Abstract: A torsional vibration absorbing device for a transmission, such as manual shift automotive transmission, wherein a friction clutch is provided on the output shaft within the transmission. One set of springs apply a constant resilient force to the friction clutch. Interengaging cam plates are caused to separate axially by increases in torque transmitted and another set of springs impose an additional resilient force on the friction clutch to reduce slippage upon such separation. The cams on the cam plates have helically shaped surfaces for full face-to-face contact and the slopes of the surfaces are different for forward or reverse drive therethrough to provide different slippage characteristics for acceleration and deceleration.

Abstract: A mechanism for transmitting rotational motion from a drive shaft such as a crankshaft of an engine to one or more parallel shafts such as camshafts comprising a triangular link connected to the crankshaft by an eccentric crank and connected to the camshafts by internal gears which engage with sprockets connected to the camshafts. The gear ratio between the crankshaft and camshafts is determined by the radii of the internal gears and the sprockets. The link can also be used to drive auxiliary components such as an alternator or a water pump, or to transmit drive from a starter motor to the crankshaft when the engine is started.

Abstract: A vehicular speed change gear wherein a stepless V-belt transmission and a stepped gear transmission are disposed in series in a power transmission system connecting an engine crankshaft and a driving wheel together. An automatic speed change actuator, which automatically actuates the speed change operation of the stepless transmission in association with an engine throttle valve opening and a vehicle speed is connected to the stepless transmission, and a manual speed change actuator is connected to the stepped transmission for manually actuating the speed change operation of the latter.

Abstract: A belt type steplessly variable transmission includes a belt-pulley device of variable speed ratio and a fluid pressure operated actuator for changing the speed ratio of the belt-pulley device. A fluid control valve is provided for controlling a supply of fluid pressure to the actuator to thereby determine the speed ratio of the belt-pulley device. The fluid control valve is associated including with a manually operable member movable between a first position in which it does not affect operation of the fluid control valve and a second position in which the supply of fluid pressure is changed so that a change in the speed ratio does not take place until input speed to the belt-pulley device exceeds a predetermined value. A manually operable valve is provided for changing the supply of fluid pressure so that the speed ratio of the belt-pulley means is increased.

Abstract: A power transfer device for four-wheel drive in combination with a power transmission having a differential gear unit for front-wheel drive. The power transfer device comprises a transfer casing detachably secured at one side thereof to the transmission casing, a carrier member rotatably mounted within the transfer casing and arranged coaxially with the differential gear unit, an output gearing assembled within the transfer casing and arranged to be driven by the carrier member for rear-wheel drive, a front-wheel axle drivingly connected at its inner end with the differential gear unit and extending outwardly through the transfer casing, and a hollow shaft arranged in surrounding relationship with the front-wheel axle and slidably engaged at its one end portion with the carrier member to be shifted to a position in which the other end of the hollow shaft is brought into engagement with the differential gear unit for four-wheel drive.

Abstract: A differential system for transmitting power to a split pair of wheel axles utilizes a coupled pair of special planetary gear sets to proportion torque when the wheels negotiate a turn or lose traction. The gear ratio of each set is such that when the driving torque is in the speed increase mode of the gears, the two lock and rotate in the same direction but when the torque is on the sun gear caused by feedback due to negotiating a turn, the sun gear nutates within the ring gear to adjust for speed differentials. The sun gear of each set drives an eccentric cam on its associated wheel axle and is adapted to drive the ring gear of the opposite set by the provision of torque-transmission coupling therebetween.

Abstract: A power unit for an axle having two or more driven wheels that permits the use of a conventional motorcycle power unit having an internal combustion engine and a change speed transmission having only forward gear ratios. An auxiliary transmission is coupled to the motorcycle power unit change speed transmission and itself includes two forward speeds and a reverse speed so that the vehicle may be driven in a forward or reverse direction. An interlocking arrangement is provided so that the auxiliary transmission cannot be shifted into reverse unless the change speed transmission is in either neutral or its lowest gear. In addition, the arrangement is such that a centrally positioned drive shaft may be employed.

Abstract: A power transmission mechanism in which a small rotatable screw thread is arranged symmetrically with a large rotatable screw thread. The pitch and the pitch circle diameter of the large screw thread are the same integer times the pitch and the pitch circle diameter of the small screw thread. The screw thread grooves are connected through ball means and a convenient combination of screw threads provides an input shaft and an output shaft either in parallel or in alignment. This arrangement provides a power transmission mechanism of a compact size and a simple structure with an enhanced ratio of power increase and decrease.

Abstract: In a plant gear box or transmission with two double eccentrics, radial clearance is provided in the bearings of one planet which is greater than that of the other planet for optimum force splitting.

Abstract: In a planetary gear train of automatic transmission, there are disposed two one-way devices which are parallelly but reversedly arranged between the input shaft and a sun gear. Due to the flow-cut function of one of the one-way devices, the high speed rotation of the sun gear caused under a certain speed condition of the transmission is not transmitted to a clutch drum of the associated clutch device thereby to prevent the clutch device from malfunctioning.

Abstract: A kickdown system for an infinitely variable belt-drive transmission comprises a primary pulley having a hydraulically shiftable disc, a secondary pulley having a hydraulically shiftable disc, a belt engaged with both pulleys, and a hydraulic circuit having a pump for supplying oil. A transmission ratio control valve is provided to be responsive to engine speed for controlling the oil and for shifting the disc of the primary pulley to change the transmission ratio, and a pressure regulator valve is provided to respond to the transmission ratio for increasing the pressure of the oil with an increase of the transmission ratio. A kickdown switch is provided to produce a signal upon the full depression of an accelerator pedal of a vehicle. A solenoid device is responsive to the signal for operating the pressure regulator valve so as to increase the pressure of the oil, whereby the downshifting of transmission is enhanced.

Abstract: An improved roller door drive assembly comprising a drum, upon which a curtain is rolled, and a gear coaxially mounted to and engaged with the drum. The means of engagement consists of a plurality of forks projecting from the gear adapted to engage drum spokes. This arrangement prevents the ends of the drum while running in a swashplate manner from dragging the gear out of alignment with its driving pinion. In so doing this engagement means prevents excessive wear.

Abstract: An incrementally variable transmission, particularly suitable for a bicycle, having a variable-sprocket which comprises: A drive-flange and an indexing-flange mounted on an axle with a pair of sprocket-segment-planets and at least a pair of idler-planets sandwiched between the flanges, the planets adapted to expand and contract in response to a relative rotation of the flanges and thereby increase and decrease, respectively, the effective diameter of the variable-sprocket.

Abstract: An epicyclic speed reducing mechanism employs, as torque transmitting elements, a series of rolling elements which are constrained to travel along a substantially trochoidal path defined by means of complementary or conjugate surface regions formed on the driving and driven members. The invention is applicable to single or multiple stage speed reducers, and may be of the counterweighted or counterbalanced variety, the latter including a constant velocity coupling operating between an orbiting and rotating element and a further element. In the disclosed embodiments, the rolling elements may be either balls or rollers, and the surface regions may be conjugate epitrochoidal and hypotrochoidal grooves.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus which can be incorporated into a powered instrument that rotates a tool at varying rotational speeds and torques. The invention includes at least two drive plates, each of which rotates at a different speed and which exerts a different magnitude of torque. A movable member within the instrument selectively engages one of the two drive plates to couple that drive plate to the output shaft of the instrument. The apparatus can include a torque limiter which couples the input shaft to the output shaft only when the resistance to rotation offered by a drive plate is less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: An improved epicyclic power transmission is disclosed. An input shaft is journalled on a torque plate. Gears are mounted on eccentrics on the input shaft. Chain connects the gears to the torque plate to prevent rotation of the gears but permit gyration of the gears. The chain also connects the gears to an output shaft whereby the gyratory motion of the gears is translated to rotation of the output shaft on an increased torque and reduced speed.

Abstract: An automatic transaxle for use in an automotive vehicle driveline including a compound planetary gearset, a hydrokinetic unit and a torque splitter gear unit that cooperate to define torque delivery paths from the vehicle engine to a driven shaft; the driven shaft being located between the hydrokinetic unit and the compound planetary gearing and the torque splitter gear unit being located within the housing for the hydrokinetic unit; and clutch-and-brake means for establishing and disestablishing each of the forward driving ratios and the reverse drive ratio, the clutch-and-brake means being arranged in a compact fashion within the housing for the compound planetary gearing to provide a minimum axial length of the assembly; the driven shaft being connected drivably to the vehicle traction wheels through a differential gearing mechanism; the hydrokinetic unit, the gearing and the differential mechanism being enclosed in a common cast housing.

Abstract: A torque feedback hydromechanical transmission having one or more planetary gear trains. In one embodiment, feedback comprises a variable displacement hydraulic motor mechanically interconnected to the input shaft and a fixed displacement hydraulic pump driven by the ring gear and supplying hydraulic fluid to the motor. Control over torque and speed ratio is exercised by adjusting displacement within the motor. In other embodiments some of the feedback is mechanical in order to reduce the load on the hydraulic motor and pump.

Abstract: A transmission system for a motorcycle or motorized tricycle, comprising a main gearbox 3 having multiple gear steps, a sub gearbox 4 coupled to the main gearbox having two widely spaced forward gears GL, GH and one reverse gear GR; and one shift lever 14 controlling the selection of the gears in the sub gearbox. The reverse gear may be interlocked with the neutral and lowest speed gear of the main gearbox.

Abstract: An electronically controlled automatic transmission control system for controlling an automatic transmission for a vehicle, comprising an electronic controller which receives functions on the basis of input signals corresponding to the running conditions of the vehicle to control a hydraulic controller including a fluid pressure source, shift control valves for changing over the connection of the fluid pressure source to the respective hydraulic servomotors of frictional engaging mechanisms which controls the operation of the components of a gear train included in the automatic transmission, solenoid valves adapted to be controlled by the electronic controller to change input signal pressures to the shift control valves and a manual selector valve having a spool capable of moving through predetermined set positions corresponding to the shift positions of the manual shift lever of the vehicle, in which the input signal pressure is supplied to one of the shift control valves, namely, 1-2 shift control valve, wh