Patents Examined by Jake Cook
  • Patent number: 11359708
    Abstract: A flexplate for a motor vehicle drivetrain includes a carry plate configured for being connected to an engine crankshaft and a drive plate. The drive plate and the carry plate are separate components attached directly via contact. The drive plate is configured for transferring torque input into the carry plate to a downstream component. A method of constructing a flexplate for a motor vehicle drivetrain includes stamping a carry plate configured for being connected to an engine crankshaft; stamping a drive plate separate from the carry plate; and attaching the drive plate and the carry plate directly together via contact. The drive plate is configured for transferring torque input into the carry plate to a downstream component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Raymundo Juan Lien Chang, Alfredo Perez Mitre Jimenez, Angel Josue Lopez
  • Patent number: 11359712
    Abstract: An internal-pressure rise prevention structure of a speed reducer according to the invention includes a speed reduction mechanism that decelerates rotation of an input part and transmits the decelerated rotation to an output part, and a container having a communication hole formed in a wall surface that defines an internal space for accommodating the speed reduction mechanism and lubricant. The communication hole is situated vertically above the level of the lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Nabtesco Corporation
    Inventors: Shunsuke Kimura, Shuichi Kamagata, Yokon Oh
  • Patent number: 11345024
    Abstract: Provided is a drive device that can remove the influence of static friction by driving two drive axes with three drive units. A drive device includes: a first drive unit; a second drive unit; a third drive unit; a first differential unit connected to the first drive unit and the second drive unit; a second differential unit connected to the second drive unit and the third drive unit; and a control unit that controls the first to third drive units. The control unit controls the second drive unit at a constant speed, and controls a speed of each of the first drive unit and the third drive unit relative to that of the second drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yajima, Kazuo Hongo, Masaya Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 11346435
    Abstract: A reducer of an electric power steering apparatus includes: a worm shaft having a first end thereof supported by a first bearing coupled to a housing and a second end supported by a second bearing coupled to the housing; a damper axially supported on an outer race of the second bearing; and a damper support member having a first side axially supported on the damper and a second side supported on an inner face of the housing. The worm shaft can be assembled with constant rotational torque at an accurate position with respect to the centers of the bearings at the opposite ends. And, the axial and radial movements of the worm shaft can be buffered and the load applied to the worm shaft in the direction in which the worm shaft is engaged with the worm wheel can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jong Han Kim
  • Patent number: 11339872
    Abstract: Provided is a lever type vehicular remote shift switching device. The switching device includes: a lever housing (100) disposed at a steering shaft of a vehicle; a lever substrate (200) disposed within the lever housing (100); a lever rotary switch unit (300) at least partially rotatably disposed at an end of the lever housing (100) and comprising a rotary switch part (360) disposed on the lever substrate (200); a lever button switch unit (400) at least partially disposed at an end of the lever rotary switch unit (300) in a movable pressing manner, and including a lever button switch 460 at least partially disposed on the lever substrate (200), wherein the lever button switch unit (400) is at least partially disposed in the longitudinal direction of the lever housing (100) so as to pass through an at least part of the lever rotary switch unit (300).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: LS Automotive Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Hun Kim, Ki Nyeong Ko
  • Patent number: 11339856
    Abstract: A power transmission drive includes a force amplifier configured to increase power output of at least one motor. The force amplifier includes a first pulley set and a second pulley set, each pulley set including at least one floating pulley and at least one fixed pulley. The first pulley set and the second pulley set are coupled to one or more motors by a corresponding force amplification fiber in tension. Actuation of the one or more motors actuate the first pulley set and the second pulley set. The first pulley set and the second pulley set transmit the force applied by the one or more motors to an output component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: ELEV8.design Inc.
    Inventors: Attila Aurel Kabai, George Babu, Samuel Zlibut
  • Patent number: 11338455
    Abstract: A dress pack manager for use with a robotic arm having an end-of-arm tool supplied with power or working fluid via a dress pack. A pair of rollers are spaced apart such that the dress pack may pass between them, and such that rotation of the rollers applies friction to the dress pack and causes the dress pack to move. An electric motor rotates one of the rollers in both a forward and backward rotation and is torque-controlled to maintain a constant tension applied to the dress pack by the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Cody Eli Bressler, Cody Michael Porter, Branson Patrick Brockschmidt
  • Patent number: 11331817
    Abstract: A maintenance apparatus of a robot includes a pair of parallel rails removably installed on opposite sides in a predetermined direction to a robot, and a number of sliders, at least one of the number of sliders is attached to each of the pair of rails, and each of the sliders is configured to support an arm part or a reducer of the robot, and move the supported arm part or reducer along the rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shunsuke Satou
  • Patent number: 11333234
    Abstract: Embodiments of a system, method and apparatus for a gear are disclosed. For example, a metallic gear hub can include an axis of rotation and metallic gear teeth. The metallic gear teeth can be smaller than a final gear teeth size of the gear. The metallic gear teeth can be co-planar with the axis. In addition, the metallic gear teeth can be non-orthogonal to the axis. A polymer layer can be located on the metallic gear teeth to form polymer gear teeth on the metallic gear teeth. The polymer gear teeth can form the final gear teeth size of the gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey E. Beyerlein, Alan G. Turek, Himadri Shastry, Jason T. Rutkiewicz
  • Patent number: 11333228
    Abstract: This invention provides a reciprocating linear prime mover, comprising a first roller, disposed on a first driving axis along with a second axis; a second roller, disposed on a second driving axis along with the second axis; a closed first linear driving element winded on and between the first roller and the second roller, comprising a first linear part and a second linear part between the first roller and the second roller, wherein the second linear part is above the first linear part along a (+) third axis; a first part disposed between the first roller and the second roller, wherein the first part is reciprocatingly moved along with the first axis, and the first part comprises a first one-way clutch nearby the inner side of the first linear part and contacting therewith, and a second one-way clutch nearby the inner side of the second linear part and contacting therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Inventor: Chun-Jong Chang
  • Patent number: 11331815
    Abstract: A rotary shaft structure including: a first member; a second member that is supported so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis with respect to the first member; an actuator that includes an output shaft member connected to the second member and that rotationally drives the second member about the rotation axis with respect to the first member; a sensor that detects a physical quantity acting between the output shaft member and the second member; and a first fixing member that is fixed to the output shaft member. A wire body is routed from the first member side to the second member side; the first fixing member extends toward the second member, with a prescribed gap between the first fixing member and the sensor; and the wire body routed from the first member side is fixed to the first fixing member on the second member side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazutaka Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11325639
    Abstract: A steering gear includes a gear wheel, a screw pinion meshing therewith, and a screw pinion shaft that includes the screw pinion. The screw pinion shaft is mounted on one side of the screw pinion in a fixed bearing. The steering gear includes a rotary bearing which comprises an inner bearing shell and an outer bearing shell. The outer bearing shell is connected to an inner ring of a swivel ring. The inner ring is connected to an outer ring of the swivel ring by a torsion web so as to pivot about a pivot axis. The torsion web runs at a distance from a supporting surface. The distance is dimensioned such that the torsion web does not contact the supporting surface when the screw pinion shaft is not loaded with a torque, and partially contacts the same when the screw pinion shaft is loaded with an operating torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignees: Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH, Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jens-Uwe Hafermalz, Ekkehard Kneer
  • Patent number: 11320041
    Abstract: When a strain wave gearing is used in an application for an operation of repeating startup/stopping, an outer-side lubrication portion and an inner-side lubrication portion, which are lubricated using different types of grease, remain in a communicating state without being divided using a seal member or the like. The outer-side lubrication portion is supplied with a much smaller amount of grease than the amount that would be required if used in an application such as a steady operation. Similarly, the inner-side lubrication portion is also supplied with a much smaller amount of grease than the amount that would be required if used in an application such as a steady operation. Essentially, the outer-side lubrication portion and the inner-side lubrication portion can be lubricated appropriately using different types of grease, without the grease becoming mixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: HARMONIC DRIVE SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventor: Norio Shirokoshi
  • Patent number: 11312028
    Abstract: A multi-axis robot arm includes a pedestal, a plurality of knuckle modules and at least one telescopic arm module. Two ends of two adjacent knuckle modules close to and facing each other have a first connecting structure and a second connecting structure, respectively. The at least one telescopic arm module includes a telescopic tube and a telescopic shaft. One end of the telescopic tube is fastened to the first connecting structure. A surface of the other end of the telescopic tube faces towards the second connecting structure. One end of the telescopic shaft facing towards the first connecting structure projects into the telescopic tube. The other end of the telescopic shaft is fastened to the second connecting structure. The one end of the telescopic shaft is telescopically connected with and fastened in the telescopic tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: CHENG UEI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ming-Tsung Chen, Jun-Wei Huang, Pei-Fen Wu, Jung-Kuang Liu, Kun-Cheng Li
  • Patent number: 11312005
    Abstract: A two-degree-of-freedom parallel robot with a spatial kinematic chain includes a fixed platform, a movable platform, two driving devices, and two branch chains. Each driving device includes an active arm and a driving unit, and the two active arms are in the same reference plane. An end bracket is hinged on the active arm. Each branch chain includes two shaft rods and two chain rods. One of the two shaft rods is arranged on the active arm or the end bracket, and the other one thereof is arranged on the movable platform. The two chain rods and the two shaft rods form a parallelogram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Qizhi Meng, Xinjun Liu, Fugui Xie, Jinsong Wang
  • Patent number: 11313443
    Abstract: A system for maneuvering a pick-up device such as a vacuum, claw, or other crane for an arcade game or the like comprises a metallic frame and two motors. A mount is suspended over the frame and the movement of the mount is managed by monofilament loops rotated by the motors using a set of four stacks of pulleys. The arrangement of the pulleys allows the mount and pick-up device to be easily maneuvered anywhere within the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Stephen P. Shoemaker Trust
    Inventor: Stephen P. Shoemaker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11312233
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a shift bracket that is coupled to a top plate of a cover panel for covering a floor tunnel and to which a shift lever unit is attached on an upper side. The shift bracket includes: a base plate to which the shift lever unit is attached; and a front leg portion and a rear leg portion that are coupled to the base plate and the top plate of the cover panel and hold the base plate with a space being provided upward in a vehicle vertical direction from the top plate. An ECU is disposed in the space between the top plate of the cover panel and the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuma Otoguro, Satoshi Kasai, Naruaki Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 11305806
    Abstract: A vehicle steering assembly for controlling movement of a vehicle having independently rotatable left and right ground-engaging traction elements. The steering assembly comprises a steering handle coupled to the panel support structure and extending generally upwardly from the panel support structure. The steering handle comprises a laterally-extending crossmember and at least one upright extension member. The crossmember and the upright extension member are rigidly connected to one another so that shifting of the crossmember relative to the extension member is substantially prevented. The steering handle is shiftable in forward and rearward directions to thereby cause corresponding forward and rearward rotation of both of the left and right traction elements. The steering handle is rotatable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions to thereby cause a change in the relative speeds and directions of rotation of the left and right traction elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Carlson
  • Patent number: 11306816
    Abstract: In a shift device, when a lock lever is disposed at a restriction position or an intermediate position, a detent groove of a lever is abutted by the lock lever, and pivoting of the lever from a D position toward an S position, and pivoting of the lever from the S position toward the D position, is restricted. However, when the lever is disposed at the D position or the S position, by moving the lock lever to a permitted position, the detent groove does not abut the lock lever and so pivoting of the lever from the D position toward the S position and pivoting of the lever from the S position toward the D position is permitted. Thus, pivoting of the lever from the D position toward the S position and pivoting of the lever from the S position toward the D position can be restricted and permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventor: Kunihiro Morimura
  • Patent number: 11299042
    Abstract: A vibration-reducing portal box assembly for mounting a wheel of an off-road vehicle includes a housing with a receptacle adapted to receive a stock axle shaft of an off-road vehicle, an output shaft operably connectable to a stock axle received in the housing and effective to rotate upon rotation of said stock axle, and a wheel hub having a central opening adapted to receive said output shaft, and adapted to turn a wheel mounted to said wheel hub upon rotation of said output shaft. The output shaft has a tapered portion connecting its proximal end to its distal end. The wheel hub has a tapered portion adapted to matingly receive the tapered portion of the output shaft. The output shaft may be connected to the stock axle shaft by a geared linking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Super ATV, LLC
    Inventors: Jordan E. Stephan, Justin L. Eaton