Patents by Inventor Ioan Napau
Ioan Napau 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).
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Patent number: 9902295Abstract: A single-stage gear reduction output mechanism for an automotive seat assembly including a gear housing bracket, gear housing, axle shaft, eccentric, and first and second gears. The axle shaft extends through the eccentric with a slip fit, the first gear rotates with the axle shaft, and the second gear is carried on a first bearing surface of the eccentric and meshingly engages the first gear in a planetary arrangement. A locking plate including first, second, and third slot cutouts is disposed within the gear housing. A support pin extends from the gear housing through the first slot cutout and a second bearing surface of the eccentric extends through the second slot cutout to support the locking plate and limit its movement along a lateral axis. The second gear includes a first pin that extends through the third slot cutout to prevent the first gear from back-driving the second gear.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2016Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: Mircea Napau, Doina Napau, Ileana-Dacia Napau, Dean Lenane, Matthew Essian, Ioan Napau
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Patent number: 9856958Abstract: A torsional vibration damper includes a planetary gear set connected to a transmission input shaft, including a sun gear, a carrier, and a ring gear. A spring cage includes a first spring support member connected to the ring gear having multiple first spring contact members. A second spring support member is connected to the carrier and rotates with respect to the first spring support member. The second spring support member has multiple second spring contact members angularly oriented with respect to the first spring contact members. Multiple springs having opposed ends are positioned between and are compressed by rotation of the first or the second spring support member. The springs compress and extend to absorb vehicle engine vibration pulses. Each end of the springs has one of the multiple first spring contact members and or one of the multiple second spring contact members positioned proximate thereto.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2015Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Leonid Basin, Shushan Bai, Dongxu Li, Farzad Samie, Ioan Napau, Gary H. Paelicke, Clinton E. Carey
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Publication number: 20170159784Abstract: A torsional vibration damper includes a planetary gear set connected to a transmission input shaft, including a sun gear, a carrier, and a ring gear. A spring cage includes a first spring support member connected to the ring gear having multiple first spring contact members. A second spring support member is connected to the carrier and rotates with respect to the first spring support member. The second spring support member has multiple second spring contact members angularly oriented with respect to the first spring contact members. Multiple springs having opposed ends are positioned between and are compressed by rotation of the first or the second spring support member. The springs compress and extend to absorb vehicle engine vibration pulses. Each end of the springs has one of the multiple first spring contact members and or one of the multiple second spring contact members positioned proximate thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2015Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: Leonid BASIN, Shushan BAI, Dongxu LI, Farzad SAMIE, Ioan NAPAU, Gary H. PAELICKE, Clinton E. CAREY
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Publication number: 20170059017Abstract: A single-stage gear reduction output mechanism for an automotive seat assembly including a gear housing bracket, gear housing, axle shaft, eccentric, and first and second gears. The axle shaft extends through the eccentric with a slip fit, the first gear rotates with the axle shaft, and the second gear is carried on a first bearing surface of the eccentric and meshingly engages the first gear in a planetary arrangement. A locking plate including first, second, and third slot cutouts is disposed within the gear housing. A support pin extends from the gear housing through the first slot cutout and a second bearing surface of the eccentric extends through the second slot cutout to support the locking plate and limit its movement along a lateral axis. The second gear includes a first pin that extends through the third slot cutout to prevent the first gear from back-driving the second gear.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicant: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: Mircea NAPAU, Doina NAPAU, Ileana-Dacia NAPAU, Dean LENANE, Matthew ESSIAN, Ioan NAPAU
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Publication number: 20170059001Abstract: A single-stage gear reduction output mechanism for an automotive seat assembly includes a gear housing bracket, gear housing, axle shaft, eccentric, and first and second gears. The axle shaft extends through the eccentric with a slip fit, the first gear rotates with the axle shaft, and the second gear is carried on a first bearing surface of the eccentric and meshingly engages the first gear in a planetary arrangement. The second gear includes an external flange with at least two guide holes. First and second support pins that are rigidly fixed in place relative to the axle shaft extend through the two guide holes in the external flange of the second gear. Forces acting at the interfaces between the first and second support pins and the two guide holes and between the eccentric and the second gear prevent the first gear from back-driving rotation of the second gear.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Applicant: FISHER & COMPANY, INCORPORATEDInventors: Mircea NAPAU, Doina NAPAU, Ileana-Dacia NAPAU, Dean LENANE, Matthew ESSIAN, Ioan NAPAU
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Patent number: 9221113Abstract: Methods for generating gear teeth of a double involute-face gear drive system, curved in their longitudinal direction in form of either shortened, normal or an extended involute curve, include methods for generating the teeth of both components. Methods for generating the teeth of a double involute pinion, shaped in form of a normal involute in their profile direction and curved in their longitudinal direction in form of an either shortened, a normal or an extended involute curve, include the use of one of the following tools (1) a face hob and (2) a conical hob. Methods for generating the teeth of a face gear curved in their longitudinal direction in form of an either shortened, a normal or an extended involute curve include the use of one of the following tools (1) a rack cutter, (2) a shaper cutter and (3) a conical hob.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLCInventors: Ioan Napau, Ileana Dacia Napau, Mircea Napau
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Patent number: 8967012Abstract: A double involute pinion-face gear drive provides transmission of torque and speed, or direction of movement modification between non-intersecting shafts at right angles to one another. A double involute cylindrical pinion on one axis, engages a rotatable disk-shaped gear on the second axis. The teeth of the pinion are curved in an abridged, normal or extended involute shape. Likewise, the teeth of the face gear are curved in abridged, normal or extended involute shape in the lengthwise direction of the teeth. These gear drives can be simultaneously bi-rotational and bi-directional and allow a relatively wide range of speed ratios, as low as 1:1 and as high as 7.5:1.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2011Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLCInventors: Ioan Napau, Mircea Napau
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Publication number: 20140271010Abstract: Methods for generating gear teeth of a double involute-face gear drive system, curved in their longitudinal direction in form of either shortened, normal or an extended involute curve, include methods for generating the teeth of both components. Methods for generating the teeth of a double involute pinion, shaped in form of a normal involute in their profile direction and curved in their longitudinal direction in form of an either shortened, a normal or an extended involute curve, include the use of one of the following tools (1) a face hob and (2) a conical hob. Methods for generating the teeth of a face gear curved in their longitudinal direction in form of an either shortened, a normal or an extended involute curve include the use of one of the following tools (1) a rack cutter, (2) a shaper cutter and (3) a conical hob.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Ioan Napau, Ileana Dacia Napau, Mircea Napau
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Patent number: 8556762Abstract: A power seat height adjuster mechanism for a seat of a vehicle includes a motor having an output shaft, a speed reduction mechanism cooperating with the output shaft of the motor to reduce an output speed of the motor, a nut drive mechanism cooperating with the speed reduction mechanism and having a translatable output member to rotate an adjustment component of the seat to adjust a height of the seat, and a locking mechanism cooperating with the speed reduction mechanism to allow the height of the seat to be adjusted and to prevent the height of the seat from moving once the height has been adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2009Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: CRH North America, Inc.Inventors: Mircea Napau, Ioan Napau, Mike Chupa, Robert James Bachula
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Patent number: 8496098Abstract: A manual seat height adjuster mechanism for a seat of a vehicle includes a freewheel brake mechanism having a rotatable output pinion to engage and rotate an adjustment component of the seat to adjust a height of the seat and a locking mechanism selectively engagable and disengageable with the freewheel brake mechanism to allow the height of the seat to be adjusted and to prevent the height of the seat from moving once the height has been adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2008Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: CRH North America, Inc.Inventors: Ioan Napau, Mircea Napau, Mike Chapa, Robert James Bachula
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Patent number: 8382057Abstract: A seat track system for a seat of a vehicle includes at least one seat track having a lower track member adapted to be fixed to a vehicle structure and an upper track member adapted to be connected to a seat and moveable relative to the lower track member. The seat track system also includes a manual positive engagement locking system cooperating with the at least one seat track to allow longitudinal adjustment of the upper track member relative to the lower track member and to positively engage the at least one seat track such that a locking element does extend through the locking plate but does not extend below the lower track member.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2010Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: CRH North America, Inc.Inventors: Mircea Napau, Ioan Napau, Dean Lenane, Robert James Bachula, Tobias Keller, Patrick Frank Timmerman
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Publication number: 20130042711Abstract: A double involute pinion-face gear drive system provides transmission of torque and speed, or direction of movement modification between non-intersecting shafts at right angles to one another. Specifically, the system includes three distinct types of gear drives, in which a double involute cylindrical pinion mounted on one of the two axes, engages a rotatable disk-shaped gear mounted on the second axis, disposed orthogonally offset at a prescribed center distance relative to the first axis. The teeth of the cylindrical pinion are curved in an abridged, normal or extended involute shape and may include an involute-shaped tooth depth profile in a plane passing through the tooth pitch point and orthogonal to the axis of the pinion. Likewise, the teeth of the face gear are curved in abridged, normal or extended involute shape in the lengthwise direction of the teeth and may include a straight line shaped tooth depth profile. These gear drive systems can be simultaneously bi-rotational and bi-directional.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2011Publication date: February 21, 2013Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Ioan Napau, Mircea Napau
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Publication number: 20110240820Abstract: A seat track system for a seat of a vehicle includes at least one seat track having a lower track member adapted to be fixed to a vehicle structure and an upper track member adapted to be connected to a seat and moveable relative to the lower track member. The seat track system also includes a manual positive engagement locking system cooperating with the at least one seat track to allow longitudinal adjustment of the upper track member relative to the lower track member and to positively engage the at least one seat track such that a locking element does extend through the locking plate but does not extend below the lower track member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2010Publication date: October 6, 2011Inventors: Mircea Napau, Ioan Napau, Dean Lenane, Robert James Bachula, Tobias Keller, Patrick Frank Timmerman
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Publication number: 20100237216Abstract: A power seat height adjuster mechanism for a seat of a vehicle includes a motor having an output shaft, a speed reduction mechanism cooperating with the output shaft of the motor to reduce an output speed of the motor, a nut drive mechanism cooperating with the speed reduction mechanism and having a translatable output member to rotate an adjustment component of the seat to adjust a height of the seat, and a locking mechanism cooperating with the speed reduction mechanism to allow the height of the seat to be adjusted and to prevent the height of the seat from moving once the height has been adjusted.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2009Publication date: September 23, 2010Inventors: Mircea Napau, Ioan Napau, Mike Chupa, Robert James Bachula