Abstract: A mechanism for converting rotational motion to linear motion having a roller thread mechanism interposed between a shaft having multiple male threads and a nut having multiple female threads. The female threads of the nut are opposite in direction to the male threads of the shaft. The rollers have different effective thread diameters which are provided by the shape of the threads on the shaft, rollers and nut. The mechanism is configured so that the axial travel distance of the shaft, per relative rotation of the nut and the shaft, can be shortened. The mechanism is also capable of a fast movement, which is realized by suppressing the rotation of the rollers. When the mechanism is used as an actuator of a brake device, an antilock control, a traction control, and the like, it can be easily implemented by controlling the rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: A steering gear for a motor vehicle includes a housing, a rack bar, a pinion, a support yoke, a spring, a split roller, and a plurality of bearings. The rack bar is slidably supported within the housing for transverse displacement therein along an axis. The rack bar has teeth on a first side. The pinion has teeth drivingly engaging the teeth of the rack bar. The pinion is rotatably supported within the housing. Rotation of the pinion transversely displaces the rack bar along the axis. The support yoke is slidably disposed in the housing for movement toward a side of the rack bar substantially opposite the teeth of the rack bar. The support yoke has an opening which is open toward the rack bar, with the opening defining two opposed bearing surfaces. The spring is disposed between the housing and the support yoke, and biases the support yoke toward the rack bar. The split roller includes a first split roller section and a second split roller section.

Abstract: A magneto-rheological fluid coupling (11) including a stationary electromagnetic coil (31) and cylindrical contact member (43) surrounding an input shaft (19), and in turn, being surrounded by the output coupling assembly (15). Input (63,65) and output (29) coupling members define a viscous shear chamber (71) disposed radially outward from the coil (31). A drive member (21) extends radially from the input shaft (19) and includes an annular portion (61) at least partially surrounding the coil (31) and driving the input coupling member (63,65). The stationary coil (31) and contact member (43) eliminates the need for electrical brushes, and the problems associated therewith, and the overall arrangement of the coupling (11) results in only radial non-working air gaps, such that the efficiency and repeatability of the device is substantially improved.

Abstract: For enhanced durability, a traveling guide shoe for a roller chain has a cross-sectional shape with a base slide guide surface 12 which engages only the bottoms of the side link plates of the chain on a chain-incoming-end, a projecting rolling guide surface 13 which engages only the rollers of the chain at an intermediate portion of the shoe. The base surface 12 and the projecting surface 13 are connected with each other through a continuous transfer surface 13.

Abstract: A worm gear for transforming a rotary motion into a reciprocating motion comprises a threaded spindle (2) which is mounted for rotation on at least one needle roller bearing (5) in a gear ring nut (22) which functions as a housing (21). A profiled gear ring (19) engages the thread of the spindle (2) at one peripheral point for axially displacing the gear ring nut (22). This gear ring (19) surrounds the threaded spindle (2) and is arranged eccentric to the spindle axis (3). Further, the gear ring (19) is surrounded by a radial rolling bearing on which the gear ring (19) is rotatably mounted in the housing (21). According to the invention, the housing (21) is composed of rotationally symmetrical sheet metal parts made by chipless deep drawing, the inner surfaces of which sheet metal parts directly comprise the outer rolling element raceways for the bearings. In this way, an easy-to-mount worm gear with a simplified structure is obtained.

Abstract: A gear shift tower assembly for a manual transmission of a motorized vehicle having a housing adapted to be secured to the manual transmission, a gimbal pivotally coupled to the housing for rotation about a first axis, a shift lever pivotally coupled to the gimbal for rotation about a second axis, and a centering mechanism for biasing the shift lever to a centered position relative to the housing is disclosed. The centering mechanism includes a camming surface formed on the gimbal and a spring-biased follower operably coupled to the housing and engaging the camming surface to urge the shift lever toward a desired position.