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.

Abstract: A hand brake arrangement for a motor vehicle, particularly a passenger car, has a brake lever which is swivellably disposed on a vehicle-fixed stationary base and, with a locking device, can be locked in different swivelling positions. The brake lever has an unlocking device for releasing the locking. The unlocking device has two release press buttons which each drive a push rod, a rocker lever which is swivellably about a rocker axis disposed on the brake lever and on which, on two sides which are opposed with respect to the rocker axis, the two push rods are pivotally connected. A release cable control, on one end, is applied to at least one of the push rods or to at least one of the release press buttons or to the rocker lever and, on the other end, is coupled with the locking device.

Abstract: A bicycle control device is provided that uses power from a rotating member to assist the operation of a bicycle mechanism, wherein the control device includes an input member that requests assistance of the rotating member and an output member that is assisted by the rotating member, and wherein the input member electrically moves from a first position to a second position and then to a third position. A method of operating the control device comprises the steps of providing an input signal for moving the input member from the first position to the second position and then to the third position; sensing a position of the input member with an input position sensor; and determining whether the input position sensor indicates the input member is in the third position.

Abstract: Crank drive belt systems feature a triple pulley tensioner which may be applied in various ways to provide proper tensioning on belt spans adjacent a motor generator for both starting and generating functions of the system. The tensioner provides adequate belt wrap and damping functions for the systems. In a simplified embodiment, the belt system connects a crankshaft or crank pulley with a motor generator pulley and at least one accessory drive pulley, such as an air conditioner compressor. The triple pulley tensioner includes a fixed tensioner housing mounting a fixed rotatable pulley and two tensioner arms carrying pulleys for tensioning the belt spans on either side of the motor generator. The fixed pulley is positioned on a third belt span between the accessory and the crank and combines with the tensioner pulleys to maximize belt wrap around the MG pulley, the crank pulley, and the accessory pulley, if needed. Numerous alternative arrangements may be provided.

Abstract: A starter for an internal combustion engine includes a planetary gear speed reduction mechanism, a pinion and a pinion drive shaft, a motor, a front housing having a plurality of fastening holes disposed at a circumference and a center casing having approximately the same outside diameter as the motor housing. The center housing is disposed between the motor housing and the front housing to align a motor shaft, the planetary gear speed reduction mechanism and the pinion drive shaft. The diameter of the motor housing is a maximum outside diameter of the fastening bolt less than the diameter of a circumference on which the fastening bolts are formed. Therefore, fastening bolts can be easily inserted into the fastening holes.

Abstract: A brake pedal apparatus for a vehicle is provided with a pedal bracket having a pivot shaft, a pivot bracket having a pedal shaft, a pedal arm, a slide plate fixed to a body structural member of the vehicle and located between the body structural member and the pedal bracket, an impact absorbing section, and a rotational motion assisting section. The impact absorbing section permits relative movement of the pivot bracket and the body structural member in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle when the pedal bracket encounters an external force directed rearward of the vehicle at a level beyond a predetermined load, in such a manner that the pivot bracket disengages from the slide plate to allow the pivot bracket to rotate about the pivot shaft while rotating the pedal shaft therewith rearwardly downward of the vehicle.

Abstract: A blade tensioner of a blade tensioner system for a chain that drivingly connects a drive shaft to a driving shaft in an engine, that improves the chain-damping efficiency in a blade tensioner applied to the chain within an engine, prevents the sideways tilt of the blade tensioner during operation, in a blade tensioner applied to the chain in an engine, and provides a blade tensioner with a functionality that allows it to transversely guide a chain along the chain sliding face in a blade shoe, while maintaining the flexural deformability (i.e., the flexibility) of the blade shoe.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus can correspond to high output ability, and has a power transmission mechanism of an electric driving section capable of achieving predetermined slip torque in spite of change of operating temperature. Also, a resin gear for power transmission is formed by joining a core metal and a resin with strong bonding force, and has preferable heat-dissipation property. This joining is performed by way of chemical bond according to composite molding technique or adhesive.

Abstract: A control housing body (10) containing a cavity (12) of sufficient size to allow entry and movement by a human thumb, and capable of housing a number of controls (14, 16). Body (10) is inserted under a covering grip (33) that is connected in line with a surface grip (32) of a rotating steering device (31). Dial control (14) is provided to set a scalar variable such as vehicular speed at a constant number. A thumb rest (13) and a control guard (17) inhibit the thumb from slipping downwards and unintentionally activating a contracting control (16) that can be actuated by the contracting movement of a human thumb. A sliding cover (40) can be alternately positioned over cavity (12) or inside retraction slot (46). A pivoting pin (22) and pivoting rotator (24) allow the control housing body to rotate around the axis between two pivot holes (26) and (28).

Abstract: A detent assembly for a transmission is provided including a transmission component, such as a shift rail, movable between a plurality of shift positions including first, second, and neutral shift positions. A contoured surface on the shift rail includes first and second recesses, respectively, corresponding to the first and second shift positions. A neutral recess is arranged between the first and second shift recesses corresponding to the neutral shift position. The first and second recesses, respectively, include first and second transition surfaces sloping towards the neutral recess with the second transition surface being steeper than the first transition surface. A detent assembly includes a biasing member and a detent member with the biasing member urging the detent member into engagement with the contoured surface. The biasing member generates a first work along the first transition surface and a second force along the second transition surface greater than the first work.

Abstract: A steering column (10) includes a mounting bracket (66) connecting the steering column (10) to a vehicle frame. A support (24), through which a steering column member (12) extends, is connected with the mounting bracket (66). The support (24) supports the steering column member (12) for rotation about and is movable relative to the mounting bracket. A locking mechanism (130) locks the support (24) in any one of a plurality of positions relative to the mounting bracket (66). The locking mechanism (130) has a locking lever (132) with first and second ends (171 and 136). A spring (194) applies a force to the first end (171) of the lever (132) to urge the second end (136) of the lever to clamp the support (24) to the mounting bracket (66). The first end (171) of the lever (132) moves against the force applied by the spring (194) to permit movement of the support (24) relative to the mounting bracket (66).

Abstract: A pick and place apparatus comprises a bond arm adapted for rotation about an axis between a pick location and a place location. The bond arm is formed with a cavity at an end of the arm remote from the axis, within which cavity are located a plurality of damping particles for damping unwanted vibrations of the bond arm. The particles may be irregular tungsten granules with a diameter between 0.3 and 1.2 mm and a filling ratio of about 75%.

Abstract: A multi-speed gear system for a chain transmission device of a bicycle is provided. The system includes a disc having a front plate, a rear plate, and a plurality of tooth series concentrically arranged in the disc and a tooth series selector. Each of the tooth series has a plurality of tooth blocks; the front plate of the disc has a plurality of tooth holes; and the rear plate of the disc has a plurality of rear holes. Each of the tooth blocks is either pushed into a corresponding one of the tooth holes or protrude out of the front plate and the tooth series selector selects one of the tooth series to change speed and makes the tooth blocks of the selected tooth series protrude out of the front plate.

Abstract: A cable linkage comprising a cable partially housed within a sheath and a fitting for securement to a linkage member, a length of cable between the fitting and the sheath being exposed when the cable is extended in use, wherein the fitting has a guide follower arranged to follow a guide so as to substantially inhibit kinking of the exposed length of cable.

Abstract: A brake pedal apparatus for an automotive vehicle is disclosed as including a pedal bracket 2, a pivot bracket 3, a slide plate 9 fixedly secured to a vehicular body structural member 41, 52, and an impact absorbing section 10 located between the pedal bracket and the slide plate. During a frontal collision of a vehicle, the impact absorbing section allows the pedal bracket to be contracted and deformed into a position wherein a pedal arm 8 is retracted in a forward direction of the vehicle whereby even when a master vac. is retracted in the forward direction or even when a dash floor panel 40 is deformed into a vehicle compartment with a resultant rearward movement of a push rod 24, a depressing position of the pedal arm remains in a position to avoid a differential feeling touch to be applied to a vehicle driver.

Abstract: An operating element having a first control element that is rotatable about a first axis, and having at least one second control element that is rotatable about a second axis and that does not coincide with the first axis. The operating element may include apparatuses, arrangements or structures to influence the torque required to rotate at least one of the control elements. An operating device having an operating element has a controller to influence the torque required to rotate at least one of the control elements as a function of the context. The operating element and the operating device permit a good haptic feedback and/or user guidance in adjusting a parameter or in scrolling through a menu, so that visual contact with the operating element or a pointer moved with the operating element in a menu is not necessary.

Abstract: An attachment device for a bore-provided machine member on a cylindrical shaft. A two-part sleeve is arranged in an annular space between the shaft and the machine member to provide a clamping force between the machine member and the shaft. The sleeve parts have mating cooperating taper surfaces that face each other so that upon mutual displacement of the sleeve parts the overall radial size of the sleeve parts changes. A first ring member is arranged about the shaft and forms a stop for one of the sleeve parts and a supporting device is adapted to move the machine member with respect to the shaft to cause mutual displacement of the sleeve parts. A second ring member positioned between the two-part sleeve and the machine member has a tapering bore, a tapering outer surface, and an inwardly projecting abutment for a second one of the sleeve parts.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a vehicle drive control apparatus changes in the transfer torque capacity of a power transfer device according to various states of operation with respect to at least one drive power source. The vehicle drive control apparatus includes a power transfer device that has a variable transfer torque capacity and the drive power sources that rotate a drive wheel via the power transfer device. A controller is included that causes a vehicle to selectively run in a variety of run modes that differ in states of operation with respect to at least one of the drive power sources. The controller changes the transfer torque capacity of the power transfer device in accordance with the various run modes. According to the vehicle drive control apparatus, a target oil pressure is raised by a predetermined amount when the mode of run is change, or when the vehicle descends in a direction opposite to a vehicle starting direction at the time of a hill climb start.

Abstract: A wear-elongation resistant silent chain includes guide link rows and articular link rows articulately connected together in an alternate fashion along the length of the chain by connecting pins inserted through respective pin holes of guide plates, guide link plates and articular link plates, with guide plate retainers secured to respective both ends of the connecting pins so as to keep the guide plates in position against removal from the connecting plates. The guide link plate and the articular link plates have different thicknesses so dimensioned as to balance the tensile strength of the guide link plate in one guide link row and the tensile strength of the articular link plates in the adjacent articular link row connected together by one of the connecting pins, thereby suppressing bending of the connecting pin. By thus suppressing the bending of connecting pin, wear elongation of the chain is prevented from occurring during power transmitting operation of the chain.

Abstract: An automatic wire lubricating device includes first and second components each having a body section of semi-annular configuration defining a portion of a continuous cylindrical interior reservoir formed by the body sections when they are fastened together into an annular body defining a central opening, a pipe fitting attached on an outer circumferential side of the body section of the first component in flow communication with the interior reservoir such that the pipe fitting can be coupled to a soap line coming from a pump, dispensing holes circumferentially spaced apart defined through the body sections providing flow communication from the interior reservoir to the central opening, and coupler pins formed on opposite ends of the body sections of the first and second components which fit together so as to make a tight seal of the interior reservoir when the first and second components are fastened together.