Patents Examined by William C. Joyce
  • Patent number: 7374343
    Abstract: To provide a magnetic encoder which can be assembled having a thin-walled structure while securing an excellent detection sensitivity and which can provide an excellent moldability by suitably selecting materials, the magnetic encoder is provided which includes a multi-pole magnet 14 having a plurality of opposite magnetic poles alternating in a direction circumferentially thereof, and a core metal 11 for supporting the multi-pole magnet. The multi-pole magnet 14 contains a powdery magnetic material mixed in an amount within the range of 20 to 90 vol. % relative to the total volume of the multi-pole magnet 14. The multi-pole magnet 14 may be a sintered magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Nakajima, Kouya Oohira, Arito Matsui, Kazutoyo Murakami
  • Patent number: 7370549
    Abstract: A reduction gear for forming a geared motor having a motor and a reduction gear is provided. The reduction gear for a geared motor includes an intermediate orthogonal gear head having an orthogonal transfer mechanism for changing a rotational direction of power delivered from the motor into an orthogonal direction and houses the orthogonal transfer mechanism in a separate intermediate casing. The reduction gear further includes a rear stage parallel gear head having a parallel shaft reduction mechanism including an output shaft serving as a final output shaft of the geared motor when the geared motor is formed, the rear stage parallel gear head being capable of directly connecting to a rear stage of the intermediate orthogonal gear head, with the parallel shaft reduction mechanism being housed in a separate rear stage casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Haga, Mitsuhiro Tamura
  • Patent number: 7367714
    Abstract: Instrumented rolling bearing device of the type including a non-rotating race, a rotating race, at least one row of rolling elements arranged between two raceways of the rotating and non-rotating races, and an assembly for detecting rotation parameters including a non-rotating sensor assembly and a rotating encoder, and an elastic member intended for axially prestressing the rolling bearing, retained axially on the sensor, the elastic member being of annular shape and having a diameter smaller than or equal to that of the outer race of the bearing, the elastic member including a supporting surface designed to be in contact with an element outside the bearing device in order to exert, directly or indirectly, by reaction, an axial force on the non-rotating race in a direction opposite to the detection assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: François Niarfeix, Sylvain Chaussat
  • Patent number: 7364363
    Abstract: A thrust bearing designed to support a rotational shaft within a turbo compressor, and including foils subjected to a friction with gas. The bearing includes a plurality of elastic foils having different stiffnesses from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Wook Kim, Phil Soo Chang, Ji Hoon Choi
  • Patent number: 7350434
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ball screw device in which a screw shaft and a nut member are threadedly engaged with each other through a number of balls. In such a ball screw device, an inner surface of a cover plate contacting an end surface of a nut main body is provided with a projecting return piece adapted to be fit-engaged with a recess cut in an inner peripheral surface of the nut main body, the return piece being provided with a scoop portion for dislodging the balls from the ball rolling groove of the screw shaft and a direction switching passage for guiding the dislodged balls to the entrance of a ball return hole. The projecting return piece is divided into a first piece formed integral with the cover plate and a second piece fixed to the first piece by a curved plane including the center line of the direction switching passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentarou Nishimura, Akimasa Yoshida, Hiroshi Niwa
  • Patent number: 7350977
    Abstract: A ball bearing with double raceway rotatably supports a pinion shaft having a pinion gear on its one end. This ball bearing with double raceway is provided with: an outer ring member having a large-diameter raceway surface and a small-diameter raceway surface; an inner ring member having a large-diameter raceway surface and a small-diameter raceway surface that correspond to the large-diameter raceway surface and the small-diameter raceway surface of the outer ring member; a large-diameter-side row of balls that are interpolated between the two large-diameter raceway surfaces; a small-diameter-side row of balls that are interpolated between the two small-diameter raceway surfaces; a large-diameter-side cage that holds the large-diameter-side row of balls; and a small-diameter-side cage that holds the small-diameter-side row of balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventors: Toshirou Fukuda, Hideo Ueda, Toshihiro Kawaguchi, Kunihiko Yokota, Motoshi Kawamura, Muneyasu Akiyama, Tomonori Nakashita
  • Patent number: 7350436
    Abstract: An electrical bicycle shift control device is provided that includes a handlebar mounting portion and an electrical shift control switch portion. The handlebar mounting portion is configured to be fixedly mounted in a free end of a handlebar. The electrical shift control switch portion is fixedly mounted to the handlebar mounting portion. The electrical shift control switch portion includes an operating member arranged and configured to be selectively moved relative to the handlebar mounting portion between a neutral position and a first actuating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Fujii
  • Patent number: 7350976
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel bearing has a sealing device (12) on an inboard side of the bearing with a first sealing plate (23) mounted on an inner ring (3), and a second sealing plate (24) mounted on an outer member (10), arranged opposite to the first sealing plate (23). The first sealing plate (23) has a radially extending portion arranged on the inboard side of the bearing. An encoder (25) is bonded on the radially extending portion. The encoder (25) is made of elastomer material which includes magnetic substance powder. The N and S poles are alternately magnetized along the circumferential direction. The second sealing plate (24) has a substantially “L”-shaped cross-section formed by a cylindrical portion and a radially extending portion. Integral side-lip(s) slidingly contact the radially extending portion of the first sealing plate (23). A protecting cover (27) is mounted on the first sealing plate (23) so that it intimately contacts with the encoder (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Ohtsuki, Koji Nishino
  • Patent number: 7347626
    Abstract: A retainer for holding bearings within a shaft bearing has C-shaped pockets for holding the bearings. Between the pockets are connecting portions, which are close to the openings of the pockets. The rear sides of adjacent pockets and the rear side of the connecting portion for the adjacent pockets form a concave site that is deeply gouged into the retainer. The bottom of the concave site is closer to the openings than the bottom of the pockets, thereby allowing base oil from grease in the concave site to better migrate onto the bearings and so lubricate the shaft bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7337687
    Abstract: A starter for cranking an internal combustion engine is composed of an electric motor, an output shaft driven by the electric motor, a pinion gear unit helical-spline-coupled to the output shaft, and a magnetic switch for supplying electric power to the electric motor in an ON-and-OFF fashion and for engaging or disengaging the pinion gear unit with a ring gear of the engine. The pinion gear unit is made by fixedly connecting a pinion gear, a rotation-restricting ring and a bearing member together. These components are separately formed from one another and then assembled to a unitary body of the pinion gear unit. Therefore, they can be forged with simple dies, or may be manufactured by other methods such as machining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kazushige Okumoto, Masami Niimi, Tsutomu Shiga
  • Patent number: 7338211
    Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly including inner and outer bearing rings, one of which is intended to rotate and the other of which is intended to remain stationary. The assembly also includes two sets of rolling elements between the rings and in angular contact with tracks defined by the rings. Each set of rolling elements is spaced in the direction of the axis of rotation with each set of rolling elements retained by one of two cages. The assembly further includes a sensing arrangement having at least two annular encoders with alternate north and south magnetic poles and at least two sensors operably associated with the encoders and each serving to provide electrical signals generated by the passage of the poles of the arranged encoder. One of the encoders is mounted on the rotatable one of the bearing rings. The other encoder is mounted on one of the cages and each of the sensors and encoders is disposed axially, between the sets of rolling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: NSK Europe Ltd
    Inventors: Carlo Roberto Bianco, Ian Taylor Cook, Anthony Francois Patrick Gauthier
  • Patent number: 7338212
    Abstract: In a wheel supporting rolling bearing unit, both end openings of a space in which balls 14, 14 are provided are sealed with seal rings 16c, 16d each having two to three seal lips. A rolling resistance that changes based on a preload is regulated in a range of 0.15 to 0.45 N·m, and a total running resistance of both seal rings 16c, 16d based on a friction between the seal lips and counter surfaces is regulated in a range of 0.06 to 0.4 N·m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: NSK, Ltd.
    Inventor: Junshi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7334942
    Abstract: A dual seal assembly for a bearing, the assembly comprising a first seal frame (12) coupled to a tip end of an opening in a space formed between an inner ring and an outer ring of the bearing and press-fitted to the outer ring; a second seal frame (14) press-fitted to the inner ring and a main seal member (16); a third seal frame (18) interposed between the first seal frame and the second frame, and press-fitted to one of the first and second seal frames; and an auxiliary seal member (20) inserted into the third seal frame to seal a gap formed between the first and second seal frames, such that the capacity of the bearing can be increased, the bearing can be compactly designed, an operational torque can be reduced, and the sealing performance can be improved making it easy for a user to easily handle the seal assembly before the seal assembly is mounted onto the bearing and to an apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Schaeffler Korea Corp.
    Inventors: Cheol Hwan Cha, Dae Yong Lee, Kook Hwan Shin
  • Patent number: 7334495
    Abstract: There is provided a resin gear 1 capable of improving the strength of a key receiving portion, which is engageable with a key of a driving shaft, to prevent the key receiving portion from being broken by external force applied during rotation. In the resin gear 1, an outside rim 6 is connected to an inside hub 4 by a web 7 in radial directions. On the side of one end of the hub 4, a key receiving portion 10 for engaging a key of a driving shaft 2 is formed. The key receiving portion 10 has a side wall 1 for preventing relative rotation of the key 8 to the hub 4, and a bottom wall 12 for allowing the key 8 and hub 4 from being positioned in directions parallel to the driving shaft 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Masaru Takayama
  • Patent number: 7335130
    Abstract: A toroidal-type continuously variable transmission has a casing; an input disk and an output disk rotatably supported concentrically with each other; a plurality of power rollers each held between the input and output disks; a plurality of trunnions disposed at position twisted with respect to a center axis; a drive device for shifting the trunnions in the axial directions or the pivot shafts; a pair of yokes for supporting the pivot shafts of each of the trunnions so as to be swung and shifted in the axial direction thereof, the yokes being swingable according to the shifting movement of the associated trunnion; and, a pair of opposing members each disposed to be opposed to the associated yoke, wherein the yokes each includes projection portion contacted with the associated opposing member, the projection portion being the fulcrum of the swinging movements of the yokes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: NSK ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Nishii, Eiji Inoue
  • Patent number: 7331253
    Abstract: A device for carrying and fastening a robot (4), in particular a delta robot, is designed in a gallows shape. It has a foot (1), a column (2) adjoining the foot (1), and at least one cantilever arm (3), fastened to this column (2), for fastening the robot (4). The cantilever arm (3) in this case is fastened to the column (2) in a fixed position. The device consists at least partly of a composite material, in particular a cast mineral. This device for carrying and fastening a robot is extremely space-saving and nonetheless has good vibration-damping properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Burkert, Harald Lenherr
  • Patent number: 7325466
    Abstract: A servo control device for driving hydraulic equipment with electromagnetic coupling, and more precisely it refers to a manipulator with detent to lock the system in particular positions in order to allow its continuous operation, with possible actions on pushers next to the one pressed with active coupling. The detent is composed of an electromagnet (8) integral with the shaft (3) of the manipulator (2) connected through a joint (6) to the servo-control body and of a coupling plate (9) secured to the servo-control body by a peg or joint (10) whose axis (13) is coaxial with the joint axis (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Walvoil S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mirco Allegretti, Felice Di Vico
  • Patent number: 7326146
    Abstract: A toroidal-type continuously variable transmission has a casing; a rotary shaft; a pair of outside disks each including an axial-direction one-side surface and supported on the rotary shaft so as to be rotated in synchronization with the rotary shaft; an inside disk including axial-direction two-side surfaces and rotatably supported on the periphery of the middle portion of the rotary shaft so as to be rotated with respect to the rotary shaft; support members disposed between the one side axial-direction surface and the axial-direction one-side surface so as to be swung and shifted about pivot shafts thereof; power rollers rotatably supported on the support members, the peripheral surface of the power rollers being contacted with the axial-direction two-side surface and the axial-direction one-side surface; and ball bearings for supporting the inside disk in such a manner that the inside disk is rotated with respect to the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Miyata, Eiji Inoue
  • Patent number: 7318675
    Abstract: The device for temporary repair of auger carrier bearings is an assembly used to serve as a temporary to semi-permanent replacement for the carrier bearings of auger rotary shafts. The assembly comprises a U-bolt having threaded legs and a flat strap having two openings that are aligned with the threaded legs of the U-bolt. The points of contact between the auger rotary shaft and the assembly are the middle of the strap and the arch of the U-bolt. To these points are attached pads of self-lubricating plastic to provide a low friction interface between the assembly and the auger rotary shaft. The device for temporary repair of auger carrier bearings hangs from a plate that spans the tray of the auger and has two openings that correspond to the legs of the U-bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Inventors: Bill Kellogg, Jr., Donald Clark
  • Patent number: 7313978
    Abstract: A linear motion device (10) associated to a worm (14) including a body (12) internally provided with a housing seat for partially receiving a worm having a plurality of grooves, a mobile device (52) for temporary engagement in an exposed portion of at least one of the grooves (54) of the worm, and a pressure device (40) including a pneumatic piston for moving the mobile device in contact with at least one of the grooves of the worm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Inventor: Elio Cavagna