Patents Examined by Eileen A. Dunnlillis
  • Power steering system having a mechanical safety breaker
    Patent number: 5873784
    Abstract: A mechanical safety breaker for disengaging a mechanical connection between two mechanical members at a time when a force transmitted through the connection of the two members exceeds a predetermined value is provided by employing an overload breaker element made of a ceramic. A ceramic breaker element provides a long time stabilized fracture performance particularly when the load applied thereto is of a repetitive nature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Iwasaki, Hiroaki Tanaka, Akira Hasegawa, Kazunori Kagawa, Takuya Kondo