Abstract: Shifting mechanism for shifting gears in a gear box. The gear box has a housing, a gear shaft in the housing, a plurality of gears on the shaft, a shift key movable along the shaft for individually connecting the gears to the shaft, a shift collar positioned around the shaft and engaged with the shift key, and a shift fork for moving the collar along the shaft. The shift key moves along a longitudinal groove in the shaft and has a lug with an extended position and a retracted position. The gears have bores through which the gear shaft extends so that the gears are rotatably supported on the shaft. At least one of the gears has a plurality of uniformly spaced recesses circumferentially located around the bore to receive the lug of the shift key so that the gear rotates with the shaft. The recesses have ramps extending regularly in common directions from the bottoms of the recesses toward a common face of the gear.

Abstract: A gearbox, specifically a transaxle, which has the usual input shaft and only two additional, parallel shafts. The two shafts include an intermediate shaft on which a plurality of first gears and a first reverse sprocket are rotatably mounted. These have recesses which individually receive a shift member which is rotatably mounted on the intermediate shaft and is selectively engaged with the recesses to cause the gears and the sprocket to be selectively individually rotated with the intermediate shaft. A drive gear is also affixed to and rotates with the intermediate shaft. The two shafts also include an output shaft or axle on which a plurality of second gears and a second reverse sprocket are rotatably mounted. The second gears mesh with the first gears and the second reverse sprocket is connected to the first reverse sprocket. An output gear meshes with the input gear and is connected to and rotates with the output shaft.

Abstract: Shift mechanism is provided for shifting gears in a gearbox. The gearbox has a housing, a gear shaft in the housing, a plurality of gears rotatably mounted on the shaft, a connecting member moveable along the shaft for individually connecting the gears to the shaft, and a collar positioned around the shaft and engageable with the connecting member to move it along the shaft. The shaft mechanism includes a shifter fork for moving the collar and the connecting member along the shaft, the fork having a shift shaft pivotally mounted in the housing transversely to the gear shaft. This shaft has a first arm affixed thereto and extending on one side of the collar, with the arm having a projection on an end portion engaging a first portion of the collar. The shifter fork also has a detent plate affixed to the shift shaft and extending on the other side of the collar, with the plate having a second projection engaging a second portion of the collar generally diametrically opposite the first portion thereon.

Abstract: A mechanical, infinitely variable speed drive is provided with reverse actuation and a single control lever. The drive includes a shaft with an output gear and two driven, face-to-face bevel gears. Shifting mechanism connects either or neither bevel gear to the shaft. A drive bevel gear engages both driven bevel gears and is driven through variable speed pulleys. A cam plate operates the shifting mechanism and a cam manipulates the variable speed pulleys. Both the cam plate and the cam are controlled by a single control lever. The output can be through a differential with the bevel gear shaft being hollow and rotatably mounted on one of the axles of the differential.

Abstract: An infinitely variable speed drive is provided which is entirely mechanical, rather than hydraulic. The drive includes a rotatable housing having an output gear or sprocket rotatable therewith. An idler shaft is carried in the housing perpendicular to an axis of rotation thereof with first and second bevel gears rotatably mounted on the shaft. First and second shafts extend into the housing on the axis of rotation and in alignment with one another. Third and fourth bevel gears are affixed to the first and second shafts in the housing and mesh with the first and second bevel gears on the idler shaft. First drive gears rotate the first shaft at a constant speed in one direction. Second drive gears rotate the second shaft at different variable speeds in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the first shaft to cause the housing to rotate and drive the gear or sprocket thereon at infinitely variable speeds. A variable speed pulley arrangement can be used to drive the first and second drive gears.

Abstract: A simplified disc brake is provided, particularly for small gearboxes in the nature of transmissions and transaxles. The gearbox includes a housing having an output shaft extending therefrom with a brake disc mounted on the shaft for rotatable and limited longitudinal movement. The housing has a structurally integral brake puck pocket holding a first brake puck facing toward an inside surface of the brake disc. The housing also has a structurally integral second brake puck pocket holding a second brake puck opposite the first and facing toward an outside surface of the brake disc. The housing forms two spaced passages communicating with portions of the second brake puck pocket and holding pins positioned to move longitudinally toward the second brake puck to move it toward the brake disc.

Abstract: A variable speed pulley or sheave with a broad speed range is designed particularly for self-propelled lawn mowers. The variable speed pulley is mounted on a drive shaft of a gear unit in the form of a transaxle or transmission located on the mower and is driven through a belt connected to the drive shaft of the mower engine. The engine drive shaft can also drive a mower blade, thus eliminating any special power take-off shaft otherwise required to propel the mower. The variable speed pulley includes two pulley members or halves which are designed with inter-nesting tines and recessed hubs which enable the pulley halves to nest together more fully and thereby increase the speed range by more widely varying the effective diameter of the pulley.

Abstract: A variable speed pulley or sheave with a broad speed range is provided. The variable speed pulley comprises three inter-nesting components which enable a broad range of ratios to be achieved. The multiple component pulley is mounted on an idler shaft with one V-belt connected to a pulley of a drive shaft and another V-belt connected with a pulley of a driven shaft. The pulley includes two outer pulley components which are designed with generally radially-extending tines and recessed hubs. The pulley has a third, intermediate pulley component also mounted on the idler shaft between the outer two components and being slidable thereon to inter-nest with the outer two components. The intermediate component has generally-radially extending, generally triangularly shaped tines which can extend into slots between the tines of the outer two components. The intermediate component also has a hub which can extend into recesses of the outer two pulley components when moved into inter-nesting relationship therewith.

Abstract: This invention relates to a safety switch for a small transmission to prevent operation of an engine when the transmission is in gear. The transmission can have an H-shaped shifting pattern with the engine being capable of starting only when a gear shift lever of the transmission is in neutral. The switch and preferably being made mostly of plastic material.

Abstract: A transaxle is provided especially for small riding vehicles, such as lawn mowers. The transaxle has multiple forward speeds in a compact housing by virtue of a unique gear train arrangement in which shafts serve multiple functions. A driven bevel gear in the transaxle housing is carried on an intermediate portion of a shaft and is backed up by a structurally-integral rib or flange in the housing. This support minimizes lateral deflection of the shaft on which the bevel gear is mounted, when the transmission is under load.

Abstract: Shift mechanism for a transmission is provided for engaging and disengaging a gear therein. The mechanism is particularly designed to disengage the gear even when the transmission is under a heavy load. The shift mechanism includes a clutch dog or collar on a shaft with the collar having at least one lug or projection which is engagable with and disengagable from a lug or projection on a gear rotatably carried on the shaft. One of the collar and gear has a recess adjacent its respective lug in which a ball is located with the ball also being retained by a retaining ring mounted on the collar or gear. When the collar and gear are in an engaged position, both lugs are in contact with the ball; when the collar is moved away from the gear to disengage the collar and the gear, the point contact of the lugs and ball enables disengagement of the collar from the gear even when the transmission is under a heavy load.

Abstract: A transaxle is provided, especially for small riding vehicles, such as lawn mowers. The transaxle is exceptionally shallow, with the gear shift lever entering the housing on about the same level as the rear axles. The transaxle has six forward speeds in a compact housing by virtue of a unique gear train arrangement in which shafts serve multiple functions. A driven bevel gear in the transaxle housing is also backed-up by a structurally-integral rib or flange in the housing. A unique bearing design provides effective lubrication for the output shafts or axles of the transaxle. A compact differential of the transaxle also rotates within a cavity without any axle.

Abstract: Shift mechanism for a transmission is provided for engaging and disengaging a gear therein. The mechanism is particularly designed to disengage the gear when the transmission is under a heavy load. The mechanism includes a clutch dog or collar on a shaft, with the collar having at least one lug or tooth which is engagable with and disengagable from a lug or tooth on a gear rotatably carried on the shaft. The clutch collar has a peripheral flange with a cam configuration on the side toward the gear. A shifter fork has a projection or cam follower with a cam surface facing the cam surface of the flange. To disengage the clutch collar from the gear, the cam follower of the shifter fork is engaged with the cam surface of the clutch collar and forces it away from the gear to a disengaged position, even when the transmission is under a heavy load.

Abstract: Resilient shift mechanism for shifting gears in a transaxle, transmission, gear box, or the like is provided. In a gear drive for a small vehicle such as a garden tractor or a self-propelled lawn mower, it is often difficult to disengage a shift dog from a gear when under a heavy load. In some instances, the shift mechanism, such as a shifter fork, can be distorted, bent, or broken. The new shift mechanism includes a shifter fork for moving a shift dog or clutch collar and a resilient shift lever for moving the shifter fork. The lever has a resilient leg which yields when the shift lever attempts to move the shift dog while the transmission is under a heavy load. The resilient shift lever, being stressed, will subsequently shift the shift dog when the load has diminished.

Abstract: A shift control mechanism is provided for a transmission or the like. The control mechanism prevents the transmission from being shifted directly from a forward speed to reverse or vice versa. A shift lever of the transmission engages a slider when shifting between a reverse position and a neutral position or between a forward position and the neutral position. The slider is mounted in a guide on a lockout plate with the slider being limited in movement to prevent the shift lever from moving beyond the next adjacent position of the transmission in any single motion. Thus, the transmission must always be shifted into neutral when shifting between forward and reverse.

Abstract: A powdered metal part is provided with a side recess or notch which is shaped to receive a threaded member or screw. The part is made from powdered metal formed under high pressure by punches and a die and the part is then sintered. The threaded member is threaded into the notch in a direction which is transverse to the direction in which the punches and die are brought together to form the part. The recess or notch has generally parallel side walls extending between opposite surfaces of the part with the side walls having V-shaped ridges and grooves. The ridges are opposite the grooves to threadedly receive a machine screw or the like which is turned into the open end of the notch.

Abstract: A transaxle is provided, especially for small riding vehicles, such as lawn mowers. The transaxle is exceptionally shallow, with the gear shift lever entering the housing on about the same level as the rear axles. The transaxle has six forward speeds in a compact housing by virtue of a unique gear train arrangement in which shafts serve multiple functions. A driven bevel gear in the transaxle housing is also backed-up by a structurally-integral rib or flange in the housing. A unique bearing design provides effective lubrication for the output shafts or axles of the transaxle. A compact differential of the transaxle also rotates within a cavity without any axle.

Abstract: A mixer particularly designed for light, domestic use is provided. The mixer includes a base frame, a mixing drum, and a handle, all of which are readily assembled and disassembled for easy transportation, even in an automobile. The drum is supported on the base frame with a three-point suspension, including an axle rotatably carried by the base frame and two rollers on the base frame which engage the drum in a position spaced from the axle toward a discharge opening of the drum. The drum is of one-piece construction and has a ring gear formed of integral, circumjacent teeth, with the axis of rotation of the drum and the gear being at an angle to the horizontal. An electric motor is mounted on the base frame directly below the drum and has a drive shaft parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum and gear with a pinion gear engagable with the integral, circumjacent drum teeth. The drum can be readily lifted off the base frame and the handle also can separated therefrom.