Abstract: A bearing liner comprises an elongated resilient non-metallic unitary structure having a plurality of generally planar sides for placement between a steering sleeve and correspondingly planar-sided steering shaft. The liner is adapted to receive the steering shaft, and in a preferred form comprises four sides having a square cross-section. Each juxtaposed side is joined together by a flexible web which has a cross-section substantially thinner than the average cross-sections of the sides. Each of the sides includes two arcuate, axially extending integral spring channels which define its edges and which are designed to accommodate torsional lost motion between the steering shaft and sleeve members. In a preferred form, the liner is formed of an injection molded composition of nylon having carbon fibers and polytetraflouroethylene, the carbon fiber imparting strength to the composition, the polytetrafluoroethylene supplying lubricity.

Abstract: A cross groove variety of constant velocity universal joint includes an inner race having a plurality of grooves formed in an outer surface thereof and an outer race having a plurality of grooves formed in an inner surface thereof. For each pair of associated inner and outer race grooves, the inner race groove is inclined in one direction relative to the rotational axis of the joint, while the outer race groove is inclined in the opposite direction. A ball is disposed in each of the associated inner and outer race grooves for providing a driving connection between the inner and outer races. A cage is provided with openings for retaining the balls in the grooves. The cage openings are formed having angled side walls which open up toward the center of the joint. The angled side walls are effective to position the point of contact between the balls and the angled side walls away from a lower edge surface of the cage.

Abstract: A transmission joint body has an envelope inside which are provided bearing paths for articulation elements of a transmission joint (10). A connection system for the joint body includes a radial flange connected to the envelope. The flange is made at least partially from a material comprising a thermosetting or thermoplastic matrix reinforced with short fibers or with particles. According to a preferred embodiment, the inner space defined radially by the inner peripheral surface of the envelope of the joint body is partially filled with a material comprising a thermosetting or thermoplastic matrix reinforced with short fibers or with particles, and which is extended outside the envelope through one axial end of the latter in order to form the flange.

Abstract: A tripod joint provides unlimited rolling plunge capabilities by using a chain-linked plurality of roller bearings. The roller bearings travel in an endless path around the inner member continuously providing plunging movement of the outer member with respect to the inner member. The angular travel of the joint is accommodated by angular movement of the inner member with respect to an inner roller. This insures that the plurality of roller bearings will maintain a rolling movement with respect to the outer member even when the joint is operated at an angle.

Abstract: A universal joint (310) includes a yoke (311) in which is disposed a dual trunnion (312) and which is disposed in a ring (315). Pins (321, 322) connect the ring to the dual trunnion and to the yoke. Lubricant in a non-continuous lubricant channel (319), extending less than 360.degree. around the ring, provides lubrication for the pins (321, 322), whose ends disposed in the ring (315) are surrounded by needle bearings (31). Because the channel is non-continuous, lubricant entering one lubricant port (320) must travel the length of the lubricant channel before exiting the channel via the second lubricant port (326). In this manner, the lubricant channel is purgable and lubricant is supplied to all bearings. A first shaft (340) is integrally connected to the dual trunnion (312), and a second shaft (513) is integrally connected to the yoke (311). By joining the yokes (311) of two such joints (310) with a common shaft (313), a composite joint (300) can be formed.

Abstract: An abrasion-resistant protective cover, in the form of a sock, fitting over a drive axle joint seal of a vehicle. The sock is formed of abrasion-resistant material to extend the operation of the seal by extending the amount of wear and tear that the seal can withstand. The sock may be pre-assembled about the joint seal during assembly of the drive axle shaft and joint. The sock is attached at one end to the drive axle shaft and at the opposite end to the joint. The sock may also be assembled about the joint seal after assembly of the drive axle shaft and joint. The sock is wrapped about the joint seal and held in place by clamps around the drive axle shaft and the joint. The sock may be fabricated with any one of several abrasion-resistant materials and may include a flexible material to allow the sock to be tightly fitted about the joint seal without limiting movement of the joint seal around the drive axle shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus for damping vibrations between the output element of the engine and the power train in a motor vehicle has flywheels which are rotatable relative to each other. One flywheel is mounted on the output element of the engine and another flywheel is connectable to the power train by a friction clutch. Vibration dampers are installed between the flywheels, and such dampers are confined in a housing which is provided on the one flywheel and contains a supply of viscous fluid medium for the parts of the dampers. The housing is the input member of the dampers and the output member of the dampers is a flange which extends into the housing and is axially movably coupled to the other flywheel.

Abstract: A sealing and bearing arrangement in electric toothbrushes is characterized by a sealing ring (9) for preventing foreign material from penetrating into a bearing space, the ring being arranged around a nose pin (1) in the open end (7) of a casing (5), which coaxially surrounds the nose pin (1), and being immobile when the nose pin (1) rotates; an annular supporting plate (10) which is provided close to and inwardly of the sealing ring (9) and which is immobile when the nose pin (1) rotates; and bearing balls (11) provided in two races, one on each side of a thickened portion (4) of the central member of the nose pin (1), for taking up forces in all directions.

Abstract: A torsion damping apparatus which is installed between the crankshaft of the engine and the friction clutch in a motor vehicle has two coaxial flywheels which are rotatable relative to each other against the opposition of a composite damper. The composite damper has two dampers which operate in series and a friction generating device which operates between one of the dampers and one of the flywheels. One of the flywheels has an axial projection which centers a flange of the composite damper.

Abstract: A tripod joint has an outer joint part (1) with three uniformly circumferentially distributed axis-parallel recesses (2) forming circumferentially opposed tracks (4, 5), and an inner joint part (6) having a tripod-shaped cross-section with three circumferentially distributed arms (7) which extend into the recesses (2) of the outer joint part (1). Roller assemblies (8) are supported on the arms 7. Each roller assembly has at least one inner ring (12) and one outer roller (9) supported by the arms (7). The roller surface of the outer roller (9) rolls directly on the track (4, 5), with surfaces in each case being paired, such surface pairing enabling at least one radial sliding movement of at least part of a roller assembly (8) relative to the associated arm (7). A space (16) is formed between the roller assemblies (8) and the arms (7) for storing a first lubricant for the surface pairs enabling the radial sliding movement. The remaining joint interior or cavity (3) is filled with a second lubricant.

Abstract: A universal joint (1) has two joint yokes (2 and 3) each including two yoke arms (4 and 5). A supporting member (8) including legs (9 and 10) is arranged to extend transversely relative to the rotational axis (D) of the joint yokes (2, 3). The connection of the two joint yokes (2 and 3) is effected through yoke arm through-bores (6 and 7) and the support member bores (11 and 12) via a bearing pin (13).

Abstract: A rotation elastic damped cutting device of a slitting cutter with at least one cutting wheel and a driven shaft for driving the cutting wheel, allows absorption of an abrupt, shockproducing blocking force. A rotation elastic dampener is provided in a radial space between the driven shaft and the cutting wheel as a cylindrical bushing. The cutting wheel and the driven shaft are connected by at least one wall, respectively, and the elastomer is vulcanized on one of these walls. A circumferentially fixed metal sleeve is inserted between the elastomer and the other wall for causing a radial pressure on the elastomer, effecting a good friction grip between the elastomer and the metal sleeve.

Abstract: An intermediate shaft comprising a shaft body including an axle portion and a portion having an approximately elliptic shape of cross section, both major and minor axes of the elliptical cross-section portion being longer than a diameter of the axle portion, and a ring-shaped member with a cross-sectional shape analogous to the elliptic cross-section portion. A method for assembling this shaft provides for a vibration damping member intervened between the housing member and elliptic cross-section portion for damping vibrations transmitted from the steering gear box. This method also ensures that the housing and the vibration damping members and the elliptic cross-section portion are fitted into an outer tubular envelope, and the ring-shaped member normally has a gap against the outer tubular envelope and transmits rotational torque from the outer tubular envelope to the elliptic cross-section portion when the ring-shaped member is contacted with the outer tubular envelope.

Abstract: An outside member connected to a first shaft is provided on the inner peripheral surface with three grooves extending in the axial direction of the first shaft at circumferentially equal intervals. An inside member connected to a second shaft has roller shafts extending outward in the radial direction of the second shaft so as to respectively enter into the grooves of the outside member, each roller shaft being provided on the outer periphery with a convex spherical surface. A cage provided on the inner periphery with a concave spherical surface is mounted on each roller shaft by fitting the concave spherical surface to the covex spherical surface of the roller shaft. A ring-like roller is rotatably supported by the cage to contact with the outside member. When the first shaft and the second shaft are rotated with a joint angle made between the first and second shafts, the position of the roller relative to the axis of the first shaft is maintained constant.

Abstract: A triplan constant velocity joint has an outer member, an inner member, shoes, rolling elements between the shoes and the outer member, and a positioning spring to position the rolling elements in relation to the inner member. The spring has a body with first and second arms for retaining the rolling elements with respect to the inner member. The spring also includes a retaining mechanism which both secures the spring to the inner member and provides a restoring force to position the rolling elements in relation to the inner member.

Abstract: A clutch plate for use in friction clutches has an output component in the form of a hub which is connectable to the input shaft of a variable-speed transmission, and an input component in the form of two spaced-apart disc-shaped walls which receive torque from a flywheel when the clutch is engaged. Two dampers are installed between the input and output components, and two diaphragm springs are provided to maintain the members of one damper and the elements of the other damper in proper axial positions relative to each other and relative to the components of the clutch plate. Plastic inserts are used to reduce wear upon metallic parts. One of the dampers is operative alone during a first stage of angular movement of the input and output components relative to each other, and the other damper is operative alone during the next-following stage of such angular movement.

Abstract: The two-stage torsional vibration damper includes an outer hub driven by a orque input drive member, a ring member, rotatably supported in the outer hub, an inner hub rotatably supported in the ring member, and a torque output member at the center of the inner hub. A front spring retainer plate is attached to one side of the ring member and a rear spring retainer plate is attached to the other side of the ring member. The spring retainer plate retains outer spring assemblies in spring assembly apertures in the outer hub and retain inner spring assemblies in spring assembly apertures in the inner hub. Torque is transmitted from the outer hub to the outer spring assemblies to the spring retainer plates to the inner spring assemblies to the inner hub. The outer spring assemblies can be compressed until rotation of the inner hub relative to the ring member is stopped.

Abstract: A contact velocity universal joint has inner and outer members, balls and a cage. The inner member and the outer member are provided with undercut-free first outer running grooves and opposing first running grooves and second outer running grooves and opposing second inner running grooves starting from different sides of the joint. To achieve the required guiding conditions for the cage, the cage control angle .beta. is always greater than 7.degree., with the cage not requiring any guidance by the outer or inner members.

Abstract: Apparatus for damping vibrations between at least two flywheels in the power train of a motor vehicle wherein one flywheel rotates with the output shaft of the engine and another flywheel can drive the input shaft of a transmission in response to engagement of a friction clutch. The flywheels are rotatable relative to each other against the opposition of one or more dampers which are installed in an annular chamber of the one flywheel. The chamber contains a supply of viscous damping fluid and the one flywheel has two disc-shaped sections which are made of sheet metal and define the chamber. The sections are welded to each other radially outwardly of the chamber.

Abstract: A coupling mechanism employing connecting drive rods for the transmission of rotational drive between two shafts with intersecting axes of rotation. The mechanism provides; self-containment of the coupler, self-alignment and controlled axial displacement of the coupled shafts, pressure activated lubrication of the coupler mechanism, constant or variable angle of intersection of the coupled shafts, and constant angular velocity power transmission.