Abstract: A drive assembly comprises an elongated endless drive member, for example a roller drive chain, engaged on a rotary drive member, for example a drive sprocket, and arranged to be driven by the rotary drive member. A guide member, preferably a guide wheel defines a guide surface urged against the tight strand of drive chain on the opposite side to that engaged by the sprocket. The guide surface of the guide member is positioned in contact with the drive chain in the region of initial engagement of the drive chain on the drive sprocket and is arranged to guide the drive chain member on to the drive sprocket. The guide member is positioned for eliminating or inhibiting any radial component of velocity of the drive chain relative to the drive sprocket during engagement of the drive chain by the drive sprocket.

Abstract: A mobius drive belt and mobius drive belt fastener are disclosed in which a drive belt of a polygonal or curvelinear cross section is joined to itself at the butt ends to form a drive belt having one continuous driving or belt engaging surface. The drive belt is employed for transmitting power from at least one driving pulley to at least one driven pulley. The mobius drive belt fastener allows the butt ends of the belt to be rotated up to about 180.degree. with respect to one another.

Abstract: This invention relates to hinge structures.According to the present invention there is provided a hinged structure comprising a first gear segment, a second gear segment meshing with the first gear segment, and a link pivotally connected to each gear segment, the axes of the gear segments co-inciding with the axes of the pivotal connections between the link and the gear segments.

Abstract: A method of joining two ends of belting having a layer of cover material and an embedded longitudinal reinforcement structure which is longitudinally compressible comprising removing the cover material from the reinforcement structure a short distance from each end of the belting, placing uncovered reinforcement structure ends in end-to-end relationship, and applying a substantially weftless fabric having a compression absorbing warp material so that the warp members are parallel to the length of the belting and the fabric layer overlies the ends, applying cover material and setting or vulcanizing the assembly.

Abstract: A multiple power path concentric speed reducer in which a center shaft having a pinion thereon and an axle having an externally toothed gear thereon are disposed coaxially with respect to one another, and a plurality of gear trains operatively connect the pinion with the gear to provide multiple power path between the pinion and gear. The power or load is distributed equally between the several gear trains, and the center shaft may be the power input member, a housing the power output member and the axle the reaction member; or the center shaft may be the power input member, the axle the power output member, and the housing the reaction member. The concentric speed reducer is particularly adapted for use in vehicle wheel drives, especially in off-the-highway heavy duty equipment, wherein the speed reducer for each wheel is driven by a separate motor, such as a DC motor, mounted in or on the axle of the respective wheel.

Abstract: A device for automatically controlling the lid and seat of a water closet, and the flushing operation. The device includes an electric circuit which activates a mechanical system for opening and closing the lid, or both the lid and the seat. The system includes a mechanism for automatically flushing the water closet when the lid is being closed.

Abstract: A gear wheel is provided with a safety release disc adjacent one face thereof, said disc having teeth formed as direct extensions of the gear wheel teeth. The disc teeth engage the same gear element as the teeth of the gear wheel but the disc is rotatable on the gear wheel axle. In the event of tooth wear or tooth breakage of the gear wheel the gear wheel will turn relative to the disc, which has no rotational load. This relative movement is utilized to trip signalling or locking devices as desired.

Abstract: An endless power transmission belt having a reinforcing tension and lateral stiffening means, an endless one-piece plastic member. The member is formed with alternate rod-like portions and hinge portions and the entire member is bonded to the elastomeric body of the belt. Such belt is especially adaptable for transmitting power in variable pulley drives and the like.

Abstract: A polar weave (i.e., three-dimensional, reinforced, composite material) flywheel, assembly comprises an outer polar weave portion and an integral metal hub. The hub includes a plurality of recessions and projections to provide an interface between the outer portion and the hub. The outer portion has a cylindrical configuration and is composed of woven and bonded unidirectional high-strength elements aligned and positioned in directions parallel to the polar coordinate axes. The elements so aligned are mechanically imbedded and locked into woven engagement with the recessions and projections, through which the woven outer portion becomes an integral part of the hub, and the interface is inherently strong enough to withstand failure caused by internal and external forces associated with operation of the assembly.

Abstract: An automatic-tensioning arrangement for roller driven belts of a cellular plastic forming machine is described. Sensor means are provided for detecting lateral movement of the belts on the support or drive rollers thereof and for generating a control signal in response thereto. The control signal from the sensor means is applied to a hydraulic tensioning device which displaces the drive rollers longitudinally of the belts to automatically tension the belts in response to detected lateral belt movement. A hydraulic tensioning device is provided for each end of each drive roller so the respective ends can be moved separately from one another. Accordingly, by selective movement of the respective ends of the rollers the belts can be guided back to normal desired position in response to a control signal from the respective sensor means.

Abstract: A drive belt with connector together with assembly tools for proper installation of the connector to the two open ends of a single portion of belt material. The main belt together with the flexible connector body are constructed of cord sections in various configurations and include in many embodiments a central spring member for adding strength and flexibility to the overall belt and means of connecting the belt. One tool is used to hold the respective ends of the main belt portion while the other tool holds the connector unit for engagement and connecting relationship with the two ends in order to form the overall completed belt structure.

Abstract: In a box, open at least at one end, is a drum cam, into each end of which is secured a stub shaft from the hub of a hand lever; the hub of a hand lever; the hubs being journaled in opposite side walls of the box; the hand levers being outside the box for turning the cam manually to release the webbing; cross-sectionally the cam is a substantially diagonal cam, the opposite projections or apices of which are rounded and spaced apart to a distance equal to or greater than the height of the box; smooth gripping surfaces adjacent the respective projections are diagonally spaced apart to leave a clearance less than the thickness of the webbing to be clamping against the top and bottom of the box when tension on the webbing around the cam urges the projections toward said top and bottom; a light multiple ribbon spring between an end wall of the box and the cam urges the webbing against the surface of the cam with light pressure; a pin spaced from the cam anchors the end of the webbing, so that the webbing extends f

Abstract: A segmental V belt consists of a plurality of body segments selectively joined to form an endless belt of any desired length. Such body segments, which can have sidewall perforations or formations to increase wear life, may be joined by connecting the exposed adjacent ends of reinforcing members otherwise embedded in the body segments, or by connecting the radially outer surfaces of the body segments to a reinforcement strip superimposed thereon.

Abstract: A drive pinion is provided with wide teeth and narrow teeth. A follower wheel is provided with teeth which have cut-away portions at their front sides. When the drive pinion rotates in reverse direction, one wide tooth makes contact with an apex of a tooth of the follower gear wheel thereby preventing the reverse rotation of the drive pinion.

Abstract: A one-piece, sheet metal multi V-grooved pulley has a circular hub wall integrally connected with a cylindrical side wall, which side wall terminates in an open end opposite of the hub wall. A series of outwardly opening V-shaped grooves is formed by pairs of V-shaped flange walls in the cylindrical side wall. The pairs of flange walls decrease in metal thickness progressively from the hub wall toward the open end.The V-grooved pulley is made by forming a cup-shaped stage blank having a bottom hub flange wall and a connected outer cylindrical wall terminating in an open end. The stage blank is formed by roller spinning an outer annular portion of a sheet metal disc along a stepped cylindrical surface of a headstock die. A series of integrally connected cylindrical surfaces is formed along the interior of the cylindrical wall of the stage blank by the roller spinning operation.

Abstract: Belting having a layer of covering material and a compression resistant longitudinal reinforcement structure the belting being formed with a joint region at which ends of the reinforcement structure are in end-to-end relationship with a layer of jointing fabric overlying the ends of the reinforcement structure and positioned with warp members of the jointing fabric lying parallel to the length of the belting, the jointing fabric having a high tensile strength in the warp direction and sufficient crimp or twist to absorb compressive force in the warp direction.

Abstract: A transmission gear mechanism having a plurality of drive gears and a shiftable driven gear. Eccentric gears are provided between the drive gears to smoothly transfer the driven gear from one drive gear to the next during shifting without interrupting the power transmission. Bearing surfaces are provided to bias the driven gear into contact with the drive and eccentric gears at all times to maintain power transmission.

Abstract: Chain-tension control apparatus for use with mine installations utilizes a hydraulic multi-piston engine motor driving a reduction gearing which can be selectively coupled to a drive system for a chain or chains used in the installation. The motive fluid for the motor is derived from the main pressure fluid source supplying fluid to other components of the installation and is preferably a 2-5% oil in water emulsion supplied via a pressure-reducing device. Pipe means in the form of a siphon conveys waste fluid as an overflow back to a storage tank independently of the main flow and return lines to the motor and the pipe means provides a fluid trap to maintain a certain quantity of fluid in the motor at all times.

Abstract: A safety hub mechanism which automatically disconnects a driven wheel from a drive train in the event of a mechanical failure of the drive train, thus allowing a continued rotation of the driven wheel.

Abstract: A belt driving mechanism, providing a speed ratio that is infinitely variable between predetermined limits, of the type in which a belt embraces two pulleys adjustable in effective diameter depending on the separation of two conical discs, is described wherein an actuating element reciprocable between two abutments is mounted coaxially with the driving pulley which has an axially fixed disc and an axially adjustable disc. The actuating element carries a rod with a scale ring screwed onto its outer end, and to urge the axially adjustable disc towards the fixed disc, the actuating element moves the scale ring to take up clearance between itself and a thrust member connected by way of a thrust bearing with the adjustable disc and, on continued movement, to force the thrust member to move the adjustable disc.