Worm Patents (Class 74/425)
  • Patent number: 7707721
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing multiple transmission units with individually selectable gear ratios that vary from unit to unit, a gear pair having a desired transmission ratio is selected from a multiplicity of interchangeable gear pairs that includes both spiroplan gears and conventional crown gear and pinion combinations. The selected gear pair is then installed into a housing having first and second bearing sections configured to support bearings in which the shafts of the selected gear pair are rotatably mounted. The bearing sections are configured such that, for every gear pair that may be selected from among the multiplicity of gear pairs, the bearing sections support the first and second shafts in such a position and orientation that teeth of the gears engage with each other and a longitudinal axis of one of the gears of the gear pair is offset by a fixed distance from a longitudinal axis of the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: SEW-EURODRIVE GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Hubert Leibold
  • Patent number: 7703347
    Abstract: A track system (18) of the type used to adjust the position a supported element such as vehicular seat (12) includes a pair of base rails (20) that slidably interact with a respective pair of driven rails (22). A transverse rail (24) is attached to each of the driven rails (22) so that the driven rails (22) slide together as a unit. A motor (34) is supported on the transverse rail (24) and includes a pair of drive shafts (36) emanating from either end. The drive shafts (36) carry on their distal ends' respective worm gears (38) which are contained within a transmission assembly (26). The worm gears (38) mesh with external teeth on respective drive nuts (54) which interact with a lead screw (28) that can be oriented to either remain stationary relative to the base rails (20) or can be rotatably fixed within the driven rails (22). The drive nut (54) is prevented from causing objectionable noise and premature wear in operation by the inclusion of one or two compressible washers (66).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Lucas P. Porinsky, William R. Tighe, William M. Huffman
  • Publication number: 20100089194
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a worm drive supporting the worm of the worm drive with washer-shaped thrust slide bearings and bush-shaped radial slide (sintered oil-containing bearings) bearings. The thrust slide bearings are made of a resin containing 95 to 99.9 wt % of polyetheretherketone resin, which is an aromatic polyetherketone resin. Wear of the thrust slide bearings is reduced and its durability is improved, thereby preventing vibration and noise of the worm drive as well as improving its durability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Masato SHIMODA, Masahiko Mizutani
  • Patent number: 7690476
    Abstract: Disclosed is a clearance adjusting decelerator and an electric power steering apparatus having the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Joon-kyu Song
  • Patent number: 7685670
    Abstract: An input disk, a clutch disk and wave washers are installed to an output shaft to form an output shaft assembly of a motor apparatus. The input disk is axially non-detachable from the output shaft and is rotatable about an axis of the output shaft. The input disk is driven by a drive force supplied from a motor main body of the motor apparatus. The clutch disk is supported by the output shaft in such a manner that the clutch disk is non-rotatable relative to the output shaft and is axially movable along the output shaft relative to the input disk. The wave washers apply a resistive force against axial movement of the clutch disk from a coupled state, at which the input disk is coupled with the clutch disk to rotate together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Yagi, Takayuki Imamura
  • Patent number: 7673366
    Abstract: An input disk and a clutch disk are supported by an output shaft in such a manner that the input disk is rotatable relative to the output shaft, and the clutch disk is non-rotatable relative to and is axially movable relative to the output shaft. When a large load torque is exerted about the output shaft, relative rotation between the input disk and the clutch disk occurs. A connecting rod has one end connected to a worm wheel, and is reciprocally swung through rotation of the worm wheel. A rotatable lever has one end, which is connected to the other end of the connecting rod, and has the other end, which is engaged with and is secured integrally with the gear teeth of the input disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Yagi, Masanori Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7669499
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an arrester device for closing apparatus, such as doors, comprising a worm gear rotationally fixedly connected to an output shaft serving as a winding shaft and a self-locking worm which is in communication with an input shaft. In accordance with the present disclosure, an auxiliary worm gear is seated on an eccentric region of the output shaft with clearance, with the auxiliary worm gear having an eccentricity of the same amount as the output shaft and being assembled such that the eccentricities are cancelled with respect to the axis of the output shaft, with the auxiliary worm gear being able to follow the movement of the worm gear without load via its toothed region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Sigl Elektromotoren GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Mittermeyer
  • Patent number: 7669275
    Abstract: In a clutch device, an output shaft supports an input disk rotatably about an axis thereof, and a clutch disk non-rotatably about the axis and movably in an axial direction of the output shaft. An elastic member exerts resistive force on the input disk or the clutch disk when the clutch disk is about to come out of an engagement with the input disk. One of the input disk and the clutch disk has a trailing surface inclined by a predetermined angle from the axis, and the other has a curved control surface to come in a line contact with the trailing surface in a circumferential direction of the output shaft. The trailing surface and the curved control surface generate a component force of a driving force in the axial direction. The other having the curved control surface is higher in hardness than the one having the trailing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Yagi
  • Patent number: 7665379
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gear train element in a gear train arrangement (5, 18), said gear train element (5) being driven on the drive side by a drive motor (1), on whose power take-off shaft (2) the gear train element (5) is mounted. The peripheral surface of the gear train element (5) is provided with a toothed gearing (7), and said element meshes with one or more toothed gearings of additional gear train elements (18). Axially displaceable and adjustable support elements (11, 12; 33, 34, 35, 36) and sleeve-type followers (13, 14; 30, 31) are mounted between the power take-off shaft (2) and a set of springs (8) and also between the set of springs (8) and the gear train element (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Bux, Anton Paweletz
  • Patent number: 7661332
    Abstract: In a worm reducer for reducing the rotation transmitted to a worm and transmitting the reduced rotation to a worm wheel, the worm reducer being composed of the worm with screw faces formed on its outer periphery and the worm wheel with worm wheel teeth formed on its peripheral surface, the worm wheel teeth being in mesh with the screw faces of the worm, the worm wheel teeth are formed so that the lead angle of the worm wheel is smaller than that of the worm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Maeda
  • Patent number: 7662240
    Abstract: The performance of a worm assembly seal is improved by (1) the use of a hardened steel worm with a bronze worm gear; (2) a tribological coating on one or both of the worm thread or spiral and the gear teeth; 3) a tribological coating on one or both of the input or output shaft or shaft sleeves; or (4) a tribological coating applied to the worm thread, the gear teeth, the input and output shafts or shaft sleeves, or combinations thereof. In each of the approaches, the worm, worm gear, and input and output shafts or shaft sleeves can have surface finishing treatments. Additionally, in each of the three approaches, carbon or carbon/nitrogen concentration gradients can be added to the worm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventors: Geoffrey Bishop, Carl Ribaudo, Ryan Evans, Richard Borowski
  • Patent number: 7654167
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes a worm gear mechanism for transmitting the torque generated by an electric motor to a steered road wheel of the vehicle. The worm gear mechanism has a worm gear made of metal and a worm wheel formed of plastic material and meshing with the worm gear. The worm gear has a tooth profile including a dedendum part formed in an involute shape and an addendum part formed in a circular arc shape with a center located on a line of action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuji Watanabe, Yasuo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7650819
    Abstract: A variable stiffness support has a support housing that is configured to adjust the orientation of an internal elastomer assembly. The support housing includes an adjustment mechanism, and the elastomer assembly includes an outer ring that encircles an elastomeric material, a central bushing embedded in the elastomeric material, and a plurality of shims embedded in the elastomeric material in a parallel planar fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Haynes, David L. Williams, Michael R. Smith, Robert J. Pascal
  • Patent number: 7650809
    Abstract: An electrical steering system for a motor vehicle, having an electric motor having a worm gear which is made up of a worm and a worm wheel, coupled to an input shaft, having a ring gear, worm wheel forming one of the two coupling parts, that are to be coupled to each other, of an elastic compensation coupling whose other coupling part is connected, rotatably fixed, to the input shaft. The two coupling parts are coupled to each other only by one or by a plurality of elastic spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Bernhard, Friedrich Mayr, Michael Jüschke, Erich Berroth, Marc Kohler
  • Publication number: 20100005914
    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: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Troy P. Strieter, Anthony J. Champagne
  • Publication number: 20100005918
    Abstract: The joint mechanism includes a first link, a second link, a third link, a shaft supported on the second link to be rotatable about an axis thereof, and movable in an axis direction thereof, a first worm and a second worm mounted on the shaft, a first worm wheel in mesh with the first worm to pivotally move the first link with respect to the second link, and a second worm wheel in mesh with the second worm to pivotally move the third link with respect to the second link. The first link and the third link are pivotally moved in opposite directions to each other by rotating the shaft, and pivotally moved in identical directions to each other by moving the shaft in the axis direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventors: Osamu Mizuno, Akinobu Okuda, Tohru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7640822
    Abstract: A resin worm wheel is formed by injection molding and includes a first end and a second end. The worm wheel is adapted to be driven by a worm. The worm wheel further includes: an engaging portion including a plurality of teeth engageable with the worm and a tooth space formed between the neighboring teeth; a first non-engaging portion adjacent to the engaging portion at the first end of the worm wheel and not engaging with the worm; and a first cutout portion formed at the first non-engaging portion continuously from the tooth space, the first cutout portion extending axially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuaki Suzuki, Nobuhiko Takeda, Kouji Hirao
  • Patent number: 7640828
    Abstract: A housing is held by a bracket of a vehicle seat and receives a worm wheel and a threaded shaft. The shaft is driven linearly through the worm wheel. One end of the housing contacts the bracket and includes a receiving recess, which is recessed in the axial direction of the worm wheel. A sensor unit is installed in the recess of the one end of the housing and includes a support wall, which supports the housing relative to the bracket in the axial direction of the worm wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryousuke Sakamaki
  • Patent number: 7640827
    Abstract: Driving torque outputted from a motor portion is transmitted to a worm from a motor shaft, further to a helical gear from the worm, and is taken out to the outside from an output shaft which rotates together with the helical gear with a fixed shaft fixed to a gear box as a center. This fixed shaft is constructed in a hollow and cylindrical shape having an opening in which one end portion thereof has been opened, and a ceiling surface in which the other end portion thereof has been closed, and one end portion of this fixed shaft is subjected to dislocation preventive work, and is fixed to a gear box made of resin by pressing-in or insert molding. The other end portion of the fixed shaft is formed with the dislocation preventive structure of the output shaft and the helical gear installed to the fixed shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Mabuchi Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Okumura, Kazuyuki Yamamoto, Shinichi Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 7614779
    Abstract: A kitchen appliance in the form of a stand mixer has an electric motor driving a mixing implement via a gear box. The gear box includes a worm on a shaft mating with a worm gear to achieve speed reduction and a change in the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Johnson Electric S.A.
    Inventors: Jing Ning Ta, Jie Tao
  • Patent number: 7614184
    Abstract: An operator comprising a housing ending in a flange is provided with a turret incorporating a stepped bore for locating a worm shaft of a drive mechanism. A first seal is disposed between the worm shaft and the stepped bore. A second seal is interposed between the flange and a frame of a window. An interconnecting mechanism driven by the worm shaft comprises a pair of worm arms followed by a pair of links. The former and the latter are provided with male and female ends using, respectively, a calotte of a sphere complemented by a spherical shaped recess. Thus, between the pair of worm arms and the pair of links, pivotal joints are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Inventors: Jacob Rebel, Hong Chen
  • Publication number: 20090247027
    Abstract: A motorized push pole device having a standard mounted to a raised poling platform on a boat. A housing is mounted to the standard wherein the housing is adapted to removably clamp around a push pole. A drive wheel is mounted under the housing, wherein a periphery of the drive wheel is in contact with the push pole and adapted to rotate in a first direction causing push pole to move in an extendable motion and the drive wheel adapted to rotate in an opposing second direction causing push pole to move in a retractable motion. An electrical switch is connected to a motor for controlling operation of the motor for rotating the drive wheel. The motor includes a rotating motor shaft terminating in a worm gear. The drive wheel further comprising a cog wheel for engaging the worm gear of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventor: Dwayne Demastus
  • Publication number: 20090242076
    Abstract: Apparatus for the automatic removal of samples of water from a continuous flow, having a frame (1) comprising a horizontal platform (4) supporting a plurality of containers (32) each designed to receive, via its open upper filling orifice (33), a water sample, and a driving ring gear mounted on a water supply pipe connected to a suction pump and joined to a dispensing arm (27) that delivers to each container in turn a sample following the rotation of this arm, the appliance being characterized in that the supporting plate has a distribution disc (23) parallel to the plate and having an even number of dispensing passages (29) numbering twice as many as the containers, half of these passages each being arranged in front of an open orifice of one of these containers and separated from each other by an analogous intermediate passage of evacuation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Institut De Recherche Pour Le Development
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Janeau, Norbert Silvera, Jean-Pierre Bricquet
  • Publication number: 20090241712
    Abstract: A worm gear mechanism includes a worm wheel having a central axis; and a worm shaft made of resin having a rotational axis and a plurality of geared portions which engages with the worm wheel, the worm shaft allowing the worm wheel to rotate about the central axis of the worm wheel when rotating about the rotational axis of the worm shaft, tooth root portions of the geared portions being configured to have a profile which varies gradually along an axial direction of the worm shaft relative to a datum line being perpendicular to the axial direction of the worm shaft and passing through the central axis of the worm wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuaki Suzuki, Yuki Okabe
  • Patent number: 7584682
    Abstract: An adjustment device with a dual-guiding structure has two worm wheels respectively meshed with two coaxial worm gears. The two worm gears are pivotally and longitudinally fixed by a driving shaft in line. An adjacent end of each worm gear has a locking recess to receive a locking head mounted on the driving shaft. Thereby, the locking head is selectively engaged with the locking recess of one of the worm gears to drive the corresponding worm gear when the locking head on the driving shaft is reciprocated. Then, one worm wheel engaged with the corresponding worm gear is rotated to rewind or release the wires on the work wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Chern Shing Top Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsueh-Sheng Hsiao
  • Patent number: 7571660
    Abstract: In a geared motor, a worm wheel, an O-ring, a transmission plate and an output gear are installed to a support shaft. The O-ring is placed in an inner space of a receiving through hole of the transmission plate, through which the support shaft is received. Grease is applied to an outer peripheral surface of the support shaft. A grease relief passage, which relieves the grease, extends between the output gear and the transmission plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Asmo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Ota, Hirokazu Tsuda
  • Patent number: 7573171
    Abstract: A rotation control motor comprises a shaft, an armature having an armature core of which teeth are wound by wires to form coils, a commutator, and a field magnet. The armature core has a plurality of teeth, the commutator has a plurality of commutator segments corresponding to the number of teeth, and the coils comprise a normal coil and a brake coil. When the motor rotates faster than expected, the brake coil brakes the motor by magnetic flux, and the motor can rotate within a stable speed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Igarashi Electric Works Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Sesita, Katuyuki Tanaka, Yusuke Mizukoshi, Hiroyuki Kurihara, Yoshihisa Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7571666
    Abstract: Case parts of an adjustment mechanism for a seat adjustment device of a motor vehicle can be joined together along a parting line via joint surfaces. The joint surfaces are provided for the purpose of reciprocal placement of the case parts by way of a joining process. Contact surfaces of the case parts are present in addition to the joint surfaces The contact surfaces are in non-parallel alignment to the joint surfaces. Transferred gear forces running parallel to at least a section of the joint surfaces are absorbed by the contact surfaces. The case parts are fastened to one another by way of screw connections. The contact surfaces of the one case part are respectively held in position with respect to the contact surfaces of the other case part solely due to the screw connections. With such a case, high loads can be absorbed in spite of a small size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignees: KEIPER GmbH & Co. KG, IMS Gear GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Borbe, Stefan Wetzig, Wolfram Hofschulte, Michael Wöhrle
  • Patent number: 7568257
    Abstract: Initiation of coupling between an input disk and a clutch disk at a maximum rotational coupling force without making relative rotation between the input disk and the clutch disk is enabled only when the output shaft is placed in a single engageable point within a normal reciprocal angular range of the output shaft. When a load applied to the output shaft is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the input disk and the clutch disk are decoupled from one another, so that the relative rotation is made between the input disk and the clutch disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Yagi, Takayuki Imamura
  • Patent number: 7562601
    Abstract: A worm wheel includes an annular metallic core portion and a resin rim portion which is fitted on an outer circumference of the core portion. The rim portion includes an annular main body portion which covers the outer circumference of the core portion and in which a toothed portion is formed on an outer circumference thereof and a pair of annular flanges which are made to extend from the main body portion in a radially inward direction X to thereby cover, respectively, outer edge portions of first and second sides of the core portion. The first annular flange 53 engages with a recess formed in the corresponding side of the core portion. A bottom portion of the recess includes an undercut portion in relation to a radially outward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventors: Takanori Kurokawa, Hideo Matsubara, Akihiko Shiina
  • Patent number: 7562600
    Abstract: A slat angle adjusting device has a body, a positioning bar, a pinion, a drive axle, a rotating rod and a roller. The drive axle is rotatably mounted inside the body, engages with the pinion and has at least one helical tooth and an engaging end provided with multiple teeth. Each helical tooth is composed of multiple separate helical tooth elements, and a gap is defined between each pair of adjacent helical tooth elements. With the arrangement of gaps between the teeth elements, burs are prevented from occurring on the helical teeth of the drive axle, such that the transmission between the drive axle and the pinion is smooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Inventor: Tai-Ping Liu
  • Publication number: 20090178449
    Abstract: A lock body includes a bolt and a follower that is functionally connectable with the bolt to control the position of the bolt, and a driver. The driver is connectable with the follower to convey force turning the driver to the follower. Furthermore, the lock body includes an electric motor to operate as a power source for changing the locking state of the lock body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: ABLOY OY
    Inventor: Juha Raatikainen
  • Patent number: 7552661
    Abstract: A positioning device without backlash includes a table and at least one gear operatively associated with the table. At least one worm gear is connected to the gear and the gear is driven in a desired direction with a primary motor and a synchronized slave motor. The synchronized slave motor is then reversible to remove the backlash in the positioning device thereby permitting an actual position to correspond with a dialed-in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Quickset International, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl C. Diana, John A. Bostic, Daniel A. Cloud, Rodney S. Harris
  • Publication number: 20090151492
    Abstract: A heat sink mechanism includes a fixed and a movable clamping piece, at least one adjusting gearwheel rotatably mounted to and between the fixed and the movable clamping piece via a fixing shaft while an end of the fixing shaft is screwed to the movable clamping piece, and an adjusting worm shaft rotatably mounted to the fixed clamping piece for driving the adjusting gearwheel to rotate via meshed worm threads on the worm shaft and gear teeth on the adjusting gearwheel. When the adjusting worm shaft is rotated, the meshed worm threads and gear teeth bring the adjusting gearwheel and the fixing shaft thereof to rotate, so that the movable clamping piece screwed to the rotating fixing shaft is brought to move toward or away from the fixed clamping piece to thereby fix the heat sink mechanism to a heat-producing source to achieve the purpose of heat dissipation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Shih-Chieh Chiang, Lin-Yu Lee
  • Publication number: 20090152057
    Abstract: A brake device arranged between a drive shaft and a driven shaft arranged coaxially with the drive shaft is disclosed. The brake device includes a first rotor, a second rotor, an engagement member, a braking mechanism, and a cam mechanism. The braking mechanism includes a movable friction member rotatable integrally with the second rotor, a fixed friction portion, and an urging member that urges the movable friction member toward the fixed friction portion. When rotational force is provided from the drive shaft to the first rotor, the cam mechanism permits transmission of rotation of the drive shaft to the driven shaft. When the rotational force is provided from the driven shaft to the second rotor, the cam mechanism restricts rotation of the driven shaft. The cam mechanism is provided independently from the engagement member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yamamoto, Katsuhiko Torii, Hidenori Ishihara, Tomoki Yamashita, Nakatsune Shirai, Katsumi Endo
  • Publication number: 20090145254
    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: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicants: HARMONIC DRIVE SYSTEM, INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshihiro Hirabayashi, Masashi Horiuchi, Hirokazu Ohta, Morihiko Ohkura
  • Publication number: 20090120711
    Abstract: A worm gear includes a worm shaft including a thread including a tooth flank that defines a concave edge in a tooth profile of the thread; and a worm wheel including a tooth including a tooth flank that defines a convex edge in a tooth profile of the tooth. The worm wheel meshes with the worm shaft in such a manner that the tooth flank of the worm wheel and the tooth flank of the worm shaft, as working flanks, define therebetween an entrance-side clearance as a clearance where the thread of the worm shaft starts to mesh with the tooth of the worm wheel, and an exit-side clearance as a clearance where the meshing terminates, wherein the exit-side clearance is smaller than the entrance-side clearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventor: Kohtaro Shiino
  • Publication number: 20090095106
    Abstract: A system for controlling airflow in a plenum, that comprises a worm gear and planetary gear that are removably coupled to a worm shaft and planetary shaft, respectively. The planetary shaft controls the movement of a damper between an open position permitting maximum airflow through the plenum, and a closed position restricting airflow through the plenum. A motor or gear-motor is positioned at the plenum for driving the worm shaft. The motor is controlled by a remotely located controller that includes a power supply for operating the motor. The controller is connected to the motor through a cable with a detachable electrical connection between the cable and the controller. Alternatively, the movement of the damper is controlled by a drive shaft, which connects the motor or gear motor directly to the damper without intervening gearing. The motor is positioned in the airflow of the plenum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: John E. Hollender, Keith Alsberg, Michael Blaha
  • Publication number: 20090095105
    Abstract: A gear system including a worm gear, planetary gear, worm coupling and planetary coupling is presented. The worm coupling couples a first shaft with the worm gear and includes a head and an elongated portion. The elongated portion is attached to the worm gear to serve as the worm gear's axle. The head includes an opening into which the worm shaft is inserted and may include additional bores into which set screws are inserted to removably attach the worm shaft to the worm coupling. The planetary coupling couples a second shaft with the planetary gear. The planetary coupling includes a bore into which the second shaft is inserted and may include additional bores into which set screws are inserted to removably attach the planetary shaft to the planetary coupling. By using multiple bores and set screws, the planetary coupling may accommodate a variety of planetary shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventor: John E. Hollender
  • Publication number: 20090071279
    Abstract: The invention relates to an adjustment drive, particularly a window actuating drive in a motor vehicle, with a gearing worm capable of being driven by an electric motor. Said gearing worm is situated in mesh with a first worm gear. Provision is made according to the invention for at least a second worm gear to be situated in mesh with the gearing worm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas HUCK
  • Publication number: 20090071280
    Abstract: A housing is made of resin and receives a worm. A worm wheel is made of resin and is received in the housing to mesh with the worm. A support shaft includes a shaft portion and a boss portion. The shaft portion rotatably supports the worm wheel. The boss portion is made of metal and is fixed to the housing. The boss portion holds the shaft portion and includes a slidably engaging surface that slidably engages the worm wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: ASMO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Atsushi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 7500413
    Abstract: A step-by-step motor able to carry out up-and-down motion includes a housing, a transmitting gear, a worm gear, an interacting member, a top rod, a circuit board with a transmitting motor, a cover body and an adjusting member. The level of the headlamp of an automobile can be adjusted by inserting an adjustment tool through one lateral through hole of the recessed chamber of the cover body from outside to have the engage teeth of the adjustment tool engaged with one engage notch of the adjusting member and turning the adjustment tool to actuate the adjusting member to rotate and actuate the top rod to move upward, or by inserting an adjustment tool in the bottom slit of the projecting post of the adjusting member and turning it around to drive the adjusting member to rotate and actuate the top rod and the headlamp to move upward or downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Inventors: Hsian-Yi Huang, Hsiu-Ming Huang
  • Publication number: 20090056489
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plastic gear, particularly a worm gear, with teeth disposed side by side in circumferential direction. Provision is made according to the invention for the surface of at least one of the teeth to be structured in such a way as to constitute a grease depot. The invention additionally relates to a drive as well as to a method for introducing a structure, which constitutes a grease depot, into the surface of at least one tooth of a plastic gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Armin NIEDERER, Diyap Bueyuekasik, Andrea Ganter, Marco Krauth
  • Patent number: 7480972
    Abstract: An actuator for a control unit has a control motor with a motor power takeoff shaft; a control shaft that carries the control unit; and a step-up gear, disposed between the motor power takeoff shaft and the control shaft, as well as a restoring device for restoring the control unit to a basic position if the control motor fails. To make it possible to use a single-stage step-up gear with a major step-up ratio and with advantages in terms of installation space, weight, and production costs, the restoring device has two separate energy-storing means, preferably embodied as restoring springs, of which one feeds back to the motor power takeoff shaft and the other feeds back to the control shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Reiner Schweinfurth, Heiner Fees
  • Patent number: 7478574
    Abstract: A motor shaft puts through a motor casing and a gear casing which are detachably connected to each other. In the motor casing, a rotor is fixed to the motor shaft, while a stator is fixed on the inner circumferential surface of the motor casing. The motor shaft has a worm which engages with a worm wheel in the gear casing. A collar in which the motor shaft is pressingly fitted is provided in the middle of the motor shaft at the end of the gear casing. The motor shaft is supported at each end of the worm in the gear casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Igarashi Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Sesita, Katuyuki Tanaka, Yusuke Mizukoshi, Hiroyuki Kurihara, Yoshihisa Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20090000120
    Abstract: By finding a range of an allowable error of maximum meshing position of a worm shaft in an axial direction relative to a worm wheel, that is higher than that of a worm shaft of a conventional worm gear unit, a worm gear unit of the present invention is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Kohtaro Shiino, Yusuke Fukuda
  • Publication number: 20080314180
    Abstract: A reduction gear is provided. The reduction gear includes: a worm made of a metal; and a worm wheel having gear teeth engaged with the worm, wherein at least the gear teeth of the worm wheel are made of a synthetic resin containing reinforcing fibers, and wherein an engagement surface of the gear teeth is so processed that a containing ratio of the reinforcing fibers of a surface layer is lower than that of the reinforcing fiber of an inner portion. By improving initial acquaintanceship of the engagement surface of the teeth gear of the worm wheel, it is possible to increase a durability-allowable transmission tongue. In addition, by reducing a friction of the worm, it is possible to provide a reduction gear with the worm having a lengthened lifetime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Iwano
  • Patent number: 7467565
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gear drive unit (10), in particular to adjust moveable parts in a motor vehicle, with a gear housing (15) and a shaft (18) positioned therein along a longitudinal axis (30), which shaft is supported on the housing (15) via an axial stopping face (35) on a counter stopping face (36), wherein at least one of the stopping faces (35, 36) is inclined perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (30) against a plane (42) by an angle of inclination (40) in order to generate an axial force, and a component (44), which cooperates with at least one of the stopping faces (35, 36), is arranged in a displaceable manner perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (30). In doing so, the coefficient of friction between the at least one stopping face (35, 36) and the component (44) is greater than the tangent of the angle of inclination (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Oberle, Andreas Lienig, Mario Huesges, Fabian Louvel
  • Patent number: 7464620
    Abstract: An actuator for an automotive seat that includes two main assemblies: (1) a motor assembly; and (2) a gearbox assembly. The gearbox assembly includes multiple stages of gear reduction and a dividing plate. In some embodiments, the gearbox assembly has a single-lead worm, a worm gear with a right-hand helix tooth direction, and a worm gear with a left-hand helix tooth direction. The worm gears are driven by the single-lead worm. The single-lead worm has two ends, one end has a right-hand tooth helix direction, and the other end has a left hand helix direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Schukraoof North America
    Inventors: Zhihang Li, Saili Li, Liming Tang, Xu Du
  • Publication number: 20080273935
    Abstract: A method for cutting worm and worm wheel in a worm-gear reduction unit (1) with circulation of bearing balls, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining races (30) for the bearing balls (4) onto the worm wheel (3); and (b) obtaining races (20) for the bearing balls (4) onto the worm (2), wherein step (b) provides the cutting of the races (20) according to a cutting profile substantially corresponding to the envelope of the subsequent positions assumed by the bearing balls within the worm wheel races being formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Pietro Salvini, Domenico Serpella, Francesco Vivio, Vincenzo Vullo