Patents Examined by Valentin Craciun
  • Patent number: 9010215
    Abstract: The invention relates to a telescopable steering spindle having an inner spindle and an outer spindle, which are arranged coaxially in relation to one another and have an out-of-round cross section for torque transmission, wherein an intermediate space is provided between the outer spindle and the inner spindle, a sliding sleeve being arranged in the said intermediate space, wherein the sliding sleeve is provided with a surface structuring on at least one surface facing the inner spindle or the outer spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Presta AG
    Inventor: Andreas Rietzler
  • Patent number: 8997599
    Abstract: A motorized joint having two degrees of freedom in rotation connecting two elements is provided. The joint includes two pivot connections such that a first one of the pivot connections establishes a first pivot axis, and a second one of the pivot connections establishes a second pivot axis. The first pivot axis is not parallel to the second pivot axis. A first motor is disposed in fixed relation to a first one of the two elements and has a drive shaft aligned with a first drive axis so as to cause by means of a first speed reducer with parallel axes the two elements to rotate about the first pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Aldebaran Robotics
    Inventors: Bruno Maisonnier, Pascal Lafourcade, Romain Fischesser
  • Patent number: 8997607
    Abstract: In a wave gear device, an annular rigid externally toothed gear is disposed on the inner side of a cup-shaped flexible internally toothed gear. An internal-tooth-formation portion of the flexible internally toothed gear and a pushed portion pushed by a wave generator and flexed ellipsoidally are formed in different positions along the center axis line. The wave generator is disposed on the inner side of the flexible internally toothed gear, the pushed cylindrical portion is pushed from the inner side to the outside along the radial direction thereof by the wave generator, whereby the pushed cylindrical portion is flexed ellipsodially. As the outside diameter dimension of the wave gear device is determined by that of the flexible internally toothed gear, a wave gear device having a small outside diameter dimension can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Harmonic Drive Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Satoru Kanai
  • Patent number: 8993915
    Abstract: Provided is a sector gear including: a drive gear having a drive part that forms a part of a circle and has a plurality of teeth and a non-drive part that forms a remaining part of the circle and provides a non-contact angle of at least approximately 90 degrees; first and second movers forming a disconnector and a grounded breaking switch, respectively; and first and second driven gears engaged with the drive gear and respectively engaged with the first and second movers and configured to make the first mover or the second mover operate in conjunction with the drive part of the drive gear according to a direction of rotation of the drive gear, wherein an intermediate angle between the first and second movers is between approximately 90-135 degrees. The present invention can reduce the size of the gas-insulated switchgear having the sector gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyung Choon Kim
  • Patent number: 8978495
    Abstract: A synchronous movement-aid device for slide module includes at least one aid device. The aid device includes a first arm, a second arm connected with the first arm and a rotational wheel connected with the second arm and rotatable with the movement of the second arm. The first arm has a pivoted end mounted on a rail. When an external force is applied to the first arm, the pivoted end can freely move along the rail relative to the second arm. The second arm has a fixed end connected to the rotational wheel. When the first arm moves along the rail, the rotational wheel is driven to rotate so as to achieve better synchronous movement effect than the conventional slide mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: First Dome Corporation
    Inventors: An Szu Hsu, Way Han Dai, Hsiu Fan Ho
  • Patent number: 8973453
    Abstract: A feed screw mechanism includes a feed screw shaft connected to a drive source and formed with first screw threads on an outer circumferential surface thereof, and a displacement nut, which is screw-engaged with respect to the feed screw shaft through a plurality of balls. The displacement nut is supported with respect to a slider that makes up an electric actuator by a pair of pins. The pins are inserted and fixed in first pin holes formed in the slider, and distal end portions of the pins are inserted respectively into second pin holes formed in the displacement nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: SMC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Fukano, Toru Sugiyama, Masaki Imamura
  • Patent number: 8943916
    Abstract: A chassis actuator adjusting a movably mounted component of a chassis, which has a first actuator component connected to the movably mounted component and a second actuator component connected to a fixed chassis component. The actuator components are adjustable axially by a ball screw that has a threaded spindle and a nut which runs on spindle. The nut is driveable by a drive motor that has a rotor coupled to the nut and a fixed stator arranged axially symmetrically with respect to the nut. The rotor is coupled to the nut by a wrap spring which radially surrounds the nut and via which the nut is rotated during rotation of the rotor and which forms a brake device. The brake device can be actuated by an external chassis force which acts on and rotates the nut and builds up a friction moment that counteracts the rotation of the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Osterlaenger, Mark Lauger, Thomas Mehlis
  • Patent number: 8941554
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to an anti-backlash component. In one embodiment, the anti-backlash component includes a housing, the housing comprising a first threaded opening and a second opening, a bolt coupled to the housing through the first threaded opening and the second opening, the bolt comprising a spherical end, a nut coupled to the bolt and an exterior side of the second opening of the housing and a socket coupled to the spherical end of the bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Pro Band International, Inc.
    Inventor: Nathan Andrew Christie
  • Patent number: 8931358
    Abstract: A ball screw with a dust-proof and lubricating device comprises: a screw, a nut, a plurality of balls, an oil-absorbing member, a return unit, and two dust-proof members. The nut includes an axial oil-guiding hole, a plurality of radial oil holes in communication with the oil-guiding hole and the helical groove of the nut, and an oil-feeding hole in communication with one of the radial oil holes. The oil-absorbing member is disposed in the oil-guiding hole and the radial oil holes. The return unit is disposed in the nut to enable the turning and circulation of the balls. The two dust-proof members are located at both ends of the axial hole. The ball screw can still be lubricated when it is disposed in a vertical position, and the dust-proof and lubricating device which won't add axial length to the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Hiwin Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Che Kang Chang, Dian-Yu Jan
  • Patent number: 8931372
    Abstract: A coaxial double drive assembly configured for actuating shielding elements of a secondary skin facade of a building is disclosed. The assembly includes an outer drive output and an inner drive output, which are arranged substantially coaxially with each other to an axis of rotation. The assembly also includes a driving arrangement, which is adapted to accept one or more transmission gear assemblies, which connect the outer and inner drive output to one or more rotating motor drives, which axes of rotation are substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the outer and inner drive outputs. The outer drive output and the inner drive output extend at the same side of the coaxial double drive assembly and are adapted to accept a two-part pivot assembly, which when pivoted by the outer drive output and the inner drive output, is adapted for actuating the shielding elements of the secondary skin facade coupled thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Frener & Reifer GmbH/Srl
    Inventors: Michael Reifer, Dietmar Telfser, Josef Hilpold
  • Patent number: 8915161
    Abstract: A fine motion control rod drive mechanism handling apparatus attaches a fine motion control rod drive mechanism having a control rod drive mechanism body, a spool piece, a motor bracket and a motor unit to a reactor pressure vessel, and detaches it from the reactor pressure vessel. The fine motion control rod drive mechanism handling apparatus is provided with a bolt wrench assembly, a motor unit attachment mounted to the bolt wrench assembly, for meshing a first gear of a first gear coupling on a spool piece side with a second gear of a second gear coupling on a motor unit side, and a rotation mechanism mounted to the bolt wrench assembly, for rotating the motor unit attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Akatsuka, Toshihiro Kodama, Takeaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8910546
    Abstract: A motorcycle transmission assembly including a transmission housing having a hollow interior. The assembly includes a gear train having gears mounted in the hollow interior of the housing. The train includes an input operatively connectable to a motor of the motorcycle and an output operatively connectable to a drive wheel of the motorcycle. The transmission assembly includes a brake rotor having opposite faces operatively connected to the output of the gear train via at least one gear. The transmission assembly includes a brake caliper fixedly mounted with respect to the transmission housing having opposing brake pads. Each of the pads is positioned on one of the brake rotor faces. The pads are moveable between a running position in which the pads are spaced from the faces and a braking position in which the pads engage the faces to resist rotation of the gear and thereby the output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Inventor: Jason L. Hicks
  • Patent number: 8904893
    Abstract: A method of controlling a hydraulic control system for a dual clutch transmission includes controlling a plurality of pressure and flow control devices in fluid communication with a plurality of clutch actuators and with a plurality of synchronizer actuators. The clutch actuators are operable to actuate a plurality of torque transmitting devices and the synchronizer actuators are operable to actuate a plurality of synchronizer assemblies. Selective activation of combinations of the pressure control solenoids and the flow control solenoids allows for a pressurized fluid to activate at least one of the clutch actuators and synchronizer actuators in order to shift the transmission into a desired gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Steven P. Moorman, Philip C. Lundberg, John R. Czoykowski, Bret M. Olson, Chinar S. Ghike, James D. Hendrickson, Christopher Jay Weingartz
  • Patent number: 8899122
    Abstract: A transmission system has a clutch module which has a single input and two outputs, where clutch devices are located between the outputs and the input. The transmission system further includes a transmission module which has two inputs and a single output, the transmission module comprising at least two sub-transmissions where at least a single speed transforming gear or a single transmission clutch is located between an input and an output of each sub-transmission. The two outputs of the clutch module are connected here to both inputs of the transmission module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: DTI Group, B.V.
    Inventors: Roell Marie Van Druten, Alexander Franciscus Anita Serrarens, Bas Gerard Vroemen
  • Patent number: 8893568
    Abstract: In a self-lubricating transmission device 1, a compression helical spring 15 is provided to urge an impregnation metal 14 as an impregnation means so as to slidably contact the impregnation metal 14 with pin rollers 7. In combination with a rotational movement of a pinion 6, the pin rollers 7 slide on a lower surface 14d of the impregnation metal 14 to supply a lubrication oil W to the pin rollers 7 so as to automatically lubricate the pinion 6 evenly at the right time for an appropriate amount of the lubrication oil W. This obviates the lubrication oil W being wastefully used, while at the same time, making a lubrication work quick, labor-saving and user-friendly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Kamoseiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshitake Katayama
  • Patent number: 8857285
    Abstract: A saddle type vehicle having mounted thereon a power unit is provided with a twin clutch type transmission including a pair of main shafts and a pair of clutches along different axes, to enable a compact layout of axes and a reduction in size of the unit and its surroundings. The axis center (first main axis) of a first main shaft is disposed rearwardly of the axis center (crank axis) of a crankshaft and forwardly of the axis center (counter axis) of a counter shaft, whereas the axis center (second main axis) of a second main shaft is disposed rearwardly of the axis center (counter axis) of the counter shaft and forwardly of the axis center (pivot axis) of a pivot shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Fujimoto, Kinya Mizuno, Yoshiaki Tsukada, Takashi Ozeki, Kazuhiko Nakamura, Mitsuo Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8850916
    Abstract: A method of adjusting a pressure signal to an actuator piston to control movement of a synchronizer actuator fork of a transmission includes moving the synchronizer actuator fork from a start position into a target position by applying an initial fluid pressure value. The time required to move the synchronizer actuator fork is measured to define a measured actuation time, and compared to a target actuation time. A correction factor is applied to the initial fluid pressure value to define a revised fluid pressure value when the measured actuation time is not within a pre-defined time range of the target actuation time. When the measured actuation time is greater than the pre-defined time range of the target actuation time, the initial fluid pressure value is increased. When the measured actuation time is less than the pre-defined time range of the target actuation time, the initial fluid pressure value is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Jay Weingartz, Matthew D. Whitton, Steven P. Moorman, Matthew Kempeinen
  • Patent number: 8850915
    Abstract: To achieve downsizing of a power unit and the vicinity thereof by permitting compact axial arrangement in a straddle-ride type vehicle on which the power unit having a twin-clutch type transmission is mounted. The transmission has a pair of main shafts with respective different axes and corresponding clutches. One of respective axial centers of the main shafts is disposed on one (above) of the sides with respect to a line and the other is disposed on the other side (below), the line connecting an axial center of the counter shaft with an axial center of a pivot shaft, as viewed in side elevation from the axial direction of the main shafts and counter shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Fujimoto, Kinya Mizuno, Yoshiaki Tsukada, Takashi Ozeki, Kazuhiko Nakamura, Mitsuo Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8844396
    Abstract: An axle assembly for a vehicle including a first gear, and a second gear joined to a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis. The second gear engages the first gear. A bearing is disposed over the shaft distal the second gear. A housing is disposed about at least a portion of the shaft. The housing includes a first lubricant pathway spaced apart from a second lubricant pathway, wherein the first lubricant pathway routes lubricant towards the bearing and the second lubricant pathway routes lubricant away from the bearing. The first and second lubricant pathways are not in a position coplanar with a plane of rotation of the first gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Gary Myers, Joseph A. Rozman, Charles R. Pajtas, Shawn E. Bronner, Syed M. Akbari
  • Patent number: 8833190
    Abstract: A relative-rotation synchronous movement-aid device, which has a simple structure and is easy to assemble. The synchronous movement-aid device includes a linking arm and a rotational wheel assembled with the linking arm. The linking arm has a pivoted end and a free end mounted on the rotational wheel. The pivoted end is mounted on a rail. When an external force is applied to the linking arm, the pivoted end can freely move along the rail. The free end serves to make the rotational wheel relatively rotate along with the movement of the linking arm to achieve better synchronous movement effect than the conventional slide mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: First Dome Corporation
    Inventors: An Szu Hsu, Way Han Dai, Hsiu Fan Ho