Abstract: A leadscrew assembly includes a cylindrical no-grooved shaft and a nut body similar to a conventional ballscrew and nut assembly of internal recirculating steel balls. This newly developed device according to the invention has outstanding features such as compact in size, accurate guiding distance, and small frictional resistance suitable for the application field of device where a high accuracy, smooth operation, low side thrust and compactness in size are required.

Abstract: An industrial robot allowing one-way assembly, size reduction and long cable life includes a first member; a second member which swivels relative to the first member; a third member which swivels relative to the second member; a first drive unit provided at the first member for swiveling the second member; a second drive unit provided at the second member for swiveling the third member; a cable passing inside of the first and second members for feeding power or a signal to the second drive unit; a first fixing member for fixing a portion of the cable to an end portion of the first or second member; a second fixing member for fixing another portion of the cable to an end portion of the first or second member; and a bent cable provided between the first and second fixing members so as to be bent in a U-shape, the bent cable being provided at either one of the first and second members and arranged at a portion of an output shaft of the first drive unit with a bent portion thereof as one end thereof and with port

Abstract: A replaceable shift pad which can be mounted on the end of a shift fork comprises two plate-like side legs which are interconnected and parallel to each other. The inner sides of the side legs contact appropriate side surfaces of the shift fork. The outer sides of the side legs comprise sliding planes for sliding force transmission between the shift fork and a rotating shift sleeve. To provide a large supported area between the shift fork and the shift sleeve and to provide a shift pad which is resistant against vibratory stress it is suggested to connect the two side legs to each other by connecting means which are in line with the side legs, and which are tangentially orientated with regard to the shift sleeve rotation direction and extend beyond the end of the shift fork.

Abstract: A brake for motorcycles includes an improved brake lever assembly having a brake pad arm configured for attachment at one end to a brake pad, and connected at an opposing end to a brake actuator arm by a rotatable collar. The brake pad arm and the brake actuator arm are disposed relative to one another such that the angle of the brake pad arm is lower than the prior art, thereby enabling actuation of the brake with less foot movement and causing less fatigue in frequent braking situations. While the prior art typically has an angle of 30-35 degrees between the brake pad arm and the brake actuator arm, the present invention maintains a preferred offset angle of 50 to 65 degrees between the brake pad arm and the brake actuator arm.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a motion transforming apparatus, comprising first and second rotation shafts each formed with crank shaft portions, a plate assembly constituted by rotation plates each formed with teeth and cranked through bores respectively having the crank shaft portions of the rotation shafts received therein, a toothed rail having teeth, and a plate assembly housing relatively movable along the toothed rail, wherein the first rotation shaft is driven to rotate the rotation plates, and each of the rotation plates has an untoothed portion connected to the toothed portion of each rotation plate to be spaced from the toothed portion of the toothed rail and to have the toothed portions of the rotation plates closer to the second rotation shaft than the first rotation shaft.

Abstract: A movement actuator includes first and second modules that are constructed to fit together in different manners. The first module includes first and second actuator parts mounted for rotation relative to one another, a gear wheel rotatable arranged in the second actuator part, and a transmission system including a coupler coupled to the gear wheel and a worm wheel. The second module includes a motor housing and an electromotor mounted in the housing and having a drive shaft having mounted thereon a worm. When the two modules are coupled together, in any of the different manners, the worm engages the worm wheel, thereby coupling the electromotor through the transmission system and gear wheel to the actuator parts. As a result, the electromotor is operable to rotate the actuator parts relative to each other.

Abstract: Apparatus for releasably locking the tilt steering column assembly of an automotive vehicle in an adjusted position. A rack on the steering column assembly is engaged by a pawl to lock the steering column assembly in the position selected by the driver. A bracket is provided to hold the pawl engaged with the rack and prevent it from becoming disengaged. The tilt of the steering column can be re-adjusted by moving the bracket so that the pawl can disengage the rack. A wedge is provided for retaining the bracket in its position holding the pawl engaged with the rack. The rack has an arcuate series of teeth engageable with an arcuate series of pawl teeth. The pawl teeth includes a group of intermediate teeth of full size for full engagement with the rack teeth and at each end of the group of intermediate teeth a group of truncated teeth of shorter length than the teeth of the intermediate group to enable engagement and disengagement of the pawl and rack teeth without interference or binding.

Abstract: An apparatus for coupling a loose wheel to its shaft in a change speed transmission. A shift slide sleeve, which is non-rotatable with respect to the shaft, can be engaged by means of an internal clutch toothing in a corresponding external clutch toothing of a clutch ring which, by means of an internal driving toothing, engages in the running toothing of the loose wheel.

Abstract: A three degree of freedom parallel mechanism or linkage that couples three degree of freedom translational displacements at an endpoint, such as a handle, a hand grip, or a robot tool, to link rotations about three axes that are fixed with respect to a common base or ground link. The mechanism includes a three degree of freedom spherical linkage formed of two closed loops, and a planar linkage connected to the endpoint. The closed loops are rotatably interconnected, and made of eight rigid links connected by a plurality of single degree of freedom revolute joints. Three of these revolute joints are base joints and are connected to a common ground, such that the axis lines passing through the revolute joints intersect at a common fixed center point K forming the center of a spherical work volume in which the endpoint is capable of moving. The three degrees of freedom correspond to the spatial displacement of the endpoint, for instance.

Abstract: A swinging base 12 is provided on top of a stationary base 11 such as to be capable of rotating by means of a bearing 13. A reduction gear 15 is provided in a depression portion 14 formed on the top surface of the stationary base 11. A motor 16 having a rotational shaft 17 connected to the reduction gear is provided on the swinging base. A cable support portion 21 which is rotatably supported by means of a bearing 18 provided on an axis A is provided inside the stationary base 11. The cable support portion 21 supports cables C. A through hole 23 is formed in the bottom of the swinging base 12. An arcuate aperture portion 24 is formed in the stationary base 11. The cables C are passed through the aperture portion 24 and the through hole 23. With this invention, cables which are installed in industrial robots can be supported without receiving excessive forces.

Abstract: A steering column has a first steering column member movable axially relative to a second steering column member. A member having a plurality of teeth is connected to the first steering column member and movable with the first steering column member relative to the second steering column member. A support connects the steering column to a vehicle frame. A telescope locking member engages the plurality of teeth on the member connected to the first steering column member. The telescope locking member has a first position in which the telescope locking member engages at least one of the plurality of teeth on the member connected to the first steering column member to prevent movement of the first steering column member relative to the second steering column member.

Abstract: In a ball screw device which provides a screw shaft including a ball screw groove in the outer peripheral surface, a ball nut including a ball screw groove formed in the inner peripheral surface opposite to the ball screw groove of the screw shaft, a plurality of balls fitted between the ball screw grooves of the screw shaft and ball nut, and a tube type circulation path for circulating these balls, the ball screw device can reduce the moment of inertia of a rotary portion of the device so as to facilitate the use of the ball screw device of a nut rotation type.

Abstract: A roller screw assembly includes a threaded rod, a nut having internal, non-helical grooves and a plurality of externally grooved elongated rollers seated circumferentially about the rod and captured in place by the nut. The grooves in the nut and rollers are selected to have the same spacing as the pitch of the rod threads and with a corresponding profile so as to allow intermeshing engagement between the nut, rollers and rod. The inner surface of the nut is formed such that a cross-section normal to the axis of the rod illustrates at least one lobed area which is of sufficient extent to allow a roller in that area to translate axially with respect to the rod. The number of lobes is dependent on the number of threads or parallel helices formed on the rod. Rotation of the nut with respect to the rod enables axial translation of the nut with respect to the rod by recirculation of the grooved rollers at the lobed region.

Abstract: An intermittent indexing apparatus has a simple structure of supporting portions for bearings without requiring complicated manufacturing processes. The intermittent indexing apparatus includes input shaft, an output shaft, and a housing. An indexing cam is provided on the input shaft and engages cam followers disposed on the peripheral surface of a turret fixed to the output shaft. Opposite ends of the input shaft and the output shaft are rotatably supported by respective first and second pairs of bearings in the housing. First and second openings are formed through opposite side walls of the housing. The second pair of bearings are enabled to slide in an axial direction of the output shaft for positioning. The first opening has a sufficient diameter for introducing therethrough the output shaft with the cam followers.

Abstract: A motor vehicle starter head includes a starter pinion which slides axially on a starter head shaft, an actuator coupled with the pinion for axial movement with the latter, and abutment means for limiting the travel of the pinion in sliding movement with respect to the starter head shaft, at least towards its working position. The actuator has internal splines cooperating with external splines on the starter head shaft, and the abutment means comprise an abutment member which is coupled for axial movement with the actuator and which cooperates with a transverse flank of the external splines on the shaft.

Abstract: An operation switch device for use with a lawnmower includes a switch and a first operation member operably movable between an "ON" position and an "OFF" position. A second operation member is mounted on the first operation and is positionable in a first position where the switch is turned on and a second position where the switch is held off when the first operation member is in the "ON" position and the "OFF" position, respectively. A restraining member in a restraining position is operable to prevent the second operation member from moving from the second position to the first position. The restraining member in a releasing position is operable to permit the second operation member to move from the second position to the first position.

Abstract: A shifting apparatus for a bicycle includes a takeup element for winding and unwinding a control cable, a first shift member supported to be rotatable substantially along an outer periphery of a handlebar for rotating the takeup element, a second shift member supported by the handlebar for rotating the takeup element backward, and a positioning mechanism for retaining the takeup element in a selected angular position. An interlock mechanism is provided for interlocking the first shift member and takeup element, such that the takeup element is not always rotatable with the first shift member. This interlock mechanism allows the first shift member to remain still when the takeup element is rotated backward in an unwinding direction. Further, the shifting apparatus is constructed at low cost, with the first shift member having an axis of rotation extending at an angle to a handlebar axis.

Abstract: A casement and awning window operator consisting of four parts, a top cover, a base, a worm gear receivable in a pocket on the base and top and a geared actuating arm engaging the worm gear having an integral arm extending out of the operator. The cover is secured to the base by an adhesive applied to matching surfaces of the cover and base trapping the worm gear therein. The cover and base are made from two plastic halves in a generally horizontal parting plane thus presenting a large adhesive contact area in a plane putting the contact surfaces in shear and allowing insertion of the gear and arm prior to assembly. The cover and base may have molded parts providing a spring-like effect to control the friction of the operator to prevent it from rotating out of a set position.

Abstract: A twist-grip shifter for bicycles having a twist grip or grip part which is actuated by the rider's hand to change the gears of the bicycle, and a cable winding mechanism or coil wind-up mechanism. The twist grip and the cable winding mechanism of the twist-grip shifter are connected to one another, and debris and other contaminants can be prevented from entering the interior of the twist-grip shifter near this connection by providing a contactless seal or a friction seal. The contactless seal includes a projecting collar on the cable winding mechanism which extends into a groove formed in the twist grip. The collar of the cable winding mechanism essentially does not contact the groove of the twist grip. The friction seal includes a lip or flange formed from the rubber material of the twist grip, which lip then contacts a portion of the collar of the cable winding mechanism.

Abstract: An actuator structural body is constructed of standardized columnar bodies connected for moving a workpiece. The Actuator structural body includes actuators shaped as columnar bodies and having T-shaped grooves defined in outer side surfaces thereof, columnar member shaped as columnar bodies and having T-shaped grooves defined in outer side surfaces thereof and through holes defined therein, and joint members for joining the columnar members and the actuators bodies 204, 206, 208, 210 by engaging in the T-shaped grooves or fitting in the through holes in the columnar bodies. The columnar members 202 and the actuators bodies may be assembled or reassembled into a desired shape by the joint members.