Did You Know...
...that Charles Goodyear performed some of his experiments on rubber while in debtor's prison? He was there so often he referred to it as his "hotel". Chronically in debt because of poor business sense and ill health, Goodyear depended on the generosity of friends and family. Even after he unlocked the secret to vulcanizing rubber, he was unable to improve his financial situation. When he died, his estate was $200,000 in debt.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7581460 | Drive assembly A drive assembly, particularly for driving arms around a compartment in a waste material digester, comprises a rotatable hub having an inner drive plate and a ratchet plate secured thereto for rotation therewith. Positionally opposed, parallel piston and cylinder dr... | 09/01/2009 |
| 7265480 | Vibration wave linear motor and a driving method thereof A vibration wave linear motor is a vibration wave linear motor that can drive a plurality of driving targets with a simple and small configuration. In the linear motor, two guide members sandwich two vibrators, which are individually and electrically connected to a ... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7199506 | Piezoelectric actuator for driving lens An actuator of the present invention comprises a piezoelectric element, one end face of the piezoelectric element in a displacement direction being supported by a fixing member, a block shaped driving member attached to the other end face of the piezoelectric elemen... | 04/03/2007 |
| 6926305 | Air, electric and hydraulic landing gear jack A trailer landing gear drive system in which pneumatic, hydraulic and electric motors, as well as the traditional hand crank, are easily interchangeable. The landing gear jack mechanism is disposed to easily connect to any one of these drive motors. The system can u... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6769323 | Spring motor for generating electrical energy An engine (10) which can deliver mechanical work for an extended duration in comparison to the duration of energy input into the engine. The engine (10) includes a drive shaft (11) through which it delivers mechanical work. The drive shaft (1... | 08/03/2004 |
| 6367342 | Indexing drive and transmission Indexing drives associated with a transmission each include a housing having a plurality of guideways, actuators slidably mounted in the guideways and a carrier with follower elements. The actuators include drive elements which can extend to the follower ... | 04/09/2002 |
| 6211599 | Microelectromechanical ratcheting apparatus A microelectromechanical (MEM) ratcheting apparatus is disclosed which includes an electrostatic or thermal actuator that drives a moveable member in the form of a ring gear, stage, or rack. Motion is effected by one or more reciprocating pawls driven by ... | 04/03/2001 |
| 6158940 | Device for the back rounding of book blocks A device for the back rounding of book blocks in a book binding machine cooperating with a conveyor device. The device includes a driving arrangement and rounding elements driven in rotation by the driving arrangement. The rounding elements taking up the ... | 12/12/2000 |
| 6092431 | Rotary type driving device employing electromechanical transducer and apparatus provided with the rotary type driving device A driving device (actuator) 10 includes a driving shaft 16 which is Linearly driven in the axial direction by a piezoelectric element 15 and two disks 18a and 18b which are made of an elastic material and fixed to a rotary shaft 17. Peripheral portions of... | 07/25/2000 |
| 6084363 | Drive pulse generating apparatus for drive device using electromechanical transducer A drive pulse generating apparatus capable of freely adjusting drive speed of a drive device using an electromechanical transducer for adjusting the width of a rising portion and the width of a falling portion of a sawtooth waveform pulse having a gradual... | 07/04/2000 |
| 6032549 | Actuator, method of driving actuator, computer-readable medium for storing program processed by computer for executing driving method, and compact machine tool utilizing actuator An actuator comprises a base, a guide assembly mounted on the base, a first displacing unit mounted on the base for displacement into engagement with the guide assembly to place the first displacing unit in a fixed state and for displacement in a moving d... | 03/07/2000 |
| 5959376 | Microelectromechanical reciprocating-tooth indexing apparatus An indexing apparatus is disclosed that can be used to rotate a gear or move a rack in a precise, controllable manner. The indexing apparatus, based on a reciprocating shuttle driven by one or more actuators, can be formed either as a micromachine, or as ... | 09/28/1999 |
| 5953958 | Ram drive for a cylindrical drum An apparatus for rotating a drum employs a plurality of drive sprockets disposed about the outside surface of the drum and spaced-apart along the length of the drum. Each drive sprocket has a first flange, a second flange, and a plurality of pins intercon... | 09/21/1999 |
| 5950780 | Method of and apparatus for operating a transmission The power train of a motor vehicle employs an automated transmission and an automated clutch between the transmission and the combustion engine. The clutch is automatically disengaged prior to, and is automatically reengaged after, each selection of a par... | 09/14/1999 |
| 5895332 | Chain tensioning apparatus for a packaging machine A tensioning system for an endless chain comprising a snail cam mounted on a second shaft parallel to a sprocket shaft which supports a sprocket and chain, a follower running against the snail cam and mounted on a mechanism supporting the sprocket shaft, ... | 04/20/1999 |
| 5890391 | Linear drive mechanism using electromechanical conversion element A linear drive mechanism comprises an electromechanical conversion element for producing repeatable linear displacements in a predetermined direction, a working member fixedly connected to said electromechanical conversion element for simultaneous displac... | 04/06/1999 |
| 5881483 | Means for and methods of conveying information to prospective purchasers Advertisement at the point of purchase is presented by a box containing a rotary device which displays graphic material on each step of the device. The rotary device is mounted in a box having a lens focused on the graphic material. A very low cost is ach... | 03/16/1999 |
| 5868034 | Shifting apparatus for controlling a transmission shifter in a vehicle In the present invention, a single cylinder or solenoid, ratchet-action, three speed actuator is used on an in-line shifter which actuator can be controlled by a button, single rpm switch, timer or a multiple number of rpm switches, or timers with a speci... | 02/09/1999 |
| 5806221 | Drive for a multi-sided display sign A segmented sign drive provides rotational driving force from a drive arm moving in reciprocating motion. The arm moves a series of pins in a series of grooves located in drive disks. A drive disk is mounted to each segment of the sign so as to rotate the... | 09/15/1998 |
| 5788159 | Method and apparatus for applying compositions A circular, surface-coating application of sprayable composition or mortar is achieved through a rotatable spray head with at least one lateral discharge opening. The composition or mortar is distributed as uniformly and over as large a surface area as po... | 08/04/1998 |
| 5564340 | Coke oven rail car with drive control system for positioning the car and door extractor which compensates for thermal distortion of oven jambs A coke oven door extractor is mounted on the rail car and includes door engaging supports movable in individually differing amounts relative to a plane parallel to and including the door jamb and a door jamb height axis of symmetry and movable vertically,... | 10/15/1996 |
| 5553510 | Multi-speed transmission A multi-speed transmission for transmitting power between a first shaft and a second shaft includes a plurality of gear sets, a plurality of connector gears corresponding to the plurality of gear sets and a shifting mechanism. Each gear set includes a fir... | 09/10/1996 |
| 5447106 | Coke oven rail car with drive control system for positioning the car having gross and fine positioning drinks A coke oven rail car with a drive control system for positioning the car and for spotting the functional equipment carried by the car. A sensor determines the relative position of the car with respect to a selected oven in a coke oven battery. The car inc... | 09/05/1995 |
| 5429379 | Impulse drive mechanism and shock driver for a land vehicle A land vehicle or bicycle (110) is disclosed having a front wheel drive which includes an impulse drive mechanism and shock driver. The front wheel drive mechanism (140) includes a handle bar/driver mechanism (151) attached to an impulse drive mechanism (... | 07/04/1995 |
| 5337428 | Adjustable bed with mechanical jack An adjustable bed includes a base frame, a mattress frame and linkage for mounting the mattress frame for relative movement with respect to the base frame. A mechanical jack is operatively connected to the base frame and the linkage for moving the mattres... | 08/16/1994 |
| 5297449 | Transmission device A transmission device having a simplified construction as well as a higher power transmission efficiency is provided, wherein a rotational speed can be changed steplessly without interrupting a power transmission and the rotation can be reversed. In the o... | 03/29/1994 |
| 5294035 | Ratchet device having a stopper member for preventing excessive rotation of ratchet wheel, and tape feeding apparatus using the ratchet device A ratchet device is disclosed which includes a body, a ratchet wheel rotatably supported by the body, a feed pawl having an engaging portion engageable with teeth of the ratchet wheel, a support member for holding the feed pawl, a member for biasing the f... | 03/15/1994 |
| 5251364 | Drawing device for synthetic filaments An improved draw pin device for use in drawing synthetic filaments is disclosed, the draw pin being rotated stepwise by means of a stepper switch device with the rotation being affected by the pulling action of the filaments.... | 10/12/1993 |
| 5197500 | Combustion chamber cleaning machine A combustion cleaning machine for removing coatings on the interior of combustion chambers for jet engines is provided and includes a rotatable turntable for carrying a plurality of the generally cylindrical combustors to and from at least one work statio... | 03/30/1993 |
| 5152445 | Fastener group feeding device A fastener group device includes a feeding gear for meshing with connecting elements of a fastener group, a feeding pawl for intermittent rotation of the feeding gear, a stopper for preventing reverse rotation of the feeding gear and a feeding cam for rai... | 10/06/1992 |
| 5062551 | Postless pushup container The present invention is directed toward a material dispensing container that uses a flexible band to drive a piston within a storage container. The band is so formed so that it can be easily wound or folded within a small area at the bottom of the storag... | 11/05/1991 |
| 5027714 | Vehicular conveyor for car wash A vehicular conveying apparatus (10) for use in a car wash includes a plurality of plate-like pushers (20) individually mounted for pivotal movement to engage the rear of a wheel (12) and push in an upward and forward direction to urge the wheel (12) to r... | 07/02/1991 |
| 5020383 | Intermittent rotation drive apparatus utilizing air pressure Disclosed is an apparatus wherein the reciprocation of a piston which is achieved utilizing air pressure causes movement of a pawl portion provided on the piston, and this movement in turn causes intermittent rotation of a spindle. In particular, accordin... | 06/04/1991 |
| 4983097 | Tray tier stacking apparatus A tray stacking apparatus includes a pawl having a projection piece, a roller for opening the pawl, a roller for returning the pawl, and an urging device for urging the pawl into an open position or a closed position. The pawl is opened during its descent... | 01/08/1991 |
| 4956755 | Mechanical actuation A flashlight having a switch and beam adjustment mechanism located in the tailcap whereby the flashlight may be turned on and focused with one hand without changing the grip on the flashlight by that hand. Batteries of "AAAA" size are contemplated for use... | 09/11/1990 |
| 4951846 | Hot melt applicator with anti-drip mechanism A hot melt applicator has a feeding mechanism for advancing a block of solid material toward a melting chamber, and the feeding mechanism includes a retraction device for shifting the block a slight distance in a rearward direction to a retracted position... | 08/28/1990 |
| 4939325 | Push-button multi-position switch In the stepping or indexing drive of a character drum having secured thereat a pinion, wherein there is provided an actuation plunger for rotary motion of the pinion in the one direction and another actuation plunger for rotary motion of the pinion in the... | 07/03/1990 |
| 4892623 | Two-speed stepper actuator A two-speed stepper actuator unit for use in paper machine headbox slice lip control has a spindle 16 driven by a power nut 24. A lever clamp 32 has legs 34 and 36 selectively clamped together around nut 24 by means of a cam action locking plate 40 driven... | 01/09/1990 |
| 4848598 | Dispensing device A dispensing device of the hand-help pump type has an internal piston which is pulled up by a rod passing through the piston, which rod is moved by an actuator. When the contents of the piston are emptied, in order to attach a refill, a dog release mechan... | 07/18/1989 |
| 4838495 | Apparatus for starting rotation of tape-supply spool An apparatus for starting rotation of a non-driven tape-supply spool comprises a lever pivotally connected at its base to one side of a frame by a pivot, a first cylinder pivotally connected at its base to the same side of the frame by the same pivot and ... | 06/13/1989 |
