Abstract: The invention provides a flywheel system with energy-absorbing housing. The system provides a novel liner and restraint ribs which serve to de-energize debris particles resulting from the catastrophic failure of a flywheel. Also provided are energy-absorbing housing systems comprising a rotatable liner, one or more restraint ribs, and a fluid film bearing to control and dissipate the energy from the failure of a rotating mass.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a dynamic apparatus for locking or stabilizing an input device such as a foot-operated device with respect to the floor. In one embodiment, an input device with a non-permanent floor mount comprises a user manipulable object movably coupled to a body of the input device which is configured to be placed on a floor. The user manipulable object is movable by a user applying a force thereon having a force component in a forward direction along the floor. A floor lock is movably connected to the body of the input device and has a contact surface for engaging the floor to substantially prevent movement of the input device in the forward direction along the floor.

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure control apparatus has an actuator for controlling an automatic transmission. A case for receiving the actuator is constituted by an upper case, a lower case and a plate interposed between them. The plate is provided with a filter. The filter protects the actuator from foreign matters. The actuator is inserted into the case along the axial direction. The actuator is locked by a rotating operation or fixed by a snap fit. An electric control unit is laminated in parallel to the case regulating an oil passage. The electric control unit is cooled by fluid. The electric control unit has a liquid level sensor in its connector part.

Abstract: A leadscrew assembly has a wire-wound leadscrew driven by a mechanical drive. A preloaded leadscrew wire nut assembly serving as a leadscrew follower includes a first wire nut having at least one turn of a first-nut wire overlying and engaged to the groove between the turns of the thread wire, and a second wire nut having at least one turn of a second-nut wire overlying and engaged to the groove between the turns of the thread wire. The second wire nut is spaced apart from the first wire nut along a leadscrew axis. The leadscrew wire nut assembly further includes a compressed preload spring maintaining a compression preload against the second wire nut, and a wire-nut-assembly housing overlying the first wire nut, the second wire nut, and the preload spring. The wire-nut-assembly housing maintains the preload spring in compression.

Abstract: A gear made of a resin includes a substantially cylindrical rim having a plurality of teeth formed around an outer periphery thereof, a boss formed about a rotational center of the rim, and a web connecting the boss and the rim to each other. At least one groove is defined along outer surface of each tooth to divide the tooth in a widthwise direction of the tooth. As a result, a portion of the gear, in which the grooves are defined, is deformed in a reduced amount, leading to a reduced amount of deformation such as a warpage or sink in the entire gear, thereby providing an enhancement in tooth flank accuracy. Since the grooves are defined along the outer surfaces of the teeth, a lubricant such as grease can be supplied effectively to tooth flanks by previously applying the lubricant in the grooves.

Abstract: A tensioning device (32) for tensioning at least two, substantially length-invariant belts (18, 24) includes a first belt (18) guided about a first axis (A), which repeatedly guides an adjusting movement in an adjustment direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the first axis (A). In addition, the first belt (18) and a second belt (24) are guided about a common second axis (B), whereby the tensioning directions (V18, V24) of the first belt (18) and of the second belt (24) in a region of the second axis (B) forms a varying angle of between 0° and 180°.

Abstract: In a movable guide for transmission device in which a guide body is formed from a synthetic resin and comprises a chain-contacting shoe and a plate-receiving portion formed as a unit with the shoe on the back side thereof, the plate-receiving portion has plural, longitudinally extending slots, each receiving a reinforcing plate. The plural reinforcing plates improve the bending rigidity, toughness, strength and wear properties of the guide, prevent falling down of the guide and guide torsion, ensure stable travel of the chain, and prevent running of the chain off the guide in a widthwise direction. Improved compactness of the guide and of the overall mechanism, is made possible by the use of plural plates. The plates can be connected to one another by a tensioner-contacting portion, formed as a unit with the plates.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission having an endless V belt running across a driving pulley and a driven pulley, a transmission ratio changing mechanism for changing the running diameters of the belt around the pulleys radially in opposite directions to each other, and a tension-adjusting unit for pressing the belt to obtain belt tension. The tension-adjusting unit includes a tension roller coming into pressure contact with the slack side of the belt from outside, a swing arm having an end rotatably supported on a transmission case, a link member having an end rotatably supporting a shaft of the tension roller and another end rotatably coupled with another end of the swing arm, and an urging member for swingingly urging the swing arm so that the tension roller presses the belt. A linkage structure having two degrees of freedom is used for supporting the tension roller, so that the tension roller can automatically move to a position where it does not interfere with either pulley at any transmission ratio.

Abstract: Variable inertia flywheels are used in power generation apparatus to quickly release stored kinetic energy to meet transient power load demands. Such flywheels typically vary inertia by using either interconnected multiple flywheels having different inertia or by mechanically moving a mass connected with the flywheel radially with respect to the axis of rotation. A variable inertia flywheel according to the present invention comprises a body and a number of fluid movement devices disposed at equal angular intervals about the rotational axis of the body. Each device comprises at least first and second chambers axially aligned in a substantially radial direction and adapted to contain an electrolytic fluid. The first and second chambers are interconnected by a channel that permits transfer of the fluid between the chambers. The movement of the fluid between the chambers is facilitated by an electromagnetic pump.

Abstract: A first hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic pump are respectively mounted to both ends of a rotary shaft in an electric motor, whereby it is possible to drive both of the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump by one electric motor. Since the electric motor is driven and controlled so as to have any higher rotational speed among a rotational speed of the first hydraulic pump for obtaining an amount of working fluid required in a hydraulic control circuit for a power steering apparatus and a rotational speed of the second hydraulic pump for obtaining an amount of working fluid required in a hydraulic control circuit for a power train by a hydraulic pump drive controlling portion, it is possible to necessarily and sufficiently secure the working fluids respectively required in the power steering hydraulic control circuit and the power train hydraulic control circuit which are independent from each other, by a little electric power consumption.

Abstract: A device for adjusting parts which can move in relation to each other includes: a driveable threaded hollow spindle with inner and outer threads increasing in opposing directions; an inner spindle cooperating with the inner threads and connected to a first fixing device to secure the device to one of the moveable parts; and a propulsive tube cooperating with the outer threads via an outer nut. The propulsive tube is connected to a second fixing device enabling fixation on one of the parts which can move in relation to each other. The threaded hollow spindle may be mounted in a rotationally fixed and longitudinally displaceable manner on a catch device which can be rotationally driven around the axis of the hollow spindle.

Abstract: A shift control device includes a mounting unit; a transmission control element movably mounted to the mounting unit, wherein the transmission control element moves between a first transmission control position and a second transmission control position; a first transmission control element biasing mechanism for biasing the transmission control element toward the first transmission control position; and a first shift control element that moves between a first shift control position and a second shift control position. The first shift control element and the transmission control element are operatively coupled such that the transmission control element moves toward the second transmission control position when the first shift control element moves toward the second shift control position, and the transmission control element moves toward the first transmission control position as the first shift control element continues to move toward the second shift control position.

Abstract: A rolled ball screw has a screw shaft having a ball screw groove so as to engaging with rolling elements of a ball screw, the screw shaft is formed by rolling while a thread rolling die is pressed against a cylindrical bar-shaped member to thereby roll the ball screw groove, wherein the number of waves per circumference per lead of said ball screw groove is set different from the integer multiples of the number of said rolling elements per lead of said ball screw groove.

Abstract: A linear motion guide unit has a track rail of a pair of side walls on which raceway grooves are formed. In the depths or bottom of the raceway grooves there are cut deeply relief flutes, one to each raceway groove, where retainer bands to keep rolling elements against coming apart are allowed to step aside therein. The raceway groove is made in so specific form as to make it possible to produce the raceway groove and do the relief flute at the same time. The retainer band is installed in the slider, with stepping aside in the relief flute for linear movement relative to the track rail as the slider travels along the track rail. The relief flute is cut in a fashion at least one lengthwise flank thereof on the side nearer the upward opening between the side walls of the track rail is made slantwise to provide a tapered flank because of which the relief flute can be produced together with the associated raceway groove at a single process.

Abstract: In a gear, particularly for a robot, with a drive shaft and at least two parts rotatable relative thereto and to one another, in which a movement of one part is removable on its side remote from the other part, at least one of the rotary parts has a shaft connected in non-rotary manner thereto and which projects at least to the other part.

Abstract: An adjustable foot pedal assembly for a vehicle, according to one disclosed embodiment, comprises a foot pedal supported by a base. The pedal is mounted in a position generally above the base, with the lower end of the pedal pivotally connected to the lower end of the base. The first end of a lever arm is pivotally mounted on the lower surface of the pedal and the second end of the lever arm is positioned for movement relative to the upper surface of the base when the pedal is pivoted toward and away from the base between a depressed position and an idle position. An adjustment mechanism may couple the upper end portion of the base to a wall of a vehicle and is configured to selectively vary the fore and aft position of the base and the pedal from the wall.

Abstract: A transmission belt for a continuously variable transmission includes, transverse elements (5) and an endless carrier (9) for keeping together the transverse elements (5), each transverse element (5) provided with a rocking edge (12) showing a curvature for allowing neighbouring transverse elements (5) to mutually tilt about an substantially axially oriented contact line (7) over a tilting angle (?), so that a part of the belt may pass along a longitudinally bent trajectory, the curvature of the rocking edge (12) defined such that it notionally displaces the contact line (7) in dependence on the tilting angle (?,?).

Abstract: In a ratchet-type hydraulic tensioner for use with a timing chain of an internal combustion engine, two or more oil reservoirs gradually receive oil fed under pressure from an external source, and supply the oil through a hydraulic valve mechanism to a high pressure oil chamber formed by a plunger and a housing in which the plunger is slidable. Throttle holes, formed in partition walls separating the reservoirs, control the flow of oil from one reservoir to another. An excess oil discharge hole is optionally provided in one of the reservoirs. The invention prevents abnormal protrusion of the plunger, reduces chain noise and component damage due to wear, and rapidly re-establishes proper tension on engine start-up.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cylindrical poly-V pulley made of metal sheet suitable for forcedly fitting a one-way clutch or a bearing. The present invention can easily provide thick ears for preventing a V-belt from disengaging, and ensure an enough length of an axial straight line of a bore of a peripheral wall. Ears (2, 2) for preventing the V-belt from disengaging, are protrusively shaped in an annular state on axially both ends on an outer surface of a cylindrical peripheral wall (1). The each ear (2) includes an inner ear portion (2a) outwardly protruded from the both ends of the peripheral wall (1) and an outer ear portion (2b) folded back from the protruded outer end of the inner ear portion (2a) to the outer surface of the inner ear portion (2a) so as to be closely overlapped with each other, and the inner end surface of the ear (2) is flush with the inner surface of the peripheral wall (1).

Abstract: A method and a control system for supplying a working medium to a hydraulically-operated device. The working medium pressure is adjusted as a function of a control variable provided by a pressure control valve or a pressure reduction valve, both within a nominal working pressure range and also within a maximum working pressure range that lies between the nominal range and a system pressure value. For the same change in the control variable, the working medium pressure is changed by a greater amount in the maximum pressure range than it is in the nominal pressure range. Thus, in the nominal pressure range a precise adjustment of the working pressure can be made, and in the maximum pressure range a larger working pressure adjustment can be made to respond to suddenly increased external forces that act on the hydraulic device.