Abstract: A front end of a starter motor housing is sealed by a resilient seal member disposed between a bearing and a front end wall of the housing. A shaft carrying a pinion at its front end is rotatably and slidably supported by the bearing in an over hang fashion. The seal member is a cup-shaped ring having a circular outer wall, a bottom wall and a center hole. A sealing lip slidably contacting the rotating shaft is formed around the center hole. The circular outer wall of the seal member is tightly and hermetically held between an outer ring of the bearing and front end wall of the housing, so that the seal member is not displaced in the axial direction. The bottom wall is S-shaped forming a depressed portion facing the bearing to provide more space for retaining lubricant therein.

Abstract: A splice joint is for joining first and second synchronous drive belt ends, of the belt type comprising a reinforcement material layer covering a base layer formed from a first thermoplastic material. The joint comprises a fused portion of the base layer of the first and second belt ends that define a splice region. At least one coating layer of thermoplastic material overlaps the reinforcement layer of the end portions in the splice region. The coating layer is comprised of a second elastomeric material intended to melt and penetrate into interstices of the reinforcement material layer while within the mold press. Migration of the base layer material through the reinforcement material layer to the pulley-engaging outer surface is thereby inhibited. The second elastomeric material composing the coating layer may be selected to provide desired frictional and wear characteristics.

Abstract: A positioning system for controlling the rotation of a shaft or other member through a defined angular increment. The system includes a rotor which may be coupled in torque transmitting communication with the shaft, and a an indexing assembly for driving the rotor. The indexing assembly includes a slide or other follower which is operably coupled to a first actuator, which may be hydraulically or other otherwise fluid-powered, and to a biasing member, which may be a second actuator, which is also operably coupled to the first actuator. The first actuator is actuable to move the follower and, in turn, a pawl from a locking position to a release position, and to engage another pawl with the rotor effecting the rotation thereof in a rotary direction through the angular increment. The first actuator is de-actuable to return, responsive to the biasing member, the pawls and follower to their original positions.

Abstract: The invention concerns a gear motor (1), in particular for driving vehicle equipment, comprising a rotor provided with a rotor shaft (6), a reduction gearbox housing (14) containing a cog wheel engaged in an endless screw of the shaft and capable of driving an output member (12). The invention is characterised in that it comprises means (12) for eliminating, under predetermined axial compression (F), all axial play between one end (6a) of the rotor shaft and the housing wall (13). Said means can comprise a plug (15) housed in the housing (14) end (13) and a piston (18), inserted between the plug (15) and the shaft (6) end (6a); the plug (15) exerts on the piston (18) and the shaft (6) the axial thrust (7) which is adjusted when being mounted, and is axially locked in the corresponding position by melting the housing (14) plastic material in the grooves or recesses (19) of the piston (18) surface, then in solidifying said plastic material.

Abstract: A parking brake assembly for a vehicle has a mounting bracket, a handle assembly and a clutching mechanism. The mounting bracket has a stop. The handle assembly is pivotally mounted on the mounting bracket for rotation about a first axis. The handle is moveable between a brake applied position and a brake release position. The handle has an actuator. A cam is pivotally mounted on the handle about a second axis offset from the first axis. The cam has a cam surface which varies radially from the second axis. The cam is biased to engage the stop. A clutch spring frictionally engages the cam and is operably connected to the actuator. Movement of the actuator in response to manual manipulation responsively moves the clutch spring to decrease the frictional engagement, thereby enabling the cam to engage with the stop.

Abstract: A sliding contact guide for a chain, or other flexible transmission medium comprises a synthetic resin guide body having a shoe on which the transmission medium slides, and a slotted, plate-receiving portion on the back side of the shoe for receiving a reinforcing plate. The plate-receiving portion is composed of a pair of opposed, longitudinally extending, slot-defining walls. Raised ribs, for sandwiching the reinforcing plate, are disposed on opposed inner surfaces of the walls, and are oriented in the direction of insertion of the reinforcing plate into the slot. The guide suppresses shock noises due to wobbling of the guide during operation, and molding and assembly of the guide are enhanced.

Abstract: A hand brake arrangement for a motor vehicle, particularly a passenger car, has a brake lever which is swivellably disposed on a vehicle-fixed stationary base and, with a locking device, can be locked in different swivelling positions. The brake lever has an unlocking device for releasing the locking. The unlocking device has two release press buttons which each drive a push rod, a rocker lever which is swivellably about a rocker axis disposed on the brake lever and on which, on two sides which are opposed with respect to the rocker axis, the two push rods are pivotally connected. A release cable control, on one end, is applied to at least one of the push rods or to at least one of the release press buttons or to the rocker lever and, on the other end, is coupled with the locking device.

Abstract: The release mechanism includes a hollow abutment member fastened to one end of the flexible outer conduit of the cable. The abutment member is mounted for sliding movement in a housing, but is normally prevented from sliding by a stop member associated with the housing for engaging a shoulder on the abutment member. The stop member establishes a reaction surface against which the abutment member and outer conduit bear when the cable is tensioned. An actuating mechanism is provided to selectively move the stop member so that the stop member is out of engagement with the shoulder of the abutment member, for example by a rotary movement, to permit axial movement of the abutment member in the housing when it is desired to release tension in the cable.

Abstract: A safety handlebar is described in which telescopic handgrips are provided at the two opposing outer ends of the tubular frame of the handlebar. In each embodiment described, a shaft and an outer cover are locked together for telescopic movement on each tubular outer end of the handlebar frame. A bias member in the form of a coil spring biases the grip portion outward away from the tubular ends of the frame. A dampening mechanism is provided to retard the return of the grips to their original position after they have telescoped inward after impacting with the user. A hydraulic dampening system employing grease and an pneumatic system employing air are described.

Abstract: A pedal supporting structure for a vehicle includes a pedal bracket secured to a dash board, a pedal shaft for swingably supporting a pedal arm, a pin member for mounting the pedal shaft on the pedal bracket and a separation member secured to a support beam. An arm section of the separation member has a guide slot capable of a relative displacement of a pin member inserted to the pedal shaft and contacting the slanted surface. The arm section of the separation member has a slanted surface at the middle thereof. When an external force larger than a specified value is applied to a front part of the vehicle, due to the relative displacement between the pedal bracket and the separation member, the pin member comes out of the pedal shaft and as a result the pedal arm is separated from the pedal shaft.

Abstract: Energy absorbing steering devices may include an outer cylindrical member (OU) that is press-fited around an inner shaft member (IN). The outer shape of the inner shaft member and the inner shape of the outer cylindrical member have a circular cross-section and the diameter of the inner shape of the outer cylinder member is larger than the diameter of the outer shape of the inner shaft member. A plurality of fine members (W) is disposed along the axial direction between the circular cross-sectional outer shape and the circular cross-sectional inner shape in order to provide a clearance (G) between the inner shaft member and the outer cylindrical member. The arrangement of the fine members may be modified in order to adjust the rigidity of relative movement along the axial direction of the outer cylindrical member and the inner shaft member.

Abstract: A bicycle safety pedal including a toe element for receiving a front end of the cleat and a rear fastening device, which is suitable for engaging the rear end of the cleat when the rear end of the cleat is pressed over the rear fastening device. The cleat is released by moving the rear end laterally. The resting surface of the cleat on the pedal includes a cam surface for lifting the side of the cleat, which is moved away from the centre of the pedal when the releasing rotation is imposed on the cleat. The cam surface is only arranged on the side of the pedal facing outwards (with reference to the fitting condition of the bicycle), so to be operative only when the rear end of the cleat is moved laterally outwards, i.e., distanced with respect to the bicycle, starting from the engaged position.

Abstract: Several embodiments of various non-involute gear tooth profiles incorporate relief areas formed across the area of the tooth face generally symmetrically to each side of the pitch circle of the gear. The relief area serves to preclude contact across the areas of meshing or mating gear teeth where convex-to-convex contact would otherwise occur, thus precluding high pressure contact between the two gear teeth at the area of the relief. The remainder of the contact of such non-involute gear tooth profiles provides conformal contact, i. e., convex-to-concave mating faces with correspondingly low pressures developed between the tooth portions. The present invention enables a given gear set to absorb considerably greater torque and force than would otherwise be they case, or alternatively allows gear sets to be made considerably smaller and lighter for a given torque transmission, than would otherwise be the case.

Abstract: A ball bearing which includes a cage which defines recesses for receiving balls in a single row. The cage is in the form of a ring obtained by casting or machining and is intended to be interposed between an inner ring and an outer ring of the bearing. The cage includes recesses of a first group each having an opening for positioning a ball located on a first side of the cage, while recesses of a second group each have an opening for positioning a ball located on a second side of the cage, opposite the first side.

Abstract: A rear derailleur for bicycle gear changes, comprising a top body or hanger bracket (12) and a bottom body or pulley-cage bracket (14) connected together by means of an articulated-parallelogram mechanism (16) which comprises a pair of links (26, 28) articulated to the hanger bracket (12) and to the pulley-cage bracket (14) by means of pins (30, 32) defining the axes of articulation of the articulated-parallelogram mechanism. Each of the aforesaid pins (30, 32) engages aligned holes (48, 50) of one of the brackets (12, 14) and one of the links (26, 28) and is constrained against sliding out in the direction of its own axis. The axial constraint of each pin (30, 32) is obtained by means of at least one washer (34) having snap-action engagement portions (40) which co-operate with an annular groove (36) of the pin (30, 32).

Abstract: A bicycle control device is provided that uses power from a rotating member to assist the operation of a bicycle mechanism, wherein the control device includes an input member that requests assistance of the rotating member and an output member that is assisted by the rotating member, and wherein the input member electrically moves from a first position to a second position and then to a third position. A method of operating the control device comprises the steps of providing an input signal for moving the input member from the first position to the second position and then to the third position; sensing a position of the input member with an input position sensor; and determining whether the input position sensor indicates the input member is in the third position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a retrofit safety handlebar. A handlebar is modified to include a threaded portion on an exterior end thereof. The handlebar can be a conventional handlebar. The retrofit safety handlebar includes a threaded portion on an interior thereof. The retrofit safety handlebar can be threaded to the conventional handlebar. A bias member is associated with a shaft of the retrofit safety handlebar for biasing the shaft away from a frame. A dampener is associated with the shaft so as to dampen movement of the shaft toward the frame after impact of the retrofit safety handlebar with a rider. For example, the frame can be a bicycle frame or a frame for other forms of personal transportation and toys that are pushed or ridden.

Abstract: The invention provides a low modulus drive belt for an automotive accessory drive system that allows for relatively high elongation during installation and that maintains a relatively high percentage of its install tension throughout the useful life of the belt. The invention also provides an automotive accessory drive system that utilizes such a belt and a method for constructing such a belt. One embodiment of the invention is directed to an accessory drive system for an automobile that includes: (a) a drive pulley; (b) an accessory pulley operatively coupled to an accessory drive shaft; and (c) an endless drive belt engaged between the drive pulley and the accessory pulley, where the drive belt includes an endless band of rubber composite material having a plurality of circumferentially extending an axially aligned polyamide 6.6 twisted cords formed therewithin.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission having a primary pulley and a secondary pulley on which a belt wound on the primary pulley is fitted. The width of the groove on the primary pulley is adjusted by the oil pressure in the primary hydraulic chamber in the primary cylinder, the width of the groove on the secondary pulley is adjusted by the oil pressure in the secondary hydraulic chamber in the secondary cylinder. The switching operation between the speed change operation in a state in which the line pressure is supplied to the secondary hydraulic chamber and the primary pressure is supplied to the primary hydraulic chamber by the oil passage switching valve, and the speed change control in a state in which the line pressure is supplied to the primary hydraulic chamber and the primary pressure is supplied to the secondary hydraulic chamber can be performed.

Abstract: An intermediate steering column (10) for a vehicle with a firewall (14) includes a first shaft (30) pivotally attached to a first U-joint (54) and rotatable about a longitudinal axis (32) of the first shaft upon rotation of the first U-joint. A second shaft (28) drivingly connected to the first shaft (30) has a slip joint connection (42) with the first shaft permitting relative axial movement of the first and second shafts while maintaining a rotary drive connection between the first and second shafts. The first shaft (30) includes first and second shaft parts (60 and 62) and a quick disconnect joint (64) between the first and second shaft parts permitting disconnection of the first and second shaft parts and pivoting of the first shaft part relative to the first U-joint (54) to a first out of the way position and pivoting of the second shaft part relative to a second U-joint (36) to a second out of the way position.