Patents Issued in January 9, 2001
-
Patent number: 6170585Abstract: A trailer driver for guiding and driving a trailer when the trailer is disconnected from the hitch of a vehicle. The device includes a support frame and a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted to the support frame. A mounting bracket is pivotally coupled to the support frame and is adapted for mounting the support frame to a trailer tongue. A motor is provided for rotating the ground engaging wheel. A steering handle upwardly extends from the support frame.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Inventor: Lee A. Turner
-
Patent number: 6170586Abstract: An apparatus for a flexible, attachable and absorbent pad for absorbing fluid leaks from an irregular surface on a motor vehicle. The pad includes an absorbent quilted pad which faces to receive the liquids or oils which drop from an engine part or structure. The pad is made from a heat resistant material which is absorbent enough to absorb a cup or two of fluid. An outer sheet is bonded to the bottom side of the absorbent pad so which is water resistant and able to retain accumulated oil or fluids which may pass through the absorbent pad. Each edge of the outer sheet is folded around the peripheral of the pad and heat sealed or glued to the pad. Tethers, such as wires, cords, or the like, are then disposed through the folded border sections and glued or sealed to the outer sheet and absorbent pad. The tethers are then used to fasten the pad to a fluid leak by connecting the tether together around the vehicle structure which is leaking and molding the pad to the irregular surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Inventor: Randall N. Stroman
-
Patent number: 6170587Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system (100) for use in road vehicle operations, which propulsion system includes a power splitting mechanical transmission (108), suitably a three shaft epicyclic gearbox (117, 118, 119), for coupling to a tailshaft (115) of the vehicle; a first drive unit (105) arranged for regenerative operation and coupled to the power splitting mechanical transmission (108); a second drive unit (110) arranged for regenerative operation and coupled, independently of said first drive unit, to the power splitting mechanical transmission (108); a non-regenerative third drive unit (113) for coupling, in parallel to said power splitting mechanical transmission, to the tailshaft; and a propulsion control system (122) for coordinating operation of the drive units in accordance with a plurality of predetermined modes corresponding to a drive cycle of the vehicle. Two forms of the invention are disclosed, being suited to non-transit and transit operations, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Transport Energy Systems PTY LTDInventor: Keith Joseph Bullock
-
Patent number: 6170588Abstract: A revolving construction machine includes a lower track structure, an upper revolving structure mounted on the lower track structure and a working device mounted to the front of the upper revolving structure. A floor panel portion is provided on the upper revolving structure. A walk-through passageway is defined by a left-hand floor panel portion, a left side portion of a cabin cover and a left-hand cover of an engine cover for allowing a person to walk through the construction machine in the front and rear directions by passing the left side of an operator's seat, the cabin cover and the engine cover.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignees: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd., Hokuetsu Industries Co., Ltd.Inventors: Teruo Irino, Takaharu Nishimura, Shinichiro Endo
-
Patent number: 6170589Abstract: A snowmobile including side grips attached to the right and the left side surfaces of a body of a snowmobile at a position corresponding to a position at a distance towards the front of the snowmobile from the center of gravity of the body. The side grips project from the right and the left side surfaces to define a maximum width (Wmax) of the body. A rear grip is attached to the rear end of a floor member at a distance toward the rear of the snowmobile from the center of gravity. When the snowmobile is inclined, the side grips first come into contact with packed snow (the ground) and serve as a bumper so that a body cover of the snowmobile is not damaged. When carrying the snowmobile, the snowmobile is supported at the right and the left side grip and the rear grip on a snowmobile carrier. A front portion of the body includes an engine compartment in front of the floor which is covered with a body cover. A maintenance opening which is covered with a lid is formed in the back wall of the body cover.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 1997Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shizuo Kawano, Tadaaki Nagata, Akihiro Komatsu
-
Patent number: 6170590Abstract: A throttle lever device for a small-sized vehicle includes an operating lever which is rotated manually about a pivot shaft to pull or return a cable connected to a throttle valve in a fuel supply unit such as a carburetor. The throttle lever device includes a first link adapted to rotate about the pivot shaft of the operating lever in accordance with the pivotal motion of the operating lever, and a second link supported rotatably through a shaft on a front end side of the first link. One end portion of the second link is engaged with the cable. The first link has a restricting portion for restricting the rotation of the second link. A stopper member disposed in the rotating direction of the second link is adapted to abut the second link. The amount of cable pulled changes relative to the amount of operation of the operating lever which controls the throttle valve.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2000Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masaru Hisadomi
-
Patent number: 6170591Abstract: An apparatus is provided to correctly judge whether an automatic parking control operation can be accomplished when an obstacle exists in the path of movement of a vehicle, and thus enables the vehicle to be parked easily and reliably. In order that the vehicle can be parked along the locus of movement, an automatic steering operation is carried out on the basis of a relation between a traveling distance of the vehicle stored in advance and a reference steering angle. When the automatic parking control operation is interrupted due to the existence of the obstacle, a judgment whether or not the continuation of the automatic parking control operation is possible is made on the basis of the condition of the obstacle detected by a sonar, radar, a television camera, and the like and the locus of movement of the vehicle. When the continuation of this operation is impossible, the steering angle of the vehicle is reproduced in a reverse direction, and the vehicle is thereby returned to the starting position.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1997Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuhiro Sakai, Yasuo Shimizu
-
Patent number: 6170592Abstract: A detachable framework for an electric cart including a first chassis part, a second chassis part, and a connecting pin. The first chassis part has a steering handle for controlling a moving direction of a front wheel of the electric cart, a connecting pin receiver upward extended from a rear center thereof, and a connecting beam extended across a lower rear end thereof. The second chassis part has rear wheels and a driving mechanism mounted thereto and includes two receiving heads at its two lower front ends for receiving two ends of the connecting beam therein, a supporting post upward extended from a middle front thereof and having a first positioning screw on its front wall, and a seat post connected to a front top of the supporting post to locate immediately above the connecting pin receiver and having a second positioning screw provided on a front wall thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Inventor: Donald P. H. Wu
-
Patent number: 6170593Abstract: A motorcycle is generally provided with a lateral pair of frame bodies, a pivot shaft connected between the frame bodies, a swing arm mechanism supported to the pivot shaft to be swingable and adapted to support a rear wheel. A housing box for accommodating articles is disposed below a seat, and the housing box is composed of an upper portion and a lower extension portion which extends vertically downward so as to pass through a space of the swing arm mechanism between the pivot shaft and the rear wheel in an installed state of the motorcycle.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Suzuki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akimasa Hatanaka
-
Patent number: 6170594Abstract: A sensor detects force or other indications of an impending rollover of a motorized land vehicle. Upon detection of a threshold force value, the sensor actuates an applicator that delivers traction reducing fluid to the contact patch between at least one of the vehicle tires and the ground. The vehicle is enabled to dissipate the rollover inducing force by sliding laterally in preference to rolling over.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Inventor: Micky G. Gilbert
-
Patent number: 6170595Abstract: An apparatus for preventing the replacement of a control unit, present in a motor vehicle, by an unauthorized person. The apparatus includes a function-inhibiting device, associated with a connection between the control unit and the connector element of an electrical supply lead, which immobilizes the control unit and the connection element in a predetermined connected position with respect to one another. Disconnection from this connected position without damage is possible only after delivery of an unlocking code to the control unit. If an attempt at forcible disconnection is made, the function-inhibiting device causes an irreversible interruption in the associated connection.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Helmut Denz, Werner Herden
-
Patent number: 6170596Abstract: A racing go-cart vehicle includes a chassis having a top surface, a bottom surface, and front, rear and mid portions; a pair of steerable front wheels and a pair of rear wheels having at least one drive wheel and supporting the chassis; and a body-shell cover attached to the chassis. The racing go-cart vehicle also includes a steering wheel having buttons thereon for push-button shifting; a tie rod operatively connected to the front wheels; a steering column connecting the steering wheel and the tie rod; and a universal joint assembly for articulating the steering column. The racing go-cart vehicle further includes a braking system having a bias control member and an equalizer control assembly attached to the front and rear wheels; the wheels each having an adjustable suspension assembly connected thereto; an engine mounted on the mid portion of the chassis; a transmission system assembly adapted to transfer the output of the engine to the rear drive wheels.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Challenge Karts U.S.A., Inc.Inventors: Onofrio Triarsi, Isaia Fiocco
-
Patent number: 6170597Abstract: A transmission arrangement for an offroad vehicle is disclosed. The offroad vehicle has a frame, at least two wheels supporting the frame, and an internal combustion engine supported by the frame. The engine has at least one cylinder, a piston positioned in the cylinder and reciprocating along a first axis, the piston driving a crankshaft of the engine. The crankshaft is arranged to drive at least one of the wheels through the transmission, the vehicle having a front end and a rear end and a longitudinal centerline extending through the ends, the crankshaft extending along a first axis parallel to the centerline. The transmission includes a chamber defined by a case, a primary shaft at least partially positioned in the chamber and driven by the crankshaft, a main shaft at least partially positioned in the chamber and offset from said primary shaft, the main shaft driven by the primary shaft by a belt positioned in the chamber. The main shaft is arranged to drive at least one of the wheels.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazutaka Fukuda
-
Patent number: 6170598Abstract: An electrically-driven wheelchair is provided with a frame, drive wheels, an operator control panel and a support lever. The operator control panel controls action of the drive wheels. The lower side of the operator control panel is supported to the upper side of the support lever. The support lever is connected to the frame, and supports the operator control panel. The lower side of the support lever is connected to the frame so that the support lever can be rotated in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction and can be adjustable. The upper side of the support lever is connected to the operator control panel so that the operator control panel can be rocked forward and rearward and leftward and rightward and can be movable. In the support structure of the operator control panel of the invention, not only the arrangement position of the operator control panel at the front and rear sides and the left and right sides but also the height of the operator control panel can be adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Nissin Medical Industries, Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hisashi Furukawa
-
Patent number: 6170599Abstract: A groove member, a reaction force generating member and an elastic member comprise a power steering apparatus where an input shaft adapted to be coupled to a steering wheel engages an output shaft adapted to be connected to wheels to be steered. The groove member has a groove and rotates together with one of the input shaft and the output shaft. The reaction force generating member is supported by the other of the input shaft and the output shaft and is unmovable in the radial direction with respect to one of the input shaft and the output shaft and movable in the axial direction of the input shaft and the output shaft by a distance not exceeding a predetermined value. The elastic member urges one of the groove member and the reaction force generating member toward the other of the groove member and the reaction force generating member.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Mitugu Kikuti, Yoshikazu Kameda
-
Patent number: 6170600Abstract: In an automatic power steering system incorporated with a power steering system and an automatic steering system, a continuous switching unit carries out a switch over between a power steering mode and an automatic steering mode in a continuous manner depending on the magnitude of the manual steering torque applied to the steering wheel. Thus, a smooth transition from one of the steering modes to the other can be accomplished without involving any absence of control.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 1997Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yasuo Shimizu
-
Patent number: 6170601Abstract: A borehole seismic shuttle tool includes (a) a tool body having a cavity with an opening in the wall of the tool body; (b) an anchoring arm attached to the tool body and operable to anchor the tool body to the borehole wall; (c) a sensor package positioned in the cavity and mounted on resilient mounts which act to urge the sensor package in the direction of the opening, such that when the tool body is anchored to the borehole wall, the sensor package projects part way through the opening and is held against the borehole wall by the action of the resilient mounts. The tool is characterised in that when the tool body is not in contact with the borehole wall, peripheral portions of the sensor package is urged into contact with the tool body wall surrounding the opening.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2000Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Nakajima, Juei Igarashi, Akira Kamiya
-
Patent number: 6170602Abstract: A sound emitting and vibratable blanket for providing comfort to the baby or infant. The sound emitting and vibratable blanket includes a quilt member having a central portion, end portions, and a top side, and further having outer layers with padding being sandwiched therebetween; and also includes a conventional sound producing member securely disposed in an end portion of the quilt member and having a first switch visibly and securely disposed upon the quilt member for energizing said sound producing member; and further includes a vibrating mechanism securely disposed at the central portion of the quilt member inside the padding thereof for vibrating the quilt member and having a second switch visibly and securely disposed upon the quilt member for energizing said vibrating mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2000Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Inventor: Evelyn Kay Mann
-
Patent number: 6170603Abstract: The invention relates to acoustic walls for large public events. Traditionally, sound is reproduced by using a plurality of large and heavy loudspeaker boxes which requires a complicated and expensive support system. The present invention provides a segmented acoustic wall which has an essentially flat shape and is also extremely lightweight. Several of these segments can be integrated to form an acoustic wall by coupling the different segments with one another, whereby the entire surface area of the acoustic wall can be used to radiate sound without requiring additional sound sources in the audience space. The various segments can be optimized for certain frequency ranges by tuning the surface area and depth of the respective segments to the respective transmitted frequencies. Several acoustic walls can be placed side-by-side to flexibly conform to different requirements in the audience space.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Harman Audio Electronic Systems GmbHInventors: Wolfgang Bachmann, Gerhard Krump, Hans-Juergen Regl
-
Patent number: 6170604Abstract: An exhaust gas muffler for an internal combustion engine has a housing having an inlet and an outlet for engine exhaust gas. The housing has walls defining the interior of the housing. The housing has a first housing shell having a first connecting flange and a second housing shell having a second connecting flange, wherein the first and second connecting flanges are fastened to one another in a common flange plane. Each housing shell has a bottom. A partition is mounted in the housing and divides the interior of the housing into two compartments. The two compartments are connected by flow connections allowing passage of the engine exhaust gas between the two compartments. The partition has opposed ends supported respectively on the bottoms of the housing shells. The partition has two wall portions curved outwardly in opposite directions relative to a plane of the partition and has multiple openings.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Firma Andreas Stihl AG & Co.Inventors: Johannes Menzel, Bernhard D{umlaut over (u)}rr
-
Patent number: 6170605Abstract: Lightweight acoustic absorbers. The acoustic absorbers absorb energy during launch of a vehicle by a rocket, and are adapted to line the inside of a cavity of a fairing containing a vehicle. The absorbers comprise acoustic absorbing members, and a layer substantially surrounding the acoustic absorbing member which is substantially impermeable to contaminating particulates found within the fairing, and substantially impermeable to any contaminants which may be emitted by the acoustic absorbing member. A plurality of vents are cut in the layer, and a filter is placed over the vents to filter out any contaminants. The vents allow the gases within the fairing and the acoustic absorbing member to pass therethrough, thereby compensating for differential pressure.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: The Soundcoat Company, Inc.Inventors: Dattatray Rao, John Koch, Bao Vo, Clay Simpson
-
Patent number: 6170606Abstract: A mobile machine which carries the operator of the machine is equipped with a control which has a shape, geometry and motion analogous to that of the machine and which causes machine motion analogous to the motion imparted to the control by the operator. The analog control may be applied on mobile equipment including aerial work platforms, forklifts, front end loaders, backhoes, earth movers, bulldozers, diggers, trenchers, agricultural equipment, mining machinery, and other operator controlled vehicular equipment by tailoring the shape, geometry and motions of the control to be analogous to those of the machine being controlled.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1996Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Safety Dynamicon, Inc.Inventor: Ernest J. Merz
-
Patent number: 6170607Abstract: A warning system for an aerial device which provides an alarm signal when a worker on an aerial work platform is exposed to an electrical hazard. The aerial device has an insulated boom which carries the work platform on its upper end. An electrostatic charge is introduced to all conductive components near the platform. The electrostatic charge is harmless to the worker and dissipates upon contact with an energized power line or grounded object. The absence of charge is then sensed by a warning device which provides an alarm signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Altec Industries, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Freeman, William J. Baker
-
Patent number: 6170608Abstract: A scaffolding system that includes a pair of tower portions, with each tower portion having a proximal section that is held in working relation with a bearing surface and each tower portion having a distal section, a platform, the platform supported by the distal section of each tower portion and the platform selectively movable both toward and away from the bearing surface, and a conveyor, the conveyor positioned on the platform between the pair of tower portions.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Gressco of Collier County, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Gresser, Mark Jerstad, Keith E. Stieg
-
Patent number: 6170609Abstract: A system for sportsmen when hunting at an elevated location in a tree without harming the supporting tree including a base plates The base plate has an interior face positioned in contact with the exterior surface of a supporting tree and an exterior exposed face. The base plate has laterally spaced apertures adjacent to its edges. A threaded machine bolt has a diameter over the majority of its length and has an interior edge secured to the exterior surface of the base plate and an enlarged cylindrical exterior end. A coupling assembly is formed of two sections. Each section has an interior link permanently secured to an associated aperture in the base plate and has free ends. A locking assembly removably couples the base plate-coupling assembly to a tree. A support assembly has a downwardly extending auxiliary plate positionable over the base plate with an opening there through.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Inventor: Edwin F. Dech
-
Patent number: 6170610Abstract: A lubrication system for a railroad locomotive applies a lubricant with great accuracy in computer-controlled, precise quantities behind the last axle of the last locomotive such that the lubricant is consumed by the time the entire train has passed under all track, speed, temperature and train size conditions. Hydraulic pulse-width modulation (PWM or %PWM) controls the quantity of lubricant delivered. Time is divided into a series of windows each consisting of a few seconds. Lubricant delivered from a pressurized tank through long hoses to a solenoid controlled valve is then metered by the duration within this time window for which the computer computes and opens the valve. Compensation is provided for train tonnage and lubricant temperature as well as track curvature and train speed.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2000Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Tranergy CorporationInventor: Sudhir Kumar
-
Patent number: 6170611Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading lubricant into a bit chamber of an earth boring bit measures and controls the pressure of pressurized lubricant at the bit chamber while the lubricant is being loaded into the bit.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Camco International Inc.Inventor: Jeffery E. Daly
-
Patent number: 6170612Abstract: A hydraulic pool lift is disclosed. The lift has enhanced stability due to its adjustable support assembly, and a reinforced piston rod. A load carrying component is rotated 180° from a deck position to a pool position. A curved track on a hydraulically driven piston guides the displacement of the load carrying component. The track is wider in its straight portions. The wider straight portion closely approximates the width of a notch in an end cap through which the track and piston travel. This arrangement affords greater stability in the uppermost position for ease of loading and unloading the lift.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Spectrum Distributors, Inc.Inventor: Keith Krumbeck
-
Patent number: 6170613Abstract: The autonomous tilting platform unit is for infrastructure work over a 0-90° slanted surface. It has a platform assembly pivotally connected to a carriage assembly provided with wheels for displacement over the surface. An autonomous motor unit is mounted on the carriage assembly through a pendulum assembly. The tilting angle of the platform assenbly with respect to the carriage assenbly is adjusted with a jack device powered by the motor unit. A pair of winches powered by the motor hoist the platform unit along the slanted surface. A control unit is mounted on the platform assembly, and operates the motor unit and controls the jack device and the winches.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Gercom Construction Inc.Inventor: Robin Priv{acute over (e)}
-
Patent number: 6170614Abstract: An electronic overspeed governor for preventing elevator overspeed by enabling safety devices. The electronic overspeed governor includes a microprocessor assembly designed to interface with existing sensors, detectors, components, and safety equipment of current operational and production elevator systems. The microprocessor assembly receives very accurate position measurements from a position measurement system. The microprocessor receives configuration information from a rom which contains data specific to the particular model of elevator and other installation specific parameters. The software calculates elevator speed based on successive position data. If an overspeed or near overspeed condition occurs, the microprocessor generates the appropriate outputs to be conveyed to the elevator safety system. The safety system activates devices to arrest the overspeed condition.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Otis Elevator CompanyInventors: Peter Herkel, Uwe Schönauer
-
Patent number: 6170615Abstract: A braking device of a three wheel baby car is disclosed. When a moving baby car is desired to be braked, the user only needs to move the protrusion of the braking device between the two rear wheel so as to drive the ejecting notches on the edge of long axis of a rotary portion within the braking device to engage with the inner ends of braking ejecting rods on the two sides. Thus, the original long axis contact with the inner end of the braking ejecting rod is changed as short axis contact. As a result, the braking rods on the two sides will be pushed outwards so that the two ends of the braking ejecting rod directly runs across the respect groove formed on the rear wheels. Accordingly, by this braking device, the baby car will be braked steadily.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Inventor: Hui-Fen Cheng
-
Patent number: 6170616Abstract: A brake assembly for a shaft including a series of brake disks interconnected to the shaft with the interleaved reaction disks interconnected to a fixed surrounding part by accurately positioned pins.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: White Hydraulics INCInventor: Hollis Newcomb White
-
Patent number: 6170617Abstract: A bicycle disc brake caliper is provided with a cooling system that transfers heat away from the actuating fluid. Basically, the bicycle disc brake caliper has a housing and a piston unit, with a coolant member of the cooling system attached to the housing. The housing has a frame mounting member sized to be coupled to a portion of a bicycle frame. The piston unit is movably coupled to the housing between a release position, in which the piston unit is spaced from a brake disc mounted to a wheel of a bicycle, and a braking position, in which the piston unit engages the brake disc of the bicycle wheel. The coolant member has a coolant area for receiving coolant to create a coolant heat sink that transfers heat from the housing. The housing has an actuating passage in fluid communication with the piston unit to move the piston unit via an actuating fluid. In one embodiment, the cooling system includes a pump and a reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Shimano Inc.Inventor: Yasushi Nakamura
-
Patent number: 6170618Abstract: A brake shoe for disc brakes comprises a pad back plate which, on a first face thereof, is provided with a friction pad and, on a second face thereof, has a projection to which a retaining spring is fixed to prevent rotation of the retaining spring relative to the pad back plate. The projection extends through a non-circular opening in the retaining spring and comes into intimate contact with the opening when deformed radially by the application of an axial force to the projection to produce a form-lock which prevents the retaining spring from rotating relative to the pad back plate.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1996Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbHInventor: Helmut Rueckert
-
Patent number: 6170619Abstract: On a railroad car handbrake system the main handbrake shaft, used to turn the chain, is utilized during its rotation to drive a target object to a magnetic sensor. The target object may be driven by cam plates, gears, screw mechanisms or the like and may be a magnetic or ferromagnetic object. The sensor system disclosed is rugged and easily adapted to existing handbrake systems.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Honeywell INCInventors: Alan V. Sheriff, Brady J. Hammond, Duane J. Sies, Gary R. O'Brien, Brad L. Cummins
-
Patent number: 6170620Abstract: An anti-squeal shim comprises a metal plate and a compound layer applied to at least one side of the metal plate. The compound includes a nonmetal fiber other than asbestos, an elastomer, a filler and small pieces of cork. The anti-squeal shim is disposed between a forcing member that urges a friction pad against a disc rotor and a backing plate of the friction pad in a disc brake. Also disclosed is a disc brake where only one side of the metal plate of the anti-squeal shim is coated with the compound layer and the anti-squeal shim is opposed to the forcing member without intervention of a backing-up shim.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: U-Sun Gasket CorporationInventors: Hiroaki Akita, Toyotaka Fukawa
-
Patent number: 6170621Abstract: On an outside of a damper main body, there is provided a case which is movable up and down and which is connected to a damper rod. Between the damper main body and the case, there is formed a pressure chamber which is filled with a pressure medium which changes its state between a gaseous state and a liquid state. A heating chamber to flow therethrough a heating medium which is heated by the heat of the driving source or the like of a vehicle is disposed in a manner to contact a liquid sump portion of the pressure chamber. The pressure medium is heated and evaporated by the heat of the heating medium to thereby increase the internal pressure of the pressure chamber. The case is thus pushed upward and the damper rod is moved up, whereby the vehicle height increases.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kiyoshi Nakahara, Yukio Hayakawa
-
Patent number: 6170622Abstract: An anti-vibration apparatus is equipped with a plurality of active support legs which support an anti-vibration table and which are able to actively operate to control the motion of the anti-vibration table in a horizontal plane. The apparatus is further equipped with a pressure feedback loop for detecting the internal pressure of an air spring provided in each of the plurality of active support legs and for feeding a signal, which is based on the detected internal pressure of the air spring, back to the control system of the anti-vibration apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinji Wakui, Takehiko Mayama, Hiroaki Kato
-
Patent number: 6170623Abstract: A clutch between the combustion engine and the manual multiple-gear-ratio transmission in the power train of a motor vehicle is disengaged or otherwise adjusted in response to a signal from a control unit which processes signals transmitted by sensors serving to monitor the positions and/or the extent of movements of one or more mobile components of the manual transmission. A signal to disengage or to otherwise adjust the clutch is generated when the monitored position(s) of and/or the magnitude(s) of force(s) acting upon one or more mobile components indicate that the operator of the motor vehicle intends to shift the transmission into or from a selected gear ratio.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1996Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: LuK Getriebe-Systeme GmbHInventors: Wolfgang Eismann, Michael Salecker, Gunter J{umlaut over (u)}rgens
-
Patent number: 6170624Abstract: An apparatus for engaging and disengaging a clutch, which is applicable to a vehicle provided with a so-called semiautomatic clutch, and which can prevent occurrence of an engagement shock and jerky acceleration of a vehicle when an automatic engaging and disengaging mode and a manual engaging and disengaging mode are switched from one to the other. The apparatus includes a manual disconnection/connection device (2) for manually engaging and disengaging the clutch (1) by operating a clutch pedal (9), an automatic disconnection/connection device (3) for automatically engaging and disengaging the clutch (1) in accordance with a predetermined input signal, and switching control device (14) for switching between a manual engaging and disengaging mode and an automatic engaging and disengaging mode after the clutch (1) has been engaged. This post-engagement switching operation can prevent an engagement shock during the same operation.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignees: Isuzu Motors Limited, Transtron, Inc.Inventors: Hiroyuki Arai, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Nobuo Sugamura
-
Patent number: 6170625Abstract: A pulley unit A includes two, inner and outer ring bodies 1, 2 disposed concentrically, a one-way clutch 3 interposed in an annular space between both ring bodies 1,2, and rolling bearings provided on both sides of the one-way clutch 3 in the annular space, wherein a recessed part 10b provided on a member 10 where a cam face 10a for forming a wedge space for storing a roller 13 of the one-way clutch 3 is formed and a projecting part 12c provided on the axial one end of a cage 12 of the one-way clutch 3 are fitted to each other in the axial direction to prohibit the circumferential movement of the cage 12, and the projecting part 12c is physically checked from slipping off the recessed part 10b to prohibit the axial movement of the cage 12.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yasuhito Tanaka
-
Patent number: 6170626Abstract: A clamping roller overrunning clutch, each of whose clamping rollers (4) is urged against clamping tracks (5) by at least one arc-shaped spring element, preferably a leaf spring (6), whose arc ends (11) are suspended against the clamping rollers (4) whereby a proper spring loading of the clamping rollers (4) is assured by the fact that a support surface (10) for the arc-shaped spring element (6) extending between the arc ends (11) is made so that a support contact (A, A′, A″) between the support surface (10) and the arc-shaped spring element (6) migrates toward the arc ends (11) of the arc-shaped spring element (6) with increasing load and a method of making the said clutch.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: INA Walzlager Schaeffler oHGInventor: Otmar Löx
-
Patent number: 6170627Abstract: A safety clutch transmits torque between two coaxial machine parts. The safety clutch includes a basic body for the at least indirect frictionally engaged connection of two machine parts, and at least one thin-walled sleeve which forms a wall of an annular chamber upon which pressure medium can act. At least one feed line extends through the basic clutch body to the annular chamber and can be closed in an air and fluid-tight manner by closure elements, in particular closure valves. A pressure-relief mechanism can act at least indirectly on the closure elements. The pressure-relief mechanism is coupled to an arrangement for detecting a disturbance variable. The clutch includes devices which activate the pressure-relief mechanism when the influencing quantity occurs.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Voith Turbo GmbH & Co., KGInventor: Hans Lindenthal
-
Patent number: 6170628Abstract: An automatic clutch for a vehicle drive train to selectively connect and disconnect a drive portion of the drive train to a driven portion of the drive train, the drive and driven portions having adjacent and mated spline portions at a designated position in the drive train. A clutch ring slidably mounted to one of the spline portions and slidable into engagement with the other spline portions. The designated position adjacent a portion of the vehicle frame and a remote controlled actuator secured to the portion of the vehicle frame. A bearing member of the actuator engaging the clutch ring for urging sliding movement of the clutch ring. Improvements to the above include application of the actuator clutch to front and rear wheel ends for conversion of the vehicle between two-wheel and four-wheel drive, the actuator being mounted to the steering knuckles. Also, improved bearing packs are provided for better performance and to facilitate assembly.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2000Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Warn Industries, Inc.Inventor: Jon A. Bigley
-
Patent number: 6170629Abstract: In a friction plate formed by adhering a plurality of friction material segments having connecting portions to be interconnected to each other onto a core plate, a frictional engagement surface side portion of each connecting portion between the friction material segments is formed as a recessed portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: NSK Warner K.K.Inventors: Hirotsugu Suzuki, Takayuki Watanabe, Masaki Sakai
-
Patent number: 6170630Abstract: A system monitored operations test area utilizes a central feed spur to deliver assembled products to parallel rows of test stations on each of its sides. A pivotal, sliding lift gate is mounted to each side of the central spur and is movable between vertical and horizontal positions. The gate can be moved along the length of the spur as needed. When the lift gate is in place, the operator can slide a unit into a desired test slot across the horizontally disposed gate which spans the distance between the spur and the selected test station.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: International Business Machine CorporationInventors: Virginia J. Goss, James N. Smith, Robert A. McCord, Jr.
-
Patent number: 6170631Abstract: The present invention relates to a paper-leaves discriminating apparatus (sensor mounting construction) which is capable of detecting a characteristic quantity at a point conforming to a discriminating way while easily coping with a change of the way. Thus, in the paper-leaves discriminating apparatus according to this invention, a sensor is made up of a plurality of characteristic quantity detecting heads, and a plurality of head mounting holes are made in a frame installed along a conveyance plane of paper leaves for mounting the plurality of characteristic quantity detecting heads on the frame so that the plurality of characteristic quantity detecting heads face the conveyance plane, and further, each of the characteristic quantity detecting heads is detachably fitted in the head mounting hole, of the plurality of head mounting holes, corresponding to a position at which the characteristic quantity remarkably develops.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventor: Toshimasa Miyazaki
-
Patent number: 6170632Abstract: The invention relates to a moving walk which can transport users in opposite two directions. A number of pallets 3 are arranged for rounding or circulation on annular rails 11 having two linear sectors 1A and 1B. Screw rods 16 are arranged on the linear sectors 1A and 1B of the rails 11. The adjacent pallets 3 are interconnected through string members 22. The pallets 3 are moved in opposite directions on the linear sectors 1A and 1B, respectively. Each pallet 3 is inserted at its front end under a read end of its preceding pallet 3 to provide a continuous walk surface so that many users are transported safely.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshikazu Shimura, Mitsuru Saito
-
Patent number: 6170633Abstract: An electronic-component supplying apparatus, including a bed with two linear guides; six tables movably supported by the guides, each table supporting electronic-component supplying cartridges such that respective component-supply portions of the cartridges are arranged along a straight line parallel to the guides, the six tables including a first group of three tables and a second group of three tables; three carriers which are movable, independent of one another, through three routes, respectively, each carrier being stopable at any position on the corresponding route, the three routes extending parallel to one another and the guides, within a carrier-movement area on the bed; engaging devices and engageable portions each of which is disengageably engageable with at least one corresponding engaging device of the engaging devices, one of (a) each of the six tables and (b) each of the three carriers supporting a corresponding one of the engaging devices, the other of (a) the each of the six tables and (b) theType: GrantFiled: July 21, 1997Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Fuji Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koichi Asai, Yasuo Muto, Shinsuke Suhara
-
Patent number: 6170634Abstract: An apparatus for temporarily storing or buffering and/or setting the pitch of products, comprised of a conveyor belt, a product carrier for transporting by the conveyor belt and for carrying a plurality of products, a feed conveyor for feeding products into the product carrier at a first predetermined location of the conveyor belt, and a discharge element such as a robot, top loader or pushing member for discharging the products from the product carrier at a second predetermined location a distance from the first predetermined location.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: EBM Techniek B.V.Inventor: Jacob Arnold Hendrik Frederick Jaquet