Patents Issued in December 15, 2015
  • Patent number: 9212729
    Abstract: Multi-speed transmission comprising four planetary gear sets, eight rotatable shafts and six shifting elements, the sun gear of the first planetary gear set is connected to the third shaft, which is selectively coupleable or detachably connectable to the input shaft through a first clutch and is attachable to the transmission housing through a first brake, whereas the input shaft is, through a second clutch, selectively coupleable or detachably connectable to the fourth shaft connected to the bar of the third planetary gear set, which is attachable to the bar of the first planetary gear set through a second brake, which is coupled to the transmission housing, whereas the input shaft is connected to the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set, whereas the eighth shaft is connected to the ring gear of the first planetary gear set, the sun gear of the second planetary gear set and the sun gear of the third planetary gear set, and the fifth shaft is connected to the bar of the second planetary gear set, the rin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Christian Sibla, Wolfgang Rieger
  • Patent number: 9212730
    Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner for a traction device (1) having a pressure chamber (2) in a housing (3), into which a medium that transmits pressure can be introduced, having a feed unit (5) having a non-return valve (6) at one end (4) of the pressure chamber and having an overpressure relief device (8) at the other end (7) of the pressure chamber (2), wherein the overpressure relief device (8) includes a closure element (11), a housing body (9) and a cage (10) which is at least partly arranged within the housing body (9) and which forms a stop for the closure element (11) on the side remote from the pressure chamber, wherein the cage (10) at least partly covers an end side of the housing body (9) that is remote from the pressure chamber. The invention also relates to a traction device drive having such a tensioner for a traction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Peter Tyroller
  • Patent number: 9212731
    Abstract: A tensioner is disclosed that may be part of a power system where the tensioner provides tension to an endless power transmitting element such as a belt, chain, or other continuous loop. The tensioner has an arm that is rotatable about a first axis. The tensioner also includes an outer spring and at least one inner spring. The outer spring has an outer coil that defines an outer diameter. The inner spring has an inner coil that defines an inner diameter. The inner diameter of the inner coil is less than the outer diameter of the outer coil such that at least a portion of the inner spring is received by the outer spring. The outer spring and the inner spring both urge the arm to rotate about the first axis and into tensioning engagement with the power transmitting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: DAYCO IP HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: James Kevin Lindstrom
  • Patent number: 9212732
    Abstract: A target primary pressure and a target secondary pressure are set based on a speed ratio, a target line pressure as a target value of a line pressure is set to be a value obtained by adding an offset amount, as a positive value, to either one having a higher value out of the target primary pressure and the target secondary pressure, in at least a cross-point region as a region where an absolute value of a deviation, obtained by subtracting the target primary pressure from the target secondary pressure, is smaller than a predetermined deviation, and a primary pressure, a secondary pressure, and the line pressure are controlled to be the target primary pressure, the target secondary pressure, and the target line pressure, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignees: JATCO LTD, NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiichiro Takahashi, Takashi Eguchi, Tomohiro Utagawa, Tomoyuki Mizuochi, Hisao Nobu, Kenji Sakakibara, Takahiro Ikeda, Masayuki Shimizu, Masami Sakai
  • Patent number: 9212733
    Abstract: A linear actuator includes a housing, a motor, a decelerator and an actuating rod. The housing includes an outer sleeve, a motor sleeve, a connecting sleeve, and at least a motor bolt. The connecting sleeve is connected to one end of the outer sleeve, the motor bolt longitudinally penetrating the motor sleeve and connected to the connecting sleeve. The motor is arranged in the motor sleeve. The decelerator is arranged in the motor sleeve. The decelerator is connected to the motor. The actuating rod is arranged in the outer sleeve. The actuating rod is connected to the decelerator through the motor sleeve, and the actuating rod is driven by the motor through the decelerator. The elements of the linear actuator are thereby firmly assembled by simple structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: TIMOTION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chou-Hsin Wu
  • Patent number: 9212734
    Abstract: A transmission system of a hybrid electric vehicle may include first and second motors/generators, a planetary gear set, a first output gear for the second motor/generator, a second output gear for an engine, an under drive first clutch, and an over drive second clutch, disposed on or coupled to an input shaft. A hollow shaft is configured at an outer circumference side of the input shaft to transmit accelerated power of the engine or power of the first motor/generator to the second output gear and an outer shaft at an outer circumference side of the hollow shaft to transmit power of the second motor/generator to the first output gear. The first and second clutches are adjacently disposed at an engine side on the input shaft, and selectively transmit each of rotational power of the input shaft and rotational power of the hollow shaft to the second output gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Baekyu Kim, Sunggon Byun, Hyunsup Kim, Heera Lee, Insup Kim, Seokjoon Kim, Chulmin Ahn
  • Patent number: 9212735
    Abstract: An arrangement of a transmission (1) and an attachment module (4), in which the transmission (1) has a driveshaft (3) with a central, first axial bore (12) for supplying lubricating oil and the attachment module (4) has a connecting shaft (5) mounted in the housing by at least one roller bearing (6). The driveshaft (3) and the connecting shaft (5) are connected to one another, in a rotationally fixed manner, by a splined connection (8). The supply of lubricating oil for the spline connection (8) and the at least one roller bearing (6) occurs by way of the central, first axial bore (12) of the driveshaft (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen
    Inventors: Oliver Schell, Rayk Gersten, Maik Kerkhoff
  • Patent number: 9212736
    Abstract: A holding structure of an intervening member is provided for preventing the dropping-out of a wobbling-prevention member at an assembly time, and to extend an applicable range of rigidity of the intervening member to a low-side range. The holding structure of the intervening member includes a baffle plate intervened between a torque converter housing wall and an intervening member, and a wobbling-prevention member interposed between the baffle plate and the torque converter housing wall in a compressed state. A bottom portion of a concave portion is clamped between a head portion and a bulging portion of the wobbling-prevention member. Also, an inside of the head portion is hollow, so when the head portion is crushed and deformed, the air inside the head portion is discharged to the outside through an annular gap to reduce a compressive load relative to the baffle plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Tomohide Okuta, Seiji Miyamoto, Masako Shinohara
  • Patent number: 9212737
    Abstract: A twin clutch controlling apparatus wherein an interposition of a manual operation into an automatic control clutch can be executed smoothly. The twin clutch controlling apparatus includes an AMT controlling unit for controlling a shift actuator and a clutch actuator, and a shift pedal P for carrying out a shifting request to the AMT controlling unit. If, after driving of the shift actuator is started in response to the shifting request by the shift pedal, a clutch lever is operated in a connection direction before a next stage gear is placed into an in-gear state, then the controlling section drives one of an odd number stage side clutch and an even number stage side clutch which corresponds to the gear before the shifting in a corresponding relationship to a manual operation clutch capacity arithmetic operation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Nakamura, Kazuyuki Fukaya, Hiroyuki Kojima, Yoshiaki Nedachi, Yasuyuki Mori, Satoshi Honma
  • Patent number: 9212738
    Abstract: A structure prevents a gear shift lever from moving during a rear-end collision, and may include: a case mounted on the gear shift lever having a sliding groove; a lever having one end coupled to the case rotatable below the groove; a ball seated on the lever; a spring coupled to the lever so that elastic force is applied to raise the lever; a protruding portion mounted separate from the gear shift lever and positioned below another end of the lever, in which when the lever is rotated downward, an end of the lever is locked by the protruding portion blocking movement of the gear shift lever. When a rear-end collision occurs, the ball slides due to inertia rotating the lever downward to physically block the lever, thereby preventing a secondary accident by preventing the gear shift lever placed at an R-stage from unintentionally moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Young-Je Park, Chang-Hyun Lee, Yang-Rae Cho
  • Patent number: 9212739
    Abstract: An organ type electronic automatic shift lever may include a shift lever portion, a step motor unit, an operating arm, a position recognition unit, and a gear shift stage control unit. The shift lever portion may have a lower end at which a magnetic unit is mounted. The step motor unit may be fixed on a console surface of a vehicle and include a step motor. The operating arm may be rotatably connected to the shift lever portion and the step motor. The position recognition unit may recognize a position of the magnetic unit and output information of the recognized position. The gear shift stage control unit may control the step motor unit, preset position recognition information, compare position information and output gear shift information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Eun-Sik Kim, Jeong-Seop Lee
  • Patent number: 9212740
    Abstract: A shift device includes a knob rotated to select a mode of a vehicle transmission. A rotary detent member is rotated to a rotation position corresponding to the selected transmission mode. The rotary detent member is coaxial with the knob. A connecting member connects the knob and the rotary detent member when located at the first position. The connecting member is disconnected from the knob when located at the second position. A motor rotates the connecting member and the rotary detent member. During a normal operation in which a certain condition is unsatisfied, a control circuit controls the motor to hold the connecting member at the first position. When the certain condition is satisfied, the control circuit controls the motor to move the connecting member to the second position and move the rotary detent member to a rotation position corresponding to a parking mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Hironori Watanabe, Makoto Yamamoto, Koji Imai, Munetoshi Makimura, Shosaku Watarai, Katsushi Miwa, Toshiharu Katagiri
  • Patent number: 9212741
    Abstract: A method of controlling an automatic transmission connected to an engine in a motor vehicle employs a switch for requesting selection of transmission speed-ratio ranges. According to the method, the switch receives an input signal and generates an output signal having the same duration as the input signal. A controller programmed with an engine threshold speed and a threshold signal duration receives and compares the output signal with the threshold signal duration. The controller also determines a current transmission speed-ratio range and a transmission threshold speed-ratio range that is defined by engine's threshold speed. The controller additionally commands the transmission to change the current speed-ratio range to a neighboring speed-ratio range if the signal duration is less than or equal to the threshold. Furthermore, the controller commands the transmission to change the current speed-ratio range to the threshold speed-ratio range if the signal duration is greater than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jay Ho, David William Minner
  • Patent number: 9212742
    Abstract: A control method for a belt-type continuously variable transmission is provided for performing a belt slip control. The method includes oscillating hydraulic pressure and monitoring a phase difference calculated based on a multiplication value of an oscillation component in an actual hydraulic pressure and an oscillation component in an actual variable speed ratio to estimate a belt slip condition. The method further includes controlling hydraulic pressure to maintain a predetermined belt slip condition by reducing the hydraulic pressure to be lower than a hydraulic pressure in a normal control time based on an estimation, and limiting an input torque-change rate in which an input torque to the belt-type continuously variable transmission changes in an increasing direction until the hydraulic pressure rises to a hydraulic pressure in which the input torque is not excessive relative to a belt clamp force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignees: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD., JATCO LTD
    Inventors: Katsumi Doihara, Yoshihisa Kodama, Yasuaki Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 9212743
    Abstract: A speed ratio containment process limits the speed ratio of a variator for a CVT for a motor vehicle when rolling backward by commanding a speed ratio that is higher than the actual speed ratio in an overdrive direction. Accordingly, the actual speed ratio moves to a lowest limit, which provides maximum torque when a driver of the motor vehicle steps on the accelerator pedal to resume forward motion of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Zhe Xie, Vijay A. Neelakantan
  • Patent number: 9212744
    Abstract: A combination torsion spring is configured such that a predetermined reaction force is generated in a coil circumferential direction without a center of a wound coil tilting even when applied with a load. A first torsion spring and a second torsion spring of the combination torsion spring are each provided with a coil. Each coil is formed by spirally winding a copper wire in a different winding direction from one another. The inner diameter of the coil of the first torsion spring is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the coil of the second torsion spring. In the combination torsion spring, the coil of the second torsion spring is inserted into the coil of the first torsion spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsushi Saitoh
  • Patent number: 9212745
    Abstract: Sealing frame (1) for utilization in a battery, encompassing a base body (2) whereby the base body (2) encompasses an opening (3), whereby the base body (2) features a first sealing surface (4) and a facing second sealing surface (5) and whereby the first sealing surface (4) and/or the second sealing surface (5) are implemented elastically compressible. During normal operation, the frame provides an optimal operating temperature and a reliable leak tightness, in the event of failure however the frame permits the electrolyte to escape, effortlessly and directed, characterized by cooling passages (22) that are integrated in the base body (2) and/or a heating device (23) which interfuse the base body (2) at least partially along the lengthwise expansion of the sealing surfaces (4, 5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventor: Peter Kritzer
  • Patent number: 9212746
    Abstract: Apparatus for sealing the gap between adjacent interconnecting mats in a reusable load-supporting surface deployed on the ground includes a seal member. The seal member includes an elongated main body and an elongated planar tail extending outwardly therefrom. The main body is positionable in the gap and the tail is configured to extend into at least a portion of the interface formed between upper and lower lips of the adjacent mats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Newpark Mats & Integrated Services LLC
    Inventor: James Kerwin McDowell
  • Patent number: 9212747
    Abstract: A sealing configuration is configured for sealingly coupling a first fluid flow path of a first device to a second fluid flow path of a second device. The sealing configuration comprises a contact surface comprising a structure configured for increasing a surface pressure when coupling the first device to the second device. The contact surface comprises a metal coating configured for increasing sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joachim Wagner, Hans-Georg Haertl
  • Patent number: 9212748
    Abstract: A wear sleeve assembly for a seal on a shaft includes a sleeve having inner and outer circumferential surfaces, the outer surface being engageable by a seal inner surface at a contact location to prevent fluid flow between the seal inner surface and the sleeve outer surface. The sleeve inner surface defines a bore sized to receive a portion of the shaft with clearance. A coupler is configured to connect the sleeve with the shaft and provides a clearance space between the sleeve inner surface and a shaft outer surface at about the seal contact location. Thereby, the sleeve is adjustably positionable relative to the shaft so that the sleeve remains generally centered within the seal as the sleeve and shaft rotate about the axis. The coupler preferably includes an annular body with first and second axially-spaced, relatively displaceable sections for displacing the sleeve relative to the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventor: Yefim Epshetsky
  • Patent number: 9212749
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid valve, in particular for the exhaust gas from a motor vehicle, comprising: a body (30) defining at least one duct (32), and a movable flap that can rotate about a shaft between a closed position preventing the fluid from flowing through the duct (32) and an open position allowing the fluid to flow through the duct (32). According to the invention, the valve includes an opening clearance (E) between flap and a wall (62) of the body (30) for the passage of the fluid, said clearance (E) extending in a direction parallel to the pivot shaft of the flap over a length that varies according to the angular position of the flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes de Controle Moteur
    Inventors: Sébastien Adenot, Grégory Hodebourg
  • Patent number: 9212750
    Abstract: The valve includes a female part having a closed, transverse, proximal end wall, and a tubular wall integral with a flange part, a lateral opening being formed on the proximal section of the tubular wall, a male part having a tubular wall forming, on the proximal side, a closing/opening part having an open, transverse, proximal end; the closing/opening part has an external shape and an external dimension that fit the internal shape and internal dimension of the proximal receiving part of the female part. The sealing elements include three ring seals separated from one another in an axial direction, supported by the upper surface of the tubular wall of the male part and engaging with the female part, a proximal seal to the fluid product, a distal seal to external contaminants, and an intermediate seal to the fluid product and to external contaminants between the proximal and distal seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SARTORIUS STEDIM FMT SAS
    Inventors: Florian Blake, Jeremy Gibelin
  • Patent number: 9212751
    Abstract: A flow control valve includes a housing forming internal passages in fluid communication with a port of the valve, and an internal cavity. A flow direction block is disposed in the internal cavity and forms at least one flow passage extending through a portion thereof. The flow direction block is moveable within the internal cavity such that the free ends of the least one flow passage can be selectively aligned with a respective internal passage along an interface as the flow direction block is moved from a first, closed position to a second, open position. A seal is disposed around each interface and includes an internal face, which presses against an outer surface of the flow direction block, and an external face, which presses against the housing. Sealing function is improved, at least in part, by a differential fluid pressure that acts on the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: Allan R. McLane, Jermaine Ealy
  • Patent number: 9212752
    Abstract: A bypass device used in conjunction with a gas meter has a normal mode and a bypass mode. In the normal mode, the bypass device routes gas through the gas meter to a customer. In the bypass mode, the bypass device routes gas through a bypass path so that the gas meter can be serviced or replaced without interrupting gas service to the customer. Manual operating ball valves select either the normal mode or the bypass mode. Each ball valve includes a rotatable diverter ball with a 90° flow passage. Each diverter ball is mounted within the bypass device between pair of polymer annular valve seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Inventor: Jordan Gardner
  • Patent number: 9212753
    Abstract: A slam-shut safety device includes a valve body, a valve disc, a reset pin, and a guide collar. The valve disc is disposed within the valve body and shiftable along a slam-shut axis between an open position and a closed second position. The reset pin is operatively coupled to the valve disc and shiftable along the slam-shut axis relative to the valve body between an untripped position placing the valve disc in the open position and a tripped position placing the valve disc in the closed position. The guide collar includes a hollow cylindrical portion extending away from the valve disc at least partly over the reset pin and being slidably disposed in a guide bore of a slam shut body that is connected to the valve body and supporting the reset pin, thereby providing added structural integrity to the rest pin and valve disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: EMERSON PROCESS MANAGEMENT REGULATOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Cristian-Tiberiu Moldovan, Michel Bouvry, Roman Alexandru-Vlad, Stanley D. Hall, David E. Woollums, Tung K. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9212754
    Abstract: A valve apparatus employs a shape memory alloy. In another aspect, a shape memory member acts as a lock or trigger in combination with a separate actuator or spring to move a valve. Still another aspect uses an externally mounted shape memory member to rotate a valve if an unsafe condition causes movement of the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: A. Raymond et Cie
    Inventor: Nicholas Jackson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9212755
    Abstract: A fluid control device includes two opening and closing valves 2, 3 disposed symmetrical to each other and having an identical shape, two fluid discharge passages 6, 7, 11, 12 having an equal length and provided in parallel with each other in outlets of the opening and closing valves 2, 3, and a connection member 10 attachable to a chamber and having two fluid passages 25, 26 formed in an equal length to and communicating with the two fluid discharge passages 6, 7, 11, 12, the connection member being provided in outlets of the two fluid discharge passages 6, 7, 11, 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIKIN INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Haruhiko Kuriki, Takahiro Matsuda, Mutsunori Koyomogi, Megumu Makino
  • Patent number: 9212756
    Abstract: A valve flange joint includes a valve flange and first and second duct flanges. The first and second duct flanges include respective first and second mating portions. The first mating portion includes a first duct rim, a first duct face in contact with a first face of the valve flange, and a first slot. The second mating portion includes a second duct face in contact with a second face of the valve flange, and a second rim. In an embodiment, the valve flange includes a tab that extends in an axial direction through the first slot and includes an inner surface radially inward of an outermost portion of the second mating portion. In another embodiment, a first thickness is defined between the first flange face and the second flange face. Second and third thicknesses are also defined for the first and second mating portions. The three thicknesses are substantially similar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Josh Kamp, Ray Garner
  • Patent number: 9212757
    Abstract: An apparatus for activating a valve of an ejector in order to adapt the pressurization of a chamber in an aircraft turbojet engine comprising a device constructed and arranged to trigger the opening and/or closing of valve and/or the power of the valve as a function of the altitude at which the valve is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Giuliana Elisa Rossi, Eddy Stéphane Joël Fontanel, Marie Gentilhomme
  • Patent number: 9212758
    Abstract: An actuator for operating a linear valve, such as a gate valve, includes a quick connect coupling between the housing and at least one of a bonnet and a power head assembly. In embodiments, the quick connect coupling includes a plurality of lugs spaced apart around an annular actuator housing surface, and a plurality of lugs spaced apart around an annular surface of another member such as a bonnet or power head, each of the lugs defining a plurality of slots therebetween. The lugs pass through corresponding slots, and then the housing is rotated relative to the other member until at least a portion of the lugs of each component are axially aligned in a locked position. The rotation is less than one full revolution of the rotated component. A latch prevents the component from rotating out of the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas Pressure Control LP
    Inventors: Keith M. Adams, Lloyd R. Cheatham
  • Patent number: 9212759
    Abstract: A valve has a housing that has a first media opening and encloses a pressure space, and a valve element actuated by at least one wire-shaped SMA element arranged in a pressure space that in a first position closes the media opening and in a second position closes the first media opening that opens the valve element. The valve housing is formed by a housing shell open on one side and a circuit board closing it with which the SMA element is electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Alfmeier Präzision AG Baugruppen und Systemlösungen
    Inventors: Markus Köpfer, Markus Gebhardt
  • Patent number: 9212760
    Abstract: A rotary actuator (10) rotates a drive shaft (40), which in turn rotates a stem (76) between an actuator housing (32) and a central body (48). Drive pins (50, 52) extend between the central body of a rotary sleeve (42), and move within helical guide slots (80, 82) to linearly raise and lower the central body (48), which is connected to the linear controller (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: JBT Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn W. Thorpe, Richard A. Beers
  • Patent number: 9212761
    Abstract: A security device is configured to limit access and prevent removal of a backflow preventer connected to a fire hydrant. The security device includes an upper enclosure rotationally and detachably coupled to a lower enclosure. The upper enclosure has an upper enclosure left end and the lower enclosure comprises a lower enclosure left end each being configured to accommodate a portion of the fire hydrant. An upper access door is attached to the upper enclosure and permits and restricts access to the backflow preventer. A side door is attached to the lower enclosure and permits and restricts access to the backflow preventer to install a hose to the backflow preventer. A plurality of height adjustment legs are attached to the lower enclosure to adjust a height of the lower enclosure from ground and to carry weight of the security device which avoids plastic deformation of the backflow preventer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Inventors: Christian Michael Ruddell, Timothy Daniel Manning
  • Patent number: 9212762
    Abstract: A stopcock is provided with multiple ports joining multiple fluid conduits leading between fluid sources and fluid destinations. A central hub manifold resides within a valve body supporting the ports, and can rotate relative to the valve body. Fluid flow paths within the central hub are selectively aligned or not aligned with the ports. The stopcock indicates which ports are open by providing marks corresponding with positions of the ports. When the marks are visible, the corresponding ports are open. With different positioning of ports and different configurations of fluid flow paths within the central hub, stopcocks having different numbers of operable positions are provided including two, three, four, six and eight way stopcocks. By providing an axial flow path through a central axis of the central hub intersecting the embedded fluid flow paths within the central hub, still further numbers of operational states are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Inventor: David R. Duncan
  • Patent number: 9212763
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly that includes a pipe for transporting liquid, deformable between an internal circular cross-section and a flattened internal cross-section that can be null and that can be folded on itself longitudinally, and a device for installing the pipe. The device includes a rotating turret about which the pipe is wound and flattened, presentation means for presenting one opposite the other in a commonly conformed state, two pipe sections, assembly means for a water-tight link between said sections, optional tensioning means for transmitting an axial tension to the elongated pipe, and means for attaching ballast to the elongated pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: VIA MARINA
    Inventor: Claude Lebelle
  • Patent number: 9212764
    Abstract: A device for attaching an electrical harness on a structure of an aircraft comprising a support connected to the structure, the harness following a path direction, characterized in that it comprises a body with at least two jaws, at least one of the jaws being movable along a reference plane perpendicular to the path direction between a first open position in which they enable the insertion of at least one harness and a second closed position in which they keep the inserted harness or harnesses in position, and on the other hand, a retainer strip in the form of a blade whose ends are connected to the support allowing for the jaws to be maintained in closed position and the body to be flattened against the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Hervé Marche, Jean Geliot
  • Patent number: 9212765
    Abstract: A set of modular bracket units are mountable end-to-end in series on a support structure adjacent a cable interface area of an electronic equipment assembly, the form a composite cable management bracket. The bracket units are mountable in interchangeable positions in the series to define longitudinally extending series of segregated cable management openings through which cables are receivable for connection to respective electronic equipment ports, to restrain the cables against transverse escape from the respective cable management openings. The set of modular bracket units comprises at least one single-opening bracket unit that defines a single cable management opening, and at least one multi-opening bracket unit that defines, when mounted as part of the composite cable management bracket, two or more cable management openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vic Hong Chia, Hong Tran Huynh
  • Patent number: 9212767
    Abstract: A method of anchoring one or more load carrying components of an elongate subsea structure, such as a flexible pipeline or umbilical, to a termination or end fitting, comprising the steps of: inserting said load carrying component(s) into or through a cavity or void within the termination; and filling said cavity or void with a filler material whereby said load carrying component(s) are embedded and anchored therein; wherein said filler material comprises spheroidal beads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: TECHNIP FRANCE
    Inventors: Daniel Grayson, Christopher Jameson, Anthony Hanson
  • Patent number: 9212768
    Abstract: A pipe coupling includes an annular clamp housing that has ends which are provided with two opposing clamp members. One or more tightening elements are provided for tightening the clamp members towards each other in a direction transverse to an axial length of the annular clamp housing so as to apply a radially-inward clamping force on a pipe being clamped in the annular clamp housing. An annular seal is mounted in the annular clamp housing. The annular clamp housing includes one or more enhanced circumferential stiffening elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Eliezer Krausz Industrial Development Ltd.
    Inventor: Avi Chiproot
  • Patent number: 9212769
    Abstract: The clamping collar comprises a metal belt (10), two tightening lugs (12, 14), and a bridging plate (20) for bridging the gap between the lugs. The belt includes an overlap portion (22) that has its inside face provided with a setback (24) into which a first end (20A) of the plate penetrates during tightening of the collar. The setback is defined by a first joggle (26) having an end wall that forms two surfaces on either side of the longitudinal midline of the belt, which surfaces are disposed substantially symmetrically about said midline, and are inclined both relative to the longitudinal direction and relative to the transverse direction of the belt, and each of which surfaces extends over a substantial fraction of the half-width of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: ETABLISSEMENTS CAILLAU
    Inventors: Nicolas Rigollet, Fabrice Prevot, Arnault Jacquelin, Eric Mesnard
  • Patent number: 9212770
    Abstract: A flange to be assembled to a duct member includes a plurality of pre-fabricated apertures or areas of weakened wall strength for receiving fasteners to assemble the flange to the end of a duct member. The apertures may be spaced apart such that the fasteners can be inserted at regular intervals along the length of the flange and the length of the end of the duct member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: RAM Developing, LLC
    Inventors: Alain Denis Richard, Richard Carl Houle, Jr., Michael Paul Houle
  • Patent number: 9212771
    Abstract: An swage fitted end connector for high pressure large diameter reinforced flexible rubber hose utilizing sine-wave locking of the reinforcement and particularly suited to the petrochemical and drilling industries. Two embodiments of the connector for use with wire reinforced thin internal tube hose are disclosed: one with a diameter of 3-inches and for burst pressures up to 20,000 psi and the other for a diameter of 5-inches and for burst pressures up to 18,000 psi. All of the connectors will withstand the rated burst pressure of the hose without pumping off or leaking thus any hose that utilizes the device will fail before the connector pops off the hose. The connectors are designed to meet or exceed the new API temperature ranges and new API flexible specification levels which became effective in October 2006.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: George Myer Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Gardner T. Baldwin, Larry M. Sweeney
  • Patent number: 9212772
    Abstract: A needle free connector includes a tube device having a first tube, a first locking elements formed on a distal end of the first tube and having a transverse channel in communication with the first tube and a push rod integrally formed on a side face of the first locking elements, a resilient frame securely engaged with the first locking elements and having a second ring movably positioned due to movement of the first tube and provided with a hole defined in a bottom face of the second ring to allow the first tube to movably extend therethrough, a hollow casing provided with a second tube to movably receive therein the first tube and a cap securely connected to the hollow casing to form a watertight connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: PACIFIC HOSPITAL SUPPLY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Shih-Chi Ho, Ming-Chung Chen
  • Patent number: 9212773
    Abstract: A lock member (16) moves between a standby position, in which a locking part (86) of a locking piece (78) provided on the lock member is placed inside a gap (44) provided between a projecting part (40) and a projecting part (42) provided on a lock part (36) of a connection part (18), and a connected position, in which the locking part is placed beneath the projecting part (42), and the lock member (16) moves to the connected position and is locked by the locking piece (78) when a pipe (12) is inserted up to a prescribed position. Also, an elastic piece (80) and the locking piece (78) are pushed to spread outward and accumulate urging force when being contacted by a flange part (12A) of the pipe (12), but return along an outer perimeter surface of the flange part (12A) and release the urging force when the locked state in the standby position of the locking part (86) is unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Okazaki
  • Patent number: 9212774
    Abstract: A connector to connect a fluid path to a fuel tank includes a main portion made of a synthetic resin through which a gas produced from fuel hardly passes, and a shell formed outside the main portion and made of a synthetic resin through which the gas passes easier than the main portion and which can be melt-bonded to the outer surface of a fuel tank. The main portion includes a flange part in the outer periphery. The shell has a wall section for a melt-bonding portion which extends around from the top surface side of the flange part and covers the bottom side of the flange part. The undersurface of the flange part is provided with an inclination having the peripheral edge side of the flange part upside thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventors: Xiaohui Sui, Toshio Hattori
  • Patent number: 9212775
    Abstract: In some implementations, an injection system that injects sealant into a pipe, pressure component or valve while containing the pipe, pressure component or valve repair that significantly reduces or eliminates release of hazardous material from inside the pipe, pressure component valve or injection system and thus significantly reduces emission of the hazardous material from inside the pipe, pressure component or valve into the environment and protecting the repair technicians.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Forge Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Lee Miller, Daniel J. Rybicki, Mathew A. Rybicki, Lawrence J. Povse, Kenneth R. Vejr, Andre S. Todd, John M. Griffin
  • Patent number: 9212776
    Abstract: A method for installation and repair of insulated piping includes placing a sleeve coupling, made of a weldable polymer material incorporating a slit that runs lengthwise along the piping, and whose length exceeds the distance between the outer pipes' ends, over the exposed section of the inner pipe so as to overlap the ends of the outer pipes, and welding the sleeve coupling to the outer pipe at the ends of the outer pipes, by placing an electrically conductive band between the outer pipe and the sleeve coupling, ensuring that free ends of the band project upward through the slit. A power converter which has a quasi-resonant converter is employed to produce the electric current that is to be connected to the band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: TSC Innovation AB
    Inventors: Lars Gunnarsson, Kjell Lidström
  • Patent number: 9212777
    Abstract: A quick clamping device, including a semi-circular base and a screw running through the bottom part of the base. One end of the screw extends out of the base and is connected to an eccentric wheel via a conical shaft pin. The eccentric wheel is provided with a handle. On the screw, a fixture block and a wedged sliding block are provided, with the wedged sliding block being adjacent to the eccentric wheel and the fixture block being adjacent to the wedged sliding block. The top part of one end of the base is connected to a buckle via two connecting blocks and the top part of the other end of the base is connected to a top cover. A protruding block is provided on the top of the top cover. The free end of the buckle is provided with a groove that matches the protruding block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Inventor: Chuanwen Shi
  • Patent number: 9212778
    Abstract: A positioning apparatus for moving connection equipment on a drilling rig is disclosed. The positioning apparatus includes a piston and cylinder having a cylinder, a piston and a piston rod. The piston and piston rod are moveable relative to the cylinder (601)from a retracted position to an extended position. The positioning apparatus further includes a transfer barrier linked to the piston and cylinder for setting a maximum extension of said piston rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventor: Brian Daniel Winter
  • Patent number: 9212779
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for supplying lubricant to a plurality of lubrication sites. Embodiments include a pump with venting and non-venting piston return, a pump with stirrer and direct feed mechanism, a pump with CAN system and self-diagnostics, a pump with heated housing and reservoir and a pump with stepper motor and overdrive control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Lincoln Industrial Corporation
    Inventor: Paul G. Conley