Abstract: Two cooperatively arranged pistons and a spring interposed therebetween are arranged within the clutch, one of the pistons is formed as a simple and compact annular plate with flat parallel surfaces and the other formed with an annular recess for receiving the plate.

Abstract: A free floating coupling device for use between drive and driven shafts, which coupling device consists of a clutch portion on each shaft, which clutch portions are held in spaced apart relation by a tubular member which serves as a bearing lubricant chamber. The coupling allows power to be transmitted from the drive shaft to the driven shaft, even when a slight mis-alignment exists between the shafts. The anti-friction bearings allow full torque to be exerted between the shafts.

Abstract: A clutch-brake unit having aligned input and output shafts, clutch plates carried by the input shaft, brake plates fixed to the housing, two series of friction discs secured to the output shaft and engageable alternately with the clutch or brake plates by means of a piston which actuates clutch and brake actuating members, and oil cooling means for the assembly including a pump, the output of which is proportional to the speed differential between the shafts. The pump is illustrated as being a Gerotor type of pump mounted between the shafts with its external element connected to the input shaft and its internal element to the output shaft.

Abstract: A vehicle gearchange lever comprising a rod with a longitudinal hollow accommodating a current conduction element electrically connected with a clutch and with a contact mounted on said rod. The gearchange lever also comprises a knob with a contact mounted therein, which knob is elastically mounted on the rod and is adapted to be moved relative to the rod for the purpose of closing the contacts in the process of gearchange. The contact mounted on the rod is constructed in the form of a cup installed on a sleeve made of an insulating material and removably mounted on the rod. The knob is hollow, has a hole for the rod to fit therethrough with a clearance, and bears on a shoulder provided on the rod. Said clearance is dimensioned so as to enable the contacts to be closed by moving the knob in the process of gearchange.

Abstract: A dual path, dual range transmission utilizes two simple planetaries with a sliding shaft shift wherein a first ring gear is in constant mesh with the first planet gear, the second ring gear is connected with the first carrier and the second ring gear is also in constant mesh with the second planet gear. A variable speed device, drivingly connected with the input shaft, controllably varies the rotative speed of a variable speed control shaft which is connected with the first and second sun gears. The input shaft is also independently drivingly connected with the first ring gear and the second planet carrier, with the output shaft being connected with the first carrier.

Abstract: A planetary transmission of a vehicle drive train comprises an input section including three planetary gear sets and three brakes that are selectively operable to condition the three gear sets for respectively establishing a forward converter drive, a reverse converter drive and a direct drive at an output shaft of the input section. The planetary transmission further comprises an output or range section coupled to the output of the input section. The output section includes three planetary gear sets connected together so as to form a three-stage planetary set and three brakes are respectively associated with the three gear sets and selectively operable to control the three gear sets such that low, intermediate and high output speeds are established for every input to the output section with drive torque being delivered by all three gear sets for low speed operation, by two gear sets for intermediate speed operation and by a single gear set for high speed operation.

Abstract: A final drive assembly for an agricultural tractor has a casing in which are journalled the outer end of a half-shaft and, parallel to the half-shaft, a final drive shaft. The two shafts are driveably interconnected by fixed ratio speed reduction gearing lubricated by mineral oil contained in the casing. A multi-disc brake can frictionally interconnect the half-shaft and the casing, and is operated via a linkage by a hydraulic slave cylinder housed within the casing and preferably actuated by mineral oil to avoid contaminating the lubricating oil in the event of any leakage from the cylinder.

Abstract: A hydropneumatic one-tube vibration damper in known fashion comprises a cylinder and a displaceable piston separating the cylinder space into a chamber containing a hydraulic fluid and a chamber containing a pneumatic fluid. This piston carries an annular elastomeric sealing element comprising an inner portion clamped by said piston, an outer portion contacting said cylinder and an intermediate web portion, whereby small displacements of the piston can be accommodated by flexing of said web portion without displacement of said outer sealing element portion relative to said cylinder. Reinforcements may be embedded in the outer portion of the sealing element to increase its contact pressure against the cylinder and means may be provided to prevent canting of the piston in the cylinder.

Abstract: A drive transmitting device is disclosed which may be preset and will subsequently become locked if sudden or gradual rotation forces are applied, the device comprising a first member at least part of which is inside a second member, a rotation of one of the members in either direction about an axis of rotation causing a rotation of the other member about the axis. There are rollers around the axis which co-operate with wedging surfaces in the device to prevent a rotation of the said one of the members from its preset position about the axis as a result of a rotation of the said other of the members in either direction about the axis, the rollers being arranged in respective pairs around the axis, the number of such pairs being more than two. The forces required to restrain rotation are shared substantially equally between respective rollers of the pairs.

Abstract: An apparatus for off-winding thread which comprises a driving shaft, a drive means for rotating the driving shaft, a driven shaft, an electrically operated clutch interconnecting said driven and driving shaft, an electrically operated brake connected to said driven shaft, and an electronic control circuit. The control circuit comprises three parts connected to the said clutch and brake. The first part of the control circuit is connected to the said clutch and incorporates an integrating circuit for producing gradual engagement of the clutch. The second part of the control circuit is connected to the said brake and incorporates a pulse generating circuit for producing a large temporary braking force. The third part of the control circuit is also connected to the said brake and incorporates a constant signal generator for producing a small constant braking force.

Abstract: The engine has a duct connecting the gases in the exhaust gas crossover passage to the intake manifold and providing with a flow control valve for controlling the flow in the duct in such that said valve is moved to open by signals from both of a clutch-actuation detection device and a throttle valve-opening detection device and is kept opening by signal from a timer to be actuated by said two devices.

Abstract: A unit for remotely operating an element to different positions such as start, fast, slow and stop for a driving application such as the one herein illustrated for the engine of a lawn mower. The unit is made of plastic material being molded in two parts with a recess in the side of one part which is adapted to receive a tube forming a handle. A bolt passes through a hole in the part and through the tube to which it is securely retained when a lock nut and bolt is tightened. The unit has a slot between the two parts in which a lever is movable to advance and retract one or more control wires which operate the carburetor, brake or other element of the lawn mower.

Abstract: A flight control system utilizing pilot actuated flexible cables to selectively move a control quadrant and utilizing balanced, preloaded springs connected to the quadrant to be selectively automatically releasable in response to cable severance so that the quadrant can be pilot actuated through its full control regime despite the severance of one of the cables.

Abstract: A torque converter and slipping clutch wherein the ratio of torque split between the clutch and converter is controlled by a lever which, through a valve, controls the differential pressure engaging the clutch.

Abstract: An engagement control valve for a lock-up clutch operable to control the clutch engagement force in response to the angular acceleration of the clutch. The valve has one member rotatable with the clutch and another member resiliently connected with the one member. The valve members cooperate to control the fluid passage such that, on sufficiently high angular acceleration of the clutch, the passage is open to reduce the engagement force of the clutch thus preventing the transmission of torsional vibrations which are not damped by a conventional damper.

Abstract: An indexing rotary actuator for applying the torque of a rotatable pivot arm to rotate a member between plural index positions. The forward stroke of the pivot arm drives a slider crank linkage through a four bar linkage to unlock the rotatable member and rotate the member to its next index position. On the return stroke of the pivot arm a spring biased locking arm on the rotatable member is interlocked with the actuator to lock the rotatable member in the index position. Interlock switches are provided to indicate when a rotated member is in a valid index position.

Abstract: A multistage automatic countershaft transmission adapted for mutually independently shifting the first and second phases of the gears of a transmission to thereby effectuate a smooth gear change within a narrower range of speeds. The countershaft transmission gear is provided with a driving gear which is rotatably supported on a hub, connected to the drum of a gear change clutch, and in engagement with an idle gear supported on a countershaft upon which a countershaft wheel is fixed. The hub and the driven gear are firmly connected and rotatably supported on an output shaft. A carrier of shoes of a gear change clutch is fixed to the hub, the shoes being provided with one or more carrier elements and by means of the carrier elements engage a regulating carrier which is fixed to the output shaft and is provided with an engagement edge, a driving edge, and a rest surface.

Abstract: A governor for controlling the speed of a drive shaft comprising a flywheel mounted to a revolving drive shaft by a pair of diametrically opposed pins extending through the flywheel, along a diametrical line of the flywheel, and being respectively received by two oppositely disposed spiral slots along the cylindrical wall of the drive shaft. The flywheel and pins are slidably mounted to the drive shaft such that an increase or decrease in the speed of revolution of the drive shaft will cause the pins to move along the shaft in the slots and the flywheel to traverse along the axis of rotation of the drive shaft. Mechanical linkage is connected to the flywheel so that the movement of the flywheel will engage or disengage a friction clutch drive assembly operatively associated to the drive shaft, or alternatively, will control the rate of flow of fuel to an engine operatively connected to the drive shaft.

Abstract: A portable device for covering vehicles comprising attaching clamps for connecting to the front and rear of the vehicle, extendable rods attached at one end to the clamps and extending above the vehicle, and a waterproof covering extendable over the vehicle and attachable in a fixed position at either end to the rods.

Abstract: A power transmission apparatus in which a crank shaft of an internal combustion engine, an input shaft of a speed-change mechanism and an output shaft of the speed-change mechanism are arranged in three parallel rows, the input shaft being provided at an end portion with a torque convertor drivingly coupled to the crank shaft. At least two gears are provided on the input shaft and are in mesh with respective gears rotatably mounted on the output shaft. The output shaft is provided at an intermediate portion between the two gears thereon with a shift member which is connected for common rotation with the output shaft but is slidable thereon in axial direction. Between each end surface of the shift member and a facing surface of the gear on the output shaft there is interposed a dog clutch comprising pins on one surface and pin openings in the other surface.