Patents Examined by Kenneth Dorner
  • Patent number: 4448091
    Abstract: In a steering wheel covered with a layer of plastic material, the steering wheel hub is connected to the steering wheel rim by a steering wheel spoke. To reduce the manufacture expenditure, the spoke is embedded in the steering wheel hub consisting of an aluminum pressure diecasting and the spoke as well as the portion of the steering wheel rim to which the spoke is connected are embedded by a pressure-diecast layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Assignee: Karl Schmidt GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bauer, Werner Grosser
  • Patent number: 4446754
    Abstract: An apparatus for changing the leverage of a bicycle pedal by telescoping the pedal on the pedal arm during rotation of the pedal arm and pedal guide around the pedal axis; the apparatus comprising a pedal guide which includes a lead bolt and has the pedal attached thereto, a pedal arm, a cam plate, a cam ring, a ring bearing, a pedal axle, a sprocket, and a spindle housing. The lead bolt of the pedal guide rotatably attaches to the cam ring which peripherally encloses the ring bearing. The ring bearing is peripherally located around the cam plate thus enabling the cam ring to rotate with respect to the cam plate. As the pedal arm and pedal guide rotate, the cam ring and cam plate control the telescoping motion of the pedal and pedal guide by controlling the movement of the lead bolt of the pedal guide. The pedal guide slides on the pedal arm. The sprocket is fixedly connected to the pedal axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1984
    Inventor: Jesse R. Chattin
  • Patent number: 4445395
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for measuring linear movement of an ice mass on a body of water. The apparatus comprises two stationary anchors on the floor of the body of water. Two sheathed cables attached to the anchors extend from the anchors through a downtube in the ice mass to spring-loaded reels located above the ice mass. The spring-loaded reels are coupled to multi-turn potentiometers. The downtube comprises a pipe and two cable guide structures disposed therein. The guide structures are oil filled to afford smooth axial movement of the cables through the downtube as the ice mass and the downtube carried thereby move relative to the anchors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1984
    Assignee: Global Marine Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne C. Beckman, Patrick E. Harwell
  • Patent number: 4442732
    Abstract: A pedal for a bicycle, having a pedal body and a bearing mechanism for rotatably supporting the pedal body to a crank arm, the pedal body being equipped with a toe clip and a toe strap. The pedal body is displaced with respect to the bearing mechanism and the bearing mechanism comprises a bearing cylinder extending from the pedal body and having a threaded bore, a spindle screwable therewith, and a tubular member fixed to the crank arm, the spindle having at its outer periphery a first ball race, the bearing cylinder having at its outer periphery a second ball race larger in diameter than the first ball race, so that the bearing cylinder and spindle may be rotatably supported to the fixed tubular member through balls carried by the ball races.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1984
    Assignee: Shimano Industrial Company Limited
    Inventor: Shinpei Okajima
  • Patent number: 4442724
    Abstract: A dial which includes a knob mounted on a rotary shaft and a dial surrounding the rotary shaft against which the knob may be positioned and including a base which rotatably supports the rotary shaft upon which the knob is mounted and clamp means between the knob and the base which comprises a brake shoe formed on a top surface of the base and in contact with a lower surface of the knob and a brake lever which has a projection such that in one position the projection engages the brake shoe to urge the brake shoe against the lower surface of the knob to lock it at a predetermined position. The brake shoe is formed with a slit in either its inner or outer flange and the brake lever is formed of a substantially similar circular shape which is rotatable within a groove and with the projection provided at one of the free ends of the brake lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1984
    Assignee: Sakae Tsushin Kogyo Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Nirasawa, Hideo Nigara
  • Patent number: 4441383
    Abstract: A gear crank for a bicycle comprises a crank shaft, a pair of crank arms and at least one chain gear, the crank shaft carrying at its one axial end one of the crank arms, and a larger diameter portion onto which the chain gear is connected not-rotatably with respect to the crank shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Assignee: Shimano Industrial Company Limited
    Inventor: Takashi Segawa
  • Patent number: 4439172
    Abstract: Disclosed is a crank for a bicycle, having a chain wheel mounted thereto by an adapter, the adapter having at least one annular member formed at the foremost ends of legs extending radially outwardly of a boss of the adapter and connecting the legs with each other and chain wheel mounting means provided at at least one of the leg and adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1984
    Assignee: Shimano Industrial Company Limited
    Inventor: Takashi Segawa
  • Patent number: 4430907
    Abstract: A linkage system is disclosed adapted to be connected between a pilot's input lever and an engine power output lever. The linkage system is operative to vary the displacement ratio characteristics between the input and output levers. More specifically, during the first portion of input lever stroke, wherein shaft horsepower is raised from a ground idle speed to flight speed, the output lever is displaced an amount greater than the amount the input lever is displaced. In contrast, during the second portion of the stroke, corresponding to the upper range of shaft horsepower used in flight, a fixed amount of displacement of the input lever results in a smaller displacement of the output lever. By this arrangement, the control of the aircraft in flight is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1984
    Assignee: Avco Corporation
    Inventor: Avi Ben-Porat
  • Patent number: 4428258
    Abstract: A fluid pressure control system for controlling an automatic transmission which includes a gear transmission mechanism and several fluid pressure actuated friction engaging mechanisms, selective engagement of which provides various speed stages from the gear transmission mechanism. A line pressure control valve produces a line pressure which increases from a base pressure by an amount proportional to engine load. A throttle pressure control valve produces a throttle pressure which is proportional to engine load. A shift valve selectively switches supply of line pressure to one of the friction engaging mechanisms via a passage, according to the operational conditions of the vehicle. A back pressure accumulator is connected to an intermediate part of the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seitoku Kubo, Koujiro Kuramochi, Tatsuo Kyushima
  • Patent number: 4426890
    Abstract: A clutch pedal pivoting a fore and aft shaft mounted in a fire wall for transmission of the clutch actuating force through the fire wall for disengaging and engaging a vehicle clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: Allis-Chalmers Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth N. Hansen
  • Patent number: 4425820
    Abstract: Connecting rod of a composite material formed from reinforcement fibers wound in the form of an endless loop with constant cross-sectional shape and the fiber bundle enclosed by a jacket of aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1984
    Assignee: Sigri Elektrographit GmbH
    Inventor: Adolf Swozil
  • Patent number: 4424719
    Abstract: An arrangement for adjusting the pedals of a motor vehicle in relation to the seat of the driver, in which a movable carriage carries the pedals and terminal members of associated actuating mechanisms coupled to each. The carriage can be positioned by an adjusting spindle, and a threaded sleeve is provided for each pedal and is movably mounted on the carriage. The carriage and the threaded sleeve are uniformly displaceable by a common drive. A threaded rod passes through each threaded sleeve associated with it, and is connected at one end to linkage leading to the pedals. The threaded rods are substantially stationary in axial direction thereof. They are all rotated uniformly for adjusting the threaded sleeves so that linkages associated with the pedals remain in position when the carriage is displaced. Driving elements are connected to the other ends of the threaded rods and are driven in the same manner as the adjusting spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Inventor: Norbert Pretsch
  • Patent number: 4425102
    Abstract: A variable speed belt drive having a sheave with an axially moveable flange connected to the drive shaft by a flexible element which performs the function of transmitting the torque from the shaft to the axially moveable flange, and which defines a fluid pressure chamber for applying a variable pressure to the moveable flange for moving the flange axially on the shaft as the pressure in the chamber is varied by the operation of a control device. The fixed flange of the same sheave is mounted on a hub and bushing of a flexible coupling connecting the sheave to a drive motor. A belt connects the first sheave to a second variable pitch sheave which is responsive to the load on the drive for maintaining the pitch of the sheave in any preselected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Assignee: Reliance Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert O. Huff, Edward F. Krome, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4424726
    Abstract: An improved infinitely variable speed epicyclic drive mechanism having planet discs which are supported by a carrier and revolve on a track determined by a pair of sun discs and matching non-rotating peripheral annular members. In one embodiment, the planet discs are each rotatable in an arm or fork in turn rotatable in the carrier and means is provided to reduce centrifugally induced axial forces occuring between the planet discs and the surrounding annular members. In a further embodiment the sun discs are torque sensitively loaded towards each other for frictionally engaging the planet discs by helical gears in an epicyclic gear train to which the mechanism is coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Assignee: Galbraith Engineering Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Peter A. Galbraith
  • Patent number: 4425103
    Abstract: A tensioner for a power transmission belt that is adapted to be operated in an endless path and comprising a support unit for being fixed relative to the belt, a belt engaging unit carried by the support unit and being movable relative thereto, a mechanical spring unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit for urging the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit and against the belt with a force to tension the belt, and a fluid dampening unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit to dampen the movement of the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit in at least one direction of movement thereof, the fluid dampening unit comprising a piston and cylinder unit. The mechanical spring unit comprises a pair of coiled compression springs with their longitudinal axes disposed in substantially parallel side-by-side spaced relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Assignee: Dayco Corporation
    Inventor: Randy C. Foster
  • Patent number: 4424722
    Abstract: The arrangement is especially intended for mining equipment for driving a winning machine 20 along a face conveyor 11, on which the machine rides. The conveyor sections carry corresponding rack sections 30 having formations 40 each comprising two laterally spaced teeth 40a,40b, defining a channel 41 therebetween. The pinion has a disc-shaped body 43 having apertures 45 loosely mounting bands 44 of the type provided in a round-link chain. The bands engage with the teeth and the loose-mounting allows slight vertical and horizontal articulation of the bands. This reduces wear, especially at the joints between rack sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1984
    Assignee: Perard Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric A. Jackson, George M. Turner
  • Patent number: 4422536
    Abstract: A power shift transmission control system includes a modulation control valve connected for regulating the pressure engagement of forward and reverse direction-friction devices and including a pressure-regulating spring which is adjusted by means of a pressure boost piston. A feedback conduit conveys fluid pressure from the forward or reverse direction-friction device to the chamber, and the rate at which this pressure is conveyed to the chamber is controlled by an orifice-selector valve which is operative to selectively place various sized orifices in the feedback conduit in response to the speed-selector valve being placed in the various speed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Shatuck
  • Patent number: 4422353
    Abstract: The control system controls a lock-up type automatic transmission such that the forced lock-up of a lock-up torque converter is released only after a predetermined condition after the supply of fuel to the engine has been resumed by a fuel supplying means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Suga, Yoshiro Morimoto, Hideo Hamada, Masaaki Futagi, Tadashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 4420992
    Abstract: A planetary transmission (10) is disclosed including a front section (48) having a rotating housing (52) and a planetary gear set (18) with a ring gear (62), a sun gear (64) and a planet carrier (66). Advantageously, the ring gear (62) is the input and the rotating housing (52) is the output, and the sun gear (64) is continually held stationary. A first clutch assembly (32) connects the planet carrier (66) to the rotating housing (52) and provides underdrive and a second clutch assembly (34) connects the ring gear to the rotating housing (52) and provides direct drive. The front section (48) is operatively connected to a rear section (50) for multi-speed use especially adaptable to an agricultural vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co.
    Inventor: Willis E. Windish
  • Patent number: 4420988
    Abstract: A control arrangement is of the type comprising a control transmission chain which includes a cable (10), an actuating member such as a pedal (12) connected to one end (14) of the cable, and possibly a system of levers interposed between the other end (18) of the cable and a receiving member (28) such as a friction clutch, the flexible sheath being anchored in the vicinity of one of its ends (34) to a fixed part of a support structure (13). The end portion (36, 48) of said sheath in the vicinity of its other end (37) is mounted with the possibility of axial movement in a fixed support (38) which is fixed with respect to said support structure. A device (40) for momentary blocking of said axial movement is interposed between said end portion (36, 48) of the sheath and said fixed support (38), the blocking device (40) comprising a control member (74, 42) coupled to a point on said control transmission chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Assignee: Societe Anonyme D.B.A.
    Inventor: Jean Deligny