Abstract: Drive and driven shafts are rotatably supported in a wall portion of a press frame and have free end portions extending into a gear case. A first drive gear is nonrotatably secured to the drive shaft and a second driven gear is nonrotatably secured to the driven shaft. A T-shaped member is pivotally connected to the wall and has an intermediate shaft member nonrotatably positioned in a slot for longitudinal movement therein. The intermediate shaft has a free end portion extending into the gear case with intermediate gears rotatably mounted thereon. The T-shaped member is arranged to be suitably adjusted to maintain different sized intermediate gears in meshing relation with different sized drive and driven gears so that the drive shaft imparts a preselected angular velocity to the driven shaft through the gear train. A pair of support arms each have an aperture adjacent one end and an elongated longitudinally extending slot adjacent the other end.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a single lever control for marine propulsion devices and the like which control includes a main control lever mounted for rotational movement from a neutral position, a control knob including a laterally extending hand grip portion and removably fastened on the upper end of the main control lever, and a locking mechanism for releasably locking the main control lever in the neutral position. The locking mechanism includes a locking arm slidably mounted on one side of the main control lever for reciprocative movement between a locking position and a released position. The locking arm is moved to a released position by squeezing a lockout button located adjacent the hand grip portion and removably fastened to the upper end of the locking arm.

Abstract: An improved vehicle steering apparatus includes a lightweight hollow rack gear. The rack gear has a plurality of hollow teeth which engage a pinion gear in the steering assembly. In order to provide a variable ratio steering apparatus, the pitch of the teeth of the rack gear varies along the length of the gear. The rack gear is made by utilizing a pair of dies to form hollow gear teeth in a side wall of the tubular member. In forming the rack gear, one die is inserted into the tubular member while the other die is placed outside the tubular member with its teeth aligned with recesses between the teeth of the die inside the tubular member. The two dies are then pressed together. To form rack gear teeth with different pitches, the dies are provided with teeth of different pitches.

Abstract: Constant rotation from a motor is converted into cyclical rotation for a transfer assembly by means of a drive mechanism having a continuous chain threaded around four sprocket gears arranged in a rectangular configuration with a second set of idler gears mounted on a movable block taking up the slack in the chain on two sides of the rectangular configuration. The movable block and idler gears are moved to and fro by the action of a pivoted cam follower which is reciprocated by a cam mounted on the driving shaft of one of the sprocket gears. Constant rotational power is supplied to the mounting shaft of one of the four main sprocket gears and cyclical rotation is taken out on the mounting shaft of the second one of the four main sprocket gears which is located on the opposite side of the driving chain slack from the driving sprocket gear.

Abstract: A vehicle final drive assembly includes a housing structure, a final drive gear having an internal coupling, an axis and a central load bearing plane transverse to the axis, a bearing assembly connected between the housing structure and the final drive gear for supporting the final drive gear for rotation about the axis, the bearing assembly being located substantially on the central plane of the final drive gear, and a shaft having an external coupling connected to and supported by the internal coupling of the final drive gear.

Abstract: A transmission having free-floating, compound, planetary gears in which the net moment tending to tilt each compound planetary gear out of its radial plane is substantially zero and in which said transmission provides contra-rotating dual output shafts and/or said transmission is capable of having multiple inputs.

Abstract: A brake pedal assembly including a pedal lever pivotally attached to a housing, a plate having a cam surface pivotally attached on the pedal lever, a push rod attached to the plate, and a roller fixed to the housing which is adapted to engage the cam surface on the plate. An operator input applied to the pedal lever moves the pedal lever in an arc with respect to the pivotal attachment with the housing. The plate moves with the pedal lever and rotating thereon as the cam engages the roller to provide the push rod with linear movement for moving the push rod.

Abstract: A single lever control unit for sequentially operating a transmission and throttle and, selectively, for operating the throttle independently of the transmission. A throttle shaft assembly disengages from a throttle gear by pulling out the shaft while in the neutral position. A double key on the throttle shaft disengages from a keyway in the throttle gear and a spring-loaded pin engages a cavity in the throttle gear to lock both shift and throttle gears in the neutral position. Throttle only may then be applied. When the hand lever is returned to the neutral position, the throttle shaft automatically engages the throttle gear and the locking pin automatically disengages by means of spring loading. The locking pin prevents pulling out the shaft in other than the neutral position.A spring provides axial loading between a throttle arm connected to the shaft and a friction plate mounted on the shaft. This loading creates a frictional drag which prevents throttle creep.

Abstract: A sprocket gear assembly comprising a sheet metal cup-shaped sprocket member having teeth formed from the sheet metal on an annular outer portion and a central hub having splines formed therein, the hub and outer portion being separated by a radial flange on each side of the sprocket assembly. The radial flange on one side is integral with the annular outer portion, and the hub may either be integral therewith and secured to a disc forming the other radial flange, or may be integral with the other radial flange and secured to said one radial flange, with the other radial flange welded to the annular outer portion. Alternatively the hub may be formed as a sheet metal component and is secured to the cup-shaped member.

Abstract: An anti-backlash nut assembly is disclosed of the type which undergoes translational movement along a screw in response to relative rotational movement between the nut and screw. The assembly includes a nut which is axially-split into first and second portions, both of which have an internal thread complementary to the external thread of the screw. The two portions of the axially-split nut are retained in the radial direction by a spacer, and a spring is used to apply biasing in the longitudinal direction to minimize backlash.

Abstract: A gear means of an automatic transmission for automobiles including a planetary gear means and friction engaging means in combination, a carrier of the planetary gear means being integrally combined with one of two relatively rotatable elements of the friction engaging means to provide an integral carrier assembly which in turn provides a planetary assembly by incorporating planetary pinions, wherein a rotary mass unbalance of the planetary assembly due to an asymmetrical arrangement of planetary pinions is compensated for by removing a part of the one of the two relatively rotatable elements forming a part of the carrier assembly.

Abstract: An engine compartment has accommodated therein not only a transversely mounted engine but also accessories within a space available adjacent the engine and over a transmission. The accessories are driven by an accessory drive shaft which transmits torque from a crankshaft of the engine to the accessories. The accessory drive shaft is rotatably supported by the engine. The drive torque is transmitted from a front end of the crankshaft to the accessories through the accessory drive shaft.

Abstract: A stirring mechanism for clearing vats which are used in breweries, comprises a movable frame with an electric drive motor and a worm gear drive driven by the motor which is mounted on the frame and drives a stirrer shaft depending downwardly from the movable frame. The movable frame is guided for upward and downward movement on a fixed support frame which has guide rods for this purpose. The construction also includes an intermediate member, such as an elevating screw, which is connected to the movable frame and is driven by an elevating mechanism mounted on a fixed frame.

Abstract: A variable speed drive for a riding lawn mower or the like has a double pulley variable speed sheave assembly coupled between a driving pulley and a driven pulley by first and second V-belts, respectively. The sheave assembly is carried on a pivot arm pivotally mounted on a frame for the vehicle. A mechanical control linkage connected to the pivot arm is operable to shift the sheave assembly with respect to the driving and driven pulleys from a stopped position with both belts declutched through a range of low to high speed drive positions with the belts drivingly engaged. An idler pulley is carried on a spring lever assembly for engaging and variably tensioning one of the belts throughout said range of speed positions to place the belts under variable driving tension in accordance with operating speed.

Abstract: A drive wheel assembly for a machine tool of the band saw type comprises a rim section adapter to engage and drive an endless saw or the like and a hub section removably attached to the rim section. The rim section is provided with internal gear teeth adapted to engage a driven pinion gear, while the hub section contains a central hub adapted to engage a shaft about which the assembly rotates.

Abstract: A flat belt is provided with spaced cleats aligned along the length of the belt for non-driving engagement with a peripheral pulley groove. The cleats are cast in place with a form system installed temporarily on opposite sides of a groove in the covering layer of the belt that exposes the core material for bonding.

Abstract: A gear generally made of plastics for use in such precision devices as timepieces and the like and having improved gear teeth with reduced contacting noises is provided. Each tooth includes means for yielding an elastic deformation of the tooth so that, upon applications of fluctuated load thereto, the fluctuation of load will be cancelled by the elastic deformation of the tooth, whereby a remarkably quiet contacting movement with opposing gear can be achieved.

Abstract: A power transmission belt has an elastomeric body which is frusto-triangularly shaped in cross-section. Such power transmission belts are commonly referred to as V-shaped belts. The belt provided by the invention has a plurality of laterally spaced cords which are parallel to each other and are arranged longitudinally throughout the length of the belt. At least those portions of the sides or flanks of the belt which bear against the walls of grooves of a pulley wheel when the belt is rotated are covered with an elastomeric composition having cut lengths of fibrous material embedded therein and disposed so the longitudinal axes of the fibers are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the belt. The fibers may be impregnated with an organic polyisocyanate solution.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving a wheeled vehicle which can be positioned, controlled and operated by a single individual. The apparatus operates on one wheel of the wheeled vehicle and moves the vehicle by rotating the one wheel. The apparatus includes a drive which engages both the wheel and the surface along which the vehicle is moved and an idler roller which also engages the wheel. The idler roller in its engagement with the wheel produces a reaction force for the apparatus which reacts the driving torque input to the drive. The idler roller produces the essential effect needed to accomplish the one-man operation noted above.

Abstract: A locking differential mechanism comprises a differential gear means including an input gear and a pair of output gears. A locking mechanism locks up the differential in response to a predetermined amount of differentiating action occurring. The locking mechanism functions to lock one of the output gears to the case of the differential. The actuator for actuating the locking mechanism to effect the lockup comprises an oscillating weight actuator mechanism.