Abstract: A lifting system for raising and lowering objects to and from a storage or holding area, having a support and drive assembly which raises and lowers a platform assembly having an lifting platform for holding objects and preferably a closure platform for closing an opening of a ceiling portal through which the object is raised and lowered on the platform assembly.

Abstract: A supporting mechanism is provided that prevents swings and deflections of a long piece of material, as well as eliminates any scratches of it that may arise when it is being processed. The supporting mechanism includes a group of spherical bodies C, four pieces of movable supporting members 1, and coil springs 2. The group of spherical bodies C comprises a first group of spherical bodies C1. The movable supporting members 1 are provided around the second group of spherical bodies C2, contacting the periphery of the group. The coil springs 2 are a biasing device that pushes the movable supporting members 1 toward the central axis of the long piece of material W.

Abstract: The hoist attachment for skid steer includes a base frame with a mounting bracket and ball joint brackets to securely mount the hoist attachment to the skid steer. A telescoping boom is pivotally mounted to the top of the base frame. A pipe rack may be disposed adjacent the top of the base frame to store pipes or additional equipment. Pairs of hydraulic and manual support legs are attached to the base frame to stabilize the hoist attachment during working conditions. The power source for the hoist attachment is directly supplied by the hydraulic system in the skid steers. The hoist attachment includes controls operating the primary winch, boom, and hydraulic support legs. The base frame also includes a plug to which a remote may be attached for remote operation, the plug being connected to an electrical power source.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission is provided with i) a primary pulley that is formed by a driving-side fixed sheave that is fixed to a drive shaft, a driving-side movable sheave, and a driving-side cylinder member, and has a driving-side cylinder, ii) a secondary pulley that is formed by a driven-side fixed sheave that is fixed to a driven shaft, a driven-side movable sheave, and a driven-side cylinder member, and has a driven-side cylinder, and iii) a drive belt. The drive shaft has a drive shaft internal fluid passage for supplying hydraulic fluid to the driving-side cylinder. A driving-side communicating fluid passage that communicates the drive shaft internal fluid passage with the driving-side cylinder is formed between the driving-side cylinder member and the driving-side movable sheave.

Abstract: The PTO assembly includes an engine driven input shaft, an output shaft, a transmission, a disconnect unit for selectively coupling and uncoupling the input shaft from the transmission and a clutch for coupling an uncoupling the transmission from the output shaft. A lubrication system includes a shaft lube circuit for lubricating the input shaft, a pump, and a lube control valve for controlling communication of lubricant from the pump to the lube circuit. The lube control valve is operatively coupled to the disconnect unit so that when the disconnect unit is engaged the lube control valve blocks communication from the pump to the lube circuit, and when the disconnect unit is disengaged the lube control valve communicates the pump to the lube circuit. The lubrication system also includes a transmission lube circuit for lubrication the transmission. The control valve communicates lubricant to the transmission lube circuit when the disconnect unit is engaged and disengaged.

Abstract: Continuously variable speed drive (CVT) have improved performance due to use of two groups of flyweight cams, each group being mounted on separate rotational members of a centrifugal clutch. One set of flyweight cams provides force to close the sheaves through the entire movement of the shift, whereas the other set of flyweight cams provides force only through an initial portion of the shift and then signs off. This provides a two stage shift behavior for the CVT that enhances power transfer to the driven pulley.

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining uniform tension across a width of a web including a frame, a roller, a shaft about which the roller rotates, a first arm rigidly connected to a first end of the shaft, a second arm pivotally connected to a second end of the shaft, and a third arm rigidly connected to the second end of the shaft. The first arm is pivotally connected to the frame by a first joint. The second arm is pivotally connected to the shaft by a second joint and to the frame by a third joint. The third arm is coupled to the frame through a fourth joint. The first, third, and fourth joints are offset from the axis of the shaft by substantially the same distance. The first and third joints are offset in the same direction. The fourth joint is offset in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A tensioner is disclosed that achieves asymmetric damping in part by using a ramp-ramp assembly. The tensioner comprises a tensioner axle defining a pivot axis, an arm mounted on the tensioner axle so as to permit the arm to pivot about the pivot axis, a first tensioner component having first ramp features, a second tensioner component having second ramp features, and a ramp bushing having an upper ramp surface and a lower ramp surface. The first tensioner component is engaged to the arm for rotation therewith and the second tensioner component is coupled to the tensioner axle. The ramp bushing is disposed between the first tensioner component and the second tensioner component such that the upper ramp surface seats within the first ramp features and the lower ramp surface seats within the second ramp features.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tensioning device, in particular for a timing chain of an internal combustion engine, having a housing, a tensioning piston guided in a piston bore of the housing, and a locking means for limiting the retraction motion of the tensioning piston into the piston bore of the housing. The locking means comprises a locking ring arranged on the tensioning piston. Furthermore, the locking means comprises a separate locking sleeve that can be reversibly radially expanded and is arranged at one tensioning end of the housing to introduce the locking ring into the locking means in the retraction direction of the tensioning piston and to retain the locking ring in the locking means in the tensioning direction of the tensioning piston.

Abstract: A device comprises a rotor element which is connected to a stator element by at least one roller bearing, and a grease storage recipient for lubricating the roller bearing. The supply of grease from the grease storage recipient is controlled by a temperature-dependent expansion element.

Abstract: A ribbon transport apparatus for a printing press is provided. The ribbon transport apparatus includes a vacuum conveyor belt transporting a ribbon and a manifold supporting the vacuum conveyor belt. The vacuum conveyor belt and the manifold are arranged to draw the ribbon towards the vacuum conveyor belt via a suction. A method of transporting a ribbon in a printing press is also provided.

Abstract: In a housing 13, an air discharge hole 41 and a suction pipe 51 are arranged vertically in parallel and are located outward with respect to a bearing 12 that supports a vertical main spindle 11. A communication hole 43 connects between a space formed below the bearing 12 and an intermediate portion of the air discharge hole 41 in a height direction. A bottom end of the air discharge hole 41 and that of the suction pipe 51 communicate with an oil reservoir 45. Lubricant in the oil reservoir 45 is sucked through the suction pipe 51 and is recovered at a position outside the housing 13.

Abstract: A reversible seat belt tensioner includes an electric motor (2), a belt shaft (1) drivable in the belt winding direction by the electric motor (2) via a drive wheel (10), and a drive shaft (9) transmitting the rotational movement of the electric motor (2) to the drive wheel (10). The drive shaft (9) is connected to at least one of the drive wheel (10) and the electric motor (2) via a helical gear unit. The use of a helical gear unit provides the advantage that the rotational axes of the meshing components can be arranged at angles other than 90 degrees with respect to each other because the components in the helical gear units only come into punctiform contact.

Abstract: An IVT machine includes an input shaft, a drive wheel on the input shaft, an output shaft, a ratio changing device which is mounted on the output shaft, an endless belt which passes over the drive wheel and in an open loop on the ratio changing device, control elements for enlarging and reducing the belt loop dimension about the output shaft axis, belt guide elements providing a throat through which the belt enters and leaves its loop on the ratio changing device, and a drive arrangement on the ratio changing device for the transmission of drive power to the output shaft and is engaged with the belt in a portion of its loop on the device and engageable with the belt on both sides of the throat in its transition across the throat during rotation of the ratio changing device.

Abstract: A chain tensioner includes a cylinder having a closed end, an internally threaded plunger axially slidable in the cylinder, a return spring biasing the plunger in the protruding direction from the cylinder, and a screw rod having an external thread in threaded engagement with the internal thread of the plunger. The portion of the screw rod protruding from the plunger abuts a rod seat provided in the cylinder. The screw rod has a rolled external thread and an intermediate portion protruding from the plunger and having an outer diameter smaller than the diameter of the root of the external thread. The screw rod has a forged contact surface, to be contacted with the rod seat, on the axial end face of the intermediate portion. The internal thread may be formed by pressing, and a pressed recess, corresponding to the internal thread, may be formed on the plunger's outer circumference.

Abstract: Toothed belt for use in contact with oil and comprising a body and a number of teeth extending from at least one surface of the body; the teeth are coated by a fabric; a resistant layer comprising a plastomer based on fluorine with the addition of elastomeric material, in which the plastomer is present in a larger quantity than the elastomeric material, is applied by adhesion onto the coating fabric. The elastomeric material forming the body of the belt is a copolymer obtained from a dienic monomer and a monomer containing nitrile groups, in which the nitrile groups are between 33% and 49%, preferably 39%, in weight with respect to the copolymer.

Abstract: A method and an installation are used for inspecting a surface of a coiled metal strip, wherein the coil to be inspected is unwound along a moving plane so as to cause at least part of the strip to move to a position for inspecting the surfaces. Accordingly, the method consists in moving the part of the strip to be inspected along a substantially vertical inspection plane, between an unwinding device and a winding device arranged on two vertically spaced apart levels on either side of an intermediate inspection level. Thus, the inspection is visually performed on both surfaces of the strip by an operator moving about on a floor at the intermediate inspection level.

Abstract: A drive system for use with a cable and a carrier for raising and lowering a payload includes a reel, a drive mechanism, a cable slack control mechanism, and a tension adjustment system. The drive member is operatively connected to the reel to rotate the reel in a winding direction when the drive member is rotated in a raising direction, and to controllably rotate the reel and/or permit the reel to rotate in an unwinding direction when the drive member is rotated in a lowering direction. The cable slack control mechanism is operative to automatically selectively decouple the drive member from the reel while the drive motor is rotating the drive member in the lowering direction when a tension on the cable does not exceed a threshold tension and/or the cable is fully unwound from the reel. The tension adjustment system is operable to selectively adjust the threshold tension.

Abstract: An assembly for capturing lubricating liquid from a fan drive gear system of a gas turbine engine includes a gutter and an auxiliary reservoir. The gutter is positioned radially outward from a centerline axis of the gear system for capturing lubricating liquid slung from the gear system. The auxiliary reservoir is fluidically connected to the gutter for receiving and storing the lubricating liquid from the gutter. A portion of the auxiliary reservoir and a portion of the gutter have a same radial distance from the centerline axis of the gear system.

Abstract: An apparatus for recovering hose, particularly coupled fire hose, comprises a lifting frame assembly, a lifting arm attached to the lifting frame assembly, a plurality of guide rollers, a motor mounted on the lifting frame assembly, an electric switch, a powered rotational drive roller, a plurality of lower rollers, and a detachable support assembly. A biasing means biases the lifting frame assembly to a plurality of guide roller mounts to allow lifting and lowering of the lifting frame assembly to and from at first and second position to allow passage of hose fitted with hose couplings. When using the relatively simple apparatus, a single operator can efficiently collect infinite quantities of hose fitted with hose couplings.