Patents Examined by Julie K. Smith
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Patent number: 6640664Abstract: The method includes providing a motor having a drive shaft mounting a pinion profile having an outside diameter and a mounting collar surrounding the shaft, the collar having an outside diameter less than the outside diameter of the gear. A gearbox wall formed with an opening having a generally ring-gear shape larger than the pinion and an inside diameter substantially the same as the outside diameter of the collar. The pinion is maneuvered through the opening and the collar is pressed into the motor-mounting opening. The invention is also the structure of the finished assembly including the opening.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2001Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Seitz CorporationInventor: Arthur J. Milano, Jr.
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Patent number: 6634792Abstract: An anti-friction bearing device comprising an outer ring (11) provided with an outer surface and a bore on which a toroidal bearing inner race (14) is formed, an inner ring(15) which is provided with a bore and a cylindrical outer surface on which a toroidal bearing outer race (18) is formed, a row of balls (19) which are disposed between the two bearing races, and a cage which can maintain a regular circumferential spacing between the balls. The ratio between the radial thickness of the outer ring, when taken between the bottom of the bearing inner race and the outer surface of the outer ring and the diameter of the balls ranges from 0.4 to 0.7. The ratio between the radial thickness of the outer ring, when taken between the bottom of the bearing inner race and the radial thickness of the inner ring when taken between the bottom of the outer bearing race and the bore of the inner ring ranges from 1.1 to 1.6.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2002Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: SKF FranceInventors: Michel Gorenne, Carole Girardin, Yannick Fierling
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Patent number: 6634252Abstract: A retainer (22) is supported on a body (12) and includes a pair of tabs (24) for engaging a pair of recesses (26) in the edges (18) of the slot to retain the body (12) in a slot. The assembly (10) is characterized by the retainer (22) being disposed axially adjacent the slot groove (16) with the tabs (24) extending axially over the slot groove (16). The body (12) and the ring (34) present a rib (32) and a shoulder (40) extending annularly about the interior surface (36) of the ring (34) for retaining the retainer (22) in the retainer groove (28) on the body (12).Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2001Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Teleflex IncorporatedInventors: Brian Andrew Mayville, Vanky Cheung, Matthew R. Zolan
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Patent number: 6634251Abstract: A strength-saving steering mechanism for bicycles includes a H-shaped tube with a vertical insert pipe deposed at the inner end of a bar pipe of the H-shape tube. The vertical insert pipe is inserted in one upper end of a steering shaft pipe, which connects to a front wheel. The H-shaped tube is further equipped with a hollow vertical pipe and connected pivotally to an inside tube through an upper and a lower bearing. A vertical handle rod is inserted internally in one upper end of the inside tube and a positioning block is connected to one lower end of the inside tube. The steering shaft pipe is driven by a horizontal handle rod via the vertical handle rod and the connecting rod. Ratios of turning angles of the horizontal handle rod and the vertical handle rod exist for saving the strength.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2002Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Inventor: Tseng-Hsien Chen
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Patent number: 6619846Abstract: A guide mechanism is provided with first guide rails each having a circular arc-shaped cross section to be installed to first long grooves each having a circular arc-shaped cross section formed on an inner wall surface of a frame, and second guide rails each having a circular arc-shaped cross section to be installed to second long grooves each having a circular arc-shaped cross section formed on side surfaces of a slider opposed to the inner wall surface of the frame. Accordingly, the arrangement of ball-rolling grooves in the slider can be performed more freely, and it is possible to mitigate the concentration of stress exerted by external force.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2001Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: SMC Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shigekazu Nagai, Akio Saitoh, Masaru Saitoh
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Patent number: 6604439Abstract: A support assembly for a steering column includes a housing interconnected to a lower end of the steering column by a first linkage member. The lower end of the steering column is also interconnected to one end of the housing by a second linkage member. A third linkage member interconnects the upper end of the steering column to the same end of the housing as is connected to the second linkage member. The relative positions of the second and third linkage members, and as a result, the orientation of the steering column, is maintained by a releasable lock assembly extending through the end of said housing as well as the end portions of the second and third linkage members.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2001Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Inventor: Patrick D. Gaukel
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Patent number: 6601468Abstract: A robot drive assembly for moving a working tool in x, y, z and theta directions comprising three independent, coaxially nested tubes, each tube being driven around a common central axis by drive belts attached to separate drive motors located in a mounting flange associated with the outermost tube. The motors, and the tubes which they drive, provide horizontal rotary motion to a robot arm attached to the upper end of the outer tube and the wrist and elbow of that arm. A fourth motor controls vertical motion of the whole assembly. The robot system also includes motor position adjustment structure and belt tension structure designed for ease of use and to eliminate movement of tensioned components once locked in position.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2001Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: Innovative Robotic SolutionsInventors: Gaylen Grover, Dennis Wightman, Tomas Melendez
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Patent number: 6601472Abstract: A torsional vibration damper (1) with an adjustable resonance frequency. The damper has a support plate (2) arranged on a rotating shaft (3). A flexural spring arrangement (5) is mounted on the support plate (2) with a fixed inner end (6) and extends radially outwardly to an inertial mass (11). A support for the flexural spring arrangement (5) is provided constructed as at least one movable slide element (8) arranged in a radial guide (7). A restoring spring (16) exerts a restoring force on the movable slide element (8) in a direction opposite to the centrifugal force resulting from rotation of the shaft (3). The position of the slide element (8) on the flexural spring (5) is influenced by the centrifugal force and the restoring force.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2001Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: Universitaet HannoverInventor: Joachim Baron
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Patent number: 6598493Abstract: A multiple crank drive for working machines, in particular for diaphragm pumps, with a crankshaft, which is disposed in a housing and which exhibits at lest two bearings, can be driven by a drive, in particular a gear, and in turn drives by a crank drive, one of several piston rods of the working machines. The drive is designed in such a manner that the crankshaft is suspended in the housing.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2001Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: LEWA Herbert Ott GmbH & Co.Inventor: Niels Kohlhase
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Patent number: 6595079Abstract: A collapsible steering column assembly for a vehicle includes upper and lower steering column subassemblies that are slidable one within the other, the upper steering column subassembly being slidably mounted on a fixed mounting bracket mountable on a vehicle body part. The lower steering column subassembly includes, at its end remote from the upper subassembly, an intrusion bracket that is slidably mounted on the mounting bracket. Clamping means applies clamping force between the mounting bracket and the intrusion bracket to inhibit relative sliding movement of the mounting and intrusion brackets. In the event of vehicle crash, the intrusion bracket and the steering assembly accommodates collapse from the front by intrusion of a firewall acting on the intrusion bracket. The clamping means run down a slot in the fixed bracket and the intrusion bracket runs in guideways in the fixed mounting bracket to accommodate the intruding firewall.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2001Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: NSK Steering Systems Europe LimitedInventor: Patrick Anthony Duffy
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Patent number: 6591706Abstract: A rack and pinion steering gear (10) comprises a housing (12) having an longitudinally extending passage (14). A yoke bore (22) extends perpendicular to the longitudinally extending passage (14) and connects with the longitudinally extending passage (14) within the housing (12). A pinion gear (20) is rotatably mounted in the housing (12). A rack bar (16) extends through the longitudinally extending passage (14) of the housing (12) and is movable relative to the pinion gear (20). The rack bar (16) has teeth in meshing engagement with the teeth (34) of the pinion gear (20). A yoke assembly (36) is located in the yoke bore (22) for at least partially supporting and guiding movement of the rack bar (16) relative to the pinion gear (20). The yoke assembly (36) includes a yoke (38), a yoke plug (42), and an elastomeric spring (40). The yoke (38) is axially spaced from the yoke plug (42) by the elastomeric spring (40).Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2001Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventors: Dennis F. Harer, William E. Allen, Jr.
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Patent number: 6588293Abstract: A hollow rack shaft is produced by forming a plate work piece and has continuous metal flow along the contour of rack teeth surface without being cut. A series of wave-like concave-convex sections is formed on the inner surface of the shaft. Thickness of tooth body and tooth bottom of the rack teeth is adjusted by dimensions of the unevenness. Thereby, stress concentration at each point of the rack shaft is prevented and the shaft is strengthened and its weight reduced.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2001Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventors: Akira Tsubouchi, Kiyoshi Okubo, Yasushi Watanabe
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Patent number: 6585418Abstract: In a hydrodynamic axial bearing (10), a rotating body (13) is mounted radially in a radial bearing (17) of a bearing body (18). The rotating body (13) comprises a shaft (16), with its shaft journal (14) mounted in the radial bearing (17), and a bearing collar (20) which is connected fixedly to the shaft (16) and corotates with the shaft (16). A floating disk (12) is arranged in an annular-groove-shaped space (28) between a wall (26) of the fixed bearing body (18) and a projection (22) of the corotating bearing collar (20). The floating disk (12) has a central circular orifice (30) which is designed as an integrated hydrodynamic radial bearing (32). By means of this radial bearing (32), the floating disk (12) is mounted radially on a fixed bearing element (38) concentrically surrounding the rotating body (13) on a portion (29).Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2001Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: ABB Turbo Systems AGInventors: Bruno Ammann, Jürgen Prossel
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Patent number: 6568854Abstract: A bearing unit includes a first bearing ring, a second bearing ring rotatable relative to the first bearing ring, and a locking device. The locking device, in a first operating state, permits relative rotation between the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring and in a second operating state interconnects the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring in a form-fit manner. The locking device is integrated in the bearing unit and can be switched between the first and the second operating state by remote control.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2001Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: SKF GmbHInventor: Thilo W.-D.v. Schleinitz
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Patent number: 6561055Abstract: An actuator for a vent window of a motor vehicle wherein the drive mechanism interconnecting the output shaft of the motor and the pivot arm controlling the vent window comprises a first worm driven by the motor output shaft, a first worm wheel driven by the first worm, a second worm driven by the first worm wheel, and a second worm wheel driven by the second worm in driving the pivot arm. The first worm wheel is formed of a plastic material and the actuator further includes a coil spring mounted on the housing proximate the second worm wheel and operative to assist the second worm wheel in generating a sealing force sufficient to positively seal the vent window against a window seal of the motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2001Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: Hi-Lex CorporationInventor: Michael F. Turk
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Patent number: 6561060Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle steering wheel attachment for detachably arresting a vehicle steering wheel on a vehicle steering shaft. The steering wheel attachment comprises a free end of a steering shaft which has a multiple-cornered profile, the free end further having a radial groove including a wedge surface. The attachment further comprises a hub portion on the side of the steering wheel, the hub portion including a recess corresponding to the multiple-cornered profile of the steering shaft and a radial guiding surface. A wedge is provided which can be moved along the radial guiding surface so as to be moved in and out of engagement with the groove. A drive screw is provided which is seated in a threaded bore in the hub portion and is rotatably coupled with the wedge.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2001Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Anke Nigrin
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Patent number: 6553864Abstract: An actuating pedal (1) for the brake system of a road vehicle has a fastening device (6) for fixing the actuating pedal (1) in a pivot bearing (12) on a pedal block (7) of the vehicle. The pedal block is a rigid part of the body, with a pedal body (2) and with an actuating surface (3). The pedal body (2) has at least one inner metal core (8) and a plastic jacketing (9) surrounding the metal core (8).Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2001Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AGInventors: Metin Ersoy, Waldemar Rogowski, Keit Wagener
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Patent number: 6550969Abstract: A carriage for a linear guiding device, designed to be arranged on a rail. The carriage includes a center section and two legs that each join the center section, thus providing the carriage with an essentially U-shaped design. The carriage further includes a support region as well as two deflector channels that connect the return channel and the support region, sleeve-shaped guiding elements that are arranged in recesses of a basic body of the carriage, in the return channels. Plastic material is poured in part or totally around one of the two ends of at least one sleeve-shaped guiding elements in order to secure it inside the recess. The sleeve-shaped guiding elements are each provided with centering elements on their outside surfaces, which elements are used to determine the position of a guiding element.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2001Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Schneeberger Holding AGInventor: Ernst Mischler
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Patent number: 6550354Abstract: A foot brake release device adapted such that a slight and instant pull of a parking release knob for releasing a parking activated state for a parking brake pedal enables the complete release of the parking activated state of the parking brake pedal. The device includes a parking brake pedal equipped at one side thereof with a ratchet gear; a ratchet plate equipped with a ratchet gear meshed to a ratchet gear; a torsion spring mounted at the ratchet plate allowing the parking brake pedal to rotate at a predetermined angle for maintenance of a locked state and to restrict the ratchet plate from rotating in one direction; and a torsion spring slack keeping unit for maintaining a slacked state of the torsion spring when the parking brake pedal is returned for rotation.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2000Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Taeg-Jo Kim
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Patent number: 6543307Abstract: A robot having a plurality of interconnected sections is disclosed. Each of the sections includes components which are moveable relative to components of an adjacent section. A plurality of electric motors are operably connected to at least two of said relatively moveable components to effect relative movement. A fitted, removable protective covering surrounds the sections to protect the robot.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2001Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Metrica, Inc.Inventor: Robert O. Ambrose