Electric Patents (Class 242/390.8)
  • Patent number: 11950384
    Abstract: Process assemblies and cable management assemblies for managing cables in tight envelopes. A processing assembly includes a top chamber having at least one substrate support, a support shaft, a robot spindle assembly, a stator and a cable management system. The cable management system includes an inner trough assembly and an outer trough assembly configured to move relative to one another, and a plurality of chain links configured to house at least one cable for delivering power to the process assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Akshay Gunaji, Uday Pai, Timothy J. Roggenbuck, Sanjeev Baluja, Kalesh Panchaxari Karadi, Tejas Ulavi
  • Patent number: 11772930
    Abstract: A reel apparatus comprising a pipe; an outer flange assembly comprising two outer support walls connected to the pipe and wherein each outer support wall comprises an inner wall and an outer wall; an inner flange assembly comprising two inner support walls, wherein the inner flange assembly is rotated relative to the outer flange assembly and the pipe and wherein each inner support wall comprises an inner wall and an outer wall; and a motor assembly connected to the inner flange assembly and outer flange assembly, wherein the motor assembly is physically connect to the outer flange assembly and wherein the motor assembly is rotationally connected to the inner flange assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Encore Wire Corporation
    Inventors: John L. Rhoads, Kevin D. Rodgers
  • Patent number: 11616355
    Abstract: A tensioning device for a wired energy or data transmission path includes a winding drum, a cable guide wire stored on the winding drum, and a spring accumulator. The winding drum is rotatable by an electrical drive for winding and unwinding the cable guide wire. The spring accumulator is operably exerting a resilient tensile force on a wire portion unreeled from the winding drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Simon Pfaffmann, Volker Kegel, Nicolai Tarasinski, Felipe De Moraes Boos, Julian Daubermann
  • Patent number: 11548417
    Abstract: The invention relates to a child safety seat (100) comprising an integral harness belt (102) for restraining a child in the child safety seat (100), a belt tension monitor (106) adapted for monitoring a belt tension acting on the harness belt (102), a motorized harness belt tensioner (104) comprising a tensioning element (114) driven by an electromechanical actuator (122) and adapted for adjusting the belt tension acting on the harness belt (102), and a controller adapted for controlling the motorized harness belt tensioner (104) to adjust the belt tension to match a first predefined belt tension and for monitoring the resulting belt tension using the belt tension monitor (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Britax Romer Kindersicherheit GMBH
    Inventors: Richard Frank, Janis Conrad
  • Patent number: 11541972
    Abstract: A reel system for managing a surf rope on a boat. The reel system comprises a retraction assembly, a rod and the surf rope. The boat comprises a cross bar, a stern, a port, one or more sides, a starboard, and a tower having a tower height. The surf rope comprises a rope height between the retraction assembly and a handle portion of the surf rope. The surf rope comprises a first end and a second end. The reel system comprises a system for positioning and managing the surf rope for a surfer. The reel system is configured to manage the surf rope by retracting and positioning the surf rope at one or more default rope positions when not in use and otherwise selectively allow the surf rope to rotate back for surfing. The one or more default rope positions comprise at least a first default rope position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Inventor: Ryan Swiatek
  • Patent number: 11485618
    Abstract: A fairlead for use with a winch is disclosed. The fairlead includes: a device for detecting a speed at which a line is being spooled or unspooled from the winch, a first and second roller adapted to aid in spooling or unspooling a line, a fairlead motor for driving at least the first roller, and a controller connected to the fairlead motor. The controller is in communication with the device for detecting the speed. The controller is configured to direct the fairlead motor to drive at least the first roller at a speed that maintains tension on the line as it is unspooling or spooling. Alternatively, the device measures current drawn by the fairlead motor and the controller directs the fairlead motor to drive the rollers at a speed that maintains a target current draw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Daniel Madsen, Jerome Miles, Dustin Clouse
  • Patent number: 11472661
    Abstract: A device to automate or semiautomate a fish tape is provided that can include an attachable handle with battery operated motor, rollers, gears and controls that can be integrated into its own or existing fish tape spools. Another embodiment provides a left and right plate and an assembly about a member to be driven by a crank or other automated means to mobilize a fish tape which over comes the limitations of existing manual and automatic fish tapes making it safer, more efficient and easier for an operator to pull wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Inventor: James C. Gonsalves
  • Patent number: 11345306
    Abstract: A system includes a base. The system includes a buckle movable away from the base from a retracted position to an extended position. The system includes a lock movable from a locked position that maintains the buckle at the retracted position to an unlocked position that permits movement of the buckle to the extended position. The system includes a spring urging the buckle toward the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 11299368
    Abstract: A retractable reel system includes a reel, a gear assembly, a paddle wheel and a spring. The reel includes a concentric wheel shaft where the reel and wheel shaft rotate to wind and unwind a length of material from the reel. The gear assembly engages with an end of the wheel shaft to provide a gear reduction ratio between the wheel shaft and an output shaft of the gear assembly. The paddle wheel is connected to and concentric with the output shaft, and the paddle wheel includes a paddle that extends beyond an outer edge of the paddle wheel that rotates with the paddle wheel. The spring is arranged outside the outer edge of the paddle wheel. The spring is compressed by the paddle to store an energy when the reel is rotated to unwind the length of material from the reel. The stored energy is used to rotate the reel to wind the length of material around the reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Imagination Plastics LLC
    Inventor: Nathaniel Pearson
  • Patent number: 10858226
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric winch crank (1) comprising a main body (3) which includes an electric motor (32); a gripping handle (2) arranged at one end of the main body (3) and able to pivot on same with respect to said main body (3); coupling means (4) to a winch (100), arranged at the opposite end of said main body (3); a transmission mechanism driven by the output shaft of the motor (32) and enabling rotation of the coupling means (4); a mechanical reducer (34) interposed between the output shaft of the motor (32) and the coupling means (4), said crank further comprising a braking system (35) mounted on the output shaft of the motor (32); a control member (23) located on said gripping handle (2) for actuating said braking system (35) via said electronic circuit (31) and a rotating collector (29) comprising a first portion (291) rigidly attached to the gripping handle, connected to said control member, and a second portion (292) rigidly attached to the main body electrically connected to an electro
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: CHRSADEV
    Inventor: Bruno Rabu
  • Patent number: 10800376
    Abstract: The invention relates, inter alia, to a belt retractor (10) for a safety belt device, with a belt reel (20) for winding up and unwinding the safety belt, a pretensioner drive (40) and a pyrotechnic tensioner drive (30), wherein the pretensioner drive (40) has a force-flux-control element (100) which, in a deactivation position, interrupts the force flux between pretensioner drive (40) and belt reel (20). It is provided that the pyrotechnic tensioner drive (30) has one or more drive elements (33) which, after activation of the pyrotechnic tensioner drive (30), is or are set into motion, and, after activation of the pyrotechnic tensioner drive (30), the force-flux-control element (100) is adjusted directly or indirectly by the drive element (33) or—in the case of a plurality of drive elements (33)—by at least one of the drive elements (33) of the pyrotechnic tensioner drive (30) into the deactivation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Atsushi Mihara, Lars Gonnermann, Thomas Feiertag, Hans-Jürgen Divo, Paul Sprongl
  • Patent number: 10773932
    Abstract: Provided is an electric winch apparatus capable of preventing irregular winding of a wire rope caused by landing of a hoisted-down suspended load. The electric winch apparatus includes a winch drum (5) around which a wire rope (2) is wound, an electric motor (8) which rotates the winch drum (5), an operation lever (13a), a measurement unit (18) which measures a tension index value corresponding to a tension in the wire rope (2), and a controller (12) which controls motion of the electric motor (8). The controller (12) stops motion of the electric motor (8) when an operation in a lowering operation direction is applied the operation lever (13a) and a tension average value as an average value of a tension in the wire rope (2) becomes less than or equal to a predetermined tension reference value, the average value of the tension corresponding to an average value of the tension index value in a predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignees: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD., Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ogawa, Shintaroh Sasai, Koji Inoue, Takashi Hiekata
  • Patent number: 10457248
    Abstract: A webbing take-up device includes a spool on which a webbing worn by an occupant is taken up, and a motor that includes a rotor with a rotation shaft and a motor housing covering part of the rotor, the rotor being urged toward one axial direction side of the rotation shaft with respect to the motor housing. The webbing take-up device further includes a second transmission mechanism that includes an A-gear fixed to the rotation shaft, and a B-gear meshed together with the A-gear and rotated by the A-gear being rotated toward one side together with the rotation shaft such that the spool is rotated. A helix angle of respective outer teeth of the A-gear is set such that an axial direction force toward the one axial direction side of the rotation shaft acts on the A-gear when the rotation shaft is rotated toward the one side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Tomonari Umakoshi, Takuhiro Saito, Yuya Nagata, Takahiro Osaki
  • Patent number: 10398624
    Abstract: A control system suitable for use with a bathing unit system having a water receptacle is provided. The control system comprises first and second heating modules and a controller configured for activating a specific one of the first and second heating module at least in part based on whether the bathing unit is in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: GECKO ALLIANCE GROUP INC.
    Inventor: Michel Authier
  • Patent number: 10371364
    Abstract: A portable power supply system for providing portable electrical power includes a battery that has a positive terminal and a negative terminal. A box is provided and the battery is positioned in the box. A lid is removably coupled to the box. A pair of first light emitters is provided and each of the first light emitters is removably coupled to the lid to selectively emit light outwardly from the lid. An inverter is removably coupled to the lid and the inverter may be electrically coupled to an electric device thereby facilitating the inverter to supply AC current to the electric device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Inventor: Kevin Gawthorp
  • Patent number: 10358324
    Abstract: An electric winch crank having a main body which includes an electric motor; a gripping handle arranged at one end of the main body and able to pivot on same with respect to the main body; a coupling means to a winch, arranged at the opposite end of the main body; a transmission mechanism driven by the output shaft of the motor and enables rotation of the coupling means; a mechanical reducer interposed between the output shaft of the motor and the coupling means, the crank further comprising a braking system mounted on the output shaft of the motor; a control member located on the gripping handle for actuating the braking system via the electronic circuit and a rotating collector having a first portion rigidly attached to the gripping handle, connected to the control member, and a second portion rigidly attached to the main body and electrically connected to an electronic circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: CHRYSADEV
    Inventor: Bruno Rabu
  • Patent number: 10214929
    Abstract: A pool cover apparatus includes a sheet of corrugated polyethylene as a vapor barrier, where the sheet is wound onto a storage shaft when not in use. A drive shaft is disposed in a spaced-apart relationship with the storage shaft. When it is desired to deploy the sheet to cover the surface of a pool, the sheet passes over the drive shaft and the corrugations on the polyethylene sheet engage with the teeth on the drive shaft. Thus, as the drive shaft rotates, it causes the vapor barrier sheet to continue to move out and away from the shafts and cover the pool. Conversely, when it is desired to remove the sheet from the pool, the storage shaft is engaged, rotating in a manner that functions as a take-up reel and winds the vapor barrier sheet up on the shaft for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Inventor: David B. Stone, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10099907
    Abstract: Monitoring the temperature of the brush of the motor on an electric winch during operation and restricting the operation of the motor within a cooling range in order to minimize downtime and maximize runtime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Ramsey Winch Company
    Inventor: Todd Brady
  • Patent number: 10053329
    Abstract: An automated aisle runner includes an automated control unit and an aisle runner. The automated control unit includes a housing and a runner roller, wherein the runner roller is rotatably mounted within the housing. A fixed end of the aisle runner is connected to the runner roller, while a runner body is disposed around the runner roller, such that the runner body is wound around and unwound from the runner roller as the runner roller is rotated by a motor. A guide assembly is provided to ensure the aisle runner is extended or retracted in a straight, smooth manner, eliminating problematic tangling. A plurality of lights is positioned along the runner body, providing enhanced visual effects for the aisle runner, while a speaker provides audial effects. A microcontroller allows a user to control the color and pattern of the plurality of lights and the audio files played through the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Inventor: Janice V Wilcoxon
  • Patent number: 10046734
    Abstract: A reversible seat belt tensioner including a rotationally operable plastic driven gear (1), and a drive moved with a belt shaft of the belt tensioner. At least one coupling pawl (4) is provided on the drive gear, engaging a gearing of the drive gear upon activation of the reversible belt tensioner, and in a load-transmitting position produces a linkage between the driven gear (1) and the drive gear. A support ring (3) made of a material having a greater strength than the driven gear (1) is provided and is connected to the driven gear (1) for with a projection (21, 22) which into a recess (15, 16) of the driven gear (1). The recess (15, 16) positioned such that the coupling pawl (4) is braced against the driven gear (1) via the projection (21, 22) which engages in the recess (15, 16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Andreas Lucht, Meik Dannenberg, Patrick Süllau, Andra Elsner, Lars Ricken, Yashwanth Singh
  • Patent number: 9962053
    Abstract: Provided is a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner includes a main body including a cord reel around which a power cord is wound and a cord reel button for operating the cord reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jinwook Seo, Jungmin Moon
  • Patent number: 9802797
    Abstract: Monitoring the temperature of the brush of the motor on an electric winch during operation and restricting the operation of the motor within a cooling range in order to minimize downtime and maximize runtime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Ramsey Winch Company
    Inventor: Todd Brady
  • Patent number: 9796558
    Abstract: A hose guide for a hose reel deck box is provided. More specifically, the hose guide is a one piece, or unitary body, component. The unitary body hose guide is structured to snap-fit to one or two travel bars that are part of the unitary body of the hose reel deck box housing assembly. The hose guide preferably includes two semi-enclosed passages that are structured to be slidably coupled to the travel bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: The Ames Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Blaszczak, Peter Arcati
  • Patent number: 9428145
    Abstract: An electric retractor comprises a winding part configured to extract and wind a seatbelt that restrains an occupant, an electric driving part for extracting or winding the seatbelt by a driving of a motor, and a control part configured to control the driving of the motor, wherein respective external covers of each of the parts are electrically connected to the same potential, and at least one of the external covers is connected to a GND.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki Tombe, Yutaka Hamada
  • Patent number: 9168891
    Abstract: A retractor for a seat belt is disclosed, including a frame, a spool that is mounted rotatably to the inside of the frame, a webbing that is wound on the spool to be pulled-in constantly to the inside of the frame and pulled-out freely from the inside of the frame to the outside thereof, a controller for recognizing vehicle information and controlling the pulling-in of the webbing, a motor for generating a driving force to rotate the spool in accordance with the control of the controller and a clutch for receiving the driving force from the motor and transmitting the driving force to the spool wherein the clutch includes; a driven gear that receives the driving force from a driving gear provided on a rotation shaft of the motor; a plate that is provided facing to one end of the driven gear and inter-connected with the driven gear; a braking disk that is provided to be engaged with the other face opposing one face of the plate, facing to one end of the driven gear, and is in friction with the plate to stay tem
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Wooshin Safety Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung Sang Lee, Jung Hun Choi, Byoung Su Kim, Taek Lim Song
  • Patent number: 9101850
    Abstract: An aerial toy including an aerial flying toy object that at least one of floats, flies, and soars in air for an extended period of time; an aerial flying toy string tethered to the aerial flying toy object; an aerial flying toy raising and lowering assembly including: a handle; a housing including a top, a front, and a rear; an aerial flying toy string reel rotatably carried within the housing and carrying the aerial flying toy string; an electric motor carried within the housing and operably coupled to the balloon string reel for driving rotation of the balloon string reel; a power source carried within the housing for powering the electric motor; an aerial flying toy string snag prevention mechanism that helps prevent snagging of the aerial flying toy string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Inventor: Alejandro Doring Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20150129703
    Abstract: A motorized hose reel with a positive locking mechanism includes a spool that is rotatably supported by a support frame, a motor in driving communication with the spool and a locking pin. The locking pin is movable to any one of three positions. In the first position, a spring forces the locking pin to engage a corresponding aperture in the hose reel spool. As the locking pin is rotated, a shaft extending radially from the locking pin engages a track formed in the housing. This causes the locking pin to withdraw from the hose reel spool against the force of the spring. Further rotation of the locking pin causes the radially-extending shaft to engage a detent, which holds the locking pin away from the hose reel spool. Still further rotation of the locking pin causes the radially-extending shaft to close a switch, which completes an electrical circuit to the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: John G. KUCERA
  • Patent number: 8960585
    Abstract: A transmitting gear is mounted on a rotating shaft of a spool so as to be rotatable integrally with the rotating shaft. A rotation sensor is disposed eccentrically with respect to the rotating shaft in a radial direction of the rotating shaft. The rotation sensor is disposed in a direction in which the rotating shaft is separated from the rotation sensor by a large load applied from a seatbelt to the spool in an emergency. The rotation sensor includes annularly arranged magnets and a magnet holding member that holds the magnets. The magnet holding member includes a receiving gear External teeth of the receiving gear engage with external teeth of the transmitting gear to increase a speed of rotation of the spool whose rotation is transmitted to the receiving gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Ikeda, Tomofumi Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20150028145
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a tether assembly for securing an item of merchandise. In one example, the tether assembly includes a tether configured to be secured to an item of merchandise and a housing configured to receive the tether. The tether is configured to be extended and retracted relative to the housing. The tether assembly also includes a motor coupled to the tether that is configured to extend and/or retract the tether relative to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Michael R. Johnston, Joshua Abdollahzadeh, David N. Berglund, Wesley J. Blanchard
  • Patent number: 8919690
    Abstract: A fishing line management system for fishing line spool storage, winding new fishing line onto a reel, and removing old fishing line from the reel has a generally hollow cylindrical housing. A hollow cavity in the cylindrical housing is sized to receive spools of fishing line. The cylindrical housing has an internally threaded open end for receiving an externally threaded lid with a rubber seal for making the cylindrical housing watertight. The cylindrical housing has a rod centrally located in the hollow cavity for receiving a spool of fishing line. The system has a generally cylindrical flexible outer sleeve with an annular center rib located between a first outer sleeve open end and a second outer sleeve open end. The outer sleeve is for receiving fishing line from a fishing pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Inventor: Perry E. Fromm
  • Publication number: 20140374528
    Abstract: A fire hose reel assembly comprising, a base, a front left angled bar, a front right angled bar, a rear left angled bar and a rear right angled bar. A top connecting bar connects the front left angled bar, the front right angled bar, the rear left angled bar and the rear right angled bar. A latch is directly attached to the top connecting bar. The fire hose reel assembly further includes a fire hose take-up rod. The fire hose reel assembly includes a fork assembly and a fork upper rod. The fork upper rod has a coupling attached to an upper end of the fork upper rod. The fork upper rod may be retained in the latch. The fork assembly is capable of retaining an end of a fire hose. A manual crank or a battery-operated or electric drill may be connected to the coupling in the upper end of the fork upper rod to provide power-assist to facilitate rolling-up the fire hose. The fire hose reel assembly in an embodiment may be mounted on wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Anthony Conway
  • Publication number: 20140319262
    Abstract: A seat belt device includes a spindle (11) for retracting a seat belt (13), an electric actuator (55), a pre-tensioner (14) and a power transmission mechanism (20), wherein the power transmission mechanism (20) can reversibly switch the connection and disconnection between the electric actuator (55) and the spindle (11) before the pre-tensioner (14) is activated, while when the pre-tensioner (14) is activated. The power transmission mechanism (20) non-reversibly interrupts the connection between the electric actuator (55) and the spindle (11) via an elastic piece (60) when a torque difference between an actuator-side gear (80) and a spindle-side gear (82) becomes larger than a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Eiji Maemura, Yukinori Midorikawa, Masuo Matsuki
  • Publication number: 20140216779
    Abstract: A charging stand includes: a charging cable provided with a connector connected to a vehicle; a holding unit to hold the connector; and a reel to wind the charging cable automatically when the connector is placed on the holding unit. A vehicle includes: a charging cable provided with a plug connected to an external power supply; a holding unit to hold the plug; and a reel to wind the charging cable automatically when the plug is placed on the holding unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigeki Kinomura
  • Publication number: 20140158808
    Abstract: A safety device for a vehicle, which provides a more simple optimized mechanism to function as a load limiter having stable operation characteristics, and allows a reference load for releasing the webbing to vary depending on a change in collision speed, thereby providing increased protection to an occupant. More specifically, the safety device includes a roller, an electric generator, a magnetic force generator and a resistance generator. The roller comes in contact with a webbing and is configured to rotate with movement of the webbing. The electric generator generates electric current via the rotation of the roller, and the magnetic force generator generates a magnetic force via the electric current generated by the electric generator. The resistance force generator provides a resistance force to the rotation of the roller based on a shear force altered by the magnetic force generated by the magnetic force generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Sung Jun Han
  • Publication number: 20140145022
    Abstract: An electric retractor comprises a winding part configured to extract and wind a seatbelt that restrains an occupant, an electric driving part for extracting or winding the seatbelt by a driving of a motor, and a control part configured to control the driving of the motor, wherein respective external covers of each of the parts are electrically connected to the same potential, and at least one of the external covers is connected to a GND.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: TAKATA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideyuki Tombe, Yutaka Hamada
  • Patent number: 8708269
    Abstract: There is provided a webbing take-up device including: a spool to which an end of webbing is anchored and that takes up the webbing by rotating in a take-up direction; a lock portion that restricts rotation of the spool in a pullout direction, in a coupled state capable of transmitting rotation force to the spool; a sensor portion that actuates in a rapid vehicle deceleration state in which a vehicle is being decelerated with a deceleration of a specific value or greater, a state in which the spool is rapidly rotated with an acceleration of a specific value or greater in the pullout direction, or a combination thereof; a drive portion that rotates the spool in the take-up direction by forward driving force output and that actuates the sensor portion; and a clutch portion that couples the spool and the lock portion by actuation of the sensor portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventor: Takuhiro Saito
  • Publication number: 20140048638
    Abstract: An automatic reeling mechanism for an electric vehicle or a charging post can automatically reel a charging cable and thus protect it against dirt and weather. In order to reduce mechanical loads and damage to the plug and minimize a risk for stumbling to a person, the automatic reeling mechanism is switched in a passive mode as long as a plug of the charging cable is plugged in and is not touched by a person. This is the case during the charging process. In this way, the automatic reeling mechanism can be comfortably used because no traction forces are active during the charging process and the charging cable can be laid out so that there is no risk of stumbling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Rainer Falk, Steffen Fries
  • Patent number: 8646143
    Abstract: The invention presents a power transmission device comprising a cable, and a duct at least partially surrounding the cable, a reel, into which the cable with its duct can be reeled, a guide for feeding the cable onto and/or off the reel, and a crank in connection with the head end of the cable for rotating the cable. The power transmission device is mainly characterized in that the crank is a hydraulic crank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Picote Oy Ltd
    Inventor: Mika Lokkinen
  • Publication number: 20140001301
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a chain winder which has a casing, a chain housed at least partially within the casing and extension means operable to cause the chain to extend out from the casing and also to retract back into the casing. The chain winder also includes a clutch mechanism which is operable to allow the chain to be extended out from the casing, or retracted back into the casing, without operating the extension means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Martin Charles Potts, Craig Robert Jeffrey
  • Publication number: 20130334356
    Abstract: The invention relates to a belt tightening drive for tightening a safety belt which can be wound up around a winding shaft, said belt tightening drive comprising an electric motor, a spindle shaft and a output wheel coupled with the winding shaft and a worm gear, by way of which the output wheel is driven by the spindle shaft, wherein for the formation of the worm gear an external helical gear of the output wheel is combing with a worm drive supported torsionally rigid on the spindle shaft and it is provided according to the invention that the external gear of the output wheel comprises at least two gear sections, wherein a first gear section comprises a gear with constant geometry and a following second gear section is designed with an increasing root circle diameter and/or increasing tip circle diameter and/or increasing tooth thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: IMS GEAR GMBH
    Inventor: IMS GEAR GMBH
  • Publication number: 20130256445
    Abstract: A safety belt retractor, especially for use in motor vehicles, is provided, and has a blocking system and a tensioning device, which acts on a belt shaft, for carrying out a reversible pretensioning of an occupant. A spiral toothing meshes with an external toothing of the belt shaft, and is supported against a fixed counter-bearing such that upon an axial loading of the spiral toothing directed against the counter-bearing due to load acting on the belt shaft in a belt withdrawal direction, rotation of the spiral toothing, for receiving torque applied by the belt shaft, is prevented via a support force. An electric motor is coupled to the belt shaft via the spiral toothing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Andreas Lucht, Geert-Helge Wiffenberg, Frank Matzen, Erik Ziel, Peer Gross, Yogel Patel
  • Patent number: 8528938
    Abstract: The motor drive current has a value increased for a time necessary for the clutch operation to mechanically connect the motor and spool and, after the clutch operation, the drive current has a value necessary only for preventing the rotation of the spool due to the belt tension. In this way, the power necessary only for restraining the occupant is consumed after the operation of the clutch is ensured. Then, it is possible to reduce the motor power consumption and suppress heat generation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Hideyuki Tombe
  • Publication number: 20130193252
    Abstract: A reversible seat belt tensioner includes an electric motor (2), a belt shaft (1) drivable in the belt winding direction by the electric motor (2) via a drive wheel (10), and a drive shaft (9) transmitting the rotational movement of the electric motor (2) to the drive wheel (10). The drive shaft (9) is connected to at least one of the drive wheel (10) and the electric motor (2) via a helical gear unit. The teeth of the helical gear unit make point-shaped contacts with each other, and the drive shaft (9) is axially movable relative to the electric motor (2) or the drive wheel (10) without disengaging the gear teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Autoliv Development AB
  • Publication number: 20130187434
    Abstract: A belt winder for a safety belt system includes a belt reel for tightening or loosing the safety belt, and an electric motor for driving the belt reel. The motor includes a stator and a rotor rotatably mounted to the stator. The rotor includes an motor shaft, a commutator fixed to the motor shaft, a rotor core fixed to the motor shaft and rotor windings wound about teeth of the rotor core and electrically connected to segments of the commutator. The rotor windings include a plurality of winding units. Each winding unit includes at least two coils, the coils of each winding unit being wound about the same teeth and electrically connected to a same pair of segments in parallel. A safety belt system incorporating the belt winder is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: JOHNSON ELECTRIC S.A.
    Inventor: Johnson Electric S.A.
  • Patent number: 8473160
    Abstract: A steering operation force detection device for a steering wheel including a steering wheel rim having a right-side rim section and a left-side rim section. The device includes load cells that detect six component forces of the steering operation force acting on the right-side rim section and the left-side rim section consisting of forces in three axial directions and moments about three axes. The device includes a steering angle detection sensor that detects a steering angle of the steering wheel, and an inertial force component correcting unit that derives an inertial force component acting on the right-side rim section and the left-side rim section due to rotation of the steering wheel, based on an amount of displacement of the steering angle detected by the steering angle detection sensor, and that corrects the component force detected by the load cells to eliminate an effect of the derived inertial force component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Kuramori
  • Patent number: 8459329
    Abstract: A system positioning a flexible partition at a desired vertical position includes an elongated cylinder extending across the entire partition, connected to the partition to divide the partition into upper and lower portions. An outer bearing is fixed to an outside surface of a first end of the elongated cylinder. A proximal end of an arm is coupled to the outer bearing outer surface, the outer bearing permitting rotation of the elongated cylinder with respect to the arm. A counterweight is fixed to a distal end of the arm, to inhibit movement of the arm during any rotation of the elongated cylinder. A rotor portion of a motor is coupled to the elongated cylinder for rotating the cylinder, and a bracket is fixed to stator portion of the motor and to the arm proximal end to inhibit rotation of the stator during any rotation of the elongated cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Gared Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: James J. Connerley
  • Publication number: 20130098725
    Abstract: The present disclosure is of an automated cord reel apparatus comprising a housing; an electrical cord accommodated into the housing with one end of the electrical cord being mounted with a plug member connected to a wall receptacle and the other end of the electrical cord being mounted with an extension socket; and an electric cord unwinding/winding device for unwinding or winding the electric cord in response to a user option, wherein the electric cord, a motor adjusting a rotation direction of the guide unit, and a switch mounted at the extension socket to turn on/off and forwardly/backwardly rotate the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventor: Sung Yol Yun
  • Patent number: 8418280
    Abstract: The drive device, which serves for the transport of the cover of a liquid container, particularly a swimming pool, is installed or installable in device compartment, which is arranged separate from the liquid container. The drive device includes at least one winding shaft that interacts with the cover and that is coupled to a first drive unit. The winding shaft serves for the rolling-up of the cover, which can be guided over a deflection device to an outlet opening of the device compartment and, at the end facing the winding shaft, is connected to an outer tractive element, which is acting against the side of the cover that is opposite to the side which faces the deflection device, which outer tractive element presses cover under tension against the deflection device, and which outer tractive element is held and can be tensioned by a first traction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventor: Arthur Schwerzmann
  • Patent number: 8398012
    Abstract: A reversible seat belt tensioner includes an electric motor (2), a belt shaft (1) drivable in the belt winding direction by the electric motor (2) via a drive wheel (10), and a drive shaft (9) transmitting the rotational movement of the electric motor (2) to the drive wheel (10). The drive shaft (9) is connected to at least one of the drive wheel (10) and the electric motor (2) via a helical gear unit. The use of a helical gear unit provides the advantage that the rotational axes of the meshing components can be arranged at angles other than 90 degrees with respect to each other because the components in the helical gear units only come into punctiform contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Andreas Lucht, Matthias Borgward, Sébastien Baudinet
  • Publication number: 20130032654
    Abstract: In an electrical cord reel, a rotatable member can rotate about a winding axis to spool and unspool a linear material. An input power connector can couple to an electrical power source. An output power connector on the rotatable member can couple to an electrical cord at least partially wound about the rotatable member. A switch is adjustable to allow or prevent electrical current flow from the input power connector to the output power connector. In an aspect, the electrical cord reel includes an electric cord comprising a first power wire, a second power wire, and a signal wire. A method of controlling the electric cord spool system includes energizing the first power wire and the signal wire. The method further includes determining a continuity of the signal wire. The method further includes de-energizing the first power wire when determining discontinuity of the signal wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: GREAT STUFF, INC.
    Inventors: James B.A. Tracey, Mark Rosenau, Joseph M. Hill, III, Johnathan R. Tracey