Abstract: A device for avoiding gear flank backlash or chattering of first and second gear trains. Each of the gear trains include a plurality of mutually meshing gear wheels. The first gear train has a first initial wheel and a first end wheel. The first initial wheel is driven. The second gear train has a second initial wheel and a second end wheel. The second end wheel is driven. The first and second initial wheels of the first and second gear trains are non-rotatably connected to one another. A tensioning device is connected between the first and second end wheels and it produces a torque in a preferred rotational direction of the gear wheels of the first gear train. The torque acts between the first initial wheel and the first end wheel and ensures a definite flank alignment of the gear wheels during the operation of the first gear train.

Abstract: A failsafe limit switch with automatic reset for a rolling fire door is usable together with a rolling door with a brake. There is a movable plunger between a secured position and a triggered position which compresses a spring as it moves from its triggered position to its secured position. A movable catch between the engaged position and the released position holds the plunger in the secured position when the catch is in the engaged position under the impetus of the spring when the catch is in the released position. When the catch is in the released position, it also closes the contacts of a normally open switch; and if the catch is in the engaged position, it allows the contacts of the switch to open. The switch is wired in series with a solenoid; the movable arm of the solenoid acts to move the plunger from the triggered position to the secured position when the solenoid is energized.

Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed for converting oscillatory rotation of an input shaft to unidirectional rotation of an output shaft. An input shaft journalled to a frame is rotatable about an input axis, over a range of rotational positions, between a forward limit and a reverse limit. An output shaft journalled to the frame is rotatable about an output axis, which is normal to the input axis. Three bevel gears are employed, namely a first gear coupled to the input shaft, a second gear coupled to the input shaft and spaced axially from the first gear, and a third gear coupled to the output shaft.

Abstract: There is provided by the present invention a speed changing apparatus having a housing mounting a plurality of inwardly directed, circumferentially disposed teeth, preferably in the form of a ring gear. The housing has a hub that rotatably receives at least a first shaft that in turn eccentrically mounts a plurality of elongate follower arms. Each follower ann is mounted at one end to the shaft with the other end having at least one tooth configured to engage the circumferentially disposed teeth. The housing further includes a base plate that is rigidly attached to the second shaft. Rotary motion is transferred between the first shaft and a second rotatable member by apparatus that includes a base pin that is rigidly attached to the base plate, an arm pin rigidly attached to a follower ann and a linking ann pivotally attached at opposite ends to the base pin and the arm pin. The second rotatable member may be a second shaft, the housing, or the base plate.

Abstract: In an engine used for a portable working apparatus such as a brush cutter, there are arranged a drive gear rotated by a starter motor, and a driven gear engaging with the drive gear and connected to a crankshaft through a nonreturn clutch. The driven gear is fixed to the crankshaft until the starter motor starts the engine and released from the crankshaft after the start of the engine and after a rotational speed of the crankshaft exceeds that of the starter motor.

Abstract: A conjugate drive mechanism of a scotch yoke type motion converter includes a conjugate driver, which is rotatably mounted on a crankpin, and a bearing conjugate, which is mounted on a linearly movable shuttle. The conjugate driver moves relative to the bearing conjugate between a pair of end points. A motion arrester functions to arrest the motion of the conjugate driver as it reaches each of its end points of travel relative to the bearing conjugate.

Abstract: An industrial machinery control system is provided which allows for ergonomically favorable operation by paired reciprocal control pedals which mirror an operator's right and left limbs. The reciprocal mirror control pedals allow operation of the same predetermined function within designated machinery by either the left or right foot of an operator, thus reducing fatigue while maintaining position at a particular workstation.

Abstract: The adjusting drive for axially adjustable steering columns in motor vehicles has a transmission between a drive unit mounted to rotate in a housing (2) secured to the body and a steering column tube (1) mounted to move axially in the housing. Gearing (5) is provided on the steering column tube extending in the axial direction. Gearing (8.1, 9.1) of the transmission engages with the steering column tube gearing. The gearing is provided as cycloidal gearing on two toothed racks (8, 9) whose gearing engages in the gearing on the steering column tube (1) out of phase with one another by half a tooth spacing, and which are movable eccentrically by the drive unit by a cam bearing (16, 17) out of phase by 180.degree..

Abstract: Drive apparatus and method for converting linear motion to rotary motion to rotatingly drive the driveshaft of a motor vehicle are disclosed. The drive apparatus includes a sprocket rigidly connected to a shaft and axially aligned thereabout. In addition, a moveable ratch for moving between first and second drive positions and having opposing first and second linear sprocket engaging drive segments is provided. The first linear drive segment of the moveable ratch engages the sprocket when the ratch is in its first drive position and the second linear drive segment engages the sprocket when the ratch is in its second drive position.

Abstract: An article (30) is controllably and precisely positioned at one of three discrete locations defined by a linkage. The positioning apparatus includes two independently driven cranks (34, 42), with a link (50) pivotably connected between the two cranks (34, 42). Another connector (44) is pivotably connected between one of the cranks (34 or 42) and the article (30) to be positioned. The cranks (34, 42) are rotationally adjusted so that the pivot points (52, 54) of the link (50) are collinear with the axes of rotation of the cranks (40, 48), thereby defining one of the three discrete locations. Additional cranks and links can be provided to define additional discrete locations.

Abstract: A compound shift lever mechanism employs a noise and vibration damper assembly for isolating an upper shift lever from a lower shift lever of a transmission. In a preferred form, the levers are held in spaced, coaxial alignment for unitary movement in a plurality of planes by a damper which comprises two parts. The first part is a cylindrical elastomeric sleeve defining axially spaced female end portions comprising bores which frictionally overlie and snugly encase the two lever end portions which extend thereinto. The second part is a cylindrical metallic shell which circumferentially encapsulates the elastomeric sleeve which contains the respective ends of the upper and lower levers. The shell thus radially encapsulates both of the end portions, as well as the sleeve, which incorporates a midportion containing a radial internal barrier to prevent direct physical contact between the extremities of the levers.

Abstract: A fitting, in particular for shutting off a flow, includes a housing. A fixed threaded part is axially displaceable and fixed against relative rotation in the housing. A rotatable threaded part is axially resiliently and rotatably supported in the housing. A braking device has at least two friction surfaces facing toward one another and being pressed against one another with a braking force if a predetermined rated force upon the fixed threaded part is exceeded, in order to brake a rotary motion of the rotatable threaded part through an axial displacement and form a braking surface. One of the friction surfaces is connected to and fixed against rotation relative to the rotatable threaded part. A cup spring assembly has a width, an intermediate radius and at least one cup spring for resiliently supporting the rotatable threaded part in at least one axial direction. The braking force relative to the width of the cup spring assembly is introduced over the intermediate radius of the cup spring assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a drive apparatus comprising a track rail having a track formed along its axial direction, and a slider guided by the track. The slider has a rolling element circulating path, and a torque generating device, having an output shaft, is mounted on the slider. The apparatus also includes a plurality of drive rollers and at least one substantially spherical rolling element disposed in the rolling element circulating path. The torque generating device applies a torque to the drive rollers to cause the drive rollers to roll while engaging with the track rail to move the slider along the track, and the rolling elements contact the track rail and move along in the rolling element circulating path when the slider moves along the track. The apparatus further includes an oil film forming device which forms an oil film between the track rail and the drive rollers.

Abstract: A velocity-reduced drive system (1) is used to operate a movable member of a video camera or a combined camera-and-VTR unit at a reduced velocity. The drive system comprises a micro or flat motor (5) supported in cases (2), (3) and (4), a worm gear (6) rotatably supported by the cases, a worm wheel meshed with the worm gear, first power transmission means (11), (12) and (12) for transmitting rotational force of the motor (5) to the worm gear (6), and second power transmission means (14), (15) and (16) for transmitting rotational force of the worm gear (6) to an output shaft (7) to be coupled to the movable member.

Abstract: A motor-driven cam disk having a radially projecting, eccentrically arranged crank pin which generates a first movement, for example the pumping movement of a bellows pump. A running wheel which is pressed by a spring force against the cam disk in a resilient manner is arranged in the radial direction on the cam disk. The running wheel serves to generate a second movement, for example the swiveling movement of a swivel lever. For this purpose, the motor-driven cam disk has two cam paths which are offset relative to one another in a stepped manner and pass into one another at two locations on the cam disk. The cam disk has a switch tongue to enable the movements generated by the motor-driven cam disk to be decoupled from one another.

Abstract: A shift lever supporting device for a starter motor has a support 40 in a cylindrical form which has at its front end a cut groove 40a, a shift lever 34 fitted to the groove at an intermediate portion of the shift lever, a connection pin 36 inserted in the support 40 and the intermediate portion of the shift lever to pivotally support the shift lever, and a packing 37 of rubber fitted to the rear end of the support 40 by interposing a plate 38. The support 40, the plate 38 and the packing 37 are inserted into a hole 6a formed in a front bracket 6, and the rear end of the packing is received by the front end of an intermediate bracket 4 or a yoke.

Abstract: An X-Y movement mechanism includes a fixed base having a first surface and a movable member having a second surface. The movable member is disposed for movement relative to the fixed base with the second surface being parallel with and facing toward the first surface. At least a first groove in the first surface extends in an X direction and a second groove in the second surface extends in a Y direction. The X direction is different from and at an angle with respect to the Y direction and both are parallel to the first surface and to the second surface. The first and second grooves respectively have overlying regions when the movable member is disposed for movement relative to the fixed base. An X-Y guide element has a first half and a second half. The first half is disposed in the first groove for sliding, non-rotating relative movement therebetween in the X direction. The second half is disposed in the second groove for sliding, non-rotating relative movement therebetween in the Y direction.

Abstract: A transmission for a working vehicle comprises a transmission case disposed between an engine and rear wheels, the transmission case housing, in a forward portion thereof, an input main shaft, a propelling transmission shaft and a PTO transmission shaft extending parallel to one another in the fore and aft direction. The two transmission shafts are arranged at laterally opposite sides of the input main shaft. A propelling change speed gearing is mounted on and between the input main shaft and propelling transmission shaft. A PTO change speed gearing is mounted on and between the input main shaft and PTO transmission shaft. These change speed gearings are operable by change speed levers extending upwardly from a clutch case interposed between the engine and transmission case.

Abstract: A latchable tilt mechanism for a steering column of a vehicle includes a first bracket attached to a sleeve of the steering column and a second bracket pivotally attached to the first bracket and operatively connected to a rotatable steering wheel of the steering column. The latchable tilt mechanism also includes a plurality of pawls pivotally attached to the second bracket and urged into engagement with a latching member. The latchable tilt mechanism has a lever which rotates the pawls out of engagement with the latching member. The pawls have a plurality of locking slots which are distinct from one another but which are configured to operate in concert to allow a discrete pawl to be restraining the steering column from tilting in one direction and another in an opposite direction.

Abstract: A ratio-varying component for a continuously-variable-ratio transmission of the toroidal-race rolling-traction type, in which each roller (20) spans the toroidal clearance between its respective input (4, 5) and output (11, 12) discs diametrically and the roller center (20b) is capable in operation of limited movement back and forth along the center circle (22a) of the clearance, and in which stop means (40, 41; 30, 33) are mounted adjacent both the outer and inner edges of the part-toroidal races (22, 23) on the discs, to prevent the rollers from running off the edges.