Abstract: An exercising bicycle is proposed, having a rear hub thereof being mounted with a spring seat, a coupling member, a spiral spring, a turning mechanism and a braking system. The spring seat is formed with a shaft for being sleeved with the coupling member. The spiral spring is placed between the coupling member and spring seat. The turning mechanism is operatably driven by body motion of a user, whereby the coupling member is urged to rotate with respect to the spring seat for twisting the spiral spring tight, and the spring seat is actuated to rotate by resilient force from releasing the twisted spiral spring. By this mode of operation as to urge the turning mechanism for making the spiral spring store kinetic energy, and then to release the stored energy for driving the bicycle to move, the user can be elicited with a large amount of whole body exercise.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spring powered wheelbarrow with a manually powered drive assembly. A foot crank winds a spring through a system of shafts and sprockets in a first direction. By releasing a brake upon a front wheel of a wheelbarrow, the wound spring transfers a rotational movement from a spring shaft to a freewheel sprocket adjacent to the front wheel, the rotational movement upon the front wheel assisting a user in pushing the wheelbarrow.

Abstract: A starter mechanism for an internal combustion engine having a spring that is wound during the starting operation of the internal combustion engine. As the operator pulls the starter rope of the engine the starter spring begins to wind creating a force within the spring. Once the spring force overcomes the compression force of the piston the spring will unwind thereby turning the crankshaft of the engine and consequently starting the engine. The starter rope is returned to the housing of the starter mechanism by the use of a rope return spring.

Abstract: A manual override mechanism is presented for a motor driven rotary actuator that allows the output of the actuator to be manually positioned. Once positioned, the output of the actuator may be locked by a locking mechanism to prevent this output from rotating to its quiescent position. When incorporated in a spring return rotary actuator, the manual override may be used to apply a preload on the spring before the driven device is connected. When the actuator is used to drive a valve or damper, the preload applies a positive closing force on the damper in its zero position to ensure a tight closure of the valve or damper. The locking mechanism engages the gear train and opposes the closing force applied by the spring return of the actuator. To disengage the locking mechanism automatically, the motor applies a forward kick to the gear train. Manual disengagement is also provided.

Abstract: An elastic energy storage device has an energy storage unit which has an axial rod penetrating through a plurality of rotary disks and spiral springs. One side of each rotary disk is protruded with an outer edge buckling post and another side thereof is installed with an inner edge buckling post. Each two rotary disks are installed with a spiral spring. The casing is installed with a unidirectional power output shaft for driving the first rotary disk of the energy storage unit to rotate. The speed change box has an input shaft and an output shaft. The input shaft is connected or engaged to the rotary disk; and one of the rotary disks of the energy storage unit at an innermost side has a function of driving the input shaft to rotate. Thereby, the at least one spiral spring stores energy through a flywheel and then release the energy steadily.

Abstract: A rubber band driving device for two-propeller model plane, mainly comprising a power rubber band 1, a wooden skeletal bar 2, a rubber band winder 3, a rubber band locator 4, a power distributor 5, transmission bars 6, support bars 7, a left propeller gear box 8, a right propeller gear box 9, propeller blades 10 and 20, a propeller space locator 30, and a propelling direction adjuster 40, wherein the power rubber band 1 is connected to the rubber band winder 3 and the power distributor 5, and the power stored in the power rubber band 1 is transmitted, through the distributor 5 and the transmission bars 6, to the left and right propeller gear boxes 8 and 9, to set in motion their blades 10 and 20. The driving device disclosed in the present invention is reasonable in structure, stable in work, easy to maintain and repair, and is suitable for various kinds of two-propeller emulation model planes.

Abstract: An improved elastic motor is disclosed having a constant torque characteristic. In contrast to earlier motors which use springs wound on spools, the present invention utilizes a reel with elastic stretched to its maximum tension. Each unit length of the elastic is allowed to relax back to its normal state while generating work in a process that will continue until the wheel is fully unwound. The present invention will ease the design of mobile devices and the like by providing a power source having a predictable, stable, and constant torque output characteristic.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating rotative force using spring according to the present invention permits rotative force of an input shaft to be intermitted to an acceleration gear by an intermitting gear, an available time for the rotation of an output shaft to be confirmed by an indicating means, and the operation to be stopped by a stopping means. In addition, the apparatus causes the rotation of the output shaft to be stopped exactly in ‘0’ position of the available time by a setting means. Therefore, since the present invention intermits rotative force only by the intermitting gear, a production cost is reduced by the simple configuration, and thus the apparatus according to the present invention could be provided with low cost. In addition, the convenience in use is increased, since user could confirm the available time of rotation, the operation could be stopped while generating the rotative force, and the apparatus could operate in an inclined or upside down position.

Abstract: A transmission wheel comprises a gear having a hole and a pinion having a plurality of teeth and being removably mounted in the hole of the gear. The hole of the gear has at least one chord-shaped stop portion engaging two adjacent teeth of the pinion to prevent relative rotation between the pinion and the gear.

Abstract: A spring drive system for window covers is disclosed, which comprises a so-called flat spring drive and the combination whose elements are selected from a group which includes (1) a band transmission which provides varying ratio power transfer as the cover is opened and closed; (2) gear means comprising various gear sets which provide frictional holding force and fixed power transfer ratios; and (3) a gear transmission which provides fixed ratio power transfer as the cover is opened or closed. The combination permits the spring drive force at the cover to be tailored to the weight and/or compression characteristics of the window cover such as a horizontal slat or pleated or box blind as the cover is opened and closed.

Abstract: A monitor installed in automobile's dash panel (110), includes: a reception member (120) inserted in the upper portion of the dash panel (110), the member having a predetermined space and opened top; a lid (130) hinged on one side of the reception member (120) so that is selectively opened or closed; lid opening means for controlling the opening or closing the lid (130); and a monitor (140) installed in the reception member (120) and hinged on the top inner surface of the lid (130) so that it becomes selectively erect when the lid (130) is opened.

Abstract: An improved elastic motor is disclosed having a constant torque characteristic. The motor utilizes a reel with elastic stretched to its maximum tension. Each unit length of the elastic is allowed to relax back to its normal state while generating work in a process that will continue until the wheel is fully unwound. The present invention will ease design of mobile devices and the like by providing a power source having a predictable and stable output characteristic.

Abstract: An improved elastic motor is disclosed having a constant torque characteristic. The motor utilizes a reel with elastic stretched to its maximum tension. Each unit length of the elastic is allowed to relax back to its normal state while generating work in a process that will continue until the wheel is fully unwound. The present invention will ease design of mobile devices and the like by providing a power source having a predictable and stable output characteristic.

Abstract: A coil spring drive unit for window covers is disclosed, which comprises a coil spring drive and the combination whose elements are selected from (1) a band shift transmission which provides varying ratio power transfer as the cover is opened and closed; (2) gear means comprising various gear sets which provide frictional holding force and fixed power transfer ratios; and (3) a gear transmission which provides fixed ratio power transfer as the cover is opened or closed. The combination permits the coil spring drive torque to be tailored to the weight characteristics of the window cover such as a horizontal slat or pleated or box blind as the blind is opened and closed, and permits the length of the blind and the distance between the open and closed positions of the blind to be altered for a given rotational distance of the coil spring.

Abstract: A spring drive system for window covers is disclosed, which includes a so-called flat spring drive and the combination whose elements are selected from a group which includes (1) a band transmission which provides varying ratio power transfer as the cover is opened and closed; (2) a gear system selected from various gear sets which provide frictional holding force and fixed power transfer ratios; and (3) a gear transmission which provides fixed ratio power transfer as the cover is opened or closed. The combination permits the spring drive force at the cover to be tailored to the weight and/or compression characteristics of the window cover such as a horizontal slat or pleated or box blind as the cover is opened and closed.

Abstract: An awning is attached to and wound on a spring loaded roller. The roller rotates on shafts secured to shaft mounts at each end. The shaft mount is secured on the end of a support arm. A crank has a two prong engagement member that fits in a slot of the shaft mount. The shaft mount is released from the support arm and the crank is turned to adjust spring force in the roller.

Abstract: A spring motor for driving an electric power generator with constant power includes a crank-up spool, a take-up spool, and a relatively wide, flat tape spring which winds in a relaxed condition on the take-up spool. In one form, the spring has a width which varies approximately linearly from one end to another end so as to generate a constant torque at a fixed radius from an axis of the crank-up spool as the spring unwinds. In another form, the spring width is constant and a separate drum is driven by contact with the unwinding spring, with the separate drum driving an output shaft. In still another form, an idler wheel is driven by contact with the spring and the output shaft is driven from the idler wheel through gear contact with the periphery of an output drum mounted on the output shaft.

Abstract: A simple device producing both action effect and electronic effect includes a housing, an elastic driving mechanism and an electronic control circuit with a vibration sensor. The elastic driving mechanism has an elastic member, a transmitting shaft, a power input device, an eccentric action member. The electronic cir-control circuit has a circuit board, the vibration sensor, a battery and a function device. The elastic member stores and releases energy, and a changed energy is produced in the storing and releasing process. The eccentric member is connected to the output shaft of the elastic driving mechanism and rotated by the changed energy to produce vibration or jumping phenomenon. Then the vibration sensor senses the vibration phenomenon and triggers a signal of changing its own condition and starts the electronic circuit to produce function to let the function device perform preset action or function.

Abstract: A motor for controlling the elevating and lowering of a load comprises a storage drum, an output drum and a spring member operatively connected therebetween to provide a spring motor therewith, and a pair of cord drums aligned with and respectively adjacent the storage drum and the output drum. A gear train including an idler gear associated with the storage drum drivingly interengages the cord drums with the output drum, whereby the elevating and lowering of a load attached to the cords on the cord drums is balanced regardless of whether the elevating or lowering force is applied centrally between the points of attachment of the cords to the load.

Abstract: A control methodology for regulating the power input and output of an inertial energy storage device, such as a flywheel. The control methodology utilizes a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and comprises control of the CVT speed ratio based on feedback of the CVT output torque. The CVT ratio control signal is based on an error signal equal to the difference between operator input and CVT output torque. Operator input may be a positive or a negative value, a negative value corresponding to regenerative power. Operator input corresponds to required force or torque analogous to throttle opening or braking effort.

Abstract: An energy storage drive assembly is provided for a bicycle and includes a coil spring mounted on the bicycle with at least one roller in abutment with a wheel of the bicycle. The energy storage drive assembly is adapted for storing energy on the spring in a first mode and further effecting the movement of the bicycle in a forward direction with the stored energy in a second mode.

Abstract: The present invention is a spring motor providing an efficient storage of mechanical energy, translating the potential energy of wound springs to mechanical rotation. The invention includes a frame supporting two gears having peripheral teeth. A first coil spring is positioned about a first shaft and is attached to the first gear and the frame. Similarly, a second coil spring is positioned about a second shaft and is attached to the second gear and the frame. The peripheral teeth of the two gears engage with each other so that rotation of the first gear causes rotation of the second gear. The first and second coil springs are opposingly wound so that potential energy stored in the first coil spring is mechanically transferred, in an oscillating manner, to the second coil spring through rotation of the gears. A chain is attached to the peripheral teeth of the gears so that the chain is linearly displaced as the gears oscillate.

Abstract: A door closer includes a casing fixedly fastened to a door leaf, a shaft turned in axle holes in the casing, a spiral spring mounted around the shaft within the casing and having one end fixed to the shaft and an opposite end fixed to the casing and adapted for returning the door leaf to the close position each time it is opened, a rack fixedly fastened to a door frame to which the door leaf is hinged, a bevel gear fixedly mounted on one end of the shaft and turned with it along a 90-degree arc toothed bar section of the rack, and a curved springy holding down plate fastened to the rack and adapted for holding down the bevel gear to keep the door leaf to be retained in an open position.

Abstract: A roller comprises: a support shaft bearing at either opposite end a bush supporting an external tubular element containing the shaft and destined to be a support element of a cover fixed thereto by one end; a motor to recall the roller by setting the tubular element in rotation about the shaft in an opposite direction to that followed during an unwinding of the cover, and constituted by at least two helix springs, separate but cooperating, which are coaxially keyed on the shaft; the ends of each spring being stably fixed on corresponding seats exhibited by a first support keyed on the shaft and a second support, axially fixed and rotatably mounted on the shaft, and solid to the tubular element.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a driving structure of the external rotary disk of the crystal ball the inner rim the external rotary disk of which is provided with two set of gears which is engaged with the external rotary disk. The diameters of center gear for each set of the gears are different with each other, wherein the center gears are formed an unidirectional device with the axle of the spring. Therefore, the external rotary disk is driven by the dynamic force of the spring of the music box through one of the gears sets, on the contrary, the external rotary disk can be rotated with a preset direction, thus the other gear set will be driven to rapidly tightly wind the spring of the music box.

Abstract: A device for generating a rotary return force includes a casing unit, driving and driven gear units disposed in the casing unit, and a torsion spring. The driving gear unit includes a driving axle mounted rotatably to the casing unit and a driving gear wheel mounted fixedly on the driving axle. The driving axle is adapted to be driven rotatably by a rotatable unit. The driven gear unit includes a driven axle mounted rotatably to the casing unit and a driven gear wheel mounted on the driven axle. The driven gear wheel meshes with the driving gear wheel. One of the driven and driving gear wheels is larger than the other one of the driven and driving gear wheels. The torsion spring has a first retaining end secured to the driven gear unit and a second retaining end secured to the casing unit. Rotation of the driving gear wheel in a first direction by the rotatable unit causes corresponding rotation of the driven gear wheel and winding of the torsion spring.

Abstract: A manual sample rotator and method provides a mechanical orbital motion, which is useful in medical industries. The rotator has a substantially rectangular orbiting member with four guiding wells, complementary to four guiding posts provided on a fixed member, such as a housing. Each guiding post is inserted into one of the guiding wells. The guiding wells are larger than the counterpart guiding posts so that when the guiding posts are seated into the wells, the clearance therebetween allows the orbiting member to move in the horizontal plane in all directions within the bounds of the guiding wells. The guiding post and well arrangement thus restrains the orbiting member from rotating about the orbital axis, but permits the member to orbit thereabout. The orbiting member is orbited around a main orbital axis using an offset crank (output shaft end), which rotates about the main orbital axis and is rotatable about an axis offset from the main axis relative to the orbiting member.

Abstract: The present invention is a pull-back, windup type spring drive unit with two output shafts capable of transmitting driving force to the front-wheels and rear-wheels. This unit is provided with: a frame; front-wheel and rear wheel output shafts; a drive gear; a spring; a windup gear mechanism; first and second running gear mechanisms connectable to the front-wheel and rear-wheel shafts; and a constant speed mechanism. When one of the output shafts is rotated for winding, switching gear of the windup gear mechanism moves to a mesh position and the rotation of the output shaft for winding is transmitted to the drive gear to wind up the spring. When the drive gear is rotated for running, switching gears of the respective running gear mechanism move to the respective mesh positions to transmit the rotation of the drive gear to each of the output shafts.

Abstract: A cordless, balanced venetian blind or shade with a constant variable spring motor includes conventional window covering components without the outside hanging lifting cords or cord locking mechanisms. One or more constant variable force spring motors are employed, preferably comprising springs which vary in thickness or in width along their length as they are wound around storage drums. A cord spool, in the preferred embodiment, is coupled to one of the spring drums to serve to wind the cords to cause the blind to be raised or lowered, simply by manipulation of the bottom bar of the blind system. Due to the difference in thickness or width of the spring, the system compensates for the increasing weight on the cords as the window covering is raised and for the decreasing weight as it is lowered.

Abstract: An actuator suitable for use as an ejection jack for deploying an aircraft mounted ram air turbine is provided. The actuator utilizes a spring powered ballscrew operatively coupled to a centrifugally actuated brake in such a manner that the brake limits the speed of reciprocating movement of the ballscrew. The problems of fluid leakage and slow deployment at cold temperatures, often encountered in prior ejection jacks utilizing hydraulic dashpots for speed control, are thus eliminated. The actuator also includes a locking device for locking the actuator in either an extended or a retracted position. Features are also provided for attaching an external drive mechanism in a manner allowing the ballscrew to be utilized for resetting the actuator to an initial non-extended position.

Abstract: A device for winding a rubber band motor has a very light weight so that it may be carried by a model airplane, almost without any weight penalty. A pulley with a recoil spring has a string wound thereon so that the release of a pulled string rewinds it onto the pulley. A clutch mechanism engages the pulley and rubber band when the string is pulled and disengages when the string rewinds. This way, the string may be pulled repeatedly in order to store more energy in the rubber band.

Abstract: A spring assembly of the kind having a coiled strip spring member (34) supported at one end on an arcuate drum portion (16) about which it is reverse wound and coiled at its other end about an abutment (20) further includes a base plate (10) mounting the drum portion (16) and a second base plate (18) mounting the abutment (20), the base plates (10) and (18) being interconnected by pins (32) attached to base plate (18) running in slots (26, 28) provided on base plate (10) so as to prevent relative movement of the base plates which would allow the spring to coil further about the abutment (20). The base plate (10) is provided with a cover (40) with which it forms a housing portion and the base plate (18) is provided with a cover (38) with which it forms a second housing portion. The assembly can be dropped on to support pins (14, 22) attached to respective halves (42, 44) of a hinge, e.g. of an automobile trunk or lid.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rotating mechanism for a crystal ball including a spring means, a driving gear connected with the spring means, a driven gear engaged with the driving gear and having a rectangular protuberance at the center, a supporting frame mounted on the driven gear and having a hole for receiving the rectangular protuberance of the driven gear, a turning member arranged on the supporting frame and formed with a rectangular hole adapted to receive the rectangular protuberance of the driven gear and two arms extending upwardly from two ends thereof, a rod installed on the turning member and having a rectangular hole, and a disc having a downwardly depending rod with a rectangular end adapted to be received in the rectangular rod of the rod.

Abstract: A small decoration capable of exhibiting play characteristics sufficient to provide a key ring with unexpectedness. The small decoration includes a container provided with a key ring mounting section. In the container is arranged a spring drive unit including a drive mechanism which includes a plurality of gears driven by a spiral spring. The drive mechanism also includes two gear shafts arranged so as to vertically project from the spring drive unit. One of the gear shafts is mounted with a decorative element such as a doll and the other gear shaft is mounted with a spring winding-up element. The spring winding-up element is adapted to wind up the spiral spring in association with closing of a lid member pivotally connected to the container and be returned to the original state while unwinding the spiral spring to actuate the decorative element when the lid member is open.

Abstract: A device for closing swinging doors of the type utilizing a rotating member to compress a spring during door opening to store energy in the spring to effect a closing of the door is provided with a driving connection to a d.c motor/generator effective to cause rotation of the motor during a closing movement of the door. The motor/generator acts as a generator during the closing with the generated electrical energy fed back to the motor/generator to retard rotation of the rotor, providing a brake on the closing movement of the door. The feedback circuitry includes a switch disabling or diminishing the braking during the final degrees of closing movement as well as a variable setting device allowing control of braking force.

Abstract: A winder assembly comprises a spindle provided with a threaded portion, a winder removably engageable with the threaded portion of the spindle and a holder for holding the winder in position when the threaded portion of the spindle and the winder are disengaged from each other, the winder being provided with a perforated guide having a diameter of perforation substantially equally to the diameter of the threaded portion of the spindle. Such an assembly may be suitably used for a music box containing an automatic instrument or the like because it can be easily fitted to a music box and used to operate the music box by simply rotating the winder. Moreover, the winder is provided with a hollow section having a diameter or perforation substantially equal to the diameter of the bolt section of the spindle, the winder can be hardly tilted to damage the stopper, or holder, and separated from the spindle to become an unintended hazard to little children.

Abstract: Control device for a valve provided with a spiral spring whose release brings about rotation of the drive shaft of the stopper of the valve. Rotation of the auxiliary shaft of the control device is dependent upon a shock absorbing device, wherein rotation of the auxiliary shaft drives a rotating piston arranged in a sealed housing containing a viscous fluid.

Abstract: A power spring drive apparatus having a power spring on a power spring wind up shaft, an output shaft, and a gear train for winding the power spring and for transferring the rotational force of a wound power spring to the output shaft. The apparatus is in a housing case formed of first and second synthetic resin cases connected together by pins and receiving holes. The housing case has a power spring housing section with a window between the section and externally of the housing. One end of the power spring has a neck shape and extends through the window and is fastened to the housing.

Abstract: The present invention is concerns with a spring drive used as a driving power source for a moving toy. The spring drive has a windup pinion of which at least the top of one end is formed at its rotation axis as a small diameter end having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the body thereof, and a supporting member having a supporting surface for supporting the windup pinion at the small diameter end. The windup pinion is freely rotatively supported at its small diameter end on the supporting surface of the supporting member, the friction force acting against the rotation of the pinion, is decreased.

Abstract: A device for absorbing energy from a bicyclist's foot on the downward pedal stroke and releasing it shortly afterward into the drive chain to propel the bicycle is disclosed. The energy is stored in a coil spring which is connected between the sprocket wheel and an adjacent crank. The sprocket wheel is fitted to a bearing on the crankshaft and is free to rotate independently of the crank except as it is restrained by the connecting spring. If the crank and the sprocket wheel rotate relative to one another away, from the equilibrium position of the spring, the spring is compressed or stretched and the resulting force causes a restoring torque. When the magnitude and angle of the force stretch the spring on the pedal stroke, the invention allows the rider's foot to move quickly through the power stroke, where great force is exerted. Less time is spent by the rider in exerting force on the pedal; this saves muscle energy, since a muscle, unlike a spring, uses energy in exerting a static force.

Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a body-and-chassis assembly comprising a main portion and a movable body component which is movable relative to the main portion. The toy vehicle further includes a manually operable operating mechanism in the body-and-chassis assembly for moving the movable body component between first and second positions thereof with a relatively slow steady dampened movement which simulates the movement of a body component of a full-sized vehicle.

Abstract: A thin spiral spring drive unit, in particular for a toy car, employs a crown gear in a gear train between an output shaft and a drive shaft on which a spiral spring is wound as a source of the driving force. The unit can be assembled with a small number of component parts, in a simple structure and at lower cost. Simply by changing the direction of the output shaft when it is assembled into a gear box, the direction of rotation of the output shaft may be changed. The crown gear in the drive unit is arranged at a position substantially centeral to the width of a gear box. A pinion is arranged at two positions where the crown gear intersects with the output shaft to be meshed with the crown gear by means of a positioning mechanism. The crown gear is provided on its periphery with a windup gear and with a driving pinion on the shaft thereof so that the windup gear is engaged with a gear at the time of winding while it is directly engaged with a driving gear at the time of driving.

Abstract: Apparatus for taking up and paying out first and second ends of an endless loop of tape that has an intermediate section. A first reel connected to the first end carries a first coil of the tape. The fist coil extends from the first reel and is normally self-expanding and unwinding so as to unwind itself from the first reel. A second reel is connected to the second end for carrying a second coil of the tape. The second coil extends from the second reel and is normally self-expanding so as to unwind itself from the second reel. A drum supports both of the first and second reels for rotation in the same direction. Pulleys guide the intermediate section of the tape from the first reel to the second reel for moving a sludge collector. When the drum is rotated in a first rotary direction, the first coil tends to self-unwind from the first reel and the second coil is wound up on the second reel to move the intermediate section of the tape and the sludge collector.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting oscillation motions such as those of ocean waves into a constant torque, comprises: a stationary frame 1 fixedly mounted on a floor of an apparatus's carrier such as marine vessels; a pair of horizontal rotating axles 3, 5 substantially perpendicular to each other, one 3 of which axles 3, 5 is rotatably mounted on the stationary frame 1 while the other 5 is rotatably mounted on the first one 3; swinging pendulums 2, 7a, 7b each of which is fixedly mounted on each of the rotating axles 3, 5 for driving the rotating axles 3, 5 under the influence of the extrinsic oscillation motions to which the swinging pendulums 2, 7a, 7b are subjected; one-way clutches 8a, 8b, 22 and 17 mounted on each of the rotating axles 3, 5 and an auxiliary axle 15 for converting rotation of each of the axles 33, 5 into a unidirectional rotation of each of the one-way clutches 8a, 8b, 22 and 17; and a gear train 13, 25, 26 29 for combining the rotations of the one-way clutches 8a, 8b, 22 and 17 into a rotatio

Abstract: A driving mechanism includes a rotatable support and a stretchable element which is being wound on the support by rotating the latter in one direction, and when the rotatable support is released the stretched element compresses and forcedly rotates the rotatable support in an opposite direction, thus providing a driving force in the opposite direction.

Abstract: Apparatus for taking up and paying out first and second ends of an endless loop of tape that has an intermediate section. A first reel connected to the first end carries a first coil of the tape. The first coil extends from the first reel and is normally self-expanding and unwinding so as to unwind itself from the first reel. A second reel is connected to the second end for carrying a second coil of the tape. The second coil extends from the second reel and is normally self-expanding so as to unwind itself from the second reel. A drum supports both of the first and second reels for rotation in the same direction. Pulleys guide the intermediate section of the tape from the first reel to the second reel for moving a sludge collector. When the drum is rotated in a first rotary direction, the first coil tends to self-unwind from the first reel and the second coil is wound up on the second reel to move the intermediate section of the tape and the sludge collector.

Abstract: This invention provides a moveable toy with a trigger control mechanism which has: a main body for defining the toy; a frame disposed within the main body; at least one acting means being able to reserve energy for generating an acting force and having a member for triggering the acting force; and a trigger control means installed in the frame and adapted to reserve energy for generating a rotating force by which the member of the above-mentioned acting means can be actuated and the acting force of the acting means can be triggered and released.

Abstract: This invention relates to a spiral spring power source for a toy, which can select a method of winding a power spiral spring 7 by a pulling string type winding cord 25 and a method of winding the power spiral spring 7 by a winding key 43 by removing a mechanism relative to the winding yarn 25, can alter the pulling direction of the winding cord 25 at 360.degree. in case of the method with the winding cord 25, can drive the output shaft through a gear set when uncoiling the energized power spiral spring 7, but can produce outputs not at one position but at a plurality of positions to be connected to a plurality of gears selected from the gear set.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spring winding gearing for the drive assembly of a device with a drive shaft biased by a coil spring and a drive controlling device acting on the drive shaft via at least one intermediate transmission. A first toothed wheel is firmly attached to the drive shaft, a pivotable locking pawl is provided for the first toothed wheel, which locking pawl is held in the disengaged position by a movable support member, and a second toothed wheel is arranged at the support member, which second toothed wheel cooperates with the first toothed wheel and, upon increased rotational speed of the first toothed which second toothed wheel cooperates with the first toothed wheel for releasing the locking pawl. In this manner, racing of the drive shaft in case of a broken axle and the like is prevented, and in order to realize malfunction in due time, the safety mechanism against racing can be checked manually.

Abstract: A spiral-spring type driving unit is disclosed, including a gear train formed essentially of a gear housing, three rotary shafts and six gears; and a spiral spring serves as a prime mover of a toy vehicle. The spiral spring of the driving unit is wound up so as to store a sufficient energy therein when the toy vehicle is moved backward by a relatively short distance by an external force. The toy vehicle can move forward by a relatively long distance under the influence of a resilient force of the thus tightened spiral spring when the spiral spring is unwound. The winding-up operation of the spiral spring is conducted by the means of a ring-like external gear serving as an idle gear in the gear train of the driving unit.