Abstract: A hydraulic tensioning arrangement for an endless drive belt for a vehicle accessories drive system. The vehicle alternator is pivotally mounted on the engine and is driven by a pulley which is drivingly engaged with the drive belt. A hydraulically actuated piston is mounted in a generally fixed position on the engine closely adjacent to the alternator and is operatively connected to the alternator for pivotally moving it to a belt tensioning position. Hydraulic fluid is supplied to the piston cylinder from the vehicle's power steering fluid supply. A ratchet bar is mounted on the piston cylinder and is slidably engaged in a guide bracket mounted on the alternator. A spring-biased pawl is mounted on the guide bracket and is engageable with a series of teeth formed on the extended end of the ratchet bar.

Abstract: A precision roller chain with parallel runs and with an even number of links is trained around a sprocket wheel and an idler wheel and is driven around a racetrack-shaped path. To compensate for the inherent tendency of the chain to tighten and loosen in a cyclic manner, the idler wheel is formed with a smooth periphery and has a somewhat smaller diameter than the effective diameter of the sprocket wheel. In addition, compensating ramps hold the chain outwardly away from the idler wheel adjacent the tangency points of the idler wheel and keep the chain tight when the rollers of the chain are in angular positions which otherwise would cause the chain to inherently loosen.

Abstract: In a side-bar chain for an infinitely variable cone pulley transmission, which chain is composed of packs of side bars forming successive links which are articulatedly connected with one another, and thrust pieces acting transversely of the longitudinal direction of the chain for friction force transmission between cone pulleys and the side-bar chain, the lengths of selected ones of the links, between associated articulations, are made different from those of the remainder of the links of the chain.

Abstract: A floating power transmission ring gear whose inner periphery is supported through its gear mesh with a pinion and whose outer periphery is engaged with a belt, to increase the belt's bending diameter without a corresponding increase in the belt's travel per pinion's revolution.

Abstract: A torque transmission belt means which is extended between a driving pulley and a driven pulley for transmitting a driving force from the driving pulley to the driven pulley.The torque transmission belt means comprises a plurality of ring-shaped metallic strips which are superimposed on each other, and two kinds of blocks which are arranged along the metallic strips so as to be shiftably engaged therewith.Only one kind of blocks are contacted with said pulleys and the other kind of blocks are bevelled on opposed surfaces facing to the direction of the movement so that they can tilt with respect to one kind of blocks when they are entrained around the pulleys.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a transmission chain. The chain may be used in a transmission with conical disks (not shown). The chain comprises a number of links intercoupled by hinge pins extending through openings in the links. The interacting surfaces of each link are, on the one hand, one of the sides of each of the openings of the links coupled by a hinge pin and, on the other hand, one of the opposite curved side surfaces of a single hinge pin.

Abstract: A pulley configuration which increases the contact area between the pulley tooth tips and the land area of the belt teeth. The increased contact area reduces land area wear between belt teeth. The pulley tooth tip has a longitudinal cross-sectional contour partially composed of two substantially circular arcs connected by a line segment which is substantially straight or slightly curved. The length of the line segment is from 2 percent to 100 percent of the width of the belt tooth on which the pulley is used, and preferably less than about 7 percent of the width of the belt tooth. The pulley groove depth may be less than the height of the belt tooth and the groove has a longitudinal cross-sectional contour partially composed of two substantially circular arcs connected by a line segment which is substantially straight or slightly curved. The pulley in combination with a toothed belt forms a positive power transmission system.

Abstract: A composite driving belt in the form of an endless flexible carrier on which is mounted a plurality of plate-like elements disposed transverse to the carrier. The carrier is formed by a plurality of endless metal bands arranged in overlying concentric relationship, at least one side of at least one of the bands having surface roughness produced, for example, by two series of fine grooves which cross each other.

Abstract: The invention concerns a gear-changer for a cycle comprising a support transversely movable with respect to a free wheel of the cycle, and a yoke which is pivotally movable on an axle of the support, this yoke rotatably supporting two rollers, one called "a chain tension roller" and the other "a chain guide roller".

Abstract: A gear system adapted to eliminate backlash between a set of reversible gears. The gears are also arranged to perform without backlash when their center distances are changed. One gear of the double helical type fixed to a first shaft is in engagement with a single adjustably secured first helical gear on a second shaft. A biased helical gear is slidably arranged on the second shaft adjacent the first helical gear, forcing the teeth of the biased gear against corresponding teeth of the double helical gear, automatically removing any clearance between them thus eliminating any backlash therewith, which is desirable for gears driving matched rolls.

Abstract: An improved rear hub for a bicycle, comprises: a tubular extension provided at a hub shell having a pair of first and second hub flanges and extending axially outwardly of the first hub flange, the extension carrying an inner member sleeved onto the outer periphery of the extension and fixed thereto; a plurality of through bores formed at an axially intermediate portion of the inner member; and pawl accommodating chambers which are formed by the through bores and the outer periphery of the extension and within which pawls are accommodated and retained, so that a cylindrical outer member having at least one sprocket is supported to the inner member in a relation of being unidirectionally rotatable through the pawls and ratchet teeth provided at the inner periphery of the outer member.

Abstract: A gear transmission apparatus for a motor vehicle, provided with an input shaft having an input gear, a counter shaft having a counter gear meshing with the input gear, an output shaft having a front end portion inserted into the input gear via a pilot bearing device, and a transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the input shaft to the output shaft under predetermined gear ratios. The apparatus is further provided with at least one substantially radially extending and forwardly inclined oil passageway rotating together with the input gear, and a stationarily mounted guide plate adapted for directing lubricant oil toward the outer end of the passageway. The oil is effectively directed to the pilot bearing device via the passageway.

Abstract: A sunshade has ribs which emanate from a hub and are connected intermediate their ends to struts which are in turn connected to a center sleeve. When the sleeve is remote from the hub, the ribs and struts lie alongside each other in a collapsed position in which they are generally parallel to the axis of the hub. However, as the sleeve is moved upwardly toward the hub, the struts swing outwardly and push the ribs outwardly. Indeed, the struts pass through an over center position before the sleeve comes against the hub, and when the sleeve is against the hub, the ribs are in an extended position wherein they radiate from the hub. Each rib at its outer end has a rib extension connected to it, and these rib extensions fold between extended positions, wherein they form continuations of their respective ribs, and folded positions wherein they lie alongside their respective ribs. A fabric cover is connected to the ribs and rib extensions and folds with them.

Abstract: A constant-tension spring device for the accessory belt of an automobile engine. The device includes a cylinder having an elastomer ring mounted within each of its ends. A rod passes through each elastomer ring, the rod having spaced shoulders each bearing against one end of a respective elastomer ring. Abutments within the cylinder position and retain the elastomer rings. Upon sufficient axial motion between the rod and cylinder, the elastomer rings are distorted by twisting and display a flat segment of the load vs. deflection curve between the rod and cylinder. The spring device maintains a desired tension within the accessory belt, compensating for temperature, humidity, and ageing changes in belt length which would otherwise result in change of belt tension.

Abstract: A sprocket-wheel, gear-wheel or like wheel, substantially manufactured of a synthetic material, comprising a hub which is divided along a plane which lies perpendicular to the center line of the hub-boring, said hub parts being provided with adjacent recesses for jointly accommodating a toothed ring member and being affixed to one another by bolts or the like to clamp the toothed ring member therebetween.

Abstract: This invention deals with a variable-speed transmission device which provides a positive or mechanical connection between its drive and driven shafts. The transmission device of the present invention is comprised of a drive wheel and a driven wheel which are positioned adjacent to each other in a generally parallel relationship. This device also includes means for transferring the rotary motion of the drive wheel to the driven wheel such that the speed of the driven wheel relative to the drive wheel is controlled by the position of the driven wheel relative to the drive wheel. In this way, the transmission device of the present invention is capable of producing within a finite range of gear ratios an infinite number of different gear ratios to thereby control the speed of its driven shaft within very small limits.

Abstract: A variable ratio rack and pinion gear having a rack bar (1) the rack (8) of which engages with the pinion (10) so that rotation of the pinion displaces the rack member (1) longitudinally relative to the housing (6). A yoke (25) supports the member (1) with its teeth in engagement with the pinion and straddles the member (1) to restrain displacement of that member relative to the housing (6) in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation for the pinion (10). The rack member is restrained from rotation relative to the housing, and (1) has a longitudinally extending non-rectilinear grooved track of one or more curved portions (14) which is engaged by a peg (17) rotatably carried in a mounting block (21). The block (21) retains the yoke (25) in the housing with the peg (17) located within and extending through the yoke (25).

Abstract: A connecting mechanism for two members of a bicycle derailleur is provided with first and second bearings interposed between a supporting tubular member provided at a first member, such as a base member or movable member of the derailleur, and a shaft provided at a second member, such as a bracket member or chain change-over cage, each of the first and second bearings comprising a tubular portion inserted between the inner periphery of the supporting tubular member and the outer periphery of the shaft and a flange portion opposite to an end face of the supporting tubular member. At least one of the first and second bearings is provided at the flange portion thereof with an annular groove opening at one axial side of the flange portion.

Abstract: A four link member derailleur for a bicycle, which comprises a fixing member, two linkage members, and a movable member having a chain guide, and a return spring is provided with a control element having a plurality of engageable portions corresponding to the number of speed change stages and with a retainer engageable with each engageable portion at the control element to retain the movable member in a desired speed stage. The control element and retainer cooperate during shifting such that if a stroke of a control cable supported to the retainer is less than a given length, the retainer retains its engagement with each engageable portion, while if the stroke is greater than the given length, the retainer disengages from the engageable portion.

Abstract: A variable rate frictional drive coupling is provided between a drive shaft and a driven member. The drive coupling will dampen torsional vibrations from the drive shaft and will transmit driving torque from said shaft to the driven member. The coupling comprises a cam and leaf springs positioned in such a way that as the shaft deflection increases, the load increases and the moment arm point of contact between the cam and the leaf springs changes such that no natural frequency is produced. The frictional forces between the leaves of the leaf spring change inversely to the spring force required to drive the driven member.