Abstract: A delayed-action transmission whereby mechanical coupling between a driven member and a driving member is effected by centrifugal force and the mechanical coupling is controllably delayed.

Abstract: A bicycle drive means for bicycles comprising a motor pivotably mounted on the front fork of a bicycle so as to allow a wheel driving rotor on the motor shaft to frictionally drive the front wheel of the bicycle; manually operable toggle means pivoted to the bicycle handle bars; a spring loaded telescopically compressible strut pivotally interconnecting the toggle lever and the motor for actuating the wheel driving rotor into and out of engagement with the tire on the front wheel of the bicycle; the disclosure also relating to a bicycle frame mounted battery box for carrying a battery to energize said motor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a viscous shear coupling (e.g. for use as a fan drive comprising an annular driving member, usually in the form of a disc having a hub portion for mounting on a driving shaft, a driven member having an internal annular chamber receiving said annular driving member, with facial planar and circumferential surfaces of said chamber and opposing facial planar and circumferential surfaces of said driving member at least in part being in close-spaced relationship, said driven member being axially and radially located for rotation relative to said driving member, viscous coupling fluid in said chamber, and a 0.0005 to 0.0015 inch thick layer of non-metallic anti-friction material on at least those parts of said facial planar and circumferential surfaces of said annular chamber which are in close spaced relationship, thereby forming journal and thrust bearing means for the relative rotation of the driving member and the driven member.

Abstract: An automatically reversing traverse mechanism cooperable with a rotating shaft, comprising a base, a roller mounted on the base for simultaneous turning and swiveling movement, and engageable with the shaft, and a unique yieldable biasing means which urges the roller by means of a snap movement to either of two oppositely disposed, extreme angular positions. As the shaft is rotated, the angularly disposed roller and base automatically undergo reciprocative movements in a path parallel to the axis of the shaft. The traverse mechanism includes a novel operating means which substantially instantaneously swivels the roller from its one extreme position to its other extreme position in response to movement of the base past a predetermined point. The operating means includes a fixed abutment located at a predetermined point along the shaft, and an arm rotatably carried by the base, which engages the abutment and subsequently undergoes turning movement.

Abstract: Flexible coupling which can rotate in both directions, comprising two coupling parts connected to each other by torque transmitting simultaneously loaded resilient rolling elements which are mounted in pockets, each of which is defined by two adjacent cavities in said two coupling parts.

Abstract: Oscillatory motion of a first end of a lever arm is converted to incremental rotational motion of an output shaft connected to a second end of the lever arm. The second end oscillates with an amplitude determined by a fulcrum adjustable along the lever arm. The output shaft is coupled to the second end of the lever arm by a wrapped spring arrangement.

Abstract: An anti-backlash, self-aligning nut construction comprising specially constructed tubular nut bodies coacting with concentric spring sleeves of unique configuration to effect precise, self-aligning, anti-backlash assemblages. The nut bodies in general each have a pair of spring-biased elements provided with internal thread formations adapted for engagement with the external threads of a screw. In one embodiment of the invention a self-aligning spring sleeve is provided having solely three pairs of oppositely-disposed transverse slots to obtain the desired aligning feature. The nut body has a base portion which is separated from the spring-biased elements by means of two transverse slots which, together with an adjacent pair of slots in the spring sleeve, form in effect a universal joint. One of the remaining slot pairs in the sleeve is oriented circumferentially with respect to the first pair by an angle of 90.degree., with the third pair of slots being circumferentially aligned with the first pair.

Abstract: This specification discloses an improved means for adjusting the movement of a gyratory head fan comprising a turntable driven by the fan motor and supporting an adjusting mechanism which changes the position of a socket member for the ball of a gyratory linkage with respect to the axis of rotation of the turntable. The adjusting mechanism comprises a rim which may be held against rotation relative to the turntable, lugs on the rim which engages lugs on a rotatably mounted member incorporating the socket such that the member is rotated to change position of the socket. The rim may be held against rotation by means of a plunger which engages projections on the rim. Spring loaded pawl means may be provided to hold the member in several predetermined positions to provide different modes of operation.

Abstract: A drive mechanism includes a nut on a rotatable lead screw. The nut has a partially threaded and partially unthreaded axial bore and a mounting assembly to couple it to a linearly movable carriage. The mounting assembly includes diametrically opposed carriage-engaging lugs positioned on the drive nut near the threaded bore end and a locking arm slidably keyed into a slot in the carriage which mounts the drive nut for universal radial floating on the carriage. The drive nut may become slightly skewed relative to the axis of the lead screw in order to minimize frictional forces due to tolerance variations, bow in the lead screw, or axial misalignment of the lead screw with carriage guide rods. Kinetic-energy-induced bounce forces of the carriage are damped by a coil spring which also maintains the lugs against the carriage.

Abstract: A flywheel for an inertial guidance system, comprising a rim reinforced by a sheet formed of one or more filaments wound around the rim and intersecting adjacent the axis of symmetry of the rim. The sheet of filaments may be reinforced by means of a binder and the flywheel may or may not include a hub at the axis of symmetry and having the filaments wound therearound.

Abstract: Concentric driving and driven clutch rings have teeth in a common radial plane on one end of the rings. The clutch rings are normally coupled together by a coupler ring having teeth engaging the teeth of both clutch rings, this engagement being maintained by an axial clamp bolt. In the event of dangerous overspeed the clamp bolt is broken and the coupler ring is disengaged from the clutch rings by an explosive charge acting on an axial piston. The explosive charge is detonated by a firing pin actuated by a steel ball impelled by centrifugal force. The ball is retained by a magnet until centrifugal force exceeds the magnetic force holding the ball.

Abstract: A gear mechanism for transmission of small forces, such as in a hand mechanism gear for clocks or watches which has a driving shaft, a driven shaft coaxial thereto, two gearwheels developed as crown wheels, mounted coaxially engaging each other over a small portion of their circumferences and having each a different number of teeth, one of these gearwheels being stationary and the other rotary. A coupling means such as a clutch is fastened to the driving shaft for rotation therewith. The clutch and the two gearwheels are mounted in relation to each other in such a manner that when the clutch rotates with the driving shaft, the rotary gearwheel resting on the driven shaft, while itself rotating, rolls off on the stationary gearwheel.

Abstract: An improved precision lead screw and nut assembly, including an improved nut, includes a nondeformable screw member having a helical thread on the exterior thereof, the thread being formed by a rib having a crest, adjacent side walls, the rib defining a helical groove having a root which is located between the side wall of adjacent crests. The screw cooperates with a housing, the nut being positioned within the housing and cooperating with the screw such that relative rotation between the nut and the screw causes translational movement between the two. The nut includes a helical thread formed by a rib and adjacent side walls, the rib defining a helical groove having a root located between the side walls of the adjacent crests of the nut. The nut is preferably formed of a thermoplastic base material such as an acetal resin containing finely divided particles of a fluorocarbon resin such as polytetrafluoroethylene uniformly distributed throughout the base material.

Abstract: This specification discloses a transmission clutch brake for use in a torque delivery gear system. A rotatable clutch disc driven by an input shaft and selectively engageable by a pressure plate carries a pair of plates. The plates embrace a brake plate carrying friction material on opposite faces thereof. Upon disengagement of the pressure disc from the clutch plate one of said plates of said pair is moved axially relative to the other thereof in a clamping manner to grip the brake plate against rotation. The latter brake plate is connected to a stationary splined hub utilizing a snap ring. The ring acts as a torsion spring and permits limited slight rotation of the brake plate and clutch disc clamped thereto as well as the input shaft to facilitate meshing of gears of the transmission.

Abstract: An overload control coupling between two rotating machine elements, particularly the driving part and the driven part of a coaxial shaft mechanism with at least two essentially semi-cylindrical extensions radially arranged at the interface of the coupled machine elements and uniformly distributed over the circumference, the extensions each comprising portions from the coupled machine elements, which portions form cylinders having a separation plane or interface parallel with the rotation plane of the machine elements, the extensions being embraced by annular power-transmitting carrier links connecting the machine elements. In the case of overload, the machine elements may separate and disrupt the connection by the breaking of the carrier links at predetermined excessive stress levels.

Abstract: A constant speed belt drive system includes a belt connecting a drive V-pulley to a driven V-pulley. Each pulley comprises a pair of axially displaceable half-sheaves. One pulley has a half-sheave which is axially displaceable by biasing spring means; the other pulley has a half-sheave which is axially displaceable by centrifugal movement of balls riding on ramp means between the half-sheaves. In operation, the balls are located at their radially innermost positions when the system is running at a predetermined drive speed. Upon increase of speed of the system above the predetermined speed, the balls are displaced radially outwardly along their ramps under centrifugal force and axially displace the pulley half-sheaves effecting thereby a change in the speed ratio between the driving and driven pulley. Either the ramp means or the spring biasing means or both are arranged to provide a non-linear rate of axial displacement of the half-sheaves and consequent non-linear rate of speed ratio change.

Abstract: A composite gear device having a large toothed wheel and a smaller toothed wheel axially offset with respect to each other. A link chain is provided having the same number of tooth engaging openings as the number of teeth on the larger toothed wheel. The chain is secured to the large toothed wheel, preferably by straining it within its elastic limit, so that the chain engages the teeth in an essentially nonflexible configuration free of any articulative movement. The smaller toothed wheel also engages the chain thus allowing the transmission of power in essentially an axial direction.

Abstract: The joint allows high operational speeds and large operating angles while remaining homokinetic.The joint comprises a bell integral with the driving shaft and defining raceways for rollers carried by trunnions. Two sets of rollers and trunnions are provided and associated respectively with two concentric shaft sections which are connected to the driven shaft and are capable of undergoing elastic torsional deformation so as to take up the phase difference between the two sets of rollers and trunnions.

Abstract: An auxiliary fraud-deterrent guard method and means for use with handle-operated reel-spinning mechanisms such as poker, fruit and slot machines which employ a trip lever requiring complete, non-retrogressive movement of the operating handle for initiation of a proper operating cycle, wherein retrogression is prevented by a blocking dog which enters behind the advancing trip lever and is automatically displaced to non-obstructing position by the decoupling action of a pawl which frees the trip lever from the handle at trip-out position. An additional feature provides a simple adaptor means mounting the dog for quick installation on existing equipment.

Abstract: The adjustable pedal construction may be used, as an example, as a brake pedal, clutch pedal, accelerator pedal, or any other type of pedal intended for use in a vehicle, which is manually or power operated, for actuating purposes. The pedal construction includes an upper pedal part assembly and a lower part pedal part assembly, with the upper pedal part assembly being conventionally pivoted on an existing vehicle pedal bracket thereby requiring no change in the corresponding brake, clutch or accelerator operating linkage. The upper and lower pedal part assemblies include plates which are pivotally connected by a pivot pin. A releasable latching, connecting or locking pin is interposed between the upper and lower pedal part assemblies to permit adjustment therebetween.