Abstract: A perforating gun having an elongated, spiral strip with an outer surface, cylindrical about a longitudinal axis, and a diameter sized for convenient entry and removal from a well. The strip has a series of threaded openings spaced in intervals for mounting capsule explosive charges in a phased relationship between 0 and 360 degrees. The cross-sectional area of the strip around each opening is selected to prevent fragmentation of the carrier upon detonation of the charges. The spiral strip is preferably metallic and forms a helical band with a pitch in a range of 12 to 24 inches. In each threaded opening is an explosive capsule with a hollow cap having at one end a threaded nose for attachment to one of the threaded openings. The cap has an annular, interior thread with a thread run-out of selected width at the other end.

Abstract: A variable ratio chain-belt transmission for use in a vehicle, includes a pair of variable ratio pulleys having a plurality of pins which are lined in a plurality of circles, a chain-belt engaging with both variable ratio pulleys. Different sized pulleys are formed by pushing and pulling the pins in and out of engagement with the chain-belt by activating various solenoids, whereby various pulley ratios are formed when the plurality of pins form different relative sized pulleys. A clutch mechanism for use with the variable ratio chain-belt transmission includes distinct forward and reverse clutch assemblies.

Abstract: There is described a hydraulic tensioner (1, 101) for endless transmission elements, in particular a chain tensioner for internal combustion engines. The tensioner includes a housing (2, 102), a pressure chamber (3, 103) arranged in the housing, a piston (4, 104) which is movable in the pressure chamber (3, 103), a hydraulic fluid supply to the pressure chamber (3, 103), a check valve (20, 120) which is arranged within the hydraulic fluid supply and is acted upon by pressure in the pressure chamber (3, 103), and a means (11, 111) for automatically reducing the pressure in the pressure chamber (3, 103). To provide such a tensioner with a pressure-relief valve (11, 112) for automatically reducing pressure in the pressure chamber (3, 103), i.e., in a manner which is simple under constructional and technical manufacturing aspects and also reliable, the check valve (20, 120) should be connected to the valve member (12, 122) of the pressure-relief valve (11, 111).

Abstract: A power transfer system is disclosed having a drop box for connecting a motor vehicle's drivetrain to an offset driveline. The drop box has an input that is angled relative to its output by means of a constant velocity (CV) universal joint. More specifically, a first rotary member is coupled for driven rotation about the rotary axis of the transmission output shaft while a second rotary member is supported for rotation about a second rotary axis that is angled relative to the first rotary axis. A CV joint drivingly interconnects the second rotary member to the first rotary member. The drop box also includes a third rotary member adapted for connection to the driveline and which is supported for rotation about a third rotary axis that is offset from the second rotary axis. A drive connection interconnects the third rotary member to the second rotary member. The CV joint allows the drop box to be angulated so that a reduced departure angle is achieved with respect to the prop shaft connection.

Abstract: A bicycle chainwheel has a plurality of first teeth spaced at (p-.alpha.) from each other, where p is the chain pitch, and a second tooth shaped differently from at least one of the first teeth. A sum of the pitch P between one of the first teeth disposed immediately ahead of the second tooth in a driving direction of the chainwheel and another one of the first teeth disposed behind the second tooth is greater than 2(p-.alpha.). If desired, P may be approximately equal to 2(p-.alpha.)+.alpha.. In the case where there is a plurality N of the second teeth disposed adjacent to each other, where N is an integer greater than one, then P is preferably greater than (p-.alpha.).times.(N+1), and, if desired, approximately equal to ((p-.alpha.).times.(N+1))+N.alpha.. In the case of a chainwheel having missing teeth, then a sum of the pitch P between a first one of the plurality of teeth and a second one of the plurality of teeth disposed adjacent thereto is preferably greater than (p-.alpha.).times.

Abstract: A pulley pivotable on the swinging member is pressed against a timing belt by the resilient force of a tension coil spring, and the retracting action of the pulley is made slow by the damper unit, having a cylinder and piston in the cylinder wherein a leak gap between the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder and the outer peripheral surface of the piston is controlled to have a larger vibration prevention effect for the timing belt.

Abstract: An endless belt particularly adapted for use in high speed power transmission, commonly termed a fan belt, which is particularly adopted to be readily formed on site to any desired length and methods and apparatus for forming the belt. The belt is comprised of an outer length of flexible and durable polymeric material having a longitudinally channel extending therethrough spaced closer to the inner surface of said belt than the outer surface thereof and a reinforcing ribbon of a flexible and durable material inserted into the channel within the outer length of material through a radial slit extending from the outer surface of the outer length of material to the longitudinal channel therein. A portion of the reinforcing ribbon within said channel extends across the abutting ends of the outer length of material and overlaps a second portion of the ribbon within the channel and is bonded thereto by an adhesive.

Abstract: An industrial belt splice assembly having two industrial belt portions each including opposite faces and an end portion formed to define a splice element. The splice elements have knuckles formed therein. The knuckles are intermeshed and have bores therein which are substantially in alignment. A hinge pin extends through the aligned bores in the knuckles and interlocks the splice elements. The splice assembly further comprises a hard splice guard mounted on each industrial belt member. The splice guard substantially covers the knuckles and protects the splice from damage.

Abstract: A belt tensioner of the Zed type with a pivot-arm attached to a cylindrical member and including a spring activated damping mechanism with a brake shoe having oppositely facing inside ramp surfaces which operate in such a manner to provide a normal force that is greater than a spring force applied to a brake shoe that engages the cylindrical member.

Abstract: The invention concerns a tension roller made of a plastic material for adjusting a tension in a belt drive, comprising a wheel (7) having an inner ring (9) and an outer ring (10) connected to each other by axially oriented, circumferentially spaced ribs (12) and by a central web (8), the wheel (7) being rotatably mounted on a support element (2) which bears by a running face against the belt (3). According to the invention, successive ribs (12) enclose different angles with reference to a central point of the wheel.

Abstract: A tensioner includes a plunger slidably inserted in a housing and biased by spring means. The spring means include sequentially operable first and second portions in which the first portion has a relatively larger pitch and large spring modulus and the second portion has a relatively small pitch and small spring modulus. When the spring means is depressed a certain degree, the coils of the second spring portion 16 will move into close contact with each other to vary the spring modulus. Thus, the amount of backward movement and jutting out speed of the plunger will be decreased, thereby a required tensile force will be given to a belt, or the like, without delay.

Abstract: An auto-tensioner including a body having a cylindrical bore defined therein; a shaft having first and second ends, the first end of the shaft being slidably and rotatably engaged with the cylindrical bore of the body, the body including a mechanism for sealing the shaft in the cylindrical bore so as to be fluid-tight; a support arm having upper and lower ends, the lower end of the support arm being fixedly connected to the second end of the shaft; a pulley rotatably connected to the upper end of the support arm, the pulley being operatively engaged with a belt under tension; a mechanism for rotatively urging the shaft and the support arm whereby the support arm maintains a tension engagement between the pulley and the belt, the urging mechanism being operatively connected between the body and the shaft; and a mechanism for converting rotational movement of the shaft into axial movement thereof along the cylindrical bore, the converting mechanism operatively connected between the shaft and the body, wherein t

Abstract: A pulley device for a continuously variable transmission includes a shaft having first and second ends, the second end being formed with two axially separated ring grooves. A C-shaped ring is engaged with one of the two ring grooves disposed near to a movable conical plate. A ring-shaped retainer is arranged to restrain radial movement of the C-shaped ring. A snap ring is engaged with the other of the two ring grooves to restrain an axial position of the retainer.

Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner with a sealing element to provide fluid leakage from a fluid filled chamber. The tensioner includes a housing having a fluid filled chamber and a hollow piston slidably received within the chamber and biased in a protruding direction by a spring. A sealing element is positioned in a groove in the piston or is mounted in the inner wall of the chamber. The sealing element is discontinuous so as to permit the passage of fluid from the fluid filled chamber to outside of the hydraulic tensioner. Fluid leakage is limited and controlled by discontinuity size of the sealing element.

Abstract: A power transmission chain reduces the chordal motion, or up/down motion, of the chain, which permits a reduction in the noise of the chain. In the chain, the inside flank and outside flank of the link teeth are formed to satisfy P.sub.2 .gtoreq.P.sub.1 .gtoreq.P.sub.3 and R.gtoreq.2.times.P, when P.sub.1 is the pitch between the outside flanks on the mesh pitch line of link plates 2, P.sub.2 is the pitch between the inside flanks of two other adjacent link plates that engage with teeth of the links when the chain is stretched nearly straight, and P.sub.3 is the pitch between the inside flanks when the chain is wrapped around the sprocket. R is the radius of curvature of the inside flank and P is the chain pitch.

Abstract: A drive assembly for rotating a shaft of a pulley-driven device is disclosed together with a method of making the drive assembly. The method includes the steps of forming a pulley of lightweight non-ferrous metal having a web portion, forming a radially inward portion of the web portion into an axially extending annular portion, mounting a connecting ring of ferrous metal having an annular groove in an interior end surface thereof over the axially extending portion of the web portion so that a free end of the axially extending portion extends adjacent the annular groove, cold-forming the free end to fill the annular groove, welding a hub of ferrous material to the connecting ring and machining a central axial bore through the web portion and the axially extending portion thereof and the hub.

Abstract: A derailleur cable router changes the direction of a derailleur cable operatively attached to a rear derailleur to a bicycle frame. The rear derailleur is actuated by variation in tension applied to the derailleur cable from a direction rearward of the derailleur. The tension in the derailleur cable is controlled by a shifter attached to a distal end of the derailleur cable, the shifter being mounted to the bicycle frame forward of the derailleur. The derailleur cable includes a cable housing around at least a portion of the derailleur cable with the derailleur housing being fixed against lengthwise movement relative to the bicycle frame by attachment to the bicycle frame. The derailleur cable router includes a frame having a first and a second end. A housing is provided at the first end of the frame and the housing is attachable to a derailleur cable housing. A second housing is provided at the second end of the frame, the second housing being attachable to a derailleur cable feed of a rear derailleur.

Abstract: A double V-ribbed belt having a body with an inside, an outside, a length, and laterally spaced sides. At least a first rib is exposed on the inside of the body and extends in a lengthwise direction. At least a second rib is exposed on the outside of the body and extends in a lengthwise direction. A substantially inextensible layer resides between the first and second ribs. Laterally extending reinforcing fibers are provided in the body on at least one of the inside and outside of the inextensible layer, with the concentration of reinforcing fibers on the inside of the inextensible layer being different than the concentration of reinforcing fibers on the outside of the inextensible layer.

Abstract: A rear derailleur for a bicycle having a bracket connected to a bicycle frame, a guide wheel for shifting a chain, a support member for supporting the guide wheel, a base member pivotably attached to the bracket, a tension spring for biasing the base member in a predetermined pivoting direction, and a parallelogram link mechanism for linking the support member and the base member. The bracket has a mounting section formed in a region thereof adjacent the bicycle frame and opposed to the bicycle frame. The tension spring is attached to the mounting section so as to lie between the bicycle frame and the mounting section. The tension spring is a coil spring having one end thereof fixed to the mounting section, and the other end fixed to the base member. An axis extends through a middle tubular space of the coil spring for pivotally connecting the base member to the bracket.

Abstract: A front derailleur includes a base member for connecting to a bicycle frame, a first link pivotably connected to the base member at a first base member connection location, and a second link pivotably connected to the base member at a second base member connection location. An inner chain guide is pivotably connected to the first link at a first inner chain guide connection location and to the second link at a second inner chain guide connection location so that the inner chain guide moves laterally when the first link and the second link pivot relative to the base member. An outer chain guide is pivotably connected to at least one of the first link or the second link at a first outer chain guide connection location which differs from the corresponding first inner chain guide connection location or second inner chain guide connection location so that the outer chain guide moves laterally when the first link and the second link pivot relative to the base member.