Patents Examined by Justin Krause
  • Patent number: 9180795
    Abstract: An adjusting device for adjusting two vehicle parts relative to each other is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE GMBH & CO. KG, COBURG
    Inventors: Michael Flieger, Stefan Bosecker, Sergej Kostin
  • Patent number: 9172128
    Abstract: An antenna pointing system for selectively moving a payload relative to a mounting surface includes at least one rotary actuator having a moving part movable relative to a fixed part mounted on the surface. A connecting rod movably connects to the moving part and to the payload. A flexible mounting structure movably attaches the payload to the mounting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Corporation
    Inventors: Richard O. Horth, Marc-André Godin
  • Patent number: 9168944
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric locking system (1) for locking the position of a steering column of a vehicle relative to the dashboard of said vehicle, the steering column including a tube-body movably mounted in a supporting assembly for enabling the manual adjustment of said steering column. The locking system includes means (2) for locking the tube-body on the supporting assembly, an electric motor (4) coupled to the locking means (2) for driving the latter and placing the steering column in an unlocked state or a locked state, motor control means providing motor actuation instructions for placing the steering column in the locked state and/or in the unlocked state, and means for detecting the state of the steering column and for generating an electric signal representative of the state of the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Automotive Steering Vendome
    Inventors: Nicolas Bertet, Vincent Eymery, Alexandre Sarandao
  • Patent number: 9169915
    Abstract: A pressure portion (1) includes a receiver (2) for adjustable lateral support of a rack (Z) for a steering arrangement of vehicles. The pressure portion (1) arranged in positionally variable relationship guided linearly in a guide passage (F) for adjustment of the support of the rack (Z) in an adjustment direction (e), and enlarged or expanded for at least partial contact at an inside wall side in the guide passage (F) with respect to a directional component (r2) which is radial relative to the adjustment direction (e). The pressure portion (1) has radially at an outside thereof an elastomeric force application aid (11) for transmission of forces from the pressure portion (1) to an inside wall (10) of the guide passage (F).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: GAPI Technische Produkte GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Meller, Andreas Flint
  • Patent number: 9168660
    Abstract: A SCARA robot according to an aspect of the invention includes a first arm rotatable with respect to a base, a second arm rotatable with respect to the first arm, a first rotation regulating member regulating a rotation of the first arm, and a second rotation regulating member regulating a rotation of the second arm. The first arm includes a beam provided inside a casing, at least one of the first rotation regulating member and the second rotation regulating member includes a contact part, a fixing part, and a connecting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yuta Sato, Shingo Hoshino
  • Patent number: 9162379
    Abstract: A resin rotating body 1 is configured by a ring-shaped resin ring 2, and a metallic bush 3 which is fitted to an inner circumferential surface 2a of the resin ring, and projections 3a as rotation preventing means that connects the resin ring and the metallic bush so that the resin ring and the metallic bush do not rotate with respect to each other are provided on an outer circumferential surface of the metallic bush. Projections of the metallic bush are further provided at positions eccentric forward in a press-fitting direction of the metallic bush from a center in the axial direction of the metallic bush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: NIPPON GASKET CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shizuo Itani, Shigeo Shinozaki
  • Patent number: 9156161
    Abstract: A robot arm assembly includes a first robot arm, a second robot arm, and a third robot arm. The first robot arm includes a first body and a backlash adjusting assembly received in the first body. The backlash adjusting assembly includes a base plate, a protruding shaft perpendicularly coupled to the base plate, and an adjusting member. The base plate defines a slotted hole. The adjusting member is detachably inserted into the slotted hole and is detachably coupled to first body. The second robot arm includes a second body and a first transmission assembly rotatably coupled to the second body. The first transmission assembly includes a first adjusting gear, a first intermediate gear, and a second adjusting gear. The first intermediate gear meshes the first and second adjusting gear. The second adjusting gear is coupled to the second body. The first intermediate gear is sleeved on the protruding shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Bo Long
  • Patent number: 9150355
    Abstract: A telescoping mechanism and method of extending and retracting a telescoping mechanism includes a first arm that extends in a particular direction with respect to a base, a second arm that extends in that direction with respect to the first arm, a first drive assembly that extends and retracts the first arm, and a second drive assembly that extends and retracts the second arm. The first drive assembly includes a rotatable drum and a cable. The cable is wrapped at least one turn around the drum. The cable has a first portion attached to one end portion of the first arm and a second end portion to an opposite end portion of the first arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Dematic Systems GbmH
    Inventors: Philipp J. Hortig, Pascal Rehm
  • Patent number: 9151372
    Abstract: A linear motion device includes a housing, an extension arm, and an anti-twist safeguard. The extension arm projects from the housing and includes a securing section. The anti-twist safeguard includes at least one separate elongate anti-friction lining, which is formed with a constant cross-sectional shape. The anti-friction lining is arranged substantially without play between the housing and the securing section of the extension arm and extends transversely to a longitudinal axis. The extension arm is supported on the housing in such a way that it can move along the longitudinal axis. In the securing section, the extension arm extends parallel to the longitudinal axis with a constant external cross-sectional shape deviating from a circular shape. The anti-twist safeguard engages positively in said external cross-sectional shape, thus securing the extension arm with respect to the housing against twisting relative to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Bernhard Keller
  • Patent number: 9144909
    Abstract: A robot quick-release assembly has a first joint member and a robot component mounted thereon, the first joint member has a first coupler and a second joint member, a robot arm mounted thereon, has a second coupler, a clamp, and a locking collar. The first coupler can be coaxially aligned with the second coupler and pressed into the second joint member, and detachably connected to the second joint member. The first mechanical coupler is detachably connected to the second mechanical coupler for transferring power across the quick-release assembly. The robot component can receive an additional electrical connector, the additional electrical connector supplying power to the robot component. The quick-release assembly coupling assembly further exerts large forces with the application of a relatively small torque to the locking collar by applying a two stage wedge engagement and can further include a sequencing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: RE2, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark DeLouis, Jorgen Pedersen, Jesse Easudes, Keith Gunnett, John Culbertson, Timothy Davison
  • Patent number: 9138902
    Abstract: A robot includes a base; a swivel unit rotatably arranged on the base; a lower arm having a base end portion, a tip end portion and a side surface, the base end portion rotatably supported on the swivel unit to enable the lower arm to swing in a front-rear direction; and first and second cable bundles arranged on the side surface of the lower arm to extend along a longitudinal direction of the lower arm. The robot further includes a cable bundle support mechanism including a guide unit for supporting the first and second cable bundles to move in the longitudinal direction of the lower arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Suzuki, Ryuta Kagawa, Takashi Sanada
  • Patent number: 9140355
    Abstract: Disclosed therein is an automatic transmission lever assembly having a shift-lock cam having an electromagnet. The automatic transmission lever assembly includes: a base bracket fixed to a frame of a vehicle; a rod; a rotating member joined to a lower end of the rod, the rotating member rotating on a predetermined shaft according to a movement of the rod for changing a transmission mode and having a locking portion formed at a position corresponding to a shift-lock; a shift-lock cam having a permanent magnet, the shift-lock cam being caught to the locking portion at a shift-lock position and being rotatable on the shaft; and an electromagnet provided at a position facing the permanent magnet, wherein when a brake signal is transferred, electric current flows to the electromagnet, so that the shift-lock cam is operated in a direction to be released from the locking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Kyung Chang Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jisoo Kim
  • Patent number: 9133919
    Abstract: At least a motor, a gear unit and an adjustment connection form an actuator. The gear unit is fitted with at least two mutually movable gear parts, as well as a spring acting on two of these that counteracts their movement out of an idle state. The gear unit is designed such that when an adjustment connection is blocked the motor moves the gear parts out of the idle state during operation to an operating point. In addition, the gear unit is designed such that during the movement out of the idle state it reduces the extent to which the movement is counteracted from a particular point upstream of the operating point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Markus Bretz, Jörg Evertz, Jörg Hindermann, Andreas Pally, Martin Sprecher
  • Patent number: 9121493
    Abstract: An apparatus for actuating a shift lever for a vehicle may include a shift pattern unit that has two reference ranges in series at which the position of the shift lever is fixed and a passageway connecting the reference ranges for the shift lever to move, and a driving unit that provides the restoration force to the shift lever to selectively return the shift lever to one of the reference ranges when the shift lever is located on the passageway outside of the reference ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORP.
    Inventors: Chang Hyun Lee, Han Gil Park, Yang Rae Cho
  • Patent number: 9097311
    Abstract: A geared motor reduces a speed of rotation of a DC motor with a gear train and outputs the rotation to the outside. The gear train includes a second gear including a cylindrical portion a third gear a first insertion portion that is inserted in the cylindrical portion the second gear. The second gear and the third gear are made of a resin material. A projecting-and-recessed portion is provided on an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the second gear. The projecting-and-recessed portion extends continuously in a circumferential direction over the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion. Pressing portions are evenly arranged in the circumferential direction on an outer peripheral surface of the first insertion portion of the third gear. The pressing portions are configured enter recesses in the projecting-and-recessed portion and press wall surfaces of the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keisuke Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 9097243
    Abstract: Three spinning ring rotors, functioning as concentric ring gyro motors, are angled at ninety degrees with respect to one another and are arranged in an orthogonal association inside a substantially spherical housing that includes a central hub with a plurality of spokes attached to the spherical housing with holes for the spokes and coils used for steering. The mass distribution for the rings is such that the rotating ring masses are maximized and the containing mass is minimized. There is minimum friction for the primary rotation of the spinning ring rotors with all other angular forces translated across the containment structures uniformly. These spinning masses remain equal, unless the influence of precisely controlled and oriented destabilizing steering coils are used to disrupt the stability of one or more rotors by placing a controllable and varying magnetic field, from weak to strong, parallel to the axis of the spinning rotors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: GANID Corp
    Inventor: Raymond Kelly Tippett
  • Patent number: 9097284
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member formed, on its inner circumference, with double row outer raceway surfaces. An inner member includes a wheel hub integrally formed with a wheel mounting flange at its one end. The wheel hub outer circumference surface has double row inner raceway surfaces arranged opposite to the double row outer raceway surfaces. Double row balls are freely rollably contained between the outer raceway surfaces and inner raceway surfaces, respectively, of the outer member and the inner member. A pitch circle diameter of the double row ball group of the outer-side is larger than a pitch circle diameter of the double row ball group of the inner-side. At least the outer member and the wheel hub are formed of medium/high carbon steel including carbon of 0.40˜0.80% by weight. The inner and outer raceway surfaces are formed, respectively, with predetermined hardened layers with a surface hardness of 58˜64 HRC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Ohtsuki, Kouji Kametaka
  • Patent number: 9097339
    Abstract: A shift fork assembly (120, 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d) including a shift rail member (122, 122a, 122c, 122d) having a slot (188) defined therein and a shift rail axis (24), and a fork member (126, 126b, 126c, 126d) mounted in the slot and carried by the shift rail member. The fork member and shift rail member have movement relative to each other. The fork member has pivoting motion relative to the shift rail member about a pivot axis (206) that extends substantially perpendicularly relative to the shift rail axis, and the pivot axis is adapted to extend substantially between the shift rail axis and a gear axis (48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: KONGSBERG AUTOMOTIVE AB
    Inventor: Kenneth Skogward
  • Patent number: 9091338
    Abstract: A transmission gear has a tooth surface formed of a free-form surface instead of an involute surface and a root area formed of a free-form surface instead of a trochoid surface. With such a transmission gear, the fatigue strength against contact pressure can be increased by reducing the Hertzian stress in the area around the meshing point of the tooth surface. The tooth surface is formed of a free-form surface in which the smallest radius of curvature in an area around a mating pitch point is maximized, and the fatigue strength against bending can be increased by reducing the bending stress at a tooth root portion of the bottom land. In addition, the gear noise can be reduced. The bottom land is formed of a free-form surface in which the smallest radius of curvature in an area around a tooth root is maximized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: O-OKA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsushige O-oka, Yoshiki Kawasaki, Mitsuhiko Shimomura
  • Patent number: 9091331
    Abstract: A rack shaft supporting device includes a support yoke, a plug that closes the other opening of an accommodation chamber, a ball screw mechanism between the support yoke and the plug, and a torsion urging member between the ball screw mechanism and the plug. The ball screw mechanism includes: a first threaded portion in which a first thread groove is formed; a second threaded portion in which a second thread groove is formed; and balls arranged in a rolling path formed of the first thread groove and the second thread groove. The torsion urging member rotates the second threaded portion relative to the plug and moves the second threaded portion toward the support yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideo Kometani