Abstract: An energy efficient high pressure pump system includes a drive motor driving an eccentric transmission, which drives a reciprocation pump having a number of cylinders. The eccentric transmission transmits a torque demand from the reciprocating pump, which varies with time, to the drive motor such that the torque demand on the drive motor is substantially constant. The pump system includes an eccentric sprocket mounted on the output shaft of a drive motor and driving an eccentric sprocket on an idler which includes a concentric sprocket driving a concentric sprocket on the reciprocating pump with the eccentricity of the eccentric sprockets being proportional to the maximum and minimum torque demand characteristics of the reciprocating pump.

Abstract: A drive mechanism applicable to bicycles for increasing the efficiency of pedaling action via independent pedals with a sinusoidally varying transmission ratio. The drive mechanism achieves increased efficiency by making the pedals independently synchronized with a varying transmission ratio so that the coincidence of both legs in dead centers is avoided when one pedal is in an upper and the other pedal is in a lower position, making the pedal which is going up move more rapidly than the pedal going down.

Abstract: A drive arrangement includes an endless flexible drive element which cooperates with a pulley of variable effective diameter having two sheave members and a drive ring between the sheave members and able to run eccentrically when the sheave members move apart. The drive arrangement also includes a stabilising member for cooperating with the drive ring so as to maintain the axis of rotation of the drive ring at least substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the sheave members.

Abstract: A bicycle crank driven chain wheel assembly uses a special-shaped chain wheel. The chain wheel has portions of different driving radii. The portion having smaller driving radii is engaged in transmission when the bicycle runs on slopes, so that the bicycle rider can drive the bicycle with smaller force. The portion having larger driving radii carries out transmission when the bicycle runs on flat road, so that the bicycle can be speeded up. The crank is mounted in such a manner that it can rotate with respect to the chain wheel within predetermined range of angle, so as to select the corresponding portion of the chain wheel to be engaged in transmission in accordance with the resistance to motion of the bicycle or with the condition of the road on which the bicycle runs. Thus, a variable transmission can be automatically achieved corresponding to the resistance to motion of the bicycle or to the condition of the road.

Abstract: Non-circular front chain wheel for a crank gear is comprised of a crank gear wheel allowing to a progressive increase of the cycling torque from the dead point up to the point where the extension of the leg allows to create the maximum effort, due to a progressive variation of the primitive radius of the toothing between these two points, followed by a rapid decrease to the next dead point. The principle is that the force to be provided is proportional to the muscular force that the user may provide. The non-circular front chain wheel essentially pertains to the cycle industry but may also find applications in other fields, for example physical exercisers for body building or reeducation, and in general all apparatus utilizing cycling motion and a chain or belt transmission system between the front wheel or wheels of the crank gear and one or a plurality of pinions actuating the device to be driven.

Abstract: A timing pulley having a grooved periphery having a stepped profile defining two concentric annular belt engaging surfaces. Each of the surfaces receive a separate timing belt thereon. The belt engaging surfaces carry teeth for meshing with corresponding teeth on the timing belts. When the belts are deployed on the pulley, the outermost belt is in covering relation relative to the innermost belt. The multiple belt timing pulley is for accommodating multiple timing pulleys in a common plane.

Abstract: A pulley is described for hauling strands of rope or chain and for engaging a splice coupling a strand of rope to a strand of chain. A plurality of pockets are arranged about the periphery of the pulley for positively engaging every other chain link. A plurality of pairs of rope-engaging surfaces are located between adjacent pockets and within the pockets. Rope and chain occupy substantially the same diameter of the pulley resulting in substantially the same speed and torque characteristics whether rope or chain is being hauled.

Abstract: A working cylinder is described which features a cylinder of compact construction. The openings provided for the tension member can be very well sealed by simple means. The tension element features a cross-section having a continuous circumferential line. The size of the cylinder is also reduced through the use of a generally elliptical piston. The tension element is preferably comprised of several plastic tension strands encased in a jacket of plastic material which also has a generally elliptical cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: A tension compensating gear set of the eccentric type for use with a flexible power transmission member with a gear member having at least one external circumferential surface in rolling contact with an internal circumferential surface of an annular gear method for controlling tooth meshing while inhibiting noise or vibration. An eccentric gear set is used as a method or means for automatically adjusting for fluctuations in center distance of a power transmission drive system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mechanism for moving and adjusting the loci of motions of a gripper adapted for seizing the work such as the product of a plastic molder or a sprue runner, etc. It is provided with an actuator, a turnover arm of which one end is connected to the rotary shaft of the actuator, while a gripper is linked to the other end, a noncircular pulley loosely fitted around the rotary shaft of the aforementioned actuator, a circular pulley mounted on the other end of the turnover arm through a shaft rod, a belt spanned between the noncircular pulley and the circular pulley, to be turned therearound, and a spring member which exhibits a maximum elastic rebounding force, when the turnover arm is brought to be realy horizontal.

Abstract: Noncircular drives, including chain drives with noncircular sprockets, achieve a desired functional relationship and minimize slack variation in the elongate flexible member thereof. Noncircular gears having the desired functional relationship are first designed. Noncircular members having the same pitch curve or operative surface configuration as the pitch curves of the noncircular gears are theoretically located at the desired center-to-center distance of the noncircular rotational members of the drive being designed. The noncircular members are manipulated such that points initially in contact on the gears are not joined by a common tangent. Using a computer, the drive is incremented with the common tangent acting as the driving span of the flexible member. At each increment functional relationship error and overall length of a taut elongate flexible member are calculated. The variation in taut flexible member length is the slack variation.

Abstract: A power transmission system utilizes a pair of pulleys in spaced parallel relation interconnected by a plurality of endless drive belts. Each pulley contains a plurality of eccentric drive lobes. The drive lobes have no teeth or means for increasing sliding friction between the lobes and each drive belt. Drive belts contain no apertures or joints and may be constructed of multiple wraps of any fiber or filament. A plurality of drive lobes spaced equally, about a 360-degree arc, link both shafts fully providing a smooth and even delivery of continuous turning force in either direction of rotation.

Abstract: The method includes providing an aluminum plate having an outer peripheral portion in an elliptic shape, the outer peripheral portion including a plurality of tooth portions. An intermediate element is formed by pressing the aluminum plate to cause the outer peripheral portion of the plate to project unidirectionally in a thickness direction with respect to a radially inward portion of the intermediate element to form a flange at the outer peripheral portion. The plurality of tooth portions are formed at this flange. A plurality of teeth members are formed by cutting the flange of the intermediate element in a thickness direction thereof at an outer surface in a projecting direction of the flange to reduce the thickness of the flange relative to the thickness of the intermediate element.

Abstract: A front chain gear for a bicycle, which is approximately elliptic in shape and of different pitch diameters. Teeth at the largest pitch diameter portion of the chain gear are made smaller in height than those at the smallest pitch diameter portion. Thus, the chain gear has a nearly exact addendum circle.

Abstract: A gear crank apparatus for a bicycle, comprising a crank shaft, a pair of crank arms, and at least one chain gear. The chain gear has an ellipse-like shape and peripheral teeth located on different pitch diameters, the chain gear being arranged with respect to the crank arms and being coupled therewith, so that when torque produced by a cyclist's leg during pedalling is maximum, the gear diameter for transmitting the torque from the chain gear to a driving chain becomes substantially minimum and when the torque is a minimum, the gear diameter becomes substantially a maximum.

Abstract: A steering system for a four-wheeled vehicle which can rotate the front steering wheels unequally as the vehicle is turning in order to prevent excessive tire scuffing and which can provide a zero turning radius of the vehicle about its inside rear wheel. The two front steering wheels each has its own vertical pivot post. Standard roller chains are trained around eccentric sprockets mounted on the pivot posts and a drive sprocket which is rotatable by a manually operable steering member. Positive chain tauteners maintain the chains taut as the distance from the eccentric sprockets to the drive sprocket varies during turning.

Abstract: A power transmission mechanism includes a gear member and an annular and eccentric floating member having internal gear teeth meshed with external gear teeth of the gear member. A pair of guide plates provided on both outer sides of either the gear member or floating member prevent lateral disengagement of the floating member from the gear member. A pair of seal rings arranged between the inner sides of the guide plates and the outer sides of either the floating member or gear member prevent entry of dust or the like foreign material into a substantially closed space between the teeth of the gear member and the floating member, to thereby improve the durability of the mechanism.

Abstract: A high ratio speed reducer comprising a rotatable input shaft operatively coupled to an output shaft which rotates at a reduced speed in response to rotation of the input shaft. An output sprocket is mounted on the output shaft for rotation therewith, the output sprocket having a circumferential perimeter including a number of teeth. A drive sprocket having a circumferential perimeter including a number of teeth differing by at least one tooth from the number of output sprocket teeth is rotatably mounted with respect to an eccentric end portion of the input shaft and orbits as the input shaft is rotated. Successive segments of the drive sprocket perimeter continuously move outside the output sprocket perimeter as the drive sprocket orbits to advance an endless double chain engaging both sprockets.

Abstract: Used and/or scrap pneumatic tires may be used for making wheels and pulleys for low speed, low load and low cost applications, the bead of the tires being utilized as the means mounting the tire, the bead being deformed to a generally polygonal shape. When plates are substituted for spokes on the wheels, low cost tumblers are produced.

Abstract: A variable ratio, or adjustable ratio, mechanical drive mechanism employs a rotatable driving element the effective diameter of which may be changed. The driving element is segmented to permit effective diameter change by an alteration in the relative position of the segments.Alteration is effected by forcing a change in the separation of the axis of driving element and the point of engagement of the driving element with the driven element.