Patents Examined by Julie K. Smith
  • Patent number: 6675669
    Abstract: A ball screw apparatus is provided with a screw shaft having a spiral ball screw groove, a nut member having a screw groove, and a plurality of balls. A smoothly continuous worked portion is formed at a portion of the screw groove by grinding a corner portion between the screw groove and a connecting way. The worked portion is formed such that the distance between the screw grooves is gradually reduced regarding an advancing direction of the ball entering from the connecting way in between the screw grooves. This worked portion extends from an end of the connecting way in a circumferential direction of the nut member and within a range of 90° from the corner portion along the circumferential direction of the nut member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Sekiya, Daisuke Maruyama, Toshiyuki Iehisa, Kazuo Miyaguchi
  • Patent number: 6672769
    Abstract: A bearing apparatus includes a hollow shaft provided around an outer peripheral surface with a bearing fitting region, and a rolling bearing having an inner ring fitted around the bearing fitting region of the hollow shaft. A shaft end of the hollow shaft is bent outwardly in a diametrical direction, thereby being caulked on an outer end surface of the inner ring. The bearing fitting region has a hardened layer in a region from a first position corresponding to an inner end surface of the inner ring of the rolling bearing to a second position before a position corresponding to an outer end surface of the inner ring, and has a non-hardened layer in another region from the outer end surface corresponding position of the inner ring to the shaft end. The second position representative of a caulked side end portion of the hardened layer is defined based on a predetermined relational expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Toda, Masahiro Inoue, Kenji Takahashi, Teruyuki Kawatani, Shinichirou Kashiwagi, Teruyuki Wakisaka, Tadashi Mitarai
  • Patent number: 6670869
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bearing device for a spindle, for example, for a dielectric tuner (13) in a cavity filter for electromagnetic waves. The bearing device comprises at least two sprung tongues (27), each of which has a stud (28) with a partially spherical free end, where at least two of the free ends are in contact with a sliding surface (21, 44). The invention also relates to a cavity filter and a method for assembling the cavity filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Uno Henningsson, Christer Ahlberg, Hannes Medelius
  • Patent number: 6669368
    Abstract: The fixed shaft type spindle motor of the invention has a fixed shaft extending from a base and a rotor hub rotatably supported thereon through a bearing. Where the bearing is a compound ball bearing, a larger diameter portion of a stepped connection member is fixed within the upper end of the outer ring of the compound ball bearing and a smaller diameter portion of the connection member is fixed to the rotor hub. The rotary shaft type spindle motor has a rotary shaft extending within the rotor hub, and the rotary shaft is rotatably supported through the bearing, with the larger diameter portion of the connection member fixed within the lower end of the outer ring of the compound ball bearing and the smaller diameter portion of the connection member fixed to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shin-ichi Takayanagi
  • Patent number: 6668672
    Abstract: Ball screw nut is composed of an inner threaded nipple and an outer housing. The nipple is constructed with a hollow hard tubular metallic material to ensure the strength of the structure; while the outer housing where requires less strength is formed of a plastic material by ejection mold process so as to reduce the production cost and simplify the fabrication process. The nipple and the housing are conjoined together by screw engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Hiwin Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Chang-Hsin Kuo, Huang-Ming Lin, Paul Yang
  • Patent number: 6668978
    Abstract: The invention concerns an oil supply system for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle having one hydrodynamic starting element. It has one oil pump (2) to convey oil to a variator (9, 10) and/or to shifting elements (12, 13), to a converter unit (19) that can be supplied with oil via two oil lines (23, 25), especially a hydrodynamic torque converter (20) having a converter lock-up clutch (21), and to a lubrication device (28), the same as at least one filter device (3, 31) and one oil cooling device (17). Here are provided one prioritized primary circuit (6) with a main pressure adjusted by a main pressure valve (3) for pressure supply of the variator (9, 10) and/or of the shifting elements (12, 13) and a secondary circuit (7) for oil supply of the lubrication device (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: ZF Batavia L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bernd Fessler, Friedrich Reiter
  • Patent number: 6666583
    Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a bearing retention assembly is provided. The assembly includes a bearing set having an annular outer race ring. The outer race ring has a plurality of circumferentially spaced cam chamfers on at least one outer circular edge. The assembly also includes a bearing housing for capturing the bearing set. The bearing housing includes at least one integral securing member for interfering with and engaging at least one cam chamfer for axially and rotatably securing the outer race ring relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas John Nieman, Vinh Hiep Luong, Robert John Mohrmann
  • Patent number: 6662676
    Abstract: A self adjusting parking brake system which automatically removes slack from a parking brake cable includes a fixed support and a hand-operated lever pivotably connected to the support for movement between brake-releasing and brake-engaging positions. A locking mechanism releasably maintains the lever in the brake-engaging position. The locking mechanism includes a main ratchet having a plurality of ratchet teeth and a main pawl having a pawl tooth engaging the plurality of ratchet teeth. A self-adjust mechanism connects the cable with the lever. The self-adjust mechanism includes an adjuster ratchet having a plurality of ratchet teeth and an adjuster pawl having a plurality pawl teeth. Only one of the plurality of pawl teeth fully engages the ratchet teeth at any one time. The adjuster pawl pivots about a pivot axis and has an approach angle of greater than forty-five degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies
    Inventors: John Thomas Dittmar, Michael Slumba, James Sells
  • Patent number: 6659650
    Abstract: An improved cage is provided for a roller bearing for use in a hub assembly, for example. The cage includes roller pockets which fully entrap the roller in the cage, to maintain the radial and axial position of the roller in the cage. Additionally, the bearing for the hub assembly is formed in part by the hub. One of the inner races is formed integrally with the hub. These constructions allow for the cage/roller assembly to be installed in the outboard position of the hub prior to the hub and hub seal being installed in the hub assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventors: Mark Joki, Thomas J. Rybkoski
  • Patent number: 6658960
    Abstract: A transmission shift position sensor that is adapted to provide an indication of the position of a transmission shift lever. The transmission shift position sensor includes a rotary position sensor and a rooster comb formed as an assembly. The direct coupling of the sensor to the rooster comb provides a positive indication of the automatic transmission shift sensor without the need for compensating for tolerances in mechanical linkages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: American Electronic Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian George Babin, Norman Thomas Freda, Todd Anthony Brown
  • Patent number: 6658955
    Abstract: In the case of a vehicle transmission (2) with two counter shafts placed in a transmission housing (8) for the distribution of load, with one input shaft (4) and one main shaft (20) coaxially aligned with the input shaft (4), a gear (24) is placed in the area between the input shaft (4) and the main shaft (20). The gear (24) is secured by a bearing (26, 28) between the input shaft (4) and the main shaft (20) and secured radially by bearings between the two counter shafts. The bearing (26, 28) constitutes the exclusive axial bearing between the input shaft (4) and output shaft (20). The axial bearing comprises two axial effective roller bearings (26, 28) which lie on opposed sides of a projection (30) of the gear (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Führer, Hermann Lanz, Roland Stauber
  • Patent number: 6655231
    Abstract: A pedal adjuster for electronic throttle control includes a pedal arm and support arm pivotally mounted to a bracket. An electronic throttle control unit is mounted to the bracket at the pivot point of the pedal arm assembly. A screw rod drive mechanism extends in a space formed between the support arm and pedal arm to adjustably position the pedal arm with respect to the support arm. The pedal arm carries an elongated curved pedal. Depression of the pedal pivots the pedal arm assembly to turn a blade connected to the ETC unit to generate a signal indicative of the position of the pedal arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: KSR Industrial Corporation
    Inventor: Larry G. Willemsen
  • Patent number: 6651527
    Abstract: A self-balancing device for a rotating machine part, includes an unbalance compensation disk, which is made through a non-cutting process and surrounds a rotation axis of a rotating machine element. A plurality of compensating masses is freely movable in an interior space of the compensation disk and assumes automatically a position to compensate an unbalance of the machine element. The compensation disk includes a first half shell and a second half shell having two axial partition planes, which are spaced from one another in a radial direction, wherein the first and second half shells are non-detachable connected to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: INA-Wälzlager Schaeffler oHG
    Inventor: Werner Hehn
  • Patent number: 6651779
    Abstract: An improved lubrication arrangement for an internal combustion engine of the push tube (59) type. A carrier structure (43) is fixed relative to an upper surface of the cylinder head (31) and includes a fixed fulcrum location (49) for each rocker arm (51). The carrier structure (43) defines a lubrication passage (67,69) providing lubrication fluid to the fixed fulcrum location (49). The engine block (11) and the cylinder head (31) cooperate to define a fluid chamber (81) surrounding the push tube (59). Lubrication fluid flows out adjacent the fixed fulcrum location (49) and flows under the influence of gravity into the fluid chamber (81). The push tube defines a plurality of openings (83) whereby lubrication fluid flows from the fluid chamber (81) into the interior (85) of the push tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Majo Cecur
  • Patent number: 6648518
    Abstract: An assembly including an outer race of a constant velocity joint and part of a vehicle wheel bearing sealed by a sealing member. The outer race has a first bore defining a neck portion having an interior surface including an annular wall. The wheel bearing part has a second bore with an open end and a flange. The second bore defines a central passage and the flange engages the interior surface of the neck portion. The engaged portion is sealed by a sealing member including a body sealingly engaging the central passage and a diaphragm attached to the body sealingly engaging the annular wall. In one aspect of the invention, the sealing member body includes a cylindrical body having an annular groove formed therein containing a seal for sealingly engaging the central passage. In another aspect of the invention, the interior surface includes an annular ridge and the diaphragm includes a curved portion engaging the annular wall and the annular ridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: GKN Automotive, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick J. Uchman
  • Patent number: 6647813
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for converting rotary movement to an oscillatory movement for operating switches, valves, pumps and light implements wherein the oscillating member is a flexible rod having a curved profile from which to attach output levers positioned in a simple manner to vary the amplitude, phase timing, and duration of stroke of individual output levers; whereby numerous output functions may be performed from a single rotary input source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventor: Robert R. Green
  • Patent number: 6648513
    Abstract: There is disclosed a plain bearing comprising: a back metal; and a bearing alloy layer bonded onto the back metal which bearing alloy layer is provided at a surface side thereof with a cylindrical bearing face extended in the direction of the axis of the plain bearing, the bearing alloy face being provided at each of axial terminal portions thereof with an inclination face inclined radially outwardly from a location defined between both of axially terminal ends of said bearing face toward said axially terminal ends thereof, the inclination face having an axial length varying along the circumference of the inclination face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Daido Metal Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Okamoto, Satoshi Imai, Nobutaka Hiramatsu, Hideo Ishikawa, Takayuki Shibayama, Ken Kitahara
  • Patent number: 6647821
    Abstract: A transmission shift lever assembly has a manually operated shift lever that can be moved in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction. The shift lever operates upon transmitting elements in order to transmit information to the vehicle gearbox or a gearbox control corresponding to the movement of the lever. The shift lever is coupled to a retainer, and a plurality of arms form four-bar linkages which couple the retainer to housing members so that the lever pivots about a virtual pivot axis which is repositioned remote from the lever, and so that the shift lever moves with little tilting motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Dieter Rückert, Jörg Höfle
  • Patent number: 6647812
    Abstract: A starter motor includes an intermediate gear engaging with and driven by a pinion connected to an output shaft of an electrical motor. The intermediate gear is coupled to the pinion by means of a retainer to be shifted in its axial direction together with the pinion. The intermediate gear engages with a ring gear of an engine to crank up the engine when it is shifted in the axial direction. The retainer is connected to a pinion boss by forcibly enlarging a resilient opening of its groove, and the resilient opening recovers its original position after the retainer is connected to the pinion boss. In this manner, the retainer is prevented from dropping off from the pinion boss during an assembling process of the starter motor. The retainer is made of resin to have an enough thickness to secure a sufficient mechanical strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kuniaki Nito, Shinji Ando, Yasuyuki Wakahara
  • Patent number: 6644142
    Abstract: In a selector lever device, for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, with a selector lever, which is fixed in a selector lever support seat and is guided in a gate structure including at least one gate branch wherein it is held in a home position by a detent unit, the selection lever is supported so that it can be swivelled from the home position about at least one swivel axis for actuating the detent structure providing for a one-touch function. The detent unit has a selector lever seat separate from the first selector lever engagement lever seat, by way of which the detent unit is operatively connected to the selector lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Dieter Junge, Peter Von Ey