Backlash Take-up Patents (Class 74/409)
  • Patent number: 7775135
    Abstract: A steering mechanism is provided, including a rack, a rotatable support member, and an automatically-adjustable support member. The rack includes a rack gear portion and the pinion includes a pinion gear portion coupled with the rack gear portion. The rotatable support member is positioned with respect to the rack or the pinion such that rotation of the rotatable support member adjusts an overlap distance between the rack gear portion and the pinion gear portion. The automatically-adjustable support member automatically urges together the rack and the pinion along an urging direction. The urging direction remains substantially constant throughout the rotation of the rotatable support member within a desired angular range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Gabel, Michael J. Kostrzewa
  • Patent number: 7762155
    Abstract: A partial gear bearing including an upper half, comprising peak partial teeth, and a lower, or bottom, half, comprising valley partial teeth. The upper half also has an integrated roller section between each of the peak partial teeth with a radius equal to the gear pitch radius of the radially outwardly extending peak partial teeth. Conversely, the lower half has an integrated roller section between each of the valley half teeth with a radius also equal to the gear pitch radius of the peak partial teeth. The valley partial teeth extend radially inwardly from its roller section. The peak and valley partial teeth are exactly out of phase with each other, as are the roller sections of the upper and lower halves. Essentially, the end roller bearing of the typical gear bearing has been integrated into the normal gear tooth pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: John M. Vranish
  • Patent number: 7752937
    Abstract: An anti-backlash gear includes a first gear and a second gear. The first gear preferably includes a gear plate, a plurality of snap projections and a finger hub. The plurality of snap projections and the finger hub extend from one face of the gear plate. The finger hub includes at least one substantially circular cavity. The second gear preferably includes a gear ring, a tubular projection and at least one spring finger. The tubular projection extends from one face of the gear ring. A snap bore is formed in the tubular projection. The at least one spring finger extends from an inside perimeter of the tubular projection. Each spring finger is terminated with a substantial retention cylinder for retention in the substantially circular opening. The second gear is pushed on to the first gear. The plurality of snap projections are retained on a bottom of the snap bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Winzeler Gear, Inc
    Inventor: Arthur E. Dornan
  • Patent number: 7748492
    Abstract: An electric power steering device (1) is provided which transmits output rotation of an electric motor for generating a steering assist force (16) to a steering mechanism (64) via a driving gear (22) and a driven gear (21). A housing (8) has a support hole (28) for supporting one end portion (23) of a shaft (20) co-rotatable with the driving gear (22) via a bearing (26) in such a manner as to permit the one end portion (23) to be offset toward the driven gear (21) radially of the driving gear (22). A biasing member (33) which biases the driving gear (22) toward the driven gear (21) includes an arcuate main portion (47) fitted around an outer peripheral surface (58) of an outer ring (36) of the bearing (26) and opposed to an inner peripheral surface (42) of the support hole (28). A pair of movement restriction portions (50, 51) which restrict circumferential movement of the main portion (47) are respectively provided at a pair of arc ends (48, 49) of the main portion (47).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Souichi Iwasa, Shingo Ougita
  • Patent number: 7748288
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling backlash comprising an intermediate gear capable of adjustably meshed engagement between a first driving gear and a second driven gear, and a body rotatably supporting the intermediate gear and capable of movement in a direction that reduces the center distance between the intermediate gear and either the first gear, the second gear, or both. The movement of the body utilizes both resilient urging and hysteretic damping to supply appropriately light resilient biasing while being fortified against rapid retraction or repulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Metaldyne BSM, LLC
    Inventors: Steven J. Chevalier, David L. Killion
  • Publication number: 20100154574
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transmission drive unit which comprises a shaft (2) and a housing component (5), an adjusting element (4) for adjusting the axial backlash of the shaft (2) being arranged between one end of the shaft (2) and the housing component (5). The invention is characterized in that the adjusting element has a substantially cylindrical shape and can be expanded in the radial direction, when pretensioned, in order to enlarge an outer diameter, thereby allowing to exert a pretension (FR) onto the shaft (2) in the axial direction (X-X).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Oberle, Franz Schwendemann
  • Publication number: 20100140011
    Abstract: An electric power assisted steering system comprises a motor connected to a portion of a steering mechanism through a worm carried by a worm shaft and a wheel carried by an output shaft operatively coupled to the steering mechanism. The shaft is supported in at least one bearing which has some internal clearances and supports the worm shaft in such a manner that it is free to pivot through an angle in planes which include its own axis due to a degree of axial free play of the first bearing assembly. The bearing assembly comprises an inner race having a groove, an outer race having a groove, and a plurality of ball bearings located between the inner and outer races, and in which the outer race groove is not round when in its position of use such that the ball bearings permit a greater freedom of movement of the inner race relative to the outer race in a first radial direction than in a second radial direction that is orthogonal to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Wilkes, Michael Appleyard
  • Publication number: 20100139431
    Abstract: A scissors gear may include a main gear and a sub-gear co-axially combined by a scissors spring therebetween to integrally rotate, a first oil supply hole formed in the main gear or the sub-gear to supply oil from the outside, an oil groove formed in the sub-gear or the main gear to receive the oil by being selectively communicated with the first oil supply hole, and a check valve that is disposed in the main gear or the sub-gear to open/close the oil groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicants: KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Byungok PARK
  • Patent number: 7721616
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus that relates to a gear set. The apparatus includes, a housing, a first gear movable in the housing such that a first axis defined by the first gear is repositionable relative to the housing, a second gear in mesh with the first gear, and a second axis defined by the second gear. The apparatus constrains movement of the first axis to a plane containing both the first axis and a line commonly perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis, and a biasing member that urges the first gear toward the second gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Augustine, Christian E. Ross, Steven J. Collier-Hallman, Mohammad S. Islam
  • Publication number: 20100122595
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rack bar supporting device of a steering apparatus for a vehicle which can prevent rattle noise generated due to clearance increase caused by the wearing of a rack bar and a support yoke in an endurance driving of a vehicle and maintain a uniform clearance between the rack bar and the support yoke after an endurance driving, thereby transferring stable steering force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kee-woong SUNG, Kwang-ho YANG
  • Publication number: 20100077880
    Abstract: A drive transmission device includes a motor pinion gear provided at an output shaft of the driving motor and a-transmission gear engaging the motor pinion gear. In the drive transmission device, a sliding washer and a compression spring are disposed between the transmission-gear and the motor mounting plate. The sliding washer is pressed against a web of the transmission gear by the compression spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20100064833
    Abstract: A backlash eliminator capable of eliminating backlash with a low loss while decreasing a backlash eliminating force to curtail friction and heat generation is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Koichi Masuo, Kazuyuki Ishizu
  • Patent number: 7677131
    Abstract: A steering-wheel arrangement is disclosed which comprises a steering-wheel having a first gear element. A second gear element is provided which is mounted on a steering column. The first and second gear elements inter-engage one another and the arrangement is further provided with an anti-backlash gear which is mounted on one of the gear elements. The anti-backlash gear has teeth configures to as to align substantially with the teeth of the gear element upon which it is mounted, and the anti-backlash gear is biased relative to the gear element upon which it is mounted towards a position in which the teeth of the anti-backlash gear become displaced from the corresponding teeth of the gear element. This gear arrangement has been found to provide improved “feel” for a person driving a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Etienne Chapelain, Laurent Groleau
  • Publication number: 20100060062
    Abstract: A power seat driving apparatus for a vehicle includes a moving unit and a decelerating mechanism, wherein the decelerating mechanism includes a driving gear to which a driving force is inputted, a driven gear engaged with the driving gear so as to be rotatably driven by the driving gear while decelerating a rotational speed of the driving force transmitted thereto, and a housing, at least one of the driving gear and the driven gear includes a shaft portion and a gear portion including a tooth portion, which engages with a tooth portion of the other one of the driving gear and the driven gear, an annular recessed portion is formed at a stepped portion between the gear portion and the shaft portion, the annular recessed portion, and the housing includes a bearing bore having a bearing surface and an annular protruding portion, which is fitted into the annular recessed portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshitaka KOGA, Hirokazu SUZUMURA, Eiichiro TSUJI
  • Patent number: 7673534
    Abstract: The power take-off (10) applied on industrial vehicles eliminates noisiness generated by play between cogs of transmission cogwheels (14,19) when the p.t.o. is functioning non-operatively. Thanks to a special geometry of the cog directions of the cogwheels (19, 14) in the transmission gearings, play between cogs is eliminated when there is no power transmission. The play is re-established when the p.t.o. is functioning operatively, by overcoming elastic (21) means acting axially on the gearings (14), and by thus returning the gearings (14) into a normal operative position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Interpump Hydraulics S.p.A.
    Inventor: Silvano Prampolini
  • Patent number: 7673535
    Abstract: In a gearwheel set for a transmission, in particular for a transmission with a PTO (Power Take-Off) accessory, at least two gearwheels (6, 10) bearing against one another, and the gearwheels (6, 10) being rotatable in relation to one another, and both gearwheels (6, 10) having recesses (8.1-8.3; 11.1-11.3) which form with one another a reception space for an actuator (1), the actuator (1) is to be radially movable in the reception space, and the recesses (8.1-8.3; 11.1-11.3) are to have a different shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sterki AG
    Inventor: Arnold Sterki
  • Publication number: 20100050799
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a gear for eliminating backlash. The gear includes a rotating shaft having a hollow portion. A first gear is connected to an end of the rotating shaft to be rotated in sync with the rotating shaft, and has on a central portion thereof a connecting protrusion which protrudes forwards. A hole is formed so as to communicate with the hollow portion of the rotating shaft, and a pair of first mounting holes is formed in the first gear along an arc thereof. A second gear is rotatably connected to the connecting protrusion of the first gear and has the same teeth as teeth of the first gear. A cylinder is provided in each of the first mounting holes and connected at both ends thereof to the first gear and the second gear, thus rotating the second gear in one direction. A locking cap is provided on an end of the connecting protrusion of the first gear to prevent the second gear from being eliminated from the first gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventor: Chris Brackney
  • Patent number: 7669498
    Abstract: A transmission system includes two or more independent chambers, in each of which shafts with gears thereon are provided for rolling in synchronous motion, and a carrier with adjustable gear devices on a bottom thereof. Each of the adjustable gear devices has a base, a movable rack member, vertical springs and horizontal springs. The movable rack member is connected to the base to be moved along a horizontal direction. The vertical springs are provided between the base and the carrier to urge the adjustable gear device along a vertical direction. The movable rack member has a rack portion to be meshed with the gears of the shafts, such that the carrier is moved by the gears to cross the chambers. With the movement of the movable rack member both along the horizontal and the vertical direction, the carrier is transported in a smooth, synchronous, skid-proof, stable and real-time motion during the crossing chamber process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Hsiuping Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Geeng-Jen Sheu, Tuan-Jen Yu, Chung-Chung Liu, Chien-Ming Li, Hsin-Lun Wu
  • Publication number: 20100043578
    Abstract: The invention relates to a backlash-compensating toothed moving part, for a precision gear assembly, particularly in clock-making, in which the backlash-compensating teeth each have a section extending symmetrically to both sides of the radius of said mobile passing the tip of said teeth with an elastic connection to said mobile to give said teeth a freedom of movement in the plane of the mobile, at least one tooth in two being a backlash-compensating tooth comprising stop means arranged to limit the freedom of movement as a function of the backlash in the gear assembly to be compensated for.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: ROLEX S.A.
    Inventor: Jérôme DAOUT
  • Patent number: 7665378
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes a transmission mechanism for transmitting an output from an electric motor for steering assist to a steering mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes a driving gear, an intermediate gear and a driven gear. An eccentric mechanism for eccentrically locating the intermediate gear is provided in order that a center axis of the intermediate gear is moved toward at least one of the axes of the driving gear and the driven gear while maintaining a parallel relation. The eccentric mechanism includes an intermediate-gear support shaft having a center axis. The intermediate-gear support shaft is supported by first and second circle holes in a manner to be rotatable about the center axis thereof for adjustment of a rotational position thereof, the first and second circle holes have their center axes aligned coaxially with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Kensaku Nakamura, Nicolas Plataret, Hiroki Yamahana
  • Patent number: 7665379
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gear train element in a gear train arrangement (5, 18), said gear train element (5) being driven on the drive side by a drive motor (1), on whose power take-off shaft (2) the gear train element (5) is mounted. The peripheral surface of the gear train element (5) is provided with a toothed gearing (7), and said element meshes with one or more toothed gearings of additional gear train elements (18). Axially displaceable and adjustable support elements (11, 12; 33, 34, 35, 36) and sleeve-type followers (13, 14; 30, 31) are mounted between the power take-off shaft (2) and a set of springs (8) and also between the set of springs (8) and the gear train element (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Bux, Anton Paweletz
  • Patent number: 7658124
    Abstract: A compliant gear assembly includes a gear ring positioned about a hub and configured to translate responsive to a torque on the gear assembly, and biased toward co-axial alignment with the hub via at least one actuator. A method of managing loads on an idler gear in the gear train is still further provided including translating the gear ring responsive to the torque on the idler gear. A work machine includes an engine having a housing and a geartrain mounted thereon, the geartrain including a crank gear, a cam gear and a compliant idler gear assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Brosowske, Aaron J. Weber, Scott A. Snoble, Thomas L. Atwell, Joseph R. Derk, Cristian V. Striletchi, Dwight V. Stone
  • Patent number: 7654166
    Abstract: Apparatus for automatically adjusting yoke clearance in a steering device in a rack-pinion type steering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Sung-moo Heo
  • Patent number: 7654167
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes a worm gear mechanism for transmitting the torque generated by an electric motor to a steered road wheel of the vehicle. The worm gear mechanism has a worm gear made of metal and a worm wheel formed of plastic material and meshing with the worm gear. The worm gear has a tooth profile including a dedendum part formed in an involute shape and an addendum part formed in a circular arc shape with a center located on a line of action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuji Watanabe, Yasuo Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20100000355
    Abstract: An output power transmission device has a transmission plate and a C-ring. The transmission plate is attached to a wheel gear in an axial direction of the wheel gear such that the transmission plate directly engages with the wheel gear in a rotation direction. The transmission plate functions as a transmission member for transmitting rotation of the wheel gear to an output shaft. The C-ring is provided at a position where the C-ring sandwiches the transmission plate with the wheel gear in the axial direction. The C-ring functions as a restriction section for restricting movement of the transmission plate in the axial direction opposite from the wheel gear side. An elastic claw section as a pressing member is formed on the wheel gear. The elastic claw section presses the transmission plate against the C-ring in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoki Yamashita, Hiroaki Yamamoto, Hidenori Ishihara, Hiroshi Kokubu, Nakatsune Shirai, Katsumi Endo
  • Publication number: 20090320630
    Abstract: The invention relates to a linear drive, in particular a rack and pinion drive, comprising at least one motor element (2) which is mounted on or in a retaining element (1.1, 1.2). The motor element (2) drives, directly or indirectly, a pinion (4), optionally, via an integrated drive (3), said pinion co-operating with a linear guide (5). According to the invention, the retaining element (1.1, 1.2) can be displaced by at least one actuator (12.1 to 12.3) in relation to a receiving element (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Bayer, Frank Michel
  • Publication number: 20090314114
    Abstract: A zero backlash mechanism for a worm, spur or helical gears, using a spring loaded mechanism that tightens the meshing gear surfaces, thus eliminating the backlash between them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: Elram Engineering and Advanced Technologies 1992 Ltd.
    Inventor: Julian Joel Grosberg
  • Publication number: 20090284062
    Abstract: A seat driving apparatus includes: a gear transmission mechanism, preventing a backlash by means of the wedge member applied with a biasing force of a biasing member and transmitting a torque; an actuator, operating a seatback of a seat; and a control unit, controlling driving of the actuator. The control unit includes a seat operation mode in which the actuator is driven to operate the seatback at a predetermined speed and a creep mode in which the actuator is driven at a slower speed than a speed in the seat operation mode. The actuator is driven in the creep mode until a load for releasing the holding of the gear transmission mechanism is applied to the wedge member and subsequently the actuator is driven in the seat operation mode when the seatback is operated in an opposite direction from the previous operational direction thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Morio SAKAI, Toshiro MAEDA
  • Patent number: 7614317
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rack-and-pinion gear mechanism (1), for example for use in a steering mechanism of a motor vehicle, and to a method for the production of the rack-and-pinion gear mechanism (1). The mechanism comprises a housing (101), in which a pinion shaft (102) is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis (103). The pinion shaft (102) is connected to a rack (110) which is mounted in the housing (101) in such a way as to be longitudinally displaceable. A counter-pressure device (102, 123) compensates for reaction forces between the pinion shaft (102) and the rack (110), having a thrust piece (102) and an adjusting/closing nut (25), between which a spring (123) is supported. The adjusting/closing nut (25) is composed of a material which has a softening/melting point such that the adjusting/closing nut (25) can be softened and/or melted locally while installed in the housing (101) without damaging the housing (101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dirk Sickert, Frank Peter Engels, Frank Odenthal
  • Publication number: 20090266640
    Abstract: Since a housing 101 is integrally formed with a frame main body 123A of a frame 223 so as to surround a rotor yoke 258 and a stator yoke 242, heat generated from a motor 109 is conducted to the housing 101 to be thereby emitted to the outside. Accordingly, a heat transfer property and a cooling effect of the motor 109 are remarkably improved compared with a case that the housing 101 is formed into a member separated from a frame 123. As a result, it is possible to realize an increase in output of the motor 109 as well as a decrease in size and weight, thereby realizing a decrease in size of an electric power steering apparatus as a whole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Oshima, Shigeru Endou
  • Publication number: 20090249909
    Abstract: A speed reducer is provided. The speed reducer includes a worm shaft which is elastically preloaded in a meshing direction, a worm wheel, a biasing member having a fitting portion which is fitted on an axial end portion of the worm shaft arranged inside a housing, and a holder which supports the biasing member with a spring such that the basing member is movable in the meshing direction of the worm shaft and the worm wheel. The worm shaft is supported inside the housing via a bearing which is arranged in series with the holder in an axial direction, and the holder and the bearing are biased in the axial direction by an elastic member and are positioned on a stepped portion formed on an interior of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Toru Segawa
  • Publication number: 20090241709
    Abstract: A device for reducing rattling noises in a variable-speed transmission having a main shaft, two countershafts and gearwheels that are mounted, with some radial play relative to the main shaft, for rotation around the main shaft. To engage a gear, a respective loose gearwheel can be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the main shaft. In a first embodiment, at least one loose gearwheel is mounted on the main shaft by at least one roller bearing, and the roller bearing is axially fixed relative to the main shaft by at least one flexibly resilient element. In a second embodiment, the loose gearwheel is supported, by a roller bearing on a component that is fixed to the housing and has radial play. The roller bearing is axially fixed relative to the component fixed to the housing by at least one flexibly resilient element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Karl-Fritz Heinzelmann
  • Publication number: 20090237026
    Abstract: Method and system for backlash control in gear trains that are driven by electric drives controlled by a drive controller. The drive controller causes the drives to generate continuously opposing torques and adjusts torque rotational offsets so as to maintain desired backlash and gross motion of the driven gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Razvan Panaitescu, Markus Geyer, Jose Mendez
  • Publication number: 20090236453
    Abstract: A drive mechanism particularly suited for use in a manual grinder for the grinding of edible grindable product. The drive mechanism includes a toothed ring 15 is engaged with a toothed rack 21. A split sleeve 16 is located within the toothed gear 15 and a shaft 14 is engaged in the bore of the split sleeve 16. The split sleeve 16 is coupled (38, 40) to the toothed gear 15 such that relative movement between the split sleeve 16 and the gear 15 can occur when the rack is moved in a first position. This movement in the first direction results in contraction of the bore of the split sleeve 16 so as to create a driving contact between the split sleeve and the shaft. Upon the rack being moved in the second direction the driving contact is removed whereby the split sleeve and toothed gear 15 can move independent of the shaft 14.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: CLICK CLACK LIMITED
    Inventors: John Montgomery Heng, Stefanie Elisabeth Sinn
  • Patent number: 7585248
    Abstract: A hinge mounting for an adjustment device of a motor vehicle seat having a first external gear wheel comprising a first inner toothed surface and a second external gear wheel comprising a second inner toothed surface. At least two planet wheels mesh with both the first and second inner toothed surfaces. A driving toothed sun wheel meshes with the at least two planet wheels. At least one of the planet wheels has a ring-shaped spring forming the toothed surface of the plane wheel that is radially elastically deformable and permanently exert a force onto the sun wheel, the first inner toothed surface and the second inner toothed surface; and/or the sun wheel comprises a ring-shaped spring forming at least a portion of the toothed surface of the sun wheel and configured to be radially elastically deformable and permanently exert a force onto the planet wheels and bias these with force into abutment with the first and second inner toothed surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: C. Rob. Hammerstein GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wilfried Beneker, Burckhard Becker
  • Patent number: 7568993
    Abstract: A planetary gear train having planetary gears (8) which are rotatably mounted on a planet carrier (18) and are in toothed contact with an internally toothed ring gear (14) and a sun gear (4). For a simplified, process-safe and inexpensive backlash of the planetary gears (8) without axial displacement of the sun gear (4), the ring gear (14) and the planetary gears (8) are conically designed so that planetary gear axles (16) are retained in the planetary gear carrier (18) at an inclined angle (a) and that the planetary gears (8) are axially movably disposed upon and coordinated with the planetary gear axles (16) and the position of the planetary gears (8) can be adjusted within the planetary train by adjusting mechanisms for adjusting a backlash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Horst Schulz, Tino Kirschner
  • Patent number: 7565847
    Abstract: A device to prevent wobbling of cog wheels (3) arranged on a main shaft (6) in a transmission train with two countershafts (1, 2), which has at the minimum, a disk (7) for one of the cog wheels that is connected with the respective cog wheel (3) and/or is supported on the face side of a gearing (8) of the countershafts (1, 2) or on intermediate shafts (12) for the reverse gears, whereby the respective cog wheel (3) is pushed by the spring action against the disk (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Josef Bader
  • Patent number: 7552661
    Abstract: A positioning device without backlash includes a table and at least one gear operatively associated with the table. At least one worm gear is connected to the gear and the gear is driven in a desired direction with a primary motor and a synchronized slave motor. The synchronized slave motor is then reversible to remove the backlash in the positioning device thereby permitting an actual position to correspond with a dialed-in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Quickset International, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl C. Diana, John A. Bostic, Daniel A. Cloud, Rodney S. Harris
  • Patent number: 7530281
    Abstract: A gear set for differential shafts of internal combustion engines. The gear set includes a toothed wheel which can be moved parallel to its axis for adjustment of backlash. A spacer is arranged removably between tooth faces of interacting teeth of engaging toothed wheels and serves to adjust the backlash between the toothed wheels. The spacer is arranged free of play between corresponding tooth faces of the toothed wheels by way of the movable toothed wheel which can be moved with a predetermined force to the other toothed wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Kratochwill, Walter Reisinger, Reinhard Ratzberger, Guenter Bachner
  • Patent number: 7526977
    Abstract: A resin-made gearing apparatus that includes a configuration in which only one tooth flank side of each tooth in one of a pair of gears is provided with an overhang section that is disposed on at least one end portion in a tooth width direction, and overhangs diagonally from the one tooth flank side toward the adjacent tooth side; an end portion in a tooth width direction of each tooth in the other gear is provided with a lightening section that is disposed in a tooth flank of each tooth on an end face on the side of the end portion corresponding to the overhang section of the one gear, so that when the opposite teeth of the pair of gears are meshed with each other, the overhang section of the one gear is elastically deformed and also the lightening section of the other gear is elastically deformed, to absorb a backlash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Hironori Masui
  • Publication number: 20090095103
    Abstract: In a two-part gear wheel, including a first spur gear ring which is connected to a hub and a second spur gear ring which is rotatable relative to the first spur gear ring, annular spring elements are provided biasing the spur gear rings in opposite rotational directions. The ends of the two annular spring elements are in engagement with the spur gear ring and the hub at locations spaced circumferentially by about 180° so that the spring forces effective on the second spur gear ring compensate each other circumferentially.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Duzzie, Harald Gieb, Lawrence Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20090095104
    Abstract: A device for adjusting the backlash in bevel gears in an industrial robot which includes a first conical gear wheel with a first axis of rotation and a second conical gear wheel. The device includes a displaceably arranged holder member adapted to fix and rotatably journal the first gear wheel for rotation about the first axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventor: Jan Larsson
  • Publication number: 20090049941
    Abstract: A torque damper motor connected to the output side of a mechanical gear system. The damper motor, along with its associated control system, mitigates backlash problems, reduced torsional resonance, and provides improved output torque control. In the preferred embodiment, the damper motor is powered by a power electronics—based variable speed drive. The damper motor can be significantly less powerful than the overall rating of the gear system (typically 5-10% of the overall rating) while still providing the enhanced performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventor: Michael Steurer
  • Patent number: 7487984
    Abstract: A wear compensator for use in a vehicle rack and pinion steering assembly and a method of biasing a rack against a pinion shaft gear in a rack and pinion steering assembly are disclosed. The wear compensator may include a rack follower, an adjuster plug, a wear cam and a torsion spring. The rack follower slides on the rack. The adjuster plug is retained by the steering gear housing and includes a plug cam surface. The wear cam includes a wear cam surface operatively engaging the plug cam surface, is mounted between the rack follower and the adjuster plug, and can rotate relative to the adjuster plug. The torsion spring connects between the adjuster plug and the wear cam in order to rotatably bias the wear cam relative to the adjuster plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles J. Lemont, Jr., Jose M. Lopez, William C. Gregory, Robert S. Brines, Scott R. Kloess, Charu S. Hayes, Darrin S. Mallard, Terry R. Peterson, David C. Pomerville
  • Patent number: 7478574
    Abstract: A motor shaft puts through a motor casing and a gear casing which are detachably connected to each other. In the motor casing, a rotor is fixed to the motor shaft, while a stator is fixed on the inner circumferential surface of the motor casing. The motor shaft has a worm which engages with a worm wheel in the gear casing. A collar in which the motor shaft is pressingly fitted is provided in the middle of the motor shaft at the end of the gear casing. The motor shaft is supported at each end of the worm in the gear casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Igarashi Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Sesita, Katuyuki Tanaka, Yusuke Mizukoshi, Hiroyuki Kurihara, Yoshihisa Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7467565
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gear drive unit (10), in particular to adjust moveable parts in a motor vehicle, with a gear housing (15) and a shaft (18) positioned therein along a longitudinal axis (30), which shaft is supported on the housing (15) via an axial stopping face (35) on a counter stopping face (36), wherein at least one of the stopping faces (35, 36) is inclined perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (30) against a plane (42) by an angle of inclination (40) in order to generate an axial force, and a component (44), which cooperates with at least one of the stopping faces (35, 36), is arranged in a displaceable manner perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (30). In doing so, the coefficient of friction between the at least one stopping face (35, 36) and the component (44) is greater than the tangent of the angle of inclination (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Oberle, Andreas Lienig, Mario Huesges, Fabian Louvel
  • Patent number: 7467562
    Abstract: A vehicular transmission has a structure which enables a reverse idle gear to absorb and reduce excessive back torque inputted from drive wheels. At the time of reverse traveling motion, a counter shaft and a reverse gear are connected to each other through the intermediation of a clutch mechanism, whereby the power of the counter shaft is transmitted from the reverse gear, a driven gear, a hollow shaft, and a drive gear to the drive shaft by way of a final gear. When a large back torque is inputted to the final gear from the drive shaft, the inputted back torque is transmitted to the drive gear, and is then further transmitted to the driven gear by way of the hollow shaft. Since the hollow shaft is thin-walled and has reduced rigidity, it undergoes circumferential twisting due to the back torque inputted, whereby the back torque is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nomura, Yoshiaki Hori, Seiji Hamaoka
  • Patent number: 7467566
    Abstract: A driving element is divided into two coaxial toothed members elastically attached to one another. A first of the toothed members is fixed to a shaft. The second of the toothed members is freely mounted on this shaft. The second toothed member has a planar face, opposite and facing away from the first toothed member. That face has seats arranged around the shaft to receive first respective ends of deflection rods. The rods extend, with the shaft, outside of the toothed member. A flange has an axial passage for receiving an end of the shaft. The flange has seats for receiving second respective ends of the deflection rods. A device for clamping the flange on the end of the shaft and in an angular position around the shaft fitted to apply a deflection stress to the rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Bobst S.A.
    Inventor: Phillipe Clement
  • Patent number: 7458568
    Abstract: An electrographic printer using a print web medium is provided with a web adjusting apparatus having a geared motor for adjusting the web position. A method and apparatus to compensate for backlash in the geared motor includes a sensor to detect an end position of rotation of the geared motor. A time being determined from a point of reversal of the geared motor to a decay in the sensor output indicating a gear backlash, and the time being added to the drive of the geared motor when reversing directions to adjust the web position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Pichlmeier, Otto Ferber
  • Patent number: RE40898
    Abstract: In a lubricating device for a plurality of lubricating stations, in particular for supplying lubricant to knitting machines, a pump device is provided that serves at the same time as a distributor device. To that end, the pump device has a piston which is provided with a control groove. The corresponding pump cylinder has an inlet and a plurality of outlets distributed over the cylinder wall. Depending on which of the outlets the control groove of the piston is made to coincide with, a corresponding lubricating station is selected. The pump device is thus a distributor device as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Memminger-Iro GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf Huss