Patents by Inventor Erwin F'Geppert

Erwin F'Geppert has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4909775
    Abstract: The invention is a universal joint for transferring rotary motion between o shafts whose axes are movable relative to one another. The universal joint includes a generally Y-shaped terminus on either shaft, and a pair of arms on each terminus diverging obliquely away from the axes of the respective shafts. A frame member connected between the termini has a plurality of rods radiating therefrom to engage the arms of the termini. A bearing swivellingly mounted in each arm of the termini defines a through bore for accommodating translational movement of the rods through the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin F'Geppert
  • Patent number: 4805489
    Abstract: An infinitely variable ratio transmission comprising an input sun gear, a plurality of orbiting planet gears, and an output sun gear. One of the planet gears is engaged with a nominally stationary sun gear. A disc brake retains the stationary gear in place against load forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin F'Geppert
  • Patent number: 4782716
    Abstract: An anti-friction worm-wheel assembly wherein the anti-friction elements are ollers carried by the worm element. The rollers sequentially move through grooves in the edge surface of the wheel element to transmit drive forces from one element to the other. Aims of the invention are to achieve rolling contact of the anti-friction elements on the groove surfaces, relatively high load-handling capability, and a relatively simple low cost structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin F'Geppert
  • Patent number: 4726788
    Abstract: An electrical receptacle containing a multiple number of pin-type connectors, wherein the receptacle housing is a tubular metal member susceptible to manufacture by low cost screw machine procedures. Most surfaces of the metal member are centered on the tube axis, except that a circular flange on the member has a localized flat surface machined thereon for anti-rotation lock action. The receptacle is designed to be secured in place by a concealed nut for protection against theft or vandalism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Inventor: Erwin F'Geppert
  • Patent number: 4679459
    Abstract: A spur gear system wherein each gear comprises two gear sections; gear te in the respective sections are staggered a one half tooth pitch distance. The effect is to achieve a relatively high contact ratio with relatively small diameter gears. Teeth on mating gears are of positive (convex) curvature and negative (concave) curvature to provide an enlarged contact area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin F'Geppert
  • Patent number: 4678224
    Abstract: In a military vehicle having small observation windows susceptible to being coated with airborne mud particles when the vehicle is operating off-the-road under adverse climate conditions, it is proposed to provide air pressure mechanisms on the vehicle near the window surfaces. Such air pressure mechanisms are oriented to generate an air curtain in the space between airborne particulates and the window surface, whereby the curtain acts to deflect such particulates away from the window surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Inventor: Erwin F'Geppert
  • Patent number: 4655619
    Abstract: A resilient hollow annular frustro-conical roller bearing whose wall thicss varies according to the roller diameter. Any abnormal load placed upon the roller causes an increase area of contact between the roller and the opposing race surfaces. The hollow annular construction of the bearing is such that the load causes the roller to be stressed substantially uniformly along its entire length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin f'Geppert
  • Patent number: 4601633
    Abstract: A hoist that includes a winding drum for a load-lift cable mechanism. The um has two drum sections of slightly different diameter; end portions of the cable are wound in different directions on the drum sections, so that one cable section winds onto a drum section while the other cable section winds off the other drum section. The effect is to provide a very slow net cable motion related to the difference in drum section diameters. The hoist includes a latch mechanism adapted to suspend the load from the boom during certain periods of a load transfer operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin F'Geppert
  • Patent number: 4596404
    Abstract: An outrigger construction for raising and supporting selected portions of a railer or other wheeled vehicle, e.g. to provide a level stable vehicle attitude while the vehicle is located on sloping terrain. The principal feature of interest is a low-cost power mechanism for operating the outrigger. In one case the power mechanism comprises a winch-cable system. In another instance the power mechanism comprises a level-link assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin F'Geppert
  • Patent number: 4596540
    Abstract: A drive belt formed as a discontinuous belt structure with specially-formed nd connectors. The faces of the end connectors have large numbers of miniature interlockable hooking elements thereon for enabling the ends of the belt structure to be formed into a usable endless drive belt. The belt structure can be cut to varying lengths, such that one belt structure can be used to form a variety of different length belts. The belt ends can be connected together after the belt structure has been installed around a pulley system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin F'Geppert
  • Patent number: 4590813
    Abstract: A power transmission that uses inertia forces. The drive member carries a urality of high density rollers that are acted on by centrifugal force. The driven member includes reaction surfaces that periodically move the high density rollers inwardly in opposition to the centrifugal force. As the rollers are moved inwardly they impart energy to the driven member, thereby producing a power transmission action. The reaction surfaces on the driven member are designed so that the system is responsive to speed and load changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin F'Geppert
  • Patent number: 4569427
    Abstract: An improved coupling for driven shafts is formed by juxtaposed bores. A se core is disposed within the chamber formed by the bores. A plurality of radially extending splines are formed and used to rotatably fasten the core and the shafts. Adjustment means are associated with the core to move the core from an engaged position between and connecting the shafts for rotation to a second disengaged position within one of the bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of American as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin F'Geppert
  • Patent number: 4569234
    Abstract: In a rotary drive system, mechanical means for sensing turning torque gented by the load forces. The sensing means is designed to operate with minimal effect on normal operation of the drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin F'Geppert
  • Patent number: 4558606
    Abstract: A variable speed drive that uses cone clutch surfaces, and an adjusting manism for shifting certain ones of the cone surfaces parallel to the cone angle, thereby changing the speed ratio between the input and output members. The engaged clutch surfaces preferably comprise a relatively small diameter male clutch surface engaged with a relatively large diameter female clutch surface, such that a relatively large area engagement is achieved in all adjusted positions of the clutch system. The inventive system preferably includes an intermediate member between the input and output members; this intermediate member has two sets of clutch surfaces interengaged with clutch surfaces on the input and output members to produce a two step speed change from the input member to the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin F'Geppert
  • Patent number: 4531847
    Abstract: An adjustable shim structure for use between shaft-mounted equipments and aft-support bearings, whereby axial play of the equipments is prevented. The shim structure includes two collars having meshed threads enabling the collars to be rotated relative to one another for adjusting the axial length of the collar assembly. The shaft may be connected to each bearing by means of an expansible plug extending within a circular cavity in the shaft; the plug exerts an outward radial force on the shaft wall, thus expanding the shaft into an interference fit with the associated bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin F'Geppert
  • Patent number: 4502571
    Abstract: Fluid pressure mechanism for locking a movable rod or similar member in scted positions of adjustment. The mechanism includes a fluid housing having at least one annular rod-gripper element encircling a movable rod. Introduction of fluid pressure into the housing causes the gripper element to expand out of locking engagement with the rod. Removal of the fluid pressure force enables the gripper element to relax into locking engagement with the rod. In a preferred arrangement two rod-gripper elements are employed. The rod passes through the two gripper elements located in opposite side walls of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin F'Geppert
  • Patent number: 4486479
    Abstract: An air-inflatable structure wherein each flat wall of the structure comprs a separate air bag. Sharp rectangular corners can be formed at the demarcation zones between the separate air bags. The invention is particularly useful in the formation of air-inflated structures having flat walls and sharp corners, e.g., decoy (fake) military vehicles. Decoy structures (e.g., tanks, trucks, etc.) can be made to achieve closer more realistic simulations of actual structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin F'Geppert
  • Patent number: 4449621
    Abstract: A segmented annular clutch plate for use in any conventional clutch plate chanism. The segments are of equal arcuate dimension so that they are interchangeable. Each segment possesses the same annular uniformily serrated surface. Each segment may be provided with a key-slot mating connection to restrict the radial movement of the clutch plate while in operation. The clutch plates are designed and oriented so that in the clutch assembly the plates in one set of plates have different numbers of segments than the plates in the other set of plates, whereby adjoining plates can have only two segment joints in axial alignment at any one instant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1984
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin F'Geppert
  • Patent number: 4403521
    Abstract: A sealing device for sealing the joint between a through shaft and a wall partition. The sealing device is comprised of a relatively thin, flexible diaphragm sandwiched between nonrotatable pressure plates which are floatably positioned between two inclined cam elements. The cam elements are carried by two axially aligned rotatable shafts. When one of the shafts is rotated, the cam elements will force the other shaft to rotate. The intervening pressure plates do not rotate but merely wobble when the shafts are torqued. The sealing diaphragm, being interposed between the pressure plates, completely seals the opening of entry of the shafts from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin f'Geppert
  • Patent number: 4395062
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a screw-nut mechanism for clamping two work pis together. In one application the mechanism is used to clamp a cover plate over an access opening in a vehicle hull or similar member. The screw-nut mechanism is specially designed for use where one face of the hull or similar fixed work piece is inaccessible for welding or otherwise affixing the nut on the concealed face of the inaccessible work piece. I provide a screw-nut mechanism that avoids the necessity for affixing the nut to the work piece. In my invention the nut is a loose hardware item that can have a thread length proportional to the expected load, thereby avoiding strength problems associated with the formation of threads directly in relatively thin work pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin F'Geppert