Gearing Patents (Class 318/12)
  • Patent number: 11738438
    Abstract: A machine tool device includes at least one drive train unit including at least one gear shift element and which has at least two different rotational direction modes and at least two different speed modes, and with at least one switching unit arranged at least partially on the drive train unit. The switching unit comprises at least one actuating element, which is configured to select the rotational direction modes and the speed modes, and at least one switching element, which is configured to switch between the modes of rotation depending on a switching position of the actuating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Hiller, Andras Vigh, Janos Soltesz, Ulrich Bohne
  • Patent number: 11312246
    Abstract: Controlled clutchless shifting of multi-ratio geared electronic shift transmissions coupled directly to the electrical prime mover of a vehicle are disclosed. The adaptive control of electrically shifted manual transmissions incorporated into power-split series electric hybrid heavy vehicles operating over heavy duty drive cycles utilizes a direct coupling assembly that enables bi-directional energy transfer and power transport. An electronic shift transmission provides power amplifying or de-amplifying bi-directional intelligently controlled valve or pathway for available terrain potential or kinetic energy of a rolling mass of a vehicle, while retaining the original function of a transmission by increasing or decreasing mechanical rotating energy of the propulsion power to the rear wheels of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: ePower Engine Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jay J. Bowman, Andrew Bowman
  • Patent number: 10840846
    Abstract: A motor control system includes a motor having an output line, motor control circuitry that includes DC bus lines and a smoothing capacitor between the DC bus lines and converts DC power supplied from outside the motor control circuitry into AC power and supply the AC power to the motor as driving power, and short circuit circuitry that, while the motor control circuitry is not supplying the driving power to the motor, makes a short circuit between the output line of the motor and a negative line of the DC bus lines of the motor control circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventor: Kunimasa Ando
  • Patent number: 10427529
    Abstract: A method of charging an electric vehicle. The electric vehicle includes a battery, an inverter, and a motor including at least three-phase coil windings. When the electric vehicle is in a driven state, a direct current output from the battery is converted into a three-phase alternating current by a forward operation control of the inverter. The three-phase alternating current is output to the motor and drives the motor to operate. When the electric vehicle is in a charging state, an external three-phase alternating current is input into the inverter via three charging inductors and converted into the direct current by a reverse operation control of the inverter to charge the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: ZHONGSHAN BORAD-OCEAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Fengtai Huang
  • Patent number: 10343524
    Abstract: A weld detection apparatus is mounted on a vehicle and measures first and second voltages of a first capacitor. The first voltage is measured when the first capacitor is charged while connected in series to a power supply and a ground of a vehicle body while switches that connect the power supply to a load circuit are controlled to be in a first state. The second voltage is measured at a predetermined timing, when the first capacitor is charged while connected in series to the power supply and the ground of the vehicle body while the switches are controlled to be in a second state different from the first state. The apparatus performs a weld detection process to decide which of the switches is welded in an ON-state when a difference between the first and second voltages is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: FUJITSU TEN LIMITED
    Inventors: Shota Kawanaka, Sho Tamura
  • Patent number: 10239409
    Abstract: An energy supply system for supplying at least first and second components of a motor vehicle with electrical energy. The energy supply system is arranged in the motor vehicle and has a charging socket (60). At least the first component an energy store and at least the second component is a consumer. The at least one first component has a first electrical voltage and the at least one second component has a second electrical voltage. To carry out a charging mode, the motor vehicle is connected via the charging socket (60) to a charging station with which current which either has the first or the second electrical voltage is to be made available. A first charging mode, a second charging mode and a travel mode of the motor vehicle can be carried out with the energy supply system (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Dr.Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Dirk Herke
  • Patent number: 10084362
    Abstract: A servomotor includes a control circuit, an electric motor, a harmonic drive and a sensor. The control circuit is connected to the electric motor and used to control the electric motor. The harmonic drive includes an outer casing, a wave generator, a flex spline and a circular spline. The wave generator is driven by the electric motor. The flex spline is sleeved on an exterior of the wave generator and located within the circular spline and engages with the circular spline. The flex spline is connected with an output member that is used to output power, and a post is arranged along a rotation axis of the output member. The sensor is arranged within the outer casing and used to detect an angular displacement of the post. A method for controlling the servomotor is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP.
    Inventors: Youpeng Li, Youjun Xiong
  • Patent number: 10076068
    Abstract: An electric power converter includes a semiconductor module, a cooler, and a pair of direct current bus bars. The direct current bus bars are connected to the semiconductor. The direct current bus bars serve as current paths between the direct current power supply and the switching element. The cooler is made of metal, and is electrically connected to ground. A proximal bypass capacitor is formed close to the switching element by a heat radiating plate integrated with the semiconductor module, the cooler, and an insulating layer interposed between them. The electric power converter further includes a pair of distal bypass capacitors, each of which has a larger capacitance than the proximal bypass capacitor has, and has a current path to the switching element of which a length is longer than a current path to the switching element from the proximal bypass capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignees: NIPPON SOKEN, INC., DENSO COPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Ohoka, Naohisa Harada
  • Patent number: 9606161
    Abstract: The apparatus for diagnosing malfunction of a high voltage relay includes: first and second relays configured to connect or disconnect a battery and a circuit using the battery as a power source in each electrode; a voltage measuring unit configured to measure a first voltage between a battery side terminal or a circuit side terminal, among terminals of the first relay, and a circuit side terminal or a battery side terminal, among terminals of the second relay, and measure a second voltage between the battery side terminals or between the circuit side terminals; and a controller configured to determine whether the first or second relay malfunctions based on the first and second voltage values measured by the voltage measuring unit by controlling connection and disconnection of the first or second relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sung Sik Park
  • Patent number: 9568207
    Abstract: An HVAC actuator may include a rotatable output shaft, a drive mechanism configured to selectively drive the output shaft, two or more wiring terminals, and a removable blocking tab configured to block wire attachment to at least one of the two or more wiring terminals. When the removable tab is removed, wire attachment to the previously blocked at least one wire terminals may no longer blocked. The removable block tab may be a break-away tab. The HVAC actuator may include a housing enclosing the drive mechanism, and the break-away tab may be integral to the housing. In some instances, the removable tab, once removed, is not configured to be reattached, but this is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Du, Kevin Graebel, Bin Wang, Stephane Joseph Pierre Beland, David J. Emmons
  • Patent number: 9381644
    Abstract: A robot includes: a stage unit; a rotation base connected to the stage unit in a rotatable manner around a predetermined rotating axis; an arm unit connected to the rotation base and having a base end rotatable around a first rotation axis that is substantially orthogonal to the rotating axis; a first attachment unit provided to the rotation base, arranged in an outside, in a rotation radius direction, of the rotation base and nearer to the stage unit than the first rotation axis, and formed so that one part of a balancer is attached thereto; and a second attachment unit provided to the arm unit and formed so that another part of the balancer is attached thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Shingi Takahashi, Tomoyuki Shiraki, Masato Ito, Kaori Sakaki
  • Patent number: 9112444
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a housing, a stator including stator windings mounted to the housing, a rotor supported in the housing and configured to rotate relative to the stator, a temperature sensing system including one or more resistors mounted to one of the stator and the rotor, and a controller electrically connected to the one or more resistors. The controller is configured and disposed to determine a temperature of the one of the stator and the rotor based on an electrical parameter of the one or more resistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: REMY TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Paul Martin Dedrich
  • Patent number: 9000606
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus for a vehicle supplies/charges electric power to/from a power supply unit. The vehicle includes a first power-inverter circuit, a capacitor, high-resistance and low-resistance electric-paths between the capacitor and a battery, a first switching unit opening/closing the electric-paths, and a unit operating the first switching unit, when connecting between the battery and the first power-inverter circuit, in such a manner that after the high-resistance electric path is closed and the low-resistance electric path is opened, the high-resistance electric-path is opened and the low-resistance electric-path is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Obayashi, Akira Sakamoto, Atsuyuki Hiruma, Masahito Mizukoshi, Jun Ishii, Mitsuru Fujita
  • Patent number: 9002482
    Abstract: A cleaning robot (1) is provided with: a main body housing (2) that moves along a floor in a self-propelled manner with a suction port (6) and an exhaust port (7) open; a motor fan (22) positioned inside the main body housing (2); a dust collection part (30) driven by the motor fan (22) so as to collect airflow dust that has been suctioned from the suction port (6); an infrared remote controller (60) that specifies an arbitrarily-defined location in space for setting up the main body housing (2) by emitting infrared rays; and an infrared sensor (18) that detects the specified location specified by the infrared remote controller (60). The cleaning robot moves to the specified location detected by the infrared sensor (18) and then carries out a cleaning operation, or carries out a cleaning operation while moving to the specified location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masanori Tsuboi
  • Publication number: 20150035456
    Abstract: Disclosed are drive systems for a vehicle trailer maneuvering drives, some embodiments having a motor unit and a voltage source for supplying the motor unit, wherein the motor unit comprises a brushed electric motor with motor shaft and a motor controller that may include a speed detection unit for detecting the speed of the motor shaft and a control and regulating unit for the motor, for its voltage supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: TRUMA GERAETETECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Stefan Thiel
  • Patent number: 8937400
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus for a vehicle is provided which supplies electric power to a power supply unit and charges electric power from the power supply unit via a power port. The vehicle includes a plurality of power inverter circuits which are connected to a common storage unit in parallel. The plurality of power inverter circuits include an electric power transferring power inverter circuit connected to the power port via an electric power transferring electric path, and are divided into a first category including the electric power transferring power inverter circuit and a second category. The power supply apparatus includes a connection prohibiting unit which realizes a state in which the power inverter circuit included in the first category is electrically connected to the storage unit, and the power inverter circuit included in the second category is disconnected from the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Obayashi, Akira Sakamoto, Atsuyuki Hiruma, Masahito Mizukoshi, Jun Ishii, Mitsuru Fujita
  • Patent number: 8766562
    Abstract: An adjustment device for adjusting a relative rotational angle position of two shafts (particularly a cam shaft and a crank shaft of an internal combustion engine) that has an adjusting gear which is designed as triple shaft gear and has a drive part connected to a first shaft (crank shaft), a driven part connected to a second shaft (cam shaft), and an adjustment shaft connected to a servomotor shaft of an electric servomotor in a rotationally fixed manner. In order to implement a wide temperature range for the operation of the adjustment device, a temperature sensor is arranged in the servomotor. In a method for operating an adjustment device or an actuator, the current of the servomotor or the actuator is controlled depending on the temperature that was determined earlier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jens Schaefer, Martin Steigerwald
  • Patent number: 8673514
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell system including a fuel cell which is a DC power source and boosting unit which boosts the output voltage of the fuel cell for supply to a load. The boosting unit has: a main boosting unit which has a switch and a coil and boosts the output voltage of the fuel cell by a back electromotive force of the coil generated by a switching operation of the switch with respect to the coil; and a sub boosting unit having a snubber capacitor which adjusts a potential difference between the both electrodes of the switch by an accumulation amount and reduces the switching loss of the switch by adjusting the accumulation amount of the snubber capacitor upon a switching operation. The electricity of the snubber capacitor discharged when reducing the accumulation amount of the snubber capacitor is made to flow into processing unit other than the fuel cell by the sub boosting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Fusaki Igarashi
  • Patent number: 8299646
    Abstract: An HVAC/R system is configured with a variable frequency drive power supply which provides power to each of a compressor, a condenser fan, and a blower. In some embodiments, the compressor has a three-phase motor and the condenser fan has a single-phase motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Rocky Research
    Inventors: Uwe Rockenfeller, Paul Sarkisian, Kaveh Khalili, Warren Harhay
  • Patent number: 8193660
    Abstract: An HVAC/R system is configured with power storage for power back-up to maintain substantially uninterrupted power in the case of a main power failure. The power back-up system has a DC power source configured to be recharged, and provides power to the HVAC/R components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Rocky Research
    Inventors: Uwe Rockenfeller, Paul Sarkisian, Kaveh Khalili, Warren Harhay
  • Patent number: 8112176
    Abstract: A system of self-organizing mobile robotic agents (MRAs) in a multi-robotic system (MRS) is disclosed. The MRAs use simulations to organize the behaviors of groups of robots in the MRS. The MRAs use software agents to model the MRS and the environment. By developing simulations of environmental change, the system provides methods for the MRS to interact with its environment to produce collective epigenetic behaviors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Inventor: Neal Solomon
  • Patent number: 7876063
    Abstract: An axial gap type motor/generator is provided with a stator, a rotor and an alternating current control device. The alternating current control device executes alternating current control of a single phase or multiple phase alternating current flowing in the coils. The alternating current control device includes a superpositioning control section and a frequency component control section. The superpositioning control section produces the alternating current by superpositioning a plurality of frequency components including a first order fundamental wave component and a plurality of higher harmonic wave components that have frequencies equal to integer multiples of a frequency of the fundamental wave components and are of orders that are equal to values of the integer multiples. The frequency component control section controls a relationship among the frequency components such that two pairs of the frequency components whose orders differ by two are aligned with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Fukushige
  • Publication number: 20090160371
    Abstract: An electric power tool includes a motor, a reduction mechanism, a driving unit, a bearing unit, a housing, a speed changing unit, a power switch, and an operation detecting unit which detects a reduction ratio changing operation performed by the speed changing unit to control electric power supplied to the motor. The reduction mechanism transfers the rotating power of the motor, and the driving unit transfers the rotating power of the reduction mechanism to a tip end tool. The bearing unit rotatably supports the driving unit, and the housing accommodates the motor, the reduction mechanism, the driving unit and the bearing unit. The speed changing unit changes a reduction ratio of the reduction mechanism, a power switch for turning on and off a power source of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Inagaki, Yutaka Yamada, Fumiaki Sekino
  • Publication number: 20090121659
    Abstract: When it is determined that an electric storage is to be charged from a commercial power source, a controller sets a control target of a voltage of a power line to be controlled by a boost converter, based on a voltage of the commercial power source. Specifically, the controller sets the control target of the voltage to a level approximately equal to the crest value of voltage. Then, the controller outputs an input permission command to a relay circuit, and controls inverters to execute charging of the electric storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hichirosai Oyobe, Makoto Nakamura, Tetsuhiro Ishikawa, Hiroshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7414378
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of material handling or logistic equipment in particular, relates to turntables, which can be used especially for automation of production line, assembly assistance, linefeeading and synchronous manufacturing. A high precision positioning powered turntable and its controlling method are disclosed herewithin, based on slewing ring bearing having an integral gear on the inner ring, and positively driven by a gear motor. A plurality of sensors and sensor flags are installed for monitoring position of the turntable top structure for controlling acceleration, deceleration and stopping. A controller, such as a programmable logic controller, is used for monitoring the position of the turntable top structure tlirough the plurality of sensors, and decides how it operates a motor drive, such as variable frequency drive, of the gearmotor for controlling the acceleration, deceleration and stopping of the turntable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Sailrail Automated Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Shawn Dawson
  • Publication number: 20080174255
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improved Variable Speed Drives having active inverters include an input filter for filtering common mode and differential mode currents. A three-phase inductor has three windings, each winding of the three-phase inductor having a center tap dividing each winding into a pair of inductor sections; and a three-phase input capacitor bank connected in a wye configuration to the three center taps at one end, and to a common point at the opposite end. The three-phase input capacitor bank provides a short circuit for frequencies above a predetermined fundamental frequency for shunting such frequencies through the three phase capacitor bank, while passing the predetermined fundamental frequency to an input AC power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
    Inventors: Harold R. SCHNETZKA, Ivan JADRIC, Shreesha ADIGA MANOOR
  • Publication number: 20080095599
    Abstract: A transfer vehicle is pulled by a towing vehicle. The transfer vehicle comprises a container and an unloading conveyor. The container serves to receive bulk goods. The unloading conveyor serves to unload the bulk goods located in the container. In order to allow a simple technical construction and a variable drive of the unloading conveyor, an electrical drive is coupled to the unloading conveyor and serves exclusively for driving the unloading conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventor: Klaus Hahn
  • Patent number: 7228253
    Abstract: The present invention provides a way to measure the position of an instrument that is mounted on an instrument shaft within a clutched mounting system, the instrument shaft being driven through a reduction gearbox by a motor shaft. The position of the instrument is measured as a function of the position of the motor shaft and the position of the instrument shaft, the measurement of the position of the motor shaft providing greater precision than the position of the instrument shaft. Because the mounting system is clutched, it is necessary to check at intervals whether the measurement of the motor shaft position no longer accurately represents the position of the instrument, in which case the measurement of the motor shaft position is resynchronized to the measurement of the instrument shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Pacific Telescope Corp.
    Inventors: Jack Chin Chuan Chen, Nai Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 7208891
    Abstract: A variable speed drive with a boost converter is provided for a chiller system driven by an induction motor. The boost converter can be a diode or thyristor rectifier followed by a boost DC/DC converter or a three-phase pulse width modulated boost converter. The boost converter provides a boosted voltage to the DC link, which results in a boosted voltage being applied to the induction motor by the inverter of the variable speed drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: York International Corp.
    Inventors: Ivan Jadric, Harold Robert Schnetzka
  • Patent number: 7065966
    Abstract: A position control method by motor drive including of rotating a rotor of the motor drive according to the given target opening, and detecting the opening of a movable vane by an encoder, the motor drive opening and shutting a passage of an intake air pipe to a turbo charger of the automobile by the movable vane, and controlling the movable vane in the passage of the intake air pipe so that it reaches the target opening. The rotational position of the motor drive is controlled to the stop position in the direction where the movable vane is closed and the stop position in the direction where the movable vane is opened. The motor drive is controlled so that the passage of the intake air pipe becomes the target opening by setting the stop position as an operation reference position of the motor drive, and setting between the stop positions as the driving dynamic range motor drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeki Yamada, Shoji Sasaki, Hiroaki Saeki, Masayuki Suganami
  • Patent number: 7026780
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for stabilizing the motion of an articulated chain of a chain block, especially to prevent the formation of resonance oscillation of the chain, in which an articulated chain is led across a polygonal chain wheel with non-uniform pitch, which is driven by an electric motor. In order to create a method to prevent the formation of a resonance oscillation of the articulated chain, it is proposed that a periodic and/or stochastic and dampening actuating variable is superimposed on the velocity of the chain wheel (4) and the dampening actuating variable produces a change in the chain velocity so as to prevent a formation of a resonance oscillation. The chain drive with reduced polygon effect is characterized in that an electronic damper (8) is hooked up in front of the electric motor (2), which produces a control of the electric motor (2) such that a formation of a resonance oscillation of the articulated chain (5) is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Demag Cranes & Components GmbH
    Inventors: Eberhard Schröder, Giuliano Persico
  • Patent number: 6933691
    Abstract: A control system controls a DC motor which operates a shifting mechanism. The control system includes switch circuit with a plurality of switches which connect terminals of the motor to a power supply. In order to limit the speed and torque, the control system operates the DC motor via pulse-width modulation so that the DC motor is alternately operated in a supply mode and in a short-circuit mode. The alternating supply and short-circuit modes result in operating states in which the motor is alternately driven and decelerated. Consequently, the speed and torque of the DC motor can be limited by the pulse-width modulation of control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Nicolai Tarasinski, Norbert Fritz
  • Patent number: 6771031
    Abstract: An improved control method activates an electric motor to drive a torque-to-thrust converter for controlling the torque capacity of a clutch mechanism. The control utilizes a model-based feed-forward control in combination with a closed-loop position feed-back control. The desired clutch torque capacity is characterized in terms of a desired motor position, and the feed-forward control models the motor speed and position response to changes in the desired motor position. The modeled speed and position, in turn, are used to create a feed-forward command, and the feed-forward command is combined with a feedback command based on actual position error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Shushan Bai
  • Patent number: 6600988
    Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain of a vehicle is described. The method determines a desired vehicle condition based on three driver actuated elements. In a preferred embodiment the first element can be pedal position, the second element can be a brake actuator or, more specifically, brake actuation duration, and the third element can be a gear selection lever. Further, the desired vehicle condition can be desired powertrain output, vehicle acceleration, or various other parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Da, Michael John Cullen, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Richard John Hippley
  • Publication number: 20020185983
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for both coarsely and accurately controlling a scanning stage are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for scanning an object includes a first stage that is coupled to a first actuator which moves the first stage along an axis, as well as a second stage that is arranged to accommodate the object. A first coupler which has first and second ends is aligned along the axis such that the first and second ends of the first coupler contact the first and second stages, respectively. A second coupler which also has first and second ends is aligned along the axis such that the first and second ends of the second coupler contact the first and second stages, respectively. When the first stage scans in a first direction, the first coupler causes the second stage to scan along the axis through the first coupler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: Alex Ka Tim Poon, Royal W. Cherry
  • Patent number: 6320336
    Abstract: A bicycle with a power assisting function has an electric motor for adding part of propulsive forces to manual forces to assist in the manual forces, a battery for supplying electric energy to the electric motor, a treading force detecting circuit for detecting manual forces applied as propulsive forces, and a control circuit for controlling operation of the electric motor depending on the magnitude of detected manual forces. The electric motor is operable as an electric generator with extra manual forces for utilizing part of regenerated electric energy to charge the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhito Eguchi
  • Patent number: 6246191
    Abstract: An electromotive linear drive mechanism, in particular a drive mechanism for a body of furniture, includes an electric motor having an output journal and a rotating spindle which has mounted thereon a nut, secured against rotation. The nut is operatively connected to the body of furniture, for movement in longitudinal direction of the spindle when the spindle rotates. A worm drive includes a worm which rotates about an axis of rotation and is in engagement with the output journal of the electric motor. Connecting the worm drive to the spindle are at least two worm gears which are in engagement with the worm and arranged in symmetric disposition with respect to the rotation axis of the worm. Each worm gear which is connected to a cylindrical gear is in operative engagement with the respective cylindrical gear meshing with the other worm gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Dewert Antriebs-und Systemtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ralf Bokämper, Andreas Roither
  • Patent number: 6211631
    Abstract: An electrical power-assisted steering system is disclosed comprising a brushless electric motor (1) which has a plurality of phase windings connected at a start point and in which a switching means (13) such as a relay is provided in at least one phase of the motor, the switching means being movable between a closed position in which current is able to flow in the phase winding and an open position which prevents current flowing in the respective phase in the event of a fault. Also disclosed is a substantially rigid connector assembly (19) onto which is mounted the switching means (13), conductors (20) for connecting the motor phase windings and a motor position sensor (21) to an associated motor control means (6), the connector acting as a support for the motor stator, which simplifies the steps involved in assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Lucas Industries public limited company
    Inventors: Russell Wilson-Jones, Steven John Horton, John Michael Ironside, Mark Anthony Wilkes, Michael Appleyard
  • Patent number: 6157147
    Abstract: A power transmission apparatus manipulates the transmission of power of the mechanical and/or electrical form. The power transmission apparatus is constructed integrating together a power-transmitting device and a transmission interaction redistributing mechanism. The interaction redistributing mechanism redistributes, or remaps, an optimized section of the operating speed range of the power-transmitting device onto the full operating speed range, including the stall speed, of the power transmission apparatus. Full operating speed range, including low speeds, is optimized. In a mechanical implementation of the apparatus, an epicyclic gear train is utilized as the redistributing mechanism. In an electromagnetic implementation of the apparatus, a rotary commutator is utilized as the redistributing mechanism and the power-transmitting device is an electromagnetic device. The mechanical implementation is capable of handling mechanical-to-mechanical mode of power transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Pan-Chien Lin
    Inventor: Pan-Chien Lin
  • Patent number: 6104154
    Abstract: A tricycle with an electric motor in which two rear wheels 4 and 4 are driven by not only an electric motor 5, but also pedals 6 with manpower. A rotational force of the pedals 6 is transmitted to drive shaft 9 via first bevel gears 8a and 8b and then transmitted to a one-way clutch 7 via second bevel gears 10a and 10b from the drive shaft 9. The output of the one-way clutch 7 is then transmitted to the two rear wheels 4 and 4. The electric current to the electric motor is a pulse current and its pulse width is controlled to be shorted in relation to a braking operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Daiwa Sangyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomitaro Harada, Ryoji Iwakiri, Ichiro Kagawa
  • Patent number: 6031347
    Abstract: A motor operator is configured to provide local and remote operation of a power line phase switch. The motor operator has its components individually enclosed in a component enclosure and further enclosed in a main enclosure, allowing isolation and protection of the components from the environment and operators. A gear box includes a worm gear reducer submersed in oil providing a no maintenance gear train that makes continuous braking unnecessary by virtue of the inherently self-locking nature of the worm gear. The motor operator also includes a plurality of limit and auxiliary switches providing local and remote indication of switch position. The switches are each independently adjustable using cam adjustment collars. The overall configuration of the motor operator provides safe, reliable and cost effective phase switch operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Southern Electrical Equipment Company
    Inventor: Andrew S. Panto
  • Patent number: 6018223
    Abstract: A multi-functional apparatus employs an intermittent motion mechanism. An electromagnetic device selectively causes movement of the intermittent motion mechanism thereby moving a mechanical device coupled thereto. In another aspect of the present invention, a single electric motor selectively actuates two or three intermittent rotary motion mechanisms thereby causing separate mechanical devices coupled thereto to operate within an automotive vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Lear Automotive Dearborn, Inc.
    Inventors: Raghu Oruganty, Daniel D. Kilker, William Carl Zimmer, James Wayne Gibson
  • Patent number: 5990586
    Abstract: Feedback potentiometer-type servoactuator uses the ring gear of a planetary gear system to drive the wiper across a resistive arc of less than 360.degree. where the actuator has a travel of multiple turns. The ring gear is supported by spaced struts in the actuator housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Seitz Corporation
    Inventor: Arthur J. Milano, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5986424
    Abstract: A control system which comprises a reduction gear unit containing gears, a motor being disposed on an input side of said reduction gear unit, a sensor for detecting a turning angle of said motor, and control means for inputting output from said sensor and controlling turning of said motor. The control system further includes gear output angle variation estimation means for estimating a gear output angle variation of said reduction gear unit based on the motor turning angle. An angle transmission error is estimated based on the motor turning angle, whereby load tip locus accuracy can be improved without lowering responsivity of the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakatsuka, Atsumi Hashimoto, Yasushi Mukai, Kiyoshi Ohishi
  • Patent number: 5804930
    Abstract: A motor operator is configured to provide local and remote operation of a power line phase switch. The motor operator has its components individually enclosed in a component enclosure and further enclosed in a main enclosure, allowing isolation and protection of the components from the environment and operators. A gear box includes a worm gear reducer submersed in oil providing a no maintenance gear train that makes continuous braking unnecessary by virtue of the inherently self-locking nature of the worm gear. The motor operator also includes a plurality of limit and auxiliary switches providing local and remote indication of switch position. The switches are each independently adjustable using cam adjustment collars. The overall configuration of the motor operator provides safe, reliable and cost effective phase switch operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Southern Electrical Equipment Company
    Inventor: Andrew S. Panto
  • Patent number: 5606235
    Abstract: An industrial robot is provided with a plurality of elements articulated to each other, whose rotation is driven by respective electric motors by reduction gear units which are integrated in the structure of these elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: COMAU S.p.A.
    Inventor: Enrico Mauletti
  • Patent number: 5521478
    Abstract: An actuator for heating, cooling and climatic valves in vehicles includes a gear housing, an electric motor placed therein, a reduction gear acted on by the turning moment of the electric motor, a drive shaft and a position determining device connected thereto. A slide carrier with teeth on its perimeter allows use of an adjusting tool to make adjustments to the position determining device. Other fixing areas are provided on the slide carrier and in the driven gear which make it possible to form lock the slide carrier to the driven gear by means of a rapidly hardening substance without damaging the gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Gebr. Buhler Nachfolger GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Bernreuther, Gerhard Bopp
  • Patent number: 5323073
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a clad metal column for linear motor, wherein a core material provided with a convex-and-concave pattern consisting of many longitudinal, transverse, or slanted grooves, or the combination thereof on its peripheral surface is inserted into a pipe made of a good conductor, and said pipe is fit tight onto the peripheral surface of above-mentioned core material by the reduction of diameter of pipe by means of drawing or extrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Shinko Metal Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaharu Furutani
  • Patent number: 5184054
    Abstract: An actuator suitable for autopilot control of a helicopter tail rotor comprises a direct current motor, a non-reversible gearbox, a speed reducer driving an output shaft, a friction device disposed between the non-reversible gearbox and the speed reducer and a friction exceeded sensing device adapted to cut off the supply of power to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Societe de Fabrication d'Instruments de Mesure (S.F.I.M.)
    Inventors: Jacques Delattre, Philippe Gouze, Jacques Neuvessel
  • Patent number: 5101143
    Abstract: A spindle control system enables a gear change while a spindle is rotating by calculating the position of a motor shaft when gears are reengaged by a target position calculating circuit, and outputting speed commands for the motor shaft by a position control circuit based on the calculation result, and switching by a switching circuit so as to input the speed commands to a speed control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1992
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Okuma Tekkosho
    Inventor: Koji Eba