Patents Examined by Michael Mansen
  • Patent number: 9193416
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket support assembly is provided with a sprocket support body, a first sprocket support member and at least first and second sprockets. The sprocket support body has a tubular shaped part with an exterior surface and an interior surface arranged around a center longitudinal axis. The first sprocket support member is integrated with the exterior surface of the sprocket support body as a one-piece, unitary member and projects radially from the exterior surface of the sprocket support body. The first and second sprockets are fixed to the first sprocket support member by at least one fastener with the first and second sprockets being supported at axially spaced apart locations along the center longitudinal axis of the sprocket support body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Kouji Tokuyama, Takanori Kanehisa, Yoshimitsu Miki, Kazuki Koshiyama
  • Patent number: 9169104
    Abstract: In this elevator system, a traveling body has arranged upon it a safety gear for braking and holding the traveling body tight on the guiderail, or on a braking rail. The safety gear is connected to a device for actuating the safety gear, which can also actuate the safety gear. The device for actuating the safety gear contains a coupler body, which can be pressed against the elevator hoistway, possibly against the guiderail or braking rail, wherein actuation of the safety gear is effected by a relative movement between the pressed-on coupler body and the safety gear. For this purpose, the coupler body can contain a curved coupler surface, which, in case of need, is brought into engagement with the elevator hoistway, or with the guiderail or braking rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Benoit Legeret, Eric Birrer, Marcus Junig, Philipp Zimmerli
  • Patent number: 9169970
    Abstract: A lubrication system for a vehicle (100) is provided with a blade element (1) movable between a first position (2) and a second position (3); the lubrication system comprises a pump (4) connected to a reservoir of lubricant and an actuation element or striker (6) acting on the pump (4), the actuation element (6) being activated in response to the blade element (1) when displaced between the first (2) and the second (3) position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Commercial SARL
    Inventors: David Gillespie, Stephen Thompson
  • Patent number: 9162858
    Abstract: To facilitate loading-unloading operation of a battery even when a large-sized battery is mounted, in a battery-powered forklift which is driven with power of a battery mounted on a vehicle body including a fork which is arranged at a front part of the vehicle body, a counter weight which is arranged at a rear part of the vehicle body, and a top plate which is supported at a position to cover an area above a driver seat via a pair of rear stays 44 extended upward from both sides of the rear part of the vehicle body, post members arranged in a raised manner at both sides of the counter weight guide movement of the battery along the front-rear direction of the vehicle body between the post members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Nishiyama, Kazuhiro Kurihara
  • Patent number: 9156657
    Abstract: This invention relates to a free standing lifting device which means that no additional support is required to support the lifting action of the device. The lifting device comprises a lift carriage further comprising at least one lift arm joined to a motor by way of a cable, at least one lift channel having a lift opening for receipt of the lift arm, at least one support arm and at least one support channel having a support opening for receipt of the support arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Inventors: William J. Sturmer, Robert R. Workman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9150384
    Abstract: An elevator system comprises a hoistway (4), an elevator car (2) arranged to move vertically within the hoistway and a drive machine (10) arranged in the hoistway outside the travel path of the car (2) or vertical projection thereof. The car (2) is coupled to the machine (10) by a rope (18) which is guided by a pair of idler sheaves (26, 28) so as to pass under the car (2). The idler sheaves (26, 28) have a diameter of less than 120 mm. The disclosed arrangement allows both overhead space and pit depth to be minimised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Thomas Coquerelle, Frédéric Beauchaud, Pascal Rebillard, Raphaël Picard, Jean-Noël Cloux, Fabrice Hamon, Aurélien Tissier, Franck Dominguez, Stephane Gourjeande, Michel Beeuwsaert, Loï Duchamp, Gérard Sirigu, Hugues Fanielle
  • Patent number: 9151186
    Abstract: An oil-laden gas stream flows axially through a tube shaft formed with at least one radially throughgoing inner oil-discharge port and, axially downstream therefrom, with at lest one radially throughgoing inner gas-discharge port. A bearing supports the tube shaft for rotation about the axis and is formed axially level with the ports with respective radially throughgoing outer oil-discharge and gas-discharge ports. An oil separator inside the tube shaft axially between the oil-discharge ports and the gas-discharge ports is oriented to deflect oil particles from the stream radially outward such that the oil flows out through the inner and outer oil-discharge ports and the gas stream can flow downstream out through the gas-discharge ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA TECCENTER AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Meusel, Ulf Müller, Andreas Stapelmann, Daniel Paul
  • Patent number: 9150395
    Abstract: A portable automobile lift includes a plurality of portable lifting columns and a portable power unit. Each lifting column includes a column base, a post extending upwardly from the column base, a lifting carriage moveably mounted on a forward side of the post, and a hydraulic actuator connected to the lifting carriage for movement of the lifting carriage along the post. Each column base comprises a respective base plate connected to a lower end of the respective post. The base plate anchor bolt receiving holes extending therethrough for receiving respective anchor bolts. Each column base further includes a pair of wheels positioned to engage a ground surface rearward of the base plate for ease of portability of the columns. The lift also includes a safety lock assembly that automatically engages during upward movement of the lift to prevent unintentional lowering or falling of the lifting carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: HENTHORN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Scott Kritzer
  • Patent number: 9133908
    Abstract: A push belt (6) for a continuously variable transmission comprises transverse elements (10) of at least two different types, wherein the differences between the transverse elements (10) reside in a profile (24) which is present at pulley sheave contact surfaces (18) of the transverse elements (10). On the basis of the use of at least two different types of transverse elements (10) as mentioned, many advantages are achieved, including improved traction, reduction of wear, and noise reduction. The design of the profile (24) can be such that a pattern of voids (28) is created at a contact side of the push belt (6), which voids (28) are used for receiving oil. The pattern of voids (28) can be random, or not. In the latter case, it is possible to have a path (28) for discharging oil, extending along the contact side of the push belt (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: BOSCH TRANSMISSION TECHNOLOGY B.V.
    Inventors: Francis Maria Antonius Van Der Sluis, Irinel Cosmin Faraon
  • Patent number: 9133927
    Abstract: A method for controlling lubrication of a gear unit, where the lubrication method of the gear unit is changed between circulating lubrication and splash lubrication during operation of the gear unit, wherein the temperature of the lubrication fluid is measured, and the change between circulation lubrication and splash lubrication is based on the measured temperature of the lubrication fluid. The invention also relates to such a gear unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: MOVENTAS GEARS OY
    Inventors: Mikko Järvinen, Sakari Hartikka, Jarno Huikko, Mikko Koponen
  • Patent number: 9121495
    Abstract: Pulley assemblies are disclosed that include a pulley body, a hub disposed within the bore of the pulley body, and a one-way clutch concentric about the hub. The one-way clutch has a plurality of cantilevered members that each include a friction surface and a cantilevered end and a biasing member in contact with one cantilevered member to bias the cantilevered members into continuous frictional engagement with the bore of the pulley body. Each of the cantilevered members is pivotable about its cantilevered end and is partially nested within an adjacent cantilevered member to form an annular body. This construction places the friction surface of each cantilevered member facing the bore of the pulley body. In operation, the pulley body rotates in a predominant direction which activates the plurality of cantilevered members to link the pulley body to the hub for simultaneous rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: DAYCO IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony E. Lannutti, Kevin G. Dutil, James H. Miller
  • Patent number: 9115802
    Abstract: A drive sprocket for driving a modular belt having a plurality of belt modules with intercalated link ends connected by transverse pivot members to form hinges. The belt modules may have transverse ribs. The drive sprocket is driven by a shaft. The drive sprocket has a central opening for receiving the shaft. The body has a plurality of teeth disposed in pairs along a periphery of the body. The body has a first opening formed between adjacent pairs of teeth and extending toward the center of the sprocket to provide access to the hinge area, when the belt engages with the sprocket, for application of cleaning fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Habasit AG
    Inventors: Dieter Guldenfels, Marco Lucchi
  • Patent number: 9109657
    Abstract: A link chain has alternating inner and outer chain links connected by a chain articulation, having a direction of motion, wherein each inner chain link has at least one inner plate, and each outer chain link has at least two outer plates and two chain link pins connecting these plates, each pin being rotationally fixed in a pin opening of the associated outer plate and extending through a link opening of the associated inner chain link to form a chain articulation. The inner and/or outer chain links have plate backs contactable with a tensioning rail or guide rail. A forward region of the plate backs in the direction of motion of a part of the inner and/or outer plates extends at an angle to a plane projected between the center lines of the pin openings or link openings. The vertex of the angle points away from the direction of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: IWIS MOTORSYSTEME GMBH & CO., KG
    Inventors: Martin Bodensteiner, Renzo Perissinotto
  • Patent number: 9097332
    Abstract: A split sprocket for belts or chains. The split sprocket comprises two sections that slide together along parallel slide tracks that are perpendicular to two opposite walls of the sprocket's bore. The slide track includes male T-shaped, V-shaped, or jigsaw-puzzle-shaped beams on one of the sections that slide into mating female slots in the other section. The mated slide tracks prevent the sections from separating in all directions except the separation direction along the slide tracks. A fastener through one of the sections into the other prevents the assembled sprocket sections from sliding apart along the slide tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Xiaozhong Li, Adam E. Bannerman
  • Patent number: 9096412
    Abstract: A fire service elevator has an elevator cage, which includes a cage roof, wherein the cage roof has a seal in which at least one drain is arranged. The drain is so arranged in the seal that extinguishing water collecting on the cage roof in the case of a fire flows away from the cage roof substantially only via the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Hanspeter Bloch, Lukas Zeder
  • Patent number: 9096242
    Abstract: A rail gauge face applicator is provided. The gauge face applicator comprises a resilient pad comprising one or more than one channel extending from one or more than one inlet to one or more than one outlet. The one or more than one channel is operable from a closed position when the pressure within the channel is low to an open position when the pressure within the channel is raised. Thus, when the pressure of the friction modifying material is raised the one or more than one channel opens and material can be delivered from the one or more than one outlet. The applicator further comprises a rail engagement element which allows the gauge face applicator to be positioned appropriately to engage a rail. The applicator may be less prone to clogging and may be more efficient at delivering friction modifying material efficiently than prior art applicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: L.B. Foster Rail Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ward Powell, Charles H. Schnorr, III, Charles Petrie, Matthew Redfield
  • Patent number: 9090434
    Abstract: A floor for an elevator cage has a base plate, a top plate and a support structure arranged therebetween. The support structure comprises a grating arrangement including a plurality of intersecting profile members standing on edge. For local reinforcement, the support structure additionally includes a second grating arrangement superimposed on the first arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Thomas Wüest, René Strebel, Urs Schaffhauser, Beat Brügger, Christoph Schuler, Lukas Zeder
  • Patent number: 9091326
    Abstract: An air bleeding valve includes an annular valve element for removing air from oil contained in a hydraulic circuit of a hydraulic tensioner and for suppressing the removal of the oil. An air bleeding valve body is fitted in an air bleeding valve accommodating hole formed in the hydraulic tensioner. A circumferential groove having a rectangular cross section is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the air bleeding valve body. The annular valve element having a rectangular cross section is fitted in the circumferential groove so as to be movable in an axial direction parallel to the axis of the annular valve element, and displaceable in a radial direction toward and away from the axis of the annular valve element. Such air bleeding valve removes air in a hydraulic circuit while suppressing the removal of oil in the hydraulic circuit during starting operation of an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Tawarada, Yoshiaki Tsukada, Osamu Emizu
  • Patent number: 9090428
    Abstract: A coil assembly comprising a coil of a strand-based material retained in a figure-8 configuration, and having an inner layer and an outer layer, where the inner layer of the coil defines a core region of the coil, and where the coil is configured to unwind loop by loop beginning from the inner layer and moving towards the outer layer as the strand-based material is drawn through a payout hole. The coil assembly also comprises a permeable hub configured to reduce payout entanglement of the strand-based material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Samuel Batchelder, William J. Swanson, Kevin C. Johnson, Dominic F. Mannella, Ronald G. Schloesser
  • Patent number: 9090432
    Abstract: A lift device includes a lifting mast having a top, and a drive assembly for moving the lifting mast in lifting and lowering directions. A head is positioned above and over the top of the lifting mast, and is mounted to the lifting mast for displacement between a neutral position and a safe position with respect to the lifting mast in response to the head contact encountering an object above the top of the lifting mast and the head. The drive assembly is enabled for moving of the lifting mast in the lifting and lowering directions in the neutral position of the head, the drive assembly is enabled for moving the lifting mast in the lowering direction in the safe position of the head, and the drive assembly is disabled for moving the lifting mast in the lifting direction in the safe position of the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: SERVERLIFT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Raymond S. Zuckerman