Patents Issued in December 4, 2018
  • Patent number: 10145445
    Abstract: A wheel balance device for a motorcycle attachable to a motorcycle wheel rim. The wheel balance device includes a pedestal vertically attachable to a crown of an inner rim of the motorcycle wheel rim in a position between a pair of spokes on opposite side of the crown and having a first end attachable to the crown, a second end, an outer wall therebetween, a transverse orifice therethrough, and a longitudinal channel continuously disposed therethrough. A weight body, having an arc substantially conforming to a shape of the inner rim, is insertable through the transverse orifice and has a hole transversely disposed therethrough, which is alignable with the channel when the weight body is inserted into the transverse orifice. A fastener, which engages both the channel pedestal and the hole of the weight body, secures the weight body to the pedestal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Gerard Anderies, Jeanette Anderies
  • Patent number: 10145446
    Abstract: A warp-directional stretch fabric that defines two right faces and is formed from warp yarns defined by a nylon and fill yarns defined by an aramid. The fabric can be incorporated into a toothed belt, for example a transmission belt, to produce a belt that has enhanced structural and resistance capabilities while capable of being produced at a lower cost than prior art belts. A method of producing an improved toothed belt including the fabric is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Highland Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James Rollings Newsome
  • Patent number: 10145447
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a frictional power transmission belt having a frictional power transmission surface covered with a warp knitted fabric, in which the warp knitted fabric contains a water absorptive thread in a proportion of 30% by mass or more based on the total amount of threads constituting the warp knitted fabric and a wale direction of the warp knitted fabric is substantially parallel to a belt longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsuboshi Belting Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Mitsutomi, Tsuyoshi Takehara, Kazuyo Kojima
  • Patent number: 10145448
    Abstract: An attachment device that includes two portions of cord extending from a junction point from which a loop also extends. A locking element brings the portions of cord together at a site other than that of the junction point. The locking element is able to be passed through the loop to close the device on itself and ensure locking. The locking element is also able to slide along the portions of cord, thereby allowing the attachment device to be adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: URBAN ASSOCIES ARCHITECTES
    Inventor: Yves Claire Georges Laurant
  • Patent number: 10145449
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing chain link plates for a plate link chain with alternating inner chain links and outer chain links, where the contour of the chain link plates has several punch sections and two face side and rear side contact sections which, after punching out the punch sections from the sheet metal strip provided, are first connected to complementary contact sections of adjoining chain link plates and separated in a subsequent separation cut. Further provided are bush or roller chains with outer chain link plates thus produced and a corresponding chain drive for an internal combustion engine with such a bush or roller chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: IWIS MOTORSYSTEME GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Andreas Urbanek
  • Patent number: 10145450
    Abstract: Electric motors are disclosed. The motors are preferably for use in an automated vehicle, although any one or more of a variety of motor uses are suitable. The motors include lift, turntable, and locomotion motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Moore, Philip S. Johnson, Joshua M. Biro, Paul G. Michaels, Payman Rassoolkhani
  • Patent number: 10145451
    Abstract: A magnetic actuator includes a collar element (101) and a toroidal coil (103) surrounding the collar element. The collar element is coupled in a torque transferring way to a shaft (108) surrounded by the collar element. The collar element is capable of sliding in the axial direction with respect to the shaft. The collar element includes indentations (102) for locking in a torque transferring way to a counter-part when the collar element is in a first axial position. The collar element includes permanent magnet material (104) for generating an axial force for moving the collar element to the first axial position when the toroidal coil carries electric current flowing in a first direction and to a second axial position when the toroidal coil carries electric current flowing in an opposite direction. Thus, no mechanical elements are needed for moving the collar element in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: SAIMAAN AMMATTIKORKEAKOULU OY
    Inventors: Juha Pyrhonen, Juho Montonen, Simo Sinkko, Tommi Nummelin
  • Patent number: 10145452
    Abstract: A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, a third planetary gear set, a fourth planetary gear set, an input shaft mounted with the first and second planetary gear sets at an external circumference of the input shaft, an output shaft disposed in parallel with the input shaft and mounted with the third and fourth planetary gear sets on an external circumference of the output shaft, a first shaft, a second shaft, a third shaft directly connected with the input shaft, a fourth shaft, a fifth shaft, a sixth shaft gear-meshed with the fourth shaft, a seventh shaft engaged with the third shaft selectively, an eighth shaft directly connected with the output shaft, a ninth shaft, and transfer gears each gear-meshed with at least one of the shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Kyeong Hun Lee, Jong Soo Kim, Jong Sool Park, Dong Hwan Hwang
  • Patent number: 10145453
    Abstract: A transmission gearing arrangement produces ten forward speed ratios and four reverse speed ratio by selective engagement of three shift elements in various combinations. Some embodiment includes four simple planetary gear sets and seven shift elements of which three or four are brakes. Another embodiment includes two axis transfer gear pairs in place of one of the planetary gear sets. One of the brakes is used only in reverse and may be a latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Scott Lippert, David Allen Janson, Donald Edward Hoffman, Reid Alan Baldwin
  • Patent number: 10145454
    Abstract: A sliding friction-free gear has cams of specific profiles, rollers separating cooperating cams that roll over the cams of the gears, thus eliminating the sliding friction between the gears. The rollers are mounted rotatably e.g. in sliders or eccentrics, wherein the sliders, resp. eccentrics, are mounted slidingly, resp. rotatably, in a yoke attached rigidly to a shaft. The rollers are free to execute oscillating motion relative the yoke while rolling over the cam profiles of the cams of the gears. The cooperating members of the gear contact along a line like in conventional evolvent gears, and unlike in the Wildhaber-Novikov's gear (where the momentary contact between teeth of cooperating toothed wheels is pointwise); therefore the gear according to the present invention offers much larger transmission capacity and is much less prone to seizure than known gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventor: Wieslaw Julian Oledzki
  • Patent number: 10145455
    Abstract: A friction-type continuously variable transmission includes first to third rolling elements of which are annular and is centered on a principal axis, planetary rollers arranged in a circumferential direction about the principal axis, support pins arranged to rotatably support the planetary rollers, and a planetary roller support portion arranged to support each support pin such that the support pin is capable of inclining in a section including the principal axis. Each planetary roller includes a recessed portion in the shape of a circular ring in an outer circumference thereof centered on the support pin. The first rolling element is arranged to make contact with a rolling contact surface of the planetary roller from one side in a radial direction axially below the recessed portion. The first rolling element is arranged to make contact with the rolling contact surface of the planetary roller from the one side in the radial direction axially above the recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: NIDEC SHIMPO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kikuo Okamura, Hitoshi Inoue, Norio Deguchi
  • Patent number: 10145456
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic converter has a working chamber through which an operating medium can flow. A pump wheel is connected to a drive shaft and a turbine wheel is connected to a driven shaft. At least one positioning blade can be adjusted by an adjustment device. In order to provide a compactly formed and robust hydrodynamic converter of this type, having a hard-wearing adjustment device for adjusting at least one positioning vane, the adjustment device includes an actuating drive with ring elements. Each ring element is disposed coaxially in relation to the drive shaft. A first ring element is connected to the at least one positioning blade for transmitting a positioning force or a positioning torque via a diverting device. The first ring element can be rotated relative to a second ring element in the circumferential direction of the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Schirle, Hartmut Graf
  • Patent number: 10145457
    Abstract: A pendulum damper device includes a rotary member rotatable about a rotational axis. The rotary member includes a plurality of guide groove parts circumferentially aligned. The pendulum damper device also includes a plurality of pendulum units supported by the guide groove parts. The pendulum units swing along the guide groove parts so as to attenuate vibration when the rotary member is rotated. In addition, the pendulum damper device includes a plurality of stoppers mounted to the rotary member. Each of the stoppers is contacted to a part of each of the pendulum units so as to restrict a swing range of the each of the pendulum units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Hagihara
  • Patent number: 10145458
    Abstract: A drive assembly for a torque converter includes an axially movable turbine defining a piston of a lockup clutch; and a damper assembly including a first component including a plurality of first ramps and a second component including a plurality of second ramps, the first ramps configured for interacting with the second ramps to generate an axial force on the turbine during a coast condition of the torque converter, the damper assembly being arranged and configured to limit the axial force to prevent the piston from self-locking during the coast condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Victor Norwich, Brian Zaugg, David Avins, Daniel Gerdeman, Michael Hodge
  • Patent number: 10145459
    Abstract: The wave generator of the strain wave gear device comprises: a rigid plug; a roller bearing fitted on the elliptical outer circumferential surface thereof; and first and second cylindrical springs, which press loose rollers that have some play in the radial direction between the outer race and the inner race of the roller bearing against the outer raceway surface. The loose rollers are pressed against the outer raceway surface with a linear contact and roll according to the outer raceway surface. Skewing of the rollers is limited, ensuring smooth rotation of the roller bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Harmonic Drive Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Masaru Kobayashi, Tatsuro Hoshina
  • Patent number: 10145460
    Abstract: A gear arrangement with a divided spur toothing includes a main gear and a gear rotatable to the latter in a circumferential direction. The main gear has a hub on which the rotatable gear is arranged. A spring element is arranged between the main gear and the rotatable gear. With the spring element, the rotatable gear is pretensioned in the circumferential direction against the main gear. A first spur toothing part of the spur toothing is formed on the main gear and a second spur toothing part of the spur toothing is formed on the rotatable gear. The first spur toothing part has a first axis of rotation and the second spur toothing part has a second axis of rotation. The second axis of rotation of the second spur toothing part is offset relative to the first axis of rotation of the first spur toothing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Miba Sinter Austria GmbH
    Inventors: Manuel Steinmaurer, Martin Hessmann, Wolfgang Siessl, Karl Dickinger
  • Patent number: 10145461
    Abstract: A disconnecting power take-off unit having a housing, an input shaft, a gear shaft, a seal journal and a dynamic seal. The input shaft is rotatably disposed in the housing and includes a plurality of splines or teeth. The gear shaft is disposed about the input shaft and is supported on an end by a gear shaft bearing having an inner bearing race. The seal journal is received over the splines or teeth and is fixedly and sealingly engaged to the input shaft. The seal journal has an exterior seal surface that can be sized larger in diameter than the splines or teeth on the input shaft and/or the inside diameter of the inner bearing race of the gear shaft bearing. The dynamic seal is received over the spline teeth and is sealingly engaged to the housing and the exterior seal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventor: Aaron C. Portman
  • Patent number: 10145462
    Abstract: According to an aspect, a shaft internal lubrication system includes a shaft body having an outer wall and a central bore defining an inner wall. The shaft internal lubrication system also includes a plurality of lubrication holes axially distributed along the central bore and fluidically connecting the inner wall and the outer wall. At least one rifling groove on the inner wall forms a lubrication flow path to two or more of the lubrication holes. The shaft internal lubrication system further includes a feed tube within the central bore operable to drip feed a lubricant to the inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Slayter, Richard A. Himmelmann
  • Patent number: 10145463
    Abstract: A cooling and lubricating device for a transmission for a wind turbine includes a transmission oil tank for storing transmission oil for the transmission, a transmission oil line system for carrying the transmission oil between the transmission oil tank and the transmission, a hydraulic oil tank for storing hydraulic oil, a hydraulic oil line system for carrying the hydraulic oil, a hydraulic oil conveying device for conveying the hydraulic oil through the hydraulic oil line system, an energy accumulator for at least temporarily maintaining a pressure within the hydraulic oil line system, the energy accumulator chargeable using the hydraulic oil conveyed by the hydraulic oil conveying device; and a transmission oil conveying device coupled to the hydraulic oil line system and to the transmission oil line system and configured to be driven by the hydraulic oil in order to convey the transmission oil to the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ibrahim Doertoluk, Udo Froehlich, Bernd Schnurr, Detlef Boehm
  • Patent number: 10145464
    Abstract: A lubrication system includes a reserve housing configured to retain a lubrication fluid. A supply line in fluid communication with the reserve housing is configured to provide pressurized lubrication fluid to the reserve housing. An overflow tube has an overflow port, the overflow tube being configured to prevent the volume of the lubrication fluid from exceeding a certain amount. A metering jet is configured to allow the lubrication fluid to flow from the reserve housing onto a component, such as a bearing, in the gearbox at a predetermined rate. The metering jet provides flow of the lubrication fluid onto the bearing even when the supply line no longer provides pressurized lubrication fluid to the reserve housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Scott D. Poster, David A. Elliott, Gary A. Cope
  • Patent number: 10145465
    Abstract: A gear shifter performs an abutment learning, having a reference value learner that sets a reference value of a position signal when abutting a drive object to a stopper, and reduces warpage by (i) an all phase power supply supplying to the electric current to all of the plural phase coils of the direct current motor, and (ii) by reducing an amount of the electric current supplied to the coils, and by decreasing a pressing force of the drive object pressing the drive object against the stopper. The reference value determined at a warpage diminish time enables a reduction of variation of the reference value due to an influence of the warpage, thereby setting a robust reference value to account for an environmental condition such as a temperature change, for an accurate shift operation of the gear shifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuusaku Kawaguchi, Jun Yamada
  • Patent number: 10145466
    Abstract: An equipment control apparatus for a vehicle has: a motor for vibrating that imparts, via a shift knob that contacts a vehicle occupant, vibrations as a stimulus that the vehicle occupant can feel by a somatic sensation; an electrostatic capacity sensor that detects electrostatic capacity as a state of contact of the vehicle occupant with the shift knob; and a control section that controls driving of the motor for vibrating so as to impart, to the vehicle occupant, vibrations of a strength that is determined in advance in accordance with the electrostatic capacity detected by the electrostatic capacity sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventor: Yuichi Kano
  • Patent number: 10145467
    Abstract: Provided is an automatic transmission with which a large impact is hardly applied to the component of the switching mechanism or the switching control circuit when the drive source is re-driven. When a drive source ENG is determined to be in the stopped state, if the position of a slider HC1 does not correspond to the position the control part ECU instructed before the drive source ENG is determined to be in the stopped state, the control part ECU of the automatic transmission TM transmits a signal for switching a two-way clutch TW to a state corresponding to the state of a slider HC1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuya Tachibanada, Ryohei Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 10145468
    Abstract: A dual clutch-type transmission control device is provided which improves the accuracy with which transmission torque is learned. A dual-clutch transmission includes a clutch apparatus having a first clutch and a second clutch, a first input shaft, a second input shaft, a counter shaft, an output shaft, an auxiliary transmission portion including a first input gear pair and a second input gear pair, a main transmission portion including an output gear pair, and learning modules and the learning modules shift the main transmission portion into a neutral state, disengage both the first and second clutched generate a torque change in an engine by keeping the engine running at a predetermined revolution number, engaging partially one of the first and second clutches and thereafter engaging the other clutch gradually partially and learn an amount of change of torque associated with the torque change as transmission torque of the other clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventors: Yusuke Takahashi, Tomoaki Shimozawa
  • Patent number: 10145469
    Abstract: A method of parameterization of traction force interrupted shifts in a transmission of a commercial vehicle having a frame, a cab supported by the frame, and a trailer coupled to the frame. The method includes a mathematical model which considers movement equations and geometrical parameters of the frame, the cab, and the trailer. Traction force patterns of traction force interrupted shifts are predetermined which depend on a traction force decrease time, a shift time, and a traction force increase time. From model and force patterns, vibration behaviors of the cab as the output parameter of the model is simulated. The parameterization of traction force interrupted shiftings takes place such that, as the shifting parameters, the traction force decrease time, the shift time, and the traction force increase time of such force patterns are determined, for which a defined evaluation criterion of the simulated vibration behavior of the cab is optimal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Alexander Banerjee, Martin Sperlich
  • Patent number: 10145470
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission (CVT) for use with a torque generating mechanism includes an input member connectable to the torque generating mechanism, an output member, a variator assembly, and a controller. The controller is programmed to control a change-of-mind shift of the CVT requesting a transition from an initially-requested shift to a next-requested shift before completion of the initially-requested shift. Additionally, the controller is programmed to execute a method by detecting the change-of-mind shift, determining an acceleration profile of the input member for the change-of-mind shift using a calibration map indexed by a starting and target ratio of the variator assembly, and calculating a required ratio of the input and output pulleys using the acceleration profile. The controller then commands a clamping pressure of the variator assembly to thereby achieve the calculated required ratio. A vehicle includes an engine and the CVT noted above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Zhen J. Zhang, Paul G. Otanez
  • Patent number: 10145471
    Abstract: A dog clutch operable to bypass a variator of a transmission is disclosed. The dog clutch includes a housing engaged with an input ring of the variator. The dog clutch also includes a piston engaged with the housing and movable from a first position in which the piston is disengaged from an output ring of the variator to a second position in which the piston is engaged with the output ring. The variator input ring and output ring are locked together when the dog clutch is in the second position to prevent the variator from producing continuously variable torque output. The variator is operable to produce continuously-variable torque output when the dog clutch is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Allison Transmission, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Raszkowski, Jeremy A. Turner, Brad Philip Pohl
  • Patent number: 10145472
    Abstract: A transfer includes: an input shaft; an output shaft; a high-low switching mechanism; an output member whose output destination is different from output destination of the output shaft; a clutch for transmitting a power to the output member; a first transmitting mechanism for transmitting movement of an internally threaded member to the clutch; and a drum cam having a cam groove. The cam groove includes a first inclined section that causes the high-low switching mechanism to be switched between a high-speed gear stage and a low-speed gear stage, and a second inclined section that causes the first transmitting mechanism to be switched between (i) a separated position in which the first transmitting mechanism is separated from the clutch and (ii) a contact position in which the first transmitting mechanism is in contact with the clutch, while the high-speed gear stage is established in the high-low switching mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mizuki Imafuku
  • Patent number: 10145473
    Abstract: A gasket for sealing a compartment between a fixed and a roto-translatory member. The gasket has a metal support ring adapted to be connected to the fixed member; first sealing means in a position adjacent to a first ambient containing lubricant and defining two first annular sealing lips axially spaced to cooperate with the roto-translatory member and to counter the passage of lubricant/external contaminants between the first ambient and a second ambient connected with the outside; and second sealing means axially interposed between the first sealing means and the second ambient and defining a second sealing lip axially spaced from the first annular sealing lips and adapted to cooperate with the roto-translatory member to counter the passage of external contaminants towards the first sealing lips; the first sealing means comprise two first distinct sealing rings, axially arranged side by side and respectively carrying a relative first sealing lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: FREUDENBERG SEALING TECHNOLOGIES S.A.S. DI EXTERNA ITALIA S.R.L.U.
    Inventors: Pasquale Angiulli, Luca Breusa, Francesco Vignolo, Stefano Miletto, Maurizio Buro
  • Patent number: 10145474
    Abstract: In order to provide a sealing arrangement for sealing between a first medium chamber filled with a first medium and a second medium chamber filled with a second medium, in the region of a component which is movable along the longitudinal axis, which can be easily manufactured and has low leakage, it is proposed that the sealing arrangement comprises a sealing element which comprises at least one dynamic sealing portion which is placed or placeable on the movable component, wherein the at least one dynamic sealing portion comprises at least two sealing lips between which a leakage reservoir is formed, wherein the leakage reservoir is partially delimited by two boundary surfaces of the sealing lips arranged facing one another, wherein the leakage reservoir is formed at least partially by a concave recess in at least one or between the at least two boundary surfaces of the sealing lips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: ElringKlinger AG
    Inventors: Walter Schuhmacher, Klaus Hocker
  • Patent number: 10145475
    Abstract: A mechanical seal device has a mating ring that rotates with a rotating shaft, as well as a seal ring that slidably contacts the mating right, so as to seal between the rotating shaft and a seal cover fixed to an equipment main body, wherein the seal cover is a split structure comprising at least an inner-diameter-side seal cover and an outer-diameter-side seal cover, the inner-diameter-side seal cover is detachably connected to the outer-diameter-side seal cover, and the seal ring is connected to the inner-diameter-side seal cover in a securely following manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignees: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD., EAGLEBURGMANN JAPAN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masakazu Kito, Hiroshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10145476
    Abstract: Embodiments of a pinch valve assembly include a controller, where the controller is preprogrammed with a plurality of selectable modes including a step and direction mode, a flow monitoring mode, a flow and fill mode, and an unclog mode, and an actuator assembly, the actuator assembly being controlled by the controller, an actuator, the actuator being actuated by the actuator assembly, a piston, the piston being coupled with the actuator, a valve body, the valve body being coupled with the actuator assembly, and an aperture, the aperture being formed in the valve body, wherein the aperture is configured to retain at least a portion of tubing such that fluid or gas flow within the tubing can be metered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Resolution Air Ltd.
    Inventor: Bradley Richard Thompson
  • Patent number: 10145477
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve stem having a resilient proximal seal member disposed around the stem and a distal seal member disposed around the stem. The proximal and distal seal members are axially separated from one another along the valve stem. The assembly further includes a housing defining a valve chamber, in which the valve stem is confined so as to be axially displaceable within the valve chamber. The housing defines a first portion of the valve chamber, in which the proximal seal member resides, a second portion of the valve chamber, in which the distal seal member resides, and a cross-bore chamber, which opens into the valve chamber in a third portion between the first and second portions. The third portion has a minimum cross-sectional diameter greater than the cross-sectional diameter of the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited
    Inventor: Gary Tyers
  • Patent number: 10145478
    Abstract: A top entry ball valve comprises a housing with a central cavity communicating with two bores which define a flow path through the housing. A ball valve element is provided and comprises a through bore. The ball valve element is rotatably mounted within the central cavity for rotation about an axis for selectively aligning the through bore with the housing bores. The ball valve element further comprises first and second flat surfaces on opposite sides of the ball valve element. The flat surfaces are perpendicular to the axis. The top entry ball valve further comprises first and second seats which are configured to provide a seal between the ball valve element and the central cavity. First and second protective rings are provided for receiving and supporting at least a portion of the first and second seats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Hawa Valves (India) Private Limited
    Inventor: Javed Anwar Hawa
  • Patent number: 10145479
    Abstract: Provided is a diaphragm valve that is capable of increasing its flow rate and is capable of suppressing variation among the diaphragm valves in the flow rates. In a diaphragm valve 1, a fluid that has flown into the fluid inflow channel 2a enters a fluid outflow channel 2b via through holes 22a of a seat holder 5. On a bottom surface 13 of a depression 2c of a body 2, a seat receiving surface 13a that receives a seat 4 is flush with a seat-holder receiving surface 13b that receives a seat holder 5. In the bottom surface of the depression 2c of the body 2, an annular groove 14 facing through holes 22 of the seat holder 5 is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIKIN INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Taichi Kitano, Hidenori Kiso, Tsutomu Shinohara
  • Patent number: 10145480
    Abstract: An automatic ring valve comprising a valve seat provided with a plurality of gas flow passages arranged according to at least one annular row, at least a shutter comprising at least one ring-shaped portion for selectively closing and opening the gas flow passages, wherein the ring-shaped portion of the shutter comprises a fiber-reinforced matrix, at least one contrasting member for contrasting an opening movement of ring-shaped portion of the shutter, wherein the ring-shaped portion of the shutter comprises continuous fibers, at least some of the fibers developing for at least 360° of the annular development of the ring-shaped portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Nuovo Pignone S.R.L.
    Inventors: Francesco Buffa, Alberto Babbini, Pierluigi Tozzi
  • Patent number: 10145481
    Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic valve in which a seal member; a shaft provided with a valve body capable of abutting against the seal member; and a valve-actuating pressure chamber that moves the shaft in an axial direction to actuate the valve body is provided within a valve casing. The shaft has a first member that receives pressure from the valve-actuating pressure chamber, and a second member that includes the valve body and is movable relative to the first member in the axial direction. The pneumatic valve further has a stopper that is provided in a movement path of the first member, and a disc spring that is sandwiched between the first member and the second member, has elastic energy accumulated therein in a state where the first member is in contact with the stopper, and presses the valve body against the seal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Kohei Taya, Hatsuo Mori
  • Patent number: 10145482
    Abstract: A frangible valve is disclosed. The frangible valve can include an outer portion operable to form a pressure boundary for a pressure vessel. The frangible valve can also include an inner portion integrally formed with the outer portion and having a central region and a separation region about a perimeter of the central region proximate the outer portion. The separation region can have a thickness less than a thickness of the central region and can be configured to break at a predetermined fluid pressure inside the pressure vessel to vent pressure from the pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Robert D. Travis
  • Patent number: 10145483
    Abstract: A corrosion-resistant ball valve (15) comprising a housing (1; 2), in which a spherical sealing member (3) provided with a passage duct is rotatably arranged and an operating spindle (4) which is detachably coupled to the sealing member (3), in which the sealing member (3) is provided with an uninterrupted corrosion-resistant coating layer (16a), in which said coating layer comprises a tubular part (16b) which surrounds at least a part of the operating spindle (4) and a method for producing such a ball valve (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: INNO-MOULD NV
    Inventors: Eddy Laureys, Mario Laureys, Benno Schmid
  • Patent number: 10145484
    Abstract: The presently-disclosed subject matter includes valve covers. The valve covers can protect valves from exposure as well as from tampering. In some embodiments the valve cover comprises a cap that includes a top end and a side wall that is substantially cylindrical. Embodiments of valve covers also include a plug on an interior side of the top end of the cap that projects toward the opening of the cap. When the valve cover is installed, the plug can extend beyond an opening of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Hyperkinetics Corporation
    Inventor: Henry Buermann
  • Patent number: 10145485
    Abstract: Compressor device that comprises a compressor element that is equipped with a compression chamber with at least one coolant inlet, and which furthermore comprises a gas outlet, a gas/coolant separation tank connected to it, and, a cooling circuit with a cooler that extends between the separation tank and the coolant inlet, and which is equipped with control means to adjust the temperature of the coolant flow supplied to the compressor element, whereby the aforementioned control means comprise a first and a second sub-controller, each with a different target parameter, whereby the control means also comprise switching means to place one of the two sub-controllers in an activated state and the other sub-controller in a deactivated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER, NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAP
    Inventor: Kristof Adrien Laura Martens
  • Patent number: 10145486
    Abstract: A drive device includes a drive member, a light source, a marker, a detector, a signal processor and a strain controller. The drive member includes at least a material which generates a plasmon. The drive member generates strain in response to input energy. The marker is formed on a surface of the drive member. Strain occurs in the marker in accordance with a deformation of the drive member and the marker reflects or transmits light emitted from the light source. The detector detects a light intensity of light reflected from or transmitted through the marker. The signal processor calculates an amount of strain which occurs in the marker based on the light intensity. The strain controller controls an amount of strain of the drive member based on the amount of strain calculated by the signal processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Kazuki Ikeda, Takashi Kurosawa, Hideo Uemura, Makoto Ooki
  • Patent number: 10145487
    Abstract: An HVAC device includes a housing and a conduit tube that defines a lumen into the housing. The conduit tube and/or housing are configured such that rotating the conduit tube relative to the housing changes the direction that an outlet of the conduit tube faces. This may promote easier installation and/or maintenance of the HVAC device in the field, especially in cramped and/or poorly illuminated areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Tom Bakken, Matthew Decker, Nathan Carlson, Brad Terlson
  • Patent number: 10145488
    Abstract: A solenoid valve includes a sleeve, a spool valve, and a solenoid part. The solenoid part has an electromagnetic coil, a solenoid core, a plunger that moves in the axial direction with respect to the solenoid core, and a stopper that is interposed between the plunger and the solenoid core to restrict movement of the plunger. The solenoid core includes a cylindrical part and an extended part. The cylindrical part has an opposing surface facing the plunger in the axial direction and a contact surface that is contacted by the stopper. The extended part is extended in the axial direction from an outer peripheral end of the cylindrical part. At least a part of the opposing surface of the cylindrical part is located closer to the plunger than the contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kaori Fujita, Toshio Murakami
  • Patent number: 10145489
    Abstract: A rotary spring-return actuator operator is provided with a multi-slot shaft and a clock type spring retained by a retaining band which encircles the spring in such a manner as to insure that the potential energy within the spring is safely contained during all operations requiring disassembly of the actuator assembly, and wherein the retaining band facilitates the in-field reversal of the spring direction or the adjustment of the spring preload by securing the spring to one or more of the slots on the multi-slot shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Inventors: Frederick Rand Underwood, Jr., Frederick Rand Underwood, III, Kenneth Earl Price
  • Patent number: 10145490
    Abstract: Servovalve with jet-type pilot stage including an ejector for ejecting a jet of fluid that is movable relative to a deflector adapted to generate a pressure differential that can be used to move a power distribution member of the servovalve, the ejector projecting radially from a column extending along a longitudinal axis and to which the ejector is fastened, being in fluid communication with a central passage of the column via which the ejector is fed with fluid, the column having a first end pivotably engaged in a part of the servovalve in the vicinity of a pressure feed thereof and via which the fluid is introduced into the central passage of the column, the column having a second end loaded by a torque motor to apply selectively to the column a rotation torque about the longitudinal axis in either direction relative to a rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: ZODIAC HYDRAULICS
    Inventor: Kevin Michel
  • Patent number: 10145491
    Abstract: A device for converting a rotational motion of a valve element into a translational motion of same having a valve element bearing-supported such that it is translationally movable along a translation axis, a cam element with a cam curvature. The cam element is rotatable about an axis of rotation, wherein connected with the valve element is a stem by means of which the valve element can be moved translationally along the translation axis and which comprises an engagement element in engagement with the cam curvature. The engagement element is braced from two sides of the cam element by the stem, and wherein, by rotation of the cam element about the axis of rotation, the engagement element is guided along the cam curvature such that the stem executes a translational motion whereby the valve element executes a translational motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Christoph Thiery, Bernhard Klipfel, Manuel Schieker, Jens Schwindt
  • Patent number: 10145492
    Abstract: A valve lockout device with viewing port is disclosed herein. The valve lockout device with viewing port includes a first clamshell member, a second clamshell member, and a hinge pivotably connecting the first clamshell member and second clamshell member. The valve lockout device with viewing port is useful for observing the operational state of a valve when it is locked out for maintenance tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Surelock, LLC
    Inventors: Guadalupe Ayala, Jr., Edgardo Ayala
  • Patent number: 10145493
    Abstract: In general, a connector designed to slip on a tubular, or an extension thereof, may be locked onto the tubular and a seal created around the tubular to keep pressure trapped inside the tubular. Generally, the connector is slipped over and makes contact with the tubular via a sliding sleeve seal cover. In certain embodiments, when sufficient force is placed on the connector, one or more shear pins, which are holding the sleeve, are sheared, allowing the connector to be lowered onto the tubular and the seal to make contact with the tubular. The connector may be locked onto the tubular by means of a one piece slip energized by a cam typically held in place mechanically by one or more ratchets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Oceaneering International, Inc.
    Inventors: Forrest Earl Shanks, II, William David Wightman
  • Patent number: 10145494
    Abstract: An air, acoustic and/or fire sealing device comprising an air, acoustic and/or fire sealing insert body comprising molded foam material, the body having a first end and a second end and a bulk continuous with the first end and the second end; wherein the body has an outer diameter, and the body is adapted to allow one or more pipes, fibers and/or cables to pass through the first and second ends and the bulk; and, a flexible hollow sleeve having an inner diameter, a first open end and a second open end, the ends being axially arranged; wherein the outer diameter of the air, acoustic and/or fire sealing insert body is greater than, equal to, or less than, the inner diameter of the flexible hollow sleeve; and, the air, acoustic and/or fire sealing insert body is arranged in the sleeve, is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joshua Vandertook, Tamara Sarg, Lukas Schwaiger, Chad Stroike