Patents Examined by Robert T Reese
  • Patent number: 10794455
    Abstract: A tensioner includes a power spring, and a backup member being in contact with the power spring and supporting the power spring by acting an urging force in a direction opposite to a radial shift of the power spring in a direction in which the power spring is wound. The power spring is unwound in a condition in which an inter-plate frictional force of the power spring is small in a case where an urging force acting from a power spring to a tension member is greater than a load acting from the tensioner arm to the power spring and the power spring is wound in a condition in which the inter-plate frictional force of the power spring is large in a case where the urging force acting from the power spring to the tension member is smaller than the load acting from the tension member to the power spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignees: DAIDO KOGYO CO., LTD., NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideaki Seki, Yoshio Yamada, Takao Kobayashi, Kazuhito Hiraoka, Shuji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10794450
    Abstract: A power transmission belt at least includes a bottom rubber layer. A rubber composition for forming the bottom rubber layer contains a rubber component, cellulose fine fibers, and short fibers. The cellulose fine fibers have an average diameter from 1 nm to 200 nm, and the rubber composition contains 0.5 parts by mass or more of the cellulose fine fibers relative to 100 parts by mass of the rubber component. The short fibers have an average diameter from 5 ?m to 30 ?m, and the rubber composition contains 1 part by mass or more of the short fibers relative to 100 parts by mass the rubber component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: BANDO CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Taiki Tsuchiya, Shogo Kobayashi, Keiichiro Matsuo, Hiroyuki Tachibana
  • Patent number: 10788105
    Abstract: A pendulum tensioner, comprising a first and second tensioning arm, and a bearing sleeve configured to attach to a generator housing, wherein the bearing sleeve forms a sliding channel together with a locking sleeve, in which one of the tensioning arms is rotatably positioned with axial play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Sascha Reuschel, Luc Fischer, Thierry Leobold, Thomas Motz, Marco Meisborn, Robert Kamm
  • Patent number: 10787941
    Abstract: Disclosed is a structure for attachment of a drain nut to a synthetic resin cover. The cover has a nut engagement portion formed in an outer surface of the cover, a cylindrical engagement portion formed with a plurality of piece parts on an inner surface of the cover, and a stepped portion formed between the nut and cylindrical engagement portions. The drain nut has a nut portion engaged in the nut engagement portion, a female thread portion formed in the nut portion for screw-in of a drain plug, a cylindrical portion formed concentrically with the nut portion and engaged in the cylindrical engagement portion, a large-diameter portion formed between the nut and cylindrical portions and engaged in the stepped portion, with an O-ring held between the large-diameter portion and stepped portion, and a collar portion formed around the cylindrical portion and retained by front ends of the piece parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: MAHLE FILTER SYSTEMS JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daizo Ito, Shin Yoshida, Atsushi Nonaka, Yuichi Kato
  • Patent number: 10781892
    Abstract: A press-fit check valve for a hydraulic tensioner includes a retainer, a seat, a ball, and a spring. The seat of the check valve is press-fit against the wall of the check valve counterbore of the hydraulic tensioner body. In some embodiments, the seat is cup-shaped to provide a predetermined level of press force retention of the press-fit check valve. In some embodiments, the seat includes a plurality of legs separated by leg openings. In some embodiments, a backflow path is provided past the press-fit check valve by a combination of the leg openings and at least one backflow slot through a flange of the retainer. In some embodiments, a lip at the outer end of the check valve counterbore prevents the seat from backing out of the check valve counterbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Keith B. Cobb, Matthew W. Crump, Dale N. Smith
  • Patent number: 10781907
    Abstract: A filtering pulley having a hub adapted to be fixed to a rotating shaft, a pulley ring mounted coaxial and rotationally free on said hub, and at least one elastic assembly interposed between the hub and the pulley ring and a damper for damping the relative oscillations between the hub and the pulley ring is disclosed. The damper has a first damping level for relative rotations between the hub and the pulley ring which are smaller than a predetermined angle and a second damping level, which is greater than the first level, for relative rotations between the hub and the pulley ring which are larger than the predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Dayco Europe S.R.L.
    Inventors: Gianluca Cariccia, Andrea Guala, Ettore Gaude, Gregorio Luciani
  • Patent number: 10781905
    Abstract: A sprocket for a chain drive, in particular a timing chain drive for an internal combustion engine, is provided. The sprocket includes a radially outer toothed ring and a damping ring. The damping ring is axially spaced apart from, and radially inside of, the toothed ring. The damping ring has a radially outer surface that is shaped to be complementary to link plates of the timing chain. The design of the sprocket results in the damping ring being subject to practically no wear, being producible from a conventional material, and being economical to produce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Nikolaus Koller, Andreas Meder
  • Patent number: 10774915
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket assembly comprises a plurality of sprockets and a first support element. The plurality of sprockets is arranged coaxially about a rotational center axis of the bicycle sprocket assembly. The plurality of sprockets includes a first sprocket. The first sprocket includes a first toothed ring and a first sprocket body at least partly disposed radially inwardly of the first toothed ring with respect to the rotational center axis. The first toothed ring is made of a first material. The first sprocket body is made of a second material that is different from the first material. The first support element extends from the first sprocket to a second sprocket adjacent to the first sprocket in an axial direction with respect to the rotational center axis. The first support element is made of a first additional material that is different from the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Tooru Iwai, Tetsu Nonoshita, Toyoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 10773772
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket assembly is basically provided that includes a sprocket support member, a first sprocket, a second sprocket that is a separate member from the first sprocket, and a third sprocket that is a separate member from the first and second sprockets. The sprocket support member is configured to support at least one of the first, second and third sprockets. The sprocket support member includes a plurality of sprocket support portions extending radially outwardly from a central cylindrical portion. A first reinforcement member is attached to at least one of the first and second sprockets, and extends between the first and second sprockets. A second reinforcement member is attached to at least one of the second and third sprockets, and extends between the second and third sprockets. Each of the first and second reinforcement members is disposed between an adjacent pair of the plurality of sprocket support portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Fukumori, Hiroshi Fujita
  • Patent number: 10759494
    Abstract: A bicycle rear derailleur includes a base member mountable to a bicycle frame. A movable member is movably coupled to the base member. A chain guide assembly is rotatably connected to the movable member for rotation about a rotation axis. A biasing element is configured to bias the chain guide assembly for rotation in a first rotational direction with respect to the movable member. A damper assembly is operatively disposed between the chain guide assembly and the movable member to apply a damping force to the chain guide assembly when the chain guide assembly rotates in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Shipman, Brian Jordan
  • Patent number: 10724621
    Abstract: Solitary chainring for a bicycle front crank and drive chain, including a plurality of teeth formed thereabout. The plurality of teeth includes a first group of teeth and a second group of teeth alternating with the first group of teeth. Each tooth includes an outer face and an inner face which is opposite the outer face, and each tooth of the first group of teeth includes at least one first protrusion on the outer face or the inner face, and each tooth of the second group of teeth is formed without a first protrusion. The first protrusion is formed by a material deformation on one face of the teeth of the first group of teeth, wherein the material deformation is achieved from the inner face or the outer face, or it is formed by an application of material on one face of the teeth of the first group of teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: SRAM DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Reiter, Joachim Hanke
  • Patent number: 10717495
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket body, a plurality of sprocket teeth, an axially outward protuberance, and an axially inward protuberance. The axially outward protuberance is disposed on an outward facing side of the sprocket body to overlap at least partly with a bicycle chain engaging with a neighboring bicycle sprocket when viewed along a rotational center axis. The axially inward protuberance is disposed on an inward facing side of the sprocket body to overlap at least partly with the axially outward protuberance when viewed along the rotational center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yasufumi Fukunaga, Hiroshi Fujita, Tsuyoshi Fukumori, Atsuhiro Emura
  • Patent number: 10717467
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission (CVT) system, which turns the rear wheels of a lawn mower or similar vehicle at different speeds in a coordinated method with the front steering wheels in order to achieve the best turning radius (including a tight or zero turn radius, if desired) under most conditions. The system comprises two stages: the first stage comprising a Fixed Center Distance CVT pulley system, and the second stage comprising dual CVTs (e.g., left and right) that input into dual gear reducers (left and right), which are mechanically connected to the rear wheels. The second stage dual CVTs (left and right) are synchronized with the steering wheel, thus achieving different rear wheel speeds and/or directions based on the steering wheel position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Inventor: Dennis Brandon
  • Patent number: 10711875
    Abstract: A bicycle chain ring for engaging a chain link of a bicycle chain, the bicycle chain ring including an inner edge fully circumscribing both an opening and an axis of rotation, an inner surface extending between the inner edge and an outer edge where a plurality of chain ring teeth emanate, and a plurality of ramps disposed about the inner surface, wherein at least one of the plurality of ramps includes a lifting surface for initiating lift of a bicycle chain without assistance from the plurality of chain ring teeth. The lifting surface extends radially along the inner surface toward the outer edge, and the at least one ramp has a first end proximate the inner edge and a second end proximate the outer edge. The second end of the at least one lifting surface terminates before reaching the bottom of a trough positioned between two or more of the plurality of chain ring teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: WICK WERKS, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Wickliffe, Eldon Goates
  • Patent number: 10704656
    Abstract: The invention relates to a belt or chain tensioner (1) for a belt or chain drive of an internal combustion engine, having a base unit (2), an annular tensioning arm (3) which is mounted so as to be rotatable relative to the base unit (2) about an axis of rotation and on which a tensioning roll (4) prepared for pre-tensioning a section of an endless belt or chain is arranged, and two interconnected bearing parts (5, 6), by which the tensioning arm (3) is pivotally mounted on the base unit (2), and the bearing parts (5, 6) are designed as identical parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Zoran Maricic, Alexander Weidner
  • Patent number: 10690224
    Abstract: The tensioning pulley arrangement for a belt drive in an engine, is provided. In one example, the tensioning pulley arrangement includes a first tensioning pulley and a second tensioning pulley tensioning a belt with a spring force and a spring preload force generated by a first spring device coupled to the first and second tensioning pulleys. The tensioning pulley arrangement further includes an intensifying device that decreases belt tension during low belt load conditions and increases belt tension during high belt load conditions. In this way, friction losses during low belt loads may be reduced and belt slippage caused by high belt loads and/or dynamic shifts in belt loads may also be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joachim Hansen, Stefan Quiring, Moritz Klaus Springer
  • Patent number: 10690228
    Abstract: An isolator is provided for use with an engine and in particular an engine that is assisted or started by MGU (Motor-Generator Unit) or a motor through an endless drive member. It comprises a double acting spring system for isolating crankshaft pulley from torsion vibration at the crankshaft, and in extreme conditions, such as during engine startup and accelerations or decelerations of the engine crankshaft relative to the pulley and when isolator operates in an “engine-driven” mode with the engine crankshaft is driven by the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Vladimir I. Starodoubov, John Antchak, Andrew M. Boyes, Boris Replete
  • Patent number: 10683913
    Abstract: Provided is a tensioner which can ensure, with a simple structure, both the stability of the installation state of a check valve and the capacity of an oil storage chamber. A tensioner has a plunger, a housing, a check valve, and a coil spring. The plunger has a front-side plunger part having a pressing front end portion, and a rear-side plunger part disposed on the rear side of the front-side plunger part and having a valve movement restricting portion. The check valve is disposed on the rear side of the valve movement restricting portion. The coil spring is disposed so that one end thereof is in contact with a housing bottom portion and the other end thereof is in contact with the rear side of the check valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Munehiro Maeda, Yuji Kurematsu, Osamu Yoshida, Yudai Takagi
  • Patent number: 10669892
    Abstract: An oil filtering system comprises: a first inlet, a first outlet, and a first oil filter; a first bypass conduit interconnecting the first inlet to the first outlet; a first valve in the first bypass conduit, the first inlet fluidly connected to the first outlet at least via the first bypass conduit in an opened configuration of the first valve, and via the first oil filter in a closed configuration; a second inlet, a second outlet, and a second oil filter; a second bypass conduit between the first inlet and the second outlet; a second valve disposed in the second bypass conduit, the second outlet fluidly connected to the first inlet via the second bypass conduit in an open configuration of the second valve, and via the second oil filter in the closed configuration thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Marc Jordan Adique, John Adam Logan
  • Patent number: 10668984
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides an electromechanical rear derailleur for a bicycle including a base member that is configured to be coupled to a frame member of a bicycle. The derailleur includes a movable member and a link mechanism that movably couples the movable member to the base member. A motor is positioned at the movable member to move the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: SRAM, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Shipman, Brian Jordan