Abstract: The pressure containment device for containing pressurized gas within a Stirling engine is characterized by enclosing a drive mechanism housing with a cylindrical pressure hull having first and second ends whereby a portion of the drive mechanism housing extends through the first end of the pressure hull and the second end thereof, is rigidly connected to the drive mechanism housing. An o-ring is used to seal the connection where the drive mechanism housing extends through the first end of the pressure hull to allow small axial and radial relative motions therebetween. An output shaft extends along the axis of revolution of the pressure hull and is supported by front and rear main bearings and a thrust bearing, all rigidly connected to the drive mechanism housing. A rotating shaft seal, also connected to the drive mechanism housing, prevents pressurized gas from escaping along the output shaft.

Abstract: A tape transport apparatus for recording tape having a rotationally driven tape drive capstan for advancing the tape and a pinch roller for firmly engaging the tape with the tape drive capstan includes a rapid tape advancement feature. Clutch devices selectively couple rotational driving force to the tape drive capstan from a first normal playing rate motor devices or a second high speed advancement motor devices. The clutch devices are centrifugal force-actuated and of a ratchet-like nature. A rotating element connected to the tape drive capstan includes a code, and a sensor which senses the code and derives signals indicative of each revolution of the tape drive capstan. The signals are electrically processed and an accurate measurement of the extent of tape advancement is obtained and displayed.

Abstract: A universal joint with an inner and outer joint member connected in torque transmitting relationship by roller members which are supported in radially extending openings in the inner joint member, the inner joint member being in torque transmitting engagement with a shaft member extending therethrough, the shaft member being formed with recesses having the roller members engaged therein to hold the shaft member and the inner joint member axially fixed relative to each other.

Abstract: A flexible shaft casing assembly for use in permanent installations wherein the flexible shaft may rotate at high speeds along a tight radius bend or bends in power driven application. The assembly includes a plurality of rigid, curved, tubular casing members which are capable of defining the bends. The casing members are provided with a flared portion at one end which secures a bearing member therein. The casing members are frictionally rotatable 360.degree. within each other by means of the flared portion of one engaging the non-flared portion of an adjacent casing member. Suitable high-temperature epoxy resin renders the bearing members secure in the flared portions of the casing members to provide a permanent installation.

Abstract: A sealing device disposed between flanges of a joint assembly comprises a sealing member having an endless shape and an end cover with its periphery held between the flanges and adapted to hold the sealing member inside of the periphery in association with the flange of a casing. The end cover has, along its periphery, first support portions spaced in equal interval and second support portions located between the adjacent first support portions. The second support portions are formed by folding back parts of the end cover and have bolt holes. The end cover further has a setting portion for the sealing member, inside of the periphery. The setting portion is recessed for a depth corresponding to the thickness of the end cover from the faces of the first and second support portions which are in contact with the flange of the casing.

Abstract: A handwheel rotates an improved flexible shaft assembly which causes a socket member to rotate therewith. The socket seats an adapter therein which is uniquely configured to engage tapered square valve stems of different sizes and degrees of taper. The flexible shaft assembly is provided with a ferrule at the handwheel end and another ferrule at the socket end. The casing of the flexible shaft is free-positioning by virtue of the ability of the casing to slowly rotate in the ferrule provided at either the handwheel end, or at both the handwheel end and socket end, thus automatically relieving casing torsional stresses.

Abstract: A flexible coupling comprising first and second hubs and a center member aligned on a longitudinal axis. At least one spool is also aligned on said axis. There is a plurality of discs forming at least three flexible joints between the hubs, center member and spool, wherein no more than two of the flexible joints permit both axial and angular misalignment, the remainder of the flexible joints including piloting means for eliminating angular misalignment while permitting axial misalignment.

Abstract: Apparatus for the insertion, guiding, and transportation of recording material of different widths out of a storage cassette in a phototypesetting machine. In a transport roller pair, the drive roller forms a stationary air slot with the opposing roller greater than the thickest material for facilitating the insertion of the material. The roller pair is arranged at an angular position deviating from the transport direction of the material so that the material is guided with one side against a guide stop.

Abstract: A paper web in an office machine is transported from the one side of a transporter (tractor) comprising a transport chain to the printing backing and back again on the other side of the transporter. In the case of multilayer paper webs, notably webs comprising more than four layers, an increasingly larger wave of the paper web tends to in front of the printing backing. In order to avoid such waves, the associated transporters comprise guide pieces for the paperweb which extend from the tractor to the vicinity of the zone of contact between the paper web and the printing backing and whose surface is situated at least substantially in the plane tangential to the printing backing at this zone of contact.

Abstract: A bidirectional document tractor unit having spaced apart laterally adjustable tractor mechanisms each provided with an endless tractor belt which is in driving engagement with a document support belt to provide a document path interposed between the support belt and the tractor belt. The support belts include perforations engageable with the drive pins on the tractor belt. The support belts also are drivably engaged with sprocket members having document drive pins formed thereon. The tractor belts are driven through suitable sprockets in driving engagement with an elongated driveshaft. Movable gates are disposed adjacent to the drive sprockets which provide for lead-in driving engagement with the document which is trained along the tractor belt between the tractor belt and the support belt, then through the printer platen and then along the opposite run of the tractor belts before returning to a document magazine or stack.

Abstract: A deflector and inverter device for strips of web material, in particular strips of paper, advancing in a given axial direction, in which each strip passes over an input roller perpendicular to the direction of advance of the strip upstream of the deflector device, and an output roller perpendicular to the input roller, and a deflector bar disposed in a position intermediate between the input and output rollers and supporting the section of the strip subtended between these latter; the intermediate deflector bar being substantially perpendicular to the output roller and being movable about an axis parallel to this latter between two symmetrical positions with respect to the said section of strip and forming with it an angle less than 45.degree..

Abstract: A compliantly mounted damper (16,18) for rotating equipment of the type including a rotor shaft (2) and a quill shaft (6) coupling the rotor shaft (2) to a driver shaft (8) is disclosed. The damper includes a plate (14) rigidly mounted to the quill shaft (6) and a plate (16) compliantly mounted to the rotor shaft (2) so that the rotor shaft plate (16) follows the angular displacement of the quill shaft plate (14) due to shaft misalignment which may occur, while torsional damping is achieved.

Abstract: A drive axle assembly comprises a drive shaft with an integral flange at one end and a second drive shaft with an integral hollow head at an end adjacent the flange. The flange and head having cooperating lugs forming a lost motion, positive drive between the shafts. The assembly also includes a limited torsional damper comprising a shell welded to the flange, a canister welded to the head and a pair of rubber bushings compressed between the shell and the canister. The assembly has an internal spacer to maintain longitudinal alignment of the shafts and a fail safe feature which retains the shafts together in the event the rubber bushings fail.

Abstract: A new and unique bearing block for torque transmission is disclosed which comprises a bearing block body having two rectangular recesses at both the front and rear sides, said recesses extending at a right angle relative to one another and having plural substantially semi-circular ball rolling grooves on the inner wall of the recesses, a plurality of non-loading ball holes through the bearing block body, track shafts slidably inserted through the rectangular recesses with the corresponding ball rolling grooves provided on the side walls, retainers having plural slits, side covers with ball movement direction reversing U-shaped grooves and a number of balls adapted to circulate through the loading ball rolling grooves, the U-shaped grooves and the non-loading ball holes. As a typical practical application of the bearing block an improved Oldham coupling for torque transmission is disclosed according to another aspect of the present invention.