Patents Examined by Justin Krause
  • Patent number: 8499654
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrically driven linear actuator for linearly moving a mass, in which at least one elongated actuator element, which, on the output side, acts upon the mass, is mounted inside a main pipe in a manner that enables it to slide in an axial direction, and which, on the input side, is coupled to a spindle nut that, itself, rests upon a spindle, which is rotationally mounted inside the main pipe and which can be placed in rotational motion by an electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Bosch Rexroth AG
    Inventor: Leo Ymker
  • Patent number: 8490509
    Abstract: An actuating device for a gear shifting transmission. The actuating device includes a selector lever which has stable selector lever positions, and a detent mechanism with a detent element and notched gate, the detent element is connected to the selector lever. The notched gate is disposed on a gate shaft that rotates when actuated. The gate shaft includes at least one helical return groove for the detent element. Due to rotation of the gate shaft, the detent element can be transferred from a start position, along the return groove, into a target position. The selector lever position always reflects the actual gear stage of the transmission, even with shift-by-wire-controlled gear shifting transmissions. The driver is provided with reliable visual and tactile feedback about the gear state of the transmission. The actuating device is structurally reliable, has low energy consumption, produces minimal noise, and requires minimal construction space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake
  • Patent number: 8485059
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuation device for a shift-by-wire-actuated gearshift transmission. It includes a shifter base and an actuating element pivotally supported in a bearing location of the shifter base. The actuation device further includes at least one actuator for blocking the actuation element. Here, the actuator, in addition to its blocking function, is configured for generating mechanical vibrations or oscillations. A tactile feedback for the user of the actuation device with low design complexity is provided for flexible, tactile signaling of switching processes or locked actuation positions of a selection lever. Existing actuation devices can potentially be upgraded for tactile feedback purely by software-side changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Andreas Peukert
  • Patent number: 8485054
    Abstract: An electrically driven linear actuator has an actuator body with a ball screw to convert a rotational motion to a linear motion. An electric motor provides the rotational motion. A gear mechanism transmits rotational motion of the electric motor to the ball screw of the actuator body. A position holding mechanism holds the position of the ball screw of the actuator body by engaging teeth, specifically a space between adjacent teeth, of a gear forming the gear mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Tateishi, Yoshinori Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8479599
    Abstract: A starter for an internal combustion engine includes a power transmission mechanism. The power transmission mechanism has an outer race plate fastened to a crankshaft, and a ring gear coupled to a rotational shaft of an electric motor for starting the engine. The power transmission mechanism further has a one-way clutch for permitting torque transmission only from the ring gear to the outer race plate, and two sealing members. Lubricant is supplied from the cylinder block to the interior of the power transmission mechanism for lubricating the power transmission mechanism. The outer race plate has a groove on its contact surface of a contact portion between the crankshaft and the outer race plate. The groove extends in the entire circumferential direction of the crankshaft. This maintains the coupling strength between the outer race plate and the crankshaft, while enhancing the sealing performance of the power transmission mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Shiba, Toshiaki Asada, Makoto Ishikawa, Tomoaki Suzuki, Kazuhito Sakai
  • Patent number: 8479601
    Abstract: A gearless transmission mechanism includes a plurality of identical linkages, each having an off-center center of rotation, an input end and an output end. The linkages being connected to each other such that the input end of one linkage is connected to the output end of another linkage. When force is applied to the input end of one linkage an output force results in the output end of the other linkage, which is not connected thereby resulting in force reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Henry Yu-Heng Lee
  • Patent number: 8468906
    Abstract: When an end portion of a gearshift lever 20 is pressed into an inner insertion hole of a gearshift knob 23, an auxiliary lever 34 is brought into contact with the end of an operation member. Thereby, a link body 33 turns, and an end of a link lever 35 is inserted into a connection hole 24. In addition, when the end portion of the gearshift lever 20 is pressed into the inner insertion hole of the gearshift knob 23, the link lever 35 is guided by a guidance wall 24a to a deep portion of the connection hole 24. Thereby, the link body 33 turns, and the auxiliary lever 34 is separated from the end of the operation member 22. Furthermore, while the knob button 27 is being pressed down, the auxiliary lever 34 is always separated from the end of the operation member 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihito Shioji, Naoki Hagino
  • Patent number: 8464601
    Abstract: An actuating device for selecting gear steps in a gearshift transmission. The actuating device comprises a selector lever that can be moved between at least two drive-setting positions and a locking mechanism for restricting the movement range of the lever and locking certain positions or for locking the selector lever. The locking mechanism comprises a locking recess connected to the selector lever and a blocking cam that can be rotated by an actuator. The cam engages in the locking recess. Complex locking tasks are possible with the simplified actuating device. In addition, the range of movement of the selector lever can be freely positioned largely variably and its width can be changed. Furthermore, the selector lever of the actuating device is movable by the actuator or locked in a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Giefer, Ludger Rake, Sascha Rosentreter, Daniel Heitmann
  • Patent number: 8459139
    Abstract: Disclosed are a robot joint driving apparatus and a robot having the same, capable of minimizing tension of a wire applied to a movable member by installing an idle pulley in a power transmission structure using a ball screw apparatus and the wire. The robot joint driving apparatus includes a reversible drive motor, a pair of movable members performing a linear movement according to rotation of the reversible drive motor, a wire connected to the movable members from both directions of the movable members, an idle pulley rotatably installed at one side of the wire, a joint part rotatably installed at an opposite side of the wire, and an adjustment unit to adjust tension of the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youn Baek Lee, Hyun Sik Sim, Soo Sang Yang
  • Patent number: 8459140
    Abstract: A wrist assembly is provided for securing an end effector to a robotic arm. The wrist assembly comprises a first portion (205, 207) containing a slot for releasably engaging an end effector (231), and a second portion (203) which is attached to the first portion. The orientation of the first portion with respect to the second portion is adjustable to impart a leveling effect to the end effector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Fabworx Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Kent
  • Patent number: 8459136
    Abstract: An improved shifter detent plate to replace the stock shifter detent plate used in certain automatic transmissions equipped with horseshoe shifters to provide positive stops between gears during forward shifts, thereby allowing the user to manually shift through the gears of the automatic transmission without accidentally skipping a gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventor: Robert K. Thomson
  • Patent number: 8453530
    Abstract: Linear actuator device, comprising a housing (2), an externally threaded screw (5) mounted to a piston (9), an internally threaded extended nut (7) and a motor (16) comprising a stator (33) and a rotor element (30) positioned around the extended nut (7), wherein a plurality of first magnets (31) of the rotor element (30) are positioned in relation to the stator (33) such that the stator (33) lies between the extended nut (7) and the first magnets (31) of the rotor element (30). The advantage of the invention is that linear actuators with a high energy density can be manufactured in an easy and cost-effective manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Johannes Andrianus Maria Duits, Patric Eberle
  • Patent number: 8443693
    Abstract: A rotary actuator assembly is provided for actuation of an upper arm assembly for a dexterous humanoid robot. The upper arm assembly for the humanoid robot includes a plurality of arm support frames each defining an axis. A plurality of rotary actuator assemblies are each mounted to one of the plurality of arm support frames about the respective axes. Each rotary actuator assembly includes a motor mounted about the respective axis, a gear drive rotatably connected to the motor, and a torsion spring. The torsion spring has a spring input that is rotatably connected to an output of the gear drive and a spring output that is connected to an output for the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Chris A. Ihrke, Joshua S. Mehling, Adam H. Parsons, Bryan Kristian Griffith, Nicolaus A. Radford, Frank Noble Permenter, Donald R. Davis, Robert O. Ambrose, Lucien Q. Junkin
  • Patent number: 8443690
    Abstract: A speed reduction device for a power seat includes a worm gear, a helical gear, a casing including a casing body and a casing cover, and a motor fixation device. The motor fixation device includes a first fitting portion provided at a housing, a first engagement portion formed at the first fitting portion, a second fitting portion formed at the casing body and to which the first fitting portion is fitted, a second engagement portion formed at the second fitting portion and arranged to overlap the first engagement portion in a direction perpendicular to the output shaft of the motor in a case where the first fitting portion is fitted to the second fitting portion, and an engagement projection formed at the casing cover and engaging with the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion in a case where the casing cover is tightened to the casing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Koga
  • Patent number: 8443696
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steering column for a motor vehicle, having a device for absorbing energy in the case of a crash. Such a steering column should be disclosed which is built in a structurally simple manner, produced with few individual components, and requiring no more space in the radial direction than does a steering column which does not have an energy absorption device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Presta AG
    Inventors: Rony Schnitzer, Martin Rohr
  • Patent number: 8443692
    Abstract: A steerable multi-linked device may include a first multi-linked mechanism and a second multi-linked mechanism. At least one of the first multi-linked mechanism and the second multi-linked mechanism may include a first link, a plurality of intermediate links, a second link movably coupled to a second one of the intermediate links and a reinforcing member. A first one of the intermediate links may be movably coupled to the first link, and the reinforcing member may extend from a first end of a third one of the intermediate links toward a second end of the third one of the intermediate links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Brett Zubiate, Howard Choset
  • Patent number: 8443694
    Abstract: A rotary actuator assembly is provided for actuation of an upper arm assembly for a dexterous humanoid robot. The upper arm assembly for the humanoid robot includes a plurality of arm support frames each defining an axis. A plurality of rotary actuator assemblies are each mounted to one of the plurality of arm support frames about the respective axes. Each rotary actuator assembly includes a motor mounted about the respective axis, a gear drive rotatably connected to the motor, and a torsion spring. The torsion spring has a spring input that is rotatably connected to an output of the gear drive and a spring output that is connected to an output for the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Chris A. Ihrke, Joshua S. Mehling, Adam H. Parsons, Bryan Kristian Griffith, Nicolaus A. Radford, Frank Noble Permenter, Donald R. Davis, Robert O. Ambrose, Lucien Q. Junkin
  • Patent number: 8429997
    Abstract: A feeder for a machine tool adapted to move a table relative to a saddle by rotation of a motor includes a ball thread nut fixed to the saddle and a ball thread shaft that engages with the ball thread nut in a rotatable manner but is immovable in an axial direction of the ball thread shaft relative to the table. The motor is fixed to the table and the ball thread shaft is coupled to the motor. A sum of a movable distance of the table relative to the saddle and a length of the saddle in the axial direction is shorter than a length of the table in the axial direction. The feeder further includes rails fixed to the table on its surface where the motor is fixed and bearings that are fixed to the saddle and bear the rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Nagao, Akihiko Fujimoto, Naoki Sato, Akira Funakoshi
  • Patent number: 8429998
    Abstract: A moveable linkage for a parallel mechanism includes a swing arm, a four-link structure rotatably connected to the swing arm, and a plurality of pivotal shafts. The four-link structure includes a first connection shaft, a second connection shaft, a first link bracket and a second link bracket. Each of the first and second link brackets includes a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portions of the first and second link brackets overlap and rotatably connect two ends of the first connection shaft by the pivotal shafts. The second end portions of the first and second link brackets overlap and rotatably connect two ends of the second connection shaft by the pivotal shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong Feng
  • Patent number: 8424408
    Abstract: The invention relates to the gearing of a gearwheel having a plurality of teeth. The gearwheel has a useful area and a base area of the particular tooth flank form. Viewed in normal section, the tooth base area extends from a base circle up to a useful circle. The tooth flanks of adjacent teeth in normal section are each implemented as symmetrical to one another, the axis of symmetry intersecting the base circle in the base point. According to the invention, the tooth flanks are implemented in the tooth base area as a tangent function from a relevant diameter. The tangent function merges at the relevant diameter in a constant tangent into the tooth flank form of the useful area. The tangent function merges in the tooth base area in a constant tangent into an orbit, which is tangentially applied in the base point to the base circle. Significant increases of the tooth base strength may thus be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Roth Zsolt, Etzold Mathias