Teeth On Radially Overlapping Surfaces Patents (Class 464/158)
  • Patent number: 11815139
    Abstract: Unlaminated bearings (or Torque Transfer Elements, or TTEs) are disposed to slide and displace within pockets (or “housing cavity receptacles”) provided in the internal periphery of a housing in which an articulating shaft is received. As the shaft “tilts” about its untilted axial centerline during misaligned rotation, convex curved bearing surfaces on shaft pins slidably rotate against corresponding concave curved bearings surfaces on the T as received in the housing cavity receptacles. Further, substantially flat surfaces on the TTEs are disposed to slidably displace against corresponding bearing surfaces on the housing cavity receptacles as the shaft tilts and the convex curved bearing surfaces on the shaft pins slidably rotate against the concave curved bearing surfaces on the TTEs. The sliding displacement of TTEs with respect to the housing cavity receptacles during articulated rotation is in a direction generally parallel to the shaft's untilted axial centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Abaco Drilling Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Jing Lu, Peter Thomas Cariveau, Damon T. Landrum
  • Patent number: 11701768
    Abstract: An electric power tool includes an electric motor with a motor gear, an output shaft with an input gear, a coupling that connects the motor gear to the input gear, and a housing that houses the motor, the motor gear, the coupling and the input gear. The coupling includes a shaft portion and two connective portions arranged at opposite ends of the shaft portion for connection to the motor gear and input gear, respectively. The motor gear and the input gear, each, have a cambered profile allowing a tilting movement of the coupling with respect to an axial position of one of the motor gear and the input gear that has a cambered profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: ATLAS COPCO INDUSTRIAL TECHNIQUE AB
    Inventor: Karl Göran Johansson
  • Patent number: 11697448
    Abstract: A length-adjustable steering shaft for a motor vehicle may include a hollow outer shaft with an unround inner cross section, in which an inner shaft is received in a torque-locked and axially movable manner. A profiled sleeve may be arranged between the inner shaft and the outer shaft, and the profiled sleeve may have a fastening portion connected to the inner shaft. The inner shaft may be configured at least in part as a hollow shaft that has an interior that is open towards the end that is inserted into the outer shaft. To reduce the outlay in terms of production and assembly, the fastening portion may extend from the end into the interior of the inner shaft and is connected to an inner surface of the interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Jäger, Michael Bugl, Jochen Klekler
  • Patent number: 11635155
    Abstract: An adapter includes a housing and a shaft receiving port defined in the housing. The shaft receiving port defines grooves extending at least partway along the shaft receiving port. The grooves include a set of first grooves and a set of second grooves, where at least one of the first grooves is different from at least one of the second grooves. Another adapter for coupling a device to a track includes a housing defining a threaded port and a shaft receiving port; a track retention arrangement including a foot and a threaded post extending from the foot, where the threaded post is rotatably engaged with the threaded port of the housing to raise or lower the foot relative to the housing; and a locking mechanism including an actuator and a plunger coupled to the actuator and configured to extend from the housing into the track channel of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: National Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Carnevali
  • Patent number: 11525483
    Abstract: A coupling for allowing torque transmission between a first and second shaft, the coupling comprising: a cup-shaped portion provided at a first end of said first shaft and a first end of said second shaft being positioned within said cup-shaped portion; and said coupling further comprising a biasing means positioned between said first and second shafts, such that said biasing means is in contact with both of said first and second shafts. A shaft system can include the first coupling in combination with a third shaft and a second coupling that is provided between the third shaft and either a second end of said first shaft or a second end of said second shaft. The second coupling is identical to the first coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dariusz Kielbowicz, Marcin Cis
  • Patent number: 11092199
    Abstract: A universal joint (U-joint) assembly transmits torque from a drive component to a driven component across an articulating joint. The U-joint assembly includes male and female U-joint members, a central ball joint, and a retaining device configured to secure the assembly in an assembled configuration. The female U-joint member includes a cavity extending into a receptacle end thereof. The cavity terminates in a circular receptacle and includes four flat surfaces extending longitudinally therefrom at 90-degree intervals. The male U-joint member has a drive end with four multi-angled surfaces extending longitudinally from the drive end at 90-degree intervals about a periphery of the drive end. When in an assembled configuration, each of the multi-angled surfaces of the drive end of the male U-joint member opposes a corresponding one of the four flat surfaces of cavity of the female U-joint member. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: New Ventures Marketing, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Clarence Goff, Patrick Daniel Gallagher, Daniel Robert Gallagher
  • Patent number: 11008024
    Abstract: A flexible gear coupling includes two external gears and two internal gears meshing with the respective two external gears. A tooth root crowning radius of each external gear is smaller than a tooth tip crowning radius of the external gear. The external gear is formed such that a reference tooth height that is a tooth height at a tooth width direction middle position is smaller than an end tooth height that is a tooth height at a tooth width direction end position. A ratio of the end tooth height to the reference tooth height is set to 1.21 or more, and/or a ratio Rc/Rb of the tooth root crowning radius to the tooth tip crowning radius is set to 0.37 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignees: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KYUSHU HASEC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshi Sato, Takehiro Nishimura, Susumu Hirata
  • Patent number: 10875567
    Abstract: An inner shaft of a steering device and an outer shaft thereof are provided so as to be movable relative to each other via a movement mechanism along an axial line. The inner shaft includes a first abutting member and a second abutting member which are disposed along the axial line and which have different hardness. The outer shaft includes a torque transmitting portion which abuts either the first abutting member or the second abutting member only upon operation given to the movement mechanism, and which is capable of transmitting torque with either the one abutting member only. The movement mechanism includes a movement mechanism main body which is provided on the main pipe and which moves along the axial line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toru Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 10864984
    Abstract: A drive system for an aircraft landing gear, the drive system including a pinion gear, a drive shaft arranged to rotate the pinion gear about a drive axis, a driven gear arranged to mesh with the pinion gear to be rotatable by the pinion gear, the driven gear being connectable to a wheel of the landing gear to be capable of rotating the wheel about a wheel axis; and a flexible interface. The flexible interface includes a plurality of driven gear coupling members, each driven gear coupling member having a first connection portion attached to the driven gear, a second connection portion adapted to be attached to the wheel at an offset distance from the wheel axis, and a joint between the first connection portion and the second connection portion, the joint permitting relative movement between the first connection portion and the second connection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventor: Arnaud Didey
  • Patent number: 10267367
    Abstract: A coupling means having a first member provided with a first diaphragm and a second member provided with a second diaphragm. The coupling means include an additional device having a plurality of protrusions circumferentially distributed on a first cylinder of the first member and a plurality of abutments distributed circumferentially on a second cylinder of the second member, each protrusion presenting at least one sliding face facing a first bearing face of an abutment, each protrusion presenting a blocking face facing a face of the second member referred to as a “second bearing” face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS HELICOPTERS
    Inventor: John Le Ru
  • Patent number: 9897148
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a reducer of an electric power-assisted steering apparatus. An embodiment of the present invention provides a reducer that includes: a worm shaft configured to mesh with a worm wheel; a worm shaft bush configured to be coupled to an outer periphery of an end of the worm shaft to be coupled with a motor shaft among opposite ends of the worm shaft; and a connection member configured to be coupled to an outer periphery of the worm shaft bush at one side thereof, and to be coupled to an outer periphery of the motor shaft at the other side thereof such that a torque of the motor shaft is coaxially delivered to the worm shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seung Joon Hong
  • Patent number: 9879731
    Abstract: A gear spindle (3) obtained by inclining the axis of a spindle inner tube (10) provided at one end with an external cog inner tube gear section (40) at 0.6 degrees to 1.6 degrees with respect to the axis of a spindle outer tube (20) provided with an internal cog outer tube gear section (50) that meshes the inner tube gear section (40). On the teeth of the inner tube gear section (40) having a face width (B), a crowning of radius (Cr) is provided so that the center in the face width direction is expanded and both tooth ends are thin. The face width (B) and the crowning radius (Cr) are set within an area that is enclosed by graphs of (Cr)=1200 [mm], (Cr)=4000 [mm], (B)=0.0272×(Cr)+28 [mm], (B)=59.04×exp (0.0005×(Cr)) [mm], and (B)=32×(Cr)0.274 [mm].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: PRIMETALS TECHNOLOGIES JAPAN, LTD.
    Inventor: Kenji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9286816
    Abstract: A display device for displaying indicia from a flat surface. The display device includes a flat elongated display panel having a front surface and a back surface. The indicia is displayed on the front surface of the display panel. A round male projection is integrated and extends from the back surface of the flat elongated display panel. A compressible female retaining member is provided and has a concave internal recess adapted to receive the projection within the concave internal recess. A nut fastener is adapted to receive the projection from a first side. The female retaining member is received from an opposite second side of the nut fastener. As the nut fastener is threaded and tightened against the female retaining member, the female retaining member is compressed over the projection to secure the projection within the female retaining member. A flexible arm having a first end is attached to the female retaining member and a second end of the flexible arm is attached to a suction cup fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventor: James Calvin Stanley
  • Patent number: 8986127
    Abstract: A coupling means (10) provided with a first member (20) suitable for being fastened to a first rotary part (2) and with a second member (30) suitable for being fastened to a second rotary part (3), the first member (20) being provided with a first diaphragm (22) and the second member (30) being provided with a second diaphragm (32) that is secured to the first diaphragm (22). An emergency torque transmission device comprises at least one bayonet system including a protuberance (50) secured to one member (30) and co-operating with an angled groove (60) secured to the other member (20) by being inserted in the angled groove (60) by a thrust-and-rotation movement, in the absence of said breakage said coupling means (10) including both axial clearances in compression (70?) and in translation (70?) and also circumferential clearance between each protuberance (50) and walls defining the corresponding angled groove (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
    Inventor: Sylvain Berthalon
  • Patent number: 8944926
    Abstract: A transmission device for transmitting a force and a torque between a handling device and a tool of a medical instrument includes transmission members interconnected in a hinged manner. A convex coupling portion of a first transmission member is in each case held interlockingly in a concave coupling portion of an adjacent second transmission member in such a way that a rotation of the first transmission member about its longitudinal axis causes a rotation of the second transmission member about its longitudinal axis. A convex coupling portion of a first transmission member is in each case held interlockingly in a concave coupling portion of an adjacent second transmission member in such a way that a tensile force can be transmitted between the first transmission member and the second transmission member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Claus Kramer, Jochen Stefan
  • Patent number: 8900061
    Abstract: A clutch device for connecting a driving machine part to a driven machine part comprises an elastomeric clutch which is arranged on a first drive-side or output-side end section of the clutch device. A tooth clutch is arranged on a second output-side or drive-side end section of the clutch device. Moreover, an intermediate shaft which connects the elastomeric clutch to the tooth clutch is provided. Moreover, the tooth clutch and the elastomeric clutch have restoring forces which are adapted to one another in such a way that, in the case of a radial displacement, the clutch device has both central running and axial offset compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andre Jansen, Robert Peters
  • Publication number: 20140349771
    Abstract: One embodiment of a constant velocity joint has an inner race with a first set of splines. A sleeve is provided and it is engaged with the inner race. A drive nut connects the sleeve with a pinion shaft. In another embodiment, the sleeve may be provided with a boot groove. A clamping device may be used to secure a boot within the boot groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: Seung Tark Oh
  • Publication number: 20140187338
    Abstract: A flexible torque-transferring apparatus includes a first end element, a second end element and a flexible connector for interconnecting the first and second end elements. The flexible connector includes a plurality of joints, each including a ball and a socket. The ball includes an end facet, a plurality of arched facets extending from the end facet, and a plurality of edges, each extending between two adjacent ones of the arched facets. The socket includes a cavity defined therein and a plurality of curved facets formed in the cavity. Each of the curved facets includes two ridges in contact with two portions of a corresponding one of the arched facets when the ball is placed in the socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventor: Jie-Long CHEN
  • Patent number: 8764574
    Abstract: A torque transmission assembly has a first shaft, a second shaft, and a coupling device. The coupling device includes a first coupling member rotating with the first shaft, and a second coupling member fixed with the second shaft. The first coupling member includes a bottom wall having a mounting face, and a plurality of arms extending axially from the mounting face. The arms are circumferentially spaced from each other with a receiving space defined between each two neighboring arms. The second coupling member includes a main body and a plurality of spaced arms extending radially from an outer periphery of the main body. Each of the arms of the second coupling member is received in a respective receiving space of the first coupling member, thus the first coupling member rotates with the second coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Electric S.A.
    Inventors: Kai Zhao, Jin An Nie
  • Patent number: 8702406
    Abstract: A compressor assembly method may include locating a first scroll member on a bearing housing of a compressor having a second scroll member located axially between the first scroll member and the bearing housing. A first outer radial surface on the bearing housing and a second outer radial surface on the first scroll member with an alignment assembly may be engaged to concentrically align the bearing housing and the first scroll member. The first scroll member may be coupled relative to the bearing housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith J. Reinhart, Gary J. Diller
  • Patent number: 8613609
    Abstract: A pump gear is provided. The pump gear includes a first shaft portion having a first end and a second end with an integral gear portion formed therebetween. The first shaft portion is made from a first tool steel material. A second shaft portion having a third end brazed to the first end. The second shaft portion has at least one integral drive spline formed adjacent one end. The second shaft portion is made from a second tool material. The first tool steel material has a vanadium content by weight of greater than 9% and the second tool steel material has a vanadium content by weight of less than or equal to 1%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Lyle Ward, Steven A. Heitz
  • Patent number: 7985141
    Abstract: A universal double-jointed coupling for railway vehicles with two joint levels comprises two coupling joints which are interconnected via a shaft that is surrounded by a hollow pinion shaft in order to transmit torque by means of said hollow pinion shaft. One joint level is assigned to a coupling joint encompassing a crowned gear that has angular and axial compensation capability while the other joint level is associated with a torsion-proof, flexible coupling joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: KWD Kupplungswerk Dresden GmbH
    Inventor: Christoph Spensberger
  • Patent number: 7955020
    Abstract: A grooved profile for a form fitting hub-shaft connection in which a groove profile for a hub and a shaft include flanks which are structured and arranged as opposing flanks. The groove profile includes a groove profile height in at least one of the hub and the shaft, a wall thickness in at least one of the hub and the shaft smaller than the groove profile height, and at least one of the opposing flanks is one of curved and arc-shaped in cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Ernst Grob AG
    Inventor: Daniel Deriaz
  • Patent number: 7854659
    Abstract: The invention provides a joint for the transmission of rotational motion between two rotatable elements, including a first, driven, element consisting of a shaft portion and a head portion, the head portion including a first recess and a second, contiguous, recess in the form of the female partner of a coupling having coupling faces, and a second, driving, element consisting of a shaft portion, a collar portion of a diameter freely fitting into the first recess, and the male partner of the coupling, wherein the respective dimensions of the coupling faces of the male and female partners differ to such an extent that the second element is tiltable out of alignment with the first element while retaining its engagement with the first element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Mag-Eh, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nissan Rom, Alexandre Khavronine
  • Publication number: 20100227697
    Abstract: According to the invention, a flexible coupling for flexibly coupling two rotating or moveable members, comprising a unitized body having a first end, a second end, and therebetween having two or more longitudinally (axially) spaced discs, wherein each disc can include a body portion and one or more spacer portions, wherein the spacer portions can extend longitudinally from an upper surface or lower surface of the body portion. The spacer portions can serve to axially space the body portions from each other and can also serve to unitize the discs and to space the unitized discs from the first and second end and can further serve to join the unitized discs to the first and second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventor: Wayne A. Smith
  • Patent number: 7771281
    Abstract: In a conventional gear coupling, since an end cover is attached to a sleeve, lubricant has sometimes leaked out through the joint between the sleeve and the end cover. A gear coupling includes: a pinion having external teeth, and fixed to a first rotary shaft; a sleeve having an opening at each end thereof through at least either one of which the pinion is introduced into the inside thereof and internal teeth meshed with the external teeth of the pinion, and fixed to a second rotary shaft; a first end member having a rotary shaft space through which the first rotary shaft passes, for closing over the sleeve opening through which the first rotary shaft passes; and a second end member for closing off the other opening, wherein the sleeve, the first end member, and the second end member are configured to form a space for retaining the lubricant, the gear coupling has the sleeve and the first end member, or the sleeve and the second end member that are integrally formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Terasawa, Hidenari Akagi, Junichi Shigeura
  • Publication number: 20100087263
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided comprising first and second coaxial shafts, the first and second shafts extending along, and being rotatable about, a central axis. The first and second shafts are coupled together by a splined major coupling at a coupling region of the apparatus, which major coupling enables the shafts to co-rotate about the central axis. A torque element is connected to the first and second shafts, the torque element being operable to force the first and second shafts to relatively rotate about the central axis in order to apply a preload to the major coupling. The apparatus may be comprised in a gas turbine engine, whereupon the first shaft may be a fan shaft and the second shaft may be a LP turbine shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Crispin D. BOLGAR
  • Publication number: 20100016087
    Abstract: A connection arrangement between a feed roller and a gearbox of a field chopper has a first shaft (25) with a central bore (26) that is rotatingly supported around an axis of rotation D, in a gearbox housing (30). A second shaft (32) is connected to a feed roller. The second shaft (32) is rotatingly supported around the axis of rotation D. The second shaft (32) has a central bore (33) that is aligned with the central bore (26) of the first shaft (25). A connecting journal (37) rests in the central bore (26) of one of the two shafts (25). The connecting journal (37) is form-fittingly connected to the central bore for torque transmission. It is axially displaceable along the axis of rotation D between a connected position where it is inserted into the central bore (33) of the other of the two shafts (32), and a released position, where it is pulled out of the central bore (33) of the other of the two shafts (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: GKN Walterscheid GmbH
    Inventors: Gottfried Pietsch, Stefan Rauschenbach, Andreas Roth
  • Publication number: 20090233723
    Abstract: A rear wheel drive mechanism acting as a drive force transmission mechanism provided in a vehicle is provided with a spline section provided on an outer periphery of one end of a first drive shaft acting as an output shaft, a spline hole provided on an inner periphery of a tubular engaging section of a universal joint and engaging with the spline section, and a circular clip disposed spanning the inner periphery and the outer periphery. An operating section of the clip faces a notched section provided on the tubular engaging section. The notched section is provided on a tip of the tubular engaging section and opens with respect to an axial dimension of the first drive shaft. The drive mechanism so configured simplifies the operation of mounting or removing a universal joint onto an output shaft of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventor: Kenji Kofuji
  • Publication number: 20080227556
    Abstract: A starter includes a motor, an output shaft driven by the motor, a pinion gear provided on the output shaft, and a shifter. The output shaft has first helical splines that are formed on an outer periphery of the output shaft. The pinion gear has second helical splines that are formed on an inner periphery of the pinion gear to engage with the first helical splines. The shifter shifts the pinion gear along the output shaft through the engagement between the first and second helical splines, thereby bringing the pinion gear into mesh with a ring gear of an engine. Further, in the starter, X<Y, where X is the clearance between a bottom of the first helical splines and a top of the second helical splines, and Y is the backlash between a flank of the first helical splines and a flank of the second helical splines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Andoh, Tadahiro Kurasawa, Yamato Utsunomiya
  • Patent number: 7097566
    Abstract: A repair device for a flexible drive coupling having a shell and a hub includes a first member fixed to the shell and a second member fixed to the hub. The first member includes a slot. A portion of the second member extends from the hub and is slidably positioned within the slot. The first and second members are drivingly engageable with one another to transfer torque between the shell and the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Inventor: Philip E. Neff
  • Patent number: 7018298
    Abstract: A pivotal driving tool includes a socket having a non-circular cavity formed by three or more planer side walls, and having an inner retaining ring. A mandrel includes a driving shank having a non-circular cross section for engaging into the socket, to allow the socket to be rotated by the mandrel. The mandrel includes a narrowed neck portion to allow the mandrel to be pivoted relative to the socket, and one or more flat surfaces to solidly anchor the driving shank to the socket. A magnetic member may be disposed in the mandrel, to act on and to pull the driving shank into the cavity of the socket. A barrel may be slidably engaged onto the socket, to engage onto and to be disengaged from the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Inventor: Li Jiun Chiou
  • Patent number: 6837315
    Abstract: The invention refers to a rotary steerable drilling tool having a tool collar and a bit shaft. The bit shaft is supported within the tool collar for pivotal movement about a fixed position along the bit shaft. Moreover, the rotary steerable drilling tool includes a variable bit shaft angulating mechanism, located within the interior of the tool collar. The variable bit shaft angulating mechanism includes a motor, an offset mandrel, and a variable offset coupling. The motor is attached to the upper end of the offset mandrel and adapted to rotate the offset mandrel. The upper end of the variable offset coupling is uncoupleably attached to an offset location of the lower end of the offset mandrel, and the upper end of the bit shaft is rotatably coupled to the variable offset coupling. The rotary steerable drilling tool also includes a torque transmitting coupling adapted to transmit torque from the tool collar to the bit shaft at the fixed position along the bit shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Attilio C. Pisoni, Ruben Martinez, Spyro Kotsonis, Stuart Schaaf
  • Publication number: 20040214646
    Abstract: A rotatable connector includes a mounting rod, and a rotatable mounting sleeve. The mounting rod has a plug, a shoulder and a concave neck portion. The plug is provided with a retractable positioning ball. The mounting sleeve has an inner wall formed with a receiving recess for rotatably receiving the plug. The receiving recess has a wall formed with a plurality of positioning grooves for locking and positioning the positioning ball. Thus, the rotatable connector can be operated linearly to have a torque output along its linear direction, and can be operated in an angular manner to have an angular torque output and to change its direction of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventor: Li Jiun Chiou
  • Publication number: 20040121845
    Abstract: A universal joint to transmit force from a tool to a workpiece. A driver attachable to the tool has a spherical cavity. A plurality of inwardly facing protrusions are formed in the cavity. Each protrusion has a pair of conical sidewalls separated by an angled ramp. A driven socket has a sphere formed on one end. The sphere has a plurality of channels. The sphere is received in the spherical cavity in the driver and the protrusions in the cavity are received in the channels. The drive webs forming the channel engage the protrusions when the driver is angularly offset from the driven socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: Hand Tool Design Corporation
    Inventors: Dana L. Delaney, Bruce Dexter, Awad Gharib
  • Patent number: 6547479
    Abstract: A tapered spline 16 which allows members 12, 14 to be selectively coupled and which further allows energy to be selectively communicated by and between these members 12, 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Edmunds Dowling, Jr., David Joe Sell, Perry Edward Phelan, Kin Sang Yeung
  • Patent number: 6405612
    Abstract: An electric steering column for a motor vehicle is provided, which has a steering shaft. A jacket tube extends along the steering shaft to cover the same. A worm wheel is rotatably held by the jacket tube and has a center bore through which a given portion of the steering shaft loosely passes. A collar member is tightly disposed on the given portion of the steering shaft defining an annular clearance between the collar member and the worm wheel. An elastically deformable structure is put and compressed in the annular clearance in such a manner as to induce a rotation of the collar member when the worm wheel is rotated. An electric motor rotates the worm wheel with an electric power. Due to provision of the elastically deformable structure, a possible ill-alignment between the worm wheel and the collar member is absorbed or compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinoshita, Toshihiko Warashina
  • Patent number: 6364772
    Abstract: A self-actuating thermal disconnect disengages two coaxially aligned shafts if equipment driven by one of the shafts overheats. The disconnect uses the centrifugal force of a molten material as the principal actuation. The disconnect end of a drive shaft has a means for transmitting torque. A disconnect piston having first and second ends is axially movable in a splined cylinder within the driven shaft. In normal operation, a solid mass of fusible material is disposed in the disconnect piston within a cavity defined by the second end of the disconnect piston and an adjacent end of a cavity piston. A means for transmitting torque at the-first end of the disconnect piston couples with the means for transmitting torque at the first end of the drive shaft. If the driven equipment overheats, the molten fusible material bursts out under centrifugal force through the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth Sugden
  • Patent number: 6306042
    Abstract: A phase variator including a piston actuator slidable between two travel limit positions as a result of the supply of a flow of pressurized fluid to at least one chamber of the variator. Valves are provided in the variator for choking the flow associated with the at least one chamber so as to avoid axial end contact of the piston and casing and axial end contact of the piston and hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Carraro S.p.A.
    Inventor: Renzo Tortul
  • Patent number: 6302800
    Abstract: A coupling device is designed with a flywheel mass which faces a drive and is operatively connected, such that they rotate together, to a driver which acts on the drive. A holder is provided on the flywheel mass, which holder faces the driver and is provided with a tooth system. The driver has an axial attachment, which is likewise designed with a tooth system at its end which faces the holder, in which case at least one tooth of the tooth system is pressed, with radial prestressing, into the tooth gap between in each case two teeth of the tooth system of the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Kundermann
  • Patent number: 6283867
    Abstract: An elastic shaft joint includes: a tube shaft; a shaft coaxially inserted in the tube shaft so that a predetermined axial region of the shaft overlaps with a predetermined axial region of the tube shaft; and a damper inserted between the predetermined axial region of the shaft and the predetermined axial region of the tube shaft for damping vibration and providing an elastic play in a rotation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Aota, Tooru Fujii, Hiroyuki Muraosa
  • Patent number: 6241616
    Abstract: A variable length double telescoping drive shaft assembly particularly suited for higher RPM applications (2,500 to 3,000 RPM). The assembly includes splined sliding members, namely a drive shaft and two elongated tubular members allowing for maximum telescoping with shorter minimum conditions. The assembly also includes a positive phasing and a non-pull apart features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Neapco Inc.
    Inventor: Russell M. Lightcap
  • Patent number: 6203439
    Abstract: A hydraulic machine with an orbiting displacement element connected unrotatably with an output shaft via an intermediary shaft, the intermediary shaft having at least at one end an external toothing, which engages an internal toothing, which permits a swivel motion of the intermediary shaft. The external toothing has teeth with concavely shaped tooth sides having a smaller curvature at the axial ends than in the area of the axial center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Danfoss Fluid Power A/S
    Inventors: Tom Tychsen, Hans Christian Petersen, Claus Jesper Johansen
  • Patent number: 6193232
    Abstract: A gear wheel assembly is provided in a sheet material feed mechanism. The gear wheel assembly includes an annular cylindrical gear wheel having an interior surface defining an interior diameter, with a plurality of gear teeth extending from the interior surface. A pinion is mounted for rotation within the gear wheel. The pinion includes an exterior surface defining an outer diameter, the outer diameter of the pinion being less than the inner diameter of the gear wheel. A plurality of gear teeth extend outwardly from the exterior surface of the pinion. The pinion gear teeth have arcuate contact edges adapted to drivingly engage with gear teeth of the gear wheel. The contact edges of the pinion gear teeth can be provided with tapering radii of curvature, preferably tapering outwardly from the respective centers of the gear teeth. In an embodiment, the contact edges of the pinion gear teeth taper from 45 mm at the center to 25 mm at each edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Laurent A. Regimbal, Teodoro Ortiz Michel, Scott K. Carter, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6173146
    Abstract: A developer cylinder and drive gear arrangement includes a drive gear having a coupling hole at one end of its gear shaft, and a developer cylinder having a coupling block at its one end coupled to the coupling hole at the gear shaft of the drive gear, wherein the coupling block of the developer cylinder has a plurality of teeth spirally disposed around the periphery thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventors: Jui-Chi Wang, Robin Hsu, Ya-Li Huang, Kuan-Tung Li
  • Patent number: 6171197
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for coupling the torque transmission between a primary shaft and a receiving shaft to enable an angular and/or radial misalignment and/or an axial displacement between the two shafts, comprising two hubs (2) each provided with an external toothing (3) normally symmetrically convex with respect to a symmetrical plane (4) and a sleeve tube (7) having an internal toothing (8) co-operating with each external toothing (3) and capable of sliding longitudinally on them, limit stop means (9) being arranged in a ring-shaped space (10) between a wall (11) bearing the external toothing (3) and part (12) of at least of one of the hubs (2) and comprising a ring-shaped stop (15) fixed to the hub (2) in the symmetrical plane (4) and, at least on one side of the stop (15), a stop pin (16, 17) associated with the stop (15), arranged in the shape of a ring of the same diameter as that of the stop (15), perpendicular to the axis (18) of the sleeve tube (7), and fixed to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Esco Transmissions
    Inventor: Paul Egide Boucquey
  • Patent number: 6161954
    Abstract: An apparatus for mixing powdered or premixed drywall joint compound and water to form a joint compound mixture or slurry includes a portable container rig with a container, pumping components, and mixing components on a dolly. A mixing element rests within the container upon the container bottom, while a mixing element driver assembly that is adapted to rest upon the upper lip portion of the container engages the mixing element and rotates it for mixing purposes while at the same time raising it slightly. The pumping components may include various commercially available valves and pump outlets that facilitate the filling of various tape application tools, and one preferred embodiment includes remote control components featuring automatic pump turnoff. One embodiment includes a multifunction coupling assembly having an upper coupling component and two different lower components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Inventor: Harold O. DeWall
  • Patent number: 6093106
    Abstract: The tooth shape at around the pitch circle of the outer tooth gear of the pinion to be connected to the prime mover or driven shaft has a tooth surface which is in axial direction at around the central portion of the tooth width and which contacts at around the tooth width end at the allowable displacement angle and the backlash is made small and the outer tooth gear of the pinion is crowned in to an exponential function curve. The precession vibration and the torsional vibration at a high speed rotation can be suppressed because of the small backlash. The crowning curve is exponential function which causes the contacting point to move toward the tooth width end as the displacement increases and the radius of curvature becomes larger as the point on the curve approaches to the tooth width end, so that even when the contacting gear number decreases when displaced, the increase in the contacting stress is suppressed and a larger power can be transmitted as compared to the conventional design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junichi Shigeura
  • Patent number: 6026700
    Abstract: A gearset for a gear spindle coupling or the like, and method for forming the same, comprising a sleeve gear and a hub gear which may be ground after surface hardening without the introduction of undesired structural weakening. The sleeve gear includes internal gear teeth and the hub gear includes external gear teeth in mesh with the sleeve gear teeth. Each internal sleeve gear tooth has an internal profile with the tooth height ranging from about 1.9 to about 2.2 divided by the diametral pitch of the sleeve gear, and each external hub gear tooth has a contact height less than the full tooth height. The contact height of the external tooth ranges from about 1.4 to about 1.6 divided by the diametral pitch of the hub gear, with the hub gear tooth region ranging between about 1.4/diametral pitch to about 1.6/diametral pitch. The whole depth of each external gear tooth ranges between about 1.5/diametral pitch to about 1.8/diametral pitch, and the whole depth of each internal gear tooth ranges between about 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Kop-Flex, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon R. Mancuso, Andrew M. Sima, Charles L. Griffin, Robert O. Backus
  • Patent number: 6009609
    Abstract: A drive line conversion process that utilizes the same drive and driven components for a full time all-wheel drive as a selectable two-wheel/four-wheel drive. A coupler or clutch ring which connects a drive member to a driven member is retained in position to maintain full time engagement with the drive and driven member. A retainer is provided to secure the clutch ring in full time engagement with both the drive and driven member. This reduces engineering and production costs by using the same drive train for both drive applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Warn Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry L. Hanno