Patents Issued in June 2, 2020
  • Patent number: 10670080
    Abstract: A shaft having a splined portion comprises a first set of teeth with each tooth spaced radially at intervals about a first outer circumferential region of the shaft and a second set of teeth comprising an equal number of teeth to the first set that are also spaced radially at the same regular intervals about a second outer circumferential region of the shaft that is offset axially from the first region, with at least one tooth of the first set of teeth aligned with a corresponding tooth of the second set to form a pair in which the two teeth of the pair together form an elongate spline; and wherein the first tooth and second tooth of each elongate spline are separated from each other in a direction parallel to the axis of the shaft by a groove that terminates at each end by a shoulder forming an end of a respective tooth, characterised in that each shoulder is tapered in a direction normal to the axis of the shaft and in that an overmolding is provided that comprises a portion that covers the teeth that is co
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: TRW Steering Systems Poland Sp. z o.o.
    Inventors: Pawel Ponikiewski, Artur Wojtalik, Slawomir Kwasny
  • Patent number: 10670081
    Abstract: A coupling device is provided for connecting an engine to a transmission of a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, said device comprising at least one filament-reinforced articulation device, at least one first flange that is associated with the engine and at least one second flange that is associated with the transmission, the at least one filament-reinforced articulation device coupling together the first flange associated with the engine and the at least one flange associated with the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: SUEDDEUTSCHE GELENKSCHEIBENFABRIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Armin Huber, Marc Brandt, Johann Loew, Roland Liessel, Wolfgang Orthofer
  • Patent number: 10670082
    Abstract: In an aspect, the invention is directed to a clutched device that includes a clutch input member, a clutch output member, and a wrap spring clutch. The wrap spring clutch is engageable with the clutch input member and the clutch output member and has a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface. One of the radially outer and inner surfaces is engageable with a clutch engagement surface on one of the clutch input member and the clutch output member. The clutch engagement surface has a surface finish that includes peaks and valleys, wherein the peaks engage the wrap spring clutch and each have a selected width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: LITENS AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP
    Inventor: Evan J. Hurry
  • Patent number: 10670083
    Abstract: A wedge clutch includes an inner race and an outer race. The outer race defines an inner cam surface. A chain of wedges encircles the inner race and are configured to couple the races when the clutch is engaged. The wedges have outer surfaces that match with sections of the inner cam surface such that the wedges have an outer radial position when in first rotational position relative to the cam surface and have an inner radial position when in a second rotational position to frictionally engage the inner race.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Brian Lee, Carsten Ohr
  • Patent number: 10670084
    Abstract: A drive device comprising, a housing configured to delimit a housing inner chamber that can be filled with a cooling fluid and a clutch device that includes a first input side coupled to a first drive motor, a second input side, wherein the first and second input side can be rotated about a common rotation axis. The clutch device further includes a first output side, a second output side, a first clutch arranged between the first input side and the first output side, and a second clutch arranged between the second input side and the second output side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Elmar Lorenz
  • Patent number: 10670085
    Abstract: An automatic clutch device includes an axial force generating mechanism including an electric motor arranged adjacent to the outer periphery of an end of an input shaft of a transmission, and a rotation-linear motion conversion mechanism for converting the rotation of the rotor of the electric motor to a linear motion of a release bearing. The rotation-linear motion conversion mechanism includes plural annular cam plates arranged in tandem on the input shaft, and torque cam mechanisms each disposed between each opposed pair of cam plates, for reduced size and improved responsiveness of the automatic clutch device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahide Saito, Koji Sato, Masahiro Kawai, Atsushi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 10670086
    Abstract: A washing machine transmission actuator employs a rotating cam for separating a clutch. The cam is rotated by a ring gear communicating with a pinion gear on a motor providing improved minimum torque for a given motor power and thus improved energy efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Mark J. Wittig
  • Patent number: 10670087
    Abstract: A power transmitting apparatus has a clutch member and a pressure member. The cam surfaces of the pressure-contact assist cam face each other. The cam surfaces of the back torque limiter cam face each other. A receiving portion for a clutch spring (10) on the pressure member (5) side has a receiving member (11) separate from the pressure member (5). A first cam surface (C1) and a second cam surface (C2), constituting the back torque limiter cam, are, respectively, formed on the receiving member (11) and the clutch member (4). A third cam surface (C3) and a fourth cam surface (C4), constituting the pressure-contact assist cam, are, respectively, formed on the pressure member (5) and the clutch member (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha F.C.C.
    Inventors: Makoto Kataoka, Han Hiong Chen, Kaoru Aono
  • Patent number: 10670088
    Abstract: A hydraulic clutch device includes a pressure regulating valve located on a downstream side in an oil flowing direction, a casing housing the hydraulic clutch, an insertion hole holding at least a part of the pressure regulating valve, an upstream side oil passage having an opening part introducing the oil from the hydraulic clutch into the insertion hole, and a downstream side oil passage having another opening part discharge the oil from the other opening part to the downstream side of the insertion hole. A position of a first virtual line (L1) which passes through the center-of-gravity point of a cross section of the opening part of the upstream side oil passage and a position of a second virtual line (L2) which passes through the center-of-gravity point of a cross section of the insertion hole are arranged so as to be different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nobutaka Yamaguchi, Kenji Niwata
  • Patent number: 10670089
    Abstract: An external control type fan clutch device has an electromagnet fixed to a rotating shaft. The electromagnet is energized to activate a valve member formed of a plate spring and an armature and provided to a drive disk or a sealed housing to externally control opening and closing an oil circulating flow passage (oil supply port). The valve member is structured so that the armature attached to the plate spring of the valve member is divided into a plurality of pieces in the direction from the base end side to the oscillating end side of the plate spring to provide a plurality of bend points of the plate spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: USUI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroki Sugawara
  • Patent number: 10670090
    Abstract: A clutch structure includes a clutch input shaft, a clutch output shaft, a weight member, a one-way clutch, and a bearing. The weight member frictionally contacts a cylindrical portion of the clutch output shaft to transmit a rotational power from the clutch input shaft to the clutch output shaft and separates from the cylindrical portion to disconnect the transmission of the rotational power. When the weight member separates from the cylindrical portion and a rotational frequency of the clutch input shaft falls below a rotational frequency of the clutch output shaft, the one-way clutch links an input shaft portion of the clutch input shaft and an output shaft portion of the clutch output shaft. The one-way clutch and the bearing are located between the input shaft portion and the output shaft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mamoru Endo, Makoto Sato
  • Patent number: 10670091
    Abstract: A disc brake includes a brake caliper that engages over a brake disc, the caliper having a central opening over the brake disc. The disc brake has two brake pads which are located in the brake caliper, can be moved in opposite directions and each of which has a pad backing plate with a friction lining secured thereon. An action-side or application-side brake pad of the two brake pads can be pressed against the brake disc by a brake application device with the aid of at least one brake plunger. The brake also has at least one restoring device, by which the brake caliper can be returned. The restoring device has a spreading device which engages on the brake pads lying opposite one another and which acts with an identical force in opposition to the respective application direction. The spreading device has spring-loaded spreading elements, each engaging on its respective pad backing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Fricke, Abdelaziz Rguichi, Thomas Eichler, Oliver Krause, Matthias Klinger, Michael Peschel, Tobias Schoefberger, Philipp Adamczyk, Markus Molnar, Maximilian Hauser, Igor Nesmjanowitsch, Martin Heindl, Christian Brandl, Martin Pleintinger, Natalie Roth, Kerstin Sakel, Franz Gasslbauer, Martin Tropp, Alexander Asen
  • Patent number: 10670092
    Abstract: A floating type disc brake device in which a body, a support and a cylinder unit are configured separately, and a first piston and a second piston are accommodated in the cylinder unit, wherein the cylinder unit is fixed to arm portions provided on both the rotation-in side and the rotation-out side of a rotor in the support via cylinder attachment portions disposed on the outer circumference side of the cylinder unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: AKEBONO BRAKE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yoshikawa, Kohei Noma
  • Patent number: 10670093
    Abstract: A backing plate for a disk brake lining, a disk brake lining, and a motor-vehicle partially lined disk brake, wherein the backing plate and a corresponding disk brake lining having friction material are provided and wherein a retaining protrusion having a through-hole for receiving a retaining pin is provided on the backing plate radially inside on an end face, and wherein a guide protrusion having a jaw opening and having a receiving pocket for receiving a guide pin is positioned radially outside on the opposite end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Herbert Dreher, Dietrich Golz, Götz Mehner, Andreas Marr, Mathias Haag, Frederic Zimnoch
  • Patent number: 10670094
    Abstract: A brake lining includes friction structures, back boards fastened to respective the friction structures, a base plate supporting the friction structures. Each of the friction structures includes two adjacent friction portions with a groove formed in the front surface in between, and a thin portion with a smaller thickness than thicknesses of the friction portions, the thin portion located in a position corresponding to the groove. Each of the friction structures is supported by the base plate on two support points located in the two friction portions respectively. The thin portion has a constant length, the length being equal to a maximum width of the friction portions and satisfying a condition that L/D is equal to or greater than 1.1, where D denotes the length of the thin portion and L denotes a distance between the two support points located in the friction portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignees: NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION, CENTRAL JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY
    Inventors: Takahiro Fujimoto, Atsushi Sakaguchi, Naruo Miyabe, Tomohiro Otsuka, Seiji Kanamori, Jun Asano
  • Patent number: 10670095
    Abstract: A brake disk or drum has at least one working surface which opposes a braking member such as a brake pad or shoe. A plurality of spaced, raised island formations are provided across the working surface, with channels extending between the island formations. Each raised island formation has an outer surface which contacts a brake pad or brake shoe during braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Tech M3, Inc.
    Inventor: Nathan K. Meckel
  • Patent number: 10670096
    Abstract: A disk brake includes a disk overlapped by a caliper, at least one pad carried by the caliper, two different actuators, each one including a pinion and a mobile piston for pressing the pad against the disk by rotation of the pinions, a rotating shaft including two endless screws having opposite winding directions, the shaft being mobile in translation in the longitudinal direction thereof, and an electric motor for driving the rotating shaft. The rotating shaft extends between the two pinions with the two endless screws thereof each engaged in a pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: FOUNDATION BRAKES FRANCE
    Inventor: Didier Esnee
  • Patent number: 10670097
    Abstract: A disk brake includes a brake disk, a brake caliper, at least one application device lying within the brake caliper on one side of the brake disk, an axially movable device configured to move a brake pad axially toward the brake disk by way of at least one actuating spindle when the brake is actuated, and an adjustment mechanism configured to rotate the actuating spindle because of a rotational coupling acting in the direction of rotation. The adjustment mechanism comprises a thread device, which, at least in the case of rotation in a second direction of rotation opposite a direction of rotation, is configured to mesh with an external thread of the actuating spindle and is configured to screw the adjustment mechanism in relation to the actuating spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: WABCO EUROPE BVBA
    Inventors: Paul Henning, Hans-Christian Jungmann, Marcus Keller, Piotr Macutkiewicz, Bernward Redemann, Gunther Stingl
  • Patent number: 10670098
    Abstract: A monitoring device for a disk brake includes a sensor configured to be attached to a brake caliper of the disk brake; and a measuring element configured to be moved relative to the sensor unit. The sensor is designed to register a relative position of the measuring element. The sensor and the measuring element are spaced from one another for the purpose of forming a contactless monitoring device. The preloading element is arranged between the measuring element and the sensor for preloading the measuring element against a pressure spindle of the disk brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: WABCO EUROPE BVBA
    Inventors: Michael John, Martin Stumpf
  • Patent number: 10670099
    Abstract: [Object] The present invention provides a friction material used for a disc brake pad, which is manufactured by forming a non-asbestos-organic (NAO) friction material composition that does not contain a copper component, which provides an excellent wear resistance and a highly stable braking effectiveness even after being subjected to a history of high temperatures and high loads. [Means to Resolve] The friction material composition for the friction material molding containing, as an inorganic friction modifier, 10-40 weight % of a monoclinic zirconium oxide with an average particle diameter of 1-8 ?m relative to the total amount of the friction material composition, 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: NISSHINBO BRAKE INC.
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Yaguchi, Shinya Kaji, Tomomi Iwai
  • Patent number: 10670100
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a friction material for a construction waste filler, including steps of: (S1) sorting a building material, removing fiber impurities, calcining, removing white garbage and metal impurities, and obtaining a first intermediate product; (S2) sifting and removing dust from the first intermediate product, obtaining an intermediate filler, cooling and then soaking after performing calcination on the intermediate filler, dehydrating, drying and obtaining a material to be mixed; (S3) evenly mixing the material to be mixed, graphite, molybdenum disulfide and other media materials, performing enhancement treatment, grinding and obtaining a building filler; and (S4) mixing composite fiber, phenolic resin, the building filler, friction material, pyrite, carbon black, alumina, and brass powder, stirring in a mixer for 20-40 min till all materials are fused, taking out a fused mixture, barreling, and obtaining the friction material for the construction waste filler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: JIANGSU JINMAISUI NEW ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wanjun Xiong
  • Patent number: 10670101
    Abstract: A linear motion assembly having a static coefficient of friction, ?S, as measured between an inner component and an outer component, and a dynamic coefficient of friction, ?D, as measured between the inner component and the outer component, wherein ?S/?D is less than 2.0, such as less than 1.9, less than 1.8, less than 1.7, or even less than 1.6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nicholas F. Witting, Vincent Dimartino
  • Patent number: 10670102
    Abstract: Methods for servicing shock struts are provided. In various embodiments, a method for servicing a shock strut may comprise deflating the shock strut; compressing the shock strut until the shock strut is in a fully compressed position; and charging the shock strut with a liquid until a pressure of the liquid decreases a volume of a residual air located inside of the shock strut. In various embodiments, charging the shock strut with liquid under pressure may reduce the volume of trapped air inside of the shock strut to a negligible volume, eliminating the servicing variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amir Fazeli, Adnan Cepic, Susanne Reber
  • Patent number: 10670103
    Abstract: A vibration damper, which can be utilized in a chassis of a vehicle, may comprise a damper tube and a working piston that is guided in a longitudinal axis over an inner side of the damper tube. The vibration damper may also include a reinforcing sleeve that is positioned on an outer side of the damper tube. A receptive fork for attachment to the chassis can be arranged on the reinforcing sleeve. The reinforcing sleeve may be delimited in a direction of the longitudinal axis by a peripheral edge. In a region of the peripheral edge, a sealing element enclosing the outer side of the damper tube may be accommodated in the reinforcing sleeve. The peripheral edge may have a plastically deformed reshaping section that engages around the sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP BILSTEIN GMBH, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Virgil Munteanu, Thilo Reimann
  • Patent number: 10670104
    Abstract: An exemplary shock absorber includes a damper tube, a damper piston, a piston shaft, and at least two different surface treatments. The damper tube includes an interior surface. The damper piston includes a piston surface that engages the interior surface. The piston shaft couples with the damper piston and includes a shaft surface that engages a fourth surface. The at least two different surface treatments are disposed on at least one of the interior surface and the shaft surface and create a corresponding plurality of coefficients of friction with at least one of the piston surface and the fourth surface respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Wittenschlaeger
  • Patent number: 10670105
    Abstract: A damper valve includes a controlled flow channel between inlet and outlet sides; a controlled valve in the controlled flow channel; a movable valve body acting on the controlled valve to change a closing force of the controlled valve; and a control chamber. The control chamber includes a control chamber inlet in fluid connection with the valve inlet side upstream of the controlled valve; a configuration providing a variable volume of the control chamber, a change in volume of the control chamber moving the movable valve body; and a first flexible wall allowing movement of the movable valve body. The first flexible wall provides an effective surface area against which the fluid pressure in the control chamber acts, the effective surface area decreasing upon movement of the movable valve body outward of the control chamber, the first flexible wall including a flex plate bearing against a curved surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: KONI B.V.
    Inventor: Paul De Kock
  • Patent number: 10670106
    Abstract: A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes: comparing a measured acceleration value associated with a movement of a vehicle component of a vehicle with a predetermined acceleration threshold value that corresponds to the vehicle component to determine if the vehicle is experiencing a free-fall, wherein the vehicle component is coupled with a frame of the vehicle via at least one vehicle suspension damper; monitoring a state of at least one valve within at least one vehicle suspension damper of the vehicle, wherein the state controls a damping force within the at least one vehicle suspension damper; and based on the comparing and the monitoring, regulating damping forces within the at least one vehicle suspension damper by actuating the at least one valve to adjust to a soft mode and to provide a cushioned landing for the vehicle, such that an acceleration of the frame is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Everet Owen Ericksen, George O'Neal, Matt McLellan
  • Patent number: 10670107
    Abstract: A hydraulic damper for a vehicle including a main tube. A first piston assembly is slideably disposed in the main tube and axially divides the main tube into a rebound chamber and a primary compression chamber. A hydraulic compression stop assembly is disposed in the primary compression chamber and includes a narrowed section extending between an open end and a closed end. A second piston assembly is slideably disposed in the narrowed section and is coupled with the first piston assembly. The second piston assembly has a piston tube that extends between an opened end and a shut end. A displaceable partition is slideably disposed in the piston tube. A first auxiliary compression chamber is defined between the partition and the closed end of the narrowed section. A second auxiliary compression chamber is defined between the partition and the shut end of the piston tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: BEIJINGWEST INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Piotr Andrzej Flacht
  • Patent number: 10670108
    Abstract: A hydraulically damping mount includes amount core and an outer tube. In an embodiment, the mount core is supported on the outer tube via a mount spring of an elastomeric material, and the mount spring divides the space formed between the mount core and the outer tube into at least two fluid-filled chambers that are in fluid communication with each other via at least one damping channel and at least one decoupling channel. In an embodiment, at least one torsion-resistant decoupling device is movable back and forth by fluid flows and is arranged in the at least one decoupling channel. In an embodiment, the decoupling device is formed so that during a fluid induced movement of the decoupling device its inflow sides always face the fluid flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: VIBRACOUSTIC GMBH
    Inventors: Philipp Werner, Hilrich Kardoes
  • Patent number: 10670109
    Abstract: The vertical vibration isolation system of the present invention includes a bearing base, a guide rail assembly and a plurality of buckling elements. The bearing base has an upper platform that can move along a vertical direction. The guide rail assembly surrounds the bearing base and has a plurality of arc-shaped sliding channels. The top portion of each buckling element can move with the upper platform, while the bottom portion of each buckling element is slidably connected to the corresponding arc-shaped sliding channel. The vertical displacement of the upper platform would cause different degrees of buckling of the buckling elements and also induces sliding motion of the bottom portion of the buckling elements along the arc-shaped sliding channels. Accordingly, the vertical vibration isolation system can provide nonlinear restoring force by buckling and sliding mechanisms so as to exhibit vertical vibration isolation effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: NATIONAL APPLIED RESEARCH LABORATORIES
    Inventors: Chia-ming Chang, Cho-Yen Yang, Shieh-Kung Huang, Chen-Hao Hsu
  • Patent number: 10670110
    Abstract: A coil spring assembly, including: a coil spring with a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end; a first end cap fixedly connected to the first longitudinal end with a first adhesive; and a second end cap fixedly connected to the second longitudinal end with a second adhesive. A method of fabricating a coil spring assembly, including: fixedly connecting, with a first adhesive, a first end cap to a first longitudinal end of a coil spring; and fixedly connecting, with a second adhesive, a second end cap to a second longitudinal end of the coil spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Brian Zaugg, Drew Hilty, Scott Strong, Shivakala Gargeyi Baipa
  • Patent number: 10670111
    Abstract: A cable grip for a flat cable is provided. The cable grip includes a wire and a tapered wedge lock secured to the wire to define a closed eye. The tapered wedge lock forms a two-sided compression connection on the flat cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert James Simon
  • Patent number: 10670112
    Abstract: An anchor for clamping a handling system deadline and controlled by an actuator, such as a hydraulic cylinder or a gearbox coupled to an electric motor. The anchor may generally operate using a pivoting clamping mechanism, wherein the deadline is held between a static clamp plate and a pivoting clamp plate. The pivoting clamp plate may pivot at a pivot point arranged between the two plates. A bolt may be arranged through an opening in each of the clamp plates. A first end of the bolt may extend beyond an outer surface of the pivoting clamp plate and couple to an end block. At a second end, the bolt may extend beyond an outer surface of the static clamp plate and couple to the actuator. As a linear force is applied to the bolt by the actuator, the bolt may pull the pivoting clamp plate toward the static clamp plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Reece William Kaybidge, Lucas Arnesen Nealon
  • Patent number: 10670113
    Abstract: A robot arm mechanism is capable of preventing a first piece string from colliding with a support column inner wall in the robot arm mechanism having a linear extension and retraction joint. The robot arm mechanism includes a plurality of first pieces that are connected in a string shape and a plurality of second pieces that are connected in a string shape, a feed mechanism section that supports the first and second strings movably forward and backward, a storage section in a square cylinder shape that stores the first pieces and the second pieces, and a guide that guides reciprocating movement of the first pieces between the feed mechanism section and the storage section from outside of the first pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: LIFE ROBOTICS INC.
    Inventors: Woo-Keun Yoon, Hiroaki Matsuda
  • Patent number: 10670114
    Abstract: An actuating drive for an air deflector device on a vehicle includes a controllable electric motor having an output shaft; a step-down mechanism having a first worm drive and a second worm drive, the first worm drive being coupled by a first worm to the output shaft of the electric motor, the first worm drive having a worm wheel configured to be brought into operative connection with a worm of the second worm drive, the second worm drive having a worm wheel configured to drive the adjustment shaft for the air deflector device; and a mechanical actuating force transmitter configured to transmit an actuating force to the air deflector device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignees: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, AUDI AG, SUSPA GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Herrmann, Joachim Paul, Sebastian Weber, Steffen Ullrich, Daniel Spielberg, Johannes Preis, Bernd Hollerbaum, Matthias Glass, Harald Bielesch, Johannes Lang, Marc Feihl
  • Patent number: 10670115
    Abstract: A powertrain for a vehicle may include a compound planetary gear set configured such that, of four rotation elements, a first rotation element is connected to an input shaft and a second rotation element is connected to an output element; a brake provided to connect a rotating body to a transmission housing to be locked thereto; a first clutch device provided to switch a connection state of the rotating body between a third rotation element and a fourth rotation element of the compound planetary gear set; and a second clutch device provided to switch a connection state of the second rotation element of the compound planetary gear set to the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Min Ho Chae, Yong Uk Shin, Soon Ki Eo, Sun Sung Kwon, Chon Ok Kim
  • Patent number: 10670116
    Abstract: Three variable gear assemblies called Transgears, an electro-mechanical rotary frequency converter, and a variable overlap generator (VOG), may be used independently and together to provide constant frequency and voltage output power from variable input water flow and wind speed. Two sets of three variable spur/helical gear assemblies of sun and planetary gear sets are combined in a mechanical three variable control to form an assembly called a Hummingbird. A Hummingbird control may comprise a constant speed control motor and a constant speed generator to produce required constant frequency and voltage. In order to provide a constant control input, a constant rotational speed can be produced by a control motor. Once a constant rotational speed is produced, a constant electric frequency and constant AC voltage can be produced by the variable output generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Inventor: Kyung Soo Han
  • Patent number: 10670117
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus configured for a vehicle, may include a motor/generator including a motor shaft a first input shaft selectively connectable to the motor shaft, a second input shaft externally disposed with the first input shaft and selectively connectable to the motor shaft, a third input shaft externally disposed with the second input shaft and selectively connectable to the motor shaft, a first torque mediating shaft formed as a hollow shaft and coaxially and externally disposed with the first input shaft without rotational interference therebetween, an intermediate shaft parallel with the first input shaft, a first shifting section receiving a torque and outputting the shifted torque, and a second shifting section including a first planetary gear set selectively receiving the torques from the first shifting section and the third input shaft, respectively, and outputting shifted torque through one gear set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Seong Wook Hwang, Seongwook Ji, Ki Tae Kim, Chon Ok Kim, Wonmin Cho, Hyun Sik Kwon, Ilhan Yoo, Juhyeon Park, Cheol Ho Jang, Dongwoo Kim, Hye Jin Lim, Ki Been Lim, Ki Dong Kim, Woo Jin Chang, Woochurl Son, Kijong Park
  • Patent number: 10670118
    Abstract: A tensioner with a simple structure is provided, which is capable of keeping oil pressure in a first high oil-pressure chamber stable and holding a chain favorably. The tensioner includes a plunger, a housing, a check valve, an inner sleeve, and a biasing member. In the housing, a second high oil-pressure chamber and a unit setting part are formed. In the unit setting part, a relief valve unit is set. A gap between an inner circumferential surface of a plunger hole and an outer circumferential surface of the inner sleeve functions as part of an oil flow passage that connects the first high oil-pressure chamber and the second high oil-pressure chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Yohei Nakata, Yuji Kurematsu, Toshitaka Ogo
  • Patent number: 10670119
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first ring having an open annular space and a variable-width groove disposed on an interior peripheral surface of the first ring; a second ring rotatable within the open annular space of the first ring, where the second ring has a respective variable-width groove disposed on an exterior peripheral surface of the second ring; and a plurality of rollers disposed between, and configured to roll on, the interior peripheral surface of the first ring and the exterior peripheral surface of the second ring and rotatable therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Alexander Steele Kernbaum, Curt Salisbury
  • Patent number: 10670120
    Abstract: An infinitely variable transmission capable of shifting from infinity to zero speed ratios in forward and reverse is provided. The transmission offers reciprocal blocking and supports high torque and power, while requiring a fixed number of planetary gears and a hydraulic flow control, without brakes and/or clutch by varying the angular displacement or rotational movement separating the contained vectors (speed and torque) to exploit, in a reciprocal manner, the working flow by maintaining the full potential of the movement force source without a continuity flow break-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Inventor: Camilo Ernesto Guzman
  • Patent number: 10670121
    Abstract: The retainer is provided so as to be prevented from being rotatable with respect to the rotary shaft, and rotation of the input-side rotary member is reduced in speed and transmitted to the output-side rotary member through intermediation of the balls which engage with both of the ball engagement grooves. A raceway center line of the second ball engagement groove is formed of a wave-shaped curve. When a speed reduction ratio of the speed reducer is represented by “i”, the wave-shaped curve has such a shape that the balls which engage with the first ball engagement groove engage with the second ball engagement groove at a given rotation angle (?) of the input-side rotary member in a state in which the output-side rotary member is at a rotation angle (i?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taisuke Igi, Hirokazu Ooba, Takashi Nozaki
  • Patent number: 10670122
    Abstract: An automatic transmission where the first engagement element is positioned between the continuously variable speed change mechanism and a portion of the second power transmission path on the wheel side, at which the second power transmission path is coupled to the first power transmission path, and is allowed to be switched to the disengaged state for inertial traveling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: AISIN AW CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Okoshi, Tomoya Hirao, Masashi Takizawa, Keita Shindo, Kazuya Inaba
  • Patent number: 10670123
    Abstract: A power transmission system for a vehicle and a vehicle including the same are provided. The power transmission system includes an engine unit configured to generate power, a transmission unit adapted to selectively be coupled with the engine unit, and configured to transmit the power generated by the engine unit, a first motor generator coupled with the transmission unit, an output unit configured to transmit the power output by the transmission unit to at least one of front and rear wheels of the vehicle, and a second motor generator configured to drive the at least one of the front and rear wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Dongsheng Yang, Yubo Lian, Jintao Zhang, Hongbin Luo
  • Patent number: 10670124
    Abstract: An infinitely variable transmission (IVT) provides a plurality of transmission modes. At least one mode is a serial mode and at least one other mode is a split-path mode. The serial mode may provide a powered zero and creeper ground speeds. The split-path mode(s) may provide higher field speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew K. Rekow, Rainer Gugel, David Mueller, Thomas G. Ore, Dennis L. Jeffries
  • Patent number: 10670125
    Abstract: An example includes a hydraulically controllable coupling to couple a rotating input and to an output to rotate, or to decouple the input and the output, with coupling and decoupling modes selected by switching a hydraulic device such as a vane pump between a pumping mode and a mode in which it does not pump. In an example, the system cooperates with a transmission to increase the number of possible gear ratios in some examples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Mathers Hydraulics Technolgies Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Norman Ian Mathers
  • Patent number: 10670126
    Abstract: A variable block shaft has a radially enlarged disc formed at a first end. A shaft portion extends from the disc to a second end. An inner bearing race surface is defined intermediate the first and second end and has an outer peripheral surface. An axial length of the inner bearing race surface is defined between inner facing surfaces of lands at each axial side. The axial distance is measured along the center axis of the body and an outer diameter to the inner bearing race surface being defined as a first distance. The axial length of the inner bearing race surface is defined as a second distance and a ratio of the first distance to the second distance being between 3.75 and 3.90. An integrated drive generator and a method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Derek R. Hochstetler, Ted A. Martin, Duane C. Johnson, Glenn C. Lemmers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10670127
    Abstract: A transaxle comprises a hydrostatic transmission (hereinafter, “HST”), an axle, a gear train transmitting power from the HST to the axle, a casing carrying the HST, the gear train and the axle and providing a fluid sump. The casing has an air space over the fluid sump of a gear chamber, a breather cap for ventilation of the air space and for an oil cap is installed on a top part of the casing, and a partition plate is installed right under the breather cap and prevents the fluid sup facing directly to the breather cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: KANZAKI KOKYUKOKI MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sugimoto, Nobuhiro Shimobayashi, Toshifumi Yasuda, Takehiro Oota, Daisuke Murashima
  • Patent number: 10670128
    Abstract: An AWD system can include a differential, a PTU, and a friction clutch. A differential input can receive torque from the powertrain and rotate about a first axis. First and second differential outputs can rotate about the first axis. A third output can be drivingly coupled to the differential input and rotatable about a second axis transverse to the first axis. The clutch can include first friction members, second friction members, and an actuator. The first friction members can be coupled to the differential input for common rotation. The second friction members can be coupled to the second differential output for common rotation. The actuator can selectively engage the first friction members with the second friction members. The secondary driveline can include a second input member coupled to the third output to receive rotary power therefrom. The second driveline can distribute rotary power for driving the second set of wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Valente
  • Patent number: 10670129
    Abstract: A clutched component having a locking mechanism that employs a plurality of radially movable locking elements to selectively rotationally couple first and second coupling parts to one another. A sleeve is employed to control radial movement of the locking elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Downs