Patents Examined by Jude Agendia
  • Patent number: 9879534
    Abstract: A transmission assembly for a rotary piston and cylinder device, comprising a first gear (120) and a gear sub-assembly (15, 16, 17, 18, 19), the first gear connectable to a rotatably mounted shutter (12) of the device, and the first gear extending from a side of the shutter, and the first gear connected to the gear sub-assembly which converts rotation to an axis of rotation different to that of the shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Lontra Limited
    Inventor: Stephen F. Lindsey
  • Patent number: 9604370
    Abstract: A surgical apparatus having sufficient rigidity in a fixed mode and being freely operable in a steering mode includes one or more arm modules having at least one degree of freedom, each arm module including at least one steering cable to steer the arm module and a plurality of link units to form the at least one arm module, each link unit including a head disposed at an upper portion thereof and having a hemispherical shape, a seat formed at a lower portion thereof, and a sliding ball arranged at the seat, wherein the link units are arranged such that the head of one of the link units is seated on the seat of the other of the link units, and the head of one of the link units and the seat of the other of the link units are slid with respect to each other by the sliding ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heum Yong Park, Yong Jae Kim, Jeong Hun Kim, Youn Baek Lee
  • Patent number: 9541180
    Abstract: A hybrid drive for a motor vehicle comprising a first transmission input shaft for connecting to a first internal combustion engine, a second transmission input shaft, which is coaxial to the first transmission input shaft and connects to a first electric motor, a layshaft, a first gear shifting device connecting the first transmission input shaft and the second transmission input shaft in a first shifting setting and engaging a gear in a second shifting setting, and a transmission output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Johannes Kaltenbach
  • Patent number: 9541178
    Abstract: An actuator comprises: a housing which is provided with an opening; a slider which is installed so as to be movable relative to the housing; a drive means which is installed in the housing and which moves the slider; at least a pair of seal members which is disposed at the opening of the housing so as to face each other and which exhibits dust-proof and drip-proof functions by engaging with each other; and move-through members which are mounted to both sides of the slider in the movement direction thereof and which move through the pair of seal members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: IAI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukiharu Otsuka, Katsuhito Nagai
  • Patent number: 9518645
    Abstract: Embodiments include a modular flex plate assembly with a plurality of modular segments connectable with at least another modular segment by joining a first end of one modular segment to a second end of another modular segment to form a ring gear. The ring gear can be mounted to a substrate and mounted or fastened to a component of an engine or a transmission system. A plurality of securing devices can cooperatively engage the ring gear to a substrate, such that the gear teeth of the ring gear align with the perimeter edge of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Accel Performance Group LLC
    Inventor: Ross Alan McCombs
  • Patent number: 9512899
    Abstract: A method of stepping up the speed of a rotary motion from a first speed, supplied to an input shaft (26), to a second speed delivered by an output shaft (28), comprises transmitting said rotary motion from said input shaft (26), via a drive gear (34) of said input shaft (26), the drive gear (34) being helical and having a first helix angle (?in), to a layshaft arrangement, so as to generate a first axial thrust (F1) of the input shaft (26) in a first axial direction; transmitting said rotary motion from said layshaft arrangement, via a driven gear (44) of said output shaft (28), said driven gear (44) being helical and having a second helix angle (?out) that is larger than said first helix angle (?in), to said output shaft (28), so as to generate a second axial thrust (F2) of the output shaft (28) in a second direction, said second direction being substantially opposite to said first direction; and applying said first axial thrust (F1) and said second axial thrust (F2) to the same location of an axially rigid
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: AUTOINVENT TRANSIP AB
    Inventor: Niklas Bennstedt
  • Patent number: 9505138
    Abstract: A joint unit pivotably coupled to a tip end part of a main arm member of a Scott Russell mechanism is pivoted in two ways. A Scott Russell mechanism device pivotably couples a main arm member and a sub arm member to each other, as well as it pivotably couples a joint unit to a tip end part of the main arm member. Moreover, by providing a pivot driving unit to the main arm member, as well as providing a fourth motor and a drive transmission mechanism unit to the sub arm member, the Scott Russell mechanism device can switch between pivoting the joint unit associatively a change of a coupling angle of the arm members and pivoting the joint unit by the drive of the fourth motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SQUSE Inc.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Sasaki, Mikio Shimizu, Yasunori Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9475190
    Abstract: A robot includes a tool shaft, a first supporting mechanism attached to one portion of the tool shaft and tiltably supporting the tool shaft, a second supporting mechanism attached to a different portion of the tool shaft and tiltably supporting the tool shaft, a first in-plane movement mechanism that moves the first supporting mechanism in a first plane, a second in-plane movement mechanism that moves the second supporting mechanism in a second plane, and a controller that controls an in-plane position and an inclination angle of the tool shaft to control the first in-plane movement mechanism and the second in-plane movement mechanism. The first supporting mechanism or the second supporting mechanism supports the tool shaft movably in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Ikuo Takeda
  • Patent number: 9463490
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vibration exciter, in particular for a construction machine, having at least one rotatably supported unbalanced unit with at least one unbalanced element, a rotary drive, a gear arrangement with at least one gear wheel, wherein a rotation generated by the rotary drive can be transmitted by the gear arrangement to the at least one unbalanced unit, and a housing, in which the gear arrangement is accommodated. In accordance with the invention an energy-saving and low-maintenance arrangement is achieved in that by the gear arrangement an output shaft can be driven that extends out of the housing and in that the at least one unbalanced element is fixed outside of the housing on the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: EURODRILL GmbH
    Inventor: Horst Damm
  • Patent number: 9447726
    Abstract: An accessories drive system, including: a clutch assembly with a drive shaft; and at least one accessory device connected to the drive shaft. In a first position for the clutch assembly: the clutch assembly is arranged to transmit first torque from an output shaft for a transmission to the drive shaft to drive the at least one accessory device and rotation of the drive shaft is isolated from rotation of a launch device for the vehicle. In a second position for the clutch assembly: the clutch assembly is arranged to transmit second torque from the launch device to the drive shaft to drive the at least one accessory device and the rotation of the drive shaft is isolated from rotation of the output shaft for the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jeffrey Hemphill
  • Patent number: 9435399
    Abstract: Provided is a reduction gear with which allowable output can be further increased and a reduction in size can be achieved. A reduction gear (1) has a case (2), a speed reduction mechanism (3) accommodated within the case (2), a shaft portion (51) to which output of the speed reduction mechanism (3) is transmitted, and a pinion (52) coupled to the shaft portion (51). The speed reduction mechanism (3) has an external tooth gear (15) to which output of an electric motor (100) is transmitted, and a carrier (17) holding the external tooth gear (15). The pinion (52) and the shaft portion (51) are integrally formed, and the shaft portion (51) and the carrier (17) are spline-coupled to each other. A pair of main bearings (32, 33) are held by the case (2), and rotatably support the carrier (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiya Akami
  • Patent number: 9428246
    Abstract: A bicycle generator or a shifting device has a base member, a rotation receiving member and a dynamo. The base member is configured to be mounted only in vicinity of a hub axle. The rotation receiving member is rotatably mounted on the base member and is rotated by a rotational part of a bicycle. The dynamo is coupled to the rotation receiving member to generate electrical energy in response to rotation of the rotation receiving member. In the case of the shifting device, a shifting unit is provided that includes an electric motor and an output member that engages a part of a bicycle hub transmission device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kitamura, Shintaro Mori
  • Patent number: 9423012
    Abstract: A ball screw device is provided in which a dust-proof member can be simply attached to a nut. The ball screw device (1) is a ball screw device (1) in which a concave portion (6) is formed in an inner circumferential end portion of a nut (4) through which a screw shaft (2) passes and the concave portion (6) is provided with a dust-proof member (5), wherein the dust-proof member (5) is formed of a cylindrical elastic member into which the screw shaft (2) is inserted and includes at least one protrusion (8) protruding in an outward diameter direction from an outer circumferential surface of the dust-proof member (5), and the concave portion (6) has a groove shape to which the dust-proof member (5) is fitted and is provided with a locking portion (7) to which the protrusion (8) is locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Kuroiwa
  • Patent number: 9422888
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuating device (1) for moving a mobile cap of a thrust reverser, comprising: —an actuator comprising a first element (3), such as a screw, and a second element (4), such as a nut, collaborating with the first element in such a way that turning the first element causes the second element to move in a translational movement, —a locking piece (18) rotationally mobile between a locked position in which the locking piece prevents the first element (3) from turning, and an unlocked position in which the locking piece (18) allows the first element (3) to turn, and —an unlocking piece (25) rotationally mobile between an active position in which the unlocking piece (25) urges the locking piece (18) towards the unlocked position and a passive position in which the unlocking piece (25) allows the locking piece (18) to return to the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: SAGEM DEFENSE SECURITE
    Inventors: Mickael Werquin, David Charrier, Oleg Gomolko, Pascal Omnes
  • Patent number: 9381971
    Abstract: An operating device for a bicycle that includes a fixing member that is adapted to be fixed to a bicycle handlebar and includes an adjustment portion, and a housing that includes first, second and third members. The first member and the second member define an adjustment space therebetween and the third member fixes the first member and the second member to each other without passing through the adjustment portion. The adjustment portion of the fixing member is at least partially received in the adjustment space such that the adjustment portion is adjustable relative to the housing in at least a first adjustment direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Miki, Yasuhisa Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9341257
    Abstract: A shift actuator of the present invention includes a first and a second fluid pressure chamber for providing fluid pressure to each of a first and a second piston defined in a cylinder and a shift operating member inserted and disposed between the first piston and the second piston to move back and forth along the axial direction. On a side surface to the axial direction of the cylinder, an opening portion to which the shift operating member is inserted is formed. The opening portion is provided opening only to a part of the circumferential direction of the cylinder, and a lower end of the opening portion in a circumferential direction of the cylinder reaches a just under position in the vertical direction of the cylinder. This enables to discharge foreign matters included in hydraulic oil in the cylinder according to a stroke of the piston, with a simple configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Atsushi Suenaga
  • Patent number: 9341259
    Abstract: A gear shifting method and device of a multistage transmission in which gear shift of a main transmission and an auxiliary transmission is mechanically operated by operation of one shift lever The device is provided with: a cam mechanism that has a select operation output member and a shift operation output member, which separate, into shift operation and select operation for each direction, operation by operation of one shift lever that moves along at least one H-shaped shift pattern, a first cam groove that operates by the select operation, and operates a shift mechanism for the auxiliary transmission that shifts a shift fork for the auxiliary transmission, and a second cam groove that operates a select mechanism that selects a target shift fork from among a plurality of shift forks for the main transmission; and a shift mechanism for the main transmission that operates by the shift operation, and shifts the shift fork for the main transmission selected by the select operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasushi Yamamoto, Nobuyuki Iwao
  • Patent number: 9333854
    Abstract: A vehicle transmission device provides power transmission and speed switch for the operation demands of the vehicle to advance. The transmission device includes a driving shaft or an input shaft connected with a power source. The input shaft is provided with an input gear set and spring-like members disposed inside the input gear set. An output gear set is provided to mesh with the input gear set. A transmission control mechanism is disposed on the input shaft for the input gear set to transmit a power to the output gear set and an output shaft to output the power to drive the vehicle. The present invention can enhance the power, torsion and speed of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Inventor: Sheng-Tsai Tseng
  • Patent number: 9334937
    Abstract: A linear guide including a guide rail, a carriage, a drive screw and a connection arrangement is provided. The guide rail defines a linear travel path. The carriage is mounted to the guide rail for motion along the linear travel path. The drive screw is operably mounted to the guide rail. The connection arrangement couples the drive screw to the carriage to convert rotary motion of the drive screw to linear actuation of the carriage along the linear travel path. The connection arrangement provides a single degree of linear freedom between the drive screw and the carriage in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the linear travel path. The single degree of linear freedom permits relative motion between the screw and the carriage to relieve internal binding between the relative components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Pacific Bearing Company
    Inventors: Robert Schroeder, Jonathan R. Schroeder, Joseph A. Binka, Paul D. Ross
  • Patent number: 9322469
    Abstract: A folding fan type electronic shift lever may include a plurality of gear shift units disposed on a console surface of a vehicle, a console fixing pin penetrating a hole formed at a side of each of the plurality of gear shift units, an operating unit connected to one or more gear shift units of the plurality of gear shift units, and operated to allow the plurality of gear shift units to be rotated about the console fixing pin, and a control unit disposed on a lower portion of the console surface of the vehicle, receiving operational signals sent from the plurality of gear shift units through the console fixing pin, and transmitting the operational signals to a transmission control unit (TCU) of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Eun-Sik Kim