Yieldability In Gear Trains Patents (Class 74/411)
  • Patent number: 6915716
    Abstract: A roller/damper is configured for use with an associated sliding object such as a drawer that is movable between a first position and a second position along a rail having a rack gear disposed thereon. The roller/damper includes a roller having an outside diameter that is configured for movement along the rail. A gear housing is disposed adjacent the roller and has gear teeth formed thereon for engaging the rail rack gear. A damper rotor is positioned in the gear housing. The roller, gear housing and rotor rotate about a common axis. A damping material is disposed about the damper rotor within the gear housing for damping rotation of the gear housing relative to the rotor. A shaft extends through the roller, the gear housing and the rotor. The rotor is fixed to the shaft and the roller and gear housing are rotational about the shaft independent of one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Doornbos, Steven L. Bivens
  • Patent number: 6905004
    Abstract: An engagement wheel is mounted so that it can rotate relative to the drive shaft of a drive train in a motor vehicle. To allow rotational driving, the engagement wheel is operatively connected with an element that cannot be rotated relative to the drive shaft by at least one elastically deformable element mounted in the torque path between the engagement wheel and the rotationally fixed element. The elastically deformable element can absorb residual rotational energy of the drive train, when the engagement wheel is locked by a locking element, which may be in the form of a pawl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventors: Horst Oppitz, Wolfgang Purretat, Stephan Benkert
  • Patent number: 6877928
    Abstract: A construction of coupling spline sections of an automatic transmission includes: a rotary shaft section having an outer periphery formed with a spline section; a rotary hollow section having an inner periphery formed with a spline section which is coupled with the spline section of the rotary shaft section in a press fitting state; a support member; and a bearing disposed between a part of an outer periphery of the rotary hollow section and the support member. The bearing rotatably bears the rotary shaft section in such a manner as to transmit a torque between the rotary shaft section and the rotary hollow section. The spline section of the rotary shaft section and the spline section of the rotary hollow section which are disposed at least inside the bearing are coupled with each other in a loose state looser than the press fitting state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: JATCO Ltd
    Inventor: Yasuaki Yumoto
  • Patent number: 6868748
    Abstract: A compound gear assembly includes two gears, each gear respectively including interlocking features, which may be complimentary arcuate sections, for transferring torque between the gears. A clearance between the respective arcuate sections permits the gears to move radially relative to one another, which ensures that the gears mesh in a desired manner with the gears to which they are coupled. A retainer is inserted into an annular groove located circumferentially about the respective arcuate sections, which secures one gear to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Brill, Brian D. Hayes, Tomaz Dopico Varela
  • Patent number: 6857976
    Abstract: A rotation force transmitter and a rotation force transmission mechanism are provided, which are light-weight and suppresses vibrations in the perimeter and radial directions. A junction flywheel, which is a rotation force transmitter, includes a pulley portion, a hub portion and elastic structures. An inside perimeter of the pulley portion and an outside perimeter of the hub portion are connected by the plurality of elastic structures absorbing vibrations in the perimeter direction and in the radial direction. The elastic structure has an annular member, and the annular member absorbs vibrations and torque fluctuations in the perimeter direction and in the radial direction transmitted from a rotation driving source such as a motor. Therefore, vibrations and torque fluctuations are prevented from being transmitted to a driven flywheel which is a rotated member provided with a rotation force by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takamitsu Kodama, Hiroshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6809440
    Abstract: A transmission member for a worm gear having a thrust ring placed over the shaft of a motor. The worm gear is slip-fit over the shaft and has a coupling head with a pair of projections facing away from the motor. A coupling washer is press-fit onto the motor shaft and has a pair of projections as well, each of which is fitted with an O-ring. The coupling washer is mated to the worm gear so both sets of projections intermesh and form a torque-transmitting arrangement, with the O-rings acting as a buffer between the two sets of projections and allowing the motor shaft to turn relative to the worm for a fraction of a revolution to gain inertia and speed helpful to break loose a jammed gear train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Buehler Motor, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas K. Peterreins
  • Publication number: 20040168533
    Abstract: Apparatus for the absorption of torsional vibrations of an internal combustion engine includes an input shaft between the internal combustion engine and the transmission, and a drive shaft of the transmission, which is operatively associated with said input shaft. Each of the input and drive shafts includes a torsion bar that has a lower torsional spring constant than the rest of the shaft as a whole. The apparatus further includes a rotating mass device on each of the input and drive shafts, and the apparatus is disposed between the internal combustion engine and the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: Dr. Ing.h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventors: Richard Knoblauch, Christina Exner
  • Patent number: 6776067
    Abstract: The invention relates to a harmonic drive (12) which can be provided with overload protection that is easy to influence constructionally and a free-wheeling characteristic. To this end, the spokes (21) of the internal geared wheel (15) are specifically deformable depending on the torque or the direction of rotation. The spoke shafts (22) are divided crosswise to the drive axis (24) or in a radial direction in relation thereto. This division (45) is bridged over flexibly in the peripheral direction of the internal geared wheel so that the effective radial length of the spoke may be reduced in the presence of the appropriate bending stress by buckling the shaft, in order to then eliminate the local toothing contact between the internal geared wheel edges (13) and the outer support ring (11) in the extension of the spoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Oechsler Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joseph Bögelein, Frank Pöhlau
  • Publication number: 20040099077
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a drive device having an actuating drive for driving a displaceable element, in particular a closing device of a motor vehicle door, by means of a gear wheel that has a ring gear and a hub. The ring gear of the gear wheel can be indirectly or directly driven by the actuating drive and the displaceable element can be impinged indirectly or directly by the hub of the gear wheel. The aid of the invention is to provide a drive device that has particularly small space requirements, which at the same time allows the kinetic energy of the actuating device to be reliably intercepted. To achieve this, the ring gear of the gear wheel and the hub of the gear wheel include a predominantly inflexible material and are interconnected by means of an elastic intermediate element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Christian Weis
  • Publication number: 20040069086
    Abstract: To render a gear arrangement for a transmission as quiet as possible but nevertheless able to handle heavy loads, a first gear (1) made of a first material and a second gear (2) made of a second material sit loosely next to one another on a common shaft (4). The elasticity of the first gear (1), preferably made of plastic, is chosen to be greater than that of the second gear (2), preferably made of metal, while the strength of the second gear (2) is chosen to be greater than that of the first gear (1). Because the second gear (2) preferably exhibits a slightly smaller toothing than the first gear (1), only the first gear (1), while having the same modulus, comes into engagement with another gear in normal operation. As the load increases, the first gear (1) made of plastic yields in the elastic range so that now the second gear (2) made of metal also comes into engagement in order to accept the forces occurring and thereby protect the first gear (1) against overloading and fracture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventor: Helmut Thoma
  • Publication number: 20040060379
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical steering device for a motor vehicle, comprising an electromotor with a worm gear. Said worm gear consists of a worm and a worm wheel (14) which is coupled to an input shaft and which has a gear rim (23). The worm wheel (14) forms one of the two coupling parts of an elastic compensation coupling (14, 16) that are to be intercoupled, the other coupling part (16) being connected to the input shaft in a rotationally fixed manner. The two coupling parts (14, 16) are intercoupled by one or more elastic spacers (17) only.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Werner Bernhard, Friedrich Mayr, Michael Juschke, Erich Berroth, Marc Kohler
  • Publication number: 20040045386
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Takehiro Saruwatari, Kunihiro Oka, Masanori Arima
  • Publication number: 20040035230
    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 additiona 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: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Harald Bux, Anton Paweletz
  • Patent number: 6684729
    Abstract: A toothed gear includes an outer toothed rim 1, a hub 3 and a profiled bridge area 2 connecting the toothed rim 1 and the hub 3 as one piece. The bridge area 2 is connected to the toothed rim and the hub in different planes. The bridge area consists of uniformly spaced, spoke-like bridges 2, which are uniformly distributed over the circumference. The bridges are arranged in an alternating manner on both sides of a center plane extending through the toothed gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: H. B. Seissenschmidt AG
    Inventor: Siegbert Bauseler
  • Patent number: 6684743
    Abstract: A gear drive system for a printer designed to print upon a continuous roll of paper and having a blade used to cut off printed portions of paper from the paper roll is implemented. The gear drive system consists of a drive shaft 330, a slip clutch 401, a clutch gear 116, a drive gear 110, and a staggered gear 112 which controls the paper cutter blade 106. During printing, clutch 401 allows the drive shaft 330 shaft to slip relative to the clutch gear 116. When printing stops, clutch 401 locks clutch gear 116 which is engaged with the first portion of staggered gear 112 and causes staggered gear 112 to rotate until the second portion of staggered gear 112 engages the drive gear 110. Staggered gear 112 is then driven by the drive gear 110. A cutter blade is controlled by staggered gear 112, with the blade cutting off the paper as the drive gear 110 is in reverse rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Gabriel Brewington, Richard Hunter Harris
  • Patent number: 6666102
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flexible bearing assembly for use in a transmission system. The flexible bearing assembly has a gear mounted to a first shaft, first and second pinions connected to a second shaft, and a flexible coupling element connected to the gear and the first pinion. The flexible coupling element is preferably formed by a flexible diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventors: Yuriy Gmirya, Jules G. Kish
  • Patent number: 6647819
    Abstract: A transmission assembly for a ceiling-mounted TV in a vehicle has a series of gears mutually mated with each other so as to move the moving plate with respect of the fixing plate of the support. A biasing spring is added in between the series of gears so as to enable the transmission to be disengaged when the moving plate reaches a predetermined angle. A memory device is added to the transmission assembly to register the rotation angle of the moving plate and to shut down the power to the transmission assembly when the moving plate reaches a predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Punch Video, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Chang
  • Patent number: 6647818
    Abstract: A gear includes a gear body which includes a rim integral with a plurality of teeth at an outer peripheral surface thereof, and a boss disposed concentrically inside the rim. The gear further includes at least fitting section which is formed from a material having a low hardness and a low flexural strength as compared with a material for forming the gear body, and which is provided between the rim and the boss, so that the gear with a rotational-power transmitting member fitted into the fitting portion is rotated, whereby the rotational power of the gear body is transmitted to the rotational-power transmitting member, while elastically deforming the fitting section to absorb a predetermined amount of a shock produced with the rotation of the gear body. In such gear, the gear body and the fitting section are formed integrally with each other by a two-color molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventors: Youichi Takeuchi, Koji Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20030196501
    Abstract: A roller/damper is configured for use with an associated sliding object such as a drawer that is movable between a first position and a second position along a rail having a rack gear disposed thereon. The roller/damper includes a roller having an outside diameter that is configured for movement along the rail. A gear housing is disposed adjacent the roller and has gear teeth formed thereon for engaging the rail rack gear. A damper rotor is positioned in the gear housing. The roller, gear housing and rotor rotate about a common axis. A damping material is disposed about the damper rotor within the gear housing for damping rotation of the gear housing relative to the rotor. A shaft extends through the roller, the gear housing and the rotor. The rotor is fixed to the shaft and the roller and gear housing are rotational about the shaft independent of one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: David A. Doornbos, Steven L. Bivens
  • Patent number: 6520042
    Abstract: A gear reduction mechanism includes a gearbox housing, a first gear having a first axis of rotation about a first shaft and the second gear having a second axis of rotation about a second shaft. The first and second gears are rotatably mounted in a gearbox housing so that the first and second gears mesh with each other such that the first axis of the first gear is substantially perpendicular to the second axis of the second gear. The gear isolator assembly is preferably disposed within the gearbox housing about the second gear for reducing noise generated between the first and second gears during operation of the mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Fredrick Jammer, Suat Ali Ozsoylu, Troy P Strieter
  • Patent number: 6508140
    Abstract: In a very simple production and assembly process, reliable stop absorption between a drive-side gear wheel (1) and a driven-side carrier (2) is obtained when there is a mutual relative movement between the gear wheel (1) and the carrier (2) that is caused by the stop. To this end, a cam (2.1) of the carrier (2) elastically deforms a spring element (1.1) of the gear wheel (1) via a tangential stop bevel (1.11; 1.12). The gear wheel (1) and the carrier (2) are preferably configured as injection molded parts, which are axially spaced and interconnected when produced and assembled and which can be axially fit together by releasing or breaking the connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Klaus Zaps
  • Patent number: 6497041
    Abstract: In a method of producing a resin gear, after applying a gear cutting having a gear cutting direction toward the gate forming portion onto an outer periphery surface of a resin rim layer, the gate forming portion is cut and removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujita, Yoshitaka Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 6481306
    Abstract: In a geared motor, a worm wheel and an output gear are rotatably supported about and slidably engaged with a center shaft. A transmitting plate connected to the output gear transmits rotation from the worm wheel to the output gear. An O-ring is fitted around the center shaft. The O-ring is sealingly surrounded on four sides in a seal retaining portion defined by an outer peripheral surface of the center shaft, an inner peripheral surface of the transmitting plate, an end surface of an annular protrusion of the worm wheel and one end surface of the output gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Asmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Adachi, Hirofumi Sakai
  • Patent number: 6470766
    Abstract: A power transmission system for a working machine, wherein drive power is transmitted from an engine to a work-tool holding drive shaft via a reduction mechanism is provided. The reduction mechanism includes an input shaft having a first gear, and an output shaft having a second gear. The second gear has a gear portion and a cylindrical boss segment press fitted thereto, forming a torque limiter. As a result, the reduction mechanism, which has the torque limiter, has a simplified structure, enabling easy assemblage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Ohta, Tomoaki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6470993
    Abstract: An electronic power steering apparatus according to the present invention uses hypoid gears having a larger gear on a steering assisting motor side and a smaller gear on a pinion shaft side as a transmission device for transmitting a rotational force of the motor to the pinion shaft or a column shaft, thereby reducing a shaft-to-shaft distance required between the motor and the pinion shaft. Further, rack teeth, which have a pressure angle that reduces toward both of the ends of a moving stroke of a rack shaft, are formed on the rack shaft that engages the pinion gear so that an insufficient steering assisting force is supplemented at the stroke ends, that is, at a large steering range; thus, it is possible to miniaturize the motor. Therefore, it becomes possible to reduce a space occupied by the motor on the periphery of the column shaft or the pinion shaft, and consequently to allow easy installation inside the automobile room or the engine room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akinobu Matsuda, Masayuki Watanabe, Terukazu Nakajima, Kaname Joshita
  • Patent number: 6460650
    Abstract: In an electric power steering apparatus, a torque transmission body made of an elastic body is interposed between an output shaft of an electric motor and a drive shaft of a drive gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Tsuboi, Hiroshi Fujita
  • Patent number: 6449798
    Abstract: A multi-function apparatus for controlling various functions of a liftgate of an automotive vehicle. The apparatus includes an elastomeric member which is operably disposed in connection with a gear which imparts a driving force to a drive shaft of a window wiper member. The elastomeric member, in one embodiment, is a coiled spring which allows movement between the drive shaft and the gear driving the drive shaft in the event the wiper becomes frozen to the window of the vehicle or otherwise immovable. In this manner various other functions can be carried out by the apparatus regardless if the wiper becomes temporarily immobilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Lear Corporation
    Inventors: Evgeny I. Rivin, Victor R. Fey
  • Publication number: 20020124673
    Abstract: An impact absorber of a gears-transmission apparatus is disclosed. A gear section in the system is consisted of two rotary units, which are rotating with each other dependently. An elastic element is mounted between these two rotary units so that the mechanism is able to restore to the original position after the external torque being released. Thereby, under the condition without increasing the room available for mechanism design, the transmission apparatus possesses nice performance as a rubber belt for impact buffer from abrupt braking, instantaneous accelerating and collision . . . etc. Therefore, damage to the gear transmission system is effectively prevented so as the whole driving movement is smoother and the noise from collision of the components are also reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Shih-Lin Yeh, Tsing-Sung Hsu, Yi-Cheng Tsao
  • Patent number: 6419068
    Abstract: The invention comprises a park mechanism for an automatic transmission comprising a toothed wheel secured to the torque output shaft of the transmission and a park pawl mounted pivotally on a transmission housing. The pawl has a pawl tooth engageable with tooth spaces on the toothed wheel, thereby locking the transmission torque output shaft against rotary motion. Torsional damper elements are carried by the torque output shaft and by the toothed wheel. Damper elements are located between registering radial extensions of the toothed wheel on the inside diameter of the toothed wheel and on a hub that is secured drivably to the torque output shaft, thereby permitting limited toothed wheel motion relative to the torque output shaft cushioning inertia forces as the pawl tooth engages a tooth space on the toothed wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Hammann Stephan, James Claude Brazin, James Michael Dosdall, James Thompson Hodgson, III, Taha F. Hussain
  • Patent number: 6415674
    Abstract: A gear drive having a third order damper operating with the antibacklash gear so as to lower the impact of the antibacklash gear at high torques to reduce gear wear while maintaining good contact with the antibacklash gear at lower torques to maintain high accuracy and bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: L. Porter Davis, Christopher J. Heiberg, Jack H. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 6405612
    Abstract: An electric steering column for a motor vehicle is provided, which has a steering shaft. A jacket tube extends along the steering shaft to cover the same. A worm wheel is rotatably held by the jacket tube and has a center bore through which a given portion of the steering shaft loosely passes. A collar member is tightly disposed on the given portion of the steering shaft defining an annular clearance between the collar member and the worm wheel. An elastically deformable structure is put and compressed in the annular clearance in such a manner as to induce a rotation of the collar member when the worm wheel is rotated. An electric motor rotates the worm wheel with an electric power. Due to provision of the elastically deformable structure, a possible ill-alignment between the worm wheel and the collar member is absorbed or compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kinoshita, Toshihiko Warashina
  • Patent number: 6393929
    Abstract: This motorized reduction gear comprises a rotor equipped with a rotor shaft, a reduction gearbox (2) containing a gearwheel (3) in mesh with an endless screw of the shaft, a damper (5) housed in the wheel, and secured thereto so that they rotate as one; the single-piece damper has peripheral cut-outs (8) designed to accommodate, on the one hand, radial fins (7) of the wheel and, on the other hand, elements (10) for driving an output member (11), and the edges of the cut-outs are chamfered (38). The chamfers ensure that the angular deflection of the damper as a function of the torque is gradual and make it easier to fit automatically onto the hub of the gearwheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Meritor Light Vehicle Systems-France
    Inventors: Jèr{overscore (o)}me Quere, Hervé Laurandel
  • Publication number: 20020059843
    Abstract: An actuator including a rotatable gear wheel reversibly drivable by a motor, the gear wheel being operably connectable to an output element by a drive transfer device, the output element being moveable between a first and second position, in which the drive transfer device is operably disconnectable from the output lever to allow independent movement of the output lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Gurbinder Singh Kalsi, Douglas Conquest
  • Publication number: 20020000135
    Abstract: In a very simple production and assembly process, reliable stop absorption between a drive-side gear wheel (1) and a driven-side carrier (2) is obtained when there is a mutual relative movement between the gear wheel (1) and the carrier (2) that is caused by the stop. To this end, a cam (2.1) of the carrier (2) elastically deforms a spring element (1.1) of the gear wheel (1) via a tangential stop bevel (1.11; 1.12). The gear wheel (1) and the carrier (2) are preferably configured as injection molded parts, which are axially spaced and interconnected when produced and assembled and which can be axially fit together by releasing or breaking the connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Applicant: SIEMENS AG
    Inventor: Klaus Zaps
  • Patent number: 6318199
    Abstract: An improved power tong gear train which includes a ring gear having an open or closed throat. At least three idler gears are positioned such that at least two of the idler gears engage the ring gear through the ring gear's entire range of rotation. The gear train further has at least one stage of reduction gears engaging the idler gears and has a power gear transferring torque to a stage of the reduction gears. Also disclosed is a power tong gear train having a load equalizing gear. The gear train includes a ring gear which has at least one idler gear engaging the ring gear. At least one stage of reduction gears engages the idler gears and a power gear transfers torque to a stage of the reduction gears. A load equalizing mechanism is attached to at least one of the gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: David A. Buck
  • Patent number: 6260429
    Abstract: A face gear transmission assembly has a supporting structure, and a pair of face gears which are positioned facing each other, rotate with respect to the supporting structure about a common axis, and both mesh with two input pinions and three transmission pinions; the transmission pinions are supported by an auxiliary frame which provides for maintaining the transmission pinions equally spaced angularly, is connected to the supporting structure in angularly fixed manner about the common axis, and is movable along the common axis and at least in one direction crosswise to the common axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Fiatavio S.p.A.
    Inventor: Gianluca Andrei
  • Patent number: 6261181
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive device for a motor vehicle door lock or the like, which comprises a motor or in particular an electromotor drive and a gear unit (3) with a drive end and an output end. In order to optimize mechanical back-up actuation in the case of power failure or voltage drop or other interruption of the motor, in particular electromotor drive, according to the invention, between the drive end and the output end of the gear unit (3), is fitted a coupling (10) that is variable in coupling degree, which has a high degree of coupling in the case of high rotational speed, and a low degree of coupling in the case of low rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Siegfried Reichmann, Erwin Wolf
  • Patent number: 6253633
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a torsionally compliant sprocket assembly which reduces the transfer of the crankshaft torsional oscillations to other components in the engine such as the balance shaft drives. The assembly comprises a first sprocket, second sprocket and a planar torsion spring located between the two sprockets and the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Philip J. Mott
  • Patent number: 6247439
    Abstract: To provide a starter for an internal combustion engine which is capable of reducing a press-fit amount of a press-fit portion of a torque absorbing mechanism of a rotation transmitting means for transmitting the rotation of a kick shaft to a crank shaft, thereby enhancing the durability of the starter and making the starter compact. A kick-type starter for an internal combustion engine includes a rotation transmitting mechanism (a kick drive gear, a boss having a ratchet portion, a pinion gear, and an idler gear) for transmitting the rotation of a kick shaft to a crank shaft. The rotation transmitting mechanism is provided with a torque absorbing mechanism for absorbing an excessive torque due to an excessive input from the kick shaft. The torque absorbing mechanism is provided on the kick shaft, and includes a gear set composed of the boss having the ratchet and the pinion gear which are press-fitted to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitsugu Gokan, Kazumitsu Yamamoto, Nobuaki Inumaru, Tatsuro Kimura
  • Patent number: 6223614
    Abstract: A drive unit, for moving up and down a vehicular window pane, including a drive motor, a worm wheel, a bracket, an elastic body, and a shaft member. The drive motor includes a motor shaft fixed to a worm. The worm wheel is rotated by the driving force of the drive motor rotatably engaged through the worm. The bracket, on which the worm wheel is mounted, includes an engaging portion, bent and raised transmitting leaves pressed by the elastic body, cutout portions, and closure portions closing the respective cutout portions. The elastic body is provided between the worm wheel and the bracket, and is rotated together with the worm. The shaft member engages with the engaging portion of the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Takiguchi, Keiichi Tajima
  • Patent number: 6202509
    Abstract: The invention concerns a drive shaft with a rigid support ring (1) with a cylindrical, internally geared support surface (3), with a radially flexible roller bushing (5) with an outwardly geared outer surface (7), with a drive device (30) connected with a drive shaft (11), through which over a plurality of spokes and planetary arms (40) one or several first circumference sections are held in engagement with the support surface (3) of the support ring (1), wherein each of the spokes or planetary arms (40), at least on one of its two ends, has a slit-like indentation and the spokes or planetary arms (40) are connected with each other through a one piece unitarily formed ring band, whereby the ring formed band is formed-on at least approximately at half length of the spokes or planetary arms (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: IMS Morat Soehne GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Dold
  • Patent number: 6202508
    Abstract: A flexible engagement gear device (11) has a silk-hat shaped flexible external gear (13) which has a body part (22), a diaphragm (23) and a boss (25). The diaphragm (23) has a plate-shaped part (28), a sectional shape of which, when cut along a plane including a device axial line (11a), is defined at one side by a straight line (232) extending in a radial direction, and at the other side by a first convex circular arc (240), a concave circular arc (250) and a second convex circular arc (260) in this order from the side of the boss. Among these arcs, the first convex arc (24) has the largest curvature, while the concave circular arc (25) has the smallest curvature. The concave circular arc (250) is positioned at the middle of the plate-shaped part (28), the thickness of which is the smallest in the plates-shaped part (28). If the flexible external gear having this cross section is used, when the axial length is reduced, the stress concentration can be relieved without increasing the outer diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Harmonic Drive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Noboru Takizawa
  • Patent number: 6186019
    Abstract: The pinion (10) on the pin shaft (11) and/or the pinion shaft bearings to either side of the pinion and/or the pinion shaft pillow blocks (12, 13) are supported by elastically deformable components (15, 16, 22, 23) so as to automatically adapt radially in an elastically compliant manner to variations in the meshing of the pinion with the rim gear on the driven rotary drum of a tube mill or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: KHD Humboldt Wedag, AG
    Inventors: Alexander Hagedorn, Christoph Troeder
  • Patent number: 6182550
    Abstract: A gear drive system for a printer designed to print upon a continuous roll of paper and having a blade used to cut off printed portions of paper from the paper roll is implemented. The gear drive system consists of a drive shaft 330, a slip clutch 401, a clutch gear 116, a drive gear 110, and a staggered gear 112 which controls the paper cutter blade 106. During printing, clutch 401 allows the drive shaft 330 shaft to slip relative to the clutch gear 116. When printing stops, clutch 401 locks clutch gear 116 which is engaged with the first portion of staggered gear 112 and causes staggered gear 112 to rotate until the second portion of staggered gear 112 engages the drive gear 110. Staggered gear 112 is then driven by the drive gear 110. A cutter blade is controlled by staggered gear 112, with the blade cutting off the paper as the drive gear 110 is in reverse rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Gabriel Brewington, Richard Hunter Harris
  • Patent number: 6169346
    Abstract: A driving apparatus includes a motor, an output unit, and an elastic transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism is disposed between the motor and the output unit to relieve shocks applied to the driving apparatus when operation of the output unit is obstructed. The elastic transmission mechanism includes a first elastic member which absorbs a first shock and second elastic member which absorbs a second shock different in torque from the first shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakamura, Takahiro Iida
  • Patent number: 6135889
    Abstract: A device for subjecting a shaft to a combined simple rotation and alternating rotation of limited extent about its own axis, the device including two supporting plates which rotate with the shaft coupled to a vibration generator and, between the plates, a part of a gear system which rotates freely with respect to the shaft and is associated with rotation actuation motor. Two first slotted holes are formed in each one of the plates so that they are diametrically opposite with respect to the shaft, the first slotted holes being arranged, upon assembly, at second slotted holes formed in the gear system, elastic compression springs being rigidly coupled between the first and the second slotted holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: HOLMAC S.a.s. di Gastaldi Christian & C.
    Inventor: Tiziano Salviato
  • Patent number: 6131477
    Abstract: A drive gear train including a flexible coupling built into one of the gears to absorb shock load forces generated during gear train operation. The flexible coupling can include an inner annular member having a series of circumferentially spaced vanes projecting away from the gear rotational axis, and an outer annular member having a series of circumferentially spaced vanes projecting toward the gear rotational axis in the spaces formed between the firstmentioned vanes. Resilient deformable plugs are disposed between the confronting vane surfaces to absorb peak load forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Detroit Diesel Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald Joseph Gaydek, Henry Stefan Krautner
  • Patent number: 6122985
    Abstract: A torque-dividing transmission, particularly for aircraft, having a single nput pinion and a single output gear, both rotating about respective fixed axes; at least two gear assemblies, both interposed between the pinion and the output gear, and each for transferring a respective portion of the torque from the pinion to the output gear; and a torque-dividing device for dividing the input torque equally between the two gear assemblies; the torque-dividing device having, for each gear assembly, a number of elongated elements elastically bendable in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Elasis Sistema Ricerca Fiat Nel Mezzogiorno Societa Consortile per Azioni
    Inventor: Paolo Altamura
  • Patent number: 6119538
    Abstract: A driving pull rod assembly of a central control lock for automobiles includes a U-shaped frame having a top and a bottom respectively provided with a protuberance, a slide slidably fitted within the U-shaped frame and formed with a longitudinal threaded hole, a flange configured to engage with the U-shaped frame, and two stop members at a top and a bottom thereof, a driving gear having a side formed with a recess provided with two oppositely disposed resilient V-shaped members, a tubular lead screw integrally made of plastic and threadedly engaged with the longitudinal threaded hole of the slide, the tubular lead screw including a metal shaft extending therethrough, the metal shaft having an end provided with an engaging member, the engaging member being configured to fit into the recess, and a motor drivingly connected with the driving gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Inventor: Chung-I Chang
  • Patent number: 6095007
    Abstract: A gear drive system for a printer designed to print upon a continuous roll of paper and having a blade used to cut off printed portions of paper from the paper roll is implemented. The gear drive system consists of a drive shaft 330, a slip clutch 401, a clutch gear 116, a fixed gear 110, and a staggered gear 112 which controls the paper cutter blade 106. During printing, clutch 401 allows the drive shaft 330 shaft to slip relative to the clutch gear 116. When printing stops, clutch 401 locks clutch gear 116 which is engaged with the first portion of staggered gear 112 and causes staggered gear 112 to rotate until the second portion of staggered gear 112 engages the fixed gear 110. Staggered gear 112 is then driven by the fixed gear 110. A cutter blade is controlled by staggered gear 112, with the blade cutting off the paper as the fixed gear 110 is in reverse rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Gabriel Brewington, Richard Hunter Harris