Cams Patents (Class 74/567)
  • Patent number: 6295893
    Abstract: A hollow cam shaft is composed of a hollow shaft having an inner hollow portion and an end piece which is pressure-welded to at least one end of the hollow shaft. The end piece comprises an end member which is pressure-welded to the one end of the hollow shaft and an enclosure member extending from the end member in an axial direction thereof so as to be inserted into the inner hollow portion of the hollow shaft at a time of pressure welding to define an enclosure space in the inner hollow portion of the hollow shaft. The enclosure member comprises a sealing portion having an outer shape substantially the same as an inner shape of the hollow shaft and a connection portion connecting an end surface of the end member of the end piece and the sealing portion so as to define said enclosure space between the enclosure member and the hollow shaft into which a burr generated at the pressure welding time is enclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Nippon Piston Ring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Ogawa, Shunsuke Takeguchi
  • Patent number: 6289764
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a camshaft comprises the first step of casting a blank defining a central shaft, concentric journal bearings and eccentric cam lobes, the cam nose region between the journal bearing at the driven end of the camshaft and the adjacent cam lobe being cast in the same non-circular shape as the cam lobe but with smaller dimensions. The cam nose and the cam surface of the first cam lobe are then ground. Preferably, the cam lobe surface and the cam nose are ground at the same time as one another by means of a shaped grinding wheel having a cylindrical portion for grinding the cam surface and a narrower contoured portion of larger diameter at one end for grinding the cam nose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignees: Cummins Engine Company Ltd., Iveco (UK) Ltd., New Holland U.K. Ltd.
    Inventors: Damian P. Smith, Gary S. Antcliff
  • Patent number: 6282980
    Abstract: A self-adjusting parking brake actuator for a vehicle is provided having an eccentrically-mounted self-adjust cam assembly. The cam assembly is mounted eccentrically to the lever axis to provide a variable mechanical advantage during actuator stroke. The eccentric offset for the self-adjusting cam is less than the outside radius of the cam to reduce the overall space requirements of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Ventra Group Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Sykes
  • Patent number: 6276232
    Abstract: A stroke length regulator of small dimensions and simple construction, provided with a cam for converting an eccentric movement into a reciprocating movement, a cylindrical body around which this cam is fitted, and a crank member fitted slidably in this cylindrical body and having a cam guide portion for varying an eccentric position of the cam and an outer circumferential surface portion contacting an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Nikkiso Company Limited
    Inventors: Manabu Yokomichi, Eiichi Nagayama
  • Patent number: 6272949
    Abstract: An accessory apparatus for uncoupling a king pin of a trailer from a locking device on a fifth wheel. The accessory apparatus includes a power device such as a pneumatic cylinder suspended from the bottom surface of the fifth wheel plate to form a fifth wheel assembly. A cam is mounted on the end of the power device's actuating member. The cam and actuating member are symmetric. A coil spring is held within the power device's housing, and is also symmetric with the longitudinal axes of the cam and actuating member. No external guides or springs are needed. The power device may be energized from a remote location to propel the cam to contact and propel a follower on an operating rod to unlock the fifth wheel jaw to release the king pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: AMSTED Industries Incorporated
    Inventors: David J. Jarvis, Francis E. Madura, Thomas P. Gorman
  • Patent number: 6250177
    Abstract: A cam apparatus includes: a cam driver having a sliding surface with a V-shaped cross section; a cam slide having a sliding surface of a shape complementary to the sliding surface of the cam driver in such a manner as to be slidably brought into contact with the sliding surface of the cam driver; and a cam-slide supporting base for movably supporting the cam slide so that the cam slide can move while being guided by the sliding surface of the cam driver as the sliding surface of the cam slide and the sliding surface of the cam driver are brought into contact with each other. The cam slide is disposed with a gap with respect to the cam-slide supporting base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Oiles Corporation
    Inventor: Tadashi Sasahara
  • Patent number: 6244133
    Abstract: A cam and follower system for use with an automatic doffing system of a rotor spinning machine. The system includes a cover member for covering the cam lobes of a cam gear found in the automatic doffing system of a rotor spinning machine. The system also includes a cam follower for connection to the automatic doffing system. The cover member has cam surfaces which are complimentary to and which act to renew the original cam surfaces of the cam gear's cam lobes. The cam follower is adapted to engage and ride upon the cover member's cam surfaces during operation of the automatic doffing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventors: Bryson W. Donald, Timothy Henry
  • Patent number: 6240806
    Abstract: A cam shaft support and enclosure assembly includes a tube formed with a flat on its inboard end. An outboard end of the tube is supported on a spider which in turn is mounted on an axle of a heavy duty vehicle. A bushing is mounted in each of the tube ends, and a shaft is rotatably mounted in and passes completely through the bushings and sealed and lubricated tube. An S-cam is integrally formed on an exposed outboard end of the shaft and the exposed inboard end of the shaft is formed with splines for meshingly engaging a slack adjuster of the vehicle brake system. A support plate formed with a generally D-shaped keyhole is mounted on the suspension beam, and is slip-fittingly engaged by the correspondingly shaped and sized inboard end of the tube. The weld-free keyhole connection of the tube and plate enables the plate to react rotation of the tube without the possibility of fatigue or failure of a weld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: The Boler Company
    Inventors: Brian Richard Morris, Jay Dudley White
  • Patent number: 6182631
    Abstract: An improved and simplified outboard motor construction wherein the cooling and exhaust systems for the engine are formed with a minimum number of components and sealing joints and incorporating a non-metallic cam shaft for reduced cost and weight without sacrifice of durability. The exhaust system includes an elongated expansion chamber formed in the drive shaft housing. In addition, the drive shaft housing has a cylindrical section that is journaled within a swivel bracket for its steering movement. The volume between the external portion of the drive shaft housing and the internal portion of the swivel bracket forms a second expansion chamber that is employed for the low speed above the water exhaust gas discharge. The flow of cooling the water to and from the engine is controlled so that the exhaust gas interchange area between the power head and the drive shaft housing will be well cooled, as will the oil reservoir for the engine and the oil returned to it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Kitajima, Koji Abe
  • Patent number: 6182627
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a housing with a plurality of bearing supports. Each bearing support has a substantially circular interior bearing surface. A segmented camshaft assembly includes at least two camshafts axially adjacent to each other to define at least one adjacent pair of camshafts. Each camshaft is rotatably carried by the housing and includes a plurality of cam lobes. The camshaft assembly also includes at least one connector assembly, with each connector assembly connecting an adjacent pair of camshafts together. Each connector assembly has an exterior bearing surface disposed within and rotatably carried by a corresponding interior bearing surface in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Matthews
  • Patent number: 6182361
    Abstract: A method for making a lightweight composite camshaft, includes the steps of providing at least one lightweight cam element having a lobed outer surface and a hub with a cylindrical bore, at least a portion of the hub not being radially occluded by the outer surface; providing at least one lightweight journal element having a cylindrical outer surface and a hub with a cylindrical bore, at least a portion of the hub not being radially occluded by said outer surface; providing a hollow cylindrical tubular shaft member having a diameter sized to form a snug sliding fit in the hubs of the cam element and the journal element; positioning the cam and journal elements on the shaft in required axial and radial orientations; and applying means, on the hub of each element and that portion of the shaft which is in registry with the hub, for establishing a permanent interlock to fix each element in its required axial and radial orientation on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: Allan D. Cox, Giovanni C. Albini, Robert E. Schomburg, William A. Gordon
  • Patent number: 6167781
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a guide and positioning mechanism for dictating retraction motion of a retractable member such as a retractable media jack. The apparatus is comprised of a “J-shaped” cam follower having a short end press-fit into a cam pushing with the longer end of the cam follower tracing out the path boundaries as dictated by a groove within a cam track. The cam bushing is comprised of a generally cylindrical cam axle through with the short end of the cam follower passes and an extended wedge-shaped extension for providing support to the extended longer portion of the cam follower. The longer portion of the cam follower is rotationally bounded by stops on each end of the wedge-shaped extension on the cam axle which keeps the long end of the cam follower radially bounded as the cam follower traces a catch and release path of the cam track during extension and retraction of the retractable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: 3Com Corporation
    Inventors: Brent Madsen, Ryan Kunz, David Oliphant, Dexter Francis, Josh Randall
  • Patent number: 6138627
    Abstract: Embodiments of valve operating mechanisms for operating the poppet valve of an internal combustion engine. Each embodiment includes a rotating cam member having a cam lobe surface engaged with a follower for actuating the poppet valve. The profile of the cam surface is such so that the absolute value of the jerk of the valve acceleration in the vicinity of maximum valve lift is smaller than the absolute value of the jerk of the valve in areas adjacent to the area of maximum valve lift. The load between the cam surface and the follower at the point of maximum lift is greater than the load during the time of at least one of the approach to maximum lift and the closing of the valve after the maximum lift because the tip of the nose of the cam has a greater effective radius than on the sides adjacent the tip. This reduces stress and permits greater engine speeds without valve float.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Minoru Iida
  • Patent number: 6105461
    Abstract: A control unit for adjusting heating, air conditioning, and/or ventilation equipment in motor vehicles has turning knobs (5, 6) and the cam wheels (13, 14) which are connected together. There are adjusting levers (10, 11, 12), with each being mounted by means of two bearing pins (15, 16) in a base part (3), and each adjusting arm (10, 11, 12) being structured as a two-armed lever with one lever arm (17, 18, 19) engaging in a three-dimensional cam plate (20, 21, 22) of the cam wheel (13, 14) in a swivel plane E. Between the lever arm (17, 18, 19) and the three-dimensional cam plate (20, 21, 22), a barrel-shaped or spherical follower element (23) is positioned that cooperates with radial motion-causing walls (24, 25) of the three-dimensional cam plate (20, 21, 22). A control unit of this invention is structured to be space saving, easier and less expensive to produce, and to function in an improved manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Preh-Werke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Bauer, Joachim Storath, Walter Voll
  • Patent number: 6098971
    Abstract: A variable hysteresis module for use with an accelerator pedal with an electronic throttle control system for vehicles and the like includes a follower moveable along a back plate and urged by return springs against a cam actuator. The actuator acts against an angled side of the follower that resolves the pedal force on the actuator into a parallel component opposing the spring force and a normal component urging the follower against the back plate to develop friction that produces hysteresis. The hysteresis varies with the force of the return springs and so generally increases as the engine throttle is opened and decreases as the engine throttle is returned closed. If the spring force is reduced, the friction force is proportionally reduced. Other variations are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: General Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Jean Stege, Steven Alan Kornburger
  • Patent number: 6035821
    Abstract: Two embodiments of overhead camshaft internal combustion engines wherein the camshafts are provided with cutouts in the area adjacent the cam lobes so as to keep the center of gravity in the lobed area closer to the rotational axis of the camshaft and also to improve balance and reduce vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hironao Takahashi, Masaki Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 6032922
    Abstract: A fluid flow control valve is provided comprising a valve seat inside a housing for defining a passage opening in the housing and a valve seal positioned against the valve seat for closing off fluid flow. A push rod extends from the valve seal and through the passage opening. The push rod is moveable for moving the valve seal off the seat to open the valve. The valve seal is restricted to substantially axial movement, preferably by a spring biasing the valve seal against the valve seat which spring is sized so as to engage the walls of the passage. A cam shaft rotatably mounted in the housing is provided for moving the push rod upon rotation of the cam shaft. A handle is non-rotatably connected to the shaft for rotating the cam shaft. A latch may be provided for releasably locking the handle in a position where the valve is open. A safety may also be provided on the latch arm so as to prevent the handle from being moved accidentally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Alemite Corporation
    Inventor: Jerry D. Shew
  • Patent number: 6024422
    Abstract: A variable pitch screw-driven system includes a rotatable drive screw powered by a motor actuator. A cam sleeve includes a nut section and is disposed about the drive screw and is linearly translatable in response to rotation of the drive screw. The cam sleeve includes a cam track with a fixed cam follower positioned to travel within a cam track. Linear translation of the cam sleeve is altered by tracking of the cam follower within the cam track such that rotation of the cam sleeve is effected simultaneously with rotation of the drive screw resulting in an effective variable pitch of the variable pitch screw-driven system wherein linear translation of the cam sleeve results from both rotation of the drive screw and rotation of the cam sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: David Bernard Drennen, Gustavus Pearl Bock, Ryan Lovell Wright
  • Patent number: 6000368
    Abstract: A camshaft assembly has a shaft and a cam that are formed independently and then assembled together. The cam includes an inclined section and a parallel section. The radius of the inclined section varies in the axial direction in at least one angular section of the cam, and the cross section of the parallel section is constant in the axial direction. The parallel section is adjacent to the inclined section and not contacted by the cam follower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Mikame
  • Patent number: 6000298
    Abstract: A fluctuation torque cancellation apparatus which positively cancels a torque fluctuation developing on an input shaft or an output shaft of a motion conversion apparatus for converting a continuous rotational motion of the input shaft into a predetermined-type rotational motion, such as intermittent rotational motions of the output shaft, and includes a torque compensation cam, fixedly mounted on a rotation shaft for rotation therewith and has a cam surface, formed on a peripheral surface which reciprocally moves a slider in a cylinder while rotating a cam follower and with a coil spring, mounted within the cylinder, being compressed and expanded, so that the magnitude of pressing force of the cam follower against the torque compensation cam is varied, thereby cancelling a fluctuation torque applied to the rotation shaft, thus effecting a torque compensation for the motion conversion apparatus and including a source of pressurized air supplied to an air chamber in the cylinder to selectively vary the pressin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Sankyo Seisakusho Co.
    Inventor: Heizaburo Kato
  • Patent number: 5996754
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical clutch actuator is provided for disengaging a clutch of a transmission. The clutch actuator includes an assist spring for reducing the amount of motor torque required for operating the clutch actuator. The clutch actuator also includes a self adjustment feature which accommodates for clutch disk wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Richard G. Reed, Jr., Donald L. Carriere
  • Patent number: 5992265
    Abstract: A built-up camshaft with a shaft body, on which separately produced cams are fixed, is described. In order to achieve that the individual cams can be made with the greatest accuracy and also with concave circumferential areas or running surfaces, and at the same time the shaft body can be balanced in a manner which is optimal from the viewpoint of vibration, a shaft body is provided, which is produced by casting, forging or the like. Except for the cams, all functional elements, such as sprocket mountings, axial bearings and position transmitters, can be formed in one piece on the shaft body during its manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Eisengiesserei Monforts GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Roland Klaar
  • Patent number: 5988012
    Abstract: The invention is a mechanism for selectively fixing the angular relationship of two pivotaly related structural members in finite steps using a manually actuated, cam-activated gear lock. This provides an adjustable and selectively lockable angular relationship. Fixed and moveable cylindrical cams and a concentric face gear/clutch are used. In one application, the mechanism is incorporated into a four bar linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Inventor: Frank W. Arnoth
  • Patent number: 5979386
    Abstract: An assembled hollow shaft, including an inner shaft tube with external functional elements mounted to the tube by radial expansion of axial sections of the tube that lie between the functional elements. Whereby the internal shaft tube is plastically deformed in the expansion sections and the external elements are resiliently deformed in the expansion sections. The functional elements are combined, at least in part, into multiple functional elements that include multiple individual parts which are combined in the axial direction. The parts include non-round individual parts that have annular projections in the axial direction concentric to a base circle. The annular projections have an internal diameter which is slightly larger than an external diameter of the inner shaft tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Emitech Gesellschaft fur Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventor: Helmut Swars
  • Patent number: 5960757
    Abstract: A shoe housing 3 is connected to and rotatable together with an input shaft. A vane rotor 9 is connected to an output shaft and accommodated in shoe housing 3 so as to cause a rotation within a predetermined angle with respect to shoe housing 3. Vane rotor 9 and shoe housing 3 cooperatively define hydraulic chambers 10, 11, 12 and 13 whose volumes are variable in accordance with a rotational position of vane rotor 9 with respect to shoe housing 3. A locking member 7 is accommodated in vane rotor 9 and shiftable in a direction parallel to a rotational axis common to shoe housing 3 and vane rotor 9. And, an engaging bore 20, formed on a front plate 4 secured to shoe housing 3, receives locking member 7 through a tapered surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayasu Ushida
  • Patent number: 5957004
    Abstract: A cam disk of a cam drive has a working surface which is provided with a discontinuous hardened rim. An open space in the working surface either receives or is bridged by an insertion piece that has a hardened surface portion. The result is a cam disk with an uninterrupted functional hardened work surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer-Albert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Bertram Wilhelm-Georg Dauner
  • Patent number: 5947070
    Abstract: An overhead camshaft internal combustion engine having a plastic camshaft which extends through an opening on the cylinder head, the plastic camshaft having a seal ring disposed around the outer surface of the molded plastic camshaft to provide an interface surface for contacting a seal assembly disposed between the engine casing and the molded plastic camshaft. The seal assembly and the seal ring provide a fluid tight seal to prevent leakage of fluid through the cylinder head opening. The seal ring provides a smooth contact surface for the molded plastic camshaft to prevent wear and damage to the seal assembly from the abrasive surface of the molded plastic camshaft. The seal ring also provides a heat sink for dissipating the frictional heat generated by the rotation of the camshaft. In another form, the plastic camshaft includes a powder metal surface formed thereon. The powder metal surface provides the same benefits as the seal ring, namely protection from wear and dissipation of heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventors: Thomas A. Immel, Erik J. Christiansen
  • Patent number: 5937812
    Abstract: A high strength, lightweight camshaft for an internal combustion engine, comprising a shaft body having an axially oriented hollow interior extending a predetermined length from between a pair of spaced points, respectively, adjacent the ends of the shaft body. Plural camshaft journal bearings are spaced apart on the shaft body and include a pair of end camshaft journal bearings positioned adjacent the ends of the shaft body, respectively, with at least one inner camshaft journal bearing positioned intermediate the pair of end camshaft journal bearings. Each end camshaft journal bearing has a lubricant transfer means formed therein for receiving lubricant from an external supply and for transferring lubricant into the hollow interior of the camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven W. Reedy, Rand D. Klopfer, Randal L. Myers
  • Patent number: 5934234
    Abstract: A shaft having a sprocket fixed at one end thereof is reliably assembled to the supporting wall of an engine, with a reduced number of parts and man-hours required for assembly. A camshaft having a sprocket fixed at one end thereof is installed by engaging a pair of ball bearings with supporting holes on supporting walls of the engine. A crescent-shaped step partially cut in the loosing direction of an endless chain is formed on one supporting hole. An outer race of one ball bearing on the camshaft is engaged with the step. An endless chain is wound around the sprocket, and the one ball bearing is moved into the supporting hole, and the other ball bearing is correctly engaged with the other supporting hole, thereby completing assembly of the camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Shichinohe, Sumiko Fukuzawa
  • Patent number: 5924334
    Abstract: A device for moving a hollow cam relative to a driving shaft includes an intermediate member between a drive member fixed to the driving shaft and a driven member fixe to the hollow cam. A cam ring in the form of an eccentric cam is disposed between the driving shaft and the intermediate member to maintain eccentric rotation of the intermediate member relative to the driving shaft. A driver mechanism controls the angular position of the cam ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventors: Seinosuke Hara, Akira Hidaka, Yoshihiko Yamada, Shinichi Takemura
  • Patent number: 5918645
    Abstract: A rotary dobby which includes pivoting arms which are moveable with respect to a plate connected to an element for actuating a heddle frame in controlled response to a reading-in device and wherein the pivot arms include catches which are uniquely configured having internal and external bearing surfaces which cooperatively engage binding surfaces of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Staubli Faverges
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Froment, Jean-Pierre Pages
  • Patent number: 5908050
    Abstract: A rotary dobby which includes pivoting arms which are moveable with respect to a plate connected to an element for actuating a heddle frame in controlled response to a reading-in device and wherein the pivoting arms include catches which are engageable with respect to first and second spaced binding surfaces of the plate in such a manner that one of the arms is spaced from an actuator associated with the reading-in device when the pivoting arms are engaging the binding surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Staubli Faverges
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Froment, Jean-Pierre Pages
  • Patent number: 5899120
    Abstract: A laminated counterweight for connecting the main shaft with the crankpin of a crankshaft in which the counterweight includes a pair of end laminations which are circular in shape and have a central opening dimensioned to receive the main shaft and a crankpin opening radially spaced from the central opening and dimensioned to receive the crankpin. A plurality of central laminations is sandwiched in between the end laminations. Each central lamination, like the end laminations, includes a central opening dimensioned to receive the main shaft as well as a crankpin opening dimensioned to receive the crankpin. A pair of cutouts is provided through each central lamination and, said cutouts being disposed on opposite sides of the radius extending between the central opening and the crankpin opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Panther Machine, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald G. Leith
  • Patent number: 5896783
    Abstract: A safety switch device for monitoring the position of a protective cover, the cover being pivotable about an axis into and out of a closed position. The safety switch device includes a fixed position switch unit which houses at least a first electrical signal generator which will be switched between states in response to movement of the protective cover from the closed position, the signal generator being operated by an actuator which rotates about an axis. The switch device also includes a fastener element which is adjustably mountable to the protective cover and an articulated mechanical coupling which extends between the fastener element and the signal generator actuator, the coupling element being movable in at least two planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: K. A. Schmersal GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Helmut Letzel
  • Patent number: 5896694
    Abstract: An ice fishing tip-up includes a base frame adapted to span a hole in a layer of ice over a body of water, and carrying a mast which is extendible through the hole into the water. The mast includes a shaft fixed at its lower end to a spool of fishing line and at its upper end to a cam cylinder with a helical groove formed in its outer surface. A signal staff is spring-biased to a raised position and is movable to a lowered position received in one of the convolutions of the helical groove. A pull on the fishing line rotates the cam until the staff reaches the end of the helical groove, releasing it to its raised position, the amount of pull required to trip the staff being adjustable with the cam groove convolution in which it is retained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Maurice Sporting Goods, Inc.
    Inventor: Ashok Midha
  • Patent number: 5870843
    Abstract: An improved motion generating mechanism for use in a music box to drive decoration articles associated therewith is disclosed. A crank arm eccentrically attached to the outer side of the driving wheel associated with the playing roller of a music box is circularly moved in synchronism with the driving wheel. At each end of the crank arm is disposed an engagement protrusion respectively. A securing seat is fixed to the mounting plate of the music box and to the base plate of the outer case with a supporting base pivotally associated therewith respectively; each supporting base is provided with a swing arm having an elongated guide groove disposed thereon; in each groove is slidably located the engagement protrusion so that the supporting bases are able to be pivotally moved in synchronism with the crank arm. To each supporting base is secured a mounting pole onto which a decoration article is mounted. Each mounting pole is led through an elongated slot disposed on the top of an upper lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Inventors: Feng-Hsiang Hsu, Win-Hseng Laing, Ching-Fa Huang
  • Patent number: 5868042
    Abstract: A hollow body and a method for producing a hollow body having at least two oval sleeves and an annular connecting journal between each of the sleeves. Each of the sleeves has uniform circumferential wall thickness and an outer peripheral region having a smaller radius and forming a crown. The annular connecting journals have a uniform circumferential wall thickness, a circular inner surface and are disposed between each of the oval sleeves. Each oval sleeve projects over the annular connecting journal in the region of the smaller radius with the projection being greatest at the crown. The wall thickness of the annular connecting journal is partly greater than the wall thickness of the oval sleeve. The annular connecting journal and the oval sleeve have equal cross-sectional areas. Material remaining between the annular connecting journal and the oval sleeves after forming is removed from the small radius region of the oval sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fur Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventor: Helmut Swars
  • Patent number: 5860328
    Abstract: A camshaft timing device includes a camshaft 10 and a drive gear 20 rotatably mounted thereon. An interconnecting shifting shaft 30 has spline 31 and 33 that interconnect with respective splines 16 and 41 on the camshaft and a hub of a drive gear 20. Axial movement of the shaft 30 causes the shaft to rotate the camshaft 30 with respect to the drive gear 20 due to the helical nature of the splines 33 and 41. The axial movement of the shaft 30 is caused by a drive sleeve 50 connected to a pinion gear that is driven through a worm gear 63 by an electric motor 67.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventor: Jose F. Regueiro
  • Patent number: 5860399
    Abstract: A hydraulic clearance compensation element free of prior art disadvantages and manifesting substantially higher sink values over a wide range of temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Walter Speil, Dieter Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5850695
    Abstract: A method for producing a hollow camshaft comprising i) forming a camshaft preform by providing a hollow metal pipe, expanding the hollow pipe at spaced longitudinal locations by applying pressurized fluid internally to the hollow pipe, axially compressing the hollow pipe during the expanding step to accumulate metal at the spaced longitudinal locations, the expanding and compressing steps forming a camshaft preform having cam preforms of associated predetermined widths in a longitudinal pipe direction; and ii) forming a final camshaft from the camshaft preform by axially compressing the camshaft preform while applying the pressurized fluid to reduce the predetermined widths of the cam preforms while shaping the camshaft preforms into the final camshaft, the final camshaft having cams of relatively smaller widths in the longitudinal direction than the predetermined widths of the cam preforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Cosma International Inc.
    Inventors: Friedrich Klaas, Helmut Bogel
  • Patent number: 5836215
    Abstract: A laminar cam for the control of gas-exchange valves of an internal combustion engine is made of a plurality of punched-out layers of flat stock assembled in adjacent and aligned relation and joined together by a pin and by laser welds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Alfred Beier, Dietrich Distler, Helmut Wittke, Christian Nesselrath
  • Patent number: 5826461
    Abstract: A cam shaft assembly for an engine has a hollow elongate shaft with a plurality of cam lobes and bearing journals received on and positioned along the shaft in a predetermined spaced apart relationship. The cam lobes are further oriented angularly in a predetermined alignment relative to one another. A radial thrust bearing is received and positioned on one end of the shaft. Each of the elements is secured to the shaft by mechanically expanding the shaft into an interference relationship with an opening in each element. A cam timing gear is fastened to the one end of the shaft by a fastener passing through the gear and into the one end of the shaft. Threads formed on the fastener engage complimentary threads formed on the internal surface of the shaft to allow the cam gear to be torqued down. A recess is formed in the shaft, the cam gear or both for receiving a projection or key which accurately aligns the gear to the cam lobes on the shaft and locks the gear in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Kaywood Products Corporation
    Inventors: Roy G. Kaywood, John M. Yost
  • Patent number: 5818689
    Abstract: A computer includes a base unit and an upper unit which encloses all electronic components of the computer, such as an LCD display, system board, various drives, sound card, speakers, and modem. The base unit has dimensions of only about 11 inches by 7 inches and can easily be placed in small areas. Unlike a typical desk-top computer which has external cords or cables connecting the display to a main casing, the computer only requires a single power cable and a telephone cord and has a light weight which permits the computer to be easily transported to different locations. The upper unit can pivot relative to the base unit by simply pulling or pushing the upper unit with one hand to the desired angle and then releasing the upper unit. The base unit frictionally engages the upper unit to maintain the upper unit at the desired angle. The computer has a unique configuration in which input/output connectors of a typical motherboard are placed on a separate riser board positioned perpendicular to the system board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Monorail, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Douglas Johns, Nicholas G. Forlenza, Gregory K. Adams, Jeffrey M. Reents, Michael C. Mayne, Carl R. Spoeth
  • Patent number: 5808893
    Abstract: A system for adapting existing conventional screw machines to be capable of computer numerical control operation. The system incorporates the use of a VersaCam device which replaces the turret cam of a single spindle screw machine. The VersaCam system monitors the motion of the screw machine camshaft and actuates the turret slide in synchronization with the camshaft. The VersaCam system also provides a means of specifying the desired turret slide trajectory for any given job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: AMT Machine Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Dennis R. Pugh, William Blair Shook, Thomas M. Walliser, Vincent J. Vohnout
  • Patent number: 5797180
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a plastic camshaft having a tubular metal insert using a die assembly having a pair of aligned pins. The tubular metal insert is cut to a length slightly shorter than the length of the finished camshaft and is placed on one of the pins. The second pin is then inserted into the opposite end of the tubular metal insert during the closing of the die assembly. The pins properly align the metal insert within the mold cavity of the die assembly during injection of a surrounding plastic material which forms the remainder of the camshaft. The pins also axially compress the tubular metal insert and have tapered shoulders which bear against and slightly deform or flare the end regions of the insert. The flared ends of the tubular metal insert tightly engage the pins and prevent the formation of flash within the hollow interior of the tubular metal insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventor: Brian S. Buchholz
  • Patent number: 5778841
    Abstract: A high strength, lightweight camshaft for an internal combustion engine, comprising a shaft body having an axially oriented hollow interior extending a predetermined length from between a pair of spaced points, respectively, adjacent the ends of the shaft body. Plural camshaft journal bearings are spaced apart on the shaft body and include a pair of end camshaft journal bearings positioned adjacent the ends of the shaft body, respectively, with at least one inner camshaft journal bearing positioned intermediate the pair of end camshaft journal bearings. Each end camshaft journal bearing has a lubricant transfer means formed therein for receiving lubricant from an external supply and for transferring lubricant into the hollow interior of the camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven W. Reedy, Rand D. Klopfer, Randal L. Myers
  • Patent number: 5743153
    Abstract: A bicycle handlebar stabilizer is attachable to a bicycle, the bicycle including a head tube and a set of handlebars projecting from a stem, with the stem mounted to the head tube at a pivot point to be pivotable with respect to the head tube. The bicycle handlebar stabilizer is comprised of a first clamp attachable to the stem of the bicycle above the pivot point, a bracket pivotally attached to the first clamp, a cam follower attached to a distal end of the bracket, and a second clamp having a surface and a notch in the surface that is attachable to the head tube of the bicycle below the pivot point. The bracket is pivotable between a first position with the cam follower engaged with the notch in the surface of the second clamp, and a second position with the cam follower and the notch disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Inventor: Joseph A. Valentino
  • Patent number: 5737975
    Abstract: A built-up camshaft has cam discs which are secured to a tube under mechanical prestress, are of annular design, and are inductively hardened all the way around at a boundary layer on their outer periphery before they are secured to the tube. The hardening of the boundary layer is formed such that, due to the hardening, high residual compressive stresses (at least -450 N/mm.sup.2) are produced in an at least approximately 0.5 mm deep boundary zone near the surface such that, even after the cam discs are mounted on the tube, the superimposing residual tensile stresses in the boundary zone, induced by the joining, only partly compensate the original residual compressive stresses, i.e. there are still only residual compressive stresses (at least -150 N/mm.sup.2) in the boundary zone near the surface. Sufficiently high residual compressive stress in the boundary zone are produced by effecting the inductive heating of the cam disc in two stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Gustav Hanisch, Christoph Duell
  • Patent number: 5738052
    Abstract: A composite camshaft for an internal combustion engine, having a shaft member (2) on which cam members (12, 13, 14 and 15) are firmly secured by the interposition of a clamping sleeve (16), between an external tooth system (17) and an internal tooth system (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Josef Meurer, Edmund Lenerz, Hans-Walter Metz, Gottfried Weber
  • Patent number: 5724860
    Abstract: A cam shaft having a cam piece disposed on a locking member or plurality of locking members provided on a shaft at predetermined positions. A recess or recesses formed in the cam piece align with and engage the locking members disposed on the shaft. The cam piece is secured to the shaft by a resin injected into and around the recess such that the cam piece is integrally fixed on the shaft when the resin hardens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignees: NTN Corporation, Honda Giken Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Sekiguchi, Akihiko Matsuoka, Seiji Sato, Shosaku Chiba, Hiroshi Kasai