Patents Examined by Evan H Langdon
  • Patent number: 7946560
    Abstract: A hook block for a crane includes a sheave housing containing sheaves, extended portions with a hole through each, and a housing frame with a locking surface; a cross beam has multiple brackets each with a hole; a bracket has a plurality of surfaces corresponding to a plurality of angles of relative position between the sheave housing and the first cross beam, wherein the plurality of surfaces correspond to the locking surface and form a gap therebetween at each of the plurality of angles; a shaft rotatably captured within the holes of the extended portions of the housing and of the multiple brackets; and a locking bar sized to be placed in the gap between the locking surface and any of the plurality of surfaces to immobilize movement of the sheave housing relative to the cross beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Manitowoc Crane Companies, LLC
    Inventors: Lambert Drent, Dirk Albert Stamhuis, William J. O'Neil, Alan E. Pleuss
  • Patent number: 7922113
    Abstract: In a fishing reel, the combination operable for braking the reel, comprising a reel spool having an axis, two axially spaced brake discs on the spool, a brake pad between the discs, and the discs interconnected to rotate together and move relatively toward the pad, a braking lever movable by the user to effect the disc relative movement, and pad engagement by the discs, a shaft extending axially, and bodily movable to effect the discs relative movement, the shaft being non-rotatable, and means including an actuator for displacing the shaft axially in response to lever movement, thereby to cause braking engagement of the discs, with the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Inventor: Harout Alajajyan
  • Patent number: 7922053
    Abstract: A feeder for a surface mount placement system includes a feeder body comprising a shaft, a front cover, and a rear cover. The front cover has one end pivotally installed on the feeder body via the shaft, a free end, and a pair of sidewalls respectively extending from two sides of the free end towards the feeder body. The rear cover pivotally installed on the feeder body, including a blocking portion, and the free end of the front cover overlap. The blocking portion is wider than the distance between the sidewalls of the front cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yi-Xin Chen
  • Patent number: 7909308
    Abstract: A winch system includes a cable storage system (34), a drive system (30) and a deployment system to deploy a cable having a hook system attached thereto. A right angle sheave (46) guides the cable between the cable storage system and the drive system. The drive system includes a dual mode transmission that provides high speed capabilities when moderate to no load is being lifted, while also providing high torque for heavy lift operations at low speeds. The deployment system is rated to support a maximum hook load and is mounted to the airframe for pivotable movement about a deployment axis to enable large cable exit angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy F. Lauder, Janiece M. Lorey, Christopher M. Harrington
  • Patent number: 7909280
    Abstract: A fishing reel winding apparatus for use with a fishing reel includes a spool-retaining structure in which a spool is mounted and the spool connects to a spool handle hub from which a spool winding handle radially extends for removably interconnecting a fishing reel winding handle and the chuck of an electric drill, so that operation of the electric drill rotates the chuck and the reel to wind fishing line onto the spool, the fishing reel winding apparatus including: a chuck gripping stem for insertion into and engagement by a drill chuck and a handle hub engagement assembly drivably connected to the chuck gripping stem. The handle hub engagement assembly preferably includes a hub receiving cup having a cup side wall with a lateral handle receiving notch and a cup bottom wall drivably connected to the chuck gripping stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventor: Richard P. Herrick
  • Patent number: 7909306
    Abstract: An improved ratchet strapping device is provided, comprising a frame, an axle, and a handle pivotally installed on the axle. Ratchets are mounted on the axle and adjacent to the exterior of the frame. The frame includes a first detent on the outside of the frame which engages the ratchet. A release device is mounted on the handle, wherein the release device includes a second detent on the outside of the handle which engages the ratchets at another location. The frame includes a first cam having a radius greater than the ratchets and on which the second detent slides, and the handle includes a second cam having a radius greater than the ratchets and on which the first detent slides. Placement of the ratchet and detent components on the outside of the device permits spooling of substantially all of the strap for storage or unused portions of the strap during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Inventor: Michael Rosso Adcock
  • Patent number: 7905440
    Abstract: A fishing reel 100 includes a data communication unit 44 capable of wirelessly transmitting terminal tackle water depth data to a data communication unit 66 of a fishing data display device 60, which is arranged outside of a fishing reel 100. The fishing data display device 60 includes a display unit 65 that displays the terminal tackle water depth data obtained from the data communication unit 44 and fish depth data obtained from a data communication unit 91 of a fish finder 90. The fisherman is capable of easily performing jigging with a fishing reel, as well as ascertaining the water depth of terminal tackle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Takeshi Ikuta, Ken'ichi Kawasaki, Shouoji Nakagawa, Yasuhiro Hitomi, Noboru Sakaguchi, Kazuhito Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7905328
    Abstract: A brake device of an elevator car with a brake unit that is mounted on the elevator car. The brake drive includes a flexible tension member that passes around two tension-members reversing-sheaves. One end of the tension members extends parallel to the travel path of the elevator car and is coupled to an actuating element of the brake unit, and thereby also to the elevator car, so that in normal operation the tension member moves synchronously with the elevator car. A blocking device, at least on overspeed of the elevator car, brakes the tension member, as a consequence of which the tension member, via the actuating element, activates the brake unit. A monitoring device detects failure of the coupling between the tension member and the elevator car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Walter Windlin, Stefan Hugel
  • Patent number: 7900803
    Abstract: The invention relates to an advancing apparatus for the intermittent supply of a semi-finished material (22) in the form of a band to a press. The apparatus comprises a pair of displacement grippers (4, 7) which run forwards and backwards and by which the material (22) is advanced in an advancing phase, a stationary pair of clamping grippers (24, 27) by which the material (22) is held in a fixed manner in a non-advancing phase, and a control rocker (12) with a control drive (40, 42) which is coupled to one control end of the latter and to which the pair of displacement grippers (4, 7) and the pair of clamping grippers (24, 27) are coupled mechanically and their interaction is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Bruderer AG
    Inventor: Josef Thomas Hafner
  • Patent number: 7900539
    Abstract: A tool for creating tension of a chain on a cycle according to one embodiment comprises a wheel engaging portion; a frame engaging portion positioned opposite the wheel engaging portion; and at least one handle operatively coupled to the wheel engaging portion and the frame engaging portion such that application of force on the at least one handle is operative to bias the wheel engaging portion and frame engaging portion away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Inventor: Joseph E. Meissner
  • Patent number: 7896209
    Abstract: A filament drive mechanism comprising a rotatable component comprising a central hole defined at least in part by an internally-threaded surface, and is configured to receive a filament strand through the central hole to engage the internally-threaded surface with the filament strand. The filament drive mechanism further comprises at least one rotation mechanism configured to rotate the rotatable component, thereby allowing the engaged internally-threaded surface to drive the filament strand through the central hole of the rotatable component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Samuel Batchelder, William J. Swanson
  • Patent number: 7891530
    Abstract: In a method for axial correction in a processing machine (100), which has at least two driven transport axles (110, 115) for transporting and processing a product web (101), at least one non-driven or driven processing axle (111, 112, 113, 114), and at least one additional non-driven axle (102, 121, 122, 123, 124), wherein the product web (101) is divisible into at least one web-tensioning segment, a web-tensioning segment is delimited by two clamping points (110-115). The clamping points are embodied in the form of driven transport or processing axles. During a rotation speed change of a clamping point (110-115) a web-tensioning segment is delimited, a pilot control of this clamping point (110-115) delimiting the web-tensioning segment and/or of a processing axle (111-114) situated in this web-tensioning segment is carried out, taking into account a moment of inertia of a non-driven axle (102, 121-124) situated in this web-tensioning section, and a corresponding processing machine (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Schultze, Holger Schnabel
  • Patent number: 7891640
    Abstract: A fence stretcher system and method are shown and described. In one embodiment, the fence stretcher system comprises a body. A rod having a diameter configured to allow the rod to be woven into a fence's links may be attached to the body. A rod-holder having a diameter sized to receive the rod may also be attached to the body. A plurality of hooks configured to engage the rod when the rod is woven into the fence may also be attached to the body. An interface may also be attached to the body. Using this system, fence may be quickly and easily stretched with minimal link displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Inventor: Donald J. Price
  • Patent number: 7886878
    Abstract: A tension member termination device optimized for terminating flexible flat tension members, the device including a socket with a compression portion and a bulbous portion and a compression plate on each side of the compression portion fastenable by fasteners extending through all of these feature. The device provides a pathway for the tension member through the device and upon torquing the fasteners reliably secures the tension member while avoiding deleterious pressure and stress therein. The invention also provides a safety clamp for optional use with the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Ericson, Hugh J. O'Donnell, Ary O. Mello, Dale R. Barrett, Dennis J. Rehmer
  • Patent number: 7886875
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring gas turbine engines are provided. In this regard, a representative method includes: monitoring lubrication oil at multiple locations of the gas turbine engine to detect a presence of debris in the oil; determining a characteristic of the debris in the oil; and correlating the characteristic of the debris with the location of detection to determine, while the gas turbine engine is operating, whether the engine is operating within predetermined limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Eric A Shevchencko, Robert D Szolomayer
  • Patent number: 7883043
    Abstract: A fishing reel, such as a spincast reel or a spinning reel, has a clutch assembly mounted on a shaft adjacent to the rotating component, the clutch assembly for frictional engagement with a rotating component. The clutch assembly has a first and a second protuberance. A bite alert contact is located for engagement with the first protuberance. A calibration member is adjacent the clutch assembly for engagement with the second protuberance. The calibration member provides a selectable amount of resistance to rotation of the clutch assembly, thereby regulating an amount of rotational force required to activate the bite alert contact. The fishing reel may further include a sensitivity switch for adjusting the selectable amount of resistance provided by the calibration member, which may adjust the resistance in discrete amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: W.C. Bradley/Zebco Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. Wilson, M. Scott Smith, Robert Bagby, Chris Flory, Joshua Buck, Tony Wei
  • Patent number: 7882935
    Abstract: A support system has a belt-like support, which supports a load and which has at least one rib or groove with wedge-shaped cross-section extending in the longitudinal direction of the support, is driven by a support pulley, which pulley has at least one corresponding groove or rib with wedge-shaped cross-section extending in a circumferential direction, wherein a cavity is present between a rib crest of the wedge-shaped ribs and a corresponding groove base when the support rests on the support pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Ernst Ach
  • Patent number: 7878382
    Abstract: A wire feed station of a wire processing system draws a supply of wire into the system. The wire feed station includes first and second feed wheels that create a nip to pull the wire through the feed station. A drive assembly is coupled to the first and second feed wheels to cause rotation of the feed wheels. The drive assembly includes first and second drive shafts that are coupled to the first and second feed wheels through a pair of flexible couplings. The flexible couplings allow the first and second feed wheels to move relative to each other to adjust the feed nip. The flexible couplings allow a single drive motor to rotate the first and second feed wheels through a pair of drive shafts without the use of a complex belt or gear assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Artos Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Kirst, Harold J. Keene
  • Patent number: 7874948
    Abstract: Rocker arm assembly for the rear derailleur of a bicycle, comprising an outer plate carrying a pivot pin, an inner plate and a pair of idle transmission wheels arranged between the outer plate and the inner plate. The inner plate is made of metallic material and the outer plate is made of a structural fiber fabric incorporated in a thermoplastic material matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Campagnolo Srl
    Inventor: Giuseppe Dal Pra′
  • Patent number: 7874509
    Abstract: A device for dispensing a rolled web of material having a plurality of laterally-extending, longitudinally-spaced lines of perforation. The device has a frame for supporting the rolled web such that lengths of the web are removed from the roll in a direction of advancement as the roll rotates. An infeed roller pair is rotatably mounted on the frame. The infeed roller pair provides a nip therebetween for receiving the web from the roll and for moving it forward in the direction of advancement. A pair of delivery rollers is rotatably mounted on the frame in spaced relation with the first pair of rollers. The second pair of rollers receives the web from the first roller pair and provides a nip therebetween for moving the web in the direction of advancement. Motor means drives the infeed roller pair and the delivery roller pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Inventor: James W. Kenney