Patents Examined by Bradley J. Van Pelt
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Patent number: 6722227Abstract: A horn actuating device for a steering wheel has a plurality of helical springs that return an airbag module to a raised resting position. Each helical spring has a free upper end that moves with the airbag module that also acts as a mobile electrical contact cooperating with the fixed electrical contact to bring about actuation of the horn.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Massimo Rabagliano, Adolfo Ridolfi, Roberto Ridolfi, Luciano Verda
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Patent number: 6715374Abstract: A pinion gear of a starter motor is driven into engagement with a ring gear of an internal combustion engine by a driving lever having a leaf spring upon energization of an electromagnetic actuator. The leaf spring of the driving lever is coupled to a connecting member of a plunger of the electromagnetic actuator. The connecting member includes a surface engaging with an engaging portion formed at one end of the leaf spring. A center portion of the engaging surface is projected toward the leaf spring, so that the engaging portion of the leaf spring always contacts the engaging surface at the center of the engaging surface, even if the leaf spring is slantedly coupled with the connecting member.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2001Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Tadahiro Kurasawa
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Patent number: 6708581Abstract: A shifting device for transmitting shift commands to an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle is provided with a shifting device body or housing, a selector axis and a said shift axis, which are arranged at right angles to one another, and with a gearshift lever. The gear shift lever is mounted pivotably in relation to its neutral position within at least one outer right-hand shift gate and an outer left-hand shift gate. A device for transmitting shift commands based on a movement of the gearshift lever to the automatic transmission is also provided. At least two separate locking levers are provided, pivotable around an auxiliary axis each, which is a rigid part of the housing. The at least two separate locking levers can be engaged by the gearshift lever indirectly or directly.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2001Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AGInventors: Andreas Giefer, Jörg Meyer
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Patent number: 6689003Abstract: A limited articulation chain design that prevents or reduces chain jumping at a given amount of chain slack comprises a chain having a plurality of alternating inner and outer links having ends interconnected by pins, wherein the ends of the outer links are partially or substantially squared on the sprocket side, such that the ends of adjacent outer links limit articulation of the links around the pins to a predetermined radius, by interfering with the adjacent outer links at the predetermined radius.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2001Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.Inventors: Mark MacDonald Wigsten, Brian R. Scotti, George L. Markley
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Patent number: 6679805Abstract: A control system for a continuously variable transmission provided with a first pulley (1) having two pulley discs (5, 7), with a second pulley (2) having two pulley discs (6, 8) and with a drive belt (10) wound around said pulleys (1, 2) for transmitting torque there between, at least one disc (7) of the first pulley (1) being axially movable with respect to the other disc (5) of the pulley (1) under the influence of an axial force provided on the movable disc (7) by a line pressure (PLP) in a cylinder (11) of a piston/cylinder assembly (11, 13) associated with the the first pulley (1) and at least one disc (6) of the second pulley (2) being axially movable with respect to the other disc (8) of the pulley (2) under the influence of an axial force provided on the movable disc (8) by a second cylinder pressure (P2CP) in a cylinder (12) of a piston/cylinder assembly (12, 14) associated with the the second pulley (2).Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2001Date of Patent: January 20, 2004Assignee: Van Doorne's Transmissie BVInventors: Maurice Didier Rienks, Engbert Spijker
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Patent number: 6675670Abstract: An automatic transmission operating lever 1 including a bar 2 jointed with a base 3 on a base-side end thereof, a knob 5 into which the bar 2 is inserted, a first engagement mechanism and a second engagement mechanism. The first engagement mechanism includes a first engaging portion 21 axially extending on an outer surface on the other end of the bar 2 and a second engaging portion 51b to be engaged with the first engaging portion 21, which is provided in the knob 5. The second engagement mechanism includes a protrusion 3d on the outer surface on the base-side end of the bar 2 and a hook 51f to be latched on the protrusion 3d, which is provided in the knob 5. The first engagement mechanism starts engagement before the second engagement mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2002Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Fujikiko Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ryoichi Fujiwara, Yoshimasa Kataumi
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Patent number: 6662674Abstract: A steering column (10, 210) includes a support (24, 224) which supports a steering column member for rotation about a longitudinal axis (26, 226). A mounting bracket (50, 266) connects the steering column (10, 210) to a vehicle frame. A pair of arms (66, 68 and 276, 278) interconnects the support (24, 224) and the mounting bracket (50, 266). Each of the arms (66, 68 and 276, 278) has an end (72, 78 and 296, 304) pivotally connected with the mounting bracket (50, 266) and an end (88, 98 and 310, 318) pivotally connected with the support (24, 224). A locking mechanism (108, 330) locks the arms (66, 68 and 276, 278) relative to the mounting bracket (50, 266) and locks the support (24, 224) relative to the arms. The locking mechanism (108, 330) includes a locking shaft (110, 340) extending through the mounting bracket (50, 266), one of the arms (66, 68 and 276, 278), and into the support (24, 224).Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2001Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventors: Mark A. Cartwright, Jonathan Lewis, Gregory B. Livengood
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Patent number: 6662904Abstract: A lubricating apparatus, for a friction engagement element that engages a rotatable member with a case includes a hub connected to the rotatable member, friction members disposed between the hub and the case, a hydraulic servo for engaging the friction members, and an oil passage for supplying lubricant from the case to the friction members. A discharge opening of the oil passage is formed at a position which is radially inward of the friction members and which is axially to a side of the friction members. The discharge opening is directed toward the friction members. A weir member for restricting escape of lubricant in the axial direction through a gap between the hub and the friction members is provided at the other axial side of the friction members. Therefore, the axial escape of lubricant exiting the friction members can be prevented by a non-contact leakage restriction that does not cause drag resistance.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2001Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kenji Omote, Takeshi Inuzuka, Shigeo Tsuzuki, Mitsuhiro Umeyama, Hisanori Nomoto, Yuji Iwase
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Patent number: 6652403Abstract: Within the scope of the method for compensating angular misalignments for the variator of a continuously variable belt-drive transmission having cone pulleys disposed in pairs and one pushing linked band as torque transmitting belt-drive element, the fixed cone pulley of a variator side is designed with a curved outline, a pushing link displacement path being calculated with reference to a crowned pushing link flank outline and then the pushing link displacement path to the other side of the variator is calculated so that the displacement path is free of angular misalignment.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2001Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Assignee: ZF Batavia, L.L.C.Inventors: Silvius Drees, Jochen Fischer, Stefan-Ulrich Prange
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Patent number: 6644140Abstract: A ball screw having spacers which can assuredly be retained between balls and prevent direct contact between the balls. The ball screw includes a plurality of spacers (1) provided between respective adjacent pairs of balls. The spacers (1) each include a base plate (2) having front and back surfaces, and at least three projections (4, 6) provided on each of the front and back surfaces of the base plate (2). The projections (4) on the front surface are offset from the projections (6) on the back surface. The spacers (1) are each provided perpendicularly to a traveling direction of the balls with the projections (4, 6) on the front and back surfaces resiliently abutting against the balls.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2001Date of Patent: November 11, 2003Assignee: Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.Inventor: Haruo Akido
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Patent number: 6634246Abstract: A recirculating-ball nut and screw set mounted with a lubrication device effective in improving the sliding characteristic and also realizing maintenance-free lubrication. The lubrication device is mainly comprised of a lubricating plate accommodated in a holder attached to a ball nut. The lubricating plate is made with a tongue that will come into sliding engagement with a helical groove formed around a screw shaft. The lubricating plate is made of a sintered resinous component of porous structure in which cells are impregnated with lubricant.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2001Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasumasa Ohya, Toyohisa Ishihara
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Patent number: 6629470Abstract: A tractor includes a frame, an engine, a transmission for selecting a number of vehicle speeds, and a device for transmitting power from the engine to a PTO mechanism. The tractor has a mechanism forming part of the device by which the tractor speed can be selected to be higher than any speed selectable by means of the transmission.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2001Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.Inventor: Emiliano Brancolini
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Patent number: 6619153Abstract: A shift system for a transfer case including a spring-loaded range fork assembly operable for shifting a range sleeve between two speed range positions. The range fork assembly includes a bracket, a range fork, and a spring assembly. The spring assembly is compressed and inserted into chambers formed in both the bracket and range fork. The range fork assembly is slidably maintained on a shift rail and the range fork is coupled to the range sleeve. An actuator mechanism is provided for causing selective axial movement of the range fork assembly on the rail. The spring assembly allows the bracket to shift and apply a shift force on the range fork. This shift force causes the range fork to slide the range sleeve to the desired range position.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2002Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: New Venture Gear, Inc.Inventors: William E. Smith, Matthew Malinowski, Stephen M. Dolan
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Patent number: 6619156Abstract: A skid resistant cover assembly includes a rigid top plate provided with skid resistant top surface. A support plate below the top plate is clamped to the pedal of a vehicle by a strap clamp that passes over the support plate and past both sides of the pedal. The strap clamp is drawn tightly together under the pedal by mechanisms well known in the art. The top plate is then secured to the support plate by screw fasteners.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2001Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: Quest Industries, Inc.Inventors: Orion J. Super, Mark W. Ello
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Patent number: 6619154Abstract: An electrical control device for a motor-driven derailleur for bicycles. The control device has a supporting body adapted for attachment to the handlebars of a bicycle; a brake lever is mounted on the supporting body so that it can oscillate. A pair of electrical switches, for controlling gear change, are carried by the supporting body on a supporting plate which is mounted on the supporting body. Preferable the switches are pre-assembled on supporting plate before it is mounted on the supporting body.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2001Date of Patent: September 16, 2003Assignee: Campagnolo Srl.Inventor: Valentino Campagnolo
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Patent number: 6601466Abstract: A control arrangement for an adjustable housing of a radar sensor has a holder on which a position of the housing is changeable by at least one adjusting screw which is turnable by a regulatable adjusting drive, and a control electronic unit provided for adjustment, via which said signals produced by the radar signal are evaluated or adjusting data stored in a storage are read, supplied to the corresponding adjusting drive and the position response command signals are transmitted to the corresponding adjusting drives.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2001Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Sabine Koerber, Bernhard Lucas, Dirk Langenhan
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Patent number: 6599212Abstract: A V-face of a metal element is prevented from being inclined due to a load from a pulley by increasing the height Hs of an upper non-contact portion of the V-face of the metal element. For example, when the height of the V-face is represented by Hv (mm), and the height of the upper non-contact portion of the V-face is represented by Hs (mm), the height Hv of the V-face and the height Hs of the upper non-contact portion are set so that a relationship −0.5265Hv+2.768≦Hs≦−0.5934Hv+3.524 is established.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2001Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ken Kanokogi, Hideaki Yoshida
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Patent number: 6592482Abstract: A belt tensioner having a pivot arm biased toward a belt by a torsion spring. The tensioner also comprises a one-way clutch coupled with a friction clutch. The pivot arm of the tensioner is connected to a one-way clutch. The one-way clutch is cooperatively connected to a friction clutch having a predetermined friction torque caused by frictionally engaged radially extending surfaces. The pivot arm may move relatively freely toward a belt by operation of the one-way clutch. At the limit of arm movement the one-way clutch engages, preventing travel away from the belt in an opposite direction. The arm may only travel away from the belt when a belt tension torque exceeds the spring force plus a friction torque of the friction clutch.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2001Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: The Gates CorporationInventor: Alexander Serkh
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Patent number: 6591943Abstract: The invention relates to an improved method for lubricating transport systems or parts thereof, especially for lubricating guideways and rails in elongating systems. The inventive method can be realized in that the lubricant film continuity comprises the equation: X=(lubricating active time/lubricating inactive time)≧100 and/or the lubricant film continuity comprises the equation: Y=(lubricating active time/(lubricating active time+lubricating inactive time))≧10%.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2001Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: Bruckner Maschinenbau GmbHInventors: Paul Lindner, Ulrich Ruhlemann, Helmut Gumpinger
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Patent number: 6584869Abstract: A ball screw includes a spindle element which has a first groove arrangement on an outer circumferential surface, a nut element which surrounds the spindle element and has a second groove arrangement on an inner circumferential surface, and a plurality of balls, at least some of which engage into the first groove arrangement and the second groove arrangement. The nut element is rotatable about an axis of rotation with respect to the spindle element, and, during the rotation of the nut element about the axis of rotation with respect to the spindle element, the balls which engage into the first groove arrangement and the second groove arrangement roll in the first and the second groove arrangement, while at the same time rotate about respective ball axes of rotation.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2001Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AGInventors: Wolfgang Grosspietsch, Angelika Ebert, Markus Heiartz, Wolfgang Reisser, Andreas Dau, Paul Kraus, Thomas John