Patents Examined by Charles Fox
  • Patent number: 10981732
    Abstract: A device for reliably sweeping or sorting an article from a main conveyor surface that is positioned above the main conveyor surface and includes a paddle assembly that can be adjusted for moving various different articles from the main conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: United Sortation Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Howard Eisenberg, Darius Scott
  • Patent number: 10974596
    Abstract: A gearbox operating system shifts between 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive. The system includes a reversible motor, and a reduction gear train that is configured to be driven by the motor to move a plunger between extended and retracted plunger positions that shifts gears. A printed circuit board has at least two Hall effect sensing circuits. A magnet is carried by the reduction gear train and is rotationally movable relative to the Hall effect sensing circuits. A first Hall effect sensing circuits provides a first output signal indicative of the extended plunger position. A second Hall effect sensing circuits provides a second output signal that is indicative of the retracted plunger position. A controller monitors the two Hall effect sensing circuits to determine if a desired plunger position has been achieved and trigger an error code if the desired plunger position has not been achieved within a predetermined response time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Susan M. Barnabo, John Sachs
  • Patent number: 10975917
    Abstract: A unitized wedge clutch includes a first race, a second race, a wedge segment, and a first side plate. The first race has a circumferential groove with a first angled surface and a second angled surface. The second race has a first ramp surface extending radially outward in a circumferential direction. The wedge segment is arranged in a radial space between the first race and the second race. The wedge segment has a third angled surface aligned with the first angled surface and a fourth angled surface aligned with the second angled surface, a second ramp surface aligned with the first ramp surface, and a first aperture. The first side plate has a first protrusion extending through the first aperture. The unitized wedge clutch may have a plurality of wedge segments arranged circumferentially in a radial space between the first race and the second race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jeremiah Bauman, Michael Hodge, James Copeland
  • Patent number: 10975918
    Abstract: A cone clutch apparatus for the vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a hub, a sleeve, a clutch ring including a clutch cone, a first friction ring, an internal middle cone, a second friction ring, an external middle cone, and a third friction ring, wherein clutch ring passages allowing oil to be supplied are formed in the clutch cone, and inclined surfaces for increasing areas with which the oil passing through the clutch ring passages are in contact while moving are formed on the internal middle cone, the second friction ring, and the external middle cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jong Yun Park, Sung Wha Hong, Dong Woo Gwak, Seong Eun Yun
  • Patent number: 10975923
    Abstract: Disclosed is a plastic composite including a magnetic alloy material in an amount of about 20% by volume or greater on the basis of the total volume of the plastic composite. Accordingly, weight of the clutch may be reduced by about 0.4 kg and weight of the pulley can be reduced by about 0.4 kg with the result that overall weight may be reduced by about 0.8 kg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hee-Sam Kang, Tae-Ho Jeong
  • Patent number: 10974280
    Abstract: A rock separator for separating rocks from soil, where the rock separator includes a mounting plate a plurality of elongate tines secured to the mounting plate, where the plurality of elongate tines define a curved shape across the mounting plate, a plurality of support members laterally joining the plurality of elongate tines and an attachment bracket on the mounting plate for releasably mounting to a machine. The mounting plate has a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface. The attachment bracket is attached directly to the mounting plate, where the plurality of elongate tines do not move relative the attachment bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventor: Theodore Leonard Kasper
  • Patent number: 10968137
    Abstract: A non-conforming fly ash is converted into conforming fly ash by: (1) obtaining an initial fly ash with at least one non-conforming characteristic selected from excess carbon or low reactivity index as defined by ASTM C-618 and having a D10, D50 and D90; (2) classifying the initial fly ash using one or more air classifiers to produce at least two separate fly ash streams, including fine fly ash and coarse fly ash; and (3) collecting the fine fly ash and the coarse fly ash, (4) the fine fly ash having a D90 approximately equal to or less than the D50 of the initial fly ash and a conforming carbon content and a conforming reactivity index as defined by ASTM C-618.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: ROMAN CEMENT, LLC
    Inventor: John M. Guynn
  • Patent number: 10968995
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus may include a first input shaft fixedly connected to an engine output shaft, a second input shaft and selectively connectable to the first input shaft, a third input selectively connectable to the first input shaft, an intermediate shaft and first and second output shafts, an idle shaft mounted, a planetary gear set, the second rotation element and one of the first and third rotation elements selectively connectable to the intermediate shaft, the first and third rotation elements connected to the third and second input shafts, a plurality of gear sets, a first synchronizer selectively receiving a torque from the second input shaft and transmitting the received first torque to the first output shaft, a second synchronizer selectively receiving a torque from the third input shaft and transmitting the received second torque to the second output shaft, and four clutches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Chon Ok Kim, Seong Wook Hwang, Minho Chae, Sun Sung Kwon, Yong Uk Shin
  • Patent number: 10969346
    Abstract: An X-ray product quality automatic inspection device of the present invention comprises: a distributed X-ray source having a plurality of targets and being able to generate X-rays for irradiating an inspected product from the plurality of targets in a predetermined sequence; a detector for receiving the X-rays generated by the distributed X-ray source and outputting a signal representing characteristics of the received X-rays; a transport device for carrying the inspected product to pass through an X-ray radiation region; and a power supply and control device, which is used to supply power to and control the X-ray product quality automatic inspection device, to form characteristic information of the inspected product according to the signal from the detector and to provides an inspection and analysis result of the inspected product according to the characteristic information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: NUCTECH COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Huaping Tang, Zhiqiang Chen, Yuanjing Li, Zhuoyan Liu, Yonggang Wang, Zhanfeng Qin
  • Patent number: 10960403
    Abstract: A process for recovering component materials from lithium battery materials, the process comprising the steps of: a) processing lithium battery materials in a comminuting apparatus comprising at least a first comminuting device that is submerged in an immersion liquid, thereby creating reduced-size battery materials and liberating electrolyte material and a black mass material comprising anode and cathode powders from within the lithium battery materials and providing a sized-reduced feed stream comprising the reduced size battery materials and the black mass material and electrolyte materials entrained within the immersion liquid; and b) processing the size-reduced feed stream to obtain at least a black mass solid stream that comprises the black mass material and a retained portion of the immersion liquid having entrained electrolyte materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Li-Cycle Corp.
    Inventors: Ajay Kochhar, Timothy George Johnston
  • Patent number: 10961079
    Abstract: A reel assembly (10) having a spool (20) comprising a drum core (22) and side disc flanges (24) attached to the drum core (22) for retaining a wound hose (26) on the spool (20), and a release mechanism (120) operatively engaging the spool (20) via a drive shaft (110). The release mechanism (120) has a pair of rotatable hubs (132, 134) arranged in axial alignment and having a clamping spring (136) fitted around the rotatable hubs (132, 134) and arranged to clamp the hubs (132, 134) together in fixed rotational relation, wherein the clamping spring (136) opens to releases the rotatable hubs (132, 134) when the spool (20) is rotated in a payout direction so that the rotatable hubs (132, 134) disengage and the spool (20) can freewheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: REEL-TECH PTY LTD
    Inventors: Sean Morgan, Stuart Morgan
  • Patent number: 10955011
    Abstract: A hydraulic system of a transmission includes a plurality of pressure control valves. A pilot force component and an actuating force component of additional pressure control valves are applicable in the direction of a first end position of a valve slide. A downstream pressure of the additional pressure control valves is applicable in the direction of a second end position of the valve slide. Clutch valves are configured to be brought into operative connection by a pilot-controlled valve unit with an area guiding pressure of a primary pressure circuit or with an additional valve unit. The additional valve unit is a pressure-limiting valve with a predefined pressure level adjusted upstream of the additional valve unit and connected downstream to a low-pressure area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Rainer Novak, Tobias Pfleger, Alexander Hoffmann, Markus Terwart
  • Patent number: 10955014
    Abstract: A clutch, including: an inner race forming a pocket; an outer race; a pawl including a portion in the pocket; and a cage radially disposed between the inner race and the outer race. The cage includes a radially outer surface segment and a lift off bump stop extending from the surface segment. For a one-way mode, the inner race rotates, with respect to the outer race, only in one circumferential direction. For a first phase of the one-way mode, the inner race rotates in the circumferential direction and the pawl is arranged to be in contact with the outer race and free of contact with the lift off bump stop. For a second phase of the one-way mode: the inner TO race rotates in the first circumferential direction; and the pawl is arranged to be in contact with the lift off bump stop and free of contact with the outer race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Peter Burke, Brian Lee
  • Patent number: 10948024
    Abstract: A clutch disc includes a core plate and a friction member having an annular shape. The core plate includes a coupling portion having an annular shape and a plurality of fixation portions. The plurality of fixation portions protrude radially outward from the coupling portion and are circumferentially aligned through a plurality of slits each radially extending between adjacent two of the plurality of fixation portions. The friction member is fixed to the plurality of fixation portions and has an inner diameter larger than a diameter of the core plate at inner peripheral ends of the plurality of slits. The friction member includes a plurality of discharge grooves on an inner peripheral end surface thereof in corresponding portions thereof to the plurality of fixation portions. The plurality of discharge grooves lead water to the plurality of slits when the water drops on the inner peripheral end surface of the friction member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Uehara, Yoshiyuki Hagihara, Masahiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 10948034
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a driveline disconnect clutch for a hybrid vehicle shifting are presented. In one example, pressure of a working fluid supplied to the driveline disconnect clutch is adjusted in response to a rate of change in accelerator pedal position. Further, pressure of the working fluid may be decreased responsive to selected operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Felix Nedorezov, Francis Thomas Connolly, Xiaoyong Wang, Hong Jiang, Mark Steven Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 10950098
    Abstract: A cash processing apparatus comprises a housing provided with a depositing and dispensing section; a display section; a coin insertion section at a position at one side of a central part in a width direction of the housing and into which the coin is inserted; a coin placing section in the housing and having a coin placing surface for temporarily placing the coin, connecting to the coin insertion section side by side and extend to an opposite side across the central part in the width direction of the housing from the coin insertion section to form a shape elongated in the width direction; and a settlement module, wherein both a distance between the coin insertion section and one side end of the housing which is closest to the coin insertion section and a distance between the coin placing section and the other side end of the housing which is closest to the coin placing section are smaller than a depth distance of the coin placing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akiko Susaki, Norifumi Shishido
  • Patent number: 10947697
    Abstract: A pivoting unit for construction equipment is provided which can ensure a brake performance for an upper pivoting body thereof for any pivoting power source applied thereto without a limitation to the applied pivoting power source. The pivoting unit for a construction equipment, comprises a pivoting motor, a pivoting reducer connected to the pivoting motor, and a parking brake device which is installed between the pivoting motor and the pivoting reducer and restricts the rotation of the pivoting reducer independently of the pivoting motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Won Kil Choe, Dong Gyu Lee
  • Patent number: 10940915
    Abstract: A bicycle transmission is provided that includes a transmission, a connecting portion, a cable and a detection device. The connecting portion is connected to the transmission. The cable is coupled to the connecting portion to operate the transmission. The detection device is arranged to detect movement of the connecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Tadashi Ichida, Noriaki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10941817
    Abstract: Proposed is a clutch cam for a pumping device, wherein the shape of the clutch cam and the coupling structure between the clutch cam and parts coupled thereto are changed to reduce manufacturing cost and improve assembly performance. The clutch cam includes: a cam part having a cam profile provided along an outer circumferential surface thereof relative to a rotating axis of a center thereof; a first protrusion part provided on a side of the cam part by protruding therefrom toward the lever bracket on the same rotating axis as the rotating axis, and fitted to a fixing hole provided in the lever bracket; and a second protrusion part provided on the side of the cam part by protruding therefrom toward the lever bracket on the same rotating axis as the rotating axis, and fitted to an angle determination hole provided in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: HYUNDAI TRANSYS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Won Kim
  • Patent number: 10935088
    Abstract: In a coasting control process, an ECU increases line pressure PL of a hydraulic path to predetermined pressure P1 such that discharge pressure of an MOP becomes higher than that before a C1 clutch is disengaged at timing when an executing condition of coasting control is satisfied (time t=t1). According to such coasting control process, driving torque of the MOP increases, so that deceleration (deceleration G) caused by driving of the MOP by a drive wheel becomes larger than that in conventional coasting control in which the discharge pressure of the MOP is not increased. As a result, it is possible to inhibit a driver from feeling discomfort due to free-running feeling generated during the coasting control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takuro Morino, Yoshio Ito, Tomoaki Yanagida, Kenta Kimura, Yu Nagasato, Takuya Hirata, Tomoe Osada