Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor chain, which comprises chain links (1) consisting of a barrel portion (2) and elongated side bars (3,4), the first ends of which are attached to the ends of the barrel, whereby the distance between the free ends of the side bars (3,4) corresponds to the length of the barrel (2) including the side bars attached to it. In order to enable the assembly of a chain of identical, mutually similar parts without tools, the surfaces located opposite each other at the free ends of the bars (3,4) of the chain links are provided with studs (5,6), the outer diameter of which corresponds to the inner diameter of the barrel (2) and the elasticity of the bar (3,4) material is such that the bars can be spread from each other to such an extent as to enable the insertion of the studs (5,6) of one chain link into the barrel (2) of another chain link.

Abstract: This invention is a variable speed transmission member for bicycles for engagement with a positive drive belt. It includes a variable radius sprocket and a means to control its effective radius. The variable radius sprocket is a rotatable disc with a plurality of radial slots therein. A slidable sprocket segment is mounted in each slot. Each segment has a spring biased retaining means to lock it at a particular radial location. The means to control the effective radius of the segments comprises a plurality of pivotal prongs positioned so that they can be pivoted, under manual control, into the path of the segments to push the segments to a different radial location.

Abstract: A method of controlling the speed of the output of a V-belt drive having an output driven pulley driven by a V-belt from an input driver pulley wherein the rotational speed of the driver pulley is determined, the ratio of the effective belt drive diameters of the driver and driven pulleys are determined and the effective belt to drive diameter of at least one of the pulleys is adjusted to provide a preselected speed of the drive output.

Abstract: A method of making a fiber-loaded polymeric sheet and power transmission belts utilizing same are provided wherein the sheet comprises a substantially solid polymeric matrix having fibers embedded therein and wherein the fibers comprise between 40% and 70% by weight of the sheet and at least 70% of the fibers are disposed in substantially parallel relation.

Abstract: A tensioner for a power transmission belt that is adapted to be operated in an endless path and a method of making the same are provided, the tensioner comprising a support unit for being fixed relative to the belt, a belt engaging unit carried by the support unit and being movable relative thereto, a mechanical spring unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit for urging the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit and against the belt with force to tension the belt, and a fluid dampening unit operatively associated with the support unit and the belt engaging unit to dampen the movement of the belt engaging unit relative to the support unit in at least one direction of movement thereof, the fluid dampening unit comprising a rotary dampening unit and the support unit comprising a shaft.

Abstract: A compact belt tensioning device includes a double acting pawl which selectively engages opposed sets of ratchet teeth formed on a stationary mounting. The tensioning device is adapted to be preset in a tensioned state to facilitate installation and repair procedures and may be easily activated by manually releasing the pawl.

Abstract: This is a belt drive arrangement in which two belts are used, the inside surface of one running in contact with the outside surface of the other for part of their lengths and both running within the width of one belt, with input and output shafts, and one or more idler pulleys providing forward or reverse rotation of the output shaft with the input shaft having a constant direction of rotation.

Abstract: A pulley construction and method of making the same are provided, the pulley construction having a pair of opposed flanges respectively provided with surfaces for engagement with a V-belt construction when the V-belt construction is disposed therebetween. The pulley construction has structure for moving one of the flanges axially relative to the other of the flanges and has a fluid dampening unit operatively associated with the one flange to dampen the axial movement of that one flange relative to the other flange with a restrictive force, the dampening unit comprising a flexible bladder having a part thereof operatively interconnected to that one flange.

Abstract: A polymeric split sprocket wheel is provided having two mating portions that, when joined, form a split line at the junction of those portions, two side faces, a toothed outer rim and a central axial bore, and which is designed to be mounted on a relatively immobile yet rotatable keyed shaft, being secured thereon by means of a tripartite apparatus comprised of a captive slotted keyway molded into the central axial bore of the wheel, a circular band clamp capable of exerting a uniform degree of force all around the axial hub, and a plurality of wedge dog assemblies which join the wheel together along the split line by means of a plurality of wedge dog clamps which straddle the split line, are inserted into tapered receptacles, and are fixed to the wheel by fastening means.

Abstract: To reduce contact pressure and wear-and-tear on contact surfaces of link elements of an endless chain (9) looped between spherical engagement surfaces of cone disks, the radius of curvature R of the spherical engagement surfaces, at any point of engagement with the contact surfaces of the chain link elements is greater than a theoretical radius of curvature R, which theoretical radius of curvature results when the distances of axial movement of the movable cone disks for any two transmission ratios are equal, within the range of transmission ratio of the cone disk transmission; and in which the radius D of curvature of the contact surfaces of the link elements is greater than half the width of the link elements, measured transversely to the chain when it is looped between the pairs of cone disks.

Abstract: A speed changing device wherein the driver and driven pulleys can be replaced to attain a desired increase or decrease in rotational speed. The distance between the driver and driven pulleys is adjustable so that the tension of the drive belt coupling the driver and driven pulleys is also adjustable. The mounting plate upon which the motor and driver pulley are mounted can be tightened securely against the housing so that the previously set tension can be retained during the operation of the speed changing device.

Abstract: An adjustable sprocket wheel and transmission mechanism, the sprocket wheel having two toothed wheel segments each having a sector angle of substantially 180.degree., the wheel sections being interconnected by a lever system arranged to incrementally increase the diameter of the sprocket wheel defined by the wheel segments, one of the pedal cranks being connected to each of the wheel segments by crank pivots mounted on projections lying adjacent the periphery of the wheel segments, the wheel segments each having a recess positioned to receive the projection of the other wheel segment when the segments are in a retracted position to define a circular sprocket wheel, the lever system including levers pivotally connected to each of the two wheel segments, the levers being selectively engagable in recesses in the other wheel section, the transmission mechanism including actuating cams arranged to incrementally move the levers to selectively change the diameter of the sprocket wheel.

Abstract: A system is provided for driving a cooling fan (19) of a vehicle including a transverse, water-cooled engine (E). A main drive pulley (11,13) is driven by the engine and a fan drive assembly (15) is mounted on the vehicle radiator (R) and includes a driven pulley (37). Torque is transmitted from the drive pulley to the driven pulley by means of a power transmission belt (43) including a drive portion (45) and slack portion (47). An idler pulley (55) engages the drive portion of the belt, and a tensioner device (61) and tensioner pulley (69) engage the slack portion of the belt. The tensioning device includes a rotatable arm (65) and is operable to maintain relatively constant belt tension as the engine and drive pulley move relative to the radiator and fan drive assembly.

Abstract: An improved push-pull cable assembly (10) is provided with means for automatically compensating for changes in the cable's effective length, thus requiring a minimum of adjustment over an extended period. To this end, the cable's actuating rod (124) may be provided with a spring-loaded backlash compensating coupling (30) operatively connecting the actuating rod with an operating lever (106) on the controlled mechanism. A helical compression spring (198) is provided at the end of the push-pull cable assembly such that the spring exerts a compressive force in the longitudinal direction of the actuating rod between a spring retainer (196) and a clevis fitting (122) pivotally connected to the controlled mechanism's operating lever. The clevis fitting is slidably mounted with respect to the actuating rod such that the spring will tend to displace it from a compressed position (210) closer to the spring to an extended position (216) further away.

Abstract: A pedal for a bicycle, which is provided at the upper surface of a pedal body having a pedal shaft and in the vicinity thereof with a first foot bearing portion with which the head portion of a first metatarsus at a cyclist's foot comes into contact and a second foot bearing portion with which at least a fifth metatarsus among the second and fifth metatarsi at the same comes into contact.

Abstract: Phase control device comprising a driven wheel and a driving wheel. The driven wheel engages an endless loop, whose going part toward the driving wheel and returning part from the driving wheel engage a pair of idling wheels and one or plural pairs of movable wheels. The movable wheels are finely adjusted toward a cross direction to the endless loop so that either the going part and the returning part is pulled, while the other is slackened. As a result, the phase of the driven wheel is changed so that timing of the driven wheel against the driving wheel can be regulated. The phase control device provides timing of the operation of a pair of machines such as coveyors which link mutually.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a V-belt transmission device in which a plurality of substantially V-shaped metal members (2) and a plurality of resilient metal members (3) are alternately mounted to an endless metal belt member made of band steel and are in contact with each other to constitute a V-belt which is subjected to a tension between a driving V-pulley (5) and a driven V-pulley (6), thereby effecting a torque transmission between both the pulleys. Each of the V-shaped metal members (2) is provided with a substantially U-shaped groove (7) directed to the outside. Each of the resilient metal members is formed as a hollow roller to engage with recessed surfaces (8) which are formed in opposing surfaces of a pair of the V-shaped metal members (2). The V-shaped metal members (2) and the resilient metal members are fastened together at their outer peripheries by the metal belt member.

Abstract: A pulley, composite in nature, including a fabricated wheel defining a rim channel into which a ring is positioned. The ring is rigidly held within the channel by tabs and interlocking arrangements. The ring is designed to include any one of a number of pulley gripping surfaces such as teeth and V grooves.

Abstract: A chain speed gearing device including a complex planetary train utilizing two sun wheels and two sets of planetary wheels of the Ravigneaux type, combined with a simple planetary train acting as a range doubler and driven by the planet wheel carrier shaft of the Ravigneaux train. The input motion is performed on the annulus of the Ravigneaux train for at least one of the speeds of the train by stoppage of the first sun wheel the output being taken from the planet wheel carrier of the Ravigneaux train. The speed of the direct drive is obtained by simultaneous input on one of the sun wheels of the Ravigneaux train and on the annulus, and by taking the output from the planet wheel another speed may be obtained by input on the second sun wheel and stoppage of the other sun wheel and by taking the output from the planet wheel carrier. Reverse motion is provided by input on the second sun wheels, stoppage of the annulus and output by the planet wheel carrier.

Abstract: An interlocking driving belt wrapped around a toothed driving wheel and a toothed driven wheel to transmit power from the former wheel to the latter wheel, comprising a plurality of toothed blocks having tooth-shaped portions capable of being meshed with tooth spaces on outer circumferential surfaces of both of the wheels, a plurality of rollers held rotatably among the toothed blocks, a flat endless belt member wrapped tightly around outer circumferential surfaces of the rollers, stopper plates fixed to the toothed blocks, each of which stopper plates contacts one of two adjacent toothed blocks to retain these two toothed blocks in predetermined positions, and roller-receiving recesses provided in both of side surfaces of the toothed blocks to hold adjacent rollers therein. This interlocking belt can be made in small dimensions and weight at a low cost and can be suitably used to transmit high torque at a high speed under both the dry and wet conditions.