Abstract: A gear wheel (10), operable for transmitting substantial torques without developing or generating undue noise and exhibiting improved vibration damping, is axially mountable for operative rotation on a shaft (25) and includes a disc-shaped or cylindrical base body (11) that defines a recess (12) for passage of the shaft. The base body (11) carries a plurality of teeth (13, 14) radially distributed about the circumference of the base body. A disc-shaped damping element (17) is releasably connected to and against a side or face of the base body so as to accommodate relative movement between the base body and the damping element in response to dynamic loads acting on the operating gear wheel. A second damping element (17) can likewise be releasably connected to and against a second or opposite side or face of the base body so as to correspondingly accommodate relative movement between the base body and the second damping element in response to dynamic loads acting on the operating gear wheel.

Abstract: A drive arrangement and a vehicle having a damper device having a damper primary side and a damper secondary side. The damper primary side forms a first drive interface for the coupling of a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, having a freewheel device with a freewheel input and a freewheel output. The damper secondary side is coupled rotationally conjointly to the freewheel input, having a gearbox section operatively connected to the freewheel output, having an output interface for the coupling of a drive output section of the vehicle, wherein the output interface is operatively connected to the gearbox section, and having a second drive interface for the coupling of the electric motor and operatively connected to the gearbox section by a control device. The drive arrangement can, by the control device, be switched into different operating states such that a drive torque can be transmitted to the output interface by the first drive interface or by the second drive interface.

Abstract: A strain wave gearing device has a grease temperature control mechanism for controlling the grease temperature of a portion of grease, of the grease filled inside an externally toothed gear of the strain wave gearing device, the portion of the grease being disposed on the outer peripheral side portion of a wave generator. The grease temperature control mechanism has a circular heater facing the outer peripheral side portion of the wave generator over the entire circumference from a direction of a device central axis line. By controlling the grease temperature of a specified portion inside the externally toothed gear, it is possible to reliably start the strain wave gearing device even in an extremely low temperature environment where the grease solidifies.

Abstract: An input shaft being configured into spline engagement with an input wheel wherein the input wheel slides axially along the input shaft; an output shaft into engagement with the input shaft, and wherein an output wheel is configured to slide axially along said output shaft; a variator wheel being configured to drive the input wheel or output wheel without direct contact; a traction fluid to enable the variator wheel to drive at least one of the input wheel and output wheel without direct contact; a toroidal cavity for containing the traction fluid and form an enveloping toroidal cavity when the input wheel and output wheel are aligned together; and an actuator for controlling the axial sliding of the input and output wheel on their respective splined shafts.

Abstract: The variable speed transmission uses multiple fluid couplings to provide a sturdy, durable variable output ratio transmission by using hydraulic fluid to vary the output. Each fluid coupling has an independent output shaft driven by the respective fluid coupling turbine. Output shafts drive alternate gears (i.e., first and third at a first fluid coupling and second and fourth at a second fluid coupling). This configuration alternates gear shifts between the fluid couplings allowing the next gear up or down to be engaged before disengaging the current gear, for uninterrupted gear changes in both up and down shifting. A fifth gear would be driven by a gear connected to the fluid coupling input shafts. Gears could be engaged with hydraulic clutches or syncromesh gears. This combined with variable slip fluid couplings allows for better torque and control.

Abstract: A range switching apparatus of a shift-by-wire system has: a main motor; a deceleration mechanism that amplifies torque generated by the main motor; an output shaft that outputs the torque amplified by the deceleration mechanism; an auxiliary motor; and an emergency drive mechanism. The emergency drive mechanism is disposed on the auxiliary motor shaft of the auxiliary motor, and that is connected to or disconnected from the deceleration mechanism by driving of the auxiliary motor. The emergency drive mechanism transfers output of the auxiliary motor to the deceleration mechanism, and rotates the output shaft by being connected to the deceleration mechanism.

Abstract: A shifter assembly including a shift lever pivotally mounted to a housing, a shift lever, a first pivot mechanism, a gimbal ring, and a second pivot mechanism. The lever is movable in a first gate along a first plurality of paths, a second gate along a second plurality of paths, and a bridge gate between the first and second gates. The first pivot mechanism is mounted to the lever to permit movement about a first pivot axis within one of the gates. The gimbal has an aperture and is disposed about and coupled to the lever. The second pivot mechanism is mounted to the gimbal to permit movement about a second pivot axis within another one of the gates. The axes are spaced from each other. The gimbal has receivers recessed from the inner surface with the first pivot mechanism engaging the receivers to couple the lever to the gimbal.

Abstract: There is provided a toroidal continuously variable transmission including an input side disk and an output side disk which are provided to be concentric with each other and rotatable in a state where inner side surfaces thereof face each other, and a power roller which is interposed between the input side disk and the output side disk. At least one of the input side disk and the output side disk is configured as a gear disk which has teeth on an outer circumferential portion thereof. Each tooth on the outer circumferential portion of the gear disk is provided with a protruding portion which outwardly protrudes in a radial direction of the gear disk and has a width narrower than a width of the teeth in an axial direction of the gear disk. A tip end surface of the protruding portion serves as a processing reference of the gear disk.

Abstract: A drive multiplying device for simultaneous drilling of multiple holes includes a housing. A drive shaft is rotationally coupled to and positioned through a first face of the housing. A first end of the drive shaft extends from the first face of the housing. A plurality of second shafts is rotationally coupled to and positioned through a second face of the housing. A first terminus of each second shaft extends from the second face of the housing. A gear set is positioned in the housing and is gearedly coupled to the drive shaft as well as each of the second shafts. The first end of the drive shaft is configured to couple to a rotary tool. The drive shaft is positioned to compel the gear set to rotate the second shafts. Drill bits coupled to the first termini of the second shafts are rotated concurrently with the drive shaft.

Abstract: A toroidal variable speed traction drive includes a driving disc and a driven disc. The discs have a common axis of rotation. The inner face of each disc is formed with a negative shape of a toroid. The drive further includes a plurality of roller assemblies interposed between the discs each roller assembly including a roller. The discs are urged together against the interposed roller assemblies by a clamping force. Each roller assembly is connected to a corresponding rotatable trunnion. The trunnion applies a steering force to the corresponding roller assembly at a point relative to the corresponding roller assembly; the applied steering force causing the roller of the corresponding roller assembly to steer and adopt different contact points. The point at which the steering force is applied is located offset from the trunnion rotational axis at a fixed distance.

Abstract: A robot arm having a weight compensation mechanism. In one configuration, the robot arm includes a first link which is pivotably disposed, a first auxiliary link disposed parallel to the first link, a first pulley mounted on the first auxiliary link, a second pulley mounted on the first link, a wire connecting the first pulley to the second pulley, and an elastic member having one side mounted on the first link and the other side connected to the wire to provide an elastic force to compensate for the load of the first link.

Abstract: The various robotic medical devices include robotic devices that are disposed within a body cavity and positioned using a support component disposed through an orifice or opening in the body cavity. Additional embodiments relate to devices having arms coupled to a device body wherein the device has a minimal profile such that the device can be easily inserted through smaller incisions in comparison to other devices without such a small profile. Further embodiments relate to methods of operating the above devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an end-effector assembly is provided. The apparatus includes a elongated element configured to engage the end-effector assembly and a drive assembly. A first motion transfer mechanism is disposed at an end of the elongated element. The first motion transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a rotational motion of the elongated element to a motion of the end-effector assembly. A second motion transfer mechanism is disposed at the second end of the elongated element. The second motion transfer mechanism is configured to transfer a motion of the drive assembly to the rotational motion of the elongated element.

Abstract: An actuator includes a motor having a rotation shaft, and an output shaft disposed coaxially to the rotation shaft. A rotation shaft side gear is provided so as to be rotatable as a unit with the rotation shaft, and an output shaft side gear is provided so as to be rotatable as a unit with the output shaft. An intermediate gear configuration body is provided between the rotation shaft side gear and the output shaft side gear. The intermediate gear configuration body includes a first intermediate gear that meshes with the rotation shaft side gear, and a second intermediate gear that is provided so as to be rotatable as a unit with the first intermediate gear and that meshes with the rotation shaft side gear. A detected portion is provided at an end portion of the intermediate gear configuration body and detects a rotation speed of the intermediate gear configuration body. A detecting portion detects the detected portion.

Abstract: An activation apparatus for a transmission of a motor vehicle includes a gear selector that is configured to move in a shift gate to thereby select first drive programs, and an activation device that is connected to the gear selector. Actuation of only the gear selector activates the first drive programs. The first drive programs include a forward drive program and a reverse drive program. The gear selector is configured take up a monostable rest position in the shift gate. Simultaneous actuation of both the gear selector and the activation device activates a second drive program that is different from the first drive programs. The activation device is a spring-loaded switch that is activated by actuating the gear selector.

Abstract: A drive member selection mechanism is described, including at least one drive member and at least two selector members, wherein the drive member includes a first and second face, and further includes, on each face, at least one projection, and the selector members include, on at least one face thereof, at least one complementary projection arranged to selectively engage with a projection of a drive member, the arrangement being such that the projection(s) of a selector member and the projection(s) of the first face of a drive member may be drivingly engaged in a first torque connection and the projection(s) of a selector member and the projection(s) of the second face of a drive member may be drivingly engaged in a second torque connection, wherein the second torque connection is opposed to the first torque connection.

Abstract: A control element, in particular a shifting device for manually selecting and/or triggering functions in a motor vehicle, having a handle that is mounted in such a way on and/or in a housing that the handle can be moved manually. A drive is situated in the housing, such that the drive is in operative connection and/or can be brought into operative connection with the handle, and the handle can be positioned non-manually by the drive and/or the manual movement of the handle can be blocked and/or the manual movement of the handle can be enabled. An elastic element is provided on the drive and/or in the housing, such that the drive is decoupled acoustically from the housing.

Abstract: A starter for an engine is equipped with a planetary gear train as a torque variator to change torque used to start the engine. The torque variator is capable of changing the degree of torque which is transmitted between a planetary carrier and an outer gear of the planetary gear train, thereby changing a ratio of speed of a sun gear to speed of the planetary carrier of the planetary gear train to increase or decrease the degree of torque required to start the engine. This ensures the stability in starting the engine, for example, in cold conditions and achieves a quick start of the engine as needed.

Abstract: A transmission for a vehicle includes a first input shaft installed to receive power from an engine, a second input shaft concentrically disposed with the first input shaft and installed to receive power from a motor, an output shaft disposed in parallel with the first input shaft and the second input shaft, a first synchronizer provided at the first input shaft to selectively connect the first input shaft and the second input shaft, a first stage driving gear and a second stage driving gear provided at the second input shaft, a first stage driven gear and a second stage driven gear disposed at the output shaft to be freely rotated and meshed with the first stage driving gear and the second stage driving gear, respectively, to form a first stage shift ratio and a second stage shift ratio, and a second synchronizer installed to selectively connect any one of the first stage driven gear and the second stage driven gear with the output shaft.

Abstract: A toroidal-type stepless transmission includes: at least a pair of an input disc and an output disc; a power roller tiltably provided between the pair of the input disc and the output disc, the power roller being configured to transmit a driving force from the input disc to the output disc; and disc shrouds covering the input disc and the output disc, respectively. Each of the disc shrouds has an outer peripheral portion formed with an oil discharge groove configured to discharge an oil within each disc shroud to the outside, the oil discharge groove penetrating from an inner surface of the disc shroud to an outer surface of the disc shroud and extending in a circumferential direction of the disc shroud.