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 mounting arrangement for mounting a piston compressor attached as an auxiliary machine to an internal combustion engine which piston compressor has an open crank assembly and a gear wheel on an extended crankshaft for installation in, and cooperation with, the gear transmission system of the internal combustion engine and a mounting flange surface portion below the cylinder. Between the flange surface portion of the piston compressor and the transmission housing for the internal combustion engine there is provided an intermediate flange member the flange face of which is directed towards the transmission housing, is axis-parallel to the crank circle cylindrically arched, and is attachable to be radially movable in the circumferential direction of the arcuate portion on a matching concave surface portion of the transmission housing.

Abstract: A linear actuator which can apply high forces is described, which includes a reciprocating rod having a threaded portion engaged by a nut that is directly coupled to the rotor of an electric motor. The nut is connected to the rotor in a manner that minimizes loading on the rotor, by the use of a coupling that transmits torque to the nut but permits it to shift axially and radially with respect to the rotor. The nut has a threaded hydrostatic bearing for engaging the threaded rod portion, with an oilcarrying groove in the nut being interrupted.

Abstract: The supporting structure of a rear wheel derailleur mechanism for the rear wheel of a bicycle or like vehicle is connected to the carrier element for a chain guiding sprocket by an elongated link and an elongated guide. First and second pivots connect respective first longitudinal end portions of the link and guide to the supporting structure, and third and fourth pivots connect the second longitudinal end portions of the link and guide to the carrier element. A fifth pivot connects respective intersecting central portions of the link and guide. The axes of the several pivots are at least approximately parallel. The three pivots associated with the link practically prevent shifting of their pivot axes relative to the link and the connected devices, whereas the pivots at the end portions of the guide permit translatory movement of their pivot axes.

Abstract: A four member derailleur is disclosed having a control element which includes a plurality of engageable portions corresponding to the number of speed change stages mounted to one of the four members and a retainer for engaging with or disengaging from the engageable portions to keep a movable member of the four members in a proper position. The derailleur also includes means for moving the retainer in the direction of disengaging from each of the engageable portions so that when the movable member returns, through action of a return spring, the retainer may disengage from each of the engageable portions allowing the return movement of a chain guide.

Abstract: A chain device including a sprocket wheel, a buffer ring provided on one side of the sprocket wheel for rotation relative thereto, and a chain meshing therewith. The buffer ring has an outer diameter greater than the inner-diameter dimension of a semicircular-shaped portion of the chain which is in meshing engagement with the sprocket wheel. Thus, when the chain and sprocket wheel are in meshing engagement with each other, the buffer ring is restrained and forced by the inner-diameter part of the semicircular-shaped portion of the chain, so that the ring is deformed into an elliptical shape. Each of the link plates which form the chain includes a depressed portion having a curved shape coinciding, in its radius of curvature, to the maximum radius of curvature of the elliptically-deformed buffer ring. Such curved shape of the depressed portion of the link plate contributes to the improvement of durability of the buffer ring, as well as to reduction of chain noise.

Abstract: A device for driving a flexible wire having a helical coil therearound along its length comprises a hollow shaft adapted to receive the wire and a motor for rotating the hollow shaft in either direction about its longitudinal axis. The shaft has a projection extending into the interior of the hollow shaft and adapted to engage the wire in the gap between adjacent turns of the helical coil. Upon rotation of the shaft and thereby the projection, the wire is driven longitudinally through the hollow shaft.

Abstract: A collapsible shelter includes a central hub, a multiplicity of ribs, pivotably secured and extending radially outwardly from the hub, and a covering material secured to each of the ribs and interconnecting adjacent ones thereof. The ribs of the shelter are movable between an open position in which they are spread apart in a fan-shaped pattern and a closed, collapsed position in which the ribs are disposed closely adjacent one another. The shelter also includes locking means for releasably securing the ribs in an open position. The shelter is especially suitable for use on the beach, swimming pool decks, terraces, and the like.

Abstract: A bicycle free wheel hub with coaster brake adapted to be actuated by back-pedalling, comprising a clutch cone which has a clutch surface at its outward end and a brake-shoe expanding surface at its inward end, and is provided with an axial hole having an internal non-smooth surface, a plurality of slits which are formed in an inward portion of an anchor member fixedly mounted on a stationary axle, and a plurality of detent pieces which are respectively disposed within the slits for restricting a plurality of brake shoes from circumferential motion and are arranged so that they are elastically urged radially by a spring member for frictionally engaging each one end of the detent pieces with the non-smooth surface of the clutch cone.

Abstract: A compact drive assembly has a skew axis input gear set and a parallel axis output gear set. The input gear set includes a pinion having at least one helical thread thereon which drivingly engages a face gear. The face gear of the input gear set and the spur gear of the output gear set are integrally molded of a suitable plastic material forming a cluster gear. The output gear of the output gear set has a tooth configuration which is compatible with that of the spur gear which drives it. The gear assembly is particularly adapted for use in a power operated automobile window actuator and has the following advantages over existing actuators: (a) 50% reduction in size and weight, (b) capable of performing much higher input/output reductions despite decreased size, (c) needs no brake since the assembly is self-locking, (d) can be used with a smaller high speed motor which is less expensive.

Abstract: A rear derailleur for a bicycle, which is provided with a holder connected between a fitting member fixed to the bicycle frame and a pantograph mechanism supported to the fitting member through a transverse stud. The holder offsets the position of a movable member with respect to the fitting member, or in other words, the position of the movable member with respect to each sprocket at the freewheel, so that when the movable member is moved axially of the freewheel to switch a driving chain to a selected sprocket, the movable member is moved radially of the freewheel. Therefore the movable member, when moved axially of the freewheel for switching a driving chain to a selected one of the sprockets, is moved radially of the freewheel.

Abstract: To lower the cost and weight of a belt pulley and permit its installation without the use of large numbers of spacer discs, the belt pulley is composed of two substantially identical stamped sheet metal halves which are so configured as to define a hub region when assembled. One or both of the pulley halves may be provided with a radially inwardly extending nose which engages a key-way in the shaft on which it is mounted, thereby preventing relative rotation of pulley and shaft.

Abstract: The power brake includes an electric motor to provide braking power assistance actuated by a brake pedal and a transmission means interconnecting the brake pedal, the motor and a master cylinder piston, the transmission means being actuated by the brake pedal and having a frictional coupling to actuate the master cylinder piston, the friction of the frictional coupling increasing in proportion to the brake pedal pressure.

Abstract: A pair of mating spur gears, wherein the teeth of the one spur gear element possess an involute-shaped tooth depth profile and the teeth of the mating spur gear element possess a straight tooth depth profile.

Abstract: This device, which is intended to brake a wheel of a vehicle rotated by a ive shaft carrying at its free end an epicyclic train reducer housed in a casing, is characterized in that it is fixed on the outer face of the bottom of the casing and comprises a watertight case enclosing at least one friction disc interlocked in rotation with the sun wheel of the reducer, as well as an annular plate for moving the disc axially and applying it against at least one internal friction surface, this plate being itself axially movable towards the disc under the action of control means situated inside the casing.

Abstract: A front derailleur for a bicycle has a chain guide having two opposite guide plates spaced at an interval larger than the width of a driving chain and an outer guide plate of the two guide plates is provided with a chain face which is formed at a position substantially intermediate lengthwise and at an upper portion widthwise of the same and radially outward to a chain sprocket and projects toward an inner guide plate. The chain guide face and the inner surface of the inner guide plate are spaced at an interval slightly larger than the width of the driving chain and smaller than the interval between the two guide plates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the gear configuration between a pinion and a rack. The pinion forms a plurality of teeth which are received in respective grooves on the rack. The teeth each define a pair of flanks which oppose a pair of surfaces within the groove and the flanks and surfaces substantially define circular arcs. The radius of curvature of the circular arc for the surfaces is slightly larger than the radius of curvature of the circular arc for the flanks. A separating force is generated between the pinion and the rack when rotation of the pinion imparts transverse movement to the rack and the circular arcs of matching surfaces and flanks cooperate to substantially eliminate the separating forces after slight separation between the pinion and the rack.

Abstract: In a ball nut type steering gear for a motor vehicle having two trains of balls confined within passageways formed by the helical grooves in a threaded shaft and a ball nut which surrounds the threaded shaft, two major diameter portions disposed in spaced-apart relation are formed in the threaded shaft. When the motor vehicle travels straight ahead, the balls are rollingly engaged in the helical grooves in the major diameter portions of the threaded shaft and the ball nut, and there is no play between the grooves and the balls which are engaged in the grooves. However, when the steering wheel is manipulated, the balls are rollingly engaged in the helical grooves in portions of the threaded shaft which are smaller in diameter than the major diameter portions of the threaded shaft, and there is play of a certain extent between the balls and the helical grooves.

Abstract: A worm gear set (12) particularly adapted for use as a valve actuator (10) includes a stop mechanism (14) having a blocking member (32) and a stop (34) that cooperate to terminate rotation of the worm (18) thereof in order to limit the extent of rotation of the gear (22) driven by the worm while preventing lockup due to excessive torque applied to the worm. An actuator (36) on the gear preferably moves the blocking member from a nonblocking position to a blocking position as the gear approaches an extreme of rotary movement whereupon the stop which is mounted on the worm is engaged by further worm rotation with the blocking member to terminate worm rotation and thereby limit the extent of gear rotation.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a rack and pinion type steering gear for an automobile comprising a housing; a pinion rotatably supported in said housing to receive turning effect from a steering wheel of the automobile; and a rack meshed with the pinion and slidably supported in the housing, the rack being connected to a tie rod which is in turn connected to the front wheels of the automobile. The pinion comprises first and second pinion portions rotatable separately from each other and having spiral gear teeth provided reversely to each other, respectively, the first pinion portion being connected to the steering wheel and the second pinion portion being meshed with the rack.