Abstract: The invention relates to a lubrication system for a mechanism (27), on-board a spacecraft. It comprises a non pressurized tank (20) communicating with the mechanism (27) via a tube (220). A piston (23) closes the tube (220) while the mechanism is at rest. The piston (23) is controlled by a first spring (5) and by a second, shape memory, spring (24) opposing the latter, which lengthen by thermal effect. A controller (25, 26) supplies this spring with a current (I) to actuate it. An annular element(7), pushed by a cylindrical spring (6), defines a capillarity filled pumping chamber (22). When the temperature of the shape memory alloy (24) falls back below a threshold, the spring (24) recovers its original shape, the first spring (5) pushes back the piston (23) and expels a dose of lubrication fluid (4).

Abstract: A clutch device has a shaft rod, a hollow torsion sleeve, a trip device, an outer toothed gear, an inner toothed gear, and a first belt pulley. The outer toothed gear is disposed on the trip device. The hollow torsion sleeve has a plurality of grooves. The trip device has a center hole to receive the hollow torsion sleeve, and a plurality of radiated thread holes. The inner toothed gear is disposed on the first belt pulley. The outer toothed gear engages with the inner toothed gear. Each radiated thread hole receives a ball, a spring, and a stud. Each groove receives the respective ball. The shaft rod is inserted through the hollow torsion sleeve, the first belt pulley, and a second belt pulley.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to paving machines capable of spraying a liquid binding material in the form of an emulsion on the road surface prior to the application of a hot asphaltic bituminous concrete paving material. The paving machine including a self-propelled chassis having a hopper and a paving material accumulator on the front end for receiving paving material, a transversely extending spray bar at the rear of the chassis for spraying the liquid binding material on the surface of the road bed, a conveyor for conveying the paving material from the hopper to a discharge location to the rear of the spray bar, the conveyor including two or more conveying augers mounted in auger troughs, and auger covers from the accumulator to the discharge location, which cover reduces heat loss from the paving material.

Abstract: There is disclosed a gear module comprising an output gear pivotally fitted to a base, a transmission gear rotated by a driving force from a driving motor to transmit the driving force to the output gear, a power actuating lever having a base end pivotally fitted to the base to be rotated around the base end; an actuated lever having a top end pivotally fitted to the transmission lever and a base end pivotally fitted to the base; and a connection bar connecting the top end of the power actuating lever and the top end of the actuated lever, the connection bar allowing the actuated lever to rotate in accordance with a rotation of the power actuating lever and allowing the transmission gear and the output gear to be engaged with each other, wherein the link axises of the power actuating lever and the connection bar form approximately a straight line when the transmission lever is engaged with the output gear.

Abstract: A roller control system for a continuously-variable-ratio transmission (CVT) of the toroidal-race rolling-traction type. The system includes an operating mechanism having a first part (5, 6) operable to control the position of the roller center along the torus center circle but incapable of defining the tilt angle (36) adopted by the roller (7), and a second part comprising a mechanical link (13) connected to the roller bearings and operable to control the tilt angle (36). The link (13) lies substantially parallel to the plane of the roller (7) and is constrained to pass through a predetermined single point (14).

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission of an automotive vehicle comprises a primary pulley disposed on a power input shaft, and a secondary pulley disposed on a power output shaft. Each of the primary and secondary pulleys includes a fixed wheel counterpart having a first sheave surface, and a movable wheel counterpart having a second sheave surface. The first and second sheave surfaces face each other to form a pulley groove whose width is changeable with axial movement of the movable wheel counterpart. An endless belt is wound on the primary pulley and the secondary pulley so that the secondary pulley is drivably connected to the primary pulley. The belt includes a steel belt portion, and a plurality of steel elements supported on the steel belt portion and aligned along the steel belt portion. The respective steel elements are engageable in the pulley grooves of the primary pulley and the secondary pulley.

Abstract: An actuation device for a lock of a multi-point safety belt to be placed in a position of use against a body of a user of the safety belt includes a rotatable cup-shaped locking head, wherein at least one recess in provided in the circumference of the locking head in a downwardly directed circumferential portion in the position of use of the locking head, and wherein the recess in configured as a finger recess. The locking head further may include a circumferential portion located diametrically opposite the finger recess and facing upwardly in the position of use, wherein the at least flattened finger depression has a radius greater than the radius of the finger recess.

Abstract: A gas actuated derailleur for a bicycle includes a base member, a movable member supporting a chain guide, a coupling mechanism coupling the base member to the movable member so that the movable member moves relative to the base member, and an actuation mechanism responsive to compressed gas for causing the movable member to move relative to the base member.

Abstract: A stopper includes a frame (51) fixed to a mount base (1) of an industrial robot, a retaining shaft (52) which is fixed to the frame (51) in an upright position in relation to the plane of rotation of the turning base (2), a rod-shaped engagement lever (53) which is supported so as to be able to turn around the retaining shaft (52), a spring (57) for returning the engagement lever (53) to a position where it faces the center of the turning base (2), stoppers (59A, 59B) provided on both inner surfaces of the frame (51) which face the engagement lever (53), and an engagement dog (7) which is fixed to the turning base (2) and is capable of engaging the engagement lever (53). It is possible to provide a stopper for use with an industrial robot which permits setting of the operating angle of the turning base to a value of 360.degree. or more and which ensures a wide range of operation.

Abstract: A robot for handling comprises at least four bosses (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) coaxially provided and displaced from each other axially of the center of rotation to permit independent rotation, arms (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) provided on the bosses, respectively, links (22a, 22b, 22c, 22d) connected to the respective arms, a plurality of carriages (8a, 8b) connected through a carriage attitude regulating mechanism (B) to tip ends of each pair of links, each of which is connected to each arm of each pair of axially adjacent two bosses, the plurality of carriages being displaced from each other axially of the center of rotation, and independent drive sources (27a, 27b, 27c, 27d), respectively, connected to each of said bosses.

Abstract: The invention relates to a road finisher with a chassis having a front bucket for receiving packing material and a conveying device for conveying the packing material from the bucket to a rear spreader screw arrangement which is arranged transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the road finisher and in front of a consolidation plank which is extendable, the consolidation plank, which is connected to the chassis via pulling arms and floats on the packing material, being divided centrally in the direction of the longitudinal axis into two plank halves, the consolidation plank being provided with a device for adjusting the inclination of two halves with respect to each other and having outer side cheeks. In order to counteract twisting of the consolidation plank and opening of the gap between the two plank halves, a clamping device, the clamping force of which can be set by a cylinder articulated on the chassis, is arranged between the chassis and the lower region of the outer side cheek.

Abstract: A plurality of designs for mine roof bolts is disclosed. Each mine roof bolt includes a flexible multi-strand cable having a first and second end with a drive head formed on the first end, the drive head having a plurality of driving faces on an exterior surface thereof. The drive head may be formed integrally with the multi-strand cable in one embodiment of the present invention. An alternative embodiment of the present invention forms a drive head as a separate member. With a separate drive head, a barrel and wedge assembly may be attached to the cable wherein the drive head is utilized substantially for rotating the cable.

Abstract: A belt driving device in which an endless belt is spanned around a drive pulley and a driven pulley and the belt is driven by rotation of the drive pulley includes a belt shift correcting member for correcting shifting of the endless belt.

Abstract: A motor mounting apparatus supports a motor relative to a base for relative rotation about a pivot axis to control tension in an endless loop driving element. A driving element emcompasses a drive member driven by the motor about a drive member axis and a driven member coupled to a load and driven by the driving member about a driven member axis to transmit power from the motor to the load. The apparatus includes a threaded shaft rotatable by a user about a shaft axis. The shaft axis is fixed relative to a first of the base and motor. A rider is carried by the threaded shaft so that rotation of the threaded shaft about the shaft axis produces longitudinal translation of the rider along the shaft axis relative to such first one of the base and motor. A rigid link has a first end pivotally coupled to the rider and a second end pivotally coupled to a second one of the base and motor.

Abstract: A collapsible control lever for use with a control system having levers including a conventional cable control lever system such as those found on motorcycles and bicycles. The lever has three independent axes of rotation about which sections of the lever rotate during impact to deflect the impact force. However, the lever remains rigid in the direction of the applied control force when in its operational position during normal operation. The lever restores itself to its operational position following impact with minimal user assistance. The lever may be sized and shaped to be easily retrofit into existing known pivot bases, and at least one of the pivots may include an improved swivel pivot that is sealed from mud and other debris in its operational configuration. The improved swivel pivot has a first and second generally cylindrical frame portion that rotate about a pivot pin with each frame portion having a sliding surface with a smoothly alternating concave and convex-shaped sliding surface.

Abstract: The invention concerns a drive device for the mechanical stage (1) of a microscope, said device having a stationary base plate (2) and slides (3, 4) which are disposed thereon, are movable in the X and Y directions and are used to position an object to be examined. Secured on each of the slides (3, 4) is a rack (5, 6) which is drivingly connected in each case to a drive pinion (7, 8). Two superimposed control knobs (9) are provided on the microscope mechanical stage (1) for manually manipulating the drive device. Disposed in each case between the control knobs (9) and the respective drive pinion (7, 8) is a transmission element in the form of a toothed belt (10, 11) which transmits the rotational movement at the control knobs (2) to the respective drive pinion (7, 8).

Abstract: A ratchet type tensioner with a hydraulic buffer mechanism, which is simple in construction, low in manufacturing cost, easy in securing an oil path, and large in durability. A plunger (8) is slidably inserted into a plunger insert bore (9A) which axially extends through a plunger sleeve (9) restricted to advancing displacement by an anti-retrograde mechanism. A plunger spring (10) for biasing the plunger (8) forward is provided along with a sleeve spring (14) between a plunger housing (7) and the plunger sleeve (9) for biasing the plunger sleeve (8) forward. The sleeve spring (14) has a smaller spring constant than the plunger spring (10). A high pressure chamber (H) communicates with an oil pressure supply portion through a check valve (15). The chamber is formed in a space between a bottom portion of a plunger receiving bore (7B) in which the plunger (8) is inserted and a rear end surface (7C) of the plunger.

Abstract: An oil pump for a lubricating system of an outboard motor is disclosed. The motor has a cowling defining an engine compartment, a water propulsion device, and a guide member having an upper surface and a lower surface, the guide member positioned in the cowling and generally dividing the engine compartment into an upper part and a lower part. An engine is positioned in the upper part of the engine compartment within the cowling and has an output shaft arranged to drive the water propulsion device. The lubricating system includes an oil pan positioned below the guide member and an oil passage leading from the pan through the guide member. The oil pump is positioned in the upper part of the engine compartment, but below the engine, and is driven by a lower end of the output shaft of the engine which extends below the engine, the oil pump having an oil inlet in communication with the oil passage through the guide member.

Abstract: A lubrication mechanism for directing lubrication to the teeth of the sun gear of a planetary gear set without requiring separate pumping mechanisms wherein the rotating planet carrier has a deflector and generally radially extending passageways so as to collect lubricant within the casing and direct it through the passageways to the outwardly facing sun gear teeth. The passageways are also used for providing visual inspection of the sun gear teeth to determine the amount of wear of the sun gear teeth.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) comprising an outer tubular member (30) having an axis (32). An inner member (90) extends into the outer tubular member (30, 90) and is coaxial with the outer tubular member. The members (30) have surfaces (52a, 102a, 102b) which define a plurality of races (112) spaced circumferentially around one of the members (90). At least one rotatable element (140) is in each of the races (112). The rotatable elements (140) engage the outer tubular member (30) and the inner member (90) and guide relative axial movement of the outer tubular member and the inner member and transmit torque between the outer tubular member and the inner member. One of the members (30) applies radially directed force to the rotatable elements (140) urging the rotatable elements radially into contact with the other member (90) to provide for a no-lash torque transmission between the members.