Abstract: A linear actuator includes a single drive gear that engages two driven gears of the same pitch diameter, which in turn drive a spindle and a sleeve, respectively. The sleeve is internally threaded to receive the spindle, which is externally threaded. The sleeve and spindle are driven rotationally at slightly different rates due to different numbers of teeth on the two driven gears, producing linear motion of the spindle relative to the sleeve. The drive gear can be rotated in increments corresponding to integral numbers of teeth and the rest positions of the gears can be full engagement positions to minimize play in the gears.

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: A multifunction human digit control includes a rotating cylinder journalled in a movable bar slidable in a groove in a deflectable support track. Rotation of the cylinder by a thumb or finger generates a first motion signal and movement of either or both of the bar and the cylinder by tactile movement, generates a second motion signal, representing, for example, X-axis and Y-axis positions, respectively, of a cursor on a computer screen. Various types of motion detectors or encoders are disclosed to detect the various movements of the bar and cylinder. The mechanism also permits actuation of a switch or other motion detector in a Z-axis by deflection of any one of the bar, the cylinder or portions of the support track with respect to a support structure. In a preferred embodiment, the overall control has its digit-operated tactile surfaces exposed in an aperture contained in a device casing, such as an opening in a computer keyboard or in an instrument housing or control panel.

Abstract: A controlled liner actuator shaft that may be used to open and close hydraulic valves is tapped to control a second valve or the like by an actuator shaft housing selectively lockable to the actuator shaft. An adjustable sleeve on the housing pivotally supports a control handle collar and spaced pivotal connections of the control handle to a stationary member and to the valve to be controlled permits manual control when the shaft housing is released from the shaft, and permits actuator shaft control when the shaft housing is locked to the shaft.

Abstract: A rotary table for a bakery product slicer in which mechanism is provided that for a given length of crank throw can be adjusted to rotate a turntable through selectably adjustable angular increments.

Abstract: A cylindrical rotor is mounted for rotation in a raceway formed in the inside wall of a housing, the outside diameter of the rotor being only slightly less than the inside diameter of the raceway so that the rotor substantially fills the housing. One or more relatively high mass cylindrical rollers is each contained in a cavity or pocket formed in the outer wall of the rotor, each such roller being free to roll within its pocket and to move radially outwardly by virtue of the centrifugal force generated and to roll around in the raceway with the rotor and roller or rollers filling the housing and riding somewhat closely against the housing wall. This effectively fills all of the space in the housing and prevents the formation of a fluid filled "traveling" space in the housing thereby minimizing roller drag due to fluid turbulence.

Abstract: Rotary drive, particularly for vehicle doors, in which the piston motion of a piston-power cylinder-unit 5 is converted into a rotary motion by means of roller pairs 14 which engage into oblique slots 10, 11. The oblique slots are provided in cylinders 4, 6 arranged coaxially inside each other and one of the cylinders is connected to the power output shaft 7. The slots exhibit an axial direction at their ends. Herein the cover 2 of a pot-shaped housing 1, through which cover the power output shaft 7 passes, exhibits a collar 15 projecting outwards and embracing the power output shaft. The power output shaft 7 is provided with a cup-type seal 17 seated firmly upon it, whose surface contour 18 overlaps outwardly the collar 15 and which with its edge 19 rests tightly at the cover 2. The cover is provided with an axially oriented groove 20 on its side facing away from the collar, into which groove the edge of the pot-shaped housing 1 is tightly fitted.

Abstract: A motorized control and automatic braking system for adjusting mirror mount apparatus is disclosed. The motor control includes a planetary gear arrangement to provide improved pitch adjustment capability while permitting a small packaged design. The motor control for mirror mount adjustment is suitable for laser beam propagation applications. The brake is a system of constant contact, floating detents which engage the planetary gear at selected between-teeth increments to stop rotation instantaneously when the drive motor stops.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a 4 drive speed automatic transmission, comprising:(a) a hydraulic control system for a 3 drive speed automatic transmission, including two shift valves and two solenoid valves associated with said two shift valves, respectively; and(b) an additional shift valve actuated in response to a hydraulic relay signal or signals generated by said two shift valves.Further, to reduce an unpleasant shock generated when the transmission is kicked down from the 4th to the 2nd speed range, a passage is provided for connecting between a port of the 3-4 shift valve and a port of the 1-2 shift valve, to drain fluid supplied to the B.sub.1 brake via the 1-2 shift valve in communication with an oil supply passage connected to the C.sub.3 clutch via the 3-4 shift valve.

Abstract: Mass balance for a screen oscillating drive is provided mounting the eccentric or crankshaft assembly on extensions of the links supporting the working frame. The axis of the suspended mass m.sub.2 is spaced by a distance a.sub.2 from the pivot of the links to the base frame such that the product m.sub.2.a.sub.2, is substantially equal to the product m.sub.1.a.sub.1 where a.sub.1 is the distance between the pivot of the link to the base frame and the pivot of the links to the working frame and m.sub.1 is the mass of the working frame. The axis of the suspended mass m.sub.2 intersects the centerline of the links in the median position thereof at a normal to this centerline connecting the latter axis and the center of mass of the working frame as seen in side view.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a neutral state of a transmission gear of a vehicle detects an engine rotational speed, a vehicle speed, and a condition in which the engine output power is transmitted to the transmission gear through a clutch. The apparatus judges that the transmission gear is in the neutral state when a ratio between the engine rotational speed and the vehicle speed is in any one of predetermined ranges. The apparatus also judges that the transmission gear is in the neutral state when a variation of the ratio between the engine rotational speed and the vehicle speed within a predetermined time period is greater than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A manually operable device for displacing movable stages includes first and second assemblies each comprising a main handle and a sub handle. A first pinion shaft is extended through both the handle assemblies and its lower end is fixedly secured to a sub handle of the first handle assembly. A second pinion shaft is rotatably provided about the first pinion shaft and its lower end is made integral with a main handle of the second handle assembly. Pinions provided at the upper ends of each shaft mesh with racks for displacing a movable stage in first and second orthogonal directions. The first and second pinion shafts have a threaded part at their lower end parts. The threaded part of the first pinion shaft is threadably engaged to a sub wheel of the first handle assembly, whereas the threaded part of the second pinion shaft is threadably engaged to a sub wheel of the second handle assembly.

Abstract: A device for impulsively varying the timing of the rotation of a camshaft (1) relative to a driving sprocket wheel (14) mounted on a stubaxle (102) comprises followers (119,110) rotatable with respective follower shafts (103,104) mounted on the sprocket wheel (14) for rotation about axes parallel to the axis of rotation of the sprocket wheel and rotatable with the sprocket wheel; the follower shafts carrying planet gears (106,108) operative to transmit rotational movement in phase from the sprocket wheel to the camshaft via sun gear (107); and, an annular cam (117), whose angular position is adjustable by means of a worm wheel (112) and worm (111) arrangement, has an internal profile with which the followers (119,110) are held in engagement and which imparts periodic rotational movement to the follower shafts to carry the phase of the movement transmitted to the camshaft in a pulsed fashion.

Abstract: A transmission is provided which has unidirectional output rotation in response to multidirectional input rotation. A reversing member is provided for changing the direction of rotation of the output member. A first mechansim rotates the output member in a first direction in response to a first direction of rotation of the input member, and this first mechanism does not drive the output member in response to a second direction of rotation of the input member. A second mechanism rotates said output member in the first direction in response to the second direction of rotation of the input member, and this mechanism does not drive the output member in response to the first direction of rotation of the input member. The axis of rotation of the input member and the axis of rotation of the output member are coaxial.

Abstract: A plurality of control rods (41, 43, and 42, 44) extend transversely of a locking plate (3) through which at least three of the control rods are locked in a neutral position by cammed displacement of the locking plate in response to axial displacement of another of the control rods from the neutral position. Locking grooves (45) in the control rods are aligned in the neutral position and the rods are engaged therein by locking edges (31, 32) formed on the locking plate facing opposite directions for either cammed displacement of the locking plate or locking of the rods. The locking plate is displaceable within a housing (11) along a path transverse to the control rods and about a pivot axis (52) fixed to the housing.

Abstract: A control device for a motor vehicle gearbox in which a gear lever movable with a selection movement and a gear engagement movement drives an actuator member, located at the input to the gearbox, through a transmission including a longitudinal bar and a pair of transverse rods acutated by the longitudinal bar through a drive member pivotable about a first vertical axis which is rotatable about a second vertical axis fixed relation to the structure of the vehicle. A reaction tie rod connects the pivotable drive member to the structure of the gearbox substantially in the direction of the two rods.

Abstract: A reverse-to-park windshield wiper crank arm assembly. The assembly includes a hub on the wiper motor shaft, a control member around and rotatable relative to the hub, an intermediate link having one end pivotally connected to a crank pin on the hub and including a slot which slidably receives a guide pin on the control member, a drive lug on the hub engageable on the side of the intermediate link and a coil torsion brake spring disposed in an annular space between the hub and a surrounding inner wall of the motor housing. When the hub rotates in one direction corresponding to normal windshield wiping, the intermediate link is captured in a folded position and rotates as a unit with the hub while a tang on the hub engages a first hook-like formation on one end of the brake spring and flexes the springs to flexed conditions.

Abstract: In order to more easily control movement of a vehicle such as a tractor, an operator's left hand can twist a directional actuating member or a juxtaposed speed actuating member about an outstanding axis. These actuating members are rotatably mounted on a tiller arm extending radially from a housing assembly so that the operator can simultaneously use the actuating members and steer the vehicle by pushing or pulling the tiller arm and rotating the housing assembly in the desired direction about an upstanding axis. Push-pull controls are associated with each actuating member and protected within the housing assembly. A bearing assembly guidably supports and permits relative angular movement of each of the push-pull controls to prevent twisting thereof when the housing assembly is rotated.

Abstract: A control system for controlling a steplessly variable power transmission device for a motor vehicle. The speed ratio of the transmission mechanism is based upon vehicle operating conditions, and particularly upon the vehicle speed and the engine load, either in terms of throttle setting or engine load pressure. Manual selector means are provided to select one of two control mode patterns for either economical operation or for power operation, and each of the control modes provides a different ratio of transmission input speed to output speed.

Abstract: A control mechanism for operating a vehicle has a housing assembly mounted for swinging movement about an upstanding axis, and a brake actuating member is mounted on the housing assembly for swinging movement about a second axis. A push-pull control rod assembly is connected to the brake actuating member and depends within the housing assembly to move a brake control element between brake-off and brake-on positions. A transmission actuating member is mounted on the housing assembly and a coupling apparatus is provided for urging the transmission actuating member to a neutral position when the brake actuating member is moved to the brake-on position. This prevents inadvertent movement of the vehicle when the brake actuating member is subsequently placed in the brake-off position.