Abstract: An index table utilizes oil shear brake and clutch technology in combination with a unique final positioning system in order to provide an accurate and reliable index table, the index table incorporates a two speed oil shear drive system for high speed indexing and low speed final positioning. An oil shear brake stops the table at an approximate final position at which time the final positioning system rotates and locks the index table at the correct position after each indexing of the table.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission includes friction rollers which are arranged in a toroidal groove formed between input and output disks and rotatably supported by roller support members which are driven by a hydraulic cylinder device. A speed ratio control device includes a speed ratio control valve for controlling a hydraulic pressure to be supplied to the hydraulic cylinder device. A step motor has an angular position determined in accordance with a speed ratio as instructed by the speed ratio control device, and serves to drive the valve sleeve in a predetermined axial direction. A low switch serves to stop the valve sleeve, and effects a changeover between different positions of the switch when the valve sleeve has reached a position where the speed ratio becomes the lowest.

Abstract: A bicycle brake lever mechanism having a bracket mountable to a bicycle handlebar, a lever mounted for pivotal movement to the bracket and a brake cable connector connected to the lever. The cable connector is connected to the lever via an adjusting mechanism for so that the return position of the brake lever relative to a lever bracket may be adjusted to accommodate various sized hands. Further, the adjusting mechanism allows for adjustment of a lever ratio A which is defined mathematically by the distance between the pivot point of the lever and the pivot point of the cable connector on the lever divided by the distance from a set point on the brake lever to the pivot point of the lever.

Abstract: A motor vehicle steering column including a stationary support, a moveable support on which a steering wheel is rotatably mounted, and a position control apparatus which achieves both positive retention of the position of the moveable support and substantially infinite positional adjustability. The position control apparatus includes a gate on the stationary support, a stack of thin plates on the moveable support which moves back and forth with the moveable support in front of the gate, and a slide on the stationary support which moves a segment of the stack of thin plates partially into the gate to immobilize the moveable support relative to the stationary support.

Abstract: An indexable workholding apparatus. The apparatus has a column member with at least one pair of workholding jaws operably attached thereto. The column member is rotatably and axially supported on a shaft member that is operably attached to an indexing assembly. The indexing assembly is constructed to axially displace the column along a longitudinal axis to a disengaged position upon the initial application of a rotary force to the shaft member. When in the disengaged position, the column can be selectively rotated about the axis by the further application of rotary force to the shaft member so that the column may be positioned in a predetermined angular position. A damping apparatus is attached to the shaft member and column for damping the return axial and rotary motion of the column and shaft member when the application of rotary force is discontinued.

Abstract: An axle driving system, wherein a first chamber and a second chamber partitioned from each other are formed in a housing, a hydraulic non-stage transmission is housed in the first chamber, axles and means for transmitting power from the transmission to the axles is housed in the second chamber. At the upper portion of the housing is disposed an oil storage tank positioned across the first and second chamber. Oil through-bores for flowing oil therethrough are provided in the first and second chambers respectively. At the oil storage tank are provided means in common to charge oil into each chamber. Means for observing oil quantity, and breather means for ventilating outside air are also provided.

Abstract: A reverse gear squeal-preventing device for a transmission having a main shaft, a counter shaft, and a reverse idler shaft arranged substantially parallel to each other within a transmission case. The main shaft is provided with forward stage main gears and a reverse main gear. The counter shaft is provided with forward stage counter gears and a reverse counter gear. The reverse idler shaft is provided with a reverse idler gear. A shifting and selecting shaft is controlled by a shift lever to provide axial movement at the time of selecting and pivotal movement at the time of shifting. The shifting and selecting shaft is provided with an interlocking plate for preventing malfunction. There is provided a forward stage-synchronizing mechanism which is actuated at the time of reverse shifting so as to prevent gear squeal.

Abstract: A pushing mechanism has a hollow slotted tube which receives radially extending pins of a threaded shaft. The tube is rotated by the rotor of a motor and is threadably received within an axially and rotationally fixed nut that is connected to a housing which, in turn, is fixed to the motor housing. Rotation of the shaft through the pins causes the shaft to move axially. An outer threadless end of the shaft extends beyond the housing for pushing outside mechanisms such as the stage of a microscope, a micro hardness tester or even a hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: A mechanical transmission (10) includes a first gear (13), a second gear (15), a slip clutch (14), an input shaft (11), a fourth gear (20), a one-way bearing (21), a third gear (18) and an output shaft (12). The first gear (13) and the slip clutch (14) are mounted on the input shaft (11). The first gear (13) is meshed with the second gear (15) which is mounted on the output shaft (12). The one-way bearing (21) and the fourth gear (20) are mounted on the output shaft (12); the latter (20) is meshed with the third gear (18) which is mounted on the input shaft (11) to constitute a step-down gearing (22). When the load upon the output shaft (12) increases so that the torque imposed upon the slip clutch (14) is higher than predetermined, the slip clutch (14) releases, and the increased torque generated by the step-down gear set (18, 20) drives the increased load upon the output shaft (12). Two additional embodiments (10', 10") are disclosed.

Abstract: A combination kickstand mechanism and transmission forward control unit for use with motorcycles. A support body is formed with an internal chamber which fits a lock cylinder that is formed with a slot. A kickstand is provided with a foot portion for contacting the ground or other surface and a head portion which projects into the lock cylinder slot. With the kickstand foot portion tilted to a raised position for contacting the ground or other surface, the detent on the head portion releasably engages a locking cavity in a lock sleeve which is mounted within the support body. A return spring is provided for yieldably urging the kickstand toward a lowered position at which the head portion pivots within the slot for withdrawing the detent from the lock sleeve. A locking recess is formed within the support body, and the detent releasably engages the locking recess when the footrest is moved to a closed position alongside the motorcycle frame.

Abstract: A drive apparatus, along with an XY drive apparatus on which it is equipped, is provided which, together with allowing highly accurate driving and positioning of a driven object by absorbing deflection in the radial direction of a nut, achieves reduced size of the apparatus and simplification of its structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for directly converting rotary motion to alternating linear motion comprising a cylindrical shaft and a first eccentric mounted on said shaft, a multiple eccentric comprised of a second eccentric, a third eccentric, and a first cylindrical bore extending through said second eccentric and said third eccentric, a first slide, and a second slide. Each of the eccentrics has the same eccentricity. The rotation of the shaft causes the first slide and the second slide to engage in reciprocting linear movement in different directions from each other.

Abstract: A computer interface device includes a gimbal mounted handle having a plurality of input members for effectively communicating navigation and command signals to a computer. This invention provides a user with six degrees of freedom for navigation within a virtual reality world while simultaneously enabling a user to enter a series of commands in order to effectively communicate a user's intentions to a computer to effect a change within a virtual reality world.

Abstract: A drive assembly for a valve includes a motor, a transmission which is coupled to the motor and the valve, and a manual drive unit having a shaft which is arranged to be driven by a handwheel. The shaft has a small amount of axial play and is provided with a worm. The transmission includes a hollow gear having internal teeth coupled to the motor shaft and external teeth in permanent mesh with the worm. A membranous disc is mounted on the worm shaft in such a manner that the outer margin of the disc is held against displacement in axial direction of the worm shaft while the central portion of the disc adjacent the worm shaft is fixed against axial displacement relative to the worm shaft. However, the worm shaft can rotate relative to the disc. Strain gages in the form of strips are mounted on one side of the disc and are connected to an integrated circuit on the same side of the disc.

Abstract: An indexing apparatus for indexing an article about an axis. The indexing apparatus is adapted to be removably attached to the article and is constructed to axially displace the article along the axis to a disengaged position upon the initial application of a rotary force to an indexing assembly housed within the indexing apparatus. When in the disengaged position, the article can be selectively rotated about the axis by the further application of rotary force to the indexing assembly so that the article may be positioned in a predetermined angular position. The indexing apparatus further includes a device for locking the article in a plurality of predetermined angular positions when the application of rotational force to the indexing assembly is discontinued.

Abstract: A rack-and-pinion steering is presented, in which an at least partially hollow cylindrical rack is used to ventilate and evacuate the bellows and in which at least one evacuation groove is prepared in the connection pin of the ball joint housing. The evacuation groove feeds or removes the air from the interior of the bellows via the hollow cylindrical rack corresponding to the direction of movement of the steering system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a double-acting type dynamic back clearance relief driving system having two sets of worm shafts coupled with a worm gear, one worm shaft set acting as a prime mover worm shaft and the other acting as a displacement control worm shaft. When the system is driving, one of the worm shaft sets is applied with faster rotary driving motion and always applies forces on the worm gear set. Another worm shaft set is a displacement control worm shaft coupled also with the worm gear set, or an individual worm gear set of the same pitch or different pitch to be locked upon the same shaft. The acting force to be applied constantly on the gear by the force applying worm shaft always causes the displacement control worm shaft to stress the worm gear reversely, and since the worm shaft is irreversibly driven, there is no clearance between the worm gear and the two worm shafts.

Abstract: A motor vehicle steering column including a tubular lower mast jacket anchored on a vehicle body, a tubular upper mast jacket telescoped inside the tubular lower mast jacket, a plurality of steel spheres interference fitted in an annulus defined an overlap between the mast jackets, and a plastic ball sleeve in the annulus having pockets loosely receiving respective ones of the steel spheres. The ball sleeve has a plurality of notches in an edge thereof exposed through an outboard end of the lower mast jacket. An anti-rotation bracket is welded to a stationary mounting bracket attached to the lower mast jacket and includes a plurality of tangs which project through the outboard end of the lower mast jacket into respective ones of the notches in the ball sleeve whereby rotation of the ball sleeve about a longitudinal centerline of the steering column is positively foreclosed.

Abstract: A locking arrangement on a selector lever for a motor vehicle transmission has an electromagnetic clutch which receives current from a circuit. This clutch consists of a magnetic clamp and of a check plate which can be moved about a pivot axis. When supplied with current, the check plate, when the clutch is closed, adheres to the magnetic clamp and blocks a locking pin. The locking pin is arranged transversely with respect to the selector lever and engages in an indentation of a connecting link, whereby a swivelling of the selector lever is prevented. This arrangement is small, light weight, can be integrated completely into the selector lever and can be released when a preload is exercised on the locking arrangement.

Abstract: A shifter for a manual transmission of a vehicle includes a shift stick configured to operably engage the transmission, and a base adapted for mounting to the vehicle and configured to pivotally support the shift stick for movement about first and second orthogonal axes. In particular, a trunnion is pivotally mounted to the base for movement about the first axis, and the shift stick is configured to pivotally engage the trunnion for movement about the second axis, the shift stick being configured to move with the trunnion as a unit when pivoted about the first axis. A plate spring is compressively mounted on the base and the trunnion is configured to operably engage the spring so that the spring biases the trunnion and shift stick to a neutral position about the first axis but so that the spring does not bias the shift stick when pivoted about the second axis.