Patents Examined by Adam D Rogers
  • Ergonomic control mechanism for self-propelled flooring equipment
    Patent number: 11338674
    Abstract: Control of a self-powered floor preparation machine is provided by an ergonomic controller having a guarded control stick which has various characteristics, including its pitch, roll, yaw and height, that may all be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: National Flooring Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Kivisto
  • Centrifugal pendulum device having a pre-stressing element for guiding the cylindrical rollers
    Patent number: 11333218
    Abstract: A centrifugal pendulum device for use in a drive train of a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine includes at least one support flange rotatable about an axis of rotation to which pendulum masses are mounted thereon in a circumferential direction via a bifilar pendulum suspension. The pendulum masses are configured to perform a relative movement with respect to the support flange when a rotational irregularity occurs in the drivetrain under effects of centrifugal force in conjunction with cylindrical rollers which are guided in roller tracks of the support flange. The pendulum masses run in opposite directions to one another and thereby absorb vibrations. The support flange includes roller tracks which are open in a direction of the axis of rotation and all the cylindrical rollers are acted upon by force by a prestressing element radially in the direction of the roller tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Simon Eckerle
  • Operator control device
    Patent number: 11334106
    Abstract: An operator control device has an actuation unit on a console unit. The actuation unit movable between an idle position and one or more actuation positions. The actuation unit is fixable in the idle position by a retaining device. In order to leave the idle position, it is necessary to overcome a retaining force provided by the retaining device. The retaining device has a coupling device with a coupling element that is magnetically couplable to the actuation unit and to the console unit in order to magnetically fix the actuation unit in at least the idle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: INVENTUS Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Philipp Doenz, Stefan Battlogg
  • Crankshaft
    Patent number: 11333191
    Abstract: A crankshaft includes a first oil hole, a second oil hole, and a through hole. The second oil hole extends in a direction in which the second oil hole intersects the first oil hole. A first extension is an imaginary line extending from an inner wall surface of the first oil hole on a second oil hole side. A second extension is an imaginary line extending from an inner wall surface of the second oil hole on a first oil hole side. The through hole passes through an intersection between the first extension and the second extension. At least one end of the through hole opens on an outer peripheral surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masatoshi Yamamoto, Atsushi Tanaka
  • Bicycle head
    Patent number: 11332210
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a bicycle head. The bicycle head includes a head assembly and a control assembly. The head assembly includes a handlebar and a stem. The handlebar is mounted on the stem. The control assembly includes a casing, a first circuit board, an antenna and a battery. The casing is pivotably disposed at a portion where the handlebar is mounted on the stem. The first circuit board, the antenna and the battery are electrically connected to one and another, and at least one of the first circuit board, the antenna and the battery is located in the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: TEKTRO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chia-Wen Hsieh
  • Drive apparatus and oil changing method
    Patent number: 11333238
    Abstract: A drive apparatus includes a motor; a reduction gear connected to the motor; a differential connected to the reduction gear, for rotating an axle about a differential axis; a housing including a gear housing portion housing the reduction gear and the differential; and an oil housed in the gear housing portion. The differential includes a gear for rotating about the differential axis. An end portion of the gear is lower than the reduction gear, and is configured to soak in the oil. The housing includes an oil drain hole and an oil feed hole for joining an interior of the housing and a space outside of the housing, a first stopper member removably in the oil drain hole, and a second stopper member removably in the oil feed hole. Each of the oil drain hole and the oil feed hole is in a portion of the gear housing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Ishikawa, Shuhei Nakamatsu
  • Utility vehicle having continuously variable transmission
    Patent number: 11326686
    Abstract: A utility vehicle has a CVT, an engine providing power to the CVT, a CVT case accommodating the CVT, front and rear wheels supporting the vehicle body frame on the ground surface and an exterior side panel supported to the vehicle body frame. The exterior side panel includes an inner wall located inside a vehicle cabin and an outer wall located outside the vehicle cabin. An intake chamber is formed between the inner wall and the outer wall of the exterior side panel. An intake opening portion is provided in the exterior side panel for introducing ambient air present around the exterior side panel to the intake chamber. The intake chamber and the CVT case are connected and communicated to each other via an intake hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nicholas Allicock
  • Breather
    Patent number: 11326684
    Abstract: A breather includes a case, which has an internal space, an insertion portion, and a valve structure. The insertion portion includes a connecting passage that connects the internal space and an external space. The valve structure includes a valve member in the connecting passage, a locking portion that restricts displacement of the valve member, and a spring that presses the valve member against the locking portion. The insertion portion includes a seating portion that is inclined such that the connecting passage narrows as the distance from the locking portion increases. The valve member includes a plate portion, and a ventilating portion that is a radially inward recess on the edge of the plate portion. The valve structure connects the external space and the internal space to each other via the ventilating portion in a state in which the valve member is in contact with the seating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yukinori Murakami
  • System consisting of a camshaft and a camshaft sleeve
    Patent number: 11306623
    Abstract: A system including a camshaft and a camshaft sleeve. The camshaft sleeve has a sleeve-shaped main body for receiving an end region of the cam-shaft. The main body includes a joining region, a bearing region and a seat region. The main body and the camshaft are configured in such a way that, in the mounted state, the cam-shaft is joined in the joining region to the camshaft sleeve, the system having, in the bearing region, a clearance between the camshaft and the camshaft sleeve, and the camshaft and the camshaft sleeve are connected to one another in the seat region via a positively locking means and/or a frictionally lock, in particular a toothing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA TECCENTER AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Volker Junge, Falk Heitling
  • Speed and torque optimizer for a drive train
    Patent number: 11306800
    Abstract: A speed and torque optimizer for a drive train includes an input shaft coupled with a primary driver having a pinion gear thereon that engages an input ring gear. The input ring gear is affixed to a first end of a carrier shaft having an output ring gear on an opposing end. The output ring gear engages an output pinion gear mounted on an output shaft. The input ring gear is larger in diameter than the output ring gear and therefore has more teeth. Because the input and output ring gears are mounted on the same shaft, they rotate at the same speeds thereby rotating the output pinion gear at a faster speed than the input pinion gear. The intermeshing gear teeth have a predefined curvature, pitch diameter and length to further accomplish increased speed at the output shaft while minimizing torque loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Inventor: Eddie L Brooks
  • Wind turbine drive train
    Patent number: 11306703
    Abstract: A wind turbine having a tower having a top end and a bottom end; a first eccentric mechanism connected to a turbine rotor, the turbine rotor at the top end of the tower; a second eccentric mechanism connected to an electric generator, the electric generator being at the bottom end of the tower; and a plurality of tensile links connecting the first and second eccentric mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Inventor: William Tolli
  • Component having metallic transition material on base and method of forming
    Patent number: 11300153
    Abstract: A component includes a base formed of a majority of a first metallic element and a shell adhered to the base. The shell includes an inner portion having an inner surface contacting the base, an outer portion having an outer surface, and an intermediate zone connecting the inner portion to the outer portion. The shell is formed of a multi-element transition material, where the multi-element transition material includes a majority of a second metallic element at the inner surface and a majority of a third metallic element at the outer surface. The intermediate zone includes both the second and third metallic elements. Each of the first, second, and third metallic elements are different from one another. The component may be an automotive shaft. A method of forming the component may include depositing first and second powders on the base to form the inner and outer portions and the intermediate zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Huaxin Li, Liang Wang, Richard D. Ricchi
  • In-situ tuning system for speed increasing gearbox and pinion resonance
    Patent number: 11300194
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tuning system for modulating stiffness of a gearbox 102 and a pinion 502. The tuning system comprises one or more incremental masses 606 adapted to be attached to a non-drive end (NDE) side 504 of the pinion 502 of the gearbox 102 to allow modulation of resonant frequency of the pinion 502, and a plurality of tie rods 104 coupled between a base plate 106 of the gearbox 102 and split axial line 108 casing of the gearbox 102, wherein the plurality of tie rods 104 are adapted to modulate effective stiffness of the gearbox casing in a specific direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Inventor: Mantosh Isanchandra Bhattacharya
  • Sealing surface having leak-proof passage of an oil channel
    Patent number: 11293542
    Abstract: A transmission housing includes a first housing half forming a first sealing surface and a first lubricant line, and a second housing half forming a second sealing surface and a second lubricant line. The first sealing surface and the second sealing surface seal an internal space in relation to an environment. An opening of the first lubricant line and an opening of the second lubricant line are fluidically connected to one another. The first sealing surface has a first groove and the second sealing surface has a second groove. The first groove and the second groove together form a third lubricant line. The third lubricant line runs between the opening of the first lubricant line into the first sealing surface and the environment of the transmission housing and between the opening of the second lubricant line into the second sealing surface and the environment of the transmission housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignees: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, ZF WIND POWER ANTWERPEN N.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Sperlich, Dirk Strasser, Joerg Muench
  • Flywheel assembly
    Patent number: 11293517
    Abstract: A flywheel assembly 10 comprises at least one flywheel mass support 14 that has a shaft 19 that extends along a rotational axis 18 about which the support 14 can rotate in use and a flywheel mass 12. The support 14 comprises a plurality of openings 24 that are each offset from the rotational axis 18. The flywheel mass 12 comprises a plurality of openings 16 that are each arranged to align with a corresponding opening in the support. The flywheel mass 12 is coupled to the support 14 so that the mass 12 can rotate with the support 14 in use. The flywheel mass 12 comprises a plurality of generally planar flywheel mass elements sandwiched together to form a stack of elements by fixing elements 23 that extend through the aligned openings in the mass elements and the support 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: City, University of London
    Inventor: Keith Robert Pullen
  • Steering wheel for a motor vehicle
    Patent number: 11292501
    Abstract: It is provided a steering wheel for a motor vehicle having a steering-wheel frame and at least one element for setting the vibration frequency and/or the inertia of the steering wheel. The at least one element is electrically conductive and is part of a sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Marcus Ted Kandler, Achim Hartlaub
  • Steering bar for lever controlled vehicle
    Patent number: 11285986
    Abstract: A steering bar for a lever-controlled vehicle provides for single hand operation of the lever-controlled vehicle. For example, the steering bar couples to the control levers for a zero-turn mower, providing safer, easier operation of the mower and making the mower handicap accessible. The steering bar can easily be installed on any dual steering zero turn mower. Steering is easier because turning it controlled by rotating the steering bar either right or left, with control of forward and reverse movements by pushing or pulling the bar. Speed, turning direction, or motion forward or reverse are all controlled by a single bar with a single hand. The steering bar is coupled with a selectively extensible control shaft to accommodate for the differing displacement length between the control levers during turning movements. The steering bar is coupled with the control levers with a ball and socket joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Inventor: Derrick F. Scott
  • Heat dissipation structures for crankshaft dampers
    Patent number: 11280383
    Abstract: A crankshaft damper for attachment to one end of a crankshaft of an engine. The crankshaft damper includes an elastomeric member attached to a hub, and an inertia ring connected to the hub through the elastomeric member. Several different structures for cooling the elastomeric member are disclosed that dissipate heat away from the elastomeric member. Air flow is induced near the elastomeric member by providing air flow openings in the inertia ring or the elastomeric member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: APROTECH POWERTRAIN LLC
    Inventors: Scott K. Thompson, Larry George
  • Balance shaft assembly
    Patent number: 11280384
    Abstract: A balance shaft is proposed that includes: i) an unbalance shaft having an unbalance section and an adjacent bearing pin having a cylindrical partial circumference which is oriented towards the shaft imbalance; ii) a bearing ring which surrounds the bearing pin and bears against the cylindrical partial circumference and delimits a free space with a bearing pin back radially opposite thereto; and, iii) a clamping element which is clamped in the free space and clamps the bearing ring radially against the cylindrical partial circumference. The clamping element is intended to secure the bearing ring against axial sliding on both sides on the bearing pin, and the clamping element is connected in an axially interlocking manner to the unbalance shaft on one side and to the bearing ring on the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Hußenether, Norbert Geyer, Hannes Schreyer, Christof Faria
  • Fire resistant gearbox housing
    Patent number: 11280396
    Abstract: A gearbox housing includes a set of ribs on an inner surface of a wall portion of the housing. During a fire event, heat received at the outside of the gearbox is transferred to the ribs, which transfer the heat away from the wall portion, in turn resisting the fire. The ribs may transfer the heat to oil, which may flow toward an oil drain. In addition or alternatively, the ribs may transfer the heat to a heat sink of the housing to which they are connected. The ribs may allow a thin region surrounding the ribs to a have a minimum thickness that is thinner than required to pass a fire test, thereby allowing for lighter weight gearbox houses that are still fire resistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: David C. Farnum