Abstract: A motorized beach vehicle has a gear lever clutching structure for prevention of gear slip. The gear lever, the linking arm and the swing arm are connected to form a substantially “h”-shaped structure. The gear lever may be pivoted to combine the combination stud of the swing arm with the combination hole of the combination arm, so that the gear lever may be moved to shift the universal connector of the crank so as to change the speed. After the gear lever accomplishes the gear shifting work, the combination stud is detached from the combination hole of the combination arm. Thus, the crank cannot be moved to shift gear in the gearbox due to vibration or shock applied on the vehicle body, thereby preventing from incurring gear slip of the gearbox of the motorized beach vehicle.

Abstract: An automated clutch system for transferring torque from an engine to a change gear transmission is connected to a processing unit which uses various input parameters to calculate the grade on which the vehicle is operating and its current weight to determine an appropriate start gear to minimise clutch slip when the vehicle is launched from rest.

Abstract: The invention concerns a transmission between a gear (22) mounted freely rotating about a shaft and a one-way drive-lock mechanism (26) for engaging in rotation the gear (22) and its shaft in a rotational direction, said mechanism comprising a ring (52) integral in rotation with the shaft and bearing on its radial surface (54) at least two dogs (58) pivotally mounted about radial axes (62) between rest and locking positions on the gear (22) wherein they prevent the gear from rotation relative to the shaft. The invention is applicable in particular to transmission systems for motor vehicles.

Abstract: As a double-arm shoulder joint mechanism of a double-arm robot and a both-legs hip joint mechanism of a biped-walk robot, use is made of a double spherical joint having a construction such that joint rotation axes of 6 DOF are intersected at one point. As the double-arm shoulder joint mechanism of the double-arm robot, arms are connected respectively to a first spherical joint and a second spherical joint of the double spherical joint. As the both-legs hip joint mechanism of the biped-walk robot, legs are connected respectively to the first spherical joint and the second spherical joint of the double spherical joint.

Abstract: A power saving apparatus is provided for an assisting apparatus that uses power from a rotating member to assist the operation of a bicycle transmission. The power saving apparatus comprises a rotating member engaging member that moves between a rotating member engaging position and a rotating member disengaging position, a setting mechanism that sets the rotating member engaging member toward the rotating member engaging position, and a power saving unit. The power saving unit saves power communicated between the setting mechanism and the rotating member engaging member when the setting mechanism attempts to move the rotating member engaging member into the rotating member engaging position and the rotating member engaging member encounters a force that resists the rotating member engaging member being in the rotating member engaging position.

Abstract: A bicycle speed change control device comprises a housing; a cable control set fastened pivotally with the housing and reversibly supported, the cable control set comprising a first toothed engagement portion, a second toothed engagement portion, and a third toothed engagement portion; a first lever fastened pivotally with the housing and reversibly supported, the first lever having a push member being forced into engagement with the third toothed engagement portion of the cable control set and to further turn the cable control set when the first lever is turned in one direction, the push member being disengaged from the third toothed engagement portion of the cable control set when the first lever reversed; and a second lever fastened pivotally with the housing and reversibly supported, the second lever having a tooth adapted to engage the first toothed engagement portion and second toothed engagement portion of the cable control set selectively.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pedal system for a motor vehicle comprising a displacement sensor. Said sensor is used for determining the angular position of a foot pedal (1) and is provided as an inductive sensor which comprises a stationary coil part (3) and a metal part (4) that is displaced with the foot pedal (1). The distance of the metal part (4) from the coil part (3) alters the electric relationships from which corresponding measured values can be derived. This results in reducing the production complexity of the pedal system and in improving the functional reliability of the sensor.

Abstract: A device with two arms (10, 12) in spaced-apart relationship for secure attachment to a wheel-barrow. A member (26) extends between the two arms (10, 12) and is engaged by an operator contacting the member (26) with their hip/waist area to assist in propelling the wheel-barrow.

Abstract: A vehicle steering wheel comprises a steering wheel rim, at least one tube which is filled with fluid and arranged in the steering wheel rim, and a device for generating a pressure wave in the fluid. The device is designed and the tube is arranged such that the pressure wave generates a haptic signal, able to be perceived by the driver, on a surface of the steering wheel rim.

Abstract: The invention provides a flywheel system with energy-absorbing housing. The system provides a novel liner and restraint ribs which serve to de-energize debris particles resulting from the catastrophic failure of a flywheel. Also provided are energy-absorbing housing systems comprising a rotatable liner, one or more restraint ribs, and a fluid film bearing to control and dissipate the energy from the failure of a rotating mass.

Abstract: A connecting rod with an elliptical opening couples with a crankshaft without the use of a separate bearing element. The elliptical opening deforms under axial tension during operation to provide proper clearance between an inner surface of the opening and an outer surface of the crankshaft. A method for producing a connecting rod with an elliptical opening includes creating an initial form, compressing the crankshaft end of the form with a clamping means, honing a circular opening, releasing the clamping means, and forming radii at each edge of the resulting opening.

Abstract: A sintered connecting rod for an internal combustion engine comprises a connecting rod eye (1) for receiving a piston pin, a connecting rod big end (3) for holding the crank pin and a shaft (2) made of two diverging longitudinal bridges (4) which are optionally stiffened by a connecting bridge (5) and whose mutually facing bridge flanks (11) are connected in the zone of the connecting rod big end (3) by a central concave rounding (9). In order to ensure advantageous loading conditions it is proposed that the longitudinal bridges (4) of the shaft (2) diverge from the connecting rod big end (3) to the connecting rod eye (1).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cover unit which includes a cover made of an aluminum alloy. The cover has a wall thickness of 1 to 2 mm and has at least one hollow pin on one side as well as an aperture. A plate-shaped plastic part provided with holes and a plug which projects through the aperture and is connected to the cover via at least one hollow pin. When attached, the plastic part holes engage the hollow pin(s) and the pin(s) are deformed so as to ensure a secure attachment. The invention also relates to a method of making the cover unit described above.

Abstract: A shaft gear includes a housing in which a bearing gear is fixed, and a cup-shaped output ring driven about an axis and including a deformable wall which defines a geared flexible strip. The output ring is disposed inside of the bearing gear and is deformed by a rotating eccentric, whereby the geared strip revolves around a geared surface of the bearing gear. The geared strip and the geared surface have a truncated conoidal shape in order to minimize the risk of breaking-off the geared strip.

Abstract: In an automatic transmission includes a main shaft and a counter shaft which are parallel to a crankshaft with the rotation of a torque converter on the crankshaft being transmitted to the main shaft through gears. A two-state speed change is conducted by gears provided on the main shaft and the counter shaft. An oil hydraulic clutch is operatively provided for connection and disconnection between the gear for reducing the spacing between the crankshaft and the transmission and to contrive a reduction in size of a power unit. A tubular auxiliary main shaft rotatable relative to the main shaft is provided at the outer circumference of the main shaft with a first-speed drive gear and a rearward-running drive gear are fixed on the auxiliary main shaft. First and second oil hydraulic clutches are provided for enabling contact and separation between the main shaft and the auxiliary main shaft.

Abstract: An abrasive and wear resistant material comprises a mass of carbide particles, a mass of cubic boron nitride particles, and a bonding metal or alloy, bonded into a coherent, sintered form. The cubic boron nitride particle content of the material is from 10% to 18% inclusive by weight, the particle size of the cubic boron nitride is less than 20 micron or less, and the material is substantially free of hexagonal boron nitride. The abrasive material is of particular use in tool components or inserts for application in the abrading of wood and other lignocellulosic materials.

Abstract: The invention relates to a grain refining agent for cast aluminum or magnesium products, comprising particles having an average particle size of 0.1 to 30 &mgr;m and each formed of an agglomerate of grains with each grain comprising a nanocrystal of a transition metal boride or carbide of the formula: MeaXb (I) wherein Me is a transition metal, X is boron or carbon, a ranges from 1 to 10 and b ranges from 1 to 20. The grain refining agent according to the invention does not require to be formed into a master alloy prior to being added to the molten aluminum or magnesium to be cast.

Abstract: A nonfired agglomerated ore which is satisfactory in reduction property in the shaft of a blast furnace and excellent in rapid heating bursting property and a production method thereof are provided. A carbon containing nonfired agglomerated ore for blast furnace which is prepared in such a way that iron oxide and a carbonaceous material are blended with each other to prepare a mixture, a binder is added to the mixture, and the mixture is kneaded, formed, and cured, wherein the agglomerated ore contains carbon in the content of 80 to 120% of the theoretical carbon quantity required to reduce the reducible oxygen in the iron ores to form metallic iron, and the binder is selected so that the crushing strength may be 7,850 kN/m2 or more at room temperature.

Abstract: A method of preparing a nanoparticle having a particle size of 1 nm to 1 &mgr;m, said method comprising continuously supplying a solution containing a particle-forming precursor into a micro channel having a diameter of 1 &mgr;m to 1 mm, said micro channel being disposed in a heating zone. The solution is heated rapidly up to a reaction initiation temperature to cause a reaction in said solution. The solution is rapidly cooled to prepare the nanoparticle.

Abstract: Nanostructured metallic powders and coatings are processed by suspending a metal precursor in a glycol solution containing the constituent metal salts and using a millimeter wave beam as the heating source. The mixture is then heated to reduce the metal precursor to a metal precipitate. The precipitated metal may then be isolated.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of assaying a mineral sample for determining the concentration of selected metals in a sample comprising the steps of providing a comminuted mineral sample; mixing such sample with a flux; preheating a reaction vessel to a temperature which approximates the melting point of the flux; introducing the mixture of the mineral sample and flux into the crucible, whereby the mixture is transformed to a molten state to capture the metal to be assayed in a collector material; and separating slag from the collector material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for rendering inert dust residue containing silicon metal, left over from trichlorosilane synthesis. The inventive method produces valuable materials containing silicon which can be used in metallurgical processes. According to said method, the process of rendering the residue inert is carried out in several steps. In a first step, 10 to 50 wt. % water, in relation to the quantity of residue, and an at least equimolar quantity of an alkaline compound, in relation to the chloride content of the residue, are added to the residue. Subsequently or simultaneously, the residue is heated to a temperature of 50 to 200° C. In a further step, at least twice the quantity of water is added to this mixture, which is extensively liberated from dissolved salts by filtration and subsequent washing with water.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of using concentrated zinc chloride to protect zinc powders formed by electrowinning from oxidation during collection and removal from an electrowinning cell, during periods of prolonged storage and during melting. The invention provides a means of flushing zinc powders from all surfaces of an electrowinning cell and transporting and storing the zinc powders under a concentrated zinc chloride solution. The same concentrated solution can be used with ammonium chloride in a flux solution to melt the zinc powders prior to shaping the molten zinc into briquettes, pellets and the like.

Abstract: Novel electrically active ionic polymer metal composite materials and novel methods of manufacturing them by means of a series of innovative chemical processes of first chemically depositing none noble metal salt cations inside a cationic polymer molecular network followed by chemical reduction of the said none noble metal salt cations to generate reduced none noble metal particles deposited inside the polymeric molecular network followed by a second electro or chemo deposition and plating of a noble metal inside and on the surfaces of the reduced none noble metallic particles in the said polymer molecular network to protect the first said none noble metal particles from oxidation, corrosion and chemical degradation for prolonged sensing and actuation applications of the said novel ionic polymer metal composite material which generates an electrical signal with mechanical deformation and undergoes mechanical deformation if an electric field is imposed on it.

Abstract: A device for planishing a band saw blades or the like, includes elements for continuously driving the blade, elements for detecting deformations of the blade and planishing elements. The detecting elements consist of position sensors integral with a table positioned underneath the blade, the sensors being uniformly spaced on a line transverse to the forward moving direction of the blade, and the planishing elements consist of hammers co-operating with an anvil positioned underneath the blade, such that, when a sensor detects a deformation of the surface of the blade body, the hammer corresponding to the sensor is actuated to even out the deformation.

Abstract: A device for changing a light bulb comprising an outer tube and an inner tube positioned inside the outer tube, wherein the tubes are adjustable along a longitudinal axis. The inner tube having a rotating member which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis by a grip attached to the inner tube. The device comprising a flexible arm with a flex cable running through the arm, wherein the arm is connected to the outer tube. The flex cable in the flexible arm rotates in agreement with the rotating member by means of a transferring mechanism and drives a clasping mechanism comprising a plurality of spring urged fingers. The spring urged fingers are adjustable to clasp different sized light bulbs by an sliding collar coupled to the clasping mechanism. The device also comprises a locking mechanism for allowing or preventing the outer tube and the inner tube from sliding relative to each other at any position.

Abstract: A ratchet pipe wrench includes a C-shaped head composed of two jaws and a ratchet mechanism is received in the head so as to engage with a C-shaped engaging member which is rotatably engaged with the space between the two jaws of the head. The C-shaped engaging member has a polygonal inner periphery so as to engage with an object such as a nut and a toothed outer periphery which is engaged with the ratchet mechanism. The tool can reciprocatingly rotate the object without removing the tool from the object.

Abstract: A ratchet wheel mounting structure includes a ratchet wheel mounted in the box of a wrench and meshed with a toothed stop block in the box, and a retainer ring, which secures the ratchet wheel to the box. The pressure angle of the ratchet wheel is within 10˜13°. Each tooth of the ratchet wheel has a chamfer angle at each of two distal ends thereof. A reinforcing bevel angle is provided in the valley between the roots of each two adjacent teeth of the ratchet wheel adjacent to the locating block.

Abstract: A bi-directional ratchet wrench is constructed to include a wrench body having a box at one end, an annular ratchet wheel mounted in the box of the wrench body, a toothed stop member mounted in the box and meshed with the ratchet wheel, the ratchet wheel having an inside locating groove extended around an inside wall thereof and dividing the axially extended center through hole thereof into two coupling portions adapted for selectively coupling to the workpiece to be rotated, and a baffle plate axially slidably mounted in the inside locating groove of the ratchet wheel and adapted for holding down the workpiece to be rotated.

Abstract: A ratchet tool includes a head with a toothed driving member and a pawl respectively received therein. The pawl has a protrusion which is engaged with a recessed area defined in an underside of a pawl shifting member on one of two sides of the head of the tool, so that the pawl is urged to engage with the toothed driving member by shifting a lever on the pawl shifting member. A spring and a bead are received in a hole defined in a top of the pawl shifting member. A cap is engaged with the head so as to position the driving member and includes an extension which is covered on the pawl shifting member and has two positioning recesses. The bead is engaged with one of the two positioning recesses.

Abstract: An adjustable wrench includes a shank having a first end with a fixed jaw and a movable jaw which is controlled by an adjusting member and movable relative to the fixed jaw. A recess is defined in at least one of two sides of a second end of the shank and an engaging member is rotatably received in the recess and teeth are defined in an inner periphery of the engaging member. A ratchet mechanism may be received in the shank and is cooperated with the engaging member.

Abstract: A crescent wrench is constructed to include a fixed jaw, a transmission gear wheel pivoted to the fixed jaw, a movable jaw meshed with the transmission gear wheel, a sliding track structure adapted to guide movement of the movable jaw horizontally relative to the fixed jaw, and a handle detachably coupled to the transmission gear wheel and adapted for turning the transmission gear wheel to move the movable jaw horizontally relative to the fixed jaw.

Abstract: A drive wrench structure includes a drive handle provided with a threaded rod which is provided with a push rod, and a mounting stud having has a first side formed with a screw bore screwed on the threaded rod of the drive handle, and a second side formed with a through hole for passage of the push rod of the drive handle. The push rod of the drive handle may protrude outward from the through hole of the mounting stud when in use, and may be retracted into and fully hidden in the through hole of the mounting stud when not in use, thereby protecting the push rod of the drive handle, and thereby facilitating storage of the drive wrench structure.

Abstract: My invention, the WRENCH EXTENSION, is a simple device that extends the leverage of some common tools. It is very easy to use and is extremely usefull to plumbers and other workman. It is new, as there is nothing like it on the market—it will be of great help too many. I believe it will be as usefull as a can opener to many people.

Abstract: A structure of turning head of a precision screwdriver provides an accommodation space inside a handle opening to one end in wider diameter, a holder in the accommodation space, a plurality of ribs each with a locking trough formed in the holder to hold a plurality of tips, and both ends of the holder are connected to form a pivot and a fender; the pivot is pivoted to the center of the turning head; a circular protrusion and a groove are provided at where the turning head contacts the accommodation space of the handle with both connected to each other for free pivoting and the turning head functioning as a support axle for the handle, the holder is exposed by pulling the turning head linked to the pivot and is restricted in the circular groove of the accommodation space by the fender.

Abstract: An apparatus for slicing a food product into a plurality of slices in one action. The apparatus includes a frame having a first end, a second end and a body portion having an opening therein, the body portion having a plurality of spaced apart cutting strands disposed across the opening that are operably supported by the body portion of the frame. In use, the body portion of the apparatus is disposed in a substantially vertical alignment over at least a portion of a food product, and forced downwardly such that the plurality of spaced apart cutting strands across the opening slices the food product into a plurality of individual slices in one action.

Abstract: A method of trimming the width of a blind having a head rail and a fabric panel depending therefrom, by a predetermined trim measurement, by trimming a first length from the head rail, retracting the head rail away from a first side edge of said fabric panel, trimming a second length from the first edge of the fabric panel,; moving the head rail axially relative to the fabric panel so as to retract it from a second side edge of the fabric panel opposite to the first side edge, trimming a third length from the second edge of the fabric panel, and moving the head rail axially relative to the fabric panel whereby to locate it equidistant from the first and the second edges of the fabric panel. Also disclosed is apparatus for trimming such a fabric blind.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for chopping long unwound items like fiber, fiber strands, yarn, etc. The chopper has a backup roll, a blade roll and a biasing system for forcing the backup roll and the blade roll together at a desired force during set up and operation. The biasing system contains a mechanism such as a slip clutch or a limited torque stepping motor for maintaining a substantially constant biasing force at set up and during operation while allowing the rolls to separate slightly to pass a temporary thicker feed without recoil that currently shortens blade and backup roll working layer life.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting and sorting boards conveys the boards ag a conveyor path. The apparatus senses the length of boards and the grade of boards, and cuts selected boards into first and second segments. The first and second segments are aligned against lumber lines respectively on each side of a conveyor path. The boards are then selectively sorted and dropped into bins successively positioned along each side of the conveyor path.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an expandable slotted tube fabricated from at least one tubular element and at least two annular elements connected to the opposite ends of the tubular element by means of butt joints wherein axially extending slots are formed at a uniform angular spacing around the periphery of the tube and in longitudinally overlapping relation characterized by cutting said annular elements in a pattern of overlapping positionally fixed slots in accordance with invariable parameters which are pre-determined relative to the dimensions of said annular elements and cutting in said tubular element a pattern of slots that is variable in accordance with measured parameters of the tube so as to achieve the required overlap between said positionally fixed and variable slots. A machine for carrying out the method is also described.

Abstract: The invention concerns an assembly for cutting strands formed by thermoplastic filaments, and comprising a blade-holder wheel (1) and an anvil-wheel (2) rotating in reverse direction about two parallel axes (x1, x2), at least means for actuating (B) said wheels and means (6) for contacting a strand with the anvil wheel (2). The invention is characterised in that it further comprises: means oscillating (3) the support of said wheels (1, 2) whereof the axis (x3) is parallel to the axis of said wheels and associated actuating means (A); means (C) for contacting said wheels; means (10) designed in particular to pinch said strand and associated actuating means for passing the strand between the blade-holder wheel (1) and the anvil-wheel (2) when said wheels are not in contact. The invention further concerns the associated method.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of packing sheet recording materials comprising the step of cutting the sheet recording materials to a prescribed size and the step of packing the cut sheet recording materials into a packing material, wherein the cutting step and/or packing step is conducted in an environment with a degree of cleanliness of less than or equal to class 10,000 of U.S. Federal Standard 209d. No image defects are generated during use of the films contained in the package.

Abstract: A polymer cutter with a rotary cutting head in which the cutting edges are on the circumferential periphery of the head is described. The knife blades on the rotary head have a knife angle (as defined) of about 40° to about 60°. The apparatus is especially useful for cutting hard and/or brittle thermoplastics and may be used for preparing polymer granules or pellets.

Abstract: A plate-shaped shearing knife is provided made of hard metal for shearing off allotments of liquid glass. The hard metal of the shearing knife has a thermal conductivity of at least 85 W/mK. Next to a V-shaped or circular-shaped cutting region -2-, there are edge regions on both sides that do not flare out wedge-like, and have an average width b which is in a range of 5% to 30% of the total width of the shearing knife B in this section.

Abstract: A quick-pin blade tensioning device for a band saw comprises a sliding tension bracket coupled with an upper arm of the band saw. The sliding tension bracket engages an upper band wheel which has a band saw blade coupled to it. A lifting shoe, slidably disposed within the upper arm, imparts movement to the sliding tension bracket. A pin moves the lifting shoe through rotational movement of the pin imparted by a coupling with a tension crank. The tension crank, disposed within the upper arm, has rotational movement imparted to it through a coupling with a tension handle enabled with multiple positions.

Abstract: An apparatus is proposed which makes it possible to produce contact windows only for one conductor track or a plurality of individual conductor tracks in the flat cable. The other conductor tracks should not be influenced or impaired. A flat cable is transported in a guide channel through the apparatus. For each conductor track of a flat cable, a cutting disk is present above and a pressure element below. As soon as insulation is to be stripped from an area, the actuating element is actuated and the pressure element is raised. As a result, the flat cable is pressed with the insulated conductor track against the cutting disk and the insulation layer above the conductor track is removed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a manual tile cutter comprising a support base (1), the short sides of which are provided with diverging walls (2) that extend upwards. Both ends of the longitudinal guides (3) for the cutting head are fixed inside said walls. The longer sides of the support base (1) are provided with flat flanges (8) which are mounted so that they can be pulled down during use, around horizontal rotation axes, into a horizontal position which is coplanar with the base (1), or pushed up into a vertical transport position which is perpendicular to the base (1).

Abstract: An electronic drum system includes an electronic drum having a shell, a drum head stretched across an opening of the shell, a vibration sensor converting vibrations of the drum head to an electric signal and a damper held in contact with the reverse surface of the drum head; when a drummer strikes the drum head with a stick, the drum head is shaken, and vibrations follow; the damper is held in contact with a certain area on the reverse surface, and the shake and vibrations are propagated from another area free from the damper to the vibration sensor; the shake is surely propagated to the vibration sensor, and the vibrations are rapidly decayed; for this reason, the vibration sensor exactly discriminates the shake from the peaks of the vibrations, thereby preventing an electronic sound generator from unintentionally repeated electronic beats.

Abstract: This invention is to provide a method for improvement of a drummer's stamina, speed, force, control, timing in the delivery of the drum stroke. This is done by providing a practice bar surface located above the drumsticks which the drummer strikes on the up-stroke of the drumstick. The method can be used in conjunction with a standard practice pad to strike on the down-stroke or to provide the upstroke practice bar over open space with no surface to receive the down-stroke.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a striker device for striking the playing surface of a percussion instrument. The striker device includes a flexible slapper plate upon which a ball is mounted. A means for adjustably mounting the striker device allows it to be mounted onto a rod of the percussion instrument such that the movement of the rod causes the slapper plate to oscillate causing the ball to strike the playing surface of the percussion instrument.