Patents Examined by Jean Charleston
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Patent number: 9944122Abstract: An axle suspension system and a method of manufacture. The axle suspension system may have an axle, an axle wrap, and a weld seam. The axle wrap may have first and second wrap portions that mechanically interlock with each other and that have overlapping ends that may receive a weld seam.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2016Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology LLCInventor: Luis Gustavo Schuck
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Patent number: 9944119Abstract: A hub assembly for bicycle is provided. The hub assembly includes a hub shell having first and second ends at a distance from each other along a rotational axis, a first engagement structure pair having a first inner engagement structure and a first outer engagement structure, the first engagement structure pair being releasably engagable for co-rotation; and a second engagement structure pair having a second inner engagement structure and a second outer engagement structure, the pair being second engagement structure releasably engagable for co-rotation. The first inner engagement structure and the second outer engagement structure are configured not to engage with each other, and/or the second inner engagement structure and the first outer engagement structure are configured not to engage with each other.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2015Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Nobukatsu Hara
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Patent number: 9937748Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein describe systems and methods for a bead lock wheel line in scaled vehicles. The bead lock wheel line may include a wheel center section and a bead lock ring. The bead lock ring may be configured to be overlaid on the wheel center section, wherein screws may be inserted through orifices positioned within the bead lock ring and into orifices positioned on the wheel center section.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2016Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Inventor: Patrick Norton
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Patent number: 9937746Abstract: A capped fastener is provided with deflected projections on the nut body for securing a cap on the nut body. The deflected projections fit within a double walled edge of the cap. The projections are deflected through a simple method during the assembly process.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2016Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: MacLean Fogg CompanyInventor: Larry J. Wilson
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Patent number: 9925826Abstract: A force-distributing apparatus for a bicycle wheel spoke includes a force-distributing body having a free-end first surface and a second surface disposed at an opposite side of the first surface, wherein the first surface may have the shape of a truncated sphere. The force-distributing body has a threaded spoke-receiving opening that extends through the first surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2016Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: Shimano, Inc.Inventors: Kazuki Koshiyama, Hiroshi Fujita
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Patent number: 9919751Abstract: A track assembly has at least one double wheel having a recess between the inside wheel and the outside wheel. The inner surface of the continuous belt has a raised support that contacts and conforms to the recess of the double wheel.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Inventor: Lyn A. Rosenboom
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Patent number: 9919752Abstract: An elastic crawler includes an endless elastic body; cores that each include a core body and a pair of protrusions; lugs, on the outer circumferential side of the elastic body, each disposed so as to avoid a crawler circumferential direction area corresponding to at least a portion of the core in the crawler circumferential direction; and grooves, on the crawler inner circumferential surface, each positioned outward in the crawler width direction from the pair of protrusions in a crawler circumferential direction area corresponding to the core, each of the grooves being recessed relative to crawler inner circumferential surface portions adjacent to the groove on both sides in the crawler circumferential direction.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2016Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATIONInventor: Takashi Mizusawa
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Patent number: 9908364Abstract: A wheel center cap engagement system is provided to connect center caps of vehicle wheels to the proper position in a central area of the wheel. The center caps are connected to a mounting plate engageable with the wheel lugs and are held in proper positioning relative to the wheel thereby. A bearing can be interfaced between the center cap and its connection to the mounting plate should rotation of the center cap be desirable.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2015Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Inventor: Joshua Haynes
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Patent number: 9908572Abstract: A track roller frame is provided for an endless track. The track roller frame includes a shaft including a body portion and a flange. A first bearing assembly rotatably supports a first rim portion on the shaft and a second bearing assembly rotatably supports a second rim portion on the shaft. Each of the first bearing assembly and the second bearing assembly includes a first leg that extends in the axial direction and is disposed along the body portion of the shaft and a second leg that extends in the radial direction and is disposed along the flange. A respective inner surface of each of the first rim portion and the second rim portion that faces the bearing assembly includes a plurality of lubricant pockets for receiving lubricant. Each of the lubricant pockets is configured and arranged such that lubricant contained therein is in fluid communication with the bearing assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2015Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jennifer A. Brooks, Enrico Grandi, Maurizio Succi, Roger L. Recker
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Patent number: 9908369Abstract: An auxetic wheel according to the invention comprises a line defining an axis of rotation; and a plurality of concentric rings of unit cells surrounding the axis, each unit cell being constructed of a plurality of members defining a Negative Poisson's Ratio (NPR) structure. The outermost ring of unit cells is arranged to facilitate rolling terrain contact, such that the stiffness of the structure in the localized region of loading due to terrain contact increases as the wheel rotates. A layer of material may be disposed between the concentric rings of unit cells which in preferred embodiments comprise a plurality of nested-V shapes. A cover may be provided over the outermost ring of unit cells forming a tire which may, or may not, be inflated.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2015Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Inventor: Zheng-Dong Ma
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Patent number: 9895926Abstract: The invention is directed to a vehicle wheel (1) comprising a fiber reinforced polymer rim (2) for receiving a tire at its radially outer side (3). The rim (2) comprises an outer rim flange (4), an outer rim seat (5), a frusto-conical plane (6) inclined at an angle a relative to the rotational axis (7) of the wheel of between 1 and 90 Q, an inner rim seat (8) and an inner rim flange (9). A wheel hub (10) is connected to the rim (2) via a metal support element (11). The support element (11) is connected with the rim (2) through at least one connecting element (12) which extends through a radially elongated opening (13) in the frusto conical plane (6) of the rim (2) and is received in the support element (11). The support element (11) may alternatively be connected with the rim (2) through at least three connecting elements (12) which extend through radially elongated openings (13) in the support element (11).Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2014Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Inventor: Louis Huidekoper
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Patent number: 9878586Abstract: A vehicle wheel assembly (1) for supplying compressed air from a vehicle axle to a tire (3) comprises a vehicle wheel (5) and a control valve assembly (7). The wheel (5) comprises a wheel hub (9) for mounting the wheel (5) to a vehicle (V); and a wheel rim for mounting a tire (3) on the wheel (5). A transfer line (19) is provided in the wheel for transferring compressed air from the wheel hub to the wheel rim (11) for inflating the tire (3). The control valve assembly (7) comprises an inlet, an outlet and a control valve (25) operably located between the inlet and the outlet for controlling passage of compressed air between the inlet and the outlet. The control valve assembly (7) is removably disposed in the wheel hub (9) such that fluid communication is established between the control valve assembly (7) and the transfer line (19).Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2014Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover LimitedInventors: Laur Läänemets, Emma-Claire Dunning, Kit Jones, Maelle Dodu, Mark Ford, Michael Boyd, Daniel Loftus
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Patent number: 9878577Abstract: A hub-rotor adapter for use with a disc brake assembly having an axle hub and rotor. The hub-rotor adapter may include an adapter body having a wall forming an annular opening at an inboard end thereof; the adapter body having an inboard flange shaped to be attached to the rotor, and an outboard flange shaped to be attached to the axle hub.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2014Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: WALTHER ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.Inventors: Larry Bennett Hester, Russell Edward Rike
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Patent number: 9878575Abstract: A wheel for vehicles may include a rim coupled to a tire, and a spoke-shaped disc including a spoke and a vent hole, the spoke-shaped disc being coupled to a side surface of the rim to support the rim, in which a coupling zone between the spoke of the spoke-shaped disc and the rim and a coupling zone between a portion of the spoke-shaped disc formed with the vent hole and the rim have a height difference in a wheel axis direction, to allow the spoke-shaped disc to support the rim at an interior and an exterior of the rim.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2015Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Sang Rak Kim, Min Jwa Seo, Yong Min Jang, Su Ji Baek
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Patent number: 9878749Abstract: A rubber crawler includes: a rubber belt serving as an example of an endless rubber body entrained around plural wheels; plural rubber projections that are formed at the rubber belt at intervals around a crawler peripheral direction of the rubber belt, that project toward an inner peripheral side of the rubber belt, and that limit movement of the wheels in a crawler width direction through contact; and at least one metal member embedded in each rubber projection, the at least one metal member raising a rigidity of the rubber projection in the crawler width direction, and including a portion that is exposed from the rubber projection.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2014Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATIONInventor: Shingo Sugihara
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Patent number: 9873294Abstract: A runflat device can include a double sided beadlock. The runflat device can be fitted to any size and type of wheel, regardless of a shape and depth of a wheel well. The runflat device can be fitted using standard tools, and may be tightened by manipulation of a valve assembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2015Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: RUN FLAT SYSTEMS LIMITEDInventor: Richard Lust
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Patent number: 9862436Abstract: A device 1 for use with a continuous track 3 of a tracked vehicle to enhance the traction of the vehicle. The device 1 has an elongate body 5 having a ground contacting surface 6 and a releasable bracket 7 for releasably securing the elongate body 5 to the continuous track 3. The releasable bracket 7 has a bracket body 11, a first clamping member 13, a second clamping member 15 extending at an angle relative to the first clamping member, and a fastener 17. The bracket is arranged such that fastening the fastener 17 causes the second clamping member 15 to draw the first clamping member 13 towards the elongate body 5 to releasably secure the elongate body 5 to the continuous track 3. The device has one or more ground engaging features 39. A kit of parts is also described.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2011Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Inventor: John Menzies Burling
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Patent number: 9863497Abstract: There is provided an anti-vibration wheel for an automobile, comprising: a disk member connected to an axle hub with a rim member extending from a circumferential edge of the disk member for mounting a tire, the rim member further having: an outer bead seat positioned at an outer end of the rim member where an outer bead of the tire sits, an inner bead seat positioned at an inner end of the rim member where an inner bead of the tire sits, and a well portion which is inclined and extends between the outer bead seat and the inner bead seat, with an outer well portion extending from the outer bead seat and an inner well portion extending from the outer well portion, with the thickness of the outer well portion being greater than the thickness of the inner bead seat which is greater than the thickness of the inner well portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2015Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: GT C&T CorporationInventor: Chae-Hong Lim
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Patent number: 9855796Abstract: Axle shaft assemblies for use with a vehicle include a shaft formed from a first material having a first modulus of elasticity for providing the shaft with a flexibility adapted to withstand side impacts and resist deformation. A first end member can be engaged with a first end of the shaft, and a second end member can be engaged with the second end of the shaft. The end members can be formed from a second material having a second modulus of elasticity greater than the first, such that the end members are adapted to withstand a rotational force. The end members can include splined connectors, hub flanges, and other similar components. The resulting axle shaft assembly can thereby include modular combinations of materials having low and high moduli of elasticity.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2016Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Inventor: Mitchell Z. Dziekonski
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Patent number: 9855792Abstract: The invention relates to an aircraft wheel comprising a rim and a tire (20) received on the rim, the rim comprising two parts (1; 2) assembled with one another by means of assembly bolts (5), one of the parts comprising a recess (3) in which is arranged a seal (4) which is interposed between the two parts, the wheel being characterized in that at least one of the parts comprises at least one duct (6) extending beneath the seal so as to establish a leakage path between on one hand a volume of gas delimited by the rim and the tire, and on the other hand a space between the parts, the path being nominally closed by the seal when the bolts are tightened correctly but allowing gas to leak from said volume when the bolt associated with said opening is not tightened correctly or is absent.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2017Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTYInventors: Xavier Delayre, Yohann Mazan