Oscillatory Shaft With Radially Extending Vane Patents (Class 92/121)
  • Patent number: 9574580
    Abstract: To provide an oscillating actuator which is capable of easily changing an oscillation start position of a shaft. An oscillating actuator includes an actuator main body 2 having a shaft 4 which is configured to oscillate about an axis L in a predetermined range of angle by means of a compressed air, and a fixing plate 3 for fixing the actuator main body 2 to a load device 30, wherein the actuator main body 2 and the fixing plate 3 are connected together by a connection mechanism 5 so as to be displaceable relative to each other in the rotation direction of the shaft 4 so that an oscillation start position A of the shaft 4 is changed by displacement of the actuator main body 2 and the fixing plate 3 relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SMC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Kurosawa, Shintaro Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9422971
    Abstract: A swivel device has a swivel shaft (2) rotatably mounted in a housing. A portion of the swivel shaft (2) projects from the housing (1). A swivel lever (3) is fixably mounted on the shaft (2) and is swivelable relative to the housing (1). The swivel lever (3) is arranged outside the housing (1). A first part (4) of a stop is arranged externally on the housing (1). A second part (5) of the stop is connected with the swivel lever (3). The first (4) and second (5) parts of the stop form a rotational movement stop for the swivel lever (3). The second part (5) of the stop is detachable from the swivel lever (3) and is reattachable to the swivel lever (3) in various positions on the swivel lever (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: DE-STA-CO Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Thanh-Tuan Tran, Detlev Ulle
  • Publication number: 20140174287
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a rotary vane actuator that includes a rotor assembly including a rotor hub. The rotor hub has a first and second vane assembly disposed radially on the rotor hub. Continuous seals are disposed in continuous seal grooves along pathways provided along the vanes. A stator housing having a central chamber includes an interior surface adapted to receive the rotor assembly, the interior surface is adapted to continuously contact the first continuous seal and the second continuous seal when the rotor assembly is rotated inside of the central chamber. The vane assemblies and the stator housing define pressure chambers inside of the central chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: WOODWARD, INC.
    Inventor: Douglas Paul Smith
  • Patent number: 8726787
    Abstract: A rotary hydraulic actuator includes a housing defining a chamber, a first boss, and a port block with a bore communicating with the chamber. The port block includes rotor supply and drain ports communicating with the bore, and a stator port communicating with the chamber through a stator hole in the boss. A rotor mounted in the internal chamber includes: a body with a laterally-extending arm; a first stub shaft received in the bore, the first stub shaft including base slots passing laterally therethrough; a first rotor port disposed in the arm in communication with the internal chamber, and oriented in a tangential direction relative to an axis of rotation; and internal passages which interconnect the rotor base slots and the first rotor port. Passages in the port block communicate with the bore and interconnect the rotor supply and drain ports at a first angular position of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Charles Glynn, Darek Tom Zatorski, Nicholas Rowe Dinsmore, Brandon Wayne Miller
  • Patent number: 8671672
    Abstract: An actuator structure includes two half cylinders made respectively from the same mold and the two half cylinders engaged with each other to form an actuator. The actuator has an air reservoir chamber and a vane chamber dividing by a dividing unit, and the vane chamber has a vane inside. An O-shaped ring is formed around the vane and an elastic stopping edge is formed protrudingly from the O-shaped ring and linearly contacted an inner surface of the actuator. The volume ratio of the air reservoir chamber and the vane chamber is about three to one, and a channel groove is formed at an interface of the two half cylinders to connect an air inlet hole and a left side and a right side wall of the actuator. A fail-safe or dual-movement control structure is formed to control the direction of air supply to drive the shaft to rotate toward a predetermined direction, or utilizing the compressed air in the air reservoir chamber to force the vane to restore to its original position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Easy Tork Automation Corporation
    Inventors: James Wang, Yung-Chuan Chen
  • Patent number: 8573558
    Abstract: A pneumatic actuator air flow control system includes a pneumatic rotary actuator (PRA) and a solenoid air flow control valve (SAFCV). The PRA contains an air reservoir and a vane housing allowing pressurized air to rotate an air-driven vane. The SAFCV includes a flow control valve body (FCVB), a pilot solenoid valve (PSV) and a switch system, wherein the FCVB and the PRA can be connected to direct the pressurized air into the air reservoir, and the PSV is used to control the pressurized air in and out of the PRA to change the vane's rotation movement in the vane housing. Additionally, the switch system allows users to switch between a double-acting and fail-safe operation. When there is no pressurized air and/or electrical power and if an emergent need to open or close the valve, a manual override in the PSV can be used without further installation of a declutchable manual gear operator or external piping when there is no pressurized air and/or electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Easytork Automation Corporation
    Inventor: James Wang
  • Patent number: 8333143
    Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder device includes a cylinder, an axle and two blade units. The cylinder includes a chamber with a cross-sectional shape like a circle overlapping another circle. The axle is inserted through the cylinder. The axle includes two opposite grooves defined therein. Each of blade units includes a blade, a primary roller and a secondary roller. The blade is movably disposed in a related one of the grooves and made with a groove defined in a side close to an internal side of the cylinder. The secondary roller is disposed in the groove. The primary roller is disposed in the groove so that the primary roller is in contact with the secondary roller on one hand and in contact with the cylinder on the other hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Yu-Hui Liao
  • Patent number: 8281706
    Abstract: A sealing device for a swivel motor includes an outer part and an inner part as well as at least one working chamber located between them. The sealing device seals the working chamber and comprises at least two rectangular sealing elements housed in a groove enclosed in the outer and/or inner part running essentially parallel to the swivel axis of the swivel motor. Each of the sealing elements comprises at least one rectangular sealing part and at least one gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Ixetic Bad Homburg GmbH
    Inventors: Sigismund Jones, Van Doan Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7930971
    Abstract: A vane type hydraulic rotary actuator incorporates a fail-safe brake for preventing movement of the device's rotor relative to a housing in which the rotor is journaled. The brake has a spring-biased piston that is forced to a locked condition whenever applied hydraulic operating pressure acting on the vane falls below a predefined limit. The rotary actuator also incorporates an improved sealing arrangement that prevents egress of hydraulic fluid from a high pressure chamber on one side of the vane to a low pressure chamber on the opposite side of the vane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Inventor: Gary L. Werkhoven
  • Patent number: 7739944
    Abstract: A fluid operated rotary drive comprises a drive housing (2) and an output shaft (4) able to be caused to oscillate in relation to it and having a pivotal abutment arranged on it which cooperates with a counter abutment (34 and 35). The pivotal abutment is able to be positioned about the longitudinal axis (8) of the output shaft (4) in different abutment settings and is able to be clamped in a releasable manner respectively against a clamping face (56) on the housing by means of a clamping means (53).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Festo AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christian Ante, Gerhard Thorwart
  • Publication number: 20100077917
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing device for a swivel motor comprising an outer part and an inner part as well as at least one working chamber located between them, which seals the working chamber and comprises at least two rectangular sealing element housed in a groove enclosed in the outer and/or inner part running essentially parallel to the swivel axis of the swivel motor, each of which comprises at least one rectangular sealing plant and at least one gasket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Ixetic Bad Homburg GMBH
    Inventors: Sigismund Jones, Van Doan Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20100064885
    Abstract: A vane type hydraulic rotary actuator incorporates a fail-safe brake for preventing movement of the device's rotor relative to a housing in which the rotor is journaled. The brake has a spring-biased piston that is forced to a locked condition whenever applied hydraulic operating pressure acting on the vane falls below a predefined limit. The rotary actuator also incorporates an improved sealing arrangement that prevents egress of hydraulic fluid from a high pressure chamber on one side of the vane to a low pressure chamber on the opposite side of the vane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventor: Gary L. Werkhoven
  • Patent number: 7343887
    Abstract: An abnormality diagnosis system 100 includes a VVT controller 110, an adjustable valve mechanism 120, a cam angle sensor 130, a model computation module 140, an abnormality detection module 150, and an alarm lamp 160. The adjusable valve mechanism 120 advances or delays a phase angle of an intake cam shaft relative to a crankshaft, thereby varying an open-close timing of a valve. The model computation module 140 computes a physical behavior of the adjustable valve mechanism 120 according to a physical model, in response to a control signal input from the VVT controller 110. The abnormality detection module 150 determines whether the adjustable valve mechanism 120 is abnormal or normal, based on a difference between a theoretical value of phase angle calculated according to the physical model and an observed value of phase angle measured with the cam angle sensor 130. The arrangement of the invention ensures highly accurate abnormality diagnosis of the adjustable valve mechanism 120.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Soejima
  • Patent number: 7308878
    Abstract: A valve timing control apparatus includes a driving side rotational member, a driven side rotational member formed with a plurality of recessed portions into which a supporting jig is insertable at a second side thereof in the axial direction, a fluid pressure chamber, a vane, a lock member, and a cover plate formed with a plurality of through holes, through which the supporting jig is insertable, at a position in which each of the plurality of through holes is overlapped with each of the plurality of recessed portions of the driven side rotational member in a condition where the relative rotational phase is restrained at the lock phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Kira
  • Patent number: 7275476
    Abstract: An oscillating motor for a camshaft adjusting device has a stator and a rotor mounted so as to be rotatable relative to one another. The stator has an inner wall and radially extending stator vanes connected to the inner wall. The rotor has a base member and radially extending rotor vanes connected to the base member. The rotor vanes have an end face, respectively, resting against the inner wall of the stator. The stator vanes have an end face, respectively, resting against a peripheral wall of the base member. The rotor vanes taper discontinuously from the end face of the rotor vanes, respectively, in a direction toward the base member so that the rotor vanes each have a widened section at the end face, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Hydraulik-Ring GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Naumann, Gerold Sluka, Frank Heidl, Andreas Knecht
  • Patent number: 7231867
    Abstract: A rotary damper for damping oscillation of a motorcycle front tire includes a vane swingably mounted inside the rotary damper between left and right oil chambers, passages placing the oil chambers in fluid communication with one another, front chambers in communication with the passages to secure a pressure-receiving area adjacent the vane when the vane is at one of its extreme swing positions and begins swinging back towards the center of the damper, and grooves in fluid communication with the front chambers, wherein the grooves are formed shallower than the front chambers, and the passages are opened to the bottom of said grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignees: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Masaru Mishima, Nobumichi Hanawa, Takeshi Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 7231865
    Abstract: A swiveling motor for a divided stabilizer in an area of a vehicle axle, in which a housing is closed off in a region of its end surfaces by lids. A differential pressure regulating valve located coaxially with the housing and having at least one electromagnet, and two springs of different spring load deflection characteristics directed opposite to one another. One of these springs has a lower spring load deflection characteristic in a region of the electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Automotive AG
    Inventors: Holger Wehaus, Volker Middelmann
  • Patent number: 7182052
    Abstract: A shoe housing receives a driving force from a crankshaft and a vane rotor rotates with a camshaft in combination. The vane rotor is received in the shoe housing in such a way as to freely turn. Each of the vanes of the vane rotor partitions each of three receiving chambers into a retard hydraulic chamber and an advance hydraulic chamber. A check valve is disposed in an advance supply passage. The check valve allows a working oil to flow from an oil pump through the advance supply passage to the advance hydraulic chamber and prohibits the working oil from flowing back from the advance hydraulic chamber through the advance supply passage to a drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Seiji Yaoko, Jun Yamada, Kinya Takahashi, Masayasu Ushida, Mitomu Mohri, Takao Nojiri
  • Patent number: 7175403
    Abstract: A rotary actuator includes one or more rotor vanes (40); an endplate (60); a corner seal (30) being positioned between the rotor vanes (40) and the endplate (60); a vane seal (20); a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber; and a single channel (22) extending from a lower portion of a vane seal groove (25) to a common channel (28) beneath the vane seal (20), wherein the high pressure chamber is in fluid communication with the corner seal (30) via the single channel (22) and the common channel (28). The common channel (28) may be formed in the rotor vane (40) or provided separately in a rotor vane flow sleeve (21) positioned along an interior surface of the rotor vane (40). The single channel (22) is machined from the bottom of the vane seal groove (25) to the area behind the corner seal (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Larry A. Portolese, Gerry E. Fluga, William Scott Rowan
  • Patent number: 7159549
    Abstract: A camshaft is formed at a generally middle portion with an enlarged cylindrical portion. An annular vane member is mounted on the enlarged cylindrical portion and secured thereto by means of a nut. An annular housing or sprocket is arranged to receive therein the annular vane member in a manner to permit a rotation of the vane member relative to the annular housing. Each of a circular opening of the vane member and a circular opening of the annular housing is so sized as to permit cam lobes of the camshaft to pass therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoya Tsukada, Kotaro Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7150251
    Abstract: The invention intends to improve a response by utilizing a rotational variable torque of a cam shaft. Communication paths respectively communicating an advance hydraulic chamber and a retard hydraulic chamber provided in a second rotary member and a hydraulic connecting passage are provided so as to be communicated, at a time when a control member intending to improve a response by moving a phase angle control slider in an axial direction or a rotational direction in correspondence to an operating state such as an advance, a retard or the like so as to intermittently communicate an advance chamber communication path and a retard chamber communication path with a hydraulic chamber connecting groove only in a section in which a cam shaft variable torque in an operating direction is applied, is controlled in a rotating region, and a relative rotation of a third rotary member and the second rotary member stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Watanabe, Isao Hayase, Seiji Suga, Takanori Sawada, Tomoya Tsukada
  • Patent number: 7127980
    Abstract: A vane, a valve timing control device at least including a vane, or a sliding member include at least one of chromium and manganese with 10–20 weight %, and carbon with 0.70 weight % or less wherein the vane is formed by nitriding treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Enya, Shigeru Anada, Masaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7107952
    Abstract: An actuating device for hydraulically securing a camshaft of an engine of a motor vehicle in a start position has a solenoid valve controlling the flow of a pressure medium to a camshaft adjuster with a rotary slide valve that is fixedly connected to the camshaft and moves the camshaft into the required start position according to the pressure medium supplied to it by the solenoid valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Hydraulik-Ring GmbH
    Inventors: Edwin Palesch, Alfred Trzmiel
  • Patent number: 7021257
    Abstract: A method for compensating for variable cam timing of an internal combustion engine is provided. The method includes: a) providing a periodical crank pulse signal; b) providing a periodical cam pulse signal; c) determining a segment, wherein the internal combustion engine speed induces a volatile change upon Zphase values; d) dividing the segment into sub-segments; and e) calculating Zphase values of a plurality of points within the sub-segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Earl Ekdahl, Danny R. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6971351
    Abstract: A region including an engaging hole is given surface treatment such as partial quench hardening by induction hardening for improving surface hardness of the region. The partial quench hardening by induction hardening provides the region with satisfactory mechanical strength or surface hardness enough for resisting deformation of the engaging hole and wear-out of an edge of opening of the engaging hole caused by putting in and out of the lock pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kinugawa, Makoto Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 6920855
    Abstract: A valve timing adjustment device for promptly switching a rotational phase includes a guide rotary body having a guide passage containing a movable body. The guide passage includes a variable radial dimension relative to a rotational centerline. The guide rotary body rotates relative to a driving rotary body and guides the movable body in the guide passage. A phase change mechanism changes the rotational phase of a driven shaft relative to a drive shaft according to the position of the movable body in the guide passage. The guide passage has a gradually decreasing region and a gradually increasing region. The gradually decreasing region slants toward an axis of the guide rotary body. The gradually increasing region slants relative toward the axis of the guide rotary body. The gradually decreasing region and the gradually increasing region are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Akihiko Takenaka, Takayuki Inohara
  • Patent number: 6915767
    Abstract: A method of determining the position of a cam phaser determines and stores an adaptively updated base offset corresponding to the phase offset of a camshaft relative to a crankshaft for a reference or default position of a cam phaser. Thereafter, the phaser position is determined relative to the base offset. Individual base offsets are preferably determined for each tooth of a toothed cam wheel, and stored in a non-volatile memory device. During engine operation, the base offsets are subject to diagnostic testing and adaptive updating, and the updated base offsets are stored in the non-volatile memory at engine shut-down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Pfeiffer, Gregg Stepien, Amanpal S. Grewal
  • Patent number: 6883478
    Abstract: A fast-acting rotor-locking mechanism for a vane-type camshaft phaser. A straight-sided locking pin is disposed in a bushing in the rotor and is urged into a sprocket well by a return spring. A pad disposed at the bottom of the well is a travel stop for the pin. When the pin is fully seated against the pad, the pad covers a portion of the end of the pin. The uncovered portion of the pin end, exposed to oil pressure for unlocking the pin when it is fully seated, is decreased over the prior art pin, permitting use of a lighter locking spring having a lower spring rate. Because of the lighter locking spring, the pin accelerates more rapidly and unlocks significantly faster than in a comparable prior art phaser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Dominic Borraccia, Michael J. Fox, Timothy M. Nieves
  • Patent number: 6880451
    Abstract: An oscillating motor includes a cylinder which is filled with hydraulic medium and which has at least one rib on its inside wall, whereby a motor shaft with at least one vane is supported inside the cylinder with freedom to oscillate, a sleeve concentric to the motor shaft, and a pressure-preloaded sealing arrangement inside each of at least two ring-shaped spaces between the cylinder and the motor shaft, which sealing arrangements seal the working chambers formed by the cylinder and its rib, the motor shaft, and the vane together with the cylinder covers at the ends. The ring-shaped spaces are connected to each other by a pressure equalization channel, and an axial groove, which forms the pressure equalization channel, is present in the contact area between the motor shaft and the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Rainer Beilner, Matthias Reuss
  • Patent number: 6863037
    Abstract: A controller that outputs control signals to an actuator of a variable valve timing mechanism is integrally equipped with a cam sensor that takes out from a camshaft signals for discriminating a cylinder corresponding to a reference piston position. The controller discriminates the cylinder corresponding to the reference piston position, computes a rotation phase of the camshaft relative to a crankshaft, and transmits the result of the cylinder discrimination process to an engine controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventors: Isamu Iizuka, Hirokazu Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20040244747
    Abstract: A vane, a valve timing control device at least including a vane, or a sliding member include at least one of chromium and manganese with 10-20 weight %, and carbon with 0.70 weight % or less wherein the vane is formed by nitriding treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Enya, Shigeru Anada, Masaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6769386
    Abstract: The invention concerns a rotary piston adjuster for adjusting the angular position of the camshaft of an internal combustion engine, said adjuster comprising an outer rotor having at least one hydraulic chamber, and an inner rotor comprising at least one pivoting vane that can pivot hydraulically in the hydraulic chamber between a retard stop position and an advance stop position. A locking device suitable for detachably connecting the outer and inner rotors to each other and at least one compression spring acting in opposition to the frictional torque of the camshaft are arranged between the two rotors. A liberal design of the compression spring and a low-wear operation with this spring are enabled by the fact that the compression spring (27, 27′) is arranged in an attachment (4) that is connected to the rotary piston adjuster, and the components of the attachment have a wear-resistant configuration and support the compression spring (27, 27′) at least pointwise over its entire length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Ina-Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Jens Shafer, Martin Steigerwald, Dieter Neller
  • Publication number: 20040094106
    Abstract: In the variable valve timing system according to the present invention, portions of the intake-side advancing hydraulic line and a retarding hydraulic line respectively constitute annular grooves 104 and 113 for advancing and retarding provided on the intake camshaft 5 bearing surface 5a of the cam cap 4 which supports the camshafts 5 and 6. In addition, portions of the advancing hydraulic line and the retarding hydraulic line for exhaust respectively constitute annular grooves for advancing and retarding 123 and 133 provided on the exhaust camshaft 6 bearing surface 4b of the cam cap 4. Moreover, the annular groove for retarding 113 on the intake camshaft 5 bearing surface 4a and the annular groove for advancing 123 on the exhaust camshaft 6 bearing surface 4b are respectively provided in the center in the width direction of their respective bearing surfaces 4a and 4b.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Asai, Masaki Fukuma, Masahiro Naito, Kouichi Shimizu, Ikuma Takahashi, Kazuhiro Tomizawa
  • Patent number: 6606936
    Abstract: A hybrid of the pneumatic and hydraulic actuators for combining pneumatically powered actuation with incompressible and controllable hydraulic damping in order to achieve smooth displacement, rapid stopping and steady and accurate positioning of the hybrid actuator in which hydraulic damping of a pneumatic actuator is obtained through utilizing positive-displacement hydraulic actuator means with zero volumetric differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Inventor: Mark Y. Shteynberg
  • Patent number: 6546842
    Abstract: A pressure-fluid-operated power unit producing a rotating motion for positioning valves or similar actuators into a desired position. The power unit comprises an annular cylinder space and at least two pairs of pistons arranged to move in said cylinder space respect to each other, first pistons of the piston pairs being arranged to rotate around the shaft of the cylinder space and second pistons being immovably arranged with respect to at least one end flange of the cylinder space or to a casing of the cylinder space, and pressure fluid conduits for leading pressure fluid into and out of the spaces between the pistons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: Esko Raikamo
  • Patent number: 6511040
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pneumatic actuator which includes a housing comprised of two halves and having at least two passages defined therethrough, including a “loop” groove defined in an inner peripheral wall of the housing into which a seal member is inserted. A rotary piston is rotatably received in the housing. The piston has a top and a bottom with an intermediate wall connected there between, and an actuating shaft extending through the housing, which is rotated by movement of the rotary piston. The seal member extends into the housing and is in contact with the top and bottom of the rotary piston all the times. The rotary piston moves free of contact with the interior surface of the housing and this one seal member provides a seal for the joint created between the halves of the housing, the chambers of the housing as well as the actuating shaft. Movement of the piston is effected by air pressure and return motion of the piston can be air driven or spring assisted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Murray J. Gardner
  • Patent number: 6450082
    Abstract: A fluid device includes a rotationally oscillating piston within a sector-shaped chamber, a reciprocating ram for performing work and a link pivotally connected to both the piston and the ram. The piston moves the ram through the link to an extended position and a retracted position. When the ram is in its extended position, the link is moved to an over-center position locking the ram in the extended position. A manually operated unlocking device is provided for moving the piston to eliminate the over-center condition of the link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: BTM Corporation
    Inventor: Edwin G. Sawdon
  • Patent number: 6318701
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pneumatic actuator which includes a housing comprised of two halves and having at least two passages defined there through, including a “loop” groove defined in an inner peripheral wall of the housing into which a seal member is inserted. A rotary piston is rotatably received in the housing. The piston has a top and a bottom with an intermediate wall connected there between, and an actuating shaft extending through the housing, which is rotated by movement of the rotary piston. The seal member extends into the housing and is in contact with the top and bottom of the rotary piston all the times. The rotary piston moves free of contact with the interior surface of the housing and this one seal member provides a seal for the joint created between the halves of the housing, the chambers of the housing as well as the actuating shaft. Movement of the piston is effected by air pressure and return motion of the piston can be air driven or spring assisted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: Murray Joseph Gardner
  • Patent number: 6289787
    Abstract: The vane actuator according to the present invention is capable of operating effectively at a working pressure greater than 100 psig. The vane actuator comprises a vane shaft rotatably extending through a casing and a vane disposed within the casing defining a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber therein. The casing includes stiffening members for resisting deflection of and maintaining an internal seal within the casing when exposed to a pressure of 150 psig. The stiffening member may be located in the range of about 10° and 20° on either side of a casing centerline to minimize deflection of the casing when exposed to a pressure force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: K-Tork International, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred R. Underwood, Richard Scholtz, Ray J. Claxton
  • Publication number: 20010018864
    Abstract: The invention provides a rotary actuator having a cushion mechanism for stopping a vane at a rotational terminal end position in a cushioning manner. The cushion mechanism has a first opening for discharging an exhaust air pressed out from a cylinder hole by a rotating vane to an external portion without limiting a flow amount, a second opening for discharging the exhaust air to the external portion in a state of limiting a flow amount and a flow amount adjusting mechanism for limiting a flow amount, the flow amount adjusting mechanism being connected to the second opening, wherein the first opening is provided at a position sealed by the vane before the vane of a hole surface in the cylinder hole reaches a rotational terminal end position, and the second opening is provided at a position which is not sealed by the vane after the vane reaches the rotational terminal end position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: September 6, 2001
    Applicant: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Hirano, Kenji Koiwa, Kiyoshi Tekeuchi
  • Patent number: 6179545
    Abstract: A flip-over ramp assembly is normally stowed in a horizontal position in a recess in a vehicle floor, and can be pivoted upward and outwards to a downward sloping deployed position, after the vehicle door has been opened. The flip-over ramp assembly comprises a mounting enclosure and a ramp which are pivotably connected at their adjacent edges by a hinge which provides a horizontal axis for movement of the ramp between deployed and stowed positions. A driving mechanism comprises an actuator and a driving shaft which is rotatably connected to the actuator. A pair of linkage assemblies are connected to the driving shaft, where the actuator drives the driving shaft which in turn moves the linkage assemblies to lift the ramp to the stowed or deployed position. A positioning cam rotates with the driving shaft for indicating the position of the ramp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Ricon Corporation
    Inventors: Lee B. Petersen, Jr., John C. Hall
  • Patent number: 6098517
    Abstract: A rotary linear unit possesses a rotary drive and a linear drive. A bearing rod is connected with the drive shaft of the rotary drive, such bearing rod extending coaxially into the output drive unit of the linear drive. On the bearing rod a bearing sleeve is mounted so that it may not rotate while being axially displaceable, such sleeve being fixedly connected with the piston of the linear drive. The piston is divided into two axially sequential piston parts, between which the bearing sleeve is located, which extends into facing receiving recesses in the piston parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Festo AG & Co
    Inventors: Gerhard Thorwart, Albrecht Wagner
  • Patent number: 6085635
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety device for pneumatic actuators, for preventing the actuator pinion from being violently ejected, comprising a circular seat, formed on the less diameter portion of the pinion, projecting from the actuator body, and housing a resilient ring element. The resilient ring element engages with the pinion restraining elements, provided on the less diameter portion of the pinion outside of the actuator body, for a time required for allowing the pressure inside the actuator body to be released, through a slot defined about the pinion larger diameter section because of the disengagement of the corresponding sealing gasket from the actuator body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Inventor: Giovanni Trevisan
  • Patent number: 6030185
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pump, more particularly a radial piston pump, including at least two pump pistons (10) with an associated working chamber (13) each, wherein the working chambers (13) are connected to suction lines (4) by way of suction valve devices (8) and to a joint pressure line (5) by way of pressure valve devices (9), wherein at least one of the suction valve devices (8) opens during the pressure stroke in dependence on the pressure in one of the associated lines (4, 5), and wherein at least one of the suction valve devices (8) opens during the pressure stroke in dependence on the pressure in the pressure line (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: Hans-Jorg Feigel, Lothar Schiel, Ulrich Neumann
  • Patent number: 6003430
    Abstract: The eccentric end portion (5) of a pump shaft (3) is mounted in a needle roller bearing (6) which comprises a sheet metal bushing (9) and needle rollers (7) guided in a cage (8), wherein the end of the sheet metal bushing (9) remote from the pump shaft (3) is provided with a closed bottom (18) to prevent a displacement of the sheet metal bushing (9) in axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: INA Walzlager Schaeffler oHG
    Inventor: Johannes Lang
  • Patent number: 5979163
    Abstract: A rotationally pivotal motion controller pivotally interconnects two adjoining elements and controls the pivotal motion of a first of the two adjoining elements with respect to a second of the two adjoining elements. The rotationally pivotal motion controller comprises a housing having a wall which defines an axial cylindrical bore through the housing. The wall is adapted for attachment to a first of the two adjoining elements and the wall also has a longitudinal aperture therethrough which communicates with the bore. A hub assembly comprises a hub which is at least partially disposed within the cylindrical bore of the housing and is axially rotatable therein. The hub has a substantially central cylindrical core and at least one lobe extending radially from the core. At least one end cap is affixed to one end of the hub to retain the hub in a fixed, fluidically sealed, axial relationship within the housing. The hub and the housing together define at least one fluid retention cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Circular Motion Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Steven Hanners, Charles P. Bodony
  • Patent number: 5967018
    Abstract: A hydraulic motor with propulsion members located between an eccentric cam associated with a shaft and a counter-element. The propulsion members consist of two elements slidable telescopically with respect to one another in the longitudinal direction and having annular bearing shoulders kept pressed against corresponding sliding-contact surfaces of the eccentric cam and the counter-element by springs. The resilient springs are located outside the propulsion members and are arranged between the annular edges and elements for mechanically retaining them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Riva Calzoni S.P.A
    Inventor: Alessandro Breveglieri
  • Patent number: 5956901
    Abstract: A hatch assembly having a hatch cover biased to a normally closed position. The hatch cover is connected to an impeller contained and rotatable within a impeller chamber of a housing. When the cover is to be opened, pressurized gas is introduced into the housing causing rotation of the impeller. By virtue of the coupling of the impeller to the hatch cover, the rotation causes the hatch cover to open. After opening, the hatch cover may thereafter be closed by a spring bias forming part of the coupling arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: Robert E. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 5944493
    Abstract: An adjustable rotor and/or a radial piston machine which may utilize an adjustable rotor. The rotor has a primary eccentric rotatable around an axis and a secondary eccentric adjustable in position relative to the primary eccentric. The radial piston machine includes a plurality of piston cartridges arranged radially around the axis and both high pressure and low pressure fluid distribution systems. Multiple units may be axially coupled. A single unit may handle a variety of fluids in various combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Whitemoss, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc S. Albertin, Rodney D. Hugelman
  • Patent number: 5878648
    Abstract: An adjustable radial piston machine (pump or motor) is described whose drive mechanism (10) has a comparatively compact structure and an especially good mechanical efficiency. The drive mechanism (10) has a bearing ring (19) which is arranged concentric to a rotor (11) and which can be swung or pivoted about a symmetry axis (Q,H) different from its rotation axis for adjustment of the radial piston machine. An adjusting device (22) for pivoting the bearing ring extends axially parallel to the bearing ring (19) and acts on a facing surface of the bearing ring (19). Working pistons (13) guided in the cylinders in the rotor perform two motion cycles per revolution of the rotor, which are equal, but in opposite directions, over respective 180.degree. angular intervals. Cylinders (12) on opposite sides of the rotor are acted on by identical pressures so that the forces on the rotor are balanced and the rotor rotates largely free of friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Wilhelm Dworak