Abstract: An engine starter apparatus being arranged such that a rotational force from an electric motor is transmitted to an output rotary shaft through a planetary speed reduction gear. The number Zs of teeth of a sun gear, the number Zp of teeth of a planet gear, the number Zi of teeth of an internal gear and the number N of the planet gears satisfy the equation (Zs+Zi)N=an integer, and the pressure angle .alpha.bi of the engagement between the planet gear and the internal gear is arranged to be cos.sup.-1 {(Zi-Zp)/(Zs+Zp).times.cos.alpha.bs}, where .alpha.bs is the pressure angle of the engagement between the sun gear and the planet gear.

Abstract: A hob or shaper cutter for making a hub for a misalignment gear coupling having a hub and a sleeve. The hob or shaper cutter has cutting edges. Each cutting edge being inclined at a different angle to the center line of the tooth. The cutting edges are adapted to cut tooth flank surfaces having three adjacent involute shaped areas. Each involute shaped area having a different pressure angle than the involute area adjacent it. The involute areas of each tooth result in teeth with flanks that are generally cylindrical shaped, whereby hub treeth operate with a minimum of interferfence with sleeve teeth when operating with the hub misaligned with the sleeve.

Abstract: A marine outboard drive particularly adapted for use in a twin stern drive arrangement which facilitates reversal of the degree of rotation of the output shaft. A bevel gear train drives a drive shaft of the outboard drive and because of the counterrevolution is supported by a pair of oppositely acting thrust bearings. An improved arrangement is provided for preloading the thrust bearings and for positioning the driven bevel gear within the drive shaft housing so as to adjust the meshing relationship between the gears.

Abstract: An electric steering apparatus which effects position adjustment by electric drive has a screw shaft parallel to upper and lower columns. A nut member rotatably supported by a housing fixed to a bracket is fixed against movement in the axial direction of the screw shaft and threadably engaged with a screw portion provided at one end of the screw shaft. In a preferred embodiment the other end of the screw shaft is pivotally connected to the upper column for pivotal movement relative to the bracket in the direction of tilt. The nut member is self-aligning in the housing, and the nut member is rotatively driven by an electric motor to move the screw shaft in the axial direction and thereby move the upper column, whereby position adjustment can be accomplished. The apparatus is provided with a back-lash preventing device in which the screw shaft is pressed against the nut member in a radial direction and the threadably engaged portions of the screw shaft and the nut member are urged against each other.

Abstract: A flexible boot having a bellows and mount portions on both axial ends of the bellows portion at which the boot is mounted on parts of a mechanism such as an automotive constant velocity joint. The flexible boot has an anti-degradation agent make-up element made of a material which contains an anti-degradation agent and which is capable of allowing the anti-degradation agent to precipitate on the surface thereof. The anti-degradation agent make-up element is fitted on at least a portion of the outer surface of the bellows so that the anti-degradation agent precipitated on the surface of the material of the anti-degradation agent make-up element is caused to progressively immigrate into the material of the bellows thereby making-up the anti-degradation agent in the bellows.

Abstract: A mechanical transmission converts rotational motion of an input drive shaft to an alternating radially directed motion of a selected amplitude. The alternating motion imparts rotational movement to an output driven shaft through imposition of one-way clutches. The alternating radially directed motion is varied by means of a rotatable self-balancing cam assembly. The self-balancing cam assembly includes a working, radially offsettable cam component and a compensating counterbalance. The cam and counterbalance are interconnected by a plurality of eccentric orbital coupling elements which rotate with the input drive shaft and are selectively rotatable thereabout. These impart simultaneous radial movement to the cam and counterbalance as desired to maintain the transmission in a dynamically balanced condition over its full range of operation.

Abstract: A single lever directional control system for positively conditioning a tractor transmission for either a forward or reverse mode of operation. The control system includes a controller for engaging the transmission in either of two modes of operation as a function of the electrical signals directed to the controller, an electrical switch for directing electrical signals to the controller as a function of the operative state of the switch, and an over-center control lever for controlling the operative state of the switch. The over-centering of the control lever positively positions the lever in either of two positions corresponding to the two modes of operation of the transmission. Precise shifting of the transmission is facilitated by configuring the control lever for movement in two distinct directions of movement to shift the transmission.

Abstract: In a infinitely variable transmission wherein two toric traction discs are rotatably supported in a housing opposite one another so as to define therebetween a toric cavity in which at least two motion transmitting traction rollers are disposed in engagement with the toric discs and supported by pivot trunnions, each pivot trunnion is provided with a single support roller disposed on a track section and has an axial control end which is supported so as to be slightly movable in a plane normal to the axis of the toric discs and means are provided for controllably moving the trunnion control ends in unison for initiation of a transmission ratio change.

Abstract: A transmission comprising an outer hollow stationary casing having first and second open ends, an outer surface and a cylindrical inner surface. The inner surface has a circumferentially extending, uniformly shaped first zigzag groove. A first hollow cylindrical member is rotatably mounted coaxially within the casing and has an axially aligned output shaft which extends outwardly from the second end of the casing. The cylindrical member has a plurality of transversely extending parallel slots extending therethrough which register with the first zigzag groove. A second hollow cylindrical member is rotatably mounted coaxially within the first cylindrical member and has an output connector extending outwardly from the closed end thereof. A circumferentially extending, uniformly shaped second zigzag groove is formed on the outer surface of the second cylindrical member and registers with a portion of each slot.

Abstract: The new automatic-manual transmission system includes all of the components of a standard transmission including a conventional gearshift lever and a clutch pedal. In addition, the system includes a gearshift position-selection panel is located apart from the gearshift lever. The panel enables the driver to select the desired gear position of the gearshift lever by manipulating the panel without the necessity of handling the gearshift lever. Also, included is a controller which transforms the driver's gearshift selection to an output signal which corresponds to the gearshift position selected by the driver. The system also includes a linkage means for mechanically repositioning the gearshift lever automatically in accordance with the output signal. The linkage includes two motors, two driving links each pivotally engaged with the motor, a coupler attached to one of the driving links, and a gripper link which is secured to the gearshift lever.

Abstract: The fluid-powered actuator having a body, an axially extending rotatable shaft with a plurality of helical grooves, and an annular piston sleeve reciprocally mounted within the body and receiving the shaft therethrough. The piston sleeve has a plurality of radial bores extending fully therethrough with an inward open end adjacent to the grooved shaft. Guide pins are rotatably disposed in each of the pistion sleeve bores and ride in the shaft grooves. An annular carrier is reciprocally mounted within the body coaxial with the piston sleeve and is adjustably axially movable relative thereto. The carrier has a plurality of radial bores extending fully therethrough with an inward end adjacent to the grooved shaft. Guide pins are rotatably disposed in each of the carrier bores and ride the shaft grooves. Rotation of the carrier is prvented is prevented relative to the piston sleeve.

Abstract: A transmission mechanism used for sewing machines equipped with a carriage comprising a base plate having an opening, a fixing clamp for mounting the base plate to the carriage, and an apparatus for transmission which can be vertically attached to the base plate under the opening thereof. The transmission apparatus has a plunger passable through the opening to perform a reciprocating movement. The transmission apparatus has all its elements substantially disposed within a housing encased by an upper cover and a lower cover thereof to form an integral piece and to reduce the total length thereof.

Abstract: This specification discloses a driving device having a vibrator adapted to vibrate upon application of an electrical signal thereto, such as a piezo-electric element, and more particularly discloses a driving device in which a drive source having the vibrator is disposed on a base plate and the vibration force of the vibrator is transmitted to a contact surface such as a floor surface and the base plate is driven by the reaction force from the contact surface.

Abstract: An annular friction gear includes a driving shaft, a driving disc connected to the driving shaft, a driven shaft, a driven disc connected to the driven shaft, the shafts discs being coaxially mounted rotatably. An annular friction element, radially displaceable mechanically or hydraulically, between the discs rests in frictional contact at one contact point on the driving disc and at a diametrically opposite contact point on the driven disc. The friction element is in the form of a ball bearing disposed obliquely with respect to the shaft axis so that its outer race rests at one contact point on the driving disc and at the contact point on the driven disc. The displacement device engages on the inner race of the ball bearing.

Abstract: A worm reduction gear assembly has a casing or housing composed of two tube parts and three flanges on ends of the tube parts. The worm wheel is journaled between bearings in one tube and meshes with a worm in the other tube. The bearings are received in centering bushes which are sealed by seals in grooves formed in the respective tube. A supporting connecting can be provided on the casing or housing for a steering wheel preferably along the center of the worm wheel and worm and perpendicular to the axes of the worm and worm wheel shaft.

Abstract: This application relates to a device which is mounted onto a threadless shaft and which converts the rotary motion of the shaft into linear translation of the device. The device includes two blocks which have an axial bore therethrough and a plurality of roller bearings, four of which are disposed on the block called the adjusting block and two of which are disposed on the block called the mounting block. The adjusting block carries the tensioning devices which generate the friction between the bearings and the shaft. The mounting block is the component to which both the driven load and the adjusting block are secured. Pins are provided so that the blocks will always be assembled in the same orientation as they were when they were machined.

Abstract: A device for maintianing a load raising linkage in a raised position. A power member is provided for raising and lowering the linkage. A locking member is pivotally connected to the load raising linkage. The locking member is movable between a lock position and an unlock position. An anchor is connected to the linkage. A releasable member is carried by the locking member. The releasable member engages the anchor and maintains the locking member in the unlock position. Upon pivoting the locking member to the lock position, the releasable member can also engage the power member and maintain the locking member in the lock position.

Abstract: A linear to rotary ball screw actuator which includes both helical grooves and straight grooves longitudinally spaced apart on the outer surface of the shaft. Matching helical grooves and straight grooves are formed on opposed inner surfaces of first and second portions of relatively moveable housing to provide passageways filled with balls. A return passageway is provided through the housing by way of a straight bore parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.Also disclosed is a ball screw rotary actuator of the type above described but having an additional section including either straight or helical grooves thereby to define an actuator having either a central helically grooved portion sandwiched between straight grooved portions or alternatively a central straight grooved portion with helical grooved portions on either side thereof.

Abstract: A fluid-powered actuator having a body with an interior helical groove, a drive member supported for rotary movement relative to the body, and a carrier reciprocally mounted within the body. In a first embodiment, the carrier rotatably retains first and second rollers in a fixed axial and circumferential position relative to the carrier, with the one roller engaging the body groove and the other roller engaging a helical groove formed on the drive member. The carrier includes a piston portion. In an alternative embodiment, only a single roller is used for engaging the body groove and the carrier has a key member which projects into a keyway recess of the drive member to permit substantially uninhibited axial movement of the carrier relative to the drive member as the carrier reciprocates within the body while coupling the rotational drive of the carrier to the drive member.

Abstract: A controlling transmission comprising a planetary gear mechanism in which at least one pair of intermediate gears are interposed to mesh with a sun gear and an internal gear and in which intermediate shafts respectively supporting the intermediate gears are fixed on a carrier. The indexing positions for fixing the intermediate shafts on the carrier are set such that a tooth surface contacting state, in which one of the intermediate gears meshes with the sun gear and the internal gear, and another tooth surface contacting state, in which the other of the intermediate gears meshes with the sun gear and the internal gear, are determined to have opposite power transmitting directions.