Patents Examined by Michael Mansen
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Patent number: 8956254Abstract: A bicycle sprocket assembly has a first sprocket with a plurality of first radially protruding portions, a second sprocket with a plurality of second radially protruding portions and a sprocket support member. The second sprocket has more teeth than the first sprocket. The sprocket support member includes a plurality of sprocket mounting portions extending radially outwardly from a freewheel engaging portion. Each of the sprocket mounting portions has first and second sprocket mounting openings for fixing the first and second sprockets, respectively. The first sprocket mounting opening is circumferentially offset from the second sprocket mounting opening with respect to a center rotational axis of the sprocket assembly. The radially innermost edge of the second radially protruding portion is spaced by a radial distance that is smaller than a radial distance of the radially outermost edge of the first sprocket mounting openings with respect to the center rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2011Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventors: Koji Tokuyama, Keisuke Hyogo
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Patent number: 8939264Abstract: Connection system, with self-alignment, for elevator guides, in which the front surfaces thereof maintain a perfect 90° angle with respect to the longitudinal axis (e) of each guide (1) and there is a connection plate (2) that forms through-holes (241) that are offset and in correspondence with holes (141) in the wings (14), such that, when connection means (3) are mounted therein, a front self-alignment pressure is created between the two guides (1).Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2009Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: S.A. de Vera (Savera)Inventor: Jesus Sanz Gamboa
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Patent number: 8939856Abstract: Deaeration of the high pressure oil chamber of a hydraulic tensioner takes place though a helical orifice formed by opposed flanks of the threads of a threaded hole in the tensioner housing and the threads of a screw inserted into the hole. The opposed flanks are maintained in spaced relationship by a force exerted by a spring washer disposed between the head of the screw and a surface of the tensioner housing surrounding the opening of the threaded hole. The flank of the thread of the hole that forms part of the boundary of the helical orifice can have a concave curvature in order to increase the aperture of the air flow path. A groove in the surface surrounding the opening of the threaded hole prevents the washer from sealing off the flow of air. This groove is disposed with its exit end at a level above its entry end.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2012Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.Inventors: Yuji Kurematsu, Osamu Yoshida, Munehiro Maeda, Akira Ishii
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Patent number: 8936529Abstract: A transmission ratio step of a stepped transmission which can couple at least two parallel transmission shafts. Multiple transmission ratios can be implemented with the ratio steps. A planetary gear set, comprising three components, is located coaxial with a first shaft. A first component is connected to and driven by an input supplied along the first axis, and a second component meshes with at least one spur gear, each of which is placed on a further axis that is parallel to the first axis. A first transmission ratio can be engaged by fixing a third component of the planetary gear set, and a second transmission ratio can be implemented by connecting either the third or the second transmission component to the drive supplied along the first axis. At least one the transmission ratio steps is utilized in a stepped transmission of a motor vehicle transmission.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2013Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Johannes Kaltenbach, Eckhardt Luebke
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Patent number: 8932166Abstract: An object of the present invention is to achieve improvements in the rotational accuracy of the input shaft and the durability of the bearings, and suppression of rotational noise, by improving the support structure of the input shaft of the speed reduction unit. Provided is a drive device for an electric vehicle, including: an electric motor; a speed reduction unit including an input shaft driven by output of the electric motor; and a hub unit rotationally driven by an output member of the speed reduction unit, wherein the input shaft of the speed reduction unit is supported by bearings provided at two locations in an axial direction, the drive device for an electric vehicle being configured such that the bearings at the two locations are attached together to the output member.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2011Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: NTN CorporationInventors: Minoru Suzuki, Tomoaki Makino
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Patent number: 8932175Abstract: A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, at least four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and a brake actuatable in combinations of three to establish a plurality of forward gear ratios and at least one reverse gear ratio.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2013Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLCInventors: Andrew W. Phillips, Clinton E. Carey, James M. Hart, Scott H. Wittkopp
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Patent number: 8925689Abstract: An elevator system which utilizes a plurality of independently moving cabs and counterweights in each elevator shaft. Each cab is connected to one or more spatially separated counterweights at different counterweight connection points. The connection points are horizontally shifted on different cabs in order to prevent interference between cabs, cables, pulleys and counterweights. The top cab may have one counterweight cable and may be connected to one or more counterweights by connection points on the roof of the cab. The cabs are mounted on two opposing vertical guide rails, and each guide rail is mounted at the center of one side of the elevator shaft. The system includes a motor attached to each of the cabs by one or more lift cables to facilitate the independent movement of all cabs. Existing buildings can also be retrofit for compatibility with the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2013Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Smart Lifts, LLCInventor: Justin Jacobs
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Patent number: 8915463Abstract: A paper dispenser has a dispensing opening for paper and also a first roll, which is located in a dispensing position, and a guide path, which leads into the dispensing position and contains a storage position for a reserve roll. The dispensing opening is of a size which, once the first roll has been used up, allows manual access to the paper of the reserve roll, while the reserve roll is still in the storage position.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2009Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Inventor: Hans Georg Hagleitner
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Patent number: 8915330Abstract: A method and system for lubricating a positive displacement machine operating as an expander of a compressed gas, comprising introducing into an expansion chamber of the machine a lubricant whose pour point temperature is greater than the operating temperature of the machine in the expansion chamber as determined by the expanding gas, which thus causes the lubricant to freeze-adhere to the internal surfaces of the expansion chamber, to become fluid under increased pressure at a point of contact of the working surfaces of the expander and then to refreeze when the surfaces separate. Considerable reduction in the quantity of lubricant is realized with the attendant advantage that dis-entrainment of lubricant from the gas exhausted from the machine is largely avoided.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2009Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: Energetix PNU Power LimitedInventors: Iain Henshaw, James Derby, Ian Glease
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Patent number: 8905882Abstract: A power transmission system of a hybrid electric vehicle may include a first shaft and a second shaft. A first planetary gear set includes a first rotation element connected to a first motor/generator, a second rotation element operated as an output element, and a third rotation element connected to the first shaft. A second planetary gear set includes a fourth rotation element connected to the third rotation element and a second motor/generator, a fifth rotation element connected to the second rotation element and an output gear, and a sixth rotation element connected to a transmission housing. A direct-coupling device connects two rotation elements among the fourth, fifth, and sixth rotation elements of the second planetary gear set. Transfer gears form the externally-meshing gears, and friction elements connect a selected rotation element to a selected transfer gear or to the transmission housing.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2013Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Chang Wook Lee, Jongsool Park
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Patent number: 8894523Abstract: A chainwheel has a chainwheel body, a first combining hole set and a second combining hole set. The chainwheel body has a center point. The first combining hole set has multiple first combining holes that are formed through the chainwheel body. The first distances between the first combining holes and the center point are equal. The second combining hole set has multiple second combining holes that are formed through the chainwheel body. The second distances between the second combining holes and the center point are equal. The second distance is longer than the first distance. Therefore, the chainwheel can be combined with crank modules of different sizes by the first combining holes and the second combining holes.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2013Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Inventor: Chien-Yu Su
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Patent number: 8888634Abstract: A toothed plate-link chain having a plurality of link plates that form chain links in the transverse direction of the chain. The link plates of laterally adjacent chain links partially overlap, and the chain links are hingedly connected to each other by hinge pins that extend through receiving openings in overlap regions of the link plates. At least some of the link plates have plate teeth, and some of the link plates have a modified form to reduce the effect of impact impulses of the link plates on the tooth flanks of a toothed wheel about which the chain passes. As a result, the magnitude of the meshing impulses and the times during which they act on the toothed wheel are modified to thereby reduce structure-borne noise.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2008Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Marcus Junig, Anton Simonov, Olga Ispolatova, Michael Pichura
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Patent number: 8888630Abstract: When an engaging pawl 23b is fitted into a recessed portion 34b of a first sprocket 34, which is linked by a chain 33 to a second sprocket 32 that drives an oil pump 3 disposed at a radial detached from a torque converter 2, frictional resistance between a side face 34a of the first sprocket 34 and an end face 23c of the engaging pawl 23b is reduced by tapering the side face 34a of the first sprocket 34.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2008Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignees: JATCO Ltd, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kenichi Makita
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Patent number: 8881872Abstract: In a method in the use of a construction-time elevator, at least two lifts are performed. In each of the lifts, the supporting platform is lifted higher in the elevator hoistway with the hoisting device supported by the support structure so as to extend the operating range of the elevator car to reach higher in the elevator hoistway. A second support structure and a second hoisting device, which are above the support structure, are used between the lifts of the supporting platform, for moving the working platform in the elevator hoistway under construction between the second support structure and the support structure, and for lifting the support structure upwards in the elevator hoistway.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2010Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Kone CorporationInventors: Mark Peacock, Jussi Perälä, Matti Eskelinen, Zhizhong Yan
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Patent number: 8875845Abstract: A lift car securing arrangement includes a restraining arrangement having a restraint that is supported by the lift car arranged such that it can be placed into and removed from restraining interaction with an extended stationary interaction element arranged to extend along the vertical pathway of the lift car, and which restraint when placed into restraining interaction locks the lift car to the stationary interaction element, a power-interruption device that can be placed into and removed from a power-interrupting position whereby the power to a driving motor unit that is part of the lift is interrupted when the power-interruption device is placed arranged in its power-interrupting position, in which the power-interruption device is so arranged at the restraining arrangement that the said power-interruption device is located in its power-interrupting position when the restraint has been set into restraining interaction with the extended stationary interaction element.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2006Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Alimak ABInventor: Gunnar Nygren
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Patent number: 8870707Abstract: A transmission having basic and reversing transmissions. The basic transmission has planetary gearsets, shafts and shift elements. A sun of gearset (P1) couples the drive shaft, which can couple shaft (6) and the suns of gearsets (P2, P3), and shaft (5) and the carrier and ring of gearsets (P2, P3) respectively. Carrier of gearset (P1) couples shaft (4), which couples the ring of gearset (P2). The ring of gearset (P1) couples shaft (3). Shafts (3, 4, 5) can couple the housing. The output shaft couples the carrier of gearset (P3). The reversing transmission has a minus planetary gearset with a sun which couples and is driven by the basic transmission output, and a carrier that can couple the housing via a locking element, and a ring that couples the reversing transmission output which can couple, via another locking element, the basic transmission output.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2013Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Markus Maurer, Torsten Buechner, Dominik Steinhauser
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Patent number: 8869944Abstract: A lift truck includes a secondary rechargeable energy storage device on a vertically movable platform that is separate from a primary rechargeable energy storage device on the lift truck's main tractor unit. Wires or hoses for transfer of power or controls between the main tractor unit and the platform are reduced or eliminated. The quantity of energy stored in the secondary rechargeable energy storage device is sufficient to power platform electrical loads for a predetermined amount of time until the platform is lowered. When the platform is lowered, the secondary rechargeable energy storage device is recharged by the primary energy storage device.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2011Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: The Raymond CorporationInventors: Paul P. McCabe, Daniel G. Radler
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Patent number: 8869943Abstract: A vehicle lift comprises a lifting mechanism configured to lift a vehicle for servicing, and at least one horizontal platform attached to a top of the lifting mechanism to engage with an underside of the vehicle. Adjustable slide members are movably attached to opposite ends of the horizontal platform and each are configured to move linearly in a horizontal path to align with the lifting points on the vehicle. Each slide member is both pivotally and slidingly engaged with the horizontal platform, and each slide member has a normally horizontal position. When the slide member is horizontal, the slide member is automatically constrained or locked to prevent linear movement of the slide member. When one end of the slide member is lifted to an angular position, the constraint is automatically disengaged and a linear slide bearing is engaged. When the slide member is in the angular position, the slide member can be easily adjusted via the bearings to match with a pick up point on an underside of a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2008Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Rotary Lift/A Dover Industries CompanyInventors: Jason E. Matthews, John G. Atkinson
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Patent number: 8870704Abstract: A transmission comprising a transmission (7) and a reduction stage. Sun of set (P1) is connected to the input (1), which can be releasably connected, via clutch (A), to shaft (6) connected to sun of set (P2) and sun of set (P3), and, via clutch (B), is connectable to shaft (5) connected to carrier of set (P2) and ring of set (P3). Shaft (5) is coupled to housing (G) via brake (F). Carrier of set (P1) is connected to shaft (4) connected with ring of set (P2) and is couplable, via brake (E), to housing (G). Ring of set (P1) is connected to shaft (3) which is couplable, via brake (D), to housing (G). Output (2) is connected to carrier of set (P3). Carrier of set (P4) is connected to output (2), ring of set (P4) is couplable, via brake (H), to housing (G), and sun of set (P4) is connected to the shaft (6).Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2013Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AGInventors: Markus Maurer, Torsten Buechner, Dominik Steinhauser
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Patent number: 8863966Abstract: An improved knuckle boom crane apparatus provides a supportive base with an attached frame including a cabin with an interior. A prime mover is supported upon the frame. A main boom is pivotally attached to the frame at a first boom end portion, the main boom having a second end portion. A jib boom is provided having first and second end portions, the jib boom first end portion being pivotally attached to the main boom second end portion, the jib boom second end portion being free. A main block is attached to the main boom, depending from the main boom second end portion. An auxiliary block is attached to the jib boom, depending from the jib boom second end portion. A main block parking area is provided next to the connection of main boom and jib boom that enables the main block to be parked when using the auxiliary block.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2012Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Dynaking Crane, LLCInventor: Mark Bobeck