Rack And Pinion Patents (Class 74/422)
  • Patent number: 8424406
    Abstract: An actuator is described with a prestressed reduction gear, which acts via a drive organ, particularly in the form of a drive segment, of a linear drive or a drive spindle upon an actuator for regulating a gas or fluid flow, particularly in the fields of heating ventilation, air-conditioning and fire and smoke protection. Actuating movement is limited by end stops. At least one inner end stop on the housing side limits the rotational freedom of an end wheel, which is in a positive fit with the drive organ, up to more than a full rotation. In a prestressed reduction gear, a switching device g can comprise two spur gears which have identical diameter and can be driven in the opposite direction for changing the M direction of movement of the drive organ, each of which have a pinion which can be displaced in the axial direction. The pinions are in each axial position in a positive fit with the drive organ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Belimo Holding AG
    Inventors: Christoph Wintsch, Beat Weber, Mario Fiorucci, Andi Furrer
  • Patent number: 8418576
    Abstract: A device for pressing a steering rack onto a pinion engaged with the steering rack, in particular for a steering system of a motor vehicle, comprises a pressure piece which can be loaded in the direction of the steering rack and is displaceably guided in a housing and an adjustment unit for compensating for play occurring in the steering system. A spring washer is disposed between the adjustment unit and the pressure piece, wherein the adjustment unit comprises a projection and the pressure piece comprises a recess, or the pressure piece comprises a projection and the adjustment unit comprises a recess, in the region of the spring washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Bareis
  • Patent number: 8397597
    Abstract: A rack bar and a method for production thereof. The rack bar is composed of a steel pipe (10) and an embedded metal core (14) placed therein. The steel pipe has rack teeth formed thereon by forging. The embedded metal core (14) is made of a metal softer than the steel pipe (10) and has its surface wave-shaped such that the bottom (20) is wide and the top (22) is narrow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kondo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiji Tanabe
  • Publication number: 20130049554
    Abstract: A combination comprises a first rack (314A), a second rack (314B) and a mover (218). The second rack (314B) is positioned substantially adjacent to the first rack (314A). The mover (218) includes a first rack gear (254), a second rack gear (256) and a differential adjuster (258). The first rack gear (254) moves along and between the first rack (314A) and the second rack (314B). The second rack gear (256) moves along and between the first rack (314A) and the second rack (314B). The differential adjuster (258) enables the first rack gear (254) and the second rack gear (256) to selectively rotate independently of one another. The first rack (314A) can be spaced apart from the second rack (314B) by a rack joint gap (368). While one of the rack gears (254, 256) is positioned adjacent to the rack joint gap (368), the first rack gear (254) and the second rack gear (256) can rotate independently of one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventor: Christian A. TODD
  • Patent number: 8376379
    Abstract: A steering apparatus for a vehicle may include a steering pinion rotated by operation of a steering wheel, and a steering rack bar having a rack engaged with the steering pinion to move straight in a longitudinal direction thereof, wherein a tooth gap in a gear of the rack changes such that a steering gear ratio corresponding to a linear displacement of the steering rack bar according to rotation of the steering pinion increases and then decreases in both sections from the center of the rack to both ends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Kisung Park, Seil Kim, Youngho Oh, Soobo Park
  • Patent number: 8375818
    Abstract: A yoke for use in a rack and pinion steering assembly is described. The yoke may include a bearing surface that provides a low coefficient of friction, allowing for a greater biasing force against the rack shaft. The materials and design of the yoke can provide for a quieter system with reduced vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas Witting, Joseph Liquore, Timothy J. Hagan
  • Publication number: 20130025393
    Abstract: A gear structure for supporting a vertical motion of an electric pop-up monitor is provided. More specifically, a double rack gear structure for supporting a pop-up monitor is disclosed. The rack gear structure includes an outer gear and an inner gear. The outer gear is coupled at a side of the monitor frame to operate integrally with the monitor frame, and enables the vertical motion of the monitor frame with an ascending or descending motion. The inner gear is received inside the outer gear. The inner gear performs an ascending or descending motion simultaneously with the outer gear, and supports forward and rearward or right and left shaking, which occurs in the outer gear, by maximizing a portion overlapping with the outer gear when the outer gear has ascended to the maximum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOBIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joung Hoon LEE, Wan Woo Lee
  • Publication number: 20130025392
    Abstract: A pop-up monitor is provided. A pop-up monitor with a double rack gear includes a driving unit, a rack gear set, and a monitor frame. The driving unit includes a spur gear set having first and second spur gears, and generates first and second rotational motions with the first and second spur gears. The rack gear set includes an outer gear with a rail groove in one surface thereof along, changing the first rotational motion to a first rectilinear motion, and an inner gear with a rail rail-coupled to the rail groove changing the second rotational motion to a second rectilinear motion. The monitor frame includes a support frame supporting a monitor. The monitor frame is fixed by the inner gear which vertically ascends by the second rectilinear motion without forward and rearward movement when the support frame has vertically ascended to a position according to the first rectilinear motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOBIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joung Hoon Lee, Jai Hyun Jeon
  • Patent number: 8360336
    Abstract: A method of forming a rack (45) (e.g. of the type used in a geared system such as a rack and pinion), suitable for use in a stairlift rail, comprises providing a plurality (30) of elongate strips (10) and securing the plurality of strips together as a stack of strips to form the rack. The strips may be profiled to provide a profile to the rack. Preferably the profile provides a toothed rack on which a gear or roller of a stairlift carriage may be driven. The rack may be formed in a continuous process. The rack may be straight or curved. A rack comprising a plurality of elongate strips secured together as a stack of strips is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Minivator Limited
    Inventor: Nick G. Luckett
  • Patent number: 8348124
    Abstract: A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, an elongated portion, an end effector and a drive assembly. The elongated portion extends distally from the handle assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The end effector is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated portion and includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. At least one jaw member is movable with respect to the other jaw member between spaced and approximated positions. The drive assembly is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the end effector and includes an input portion, an output portion and a gear system disposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Paul Scirica
  • Patent number: 8348541
    Abstract: Joint arrangement for a vehicle, with a joint (7), which has a joint housing (8) and a pivot pin (9) mounted movably in relation thereto; a rod (4), which has a cavity (6) and which is connected to the joint (7); a ring element arranged between the joint and the rod; a sealing bellows (10), which defines the interior space (11) and in which the joint (7) is arranged at least partially; and a gas-permeable connection (13), which connects the cavity (6) of the rod (4) to the interior space (11) of the sealing bellows (10), wherein at least part of the gas-permeable connection (13) is formed by at least one groove, which is formed on the ring element and opens into the interior space (11) of the sealing bellows (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Dirk Mählmann, Benjamin Ziebart
  • Patent number: 8336413
    Abstract: A power steering apparatus includes a housing defining a chamber. A rack is disposed within the chamber and is moveable along a longitudinal axis. A pinion extends into the chamber for meshing engagement with the rack. A bearing supports the rack relative to the housing and is moveable relative to the housing to re-position the rack relative to the pinion. An adjustment mechanism continuously biases the bearing in response to loosening of the meshing engagement to re-position the rack. A dampener resists the movement of the bearing to slow the re-positioning of the bearing. Preferably, the dampener includes a plastic fluid having a very high viscosity. The plastic fluid is disposed between adjacent moving parts to resist the relative movement between the bearing and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Tony M. Dodak, Anthony J. Champagne, Michael A. Eickholt, George E. Arlt
  • Patent number: 8327731
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Kee-woong Sung, Kwang-ho Yang
  • Patent number: 8307939
    Abstract: Disclosed is a steering gear for a power steering system of a vehicle, comprising a component that is mounted axially displaceably in a housing of the steering gear, a tie rod fixed in an articulated manner on at least one axial end of the component by way of a joint, wherein a rotational center of the joint is disposed on a radially directed adapter part laterally offset with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the axially displaceable component, and the adapter part is fixed to the axially displaceable component by way of a shaft-hub connection, which is fastened on the axial end of the axially displaceable component using a nut on an external thread so as to provide a steering gear that has a high-strength, play-free connection between the axially displaceable component thereof and the adapter part, and which is easy to produce, the shaft-hub connection being formed by a play-free, conical serrated connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Hauck, Helmut Bareis, Wilfried Doster
  • Publication number: 20120247248
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hair extension remover (1), which comprises two crimping jaws (6, 7) that can be moved relative to each other by means of a drive (3, 4, 5). A liquid container that can be pressurized and that is in the form of a piston-cylinder unit (9, 10), opens into the vicinity of the crimping jaws. In order to ensure exclusive linear motions, the drive of the crimping jaws (6, 7) and the pressurization of the piston-cylinder unit (9, 10) are each designed as a gear drive (3, 4, 5; 11, 12, 13). Each gear drive can comprise either a gear rack (11) having a pinion or a gear wheel segment (12), or a gear spindle (4) having a movement nut (5). The two gear drives (3, 4, 5; 11, 12, 13) can be coupled in an adjustable and motion-transmitting manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: HAIRDREAMS HAARHANDELS GMBH
    Inventor: Gerhard Ott
  • Patent number: 8256315
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for automatically adjusting clearance of a support yoke of a rack and pinion type steering apparatus, the apparatus including: a support yoke making contact with one side of a rack bar so as to support the rack bar; at least one cam assembled with one side of the support yoke so as to support the support yoke; a yoke plug which is positioned at one side of the cam so as to support the cam and is assembled with a rack housing; and a yoke spring included at one side of the support yoke so as to apply elastic force to the support yoke in a direction of the rack bar. In a case where the support yoke is worn away due to friction, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Joon-kyu Song
  • Patent number: 8256314
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rack-and-pinion steering gear with a steering housing, which is tubular and has a housing axis, wherein in the steering housing a rack is mounted in bearings displaceably towards a longitudinal axis, and with a steering pinion, which is mounted in a pinion housing rotatably about an axis and has a pinion gearing, which engages with a gearing of the rack, in which at least one bearing is formed as an eccentric sliding bearing, which can rotate relative to the steering housing, so that the rack can be pressed towards the steering pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Presta AG
    Inventor: Frank Birkwald
  • Publication number: 20120216642
    Abstract: A rolling resistant heat-treated steel, comprising which has the following elements indicated in mass fractions in relation to the overall weight: 0.5% to 0.6% inclusive carbon, 0.0031% to 0.005% inclusive boron and 3.5 parts or more parts of titanium in relation to 1 part of nitrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Ernst STRIAN, Ihor MYS, Dieter ADLER
  • Patent number: 8240972
    Abstract: In a robot, a support member is supported to an arm to be reciprocable with respect to one of first and second sides of the arm in a predetermined direction. A rotary member of a converter is coupled to a motor, and a linear movable member of the converter is contacted to the rotary member and linked to the support member. The converter works to transfer rotary motion received by the rotary member from the motor as linear motion to the linear movable member through a transfer contact portion between the rotary member and the linear movable member to thereby move the linear movable member together with the support member in the predetermined direction. The transfer contact portion between the rotary member and the linear movable member is located offset to the one of the first and second sides of the arm relative to the other thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Wave Corporation
    Inventor: Takamasa Tokumitsu
  • Publication number: 20120198950
    Abstract: A feed system, rack bar and drive sprocket for moving an underground winning machine having a travel drive with drive sprocket having symmetrically profiled teeth, and rack bars with a plurality of rack teeth being arranged between a supporting strip and a guide strip of the rack bar. The tooth flanks of the teeth are inclined in the direction of movement and diverge towards the tooth tip for the interaction with tooth surfaces of teeth of drive sprocket. In order to improve the interaction between the teeth and produce less wear, the two tooth flanks of each rack tooth are concavely arched and form a trough between guide strip and supporting strip transversely to the direction of movement, with the trough rising towards the tooth tip, and the two tooth surfaces of each drive sprocket tooth is convexly arched and forms a crown transversely to the direction of movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: BUCYRUS EUROPE GMBH
    Inventor: Christoph Pietrala
  • Patent number: 8205515
    Abstract: A bushing for use in a hollow tube housing of a rack and pinion steering system. The bushing is formed as a generally cylindrical body having a central aperture and a circular cantilevered flange that extends outward from the body of the bushing. The flange contains a leading surface for compression contact with a corresponding interfering surface on the hollow interior of the rack housing. The flange is disposed to continuously compress a portion of its leading surface against a portion of the interfering surface on the hollow interior of the housing over a predetermined range of temperatures when the bushing is installed in the housing, and thereby providing thermal compensation to maintain a seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: James R. Robertson, John F. Laidlaw
  • Patent number: 8196487
    Abstract: A progressive gear assembly that is a vehicle steering gear, the assembly comprising at least one spur gear (1, 2) and a toothed structure (3, 4, 5, 7, 8) with which the spur gear (1, 2) meshes. The spur gear (1, 2) has teeth (11) arranged along a curve (10), the curve (10) comprising a radius of curvature (r) which monotonically rises over an angular range of more than 90° of the curve (10). Preferably the curve is a spiral, particularly a logarithmic spiral. This gear assembly is configured compact and simple, features smooth running and achieves a late end point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventors: Werner M. Bless, Erwin Rott
  • Patent number: 8181549
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus 10 has an electric motor 46 for supplying an auxiliary force to a steering force inputted from a steering wheel 16, and transmits the steering force including the auxiliary force to a steered road-wheel 14 at least partially via a rack-and-pinion mechanism 30, thereby performing steering of a vehicle 12. The rack-and-pinion mechanism 30 includes: a pinion 38 provided at a pinion shaft 28 connected to the steering wheel 16; a rack 40 that is provided over a predetermined width at a rack shaft 32 connected to the steered road-wheel 14, and that is engaged with the pinion 38; and a rack guide 70 for urging the rack shaft 32 toward the pinion 38. A pressure angle ?1 of a tooth root of the rack 40 is set to be greater than a pressure angle ?0 of a tooth tip of the rack 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuji Watanabe, Yasuo Shimizu, Tsuyoshi Matsuo, Yousuke Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20120103120
    Abstract: The one end side portion is nipped by a jig including a jig member having a pair of convex portions which are to be fitted to a depressions in contact with a tooth side face and a inclined portion and positioning a bar and a jig member which is to be clamped/opened with respect to the jig member. A die having an inside diameter smaller than the diameter of the outer periphery is pressed onto the outer periphery of the end portion of the cylindrical end side portion projected from the jig up to a press-in depth determined preliminarily based on the rack, so as to reduce the diameter of the end portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: NETUREN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Yamawaki, Ryosuke Suzuki, Tetsuji Murata, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, Yutaka Kiyosawa
  • Patent number: 8147161
    Abstract: A joint arrangement, for a vehicle, is provided with a joint (7), which has a joint housing (8) and a pivot pin (9) mounted movably in relation thereto. The arrangement also includes a rod (4), which has a cavity (6) and is connected to the joint (7); a sealing bellows (10), which defines an interior space (10) and in which the joint (7) is arranged at least partially; and a gas-permeable connection (13), which connects the cavity (6) of the rod (4) to the interior space (11) of the sealing bellows (10) and has at least one groove (15), which is formed in a front side (21) of the joint (7), which said front side faces the rod (4), opens into the interior space (11) and has a radially outer end (27). The groove (15) with its radially outer end ends at a spaced location from the outer circumferential contour of the front surface (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Hahn, Thomas Herrmann
  • Publication number: 20120037580
    Abstract: Provided is a financial device, which comprises a medium cassette, a cassette box, and a shock prevention apparatus. The medium cassette accommodates a medium. The medium cassette is installed on the cassette box. The shock prevention apparatus is disposed between a portion of the medium cassette and a portion of the cassette box facing the portion of the medium cassette. The shock prevention apparatus prevents a shock from being applied to the medium cassette while the medium cassette is installed on the cassette box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: LG N-SYS INC.
    Inventor: DOWAN KIM
  • Patent number: 8104369
    Abstract: The one end side portion is nipped by a jig including a jig member having a pair of convex portions which are to be fitted to a depressions in contact with a tooth side face and a inclined portion and positioning a bar and a jig member which is to be clamped/opened with respect to the jig member. A die having an inside diameter smaller than the diameter of the outer periphery is pressed onto the outer periphery of the end portion of the cylindrical end side portion projected from the jig up to a press-in depth determined preliminarily based on the rack, so as to reduce the diameter of the end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Neturen Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Yamawaki, Ryosuke Suzuki, Tetsuji Murata, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, Yutaka Kiyosawa
  • Patent number: 8104368
    Abstract: A system for laterally transporting a load. The system uses a sprocket and an integrally formed rack combination. The crowns of the teeth of the rack are rounded so as to engage the lower most troughs of the space between the teeth of the sprocket so that a vertical load may be placed on the system and yet allow lateral translating of the load as the sprocket is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventor: Charles Wayne Aaron
  • Patent number: 8079280
    Abstract: A rack-and-pinion type steering apparatus 1 includes a gear case 3 made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and having a hollow portion 2; a steering shaft 6 rotatably supported by the gear case 3 through rolling bearings 4 and 5; a pinion 7 which is rotatably supported in the gear case 3 through the steering shaft 6; a rack bar 9 on which rack teeth 8 meshing with the pinion 7 are formed; and a rack guide 10 which is disposed in the hollow portion 2 inside the gear case 3 and supports the rack bar 9 slidably with respect to its moving direction A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Oiles Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Kubota, Yoshiro Kuzumi, Hidetoshi Kaida
  • Patent number: 8016319
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant classification system categorizes vehicle occupants into various classes such as adult, child, infant, etc. to provide variable control for a vehicle restraint system such as an airbag. The classification system utilizes sensors that are installed in various locations in the vehicle. The sensors are used to generate a three-dimensional profile for the vehicle occupant. Various factors can affect the accuracy of this three-dimensional profile. Fuzzy logic is used to reduce some of the inaccuracies by providing multiple decision levels for various stages of the classification. Inaccuracies are also caused by sensors shifting within the system from their original position. This condition creates offset and the system evaluates this offset and generates a correction factor to provide a more accurate three-dimensional profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens AG
    Inventors: Gerd Winkler, Andreas Knueppel, Gerald Schicker
  • Publication number: 20110204588
    Abstract: Disclosed are a variable gear ratio type rack bar, and a steering apparatus having the same. According to the present invention, it is not required to fabricate a separate mold for processing rack-formed parts with different inter-tooth spaces, the rack-formed parts can be formed by using various processing methods, and it is possible to obtain precise tooth shapes through one step processing, whereby the number of steps for manufacturing a variable gear ratio type rack bar and its manufacturing cost can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Kwang Ho YANG, Ki Che Park
  • Patent number: 7980152
    Abstract: A steering apparatus includes a housing defining a chamber and an aperture extending into the chamber. A rack is disposed within the chamber and moveable along a longitudinal axis. A pinion extends into the chamber for meshing engagement with the rack. A bearing supports the rack within the chamber relative to the housing. The bearing includes a wall having a continuously varying radial thickness. An adjustment mechanism includes a shaft partially disposed within the aperture in threaded engagement with the aperture and engaging the bearing for rotating the bearing about the longitudinal axis, thereby repositioning the rack relative to the pinion. A plug is disposed within the aperture. A spring is disposed within the aperture between the plug and the shaft to bias against the shaft, thereby urging rotational threaded movement of the shaft to produce linear movement of the shaft into engagement with the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Inventor: George E. Arlt
  • Publication number: 20110148030
    Abstract: A printer includes a main body and a paper holding device. The main body is capable of printing and outputting paper. The paper holding device is secured to the main body, and includes a paper tray, a plurality of sliding members, a connecting mechanism, and a driving mechanism. The paper tray is configured for receiving the outputted paper. The sliding members are slidably located on the paper tray. The connecting mechanism is attached to the paper tray and connected to the sliding members. The driving mechanism is attached to the paper tray and capable of driving the connecting mechanism to slide the plurality of sliding members to shape a space to fit the size of outputted paper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: CHIH-KUN SHIH, CHUN-HSIEN LIN, CHEN-LU FAN
  • Publication number: 20110138946
    Abstract: In a manufacturing method for a hollow rack shaft, and a hollow rack shaft, a tubular member (23) having a planar flat portion (22) that is formed in part of a tubular body portion (21) is sandwiched and held between a cope (25) and a drag (26) that has a tooth-shaped portion (29) substantially symmetrical with rack teeth (7) so that a surface (22a) of the flat portion (22) is in contact with the tooth-shaped portion (29). A back die (14) having a plurality of protrusions (15) is arranged so that the protrusions (15) face groove portions (29a) of the tooth-shaped portion (29) across the flat portion (22), and the back die (14) is pressed against the flat portion (22) to form the rack teeth (7) to thereby manufacture the rack shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomonari YAMAKAWA
  • Patent number: 7954395
    Abstract: In the event that a moment in a bending direction is generated in a pinion shaft, for example, when a vehicle is involved in a collision or the like, since a bending facilitating portion which is a circumferential groove 111e bends, stress is concentrated hereon, and no large bending stress is generated in any case between a rolling bearing 102 and a support member 104. Consequently, an excessively large bending force is transmitted in no case to a four point contact type ball bearing 103.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Ishii
  • Patent number: 7954396
    Abstract: A rack and pinion steering gear comprising a thrust element disposed in a housing for pressing a rack and pinion against one another. One side of the thrust element is supported against the rack, and another side is supported against a wedge-like part formed of two semi-circular annular elements, each of which is provided with at least one wedge surface that is disposed at an angle to a central plane of the wedge-like part. A side of the wedge-like part remote from the thrust element is supported against a set screw. The thrust element and/or the set screw is provided with an inclined surface that cooperates with the at least one wedge surface of the annular elements of the wedge-like part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Presta Steertec GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Rombold, Michael Weigel
  • Patent number: 7944158
    Abstract: A field-oriented control method for an electric drive comprising a plurality of electric motors, for implementing a tension mechanism, especially for load cable and/or gearing means, using measurements of a polyphase motor actual current. The measured values are transformed into a direct current component and a quadrature current component, based upon a magnetic rotor field or flux angle, in a rotor flux-based d,q coordinate system. The quadrature and direct current components from the actual current are subjected to a comparison with predetermined quadrature and direct current components of a current command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Baumuller Nurnberg GmbH
    Inventors: Jinsheng Jiang, Viktor Barinberg
  • Patent number: 7938033
    Abstract: A continuously variable speed transmission includes a first guideway, a second guideway, wherein the first guideway and the second guideway remain stationary during operation at a particular speed ratio. The transmission further includes a first member moveably connected to the first guideway and the second guideway, the first member further comprising gear teeth and a second member having gear teeth positioned at an adjustable angle relative to the first member. A gear engages the gear teeth of the first member and the gear teeth of the second member. The speed ratio of the transmission is determined based on angle of the second member relative to the first member. Either of the first member or the second member may be the input with the other member being the output depending upon whether a speed increase or a speed decrease is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Flugrad, Abir Z. Qamhiyah
  • Patent number: 7930951
    Abstract: A steering gear assembly with a pinion shaft, rack, housing and rack bearing. A biasing assembly biases the rack bearing against the rack and into engagement with the pinion. The biasing assembly includes a gross adjustment member secured to the housing, a bearing assembly with a bearing member coupled with the rack bearing and a first adjustment member. A first biasing member is coupled with the bearing member and first adjustment member which are relatively moveable to thereby define a compliance zone to allow for dimensional variations in the meshing of the rack and pinion. An adjustment biasing assembly is operably disposed between the gross adjustment member and the bearing assembly. The adjustment biasing assembly is disposed entirely within the housing, includes a second biasing member, and urges the first adjustment member toward the rack bearing in continuously-variable axial movements while preventing movement away from the rack bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Inventor: Michael A. Eickholt
  • Patent number: 7926378
    Abstract: A rack shaft is supported in an inner peripheral portion of a tubular housing of a gear housing via a rack bush. An inner peripheral portion of the rack bush is formed as a peripheral surface approximately similar to a circle in which a peripheral surface constituted by a large circular arc and a peripheral surface constituted by a small circular arc are continuously provided. The rack shaft is not in contact with the peripheral surface constituted by the large circular arc, and the peripheral surface constituted by the small circular arc is formed as a support portion of the rack shaft. The support of the rack shaft by the peripheral surface constituted by the small circular arc is not accomplished when a load applied to the rack shaft is nothing or low, but is accomplished when the load is high. Further, an engaging convex portion acting as a positioning and rotation prevention for the bush is provided in an outer peripheral portion of the rack bush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Saito, Yukio Tajima, Yoshio Onoguchi
  • Patent number: 7926385
    Abstract: A vehicle passive entry side door latch release system engageable with a release cable connected a door latch includes a moveable linkage assembly engageable with the cable, and a motor including an output shaft engaged with a tensioning gear for driving a ratcheting gearwheel rotatably affixed to a coil spring, with the gearwheel including external teeth engageable with a rack affixed to the linkage to move the cable to unlatch the door latch. A pivotable ratcheting pawl may be engageable with the gearwheel to allow or prevent rotation of the gearwheel. Operation of the motor may drive the gear to drive the gearwheel in a rotary direction to energize the spring, and disengagement of the pawl from the gearwheel may allow stored energy in the spring to drive the gearwheel in an opposite rotary direction to thereby drive the rack to move the cable to unlatch the door latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kosta Papanikolaou, James Joseph Loschiavo, Venky Krishnan, Marcus Edward Merideth, Bhupendra Patel
  • Patent number: 7926376
    Abstract: A rack and pinion steering device has a pinion rotatable in the R-direction, a rack bar having rack teeth meshing with the pinion and rectilinearly movable in the A-direction, a housing for rotatably supporting the pinion, a rack guide for slidably supporting the rack bar, and an elastic means for pressing the rack guide toward the pinion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignees: Oiles Corporation, JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Hirose, Masaaki Hashimoto, Nobuyuki Sato, Masao Shimura, Yoshiro Kuzumi
  • Patent number: 7891264
    Abstract: A driving mechanism for a carrier can prevent drive transmission units used for reciprocation of the carrier from becoming damaged, dented, or deformed even when an apparatus receives vibration or impact from the outside. The driving mechanism includes first and second pinion components held by a carrier, first and second rack segments fixed to a main apparatus body, and a connector rack segment fixed between the first and second rack segments. When the carrier performs recording, the first pinion component engages with the first rack segment. When the carrier is at a home position, the second pinion component engages with the second rack segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihide Wada
  • Publication number: 20110014017
    Abstract: A storage retrieval machine comprising an input area, an array of storage locations, an output area, a carriage assembly adapted to hold a product when being transferred to and from the storage locations, and a drive mechanism positioned to move the carriage assembly. The drive mechanism includes a flexible element (e.g., a chain) tensioned between two points and having a plurality of spaced recesses, and a toothed element mounted to the carriage assembly and engaging the flexible element. Preferably, the flexible element is pre-tensioned to a certain percentage of the rated load of the flexible element (e.g., 10%, 20%, 30%, or 40% of the rated load). It is also preferred that the pre-tensioned load on the flexible element is greater than the service load that is anticipated to be applied to the chain during normal operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: PFLOW INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Mark R. Webster
  • Patent number: 7870805
    Abstract: A rack-and-pinion steering apparatus in which a steering gear box for transmitting an operation of a steering wheel to road wheels includes a pinion operatively connected to the steering wheel, a rack bar which has a rack meshing with the pinion, and which is operatively connected to the road wheels, a housing slidably supporting the rack bar, a cylindrical rack guide slidably fitted into a guide hole formed in the housing, and a spring member causing the rack guide to abut on a rear part of the rack bar opposite to the rack by biasing the rack guide. A reaction force, which the rack guide receives from the rack bar, acts on the rack guide in such a way as to cause a rotational moment of the rack guide about an axis different from an axis of the rack guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Matsuo, Yasuo Shimizu, Katsuji Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20110001343
    Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat base having a rack gear mounted thereto and a seat back pivotally mounted to the seat base with a pinion gear mounted at a lower end thereof. The pinion gear and the rack gear are arranged such that pivotal movement of the seat back effects longitudinal movement of the seat base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventor: Terrie Ellison
  • Patent number: 7849757
    Abstract: A linear feedback device for an actuator comprises: a coiling belt, a return gear wheel, a driven member, and a sensing feedback device. The sensing linear feedback device serves to feedback the displacement data of the driven member that is moveable along a predetermined rail after engaging with the return gear wheel. The return gear wheel is coaxial with the coiling belt, and the coiling belt unwinds or retracts along with the actuator and drives the return gear wheel to rotate. The gear ratio between the return gear wheel and the driven teeth is used to adjust the back and forth moving distance of the probe. The linear feedback device can be installed in a small external hanging type body and offer an absolute position sensing function while preventing the error accumulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Hiwin Mikrosystem Corp.
    Inventor: Hsin-An Chiang
  • Patent number: 7841606
    Abstract: A motor vehicle wherein the steering includes: a steering bar including a rack steering component and a steered component fitted in a sliding manner; a rack housing passed through by the steering component and including a plate displaying a correction sliding rail receiving a roller; two correction arms; assembly elements of the rack housing suitable for allowing pivoting of the rack housing in a steering plane, around an attachment axis obliged to move in a direction contained in the steering plane and in a longitudinal plane of the chassis; a telescopic steering column; two steering gears connecting the steering component and the steered component to the stub pivot arms of the front guiding wheels. The correction slide rail follows a suitable curve such that the vehicle wheel stubs extend along directions that intersect, at each time, at the same point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Inventor: André Rey
  • Publication number: 20100289238
    Abstract: A vehicle steering system includes a gear rack supported in a fixed position, a pinion gear in meshing engagement with the gear rack, a steering subsystem supporting the pinion gear and moveable in a translational manner relative to the gear rack and at least one steering arm coupled to steering subsystem and configured to steer a motive member in response to movement of the steering subsystem. The vehicle steering system is configured to remain substantially within a framework of the vehicle while steering one or more motive members of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: David W. Archer, Nicholas J. Zepnick
  • Publication number: 20100288062
    Abstract: An electromechanical solution for 2 axis solar tracking is disclosed that is suitable for application with a single solar heat, hot water or photovoltaic panel. 3 points of contact are arranged in a triangle on the back of the panel with 2 points of contact connected by linear actuators and flexible couplings. The third point of contact is a spherical bearing at the base of the panel. The actuators are independently adjustable in length by using electric motors according to a microprocessor program. In this way, 2 rotary axes of motion with limited angles are achieved which can orient the panel to the sun with minimal hardware. Since only one solar panel is being controlled the mechanical force required is minimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: SOLID TECH INC
    Inventor: Steven Michael Meyer