Patents Examined by Richards Ridley
  • Patent number: 7246537
    Abstract: A leadscrew assembly includes a leadscrew having a leadscrew thread wire helically wound about a leadscrew axis in a plurality of cylindrical leadscrew-thread turns and having a leadscrew-thread pitch. A leadscrew wire nut assembly includes a nut-assembly wire helically wound about the leadscrew axis in a plurality of cylindrical nut-assembly turns and having a nut-assembly-thread pitch. The nut-assembly-thread pitch is substantially the same as the leadscrew-thread pitch, the nut-assembly turns overlie and mesh with the leadscrew-thread turns, and the nut-assembly wire has a permanent deformation therein. A wire-nut-assembly housing overlies and is bonded to at least some of the nut-assembly turns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Gabor Devenyi
  • Patent number: 7244205
    Abstract: A key sprocket drive system for a conveyor belt having a drive drum having an outer surface. The outer surface of the drive drum is adapted to engage a securement means. A contoured collar has an inner surface and an outer surface. The contoured collar is adapted to receive the securement means and adapted to engage the outer surface of the drive drum at predetermined positions therefore providing defined gaps between the inner surface of the contoured collar and the outer surface of the drive drum. The key sprocket drive system further comprises a sprocket member having a generally annular configuration with externally facing teeth-like protrusions at spaced intervals. The sprocket member is adapted to receive the securement means whereby the securement means engage the sprocket member and the contoured collar to secure the sprocket member and the contoured collar to the drive drum. The teeth-like protrusions engage the conveyor belt so as to drive the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Van der Graaf, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander D. Kanaris
  • Patent number: 7244202
    Abstract: A step motor positioning structure for a belt-type continuously variable transmission having a speed-change control valve for controlling a primary pressure to be supplied to a primary pulley, a servo link, and a step motor for driving, by way of the servo link, the speed-change control valve in response to a speed-change command signal is provided. The step motor positioning structure includes a motor bracket formed integral with the step motor and having an elongated hole and a circular hole, a bracket support supporting thereon the motor bracket, a first positioning member protruding outward from the bracket support and inserted in the elongated hole, and a second positioning member protruding outward from the motor support and inserted in the circular hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventors: Nobufumi Yamane, Hiroyuki Yada
  • Patent number: 7241241
    Abstract: A direction setting device has a frame and a rotatably mounted shaft which supports a first belt pulley whose rotational position defines a direction to be set. A rotary motor on the frame supports a second belt pulley, and an endless belt extends around the first and second pulleys. A deflecting device deflects a second part of the belt while the motor is stationary at a set position of rotation, so as to change the effective length of the second part of the belt. A resilient tensioning device changes the length of the a first part of the belt to compensate for the change in length of the second part of the belt. This enables the first pulley to be turned through an angle that is dependent on the deflection of the second part of the belt by the deflecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Digatech AB
    Inventor: Hans Hedström
  • Patent number: 7234370
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal apparatus of a vehicle is attached with a pedal plate at one end of one side and includes, at another end of the other side a pedal link member having an insertion recess. A weight member is detachable from and attachable to the insertion recess of the pedal link member such that a vibration of the accelerator pedal can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Sang Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 7234374
    Abstract: An eccentric shaft for an internal combustion engine, especially for a rotary combustion engine, the working unit of which comprises essentially a peripheral housing, side housing plates, and a triangular piston mounted on an eccentric of an eccentric shaft, the tips of the piston moving along an epitrochoidal orbit inside the peripheral housing to form three separate working spaces, where the rotary combustion engine can have several working units. The eccentric shaft consists of several parts, which have radial teeth at their ends, by means of which these shaft parts can be connected positively to each other by the use of a tie rod. In rotary piston engines with more than one working unit, as many inner shaft parts of identical design as there are working units can be used in modular fashion to construct the eccentric shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Wankel Super Tec GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Baier, Manfred Mäthner, Dankwart Eiermann, Rudolf Klotz, Michael Schirmer
  • Patent number: 7234371
    Abstract: A locking, removable handle assembly for a vise is provided. The vise has a threaded rod, a fixed jaw, and a movable jaw as is known in the art. The handle assembly includes a base assembly, an elongated handle member, and a lock assembly. The base assembly is structured to be fixed to the threaded rod. The elongated handle member is structured to be coupled to the base assembly. The lock assembly is structured to selectively couple the handle member to the base assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Inventor: Eugene A. Ritz
  • Patent number: 7234368
    Abstract: A ball screw device includes a ball nut having an inner thread formed by a number of helical groove portions, a screw shaft having an outer thread formed by a number of helical groove portions, for threading with the inner thread of the ball nut, and a number of rolling members engaged in the helical groove portions of the ball nut and the screw shaft, for facilitating a movement of the ball nut relative to the screw shaft. One or more guide members are engaged in the helical groove portions of the screw shaft, and each has an oil retaining member for suitably absorbing oil and for continuously applying the oil onto the screw shaft. A tube may couple two of the helical groove portions of the ball nut together, to form an endless ball rolling passage and to receive the rolling members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Hiwin Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Chung Hsueh Lin, Yan Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 7231841
    Abstract: An operating mechanism for a reciprocating component includes a moving member having a mounting section for attaching the reciprocating component, and a base with a guide. The guide has a backward path guide section and a forward path guide section that faces the backward path guide section. The moving member accumulates a backward travel force while being guided by the backward path guide section and moved to a mid point in the backward operation, and fully moves back by releasing the accumulated travel force from the mid point. The moving member accumulates a forward travel force while being guided by the forward path guide section and moved to a mid point from the fully moved back position in the forward operation, and fully moves forward by releasing the accumulated travel force from the mid point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Yasushi Ueki
  • Patent number: 7228755
    Abstract: A vehicular steering column assembly (16) comprises a support bracket (26) which is joined to an outer, non-rotating sleeve (22). A release capsule (30) is releasably joined to a mounting surface (28) of the support bracket (26) via a plurality of spherical bodies (56) whose protruding crowns (52) are seated in corresponding longitudinally-extending furrows (54) in the release capsule (30). Upon the application of sufficient force to the steering column (16), such as during a collision, the support bracket (26) is urged out of engagement with the release capsule (30) with the respective furrows (54) sliding over the crowns (52). The sliding engagement between the crowns (52) and the furrows (54) can be adjusted to establish a highly predictable and consistent release force and which is capable of increasing the frequency value for the steering column (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ray G. Armstrong, Richard K. Riefe, Ravindra Jwalapathy
  • Patent number: 7228760
    Abstract: The pedal comprises a pedal body having hooks, and a cartridge containing a pedal axle and which is received in a transverse recess of the pedal. This recess is provided with a tapping coacting with a screw, thread on the cartridge to permit the continuous adjustment of the transverse position of this latter, and holding elements of the cartridge in a transverse position. The holding elements comprise a ring for blocking in rotation the cartridge adapted to be connected to the cartridge by positive locking members provided on one end of the latter and positive locking members provided on the ring. Gripping elements are provided to grip the ring against the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Look Cycle International
    Inventor: Olivier Reboullet
  • Patent number: 7225697
    Abstract: A power transmission arrangement includes a shaft, a first gear mounted on the shaft, a plate supported by the shaft and rotatable between a first position and a second position, a second gear supported by the plate and engaged with the first gear, and a third gear supported by the plate and movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position with the second gear when the plate is rotated between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Wesley R. Schalk, Allan G. Olson
  • Patent number: 7225693
    Abstract: A slide drive device for a press changes a slide stroke without a changing either a top or bottom dead center position of a slide. The slide drive device allows stroke adjustment without a loss of left-right balance in the slide drive device. An adjusting mechanism is driven by an eccentric part and a crank shaft. The adjusting mechanism is adaptable to fix either the top or bottom dead center position. A linear guide mechanism, is driven by the adjusting mechanism, and transfers adjustments in slope angle into changes in stroke relative to either the top or bottom dead center position without requiring a change in the dead center position. Alternate embodiments allow positioning and adjustment for convenience and economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Aida Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shozo Imanishi
  • Patent number: 7225698
    Abstract: The invention relates to a modular transmission that can be combined with a drive module having an output shaft. The modular transmission comprises at least one worm-gear module that can be coupled directly to the drive module output shaft by an insertable clutch and an intermediate flange. The worm shaft of the worm-gear module has clutch toothing complementary to a clutch toothing of the insertable clutch. The modular transmission may also include one or more spur-gear modules interposed between the drive module and worm-gear module. Each spur-gear module is provided with an output-side spur wheel with clutch toothing compatible with the clutch toothing of the worm shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Getriebebau NORD GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Bernhard Bouché
  • Patent number: 7223190
    Abstract: In a hydraulic chain tensioner for an engine timing drive, an annular groove is formed on an outer circumferential surface of a plunger, and a friction ring is disposed in the groove. The friction ring is composed of an external resin ring and an internal steel ring incorporated into the inside of the resin ring. The friction ring is fitted into the annular groove of the plunger with a predetermined axial clearance. It allows the tensioner to operate with good responsiveness during normal engine operation, but resists excessive slack in the chain, and prevents backlash and fluttering, during engine start-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventor: Osamu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7223020
    Abstract: A bearing assembly including a bearing having an outer bearing ring and an inner bearing ring. The outer bearing ring is axially received in a bearing-receiving recess that includes a substantially cylindrical inner wall. An element that is radially flexible is located between at least one of the outer bearing ring and the inner wall of the recess, and the inner bearing ring and a rotatable member that is rotatably carried in the bearing assembly. The flexible element includes at least one annular element that is undulated in the radial direction, or is provided with projections. Flexible elements can also be disposed against a side surface of the bearing ring for damping axial vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventors: Christian Bauer, André Linnenbrügger, Hans-Walter Wodtke
  • Patent number: 7222550
    Abstract: An adjusting device has a carriage, at least one guide element, on which the carriage is mounted such that it can be moved, a shifting device for moving the carriage, and a securing mechanism for securing the carriage in a desired position. To provide an improved adjusting device, which has more compact construction and enables a simpler and more precise adjustment without additional contrivances, the shifting device has an electric motor, which is integrated in the carriage, and the securing mechanism blocks any movement of the carriage when the motor stands still and is automatically released when the motor starts running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: SICK | Stegmann GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Siraky, Josef Maier, Wilfried Roming
  • Patent number: 7217207
    Abstract: A tensioner comprising a base having a toothed portion, a pivot arm pivotally engaged with the base, a pulley journalled to the pivot arm, a spring disposed between the base and the pivot arm for biasing the pivot arm in a first direction, a mechanism disposed on the pivot arm and engaged with the base, the mechanism comprising a rotatable geared member and a second spring engaged between the geared member and the pivot arm, the second spring biasing the pivot arm in the first direction, and the geared member having a non-toothed portion that when the non-toothed portion is engaged with the toothed portion it prevents substantial rotation of the pivot arm in a reverse direction from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: The Gates Corporation
    Inventor: Juergen Hallen
  • Patent number: 7216562
    Abstract: An electrically adjustable steering column includes a steering column servo-drive with a motor in two planes. The steering column is configured so that an inner shaft, mounted in an outer shaft provides for vertical movement or so that the inner shaft accomplishes the lengthwise movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Presta AG
    Inventor: Olaf Muller
  • Patent number: 7217208
    Abstract: A bicycle chain includes a plurality pairs of outer plates and inner plates. Each pair of the outer plates is connected at two opposite ends to two pairs of the inner plates by connectors connected to the inner plates. Each connector has a rivet extending therethrough and two ends of the rivet are respectively connected to the two opposite ends of the outer plates. Each rivet has a protrusion extending radially outward from the outer periphery thereof and the protrusion is in contact with an inner periphery of a central passage of the connector corresponding thereto. There is a gap defined between the rivet and the inner periphery of the central passage so that the chain has more flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Inventors: Montanari Sandro, Righi Ermanno