Patents Examined by David M. Fenstermacher
  • Patent number: 11808327
    Abstract: A linear actuator with an integrated variable frequency drive. The linear actuator includes an AC motor. A screw assembly with an output shaft is mechanically coupled to the AC motor. An extension tube is provided with a front mount. The extension tube is configured and arranged to be driven in translatory motion in either direction by the screw assembly. A cover tube encloses the extension tube and screw assembly. An actuator housing is operatively associated with the screw assembly and the AC motor. The actuator housing has a removable cover. A bracket is attached to the inside surface of the removable cover. The VFD is mounted within the actuator housing. The VFD may be mounted on the bracket adjacent to the inside surface of the removable cover. The removable cover may facilitate heat transfer out of the actuator housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Columbus McKinnon Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Conway, Jared B. Godbey, Jason D. Wills, Daniel A. Mast, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11787528
    Abstract: A jam free dual redundant actuator lane changer system includes a primary lane system and a secondary lane system. The primary lane system is configured to provide actuation of a component during a normal operation while the secondary lane system remains in a standby configuration; and the secondary lane system is configured to provide an actuation of the component when the primary lane system fails or jams, but freed from its output to the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Whippany Actuation Systems LLC
    Inventors: Shijie Liu, Kurt Goldhammer, Douglas Campbell, Philip DeMauro, Michael Doyle, Alan Powers, Philip Chivily
  • Patent number: 11787069
    Abstract: An insertion tool with a flexible spine and a method for forming thereof are provided. A method includes placing a plurality of links, a flexible spine, and a line assembly into a channel of a fixturing assembly, pulling, via the line assembly, the plurality of links into a tensioned state in the channel, and affixing the flexible spine to each of the plurality of links while in the tensioned state. An insertion tool comprising a plurality of links arranged in a sequence, a flexible spine affixed to three or more links of the plurality of links, and a line assembly inserted through line guides in each of the plurality of links, the line assembly being configured to actuate the plurality of links from a free state to a tensioned state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Oliver Crispin Robotics Limited
    Inventors: Jason Ralph Gordon Curle, Peter John Nisbet, Tim Henri Ann Francois
  • Patent number: 11781262
    Abstract: A driver assembly of a top-loader washer includes: a bearing housing provided under an outer tub and having a bolt screwed into a lower surface of the bearing housing, a stator provided under the bearing housing and defining a first hole, a clutch stopper interposed between the bearing housing and the stator and defining a second hole, a first sleeve coupled to the first hole, and a second sleeve coupled to the second hole. The bolt is inserted into the first sleeve through the first hole and into the second sleeve through the second hole to fasten the bearing housing, the clutch stopper, and the stator and the second sleeve is spaced apart from the bearing housing based on the first sleeve and the second sleeve being fastened to and in contact with each other by a fastening force of the bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Young Woo Hong, Doyoung Rhyu
  • Patent number: 11781624
    Abstract: A linear actuator comprises a motor for producing a bi-directional rotational output. A casing is connected to the motor at a proximal end, the casing having an inner cavity defining a joint surface. A shaft is within the inner cavity of the casing and actuated by the motor for rotation. A sliding tube is at least partially in the inner cavity of the casing for moving in translation in an axial direction relative to the casing. One or more travelling nut is connected to the sliding tube assembly for moving with the sliding tube in the axial direction, the travelling nut being operatively engaged to the shaft for converting a rotational motion of the shaft into a translation of the sliding tube. A liner is between the sliding tube and the joint surface of the inner cavity, an inner surface of the liner defining longitudinal contact surfaces separated by longitudinal grooves, the longitudinal contact surfaces contacting the sliding tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: D-BOX TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Stephan Gagnon
  • Patent number: 11781644
    Abstract: A selector assembly includes a housing having a spherical cavity and a detent cavity that form a continuous selector cavity. A selector slidably operates within the selector cavity and about a center point of the spherical cavity. The selector includes a spheroid member that is contained within the spherical cavity and slidably engages a guide surface that defines the spherical cavity. A first pivot includes a first rotational axis that extends through the center point of the spherical cavity. A second pivot includes a second rotational axis that extends through the center point of the spherical cavity. A detent pin is biased toward a detent surface of the detent cavity and slidably engages the detent surface to define a plurality of selector positions of the selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: GHSP, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk Ypma, Dapeng Xu, Shavin Zhang, Rorbin Luo
  • Patent number: 11766303
    Abstract: Techniques for active and semi-active damping include a system including a processor and a linkage having a first link, a second link, and a damper coupling the second link to the first link. The processor is configured to receive a movement command for moving the linkage; determine one or more first vibrations expected to occur in the linkage as a result of performing the movement command; determine a movement profile for moving the linkage to reduce the one or more first vibrations; and drive, using a drive component, the linkage to move according to the movement profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Roman L. Devengenzo, Bruce M. Schena, David W. Robinson
  • Patent number: 11761517
    Abstract: A drive system comprising a rotatable input disc that receives an input rotational force and rotates about a longitudinal axis, where the input disc comprises driving features formed on its interior face. The drive system also comprises a rotatable output disc that rotates about the longitudinal axis and comprises driving features formed on its interior face, where the output disc provides an output rotational force. The drive system comprises a drive core between the interior face of the input disc and the interior face of the output disc to translate the input rotational force to the output rotational force. As the input disc is rotated by the input rotational force, engaging feature(s) of power disc(s) in the drive core engages the driving features of the input disc causing rotation of each power disc. As the power disc(s) is rotated, the engaging feature(s) of each power disc(s) engages the driving features of the output disc causing rotation of the output disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Argent Automation Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Craig Silver, Craig Laurence Silver
  • Patent number: 11761851
    Abstract: A drive system includes a motor having a rotatable output shaft that is operably coupled to a lead screw by a transmission that converts rotary output of the motor into linear translation of the lead screw. The drive system further includes a position sensor configured to sense a position of the lead screw. A method for determining a backlash of the drive system includes the steps of sensing an initial position and driving the lead screw in a first direction to a calculated second position by controlling the motor to rotate the output shaft an amount that corresponds to a distance between the initial position and the calculated second position. The method further includes the steps of sensing an actual second position of the lead screw; and determining a backlash value according to a difference between the calculated second position and the actual second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignees: Safran Landing Systems Canada Inc., SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Aakash Gohil, Andrew Michael Ellis, Graeme Peter Arthur Klim, Dorian Tercier
  • Patent number: 11754178
    Abstract: A shift device includes a shift switching member including a plurality of valley portions corresponding to shift positions, a motor including a rotor and a stator and configured to drive the shift switching member, a first drive system including a first inverter configured to output a voltage for driving the motor, a second drive system provided separately from the first drive system and including a second inverter configured to output a voltage for driving the motor; and a positioning member configured to be fitted into any one of the plurality of valley portions of the shift switching member to establish the corresponding shift position. When driving the motor, the shift position is switched by the voltages output from the first drive system and the second drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsuto Ogino, Kota Ishikawa, Yutaka Uchida
  • Patent number: 11754165
    Abstract: A damping system for a linear actuator, and a linear actuator. The damping system has a first sub-assembly with a first axial stop surface and a second axial stop surface. A spring-elastic spring arrangement has an initial position at a predetermined pretensioning and is axially in contact with the first and second stop surface. A second sub-assembly is mounted axially displaceable relative to the first sub-assembly and is configured to lift the spring arrangement away from the first stop surface or from the second stop surface in the case of an axial movement relative to the first sub-assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Ewellix AB
    Inventors: Hans Peter Panzer, Marcel Soltermann, Bernd Spigaht
  • Patent number: 11746860
    Abstract: A belt drive mechanism which can be used to pay out or draw belt to or from a belt actuated system (or belt driven system). The mechanism features a self-winding spool which can automatically wind or unwind portions of the belt as they are withdrawn from, or fed to the belt actuated system. A second rotational axle (idler shaft), with one or more sheaves (e.g., pulley's or rollers) can be rotationally coupled to a capstan via a belt, and can be utilized to drive additional mechanisms in the belt drive mechanism, such as a winding mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Liftwave, Inc.
    Inventors: Blake Sessions, Toomas Sepp
  • Patent number: 11732675
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a linear actuator lock apparatus having a housing having an inner surface defining an axial cavity having a first housing portion where the axial cavity has a first lateral size, a second housing portion having a second, larger lateral size, and a face from the first housing portion to the second housing portion, a lock assembly having a lock carrier configured for movement within the cavity between a first position and a position, and a lock finger affixed to and extending away from the lock carrier, where the second finger end is configured to contact the face when extended and fit within the first housing portion when retracted, and a sleeve configured to move between a position in which the lock finger is permitted to extend and a position configured to contact and retract the lock finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Thomas Kopecek
  • Patent number: 11732800
    Abstract: An apparatus for avoiding disposition of the clutch of the vehicle speed change device includes a first buffer clutch and a second buffer clutch being located on a clutching cam guide track; the clutching cam guide track being serially arranged with a spring seat and a compressible spring; each of the first buffer clutch and the second buffer clutch including a respective clutching cam set; each of the two clutching cam sets having a respective clutching guide track; the clutching guide track of the first buffer clutch having a parking position for receiving a shift fork; and a protecting ring being installed on the clutching cam set of the first buffer clutch; the protecting ring having a hooking opening capable of receiving the shift fork which shifts to the parking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: NEW KAILUNG GEAR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jen-Chih Liu
  • Patent number: 11697583
    Abstract: A micromechanical device including a substrate, a movable mass, and a stop spring structure, which includes a stop. The substrate includes a substrate surface in parallel to a main extension plane and the movable mass is situated movably above the substrate surface in relation to the substrate. The stop spring structure is connected to the movable mass. The stop is designed to strike against the substrate surface in the event of a deflection of the movable mass in a z direction, perpendicular to the main extension plane. The stop spring structure, at the location of the stop, includes a first spring constant, a second spring constant, in parallel to the main extension plane, and a third spring constant, in parallel to the main extension plane and perpendicular to the x direction. The first spring constant is greater than the second spring constant and/or is greater than the third spring constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Cristian Nagel, Johannes Classen, Rolf Scheben, Rudy Eid
  • Patent number: 11697959
    Abstract: A novel electric strut is disclosed, including an electric strut casing in which a supporting pipe casing is sleeved. A supporting pipe is installed in the supporting pipe casing, a screw rod has a front end connected with the rear end of the supporting pipe, a front end of the supporting pipe is connected with a ball-and-socket joint, a special-shaped conduit is sleeved outside the screw rod and located in the electric strut casing, a spring is sleeved on surfaces of the supporting pipe and the special-shaped conduit, an adjustable damper is mounted at a tail portion of the screw rod, a motor is mounted in the electric strut casing at a rear end of the screw rod and connected with the screw rod, a rear end of the electric strut casing is sealed through an integrated motor joint integrally fixed to a tail portion of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: GUANGDONG JUNCHI SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chunbo Fu
  • Patent number: 11692627
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a transmission selector for a vehicle. The transmission selector for a vehicle includes: a transmission selector element including a first switch and a second switch, and a control circuit. When the vehicle speed is equal to or less than a first threshold, the control circuit switches the current gear to D in response to the selection operation received by the first switch, and the control circuit switches the current gear to R in response to the selection operation received by the second switch. When the vehicle speed is equal to or less than the first threshold and the vehicle meets the specified conditions, the control circuit controls the vehicle to switch the current gear in response to a long-press operation whose execution of the selection operation received by the first switch or the second switch reaches a first specified time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimi Kaneko, Taichi Kitamura, Yurina Morimoto
  • Patent number: 11692623
    Abstract: An actuator unit that drives a switching mechanism for a shift range of an automatic transmission is provided. The actuator unit includes a motor that generates a drive force for driving the switching mechanism, a control substrate that controls the motor, a connector that connects a wire to the control substrate, a housing that includes an opening, a cover that covers the opening, and a shock absorption material that includes a first shock absorption material and a second shock absorption material. The motor and the control substrate are positioned in a housing space defined by the housing and the cover. The control substrate is fixed to the housing. The first shock absorption material and the second shock absorption material are positioned between the control substrate and the cover, and contacts both the control substrate and the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masashi Sasaki, Atsushi Kamada, Kota Fujii, Daisuke Kikukawa, Shinya Kuwahara, Keiji Suzumura
  • Patent number: 11692612
    Abstract: A multilinear actuator transmits a force in several directions, and includes complementary actuating strands made of flexible material and provided on a first face with spaced studs, the actuating strands being located opposite each other, the studs meshing with one another, and transverse faces of one stud bear against respective rear and front transverse faces of adjacent studs of the other actuating strand, defining a straight section in which the two actuating strands are rigidly connected, so that the straight section behaves like a rigid bar, said actuating strands including on an outer face, regularly spaced teeth, the actuator including one driving member per actuating strand, meshing with the teeth of the second face of one of said actuating strands to translate said actuating strand, the actuator including a straight section and a straight section in which the actuating strands are meshed, and a curved region located between the straight sections in which the actuating strands are spaced apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: SERAPID-FRANCE
    Inventor: Romain Prevost
  • Patent number: 11667320
    Abstract: An adjustment drive for a steering column may include a drive unit having a threaded spindle that is supported in a gearbox housing at a bearing portion so as to be rotatable, with the threaded spindle including a threaded portion with a spindle thread that is axially adjoined to a shaft portion on which a gear wheel is arranged in a rotationally secure manner. The gear wheel meshes with a drive wheel that is coupled to a motor. Between the threaded portion and the gear wheel a peripheral bearing groove with a groove base may extend between groove flanks thereof. The bearing portion may be disposed in the bearing groove in a region of the groove base, and the bearing portion may be supported in a sliding manner in a bearing opening of a bearing plate that engages radially in the bearing groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Sebastian Huber, Walter Lampert, Jean-Pierre Specht