Backlash Take-up Patents (Class 74/409)
  • Patent number: 9606500
    Abstract: A gear transmission device includes a drive rotator and a driven external gear. The drive rotator includes a drive internal gear to rotate about a rotary shaft. The driven external gear meshes with the drive internal gear to transmit a drive force to a drive target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Matsuda, Masahiro Ishida, Shinya Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9528500
    Abstract: A system for lubricating gears includes a drive pinion configured to interact with bearing teeth. The drive pinion includes an internal axially extending lubricant channel connected to a plurality of radially extending lubricant delivery conduits. The plurality of radially extending lubricant delivery conduits extend from the internal axially extending lubricant channel radially outward to a radial surface of the drive pinion. The system is configured to transport lubricant from the internal lubricant channel through the plurality of lubricant delivery conduits to the radial surface to lubricate the drive pinion and the bearing teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Junqing Xu, Shijiang Liu, Ting Gu
  • Patent number: 9518841
    Abstract: Device for transmitting movement to a toothed element forming an input of a position sensor, the transmission device including an output shaft, a first toothed sector rotatably linked to the output shaft and a second toothed sector mounted coaxially to the first toothed sector in order to have an angular displacement relative to the first toothed sector, a return member mounted between the toothed sectors returning the second toothed sector into a predetermined position, characterised in that the return member is arranged such as to magnetically generate a force tending to move the second toothed sector into the predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: SAGEM DEFENSE SECURITE
    Inventors: Bruno Tilly, Nicolas Ravoux
  • Patent number: 9500270
    Abstract: Split gear (1) for avoiding backlash when engaging a mating gear (4), comprising a first (2) and second (3) toothed gear wheel, rotating means (5) for coaxially interconnecting the first (2) and second (3) gear at least partially rotatable with respect to each other around a mutual rotational axis (15) and a spring (10) resiliency interconnecting the first (2) and second (3) gear for creating a negative moment between the first (2) and second (3) gear upon alignment of the teeth (12, 13) of the first (2) and second (3) gear by rotation of the first (2) gear with respect to the second (3) gear so that the mating gear (4) can be engaged, characterized in that the spring (10) is integrally formed with the second (3) gear wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: VCST Industrial Products
    Inventors: Bart Vandewal, Reymond Reyskens, Steven Van Lieshout
  • Patent number: 9488257
    Abstract: A cam device includes a first member including a plurality of cam followers arranged in a row direction and a second member including a rotatable cam with an engaging groove, on an outer circumferential surface thereof, to be engaged with the cam followers, the second member moving relatively with respect to the first member in the row direction by rotating the cam and making the plurality of the cam followers engage successively in the engaging groove, wherein the second member includes a gear that rotates the cam by engaging with the cam, and second teeth that mesh with first teeth of the gear are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: TECHNO DYNAMICS INC.
    Inventor: Heizaburo Kato
  • Patent number: 9239094
    Abstract: This face gear has a plurality of annularly arranged gear teeth. A recess for holding grease or another lubricant is formed in the tooth surface of each gear tooth. A recess forming area, which is the area in which the recess is formed, is provided between the tooth bottom and the pitch point in each gear tooth. In other words, a recess is not formed in the part of the tooth surface that is located between the tooth tip and the pitch point. As a result, the gear teeth can be effectively lubricated while minimizing instability in the meshing state between gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuki Okabe
  • Patent number: 9234457
    Abstract: A balance shaft arrangement is for a marine engine having a crankshaft supported for rotation about a crankshaft axis and a drive gear supported for rotation with the crankshaft. The balancing arrangement has at least one balance shaft, and a driven gear being driven into rotation by the drive gear, the driven gear being connected to the balance shaft so as to drive the balance shaft into rotation. The driven gear is selectively radially positionable towards and away from the drive gear. A dampening member is disposed between the driven gear and the balance shaft, the dampening member accommodating radial positioning of the driven gear with respect to the balance shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Yukioka
  • Patent number: 9200700
    Abstract: A motion control system is provided where a rotatable driven gear is held by bearings. The bearings are held inside a rotatable cam, where the cam has eccentricity between the outside and inside diameter. The outside diameter is held in a case that contains a driving gear. The backlash of the system is controlled by rotating the cam, which adjusts the center to center distance between the driving and driven gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Kessler Crane, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Kessler, Kevin P Mott
  • Patent number: 9114527
    Abstract: A robot according to embodiments includes a first link, a second link, an actuator, a scissors gear, and a support part. The second link is rotatably connected to the first link. The actuator drives the second link in a rotatable manner. The scissors gear includes a main gear and a sub gear, and outputs driving force from the actuator to the second link. The support part is attached to the first link and rotatably supports the scissors gear. Furthermore, the scissors gear includes a spring that is arranged adjacent to the support part in the direction of the rotational axis of the scissors gear and applies biasing force to the main gear and the sub gear in rotational directions different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Shingi Takahashi, Takuya Okada, Tomoyuki Shiraki
  • Patent number: 9091331
    Abstract: A rack shaft supporting device includes a support yoke, a plug that closes the other opening of an accommodation chamber, a ball screw mechanism between the support yoke and the plug, and a torsion urging member between the ball screw mechanism and the plug. The ball screw mechanism includes: a first threaded portion in which a first thread groove is formed; a second threaded portion in which a second thread groove is formed; and balls arranged in a rolling path formed of the first thread groove and the second thread groove. The torsion urging member rotates the second threaded portion relative to the plug and moves the second threaded portion toward the support yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideo Kometani
  • Patent number: 9046217
    Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic lubricant dispensing device, which comprises the following elements. A bracket is provided. A lubricant supplying device is mounted on a first end of the bracket. A dispensing gear is disposed on a second end of the bracket. A guiding arrangement is moveably mounted on the bracket, and including a pair of guiding rollers arranged coplanarly. Wherein a space is defined between the dispensing gear and the pair of guiding rollers in which a rack to be lubricated can fit therein, and the dispensing gear is adapted to mesh with the rack to be lubricated. Wherein the lubricant supplying device evenly dispenses the lubricant over the teeth of the rack by the dispensing gear which is completely and thoroughly meshed with the rack and transferred with lubricant from the lubricant supplying device. It is convenient, no need of labors and saving a lot of time. In addition, the lubricant can be evenly distributed to all the surface of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Weibing Yang, Chunhao Wu, Kunhsien Lin, Yongqiang Wang, Zhiyou Shu, Minghu Qi, Zenghong Chen, Zhenhua Guo, Yunshao Jiang
  • Publication number: 20150122064
    Abstract: A yoke clearance compensator of a vehicle may include: a support yoke for supporting a rack bar; a yoke plug coupled to the support yoke through an elastic part and having a cavity formed therein; a pressurizing unit installed in the cavity of the yoke plug and providing a pressurizing force to the support yoke; and an end plug for fixing the pressurizing unit to the yoke plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Tae Yoon Kim
  • Patent number: 9010209
    Abstract: A gear assembly including a main gear including a first hub, a first gear ring positioned about the first hub, and a first helically splined region. The gear assembly further includes a sub-gear co-axially disposed relative to the main gear with a resilient member disposed therebetween. The sub-gear including a second hub, a second gear ring positioned about the second hub, and a second helically splined region complementary to the first helically splined region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Murphy, Anthony K. Chan, Michael P. Harmon
  • Patent number: 9003910
    Abstract: An instrumental unit includes: a step motor; a gear including: a gear body rotated by torque of the step motor, the gear body including a first surface formed with a recess and a second surface opposite to the first surface; and a rotary shaft projecting from the first and second surfaces; a controlling spring accommodated in the recess, a center of the controlling spring through which the rotary shaft projects, the controlling spring having lengths in long and short axis directions orthogonal to each other and having a line-symmetric shape with respect to each of the long and short axis directions; and a case accommodating the step motor, the gear body and the controlling spring, an inner surface of the case including: a first portion supporting the second surface; and a second portion pressing the controlling spring in the recess of the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Taisei Fukuda
  • Patent number: 9003909
    Abstract: A rack bar supporting device for a vehicle steering apparatus, having a clearance between the rack bar and a support yoke can be kept always constant when the vehicle steering apparatus is operated, which makes it possible to reduce operational friction and noise, to maintain the supporting force of the support yoke and the rack bar to be constant for a long time, and to improve a steering feeling of a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Kwang Ho Yang, Kyoung Min Kim
  • Patent number: 8984978
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an elastic support module and a rack bar supporting device for a vehicle steering apparatus, which includes the elastic support module. By the present invention, it is possible to prevent a noise from being produced due to the increase of a clearance caused when a vehicle loses the driving durability thereof to a certain degree and hence a support yoke of the vehicle is worn, or due to an impact reversely input from a road surface, and hence to provide a pleasant steering feeling for a driver when steering the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Kwang Ho Yang, Kyoung Min Kim
  • Publication number: 20150075899
    Abstract: An electric power steering device includes a worm which is swingably connected to the rotation shaft of an electric motor through a joint. A first end portion and second end portion of the worm are supported by a first bearing and a second bearing, respectively. A pair of elastic members elastically urge the worm to an axial neutral position. An annular leaf spring which is held by a housing urges the second end portion toward a worm wheel through the second bearing. A synthetic resin member having a sliding contact surface which is in contact with the leaf spring is integrally disposed on the second bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arata Kikuchi, Hirotsugu Kusano, Yasutaka Fukumoto
  • Publication number: 20150053031
    Abstract: A gear assembly can include a biasing apparatus, which can include a hydraulic biasing member. The biasing apparatus can be activated to urge a scissor gear tooth of a scissor gear toward a second gear tooth of a second gear. The urging of the scissor gear tooth toward the second gear tooth can close a backlash gap between a first gear tooth of a first gear and the second gear tooth of the second gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Michael A. Willcox, James M. Cleeves, Dimitri Bassis, Kyle Langlands
  • Publication number: 20150053030
    Abstract: A clearance compensator for a yoke may include: a yoke body installed in a housing of a steering gear box so as to support a rack bar; an elastic member pressurizing the yoke body toward the rack bar; a pressurizing unit contacted with the elastic member so as to support the elastic member; and a yoke plug unit including a yoke plug fixed to the housing and a pressurization adjusting part adjusting the extent to which the pressurizing unit supports the elastic member, and inserted and coupled to the yoke plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventor: Tae Yoon Kim
  • Patent number: 8931790
    Abstract: The invention relates to a push device (8) which includes a rotary pad (10) in which the inner periphery (11) is off-center relative to the outer periphery (12) and applied to the rear (9) of the rack (3) which is thereby pushed towards the teeth of the steering pinion (5). A clearance compensation mechanism (17) includes a thrust member (19) pressed against a radial arm (18) of the pad (10) by a compression spring (20) inserted between said member and an element (23) secured to the support (13) of the pad (10). A mobile stop (21) rotatably mounted relative to the element (23) comprises toothings having staggered gear teeth cooperating with notches of the thrust member (19). The stop (21) is connected to the element (23) by means of a torsion spring (22). The notches successively cooperate with the staggered teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT Europe
    Inventors: Patrice Brochot, Laurent Rey
  • Patent number: 8925411
    Abstract: A rack with a rack tip is disclosed. The rack tip is slidably mounted to the end of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Yaw Chuan Lee, Boo Siong Lim
  • Patent number: 8915162
    Abstract: A compliant gear assembly includes a hub subassembly including a first hub component defining a first axis and a second hub component movable relative to the first hub component in a controlled direction perpendicular to the first axis. A gear ring, which is rotatably mounted on the hub subassembly and defines a gear ring axis of rotation, is coupled to move with the second hub component between a biased position in which the gear ring axis of rotation is coaxial with the first axis and a translated intermediate stop position in which the gear ring axis of rotation is parallel to but not coaxial with the first axis. A spring component is coupled between the first and second hub components, biases the second hub component toward the biased position, and provides a variable spring force that increases as the second hub component is moved toward the translated intermediate stop position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Murphy, Anthony K. Chan
  • Publication number: 20140366667
    Abstract: A control method is provided for an electric motor which drives an apparatus through a gear unit. The method includes generating a gear output and input speed signals, low pass filtering the gear speed signals and subtracting the filtered gear input speed signal from the filtered gear output speed signal to provide a relative speed signal. The method also includes high pass filtering the relative speed signal, multiplying the filtered relative speed signal by damping gain value to generate a backlash compensation torque value, and subtracting the backlash compensation torque value from an apparatus control torque value to generate the desired motor torque value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Patrick W. Cross, Matthew L. Spencer, Byron K. Miller, Jeffrey D. Dawson
  • Publication number: 20140360297
    Abstract: A backlash adjusting method includes pressing an idler gear against a first gear and a second gear with a flexible film being held therebetween so that the idler gear is led to a meshing engagement position where the idler gear is meshing engageable with the first and second gears. The first and second gears are spaced away from each other. The method further includes removing the film after the idler has been led to the meshing engagement position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: OTICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masafumi YAMAUCHI, Takayoshi OTA
  • Patent number: 8904894
    Abstract: A backlash-compensating mobile (1) intended to form a gear with a second mobile (2) and having rigid teeth (4, 5) and backlash-compensating leaf springs (16), is characterized in that the rigid teeth (4, 5) are distributed in groups of consecutive teeth, each group having a first rigid tooth (4) and a second rigid tooth (5) having respective mutually facing meshing flanks (10, 11) to permit the displacement of the second mobile (2) in both directions, and in that the leaf springs (16) are interleaved between these groups in spaces not intended to receive the teeth (3) of the second mobile (2), and extend beyond the tip circle (Ca) of the rigid teeth (4, 5) in order to cooperate with the second mobile (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Patek Philippe SA Geneve
    Inventor: Sylvain Geiser
  • Publication number: 20140352468
    Abstract: Discloses is a reducer of an electric power steering apparatus. The reducer of the electric power steering apparatus can reduce the rattling noise caused by an increase of backlash due to friction and abrasion of a worm and a worm wheel or by an impact transferred through a wheel and a steering shaft from the road and allowing a pivotal movement of a worm shaft, while decreasing a rotation resistance and blockage of a worm shaft and a worm shaft bearing to increase steering feel of a driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tae Sik KIM
  • Patent number: 8899123
    Abstract: An exemplary gear transmission device includes a driving assembly including a driving shaft, a shaft coupling, a circular driving gear, a resilient mechanism and a driven gear engaging with the driving gear. The shaft coupling is fixed to the driving shaft and rotatable in unison with rotation of the driving shaft. The circular driving gear substantially surrounds and is operatively coupled to the shaft coupling and rotatable under urging of the shaft coupling. The resilient mechanism is held between the driving gear and the shaft coupling and is elastically deformable in circumferential directions of the shaft coupling. When the driving gear moves axially and collides with the driven gear without meshing with the driven gear, the driving gear rotates slightly relative to the shaft coupling thereby elastically deforming the resilient mechanism and the driving gear reaches a position where it can mesh with the driven gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi Lai, Tzu-Hsiu Hung
  • Patent number: 8899119
    Abstract: A device for pressing a rack onto a pinion engaged with the rack, in particular for a steering system of a motor vehicle, comprising a pressure piece, which can be loaded in the direction of the rack and is displaceably guided in a housing, and comprising an adjusting device for compensating play that occurs in the steering system. In known devices, the play of the pressure piece must be set by way of an adjusting screw. This proves to be very complicated and problematic. An adjusting screw is therefore provided, wherein a spring washer is disposed between the adjusting screw and the adjusting device, and the adjusting device has a shoulder and the adjusting screw has a recess, or the adjusting device has the recess and the adjusting screw has the shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Bareis
  • Patent number: 8893572
    Abstract: A backlash eliminating device for helical gears is provided for a gear transmission system which includes a transmission shaft, two helical gears and a match gear. A sleeve mounted on the transmission shaft has an outer wall, an inner wall and at least two sections of spiral grooves penetrating through the outer wall and the inner wall. The sleeve includes a transmission part and two extremity parts. The transmission part is disposed between the spiral grooves, and is fixedly connected to the transmission shaft. The extremity parts are disposed outside of the spiral grooves. The helical gears are fixedly connected to the two extremity parts. The sleeve having the spiral grooves provides a preload spring force along an axial direction of the transmission shaft, so that the two helical gears are tightly engaged with the match gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Jinn-Fa Wu, Chiu-Hung Li, Hsi-Hung Hsiao, Chin-Mou Hsu
  • Patent number: 8887590
    Abstract: An automatic clearance compensation device for a support yoke of a rack-pinion type steering apparatus, includes: a hollow yoke cylinder integrally formed with a rack housing, wherein the yoke cylinder is positioned at the opposite side of a rack gear formed at a rack bar; a support yoke slidably inserted within the yoke cylinder and formed with a groove at its one side to be in contact with the outer surface of the rack bar; a spacer assembly installed within the yoke cylinder, contacting the other side of the support yoke. The device can automatically compensate for the clearance created due to the wear between the rack bar and the support yoke. Even when the external impacts are reversely transmitted, the device can remove the noise generated between the support yoke and the yoke plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Seung Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 8863599
    Abstract: A power steering apparatus including a rack gear and a pinion gear that are disposed within a housing and preloaded by a yoke assembly. The yoke assembly includes a bushing that is biased into engagement with the rack. A yoke plug extends through a yoke opening to provide a gear mesh load on the rack through the bushing assembly. The yoke body is axially assembled through a rack gear bore in the housing of the steering gear and a yoke assembly is inserted through a yoke bore to apply mesh preload to the bushing assembly. A method of making the yoke assembly by forming leaf springs that are over-molded to form a yoke body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John Crossman
  • Publication number: 20140298938
    Abstract: An adjusting drive, in particular for a steering column adjuster or a vehicle seat of a motor vehicle, and a method for producing an adjusting drive, are provided in which an axial play of the output shaft is reliably and permanently compensated. The compensating element for ensuring the axial-play-free arrangement of the output shaft is connected, in its operating position, to the housing by ultrasound welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas Arndt, Manfred Strzodka, Tony Philip, Tamas Poczik
  • Patent number: 8850917
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a spindle drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Doosan Infracore Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seong Keun Kang
  • Patent number: 8844954
    Abstract: A steering system includes a wheel rotatable between on-center and off-center positions, and a shaft having teeth. The shaft defines a cavity and is rotatable about an axis that is perpendicular to the teeth. The system includes a nut having cogs defining grooves therebetween, wherein each tooth is matable with a groove. The system includes a lash adjuster translatable within the cavity, and a retainer contacting the adjuster and shaft, and configured for positioning the shaft along the axis as the wheel rotates. A center one of the gear teeth meshes with one of the grooves to define a first gap having a first thickness therebetween when the wheel is in the on-center position. An outer one of the gear teeth meshes with an outer groove to define a second gap having a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness when the wheel is in the off-center position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Marco E. Rodriguez, Miroslaw Zaloga, Christopher J. Mielke
  • Publication number: 20140271264
    Abstract: An anti-backlash nut assembly for a positive displacement pump assembly includes a two part nut assembly and a backing plate. A spring is disposed between the backing plate and the nut assembly so that the two nut components are pushed together thus biasing the threads together and educing or eliminating backlash.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Anthony Florindi, Clifford James Reil
  • Patent number: 8833195
    Abstract: A gear backlash adjusting mechanism includes a base, a first gear, a first elastic gear meshing with the first gear, a bearing sleeved on the first gear, and a bearing box over the bearing, and mounted on the base. The first elastic gear includes an outer ring, an inner ring, and an elastic member mounted between the outer ring and the inner ring. The position of the bearing box relative to the base can be adjusted, to push the first elastic gear via the first gear. The elastic member is deformed and provides elastic force to push the first elastic gear to tightly mesh with the first gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bo Long
  • Patent number: 8834316
    Abstract: A gear reducer includes a rotatable planet carrier supporting at least one planetary gear for axial rotation thereon, a stationary ring gear extending around and engageable with the at least one planetary gear, and a moveable ring gear extending around and engageable with the at least one planetary gear. A pitch diameter of the stationary ring gear is substantially identical to a pitch diameter of the moveable ring gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: BVR Technologies
    Inventors: Larry Berg, Wes Burandt
  • Publication number: 20140251035
    Abstract: A wear compensator assembly configured for exerting a predetermined biasing force on a rack and a pinion shaft of a steering gear assembly is disclosed. The wear compensator assembly includes a cam member having a seating surface and a biasing member seated against the seating surface of the cam member. The biasing member is configured to be compressed by a predetermined amount and to exert the predetermined biasing force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventor: Cory R. Ricker
  • Patent number: 8826763
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pusher device (8) that includes a rotary bearing (10) having an inner periphery (11) that is off-center relative to the outer periphery (12). In order to compensate for wear, the bearing (10) is rotationally urged in one direction (F) by a spring (10) and is thus pressed against the back (9) of a rack (3) that is then pushed back against the teeth of the steering sprocket (5). The rotary bearing (10) is rotatingly mounted in a housing (13) that is in turn mounted on a steering casing (2) so as to be capable of sliding in a direction (B) parallel to a plane (P) of the teeth (6) of the rack (3) and orthogonal to the axis (A) of said rack. Shock-absorbing spring means (20, 21) are arranged between the sliding housing (13) and the steering casing (2) for absorbing the straightness defects of the rack (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Europe
    Inventors: Nicolas Plataret, Patrice Brochot
  • Publication number: 20140245850
    Abstract: Split gear (1) for avoiding backlash when engaging a mating gear (4), comprising a first (2) and second (3) toothed gear wheel, rotating means (5) for coaxially interconnecting the first (2) and second (3) gear at least partially rotatable with respect to each other around a mutual rotational axis (15) and a spring (10) resiliency interconnecting the first (2) and second (3) gear for creating a negative moment between the first (2) and second (3) gear upon alignment of the teeth (12, 13) of the first (2) and second (3) gear by rotation of the first (2) gear with respect to the second (3) gear so that the mating gear (4) can be engaged, characterised in that the spring (10) is integrally formed with the second (3) gear wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: VCST Industrial Products
    Inventors: Bart VANDEWAL, Reymond REYSKENS, Steven VAN LIESHOUT
  • Publication number: 20140245851
    Abstract: A method of providing a predetermined backlash (4) for a transmission comprising at least a first (1) and a second (2) interlocking toothed gear, the backlash (4) being provided by positioning the first (1) and second (2) gear with respect to each other by means of spacer means (5) applied to at least part of an upright sidewall (3) of at least one first tooth (11), the upright sidewall (3) facing a second tooth (12) of the second gear (2) adjacent to the first tooth (11), characterized in that the application of the spacer means (5) comprises the step of gluing a surface (8) of a sheet (6) of spacer material to the upright sidewall (3) of the first tooth (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: VCST Industrial Products
    Inventor: Bart VANDEWAL
  • Patent number: 8813903
    Abstract: Assist force that assists an operation of a steering system of a vehicle is applied to a rack shaft by transmitting driving force of a motor to the rack shaft via a motor shaft and a ball screw nut. A step is formed on the outer periphery of the ball screw nut. An end portion of a third housing is arranged to face a bearing such that the distance that the ball screw nut is able to move relative to the motor shaft in axial direction and the relative movable length is longer than a predetermined length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Asakura, Takuya Nakayama, Tetsuya Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20140216190
    Abstract: A gear is described for a spur gear stage without play having a hub (1) and a sprocket (2), which is divided along its axis-normal division plane into two partial sprockets, namely into a hub-fixed sprocket part (3) and a sprocket ring (4) which is mounted so it is coaxially rotatable in relation thereto, and which forms springs (6) sectionally enclosing the hub (1) in the circumferential direction, which are integrally connected at their bases (11) to the sprocket ring (4) and which are supported with their free ends (7) protruding toward the hub (1) on stops (8) of the hub (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: MIBA SINTER AUSTRIA GMBH
    Inventors: Karl Dickinger, Anton Kokoska, Alexander Mueller
  • Patent number: 8794093
    Abstract: A device for pressing a rack onto a pinion engaging the rack, more particularly for a steering system of a motor vehicle, comprises a pressure piece which is slidably guided in a housing and which is loaded in the direction of the rack, and an adjusting device. Devices made of metal are known from the prior art, which, however, generate excessive noise emissions during operation. Therefore, the pressure piece is made of plastic and the adjusting device is made of metal and/or plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Bareis
  • Publication number: 20140196557
    Abstract: A stiff anti-backlash gear unit comprising two or more high ratio reducer assemblies provides an energy efficient, low backlash, speed reducer. The gear unit is assembled in such a way as to eliminate backlash without any preloading and may be configured as a conventional, planetary or star gear with co-axial, spaced, angled or multiple output shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Inventor: Leo James Stocco
  • Patent number: 8770335
    Abstract: Assist force that assists an operation of a steering system of a vehicle is applied to a rack shaft by transmitting driving force of a motor to the rack shaft via a motor shaft and a ball screw nut. A step is formed on the outer periphery of the ball screw nut. An end portion of a third housing is arranged to face a bearing such that the distance that the ball screw nut is able to move relative to the motor shaft in axial direction and the relative movable length is longer than a predetermined length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Asakura, Takuya Nakayama, Tetsuya Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20140174843
    Abstract: In a power steering device employing both a worm speed reducer and a backlash adjuster for a worm gear of the speed reducer, the backlash adjuster has a slider configured to be movable in a longitudinal direction of a worm shaft, and a biasing member configured to bias the slider toward one side of the longitudinal direction of the worm shaft. Also provided is a guide member configured to bias the worm shaft in a direction for meshing with a worm wheel by a movement of the worm shaft in the meshing direction that the worm shaft approaches a rotation center of the worm wheel with a movement of the slider toward the one side of the longitudinal direction, and also configured to restrict a movement of the worm shaft in a direction opposite to the meshing direction of the worm shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS STEERING, LTD.
    Inventor: Susumu KIMOTO
  • Patent number: 8726753
    Abstract: A gear includes an outer ring, an inner ring, gear teeth, and elastic members engaged with the gear teeth. The outer ring defines a number of first fixing holes. The inner ring and the outer ring are concentric, and the inner ring defines a number of second fixing holes respectively corresponding to the first fixing holes, and each pair of first and second fixings hole align with the center of the rings, and define an axis of movement for spring loaded gear teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xin Yang, Wei Wu
  • Publication number: 20140123795
    Abstract: The present invention eliminates backlash between a drive helical gear and a driven helical gear and facilitates rotation of a driven gear member to increase rotational accuracy of a plate cylinder. A plate cylinder drive unit includes a plate cylinder drive shaft, a driven gear member having a driven helical gear that meshes with a drive helical gear and attached around the plate cylinder drive shaft, a position adjustment member moving the driven gear member to fix it at a predetermined position, a whirl-stop member attached to the plate cylinder drive shaft, a sandwiching member removably fixing the whirl-stop member to the driven gear member, a backlash eliminating helical gear disposed on one side of the driven helical gear, first springs bringing the backlash eliminating helical gear in pressure-contact with the driven helical gear, and second springs biasing the backlash eliminating helical gear to rotate it in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicants: NIPPON NATIONAL SEIKAN COMPANY, LTD., I. MER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masayuki Izume
  • Patent number: 8715795
    Abstract: In a molded plastic part 1 including a body 2 constituting a design surface 2a and a reinforcing structure 3 projectingly provided on a design back surface 2b of the body 2, the body 2 and the reinforcing structure 3 being integrally molded by injection molding, the reinforcing structure 3 is formed by a combined body of a plurality of transverse ribs 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d which are arranged at appropriate intervals in the resin flow direction at the time of injection molding in the direction intersecting with the resin flow and longitudinal ribs 6p and 6q which extend at right angles to the transverse ribs and connect the transverse ribs to each other. The transverse ribs are connected to the design back surface 2b, and a gate 8 for injection molding is set on one of the transverse ribs. The longitudinal ribs are disposed so as to be separated from the design back surface 2b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Ryutaro Shinohara, Hisashige Uebayashi