Abstract: A gearless speed and torque converter is disclosed wherein a first member or input member fixedly mounted to a rotatable input shaft has an Archimedes spiral groove-bearing surface. A second member or output member fixedly mounted to a rotatable output shaft has an Archimedes spiral groove-bearing surface which is complementary to the spiral groove-bearing surface of the input member and is disposed adjacent thereto. The Archimedes spiral groove of the output member has a pitch different from the pitch of the Archimedes spiral groove of the input member. The input shaft and the output shaft are coaxially mounted relative to one another. A plurality of balls are disposed between the respective spiral grooves and are held therein solely by virtue of being captured in the intersecting spaces of the spiral grooves. During rotation of the input member, the balls move on a spiral track at a rotational speed which is an average of the rotational speeds of the input and output members.

Abstract: An infinitely variable traction roller transmission with traction rollers arranged between, and in engagement with, opposite toric discs for the transmission of motion therebetween includes traction roller support trunnions pivotally mounted in a transmission housing which has partially cylindrical housing cavities formed behind the trunnions, the trunnions having support cavities receiving pressurized fluid for floatingly supporting the trunnions on the cylindrical housing cavities to permit friction free pivoting and axial movement of the trunnions for adjustment of the transmission ratio.

Abstract: A metal forming machine for forming articles from metal workpieces has a plurality of driven members for performing work on the metal workpieces. A drive shaft is connected with the driven members for transferring force to the driven members. A frangible portion is connected in the drive shaft and is designed to fail upon the occurrence of a predetermined overload at the member being driven from the drive shaft. A signalling device is associated with the frangible portion to stop the machine and give an alarm when an overload occurs which breaks the frangible portion.

Abstract: In a change-speed gearing unit including an extension housing formed at its rear end portion with an upright projection located in the upper opening of the housing, and a shift-and-select lever shaft slidably and rotatably supported at its rear end portion by an axial bearing hole in the upright projection, a lubricating device comprises a pair of laterally upright walls formed on the rear end portion of the housing between both faces of the upright projection and both opposed inner walls of the upper opening portion of the housing to form an oil well in open communication with the axial bearing hole, the oil well being supplied with lubricating oil picked up by the rearmost gears of the change-speed gearing unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a toothed belt provided with an undulated fabric embedded in the part of the belt's body between its tension resistant insert member and its back. The elastomeric material of the toothed belt disposed between the undulated fabric and the back has a lesser hardness than that forming the remaining part of the belt.

Abstract: In a traction roller transmission in which motion is transmitted from an input shaft to an output shaft by traction rollers arranged between, and in engagement with, opposite toric discs, the traction rollers are supported by pivot trunnions which have ball screw structures associated therewith in order to provide a predetermined axial position for one part with respect to the other part of the ball screw structure which is connected to the trunnion for pivotal and axial movement therewith.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a novel and improved variable ratio rack and pinion steering gear wherein the pinion has teeth of variable shape and size and the rack has teeth at least in part of variable shape and size. The teeth of the pinion are correctly meshable with a uniformly toothed rack profile and adapted to provide variable pitch circles. The teeth of the rack are adapted to be generated by using the profile of the pinion teeth in a manner to provide a desired variable ratio between the pinion and the rack.

Abstract: In a traction roller transmission in which traction rollers are rotatably supported in the annular space between concentric sun roller and traction ring structures, at least one of said sun roller and traction ring structures has a tapered support surface with a tightly wound coil spring having a tapered surface supported on said tapered support surface and an opposite cylindrical surface in engagement with said traction rollers and means are associated with said transmission for forcing the coil spring onto said tapered surface so as to cause firm engagement of the traction rollers with the sun roller and traction ring structures.

Abstract: In an infinitely variable traction roller transmission which has toric traction elements mounted opposite each other on coaxial input and output shafts with traction rollers arranged between, and in engagement with, the toric elements, the traction rollers are supported on pivot trunnions which may be moved axially for initiation of a change of the transmission ratio and the trunnions have a lever arrangement associated therewith including arms pivotally connected to their one ends to the trunnions and joined at their other ends, each arm being linked to a control lever pivotally supported in the center plane between the trunnions so as to provide, upon control lever pivoting, the same precess force to the trunnions, however in opposite directions.

Abstract: An anti-backlash nut assembly is disclosed for longitudinal movement along a screw which has an external thread thereon, in response to relative rotational movement between the nut assembly and the screw. The assembly includes a first nut part having an internal thread complementary to the external thread of the screw, and a second nut part also having an internal thread complementary to the external thread of the screw. A coil spring is interconnected between the first and second nut parts for applying torque thereto and rotatably biasing the nut parts together to eliminate backlash therebetween and improve the positional accuracy of the nut assembly along the screw. A cylindrical collar is sandwiched between a pair of opposed portions of the nut parts and surrounds the coil spring. With this structural combination, the anti-backlash nut assembly can be adjustably preloaded by relatively rotating the nut parts to selectively preload the coil spring to a desired torque.

Abstract: An infinitely variable traction roller transmission which has traction rollers pivotally supported between toric discs mounted opposite each other on coaxial input and output shafts. The traction rollers are rotatably supported on a support block which is laterally movably supported on a pivotal traction roller support structure. The traction roller support block and pivotal support structure have cooperating bearing surfaces with rollers arranged therebetween to permit lateral movement of the support block. The bearing surfaces or bearing rollers are so formed that the support block is lifted off the pivotal support structure upon torque-induced lateral movement of the traction rollers in order to engage the traction rollers with the toric discs.