Irregular Patents (Class 267/180)
  • Publication number: 20110169205
    Abstract: This invention provides a helical spring formed of plastic material, comprising a pair of end coils situated at respective ends of said helical spring; at least one full pitch active coil between said pair of end coils; a pair of transition coils, each transition coil interconnecting an end of a respective end coil to an end of a respective proximate full pitch active coil, and having a varying pitch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Stephen Kempf, Albert Mangels, Subramanya Naglapura, Sean Diamond, Brian Moulder, Brian Straiton
  • Patent number: 7950596
    Abstract: A fuel injector includes a fuel injector body defining a fuel inlet and at least one fuel outlet, a valve having a first valve state and a second valve state and an actuator for the valve. The fuel injector includes a biasing spring including a cylindrical rolled sheet having a first spring end, a second spring end and defining a longitudinal center axis. The cylindrical rolled sheet is configured to change in length to bias the actuator toward the first actuator position and includes a helical seam located between the first spring end and a second spring end which has a shape adapted to reduce non-uniformity in a spring constant via distributing stiffness about the longitudinal center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jay Venkataraghavan, Michael Long, Zhenlong Xu, Stephen Lewis
  • Publication number: 20110068523
    Abstract: A canted coil spring includes a first section having a plurality of first canted coils generally canted at an acute first angle relative to a first direction of a centerline extending through the first canted coils, and at least a second section coupled to the first section and having a plurality of second canted coils generally canted at an acute second angle relative to a second direction of the centerline extending through the second canted coils. The second direction is opposite to the first direction when the centerline is in a linear configuration. A method of manufacturing the canted coil includes fabricating a first wire section in a canted helical configuration thereby forming the plurality of first coils, and fabricating at least a second wire section in a canted helical configuration thereby forming the plurality of second coils. The first wire section is coupled to the second wire section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventor: Shawn Noh
  • Publication number: 20110031667
    Abstract: A coil spring with irregular cross section according to the present invention is made by subjecting a coil wire having an irregular cross section to a fatigue-strength improving treatment including a shot peening treatment after coiling the coil wire into a spring configuration, and the coil spring with irregular cross section has a vertical cross-sectional profile whose coil inner-peripheral-side section is expressed by following Equation (1) and Equation (2) in a polar coordinate system and orthogonal coordinate system: x=(LR??b)cosnxr?+?b??(1) y=SRsinnyr???(2) wherein ? is a deflection angle in said polar coordinate system; and 0°??<90°, 270°??<360°, 0.7?nxr?0.9, 0.8?nyr?1.0, and 0.1SR??b?0.3SR; in said Equation (1) and Equation (2). In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to provide a coil spring with irregular cross section that exhibits more uniform and higher fatigue strength along a cross-sectional peripheral direction of the coil wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Hisao Isobe, Jun Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7841088
    Abstract: A suspension coil spring, when assembled to a suspension device, in which a spring reaction axis is positioned coincident with or sufficiently close to a load input axis, and the design and manufacture of coil springs are facilitated. Namely, A suspension coil spring (19) in a free state is formed so that a coil axis (AC) is bent in V-shape at bend point (PB) and the distance from the end turn center (CU) of the upper seating surface (38) to an imaginary coil axis (AI) is an upper inclination amount (VU), and the distance from the end turn center (CL) to the imaginary coil axis (AI) is a lower inclination amount (VL). When the suspension coil spring (10) is interposed between spring seats (22, 24) in the suspension device and compress along a strut axis, the spring reaction axis of the suspension coil spring (10) is inclined and offset with respect to the imaginary coil axis (AI) according to the inclination amounts (VU, VL).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Steel Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Ogura, Yukihiro Sugimoto, Masahiko Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7814594
    Abstract: A one-sided mattress construction includes a spring assembly with asymmetric spring coils. Only the bottom portion of each spring coil is attached, either to adjacent spring coils or to a bottom surface of the mattress. The top portion of each spring may have a narrowing taper that permits the top to move independent of other adjacent springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Dreamwell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael S. DeFranks, Bernhard W. Kuchel
  • Patent number: 7793923
    Abstract: A wave coil spring includes: a spring main body which has a spiral structure of a wave-shaped spring material, the spring main body bearing an axial compressive load in such a state that surfaces of the spring main body which face each other are brought into contact with each other at a plurality of contact portions, the plurality of contact portions including: a first contact portion where a component of force is produced with application of the compressive load, which attempts to cause the spring main body to slide in a direction in which the coil main body is wound spirally; and a second contact portion where a component of force is produced with application of the compressive load, which attempts to cause the spring main body to slide in a direction in which the spring main body is unwound spirally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Piolax, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7731562
    Abstract: Toy helices each having a variable rate of movement. The toy helices, such as springs and coils, for example, may be formed of at least two different types of material each having different properties such as elasticity, flexibility, and attraction. In one embodiment, a first portion of a toy helix may be constructed of a first material having a first elasticity and a second portion of a toy helix may be coupled to the first portion and constructed of a second material having a second elasticity. The first elasticity and second elasticity are not identical and, thus, have different restoring forces acting to return the toy helix to its original shape. After such a toy helix is stretched, for example, the helix has a variable rate of movement during return to the compressed state because the first portion returns to its original shape at a different rate than the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Inventor: Virgil D. Huber
  • Publication number: 20100126819
    Abstract: A wave spring holding structure includes a wave spring that includes crest portions and recessed portions that are alternately formed in a circumferential direction thereof, and a first gap; a circular member provided to be rotatable around an axis; and an arc-shaped snap ring that includes a second gap, and that restricts movement of the circular member in a direction of the axis. The wave spring and the snap ring share the axis with the circular member. The wave spring and the snap ring are rotatable with respect to each other. The wave spring is disposed and held between the circular member and the snap ring so that the crest portions protrude toward the circular member, and the recessed portions protrude toward the snap ring. The first gap is formed in one of the crest portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shintaro Goto, Terasu Harashima, Naoki Kato
  • Patent number: 7691017
    Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner comprising a piston slidably inserted in a piston bore of a housing having rack teeth on an outer circumference thereof, a piston spring biasing the piston in a protruding direction, a pawl member having teeth engageable with the rack teeth of the piston to permit protruding movement of the piston but to block reverse movement of the piston provided in a pawl hole of the housing, and a pawl spring in a pawl spring hole of a generally elliptical cross-section that biases the pawl member in an engaging direction of the teeth of the pawl member with the rack teeth of the piston. A long axis of the generally elliptical cross-sectional shape of the pawl spring is oriented toward an axial direction of the piston. Wire portions of the pawl spring substantially follow the long axis that contacts an upper surface of the pawl member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: BorgWarner Morse TEC Japan K.K.
    Inventors: Shin Seungpyo, Simon Barrette
  • Patent number: 7441980
    Abstract: A device for joining a first component A and a second component B while leaving a joining gap SP includes a bolt 4 and a compensating coil 2 for compensating tolerances of the joining gap. The compensating coil is adapted to be fixed to the bolt 4 by frictional engagement means and/or releasable positive engagement means. The dimensions of the compensating coil are adapted to a helical rim hole portion 6 of the first component A such that actuation of the bolt 4 causes the compensating coil to rotate through the helical rim hole portion until it fills the joining gap for the purpose of tolerance compensation, and the frictional engagement means and/or releasable positive engagement means is overcome by further actuation of the bolt 4 so that the bolt can be screwed into a threaded hole of the second component B to join the two components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Bollhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Wulf Leitermann, Klaus Friedrich Grubert
  • Patent number: 7418973
    Abstract: A pressure regulator comprising a body portion having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a flow passage positioned therebetween is provided. A valve member and a valve seat are positioned in the flow passage. A spring is coupled to the valve member to urge the valve member along an axis towards the valve seat, wherein the flow passage is substantially closed when the valve member engages with the valve seat. The spring has an extended segment in contact with a fixed surface, whereby the extended segment restricts displacement of the spring in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Ellis Graham
  • Patent number: 7418753
    Abstract: A one-sided mattress construction includes a spring assembly with asymmetric spring coils. Only the bottom portion of each spring coil is attached, either to adjacent spring coils or to a bottom surface of the mattress. The top portion of each spring may have a narrowing taper that permits the top to move independent of other adjacent springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Dreamwell, Ltd
    Inventors: Bernhard W. Kuchel, Michael S. DeFranks
  • Patent number: 7404223
    Abstract: Innerspring coils for innersprings for mattresses and other reflexive support structures, have generally helical coil bodies and at least one non-helical segment or step which extends between one or both axial ends of the coil body and one or both of the coil ends. The step or steps may be linear or non-linear, and parallel to or angularly disposed with respect to a longitudinal axis of the coil body. When located proximate to a coil end, the step extends out of the plane in which the coil end lies. One or more steps may alternatively be formed intermediate to helical turns of the helical coil body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sealy Technology LLC
    Inventors: Brian M. Manuszak, Larry K. DeMoss, James A. Beamon
  • Patent number: 7367354
    Abstract: A check valve includes a housing formed with a valve hole through which fluid flows, a valve seat formed on the peripheral wall of the valve hole, a valve element disposed in the valve hole to be movable between a valve closed position where the valve element makes close contact with the valve seat to close the valve hole and a valve open position where the valve element moves away from the valve seat in the downstream direction to open the valve hole, a coil spring for biasing the valve element toward the valve closed position wherein the coil spring is larger in outer diameter than valve element, and a pressure acting portion provided to the coil spring so as to undergo the pressure of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Motojima, Masaaki Iijima
  • Patent number: 7337796
    Abstract: A safety relief valve is provided that comprises a body comprising a chamber therein and an inlet and an outlet, the inlet comprising an inlet valve seat; a disk member closeable on the inlet valve seat; and a mechanism in the body biasing the disk member to rest on the inlet valve seat with a set force such that when the pressure in the inlet exceeds a set pressure resulting from the set force, the disk member is lifted from the inlet valve seat, the mechanism comprising a combination of a coil spring and one or more disk springs stacked in series with the coil spring. A method of preparing a coil spring for use in a pressure relief valve comprises measuring the spring rate of the coil spring and; modifying the spring so as to modify its spring rate to be within ±2% of a desired spring rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Mercer Valve Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy R. Choate, Michael J. Easton, Wesley L. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7309357
    Abstract: A prosthetic spinal disc uses a stiff spring or springs for resiliency between two plates that attach to adjacent vertebrae. When the disc has multiple springs, they may be adjacent, concentric or nested. Multiple springs may be spaced around the periphery of the plates. A foil metal bellows may surround the plates to prevent material from entering or exiting the space between the plates. Alternatively, the ends of the spring(s) may be machined with spikes to engage the vertebrae directly without plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Infinesse, Corporation
    Inventor: Chong Chol Kim
  • Publication number: 20070228626
    Abstract: A wave coil spring includes: a spring main body which has a spiral structure of a wave-shaped spring material, the spring main body bearing an axial compressive load in such a state that surfaces of the spring main body which face each other are brought into contact with each other at a plurality of contact portions, the plurality of contact portions including: a first contact portion where a component of force is produced with application of the compressive load, which attempts to cause the spring main body to slide in a direction in which the coil main body is wound spirally; and a second contact portion where a component of force is produced with application of the compressive load, which attempts to cause the spring main body to slide in a direction in which the spring main body is unwound spirally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: PIOLAX, INC.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7247007
    Abstract: A linear compressor includes a cylinder part and a piston part. A spring connects the cylinder part and the piston part and operates in the direction of reciprocation of the piston part relative to the cylinder part. The piston part includes a radially compliant but axially stiff linkage and piston. The cylinder part includes a cylinder and a cylinder liner therewithin. A bore runs through the cylinder liner and the piston reciprocates in the bore. Gas bearing passages are formed between the cylinder and the cylinder liner leading to opening through the wall of the cylinder liner to the bore. A gas bearing manifold receives compressed gases and supplies the compressed gases to the gas bearing passages. The gas bearing passages follow a tortuous path to the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited
    Inventors: Lindsey Jack Roke, Ian Campbell McGill, Gerald David Duncan, William George Ferguson, Andrew Paul Taylor
  • Patent number: 7231702
    Abstract: A connecting structure is provided. The structure includes a post with a first end, middle portion, and a second end, a plurality of prongs flexibly connected to the first end, extending toward the second end in a V-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Exhart Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Isaac Weiser, Margaret Weiser
  • Patent number: 7178187
    Abstract: Asymmetric spring components for mattress and other flexible support structures, in the form of helical coil springs with turns in the coil body having varying pitch angles and radii, and a single support end for use in a one sided innersprings in one-sided mattresses. The coil springs are asymmetric about an axis of the coil or a horizontal reference plane, or both, and with ends of the coil springs shaped and sized differently to accommodate different mounting and support arrangements. Asymmetric coil springs can be contained in individual pockets or strings of pockets and arranged together to form an asymmetric pocketed coil innerspring for use in a one-sided mattress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Sealy Technology LLC
    Inventors: Bruce G. Barman, Larry DeMoss
  • Patent number: 7168117
    Abstract: A spring assembly including a helical coil formed from a multi-strand cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Dreamwell Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard F. Gladney, Bernhard W. Kuchel
  • Patent number: 7152854
    Abstract: In a cell cover according to the present invention, a compressed coil spring formed by deforming a linear elastic member is fixed to a plate member provided with a raised bent portion as a projection on a first side. The raised bent portion engages with an engagement part comprising a plurality of extended portions and bent portions of the compressed coil. A spring of the compressed coil is formed on a second side of the plate member. A spring seat winding at the bottom of the spring is pressed to the end face of the plate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Uchida
  • Patent number: 7047581
    Abstract: A mattress construction with a stranded wire spring is disclosed. The stranded wire spring can be designed with the same performance characteristic as a conventional single strand coil spring, but at a lower manufacturing and material cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Dreamwell, Ltd.
    Inventor: Richard F. Gladney
  • Patent number: 6944899
    Abstract: A mattress construction with a multi-strand coil spring is disclosed. The multi-strand coil spring can be designed with the same performance characteristic as a conventional solid wire coil spring, but at a lower manufacturing and material cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Dreamwell, Ltd.
    Inventor: Richard F. Gladney
  • Patent number: 6931685
    Abstract: A one-sided mattress construction includes a spring assembly with asymmetric spring coils. Only the bottom portion of each spring coil is attached, either to adjacent spring coils or to a bottom surface of the mattress. The top portion of each spring may have a narrowing taper that permits the top to move independent of other adjacent springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Dreamwell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Bernhard W. Kuchel, Michael S. DeFranks
  • Patent number: 6883790
    Abstract: The invention comprises a vehicle strut assembly. A strut has a first seat mounted to the strut and a second seat mounted to a vehicle body. A spring is mounted between the first seat and the second seat and is disposed around the strut. The spring has a compressed state and an uncompressed state. In the compressed state, the spring has a middle portion that defines a spring centerline. In the uncompressed state, the spring has ends portions extending towards opposite sides of the spring centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Marlon V. Bottene, Joseph A. Fader, Steven J. Doyle, Jr., Monte G. Williams, Steven G. Saieg, George N. Lasic, Thomas R. King
  • Publication number: 20040169322
    Abstract: A suspension coil spring, when assembled to a suspension device, in which a spring reaction axis is positioned coincident with or sufficiently close to a load input axis, and the design and manufacture of coil springs are facilitated. Namely, A suspension coil spring (19) in a free state is formed so that a coil axis (AC) is bent in V-shape at bend point (PB) and the distance from the end turn center (CU) of the upper seating surface (38) to an imaginary coil axis (AI) is an upper inclination amount (VU), and the distance from the end turn center (CL) to the imaginary coil axis (AI) is a lower inclination amount (VL). When the suspension coil spring (10) is interposed between spring seats (22, 24) in the suspension device and compress along a strut axis, the spring reaction axis of the suspension coil spring (10) is inclined and offset with respect to the imaginary coil axis (AI) according to the inclination amounts (VU, VL).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Junji Ogura, Yukihiro Sugimoto, Masahiko Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20040075203
    Abstract: A vibratory conveying apparatus includes a trough having a conveying surface connected via springs to a vibratory exciter. The springs are arranged on opposite sides of the exciter and compress against bracket plates of the trough. The springs are coil springs each having a rotationally non-symmetrical cross-section. Preferably, the springs each have an ovoid-shaped or rectangular cross section with an outside dimension being greater along the lateral axis than along the transverse axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Cable, William J. Kurnocik, Daniel R. Fink, Richard J. Orr
  • Publication number: 20040070128
    Abstract: A coil spring includes a plurality of primary wire coils and a plurality of secondary wire coils, the primary and secondary coils being contiguous and differentiated from one another by a dimensional size in order to provide variable force and variable deflection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventor: Peter J. Balsells
  • Patent number: 6712346
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a helical compression spring which is mounted on a vehicle body to be compressed between an upper seat and a lower seat. The spring is formed to provide a coil axis to be substantially curved at a predetermined radius of curvature in an unloaded state of the spring. A pitch of a lower end coil of the spring is set to tilt a lower end plane of the spring at a first angle to the lower seat in a direction for shortening the longitudinal length of the spring at the inside of the curvature in the unloaded state of the spring, and/or a pitch of an upper end coil of the spring is set to tilt an upper end plane of the spring at a second angle in a direction for shortening the longitudinal length of the spring at the outside of the curvature in the unloaded state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Chuo Hatsujo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 6669184
    Abstract: A compression spring comprising a plurality of composite wave rings stacked and attached to one another in crest to crest configuration. Each of the wave rings has a plurality of alternating peaks and troughs wherein one peak and one adjacent trough define a wave having a wave height measured axially from the peak to the trough and the wave heights vary such that the compression spring provides a varying spring rate as the compression spring is compressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Haimian Cai, Gary Walter Leevy, Lakshmana Gummadi
  • Publication number: 20030168792
    Abstract: A coil spring 10 having a plurality of windings 12, at least two of the windings 12 being hinged together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventor: John Philip Roger Hammerbeck
  • Patent number: 6604736
    Abstract: A spring assembly comprising: an axially extending coil formed from a spring wire and having first and second ends and a length there between with an interior having a generally circular cross-section. The coil includes first end portion with a first diameter and extending inwardly from the first end, a second end portion with a second diameter and extending inwardly from the second end and a center portion with a third diameter between the end portions of the coil. An elongated core is placed within the interior of the coil at the center portion and two spaced lugs formed from the spring wire and extending chordally across the circular cross-section capture the core in the center portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Barnes Group Inc.
    Inventor: Brian R. Tomczak
  • Patent number: 6547227
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper comprising at least two components which can be twisted against the resistance of at least one energy storage element, spring coils extending along its longitudinal axis. The components have forced-application areas for compressing the energy storage element. The invention also relates to a helical compression spring made of steel spring wire which has a plurality of coils along its length and can be compressed until it becomes blocked. Between its two terminal coils, the helical spring has at least two types of coils having different external diameters, namely a first larger external diameter and a second, smaller external diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventor: Hartmut Mende
  • Patent number: 6543757
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a helical compression spring which is mounted on a vehicle body to be compressed between an upper seat and a lower seat. The spring is formed to provide an end coil center line connecting the centers of an upper end coil and a lower end coil to be offset to a coil axis of a body portion of the spring. A pitch of the lower end coil is set to tilt a lower end plane of the spring at a first angle to the lower seat in a direction for shortening the longitudinal length of one side of the spring closer to the end coil center line than the coil axis, in an unloaded state of the spring, and/or a pitch of the upper end coil is set to tilt an upper end plane of the spring at a second angle in a direction for shortening the longitudinal length of the other side of the spring closer to the coil axis than the end coil center line, in the unloaded state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Chuo Hatsujo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 6533259
    Abstract: This invention relates to a resilient return having a fixing seat, and to an elongate body fitted with such resilient return. The resilient return, particularly a spring in accordance with the invention, comprise a seat (9) capable of fitting into a receiving cavity, made in at least one wall (10) of an elongate element (29), typically in the radially-inner face of the wall of a tubular element, of a sleeve or similar. The present invention mainly applies to the motor car industry and especially to the design and manufacturing of braking devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: David Devambe
  • Publication number: 20020190452
    Abstract: A coil spring having a substantially circular arc on two sides and a flattened opposite side is provided. The flattened opposite sides may be configured with a radius of curvature that is substantially greater than the radius of curvature of the substantially arcuate sides, or the flattened opposite sides may in fact be flat. Such a configuration resists flexural movement in one direction more than it resists flexture in a perpendicular direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventor: Barry Drager
  • Patent number: 6481701
    Abstract: A spring includes intermediate coils of larger and smaller diameter so that upon compression of the spring the smaller diameter coil may nest within one of the large diameter coils, thereby reducing the overall length of the spring without causing the coils to come in contact with one another. The spring may be used in automotive vehicle suspension assemblies and other applications. The axis of the smaller coil may be offset from the axes of the other coils, thereby providing a spring in which one side is softer and the other is stiffer, so that upon compression the spring bows or deflects along a curved line. In addition to the small diameter coil being offset from the remaining coils, the wire diameter of one or more of the coils may be changed to affect the local stiffness of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Steven Kessen, David John Fanson
  • Patent number: 6460840
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a helical compression spring which is mounted on a vehicle body to be compressed between an upper seat and a lower seat. The spring has a coil axis that is substantially curved at a predetermined radius of curvature in an unloaded state of the spring. A pitch of a lower end coil of the spring is set to tilt the end plane of the lower end coil at a first predetermined angle to the lower seat in the direction for shortening the longitudinal length of the spring at the inside of the curvature, and/or a pitch of an upper end coil is set to tilt the end plane of the upper end coil at a second predetermined angle to the upper seat in the direction for shortening the longitudinal length of the spring at the outside of the curvature. The coil axis of the spring may be substantially curved in accordance with at least two radius of curvature in the unloaded state of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Cho Hatsujo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Imaizumi, Toshiho Aoyama, Shuji Kamiya, Takashi Gotoh, Koichi Irie
  • Patent number: 6460835
    Abstract: Provided is a wheel suspension system (4) and a spring (6, 16, 26) therefor which can improve the ride comfort of the vehicle by reducing the sliding resistance between the cylinder and the piston of the tubular shock absorber (5) surrounded by the compression coil spring without increasing the size of the suspension system and without complicating the assembly work. The compression coil spring is adapted to produce lateral forces between two ends thereof as the compression coil spring is extended and compressed by forming the coil spring so as to have cyclically varying pitch angle for each turn of the coil wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Hamano, Hirotake Kato, Iwao Shigeoka, Takahiro Nakamura, Toshiyuki Kamakura, Masaya Komazaki
  • Publication number: 20020125623
    Abstract: A spring includes intermediate coils of larger and smaller diameter so that upon compression of the spring the smaller diameter coil may nest within one of the large diameter coils, thereby reducing the overall length of the spring without causing the coils to come in contact with one another. The spring may be used in automotive vehicle suspension assemblies and other applications. The axis of the smaller coil may be offset from the axes of the other coils, thereby providing a spring in which one side is softer and the other is stiffer, so that upon compression the spring bows or deflects along a curved line. In addition to the small diameter coil being offset from the remaining coils, the wire diameter of one or more of the coils may be changed to affect the local stiffness of the spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Jeffrey Steven Kessen, David John Fanson
  • Patent number: 6375174
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a curved helical compression spring having a plurality of coils along a curved coil axis. Each coil constituting the helical compression spring is increased and decreased in diameter, and the order of the increased diameter and the decreased diameter of each coil is reversed at a predetermined position on the longitudinal axis of the helical compression spring, so as to provide the curved coil axis, such as the coil axis curved in C-shape. For example, one section of each coil having approximately a half of the circumference of each coil, which is divided by a plane including the coil axis, is increased in diameter, whereas the other one section of approximately a half of the circumference of each coil is decreased in diameter. The curved helical compression spring may be mounted on a vehicle suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Chuo Hatsujo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiji Hasegawa, Toshiyuki Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 6328290
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a helical compression spring which is mounted on a vehicle body to be compressed between an upper seat and a lower seat. The spring has a coil axis that is substantially curved at a predetermined radius of curvature in an unloaded state of the spring. A pitch of a lower end coil of the spring is set to tilt the end plane of the lower end coil at a first predetermined angle to the lower seat in the direction for shortening the longitudinal length of the spring at the inside of the curvature, and/or a pitch of an upper end coil is set to tilt the end plane of the upper end coil at a second predetermined angle to the upper seat in the direction for shortening the longitudinal length of the spring at the outside of the curvature. The coil axis of the spring may be substantially curved in accordance with at least two radiuses of curvature in the unloaded state of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Chuo Hatsujo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Imaizumi, Toshiho Aoyama, Shuji Kamiya, Takashi Gotoh, Koichi Irie
  • Patent number: 6299150
    Abstract: A spring element is made of a spring material and is formed into a generally elliptical shape. Two mounting pins extend in a normal direction through parallel relatively short segments of said elliptically-shaped spring element. The mounting pins are substantially aligned with the shorter of the two axis of the elliptically-shaped spring element so as to extend both inwardly and outwardly of said elliptically-shaped spring element. An elastomeric coating is applied around substantially all of the spring elements and a pair of blocks, each of which surrounds one of the mounting pins receives one of the mounting pins. A number of spring elements are joined together by two parallel, spaced-apart coupling links which contain cavities therein to receive one of the blocks of each of the spring elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Noel L. Allen, Allen L. Arndt, Scott M. Ralston
  • Patent number: 6299367
    Abstract: A sheet feeding mechanism includes a sheet feed roller for transporting a sheet along a paper transport path, and a sheet-pressing member disposed so as to press the sheet feed roller. The sheet-pressing member integrally includes a pressing portion which is formed by increasing the diameter of a part of a coiled portion of a compression coil spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Kawakami, Kenichi Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 6273396
    Abstract: The electromagnetic valve has a valve body capable to open and close a fluid communication path, first and second springs opposing to each other and biasing the valve body. Biasing forces of the first and second spring toward the valve body are balanced with each other so as to have valve body open the communication path. When a coil is energized, a moving member is driven so as to have the valve body move against the biasing force of the first spring during a first moving stroke so that an elastic energy may be stored in the first spring. When the coil is de-energized, the valve body is moved back by the first spring not only during the first moving stroke but also during a second moving stroke to absorb the elastic energy stored in the first spring by the second spring. There is an enough space where the moving member may move back during the second moving stroke so as not to hit any part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo Kato
  • Patent number: 6250618
    Abstract: A curved wave shim is formed from a flat elongated wire strip which follows a sinusoidal wave path that includes a series of waves spaced about the curved wave shim path, each wave having a shoulder portion which bears against generally parallel surfaces of the working elements positioned on a shaft or in a cylinder bore. The shim fits in a rectangular groove formed either on a shaft or in a cylinder bore, the axial height of the groove being slightly greater than the distance between successive wave crests and troughs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Smalley Steel Ring Company
    Inventor: Michael Greenhill
  • Patent number: D537945
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Inventor: Velton C. White
  • Patent number: D538434
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Inventor: Velton C. White