Patents Examined by David Fenstermacher
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Patent number: 7146872Abstract: Provision of a 3-DOF micro manipulator easy to operate and capable of executing accurate positioning, wherein the link mechanisms of the micro manipulator whose main operation is parallel 3-DOF operation are implemented by cutting, folding, and moding a sheet of metal plate. Base and end effector are connected by three link mechanisms. The three link mechanisms are manufactured by cutting and folding a flexible plate material, and are equipped with plate-like arm portions each having a spread in the axially peripheral direction of the end effector, with hinge portions that are formed longitudinally across each arm portion in order to function as revolving joints R, and with a hinge portion also formed at the middle position of the arm portion in order to function as revolving joints R. Also, a parallelogrammatic link is formed between one longitudinal end of the arm portion and the middle portion thereof in order to function as a prismatic joint pair P.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2002Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Science Systems, Ltd., National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and TechnologyInventors: Kazuhiro Morita, Motohide Ukiana, Kazuhiro Fujii, Shigeto Isakozawa, Hidemi Koike, Tamio Tanikawa
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Patent number: 7146870Abstract: A circulation unit with lubrication system for rolling element includes a lubricant inlet formed with the sliding element and the lubricant inlet communicates with lubricant path such that lubricant can be directly fed to the rollers. The circulation unit has a compact structure which saves space and manufacturing cost.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2003Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Hiwin Technologies Corp.Inventors: Chang-Hsin Kuo, Ya-Hui Liao
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Patent number: 7147586Abstract: A continuously variable transmission is disclosed for use in rotationally or linearly powered machines and vehicles. The transmission provides a simple manual shifting method for the user. Further, the practical commercialization of traction roller transmissions requires improvements in the reliability, ease of shifting, function and simplicity of the transmission. The present invention includes a continuously variable transmission that may be employed in connection with any type of machine that is in need of a transmission. For example, the transmission may be used in (i) a motorized vehicle such as an automobile, motorcycle, or watercraft, (ii) a non-motorized vehicle such as a bicycle, tricycle, scooter, exercise equipment or (iii) industrial equipment, such as a drill press, power generating equipment, or textile mill.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2004Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Fallbrook Technologies Inc.Inventors: Donald C. Miller, David John Allen
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Patent number: 7143867Abstract: An oil level monitoring and replenishment system for use with an internal combustion engine having an oil sump. The system as a sensor which continuously measures the sump level in the reservoir for holding a quantity of oil to be used in replenishment of the sump. A sensor monitors the oil level in the sump and causes replenishment from the reservoir when needed. The reservoir has warning circuit interactive with a reservoir sensor to signal from the reservoir has reached a lower level of oil and requires the filling. The sensor also provides means to signal when the reservoir has been filled to the desired level to prevent overfilling.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2003Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventor: Kewal K. Chopra
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Patent number: 7143866Abstract: A strand being pulled through a conduit is automatically lubricated.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2003Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: WLD, LLCInventors: Timothy L. Coder, Dennis D. Hartman
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Patent number: 7143661Abstract: A leadscrew mechanical drive includes a leadscrew having a leadscrew axis and a leadscrew thread with a nonzero leadscrew thread pitch. A leadscrew follower structure is engaged to the leadscrew. The leadscrew follower structure includes a first leadscrew follower and, desirably, a second leadscrew follower. The first leadscrew follower and the second leadscrew follower are substantially identical, and each leadscrew follower includes a threaded insert having an insert thread with a nonzero insert thread pitch different from the leadscrew thread pitch. The insert thread is engaged to the leadscrew thread over a circumferential distance of less than one-half turn of the insert thread.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2003Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventor: Gabor Devenyi
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Patent number: 7140468Abstract: A plurality of sensors are utilized to record operating conditions of the machine, element, environment, and lubricant. The apparatus is controlled either manually or with the aid of a controller unit such as a microprocessor. A stand-alone humidity sensor mechanism is disclosed, in which signal process circuitry is electrically coupled to a humidity sensor, designed to be attached to the mechanism to be monitored so that it is juxtaposed in the atmosphere above the lubricant material that is being monitored.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2003Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: Trico Mfg. Corp.Inventors: Brad Rake, Keith Cravillion, Mark Moertl
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Patent number: 7140269Abstract: A gear wheel includes multiple helical toothings, each having a different helical angle. A pressing method for molding a gear wheel involves introducing a compactable material into a chamber of a pressing tool, compacting the material, exposing the helical toothings of the gear wheel, and removing the molded body from the pressing tool. A pressing tool for pressing, as one part, a gear wheel, includes a matrix, cylindrical first and second molding tool parts which can be translated along and then rotated about a longitudinal axis, and a driver coupled to the molding tool parts or driving them. The molding tool parts can be moved towards and away from each other and the inner surface of the matrix delimits the chamber and is shaped to allow a linear axial sliding movement of the compactable material relative to the matrix.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2003Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: Commerzbank AktiengesellschaftInventors: Manfred Arlt, Gerhard Subek, Thomas Franz, Christian Reimann, Otto Stock, Anton Eiberger
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Patent number: 7131349Abstract: The invention concerns a device for actuating a gearbox, in particular controllable by pulse control, the device comprising a housing and a lever mounted oscillating in the housing, and the lever being selectively activated via a knob movable along a first direction between two extreme transitory positions located on either side of a neutral position. The lever is slidably mounted relative to a housing along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and the lever selectively adopts an active position wherein it projects outside the housing, and an inactive position wherein it is retracted inside the housing.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2001Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles S.A.Inventor: Franck Sauvonnet
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Patent number: 7131930Abstract: A continuously variable transmission is disclosed for use in rotationally or linearly powered machines and vehicles. The transmission provides a simple manual shifting method for the user. Further, the practical commercialization of traction roller transmissions requires improvements in the reliability, ease of shifting, function and simplicity of the transmission. The present invention includes a continuously variable transmission that may be employed in connection with any type of machine that is in need of a transmission. For example, the transmission may be used in (i) a motorized vehicle such as an automobile, motorcycle, or watercraft, (ii) a non-motorized vehicle such as a bicycle, tricycle, scooter, exercise equipment or (iii) industrial equipment, such as a drill press, power generating equipment, or textile mill.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2004Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: Fallbrook Technologies Inc.Inventors: Donald C. Miller, David John Allen
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Patent number: 7131347Abstract: A manual gearshift device for an automotive automatic transmission operative in an automatic shift mode in which a gear ratio is automatically varied according to driving conditions and a manual mode in which a gear ratio is manually changed is disclosed. The manual gear shift device, that is installed to spokes of a steering wheel extending in substantially diametrically opposite horizontal directions, comprises a first gearshift switch which is installed to one of the spokes at an obverse side of the steering wheel and provides a shift-up command signal and a second gearshift switch, desirably different in shape and operative direction from the first gearshift switch, which is installed to one of the spokes at a reverse side of the steering wheel and provides a shift-up command signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2005Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: Mazda Motor CorporationInventors: Kazuhiko Yoshikawa, Yoshinori Ohtsubo, Yasuyuki Inai, Kouji Furukawa, Akira Nakayama, Shingo Kunihiro, Akiko Ogasawara
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Patent number: 7127960Abstract: An apparatus (20) for testing the co-efficient of friction of a road surface (78) of a road (79) including an electronic digital device (22) that senses through its sensor (75) the speed of a toothed sprocket wheel (71) and by which through the dropping of a frame (24) by means of a tripping mechanism (80) that trips upon a rotating motor (34) accelerating and by which a predetermined value in device (22) is reached by the speed of a tire flat (61) that strikes road surface (78).Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2004Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Inventor: Daniel L. Riffe
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Patent number: 7127962Abstract: The present invention relates to a manipulating device (A) for producing Schönflies motions comprising a parallel array of at least two legs (B), each leg (B) including an actuator unit (C) having first and second ends and producing a pan-tilt motion, each leg (B) also including a passive unit (D) having first and second ends, the first end of the passive unit (D) being coupled to the first end of the actuator unit (C) such that the passive unit (D) reacts to the pan-tilt motion, a base (1) connected to the second end of each actuator unit (C), all second ends having a constant relative position with respect to one another; and a common end-effector (36) connected to the second end of all passive units (D) such that the common end-effector (36) is provided with a Schönflies motion by the legs (B).Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2005Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Assignee: McGill UniversityInventors: Jorge Angeles, Alexei Morozov
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Patent number: 7124660Abstract: A hex-axis horizontal movement dynamic simulator is aimed at Modular Design without hydraulic or pneumatic system but which were conventionally used in the so called Stewart Platform; this dynamic simulator comprises three sets of movement control unit with symmetrical structure located at the positions relative to each other forming three sides of an equilateral triangle, and a load-carrying platform which connected to the three movement control by means of three sets of universal-joint yoke mechanism each relative position located on the load-carrying platform are each other arranged to form as three sides of an equilateral triangle too; with this type of arrangement, this dynamic simulator have a 6-degree of freedom motion when a sets of movement control unit makes different rectilinear motion, the load-carrying platform will generate a combination of spatial translation motion and angular motion.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2003Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Inventor: Johnson Chiang
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Patent number: 7124857Abstract: A bearing scavenge system comprises a scavenging passage extending axially through a rotating shaft supported by the bearing assembly. Oil and air are drawn from an oil cavity of the bearing assembly and evacuated through the rotating shaft as the shaft rotates.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2004Date of Patent: October 24, 2006Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.Inventors: Eugene Gekht, Thomas Francis Haslam-Jones, Pierre-Yves Légaré
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Patent number: 7121163Abstract: A lubricating system for a power unit for a vehicle with an internal combustion engine. A static oil hydraulic type non-stage transmission is disposed on a left lateral side of a crankshaft, and a lubricating oil tank is formed integrally with a main body of the internal combustion engine and is disposed on a right lateral side opposite to the side of the transmission, with the crankshaft therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2003Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuhiko Ito, Dai Arai, Kazuhiro Yasuda
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Patent number: 7114407Abstract: An actuator assembly (10) including a motor (1) having a body portion (14) and a drive shaft (16), the drive shaft being drivably connected to a pinion (18), the pinion drivingly engaging an array of gear teeth (20) of a gear rack (22) the array of gear teeth having a first side (21) adjacent the motor, in which the gear rack is pivotally mounted via a pivot about a pivot axis (25A) on said first side (21) of the array of gear teeth (20).Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 1999Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Systems (UK) Ltd.Inventor: Eric Colin
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Patent number: 7114408Abstract: A drop away leaf pivot unit for use with a clamp in a manufacturing environment. The drop away leaf pivot unit includes a body having a plurality of orifices therethrough and a chamber defined therein. A base member is connected to the body at one side thereof. The pivot unit includes a cylinder extending from an end of the body with a cylinder having a piston and piston rod therein. A spline shaft is rotatably supported by the body and has a drive link engaged therewith. The drive link is also connected to the piston rod on the opposite end. At least one stop member is engaged with the shaft on an end. The drop away leaf pivot unit also includes an arm secured to the shaft on an outer portion of the shaft, outside of the body of the pivot unit. A cover plate is secured to both ends of the body to ensure an enclosed operating environment for certain components of the pivot unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2003Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.Inventor: Matthew Rentz
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Patent number: 7112159Abstract: A continuously variable transmission is disclosed for use in rotationally or linearly powered machines and vehicles. The transmission provides a simple manual shifting method for the user. Further, the practical commercialization of traction roller transmissions requires improvements in the reliability, ease of shifting, function and simplicity of the transmission. The present invention includes a continuously variable transmission that may be employed in connection with any type of machine that is in need of a transmission. For example, the transmission may be used in (i) a motorized vehicle such as an automobile, motorcycle, or watercraft, (ii) a non-motorized vehicle such as a bicycle, tricycle, scooter, exercise equipment or (iii) industrial equipment, such as a drill press, power generating equipment, or textile mill.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2004Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Assignee: Fallbrook Technologies Inc.Inventors: Donald C. Miller, David John Allen
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Patent number: 7111525Abstract: The invention relates to a crank shaft having a guide groove allowing the movement of a crank pin so as to adjust the reciprocating distance of a piston according to the rotating direction. The crank shaft comprises a rotation shaft for inducing the rotating movement; and a crank arm connected to the rotation shaft at the center and having at one side a guide groove provided horizontal in the radial direction for allowing free movement of a crank pin and elastic means provided within the guide groove to enhance the performance of sucking and compressing fluid. Accordingly, smooth and soft compression is enabled to prevent the overpressure loss. Also, the sucking performance is improved by using additional retreat due to the elastic means.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2002Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: In Won Lee, Kwang Hyup An, Jeong Ho Lee, In Seop Lee