Irregular Patents (Class 267/180)
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Publication number: 20110169205Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2010Publication date: July 14, 2011Inventors: Stephen Kempf, Albert Mangels, Subramanya Naglapura, Sean Diamond, Brian Moulder, Brian Straiton
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Patent number: 7950596Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 27, 2008Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Jay Venkataraghavan, Michael Long, Zhenlong Xu, Stephen Lewis
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Publication number: 20110068523Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2010Publication date: March 24, 2011Inventor: Shawn Noh
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Publication number: 20110031667Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2009Publication date: February 10, 2011Inventors: Hisao Isobe, Jun Matsumoto
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Patent number: 7841088Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Mitsubishi Steel Mfg. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Junji Ogura, Yukihiro Sugimoto, Masahiko Shimizu
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Patent number: 7814594Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 29, 2008Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Dreamwell, Ltd.Inventors: Michael S. DeFranks, Bernhard W. Kuchel
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Patent number: 7793923Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 30, 2007Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Piolax, Inc.Inventor: Hiroyuki Suzuki
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Patent number: 7731562Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 12, 2006Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Inventor: Virgil D. Huber
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Publication number: 20100126819Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2009Publication date: May 27, 2010Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shintaro Goto, Terasu Harashima, Naoki Kato
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Patent number: 7691017Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 18, 2005Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: BorgWarner Morse TEC Japan K.K.Inventors: Shin Seungpyo, Simon Barrette
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Patent number: 7441980Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 10, 2006Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Assignee: Bollhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbHInventors: Wulf Leitermann, Klaus Friedrich Grubert
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Patent number: 7418973Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 8, 2005Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.Inventor: Gary Ellis Graham
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Patent number: 7418753Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 23, 2005Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Assignee: Dreamwell, LtdInventors: Bernhard W. Kuchel, Michael S. DeFranks
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Patent number: 7404223Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 20, 2007Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: Sealy Technology LLCInventors: Brian M. Manuszak, Larry K. DeMoss, James A. Beamon
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Patent number: 7367354Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 15, 2005Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Junichi Motojima, Masaaki Iijima
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Patent number: 7337796Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 16, 2005Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignee: Mercer Valve Company, Inc.Inventors: Jeremy R. Choate, Michael J. Easton, Wesley L. Taylor
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Patent number: 7309357Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 30, 2004Date of Patent: December 18, 2007Assignee: Infinesse, CorporationInventor: Chong Chol Kim
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Publication number: 20070228626Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2007Publication date: October 4, 2007Applicant: PIOLAX, INC.Inventor: Hiroyuki Suzuki
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Patent number: 7247007Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 25, 2005Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Appliances LimitedInventors: Lindsey Jack Roke, Ian Campbell McGill, Gerald David Duncan, William George Ferguson, Andrew Paul Taylor
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Patent number: 7231702Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 8, 2004Date of Patent: June 19, 2007Assignee: Exhart Environmental Systems, Inc.Inventors: Isaac Weiser, Margaret Weiser
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Patent number: 7178187Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 28, 2004Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Sealy Technology LLCInventors: Bruce G. Barman, Larry DeMoss
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Patent number: 7168117Abstract: A spring assembly including a helical coil formed from a multi-strand cord.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2004Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Dreamwell Ltd.Inventors: Richard F. Gladney, Bernhard W. Kuchel
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Patent number: 7152854Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 7, 2004Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventor: Junichi Uchida
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Patent number: 7047581Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 19, 2003Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: Dreamwell, Ltd.Inventor: Richard F. Gladney
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Patent number: 6944899Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 15, 2003Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: Dreamwell, Ltd.Inventor: Richard F. Gladney
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Patent number: 6931685Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 12, 2003Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: Dreamwell, Ltd.Inventors: Bernhard W. Kuchel, Michael S. DeFranks
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Patent number: 6883790Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 6, 2002Date of Patent: April 26, 2005Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLCInventors: Marlon V. Bottene, Joseph A. Fader, Steven J. Doyle, Jr., Monte G. Williams, Steven G. Saieg, George N. Lasic, Thomas R. King
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Publication number: 20040169322Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2004Publication date: September 2, 2004Inventors: Junji Ogura, Yukihiro Sugimoto, Masahiko Shimizu
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Publication number: 20040075203Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2002Publication date: April 22, 2004Inventors: Jeffrey L. Cable, William J. Kurnocik, Daniel R. Fink, Richard J. Orr
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Publication number: 20040070128Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2003Publication date: April 15, 2004Inventor: Peter J. Balsells
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Patent number: 6712346Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 8, 2002Date of Patent: March 30, 2004Assignee: Chuo Hatsujo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toshiyuki Imaizumi
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Patent number: 6669184Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 29, 2002Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Haimian Cai, Gary Walter Leevy, Lakshmana Gummadi
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Publication number: 20030168792Abstract: A coil spring 10 having a plurality of windings 12, at least two of the windings 12 being hinged together.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2003Publication date: September 11, 2003Inventor: John Philip Roger Hammerbeck
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Patent number: 6604736Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 7, 2002Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: Barnes Group Inc.Inventor: Brian R. Tomczak
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Patent number: 6547227Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 25, 2000Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KGInventor: Hartmut Mende
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Patent number: 6543757Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 13, 2001Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Chuo Hatsujo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toshiyuki Imaizumi
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Patent number: 6533259Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 20, 2001Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: David Devambe
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Publication number: 20020190452Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventor: Barry Drager
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Patent number: 6481701Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 9, 2001Date of Patent: November 19, 2002Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey Steven Kessen, David John Fanson
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Patent number: 6460840Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 28, 2001Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: Cho Hatsujo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiyuki Imaizumi, Toshiho Aoyama, Shuji Kamiya, Takashi Gotoh, Koichi Irie
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Patent number: 6460835Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 21, 2000Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshio Hamano, Hirotake Kato, Iwao Shigeoka, Takahiro Nakamura, Toshiyuki Kamakura, Masaya Komazaki
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Publication number: 20020125623Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2001Publication date: September 12, 2002Inventors: Jeffrey Steven Kessen, David John Fanson
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Patent number: 6375174Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 23, 2001Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: Chuo Hatsujo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Keiji Hasegawa, Toshiyuki Imaizumi
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Patent number: 6328290Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 26, 1999Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Chuo Hatsujo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshiyuki Imaizumi, Toshiho Aoyama, Shuji Kamiya, Takashi Gotoh, Koichi Irie
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Patent number: 6299150Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 1, 2000Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Noel L. Allen, Allen L. Arndt, Scott M. Ralston
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Patent number: 6299367Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 8, 1999Date of Patent: October 9, 2001Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Hideki Kawakami, Kenichi Hirabayashi
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Patent number: 6273396Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 17, 2000Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Yasuo Kato
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Patent number: 6250618Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 10, 1999Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: Smalley Steel Ring CompanyInventor: Michael Greenhill
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Patent number: D537945Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2006Date of Patent: March 6, 2007Inventor: Velton C. White
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Patent number: D538434Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2006Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Inventor: Velton C. White