Other

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Wayne State University

Lear Corporation

Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Lear Automotive Dearborn, Inc.

Evgeny I Rivin

Victor R Fey

James Leroy Swayze

Vijayarumar A Tipnis

Arnold J Herberg

Neil Gordon Murray, Jr

Charles S Pillsbury, Iv

Allen M Krass

Jagan Kumar Surendran

Ying-Kuo Lee

A cartilage replacement or repair prosthesis comprises a layer of streamlined elastomer elements, preferably in the form of spheres, supported in a matrix material so that the radially opposed surfaces of the spheres are positioned on opposite surfaces of the layer and make contact with the opposed surfaces of the femur and tibia and the forces exerted between these bones extend through the streamlined elements. The matrix material has a substantially lower resistance to deformation than the spheres to control the position of the spheres relative to one another without significantly restraining their load-responsive deformation under forces exerted between the femur and tibia. The layer, with its elastomeric inserts, is sufficiently thin and flexible to allow it to be rolled for arthroscopic insertion into a knee joint.

Prosthesis for replacement of cartilage

It is suggested to apply mechanical vibratory motions to the interface area between catalyst and the reacting substances in a catalytic reactor in order to intensify flow intensity as well as reaction intensity between the reacting substances.

Catalytic reactors

An apparatus () for a vehicle includes a steering wheel () and a vehicle occupant protection device () that is mounted to the steering wheel () and is actuatable for helping to protect an occupant of the vehicle. At least a portion of the vehicle occupant protection device () is movable relative to the steering wheel () for actuating an electric device () associated with the vehicle when a force is applied to any one of various locations on the vehicle occupant protection device (). The apparatus () also includes a mechanism () for substantially blocking tilt of the movable portion of the vehicle occupant protection device () relative to the steering wheel () during movement for actuating the electric device ().

Apparatus having a mechanism for limiting the movement of an air bag module relative to a steering wheel

A mechanical wedge mechanism comprising base member, output member, and movable wedge member in which frictional connections between mutually movable mechanical members are replaced with shear deformations in elastomeric shims connecting respective surfaces of the members, thus effectively reducing frictional losses in the mechanism.

Wedge mechanism

The instant invention proposes an artificial intervertebral disc providing for angular displacements between adjacent vertebrae wherein these displacements are accommodated by internal shear in an elastomeric layered element residing between the upper and lower bases attached, respectively, to the upper and lower adjacent vertebrae, without sliding.

Artificial intervertebral disc

A surface connection between mechanical components having intermediate deformable elements between the connected contact surfaces, shaped as segments of solid or hollow cylinders with straight or curvilinear axes and their cross sections are compressed in the radial direction during assembly of the connection, thus allowing for adjustments of relative positioning of the connected components, for compensating dimensional imperfections, and for enhancement of stiffness and/or damping of the connection.

Mechanical contact connection

A three-dimensional (spherical) joint for connecting mechanical links has its concave and convex concentrical spherical surfaces connected by preloaded in compression high shape factor (thin-layered) elastomeric elements, whose shear deformation provides for 3D mobility.

Joint

A multi-function apparatus for controlling various functions of a liftgate of an automotive vehicle. The apparatus includes an elastomeric member which is operably disposed in connection with a gear which imparts a driving force to a drive shaft of a window wiper member. The elastomeric member, in one embodiment, is a coiled spring which allows movement between the drive shaft and the gear driving the drive shaft in the event the wiper becomes frozen to the window of the vehicle or otherwise immovable. In this manner various other functions can be carried out by the apparatus regardless if the wiper becomes temporarily immobilized.

Multi-function apparatus having flexible clutch

A vibration absorbing apparatus for a steering wheel (10) having an airbag assembly (16) attached to the steering wheel (10). The air bag assembly (16) is attached to a reaction plate (18) which is resiliently attached to an absorber plate (22) with elastomeric members (26). Attachment by the elastomeric members (26) is such that a predetermined resiliency of the elastomeric members (26) is not affected. This provides a consistent and repeatable apparatus for attachment, ensuring proper and efficient operation of the airbag as a mass damper.

Vibration absorbing apparatus for steering wheel with an airbag

Multi-functional apparatus having flexible clutch

A flexible connector for vibration isolators, dynamic vibration absorbers, and other vibration control devices for mechanical systems which is composed of streamlined elastomeric resilient elements with nonlinear load-deflection characteristics. These elements are embedded, possibly together with inserts, into a soft matrix which maintains relative positioning of the resilient elements and inserts while not significantly influencing deformation characteristics of the resilient elements. The inserts define the external shape and modify deformation characteristics of the connector, if necessary.

Nonlinear flexible connectors with streamlined resilient elements

A wheel with a pneumatic tire, with the tire cavity divided into two fluid-filled reservoirs connected with a passageway (orifice, capillary, or porous material) having a required degree of flow restriction in order to generate a desired damping action when the tire is subjected to a vibratory exertion. The flow in the passageway is maintained at a laminar regime.

Pneumatic wheels

The torsional flexible connection has two coaxial flanges or discs equipped with sets of equidistant radially or axially protruding blades which are interdigitated to form a plurality of wedge-shaped chambers whose sides intersect at the axis of the connection, all or some of which receive torque-transmitting flexible inserts which transmit force and rotation to one of the flanges/discs in response to the force and rotation transmitted from the other flange/disc or vice versa. Each insert is comprised of two or several elements of a streamlined shape placed at different distances from the axis, so that the dimensions of these elements in the direction of transmitted payload are proportional to their distances from the axis.

Torsional connection with radially spaced multiple flexible elements

An improved connection between a conical shank and conical receptacle is provided. A plurality of uniform resilient elements are mounted in a circumferential band arrangement adjacent the surface of the end of one of the shank or receptacle opposite to the end at which the shank is inserted into the receptacle. The uniform elements protrude from the surface by a dimension at least equal to the maximum clearance between the shank and receptacle. Therefore, when the shank is inserted into the receptacle, the resilient elements will contact the opposing surface to provide for accurate positioning of the shank. When the shank is fully inserted into the receptacle, reliable contact will be maintained along the entire length of the shank.

Growing community of inventors

Southfield, MI, United States of America

Evgeny I Rivin