Abstract: A spring driven apparatus includes power shafts mounted upon a base, torsion springs mounted about the power shafts, power gears attached to the power shafts, a drive shaft for transferring energy generated by the torsion springs to a drive flywheel and to a rewind flywheel which is connected to a cam which actuates ratchet members which rotates the power shafts to rewind the torsion springs. The spring driven apparatus can run because of the power generated by the torsion springs, which are partially unwound each time, which generates useful power that can be used to propel golf carts, home generators and similar applications and also generates energy which goes back into the rewinding and resetting of the torsion springs.

Abstract: A power shift transmission (3) for motor vehicles in which instead of a hydrodynamic torque converter a controlled or regulated multiple disc clutch serves to assist starting. The loading of clutch is minimized by a fitted catch which prevents the motor vehicle from rolling in the opposite direction to the direction of travel intended by the gear selection. Catch can take the form of a mechanical catch, as sprag unit, or the form of an electronically adjusted catch which acts on one and/or more transmission brakes and/or clutches and/or into the service brake of the vehicle.

Abstract: A fluid pressure operated friction coupling comprising a multiple friction disc assembly having a single piston actuator and having first and second springs operatively configured and arranged in response to pressurization of the piston actuator to selectively engage first and second sets plates and friction components for varying the gain of the coupling.

Abstract: A device for controlling the vehicle to travel at a constant speed, which clearly distinguishes a downhill road over a flat road while the vehicle is traveling at a constant speed, and resets or resumes the overdrive position in order to stably maintain a vehicle speed at all times. The device comprises a downhill control means 10 for resetting the overdrive position of an automatic transmission 2 when the vehicle is traveling a downhill, wherein the downhill control means includes a downhill state detection means 13 for detecting the downhill state of the vehicle based on the throttle opening degree &thgr; and the vehicle speed Vs, and an overdrive reset means 14 for resetting the overdrive position of the automatic transmission in response to the downhill state, wherein the reset state of the overdrive position is maintained while the downhill state is being detected, and the throttle valve opening degree is used as a reference for judging that the overdrive is resumed from the state of being shifted down.

Abstract: A brake operating device having a brake lever pivotally attached to a mounting bracket secured to a handlebar, the brake lever rotatable about a rotation axis that is offset from the pivot axis, and a transmission mechanism for converting a rotational force applied to the brake lever into a rectilinear force drawing the brake lever toward the handlebar. The transmission mechanism and brake lever configured to force rotation about the rotation axis in response to rotation of the brake lever about the pivot axis, the resulting compound motion of the brake lever following the natural arched motion of the rider's fingers during lever actuation.

Abstract: A slip control system for a torque converter with a lockup clutch comprises a controller that outputs a slip control signal to a slip control actuator of the lockup clutch to adjust an actual slip rotation speed of the torque converter at a target slip rotation speed. The controller is coupled to sensors for detecting information indicative of a condition of a drive system including the torque converter. The controller decides an operating state of the torque converter at time when the slip control is started, and selects one of initial valves for a slip command signal corresponding to the slip control signal according to the decided operating state of the torque converter at the start of the slip control. This arrangement functions to prevent troubles including shocks due to shortage of slippage in the torque converter and generation of radial slippage of the torque convert from generating at a time staring the slip control.

Abstract: A multiple-ratio transmission with planetary gearing and a friction clutch and brake for controlling relative motion of the gearing to establish multiple driving ratios between an internal combustion engine and vehicle traction wheels, the clutch and brake include a forward drive clutch and a reverse drive clutch for establishing torque flow paths through the gearing. The forward drive clutch establishes a torque flow path through the gearing from the engine through a torque output element of the transmission during vehicle startup in forward drive range, and the reverse clutch establishes a corresponding torque flow path during startup in reverse. A mechanical connection between the torque input shaft of the gearing and the crankshaft is characterized by minimal rotating mass, thereby reducing the inertia of rotating mass of the elements of the transmission.

Abstract: A powertrain has a multi speed power transmission including a planetary gear arrangement with three simple planetary gear sets and six selectively engageable, fluid operated, friction torque transmitting mechanisms. A one-way torque transmitting mechanism is disposed in parallel drive relation with one of the friction torque transmitting mechanisms. The selective engagement of the friction torque transmitting mechanisms will establish seven forward drive ratios, a neutral condition and a reverse drive ratio. All of the forward ratio interchanges are single transition shifts and all of the single ratio skip shifts are single transition shifts. The seven forward drive ratios include four underdrive ratios, a direct drive ratio, and two overdrive ratios. The planetary gear arrangement can be controlled to establish six forward drive ratios with either one overdrive ratio and four underdrive ratios or two overdrive ratios and three underdrive ratios.

Abstract: A reversible one-way clutch (90) is positioned in parallel with a friction pack (62, 72) to drive a planetary transmission (10) in low gear and reverse. The clutch (90) has a biasing plate (96) secured to its surface to bias the clutch (90) in a direction so that the transmission (10) operates in either low gear or reverse gear. The biasing plate (96) is hydraulically actuated to bias the clutch (90) between low gear, neutral, and reverse gear.

Abstract: A clutch disk assembly 1 includes a second plate 13, an output rotary member 4, an intermediate body 3, an intermediate member 9b, second springs 10, third springs 5 and a damper 8. The intermediate body 3 is disposed radially outside the output rotary member 4. The intermediate member 9b is disposed near the output rotary member 4 and the intermediate body 3. The second plate 13 is located on a second axial side of the intermediate body 3. The second springs 10 circumferentially and elastically couple the plate 9b and the intermediate body 3 together. The third springs 5 circumferentially and elastically couple the intermediate body 3 and the second plate 13 together. The damper 8 is axially shifted from the intermediate body 3. The damper 8 has first springs 7 circumferentially and elastically coupling the output rotary member 4 and the plate 9b together.

Abstract: Helical or spur gear drive comprising a driven gear and driving gear wherein the driving gear has double crowned teeth defined as (i) an envelope to a family of surfaces generated by a skew or straight rack-cutter having a parabolic tooth profile in normal section and then (ii) as an envelope to a family of tool surfaces that are generated while the tool performs a plunging motion with respect to the driving gear in the direction of the shortest distance between the axes of rotation of the tool and the driving gear and tool plunging motion is varied by a parabolic function, whose variable is displacement of the tool in a direction parallel to the rotational axis of the driving gear. The driven gear has a tooth surface defined as the envelope to a family of surfaces generated by a rack-cutter which surface is parabolic cylinder or a plane.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system for 4-speed automatic transmissions in which line pressure, drive pressure, reverse pressure and low pressure are selectively supplied from a manual valve to an underdrive clutch, an overdrive clutch, a low-reverse brake, a reverse clutch, and a second brake to realize four forward speeds and a reverse speed.

Abstract: A column-type operating apparatus for an automatic transmission wherein the apparatus is improved in safety by restricting the direction in which the shift lever is operated. An automatic transmission has a shift lever disposed near a steering column of an automobile, the operating apparatus being electrically controllably driven to change the running range of an automatic transmission. In a preferred embodiment, the shift lever includes a rotary knob that is provided at a tip thereof and operated to switch the running range of the automatic transmission. The shift lever has a first shaft rotatably journaled in an inner case and is pivoted about the first shaft in forward and rearward directions. The inner case has a second shaft that is rotatably supported on a case provided to the steering column, and rotates together with the shift lever about the second shaft in upward and downward directions.

Abstract: Electric tool knob control apparatus comprises a compressing spring and a cam controller, which are set consequently on the sleeve of drive shaft base. Compressing spring is set between cam controller and base. On the sleeve, an external gearwheel is installed. Cam controller includes a spur cam-disk and a passive cam-disk. On spur cam-disk and passive cam-disk, a cam-disk flange and a cam-disk recess are circularly arranged and oppositely set up; therefore, cam-disk flange and cam-disk recess may engage to each other. On spur cam-disk, a plurality of planet gearwheel is set pivotally. By covering the outside of cam controller and sleeve with a knob with inward gear set inside diameter, planet gear wheel may engage with inward gear and external gear wheel in the same time. Also, passive cam-disk, which engages with knob, may rotate with knob and move in axial direction of knob. Passive cam-disk and spur cam-disk may be driven to rotate while knob is moved to rotate.

Abstract: An actuating device for a friction clutch arranged in the drive train of an automobile between an internal combustion engine and a gear in a casing bell. The actuating device includes a disengagement bearing arrangement and a positioning servo arrangement, having a pressure-medium power cylinder arrangement, for the disengagement bearing arrangement, the positioning servo arrangement having a control valve connected to a pressure-medium source. The control valve includes a valve arrangement which can be changed over between at least two control states as a function of an actual value representing the axial position of the disengagement bearing arrangement and of a command variable representing a desired position of the disengagement bearing arrangement.

Abstract: A roller contact bearing unit, in particular for the hub of a vehicle wheel, including a radially outer rotating race (10), a radially inner stationary race (11), a sealing device (16) between the races (10, 11) and a device for measuring the rotation speed of the outer race (10). The measuring device includes an encoder wheel (13) in the form of a radially oriented annular disc made of plastic or rubber magnetized material, and an annular insert made of non-magnetic metal (14) which is suitably shaped to form: a constraining means (14a) for fixing the insert (14) onto the outer race of the bearing unit, an axial abutting means (14b) suitable for abutting against a lateral surface (10b) of the outer race (10), an annular seat (14c) for housing and externally enclosing the encoder wheel (13), and a support means (14d) for a rubber element (15) which forms a sealing covering (15b) suitable for sliding against a surface (16) which forms part of a non-rotating element (11) of the bearing unit.

Abstract: A lid opener for use in a vehicle comprises a base member secured to a vehicle body. A control lever is pivotally connected to the base member. A rear portion of the control lever is connected through a wire to a latch mechanism of a lid member. The control lever is capable of canceling a latched condition of the latch mechanism when pivoted in a normal direction from a rest position to a work position. A spring is used for biasing the control lever to assume the rest position. A first stopper structure includes the rear portion of the control lever and a part of the base member. The rear portion is kept in contact with the part of the base member when the control lever assumes the rest position. A second stopper structure includes a part of the control lever and a stopper member which is defined by either one of the vehicle floor and the base member.

Abstract: A relay pulley (1) for endless power transmission between a drive pulley (2) and a driven pulley (3). The relay pulley (1) comprises a rotatable hub (6) carrying, between two external fixed plates (7A, 7B), at least one member (8) movable axially on the hub (6) to delimit with the fixed plates (7A, 7B) two parallel grooves (9A, 9B) of variable dimension adapted to receive respectively a belt (4, 5) of a first (T1) or second (T2) endless belt transmission. The movable member (8) comprises at least two hollow plates (8A, 8B) mounted on the hub (6), which include facing bearing surfaces (10A, 10B) in sliding contact. The bearing surfaces (10A, 10B) are arranged to permit the approach or respectively the movement apart of the movable plates (8A, 8B).

Abstract: A motor vehicle clutch assembly with an outer ring which is rotationally driven by the engine. An inner ring of the clutch assembly is seated, with a clutch element, on the transmission input shaft of a speed-change gear. The clutch element locks during engaged conditions of the engine and opens during overrun conditions of the engine.

Abstract: A differential device (11) of the type including a clutch pack (23), engaged by a ball ramp actuator (21), which is initiated by a viscous coupling (19;101). The output of the device (11) is an output shaft (13) which is hollow and extends through the entire axial extent of the device. The viscous coupling (19;101) includes, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, an annular input coupling member (25) and an annular output coupling member (27), within the input member, to define therebetween a cylindrical viscous shear chamber (29). The output coupling member (27) at least partially surrounds the first ramp plate (41) of the ball ramp actuator (21), and is in driving engagement therewith, for improved packaging.