Spring Or Weight Return Patents (Class 74/137)
  • Patent number: 9052002
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission system is provided having an input driving member drivable in alternating motion by a source of input mechanical energy. A ratchet having a ratcheting member and an output driven member is provided, wherein the output driven member is rotationally driven in a continuous rotational direction. A drive spring and a drive linkage are drivingly linked between the input driving member and the ratcheting member, wherein a drive force applied to the input driving member is transmitted to the ratcheting member via the drive spring and drive linkage. A return spring is drivingly linked to the ratcheting member to apply a return force to the ratcheting member. A control apparatus is further configured to selectively vary a deflection curve of the drive spring, wherein the variation in the deflection curve generally determines one or more of a rotational speed and torque associated with the output driven member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Beale Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy James Cyders, William Taylor Beale
  • Patent number: 6900610
    Abstract: The invention is a system for controlling the position of a movable member moved by a prime mover by monitoring the position of the movable member; generating position information based upon this monitoring; and controlling the prime mover based upon the position information by providing a counter force to the movable member substantially equal to an opposing force opposing the movement of the movable member. The invention may include a movable member, such as a ram used for fastening a terminal to a wire; a spring; a DC planetary gear motor for providing a force to the movable member opposing the spring; a position detector, such as an linear voltage displacement transducer, to detect the position of the movable member and generate position information; and a controller, which may include a logic board or microprocessor and memory, for controlling the force from the motor in response to the position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Gary L. Deck, Douglas S. Pfautz, Keith L. Nicholas
  • Patent number: 6718839
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates speculative load operations in a multiprocessor system. The system operates by maintaining a record of speculative load operations that have completed at a processor in the multiprocessor system, wherein a speculative load operation is a load operation that is speculatively initiated before a preceding load operation has returned. Next, the system receives an invalidation signal at an L1 cache that is coupled to the processor, wherein the invalidation signal indicates that a specific line in the L1 cache is to be invalidated. In response to this invalidation signal, the system examines the record of speculative load operations to determine if there exists a matching speculative load operation that is completed and is directed to the same location in the L1 cache that the invalidation signal is directed to.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Shailender Chaudhry, Marc Tremblay
  • Patent number: 6572129
    Abstract: A recumbent tricycle which includes a propulsion system which includes a combination of foot and arm power for propulsion. Pedals are operated with the rider's legs. Handles are also connected to the drive mechanism, with the handles pulled back and pushed forward to add to propulsive power. The handles are also connected through a tie rod arrangement to the front wheels such that the wheels may be turned so that the vehicle can be steered by moving the handles toward one side or the other. Preferably, two large front wheels similar to conventional bicycle wheels are provided in front, with a single smaller diameter but wider driven rear wheel. The rear wheel is mounted on a sub-frame pivotally secured to the vehicle frame and supported on a shock absorber. Brake and gear change mechanism controllers are mounted on the handles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Inventor: Gregory Bean
  • Patent number: 6520525
    Abstract: A folding tricycle, maximizing the exercise effect by allowing a user to pedal the tricycle while standing up on the pedals, as well as being easy to move and carry by being folded to be of a small size, is disclosed. The folding tricycle has a running unit consisting of a main frame, two front wheels, and a rear wheel. The main frame consists of two frame parts with a first folding part joining the two frame parts together, thus being foldable at the folding part. The two frame parts respectively have a front wheel shaft housing and a rear wheel support assembly. The tricycle also has steering unit used for steering the rear wheel. The steering unit has a second folding part, thus being foldable at the second folding part. The tricycle also has a brake unit used for selectively braking the front wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Inventor: Suk Kwon Yoon
  • Patent number: 6406393
    Abstract: A device is designed to press the transmission belt of an electric cart and is formed of a pivot set, a first swiveling member, a second swiveling member, a first wheel set, a second wheel set, and an elastic element. The first and the second swiveling members are pivoted with the pivot set such that they are located at two sides of the transmission belt. The first and the second wheel sets are provided with one or more rollers which are pivoted to the first and the second swiveling members. The rollers come in contact with the transmission belt to enhance the transmission effect of the transmission belt. The elastic element provides the first and the second swiveling members with a spring force enabling them to swivel toward the transmission belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Melton International L.L.C.
    Inventor: Tsang-Ying Chen
  • Patent number: 5272928
    Abstract: The provision of power by the human body to bicycles, tricycles, exercise equipment, wheeled chairs or the like is effected using a hand-operated lever (35) and/or a pair of pendulums (23). The hand-operated lever is pivoted about an axle (33) on a frame (12) of the cycle or other equipment. Rotation of the lever about that axle in either direction causes a respective sprocket wheel (38) to rotate about an associated axis, with consequential rotation of a rotatable member (14) which drives the cycle or other equipment. A tensioning or recoil mechanism (40,42) returns the sprocket wheel or drum to its original position when the lever is rotated in the opposite direction about the axle. Similarly, forward movement of a pendulum about the axle (22) from which it depends causes an associated different sprocket wheel (28) or drum to rotate about the axis to cause the rotatable member to move and drive the cycle or other equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Inventor: Douglas M. Young
  • Patent number: 4912996
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly for converting the reciprocating motion of at least one piston of a combustion engine into an oscillating rotary motion of at least one shaft, the piston being coupled with the shaft via a flexible band connected with a winding on and off area of the shaft. The rotational energy existing in the rotary motion of the shaft is utilized to continue rotation of the shaft in the same direction when the end of the pistons's working stroke is passed, so that the band is then wound onto the winding on and off area of the shaft in the opposite direction, thereby causing the band to pull back the piston. Alternatively, two pistons with opposite working stroke directions are present whose bands are connected to the shaft with opposite directions of winding. Due to a connecting rod between the two pistons, the working stroke of one piston pushes the other piston back to its starting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Inventor: Gotz Heidelberg