Did You Know...
...that power steering was invented by independent inventor Francis W. Davis? As chief engineer in the 1920s of the truck division of the Pierce Arrow Motor Car Company, he saw how hard it was to steer heavy vehicles. So that he would be able to keep the profits from his future invention, Davis left his job, rented a small engineering shop in Waltham, Mass., and developed a hydraulic power steering system that led to power steering.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 6931954 | Power transmission device A power transmission device includes a pair of gear assemblies and an idle. Each of the gear assemblies includes a first gear having continuous external teeth on a peripheral wall and a second gear having continuous external teeth on a peripheral wall. The first gea... | 08/23/2005 |
| 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 |
| 6684724 | Shape memory alloy step drive mechanism for providing step motion to a system A shape memory alloy step drive mechanism includes at least one shape memory alloy element (1) with a fixed end, the other end being connected to one end of a lever (2). The lever (2) is provided with a pawl (4) which is located to move on the teeth of a ... | 02/03/2004 |
| 6324632 | Processing a data stream A method and computer for processing an incoming data stream, for example of video or audio data is described. A system memory is divided into first and second memory spaces, the first memory space for holding a data stream and the second memory space for... | 11/27/2001 |
| 6227605 | Operating system for a movable motor vehicle part An operating system is used for hydraulic convertible top locking systems in retractable roof convertibles. A control unit has a control piston which is loaded in one axial direction by the hydraulic driving unit and in the opposite axial direction by a m... | 05/08/2001 |
| 5996741 | Pin-in-track lift system A lift system for raising and lowering a carriage may comprise a pin-in-track position indexing apparatus having a position indexing track with first and second inclined branches and at least one guide pin for engaging the position indexing track. The gui... | 12/07/1999 |
| 5974943 | Variable stroke motor and valve A fluid valve system is provided for a variable stroke motor. The valve has a housing forming a cylinder, a first fluid input into the cylinder, a first fluid output out of the cylinder, a second fluid input into the cylinder, and a second fluid output ou... | 11/02/1999 |
| 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 |
| 5823906 | Nutation motion generator A nutation motion generator which transforms linear motion into nutation motion. The device employs a spherical, four-bar linkage mechanism. Three four-bar linkage mechanisms are sandwiched between a stationary support surface and a drive plate and arrang... | 10/20/1998 |
| 5819586 | Linear motion to rotary motion converter A linear motion to rotary motion converter. A moving cam carrier reciprocates with respect to a rotating turntable having a plurality of fingers, preferably roller bearings, secured to and extending from the turntable parallel to the axis of rotation of t... | 10/13/1998 |
| 5806404 | Rotary piston driving mechanism A driving mechanism transforms continuous longitudinal reciprocation of a piston in a chamber into unidirectional rotation. The mechanism utilizes a closed wave-shaped groove defined in either the cylinder or the chamber and adapted to receive guiding mem... | 09/15/1998 |
| 5592866 | Rotary piston driving mechanism A driving mechanism transforms continuous longitudinal reciprocation of a piston in a chamber into unidirectional rotation. The mechanism utilizes a closed wave-shaped groove defined in either the cylinder or the chamber and adapted to receive guiding mem... | 01/14/1997 |
| 5562010 | Reversing drive A shaft is provided with a low speed oscillating progressive drive by means of hydraulic cylinders which operate a lever mechanism which may be clutched to and declutched from, the shaft. A pneumatic control system senses the position of the pistons of th... | 10/08/1996 |
| 5467684 | Rotary piston driving mechanism A driving mechanism transforms continuous longitudinal reciprocation of a piston in a chamber into unidirectional rotation. The mechanism utilizes a closed wave-shaped groove defined in either the cylinder or the chamber and adapted to receive guiding mem... | 11/21/1995 |
| 5345767 | Vibration motor A vibration motor comprises a first member for receiving an external vibration, a second member set to be brought into collision with the first member as a result of the receipt of the external vibration, and a converting mechanism provided at the first m... | 09/13/1994 |
| 5279209 | Rotary machine A machine that converts between reciprocating motion of a piston and rotary motion of a shaft. The shaft rotates an integral web that carries a number of lobe wheels spaced evenly about a pitch circle centered on the shaft. The lobe wheels are planetary d... | 01/18/1994 |
| 5176038 | Motion converting mechanism and rotary tool A motion converting mechanism wherein two sets of one-way clutch mechanisms are added to a mechanism for converting a rectilinear reciprocating motion into a rotary motion through a rack and pinion combination. The two sets of one-way clutch mechanisms in... | 01/05/1993 |
| 5107717 | Camming apparatus for a rotary sprinkler A rotary sprinkler including a stationary cylinder, one end of which is connectable to a water supply line, a central rod rotatably mounted inside the cylinder, having at least one supply duct passing therethrough and directly leading to a sprinkler head ... | 04/28/1992 |
| 4912995 | Thrust to torque converter, particularly for coupling a reciprocating shaft to a rotary electrical generator or the like A rotary-to-linear mechanical motion converter has a housing attachable to a drive engine, an input shaft reciprocable to the housing and coupled directly or through a gear arrangement to a reciprocating output shaft of the drive engine, a first drive tra... | 04/03/1990 |
| 4771646 | Rotating and indexing mechanism A rotating and indexing mechanism (10) having two spaced apart, rows of toothed profiles (48, 52) which form camming surfaces for two spaced apart rows (62, 64) of cam followers (32). The toothed profiles (48, 54) and cam followers (32) are such that when... | 09/20/1988 |
| 4729251 | Stepping mechanism A stepping mechanism comprises a toothed wheel and a shifting member which shifts toothed wheel by a tooth pitch. The movement plane of the shifting member extends at a right angle to that of the toothed wheel. A two-armed shifting pawl which is supported... | 03/08/1988 |
| 4727763 | Mechanism for transforming a reciprocating rectilinear motion into an intermittent rotary motion A mechanism for transforming a reciprocating rectilinear motion into an intermittent rotary motion comprises a first element having a longitudinal axis and being reciprocable in a direction parallel to said axis, and a second element coaxially surrounding... | 03/01/1988 |
| 4726241 | Continuous force and impact generator A purely mechanical apparatus using a number of centrifugal force generating devices produces a unidirectional continuous centrifugal force on the main frame of the generator which is capable of propelling the generator in a straight line or of imposing a... | 02/23/1988 |
| 4712772 | Power hydraulic gear A power hydraulic gear comprising a housing (1) which accommodates a piston (3) through which a traction guide member (7) is passed, and a mechanism for alternately engaging the piston (3) with the traction member (7). The traction member (7) is a rope se... | 12/15/1987 |
| 4711139 | Infinitely variable rotary drive transmission The present invention provides for improvements made to the infinitely variable rotary drive transmission U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,161 dated Dec. 10, 1985, having an input member and an output member rotatably mounted to a housing. Two articulated shafts are r... | 12/08/1987 |
| 4534235 | Rotary stepper actuator A pair (20) of unidirection actuators are opposingly disposed coaxially about an elongated member (1) for controllably imparting a series of stepwise rotary movements thereto. An outer race (5) disposed within a housing (2) is rotationally reciprocated as... | 08/13/1985 |
| 4512217 | Linear ratchet A ratchet wrench has a member provided with a graspable handle. Two toothed racks are mounted on the member and biased to move inwardly of a slot. A socket has a pawl-like toothed portion extending circumferentially thereabout and engaging both racks. The... | 04/23/1985 |
| 4506124 | Push-push switch A push-push switch comprises a dielectric housing in which electrical contact members are secured; contact sections of the contact members are in normal electrical engagement and terminal sections of the contact members are to be electrically connected to... | 03/19/1985 |
| 4426916 | Variable displacement motor The present invention converts longitudinal motion into rotary motion. A reciprocating piston (that may receive a motive force from any desired means) oscillates longitudinally on a drive shaft. Extending through the piston parallel to the drive shaft is ... | 01/24/1984 |
| 4398431 | Mechanical power transmitting system In a mechanical system including a rotatable drive member and a load, a power transmitting device utilizing centrifugal force is employed for connecting the drive member to the load. In the device sequentially occurring centrifugal forces of opposite dire... | 08/16/1983 |
| 4335853 | Motion transmission device A linear to rotary motion transmission device comprises a reciprocal rack having a plurality of ratchet teeth engageable with flexible pawls of a rotary pinion. Reciprocation of the rack in one direction causes driving engagement between the pawls and the... | 06/22/1982 |
| 4306368 | Visual communications device for use by handicapped persons A communications device including a display panel having a plurality of symbols arrayed thereon in a circle, each of the symbols indicating a particular idea to be communicated, and a pointer projecting radially from the center of the circle. An indexing ... | 12/22/1981 |
| 4286707 | Device for driving an endless chain A device for driving an endless chain or the like, particularly, though not exclusively, a chain of the flat-link kind used in bucket elevators, the device comprising a reciprocating slipper having locking means which grips the chain in one direction of r... | 09/01/1981 |
| 4282720 | Refrigerator air baffle control A side-by-side refrigerator of the type having a single evaporator, single fan including a freezer compartment thermostat controlling operation of the evaporator and fan, and a fresh food compartment thermostat controlling the operation of the fan and an ... | 08/11/1981 |
| 4281852 | Motion converting system A motion converting system is configured for operating a vehicular jacking mechanism having a jacking member and a shaft rotatable for actuating the jacking member. The system comprises a sleeve for receiving the shaft which is then coupled to the sleeve,... | 08/04/1981 |
| 4280675 | Controllable kite A kite that is controllable from the ground by a control cord connected to the kite. The cord is connected to a control on the kite for moving a bridle loop which repositions the location of the connection of the cord to the bridle loop with relation to t... | 07/28/1981 |
| 4277224 | Fan attachment for rocking chairs A fan constructed according to the present invention has a base supporting a vertical tube having a movable vertical rod inside. The lower end of the rod is hingedly connected to a means for attaching the device to a moving part of a rocking chair, such a... | 07/07/1981 |
| 4270399 | Counter drive mechanism A drive mechanism for converting reciprocating motion into intermittent rotary motion for use in a decimal counter or the like having an integrally molded drive member having two flexibly mounted pawls which are spring biased to insure engagement with the... | 06/02/1981 |
| 4170165 | System for operation of gas controlled devices embodying an automatic programmable value sequencer adapted to cease operation upon the occurrence of a malfunction The specification discloses an automatic programmable valve sequencer employing a rotatable cam cylinder operating adjacent cam valves by means of cam segments mounted thereon to directly operate air cylinders or other air-operated tools. While the cam cy... | 10/09/1979 |
| 4165656 | Multi-mode ratchet indexer A multi-mode indexer having a gear wheel rotatably mounted on a base; a drive bracket assembly is rotatably mounted coaxially with the wheel shaft for reciprocal movement relative to the shaft. A first pair of oppositely disposed pawls are mounted to the ... | 08/28/1979 |
