Patents Issued in April 6, 2021
  • Patent number: 10968955
    Abstract: A bearing includes an annular cup having an outer race and a radially extending flap. The flap defines an inner circumferential surface and a notch extending outwardly from the inner circumferential surface. The notch includes opposing radially extending sides, an outer circumferential wall, and a locking lip raised from the outer wall. Rolling elements are seated on the outer race and arranged to ride on a shaft. A sealing disc has an outer circumferential surface disposed against the inner circumferential surface and a tab received in the notch with the locking lip extending radially over the tab to secure the scaling disc to the cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Cleiton Carvalho Guimaraes, Pedro Gabriel Camargo de C Montanari, Guilherme Camara
  • Patent number: 10968956
    Abstract: Provided is a diagnosis method of appropriately recognizing a state of a rolling surface of a track member of a rolling guide device or a lubrication state of rolling elements using a sensor mounted to the rolling guide device. The diagnosis method is applied to a rolling guide device including: a track member having a rolling surface extending along a longitudinal direction of the track member; and a moving member, which is assembled to the track member through intermediation of a plurality of rolling elements configured to roll on the rolling surface so that the moving member is movable along the track member, and has an endless circulation path for the rolling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kaoru Hoshide, Toshiro Tojo, Yoshiyuki Honjo, Ryuji Furusawa, Ayako Miyajima
  • Patent number: 10968957
    Abstract: A method of determining an amount of wear in a spherical working surface of a bearing ring of a spherical plain bearing, the method including providing a reference groove of predetermined depth in an unworn working surface, using the reference groove and axial end faces of the bearing ring as reference surfaces for centering and aligning a measuring tool. The tool having a first surface, and a protrusion that extends from the first surface in radial direction and is adapted to fit into the reference groove and two or more radial openings that extend from a second surface of the tool. Determining the amount of wear by measuring the radial distance to the spherical working surface through each of the radial openings and comparing the measured value with a reference value measured using the tool for an unworn working surface comprising a reference groove of the same predetermined depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventors: Arnaud Turmeau, Camille Dayot
  • Patent number: 10968958
    Abstract: A ball cage for universal use both in a cross-groove type plunging constant velocity joint and in a cross-groove type fixed constant velocity joint has an external contour with sections of different curvature. Axial edge sections of the external contour are designed as spherical sections located on the circumference of an imaginary sphere, whereas a center section of the external contour located axially between the edge sections runs radially inside the diameter of the imaginary sphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Oliver Clemm
  • Patent number: 10968959
    Abstract: A universal joint for vehicle drivetrains and the like that eliminates the spinning of bearing caps relative to yoke years and trunnions and inhibits inadvertent spreading of opposing ears of a yoke away from each other under increasing torsional loads to reduce wear and failure of the joint. Broadly, the disclosed universal joint includes a central body having a plurality of pairs of opposite apertures, first and second yokes that are disposed about the central body over respective ones of the pairs of apertures, and a plurality of trunnions inserted through the yoke ears and into the apertures of the body to pivotally secure the yokes to the body. Each trunnion is non-rotatable relative to its respective yoke and a locking assembly inhibits movement of each opposite pair of trunnions away from each other thereby inhibiting movement of the opposite ears of each respective yoke away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Spidertrax Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas John Kingston
  • Patent number: 10968960
    Abstract: Provided is a transmission which eliminates torque loss during gear shift and with which the processing of components can be simplified. An axial force is generated in a protrusion by means of a first portion during gear shift from a low gear to a high gear, and when a low-speed transmission gear and a clutch ring separate from each other, a high speed transmission gear and the clutch ring interlock. Since relative movement of the protrusion in a neutral direction is suppressed by means of a first retaining portion during coasting, gear disengagement whereby the transmission gears and the clutch ring separate from each other can be suppressed. Since the first retaining portion can be formed in a first wall when providing a groove portion, an increase in the component processing workload can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVANCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Asada, Kensuke Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10968961
    Abstract: A friction clutch for coupling a drive shaft of a motor vehicle engine to a transmission input shaft of a motor vehicle transmission includes a lamina, an axially movable contact plate, and a plurality of friction disks. The lamina has a first friction surface facing in a first axial direction, and a second friction surface facing in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction. The contact plate has a plurality of holders arranged to hold the lamina. Each of the holders forms a positive connection with the lamina in the circumferential direction, and each of the first friction surface and the second friction surface is frictionally connectible to a friction disk to transmit torque. A first friction disk is arranged to be positioned between a counter plate and the lamina, and a second friction disk is positioned between the lamina and the contact plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Vladimir Merk, Christophe Acker, Sebastien Morel, Alexander Obitz, Marc Helfer
  • Patent number: 10968962
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle drive-force transmitting apparatus including a dog clutch that is operated by an actuator to selectively connect and disconnect a drive-force transmitting path. In process of switching of the dog clutch from released state to engaged state, the control apparatus determines whether a rotational speed difference of the dog clutch is equal to or larger than a given difference value when a sleeve of the dog clutch is positioned on an engaging side of a synchronizing position for placing the dog clutch into the engaged state, and stops the switching of the dog clutch to the engaged state and causes the actuator to place the dog clutch back into the released state, when determining that the rotational speed difference is equal to or larger than the given difference value with the sleeve being positioned on the engaging side of the synchronizing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Kamijo, Makoto Sawada, Kenji Matsuo, Kyohei Suzumura, Yoshisuke Kametani, Michio Yoshida, Hiroki Takeda, Takashi Seo
  • Patent number: 10968963
    Abstract: Provided is an electromagnetic clutch capable of shortening, even in a low temperature atmosphere, the fuse reaction time from when a rotating shaft is locked, while preventing or suppressing malfunction of the thermal fuse. An electromagnetic clutch 1 is equipped with a rotor 2, an armature 3, an electromagnetic coil unit 4, a thermal fuse 5, and a thermally actuated switch 6. The thermally actuated switch 6 is connected in series to an electromagnetic coil 41 of the electromagnetic coil unit 4 along with the thermal fuse 5. When a temperature of the thermally actuated switch 6 exceeds a switching temperature (predetermined temperature) Ts, the thermally actuated switch 6 is displaced in an electric power supply OFF direction, and thereafter, it is displaced in an electric power supply ON direction due to a reduction in temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Sanden Automotive Components Corporation
    Inventor: Yuki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 10968964
    Abstract: A coupling and control assembly includes an internal latching mechanism to hold a support member and a coupling member together in position so that the support member and the second coupling member rotate together without using any energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Means Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Joshua D. Hand
  • Patent number: 10968965
    Abstract: A method for determining an actuator path of a hydraulic clutch actuator, includes measuring a first temperature of the hydraulic clutch actuator with a first temperature sensor, measuring a second temperature of the hydraulic clutch actuator with a second temperature sensor, calculating a first temperature difference between the first temperature and the second temperature, using the first temperature or the second temperature as a clutch actuator temperature to determine a compensation value of the actuator path when the first temperature difference is less than a threshold value, and modifying the actuator path using the compensation value. In an example embodiment, the first temperature sensor measures a one of a circuit board temperature, an angle sensor temperature or a pressure sensor temperature, and the second temperature sensor measures another one of the circuit board temperature, the angle sensor temperature or the pressure sensor temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Erhard Hodrus
  • Patent number: 10968966
    Abstract: Implementations relate to a brake mechanism for a spherical wheel. In some implementations, a wheel mechanism includes a spherical wheel and a base coupled to the spherical wheel via a rotary bearing contacting a surface of the spherical wheel, where the rotary bearing is configured to allow the spherical wheel to rotate. The wheel mechanism includes a brake ring coupled to the base and configured to selectively engage and disengage the surface of the spherical wheel, where the brake ring provides friction opposing rotation of the spherical wheel when engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Carbone, Stefan Geiger
  • Patent number: 10968967
    Abstract: A retraction spring assembly having: a) pad clip having a lock channel and one or more assembly locks; b) a retraction spring affixed to the pad clip with two or more lock arms residing within the lock channel and a plurality of energy storage portions; and first and second retraction arms; wherein the one or more assembly locks are configured to receive the two or more lock arms and bias the retraction spring into an assembly position; during the brake apply, movement of the first and second retraction arm is toward each other and results in energy being stored in the body portion; and during the brake release, the energy stored in the body portion is released and transferred to both the first and second retraction arm to result in movement of the first retraction arm and the second retraction arm away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: AKEBONO BRAKE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Brad Robert Lethorn
  • Patent number: 10968968
    Abstract: A disc brake assembly includes a brake clip having a U-shaped section and at least one extension portion. The U-shaped section has a base leg and opposing upper and lower legs extending from the base leg. The at least one extension portion has an application portion, a transition portion with first and second legs, and a bend connecting the first and second legs. The transition portion extends in a first direction from a side of the U-shaped section. The first and second legs extend in a direction other than the first direction. The bend redirects the application portion from a second direction to a third direction. The second direction is angled from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: ZF Active Safety US Inc., ZF Active Safety GmbH
    Inventors: Kraig Gerber, Manuel Barbosa, Harry Miller, Jon Wemple, Daniel Schwarz, Marco Becker, Florian Rossinger, Antonio Eduardo De Morais, Chad Brizendine
  • Patent number: 10968969
    Abstract: A brake system is disclosed, including a rotor rigidly connected to a shaft configured to rotate about a central axis. The rotor has a first side opposite from a second side, and the brake system includes a first stator structure on the first side of the rotor and a second stator structure on the second side of the rotor. The brake system further includes a first wobble plate between the first side of the rotor and the first stator structure and a second wobble plate between the second side of the rotor and the second stator structure. Each of the first and second wobble plates is configured to nutate when the first and second stator structures decrease rotation rate compared to the rotation rate of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Atmur, Thorin Arthur Rogers
  • Patent number: 10968970
    Abstract: A brake disk formed of a light weight ceramic and ceramic composite materials, the brake disk having a coating overlying at least a portion of the brake disk. The brake disk includes parallel surfaces wherein at least a portion of the parallel surfaces are coated with a coating material to increase wear and decrease corrosion. The coating over the brake disk includes multiple layers of the coating material, wherein the coating material includes coating material particles configured to construct a pattern of repetition that is consistent with a lattice structure when applied over the parallel surfaces of the brake disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Tech M3, Inc.
    Inventor: Nathan K. Meckel
  • Patent number: 10968971
    Abstract: A piston assembly for a multi-disk system may comprise an adjustor sleeve and a piston configured to telescope relative to the adjustor sleeve. A puck may be located at an end of the piston. The piston assembly may include a multi-layer insulator. The multi-layer insulator may comprise a first insulator layer contacting the puck or the piston, and a second insulator layer contacting the first insulator layer. The first and second insulator layers may each comprise a solid disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Nathaniel J. Herrmann, John A. Stevenson, Scott Whittle
  • Patent number: 10968972
    Abstract: A system for monitoring engagement and wear in a brake include: a pin, a first marker positioned on the pin at a first location; a second marker spaced from the first marker long the pin; and a first fixed sensing arrangement. The pin extends in an axial direction parallel to the axis of rotation, and is in contact with and moves with the moveable brake pad in use. The first fixed sensing arrangement is adapted to provide a first signal when adjacent the first or second marker, and a second signal otherwise. The first and second markers and the first fixed sensing arrangement are positioned such that the second signal indicates that the brake is in the engaged position, and a change from the second signal to the first signal indicates that the moveable brake pad and the second brake pad have been worn down by a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: RATIER-FIGEAC SAS
    Inventor: Bertrand Prouzet
  • Patent number: 10968973
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a clutch arrangement (500) of a vehicle transmission arrangement (100), the clutch arrangement (500) being positioned within a clutch bell housing (206) of the vehicle transmission and comprising a pneumatically controlled actuator arrangement (208) connectable to a first clutch unit (202) of the vehicle transmission arrangement (100) and arranged to controllably position the first clutch unit (202) between a closed position and an opened position, a pneumatically controlled brake actuator arrangement (210) connectable to a second clutch unit (204) of the transmission arrangement and arranged to controllably position the second clutch unit (204) between a closed position and an opened position, and a valve unit (302) connected to the pneumatically controlled actuator arrangement (208) and the pneumatically controlled brake actuator arrangement (210), wherein the valve unit (302) comprises a clutch valve (308) arranged in fluid communication with the pneumatically controlled ac
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lars Zetterstrand, Fredrik Sjöqvist
  • Patent number: 10968974
    Abstract: A damper includes: a line-shaped member wound around an outer peripheral surface of a piston which makes a relative motion in a cylinder; and a viscous fluid made to adhere to the line-shaped member and exhibiting viscous damping force. The relative motion of the cylinder and the piston produces tension, and in the line-shaped member, as an amplitude is smaller, its contiguously wound portions each try to deform to twist along a circumferential direction of the line-shaped member itself, and as the amplitude is larger, the contiguously wound portions try to deform as a unit. When the amplitude is small, frictional resistance decreases, resulting in smooth motion of the piston, and appropriate damping force is obtained due to the viscous damping force of the viscous fluid. When the amplitude is large, as a result of the increased tendency that the contiguously wound portions of the line-shaped member try to deform as a unit, friction damping force acts relatively greatly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: DELTA TOOLING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Etsunori Fujita, Yumi Ogura, Ryuji Kuwano, Jiro Kondo, Jun Fukuda
  • Patent number: 10968975
    Abstract: This hydraulic damping device comprises a cylinder for containing oil; a reservoir chamber R which is provided in the outer part of the cylinder and in which liquid accumulates; a piston provided so as to be axially movable within the cylinder and dividing the space within the cylinder into a first oil chamber and a second oil chamber, which contain oil; a baffle member provided as a separate element from the cylinder, the baffle member having a body which is provided in the reservoir chamber R, and also having a protrusion which protrudes from the body, the baffle member preventing the waving of the surface of oil in the reservoir chamber R; and a limiting section (first section to be held) provided to the baffle member and limiting the movement of the baffle member on both one side and the other side in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Muraguchi, Satomi Hojo, Gota Nakano
  • Patent number: 10968976
    Abstract: A detachable server comprising an upper cover, sidewall plates, a base and vibration-absorbing assemblies; the base comprises a bottom plate, transverse plates a, vertical plates a and vertical plates b; two vertical plates a are symmetrically and vertically arranged on the edges of the two ends of the top of the bottom plate; the edge of the top of the inner side surface of the vertical plate a is vertically connected with the transverse plate a, and the edge of the other end of the bottom of the transverse plate a is vertically connected with the vertical plate b; a plurality of threaded holes c are equidistantly formed in the outer side surface of the vertical plate a; two sidewall plates are symmetrically arranged at the two ends of the top of the base; the sidewall plate comprises a transverse plate b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventor: Chongyi Liao
  • Patent number: 10968977
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper whose vibration damping performance will not be reduced in a high speed range. In the torsional vibration damper, a planetary gear is oscillated within a first oscillating range when a torsional torque is smaller than a reference torque, and within a second oscillating range when the torsional torque is greater than the reference torque. Each backlash between the pinion gear and at least one of a sun gear and a ring gear within the second oscillating range is individually wider than each backlash between the pinion gear and the sun gear and each backlash between the pinion gear and the ring gear within the first oscillating range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO., LTD., AISIN AW INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Ishibashi, Hideyuki Nishida, Isamu Hachisuwa, Yoichi Oi, Takuya Yoshikawa, Ryosuke Otsuka, Katsunori Tanaka, Tomoyuki Hiramoto
  • Patent number: 10968978
    Abstract: The present damper device includes a large hysteresis mechanism, generating a large hysteresis torque, and a hysteresis inhibiting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Uehara
  • Patent number: 10968979
    Abstract: A power transmission belt includes: a belt body and a cover fabric made of a fabric containing synthetic fibers as a main component and covering a surface of the belt body toward a pulley contact surface. The cover fabric has a surface toward the belt body, and the surface is in contact with a rubber composition containing cellulose-based short fibers. The rubber composition includes a rubber component in which the cellulose-based short fibers are dispersed. The cover fabric and the rubber composition containing the cellulose-based short fibers are exposed on a pulley contact surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: BANDO CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yuya Shindo
  • Patent number: 10968980
    Abstract: A linear extension and retraction mechanism that is mounted in a robot arm mechanism includes: a plurality of first pieces having a flat plate shape which are bendably connected to each other at front and rear end faces; a plurality of second pieces having a groove shape which are bendably connected to each other at front and rear end faces of a bottom part, with the first and second pieces becoming linearly rigid when superposed, and the first and second pieces returning to a bent state when separated from each other; a head section which joins a leading first piece of the plurality of first pieces and a leading second piece of the plurality of second pieces; and a sending-out mechanism section including a plurality of rollers and for firmly superposing the first and second pieces and supporting the first and second pieces movably to front and rear. At least one groove section that extends from front to rear is formed in the surfaces of the first and second pieces that contact the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: LIFE ROBOTICS INC.
    Inventors: Woo-Keun Yoon, Daisuke Kanda, Hiroaki Matsuda
  • Patent number: 10968981
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to surgical systems including hand-held electromechanical surgical devices and adapter assemblies for connecting surgical loading units to the hand-held electromechanical surgical devices. The presently described electromechanical surgical devices include single motor drives that selectively drive various output assemblies coordinated by selector motors to operate the surgical loading units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
    Inventor: David Nicholas
  • Patent number: 10968982
    Abstract: The transmission (1) comprises a housing (2), a first motor (41), a second motor (42), a first and a second input shaft (51, 52), respectively able to be driven in rotation, one (51) by the first motor (41), the other (52) by the second motor (42), two clutch mechanisms (71, 72) and two reduction gears (91, 92), wherein the output shaft (31, 32) is formed by two output shaft sections (31, 32) interconnected such that they rotate freely, the clutch mechanisms (71, 72) are each equipped with a clutch control member operable by a user for allowing the transmission, in the engaged state of the first clutch mechanism (71), of the rotational movement of the first input shaft (51) to the first output shaft section (31), and the transmission, in the engaged state of the second clutch mechanism (72), of the rotational movement of the second input shaft (52) to the second output shaft section (32), and the reduction gears (91, 92) are at least partially received inside the housing (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: FRANCE REDUCTEURS
    Inventor: Wouter Barendrecht
  • Patent number: 10968983
    Abstract: Provided is a power transmission device that can increase a torque that a second motor outputs to an output shaft. The power transmission device includes: a first input shaft and a second input shaft coupled to a first motor and a second motor, respectively, and disposed on the same axis; a first speed reduction mechanism transmitting a rotation of the first input shaft to an output shaft via an intermediate shaft; a second speed reduction mechanism transmitting a rotation of the second input shaft to the output shaft via the intermediate shaft at a speed reduction ratio different from the speed reduction ratio of the first speed reduction mechanism; and a first clutch disconnecting or connecting the power of the first speed reduction mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVANCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Hara, Kotaro Hirano
  • Patent number: 10968984
    Abstract: A transmission arrangement (1) for a vehicle, such as an agricultural working machine, that can be shifted under full load, including a plurality of torque-transmitting branches formed, on the drive input side, by alternatively shiftable gear stages of a splitter transmission (2) and, on the drive output side, by alternatively shiftable gear stages of a synchromesh transmission (3), so that each torque-transmitting branch is defined by engaging a gear of the splitter transmission (2) and by engaging a gear of the synchromesh transmission (3). The synchromesh transmission (3) has two input shafts (9, 10), each respectively in driving association with a powershiftable element (4, 5). The splitter transmission (2) is designed as a powershiftable splitter transmission (2) and the powershiftable elements (4, 5) are arranged in the force flow direction, after the splitter transmission (2) but before the synchromesh transmission (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Thomas Pauli, Stefan Igl, Thomas Oberbuchner
  • Patent number: 10968985
    Abstract: A combination starter-generator device for a work vehicle includes an electric machine and a bi-directional gear set. The gear set is configured to receive rotational input from the electric machine and from the engine and to couple the electric machine and the engine in a first power flow direction and a second power flow direction. In the first power flow direction the gear set effects a first gear ratio, and in the second power flow direction the gear set effects a second gear ratio. In the first power flow direction, the gear set receives input power from the electric machine in a first clock direction and outputs power to the engine in a second clock direction opposite the first clock direction. In the second power flow direction, input power from the engine is in the second clock direction and output power to the electric machine is in the second clock direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven R. Fliearman, Douglas S. Base, Lisa R. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 10968986
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a disc fixed to a housing. The electric vehicle also includes a first shaft connected to a motor and rotatable by the motor, and a second shaft connected to a wheel and spaced apart from the first shaft. Further, the electric vehicle includes a hub press-fitted to an outer circumference of the second shaft, and a sleeve spline-coupled with an outer circumference of the hub. The sleeve is slidable between the first shaft and the disc. The electric vehicle operates in any one of a driving mode, a neutral mode, and a parking mode according to a position of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Changwoo Sung, Yoonuk Kim, Junggu Lee
  • Patent number: 10968987
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to an auto tensioner (1) to be provided in an auxiliary-driving belt system, including a friction member (6) that is sandwiched between an arm (3) and an inner circumferential surface of an outer cylindrical portion (21) of a base (2) in the radial direction of the outer cylindrical portion (21) and that has an arc-shaped surface (60) locked to the arm (2) and slidable with respect to the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical portion (21), in which the friction member (6) is provided so that the arc-shaped surface (60) remains at a height equal to or higher than a horizontal plane (HP) passing through a central axis (R) when sliding with respect to the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical portion (21) as the arm (3) oscillates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsuboshi Belting Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Oishi
  • Patent number: 10968988
    Abstract: A tensioner comprising a base having a cylindrical portion extending axially, the cylindrical portion comprising a radially outer surface and a receiving portion that is radially inward of the radially outer surface, an eccentric arm pivotally engaged with the radially outer surface, a torsion spring disposed within the radially inward receiving portion, the torsion spring applying a biasing force to the eccentric arm, and a pulley journalled to the eccentric arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Gates Corporation
    Inventor: Andrzej Dec
  • Patent number: 10968989
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a chain guide, which allows easy assembling of a guide shoe to a base member, and reliably prevents detachment of the guide shoe from the base member resulting from vibration or the like during the running of a chain. Provided is a chain guide wherein a base member includes an attachment extension extending upward from a base body part beyond a support surface, and a base-side engaged part formed in the attachment extension, a guide shoe includes a flexible extension extending from a shoe body part, and a shoe-side engaging part formed in the flexible extension, and the shoe-side engaging part is hooked to the base-side engaged part from below, or diagonally from below, or from front or back, to be positioned on the far side of the base-side engaged part during engagement therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: TSUBAKIMOTO CHAIN CO.
    Inventors: Masahiko Konno, Munehiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 10968990
    Abstract: A drive arrangement for a motor vehicle functional part includes: a housing, in which a drive motor, a gear mechanism and an adjustor are provided at least partially; a drive shaft configured to transfer the adjustor via the gear mechanism from a closed position into an open position and vice versa; and a wrap spring arrangement comprising two wrap spring members, which act in opposite directions. The wrap spring arrangement is arranged on a gear mechanism output side, in a region of the adjustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joachim Paul, Thomas Huebener, Ulrich Karl Hohl, Wolfgang Maier
  • Patent number: 10968991
    Abstract: A cam follower is provided. The cam follower includes a polycrystalline diamond element, including an engagement surface. The engagement surface of the polycrystalline diamond element is positioned on the cam follower for sliding engagement with an opposing engagement surface of a cam. The cam includes at least some of a diamond reactive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: XR Downhole, LLC
    Inventors: David P. Miess, Gregory Prevost, Michael Williams
  • Patent number: 10968992
    Abstract: A ball screw drive, comprising a screw that includes at least one outer ball groove, and a threaded nut that includes at least one inner ball groove, wherein the inner and outer ball grooves combine to form a ball channel in which one or more balls are accommodated, wherein at least one pocket is formed in the threaded nut, in which a deflection element is accommodated for deflecting the balls rolling in the ball groove, wherein the deflection element includes a deflection body, on which an intake and discharge section are formed and open into the ball groove to enable the one or more balls to enter and exit the groove, and wherein the intake and discharge section includes a snaking bath that enables the ball to be moved from one ball groove section into an adjacent ball path section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Mario Kreutzer, Gerd Sanewski
  • Patent number: 10968993
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an actuator has a roller, a helical track, and at least one track follower. The roller has a cylindrical body that has a first end, a second end that is offset from the first end along a central axis, and a cylindrical outer surface that extends from the first end to the second end. The helical track is disposed around the cylindrical outer surface in a helical pattern. The at least one track follower can be attached to a load, and rides along the helical track when the roller is rotated about the central axis so as to translate the load along an axial direction that is substantially parallel to the central axis. In some embodiments, the roller has an internal motor that is disposed within the cylindrical body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: William Scott Kalm
  • Patent number: 10968994
    Abstract: A drive-train for a vehicle having at least one electric drive unit (EM) which is, or can be, coupled by way of a driveshaft (AW) to at least a first transmission stage (i1), a second transmission stage (i2) and a third transmission stage (i3). At least one shifting device having at least two interlocking shifting elements (S1, S2) is provided for engaging the first and second transmission stages (i1, i2), and a frictional shifting element (S3) is provided for traction a force support of the first and the second transmission stages. The frictional shifting element (S3) is also provided for engaging the third transmission stage (i3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Christian Mittelberger, Stefan Blattner
  • Patent number: 10968995
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus may include a first input shaft fixedly connected to an engine output shaft, a second input shaft and selectively connectable to the first input shaft, a third input selectively connectable to the first input shaft, an intermediate shaft and first and second output shafts, an idle shaft mounted, a planetary gear set, the second rotation element and one of the first and third rotation elements selectively connectable to the intermediate shaft, the first and third rotation elements connected to the third and second input shafts, a plurality of gear sets, a first synchronizer selectively receiving a torque from the second input shaft and transmitting the received first torque to the first output shaft, a second synchronizer selectively receiving a torque from the third input shaft and transmitting the received second torque to the second output shaft, and four clutches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Chon Ok Kim, Seong Wook Hwang, Minho Chae, Sun Sung Kwon, Yong Uk Shin
  • Patent number: 10968996
    Abstract: A torque converter includes a front cover to which a power is inputted, an impeller coupled to the front cover, a turbine from which the power is outputted, a stator and a centrifugal clutch. The impeller forms a hydraulic oil chamber together with the front cover. The impeller includes an impeller core. The turbine is opposed to the impeller. The turbine includes a turbine core. The stator is disposed between an inner peripheral part of the impeller and an inner peripheral part of the turbine. The stator is configured to regulate a hydraulic oil flowing from the turbine to the impeller. The centrifugal clutch is disposed in a space between the impeller core and the turbine core. The centrifugal clutch is configured to directly transmit the power from the impeller to the turbine when a rotational speed of the turbine is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: EXEDY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 10968997
    Abstract: An anti-backlash structure for a scissors gear is provided including a scissors gear and a cam gear which are coaxially connected to rotate relative to each other, an end piece which has one side which is press-fitted into a cam shaft so that the end piece rotates together with the cam shaft, the other side which is in surface-to-surface contact with the scissors gear, and a circumferential surface with which the cam gear is press-fitted; a bolt which is coupled to an inner diameter portion of the scissors gear, penetrates the end piece, and is inserted into the cam shaft; and a scissors spring which has one side coupled to the end piece, and the other side coupled to the bolt. When the end piece rotates, the scissors spring rotates the scissors gear relative to the cam gear through the bolt and allows the scissors gear to come into close contact with the cam gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jae-Hee Jeon
  • Patent number: 10968998
    Abstract: A bicycle rear sprocket adapter comprises a plurality of external spline teeth and a plurality of internal spline teeth. The plurality of external spline teeth is configured to engage with a bicycle rear sprocket assembly. The plurality of internal spline teeth is configured to engage with a bicycle hub assembly. At least two internal spline teeth of the plurality of internal spline teeth are circumferentially arranged at a first internal pitch angle with respect to a rotational center axis of the bicycle hub assembly. The first internal pitch angle ranges from 10 degrees to 20 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujita, Kazuki Koshiyama, Toshinari Oishi
  • Patent number: 10968999
    Abstract: A differential device for a 4-wheel-drive vehicle wherein a portion of a drive power source drive force transmitted to left and right main drive wheels is transmitted to left and right auxiliary drive wheels through a propeller shaft which is disconnectable from a power transmitting path between the main drive wheels and drive power source, the differential device distributes the drive force from the propeller shaft to the auxiliary drive wheels, and selectively connects and disconnects the propeller and an output shaft to and from each other, the output shaft. The differential device includes a side oil seal between the output shaft and a casing, a side bearing adjacent to the seal in an output shaft axial direction such that the output shaft is rotatably supported by the casing via the bearing, and an oil slinger axially adjacent to the bearing so the slinger is rotated with the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tamura
  • Patent number: 10969000
    Abstract: According to an aspect, a method of providing internal shaft lubrication includes drip feeding a lubricant to a feed tube within a central bore of a shaft body. The lubricant is urged along a lubrication flow path including at least one rifling groove on an inner wall of the shaft body formed by the central bore and a plurality of lubrication holes axially distributed along the shaft body that fluidically connects the inner wall with an outer wall of the shaft body. The lubricant is sprayed out of the lubrication holes responsive to rotation of the shaft body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew Allen Slayter, Richard A. Himmelmann
  • Patent number: 10969001
    Abstract: A method of optimizing a planetary gear system for continued operation after failure of a planet gear includes providing a planetary gear system and reducing a backup ratio of a planet gear of the planetary gear system by reducing a rim thickness of the planet gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventors: Ryan Thomas Ehinger, Ron Woods
  • Patent number: 10969002
    Abstract: An assembly includes a first planetary stage, a second planetary stage, and at least one retainer plate. The first planetary stage has a planet carrier and the second planetary stage has a ring gear. The planet carrier and the ring gear are configured to be rotated about a common axis of rotation. The retainer plate is attached to the ring gear and engages in a groove in the planet carrier. The groove and the axis of rotation are at least partially skewed to each other. The retainer plate is arranged at least partially on a first side of a first plane and on a first side of a second plane. The first plane and the second plane intersect along the axis of rotation. All planet bolts fixed in the planet carrier each lie on a second side of the first plane and/or the second plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, ZF Wind Power Antwerpen N.V.
    Inventors: Ralf Sperlich, Joerg Muench, Dirk Strasser
  • Patent number: 10969003
    Abstract: An operation lever is rotatable in a vertical rotation direction about a vertical rotation shaft and rotatable in a front-rear rotation direction about a front-rear rotation shaft non-parallel to the vertical rotation shaft. An urging portion urges the operation lever to move to a predetermined initial position. A neutral cam portion rotates following a rotation of the operation lever in the vertical rotation direction; a forward/backward cam portion rotates following a rotation of the operation lever in the front-rear rotation direction; a neutral switch portion is pressed by the neutral cam portion and detects the pressing in a state where the neutral cam portion is rotated to a neutral pressing position; and a forward/backward switch portion is pressed by the forward/backward cam portion and detects the pressing in a state where the forward/backward cam portion is rotated to a forward pressing position or a backward pressing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi Nakai, Takashi Kosaki
  • Patent number: 10969004
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a main body, a transmission having a plurality of gear stages, a data storage, and an electronic controller. The data storage stores vehicle running condition data that includes at least one of a prescribed vehicle running condition, a sensed vehicle running condition, or a transmitted vehicle running condition. The electronic controller determines a gear shift of the gear stages of the transmission based on a future vehicle speed that has been estimated based on the vehicle running condition data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: SRI INTERNATIONAL, YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiji Nishimura, Thomas Low