With Releasable Clutch Or Brake Patents (Class 475/175)
  • Patent number: 11174919
    Abstract: A speed reduction device including a first internally meshing planetary gear mechanism and a second internally meshing planetary gear mechanism, including: a housing; an input shaft rotatably supported by the housing at its first shaft portion through a first bearing; a planetary gear member rotatably supported by an eccentric shaft portion of the input shaft through a second bearing; and an output shaft rotatably supported by a second shaft portion of the input shaft through a third bearing, wherein a distance in an axial direction between a first support position and a second support position is equal to a distance in the axial direction between the second support position and a third support position, and a distance in the axial direction between the second support position and an input-side meshing position is equal to a distance in the axial direction between the second support position and an output-side meshing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya Nishigaya, Yoji Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 11001173
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a reclining device (1) for a vehicle seat of the kind comprising a first plate carrying an internal gear (5) and a second plate carrying an external gear (11) configured to cooperate with the internal gear. The reclining device includes a first and second wedge elements (17a, 17b) for exerting a wedge effect and preventing accidental, undesired rotation of the external and internal gears relative to each other. The reclining device (1) further comprises a lock spring (21). According to the invention the lock spring (21) comprises a wedge engaging element (35) that can be brought to abut and engage a lock spring abutment surface (37a, 37b) of a wedge element. Thanks to this arrangement, the lock spring directly interacts with the wedge elements and directly restricts self-rotation of said wedge elements, which avoids any loss of force and function between said lock spring and said wedge elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: MARTUR ITALY S.R.L.
    Inventors: Luigi Spagnoli, Can Ustunberk
  • Patent number: 10309467
    Abstract: A clutch is controlled to increase torque capacity of the clutch when fluctuations in torsional torque generated in a power transmission route between the clutch and a drive wheel are larger than a specified value during deceleration traveling. Accordingly, engine brake whose magnitude corresponds to an increased amount of the torque capacity of the clutch is actuated. Therefore, the fluctuations in the torsional torque can be suppressed by the engine brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kohei Ito
  • Patent number: 9033418
    Abstract: A fitting for a vehicle seat is disclosed, in particular for a motor vehicle seat. First and second fitting parts are geared with one another via a meshing gearwheel and gear rim. A peripheral eccentric is driven by a drive element for driving a relative rolling movement of the gearwheel and the gear rim, and the first fitting part receives the eccentric which is supported on the second fitting part. A blocking element blocks the eccentric in the non-driven state of the fitting via toothing on the first fitting part, and releases the eccentric when driven. The gear rim is formed on the first fitting part and the gearwheel is formed on the second fitting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Jokiel, Martin Stilleke
  • Patent number: 8936525
    Abstract: A gear system 1 includes: an internal gear 12; an external gear 11; an input shaft 10 rotatably inserted into a center hole 11a formed in the external gear 11; and an anti-rotation section 19 configured to block rotation of the external gear 11. The input shaft 10 has an eccentric part 10a. The anti-rotation section 19 is formed such that the input shaft 10 is inserted into the anti-rotation section 19, and is rotatable about a center line of the input shaft 10. The gear system 1 includes: a brake 15 configured to disable movement of the anti-rotation section 19 about the input shaft 10; and a clutch system 16 configured to select one of a coupling state in which the anti-rotation section 19 and the input shaft 10 are coupled together to rotate together, and a non-coupling state in which the anti-rotation section 19 and the input shaft 10 are rotatable relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Inventor: Toshiaki Shimada
  • Publication number: 20150011348
    Abstract: A mechanism for switching a sample holder (14, 40) accommodating a fluidic sample (38) between an orbital motion mode for sample mixing, particularly for shaking, and a rotary motion mode for sample separation, particularly for centrifuging, wherein the mechanism comprises a gear element (11) being drivable by a drive unit (42) to move selectively in a first direction (A) or in a second direction (B) being inverse to the first direction (A), an orbital motion generator (2 to 5) configured for generating an orbital motion of the sample holder (14, 40) when being operated in the orbital motion mode, a rotary motion generator (2, 4, 5) configured for generating a rotary motion of the sample holder (14, 40) when being operated in the rotary motion mode, and a one-way clutch arrangement (12, 13) configured for selectively coupling the gear element (11) with the orbital motion generator (2 to 5) to transfer a driving force from the gear element (11) to the orbital motion generator (2 to 5) for generating the orbita
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: Quantifoil Instruments GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Vester
  • Patent number: 8911319
    Abstract: The dial recliner includes a holder and a sector gear and also comprises a brake spring, a cam, a pair of clutch shoes and a spring which are accommodated and supported between the holder and the sector gear. The dial recliner also comprises a housing to maintain a combined state between the holder and the sector gear. The holder has inner teeth of a ring shape at its outer circular part and a boss at its center part to support a shaft. The sector gear has outer teeth to intermesh with the inner teeth of the holder. When intermeshed, the boss of the holder and a shaft hole of the sector gear become eccentric between their centers. The clutch shoe is supported by the brake spring which is elastically held around the boss of the holder so that a circular drifting movement of the clutch shoe can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Austem Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Su Min Chae, Won Kee Kim
  • Patent number: 8641570
    Abstract: Infinitely variable motion control (IVMC) provides motion control without any requirement for changing gears or use of a clutch. A spur gear transgear, defined as a system having an input, an output and a control, a variable pitch cam having an eccentric inner and outer cam assembly, a driver and a one-way clutch or ratchet bearing assembly may be used to form a cam controlled speed converter converting a given input to a variable or constant output speeds and further having direction control. All IVMC's, cam controlled IVMC, input compensated IVMC and pitch controlled IVMC may be utilized to form various embodiments of infinitely variable generators, transmissions and compressors/pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Differential Dynamics Corporation
    Inventor: Kyung Soo Han
  • Patent number: 8388481
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a constant output from a variable flow input comprises a liquid flow energy input, for example, air or water for driving a constant speed generator. An inner and outer cam assembly is controlled by a control input to achieve varying eccentricity and control the output speed at an output shaft to be constant despite a varying rotational velocity input at an input shaft. A feedback control may be provided between one of the input shaft and the output shaft and the inner and outer cam assembly to maintain constant output by varying the eccentricity. The constant output may drive a constant speed generator having an infinitely variable torque generator. In this manner, a power grid may be provided with constant frequency alternating current at, for example, 50 Hz (Europe) or 60 Hz (USA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Differential Dynamics Corporation
    Inventor: Kyung Soo Han
  • Patent number: 8365866
    Abstract: A gearbox including a gear-train including an input and an output and a rotating conduit internally traversing the gear-train is provided. The rotating conduit is configured to receive lubrication fluid from one or more components downstream of the rotating conduit and deliver lubrication fluid to one or more components upstream of the rotating conduit. The components downstream of the rotating conduit rotate at a different speed than components upstream of the rotating conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert John Ciszak, Keith Marsden, Timothy Kuzma
  • Publication number: 20120277050
    Abstract: A fitting for a vehicle seat is disclosed, in particular for a motor vehicle seat. First and second fitting parts are geared with one another via a meshing gearwheel and gear rim. A peripheral eccentric is driven by a drive element for driving a relative rolling movement of the gearwheel and the gear rim, and the first fitting part receives the eccentric which is supported on the second fitting part. A blocking element blocks the eccentric in the non-driven state of the fitting via toothing on the first fitting part, and releases the eccentric when driven. The gear rim is formed on the first fitting part and the gearwheel is formed on the second fitting part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Keiper Gmbh & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Jokiel, Martin Stilleke
  • Patent number: 8286777
    Abstract: An adjustment fitting (10) for a motor vehicle component, particularly a vehicle seat, is proposed, the adjustment fitting having a first fitting part (1) and a second fitting part (2) that is rotatably adjustable about a rotary axis (30) relative to the first fitting part by means of a gear drive, the gear drive (3) comprising a first gearing (31) on the first fitting part (1) and the gear drive (3) comprising a second gearing (32) arranged eccentrically to the first gearing (31). Two wedge segments (33, 34) are provided for securing the eccentric arrangement of the first gearing (31) relative to the second gearing (32), the wedge segments being mounted radially outward in a sliding bushing (43) having bushing gear teeth (42). The adjustment fitting (10) has a braking element (40), the braking element (40) in a release position being arranged inside the radius of the sliding bushing (43), and the braking element (40) engaging the bushing gear teeth (42) in a locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventor: Reginold Albert Kirubaharan
  • Patent number: 8282167
    Abstract: Disclosed is an adjustment fitting for a motor vehicle component, especially a vehicle seat. Said adjustment fitting comprises a first part and a second part which is rotatable relative to the first part about a rotational shaft by means of a gear unit. The gear unit encompasses a first gear on the first part of the fitting and a second gear on the second part of the fitting, the second gear being disposed eccentric to the first gear. Two wedge segments are provided for securing the eccentric arrangement of the first gear relative to the second gear. The inventive adjustment fitting is characterized in that the wedge segments have an inner radius and an outer radius while the adjustment fitting further comprises a decelerating element which is fitted with an extension that starts at the rotational shaft, runs in an axial direction, and corresponds approximately to the outer radius of the wedge segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Albert Kirubaharan, Ingo Kienke, Mario Budweg, Jurgen Otto
  • Patent number: 8240768
    Abstract: An adjustment device for a vehicle component, in particular for the back rest of a vehicle seat, is proposed having a first fitting and a second fitting, wherein the relative position of the two fittings to one another can be changed by means of eccentric means, wherein a rotation of the eccentric means by means of a drive element is provided, wherein the adjustment device has a central element which is connected in a rotationally fixed fashion to the first fitting, wherein the drive element is provided mounted in an overlapping region by means of the central element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Kienke, Juergen Otto, Mario Budweg, Albert Reginold Kirubaharan, Bruce A. Hiemstra, Michael Kapusky, Michael Bittner
  • Patent number: 7779971
    Abstract: A speed reducer 32 has an eccentric rotating member 56 which rotates along with a motor shaft 55 of an electric motor 11, an outer gear 57 which is rotatably supported by the outer circumference of the eccentric rotating member 56, an inner gear 58 which is fixedly disposed so as to be coaxial with the motor shaft 55 so as to engage with the outer gear 57, an output member 59 which is connected to an input member 37 of the motion converting mechanism 22 disposed so as to be coaxial with the motor shaft 55 so as to be not relatively rotatable about the input member 37, and an Oldham mechanism 60 which is disposed between the outer gear 57 and the output member 59 so as to transmit only a rotational component of the outer gear 57.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Osamu Adachi
  • Patent number: 7699739
    Abstract: A sliding block type stepless autoshift speed changer includes a holder sleeve affixed to a main transmission shaft and holding two weights by means of two torsional members, an eccentric block radially movably coupled to the holder sleeve; a driving wheel supported on a ring round the eccentric block and having radial sliding grooves on two sides, two clutch wheels respectively fastened to a wheel hub and a secondary power output shaft, each clutch wheel having an annular sliding groove respectively facing the driving wheel, sliding blocks respectively sliding in the annular sliding grooves of the clutch wheels, each sliding block having a roller respectively coupled to and movable along the radial sliding grooves of the driving wheel, a plurality of beveled guide surface portions, and a plurality of rolling cylinders rotatably supported on and movable along the beveled guide surface portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Inventor: Shih-Tzou Wen
  • Publication number: 20100084500
    Abstract: A reel with a rotatable spool. The reel includes a motor coupled to a drive shaft and configured to rotate the drive shaft in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. A drive assembly is disposed on the drive shaft and rotation of the drive shaft in the first direction moves the drive assembly along the drive shaft and into engagement with the spool. Rotation of the drive shaft in the second direction moves the drive assembly along the drive shaft and out of engagement with the spool. When the drive assembly is engaged with the spool, the drive assembly rotates the spool in a windup direction. When the drive assembly is out of engagement with the spool, the spool may be rotated manually in an unwind direction without encountering resistance from the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: Anthony D. Inman, Michael A. Gasque, Mark M. Rose
  • Publication number: 20100056317
    Abstract: An adjustment fitting (10) for a motor vehicle component, particularly a vehicle seat, is proposed, the adjustment fitting having a first fitting part (1) and a second fitting part (2) that is rotatably adjustable about a rotary axis (30) relative to the first fitting part by means of a gear drive, the gear drive (3) comprising a first gearing (31) on the first fitting part (1) and the gear drive (3) comprising a second gearing (32) arranged eccentrically to the first gearing (31). Two wedge segments (33, 34) are provided for securing the eccentric arrangement of the first gearing (31) relative to the second gearing (32), the wedge segments being mounted radially outward in a sliding bushing (43) having bushing gear teeth (42). The adjustment fitting (10) has a braking element (40), the braking element (40) in a release position being arranged inside the radius of the sliding bushing (43), and the braking element (40) engaging the bushing gear teeth (42) in a locked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Johnson Controls GmbH
    Inventor: Reginold Albert Kirubaharan
  • Patent number: 7549357
    Abstract: A ratio changing method and apparatus includes, in a hypocycle arrangement, an input drive wheel (2), an output drive wheel (3) and a transfer ring (1). The input drive wheel (2) drives around the exterior of the transfer ring (1). The transfer ring (1) is constrained against rotation about its own axis but oscillates about the outward drive wheel (3), in parting rotation to the output drive wheel (3) as a result a simple and effective ratio changing apparatus is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Inventor: John P. R. Hammerbeck
  • Patent number: 7547265
    Abstract: A variable biasing differential provides an adjustable torque bias between two outputs. An input shaft provides drive torque to a carrier which receives a plurality of stub shafts and a like plurality of planet gears. A first set of planet gears drives a first sun gear and first output and a second set of planet gears, which, in turn, drives additional planet gears which drive a second sun gear and second output. Secured to both ends of the carrier are first and second ring gears which each mesh with an eccentric gear which in turn includes an eccentric second ring gear which meshes with an internal gear disposed about the first and second outputs. These gears are coupled to respective first and second friction clutches which can be independently activated to adjust the torque bias of the differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan J. Showalter
  • Patent number: 7497519
    Abstract: In a geared fitting (11) for a vehicle seat, in particular for an automotive seat, having a first internal geared wheel (13), an eccentric (21) rotatable about an axis of rotation (A), a pinion (22) driven by the eccentric (21) and meshing with the first internal geared wheel (13), and a second internal geared wheel (31) in which the pinion (22) meshes and which is mounted on the first internal geared wheel (13), at least one wedge system (27) is provided axially offset from the eccentric (21), with respect to the axis of rotation (A), the wedge system (27) acting to compensate for the play between one of the internal geared wheels (13, 31) and the other internal geared wheel (13, 31) and/or the pinion (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Dill, Ulf Schäffling, Viktor Enns
  • Publication number: 20080103007
    Abstract: An automatic transmission consisting of a planetary gear unit comprising in combination an input shaft (1), an input gear (2), a key planet gear (3), an output gear (4), an output shaft (5), a bearing planet gear (6), a rotating frame (7), a rotor (8), wherein the planet shaft is the rotor (8) having a certain inertia moment, so its revolving is equivalent to the precession of a gyroscope due to an external force wherein the precession-production external force is the load acting on the output shaft (5). Hence the revolutionary speed of the rotor (8) varies depending upon changes in the output load and the same holds true for the rotational speed of the output shaft (5), which makes the speed ratio spontaneously vary with changes in the outpot load. Accordingly, the transmission of the present invention operates at speed ratios spontaneously varying with changes in load, without any controlling operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: GUARDIAN ENTERPRISES LTD.
    Inventors: Gi Hyok Han, Gi Hun Han, Sung Chol Lim
  • Patent number: 6832970
    Abstract: A reduction gear for a starter-generator of an internal combustion engine, wherein the starter-generator is functionally linked with the crankshaft (2) via a drive belt (6). A planetary gear is mounted in the force-transmitting path between the crankshaft (2) and a first belt pulley (6) that is coaxial to the crankshaft. The aim is to create a reduction gear which provides the gear ratio required for the starting mode and which can be switched in such a manner that it can be operated in any mode of operation. To this end, the reduction gear (8) is a planetary stage that includes a housing (10), an internal gear (11), a sun gear (14), a cage (15) and a planetary ring (16) with internal (18) and external (17). The internal gear intermeshes with the external teeth (17) of the planetary ring (16) and is functionally linked with the crankshaft (2) of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Tesma Motoren und Cetriebetechnik Ges. m.b.H.
    Inventor: Gerhard Eibler
  • Patent number: 6761659
    Abstract: In a power transmission, which adjusts and transmits the rotational output of an engine by the engagement control of a starting clutch 5, the rotational speed Ne and the suction negative pressure Pb of the engine are measured while the starting clutch is being actuated from a disengaged condition to an engaged condition with the engine being operated under a constant operational condition. An engagement-control value is calculated for the starting clutch when there is a change in the rotational speed and the suction negative pressure being measured, and the engagement-control value calculated is stored as an initial control value for starting an engaging action of the starting clutch. This initial control value is used for controlling the engagement of the starting clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Eguchi, Masaaki Yamaguchi, Ukyo Ogata
  • Publication number: 20030073535
    Abstract: A power transmission comprises a continuously variable transmission CVT, which transmits a rotational driving force from an engine to wheels, a starting clutch 5, which sets variably the transmission capacity of the continuously variable transmission, and a control valve CV, which controls the engagement actuation of the starting clutch 5. While a vehicle equipped with this power transmission is decelerating, the engagement of the starting clutch is controlled to transmit a rotational driving force from the wheels to the engine. Specifically, the engaging capacity of the starting clutch is controlled to bring the difference between the input and output rotational speeds of the starting clutch into a predetermined range, and the control pressure of the starting clutch that brings this difference in the predetermined range is learned, i.e., stored in memory and renewed, as a control value for the next deceleration of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Takahiro Eguchi, Masaaki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6196076
    Abstract: A kind of knob switch device relates to a clutch control device setting inside the decreasing box, and relates to a switch device setting outside the decreasing box. The clutch control device comprises the switch block, the switch set, the vibration block and the vibration set on the output shaft serially. The switch device comprises a stop ring, a stop board and a gyrator ring. With rotating the knob, we can drive the stop ring and the gyrator ring to rotate at the same time. Then it makes the screw orbit of the stop ring to push the jut of the stop board. When the clutch transits the device and makes the turning ring to rotate for a fixed angle, and it makes the knob, the inner gear and the turning ring to rotate at the same time. Then the switch block fits the switch teeth and makes the teeth of the vibration block to fit the teeth of the vibration set and make the output draft to have action of vibration at rotating time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Lee Hsin-Chih Chung
  • Patent number: 5871414
    Abstract: Adjusting and fixing device for seats, like automobile seats, in particular for the adjustment of the back rest. For the adjustment of the back rest vis-a-vis the seat part a fixed mounting is arranged at the seat part. This fixed mounting is joined with an adjustable mounting for the back rest transferring the adjusting movement over a gearing drivable by means of a cam section, defining the position of these mountings related to each other. The gearing includes a radial tooth wheel belonging to a mounting and an internal gear rim of the other mounting catching into the first one, whereby counter toothings are arranged at the mountings. The cam section is formed by two wedge segments inclined against each other and encompassing the bearing point of the adjustable mounting regionally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Keiper Recaro GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Heinz Voss, Ulrich Lehmann
  • Patent number: 5860887
    Abstract: There is disclosed a reduction gear apparatus including a first member, a second member connected to the output shaft, a press member that rotates together with the input shaft to press part of the second member so as to bring the part into contact with the first member, and a control member for controlling rotation of the first member about the output shaft. A high speed reducing ratio can be obtained with respect to rotation of a motor, and a clutch function for connecting/disconnecting power transmission to/from the output shaft by controlling rotation of the first member and other functions can be imparted to the gear reduction apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Haruhisa Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5232413
    Abstract: The device comprises a driving hub (4, 18) coaxially connected to one shaft (20) and oscillatably engaging a number of planetary gear elements (8, 25) homogeneously distributed around the axis of said hub. The planetary gear elements (8, 25) are engaged between a driven crown wheel (6, 21) which is coaxially fastened to a second shaft (3, 23) and an intermediate crown wheel (7, 24) oscillatably linked to the driven crown wheel (6, 21). The planetary gear elements (8, 25) driven in rotation by the hub (4, 18), are guided by the driven crown wheel (6, 21) and the intermediate crown wheel (7, 24) according to an elliptic path submitting them to a cyclic reciprocating movement relative to the axis of the driving hub (4, 18). An actuator (12, 35) tends to cause the driven crown wheel (6, 21) and intermediate crown wheel (7, 24) to rotate in opposite ways in view of transmitting resultant forces counteracting their being driven by the hub (4, 18) to the planetary gear elements (8, 25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Mercantile Lombard Company Ltd.
    Inventor: Modesto Pratolongo
  • Patent number: 5217417
    Abstract: A device for variable control of the sweeping angle of a fan which includes a worm gear cooperating with a planet gear and a sun gear to provide variable sweep angle with a clutch mechanism to allow for the disengagement of the drive mechanism while varying sweep angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Inventor: Zhengang, Li
  • Patent number: 5154475
    Abstract: A hinge joint for use in the seat of a motor vehicle to pivotally connect the back rest to the body supporting portion has first and second leaves which are affixed to the body supporting portion and to the back rest, respectively, and a pintle which can be rotated by a wheel or by a motor and carries an eccentric installed in an opening of one of the leaves. The eccentric is assembled of two spring-biased arcuate mirror symmetrical sections and a sickle-shaped centering section. The other leaf is rotatably mounted on the pintle. When the pintle is rotated, an arm or a lobe of a motion transmitting member which is affixed to the pintle first disengages the two mirror symmetrical sections from the one leaf so that the one leaf is thereupon engaged only by the centering section while the teeth of an internal gear on one of the leaves roll along the teeth of a spur gear on the other of the leaves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Keiper Recaro GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Egon Kafitz