Abstract: A shift mechanism for a bicycle and the like wherein a chain is shifted from sprocket to sprocket by an operator controlling a lever to position a camming surface to direct a guide pawl to tilt a segment of one sprocket whereby the tilted segment aligns with a nontilted sprocket during chain shifting.

Abstract: An efficient, narrow profile treadmill motor drive has a thin motor, a two-stage speed reduction using an intermediate countershaft between the motor and drive roller, a dual belt drive for the drive roller which reduces bearing stress, a support base of modular character facilitating removal and repair of the motor drive as a unit, and a motor-shaft mounted flywheel whose rotational inertia is effectively multiplied by the speed reduction ratio.

Abstract: A derailleur for a bicycle having a derailleur body having a base member, a movable member having a chain guide, and a support means for supporting the movable member movably axially of a multistage sprocket assembly with respect to the base member; and a control cable for movably controlling the movable member, whereby an amount of movement of the chain guide in the axial direction of a multistage sprocket assembly is made adjustable with respect to a constant control amount of the control cable.

Abstract: The subject matter of the invention refers to the technical area of vehicles in general, of cycles and similar vehicles and their fittings and accessories.A rod (4) or equivalent means is mounted in the lower bracket (1) perpendicularly to the cylindrical recess axis (1b) and secant with the peripheral part of said recess, to assume the dual function of holding the bolt (2) with respect to the bracket (1) and end stopping the rotation of the tensioning arm (D) integral with the bolt (2) with respect to the bracket (1) because of the suitable arrangement of a bearing surface (2d) of the bolt which is in the plane and opposite the rod (4); an elastic means (5) for retensioning the tensioning arm being mounted inside the bracket and suitably connected to the bolt on the one hand and to said bracket on the other hand.

Abstract: A guide chain with supporting link chains including chain links which are connected by crosspieces. To limit the mutual pivot angle, each chain link is provided with slots which extend about a common pivot axis, with engaging studs of an adjacent chain link extending into the slots. In order to facilitate assembly and improve the support capability of the guide chain, each chain link is made as one piece, is provided at one end, on one side, with a disc-shaped plate in which are disposed the slots, and is provided at the other end, on the opposite side, with a cup, on the bottom of which are formed the engaging studs. The diameter of the plate is less than the diameter of the cup, so that the plate of one chain link can be placed into the cup of another chain link.

Abstract: A metal chain-belt especially usable to drivingly connect the pulleys of a pulley transmission, and constructed of a carrier which may comprise a plurality of sets of links interleaved with those of adjacent sets, with the sets being joined by pivot means. Drive blocks encircle the carrier. The blocks each have side edges adapted to drivingly engage the flanges of the pulleys. These side edges are crowned to improve the life and performance of the chain-belt assembly. The radius of curvature of the crowned side edges is far in excess of the width of a drive block.

Abstract: A belt pulley and method of making the same are provided, the pulley having a hub and a peripheral groove for receiving part of an endless belt therein that is to drive the pulley or be driven thereby whereby the pulley is adapted to be rotated about a longitudinal axis of the hub. The pulley has a pair of opposed facing sides defining at least part of the groove therebetween and has a pair of oppositely facing outboard sides, the sides each having an inner peripheral portion and an outer peripheral portion. The pulley has a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart and radially disposed substantially straight vanes extending outwardly from at least one of the outboard sides thereof.

Abstract: A tenter chain has been provided wherein a lubricating apparatus includes means for preventing the accumulation of old grease with the introduction of same on a subsequent lubricating operation as a result of the insertion of the elongated nozzle of a grease dispensing gun into a passageway leading to a grease receiving reservoir.

Abstract: A belt type continuous reduction gear mechanism, in which a V-belt is made to run under tension between drive and driven V-pulleys each equipped with a fixed pulley half and a movable pulley half made movable back and forth relative to the fixed half for adjusting an effective radius. The drive and driven V-pulleys are equipped with actuators for moving the respective pulley halves thereof back and forth. There is interposed between the actuators a coaction mechanism for effecting the coactions of the same.

Abstract: A bicycle derailleur which includes a linkage mechanism formed of a base member, two linkage members and a movable member carrying a chain guide. A swingable member is pivotally supported to one of two opposite members of the linkage mechanism. A return spring is supported to the other of these two opposite members and a first leg of the return spring is retained to the swingable member, while a second leg thereof is retained to the other of the aforesaid two opposite members of the linkage mechanism. A control wire is pulled to move the movable member in a forward direction with respect to the base member and the return spring restores the movable member to a rest position, thereby changing the bicycle speed. A variation in an angle of torsion of the spring is reduced with respect to a variation in the forward stroke of the movable member, whereby operating forces at the top gear side and the low gear side of the multistage gear assembly are substantially equalized to each other.

Abstract: A rear bicycle derailleur is provided which includes (1) a chain guide formed of a guide pulley, a tension pulley and first and second plates supporting the guide and tension pulleys, and (2) a derailleur body having a movable member supporting the chain guide and support means supporting the movable member to be movable axially of the multistage sprocket assembly. The first plate includes a first restrainer at a side of the first plate adjacent the derailleur body, with the first restrainer being positioned radially outwardly relative to the guide pulley at a location outside a first predetermined chain movement path along which the chain travels from a high speed sprocket of the multistage sprocket assembly to the tension pulley through the guide pulley when the multistage sprocket assembly rotates in reverse. The first restrainer prevents the chain from moving away from the first chain movement path when the multistage sprocket assembly rotates in reverse.

Abstract: An easy to operate control means for shifting gears on dual shift bicycles is described. The control means is constructed so that the front and rear derailleurs of a dual shift bicycle are controlled together to shift to any selected gear from any engaged gear with a single operator action. The design permits the operator to preselect the new gear to be used while continuously pedaling in the present gear, with the actual gear change being made at the operator's discretion. The design also facilitates a rapid series of down shifts without requiring intervening gear selections.

Abstract: To reduce the noise level of chains connecting cone pulleys in variable ratio transmissions, in which chain links (1, 15, 43) are joined by rocker elements (3, 16, 44), frame bodies or frames elements (7, 8, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33, 46, 51, 64, 65) are positioned between adjacent hinge joints formed by the rocker elements, located transversely to the chain, the frame bodies having lateral engagement surfaces (11, 24, 25, 26, 55, 56, 57, 66, 67) located laterally adjacent to the sides of the outermost chain link elements for resilient frictional engagement with the facing surfaces of the cone pulleys (12, 40, 41) of the transmission, so that the transmission will be engaged by the engaging surfaces (45) of the rocker elements as well as the engagement surfaces of the frame bodies. The frame bodies are retained on the chain by force engagement with the chain link elements and/or the rocker elements.

Abstract: A bicycle derailleur is provided which has a pair of linkage members interposed between a base and a movable member. At least one of the linkage members is connected to a least one of the base member and the movable member such that one of (i) the at least one linkage member and (ii) the aforesaid at least one of the base member and the movable member comprises an insertion region having a pair of mounting walls and the other of (i) the at least one linkage member and (ii) the aforesaid at least one of the base member and the movable member comprises an insertion portion inserted between the mounting walls. A link pin is disposed between the mounting walls and passes through the insertion portion. One of (i) both the mounting walls and (ii) opposite surfaces of the insertion portion opposite to the mounting walls includes an annular recess surrounding the link pin. A sealing member is disposed in each annular recess to prevent water, mud, and debris from entering into a space surrounding the link pin.

Abstract: A variable ratio transmission for a bicycle or other purposes includes an automatically controlled variable diameter sprocket 12 comprising a rotary support disc 101 carrying a number of pivoted arms 102, two of which have toothed sectors 104 while the remainder have smooth sectors 105, the arms being interlocked to move in unison inwards and outwards. They are urged outwards by mechanical spring units 109 or gas accumulators 174 and the movement is controlled either by adjustable brakes 118, which are preferably unidirectional, or by crank operated brakes 131 under the control of the foot cranks 127. The position of the chain contact elements is also controlled automatically by a ratchet detent mechanism 152 and an hydraulic damper 157 and wear in the brakes is compensated automatically by the rotary ratchet mechanism 158,159.

Abstract: A bicycle derailleur includes a linkage mechanism formed of a base member, a pair of linkage members, and a movable member having a chain guide. The derailleur also includes a fixture for a control wire to operate the linkage members; and a holder for an outer sheath guiding the control wire. The derailleur is provided with a support member supporting the holder and a guide member which is fixed to the support member at the side thereof as which the control wire is drawn out with respect to the position where the holder is supported. The guide is formed of a material having high wear resistance and a low coefficient of friction. The guide member includes a guide bore so that the wire extending between the exit of the holder and the fixture is adapted to come into contact with the inner surface of the guide bore.

Abstract: A toothed belt constituted by an annular body of elastomeric material, having a structure that is resistant to tensile stress embedded therein and having a toothing on one of its faces. The teeth of said annular body have at least one slot corresponding to their own top.

Abstract: A drive system having a toothed pulley and a cooperating toothed power transmission belt wherein the teeth of the belt are provided with transverse slots opening inwardly through the center of the tip of the tooth. The teeth are formed of resilient material, permitting the teeth to be constricted longitudinally as an incident of engagement thereof with the pulley to substantially close the slot in the engaged relationship with the pulley, thereby substantially eliminating backlash between the belt teeth and the pulley teeth, while effectively eliminating tooth deflection.

Abstract: A hydraulic servomechanism comprises a basic body having an axial hole formed therein, a stationary element provided on the outer peripheral surface of the basic body at a predetermined location, a sliding element fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the basic body and also fitted with the stationary element for axial sliding movement relative thereto. The sliding element cooperates with the basic body and the stationary element to define therebetween a hydraulic pressure chamber. A plurality of through bores are formed in the peripheral wall of the basic body and axially arranged at predetermined intervals for communicating between the axial hole of the basic body and the hydraulic pressure chamber. A communication hole is formed in the sliding element for communicating between the through bores and the hydraulic pressure chamber.

Abstract: A connection for use with chain links includes a main body portion which has at least one and preferably two support bars extending outwardly from each side of the main body portion, a recess or groove in the support bar adjacent its distal end spaced from the main body portion a distance to allow a plurality of chain links to be mounted thereon in spaced relationship, a securing clip located within each recess or groove to retain the chain links in position on, and relative to, the support bars with faces being adjacent, and one or more raised portions on at least one face of the chain links to space the chain links apart.