Abstract: An internal locking device adapted for use with the magazine doors of a weapons storage facility to lock the magazine doors and secure the facility. The internal locking device use a single key and key guide for key insertion and for reduction of key breakage. The internal locking device includes a locking bolt which when dis-engaged from the output shaft by an operator rotating the key allows the operator turn handle which turns the output shaft for the device unlocking the magazine doors.

Abstract: A lock with a fixable key includes a shell, an upper half core, a lower half core, an elastic member and a fixable key. The upper and the lower half core contained in the shell respectively have a lengthwise passageway for a flexible moving member of the key to extend in to unlock the lock. The lower half core has a key hole in a rear end, and a groove for containing the elastic member having an upper end to fit in a notch formed in the groove. The key has the moving member, a push block and a housing having a position recess to engage the upper end of the elastic member so as to position the key in unlocking and make the moving member smoothly slide in the passageway of the lock to prevent the key from deadlocked or breaking in handling in unlocking or locking.

Abstract: A method for producing a, in particular thin-walled, pipe conduit element with a surface structure reinforcing the pipe conduit element is proposed wherein the pipe conduit element continuously passes by at least one embossing element guided about the periphery of the jacket thereof and the surface structure is embossed onto the jacket of the pipe conduit element by the embossing element using pure mechanical pressure. For embossing the surface structure onto the pipe conduit element, an arrangement of preferably several embossing elements, in particular balls or rollers are used which are distributed about the periphery of the pipe conduit element jacket. The invention also concerns a device for producing a surface structured pipe conduit element using a guidance having embossing elements and which can be rotated about the periphery of the jacket of a pipe conduit element continuously supplied to the device.

Abstract: A method and device for rotating and machining bar material which comprises holding a disc-shaped rotor rotatably around a horizontal axis, providing a pair of rails which are radially opposite to each other and have chord-shaped sliding surfaces in parallel with each other in the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the front end of said rotor, engaging tool holders slidably with each of said pair of rails, fixing a pair of tools securely by said tool holders, feeding a workpiece of bar material toward the center of rotation of the rotor, holding the workpiece securely between the tools, and rotating the rotor to displace the tools in the directions opposite to each other along the rails.

Abstract: A roller head for a planetary rolling arrangement, said roller head comprising a housing, inside which housing there is rotatably arranged a hollow outer axis and means for rotating said outer axis, as well as inside said outer axis, in a manner that transmits the rotary motion thereof, a center axis which is movable in the axial direction and can be locked in the axial direction, said center axis being provided with a roller. The roller head is characterized by an adjusting axis which is rotatably arranged at the end of the outer axis that is located on the opposite side with respect to the roller and is essentially locked in the axial direction said adjusting axis comprising a counterpart for the threaded section provided in the center axis, and said adjusting axis also including a locking member, which in the locking position forms a friction coupling at least between the adjusting axis and the outer axis.

Abstract: An apparatus (5) for the deep rolling of recesses (4) and radii of crankshafts (1). The deep rolling is accomplished with the aid of deep-rolling rollers (8) which, during revolution of the crankshaft (1), penetrate into the recesses (4) or radii of the crankshaft (1) under application of a deep-rolling force and at an angle of approximately 35° and bring about a deformation in the crankshaft (1) itself. According to the invention, the depth of penetration of the deep-rolling rollers (8) in the crankshaft (1) is measured in the radial direction and the magnitude of the deep-rolling force is regulated as a function of the measured penetration depth in such a fashion that in the course of at least one revolution of the crankshaft (1) a plastic deformation corresponding to a predefined rolling depth is obtained at least at one of the two recesses (4) or radii of a relevant journal bearing (2) after the deep rolling.

Abstract: A device for preparing pipe segments for joining with mechanical pipe fittings in a piping network is disclosed. The device has a fixed support with support surfaces engageable with the pipe segment, and a movable support, facing the fixed support, on which tools, such as grooving rolls, chamfering rolls, marking rolls and cutting blades are rotatably mounted. The tools engage the outer surface of the pipe to form a circumferential groove, a marking pattern, a chamfer or a cut through the pipe when the movable support is moved toward the fixed support. A collar or cup having a circumferential side wall sized to receive the pipe is mounted on the fixed support adjacent to the support surfaces and radially reinforces the pipe to prevent it from collapsing or going out of round during groove formation.

Abstract: A process system and produces metal sheets, including electric sheets, and uses at least one sheet machining unit, particularly a notching device. One or more linear transfer devices or more one sheet stacking devices, one or more sheet feeding unit and one or more sheet removal devices are being configured for stacking at least one sheet metal blank, centering and/or orienting at least one sheet metal blank, (c) at least one of notching at least one sheet metal blanks, separate and/or remove one or more interior sheet metal parts, and deposit the one or more notched sheet metal blanks and/or depositing the one or more interior sheet metal parts.

Abstract: A hydraulic tool having a frame, and a movable adapter. The frame defines a workspace with an anvil adapter at one end and a substantially flat face guide surface on one side of the workspace. The movable adapter is used for working a piece in the workspace against the anvil adapter. The movable adapter is movably mounted to the frame to move in the workspace relative to the frame along an axis of translation. The movable adapter has a substantially flat face seating surface seated against the guide surface of the frame. When the movable adapter is moved, the seating surface of the movable adapter rides upon the guide surface. The seating surface and guide surface interface with each other for maintaining the movable adapter in a predetermined orientation relative to the frame.

Abstract: A probe drive system of a precision liquid handler sequentially inserts probe tips of a multiple probe array into a locator well at a known position on a locator bed. The position of each probe tip is determined by driving the probe tip into contact with points on the side wall of the locator well and sensing the contracts. The positions of the probe tips are mapped and checked for skew of the probe array. The probe tip positions are overlaid to determine probe tip scatter. If a probe tip is excessively misaligned, it is inserted into the locator well and driven against the side wall to bend the probe and reduce the misalignment of the probe tip. The center of the probe tip scatter is determined and is used by the probe drive system as a global correction factor. Probe tips with known positions are inserted into spaced apart locator wells to detect skew of the locator bed.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to provide a device for measuring friction conditions enabling precise measurement and displaying high reproductibility, using simple means. According to the invention, this is achieved by connecting the point of application of force for the introduction of a normal force to the point of application of force of a normal force sensor by means of an elastic flexing element. The flexing element is also connected to the point of application of force for the introduction of a tangential force and the friction force sensor. Connections occur via partial areas with varying flexural strengths and both partial areas are offset at an angle of 90°. The inventive device which examines the friction conditions between friction partners enables a normal force to be applied between two corresponding friction partners and to be determined by means of a normal force sensor.

Abstract: The abundance of methane, from a rock sample recovered from a subsurface formation, is determined by submerging the rock sample in a container with aqueous acid solution for release of natural gas from the rock sample and then determining the amount of released gas contained in submerged gas bubbles adhering to undisolved portions of the rock sample and the container as a measure of the amount of methane released from the rock sample. The relative abundance of methane from each of plurality of rock samples, treated with aqueous acid solution as described above, is determined by comparing the amount of gas contained in the adhering submerged gas bubbles from each rock sample with the amount of gas contained in adhering submerged gas bubbles from each of the other rock samples of the plurality of rock samples as a measure of the relative abundance of methane in each rock sample.

Abstract: A vapor trap for detecting VOCs includes a housing, having a first end portion, a second end portion and at least one opening for receiving gas vapor. The housing is at least partially buried in ground with a vapor containment mechanism detachably connected to the first end portion of the housing. The vapor containment mechanism can be removed after a predetermined time period and replaced with a vapor sampling mechanism. An organic vapor analyzer can be connected in fluid relationship to the vapor sampling mechanism to measure VOCs. Optionally, a vacuum pump can be utilized to draw vapor into the vapor trap and then subsequently into the organic vapor analyzer. There can be a first selector valve located between the vapor sampling mechanism and the vacuum pump and a second selector valve located between the vapor sampling mechanism and the organic vapor analyzer. A preferred organic vapor analyzer is a photo-ionization detector.

Abstract: A method and a device for analyzing a signal from an ion current sensor of an internal combustion engine. At least one torque quantity characterizing the torque produced by the internal combustion engine is determined on the basis of a signal from the ion current sensor.

Abstract: A method for inspecting the integrity of diesel exhaust filter by introducing air under pressure through one end of the structure and detecting the presence of air flow at an opposing end surface. The diesel exhaust filter is tested green.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for leak testing moulded plastic containers in which the containers are conveyed seriatim along a linear path. Each successive container is pressurized at a first station along the path and then sealed to maintain pressurization while being disconnected from the source of pressure. A test station is provided a distance downstream along the path from the first station selected to allow pressure in the container to stabilize if there is no leak. At the test station, the pressure in each successive container is momentarily determined and a signal is provided if a container is determined to be leaking. The apparatus includes battery-powered test heads that are brought into engagement with successive containers at the first station and momentarily energized by an optical transmitter when a pressure reading is to be taken, so that battery power is conserved.

Abstract: In an evaporative emission control system, when an engine is running, a negative pressure generated in an air intake pipe of the engine is introduced into a fuel tank through a negative pressure intake line. When the engine halts, a purge valve provided on a purge line connecting the intake pipe and a canister is closed and defines a closed space between the purge valve and the fuel tank. After the negative pressure in the fuel tank is introduced into the closed space and the closed space is maintained under a continuous and uniform negative pressure, the system starts a leak check. Because the negative pressure intake line is provided with a negative pressure maintaining valve, the fuel tank is maintained under the negative pressure when the engine is running.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for testing the properties of chemicals in a reaction flow stream. In the method, chemicals from the reaction flow stream are directed to the apparatus for testing the physical properties of the chemicals, which is an indication of the state of the chemical reaction. Data measured by the apparatus is stored in a computer, and the computer may be used to analyze the data and to control the reaction parameters based on the analysis of the data. The apparatus used for the analysis comprises a rheometer having an actuated shaft and a concentric container, wherein the shear properties of the material sampled in the apparatus are measured when the actuator shaft is oscillated within the container. Various unique configurations of the apparatus are described.

Abstract: A system for conducting high-temperature liquid chromatographic analysis includes a mobile phase transport tube configured to operably convey mobile phase from a source to respective chromatographic instruments in the system, a pre-heater apparatus operably coupled to the mobile phase transport tube for heating the mobile phase to a desired temperature, a chromatographic column operably coupled to the pre-heater apparatus, and including temperature-maintaining means for maintaining the column at a pre-determined temperature and a counter-flow heat exchanger operably exchanging heat from outlet mobile phase to inlet mobile phase through conductive heat transfer means. In a particular embodiment, the mobile phase passing through the chromatographic column is maintained in a substantially adiabatic environment.

Abstract: A scanning probe microscopy tool is provided with a force sensor that simultaneously measures more than one component of a surface force. The tool is comprised of an oscillator, a tip, a mechanical actuator, a sensing system, and a feedback control system. The oscillator has a selected shape, dimensions ratio, and /or material composition such that the oscillator comprises a first resonant mode for a first direction, wherein a first resonance of the first resonance mode can be altered by a surface force interaction between the tip and the sample in the first direction; and a second resonant mode for a second direction, wherein a second resonance of the second resonant mode can be altered by the surface force interaction between the tip and the sample in the second direction.

Abstract: A glide head for detecting asperities on a disc surface is provided. The glide head includes a glide slider which includes a glide slider body that has a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a bottom surface therebetween. The bottom surface is centered along a longitudinal axis that extends between the leading and trailing edges. An inside rail is disposed on the bottom surface on a first side of the longitudinal axis extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge. An outside rail is disposed on the bottom surface on a second side of the longitudinal axis. The outside rail also extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The inside and outside rails are substantially equidistant from the longitudinal axis at the bottom surface. The outside rail is positioned lower than the inside rail such that a bottom surface of the outside rail extends further from a point on the longitudinal axis on the trailing edge than does a bottom surface of the inside rail.

Abstract: A sensor device has a sensor element, two connecting elements configured as a wire and are led out of the sensor element, and a supporting element having a supporting body and two supporting feet to support the temperature sensor in a housing. The two connecting elements, the sensor element and the supporting body bound between themselves a two-dimensional clearance of a predefined width and height. A minimum dimension of the sensor element and the length and height of the supporting feet are dimensioned, relative to the clearance, such that neither the sensor element nor one of the supporting feet can enter the clearance of an adjacent sensor device.

Abstract: A target tire pressure learning method wherein tire pressure is ascertained via a central pressure sensor. The method of learning a target tire pressure for a tire maintained by a tire pressure maintenance system, having conduit assemblies for conducting fluid to and/or from the tire and a pressure sensor for ascertaining fluid pressure in the conduit assemblies, according to the invention includes ascertaining a current tire pressure with the pressure sensor and designating the current tire pressure as a target tire pressure.

Abstract: A tire includes a nail-type force sensor embedded, for example, in an isolated element such as a tread pattern block (T112). The sensor comprises a rigid shank (1) designed to be acted upon by the force to be determined and a head (2). The head (2) comprises an element attached to the shank (1) capable of being deformed when the shank is displaced. This deformable element carries means to measure the deformation and comprises anchoring points which have a position relative to the shank (1) at rest and which essentially maintain that position when the shank (1) is displaced.

Abstract: The tire comprises a radially inner carcass (1), a base layer (2) which is applied to said carcass radially, externally; a profile comprising numerous profile elements (3, 4, 5) applied radially, externally to said base layer (2); and a sensor (6) which is located in the base layer (2) and associated with one profile element (5) selected from said profile elements (3, 4, 5) and which is used to determine a maximum force exerted on said selected profile element (5). The selected profile element (5) is mechanically separate from all of the other profile elements (3, 4). The method for determining a wear value for a tire of this type that turns and rolls on a base surface (10) provides that the maximum force is measured while the tire is rolling and that the wear value is determined from this maximum force.

Abstract: An elongate probe suitable for measuring one or more properties of a stream of fluid, the probe having an external planar sensing surface, which in use is exposed to the stream of fluid, at a longitudinal end thereof and comprising a plurality of sensors at the planar external sensing surface.

Abstract: A thermal airflow sensor is made highly resistant to thermal stresses due to cold-heat cycles, highly reliable even in the presence of corrosive gases, and capable of low dispersion of output characteristics. The thermal airflow sensor has a semiconductor sensor element in a dent formed on a ceramic laminated board on which a control circuit and a metallic film are formed. The laminated board area at which the semiconductor sensor element is electrically connected to the laminated board is covered with epoxy resin. The part covered with epoxy resin is placed in the air passage.

Abstract: A meter, in particular a fluid meter, having a meter body provided with a flow rate measuring device, a counter mounted on the meter body and provided in a top portion with a display for displaying the quantity of fluid that has been consumed, and in a bottom portion with a converter device for converting the fluid flow rate into the quantity of fluid that has been consumed, and fraud indicator assembly associated with the top portion. A portion of the fraud indicator assembly being designed to be partially or totally detached from the top portion so as to totally block the operation of the converter device after an attempt at fraud has been made on the meter, even if the mechanical action involved in the fraud is no longer applied.

Abstract: A method for determining the instantaneous fluid level of a tank includes the steps of: designating a beginning fluid-level of the tank as an input value during the starting of the engine; ascertaining a first fluid-level value from a fluid level measured by a fluid-level measuring device, and ascertaining a second fluid-level value and a window around the second fluid-level value from the consumption of the engine and from the input value; comparing the first fluid-level value to the window around the second fluid-level value; determining whether the first or the second fluid-level value should be a new input value; displaying the new input value as the fluid level; and terminating the method if the engine is switched off or repeating the method starting from the ascertaining step when the engine is running.

Abstract: A liquid-level measuring device measures the liquid level in a tank. This invention measures liquid level by measuring the pressure at the bottom of the tank. A pressure sensor is placed in the top sealed end of a pipe extending from above the top of the tank down to and open into the bottom of the tank. When the tank is empty the pressure is zero (relative to atmospheric pressure). As the liquid level of the tank rises from empty to full, the pressure rises according to the weight of the liquid. An electronic pressure sensor is used to measure the pressure. The output of the pressure sensor is amplified and sent to an operator display device.

Abstract: An improved boiler water-level controller. According to one aspect of the present invention, a positive blowdown signal is presented to indicate to the operator that the alarm probe is in steam; performing blowdown until this indicator turns on helps ensure that the alarm probe is working properly. According to another aspect of the present invention, the controller uses a novel methodology of sensing water level using conductivity probes. An embodiment of this methodology uses the charging and discharging of a capacitor through a resistive value to sense the presence of water.

Abstract: An unbalanced force sensing apparatus for sensing an unbalanced force produced due to rotation of a cylindrical rotor, the apparatus including a shaft having gas passageways to convey a first gas against the inner surface of the rotor to support the rotor away from the shaft, a second gas for flowing over the outer surface of the rotor to rotate the rotor, and a force sensing means for sensing an unbalanced produced due to rotation of the rotor around the shaft.

Abstract: An accelerometer has a substrate with a cavity therein, a heater extending over the cavity, and a pair of temperature sensitive elements each spaced apart from the heater a distance of 75-400 microns also extending over the cavity. On passing an electrical current through the heater a symmetrical temperature distribution is set up on both sides of the heater. On acceleration, this distribution moves and by measuring the temperature as sensed by the pair of temperature sensitive elements the acceleration that caused the shift can be calculated.

Abstract: A sensor is provided for measuring the speed of a moving sports object, particularly an object being shot or launched, for example, from a gun, bow or other implement, such as a bullet or paint ball being shot from a gun or an arrow being shot from a bow. The sensor is operable over a short range and is preferably mounted in close proximity to the path of the moving object. The sensor of the preferred embodiment utilizes CW Doppler radar in the form of a microwave radio frequency transmitter and receiver that has a single-transistor integrated antenna/oscillator. A simple, low cost unit having a low radiation and low energy consumption transmitter, receiver and signal processor, is provided. In use, the unit is situated so as to place a transmit/receive antenna close to or in the line of motion of the object. Such an antenna, so positioned, may be separated from the unit and connected through a transmission line.

Abstract: A vibrating gyroscope includes a vibrator having a driving electrode and a sensor electrode, a driving circuit for applying a driving voltage to the driving electrode, a detection circuit which receives, from the sensor electrode, a signal corresponding to a bending displacement of the vibrator, a signal processing circuit for processing a signal input from the detection circuit to detect an angular velocity, a power supply circuit, and a diagnostic circuit for examining whether or not the detection circuit, the driving circuit, the signal processing circuit, and the power supply circuit are all functioning normally.

Abstract: An angular velocity sensor with improved detection chacteristics using a tuning fork vibrator made of a single crystalline piezoelectric material such as quartz. The turning fork vibrator includes two vibrators bonded together to provide an integral structure so that the vibrators by their respective crystal axis directions generate a piezoelectric phenomena in inverse polarities in their width directions. The tuning fork vibrator has two tuning fork arms and a tuning fork base. Two detection electrodes are respectively disposed on outer faces of the two tuning fork arms. And two other detection electrodes are respectively disposed on inner faces of the two tuning fork arms. Two drive electrodes are respectively disposed on the two tunings fork arms.

Abstract: A balanced angular accelerometer is provided having a substrate, a fixed electrode with a plurality of fixed capacitive plates, and a rotational inertia mass with a central opening and substantially suspended over a cavity and including a plurality of movable capacitive plates arranged to provide a capacitive coupling with the first plurality of fixed capacitive plates. The accelerometer has a central member and an outer member fixed to the substrate. According to one embodiment, a plurality of inner support arms extend between the central member and the inertia mass and a plurality of outer support arms extend between the inertia mass and the outer member to support the mass over the cavity. According to another embodiment, one or more cut out apertures are formed in the inertia mass to compensate for a channel and signal line so as to balance the inertia mass about the center of the inertia mass.

Abstract: A system for remote diagnosis of the state of wear of the suction and delivery valves of reciprocating compressors comprises at least one piezoelectric seismic sensor, applied to each cylinder of the compressor. The sensor transforms the vibrations generated by the noise of the valves into an electric signal. By appropriate amplification and filtering, the envelope of the resulting narrow band signal is obtained. The signal obtained is then digitized, and transmitted to a remote diagnostics center for monitoring.

Abstract: In a method for contactless online measuring of the wall thickness of hot-rolled pipes in the hot state for determining undesirable inner wall structures, at least one measuring head, operating according to the laser ultrasound method, scans a segment of a wall of a pipe to be measured in a circumferential direction during or directly after a rolling process. The course of the wall of a cross-section of the pipe is then reconstructed with a computer. The measuring head is a compact laser ultrasound measuring head adjustable relative to the pipe dimension to be measured. It has an excitation laser and an illumination laser and optical elements for collecting a carrier light containing the ultrasound signal and reflected at a surface of the pipe. The excitation and illumination lasers and the optical elements are arranged in a common housing of the measuring head. A pivot device is provided to pivot the laser ultrasound measuring head across a segment of the pipe in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: An ultrasonic pipe or other structure assessment system includes an ultrasonic transducer positioned proximate the pipe or other structure. A fluid connection between the ultrasonic transducer and the pipe or other structure is produced. The ultrasonic transducer is moved relative to the pipe or other structure.

Abstract: A vibrator has a construction that allows its electrodes to be easily formed and requires a smaller number of the assembly man-hours. The vibrator includes a drive electrode and two detection electrodes that are disposed along a length direction thereof, on a planar portion provided on the surface of a vibrating member defined by piezoelectric body. These electrodes constitute interdigital electrode portions defined by mutually opposed comb electrodes which are arranged such that the direction in which the teeth thereof extend is substantially perpendicular to the length direction of the vibrating member.

Abstract: A force measuring device and method for determining a force required to move a cart. The force measuring device includes a force generating device, a load member, a load cell, and a controller. The force generating device is connected to the load member and moves the load member toward or away from the cart so as to apply pushing or pulling forces to the cart. The load cell is disposed between the load member and the cart, and transmits sensed force data to the controller. During a test, the controller collects the force data from the load cell. By testing carts of various configurations under all expected loading conditions, the performance of each cart configuration can be experimentally determined. The performance data is assembled in a database to permit a user to identify an optimum cart for an intended application.

Abstract: A vibratory transducer comprises a flow tube for conducting the fluid flowing in a pipe. The flow tube communicates with the pipe via an inlet-side tube section and an outlet-side tube section. An antivibrator is mechanically connected with the flow tube by an inlet-side coupler and an outlet-side coupler. For driving flow tube and antivibrator at an excitation frequency the transducer comprising an excitation system and for sensing inlet-side and outlet-side vibrations of the flow tube the transducer comprising a sensor system. An internal system formed by the flow tube, the antivibrator, the excitation system, and the sensor system, oscillating about a longitudinal axis of the transducer which is essentially in alignment with the inlet-side tube sections, forces a torsion of the couplers about the longitudinal axis and an essentially torsional elastic deformation of the inlet-side and outlet-side tube sections.

Abstract: A gas sample extraction apparatus to recover sample gases from fluids such as the return flow drilling mud of an oil and gas well has a sample canister forming a sample chamber with a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port. The gas sample extraction apparatus is disposed in a flow of fluid to be sampled, and the fluid sample flows through the sample chamber via the fluid inlet and outlet ports. A bubbler enclosure is in fixed relationship to the sample canister and has an exit bubbler port at the desired fluid level of the sample chamber. Compressed air is supplied to the gas sample extraction apparatus to maintain the fluid sample level within the sample canister at the desired fluid level.

Abstract: A manual sample injector includes a syringe holder, a plunger driver, and an interface. An interface-control lever attached to the interface can assume “extraction”, “injection”, and “safety” orientations. In its safety orientation, the interface-control lever maintains a syringe needle in a retracted position for safety. Mounting the sample injector on a sample vial forces the interface-control lever to its extraction orientation, which allows the syringe needle to extend into the sample vial for sample extraction. The extent of the needle into the sample vial can be adjusted for precise extraction of sample from non-uniform vial contents. Mounting the injector on an injection port forces the interface-control lever to its injection orientation so that the syringe needle can be extended to an appropriate depth for sample injection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring instrument, specifically for the registration devices in automobile technology with at least a first and second independently activatable driving mechanism and with respectively a first driven shaft (15; 17), which can respectively be twist-proof connected with an indicator element, whereby the driven shaft (15) of the second driving mechanism is conducted co-axially through the driven shaft (17), designed as hollow shaft, of the first driving mechanism and protrudes, with its extremity, beyond the extremity of the driving shaft designed as hollow shaft.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flexible bearing assembly for use in a transmission system. The flexible bearing assembly has a gear mounted to a first shaft, first and second pinions connected to a second shaft, and a flexible coupling element connected to the gear and the first pinion. The flexible coupling element is preferably formed by a flexible diaphragm.

Abstract: A first helical gear (40) is supported by a first rotation shaft (4), and a second helical gear (13) is supported by a second rotation shaft (14). A rotation body (6, 7) comprising a third helical gear (7) which meshes with the first helical gear (40), and a fourth helical gear (6) which meshes with the second helical gear (13), is supported by an intermediate shaft (5). The rotation body (6, 7) is further supported by a thrust bearing (10, 11) in a direction along the intermediate shaft (5). The average radius R of the thrust bearing (10, 11) is determined according to the direction of the thrust load acting on the third helical gear (7), the direction of the thrust load acting on the fourth helical gear (6), and an angle &thgr;2 subtended by the application point of these thrust loads.

Abstract: In a gear shift device for a manual gear change transmission with a plurality of shift rails disposed in the transmission housing and a shift lever pivotally mounted on a joint carrier supported on a shift dome above the shift rails, the shift lever has a forked downwardly extending end in which a shift finger is received and pivotably supported by the joint carrier so as to project from the shift lever downwardly into engagement grooves of the shift rails and the shift finger is snugly engaged by the lower forked lever end of the shift lever for pivoting the shift finger at a rate which is increased with respect to that of the lower shift lever end.

Abstract: In a brake pedal apparatus, as a brake pedal is depressed when an engaging device and a receiving portion are engaged with each other, a second lever member pivots about a second pivot pin. At this point, when the pedaling force is smaller than a threshold value, the engagement between the engaging device and the receiving portion is maintained so that the second lever member pivots about the second pivot pin. In this state, the pedal leverage is set to be a smeller ratio. As the pedaling force exceeds the threshold, the engaging device is disengaged from the receiving portion. Then, the first and second lever members are coupled by a stopper portion to pivot together about a first pivot pin. Therefore, the pedal leverage is changed to a larger ratio.