Follower Patents (Class 74/569)
  • Patent number: 4909197
    Abstract: A cam follower assembly for mechanically connecting a cam on a camshaft to a push rod assembly is disclosed. The cam follower assembly includes a cam follower link rotatably mounted to a pivot at a first end. At a second end the cam follower link has a substantially semicylindrical recess having a thin axial wall formed at each end of the recess. The cam follower link contacts a push rod adjacent its second end on a surface opposite the surface having the substantially semicylindrical recess. A pinless roller is mounted within the substantially semicylindrical recess and is restrained from axial movement by the thin axial walls. The pinless roller is held in rolling contact with a corresponding cam by imposition by the link of restraining force directly on the cam engaging surface of the roller. The roller may include an annular groove to facilitate lubrication of the cam follower assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Julius P. Perr
  • Patent number: 4905543
    Abstract: A device for turning a monitor to a position at which a viewer can comfortably see the monitor. The device comprises a turntable carrying a monitor thereon, a cam shaft adapted to rotate the turntable in a desired direction utilizing a cylindrical cam having at an outer surface thereof an arc-shaped cam groove. The cam shaft receives a drive force from a drive motor via a reduction gear mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Goldstar Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Soo I. Choi
  • Patent number: 4902448
    Abstract: A marine carburetor is provided with an adjustment screw mounted on the throttle lever that is engageable with the cam follower in such a manner that movement of the adjustment screw urges the cam follower into engagement with the surface of the throttle cam, at which point continued movement of the screw results in movement of the throttle lever so that the throttle plate may be adjusted to an idle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Burnswick Corporation
    Inventor: George E. Phillips
  • Patent number: 4901821
    Abstract: A motor operated mechanism for transferring energy to the energy storing mechanism of a circuit breaker of the type which utilizes the energy to close the primary contacts of the circuit breaker. The mechanism includes a motor for driving a cam and follower assembly. The cam and follower assembly cooperate with a linkage to supply rotational motion of an energy delivery shaft, wherein the energy delivery shaft is coupled to the energy storing mechanism of the circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: W. Dale Robbins
  • Patent number: 4902374
    Abstract: A bag making machine and method for the continuous production of bags from a folded web of thermoplastic material is provided. The apparatus includes a capability for making bags of differing widths. The apparatus includes a rotatable drum having a plurality of sever and seal stations for forming individual positioned about the outer periphery of the drum. A source of a continuous folded web of thermoplastic material is also provided, and continuously fed onto the surface of the drum. Means positioned between adjacent sever and seal stations tuck the web of material inwardly from the periphery of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: David A. Smith, Herbert B. Geiger, R. Douglas Behr
  • Patent number: 4896560
    Abstract: An indexing device comprises a rotatably driven input shaft; a globoidal cam having, for the purpose of outputting intermittently the rotation of the input shaft, a taper rib defining a cam face which has a disk-shaped end face gradually yielding to a helical face about the input shaft; an output shaft to which the rotation of the input shaft is transmitted so that the output shaft may rotate intermittently; an indexing disk provided on the output shaft and having supports protruding radially outwardly at intervals along the circumference of the indexing disk, the ridge of the taper rib fitting between the adjoining supports; cam followers each disposed at the end of the support on the indexing disk and brought into engagement with the taper rib so as to be intermittently driven along the cam face; and gaps provided between the ridge of the taper rib and the supports opposite this, the gap being filled up by the elastic deformation of the cam follower so that the ridge of the taper rib may come into contact w
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Sankyo Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Heizaburou Kato
  • Patent number: 4895046
    Abstract: An incremental drive for the incremental driving of a rotary shaft or of a line device, having a rotary driver shaft adapted to be driven by a power means. A plurality of cams are mounted on the drive shaft each having an offset camming surface relative to the axis of rotation of the driver shaft. A shoe with a respective engagement face is fitted to a respective cam. A driven element--rotary or linear--is sequentially contacted by the engagement faces. The driver shaft is resiliently biased toward the driven element. Rotation of the driver shaft causes the shoes sequentially to drive the driven element, and the resilient bias maintains driving contact and enables relief of the shoes from the driven element during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Inventor: Michael R. Everman
  • Patent number: 4892157
    Abstract: An indicator is provided for indicating rotation of a seed metering shaft used with a grain drill. The present invention incorporates a cylinder mounted to the seed metering shaft with its longitudinal axis offset but parallel to the axis of the shaft. The cylinder is mounted to rotate with the shaft. An indicator arm is hingedly mounted to the frame of the grain drill with one end positioned to ride on the outer surface of the cylinder and the other end free to move in correspondence with movement of the first end. With this invention, the indicator arm moves continually with movement of the seed metering shaft and thus provides a continuous indication of rotation of the seed metering shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Inventor: LeRoy H. Gemar
  • Patent number: 4885952
    Abstract: A tappet comprising a body portion, a cam follower shoe having an arcuate cam engaging sole, a pivot pin supporting the cam follower shoe for rotation on the body portion of said tappet, and a removable shim for moving said shoe relative to the axis of reciprocation of the body portion of said tappet to vary valve timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Inventor: Calvin C. Connell
  • Patent number: 4881828
    Abstract: A rolling contact device having a shaft adapted to be secured to an element of an apparatus, an outer ring adapted to be in contact with another element of the apparatus, and rolling elements disposed between the shaft and the outer ring. The contact device has a projection mounted on or integrated with the shaft. The projection is so arranged that, when an excessive radial load is applied to the outer ring from the above-mentioned another element, the projection is brought into contact with the another element and reduces the load acting on contact portions among the rolling elements, the outer ring and the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: Sankyo Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Heizaburo Kato
  • Patent number: 4875404
    Abstract: A fluid actuator having a piston, a pair of springs, a pair of cams, and a pair of cam followers mounted in a housing. A normally open valve is coupled to the actuator output shaft for actuation. When fluid pressure is applied to the piston, the springs are compressed, and the cam followers are moved down to permit the cams to rotate away from each other, thereby reducing the force on the actuator output shaft and permitting the valve to open. When fluid pressure is removed from the piston, the springs expand pushing the piston and the cam followers up, thereby rotating the cams toward each other and forcing the actuator output shaft against the valve stem to close the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: Ewal Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Lewis L. Aldridge
  • Patent number: 4873932
    Abstract: A sewing machine employing a stepper driven-stitch patterning mechanism including a stepper rotated cam with a spiral cam groove tracked by a follower formed with different cross sectional shape than the cam groove in order to provide only point contact with each side of the cam groove when spring biased therein. A spring arrangement biases the cam and follower together in a direction perpendicular to the axis of cam rotation, thus minimizing lost motion between cam and follower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: SSMC Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth D. Adams
  • Patent number: 4867251
    Abstract: An impact device having a housing with hollow cylindrical aperture therein. The cylindrical aperture has a rotatable member within. The rotatable member has axial multiple rods thereon. On each rod of the rotatable member there are captive annular masses with a central aperture larger than the diameter of the rod to permit radial movement of the masses with respect to the rod. The rotatable member is driven by a motor and in turn rotates the annular masses which strike impact tools also supported within the housing. The kinetic energy of the annular masses is thereby transmitted via the impact tools to the outside of the impact device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Kango Limited
    Inventor: Fritz N. Isenring
  • Patent number: 4850095
    Abstract: A mechanical part comprises a sliding section and a sleeve section which are prepared separately. The sliding section is made of a wear resisting material such as ceramics and formed with a planar sliding surface at one of the sides thereof. The sliding section is further formed with a joining portion at the outer periphery thereof. The sleeve section is made of metal and formed with a joining portion at the inner periphery thereof. The joining portions of the sliding section and the sleeve section are joined by interference fit or the like, whereby to allow the sliding surface of the sleeve section to be formed into a crowned shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeaki Akao, Masato Taniguchi, Masaya Ito
  • Patent number: 4841792
    Abstract: An automatic loading roller for transmitting torque in traction drive devices in manipulator arm joints includes a two-part camming device having a first cam portion rotatable in place on a shaft by an input torque and a second cam portion coaxially rotatable and translatable having a rotating drive surface thereon for engaging the driven surface of an output roller with a resultant force proportional to the torque transmitted. Complementary helical grooves on the respective cam portions interconnected through ball bearings interacting with those grooves effect the rotation and translation of the second cam portion in response to rotation of the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Daniel M. Williams
  • Patent number: 4838114
    Abstract: The invention is a poppet valve arrangement with a follower member rotatable with a drive shaft about the axis of rotation of the shaft. The follower member is rotatable within a hollow cam member having an internal cam profile with which the follower member is held in contact. Either the follower member or the cam member is capable of limited linear movement in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation of the shaft, and either of the follower member or the cam member is coupled to the poppet valve so that rotation of the shaft is translated into movement of either the follower member or the cam member and thereby into linear movement of the poppet valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Inventor: Frederick M. Stidworthy
  • Patent number: 4803889
    Abstract: An injection pump for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine includes a plunger coupled to a cam follower which can be moved in one direction to effect fuel delivery by a multi lobed cam. The plunger is returned following fuel delivery by a return mechanism including two levers one of which carries a roller engaging the cam and the other of which engages the plunger. An adjustment shoe is carried by the one lever and is engaged by the other lever to enable adjustment of the backlash in the mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Kenneth M. Harris
  • Patent number: 4802572
    Abstract: A cargo roller system (10) having drive rollers (13) and idler rollers (19) mounted in a tray (14) and selectively engageable with a motor (30) through a gear train (44). The motor (30) engages the gear train (44) through an idler gear (48) mounted in a motor mount (32) and a driven gear (50) mounted to the shaft (52) of the gear train (44). Coupling assemblies (60) connect the two halves of the gear train (44) to the driven gear (50). The coupling assembly (60) comprises a shaft (52) having a cylindrical piston (62) formed on one end thereof and a cylinder (66) slidably receiving the piston (62) on the other end thereof. A V-shaped opening (70) in the outer wall (72) of the cylinder (66) cooperates with a retaining pin (74) passing through the piston (62) translationally moving the gear train (44) into engagement with the rollers as the cylinder (66) is rotated by the motor (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Thomas H. Shorey, Mark W. Shorey
  • Patent number: 4800856
    Abstract: An engine apparatus comprising an internal combustion engine including a timer plate including thereon a throttle controlling cam, a carburetor mounted on the engine and including a throttle valve, and an actuating lever operably connected to the throttle valve, a cam follower assembly including a rocker arm pivotally mounted on the engine and having an end, a roller rotatably mounted on the rocker arm end and including an outer surface, and an abrasion resistant sleeve member on the roller outer surface, a spring biasing the cam follower assembly for engaging the sleeve member in rolling contact with the throttle controlling cam, and a link connecting the rocker arm to the actuating lever for actuating the throttle valve in response to movement of the timer plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation
    Inventors: Gene F. Baltz, Glenn R. Belec
  • Patent number: 4796522
    Abstract: A cam actuator in a creme sandwich filling machine having a rotating annular drum containing four rows of pistons for extracting filling material from a hopper and depositing a layer of the material on a base cake. A series of identical cams are mounted on a shaft coaxial with the drum, and the pistons are moved radially with respect to the drum by cam followers engaging the cams. The cams are formed so that translation thereof along the axis of the drum brings the cam followers into contact with a different cam contour to adjust the stroke of the pistons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: Nabisco Brands Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph A. Lynch
  • Patent number: 4791824
    Abstract: This invention relates to a mechanism and a process by which hydraulic pressure principles may be applied to any reciprocating or rotational means, for instance a piston or a motor, to make the energy output thereof more efficient per unit of energy input into these machines. The unitary hydraulic unit comprises a first larger reservoir cylinder and a second smaller reservoir cylinder which is fluidly connected to the first larger cylinder. Energy is input onto the force receiving surface of the first larger reservoir cylinder and force is hydraulically transferred from the first larger hydraulic cylinder to the force transferring surface of the second smaller hydraulic reservoir. In a preferred embodiment, this two-reservoir system can be applied to any machine with a rotational output by means of a disclosed power conversion means. An efficient power takeoff means for converting reciprocal energy into rotational energy for use in connection wiht the unitary hydraulic unit is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Delphin Corporation
    Inventor: Neculai A. Nicolau
  • Patent number: 4791827
    Abstract: In the conventional cam device for a pressure regulating valve, when the cam is rotated abruptly, a contact force between the roller and the cam surface decreases abruptly particularly during the cam return stroke. On the other hand, a rotational force also tends to be applied to the plunger during the plunger return stroke. Therefore, there exists a problem in that the roller rotates together with the plunger out of a correct engagement between the roller and the cam surface. To overcome this problem, the roller and the cam surface are engaged in convex and concave engagement relationship. A convex is formed in the roller and a concave is formed in the cam surface or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 4791327
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for a domestic vibration-type apparatus is provided, in which the rotor shaft (19) of a single-phase synchronous motor drives a cam-and-follower mechanism which converts the rotary motion of the rotor into a vibratory motion, the rotor and the stator having a main field direction (22) and (16), respectively. The longitudinal axis of the mirror-symmetrical cam extends at an angle to the main field direction (22) of the rotor. Rollers (31, 31a) which follow the cam (21) are arranged on a pivotal arm which is pivot about its central portion and a vibratory part (39) to be driven is arranged on the driving end (35) of this pivotal arm. As they cooperate with the cam the rollers are constantly in contact with the cam profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corp.
    Inventors: Leo Bertram, Hugo Schemmann, Romuald L. Bukoschek
  • Patent number: 4790049
    Abstract: A hand operable rope locking device which avoids sliding metal to metal contact of the wearing parts and uses a roller engageable in over center relation with a replaceable elastomeric insert in a pivotally mounted metal locking dog.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Inventor: Jack F. Grosh
  • Patent number: 4785942
    Abstract: Switch, forming part of a mail sorting device and comprising, according to the invention, one or two rotatable or translatable switch vanes (7), which are driven, by way of one or more curve followers (6, 22) and one or more curve discs (8, 23), by one electromechanical converter, e.g. a tachometrically controlled direct-current servomotor (12). In this case the transmission ratios have been chosen in such a way that the external (virtual) mass moment of inertia is about equal to the internal mass moment of inertia of the motor. The invention can also be utilized for other quickly intermittent drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: Staat der Nederlanden (Staats dedrijf der Posterijen, Telegraphie en Telefonie)
    Inventors: Harro M. Van Leijenhorst, Geert J. Prins, Joseph E. H. Smeets, Jan F. Suringh
  • Patent number: 4763540
    Abstract: A device is provided for mechanically coupling two parallel shafts together allowing rotation thereof in a 2/1 ratio in an angular sector defined, by producing a very rigid connection without lost motion, with a minimum of parasite torque and insensitive to environmental vibrations. It includes a first piece mounted on a shaft and having two guide elements and a second piece mounted on a shaft having two arms provided with flat surfaces on which the guide elements move. The center of these latter, as well as the axis of rotation of the second shaft, are on a circle centered on the axis of rotation of the first shaft. Preferably, one of the pieces is made in two parts, one being integral with the associated shaft and the other freely mounted on this shaft, and a return spring holds said guide elements against the flat surfaces, these elements being formed by ball bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventor: Charles Hubert
  • Patent number: 4760907
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for limiting the relative rotation between coaxial shafts, including a helical thread about one of the shafts, a nut having a follower received in the helical thread, a spline connection between the nut and other shaft, and means for limiting axial motion of the nut when the shafts are at a selected limit of relative rotation. The follower has a large finger supporting a small finger, and the one shaft has a middle section radially spaced farther from the other shaft than the end sections. The helical thread receives only the small finger along the shaft middle section, and receives the large finger in the shaft end sections when the shafts reach the selected limit of relative rotation. The helical thread about the shaft end sections has a larger lead angle than the thread about the middle section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Eli Avny
  • Patent number: 4755109
    Abstract: A peristaltic pumping mechanism comprises a pump housing for holding a peristaltic drive means and adapted to support the drive motor for the peristaltic means. The mechanism further comprises a base member formed with an orifice having a periphery with a plurality of protrusions positioned therealong. The base member receives the housing in the orifice with a lip on the housing resting on the protrusions. The mechanism further comprises a cover which has an edge and a plurality of grips positioned along its edge for insertion between the periphery of the orifice and the lip of the housing to engage the grips with the base member and clampingly hold the housing and its associated peristaltic mechanism between the cover and the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1988
    Assignee: Fisher Scientific Company Inc.
    Inventor: Charles R. Botts
  • Patent number: 4739675
    Abstract: An improved cylindrical tappet for transmitting motion between a camshaft and a valve of an internal combustion engine. The tappet construction affords improved performance by permitting higher lift rates than possible with conventional tappet designs. In addition, cam and tappet face wear and cam walk are minimized due to the construction. The tappet consists of a body portion that is slidably supported in a bore of the engine adjacent to the cam lobe. The body portion has a pocket that is adapted to receive one end of a push rod for actuating the valve upon reciprocation of the tappet body portion. A follower portion is pivotally supported by the body portion about an axis that extends normally to the axis of rotation of the associated cam. The follower portion has a curved cylinder surface which engages the cam lobe and which has a substantially larger radius of curvature than the bore in which the tappet is supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Inventor: Calvin C. Connell
  • Patent number: 4726253
    Abstract: A torque counterbalancing mechanism for use on tiltable tables, the mechanism comprising a cam operated on by a spring loaded cam follower so that their interaction produces a force equal and opposite to the torque generated as the tiltable table, with load, rotates either side of the vertical. At the null position, i.e. no torque, the spring is at rest with no pre-stressing and means are provided for changing the effective length of the spring, thereby changing the RATE of the spring, to adjust the mechanism to accommodate different heights of the center of gravity of the load or changes in load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: W. Vinten Limited
    Inventor: Lionel V. F. Russell
  • Patent number: 4716939
    Abstract: Levers with double roller assemblies for positive cam mechanisms for controlling the heddle frames of weaving looms wherein each roller assembly comprises a rotating ring supported on a plurality of roller bearings retained relative thereto on a fixed support mounted to or on extension of the levers. The rings and supports are thus capable of penetrating between the cams of the weaving loom without modifying the axial dimensions of an assembly of such cams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: S.A. des Etablissements Staubli (France)
    Inventor: Joseph Palau
  • Patent number: 4717010
    Abstract: A cigarette pack accumulator assembly utilizes a rotating pack accumulating drum having a plurality of cigarette pack accumulating columns equally spaced about its periphery. Each such column guides a pack support pedestal for movement either downwardly during pack accumulation, or upwardly during pack discharge. A lead screw is rotatably supported within the accumulator drum and can be driven at varying speeds and directions to either raise or lower the pack support pedestals. Packs of cigarettes may be removed from a production line and accumulated, they may be stored, or they may be removed from the accumulating columns and returned to the production line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Philip A. Deal, Gerard E. Leonard
  • Patent number: 4685342
    Abstract: A device for converting linear motion to rotary motion or vice versa employs at least two bearing members mounted for rotation about a crankpin of a rotatable crank, each bearing member being in constant engagement with its own individual bearing surface. A shuttle, which is mounted for reciprocating linear movement, carries the bearing surfaces, which are located on opposite sides of the crankpin and are offset relative to each other. Because the bearing members are in constant engagement with their associated bearing surfaces, the linear motion of the shuttle is continuously converted into the rotary motion of the crank or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Inventor: Douglas C. Brackett
  • Patent number: 4681993
    Abstract: An operating mechanism for an electrical switch comprises a drive mechanism; a drive lever having an engaging surface and connected to the drive mechanism for rotation about an axis; an actuating lever rotatable about the axis independently of the drive lever and having a first and a second engagement surface, the first engagement surface engageable with the engaging surface of the drive lever and the actuating lever being rotated when the engaging surface of the drive lever engages and pushes the first engagement surface of the actuating lever; an energy storing means connected in an over-center relationship to the actuating lever for selectively storing and discharging spring energy for opening and closing the the electrical switch in accordance with the rotational movement of the actuating lever; a driven lever rotatable about the axis independently of the drive lever and the actuating lever and having an engagement surface engageable with the second engagement surface of the actuating lever, the driven le
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadashi Kondo, Kiyoshi Yabe
  • Patent number: 4640144
    Abstract: Apparatus for interconverting reciprocating and rotative motion is comprised of a disc shaped rotative slant having a first continuous groove formed on its top surface and a second continuous groove formed in its bottom surface. The first and second continuous grooves have an elliptical configuration and they are defined by harmonic curves. An axle passes through the center of the rotative slant and the rotative slant makes an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the axle. At least one ball is adapted to ride in the first and second continuous grooves of the rotative slant and each of these pairs of balls have a coupling slide with structure for capturing the balls in these grooves while permitting free rotation therein. Within the housing for the apparatus is a track assembly for each of the coupling members that permit the coupling to travel in a reciprocal motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Inventor: Martin McLendon
  • Patent number: 4630493
    Abstract: A cam arrangement comprises a solid cam mounted on an input shaft for rotation and having a plurality of ribs formed on a circumferential surface thereof, the solid cam being formed to a non-circular configuration at an outer periphery of the ribs, the ribs including a linear portion and an inclined portion. A spider is mounted at an end of an output shaft which extends perpendicularly to the input shaft and is disposed for both rotation and reciprocation a plurality of cam followers are mounted on the spider and each is guided between adjacent pairs of the ribs. The spider is pressed resiliently against outer surfaces of the ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Assignee: Sankyo Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Heizaburou Kato
  • Patent number: 4629396
    Abstract: Fluid handling apparatus such as a turbine, compressor, pump and the like in which stator vanes are adjustably positioned in the throat and means are provided to change the adjusted position of such vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Corporation
    Inventor: Jorge A. Lorett
  • Patent number: 4625575
    Abstract: A cam assembly (10) for a carton blank feeder mechanism comprises a cam plate (16) having formed therein a first continuous cam track (44) and a second relatively shallower cam track (46). A cam track follower arm (26) includes a first follower (30,32) for relative movement within only the first continuous cam track and a second follower (28) for relative movement within the first and second cam tracks. Drive means (12,24) are provided for moving the follower arm relative to the cam plate and article pickup means is connected to the cam arm by an eccentric arm (34). The first and second cam tracks includes arcuate portions (44c, 46d) engaged sequentially by respective ones of the first and second followers so that the article pickup means is caused to move to an outwardly extended position and to an inwardly retracted position, respectively, relative to a central axis of the cam plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: The Mead Corporation
    Inventor: Philippe A. Le Bras
  • Patent number: 4616389
    Abstract: A camshaft is prepared from separately formed cams and a shaft. The cams may for example be formed by sintering. The cams are provided with holes which are under-sized and are provided with serrations. They are located on a correspondingly shaped dummy shaft in their required relative orientations and angular positions. Next, the cams are clamped in these positions and the dummy shaft removed. The cams are then heated to red heat and the serrated holes in them broached to bring them to their final size and to concentricity. Finally, a shaft having an exterior profile corresponding to the shape and size of the broached profile of the holes, at ambient temperature, is introduced into the holes and the cams are then cooled so that they shrink fit on to the shaft so ensuring that they are accurately positioned on the shaft. The cams are then released from the jig to give a finished camshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Assignee: AE PLC
    Inventor: Roger H. Slee
  • Patent number: 4611536
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a reset pulse for performing the printing operation of an impact printer. A cam is secured to a shaft of a type drum. The cam has a rising portion, lowering portion, and escape portion. A cam follower is mounted on a lever to engage with the cam. The cam follower has a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion, and a reset switch is provided to be operated by the lever to produce a reset pulse when the lever is rocked by the engagement of the cam follower with the lowering portion of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1986
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mikio Moriya
  • Patent number: 4611958
    Abstract: A boring head of a multiple-operation machine tool comprises a housing which accommodates a carriage carrying a mandrel for a cutting tool, and having a slanted surface to interact with a slanted surface of a rod arranged in the housing coaxially with the carriage and kinematically coupled to a drive which moves it in the axial direction. The housing also accommodates a fork arranged coaxially with the former and pressed against the carriage by a spring. At the ends of the fork are two slanted surfaces which are symmetrical with respect to the axis of rotation of the boring head. The fork interacts with the carriage on lines found in a plane extending through the axis of rotation of the boring head. The head further incorporates a rocker whose axle is installed in the housing on the side facing the two slanted surfaces of the carriage. The axle is parallel with the axis of rotation of the boring head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1986
    Inventor: Georgy A. Vasilchenko
  • Patent number: 4604504
    Abstract: There are three spring blades held in working relationship to a camstack which provide the making of two different and distinct circuits simultaneously by substantially simultaneously closing electrical contacts carried by the blade. Of the three blades a lower level blade engages cam contours of the camstack, a middle level blade includes a follower which engages a hub portion of the camstack, while the upper level blade extends freely above the middle blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1986
    Assignee: Emhart Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Garry A. Stout, Leroy A. Perry
  • Patent number: 4597302
    Abstract: Apparatus for interconverting reciprocating and rotative motion is comprised of a cylindrical rotative slant having a continuous groove in a flat inclined surface and another continuous groove in the cylindrical sidewall adjacent said inclined surface. Balls are caused to engage said grooves, said balls being held stationary by retaining means adapted to undergo reciprocal linear motion within a track means. An axle is centered in a flat surface perpendicular to the axis of said rotative slant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Inventor: Martin McLendon, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4592244
    Abstract: A driving device for reciprocating a shaft along an axial direction thereof, comprises a reciprocating shaft drum for slidably supporting the reciprocating shaft along the axial direction thereof, a guide groove drum rotated relative to the reciprocating shaft drum and having an annular guide groove with an intersection on the circumferential surface thereof, and a driven member fixed to the reciprocating shaft and engaged with the guide groove. The driven member includes a cam follower and a boat-shaped member rotatable about a shaft extending from the driven member to the guide groove, the boat-shaped member has a cam roller rotatable about another shaft extending from the driven member to the guide groove, and the guide groove has a cam follower guide path engaged with the cam follower, a cam roller guide path engaged with the cam roller and a boat-shaped member guide path engaged with the boat-shaped member at the intersection thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Assignee: The Japan Tobacco & Salt Public Corporation
    Inventors: Tomizou Nagata, Kouzou Sakakibara, Makoto Sakano
  • Patent number: 4585389
    Abstract: An apparatus for loading or unloading a workpiece to be pressed by a press machine. The equipment has cam grooves for a work motion and a return motion, on which a pin is mounted to contact with the biasing force of a cylinder device. The pin is further engaged with an intermediate portion of a maim arm which constitutes a parallel link mechanism in association with a slider link, a sub arm and a carriage link mounting a workpiece holder thereon. The slider link, on which the upper end of the main arm is secured, upwardly and downwardly moves with the guidance of a guide member. As separate cam grooves are provided for the work motion and the return motion, the workpiece holder can move in an appropriate route. This enables the continuous operation of the press machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1986
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masao Watanabe, Hideo Nagakura, Taminori Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 4583823
    Abstract: The lens holder of a lens focussing device is axially movable in a lens sleeve supported on a film holder on which it can slide. The rim of a focussing wheel is accommodated in the space between the collar of the lens and the top face of the lens sleeve. The rim thickness increases uniformly along half its periphery. This results in a relative movement of the lens holder and the lens sleeve when rotating the focussing wheel. The focussing wheel is axially deformable. Notwithstanding the focussing wheel being firmly mounted, this provision allows limited axial movement of the lens sleeve, rendering it possible for the lens sleeve to follow the course of the upper plate of the film holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1986
    Assignee: MAP Mikrofilm Apparatebau Dr. Poehler GmbH & Co KG
    Inventor: Andrzej Walczak
  • Patent number: 4559838
    Abstract: A scotch yoke connection between a piston rod and crankshaft comprises a free floating crank pin having a central portion of retangular cross section received directly between opposed internal bearing surfaces of the yoke, and end portions of circular cross section freely journalled in crankshaft flanges on opposite sides of the yoke. When the yoke is removed, the crank pin can be rotated to present a different pair of opposite surfaces to the bearing surfaces of the yoke thereby providing wear compensation. The bearing surfaces of the yoke may be defined by replaceable liner plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Inventor: Victor L. Neuenschwander
  • Patent number: 4542837
    Abstract: An actuator for an aerosol container having upper and lower rotatable parts which may be rotated between an operative and an inoperative position. When rotated into the operative position, an actuating member is raised by cam action to a position where it engages an arm member, whereby the valve of the aerosol container may be actuated. When rotated to the inoperative position, the actuating member is lowered by cam action to a position where it is flush with the upper rotatable part and does not engage the arm member and whereby the valve of the aerosol container cannot be actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1985
    Assignee: Metal Box P.L.C.
    Inventor: Adrien P. Rayner
  • Patent number: 4538788
    Abstract: A valve mechanism for positive displacement, rotary receptacle filling machines having vertically movable valve stems operable by fixed cam tracks employs cam followers pivoted on the valve stems for movement in a vertical plane and horizontally settable means for locking them against such movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Assignee: Elmar Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Everett S. Minard
  • Patent number: 4535642
    Abstract: A traversing mechanism including a cam shaft on its outer surface an endless helical cam groove for reciprocation of a guide member, a cam shoe of the guide member adapted to engage with said cam groove, the guide member adapted to reciprocate along the axis of said cam shaft, and further including a cylindrical retaining portion formed on said guide member for receiving said cam shoe, wherein said cam shoe comprising a slidable member and a separate rotatable member adapted to be fitted into said cylindrical retaining portion, said slidable member being formed from a flat piece of hard ceramic material with its one end serving as an engaging end portion, and said rotatable member being in the cylindrical form and on its one end a retaining slot being grooved into which the other end of said slidable member being fitted for assembling of both members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1985
    Assignee: Fuji Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryuichi Ohmura