Abstract: A rack and pinion type steering apparatus in accordance with the present invention is provided with a rack guide made of synthetic resin. On the outer periphery of the rack guide is disposed a taper-form rib extending from the topmost portion of both outer sides of a concave one end-surface toward the portion of both outer sides of the other end-surface of the axial direction. The width of the rib becomes greater as it goes from the other end-surface of the axial direction toward one end-surface which is engaged with the back surface of the rack shaft. As a result, the concave portion of the one end-surface of the axial direction is hard to shrink inwardly when being molded, thereby the diameter of the one end-surface of the axial direction and that of the other end-surface of the axial direction of the rack guide are substantially the same.

Abstract: A manually operated gear shift mechanism for a motorcycle, or the like, includes a cable-driven pulley system operative to move a clutch to alternate operative positions in a power transmission system. The cables are arranged such that one is in tension regardless of the direction of rotation of the pulleys. The handle for operating the pulleys carries a releasable locking mechanism operative to secure the pulleys and, concomitantly, the clutch in their respective operative positions.

Abstract: An axial actuator wherein an output rod is controlled axially by a recirculating-ball screw-nut screw coupling, the screw of which is formed on the rod, and the nut screw of which is supported in rotary and axially-fixed manner on a support and rotated in relation to the same by a motor; the nut screw constituting the intermediate ring of a double thrust bearing mounted, via the interposition of a flexible support, between two opposite surfaces on the support.

Abstract: A multiple speed ratio power transmission apparatus, comprises input mechanism adapted to be connected to a power source for being driven with a constant reciprocating or oscillating motion, output mechanism including a rotatable output shaft, motion transmitting mechanism for controllably coupling the input mechanism to the output means, the motion transmitting means including an energy connecting element drivably connected to the input mechanism so as to be driven into a reciprocating or oscillating motion with a selectively, discretely variable stroke S=NS.sub.min, where S.sub.min is an increment of movement of the energy connecting element corresponding to one complete motion of the input mechanism and N=1,2,3, etc. indicating a selectively variable number of complete motions of the input mechanism, the energy connecting element being drivably connected to the output shaft for driving the output shaft through 180.degree.

Abstract: In a feed screw apparatus composed of a feed screw shaft and a nut engaged with the feed screw shaft which is movable in the axial direction, a guide rail member having ball rolling grooves in both side surfaces is disposed beneath the feed screw shaft in parallel to and slightly spaced therefrom. The bottom portion of the nut is extended downwardly at both lateral sides to form side walls constituting a linear guide section which sandwiches the guide rail member and has ball rolling grooves in the inner surfaces of the side walls. The outer surfaces of the side walls of the linear guide section are formed with ball rolling grooves, and half tubes respectively facing these ball rolling grooves to form ball return paths are fixed between end caps which are secured at opposite ends of the linear guide section.

Abstract: A control (220) for providing a dual pressure source (236) of pressurized fluid to a pressurized fluid operated shift actuator (30) for a mechanical change gear transmission (202) is provided.

Abstract: An unbalance vibrator including a drive shaft mounting unbalance weights, which are a clearance fit with respect to each other, and a mechanism for adjusting their mutual position. The adjusting mechanism is made in the form of two coaxially arranged cylinders carrying the unbalance weights and joined together by joining members provided on their engageable surfaces. One of the cylinders is rigidly mounted on the drive shaft, while the other cylinder is mounted so as to be turnable and axially traversable.

Abstract: The electrically operated drum brake (10) comprises an electric motor assembly (80, 180) disposed between opposing ends (62, 72) of two brake shoes (12, 14), the electric motor assembly (80, 180) replacing both the hydraulic wheel cylinder and the parking brake strut and lever. The electric motor assembly (80, 180) comprises a housing (82, 182) having an interior opening (84, 184) in which is disposed an electric motor (86, 186). The electric motor (86) drive a planetary gear assembly (91) which operates a screw mechanism (102) that engages an end (72) of an adjacent brake shoe (14), the housing (82) engaging the other brake shoe (12). An alternative embodiment includes an electric motor (186) which drives a bearing drive member (198), the bearing drive member (198) having a bearing track (200) which receives a plurality of bearing balls (205). The bearing balls (205) engage a fixed bearing track (187) on the housing ( 182) and also a curved surface (202) on a rotatable bearing member (201).

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a continuously variable traction roller transmission of a double cavity type. The transmission comprises a casing; a partition wall installed in the casing to define front and rear cavities in the same; a first shaft extending through the front and rear cavities; first and second motion transmitting traction mechanisms respectively installed in the front and rear cavities, each mechanism being disposed about the first shaft and operatively connected to the same; first and second control valve body structures respectively installed in the front and rear cavities, each structure producing a hydraulic pressure for controlling the corresponding motion transmitting traction mechanism; a second shaft extending through only the rear cavity; and a mechanism for operatively connecting the second shaft to both of the first and second motion transmitting traction mechanisms. The second control valve body structure has a passage through which the second shaft is passed.

Abstract: A coaxial engine starter comprises an electric motor having a tubular armature rotary shaft and an output rotary shaft disposed at the front end of the electric motor and having at one end a pinion capable of engaging and disengaging an engine ring gear and axially slidably inserted into an inner bore of the armature rotary shaft at the other end. The starter also comprises a planetary speed reduction gear for reducing the rotational speed of the armature rotary shaft, an over-running clutch including a clutch inner member fitted on the output rotary shaft for transmitting the rotation of the armature rotary shaft to the output rotary shaft, and a front bracket including an inner front bracket connected to the electric motor and an outer front bracket connected to the inner front bracket is provided. Also provided is a ball bearing having an inner and an outer race for rotatably supporting the output rotary shaft.

Abstract: Motion transmitting systems for machinery and machine tools wherein the combination of rotary and linear movement of a spindle is utilized to perform tasks especially drilling, reaming, tapping, and punching of metal. The tool supporting spindle is longitudinally threaded and powered at a preset, variable, rotary velocity. The spindle threads mesh with a linearly restrained longitudinally threaded member independently powered at a preset, variable, rotary velocity such that dissimilar angular velocities between the spindle and threaded member transmit precisely controlled advancing and retracting movement of the spindle.

Abstract: Recirculating ball mechanism comprising a body (10), an actuator shaft (16) rotatably mounted within the body (10) and turnable in response to rotation of an input shaft (12), an output piston (18) slidably mounted in the body (10), a bore (22) within the output piston (18) in which is received an end (26) of the actuator shaft (16), the bore (22) having an internal threaded surface (24), the end (26) of the actuator shaft (16) being formed with a threaded surface (28), a series of balls (30) located between the two threaded surfaces (24, 28) so as to operatively connect the actuator shaft (16) to the output piston whereby a given rotation of the actuator shaft (16) produces an associated displacement of the output piston (18) in the body (10), and mechanism (42, 44) for recirculating the balls (30) to a point of origin in the thread (28) formed on the actuator shaft (16) characterized in that the thread (28) comprises at least one closed loop (40) extending around the circumference of the actuator shaft (16)

Abstract: There is disclosed an actuator with a clutch mechanism in which a shaft device for operating an external mechanism is formed with threads thereon so as to be engaged with or disengaged from threads at inner surfaces of a plurality of collet type chuck members. The collet type chuck members are fitted into a member having outer teeth thereon, a line of magnetic force of an electromagnetic solenoid selectively acts upon pull-wedge members outside the collet type chuck members, whereby the collet type chuck members are engaged with or disengaged from the threads of the shaft device, and in the engaged condition, the member having outer teeth thereon is driven to rotate by a driving device, whereby the shaft device inside the member having outer teeth thereon is caused to be moved back and forth in a linear movement.

Abstract: An intermediate transmission with a variable input-to-output phase relationship for converting rotary motion to reciprocal motion includes a drive shaft having a main portion and an eccentric crank pin, an externally toothed ring with a plurality of circular bores rotatably mounted on the main shaft portion, a control member for rotatably adjusting and locking the ring in selected positions, a disc having an axially extending collar rotatably mounted on the eccentric pin and carrying a plurality of rollers each disposed to roll on the inner surfaces of the respective circular bores, the distance between each roller axis and the respective bore center being equal to the distance between the main shaft axis and the eccentric pin axis, an externally toothed satellite gear mounted on the collar, and an internally toothed sunwheel engaged by the satellite and rotatably mounted in a frame whereby the sunwheel rotates at the reduced integral speed ratio of 1-.sup.Z 2/.sub.

Abstract: A five or six degree of freedom device which includes a two or three degree of freedom wrist action hand controller and in which additional degrees of freedom are provided by motion of an operator's forearm connected to a mounting member that carries or supports the wrist action hand controller.

Abstract: A three or four degree of freedom device which includes a two or three degree of freedom wrist action hand controller and in which the additional degree of freedom control is provided by motion of an operator's forearm connected to a mounting member that carries or supports the wrist action hand controller.

Abstract: A plurality of planet pinions are carried on fixed shafts and mesh with a sun gear formed on an armature rotating shaft of a motor; and a cylindrical holder section of an outer clutch of an overrunning clutch device is so disposed as to cover the outer periphery of an internal gear which meshes with the planet pinions and is rotatably supported, such that the internal gear and the cylindrical holder are engaged through helical splines. Therefore, the overall length of the starting device can be decreased by the length of the helical splines formed on a conventional armature rotating shaft section or by a length exceeding it.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly for converting the reciprocating motion of at least one piston of a combustion engine into an oscillating rotary motion of at least one shaft, the piston being coupled with the shaft via a flexible band connected with a winding on and off area of the shaft. The rotational energy existing in the rotary motion of the shaft is utilized to continue rotation of the shaft in the same direction when the end of the pistons's working stroke is passed, so that the band is then wound onto the winding on and off area of the shaft in the opposite direction, thereby causing the band to pull back the piston. Alternatively, two pistons with opposite working stroke directions are present whose bands are connected to the shaft with opposite directions of winding. Due to a connecting rod between the two pistons, the working stroke of one piston pushes the other piston back to its starting position.

Abstract: A rotary-to-linear mechanical motion converter has a housing attachable to a drive engine, an input shaft reciprocable to the housing and coupled directly or through a gear arrangement to a reciprocating output shaft of the drive engine, a first drive train coupling the input shaft for turning a rotor in a given sense of rotation for a first direction of movement of the input shaft, and a second drive train coupling the input shaft for turning the rotor in the same given sense of rotation for an opposite direction of movement of the input shaft, the first and second drive trains alternately driving the rotor, as in an electrical generator, for continuous rotation in a given sense relative to the housing. In an alternate converter, both drive trains drive a rotor for only one direction of movement of the input shaft.

Abstract: An electric shift mechanism for an automotive transmission mechanism is disclosed in which a manual selector lever is universally mounted on a support adapted for sequentially pivoting north-south and east-west swingable rockers about associated intersecting axes. A gate limiting plate formed with a predetermined shift pattern is mounted on the support intermediate the rockers. The lower end of the lever has a ball follower for pre-loaded travel on a single cam track supported longitudinally on the east-west rocker. The cam track is contoured to simulate shift effort stability and feel of conventional manual gear shifting operations. The rockers allow crossover movement from a neutral lever position to preselect a desired gate for reciprocal fore and aft travel of the ball follower to selected transmission shift positions.