Abstract: A foamed drive shaft damper may be inserted into a hollow automotive drive shaft. The damper includes foam deposited on its outer surface. The foam itself, which extends above the damper's outer surface, possesses a maximum operating temperature of 175° C. or higher.

Abstract: In a damper apparatus, power is transferred, in order, from a motor, to an input, to a first elastic body, to a first element, to a second elastic body, to a second element, to a third elastic body, and to an output. The first and second elastic bodies are disposed radially outward of the third elastic body, and adjacent to each other on a single circumference. The first element has an annular outer peripheral portion that surrounds the first and second elastic bodies, and a pair of contact portions that are formed on peripheral edges on respective sides of the outer peripheral portion to protrude from the peripheral edges radially inward and to face each other, and that are between and in contact with the first elastic body and the second elastic body.

Abstract: A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus includes a first side plate, a second side plate, a lining plate disposed between the side plates, a connecting member that connects the side plates at a position that is radially inward relative to the lining plate, a pressure plate disposed between the second side plate and the lining plate, and an elastic member that biases the pressure plate toward the lining plate. The lining plate is slidably sandwiched between the first side plate and the pressure plate, and the first and second side plate each includes a reinforcing portion that includes a portion that is axially curved at a location that is radially outward relative to the connecting member.

Abstract: A fixed type constant velocity universal joint is configured such that an axial offset amount of a curvature center of each track groove of an outer joint member and an axial offset amount of a curvature center of each track groove of an inner joint member are zero. Track grooves of the outer joint member are formed alternately in a circumferential direction to be inclined in mutually opposite directions with respect to an axis, and track grooves of the inner joint member are formed alternately in the circumferential direction to be inclined in mutually opposite directions with respect to the axis. An outer surface of the inner joint member is formed into a spherical surface which is held in slide-contact with an inner spherical surface of a cage. An inner surface of the outer joint member is formed into a cylindrical surface.

Abstract: A fixed type constant velocity universal joint comprises a ball and a lubricating grease sealed therein. A surface roughness of the ball is set to Ra 0.15 ?m or less and a surface roughness of a counterpart surface on which the ball rolls is set to be higher than the surface roughness of the ball. An additive composition of the lubricating grease comprises a base oil, a diurea compound, molybdenum dithiocarbamate, zinc dialkyldithiophosphate, melamine cyanurate, molybdenum disulfide, and calcium salt of alkylaromatic sulfonic acid.

Abstract: A spherical joint features a housing, a lower race seated therein, a ball member disposed between said lower race and an upper race position, and a retaining ring installed directly over the upper race in an annular groove inside the housing. In one embodiment, a retaining member is threaded into the housing over the retaining ring. The joint is fully serviceable by removal of the retaining member and ring. Prior to component replacement, initial wear can be compensated for, as the groove is oversized so as to originally lie partially below the ring-abutted upper surface of the upper race. When the upper race moves down the body as a result of surface wear of one or more of the races and ball member, tightening of the retaining member once again forces the retaining ring down against the upper race to re-tighten the races against the ball member disposed therebetween.

Abstract: An outer race assembly for a constant velocity joint may include an outer race defining a plurality of tracks and a piston selectively moveable along the tracks of the outer race. The outer race assembly may further include a seal disposed about the piston and abutting the outer race about substantially an entire perimeter of the piston. The seal thereby generally seals an interface between the piston and the outer race.

Abstract: A lamellar rotational flexure pivot may include a first pivot end, and second pivot end, and a divider layer positioned therebetween to allow first and second pivot ends to pivot relative to one another. The first and second pivot ends may include a plurality of spring layers and spacer layers that are stacked in alternating fashion to form the lamellar rotational flexure pivot.

Abstract: A quick-release fixing structure for a fender of a bicycle is provided with a mounting member fixed to the front fork, an engaging member fixed on the fender, and a U-shaped control member. The mounting member is formed with an elastic piece, a receiving cavity, and two penetrating holes which have two cutting grooves in communication with the receiving cavity and the penetrating holes. The engaging member is received in the receiving cavity of the mounting member and formed with two arc-shaped cutting grooves for mating with the arc-shaped cutting grooves of the mounting member. The control member is inserted in the penetrating holes and formed with two arc-shaped grooves. The quick-release fixing structure is capable of assembling the fender onto the front fork of bicycle or disassembling it therefrom by a simple pressing operation.

Abstract: A method for servicing a coupling connecting two non-collinear shafts, which coupling includes a pair of sleeves each having a yoke provided at an end portion thereof, a knuckle provided between each yoke that includes a body having a plurality of openings, a plurality of bushings each positioned in one of the openings, and a plurality of separate pins threadingly engaged to the yokes for releasably connecting the yokes to the knuckle. The method includes loosening a pair of opposed pins on one of the yokes such that an end portion of each pin is spaced from the corresponding bushing, which disengages that yoke from the knuckle, separating the disengaged yoke from the coupling, removing a worn bushing, inserting a different bushing in the opening, positioning the yoke to reengage the knuckle and tightening the pins on the yoke until the end portion of each pin engages the corresponding bushing.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint which comprises a joint ball which is enclosed and rotationally supported by a ball socket. The ball socket has two socket parts that move axially relative to one another, and the socket parts act on opposite sides of the joint ball in the axial direction. An adjusting device has a transmission and drive by which the socket parts can be moved toward one another in the axial direction and exert pressure on the joint ball. The transmission comprises a first part which has tracks that rise in the axial direction and curve around a rotational axis oriented in the axial direction and in which a ball is guided. A second part, which contacts the balls, is disposed between the transmission parts in the axial direction. The balls and the first part can be rotated relative to one another about the rotational axis by the drive.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint for a drive system includes: an outer joint member and an inner joint member, each having a plurality of ball grooves, the ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves of a skewed groove shape with a first skew angle other than zero and alternately arranged in opposite directions relative to an axis of rotation of the outer and inner joint members, and a second group of grooves of a skewed groove shape with a second skew angle other than zero and alternately arranged in opposite directions relative to an axis of rotation of the outer and inner joint members, the second skew angle less than the first skew angle. In addition to the differentiated skew angles, the contact angles of the balls in the first and second group of grooves may also be differentiated.

Abstract: A shaft arrangement for a transmission comprises a shaft having an axial bore connected to an oil supply system, at least one loose wheel rotatably supported on the shaft via a bearing, and a shift clutch arrangement which connects the loose wheel for rotation with the shaft. The shift clutch arrangement comprises a guide sleeve connected for rotation with the shaft via a tooth engagement. The axial bore supplies oil to the bearing and shift clutch arrangement via a transversal bore in an area of the tooth engagement between the guide sleeve and the shaft. A channel in at least one of an area of a toothing of the guide sleeve and an area of the toothing of the shaft, which, together with the guide sleeve toothing, forms the tooth engagement connects the transversal bore with an area between the guide sleeve and the bearing.

Abstract: A compact quick coupling apparatus has a wedge movable between closed and open positions. A wedge spring extends in the opening direction from the wedge and urges the wedge in the closing direction. A latch spring urges a safety latch to a latched position to prevent the wedge from moving. A single acting hydraulic cylinder extends through the wedge and extends in the opening direction from the wedge. As the hydraulic cylinder extends it first moves the safety latch to the unlatched position, and then moves the wedge in the opening direction. When pressurized fluid is released from the hydraulic cylinder, it retracts and the wedge moves in the closing in response to the wedge spring until the wedge reaches the closed position, and then the hydraulic cylinder further retracts in response to the latch spring and the safety latch moves to the latched position.

Abstract: An arrangement having a gear side and a shaft side includes a shaft. A first flange is disposed on the gear side. A second flange is disposed on the shaft side. A mass damper is attached between the first flange and the second flange and including a damper ring, a hub and an elastomer layer disposed between the damper ring and the hub.

Abstract: A release device having a multi-segment split spool with a central bore adapted to axially restrain a tensioned member. A tensioned tape is overlappingly wound around the spool segments thereby preventing radial movement of the spool segments. The overlapping winding allows for a low profile housing for the release device. The multiple segments require less radial motion for release of the tensioned member.

Abstract: A device for coupling an inner shaft and an outer shaft includes balls arranged in rows between axial grooves of the inner shaft and axial grooves of the outer shaft, enabling the shafts to slide in the direction of a common axis. Each row of balls is maintained by a double elastic member that bears in the groove of one of the inner or outer shafts and urges the balls along two rolling tracks so that they come into contact with the groove of the other of the inner and outer shafts. The two rolling tracks are hinged through a convex pivot surface and a corresponding concave support face of one of the inner and outer shafts, and a difference between the radii of the pivot surface and the support face defines two contact areas and a pivot axis parallel to the common axis.

Abstract: A fixed type constant velocity universal joint of an eight-ball undercut-free type has improved torque capacity at high operating angle while ensuring durability at low operating angle. Centers of a track groove (32) of an outer joint member and a track groove (35) of an inner joint member are respectively separated from a center plane (P) toward axially different sides, and are offset away from a joint center axis (X) to a radially opposite side relative to grooves (35). When Rt represents a distance between a center of a ball (37) and the center of groove (32), and F represents an axial distance between plane (P) and the center of groove (32), a ratio R1 between F and Rt is 0.061?R1?0.087. When fr represents a radial offset amount as a distance between axis (X) and the center of groove (32), a ratio R3 between fr and Rt is 0.07?R3?0.19.

Abstract: A bearing device for a wheel suppresses backlash in a circumferential direction, has excellent coupling workability with a hub wheel and an outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint, and has excellent strength owing to stable fitting between the hub wheel and the outer joint member. Projecting portions extending in an axial direction are provided on one of an outer surface of a shaft section of the outer joint member and an inner surface of a hole portion of the hub wheel. The projecting portions are press-fitted into the other along the axial direction, and recessed portions are formed in the other through press-fitting of the projecting portions. Thus, a recess-projection fitting structure is formed, in which the projecting portions and the recessed portions are held in close contact with each other through an entire region of fitting contact regions therebetween.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint comprises: a hollow housing having a plurality of axially-extending guide grooves; a tripod having a plurality of trunnions positioned in the guide grooves of the hollow housing; and a roller assembly including an inner roller having a spherical inner face and an outer roller mounted on an outer face of each inner roller, the roller assembly for transmitting a load between the first and second rotating shafts. A cross sectional shape of the trunnion, taken in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the trunnion, has a thickness at one or both lateral sides of the trunnion the same as or slightly less than a maximum non-interfering thickness of the trunnion, the maximum non-interfering thickness measured with the inner roller inclined by a predetermined degree relative to the longitudinal axis of the trunnion to assemble the trunnion into the inner roller.