Spider Spring Patents (Class 367/187)
  • Patent number: 12051955
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a vibration generator includes first and second integrated elastic support bodies, a vibrator, and a coil. Each of the first and second integrated elastic support bodies includes an elastic beam part configured to undergo elastic deformation, and a support part supporting the elastic beam part, the elastic beam part and support part being integrally formed. The vibrator includes a magnet and a magnetic material, and is interposed between the first and second integrated elastic support bodies and supported so as to vibrate. The coil is located inside the vibrator, and interposed and supported between the first integrated elastic support body and the second integrated elastic support body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Atsuro Oonishi, Hiroshi Takahashi, Takamitsu Sunaoshi
  • Patent number: 11973389
    Abstract: An actuator for exciting at least one component of a motor vehicle with vibrations. The actuator includes: a housing which is configured to be directly or indirectly connected to the component, an electrical coil which is connected to the housing and is configured to generate an electromagnetic field when an electric current flows through the coil, and a magnet which is entirely or partially arranged in the housing and the magnet is arranged so as to be movable to a limited extent relative to the housing. The housing has, all around, at least one electrically conductive ring which surrounds the magnet in respect of its undeflected state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Continental Engineering Services GmbH
    Inventors: Philipp Neubauer, Charalampos Ferekidis, Dimitrios Patsouras, Robert Joest, Stephan Eisele, Johannes Kerkmann, Karsten Moritz, Pascal Köhler, Robert Wick, Jens Friedrich
  • Patent number: 11867860
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods to perform or facilitate operation of a seismic survey. The system can include a seismic data acquisition unit. The seismic data acquisition unit can include a cap free subsea connector. The connector can be formed of a snap ring, pin interconnect and socket insert. The snap ring can contact the pin interconnect. The pin interconnect can contact the socket insert. The socket insert can be in contact with isolation electronics within the seismic data acquisition unit. The snap ring can lock or keep the pin interconnect in contact with the socket insert. The pin interconnect can be removable and replaceable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Magseis FF LLC
    Inventors: Michael Morris, Sam Hand
  • Patent number: 11848586
    Abstract: This vibration actuator has: a stationary body having a coil; a movable body having a magnet disposed radially inside the coil; and an elastic support part for supporting the movable body so that the movable body can move relative to the stationary body. The stationary body has a coil holding part. The coil holding part has, on the inner diameter side of the coil, a coil protection wall part. The elastic support part has at least two or more plate springs bridged between the coil holding part and the movable body so as to sandwich the movable body in a vibration direction. In order that the movable body does not come into contact with the coil holding part when not vibrating and when vibrating, the plate springs support the movable body so that the movable body is movable in the vibration direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Minebea Mitsumi Inc.
    Inventors: Yuki Takahashi, Chikara Sekiguchi, Shigeyuki Shimomura, Daisuke Kodama, Yuta Yoshii, Yasutaka Kitamura, Shigenori Inamoto
  • Patent number: 11843298
    Abstract: An actuator includes a support body, a movable body, a connection body connected with the support body and the movable body and provided with at least one of elasticity and viscoelasticity, and a magnetic drive mechanism structured to relatively move the movable body with respect to the support body. The connection body is disposed in a space in a radial direction between an inner side ring-shaped part provided in one of the movable body and the support body and an outer side ring-shaped part provided in the other of the movable body and the support body. The inner side ring-shaped part, the outer side ring-shaped part and the connection body structure a partition part which partitions an inside space of the case, and the partition part includes an air passage which is penetrated through the partition part in an axial line direction so that air resistance can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaaki Ando, Akira Mori
  • Patent number: 11831214
    Abstract: The disclosure provides an oscillatory actuator which includes a case in a cylindrical shape; an electromagnetic driver provided inside the case; a mover oscillated by the electromagnetic driver along an oscillation axis of the case; and a first leaf spring and a second leaf spring arranged on one side and the other side with the mover interposed therebetween, each of the first leaf spring and the second leaf spring including a support to which the mover is attached, an annular frame attached to an inner surface of the case, and a plurality of arms each having a spiral shape and connecting the support and the annular frame, wherein at least one of the first leaf spring and the second leaf spring is provided with an elastic member which is made of an elastic material that bridges the arm and a portion adjacent to the arm with a gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: FOSTER ELECTRIC COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Yusuke Chiba
  • Patent number: 11658555
    Abstract: An actuator includes a connection body connected with a support body and a movable body and having at least one of elasticity and viscoelasticity, and a magnetic drive mechanism structured to relatively move the movable body with respect to the support body. The connection body formed in a tube shape is disposed on both end sides in the vibration direction of the movable body. In a state that the movable body is located at a home position, the inner peripheral part connected with one of the movable body and the support body of each of the connection bodies is pulled to a center side in the vibration direction of the movable body with respect to its outer peripheral part connected with the other of the movable body and the support body and is shear-deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Mori
  • Patent number: 11626787
    Abstract: Electromechanical generator for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy, comprising: a central mast, an electrically conductive coil assembly mounted to the mast, a mount for the coil assembly, a magnetic core assembly movably mounted to the mast for vibrational motion along an axis, a biasing device mounted between the mast and the core assembly and comprising a pair of first and second plate springs, each having an inner edge respectively fitted to first and second opposite ends of the mast and an outer edge fitted to the magnetic core assembly, each of the plate springs comprising a spring member comprising an inner portion substantially orthogonal to the axis and including the respective inner edge, and a cylindrical outer portion substantially parallel to the axis and including the respective outer edge, the spring member being a folded sheet spring and the inner and outer portions are connected by a fold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Rail Limited
    Inventor: Adam Wasenczuk
  • Patent number: 11563365
    Abstract: An oscillatory actuator includes a first damper 51 and a second damper 251 attached to a case 1 and including spiral arms, and first elastic member 150 and second elastic member 350 bridging adjacent arms of the first damper 51 and the second damper 251.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: FOSTER ELECTRIC COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Yusuke Chiba
  • Patent number: 11515775
    Abstract: A vibration actuator has a movable body including: a disk-shaped magnet; disk-shaped cores fixed on front and rear surfaces of the magnet and each having an opening at a center thereof; leaf springs having a substantially circular shape; and spring stopper weight parts each having one end positioned by joining the opening to be joined with one of the cores and having another end connected to a central part of one of the leaf springs; and a fixing body including an annular coil having a larger inner diameter than the magnet, the cores and the spring stopper weight parts. The fixing body supports an outer periphery part of the leaf springs and accommodates therein the movable body such that the magnet, the cores and the spring stopper weight parts are capable of moving upwardly and downwardly inside the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Minebea Mitsumi Inc.
    Inventors: Yuki Takahashi, Chikara Sekiguchi, Shigeyuki Shimomura, Daisuke Kodama, Yuta Yoshii, Yasutaka Kitamura, Shigenori Inamoto
  • Patent number: 11444524
    Abstract: A vibration actuator has a movable body and a fixing body. The movable body includes: a disk-shaped magnet; annular cores each having an opening at a center thereof; and spring stopper weight parts, and stacked such that the magnet is disposed at a center of the movable body, the annular cores is fixed on front and rear surfaces of the magnet in its axial direction, and the spring stopper weight parts are joined with the annular cores at the opening. Each spring stopper weight part includes: a spring fixing part connecting to one of the elastic support parts; a joining protrusion part inserted into the opening of one of the annular cores; and a weight body part provided between the spring fixing part and the joining protrusion part, having a larger diameter, and disposed to face and join with an annular surface of one of the annular cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Minebea Mitsumi Inc.
    Inventors: Yuki Takahashi, Chikara Sekiguchi, Shigeyuki Shimomura, Daisuke Kodama, Yuta Yoshii, Yasutaka Kitamura, Shigenori Inamoto
  • Patent number: 11418099
    Abstract: A vibration actuator has: a fixing body; a movable body; and first and second elastic support parts disposed to sandwich the movable body in the vibration direction and configured to movably support the movable body with respect to the fixing body by elastic deformation, wherein the movable body includes: a core provided to both sides of a magnet of the movable body and having an opening; and spring stoppers disposed between the magnet and the first elastic support part and between the magnet and the second elastic support part; and wherein the spring stoppers are each fixed such that one end is fixed to one of the first or second elastic support part and such that another end is fixed by insertion into the opening and abutment on a surface of the movable body core facing the one of the first or second elastic support part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Minebea Mitsumi Inc.
    Inventors: Yuki Takahashi, Chikara Sekiguchi, Shigeyuki Shimomura, Daisuke Kodama, Yuta Yoshii, Yasutaka Kitamura, Shigenori Inamoto
  • Patent number: 11394285
    Abstract: A fixing body includes a coil holding part that is disposed to surround a magnet externally in a radial direction and holds the coil disposed outside the bobbin-shaped coil holding part in the radial direction. The coil holding part includes a coil protection wall portion that is disposed inside the coil in the radial direction of the coil with a gap being interposed between the coil protection wall portion and the magnet, and inhibits contact between the coil and the movable body. Elastic supporting parts are a plurality of leaf springs installed between the fixing body and the movable body to sandwich the movable body in the vibration direction, and support the movable body such that, in a non-vibration state and in a vibration state of the movable body, the movable body is freely movable in the vibration direction without making contact with the coil holding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Minebea Mitsumi Inc.
    Inventors: Yuki Takahashi, Chikara Sekiguchi, Shigeyuki Shimomura, Yoshihiro Kumanomido, Daisuke Kodama, Yuta Yoshii, Shigenori Inamoto
  • Patent number: 8050144
    Abstract: A vertical geophone that includes a lower frequency spring, which forms part of the geophone electrical circuit, that is positioned directly on the lower end cap This arrangement eliminates the “spring supported by a spring” arrangement of prior art geophones to minimize geophone distortion and simplify tuning of the frequency springs. A contact spring is positioned between the lower frequency spring and the lower pole piece for forming part of the geophone electrical circuit. One surface of contact spring includes a plurality of wiper surfaces that ensure consistent sliding electrical contact against either the bottom surface of the lower pole piece or the upper surface of the lower frequency spring. The obverse surface of the contact spring is preferably spot welded to the other adjacent member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Geospace Technologies LP
    Inventor: Daniel M. Woo
  • Patent number: 7535351
    Abstract: An active acoustic intrusion detection system includes a pair of dipole emitters (180 degrees out of phase with each other) which emit an audible frequency f (preferably 1 KHz) and a pair of detectors preferably mounted ¼ wavelength (3 inches) apart in the (non-echoic) nulls of the emitters. The detectors (microphones) spatially sample a stationary wave which is generated by the emitters (speakers). The output of each microphone is fed to an ADC and the digital output of the two ADCs is used to generate a four dimensional vector. At startup, a reference vector is determined and stored. During operation, vectors are sampled, filtered, smoothed and averaged periodically. When an average vector deviates from the reference vector by a set amount, an alarm is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Inventor: Welles Reymond
  • Patent number: 7338398
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission or clutch device (10) includes at least one pulley (18) rotatable on a pivot (28) and having a pair of adjustable sheaves (30, 34) including a movable sheave (30) movable along the pivot. An ortho-planar compliant mechanism (14) is capable of elastic deformation and operatively coupled to the movable sheave to bias the movable sheave towards or away from the other sheave. The ortho-planar compliant mechanism includes a substantially flat configuration and is deflectable therefrom as the movable sheave moves. The ortho-planar compliant mechanism can include a center platform (38) disposed on the pivot and a plurality of arms (42) extending from the platform to distal ends (46) coupled to the movable sheave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Brigham Young University
    Inventors: Michael J. Whiting, Larry L. Howell, Robert H. Todd, Spencer P. Magleby, Mark C. Anderson, Nathan O. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 5555222
    Abstract: An improved reduced distortion spring spider for geophones is disclosed that has the desired ratio of spurious resonant frequency to the natural frequency of the geophone and can absorb the sharp lateral forces imposed on the geophone during destructive testing and field usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Shaw Industries Limited
    Inventor: Daniel Ming-Kwong Woo
  • Patent number: 5450375
    Abstract: A geophone is disclosed that has a cylindrical housing closed at one end by a bottom and the other end by a top. A magnet assembly with pole pieces at each end of the magnet is centrally mounted in the housing providing an annular space between the magnet assembly and the housing. A coil form is located in the annular space. Springs support the coil form for axial movement relative to the magnet assembly along the longitudinal axis of the housing. Washers are included on the upper and lower sides of each of the springs to enhance the life span of the springs by reducing the damage caused by torsional forces experienced by the springs during normal operation and rough handling. Also incorporated in the geophone are resilient members mounted between the coil form and the housing to prevent the coil form from directly hitting the housing and thereby reduce the amount of frequency shift experienced by the geophone over its life span.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Shaw Industries Limited
    Inventor: Daniel M. Woo
  • Patent number: 5134594
    Abstract: An improved spring spider for geophones is disclosed that has the desired ratio of spurious resonant frequency to the natural frequency of the geophone and can absorb the sharp lateral forces imposed on the geophone during destructive testing and hand usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Shaw Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Daniel M. Woo
  • Patent number: 5134593
    Abstract: A spring for a seismometer for suspending one body relative to a fixed reference point within a housing including an outer ring and an inner ring interconnected by a plurality of arcuate legs. Each leg has an inner and an outer edge which may be defined by a plurality of arcs of different radii and distinct centers. The plurality of arcs further divide each leg into an inner section and an outer section of approximately equal length, and a middle section of substantially constant width and thickness. The spring provides an improved spurious resonance over the prior art springs as well as having an improved useful life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Western Atlas International Inc.
    Inventors: Roger M. Logan, James A. Sackett
  • Patent number: 4685094
    Abstract: A spring system for use with a geophone for suspending a reference mass axially and laterally. One spring of the spring system flexes more axially than laterally, and the other spring of the spring system flexes more laterally, although heavily damped, than axially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: Geosource Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick A. Vitringa, Arend L. Hagedoorn
  • Patent number: 4623991
    Abstract: For use in geophones to support either the coil or the permanent magnet, a spring formed from a disc, said spring having an outer ring, an inner ring, and three legs connecting the outer and inner rings. The legs are equidistant from one another and substantially equal in length. The inner edge of each leg lies on an arc having a radius at least 1.25 times greater than the distance from the center of the spring to the inner edge of the leg at the point where the leg joins the inner ring. For each leg, the straight-line distance between the points where a leg joins the inner and outer rings is equal to or greater than the distance from the center of the spring to an outer edge of the outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: Geosource, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick A. Vitringa
  • Patent number: 4504932
    Abstract: A geophone having a non-conductive coilform thereby avoiding the disadvantages of conductive coilform damping and allowing closer control of both sensitivity and damping solely through shunt loading of the sensing coil. The coilform is a molded plastic coilform of a high strength lightweight glass filled resin. The coilform is a dimensionally stable and temperature stable thermoplastic. Preferably, the coilform is of polyphenylene sulfide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: Metrix Instrument Co.
    Inventor: Peter C. Sundt
  • Patent number: 4458344
    Abstract: A geophone spring is disclosed in which an inner ring member and an outer ring member are connected by a plurality of leg members. Each leg member includes a tapered segment that is wider at its middle than it is at either end. The tapered segment is connected to the inner ring by an inner segment, and to the outer ring by an outer segment. The inner and outer segments may also be tapered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: Geosource Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Coogler
  • Patent number: 4412317
    Abstract: Transducer for converting mechanical vibrations into corresponding electrical signals. Two separate coils are disposed in permanent magnetic fields produced by a magnet assembly. The coils on the one hand and the magnetic assembly on the other are mounted for movement relative to each other. The magnet assembly is structured and disposed relative to said two coils respectively so as to reduce the electromagnetic coupling between the two coils to zero, while having an electromagnetic coupling only between a respective one of said coils and said magnet assembly. In a composite seismometer comprising a transducer of the above-described type and an amplifier, one of said coils is connected to the amplifier input, while the other one of said coils is included in a feedback circuit for said amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1983
    Assignee: De Regt Special Cable B.V.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Asjes, Jacobus C. L. van Peppen, Klaas B. Klaassen
  • Patent number: 4323994
    Abstract: A new geophone spring is disclosed wherein the outer and inner rings of the spring are connected by leg members having a substantially straight segment which will pivot about an outer portion of the leg in a manner which will reduce the lateral bending forces acting upon the spring legs and increase the linearity of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1982
    Assignee: Geosource Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Coogler
  • Patent number: 4285054
    Abstract: A geophone comprising an annular coil-mass and a permanent magnet assembly positioned inside the annular coil-mass with their longitudinal axes generally coinciding to place the coil-mass in the magnetic field of the permanent magnet assembly. Spring spiders support the coil-mass on the permanent magnet assembly for axial and rotational movement relative to the permanent magnet assembly along and around the longitudinal axis thereof. Contacts extend outside the housing of the geophone to connect the geophone into an electrical circuit. Two axially spaced, parallel, spring spiders or diaphragm springs electrically connect the outside contacts to the terminals of the coils of the coil-mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: Mark Products, Inc.
    Inventor: William O. McNeel