Patents Assigned to Applied Power Inc.
  • Patent number: 5877618
    Abstract: A non-contact voltage tester has a self-test feature so that when a switch clip of the tester is actuated, light and sound indicator devices are energized to give a single blink and beep, respectively, following which the tester is ready for probing for a voltage. The light and sound indicator devices also indicate the presence of a voltage when the switch is actuated and a voltage is detected at the probe tip of the tester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Applied Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Luebke, David L. Wiesemann
  • Patent number: 5873559
    Abstract: An aircraft engine is attached to the fuselage by a mounting structure that has a vibration absorbing system which includes first and second sensors to produce signals indicating vibration along two orthogonal axes. A third sensor, such as an accelerometer, is coupled to the mounting structure for sensing vibration of the engine. A tachometer circuit, connected to the third sensor, produces first and second speed signals that indicate the speeds of two rotating spools in the engine. Four vibration absorbers are attached to the engine mounting structure and controllers are provided to dynamically tune the resonant frequency of each vibration absorber in response to a unique combination of one of the two vibration signals and one of the two speed signals. Thus the vibration absorbers reduce the engine spool vibrations that are transmitted through the mounting structure along the two orthogonal axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Applied Power Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas H. von Flotow, Mathieu Mercadal, Kelvin B. Scribner, Timothy Mixon, Corydon Roeseler
  • Patent number: 5857381
    Abstract: Hydraulic operating device, in particular for the operation of a selector fork of a gearbox, and gearbox provided with such an operating device. The device comprises a double-acting cylinder, which is coupled to the selector fork, and a reversible pump. The pump is connected to the working chambers of the cylinder by supply lines. A valve is mounted in each of the supply lines which is operated by fluid flow. This valve comprises a body, a bore formed in the body, a piston, which divides the bore into two chambers, a through-channel, formed in the piston and designed as a flow orifice, connecting the two chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Applied Power Inc.
    Inventor: Laurentius A. G. Mentink
  • Patent number: 5839278
    Abstract: An electrohydraulic tilting device for a vehicle with a tilting cab has a pump, an electric pump drive motor connected by way of an electrical connecting line to a source for electrical energy, and a hydraulic piston/cylinder unit connected to the pump. The piston/cylinder unit is designed for exerting a force which is capable of tilting the cab forward and back. An overcurrent protection device is provided which is designed for automatic interruption and subsequently maintaining the interruption of the electrical power line of the pump motor when the electrical power taken up by the pump motor for a predetermined period exceeds a first threshold value which is higher than the maximum electrical power required during normal tilting of the cab. The overcurrent protection device is provided with manual reset means for ending the interruption of the power line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Applied Power Inc.
    Inventor: Lambertus Johannes Sonneborn
  • Patent number: 5820249
    Abstract: A fish tape locator has a first threaded end for fixing to the end of a fish tape and an opposite second end which emits light to help locate the end of the fish tape when it is being fished through a blind space. The first end is provided with a cross-bore for connecting the locator to a string, chain, hook or other line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Applied Power Inc.
    Inventors: Dean R. Walsten, Joseph M. Kampschroer
  • Patent number: 5819536
    Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for controlling a plurality of hydraulic motors of a machine has a reversible pump with its suction/pressure ports connected to the inputs of an OR-valve is connected to the input of at least one 3/2 electro-valve, which has its output connected to the inputs of the AND-valves which are not connected to the pump. The AND-valve outputs and the suction/pressure ports are used individually or in combination to control the hydraulic motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Applied Power Inc.
    Inventor: Laurentius A. G. Mentink
  • Patent number: 5809780
    Abstract: A hydraulic control valve has a two position body shifted by rotation. The shaft of the valve body carries a drive wheel segment extending through an arc that corresponds to the shift angle of the valve. A spring is provided to bias, at least in the final stage of rotation in either direction, the wheel segment in the opposite direction of rotation. This enables the valve body to be positioned into the other position in a reliable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Applied Power Inc.
    Inventors: Leendert Willem C. de Jong, Arjan Peter van Heiningen, Willem Herman Masseling
  • Patent number: 5810319
    Abstract: An apparatus for counteracting vibrations includes a housing for attachment to a vibrating member. First and second bodies are connected to the housing by first and second springs, respectively, with a combined stiffness which defines a resonant frequency at which the first and second bodies oscillate with respect to the housing. Each of the first and second springs include a plurality of rods fixedly connected between a pair of rings. A lever engages the first and second bodies to vary a spacing between those bodies when force from an actuator is applied to the lever. The lever action alters the stiffness of the first and second springs which varies the resonant frequency of the vibration absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Applied Power Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas H. von Flotow, Timothy Mixon, Luigi Maggi
  • Patent number: 5792967
    Abstract: A system for tightening a threaded fastener with a hydraulic wrench has a pumping unit which measures parameters representative of the torque applied to the fastener and the angle of advance of the fastener, remote from the wrench. The pump measures pressure as a parameter representative of torque and measures, pump speed as a parameter which is processed so as to be representative of the angle of advance of the fastener. A ratchet-type hydraulic wrench is used, and the pressure versus angle data produced in tightening a fastener is manipulated to discard irrelevant portions and smooth relevant portions to provide data representative of torque and angle during the tightening process from which to determine a final stopping parameter for terminating tightening. The system also has a calibration fixture for determining the volumetric rate of angle advance for a given wrench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Applied Power Inc.
    Inventors: George R. Steber, Dale A. Knutson, Douglas P. Miller
  • Patent number: 5782158
    Abstract: A hydraulic pump assembly for powering a hydraulic torque wrench is air-powered and has hydro-pneumatic control circuitry which continues operation of an air motor which drives the hydraulic pump for a post-advance period after an advance actuator is deactuated. Operation of the pump is continued for a period sufficient to retract a double-acting torque wrench, to permit subsequent advances of the wrench within the post-advance period without restarting the pump or to permit a single acting wrench to be moved from one fastener to the next within the post-advance period without restarting the pump. Operation of the pump is terminated when the post-advance period expires if the advance actuator is not reactuated, so as to conserve energy and avoid unnecessary heating of the hydraulic fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Applied Power Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence P. Rothering
  • Patent number: 5765879
    Abstract: Locking arrangement of a fluid insertion connection between a fluid line and a connection member, in particular between a hydraulic line and a hydraulic cylinder, the fluid line having an insertion part at one end and the connection member being provided with an insertion opening which is open at the circumferential surface of the connection member and receives the insertion part of the line. Furthermore, locking means are provided, which engage on an abutment surface of the insertion part of the fluid line in order to prevent the insertion part of the line from being pulled out of the insertion opening.The locking means comprise a ring, which is positioned around the connection member at the position of the insertion opening and is movable with respect to the connection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Applied Power Inc.
    Inventors: Leendert Willem C. de Jong, Willem Herman Masseling, Ben Kuiper, Aswin Leonard Koebrugge
  • Patent number: 5749619
    Abstract: Motor vehicle with a foldable roof, which foldable roof comprises a bow assembly with a main bow, a fabric tensioning bow which can be pivoted up and down, for the rear part of the foldable roof, and a buggy-link system with two links. These links at one side are pivotably connected to each other and are also pivotably connected to the fabric tensioning bow and to a fixing point of the bow assembly respectively.The foldable roof also comprises a power drive unit which is connected for drive purposes to the buggy-link system, and can move the buggy-link system between an extended position, in which the links thereof lie essentially in line with each other and thereby force the fabric tensioning bow downwards, and a bent position, in which the links lie at an angle relative to each other.The power drive unit, for example a hydraulic cylinder, is placed in a side wall part of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Applied Power Inc.
    Inventor: Laurentius A. G. Mentink
  • Patent number: 5732471
    Abstract: A tool for removing insulation from an electrical cable, has a pair of levers pivotally joined at a fulcrum point to each other. Each lever has a handle and a jaw on opposite sides of the fulcrum point. The jaws have a plurality of notches of different curvatures which come together in a closed state for stripping insulation from electrical wires of different gauges. One of the jaws also contains a ripper for cutting away the sheathing from an electrical cable. The ripper is formed by a ripper notch with first and second sides that diverge at an acute angle from a vertex to an opening that faces away from the handles. The first side of the ripper notch has a beveled surface which forms a sharp knife edge that cuts the sheathing and the second side is formed by a cylindrical guide pin. When the tool is used, the guide pin is inserted into the end of the cable and directs the sheathing into the ripper notch while preventing the insulated wires within the cable from being damaged by the knife edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Applied Power Inc.
    Inventors: Chris W. Korinek, Joseph Kampschroer, Richard Haskey
  • Patent number: 5727419
    Abstract: A tube bender handle having a larger diameter portion at a handle end which is long in comparison to a smaller diameter portion which is screwed into the bender body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Applied Power Inc.
    Inventor: Dean R. Walsten
  • Patent number: 5727591
    Abstract: A rotary indexing valve has an electromagnetic coil which shuttles a spoil axially. As the spool shuttles axially, it cams on axially opposed surfaces so as to rotatably index the spool. Such rotatable indexing of the spool angularly positions different sized orifices into or out of registration with one of the ports in the housing to change the cross sectional area of the flow passage between the inlet and outlet ports of the housing. One of the cam surfaces is defined by an alternating series of peaks and valleys, and the valleys are at different heights so as to change the spacing between the spool and a pole piece, which varies the inductance of the coil dependent on the angular position of the spool. The inductance of the coil can therefore be measured to provide an electrical signal indicative of the angular position of the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Applied Power Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Doll
  • Patent number: 5725066
    Abstract: An active vehicle suspension employs a multi-point support system between a vehicle's chassis and cab. Each support point has an isolator which includes a linear hydraulic actuator that is connected at its quiet end to the payload by a passive vibration isolator and is connected at its vibrating end to the chassis. Each isolator also has a support spring to off-load the majority of the weight of the cab from the hydraulic actuator. An accelerometer is mounted to sense movement at a point between the linear hydraulic actuator and the passive vibration isolator. An electrical signal produce by the accelerometer is processed to operate a hydraulic valve that controls movements of the hydraulic actuator so that transmission of vibrations from the chassis to the cab is attenuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Applied Power Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Beard, Andreas H. von Flotow
  • Patent number: 5715725
    Abstract: The platen of a press which is provided with multiple longitudinally running T-slots for clamping a tool such as a die or mold to the platen has a frame secured to it which supports and guides a travelling clamp so that the travelling clamp can be moved laterally to serve any one of several T-slots in the platen. In one embodiment, a face drive unit has its motor fixed relative to the frame so as to drive the travelling clamp laterally. In another embodiment, the frame supports multiple travelling clamps and each clamp is provided with its own lateral drive along a frame which extends along the face of the press slide and is common to the travelling clamps. Brake cylinders maybe provided for fixing the travelling clamp to the frame during press operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Applied Power Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Schnell, Clifford H. Rogers
  • Patent number: 5710714
    Abstract: An apparatus for absorbing vibrations in a structural member has a mass suspended between two mounting plates by a separate springs. The mass has two sections and a mechanism for adjusting the spacing between the sections to alter the spring stiffness. Two sensors produce first and second signals representing the vibration of the structural member and the mass. The mechanism is operated by a controller that includes separate filters for the first and second signals in which each filter has a center frequency that is tuned by a clock signal. The phase comparator produces a phase output signal indicating a phase relationship between signals from the two filters and the control signal for the mechanism is produce in response to the phase output signal. A phase locked loop produces the clock signal for tuning the filters in response to a comparison between one of the first and second signals and a signal from one of the filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Applied Power Inc.
    Inventors: Mathieu Mercadal, Kelvin B. Scribner, Andreas H. von Flotow
  • Patent number: D396012
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Applied Power Inc.
    Inventor: Dean R. Walsten
  • Patent number: D396013
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Applied Power Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Luebke