Abstract: In order to lock a drive system from operation during maintenance procedures, while providing a positive mechanical engagement regardless of index position, a locking mechanism includes a sector gear associated with a rotatably mounted shaft. The rotatably mounted shaft and the sector gear have a common axis of rotation which extends generally tangentially of a system gear associated with a mechanical transmission of the drive system. With the system gear being mounted for rotation in a plane and having a plurality of equally spaced teeth completely about the periphery thereof, the sector gear also includes a plurality of equally spaced teeth, but disposed about only a portion of the periphery thereof. The rotatably mounted shaft is disposed in spaced relation to the teeth of the system gear and the sector gear is mounted for rotation into and out of the plane of the system gear.

Abstract: The combination of a lead screw and a multi-ball nut. The balls are disposed around the axis of the lead screw. The balls are mounted on the nut either to be received and retained in the valley of the lead screw thread (whereby rotation of the lead screw causes movement of the nut along the lead screw in one direction for a feed operation) or for the balls to be movable out of the valley onto the crest of the thread. The latter condition permits the nut to be moved along the lead screw in a reverse direction for a quick return operation.

Abstract: A self-scavenging gear box lubrication system is disclosed and includes a gear box housing having at least one gear chamber providing relatively close confirmation with meshing gears rotatably mounted in the chamber. Lubricating fluid is delivered to the chamber for lubricating and cooling the gears. At least one collecting cavity for the lubricating fluid is provided in the housing separate from the gear chamber. A passage communicates between the gear chamber and the collecting cavity for passing fluid from the chamber to the cavity under the influence of centrifugal action effected by rotation of the meshing gears, whereby the fluid can be scavenged from the cavity by an appropriate lubrication pump. The passage is oriented generally tangentially of at least one of the meshing gears, and the passage is of restricted dimensions to provide a positive inlet presure to prevent backflow from the collecting cavity into the gear chamber at all attitudes.

Abstract: In a fixed ratio planetary-type traction roller transmission wherein planetary traction rollers are disposed in the annular space between, and in engagement with, a traction ring and a central sun roller for the transmission of motion therebetween, the planetary traction rollers have smooth side faces and are supported between, and guided by, a mounting plate structure at one side and a guide plate at the opposite side both having planar areas adjacent the traction roller side faces and being urged toward one another for retaining the traction rollers therebetween in parallel alignment.

Abstract: An infinitely variable traction roller transmission with preferably four traction rollers arranged between, and in engagement with, opposite toric discs for the transmission of motion therebetween includes, for each roller, a pivotal support member having a roller supported thereon by a hydrostatic or an antifriction bearing including hydraulic fluid adapted to force the roller into motion transmitting engagement with the toric discs. The pivotal support member is supported by antifriction bearing segments or hydrostatic means and has gear segments disposed at opposite ends thereof, with the gear segments of adjacent roller support members being in meshing engagement for transmission ratio changing pivot movement of all the traction rollers in unison.

Abstract: A bi-directional advance gear having a torque limiting radial friction clutch is disclosed. The friction clutch comprises an annular member having an inner and outer periphery and having gear teeth defined by its outer periphery and radially inwardly projecting teeth on its inner periphery. A flat web substantially closes one face of the annular member to provide a shallow recess bounded by the projecting teeth and defines an opening concentric to the annular member. An inner member having a hub portion is rotatably mounted in the opening and has a pinion gear at one end. The other end of the hub has a plurality of radially extending rosette-shaped springs contained in the recess. Each spring has a pair of radially extending leg portions joined by an arcuate portion. Each arcuate portion has a lobe biased into engagement with the inwardly projecting teeth.

Abstract: A safety device for garage doors wherein the door can be pulled down against the opposition of one or more torsion springs acting upon a horizontal shaft has a housing for a gear which is non-rotatably mounted on the shaft and whose peripheral teeth and tooth spaces are adjacent a set of recesses the the housing. A plastic casing which is biased by the torsion springs normally maintains in deformed condition at least one coil spring which reacts against the housing and tends to rotate the casing relative to the gear so that several ramps which are adjacent to discrete pockets of the casing expel from the recesses spherical blocking elements which normally extend partly into the recesses and partly into the adjacent pockets. This results in partial entry of blocking elements into the adjacent tooth spaces to thus hold the shaft against rotation relative to the housing in the event of breakage of the torsion springs.

Abstract: In a rotary traction roller transmission having oppositely disposed toric discs mounted on its input and output shafts, and motion transmitting rollers frictionally engaged between the toric discs for transmitting motion from one toric element to the other, the rollers are supported on pivot shafts which are interconnected by at least one cable looped around flanges of the pivot shafts and having tubular sections mounted thereon and fittingly received in corresponding cavities formed in the pivot shaft flanges for operative engagement therewith.