Patents Issued in March 13, 2018
  • Patent number: 9915245
    Abstract: A reinforced pitch bearing of a wind turbine having a first reinforcement plate and a second reinforcement plate is provided. The pitch bearing includes an outer bearing ring and an inner bearing ring, whereby both bearing rings are arranged coaxially to each other, thus comprising a common axis of symmetry. The first reinforcement plate is arranged at a first axial end of the pitch and the second reinforcement plate is arranged at a second axial end of the pitch bearing. The reinforcement plates are arranged substantially parallel to each other and the pitch bearing includes further means for reinforcement arranged in between the first reinforcement plate and the second reinforcement plate. The invention also relates to a wind turbine having at least one rotor blade and at least one pitch bearing, pivotably connecting the rotor with a hub of the wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Srinivas Ratna Kosuri, Christian Laursen, Mujahid Shaik, Akhilesh Shukla
  • Patent number: 9915246
    Abstract: A wind turbine rotor shaft arrangement, e.g. of horizontal type, comprising a rotor shaft for supporting wind turbine blades, a non-rotating first housing structure for supporting the rotor shaft, and a first rolling bearing arranged to support, in a first axial direction, the rotor shaft in relation to the first housing structure at a first support point. The first rolling bearing is a single row self-aligning bearing comprising an inner ring, an outer ring, and a set of rolling elements formed of rollers arranged in an intermediate configuration between the inner and outer rings. Each roller is a symmetrical bearing roller having a curved raceway-contacting surface arranged contacting a curved inner raceway of the inner ring and a curved outer raceway of the outer ring. A contact angle between each roller and the inner and/or outer raceway is inclined in relation to the radial direction of the rotor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Hans Wendeberg, Håkan Leander, Jürgen Reichert
  • Patent number: 9915247
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of operating a geothermal energy system includes selectively connecting each of a plurality of borehole heat exchangers to any other of the plurality of borehole heat exchangers thereby to permit flow of a working fluid between the borehole heat exchangers and to selectively distribute the working fluid within the plurality of borehole heat exchangers. Each borehole heat exchanger has an elongate tube having a closed bottom end and first and second adjacent elongate coaxial conduits interconnected at the bottom end, the first conduit being tubular and surrounded by the second conduit which is annular. Each borehole heat exchanger has a major portion thereof extending in a substantially inclined orientation at an angle of from 3 to 95 degrees from vertical, the borehole heat exchangers being connected to a manifold for the working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Erda Master IPCO Limited
    Inventors: James J. Stewart, Dmitriy I. Zaynulin, Anthony C. Scott, Grahame Newton
  • Patent number: 9915248
    Abstract: The invention concerns a hydraulic piston machine, in particular a water hydraulic machine, with at least one cylinder, in which a piston (4) is arranged to reciprocate, the piston (4) comprising a hollow that is surrounded by an annular wall and has one open end. It is endeavored to keep cavitations small. For this purpose, a filling member (13) is arranged in the hollow (12), the filling member (13) having at least a radial projection (22) and the annular wall (16) having at least a radial depression (17) in the inside facing the hollow (12), or the annular wall (16) having a radial projection and the filing member (13) having a radial depression, the depression having a restraint (19), at least at the end adjacent to the open end (18) of the hollow (12), and the projection (22) and the depression (17) engaging each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: DANFOSS A/S
    Inventor: Ove Thorboel Hansen
  • Patent number: 9915249
    Abstract: Disclosed is hydraulic rotating equipment provided with a rotating shaft, a cylinder block including a plurality of cylinders, a like plurality of pistons accommodated in the cylinders, respectively, and a valve plate maintained in slide contact with a rear end surface of the cylinder block. The valve plate includes a low-pressure port communicable with the cylinders, a high-pressure port formed in an arcuate shape over a predetermined angle along a circumferential direction of the rotating shaft and communicable with the cylinders, a seal land maintained in slide contact with the rear end surface, and a sliding contact member arranged on a periphery of the seal land in a range of the predetermined angle along the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft and maintained in slide contact with the rear end surface. A working machine provided with the hydraulic rotating equipment is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenta Suzuki, Motoshi Suzuki, Shigeyuki Sakurai, Makoto Hemmi
  • Patent number: 9915250
    Abstract: A drive system for a cryogenic pump is provided including a spool housing having a plurality of valves disposed therein about a pump axis and a tappet housing including a plurality of tappet bores, each tappet bore in communication with a respective one of the plurality of valves. A collection cavity collects hydraulic fluid from the tappet bores. A pump flange includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. An inlet manifold directs hydraulic fluid received through the fluid inlet to each of the plurality of valves. An outlet manifold directs hydraulic fluid from each of the valves and the collection cavity to the fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Adrienne M. Brasche, Cory A. Brown, Sunil J. Bean
  • Patent number: 9915251
    Abstract: A pump system is disclosed for use with a fuel system of an engine. The pump system may have a first pump with a first end, a second end, a reservoir located at the second end, and at least one pump mechanism configured to receive fluid from the reservoir. The pump system may also have a second pump mounted to the first pump at the second end and having at least one pump mechanism configured to discharge fluid into the reservoir of the first pump. The pump system may further have a mechanical input operatively connected to the at least one pump mechanism of each of the first and second pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Dana R. Coldren, Joshua W. Steffen
  • Patent number: 9915252
    Abstract: A compressor includes a swash plate rotated with a drive shaft in a swash plate chamber, a link mechanism that changes an inclination angle of the swash plate, an actuator rotated integrally with the drive shaft, and an actuator control mechanism. The actuator includes a partitioning body fitted to the drive shaft in the swash plate chamber, a movable body that is coupled to the swash plate and moved relative to the partitioning body along the axis of the drive shaft, and a control pressure chamber, the pressure of which moves the movable body. The control mechanism changes the pressure of the control pressure chamber to move the movable body. The swash plate includes a fulcrum point, coupled to the link mechanism, and an action point, coupled to the movable body. The fulcrum point and the action point are located at opposite sides of the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Shinya Yamamoto, Takahiro Suzuki, Kazunari Honda, Kei Nishii, Yusuke Yamazaki, Masaki Ota
  • Patent number: 9915253
    Abstract: An improved air compressor includes a cylinder fitted with a piston body and an air storage container. The cylinder and the air storage container are detachably assembled to define an air chamber. A metal seat with a through hole is provided on top of the cylinder. A valve plug is spring-biased against the metal seat. The air storage container is provided with an elongated pressure indicator, which includes a transparent tube defining therein a first bore and a second bore, between which a tapered annular surface is formed. When the air pressure within the air storage container exceeds a predetermined pressure set for the air compressor, the elongated pressure indicator allows excess air to flow into the first bore of the transparent tube and pass through the tapered annular surface to be released to the ambient environment, so that objects can be prevented from damages due to excessive inflations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Wen-San Chou
  • Patent number: 9915254
    Abstract: A compressor frame structure is provided for providing flow paths of cooling substance near an upper region of a cylinder, and includes a center ring on the frame structure having an opening for accommodating insertion of the cylinder, a plurality of flow channels near the upper region of the cylinder around an inner surface of the frame structure, and wherein the plurality of flow channels include a plurality of outer flow channels around an outer circumferential surface of the center ring, and a plurality of inner flow channels around an inner circumferential surface of the center ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: MAT INDUSTRIES, LLC.
    Inventor: Mark W. Wood
  • Patent number: 9915255
    Abstract: A compressor (10) for compressing air for a compressed air system of a motor vehicle has a cylinder housing (14) and a cylinder head (16) connected thereto. A compressor piston is moveable in oscillation up and down in a cylinder in the cylinder housing (14). A lamella (34, 36) is received in a depression (38) in an underside (30) of the cylinder head (16) facing the compressor piston. The delivery rate of the compressor (10) can be regulated by closing or opening a control channel (60, 60?) in the cylinder head (16) via the lamella. A bearing end (44) of the lamella (34, 36) is hinged in a pivotably guided manner on a bearing contour (54) of this depression (38). As a result, a separate bearing journal for pivotable mounting of the lamella (34, 36) on the cylinder head (16) may be omitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventor: Heribert Vosse
  • Patent number: 9915256
    Abstract: A well pump has a standing valve seat with a standing valve mounted in a lower end of a barrel. A plunger is carried within the barrel for axial stoking movement. A travelling seat with a travelling valve are mounted in a lower end of the plunger. The travelling valve has a head that lands on the travelling valve seat while the travelling valve is in a closed position. The travelling valve has a stem extending downward from the head through a hole in the travelling seat. The stem is a permanent magnet. Another permanent magnet is carried by the barrel below the travelling magnet. The polarities of the magnets are configured to interact and cause the travelling valve to lift relative to the travelling seat to an open position as the plunger nears a bottom of a stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE Company, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth T. Bebak, Carroll Scott DeArman, Shawn N. Gunter
  • Patent number: 9915257
    Abstract: A well pump assembly has an upper plunger and a lower plunger. A working fluid conduit extends between the upper and lower plunger. An upper piston in the working fluid conduit is connected with the upper plunger. A lower piston in the working fluid conduit is connected with the lower plunger. A downstroke working fluid is located between the upper and lower pistons in the working fluid conduit. An upstroke conduit extends between an upper port in the working fluid conduit above the upper piston and a lower port in working fluid conduit below the lower piston. An upstroke working fluid fills the upstroke conduit and the working fluid conduit above the upper piston and below the lower piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE Company, LLC
    Inventors: David Garrett, Shawn N. Gunter
  • Patent number: 9915258
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for heating a compressor assembly of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The system comprises a heat source for transferring thermal energy to a plurality of compressor units. A controller varies the thermal energy transferred to the compressor units, between at least two substantially non-zero rates of transfer of thermal energy, in a plurality of modes of operation of the HVAC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Perez, Rakesh Goel
  • Patent number: 9915259
    Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling an electric pump supplying operating oil to a driving system or the like of a vehicle, control satisfying both responsiveness and reduction in power consumption is performed even in a case in which an oil temperature sensor and a pump characteristic are abnormal. After starting of the electric pump, feedback control is performed in which a rotation number Nm of a driving motor is settled in a target rotation number Na set to satisfy predetermined performance. After satisfying a predetermined condition in which the motor rotation number Nm is in a stable state, motor current Im is settled in an indicated current Ip within a range of being equal to or less than a current limit value IL while the motor rotation number Nm is maintained equal to or greater than a required rotation number Np corresponding to the indicated current Ip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9915260
    Abstract: A control method and a system for controlling the piston of a resonant linear compressor including at least one electronic control unit, the electronic control unit including at least one observing electronic circuit and at least one control circuit associated to each other. The observing electronic circuit is configured for: measuring at least one electric magnitude of the electric motor; estimating at least one set of electric parameters and at least one set of mechanical parameters of the resonant linear compressor; and estimating and providing at least one control parameter of the system for the control circuit based on the measured electric magnitude measured and on the estimated set of electric and mechanical parameters. The control circuit is configured for actuating the electric motor from the at least one control parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignees: Whirlpool S.A., Fundacao Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina-UDESC
    Inventors: Paulo Sergio Dainez, Jose de Oliveira, Ademir Nied
  • Patent number: 9915261
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate treating apparatus. The substrate treating apparatus includes: a transfer chamber conveying a substrate; a process chamber disposed adjacent to the transfer chamber and performing a treating process o the substrate; and a drive assembly supplying a power by which a component of the transfer chamber or the process chamber operates, wherein the drive assembly includes: a cylinder connected to pipes; a piston disposed to be movable inside the cylinder and connected to the component by a drive shaft; and a pipe control unit automatically adjusting a moving speed of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Semes Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin Ho Choi, Ju Mi Yoo
  • Patent number: 9915262
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for pumping or compressing a fluid, the apparatus characterized by a compression chamber including an inlet and outlet, opposed front and rear vane members disposed inside said compression chamber, each vane member including at least one axially extending vane segment and at least one radially disposed open segment adapted to receive a vane segment of the opposed vane member, wherein adjacent vane segments of mating vane members form radial compartments there between. The assembly further includes a swing arm assembly for effecting equal and opposite rotational oscillation of the front and rear vane members such that adjacent vane segments oscillate toward and away from one another simultaneously, thereby creating a bellowing effect which draws fluid into the chamber via the inlet and discharges fluid out of the chamber via the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: George Flenche
  • Patent number: 9915263
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, the gear pump comprises a first gear meshed with a second gear as well as a housing, in which the gears are supported. The housing includes a first void, which at least partly adjoins a first side surface of the first gear, and a second void, which at least partly adjoins a second side surface of the first gear. The gear pump further comprises a fluid intake channel configured to direct fluid towards the gears, wherein at least one deflector is arranged within the fluid intake such that an incident fluid flow is diverted towards the first void as well as to the second void.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Steyr Motors GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Bramberger, Osman Emre Arslan, Michael Altendorfer
  • Patent number: 9915264
    Abstract: A pump, particularly a vacuum pump for boosting braking power on a motor vehicle, including a housing, a rotor mounted in the housing so as to be rotatable, an oil riser groove arranged in the housing in the area of the rotor mounting, and a transverse bore arranged in the rotor transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rotor and which can be connected to the oil riser groove. The rotor mounting area is connected to an oil supply bore. The transverse bore interacts with an axial bore in the rotor which leads to a coupling section within the rotor, in which a coupling is arranged which can be engaged by a fastener having a central bore running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA POWERTRAIN BAD HOMBURG GMBH
    Inventor: Joerg Wallenfels
  • Patent number: 9915265
    Abstract: A compressor system with a continuously variable oil injection orifice is structured to regulate a flow of oil from an oil reservoir into a compressor. The orifice includes a first valve member moveable in response to oil pressure toward a second valve member to define a continuously variable flow area. A biasing member urges the first valve member away from the second valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventor: Michael Peters
  • Patent number: 9915266
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing seals around the motor leads and other conductors in ESP's. In one embodiment, elastomeric boot seals are positioned within annular spaces around motor leads in an ESP motor. When the motor is filled with dielectric oil, the elastomeric material of the boot seals absorbs some of the oil and swells. High temperatures may also cause the material of the seals to expand. Retainers which are not subject to swelling are positioned around the boot seals, thereby preventing the boot seals from expanding away from the leads. The retainers thereby maintain the seal of the boot seals against the motor leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Matthew T. Majors, Chris J. Layton, Jeffrey G. Frey
  • Patent number: 9915267
    Abstract: A fan structure comprising a base, a fan inlet funnel coupled to the base, the fan inlet funnel having an inner surface for conducting air flow into a fan inlet and an outer surface and a plurality of external ribs coupled to the outer surface of the fan inlet funnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Air Distribution Technologies IP, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy A. Schrand
  • Patent number: 9915268
    Abstract: A ceiling fan includes blade (11) that is integrally formed of root (12), vane (13), and step (14) for maintaining vane (13) in a state inclined from horizontal. Blade (11) includes bend (16), first reinforcement (17) on upstream side (11c), and a plurality of second reinforcements (18) between bend (16) and first reinforcement (17). First reinforcement length (17a) is longer than second reinforcement length (18a). Further, the ceiling fan includes blade drop prevention portion (37) for locking blade (11) to support (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kuramochi, Hironari Ogata, Daiki Sakito
  • Patent number: 9915269
    Abstract: A device for connecting a front frame of a turbojet engine nacelle to a fan casing includes a locking pin connected to a first assembly flange and a retaining flange that is movably mounted and has at least one opening. In particular, the locking pin has a shank passing through an orifice of a second assembly flange secured to the fan casing. The opening is crossed through by the shank of the locking pin and interacts with an end groove of said locking pin. When the retaining flange is in the unlocking position, the opening has dimensions larger than those of the shank of the locking pin, and when the retaining flange is in the locking position, the opening has dimensions larger than a thickness of the locking pin at its groove but smaller than an overall thickness of the shank of the orifice of the second flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SAFRAN NACELLES
    Inventor: Romain Billault
  • Patent number: 9915270
    Abstract: A turbocharger (10) having a compressor housing (15) and a bearing housing (17). The compressor housing (15) including an elliptical shaped wall (16) extending between an air inlet (11) and a volute (13) formed by the compressor housing (15). The bearing housing (17) forms a flat bearing housing wall (14) opposing the compressor wall (16) wherein the compressor wall (16) and bearing housing wall (14) form an elliptical diffuser (12) between the air inlet (11) and the volute (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Brock Fraser, Kurt Henderson
  • Patent number: 9915271
    Abstract: A blower assembly includes a housing having a scrolled wall, a motor having an output shaft extending within the housing, an impeller positioned within the housing and mounted to the output shaft for creating an airflow along an airflow path within the housing, an airflow outlet, and a scroll cut-off. The scroll cut-off may rotate about its central or center axis and forms a substantially continuous surface with the scrolled wall and with the airflow outlet, along the airflow path, in a first position and defines an air gap. The blower assembly also includes an actuator for rotating the scroll cut-off from the first position to a second position wherein the air gap is increased for reducing the airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Steven Sawyer
  • Patent number: 9915272
    Abstract: A turbomachine blade of the type having a metal lower coupling root, a metal upper coupling head, and a metal airfoil-shaped oblong member designed to connect the coupling root rigidly to the coupling head; the airfoil-shaped oblong member having a substantially airfoil-shaped main plate-like element connected to the coupling root and to the coupling head, and which is divided into: a lower connecting fin cantilevered from and formed in one piece with the coupling root; an upper connecting fin cantilevered from and formed in one piece with the coupling head; and a center plate-like body, which is located between the lower and upper connecting fins, is shaped/designed to form an extension of the lower and upper connecting fins, and is butt-welded to, to form one piece with, the lower and upper connecting fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: PIETRO ROSA T.B.M. S.R.L.
    Inventor: Andrea Maurizio
  • Patent number: 9915273
    Abstract: A blower includes: centrifugal impeller disposed in inside of casing; and motor which is configured to drive centrifugal impeller. Annular projecting portion which projects in a direction toward the outside of the casing and is concentric with centrifugal impeller is provided around inflow port of casing which faces a fixing-member of centrifugal impeller. Projecting portion includes: raised wall which is raised so as to be away from centrifugal impeller parallel to a direction of the rotary shaft; and flat portion formed in an extending manner in a direction toward inflow port from raised wall. Projecting portion further includes inflow wall which falls toward the centrifugal impeller from an end surface of flat portion toward an inflow port. Flat portion is parallel to an upper end surface of centrifugal impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinsuke Katsumata, Ippei Oda, Takashi Fujisono
  • Patent number: 9915274
    Abstract: A microfluidics acoustic pump system includes a flow passage configured to carry a fluid from one location to another, a selectively vibrating flow generator having a sharp edge, and a driving device configured to vibrate one of the flow generator and the flow passage to create a streaming fluid flow in a direction away from the sharp edge through the flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Mikhail Ovchinnikov, Satish Yalamanchili, Jianbo Zhou
  • Patent number: 9915275
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a stacked shuttle valve. More specifically, the present invention relates to a stacked shuttle valve that is; fully reconfigurable in the field, facilitated by adding or removing stages, allowing the total number of stages in an existing shuttle stack to be varied in order to suit the application requirement; fully serviceable in the field, facilitated by the installation of new shuttle and seat components shuttle components, without requiring the full dismantling of the shuttle stack and body replacement; spring biased at each stage within the stack by utilizing a small conical coil shuttle spring; leak tight shuttle without the need to coin the metal to metal adapter seal by utilizing a radius shaped shuttle seat; uses shuttle and seat components that are interchangeable with the single shuttle assembly; and capable of greater flow rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: PROSERV OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Andy Patterson
  • Patent number: 9915276
    Abstract: A valve, in particular a pilot-operated proportional pressure control valve, has a valve housing (5) with a pressure supply port (7), a working port (9), and a drain port (11). In the valve housing (5), a main valve piston (15) can be moved by a pilot stage (13) for control of the fluid flow between the pressure supply port (7) and the working port (9). The pilot stage (13) has a valve closing element (43) for a pilot chamber (41). The valve closing element (43) is movable from an open position (OS) into a closed position (SS) by an actuating apparatus (45). The valve closing element (43) can actuate a leakage reduction stage (53).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: HYDAC FLUIDTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Bruck, Philipp Hilzendegen, Gerd Schneider
  • Patent number: 9915277
    Abstract: A device for securing threaded rod can include a housing and a threaded rod locking mechanism. The housing can include a rod locking body with a tapered bore, and a housing extension extending from an end of the rod locking body. The threaded rod locking mechanism can include two plunger pieces, each of which are movable within the tapered bore and include a respective threaded inner surface and a respective sloped outer surface that can engage the tapered bore. The threaded rod locking mechanism can also include a spring disposed within the tapered bore to bias the plunger pieces towards a narrow end of the tapered bore. The plunger pieces can be urged towards each other and towards an axis of the tapered bore by contact between the outer surfaces of the plunger pieces and an internal surface of the tapered bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: ERICO INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael H.-S. Oh
  • Patent number: 9915278
    Abstract: In one aspect, a device can include a clip member including a first end and a second end. The first end can be configured to attach to cooking device and the second end can be configured to engage a handle member of the cooking device. The clip member can be configured to be positioned in a handle position where the clip member can be configured to hold the handle member in a substantially fixed position relative to the cooking device when in the handle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Firebox Outdoors LLP
    Inventor: Steven S. Despain
  • Patent number: 9915279
    Abstract: In combination, a manway cover and a manway flange having one or more bolt opening(s) and a pull-up bolt assembly adapted to be used for supporting a hinge component to the manway cover, the manway flange, or both, where the pull-up bolt assembly having a pull-up bolt member, a nut component, a tapered member, and an expandable friction member, where one or more structures selected from a thread, a ridge and/or a groove disposed on an outside surface of the expandable friction member and the one or more bolt opening(s) having an inside surface adapted for mating with the corresponding one or more structures of the expandable friction member whereby, when the pull-up bolt assembly is engaged within the one or more bolt opening(s), the one or more structures aligns with the corresponding inside surface of the one or more bolt opening(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL HINGE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Edward A. DePietro
  • Patent number: 9915280
    Abstract: A bearing device is disclosed and can include a bushing. The bushing can include a hollow body that can have an internal diameter, IDHB, and proximal ends and distal ends opposite each other. The bushing can also include a first bushing flange extending radially outwardly from the proximal end of the body and an axial extension extending from the distal end of the hollow body. The axial extension is deformable so as to form a second bushing flange extending radially outwardly from the distal and of the hollow body. The axial extension can have an internal diameter, IDAE, ?IDHB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy J. Hagan, Abe Sanchez, Brian T. Graham
  • Patent number: 9915281
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide a theft-resistant cable clamp that increases the time and effort required to remove the cable from the irrigation equipment, thereby deterring thieves As the extensions that protrude from the cable-reception loop are forced together, the walls of the cable-reception loop compress against the cable. Openings in the extensions on the cable clamp allow the cable clamp to fit over a component of the irrigation equipment. A plurality of teeth can protrude from the perimeter of an opening to grip the exterior of the component. A coupler or other component may have a groove into which the teeth engage when the cable clamp is in a final location on the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Reinke Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley George Weatherl
  • Patent number: 9915282
    Abstract: A plurality of stacked fastener caps, each having a cap body. The cap body has first and second faces joined by a perimeter of the cap body, and adjacent faces of adjacent caps are joined by at least one connecting stem. The adjacent caps and connecting stems are integrally molded as a unit as by injection molding. One or both of the first and second faces may be planar. One of the first or second faces may be concave and the other may be convex. One or both of the first and second faces may have first and second thicker portions with a transverse groove interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: PneuTools, Incorporated
    Inventor: Frederick W. Lamb
  • Patent number: 9915283
    Abstract: A fixture has an adsorbing assembly and a clamping assembly. The adsorbing assembly has a flexible disc, a cover, and a handle. The flexible disc has a pulling pole. The cover has a positioning pipe and two protruding portions. The positioning pipe is formed centrally on the cover. The two protruding portions are located at two sides of the positioning pipe. The handle has two fastening portions respectively fastened with the two protruding portions. The clamping assembly has a first clamping portion, an adjusting component, a pivot clamping portion and a second clamping portion. The first clamping portion has a cylinder. The adjusting component is mounted in the first clamping portion. The pivot clamping portion is connected to the cylinder of the first clamping portion. The second clamping portion is combined with the first clamping portion to position the pivot clamping portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SPORTSMAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jack Chen
  • Patent number: 9915284
    Abstract: A terminal supporting apparatus is provided with: a hub that is attached to an end of the outer cable and is provided with a flange on an outer periphery; a cushion member that is provided to surround the outer periphery of the hub and abuts on the flange at both a front surface and a back surface of the flange; and a housing that houses the cushion member. The cushion member includes a large-diameter portion that abuts on the flange. At least within a range contacting with the hub, at least a part of an outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion is fixed to an inner surface of the housing, while a clearance is formed between the cushion member and the inner surface of the housing over an entire region of an end surface of the large-diameter portion in a cable axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: CHUO HATSUJO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiko Aoki, Kazuyoshi Nono, Takashi Goto, Yuichi Hirata
  • Patent number: 9915285
    Abstract: A universal joint includes a first band and a second band which are separated by a slot, are cylindrical and coaxial with one another with respect to a common axis, and further includes a first torsion bar, whose ends are joined to the first band, and a second torsion bar whose ends are joined to the second band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (S.A.S.)
    Inventors: Camille Chaper, David Blain
  • Patent number: 9915286
    Abstract: A radial foil bearing includes: a cylindrical top foil disposed so as to face a rotary shaft; a back foil disposed outside in the radial direction of the top foil; and a cylindrical bearing housing accommodating the top foil and the back foil. The bearing housing is provided with a limiting member which limits movement of the back foil. A locking recess is provided in a central part in the axial direction of an inner circumferential surface of the bearing housing. In addition, the limiting member includes a locking protrusion and is fixed to the bearing housing by the locking protrusion being locked into the locking recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naomichi Omori
  • Patent number: 9915287
    Abstract: A method for determining at least one preloading force (K) acting between a carrying body (7) and a rolling-element bearing (2) of a bearing assembly (1), which rolling-element bearing is mounted on the carrying body, and the bearing assembly includes the rolling-element bearing and the at least one sensor device (3). The sensor device is arranged in or on the rolling-element bearing in an installation position (E1) and is coupled to an evaluating device (10) in a signaling manner. The sensor device senses the preloading force, produces at least one signal (S) in accordance with the preloading force, and transmits the signal to the evaluating device, and the evaluating device evaluates the signal in order to measure the preloading force and the sensor device is permanently decoupled from the evaluating device after the evaluation of the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Alexander Hofmann, Rainer Gebauer
  • Patent number: 9915288
    Abstract: A bearing assembly includes two rolling-element bearings having inner and outer rings and rolling elements between the rings, the rolling-element bearings being configured to be axially preloaded, at least one of the inner and outer rings including an axially adjustable flange ring forming a flange for the rolling elements, the flange ring having a first section axially slidably mounted on one of the bearing rings and a second section axially adjacent to the first section, the second section including a thread, and the thread being configured to threadably engage a counterthread of a separate component at a location axially spaced from the bearing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Padelis Katsaros, Roland Haas, Rene Romeis, Dominique Shah, Rainer Spies, Volker Wendt
  • Patent number: 9915289
    Abstract: By randomly arranging dimples provided on a sealing face, a sliding characteristic is improved in a wide range of a bearing characteristic number on the sealing face. A pair of sliding parts in which a plurality of dimples is arranged on at least one of sealing faces that relatively slide on each other is characterized in that each of the plurality of dimples is provided independently from the other dimples, and arranged in such a manner that the plurality of dimples having different opening diameters is randomly distributed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Inoue, Yuta Negishi, Takeshi Hosoe, Yuuichiro Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 9915290
    Abstract: An apparatus used for winding or unwinding winch straps includes a clevis, a first engagement plate, and a second engagement plate. Both the first engagement plate and the second engagement plate contain a lobe, a lug, an oblong body, and a plate pinhole which are rotatably connected to the clevis with a plate retaining pin which traverses through the plate pinhole. When in use, a power tool is attached to a tool-receiving slot, which is integrated into a structural body of the clevis. Next, the lobe of the first engagement plate and the second engagement plate establishes a connection with the spool hub the apparatus is being used on. Simultaneously, the lug of the first engagement plate and the second engagement plate are pressed against the spool hub. Therefore, the force is transferred from the power tool to the spool via the introduced apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Inventor: Steven Reese Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 9915291
    Abstract: A rod-shaped element having an outer diameter, which is the same as an outer diameter of a completed rod part, has one axial end portion and the other axial end portion to which a base end portion of a bifurcated yoke is fixed. The one axial end portion is subject to plastic working for diametrically deforming an outer periphery of the one axial end portion. Thereby, the outer periphery of the one axial end portion is formed with a male spline part having a groove bottom diameter smaller than an outer diameter of a rod part and having a tooth tip diameter larger than the outer diameter of the rod part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 9915292
    Abstract: A drawer pull-out guide includes a carcass rail to be fixed to a furniture carcass, an extension rail displaceable relative to the carcass rail between a closed position and an open position, and a rolling body and a supporting body movable along a running limb of the carcass rail and a running surface of the extension rail upon a movement of the extension rail. A clearance is formed on the running limb of the carcass rail and/or on the running surface of the extension rail. The rolling body is accommodated within the clearance in the closed position of the extension rail and is thereby relieved from the load of the extension rail. In the closed position of the extension rail, the load of the extension rail is carried by the rolling body. The rolling body and the supporting body are arranged in a common running carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yanagawa, Kazuo Hirose
  • Patent number: 9915293
    Abstract: A constant-velocity joint 1 includes an outer ring with three raceway grooves formed therein, a tripod member having three tripod shaft portions, and roller units each having a cylindrical inner roller externally fitted over the corresponding tripod shaft portion and an outer roller. The outer roller has an annular surface facing a ceiling surface of a raceway groove. The ceiling surface includes first and second contact portions and that come into contact with an outer edge of the annular surface when the roller unit is tilted. When an outside diameter of the annular surface is represented as a roller end surface diameter A, a width of the outer roller in an axial direction is represented as a roller width B, and an interval between the first and second contact portions is represented as a contact portion interval H, a relational expression (A+B)/H?2.5 is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keishi Kobata
  • Patent number: 9915294
    Abstract: A protective device for a universal shaft (3) has an attachment element (6), a tubular guard (7) and at least one latching device (24, 25). The attachment element (6) is positioned around a shaft journal (2) projecting from a housing (1). The tubular protective guard (7) extends along a longitudinal axis L and is positioned around a universal shaft (3) connected to the shaft journal (2). The at least one latching device (24, 25) attaches the protective guard (7) on the attachment element (6). The protective guard (7) has at least one joining lines (9, 10) extending in the longitudinal direction L. The protective guard (7) can be separated and opened to receive the universal shaft (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: GKN Walterscheid GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Littau, Martin Hector, Andreas Hock, Wolfgang Adamek, Stefan Korber