Abstract: A pump or other source supplies hydraulic fluid under pressure to a plurality of slave services which require a pre-selected priority of supply such as, e.g., brakes (first priority), power steering (second priority), and self-leveling device (third priority). A valve having a resiliently loaded spool is connected between the pressurized fluid source and the slave services, with the source pressure acting in opposition to the resilient loading on the spool so that the position of the spool is influenced by the source pressure. Accordingly, if the source pressure falls below a pre-determined value the resilient loading displaces the valve spool so as to cut off supply of fluid to the least essential service; if the source pressure falls below a second and lower value the spool is further displaced to cut off supply to the second priority service, and so on. Provision is made to leave the first priority service (e.g., brakes) always connected.

Abstract: The invention described includes a detent arrangement which, subject to fluid pressure which is a function of road speed, engages and therefore varies the elastically effective length of the known torsion bar which controls the power-assistance valve of a power-assisted vehicle steering system, so as to vary the extent of power assistance from a maximum at no or low vehicle speed to a minimum at an increased speed.

Abstract: A pump or other source supplies hydraulic fluid under pressure to a plurality of slave services which require a pre-selected priority of supply such as, e.g., brakes (first priority), power steering (second priority), and self-leveling device (third priority). A valve having a resiliently loaded spool is connected between the pressurized fluid source and the slave services, with the source pressure acting in opposition to the resilient loading on the spool so that the position of the spool is influenced by the source pressure. Accordingly, if the source pressure falls below a pre-determined value the resilient loading displaces the valve spool so as to cut off supply of fluid to the least essential service; if the source pressure falls below a second and lower value the spool is further displaced to cut off supply to the second priority service, and so on. Provision is made to leave the first priority service (e.g., brakes) always connected.

Abstract: A hydraulic power assisted steering system includes a source of pressure fluid fed to a power assist motor. Control of the steering assistance pressure is provided by a valve having two valve elements which are relatively rotatable away from a centered position, subject to restraint imposed by an elastic torque rod. The pressure fluid source has its output branched, one branch supplying the steering assistance motor through and subject to the control of the rotatable valve, and the second branch supplying detent means adapted to increasingly resist relative rotation of the two valve elements in response to increases in pressure of the fluid source. The fluid source pressure increases with increasing relative rotation of the valve elements away from their centered position. Increasing fluid source pressure ultimately effects interlocking of the valve elements when the source pressure reaches a predetermined value.

Abstract: A speed control device includes a pair of rotatable plates having power transmission rollers positioned in a toroidal track formed between the plates by an annular groove in the opposed face of each plate. Each plate is received within a rotatable housing to which the associated plate is keyed so the plate and associated housing must rotate with each other but leaving the plate axially movable relative to its housing. One housing is driven by an engine so its plate is a driving plate which drives the other, driven plate by means of the rollers. This drives the driven plate housing which is a driving housing used to drive an auxilliary device. The rollers are pivotably mounted on an axially immovable support. Biasing means responsive to rotation speed displaces the plates which pivots the rollers thereby changing the radial location of contact between the rollers and the plates. This changes the ratio of angular velocity at which the driven plate is driven relative to the driving plate.

Abstract: A drive transmission mechanism comprises an axially fixed rotatable primary pinion, an intermediate pinion rotatable in response to the primary pinion to effect rotation of a secondary pinion, and cam means responsive to rotation of the primary pinion to effect axial displacement of the intermediate pinion during its rotation. The rotary drive is transmitted from the primary pinion to the secondary pinion by at least one set of mutually engaging helical teeth. The axial displacement of the intermediate pinion produces a variation in the movement ratio between the primary and secondary pinions.The present invention relates to a drive transmission mechanism in which rotation of a primary pinion produces rotation of a secondary pinion.The invention is particularly concerned with a drive transmission mechanism which enables the movement ratio between the primary and secondary pinion to vary over a chosen range.

Abstract: A constant speed belt drive system includes a belt connecting a drive V-pulley to a driven V-pulley. Each pulley comprises a pair of axially displaceable half-sheaves. One pulley has a half-sheave which is axially displaceable by biasing spring means; the other pulley has a half-sheave which is axially displaceable by centrifugal movement of balls riding on ramp means between the half-sheaves. In operation, the balls are located at their radially innermost positions when the system is running at a predetermined drive speed. Upon increase of speed of the system above the predetermined speed, the balls are displaced radially outwardly along their ramps under centrifugal force and axially displace the pulley half-sheaves effecting thereby a change in the speed ratio between the driving and driven pulley. Either the ramp means or the spring biasing means or both are arranged to provide a non-linear rate of axial displacement of the half-sheaves and consequent non-linear rate of speed ratio change.

Abstract: A rack and pinion steering mechanism for a vehicle comprises a rotatable steering input. The rack is displaceable to effect vehicle steering, and drive means drivingly interconnects the input and the rack to effect displacement of the rack upon rotation of the input means. The drive means comprises an axially fixed primary pinion, a gear portion on the rack and gear means interposed between the primary pinion and the gear portion of the rack. The gear means includes at least one helical pinion gear and the primary pinion, or gear portion of the rack has helical teeth meshing with the helical teeth of at least one helical pinion gear. A cam means is provided responsive to rotation of the primary pinion to effect axial displacement of the helical pinion to produce a variation in the movement ratio between the primary pinion and the rack.