Patents Examined by Timothy McAnulty
  • Patent number: 6575861
    Abstract: A sprocket for engaging a power transmission chain and for limiting motion of the chain along the radial direction of the sprocket is disclosed. The sprocket supports the chain at the sprocket teeth to limit chain motion in the radial direction of the sprocket at the sprocket teeth. The support limits chain motion in the radial direction including motion induced by chordal fall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: George L. Markley, Mark MacDonald Wigsten
  • Patent number: 6572500
    Abstract: A sprocket assembly is provided for a bicycle having a large sprocket and a small sprocket. The large sprocket includes one or more chain support projections formed on the side surface opposed to the small sprocket. Each projection includes a contact portion defming a contact surface for contacting, without meshing, a lower end of a chain shifted from the small sprocket to the large sprocket. The projections are arranged on the large sprocket with a size and shape that allows the projections to pass between outer links prior to the gear-changing operation. The chain support projections are arranged for causing the contact surface to contact the chain engaging the small sprocket and pick up the chain radially outwardly of the large sprocket during a chain shift from the small sprocket to the large sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Toshio Tetsuka
  • Patent number: 6571656
    Abstract: A portable hand control system for operating an accelerator and brake pedal of a vehicle by hand. The portable hand control system includes an accelerator control rod releaseably couplable to the accelerator pedal of the vehicle and a brake control rod releaseably couplable to the brake pedal of the vehicle. A thumb control is mounted on the accelerator control rod for selectively receiving a thumb of a user controlling the accelerator control rod. A handle is mounted the brake control rod selectively receiving a hand of a user controlling the brake control rod. A coupling member is mounted on the brake control rod for operationally coupling the accelerator control rod to the brake control rod. A quick release coupling system is provided for coupling the accelerator control rod to the accelerator pedal of the vehicle and for coupling the brake control rod to the brake pedal of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Inventor: Phillip L. Wells
  • Patent number: 6564666
    Abstract: A reducing motor including a rotor with an armature shaft, a reducer housing (2) containing a gear wheel (3) engaging a worm on the shaft, and a shock absorber (5) housed in the gear wheel and rotationally integral therewith. The unitary shock absorber has circumferential notches (8) engageable both by radial flanges 87) on the gear wheel and by elements (10) for driving an output member (11), and chamfers (90) are provided on the edges of the notches to ensure gradual torque-dependent angular deflection of the shock absorber and make it easier to mount the same automatically on the hub of the gear wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Systems-France
    Inventor: Nomerange Herve Marcel
  • Patent number: 6564660
    Abstract: A casing of a ball bearing which holds a ball screw can be displaced on a supporting stand against urging force of a compression coil spring and a tensile coil spring. If vibration of the ball screw is transmitted to the casing, the casing attempts to move on the supporting stand. However, when, due to the vibration, the casing is displaced against the urging force of the compression coil spring and the tensile coil spring, the urging force forcibly attempts to return the casing to its original position. A frequency of vibration of the casing is thereby forcibly changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignees: Fuji Photo Film CO, Ltd., Fuji Photo Optical Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Kawamura, Yoshihiro Koyanagi, Mamoru Murata, Mitsuyoshi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6561946
    Abstract: A toroidal-type continuously variable transmission includes first and second disks, a trunnion and a power roller. The first and second disks are coaxially and rotatably supported in a state that inner surfaces thereof are opposed to each other. The trunnion swings around a pivot shaft which is disposed at a torsional position with respect to a center shaft of the first and second disks. The power roller is sandwiched between the first and second disks in a state being rotatably supported at inner surface of the trunnion. The power roller has a first shaft portion which is protrusively provided at a center portion of an outer surface thereof in a coaxial manner with the power roller, and the power roller is rotatably supported by the first shaft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouji Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6557438
    Abstract: In the breather structure of an internal combustion engine for vehicles, an outer cover is installed through a sound absorbing material for noise suppression on the outside of a body cover. The body cover covers a power unit including at least one of the internal combustion engine and a power transmission device. An outlet of the breather provided in the power unit opens at the sound absorbing material. The present invention provides a breather structure having a simplified construction, a short breather passage, and is capable of preventing entry and attachment of dust and debris into and onto the breather structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuaki Maeda, Shinji Kuga
  • Patent number: 6547684
    Abstract: A ratchet tensioner includes a plunger releasing mechanism for turning a ratchet pawl against the force of a plunger spring to disengage a locking prong of the ratchet pawl from a rack tooth of a plunger. The plunger releasing mechanism has a pin insertion hole formed in a plunger housing transversely across a recessed groove formed in the housing for mounting the ratchet pawl, and a sloped surface formed on the ratchet pawl and normally extending obliquely across the axis of the pin insertion hole. The sloped surface, upon abutment with the tip end of a pin which is inserted in the pin insertion hole, is capable of causing the ratchet pawl to turn against the force of the ratchet spring to thereby disengage the locking prong of the ratchet pawl from the rack tooth of the plunger for releasing the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventor: Junya Kurohata
  • Patent number: 6546829
    Abstract: A steering wheel assembly for use on marine craft or other vehicles including a support frame having a preferably annular configuration, and further including at least one wheel section. Each wheel section comprises two segments connected to one another and the support frame. Each of the two segments of each wheel section are independently formed to include anyone of a plurality of predetermined, decorative surface finishes and are secured to the support frame subsequent to the surface finishing thereof. At least one gripping portion may also be provided on the support frame which is structured to facilitate the gripping thereof by the hands of an operator of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: A. Michel Despreaux
  • Patent number: 6546825
    Abstract: There is described an actuator comprising an outer tube and an inner tube. In the actuator there is provided a spindle co-operating with a bushing for creating the displacement of the actuator by means of a motor. In order to establish an end stop in a secure way for preventing a wedging of the spindle and the bushing in extreme positions for the actuator, the bushing is disposed rotatable in relation to both tubes as it is arranged rotatable in a bushing housing. The actuator is arranged so that friction between the bushing and the bushing housing is greater that the friction occurring between the spindle and the bushing. Hereby rotation of the spindle will displace the bushing along the spindle until it reaches an extreme position. By an extreme position a pin on the bushing will hit a pin mounted in the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Kugle Holding A/S
    Inventor: Jens Kugle
  • Patent number: 6540630
    Abstract: A sprocket for supporting and propelling an endless track assembly of a track-type machine. The sprocket has an endless chain which is resiliently mounted to an outer flange of a hub. The chain has outwardly projecting teeth that interact with the endless track assembly to propel the machine. A plurality of drive assemblies are pressed between the endless chain and the flange to resiliently connect the endless chain to the flange of the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Oertley
  • Patent number: 6533072
    Abstract: A fluid supply system is constructed to have an oil ontainer 21, a transmission device 13 subjected to the supply of lubricating oil from the oil container, a lubricating oil supply tube 22 introducing lubricating oil from the oil container 21 to the transmission device 13, first and second axial holes 16a, 16b and lubricating holes 17. In the fluid supply system, a filtering member F having a permanent magnet and formed into a cylindrical shape is disposed in the first axial hole 16a formed so as to extend axially in a transmission input shaft 15, whereby at least a part of a lubricating oil supply passage is constituted by the first and second axial holes 16a, 16b and the lubricating holes 17 in the transmission input shaft 15, and the internal cylindrical space of the filtering member F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Hori
  • Patent number: 6533690
    Abstract: A bicycle includes a conventional pedal crank and chain drive together with a conventional derailleur shifting mechanism operative to selectively transfer the drive chain between alternative rear sprockets of the bicycle drive system. A chain ring is rotatable in response to pedal crank rotation to transfer pedal crank power to the rear sprockets. A pair of guide blocks define respective internal guide channels through which the drive chain passes toward and from engagement with the chain ring. The guide blocks are maintained at their respective positions by a guide support plate secured to the bicycle frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Inventor: Robert L. Barnett
  • Patent number: 6516683
    Abstract: An adjustable pedal assembly for a motor vehicle an upper arm having a pivot axis and first and second generally planar members, and a lower arm having a lower end carrying a pedal and an upper end operatively connected to the upper arm for selected movement relative to the upper arm. The first and second members are generally parallel and spaced apart. The first and second members each form first and second camming surfaces at a peripheral edge thereof. The upper arm carries first and second cam pins laterally extending from the lower arm and engaging the first and second camming surfaces respectively. The first and second camming surfaces and the first and second cam pins are adapted to mechanically lock the upper and lower arms together for mutual rotation about the pivot axis upon application of a load to the pedal. Preferably a spring operably connects the upper and lower arms to resiliently bias the first and second cam pins into engagement with the first and second camming surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Srini Sundaresan, Gordon Lloyd Smith
  • Patent number: 6517455
    Abstract: Continuously variable transmission provided with a first pulley having two pulley discs, with a second pulley having two pulley discs and with a drive belt wound around the pulleys for transmitting torque therebetween, at least one disc of the first pulley being axially movable with respect to the other disc of the pulley under the influence of an axial force provided on the movable disc by a hydraulic pressure in a cylinder of a piston/cylinder assembly associated with the first pulley. The continuously variable transmission is further provided with a control system capable of controlling the pressure in the cylinder and including a pump for generating a flow of hydraulic medium from a reservoir to a main hydraulic line and a line pressure valve at least operable by a control pressure which is regulated by an electronically operable pressure regulator, for controlling a line pressure in the main hydraulic line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Van Doorne's transmissie B.V.
    Inventors: Wilhelmus Johannes Maria Van Wijk, Hendrikus Adrianus Arnoldus Wilhelmina Pelders
  • Patent number: 6513404
    Abstract: A device for controlling the driving movements of a tracked vehicle includes a control lever 2 which can pivot about at least one pin 3, and a magnet arrangement by which any manually established position of the control lever 2 can be magnetically fixed. The strength of the magnetic fixing force is selected so that the control lever can be manually moved to a new position while overcoming the magnetic fixing force, and then the control lever is again magnetically held at the new position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: macmoter S.p.A.
    Inventor: Alois Johann Haringer
  • Patent number: 6511394
    Abstract: The belt body of a power transmission belt is composed of a rubber composition comprising ethylene-á-olefin elastomer as the raw material rubber. The ethylene-á-olefin elastomer as the raw material rubber comprises 7 to 12 mass % of a high molecular weight component having a molecular weight of 106 or more and an ethylene content of 65 mass % or more, and 26 to 60 mass % of a low molecular weight component having a molecular weight of 105 or less and an ethylene content of 60 mass % or less, and the ethylene-é-olefin elastomer has a Mooney viscosity of 50 ML1+4 or less (100 C.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Bando Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeki Okuno, Katsuyoshi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 6511393
    Abstract: The invention relates to a clamping device (6) for a traction means (2) of a drive system (1) which produces different pretensioning forces in a first strand (2a) and in a second strand (2b) by means of a turning lever (8, 11), the length ratio between the corresponding inner lever arm (8a, 11a) and the corresponding outer lever arm (8b, 11b) being different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler oHG
    Inventors: Arno Bogl, Rudolf Polster
  • Patent number: 6508733
    Abstract: A variable speed drive comprising two drives, an output drive wheel and an endless, extendible member that is driven by the drives and extends around and rotates the output drive wheel. The drives are operable to move the endless member around an endless path at a first speed at a first driving position and at a second speed at a second position. This causes local expansion or contraction of the endless member around the output drive wheel and so varies its speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Inventor: John Philip Roger Hammerbeck
  • Patent number: 6506137
    Abstract: An automotive tension device features a pair of pulleys which are pivotally mounted on the same pivot arm. The pulleys are positioned within the drive system (e.g., a belt drive system) in such a manner that the moments relative to the pivot axis created by the force resultant of the driving member passing around each of the pulleys are oppositely directed. Thus, the pulleys provide rotational support for each other. The tension device and arrangement is positioned within a belt drive system having a combination starter/generator, wherein the crankshaft ordinarily drives the belt but the starter/generator drives the belt on engine startup (an arrangement which creates varying kinematic conditions within the belt).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Litens Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Guhr