Roller Patents (Class 74/465)
  • Patent number: 11549577
    Abstract: An improved serviceability gearing element generally includes a support having a plurality of obstacles for co-operating with teeth of a neighboring gearing element. The gearing element further includes a pin, a roller mounted to move in rotation about the pin via a rotary guide, blocking bearings shaped substantially to prevent the roller from moving in translation along the pin, and one or more fasteners for fastening at least one of the blocking bearings to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Gilles Eluard, Stéphane Lambre
  • Patent number: 11499609
    Abstract: A torque transmission device has a pinion that includes a plurality of rollers that mesh with a plurality of teeth of an output. Each roller is supported by a bearing having rotating bearing elements. A clearance compensation for the diametrical difference between a diameter of each roller and an inscribed diameter of the associated rotating bearing elements is included in the plurality of teeth of the output such that there is no interference between the plurality of rollers and the plurality of teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Nexen Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Will Kliber, Isaac Kenneth Klaehn, Daniel Robert Berge
  • Patent number: 11491624
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool that includes a lift mechanism for moving the driver from a driven position to a ready position. In one embodiment, the lift mechanism is mounted to a movable pivot arm, and the pivot arm is slightly rotated to allow the driver to drive a fastener; when the driver is to be lifted in a return stroke, the lifter subassembly is moved back into engagement with the driver, and multiple lifter pins contact protrusions in the driver to lift the driver from the driven position to the ready position. In another embodiment, the pivotable lifter floats along the driver, and “releases” from contact only to prevent a jam or otherwise undesirable operating condition involving the driver; otherwise, the lifter remains nested in the tool's guide body during all operating states. A solenoid-operated latch also is provided to prevent the driver from moving downward (for driving a fastener).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. McCardle, Christopher D. Klein, Anthony D. Kabbes, Donald C. Ries, John T. Burke, Kory A. Gunnerson, Jerome J. Schafer
  • Patent number: 11407501
    Abstract: A roller gear for use in a roller gear and sprocket configuration of a drive system is disclosed, particularly for use in a landing gear drive system of an aircraft. Alternative embodiments and, in particular, means for permitting removal and replacement of rollers and roller mounting pins in the roller gear are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Arnaud Didey, Richard Billyeald, James Setter, Ian Dickason
  • Patent number: 10598254
    Abstract: A worm drive has a worm and a worm wheel. Meshing assemblies are formed about the worm wheel each comprising a ball and a cup receiving a portion of the ball. Each cup is orientated at an acute angle toward the worm drive relative to a periphery of the wheel. The worm presents a concavely tapering side profile complementing a peripheral portion of the worm wheel. Consequently portions of the balls mesh with the worm and are free to rotate and so reduce shear forces between the worm and the worm wheel in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Nord-Lock Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Peter Elliot Armstong, Andrew Duncan McPhee
  • Patent number: 10549412
    Abstract: A fastener driving tool that includes a lift mechanism for moving the driver from a driven position to a ready position. In one embodiment, the lift mechanism is mounted to a movable pivot arm, and the pivot arm is slightly rotated to allow the driver to drive a fastener; when the driver is to be lifted in a return stroke, the lifter subassembly is moved back into engagement with the driver, and multiple lifter pins contact protrusions in the driver to lift the driver from the driven position to the ready position. In another embodiment, the pivotable lifter floats along the driver, and “releases” from contact only to prevent a jam or otherwise undesirable operating condition involving the driver; otherwise, the lifter remains nested in the tool's guide body during all operating states. A solenoid-operated latch also is provided to prevent the driver from moving downward (for driving a fastener).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Senco Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. McCardle, Christopher D. Klein, Anthony D. Kabbes, Donald C. Ries, John T. Burke, Kory A. Gunnerson, Jerome J. Schafer
  • Patent number: 10513328
    Abstract: A roller gear for use in a roller gear and sprocket configuration of a drive system is disclosed, particularly for use in a landing gear drive system of an aircraft. Alternative embodiments and, in particular, means for permitting removal and replacement of rollers and roller mounting pins in the roller gear are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Arnaud Didey, Richard Billyeald, James Setter, Ian Dickason
  • Patent number: 10486800
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive system for rotating a wheel of an aircraft landing gear. The drive system includes a motor operable to rotate a drive pinion, and a driven gear adapted to be mounted to the wheel. The drive system has a first configuration in which the drive pinion is capable of meshing with the driven gear to permit the motor to drive the driven gear and a second configuration in which the drive pinion is not capable of meshing with the driven gear. The drive system further includes a lock-stay including a first lock link and a second lock link pivotally connected to the first lock link, the lock-stay being switchable between a first position, a second position, and an intermediate position between the first and second positions in which the first and second lock links are substantially aligned. The lock-stay is in the first position when the drive system is in the first configuration and the lock-stay is in the second position when the drive system is in the second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Arnaud Didey
  • Patent number: 9908621
    Abstract: A drive system for rotating one or more wheels of an aircraft landing gear for ground taxiing and/or spin-up prior to landing has a motor operable to rotate a first drive pinion via a first drive path, and a driven gear adapted to be fixed to the wheel. The drive system has a first configuration in which the first drive pinion meshes with the driven gear to permit the motor to drive the driven gear via the first drive path. One of the first drive pinion and the driven gear comprises a first sprocket and the other comprises a series of rollers arranged in two or more rows, each row of rollers being arranged to form a ring. The rollers are rotatable about pins fixed to an annular support member, and adjacent rows may be out of phase by a fraction of roller pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Arnaud Didey
  • Patent number: 9694305
    Abstract: A system for sludge removal in a circular settling tank having a side wall (106) comprises a rotatable drive ring (130) adapted to be interconnected to a scraper arm provided with scraper blades, wherein the drive ring having a plurality of engagement surfaces (134) A traction assembly (140) is fixedly attached to the side wall and comprises a drive wheel (142). By providing a drive wheel with a plurality of engagement rolls (148) adapted to engage the engagement surfaces of the drive ring during rotation of the drive wheel, the drive ring can be rotated essentially without exerting any radial forces on the drive ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Nordic Water Products
    Inventor: Bertil Ljungberg
  • Patent number: 9297449
    Abstract: Disclosed is a ring gear fastening structure in which a ring gear is fastened to the flange of a differential case configuring a differential sub-assembly. The inner circumferential surface of the ring gear is press-fitted into the outer circumferential surface of the flange, and the ring gear is swaged by means of a swage part which is disposed on at least one end of the flange in the axial direction. The inner circumferential surface of the ring gear is formed with a circumferential groove which extends in the circumferential direction of said inner circumferential surface. The circumferential groove is disposed facing the outer circumferential surface of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Taniguchi, Hiroyuki Shioiri
  • Patent number: 9267343
    Abstract: A power tong unit having a gear train in which one or more of the gears in the gear train have removable and replacement roller tooth elements, in lieu of conventional gear teeth. In one embodiment, the ring gear and pinion gears have roller tooth elements, and idler gears disposed between the ring gear and pinion gears, have a semi-circular tooth root profile to mesh with the roller element gear teeth. The ring gear of the power tong unit may also have a removable section. A means for removing the removable section from the ring gear, and moving it to a position in which a tubular can be inserted into a central opening in the ring gear, may include a hydraulic cylinder, a clamping mechanism, and a cam surface to generate rotation of the removable section once lifted out of engagement with the ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: MECH TECH ENGINEERING, LLC
    Inventor: Clint Musemeche
  • Patent number: 8893568
    Abstract: In a self-lubricating transmission device 1, a compression helical spring 15 is provided to urge an impregnation metal 14 as an impregnation means so as to slidably contact the impregnation metal 14 with pin rollers 7. In combination with a rotational movement of a pinion 6, the pin rollers 7 slide on a lower surface 14d of the impregnation metal 14 to supply a lubrication oil W to the pin rollers 7 so as to automatically lubricate the pinion 6 evenly at the right time for an appropriate amount of the lubrication oil W. This obviates the lubrication oil W being wastefully used, while at the same time, making a lubrication work quick, labor-saving and user-friendly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Kamoseiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshitake Katayama
  • Publication number: 20130031996
    Abstract: In a pin roller type pinion device, a first bearing has first pin needles rollably arranged around pin rollers between an inner surface of first circular holes and one end portion of the pin rollers. A second bearing has second pin needles rollably arranged around the pin rollers between an inner surface of second circular holes and the other end portion of the pin rollers. This prevents an external pressure from developing on the inner surface of the circular holes when inserting the pin needles between the inner surface of the circular holes and the end portions of the pin rollers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventor: Kenji IMASE
  • Publication number: 20100212444
    Abstract: This invention provides improvements to worm drives for mechanical power transmission and roller wheels and the worm screws for use in such drives. The principal innovation is utilizing conjugate mesh between the worm screw and the roller wheel by shaping both the surfaces of the threads of the worm screw and the driven surfaces of the roller tips so that they become conjugate surfaces that accomplish the most efficient energy transfer. Previous worm drive approaches have emphasized conforming shapes for the roller tips and the worm screw as well as certain other techniques in an attempt to compensate certain inherent limitations to energy transfer between driving and driven surfaces. This has caused greater energy losses in the gearing mechanism with corresponding decreased power transfer efficiency. The use of conjugate shapes for the roller tips and the driving worm gear surface represents a significant improvement to the concept.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas David Smith
  • Patent number: 7255635
    Abstract: In polishing apparatus of the present invention, collars can be easily exchange. The polishing apparatus comprises: an outer pin gear having an inner gear section; an inner pin gear having an outer gear section; and a carrier having outer gear teeth, which are engaged with the inner gear section of the outer pin gear and the outer gear section of the inner pin gear so as to rotate and move the carrier around the inner pin gear. At least one of the inner gear section and the outer gear section includes gear teeth, each of which comprises: a pin proper being fixed to a pin ring and extended upward therefrom; a cylindrical collar rotatably covering and fitting the pin proper at a fitting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Fujikoshi Machinery Corp.
    Inventors: Tadakazu Miyashita, Harumichi Koyama, Mitsuhiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7159831
    Abstract: An adjusting device (3) is suitable especially for use on a stand (1) for a surgical microscope (2). The adjusting device (3) makes it possible to move the surgical microscope (2) in a plane (9) perpendicular to the optical axis (8) of the surgical microscope (2). For this purpose, a transmission is provided in the adjusting device (3) which includes a coupling plate which is operatively connected to two force-transmitting elements. When this transmission is moved, at least one of the force-transmitting elements rolls off on the coupling plate. Alternatively, this transmission can be built up as a four-point linkage chain or contain a rhombic mechanism or lever mechanism. It is also possible to configure the transmission with belt elements or to configure the same as an eccentric arrangement having two offset rotation centers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
    Inventors: Hartmut Gärtner, Gerhard Gaida, Franz Krug, Daniel Kolster, Alexander Enns
  • Patent number: 7086304
    Abstract: A transmission comprises a pair of drive shafts, one an input shaft and the other an output shaft, wherein one of said shafts is attached to a toothed cam having a trochoidal profile and the other drive shaft is attached to a roller ring having a plurality of cylindrical roller shafts aligned to mesh with said toothed cam and thereby permitting the transfer of torque from one shaft to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Inventor: Richard N. Ballard
  • Patent number: 6902507
    Abstract: A two-stage epicyclic roller cam transmission comprising in each stage: a roller ring having a plurality of fixed-position rollers; and a cam gear having pitch-circle-generated, trochoid-shaped teeth and independent pitch, wherein the rollers are spaced to mesh with the cam gear and efficiently transfer energy under heavy loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Inventor: Richard N. Ballard
  • Publication number: 20020170374
    Abstract: The present invention is a gear system generally having a driven gear, rotatably mounted on an axis, having teeth defined by unique geometrical profiles; a driving means contacting the teeth of the driven gear; and round pins or spheres for engaging the teeth of the driven gear rotatably mounted on the driving means, the round pins or spheres for engaging the teeth of the driven gear roll along a profile of the tooth of the driven gear; and the gear system has a variable pressure angle and a variable contact ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventor: David A. Stewart
  • Publication number: 20020125075
    Abstract: A spiral propeller provides a better secure and a more reliable spiral comprising spiral-lifting wheels, interlocking wheel interlocked with the spiral-lifting wheel, and fixed track supporting the interlocking wheel; the spiral lifting wheel is a rotating wheel with spiral external teeth, which is fixed at the top of the compartment, so as to drive the compartment for upward and downward movements, and interlock with the interlocking wheel; a interlocking rotating wheel of truncated cone shape, which can rotate along the axial direction of the wheel itself; a fixing track is set up between the guide brackets of the elevator, i.e., between the vertical supporting brackets of the guide bracket, in the appropriate locations are set with interlocking wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventor: You Lin
  • Patent number: 6311800
    Abstract: A raising system for scaffolding, elevator cabins and the like which comprises a vertical stationary beam member from one side of which equally vertically spaced similar rack teeth are protruding, each tooth having a substantially horizontal straight top face, a framework guided for up and down movement along said beam member, a power driven shaft rotatably supported by said framework and carrying spaced radial supports, a series of parallel idle shafts extending between the supports, equally spaced from one another and radially equally spaced from the driven shaft, and a plurality of cylindrical roller assemblies rotatably mounted on the idle shafts and adapted to come in successive rolling engagement with the top faces of said teeth during upward or downward movement of said framework. Each roller assembly includes several rollers disposed side by side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Inventors: André St-Germain, Luc Tessier
  • Patent number: 6276830
    Abstract: Linear guide assembly comprising at least two guide rails, which are moveable in the longitudinal direction with respect to each other and have prismatic shaped raceways, a plurality of rolling elements guided in a cage, at least one gear wheel for the positive guidance of the cage is connected to the cage, which wheel engages in toothed racks, each of which is connected to a guide rail, the gear wheel comprising a disk, having axial projections distributed around the periphery at least one of the end surfaces and rows of uniformly spaced recesses, into which the projections on the disk can engage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: SKF Linearsysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Ludwig Edelmann, Andreas Geyer, Hermann Glöckner, Georg Hierl, Holger Kristandt, Uwe Mayer, Henryk Velde, Lothar Walter
  • Patent number: 6199475
    Abstract: A drive and bearing device for a binding station for finished bales predominantly in waste bale presses with a horizontally acting press plate, wherein several twisting wheels provided with a radial slot for receiving the binding wire are mounted in a support and are temporarily rotated by a common drive unit for the purpose of twisting the wire. The wheels supporting the slotted twisting disks have a plurality of arms or bearing points which extend outwardly in a star-shaped manner, wherein on the free end of each arm or bearing point is mounted a roller which is freely rotatable about an axis extending perpendicularly of the wheel plane. For each wheel with the star-shaped arms is provided in the same horizontal plane a drive wheel with arc-shaped recesses at the outer circumference thereof, wherein the recesses correspond in a positively engaging manner with the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventor: Hermann Schwelling
  • Patent number: 6155719
    Abstract: Linear guide assembly comprising at least two guide rails, which are movable in the longitudinal direction with respect to each other having similarly shaped raceways, a plurality rolling elements, guided in a cage, at least one gear wheel connected to the cage for the positive guidance of the cage, which wheel engages in toothed racks or the like, each of which is connected to a guide rail, said gear wheel consisting of a disk, having an external circumference which is provided with uniformly distributed axial rolling elements, which project slightly beyond the disk, and wherein said recesses, correspond to the external shape of the rolling elements and into which the rolling elements can engage, are provided equal distances apart directly in the guide rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: SKF GmbH
    Inventors: Ludwig Edelmann, Andreas Geyer, Hermann Glockner, Georg Hierl, Holger Kristandt, Uwe Mayer, Henryk Velde, Lothar Walter
  • Patent number: 6023989
    Abstract: A transmission device for converting a torque from rotary to linear movement includes a rack having a plurality of teeth and a pinion having rollers which mesh with the teeth of the rack, with pressurization provided therebetween. The rack has an arcuate tooth flank diametrically greater than each of the rollers of the pinion. The rack also has a tooth face which has an approach profile progressively moving away from the path of contact of each of the rollers along which each of the rollers would otherwise engage with the tooth face. A plurality of each of the rollers of the pinion concurrently mesh with the corresponding teeth of the rack. Another embodiment converts a torque between rotary and linear movement and comprises a pinion having a plurality of teeth and a rack having a plurality of rollers to mesh with the teeth of the pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Kamoseiko Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Imase, Hiroshi Makino, Hidetsugu Terada
  • Patent number: 5960668
    Abstract: A roller gear cam index mechanism including a turret having pairs of adjacent rollers radially arranged on a circumference thereof. Each pair of rollers is engaged between adjacent ribs on a globoidal cam. The angle between the line up direction of every pair of rollers and the tangent direction of the turret circumference is a variable between 0 to 90 degrees. The rollers are modified globoidal rollers which are selected having difference maximum radii and vertex positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: National Science Council
    Inventors: Ching-Huan Tseng, Wei-Han Wang
  • Patent number: 5784923
    Abstract: A toroidal drive system includes a housing composed of first and second mating housing sections having interior walls which cooperate to define a plurality of parallel, helix-like races inscribed in a torus having a circular axis. The two mating housing sections are secured together and a plurality of rotary elements are fixedly spaced apart along that axis, the elements each having an axle fixed at the axis and a plurality of removable, radially extending teeth rotatably encircling the corresponding axle, each tooth of each rotary element engaging in a different one of the plurality of races. A worm is mounted for rotation in the housing about an axis substantially perpendicular to the circular axis, that worm engaging at least one tooth of each of the plurality of rotary elements. Power take off means are connected to all of the axles and extend without the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Inventor: Manfred R. Kuehnle
  • Patent number: 5709127
    Abstract: A mechanical oscillator including a shaft having an endless groove in its periphery, a nut body carried by and slidable along the shaft at the location of the endless groove, and a roller pin carried by the nut body, having a nose portion extending into and engaging a wall of the endless groove and having a tail portion disposed deeply in the nut body. A plurality of anti-friction bearings is carried by the nut body, the bearings carrying the roller pin. The anti-friction bearings include both a ball bearing and a needle bearing, the ball bearing being disposed adjacent the nose portion of the roller pin, and the needle bearing being located adjacent the ball bearing and engaged with a tail portion of the roller pin. Multiple roller pins can be used, carried on two carrier strips respectively, which are axially displaced and disposed at opposite sides of the nut body. The carrier strips and associated roller pins can be removed as units, thereby simplifying replacement as required by damage or wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Norco, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Parsons
  • Patent number: 5704248
    Abstract: Elaboration on the merits of an improved gear family known as Bearing Tooth Gears. The rotative contact of meshing Bearing Teeth in a Bearing Tooth Gear set, allows for an increase in candidate materials, used in the construction of these gears and allows for improved structural designs of the Bearing Tooth assemblies and gear housings. In addition, prefer positioning of support bearings is also conveyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Inventor: Stephen E. Knotts
  • Patent number: 5644950
    Abstract: A heavy-duty mechanical/oscillator utilizes a shaft having an endless cam groove in its periphery, and a nut body carried by and slidable along the peripheral portion of the shaft. A roller pin on the nut body, extends into and engages a wall of the endless groove. The roller pin's nose portion is conical, whereby the pin is subjected to oblique loading having both intense radial and lesser axial components. Paired anti-friction roller bearings carried by the nut body in turn rotatably mount the roller pin. The bearings include a primary oblique-loading roller bearing disposed adjacent the nose portion of the roller pin and oriented to counter the intense radial forces and lesser axial forces experienced by the nose portion, and a secondary oblique-loading roller bearing located adjacent the primary bearing and engaged with a tail portion of the roller pin. The secondary roller bearing is oriented to mainly counter radial forces experienced by the nose portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Norco, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Parsons
  • Patent number: 5592852
    Abstract: A mechanical oscillator including a shaft having an endless groove in its periphery, a nut body carried by and slidable along the shaft at the location of the endless groove, and a roller pin carried by the nut body, having a nose portion extending into and engaging a wall of the endless groove and having a tail portion disposed deeply in the nut body. A plurality of anti-friction bearings is carried by the nut body, the bearings carrying the roller pin. The anti-friction bearings include both a ball bearing and a needle bearing, the ball bearing being disposed adjacent the nose portion of the roller pin, and the needle bearing being located adjacent the ball bearing and engaged with a tail portion of the roller pin. The roller pins are carried on two carrier strips respectively disposed at opposite sides of the nut body. The carrier strips and associated roller pins can be removed as a unit, thereby simplifying replacement as required by damage or wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Norco, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Parsons
  • Patent number: 5540111
    Abstract: Drive apparatus and method for converting linear motion to rotary motion and vice versa are disclosed. The drive apparatus includes a rack having a plurality of spaced first engagement members arranged single file in a first path and a sprocket having a plurality of spaced second engagement members arranged single file in a second path. The rack's engagement members engage the sprocket's engagement members to rotatingly drive the sprocket when the rack is driven and drive the rack when the sprocket is driven. In addition, either the rack's engagement members or the sprocket's engagement members have outer surfaces which are defined by a member selected from the group consisting of cylindrical bearings and reduced friction material. To operate the apparatus to drive a sprocket, a downstroke is made with the rack to move it as far as it can be moved in a first predetermined direction which rotates the sprocket in a desired clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignees: Franklin E. Barnett, Brian D. Smith
    Inventors: Franklin E. Barnett, Brian D. Smith
  • Patent number: 5477741
    Abstract: A motion transforming mechanism comprises a plate assembly and a toothed rail. The plate assembly is constituted by at least three rotation plates having a common rotation axis and each having a plurality of teeth, the rotation plates being respectively formed with cranked through bores. The toothed rail is formed with a plurality of teeth held in mesh with the teeth of rotation plates. The motion transforming mechanism further comprises a drive motor assembly constituted by a rotor unit rotatably received in the cranked through bores and a stator unit accommodated in the rotor unit. The rotation plates are rotated with respect to their common rotation axis by the rotation of the rotor unit with respect to stator unit. The motion transforming mechanism thus constructed requires no external electric motor and accordingly is able to be more easily assembled with various systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Teijin Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Takenaka, Katumi Mori, Tuyoshi Nachi, Tomohiro Kiriyama, Masanori Hirai
  • Patent number: 5381704
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for transmitting rotative forces through a series of meshed gears, comprising a gear system or assembly having at least one gear with a plurality of non-traditional, non-conventional configured teeth that serve as rotatable bearings that contact and engage corresponding teeth of an adjacent gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Inventor: Stephen E. Knotts
  • Patent number: 5255572
    Abstract: A variable stroke mechanism provides a means for varying the stroke and leverage of a linkage between reciprocating power source and crankshaft. The mechanism includes a lever connected at one end to the reciprocating power source and at the other end to the crankshaft with a variable fulcrum point between the two ends. The lever forms a longitudinally extending slot for containing a fulcrum member, the other surfaces of which, while generally cylindrical, secures a series of parallel and equiangularly displaced cylindrical roller bearings. The top of the slot formed within the lever is a flat bearing surface and the opposing bottom surface contains a series of semicircular channels forming a gear train sized and located to successively engage the roller bearings on the fulcrum member and said bearings serving as gear teeth such that rotation of the fulcrum member changes the position of the fulcrum point relative to the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Inventor: William C. Pickens
  • Patent number: 5247847
    Abstract: A gear assembly with roller-cam contact by a cam gear with adjacent teeth forming a notch which defines a lobular periphery and a roller gear with a plurality 10A of rotatable rollers 10 is disclosed. Upon rotation, a roller rollingly contacts one of the sides of the lobular periphery and rollingly travels along the lobular periphery to rollingly contact the remaining side of the lobular periphery and with at least one of the teeth of the cam gear being in rolling contact with both a roller in an approach phase and with a roller in a recess phase to provide mechanical communication between the roller gear and the cam gear. A method of manufacturing the cam gear and the roller gear is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Inventor: Inhoy Gu
  • Patent number: 5081885
    Abstract: A worm-like drive mechanism has a plurality of axially-spaced eccentrics rotated by an input shaft located at right angles to an output shaft. A wheel mounted on the output shaft has a circumferential surface with periodic undulations. Oscillators in the form of rollers mounted on pins and captured in respective slots of a fixed carrier are reciprocated through contact with the external surfaces of the eccentrics to cause the undulated surfaces of the wheel to move, thereby driving the output shaft. Contact between the rollers and the eccentrics is achieved through the intermediary of bars which are reciprocated with the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Consulier Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 4998442
    Abstract: A gantry robot construction is provided. The construction includes a pair of elongated substantially spaced parallel rails, a bridge spanning and substantially perpendicular to the rails and movable relative to the rails, and a robot head and support mounted on the bridge and movable relative to the bridge. The rails are positioned along the width or shorter side of the work area with the bridge spanning the length or longer side of the work area. An improved rack and pinion apparatus is also disclosed that is used in association with the gantry robot construction. There is a zero degree pressure angle between the rack and pinion. In the pinion the base circle is congruent with the pitch circle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Inventors: Gordon T. Brown, David A. Stewart
  • Patent number: 4944196
    Abstract: A conjugate gear system including a pair of meshingly engageable toothed gears, at least one member of the gear pair having at least one three-component tooth. Each three-component tooth is comprised of a central core, at least one face disposed thereon, and a means for displaceably attaching the face section to the core such that the face section is displaceable with respect to the core in the direction of the sliding component of motion created by meshing engagement of the gear pair. By separating out the sliding component in this fashion, relatively pure rolling contact is maintained between the engaged surfaces of the gear pair at all times, thus reducing sliding friction, thermal expansion, and noise levels created by the engagement of the gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: The Board of Governors of Wayne State University
    Inventor: Eugeny I. Rivin
  • Patent number: 4879920
    Abstract: The meshing gear teeth comprise cylindrical profile teeth on a gear or rack and circular arc profile teeth on the other gear or pinion. Each cylindrical profile tooth is preferably mounted for free rotation about the cylindrical axis of the tooth. Driving engagement of the gears rotates the contacting cylindrical teeth, thereby providing rolling contact between the meshing gear teeth. At any instant, at least two cylindrical teeth on one gear are in engagement with one tooth on the other gear. With the motion of the meshing gears, the cylindrical profile teeth rotate into and out of the roots of the other gear without loss of rolling contact from entrance to exit. The constant contact and multi tooth engagement prevents backlash relative movement between the gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Inventor: Ewald F. Kerkhoff
  • Patent number: 4833934
    Abstract: In a worm wheel for a roller worm drive, each roller is movable along its axis relative to the body of the wheel, and biased towards an extended position by a spring. The springs are mounted in the space between inboard and outboard bearings associated with each roller, so as to conserve room within the roller wheel and hence permit use of large, robust, anti-friction bearings. In particularly preferred arrangements, the outboard anti-friction bearing can be used to limit outboard movement of each roller relative to the wheel body, and may also serve to transmit inboard-directed thrusts from the roller to the body via the biasing spring. The overall arrangement provides enhanced load carrying capacity and compactness in roller worm drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Maxaxam Corporation
    Inventors: James G. Boyko, George E. Brackett
  • Patent number: 4685346
    Abstract: A worm drive system includes a worm wheel having two sets of angularly arranged rollers. Each set of rollers mates with a separate screw thread on a worm screw associated with the worm wheel. The worm drive system may also include a second worm screw having two separate screw threads, each one mating with a corresponding set of rollers on the worm wheel. The worm drive system may be used as a speed increaser and/or a speed decreaser by suitably selecting the ratio between the worm wheel and the worm screws. The worm screws rotate in the same angular direction if the screw threads on one worm screw have the same hand, which is different from the hand of the screw threads on the other worm screw. The worm drive system also has a load-sharing capability and an anti-backlash capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: Maxaxam Corporation
    Inventor: George E. Brackett
  • Patent number: 4665763
    Abstract: A worm gear drive wherein revolvable spheres captured in respective cages are equally spaced about a wheel rim with their centers on a common circle to mesh with a worm groove by rolling only on a track defined by a sidewall of that groove without sliding engagement, the track following a variable diameter hour-glass locus corresponding to an arucate locus of a radius equal to that of the common circle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Inventor: Winthrop James
  • Patent number: 4651586
    Abstract: A power transmission mechanism having an hourglass worm with a continuous tooth groove. Cooperating with the hourglass worm is a wheel device having a plurality of recesses therein spaced around its circumference with the spacing between the recesses corresponding to a pitch of the continuous tooth groove. A roller is mounted in each of the recesses for rotation in a transverse direction with respect to the circumference of the wheel device and is in meshing engagement with the continuous groove. Each roller is formed from a pair of disc rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Inventor: Isao Nemoto
  • Patent number: 4643047
    Abstract: An epicyclic speed reducing mechanism employs, as torque transmitting elements, a series of rolling elements which are constrained to travel along a substantially trochoidal path defined by means of complementary or conjugate surface regions formed on the driving and driven members. The invention is applicable to single or multiple stage speed reducers, and may be of the counterweighted or counterbalanced variety, the latter including a constant velocity coupling operating between an orbiting and rotating element and a further element. In the disclosed embodiments, the rolling elements may be either balls or rollers, and the surface regions may be conjugate epitrochoidal and hypotrochoidal grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Concepts '81 Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Distin, James Shaffer
  • Patent number: 4604916
    Abstract: An epicyclic speed reducing transmission having first and second sets of conjugate epitrochoidal and hypotrochoidal races and first and second sets of rollers transmitting torque between respective sets of races includes a retainer structure for the first and second sets of rollers. The retainer structure is apertured so as to receive the rollers, and independent retainer elements for each set of rollers are provided, with both of these elements being conjointly orbitally driven. The retainer structure may be positively orbitally driven by means of a cam driven spider provided either centrally of or externally of the pair of epitrochoidal races.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Concepts '81 Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert G. Distin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4584904
    Abstract: A speed reducing transmission includes roller driving elements operating to transmit torque between opposed trochoidally formed surfaces. The device may have one or multiple reduction stages and may be either counterbalanced or counterweighted to achieve dynamic balance. The opposed surfaces are provided as conjugate epitrochoidal and hypotrochoidal gear elements, while the rollers are simple cylinders maintained suitably spaced by means of roller cages or retainers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Concepts '81, Limited
    Inventors: Robert G. Distin, Jr., James E. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 4541297
    Abstract: A rotating shaft is provided with a large number of support shafts arranged on a helical line, and the support shafts are provided with rotatably supported rollers driven members are provided which are interlockingly engaged mutually with the rotating shaft, and the driven members are provided with projections having engaging surfaces to be engaged with the rollers provided on the rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Inventor: Kazuo Fujita
  • Patent number: 4394112
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a combination roller set comprising an inside body member having a first longitudinal body axis and an outside body member surrounding said inside body member and having a second longitudinal body axis substantially parallel to said first body axis. The first body axis and said second body axis are displaced from each other. The body axis of said body members is disposed to provide an orbital movement about the body axis of the other said body members. The inside and outside body members are respectively provided with a plurality of roller teeth disposed to mesh with each other and define a mesh relationship. One or both of the body members may be provided with concave surfaces. At least one of said concave surfaces and at least a roller tooth in the other of said body members is disposed to engage each other in said mesh relationship and provide a contact engagement therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Inventor: George V. Woodling