Patents Examined by Zakaria Elahmadi
  • Patent number: 11708108
    Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle includes a housing section, a rack section configured to penetrate the housing section, a case section mounted in the housing section, and a sensor section, mounted in the case section, configured to engage the rack section and sense an amount of movement of the rack section while being rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kwang Yoon Kim, Suk Won Lee
  • Patent number: 11703111
    Abstract: A ball screw assembly includes a screw shaft along which is formed a first helical groove; a nut along which is form a second helical groove; the first helical groove and the second helical groove cooperating to define a track, a plurality of balls arranged in the track and configured to move along the track in response to relative motion between the screw shaft and the nut such that rotational motion of the screw is translated to linear motion of the nut via the balls and vice versa. The assembly also includes a bypass shoe arranged between the nut and the track and spaced from the track by a predetermined preload X, wherein when a load applied to the nut exceeds the predetermined preload, the bypass shoe engages with the track such that motion of the screw is transferred to motion of the nut via the shoe and bypasses the balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventor: Stephen Harlow Davies
  • Patent number: 11685427
    Abstract: An electric actuator for a steering system is adapted to control an angle of steered wheels on a vehicle to adjust a direction of travel of the vehicle. The electric actuator includes a housing assembly, an electric motor, and an actuation unit. The housing assembly is arranged around the electric motor and the electric motor is coupled with the actuation unit and configured to cause an actuator rod of the actuation unit to move relative to the housing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Material Handling, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Major, Kevin Partridge
  • Patent number: 11680628
    Abstract: In the ball screw device, the circulation path that returns balls from the end point to the start point of the load path includes a return path, scooping paths, and connecting paths. The scooping path has an arc-shaped center line that is curved outward in the radial direction as going toward the reference imaginary flat plane including the center axis of the screw shaft and the center line of the return path in the circumferential direction. The connecting path is arranged on the reference imaginary flat plane and includes a straight path having a linear center line extending in a direction orthogonal to the center axis of the screw shaft. When the radius of curvature of the center line of the scooping path is R1, the scooping angle is ?, and the entire length of the straight path is S, R1 cos(90°??)+S is made larger than the diameter of the balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Yamada, Yuji Shimomura, Kanta Sato, Yasuaki Abe
  • Patent number: 11679513
    Abstract: A slide portion of a first adapter is fitted into a slot of a second adapter, and a ball is disposed between a cam member supported by the slide portion and an opening edge portion constituting the slot. The ball can advance toward or retreat from an engagement groove of the opening edge portion by movement of the cam member. By operating a release button connected integrally with the cam member and also sliding the first adapter and the second adapter relative to each other, the ball retreats, and the first adapter and the second adapter are separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Motohiro Sato
  • Patent number: 11680632
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gear ring carrier part (10) for a two- or multi-component gear (11), the gear ring carrier part (10) having a circular ring section (12) rotating in the circumferential direction about an axis of rotation (A), a gear ring (14) arranged radially on the outside of the circular ring section (12), and an extension (16) extending radially inward from the circular ring section (12), the extension (16) having a first extension face (30) and a second extension face (32), a number of first ribs (34) and an equal number of first pockets (36) being arranged on the first extension face (30), and/or a number of second ribs (38) and an equal number of second pockets (40) being arranged on the second extension face (30), the first ribs (34) and the first pockets (36) and/or the second ribs (38) and the second pockets (40) each extending radially and being arranged adjacent to one another in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: IMS GEAR SE & CO. KGAA
    Inventors: Eugen Stoppel, Sebastian Birk, Egor Melnikov, Stephan Oberle
  • Patent number: 11668377
    Abstract: A threaded nut for a ball screw drive is provided. The threaded nut includes a cylindrical central piece ending at a flange. A deflecting body is attached to the cylindrical central piece and is configured to recirculate balls during operation of the threaded nut. A pin fixes the deflecting body to the flange. In embodiments, the flange and the deflecting body each have recesses that are aligned with one another, and the pin extends through those recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Engel, Andreas Hoefler
  • Patent number: 11668378
    Abstract: A linear transmission device includes a screw, a moving member, a return element, and a sensor. The moving member is set in the screw to form a load path therebetween. The return element is set in the moving member and has a return path connected to the load path. The return path and the load path constitute a circulating path for balls to run. The moving member has an internal thread with an ineffective thread section. The moving member has a receiving groove adjacent to the ineffective thread section. The sensor is embedded in the receiving groove of the moving member without affecting the operation of the balls. Thus, the linear transmission device of the present invention can solve the problem of the sensor protruding from the moving member, so that the configuration of the surrounding space and the stroke of the moving member will not be affected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: HIWIN TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventors: Szu-Wei Yu, Chih-Hsiang Chen, Meng-Ying Lin
  • Patent number: 11662010
    Abstract: A vehicle drive device uses a parallel shaft gear reducer (30) in which a gear is composed of helical gear, as a speed reducer part (B) that decelerates and outputs a rotation of an electric motor part (A). In the vehicle drive device, of meshing parts of the gears formed in the speed reducer part (B), two gears form a meshing part in which the amount of misalignment that occurs between the tooth surfaces of the two gears meshing with each other is different during driving and during coasting of a vehicle. A first tooth surface (S1) meshing with a mating tooth surface during driving is subjected to tooth surface modification, and a second tooth surface (S2) meshing with a mating tooth surface during coasting is subjected to tooth surface modification of an amount different from an amount of the tooth surface modification to the first tooth surface (S1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryou Yukishima, Tetsuya Yamamoto, Katsunori Sato
  • Patent number: 11655884
    Abstract: A linear motion device and a linear motion device component are provided. The linear motion device includes a screw, a nut, an end cover, and a scrape plate. The nut is fitted over the screw, and a spiral outer groove of the screw and a spiral inner groove of the nut correspond to each other to form a ball groove. The end cover is fixed to the nut. A first through hole portion is defined through the end cover and corresponds to the nut. An engaging groove is arranged on a first surface of the end cover. The scrape plate is assembled with the end cover. A second through hole portion is defined through the scrape plate and corresponds to the nut. An engaging member is arranged on the scrape plate and assembled with the engaging groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Inventor: Szu-Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 11655885
    Abstract: A multiliner for a ball nut, a ball nut and a ball screw assembly are provided. Methods of forming the multiliner are also provided. The multiliner includes return channels that are configured to prevent bearing balls from falling out of a retaining region in a radial direction. This allows bearing balls to travel past intermediate grooves formed in a cooperating threaded ball screw shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Pacific Bearing Corp.
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Schroeder, Kevin Bischel, Ethan Kinney
  • Patent number: 11655886
    Abstract: A ball screw device having a screw shaft rotating during use, a nut moving linearly during use, balls, a fitting cylinder fixed to the nut, a housing, and an anti-rotation member, a first member, which is one of the nut and the fitting cylinder, having a retaining concave portion engaging with a radially inner portion of the anti-rotation member and including a closed surface, an insertion hole of the housing having a guide concave groove engaging with a radially outer portion of the anti-rotation member, the radially inner portion held between the closed surface and an axially end surface a second member, which is the other of the nut and the fitting cylinder, the radially outer portion being able to slide in the guide concave groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Ryo Segawa
  • Patent number: 11648662
    Abstract: A speed reducer and a robot are disclosed. The speed reducer includes a rigid wheel, a flexible wheel and a flexible bearing; the rigid wheel is provided with a first fitting position and an inner wheel tooth set; the outer peripheral surface of a peripheral wall of the flexible wheel is provided with an outer wheel tooth set; in the axial direction of the rigid wheel, the tooth top of the outer wheel tooth set is provided with a first length, and the tooth root of the outer wheel tooth set is provided with a second length; the tooth top of the inner wheel tooth set is provided with a third length; the flexible bearing is provided with a fourth length; the second length and the third length are both greater than the first length, and the fourth length is greater than the second length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCES, INC. OF ZHUHAI
    Inventors: Zhongfu Cheng, Chengbao Zhong, Zhong Cui, Zhenzhen Tian, Jiajia Gu
  • Patent number: 11642188
    Abstract: A tool apparatus and a method for actuating a tool apparatus are disclosed. The tool apparatus includes an actuator housing, and an elongate tool manipulator extending outwardly from the actuator housing and having a plurality of control links extending along a length of the tool manipulator. The control links are operable to cause movement of a distal end of the tool manipulator in response to movement of the control links in an actuating direction generally aligned with the length of the tool manipulator. The apparatus also includes a plurality of actuators, each actuator being associated with at least one of the control links and being mounted in the actuator housing to facilitate a range of travel in a transverse direction substantially orthogonal to the actuating direction, and a plurality of linkages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TITAN MEDICAL INC.
    Inventors: Rene Robert, David Allen Zitnick
  • Patent number: 11633848
    Abstract: A robotic device may include a spine defining a yaw axis. The robotic device may also include an arm joint rotatably connected to the spine at a first position along the yaw axis and configured to rotate about the yaw axis. The robotic device may further include an actuator including a ring that defines a bore. The spine may be fixedly connected to the ring at a second position along the yaw axis and may extend through the bore. The actuator may be connected to the arm joint and configured to rotate the arm joint about the yaw axis without rotating the spine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Morey
  • Patent number: 11635135
    Abstract: A plug for closing an opening of a casing, the plug including a solid hub, with central axis, as well as a retaining member which ensures the axial attachment of the plug in the opening, the plug including a play-compensating carriage, which is distinct from the hub and which is movably mounted on a guiding support borne by the hub, the guiding support being arranged in such a way as to axially retain the carriage and to guide the relative movement of the carriage with respect to the hub in a direction termed the “play-compensating direction” transverse to the central axis, a spring-type resilient member, arranged between the guiding support and the carriage, and an orientating member arranged so as to orientate the plug, and consequently the play-compensating direction defined by the guiding support, in azimuth around the central axis, according to a predetermined orientation with respect to the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventor: Mickael Guerin
  • Patent number: 11635127
    Abstract: In a spindle gear mechanism (1) having a spindle component (2) with a spindle thread (21) which has a pitch which alters over a longitudinal axis of the spindle component (2), and having a threaded component (3) which engages in the spindle thread (21), wherein the two components (2; 3) can be displaced relative to one another in relation to the longitudinal axis (1) of the spindle component (2), provision is made, for the purpose of straightforward production capability and suitability for a large number of applications, for the threaded component (3) to have at least one freely movable threaded element (4) which engages in the spindle thread (21) and, during operation, adapts automatically to the pitch of the spindle thread (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: igus GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Niermann, Sebastian Polle
  • Patent number: 11618156
    Abstract: The horizontal articulated robot includes a platform, a first arm which is coupled to the platform, which moves along a first linear-motion axis with respect to the platform, and which rotates around a first rotational axis parallel to the first linear-motion axis, a second arm which is coupled to the first arm, which moves along a second linear-motion axis different in direction from the first linear-motion axis with respect to the first arm, and which rotates around a second rotational axis parallel to the first rotational axis, a third arm which is coupled to the second arm, and which rotates around a third rotational axis perpendicular to the first linear-motion axis, and a fourth arm which is coupled to the third arm, and which rotates around a fourth rotational axis perpendicular to the third rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventors: Tomohisa Iwazaki, Yutaka Arakawa
  • Patent number: 11618173
    Abstract: A robot joint includes a casing, a motor assembly including a stator and a rotor that are arranged within the casing, and a harmonic drive received, at least in part, in the rotor. The harmonic drive includes a circular spline, a wave generator fixed to the rotor, and a flex spline. The circular spline is arranged around and engaged with the flex spline. The wave generator is received in the flex spline and configured to drive the flex spline to rotate with respect to the circular spline. The robot joint further includes an output shaft fixed to the flex spline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP LTD
    Inventors: Jian Li, Hongyu Ding, Youpeng Li, Jianxin Pang, Youjun Xiong
  • Patent number: 11614150
    Abstract: A ball screw nut for a ball screw drive includes a sleeve element which is formed as a sheet metal part and has a thread which is formed for the largest part as a load channel, wherein a relief section formed within the thread extends from the load channel at least slightly radially outwards and adjoins a deflection channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Claus Pfeffer, Richard Baier, Mario Kreutzer