Abstract: A guide device for a chain of an internal combustion engine includes a support structure and a body. The support structure is mounted to the engine and has at least one protruding body at one end of the structure on a first side. The body has a chain sliding surface that slidably receives the chain. Opposite the chain sliding face is a seat for receiving the protruding body of the support structure. The seat is symmetrically shaped and receives the protruding body in a first position and a second position. The first position is specular to the second position.

Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner is provided with a no-return device and with an anti-rotation device capable of being disabled having a pin, integral with the cylinder of the tensioner, which slides in a first longitudinal slot formed on the outer wall of the piston and a means able to disable the anti-rotation device. The disabling means includes a second slot, at right angles with respect to the first longitudinal slot to which it is connected, situated at the end of the first longitudinal slot nearer to the bottom of the cylinder. The second slot may also be a throat connected to the first longitudinal slot to which it is perpendicular, and which extends for the whole circumference of the piston. The second slot is preferably shaped as a ramp to join the bottom of the first longitudinal slot to the outer surface of the piston.

Abstract: The present invention provides a blade-type tensioner system for a chain that can easily improve spring properties. A blade-type tensioner includes a blade shoe and a blade spring positioned on the back side of chain sliding surface of the blade shoe so as to impart tension to a chain through the blade shoe. The blade shoe is pivotably supported around a shoulder bolt inserted into a proximal end portion of the blade shoe, and a distal end portion of the blade shoe is slidably supported on a supporting face provided in the engine. The distal end portion of the blade shoe contacts a flat, first supporting face at a point. When tension in the chain is increased, the distal end portion contacts a concave, second supporting face at a point which is continuous with the first supporting face.

Abstract: A blade tensioner includes a blade shoe with a chain sliding face bending in an arch-like shape and a blade spring, arranged on a side opposite to the chain sliding face of the blade shoe, that applies spring force to a chain through the blade shoe. The tensioner also includes a bracket with a pin rotatably supporting a proximal end section of the blade shoe and a sliding section made of resin slidably supporting an end of the blade spring on the distal end section of the blade shoe when the blade shoe is deformed. The distal end section of the blade shoe preferably includes a pair of guide sections vertically provided along both surfaces of a sliding section of the bracket.

Abstract: A storage system for storing a plurality of objects, wherein one or more objects are each associated with a smartkey, the system comprising a system housing defining a recess; a front panel with at least one opening therein; a support board positioned within the recess and behind the front panel; a plurality of smartkey housings, each of which are coupled to at least one of the front panel and the support board, and operable to receive a smartkey therein; a plurality of concentrated lightsources each of which are associated with a respective smartkey housing and coupled to the support board, the concentrated lightsources being positioned behind at least a portion of each of the respective smartkey housings; circuitry for processing information and causing the illumination of specific concentrated lightsources; wherein at least a portion of each smartkey housing is illuminatable when the concentrated lightsource associated with a smartkey housing is illuminated.

Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner comprising a piston slidably inserted in a piston bore of a housing having rack teeth on an outer circumference thereof, a piston spring biasing the piston in a protruding direction, a pawl member having teeth engageable with the rack teeth of the piston to permit protruding movement of the piston but to block reverse movement of the piston provided in a pawl hole of the housing, and a pawl spring in a pawl spring hole of a generally elliptical cross-section that biases the pawl member in an engaging direction of the teeth of the pawl member with the rack teeth of the piston. A long axis of the generally elliptical cross-sectional shape of the pawl spring is oriented toward an axial direction of the piston. Wire portions of the pawl spring substantially follow the long axis that contacts an upper surface of the pawl member.

Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner for applying tension to a chain comprising a housing, a hollow piston, a spring, and a pawl. The housing has a cylindrical bore and pawl hole. The hollow piston has rack teeth along its length and is slidably received by the bore. The piston and the bore define a fluid chamber within the bore. A spring biases the piston in a protruding direction from the bore. A pawl, received by the pawl hole of the housing has a front surface, a rear surface, and a tooth section biased to engage the rack teeth of the piston by a pawl spring in a pawl spring accommodating section of the pawl hole. A clearance is present between the pawl hole and the front surface and the rear surface of the pawl, to allow longitudinal travel of the pawl.

Abstract: A silent chain comprising a plurality of inner link plates and a plurality of outer link plates. The plurality of inner link plates are interleaved and connected into a series of rows. The plurality of outer link plates are comprised of a link plate body having a front surface, a pair of apertures, a pair of teeth with inside flanks and a guide with a rear surface formed integrally with and extending from the link plate body to between the inside flanks of the pair of teeth. The outer link plates are placed outside of outermost rows of inner link plates to form guide rows and guide the chain on a sprocket. The distance between the rear surface of the guide of the outer link plate and the front surface of the link plate body of the outer link plate is greater than or equal to zero.

Abstract: A chain for driving and engagement of at least one sprocket including plurality of interlaced link plates and a plurality of guide plates. The link plates are pivotably connected by connecting pins. The plurality of guide plates are disposed along the link plates and guide the chain on the sprocket in a width direction. At least one of the guide plates has a flat portion and a crotch portion and is in line with a marked position on the sprocket.

Abstract: A blade-type tensioner for applying tension to a chain comprising a base, an arcuately shaped blade shoe having a chain sliding face, a spring provided on a back side of the blade shoe, and a guide member. The blade shoe has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, where the proximal end portion is swingably supported on the base, and the distal end portion is slidably supported on a slide plate of the base. The slide plate is arcuately shaped to form a concavely arcuate arc face on an opposite side of the distal end portion of the blade shoe, and the distal end portion of the blade shoe has a convexly arcuate arc face corresponding to the concavely arcuate arc face of the slide plate. The distal end portion of the blade shoe is guided by a self-aligning action of the concavely arcuate arc face of the slide plate in such a way that the distal end portion is centrally positioned in a lateral direction on the slide plate.

Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner that applies tension to a chain is comprised of a hollow plunger slidably received in a bore of the housing having an inner space defining a fluid chamber with the bore and a rack member provided slidably in an axial direction in a groove on the outer circumference of the plunger. The hydraulic tensioner further comprises a spring biasing the plunger in a protruding direction, a ratchet member provided slidably in a ratchet hole extending in an inclined direction intersecting an axis of the plunger having cylindrical head portion with an outer circumferential edge portion adapted to engage rack teeth of the rack member, permitting travel of the plunger in a protruding direction but preventing retraction of the plunger in a backward direction, and a coil spring that biases the ratchet member in an engaging direction of the rack teeth.

Abstract: A chain comprises a plurality of inside links, guide links, and connecting pins. The inside links each have a pair of apertures, a pin aperture centerline, and teeth. The inside links are interleaved and connected into a series of rows. The guide links have a pair of apertures and a pin aperture centerline and are placed outside of outermost rows of the inside links. The connecting pins are received by the apertures and extend across the rows of the chain, connecting the inside and the guide links. At least one of the links has a central protrusion protruding in a thickness direction and the other links adjacent to the link with the central protrusion have shoulder portions that contact the protrusion. When the chain is in a back-bending state, frictional force is imparted by the central protrusion to the adjacent links with the shoulder portions, such that bending resistance occurs.

Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner comprising a piston slidably inserted in a piston bore of a housing having rack teeth on an outer circumference thereof, a piston spring biasing the piston in a protruding direction, a pawl member having teeth engageable with the rack teeth of the piston to permit protruding movement of the piston but to block reverse movement of the piston provided in a pawl hole of the housing, and a pawl spring in a pawl spring hole of a generally elliptical cross-section that biases the pawl member in an engaging direction of the teeth of the pawl member with the rack teeth of the piston. A long axis of the generally elliptical cross-sectional shape of the pawl spring is oriented toward an axial direction of the piston. Wire portions of the pawl spring substantially follow the long axis that contacts an upper surface of the pawl member.

Abstract: A silent chain includes a plurality of inside links each having a pair of teeth and pin apertures and connected to each other by connecting pins inserted into the pin apertures. At least three adjacent connecting pins have a wire extending substantially along the length of a chain. The wire is engaged with the connecting pins in such a way that bending resistance due to elastic deformation of the wire is applied to the chain during articulation of the chain.

Abstract: The invention relates to a storage system and identification device for storing objects associated with the devices in stations. Each identification devices includes awl electronic memory device with a unique code. The storage system receives information relating each identification device with both its code and its associated object. A user can enter information as to a particular object and the system identifies the location of the station holding the identification device. Thus, identification devices can be returned randomly. This can be used for many objects as small as keys and very large objects connected to the identification devices.

Abstract: A check valve for a hydraulic chain tensioner comprising a substantially cylindrical body, a first ball, a second ball, and a spring. The cylindrical body has a first aperture at one end and a second aperture at an opposite end. The first aperture in the cylindrical body connects the hydraulic chain tensioner to a pressurized fluid source and the third aperture allows pressurized fluid to flow out of the hydraulic tensioner. The first ball is seated in a first aperture and the second ball is seated in a second aperture. The spring is located between the first and the second ball, biasing the first ball to seat and block fluid from returning from the hydraulic chain tensioner to the pressurized fluid source.

Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner includes a housing with a piston bore. A hollow piston with rack teeth on an outer circumference is inserted slidably in the piston bore, forming a fluid chamber. A piston spring urges the piston to extend. A retraction blocking member such as a pawl is provided in a retraction blocking member opening. The pawl has teeth engageable with the piston rack teeth, and a pawl spring that urges the teeth of the pawl member to engage the rack teeth. The width of the pawl member is greater than the width of the tip portion of the rack teeth of the piston. In one embodiment, a pawl retainer is mounted at a retainer hole and houses the pawl. In this embodiment, the width of the axial portion of the pawl retainer is greater than the width of the tip portion of the rack teeth of the piston.

Abstract: A rub rail including a base portion with a longitudinally extending recess or groove, into which an insert is received. A plurality of spaced-apart orifices along the bottom surface of the recess enable the base portion to be attached to the hull with threaded fasteners. The insert, which is made of polyvinyl chloride plastic, snaps into the groove, covering the heads of the fasteners, and is held in place by the edges of the groove. An outer curved face of the insert includes a strip of Type 316 stainless steel that is crosshead extruded with the plastic portion of the insert. The stainless steel strip is bright and shiny and provides a decorative appearance to the rub rail. The plastic portion of the insert seals around the longitudinally extending edges of the stainless steel strip, preventing water from intruding behind the strip, which might eventually cause corrosion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a silent chain that can decrease noise and improve oscillation performance. A silent chain 1 includes a plurality of link plates interlaced in a thickness and length direction and guide links 4, 4′ disposed on the outside edge portions of the link plates, where the link plates and the guide links are connected by connecting pins. The guide link 4 has a yield load lower than that of the guide link 4′. These guide links 4, 4′ are located at a random pattern along the length of the chain. During operation, at the onset of the engagement with a sprocket tooth, contact with an inside flank of a link plate varies aperiodically. When the engagement proceeds and an outside flank of the link plate seats on the sprocket, seating at the sprocket tooth varies aperiodically.

Abstract: A blade tensioner includes a blade shoe with an arcuately curved chain sliding face and a plurality of solitary guide pieces upraised from a side edge portion of the chain sliding face in numerous places following the chain sliding face. The blade tensioner also includes a leaf spring-shaped blade spring disposed on the opposite side of the blade shoe from the chain sliding face which applies spring force to the blade shoe. The two guide pieces in a pair of guide pieces are preferably disposed opposite each other on the right side edge and left side edge of the chain sliding face, respectively. Alternatively, the guide pieces are disposed alternately on the right and left side edges of the chain sliding face. Consequently, the blade shoe preferably has either a nearly U-shaped cross section or a nearly L-shaped cross section where the guide pieces are formed.