Patents by Inventor Keith J. Andrews
Keith J. Andrews has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20230302868Abstract: Provided is a stabilizer assembly that allows a coupling member to make smooth slide movement. To this end, a stabilizer assembly for a vehicle comprises; a first stabilizer, a second stabilizer, and a clutch mechanism. The clutch mechanism includes a clutch case; a first engagement portion; a second engagement portion; an engagement slider; an actuator; a first protrusion; a second protrusion; and a collar fitted on outer peripheral surfaces of the first and second protrusions across a mating point thereof while the first and the second protrusions are set their front ends butted against each other, the collar having an outer diameter size not exceeding a size of the groove-bottom diameter of the engagement grooves.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: Toshiyuki Fukuda, Yuki Hashimoto, Keith J. Andrews
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Patent number: 7431123Abstract: A vehicle including an integral transaxle apparatus with axles, a driving hydrostatic transmission (HST), a steering HST, and a differential unit. Driving operating means for slanting operation of a first movable swash plate of the variable displacement driving hydraulic pump for switching the travelling direction between forward and backward and for changing the travelling speed, and steering operating means for slanting operation of a second movable swash plate of the variable displacement steering hydraulic pump so as to determine the leftward and rightward cornering angle are provided. The steering hydraulic motor has a third movable swash plate interlocking with the driving operating means so that the slanting direction of the third movable swash plate is changed according to the operation of the driving operating means, whereby the vehicle turns laterally in the same direction in response to the steering operating means whether the vehicle travels forward or backward.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2005Date of Patent: October 7, 2008Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koji Irikura, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi, Kenichi Takada, Hirohiko Kawada, Robert Abend, Keith J. Andrews, Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Hiroaki Shimizu
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Patent number: 7360613Abstract: A transmission for speed changing and steering of a vehicle comprises a first HST and a first differential for speed changing and a second HST and a second differential for steering. The first HST is a combination of a hydraulic pump and motor. The pump is driven by an engine and the motor is drivingly changeable by operation of a speed change pedal. Output power from the motor is transmitted into a pair of first differential output shafts as axles through the first differential. The second HST is a combination of a hydraulic pump and motor. The second pump is driven by output power from the first HST and the second motor is drivingly changeable by operation of a steering wheel. A pair of second differential output shafts are rotated in opposite directions by output power of the motor, so that when turning, the first differential output shaft on the opposite side of the turning direction is accelerated.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2006Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: Tuff Torq CorporationInventors: Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Travis S. McCloud, Keith J. Andrews, Robert Abend
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Patent number: 7059433Abstract: A transmission for speed changing and steering of a vehicle comprises a first HST and a first differential for speed changing and a second HST and a second differential for steering. The first HST is a combination of a hydraulic pump and motor. The pump is driven by an engine and the motor is drivingly changeable by operation of a speed change pedal. Output power from the motor is transmitted into a pair of first differential output shafts as axles through the first differential. The second HST is a combination of a hydraulic pump and motor. The second pump is driven by output power from the first HST and the second motor is drivingly changeable by operation of a steering wheel. A pair of second differential output shafts are rotated in opposite directions by output power of the motor, so that when turning, the first differential output shaft on the opposite side of the turning direction is accelerated.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2004Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Inventors: Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Travis S McCloud, Keith J Andrews, Robert Abend
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Patent number: 6755264Abstract: A transmission for speed changing and steering of a vehicle comprises a first HST and a first differential for speed changing and a second HST and a second differential for steering. The first HST is a combination of a hydraulic pump and motor. The pump is driven by an engine and the motor is drivingly changeable by operation of a speed change pedal. Output power from the motor is transmitted into a pair of first differential output shafts as axles through the first differential. The second HST is a combination of a hydraulic pump and motor. The second pump is driven by output power from the first HST and the second motor is drivingly changeable by operation of a steering wheel. A pair of second differential output shafts are rotated in opposite directions by output power of the motor, so that when turning, the first differential output shaft on the opposite side of the turning direction is accelerated.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2002Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Tuff Torq CorporationInventors: Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Travis S. McCloud, Keith J Andrews, Robert Abend
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Publication number: 20040074678Abstract: A vehicle is installed with an integral transaxle apparatus constructed so that a single housing contains left and right axles, a driving hydrostatic transmission (HST) having a variable displacement first hydraulic pump and a first hydraulic motor fluidly connected with each other, a steering HST having a variable displacement second hydraulic pump and a variable displacement second hydraulic motor fluidly connected with each other, and a differential unit differentially connecting the axles with each other so as to be driven regularly or reversely by the output of the driving HST and to differentially drive the axles while receiving the output of the steering HST, wherein the first hydraulic pump receives power of a prime mover and has a first movable swash plate, and the second hydraulic pump receives power of the prime mover independently of the first hydraulic pump and has a second movable swash plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2003Publication date: April 22, 2004Inventors: Koji Irikura, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi, Kenichi Takada, Hirohiko Kawada, Robert Abend, Keith J. Andrews, Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Hiroaki Shimizu
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Patent number: 6659216Abstract: A vehicle including an integral transaxle apparatus with axles, a driving hydrostatic transmission (HST), a steering HST, and a differential unit. Driving operating means for slanting operation of a first movable swash plate of the variable displacement driving hydraulic pump for switching the travelling direction between forward and backward and for changing the travelling speed, and steering operating means for slanting operation of a second movable swash plate of the variable displacement steering hydraulic pump so as to determine the leftward and rightward cornering angle are provided. The steering hydraulic motor has a third movable swash plate interlocking with the driving operating means so that the slanting direction of the third movable swash plate is changed according to the operation of the driving operating means, whereby the vehicle turns laterally in the same direction in response to the steering operating means whether the vehicle travels forward or backward.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2002Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koji Irikura, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi, Kenichi Takada, Hirohiko Kawada, Robert Abend, Keith J. Andrews, Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Hiroaki Shimizu
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Patent number: 6540633Abstract: A transmission for speed changing and steering of a vehicle includes a first hydrostatic pump (52) and motor (53), a first differential (24′) for speed changing, a second hydrostatic pump (71) and motor (72), and a second differential (23′) for steering. A prime mover drives the first pump (52), and the second pump (71) is driven by the output from the first motor (53). The second motor (72) drives the second differential (23′) for steering the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Tuff Torq CorporationInventors: Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Travis S. McCloud, Keith J Andrews, Robert Abend
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Publication number: 20030050145Abstract: A transmission for speed changing and steering of a vehicle comprises a first HST and a first differential for speed changing and a second HST and a second differential for steering. The first HST is a combination of a hydraulic pump and motor. The pump is driven by an engine and the motor is drivingly changeable by operation of a speed change pedal. Output power from the motor is transmitted into a pair of first differential output shafts as axles through the first differential. The second HST is a combination of a hydraulic pump and motor. The second pump is driven by output power from the first HST and the second motor is drivingly changeable by operation of a steering wheel. A pair of second differential output shafts are rotated in opposite directions by output power of the motor, so that when turning, the first differential output shaft on the opposite side of the turning direction is accelerated.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2002Publication date: March 13, 2003Inventors: Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Travis S. McCloud, Keith J. Andrews, Robert Abend
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Publication number: 20020108800Abstract: A vehicle is installed with an integral transaxle apparatus constructed so that a single housing contains left and right axles, a driving hydrostatic transmission (HST) having a variable displacement first hydraulic pump and a first hydraulic motor fluidly connected with each other, a steering HST having a variable displacement second hydraulic pump and a variable displacement second hydraulic motor fluidly connected with each other, and a differential unit differentially connecting the axles with each other so as to be driven regularly or reversely by the output of the driving HST and to differentially drive the axles while receiving the output of the steering HST, wherein the first hydraulic pump receives power of a prime mover and has a first movable swash plate, and the second hydraulic pump receives power of the prime mover independently of the first hydraulic pump and has a second movable swash plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2002Publication date: August 15, 2002Inventors: Koji Irikura, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi, Kenichi Takada, Hirohiko Kawada, Robert Abend, Keith J. Andrews, Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Hiroaki Shimizu
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Patent number: 6397966Abstract: A vehicle is installed with an integral transaxle apparatus constructed so that a single housing contains left and right axles, a driving hydrostatic transmission (HST) having a variable displacement first hydraulic pump and a first hydraulic motor fluidly connected with each other, a steering HST having a variable displacement second hydraulic pump and a variable displacement second hydraulic motor fluidly connected with each other, and a differential unit differentially connecting the axles with each other so as to be driven regularly or reversely by the output of the driving HST and to differentially drive the axles while receiving the output of the steering HST, wherein the first hydraulic pump receives power of a prime mover and has a first movable swash plate, and the second hydraulic pump receives power of the prime mover independently of the first hydraulic pump and has a second movable swash plate.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2000Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignees: Kanzaki Kokyukoki, Mfg. Co., Ltd., Tuff Torq CorporationInventors: Koji Irikura, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi, Kenichi Takada, Hirohiko Kawada, Robert Abend, Keith J. Andrews, Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Hiroaki Shimizu
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Patent number: 6312354Abstract: A transaxle apparatus is constructed so that left and right axles, two hydrostatic transmissions (HSTs), one for driving a vehicle and the other for steering it, and a differential unit for differentially connecting said axles with each other are together contained in a housing. The driving HST is disposed so that its hydraulic pump and motor are aligned along either a left or right side of the housing. The steering HST is disposed so that its hydraulic pump and motor are aligned along either a front or rear side of the housing. The differential unit is laterally opposite to the driving HST. Either the left or right axle crosses the driving HST between its hydraulic pump and motor. The two HSTs are provided with one or two flat center sections disposed in the housing. The cylinder blocks of the hydraulic pumps and motors of the two HSTs are mounted on either a top or bottom surface of the center section or sections.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2000Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koji Irikura, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi, Kenichi Takada, Hirohiko Kawada, Robert Abend, Keith J. Andrews, Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Hiroaki Shimizu
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Patent number: 5697264Abstract: The invention includes a working vehicle having a prime mover for horizontally outputting power to an axle driving system housing a transmission and a vertically projecting speed change input shaft. A gear box is detachably disposed at an upper portion of a housing of the axle driving system for transmitting power from the engine into the axle driving system. The gear box has an input shaft horizontally projecting therefrom and bevel gears such that the power transmitted horizontally from the engine changes direction in the gear box so that the power can be transmitted to the vertically disposed speed change input shaft of the transmission, which, in turn, drive the axles of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1995Date of Patent: December 16, 1997Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Keith J. Andrews, Toshiyuki Hasegawa
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Patent number: 5386742Abstract: A transaxle assembly for small-scaled, self-propelled machines of a relatively simple structure includes an axle-locking mechanism which is housed in an axle casing (19). The locking mechanism comprises left and right rotors (47L, 47R), each having teeth (47a) thereon and mounted fixedly on left and right wheel axles (20L, 20R), and left and right locking members (49L, 49R) each having at least one pawl (49a) engageable with the teeth. The locking members are mounted on a control shaft (50), which extends parallel to the wheel axles, such that these members are moved rotationally by a rotational displacement of the control shaft so as to cause locking engagement between the pawls and teeth. A torque spring (53) is preferably employed for causing lock-operating movement of the locking member by the control shaft. The transaxle and locking mechanism can be handled as a unit in a self-propelled machine so that assembling of the machine is made easier.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 1993Date of Patent: February 7, 1995Assignees: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd., Tuff Torq CorporationInventors: Koji Irikura, Keith J. Andrews