Did You Know...
...that while attempting to develop a super strong glue, 3M employee Spencer Silver accidentally developed a glue that was so weak it would barely hold two pieces of paper together? However, his colleague Art Fry needed the glue. Fry sang with his church choir and marked the pages of his hymnal with small scraps of paper that often fell out. He used Silver's glue to hold the papers in place. Today we call this invention Post-it Notes.
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7331318 | Camshaft adjuster with play-free locking Camshaft adjusters according to the swivel motor principle may be provided with a bar which arrests the rotor in a position relative to the stator. A bar according to the invention is provided with two portions, between which a change of power transmission takes pla... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7270096 | Variable phase drive mechanism A twin vane-type phaser is described which is provided with a locking mechanism for locking the drive member to the driven members when the pressure in the working chambers is a below is predetermined value. The locking mechanism comprises two coaxial locking pins | 09/18/2007 |
| 7225772 | Method, control unit and program code for a control unit for controlling a camshaft control device To operate a steplessly adjustable camshaft control device, particularly reliably and safely, an adaptation of the camshaft and the crankshaft is performed so that a phase angle (actual value) of the camshaft to the crankshaft is determined, the phase angle is monit... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7219781 | Electromagnetic suspension system An electromagnetic suspension system comprises a universal joint mechanism for permitting radial movement of a cylinder relative to a center yoke while preventing axial movement of the cylinder relative to the center yoke. Since the cylinder is capable of radial mov... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7216581 | Piston locking actuator A locking actuator may be locked in an extended position. A piston with a first and a second end defines a recess that originates proximate to the first end. A strut is adapted to at least partially nest within the recess and the strut is adapted to hold at least on... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7204217 | Hydraulic camshaft adjuster for a camshaft of an internal combustion engine In a hydraulic camshaft adjuster for a camshaft of an internal combustion engine, with an inner body connected for rotation with the camshaft and having at least one vane extending into a chamber formed in an outer body mounted rotatably relative to the camshaft and... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7195197 | Techniques for controlling a fin with unlimited adjustment and no backlash A fin control assembly includes a housing, an arm configured to couple to a fin and to steer the fin relative to the housing, and a locking member disposed within the housing. The locking member is configured to (i) lock the arm in a substantially fixed state to inh... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7125058 | Locking device with solenoid release pin A locking device with a solenoid release actuator includes a housing, a plunger axially slidable within the housing, a biasing member for biasing the plunger in a first direction, one or more locking balls, and the locking balls disposed in an aperture in the housin... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7059286 | Valve timing control apparatus for internal combustion engine In a valve timing control apparatus, hydraulic oil is supplied into retarding and advancing chambers, and first and second hydraulic chambers, when hydraulic pressure is less than a predetermined pressure and when a phase difference between a most advancing target p... | 06/13/2006 |
| 6971351 | Valve timing adjusting device A region including an engaging hole is given surface treatment such as partial quench hardening by induction hardening for improving surface hardness of the region. The partial quench hardening by induction hardening provides the region with satisfactory mechanical ... | 12/06/2005 |
| 6962133 | Variable valve timing control device A variable valve timing control device comprises a housing member integrally rotating with either one of a crankshaft or a camshaft of an internal combustion engine, a rotor member assembled to the housing member so as to be rotatable relative thereto, including at ... | 11/08/2005 |
| 6945156 | Device for switching and locking moving points components The invention relates to a device for displacing and locking movable switch parts (1), comprising a hydraulic piston, which is formed by a rod (6) and cooperates, via coupling or locking members (8), with an axially displaceable sleeve (5... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6935097 | Lock assembly that inhibits thrust reverser movement at or near the stowed position A lock assembly for a thrust reverser system that prevents thrust reverser deployment when the thrust reversers are in the stowed position, but does not prevent thrust reverser movement, in either the deploy or stow directions, when the thrust reversers are out of t... | 08/30/2005 |
| 6880505 | Valve timing control system Due to the fact that a regulator engages with an engagement aperture when hydraulic pressure is low due to unexpected decreases in engine rotation frequency during relative turning of a valve timing control device, the valve timing control device re-enters a regulat... | 04/19/2005 |
| 6739298 | Valve timing adjusting apparatus In a valve timing adjusting apparatus, rotating response speed of a vane rotor and a moving speed of a lock piston are changed according to changes of oil temperature and pressure. It sometimes happens that the lock piston passes the fitting hole before the lock pis... | 05/25/2004 |
| 6722329 | Locking pin mechanism for a camshaft phaser A locking pin mechanism disposed in a bore in a cam phaser rotor vane for controllably engaging the camshaft sprocket to rotationally lock together the rotor and stator of a vane-type camshaft phaser. A lock pin sleeve in the bore extends from the vane through a slo... | 04/20/2004 |
| 6668778 | Using differential pressure control system for VCT lock A variable cam timing system comprising a VCT locking pin in hydraulic communication with the control circuit of the differential pressure control system (DPCS) is provided. When the control pressure is less than 50% duty cycle the same control signal com... | 12/30/2003 |
| 6241258 | Method of controlling clamping and unclamping of a hydraulic chuck A method is disclosed of controlling a hydraulic chuck of a rotary machine tool, the chuck clamping a workpiece to be machined and being actuated by a double-acting clamping/unclamping actuator. A clamping pressure controlled in accordance with a clamping... | 06/05/2001 |
| 6089111 | Sensor mounting device in fluid pressure cylinder A fixture 21 for mounting a sensor 20 on a fluid pressure cylinder is composed of a proximal end 21a that is attached to a tie rod 5 of the cylinder; and a tip portion 21b that abuts a cylinder tube to establish the position of the fixture 21. The proxima... | 07/18/2000 |
| 6042053 | Automatic restow system for aircraft thrust reverser An actuation activation system for an aircraft engine thrust reverser system is provided including an improved locking actuator (29), a sleeve sensor mechanism, and auto-restow control logic. The locking actuator (29) includes a lever (57) corresponding t... | 03/28/2000 |
| 5937730 | Pneumatically operable drive unit with a temperature dependent irreversibly releasable lock joint A drive unit is designed as a diaphragm drive with return springs for shifting an associated actuator, connected by a diaphragm plate and a driving diaphragm, into a safety position. The drive unit also includes actuating springs that are held in a compre... | 08/17/1999 |
| 5632192 | Spring brake actuator with indicator for fully released condition A unique indicator system is incorporated into a release tool for a spring brake actuator. The indicator provides an indication of when the release tool has is fully released. The release tool is preferably of the type wherein a threaded member does not e... | 05/27/1997 |
| 5540138 | Lockup and release device A coupling mechanism, comprising a relatively fixed member and a relatively moveable member, is configured such that said moveable member may be securely connected in a locked position with said relatively fixed member by remote control of a shiftable mem... | 07/30/1996 |
| 5455509 | Device for mounting position detecting sensor A device for mounting a position detecting sensor for detecting a stroke of a cylinder. It has such an arrangement that a rotary angle of a magnetic sensor (1) is regulated to within &#b1;5 degrees by a slit (9) formed in a housing (2) mounted thereon wit... | 10/03/1995 |
| 5277101 | Rodless cylinder apparatus The rodless cylinder includes at least a cylinder tube and a piston, but it has no piston rod that is indispensable in the conventional cylinders. The article carrier is connected via the piston yoke to the piston and movable with parts and jigs placed th... | 01/11/1994 |
| 5256840 | Holding device for piston position detector Holding device for a piston position detector, contained in a casing and being displaceably mounted on the outside of a fluid pressure cylinder. The holding device consists essentially of a U-shaped yoke being displaceable along two mutually parallel guid... | 10/26/1993 |
| 5050484 | Hydraulic actuator with locking mechanism A hydraulic actuator comprising a cylinder formed with an axial cylinder chamber, a main piston provided in the cylinder chamber and dividing the chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber and further formed with a locking chamber, an annular locki... | 09/24/1991 |
| 4856411 | Overload release system for an axially movable bolt An apparatus is proposed for releasably locking a bolt in the axial direction relative to a housing element surrounding it, in which the bolt has a circumferential groove tapering radially inward and a locking element inserted into this groove with a cros... | 08/15/1989 |
| 4796513 | Spring brake cylinder A sensing means is provided to indicate an operating condition of a spring brake cylinder assembly in which such operating condition may be one of a brake applied and a brake release position. The sensing means engages a clutch control mechanism which inc... | 01/10/1989 |
| 4779513 | Pneumatic cylinder with rod braking and decelerating mechanism A pneumatic cylinder device having a decleration mechanism. The pneumatic cylinder device has a pneumatic cylinder including a cylinder accomodating a piston movable in the cylinder in response to supply and discharge of compressed air and having a connec... | 10/25/1988 |
| 4754694 | Fluid actuator with lock position indicating means A fluid actuator includes a lock mechanism for releasably locking the actuator against movement, and a lock release lever engageable by a lock piston upon application of system pressure thereto to release the lock mechanism. The lock mechanism includes an... | 07/05/1988 |
| 4700814 | Locking device for reciprocating members A locking device for a circumferentially grooved reciprocating member is disclosed. In one embodiment the locking device includes a housing, through which the reciprocating member passes, having a pair of spring biased locking elements and a release eleme... | 10/20/1987 |
| 4585172 | Hydraulic actuation Apparatus and method for hydraulic actuation via multiple synchronized hydraulic motors with air purging, synchronizing, and force limiting features.... | 04/29/1986 |
| 4559865 | Device to transfer mechanical motion across fluid barrier A device to provide for mechanical motion between a locking element in a hydraulic actuator to an external indication device, comprises: (a) a housing defining a first generally longitudinally extensive passage, and a lock element in longitudinal alignment wit... | 12/24/1985 |
| 4491059 | Fluid actuator with manual lock release and lock position sensor Fluid actuator includes a lock mechanism for releasably locking the actuator against movement, and a lock release assembly including a lock piston engageable with a toggle linkage upon application of fluid pressure to the lock piston to release the lock m... | 01/01/1985 |
| 4406423 | Reel support system A fluid operated pintle assembly for rotatively supporting a reel where clearance is provided between the walls of a pintle carrying piston and its cylinder and an annular diaphragm extends across the piston and cylinder in sealing engagement and extends ... | 09/27/1983 |
| 4295413 | Hydraulic actuator A hydraulic actuator comprises: a cylinder; a piston axially slidably received in the cylinder and having a hollow bore axially extending therein; at least a locking member radially movably retained in the piston; a ram axially slidably received in the ho... | 10/20/1981 |
| 4240332 | Fluid operated locking actuator A fluid pressure actuator which locks in the extended position. The lock is a roller operated, dual segment pawl mechanism that unlocks in response to a pressure difference between extend and retract pressures. The two lock segments, chamfered for engagem... | 12/23/1980 |
| 4230023 | Clamping apparatus This specification discloses a clamping apparatus having an adjustable strap, a clamping member on the strap, means for securing the strap to a first object and means for shortening the effective length of the strap to clamp the first object to another ob... | 10/28/1980 |
| 4167891 | Hydraulic actuator Herein disclosed is a hydraulic actuator which comprises an outer cylinder; an inner cylinder attached at its one end to the axial inner one end of the outer cylinder in coaxial relation with the outer cylinder to define an annular gap between the outer a... | 09/18/1979 |
