With Transmission Patents (Class 242/375.3)
-
Patent number: 11975745Abstract: A modular foot platform for a driver's cab of a rail vehicle includes at least a base frame having a height adjustment mechanism, an intermediate frame mounted on the base frame, and a step plate lying on the intermediate frame. The height adjustment mechanism includes at least one operating element, which is disposed at least partially in a region on or above the top side of the step plate, which top side faces away from the base frame. A rail vehicle having a driver's cab and a modular foot platform disposed therein is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2019Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbHInventors: Michael Bezold, Thomas Hengstenberg
-
Patent number: 11370388Abstract: A dual-web retractor includes a frame having spaced-apart sidewalls, a spool rotatably mounted between the sidewalls, a pair of engagement members configured to be releasably engaged to one another, and a single web having opposite ends each coupled to a different one of the pair of engagement members and a portion of the single web between the opposite ends affixed to the spool to define a first web section extending from one end of the frame between the spool and one of the pair of engagement members and a second web section extending from an opposite end of the frame between the spool and the other of the pair of engagement members. Rotation of the spool in a web take up direction alternatingly wraps the web sections onto the spool and rotation of the spool in a web pay out direction alternatingly unwraps the web sections from the spool.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2020Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.Inventor: Chris P. Jessup
-
Patent number: 10604109Abstract: A cable reel restraint device comprises a cable reel, a retractable cable, first and second springs, first and second attachment interfaces, and a preload selection control. The retractable cable is configured to extend from and retract onto the cable reel. The first spring is configured to exert force for preloading the second spring, and the second spring is configured to exert force for retracting the retractable cable. The first attachment interface is coupled to the cable reel by a first spherical bearing, and the second attachment interface is coupled to the retractable cable by a second spherical bearing. Moreover, the first and second attachment interfaces are configured for being fastened to first and second attachment points. The preload selection control is configured to select a particular preload magnitude and cause the first spring to preload the second spring with a load of the particular preload magnitude.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2017Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.Inventor: Louis G. Tackett
-
Patent number: 9939064Abstract: A compact and efficient rotary shift actuator for a shift-by-wire transmission includes a motor having a motor shaft that is rotatable about a motor axis, an output head arranged towards a second end of an output lever and adapted for connection with a shift shaft of a transmission, and a gear train for transferring torque from the motor shaft to the output head. The gear train comprises a first shaft rotatable about a first axis, a second shaft rotatable about a second axis, and the output lever pivotable about a lever axis. The gear train further includes a worm gear for transmitting torque from the first shaft to the second shaft.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2012Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: KONGSBERG AUTOMOTIVE ABInventors: Bengt Cyren, Bengt Hermansson, Tomas Wykman
-
Patent number: 9386915Abstract: The present invention is generally directed toward a laryngoscope having a handle, a rigid cylindrical tube, and an optical subassembly. The handle has a distal end and a proximate end. The tube is hollow and also has a distal end having a distal opening and a proximate end having a proximate opening. The optical subassembly includes a light source located within the handle, a power source located within the handle and in communication with the light source and a light carrier extending between the handle and the tube and in communication with the light source and providing light inside and along the entire length of the tube.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2010Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Inventor: Nilesh R. Vasan
-
Patent number: 9333943Abstract: A restriction rotating body is provided at a carrier plate, on the opposite side of a sun gear to a planet gear. When an internal-toothed gear is displaced together with a sensor gear in the rotation radial direction thereof, the internal-toothed gear presses a shaft portion of the restriction rotating body, and further, a gear portion of the restriction rotating body presses the sun gear. Due thereto, the amount of relative displacement of the internal-toothed gear with respect to the sun gear can accordingly be reduced. Moreover, since the restriction rotating body does not mesh with the internal-toothed gear, the restriction rotating body can be easily assembled after assembly of the planet gear. The planet gear can accordingly be easily assembled prior to assembly of the restriction rotating body.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHOInventors: Wataru Yanagawa, Masaru Ukita, Hitoshi Takamatsu
-
Patent number: 9169972Abstract: A force compensating device includes a force generating unit configured for generating a compensating force that at least partially counteracts a tractive force acting on the force compensating device. The device includes at least one safety unit that is rotatable about a first axis of rotation and which, in the event of a malfunction of the force generating unit, can be moved by the force generating unit from an operating position to a locked position. The safety unit includes a first element and a second element that are rotatably connected to each other at a second axis of rotation, and at least one locking unit that blocks rotational movement of the safety unit from the locked position back to the operating position when the safety unit has been triggered due to a malfunction. A two-part safety unit in combination with the locking unit allows the safety unit to trigger and remain triggered in all fault situations. The force compensating device may be used in a medical system.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2013Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventors: Stefan Hesl, Jürgen Plannerer
-
Patent number: 8953327Abstract: A device having a self-winding element is described. The self-winding element is built on a flexible membrane; it has an extended form and a retracted form. Stiffness in the extended form may be provided using membrane curvature, or a retractable support member may be used, or both. Transitions between the extended form and the retracted form are preferably accomplished using sequential activation of tensile members that are configured in segments of the membrane. Activation of the tensile elements is preferably implemented using a processor or controller that activates tri-state drivers in a predetermined sequence in order to pass a current through each element when heating is desired. A preferred material used for the tensile elements is thin film NITINOL.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2012Date of Patent: February 10, 2015Assignee: iBlaidZ, Inc.Inventor: Peter C. Salmon
-
Patent number: 8887788Abstract: A window cover system includes an extendible window cover with a pair of lift cords. A lift cord pulley shaft is coupled to a pair of spaced apart lift cord pulleys. A spring drive unit has a beveled gear system with a first gear that is spring biased to resist rotation of first gear in one direction of rotation, and a second gear meshed with the first gear. The lift cord pulley shaft extends through the second gear and is configured to rotate therewith.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2013Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Inventors: Russell L. Hinckley, Sr., Robert F. Miller
-
Patent number: 8757580Abstract: The invention relates to a height-adjustable pedestal comprising a height adjustable pedestal platform, a spring device that provides a spring force according to a corresponding spring characteristic, and a lever mechanism that is interconnected between the spring device and the pedestal platform in such a way that the spring force is transferred by the lever mechanism to the pedestal platform in the form of a lifting force that counteracts the weight force of the pedestal platform, in order to facilitate the height-adjustment of the pedestal platform, wherein the lever mechanism is configured such that it at least partially compensates for a variation of the spring force that occurs according to the spring characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2010Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Tever Technik GmbH & Co. KG.Inventors: Andreas Volke, Günther Volke
-
Patent number: 8708024Abstract: A method for operating a window cover utilizes an extendible window cover having a first rail, a second rail and a pair of lift cords. The first and second rails of the window cover are movable relative to each other. According to the method, at least one of the first rail and the second rail is moved in a first direction to cause the lift cords to unwind from the lift cord pulleys, thereby rotating a lift cord pulley shaft and a set of gears. Further, at least one of the first rail and the second rail is moved in a second direction to cause the lift cords to wind on the lift cord pulleys, with the lift cord pulley shaft rotating in an opposite direction.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2013Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignees: Russell L. Hinckley, Sr., Robert F. MillerInventors: Russell L. Hinckley, Sr., Robert F. Miller
-
Patent number: 8573648Abstract: An apparatus for rotating a webbing guide of a seat belt for a vehicle may include a drive unit for moving a cable connected at one end thereof by controlling driving of a motor in response to an actuating signal or a stop signal, the webbing guide connected to the other end of the cable, and hingedly rotated to a first direction of a vehicular body as the cable moves in a second direction, and a return unit provided on the webbing guide, and providing an elastic force to the webbing guide so that the webbing guide hingedly rotated to the first direction of the vehicular body returns to the second direction of the vehicular body when the motor stops driving.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2012Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Autoliv Development ABInventors: Woo Chul Park, Hyun Jeong You, Dong Sub Lee
-
Patent number: 7850111Abstract: A belt retractor for a safety belt system has a frame (2), a belt reel (4) rotatably mounted in the frame (2) for receiving a belt webbing, a reversible belt tensioning unit with a motor (8), an irreversible belt tensioning unit, and a coupling mechanism, by means of which the reversible belt tensioning unit can be coupled to the belt reel (4) and which can be deactivated and reactivated, the coupling mechanism being deactivated when the irreversible belt tensioning unit is activated and the coupling mechanism being reactivated after termination of the irreversible belt tensioning.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2008Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbHInventors: Martin Prokscha, Wolfgang Holbein
-
Publication number: 20090194627Abstract: A device that can be used as an advertising display device, an information display device or as a shade or screen that has novel ways to charge the sheet retraction spring, novel ways to prevent tampering with the charge on the spring once the device in operation and that may utilize a pull bar which allows identification of information on the sheet while in a rolled-up state without an additional label.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2007Publication date: August 6, 2009Inventor: Gregg Seidel
-
Patent number: 7458536Abstract: A measuring tape housed within an ergonomically configured housing with a spirally wound spring motor is disclosed which facilitates the paying out and retraction of the flexible metal blade carrying the measuring indicia thereon.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2004Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: The Perfect Measuring Tape Co.Inventor: Sun Chao Hui
-
Patent number: 7309041Abstract: Belt retractor and a belt-retractor spring-cassette housing for a belt retractor. The belt-retractor spring-cassette housing can be installed in a particularly simple and therefore cost-effective manner. The belt-retractor spring-cassette housing has a spring core and a driving spring which is held in the spring core, the belt-retractor spring-cassette housing and/or the spring core are designed symmetrically so that the driving spring can have any desired torque direction.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2004Date of Patent: December 18, 2007Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Rudiger Paulsen, Robert Fleischmann, Thomas Grasser, Oskar Scholler, Stefan Lambrecht, Jochen Benz
-
Patent number: 7024790Abstract: A measuring tape having a housing for receiving a spring-powered double-axis reel assembly. The reel assembly includes a primary spool having a length of measuring tape wound around it, and a secondary spool having a spring. The primary and secondary spools are connected by an endless flexible member.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2004Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Ningbo JL Measuring & Tools,Co., Ltd.Inventor: Wu Qilian
-
Patent number: 6966518Abstract: A seat belt retractor assembly has a seat belt retractor for generating a retraction force to rewind a seat belt on a reel. A coupling device selectively couples and decouples the retractor from the reel. A tensioning device generates a tensioning force in the seat belt when in an activated state. The coupling device decouples the retractor from the reel when the tensioning device is activated.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2004Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth H. Kohlndorfer, Mark F. Gray
-
Patent number: 6957683Abstract: A spring drive system useful for window covers is disclosed, which comprises one or more coil spring drives or flat spring drives and the combination whose elements are selected from one or more of a group which includes (1) a band or cord transmission which provides varying ratio power transfer as the cover is opened and closed; (2) gear means comprising various gear sets which provide frictional holding force and fixed power transfer ratios; (3) a gear transmission which provides fixed ratio power transfer as the cover is opened or closed; (4) crank mechanisms; (5) brake mechanisms; and (6) recoiler mechanisms. The combination permits the spring drive force to be tailored to the weight and/or compression characteristics of an associated window cover such as a horizontal slat or pleated or box blind as the cover is opened and closed.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2003Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Inventor: Andrew J. Toti
-
Patent number: 6905087Abstract: A hose reel device includes a casing having a box received therein and a mandrel located in the box so that a hose is wrapped on the mandrel. A side plate is connected to an end of the box and a coil spring is disposed to the side plate. A transmission gear set located between the box and the side plate. The transmission gear set includes a first gear co-axially connected to an axle of the mandrel, and a second gear is co-axially connected to the coil spring and engaged with the first gear. A resistance gear set is engaged with the first gear and includes a clutch member which disengages the rotational movement of the first gear from the resistance gear set when pulling the hose out from the casing and connects the rotational movement of the first gear to the resistance gear set when retrieving the hose.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2003Date of Patent: June 14, 2005Inventor: He Jin Chen
-
Patent number: 6648050Abstract: A spring drive system useful for window covers is disclosed, which comprises one or more coil spring drives or flat spring drives and the combination whose elements are selected from one or more of a group which includes (1) a band or cord transmission which provides varying ratio power transfer as the cover is opened and closed; (2) gear means comprising various gear sets which provide frictional holding force and fixed power transfer ratios; (3) a gear transmission which provides fixed ratio power transfer as the cover is opened or closed; (4) crank mechanisms; (5) brake mechanisms; and (6) recoiler mechanisms. The combination permits the spring drive force to be tailored to the weight and/or compression characteristics of an associated window cover such as a horizontal slat or pleated or box blind as the cover is opened and closed.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2000Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Inventor: Andrew J. Toti
-
Patent number: 6536503Abstract: A modular blind transport system for a window blind application. The complete system may be assembled form a relatively small number of individual modules to obtain working systems for a very wide range of applications, including especially a category of counterbalanced blinds wherein a relatively small external input force may be used to raise or lower the blind, and/or to open or close the blind.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2000Date of Patent: March 25, 2003Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.Inventors: Richard Anderson, Wendell B. Colson, Steven R. Haarer
-
Patent number: 6463868Abstract: The present invention relates to a tether retraction device having particular utility with multi-line towed arrays. A system for retrieving and deploying a multi-line towed array having a plurality of array lines has at least one tether joinable between two of the plurality of array lines. A tether retraction device is incorporated into at least one of the array lines for retracting the tether. Each tether retraction device has a tether take-up spool, and a spring driven drive means which causes the tether to wind onto the take-up spool when the array is towed at slow speeds and allows deployment of the tether from the take-up spool when tension in the tether caused by tow forces exceeds the spring force applied by the spring driven drive means.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2001Date of Patent: October 15, 2002Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Michael R. Williams, Michael A. Bergeron, Kimberly M. Cipolla
-
Patent number: 6405960Abstract: A seat belt tension adjuster adjusts tension on a seat belt wound on a reel by a biasing spring. The tension adjuster includes a biasing force adjusting mechanism situated between the reel and the spring for adjusting a biasing force transmitted from the spring to the reel depending on a rotational angular position of the reel. The biasing force adjusting mechanism includes a cam for gradually changing the biasing force based on the rotational angular position of the reel. The tension adjuster can freely set the withdrawing force and the winding force of the seat belt.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2001Date of Patent: June 18, 2002Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Hideaki Yano
-
Patent number: 6318661Abstract: A motor for controlling the elevating and lowering of a load comprises a storage drum, an output drum and a spring member operatively connected therebetween to provide a spring motor therewith, and a pair of cord drums aligned with and respectively adjacent the storage drum and the output drum. A gear train including an idler gear associated with the storage drum drivingly interengages the cord drums with the output drum, whereby the elevating and lowering of a load attached to the cords on the cord drums is balanced regardless of whether the elevating or lowering force is applied centrally between the points of attachment of the cords to the load.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2000Date of Patent: November 20, 2001Assignee: Barnes Group Inc.Inventors: Dennis W. Martin, Tariz M. Afzal
-
Publication number: 20010008261Abstract: A seat belt tension adjuster adjusts tension on a seat belt wound on a reel by a biasing spring. The tension adjuster includes a biasing force adjusting mechanism situated between the reel and the spring for adjusting a biasing force transmitted from the spring to the reel depending on a rotational angular position of the reel. The biasing force adjusting mechanism includes a cam for gradually changing the biasing force based on the rotational angular position of the reel. The tension adjuster can freely set the withdrawing force and the winding force of the seat belt.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2001Publication date: July 19, 2001Inventor: Hideaki Yano
-
Patent number: 6257305Abstract: The instant invention is an apparatus for maintaining approximately constant tension of a curtain between a drive roller and a storage roller. The constant tension is achieved by pre-tensioning the curtain between the drive roller and the storage roller and then maintaining approximately the same amount of tension by rotating the reference to which one end of a spring is attached. The rotating reference is a shaft which is affixed to and rotates with a shaft gear. The other end of the spring is affixed to a cylindrical tube member, i.e., the storage roller, upon which the flexible curtain is stored. A motor driven gear drives a gear affixed to the drive roller. The gear affixed to the drive roller in turn drives idler gears which in turn drive the shaft gear. A method of using the apparatus is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2000Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Wayne-Dalton CorporationInventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Donald Bruce Kyle
-
Patent number: 6206314Abstract: A seat belt retractor of the invention is basically formed of a first reel, a second reel, a rope extending between the first reel and the second reel, and a spiral spring situated in the second reel as an urging force providing device. The first reel is connected coaxially to a rotational axis of a reel shaft for winding a webbing, and has a drum shape on which the rope fixed at one end to the first reel is wound. The second reel has a rotational shaft disposed parallel to and laterally spaced away from the first reel. The second reel includes a small diameter reel portion, a large diameter reel portion, and a transition portion connecting the small diameter reel portion and the large diameter reel portion. The rope attached to the first reel extends to the small diameter reel portion and the transition portion, and is wound around a groove of the large diameter reel portion.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 1999Date of Patent: March 27, 2001Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Masahiro Shiotani, Noriyuki Kosugi, Isamu Mizuno, Hiromasa Tanji