Clutchable Gears Patents (Class 74/34)
  • Patent number: 9518652
    Abstract: An actuator for a shift by wire system is provided. The actuator having: a motor; a rack; a gear train configured to cause linear movement of the rack in response to rotational movement of the motor; a clutch mechanism for coupling and decoupling the rack to the motor; and a manual override for operating the clutch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Ian J. Dow, John R. Rice, Donald M. Perkins
  • Patent number: 8968259
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a resettable drive mechanism for use in a drug delivery device. The drug delivery device is having a distal direction and a proximal direction. The drive mechanism comprises a drive rack engaged with a drive gear, a piston rack engaged with a piston gear and coupling means for coupling the drive gear with the piston gear. In a first state of the drive mechanism, the drive gear and the piston gear are coupled and the piston rack moves in distal direction when the drive rack is moved in distal direction. In a second state of the drive mechanism, the drive gear and the piston gear are decoupled and the piston rack is moveable in proximal direction for resetting the drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Veasey, George Cave, Christopher Jones, Garen Kouyoumjian, Catherine Anne Macdonald
  • Publication number: 20140238161
    Abstract: A clutch mechanism for coupling and decoupling a motor to a rack is disclosed herein. The clutch mechanism having: a clutch lever pivotally mounted to an axis for movement from a first position to a second position; a cam gear having a cam surface, wherein rotational movement of the cam gear causes the cam surface to move the clutch lever from the first position to the second position; and a gear train configured to cause linear movement of the rack in response to rotational movement of the motor, wherein movement of the clutch lever from the first position to the second position disconnects a pair of gears of the gear train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventor: Ian J. Dow
  • Publication number: 20140174215
    Abstract: An actuator for a shift by wire system is provided. The actuator having: a motor; a rack; a gear train configured to cause linear movement of the rack in response to rotational movement of the motor; a clutch mechanism for coupling and decoupling the rack to the motor; and a manual override for operating the clutch mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Ian J. Dow, John R. Rice, Donald M. Perkins
  • Patent number: 8739347
    Abstract: A spin mop includes a spiral drive mechanism and a mop head. The spiral drive mechanism includes an upper rod, a sleeve axially secured on the upper rod, a stopper secured in the sleeve, two thread rolling plates positioned in the upper rod, a guide block, a lower rod axially inserted in the upper rod, and a follower secured on a top end of the lower rod. The guide block is placed in between the two thread rolling plates so that the guide block is movable in a spiral direction with respect to the upper rod. The follower is configured to be selectively driven by the guide block so that the follower together with the lower rod is rotatable with the guide block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignees: Dyna-Mop, Inc.
    Inventor: Yi-Pin Lin
  • Publication number: 20130180414
    Abstract: The current invention discloses a food-drying device that includes a container, a drying assembly having a plurality of bores, and a drive mechanism. The drying assembly is disposed in the container and is capable of being rotated relative to the container. The drive mechanism rotates the drying assembly relative to the container. The drive mechanism includes a reciprocating handle movable between a first position and a second position along a linear direction, and a conversion mechanism for converting reciprocating movement of the reciprocating handle to rotary motion of the drying assembly from force supplied by a user to actuate the reciprocating handle moving from the first position to the second position, and from force supplied by the user to actuate the reciprocating handle moving from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Golden Choice Products Ltd
    Inventors: Kwan Kit Chan, Chung Ming Chan
  • Patent number: 8446022
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a resilient element; a gear set comprising a first non-return gear and a second non-return gear; and an electric generator driven by the first non-return gear to generate a power when the resilient element is compressed and driven by the second non-return gear when the resilient element is loosened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventors: Joe-Air Jiang, Wei-Sheng Su, Yu-Cheng Yang, Cheng-Long Chuang, Tzu-Shiang Lin
  • Publication number: 20120279329
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a resettable drive mechanism for use in a drug delivery device. The drug delivery device is having a distal direction and a proximal direction. The drive mechanism comprises a drive rack engaged with a drive gear, a piston rack engaged with a piston gear and coupling means for coupling the drive gear with the piston gear. In a first state of the drive mechanism, the drive gear and the piston gear are coupled and the piston rack moves in distal direction when the drive rack is moved in distal direction. In a second state of the drive mechanism, the drive gear and the piston gear are decoupled and the piston rack is moveable in proximal direction for resetting the drive mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: SANOFI-AVENTIS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Robert Veasey, George Cave, Christopher Jones, Garen Kouyoumjian, Catherine Anne Macdonald
  • Publication number: 20120024090
    Abstract: A torque-transmitting device uses the principle of leverage in such a way that torque input at one end of a lever can become a greater torque per unit time at the other end of the lever, and can be achieved in a uniform fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventor: Tae Ho Youn
  • Patent number: 7979188
    Abstract: A method for activating and deactivating the four-wheel drive of a service or a working vehicle not having interaxle differential locks. According to the method, the activation and deactivation of the four-wheel drive is derived from at least one of the following parameters, namely, the driving and load conditions of the vehicle (1), the vehicle speed and the output torque of the gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Hugo Burkhart, Bernd Aumann
  • Publication number: 20110146427
    Abstract: The invention relates to mechanical engineering, in particular to devices for converting oscillatory motion into unidirectional rotational motion and can be used, for example, in lifting devices, electric power producing devices, machine tools, pumps and transportation means, particularly internal combustion engines. The device comprises a body and input and output axes. The essence of the invention is that the device is provided with an intermediate axis arranged in the body perpendicularly to the input axis, at least two rotation transmitting coupling elements in the form of a freewheel clutch or ratchet clutch rigidly mounted on the output axis so as to be capable of mutually inverse rotational action and at least three interconnected rotation transmitting elements rigidly mounted between the coupling elements so as to be capable likewise of mutually inverse rotational action for transmitting the rotation of the output axis in one direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: MERS, LLC
    Inventor: Igory Kolokolynikov
  • Publication number: 20100300223
    Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining power from reciprocal motion, particularly for waves, are presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Daniel Farb
  • Patent number: 7707903
    Abstract: An actuator includes a motor, an input rotation member driven by the motor, an input contacting portion formed on the input rotation member, a bush disposed so as to be relatively rotatable to the input rotation member, a first contacting portion and an engaging portion formed on the bush, a spiral spring including an outer circumferential hook portion in contact with the input contacting portion of the input rotation member, and an inner circumferential hook portion engageable with the engaging portion of the bush, the spiral spring storing a rotational force of the input rotation member as an potential energy via the input contacting portion, an output member disposed so as to be relatively rotatable to the input rotation member, an output contacting portion formed on the output member and in contact with the outer circumferential hook portion of the spiral spring; the output contacting portion transmitting the potential energy stored in the spiral spring to the output member; wherein the bush includes a se
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20090293653
    Abstract: A spring clutch mechanism for transmitting a driving force of a driving part to a driven part, including a first part, a second part, and a spring disposed between the first part and the second part. The first part is connected to the driven part. The second part is connected to the driving part and is rotatable relative to the first part coaxially therewith. The first part has a first end provided with a frusto-conical portion having a first tapered surface, and the second part has a second end formed with a recess provided with a second tapered surface in contact with the first tapered surface. the first part and the second part are aligned linearly and coaxially in a state that the first end is inserted into the second end maintaining contact of the first tapered surface with the second tapered surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Shinichirou Satou, Hideki Yamada, Tsukasa Suzuura
  • Patent number: 7568718
    Abstract: A hitch pin and hitch cable assembly comprising a hitch pin for a tow hitch ball mount with one end of a hitch cable securely attached to the pin; the other end of the hitch cable removably attached to the pin between the ends of the pin; the pin having a lock to lock the pin in a tow hitch ball mount and to lock the second end of the hitch cable on the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Inventor: Donald Thomas
  • Patent number: 7454135
    Abstract: A camera system incorporating a seamless lens-drive switching mechanism includes a lens drive ring, a manual operation ring, a motor, a first one-way rotational transfer mechanism preventing the manual operation ring and the lens drive ring from being connected with each other in a first neutral state, and maintains the first neutral state even if the lens drive ring is rotated by the motor; a second one-way rotational transfer mechanism which prevents the motor and the lens drive ring connecting with each other in a second neutral state, connects the motor with the lens drive ring when the motor rotates from the second neutral state, and maintains the second neutral state even if the lens drive ring is rotated by the manual operation ring; and a controller which stops and reverses the motor to bring the second one-way rotational transfer mechanism into the second neutral state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakata, Makoto Iikawa
  • Publication number: 20080188365
    Abstract: A pivotally-leveraged manual centrifugal drive according to a preferred embodiment of the invention for use with a bowl and a basket formed to nest within the bowl, comprising: a) a housing formed to mate with the bowl; b) a rotation wheel rotatably connected to the housing, formed to mate with the basket, and having a plane of rotation; c) a handle pivotally attached to the housing and oriented to move in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the rotation wheel; and d) gears connecting the handle to the rotation wheel. Also disclosed are an automatic clutch that engages the rotation wheel only when the handle is moved in one direction, and a braking mechanism that includes a disk having a diameter substantially smaller than the rotation wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Enrico Dalla Piazza, Edward H. Kilduff, Chi Ming Tse, Gareth Brown
  • Publication number: 20030196501
    Abstract: A roller/damper is configured for use with an associated sliding object such as a drawer that is movable between a first position and a second position along a rail having a rack gear disposed thereon. The roller/damper includes a roller having an outside diameter that is configured for movement along the rail. A gear housing is disposed adjacent the roller and has gear teeth formed thereon for engaging the rail rack gear. A damper rotor is positioned in the gear housing. The roller, gear housing and rotor rotate about a common axis. A damping material is disposed about the damper rotor within the gear housing for damping rotation of the gear housing relative to the rotor. A shaft extends through the roller, the gear housing and the rotor. The rotor is fixed to the shaft and the roller and gear housing are rotational about the shaft independent of one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: David A. Doornbos, Steven L. Bivens
  • Patent number: 4862989
    Abstract: A two-wheel and four-wheel drive transfer device includes a reciprocating fork shaft having a shift fork engagable with a sliding dog clutch so as to reciprocate the dog clutch and provide either two-wheel and four-wheel drive operating conditions. A motor is provided so as to rotate a worm gear assembly which is relatively rotatable with an output shaft supported in a casing. This worm gear is connected to and rotates a plate concurrently with rotation of the worm gear. A spring support plate is provided to be secured to the output shaft and two spiral springs, each spring being wound in a different direction and having a different rotating torque, are fixed to the output shaft and have ends brought into contact with the rotating plate and the spring support plate so that the rotating torque of the worm wheel is transmitted to the output shaft through the spiral springs depending on the direction of rotation of the worm gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Kano, Kongoh Aoki
  • Patent number: 4811617
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for converting a unidirectional displacement to an angular displacement of selectable direction. The apparatus 10 has a rack gear assembly, which has two opposing rack gears 16 and 17 held in a parallel spaced relationship and constituting a coordinate plane. Disposed within the two opposing rack gears is rotational shaft 15 having attached to it engagement pin 21 for engaging a segmental pinion gear slot 22 or 23. A pair of opposing segmental pinion gears 13 and 14 are rotatably attached to shaft 15. Each segmental pinion gear 13 and 14 is engaged with a corresponding rack gear 16 and 17. The invention also provides a means for engaging the first said engagement means with either one of the two segmental pinion gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Inventor: Marvin E. Whiteman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4612768
    Abstract: Apparatus for mechanical storage of energy derived from the rotation of a first shaft and for driving a rotatable main shaft associated with a power generator comprising, in combination, means for rotating the first shaft, connecting means for communicating the rotation of the first shaft to a first sprocketed sheave, and gear train means connecting the rotatable main shaft to a second sprocketed sheave and adapted to cause a rate of rotation of the rotatable main shaft greater than the rate of rotation of the second sprocketed sheave, the first and second sprocketed sheaves being in communication with one another by means of continuous, flexible connecting means disposed on the first and second sprocketed sheaves in non-sliding relationship therewith, the continuous, flexible connecting means having disposed thereon a weight which is raised by the rotation of the first sprocketed sheave, the second sprocketed sheave being capable of being rotated by the descent of the weight to cause rotation of the rotatabl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Inventor: Randall Thompson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4402526
    Abstract: The legs of the landing gear of a semi-trailer may be automatically extended and retracted by a pneumatically operated actuator adapted to be connected to the crankshaft of the landing gear and adapted to rotate the cross-shaft of the landing gear selectively in either direction at a high or low speed. The crankshaft is rotated by gears and ratchets which are driven by pawls adapted to be reciprocated by an air-actuated cylinder and adapted to be alternately positioned in active and inactive positions. The flow of pressurized air to the cylinder is controlled by a cycle valve and an on-off valve, the latter being capable of turning off the actuator automatically when the legs are fully retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: Atwood Vacuum Machine Company
    Inventor: Larry C. Huetsch
  • Patent number: 4258764
    Abstract: The specification discloses a wood splitter in which the ram for driving a piece of wood into a cutter can be selectively engaged or disengaged with a motor driven flywheel. The drive train between the motor and flywheel includes a clutch means which effectively disengages the motor if the load on the flywheel becomes too great, thereby preventing motor overload. The rack and pinion driven ram is mounted on an elongated beam which includes a trailer hitch at one end and which is supported on wheels at the other end whereby the entire splitter is portable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1981
    Assignee: 21st Century Products
    Inventor: Thomas L. Gerst
  • Patent number: 4136570
    Abstract: The disclosure embraces a transmission gear for the wire guide of a coil winding machine and includes a rotary input shaft, a pair of electro-magnetic clutches, with each of the clutches having a toothed rack; each of the racks is connected to a rectilinearly movable carriage whereby when one or the other of said electro-magnetic clutches is actuated, the carriage will be moved by the associated toothed rack in a selected direction; limit switches are provided to reverse the direction of travel of the carriage by deactivating a given electro-magnetic clutch and activating the other of said clutches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1979
    Assignee: Meteor AG
    Inventor: Pavel Zdrahal
  • Patent number: 4116315
    Abstract: A pneumatic landing gear actuator is provided for use with an extendible and retractable landing gear assembly having an input member the rotation of which extends or retracts the landing gear foot in dependence upon the direction of rotation. The landing gear actuator includes a shaft which is drivingly connected to at least one, and preferably two, rotatable input members on two spaced landing gear assemblies. A pair of one-way clutches, each having a drive and driven member, are disposed coaxially around the shaft while a shifting gear selectively drivingly connects the driven member of one clutch or the other to the shaft. A pneumatic air cylinder can be connected to the air system of the tractor to simultaneously reciprocally rotatably drive both clutch drive members via a radial arm. Such compressed air systems are utilized for the air brakes in tractor-trailer combinations so it is readily available on most tractors for use with the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1978
    Assignee: Westran Corporation
    Inventor: Ervin K. Vandenberg
  • Patent number: 4078438
    Abstract: A power transmission unit which translates reciprocating motion to one-way rotary motion through a rack and drive gears connected through one-way clutches to a gear train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1978
    Inventor: Raymond E. Starbard
  • Patent number: 3988936
    Abstract: A fluid-operated cylinder operates a rack which is in constant mesh with a pinion gear. The pinion gear is mounted on the power input shaft of a fluid-operated jaw clutch, having toothed driving and driven elements, and arranged to engage only when the rack is driven in one direction so that the output shaft of the clutch has intermittent rotary motion in one direction. The rack extends through a stop block and includes an axially adjustable collar which abuts the stop block at one limit of movement of the rack. At the same time, a switch actuator on the rack contacts the actuator of a switch mounted on the stop block to reverse the direction of the rack. In order to adjust the driving stroke of the piston rod in the air cylinder, and hence the driving stroke of the rack, the stop block is provided with a toothed mounting surface and can be selectively positioned along a similarly-toothed mounting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1976
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel P. Comly, Jr.
  • Patent number: 3981204
    Abstract: A shock absorber drive unit for motor vehicles which translates the vertical reciprocating motion of the under carriage of a motor vehicle to one-way rotary motion through a rack and drive gears connected through one-way clutches to a gear train. Alternators driven by belts from the gear train provide sufficient drag to produce a shock absorbing action for the unit while simultaneously producing electricity for charging batteries or other uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1976
    Inventor: Raymond E. Starbard