Patents Examined by Michael R. Mansen
  • Patent number: 11703183
    Abstract: A method for lubricating a sealed bearing providing a first ring and a second ring capable of rotating concentrically relative to one another, and seals delimiting together with the first and second rings a sealed chamber. The method includes a removing a first predetermined quantity of lubricant from the sealed chamber until the pressure in the sealed chamber reaches a first pressure value, and then injecting a second predetermined quantity of lubricant in the sealed chamber until the pressure in the sealed chamber reaches a second pressure value, the first pressure value and the second pressure value being determined so that the pressure inside the sealed chamber remains within a predetermined interval, the boundaries of the interval being determined according to characteristics of the seals so that the sealed chamber remains waterproof to the lubricant when lubricant is removed from or injected in the sealed chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Eric Choquet, Eric Robba
  • Patent number: 11703106
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an assembly, method of assembling, and kit for assembling an assembled flexible helical belt that is mounted within a mounting space defined by a continuous mechanical constraint of a device. Embodiments of the flexible helical belt include a flexible helical belt that has a plurality of belt teeth, where some of the belt teeth are each pierced by a through hole which extends through the respective belt tooth and where the flexible helical belt is of sufficient length such that, when the flexible helical belt is mounted within the intended mounting space, the flexible helical belt overlaps itself by at least one rotation such that each through hole is transversely aligned with at least one other through hole, enabling a transverse compression device to be fitted through the through holes, creating a transverse compressive force on the flexible helical belt to form a single continuous drive belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: GreCal, LLC.
    Inventor: Gregory A. Godsey
  • Patent number: 11697473
    Abstract: A bicycle rear derailleur comprises a base member, a linkage structure, a movable member, a first pulley assembly, and a second pulley assembly. The first pulley assembly includes a first pulley support and a first toothed pulley. The first pulley support is pivotally coupled to the movable member about a first pivot axis. The first toothed pulley is rotatably coupled to the first pulley support about a first pulley axis spaced apart from the first pivot axis. The second pulley assembly includes a second pulley support, a second toothed pulley, and a third toothed pulley. The second pulley support is pivotally coupled to the movable member about a second pivot axis. The second toothed pulley is rotatably coupled to the second pulley support about a second pulley axis. The third toothed pulley is rotatably coupled to the second pulley support about a third pulley axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventor: Nobukatsu Hara
  • Patent number: 11697553
    Abstract: A high rise structure multi-level delivery system comprises a vertical conveyor belt system having a plurality of trays configured to carry a specific delivery parcel to a specific floor of a high rise structure. The conveyor is mounted such that a bottom of the conveyor resides in a ground floor room of the high rise structure and a top resides in a roof room on a roof of the high rise structure. The conveyor is capable of being accessed via an interior room located at each level of the high rise structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Inventor: Stanislav Markovich
  • Patent number: 11691855
    Abstract: A crane is provided. A slewing base camera detects a load W that is suspended by a wire rope, the current coordinate location of the load is calculated from the location of the detected load, the current coordinate location of a tip end of a boom is calculated from the position of a crane, a target velocity signal that was inputted from a manipulation tool is converted into a target coordinate location of the load, a wire rope direction vector is calculated from the current coordinate location of the load and the target coordinate location of the load, a target location of the tip end of the boom for the target coordinate location of the load is calculated from a wire rope reel-out amount and the wire rope direction vector, and an actuator operation signal is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: TADANO LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshimasa Minami
  • Patent number: 11679842
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a fairlead with an illumination module. In one example, a fairlead includes an illumination module seated against a recessed mounting surface. The illumination module is housed within a body of the fairlead and configured to illuminate a main opening of the fairlead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Forcome Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Ronald L. Elliott
  • Patent number: 11679950
    Abstract: A roll accommodation unit includes: a roll support shaft; a pair of side walls; and a pair of roll bearings that are attached to the pair of side walls, recessed portions are formed at upper ends of the pair of side walls, the pair of rolling bearings are attached to the side walls at positions corresponding to bottoms of the recessed portions such that the rolling bearings project upward beyond inclined surfaces of the recessed portions, the roll support shaft includes a support shaft main body, and a pair of small-diameter portions that are provided at both ends of the support shaft main body, and the roll support shaft is supported with the small-diameter portions abutting on outer circumferential surfaces of the pairs of rolling bearings in a state in which the support shaft main body is located at an interval from the recessed portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Horizon International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kanta Kambara, Shigenobu Fukuda, Masaru Ochi
  • Patent number: 11679963
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a portable vehicle hardtop removal apparatus for improved vehicle hardtop removal and replacement features in order to efficiently remove and replace hardtops of many types of vehicles, in a safe and convenient manner, for people's enjoyment. The portable vehicle hardtop removal apparatus comprises a upstanding support member removably connected to an upstanding swivel member that is fixed to the horizontal support arm. A lift boom extends from the upstanding support member, and a hoist line extends along the upstanding support member and the lift boom. An elongated spreader tube is connected to a distal end of the hoist line, and a plurality of straps removably connect the elongated spreader tube to a vehicle hardtop for its removal. The lift boom is positionable from a lifting position to a collapsed or folded transport position for efficient transportation of the portable vehicle hardtop removal apparatus to any destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventor: Michael B Moutz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11674413
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan and a braking system. The braking system is configured to selectively engage the fan during ground windmilling to apply a first level of braking to slow rotation of the fan. Further, when the rotation of the fan sufficiently slows, the braking system is further configured to apply a second level of braking more restrictive than the first level of braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frederick M. Schwarz, William G. Sheridan
  • Patent number: 11674639
    Abstract: A device for monitoring a lubrication of a tool may include: a housing including: a lubricator connector configured to connect the housing to a lubricator and including a lubricant inlet opening, a chamber configured to receive a lubricant from the lubricator through the lubricant inlet opening, a tool connector configured to connect the housing to a lubricant fitting of a tool and including a lubricator outlet opening through which the lubricant leaves the chamber; and a pressure transducer configured to measure a lubricant pressure in the chamber of the housing and generate an output pressure signal related thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: GREAZLY LUBRICATION MONITORING LTD
    Inventors: Aviv Keinan, Amir Schwartz
  • Patent number: 11673775
    Abstract: A vehicle crane comprising a jib that is raised and lowered by at least one main tensile connector, and a counter jib, where the main tensile connector extends between a first connecting point in the region of a jib head and a second connecting point in the region of a counter jib head. To reduce loading on the jib, in particular during raising and lowering and increase its bearing load overall, the jib has a third connecting point between the first connecting point and its foot opposite the head, and a secondary tensile connector extends between the third connecting point and a fourth connecting point in the region of the head of the counter jib, or the secondary tensile connector extends between the third connecting point via a seventh connecting point on the main tensile connector and a fourth connecting point in the region of the main jib foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Tadano Demag GmbH
    Inventor: Walter Zimmer
  • Patent number: 11674568
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a tensioning arm. In one example, the tensioning arm comprises a plurality of carbon fibers with electrically conductive fibers arranged therein configured to supply current to a pair of bushings arranged distally to one another to heat lubricant arranged proximally thereto in response to a temperature of the tensioning arm being less than or equal to a threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Baranowski, Maik Broda, Kevin John Maile, Brian David Pearce
  • Patent number: 11674561
    Abstract: A frictional power transmission belt is provided, containing an adhesion rubber layer in contact with at least a portion of a tension member extending in a longitudinal direction of the belt, in which the adhesion rubber layer is formed of a first vulcanized rubber composition containing a rubber component and a filler, the filler contains substantially no silica and contains 30 parts by mass or more of carbon black based on 100 parts by mass of the rubber component, and the tension member has, on a surface thereof, an overcoat layer formed of a second vulcanized rubber composition containing a rubber component and silica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsuboshi Belting Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisato Ishiguro, Takuya Tomoda
  • Patent number: 11673776
    Abstract: A tower crane includes a tower on which is pivotally mounted a boom displaceable between a lowered position and a raised position. The crane is configurable between a service configuration in which the boom is controlled in rotation and a weather vane configuration in which the boom is in the raised position and is released in rotation on the tower to allow orientation in the direction of the wind. A wind load system is mounted on the boom and is adjustable between a retracted shape in the service configuration providing a reduced surface exposed to the wind, and a deployed shape in the weather vane configuration providing an extended surface exposed to the wind. The wind load system is configured to move from the retracted shape to the deployed shape under the effect of its own weight alone (i.e., under gravity) when the boom is raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: MANITOWOC CRANE GROUP FRANCE
    Inventors: Pierre-Jean Chapuis, Grégory Alamome, Lotfi Bouskine, Vincent Veillerot, Jérémy Blasiak
  • Patent number: 11667497
    Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator includes an elevator car and a drive mechanism connected with the elevator car. The drive mechanism moves with the elevator car in a vertical direction. The drive mechanism includes drive members that are configured to engage surfaces associated with walls near opposite sides of the elevator car, climb along the surfaces to selectively cause movement of the elevator car, and selectively prevent movement of the elevator car when the drive members remain in a selected position relative to the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Kiron Bhaskar
  • Patent number: 11668371
    Abstract: A V-ribbed belt has a plurality of V-rib portions extending along a longitudinal direction of the belt and in parallel with one another. The V-ribbed belt includes a compression rubber layer including a frictional power transmission face at least a part of which is configured to come in contact with a V-rib groove portion of pulleys. The frictional power transmission face of the compression rubber layer is formed from a vulcanizate of a rubber composition containing a rubber component and a noise suppression improver. A V-rib angle of the V-rib portions is larger than a V-rib groove angle of the pulleys by 5° to 9°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsuboshi Belting Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasutsugu Kunihiro, Hiroki Imai, Yuji Maruyama, Arata Hasegawa, Yorifumi Hineno
  • Patent number: 11668373
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a tensioner lever that allows for reduction of the number of components and the weight, while being able to prevent vibration and noise during the running of the chain. The tensioner lever according to the present invention is configured such that a lever body rotatably supported on an attachment surface is urged to rotate toward the chain by the resilient force of a coil spring. The coil spring includes a pressing arm extending from one end of a helical part and contacting the lever body, and a support arm extending from another end of the helical part and supported by the attachment surface. The lever body includes an engagement portion configured to allow the support arm of the coil spring to be hooked thereon by resilient deformation, and to removably engage therewith by rebound resilience of the coil spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventor: Kenji Muratsubaki
  • Patent number: 11667349
    Abstract: A bicycle rear derailleur includes a seat assembly, a movable component, a linkage assembly, and a chain guide. The seat assembly includes a first seat body, a second seat body, and a shaft. The shaft is disposed through the first seat body and the second seat body and configured to be mounted on the bicycle frame, and the second seat body is configured to connect the first seat body with the bicycle frame. The linkage assembly connects the movable component with the first seat body. The chain guide is pivotably disposed on the movable component. The first seat body is movable towards or away from the second seat body along a central line of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: TEKTRO TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Szu-Fang Tsai, Jr., Bo-Yi Liao
  • Patent number: 11661141
    Abstract: A derailleur comprises a base member, a movable member, a linkage structure, a pulley assembly, and a rotational force control structure configured to control rotational force of the pulley assembly relative to the movable member. The pulley assembly is pivotally movable relative to the movable member about a pivot axis in first and second directions. The pulley assembly is configured to move in the first direction upon moving from a second pivotal position toward a first pivotal position. The rotational force control structure includes a cam member having a first cam surface, an abutment member configured to abut the first cam surface, and a biasing member configured to bias the abutment member. The abutment member is configured to abut the first cam surface by the biasing member to apply first additional force to the pulley assembly in the first direction while the pulley assembly is in the first pivotal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Naoki Fujimoto, Tsuyoshi Fukumori
  • Patent number: 11661314
    Abstract: A cable brake includes a pair of brake shoes having braking surfaces facing one another and between which a brake cable is guided. A first brake shoe is movable between a braking position, pressing the cable against the braking surface of the other brake shoe, and a release position, releasing the cable between the brake shoes. A releasable retaining device retains the first brake shoe in the release position, and/or a reset device switches the first brake shoe from the braking position to the release position. Two rotatably mounted pivot arms connected to the first brake shoe are arranged in a parallelogram with one side oriented in parallel with the cable guidance direction. A switchable electromagnet of the retaining device holds the first brake shoe in the release position. The brake shoes, pivot arms, retaining device and reset device are arranged in a housing connected to an elevator car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventor: Josef Husmann