Biased For Movement In One Direction, E.g., By Gravity, Spring, Etc. Patents (Class 248/665)
  • Patent number: 11658385
    Abstract: An antenna system including an antenna adjustable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The antenna includes a reflector having an annular array of spaced-apart ribs coupled to a hub, whereby the ribs can be adjustable between a collapsed configuration and an extended configuration in which the ribs outwardly extend from the hub. When the ribs dispose in the collapsed configuration, the antenna can be disposable in the stowed configuration; and when the antenna disposes in the deployed configuration, (i) the ribs can dispose in the extended configuration, and (ii) the reflector can be directionally adjustable, such as in both elevation and azimuth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: TENDEG LLC
    Inventor: Gregg E. Freebury
  • Patent number: 11401153
    Abstract: A manual fuel pump device comprises a crank operated fuel pump in mechanical communication with a spring-loaded hand crank by means of a pump, pulley, and belt system. A dynamo is in mechanical communication with the belt thereby generating a useable electrical current. The device is configured to be an additional component of industry grade fuel dispenser permitting a user to operate the dispenser in the event of an electrical outage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Inventor: Anthony M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9441705
    Abstract: In the case of a holder for fastening a unit (2), in particular a pump, to a motor vehicle, with an annular damping element (1), the inner region of which is provided for accommodating the unit (2) and which has, on the outside, a block-shaped fastening part (4), under the upper side (14) of which a plate-like insert (8) which is designed for local reinforcement of the damping element (1) is arranged, it is proposed according to the invention that two opposite edges of the insert (8) each have a wing (11) running into the damping element (1). This produces an increased, but limited local minimum rigidity of the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Hein, Guenther Riehl, Samir Mahfoudh, Thomas Kotlarski
  • Patent number: 7540465
    Abstract: A motor mount for a motor that drives an endless belt for a vibratory apparatus has a platform on which the motor is attached. The platform is supported on a base by a pivoting connection so that the platform rotates about an axis that is parallel to the motor shaft. Spring tension is applied to the belt drive by a leaf spring bias between the platform and the base at a distance from the pivotal connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Inventors: Charles A. Miller, Roger L. Miller
  • Patent number: 6062527
    Abstract: An improved support boom is disclosed for supporting instrumentation on extraterrestrial vehicles. The support boom includes first and second support legs which are each pivotably mountable at corresponding first ends to a support structure and which are interconnected at second ends to define a support boom structure. In one embodiment, flexure members are interposed in each of the support legs so as to pivot the support boom structure from a stowed position to a deployed, cantilevered position. The flexure members may be elongated with an arcuate cross-sectional configuration when straight (e.g., of carpenter's tape construction). Preferably, three support legs are included to define a tripod support arrangement, wherein each of the support legs includes at least one flexure member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: William D. Nygren, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5921876
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with motor-driven assemblies is described. The motor-driven assembly comprises a motor, a pulley driven by the motor, a driven element and a belt drive connecting the pulley and the driven element. The apparatus comprises a motor base and a pivot base. The motor is arranged on the motor base such that, due to the positioning of its mass, the motor will pivot away from the drive element. However, pivoting in this direction is opposed by the belt drive. Thus, as the belt drive tension reduces, the motor will pivot away from the drive element, thereby tightening the belt. A one-way restraining means connecting the pivot base and the motor base prevents the motor from pivoting back toward the drive element, thereby keeping the belt drive taut and retaining drive design expectations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: CML Northern Blower Inc.
    Inventor: Elgin Zelinski
  • Patent number: 5864320
    Abstract: Dual-axis hinge assemblies comprising mechanical devices which provide integrated synchronous rotation of a support element, such as a space antenna shaft, attached to a vertical hinge shaft about its own axis while simultaneously pivoting the support shaft about a horizontal hinge shaft having a second axis which extends in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the vertical hinge shaft. The hinge assembly is adapted to be mounted parallel to a side surface of a spacecraft body and restrained by a holddown device, and is biased to cause the space antenna to pivot on the horizontal hinge shaft from restrained position to deployed position and to simultaneously turn on its own axis about a vertical hinge shaft when the restraint is removed, to aim the antenna reflector disk in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, Inc.
    Inventor: Varouj G. Baghdasarian
  • Patent number: 5280309
    Abstract: A belt-drive tensioning system for a motor drive positioning system, especially for X-Y digital plotters. The tensioning system employs spring-loading involving motion along only one translational direction to accurately preset and maintain constant the desired belt tension. Preferred embodiments to provide a self-contained modular unit include a dual plate assembly in roller-bearing relationship, and the use of V-shaped mounting springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: Summagraphics Corporation
    Inventors: Charles D. Zinsmeyer, Marlan L. Schmidt, Gregory L. Spaulding
  • Patent number: 5233818
    Abstract: A shock absorbing motor mount for heavy duty rotary cutting machines equipped with a frame and a hydraulic motor, or the like, mounted on the frame for driving a rotating cutting blade is disclosed. The shock absorbing motor mount includes a bearing for rotatably mounting the motor to the frame and a torsion arm for limiting the rotation of the motor with respect to the frame to permit an effective transfer of drive force from the motor to the cutting blade while maintaining the motor in a neutral position. The torsion arm includes a resilient shock absorber such as a compression spring mounted on one end of the torsion arm for progressively decelerating the rotation of the motor when the cutting blade strikes an object that possesses sufficient inertia to induce a rotation of the motor with respect to the frame, and returns the motor to the neutral position after the impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Inventor: Deke Dettbarn
  • Patent number: 4880077
    Abstract: A base for a loudspeaker enclosure is formed of a lower base disk, an upper support disk and an interposed spacer element which together define an internal hollow space to which structure-borne sound is transmitted. The area of contact between the spacer element and the disks is relatively small is comparison to the area of the disks which defines the hollow space at top and bottom sides thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the disks are formed of a sound-insulating material, preferably rubber, and the spacer element is a spacer ring that peripherally defines the hollow space. Also, a bracing foot, preferably of an inverted frustoconical shape, may be carried upon the upper support disk, for which purpose a support plate is centrally mounted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Inventors: Gisbert Verse, Michael Schroder
  • Patent number: 4768930
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a ratchet or hold-down mechanism for a motor which is pivotally connected to a base of a compressor attached to an air receiving tank. The compressor is provided with a base having a pair of legs at one end which terminate at resilient pads resting on the tank. The motor is attached to the compressor base adjacent the legs for limited pivotal movement toward and away from the compressor. A ratchet or hold-down mechanism is provided between the motor and the compressor base to restrict pivotal movement of the motor toward the compressor while allowing the motor to pivot away from the compressor to increase the tension on a belt connected therebetween. The ratchet mechanism maintains tension on the belt in the event that the portable air compressor is picked up by the motor or is accidently tipped on its side. In addition, the ratchet mechanism maintains a minimum tension on the belt during operation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: The DeVilbiss Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Grime, Gary C. Kreutzer
  • Patent number: 4693444
    Abstract: A height adjust mechanism which may be advantageously used to set a keyboard to a predetermined number of angles with respect to a support surface upon which the keyboard sits. The apparatus is integral with the keyboard base and includes an adjustment foot member having a ratchet surface with four detents therein. The foot member is pivotally mounted within the keyboard base and extends downward through a hole in the keyboard base. An adjustment lever is also pivotally mounted within the keyboard base and includes a pawl which engages one of the detents of the adjustment foot member. A single spring is connected to the adjustment foot and to the adjustment lever. This spring biases the adjustment foot in a downward direction, while at the same time biasing the adjustment lever so that the pawl positively engages one of the detents of the ratchet surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: Intergraph Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn T. Williams, Michael D. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4598601
    Abstract: A means for counterbalancing a mass (9) in mechanisms such as a robot arm (1), wherein the robot arm (1) has a fixed support point (2) and is attached to one end of a spring (3) for counterbalancing arm loading. The other, remote point of attachment (6) for the spring (3) is movable in relation to the fixed support point (2) for the arm (1), so that the distance between said remote point of attachment (6) for the spring (3) and the fixed support point (2) for the robot arm (1) can be varied for altering the geometry of the system, according to the weight of the mass, the tool (9), attached to the end of the robot arm (1), whereby the robot arm (1) can be counterbalanced in all positions and can be adjusted to different masses without reducing the dynamic properties of the robot arm (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Inventor: Ole Molaug
  • Patent number: 4503792
    Abstract: A sewing machine motor is provided with an elongate pin which is affixed in the end portions of the arms of sheet metal motor end brackets, and which is pivotally mounted in frame affixed resilient end blocks to enable the motor to be adjusted about the axis of the pin for the purpose of altering tension in a belt driven by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: The Singer Company
    Inventor: Albert N. Cook
  • Patent number: 4372180
    Abstract: A gear motor assembly is disposed in a support structure in such a manner that it may rotate in a plane perpendicular to the output shaft thereof. Stops are provided for preventing the shaft from turning past a predetermined point. The motor assembly is located in the support structure by a resilient leaf spring which deflects when the stops are engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1983
    Assignee: Siemens-Allis, Inc.
    Inventor: Parker A. Bollinger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4350104
    Abstract: A sewing machine motor is provided with stamped out sheet metal end brackets including arms with disc like end portions which are mounted for pivotal movement in slots in a frame to permit the motor to be adjusted as required to alter tension in a belt driven by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1982
    Assignee: The Singer Company
    Inventor: Albert N. Cook
  • Patent number: 4313729
    Abstract: A belt idler pulley support arm (32) is mounted on a support wall by a pivot structure (48) whose position is determined by three individually adjustable mounting members (71, 72, 73). The mounting members (71, 72, 73) for the pivot structure (48) are accessible for adjustment from the side of the pivot structure remote from the support wall (46) and adjustments may be made while the belt (36) is running thereby allowing a very accurate alignment of the idler pulley (31) with the belt (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1982
    Assignee: Allis-Chalmers Corporation
    Inventor: Larry R. James
  • Patent number: 4188008
    Abstract: A farm pump mounting bracket comprising a split arm assembly suitable to adjustably support a mounting plate for pump supporting purposes. An adjustable safety retainer interconnects the housing of the farm pump with a portion of the body of the drive motor to prevent unrestricted mounting plate rotation in the event of drive belt failure. The bracket is sturdily constructed and employs a minimum number of operating parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1980
    Inventor: Joseph A. Eagan, Sr.