Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7946403 | Mechanical disconnect dual-sided interlocking teeth A disengagement/disconnect assembly for disengaging a generator from a gear box may include an inner ball screw having an angled threading on an outer surface thereof and surrounding and operatively engaged to a rotating generator drive shaft to cause rotation of th... | 05/24/2011 |
| 7896147 | Application of eddy current braking system for use in a gearbox/generator mechanical disconnect A disengagement assembly for disengaging a generator from an engine or gear box may include an inner ball screw having helical threading on an outer surface thereof and surrounding and operatively engaged to a rotating generator drive shaft to cause rotation of the ... | 03/01/2011 |
| 7726456 | Linear clutch system for vehicle and method for controlling the same A linear electromotive actuator mounted on an input shaft of a manual transmission clutch system and a clutch operation is controlled by a current signal applied in response to an operating stroke of a clutch pedal. In addition, according to the clutch system and a ... | 06/01/2010 |
| 7717249 | Electro-mechanical gear selector An electromagnetic gear-clutch assembly (1) is disclosed. The device comprises a gear (10) having grooves (10c) that open inwardly toward the axis and extend axially. A hub (12) is located within the gear (10) where it is ca... | 05/18/2010 |
| 7418800 | Automatic door opener with magnetic clutch An automatic door opener (10) for opening or closing a door (28) includes a motor (14) driving a drive shaft (50) and an opener arm (18) connected to the door (28) and being responsive to rotation of the drive shaft (50 | 09/02/2008 |
| 7334671 | Actuating device for a clutch An actuating device (18) or a clutch (16) of a motor vehicle (2) comprising one electric motor (34), one gearing (36, 40, 42, 44) which converts rotational motion of the electric motor (34) into a translatory motion and one ... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7325662 | Dry friction launch clutch for an automatic transmission and method A powertrain for a vehicle includes a dry friction clutch connected between an engine output member and a transmission input member. The dry friction clutch is selectively engagable to transfer torque from the engine output member to the transmission input member to... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7310911 | Automatic door opener with magnetic clutch An automatic door opener (10) for opening or closing a door (28) includes a motor (14) driving a drive shaft (50) and an opener arm (18) connected to the door (28) and being responsive to rotation of the drive shaft (50 | 12/25/2007 |
| 7300382 | Engine starting apparatus for an all-terrain vehicle A starting system is operable to quickly start an engine of an all-terrain vehicle, even when a transmission gear is at a forward gear position. A CPU detects the gear position of the transmission based on a gear position control signal generated by a shift switch a... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7232021 | Method and assembly for controlling a centrifugal clutch A centrifugal clutch assembly includes a sleeve movable to selectively engage the clutch assembly independent of rotational speed. The clutch assembly includes centrifugal weights that move radially responsive to rotation of the clutch assembly. The centrifugal weig... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7182194 | Low power modulating clutch control system with combination accumulator and piston actuator A power transmission device includes a rotary input member receiving drive torque from a source of torque, a rotary output member for providing drive torque to an output device and a torque transfer mechanism for transferring drive torque between the input member an... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7178650 | Structure of multiple disc clutch A multiple disc clutch including a clutch outer and a clutch inner, for enabling a gentle releasing/engaging operation. The multiple disc clutch includes a clutch inner having a clutch center and a clutch piston, and outer and inner friction discs being alternately ... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7067960 | Piezoelectric device for injector A piezoelectric device for an injector is built into an injector and generates driving force of the injector. A relation d(0.1Ec)/d(1.2Ec)≧0.50 is established between an apparent piezoelectric constant d(1.2Ec) calculated from static elongation when an electric fi... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7036645 | Rotating torque-transmitting apparatus A rotatable torque-transmitting apparatus includes a stationary piston and a rotatable apply plate. The rotatable apply plate is disposed adjacent a rotatable housing and separated therefrom by a return spring assembly which in a preload condition is trapped between... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7032733 | Device and method for adjusting the torque transmitted by a friction clutch A device for setting the torque transmitted by a friction clutch (12), having an actuator chain which comprises an electric motor (45), a step-down gear (42) and a mechanism for converting the rotational movement into a displacement of a pressur... | 04/25/2006 |
| 6915887 | Drive member for a water pump of the cooling-water circuit of an internal combustion engine and frictional shift clutch A drive member (1) for a water pump of the cooling-water circuit of an internal combustion engine, with a drive wheel (7) and a shaft (4) which is coupled to the water pump, is proposed. According to the invention, for the transmission of torque... | 07/12/2005 |
| 6917868 | Method and device for adjusting a torque output of a power train of a motor vehicle A method and apparatus for adjusting the torque output of a power train of a motor vehicle. An engine is connected to the input end of a continuously variable belt-type transmission. The output end of the belt-type transmission is operably connected to the drivable ... | 07/12/2005 |
| 6896112 | Clutch-actuating device and methods of determining clutch parameters A clutch-actuating device for a clutch in a motor vehicle power train has an actuator motor driving an actuating member and a transfer mechanism which transmits the movement of the actuating member to a clutch release element that is movable against an opposing forc... | 05/24/2005 |
| 6851533 | Spring brake actuator A spring brake actuator is mounted with its shaft connected to the rotational operative shaft of a service brake actuator. The spring brake actuator has a clock spring, which is mechanically charged at a rotation of the actuator shaft in a brake release direction. I... | 02/08/2005 |
| 6779619 | Electromechanical park pawl for electric vehicle transmissions A parking pawl is implemented on a series type, hybrid electric vehicle by providing a transmission having a moveable locking plate. The locking plate is used to selectively engage and disengage from one of the power transfer gears of the transmission. While the loc... | 08/24/2004 |
| 6763922 | Clutch engaging and disengaging apparatus A clutch engaging and disengaging apparatus 1 is provided with a motor 2, a motion converting mechanism 3 that converts the rotational motion of the motor 2 into linear motion, a load storing mechanism 4 that stores a load when the... | 07/20/2004 |
| 6662919 | Method of and apparatus for the application of electric current to components of clutch actuating assemblies The engageable and disengageable friction clutch between the prime mover and the gearbox in the power train of a motor vehicle can be adjusted by an electric motor against the opposition of at least one resilient element by applying rest current from a so... | 12/16/2003 |
| 6502681 | Clutch connection control system To provide a clutch connection control system capable of shortening a time required for clutch connection, preventing the degradation of riding comfort upon clutch connection, and ensuring good operability. A separation distance, that is, a shift amount o... | 01/07/2003 |
| 6450311 | Automatic operating apparatus for a friction clutch The object is to provide a small-sized automatic operating apparatus for a friction clutch. In an automatic operating apparatus 1 for a friction clutch in which the rotation of a motor 2 is reduced by a reduction mechanism 3 to rotate a crank 4, thereby a... | 09/17/2002 |
| 6443287 | Clutch A clutch for connecting a flywheel (1) on a drive shaft (2) of an engine with a driven shaft (15) of a gearbox. The flywheel (1) is connected to a clutch cover (7) and between them there is disposed an axially movable pressure plate (8). A clutch disc (9)... | 09/03/2002 |
| 6412613 | Electric brake An electric motor brake has a printed circuit board which circumferentially locates and. Returns a plurality of electromagnetic coil assemblies within a coil housing. The circuit board simplifies both the assembly and wiring associated with the electric m... | 07/02/2002 |
| 6409000 | Two-way clutch and rotation transmission device A two-way clutch is provided which comprises an inner member formed with a plurality of pockets opening toward its outer peripheral surface, an outer member mounted on the inner member and formed with a plurality of pockets opening toward its inner periph... | 06/25/2002 |
| 6409003 | Clutch control apparatus A clutch control apparatus includes a clutch disk, which is engaged with a flywheel, by means of a diaphragm spring; a release mechanism (including a rod and an electric motor) for pressing a central portion of the diaphragm spring; and a clutch control c... | 06/25/2002 |
| 6315088 | Spring-set electromagnetically released brake A spring-set, electromagnetically released brake that requires a relatively small amount of current to release is provided. The brake includes a magnet shell disposed about a first axis. The shell includes a radially outwardly extending pole. The brake al... | 11/13/2001 |
| 6269926 | Friction clutch with electromechanical actuator, in particular for motor vehicle The friction clutch has on the one hand a clutch engagement device comprising a diaphragm (3) and on the other hand a linkage (80), an actuator (50, 60, 70, 90, 91) for controlling the said linkage, and an adjustment device (10), for compensating for the ... | 08/07/2001 |
| 6269917 | Electromagnetically actuated brake For an electromagnetically actuated brake, in particular a stopping brake, having a high stopping moment and short braking paths and consisting of a cam disc (3) which is guided in a torsion-proof manner, a spring (4) which presses the cam disc axially in... | 08/07/2001 |
| 6167997 | Electronically controlled clutch actuation system Clutches are provided with electrically controlled actuation elements for selectively moving a sleeve between engaged and non-engaged positions. The electrically controlled elements may include rotary motors driving a sleeve through a ball screw connectio... | 01/02/2001 |
| 6155386 | Spring-actuated electromagnetic brake with noise suppressing device A spring-actuated electromagnetic brake includes an adjustment plate attached a rotating shaft and having an annular recess in one end face thereof facing a boss of a brake plate slidably mounted on the rotating plate. An annular elastic member is dispose... | 12/05/2000 |
| 6105743 | Method and apparatus for regulating the transmission of torque in power trains A method of monitoring a torque transmission system with a manually switchable gearbox in the power train of a motor vehicle involves the utilization of at least one sensor unit at the input side of the torque transmission system to ascertain relevant pos... | 08/22/2000 |
| 6050379 | Algorithm for electro-mechanical clutch actuator In providing automated shifting of a manual transmission, the electro-mechanical clutch actuator of the present invention is provided for disengaging and engaging the clutch of a manual-type transmission. The control algorithm includes utilizing an adapti... | 04/18/2000 |
| 6032776 | Automatic operating apparatus for a friction clutch An automatic clutch operating control apparatus which can rapidly perform the disconnection of a friction clutch of a transmission by the assistance of the accumulated load in a coil spring. Comprising a motor 4 rotatable forward and backward; reduction m... | 03/07/2000 |
| 6026945 | Automatic operating apparatus for a friction clutch An automatic operating apparatus for a friction clutch is disclosed which apparatus performs the disconnection of the clutch of a transmission by the assistance of the accumulated load in a load accumulator which can perform the accumulation and the relea... | 02/22/2000 |
| 6012561 | Dual clutch design for and electro-mechanical automatic transmission having a dual input shaft A dual clutch system is provided for a transmission having dual input shafts. The dual clutch system includes first and second flywheels as well as first and second friction disk assemblies and first and second pressure plates for pressing against said fi... | 01/11/2000 |
| 6009989 | Coupling for rotationally connecting together the drive shafts of weave machines and weaving looms A loom coupling has a loom shaft with a disk having teeth on its face engageable with a toothed wheel mounted on a machine shaft. An annular electromagnet on a support surrounding the end of the loom shaft is juxtaposed directly with the disk and axially ... | 01/04/2000 |
| 6000517 | Automatic clutch operating apparatus An automatic clutch control apparatus which can rapidly perform the disconnection of a friction clutch of a transmission by the assistance of the accumulated load in a coil spring comprising a motor 4 rotatable forward and backward; reduction means 27, 23... | 12/14/1999 |
