Abstract: There is provided an industrial robot having no interference of a cable for an end effector or the like with a peripheral apparatus. An end effector 5 is fixed to a wrist flange 4 through an intermediate member 6. The intermediate member 6 takes the shape of a crankshaft in which a first flange 6a attached directly to the wrist flange 4, a second flange 6b provided at a predetermined interval in parallel with the first flange 6a and attached directly to the end effector 5, and two members 6c and 6d for coupling the first and second flanges 6a and 6b are arranged symmetrically.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention provides an improved automotive accessory drive system. The automotive accessory drive system including a drive pulley operatively connected to an engine, and a plurality of driven pulleys operatively connected to one of a plurality of driven devices. A flexible drive belt connectively couples the drive pulley and the plurality of driven pulleys, and is operable to transfer drive forces therebetween. The automotive accessory drive system also includes a flexible drive belt tensioner operable to maintain frictional engagement between the flexible drive belt and the drive pulley and at least one of the driven pulleys. The flexible drive belt tensioner has a damper element that preferably includes a damper housing, and a variable viscosity fluid disposed within the damper housing. The variable viscosity fluid is configured to provide a variable dampening rate and is selectively operable to lock the flexible drive belt tensioner.

Abstract: A cycle pedal includes a pedal body mounted to rotate about a pedal spindle, a front hoop having a front attachment bar situated in front of the pedal spindle and substantially parallel to the spindle, and a rear hoop having a rear attachment bar situated behind the pedal spindle and substantially parallel to the spindle. The rear hoop is articulated about a first hoop spindle mounted in bearings of the pedal body and elastic means are provided to urge the rear hoop toward a rest position. The front hoop is articulated about a second hoop spindle which is situated below the mid-plane of the pedal, on a side opposite to the front attachment bar, and elastic means are provided to urge the front hoop toward a rest position. The front upper part of the pedal body is inclined downward toward the front, thereby allowing a greater angular range for a user to click into the pedal.

Abstract: A system for controlling an axial movement of an article is presented. The system comprises a support stage assembly and a spring suspension arrangement mounted on the support stage assembly. The spring suspension arrangement comprises first and second assemblies arranged in a coaxial relationship one inside the other. The first assembly is attached to the support stage assembly. The second assembly serves for supporting an article-carrying member and is driven for movement along the axis with respect to the first assembly. The outer one of the first and second assemblies is configured to define two spaced-apart parallel planes perpendicular to said axis. The first and second assemblies are attached to each other by first and second membrane-like members arranged in a spaced-apart parallel relationship along said axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a controller and a method for controlling a maneuverable control object and comprising a control lever (1) designed to be manually maneuvered by an operator into various positions and a console (2) in which the control lever is pivotable about at least two intersecting pivot axes and in which the console is provided with a corresponding number of clamps (3, 4) swivel-mounted about their respective swivel axis (5, 6), which clamps are provided with slots (15, 16) through which the control lever (1) extends and along which the control lever can be led. Each clamp (3, 4) cooperates with its respective detention device (27, 28, 31, 32) for locking the associated clamp (3, 4) in at least one predefined detention position and hence limiting the movement of the control lever.

Abstract: The thrust return mechanism (4) is intended for a thrust return pedal. It includes an electric motor (28) for the positioning of a control member (30) by the intermediary of transmission elements. The transmission elements include at least one cable (48, 52) of which one end is fixed to a first pulley (42, 54) and which is then wound around a second pulley (40, 50) and of which the second end is fixed on the first pulley (42, 54).

Abstract: In association with a solenoidal coil 10 being energized to unlock a shift lever 1C, a first movable core 9 and a second movable core 11 magnetically stick together so as to rotationally move in unison from an original position in which the first movable core 9 engages with the second movable core 11. Because the first movable core 9 and the second movable core 11 stick together before unlocking the shift lever 1C, it is possible to avoid the first movable core 9 from hitting the second movable core 11 so as to eliminate an operational noise. A lock plate 7 and a link plate 8 are rotatably provided around a rotational center 6 in relative to the solenoidal coal 10. This prevents the lock plate 7 and the link plate 8 from moving rotationally in unison with the solenoidal coil 10 so as to insure a smooth and quick rotational movement.

Abstract: In a starter, a one-way clutch that transmits rotation of a motor to an output shaft has a clutch inner portion. The clutch inner portion has female helical splines in an inner periphery. Also, the clutch inner portion has a stopper at a front end of the female helical splines on the side opposite to the motor. The female helical splines engage with male helical splines formed on a rear end of the output shaft so that the output shaft is slidable in an axial direction. When the male helical splines of the output shaft are brought into contact with the stopper, relative rotation of the helical splines is restricted, thereby to stop the axial movement of the output shaft.

Abstract: Transmission chain constructed from a number of links intercoupled by pivot assemblies, each comprising a first and a second elongated pin of which at least one cooperates with its ends, while transmitting a force, with a pair of pulley sheaves, while during operation one pin rolls with a curved longitudinal surface over the opposite, essentially flat longitudinal surface of the second pin, both pins having mutually different cross-section configurations and a difference in the configuration of the transition between the rolling surface of the second pin to the upper and lower respectively longitudinal edge thereof and/or a mutual difference in height between the first and the second pin respectively.

Abstract: A rack-and-pinion steering system, in particular for a motor vehicle, has a steering housing and a pinion which is inserted into the steering housing If. A rack whose toothing engages with the pinion is mounted so as to be axially displaceable in the steering housing. The rack-and-pinion steering system has a circulation lubrication system with lubricating oil, an arrangement for conveying lubricating oil from a lubricating-oil reservoir conveying lubricating oil to the toothing engagement location between the rack and the pinion.

Abstract: Motor vehicle starter comprising a starter head provided with a pinion (1), a driver (2) and a coupling device with a conical clutch for coupling the pinion to the driver (2), in which the conical clutch comprises a first frustoconical friction surface (8) fixed to the pinion and a second frustoconical friction surface (8?) with a shape complementary to the first surface (8) and fixed to the driver and in which the coupling device comprises on the one hand a hollow-shaped coupling piece having. a bottom extended by an annular skirt directed axially towards one of the elements consisting of pinion and driver and on the other hand axially acting elastic means (10) bearing on a first stop fixed to the coupling piece for acting on a second stop fixed to one of the elements consisting of pinion and driver. The elastic means comprise axially deformable tongues (10b) and extend circumferentially.

Abstract: A pinion includes: a first pinion flange portion disposed so as to protrude radially at a front end of a pinion boss portion; and a second pinion flange portion disposed so as to protrude radially facing the first pinion flange portion from an opposite side of the pinion boss portion. A movement linking body includes: first and second engaging recess portions fitting together with the pinion boss portion and an intermediate gear boss portion; a first sliding surface coming into contact with the first pinion flange portion, the first sliding surface restricting rearward movement of the pinion; a second sliding surface coming into contact with a front-end end surface of the second pinion flange portion, the second sliding surface restricting forward movement of the pinion; and a third sliding surface coming into contact with the clutch cover, the third sliding surface restricting forward movement of the pinion.

Abstract: The invention relates to an accelerator pedal module for controlling the power of a driving engine having a pedal lever held rotatably about a pivot axis by means of a pivot connection on a bearing block, which pedal lever can be made to strike an associated bearing block stop by at least one pedal lever stop. In the region of the pedal lever stop and/or the bearing block stop, elasticities are present such that during a relative rotary motion executed about the pivot axis between the pedal lever and the bearing block to establish the pivot connection, the pedal lever stop slides past the bearing block stop because of elastic deformations and after springing back engages the bearing block stop from behind.

Abstract: A starting apparatus includes a drive motor and a reduction gear having a planetary gear for starting an engine by the drive motor via the reduction gear. An internal gear of the reduction gear includes a locking projection projecting in an axial direction. A rotation restricting member is formed with a guide groove in which the locking projection is loosely received and guided in a circumferential direction. A shock absorbing member is held in the guide groove in a state of being elastically in close contact with the locking projection in the circumferential direction. Thus, shock load to the internal gear is alleviated from the start.

Abstract: A bicycle twist-grip shift control device includes a base member for attachment to the bicycle; a twist-grip operating member rotatably supported relative to the base member for rotating in first and second directions around an operating member axis; a transmission control member rotatably mounted relative to the base member for controlling the pulling and releasing of a transmission control element in response to rotation of the operating member, and an intermediate member that moves in a direction of an intermediate member axis in response to rotation of the operating member. The transmission control member rotates around a transmission control member axis that is substantially parallel to the operating member axis, and the intermediate member includes an intermediate member detent for maintaining a rotational position of the operating member and the transmission control member.

Abstract: A friction gear for a separate accessory of a combustion engine equipped with belt-driven auxiliary units, including a frictional wheel guided by a swivel arm coupled to the engine, to which a protection device is assigned, with the swivel arm and the frictional wheel/protection device provided as a single assembly. The swivel arm provided in the form of a hollow profile includes, on the one hand, a housing which has a single part, flat-cylindrical design and which serves as an essentially closed frictional wheel/protection device with a frictional wheel that can be rotationally mounted between housing end walls and, on the other hand, a coupling location, such that the swivel arm forming a whole with the protective housing and with the coupling location is designed so that it can be assembled over at least one longitudinal partition.

Abstract: A belt tensioner for tensioning the belt of a belt drive system includes an eccentric adjusting member, a pivot structure eccentrically mounted on the adjusting member for pivoting around the adjusting member, a belt-tensioning pulley mounted to rotate on the pivot structure, a biasing member that resiliently biases the pivot structure in a belt-tightening direction, and a coupling structure. The coupling structure temporarily couples the pivot structure to the adjusting member to pivot with it during a belt installation procedure, and the configuration keeps the coupling structure unloaded except for a limited period of time during the installation procedure such that the coupling structure can be installed and removed easily. The tensioner is rendered operative after the pivot structure is uncoupled from the adjusting member, thus allowing the pivot structure to pivot with respect to the adjusting member.

Abstract: A reduction gearbox with an epicyclic gear train is provided for a motor vehicle starter. This gearbox includes a crown (30) comprising a outer crown part (31) and an inner crown part (32) carrying an internal set of teeth (33) together with shock absorbing elements (34). The the damping elements (34) are made in the form of plates disposed in seatings which consist of complementary recesses (36, 37) formed respectively in an outer peripheral face (38) of the inner crown part (32) and in an inner peripheral face (39) of the outer crown part (31). Each recess has a depth which increases in a direction of relative angular displacement between the two crown parts, considered from the peripheral surface, over a length (a) which corresponds to the length of the plate, to a value (b) which is substantially equal to the thickness of the plate.

Abstract: The invention provides a locking device for a tilting and telescoping steering column. The locking device provides a single mechanism for substantially preventing movement of the upper steering column jacket relative to the lower steering column jacket and also for preventing tilting movement of the tilt housing relative to the upper steering column jacket. The locking device includes a linking member that extends parallel to the upper steering column jacket. The linking member is pivotally connected to the tilt housing and slidably connected to the lower steering column jacket. A wedge member is positioned between the linking member and the upper steering column jacket adjacent to the lower steering column jacket. The wedge member is rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the wedge member urges the linking member away from the upper steering column jacket in a direction transverse to the upper steering column jacket.

Abstract: A drive nut device having a drive nut and a drive nut mounting member formed of a single piece of material eliminating the need to align and fixedly attach a separate drive nut and drive nut mounting member together. The drive nut includes a bore that is threaded during the manufacture of a vertical drive apparatus such that the complete apparatus may be formed by machine.