Abstract: A sealing valve plug structure includes a valve plug column corresponding to the drain opening formed in the side wall of an inner drum, and a counterweight hinged to the upper end of the valve plug column. The sealing valve installation structure is installed on the side wall of the drum, and the reset spring is clamped between the sealing valve installation structure and the valve plug column. The counterweight is used to generate an action, under the action of centrifugal force, to open the drain opening, and the valve plug column is reset by the reset spring to make the valve plug block the drain opening, to thereby open and close the drain opening. A cleaning-free washing machine having an inner drum sealed by the sealing valve plug structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A drawer-style laundry treating appliance includes a cabinet defining an interior and having an open face. A drawer body is slidably received within the cabinet for movement through the open face between a closed position wherein the drawer body is received within the interior and an opened position wherein the drawer body is at least partially withdrawn from the interior. A tub is located within the interior, carried by the drawer body, and has a tub opening accessible when the drawer body is in the opened position, the tub further at least partially defining a treating chamber accessible through the tub opening. A tub cover selectively closes the tub opening.

Abstract: A cleaning device, especially an instrument cleaning device, having a thin, flexible threadlike object with a first straight end and a second looped end and a swab member attached to the looped end.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laundry treating apparatus. The laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet, a tub, a drum, and a detergent reservoir. The detergent reservoir has a storage space defined therein for storing the detergent therein, and has a ventilation hole defined in a top face thereof for communicating the storage space with the outside. The laundry treating apparatus further includes a flow inhibiting wall including a plurality of inhibiting walls arranged in the storage space and protruding from an inner face of the detergent reservoir to inhibit flow of the detergent towards the ventilation hole.

Abstract: An impeller for a pump for a dishwasher having a base with an axis of rotation, and at least one fin protruding from the base. The impeller also has a cap removably coupled to the impeller and at least one blade integrally formed with the cap.

Abstract: A food ingredient transfer device is provided. The food ingredient transfer device includes a dosing device configured to receive a food ingredient, and a first chamber that is provided with an inlet and an outlet for allowing the dosing device to pass through the first chamber. The food ingredient transfer device further includes a second chamber arranged adjacent to the first chamber for receiving the dosing device when it has passed through the first chamber, the second chamber being provided with an outlet for allowing the dosing device to pass through the second chamber and into an enclosure that contains a food product to which the food ingredient shall be transferred.

Abstract: A laundry treating appliance and a method operating a laundry treating appliance having a dye sensor configured to output a signal indicative of the amount of dye within liquid in the treating chamber, a controller having a memory in which is stored a set of executable instructions including at least one user-selectable cycle of operation, and a user interface operably coupled with the controller and providing an input and output function for the controller and provide information related to a dye release.

Abstract: A power transmission belt having a load carrying band with a length, and a plurality of blocks attached to the load carrying band at preselected, spaced intervals along the length of the load carrying band. The plurality of blocks have a thickness (t), measured in a direction along the length of the load carrying band, and a width (W), measured in a direction transversely to the length of the load carrying band. Each of the plurality of blocks is made from synthetic resin material and has no shape-determining insert therein. The synthetic resin material is made from a synthetic resin having a bending modulus of 15 to 20 GPa. The ratio of t/W is from 0.11 to 0.20.

Abstract: In an electronic control unit, a transmission control module for controlling an automatic transmission and a position sensor for detecting the range position of the automatic transmission are built in a common unit case. A first member and a second member to be fitted at the time of mounting the electronic control unit on an automatic transmission case are directed in the mounting direction when mounted on the automatic transmission case, and a third member is mounted on those two members. A predetermined clearance is formed at a predetermined portion on the mounting path between the automatic transmission case and the third member. When the electronic control unit is mounted on the automatic transmission case, therefore, the clearance on the mounting path inbetween absorbs the positional deviation between the first member and the second member thereby to facilitate the mounting work. Thus, the mounting workability of a position sensor built-in electronic control unit on an automatic transmission is improved.

Abstract: An improved pneumatic tensioner apparatus is disclosed, the apparatus including: a main drive belt; a chuck assembly, suspended from said main drive belt, having a spinning member and a drive contact portion; a first frictional drive belt in a first track in contact with said drive contact portion operative to spin said chuck assembly; a first tension adjusting device operative to apply pressure to said first frictional drive belt tangentially to said drive contact portion; a second frictional drive belt disposed in at least one idler roller on an opposite side of said chuck assembly to said first frictional drive belt, said second frictional drive belt in contact with said drive contact portion; and a second tension adjusting device operative to apply pressure to said second frictional drive belt tangentially to said drive contact portion.

Abstract: A transmission for a bicycle pedal has a fixed axle with an end operatively connected to a wheel of the bicycle and a guide axle connected to the fixed axle to form a crank. A bicycle pedal is rotatably mounted on a slider which is movably mounted on a guide portion of the guide rod for translation therealong. The ration of gyration of the pedal can be varied by sliding the pedal along the guide axle and/or telescoping the guide axle relative to the fixed axle. The slider and mounted pedal can be rotated toward the bicycle frame for compact storage.

Abstract: A linear motion guide unit has a guide rail made of a thin plate, and a stopper construction installed detachably to the guide rail to prevent a slider from becoming untethered while on a sliding movement relative to the guide rail. A linear motion guide unit is disclosed in which a slider fits for linearly sliding movement in a guide rail made of a thin steel material formed in an U-shape in cross section, and there is provided a stopper construction to keep the slider against getting out of the guide rail. The stopper construction is comprised of a stopper pin installed detachably to the guide rail at any lengthwise end thereof to cause the stopper pin to bear against any fore-and-aft end of widthwise opposing side walls of the slider, whereby the slider comes to rest to prevent it from becoming untethered from the guide rail.

Abstract: A belt type infinite variable-speed drive using a ball-screw mechanism is compact and noise-free. A nut of the ball-screw mechanism is fixed to a casing and a threaded shaft is rotatably coupled to a movable pulley member through a ball bearing so that ball circulating portions on the nut will not rotate while the movable pulley member is movable axially. Also, the ball circulating portions, which are low in load bearing capacity, are oriented in such a direction that a load hardly acts on the ball-screw mechanism. This makes it possible to compactly and rationally design a belt type infinite variable-speed drive and to suppress noise due to vibration of balls in the ball circulating portions.

Abstract: Protrusions formed on an inner peripheral surface of at least an innermost metal ring of a belt for a continuously variable transmission are initially worn. An average contact width w of the protrusions, measured in a direction perpendicular to a direction of travel of the metal ring, is equal to or less than 16 ?m. The development of pitching at a top of the protrusion in a depthwise direction is inhibited. Shallow pitching is eliminated due to the contact between the protrusion and a metal element, which prevents the generation of cracks. When the metal ring and the metal element are conformed to each other, the average Hertz's surface pressure is lowered, whereby the pitching is difficult to occur. Also, the top of the protrusion is worn, leading to an improved surface roughness, whereby the lubrication is enhanced, resulting in an enhancement of metal ring durability.

Abstract: To lubricate a length of track, a plurality of lubricating nozzles are provided. Each nozzle is fed by the output of a single positive displacement pump, and all the pumps are controlled by a computer. Vibration sensors, sound sensors, or L/V ratio sensors detect physical qualities which occur as a train passes a given point, and another detector measures the time between successive wheels on the truck of a car as it passes a given point to measure train speed. The computer compares the output readings measured by the detector to a table of outputs in its memory that are indicative of a lubricated track to determine if lubrication is needed.

Abstract: A vehicular steering apparatus includes a column bracket secured to a steering column; and a fixing bracket secured to a vehicle body. The column bracket includes a top plate and a pair of side plates. The fixing bracket supports the column bracket via a support shaft. A support-shaft through hole formed in each of the side plates of the column bracket includes a slot extended along a longitudinal direction of the steering column. A resilient member is interposed between the top plate of the column bracket and a confronting portion of the support shaft. The resilient member biases the support shaft along a predetermined biasing direction to restrict play of the support shaft in the slot.

Abstract: The transmission gear shift lever device has a variable select lever ratio adapted to accommodate most of the operating mechanisms of the conventional transmission gear shift (TGS) lever device without major design changes. The select lever ratio is a ratio of rotating angle of a select lever relative to the rotating angle of the TGS lever and can be varied during the select manipulation of the TGS lever, such that all shift stages in a 6-speed transmission can be controlled while the rotating angle of the TGS lever during the select manipulation is maintained at the same size as that of a conventional TGS lever device.

Abstract: A synthetic resin guide for a chain, or other flexible transmission medium comprises a synthetic resin guide body having a shoe on which the transmission medium slides, and a slotted, plate-receiving portion integrally molded on the back side of the shoe for receiving a reinforcing plate. The plate-receiving portion is composed of a pair of opposed, longitudinally extending, slot-defining walls. A convex pressing member, integrally molded with one of the walls protrudes into the slot through a partially cut-away portion of the wall and exerts a resilient pressing force on the reinforcing plate. The guide suppresses shock noises due to wobbling of the guide during operation. Increased molding tolerances are made possible, and higher productivity in the assembly of the guide is achieved.

Abstract: The first gear/reverse gate switch of the present invention includes a detent switch including a contact pin and a contact switch. When a manual transmission is shifted to a gear not in the first gear/reverse gate, the contact pin of the detent switch engages a recessed portion on a detent mechanism such that the contact pin does not engage the contact switch. This indicates that the transmission is not in a gear in the first gear/reverse gate. When the manual transmission is shifted to a gear in the first gear/reverse gate, the interlock moves the detent, pushing the contact pin into engagement with the contact switch. This indicates that the transmission is in a gear in the first gear/reverse gate. The spring forces the detent into a “relaxed position” when not in the first gear or the reverse gate, breaking switch contact.

Abstract: A vehicle steering column (10) comprises an axially extending input shaft (12) for connecting to a vehicle steering wheel. The input shaft (12) is rotatable about an axis (A) upon rotation of the steering wheel. The vehicle steering column (10) also comprises a housing (16) at least partially enclosing the input shaft (12). A bearing (92) is interposed between the housing (16) and the input shaft (12) and supports the input shaft (12) for rotation about the axis (A). The housing (16) has at least one series of axially spaced, annular ribs (52) that at least partially extend around the bearing (92). Axially adjacent annular ribs (52) are separated by an annular groove (58). A gasket (100) is interposed between the bearing (92) and the ribs (52). The gasket (100) encircles the bearing (92). The ribs (52) resist axial movement of the gasket (100).