Patents Examined by Jude Agendia
  • Patent number: 9103424
    Abstract: The vehicle driving force transmission structure of a power unit can include a main transmission having a transmission shaft group and parallel to a crankshaft and provided in a crankcase on the side of the crankshaft. The transmission structure can also include a large rotational body provided at an end of the crankshaft, and an auxiliary transmission provided as a separate body from and connecting to the main transmission. The auxiliary transmission has a transmission shaft group parallel to the transmission shaft group of the main transmission and disposed so as to form a periphery of the large rotational body. The auxiliary transmission includes a transmission driving mechanism disposed below the large rotational body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshimasa Mitsubori, Kazuhiro Norita, Takeshi Sugano, Seiji Hamaoka
  • Patent number: 9103419
    Abstract: The radially engaging systems includes a housing having at least one guide channel formed therein. At least one sliding member is slidably received in the guide channel to selectively extend or retract therein in order to connect and lock mechanical components together. Each sliding member is provided with an elongate follower. A rotator is operatively mounted to the housing. The rotator includes at least one guide curve based upon an Archimedian spiral. The follower rides inside the guide curve. Selective rotation of the rotator converts the rotation into linear movement of the connected sliding member. Conversely, selective linear movement of the sliding member converts the same into rotation of the rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Inventors: Kan Cui, Margaret C. Liu, Samuel K. Liu
  • Patent number: 9096258
    Abstract: A gearbox assembly for an electric power assisted steering assembly comprises a gearbox housing (20), an output shaft (23), a wheel gear assembly (22) comprising a hub (21) which is fixed to the output shaft by a locating means so as to prevent relative rotational and axial movement between the hub and the output shaft and a gear wheel fixed to the hub, at least one support bearing assembly (25,26) which supports the output shaft relative to the gearbox housing (20), a worm gear which engages the wheel gear (22), and a coupling for transmission of torque from the output shaft to an intermediate shaft that is external to the gearbox housing. The coupling includes a fixing part (31) which is fixed to the output shaft (23) through the gear assembly and the support bearing assembly is provided on the opposite side of the gear assembly (22) to the coupling (31) such that the gear assembly (22) is overhung from the portion of the output shaft supported by the bearings (25,26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLC
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Wilkes, Guillaume Laudijois
  • Patent number: 9074659
    Abstract: An actuator with a position detection mechanism includes a main body, a transmission mechanism, a quick-release mechanism and a position detection mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes a worm gear with protruding keys and a lead screw shaft. The quick-release mechanism is mounted onto the lead screw shaft and includes a clutch gear with key slots for disengaging or engaging with the protruding keys in order to move axially relative to the worm gear. The position detection mechanism includes a variable resistor, an actuating gear mounted on the lead screw shaft to rotate altogether therewith and a driving gear connected to the variable resistor and engaged with the actuating gear. When the worm gear disengages from the clutch gear, a particular resistor value is formed at the variable resistor; therefore, disengaged or engaged positions of the worm gear and the clutch gear can be precisely controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: TIMOTION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chou-Hsin Wu
  • Patent number: 9068634
    Abstract: The radially engaging systems includes a housing having at least one guide channel formed therein. At least one sliding member is slidably received in the guide channel to selectively extend or retract therein in order to connect and lock mechanical components together. Each sliding member is provided with an elongate follower. A rotator is operatively mounted to the housing. The rotator includes at least one guide curve based upon an Archimedian spiral. The follower rides inside the guide curve. Selective rotation of the rotator converts the rotation into linear movement of the connected sliding member. Conversely, selective linear movement of the sliding member converts the same into rotation of the rotator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Inventors: Kan Cui, Margaret C. Liu, Samuel K. Liu
  • Patent number: 9052007
    Abstract: A gear-shifting mechanism for vehicles has a crankcase, a gearbox and a reserved room. Because the reserved room is formed between a first case of the crankcase and a body of the gearbox, a shift lever can protrude out of the first case and is mounted into the reserved room to connect to a transmission between the crankcase and the gearbox. Besides, the shift lever also can protrude out of a second case to connect to a transmission opposite to the gearbox. As a result, the shift lever can output in two directions, applicable for the gearbox in left or right of the crankcase. An engine connected to the gear-shifting mechanism can be adapted for various vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Kwang Yang Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chien-Hung Lai
  • Patent number: 9038494
    Abstract: A vehicle driving apparatus where brake and acceleration functions are combined with a single stick includes: a lever moving to an acceleration position, an idle position, or a brake position as rotating forward and rearward about a shaft fixed to a vehicle body at a predetermined angle; a hand acceleration means opening an engine throttle to cause a vehicle to be accelerated; a hand brake means pushing a booster rod of a brake booster so that a brake operates to cause the vehicle to be stopped; a guide means installed on the left and right sides of the lever to prevent the lever from being shaken leftward and rightward; a hand brake locking means allowing the hand brake to be continuously applied; and a cruise control means allowing the lever to stay in the acceleration position even if the driver takes his hand off the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Inventor: Gyo Jun
  • Patent number: 9032822
    Abstract: The arrangement of driven gears on a countershaft in a main speed change mechanism is shortened in an axial direction, whereby the main speed change mechanism can be made compact in the axial direction. Driven gears on a countershaft of a main speed change mechanism are successively arranged from front to rear in descending order of speed. A sub-low-speed drive gear for a sub-speed change mechanism is provided in front of the highest-speed driven gear on the countershaft, and the next-highest-speed driven gear serves as a sub-high-speed drive gear for the sub-speed change mechanism. A sub-low-speed driven gear and a sub-high-speed driven gear for the sub-speed change mechanism are provided on an output shaft to be engaged with the sub-low-speed drive gear and the next-highest-speed driven gear, respectively, and the highest-speed driven gear, the sub-low-speed drive gear, and the next-highest-speed driven gear are caused to overlap in a fore-and-aft direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichiro Tsuji
  • Patent number: 9032827
    Abstract: A locating beam and a robot linear motion unit having the same, wherein the locating beam comprises a first support beam and a second support beam which are parallel to each other, a crossbeam connected between the first support beam and the second support beam and is vertical to the beams, and a joints between the crossbeam and the beams is provided with a right-angle connecting piece. The robot linear motion unit includes a motion track and a transmission mechanism arranged along the extension direction of the motion track, and the motion track is arranged on a surface of the locating beam. Arranging the crossbeam and right-angle connecting pieces between the first support beam and the second support beam in the locating beam, improves the mechanical structure strength, reduces deflection deformation and twist deformation of the locating beam, and improves the impact resistance of the robot linear motion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Manufacture Technology Center, China Academy Of Machinery Science & Technology
    Inventors: Zhongde Shan, Feng Liu, Shaokai Chen, Limin Liu
  • Patent number: 9027442
    Abstract: Output gears are disposed so as to be movable toward and counter to plural second input gears to which rotation of the motor is transmitted, and so as to be biased toward the plural second input gears. A cam, which has plural recesses provided at the periphery thereof, is disposed at the inside of the output gear. The cam is rotated, and a pin of the output gear enters the recess, so that the output gear is moved toward the second input gear, and the output gear is engaged with the second input gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryohei Shigematsu, Kiyoshi Nakajima, Kenji Murakami, Takahiro Fujii, Shinji Iino, Hiroshi Yagame
  • Patent number: 9027430
    Abstract: A shift drum structure for a drum-type transmission in which a shift fork moving on a shift fork shaft in an axial direction while guided by a guide groove in response to a turn of a shift drum, changes speeds by sliding a shifter member on a transmission driving shaft pivotally supporting a transmission gear, the shift drum. The shift drum includes a cylindrical drum main body and drum spindles projecting outward from drum end walls on the respective two sides of the drum main body, and the guide groove formed in an outer peripheral surface of the drum main body in a circumferential direction, wherein in the shift drum, a work groove is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the drum main body from one end surface to an opposite end surface of the drum main body, or to the guide groove near the opposite end surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimasa Mitsubori, Seiji Hamaoka, Hiromi Sumi, Kazuhiro Norita, Yasushi Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 9027427
    Abstract: A method is described for changing gear-ratio by displacing at least one part of the engaging surface of a composite gear (21) and aligning it to the engaging surface of another gear (22), thus permitting a complementary third gear (25) engaged to the engaging surface, to shift from one composite gear to a different composite gear, while being constantly engaged. The method can be employed in a device, which can be used to form a gear-based, continuously engaged, variable transmission. Such a transmission, enhanced by—being combined with a differential assembly and the appropriate gearing, can provide rotational motion at various speeds in one direction and the reverse direction as well as zero motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventor: Panayiotis Economou
  • Patent number: 9027425
    Abstract: A transmission device for an internal combustion engine for preventing components thereof from being damaged for making the components smaller in size and weight, reducing a load and a time required to shift gear positions for increased operability and for reducing overall size and weight. A transmission device for an internal combustion engine includes a shift drum angularly movable by a star-shaped drum plate that is turned when a change spindle is turned and a stopper roller for limiting the star-shaped drum plate against turning movement. The star-shaped drum plate includes peaks corresponding to a plurality of gear positions and valleys interposed between the peaks. A selected one of the valleys includes a curved wall for being more gently contacted by the stopper roller than curved surfaces of the other valleys which are contacted by the stopper roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Ogasawara, Noriaki Takano, Eiichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9003909
    Abstract: A rack bar supporting device for a vehicle steering apparatus, having a clearance between the rack bar and a support yoke can be kept always constant when the vehicle steering apparatus is operated, which makes it possible to reduce operational friction and noise, to maintain the supporting force of the support yoke and the rack bar to be constant for a long time, and to improve a steering feeling of a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Kwang Ho Yang, Kyoung Min Kim
  • Patent number: 9003908
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a working vehicle includes: a main change speed mechanism configured to transmit a rotating power, generated by a power source; a first auxiliary change speed mechanism configured to transmit the rotating power, transmitted through the main change speed mechanism, to drive wheels; a second auxiliary change speed mechanism configured to transmit the rotating power to the drive wheels; a first lever configured to operate the first auxiliary change speed mechanism to perform a first auxiliary shift operation; and a second lever configured to operate the second auxiliary change speed mechanism to perform a second auxiliary shift operation, wherein: the first auxiliary change speed mechanism is activated when the second auxiliary change speed mechanism in a neutral state; and the second auxiliary change speed mechanism is activated when the first auxiliary change speed mechanism is in the neutral state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Iseki & Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noboru Sagawa, Takashi Wakino, Fumiaki Nishikawa, Tatsuzo Murakami, Satoru Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9003924
    Abstract: A cup-shaped flexible externally toothed gear of a wave gear device comprises a cylindrical body part, and an external-teeth area thereof includes a pushed portion pushed radially outward by a wave generator and a groove formed in a position adjacent to the pushed portion toward a diaphragm. The reaction force of the wave generator can be reduced because the groove is formed to partially reduce thickness in a portion that does not affect the root strength of the external teeth. The increase in root stress can be suppressed when the roots of the external teeth are thickened, and root strength can be effectively increased. The load torque of the wave gear device can thereby be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Harmonic Drive Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Satoru Kanai
  • Patent number: 9003907
    Abstract: Dual coupling gear mechanism for a motor vehicle, having a first input shaft and a second input shaft and having a first and a second countershaft, the input shafts and the countershafts being connected to each other by means of a plurality of shiftable wheel sets in order to establish at least seven forward gear stages and at least one reverse gear stage. At least one wheel set has a fixed wheel which is connected to one of the input shafts and two loose wheels which are rotatably supported on the first and on the second countershaft, respectively, and which are in engagement with the fixed wheel. An electric engine is connected to a loose wheel of one of the wheel sets or can be connected thereto by means of a shift clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: GETRAG Getriebe- und Zahnradfabrik Hermann Hagenmeyer GmbH & Cie KG
    Inventors: Jens Weller, Klaus Kranich
  • Patent number: 8967010
    Abstract: An actuation mechanism including a motor having a first motor output gear and a second motor output gear is provided, the motor defining a common axis of rotation for the first and second motor output gears. The actuation mechanism also includes a pair of gearboxes positioned on opposed ends of the motor. The actuation mechanism further includes a first arm adapted to mechanically cooperate with the first gearbox and a second arm adapted to mechanically cooperate with the second gearbox. The rotor of the motor slides along the common axis of rotation. The rotor is configured to be axially movable between a first position where the rotor engages the first gearbox to rotatably actuate the first arm and a second position where the rotor engages the second gearbox to rotatably actuate the second arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Frank Viola
  • Patent number: 8960034
    Abstract: In a vehicle drive device, a response to a range change request, during which the drive wheels are rotated in a low or high range, can be smoothly and quickly completed without using a synchronous engaging mechanism. When the range change is requested when the drive wheels are rotated in the low range or in the high range, the control devices disengage a clutch sleeve from a currently engaged gear piece so as to establish a neutral range, and control an output rotational speed of the motor generator such that a difference between an input rotational speed and an output rotational speed of the transmission mechanism is set to be zero, or be equal to or less than a predetermined value. After that, the control devices cause a connection processor to slide the clutch sleeve to be connected to a connection target gear piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akinori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8943915
    Abstract: An output sprocket wheel attachment structure includes a coned disk spring fitted with an output power shaft is abutted with and positioned by a stepped portion. An output sprocket wheel spline-fitted with spline grooves formed at an outer side portion of the output power shaft with respect to the stepped portion is pressed by the coned disk spring. A cap nut which engages with male threads formed at an end portion of the output power shaft is restricted and fixed at a bottom face thereof by and to an axial end of the output power shaft. Movement in an axial direction of the output sprocket wheel pressed by the coned disk spring is restricted by an opening end portion of the cap nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Yamasaki, Shinya Matsumoto