Patents Examined by Zakaria Elahmadi
  • Articulated mechanism with compact torque sensor
    Patent number: 11491644
    Abstract: A motorized joint unit comprises a pair of shells defining an inner cavity, the pair of shells adapted to be connected to adjacent links of an articulated mechanism. A rotor and stator in the inner cavity are actuatable to cause a relative rotation therebetween. A shaft connected to the rotor to rotate with the rotor relative to the stator. A support coupled to the shaft by a mechanism, the support being connected to one of the shells to impart a rotation of the shaft to the shell, the support defining an annular wall. One or more strain gauges are located on said annular wall of the support. A printed circuit board (PCB) is applied against the annular wall and electrically connected to the at least one strain gauge, the PCB adapted to be electrically linked to a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: KINOVA INC.
    Inventors: Sebastien Messier, Louis-Joseph Caron L'Ecuyer
  • Robot manipulator and robot
    Patent number: 11485011
    Abstract: A robot manipulator includes: an arm body; a wrist effector, connected to the arm body; a multi-degree-of-freedom (DOF) connecting device, rotatably connected to the wrist effector; and a grabber, connected to the multi-DOF connecting device, wherein the multi-DOF connecting device is configured to receive a power output by the wrist effector and drive the grabber to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: CLOUDMINDS (BEIJING) TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD., CLOUDMINDS ROBOTICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haotian Cui, Xunge Yan, William Xiao-qing Huang, Cheng Luo, Yufeng Zhang
  • Ball screw device
    Patent number: 11480236
    Abstract: The ball screw device includes: a screw shaft having an N number (N is an integer equal to or larger than 2) of rolling grooves having the same lead; balls configured to roll in the rolling grooves; and a nut member, which is assembled to the screw shaft through intermediation of the balls, and includes one or a plurality of endless circulation paths configured to circulate the balls around the screw shaft. Each of the endless circulation paths of the nut member includes: an N number of load portions, which are configured to allow the balls to roll thereon while bearing a load, and correspond to the N number of rolling grooves, respectively; and an N number of no-load portions, which each couple adjacent ones of the load portions, and are configured to allow the balls to move between the N number of rolling grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomofumi Ohashi, Bin Zhao, Sho Iwashiro, Yoshihiro Kudo, Wataru Saito, Mika Oki, Takuya Miyazaki
  • Transmission actuator attachment structure for automatic vehicle driving device
    Patent number: 11467064
    Abstract: An L-shaped bracket (151) is fixed to a top end portion of a rack shaft (141) of a selecting actuator (133) of a transmission actuator unit (131) through a rotatable joint (152). An actuator housing (161) of a shifting actuator (134) is supported on a mounting surface (151a) of the L-shaped bracket (151) so as to be attachable to and detachable from the mounting surface (151a) through a lock mechanism (154) (a lock pin (155) and a lock hole (162a)). The shifting actuator (134) can be mounted with the shifting actuator (134) being reversed 180 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: MEIDENSHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiko Kodama, Nobuo Okazaki
  • Transmission with integrated overload protection for a legged robot
    Patent number: 11460076
    Abstract: An example robot includes: a motor disposed at a joint configured to control motion of a member of the robot; a transmission including an input member coupled to and configured to rotate with the motor, an intermediate member, and an output member, where the intermediate member is fixed such that as the input member rotates, the output member rotates therewith at a different speed; a pad frictionally coupled to a side surface of the output member of the transmission and coupled to the member of the robot; and a spring configured to apply an axial preload on the pad, wherein the axial preload defines a torque limit that, when exceeded by a torque load on the member of the robot, the output member of the transmission slips relative to the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: BOSTON DYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Zachary John Jackowski, Adam Young
  • Bolt type angular gear mechanism
    Patent number: 11460092
    Abstract: Bolt type angular gear mechanism (1) for transmitting a rotational movement from a first shaft to a second shaft which is orientated at an angle with respect to the first shaft, comprising a plurality of angular bolts (31, 32) each having two members, a first bolt carrier (21) which can be rotated about a first axis and which has receiving members (4) for the first members of the angular bolts (31, 32) in each case, a second bolt carrier (22) which can be rotated about a second axis and which has receiving members (4) for the second members of the angular bolts (31, 32) in each case so that the bolt carriers (21, 22) are connected by means of the angular bolts (31, 32), wherein the axes define an angle, and wherein the members of the angular bolts (31, 32) are each constructed in a cylindrical manner as far as a plane of the angle bisector between the axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: WITTENSTEIN SE
    Inventors: Thomas Bayer, Johannes Rôder, Michael Schmidt
  • Robotic leg and robot having the same
    Patent number: 11447196
    Abstract: A robotic leg assembly includes a main body having a first end and an opposite second end, a first servo arranged at the first end of the main body, a second servo connected to the main body and comprising an output shaft, a servo holder arranged at the second end of the main body, a third servo received in the servo holder, and a linkage bar mechanism. Each of a first initial angle of the first rotary member and a second initial angle of the second rotary member is in a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP LTD
    Inventors: Youpeng Li, Youjun Xiong, Hongyu Ding, Meichun Liu, Jianxin Pang
  • Stator core end caps
    Patent number: 11444504
    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: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua M. Biro, William D. Moore
  • Curved groove ball bearing mechanism
    Patent number: 11421764
    Abstract: The invention relates to mechanical engineering, and more particularly to a curved groove ball bearing mechanism, in which a pair of curved groove ball bearings without a retainer are symmetrically arranged to enable the conversion between the rotary motion and the reciprocating linear motion. The bearing mechanism includes an inner ring, a first outer ring, a second outer ring, a plurality of first steel balls and a plurality of second steel balls. The invention is capable of achieving the conversion between the rotary motion of the inner ring into the reciprocating linear motion of the first and second outer rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Northwest A&F University
    Inventors: Kangquan Guo, Qunzhuo Li, Fang Gu
  • Roller gear for a drive system
    Patent number: 11407501
    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: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Arnaud Didey, Richard Billyeald, James Setter, Ian Dickason
  • Ball screw assembly and open nut thereof
    Patent number: 11402001
    Abstract: An open nut and a ball screw assembly having the open nut are provided. The ball screw assembly includes a guider, an open nut, and a ball circulating assembly. The open nut includes an axial cylinder, an open shield, and two circulators. The two circulators are respectively disposed on a first axial wall and a second axial wall of the axial cylinder with an axial opening. Each of the circulators includes an inner member and an outer member. The inner member and the outer member are assembled to each other and are respectively in communication with an inner ball race between the guider and the open nut and an outer ball race of the open nut. Therefore, the inner ball race, ball races of the two circulators, and the outer ball race form a ball circulating race, and the ball circulating assembly rolls in the ball circulating race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Inventor: Szu-Ying Lee
  • Transmission housing unit and transmission unit having a wedge-shaped compensation element for axial play compensation
    Patent number: 11402010
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a transmission housing unit and to a transmission unit which has said transmission housing unit. The transmission housing unit has a housing main body which has a through hole, through which a shaft which penetrates the housing main body in the axial shaft direction can be pushed into the housing main body, a wedge-shaped compensation element for axial play compensation between the shaft and the housing main body which engages around the shaft at least in a U-shaped or arcuate manner, and a pre-stressed spring element which is arranged between the obtuse end of the compensation element and the housing main body. The compensation element can be displaced radially in the direction of the shaft axis along a guide surface of the housing main body between an assembly position and an active position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: NIDEC MOTORS & ACTUATORS (GERMANY) GmbH
    Inventors: Jian Yang, Max Schwing
  • Motor with speed reduction mechanism
    Patent number: 11401997
    Abstract: A motor includes a motor unit, a speed reduction mechanism, a motion conversion mechanism, and a housing. The motion conversion mechanism converts rotary motion of the speed reduction. mechanism into reciprocating rotary motion and transmits the motion to an output shaft. The speed reduction mechanism includes a worm, a first gear, and a second gear. The worm is disposed on a rotation shaft of the motor unit. The first gear transmits rotation of the worm and rotates about a first shaft. The second gear receives rotation of the first gear and rotates about a second shaft. The motion conversion mechanism includes a rotary member and a rod. The rotary member includes a sector gear and rotates about an axis of the first shaft. The rod couples the second gear and the rotary member. The output shaft includes an output gear that engages the sector gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro Aoyama, Isamu Adachi, Satoshi Annen
  • Ball screw device
    Patent number: 11402002
    Abstract: A ball screw device includes a plurality of ball screw devices. In one ball screw device, a recirculation member is larger than the recirculation member in another ball screw device in terms of one mounting dimension of two mounting dimensions selected from a circumferential length of a part at a side of a pick-up opening portion in each pick-up portion, a circumferential length of a part at a side opposite to the pick-up opening portion in each pick-up portion, a circumferential length of a connection passage portion and an axial length of the connection passage portion, and the recirculation member is smaller than the recirculation member in the other ball screw device in terms of another mounting dimension of the two mounting dimensions, the other ball screw device being different in a diameter of a screw shaft from the one ball screw device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusuke Iinuma
  • Gear with helical toothing, and segment for a gear
    Patent number: 11402008
    Abstract: A gear includes helical toothing and is composed of segments, and each segment has a toothing section that has a helical toothing. Each toothing section of each segment is connected via first and second webs as well as connecting sections to the connection region, the connecting sections, and the first and the second webs are set apart from each other or are at least sectionally set apart from each other, e.g., such that the segment has a plurality of axially uninterrupted recesses, in particular three or more. The axial region covered by the first webs is set apart from the axial region covered by the second webs, in particular so that the segment has at least one recess that is uninterrupted in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Zili Wu
  • Ball screw
    Patent number: 11391350
    Abstract: A ball screw includes: a screw shaft (10) having a spiral first screw groove (11) formed in an outer peripheral surface thereof; a nut (20) disposed on the periphery of the screw shaft (10) and having a spiral second screw groove (21) formed in an inner peripheral surface thereof; a plurality of balls (30) accommodated in a rolling path (23) formed by the opposing screw grooves (11, 21); and a circulation piece (40) that forms a ball return passage (42) for circulating the plurality of balls (30) through one circuit or less of the rolling path (23). Traffic variation is made to be small by determining the maximum angle of inclination (?) of the ball return passage (42) in an expression using the lead (L), the ball diameter (Da), and the lead angle (?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Keitaro Oka
  • Ball screw device
    Patent number: 11384821
    Abstract: A ball screw device includes: a screw shaft the outer peripheral surface of which has a first thread groove; a nut the inner peripheral surface of which is provided with a second thread groove that matches the first thread groove, and the outer peripheral surface of which is provided with a through hole; a plurality of balls that roll between the first thread groove and the second thread groove; a circulation component including a main body part and a pair of leg parts provided on both ends of the main body part, and that is provided on the nut; and a pin component that fixes the circulation component to the nut. Each of the leg parts is inserted into the through hole, the pin component is provided on the leg part in an overlapping manner, and the leg part is retained in the through hole by the pin component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Kanta Sato, Yasuaki Abe, Kazuya Yamada, Motoshi Sakai
  • Linear module
    Patent number: 11384819
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a linear module. The linear module according to an example of the present invention comprises a base plate; a screw disposed on the base plate and arranged in the longitudinal direction of the base plate; a carrier block including a hollow part surrounding a portion of the screw; a carrier block rail disposed on one side of the carrier block and arranged in the longitudinal direction of the base plate; a long rail disposed on the base plate and arranged in the longitudinal direction of the base plate; and a roller guide disposed between the carrier block rail and the long rail and to reduce the frictional force between the carrier block rail and the long rail when the carrier block moves in the longitudinal direction of the base plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Ewellix AB
    Inventors: Sungwon Lee, Jinho Park, Doosin Kong
  • Linear actuator
    Patent number: 11384820
    Abstract: Linear actuator comprising a housing (1) consisting of two parts (1a, 1b), an electric motor (3) with a motor shaft, a transmission (8-11) in connection with the motor shaft, a spindle unit in connection with the transmission, where the spindle unit comprises at least a spindle (7) with a spindle nut (14) and where the spindle (7) is equipped with a bearing (12), an adjustment element (13) in connection with the spindle unit. The linear actuator is characterized in that a mounting unit (2) is embedded in the housing, said mounting unit (2) has a front and a rear end, and where the motor (3) is placed on the rear end of the mounting unit (2) and the spindle (7) is mounted on the front end of the mounting unit (2), and where the transmission (8-11) is located inside the mounting unit (2). In addition to being able to reduce the number of components with this construction, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Linak A/S
    Inventor: Rolf Jørgensen
  • Driving apparatus
    Patent number: 11339867
    Abstract: A driving apparatus has a problem in that foreign matter, such as grease, in a reduction gear moves from the reduction gear to a coupling side. Therefore, a driving apparatus includes an input shaft with a hollow space, a motor that rotates the input shaft, a reduction gear that receives the power of the motor from the input shaft, an output shaft inserted through the hollow space of the input shaft and adapted to rotate about the rotation axis of the motor, and a coupling connected to a tip end of the output shaft. A first limiting member for limiting the movement of foreign matter in the reduction gear toward the coupling side is arranged between the reduction gear and the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignees: DAIHEN CORPORATION, NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nan Jiang, Hiroshi Nakagiri, Kota Hoshijima, Kenji Omata