Patents Examined by Mark J. Beauchaine
  • Patent number: 10344857
    Abstract: A gear-lever mechanism using meshing and pushing for rotation includes a shell; an input device including a driving gear; an output device including a supporting frame and a driven gear set; and a positioning device including a fixed bearing gear. The driven gear set includes a transfer-layer gear and at least one idler gear. The supporting shaft center of each transmission gear in the driven gear set is the sub-bearing point, with each transmission gear meshed with its adjacent drive gears to form two meshing points. The bearing point and the two meshing points form a triangular pushing area. At least two triangular pushing areas in head-to-tail connection form a meshing-pushing-lever-type torsion-output path curved from the driving gear to the fixed bearing gear for connecting and driving, to cause the gear set to rotate with a raising speed, and then reduce the speed and increase the torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Inventor: Zhilin Wang
  • Patent number: 10339745
    Abstract: A banknote storing device (for example, a storing and feeding unit (20)), includes a plurality of banknote storing mechanism (24, 26) arranged inside a casing (20a) side by side along a depth direction of the casing (20a). When viewed in a predetermined direction that is a direction orthogonal to the depth direction of the casing (20a) and also orthogonal to an axis direction of rotating members (for example, drums (24a, 26a)), at least one of the rotating members is arranged at a position at which the rotating member does not overlap with any of winding member accommodating units (for example, reels (25a, 25b, 27a, 27b)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: GLORY LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kuroda, Eiki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10337243
    Abstract: The geared window shade bracket comprises a sprocket having a ring gear on an inside circumference of the sprocket; a chain configured to be engaged with the sprocket such that, in response to pulling on the chain, the sprocket rotates; a sun gear that is configured to be restricted from rotation; one or more planet gears configured to rotate around the sun gear, wherein the one or more planet gears interface with the ring gear; and a planetary carrier configured to mate with the one or more planet gears. In response to the chain being pulled, the sprocket rotates, causing the planet gears to rotate, causing the planetary carrier to rotate, causing the hub to rotate, and causing a shade tube to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: MECHOSHADE SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Joel Berman, Stephen Hebeisen, Xi Ming Liarno, Eugene Miroshnichenko
  • Patent number: 10325435
    Abstract: Currency is selectively illuminated with Ultraviolet (UV) light, Infrared (IR) light, and/or white light in front of a camera, which may be integrated into a scanner in some embodiments. The camera takes an image of the illuminated currency and the image is presented on a screen of a display for validating the currency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Donald A. Collins, Jr., John Paul Opay, Janry C. Amada, Peter R. Charpentier
  • Patent number: 10323738
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a system for a vehicle differential that has multiple gears may include a coil, a drive member movable in response to a magnetic field generated by application of electricity to the coil and a lock member driven by the drive member to selectively engage a gear of the differential. The drive member is movable between a first position and a second position, has an axis and includes a first body formed at least partially from a first material that is magnetically responsive and a second body formed at least partially from a second material. The first body and second body are coupled together and overlapped in two opposing axial directions to limit or prevent relative axial movement between the first body and the second body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: GKN Automotive Limited
    Inventor: Toshiaki Komatsu
  • Patent number: 10323726
    Abstract: A planetary gear train includes an input shaft and an output shaft. A first planetary gear set has first, second, and third rotational elements. A second planetary gear set has fourth, fifth, and sixth rotational elements. A third planetary gear set has seventh, eighth, and ninth rotational elements. A fourth planetary gear set has tenth, eleventh, and twelfth rotational elements. A first shaft is fixedly connected with the twelfth rotational element and fixedly connected with the input shaft. A second shaft is fixedly connected with the fifth rotational element and the eighth rotational element, and fixedly connected with the output shaft. A third shaft is fixedly connected with the fourth rotational element. A fourth shaft is fixedly connected with the seventh rotational element. A fifth shaft is fixedly connected with the sixth rotational element and the ninth rotational element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hyun Sik Kwon, Seong Wook Hwang, Ki Tae Kim, Wonmin Cho, Jae Chang Kook, Seongwook Ji
  • Patent number: 10309491
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a planetary gear train of an automatic transmission including: input and output shafts, first to fifth planetary gear sets respectively having first to third, fourth to sixth, seventh to ninth, tenth to twelfth, and thirteenth to fifteenth rotational elements, a first shaft connected with the second and fifth rotational elements and the input shaft, a second shaft connected with the fourteenth rotational element and the output shaft, a third shaft connected with the ninth and thirteenth rotational elements, a fourth shaft connected with the tenth and fifteenth rotational elements, a fifth shaft connected with the first, sixth, and seventh rotational elements, a sixth shaft connected with the third rotational element, a seventh shaft connected with the eighth and eleventh rotational element, an eighth shaft connected with the fourth rotational element, and a ninth shaft connected with the twelfth rotational element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, KIA Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jin Ho Kim, Dong Hwan Hwang, Jong Sool Park, Jong Soo Kim, Kyeong Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 10300782
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus includes: a planetary gear set configured to output a reduced speed or a same speed as a rotation speed of an engine; a first input shaft selectively connected to an engine output shaft through a first clutch; a second input shaft disposed on the outer circumference of the first input shaft and selectively connected to the engine output shaft through a second clutch; a third input shaft disposed in parallel with the first input shaft; an output shaft disposed in parallel with the first input shaft; an idle shaft disposed in parallel with the first input shaft; and a fixed transmission for selectively shifting torque input according to gear ratios of four speed gear trains. The four speed gear trains are disposed by externally connecting drive gears and driven gears to the first, second, and third input shafts, the output shaft, and the idle shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wonmin Cho, Seong Wook Hwang, Hyun Sik Kwon, Ki Tae Kim, Jae Chang Kook, Seongwook Ji
  • Patent number: 10302179
    Abstract: A switching apparatus for a driving system includes a motor, a first function unit, a second function unit and a power switching unit. The power switching unit includes a planetary gear set connected to the motor and driven by the motor and a swinging mechanism connected to the planetary gear set and driven by the planetary gear set. The power switching unit is switchable between a first position, where the power switching unit is drivingly connected to the first function unit, and a second position, where the power switching unit is drivingly connected to the second function unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kao-Hung Lin, Ping-Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 10288167
    Abstract: A method for operating a transmission device for a motor vehicle. A drive gear is selected from a drive gear set and set on a transmission and upon going above a rotational speed upper limit a drive gear with a larger gearing ratio and upon going below a rotational speed lower limit a drive gear with a smaller gearing ratio is selected from the drive gear set and set on the transmission. In a normal operating mode, the drive gear set corresponds to a normal operation drive gear set having a plurality of different drive gears, and the rotational speed upper limit corresponds to a normal operation rotational speed upper limit and the rotational speed lower limit corresponds to a normal operation rotational speed lower limit. In an alternative operating mode the drive gear set corresponds to an alternative operation drive gear set, having a smaller number of different drive gears than the normal operation drive gear set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Martin Enke, Arne Herrmann, Paul Weißbach
  • Patent number: 10281011
    Abstract: Provided is an automatic transmission with which a switching mechanism thereof is hardly damaged even if the hydraulic pressure supplied to a hydraulic pressure control circuit temporarily changes. A control part ECU of the automatic transmission TM switches the first brake B1 to the reverse rotation preventing state when a signal indicating that the slider is at a position corresponding to the reverse rotation preventing state is received while the control unit ECU recognized that it has switched the first brake B1 to the fixed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuya Tachibanada
  • Patent number: 10281037
    Abstract: A worm gear assembly may include an input shaft having a first and second screw formed axially thereon, a first torque transfer unit comprising a first worm wheel operatively coupled to the first worm screw, a first radial pinion coaxially affixed to the first worm wheel, and a first axial crown wheel operatively coupled to the first radial pinion, and a second torque transfer unit comprising a second worm wheel operatively coupled to the second worm screw, a second radial pinion coaxially affixed to the second worm wheel, and a second axial crown wheel operatively coupled to the second radial pinion, wherein the first radial pinion is in meshed interface with the second radial pinion, and wherein torque differences between the first axial crown wheel and the second axial crown wheel are transmitted at least in part through said meshed interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: NIDEC MOTORS & ACTUATORS (GERMANY) GmbH
    Inventors: Niklas Alexander Hermann, Rainer Bruhn
  • Patent number: 10272773
    Abstract: A planetary wheel drive uses a thrust washer residing between a cover and a thrust plate to absorb axial loads. The thrust washer is has a slip fit to the cover. The surface area of the thrust washer engaging the cover is larger than the surface area of the thrust washer engaging the thrust washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Inventors: Scott Martin, Yichen Li, Matthew Richards
  • Patent number: 10267399
    Abstract: The invention relates to a charge pump system (190) comprising a hydrostatic charge pump (12) capable to generate a hydraulic flow rate to be fed into a closed circuit of a hydrostatic transmission, a planetary gear set (20), whose planet wheel carrier (22) is connected to an input shaft (11) of the charge pump (12), and whose sun wheel (21) is driveable by a driving shaft (3); and a charge pump motor (30) capable to drive the ring gear (23) of planetary gear set (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Danfoss Power Solutions GmbH & Co. OHG
    Inventor: Andreas Schumacher
  • Patent number: 10260600
    Abstract: An automatic transmission includes: a brake device including a friction plate set configured with fixation friction plates and rotation friction plates alternately arranged, a piston, and an oil pressure chamber supplied with oil pressure that moves the piston toward the friction plate set side; a first rotating member; and second and third rotating members arranged at both respective axial sides of the first rotating member and each having an outer diameter smaller than that of the first rotating member. The friction plate set and the oil pressure chamber are arranged at both respective axial sides of the first rotating member and also arranged at an outer periphery side of the second rotating member and at the outer periphery side of the third rotating member, respectively. The piston extends from the oil pressure chamber toward the friction plate set side through the outer periphery side of the first rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kensuke Ueda, Narihito Hongawara, Tatsuhiko Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 10262488
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a compact currency recycling and accounting device and system for use wherein the device can fit under a counter and is capable of receiving, sorting and dispensing both bills and mixed denomination coins. The present invention offers the currency recycling functionality of larger safes in a more compact safe capable of fitting under the counter of a convenience store. The compact currency recycler of the present invention includes a coin recycling unit, a banknote recycling unit, a touchscreen display, a power supply, a CPU and an integrated printer. To overcome the challenges of limited access to only the front of the device in these under counter applications, the device relies upon a sliding, coin-receiving tray and sliding touchscreen display. Additionally, the banknote recycler and the coin recycler are able to slide into and out from the front of the device for ease of access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Revolution Retail Systems, LLC
    Inventors: David Scott Frank, Mark K. Levenick
  • Patent number: 10259319
    Abstract: In a differential device, a differential case includes a first engaging part having engaging teeth on a first side wall of the differential case. A clutch member is disposed between the first side wall and a second side wall of the differential case in an axial direction. The clutch member includes a second engaging part. An urging member is disposed between the second side wall and the clutch member such that the urging member is compressed in the axial direction. When an actuator does not generate a pressing force, the first engaging part and the second engaging part are engaged with each other by the urging force of the urging member, and the differential case and the input member are connected together via the clutch member. The first engaging part is disengaged from the second engaging part by the pressing force provided due to actuation of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadashi Yoshisaka, He Jin, Yasunori Kamitani
  • Patent number: 10260601
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multi-stage transmission for a vehicle. The multi-stage transmission includes an input shaft IN and an output shaft OUT; a first planetary gear set PG1, a second planetary gear set PG2, a third planetary gear set PG3, and a fourth planetary gear set PG4 installed between the input shaft IN and the output shaft OUT so as to transfer a torque and each including three rotary elements; and six shifting elements connected to the rotary elements of the first to fourth planetary gear sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hyun Sik Kwon, Seong Wook Ji, Ki Tae Kim, Ju Hyeon Park, Il Han Yoo, Seong Wook Hwang, Won Min Cho
  • Patent number: 10260617
    Abstract: Packaging for transmissions with an epicyclic gearbox speed reducer and oil pump is provided. Packaging comprises an epicyclic/planetary gearbox or single stage gear reducer with a sun gear, ring unit, and one or more planetary gears on the ring unit, and an oil pump located inside the packaging. The oil pump may be driven directly by a carrier, or driven by a carrier using a gear stage set. This configuration provides a tighter packaging of the full assembly of an epicyclic/planetary gearbox for transmissions with an internal oil pump, which reduces the weight of the unit, provides lubrication, and avoids splashing. The pump packaging may also be particularly valuable for electric vehicle (“EV”) independent motor applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Dimitri Bassis
  • Patent number: 10253861
    Abstract: A torque vectoring unit for use with a motor vehicle including a differential unit, a gear arrangement and a clutch system. The gear arrangement is connected to the differential unit and includes a first gear set, a second gear set, a third gear set and a common shaft. The clutch system is selectively connected to the gear arrangement and includes a concentric inner clutch and a concentric outer clutch drivingly to an actuator. The actuator actuates each clutch independently. The first gear set includes an external gear supported on the common shaft and an internal gear selectively in engagement with the outer clutch. The second gear set includes an external gear supported on the common shaft and an internal gear selectively in engagement with the inner clutch. The third gear set includes an external gear coupled to the common shaft and an internal gear coupled to a differential case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems, Group, LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Cooper