Patents Examined by Troy Grabow
  • Patent number: 5493937
    Abstract: A light-weight, strong and rigid bicycle crankshaft assembly utilizing a two-piece spindle. Each spindle piece is integrally joined to a crank arm, and this joint, as well as the joint of the crank arm and the pedal tube, is reinforced with gussets. The two spindle pieces themselves are connected by means of a simple allen bolt within the interior of the bottom bracket shell, and this connection is thereby protected from the elements. As the two spindle pieces are pulled together by the allen bolt, they exert opposing forces on the inner race of a cartridge bearing, thereby fixing the lateral location of the spindle within the bottom bracket without exerting pre-load on the bearings. Proper alignment is easily accomplished by means of one or more spacers placed on either side of this inner race of the cartridge bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Inventor: Craig H. Edwards
  • Patent number: 5492511
    Abstract: Apparatus for interlocking independent control handles for throttle, dynamic brake and reverser, within a control stand for a railway transit vehicle including:a first cam disk perpendicularly mounted to the throttle handle axle for rotation therewith, the periphery of which is defined by at least a partial cylindrical first surface radially spaced from the first axle, and a partial concave second surface adjacent to the partial cylindrical first surface,a second cam disk of substantially similar configuration perpendicularly mounted to the dynamic brake handle axle for rotation therewith,the first and second cam disks being disposed in a common plane and directly adjacent to one another such that the concave second surfaces of each cam disk are directly opposed one another, so that only one of the throttle or dynamic brake handles can be pivoted at any given time by virtue of the first cylindrical surface on the associated cam disk moving into engagement with the opposed concave second surface of the adjacen
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventor: Steve Kozminski
  • Patent number: 5492036
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a ball screw of an end cap type which provides low noise, is hard to break and is inexpensive by combining a soft material easy to form and a reinforcing member having high rigidity and density to thereby form a ball circulation member. A ball circulation member formed of a soft material such as synthetic resin permitting formation of a complicated shape is covered from the outside thereof with a reinforcing member formed of metal or the like having higher rigidity and density than the soft material of the ball circulation member. Use of the reinforcing member can restrict the vibration of an elastic deformation mode involved with the circulation of balls and at the same time a sound insulation operation due to the increased mass effect of the end cap is increased to thereby be able to reduce noises. Also, the strength of the whole of the ball circulation member is increased and thus the ball circulation member is made hard to break.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 5492024
    Abstract: A servo-wheel for use in a control system for model craft having a servo-motor and movable control members. The servo-wheel is a rigid disc having opposed planar surfaces. A hub is at the geometric center of the disc and includes a bore extending through the disc. A raised portion protrudes from one of the planar surfaces and forms a first part of the hub. The raised portion also defines a first part of the bore having an inner circumferential surface of a first diameter. A keyed receiver is formed in the inner circumferential surface of the raised portion. An insert is mounted in the disc to form a second part of the hub. The insert defines a second portion of the bore and has an inner circumferential surface of a second diameter, less than the first diameter. A keyed driver is received by the keyed receiver. The keyed driver is rotatably connected to the servo-motor at one end and attached to the servo-wheel hub at the other end, so that the servo-wheel is rotated by the servo-motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Inventor: Irwin H. Siner
  • Patent number: 5490433
    Abstract: A transmission subunit with an intermediate shaft having continuous gears of progressive pitch diameters interposed between pairs of conventional gears. The geometry of the continuous gears permits input gears, output gears, and/or idler gears to freely and independently slide longitudinally the length of the intermediate shaft without disengaging. Helical or spur cut gears can be used throughout. During shifting, an idler quickly passes from a conventional gear to an intermediate, continuous gear where it changes speed ratio progressively until the new ratio is achieved. At this point the idler quickly moves on to the next conventional gear to complete the shift cycle. An automatic locking mechanism assures precise, fixed alignment. As an example, a semi-continuous subunit consisting of two idler gears and three or four conventional running gears bridged with two or three continuous gears combined with a planetary gearset provides 14 to 22 forward speeds and 7 to 11 reverse speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Inventor: Craig L. Althen
  • Patent number: 5487316
    Abstract: A control includes a shaft rotatable between a plurality of positions. The base of a spring is fixed relative to the shaft and arms extend from the base parallel to the shaft. Each arm includes a resilient finger and a nose projects from each finger toward the shaft. The noses are 180 angular degrees apart and at different positions longitudinally of the shaft. A cam rotates with the shaft and the noses are biased against the outer surface of the cam. A plurality of recesses are angularly spaced apart around the outer surface of the cam in pairs which are spaced 180 angular degrees apart. One of each pair of recesses is longitudinally aligned with one nose and the other of that pair is longitudinally aligned with the other nose. The noses and recesses provide a detent when the recesses of a pair are angularly aligned with the noses with which they are longitudinally aligned and do not form a detent when the shaft is substantially 180 angular degrees removed therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard E. Hornung, Patrick C. Luken
  • Patent number: 5483846
    Abstract: An impact sensing apparatus includes a container, a weight swingably supported in the container and which is swung by an impact exceeding a predetermined value, an output member rotatably supported in the container and which engages the weight, the output member disengages the weight by the swing movement of the weight. A spring member is disposed between the container and the output member, which biases the output member so as to be rotated, and urges the weight so as not to swing. The weight includes a stopper portion for contacting the container so as to hold the weight at an initial position. The stopper portion is disposed at an outside edge of the weight and spaced from the pivotal axis of the weight so that the spring member presses against the container in an upwardly direction substantially vertical to a surface of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazunori Sakamoto, Tateki Kawamura, Yutaka Kondoh
  • Patent number: 5481934
    Abstract: There is disclosed a bicycle speed change operation assembly wherein the speed change operation can be performed during the braking operation, and the speed change can be made in an optimum way in relation to various running situations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Mory Suntour Inc.
    Inventor: Koichi Tagawa
  • Patent number: 5481943
    Abstract: A safety device used in case of rupture of a rotary shaft for preventing the shaft from rotating and for preventing broken portions thereof from falling, includes at least one safety element placed so as to retain the shaft to prevent it from falling. The peripheral surface of the shaft and a facing surface of the safety element are provided with mating devices that cooperate to prevent the shaft from rotating when a portion of the shaft is retained by said safety element due to the shaft rupturing. The device is particularly suitable for use with a shaft that winds up lifting straps for a raisable curtain or that winds up the curtain itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Nergeco (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventor: Bernard Kraeutler
  • Patent number: 5481931
    Abstract: A device for the adjustment of the orientation of door mirrors in motor vehicles is provided with electric motors to drive, through two reduction units, a support of the door mirror. A first reduction unit comprises a worm screw and a gear wheel integral to a second worm screw of the second reduction unit. A rack, coupled with the second worm screw, is engaged on a pivot integral to the support. A couple of tabs makes easier the assembling of rack and avoids its possible disengagement from the pivot.Furthermore, the pecular configuration of the motors and of the electric connections of same with an external power supply avoids the need of welding to perform connection during the device assembling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Commer S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luigi Vecchiarino
  • Patent number: 5481938
    Abstract: A position control apparatus for a raked steering column including a stationary bracket having a pair of vertical legs on opposite sides of the steering column, a spacer on the steering column between the legs of the stationary bracket, and a clamp on the steering column for squeezing the legs of the stationary bracket against the spacer. The clamp includes a long bolt spanning the legs of the stationary bracket, a nut on the bolt, a one-way clutch between a head of the bolt and the stationary bracket permitting rotation of the bolt in only a tension-increasing direction, and a snap-on operating lever rotatable as a unit with the nut. After assembly on a vehicle, the clamp afforded by the bolt can be adjusted without changing the terminal positions of the lever by rotating the head of the bolt in a tension increasing direction while the operating lever is maintained in a clamped terminal position corresponding to maximum bolt tension between the vertical legs of the stationary bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Richard T. Stuedemann, Russell L. Herlache, Ray G. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 5481942
    Abstract: A crankshaft of a V-type 6-cylinder internal combustion engine including first to sixth crank pins connected with connecting rods, having first to fourth crank journals between the first to sixth crank pins, and first to ninth crank arms between first to sixth crank pins and the first to fourth crank journals, the combination including a first balance weight provided to the first crank arm, a center of gravity of the first balance weight being mal-distributed to a lower part with respect to a center axis of the crankshaft, a second balance weight provided to the second crank arm, a center of gravity of the second balance weight being mal-distributed to a lower part, and deviated from the first balance weight in a counterclockwise direction, third and fourth balance weights provided respectively to the fourth crank arm and sixth crank arm, the centers of gravity of the third and fourth balance weights being mal-distributed to be orthogonal to the center of gravity of the first balance weight in a clockwise dir
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Sungyoon Baek
  • Patent number: 5480362
    Abstract: A double planetary carrier is constructed by providing separate carriers for carrying therein two sets of planet gears which are axially set apart from each other, and by connecting the two carriers together. A cylindrical portion is formed on a periphery of a side plate of one of the carriers to receive therein a side plate of the other carrier. Serrated teeth are formed respectively on a periphery of the side plate and on the cylindrical portion to connect the two carriers by means of serrations. The serrated teeth are formed so as to have a play therebetween. Between the side plates there are formed radially extending oil grooves to introduce lubricating oil into oil holes which are formed in gear shafts of the planet gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Haruo Tanaka, Noriaki Takahashi, Tetsuo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 5479838
    Abstract: A lever unit 11 having a fulcrum regulator 12 movably connected to a first motor 14 and a force point regulator 13 movably connected to a second motor 15, in which the motor 15 is driven while the motor 14 is stopped, thereby moving an injection mold 20A to come close to the other mold 20B, and mold locking of the molds 20A and 20B is executed by driving the motor 15 at this position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Yoshiki Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuo Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 5477741
    Abstract: A motion transforming mechanism comprises a plate assembly and a toothed rail. The plate assembly is constituted by at least three rotation plates having a common rotation axis and each having a plurality of teeth, the rotation plates being respectively formed with cranked through bores. The toothed rail is formed with a plurality of teeth held in mesh with the teeth of rotation plates. The motion transforming mechanism further comprises a drive motor assembly constituted by a rotor unit rotatably received in the cranked through bores and a stator unit accommodated in the rotor unit. The rotation plates are rotated with respect to their common rotation axis by the rotation of the rotor unit with respect to stator unit. The motion transforming mechanism thus constructed requires no external electric motor and accordingly is able to be more easily assembled with various systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Teijin Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Takenaka, Katumi Mori, Tuyoshi Nachi, Tomohiro Kiriyama, Masanori Hirai
  • Patent number: 5477752
    Abstract: An improved declutch mechanism for a manual override for a valve. The declutch mechanism includes a U-shaped declutch layer that is fit with a spring-biased locking bar. The locking bar is biased to engage the housing of the override mechanism to prevent accidental or inadvertent operation of the declutch lever. A single hand may be used to disengage the locking bar from the housing to allow operation of the declutch lever. The declutch mechanism also includes a safety mechanism to prevent the override mechanism from being disengaged when its actuator shaft is not in the default position. The safety mechanism includes a plunger that is movable between a first position in which the plunger prevents the locking bar from being disengaged with the housing, and a second position in which the plunger is received within a keyway in the actuator shaft to allow the locking bar to be disengaged from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Dyna-Torque Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. West, Michael P. Davison, Kurt J. Kastelic
  • Patent number: 5471890
    Abstract: A starter with an improved overrunning clutch for automotive use. The overrunning clutch has a clutch outer integrally formed with an internal gear of a planetary gear speed reduction mechanism driven by a starter motor, a clutch inner integrally formed with a center bracket which supports a drive shaft rotatably therethrough and rollers interposed between cylindrical portions of the clutch outer and the clutch inner. On the inner circumference of the clutch outer, roller storage portion is formed to extend radially circumferentially so that the roller is fully stored therein at the time of overrunning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Shiga, Nobuyuki Hayashi, Masanori Ohmi, Yasuhiro Nagao, Mitsuhiro Murata
  • Patent number: 5468197
    Abstract: A neutral start switch assembly for a vehicle transmission including a case having a plurality of generally parallel shift rails supported therein is disclosed. Each of the shift rails is longitudinally movable forwardly and rearwardly from a central neutral position to first and second gear engaging positions. A notch is formed in the outer surface of each of the shift rails. These notches are aligned with one another when all of the shift rails are in their central neutral positions. The neutral start switch assembly includes an actuator lever which is pivotably mounted to the transmission case. One end of the actuator lever cooperates with the notches formed on each of the shift rails. The other end of the actuator lever cooperates with a neutral start switch mounted on the transmission case. When all of the shift rails are in their central neutral positions, the actuator lever is moved to a first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Loeffler
  • Patent number: 5460060
    Abstract: A transmission shifting system for axially displacing a shift fork in response to an electrical signal using a ball ramp actuator to load a spring disposed between the ball ramp actuator and the shift fork where an electrical coil is energized to induce an electromagnetic field in a drive flange connected to a rotating driveshaft which causes the ball ramp actuator to axially expand thereby preloading the spring and causing a jaw clutch to be axially displaced by the shift fork to rotationally engage a transmission gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A. Nellums
  • Patent number: 5458012
    Abstract: The present invention provides a crystal ball which move upwardly and downwardly, wherein the convex surface of the planetary gears which is used to drive the revolving disk is a bevel to form a bulgy state, and a mantle surrounding said bulgy convex surface is on the upper side of the revolving disk; and the dynamic phenomena including revolution, rotation and moving upwardly and downwardly performed by the doll inserted into said mantle are driven by the rotation of the revolving disk and the planetary gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Inventor: Jian H. Liu