Abstract: A pneumatic clutch actuator is described herein. The pneumatic clutch actuator includes a piston housing and a piston slidably received within the piston housing and configured to selectively change a clutch state between an engaged state and a disengaged state. The piston includes a self-adjustment mechanism that is configured to adjust an axial length of the piston. The self-adjustment mechanism includes a position locking assembly that includes a locking member and a positioning member. The locking member includes a plurality of locking flanges spaced along an outer surface of the locking member. The positioning member includes a plurality of positioning slots that are spaced along the positioning member. The position locking assembly is positionable between an unlocked state with the locking member spaced a distance from the positioning member, and a locked state with at least one locking flange inserted into a corresponding positioning slot.

Abstract: A lever assembly (20) has a lever (24) mounted to a lever housing (22), a plunger (26), an auto-return housing (28) pivotable relative to the lever housing (22), a trigger mechanism (30) movable relative to the auto-return housing (28), and a yoke member (32) pivotable relative to the auto-return housing (22) independent of the auto-return housing. The trigger mechanism (30) is movable to an extended position in response to movement of the plunger (26) for engaging a cam element (12) of the steering column (10) for auto-return of the lever to a rest position. The yoke member (32) interacts with the plunger (26) when the plunger (26) pivots with the lever (24) to cause the yoke (32) to pivot toward an engaged position, and the yoke (32) interacts with the trigger mechanism (30) when the yoke (32) is pivoted to move the trigger mechanism (30) toward the extended position.

Abstract: A valve assembly for use in an actuation assembly, with the actuation assembly including an actuation housing, includes a valve support adapted to be coupled to the actuation housing. The valve support has a body portion defining a plurality of solenoid bores. The valve assembly also includes a plurality of solenoids with each one of the plurality of solenoids disposed within a corresponding one of the plurality of solenoid bores and directly mounted to the valve support for controlling a flow of fluid. The valve assembly further includes an electrical power distribution device at least partially coupled to the valve support and connected to each of the plurality of solenoids. The valve assembly also includes a tray coupled to the body portion of the valve support to support a portion of the electrical power distribution device.

Abstract: A hose connector assembly for connecting a hose to a port of a pressurized fluid system, the system including a socket and an adapter tube in fluid communication, with an end portion of the socket adapted to be connected to a port and having a receiving opening. The adapter tube has a plug-in end portion to be pushed into the receiving opening which is adapted to cooperate with the plug-in end portion to form a plug-in connection mechanism. The adapter tube has a hose connector end fitting adapted to be received in, hold and retain a hose end portion. Complementary locking surfaces of the receiving opening and plug-in end portion are engaged when the plug-in end portion is connected by the plug-in connection mechanism to the socket to lock the adapter tube with respect to the socket against rotation about the longitudinal axis of the adapter tube within the socket.

Abstract: A rotary shifter assembly for changing gears in a vehicle transmission includes a shaft (16) that is rotatably supported in a housing (12) and movable between radial positions for indicating a gear change. A shift knob (10) is coupled to a first end of the shaft for actuation by a user. A plurality of flexible locking fingers (40) extend from the second end, and an overload wheel (18) is disposed about the fingers. The fingers engage the wheel to couple it with the shaft for concurrent rotation. A locking mechanism (64) engages the wheel to selectively prevent and allow concurrent rotation of the wheel and shaft during normal operation. The fingers move relative to the wheel to permit temporary rotation of the shaft relative to the wheel when a force applied to the shaft is beyond a maximum torque threshold, and automatically return to concurrent rotation with the wheel once the force is below the threshold.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for enhancing steering control of a personal watercraft. An electrically actuated device is coupled to the steering system of the personal watercraft and applies torque to the steering system. At least one sensor is positioned adjacent the steering system and generates operational data of the personal watercraft. At least one controller is coupled to the electrically actuated device and the at least one sensor, and is configured to determine a first torque to apply to the steering system based on the operational data responsive to a second torque being applied to the steering system. The at least one controller is further configured to operate the electrically actuated device to apply the first torque to the steering system for providing enhanced steering control of the personal watercraft, with the first torque being applied only by the electrically actuated device.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrically driven clutch actuators (1) for actuating the clutch of a transmission of a vehicle. An actuator comprises a spindle nut (11) on a spindle (9) and a pressure piece (13) displaceable relative to the spindle nut (11) and coupled to the spindle nut by a biasing spring (15). By rotation of the threaded spindle under a driving force of an electric motor (5), the spindle nut (11) compresses the biasing spring (15) and displaces the pressure piece (13) to disengage the clutch. A latching mechanism (16) is configured to limit displacement of the spindle nut away from the pressure piece under the force of the expanding biasing spring when the driving force is reduced below a predetermined level. Further, a control unit is described that reduces the driving force in response to a trigger condition to reduce power consumption in the clutch disengaged state.

Abstract: A torque sensor including a shaft that receives an applied torque is disclosed. The shaft includes a magnetoelastic region that generates a non-negligible magnetic field responsive to the applied torque and null regions that generate a negligible magnetic field. The torque sensor includes null region sensors that generate a null region magnetic field measure corresponding to an ambient magnetic field. The torque sensor includes a magnetoelastic region sensor that generates a magnetoelastic region magnetic field measure corresponding to the ambient magnetic field and the non-negligible magnetic field. The torque sensor includes a controller that determines whether a null region sensor has entered an intense ambient magnetic field condition and whether a magnetoelastic region sensor has entered a magnetoelastic region sensor saturation condition. The controller also calculates a magnitude of the applied torque based on the null region magnetic field measures and the magnetoelastic region magnetic field measure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a housing (1) for a fluid machine, in particular for a radial fan (2), comprising at least one housing part (3), wherein the housing part (3) has at least one inlet opening (7), wherein the housing part (3) can at least partially delimit a fluid chamber (8) for receiving at least one fan wheel (9), and wherein the inlet opening (7), at least in part, has a curved inlet surface (11).

Abstract: A crimp coupling includes a crimping ferrule for connecting a hose to a fitting. The fitting includes an outwardly projecting stop collar and a groove which extends circumferentially around the fitting at a constant axial distance to the stop collar. The crimping ferrule, which can be slid onto the fitting, includes a flange, a tapering hinge section, and a cylindrical section. A distance between the stop collar and the groove of the fitting is dimensioned such that the flange, when abutting the stop collar, has a lower edge facing away from the stop collar above the groove. Due to a diameter reduction of the cylindrical section and the tapering hinge section, during crimping, the flange is pivoted such that the lower edge of the flange is turned into the groove by the pivotal movement of the flange.

Abstract: The invention relates to a linear actuator (1) for an automobile transmission comprising an electric motor (6) for moving a transmission control member (5) between a plurality of shift positions, a spring (15) for driving the transmission control member (5) to an end position of the shift range in case of electric power failure, and a worm screw (7) to drive a displaceable worm wheel (10) with a pinion (11) meshing with a displaceable gear rack (12). The transmission control member (5) is displaceably coupled to the worm wheel (10). The gear rack (2) is blocked by an electrically activated lock against linear displacement with the spring (15) in a compressed state such that upon interruption of power supply to the lock the gear rack (12) is released and linearly displaced by the spring (15) thereby shifting the transmission control element (5) to its end position.

Abstract: A torque sensor assembly comprises a shaft configured to receive an applied torque. The shaft comprises at least one region, which is magneto-elastic and configured to generate a magnetic field in response to the applied torque. A pair of sensing coils disposed adjacent to the region is configured to sense the magnetic field. One or more sensors sense a temperature of each of the sensing coils. A controller is coupled to the pair of sensing coils and the sensor(s). The controller is configured to receive the sensed temperature of each of the sensing coils, determine a temperature difference between the sensing coils and generate an output signal based on the sensed magnetic field. The output signal accounts for the temperature difference between the sensing coils.

Abstract: A quick connector coupling comprises a collar port having a passage and a collar, a connector to be coupled to the collar port and comprising a tube portion to be received in the passage, a flange on the tube portion, a sealing ring received in a groove on the tube portion, and a locking clip for engaging the collar and an engagement surface of the connector to lock the connector against axial movement. With the connector in a mounted state, the flange has extensions extending along the tube portion beyond the collar, the extensions carry a terminal ring with a surface facing the flange forming the engagement surface spaced from the collar, the clip arranged to lock the connector on the collar port against axial movement, and the groove is axially formed on the tube portion such that the groove is closer to the flange than the engagement surface.

Abstract: One example of a vehicle seat assembly includes a seat back, a seat bottom coupled to the seat back, and a bladder support system coupled to at least one of the seat back and the seat bottom. The bladder support system includes air cells and a pump fluidly connected to the air cells to selectively inflate the air cells when the pump receives an activation signal. A valve system defining flow paths fluidly connected between the pump and the air cells. The valve system includes at least three control valves, with each control valve generating a control valve output when receiving the activation signal. The valve system also includes passive valves movable to an open position to inflate the corresponding air cell when receiving at least three control valve outputs. A controller is configured to send the activation signal to the control valves and the pump.

Abstract: A control system for use by a rider of a vehicle, comprising a handlebar with a grip extending along a grip axis, and a throttle assembly with a housing and mount adapted for attachment to the handlebar along a housing axis arranged coincident to the grip axis and laying in a longitudinal reference plane defining a forward side and a rider side. A thumb trigger is arranged for movement between a first trigger position and a second trigger position, and comprises a thumb pad arranged for engagement by the rider, and a trigger interface supported for rotation about a pivot axis defined by the housing and arranged at an oblique angle relative to the housing axis taken normal to the longitudinal reference plane such that at least a portion of the thumb pad remains on the rider side as the thumb trigger moves between the first and second trigger positions.

Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle includes a steering column, a steering wheel rotatable about an axis between rotational positions, and a magnetic paddle shift system for selecting a gear of a transmission. A sensor assembly has a sensor array. First and second paddle shifters are rotatable with the steering wheel and extend from a proximal end to a distal end. First and second magnets are disposed at the proximal end of the first and second paddle shifters, respectively, in alignment with the sensor array in any of the rotational positions. Actuation of the first and second paddle shifters move, respectively, the first and second magnets relative to the sensor array between first and second positions, the magnets being closer to the sensor array in the second position. The sensor array is configured to sense the first and second magnets in the second position for any of the rotational positions.