Abstract: A manual override apparatus for use with normally, automatically, powered driving assemblies such as valve actuators, the override apparatus having a body with a bore therethrough, a housing secured to the body and having an axial bore which registers with the bore in the body, a rotatable split drive nut mounted in the housing, a drive screw extending into the registering bores in the body and the housing and mounted for axial movement therein, a camming system for selectively engaging and disengaging the drive nut with the drive screw whereby engagement of the drive screw with the drive nut and rotation of the drive nut causes axial movement of the drive screw, and a biasing assembly operatively connected to the split drive nut which exerts a biasing engagement force on the drive nut when a given magnitude of resistance to engagement is encountered.

Abstract: An anti-backlash twin gear formed by a pair of identical half-gears, each fabricated by stamping a metal sheet to create a toothed wheel provided with a diametrical spoke having a central mounting bore. The arched area between one side of the spoke and one half section of the wheel is fully excised to form an open region, whereas the arched area between the opposite side of the spoke and the other half section of the wheel is contour-cut to define a C-shaped flat spring whose foot is integral with the spoke. The spring is offset from the plane of the wheel whereby when the pair of half-gears are juxtaposed, the untensioned spring of each half gear is received within the open region of the other and the free end of the spring abuts the edge of the spoke flanking this region to effect a slight angular displacement of the half-gear.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for eliminating end thrust and consequently the need for thrust bearings in a helical drive arrangement is disclosed. According to this invention, a helical gear and a spur gear having the same pitch diameter and center of rotation are securely attached to each other and mounted to a shaft. This helical-gear spur-gear combination is meshed with a second similar helical-gear spur-gear combination supported on a parallel shaft. During operation the axial forces normally created by a helical gear drive are contained as the teeth of the two spur gears contact each other. Thus the need for end thrust bearings is eliminated.

Abstract: Rack steering gear is provided wherein the rack is slidable between cushioning devices on a guide member reciprocated through the cushioning devices and which connects to the steering linkage mechanism for actuation thereof. Road shock is absorbed by the cushioning devices so as not to be transmitted to the rack and thus to the primary steering system comprising the steering wheel and the steering shaft which conventionally actuates the rack through a pinion. The cushioning devices are constructed so that minor shocks are quickly absorbed to preclude vibration and chattering.

Abstract: A screw-nut screw coupling comprises a tubular element provided with an internal helical groove and an elongate member, formed by a preloaded spring having an external helical groove machined thereon. The tubular element is coupled to the elongate member by means of a number of balls mounted for rolling along an helical path defined by said helical grooves and forming a portion of an endless path for said balls to roll therealong. The tubular element is formed by at least two co-axial tubular sleeves rigidly connected to one another, one of said sleeves being arranged outside the other and being provided with groove means defining a portion of said endless path.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical automatic door operator employing a motorized drive train including a pair of over-lapping gears closely confined within a header mounted housing of limited dimension and having a compact disc spring stop assembly carried by and movable with one of the over-lapping gears for engagement with the periphery of the other gear whereby to limit relative rotational movement of said gears and provide a yieldable stop of high impact capacity for protecting the drive train and an associated door from overload opening forces.

Abstract: An anchor clamp for securing serrated gratings, said clamp having a multitude of apertures for cooperation with the serrations; thus, retarding both vertical and lateral movement of the grating.

Abstract: A tooth gearing having a resilient coating affixed to the engaging surfaces of gear teeth, the coating having a thickness and coefficient of friction such that the sliding and external friction that would occur between gear teeth not having the coating is taken up by shear deformation of the coating.

Abstract: A flexible shield material having the characteristic of not transmitting solar heat, is supported on a frame which extends from end to end of an automobile or the like vehicle and is adjustable in length, having means on the opposite ends to be hooked to the front and rear bumpers and adapted to be locked, the longitudinal frame members including telescopic members so that the entire frame can be collapsed to a size adapted to be stored in the trunk of the average vehicle, and when extended space the sun shield from the vehicle body.

Abstract: A timer mechanism for controlling a thermostat having a control shaft, the mechanism comprising: a frame, a synchronous motor mounted in the frame, a first and second lever pivotably mounted on the frame so as to be able to take an operative and an inoperative position, cam motion transmission means operatively connected to the said motor so as sequentially to pivot the said first lever from its inoperative to its operative position, while pivoting the said second lever to its inoperative position, and from its inoperative to its operative position, while pivoting the said second lever to its operative position, first transmission means operatively connected to the said motor and controlled by the said first lever to rotate the said control shaft in a first direction when the said first lever is in its operative position, and second transmission means operatively connected to the said motor and controlled by the said second lever to rotate the said control shaft in the opposite direction of rotation when the

Abstract: A translating mechanism for accurately positioning and locking an object relative to a reference plane comprises a base plate which defines the reference plane and a platform supported parallel to the base plate for movement in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the base plate. A spring between the base plate and platform urges the latter away from the plate and an adjustment screw operably connected to the platform and to the plate permits changing of the spacing between the platform and plate against the bias of the spring. Nestable U-shaped arms pivotally connected to the plate and platform, respectively, and to each other directly slideably engage the plate and platform, and maintain parallelism therebetween during their relative movement. A flexible end wall adjacent to the platform releasably clamps the platform against the opposite end wall to lock same in any position within its range of movement. This also minimizes the load path length between platform and base.

Abstract: A continuously variable mechanical transmission comprised of a crankshaft or similar device driven by a suitable power source such as an internal combustion engine, which drives one or more pivotally mounted levers, pushrods and ratchet mechanisms. The levers drive pushrods which in turn drive the ratchet mechanism through a rack gear mounted on each pushrod. The output of the ratchet gear mechanism drives an output shaft and is varied by varying the position of the pushrod attachment to each pivotally mounted lever. Each pushrod is connected to a slot or guide on each lever so that the connecting point can be varied from close to the pivot point or pivot axis to the opposite end of the lever. By this means it can be continuously varied from low speed to higher speed by adjusting the connecting point of the pushrods to the pivoting levers.

Abstract: The drawings illustrate an endless power transmitting chain for use with V-pulleys. The chain includes a plurality of right and left-hand sets of L-shaped members rigidly connected together in a stacked relationship such that the vertically extending legs thereof define uniform spaces therebetween. Connector links are mounted in the spaces and the two sets of drive elements and connector links are secured together by a pair of conventional rocker link half pins. Tapered end faces are formed on the ends of the laterally extending legs for respective frictional engagement with oppositely disposed conical faces of the V-pulley. In an alternate arrangement, the drive links are formed from a solid piece rather than from stacked L-shaped drive elements.

Abstract: The lower end of a crank from an internal combustion engine is pivoted on one side of the center of a small gear which in turn is mounted for rotation to one side of the center of a relatively large drive gear. A stationary gear is concentric with the drive gear and an idler gear is mounted for rotation to the drive gear and engages the small gear and the stationary gear. The drive gear engages a take-off gear to transmit power from the piston via the crank and gears. The gear ratio of the small connecting rod gear and fixed gear is such that the small gear rotates at twice the speed of the large gear. The connecting pin of the small gear is furthest from the center of the drive gear at top dead center and bottom dead center and nearest to the center at 90.degree. from top dead center and bottom dead center so that when at top dead center, the crank has the highest mechanical advantage and at 90.degree. therefrom, the lowest mechanical advantage.

Abstract: A V-belt of preferably the variable speed type with a plurality of V-blocks attached to a flat belt type load carrying section, the blocks having an embedded or partially embedded reinforcement which surrounds and supports the load carrying section. The generally flat type load carrying section is preferably of a symmetrical construction with an overcord and undercord sandwiching a tensile member. A plurality of transversely oriented ribs or teeth are located at the radially inner and outer surfaces of the load carrying section, a rib coinciding in position with the surrounding reinforcement member of each polymer block.

Abstract: A ball screw and nut mechanism in which a preloaded train of balls travels through a closed circuit having an active portion and an inactive or return portion. The active portion is formed by convolutions of opposed helical grooves in the screw and the nut and a return tube on the nut defines the inactive portion. Inclined surfaces are formed on the lands between adjacent convolutions of the groove on the screw and partially unload the balls as the latter enter and leave the active portion of the circuit to prevent the balls from keystoning.

Abstract: A device for adjusting a rear-view vehicle mirror in which a tubular support extending through the vehicle bodywork carries a pair of manually rotatable knobs at its inner end and a mounting for the mirror at its outer end. When one knob is rotated, it drives a shaft extending within the support. This shaft either directly rotates the mounting and mirror about a horizontal axis or drives gearing causing such rotation. The mounting has a pin with an axis transverse to the horizontal axis. The mirror is rotatable in either direction about this transverse axis by pushing motion transmitted thereto by linear movement of one or other of two rods extending in the support parallel with the shaft axis. These rods are moved simultaneously in mutually opposite directions by an arrangement converting rotary motion of the other knob into the linear motion.

Abstract: There is disclosed a body supported canopy comprising a rigid framework supported from the hips and shoulders of a user. The framework comprises a pair of upstanding members to which are independently affixed a pair of generally U-shaped members comprising an articulated frame for a bodily flexible non-transparent cover. The forwardly directed U-shaped member is braced by a pair of toggle links in a forwardly directed position generally perpendicular to the upstanding members. Breaking of the toggle links allows pivotal movement of the forwardly directed cover between the operative position and a storage position generally parallel to the body carried framework. The rearwardly directed U-shaped member is free to move between a storage position generally parallel to the body carried framework and a transverse position. A tether constrains movement of the second U-shaped member to a position generally perpendicular to the body carried framework.

Abstract: A heat exchanger comprising a refrigerant tube in coil form leading from the output side of a compressor and a water tube in coil form tapped from a source of water to be heated, the tubes being coiled together so that each coil of the water tube is interposed between a coil of said refrigerant tube, and vice-versa. Inner and outer cylindrical sleeves are disposed within and around the coiled tubes thereby defining an annulus which enhances the heat transfer from said refrigerant tube to the water tube. A housing surrounds said coiled tubes and said sleeves, and sealed end caps are provided at each end of the exchanger.

Abstract: A spring loaded, adjustable caster is disclosed which is used in combination with a rolling ladder. The adjustable caster comprises a wheel, a wheel mount for mounting the wheel, a longitudinal adjustable shank including a connecting rod having a threaded bore and a threaded shaft disposed in screwthreaded engagement with each other, whereby the length of the longitudinal adjustable shank may be varied. A jam nut is disposed in threadingly fitted engagement on the threaded shaft intermediate to the connecting rod and the wheel mount, whereby the jam nut may be rotated into a biasing relationship to the connecting rod. The caster further includes a sleeve adapted for sliding support of the connecting rod and with a spring disposed within the sleeve to provide a compressed relationship between the sleeve and the connecting rod. The sleeve is then mounted on a rolling ladder.