Abstract: An epicyclic gear system (A) includes helical sun and ring gears (2, 4) and helical planet pinions (6) located between and engaged with the sun and ring gears. The gear system also includes a carrier (8) having an end wall (12) and flexpins (20) cantilevered from the end wall and extended into the planet pinions. Each flexpin at its end remote from the end wall carries a sleeve (22) that extends back over the flexpin where it is spaced from the flexpin. The planet pinion for the flexpin rotates around the sleeve on a bearing (24). The arrangement is such that the flexpin will flex adjacent to the carrier end wall circumferentially along the pitch circle of the carrier in one direction and circumferentially in the opposite direction adjacent to attachment of the sleeve. But the helical gear imparts a couple to the planet pinion that seeks to tilt the sleeve radially toward or away from the main axis of the system.

Abstract: An epicyclic gear system (A) includes helical sun and ring gears (2, 4) and helical planet pinions (6) located between and engaged with the sun and ring gears. The gear system also includes a carrier (8) having an end wall (12) and flexpins (20) cantilevered from the end wall and extended into the planet pinions. Each flexpin at its end remote from the end wall carries a sleeve (22) that extends back over the flexpin where it is spaced from the flexpin. The planet pinion for the flexpin rotates around the sleeve on a bearing (24). The arrangement is such that the flexpin will flex adjacent to the carrier end wall circumferentially along the pitch circle of the carrier in one direction and circumferentially in the opposite direction adjacent to attachment of the sleeve. But the helical gear imparts a couple to the planet pinion that seeks to tilt the sleeve radially toward or away from the main axis of the system.

Abstract: Torque is transmitted from a drive plate (70) to piston plate (60), components of a bypass clutch for an automatic transmission torque converter, through a piston pin (73) fixed to the piston plate and carrying a detent ball (122) that is forced radially outward from the body (116) of the piston pin into contact with a hole (112) formed in the piston plate.