Patents Issued in July 29, 2014
  • Patent number: 8789631
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for inspecting and objectively analyzing the condition of a roof are presented. A vehicle adapted for traversing and inspecting an irregular terrain includes a chassis having a bottom surface that defines a higher ground clearance at an intermediate location, thereby keeping the center of mass low when crossing roof peaks. In another embodiment, the drive tracks include a partially collapsible treads made of resilient foam. A system for inspecting a roof includes a lift system and a remote computer for analyzing data. Vehicles and systems may gather and analyze data, and generate revenue by providing data, analysis, and reports for a fee to interested parties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Tobor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Slawinski, Dennis L. Guthrie
  • Patent number: 8789632
    Abstract: A seated vehicle comprises a frame, one or more first wheels at a first position relative to the frame, one or more second wheels at a second position relative to the frame, and a wheel-positioning system. The wheel-positioning system includes one or more arms pivotally coupled to the frame, and an adjustment mechanism operatively coupled to a first position of the one or more arms. The one or more first wheels are operatively coupled to a second position of the one or more arms. The adjustment mechanism moves the one or more arms between a first position and a second position so that the one or more first wheels are in a first position relative to the one or more second wheels when the one or more arms are in the first position and are in a second position relative to the one or more second wheels when the one or more arms are in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Dane Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Balz Maurer, Fabian Wolter
  • Patent number: 8789633
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame, a steering assembly, an engine, a seat, an intake assembly, at least two electrical conductors, and an electrical coupler. The intake assembly includes a snorkel and a cover member. The snorkel includes an inlet and outlet port. The inlet port has a neck portion that defines an opening. The cover member is in fluid communication with the inlet port of the snorkel. The electrical coupler is engaged with the at least two electrical conductors and is configured to facilitate selective manual electrical disconnection of the at least two electrical conductors. A first imaginary plane intersects the opening and is substantially horizontal. A second imaginary plane extends laterally across the vehicle, intersects the opening, and intersects the first imaginary plane at a right angle. The electrical coupler is disposed entirely above the first imaginary plane and entirely forwardly of the second imaginary plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromasa Yamaguchi, Rodney M. Frijas, Andrew James Wilson
  • Patent number: 8789634
    Abstract: An electric vehicle has a battery pack under a floor panel. The battery pack includes battery modules having an electricity storage function, a first case holding the battery modules therein, and a power shut-off mechanism temporarily interrupting the electric power of the battery modules. The floor panel includes an access port communicating between the inside and outside of a cabin. The battery pack further includes a second case extending upward from an upper surface of the first case adjacent to the floor panel and including the power shut-off mechanism therein. The second case has an opening for allowing the access to the power shut-off mechanism from the outside of the second case, the opening being oriented in an access direction where the power shut-off mechanism is accessed from the access port toward the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Kunihiro Nitawaki
  • Patent number: 8789635
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heavy-duty ground transportation vehicle, in particular an unmanned guided heavy-duty transportation vehicle for ISO containers, which is environmentally friendly. This is achieved by arranging a battery in the heavy-duty transportation vehicle to supply power to a travelling drive of the vehicle. The battery is typically a lead battery of considerable weight, and is releasably connected to the transport vehicle in a manner that permits changing the battery (e.g., exchanging a depleted battery for a fresh battery) and recharging the depleted battery at a location outside the vehicle. The battery can be moved into and out of transport vehicle transversely with respect to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Gottwald Port Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Franzen, Armin Wieschemann, Mike Hegewald, Jannis Moutsokapas
  • Patent number: 8789636
    Abstract: A battery-powered forklift including a fork placed at an anterior portion of a vehicle body, and a counter weight placed at a posterior portion of the vehicle body, the battery-powered forklift running by electric power of a battery mounted on the vehicle body, wherein a concave portion that is open in a longitudinal direction is formed at an upper surface of the counter weight, the battery is mounted on a position above a rear wheel of the vehicle body while at least a part of the battery overlaps with the counter weight, and the battery is removable toward a rear of the vehicle body through the concave portion of the counter weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Nishiyama, Kazuhiro Kurihara, Tetsuya Okuyama
  • Patent number: 8789637
    Abstract: A bulldozer includes a cab, a vehicle body frame supporting a cab and an engine cover. The engine cover has a side plate that has a rear edge with first and second rear edges. The second rear edge is positioned above the first rear edge. The side plate has a first planar portion which includes the first rear edge and a second planar portion which includes the second rear edge. The side plate has a bent shape between the first and second planar portions. A ridgeline is disposed between the first and second planar portions and spans from the upper edge to the rear edge of the side plate. The side plate includes an attachment section which is attached to a vehicle body frame. The attachment section is positioned in the first planar portion adjacent to an intersection of the ridgeline and the rear edge of the side plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Souichirou Kinoshita, Akira Uno
  • Patent number: 8789638
    Abstract: A foldable cart assembly having a user tracking arrangement so as to follow movement of the user during motion over a field. The cart assembly has a plurality of ultrasound and RF sensors in communication with corresponding sensors in a remote handset transmission device carried by the user. The sensors provide timing, direction and distance information to a central processor on the cart for instructing individual electrical motors empowering the respective direction and speed of rotation of the cart's wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: FTR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Zhang, Chunghsin Lee
  • Patent number: 8789639
    Abstract: An electric motor and a differential mechanism are placed near a vehicle body left-right center line distributed between the left and right sides of the vehicle body. In addition, at least parts respectively of the electric motor and the differential mechanism are placed on the vehicle body left-right center line. A deceleration mechanism is placed away from the vehicle left-right center line on one of the left and right sides of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahide Mimura
  • Patent number: 8789640
    Abstract: An electric motorcycle according to the present invention includes an electric motor generating traveling power to be transmitted to a driving wheel, a battery supplying electric power to the electric motor, a battery case accommodating the battery, and a body frame having a head pipe supporting a steering shaft, and a frame portion extending substantially rearward from the head pipe. The battery case has a first connecting portion to be coupled to a first member forming the body frame, and a second connecting portion arranged away from the first connecting portion in the up and down direction or the forward and rearward direction and coupled to a second member forming the body frame, so as to form a part of the frame portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Patent number: 8789641
    Abstract: A scooter is configured to rapidly dissipate impact loading permitting jumps and safe landings without damaging the scooter. The scooter includes a frame attached to a fork that is further attached to handle bars and a front wheel such that the handle bars can turn the front wheel allowing the scooter to turn. The frame is attached to a swing arm with a suspension system and a rotation bolt such that the suspension system causes the swing arm to rotate about the rotation bolt to rapidly dissipate impact loading. A rear wheel is mechanically coupled to the swing arm that cushions the jumps permits the safe landings without damaging the scooter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Inventor: Paul Jeffery Urquhart
  • Patent number: 8789642
    Abstract: A security system with a steering wheel adjacent to a seat with a seat back which can swing forward to a predetermined position. The seat can also slide longitudinally between a rearward and forward position. The system includes a headrest mounted on the seat back to reiprocate between a retracted position and a locking position. With the seat back in the predetermined position and the seat in the forward position, the headrest is movable from said retracted position forward and down to the locking position to capture the steering wheel between the headrest and the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Inventors: Arthur Rice, Michael Wakefield
  • Patent number: 8789643
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes an electric motor, a homing control section, a distance determination section, and a forbiddance section. The electric motor moves a control object equipped to a vehicle at least between two positions. The homing control section executes a homing control for controlling the electric motor to move the control object so that the control object press-contacts a stopper wall when an initialization condition is satisfied. The distance determination section determines whether a user of the vehicle is apart from the vehicle at a distance greater than a predetermined distance. The forbiddance section forbids the homing control during a period, which starts at a time of the homing control execution and ends at a time when the user of the vehicle is apart from the vehicle farther than the predetermined distance, even when the initialization condition is satisfied during the period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoya Iwami, Katsuki Ishigaki, Kenji Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8789644
    Abstract: A wheel loader (50) is designed so that when a specific first condition is met for vehicle speed, accelerator opening, engine speed, and HST pressure, the engine absorption torque curve of an HST pump (4) is switched to shift the matching point from the low-engine speed side to the high-engine speed side. On the other hand, if a second condition is met for vehicle speed and HST pressure, control is performed so that the absorption torque curve of the HST pump (4) is returned from the high-engine speed side to the low-engine speed side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Shirao, Masanori Ikari
  • Patent number: 8789645
    Abstract: An electric power steering device includes: a fail-safe power relay (9a) and a motor relay (10a) for interrupting power supply to an electric-motor driving unit for driving an electric motor for applying an assist torque for steering performed by a driver; and a relay driving circuit (8a) including a switch (13a) connected in parallel to drive coils of the relays (9a and 10a) and a diode (16a). A target value of a relay-contact energizing current is lowered and the relays (9a and 10a) are gradually interrupted while an amount of current corresponding to a back surge generated when the relays are turned OFF is caused to flow back to the diode (16a) of the relay driving circuit (8a) in a normal relay-OFF operation, whereas the relays (9a and 10a) are quickly interrupted without operating the relay driving circuit (8a) in case of detection of an abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Kawanaka, Takahiro Okanoue
  • Patent number: 8789646
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a steering apparatus for turning front wheels of a tractor. More particularly, the present invention provides a steering apparatus for tractors which includes a steering cylinder provided with left and right cylinder rods which are extended and retracted to the left and the right by steering force transmitted by hydraulic pressure when the driver manipulates the steering wheel, wherein swing links are respectively hinged to ends of the left and right cylinder rods, thus forming a first four-bar link structure, and second four-bar link structures are respectively formed on left and right ends of the first four-bar link structure so that the front wheels can be turned, whereby an angle range within which the front wheels can be turned can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Daeho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joong-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8789647
    Abstract: A steer by wire apparatus performing steering operation by turning a wheel when a vehicle turns, may include a tie rod provided with one end pivotally connected to a knuckle of the wheel, a coupling unit rotatably mounted at a sub-frame of a vehicle body, connected to the other end of the tie rod, and converting rotation direction of torque from a first rotation direction to a second rotation direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first rotation direction so as to slidably move the tie rod from the coupling unit and control a steering angle of the wheel, and a motor unit fixed to the sub-frame and supplying the torque to the coupling unit according to a control signal of a vehicle ECU, the rotation direction of the torque being the same as the first rotation direction or being opposite to the first rotation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Sungwook Hwang, Min Woo Han, Un Koo Lee
  • Patent number: 8789648
    Abstract: Disclosed are a belt type driveline and a rack assist type electric power steering apparatus including the belt type driveline, which improve power transmission efficiency and increases durability by preventing spinning with no traction of a ball nut and a nut pulley due to a slip between the ball nut and the nut pulley in an operation of a belt by a motor, and provide a user with convenient steering by minimizing vibration and noise transferred through a rack bar, the ball nut, the nut pulley, etc., when the rack bar slides while the nut pulley and the ball nut rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Je Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 8789650
    Abstract: An exhaust silencer for the air conditioning system of an aircraft is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Nicholas West
  • Patent number: 8789651
    Abstract: To absorb a noise produced by an external force that generates an audio frequency even if it is applied thereto, and to make it hard to become a noise source to a surrounding area. It includes a surface layer 20 having microscopic pores 21 formed on a surface 20A, communicating passages 24 communicating with the microscopic pores 21 and a porous layer 10 having sound pores 14 that are formed at an inner part deeper than the surface layer 20 having the microscopic pores 21 formed, communicate with the communicating passage 24 and that have a volume larger than volumes of the microscopic pore 21 formed on the surface 20A and the communicating passage 24. A sound absorption characteristic and/or a sound insulation characteristic is provided by the microscopic pores 21 of the surface 20A, the communicating passages 24 of the porous layer 10, and the sound pores 14 of the porous layer 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Aisin Kako Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Kawai, Satoshi Mihara, Chie Kato
  • Patent number: 8789652
    Abstract: An attenuator for attenuating acoustic waves, the attenuator comprising: a first body defining a cavity therein and an elongate open aperture extending across a substantial portion of the first body, the first body being configured to attenuate acoustic waves over a resonant frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sonobex Limited
    Inventors: Gerard Michael Swallowe, Daniel Peter Elford, Feodor Kusmartsev, Luke Chalmers
  • Patent number: 8789653
    Abstract: A tree stand comprises a metal post, a lower platform pivotably coupled to the metal post for pivoting between a platform extended position and a platform folded position, an upper seat pivotably coupled to the post for pivoting between a seat extended position and a seat folded position, and a rubber or polymeric interface having a thickness of at least ? of an inch and contacting the post and at least one of lower platform when lower platform is in the platform folded position, and the upper seat when the upper seat is in the seat folded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: DDI, Inc.
    Inventor: John Brian Priest
  • Patent number: 8789654
    Abstract: A mast lift includes a base, a platform, and a lifting assembly connected between the base and the platform. The lifting assembly moves the platform between a lowered position and a raised position. A threaded driving rod is connected between the base and the lifting assembly, and a gas strut acts between the base and the lifting assembly and biases the lifting assembly and the platform toward the raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: JLG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey George Campbell, Jason James Watson
  • Patent number: 8789655
    Abstract: A safety apparatus (11) comprising a first housing (25) supporting a first spool (17) and a second spool (21) coaxially mounted and independently rotatable. The safety apparatus (11) also comprises a support line (29) extending from the first spool (17) to the second spool (21) via a second support assembly (27). The safety apparatus (11) also comprises a locking device (35) operably movable between a locked condition wherein the first spool (17) and second spool (21) are locked relative to each other and a released condition wherein the first spool (17) and second spool (21) may rotate independently. The locking device (11) is maintained in a locked condition, locking the first spool (17) relative to the second spool (21), when a load of predetermined value, such as the weight of a fallen operator, is exerted upon the support line (29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Inventor: Leigh Dowie
  • Patent number: 8789656
    Abstract: A system for lubricating a remote bearing in rotating machinery is disclosed. An aerator is coupled on an end of a shaft distally from a gearbox and on a far side of an obstruction coupled to the shaft. Oil is carried centrifugally along an inner diameter wall of the shaft while air is carried along a central axis of the shaft. The aerator may include an axial groove for receiving oil from the inner diameter wall of the shaft. The aerator may further include a radial passage for carrying air into the oil to provide a misted lubricant that may be provided into the remote bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Robert Eccles, Davis Jensen
  • Patent number: 8789657
    Abstract: The “Gheorghe Vasilescu” lubrication apparatus comprises a shaft having a passageway therein and a sump for storing a lubricant. The sump has a substantially cylindrical form and includes a bottom and side walls. The sump is also configured to rotate about a central axis of the shaft. The side walls are provided with multiple parallel lugs on an inner surface of the side walls. The apparatus further includes a lubricant pickup tube having one end connected to the passageway and another end having an intake orifice. The lubricant pickup tube is substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the shaft, and the intake orifice is substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the shaft. The passageway is configured to deliver the lubricant from the sump to an outer surface of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Inventor: Andrew Rosca
  • Patent number: 8789658
    Abstract: A traction device includes tension members (2) coated with an elastomer material to form jacketed tension members (3). The jacketed tension members (3) are arranged next to each other in a plane in the cross section of the traction device, at such a distance from each other that there is a clear space (6) between each two mutually adjacent ones of the jacketed tension members (3). The jacketed tension members (3) are connected at the back thereof by a back layer. The clear space (6) begins on the side facing away from the back layer (4) and extends at least beyond the center point (5) of the tension member, and the ratio of the second diameter (d2) of the jacketed tension member (3) in relation to the first diameter (d1) of the tension member (2) is between 1.05 and 2.25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: ContiTech Antriebssysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Hubert Göser
  • Patent number: 8789659
    Abstract: A system continuously drives a motor during normal and power failure operating conditions. A regenerative drive delivers power to the motor from a main power supply during the normal operating condition and from a backup power supply during the power failure operating condition. A controller operates the regenerative drive to provide available power on the regenerative drive to the backup power supply during the normal operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Ismail Agirman, Vladimir Blasko, Frank Higgins
  • Patent number: 8789660
    Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator car and also a motor drive for moving the elevator car according to a movement profile to be determined for the movement of the elevator car. The loading of the motor drive is arranged to be limited to the limit value for the maximum permitted loading by changing the value of a movement magnitude of the elevator car in the movement profile of the elevator car when the position of the elevator car changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventor: Asmo Tenhunen
  • Patent number: 8789661
    Abstract: A vertical reciprocating conveyor has a carriage mounted for movement in a support frame between different designated vertical levels, a door assembly mounted on the support frame for gaining access to the carriage when the carriage is at the one designated level. A visual warning barrier is movably mounted between a raised, inoperative position and a lowered, operative position across a doorway formed in the support frame at the one designated level. The visual warning barrier is automatically moved from the raised, inoperative position to the lowered, operative position upon movement of the door assembly to the open position when the carriage is located away from the one designated level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Pflow Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Gene M. Barth
  • Patent number: 8789662
    Abstract: A wheeled carriage for supporting a patient has a wheeled base having frame members supporting a plurality of caster wheel assemblies and a braking system. A moveable brake lock assembly, a brake lock actuator, and a swivel lock receiver are operatively connected to one of the caster wheel assemblies to define a locking caster wheel assembly. The brake lock assembly comprises an actuating member, a swivel lock member, and a brake member that are interconnected as a unit for simultaneous movement. The brake lock actuator is operable to selectively move the brake lock assembly into an engaged position via engagement with the actuating member such that the swivel lock member engages the swivel lock receiver and the brake member contacts a wheel of the locking caster wheel assembly thereby preventing rotation and swiveling of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Childs, Steven L. Birman, William V. Bleeker, Jr., Richard L. McDaniel, Dickson J. Brubaker, Anish Paul
  • Patent number: 8789663
    Abstract: A bicycle hydraulic brake clamp includes a clamp, two piston assemblies and a separation board. The clamp has a first slot defined on the middle thereof so that a brake disk is received therein. A second slot and a third slot are respectively defined in two sides of the clamp. A through hole is defined through the clamp and communicates with the third slot. The separation board is fixedly engaged with the through hole via the first slot by a way of welding. The two piston assemblies are respectively installed in the second and third slots via the first slot. The separation board is securely engaged with the through hole so as not only to prevent the separation board from dropping from the clamp by exterior impact, but also to protect the separation board from being damaged by the exterior impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Ashima Ltd.
    Inventor: Wayne-Ian Moore
  • Patent number: 8789664
    Abstract: A combined service brake and spring brake cylinder for vehicle brake systems, includes a service brake piston and a spring brake piston. A sealing assembly is located in a central bore of a partition and seals off the interior of the service brake cylinder from the interior of the spring brake cylinder. The radial outer peripheral surface of the spring brake piston has an additional sealing assembly for sealing off a spring chamber. At least one of the sealing assemblies contains a guide ring that guides the spring brake piston rod in the bore of the partition, or the spring brake piston in the spring brake cylinder. The guide ring consists of a more rigid material than that of at least one sealing element. The sealing element consists of an elastomer that is connected to the guide ring by original forming methods such as injection molding or transfer molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Alain Fantazi, Jacques Lanquetot, Franck Hemery
  • Patent number: 8789665
    Abstract: A brake pad assembly is provided, including a friction lining providing a wear surface for contacting a brake rotor and a back plate coupled to the friction lining. The back plate is made of a carbon fiber reinforced carbon matrix composite. In one example, a majority of the carbon fibers of the back plate are oriented in a x-y in-plane direction resulting in a structure where the thermal conductivity is at least 2 times greater in the x-y in-plane direction versus a z through-plane direction. In another example, the back plate is provided as at least one sheet of a carbon fiber reinforced carbon matrix composite. A method of manufacturing the brake pad assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Carlisle Brake & Friction, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Frank Gilboy, Richard A. Wolf, Aaron M. Morey
  • Patent number: 8789666
    Abstract: A friction couple including a frictionally rubbing member that contains at least one of a binder and a filler, in which the binder and the filler have a modulus of elasticity of 1 GPa or higher and 15 GPa or lower, no softening point or no glass transition point in the range of ?50° C. or higher and 200° C. or lower, and a compressive strength of 50 MPa or higher at 25° C. and 25 MPa or higher at 200° C.; and a frictionally rubbed member. The ratio of the maximum value tan ?(Max) to the minimum value tan ?(Min) of the loss tangent tan ? of the frictionally rubbing member obtained through a dynamic viscoelastic measurement performed at a frequency of 0.1 Hz or higher and 20 Hz or lower and in the range of ?50° C. or higher and 250° C. or lower after thermoforming is 5 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Abe, Masaaki Nishiwaki, Hiroshi Isono, Yukihiro Shiomi, Hiroyuki Fujikawa, Satoshi Wakamatsu
  • Patent number: 8789667
    Abstract: An adjustable damping valve device for a vibration damper includes a housing with an axially movable valve body. The valve body has in the direction of a valve seat surface a pressure-loaded surface AOED which is operative in the lift direction of the valve body and a surface ACloseD which is loaded by pressure in the closing direction, wherein a resultant force comprising a force of at least one valve spring and an actuating force of an actuator acts on the valve body, and wherein an additional surface ACloseD2 of the valve body is pressure loaded by damping medium in closing direction of the valve body. The damping valve device has an emergency operation valve by means of which a pressure level can be at least indirectly adjusted in a control space for an emergency operation. The emergency operation valve is operative only in one flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Steffen Heyn, Andreas Föster
  • Patent number: 8789668
    Abstract: The invention concerns a master cylinder assembly (10, 110) for balancing the braking of a couple of wheels (LBW, RBW) of a vehicle. Each master cylinder (12) has a hollow body (14), a piston (15) and a chamber (16) suitable for containing a fluid having a primary control pressure depending on a driving force applied on the piston (15) and intended to be transmitted to a utilizing device (LBB, RBB). The assembly further includes a balancing duct (58) into which the chambers (16) come out, and a plurality of normally closed balancing valves (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Vhit S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luigi Alberti, Leonardo Cadeddu
  • Patent number: 8789669
    Abstract: A torque converter, including: a cover; a first through bore for receiving a transmission input shaft; a clutch including a piston plate; a plurality of fasteners connected to the cover; and a plate connected to the cover. The plate includes a radially aligned wall including a plurality of openings in which the plurality of fasteners is disposed; a second through bore at least partially aligned, in an axial direction, with the first through bore; and a plurality fins extending from the radially aligned wall in the axial direction. Each fin includes a first end aligned with the first and second through bores in the axial direction. Each fin includes a second end disposed radially within the plurality of openings. A space, aligned with an axis of rotation for the torque converter and the second through bore, is formed between the respective first ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Aliihasan Karamavruc, Patrick M. Lindemann, Paul Dougall, Rashid Farahati, Larry Chad Boigegrain, Michael Clason, Layton Broome, Chad Mieczkowski, Nathan Yensho, David C. Avins
  • Patent number: 8789670
    Abstract: A decoupler having a hub, a drive member and an isolator. The drive member is disposed about the hub for rotation about a rotational axis and includes an inner clutch surface. The isolator couples the hub and the drive member and includes a carrier, a plurality of arcuate springs, and a wrap spring. The carrier is received between the hub and the drive member and includes a carrier member, which defines a pair of apertures, and a pair of reaction blocks that are mounted in the apertures. The arcuate springs are mounted in the carrier member and are disposed between the hub and an associated one of the reaction blocks. The wrap spring has an end and a plurality of helical coils that are engaged to the inner clutch surface of the drive member. The end has an end face that is abutted against one of the reaction blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Litens Automotive Partnership
    Inventors: John R. Antchak, James W. Dell, Harvey J. Dix, Scott Parsons
  • Patent number: 8789671
    Abstract: A transmission system for driving one or two of a plurality of drivable devices by a single drive motor including an input shaft (4) for connection to the drive motor, a plurality of output units, each output unit including a drive member (6), which is drivable by the input shaft (4), an output shaft (16) and a clutch mechanism (8,18). A clutch engagement actuator (30) is arranged to act on a selected one of the clutch mechanisms (8, 18) to connect the input shaft (4) to the associated output shaft (16). The drive members (6) are carried on a common drive shaft (2) and are rotatable with respect to it. The clutch mechanisms (8,18) are operable to selectively connect the drive member (6) to the drive shaft (2) to rotate with it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Inventor: John Phillip Chevalier
  • Patent number: 8789672
    Abstract: A mechanical transmission device for transmitting a threshold force, comprising first and second elements rotatably mounted relative to each other about an axis of rotation, and having a transmitter member interposed between them to constrain the two elements to rotate together when a torque is imparted to one up to a threshold torque beyond which the two elements become movable in rotation. The transmitter member has a first friction disk constrained to rotate with the first element, and a second friction disk facing the first disk. It also has a bearing member that is axially movable to press the disks together and against a bearing turntable of the first element under drive from a presser member. Finally, it has a rotary drive, interposed between the bearing member and the second element, which are arranged to cause the bearing member to move axially against the presser member during rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-Dowty
    Inventors: Arnaud Lafitte, Sabien Verlyck, Guy Valembois
  • Patent number: 8789673
    Abstract: A ratchet mechanism of a hub assembly is located between the hub and the tubular portion, and includes a driving member which is movable linearly in the tubular portion. One side of the driving member has a cone-shaped first ratchet portion located axially and is composed of two triangular contact surfaces. A passive member is fixed in the hub and has a cone-shaped second ratchet portion which is engaged with the first ratchet portion. A returning member is located between the hub and the driving member. The passive member is fixed to the hub easily. By the triangular cone-shaped first and second ratchet portions, the contact are and the friction between the ratchet portions are reduced, and the engagement and disengagement is more quick and smooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Kunshan Henry Metal Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kee Ping Tho
  • Patent number: 8789674
    Abstract: A torque transmission system, particularly for a vehicle, includes a housing arrangement (26) with a hub region (36) which engages in a shaft opening (22) of the gearbox housing (16) and is rotatably supported so as to be substantially fluid-tight with respect to the gearbox housing (16) by means of a bearing/seal arrangement (42); at least one first fluid port (97) which opens toward an intermediate space region (98) formed between the housing arrangement (26) and the gearbox housing (16) is provided in the housing arrangement (26) in or in the vicinity of the hub region (36), and at least one second fluid port (104) which bypasses the bearing/seal arrangement (42) and opens toward the intermediate space region (98) is provided in the gearbox housing (16) and/or in the bearing/seal arrangement (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Jörg Sudau, Gregor Sueck, Arthur Schröder
  • Patent number: 8789675
    Abstract: A clutch device having at least one torque transfer device that can be engaged and disengaged in the axial direction and is frictionally engaged in the engaged state, and at least one wear adjustment device, which has at least one rotatable adjusting ring, at least one rotatably supported spindle drive with a drive pinion, which acts on the adjusting ring, and at least one drive assembly which may be made to engage with the drive pinion and which is pre-tensioned in the axial direction, to turn the spindle drive in the case of wear, the pre-tensioning force of the drive assembly being stepped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gerd Ahnert, Christophe Acker
  • Patent number: 8789676
    Abstract: An emergency release mechanism for an automatic transmission includes a shift lever adapted to release a parking position when engaged in an operating position. The shift lever has a hooked or tooth-shaped end portion and is moved by a manually-operated tackle which has an end defined by a surface area of increased diameter to establish an undercut for engagement of the end portion of the shift lever during disengagement of the parking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Harald Merklein, Lars Baruth
  • Patent number: 8789677
    Abstract: An adjustment device for adjusting a vehicle seat component is provided. The adjustment device comprising a rotary fitting for adjusting the vehicle seat component, which includes a first fitting part and a second fitting part pivotally mounted with respect to the first fitting part about an axis of rotation, a drive device connected with the rotary fitting for driving the rotary fitting, and an adjustment element of the drive device for actuating the drive device. The drive device is formed to transmit a force present on the adjustment element on the drive side for adjusting the vehicle seat component to the rotary fitting, but to block a force present on the rotary fitting on the output side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG Coburg
    Inventors: Frieder Krueger, André Blinzler, Stephanie Hartleb, Juergen Siller, Matthias Weiss, Andreas Weder, Volker Moeller
  • Patent number: 8789678
    Abstract: A conveyor system comprising: a track section comprising a control system; a drive system that is controlled by the control system; a plurality of moving elements that are driven by the drive system; a pallet support apparatus; a plurality of pallets that are configured to engage with the moving elements and move on the pallet support apparatus; and a plurality of workstations provided along the track section, each workstation at a predetermined pitch from each other workstation, wherein at least some of the pitches are different among workstations, wherein the control system, drive system and moving elements are configured such that each pallet of the plurality of pallets is independently advanced through the workstations based on the pitches of the workstations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Kleinikkink, Javan Taylor, Jeff Lee, Brad Northey, Jayson Jones
  • Patent number: 8789679
    Abstract: A transferring device includes a conveyer system, a reloading mechanism, and a jig. The reloading mechanism includes a blocking assembly and a grasping assembly. The blocking assembly includes a holding member mounted on the conveyer system, a stopping member, and a first driving member positioned on the holding member. The stopping member is connected to the first driving member. The grasping assembly includes a fixing member mounted on the conveyer system, a second driving member mounted on the fixing member, a third driving member mounted on the second driving member, and a pair of catches. The catches are positioned at opposite ends of the third driving member. The jig includes a top cover and a bottom cover engaged with the top cover. The jig is transferred on the conveyor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignees: Fu Ding Electronical Technology (Jiashan) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jian-Qiang Lu, Jian-Hua Xu
  • Patent number: 8789680
    Abstract: A device for pushing glass objects onto a conveyor belt includes a pusher (5), which is supported on a crank arm (6) in such a way that it can be swiveled about an axis (7), which crank arm is in driving engagement with a first electric motor (1) by means of a shaft (12). A second electric motor (2) is in driving engagement with a sleeve (20) by means of a cantilever (18), in which sleeve the shaft (12) is mounted, wherein the shaft (12) can be swiveled about a central stationary axis (19). A third electric motor (3) is arranged to rotate the pusher about the axis (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Heye International GmbH
    Inventors: Benedikt Felgenhauer, Matthias Hubner
  • Patent number: 8789681
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying printed products, includes a first accumulating section and at least one second accumulating section to convey the printed products from at least one intake area to at least one discharge area. The apparatus includes a feeding device to supply the printed products to one of the first or second accumulating sections in the at least one intake area. The apparatus further includes a discharge device to remove the printed products from one of the first or second accumulating sections in the at least one discharge area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Muller Martini Holding AG
    Inventor: Guenther Silberbauer