Abstract: This invention relates to new and useful improvements in the mechanism comprising the crankshaft of internal or external combustion engines and also for use in other externally heated closed vapor cycle systems. In the engine system presented an eccentric is placed between the connecting rod and crankpin and is made to rotate with each revolution of the crankshaft by use of eccentric gearing. Rotation of the eccentric augments the simple harmonic motion induced by rotation of the crankpin thus changing the reciprocating motion of the piston in a manner which improves the efficiency of the mechanical conversion process.

Abstract: An improved rotor ring for use in an inertial energy storage rotor, the rotor being defined by a plurality of independent, concentric rotor rings rotatable about a vertical axis. The improved rotor ring includes a cylindrical body portion, fabricated from a fiber composite, and an unreinforced resinous face member attached to one or both of the opposing end faces of the ring. The resinous face member includes a number of radially oriented grooves which are adapted to accept clamps and other elements used to assemble and hold together the rotor rings.

Abstract: This invention relates to suppression of vibrations in massive systems including large rotating elements such as induction fan rotors used in electric power generating plants. In particular, this invention relates to the provision of a tuned vibration absorber with very low damping, often known as a dynamic vibration absorber, which acts to reduce or suppress the vibration of a system having a resonant frequency near its operating frequency.

Abstract: The following specification describes a rotor and case in a gyroscopic device generally forming a ball-shaped apparatus having an internal circular race. The internal circular race supports the rotor, which is mounted on a shaft that extends through the rotor and is received in an opening of a T-shaped cross sectioned ring which is placed within the race. The rotor rotates through the spin axis thereof, while at the same time a second axis at right angles that intercepts the spin axis is established around which the rotor will precess. By giving the rotor an initial spin and then holding the support structure or ball in the hand and manually applying a torque to the support structure or ball, the rotor will precess about the second axis of precession and produce a torque opposing the manually applied torque. The rotor is provided with fins for maintaining the rotor in a smooth moving configuration, while at the same time cooling the spinning rotor so as to eliminate frictional wear.

Abstract: A gyroscope rotor uncaging apparatus is disclosed having a housing, a bearing structure supporting the rotor and permitting rotation of the rotor about its spin axis and about at least one other axis, and a constraining mechanism mounted on the housing at a location spaced from the first bearing structure, which initially cages the rotor for preventing rotation of the rotor about the at least one other axis. The solid propellant structure is ignited upon the rotor being accelerated and, upon the rotor being brought up to a desired rotational velocity, the solid propellant structure is consumed, whereupon the rotor is free to rotate about its at least one other rotational axis. The method of uncaging a gyroscope rotor with such an apparatus is disclosed. Also disclosed is a means for accelerating the rotor in conjunction with the uncaging apparatus.

Abstract: A signal compensator is combined with a second order system, for example, a fluid damped rate gyroscope, which produces a signal in response to the movements of a damped member for providing an output signal which is indicative of the input to the second order system and is unresponsive to variations of the (selected) damping (ratio) of the movable member.

Abstract: The invention concerns a stepless variable belt transmission with pulleys which comprise two axially movable conical halves. The displacement of the pulley halves is effected by hydraulic piston-cylinder units rotating along with the pulleys. At least one hydraulic piston-cylinder unit is provided with a compensation chamber wherein a pressure is built up as a function of the speed. According to the invention the compensation chamber communicates with a closable opening with the cylinder chamber by means of which the pulley halves are relatively moved.

Abstract: Speed change gears of the planetary gear type suited for applications within fluid couplings used upon automotive vehicles includes an input shaft, a first clutch for releasing or coupling a second ring gear and a third sun gear simultaneously from or to the input shaft, a second clutch for releasing or coupling a first sun gear and a second sun gear simultaneously from or to the input shaft, a first planetary gear engaged with the first sun gear, a first ring gear engaging the first planetary gear, a first carrier rotatably supporting the first planetary gear, a second planetary gear engaged with the second sun gear and the second ring gear, a second carrier rotatably supporting the second planetary gear, a third planetary gear enmeshed with the third sun gear, a third ring gear interengaged with the third planetary gear and coupled to the first ring gear, a third carrier rotatably supporting the third planetary gear and coupled to the second carrier and to an output shaft, a first brake capable of locking t

Abstract: A power drill attachment for exerting pressure through the drill bit onto the workpiece has a toggle linkage to provide a mechanical advantage of such sensitivity as to permit the operator to easily and quickly control the amount of pressure being exerted throughout the drilling operation. The attachment is especially adapted for use when drilling holes in door and window frames, through floor joists, studs, rafters and other building framework.

Abstract: A relatively stiff spring cooperating with an oil film resists inertial, gearing, and chucking loads and reduces the inertial forces generated by the operation of a rotatable shaft. The rotatable shaft is mounted directly in conventional ball bearings that in turn are mounted in engagement with the inner of two concentrically mounted cylindrical members, wherein the concentrically mounted members have facing walls radially displaced to form an annular cavity therebetween. The outer of the two cylindrical members is in engagement with and supported to the housing. Interconnecting the two cylindrical members is a flange spring that also serves as an end wall for a reservoir in communication with the annular cavity. The reservoir and the annular cavity are filled with a dampening fluid, such as a lubricating oil, to serve as a cushion for axially and radially directed force transfers between the two concentrically mounted members.

Abstract: An improvement is provided for a mechanical push-pull, ball-bearing, remote controller. A basic controller of this type is commercially available and includes an elongate center race to which force is applied, two outer races, at least one of which is anchored at its ends to provide a reaction element, and ball guides carrying a plurality of balls between the center race and the outer races. The improvement in the remote controller comprises means for controlling the movement of the ball guides, particularly relative to the center race, to prevent the ball guides from contacting the end anchors of the remote controller during operation and damaging the guides.

Abstract: An inertial energy storage device is disclosed employing a safety flywheel which is made of flexible material such as a twisted rope ring. The rigidity required for such a device is achieved through centrifugal forces inherent in such a device when it is operating. A small number of the strands of the rope ring have a tensile strength that is lower than the vast majority of the strands of the rope ring whereby should any of these strands fail, they will begin to whiplash allowing such a failure to be detected and braked before a castastrophic failure occurs. This is accomplished by the inclusion of glass tubes located around the periphery of the flywheel. The tubes are in communication with a braking fluid reservoir. The flywheel and glass tubes are enclosed within a vacuum-tight housing. The whiplashing of a broken strand breaks one or more glass tubes. This causes the housing to be flooded with the braking fluid thereby braking the rotation of the flywheel.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing and transmitting mechanical energy which utilizes a flywheel having a plurality of flywheel magnets located about the periphery thereof. An actuator is disengagably coupled to the flywheel for supplying rotary kinetic energy thereto. A plurality of coacting magnets are spaced about the circumference of the flywheel for interacting with the flywheel magnets. A linkage system is provided between the coacting magnets and the flywheel magnets for moving the coacting magnets in a timed relation with the flywheel magnets for imparting further rotation to the flywheel. A power take off is also coupled to the flywheel for removing kinetic energy stored therein.

Abstract: An improved brake lever assembly of the overcenter toggle type is disclosed, wherein the brake operating lever is preferably pivotally connected with the stationary mounting plate assembly about a pivot axis that is laterally displaced from the linear axis of travel of an inner cable member relative to the concentrically arranged tubular outer sheath, thereby to reduce wear of the inner cable guide means. According to a first feature of the invention, an improved anchor plate or anchor plate arrangement is provided for connecting one end of the outer sheath member with one end of the stationary mounting plate assembly. In accordance with a second feature, a ratchet and pawl assembly is provided for releasably locking the operating lever in various angular positions relative to the mounting plate assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for manipulating and controlling the movement of a tool, and specifically a spray gun, through a plurality of predetermined motions. The apparatus includes, in a preferred form, a rectangular frame having crossing supporting rods extending between opposite frame members. A mounting member is slidably mounted on crossing portions of the rods with the spray gun carried thereby. The spray gun is connected to the mounting member in a manner such that it can be moved toward and away from the mounting member in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the frame. The spray gun can also be pivotally moved on a first axis which is parallel to the plane of the frame and pivotally moved on a second axis which can also be parallel to the frame and perpendicular to the first axis. The connecting means also enables at least a spray head of the spray gun, if not the whole spray gun, to be pivotally moved about an axis which is perpendicular to one of the aforesaid two axes.

Abstract: The inertial energy storage device of the present invention comprises a composite ring formed of circumferentially wound resin-impregnated filament material, a flanged hollow metal hub concentrically disposed in the ring, and a plurality of discrete filament bandsets coupling the hub to the ring. Each bandset is formed of a pair of parallel bands affixed to the hub in a spaced apart relationship with the axis of rotation of the hub being disposed between the bands and with each band being in the configuration of a hoop extending about the ring along a chordal plane thereof. The bandsets are disposed in an angular relationship with one another so as to encircle the ring at spaced-apart circumferential locations while being disposed in an overlapping relationship on the flanges of the hub. The energy storage device of the present invention has the capability of substantial energy storage due to the relationship of the filament bands to the ring and the flanged hub.

Abstract: The flywheel configuration results in optimum balance of wheel mass in the form of a proportioned disk whose cross-section necks down towards its outer extremity forming a highly stressed region, then expands to form a thin cylindrical breakaway rim portion having a large flat outer peripheral surface, the rim providing optimum inertia for the flywheel. The energy system further consists of a barrier ring to prevent overspeed of the flywheel and contains rim fragments in the event of catastrophic separation of the rim from the disk.

Abstract: A rotating mechanism such as a model aircraft propeller shaft is balanced by a dynamic balancing apparatus comprising a disc rotating with the shaft and a stainless steel O-ring partly filled with mercury lodged in an undercut groove in the face of the disc. The method of manufacture involves placing the ring in the groove and compressing the ring to expand it radially into the undercut area.

Abstract: A parallel indexing cam structure has a locking cam and a pair of further cams which are rigidly secured to an input shaft at predetermined angular positions relative to each other, and a cam follower device is rigidly secured to an output shaft parallel to the input shaft and has a plurality of spider plates and three sets of cam follower rollers. During the dwell period, the locking cam is contacted by two rollers of one set of the cam follower rollers while the further cams are contacted by only one of the rollers of the respective remaining sets. The locking cam has a larger profile circle at the dwell position during the dwell period than the further cams, thereby blocking the rotation of the output shaft with increased accuracy and stiffness during the dwell period.

Abstract: A bicycle pedal which has an upper surface to be engaged by the sole of a shoe of a cyclist and a toe clip for extending around the toe region of the shoe is supported for free rotary movement at all times with respect to a shaft carried by a rotary crank of the bicycle. The pedal is automatically oriented at least when the rotary crank has turned through 90.degree. beyond its top dead center position in an attitude according to which the upper surface of the pedal is substantially horizontal and directed upwardly, this latter orientation in the latter attitude being brought about by way of magnetic means which does not interfere with the free rotation of the pedal with respect to the shaft on which the pedal is supported.