Patents Examined by William C. Joyce
  • Harmonic drive mechanism of wave generator
    Patent number: 10982746
    Abstract: A harmonic drive mechanism of a wave generator, including a first bearing set, an input shaft, a left end cover, a second bearing set, an output shaft, a key, a bolt assembly, a vibratory hydraulic wave generator assembly, a rigid internal gear sleeve and a flexible external gear. The input shaft which is rotatable is provided on the left end cover through the first bearing set. A part of the input shaft and the flexible external gear are located in the rigid internal gear sleeve. The output shaft which is rotatable is provided on the rigid internal gear sleeve through the second bearing set. An end of the output shaft is connected to the flexible external gear via a key. The vibratory hydraulic wave generator assembly includes a casing, a vibrating plate, a backing plate and a check valve which are located in the flexible external gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Shunde Polytechnic
    Inventors: Xuefeng Chen, Mingxia Tu
  • Shifting device
    Patent number: 10982753
    Abstract: A shifting device shifting device includes a rotor member pivotally-supported by a base member in a turnable manner, and configured to turn following a shifting direction of a shift lever; a lever member pivotally-supported by the base member in a turnable manner, and configured to turn following a selecting direction of the shift lever; a hall sensor as a detector member mounted on a circuit board and facing against a detection target section of the rotor member; and a hall sensor mounted on a surface of the circuit board, and facing against a detection target section of the lever member, the surface being identical to a surface on which the hall sensor is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: U-SHIN LTD
    Inventors: Manabu Tsukazaki, Ippei Makio
  • Dual clutch-type transmission
    Patent number: 10975935
    Abstract: A dual clutch-type transmission includes a first clutch, a second clutch, a first input shaft, a second input shaft, an output shaft, a first countershaft, a second countershaft, a first input gear train, a second input gear train, a first output gear train, a second output gear train, a third output gear train, a first synchronization mechanism, a second synchronization mechanism, and a third synchronization mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Kouhei Akashi, Takefumi Okamoto
  • Force transmission device for a transmission
    Patent number: 10975956
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a force transmitting device (100) for a transmission (200), particularly of a motorcycle, with a shift assist system, featuring a shift input shaft (30) with a shift lever connection (20) for receiving a shifting motion of a shift lever (300) and a transmission connection (40) for transmitting the shifting motion to a gear shifting gate (110) of the transmission (100), wherein the shift input shaft (30) features an energy accumulator (32) for the intermediate storage of at least part of the shifting force such that the relative motion between the shift lever connection (20) and the transmission connection (40) can be realized by changing the shifting force stored in the energy accumulator (32), and wherein the shift input shaft (30) features a sensor device (60) for detecting the relative motion between the shift lever connection (20) and the transmission connection (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: HS PRODUCTS ENGINEERING GMBH
    Inventors: Florian Dorschel, Thomas Heckmayr, Ullrich Juling, Martin Specht
  • Optimized harmonic drive
    Patent number: 10975947
    Abstract: An optimized harmonic drive (“OHD”) includes a wave generator, a flex spline, and a circular rigid spline. The wave generator includes a wave generator contour that minimizes a velocity profile of the wave generator during a high load condition. The flex spline is attached to the wave generator and the circular rigid spline is mechanically engaged to the flex spline. The flex spline includes a plurality of flex spline teeth and the circular rigid spline includes a plurality of rigid spline teeth. The plurality of rigid spline teeth is greater than the plurality of flex spline teeth and the high load condition exists when the rigid spline teeth of the plurality of rigid spline teeth are fully engaged with flex spline teeth of the plurality of flex spline teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert J. Atmur, William Patrick Sargent
  • Connecting structure and hydraulic drive device
    Patent number: 10975916
    Abstract: Provided are a connecting structure and a hydraulic drive device capable of simply and reliably connecting two shaft bodies together while appropriately preventing rotation and runout therebetween. The connecting structure includes a first shaft body and a second shaft body connected to each other at respective end portions and provided so as to be rotatable integrally with each other about a rotation axis. An anti-runout support portion of the first shaft body and that of the second shaft body are engaged with each other so as to restrict relative movement between the first and second shaft bodies with respect to a radial direction. An anti-rotation support portion of the first shaft body and that of the second shaft body are engaged with each other so as to restrict relative movement between the first and second shaft bodies with respect to a rotation direction about the rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isamu Okada, Makoto Yoshida
  • Sliding contact-type wave generator and strain wave gearing
    Patent number: 10962098
    Abstract: A wave generator for a strain wave gearing is provided with a rigid plug having an ellipsoidal plug-outer-circumferential surface, and a ring-shaped displacement body that is flexed to an ellipsoidal shape by the plug. The ring-shaped displacement body is provided with a plurality of radially arranged displacing sections. The plug-contacting surfaces of the displacing sections are in sliding contact with the plug-outer-circumferential surface and when the plug rotates, the displacing sections are repeatedly displaced in the radial direction. By the displacement of the displacing sections, wave motion is generated in an external gear. It is possible to achieve a wave generator capable of generating wave motion in the external gear with a small rotational torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Harmonic Drive Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Masaru Kobayashi
  • Actuator assembly for a transmission shifter
    Patent number: 10955051
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a gear shift actuator assembly to cause gear changes in a vehicle transmission includes a drivetrain having a plurality of gears, a body that defines an output of the assembly, and a rotation sensor element coupled to the body. The body is driven by the drivetrain for rotation about an axis. The output has a coupling feature adapted to be connected to a transmission shift mechanism so that rotation of the output causes a transmission gear shift, and the coupling feature is located at an axial end of the body. The rotation sensor element is coupled to the body for rotation with the body, and the rotation sensor element is coupled to the body axially spaced from the coupling feature. In at least some implementations, the rotation sensor element includes a magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: DURA Operating, LLC
    Inventors: Jinseok Jeon, Brian D. Howe
  • Modular hybrid transmission with torque converter baffle
    Patent number: 10953865
    Abstract: An assembly includes a front module housing an electric machine and an engine disconnect clutch, a transmission aft of the front module, a torque converter axially between the front module and the transmission, and a baffle radially between the torque converter and the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Anatole Frait, John Edward Brevick
  • Modular drive apparatus
    Patent number: 10948047
    Abstract: A modular drive apparatus includes a gear box (16) with a rotatable internal transmission gear (60). The gear box includes a plurality of body openings (44). The openings may be selectively closed by the installation of cover plates (52, 54). With a cover plate removed, a drive coupler (32, 34, 58, 148) may be extended in the respective opening and mounted in operative connection with the gear box. In the mounted position of the drive coupler, an idler gear (72, 172) engages the ring gear of the gear box. Rotatable power devices such as pumps, motors and generators may be operatively rotatably engaged with the drive coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: LOGAN CLUTCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Charles D. Schultz, Stefan Vinca
  • Wave generator and strain wave gearing
    Patent number: 10907717
    Abstract: A wave generator of a strain wave gearing is provided with a rigid plug, a wave bearing mounted to the ellipsoidal outer peripheral surface of the rigid plug, and four elastic claws that rotate integrally with the rigid plug. The balls of the wave bearing include balls in a loose state and balls in a tight state. The loose-state balls adjacent to the tight-state balls are applied with braking force by the elastic claws immediately before they transition into a tight state, and the orbital motion thereof is temporarily prevented or suppressed, whereby the gaps between the loose-state balls and the adjacent tight-state balls are secured. It is possible to prevent increase in rotational torque, damage to the balls or other defects due to ball-to-ball contact by the tight-state balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Harmonic Drive Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Masaru Kobayashi
  • Wave generator for strain wave gearing
    Patent number: 10907716
    Abstract: A wave generator for a strain wave gearing makes a flexible externally toothed gear to flex into an elliptical shape and mesh with rigid internally toothed gears, and makes meshing positions of the flexible externally toothed gear with the both gears to move in a circumferential direction. On the inner side of a rigid plug of the wave generator, a plug support ring is secured and integrated. The rigid plug is formed from an iron-based material, and the plug support ring is formed from a high-rigidity material that is more rigid than the iron-based material. Since deformation of the rigid plug is suppressed, the wave generator provided with a large hollow part can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Harmonic Drive Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Handa, Sotaro Miyake, Hiroaki Kimura, Hideo Yasue
  • Magnetic filter in a fluid channel upsteam of electric motor in a modular hybrid transmission
    Patent number: 10895317
    Abstract: A hybrid drive unit configured for arrangement in a torque path upstream from a transmission and downstream from an internal combustion engine is provided. The hybrid drive unit includes an electric motor, a clutch configured for selectively coupling the internal combustion engine to the electric motor for driving the transmission, and a housing supporting the electric motor. The housing includes a fluid inlet channel for directing cooling fluid from the transmission to the electric motor. The hybrid drive unit also includes a filter assembly attached to the housing. The filter assembly is arranged in a fluid flow path of the cooling fluid downstream of the inlet and upstream of the electric motor. The filter assembly is configured for removing ferrous metallic particles from the cooling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gregory Heeke, Md. Wasi Uddin
  • Bicycle drive system
    Patent number: 10894577
    Abstract: A bicycle drive system includes a front face gear, a rear face gear, a drive shaft, and a front roller-toothed gear assembly coupled to the first end of the drive shaft, and a rear roller-toothed gear assembly coupled to the second end of the drive shaft. Both the front roller-toothed gear assembly and the rear roller-toothed gear assembly include one or more roller elements. The roller-toothed gear assemblies are advantageous in ensuring the bicycle drive system is highly efficient, and is only minimally or not at all affected by dirt, water, contaminants, or other foreign matter typically experienced in un-clean riding conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Inventors: Jason Smith, Morten Opprud Jakobsen, Greg Andrew Vanderbeek, Simon Elnicki Hafner, Hanxiong Yang, Alexander Jacobson Rosenberry, Steven Andrew Simkins, Chase Dixon Cleveland, Eric Stefan Perkey
  • Robot, flexible gear, gear device, and manufacturing method of flexible gear
    Patent number: 10890238
    Abstract: A robot includes a base, a first arm that is provided to be rotatable with respect to the base, and a gear device that transmits a driving force from the base to the first arm. The gear device has a flexible gear. The flexible gear has a cylindrical body portion and a bottom portion that is connected to one end portion of the body portion. The bottom portion has a metal flow radially extending from a center side to an outer peripheral side of the bottom portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Takehana, Kenji Aoyagi
  • Sliding contact-type wave generator, strain wave gearing, and wave-generating method
    Patent number: 10883591
    Abstract: The wave generator of a strain wave gearing is provided with an ellipsoidally contoured wave generator plug and a wave generator bearing. The wave generator bearing is provided with an annular body fitted between inner and outer races in a sliding contact state. The annular body is composed of an endless coil spring and has a rigidity that is able to maintain a constant gap between the inner and outer races. The annular body also has a specified overall flexibility in the radial direction so that the annular body can be flexed into an ellipsoidal shape by the wave generator plug. Since sliding occurs between the annular body and the inner race when the wave generator plug rotates, it is possible to generate a wave motion in an externally toothed gear with a small rotational torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: HARMONIC DRIVE SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventor: Masaru Kobayashi
  • Hybrid drive train for a hybrid-driven motor vehicle
    Patent number: 10883574
    Abstract: A hybrid drive train for a hybrid-driven vehicle. A transmission which can be shifted into different transmission stages by shifting elements and which can be drivingly connected to an internal combustion engine via an internal combustion engine shaft, to an electric machine via an electric machine shaft, and to at least one vehicle axle via an output shaft. The internal combustion engine shaft and a takeoff shaft, which is drivingly connected to the output shaft, can be connected together via spur gear sets which can be shifted by means of the shifting elements, each spur gear set forming a gear plane, of which at least one hybrid gear plane can additionally be connected to the electric machine shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventor: Steffen Hummel
  • Actuating device for moving a movable cover of a thrust reverser
    Patent number: 10883446
    Abstract: An actuating device for moving a mobile cap of a thrust reverser, which includes: an actuator having a first element, such as a screw, and a second element, such as a nut, collaborating with the first element in such a way that turning the first element causes the second element to move in a translational movement. A locking piece is rotationally mobile between a locked position in which the locking piece prevents the first element from turning, and an unlocked position in which the locking piece allows the first element to turn. An unlocking piece is rotationally mobile between an active position in which the unlocking piece urges the locking piece towards the unlocked position and a passive position in which the unlocking piece allows the locking piece to return to the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE
    Inventors: Mickael Werquin, David Charrier, Oleg Gomolko, Pascal Omnes
  • Transmission component set having an output bearing and a harmonic drive transmission which can be mounted thereon
    Patent number: 10876614
    Abstract: A transmission component set has a bearing ring (1) and a strain wave gear mounted thereon. Said strain wave gear comprises an input or drive component (2), a flexible or resilient transmission component (4) having external teeth (3), and a gear (6) having an internal teeth (5). The transmission component (4) is fitted onto the drive component (2) and thereby is elliptically deformable such that the external teeth (3) of the transmission component (4) engage with the internal teeth (5) of the gear (6) in opposing areas of a major axis of the ellipse, wherein the gear (6) or the transmission component (4), via its bearing surface (7), can be mounted on a bearing surface (9) of the bearing ring (1) by means of rolling elements (8). The gear (6) or the transmission component (4) and the bearing ring (1) are each provided with at least one indentation or receptacle (10, 11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Harmonic Drive AG
    Inventors: Matthias Mendel, Michael Schaffer
  • Transmission shifting assistance device and shifting device for a motorcycle
    Patent number: 10875602
    Abstract: A transmission shifting assistance device, in particular for a motorcycle, which allows shifting when the clutch is closed, includes a housing, a piston arranged in the housing, and at least one pressure spring provided in the housing. The piston may be moved relative to the housing by compressing at least one pressure spring. Furthermore, transmission shifting assistance device further includes a locking device separate from the at least one pressure spring. The locking device fixes the piston in a neutral position relative to the housing below a predetermined unlocking force exerted on the piston or the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Berndt Roehrig, Norbert Pitzer