Abstract: A centrifugal clutch is disclosed characterized by the use of an electromagnet to disengage a driven output load from a driving input member. In the clutch assembly, a rotatable output load is disposed about a rotatable drive shaft that carries centrifugal-responsive friction shoes. The shoes contain a magnetic pole an under centrifugal force move radially outwardly during rotation of the shaft to engage frictionally the output load for common rotation. A stationary electromagnetic coil disposed between the shaft and friction shoes attracts the shoes upon energization away from the output load to interrupt the frictional drive connection.

Abstract: A single lever clutch and throttle control which in normal operation assures that the throttle is held out of operation until the clutch is completely engaged and further assures that the clutch is held in the engaged position during operation of the throttle. An engine warm up mode allows operation of the throttle while the clutch is held disengaged.

Abstract: A knob assembly comprising a cup-shaped knob shell having therein a coaxial pair of oppositely wound coil springs disposed for binding engagement with a surrounding wall of a race and having respective terminal end portions engaging an encircled portion of an axially rotatable bushing which is provided with fastening means for rotatably engaging an axially inserted shaft, the springs having other terminal end portions engaged by respective oppositely rotatable lever arms mounted on the bushing and having end portions aligned with axially spaced projections of the knob shell, whereby axial movement of the shell causes the projections to pivot the lever arms in opposite angular directions to release the coil springs windingly from binding engagement with the wall of the race and permit rotation of the bushing and engaged shaft in response to rotary movement of the knob shell.

Abstract: A clutch release structure includes a clutch release bearing having a running portion, or the like, positioned to axially engage the diaphragm or dish-shaped clutch release elements. The bearing portion, or the like, has an axially extending portion which projects through the central boring in the clutch release elements, and damping means are provided radially between this extension and the clutch release spring elements.

Abstract: A front derailleur for a bicycle, which is used to switch a driving chain to each of at least two sprockets, is provided with a fixing member, a chain guide and an adjuster provided between the fixing member and chain guide. The chain guide is supported with respect to the fixing member in relation of being movable axially of the sprockets and toward at least two positions corresponding to the sprockets respectively, and the adjuster is capable of desirably adjusting the chain guide in its position with respect to the fixing member correspondingly to each of the sprockets in use and has a sustainer for maintaining the adjuster position of the chain guide.

Abstract: A front derailleur for a bicycle, which is used for switching a driving chain to at least two sprockets provided at a crank, comprises a fitting member fixed to the bicycle frame extending substantially vertically of the bicycle body, a speed-change mechanism having a chain guide and connected to the fitting member, a first adjusting device for adjusting the chain guide in its position with respect to each of the sprockets in radial direction thereof, a second adjusting device for adjusting an angle of the line extending longitudinally of the chain guide with respect to the axis of each of the sprockets, and a holding device for fixing a support of the shifting mechanism at a desirable position on a fitting face of the fitting member, the fitting member being fixed non-movably at a given position of the bicycle frame with the shifting mechanism being adjusted by being moved longitudinally of the bicycle frame and on a plane perpendicular thereto, so that the chain guide may be positioned most properly with re

Abstract: A clutch assembly comprising an annular cover, a pressure plate rotationally connected to said cover, a resilient annular diaphragm, and an annular element pivotably connecting said diaphragm to said cover. Tha annular element is provided with a radially extending annular portion which resiliently engages the diaphragm and with axially extending circumferentially spaced tabs which project through facing apertures in the diaphragm and in the cover. Each tab carries a resilient lug capable to be housed in an opening in the tab during installation of the element, the free end of said lug normally engaging the cover after predetermined axial stressing of the annular portion of the annular member after installation of the latter.

Abstract: A clutch control system for a manual transmission comprises a servo cylinder for selectively engaging a clutch engagement mechanism, and a shift valve for connecting a source of oil pressure to the servo cylinder upon shifting of the transmission to operate the servo cylinder and for connecting the servo cylinder to an oil reservoir after shifting of the transmission to release the operation of the servo cylinder. The control system further comprises a thermostatically operated valve associated with the shift valve for controlling the flow of oil discharged from the servo cylinder to the oil reservoir in accordance with changes of the oil temperature.

Abstract: A hydrokinetic torque converter with an internal friction clutch wherein provision is made for actuating the clutch in response to changes in hydrokinetic torus circuit pressure and wherein provision also is made for engaging and disengaging the clutch by controlling the direction of fluid flow to and from the torus circuit of the converter.

Abstract: A belt is disclosed capable of transmitting power from a moving member to a pulley which has grooves spaced about the periphery. The belt has teeth spaced along it for engaging the pulley grooves to turn the pulley. Some of the teeth of the belt contain connectors which are engaged by the moving member, thus moving the belt.

Abstract: A friction plate for a vehicle clutch assembly having an improved damper spring. The damper spring includes a compression coil spring member which is encapsulated within an elastomer. The elastomer fills the interior of the spring and the spaces between the individual spring coils. The spring-elastomer combination has a greater dampening effect than the total dampening effect of the spring and elastomer if acting independent of each other. A plurality of the encapsulated springs are mounted individually in axially aligned openings provided in an inner hub flange, a friction drive plate and a retainer plate, all of which are mounted concentrically with respect to each other, with the hub flange being integral with a clutch hub. The encapsulated spring rotatably couples together the friction drive plate and retainer plate with the hub. Friction elements are mounted on the outer periphery of the drive plate.

Abstract: A braking apparatus for a rotary shaft connected to a load comprising brake shoe means for the shaft capable of limited angular movement about the shaft axis to cause release of the brake shoe means from a brake applied condition during application of starting torque to the shaft, and stop means operable during application of the brake shoe means to bring the shaft to rest, for preventing or reducing said limited angular movement. In this way the limited angular movement is eliminated during braking of the shaft to bring it to rest, whereby to provide substantially smooth braking, particularly when the shaft is operative on a load such as a conveyor having a long conveying belt.

Abstract: A combination clutch and brake unit for an engine driven lift fan propeller system controls power transfer from an engine to a propeller assembly and includes a clutch selectively operated by a hydraulic piston between engaged and disengaged positions to couple a drive input to a drive output and wherein a carriage for a hydraulic piston in a clutch supports a movable brake component and shifts it with respect to a fixed reaction brake member to brake the output shaft of the device to prevent free wheeling of the lift fan propeller when it is decoupled from the engine and wherein the clutch piston is biased into its decoupled position by return springs that also maintain the brake components in an engaged positon when the clutch is decoupled.

Abstract: The fastening of a diaphragm spring to the casing of a clutch is effected by means of a annular piece that acts elastically on the diaphragm independently of the riveting, offering a high degree of resistance to flexion between rivets, which piece is of a hollow and incomplete toroidal shape in a support zone on the diaphragm, which zone presents an angular extension of more than 180.degree., permitting an elastic deformation or a reduction of its height of assembly without exceeding the elastic limit of the material that originates the elastic force necessary for the perfect operation of the device and at the same time absorbing the dimensional differences due to the necessary and admissible tolerances of manufacture, with the special feature that the interior part of the said piece is provided with a flange for increasing the moment of inertia of the section of the piece, increasing resistance to flexion between two consecutive orifices of the said piece.

Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch device for transmitting torque from an input means to an output means includes a clutch actuating means in the form of an electromagnetic winding. The input means includes a driving plate coaxially disposed with and connected to an input shaft for rotation therewith, a driving friction ring member coaxial with the input shaft and connected to the driving plate for rotation with the input shaft and axial movement relative to the input shaft, and an armature coaxially disposed with and threadably connected to the friction ring member. The relative rotational motion between the armature and the output means causes the armature to advance on the thread thereby allowing the friction ring member to fully engage with the output means.

Abstract: An adjustable idler mechanism for use with a belt drive system in a laundry appliance. The idler mechanism includes first and second bell cranks pivoted about a common point and interconnected by a threaded member for adjustment with respect to each other to place tension on the drive belt. A solenoid is provided to disengage the idler mechanism from the drive belt during predetermined portions of a cycle of operations.

Abstract: An improved-efficiency, pedal-operated drive mechanism for a bicycle employing an elliptical sprocket used in association with a planetary-type gear drive for providing an elliptical path of travel of the bicycle pedals. The gear arrangement is disposed in a circular frame mounted from the conventional bicycle frame having secured therein, in a stationary position, an internally-toothed ring gear. The planetary-type drive also includes a pair of rotatable pinion gears diametrically meshed with the ring gear and supported in a bearing housing within the frame on respective pedal axles which are each secured to a pedal arm. The motion of the pedals is along an elliptical locus as the pinion gears individually but synchronously rotate in the fixed ring gear. The sprocket which is preferably of elliptical shape is secured to the housing and rotates therewith driving the bicycle with an improved efficiency on the order of 25 percent or more in comparison to the conventional circular drive system.

Abstract: A spring clutch device includes a driving side clutch shell, a driven side clutch shell opposed to and coaxial with the driving side clutch shell, a clutch spring disposed in a tight manner over the two clutch shells, a stop member disposed coaxially with the clutch shells and engaged with one end of the clutch spring to control the action of the clutch spring, and a control member for acting on the stop member, there are formed projections on the circumference of the stop member, in an axially and circumferentially staggered relationship, and the control member is selectively displaceable to positions corresponding to the projections for engagement and disengagement with the projections, thereby controlling ON-OFF of the clutch.

Abstract: A flywheel includes a hub sleeve, a stationary core surrounded by the hub sleeve, axially spaced first and second rolling-element bearings each having an inner ring supported on the core and an outer ring in engagement with the hub sleeve, an inner spacer sleeve disposed between the inner rings and surrounding the core and an outer spacer sleeve disposed between the outer rings and surrounding the inner spacer sleeve and a clamping arrangement axially urging the inner rings against the inner spacer sleeve and the outer rings against the outer spacer sleeve with a predetermined axial force. An axially yielding, relatively rigid spring element forms part of the clamping arrangement and engages at least one of the rings with the predetermined axial force. The spring element is substantially unyielding to the predetermined axial force, but yields to axial forces derived from vibrations imparted to the flywheel. Cooperating extensions of the spring element and and an outer ring constitute a labyrinth seal.

Abstract: An overrunning clutch and hold-back coupling arrangement, preferably using a sprag-type clutch is disclosed. The coupling includes a lubrication arrangement providing for permanent oil lubrication and cooling from an external coolant supply and internal lubricant recirculation by an internal pump. Lubrication flow paths for distributing oil to all critical parts of the coupling and to control the flow of oil are provided.