaft is obtained by the self positioning of a range drive gear on the main shaft between two input driven gears on a pair of range countershafts. A true 50-50 torque split is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Loeffler
  • Patent number: 4803891
    Abstract: A transmission for controlled equipment consists of a pair of intermediate gears in mesh with an input gear, another pair of intermediate gears in mesh with an output shaft and a pair of intermediate shafts, each connecting one of the intermediate gears engaged with the input gear and one of the intermediate gears engaged with the output gear, thus forming a pair of gear trains, wherein one of the intermediate gears is loosely mounted on one of the intermediate shafts and is also made fixable by a fixing means, the intermediate shaft and the intermediate gear in the loosely coupled condition are slightly turned in opposite directions so that the gear train made up of the input gear, the intermediate gears on one side and the output gear and the other gear train made up of the input gear, the intermediate gears on the other side and the output gear have no backlash between the gear teeth surfaces of the input gear and the intermediate gears with respect to the power driving directions which are opposite for th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Inventor: Takashi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 4802386
    Abstract: A tapered roller bearing is transformed into a friction planetary drive system by incorporating shafts onto rollers and supporting these in an arm member by means of bearings. The use of a tapered roller bearing for the principal element of the system is key to a precision, low cost drive system design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Inventor: August F. Haack
  • Patent number: 4800781
    Abstract: In a system for integrally controlling an automatic transmission and an engine, an ignition timing is temporarily lagged during shifting to decrease an engine torque. The system comprises a detecting device for detecting the presence of a shifting condition; a delaying device for delaying the commencement of actual shifting for a predetermined time duration; and a performing device for performing a fuel increase immediately after the presence of the shifting condition is detected. As a result, a decrease in the engine torque due to ignition timing control is satisfactorily secured, while exhaust gas temperature is prevented from rising, whereby temperature in an exhaust system is precluded from raising beyond an allowable value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Yasue, Kagenori Fukumura
  • Patent number: 4800767
    Abstract: An acceleration control device for a hydraulic drive unit having a rotatable control shaft movable between an on position and an off position. An arm is connected to the control shaft for rotating the shaft between the off and on positions. A motive apparatus is movable between a first position which corresponds to the off position of the control shaft and a second position which corresponds to the on position of the control shaft. A mechanical linkage is connected between the motive apparatus and the arm. The linkage imparts movement to the arm in response to movement of the motive apparatus to cause the control shaft to move between the off and on positions as the motive apparatus moves between the first and second positions, respectively. The linkage is configured to provide a substantially nonlinear relationship between the speed of the arm and the speed of the motive apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Builders Equipment Company
    Inventor: Daniel P. Abrahamson
  • Patent number: 4796479
    Abstract: A clutch mechanism for engaging and disengaging the thread (14) of a worm (13) from the teeth (17) of a worm gear (16). The worm (13) is mounted in a carrier block (47), disposed in a cavity (39) of a housing (12), from translatory movement towards and away from the worm gear. Springs (52) normally bias the worm away from engagement with the worm gear, while air pressure (34) is used to force the worm towards and into engagement with the worm gear. The cavity (39) and block (47) are tapered to prevent binding during movement of the block, and a spur gear drive is used to drive the worm (13) by motor (22), with the spur gears (18) and (19) being in mesh at all times during movement of the block (47).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Inventor: Martin L. Wisecarver
  • Patent number: 4791833
    Abstract: A reduction gear mechanism, incorporating a speed changing mechanism, for use with a motor-driven drill. The mechanism includes at least one planetary speed reducer having a sun gear to which rotation of an electric motor is transmitted, a plurality of planet gears arranged around the sun gear and engaged with the sun gear, an internal gear internally engaged with the planet gears, and a planet gear holding plate which pivotally supports the planet gears on one side of it and has an output shaft on the other side of it. The internal gear of at least one planetary speed reducer includes a cylindrical internal gear. The reduction gear includes mechanisms for locking the cylindrical internal gear to prevent rotation of the cylindrical internal gear and for engaging the cylindrical internal gear with the planet gear holding plate so that the cylindrical internal gear and the planet gear holding plate rotate as a single unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Japan Storage Battery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuharu Sakai, Shinichi Segawa, Tadashi Yasui
  • Patent number: 4787271
    Abstract: A two speed gear box employs a planetary gear mechanism in which the planet carrier is in the form of a pinion gear which drives the second stage of the gear box. The gear box includes hydraulically actuated clutches which, in high gear, selectively lock the sun gear for rotation with the input shaft, and, in low gear, selectively lock the sun gear with respect to the housing so that the carrier pinion is driven at the speed with which the axes of the planet gears rotate about the sun gear. The annular gear includes an outwardly extending gear rack adapted to engage a generator driving mechanism. Pressurized fluid lubricant is provided to the generator housing and to the interior of the gear box housing. Expelled generator lubricant, still at relatively high pressure, powers an ejector to positively scavenge the fluid out of the gear box and return it to a cooling reservoir obviating the need for a separate scavenging pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: Teledyne Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: J. William Brogdon
  • Patent number: 4782723
    Abstract: In a planetary type traction roller transmission which comprises a sun, a traction ring and planetary traction rollers disposed in the space between, and in engagement with, the traction ring and the central sun all with somewhat conical traction surfaces so arranged that the tangential axial lines of the traction surfaces intersect in a point on the transmission axis there are provided engaging means for forcing the appropriate traction surfaces into firm engagement with one another but also means for limiting the engagement forces applied to the traction surfaces to a predetermined safe limit which is not exceeded no matter how strong the applied forces are.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: Excelermatic Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Kraus
  • Patent number: 4770065
    Abstract: A mechanically adjustable variable speed drive includes an electric actuation apparatus which can be controlled by an analog embodiment or a digital circuitry embodiment. A speed change actuator is automatically and mechanically adjustable, such as with a controlled servomotor. A tachometer determines the actual rotational speed of a drive shaft, which is compared in a digital controller with a manually set desired rotational output speed. The digital controller (or an analog circuit in the case of the analog embodiment) controls the servomotor to adjust the mechanically adjustable variable speed drive. An automatic deadband means inhibits driving of the servomotor whenever the tachometer signal and the desired speed setting signal is within a predetermined deadband, which deadband is adaptively changed responsive to various conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: Reliance Electric Company
    Inventor: Joseph Woyton
  • Patent number: 4750384
    Abstract: An overdrive transmission unit is provided which includes an electrical switch circuit which activates a solenoid to shift gears and which utilizes a planetary gear system and clutch and brake packs to provide an additional gear ratio and which, because of its unique construction, requires minimal axial and lateral space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Assignee: American Overdrive, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman R. Belliveau
  • Patent number: 4736652
    Abstract: A power transmission device for an automobile, which is provided with a belt variable transmission and a direct coupling gear and capable of transmitting a power from a drive source to a differential gear selectively through the belt drive by the belt variable transmission or the direct coupling drive by the direct coupling gear, a counter gear engageable with an output shaft being provided on a counter shaft having a drive gear for transmitting the power to the differential gear so that the direct coupling gear engages with the counter gear to allow the gears during the direct coupling drive to engage with each other at two stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: Daihatsu Motor Company Limited
    Inventor: Masao Shimamoto