Patents Examined by Frank H. McKenzie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4662861
    Abstract: A two speed accessory drive (10) comprising an input unit (20) and a remotely positioned output unit (100) connected by a plurality of belts (108,100). The input unit is adapted to be driven by a remotely positioned driving member (102). The output unit, which is connected to the engine accessories by a serpentine belt (106), includes a linear actuator (280) for engaging and disengaging same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: Canadian Fram Limited
    Inventors: Michael B. Seung, Ramalingam Sivalingham, David A. Bullen, Andrew G. Anderson, Donald A. McCharles
  • Patent number: 4662994
    Abstract: The invention proposes the use, in the manufacture of link belts, of helical coils wound from elongate synthetic plastics material of non-circular, and preferably generally rectangular, transverse cross-section, the major dimension of the said cross-section extending widthwise of the link belt.By using, for example, flat monofilament yarns of a given cross-section in the production of an oval coil of a related major dimension it is possible to increase the cross-section of the wire receiving tunnel formed by two interdigitated coils without prejudice to the capability of interdigitated coils to remain in mutual engagement, and thus facilitate the introduction of hinge wires by mechanical means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: Scapa-Porritt Limited
    Inventor: Richard T. G. Lord
  • Patent number: 4657524
    Abstract: A self-contained tensioning device for a belt or similar structure and which includes a plunger slidably mounted in a body member, a free piston slidably mounted in the plunger and having a head portion extending from a shoulder of the body member and which contacts with an idler pulley so as to apply a tensioning face to the belt, a projection provided on the shoulder and projecting axially so as to minimize the distance between a portion of the idler pulley contacting the head portion and the shoulder of the body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1987
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshio Okabe
  • Patent number: 4655730
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive device having stepless torque adjustment, especially for cycles. The drive device comprises a drive shaft (13), a first adjusting disc (1) arranged coaxially with the drive shaft (13), into which first adjusting disc (1) a spiral-like cutout (3) is incorporated at least partially about the center of the first adjusting disc (1), a second coaxially arranged adjusting disc (5) into which through slots (6) are incorporated which run outwards from the center of the second adjusting disc (5), and a coaxial segmented ring (27) consisting of individual segments (28) onto the outer periphery of which segmented ring (27) can be placed an endless drive element (30). The segments (28) each have extensions (43) which engage both in the spiral-like cutout (3) and in an allocated through slot (6). One of the said adjusting discs can be driven by the drive shaft (13), whereas the other non-driven adjusting disc can be blocked by means of a blocking device (10a and 10b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Inventors: Gerd Kupper, Horst Fenzl, Siegfried Zabinski
  • Patent number: 4652250
    Abstract: In an automatic variable speed transmission, expansible pulleys function to change the speed ratio between driving and driven shafts. The pulleys are constructed of segments or arms that are pivoted at one end to swing outwardly. Each arm includes a V-shaped groove for receiving a V-belt. At a minimum diameter, the arms form a composite solid body and at a maximum diameter, when each arm is fully pivoted outwardly, a segmented pulley is formed. Automatic speed ratio change is disclosed in both the forward and reverse direction of rotation by proper combination of the pulleys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Inventor: James B. Reswick
  • Patent number: 4648856
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an endless belt comprising a bed of elastic material and a plurality of longitudinally extending tension cords embedded therein. Each of the cords has its ends interconnected to form a junction, and the junctions of the cords are distributed over the length of said belt so that the junctions are longitudinally offset.The disclosure further relates to a process of producing such an endless belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Bando Kagaku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 4648854
    Abstract: A variable speed drive of the type having a fixed pulley, a variable pulley mounted on a motor shaft and a drive belt coupling the two pulleys. The motor is pivotally mounted on a frame. An actuator is provided for pivoting the motor and variable pulley through an arc to vary the distance between the pulleys which changes the pitch diameter of the variable pulley and the drive ratio of the system. The variable pulley has one fixed face and one movable face, and a cam system is provided and positioned for engagement upon arcuate movement of the motor to cause a predetermined amount of lateral movement of the motor and variable pulley to compensate for changes in the drive line of the variable pulley to movement of the movable face thereof. In this manner, the cam system maintains the variable pulley, fixed pulley and drive belt in accurate alignment throughout the entire range of movement of the motor and corresponding range of variation in the drive ratio of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: SnyderGeneral Corporation
    Inventor: Gordon F. Redington
  • Patent number: 4647278
    Abstract: An endless power transmission belt construction and method of making the same are provided, the belt construction comprising an outer tension section, an inner compression section and a load-carrying section secured to and disposed intermediate the tension section and the compression section, the compression section having an inner surface defining a plurality of longitudinally disposed and alternately spaced apart projections and grooves and a plurality of transversely disposed and alternately spaced apart projections and grooves. Each transverse groove has a depth between approximately 0.070 of an inch and approximately 0.080 of an inch and is spaced from the next adjacent transverse groove thereto by a distance between approximately 0.3 of an inch and approximately 0.4 of an inch while each longitudinal groove has a depth of approximately 0.095 of an inch and is spaced from the next adjacent longitudinal groove thereto by a distance of approximately 0.140 of an inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Dayco Corporation
    Inventor: Matthew L. Hull
  • Patent number: 4645476
    Abstract: A work conveyor sprocket and link assembly includes a sprocket having a body member. The body member includes a plurality of radially extending teeth connected by arcuate root portions. The body member further includes shoulder portions which extend outwardly from the sides of the body member. The link assembly includes a plurality of individual links connected to each other by link pins. Conveyor slats are secured to one side of the links; small flanges project from the other side of the links. Fasteners are connected to the flanges in order to retain the link pins in place. When assembled, the links engage both the teeth and the shoulder portions so as to distribute applied forces over a large area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Assignee: Kennecott Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn G. King, Francis X. Molloy
  • Patent number: 4642069
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a continuously variable transmission having a first and a second variable-diameter pulley provided on a first and a second shaft, a transmission belt connecting the first and second pulleys to transmit power from one of the first and second pulleys to the other, and a pair of hydraulic cylinders for changing an effective diameter of the pulleys engaging the belt. The hydraulic control system includes a hydraulic source delivering a pressurized fluid, and a flow control device for controlling a flow of the pressurized fluid from said hydraulic source into one of said hydraulic cylinders, and a flow of the fluid from said one hydraulic cylinder, thereby changing the effective diameters of the pulleys to vary a speed ratio of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisaku Sawada, Masami Sugaya, Ryuji Imai, Yoshinobu Soga
  • Patent number: 4642077
    Abstract: A V-belt transmission apparatus made of a pair of endless metallic belts and a plurality of V-shaped metallic members disposed in series in a stacked condition on the belts. Each V-shaped metallic member has laterally open, channel shaped grooves on both sides with the metallic belt on each side being inserted in the groove on that side. Each V-shaped metallic member includes a main body having a projection portion and a stopper member prepared separately from and attached to the projection portion of the main body. The stopper member forms upper wall portions defining the channel shaped grooves together with the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Fukui Sinta Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Torao Hattori, Minoru Nishimura, Masaki Goto
  • Patent number: 4642071
    Abstract: A pair of reaction and guide roller are located between the toothed gears of two oblique shafts and act on the back of two branches of a toothed belt driving the gears, the axis of each roller being positioned at a substantially intermediate angularity with respect to the direction of the two shafts of the one and of the other toothed gear and being lined up with the axis of the belt teeth in the contact area with the rollers, the ratio between the distances of the pair of rollers from the gears being almost equal to the ratio between the diameters of the gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Inventor: Guilio Botton
  • Patent number: 4642075
    Abstract: A multiple sprocket wheel used as a unit in a two-wheeled vehicle and for a multi-speed gear without involving separation of a chain guard from a plurality of sprockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: Sakae Ringyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Nagashima
  • Patent number: 4640145
    Abstract: An improved, multiple substantially identical countershaft assembly (16, 16A), change gear transmission (10) having at least two (20, 20A) countershafts is provided. The input gear (14) and each mainshaft gear (42, 44, 46, 48) is constantly engaged with a countershaft gear (24 and 24a, 26 and 26a, 28 and 28a, 30 and 30a, 32 and 32a) carried by each countershaft and all or substantially all of said input gear and mainshaft gears are provided with a number of gear teeth not evenly divisible by the number of countershafts whereby the level of noise generated by the meshing of the gear teeth is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: John R. Vandervoort
  • Patent number: 4639238
    Abstract: A variable speed drive pulley comprises a hub and two annular flange plates around the hub in face-to-face relationship. One of the flange plates is mobile axially relative to the hub. An annular diaphragm of variable cone angle has a peripheral part forming a Belleville spring washer and a central part divided into radial fingers. The Belleville spring washer bears axially on the mobile flange plate through a connection piece and an elastic material annular spacer to which the connection piece is attached. The radial fingers bear on a support piece fixed axially with respect to the hub. A fluid-tight regulating chamber is formed between the mobile flange plate, the diaphragm, the support piece and the hub. It is adapted to be connected to a source of fluid. Sealing means in one piece with the elastic material space are disposed between the connection piece and the mobile flange plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: Valeo
    Inventor: Michel Jaccod
  • Patent number: 4639240
    Abstract: A bicycle chainguard having a housing shaped to cover the top run of a bicycle chain with a curved forward end portion extending at least partially around a front sprocket. The housing has a pair of keyhole-shaped through-slots formed in a vertical wall. Clamps encircle seat and down tubes on the frame of the bicycle. Each clamp has a lug extending into a corresponding through-slot. Each lug has a shank with a diameter sized to fit within the through-slot, and an enlarged head sized to pass through an enlarged end portion of the keyhole-shaped through-slot. The longitudinal axis of each through-slot is oriented tranversely to the axis of the corresponding frame tube enabling assembly of the lug in the slot in a wide range of positions along the axial length of the through-slot to accommodate a range of angular orientations of the frame tubes for different model or style bicycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: Schwinn Bicycle Company
    Inventor: King Liu
  • Patent number: 4639239
    Abstract: It is a matter of a variable speed drive pulley with which is associated a regulating chamber adapted to be connected to a source of fluid, this regulating chamber being sealed in particular by a seal which, coupled axially to the mobile flange, is disposed in line with an abutment spacer also defining one of the extreme positions of the mobile flange. The abutment spacer is carried by the bush of the mobile flange on the side of the bush facing the other flange, it features a transverse collar which is directed radially towards the axis of the assembly and by which it delimits, for its part, a housing in which is disposed the associated seal and, conjointly, passages are provided in a generally radial direction in said bush and the hub of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: Valeo
    Inventors: Jacques Thirion de Briel, Michel Jaccod
  • Patent number: 4637268
    Abstract: A planer drive includes a sprocket wheel for a planing chain, the sprocket wheel having a secondary chain ring, and a driveshaft has a primary chain ring. On at last two circles juxtaposed at a predetermined distance, the primary chain ring has radial holes for clutch pins, conical friction segments attached to the clutch pins forming two revolving friction rings whose outside flanks work against an annular groove of the secondary chain ring. Between the two friction rings on the primary side, the secondary chain ring has a centrally engaging friction ring of appropriate taper which works against the inner flanks of the friction rings on the secondary side. The friction ring on the secondary side is mounted so as to be axially movable so that uniform engagement, reduced wear due to low specific contact pressure and better heat dissipation are assured while emergency operating properties are maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignee: Halbach & Braun Industrieanlagen
    Inventors: Gert Braun, Ernst Braun
  • Patent number: 4637809
    Abstract: A rear derailleur for a bicycle having a linkage mechanism supported swingably to a fixing member through a first horizontal shaft, a first spring interposed between the linkage mechanism and the fixing member, and a second spring interposed between a movable member at the linkage mechanism and a chain guide, so that the first and second springs balance with each other to allow the linkage mechanism and chain guide to swing, thereby controlling a guide pulley at the chain guide in position with respect to each sprocket at the multistage sprocket assembly. Hence, even when the position to support an operating wire for the linkage mechanism during the swinging motion thereof varies to vary the position of the guide pulley with respect to the multistage sprocket assembly, an interval between the chain and the urging surface therefor is held constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignee: Shimano Industrial Company Limited
    Inventor: Masashi Nagano
  • Patent number: 4637810
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an adjustable endless belt particularly adapted for use in high speed power transmission and commonly termed a fan belt. The belt is comprised of a length of flexible and durable polymeric material, having a central longitudinal channel extending therethrough and a length of flexible and durable cord slightably disposed within the channel and extending the length thereof. The desired belt size is determined by cutting the length of polymeric material with the cord contained therein to the desired length, pulling a portion of the cord from one end of the length polymeric material, applying an adhesive to the exposed cord and the ends of the polymeric material and inserting the exposed cord within the open channel then defined by the other end of the length of polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Inventor: Paul Beck