Abstract: A device for recovering fluid from a reservoir having a lower drain. The device includes a first coupling connectable to a drain of a reservoir and having an internal passage for fluid flow therethrough. A conduit has one end connected to the first coupling for fluid flow into the conduit and a second end opposite the first end with a valve to control fluid flow through the conduit. A probe, defining a fluid passage, has a tip portion for actuating the valve from its normally closed position to an open position upon insertion of the tip portion in the valve to allow fluid flow through the valve and the probe. A portable receptacle is attached to the probe for collecting fluid when the valve is actuated to the open position. A portable pump reduces the pressure in the receptacle to draw fluid through the conduit and into the receptacle.

Abstract: In a V-ribbed belt including short fibers such as carbon fibers in the surfaces of ribs, that is, a contact surface with a pulley, the surfaces of the ribs are coated with a water repellent agent so that the surfaces of the ribs can attain water repellency. Thus, while suppressing performance degradation and increase in manufacturing cost of the belt, the water removing property against water splashed on the belt is improved, so as to prevent slip and an accompanied unpleasant noise from being caused.

Abstract: A method based on precision X-Y stages that are stacked. Attached to arms projecting from each X-Y stage are a set of two axis gimbals. Attached to the gimbals is a rod, which provides motion along the axis of the rod and rotation around its axis. A dual-planar apparatus that provides six degrees of freedom of motion precise to within microns of motion. Precision linear stages along with precision linear motors, encoders, and controls provide a robotics system. The motors can be remotized by incorporating a set of bellows on the motors and can be connected through a computer controller that will allow one to be a master and the other one to be a slave. Position information from the master can be used to control the slave. Forces of interaction of the slave with its environment can be reflected back to the motor control of the master to provide a sense of force sensed by the slave.

Abstract: An actuator which makes it possible to avoid adhesion of dust or the like to a driving force-transmitting member, wipe out the fear of stop or breakage thereof, and avoid leakage of dust or the like to the outside. Fixing blocks 26a, 26b are slidably provided via guide blocks 22a to 22d on guide rails 18a, 18b for constructing an actuator 10. Slits 88a, 88b are defined at gaps between a top cover 84 and side covers 82a, 82b. Seal members 94a, 94b are provided for each of the slits 88a, 88b. A forward end of one of the seal members 94b is engaged with a step section 104a or 104b of the other seal member 94a to close the slit 88a, 88b. The fixing blocks 26a, 26b penetrate and protrude through the slits 88a, 88b. The forward ends of the seal members 94a, 94b abut against wall portions of the fixing blocks 26a, 26b to close the gaps disposed at the passages into the inside of the actuator 10.

Abstract: A variable setting track system is provided including a track frame. A wheel assembly includes a wheel slidable with respect to the frame. A track is situated about the wheel and the track frame. Also included is a hydraulic mechanism coupled to the wheel for urging the same against the track.

Abstract: A cover for underground structures has a large number of mutually independent projections of the same size and shape uniformly provided on its surface, while small protrusions of the same size and shape are formed on the upper surfaces of some or all of these projections. On top of these small protrusions are formed even smaller protrusions of the same size and shape as the topmost protrusions. Spacing between one large projection and another, between one small protrusion and another, or between one small protrusion and a projection having no small protrusion on its top is set at the optimum distance, and the size of the topmost protrusions is also designed in a shape to fit an optimum size to ensure good skid-prevention effect on tires of vehicles passing over the cover, especially in bad weather over a long period of time, no matter where the cover is installed.

Abstract: A starter assembly for assisting a user in starting a lawnmower engine includes a base component having two opposing vertical side walls, a vertical rear wall and planar horizontal upper and lower surfaces. A lawnmower may be suspended a predetermined distance above the upper surface by placing its wheels on a pair of opposed ramp members. Attached to a sidewall of the base component is an electric motor which rotatably drives a horizontal bar extending from the upper surface. The rotating bar has a pair of oppositely facing pivoting flaps for engaging a lawnmower blade. The electric motor is selectively activated with a lockable switch disposed on the exterior of the base component. Accordingly, when the electric motor is activated, the bar rotates and the flaps pivot to a vertical position to engage the lawnmower blade to rotate the blade at a speed sufficient to crank the engine.

Abstract: The tensioning device comprises a support plate attached to a pivot defining a fixed axis; an intermediate tubular element accommodating the pivot and able to rotate about the fixed axis; a pulley for a belt and supported by the tubular element, surrounding the pivot and able to rotate about an axis of rotation which is not coincident with the fixed axis; and an elastic element interposed between the pivot and the intermediate tubular element so as to urge elastically the intermediate tubular element against the belt. To ensure a high degree of perpendicularity between the pivot and the support plate and, therefore, accurate engagement between the tensioning device and the belt, the support plate and the pivot are integrally formed.

Abstract: A compressor has a piston attached to an eccentric part of a rotary shaft for being reciprocated to compress refrigerant. In order to provide lubricating oil to the shaft, an oil paddle is mounted in a hole of the eccentric part for pumping oil from the bottom of the compressor. The paddle includes a longitudinally extending gap rendering the paddle flexible so that either end thereof can be mounted in the hole. The paddle also includes slots formed in upper and lower ends of the paddle, respectively, in diametrically opposing relationship to the gap. The lower slot is submersed in the oil to reduce the amount of oil that is pumped and thereby reducing generated noise.

Abstract: A random engagement roller chain sprocket for use primarily in automotive engine chain drive applications which incorporates different asymmetrical tooth profiles for improved noise reduction. In particular, the sprocket includes a number of first teeth each having a first engaging flank and a first disengaging flank, and a number of second teeth each having a second engaging flank and a second disengaging flank. One of the first engaging flanks cooperating with one of the first disengaging flanks or the second disengaging flanks of a first adjacent tooth to define a first asymmetrical tooth space for receiving a roller of an associated roller chain. The first asymmetrical tooth space including a first root surface between the one of the first engaging flanks and the first disengaging flanks or the second disengaging flanks. The first root surface being adapted for contacting a roller of an associated roller chain during rotation of the sprocket.

Abstract: A brake pedal mechanism limits the reaction force applied on a brake pedal lever pivot. The pivot is formed by a slot closed by a tang yieldably connected to a retaining arm of a pivotable release lever. A release arm of the release lever is engagable by an actuating rod of a brake booster when moved beyond the normal travel limit of the rod. In one case, excessive brake pedal force causes the tang to yield and release the brake pedal pivot pin. In another case, excess rearward motion of the actuating rod pivots the release lever, lifting the tang and freeing the pivot pin. In either case, the reaction force on the pivot is maintained below a desired limit.

Abstract: An XY stage for precision movement for use in aligning a wafer in a microlithography system. A main stage supporting the wafer straddles a movable beam that is magnetically driven in a first linear direction in the XY plane. A follower stage, mechanically independent of the main stage, also moves in the first linear (X) difection and its motion is electronically synchronized by a control system with the main stage motion in the X direction. Electromagnetic drive motors include magnetic tracks mounted on the follower stage which cooperate with motor coils mounted on the edges of the main stage to move the main stage in a second linear (Y) direction normal to the X direction. Thus the main stage is isolated from mechanical disturbances in the XY plane since there is no mechanical connections and is lightened by removing the weight of the magnetic tracks from the beam.

Abstract: A twist action roller friction drive comprises a rotating drive bar which drives in rotation a roller the axis of rotation of which is inclined relative to the axis of a rotationally fixed driven member with which the roller engages. The inclined roller comprises a single annular roller urged from the inside into driving contact with the driven member by one or more hydrostatic pads. The driven member is a tube and the skewed annular roller is in frictional engagement with the bore of the tube. In a typical use, the tube is fixed to the carriage of a machine tool and is aligned with the machine axis.

Abstract: An operating device for actuating the shift mechanism in multi-ratio transmissions in motor vehicles, incorporating a selector shaft (2) which is largely moveable in parallel to the gear axes and arranged in a transmission housing, this selector shaft (2) carrying coupling devices (14, 26, 32) which form a connection between the selector shaft (2) and shift forks (4, 6, 8, 56) or swing forks of the engaging gears. There is an interlock (34, 54) provided for blocking the shift forks (4, 6, 8, 56) or swing forks of the gears which are not to be engaged. This interlock (34, 54) is designed as a single shift interlock (34, 54) for all gears, which cannot be axially moved together with the selector shaft (2) but which can be rotated around the rotation axis (16) of the selector shaft (2) together with the selector shaft (2), the shift interlock (34, 54) having elements (62, 68, 78) which engage in the shift forks (4, 6, 8, 56).

Abstract: A locking device for locking an adjustable steering column in an adjusted position including a lateral clamping element having enlarged heads at opposite ends thereof and a piston and a cylinder between the enlarged heads and a rotatable locking rod for locking or unlocking the steering column arranged axially immovable relative to the steering column and compactly in a space that is little used. The piston and cylinder have overlapping bores parallel to the centerline of the steering column. The locking rod, also parallel to the centerline of the steering column, has an oval-shaped portion protruding through the overlapping bores so that when the long axis of the oval-shaped portion is vertical the clamping element is loose and the steering column is vertically and horizontally adjustable and when the long axis of the oval-shaped portion is horizontal the clamping element is tight and the steering column is vertically and horizontally locked.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a base, a park brake mechanism and a shift lever both operably attached to the base, and a console configured to cover the components. The components are designed to minimize parts and pieces, including minimizing time required for subassembly together as a unit and minimizing time required for assembly into vehicles. The park brake mechanism includes a quick-attachment structure for drop-in attachment to a spanning bracket for operably engaging wheel park brake cables in the vehicle to the park brake mechanism. The arrangement provides a balanced pulling force, despite unequal lengths of the park brake cables. Further, the shifter includes a shift lever adapted to shift a manual transmission, but constructed to minimize transmission of vibration from the vehicle to the shift lever during operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for intermittently feeding a workpiece to a press, the device including a feed roll with a pinch roll opposite the feed roll, so that a workpiece may pass between the rolls. A servo screw, pinch roll actuator is connected to the pinch roll so that during apparatus operation, changes in pinch roll pressure may be developed between the pinch roll and the workpiece without causing loss of contact between the pinch roll and the workpiece. A new belt drive system and method of pinch roll control is also disclosed.

Abstract: A chain tensioner for tensioning a chain in a drive of an internal combustion engine comprises a piston displaceable within a chamber. The piston is biased by a compression spring so that it protrudes from the housing towards the chain to provide the tension. The chamber has an inlet connected to a supply of oil from the engine. The oil acts on each side of the piston with substantially the same pressure such that the piston is damped in both directions when moving in the chamber. The surface areas of the piston on which the oil acts may be substantially equal so that no tensioning force is supplied by the oil.

Abstract: Stretcher for a transmission belt comprising a fixed part suitable for being rigidly connected to a support structure and provided with a pin defining a first axis, a movable part comprising a hub rotating on the pin about the first axis, a pulley carried by the movable part and rotating with respect thereto about a second axis distinct from the first axis and parallel thereto, and a spiral spring interposed between the fixed part and the movable part and suitable for loading in use the movable part in the direction tending to keep the pulley in engagement with the relative belt. The spring has an internal end secured to the pin, and an external end secured to the hub, and is interposed between two bushes which support the hub on the fixed part and are provided with respective flanges cooperating axially with the spring.

Abstract: One operating lever is provided for moving a traveling vehicle with a working machine back and forth and the working machine vertically and operating a sub-transmission. A sub-transmission switch is provided in a recessed portion formed in a grip of a back-and-forth operating lever so that a quick operation can be effected by a single hand without any mistake. In addition, the working machine vertically moving lever is constructed so as to interlock with a spool of a vertical motion control valve via a motor so that the speed of the motor is gradually reduced when the working machine vertically moving lever (32) is in a lowering operation, thereby preventing a drastic lowering.