Patents Examined by Valentin Craciun
  • Patent number: 8522644
    Abstract: When shift transmission of an automatic transmission is performed in a free-run state, a driving force control apparatus controls a degree of engagement of an engaging device in accordance with a hydraulic difference between a first hydraulic pressure and a second hydraulic pressure in a condition that the first hydraulic pressure does not reach the second hydraulic pressure. As a result, an oil pump supplies a hydraulic pressure to the automatic transmission, and the shift transmission can be performed. The first hydraulic pressure is a hydraulic pressure of the automatic transmission. The second hydraulic pressure is a hydraulic pressure required to perform the shift transmission. The engaging device can adjust an extent of transmission power between an engine and the automatic transmission in accordance with the degree of engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Matsunaga, Yoji Takanami
  • Patent number: 8516914
    Abstract: A suspension actuator (1) for positioning a movably mounted component of a motor vehicle suspension, including a first actuator component (4), which is to be connected to the movably mounted component, and a second actuator component (3), which is to be connected to a fixed suspension component, wherein both actuator components can be axially adjusted relative to one another via a ball-type linear drive (5), which includes a threaded spindle (6) and a nut (7) running thereon. Either the nut can be driven via a drive motor (10) for the axial adjustment of the threaded spindle or the spindle can be driven via a drive motor for axial adjustment of the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Osterlänger, Ralf Mayer, Manfred Kraus, Thomas Mehlis, Stefanie Bärthlein, Meinhard Schmidt, Thomas Dirnberger, Tobias Noss, Falk Heinrich
  • Patent number: 8505399
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electric actuator having a structure capable of reducing an external force or impact acting on a screw shaft when a piston rod is at a stretched position. An electric actuator includes a nut, a piston rod, recesses, keys, holes, and a tapered portion. Into the nut, a screw shaft is screwed. The piston rod moves linearly via the nut. The recesses are formed on an outer circumferential surface of the nut. The keys are each provided to a recess. The tapered portion is formed on an inner wall of the cylinder body. The piston rod advances to move the keys outward to cause the keys to fit to the tapered portion to block retraction of the piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Nabtesco Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Hirai, Yasuyuki Shirai, Tsunehisa Nomura, Koji Itoh
  • Patent number: 8505408
    Abstract: An adjustable steering column assembly includes a fixed rack secured to a first portion and a moving rack secured to a second portion, which are releasably engaged by a clamp mechanism to permit relative movement therebetween. The fixed rack comprises two rows of teeth spaced apart from one another and extending towards. The moving rack also comprises two rows of teeth which extend away from each other. A clamp engaging means moves the moving rack into and out of engagement with the fixed rack. The teeth on the two racks are offset relative to one another. The mechanism is further arranged so that when if a tooth on tooth event occurs the fixed rack interacts with the moving rack to cause the moving rack to move sideways to permit the teeth to become inter-engaged when the mechanism finally reaches the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: TRW Das A.S.
    Inventor: Jan Havlicek
  • Patent number: 8499656
    Abstract: A transmission is connectable to an input member and includes an output transfer gear, first and second shaft members, first and second countershaft members, a plurality of co-planar gear sets, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include a plurality of gears, synchronizer assemblies and a dual clutch assembly. The transmission is operable to provide at least one reverse speed ratio and a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Craig S. Ross, Edward W. Mellet, Scott H. Wittkopp
  • Patent number: 8499662
    Abstract: A pull handle structure of a hand puller contains a base including two opposite holes to insert two shafts respectively, with each hole including a ratchet. A pulling handle includes a rotating member with two side plates, each including first and second ends. Each first end includes an axial connecting portion on which a circular opening is formed so that the rotating member swings axially relative to the base. The side plate includes a sliding rail. Between the two side plates is defined a movable retaining element to contact with the ratchet. A movable bar includes two elongated stems and a grip rod defined between the two elongated stems. Each elongated stem is fitted in the sliding rail to move slidably. Between the rotating member and the movable bar is defined a locking device to obtain a positioning purpose when the movable bar is expanded and retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Win Chance Metal Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen Cheng Chang
  • Patent number: 8490515
    Abstract: A transmission for a motor, which gives a normal rotation and constant speed output to an output cover when a driving shaft of the motor rotates in a normal direction and a normal rotation and speed-changed output to the output cover when the driving shaft of the motor rotates in a reverse direction, is provided. Interference caused by a reverse input can be prevented although rotation is reversely input from the output cover. The driving shaft includes a polygonal outer circumference; a ball-mounting ring is coupled to the outer circumference, the ball-mounting ring including, therein a constant speed ball and a speed changing ball spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance so that upper and lower sides of them protrude; and the ball-mounting ring is frictionally fixed by an additionally fixed friction pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: MBI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-Jin Jung, Hyuk Yoo
  • Patent number: 8468904
    Abstract: First gear for use in a gear set including a second gear has a hub to which are attached a plurality of arms made of an elastic material. Each pair of adjacent arms defines a slot between them into which the arms may bend. The arms can deflect elastically in the plane as a cantilevered beam. Each arm has on the end thereof, a tooth for meshing with a tooth on the second gear to allow transfer of force between the first gear's tooth and the meshing second gear's tooth. A load distributor in contact with at least first and second arms distributes to the second arm at least a portion of force received by the first arm's tooth while the first arm's tooth meshes with a tooth on the second gear. In one embodiment, the load distributor comprises an insert within the slot between the first and second arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Inventor: Andrew Nowicki
  • Patent number: 8468907
    Abstract: A shift arrangement for a motor vehicle transmission has a multiplicity of gear stages. The shift arrangement has a shift shaft which is aligned in an axial direction and has a multiplicity of shift members which are designed to engage on shift sleeves which can be displaced axially in order to shift the gear stages. The shift shaft is mounted so as to be rotatable in order to select in each case one of the shift sleeves and so as to be axially displaceable in order to shift the gear stages. The shift members have in each case one driver device for coupling to the shift shaft. The shift shaft has a coupling arrangement which is designed to engage, depending on the rotational position of the shift shaft, in each case with a driver device of one of the shift members in order to couple that shift member axially to the shift shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: GETRAG Getriebe- und Zahnradfabrik Hermann Hagenmeyer GmbH & Cie KG
    Inventors: Benjamin Wild, Tobias Lenz, Heiko Imholz, Thomas Marx
  • Patent number: 8464599
    Abstract: A transmission is connectable to an input member and includes an output transfer gear, first and second shaft members, first and second countershaft members, a plurality of co-planar gear sets, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include a plurality of gears, synchronizer assemblies and a dual clutch assembly. The transmission is operable to provide at least one reverse speed ratio and a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Craig S. Ross, Edward W. Mellet, Scott H. Wittkopp
  • Patent number: 8459133
    Abstract: The swinging operation of a rotary striker turns micro switches and, which detect the position of a piston, ON/OFF. The striker includes a lower-limit switch cam and an upper-limit switch cam. The cams and engage with switch bosses and that move together with the piston. When the piston is positioned at a lower-limit stop position L, the cam becomes engaged with the boss to make the striker swing in the X-direction and pushes a switch button of the switch. When the piston is positioned at an upper-limit stop position U, the cam becomes engaged with the boss to make the striker swing in the Y-direction and pushes a switch button of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Inoue, Masato Nakamura, Masatoshi Suzuki, Tsuyoshi Kumamoto
  • Patent number: 8453528
    Abstract: An outer ring, an inner ring and a ball serving as mechanical components configuring a deep groove ball bearing are formed of steel containing at least 0.11 mass % and not more than 0.15 mass % of carbon, at least 0.1 mass % and not more than 0.25 mass % of silicon, at least 0.15 mass % and not more than 0.35 mass % of manganese, at least 3.2 mass % and not more than 3.6 mass % of nickel, at least 4 mass % and not more than 4.25 mass % of chromium, at least 4 mass % and not more than 4.5 mass % of molybdenum and at least 1.13 mass % and not more than 1.33 mass % of vanadium with a remainder consisting of iron and impurity, and have raceway/rolling contact surfaces, the surface being included in a region having a nitrogen enriched layer having a nitrogen concentration of at least 0.05 mass %, the nitrogen enriched layer having a carbon concentration and the nitrogen concentration, in total, of at least 0.55 mass % and not more than 1.9 mass % at a depth of 0.1 mm from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Chikara Ohki, Kazuhiro Yagita, Takashi Ito, Hiroshi Morishita
  • Patent number: 8443684
    Abstract: The subject is a rotary drive device (1), which has a device housing (7) in which drive means (2) are disposed that are in driving communication with a rotatably supported power takeoff part (4). The power takeoff part (4) has a power takeoff disc (5) that is received at least partly in a bearing receptacle (25) of the device housing (7), the power takeoff disc being surrounded by an annular roller bearing unit (33). The roller bearing unit has a bearing assembly (34) with rolling elements (35) and with one inner and one outer running surface arrangement (37, 38), and the entire bearing assembly (34) is disposed inside the bearing receptacle (25) and is surrounded radially outward by a boundary wall portion (27) of the device housing (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Festo AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gerhard Thorwart, Rainer Armbruster
  • Patent number: 8438944
    Abstract: A telescope lock mechanism for a steering column includes a plurality of strap teeth located at an upper jacket of the steering column, each strap tooth of the plurality of strap teeth having a strap tooth peak. A plurality of lock teeth are located at a lower jacket of the steering column. The plurality of locking teeth are rotatably secured at the lower jacket, such that when the plurality of locking teeth are rotated into an engaged position with the plurality of strap teeth, a plurality of lock teeth peaks are substantially non-parallel to the strap tooth peaks of the plurality of strap teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Robert Ridgway, Melvin Lee Tinnin, Kevin M. Burns
  • Patent number: 8424404
    Abstract: An eight forward speed dual clutch transmission includes a pair of input clutches which selectively provide drive torque to a pair of concentric input shafts. Gears coupled to and driven by the input shafts are in constant mesh with gears freely rotatably disposed on a pair of parallel countershafts or layshafts. A plurality of synchronizer clutches selectively synchronize and connect the various gears to the countershafts or layshafts to provide a desired gear ratio in the proper sequence. Reverse gear is similarly provided through a three gear gear train. Upon the synchronization and engagement of a particular gear, the associated input clutch is activated or engaged to supply drive torque to the input shaft, through the synchronized and engaged gear pair and out the countershaft or layshaft. An additional gear on each countershaft or layshaft engages a common gear that directly drives a differential which, in turn, drives a pair of drive axles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Craig S. Ross, Edward W. Mellet, Scott H. Wittkopp
  • Patent number: 8418826
    Abstract: A lock pin-type automobile synchronizer includes a higher gear conical ring (1) and a lower gear conical ring (4) which are arranged at the sides of a sliding gear sleeve (3). A higher gear lock pin (2) is fixed to one side of the higher gear conical ring (1). A lower gear lock pin (5, 6) is fixed to one side of the lower gear conical ring (4). A pin hole corresponding to the higher gear (2) lock pin and the lower gear lock pin (5, 6) is arranged on the sliding gear sleeve (3). The number of lower gear lock pins (5, 6) is higher than the number of higher gear lock pins (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Shaanxi Fast Gear Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dakai Li, Zenggang Guo, Shunli Wang, Lin Yang
  • Patent number: 8402854
    Abstract: A linear actuator capable of setting a bed to a flat state in emergencies is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsuba Corporation
    Inventor: Zentaro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8397594
    Abstract: A feed drive mechanism and a connecting assembly thereof are described. The connecting assembly includes a main body and an outer sleeve. The main body has a connecting plate and an inner sleeve connected to a side surface of the connecting plate. Two opposite side surfaces of the connecting plate are respectively fixed on a screw nut seat and a lead screw nut of the feed drive mechanism, and a channel surrounds an outer side surface of the inner sleeve. The outer sleeve is sleeved on the outer side surface of the inner sleeve, enables the channel to be formed into a sealed space, and has an inlet and an outlet respectively communicating with the channel, thereby injecting a cooling medium into the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Feng-Ming Ou, Jen-Ji Wang, Shih-Chang Chen, Chien-Chih Chiu, Yi-Huang Liou
  • Patent number: 8393241
    Abstract: A mechanical transmission gear shifting assembly connected to a transmission with multiple gear selectors that, when moved in a back and forth motion, selects different gear ratios via a cam with a cam follower for moving gear selectors, in response to the same active cam surfaces. The assembly additionally includes a retractable stop dog, and detents for moving, stopping and holding the cam at all times, such that the cam moves in increments corresponding to sequentially increasing or decreasing selected gear states of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Inventors: Neil H. Akkerman, Daniel O. Dewey
  • Patent number: 8387480
    Abstract: A scissors gear may include a main gear and a sub-gear co-axially combined by a scissors spring therebetween to integrally rotate, a first oil supply hole formed in the main gear or the sub-gear to supply oil from the outside, an oil groove formed in the sub-gear or the main gear to receive the oil by being selectively communicated with the first oil supply hole, and a check valve that is disposed in the main gear or the sub-gear to open/close the oil groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignees: Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Byungok Park