Patents Examined by William C. Joyce
  • Patent number: 10060517
    Abstract: An externally toothed gear of a strain wave gearing is made to flex into a shape conforming to an ellipsoidal curve. The externally toothed gear meshes with an internally toothed gear at the major-diameter position of the ellipsoidal curve. These two meshing positions gradually change in the circumferential direction of the both gears along the tooth trace direction. The number of external teeth of the externally toothed gear participating in meshing with the internally toothed gear can be increased. A strain wave gearing which has a high rigidity and is capable of reducing vibrational noise, can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: HARMONIC DRIVE SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kiyono, Tatsuro Hoshina, Masakatsu Sasahara
  • Patent number: 10053139
    Abstract: An electromechanical servo steering system may include an electric servomotor that drives a worm shaft that meshes with a worm wheel arranged on a steering shaft. The worm wheel is operatively connected to an input shaft of a steering gear mechanism, and the worm shaft and the steering shaft are rotatably mounted in a common gear mechanism housing. The worm shaft has a free end that is remote from the motor and an end that is close to the motor. The end that is remote from the motor is mounted in a rolling bearing, and the end that is close to the motor has a rolling bearing that is received in an eccentric lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG
    Inventors: Johannes Schönlechner, Christian Kohler
  • Patent number: 10054084
    Abstract: A linear actuator for driving an actuating element of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle has two scanning elements for scanning opposite sides of a guide cam. The guide cam has a protruding rib against which the two scanning elements are pre-tensioned to permit a play-free scan of the guide cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Weis, Carsten Mikolajek
  • Patent number: 10050359
    Abstract: A robot includes a joint as a first member, a link as a second member rotating around a third primary rotational axis in a bending and stretching manner with respect to the joint, a wiring board installed in the joint so that the first surface faces in a direction roughly perpendicular to the third primary rotational axis, and having a connector as a connection section to be connected to one end of an FPC as a flat cable disposed on the first surface, and a reel provided to the link, and formed by winding the other end side of the FPC around a rotational axis roughly parallel to the third primary rotational axis, and the FPC is connected to the first surface roughly perpendicularly to the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Kirihara, Daisuke Sato
  • Patent number: 10036453
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission (CVT) having a main shaft configured to support and position various components of the CVT. Shift cam discs cooperate with ball-leg assemblies to shift the transmission ration of the CVT. Load cam discs, a torsion disc, rolling elements, and a hub cap shell are configured to generate axial force, transmit torque, and manage reaction forces. In one embodiment, a splined input shaft and a torsion disc having a splined bore cooperate to input torque into the variator of the CVT. Among other things, various ball axles, axle-ball combinations, and reaction force grounding configurations are disclosed. In one embodiment, a CVT having axial force generation means at both the input and output elements is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Fallbrook Intellectual Property Company LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Smithson, Brad P. Pohl, Oronde J. Armstrong, Donald C. Miller, Daniel J. Dawe, Fernand A. Thomassy, Matthew P. Simister, Wesley R. Poth, Jon M. Nichols, Charles B. Lohr
  • Patent number: 10030748
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission provides an increased transmission speed ratio with fewer parts. A kinematic arrangement can provide at least a squared kinematic arrangement of the variator for two or more modes, for example, and can provide an increased range transmission speed ratio with fewer moving parts. In many embodiments, the continuously variable transmission provides synchronous gear ratios and a continuously variable speed ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Dana Limited
    Inventor: Raymond James Haka
  • Patent number: 10030750
    Abstract: A drive device serves for adjusting an operating element for a valve, a throttle, a blow-out preventor or the like, in particular in the field of gas and oil production, the operating element being actively connected to at least one driving motor via a drive train, and at least one transmission changing unit being arranged in the drive train for converting a revolution of the driving motor into a revolution of the operating element and/or a revolution/linear motion converter being arranged for converting the revolution of the driving motor into a linear motion of the operating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: ONESUBSEA IP LIMITED
    Inventor: Klaus Biester
  • Patent number: 10030749
    Abstract: In a continuously variable transmission, driving force from a drive source is transmitted via a path to establish a LOW mode. A large torque that is transmitted in the LOW mode passes through a first output switching mechanism. Since a countershaft is relatively rotatably disposed on an outer periphery of an input shaft, and the first output switching mechanism is disposed on the countershaft, the countershaft which transmits a large torque is disposed on an outer peripheral side of a double tube and supported directly by a transmission case, and the input shaft which transmits a relatively small torque is supported via the countershaft, thereby making it possible to support the first output switching mechanism with high rigidity without carrying out special reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Uchino, Atsushi Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 10022878
    Abstract: A robot includes a supporting unit that rotatably supports a first passive shaft part, and a first arm fixed to the first passive shaft part, wherein the first arm has an internal space overlapping with the first passive shaft part in a direction orthogonal to a center shaft of the first passive shaft part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Komatsu, Kazushige Akaha
  • Patent number: 10024417
    Abstract: A gearbox comprises a gearbox housing containing a gear train whose shafts are supported by the housing. The housing is fastened to a mounting plate at exactly three attachment points. This three point attachment reduces distortion of the housing that may cause misalignment of individual meshing gears in the gear train, leading to premature failure of those gears transmitting high torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Crown Iron Works Company
    Inventor: George E. Anderson
  • Patent number: 10012298
    Abstract: A torque converter for coupling an engine to a manual transmission and a method of controlling the same are provided. The torque converter includes a housing rotating with the engine, a cover abutting the housing, a stator, a pump circulating fluid within the torque converter, and a turbine driven by the circulating fluid. An integrated disconnect clutch controls pump speed and a torsional damper attenuates vibrations transmitted through the housing. A first output shaft is coupled with the turbine and drives a first forward gear of the manual transmission while permitting slip. A second output shaft is coupled with the torsional damper, the integrated disconnect clutch, and the pump and drives at least one other forward gear of the manual transmission without slip. An output connection member rotatably couples the pump with the torsional damper, the integrated disconnect clutch, and the second output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: AVL POWERTRAIN ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventor: Hamid Vahabzadeh
  • Patent number: 10001054
    Abstract: A method and a device for orienting an actuator of an exhaust-gas turbocharger which has an actuator that is equipped with an actuator housing and is connected to a control rod. First, an actuator holder is fastened to the compressor housing of the exhaust-gas turbocharger. Then the actuator is inserted into the actuator holder. Then the actuator is positioned within the actuator holder. Then a compensating material is introduced through an injection opening into a compensating-material receiving space which is provided in the actuator holder. Finally, the compensating material is hardened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Boening, Simon Baensch, Bruno Ferling, Dirk Frankenstein
  • Patent number: 9989124
    Abstract: A power transmission 1 includes an output shaft 9 disposed in parallel to an input shaft 5, and provided at one end with an output gear 35 and at an opposite end with a final drive gear 36 meshing with a final driven gear 37 of a differential device 10, the output gear 35 normally meshing with a reverse speed drive gear 26, and with a first speed driven gear 31 in an array 39 of driven gears 31, 32, 33, and 34 on a counter shaft 8 normally meshing with a first speed drive gear 14 in an array 20A of odd-speed shift position drive gears 14, 15, 16, and 17 on an odd-speed shift position drive shaft 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Noriyuki Enami
  • Patent number: 9992896
    Abstract: A mechanism for connecting a first object, such as a chassis and/or motherboard, to a second object, such as a faceplate and/or daughterboard. A first link may be connected to the first object and a second link may be connected to the second object. The second link may have a slot and the first link may have a pin which is releasably connectable to the slot to form a pivot connecting the first link to the second link. The pin may be releasable from the slot at a first point of travel of the pivot and the pin may not be releasable from the slot at a second point of travel of the pivot. The first link may include a first retaining lobe and the second link may include a second retaining lobe disposed to interlock with the first retaining lobe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: FLEXTRONICS AP, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Fordham, Rick Payne
  • Patent number: 9988071
    Abstract: A bearing arrangement for a motor vehicle steering system includes a sleeve arranged between an outer bearing ring and a housing. The sleeve includes an inner contact surface in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the outer bearing ring, and an outer contact surface in contact with a seat surface of the housing, wherein either of the inner contact surface or the outer contact surface of the sleeve are convex shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG
    Inventor: Thomas Riepold
  • Patent number: 9989143
    Abstract: A bevel gear shroud assembly comprises a frustum shaped shroud portion, first and second rib portions and one or more fin portions. The frustum shaped shroud portion has a cut-out sector, the cut-out sector having opposing, radially extending first and second sides. The first and second rib portions project inwardly from an upper base of the shroud frustum and normal to the inner surface of the shroud portion, and are spaced apart from one another to form an annular trough therebetween. The or each rib portion projects inwardly from an inner surface of the frustum shaped shroud portion between the first and second rib portions, and the or each rib portion extends circumferentially around the shroud portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Neil Robert Fomison
  • Patent number: 9975257
    Abstract: A ceiling mounted robot includes a first arm portion, and a second motor that is provided in the first arm portion. The first arm portion has a first heat dissipation path limiting portion, and a first heat dissipation portion that is in contact with the first heat dissipation path limiting portion and has thermal conductivity higher than that of the first heat dissipation path limiting portion. The first heat dissipation portion is in contact with the second motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Hahakura, Masato Yokota
  • Patent number: 9968410
    Abstract: The endoscope treatment system includes an endoscope treatment tool that has an operating part having a distal end and a proximal end, and a sheath that is connected to the distal end of the operating part and is formed with a lumen through that enables a guide wire to be inserted therethrough; a guide wire holder around which a tube member housing the guide wire is wound circumferentially; and a fixing member that couples the operating part to the guide wire holder such that the distal end and the proximal end of the operating part are located outside the circumference of the guide wire holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryuichi Yorimoto, Masatoshi Iida
  • Patent number: 9964197
    Abstract: In a standard gear unit, which, in a first variant, is implemented with an output-side bearing and an outgoing shaft, and which, in a second variant, is able to be implemented with an intermediate flange inserted at the bearing position of the output-side bearing, the intermediate flange is formed such that, with an associated, differently formed outgoing shaft, a robot interface or flange block interface is able to be formed on the output side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Egon Goppelsröder, Eberhard Tüngler, René Richert
  • Patent number: 9951866
    Abstract: A shift apparatus mounted on a vehicle includes: a shift switching member including valley sections according to a shift position; a positioning member provided to establish the shift position in a state of being fitted into any of the valley sections; an actuator for driving the shift switching member; and a driving force transmission mechanism including a driving-side member on an actuator side and a driven-side member on a shift switching member side, and rotating the shift switching member, wherein the driving-side and driven-side members are able to relatively rotate in an engaged state by a predetermined amount of backlash, and a position of a valley bottom of the valley section is configured to be learned, based on a difference between rotational angles on the actuator side and the shift switching member side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya Kuwahara, Yutaka Uchida, Shinya Horii