Worm Patents (Class 74/425)
  • Publication number: 20120048047
    Abstract: A robot arm system includes a support base, a first robot arm, a first driving mechanism, a second robot arm, a second driving mechanism, and a wrist assembly. The first driving mechanism drives the first robot arm to rotate around the first rotation axis. The second driving mechanism drives the second robot arm to rotate around the second rotation axis. The robot arm system further comprises a first wheel positioned on the support base, a second wheel positioned on the second robot arm, a third wheel positioned on the wrist assembly and rotatably connecting to the second robot arm, a first flexible belt connecting the first wheel with the second wheel, and a second flexible belt connecting the third wheel with the second wheel. The first wheel, the second wheel, and the third wheel have the same radius.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: GUO-QING ZHANG
  • Patent number: 8117937
    Abstract: An electric motor 1 and a worm gear 11 were housed in a case, an output shaft 2 of the electric motor 1 and a fitting hole 11C of the worm gear 11 were fitted so as to be capable of freely transmitting torque and of freely moving relatively in a direction of an axis X, and a tip of the output shaft 2 and an inner end of the fitting hole 11C set a gap D of separation in the direction of the axis X. Furthermore, a support section 30 making contact with an end section of a shaft section 11A of the worm gear 11 at the side of the electric motor 1 thereof was provided inside the case, and a thrust force resulting from dynamic inertia of the wheel gear 11 upon stopping of the electric motor 1 and acting on the worm gear 11 was borne by the support section 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norio Konomoto, Akira Muramatsu, Kazutaka Kojima, Kazuhisa Hidaka, Yukinobu Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 8113075
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for a piece of reclining furniture. The mechanism has a housing whose side walls are formed adjacent an upper wall with a pair of longitudinally spaced seats defining a pair of generally parallel and transversely extending axes lying in a common first plane. Respective furniture shafts rotatable in the seats are connectable to parts of the piece of reclining furniture, and respective arms project from the furniture shafts. Respective servomotors in the housing each have an output shaft defining an output rotation axis. The output rotation axes define a second plane forming an angle greater than 0° with the first plane, respective transmissions and links between the output shafts and the control arms so that rotation of the output shafts is transmitted through the respective transmissions and links to the control arms to rotate the furniture shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Limoss GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Kurt Schmid
  • Patent number: 8096204
    Abstract: A gear includes a metal core and a synthetic resin tooth body. The metal core includes a cylindrical portion, and a disc portion that extends inwardly in a radial direction from one end of the cylindrical portion. The synthetic resin tooth body is coupled to the cylindrical portion of the metal core. A plurality of rotation prevention grooves is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion, and a plurality of rotation prevention grooves is formed on the inner peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Susumu Imagaki, Wataru Yamada, Arata Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20120000426
    Abstract: A vacuum chamber structure includes a rotary feedthrough configured on a chamber wall to provide rotational drive to the interior of the structure. The rotary feedthrough includes a gearbox having a housing and a shaft rotationally supported by bearings contained within the housing. A motor is operably coupled to the gearbox housing to drive the shaft, which extends from the gearbox. A seal assembly is operably disposed between the gearbox housing and the chamber wall, with the shaft disposed through the seal assembly and extending through a bore in the chamber wall and into the interior of the structure. The shaft is rotationally supported with bearings only via the bearings in the gearbox housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: PRIMESTAR SOLAR, INC.
    Inventor: Russell Weldon Black
  • Publication number: 20120000307
    Abstract: Composite gear blanks are manufactured by placing a rigid centerpiece in a mold, optionally inertizing the mold, filling the mold by adding a liquid reactive mixture around the centerpiece, applying static pressure to the mold and polymerizing the reactive mixture so as to form a plastic outer part surrounding the centerpiece. The composite gear blanks thus made have improved values of normal and shear adhesion strength both at room temperature and at elevated temperatures of up to 120° C. and are particularly suited for making worm gear parts of automotive electronic power steering systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: QUADRANT EPP AG
    Inventors: Rob Oolderink, Ermanno Nizzoli, Hendrik Vandenbruaene
  • Patent number: 8082816
    Abstract: A gear-shifting structure is provided for a vehicle. The vehicle includes a transmission box that contains therein a gear train, a clutch, a switching fork, a gear-shifting hub, and a motor. The motor cooperates with a worm shaft to actuate the clutching operation of the clutch and to cause movement of the gear-shifting hub in order to carry out the gear shifting operation. The motor has a rotary member that drives the worm shaft on which a worm and a cam are mounted. To effect gear shifting, the motor drives the worm shaft to have the cam abut and displace the clutch and at the same time, the worm drives the gear-shifting hub to thus realize the operation of gear shifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Kwang Yang Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Hung Lai, Chao-Chang Ho
  • Publication number: 20110308339
    Abstract: A driving apparatus for operating a sunshade, includes a housing, a gear assembly, a drive unit and a vibration limiter. The drive unit 5 includes a motor with an output shaft, a worm gear connected to the output shaft and the gear assembly and having a free end section opposite to the output shaft. The vibration limiter has an embracing member disposed around the free end section to prevent the free end section from shaking. With the vibration limiter, vibration and rattling noises can be eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventor: Paul Lin
  • Patent number: 8069745
    Abstract: A power steering device includes a first gear provided on the first shaft, the first gear having a centerline axis, and a second gear operatively connected to the first gear. The second gear includes a rotational axis that is maintained substantially coplanar with the centerline axis. The power steering device further includes a compliant member operatively connected with the second gear. The compliant member allows rotational compliance of the second gear while avoiding axial and radial compliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Inventors: Troy P. Strieter, Anthony J. Champagne
  • Patent number: 8061228
    Abstract: The actuator for a motor vehicle has an electric motor having an output shaft. A gear comprising a spindle nut and a gear case is connected to the output shaft. A spindle engages the spindle nut. A bracket forms an at least partial surrounding grip abut the gear case. A pivot bearing is provided between the gear case and the bracket. Further, an abutment lying substantially opposite the pivot bearing is formed between the gear case and the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: C. Rob. Hammerstein GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Burckhard Becker, Wilfried Beneker
  • Patent number: 8051965
    Abstract: A clutch actuator is configured to change operational force applied to a clutch in cases that a worm wheel is rotated by a motor. The clutch actuator may include a motor provided with a rotatable worm shaft, a screw thread formed along an exterior circumference of the worm shaft, a worm wheel provided with a worm gear engaging the screw thread, and a cam recess, an operation rod mounted to the worm wheel, the operation rod configured to engage or release a clutch, and a rotatable operation unit disposed within the cam recess, and configured to apply elastic force to the worm wheel. Methods of using the clutch actuator are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Hyundai Mobis
    Inventors: Il Soo Kim, Sang Chul Park, Jeong Heon Kam Song, Han Ho Hwang, Woo Jin Cha, Kwang Soo Nam, Young Kwang Kim
  • Patent number: 8051737
    Abstract: A worm gear drive has a self locking gear train. The gear train comprises a worm 34 fitted to a motor shaft 32 and in mesh with a worm wheel 35 which drives the output 26. The motor shaft 32 extends between two thrust bearings 29, 60 having faces 54 which contact respective axial ends of the motor shaft 32. The contact between at least one of the thrust bearings 29 and the shaft 32 is adapted to provide a high frictional force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Johnson Electric S.A.
    Inventors: Feng Li, Jing Ning Ta
  • Patent number: 8042645
    Abstract: A parallel shaft gear mechanism (19a) for a steering assist of the present electric power steering apparatus (1) includes an idle gear (26) rotatably supported via a rolling bearing (39), on an outer peripheral surface (37d) of an intermediate shaft (37) supported by a rack housing (15). The idle gear (26) is arranged in an annular synthetic resin member (43) fixed on the outer peripheral surface (44a) of an outer ring (44) of the bearing (39). On the outer peripheral surface (44a) of the outer ring (44), a regulating portion (53, 53A, 53B, 53C, 53D, 53E, 53F, 53G, 54, 54A, 54B, 54C, 54D, 54E, 54F, 55, 56, 56A, 56B, 59, 59A, and 59B) for regulating relative rotation between the outer ring (44) and the synthetic resin member (43) is arranged. The synthetic resin member (43) is formed in a manner to cover the regulating portion on the outer peripheral surface (44a) of the outer ring (44), as a result of a molding process using a mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Takanori Kurokawa
  • Patent number: 8011265
    Abstract: A power actuator assembly includes a torque transmission device, a motor mounted to the torque transmission device extending along a motor axis, and a screw coupled to the torque transmission device and extending along a screw axis. An adjustment mechanism interconnects the screw and the torque transmission device and permits selective rotational adjustment between the adjustment mechanism and the torque transmission device to rotate the motor relative to the torque transmission device. A connecting device releasably interconnects the adjustment mechanism to the torque transmission device to permit repeated re-positioning of the motor relative to the torque transmission device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventors: Ratko Menjak, Brian J. Magnus, Steven M. Thomas, Thomas A. Barrett, Mohammad S. Islam, Karen A. Boswell, David K. Siniff, Michael A. Tomasino, James E. Rouleau, Steven J. Schultz
  • Patent number: 8001866
    Abstract: An electronic steering apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a housing, a worm wheel provided in the housing, a worm axis engaged with the worm wheel in the housing, a bearing installed on the outer circumference of one side of the worm axis, and a resilient member supporting the one side while varying in its angle relative to the axial direction of the worm axis along with the movement of the worm axis, thereby providing an effect of compensating for a gap between the worm and the worm wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Joon Kyu Song, Seong Joo Kim, Byoung Kuk Kim
  • Publication number: 20110168474
    Abstract: A drive and steering unit for driving and steering a load support comprises a steering assembly, a slewing ring engaged with the steering assembly and being rotatable about an axis in response to actuation of the steering assembly, a drive assembly mounted to the slewing ring, and a drive power system coupled to the drive assembly and movable with the slewing ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: BOOMERANG SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Stanley Checketts, Mike Winger, Ryan Burleson, Merin Swasey
  • Patent number: 7966904
    Abstract: A drive system for rotating an assembly, such as an external vehicle mirror housing, about an axis is provided with a drive housing containing a worm drive assembly coupled to an axis gear mounted about the axis. The worm drive assembly is rotated by an electric motor. The axis gear is stationary with respect to the axis, such that rotation of the worm drive assembly will cause it to travel about the axis gear. Such movement of the worm drive assembly will cause the drive housing and the associated external vehicle mirror housing to rotate about the axis. Thrust transmitted to the worm drive assembly is transmitted to a central portion of the drive housing by a shaft retainer associated with the worm drive assembly. Play between the axis gear and the worm drive assembly is prevented by eliminating separation between adjacent components of the worm drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Questek Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Dale R. Krueger
  • Patent number: 7946409
    Abstract: A self service terminal having a slot; at least one shutter for selectively opening and closing the slot and a gear drive for moving the shutter between open and closed positions, the gear drive having a first gear that interacts with a second gear, at least one of the first and second gears defining a stop that is engagable with the other of the first and second gears to stop or prevent non-gear driven movement of the shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Stewart J. Herd, Alexander S. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 7898124
    Abstract: A step-by-step motor able to carry out up-and-down transmission includes a housing, a top rod, a circuit board, a magnet, a coil unit and a cover. The top rod is inserted in an insert hole of the housing, having a wall bored with a cut recess. The circuit board has a position-limiting switch received in an engage groove of the housing and provided with a sidewise rod inserted in the cut recess of the top rod. The magnet is fixed with a connecting member connecting a bearing, and the lower end of the top rod is engaged with the connecting member. The coil unit is fitted around the magnet and positioned in the housing, and the cover is covered on the bottom of the housing. The magnet is driven by the coil unit to rotate and actuate the top rod to move upward or downward steadily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Inventors: Hsian-Yi Huang, Hsiu-Ming Huang
  • Patent number: 7887069
    Abstract: A toothed rack or threaded rod, in particular for a steering mechanism for a motor vehicle, includes a first rod-shaped part which, as a function element of the toothed rack or threaded rod, includes at least one element for the conversion of a rotational movement into a translational movement, in particular a toothing and/or a threading for the engagement of a threaded nut or of a threaded drive, and a second rod-shaped part which is connected with the first rod-shaped part. The connection of the first with the second rod-shaped part takes place via a separate connection part which includes first and second connection pins, of which the first connection pin is held by press fit in the hollow volume opening out at the connection end of the first rod-shaped part and the second connection pin is held by press fit in the hollow volume opening out at the connection end of the second rod-shaped part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Presta Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Roman Bilmayer, Ralf Eckstein, Alexander Kiforiuk, Frank Birkwald, Michael Stange
  • Patent number: 7886400
    Abstract: In a motor, a gear housing of a speed reducer is connected to a motor unit. A worm is received in the gear housing and is rotated by rotation of a rotatable shaft of the motor unit. A worm wheel is received in the gear housing and is meshed with the worm. An output shaft is fixed to a center part of the worm wheel. The worm wheel includes a receiving recess, which is axially recessed in a center part of the worm wheel. An axially inner part of a bearing, which rotatably supports the output shaft, is received in the receiving recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Ota
  • Patent number: 7882759
    Abstract: In a gear drive unit (10), in particular for adjusting moving parts in the motor vehicle, having a rotor shaft (18) supported in a housing (16) and braced axially on the housing (16) via at least one face end (50) and in which a separate toothed element (32) for transmitting torque to a gear component (38, 40) is secured to the rotor shaft (18), the toothed element (32) has an axial bearing face (48) that rests on one of the face ends (50) of the rotor shaft (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Schwendemann
  • Publication number: 20110023644
    Abstract: A lifter assembly for actuating a needle of an automatic medication delivery device, includes a motor, a speed reduction device driven by the motor, an output shaft driven by the speed reduction device via a rigid transmission device, a driving lever configured to move the needle, the driving lever being connected to and driven by the output shaft, and a sensing device configured to sense the rotation position of the output shaft. The speed reduction device comprises a worm in mesh with a worm gear. The output shaft, the worm gear and the rigid transmission device cooperatively constitute a four-bar linkage mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Mohanlal RAMADOSS, Wai To Li, Yue Fu Zhu, Xiang Dong Jiang
  • Publication number: 20110023643
    Abstract: A speed reduction device for a power seat includes a worm gear, a helical gear, a casing including a casing body and a casing cover, and a motor fixation device. The motor fixation device includes a first fitting portion provided at a housing, a first engagement portion formed at the first fitting portion, a second fitting portion formed at the casing body and to which the first fitting portion is fitted, a second engagement portion formed at the second fitting portion and arranged to overlap the first engagement portion in a direction perpendicular to the output shaft of the motor in a case where the first fitting portion is fitted to the second fitting portion, and an engagement projection formed at the casing cover and engaging with the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion in a case where the casing cover is tightened to the casing body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshitaka KOGA
  • Patent number: 7878086
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for a lock comprises a linear-moving sleeve (1), a conversion spring (2) and a rotating transmission component (3). The rotating component (3) is inserted into the linear-moving sleeve (1) that moves along the rotating component (3) in an axial direction. The conversion spring (2) is fitted onto the rotating component (3). The linear-moving sleeve (1) has symmetric protrusions (11). The rotating component (3) comprises an end (4) and a rotating bolt (5). The rotating bolt (5) is plugged into the clipping end (4). The conversion spring (2) has two curved ends (21) which are inserted into the groove (51) of the rotating bolt (5). The conversion spring (2) rotates in conjunction with the rotating of the rotating bolt (5) and the rotation movement is converted to linear movement along the rotating bolt (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventor: Yu Min
  • Publication number: 20110000331
    Abstract: Provided are a ball-type speed reducer and a rotary table device that are capable of performing high-speed rotation and high-rigidity rotation and suitable for reduction in size and weight. An index table 10 includes a ball-type speed reducer 20 and a table 50 that is fixed to an upper surface of a worm wheel 30 of the ball-type speed reducer 20. When the worm gear 22 rotates as the input shaft 24 of the ball-type speed reducer 20 rotates, balls 36 made of a magnetic material move along a ball groove 26 having a spiral shape. The worm wheel 30 rotates as the balls 36 move, and the table 50 rotates. The balls 36 are attracted and held by the permanent magnet 34 on the worm wheel 30 side, so that a case for preventing the balls 36 from coming off the worm wheel 30 can be omitted, whereby the total size and weight can be reduced. Backlash is not required, so that high-speed rotation and high-rigidity rotation are possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicants: MEKO SEIKI INC., TSUDAKOMA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshio Iwase, Masahiro Machida, Yoshihiro Machida
  • Publication number: 20100300228
    Abstract: A speed reduction device for a power seat adapted to be fixed to a seat frame, the speed reduction device includes a worm gear rotating with a motor output shaft, a helical gear meshed with the worm gear and rotating with a drive shaft driving a movable portion of the power seat, and a casing accommodating the worm gear and the helical gear. The casing includes a casing body rotatably supporting the worm gear, a casing cover tightened to the casing body, annular fitting portions fitted to each other, a first engagement portion formed at an outer circumferential side of the annular fitting portion of one of the casing body and the casing cover, a second engagement portion formed at the other of the casing body and the casing cover and engaging with the first engagement portion, and a tightening means tightening the casing cover to the casing body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshitaka KOGA, Eiichiro Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20100282010
    Abstract: A bowling machine motor/gearbox conversion and adaptor kit may allow people to reuse their current gearboxes by adapting the components to utilize a new motor that would make the gearbox universal instead of having different motor/gearbox combinations. The adaptor kit may adapt the gearbox portion of the motor/gearbox assembly to allow the gearbox to accept a current, new motor. A person may use the adaptor kit to repair and replace components of a bowling machine's motor and gearbox assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventor: Michael Hopkins
  • Patent number: 7823475
    Abstract: A sealed worm gear type finger joint unit for a robot hand has a circular opening in a gear box case of the unit, and the opening is closed by a rubber bush. When the rubber bush is removed, a shaft end face of a worm shaft section is exposed from the circular opening, and this makes a tool engagement section formed on the shaft end face is accessible from the outside. A tool for turning the worm shaft section is fitted in the tool engagement section, and the worm shaft section can be easily turned by the tool. Turning the worm shaft section turns a worm, turning a worm wheel meshing with the worm, and this turns the joint shaft. As a result, a swing arm connected to shaft end sections of the joint shaft can be moved to a predetermined position. In the finger joint unit, the joint shaft can be easily manually turned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignees: Harmonic Drive Systems Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshihiro Hirabayashi, Masashi Horiuchi, Hirokazu Ohta, Morihiko Ohkura
  • Patent number: 7814808
    Abstract: Worm gear mechanism includes a driving worm, a torque delivering worm wheel meshing with the worm, and an auxiliary worm wheel superimposed on the torque delivering worm wheel. The auxiliary worm wheel has a pitch diameter greater than that of the torque delivering worm wheel. The auxiliary worm wheel is biased against the driving worm wheel via a biasing member in the form of a leaf spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Shimizu, Katsuji Watanabe, Takahiro Aoki, Yasuhiro Terada, Ryoji Toyofuku
  • Patent number: 7815230
    Abstract: When an output shaft is positioned in a first angular position or a second angular position, the output shaft is allowed to rotate from one angular position to the other angular position without rotating a worm wheel. When the worm wheel is rotated to rotate the output shaft from one angular position to the other angular position, the rotation of the worm wheel is transmitted to the output shaft. When the output shaft is placed in the other angular position, driving-force transmission to the output shaft is released, and at the same time, rotation of the worm wheel is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masakatsu Yoshikuwa
  • Publication number: 20100261568
    Abstract: A gear train is provided that includes at least one side gear comprising a helical face gear and a plurality of helical pinions in meshing engagement with the helical face gear. The gear train may further include an absorber configured to provide an axial force on at least one of the plurality of helical pinions. A differential may also be provided including a differential case and a gear train disposed in the differential case. The gear train includes at least one side gear comprising a helical face gear and a plurality of helical pinions in meshing engagement with the helical face gear. The gear train in the differential may further include a means for providing an axial force on at least one of the plurality of helical pinions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen P. Radzevich, Paul N. Herrmann, Steven A. Rudko
  • Patent number: 7806016
    Abstract: A worm gear mechanism includes a worm, a torque-transmitting worm wheel meshing with the worm, and an auxiliary worm wheel disposed concentrically with the torque-transmitting worm wheel. The auxiliary worm wheel has a pitch circle diameter set to be greater than a pitch circle diameter of the torque-transmitting worm wheel and hence meshes with the worm in a meshing phase different from that of the torque-transmitting worm wheel. A screw thread provided on the worm actually meshes with teeth of the torque-transmitting worm wheel along a length defined as an actual meshing length. The screw thread has an effective length reduced to be approximately equal to the actual meshing length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Shimizu, Katsuji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7806018
    Abstract: A gear mechanism unit for a motor vehicle actuating drive has a gear mechanism housing (1), an axle (2) which is fixedly connected to the gear mechanism housing, and a worm gear (5). The worm gear is provided at its outer periphery with a toothing (6). The axle, in its axial region which is provided for mounting the worm gear, has a region (2a) which is of larger diameter than its other axial regions (2e).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Wuerzburg
    Inventors: Jürgen Greulich, Margit Henig, Peter Klingler
  • Patent number: 7798033
    Abstract: A power-assisted steering system includes a gear mechanism, coupled to a steering column, with a gear and a mating gear. The two transmission gears have teeth (4, 5) via which they engage with each other, movement and power being transmitted from one gear to the other gear via effective profiles of their tooth faces (11, 12). In order to provide a gear mechanism that has an enhanced load-bearing capacity and at the same time can be manufactured in a simple and economical way, the effective profiles of the tooth faces (11, 12) of the gear and the mating gear contact over the height (h4, h5) of the teeth (4, 5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: IMS Gear GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Oberle, Bernd Enzmann
  • Publication number: 20100229667
    Abstract: A worm-gear assembly including a worm screw having at least one groove and a wheel having a plurality of rotatable pins along its periphery for engaging the worm screw. The pins are able to rotate in a direction other than a direction of wheel rotation. At least one raceway is provided for contacting pins that are not engaged with the worm screw during operation of the assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: SpinControl Gearing LLC
    Inventors: Eric D. Carrier, David O. Carrier
  • Patent number: 7793567
    Abstract: A clamping device for clamping a rotatably supported shaft, is provided with a thin-walled sleeve arranged such that a gap is provided along a circumferential direction of the shaft. The clamping device clamps the shaft by deforming the thin-walled sleeve towards the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Sankyo Seisakusho Co.
    Inventor: Heizaburo Kato
  • Publication number: 20100224019
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive unit (10) and to a method for producing the same, in particular for adjusting moveable parts in a motor vehicle, having a metal driveshaft (17) which is mounted in a housing (11) by means of at least one radial bearing element (28), wherein the driveshaft (17) has two end sides (42), at least one of which, as an axial stop, is supported on the housing (11) by means of a stop disk (44), wherein the stop disk (44) is produced from a self-lubricating material (49) which lubricates the axial stop over the entire service life of the drive unit (10) without the use of additional, separate lubricants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas Huck, Tarek Mili, Diyap Bueyuekasik, Rico Lampert
  • Publication number: 20100224020
    Abstract: The invention relates to a toothed wheel (1) comprising a toothed rim (2) and a toothed wheel hub (3) provided with an axial toothed wheel hub channel (19) equipped with at least one opening (20, 21) and connecting elements (11, 12, 13) for connecting the toothed wheel hub (3) and the toothed rim (2) in the radial direction and which are disposed at a distance at least in the direction of the circumference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventors: Walter Haussecker, Max Fiedler, Franz Tasch, Martin Krieg
  • Publication number: 20100212444
    Abstract: This invention provides improvements to worm drives for mechanical power transmission and roller wheels and the worm screws for use in such drives. The principal innovation is utilizing conjugate mesh between the worm screw and the roller wheel by shaping both the surfaces of the threads of the worm screw and the driven surfaces of the roller tips so that they become conjugate surfaces that accomplish the most efficient energy transfer. Previous worm drive approaches have emphasized conforming shapes for the roller tips and the worm screw as well as certain other techniques in an attempt to compensate certain inherent limitations to energy transfer between driving and driven surfaces. This has caused greater energy losses in the gearing mechanism with corresponding decreased power transfer efficiency. The use of conjugate shapes for the roller tips and the driving worm gear surface represents a significant improvement to the concept.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas David Smith
  • Publication number: 20100213310
    Abstract: The present invention provides an actuator characterized by the use of a shuttle that shifts in response to an overload. The shuttle is movable axially relative to a rotary input member by continued rotation of the rotary input member so that a stop on the shuttle moves from an ambush position allowing free rotation of the rotary input member to a blocking position preventing further rotation of the rotary input member. In this way, the shuttle can be used to prevent rotation of a rotary input member during an overload of a control surface, thereby preventing damage to the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: James E. Flatt, Ted Alexander McKay
  • Patent number: 7779959
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus comprises a driving gear driven by an electric motor for steering assist and a driven gear meshed with the driving gear. A steering shaft is rotated along with the driven gear. The steering shaft is rotatably supported by a first bearing and a second bearing. An urging member is arranged in a recess provided in a housing. The urging member urges at least one of the first bearing and the second bearing in a direction in which a center-to-center distance between the driving gear and the driven gear increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Susumu Imagaki, Wataru Yamada
  • Publication number: 20100206112
    Abstract: A linear actuator has a clutch mechanism settled between a worm gear and a screw of the linear actuator. The clutch mechanism including a disc spring normally stays in a clutched position where a driving power is transmitted from the worm gear to the screw. When the linear actuator is overloaded, the clutch mechanism changes to a declutched position by compressing the disc spring so that the driving power is not transmitted to the screw. Thereby, the clutch mechanism protects internal components of the linear actuator from being damaged, thereby improving durability of the linear actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Pei-Yu Wang, Tom-Min Lin, Ren-Hao Cai
  • Patent number: 7762513
    Abstract: A display screen turning apparatus includes a base portion for placing a display screen portion thereon, a transmission gear portion for transmitting driving force of a driving source arranged inside the base portion, a display screen support member supporting the display screen portion rotatably in a horizontal plane and a vertical plane, a rack plate arranged on the base portion and including a rack gear meshed with the transmission gear portion in a horizontal direction, and a coupling portion rotatably coupling the rack plate in the horizontal plane with respect to the display screen support member. The display screen support member is rotated in the anteroposterior direction with respect to the vertical plane by a prescribed angle through the coupling portion coupled to the rack plate following reciprocation of the rack plate in the horizontal plane with normal and reverse rotation of the driving source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunio Sawai, Toshiharu Hibi
  • Publication number: 20100164243
    Abstract: A gripper system having a pair of jaws operable in a first plane and having a central closure axis; each jaw including a finger member and finger tip member disposed on its distal end; and a gripper drive assembly for moving the jaws toward and away from each other; each finger member having a shaped inner contour for accommodating an object to be gripped; each finger tip member including an inner surface which generally aligns with the shaped inner contour for gripping a range of larger objects and an outer surface which generally aligns with the gripper central closure axis upon closure for gripping a range of smaller objects. Alternatively, each finger tip member may include a forcep element extending transversely to said plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventor: Scott R. Albin
  • Publication number: 20100147093
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus 2 for generating electrical charge from a motive power source 3. The apparatus 2 comprises an alternator 3a and a worm drive assembly 4 connectable to the motive power source 3. The worm drive assembly 4 comprises a drive shaft 14 a worm gear 20; and, a worm wheel 32 configured so as to mesh with the worm gear 20 and as is further arranged so as to be operatively associated with the alternator 3a. During use, rotation of the drive shaft 14 by the motive power source 3 effects generation of electrical charge by the alternator 3a.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventor: Frank Seghezzi
  • Publication number: 20100139434
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rear windscreen wiper comprising an electric drive assembly, in particular for a motor vehicle. Said wiper comprises an armature shaft (10) and an armature core (15), the armature shaft (10) being mounted by means of at least one anti-friction bearing (11) and also comprises a screw (12) for driving a drive mechanism. The armature shaft (10) is produced from bar stock that has a nominal diameter (13), which remains uniform over the length of the armature shaft (10), of between 5 mm and 7 mm, preferably 5.5 mm and 6.5 mm. To produce a frictional fit between the screw (12) and/or the anti-friction bearing (11) and/or the armature core (15), the assembly has at least one tumble finished structure (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Mario Huesges, Detlef Lauk
  • Patent number: 7721616
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus that relates to a gear set. The apparatus includes, a housing, a first gear movable in the housing such that a first axis defined by the first gear is repositionable relative to the housing, a second gear in mesh with the first gear, and a second axis defined by the second gear. The apparatus constrains movement of the first axis to a plane containing both the first axis and a line commonly perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis, and a biasing member that urges the first gear toward the second gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Augustine, Christian E. Ross, Steven J. Collier-Hallman, Mohammad S. Islam
  • Patent number: 7712391
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gearing mechanism for the adjustment of two reciprocally adjustable parts (60, 61), especially vehicle parts of a seat adjustment device, a window lifter or a sunroof, wherein the first of the parts (60) has a nonrotating spindle (62) or a fixed tooth rack. The gearing mechanism is formed with a wormwheel (4, 41), which has a spindle nut (42) non-rotatingly connected thereto in order to drive the spindle (62) or a worm non-rotatingly connected thereto in order to drive the tooth rack, with a worm (3, 31) that can be driven so as to transfer a driving force to the wormwheel (4, 41), and with a gear housing (1), which houses the worm (3) and wormwheel (4) in a supporting manner, and which can be connected immovably with the second of the parts (61) in its adjusting direction, wherein the gear housing (1) is formed of a single-piece body with a worm support (14) and a wormwheel support (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: IMS Gear GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfram Hofschulte, Urban Knöpfle, Olav Schulte
  • Patent number: 7707903
    Abstract: An actuator includes a motor, an input rotation member driven by the motor, an input contacting portion formed on the input rotation member, a bush disposed so as to be relatively rotatable to the input rotation member, a first contacting portion and an engaging portion formed on the bush, a spiral spring including an outer circumferential hook portion in contact with the input contacting portion of the input rotation member, and an inner circumferential hook portion engageable with the engaging portion of the bush, the spiral spring storing a rotational force of the input rotation member as an potential energy via the input contacting portion, an output member disposed so as to be relatively rotatable to the input rotation member, an output contacting portion formed on the output member and in contact with the outer circumferential hook portion of the spiral spring; the output contacting portion transmitting the potential energy stored in the spiral spring to the output member; wherein the bush includes a se
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Kobayashi