Patents Examined by David W. Laub
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Patent number: 5551929Abstract: A traction-type transmission which uses a differential reduction principle whereby the present transmission can generate an extremely high output shaft torque, while maintaining a relatively low tangential force through the traction contact. The traction elements of the present invention operate at a relatively high surface speed whereby a finite tangential force, transmitted through the traction contacts, represents more power through the transmission. The geometry of the mating traction elements produces a traction contact shape which is very long, in the rolling direction, and narrow in width. This traction contact geometry greatly increases the coefficient of traction, since traction is directly related to the buildup of lubricant strain in the rolling direction. In addition, this narrow traction contact shape virtually eliminates fluid shear. Thus, this traction contact shape not only increases the power capacity of the present invention, but also greatly increases its efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 1993Date of Patent: September 3, 1996Inventor: Joseph E. Fritsch
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Patent number: 5417620Abstract: A compact structure is provided for an continuously variable transmission, which provides a more direct application of both load and control forces at the pivot trunnion. Load forces are produced from within the pivot trunnion, providing more direct control over load forces and their effect on contact forces between traction rollers and toric discs. Control forces which establish the desired transmission ratio are applied to the pivot trunnion in a manner which substantially eliminates twisting and squirming of the support rollers. High efficiency in operation, and improved assembly is provided with the compact structure disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1994Date of Patent: May 23, 1995Assignee: The Torax Company, Inc.Inventors: Charles B. Lohr, William J. Heidemann
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Patent number: 5386740Abstract: A rotary feed mechanism including gears provided on an outer peripheral surface of an inner ring, male threads on an outer peripheral surface of an inner ring, and an outer ring having female threads which .engage with the male threads of the inner ring. At least one male thread formed between the gears of the inner ring is engaged with a female thread provided on the outer ring, and at least one pinion engages with at least one of the gears, regardless of the axial position of the inner ring with respect to the outer ring. When the at least one pinion is rotated, the rotation is transmitted to the inner ring, and the inner ring is moved in an optical axis direction, with respect to the outer ring, in accordance with the engagement between the male and female threads.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 1992Date of Patent: February 7, 1995Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Norio Sato
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Patent number: 5385062Abstract: An oscillating signal light mechanism producing substantially constant angular velocity oscillation cycles of a single light is comprised of at least one signal light assembly mounted on a base for rotation of the light assembly relative to the base, a source of motive power including an output shaft rotated at a constant velocity in a single direction of rotation, and a mechanism mechanically connecting the output shaft to the signal light assembly for converting the constant velocity single direction rotation of the output shaft to cycling movements of the signal light assembly through arc segment oscillations at substantially constant angular velocity.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1993Date of Patent: January 31, 1995Assignee: The Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine CompanyInventor: W. Kenneth Menke
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Patent number: 5372051Abstract: A shift lever assembly adapted for use in a power transmission of an automotive vehicle, composed of a shift lever having a tubular body portion formed therein with an axial bore and provided at its lower end with a support portion to be mounted on a vehicle body structure and arranged perpendicularly to the tubular body portion and a connecting arm extending forwardly from the lower end of the tubular body portion, an operation rod slidably disposed within the axial bore of the tubular body portion and provided at its lower end with a detent mechanism for retaining the shift lever in a shifted position, and an operation knob having a grip portion connected to the upper end of the tubular body portion and an operation button assembled within the grip portion and maintained in engagement with the upper end of the operation rod.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 1993Date of Patent: December 13, 1994Assignee: Tsuda Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideki Kanematsu, Masaichi Suzuki
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Patent number: 5370011Abstract: The present disclosure concerns an actuator for converting rotary movement into linear movement. The actuator comprises a prime mover turning a reduction gear assembly which, in turn, drives a mechanical transmission including a linearly moving control element. To achieve precise movement of the control element to a desired position, and to ensure the desired position is retained as exactly as possible, a reduction gear assembly which is self-locking with respect to the maximum back-driving torque exerted on the reduction gear assembly by the mechanical transmission, is combined with a low friction, non-self-locking mechanical transmission. Preferably, the reduction gear assembly is implemented in the form of a strain wave reduction gear set and the mechanical transmission element is implemented in the form of a cooperating ballscrew and ballnut.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1992Date of Patent: December 6, 1994Assignee: Harmonic Drive Antriebstechnik GmbHInventors: Siegmar Gilges, Michael Georgi, Arnold Ries, Rolf Slatter, Karl Hammes
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Patent number: 5370010Abstract: A gear drive for shuttleless looms has an input transmission train and an outpost transmission train cooperating for converting the continuous rotational movement of the main loom drive shaft into an oscillating back and forth movement which in turn is converted into a horizontal back and forth movement of the respective gripper rod carrying a gripper head back and forth into the loom shed. The output transmission section or train has two auxiliary parallel output drive shafts, both of which are driven from a central output drive shaft. Two pinions at the free ends of the auxiliary parallel drive shaft mesh with the gripper rod, thereby distributing the drive forces over a larger surface area for reducing the wear and tear on the gripper rod and on the two parallel output drives.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1993Date of Patent: December 6, 1994Assignee: Lindauer Dornier GmbHInventor: Wilhelm Herrlein
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Patent number: 5370014Abstract: A gear change for a vehicle comprising an external box made from an aluminum alloy, a main group, a driving shaft of which is adapted to be driven by an engine of the vehicle and a driven shaft of which may be drivingly connected with the driving shaft via a plurality of pairs of gears defining different transmission ratios, and an auxiliary epicyclic group connected in cascade with the main group in which the driven shaft is loaded axially by an elastic member which maintains it in contact with an axial abutment elements to ensure its correct axial positioning upon variations in play due to differential thermal expansion with respect to the box.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1992Date of Patent: December 6, 1994Assignee: Iveco Fiat S.p.A.Inventors: Gian M. Pigozzi, Giampietro Franzini, Armando Gregori
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Patent number: 5370012Abstract: A device for convening rotational motion of a threaded shaft to linear motion in parallelism with the shaft and having a high load carrying capacity and operating efficiencies that are on the order of 98 percent (98%), with the device including a roller bearing nut for the shaft that is arranged to provide a linear motion unit (for the device) and a housing annular structure arranged to be fixed from rotation and including a plurality of circularly and concavely shaped thrust teeth of essentially "V" configuration 360 degrees (360.degree.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 1993Date of Patent: December 6, 1994Inventor: Richard B. Stanley
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Patent number: 5367915Abstract: Varying fluid pressure varies the thickness of an elastic spacer between ball nuts of the ball screw. The spacer thickness determines opposed axial forces applied to the ball nuts. During a high-speed excursion of the screw, pressure in the elastic spacer is reduced, thus reducing friction between the ball nuts and the screw. When the screw is being fine positioned for precise operation, pressure in the elastic spacer is increased, thereby urging the ball nuts apart to eliminate play in the ball screw.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 1991Date of Patent: November 29, 1994Assignee: Asuka Trading Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kouji Nishii
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Patent number: 5367916Abstract: A drive gear for a motor vehicle including a starter disc having a hub for attachment to a shaft of a vehicle motor for joint rotation therewith, and a drive ring which is supported on the starter disc, is provided with a plurality of holes for connecting the drive ring to a converter of the automatic transmission of the vehicle and has, in the region of the holes, protrusions which engage in corresponding recessed openings formed in the starter disc.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1993Date of Patent: November 29, 1994Assignee: Winkelmann & Pannhoff GmbHInventors: Jurgen Bevc, Heinrich Winkelmann, Jr.
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Patent number: 5363717Abstract: This invention relates to the bearing mount of the steering column tube (1) of a telescoping steering column in which the steering column tube (1) is supported in a housing (2) on the body with axial mobility. To produce a bearing mount without play, the steering column tube (1) is mounted to move axially in the housing (2) in a bearing bushing (3) slotted in the longitudinal direction and made of a nonmetallic material, with this bearing bushing (3) being supported on an outer contour (5) conical in cross section with frictional adhesion against an inner cone (6) of the housing (2) under axial spring load.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1993Date of Patent: November 15, 1994Assignee: Lemforder Metallwaren AGInventors: Raimund Eichholz, Klaus Schuller
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Patent number: 5363713Abstract: A quieted motorized servoactuator with a sub-fractional horsepower high rpm, low voltage motor driving a gear train with about 900:1 reduction overall. The motor shaft has a metal worm meshing with a first stage thermoplastic elastomeric material, preferably polyamide polyester, of a hardness not greater than 72 on the Shore "D" scale. The first stage gear has an integral pinion meshed with a second stage gear of harder thermoplastic material, preferably acetal. The second stage gear has an integral pinion meshed with an output sector gear formed of harder thermoplastic material preferably comprising polyamide filled one-third by volume with fine glass particles.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1993Date of Patent: November 15, 1994Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventor: James E. Pearson
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Patent number: 5363718Abstract: A control device for a remote-controllable actuation device which, counter to an energy accumulator which acts on the actuation device and loads the actuation device in the direction of a limit position, can be moved into its other limit position by a flexurally weak transmission device. In order to increase user friendliness the control device is also provided with an energy accumulator which acts on the control device, the instantaneous force of the accumulator corresponding, with opposing direction of action, to the respective instantaneous force acting on the actuation device.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 1992Date of Patent: November 15, 1994Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AGInventors: Martin Ganser, Alfred Klink
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Patent number: 5363710Abstract: An impact sensing apparatus is comprised of a housing having therein an inner space, and a unitary assembly independent of the housing upon constitution thereof, accommodated within the housing so as to be secured thereto, and including a frame accommodated within the inner space of the housing, a weight supported on the frame so as to be transferred upon receipt of an impact through the housing, and a firing lever pivotally mounted to the frame and set to be rotated for being extended outside the housing upon transfer of the weight.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1992Date of Patent: November 15, 1994Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazunori Sakamoto
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Patent number: 5363716Abstract: A steering column has a first steering column member movable axially relative to a second steering column member. An input shaft is connected with the steering wheel and supported on the first steering column member for pivotable movement relative to the first steering column member. A first lock locks the first steering column member in any one of an infinite number of axial positions relative to the second steering column member. A second lock locks the input shaft in any one of an infinite number of pivot positions relative to the first steering column member. A member to unlock the first and second locks has a first position in which the first lock is unlocked and the second lock is locked. The member has another position in which the second lock means is unlocked and the first lock is locked.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 1993Date of Patent: November 15, 1994Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventors: John A. Budzik, Jr., Mark A. Cartwright, Mark A. Hoagland, Samuel G. Johnson, III, Murthy N. Nemani, Gerald K. Oxley, Philip S. Peterson, Gerald W. Thomas, Frederick D. Venable, Daniel L. White
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Patent number: 5361646Abstract: A locking mechanism for locking a first member in any one of an infinite number of positions relative to a second member includes a resilient members for urging the first and second members toward each other to apply a friction force between the first and second members to prevent relative movement between the first and second members. An actuator member for releasing the friction force between the first and second members has a first position in which the first and second members are prevented from moving relative to each other. The actuator member has a second position in which the first and second members are positionable relative to each other. The locking mechanism includes a handle for moving the actuator member from its first position to its second position to release the friction force between the first and second members. The resilient members is operable to move the actuator member from its second position to its first position.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 1993Date of Patent: November 8, 1994Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventor: Frederick D. Venable
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Patent number: 5359908Abstract: This system for reversibly transforming rotary motion into self-guided rectilinear motion has the characteristic of being achieved by symmetrically coupling at least two connecting rod-crank (108A, 108B, 107A, 107B) mechanisms, which are mutually associated by the pivots (111) of their connecting rod small ends (110) and by the engagement of identical toothed wheels (112A, 112B) fixed symmetrically into the two specific cranks.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1992Date of Patent: November 1, 1994Inventor: Rolando Poeta
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Patent number: 5358459Abstract: A mechanic drive apparatus includes a driving shaft and a hollow rotatable housing which has a rear side mounted on one end of the driving shaft. An output shaft extends into the rotatable housing and is mounted rotatably thereto. The output shaft is aligned axially with the driving shaft. A driven gear is mounted fixedly on the output shaft and is disposed inside the rotatable housing. A pair of driven transmission shafts are disposed on opposite edges of the driven gear. Each of the driven transmission shafts is provided with a worm segment that extends into the rotatable housing and that meshes with the driven gear. A pair of intermediate shafts are mounted rotatably to the rotatable housing in a direction which is transverse to the output shaft. A small bevel gear is mounted fixedly on each of the intermediate shafts. A pair of belt drive units transmit the rotating force of the intermediate shafts to the driven transmission shafts.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 1993Date of Patent: October 25, 1994Inventor: Hung-Chung Lin
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Patent number: 5355742Abstract: A device for avoiding gear flank backlash or chattering of first and second gear trains. Each of the gear trains include a plurality of mutually meshing gear wheels. The first gear train has a first initial wheel and a first end wheel. The first initial wheel is driven. The second gear train has a second initial wheel and a second end wheel. The second end wheel is driven. The first and second initial wheels of the first and second gear trains are non-rotatably connected to one another. A tensioning device is connected between the first and second end wheels and it produces a torque in a preferred rotational direction of the gear wheels of the first gear train. The torque acts between the first initial wheel and the first end wheel and ensures a definite flank alignment of the gear wheels during the operation of the first gear train.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 1993Date of Patent: October 18, 1994Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AGInventor: Joachim Herrmann