Author: claimsbot

1. A crankshaft for converting rectilinear motion to rotary motion or vice versa, comprising:
first and second spaced crank structures having opposed inner surfaces; and
only two generally parallel journals positioned between the first and second crank structures,
wherein each crank structure includes a center region and a peripheral region, wherein a first journal extends through the center regions and a second journal extends at least between the peripheral regions, whereby the first and second generally parallel journals extending between the crank structures strengthen the crankshaft.
2. The crankshaft according to claim 1, further including a third crank structure spaced from the second crank structure, said first journal being continuous and interconnecting the first, second, and third crank structures.
3. The crankshaft according to claim 2, further including a third journal spaced from and generally parallel to the first journal for interconnecting the second and third crank structures.
4. The crankshaft according to claim 3, wherein the second and third journals are not axially aligned.
5. The crankshaft according to claim 2, further including a fourth crank structure spaced from the third crank structure, said first journal being continuous and interconnecting the first, second, third, and fourth crank structures.
6. The crankshaft according to claim 5, further including a fourth journal spaced from and generally parallel to the first journal for interconnecting the third and fourth crank structures.
7. The crankshaft according to claim 6, wherein the first and second crank structures are elongated arms that project in a first direction and the third and fourth crank structures are elongated arms that project in a second direction generally opposite the first direction.
8. The crankshaft according to claim 6, wherein the first, second, third and fourth crank structures are generally circular disks, each having a center region through which the first journal extends in a continuous fashion and a peripheral region for engaging the second, third, or fourth journal, respectively.
9. The crankshaft according to claim 8, wherein the second, third, and fourth journals extending between the disks are not axially aligned.
10. A method of converting rectilinear motion into rotary motion or vice versa by rotating the crankshaft of claim 1.
11. An engine including the crankshaft of claim 1, and further, comprising a least one cylinder and at least one piston for positioning in said cylinder.
12. An apparatus for converting rectilinear motion to rotary motion or vice versa, comprising:
a crankshaft mounted for rotation about an axis, said crankshaft including a plurality of crank structures and only two journals extending between said plurality of crank structures; and
a connecting structure mounted for moving in a reciprocating fashion relative to the axis, said connecting structure including at least one channel for receiving a first journal and a surface for engaging a second journal or a bearing structure associated therewith as the connecting structure reciprocates,
wherein each crank structure includes a center region and a peripheral region, wherein the first journal extends through the center regions of the crank structures and the second journal extends at least between the peripheral regions, whereby the reciprocating movement of the connecting structure causes the crankshaft to rotate or vice versa.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the engagement surface is defined by a second channel in the connecting structure.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first and second channels are generally perpendicular to each other.
15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the connecting structure is connected or coupled to a first piston at one end, whereby the piston provides the force for creating the rectilinear motion.
16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the connecting structure is connected to a second piston at a second end, whereby the first and second pistons are associated with the first and second journals of the crankshaft and move in a horizontally opposed fashion to cause the crankshaft to rotate.
17. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the bearing structure associated with the second journal is adapted for engaging and traveling in the first channel.
18. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of second journals are provided, each extending between selected pairs of adjacent crank structures.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the second journals are not axially aligned.
20. An apparatus for converting rectilinear motion to rotary motion or vice versa, comprising:
a crankshaft mounted for rotation about an axis, said crankshaft including a plurality of crank structures having a center region connected by a first journal, at least two of said crank structures having a second journal extending between a peripheral region thereof;
a connecting structure mounted to the crankshaft for moving in a reciprocating fashion relative to the axis as the crankshaft rotates, said connecting structure including a channel having opposed ends for receiving the first journal and a surface for engaging the second journal or a bearing structure associated therewith as the connecting structure reciprocates, wherein said channel is elongated in a first direction generally perpendicular to said axis of rotation and said surface extends in a second direction generally perpendicular to said first direction, such that the channel and the surface are oriented generally perpendicular to each other.
21. The apparatus according to claim 20, further including a motor for rotating the crankshaft.
22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the engagement surface is part of a second channel for receiving the second journal.
23. The apparatus according to claim 22, further including a third journal spaced from the first journal for interconnecting the second and third crank structures.
24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein only the first and second journals extend between the at least two crank structures.
25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein a third crank structure is spaced from the second crank structure, said first journal being continuous and interconnecting the first, second, and third crank structures.
26. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the third journal and the second journal are not axially aligned.
27. A crankshaft for rotating about an axis, comprising:
at least three spaced crank structures connected by a first journal, a first pair of said crank structures having a second journal extending therebetween and a second pair of said crank structures having a third journal extending therebetween.
28. The crankshaft according to claim 27, wherein the third journal and the second journal are not axially aligned.
29. The crankshaft according to claim 27, wherein the first journal extends between a center region of the crank structures, and in combination with a connecting structure mounted to the crankshaft for moving in a reciprocating fashion relative to the axis as the crankshaft rotates, said connecting structure including a first channel for receiving the first journal and a second channel generally perpendicular to the first channel for receiving the second journal.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. Crankcase for an internal-combustion engine, particularly for a horizontally opposed engine, having two crankcase halves (10, 12) in which bearing sections (18) with bearing bores (24) for the crank pins of a crankshaft are arranged, the two crankcase halves (10, 12) being screwed to one another in the area of the bearing bores (24), as well as having cylinder bores (14, 16) for receiving the pistons, characterized in that the plane of division (30) of the two crankcase halves (10, 12) extends at an angle , and in that the longitudinal axis (36) of the bearing bolts (26, 28) extends essentially at a right angle with respect to the plane of division (3.
2. Crankcase according to claim 1, characterized in that the bearing bolts (26, 28) are supported on an exterior screwing surface (42, 44) of the crankcase (10, 12) and are therefore accessible from the outside.
3. Crankcase according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cylinder banks integrated in the two crankcase halves (10, 12) are arranged at an angle of 180 with respect to one another and in that the screwing-together of the crankcase halves (10, 12) takes place at the level of the lower end of the cylinder bores (14, 16).

1. A telecommunications cable trough coupler, comprising:
a first coupler portion including:
a first base member including a first end and a second end;
a first side wall member extending from the first base member at the first end to form half of a u-shaped trough; and
a first mating arrangement at the second end of the base member; and

a second coupler portion including:
a second base member including a first end and a second end;
a second side wall member extending from the second base member at the first end to form half of the u-shaped trough; and
a second mating arrangement at the second end of the base member;

wherein the first mating arrangement of the first coupler portion is coupled to the second mating arrangement of the second coupler portion to form the u-shaped trough of the coupler;
wherein the first mating arrangement of the first coupler portion and the second mating arrangement of the second coupler portion each includes first and second walls that are offset from one another, the first wall including first tabs with shoulders, and a first aperture; and
wherein the coupler includes at least one locking element for mating with a longitudinal u-shaped trough member extending longitudinally from an end of the coupler.
2. The coupler of claim 1, wherein the first coupler portion and the second coupler portion are identical.
3. The coupler of claim 1, wherein the first mating arrangement of the first coupler portion and the second mating arrangement of the second coupler portion each includes snaps.
4. The coupler of claim 1, wherein the second wall includes second tabs with shoulders, and a second aperture.
5. The coupler of claim 4, wherein the first tabs of the first wall of one of the first and second mating arrangements fit into the first aperture of the other of the first and second mating arrangements.
6. The coupler of claim 5, wherein the second tabs of the second wall of one of the first and second mating arrangements fit into the second aperture of the other of the first and second mating arrangements.
7. A telecommunications cable trough coupler, comprising:
a first coupler portion including:
a first base member including a first end and a second end;
a first side wall member extending from the first base member at the first end to form half of a u-shaped trough; and
a first mating arrangement at the second end of the base member including first snaps; and

a second coupler portion including:
a second base member including a first end and a second end;
a second side wall member extending from the second base member at the first end to form half of the u-shaped trough; and
a second mating arrangement at the second end of the base member including second snaps;

wherein the first snaps of the first mating arrangement of the first coupler portion are coupled to the second snaps of the second mating arrangement of the second coupler portion to form the u-shaped trough of the coupler;
wherein the first mating arrangement of the first coupler portion and the second mating arrangement of the second coupler portion each includes first and second walls that are offset from one another, and wherein the first snaps of the first wall includes first tabs with shoulders, and a first aperture;
wherein the coupler includes at least one locking element for mating with two longitudinal trough members extending longitudinally in opposite directions from the coupler; and
wherein the first coupler portion and the second coupler portion are identical.
8. The coupler of claim 7, wherein the second wall includes second tabs with shoulders, and a second aperture.
9. The coupler of claim 8, wherein the first tabs of the first wall of one of the first and second mating arrangements fit into the first aperture of the other of the first and second mating arrangements.
10. The coupler of claim 9, wherein the second tabs of the second wall of one of the first and second mating arrangements fit into the second aperture of the other of the first and second mating arrangements.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method for making a wire guide comprising:
obtaining a proximal core wire comprised of a first material having a high modulus of elasticity, the proximal core wire having a distal end, a distal face, and a first longitudinal axis;
obtaining a coaxial wire comprised of a core material having a low modulus of elasticity and a sleeve material disposed about the core material, the sleeve material being weldable to the first material, the coaxial wire having a proximal end, a proximal face, and a second longitudinal axis;
aligning the first longitudinal axis with the second longitudinal axis;
joining the first material to the sleeve material at the distal face of the proximal core wire and the proximal face of the coaxial wire, wherein the first material is not joined directly to the core material; and
removing a distal portion of the sleeve material to expose the core material.
2. The method of claim 2 wherein the sleeve material is joined to the face material end of the third wire through a weld.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising shaping a distal segment of the proximal core wire to have a tapered profile.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first material is a stainless steel and the core material is a nickel titanium alloy.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the sleeve material comprises a nickel alloy.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising covering the exposed portion of the distal core wire with a radiopaque material.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the radiopaque material is selected from the group consisting of a platinum alloy wire wound about the distal core wire and a radiopaque jacket comprising a barium compounded thermoplastic covering the distal core wire.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising coating the proximal core wire with a lubricating coating.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the lubricating coating is selected from the group consisting of a polytetrafluoroethylene coating and a hydrophilic material.
10. A method for making a wire guide, the method comprising:
obtaining a proximal core wire comprised of a first material having a high modulus of elasticity, the proximal core wire having a distal end, a distal face, a first outside diameter, and a first longitudinal axis;
obtaining a distal core wire comprised of a second material having a low modulus of elasticity, the distal core wire having a proximal end, a proximal face, a second outside diameter, and a second longitudinal axis;
removing material from the distal face of the proximal core wire to form a cylindrical recess having an inside diameter complementary to the second outside diameter;
aligning the first longitudinal axis with the second longitudinal axis;
inserting the proximal end of the distal core wire into the cylindrical recess; and
securing the proximal end of the distal core wire within the cylindrical recess.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the proximal end of the distal core wire is secured within the cylindrical recess through an interference fit.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the proximal end of the distal core wire is secured within the cylindrical recess through crimping the distal end of the proximal core wire.
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising shaping a distal portion of the proximal core wire to have a tapered profile.
14. A method for making a wire guide, the method comprising:
obtaining a proximal core wire comprised of a first material having a high modulus of elasticity, the proximal core wire having a distal end, a distal face, a first outside diameter, and a first longitudinal axis;
obtaining a distal core wire comprised of a second material having a low modulus of elasticity, the distal core wire having a proximal end, a proximal face, a second outside diameter, and a second longitudinal axis;
obtaining a sleeve material comprised of a third material weldable to the first material and having a bore and a third longitudinal axis;
aligning the first longitudinal axis with the second longitudinal axis and the third longitudinal axis;
inserting the proximal end of the distal core wire into the bore;
securing the proximal end of the distal core wire within the bore; and
welding the sleeve material to the distal face of the proximal core wire.
15. The method of claim 15 wherein the proximal end of the distal core wire is secured within the bore through an interference fit.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the proximal end of the distal core wire is secured within the bore through crimping the distal end of the proximal core wire.
17. The method of claim 15 further comprising shaping a distal portion of the proximal core wire to have a tapered profile.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein the sleeve is welded to the distal face of the proximal core wire after securing the distal core wire in the bore.
19. A wire guide comprising:
a proximal core wire comprised of a first material having a high modulus of elasticity, the proximal core wire having a distal end and a first axis;
a distal core wire comprised of a second material having a low modulus of elasticity, the distal core wire having a distal core wire length, a proximal end, a second axis, an outer surface, and an outer diameter, the second axis, and the first axis being coaxial; and
a sleeve secured about the proximal end of the distal core wire, the sleeve having a sleeve length less than the distal core wire length, an inner surface and a second outer diameter, the inner surface facing the outer surface of the distal core wire, the second diameter matching the first outer diameter, and the sleeve being joined to the distal end of the proximal core wire.
20. The wire guide of claim 20 wherein the sleeve is welded to the distal end of the proximal core wire.
21. The wire guide of claim 20 wherein the proximal core wire has a tapered portion proximate the distal end.
22. The wire guide of claim 20 wherein the first material is stainless steel and the second material is a nickel titanium alloy.
23. A wire guide comprising:
a proximal core wire comprised of a first material having a high modulus of elasticity, the proximal core wire having a distal end, a cylindrical recess disposed at the distal end and a first axis, the cylindrical recess having a recess inner surface; and
a distal core wire comprised of a second material having a low modulus of elasticity, the distal core wire having a proximal end, a second axis, and an outer surface, the proximal end being secured within the cylindrical recess with the recess inner surface facing the outer surface.
24. The wire guide of claim 24 wherein the proximal core wire has a tapered portion proximate the distal end.
25. The wire guide of claim 24 wherein the proximal end is secured within the recess through an inelastic deformation of the proximal core wire.
26. The wire guide of claim 24 wherein the first material is stainless steel and the second material is a nickel titanium alloy.