Patents Examined by Jake Cook
  • Patent number: 11865714
    Abstract: An apparatus for a robotic limb includes one or more limb segments connected via one or more joints. The robotic limb may feature one or more dual-reduction quasi-quasi-direct-drive joint actuators that permit the robotic limb to move throughout a scene. The robotic limb may further include an end-effector connected to a free end of the robotic limb with one or more opposable fingers comprising a four bar linkage. The end-effector may include a main actuator that actuates the one or more fingers via the four-bar linkages to complete various tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jose Marcel Santos, Brian Harms, Thomas Brenner, Curtis Aumiller, Jiawei Zhang, Sajid Sadi, Pranav Mistry, Forrest G. Tran, Tara Sriram, Kathleen Sofia Hajash
  • Patent number: 11870324
    Abstract: Because the pressure angle ?° (=12°) of teeth (47) of a worm wheel (46) is larger than the pressure angle ?° (=11°) of teeth (45) of a worm (44), tips of the teeth (47) of the worm wheel (46) can be more tapered as compared with a case in which the pressure angle of the teeth of the worm and the pressure angle of the teeth of the worm wheel are the same angle (the conventional case). Thereby, it is possible to ensure non-contact of teeth, which had been variable in terms of contact and non-contact in the case of the conventional form, even if there has been non-uniformity in the teeth (47) of the worm wheel (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: MITSUBA Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Uchimura, Kazuaki Aoki
  • Patent number: 11859709
    Abstract: A motor driven power steering device including a motor and a speed reducer configured to decelerate a rotation speed of the motor, wherein the speed reducer includes a worm gear coupled to a drive shaft of the motor and rotatably installed to a speed reducer housing through a bearing, a worm wheel gear-coupled with the worm gear, and a rotation member mounted between the worm gear and the bearing and configured to circulate a lubrication agent applied between the worm gear and the worm wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Un Jae Jung
  • Patent number: 11859714
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes a power transmission mechanism, an oil pump, a first electric wire, a controller and a control unit. The power transmission mechanism is arranged in a first chamber. The oil pump is arranged in a second chamber. The control unit is connected with the controller via the first electric wire. The first electric wire is provided inside the second chamber, and is arranged at a position that does not overlap with the oil pump when viewed along a first direction that is a direction facing from the oil pump to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: Jatco Ltd, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirohisa Yukawa, Katsunori Yamashita, Hideyuki Mamiya
  • Patent number: 11850738
    Abstract: A robotic leg includes a hip, a first pulley attached to the hip and defining a first axis of rotation, a first leg portion having a first end portion and a second end portion, a second pulley rotatably coupled to the second end portion of the first leg portion and defining a second axis of rotation, a second leg portion having a first end portion and a second end portion, and a timing belt trained about the first pulley and the second pulley for synchronizing rotation of the first leg portion about the first axis of rotation and rotation of the second leg portion about the second axis of rotation. The first end portion of the first leg portion is rotatably coupled to the hip and configured to rotate about the first axis of rotation. The first end portion of the second leg portion is fixedly attached to the second pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Vadim Chernyak
  • Patent number: 11841074
    Abstract: A transmission mechanism includes a housing, a first rotating member accommodated in the housing and rotatable about a first rotating member axis, and a lubricating member accommodated in the housing and containing a lubricant. While the first rotating member rotates about the lubricating member, the lubricating member applies a preload to and comes into contact with a part of the first rotating member on the basis of an elastic force, so that the part of the first rotating member is lubricated with the lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: SANKYO SEISAKUSHO CO.
    Inventor: Atsushi Oishi
  • Patent number: 11840291
    Abstract: A steering apparatus with an assistance of a rack-driven power includes a rack bar having an outer circumferential screw groove formed, a ball nut having an inner circumferential screw groove and a pair of first and second ball circulation holes, a nut pulley provided with a space on the inner circumferential surface spaced apart from the outer circumferential surface of the ball nut and coupled to an end of the ball nut, and a return tube disposed between the outer circumferential surface of the ball nut and the inner circumferential surface of the nut pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hyeon Su Kim
  • Patent number: 11834156
    Abstract: A gear element includes a support (3) on which first rollers (10a) and second rollers (10b), which are intended for engaging with the teeth of a neighboring gear element (2), are alternately mounted. Each roller (10a, 10b) is mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis (X?) via rotary guide means (20) cooperating with end portions of the rollers (10a, 10b). The rotary guide means (20) of the first rollers (10a) and the rotary guide means (20) of the second rollers (10b) are staggered in the vicinity of an outer periphery of the support (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
    Inventor: Denis Bissieres
  • Patent number: 11835114
    Abstract: A driving mechanism capable of moving back and forth quickly, including a rotary motor and a guide frame, wherein the rotary motor is connected to a rotary member, a helical guide groove is formed in an outer wall of the rotary member, the guide frame is installed above the rotary motor, the guide frame is slidingly installed with a slider in a vertical direction, a drive member is disposed on an inner wall of the slider, the drive member can slide along a length direction of the guide groove, and drive the slider to move back and forth in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventor: Xingyu Leng
  • Patent number: 11828350
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include an actuating drive comprising: a drive element; an actuation element; and a restoring spring. The drive element drives the actuation element indirectly about an actuation axis. The actuation element includes a shaft portion concentric to the actuation axis and extends at least partially circumferentially. The restoring spring includes a wound flat spring providing a restoring torque on the actuation element, acting tangentially on the shaft portion, and a free spring end tangentially fastened to the shaft portion. The free spring end is radially externally disposed with respect to the spring axis and fastened tangentially to the shaft portion. The spring is mounted rotatably so the spring axis is radially spaced apart from the actuation axis and aligned parallel to the actuation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SIEMENS SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Hilmar Konrad, Felix Schilter
  • Patent number: 11821516
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus incorporates a dedicated physical feature configured for attachment of a tensioning tool, for tensioning of a drive belt having one of its belt pulleys carried by the mounting apparatus. In an example embodiment, the mounting apparatus comprises a body member, e.g., a mounting plate, for a pulley assembly. The body member incorporates a dedicated physical feature that is configured for engagement with a tensioning tool, for pulling the body member in a tensioning direction relative to the involved belt. The mounting apparatus comprises, for an example, an interior component of a robot, and is mounted within an interior volume of a segment of the robot, for tensioning of a drive belt carried within the interior volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Craig A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11821252
    Abstract: A drive device for use in an adjusting apparatus configured to adjust a vehicle part, including a drive housing provided with a housing pot, a drive gear disposed in the housing pot and rotatable about an axis of rotation, an output element operatively connected to the drive gear, and a gear cover, connected to the housing pot and annularly extending about the axis of rotation, and including a cover body provided with a first edge portion connected to the housing pot and a second edge portion protruding radially inwards relative to the first edge portion. A height measured axially between the first edge portion and the second edge portion varies with respect to a circumferential direction about the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Bamberg
    Inventors: Gabriele Lange, Roland Kalb
  • Patent number: 11816268
    Abstract: Improved actuator and retraction mechanisms for force feedback exoskeletons are described. An actuator assembly for a force-feedback exoskeleton comprising: a rotating body coupled to a tendon and to a spring, said spring configured to produce a torque on the rotating body; and a second body having a surface configured to apply a variable force to a surface of the rotating body by means of a membrane enclosing a volume fluidically coupled to at least one control valve and to a pressurized fluid source, wherein the volume enclosed by the membrane comprises: a first pressure state in which the rotating body contacts the second body; and a second pressure state in which the rotating body does not contact the second body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: HAPTX, INC.
    Inventors: Leif Kjos, Donald Lee, Michael Eichermueller
  • Patent number: 11807335
    Abstract: Electronic shifting systems, mechanisms and methods of using and/or controlling the systems to operate a bicycle that allows front and rear gear changer mechanisms to be controlled with only two switches. The switches can be arranged so that each hand is only required to operate one switch to shift the bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventor: Brian Jordan
  • Patent number: 11787462
    Abstract: A vehicle steering assembly for controlling movement of a vehicle having independently rotatable left and right ground-engaging traction elements. The steering assembly comprises a steering handle coupled to the panel support structure and extending generally upwardly from the panel support structure. The steering handle comprises a laterally-extending crossmember and at least one upright extension member. The crossmember and the upright extension member are rigidly connected to one another so that shifting of the crossmember relative to the extension member is substantially prevented. The steering handle is shiftable in forward and rearward directions to thereby cause corresponding forward and rearward rotation of both of the left and right traction elements. The steering handle is rotatable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions to thereby cause a change in the relative speeds and directions of rotation of the left and right traction elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Carlson
  • Patent number: 11781632
    Abstract: A gear device includes an internal gear, an external gear having flexibility, a wave generator, a cross roller bearing, and a first seal and a second seal. The external gear includes a cylindrical body section including a first end portion, with which the wave generator is in contact, and a second end portion on the opposite side of the first end portion, external teeth provided on the outer circumferential surface of the first end portion, an annular diaphragm section provided on the outer side of the second end portion, and a boss section provided on the outer side of the diaphragm section. The first seal is sandwiched between the boss section and an outer ring of the cross roller bearing. The second seal includes a proximal end fixed to the outer ring and a distal end in contact with the outer circumferential surface of an inner ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuya Kataoka
  • Patent number: 11781641
    Abstract: Arrangement (1) comprising an electric machine (2), a gearbox (3), a shaft (9) coupling the electric machine (2) with the gearbox (3) and having an axial blind bore (18) extending from a machine-side end (19) of the shaft (9) into the gearbox (3), a coolant insertion element (21) configured to supply a coolant into the bore (18) and a coolant conduction element (22) extending inside the bore (18) from the machine-side end (19) into the gearbox (3) and defining a flow path (23) for the inserted coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: VALEO SIEMENS EAUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Arnim-Sebastian Rottach
  • Patent number: 11781625
    Abstract: A stop module for non-jamming end-of-stroke stoppage of a rotary drive actuator includes timing gears to articulate a stopping pawl, and a low inertia, deformable stopping disk arranged to safely dissipate excess rotational kinetic energy of the rotary actuator. The stop module does not rely on friction to stop and dissipate the excess kinetic energy, but instead relies on predictable deformation of a metallic stopping disk which may be provided in a stopping cartridge of the stop module. Use of a deformable element to dissipate excess energy allows the disclosed stop module to be lighter and smaller than conventional end-of-stroke stopping mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Moog Inc.
    Inventor: Lowell Van Lund Larson
  • Patent number: 11773959
    Abstract: A driving force transmitting device includes a case, an electric motor, and a gearbox. The electric motor includes an output shaft. The gearbox includes a spur gear that rotates coaxially with the output shaft. The case includes a partition wall, a first accommodating chamber accommodating the electric motor, and a second accommodating chamber that accommodates a second driven gear. The partition separates the first accommodating chamber and the second accommodating chamber from each other. The partition wall includes a connecting hole that connects the first accommodating chamber and the second accommodating chamber to each other. The connecting hole is located on one direction side in relation to the central axis of the output shaft. At least part of the connecting hole overlaps with the spur gear when viewed in a direction along the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Takeda, Akihiro Makino, Isao Sato, Haruhisa Suzuki, Yoshiteru Hagino, Koichi Hasegawa, Yasuaki Tahara, Masahiko Kanamaru, Jo Torii, Takeshi Torii, Tokiyoshi Kida
  • Patent number: 11772486
    Abstract: A portal gear box assembly effective to lift and change the gear ratio of a wheel of an off-road vehicle includes a housing, an input gear sub-assembly, an output gear sub-assembly, and an idler gear sub-assembly effective for linking the input gear to the output gear. The input gear sub-assembly includes an input gear, the output gear sub-assembly includes an output gear, and the idler gear sub-assembly includes at least one idler gear and at least one removable adaptor effective for holding the idler gear in either a first position or a second position different from the first position. The sub-assemblies may also include bearings to facilitate movement of the gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Super ATV, LLC
    Inventors: Jordan E. Stephan, Justin L. Eaton, Jason Stewart