Abstract: The invention relates to a shaft, particularly a cam shaft (1), comprising a hollow shaft section (10) with at least one radial inlet opening (11a, 11b) for evacuating a gas through said hollow shaft section (10), and comprising a splash-guard device (4) arranged in the region of the radial inlet opening (11a, 11b) on the hollow shaft section (10). According to the invention, the splash-guard device (4) has a radially exposed cover with radial passage openings (8) and protrusions between said passage openings (8). The protrusions can, in particular, be in the form of ribs (9).

Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member, at least one inner ring fit onto the inner member. Double row rolling elements are rollably arranged between the outer and inner raceway surfaces, via cages. A seal is mounted on one end of the outer member. The seal has side lips adapted to be in sliding contact with the wheel hub. The seal has three inclined side lips each extending radially outward from the seal body. The lips are adapted to be in sliding contact with the base of the wheel mounting flange. Interference of the side lips against the base of the wheel mounting flange is set so that the radially inner side lip has a smaller interference than that of the radially outer side lips, in order.

Abstract: A gear device for electric motor 1 which is combined with an electric motor installed in a vehicle, wherein a breather pathway 8 is provided in a gear box 2 where a row of gears for transmitting force of the electric motor is contained, the breather pathway connecting between an inside and outside of the gear box 2, and in the breather pathway 8, a closing valve system 10 is provided to close the breather pathway 8 when an outer pressure of the gear box 2 is lower in comparison to an inner pressure of the gear box 2 exceeding an acceptable range.

Abstract: A foot pedal for a medical device for placement on a working surface of a medical operatory includes a housing defining a reference plane; a cord having a first end coupled to the housing and a second end configured to be coupled to the medical device; and an actuator coupled to the housing and configured to be actuated by a user to provide a control function to the medical device, wherein the housing includes a self-leveling mechanism for urging the placement of the foot pedal on the working surface in an upright orientation. The self-leveling mechanism may include an engagement tab extending from the housing and configured to be the first aspect of the foot pedal to contact the working surface. The self-leveling mechanism may additionally or alternatively include a cord guide configured to pitch or cant the housing in a preferential direction.

Abstract: A bicycle shift operating device basically has a base member, a shift wire take-up element rotatably mounted with respect to the base member and a shifting unit operatively coupled to the shift wire take-up element to selectively rotate the shift wire take-up element in first and second rotational directions about a pivot axis. The shifting unit includes a shift operating member pivotally mounted with respect to the base member along a pivotal path to operate the shift wire take-up element in the first rotational direction in response to pivotal movement of the shift operating member about an operating axis. The shift operating member is movably mounted with respect to the base member along a non-pivotal path to operate the shift wire take-up element in the second rotational direction in response to non-pivotal movement of the shift operating member with respect to the operating axis.

Abstract: Control devices and systems for self-propelled machinery and related methods are disclosed. In one aspect, a control device for self-propelled machinery includes a central portion disposed between a first gripping portion and a second gripping portion and at least one pressure sensitive trigger control provided over either the first or the second gripping portion. The trigger control can be configured to reduce a speed of the self-propelled machinery by actuating a portion of a potentiometer for varying an electrical signal carried by the control device. In some aspects, the control device can electrically communicate with a control unit of the self-propelled machinery.

Abstract: There is provided a vehicle steering wheel including a circular rim, a grip forming a part of the rim and being held by a user, and input units formed inside the rim. Each input unit includes first and second input switches to be actuated by a pressing action of a user's thumb, and a third input switch provided between the first and second input switches to be actuated by a sliding action of the user's thumb on the third input switch while the user is holding the grip. The first input switch is located at a position of the user's thumb that can be placed without applying any force when the user is holding the grip. The second input switch is located at a lower position where the user's thumb can be placed without changing positions of other four fingers when the user is holding the grip.

Abstract: A transfer case for a normally rear wheel drive vehicle having selectively engageable front wheel drive is provided. The transfer case includes a rear housing with a main drive shaft aperture and an aluminum cast front housing threadably connected with the rear housing. The front housing has a main drive shaft aperture axially aligned with the rear housing main drive shaft aperture. The front housing has an integrally formed cylindrical yoke forming an isolation mount for receiving a polymeric isolator allowing for connection of the transfer case with a chassis structure of the vehicle. The cylindrical yoke has a cylindrical preform therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a household appliance (1) comprising a control panel (2), a push-pull type and rotary knob (3) which is disposed to the control panel (2), a casing (5) which is produced from plastic, fixed to the back side of the control panel (2) and which forms a housing for the knob (3), and which has a cylindrical side wall (4), more than one light source (8) which provides the periphery of the knob (3) to be illuminated by emitting light, a printed circuit board (9) whereon the light sources (8) are integrated and a light guide (14) which transmits the light received from the light sources (8) to the periphery of the knob (3).

Abstract: A thrust sliding bearing 1 includes: a synthetic resin-made upper casing 3 which has a vehicle body-side seat surface 10 for a mounting member 8 on a vehicle body side and an annular lower surface 2; a synthetic resin-made lower casing 5 on which an annular upper surface 4 opposed to the annular lower surface 2 and a spring seat surface 25 for a suspension coil spring 7 are integrally formed, and which is superposed on the upper casing 3 so as to be rotatable about an axis O of the upper casing 3 in an R direction; and a synthetic resin-made thrust sliding bearing piece 6 which is disposed in an annular gap 9 between the annular lower surface 2 and the annular upper surface 4, and has an annular thrust sliding bearing surface 51 which slidably abuts against at least one of the annular lower surface 2 and the annular upper surface 4.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a shaft member having an outer ring, having a first bearing raceway, and an inner ring, having a second bearing raceway. The raceways are opposingly spaced relative to each other. The inner ring includes a plurality of tang members extending in a cantilevered configuration from at least one end of the inner ring having slots formed therebetween. Bearing members are positioned in a space between and in engagement with the first and second bearing raceways. An undercut groove extends circumferentially along an inner surface of the inner ring generally adjacent the plurality of tang members. The undercut groove is operable to increase an effective cantilever distance of the plurality of tang members. The assembly further includes a locking member engaging the plurality of tang members and exerting a compressing force upon the plurality of tang members to couple the inner ring to the shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus may, for example, include a first lever pivoting about a first axis. The apparatus may also include a second lever mounted with the first lever, pivoting about a second axis, and biased to a first position. The first lever can be configured to engage a braking system of a vehicle when the first lever is pivoted about the first axis and the second lever is in the first position. The second lever can be configured to be pivoted about the second axis to a second position. The first lever can be configured to disengage a reverse lockout system of the vehicle when the second lever is in the second position. The second lever can be configured to be pivoted about the second axis to a third position, which cases the first lever to engage a parking brake mechanism of the vehicle.

Abstract: A crankshaft assembly for an internal combustion engine can include a crankshaft having a lobe with a pendulum absorber coupled thereto. The pendulum absorber can include a carrier, a pendulum, a pin and a centrifugal switch assembly. The carrier can be coupled to a body of the lobe and can have an opening therein. The pendulum can have an opening therein and the pin can extend through the pendulum opening and the carrier opening to pivotably couple the pendulum to the carrier. The switch assembly can be slidably positioned in a bore of the body and can have a lock member configured to selectively engage the pendulum based on a centrifugal force being below a predetermined threshold to lock movement of the pendulum relative to the carrier.

Abstract: A transmission having improved heat dissipation components is disclosed. The transmission includes a housing having housing walls defining an internal chamber and a rotatable input shaft extending through one of the housing walls into the internal chamber. Power transmission components are disposed in the internal chamber and rotatably driven by the input shaft. An output shaft extends through one of the housing walls from the internal chamber and is rotatably driven by the power transmission components. A lubricating fluid is disposed in the internal chamber and lubricates the power transmission components. A cooling shroud surrounds the housing and includes a cooling passageway in fluid communication with the internal chamber. The lubricating fluid flows out of the internal chamber into the cooling passageway, through the cooling passageway, and back into the internal chamber.

Abstract: A multi-piece gear shift knob and a gear shift lever assembly including the same are disclosed. The multi-piece gear shift knob includes a grip portion and a lock portion. The grip portion includes an installation opening that extends through at least one face of the grip portion, and a partial thread form. The lock portion includes a partial thread form. The grip portion and the lock portion include corresponding attachment features such that when the lock portion is installed into the installation opening, the attachment features of the grip portion and the lock portion couple the lock portion to the grip portion.

Abstract: A bicycle crank assembly comprises a crank axle, a first crank arm, and a battery holding structure. The crank axle comprises a cavity and a first end portion. A battery unit is to be provided in the cavity. The first end portion has a first end opening which is in communication with the cavity. The first crank arm is configured to be mounted on the first end portion. The battery holding structure is configured to hold the battery unit in the cavity. The battery holding structure is configured so that the battery unit is replaceable through the first end opening in a state where the first crank arm is mounted on the first end portion of the crank axle.

Abstract: An accelerator pedal apparatus with a variable pedal effect may include an intermediate bush installed to be moved along an interior space of a pedal housing, a pair of first conductors fixedly installed on one surface of the intermediate bush and a spring plate facing the one surface of the intermediate bush, respectively, a first coil spring installed such that opposite ends of the first coil spring are supported by the first conductors and a third conductor is integrally coupled substantially over an entire surface of the first coil spring, a pair of second conductors fixedly installed on the other surface of the intermediate bush and an end of the interior space of the pedal housing facing the other surface of the intermediate bush, a second coil spring installed such that opposite ends of the second coil spring are supported by the second conductors and a fourth conductor is integrally coupled substantially over an entire surface of the second coil spring, and a controller for controlling supply of a cur

Abstract: Disclosed is a modular barrier system to protect a machine user from injury, the barrier structure having a plurality of modular units that can be manipulated individually to provide variable configurations of the barrier structure, that can be used with different pieces of machinery or for different applications, without removal or changing of the barrier structure in its entirety. The modular units comprise a slide unit and a latch mechanism to lock each individual modular unit in place, by way of ratcheting teeth. The barrier system may be positioned on a rail system that provides for lateral movement of the modular units while maintaining its attachment to the rail by a rail lock mechanism on the modular unit.

Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member, at least one inner ring fit onto the inner member. Double row rolling elements are rollably arranged between the outer and inner raceway surfaces, via cages. A seal is mounted on one end of the outer member. The seal has side lips adapted to be in sliding contact with the wheel hub. The seal has three inclined side lips each extending radially outward from the seal body. The lips are adapted to be in sliding contact with the base of the wheel mounting flange. Interference of the side lips against the base of the wheel mounting flange is set so that the radially inner side lip has a smaller interference than that of the radially outer side lips, in order.

Abstract: A clevis pin (connecting pin) (26) is inserted into a clearance hole (72), and is displaceable relative to an operating pedal (16). A pivotal moving link (68) is disposed between the clevis pin (26) and a sensor pin (64) of a load sensor (30). A reaction force applied from the clevis pin (26) to the load sensor (30) always acts in a substantially constant direction (substantially leftward in FIG. 1A) even if the operating pedal (16) and an operating rod (22) are pivoted relatively around the axis of the clevis pin (26) in accordance with the depressing operation of the operating pedal (16). Thus, the detecting accuracy of the load sensor (30) is heightened, and variation in detecting accuracy is prevented, rendering the high reliability.