Abstract: A conduit length adjustment device including a tubular housing slidably supporting a cylindrical slider member (24), the housing including a box-like access opening for receiving a U-shaped lock button (26). A pair of lugs (52, 54) are disposed on the exterior of the side walls (38) and each of the legs of the lock button (26) includes a pair of holes (56, 58) for co-acting with the lugs (52, 54) for defining detents for retaining the lock button (26) in unlocked and locked positions respectively. In addition, a pair of latch levers (60) extend parallel to the legs of the lock button (26) and have ramps leading to flat ends for snapping under and abutting a pair of co-acting latch abutments (62), which also have ramps (64, 66) leading to flat abutment surfaces whereby independent and simultaneous forces must be applied to the latch levers (60) and the legs of the lock button (26) to enable removal of the lock button (26) from the locked position.

Abstract: The remote control assembly includes an adjustment mechanism for adjustment along the longitudinal axis which generically includes opposed and radially outwardly tapered wedge or conical sections (16) and a pair of female conical ramps (18) in engagement with the conical wedges (16). Each of the conical wedges (16) is paired with one of the ramps (18) for wedging action with the associated ramp (18) in response to an axial force applied to the paired one of the ramps (18) to create radial binding forces to prevent axial movement along the longitudinal axis in the direction of the applied axial force. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the small diameter ends (20) are connected together by a snap-together connection section (28-30) connecting the conical wedges together whereas in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, the small diameter ends (20) of the conical wedges (16) are integrally connected together by an integral section (24).

Abstract: A rocker arm comprises: a rocker arm body having a pair of side walls, a pivot shaft mounting portion at one end, and a valve engaging portion at the other end; and a roller rotatably mounted on the rocker arm body at the middle. In the rocker arm, at least the side walls are prepared by blanking a plate material, and the pivot shaft mounting portion and the valve engaging portion are connected, as bridges, between the side walls, and a thread hole is formed in the pivot shaft mounting portion in such a manner that its length is larger than the wall thickness of the side walls.

Abstract: A handlebar stem for a bicycle includes a post to be clamped to a bicycle tube frame, upper and lower profile arms journalled to a top part of the post, and a forward handlebar clamp journalled to the upper and lower profile arms, the handlebar clamp and the upper and lower profile arms being movable to different angular positions relative to the post. A shock absorber acts to cushion forces acting on the handlebar clamp in at least some of the different angular positions. The shock absorber includes an outer pipe, an inner pipe telescopically movable in the outer pipe, and a first spring having a spring force acting between the inner and outer pipes. A locking device is operable to lock the handlebar clamp and the upper and lower profile arms in a plurality of arrested different angular positions. The locking device includes a plurality of holes formed in the inner pipe, a piston having a stud, and a second spring urging the piston toward the inner pipe to cause the stud to enter a selected one of the holes.

Abstract: Flexible cables require an adjustable end fitting to permit the exact length to be attained at installation in the system in which is to be controlled. The adjusting structure includes a body adjusting portion on the one end of the cable and an adjustable body core which will be attached to one of the working members. Each of the body core and the body adjusting portion have a toothed portion formed thereon which are alignable when the body adjusting portion is inserted within the adjustable body core. A lock member secures these two portions together with a toothed portion which engages the aligned toothed portions on the body members. In order to prevent premature locking of the two elements together, the retaining member is secured out of engagement with the toothed elements and also after engagement of the toothed elements the lock member is secured in the lock position. The positioning of the lock member is controlled by a single retainer clip which is slidably disposed on the adjustable body core.

Abstract: The torsion damper comprises two coaxial masses (1, 2) which are mounted for rotation of one with respect to the other against a torsion damper device (3), which comprises friction member (5) and a damper plate (31) fixed to a reaction plate (21) which is part of one of the masses. The other mass includes a central nose (4) which projects axially and penetrates into central bores of the damper plate (31) and reaction plate (21). A plain bearing is interposed between the said central bores and the central nose (4), while the friction member (5) is mounted in a cavity, the greater part of which is bounded by the damper plate (31) and the reaction plate (21).

Abstract: A torsional vibration damper for a shaft rotating about an axis. The damper comprises a hub element joined to the shaft, such that at least two inertial masses, pivotable in the peripheral direction about pivot axes, are retained on the hub element. At least one spring for each inertial mass is provided to determine the static position of the inertial masses. The pivot axes lie between the inertial masses and the axis of the shaft.

Abstract: In a twist selector grip for selecting pedal cycle gear ratios, the rotary movement of the grip (3) is converted to a longitudinal movement of a tension member (2). The tension member (2) is fastened to the grip (3) and wound, similar to a screw thread, about the pedal cycle handlebar (1) or a sleeve (4) enclosing it. The tension member (2) is guided in a longitudinal guide (5) fixed in position relative to the pedal cycle handlebar (1) at a relatively great distance, in the direction of the rotation axis of the grip (3), from the fastening point (6) of the tension means (2) to the grip (3). By this construction, the arcuate distance the fastening point (6) travels, upon rotation of the grip (3), is significantly greater than the travel of the tension means (2) in its longitudinal guide (5), whereby a favorable conversion of large rotational movements of the grip (3) into small longitudinal movements of the tension means (2) is achieved.

Abstract: A gas pedal arrangement for a motor vehicle has a pedal plate which is swivellably held on a pedal holding device in the form of a housing. This pedal plate is connected with an adjusting device. The pedal holding device consists of an oblong housing which includes two half shells and in which components of the adjusting device are held on bearing points molded on the inside. On the outside of the half shells, transversely extending catch hook strips are provided, and on an underside of the half shells directed toward the vehicle body, molded-on common centering domes are provided for the fastening and fixing of the position of the housing. A gas pull is connected with a deflecting lever in a suspended manner, the gas pull being guided in the base of the pedal plate on a swivellable deflecting pulley which has a circular-arc-shaped segment.

Abstract: To boost RPM and to minimize the back and forth transfer of kinetic energy between a crank and a connector/reciprocating member in mechanisms having a stroke that is four times the crankpin offset, a connector which attaches the reciprocating member to the crank is weighted with counterweights to produce an effective connector center of mass at a location on the connector that, while rotating around the crankpin defines a motion perpendicular to the oscillation of the reciprocating member such that the resulting translational inertia of the connector is equal to but perpendicular and ninety degrees out of phase with the translational inertia of the reciprocating member so that their combined kinetic energy is constant, thus resulting in a zero transfer in energy between the crank and the connector/reciprocating member through each revolution unless external force is applied to the crank or to the reciprocating member.

Abstract: A motion transmitting remote control assembly (10) of the type for transmitting motion in a curved path by a flexible motion transmitting core element and characterized by a rod (44) secured to the outer end of the first core element section (12) for liming sliding movement of the first core element section (12) into the first conduit (16) at a retracted stop position with a female member (28) being in overlapping relationship with the bore (32) at the open end (36) to prevent the female member (28) from completely exiting the bore (32) at the refracted stop position.

Abstract: A control system includes a casing being partially filled with oil and in which an electrical, mechanical and/or hydraulic control device is disposed. An electronic control system is functionally associated with the control device. In order to keep electrical lines from the electronic control system to the control device as short as possible, the electronic control system is located inside the casing and is partially surrounded by oil. A printed circuit board and components of the electronic control system are sealed with a protective layer.

Abstract: A cable connector for a vehicle shifter includes an anchor configured to mateably receive a sheath of a cable assembly, and further includes a connector rod configured to receive a telescopable cable rod extending from the cable assembly. The vehicle shifter includes a base having a bracket supporting the anchor, and a shift mechanism pivotally attached to the base and operably connected to the connector rod. The shifter is installed in the vehicle by manipulating the shifter so that the sheath is inserted into the anchor with the cable rod extending through the anchor into the connector rod. The shifter is secured to the vehicle by clips that snap attach to a vehicle mounting bracket. The anchor is secured to the sheath by a first spring clip, and the cable rod is secured to the connector rod by a second spring clip,. which clips snap attach to the respective parts of the cable assembly as the shifter is snap attached to the vehicle.

Abstract: A bicycle pedal assembly includes a pedal axle to be fixed to a bicycle crank arm and rotated by a foot of a cyclist in a direction of drive rotation. A pedal on the pedal axle has a length to extend beneath substantially the entire foot of the cyclist. The pedal includes a portion to support the ball of the foot of the cyclist, such portion being positioned substantially directly above the pedal axle. The pedal also includes at a rear end thereof a heel attaching arrangement to achieve attachment of the rear end of the pedal to the heel of the foot of the cyclist. Mounted between the pedal and the pedal axle is a freewheel device that enables free rotating of the pedal relative to the pedal axle in a direction opposite to the direction of drive rotation, while blocking rotation of the pedal relative to the pedal axle in a direction corresponding to the direction of drive rotation.

Abstract: An operating member and relay operating member are interconnected through a driving cable. Inserted through the relay operating member are an inner cable portion of a first driven cable adapted to engage the relay operating member only upon movement of the latter in one direction, and an inner cable portion of a second driven cable adapted to engage the relay operating member only upon movement of the latter in the other direction. Thus, operating forces alternately applied to the operating member in two directions are efficiently transferred individually to two driven portions through the single driving cable and the two driven cables to reliably operate the driven portions.

Abstract: An H-shaped bicycle handlebar assembly includes an elongated cross bar extending in a generally transverse relationship to a longitudinal vertical median plane through the handlebar assembly and a pair of end structures attached adjacent to respective opposite ends of the cross bar being spaced in opposite lateral directions away from the longitudinal vertical median plane. Each end structure includes a pair of forwardly and rearwardly directed bars extending in forward and rearward directions from a respective one opposite end of the cross bar such that the cross bar in combination with the end structures thereby define a generally H-shape. Also, each end structure includes an end attachment mechanism attaching the respective pair of forwardly and rearwardly directed bars at a location therebetween adjacent to the respective one opposite end of the cross bar.

Abstract: In a walk-behind, powered lawnmower, a cable control apparatus is provided for supporting at least two different cable assemblies. The apparatus includes a housing for supporting the outer conduits of the cables at a fixed position on the handlebar of the mower and a fastener for fastening the housing to the handlebar. A throttle lever is supported on the housing for pivotal movement, the free end of the first cable being connected to the throttle lever so that movement of the lever is transmitted to the motor by the first cable, adjusting the speed of the motor. The free end of the second cable extends beyond the cable control apparatus and is connected to a separate ground drive lever so that movement of the ground drive lever is transmitted to the ground drive assembly by the second cable, actuating the ground drive assembly. The control apparatus includes an adjustment apparatus for removing slack from the second cable assembly.

Abstract: A casing body of a transmission casing has an oil pan mounting flange including an oil pan joint surface for joining an end surface of the oil pan, and a housing mounting flange including a housing joint surface for joining an end surface of a housing. The oil pan mounting flange and the housing mounting flange are provided substantially perpendicularly to each other. A reinforcing rib is formed parallel to the oil pan joint surface to reinforce the casing body. A pocket part is formed on the back surface of the reinforcing rib opposite to the direction of the oil pan joint surface, and a processing/assembling reference hole is formed in the reinforcing rib at a location of the rib where the pocket part is formed. As the reference hole is obtained without protruding the flanges, a greater degree of design freedom is provided and material costs are reduced. Further, if the flange is clamped, a claiming force is not exerted on the reference hole, thereby preventing deformation or displacement of the hole.

Abstract: A structure for supporting a generally cylindrical hollow tube comprising at least one trunnion which is adapted for receiving a generally cylindrical hollow tube. The trunnion includes a radially stepped bore formed therein and extending between first and second ends of the trunnion. The stepped bore includes a first generally cylindrical portion extending axially from the first end toward the second end. The first portion of the bore has a diameter which is less than an outside diameter of the tube, so that the tube engages the trunnion in an interference fit throughout the first portion of the bore. The stepped bore further includes a second axially extending, generally cylindrical portion having a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the first portion of the bore and greater than the outside diameter of the tube, so that the tube does not engage the trunnion in an interference fit in the area corresponding to the second portion of the bore.

Abstract: A vibration damper assembly to absorb vibrations in a camshaft and sprocket system has a sprocket positioned around a camshaft, an inertia ring positioned around the camshaft and adjacent the sprocket, yet capable of moving independently of the sprocket, and a hub member positioned around the camshaft adjacent the inertia ring. Frictional material is interposed between the hub member and a rim portion of the inertia ring whereby the inertia ring and hub member slide with respect to one another along the frictional material to absorb vibrations from the camshaft through heat dissipation.