Patents Examined by William C. Joyce
  • Vehicle power unit
    Patent number: 10415673
    Abstract: A vehicle power unit is provided in which a transmission including a gear transmission mechanism and a gear selector mechanism is housed in a transmission case, the gear transmission mechanism having gear trains with a plurality of gear positions that can be established alternatively, the gear selector mechanism being capable of operating s as to alternatively establish the gear trains with the plurality of gear positions, and a plurality of rotational speed sensors individually detecting the rotational speed of a plurality of rotating members forming part of the transmission are mounted on the transmission case, wherein the plurality of rotational speed sensors are disposed in a distributed manner so as to sandwich the plurality of shaft members of the gear selector mechanism in a projection on a plane orthogonal to a central axis of a crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Sugano, Tensei Hayashi, Toshimasa Mitsubori
  • Vehicle drive apparatus
    Patent number: 10408335
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a case, a motor, a gear mechanism, a lubrication mechanism, and a cooling mechanism. The motor and the gear mechanism are housed in the case. The gear mechanism includes a specified gear and a first gear. A vertical lower section of the first gear is positioned above a surface of the oil. The lubrication mechanism lubricates the gear mechanism by the oil thrown up by the specified gear. The cooling mechanism includes an oil pump and a pipe. The oil pump and the pipe supply the oil reserved in the case to the motor. The pipe is located above the first gear. The pipe has a hole, and the oil discharged from the hole. The hole is positioned above the first gear. A normal line direction of the hole differs from a vertically downward direction. The first gear does not overlap the normal line direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinichiro Suenaga, Ryuichi Hasegawa, Masato Watanabe, Tatsuo Obata, Satoshi Miyanaga
  • Robot arm mechanism
    Patent number: 10406697
    Abstract: A stable extension and retraction motion is realized in a robot arm mechanism including a linear extension and retraction joint. In the robot arm mechanism including the linear extension and retraction joint, the linear a extension and retraction joint includes an arm section, and an ejection section for supporting the arm section. The arm section includes a first connection piece string and a second connection piece string. The first connection piece string includes a plurality of first connection pieces. The second connection piece string includes a plurality of second connection pieces each having a substantially flat plate shape. The first connection piece string is joined to the second connection piece string to thereby constitute a columnar body. The columnar body is sent out forward from the ejection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: LIFE ROBOTICS INC.
    Inventor: Woo-Keun Yoon
  • Method for fixing an actuator for rotatably driving a wheel of an aircraft
    Patent number: 10399672
    Abstract: A method for fixing to an aircraft landing gear (1) at least one actuator (30) for rotatably driving a wheel (3) which is rotatably mounted on an axle (2) of the landing gear, the wheel being associated with a brake (5). The brake has an actuator carrier (8) which carries brake actuators, the actuator carrier being fitted onto the axle and stopped in terms of rotation by an obstacle (12) which is fixedly joined to the landing gear and which is introduced into one of several stop holes (11) of the actuator carrier. The drive actuator is fixedly joined to the actuator carrier in the region of a stop hole of the actuator carrier which does not receive the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventor: Frederic Martin
  • Surgical instrument arrangement and drive train arrangement for a surgical instrument, in particular a robot-guided surgical instrument, and surgical instrument
    Patent number: 10390900
    Abstract: A surgical instrument arrangement has a modular motor drive unit which has a drive arrangement having at least one output element, an instrument shaft that can be detachably connected to the drive unit, and a drive arrangement having at least one input drive element. The output drive arrangement and the input drive arrangement can be coupled to each other by a mechanical interface that has at least one single-sided linkage, a pin, and a cut-out, wherein the pin can be radially expanded in the cut-out. Alternatively, a gap may be formed between the pin and the cut-out, which gap is wavy in the radial direction, and in which a radially displaceable, axially fixed intermediate element arrangement is arranged. The surgical instrument arrangement may also include a sterile barrier, which is provided to envelop the drive unit and to be arranged between the drive unit and the instrument shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: KUKA Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Lohmeier, Wolfgang Schober, Sven Brudniok
  • Control device for continuously variable transmission
    Patent number: 10385968
    Abstract: Disclosed is a control device for a continuously variable transmission (4) that has, as forward speed change stages, a first speed change stage (32) and a second speed change stage (33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiichiro Takahashi, Takuichiro Inoue, Koutarou Tagami, Fumito Shinohara, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Yuji Okamoto, Takashi Nobukawa
  • Actuator
    Patent number: 10378624
    Abstract: An actuator for driving a rotatable component includes a first, rotating member comprising a screw and a second member comprising a nut threaded to said screw, wherein rotation of said first member causes axial movement of said first or second member. The component also includes a third member coupled to the second member, wherein axial movement of said first or second member causes axial movement of said third member and a fourth, rotating member coupled to said third member and connectable to said component. The system also includes a bearing system located between said third member and said fourth member, said bearing system configured to cause said fourth member to rotate upon said axial movement of said third member so as to drive said component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: HS WROCLAW SP. Z O. O.
    Inventor: Daniel Trybula
  • Hybrid drive system with multiple drive machines
    Patent number: 10369877
    Abstract: A hybrid drive system includes a transmission having first and second parallel input shafts. The first and second parallel input shafts are selectively coupled together via a plurality of gearwheels operable to vary the rotational speed of the second parallel shaft relative to the first parallel shaft. The hybrid drive system includes at least one irreversible drive machine coupled to the transmission and operable to provide torque to at least one of the first or second parallel input shafts, and at least one reversible drive machine coupled to the transmission and operable to provide torque to at least one of the first or second parallel input shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: UVic Industry Partnerships Inc.
    Inventors: Guang Wu, Zuomin Dong
  • Control device for continuously variable transmission equipped with auxiliary transmission
    Patent number: 10371259
    Abstract: A control device for a continuously variable transmission with an auxiliary transmission includes: a cooperative control section being configured to shift the auxiliary transmission mechanism during the first inertia phase time period, and to shift the variator during the second inertia phase time period, when the cooperative control in which an input torque to the continuously variable transmission is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value in the cooperative control is judged, and being configured to shift the auxiliary transmission mechanism during the first inertia phase time period, and to shift the variator during the first inertia phase time period when the cooperative control in which the input torque to the continuously variable transmission is greater than the predetermined value is judged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mamiko Inoue, Takuichiro Inoue, Hiroyasu Tanaka
  • Speed change apparatus for power unit
    Patent number: 10364889
    Abstract: A cylindrical shift drum is rotatable around a third rotational axis. The cylindrical shift drum includes at least one lead groove in an outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical shift drum. A shift fork shaft extending in parallel to the third rotational axis is disposed opposite to the outer circumferential surface. At least one shift fork includes a main portion slidably supported by the shift fork shaft and a pin portion rotatably supported by the main body portion. The main body portion includes a fork portion to be engaged with at least one shifter gear. The pin portion is inserted in one of the at least one lead groove. The cylindrical shift drum is to be rotated to guide the pin portion along the one of the at least one lead groove to move the at least one shift fork to shift the at least one shifter gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Adachi, Takashi Ozeki, Yoshiaki Tsukada
  • Shift-by-wire activation device and method for selecting driving positions
    Patent number: 10352440
    Abstract: A shift-by-wire actuator and a method for selecting drive positions of a motor vehicle transmission is provided. The actuator comprises an actuating field, in which a scrolling surface for selecting one of the drive positions, and a release button, which transmits a release signal based on an actuation, are disposed. The actuator is characterized in that the scrolling surface and the release button are coupled via a locking and releasing mechanism, such that a shift-effecting selection of at least one of the drive positions can be executed by manipulation of the scrolling surface after release by the locking and releasing mechanism, based on the release signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Vitali Fribus, Alexander Kirilenko
  • Integrated electronic shift lever assembly for vehicle
    Patent number: 10352435
    Abstract: An integrated electronic shift lever assembly for a vehicle includes a shift lever installed inside the vehicle and operated by a driver for a shift position operation. A fixed knob is fixedly attached to an end of the shift lever. A shaft extends outwards from the fixed knob. A movable knob is detachably connected to the fixed knob such that the movable knob slides along the shaft to be decoupled from the fixed knob and rotates about the fixed knob. When a signal according to a rotational direction of the movable knob is input to a transmission control unit (TCU), the TCU changes a current shift position or a drive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Han-Gil Park
  • Final drive for a road vehicle
    Patent number: 10336185
    Abstract: A final drive for a road vehicle comprises a pinion gear on a pinion axle journaled in a housing, the pinion gear being in gear engagement with a crown gear journaled for rotation transversely to the pinion axle. The final drive is combined with an all wheel drive (AWD) coupling, comprising a disc package axially controlled by a hydraulic piston for optionally transmitting torque from an ingoing axle to the pinion axle, the disc package being rotatably connected to the pinion axle. The ingoing axle of the AWD coupling is radially journaled only by the pinion axle in the final drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: BorgWarner Sweden AB
    Inventors: Henrik Nilsson, Gustaf Lagunoff
  • Dual-clutch seven speed transmission arrangement
    Patent number: 10337587
    Abstract: A dual-clutch seven speed transmission arrangement comprises a dual-clutch gearbox, a drive machine and a transfer transmission. The dual clutch gearbox comprises first and second input shafts provided with first and second input clutches. The first input shaft is provided with at least first and second gearwheels, which are arranged to host three even and one reverse drive gear, and the second input shaft is arranged to host four odd drive gears. Furthermore, the first input shaft is a hollow shaft enclosing the second input shaft. The drive machine is a flywheel and the transfer transmission meshes with the first gearwheel that also hosts a fourth drive gear of the dual clutch gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ahmet Dzafic, Mathias Jorgensson
  • Lower attachment for trimmable horizontal stabiliser actuator
    Patent number: 10337593
    Abstract: A lower attachment system for a trimmable horizontal stabilizer actuator (THSA) includes a screwshaft forming a part of or coupled to a main screw of the actuator, the screwshaft having an axial direction and a primary ballnut disposed on the screwshaft and forming a part of a primary load path of the lower attachment system. The THSA also includes a lower secondary nut and an upper secondary nut as well as a secondary connection arranged for axial and rotational movement and coupled to each of the lower secondary nut and the upper secondary nut. The secondary connection is arranged to be loaded when the secondary load path is loaded and the secondary load path also includes the upper and lower secondary nuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS SAS
    Inventors: Raphael Medina, Anh-Vu Abdul-Bari
  • Incremental deployment device
    Patent number: 10337594
    Abstract: An incremental deployment device is provided. The incremental deployment device may include a first member with a slotted track having alternating deployment and braking segments, as well as a second member that is movably coupled with the first member and that includes a cam follower that is configured to travel within the slotted track. The deployment segments may be configured to allow relative movement between the first member and the second member with little resistance, whereas the braking segments may be configured to permit relative movement between the first member and the second member with much greater resistance or to not permit any relative movement between the first member and the second member at all. Thus, the first member and the second member may be allowed to accelerate relative to one another within the deployment segments, and are decelerated within the braking segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, LLC
    Inventor: Varouj G. Baghdasarian
  • Seat lifter and gear mechanism
    Patent number: 10336217
    Abstract: A seat lifter includes: a connecting member that connects a base member and a seat frame that form a seat and swings in response to external rotating force to raise or lower the seat frame; a first gear provided in the connecting member; a second gear that is provided such that an axial direction thereof is parallel to an axial direction of the first gear and meshes with the first gear; and an operating lever that applies rotating force to the second gear. The teeth of at least one of the first and second gears have such a shape that a tooth thickness of the teeth gradually decreases from one end toward the other end in the axial direction, and the first and second gears mesh with each other by approaching each other in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Delta Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Ikeda
  • Multi-speed dual clutch transmission
    Patent number: 10309489
    Abstract: A transmission is connectable to an input member and includes an output transfer gear, first and second transmission input shaft members, first, second and third countershaft members, a plurality of co-planar gear sets, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include a plurality of synchronizer assemblies and a dual clutch assembly. The transmission is operable to provide at least one reverse speed ratio and a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Tejinder Singh
  • Adjusting device having an adjusting mechanism arranged on a guide rail
    Patent number: 10300812
    Abstract: An adjusting device for adjusting two vehicle parts relative to each other is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Coburg
    Inventors: Michael Flieger, Stefan Bosecker, Sergej Kostin
  • Spindle drive
    Patent number: 10295012
    Abstract: A spindle drive for motor-actuated adjustment of an adjusting element includes a tubular spindle drive housing for a drive unit with a downstream spindle-spindle nut gear unit for generating a linear driving motion. A connection part inserted into one end of the drive housing is connected to an exterior socket via a damping arrangement comprising an elastic damping material. The connection part includes first and second flange-like end portions having confrontingly opposed, spaced apart front sides sandwiching the damping arrangement 4 which is connected to the end portion front sides by vulcanization and/or gluing. The socket is carried on the second end portion remote from the damping arrangement 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Christof Theis, Kathrin Kronz, Jan Bochen