Patents Examined by Justin Krause
  • Patent number: 8286519
    Abstract: Linear actuator device, comprising a housing (2), an externally threaded screw (5), a piston (9) and an internally threaded extended nut (7), where the extended nut (7) comprises a plurality of longitudinal segments (40) having longitudinal edges (39) parallel to a center axis (18) of the internally threaded nut (7), where each segment (40) has an identical radius of curvature and an angle of curvature of less than 360°, so that the circumference of the internally threaded nut (7) is formed by at least two segments (40). One advantage of the invention is that linear actuators of different lengths can be manufactured in an easy and cost-effective manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Johannes Andrianus Maria Duits, Martin Voegelin
  • Patent number: 8286524
    Abstract: A motor assembly includes a motor, a force transmission structure comprising a drive plate and a shaft, and a gear train connecting the motor to the drive plate for transmitting rotation of the motor to the drive plate. The drive plate has a mounting hole with at least three sections interconnected with one another at a common area, the shaft has a toothed portion with at least three teeth fittingly received in the sections of the mounting hole of the drive plate such that the shaft is rotated with the drive plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Johnson Electric S.A.
    Inventor: Xian Tang
  • Patent number: 8281678
    Abstract: A ballscrew assembly for an actuator is provided. In an embodiment, the ballscrew assembly includes a ball nut assembly including a view port; a ballscrew provided within at least a portion of the ball nut assembly; an inner rod provided within the ballscrew in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the inner rod including an enlarged end portion; and a compression mechanism, such that at least a portion of the compression mechanism is provided between the enlarged end portion and the ballscrew. In another embodiment the assembly is configured such that when the inner rod is in a failed state, the compression mechanism provides a force that moves the visual indicator toward the view port. In another embodiment, the assembly includes a proximity sensor in addition to, or in lieu, of a view port to detect a failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Donald R. Cavalier, Garen R. Maines
  • Patent number: 8281684
    Abstract: A steering column arrangement includes a steering spindle, which rotates about its longitudinal axis and serves to transfer a torque, generated by a steering wheel, to a steering gear, and a blocking device, which prevents the rotational motion of the steering spindle, especially in the event of a collision. The blocking device includes a stator, which is stationary in relation to the rotational motion of the steering spindle, and against which a blocking element is mounted in a relatively moveable manner. To prevent, in a reliable manner, an undesired twisting of the steering wheel, especially in the event of a collision, the blocking element is moveable into a locked position in a radial direction toward the steering spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wilhelm Frasch, Norbert Schote
  • Patent number: 8281676
    Abstract: A transmission system for transmitting a rotary motion input to a rotary motion output utilizing hypocycloid motion multiplication is disclosed. The system comprises an input mechanism, at least one hydraulic transmission means, an output mechanism and an output bladder linkage. The input mechanism includes a plurality of rollers that each capture at least one arcuate linkage against an inside surface of a cylindrical hub, causing the linkage to rotate as the roller traverses thereacross and compress one of a plurality of input bladders. The compressed input bladders cause an output bladder to expand to drive the output mechanism in reciprocal linear motion, which the output mechanism converts to rotational motion at the rotary motion output. The output mechanism can be located proximate to, or distal from, the input mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventors: Raul Jose Perez, Raul Evan Perez
  • Patent number: 8276474
    Abstract: A power transmission device and an image forming apparatus having the same that is capable of reliably transmitting intermittent power to a driven component from a driving source. The power transmission device includes a shaft, a first intermittent gear to receive power from the driving source and to rotate on the shaft, a second intermittent gear arranged so as to move between a first position in which the second intermittent gear is connected to the first intermittent gear along an axial direction of the shaft and a second position in which the second intermittent gear is disconnected from the first intermittent gear, a sliding unit arranged so as to slide along the shaft and to move the second intermittent gear in the axial direction of the shaft, and a driving unit to drive the sliding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soo Yong Kim, Jun Young Lee, Sung Wook Kang
  • Patent number: 8276475
    Abstract: A part assembling apparatus is provided with a plurality of assembling portions and a ball screw shaft. Each of the assembling portion includes a nut runner for assembling a part to an assembling target. The ball screw shaft includes a thread portion. At least two of the plurality of assembling portions respectively include nut portions threadedly engaged with the thread portion. The nut portions are movable in an axial direction of the ball screw shaft. The thread portion includes a first thread part having a first pitch and a second thread part having a second pitch different from the first pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Fujiwara, Takayuki Motojima
  • Patent number: 8276476
    Abstract: A joystick including a base portion, a grip portion extending from and pivotally attached to the base portion, and an offset control portion connected to the grip portion and offset from the grip portion such that the offset control portion moves with the grip portion relative to the base portion. A gap is provided between the offset control portion and the grip portion. The offset control portion includes an input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Amory R. Diccion
  • Patent number: 8272286
    Abstract: A linear actuator with a dustproof mechanism provides reliable dustproof capability over the entire stroke of the actuator. A linear actuator 100 with a dustproof mechanism includes a ball screw, a movable stage 4 including a ball screw nut that engages the ball screw, the movable stage capable of making linear reciprocating motion in the axial direction of the ball screw in response to rotary motion of the ball screw, a housing member 2 disposed to cover at least the ball screw, openings 27, 28 formed in the housing member 2 along the path along which the movable stage 4 travels, and dustproof belts 29, 30 disposed inside the housing member 2 to block the openings 27, 28. The linear actuator 100 with a dustproof mechanism further includes end plate covers 105a, 105b that cover both ends of the housing member 2 and hence has high dustproof performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Aso, Toshiya Tanaka, Norinobu Ogawa, Toshiaki Mizuno, Minoru Tsukada, Yukitoshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8272289
    Abstract: A roller screw is provided having a structure suitable for circulating rollers. The roller screw has a screw shaft 5 with a spiral roller rolling groove 5a formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof; a nut 6 with a spiral roller rolling groove 6a opposed to the roller rolling groove of the screw shaft and formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof; and a plurality of rollers 7 arranged in a load roller rolling path 9 between the roller rolling groove 5a of the screw shaft 5 and the roller rolling groove 6a of the nut 6. Inside the nut 6 is provided a roller return path 11 extending linearly in parallel with an axis line of the nut 6. To opposite end faces in an axis line direction of the nut 6 are attached direction change path forming members 13 in which direction change paths 10 to connect the load roller rolling path 9 and the roller return path 11 are formed. The roller return path 11 is twisted to rotate an attitude of each of the rollers 7 while the rollers 7 move in the roller return path 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Teramachi, Hidekazu Michioka, Hiroshi Niwa, Akimasa Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8272284
    Abstract: An electrically driven linear actuator (1) has an electric motor with a ball screw mechanism (3 and 4) connected to an output shaft (2a) of the electric motor (2), via a power transmitting mechanism (10 and 12) to convert a rotary motion of the electric motor (2) to a linear motion of an object member to be controlled by the actuator (1). Housing members (5, 6 and 8) contain the ball screw mechanism (3 and 4) and the power transmitting mechanism (10 and 12). Stroke end members (14 and 14), of a ball screw shaft (4) or a ball screw nut (3) forming the ball screw mechanism (3 and 4), are rotatably supported relative to the housing members (5 and 8) via a free rotation mechanism (20 and 20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Tateishi, Yoshinori Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8272290
    Abstract: A parallel robot includes a base plate, two first actuators located on the base plate, a mobile platform, and two kinematic chains respectively interconnecting the base plate and the mobile platform. Each kinematic chain includes a driving bar assembly and a driven bar assembly. The driving bar assembly is connected to one of two first actuators. The driving bar includes two substantially parallel first transmission bars. Each of the first transmission bars includes a rotating portion rotatably connected to the base plate. The driven bar assembly interconnects the driving bar assembly and the mobile platform. Each of the two first actuators rotates two rotating portions of the two first transmission bars in the same direction simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guo-Qing Zhang, Zhi-Ming Zhao
  • Patent number: 8266980
    Abstract: A steering apparatus includes a first shaft coupled to a steering wheel, a second shaft arranged to be eccentric relative to the first shaft, and a joint mechanism for coupling the first shaft and the second shaft to each other. The joint mechanism includes a cam having a cam groove that extends in a direction perpendicular to the first shaft, a cam follower that can slide in the cam groove, an eccentric pin for coupling the second shaft and the cam follower to each other at a position eccentric relative to the second shaft. An outer cylinder serving as a protective member is arranged concentrically with the eccentric pin, so as to surround the outer circumference of the eccentric pin. At least part of the eccentric pin and the outer cylinder is arranged in the cam groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignees: Jtekt Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomonari Yamakawa, Hajime Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8261627
    Abstract: There is provided a new rolling body screw device manufactured with cheap cost without degrading quality in comparison with a conventional device even for a device having any large dimension in an end-cap type rolling body screw device. The rolling body screw device includes the direction changing passages 42 each including: a scoop-up portion 43 scooping a ball rolling in a loaded rolling body passage as a loaded area of the endless track so as to hand over the balls to the direction changing passage 42 as a non-loaded area of the endless track; and a route path 44 forming a circulation path of the ball scooped by the scoop-up portion. Each of the return pieces is composed, in combination, of a metal part 41a formed of a metal material including the scoop-up portion 43, and non-metal parts 41b, 41c formed of a non-metal material including the route path 44.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soshi Miyahara, Toshiaki Kadono, Masahiko Yoshino, Takashi Sakuyama, Lina Teng, Tsutomu Togashi, Kazuhiro Tani
  • Patent number: 8261630
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for electronically controllable transmission, and more particularly, an apparatus for electronically controllable transmission, the apparatus capable of shifting gears by moving a shift lever and sensing the magnetic flux density of a magnet, which moves in accordance with the rotation of the shift lever, by using a three-dimensional (3D) hall sensor. The apparatus includes: a shift lever including one end which is connected to a magnet and shifting gears by moving the shift lever; a shift lever body which is connected to the shift lever and is allowing the shift lever to move around shift axis or select axis; and a sensor unit including a 3D sensor which is mounted fixedly in the place intersecting the shift axis and select axis within the shift lever body and can sense the movement of the magnet around an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis as the magnet moves, wherein the 3D sensor is mounted at a tilted angle for providing at least two of three output signals with linearity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: SL Corporation
    Inventors: Jeong-Ho Bak, Byung-Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 8261626
    Abstract: A ball screw comprises a shaft, a nut, two return elements, plural rolling elements and a sleeve. When being rotated, the shaft will drive the nut to move and circulate the rolling elements within a circulation path defined by a loaded path and the return passages of the return elements. The nut is provided with a circular groove in an outer circumferential surface thereof, and the sleeve is disposed in the circular groove. The sleeve is provided with plural push grooves in an inner circumferential surface thereof, and there is an angular difference between a rolling passage in the nut and the respective push grooves, and the push grooves cooperate with the rolling elements which pass through the rolling passage. By such arrangements, the push grooves of the sleeve will be pushed by the rolling elements to convert the linear motion into rotary motion, thus making the sleeve rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hiwin Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Jhe-Kun Liou, Chih-Cheng Feng, Chun-Lin Yu
  • Patent number: 8261628
    Abstract: An electromechanical driving device (1) for use in a tailgate of a motor vehicle, with an electric motor (2) for the rotary drive of a spur gear (4) which is accommodated in a gear housing (3) and is operatively connected to a gear arrangement (5) in order to drive an output shaft (19) for a window wiper mechanism, wherein the spur gear (4) is accommodated rotatably in the gear housing (3) by means of a co-rotating spur gear shaft (6), wherein a shaft section (7) of the spur gear shaft (6) extends out of the gear housing (3) on which means for actuating a closing mechanism (8) for closing the tailgate and/or a tailgate window are accommodated. An electromechanical driving device (1) for use in a tailgate of a motor vehicle is therefore provided, said driving device, which is used to selectively actuate a wiper mechanism or a closing mechanism, having a simple design and comprising a gear housing which is designed in accordance with a known construction for driving a wiper mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Moecklin, Mario Huesges, Ulrich Metz
  • Patent number: 8261631
    Abstract: A rotary machine may have multiple stations that have a linear motion operated by a cam and a rotational motion operated by individual motors mounted on each station. Each station may perform a motion profile that is proportional to the machine's central axis rotation or, in some cases, independent of the central axis rotation. In some embodiments, each station may rotate to orient a part prior to processing. In one embodiment, the cam driven linear motion may enable a station to lower for loading and unloading, then raise for processing. The rotary machine may have various mechanisms at each station for processing a part. One such embodiment is a rotary machine that may be outfitted with compound dispensing mechanisms at each station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Computrol, Inc.
    Inventors: William W. Weil, Scott J. Woolley, Ian J. Buckley, James N. McBride, Bert Johansson, Harley S. Crabtree
  • Patent number: 8256316
    Abstract: A linear bearing employs spherical roller bodies which are contained in a roller nut body with two drive helixes and two return helixes which form a continuous loop in the nut body. The return helixes are offset from the drive helixes and have a pressure relief cutout to allow for movement of the spherical roller bodies through the return helix region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Mavinkal Jayaram
  • Patent number: 8256321
    Abstract: A displacement member can be displaced in a direction substantially perpendicular to a moving direction of a translation member that is held on a base member so as to reciprocatingly move thereon linearly, and an elastic mechanism secured to the base member accumulates and releases elastic energy in accordance with the distance to the displacement member. Protruding members of the translation member are pressed against a transmission member by generated force provided by the energy release from the elastic mechanism; thus, a distance adjusting operation between coupling mechanisms coupling the transmission member and the displacement member is controlled by a control device so that the relative position and relative angle between the displacement member and the transmission member are changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Asai