Abstract: A reel-locking device for a video cassette. One or more stationary teeth are positioned to engage corresponding teeth on the perimeter of the video cassette tape reel. When the video cassette is inserted into a recorder, the recorder causes the reel to be raised above the effective height of the stationary tooth to disengage the reel from the tooth and permit rotation thereof.

Abstract: A phase change device of the type wherein an axially displaceable advancing plate drivingly interconnects input and output members through angled or helical, surfaces formed on interfacing portions of the input and output members. In accordance with the invention a plurality of balls of the type used in antifriction bearings are carried by the advancing plate and the interfacing portions of the input and output members are formed as angled or helical grooves in which said balls are received.

Abstract: A flexible coupling formed from sheet material and having preselected stiffness characteristics is incorporated between an engine output member and an input member of a mechanism to reduce the linear vibration levels of the system in use and to accommodate a preselected amount of misalignment therebetween. The flexible coupling has radially outer and inner edge portions, and a formed intermediate portion connecting them which in cross section has a generally truncated V-shape. A preferred embodiment has an annular body with the intermediate portion thereof having conical outer and inner walls, a relatively flat end wall, and blended corners connecting the walls and edge portions. When used between a diesel engine and an electric generator set the formed flexible coupling shifted the major structural resonances away from the normal operating range and greatly reduced the linear vibration levels thereof.

Abstract: A torsion damper comprises two coaxial parts, one of which comprises a damper plate and a hub, coaxial with each other and having respective complementary sets of teeth. A resilient member in the form of a shock absorbing ring is provided in the same coaxial part of the damper and is coupled in rotation to the damper plate. The shock absorbing ring comprises at least one substantially rigid first member, on which the set of complementary teeth is formed, together with at least one resiliently deformable second member for coupling in rotation with the damper plate.

Abstract: A rotary ball joint, especially for angularly movable driveshafts for motor vehicles, has an outer joint member (11) with ball tracks (18) uniformly distributed on its inner circumference and an inner joint member (12) non-rotatingly connected to the outer joint member (11). The inner joint member (12) includes ball sockets (13) which correspond to the ball tracks of the outer joint members (11). The ball sockets comprise spherical inner faces and, via the balls (14) supported therein, establish a form-fitting connection between the inner joint member (12) and the outer joint member (11). A plurality of bearing balls (15) are positioned in the sockets to provide a bearing surface for the force-transmitting balls (14). In the inner joint member, the force-transmitting balls (14) are guided in the ball sockets (13) and in the outer joint member they are guided in the ball tracks (18).

Abstract: A compliant, acoustically insulating, torsionally elastic shaft coupling includes a shaft part and a driver part formed by support plates. At least one cage is defined by the support plates which house at least one rubber element of corresponding shape. To achieve an especially compliant torsionally spring characteristic line, the rubber element is formed with uniformly spaced cavities having a cross-section larger than that of hollow ducts centrally crossing a series of these cavities and extending at least essentially over the entire height of the rubber element.

Abstract: A coupling for coupling two shafts. The coupling is well suited for use as the inboard plunging coupling for a front wheel drive vehicle. The coupling includes a drive canister, a trunnion received within the drive canister and bearing assemblies which mount the trunnion for plunging and pivoting motion within the drive canister. The bearing assembly can include a series of radially spaced bearing surfaces so as to distribute load about a greater area thereby increasing the torque carrying capacity of the assembly.

Abstract: A tripod joint separates the internal components of the joint responsible for angular and plunging movement of the joint. The tripod joint comprises an outer race, a spider having three radially extending trunnions, three rollers and a plurality of barrel shaped rollers. The barrel shaped rollers are disposed between the outer rollers and a respective trunnion located on the spider. Plunging movement of the joint either at 0.degree. joint angle or when the joint is at an angle is accommodated by a rolling action of the rollers against the outer race. Angular movement is accommodated by sliding movement of the barrel shaped rollers against an adjacent component or by the outer rollers against the outer race.

Abstract: A device for damped resilient coupling between two coaxial rotary discs, the driving disc driving the driven disc in rotation in one direction or in the other so that transmission of the drive torque may take place progressively at least within a given angular range. Each of discs (1, 2) includes for this purpose at least one rest (4, 5) for the end of a resilient torque transmission element. The resilient element is formed essentially of a composite material (3) with relatively high modulus of elasticity, and is associated with a resilient damping mass (6).

Abstract: A thrust bearing device for an electric motor lubricated by liquid within a motor casing includes a rotary disk fixed on a primary shaft of the motor and a sliding shoe member having sliding surfaces slidably in contact with a sliding surface of the rotary disk. The sliding shoe member is made of metal and is provided with a plurality of segmented shoes unitarily connected to a common base through respective ribs. The sliding shoe member is fixed to a motor bracket with a gap having a predetermined configuration provided between the retaining surface of the motor bracket and the bottom surface of the common base of the sliding shoe member at each of the portions thereof which respectively correspond to the shoes.

Abstract: Constant-velocity joints in tripod construction have an external joint component (1) in which are formed three circumferentially spaced axial guide tracks (2) with bearing surfaces opposite each other in the circumferential direction. An interior joint component (3) has three circumferentially spaced radial trunnions (4) which engage in the guide tracks (2). A roller unit (8) is on each of the trunnions (4) and is radially supported in the guide tracks (2). The roller units (8) are essentially held at constant angles in the guide tracks. The roller units (8) are, relative to the trunnions (4) and radially movable with angular mobility. The roller unit (8) are each mounted, free to rotate, on a roller carrier (6). The trunnions (4) have connected to their ends, spherical heads (5) which engage a radial internal recess of the roller carrier (6). A needle bearing (7) with a cage (9) is located between each roller carrier (6) and roller unit (8).

Abstract: A hub unit bearing apparatus for a vehicle, adapted to rotatably support a constant velocity joint and a wheel on a vehicle body and to connect them to each other, comprises an outer race attached to a vehicle body, a shaft extending from a constant velocity joint and having a first reduced diameter portion at its free end, a cylindrical hub fitted on the first reduced diameter portion and having one end which is near the constant velocity joint and on which a second reduced diameter portion is formed, an inner race fitted on the second reduced diameter portion and cooperating with the outer race via rolling members to construct a bearing, a first nut threaded on the second reduced diameter portion so as to protrude from an end face of the second reduced diameter portion axially and urging the inner race against a body portion of the hub, and a second nut threaded on the second reduced diameter portion and urging the hub, inner race and first nut against the constant velocity joint.

Abstract: A transmission joint has a first element connected to a first shaft and mounted in an articulated manner in a second element to form a housing fastened to a transmission member. The housing includes a radial fastening flange mounted axially slidably relative to the outer casing of the housing and an apparatus for immobilizing the fastening flange axially relative to the outer casing of the housing when the second element is in the fixed position on the transmission member. The process employed to assemble the transmission joint temporarily secures the housing relative to the first member until the housing is secured to the fastening flange.

Abstract: A modified jaw type shaft coupling has two opposed members arranged to allow limited flexure about a point that is the geometric center of mating spherical surfaces, a concave surface on one member and a mating convex surface on the other member. One member is attached to each shaft to be rotationally and axially coupled. The jaws on one coupling member have lugs that extend radially inward to axially entrap a larger flange attached to the other coupling member. The flange has notches to allow the flange to axially traverse the lugs. The flange is then rotated relative to the lugs to allow the flange to oppose the lugs. The flange is secured to the other coupling member after the coupling members are axially moved together to allow the jaws to interdigitate to provide rotational coupling. The convex and concave surfaces cooperate to accept axial compressive loads and the flange and lugs prevent axial separation.

Abstract: A constant velocity ratio universal joint of the tripod type, comprising an outer joint member (10) with three guide grooves (20), and an inner joint member with arms (13) each carrying a roller (21) which is able to rotate about, move lengthwise of, and tilt relative to the arm, wherein both the external surface (22) of the roller and each side portion of a guide groove (20) engaged thereby is of a gothic arch cross sectional shape to provide for angular contact between roller and guide groove and improve the guidance of the roller so that it remains aligned in the groove for rolling therealong and with the gothic arch section of the roller and/or guide groove side comprising arcuate portions with different centers of curvature, or having part-elliptical or part-involute portions.

Abstract: A two piece type drive (propeller) shaft assembly comprises first and second shafts and a middle elastic member which resiliently connects the first and second shafts end to end so that power can be transmitted. At least one weight is fixed to each shaft at a predetermined unbalance position to shift a principal axis of inertia of the shaft to a desired orientation to suppress whirling motion of the shaft. In each shaft, the at least one weight is located at such a position that the distance of the unbalancing at least one weight from the connected end of the shaft is substantially equal to one third of length of the shaft.

Abstract: An outboard constant velocity universal joint for a steered wheel of a vehicle includes a one-piece, structurally-integral inner race and first shaft and a one-piece, structurally-integral outer race and second shaft. The inner race has an outer surface of partially spherical configuration. The outer race has a closed end and an open end with an inner surface of partially-spherical configuration and of constant radius extending from the open end to the closed end. The inner and outer races fit closely together in the manner of a ball and socket without any cage between the surfaces thereof. A cage or retainer is located in the closed end of the outer race with a convex outer surface substantially equal in length to the radius of the inner surface of the outer race. The cage has a plurality of fingers extending only into end portions of the grooves of the inner race. The fingers have outwardly-extending flanges extending into grooves of the outer race.

Abstract: A measuring element which senses the running of the solid of rotation is connected to the actual value input of a controller whose output signal is connected to a control element which acts upon a bearing which is adjustable perpendicularly to the axis.

Abstract: The assembly comprises a pair of semi-circular steel shells. The inner surface of one shell forms a centrally located, circular recess and a concentric groove positioned between the recess and the side edges of the shell. A flat cylindrical annular seal element is seated in and fills the recess. The element is resilient and deformable. It has concentric protruding ribs on its top and bottom surfaces. The seal element is adapted to circumscribe a leaking small hole or crack in the wall of an internally pressurized pipeline. The shells are then circumferentially clamped against the pipeline to cause the element to seal around the leak and to effect tight shell-on-pipe contact. The steel side wall of the recess confines the compressed seal element. The side edges of the shell are then welded together longitudinally and circumferentially to create a permanent pressure vessel sealing and containing the leak.

Abstract: A telescopic cover element is made from a sheet material blank and has one U-shaped material deformation formed from multiple bends for receiving a rear portion wall/or providing an extension stop. A second U-shaped material deformation formed from multiple bends opens towards the exterior of the cover element to form a discharge channel.