Patents Issued in March 15, 2016
  • Patent number: 9284989
    Abstract: A rotatable coupling is used with a replaceable developer cartridge and electrostatographic image devices. The coupling has a driven portion and a driving portion. The driven portion has a shaft with a connecting portion that has a plurality of helical involute teeth extending outwardly. The driving portion has an end with a gear shaft and a twisted recess in the gear shaft. The sides of the recess are engageable with the helical involute teeth so that the driving portion drives the driven portion and transmit torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventor: Roy Fan
  • Patent number: 9284990
    Abstract: One embodiment of a constant velocity joint has an inner race with a first set of splines. A sleeve is provided and it is engaged with the inner race. A drive nut connects the sleeve with a pinion shaft. In another embodiment, the sleeve may be provided with a boot groove. A clamping device may be used to secure a boot within the boot groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventor: Seung Tark Oh
  • Patent number: 9284991
    Abstract: A journal cross of a universal joint includes a base body from which four journals extend outwardly, each journal of the four journals having a cylindrical section and an outer diameter and a length in an axial direction of the journal. The four journals are formed as tubular structures, an inner diameter of each of the tubular structures is at least 67% of the outer diameter of each of the tubular structures, the journal cross is formed as a one-piece component from which the four journals as well as the transitions between the four journals are also formed, and the four journals merge in a common cavity which is formed in an interior of the journal cross.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventor: Christoph Braun
  • Patent number: 9284992
    Abstract: A wet clutch arrangement, particularly starting clutch for a vehicle, including a housing arrangement which is filled or fillable with fluid, a friction coupling region having a first friction surface formation rotating with the housing arrangement around an axis of rotation and a second friction surface formation that rotates with a driven element around the axis of rotation and which can be brought into frictional engagement with the first friction surface formation, a fluid coupling region with an impeller rotating with the housing arrangement around the axis of rotation and with a turbine that rotates with the driven element around the axis of rotation and which, along with the impeller, defines a toroidal fluid circulation space. The fluid coupling region is arranged radially outside the friction coupling region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Joerg Sudau, Arthur Schroeder
  • Patent number: 9284993
    Abstract: A clutch assembly includes a fluid-actuated piston that allows clutch usage in both high pressure and low pressure applications. The configuration of the clutch assembly allows the piston to be used with different seal arrangements. These different seal configurations create differently sized piston surface areas against which the inlet pressure will act to drive the piston. The ability to change the size of the affected piston surface areas allows for the piston to receive essentially the same driving force under both high pressure and low pressure applications. Thus, the clutch assembly enables use of high hydraulic pressure (e.g., 320 psi) in combination with a seal arrangement that creates a small piston-driving surface area, and also use of low pneumatic pressure (e.g., 120 psi) with a seal arrangement that creates a large piston-driving surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: LOGAN CLUTCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert M Kalinsky, Robert S. Tekesky, Michael S. Vining
  • Patent number: 9284994
    Abstract: A clutched device that includes a pulley, a shaft member, a first one-way clutch having a first wrap spring, and an actuator having an electromagnetic coil and an armature. The first one-way clutch rotationally couples the pulley and the shaft member when the actuator is actuated and rotary power is transmitted from a first one of the pulley and the shaft member to the other one of the pulley and the shaft member in a first rotational direction. A frictional force is applied to the armature when the actuator is activated. The frictional force is configured to resist rotation of the armature to cause the first wrap spring to radially expand into driving engagement with a clutch surface that is coupled to the pulley for common rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventor: Warren J. Williams
  • Patent number: 9284995
    Abstract: An electromagnetic disconnect system has an output housing having an armature with a coil and an output shaft bearing fixed to it. A pressure plate and a sliding dog clutch are slidably attached to an output shaft that is in rotational contact with the output shaft bearing. This system further has an input housing attached to the output housing. The input housing has an input shaft bearing fixed to it. The electromagnetic disconnect system further has a disengagement spring and an axially fixed dog clutch rigidly attached to an end of an input shaft that is axially disposed through an opening in the input housing and in rotational contact with the input shaft bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Mitchell R. Lawson, Julius L. Jones, Rick C. Sigmon
  • Patent number: 9284996
    Abstract: A clutch assembly of a vehicle includes a shaft configured to rotate around a rotation axis inside the shaft, a connection arm connected to the shaft, to a pilot-controlled mechanism, and to a mechanical servo that controls a movement of the vehicle, and at least two electromechanical actuators. The electromechanical actuators are configured to be selectively engaged with the shaft via an electromechanical clutch, such that the electromechanical actuators are disconnected from controlling a movement of the shaft and the connection arm when the electromechanical clutch is disengaged, and the electromechanical actuators are configured to control movement of the shaft and the connection arm when the electromechanical clutch is engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Elliot Kruk, Wiiliam F. Lange, Michael Paul Baran
  • Patent number: 9284997
    Abstract: A one-way clutch includes a first rotation member, a second rotation member, a support shaft, and a transmission member. The support shaft is disposed in a protruding manner from a first lateral surface portion of the first rotation member toward an interior space in the axial direction of a rotational shaft. The transmission member is supported by the support shaft, and can move in a sliding manner in the axial direction between a first position at which a rotational driving force in a first direction inputted to the first rotation member is transmitted to the second rotation member, and a second position at which a rotational driving force in the second direction inputted to the first rotation member is restricted from being transmitted to the second rotation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yuki Tamura
  • Patent number: 9284998
    Abstract: A freewheel hub and a bicycle, pedelec, fast pedelec or e-bike comprising this freewheel hub is provided. The freewheel hub includes a rotating hub shell for carrying a free running wheel. Torque is coupled to the rotating hub shell via a torque transmitting member. At least one magneto-elastically active region is directly or indirectly attached to or forms a part of the torque transmitting member in such a manner that the applied torque is transmitted to the active region including at least one magnetically polarized region. The magnetic polarization becomes increasingly helically shaped as the applied torque increases. A magneto-elastic sensor including at least one magnetic field sensor is arranged proximate to the at least one magneto-elastically active region for outputting a signal corresponding to a torque-induced magnetic flux emanating from the magnetically polarized region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Methode Electronics Malta Ltd.
    Inventor: Johannes Gieβibl
  • Patent number: 9284999
    Abstract: A disc brake assembly having a guide pin disposed in a bore of an anchor bracket such that a guide pin axis is offset relative to a bore axis whereby there is provided at least one defined point of contact between only a portion of the guide pin and a portion of an inner surface of the bore. The guide pin includes at least one slot having a member, which is formed separate from the guide pin, and disposed therein to bias the guide pin in the bore thereby offsetting the guide pin axis relative to the bore axis. The member includes a first member formed from an elastomeric material and a second member formed from a metal material, wherein the second member is configured to retain the member in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignees: Kelsey-Hayes Company, Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Kraig Gerber, Guido Zenzen
  • Patent number: 9285000
    Abstract: A disc brake includes a caliper main body configured to have a pad assembling space that is disposed across over a disc rotor and opens toward an approximate middle thereof in a rotor radial direction and a connector part that crosses the pad assembling space in a rotor axial direction, and a pad spring that is engaged with the connector part of the caliper main body by a pair of claw portions facing each other, is installed on the caliper main body, and biases the brake pads in a rotor rotational outlet direction and inward in the rotor radial direction. The pad spring has a symmetrical shape with respect to the center in a longitudinal direction thereof, and the pair of claw portions are engaged with the connector part in a state in which the center in the longitudinal direction is offset in a rotor rotational direction with respect to the center in the rotor rotational direction of the brake pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Keisuke Nanri
  • Patent number: 9285001
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic parking brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jong-Gu Son, Sung-Wook Yu
  • Patent number: 9285002
    Abstract: A disc brake for a motor vehicle and a corresponding brake lining are provided. The disk brake includes a brake caliper straddling a brake disc, at least one brake lining with a lining carrier plate and friction lining, and a stationary brake mounting fixed to the vehicle having support protrusions that support the pad support plate on the inlet and on the outlet side. The support protrusion of the brake support on the inlet side and the support surface of the lining support plate adjacent to the support protrusion positively engage one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Johann Iraschko
  • Patent number: 9285003
    Abstract: Disc brake calipers with a piston roll-back device capable of allowing accurate and repeatable roll-back of pistons and which are easy to construct and assemble are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: FRENI BREMBO S.p.A.
    Inventors: Raffaello Cornolti, Alberto Previtali, Luca Gelfi
  • Patent number: 9285004
    Abstract: A silencer for a leaf spring assembly. The silencer is disposed between end portions of leaf springs. The silencer has a two-layer structure which has a fixing layer and a sliding layer which are integrally formed. The fixing layer has a projection portion, and the projection portion has an engagement portion at a leading end portion thereof. The fixing layer, which is fixed at the fixing side leaf spring, has a tensile strength higher than the sliding layer. The sliding layer, which abuts the sliding side leaf spring, has a hardness lower than the fixing layer. The projection portion of the fixing layer can have sufficient strength to resist the shearing force. In the sliding layer, undesirable noise generation is difficult, and even when a load transmission portion of an end portion of the sliding side leaf spring partially abuts the sliding layer, undesirable noise generation can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Yano, Naoshi Sato, Noritoshi Sakaide
  • Patent number: 9285005
    Abstract: Elastomeric bearings exhibit a reactive positive spring effect, i.e., they produce an opposing torque or force when angular displacement or translation is applied upon them, due to shear stress developed within their elastomer parts. The present invention incorporates a device that exhibits an increasingly strong torque or force in the same direction as the displacement, i.e., a negative spring, under similar conditions of movement. When properly calibrated, the subject type of device can be used in paralleled motion with the ordinary reactive elastomeric bearing to produce a combined effect in which at least a part of the torque or force of the elastomeric bearing is changed or minimized over a range of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventor: William Lloyd Hinks
  • Patent number: 9285006
    Abstract: A shock absorber including a piston inserted into a cylinder (2) having a hydraulic oil sealed therein. An outer tube (3) is provided around the outer periphery of the cylinder to form a reservoir (4) therebetween. A bottomed circular cylindrical casing (25) is joined to a side surface portion of the outer tube, and a damping force control valve (27) is housed in the casing. The bottomed circular cylindrical casing has a bottom (25A) formed with a joint surface (25B) curved along the outer peripheral surface of the outer tube and a flat inner surface (25C). The casing is integrally formed by forging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Shigeo Katayama
  • Patent number: 9285007
    Abstract: A method and system of monitoring condition of a shock strut senses gas temperature, gas pressure, and stroke of the strut during a landing event. Oil loss is determined based upon a deviation of a transient pressure coefficient derived from transient gas pressures at two different strokes from a nominal coefficient value. Gas loss is determined based upon a temperature adjusted transient gas pressure at a selected stroke and a nominal gas pressure value at the selected stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Amir M. Fazeli, Adnan Cepic, Susanne M. Reber
  • Patent number: 9285008
    Abstract: A damping valve includes a piston with a one-side disk and an other-side disk, a port configured to include through holes, a piston rod, and a nut. A plurality of the through holes of the other-side disk are formed along between the inner peripheral seat surface and the outer peripheral seat surface. Elastic deforming portions are formed between the through holes of the other-side disk. A clearance is formed between the inner peripheral seat surface of the one-side disk and that of the other-side disk in a state where the nut is not tightened and the outer peripheral seat surface of the one-side disk and that of the other-side disk are in contact. The elastic deforming portions of the other-side disk are strained and the respective inner peripheral seat surfaces come into contact in a state where the nut is tightened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Yamada
  • Patent number: 9285009
    Abstract: A hydraulic damper includes at least one valve assembly (9, 19) provided with rebound (11, 21) and compression (12, 22) valves and at least one resilient deflective disk covering flow channels (13, 23) of the valve assembly and preloaded by a spring (16, 26). The hydraulic damper includes means for clamping together the components of the at least one valve assembly and for preloading the spring. In order to increase the repeatability coefficient among dampers of the same production batch and render it independent on the geometrical tolerances of the valve assembly components, the means have a form of an adjustable nut assembly (17a, 27a) comprising a clamp nut (171, 271) and a shoulder sleeve (172, 272) fixed on the perimeter of the clamp nut. The clamp nut clamps together the components of the valve assembly and the shoulder sleeve preloads the spring with a predetermined force. method of assembling such a damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Beijing West Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Radoslaw Pawel Grzesik, Waldemar Widla, Marcin Steliga
  • Patent number: 9285010
    Abstract: A damper device includes a protruding portion located outside a closing portion of a cylinder body facing a piston body and forming a flow path communicating inside and outside of the cylinder body; a plug body including a shaft portion inserted into the flow path from an outside of the cylinder body; and an urging device of the plug body. An insertion length of the shaft portion of the plug-like body into the flow path against urging of the urging device increases by change in pressure due to a movement or a relative movement of the piston body in a direction separating from the closing portion of the cylinder body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: NIFCO INC.
    Inventor: Akinori Harada
  • Patent number: 9285011
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a pressure sensitive valve assembly that controls fluid flow through the pressure sensitive valve assembly based upon the velocity of the piston assembly in the shock absorber. The pressure sensitive valve assembly restricts fluid flow as the velocity of the piston in a compression stroke increases to increase the damping loads provided by the shock absorber. A secondary valve assembly controls fluid flow through the pressure sensitive valve assembly when the pressure sensitive valve assembly is in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Kazmirski, Darrell G. Breese, Matthew L. Roessle, John McGahey
  • Patent number: 9285012
    Abstract: The invention concerns an internal combustion engine and a method of producing the engine in which the engine has at least one cylinder and with a crank drive comprising a crankshaft, in which the crankshaft mounted in the crankcase has an associated crankshaft throw, the crankshaft throws being arranged spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the crankshaft, and at least one compensation weight serving as imbalance is arranged on the crankshaft on the side opposite at least one crankshaft throw. The compensation weight has an arcuate form on the outward-facing side, the outside of which running in the peripheral direction has a constant distance S from a reference axis which runs parallel to and spaced by a distance ? from the longitudinal axis of the crankshaft, wherein the reference axis is arranged on the side facing away from the compensation weight, starting from the longitudinal axis of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rainer Lach, Joerg Bonse
  • Patent number: 9285013
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel is provided with a plurality of tube's distributed at various radial angles from the center and oriented generally transversely of the central plane of the wheel and generally parallel to the wheel's axis of rotation. The azimuthal and longitudinal imbalance of a mounted tire including the wheel is determined. To balance the mounted tire both azimuthally and longitudinally, one or more weights are inserted into one or more tubes disposed on the wheel at appropriate azimuthal locations. The weights are placed longitudinally of the tubes in the plane of central mass of the mounted tire, and are secured in that position within the tube by any of a variety of means such as thread locking fluid, friction, or plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventor: Jeff Swain
  • Patent number: 9285014
    Abstract: A transmission gearing arrangement has four simple planetary gear sets and five or six shift elements. A ring gear is fixedly held against rotation. A sun gear and a carrier are fixedly coupled to the input shaft. One embodiment has two brakes and three clutches and produces seven forward speeds by selective engagement of various combinations of two of the shift elements. Other embodiments have two brakes and four clutches and produce nine forward speeds by selective engagement of various combinations of two of the shift elements. Each embodiment may optionally include a passive one way brake that simplifies the control of certain shifts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Scott Lippert
  • Patent number: 9285015
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission includes a variator unit having a variator input shaft and a variator output shaft, and a first, a second, a third and a fourth planetary gear set, wherein each of the first and second planetary gear sets has a first member operatively connected to a common transmission input shaft, which transmission input shaft is common to the first and second gear sets, and a second member operatively connected to an output shaft, which output shaft is common to the first and second gear sets. Each of the first and second planetary gear sets further includes a third member, and the third planetary gear set has a first, a second and a third member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Mats Akerblom, Per Mattsson
  • Patent number: 9285016
    Abstract: A transmission with nine forward and one reverse gear having four planetary gearsets, eight shafts and six shifting elements. The sun gears of gearsets (P1, P3) couple shaft (5), and can couple the housing by brake (05). Input shaft (1) can couple, via clutch (14), shaft (4), which couples carrier and sun gears of respective gearsets (P3, P2) and can couple housing via brake (04). Shaft (1) can couple, via clutch (17), shaft (7), which couples ring gear of gearset (P3) and can couple, via clutch (18), shaft (8) which couples ring gear and carrier of respective gearsets (P4, P2). Shaft (6) couples ring gear and carrier gear of respective gearsets (P2, P4). Shaft (3) couples sun gear of gearset (P4) and can couple, via brake (03), the housing. Output shaft (2) couples carrier and ring gear of respective gearsets (P4, P1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Christian Sibla, Wolfgang Rieger
  • Patent number: 9285017
    Abstract: An automatic transmission for adjusting the relative speed between an input and output member. The transmission being configured with four planetary gears, the first having first to third rotary elements, the second having fourth to sixth rotary elements, the third having seventh to ninth rotary elements, the fourth having tenth to twelfth rotary elements. Three couplings between (i) first and sixth rotary elements, (ii) second and fifth rotary elements, and (iii) eighth and twelfth rotary elements. Three clutches are provided between (i) the second coupling and input member, (ii) third coupling and input member, and (iii) seventh rotary element and input member. Three brakes are provided at (i) the fourth rotary element, (ii) third coupling element, and (iii) tenth rotary element. The output member is connected to the third rotary element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignees: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Otake, Toru Souda, Satoru Kasuya, Nobukazu Ike, Hiroshi Kato, Shinji Oita, Masaru Morise
  • Patent number: 9285018
    Abstract: A multi-speed transmission in which a sun gear of a fourth planetary gear set is connected with the housing in a non-rotatable manner, a ring gear of a first planetary gear set is permanently connected with a ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set, a sun gear of the first planetary gear set and a sun gear of a second planetary gear set can be coupled with the housing, via a first brake, a carrier of the first planetary gear set can be coupled with the housing, via a second brake, and the output shaft can be coupled with a carrier of the fourth planetary gear set, via a first clutch. Variations of other couplings within the multi-speed transmission forms a set of transmissions having similar properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Beck, Christian Sibla, Wolfgang Rieger
  • Patent number: 9285019
    Abstract: A timing chain is looped over a driving sprocket attached to a crankshaft and driven sprockets attached to camshafts. A pivotable chain guide having a plurality of rotatable rollers for guiding movements of a timing chain is provided on one side of a slack side of the timing chain. Adjustment force of a chain tensioner is applied to a remote end of the pivotable chain guide remote from a center of pivoting movement of the pivotable chain guide, thereby pressing the plurality of rotatable rollers against the timing chain. The ratio (D1/D2) between a pitch circle diameter D1 of the driving sprocket and an outer diameter D2 of the plurality of rotatable rollers is determined within a range of 5/3 to 5/1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akio Kato, Shinji Oishi
  • Patent number: 9285020
    Abstract: The present application for patent provides a belt clutch having a drum with a drum-side friction surface, an open ended belt with a belt-side friction surface, and an externally controlled actuator on one end of the belt. The belt is configured to be coupled to a source of torque on the other end of the belt. The belt-side and drum-side friction surfaces engage frictionally when in use, such that the effective coefficient of friction between the drum-side friction surface and the belt-side friction surface varies across the width or length of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ADICEP TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventors: John Rokosz, Philip Carvey, Matthew Carvey, Peter Costa, Chris Holmes
  • Patent number: 9285021
    Abstract: A linear module with a support device includes a base; two pivot seats fixed on the base; a screw disposed between the two pivot seats; a rail fixed to the base; a movable platform and two support members sleeved onto the screw and movable along the rail; a wheel rotatably disposed on the platform; a connecting member; and a cover. The support members are located at two ends of the platform, and the wheel includes a first wheel portion and a second wheel portion smaller in diameter than the first wheel portion. The connecting member includes two connecting ends fixed to the support members and a connecting bottom surface for pressing against the second wheel portion. The cover includes two cover ends fixed to the two pivot seats, and a cover bottom surface pressing against the first wheel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Hiwin Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Jen-Sheng Chen, Lung-Yu Chang
  • Patent number: 9285022
    Abstract: A gear box assembly for a twin rotor combine is provided. The gear box assembly includes a two speed gear box having a casing, an input shaft, an output shaft, and a two speed gear assembly housed within the casing and operatively connected between the input shaft and the output shaft. The gear box assembly also includes a splitter gear box operatively connected to the output shaft. The splitter gear box includes a housing, and a splitter gear assembly housed within the housing and configured to split a torque provided by the output shaft between a first output shaft and a second output shaft extending from the housing in a direction opposite a direction the output shaft extends from the two speed gear box. The two speed gear box is pivotable relative to the splitter gear box housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Bharat Hadwani, Peter J. Ungs
  • Patent number: 9285023
    Abstract: To rapidly stop an upperstructure even though relief pressure is lowered due to an abnormality in a hydraulic device included in a swing motor driving circuit while intending to stop the upperstructure when a predetermined delay time has passed since a swing operation tool is brought back to a neutral position, provided are: a first choke for controlling a parking brake to apply a braking force to a swing motor when a predetermined delay time has passed since the tool is brought back to a neutral position in a state where the tool is connected to a pilot pump; and an on-off valve and a second choke for controlling the parking brake to apply a braking force to the motor when a delay time shorter than the predetermined delay time has passed since the tool is brought back to the neutral position and disconnected from the pilot pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Ishikawa, Hidetoshi Satake, Shinji Nishikawa, Takatoshi Ooki
  • Patent number: 9285024
    Abstract: A torque transmission device comprising a torque converter disposed in a drive train of a motor vehicle, in particular a hydrodynamic torque converter or a fluid clutch, wherein the converter or the fluid clutch comprises a turbine shell and a pump shell which can be coupled through a pump clutch and at least one pump damper with a converter cover, and comprising at least one converter damper and at least one converter lock up clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Eugen Kombowski, Dominique Engelmann, Bruno Mueller, Thorsten Krause, Ralf Stopp
  • Patent number: 9285025
    Abstract: A lock-up device includes a piston, a clutch part, a first hydraulic chamber, a second hydraulic chamber, a first hydraulic port and a second hydraulic port. The first hydraulic chamber is formed between a front cover and the piston, and the operating oil for actuating the piston is supplied thereto. The second hydraulic chamber is formed independently from the first hydraulic chamber on the same side as the first hydraulic chamber with reference to the piston, and the operating oil for actuating the piston is supplied thereto. The first hydraulic port supplies the operating oil to the first hydraulic chamber. The second hydraulic port is provided independently from the first hydraulic port, and supplies the operating oil to the second hydraulic chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: EXEDY Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 9285026
    Abstract: A differential gear case is provided that includes a container housing of a differential gear, the container housing having on an outer surface thereof an annular flange that extends around an axis of rotation of the container housing, and one of two areas of the container housing that are separated by the annular flange being formed with an opening that is communicated with a containing space formed in the container housing. The area of the container housing that is formed with the opening is provided with a fixing portion used for fixing the differential gear case. The fixing portion includes two flat surfaces that are in parallel with a plane surface containing the axis of rotation of the container housing and arranged around the axis of rotation keeping a space therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshirou Shimosaka, Kiyohito Oyamada, Shoichi Tetsuka, Makoto Imaida
  • Patent number: 9285027
    Abstract: Bulk metallic glass-based strain wave gears and strain wave gear components. In one embodiment, a strain wave gear includes: a wave generator; a flexspline that itself includes a first set of gear teeth; and a circular spline that itself includes a second set of gear teeth; where at least one of the wave generator, the flexspline, and the circular spline, includes a bulk metallic glass-based material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Douglas C. Hofmann, Brian Wilcox
  • Patent number: 9285028
    Abstract: A self-propelling work vehicle for forward and reverse drive includes a handle unit attached to the vehicle body for a first shift movement along a first direction with a neutral position and a second shift movement from the neutral position along a second direction intersecting the first direction. Forward drive speed or reverse drive speed is determined based on the first shift movement. A guide unit attached to the vehicle body includes a maximum forward speed guide member for defining a shift movement end of the handle unit determining a maximum forward speed of the forward drive speed, and a neutral guide member for guiding the second shift movement of the handle unit from the neutral position defined as a starting position. The maximum forward speed guide member and the neutral guide member are positionally adjustable independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Maxwell Reichard, Masahiro Yamada, Robert Walden
  • Patent number: 9285029
    Abstract: A twin clutch controlling apparatus including a shift motor for carrying out a smooth changeover of a shift stage of a multi-speed transmission having a plurality of gear trains between a main shaft and a countershaft, a twin clutch configured from an odd number stage side clutch and an even number stage side clutch, a clutch actuator for controlling the twin clutch, and a manual operation clutch capacity arithmetic operation section for arithmetically operating, based on an operational amount of a clutch lever, a manual operation clutch capacity arithmetic operation value (tqc1tmt) corresponding to the manual operation. The twin clutch controlling apparatus further includes a manual operation clutch decision section for determining with a clutch capacity of which one of the odd number stage side clutch or the even number stage side clutch the manual operation clutch capacity arithmetic operation value (tqc1tmt) is to be interlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kojima, Kazuhiko Nakamura, Kazuyuki Fukaya, Yoshiaki Nedachi, Yasuyuki Mori, Satoshi Honma
  • Patent number: 9285030
    Abstract: A method of controlling a multi-function torque converter including a cover, an impeller shell, a turbine shell, a first pressure chamber at least partially formed by the turbine shell and the cover; a second pressure chamber at least partially formed by the impeller and turbine shells, and a third pressure chamber at least partially formed by the impeller shell and the cover, an impeller clutch including a portion of the impeller shell, and a turbine clutch including a portion of the turbine shell, the method including: pressurizing the first pressure chamber to substantially a first fluid pressure level or to a second fluid pressure level greater than the first level; pressurizing the second pressure chamber to a third fluid pressure level greater than the first and second levels; passively draining the third pressure chamber to be substantially at the first level; and connecting the impeller shell to the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Patrick M. Lindemann
  • Patent number: 9285031
    Abstract: A method for controlling a variator of a continuously variable transmission includes combining, by a controller, a periodically repeating excitation signal and a desired variator speed ratio signal. A variator ratio derivative is determined based upon the desired variator speed ratio signal combined with the excitation signal. A variator control parameter is determined based upon the variator ratio derivative. The variator control parameter is sent to the controller for controlling the variator in response thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Paul G. Otanez
  • Patent number: 9285032
    Abstract: Disclosed is a piston ring that, in an engine where high temperature is reached in the vicinity of the piston ring, is capable of sustaining an excellent effect of preventing aluminum cohesion over a prolonged period of time. The piston ring having a resin-based coating formed on at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of a piston ring body, the resin-based coating including a first resin-based coating containing plate-like filler having a mean particle diameter of 2 ?m to 20 ?m and an aspect ratio of 20 to 200 and a second resin-based coating located under the first resin-based coating and containing hard particles having a mean particle diameter of 0.01 ?m to 1 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA RIKEN
    Inventors: Hayato Sasaki, Takashi Ono, Toshikatsu Hayashi, Kouhei Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 9285033
    Abstract: A pressure vessel closure for an access opening that has a sealing surface surrounding the access opening and one of either a diaphragm or insert that spans the access opening with a peripheral flange that rests on the sealing surface. The insert or diaphragm has a continuously rounded portion that extends into the access opening and a cover extends over the insert or diaphragm. A gasket is interposed between the flange of the insert and the sealing surface or a fillet weld attaches the flange of the diaphragm to the sealing surface. A locking device secures the cover to a wall of the pressure vessel and urges the flange against the sealing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Edwin Demoise, Jr., Robert Leslie Sylvester
  • Patent number: 9285034
    Abstract: The present cartridge seal assemblies pertain to rotary lip-type seals. In certain embodiments, a sealing member is constructed of a relatively hard material that increases the lifespan of the sealing member. The sealing member is energized with a canted-coil spring, which in some embodiments includes an adjustable spring force. The present embodiments enable control of sealing force to achieve an appropriate sealing force between the sealing member and the shaft based on factors such as temperature, pressure, rotary speed, properties of fluid media, etc. to achieve longer seal life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Bal Seal Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Pete Balsells, Farshid Dilmaghanian, Derek Changsrivong
  • Patent number: 9285035
    Abstract: A valve comprising an inlet opening adapted to receive fluid medium and at least two outlet openings, each being fluidly connected to a flow path being arranged fluidly in parallel, is disclosed. The valve comprises a first valve part (1) and a second valve part (3). The first valve part (1) has at least two flow passages (2) formed therein, each flow passage (2) being fluidly connected to one of the outlet openings. The second valve part (3) has at least one primary flow passage (4) and at least one secondary flow passage (5, 6, 7) formed therein, the primary flow passage(s) (4) and the secondary flow passage(s) (5, 6, 7) being fluidly connected to the inlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventor: Claus Thybo
  • Patent number: 9285036
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods which provide a seal-less high temperature and pressure valve for use in many applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Gates Corporation
    Inventor: Colin Donald Cook
  • Patent number: 9285037
    Abstract: A mud valve having a flange frame and yoke that are permanently connected to form a single unit without the aid of removable fasteners is described. Installation of the drain plug is facilitated by an arrangement of guide tabs on either side of the drain plug that are of different distances from the surface of the drain plug. This staggered arrangement allows the drain plug to be installed through a tilting and rotating of the drain plug that brings the tabs into alignment with guide rails on the yoke without necessitating the separation of the yoke from the flange frame. Similarly, the construction described allows the drain plug to be removed for repair or replacement in the field without disassembling the yoke and flange frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Kennedy Valve Company
    Inventor: Paul Kennedy
  • Patent number: 9285038
    Abstract: A flow control valve comprises a valve seat (1) having a valve port (121) in its valve chamber and a valve rod (2) opening or closing the valve port (121). A sleeve protrusion part (122) projects upward from the valve port (121) in an axial direction thereof. The valve rod (2) is tubular and is cylindrical at the lower end. An open slot (3) matching with a flow curve is provided in the circumferential side wall of one of the sleeve protrusion part (122) and the lower end of the valve rod (2). One of the sleeve protrusion part (122) and the lower end of valve rod (2) is inserted into or extracted from the other to disconnect or connect the open slot (3) with the valve port (121). The structural design of the flow control valve can balance the refrigerant pressure on the valve rod (2) in the axial direction while ensuring that the required flow curve can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Zhejiang Sanhua Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guohua Xu, Ming Lv, Qingyong Wang