Transversely Moving Patents (Class 192/37)
  • Patent number: 10138954
    Abstract: A rotation transmission device includes an inner ring provided on an input shaft, an outer ring provided on an output shaft, rollers mounted between the inner periphery of the outer ring and the outer periphery of the inner ring, an electromagnet as a driving source for moving a roller retainer mounted at the end portion of the housing on the side of the input shaft, a first bearing mounted between the electromagnet and the input shaft, a second bearing mounted between the end portion of the housing on a side of the output shaft and the output shaft, and a third bearing mounted between the inner ring and the outer ring. The rotation transmission device further includes a fourth bearing configured to prevent inclination of the axes of the input shaft and the output shaft relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naotsugu Kitayama, Kyohei Sasanuma, Shintaro Ishikawa, Takahide Saito
  • Patent number: 10066680
    Abstract: A rotational coupling includes input and output hubs disposed about a rotational axis and an attachment ring disposed about the axis on one side of the input hub opposite the output hub. A flexible, multi-coil body such as a cable is disposed radially outwardly of the input and output hubs and couples the hubs together for rotation upon rotation of the input hub in one rotational direction. The body has ends coupled to the output hub and attachment ring. A torque limiter includes a torque transmission plate configured to rotate with the input hub and an armature plate fixed against rotation. The torque transmission plate and armature plate are configured to move axially together along the axis of rotation. An electromagnet disposed on one side of the torque limiter opposite the input hub attracts the plates in a second axial direction away from the attachment ring when energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Inertia Dynamics LLC
    Inventor: Patricia M. Mellor
  • Publication number: 20110220448
    Abstract: A clutch vehicle includes a driving wheel driven by output of an engine of a motor vehicle. An actuator plate is jointly rotatable with the driving wheel and includes a side plate having a peg. Shoes mounted on the side plate pivot outward when the side plate rotates, allowing joint rotation of the actuator plate and a clutch hub surrounding the actuator plate. A block is movably mounted to the disc. An elastic element is mounted between the block and the clutch hub. The block is located in a first position not located in a circumferential path of the peg under action of the elastic element when the clutch hub does not rotate. The block is moved to a second position in the circumferential path of the peg by centrifugal force of the clutch hub when the clutch hub exceeds a preset speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventor: Cheng Ming Chien City
  • Patent number: 7726454
    Abstract: A free coaster bicycle wheel driving apparatus is provided with a clutch that employs radially acting, rather than axially acting components. An annular drive sleeve projecting inwardly from a drive sprocket is disposed within multiple transmission power transmission sleeves, which are disposed within a cylindrical wheel hub shell. The drive sleeve defines multiple cam lobes and the power transmission sleeves define multiple cam lobes and multiple pockets. When the drive sleeve cam lobes are disposed in the power transmission sleeve pockets, the driving apparatus is disengaged and allowed to free coast. Upon forward rotation of the driving apparatus, the drive sleeve cam lobes rotate toward and engage the power transmission sleeve cam lobes, thereby forcing the power transmission sleeve radially outward towards the wheel hub shell, thereby allowing the sprocket to engage the wheel hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Bear Corporation
    Inventor: George French
  • Patent number: 7559416
    Abstract: A free coaster bicycle wheel driving apparatus having a clutch that employs radially acting components. A drive sleeve has an inner cylindrical wall surface mounted coaxially about a wheel mounting shaft and an outer cylindrical wall surface that is eccentric relative to the drive sleeve inner wall surface. The outer surface of the drive sleeve cooperates with a power transmission sleeve that has an inner cylindrical wall surface that is eccentric relative to its cylindrical outer wall surface. The power transmission sleeve is interposed between the drive sleeve and a wheel hub. When the eccentric lobe on the drive sleeve is in opposition to the eccentric lobe on the surrounding power transmission sleeve, the sprocket is disengaged from the wheel hub. Forward rotation of the sprocket jams the lobe of the drive sleeve against the power transmission sleeve, forcing its cam lobe outwardly into frictional engagement with the wheel hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Bear Corporation
    Inventor: George French
  • Patent number: 7445105
    Abstract: A free coaster bicycle wheel driving apparatus having a clutch that employs radially acting components. A drive sleeve has an inner cylindrical wall surface mounted coaxially about a wheel mounting shaft and an outer cylindrical wall surface that is eccentric relative to the drive sleeve inner wall surface. The outer surface of the drive sleeve cooperates with a power transmission sleeve that has an inner cylindrical wall surface that is eccentric relative to its cylindrical outer wall surface. The power transmission sleeve is interposed between the drive sleeve and a wheel hub. When the eccentric lobe on the drive sleeve is in opposition to the eccentric lobe on the surrounding power transmission sleeve, the sprocket is disengaged from the wheel hub. Forward rotation of the sprocket jams the lobe of the drive sleeve against the power transmission sleeve, forcing its cam lobe outwardly into frictional engagement with the wheel hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Bear Corporation
    Inventor: George French
  • Patent number: 6695112
    Abstract: A magnetic brake actuated spring clutch has an input shaft that is rotatably mounted in a housing, a coaxial output shaft that is rotatably mounted in the housing for rotation relative to the input shaft, and a coil spring surrounding a portion of the output shaft. The coil spring has one end attached to the input shaft and an opposite end attached to a rotor of a magnetic brake. The rotor is journalled on the output shaft, and the magnetic brake further includes a stator that is secured in the housing. The stator includes a permanent magnet and the rotor includes a copperplate that is juxtaposed the permanent magnet. The coil spring has a first part that is wound in one direction and a coaxial second part that is wound in an opposite direction so that the input shaft drives the output shaft in either direction when the spring clutch is engaged by input shaft via the magnetic brake. Alternatively, the stator may include a pair of spaced opposed magnets that are juxtaposed either side of the copper plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Webber
  • Patent number: 6662921
    Abstract: To provide a wheel steering apparatus capable of exhibiting a stabilized vehicle steerability without transmitting an external disturbance torque to a motor rotor even when the wheel receives an axially acting external force, this wheel steering apparatus includes a reciprocatingly movable rod 3 drivingly connected with a support member 2 for steerably supporting a wheel 1, and a ball screw mechanism 5 for reciprocatingly moving the rod 3 in response to rotation of a drive motor 4. In a rotational transmission system for transmitting rotation of the drive motor 4 to a nut member 5b of the ball screw mechanism 5, a clutch assembly 6 defining a reverse input limiting means is provided for preventing a rotar of the drive motor 4 from being rotated by the external force acting on the wheel 1. This clutch assembly 6 used is of a design wherein although rotation can be transmitted from an input shaft to an output shaft, no rotation is transmitted from the output shaft to the input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Isamu Yoshida, Keisuke Kazuno, Koji Sato
  • Patent number: 6257386
    Abstract: A power cut/connect device is proposed which is axially compact and is usable in a limited space. The device includes a first input member coupled to a power shaft, an output member mounted coaxially with the first input member, a first two-way clutch provided between the first input member and the output member, a second input member coaxially mounted with the output member, a second two-way clutch provided between the output member and the second input member so as to be disposed coaxially with and around the first two-way clutch, and a control unit for controlling the first and second two-way clutches for interruption and connection of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takahide Saito, Tatsuo Kawase, Takashi Nozaki, Makoto Yasui, Shiro Goto
  • Patent number: 6257384
    Abstract: A two-way differential clutch is provided which can prevent the resilient ring for biasing a friction plate from expanding radially outwardly and getting out of the mounting position due to centrifugal force during high-speed rotation. Two retainers having different diameters are mounted between a rotary shaft and an input gear. The large-diameter retainer is fixed to the input gear. Sprags are mounted in pockets formed in the large-diameter retainer and the small-diameter retainer. A flange and a ring groove are formed at one end of the small-diameter retainer. A friction plate arranged on one side of the flange is pressed against the flange by a resilient ring mounted in the ring groove. A restricting portion for restricting the amount of radial expansion of the resilient ring is formed on the friction plate to prevent the resilient ring from radially expanding too much due to centrifugal force during high-speed rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignees: NTN Corporation, Aichi Kikai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Sato, Masao Komuro, Masaaki Saiko
  • Patent number: 6182515
    Abstract: A drive coupling arrangement for transmitting torque from a drive arrangement to a gear assembly under test is provided with a first coupler portion attached to the gear assembly under test. The coupler has a polygonal cross-sectional configuration and has a plurality of substantially planar surfaces that extend parallel to the predetermined length of axis, in the form of an assembly nut of the gear assembly under test at a rotatory terminal thereof. A second coupler portion is coupled to the drive arrangement and has an internal cross-sectional configuration that accommodates the polygonal cross-sectional configuration of the first coupler portion. The second coupler portion has a plurality of engagement portions that communicate exclusively with a predetermined number of the substantially planar surfaces of the first coupler portion, and is axially translatable along the first coupler portion for a portion of its length of axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Veri-Tek Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Juranitch, Robert D. Olschefski
  • Patent number: 6148977
    Abstract: Known free-wheel clutches are directionally operated clutches, which permit a shaft (12) and a hub (16) to carry each other along in one relative direction of rotation, for example by means of frictional connection. From time to time it is desired, on the one hand, to permit free-wheeling in both directions and, on the other hand, for example when a secondary drive is engaged, to obtain a frictional connection optionally in one relative direction of rotation. This is achieved in that, in the rest position, the clamping elements (28) have a frictional connection to the hub (16), and, with a contact face (36) interact with a fixed element (18). Only when the hub (16) begins a rotational movement is it possible for the clamping elements (28) to jam in a first locked position or a second locked position which acts in the opposite direction. The free-wheel clutch (10) can be used, for example, for coupling an electric servomotor to a steering column of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Nouhad Bachnak
  • Patent number: 6026942
    Abstract: In a bidirectional differential clutch in which a rotation of the input gear is transmitted to the rotational shaft through the sprags only when the input gear rotates faster than the rotational shaft, a play in a rotational direction is provided between the rotational shaft and an output gear. With this structure, even when the rotational direction of the input gear is switched from the normal direction to the reverse direction, the sprags can excellently incline so that the bidirectional differential clutch can be rotated in the reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Aichi Kikai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Saiko, Hiromi Nojiri
  • Patent number: 5848679
    Abstract: A two-way differential clutch having sprags. It includes a mechanism that permits the sprags to be inclined instantly in the opposite direction when the rotating direction of an input gear changes over. Two cages having different diameters are mounted between the cylindrical inner surface of an input gear and the cylindrical outer surface of a rotary shaft. The large-diameter cage is fixed to the input gear while the small-diameter cage is rotatably mounted on the rotary shaft. Sprags are received in pockets formed in both cages. A friction plate is rotatably mounted on the small-diameter cage near its end. It is pressed by a resilient member against a flange of the small-diameter cage. The friction plate is nonrotatably coupled to a gear case through a rotation stopper. With this arrangement, it is possible to create a large rotating speed difference between the large-diameter cage and the small-diameter cage when the rotating direction of the input gear changes over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignees: NTN Corporation, Aichi Kikai Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Saiko, Isao Mikuriya
  • Patent number: 5819871
    Abstract: A torque is transmitted from a steering assistance motor to a steering shaft via a gear. The first rotation restraining element, which is radially deformed by being sandwiched between the outer circumference of the steering shaft and the inner circumference of the gear, exerts a radial force corresponding to the radial deformation on the steering shaft and the gear, to generate a torque based on friction for restraining the relative rotation between the shaft and gear. The restraining torque generated based on the deformation of the first rotation restraining element is smaller than the breaking torque of the second rotation restraining element, which is fitted to the steering shaft and the gear via clearances so as to restrain the relative rotation between the shaft and gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Manabu Takaoka
  • Patent number: 5732807
    Abstract: An automotive power transmission device which can change over the driving mode between two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive mode. The device when combined with a differential as an integral unit can be assembled easily. This device includes an axle made up of axially separated first and second portions, a differential coupled to one end of the first portion of the axle and having a differential cover, and a clutch device coupled to the other end of the first portion of the axle which is enclosed in the differential cover. The clutch includes an inner ring connected to the differential, an outer ring connected to a vehicle wheel and rotatably mounted around the inner ring, sprags and cages mounted between the inner and outer rings, a biasing member for biasing and rotating the cages relative to the inner ring, and a locking system for detachably coupling the cage and the outer ring together. While the transfer is set in the two-wheel drive mode, the outer ring is allowed to free-run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichiro Itoh, Ken Yamamoto, Isao Hori
  • Patent number: 5419421
    Abstract: A centrifugal clutch includes a pair of clutch shoes and a rotor. The rotor includes rotor arms extending into pockets formed in the clutch shoes. Sound-deadening buffer members are positioned in the pockets to lie between each rotor arm and clutch shoe to deaden sound produced by movement of a rotor arm in its clutch shoe pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Hoffco, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. Lohr
  • Patent number: 4589536
    Abstract: An automotive accessory clutch driven by a pulley engaged by a rubber belt driven from the engine includes an electrical coil which when energized causes a friction plate to be drawn into engagement with the pulley and to rotate lever arms about pivots which produce tangentially directed forces on brake assemblies that pivot an additional friction surface into engagement with other surfaces of the driven pulley. The connection between the pulley and the accessory driven from the engine is selectively connected and disconnected as the coil is electrically energized and deenergized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1986
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Guntis V. Strikis, Zaki C. Bekheet
  • Patent number: 4418811
    Abstract: A helical spring loosely surrounds the input hub of a clutch and is adapted to be wrapped down on the input hub to couple the input hub to an output hub. Wrap down torque is applied to the spring through the tang thereof by an operating spring which acts through an axially shiftable actuator adapted to turn the tang as an incident to being shifted axially by the operating spring. If the tang of the helical spring breaks, the spring automatically unwinds and releases the input hub to effect automatic disengagement of the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1983
    Assignee: Warner Electric Brake & Clutch Company
    Inventor: J. G. Fraser MacDonald