Abstract: In a twin-clutch, an intermediate plate is configured to be located reliably at a position intermediate a pressure plate and a flywheel. The annular intermediate plate 31 is disposed between first and second frictional coupling portions. A clutch cover assembly includes a clutch cover 4 fixed to the flywheel 1, a pressure plate 30 disposed near the second frictional coupling portion, and a diaphragm spring carried by the clutch cover 4 for biasing the pressure plate 30 toward the flywheel 1. Strap plates 35 couple the flywheel 1 to the intermediate plate 31, and bias the intermediate plate 31 away from the flywheel 1 when the clutch is engaged. Coil spring 42 is arranged in a compressed state between the pressure plate 30 and the intermediate plate 31, and has the substantially same spring constant as the strap plates 35.

Abstract: A lock up dampening mechanism (2) includes a piston (17), a driven plate (20), a torsion spring (21) and a retaining plate (19). The piston (17) is connected to a front cover (3). The driven plate (20) is connected to a turbine (5.) The torsion spring (21) connects the piston (17) and the driven plate (20) elastically in a circular direction. The retaining plate (19) is divided into at least two parts in a circular direction and regulate the movement of the torsion spring (21) outward in a radial direction while fixed to the piston (17) or the driven plate (20). An end part of the face of the divided part of the retaining plate (19) to regulate the torsion spring (21) is chamfered.

Abstract: A spindle motor includes a stationary shaft and a rotor. A thrust bearing, a first radial bearing and a second radial bearing are defined between the shaft and rotor. A first annular air gap is established between the thrust bearing and the first radial bearing. A second annular air gap is established between the first radial bearing and the second radial bearing. The first annular air gap is able to vent to outside of the spindle motor via a breathing bore formed in a thrust plate of a stationary shaft. The second annular air gap is able to vent to outside the spindle motor only while the rotor is rotating about the shaft.

Abstract: A modular clutch includes a flywheel 2, a clutch cover assembly 3 and a clutch disk assembly 4, which form a single module that in one embodiment is installed directly onto the crankshaft of an engine, and in an alternate embodiment is attached to a flex plate. The modular clutch is configured to be installed and replaced as a unit. The clutch cover assembly 3 has a clutch cover 21, a pressure plate 22 and diaphragm spring 23. The clutch disk assembly 4 has a clutch engagement portion 31 made of a metallic sintered body.

Abstract: A lockup damper included in a lockup mechanism 8 of a torque converter 1 includes a piston member 9, a driven member 10, coil springs 13 and seat members 40. The coil spring 13 is arranged between the piston member 9 and the driven member 10. The seat member 40 is attached to the driven member 10, has a loose`-fit portion 40c loosely fitted to the end of the coil spring 13, and restricts the radially outward movement of the end of the coil spring 13 by the loose-fit portion 40c fitted into the coil spring 13.

Abstract: A brake lever arm is mounted to a base member, with the base member fixed to a bicycle handlebar. The lever arm is pivotal about a pivot point on the base. The lever arm includes an adjusting mechanism that is slidable in grooves formed on the lever arm such that the adjusting mechanism may be selectively moved to a plurality of positions located at differing distances away from the pivot point. An adjusting screw extends through a portion of the base and, in one embodiment, contacts a portion of the adjusting mechanism. In another embodiment, the adjusting screw contacts a portion of the lever arm. Movement of the adjusting screw allows for positioning of the lever arm to define a brake dis-engagement position. The adjusting mechanism includes a contact member that is contactable with a brake cable connected to the lever arm.

Abstract: In a clutch cover assembly, a regulating mechanism allows a fulcrum ring to move in an axial direction away from a pressure plate in response to wear of a friction facing, but limits amount of movement in accordance with the amount of wear. The regulating mechanism includes a bolt and a bushing. The bolt is fixed to a second side face of the pressure plate and extends axially. The bushing is engaged with the bolt by the friction force. In an alternate embodiment, an urging mechanism of the clutch cover assembly urges a fulcrum ring away from the pressure plate. The fulcrum ring is formed with a plurality of first inclined faces which engage second inclined faces formed on a wedge part. A friction plate is disposed between the pressure plate and the wedge part limiting movement of the wedge part.

Abstract: A clutch disk assembly 1 includes a second plate 13, an output rotary member 4, an intermediate body 3, an intermediate member 9b, second springs 10, third springs 5 and a damper 8. The intermediate body 3 is disposed radially outside the output rotary member 4. The intermediate member 9b is disposed near the output rotary member 4 and the intermediate body 3. The second plate 13 is located on a second axial side of the intermediate body 3. The second springs 10 circumferentially and elastically couple the plate 9b and the intermediate body 3 together. The third springs 5 circumferentially and elastically couple the intermediate body 3 and the second plate 13 together. The damper 8 is axially shifted from the intermediate body 3. The damper 8 has first springs 7 circumferentially and elastically coupling the output rotary member 4 and the plate 9b together.

Abstract: A double bearing reel is provided with a reel body (1), a handle having a handle shaft (31), a spool shaft (5) disposed in parallel with the handle shaft (31), a spool (4), a drag mechanism (6), and a first torque transmission mechanism (9a) for transmitting a rotation of the handle to the drag mechanism. The spool has a fishing line drum portion (4a) and flange portions (4b) and (4c) formed on both sides of the fishing line drum portion. A drag mechanism (6) has a brake portion (26) having a brake disc (55) disposed coaxially with the spool and cooperating with the spool, and a frictional disc (56) disposed to face and to be pressingly contactable with the brake disc and being unrotatable in a fishing line feed direction, and a spool shaft moving mechanism (25) for braking the spool by the relative movement between the brake disc and the frictional disc in the press contact direction. The brake diameter is 90% or more of a fishing line windable diameter of the spool.

Abstract: A brake band device (1) for engagement and dis-engagement (braking and releasing) a cylindrical clutch drum of an automatic transmission includes a strap (12) formed of a belt-like member shaped into a substantially circular form, with a gap defined between ends of the strap (12). A lining (13) is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the strap (12) and is engageable with the outer peripheral surface of the clutch drum. A pair of arc-shaped brackets (14) are fixed to each of ends of the strap (12), respectively. The strap is formed with a plurality of slightly deformed portions that extend slightly radially inwardly from other portions of the strap (12) thereby providing the strap (12) with a biasing force that allows for improved dis-engagement with the clutch drum.

Abstract: A cleansing composition and method of use are disclosed for cleansing a quantitatively aspirating sampling probe in an automated hematological analyzer. The cleansing composition is formulated to cleanse instantaneously on contact, and practically eliminates carry-over of hematological sample material, assaying reagents or of the cleansing composition itself. The cleansing composition is an acidic aqueous solution of pH 5.0 or less, including (1) a substance having a primary amino group; and (2) one or more nonionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl ester and polyoxyethylene sorbitan ester.

Abstract: The invention relates to a boss formed on a front cover. The boss is formed by deforming a portion of a front cover material, at a central portion thereof, such that the boss is formed unitarily with the front cover. The boss is further deformed to form a central indentation on an end surface thereof. Further, the cylindrical sides of the boss are machined to form an alignment surface.

Abstract: A clutch disk assembly 1 includes an output rotary member 4, an intermediate member 3, first springs 7, a damper 8, plates 12 and 13, and third springs 5. The intermediate member 3 is disposed radially outside the output rotary member 4. The first springs 7 are arranged between the output rotary member 4 and the intermediate member 3, and are circumferentially compressed when a hub and the intermediate member 3 rotate relatively to each other in a first stage of relative rotary displacement. A damper 8 is disposed between the output rotary member 4 and the intermediate member 3, and includes second springs 10 that are not compressed in the first stage of relative rotary displacement but are compressed in a second stage of relative rotary displacement. The torsion angle corresponding to the second stage is larger than a torsion angle corresponding to the first stage. The plates 12 and 13 are arranged on the axial side of the intermediate member 3.

Abstract: A powered vehicle is configured to stably and reliably ride on an escalator and includes a vehicle body (1), front and rear wheels (2) and (3), a drive mechanism (42), and front and rear supports (4) and (5). The front and rear wheels (2) and (3) are supported on front and rear portions of the vehicle body, respectively. The drive mechanism (42) drives the rear wheels. The front and rear supports (4) and (5) are arranged adjacent to the corresponding front wheels (2) and behind the rear wheels (3), respectively. The front or rear supports (4) and (5) land on the step surface at least when the vehicle body (1) is inclined at a maximum inclination portion of the escalator. At this time, the wheels (2) or (3) remote from the landed supports (5) or (4) land on another step of the escalator.

Abstract: An impeller shell 40a of a torque converter includes a main portion 41, a connection portion 42 and a stepped portion 43. The main portion 41 has a curved inner peripheral surface 41a carrying impeller blades, and is opposed to a turbine 5. The connection portion 42 has a cylindrical form larger in diameter than an outer periphery of the inner peripheral surface 41a, and is fixed to a front cover 3. The stepped portion 43 couples an end of the main portion 41 near an engine to an end of the connection portion 42 near a transmission. A corner portion formed of the inner peripheral surface 41a and a surface 43a near the engine has a radius set to 4 mm or less by preliminary forming by a press and subsequent finish forming by a press.

Abstract: A method of forming a driven plate (20) of a torque converter (1) has first, second and third steps. In the first step, a flat plate member (10) is cut into a predetermined configuration. In the second step, the plate member (10) is wound to form an annular member 11 that has slightly overlapping ends with a predetermined length (t). In the third step, resistance welding is performed on overlapping ends of the annular member (11), and thereby the opposite end portions are joined together to form a continuous annular member (12).

Abstract: In one embodiment, in a multi-plate clutch (100), drive plates (7) and driven plates (8) and (8') are interposed between a flywheel (2) and a clutch pressure assembly (10). The driven plates (8') having contact portions (51) each extending further from projections (27) and further extending radially inwardly therefrom, and contactable at both end in the axial direction of the second cylindrical portion (13). In an alternate embodiment, only one driven plate (8') is provided and a plate member (55) is fixed to a hub flange (6) to limit axial movement between the driven plate (8') and the hub flange (6). In another embodiment a multi-plate clutch (200) includes a cushion ring (60) is disposed between the pressure plate (29) and a diaphragm spring (30). Further, the diaphragm spring (30) has inner circumferential slits (66) and outer circumferential slits (67) to improve air flow therethrough for cooling.

Abstract: A clutch pad assembly 10 includes a first friction portion 31, a second friction portion 32 and a cushioning plate 35. The first friction portion 31 has a first core plate 34 and a first friction member 35 fixed to the first core plate 34. The second friction portion 32 has a second core plate 36 spaced in the disk axial direction from the first core plate 34, and a second friction member 37 fixed to the second core plate 36. The cushioning plate 35 has a cushioning portion 40 disposed between the first and second core plates 34 and 36. The second core plate 36 has an engagement portion 47 engaged with the cushioning portion 40. In an alternate embodiment, a clutch pad assembly 10 includes a pair of annular friction members 131 and 132, cushioning plate 133 and a pair of core plates 134 and 136. The cushioning plate 133 has a plurality of cushioning portions 141, 142 arranged between the paired friction members 131 and 132.

Abstract: A stator 6 includes an annular inner shell 11, an annular outer shell 12 and blades 13. The outer shell 12 is arranged radially outside the inner shell 11. The blades 13 are formed between the inner shell 11 and the outer shell 12, and are arranged at a plurality of circumferentially aligned positions, respectively. Each blade 13 extends from the inner shell 11 to the outer shell 12 and thereby couples the outer peripheral portion of the inner shell 11 and the inner peripheral portion of the outer shell 12 together. A rate of change in cross sectional area of the blade changes at a position located radially outside the inner shell 11 at a distance in a range from 1/6 to 1/2 of a distance (r2-r1) between the outer peripheral portion of the inner shell 11 and the inner peripheral portion of the outer shell 12.