Patents Examined by David W. Laub
  • Patent number: 5309779
    Abstract: A crank mechanism for the transformation of a rotary movement of a crank supported in a crankcase into reciprocating movement of a piston in a cylinder, includes an open kinematic chain composed of three pivotally connected rods with the ends of the chain being pivotally connected to the crankcase. The piston is connected to one of the intermediate pivotal connections of the three rods by another rod and a crank pin of the crank mechanism is connected to the other intermediate pivotal connection of the three rods by still another rod. Four dead centers can be obtained with the crank mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Inventor: Cosimo Sarno
  • Patent number: 5309784
    Abstract: A gear shift apparatus includes a shaft having a first axis extending laterally with respect to a vehicle body. A bracket is secured to a pivot pin rotatable about a second axis extending laterally with respect to the first axis. A gear shift lever is secured to the bracket for unitary rotation therewith about the second axis. A sleeve is fixed to the gear shift lever for unitary motion therewith. A check ball is supported by the sleeve and urged against a cam surface of a stationary position plate. The cam surface has a plurality of recesses engaged with the check ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Ohi Seisakusho Co., Ltd., Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kobayashi, Sadahiro Kawahara, Hiroshi Yamazaki, Takumi Watanabe, Yasushi Asano, Yoshimasa Kataumi
  • Patent number: 5309788
    Abstract: A tilt couple device having a pair of mounting members with each member having a wedge-shape cam. At least one of the cams has teeth on it that engages a pinion on an operating shaft. Rotation of the operating shaft causes the pinion to rotate one cam member relative to the other in order to change the inclination of one mounting surface relative to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Inventor: Michael D. Summerfield
  • Patent number: 5307703
    Abstract: A device is provided for adjusting the position of an element, arranged to be movable in a predetermined direction, comprising a driving member for generating driving force to be applied to the element, and a transferring member for transferring the driving force to the element. The device further comprising a plate member, arranged to be movable in parallel to the predetermined direction, for supporting at least the driving member. Thus, it becomes possible to easily execute a position adjustment operation of the predetermined element along the predetermined direction. Such position adjustment can be easily effected by only moving the plate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Kurosawa
  • Patent number: 5308297
    Abstract: A variator for a transmission of the toroidal-race rolling-traction type in which a multiplicity of input discs (1-4) and output discs (11-13) are arranged in coaxial sequence, all disc except the first (1) and last (4) in the sequence being formed with races (9, 10) on both of their faces. Drive is transmitted from the output discs to one (35) or several (45-47) output shafts, the output shaft or shafts preferably lying parallel to but displaced from the common axis (8) of the discs. Alternative ways of inter-relating the orientation of the torque-transmitting rollers (20), to produce single or multiple outputs of the transmission, are described. The invention offers the prospect of a variator of higher-than-normal traction-transmitting capacity but using discs of only normal size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Torotrak (Development) Limited
    Inventor: Christopher J. Greenwood
  • Patent number: 5305652
    Abstract: The invention concerns a multiaxial industrial robot (1), including of a mount (2), a rotatable and swingable rocker (3), a swingable extension arm (6) and a multi-member rotatable and swingable robot hand (8), whose members are driven by motors (10, 11, 12) arranged on extension arm (6). Extension arm (6) is mounted (27) on one side on a one-arm formed rocker (4), whereby at least two motors (10, 11, 12) are arranged next to each other on the extension arm in the direction of extension of its swinging axis (7). With a triangular arrangement, motors (10, 11, 12) are arranged with their motor axes (13) in an isosceles triangle, whose base is oriented to bearing (27) of extension arm (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Kuka Schweissanlagen + Robotor GmbH
    Inventor: Ernst Zimmer
  • Patent number: 5303603
    Abstract: An arrangement of cables, pulleys and cams has been invented which provides a simple, reliable, flexible and inexpensive method of converting rotary carousel motion in the horizontal plane into vertical motion of animals on the carousel. A cam is attached to the center pole of the carousel. The cam is positioned so as to interact with cables which are routed from the carousel animals to be given subsidiary motion (typically up-down). For up-down motion each cable is routed vertically from its animal to the overhead support structure and then along a radial passing neat the center pole and is fastened to the overhead support radially opposite the animal being moved. As the carousel, with animals and cables, rotate around the center pole the cam sequentially intercepts the cables forcing the overhead table paths to lenghten and drawing the animals upward to accomodate the cable path change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Inventor: David A. Boots
  • Patent number: 5303607
    Abstract: A ball screw device includes a ball returning tube which is formed by covering the outer periphery of the tube with a heat shrinkable resin tube and heating the thus formed tube, formed of two halves, to shrink the heat shrinkable resin tube so that the two halves of the ball returning tube can be made integral. The ball screw device is advantageous in that it generates little noise, the ball returning tube has sufficient strength despite the splittable structure and manufacturing of the device is easy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Katahira
  • Patent number: 5303604
    Abstract: First and second screw threads along a feed screw permit a slide to be fed at two different speeds for a constant rotation of the feed screw. A first nut moves along the first thread. A second nut is threaded onto the outer diameter of the first nut for common translation along the first thread. Upon contacting a stop shoulder, the first nut stops translation and starts rotating with the screw. This rotation causes the second nut (and slide) to translate off the first nut and onto the second screw thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Inventor: Ralph W. Mayfield
  • Patent number: 5301566
    Abstract: A Six-Degree-of-Freedom Parallel-Manipulator having three inextensible limbs for manipulating a platform is described in which the three inextensible limbs are attached via universal joints to the platform at non-collinear points. Each of the inextensible limbs is also attached via universal joints to a two-degree-of-freedom parallel driver such as a five-bar lineage, a pantograph, or a bidirectional linear stepper motor. The drivers move the lower ends of the limbs parallel to a fixed base and thereby provide manipulation of the platform. The actuators are mounted on the fixed base without using any power transmission devices such as gears or belts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics & Space Administration
    Inventors: Farhad Tahmasebi, Lung-Wen Tsai
  • Patent number: 5301567
    Abstract: A device for locking a tilt steering column in adjusted position has two clamping rings, one of which is rotated by a handle. When the handle is rotated in one direction, the clamping rings interact to lock the steering column in adjusted position. When the handle is rotated in the opposite direction, the clamping rings release the steering column so that its position can be adjusted. A third ring is provided to releasably retain the locking rings in locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Snell, Thomas S. Kaliszewski, Rodney L. Eaton
  • Patent number: 5299465
    Abstract: There is disclosed a ball screw integrated type linear movement guiding unit which achieves a stable, smooth operability, and can meet with a high-load and high-rigidity application. Each of ball return passageways which respectively provide ball-circulating passageways of a ball screw system and a linear movement guiding system in the unit is constituted by an axial through hole much larger in diameter than a ball, and a cylindrical member of a synthetic resin which has an inner diameter generally equal to the diameter of the ball and is press-fitted in the through hole. With this construction, the rolling of the balls is effected smoothly. Further, even if the length of a nut is increased to meet with a high-load and high-rigidity use, the ball return passageway can be easily formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Kasuga
  • Patent number: 5299987
    Abstract: In an infinitely variable traction roller transmission wherein two toric traction discs are rotatably supported opposite one another so as to define therebetween a toric cavity in which at least two motion transmitting traction rollers are disposed in engagement with the toric discs and supported by trunnions which are pivotally supported to permit changing the ratio of motion transmission between the toric discs, each pivot trunnion has a cylindrical cavity with a support piston disposed therein in axial alignment with the traction roller supported on the trunnion and a plurality of radial lever members are arranged around the axis of the support piston and rest on a fulcrum structure disposed around the cylindrical cavity and, at their inner end, on the support piston, and a bearing disc which carries the traction roller is supported on the radial lever members at a location inwardly from the fulcrum structure to force the traction roller into engagement with the toric discs with the piston force amplified
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Exceleramatic Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel J. Dawe
  • Patent number: 5297451
    Abstract: A drive pinion for an engine starting motor having a lead-in chamfer of the starter pin defined by a geometry formed by rotating the radial gear tooth involute form through 90 degrees across the end of the tooth. The radius and axis of rotation are selected such that the cam surface is full across the height of the tooth and the cam surface intersects the back side of the tooth at the leading edge of the tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventor: Floyd D. Mills
  • Patent number: 5295405
    Abstract: A technical device, in particular an electromechanical running gear for the movement of information carriers, such as magnetic tapes or discs, having a carrier plate (1) made of metal at which movable functional parts (5, 7) made of synthetic resin are formed by an injection molding process (outsert molding). Each functional part is held in a respective hole (3, 4) in the plate by means of retaining pieces (5a, 5b, 7, 7c) made of synthetic resin which overlie both plate surfaces (1c, 1d). The retaining pieces are interconnected through the hole by an integral synthetic-resin connection bridge (5b, 7b) integral with these pieces. Clearance sufficient to obtain a smooth movement of the functional parts (5, 7) in the holes (3, 4) is obtained through mechanical deformation of the retaining pieces subsequent to the insertion molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Hans Gumbert, Norbert Kunze, Georg Weber
  • Patent number: 5295406
    Abstract: A ball screw and nut mechanism includes an elongated cylindrical screw having an outer helically threaded surface which extends through a cylindrical opening formed through a nut having a complementary helically threaded surface. A plurality of balls are disposed between the screw and the nut, each extending partially into both of the complementary threads to provide a rolling engagement between the screw and the nut. A load lock is provided to prevent the nut from moving axially relative to the screw when the balls are not present in the threads. The load lock includes a wire member which is generally helical in shape, having a pitch which is approximately equal to the pitch defined by the cooperating threads. The wire member is threaded partially through the threads, but does not normally inhibit rotation of the screw relative to the nut. The wire member is formed having a tang portion on one end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: Don C. Alfano
  • Patent number: 5291798
    Abstract: In a geared motor for a self-traveling carrier, a projected area in an advancing direction of the carrier is made small to reduce the space required around a track. Despite the fact that the geared motor being is a single type of a geared motor (the same geared motor), it is possible to select a suitable mounting mode from among various mounting modes, thus permitting a smoother operation of a physical distribution system as a whole. For example, in a geared motor for a self-traveling carrier, a reduction mechanism housed in a gear box incorporates an output shaft with a wheel mounted thereon, an output shaft gear, an intermediate shaft disposed in parallel with the output shaft, an intermediate pinion and a hypoid gear both mounted on the intermediate shaft, and a hypoid pinion mounted on a motor shaft. The motor shaft is disposed between the intermediate shaft and the output shaft orthogonally thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Tanigawa, Tetsuo Takechi, Kiyoji Minegishi
  • Patent number: 5287761
    Abstract: A fine displacement device for establishing a measured micro displacement includes first and second plate members disposed in spaced relation to each other to define a gap therebetween with the plate members being secured to each other at opposed portions thereof. An internally threaded hole is formed through one plate member perpendicular thereto and an externally threaded screw is fastened in the hole with an end of the screw abutting against the other plate member. Upon turning the screw in one direction, the plate members will be deformed elastically in a direction perpendicular to the plate members and a distance between a plane of the first plate member and a deformed portion of the first plate member is used as a measure for establishing the micro displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Fujii, Mamoru Abe
  • Patent number: 5285693
    Abstract: A device for pulling the starter cord of a lawn mower engine utilizes a pulling cable attached to a pulley wheel activated by a high torque electric motor. An elongated base supports an upright post, upon which the motor is mounted. A chute protectively guides the cable as it spans the distance between the pulley wheel and starter cord. A restoring cable, in association with a return wheel and coil spring unwind the pulling cord from the pulley wheel when the motor is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Inventors: Charles M. Sanders, Douglas E. Sanders, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5285739
    Abstract: A transmission mechanism includes a transmission gear shaft having a speed reducing gear on one end driven by a DC motor via a driving gear and a transmission gear on an opposite end meshed with a driven gear on an eccentric gear shaft, which has an eccentric axle coupled to a reciprocating block via a crank and driven to reciprocate the reciprocating block causing it to alternatively move the needle arm of a mini-sewing machine up and down in performing the process of stitching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Inventor: Dennis Huang