Abstract: A recoil starter is disclosed which comprises a cup-shaped casing, a side plate integrally having an annular projection disposed in opposition to an inside of a bottom portion of the casing and having an engagement hole to be engated with an engagement projection of the bottom portion, and a spiral spring retained at one end to the annular projection of the side plate and kept in place in a spiral form within a circumferential wall of the side plate. The side plate integrally has the circumferential wall and a boss portion insertion hole at its central portion.

Abstract: A spring motor comprises an output drum rotatably mounted to a casing and a first end of a spring attached to the output drum. A second end of the spring is attached to a free floating locking plug, around which the spring coils in an unstressed state. A pin is mounted near the output drum to prevent the locking plug from passing between the pin and the output drum.

Abstract: A stored energy system of a circuit breaker operating mechanism comprises a telescopic link having a guide and a cap with relative movement between which at least one closing spring is inserted. At the end of charging travel, a removable blocking device can be inserted in orifices of the cap and guide to lock the telescopic link. The release of a recharging cam by unlocking a closing pawl then causes a break in the mechanical link with a drive lever, so as to allow the sub-assembly formed by the telescopic link and the closing spring in the compressed state to be removed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gyroscope which is comprised of a hollow rotor adapted to rotate about a fixed shaft, a leaf spring housed inside the rotor, one end of which is releasably connected to the fixed shaft and the second end of the spring is fixedly connected to the rotor, the spring being able to store energy by the tensioning of the spring. The releasable connection has a finger, borne by the fixed shaft, which extends transversely with respect to the fixed shaft and is capable of being engaged in an opening made in the first end of the spring.The invention is more particularly applicable to gyroslopes.

Abstract: A spring drive device in which a spring holder, a rotor and an output gear are all loosely mounted on a shaft. The spring holder is prevented from rotating and holds one end of a coil spring, the other end of which is held by the output gear. The rotor rotates together with the output gear but is limited in the angle through which it can rotate. The coil spring can be wound and thereafter provide motive power to the output gear.

Abstract: A drive mechanism using a spiral spring as a driving force for driving toy motorcars and other running toys comprises a frame having a mounting hole for easily assembling a spiral spring within the frame permitting all the components required for constructing the mechanism, except for a spiral spring, to be preassembled completely and the spiral spring may later be conveniently inserted from outside the frame, the spiral spring in the first embodiment having at its fore end an engaging part while in the second embodiment no such end engaging part is required, permitting a very easy assembling of the spiral spring.

Abstract: A backwound pre-stressed flat spring motor and method of making the same having a pre-stressed spring element backwound on a central arbor within a cup wherein a portion of the spring element extends beyond the arbor wherein the initial turns of spring element backwound on the central arbor comprise alternating layers of the extended portion of the spring and the spring element resulting in increased initial torque when compared to a conventional backwound pre-stressed spring motor having the same construction otherwise.

Abstract: An impact drive sprinkler is provided from a relatively small number of easily assembled components which can be formed predominantly from lightweight molded plastic or the like. The sprinkler includes a unitary sprinkler body having a lower riser tube rotatably supported within a one-piece bearing sleeve adapted for connection to a water supply riser or the like, wherein the lower riser tube is joined to an upper range tube through which an irrigation water stream is projected. An oscillatory impact drive arm and a spring are snap-fit mounted with a controlled spring preload onto the sprinkler body for spring-loaded rotation of the drive arm toward a position with a deflector spoon unit thereon interrupting the projected water stream.

Abstract: An instrument has a rotatable part and a helical spring secured to the instrument casing at its outer end and to the rotatable part at its inner end. The spring characteristics are made to depart from linear, by changing the cross-sectional area of the spring progressively substantially from one end to the other of the spring. Preferably, the spring thickness is kept constant and its width varied, as by providing a tapered slot through the spring along its length. Provision is made for further selectively varying the spring characteristics, by rendering inactive selected lengths of the outer turns of the spring. In one embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2) this is done by providing a split ring that encircles the spring and whose ends can be moved toward or away from each other to contact selected lengths of the outer turns of the spring. In other embodiments (FIGS. 3 and 4) a helical rib coaxial and coextensive with the spring is rotated relative to the spring to contact varying lengths of the inner (FIG.

Abstract: A mounting device for a spiral spring which includes a rotatable shaft, a casing having a wall through which a first end of said rotatable shaft extends, a spiral spring for biasing the rotatable shaft in one direction, the spiral spring having an inner end which is engaged with the first end of the rotatable shaft, a spring holder positioned within the casing and having a first projection extending therefrom with which an outer end of the spiral spring is engaged, and a cover fitted within the casing covering the spiral spring and engaging with the spring holder so as to be rotated therewith and for thereby adjusting the biasing force of the spiral spring.

Abstract: An improved spring-wound prime mover provides a housing cavity that can automatically fix one end of a spring upon insertion. The gear train includes individual gears that automatically provide a first gear ratio for storing energy and a second gear ratio for releasing energy. The prime mover is assembled with a friction fitting arrangement to simplify manufacturing.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for toy running vehicles comprises a frame member having a circular recess for receiving a coil spring therein, a gear, a pinion, and a gear mechanism for connecting the gear and the pinion within the recess with a drive shaft having wheels mounted thereon, a cover for the frame, another frame snap-engaged with the first mentioned frame and a spring in the recess. The inner end of the spring is inserted through a guide slot formed in the first frame and wound within the recess, the inner peripheral wall face of which has a plurality of small recesses for receiving the outer end of the wound spring.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a spring cartridge for a spring operated re-wind mechanism such, for example, as those used with pull cord type engine starters.

Abstract: The invention is a spring device which is connected to the shaft on which a seat belt or the like is spirally wound and which is operable to retract the strip to a wound condition after it is extended and released, in which means are provided for holding the spring in pre-wound condition prior to installation in a seat belt assembly.

Abstract: A device for storing and later releasing mechanical energy has an elongate body, preferably cylindrical, at least one elastic strip or band wound helicoidally about the body and fastened thereto at each end thereof. A rigid rod extends longitudinally through and supports the body. The strips are wound about the body by rotating one end of the body on the rod. The strips of elastic material are subjected only to tensile stress and can be greatly deformed to accumulate a large amount of energy. The dimensions of the device are relatively small and need not be varied to accumulate a large amount of energy. The device is useful for starting an internal combustion engine, a rechargeable element as a substitute for a motor or as an accumulator of braking energy of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: An improved housing is provided for a seat belt retractor mechanism. The retractor mechanism attaches to a seat belt retractor frame and has a belt rewind spring disposed therein which attaches at one end to a belt storage spool. The housing includes a housing body and a housing cap which rotatably abuts the body in covering relation and which engages the other end of the spring. The rotatable abutment is made possible by a plurality of socket members disposed along the outer periphery of the housing body and a plurality of resilient deformable locking flanges positioned upon the cap. The resilient flanges are formed on the cap in a manner creating a bias toward a position placing the locking fingers above the socket members when the cap is rotated relative to the body during the assembly process to tension the spring. When the spring has been sufficiently tensioned, the flanges are aligned with the sockets and deformed to an extent causing locking fingers on the flanges to latchingly engage the sockets.

Abstract: A multi-stage energy storage device having a multi-stage construction of energy storage units adapted to uniformly distribute energies stored to each stage, and its embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a spring operated re-wind mechanism such, for example, as those used with pull cord type engine starters.

Abstract: A prewound retractor spring housing assembly for mounting to a preassembled safety belt retractor having a storage reel shaft end protruding from a side wall of the retractor, the shaft end having a retraction spring end receiving slot, has a spring mounting base means for receiving a retractor coil spring to be prewound thereon, spring cup means for encompassing the coil spring when prewound on the base means and for cooperating with the base means to prewind the spring to a desired prewound condition, means for locking the cup means to the base means and means for mounting the assembly to the safety belt retractor in a manner to automatically place the prewound spring in biasing relation to the safety belt reel.

Abstract: A rotary spring-return actuator is provided with a combination safety clutch and travel stop wherein the safety clutch is secured relative to the housing of the spring-return actuator in such a manner as to insure that the potential energy within the spring of the spring-return will be completely dissipated before access to the interior of the housing may be effected.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a starter mechanism comprising a member adapted to be fixed relative to an engine, a pulley which includes a side face and a peripheral groove and which is mounted for rotation with respect to the housing member and with the side face in spaced, generally parallel relation to the member so as to define a spring chamber, a coiled rewind spring located in the chamber and having a plurality of convolutions intermediate inner and outer ends which are respectively anchored to the pulley and to the member, a pull rope anchored to the pulley and wound in the groove, whereby withdrawal of the pull rope from the pulley causes rotation of the pulley in the direction which is effective to wind up the rewind spring and whereby, subsequent to withdrawal of the rope from the pulley and upon release of the pull rope, the rewind spring serves to rotate the pulley in the opposite direction so as to rewind the pull rope in the groove and to unwind the spring, and a restrictor shoe mounted on the pulley for

Abstract: Pull starters for cranking an internal combustion engine in a cranking direction include clutch driven means mounted upon a rotatable part of the engine which is rotated during starting by driving clutch means mounted for rotation by a starting pulley. The starting pulley is a spring retrieved pulley which causes rotation of the driving clutch means. The pulley carries projecting clutch disengagement means to forceably disengage the driving clutch means from the clutch driven means if normal disengagement does not occur.The starting pulley is provided with a spring retaining collar extending from one surface of the pulley, and this collar is provided with an outer spring engaging surface. An open ended spring retaining channel is formed beneath the collar outer surface, and a cam step surface extends inwardly from the outer surface to guide a spring into the open end of the channel. Also, the collar is formed to lock a spring end within the spring retaining channel.

Abstract: A spring drum including a coil spring for rotation about a shaft is provided with a cone shaped member located within a cylindrical drum. The cone shaped member is disposed in the drum coaxially with the drum and one end of the coil spring is fixed to the cone shaped member. The coil spring is shaped to have a conical form and provided around the cone shaped member. One end of the coil spring is fixed to the drum and the other end to the shaft, or vice versa.

Abstract: A power unit having an increased capacity for utilizing the potential energy of a stressed spring over periods of extended duration. The power unit is characterized by a housing, a drive shaft projected from the housing and supported for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a radially expansive spring unit of a substantially circular configuration disposed within the housing and connected to both the shaft and the housing, and an expansion control unit including a fluid-actuated ram radially oriented with respect to the spring unit having a pressure pad of an arcuate configuration forcibly engaging the periphery of the spring unit for selectively accommodating radial expansion of the spring whereby energy is released at a selectively controlled rate.

Abstract: A spring motor for providing motive power for vehicles, in particular automobiles, golf carts and the like, includes a plurality of interconnected spirally-wound spring power cells arranged in parallel relation in a supporting frame. Individual power cells are adapted to be wound in situ independently by manual means or collectively by motorized means.

Abstract: A self-aligning shaft coupling in which an open coil, helical spring is carried by a flanged disc on a driven shaft for releasable coupling within a housing mounted on a driving shaft wherein the shaft may be in axial or offset misalignment. The housing has a cylindrical internal peripheral surface closed at its rearward end by a face having a plurality of axially extending radially spaced lugs integrally formed thereon, any one of said lugs providing the sole coupling spring driving means. The spring has identical end-turned portions each of which are square with the spring axis and terminate in inwardly directed radial tangs so as to engage a slot in the driven disc and one of the lugs of the driving housing respectively, to provide a flexible torsional shaft coupling that is readily separable.