Abstract: A non-impact keyless chuck suitable for use with manual or powered drivers is disclosed. The chuck comprises a body which carries a rotatable split nut having a relatively fine thread and a plurality of slidable jaws, which may be identical, driven by the rotatable nut. An anti-friction bearing is disposed between the rotatable nut and a bearing thrust ring mounted on the body. A clutch or torque limiting mechanism is provided to limit the tightening torque to a predetermined value while the loosening torque may be limited or unlimited. The front sleeve, and rear sleeve, if used, may be formed from a structural plastic to reduce manufacturing costs. A relatively soft elastomeric grip boot may be placed on the front sleeve to improve the grip and temporarily restrain and center the tool during chuck tightening or loosening operations. A relatively soft elastomeric grip boot may also be placed on the rear sleeve, if used.

Abstract: The profiles of the threads on the jaws of a chuck, such as a three-jawed chuck, are modified so that at least one end of the jaw thread segments curve in away from the threads on the nut which operate the jaws. This prevents the end edges of the jaw thread segments from digging into the nut threads when the nut is rotated to operate the jaws.

Abstract: The center of a collet having a plurality of individual gripper members resiliently spaced apart in an annular array and operated on by a frustoconical surface can be adjusted by displacing some of the gripper members more than others of said gripper members parallel to the axis with which both the annular array and the frustoconical surface are nominally concentric. This causes the frustoconical surface to produce greater radial displacement of some of the gripper members, thereby shifting the center of the collet transverse to the above-mentioned axis.

Abstract: A control system (10) for a varible displacement internal combustion engine (12) is disclosed as including a sensor (14) for sensing intake manifold vacuum and a control unit (20) for operating valve deactuators (22a, b, c, and d) of the engine with a hysteretic action in response to the vacuum sensed so as to prevent oscillatory on-off operation of the valve deactuators. In its preferred construction, the control unit includes switches (28a, b, c, and d) for operating the valve deactuators and a switch operator (32, 34) including a lost motion connection that provides the hysteretic operation of the valve deactuators. The switch operator preferably includes rod (32) that is movable in response to the vacuum sensed and a switch operating member (34) slidably mounted on the rod and moved by stops (36, 38) to provide the lost motion connection. Electrical, fluid, and mechanical systems are all capable of operating valve deactuators by the hysteretic operation disclosed.