Abstract: The present invention provides an upper body exercise apparatus that is portable, is compatible with various other workout machines such as stationary bikes and treadmills and is advantageous for safe, low-impact cardiovascular exercise. The exercise apparatus comprises a pair of movable handlebars that are activated by push and pull forces exerted by the user. A clamp sub-assembly is provided by which a user may attach the exercise apparatus to a separate free-standing machine, such as a stationary bike or a treadmill. A brake sub-assembly is also provided and serves to create a braking effect that results in a feeling of resistance to the user as the user moves the handlebars in a substantially forward or rearward direction.

Abstract: A dual direction, selectable one-way clutch is provided that can be set to be fully free to rotate in both directions, can be fully locked in both directions, and can provide a one-way clutch option in both directions. The actuator to change the clutch state is electromechanical and only requires power to change a coupling state of the clutch. The clutch is formed by two sets of struts carried by pocket plates on opposite sides of a center plate that includes spaced apart drive openings, and the struts are engageable/disengageable with the drive openings in order to provide for the different locked and one-way clutch states. One or more actuator rings are provided to activate or disengage the struts.

Abstract: A transmission for a motorcycle includes a housing, at least one shaft at least partially accommodated in the housing and which can be rotated relative to the housing, and a locking device having at least one locking element located in the housing. The at least one locking element is movable moved relative to the housing between at least one locking position in which the at least one locking element secures the shaft against rotation relative to the housing, and at least one release position in which the at least one locking element releases the shaft for rotation relative to the housing.

Abstract: A rotating shaft assembly having a deployable screw thread is provided. The rotating shaft assembly includes a rotating shaft which transmits rotational force, and a plurality of screw units that are slidable in a longitudinal direction of the rotating shaft. A plurality of deployable portions are moved away from the rotating shaft when the deployable portions are pressed from one side by a pressing device. Additionally, the deployable portions are deployed outward when the screw units are pressed by the pressing device that moves along the rotating shaft.

Abstract: An actuator decoupler for selectively coupling and decoupling a driving part and a driven part of an actuation system is disclosed. The driving part can be coupled to the actuator decoupler, and the actuator decoupler can be coupled to the driven part via at least one coupling pin. In a selectively coupled state, the driven part can be at least one of rotationally and longitudinally fixed to the actuator decoupler and, thereby, the driving part. The actuator decoupler can be decoupled from the driven part through the use of a preloaded energy mechanism configured to disengage the at least one coupling pin from the driven part. Thereby, the actuator may be responsive to a jam in the actuation system to selectively decouple the driven part from the actuator decoupler and the driving part so that the driven part has freedom to translate at least one of rotationally and longitudinally.

Abstract: A power transmission system coupling (100) configured to provide a responsive and controllable clutch (110) using a torque split arrangement including a planetary gear set (106) for torque modulation, together with a locking device (134) to maximize torque transfer capability when modulation is not required.

Abstract: A power transmission mechanism for transmitting a driving force from a drive shaft to a driven member of a gear via a one-way clutch is provided. The one-way clutch includes a swinging clutch portion swingably fitted in a clutch portion housing groove formed in a first end portion of the drive shaft. The swinging clutch portion has a cylindrical portion as the axis of rotation and a projecting portion. When the drive shaft rotates, the projecting portion of the swinging clutch portion is raised by a slit of a collar fitted onto the drive shaft, engaging one of a plurality of engaging grooves formed in the inner peripheral surface of the driven member. When the drive shaft does not rotate, the swinging clutch portion lies down, and the projecting portion does not engage any engaging groove, allowing the driven member to rotate bidirectionally relative to the drive shaft.

Abstract: A bi-directional overrunning clutch assembly (10, 110, 210) including a drive member (12, 112, 212) that is rotatable about an axis (A) and a pair of driven members (14, 16; 114, 116; 214, 216) that is similarly rotatable about the axis of rotation. The pair of driven members (14, 16; 114, 116; 214, 216) are disposed on either side of the drive member (12, 112, 212) such that each one of the pair of driven members is in side-by-side confronting relationship with the drive member. In addition, the clutch assembly includes first and second engagement mechanisms (26, 28; 126, 128; 226, 228). The first engagement mechanism (26, 126, 226) is supported between the confronting surfaces of the drive member (12, 112, 212) and one of the driven members (14, 114, 214). The second engagement mechanism (28, 128, 228) is supported between the confronting surfaces of the drive member (12, 112, 212) and the other driven member (16, 116, 216).

Abstract: A radial, bi-directional overrunning clutch is provided that supplies on-demand power to, for example, the front wheels of a vehicle, while allowing the front wheels to overspeed the rear wheels. The clutch comprises a driving member having a plurality of radially-outwardly-biased pawls, a reversing ring, a driven member having a plurality of notches, and a housing having a plurality of pawls. The pawls on the driving member engage outwardly concentric notches on the driven member, and are activated and deactivated by inner reversing cams of the reversing ring. The pawls in the housing engage notches in the outer surface of the reversing ring, which causes the reversing ring to move between a first position and second position relative to the driving member. The engagement of the housing pawls with the reversing ring notches is regulated by the driving member.

Abstract: A ribbon mechanism mounted in the lid of a printer includes a ribbon carriage pivotally coupled to the lid for folding out of the lid by virtue of its mass when the lid is open and for folding in the lid as the lid is closed. The invention comprises a clutch disk made of plastic, which may be used in a printer mechanism. The design utilizes two different injection molded plastic clutch disks that run face to face to produce relatively high dynamic and low static frictional forces. The clutch assembly uses raised areas on one of the pair of clutch disks. The raised areas allow a better overall contact between the disks so as to achieve more desirable coefficients of friction. The materials chosen for the clutch disks not only have the desirable coefficients of friction, but also have good wear characteristics against each other.

Abstract: A switchable clamp-type locking mechanism with an output shaft (3) that rotates in relation to a housing (1) is provided. Furthermore, clamping elements, in particular clamping balls or clamping rollers (4) are provided that are pushed by a spring force into a clamping gap (16) in their clamped position and are confined by a smooth track (15) on the housing (1) and by locking ramps (13, 14) on the output shaft (3). A drive shaft (2) to rotate the output shaft (3) is provided. The clamping elements are moved into a release position using a device by means of which the clamping elements are freed to rotate the output shaft (3). A slide (7) that is fixed to the output shaft (3) is form-locked to the housing (1) in the clamped position of the clamping elements and is disengaged from the housing (1) in the release position of the clamping elements.

Abstract: A two-way clutch is provided which comprises an inner member formed with a plurality of pockets opening toward its outer peripheral surface, an outer member mounted on the inner member and formed with a plurality of pockets opening toward its inner peripheral surface, a cam ring formed with a cam surface on its inner peripheral surface, a plurality of block members received in the pockets of the inner member so as to protrude in a diametric direction, a plurality of resilient members received in the pockets of the inner member for biasing the block members radially outwardly, and a switch spring mounted to the inner member for maintaining a predetermined phase of the cam ring relative to the inner ring. With this construction, the inner and outer members can be engaged through the block members to transmit power by aligning the pockets of the inner and outer members with each other and by controlling the phase of the cam ring.

Abstract: Apparatus (102) for locking a gear assembly (11) of a vehicle (10), the apparatus for locking including apparatus for lockably engaging a predetermined portion of the gear assembly (102), and apparatus for selectably operating the apparatus for lockably engaging so as to lockably engage the predetermined portion of the gear assembly (24), characterized by the apparatus for lockably engaging including a shaft receiving portion formed with an aperture which engages a shaft of the gear assembly, wherein the shaft receiving portion is provided with a ratchet wheel (114) lockingly engageable by a pawl (116), the pawl being actuable by the apparatus for selectably operating, such that when the pawl is in a predetermined orientation with the ratchet wheel, the shaft cannot be rotated to operate the gear assembly.

Abstract: In order to drive a shaft selectively in two opposite directions of rotation by means of a pivoting handle, use is made of a mechanism including an internally toothed ring which drives the shaft, a guide arranged diametrically inside the ring and mounted so that it can rotate, with friction, about the axis of pivoting of the handle, and a follower arranged with play inside the ring and driven by the handle with radial play and angular play. The follower exhibits two sets of toothing close to the ends of the guide for meshing with the internal toothing of the ring when the handle moves away from a neutral position, these sets of toothing being prevented from meshing with the internal toothing through interaction between reliefs of the follower and a slideway when the handle returns towards its neutral position.

Abstract: An actuator for automobile comprises a speed reduction mechanism having an input side connected to a motor and an output side provided with an engagement section, a first rotor provided with a predetermined rotational resistance, at least one engagement rod slidably provided in the first rotor, inwardly biased by a spring providing a spring force weaker than the force of the rotational resistance and outwardly projected with an inner end in engagement with engagement section with rotation of the reduction mechanism, and a second rotor with an engagement piece to engage with the free end of the engagement rod with outward projection thereof and connected to a door lock device or the like. When the motor is rotated, the reduction mechanism and second rotor are coupled together directly via the engagement rod. When the motor is stopped, the second rotor and engagement rod are disengaged from each other.

Abstract: A bidirectional freewheeling clutch assembly (50) and a self-propelled walk-behind lawn mower (10) including same are disclosed. Lawn mower (10) preferably includes a prime mover (18) which can be selectively coupled to a gear box (34). The output shaft (44) of gear box (34) extends to a pair of clutch assemblies (50) which selectively apply torque to a pair of gear driven wheels (16). Each clutch assembly (50) includes as its basic components a key (68) and a friction disk (66). Key (68) has a wedge portion (74) which rocks within an axial first keyway (62), and a tang portion (76) which is received within a tang relief (84) in friction disk (66). When shaft (44) is rotated friction disk (66) frictionally engages the housing (12) of mower (10) and applies a drag force to the tang portion (76) of key (74) to cause it to cock and positively engage a pinion (46) which engages a gear (48) attached to drive wheel (16).

Abstract: A positive one-way clutch system providing positive non-frictional engagement between the driving and driven members in drive mode and complete dragless disengagement between the driven and driving members in free-wheeling or over-run mode. When in the driving mode, engagement between the driving and the driven members is effected by at least one and preferably a plurality of solid torque bars displaceable by an automatic positioning device between a retracted position, providing free-wheeling or over-run, to an engaged position with the end of the torque bars in positive abutting engagement with appropriate corresponding positive clutch teeth of the other member. Diverse arrangements of positioning devices are disclosed which may be automatically or controllably actuated.