Patents Examined by Tamara L. Graysay
  • Patent number: 6021868
    Abstract: A cooling and lubrication system for a mechanical change gear transmission includes a first conduit for providing pressurized lubricating fluid from the engine and a second conduit for returning lubricating fluid to the engine. Lubrication may be provided in a dry-sump operating arrangement through a manifold which distributes lubricating fluid among transmission components. A splash lubrication arrangement controls the level of lubricating fluid by appropriate positioning of the transmission outlet port. A small transfer pump and a one-way valve may be utilized to transfer lubricating fluid from the transmission back to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Edward J. Bogema
  • Patent number: 6021686
    Abstract: A power transmission device has a primary driven gear and a scissor gear arranged abreast in a superimposed manner concentrically with the primary driven gear so as to be shiftable from it. Both the gears have plural pairs of openings superimposable to each other, so that each pair of the openings form an opening space. In each opening window a damper spring is provided and compressed so that the spring's ends press both edges of the opening space, with the spring's side portions engaged with the side face of the rotor so that one or both the primary driven gear and scissor gear, are resiliently coupled with the rotor by way of the damper springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Mizoguchi
  • Patent number: 6021692
    Abstract: A boat lift motor and drive assembly includes a rigid mounting plate supporting a boat lift motor, a drive shaft thereof carrying a drive pulley, a pulley belt entrained about the drive pulley and a driven pulley, the driven pulley being connected to a shaft of a worm gear, the worm gear being in mesh with a drive gear, and the drive gear being connected to an output shaft which is in turn connected to a reel having wound thereon a boat lift cable which is connected to a boat platform for lifting and lowering a boat resting thereon. The lift motor and drive assembly as covered by a housing defined by first and second housing bodies with a first of the housing bodies including a recess for receiving the driven pulley and accommodating the same and also including a frusto-conical wall defining a protective shroud for the winding reel shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Norfolk Fabrication, Inc.
    Inventors: Lynn P. Norfolk, David Charles Peterson, Jr., Ronald Price Ranere, Russell V. Welton
  • Patent number: 6022284
    Abstract: Apparatus for changing bicycle gear ratios comprising pedals (1) to the shaft (3) of which a group of coaxial overdrive gears is fixed, with at least an overdrive gear (20) of larger diameter and at least an overdrive gear (2) of smaller diameter; a plurality of sprockets (4) of different diameter, pack-like disposed close to each other and mounted on the shaft (40) of the rear wheel; a roller chain for the transmission of motion from one of the overdrive gears (2; 20) to one of the sprockets (4); a mechanism for shifting the chain (5) from one to another of said sprockets (4), with a cyclist-operated lever-and-wire driving mechanism; and a mechanism for guiding the deviation of the chain (5) from one to the other of the overdrive gears (2; 20) in cooperation with the mechanism for shifting the chain (5) over the sprockets (4) of the rear wheel. The teeth of each overdrive gear exhibiting, in correspondence of a respective sector (M, N), reduced height and thickness with respect to the other teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Inventors: Attilio Bartolozzi, Andrea Bartolozzi
  • Patent number: 6021683
    Abstract: The invention concerns a drive unit for a forming machine, comprising a rotary drive and a knuckle-joint drive for a gear transmission operating a ram, the knuckle-joint drive being operationally connected through a gear transmission to the rotary drive. To improve the drive rigidity as regards a forming machine and to be able to improve the drive-unit design and to relatively easily match the drive unit to the specific requirements of different forming methods, the gear transmission offers a periodically varying transmission ratio, at least two mutually engaging non-circular gears being used of which the pitch curves are designed in such manner that in conjunction with the knuckle-joint drive, and especially in conjunction with a subsequent crank drive, the motions of the ram will be optimally matched thereby to the particular work method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Verein Deutscher Werkzeugmaschinenfabriken e.V. (VDW)
    Inventors: Eckart Doege, Martin Hindersmann, Ulrich Keller
  • Patent number: 6022286
    Abstract: A pulley suitable for use in a V-type belt drive power train, the pulley including an integral securing mechanism in the central bore thereof for engaging a corresponding securing mechanism on the shaft of the device to be driven by the pulley, the integral securing mechanism preferably being corresponding screw threads, with a method of manufacturing the pulley from cylindrical bar stock as a unit including the generation of the V-belt grooves, the central bore, forming the integral securing mechanism in the central bore, and cutting off the pulley to provide a one-piece pulley of substantially simplified design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt A. Jackson, Dale A. Dalton, Lee R. Loyd
  • Patent number: 6021867
    Abstract: Apparatus for lubricating components in an air compressor having a crankcase for holding oil. The apparatus includes an oil pump located in the crankcase and oil, and a hollow plunger mechanically and hydraulically connected between the oil pump and an eccentric provided on a crankshaft of the air compressor. A filter for filtering the oil held in the crankcase is mounted on a block secured to an external surface of the crankcase. The block mounts the filter on the crankcase and in fluid communication with the pump such that filtered oil is directed to the hollow plunger from the pump after oil is directed into the pump from the filter and after oil is pumped from the crankcase and sent to the filter by the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Inventors: Julie A. Krawczyk, Roger Drummond, Brian L. Cunkelman, Walter E. Goettel, Daniel G. Wagner
  • Patent number: 6022285
    Abstract: A wheel drive system using an enlarged flywheel shaft to form an integral drive pulley for a wheel drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: MTD Products, Inc
    Inventor: Usman Firdaus
  • Patent number: 6019015
    Abstract: An adjustable pedal mechanism for automotive vehicles includes a pivoting presenter arm with a swinging lower end that provides a pivot for a pedal actuating mechanism. A link connecting the actuating pedal with the operated device, such as an accelerator throttle or power control cable, extends essentially parallel to the presenter arm. the link has a length equal to that of the presenter arm so that pivoting of the presenter arm to move the pedal pivot point forward or back causes an equivalent pivoting motion of the link and thereby maintains the pedal attitude constant over a substantial range of adjustment positions. By making the presenter arm of substantial length and limiting its angular adjustment motion on either side of a vertical line, the height of the pedal above the vehicle floor is maintained relatively constant over the total range of adjustment of the pedal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Douglas Elton
  • Patent number: 6019008
    Abstract: A linear motion apparatus for moving an object in a vacuum chamber comprising an antenna or a telescoping shaft such as a fishing rod to effectively utilize space, and to avoid the need of a rear projection thereby achieving stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Sung-Bock Kim, Wan-Soo Yun, El-Hang Lee
  • Patent number: 6019517
    Abstract: A bearing outer-race performed piece has a turning stock on an outer periphery thereof and has a circular bearing groove on an inner surface thereof. The bearing groove has a cross-section which includes circular portions defined by a circle of a greater diameter than that of a bearing groove of a bearing outer-race product, and a flat portion being arranged between the circular portions at a location shifted toward the center of the circle of the circular portions from a bottom locus of the circular portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Sanyo Special Steel Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Katsuki, Yoshio Kasahara
  • Patent number: 6016716
    Abstract: In a rotary stage, driven by a conventional multi-tooth rotary worm wheel, interacting with a rotationally powered worm gear, a housing functions as a base mount for the worm wheel. The housing has a bore disposed within a cylinder positioned perpendicular to the worm wheel axis. A rotational power source, such as a motor, is mounted on an elongate support which is mounted along an elongate edge to a base of the housing. The support extends parallel to the motor axis and, along with a biasing spring, biases the motor and worm gear toward the worm wheel. Adjustable screw are provided to vary the pressure load of the bias of the worm gear against the worm wheel, or providing a selectable anti-backlash pressure between the worm wheel and the worm gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Inventor: George Mauro
  • Patent number: 6017285
    Abstract: A variable diameter pulley according to the present invention has a pair of pulley bodies each axially movably fitted around a rotation shaft. A power transmission ring is held between power transmission surfaces formed in a tapered shape on opposed surfaces of the pair of pulley bodies. A belt is engaged with the outer circumference of the power transmission ring. The power transmission ring is movable eccentrically with respect to an axis of the pulley bodies. The pulley bodies are biased toward each other by a belleville spring. The belleville spring couples the pulley bodies to each other for power transmission. A torque is transmitted between the belt and the rotation shaft through the power transmission ring, the pulley bodies, the belleville spring and a coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Yasuhara, Takao Tamagawa
  • Patent number: 6016715
    Abstract: In a harmonic drive arrangement for the displacement of one component relative to another, a ball cage with cavities and balls movably disposed in the cavities is associated with one of the components and a transfer structure with conical recesses is associated with the other of the components adjacent the ball cage. The cavities are arranged in spaced rows and the conical recesses are arranged in rows spaced differently than the cavity rows. A pressure element with ascending and descending cam structures is movably disposed adjacent the ball cage to engage and move the balls into, and permit them to move out of, the recesses as the pressure element is moved along the ball cage to thereby provide for relative movement of the two components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Inventor: Detlev Hofmann
  • Patent number: 6015360
    Abstract: An automatic gearshifting device of a bicycle multi-stage fly wheel is composed of a main body, a rotary shaft, an urging member, a plurality of weights located in a receiving cell of the main body, and a drive chain guiding mechanism. The rotary shaft is fastened pivotally with the main body. The urging member is slidably mounted on the rotary shaft such that the urging member is capable of being actuated by the centrifugal force of the weights in motion to slide in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the rotary shaft so as to enable the drive chain guiding mechanism to shift the drive chain from one tooth to another tooth of the bicycle multi-stage fly wheel gear cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Falcon Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: David Chang
  • Patent number: 6014907
    Abstract: An adjusting device for the fine adjustment of the angle of rotation between two rotary elements (1, 2), which are driving and driven, respectively, comprises first and second gear units (6, 17). The second gear unit (17) comprises two eccentric gear components (20, 20') which are internally connected via a coupling (21) that permits each component separately to perform eccentric translation movements. The sleeve components have external gear rings (22, 22') which cooperate with internal gear rings (23, 23'), that are co-rotatively connected with output and input rotary members (8, 9), respectively, of the first gear unit (6). The external gear ring (22, 22') of the individual eccentric gear component has a smaller diameter and fewer teeth than each internal gear ring (23, 23') and is eccentric relative to the same. By the fact that the second gear unit in one and the same step gives a large gear change, a relative rotary motion of, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Scandrive Control AB
    Inventor: Ulf Rilbe
  • Patent number: 6015359
    Abstract: In a belt type continuously variable transmission, the oil for the canceler oil chamber and the oil for lubricating the endless belt are commonly used to reduce the required amount of oil to be supplied. The gear shift control oil is supplied to the pulley oil chamber of the driven pulley mounted on the output shaft of the belt type continuously variable transmission through a feed pipe, oil holes of a plug, an oil groove, oil holes of the output shaft and oil holes of the movable pulley half. The lubricating oil supplied to a first in-shaft oil chamber of the output shaft is further supplied through the oil holes of the output shaft to the canceler oil chamber of the driven pulley and also from the first in-shaft oil chamber through a throttle in the plug, the second in-shaft oil chamber and the oil holes of the output shaft to the endless belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Rikiya Kunii
  • Patent number: 6012998
    Abstract: A modularly constructed pulley for a continuously variable transmission, provided with at least two discs on a pulley shaft and/or sleeve of the pulley shaft, one or more discs fixed as individual components to the pulley shaft and/or sleeve, and having at least one disc which is axially displaceable, by, e.g., a piston/cylinder assembly with pistons or cylinders individually fixed to the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Van Doorne's Transmissie B.V.
    Inventors: Martijn Arnoud Schutz, Sebastiaan Pieter Henricus Jozef Bongers
  • Patent number: 6012351
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for shifting gears in a multi-speed manual transmission. Shifting is accomplished through translation of a linear axial movement of a rotary channel cam indexer to an angular rotation of a rotary channel cam. The rotary channel cam has a cam groove supporting cam followers to translate angular rotation of the rotary channel cam to axial movement of a plurality of transmission shift shafts. The positioning of the plurality of transmission shift shafts places the multi-speed manual transmission into a desired gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Thunderbolt Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Ysker
  • Patent number: 6013001
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket includes a sprocket body having a first lateral side surface, a second lateral side surface opposite the first lateral side surface, and an inner peripheral surface. A plurality of teeth extend radially outwardly from the sprocket body and define a corresponding plurality of chain connector receiving spaces with a corresponding plurality of bottom edges between each pair of adjacent teeth, wherein each bottom edge receives a chain connector therein. The first lateral side surface defines a first recess extending radially inwardly from selected ones of the plurality of bottom edges, and the first lateral side surface defines a second recess extending radially inwardly from other selected ones of the plurality of bottom edges and spanning their corresponding pairs of adjacent teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Miyoshi