19848 results about "Rack and pinion" patented technology

A device and method for applying a fibrinogen-based tissue sealant to seamlessly connect human or animal tissues or organ parts, to seal wounds, stop bleeding and the like by mixing fibrin or fibrinogen with blood clot-promoting coagulation factors are disclosed. The device includes two cylindrical compartments for separately containing the separate fluid components of the sealant preparation, which are simultaneously displaced from the respective compartments by plungers commonly depressable with the same effective strokes. The plungers may be depressed directly or by a common mechanism (e.g., rack and pinion) for accurately controlling the rate of dispensing fluid. The cylindrical compartments are of the same or different cross-sectional area and are arranged either concentrically or side-by-side. The device further includes structure for merging the two fluid components within an outer sleeve housing an inner needle. The sleeve and needle contain conduits for the flow of the two fluid sealant components as they are expressed from the respective compartments. Also disclosed are a convenient device for filling the two compartments, structure for mixing the fluid components, and for atomizing the effluent sealant fluid stream (i.e., spraying).

Dimensionally adjustable spinal prostheses are adjustable in an axial or superior to inferior dimension such that spinal prostheses may assume variations in height. The height adjustable spinal prostheses are characterized by first and second portions that are configured for adjustable coupling with one another. Spatial adjustment between the first and second portions is provided by an adjustment assembly. The adjustment mechanism preferably, but not necessarily, provides infinite adjustment over a minimum prosthesis height to a maximum prosthesis height. In one form, first and second ends of the height adjustable spinal prostheses are configured to receive an endplate. The endplates aid in attachment and / or anchoring of the spinal prosthesis within the spine. The endplates may be fashioned in various configurations such as circular or anatomical. In one form, the adjustment assembly utilizes rotational motion for varying the axial position of one prosthetic portion relative to the other prosthetic portion. Rotational movement of an adjustment mechanism of the adjustment assembly is translated into axial movement of one prosthetic portion relative to the other prosthetic portion. In another form, the adjustment mechanism is a screw and gearing assembly. In yet another form, the adjustment mechanism is a rack and pinion assembly.

A delivery mechanism for an implantable stent which provides a high mechanical advantage to the surgeon and convenient operation so as to facilitate smooth withdrawal of an outer catheter sheath following placement of the stent in the desired location within the patient's vessel. Preferred embodiments include a moving rail actuated by a V-shaped lever, a hydraulic actuator, a rack and pinion drive, and a power screw system. The delivery mechanism has a movable member that is attached to the outer catheter sheath so that actuating the mechanism results in an incremental movement of the moveable member, which in turn results in an incremental movement of the outer catheter sheath. Once the outer catheter sheath is retracted from the stent, the stent is deployed into the patient's vessel and the remaining parts of the mechanism, including an inner tube, an atraumatic tip, and a stabilizing element, are easily removed.

A swivel-type computer peripheral device includes a housing and a swivel rack assembly that swivels relative to the housing between a retracted position, in which a PCBA having a plug connector mounted on the swivel rack assembly is disposed inside the housing, and a deployed position, in which the swivel rack assembly is rotated outside of the housing such that the plug connector is positioned for insertion into a host computer socket. A torsion spring is connected between the housing and the swivel rack assembly and arranged to bias the swivel rack assembly either into the deployed position or into the retracted position. A locking mechanism controlled by a push button or another actuating mechanism is used to selectively lock the swinging rack in a retracted position and a deployed position.

A vehicle steering apparatus includes a steering input section having at least a steering wheel to which steering input is applied, and a steering output section having at least a steering rack shaft and operatively associated with left and right steered wheels for steering the steered wheels by steering-rack-shaft movement produced by a steering force determined based on the steering input and transmitted directly or indirectly to the steering rack shaft. The steering rack shaft is split into left and right movable rack shaft portions. Also provided is a steer angle converter enabling a differential rack stroke between left and right rack strokes of the left and right movable rack shaft portions. The steer angle converter is constructed by at least one of a variable-pitch dual rack arrangement and a dual taper-pulley arrangement of a cable back-up mechanism.

An improved recessed lighting fixture allowing illumination from a lighting unit placed within a cavity of a planar surface, such as a ceiling or wall. The invention facilitates the ability to properly aim illumination because the user can aim the fixture while it is in place and illuminated. The invention is additionally designed to allow the substitution of lamps / light bulbs without requiring re-aiming of the fixture and to be used without modification with ceiling materials of varying thickness. The invention also includes an azimuthal adjustment mechanism wherein the lamp is mounted on a gimbal having a rack and pinion coupling to rotate the gimbal under control of a screw accessible from the exterior of the fixture and a horizontal aiming system.

A wear compensator for use in a vehicle rack and pinion steering assembly and a method of biasing a rack against a pinion shaft gear in a rack and pinion steering assembly are disclosed. The wear compensator may include a rack follower, an adjuster plug, a wear cam and a torsion spring. The rack follower slides on the rack. The adjuster plug is retained by the steering gear housing and includes a plug cam surface. The wear cam includes a wear cam surface operatively engaging the plug cam surface, is mounted between the rack follower and the adjuster plug, and can rotate relative to the adjuster plug. The torsion spring connects between the adjuster plug and the wear cam in order to rotatably bias the wear cam relative to the adjuster plug.

A docking adapter capable of cooling a memory storage device such as a hard disk drive includes a carrier and a rack. The carrier has a face with a vent, a backplane, a first lateral side and second lateral side extending perpendicularly from the face to the backplane. At least one lateral side of the carrier has a periphery defining an opening. The rack has a first lateral rail and a second lateral rail configured for receiving the carrier. The carrier includes a fan mounted on the lateral rail of the rack to blow air through the opening of the carrier. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the fan is mounted on the carrier and the rack has a lateral opening. In each case, air is vented directly from the carrier to cool the hard disk drive.

A drive for transferring sideward motion from a first or driving elongate sickle knife to a second or driven elongate sickle knife longitudinally aligned with the first sickle knife. A double rack and pinion arrangement is used including at least one pinion mounted at a fixed location, a first sidewardly extending rack is connected to the first sickle knife for sideward movement therewith and a second sidewardly extending rack is connected to the second sickle knife for sideward movement therewith, the racks both being enmeshed with the pinion such that sideward movement of the driving knife causes corresponding opposite sideward movement of the longitudinally aligned driven knife.

A docking adapter capable of cooling a memory storage device such as a hard disk drive includes a carrier and a rack. The carrier has a face with a vent, a backplane, a first lateral side and second lateral side extending perpendicularly from the face to the backplane. At least one lateral side of the carrier has a periphery defining an opening. The rack has a first lateral rail and a second lateral rail configured for receiving the carrier. The carrier includes a fan mounted on the lateral rail of the rack to blow air through the opening of the carrier. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the fan is mounted on the carrier and the rack has a lateral opening. In each case, air is vented directly from the carrier to cool the hard disk drive.

An electric power steering system for an automotive vehicle, includes a torque sensor disposed to a steering shaft to detect a steering torque. A first pinion is disposed to the steering shaft. A rack shaft is in mesh with the first pinion and connected with the steering shaft to change a rotational motion of the steering shaft to an axial motion of the rack shaft and provided to be operated in relation to the steering shaft. A first motor is connected with the first pinion to generate a steering assist torque in accordance with the steering torque detected by the torque sensor. A second pinion is disposed to be separate from the first pinion and in mesh with the rack shaft. A second motor is connected with the second pinion to generate a steering assist torque in accordance with the steering torque.

An adjustable mounting system for a telescopic scope includes an adjustable elevation mount formed from a scope ring and an adjustable sub-base. A clevis portion of the scope ring holds an elevation pin that is received by a vertical slot in the adjustable sub-base. An internally longitudinal bore is disposed though the adjustable sub-base and an externally threaded barrel disposed in an opening of the longitudinal bore. A cylindrical elevation cam having an angled slot is disposed in the longitudinal bore and includes a positioning rod that extends through a bore disposed through the barrel. The angled slot receives the elevation pin as it extends through the vertical slot of the adjustable sub-base. The angled slot may be smooth or stepped. A bi-directional cam capture means is mechanically coupled to the elevation cam and provides for longitudinal displacement of the elevation cam through the cam bore. Detent mechanisms are incorporated in the cam capture means to provide audible or felt indication of elevation position. In various embodiments the cam capture means may be: a rack and pinion device operated by dial handle; a plunger attached to the positioning rod and extending through the rear of the sub-base, a lever attached to the positioning rod and extending through a notched slot in the side of the sub-base, a position dial including a dial thimble affixed to the positioning rod and threadably engaged with a barrel disposed on the sub-base. Other embodiments include a windage gib adjustably positioned in a bore of a lower portion of the sub-base and adapted to laterally offset the sub-base from the firearm rail.

A transmission device for converting a torque from rotary to linear movement includes a rack having a plurality of teeth and a pinion having rollers which mesh with the teeth of the rack, with pressurization provided therebetween. The rack has an arcuate tooth flank diametrically greater than each of the rollers of the pinion. The rack also has a tooth face which has an approach profile progressively moving away from the path of contact of each of the rollers along which each of the rollers would otherwise engage with the tooth face. A plurality of each of the rollers of the pinion concurrently mesh with the corresponding teeth of the rack. Another embodiment converts a torque between rotary and linear movement and comprises a pinion having a plurality of teeth and a rack having a plurality of rollers to mesh with the teeth of the pinion. The device achieves reduced transmission resistance, a silent intermeshing movement with no substantial noise and vibration, as well as reduced wear on the teeth and rollers.

A medication dispensing apparatus having a gear set (62) to provide a mechanical advantage to the plunging of the apparatus plunger (64). The gear set has a first pinion (114) in meshed engagement with a rack (91) of the plunger, and a second pinion (126) in meshed engagement with a rack (80) of a drive member (68) of the apparatus. The gear set operatively interconnects the plunger and the drive member such that after the plunger is moved relative to the housing (30, 31) in proximal direction to prepare the apparatus for injection, the plunger, when distally moved, causes the drive member to advance in a distal direction to force medication through an outlet, typically provided with an injection needle (40), at the distal end (22) of the apparatus. An opening (130) through one of the pinions accommodates the drive member to allow for a compact apparatus.

A pipe handling apparatus transfers successive lengths of drill pipe that are stored in a generally horizontal position on a pipe rack, to an elevated position on the rig deck of an oil and gas well drill rig. An elongated frame includes a base section with a folding section that can be inclined. Both the base and folding sections provide toothed racks. A trestle section travels from the base section toward the inclined section. Pinion gears at opposed end portions of the trestle section engage the toothed racks of the base and folding sections. The trestle section gradually increases in inclination as its front end portion travels toward and up hoisting rails of the inclined folding section. While the rear end of the trestle section remains on the base section, the front end portion of the trestle section climbs the toothed racks of the inclined rails.

Incline mechanisms are provided for adjusting an incline of an inclinable portion of an exercise device. The incline mechanism may include one or more racks disposed on a frame, such as a generally upright support structure of a treadmill. One or more pinions may be movably connected to the inclinable portion of the exercise device, such as a treadbase of a treadmill, and may engage the one or more racks. An incline motor may rotate the pinions, which causes the pinions to ride up or down the racks. As the pinions rides up or down the racks or linear gear bars, the incline of the inclinable portion of the exercise device is increased or decreased. The pinions may rotate between various positions on the racks which correspond to various inclines and declines, including fully inclined, fully declined, and neutral positions.

An air damper assembly for regulating an air flow includes a frame, a plurality of elongated damper blade rotatably mounted to the frame, and a drive mechanism for actuating the damper blades between open and closed positions. The drive mechanism includes a gear fixedly secured to a distal end of each of the damper blades and an elongated rack slidably coupled to the frame. The rack meshingly engages the gears such that linear movement of the rack in a first linear direction results in rotational movement of the damper blades in a first rotational direction and linear movement of the rack in a second linear direction opposite the first linear direction results in rotational movement of the damper blades in a second, rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction

A weight lifting power cage for use by a weight lifter includes a frame assembly including a pair of side frames and a rear lateral frame interconnecting the pair of side frames. A carriage is carried by the side frames and is movable simultaneously vertically and front to back. The carriage retains a weight bar mount for retaining a weight bar spanning between each side frame. The weight bar is movable by the carriage vertically and front to back. The movable carriage also carries a pair of vertical weight rack bars. An engagement mechanism enables the weight lifter to rack the weight bar from a weight lifting position without stepping forward or backward.

Running board systems are provided. The running board systems employ a motorized drive system that includes a rack-and-pinion system that enables both linear and rotational movement of the running board member, for example, through the use of a pivot member cooperating with one end of the running board member and one end of an arm member. The running board systems are automated and selectively operable to assume deployed and stowed positions. The running board systems can be used in conjunction with various surfaces of a vehicle, such as an aesthetically preferred flush style mounting to the rocker outer sheet metal surface such as but not limited to being mounted underneath a side door sill.

A lock system for integrating into an entry door having a vertical expanse and providing simultaneous multi-point locking along the vertical expanse of the entry door. The lock system includes a plurality of conventional deadbolt assemblies, a plurality of pinion gears, and a rack gear. The plurality of conventional deadbolt assemblies are positioned along the vertical expanse of the entry door. The plurality of pinion gears are operatively connected to the plurality of conventional deadbolt assemblies, respectively. The rack gear is operatively connected to the plurality of pinion gears so as to allow the plurality of pinions gears to operate simultaneously and form simultaneously operated pinion gears. The simultaneously operated pinion gears simultaneously operate the plurality of conventional deadbolt assemblies to provide simultaneous multi-point locking along the vertical expanse of the entry door.

Running board systems are provided. The running board systems employ a motorized drive system that includes a rack-and-pinion system that enables both linear and rotational movement of the running board member, for example, through the use of a pivot member cooperating with one end of the running board member and one end of an arm member. The running board systems are automated and selectively operable to assume deployed and stowed positions. The running board systems can be used in conjunction with various surfaces of a vehicle, such as an aesthetically preferred flush style mounting to the rocker outer sheet metal surface such as but not limited to being mounted underneath a side door sill.

An omnidirectional borehole navigation system comprising a housing for traversing a borehole; an outer gimbal connected to said housing and at least two or more stacked inner gimbals that are nested in and connected to said outer gimbal, said inner gimbals each having an axis parallel to one another and perpendicular to the outer gimbal; at least one inertial sensor located on each inner gimbal, the at least one inertial sensor including at least one gyro or accelerometer, the gyros having input axes that span three dimensional space and the accelerometers having input axes that span three dimensional space; one or more gyro circuits within the housing and responsive to the at least one gyro to produce the inertial angular rate about each gyro input axis; one or more accelerometer circuits within the housing and responsive to the at least one accelerometer to produce the non-gravitational acceleration along each accelerometer input axis; a processor responsive to said gyro circuits and said accelerometer circuits for determining the attitude and the position of said housing in the borehole; an outer gimbal drive system with complete rotary freedom; and an inner gimbal drive system for controlling the orientation of each of the inner gimbals. The drive system that controls the stacked inner gimbals may be a rack and pinion gear, or a gear train such as a bicycle chain gear rotating the inner gimbals in parallel between stops while maintaining the input axis orthogonality of gyro triads and the input axis orthogonality of accelerometer triads. The inner gimbal stops may be elastic to allow for small misalignments in the inner gimbal drive system.

In this vehicular chassis system, the vehicle's passenger compartment and wheels incline toward the turning center side in such a manner, that the wheels can be tilted independently from steering. This vehicle has a steering apparatus controlling the steering, and a separate apparatus controlling the lateral leaning. The lean is controlled mechanically using a pendulum, and forced lateral leaned using a control unit, or manually with the transfer of body weight using several pinions with a set ratio to control the passenger compartment lateral lean in conjunction with the wheel lateral lean. An electric DC servo gear motor can be used to control the lateral lean, that intern moves a pinion, which moves a rack and lateral movable cross member, while controlling the lateral leaning wheels and pulling the tilt support bar pivotally attached to a passenger compartment in the same leaning direction.

A steering control apparatus includes a rack shaft connected to steerable wheels and having rack teeth in a given axial range, a first steering mechanism having a reduction gear and a first electric motor to apply a drive force to the rack shaft through the reduction gear, a second steering mechanism having a second electric motor, a power cylinder equipped with hydraulic pressure chambers, an oil pump driven by the second electric motor to provide a supply of hydraulic oil to the hydraulic pressure chambers such that the power cylinder applies a driving force to the rack shaft in accordance with a pressure difference between the hydraulic pressure chambers and a switching unit capable of selectively switching the supply of hydraulic oil from the oil pump to the hydraulic pressure chambers, and a control device that controls the first and second electric motors in response to a driver's steering operation.

A rack and pinion storage system for use in a refrigerator compartment defined by a liner includes a pair of supports attached to opposing sidewalls of the liner. First and second gear covers snap-fittingly connect first and second gear wheels to respective first and second mounting brackets extending from a storage basket, such that the gear wheels are rotatably connected to the storage basket and have equal rotational and linear motion along the respective supports. Retaining bars extending from the storage basket are held within channels defined between the bottom walls of the supports and top walls of opposing telescoping slide assemblies used to movably support a door of the compartment. Tabs extending from the supports limit the sliding movement of the storage basket. A removable divider connects to the storage basket, sectioning the basket into multiple storage compartments.

A multi-functional tool comprising an extendable power tool handle unit with an interchangeable connect feature able to receive and power various size interchangeable, adaptable adjustable wrench head units and other adaptable tool attachments. The interchangeable wrench head units are easily connected and disconnected to the power tool handle unit. Each interchangeable adjustable wrench head unit has a self-contained transmission connectible to and powered by the adaptive power handle unit. The interchangeable wrench head units comprise of a moveable jaw, a stationary jaw, and a worm gear. The worm gear is meshed with a rack of the moveable jaw and the worm gear is driven by a motor and transmission. Activation of the motor produces linear reciprocating motion of the adjustable jaw. A power source from the handle provides the power to a control switch. The switch controls the function of the adjustable wrench heads and other powered tool attachments.