Patents Examined by Dwight G. Diehl
  • Patent number: 5113719
    Abstract: When the load on the engine of an engine/transmission system reduces suddenly, the sudden reduction is used as a trigger to delay the reduction of the line pressure which is supplied to the friction elements of the transmission in a predetermined manner which allows for engine speed/torque output to actually drop to the same level as the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Suzuki, Masayuki Kobayashi, Tatsuo Wakahara
  • Patent number: 5083478
    Abstract: A four-wheel vehicle drive system, comprising an engine having an output shaft in a lateral direction of the vehicle, a power transmission gear unit including transmission input and output shafts having axes of rotation parallel with the engine output shaft, a final reduction gear rotatable about an axis parallel with the transmission input and output shafts, the transmission output shaft being in driving engagement with the final reduction gear, a gear housing rotatable with the final reduction gear, a main transaxle casing having enclosed therein the transmission gear unit, final reduction gear and gear housing, an auxiliary transaxle casing secured to the main transaxle casing, a first wheel drive gear unit to split driving power from the final reduction gear into two components and including a differential gear assembly enclosed in the auxiliary transaxle casing and operative to transmit one of the power components to a pair of road wheels, a second wheel drive gear unit enclosed in the auxiliary transaxl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Hiraiwa
  • Patent number: 5026334
    Abstract: A single piston is used to activate the brake or clutch of a planetary transmission. The piston is spring-biased to engage one component and disengage the other, and hydraulically activated to disengage the first component and engage the second. An annular plate preferably is provided extending between the brake and the clutch, with the brake on one side of the plate and the clutch on the other. A spring then biases the annular plate towards one of the control components and away from the other, while a hydraulic cylinder is provided to press the plate away from the first component and towards the second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Dennis L. Jeffries
  • Patent number: 5020392
    Abstract: A control system for a continuously variable transmission has a transmission ratio control valve having a spool for controlling oil supplied to a cylinder of a drive pulley to change the transmission ratio. The transmission ratio control valve has chamber at both ends of the spool. By controlling the flow rate of oil supplied to the chambers in accordance with a desired transmission ratio, the spool is shifted, so that the rate of change of the transmission ratio is controlled. The transmission ratio changing rate is corrected by the rate of change of the desired transmission ratio. Two coefficients representative of the degree of throttle opening and a physical condition such as viscosity are also generated to correct the transmission ratio changing rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Morimoto
  • Patent number: 4976666
    Abstract: A continuously variable split-path transmission particularly for motor vehicles comprises a stepless converter with a summation planetary gear unit for adding up the power which is split at the input shaft of the transmission into two power transmission paths. The specific requirements imposed on the stepless converter are minimal, and thus the efficiency values are favorable. The primary and secondary components of the stepless converter are small and can be advantageously incorporated into a modular unit. It is also possible to adapt such components to the specific requirements of different motor vehicles. The summation planetary gear is linked via a series of clutches to a second planetary gear unit having planetary elements which can be reciprocally coupled to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Inventor: Michael Meyerle
  • Patent number: 4974471
    Abstract: Differential-gearing devices are disclosed in which the differential pinion gears are controlled to induce a speed difference between output shafts, provide a locking and limited slip differential to equalize the speeds of the output shafts or limit their speed difference, provide a clutch for controlling the coupling and uncoupling of an input shaft to an output shaft, and provide a variable speed transmission. These operational modes are implemented by mounting hydraulic motor or pump units on the rotating carrier of the differential apparatus, the pinion gears being fixed to the shafts of the respective units. A controllable external fluid source independent of the carrier is in fluid communication with the units via conduits through the stationary housing of the differential device and the rotating carrier. Fluid flow may be either blocked, limited or unimpeded between the source and the units to effect the desired control of the pinion gears to, in turn, determine the operational mode of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Inventor: Clifford B. McGarraugh
  • Patent number: 4972735
    Abstract: The wrist assembly of an industrial robot comprises a first wrist portion (21) provided on the free end of the robot arm (20) and having a pair of projections (22, 23) in parallel with each other on the fore-end thereof. A second wrist portion (24) is provided between the projections of the first wrist portion and supported on both of the projections so as to be rotatable about a first axis (.beta.) intersecting a longitudinal axis of the robot arm at a right angle. A third wrist portion (25) is supported on the second wrist portion so as to be rotatable about a second axis (.alpha.) intersecting the first axis at a right angle, and constructed to allow work attachments to be attached to the front end thereof. A first motor (45) and a second motor (55) are used for driving the second wrist portion and the third wrist portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobutoshi Torii, Hitoshi Mizuno, Kyoji Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 4944200
    Abstract: A method of reverse clutch operation prevents excessive wear of the reverse clutch in a four-speed automatic transmission by venting one clutch, filling the reverse clutch and applying it, and filling and reapplying the one clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Howard L. Benford, Maurice B. Leising, Gerald L. Holbrook
  • Patent number: 4932280
    Abstract: A coaxial drive shaft system is provided with an overload shearable coupling for driving multiple outputs from a single input. A pair of coaxial, telescoped drive shafts are provided as independent outputs to a pair of driven devices. A singular input shaft is coupled to the drive shafts by a gearbox for simultaneously rotating the drive shafts. A shear section is formed in one of the drive shafts for rupturing the one drive shaft in response to an overload condition thereon, while the other coaxial, telescoped drive shaft continues to be rotated by the singular input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Becker, Daniel M. Ryan
  • Patent number: 4932290
    Abstract: A power seat apparatus in a vehicle body includes a first shaft through which the rotational torque is transmitted to a first mechaism for moving a front portion of a seat-cushion vertically, a second shaft through which the rotational torque is transmitted to a second mechanism for moving a rear portion of the seat-cushion vertically and a third shaft through which the rotational torque is transmitted to a third mechanism for moving the seat-cushion in the lengthwise direction. The power seat apparatus further includes a mechanical control device engaging a third clutch to the third shaft during the disengagement of a first clutch from the first shaft and a second clutch from the second shaft and disengaging the third clutch from the third shaft during either the engagement of the first clutch to the first shaft or the engagement of the second clutch to the second shaft. With this arrangement no solenoid needs to be used in the control device, and consequently noise emission is not generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kanshiro Toyoda, Tadasu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 4932493
    Abstract: A gear shift device for a vehicle automatic transmission has a gear shift lever for placing an automatic transmission of an automotive vehicle in any desired gear range. The gear shift device further has an electrically controlled shift lock mechanism for locking the gear shift lever so that the transmission is fixed in a park gear range when a brake pedal is released, and for enabling the gear shift lever to operate when the transmission is in the park gear range, when an ignition key is set and the brake pedal is pressed. A mechanically operated interlock mechanism is provided for enabling the ignition key to be pulled out when shifting of the gear shift lever has placed the transmission in the park gear range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Ushio Sakurai, Hiroshi Nakatsuka, Takashi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 4930376
    Abstract: A system for pressurizing a friction element of an automatic transmission supplied concurrently from two hydraulic passages through a shuttle valve where the two sources of supply pressure are combined. A control valve proeduces regulated output pressure by balancing control feedback pressure against a spring force without venting any portion of the system. The shuttle valve includes a shuttle ball for sealing ports connected to both supply sources and maintains an open connection between the direct clutch and a pocket in which the shuttle ball is retained. AN accumulator includes a plunger separating first and second volumes. One volume expands as hydraulic fluid at regulated output pressure exits the control valve. The volume expands at a regulated time rate controlled by the magnitude of TVLM control pressure, a compression spring force and the flow rate through an orifice of predetermined size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Joseph S. Van Selous
  • Patent number: 4928556
    Abstract: A robot arm drive apparatus of an industrial robot comprising: an electric motor having a drive shaft; a first robot member having the electric motor mounted thereon; a second robot member rotatably supported on the first robot member; and reduction gears for reducing rotation of the electric motor and then transmitting to the second robot member; the reduction gears comprising a planetary reduction gear and furthermore an additional reduction gear which is purposely provided so that the number of rotations of the electric motor, at which the resonance of a drive system comprising the electric motor, the second robot member and the reduction gear means occurs, is shifted from a predetermined operational region of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: Teijin Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Matsumoto, Masataka Hashimoto, Michiyoshi Iwata
  • Patent number: 4928557
    Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus for controlling a frictional coupling device of an automatic transmission for a motor vehicle includes a shift valve for effecting an engaging action of the coupling device from a first position to a second position, and an accumulator for reducing a change in a hydraulic pressure applied to the coupling device. The control apparatus is adapted to control a control value to regulate a back pressure of the accumulator, based on a parameter associated with an output of an engine, and according to a predetermined relationship between the control value and the parameter, so as to reduce a shifting shock of the transmission. The control apparatus includes a detector for detecting an engaging time of the engaging action of the coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuru Takada, Tokuyuki Takahashi, Hiroshi Itoh
  • Patent number: 4926715
    Abstract: A planetary gear train comprising at least two planetary gear sets arranged coaxially behind, and drivingly connected with, one another, of which one planetary gear set (5) contains fewer, and the other planetary set (17) more, planet gears (7) and the planet gears and their bearings in both planetary gear sets are identically constructed. The pitch diameter of the sun gear (16) and the pitch diameter of the ring bear (18) of the other planetary gear set (17) are larger than in one planetary gear set (5), and both sets (5, 17) are constructed for approximately the same line loading of the sun gears, planet gears, and ring gears (force per face width in the contact line of two teeth which bear against each other). Thus, a gear unit is obtained which has a smaller cross section with up to 50% savings in weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Zahnraderfabrik Renk AG
    Inventors: Manfred Hirt, Heinrich Arndt
  • Patent number: 4926716
    Abstract: A novel method of controlling a continuously variable transmission system by executing sequential steps including delivering a throttle-aperture detection signal and a vehicle-speed detection signal to a controller unit; determining an optimum objective number of engine revolution in reference to a first objective number of engine revolution set by the throttle-aperture detection signal and a second-objective number of engine revolution set by the vehicle-speed detection signal and in accordance with an instruction limiting the number of engine revolution at the shift position; and executing control of the transmission system in response to the vehicle-speed detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignees: Suzuki Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sadayuki Hirano, Katsuaki Murano, Yoshinori Yamashita, Takumi Tatsumi, Hiroaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4926711
    Abstract: A worm gear type differential mechanism has a bias ratio equalization mechanism disposed between the casing and the worm gears. The bias ratio equalization mechanism includes frictional members disposed between axially opposite transverse faces of the casing and each of the worm gears, and each of the frictional materials has frictional faces which create the same friction force per unit of thrust force applied thereagainst. The frictional materials fix the worm gear axially to the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshichika Arakawa
  • Patent number: 4926714
    Abstract: A bicycle transmission has drive pedals connected through a pedal shaft disposed in a pedal shaft hub on a bicycle frame. The shaft is selectively engageable with a series of gear pawls which are positioned to selectively engage one of a series of gears disposed about the pedal shaft. The gears are selectively engaged with an output sprocket meshed to a rear wheel sprocket. The pedal shaft includes a series of angled slots therein, in which a cam follower pin is disposed. The cam follower includes an actuator arm to cause one of the gears to engage the pedal shaft. The slots are sized so that reverse pedal rotation will cause the cam follower to axially actuate about the pedal shaft to cause disengagement and engagment of the gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Louis Bailey
    Inventor: Louis Bailey
  • Patent number: 4926712
    Abstract: An hourglass worm wheel and method of hobbing same wherein the finished worm wheel (70) includes a mid zone (B) where the root surface and outside helix are cylindrical for a predetermined distance along the axis of the worm wheel. The method forming the mid zone includes a combination radial and axial feeding of a hobbing tool (58) rotating in synchronization with the rotating worm wheel blank (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: DK-Gleason, Inc.
    Inventor: Gene A. Stritzel
  • Patent number: RE33707
    Abstract: An automatic transmission including: a torque converter; a torque converter housing; an oil pump; an overdrive gear mechanism; an overdrive case; an underdrive gear mechanism; a transmission case for the underdrive gear mechanism; an oil pan under the underdrive gear mechanism; and a hydraulic control device controlling a hydraulic pressure to be delivered to the overdrive and underdrive gear mechanisms. In this automatic transmission, the overdrive case is formed with a first passage connected to an inlet port of the oil pump, a second passage connected to a discharge port of the oil pump, a third passage connected to an inlet port of the torque converter, and a fourth passage connected to an outlet port of the torque converter, with the second, third and fourth passages being connected to the hydraulic control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshio Shindo, Hiroshi Ito