Particular Connection Between Rim And Hub Patents (Class 474/902)
  • Patent number: 11975924
    Abstract: Conveyor pulley systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed. One or more embodiments include reinforcing structure which may comprise a cartridge. One or more embodiments include a backing bar and reinforcing disc with corresponding mounting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Superior Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Schmidgall, Kent Olson
  • Patent number: 11867275
    Abstract: A belt tuning device to an accessory belt drive system (ABDS) that utilizes a torsional spring to connect the belt pulley to the shaft of a motor generator unit to isolate the system and allow the pulley to advance ahead of the motor or to be behind the motor. The tuning device also has a free running zone providing a decoupling function for the system, allowing the tuning device to be both a driver and a generator of power. The tuning device has all of the belt pulley, a spring retainer, a torsion spring, a stop ring, and a shaft fixed in relation to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Gates Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaohua Joe Chen, Anthony R. Mora, Peter Ward
  • Patent number: 11788615
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a composite bicycle front sprocket are disclosed herein. One embodiment discloses a composite bicycle front sprocket assembly having an outer assembly of a first material. The bicycle front sprocket assembly also has a center assembly of a second material. The center assembly is disposed at least partially within the outer assembly. The center assembly is irremovably coupled with the outer assembly. The center assembly is irremovably coupled with the outer assembly without an external fastening device to irremovably couple the center assembly with the outer assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Erik Moore, Douglas Alexander Chalmers
  • Patent number: 11685609
    Abstract: A split drive sprocket assembly includes: a first sprocket portion and a second sprocket portion configured to be joined along an opposing mating surface to form a cylindrical sprocket body; a series of teeth extending radially from a circumferential end of the first sprocket portion and the second sprocket portion; a first shoulder connected to the first sprocket portion and extending radially so as to extend from an axial further than the teeth extends from the axial and spaced axially apart from the teeth; a second shoulder connected to the second sprocket portion and extending radially so as to extend from the axial further than the teeth extends from the axial and spaced axially apart from the teeth. The first sprocket portion and the second sprocket portion are configured to engage a belt with the teeth and the first and second shoulder are configured to overlap with the belt while the teeth are engaged with the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventor: Terry Michael Brown, Sr.
  • Patent number: 11679790
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for retrofitting, or producing, a truck assembly with a traction motor to propel a rail car or other vehicle. A traction drive frame assembly is an integrated unit combining the traction motor with its transmission means, an arrangement that prevents the traction drive frame from rotating when the traction motor is powered. The traction motor can be positioned in a space between a bolster and an axle of the truck assembly, and a jackshaft assembly can be positioned outside of the space. Then, one or more gears, pulleys, chains, etc. between the traction motor and the jackshaft assembly provide mechanical advantage and amplify torque transmitted from the traction motor to the jackshaft assembly. A second operable connection between the jackshaft assembly and the axle amplifies the torque a second time such that a relatively small traction motor propels a rail car or other vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: RHT Rail Haul Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Frank Wegner Donnelly
  • Patent number: 11680633
    Abstract: A chainring is disclosed herein. The chainring includes a front surface, a back surface, a center, and an outer diameter. The chainring has a thickness which varies from a lesser thickness at the outer diameter to a greater thickness nearer the center. The thickness of the chainring varying substantially the same on the front surface and the back surface such that the chainring is substantially symmetric about a plane dividing the front surface and the back surface along a direction normal to an axial direction of the chainring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Fox Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Klawer, Wesley E. Allinger
  • Patent number: 11624410
    Abstract: A viscous clutch head may be replaced by selecting a viscous clutch head and a mount adapter. The viscous clutch head and the mount adapter may be selected from a group of universal modular fan drives and from a group of mount adapters. The mount adapter of a threaded type or a flange and bolt type may be selected. Depending on the viscous clutch head to be replaced, a fan adapter and/or a pilot adapter may also be selected from a group of fan adapters and from a group of pilot adapters. Accordingly, a range of models of viscous fan clutch systems may be replaced by using a limited number of parts. These parts may be stored on a tool cart. As different models of viscous fan clutch systems may be replaced using a limited number of parts, the in-stock inventory of replacement parts may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Kit Masters Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Swanson, Dale Scherman
  • Patent number: 11549579
    Abstract: Pulley-torsional damper integrated group comprising a hub adapted to be rigidly connected to a drive member and a pulley connected to the hub. The hub comprises an inner tubular wall and an outer tubular wall. The pulley is angularly coupled to said hub by means of the ring made of elastomeric material. The elastomeric ring has an outer surface towards the pulley and an inner surface towards the hub, and an adhesive is arranged on at least one of the outer or inner surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Dayco Europe S.R.L
    Inventors: Giacomo Casagrande, Mattia Roberto De Luca, Miriam Nardone, Roberto Ronchetto
  • Patent number: 10907705
    Abstract: A transmission device for installation on a driveshaft, having a base body which encloses the driveshaft, a pinion which in the mounted state is arranged in the base body and on the driveshaft, and a rack which interacts with the pinion and runs through the base body. The transmission device is distinguished by the fact that the base body is open on one side in such a way that it can be fitted onto a driveshaft in the radial direction, and in that the pinion is in multiple parts such that it is possible to perform a mounting process on the driveshaft during which the parts of the pinion can be joined together by a radial movement with respect to the driveshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Lock Antriebstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Bausch, Marius Baur, Daniela Vogel
  • Patent number: 8777760
    Abstract: The device for torque transmission between a drive pulley (1) and a shaft (2) comprises a coupling flange (4) rotationally driven by the pulley and a hub fitted at the shaft end and rotationally joined to the shaft, with torque limitation means fitted between the coupling flange (4) and the hub (3), characterized in that the torque limitation means comprise a friction ring (28) comprising a plurality of projecting elastic portions in friction contact with a surface of the coupling flange (4) and/or of the hub (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Laurent Varnoux, Romuald Lescorail
  • Patent number: 8517845
    Abstract: A torsional vibration damper which comprises of a hub 12 having a central hole 3 to be inserted on the crankshaft and being formed to have a recess opened on one side, a disc 4 extending from the hub 2, a rim 5 being bent and extending from the periphery of the disc 4, a rubber layer 6 attached on the outer surface of the rim 5, and a ring member 8 or pulley inserted on the outer surface of the rubber layer 6, wherein a polygonal recess 10 is formed on the connecting area between the hub 2 and the disc 4 so that the polygonal recess 10 surrounds the hub 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Fukoku Korea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung-Woo Shin
  • Patent number: 8454445
    Abstract: A power transmission in which a driven body and a drive body for driving the driven body are rotated in the same direction and are coupled through a coupling portion, transmission of torque from the drive body is interrupted when the driving load of the driven body exceeds a predetermined level, and the coupling portion is constituted by combining members different from each other of a positive torque transmission member for transmitting torque in the direction of forward rotation and interrupting transmission of torque from the drive body by its own fracture when the driving load of the driven body exceeds the predetermined level and a negative torque transmission member capable of transmitting torque in the direction of reverse rotation. At a contact portion between the positive torque transmission member and the negative torque transmission member, interposed is a surface layer composed of a different kind of material from a material composing the positive and negative torque transmission members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Takai, Sueji Hirawatari, Toshiki Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 8371947
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a power transmission device of the clutchless compressor, which includes: a pulley; a hub disposed in one side face of the pulley and connected to a driving shaft of a compressor; a drive-side connection member including a connection portion detachably connected to one side face of the pulley and a breaking portion connected to the connection portion and broken when a torque above a preset value is generated in the compressor; and a driven-side connection member connected to one side face of the hub and is connected to the breaking portion and including a plastic deformation portion outside the driven-side connection member so that the driven-side connection member is plastic deformed or is broken due to plastic deformation if a rotational shock is applied from the connection portion to a remaining breaking member remaining even after the breaking portion is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corp.
    Inventors: Eun Gi Son, Seung-Kil Kim
  • Patent number: 8316733
    Abstract: In an image printing device, such as a laser printer or ink jet printer, a coupling device for creating a coupling between a rotatable shaft and an interface component, such as a gear. The coupling device is an elongated modified c-shaped body having a portion for receiving the rotatable shaft, and includes integrated hinges that facilitate the coupling device to be spread apart and to receive and interface with the rotatable shaft. The integrated hinges function to compress between the rotatable shaft and interface component substantially inhibiting relative longitudinal movement and wherein a flat on the exterior of the rotatable shaft engages with a flat on the interior the interface component, to additionally inhibit relative rotational movement between the interface component and the shaft. The shaft further includes a plurality of ribs that extend from the rotatable shaft into the coupling device providing additional reduction in rotational movement between the shaft and the interface component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Wayne Malone, Glen Alan Reidhaar
  • Patent number: 8308590
    Abstract: A hub-pulley assembly comprising a hub adapted to be connected to a rotational member of a motor vehicle and having an axis, a pulley adapted to cooperate with a drive belt and driving means arranged between the hub and the pulley. The driving means comprise bidirectional disengagement means which allow a relative rotation between the hub and the pulley in both directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Dayco Europe S.r.l.
    Inventors: Carlo Fiordaliso, Alberto Ruffini
  • Patent number: 8303423
    Abstract: A power transmission interconnects a drive body and a driven body by a coupling member, transmits torque of the drive body to the driven body, and interrupts the torque when a drive load of the driven body exceeds a predetermined value. The coupling member has, as separate sections in the coupling member, both of a positive torque transmission section and a negative torque transmission section. The positive torque transmission section holds torque in the forward rotational direction and, when a drive load of the driven body exceeds the predetermined value, interrupts transmission of torque from the drive body by its own fracture. The negative torque transmission section holds torque in the reverse rotational direction. Even if there is a torque fluctuation on the drive body, its influence can be suppressed as little as possible, and interruption of torque can be performed properly at a target interruption torque value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Takai
  • Patent number: 8257211
    Abstract: A pulley assembly for a flexible motor vehicle transmission, comprising a supporting member rotatable about an axis, a pulley adapted to cooperate with a belt and connected to the supporting member to be rotatable about said axis with respect to the supporting member, elastic spiral means interposed between the supporting element and the pulley and comprising a sliding portion elastically loaded in radial direction against a sliding wall carried by one of either the supporting members or the pulley for tangential force drive coupling pulley to the supporting member. In particular, the elastic spiral means comprise a supporting element and sliding portion comprising at least one runner carried by the supporting element and sliding along the sliding walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Dayco Europe S.R.L.
    Inventor: Hervé Riu
  • Patent number: 8231488
    Abstract: A pulley assembly comprising a hub with an axis and adapted to be rigidly connected to a rotating shaft of an engine assembly, a turning annular pulley of ferromagnetic material supported at least indirectly on the hub, a ring of electrically conducting material rotationally connected to the hub, and at least a pair of magnets rigidly connected to the pulley and facing the ring. The pulley defines a cavity accomodating accommodating said ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Dayco Europe S.r.l. con Unico Socio
    Inventors: Nicola Amati, Giancarlo Genta, Andrea Tonoli
  • Patent number: 7998008
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power transmission pulley comprising a pulley element having a ribbed outer outline that is adapted to receive a ribbed belt, and a resilient element interposed between the pulley element and a receiver device for coupling to a member driven by the belt. The pulley includes a freewheel device disposed in series with the resilient element between the pulley element and said receiver element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Hutchinson
    Inventors: Henri Kamdem, Claude Rointru
  • Patent number: 7985150
    Abstract: The invention seeks to provide a transmission system, in particular for a starter-alternator, capable both of damping large variations in torque under starting conditions (drive from the alternator) and of providing effective decoupling under running conditions (alternator driven). In an embodiment, the decoupling located between a central hub and a rim over which a drive belt (not shown) is tensioned, is provided by at least one decoupler element designed to provide optimized stiffness. In addition, the decoupler assembly is associated with at least one deflection limiter having two components: a central plate secured to an outside face of the central hub and coupled to abutments that are regularly distributed around the periphery of an inside face of the rim, the abutments and the plate being shaped so as to come into deforming contact. The resilient assembly provides two stiffness values, whether in the drive direction or in the driven direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Hutchinson
    Inventor: Henri Kamdem
  • Patent number: 7922611
    Abstract: A power transmission system including an integrally molded hub and elastic member, where stress is inhibited from concentrating at the gate marks remaining after integral molding. In a pulley driven by a belt, a plastic pulley side relief section 1a provided at a pocket section of the pulley and a plastic hub side relief section provided on an iron outer ring of the hub engaged at the pocket section whereby power is transmitted from the pulley to the shaft. The hub side relief section and outer ring forming parts of the hub, the iron inner hub to be fastened to the shaft, and the plastic cylindrical part are integrally molded so that the gate mark for plastic injection is formed near to or further to the outer circumference of the outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiki Tada, Michiyasu Nosaka, Yasuo Tabuchi, Takushi Kamiya, Takayuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7850557
    Abstract: A torque fluctuation damper pulley 10 is provided with a torque fluctuation damping elastic member 15 between a hub 11 attached to a rotational shaft and a pulley member 13. The torque fluctuation damping elastic member 15 includes a pair of rubber members 15A and 15B which sandwich a support portion 24 of the pulley member 13 under equal elastic forces from the front and rear in the axial direction of the pulley member 13 to joint the hub with the pulley member 13 elastically. Thus, the pulley member 13 always has equal forces being applied thereto from the front and rear in the axial direction, so that it becomes possible to make unnecessary any thrust bearing which would otherwise be required for positioning the pulley member 13 in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Masaoki Moriya, Yukinobu Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 7815510
    Abstract: A driving disc with a hub and a disc rim which are rotatably supported inside one another, with at least two wound wire springs which are mounted substantially coaxially relative to the hub and disc rim and whose one end is secured in the direction of rotation relative to the hub and whose respective other end is secured in the direction or rotation relative to the disc rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Muhr und Bender KG
    Inventors: Jochen Asbeck, Michael Schebitz, Vladimir Kobelev, Stefan Schattenberg
  • Patent number: 7712592
    Abstract: A decoupler assembly for transferring rotary movement between an engine driven shaft and a serpentine belt. The decoupler includes a hub configured to be assembled to the shaft. The hub has a helical first slot formed therein. A pulley is rotatably coupled to the hub. A carrier is mounted on the hub and includes a helical second slot formed therein, as well as an anti-ramp up boss formed thereon. A thrust plate is fixed to the hub and has a slot formed therein. A torsion spring is compressed between a hub end retained in the helical first slot and a carrier end retained in the helical second slot for transferring torque between the hub and carrier. The anti-ramp up boss travels within the slot formed in the thrust plate for limiting rotation between the carrier and thrust plate and preventing rotation of the torsion spring relative to the hub and carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Litens Automotive Partnership
    Inventors: Christian Jansen, John R. Antchak
  • Patent number: 7645196
    Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting torque from a motor to a compressor comprises a hub connecting with a compressor shaft and a pulley rotatably supported on the compressor housing, the pulley and the hub connected with one another by a device for vibration clamping and for load limiting and the load limiting is implemented so that the connection between the pulley and hub is discontinued if a specific torque is exceeded. The load limiting device comprises a catch and a limiter ring (b) comprised of metal including pegs directed radially to the center and, through radial form fitting with hub, transmits the torque onto the compressor shaft and catch is made of a synthetic material encasing the limiter ring and catch and limiter ring can be axially displaced on hub and the limiter ring is preferable made of sintered metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignees: Bakelite AG, Plastech Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Brinkmann, Michael Schutte, Frank Bayerl
  • Patent number: 7513359
    Abstract: A discontinuous linear drive comprises a guiding component and an engaging means. The engaging means engages in a member to be driven and guided by guiding components in at least two places by means of a respective movable engaging component. The member to be driven is driven by a phase-shifted effecting and releasing of the engagement of the moved engaging components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: INVENDO Medical GmbH
    Inventors: Konstantin Bob, Fritz Pauker
  • Patent number: 7435197
    Abstract: A bicycle transmission has among other things a rear hub with a freewheel with an outer freewheel body supporting a plurality of sprockets. A chain is shifted between adjacent pairs of the sprockets by a rear derailleur. Each sprocket includes inner attachment portion and a chain engaging portion having annular root portion and a plurality of teeth. The largest (low gear) sprocket has one or more recesses in the lateral surface that faces towards the center of the bicycle so that the largest (low gear) sprocket overlaps the abutments of the outer freewheel body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Kenji Kamada
  • Patent number: 7387584
    Abstract: A hollow cylindrical pulley body 5 is carried rotatably by a hollow cylindrical shaft member 11. A support rod 8 is inserted in the shaft member 11, and the shaft member 11 is elastically supported to the support rod 8 through an elastic body 10. The elastic body 10 is provided within a quarter of the periphery of the support rod 8 that is located, when viewed along the axis of the shaft member 11, forward of the line of action of a radial shaft load on the shaft member 11 with respect to the direction of rotation of the pulley body 5. With this configuration, when the drive belt 3 deviates to one side, the pulley body 5 is immediately angularly moved so that it is inclined with a level difference with respect to the direction of the radial shaft load and is positioned obliquely relative to the drive belt 3. In this manner, a force of compensating for the deviation of the drive belt 3 is produced to avoid its wobbling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Bando Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Miyata, Shinichiro Nishikawa, Masashi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 7303477
    Abstract: A power transmission device for a clutchless compressor, in which, when a torque above a preset value is generated in the compressor during power transmission from an engine to the compressor, a breaking member connecting a pulley side with a hub side is broken and also the breaking member is released from the structure, thereby preventing a failure of engine belt and unnecessary noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Halla Climate Control Corporation
    Inventor: Eungi Son
  • Patent number: 7244185
    Abstract: The invention seeks to improve the transfer function of drive devices such as pulleys and other coupling means, and it proposes creating zones of shear in the inserted deformable material forming a decoupling element. In an embodiment, the decoupling element is made in the form of a ring (2) presenting at least one meshing face (21e, 21i) complementary to a corresponding meshing face (31, 41) formed on the facing support (3, 4), the meshing projections (2e, 2i, 3e, 4i) engaging in one another to take up power transmission torque by working in shear by being blocked against each other during rotation. The invention is applicable to all drive devices including a filtering, damping, or absorbing element, e.g. for use in the automotive industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Hutchinson
    Inventors: Henri Kamdem, Willy Bourdeau
  • Patent number: 7150679
    Abstract: A pulley (1) that is decoupled from the vibrations of a crankshaft and that has an integrated viscous torsional vibration damper (2), including a flywheel (3), which is arranged in a damper housing (5) that is filled with a viscous medium (4) and which can rotate relative to the housing, as well as a bearing (6) and a coupling (7) made of rubber elastic material, for supporting the pulley (1) with respect to the damper housing (5) in a flexible manner in the circumferential direction of the pulley and so as to be capable of relative rotation, the pulley (1) being assigned to the flywheel (3) so as to be axially adjoining. The damper housing (5) has at least one first axial projection (8), which is enclosed by the belt-bearing surface (9) of the pulley (1) at a radial clearance, and the bearing (6) is arranged in the gap (10) that is formed by the clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Rolf Pape, Joerg Sandig, Klaus Kern, Hanna-Elfriede Barsch, legal representative, Peter Barsch, deceased
  • Patent number: 7037201
    Abstract: A torque limiting device features spring arms that extend resiliently and spirally from a driven member to distal ends rotatably supporting cams that engage cam posts on a drive member to transmit rotation from the drive member to the driven member. In response to a predetermined reactive force, the spring arms are resilient and move radially, and the cams rotate to allow the distal ends to spring past the cam posts in response to a predetermined reactive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil K. McCoy, John F. Quesada
  • Patent number: 6722221
    Abstract: An adjustable cam shaft sprocket for allowing small adjustments to a cam shaft. The adjustable cam shaft sprocket comprises an inner member and an outer member, the inner member being placed concentrically within the first circular member and held in place by a fastener. A series of openings located at the perimeter of the inner member and outer member are arranged such that only one pair of openings between the inner member and the outer member are aligned for each hole alignment. A shear pin is inserted through the aligned pair of openings to prevent the inner member from rotating with respect to the outer member. A small adjustment to the cam shaft is achieved by removing the shear pin, rotating the inner member with respect to the outer member so that a second pair of openings is aligned, and re-inserting the shear pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventor: Steven Frank Maxwell
  • Patent number: 6540428
    Abstract: A sintered, flanged cam pulley includes a sintered cam pulley body and an annular flange caulked to the sintered cam pulley body. The sintered cam pulley body has at an end portion thereof an axial annular projection and a stepped portion formed on an outer periphery side of the annular projection. An inner peripheral surface of the annular flange is fitted on the stepped portion of the sintered cam pulley body. The tip of the annular projection is deformed plastically from the inner to the outer periphery side of the annular projection by a caulking roller. The caulking roller has a first conical surface of a large angle and a second conical surface of a small angle contiguous to the first conical surface, the first and second conical surfaces being formed on an outer peripheral surface of the caulking roller. The annular flange is thereby caulked to the sintered cam pulley body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Tsubakimoto Chain Co.
    Inventors: Isamu Okabe, Kenichi Uotani
  • Publication number: 20030017898
    Abstract: A pulley housing with a cylindrical exterior surface and a cylindrical interior surface is provided. A pair of shafts at opposite ends of the pulley housing mount the pulley housing for rotation about the pair of shafts. A motive source operatively connected with the pulley housing is adapted to drive the pulley housing in rotation. A wiper is positioned and adapted to wipe thermal transfer fluid from the interior surface of the pulley housing and to direct the thermal transfer fluid into thermally conductive contact with the motive source, preferably with both sides thereof, such that the thermal transfer fluid absorbs heat directly from the motive source. A method of cooling a conveyor pulley includes redirecting the thermal transfer fluid into thermally conductive contact with the motive source such that heat is directly transferred from the motive source to the redirected thermal transfer fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventor: Jason J. Hill
  • Patent number: 6322473
    Abstract: A drive mechanism includes a drive shaft and a sprocket drive assembly. The sprocket drive assembly includes a hub mechanically coupled to the drive shaft, a first side support secured to the hub, a second side support secured to the hub, and a plurality of engagement members each interposed between the first side support and the second side support. Each of the plurality of engagement members is rotatably secured to each of the first side support and the second side support. The drive mechanism further includes a track assembly which has a plurality of shoes which are secured to one another to form a track, and a plurality of drive lugs which are mounted to the plurality of shoes. Each of the plurality of drive lugs has a first grasping notch and a second grasping notch defined therein. The plurality of drive lugs includes a first drive lug and a second drive lug which are adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: J. Scott Burdick, Delbert D. Dester, Kevin M. Egle, Thomas E. Oertley
  • Patent number: 6176798
    Abstract: A plurality of sprockets are coaxially mounted together, wherein a spacing between each pair of adjacent sprockets is less than a thickness of at least one of the plurality of sprockets. In another embodiment of the invention, a plurality of sprockets are coaxially mounted together, wherein a spacing between each pair of adjacent sprockets is less than or equal to approximately 2.0 millimeters. In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, at least ten sprockets are coaxially mounted together to form a first free side sprocket surface facing laterally outwardly and a second free side sprocket surface facing laterally inwardly. A spacing between the first free side sprocket surface and the second free side sprocket surface is less than or equal to approximately 50 millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc
    Inventor: Yasushi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6120405
    Abstract: A drive mechanism includes a drive shaft and a sprocket drive assembly. The sprocket drive assembly includes a hub mechanically coupled to the drive shaft, a first side support secured to the hub, a second side support secured to the hub, and a plurality of engagement members each interposed between the first side support and the second side support. Each of the plurality of engagement members is rotatably secured to each of the first side support and the second side support. The drive mechanism further includes a track assembly which has a plurality of shoes which are secured to one another to form a track, and a plurality of drive lugs which are mounted to the plurality of shoes. Each of the plurality of drive lugs has a first grasping notch and a second grasping notch defined therein. The plurality of drive lugs includes a first drive lug and a second drive lug which are adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Oertley, Delbert D. Dester, Kevin M. Egle, J. Scott Burdick
  • Patent number: 6048284
    Abstract: A pulley which can be driven by the output element of the engine in a motor vehicle to transmit torque to one or more endless belts or chains has a rotary input member, a rotary output member and a damper which yieldably opposes rotation of the input and output members relative to each other about a common axis and is at least partially confined in an annular chamber defined by at least one of the input and output members. The chamber can further receive a friction bearing which operates between the input and output members, as well as a vibration absorbing device. Such device can have a mass which is adjacent a flange of one of the input and output members and one or more energy storing elements acting in the circumferential direction of the pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau GmbH
    Inventors: Friedrich Gerhardt, Peter Klein, Heinz Molt, Joachim Hoffmann, Herbert Kiefer-Gander, Alexander Ellert, Helmut Kohler, Wolfgang Haas
  • Patent number: 6004235
    Abstract: A belt autotensioner including: a support arm having one end supported and the other end biased in a predetermined direction; a tension pulley supported by the other end of the support arm; and a friction member held in sliding contact with the support arm for applying a rocking resistance to the support arm, and having a Rockwell hardness [H.sub.R R] of 30 to 40 in at least a portion in sliding contact with the support arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Ohta, Tetsuya Oda
  • Patent number: 5947853
    Abstract: A pulley with an integral hub spun-roll formed of a disc of sheet metal where the hub has a thickness greater than the thickness of the sheet metal. The hub has a bore and external surface for attaching to other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: The Gates Corporation
    Inventors: Yahya Hodjat, Michael H. Kutzscher
  • Patent number: 5947265
    Abstract: This invention relates to a chain drum arrangement for a central or double central scraper chain conveyor, comprising a divided chain wheel, the shell-type chain wheel segments of which are attached, locked in rotation and detachably, via an axial splined portion to the shaft, wherein the chain wheel is secured in its installed position on the shaft by means of locking rings disposed on both sides and at least one of these two locking rings consists of a divided locking ring which can be taken off radially from the shaft in order to remove the divided chain wheel from the shaft. According to the invention, the divided locking ring is disposed as an intermediate ring between the divided chain wheel and a hollow journal which receives the respective shaft bearing and which projects axially from the respective side cheek of the machine frame into the interior space thereof, which results in a narrow mode of construction of the divided locking ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: DBT Deutsche Bergbau-Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Merten, Adam Klabisch, Bernd Steinkuhl
  • Patent number: 5890814
    Abstract: A rotatable drum arrangement, wherein the drum is mounted on support rings such that circumferential expansion and contraction of the drum relative to said support rings does not adversely affect the mounting. In a preferred embodiment, drum blocks are mounted to the drum, and corresponding ring blocks are mounted to the support ring. The side surfaces of adjacent drum blocks and ring blocks support the weight of the drum on the ring. In this arrangement, gaps may be maintained between the drum and support ring that allow for expansion and contraction of the drum. In the preferred embodiment, there is also a drive sprocket mounted on the drum with a sprocket mounting arrangement that also accommodates expansion and contraction of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: GenTec, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Catlett
  • Patent number: 5843264
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vibration insulating assembly including a rubber vibration insulator and metallic members bonded thereto. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing the same, by which the quality of the resulting assembly is improved by providing a high bonding strength between the vibration insulator and metallic members. Retainers are provided about the peripheries of the bonding surfaces of the rubber vibration insulator in order to restrict displacement and deformation of the rubber vibration insulator across the bonding surfaces or at the bonding interface with the metallic members and to facilitate its positioning. The presence of the retainers allows for the application of a predetermined pressure on the bonding surfaces to enhance the bonding strength while preventing an undesirable strain from forming in the bonding surface of the rubber vibration insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Mabuchi, Kanae Matsumura, Takayoshi Iwata, Kazutoshi Miyake, Kyouichi Fujinami, Masato Ueno, Satomi Watanabe, Kazuya Ito, Hideyuki Imai, Hiroshi Yokoi
  • Patent number: 5833562
    Abstract: A split hub assembly including a split sprocket, a split hub, and members to connect the split sprocket together. The formed split sprocket is disposed over the split hub by complementarily tapered surfaces to maintain the split hub coupled together. Installation and removal of the present invention is significantly easier than standard prior art devices, plus it provides interchangeability of hubs and sprockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Inventor: Jordan Dorman Walker, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5823904
    Abstract: A pulley with an integral hub spun-roll formed of a disc of sheet metal where the hub has an annular ring extending radially outward of the hub and reinforcing the hub. Optionally, the hub has as integral flange that facilitates removal of the pulley from a shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: The Gates Corporation
    Inventors: Yahya Hodjat, Michael H. Kutzscher
  • Patent number: 5803235
    Abstract: A roller arrangement for use in a conveyance system includes a generally cylindrical roller body which has a pre-determined diameter, an outer surface, and a central passage. A shaft extends through the central passage, the roller body is rotatable about the shaft. An expander circumscribes the roller body. An impact shell is connected outwardly to the expander. The impact shell includes a cover made of low modulus elastomeric material and a backing layer made of high modulus elastomeric material. A first compression plate, a second compression plate, and a compression ring are mounted to the roller so that the compression ring is mounted between the first plate and the second plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Inventors: Herbert E. McGinnis, deceased, by Mary L. McGinnis, executor
  • Patent number: 5728019
    Abstract: A drive system, especially a belt drive for a multi-axial vehicle running gear, has a drive drum about which the belt is looped and provided with a ring with entrainers which engage teeth on the belt when there is slip between the belt and the drum. Limited rotation of the ring relative to the drum may be effected by elliptical spring elements coupling the ring and the drum or by clutches on the drum which frequently lock the ring to the drum so as to effect control engagement of the entrainers with the belt teeth and positive drive of the belt by the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Intertractor Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Harald Becker, Piotr Dudzinski, Michael Ketting
  • Patent number: 5630769
    Abstract: The invention concerns a tension roller made of a plastic material for adjusting a tension in a belt drive, comprising a wheel (7) having an inner ring (9) and an outer ring (10) connected to each other by axially oriented, circumferentially spaced ribs (12) and by a central web (8), the wheel (7) being rotatably mounted on a support element (2) which bears by a running face against the belt (3). According to the invention, successive ribs (12) enclose different angles with reference to a central point of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: INA Walzlager Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Werner Schmidt, Klaus Kampitsch
  • Patent number: 5626532
    Abstract: A drive assembly for rotating a shaft of a pulley-driven device is disclosed together with a method of making the drive assembly. The method includes the steps of forming a pulley of lightweight non-ferrous metal having a web portion, forming a radially inward portion of the web portion into an axially extending annular portion, mounting a connecting ring of ferrous metal having an annular groove in an interior end surface thereof over the axially extending portion of the web portion so that a free end of the axially extending portion extends adjacent the annular groove, cold-forming the free end to fill the annular groove, welding a hub of ferrous material to the connecting ring and machining a central axial bore through the web portion and the axially extending portion thereof and the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Tesma International Inc.
    Inventor: Zdenek Cerny