Abstract: A variable gear system for various embodiments of continuously variable transmissions comprises a gear including a radius, an axis, and spherical teeth spaced from each other by a constant pitch. The spherical teeth of the gear engage a splined shaft comprising a radius that varies nonlinearly along a length of the splined shaft, an axis running the length of the splined shaft, and splines along the length of the splined shaft. Further, a portion of the length of the shaft across a seam of the splined shaft includes a non-constant pitch between the splines.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for sealing a puncture or incision formed percutaneously in tissue separating two internal portions of the body of a living being with an anchor, a sealing plug and a filament connecting the anchor and sealing plug are disclosed. The methods and apparatus provide for automatic tamping of the sealing plug. In addition, torque required to tamp the sealing plug is automatically sensed and gear ratios of an automatic tamping device are automatically changed in response to sensed changes in torque. A planetary transmission may be used to automatically change gear ratios in response to the changes in torque.

Abstract: A transport device includes a first segment fixedly coupled to a wall. The transport device also includes at least one second segment coupled to the first segment. The at least one second segment includes at least one of a fluid-driven device, a rack and pinion drive device, and a carriage. The transport device further includes an automated position control system. The control system includes at least one axial positioning device coupled to the at least one second segment. The control system also includes at least one axial position feedback device coupled to at least one of the first segment and the at least one second segment.

Abstract: A furniture drive is provided for driving a movable piece of furniture. The drive includes an electric motor, an actuator that can be moved back and forth between two end positions to apply a force on the piece of furniture to be driven, and a gearbox connected between the electric motor and actuator. The gearbox has at least one gear stage configured as an eccentric gearbox and includes two gear wheels that mesh with each other. One of the two gear wheels is firmly connected or coupled to the actuator, and the other gear wheel is coupled to the electric motor such that the eccentric gearbox has two limit positions which correspond to the end positions of the actuator. Upon a rotation of the gear wheels, starting from the limit positions, the gear ratio decreases over a deformed rotational angle range.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for sealing a puncture or incision formed percutaneously in tissue separating two internal portions of the body of a living being with an anchor, a sealing plug and a filament connecting the anchor and sealing plug are disclosed. The methods and apparatus provide for automatic tamping of the sealing plug. In addition, torque required to tamp the sealing plug is automatically sensed and gear ratios of an automatic tamping device are automatically changed in response to sensed changes in torque. A planetary transmission may be used to automatically change gear ratios in response to the changes in torque.

Abstract: A stepper motor driven actuator that eliminates the need for a position sensor is provided. The stepper motor rotates a cam in a control piston valve. In a single nozzle embodiment, pressure balance is maintained by a spring preload on one end of the piston in one embodiment, and by hydraulic pressure acting on a double diameter end portion of the piston in another embodiment. As the cam is rotated, the change in the gap between the nozzle and the cam changes the pressures on the control piston ends, which forces the piston in the direction that will re-equalize the pressure based on the cam-nozzle gap. As a result, the head or rod of the actuator piston receives high pressure flow, thereby moving the actuator. Movement of the actuator rod provides mechanical feedback to the cam, causing the cam to move back to its mechanical null position.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for sealing a puncture or incision formed percutaneously in tissue separating two internal portions of the body of a living being with an anchor, a sealing plug and a filament connecting the anchor and sealing plug are disclosed. The methods and apparatus provide for automatic tamping of the sealing plug. In addition, a scroll gearset changes gear ratio as it transduces a retraction force into a sealing plug tamping force.

Abstract: Systems and methods for drilling a borehole are provided. One system includes a continuously variable transmission. An input shaft of the continuously variable transmission is coupled to a power supply. An output shaft of the continuously variable transmission is coupled to one or more system components such that the continuously variable transmission controls rotation of the one or more system components. One method for drilling a borehole includes supplying power to an input shaft of a continuously variable transmission. The method also includes controlling rotation of one or more system components using the continuously variable transmission during drilling of the borehole. The one or more system components are coupled to an output shaft of the continuously variable transmission. Also provided is a borehole that is drilled by this method.

Abstract: A tensioner comprising a base having a toothed portion, a pivot arm pivotally engaged with the base, a pulley journalled to the pivot arm, a spring disposed between the base and the pivot arm for biasing the pivot arm in a first direction, a mechanism disposed on the pivot arm and engaged with the base, the mechanism comprising a rotatable geared member and a second spring engaged between the geared member and the pivot arm, the second spring biasing the pivot arm in the first direction, and the geared member having a non-toothed portion that when the non-toothed portion is engaged with the toothed portion it prevents substantial rotation of the pivot arm in a reverse direction from the first direction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for sealing a puncture or incision formed percutaneously in tissue separating two internal portions of the body of a living being with an anchor, a sealing plug and a filament connecting the anchor and sealing plug are disclosed. The methods and apparatus provide for automatic tamping of the sealing plug. In addition, torque required to tamp the sealing plug is automatically sensed and gear ratios of an automatic tamping device are automatically changed in response to sensed changes in torque. A planetary transmission may be used to automatically change gear ratios in response to the changes in torque.

Abstract: An angular velocity profile generator [22,24] comprising an input shaft [46], an output shaft [56], a universal joint coupling the shafts by pivot pins [70,75] situated on two pivot axes which are normal to one another, means [49] in the joint for varying the path of rotation of the pin [70] relatively to that of the pin [75], a first control arrangement [32] for varying the angle between the shafts and a second control arrangement [84], external to the universal joint, connected to the pivot pin path varying member which is activated by the first control arrangement to suit a specific velocity profile produced by the generator. The invention extends to an infinitely variable transmission machine including transmission stages [16] which each include two of the profile generators connected in series and an angular velocity profile portion extraction device.

Abstract: A transmission has only a single, minimal orbiter in which an input gear and an output gear, each being connected to separate input and output shafts, are interconnected through an orbiting cluster gear that meshes with only the input and output gears. The cluster gear is carried by a web that is itself rotated by a hydraulic control motor through a first clutch. When rotation of the web is prevented, rotation of the input gear produces rotation of the output gear at a predetermined reduction of the input drive, this gear reduction being continuously diminished proportional to the speed of rotation of the web in a first direction. When the vehicle reaches highway speeds, the control motor is disconnected and a second clutch is activated to connect a predetermined overdrive that is located between the engine drive and the transmission rather than being conventionally positioned between the transmission and the final output shaft.

Abstract: To provide an intermittently rotary gearing that converts rotary motion of a motor to intermittent rotary motion by utilizing a mechanical structure, an input shaft interlocking with a drive shaft of the motor is provided, a first gear and a second gear both interlocking with the input shaft when at least the input shaft is rotated in the power output direction of the motor are provided around the input shaft, and a first coiled spring is fitted to the first gear and second gear so as to extend over the bosses thereof. A first divisional shaft and a second divisional shaft are provided in parallel to the input shaft and also coaxially to each other.

Abstract: An automatic transmission incorporating a means for varying the ratio of input rotational velocity to output rotational velocity. A cylinder cam is mounted on a cam driver having a helical gear tooth thereon engaging corresponding helical internal gear teeth within the cylinder cam. The cylinder cam incorporates a continuously varying cam angle and is axially translatable along the cam driver; the cam is positioned on the cam driver automatically in accordance with torque requirements by the forces transmitted to the cam through the helical gears of the cam driver. Spherical cam followers mounted in a sphere cluster engage the cylinder cam; the clusters are mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cam.

Abstract: A low-noise, paper pick or other single cycle mechanism is obtained by employing a rotary solenoid (15) which has a force to a detent position which may be overcome by force from a drive roller (1). In the detent position the drive roller faces a blank sector (5) of a gear (3) which is integral with a shaft (7), which is the shaft to be turned. An electrical control signal to the solenoid rotates gear (3) through gear (13), which is directly driven by the solenoid, and which turns gear (11) on the shaft. The drive gear overcomes the force of the solenoid until it is disengaged after one cycle, at which time the detent force of the solenoid holds the mechanism in its detent position.

Abstract: The cyclic electromechanical program control comprises an electric motor (6), a gear train (7) driven by the motor and having an impulse gear (26) and an output gear (5) which is engaged with at least one driving rack (3, 4) for an element (1) having a programmable shifting cycle, a driven gear (9) cooperative with the gear train (7) for receiving from the gear train impulses controlling the cycle of the programmable element (1), an electrical circuit (12, 13, 17, 18) associated with the driven gear (9) and adapted to transmit to the motor (6) instructions corresponding to the nature of the impulses received by the driven gear (9). The control further comprises a mechanism for causing th impulse gear (26) to deliver impulses solely in predetermined useful zones of the cycle of said programmable element (1). The gear train (7) is a differential gear train comprising a driving gear (25) without gearing down of the output gear (5).

Abstract: A stepless transmission of the non-friction type is provided using intermeshing non-circular gears. The transmission is made up of a number of angular velocity modulators each having first, second, and third shafts. Each shaft carries a non-circular gear thereon which meshes with the gear of a succeeding shaft. The angular velocity ratio .omega. of the third shaft of each modulator relative to the first shaft depends on the pitch curve of the intermeshing non-circular gears and on the position of the third shaft relative to the position of the first and second shafts. By changing the position of the third shaft the angular velocity ratio .omega. of the modulator can be steplessly varied. The output of the third shafts of each modulator are combined onto a common shaft by one the clutches to provide a continuous output. The position of the third shafts, and thus the overall ratio of the transmission, may be controlled automatically by a spring.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus for sequentially feeding sheet material from a sheet supporting member which supports a stack of sheet material. The feeding apparatus employs a mechanism to cause a feeding roller to engage or disengage the stack. A driving source is provided for transmitting a driving force to the feeding roller and the mechanism for causing the feeding roller to engage or disengage the stack. First and second transmitting mechanisms are provided for transmitting the driving force to the feeding roller and the mechanism for causing engagement or disengagement of the feeding roller and stack respectively. A stop device movable between a position to allow transmission of the driving force to the first and second transmitting mechanisms and a position where the transmitting mechanisms are prevented from transmitting the driving force.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a programmer control device comprising a rotary cam block capable of being driven in rotation step by step by an advancing cam actuating an oscillating pawl carrier.The control device possesses means of blocking and releasing the action of the pawl, comprising a blocking lever 50' interacting with means capable of rocking the said blocking lever between two angular positions during each to-and-fro movement of the advancing pawl. In the first position, a part 51' of the blocking lever is located in the path of a slope 55 of the pawl 21, so as to prevent the action of the latter. In the second position, the part 51' is not located in the path of the pawl 21, so as to permit the action of the latter.

Abstract: A mechanism for prepositioning the input shaft of a bidirectional Geneva drive to effect incremental rotation of the output shaft of the Geneva drive, upon rotation of the input shaft, at a predictable time. The Geneva drive has an input shaft rotatable in opposite directions through active angles which respectively effect rotation of the output shaft. The prepositioning mechanism comprises a member, coupled to the input shaft, and having a pair of spaced, oppositely directed abutment surfaces. A locating pawl is selectively moved to a position to be engaged by one abutment surface when the input shaft is rotated in one direction and the other abutment surface when the input shaft is rotated in the opposite direction to angularly preposition the input shaft at a location from which rotation of such input shaft one of through its respective active angles is accurately predictable.

Abstract: A device for rotating at will, step by step, a shaft (2) driven from a drive shaft to which is imparted a continuous uninterrupted rotational movement in an invariable direction, comprising means for transforming the continuous rotational movement of the drive shaft into an alternating rotational movement of an intermediate rotary member (7), disengageable coupling means (9 to 13) and a free wheel device (17), interposed between the intermediate rotary member (7) and the drive shaft (2), and means for controlling the disengageable coupling means adapted so that the driven shaft is locked in rotation with the intermediate rotary member only when this latter effects a rotational movement in the appropriate direction.

Abstract: A device for activating the one or the other of two movement transfer devices, both driving the same output shaft, at least one of said movement transfer devices having a cam disc to create a desired velocity characteristic, control means controlled by said output shaft being present to activate or disable the connection between a command member and means for controlling clutches in said movement transfer devices and a step regulating means connected to said output shaft.

Abstract: A rocking mechanism for providing an interesting, apparently random motion for a toy or game using an electric motor with very low battery drain, wherein an unbalancing weight is mounted on a driven wheel driven by a small PM motor, the wheel carrying a cam which controls the action of a first switch connecting the motor to a battery with a second horizontal sensing switch connected in parallel with the first switch, all mounted in a frame which allows it to rock three-dimensionally. In a modified form of rocking mechanism for providing apparently random motion using a spring-loaded motor, an unbalancing weight is mounted on a driven wheel driven by a spring motor linked by a gear train to an oscillating escapement and pin actuator for controlling the unwinding of the motor spring, all mounted in a frame which allows it to rock three-dimensionally.

Abstract: An infinitely variable gear ratio transmission includes plural cam followers driven to oscillate by a rotating cam. The oscillatory motion of the cam followers is combined through plural clutches to provide an output drive. The cam includes at least one surface formed to rotate the cam followers at a constant velocity when the cam rotates at a constant velocity, thereby permitting the output drive to be smooth. The cam is tapered from one end to the other to permit the gear ratio of the transmission to be varied in infinite increments by adjusting the position of the cam relative to the followers. Means for manually or automatically adjusting the gear ratio is provided. Increased gear ratios may be obtained by separating the physical location of the follower mounting shaft from the rotational axis of the follower arms. A universal joint, formed to uniformly transmit rotational velocity, is included to connect the inclined follower shafts to the output drive.

Abstract: A one revolution clutch assembly is provided which transmits the rotation of a normally rotating drive shaft to a driven rotating body through gears and which interrupts the rotation of the driven body when it has rotated through one revolution. The one revolution clutch assembly includes a drive gear mounted on the drive shaft and which meshes with a driven gear on the driven body. The driven gear is formed with a hiatus along part of its periphery, and when the hiatus is located opposite to the drive gear, the rotation of the driven gear is interrupted. The driven gear is maintained in this position where it ceases to rotate, by a cam mounted on the driven assembly and formed with a notch which is engaged by a movable piece of an electromagnetic plunger. A crank lever has its one end rotatably mounted on the driven assembly, and imparts a rotating force to the driven gear to cause a meshing engagement of the driven gear with the drive gear when the driven gear is located at said position.

Abstract: Multiple slotted drive disks are secured in parallel relationship to a drive shaft. The slots are radially arranged and the slots of each disk are aligned. Movable rods are received in the slots. A slotted driven disk is secured to a driven shaft, which driven shaft is parallel to the drive shaft. The drive and driven disks are arranged in parallel intersecting relationship such that the rods will be received in the slots of the driven disk through a portion of the revolution. Relative movement is effected between the shafts via the rods. The relationship of angular velocity between the shafts is kept constant and an infinite torque converter is provided.

Abstract: A control device for driver member comprises an intermittently movable driver member, a follower member adapted to follow the driver member for displacement, retention and return displacement, a control member for controlling the starting and stoppage of the movement of the driver member, and a first and a second signal for starting the movement of the driver member. The movement of the driver member may be started by the first signal to displace the follower member to bring about the retaining position, whereafter the movement of the driver member may be automatically stopped by the control member, and the movement of the driver member may be restarted by the second signal and at the position whereat the return displacement of the follower member is completed, the movement of the driver member may be automatically stopped by the control member.

Abstract: An electromechanical coded actuator, upon receipt of the proper combination f electrical pulses, will unlock and cause angular displacement of an output shaft. The device comprises a rotatable notched flange integral with the output shaft, the former being keyed to the housing by a series of flat blades axially movable against a bias. A first solenoid sequentially positions a rotatable index arm over each blade, whereupon a second solenoid actuates the index arm to displace and lock selected blades in a manner to align a notch in each blade with the flange. The latter is then free to be rotated via a clutch-type coupling with the first solenoid. Additional actuation of the rotary solenoid releases the clutch allowing the flange and shaft to be returned to its original position by a spring bias, and also releases the displaced blades to lock the flange. An electrical switch actuated by the index arm defines the zero position.