Patents Examined by William E. Dondero
  • Patent number: 10131515
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing wire or cable, the apparatus including an enclosure with a top and a bottom portion and at least three side portions of a first height, a plurality of holes located in both the top and bottom portions of the enclosure, and a core of a second height located within the enclosure, wherein the core forms an area, wherein at least one of the plurality of holes has a first hole diameter and is located in the top and bottom of the enclosure and is located within the area formed by the core, and wherein the wire or cable is placed around the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin L. Weatherford, William T. Bigbee, Jr., Clifton S. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10118792
    Abstract: Unwinding systems and methods are provided for unwinding a fiber from a bobbin. The unwinding system can include an axle defining a first axis extending an axial direction, a bobbin rotatably mounted around the axle, a pulley positioned to receive the fiber from the bobbin, wherein the pulley is rotatable around a second axis, and a sensor positioned between the bobbin and the pulley. The bobbin is moveable along the axial direction, and wherein the fiber extends tangentially from a surface of the bobbin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Theodore Robert Grossman, Roger Antonio Aparicio, Martin Peter Gill, Steven Robert Hayashi, Andrew William Miller
  • Patent number: 10113693
    Abstract: A lubricant distributor for delivering lubricant to at least one lubrication point includes a lubricant distributor housing with a cylinder bore, a metering piston mounted for reciprocal movement in the cylinder bore, and a detector connected at an end of the cylinder bore, the detector including an entry bore configured to receive a portion of the metering piston, and the entry bore being in fluid communication with the cylinder bore, and the detector including an interior space separated from the entry bore by a wall and a Hall sensor in the interior space. The detector is configured to output a detection signal in response to detecting the portion of the metering piston in the entry bore. Also a method of operating the lubricant distributor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: SKF LUBRICATION SYSTEMS GERMANY GmbH
    Inventor: Armin Guenther
  • Patent number: 10112795
    Abstract: A feeding path (P) is provided for rolls (R, R1) to be closed and a closing station placed along that path. Two rollers (15, 17) form a cradle (19) for receiving the rolls (R, R1). A closing member (21) is provided to close a tail end (L). A rotating assembly (23) rotates around an axis (A-A) transverse to the feeding path and has groups (27A, 27B, 27C) of arms (28A; 28B, 28C) arranged with respect to one another angularly displaced around the rotation axis of the rotating assembly (23). Each arm has a front part (29) to eject a roll (R, R1) from the cradle (19) and a back part (31) to prevent a subsequent roll entering the closing station until the ejection of a roll from the cradle (19). Rotation of assembly (23) causes closed roll ejection and allows a subsequent roll (R1) to enter and be closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: MTORRES TISSUE S.R.L.
    Inventors: Daniele Dettori, Gionata Pardini
  • Patent number: 10107368
    Abstract: A chain tensioner is provided which is configured such that the air remaining in a pressure chamber can be discharged to the outside through a helical gap defined between a screw and a threaded hole, and through between circumferentially separate radial ends of a spring washer mounted between the screw and a housing. The chain tensioner includes an air discharge groove or grooves formed in the seat surface of the head of the screw such that an annular space defined between the neck of the screw and the inner diameter surface of the spring washer communicates with the outside through the air discharge groove or grooves. Even if foreign objects clog the space between the separate radial ends so as to hinder air from being discharged through between the separate radial ends, the air remaining in the pressure chamber can be discharged to the outside through the air discharge groove or grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kouichi Onimaru, Tasuku Furukawa
  • Patent number: 10107367
    Abstract: To provide a chain tensioner and a relief valve unit that enable a reduction in the number of parts to be machined and the number of assembling steps, reduce the amount of oil flowing out to the outside, and prevent damage on a check valve, without having to increase the size of the chain tensioner. The chain tensioner includes a check valve unit that suppresses reverse flow of oil flowing into an oil pressure chamber, and a relief valve unit that releases the oil when the pressure inside the oil pressure chamber reaches or exceeds a predetermined high pressure. The check valve unit is disposed as a valve element of the relief valve unit, and the relief valve unit and the check valve unit are formed integral with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Kohei Kunimatsu, Yuji Kurematsu
  • Patent number: 10094452
    Abstract: A transmission for a bicycle having a driver assembly with a torque band, the driver assembly being pivotable about a first axis. A driven assembly rotatable about a second axis, the second axis spaced a distance from the first axis. The torque band is rotatable about the second axis. An input source engaged with the driver assembly such that the input source causes the torque band to rotate about the second axis. The driver assembly principally engages said driven assembly along an engagement path at a first distance from the first axis and at a second distance from the second axis whereby the driven assembly is caused to rotate about the second axis, the second distance being infinitely adjustable throughout a gear ratio range. A rotatable output member is engaged with the driven member wherein rotation of the driven member causes the output member to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Inventor: Mark B. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10087777
    Abstract: A system for cooling lubricant in a turbomachine includes a lubricant circuit for circulating a turbomachine lubricant, an air/oil cooler disposed in thermal communication with the lubricant circuit and configured to cool a turbomachine lubricant in the lubricant circuit by passing air over the air/oil cooler, and a compressor air circuit in fluid communication with the air/oil cooler and configured to supply air from a compressor of the turbomachine to the air/oil cooler. The compressor air circuit can include an expansion section to expand and cool air before effusing air to the air/oil cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Vincent Lee
  • Patent number: 10086419
    Abstract: A winding machine (100; 100a, 100b) for wrapping strands of rolled material, such as a bar, a rod, wire or the like, around a reel into coils: a reel (50; 50a, 50b); a base flange (1) defining a first catching recess (6) intended to receive an end of a first strand (17; 17a, 17b); a first cover (9) movable between an open position leaving the first catching recess (6) exposed and a closed position covering the first catching recess (6) to form a closed passage for the end of the first strand (17; 17a, 17b) in order to secure the end of the first strand to the reel (50; 50a, 50b). At least a second element (2) defining a second catching recess (4); and at least a second cover (8) movable between an open position leaving the further catching recess (4) exposed and a closed position covering the second catching recess (4) to form a closed passage for the end of a second strand (27; 27a, 27b) in order to secure the end of the second strand to the reel (50; 50a, 50b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA GMBH
    Inventors: Mauro Introini, Emanuele Osto, Francesco Toschi
  • Patent number: 10086904
    Abstract: A bicycle rear derailleur has a mounting base, a moveable base, and a friction assembly. The moveable base has an axle. The friction assembly is mounted in the moveable base and has a driving disk, a driven disk, multiple rotating members, and a friction member. The driving disk is connected with the axle in a non-rotatable manner. The driven disk is rotatably and axially moveably mounted in the moveable base. Each disk has multiple curved rotating member guiding recesses. Each rotating member guiding recess of the driving disk has a depth decreased along a first rotating direction. Each rotating member guiding recess of the driven disk has a depth decreased along a second rotating direction. The rotating members are mounted respectively in the rotating member guiding recesses. The friction member is mounted in the moveable base in a non-rotatable manner and abuts the driven disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignees: LEE CHI ENTERPRISES CO., LTD., THE CYCLE GROUP INC.
    Inventors: Yen-Chi Lin, Shan-Lin Wu, Yu-Hung Pan
  • Patent number: 10077166
    Abstract: Disclosed is a roll retainer fitting into ends of a roll to retain the roll. The roll retainer includes a retaining member having a flange facing one end of the roll; two or more supporting members pivotally retained by the retaining member, each of the supporting members being movable along an axial direction within a plane between a supporting position at which the supporting member is inserted in a hollow shaft of the roll and a retracted position at which the supporting member is retracted from the supporting position; and a linking device configured to couple the supporting members, the supporting members being linked with one another to be moved between the supporting positions and the retracted positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Honda, Kikuya Nakada
  • Patent number: 10071870
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of winding substrates comprising three-dimensional features about a core to form a spool so that at least a majority of the three-dimensional features in one wrap of a lane of the spool are at least partially nested with a majority of the three-dimensional features in another adjacent wrap in the same lane of the spool. By at least partially nesting these three-dimensional features in adjacent wraps of a lane of the spool, the three-dimensional features may be at least mostly maintained in the substrates without significant compression during winding and storage of the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Gueltekin Erdem, Nadezhda Kurbatova, Joseph Hung Lam, Sudhanshu Gupta
  • Patent number: 10072795
    Abstract: A lubricant distributor of a lubrication system configured to lubricate one or more components of a passenger conveyor is provided including a housing having an input opening, a plurality of output openings and a shaft opening. A valve stem including a bore and a plurality of lubricant outlets is generally arranged within the shaft opening. The bore is configured to fluid couple the input opening to each of the lubricant outlets. Each lubricant outlet is associated with and configured to provide lubricant to at least one of the plurality of output openings at a distinct position of the valve stem. The lubrication system may include multiple lubricant distributors connected by a lubrication fluid circuit having a pump, motor and lubricant source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Michal Dlouhy, Zdenek Bazala
  • Patent number: 10066728
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission clutch sheave cover is a one-piece plastic member having a plurality of snap-fit fasteners located between an outer perimeter and a central opening. The snap-fit fasteners releasably engage features positioned on the face of an outer sheave of a driven clutch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Nathan Yolitz
  • Patent number: 10069370
    Abstract: The present invention achieves oil amount reduction and size reduction in a seal oil supply device for rotating electric machine by suppressing expansion of a rotary shaft due to its temperature increase and reducing the gap between the rotary shaft and a seal ring in normal operation. In this seal oil supply device for rotating electric machine, seal oil is supplied from a seal oil pump to a seal ring of a rotating electric machine in which hydrogen gas is sealed, via a differential pressure regulation valve for regulating a pressure of the seal oil. A first route is provided for supplying the seal oil from the seal oil pump via the differential pressure regulation valve, and in addition, a second route is provided for supplying the seal oil from the seal oil pump via a relief valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Kawashima
  • Patent number: 10060415
    Abstract: A system for emergency lubrication, with a lubricant pump (113) and with at least one outlet opening (125) for delivering lubricant to at least a first lubrication point (107) of a transmission (101), in particular a transmission of a wind turbine. The system includes a first cavity (203), and the lubricant pump (113) is designed to convey at least some of the lubricant into the first cavity (203). The first cavity (203) is designed to store the lubricant intermediately and to act upon the intermediately stored lubricant with positional energy. In addition, there is a lubricant-conveying connection between the first cavity (203) and the outlet opening (125).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, ZF Wind Power Antwerpen N.V.
    Inventors: Roger Bogaert, Michiel Van Den Donker
  • Patent number: 10060513
    Abstract: A pulley assembly for an automobile auxiliary apparatus, such as an alternator, that dampens torsional impacts and reduces the stress on the auxiliary apparatus, the belt drive system and other apparatuses, by use of both a torsion spring and a one-way overrunning clutch mechanism allowing for the free run of the pulley shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: MOTORCAR PARTS OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: John G. Agnitch, Nelson Meza
  • Patent number: 10058906
    Abstract: A winding machine (100; 100a, 100b) for wrapping strands of rolled material, such as a bar, a rod, wire or the like, around a reel into coils: a reel (50; 50a, 50b); a base flange (1) defining a first catching recess (6) intended to receive an end of a first strand (17; 17a, 17b); a first cover (9) movable between an open position leaving the first catching recess (6) exposed and a closed position covering the first catching recess (6) to form a closed passage for the end of the first strand (17; 17a, 17b) in order to secure the end of the first strand to the reel (50; 50a, 50b). At least a second element (2) defining a second catching recess (4); and at least a second cover (8) movable between an open position leaving the further catching recess (4) exposed and a closed position covering the second catching recess (4) to form a closed passage for the end of a second strand (27; 27a, 27b) in order to secure the end of the second strand to the reel (50; 50a, 50b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRIA GMBH
    Inventors: Mauro Introini, Emanuele Osto, Francesco Toschi
  • Patent number: 10059559
    Abstract: A device for towing very long tubular objects, comprises: pulling means capable of driving, by friction, the object in a towing direction, gripping means capable of exerting a load on the pulling means to keep the pulling means and the towed object in continuous contact; the gripping means being driven by a relative movement relative to the towed object in a direction opposite to the towing direction, driving means, capable of driving the pulling means and the gripping means in a coordinated manner to ensure a continuous and uniform pulling of the object, further comprising setting means, capable of adjusting the load exerted on the pulling means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Longuet, Hervé Le Gras, Olivier Cosson, Benoît Peden, Jean Lagadec
  • Patent number: 10059561
    Abstract: A feed assist unit (1) includes a base portion (2) having a plurality of ribs (16a-d) on a lower surface (18) thereof. A dome portion (4) is connected to the base portion (2), and a rotating conduit portion (6) has a curved shape and is coupled to the dome portion (4). Each of the ribs (16a-d) has a first end (20) adjacent to the dome portion (4) and a second end (22) adjacent an associated side (14) of the base portion (2). The feed assist unit (1) has first and second central axes (A-A, B-B) oriented perpendicular to each other. First and third of the ribs (16a, 16c) are oriented parallel to the second central axis (B-B) and the second and fourth of the ribs (16b, 16d) can be oriented parallel to the first central axis (A-A). The first and third ribs (16a, 16c) are offset from the second central axis (B-B) by an offset length (OL) and the second and fourth ribs (16b, 16d) are offset from the first central axis (A-A) the offset length (OL).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: ALCOTEC WIRE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Leo Pfaller, Robert Allen Krause