Backlash Take-up Patents (Class 74/409)
  • Patent number: 7458291
    Abstract: A rack and pinion steering system including a rack slidably supported within a housing that engages in a pinion gear wherein the housing includes a cylindrical sleeve having an outer seal surface with a slight medial taper at one end thereof. A yoke assembly, which is received by the cylindrical sleeve, operates to guide the rack and maintain engagement of the rack and pinion during operation of the steering system and includes a yoke member engaging the rack. A retainer member holds a yoke plug, used in the yoke assembly, in position and has a compliant annular seal member having an inner sealing surface that has a complementary slight outward extending taper to provide a self-sealing interface with the medial taper of the outer seal surface of the cylindrical sleeve to protect the internal components of the steering system from water and other contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: John D. Douma, John F. Laidlaw, Madhu Nambiar
  • Patent number: 7454135
    Abstract: A camera system incorporating a seamless lens-drive switching mechanism includes a lens drive ring, a manual operation ring, a motor, a first one-way rotational transfer mechanism preventing the manual operation ring and the lens drive ring from being connected with each other in a first neutral state, and maintains the first neutral state even if the lens drive ring is rotated by the motor; a second one-way rotational transfer mechanism which prevents the motor and the lens drive ring connecting with each other in a second neutral state, connects the motor with the lens drive ring when the motor rotates from the second neutral state, and maintains the second neutral state even if the lens drive ring is rotated by the manual operation ring; and a controller which stops and reverses the motor to bring the second one-way rotational transfer mechanism into the second neutral state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakata, Makoto Iikawa
  • Patent number: 7428846
    Abstract: An encoder shaft assembly includes a drive shaft having a drive gear, and an array of encoder units each having an encoder shaft and anti-backlash gears which engage the drive gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Namco Machine & Gear Works Ltd.
    Inventor: Bernard Vukovic
  • Patent number: 7406892
    Abstract: A plastic molded gear capable of reducing teeth knocking noises due to backlash during engagement. A protruding portion 5 for eliminating backlash is formed so as to protrude from both end portions in facewidth directions on one tooth flank 6 of each tooth 2, and the protruding portion 5 is not formed on the other tooth flank 12 of the tooth 2. If the protruding portion 5 is elastically deformed so as to absorb backlash, the protruding portion 5 has the same plane as that of the one tooth flank 6, and the other tooth flank 12 of the tooth 2 serves as a main power transmission surface. With this construction, the protruding portion 5 elastically contacts the tooth flank of a companion gear engaged with the plastic molded gear, so that the elastic deformation of the protruding portion 5 absorbs rotational energy of the companion gear during intermittent rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Takeuchi, Toru Hagihara, Toru Takumori
  • Patent number: 7383750
    Abstract: A gear arrangement includes a first section having a first plurality of teeth and at least a portion of the first section is made of a compliant material. There is also a second section having a second plurality of teeth. The second section is made of a stiff material. The first section is arranged axially adjacent to the second section and each of the first plurality of teeth has a tooth flank that changes axially across the tooth flank. A method for manufacturing a gear arrangement includes fabricating a first gear, which includes a first plurality of teeth, and a bearing from a compliant material. The method also includes mounting a second gear, which includes a second plurality of teeth, to the bearing, aligning the first plurality of teeth with the second plurality of teeth, and coupling the first gear with the second gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ratko Menjak, Michael J. Augustine, David E. King, Neil T. Beyersdorf, Michael R. Pyrett, Thomas J. Bucholz, Charles W. Calvin, James P. Kelly, George S. Frahm
  • Patent number: 7382107
    Abstract: By utilizing a mechanical backlash generated between an electric actuator and a shift range switching mechanism, a specific region is obtained, in which a variation in the output shaft angle is relatively small with respect to a variation in rotor angle. In this specific range, an actual shift range position is calculated, whereby the rotor angle that the motor controller recognizes is corrected so as to relate the actual shift range position. A deviation between the rotor angle and the actual shift range is corrected, so that the shift range switching is precisely performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Masashi Hori, Shigeru Yoshiyama, Masaaki Shinojima, Haruki Matsuzaki, Tomoyuki Kashiwagi, Kiyoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 7377194
    Abstract: Worm gear mechanism is provided which includes a worm, a torque-transmitting worm wheel and an auxiliary worm wheel. In order to secure a sufficient face width of the torque-transmitting worm wheel, a pitch diameter of the auxiliary worm wheel is set to be greater than a pitch diameter of the torque-transmitting worm wheel. Thus, undesired backlash can be eliminated by the auxiliary worm wheel meshing with the worm with a different meshing phase from the torque-transmitting worm wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Shimizu, Katsuji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7331895
    Abstract: A composite planetary speed reduction device (1), wherein gears (11), (12), and (13) and rollers (21), (22), and (23) forming a planetary gear speed reduction mechanism (10) and a planetary roller speed reduction mechanism (20) are integrally rotated around a common rotating center axis, respectively. The radius of the sun roller (21) is larger by ?r1 than the radius r1 of the working pitch circle of the sun gear (11), the radius r21 of the working pitch circle of the planetary gear (12) meshing with the sun gear (11) and the radius r23 of the working pitch circle of the planetary gear (12) meshing with an internal gear (13) are different from each other, and the radius of the planetary roller (22) is smaller by ?r1 than the radius r21 of the working pitch circle of the planetary gear (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Harmonic Drive Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Kohei Hori
  • Patent number: 7322257
    Abstract: A step down gear train for an adjusting device of an automotive vehicle seat which has an input shaft and an output shaft that is connected to a pinion. At least one first cogwheel and one second cogwheel are provided in the path between input shaft and output shaft. A follower wheel is provided, in engagement with the first cogwheel, and is not located in the path between the input shaft and the output shaft. A pusher wheel is provided, that is likewise not located in the path between input shaft and output shaft, and is in engagement with both the follower wheel and the second cogwheel, and is carried so as to be longitudinally slidable. An elastic means is provided, that is associated with the pusher wheel, and which elastically biases said pusher wheel into engagement with the follower wheel and the second cogwheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: C. Rob Hammerstein GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Burckhard Becker, Wilfried Beneker, Van-Toan Ho
  • Patent number: 7302873
    Abstract: An angle drive having a housing (11) with a first axis (A1) for bearing means and a second axis (A2) for bearing means, which latter axis (A2) intersects the first axis (A1) at right angles, having an input shaft 16 which is supported in the housing, which carries an input ring gear (19) and is positioned on the first axis (A1), having an output shaft (28) which is supported in the housing, which carries an output gearwheel (27) and is positioned on the second axis (A2), having a counter ring gear 20 which is supported in the housing, which is positioned on the first axis (A1) and which, with reference to the second axis (A2) is arranged and designed symmetrically relative to the input ring gear (19), having at least one intermediate gearwheel which is supported in the housing, which is arranged on an axis (A3, A4) positioned radially relative to the first axis (A1) and in one plane together with the second axis (A2) and which is provided with the same type of toothing as the output gearwheel (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: GKN Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Peter Nett
  • Patent number: 7275872
    Abstract: A bearing that can be reoriented to move its center is disclosed. The center of the bearing is offset from the center of its outer housing. Should the shaft extending through the bearing need to be raised or lowered the outer housing is simply rotated in its receptacle and its position is fixed. Reconfiguring the bearing receptacle or using shims is eliminated and the alignment process is rendered shorter and more reliable future operation is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: David J. Abrahamian
  • Publication number: 20070209463
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for automatically compensating for the clearance of a support yoke in a rack-and-pinion steering system by using a torsion spring and a cam mechanism so that, when the support yoke generates a clearance, it is automatically compensated for without separate adjustment. Unlike conventional apparatuses for reducing rattle noise resulting from the increased gap between the yoke plug and the support yoke, the disclosed apparatus maintains a constant gap. In addition, the first cam, the second cam, and the torque spring automatically compensate for the clearance of the support yoke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Joon Kyu Song, Hee Gwon Jo
  • Patent number: 7258036
    Abstract: An endplay structure is provided for controlling endplay of a shaft 25 of a motor 19. The endplay structure includes a body 22 including a generally elliptically shaped recess 26 therein. The recess is constructed and arranged to be disposed generally adjacent to an end of the shaft. An engagement member 28 has a generally spherical portion constructed and arranged to be received in a press-fit arrangement with the recess. The engagement member has a surface 32 constructed and arranged to contact the end of the shaft. Whereby, when the surface of the engagement member is contacted by the end of the shaft, the spherical portion of the engagement member is press-fitted into the recess to control endplay of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: JonYeon Oh, Barry Anderson
  • Publication number: 20070163373
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a labor-saving pivotal shaft structure, comprising a fixed part and a movable part, wherein the movable part and the fixed part produce a frictional torque therebetween to provide the movable part with the functions of rotating, arresting, and positioning relative to the fixed part; and a torsion rod which is a rigid rod, whose one end is mounted onto the fixed part; such that the fixed part is connected to a main frame and the movable part as well as the other end of the torsion rod are respectively connected to a cover frame, and thus when the cover frame is being closed down, the fixed part is in a fixed condition and the torsion rod and the cover frame rotate together, leading to the torsion rod being in a twisted condition of storing energy; whereas when the cover frame is being opened up, the stored energy of the torsion rod is released to provide an auxiliary force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Chung-Ho Tu, Chia-Cheng Chen
  • Publication number: 20070163374
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus comprises a transmission mechanism having a drive gear and a driven gear. One end of the drive gear is supported by a bearing hole in a housing through a bearing and a curved plate spring. The curved plate spring comprises a main body surrounding the bearing and at least one crank-shaped elastic tongue supported by at least one of ends of the main body. A recess formed on an inner peripheral surface of the bearing hole has a bottom and a pair of inner wall surfaces opposed to each other in the circumferential direction of the bearing hole. A relief portion for avoiding contact with a connection portion of the elastic tongue is formed between at least one of the inner wall surfaces and the inner peripheral surface of the bearing hole. A boundary between the relief portion and the inner peripheral surface of the bearing hole is engaged with the main body of the curved plate spring, to restrict the movement of the main body in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Ryousuke Yamazaki, Hiroyuki Shigemura, Shingo Ougita, Wataru Yamada
  • Patent number: 7244214
    Abstract: A speed change device has an input member rotatable in opposite directions to transmit higher torque as its rotation angle becomes larger, and a variable angle-ratio change mechanism including rollers and teethed wheels that are arranged in parallel to each other. The rollers and teethed wheels are respectively connected to rotate together with each other. The teeth of the wheels have a clearance on a pitch circle between their adjacent teeth so that the clearance is larger than a slip amount of the rollers in a low torque range where the rollers transmit low torque with bypassing the wheels in a normal operation. The wheels are engaged with each other to transmit high torque in a high torque range where the high torque is applied in an exceptional operation and the rollers slip larger than the slip amount in the low torque range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Shimoyama, Jun Sugihara, Tsuyoshi Sakuma
  • Patent number: 7240764
    Abstract: A steering unit of an electric vehicle is equipped with an electric motor having a tubular output shaft assembled so as to rotate around its own longitudinal axis, and a steering rod assembled through the output shaft and connected to the same output shaft by means of a screw-nut screw coupling so as to control the steering of a pair of wheels of the vehicle; the steering rod being equipped with a sleeve extending around the output shaft and having an internal thread connected to an external thread of the same output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Umbra Cuscinetti S.p.A.
    Inventors: Federico Perni, Luciano Pizzoni, Lucio Lopparelli
  • Patent number: 7240762
    Abstract: A gearing radius of a worm wheel is set corresponding to a neighborhood region of a steering neutral position, in such a way as to be relatively large. Thus, backlash is made to be relatively small. This prevents noises from being produced when an automobile travels straight on a bad road. Conversely, the backlash is set corresponding to most of regions of steering angles, which are within the remaining region thereof, in such a manner as to be relatively large. Thus, increase in resistance torque is suppressed. This is realized by a simple configuration in which a bias portion is provided in a part of the profile of teeth. In a case where power is transmitted from an electric motor by a worm shaft and a worm wheel during a steering operation, noises are hard to be produced even when the automobile travels on a bad road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Shiina, Noritake Okawa, Masayoshi Sakuda
  • Patent number: 7213677
    Abstract: A motor-driven type power steering apparatus includes: a drive gear connected to an output shaft of a motor; a driven gear in mesh with the drive gear, which is connected to a steering unit; a bearing for supporting one end of the drive gear; a support portion in which the bearing is disposed; and a curved leaf spring which has a length larger than a peripheral length of the bearing and fitted between the bearing and the support portion in a resiliently deformed state. The curved leaf spring urges the bearing so that a distance between an axis of the driven gear and an axis of the drive gear decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nakamura, Tomonori Sugiura, Souichi Iwasa, Tomomasa Machida
  • Patent number: 7208904
    Abstract: A controller for motor activation providing accurate and repeatable position changes by pressing and releasing a push button switch. Repeatable position changes are made in an advance direction by triggering a digital counter for a predetermined number of cycles of a reference clock signal. Backlash in retard motion of the motor is reduced by similarly asserting a retard motor input for an amount of time determined by another digital counter with a following advance correction made automatically after the retard signal is applied, by applying a predetermined retard-advance movement amount, as again counted by a digital counter. The advance binary amount, the retard binary amount and the retard-advance binary amount of set through binary switch inputs to respective counters to count the respective time periods (TG3, TG1, and TG2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Inventors: Dina M. Lewis, legal representative, Clarence A. Lewis, deceased
  • Patent number: 7165474
    Abstract: A torque dividing gear drive system, a method of driving an output gear, and a method of evenly dividing an output torque between three gears is provided. The torque dividing gear drive system that is provided has a first gear driven by an engine, a second gear coupled to the first gear, a third gear coupled to the first gear, a fourth gear coupled to the first gear, a fifth gear driven by the second gear, a sixth gear driven by the third gear, a seventh gear driven by the fourth gear, and an eighth gear driven by the fifth, sixth and seventh gears. The first gear may be a floating gear. A method of operating such system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Robert B. Bossler
  • Patent number: 7165471
    Abstract: A thermally compensated differential comprises a housing, a pinion gear mounted into the housing, a differential case carrying a ring gear with the case being supported by a first roller bearing and a second roller bearing with the bearings being mounted indirectly, and the first and second roller bearings being contacted by adjustable spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Joki, Sharon E. Ross
  • Patent number: 7086302
    Abstract: Apparatus for reducing backlash in a gear wheel that includes at least two interacting gear rims that rotate in relation to one another. An adjusting mechanism is located between the gear rims for adjusting the relative angle of rotation of the gear rims about a common axis of rotation. Each adjusting mechanism includes an hydraulic cylinder connected to a pressure medium source and which is arranged to act between the two gear rims in such a manner that a force arises that tends to displace one gear rim in relation to the other about the axis of rotation. Each of the hydraulic cylinders extends at an angle to a disk plane and is supported on a part-spherical foot portion in a bowl-shaped seat in one gear rim and a corresponding part-spherical head portion in a bowl-shaped seat in the other gear rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Kenneth Ask, Elise Nielsen Höjkrogh, Nils-Olof Håkansson
  • Patent number: 7080570
    Abstract: A machine tool drive device comprising in a structure: a line of inlet shafts; and angle takeoffs, each having an outlet shaft perpendicular to the line of inlet shafts, each being coupled to the inlet of a reversible gearbox whose outlet shaft carries a pinion, for meshing with a rack, in which the line of inlet shafts comprises two shafts in alignment that are coupled together end to end by a torque transmission member that is elastically deformable in torsion, possessing declutchable elements for connection in rotation with at least one of the shafts, and in which the other end of the shaft is provided with engagement elements enabling it to be turned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: REDEX
    Inventors: Pierre Casanova, Pierre Vaslier, Jean-Bernard Tetart
  • Patent number: 7070536
    Abstract: A gearing device includes two gear members each having a number of teeth engaged with each other, to form various kinds of gear transmission structures or gearing or coupling devices. One of the gear members includes a peripheral groove formed in inner or outer portion, and a ring engaged in the peripheral groove of the gear member, and engageable with the teeth of the other gear member, to reduce noises that may be generated between the gear members. The ring may also include a number of teeth for engaging with the teeth of the other gear member, to effectively reduce the noises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventors: Jin Jye Wang, Jin Wen Wang
  • Patent number: 7047783
    Abstract: An auxiliary adjusting device for a rolling mill stand includes a adjusting shaft, a cylindrical member forming an adjusting spindle and having a first outer thread cooperating with the inner thread of a support sleeve fixedly connected to the cross-beam, and a central recess provided with longitudinal teeth, a carrier secured to a bottom of the cross-beam, projecting into the central recess of the cylindrical member, and carrying, at its end side, a tooth gear that functions as a planet gear that cooperates, on one hand, with a tooth gear secured at an end of the adjusting shaft which extends through the carrier, and serving as a sun gear, and, on another hand, with the longitudinal teeth of the central recess of the cylindrical member, and an adjusting pressure sleeve connected with the support sleeve for longitudinal displacement relative thereto but without a possibility of rotation relative thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: SMS DEMAG
    Inventors: Bernhard Klein, Wolfgang Denker
  • Patent number: 7047540
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gear rack arrangement, which, for the compensation of backlash, comprises two gear racks (A, B) which are mutually displaceable on latch elements and are resiliently braced, and refers both to the assembly and disassembly characteristics of the gear rack arrangement and to the number of moulded elements used. Application is envisaged, in particular, for a positioning device in a recording and reproducing instrument for optical recording carriers, although the field of application is not however thereby restricted. According to the invention, an anti-detachment safeguard is provided, which is formed by an elastic boss (F). In order to prevent the detachment of a second gear rack (B) from a first gear rack (A) during the assembly or disassembly, the elastic boss (E) is provided at one end of one of the gear racks (A, B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Hoch
  • Patent number: 7036777
    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 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Quickset International, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl C. Diana, John A. Bostic, Daniel A. Cloud, Rodney S. Harris
  • Patent number: 7028573
    Abstract: An opening and closing device for moving a movable member which includes a drive gear connected to a power source, a driven gear geared with the drive gear, an immovable portion supporting the drive gear and the driven gear, and a dynamic transmission mechanism connected to the driven gear so that the driven gear and the dynamic transmission mechanism rotate together as a unit. The dynamic transmission mechanism transmits a drive force of the power source from the driven gear to the movable member. A direction of a rotational force affecting the driven gear via the dynamic transmission mechanism in accordance with a state of the movable member fluctuates. The opening and closing device further includes a friction member located at least at one position between relatively movable facing surfaces of the immovable portion, the drive gear, the driven gear, and the dynamic power transmission mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Inaba, Katsuaki Kadoike, Masumi Nishikawa, Satoshi Isobe, Hideyuki Nagai, Masahiro Kojima
  • Patent number: 7007565
    Abstract: A meshing gear assembly includes a toothed disk that is supported on a first gear so as to be frictionally engaged therewith, but rotationally and radially movable relative thereto. The circumferential width of each tooth formed on the toothed disk is preferably larger than the circumferential width of each tooth formed on the first gear, and the outer diameter of the toothed disk can be larger than the outer diameter of the first gear. The first gear and the toothed disk mesh with a second gear such that as the second gear rotates, the toothed disk and the first gear also rotate. However, the toothed disk and the first gear rotate at different speeds because the difference in the number of teeth formed thereon. Because the teeth formed on the toothed disk have a larger circumferential thickness and a larger outer diameter than the teeth formed on the first gear, a tight meshing engagement with the second gear is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Allen, Randy P. Kruse, Matthew W. Shope
  • Patent number: 6997076
    Abstract: The gear mechanism for minimizing backlash may include a convoluted spring positioned between an external spline of a gear or shaft and an internal spline of a gear. The gear mechanism may include a cam and cam follower arrangement upon two adjacent gears positioned on the same shaft. Two stacked gears may include a U-shaped backlash eliminating element passing through both gears. The gear mechanism may include rollers which may be conically shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ratko Menjak, Damir Menjak
  • Patent number: 6997079
    Abstract: A gear mechanism includes a driving gear, a driven gear, and an idler gear which is in mesh with the driving gear and the driven gear, wherein rotation of the driving gear is transferred to the driven gear via the idler gear. The idler gear includes first and second spur gears which are positioned adjacent to each other in an axial direction and are generally centered about a common axis, radial teeth of the first and second spur gears each being the same in shape, pitch and the number of teeth, and the first and second spur gears being biased to rotate in opposite directions. The first and second spur gears are connected so as to be relatively movable in a radial direction normal to the axial direction while maintaining the first and second spur gears in mesh with the driving gear and the driven gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nomura, Maiko Takashima
  • Patent number: 6997077
    Abstract: A method of obtaining a desired tooth flank backlash for a transmission having at least two interlocking toothed gears, comprises applying a removable coating on at least one of the toothed gears for purposes of setting the backlash, the coating comprising a mixture containing a bonding agent and a filling material; adjusting the least two interlocking toothed gears with the coating relatively to each another essentially play-free or with only small play; and removing the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Kollmann, Helga Kollmann, Helmut Kratochwill, Walter Reisinger, Reinhard Ratzberger, Guenter Bachner
  • Patent number: 6991059
    Abstract: A steering drive for an industrial truck, comprising a steered wheel which is rotatably supported about a horizontal axis in a bearing component wherein the bearing component is pivotally supported about a vertical axis and has a ring gear, and a steering motor which drives a pinion meshing with the ring gear, wherein the ring gear or pinion has a circumferential groove in which a ring-shaped absorbing member of a resilient material is received so that the teeth of the pinion or ring gear get into engagement with the absorbing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Jungheinrich Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Matthias Stubbe
  • Patent number: 6938747
    Abstract: A transmission includes a clutch basket and a driving disc each having teeth and tooth spaces which correspond to one another. A plug-in intermeshing connection between the driving disc and the clutch basket is provided such that there is no torsional backlash and such that no rattling noises are produced. To this end, at least one of the teeth of the driving disc and/or at least one of the teeth of the clutch basked has a slot. The tooth thickness of at least one of the teeth of the driving disc is greater than at least one of the tooth space widths of the clutch basket. In order to avoid rattling noises, it is also suggested that at least one pair formed of a tooth and a corresponding opposite tooth space may be configured such that the tooth is displaced with respect to the corresponding tooth space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schreiber, Ingo Steinberg
  • Patent number: 6920803
    Abstract: A stationary member is fixed to a microscope. A movable member holds a sample and can move in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the microscope. A stepping motor moves the movable member. A rotation of the stepping motor is transmitted to the movable member by a power transmitter. An origin detector detects the movable member being positioned in an origin. A control unit controls the position of the movable member based on a signal from the origin detector and the number of driving pulses of the stepping motor. A power transmitter includes a reducer having a spur gear which reduces a speed of the rotation of the stepping motor, and an urging unit which applies a rotation force to the spur gear in one direction in a movement range of the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 6918457
    Abstract: In an electric power steering system, a second bevel gear is allowed to move toward a first bevel gear and is biased by a biasing member toward the first bevel gear thereby to be moved toward the first bevel gear as following the wearing away of these bevel gears. In an electric power steering system, a support shaft formed with the first bevel gear at its distal end is rotatably supported by a retaining member, which is mounted to a support-shaft housing as allowed to move axially of the support shaft. The retaining member is adjusted for its position relative to the support-shaft housing with respect to the axial direction of the support shaft by means of a retaining member adjuster. The first bevel gear is moved toward the second bevel gear as following the wearing away of these bevel gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takehiro Saruwatari, Kunihiro Oka, Masanori Arima
  • Patent number: 6915892
    Abstract: A driving plate for a multi-plate clutch system includes a plurality of external teeth adapted to be matingly engaged within corresponding internal teeth of a housing of the clutch system. The external teeth are disposed substantially equidistantly along the circumference of the driving plate. At least one tooth of the external teeth is disposed offset in the circumferential direction from adjacent external teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Bauer, Frank Guenter, Johannes Heinrich, Robert Weiss
  • Patent number: 6837824
    Abstract: A final control element for superimposed steering engagement of a vehicle steering system with a superposition gear having two input shafts and one output shaft, in order to attain a radial freedom from play, the superposition gear is provided with a two-stage, modified planetary gear, having a planet carrier, at least one stepped planet comprising two axially aligned planet wheels connected to one another fixed against relative rotation, and two sun wheels or ray wheels; the first input shaft is connected to one sun or ray wheel, and the output shaft is connected to the other sun or ray wheel, fixed against relative rotation, while the planet carrier is drivable via the second input shaft, and the at least one stepped planet and the sun wheels are biasing toward provided for suppressing a tooth flank play that occurs between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, IMS Morat Soehne GmbH
    Inventors: Gerd Reimann, Michael Bock, Willi Nagel, Rolf Knecht, Heinz Gert Hagedorn, Ruediger Tinter, Stephan Oberle, Ralph Eble
  • Patent number: 6832661
    Abstract: A mechanism for de-lashing a gear assembly includes a first gear rotatable about a first axis and a first center rotatably fixed to the first axis and a first conical teeth portion. The gear assembly includes a second gear rotatable about a second axis and a second center rotatably fixed to said second axis and a second conical teeth portion configured to meshingly engage first conical teeth portion when the first and second gears are aligned substantially coplanarly. A biasing means operably biases the second conical teeth portion of the second gear against the first conical teeth portion of the first gear to reduce any lash therebetween. The biasing means is configured to bias the second gear in an axial direction while maintaining a fixed center distance between the first and second axes. The first gear is rotatably fixed about the fixed first axis such that the first gear is prevented from translation along the fixed first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Roland Palfenier, Mario A. Recio
  • Patent number: 6832662
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus with an electric motor generating an assistant steering force for transmission to the steering system, a worm shaft rotated by the electric motor, a worm gear on the worm shaft that rotates therewith, a worm wheel rotated by the worm gear, a pinion shaft that rotates with the worm gear, supporting units that support both ends of the worm shaft so as to allow rotation thereof, and a distortion prevention unit that prevents distortion of the worm shaft. The supporting units may support the ends of the worm shaft without play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuo Shimizu, Katsuji Watanabe, Yasuhiro Terada
  • Publication number: 20040250640
    Abstract: A steering gear assembly includes a pinion defining a pinion axis and a rack defining a rack axis. A bearing assembly includes a roller bearing biased against the rack to generate a normal force pressing the rack into engagement with the pinion. The bearing assembly engages an outer surface of the rack at two points circumferentially spanning a large degree to provide improved support. The roller bearing is preferably a plurality of ball bearings engaging an outer race. A deformable member may be utilized that is positioned between the outer race and the rack housing. The deformable member may comprise a series of O-rings which providing a force biasing the outer race towards the pinion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Applicant: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Robertson, Sunil Palakodati, Edward Fowlkes, Matthew Yanosek
  • Publication number: 20040244518
    Abstract: The toothed rack steering gear has an adjusting nut and a housing. An opening with internal thread of the housing is adapted to the adjusting nut and receives the adjusting nut in the assembled state. In the housing at least one recess is provided in direct proximity of the opening. A retainer is provided; it has a ring shaped body and at least one finger. The finger protrudes from this ring shaped body and can engage into the recess. The retainer has a back surface and the adjusting nut has a front surface. In the assembled state both are in contact. A connecting device is provided and secures the connection between the back surface and the front surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Frank Odenthal, Frank Peter Engels, Dirk Sickert
  • Patent number: 6826975
    Abstract: A gear wheel comprises a first gear wheel portion, including first half-teeth, which can be coupled to a second gear wheel portion, including second half-teeth, by adjustable coupling means, so that the first and second half-teeth form by pairs the teeth of the gear wheel. The second gear wheel portion can be turned with respect to the first gear wheel portion about the rotary axis of the gear wheel, and can be locked by the adjustable coupling, so as to change the distance of the first and second half-teeth in each pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Inventor: Luigi Reguzzi
  • Patent number: 6823962
    Abstract: In an electric power steering system, a second bevel gear is allowed to move toward a first bevel gear and is biased by a biasing member toward the first bevel gear thereby to be moved toward the first bevel gear as following the wearing away of these bevel gears. In an electric power steering system, a support shaft formed with the first bevel gear at its distal end is rotatably supported by a retaining member, which is mounted to a support-shaft housing as allowed to move axially of the support shaft. The retaining member is adjusted for its position relative to the support-shaft housing with respect to the axial direction of the support shaft by means of a retaining member adjuster. The first bevel gear is moved toward the second bevel gear as following the wearing away of these bevel gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Souichi Iwasa, Takeshi Izumi
  • Publication number: 20040226395
    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: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Carl C. Diana, John A. Bostic, Daniel A. Cloud, Rodney S. Harris
  • Patent number: 6817259
    Abstract: In a rack-and-pinion steering gear for motor vehicles, in which in a steering gear housing a pressure piece is guided within a stub having an axis normal to that of the steering-gear housing so that the pressure piece is longitudinally displaceable in the guide stub. A preloading force acts on the pressure piece at an angle to the direction of motion of the pressure piece such that the pressure piece is held in engagement with a side wall of the stub in either direction of movement of the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Asbrand, Jürgen Class
  • Publication number: 20040221669
    Abstract: Worm gear mechanism is provided which includes a worm, a torque-transmitting worm wheel and an auxiliary worm wheel. In order to secure a sufficient face width of the torque-transmitting worm wheel, a pitch diameter of the auxiliary worm wheel is set to be greater than a pitch diameter of the torque-transmitting worm wheel. Thus, undesired backlash can be eliminated by the auxiliary worm wheel meshing with the worm with a different meshing phase from the torque-transmitting worm wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Shimizu, Katsuji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6814271
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transmission apparatus in connection with a pulling equipment intended for moving especially a cable or a corresponding product, the transmission apparatus comprising a shaft that is operated by a motor (11) and that is connected to an output shaft (16) of the transmission apparatus by means of cog wheels (14). The output shaft (16) is connected to means (10) that are in contact with the cable. The cog wheels (14) are arranged to form a circle extending from the motor-driven shaft to the output shaft (16) and correspondingly from the output shaft (16) to the motor-driven shaft. In order to provide clearance-free operation, the cog wheels (14) are helical gearwheels, and one cog wheel shaft is arranged to be moved in its longitudinal direction when the rotation of the output shaft (16) is being decelerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Nextrom Holdings S.A.
    Inventors: Olavi Parmanen, Markku Heikkinen, Jyrki Pennala
  • Publication number: 20040211278
    Abstract: A gear adapted to provide load sharing in a torque split transmission module wherein at least one spring element is disposed in combination with a torque driving shaft at one end thereof and in combination with a ring of torque transmitting gear teeth at the other end thereof. The spring element is radially stiff to center the ring of gear teeth about the shaft and is torsionally soft to permit relative rotational displacement between the gear teeth and the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Yuriy Gmirya, Harsh Vinayak