Abstract: A hydraulic pressure control apparatus has an actuator for controlling an automatic transmission. A case for receiving the actuator is constituted by an upper case, a lower case and a plate interposed between them. The plate is provided with a filter. The filter protects the actuator from foreign matters. The actuator is inserted into the case along the axial direction. The actuator is locked by a rotating operation or fixed by a snap fit. An electric control unit is laminated in parallel to the case regulating an oil passage. The electric control unit is cooled by fluid. The electric control unit has a liquid level sensor in its connector part.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a dynamic apparatus for locking or stabilizing an input device such as a foot-operated device with respect to the floor. In one embodiment, an input device with a non-permanent floor mount comprises a user manipulable object movably coupled to a body of the input device which is configured to be placed on a floor. The user manipulable object is movable by a user applying a force thereon having a force component in a forward direction along the floor. A floor lock is movably connected to the body of the input device and has a contact surface for engaging the floor to substantially prevent movement of the input device in the forward direction along the floor.

Abstract: A bicycle shift control device includes a shift signal output unit for outputting shift signals and an inhibiting unit operatively coupled to the shift signal output unit for inhibiting the output of a second shift signal after the output of a first shift signal. In a more specific embodiment, the inhibiting unit inhibits the output of the second shift signal for a predetermined standby time after the output of the first shift signal.

Abstract: A gear made of a resin includes a substantially cylindrical rim having a plurality of teeth formed around an outer periphery thereof, a boss formed about a rotational center of the rim, and a web connecting the boss and the rim to each other. At least one groove is defined along outer surface of each tooth to divide the tooth in a widthwise direction of the tooth. As a result, a portion of the gear, in which the grooves are defined, is deformed in a reduced amount, leading to a reduced amount of deformation such as a warpage or sink in the entire gear, thereby providing an enhancement in tooth flank accuracy. Since the grooves are defined along the outer surfaces of the teeth, a lubricant such as grease can be supplied effectively to tooth flanks by previously applying the lubricant in the grooves.

Abstract: A shift control device includes a mounting unit; a transmission control element movably mounted to the mounting unit, wherein the transmission control element moves between a first transmission control position and a second transmission control position; a first transmission control element biasing mechanism for biasing the transmission control element toward the first transmission control position; and a first shift control element that moves between a first shift control position and a second shift control position. The first shift control element and the transmission control element are operatively coupled such that the transmission control element moves toward the second transmission control position when the first shift control element moves toward the second shift control position, and the transmission control element moves toward the first transmission control position as the first shift control element continues to move toward the second shift control position.

Abstract: An adjustable foot pedal assembly for a vehicle, according to one disclosed embodiment, comprises a foot pedal supported by a base. The pedal is mounted in a position generally above the base, with the lower end of the pedal pivotally connected to the lower end of the base. The first end of a lever arm is pivotally mounted on the lower surface of the pedal and the second end of the lever arm is positioned for movement relative to the upper surface of the base when the pedal is pivoted toward and away from the base between a depressed position and an idle position. An adjustment mechanism may couple the upper end portion of the base to a wall of a vehicle and is configured to selectively vary the fore and aft position of the base and the pedal from the wall.

Abstract: A connecting rod with an elliptical opening couples with a crankshaft without the use of a separate bearing element. The elliptical opening deforms under axial tension during operation to provide proper clearance between an inner surface of the opening and an outer surface of the crankshaft. A method for producing a connecting rod with an elliptical opening includes creating an initial form, compressing the crankshaft end of the form with a clamping means, honing a circular opening, releasing the clamping means, and forming radii at each edge of the resulting opening.

Abstract: Engine auxiliary unit driving equipment for transmitting an engine driving force from a crank pulley to a plurality of engine auxiliary units include an alternator and a driven poly-V pulley, provided at least in the alternator, has a plurality of grooves extending in a circumferential direction. A poly-V belt, which has a plurality of projections extending in a longitudinal direction to correspond to grooves of the poly-V pulley, bridges between a crank pulley and the poly-V pulley. The poly-V belt is substantially divided in an axial direction of the driven poly-V pulley into two pieces each having plural pieces of the projections. Accordingly, a tensile strength acting in a width direction of the poly-V belt is substantially divided midway between the divided poly-V belts to reduce cracking in the round poly-V belt, resulting in longer life of the poly-V belt.

Abstract: A control lever system for a parking brake includes a control lever for a parking brake attached to an interior equipment of a vehicle, the control lever moving between an operating position B and a releasing position A, and a recess provided for accommodating the control lever in the releasing position A. A releasing knob, operated for returning the control lever from the operating position B to the releasing position A, is disposed on a side face of a grip of the control lever, the side face corresponding to an opened face of the recess, so that the gap g between an inner wall of the recess and a head of the grip can be narrowed without being interfered with by the releasing knob.

Abstract: An orientation preserving angular swivel joint suitable for mechanical robotic arms and in particular snake robots, the joint comprising two members and an angular bevel gear train that connects the two members of the joint. The gear train allows an actuator to be positioned along the axis of the joint while transferring forces to the periphery of the mechanism, thus creating a high mechanical advantage proportional to the radius of the robot. The gear train is capable of transferring rotational motion between the two members with a constant ratio. Relative rotation between two bays of the joint does not take place, thereby preventing electrical wires running through the body of the snake from being twisted, and thus avoiding failure.

Abstract: An assisting apparatus for using power from a rotating member to assist the operation of a bicycle transmission includes a mounting unit; an input transmission member coupled to the mounting unit, wherein the input transmission member moves to at least a neutral position, to an upshift position and to a downshift position; and an output transmission member coupled to the mounting unit, wherein the output transmission member moves to at least a first output position and a second output position. A rotating member engaging member moves between a rotating member engaging position and a rotating member disengaging position, and a motion transmitting mechanism transmits motion from the rotating member engaging member to the output transmission member. A switching mechanism moves the rotating member engaging member to the rotating member engaging position when the input transmission member is in at least one of the upshift position and the downshift position.

Abstract: A metal push belt (1) for application in a continuous variable transmission, includes at least one endless tensile member (2), and transverse elements being provided freely moveable in the endless direction of the tensile member (2). The tensile member is produced of steel, containing non-metallic inclusions of predetermined sizes as observed in the micro-structure of a material section, in accordance with a specified diameter Dcircle of a circle relating to the surface occupation of such an inclusion observed in such micro structure, in which the steel is produced in a constitution having a nominal inclusion size distribution with diameters ranging up to 30 ?m, the inclusion diameter range between 10 ?m and 30 ?m being less than 20% of the total number of inclusions per square unit of sliced material counted by inclusions having a size larger than 2 ?m.

Abstract: Method and apparatus provided to accurately test flow and flush cooling systems.

Abstract: A shift lever for a bicycle having a derailleur, includes a housing including a clamp head for mounting the housing on a handlebar of the bicycle and a cavity therein; a gear connected with the cable, rotatably mounted in the cavity and having first and second sets of teeth; a major pawl element mounted to the housing and biased by a spring into engagement with the first set of teeth; a main lever rotatably mounted to the housing, having a thumb engaging end and a substantially common axis of movement with a person's thumb during a shifting operation, such that the main lever moves in a natural direction of movement of the thumb to tighten a grip of the person on the handlebar on which the shift lever is mounted; and a minor pawl element for engaging the second set of teeth.

Abstract: A footswitch having an adjustable treadle and switch placements, thereby helping to make the footswitch ergonomically more correct for a variety of users.

Abstract: A tilt steering apparatus comprises a lock lever rotatable around the axis of a supporting shaft. When a lock lever is rotated around the axis of the supporting shaft, a cam surface is rotated relative to a cam follower. As a result, the cam surface presses the cam follower against side plates of a fixed bracket, thereby achieving tilt locking. The cam surface has a plurality of slopes corresponding to a rotation stroke position of the lock lever. The operating torque of the lock lever at the time of a locking operation is reduced without increasing the range of the operating angle of the lock lever.

Abstract: A shift control device is provided for controlling a transmission control member coupled to a bicycle transmission. The device comprises an actuating component that is manually operated by a rider, wherein the actuating component moves to an actuating component neutral position, to an actuating component upshift position and to an actuating component downshift position. A first biasing component biases the actuating component toward one of the upshift position and the downshift position, and a neutral positioning component positions the actuating component in a neutral position.

Abstract: A safety steering column for a motor vehicle, with a casing tube which is arranged concentrically to a steering shaft and is fastened to the vehicle body and which, in the event of an axial impact action, can be shortened while at the same time absorbing energy. The casing tube consists of two casing-tube parts and the displacement force between the two casing-tube parts can be set. Arrange between the two casing-tube parts is a connecting element which is fastened to one of the casing-tube parts and is pressed with a predetermined force into a groove introduced into the other casing-tube part.

Abstract: A front end of a starter motor housing is sealed by a resilient seal member disposed between a bearing and a front end wall of the housing. A shaft carrying a pinion at its front end is rotatably and slidably supported by the bearing in an over hang fashion. The seal member is a cup-shaped ring having a circular outer wall, a bottom wall and a center hole. A sealing lip slidably contacting the rotating shaft is formed around the center hole. The circular outer wall of the seal member is tightly and hermetically held between an outer ring of the bearing and front end wall of the housing, so that the seal member is not displaced in the axial direction. The bottom wall is S-shaped forming a depressed portion facing the bearing to provide more space for retaining lubricant therein.

Abstract: A pedal supporting structure for a vehicle includes a pedal bracket secured to a dash board, a pedal shaft for swingably supporting a pedal arm, a pin member for mounting the pedal shaft on the pedal bracket and a separation member secured to a support beam. An arm section of the separation member has a guide slot capable of a relative displacement of a pin member inserted to the pedal shaft and contacting the slanted surface. The arm section of the separation member has a slanted surface at the middle thereof. When an external force larger than a specified value is applied to a front part of the vehicle, due to the relative displacement between the pedal bracket and the separation member, the pin member comes out of the pedal shaft and as a result the pedal arm is separated from the pedal shaft.