Abstract: The invention provides a drive train for a hedge trimmer, the drive train being arranged, in use, to provide power to a downstream mechanism, the drive train comprising: a motor having an output shaft; a pinion coupled to the output shaft; a reduction gear arranged to be driven by the pinion, the reduction gear contained within a gear housing; a flywheel engageable to the output shaft, wherein the flywheel is arranged within the gear housing.

Abstract: Initiation of coupling between an input disk and a clutch disk at a maximum rotational coupling force without making relative rotation between the input disk and the clutch disk is enabled only when the output shaft is placed in a single engageable point within a normal reciprocal angular range of the output shaft. When a load applied to the output shaft is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the input disk and the clutch disk are decoupled from one another, so that the relative rotation is made between the input disk and the clutch disk.

Abstract: A disk drive structure with an adjustable bearing structure for guide bars therein. The disk drive includes a base, a spindle motor, a main guide bar located aside the spindle motor, a secondary guide bar located also aside the spindle motor but opposing to the main guide bar, an optical pickup head riding at the main guide bar and the secondary guide bar, and four bearing structures to sustain ends of the main guide bar and the secondary guide bar. The disk drive includes at least one of the four bearing structures is an adjustable bearing structure. The adjustable bearing structure includes a housing, a through hole, a spring arm, and a cam pillar pivotally mounted under the housing and sent into the through hole. By providing the cam pillar and the spring arm to hold the end of the respective guide bar, the position of the guide bar can be adjusted by turning the cam pillar.

Abstract: A smart actuator and method includes an actuating device adapted to deliver a selected driving torque to a geartrain that is coupled to an output shaft and adapted to selectively convey the driving torque from the actuating device to the output shaft to achieve a selected shaft position. At least one logic and control device operates the various aspects of the smart actuator. The geartrain includes at least one locking gear including locking features defining a plurality of gear positions. A position lock solenoid is adapted to engage the locking gear at a selected gear position once the geartrain has achieved the selected shaft position on the output shaft. The position lock solenoid then holds the gear at the selected gear position. The actuating device is shut off after the position lock solenoid has engaged the locking gear thereby achieving and holding a high torque without driving a lot of current.

Abstract: A torque limiting coupling defines a longitudinal axis (17) and has a coupling hub (8) with circumferentially distributed through holes. Transfer elements are adjustably held in the holes. A coupling sleeve (6) has first recesses corresponding to the through holes. A switching disk (9) is arranged relative to the coupling hub (8) between a torque transmitting position and a freewheeling position. The switching disk (9) is urged towards the torque transmitting position. This urges the transfer elements in the direction towards the coupling hub (8). The transfer elements engage, for torque transmission, in recesses of the coupling sleeve (6). Coupling sleeve (6), when a predetermined nominal torque is exceeded, is transferable from the torque transmitting position to the freewheeling position. Second recesses, corresponding to the through holes, receive the transfer elements in the freewheeling position.

Abstract: Weight and complexity concerns in geared rotary actuators and stop mechanisms for aircraft or the like may be minimized in the structure including a housing (18) adapted to be fixed to another structure, a rotatable input shaft (14) journalled by the housing (18), an output shaft (22, 28) journalled by the housing and a coupling between the input shaft (14) and the output shaft (22, 28) including at least one rotatable gear (42). The system includes a mechanical sensor (66) for sensing when the gear (42) has rotated close to an overtravel position and a first stop element (82) is associated with the input shaft (14) to be rotatable therewith. A second stop element (80) is movable into interfering relation with the first stop element (82) to stop rotation thereof and is carried by a gear part (19). Also included is an actuator (60, 62, 68, 70, 72) responsive to the sensor (66) for moving the second stop element (80).

Abstract: A disk is fitted over a transmission shaft which delivers drive force from a press drive to feed bars. Engagement members are selectively engaged with and disengaged from teeth on the disk so that when engagement members are engaged with the disk, the movement of the feed bars is interrupted. As a result, maintenance operation can be carried out safely.

Abstract: A timing mechanism (10) is provided in which input gear (11) is fixed on one shaft (12) for operating one system such as a door to move between two positions. A differential nut (14) is also provided on the shaft (12) for axial movement therealong. The differential nut (14) meshes with a first translating nut drive gear (2) rotatably arranged on a second shaft (19) which also contains a second translating nut drive gear (36) rotatably arranged thereon. The second gear (36) meshes with a differential nut (32) axially movable along a third shaft (26) for actuating a second system such as a pallet between two positions. The timing mechanism (10) is utilized in a system in which the output of each differential nut (14,32) is caused to operate a brake so that only one system will be in operation and the brake in the other system will not be released until the one system has completed its movement to a desired position.

Abstract: A mechanical mode shifter is provided including an input and first and second outputs, which rotate simultaneously during a first portion of operation. The first output is coupled to the input for providing a continuous drive to the first output. Timing means including sector gears are coupled to the first output. At a preselected point in time, the timing means cause the engagement of the sector gears with other gears for the purpose of disengaging a jaw clutch and decelerating a shaft on the second output, such that the second output is driven cyclically while the first output is driven continuously.

Abstract: A safety device for garage doors wherein the door can be pulled down against the opposition of one or more torsion springs acting upon a horizontal shaft has a housing for a gear which is non-rotatably mounted on the shaft and whose peripheral teeth and tooth spaces are adjacent a set of recesses the the housing. A plastic casing which is biased by the torsion springs normally maintains in deformed condition at least one coil spring which reacts against the housing and tends to rotate the casing relative to the gear so that several ramps which are adjacent to discrete pockets of the casing expel from the recesses spherical blocking elements which normally extend partly into the recesses and partly into the adjacent pockets. This results in partial entry of blocking elements into the adjacent tooth spaces to thus hold the shaft against rotation relative to the housing in the event of breakage of the torsion springs.

Abstract: A combination, right angle gear drive including a clutch assembly with a drive clutch mechanism and a non-reverse clutch mechanism. The gear drive has a top-mounted motor stand for a primary power source and a horizontal drive shaft adapted for coupling to a backup power source. The drive clutch automatically engages upon activation of the backup power source and automatically disengages when the primary power source beings operation. The non-reverse clutch mechanism blocks reverse rotation of the gear drive.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a rotary power machine, such as a hand-held power tool, includes a housing-mounted locking pin manually actuatable from a retracted position to an extended, operative position in which the lock pin is received within a pin-receiving bore formed in one of the power transmitting components of the machine. A wedge-like cam or ramp is positioned adjacent to the pin-receiving bore to engage the extended end of the lock pin when the rotating components of the machine are in motion to lift the lock pin away from the pin-receiving bore to prevent accidental engagement of the locking mechanism while machine components are moving. In the preferred embodiment, an output gear is provided with a plurality of ramps and associated pin-receiving bores and is formed as a unitary part using powdered metal fabricating techniques.

Abstract: A limit switch gauge positioner for a machine ram supporting a forming tool or the like. The ram, supported for reciprocal movement relative to a head, has a lineal distance gauging rod thereon formed with a plurality of longitudinally graduated reference indents. The rod has a body member slidable thereon including a detent coupling plunger adapted for engaging a selected one of the indents allowing an operator to initially locate the body member relative to the ram. A micrometer is supported on the body member with its spindle being settable at graduations along the spindle axis parallel to the path of travel of the ram. The head supports a housing including a microswitch with its actuator aligned on the spindle axis. An operating member is pivoted on the housing intermediate the switch actuator and spindle and gravitationally biases an arm section into arresting contact with the actuator in its extended switch closed position.

Abstract: An indexing and synchronizing clutch mechanism is disclosed which allows a driven shaft to be stopped in a precise indexing position and to be restarted from the indexing position in exact synchronization with a drive shaft. The mechanism comprises a rotatable drive wheel having an engagement means and a rotatable driven shaft. A pawl means is mounted on the driven shaft for rotation with the shaft. The pawl means is also movable into and out of engagement with the engagement means on the drive wheel whereby the driven shaft is rotated in synchronization with the drive wheel. Actuatable means are provided for moving the pawl means into and out of engagement with the drive wheel. A fixed stop is mounted adjacent to the drive wheel and is adapted to prevent rotation of the pawl means and to hold the position of the pawl means when it is moved out of engagement with the drive wheel by the actuatable means whereby the drive shaft is held in an indexing position.