Patents Examined by Gabriela C Craciun
  • Patent number: 9102354
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for use in turning steerable vehicle wheels (14, 16) includes a steering member (12) which is linearly movable relative to the vehicle to effect turning movement of the steerable vehicle wheels. A pinion (28) is disposed in meshing engagement with a rack portion (30) of the steering member (12). A steering column (22) is connected with the pinion (28) and with a vehicle steering wheel (20) such that rotation of the steering wheel results in linear movement of the steering member. An electrically powered steering unit (40) is connected to the steering member (12) for providing steering feel to the operator. A hydraulic power steering motor (60) mechanically connected to the steering member provides steering assist to the steerable wheels (14, 16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE U.S. LLC
    Inventors: Daniel E. Williams, Elbert Owens
  • Patent number: 9102331
    Abstract: A multi-functional electric module (eModule) is provided for a vehicle having a chassis, a master controller, and a drive wheel having a propulsion-braking module. The eModule includes a steering control assembly, mounting bracket, propulsion control assembly, brake controller, housing, and control arm. The steering control assembly includes a steering motor controlled by steering controllers in response to control signals from the master controller. A mounting feature of the bracket connects to the chassis. The propulsion control assembly and brake controller are in communication with the propulsion-braking module. The control arm connects to the lower portion and contains elements of a suspension system, with the control arm being connectable to the drive wheel via a wheel input/output block. The controllers are responsive to the master controller to control a respective steering, propulsion, and braking function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America As Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: William J. Bluethmann, Thomas M. Waligora, Nathan Fraser-Chanpong, Ryan Reed, Akinjide Akinniyi Akinyode, Ivan Spain, Andrew D. Dawson, Joshua M. Figuered, Eduardo Herrera, Mason M. Markee, Robert L. Vitale, Chunhao J. Lee, Lucien Q. Junkin, Ross Briant Winn, James Jonathan Rogers, Raymond Guo
  • Patent number: 9096285
    Abstract: A training wheel apparatus for learning to ride a bicycle includes a lift activation assembly. The training wheel apparatus further includes a wheel mount assembly configured to operatively connect to a wheel. The training wheel apparatus further includes a cable configured to operatively connect to the lift activation assembly and the wheel mount assembly. When activated, the lift activation assembly is configured to use the cable to change an elevation of the wheel between a first position and a second position while the wheel is in motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Inventor: Peyton Webb Robertson
  • Patent number: 9096268
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus for positioning an actuator managing the pivotal position of rotatable pintel arms controlling the output of a pair of tandem-mounted hydraulic drive pumps providing motive power for an agricultural machine. The pumps are resiliently connected to the machine main frame, permitting relative movement to reduce vibration transmission to the main frame. A mounting bracket connected to the drive pumps provides a fixed connection for a first end of the actuator while the opposing second end is connected by an axially moveable linkage to the pintel arms. A common anchorage for the actuator and the pintel arms eliminates unintended pintel arm movement that occurs when anchoring the end of the actuator on the main frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Todd B. Pierce, Philip J. Ehrhart
  • Patent number: 9090160
    Abstract: A floor panel of a vehicle body is provided with bulging sections in which seats are disposed to the left and right of a tunnel section, and a rear tunnel cross member extending in the vehicle width direction at the rear ends of the bulging sections. The vehicle body is provided with left and right floor extensions set further toward the tunnel section along a dashboard lower relative to the front side frames, floor frames extending so as to span between the floor extensions and the rear tunnel cross member and having a predetermined distance in the vehicle body vertical direction from a rear floor panel, and an energy container placed below the bulging sections and supported on the floor frames. The floor frames are fixed to the vehicle body so as to be capable of being removed from the below the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayasu Yoshida, Mitsushige Goto, Takeki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9085342
    Abstract: Provided herein is a power assisted motorized vehicle which can be operated in a manual mode or a motorized mode or in a combination of manual and motorized modes. The vehicle includes, inter alia, a frame connected to at least one fork capable of supporting a wheel having a first driven sprocket assembly and a second driven sprocket assembly, a rechargeable electrical power supply attached to the frame, a motor controller attached to the frame, an electric motor supported by the frame and attached to a first driving sprocket which is coupled to the first driven sprocket assembly and a manual pedal assembly supported by the frame and comprising a pedal crank shaft with two pedals and a second driving sprocket which is coupled to the second driven sprocket assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Dr. Nathan Jauvtis Engineering
    Inventor: Nathan Jauvtis
  • Patent number: 9079632
    Abstract: Phase gear and lever mechanism converts reciprocating power to rotary power with phase gear providing power stroke of greater duration than travel stroke so as to develop efficient power through a power stroke. A modified lever and gear mechanism converts reciprocating power to rotary power at variable out power ratio. Both converting mechanisms are applied as bicycle drive mechanisms. Both mechanisms are applied together in a bicycle one as a drive mechanism, the other for synchronizing the drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Inventor: Alexander Gendell
  • Patent number: 9060906
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wheelchair wheel attachment and gear change adaptor unit for a geared wheelchair wheel having a hub which comprises an attachment shaft protruding to one side thereof, and where gear change is actuated by axial manipulation of a rod running within the shaft in a cylindrical bore which is concentric with the shaft. An adaptor housing (1) is designed to receive and support the shaft in an opening (19). Locking means are provided for releasably locking the shaft to the adaptor housing (1) such that the shaft cannot move out from the adaptor housing (1) until the locking means are released. A gear shift plunger (5) is arranged for hydraulic activation within the adaptor housing (1) such as to, upon activation when the wheelchair wheel is attached to the adaptor unit, push the rod outwards of the adaptor housing (1) towards the hub for effecting gear change in the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: GearWheel AB
    Inventors: Christian Malm, Stefan Ericsson
  • Patent number: 9056620
    Abstract: A multipurpose loading and unloading and/or material handling and moving apparatus including a closed chain continuous roller grid disposed on and around a continuous elongate table, the roller grid comprising a plurality of parallel axles pivotally coupled at their ends by parallel first and second sets of independent mechanical links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Inventor: Gary D. Copus
  • Patent number: 9056035
    Abstract: A tractor assembly includes a connection unit which is connected between the tractor and the wheel chair. The connection unit includes a fixing member, a top link unit, a bottom link unit and a swing rod so as to form a four-link mechanism. The connection unit includes an engaging unit with an engaging section, and a position unit. The top link unit has a reception hole and the positioning unit has a push rod. When the push rod is located at the first position, the reception hole is closed. When the push rod is located at the second position, the push rod is retracted and the reception hole is exposed. The bottom link unit is pivoted about one end of the swing rod to move the other end of the swing rod to the position of the reception hole, the engaging section is inserted into the reception hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Cycling & Health Tech Industry R&D Center
    Inventors: Shun-Yuan Ju, Gang-Hua Lee, Zheng-Yang Hu
  • Patent number: 9057430
    Abstract: A four-wheel drive vehicle includes: a driving force transmission system which transmits torque of a drive source to front wheels and rear wheels via gear mechanisms; a clutch provided in the driving force transmission system and capable of controlling an amount of the torque transmitted to the rear wheels; and a pressing mechanism which presses the clutch by transforming a part of the torque transmitted to the rear wheels into axial thrust. In the driving force transmission system, gear ratios of the gear mechanisms are set such that a direction of a differential rotation between a drive shaft connected to an input side of the clutch and a drive shaft connected to an output side of the clutch is not reversed even when a steered angle of the front wheels changes to a maximum value while the four-wheel drive vehicle is traveling forwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Horaguchi, Akihiro Ohno, Hiroshi Takuno, Takashi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 9039026
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a three-component rear-wheel suspension system for interconnecting to a bicycle frame and a shock absorbing device. The three components are an upper stay pivotally attached to the frame, a lower stay having a rear wheel mount and pivotally connected to the upper stay at a location generally above the rear wheel mount, and a link pivotally connected to the frame at a location below where the upper stay is attached to the frame and pivotally coupled to the lower stay. The general arrangement of the linkages between the three components permit compression of the suspension system (i.e. relative upward movement of the rear wheel) with limited chainstay lengthening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Inventor: Christopher Hudec
  • Patent number: 9027694
    Abstract: An electric two-wheeled vehicle includes a motor generating traveling power transmitted to a rear wheel, and a motor case accommodating the motor, wherein the motor case has a traveling wind inflow port allowing traveling wind to flow in the motor case, and a traveling wind outflow port allowing traveling wind flowing in the motor case to flow out, and a space surrounded by the motor case is communicated with a space where a coil of the motor is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Patent number: 9022168
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine assembly configured to power a vehicle. The engine assembly defines a first engine end and a second engine end opposite the first engine end. The first engine end is spaced apart from the second engine end along a first direction. The engine assembly defines a third engine end and a fourth engine end opposite the third engine end. The third engine end is spaced apart from the fourth engine end along a second direction. The second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The vehicle further includes a steering assembly disposed in close proximity to the engine assembly. The steering assembly includes a steering body disposed closer to the first engine end than to the second engine end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Alan W. Hayman, William A. Bear
  • Patent number: 9004518
    Abstract: A shock-absorbing seat post for a bicycle includes a connecting mount, a rod member, a shock-absorbing member and a fastening unit. The connecting mount has two connecting lugs each having a first through hole, and a receiving space defined between the two connecting lugs. The rod member has a connecting insert received in the receiving space and provided with a second through hole aligned with the two first through holes. The shock-absorbing member has two lateral walls, a tube portion located between the two lateral walls and provided with an axial hole aligned with the two first though holes. The fastening unit is inserted in the two first through holes, the second through hole and the axial hole for combining the connecting mount, the rod member and the shock-absorbing member together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventor: Kuo-Pin Yu
  • Patent number: 8998237
    Abstract: A two-wheeled vehicle parking mechanism, comprising a lifting and dropping gear, the lifting and dropping gear being provided with two front wheel driving rods set in parallel, each front wheel driving rod comprising a first sliding rod and a second sliding rod, the first sliding rod sliding relatively to the second sliding rod, and the mechanism comprising a controlling part that connects to the second sliding rod for controlling the lifting and dropping of the front wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Suzhou Eagle Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Anding Zhu, Lu Liu
  • Patent number: 8991844
    Abstract: A wheel and hub assembly for a vehicle includes a clutch dog pivotally attached to a wheel. A toothed ratchet wheel is attached to a pedal crank and positioned adjacent to the clutch dog. A hub cover includes a protrusion. The hub cover is attached to the wheel in a sliding fashion so as to slide between an unlocked position, where the protrusion engages the clutch dog so as to prevent the clutch dog from engaging the toothed ratchet wheel when the pedals are turned in a forward direction; and a locked position, where the protrusion does not engage the clutch dog so that the clutch dog engages the toothed ratchet wheel when the pedals are turned in a forward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Radio Flyer Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Bricker, Edward Paramadilok, Jason Fitzwater
  • Patent number: 8991528
    Abstract: The invention relates to an articulated tracked vehicle comprising a first vehicle unit and a second vehicle unit controllably connected by means of a control member, wherein the first vehicle unit comprises a combustion engine, wherein the combustion engine is arranged to drive a generator for electrical generation, wherein the generator is arranged to transfer power via power electronic means to at least one electric motor of at least one electric propulsion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: BAE Systems Hägglunds Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Björn Hellholm, Gustav Söderström
  • Patent number: 8991846
    Abstract: The present invention reduces or eliminates suspension induced lower portion chain grow for rear derailer equipped bicycle drive trains using a pivoting mount for the common chain guide pulley. Attached about or near concentric with the chain ring and bottom bracket this mounting plate has a pivotally connected link to the suspension. The chain guide pulley is positioned to “take-up” or store some lower portion of chain length around the chain ring. Suspension activation creates pivotal movement of the guide mounting plate to relieve suspension induced chain grow by releasing some or the entire taken-up length of the lower portion of the drive chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Eric Raymond Twers
  • Patent number: 8985251
    Abstract: A self-movable mine refuge chamber powered by a drive assembly, preferably in the form of a set of crawler or tractor mechanisms, mounted on the chamber, so that the chamber can be moved through the mine without use of any other motive force. The drive assembly further includes a tilt assembly so that one end of the other of the chamber can also be tilted to establish a modified height profile to permit obstacles along the path to be negotiated. The drive assembly is powered by an on-board, detachable power supply module and, using controls from outside the chamber, the chamber can be maneuvered through working tunnels or roadways, crosscuts, or other passageways within the mine, and be positioned and repositioned at will.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Gary Lee Carney