Patents Examined by Zakaria Elahmadi
  • Patent number: 10598090
    Abstract: A torque drive transmission, having at least two counter-rotating cams bearing-mounted within a housing about a rotational axis. The counter-rotating cams are operative to: (i) convert a linear input to a rotary output, and (ii) drive a pair of coaxial drive shafts in opposite directions along the rotational axis. Furthermore, each counter-rotating cam defines a cam profile surface having drive and follower surfaces defining angles ? and ? respectively. The angles ? and ? are unequal to drive each cam and respective output drive shaft in an opposite rotational direction. As such, the cams may be driven in opposite directions irrespective the initial rotational position of the linear input, i.e., relative to each counter-rotating cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Inventor: James L. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 10596697
    Abstract: A robot assembling system comprises a first assembling workstation, a second assembling workstation, and a robot. The first assembling workstation is configured to assemble a contact of a connector assembly and a light guide pipe of the connector assembly to form a contact subassembly. The second assembling workstation is configured to assemble the contact subassembly and a cage to form the connector assembly. The robot is configured to transmit the cage, the light guide pipe, the contact, or the contact subassembly between the first assembling workstation and the second assembling workstation and configured to assist an assembling operation at the first assembling workstation and the second assembling workstation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhiyong Dai, Lvhai Hu, Yingcong Deng, Lei Zhou, Yun Liu, Fengchun Xie
  • Patent number: 10588704
    Abstract: Various exemplary surgical tool and robotic surgical system interfaces are provided. In general, a sterile barrier can be positioned between a robotic surgical system and a surgical tool releasably coupled to the robotic surgical system. The surgical tool can be in a sterile environment on one side of the sterile barrier, and the robotic surgical system can be in a non-sterile environment on the other, opposite side of the sterile barrier. The robotic surgical system can be configured to control movement of the surgical tool releasably coupled thereto using a magnetic field that extends across the sterile barrier between the surgical tool and the robotic surgical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Ethicon LLC
    Inventors: Mark D. Overmyer, Jeffrey S. Swayze, Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Jason L. Harris, Joshua Young, David C. Yates, Kevin L. Houser
  • Patent number: 10591025
    Abstract: A combination engine starter and electric power generator device for a work vehicle has an electric machine and a gear set mounted to the electric machine. The gear set is configured to receive rotational input from the electric machine and from the work vehicle engine. The gear set mechanically couples the electric machine and the engine in first and second power flow directions in which in the first power flow direction the gear set effects a first gear ratio and in the second power flow direction the gear set effects a second gear ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Steven R. Fliearman, Christopher D. Turner, John N. Oenick, Tony J. Huegerich
  • Patent number: 10576673
    Abstract: A resin gear includes a web with a side surface on which a first annular rib and a second annular rib are formed to be concentric with a boss. The web has an inner web portion coupling the first annular rib to the second annular rib, and an outer web portion coupling the second annular rib to a rim. The inner web portion is formed to have a thickness gradually reduced from one intersection point toward another intersection point, the intersection points being intersection points of a virtual radial direction line passing through a center of the boss with the second annular rib. The first annular rib has a side surface on which only one gate mark of an injection molding is formed at a position on a radially outer side with respect to a first tooth portion and a position biased to the other intersection point on the virtual radial direction line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: ENPLAS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Sakamaki, Tetsuya Tokiwa
  • Patent number: 10581163
    Abstract: Multi-RET actuators include a plurality of shafts that have respective axially-drivable members mounted thereon. Each of axially-drivable member is mechanically linked to a respective one of a plurality of phase shifters. The multi-RET actuator further includes a motor having a drive shaft and a gear system that is configured to selectively couple the motor to the respective shafts. The gear system is configured so that rotation of the drive shaft in a first direction creates a mechanical linkage between the motor and a first of the shafts 1340/1342, and rotation of the drive shaft in a second direction that is opposite the first direction rotates the first of the shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Steven Schmutzler, Amit Kaistha, Chih Lin Lin Chou, Paul Everest, Richard English
  • Patent number: 10578203
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive unit (100), with a bearing device (50) for a drive motor (1) which interacts with a gearing element (13) via a drive shaft (2) which is supported at multiple points, with a first bearing element (3) which is arranged on that side of the drive motor (1) which is opposite the gearing element (13), a second bearing element (4) which is arranged between the drive motor (1) and the gearing element (13), and a third bearing element (20; 20a to 20h) which is arranged on that side of the gearing element (13) which faces away from the drive motor (1), wherein the third bearing element (20; 20a to 20h) is arranged movably in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (21) of the drive shaft (2), and wherein the third bearing element (20; 20a to 20h) is accommodated in a receptacle (38; 38a; 66) of a gearbox (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Gerold Schorpp, Peter Steuer, Siegfried Reichmann
  • Patent number: 10569798
    Abstract: A steering column assembly (10) including a mounting structure (20); a column housing (50) having a wall opening (54) and being fixed in position for upward and downward pivotal motion; a tilt screw (72) having a threaded shank and a gear; a tilt nut (80) and optionally a bushing surrounding the tilt nut positioned at least partially within and contacting a surface defining wall opening (54) and having a threaded bore adapted to receive the tilt screw, the contact between the tilt nut and the wall opening such that the load transmitted from the wall opening to the tilt nut is substantially on axis with the threaded bore; a motor (96) for raising and lowering the column housing by rotating the gear portion and causing the tilt nut to advance toward or away from the gear, causing the column housing to raise or lower, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the threaded shank can pivot fore or aft as the column housing is raised or lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: NSK Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Corona Martinez, David Ray Hartman, Logananth Chinniah
  • Patent number: 10563730
    Abstract: A dual clutch transmission for motor vehicles has first and second input shafts, two clutches configured to selectively couple the input shafts to an engine, two intermediate shafts arranged parallel to the input shafts, gearwheel pairs of which a fixed gearwheel is arranged on one of the input shafts and a freely rotating gearwheel is arranged on one of the intermediate shafts, freely rotating output gearwheels arranged on each of the two intermediate shafts and meshing with a differential wheel, and coupling devices configured to selectively couple the freely rotating gearwheels to the respective intermediate shaft, of which at least the coupling devices for the output gearwheels are of double acting design. A dual clutch transmission of this kind makes a large number of gears possible without significantly increasing the dimensions of the transmission or the weight thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Johann Kirchhoffer
  • Patent number: 10564553
    Abstract: The present invention also discloses a multi-DOF (Degree of Freedom) large-stroke high-precision motion platform system using the guide mechanism. A large load-bearing guide mechanism comprises: a rigid frame for generating a large-stroke displacement to realize high-speed motion; a core motion platform connected with a motion portion of a non-contact actuator, connected with the rigid frame by a primary flexible hinge group and a secondary flexible hinge group, and used for generating a small-stroke precise displacement by elastic deformation of the flexible hinge groups under driving of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Inventors: Zhijun Yang, Qian Li, Youdun Bai, Xin Chen, Xun Chen, Yaobin He, Han Sun, Guanxin Huang, Baisheng Wu
  • Patent number: 10543884
    Abstract: A bicycle operating device is basically provided with a base member, a positioning ratchet, a first positioning pawl and a second positioning pawl. The positioning ratchet pivots with respect to the base member about a pivot axis. The positioning ratchet pivots in first and second directions. The first and second positioning pawls are pivotally mounted about a pawl pivot axis between holding positions and releasing positions. The first and second positioning pawls include contact points that selectively contact the positioning ratchet to prevent pivoting of the positioning ratchet in the first direction while the holding position. The contact points of the first and second positioning pawls are perpendicularly spaced from the pawl pivot axis by first and second linear lengths, respectively, that are different. The pivot axis and the pawl pivot axis defines a plane. The first and second contact points are located on a same side of the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Nakamura, Kazutaka Fukao
  • Patent number: 10547229
    Abstract: Electric motors are disclosed. The motors are preferably for use in an automated vehicle, although any one or more of a variety of motor uses are suitable. The motors include lift, turntable, and locomotion motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua M. Biro, William D. Moore
  • Patent number: 10531928
    Abstract: A robot arm comprising a joint mechanism for articulating one limb of the arm relative to another limb of the arm about two non-parallel rotation axes, the mechanism comprising: an intermediate carrier attached to a first one of the limbs by a first revolute joint having a first rotation axis and to a second one of the limbs by a second revolute joint having a second rotation axis; a first drive gear disposed about the first rotation axis, the first drive gear being fast with the carrier; a second drive gear disposed about the second rotation axis, the second drive gear being fast with the second one of the limbs; a first drive shaft for driving the first drive gear to rotate about the first rotation axis, the first drive shaft extending along the first one of the limbs and having a first shaft gear thereon, the first shaft gear being arranged to engage the first drive gear; a second drive shaft for driving the second drive gear to rotate about the second rotation axis, the second drive shaft extending along
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: CMR SURGICAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Thomas Bates Jackson, Luke David Ronald Hares, Keith Marshall, Steven James Randle
  • Patent number: 10527130
    Abstract: An improved gear lift box with a reduced number of parts through integration of elements and increased durability, serviceability and versatility through reconfiguration of various elements and accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Inventor: Grant Shirley
  • Patent number: 10527155
    Abstract: A worm drive system is provided. The worm drive system having: a motor for rotating a worm, the worm having a bearing surface rotatably received by a bearing surface integral with a housing the worm is located in, wherein a lubrication reservoir is located proximate to the bearing surface of the worm such that lubricants located in the reservoir are dispersed onto the bearing surface of the worm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: INTEVA PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventor: Donald M. Perkins
  • Patent number: 10520074
    Abstract: A scissor gear assembly 31 has a main gear 33 and auxiliary gear 35 concentric to the main gear and in axial direction near the main gear. Further the assembly has planar annular springs 37 being interrupted at one place. At the interruption the springs have two ends 37a and 37b. The springs are present between both gears and are with one end 37a connected to the main gear 33 and with the other end 37b to the auxiliary gear 35, so that both gears are connected to each other in rotation direction via the springs. The springs 37 are completely placed radial outwards of the rotation axis 34 of the main gear 33 so space is created to assemble multiple springs. The solution is special suited for relative large size scissor gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: VCST Industrial Products BVBA
    Inventor: Steven Van Lieshout
  • Patent number: 10520068
    Abstract: A sintered gear and an electrical actuator with the sintered gear where the sintered gear has spur teeth formed on a circumference of the gear. A central hole is on the center of the gear. A boss is formed around the central hole. A peripheral portion is formed radially inward of the teeth. A thickness of a region between the boss and the peripheral portion is thinner than that of the boss. The peripheral portion is formed on at least one side of the gear. The peripheral portion has an axially larger thickness than the region between the boss and peripheral portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Ikeda, Hayato Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 10513328
    Abstract: A roller gear for use in a roller gear and sprocket configuration of a drive system is disclosed, particularly for use in a landing gear drive system of an aircraft. Alternative embodiments and, in particular, means for permitting removal and replacement of rollers and roller mounting pins in the roller gear are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Arnaud Didey, Richard Billyeald, James Setter, Ian Dickason
  • Patent number: 10507910
    Abstract: Dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus and methods are disclosed. An example dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus includes a primary link and a secondary link spaced apart from the primary link. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus further includes a first extension link extending between the primary link and the secondary link. The first extension link is coupled to the primary link, to the secondary link and to a first input link. The first input link is coupled to a first actuator. The primary link is coupled to a second input link. The second input link is coupled to a second actuator. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus further includes a second extension link spaced apart from the first extension link and extending between the primary link and the secondary link. The second extension link is coupled to the primary link, to the secondary link and to an output link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Donald Guzman
  • Patent number: 10507575
    Abstract: An attitude-supporting apparatus of a wearable robot includes an actuator for generating a hydraulic pressure by a worker's direct manipulation, and a driving unit including, the driving unit including: an inner component and an outer component capable of relatively rotating, and control components for controlling the relative rotations of the inner component and the outer component, wherein a motion of the control components is controlled by receiving the hydraulic pressure generated from the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jun Hwan Park, Dong Han Koo