Patents Examined by Michael Mansen
  • Patent number: 8353388
    Abstract: A 3-point suspension forklift scale adapted for quick and easy attachment/detachment to/from a forklift—without the need for leveling or other pre-operation setup procedures. Further, due to the single lower reaction point of the forklift scale, there is no concern that the initially installed position of the forklift scale will change during use as a result of a loose adjuster, repositioning due to impact, etc. The forklift scale is designed to accurately determine the weight of a load placed on the forks or other lifting elements of the forklift, regardless of the position of the load thereon. Preferably, a forklift scale of the present invention includes a central viewing window that allows an operator see through the forklift scale when operating an associated forklift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas S. Rice, Ben T. Siefker, Mitchell A. Tobias, Darin E. Foley
  • Patent number: 8353805
    Abstract: A hydraulic supply system for a hydraulically actuated automatic transmission, in particular for a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission. The system includes a primary pump driven by a primary drive system to provide pressure in a supply line connected to a regulating valve. The supply line is connected through a pilot valve to a control line in which a control valve is situated, with which the pressure that determines the setting of a transmission ratio adjusting valve is set. An auxiliary pump driven by an auxiliary drive system that is separate from the primary drive system includes an outlet line connected to the control line through a first valve that opens in the direction of the control line, and is connected to the supply line through a second valve that opens in the direction of the supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jochen Pfister, Reinhard Stehr, Eric Müller, Roshan Willeke
  • Patent number: 8353796
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sprocket (1) with a circular gear ring (3) comprising a plurality of alternating teeth (4) and tooth spaces (5) with different pitch spacings (T) distributed around the periphery of the gear ring (3), a plurality of successive pitch spacings (T) increasing continuously over a first region of the gear ring (3), and a plurality of successive pitch spacings (T) decreasing continuously in a subsequent region. The invention additionally relates to a chain drive (20), in particular a timing chain drive, comprising a driving chain (14) and at least one sprocket (1) of the type in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: iwis motorsysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Ritz
  • Patent number: 8348793
    Abstract: This invention describes a compact, light weight, durable, quiet in operation, economical, chain tensioning device with means for controlling chain slack between two drive sprockets, found in all terrain vehicles or the like. The assembly comprises a chain tensioning device which is spaced between the two drive sprockets. The chain tensioning device is easy to assemble, install and adjust. The device exerts a modest pre-load tension pressure, requires infrequent adjustment and is suitable for reversed loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventor: John Robert Neary
  • Patent number: 8352128
    Abstract: A system and method for using a gantry crane to efficiently and safely transport loads such as containers and ship hatch covers from one location to another along a known path while avoiding collisions between the loads and obstructing objects which may be situated in the known path. A transceiver emitting laser beams may be used to establish both the position of the spreader and its load and the profile of the known path. Continuous comparisons are made by computer between the location of a dynamic digital protective envelope constructed around the crane spreader and its load, if any, and a digital representation of the profile of the known path to be traveled by the spreader and its load, if any. In the event, the comparison indicates intersection of the protective envelope and the path profile, a speed limit is imposed on the motor controlling the movement in the X axis of the trolley or in the Z axis of the spreader, as required to prevent a collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: TMEIC Corp.
    Inventors: David G. Stocker, Michael G. Bartel
  • Patent number: 8348017
    Abstract: An assembly includes a reservoir for holding a fluid, and a scavenge passage connected to the reservoir at a reservoir inlet. The scavenge passage returns the fluid from a delivery location to the reservoir. A bleed passage is connected in fluid communication between the reservoir and the scavenge passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Dickie, Larry W. Spires
  • Patent number: 8348019
    Abstract: In an elevator element for driving or reversing an elevator suspension device in an elevator system, that interacts with an elevator suspension device, the arithmetic mean of the roughness value of the contact surface measured in the circumferential direction of the elevator element, and the mean roughness value of the contact surface measured in the axial direction of the elevator element, are different. The arithmetic mean roughness value of the contact surface measured in the circumferential direction of the elevator element is less than 1 micrometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Hans Blochle, Ernst Ach
  • Patent number: 8348791
    Abstract: A tensioner includes a base, a piston, a rack, a stopping device, a first and a second flexible device. The surface of the base includes a first, a second, a third, and a fourth recess portion vertically connecting the third with the second recess portion. The rack disposed in the second recess portion has one ending outside the base to extend and connect to one ending of the piston. The stopping device axially disposed in the fourth recess portion has a work surface and a first connecting surface disposed on sides of two endings thereof. Two sticking portions are disposed on opposite edges of the first connecting surface. A turning mechanism is disposed on the ending of stopping device, which has the sticking portions. The second flexible device disposed in the third recess portion contacts the ending of stopping device, where the work surface is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventor: Po-Yi Lee
  • Patent number: 8348792
    Abstract: A traction mechanism drive (1), such as a control drive of an internal combustion engine, having an endless traction mechanism, such as a link chain, connecting a drive gear (2) and at least one driven gear (3) in a form-fitting manner, at least one clamping device (5) actuated by a pressure medium and a guiding rail (6) being arranged on the periphery of the traction mechanism. At least the guiding rail (6) includes a carrier body (7) and a resiliently flexible sliding body (8) connected to the carrier body (7) on the traction mechanism side. A spring element (18) is arranged in a free space (16) between the upper side (14) of the carrier body (7) and a lower side (15) of the sliding body (8). In order to improve the damping of the traction mechanism, the spring element (18) includes at least one flexible spring (19) connected integrally to the carrier body (7) and the sliding body (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Simon Xunnan He
  • Patent number: 8342290
    Abstract: A lubrication system for a spline interface (20) includes at least one debris chamber (46) located radially outboard of the spline interface (20) of a first rotating component (16) and a second rotating component (18). Wear debris (44) is urged from the spline interface (20) toward the at least one debris chamber (46) by rotation of the first and second rotating components (16, 18) about a central axis (14). At least one lubricant reservoir (36) contains a volume of lubricant (40), wherein at least a portion of the volume of lubricant (40) flows toward the spline interface (20) in response to the wear debris (44) being urged from the spline interface (20) toward the at least one debris chamber (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A. Himmelmann
  • Patent number: 8342993
    Abstract: A synchronous drive apparatus that includes a continuous loop elongate drive structure and first and second driven rotors that are configured to cooperate with the continuous loop elongate drive structure to generate first and second opposing fluctuating corrective torques, respectively, that are configured to at least partly counteract first and second periodic fluctuating load torques, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Litens Automotive Partnership
    Inventor: Witold Gajewski
  • Patent number: 8342294
    Abstract: The invention relates to an overspeed detection mechanism in lift apparatuses, safety device acting against overspeed and a lift apparatus, which detection mechanism can be assembled on a sheave or on the elevator car. It incorporates a wheel rotating according to the speed of the car and has pivoting arms swinging through the centrifugal force during the rotation of the wheel. It has magnetic means associated to the pivoting arms causing an attraction maintaining the position of the pivoting arms until the centrifugal force exceeds the attraction of the magnetic means. It incorporates a stop, belonging to a part external to the wheel against which the pivoting arm comes into contact when the centrifugal force generated on the pivoting arm due to the overspeed of the elevator car exceeds the attractive force of the magnetic means, starting the braking of the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Orona, S. Coop.
    Inventors: Miguel Angel Madoz Michaus, Anartz Alonso Maritxalar, Felix Martinez Noguera
  • Patent number: 8337343
    Abstract: A front derailleur of a bicycle comprises a retaining ring disposed on a bottom end of a seat post, the retaining ring including two coupling seats symmetrically fixed thereon to axially connect with a pushing mechanism comprised of a cable rack, a limiting stem, a connecting rod set, a guiding loop, an axial pillar, an assembling bracket, and a guide plate, the coupling seat including the connecting rod set having a first, a second, a third, and a fourth connecting rods, a shaft, and the guiding loop, wherein the coupling seat includes a first hole formed on a bottom end of a side thereof so that a first screw inserts through a first bore of the cable rack and a turning spring to screw with the first hole of the coupling seat, and includes two first tabs mounted on top ends thereof respectively to connected with the axial pillar axially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Inventor: Chang Hui Lin
  • Patent number: 8337345
    Abstract: The high-performance sliding rack ratchet tensioner is inexpensively manufactured. A rack having rack teeth is slidingly received in a rack slot on the side of the piston. The rack slot is preferably open-ended on the end facing the tensioner arm. The rack and piston are both received in a piston bore in the tensioner body. The rack length is preferably shorter than the rack slot length to provide backlash. A pawl mounted in a pawl bore perpendicular to the rack bore engages the rack. The open-ended rack slot allows the rack to be inserted after the piston during assembly. The rack and pawl preferably have shark fin-shaped teeth. The pawl preferably has dummy teeth to ensure that the load is shared by the center teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Anand Arun Barve
  • Patent number: 8337349
    Abstract: The invention provides a power transmission belt which is superior in oil resistance so that it is swollen to only a reduced degree, reduced in hardness, and small in abrasion if the rubber layers are stained with oil while the belt is being used in an oil-present environment. Such a power transmission belt has rubber layers which comprise a compression rubber layer and an adhesion rubber layer both of which are vulcanized and bonded to each other and load carrying cords are embedded in the adhesion rubber layer, wherein at least the compression rubber layer between the two rubber layers is formed of vulcanizate obtained by vulcanizing ethylene-?-olefin-diene rubber with an organic peroxide and a trifunctional co-crosslinking agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Bando Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Fujiwara, Yoshiyuki Kitano
  • Patent number: 8333673
    Abstract: A rotation direction switching device for switching the rotation direction of a drive shaft includes a pulley unit for switching the rotation direction of the drive shaft. The pulley unit has a forward rotation drive belt and a reverse rotation drive belt. The forward rotation drive belt extends between the forward rotation drive pulley and a forward rotation driven pulley. The reverse rotation drive belt extends between a reverse rotation drive pulley and a reverse rotation driven pulley. When the drive shaft is forwardly rotated, the forward rotation belt is placed in a tensioned state, and the reverse rotation belt is switched to a relaxed state. When the drive shaft is reversely rotated, the reverse rotation belt is placed in a tensioned state, and the forward rotation belt is switched to a relaxed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jitsumi Hanafusa
  • Patent number: 8333264
    Abstract: A side cover for use in a transmission includes an inner surface and a wall. The wall extends along the outer periphery of the side cover. The inner surface and the wall cooperate to define a cavity. A fluid control valve is disposed in the bottom of the side cover within the cavity. The fluid control valve controls the height of hydraulic fluid in the side cover by varying flow to the sump. The cavity includes a fluid storage portion in communication with the valve. The fluid storage portion has a volume that is greater at a bottom of the side cover than at a top of the side cover. The fluid storage portion controls the pressure of the hydraulic fluid at the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Tami A Curtis, Ronald A Spindler, Pete R. Garcia
  • Patent number: 8328668
    Abstract: A vehicle power transmission device mounted on a vehicle for transmitting power from a power generating source to an axle through a gear train accommodated in a case, including: a lubricating pump that is accommodated in the case and which is driven by the power generating source and is capable of supplying a lubricating medium to an element to be lubricated; a lubricating medium storage portion that stores the lubricating medium; a lowermost gear that is located at a lowest position in the case, and which scoops up the lubricating medium in an inner bottom of the case toward a center of the case during normal rotation of the axle without guiding the lubricating medium along an inner wall surface of the case; a partition wall; and a lubrication flow path that guides the lubricating medium scooped up by the lowermost gear to a predetermined element to be lubricated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michihiro Ariga, Syoichi Sayo, Ryoji Habuchi
  • Patent number: 8328029
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide a generally open-frame storage rack having a pair of overhead bridging lifts, each lift further having a pair of side opposed cables extending therefrom. The framework for the storage rack is fabricated using stock automotive exhaust components, which yields a synergistic combination of ready reforming, substantial strength, low weight, and excellent corrosion and chemical resistance. The preferred rack structure is assembled from sufficiently short lengths to enable shipment using standard commercial carriers and rates. Additional novel features and combinations are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Inventors: Arthur J. Binsfeld, Michael A. Oevermann
  • Patent number: 8328671
    Abstract: A randomized chain sprocket has a set of four tooth gaps having three different tooth gap radial locations, two different link angles, and a chain with constant link pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Lucian Botez