Abstract: A revolution speed controller for a continuously variable speed transmission has an air cylinder unit for operating a speed-control section of the transmission, and a command pressure chamber partly defined by a diaphragm operable in response to a command air pressure. The diaphragm and the air cylinder unit are connected by a resilient member. A valve member is movable in response to operation of the diaphragm to connect or disconnect a working air pressure source to or from the interior of the air cylinder unit and to disconnect or connect the interior of the air cylinder unit from or to the atmosphere. When the pressure in the command pressure chamber is balanced with a force exerted to the diaphragm by the resilient member, the valve member cuts off the supply of the working air pressure to the air cylinder unit and also interrupts the communication between the air cylinder unit and the atmosphere.

Abstract: A serpentine belt drive system for an automotive vehicle in which the sequence of driven assemblies includes an alternator assembly comprising a housing and an armature assembly mounted in the housing for rotation about an armature axis. A hub structure is carried by the armature assembly outwardly of the housing for rotation therewith about the armature axis. A coil spring is disposed in operative relation between the alternator pulley and the hub structure for transmitting the driven rotational movements of the alternator pulley by the serpentine belt to the hub structure such that the armature assembly is rotated in the same direction as the alternator pulley while being capable of instantaneous relative resilient rotational movements in opposite directions with respect to the alternator pulley during the driven rotational movement thereof.

Abstract: A continuously controllable drive having a form-fitting power transmission system as a result of the engagement of paired teeth, having a first tooth assembly with toothed segment bars which include teeth of uniform cross-sections with curved center lines which extend in the direction of an input shaft to which they are non-rotatingly as well as axially movably and fixably connected; a second set of teeth at a gearwheel which includes teeth of variable cross-sections with curved center lines with a concave shape which extend in the direction of an output shaft to which the gearwheel is connected and which, starting from a minimum central cross-section of the gearwheel, towards its sides, feature a positive profile displacement and pitch aperture.

Abstract: The present invention is an energy-storing bicycle sprocket drive system which includes a crank which rotates a shaft about the shaft's longitudinal axis. The crank moves through a point of minimum applied leverage and a point of maximum applied leverage in each rotational cycle. Journalled to the shaft is a drive plate having an outer surface with at least one opening. Each opening has an inner surface with at least one end wall. Facing the drive plate is a wheel which rotates freely on the shaft. At least one drive peg is mounted to the wheel such that it is in a position parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The drive peg extends from the wheel and into the opening of the drive plate. A spring is mounted within the opening between the end wall and the drive peg. As the shaft rotates and the spring is in a compressed state, it stores energy while exerting a first force on the drive peg causing the wheel to revolve as the crank rotates 90 degrees from the point of maximum applied leverage.

Abstract: The vehicle drive operates with pedal force rotating a cantilever beam. The beam force can be applied rapidly to the drive, increasing the drive force at one point of the beam revolution to overcome an increase in vehicle rolling resistance. The beam force can also be applied at a steady rate to the drive for the full beam revolution when the vehicle rolling resistance is not changing. The rate the beam force is applied to the drive provides the person pedaling the vehicle, bicycle riding or running exercise in one beam revolution. Reversing the pedal rotation also rotates the beam in the reverse direction for vehicular braking.

Abstract: A belt-type continously variable transmisison having an automatic clutch is provided with fixed and variable pulley elements on the driving pulley so configured as to permit some degree of slippage upon clutch engagement. Also disclosed is an engine speed control system particularly adapted for utilization with the described transmission.

Abstract: A speed ratio of a continuously variable transmission is controlled by varying the effective diameters of drive and driven pulleys mounted respectively on input and output shafts with a V-belt trained around the drive and driven pulleys. The effective diameter of the drive pulley is increased based on a signal proportional to a vehicle speed and reduced based on a signal proportional to a throttle valve opening degree and a signal proportional to a speed ratio.

Abstract: This invention relates to a running exerciser and in particular to one including a base frame on which there is fixedly mounted a motor. An endless belt is carried on a front rod and a rear rod in the base frame. A driving wheel with a conical surface is mounted on an axle of the motor. A driven wheel is installed at one end of the front rod and has a conical surface. Between the driving wheel and the driven wheel is a controlling conical disc provided with a frictional ring on the circumference thereof which partially contacts the conical surfaces of the driving wheel and the driven wheel. When the controlling disc is slightly moved towards or away from the driven wheel, the interconnection among the controlling conical disc and the driving and driven wheels will be changed thereby effectively increasing or decreasing the speed of the running exerciser.

Abstract: A speed reduction drive is comprised of a chain carrying a plurality of rollers, the chain being operatively connected to an output shaft via a sprocket or the like. The rollers of the chain progressively pass between a rotating drive pinion and a stator surface whereby the chain is driven at a linear speed which is a function of the diameter of the drive pinion and the arcuate surface of the stator, the speed of the chain being reduced by differential drive effects.

Abstract: A continuous, variable power transmission device for use with a crank driven power train wherein crank lever arm movement passes through a prescribed arc of less than 180 degrees in reciprocating sequence applicable to a rotary drive wheel. The device includes a frame, a support arm movably attached to the frame in a manner such that the suport arm may be variably displaced in forward and rearward directions. A rotary drive wheel is attached to the support arm such that the wheel axis is displaced in concert with the support arm movement. At least one crank lever arm is rotationally coupled to the frame, with the remaining end being free to receiprocate through a portion of the defined prescribed arc. A guide track is disposed along the length of the crank lever arm and a tracking member is coupled within the guide track for displacement in reciprocating movement. Coupling structure is attached to enable applied force at the crank lever arm to pass through the tracking guide to the rotary wheel.

Abstract: A mechanism which maintains a required power level for an electrical use device even though the power level would otherwise drop below that which is necessary at engine idle or alternator speed would increase beyond an acceptable maximum at engine hi idle. The apparatus includes a variator pulley along with mechanism for moving the pulley between first and second positions thereby increasing or decreasing the ratio of alternator speed to engine speed.

Abstract: A power transmission system particularly useful for a foot-operated bicycle comprises a pair of axle sections coaxially-mounted with respect to each other, each fixed to one of the crank arms and each rotatable independently of the other; and coupling mechanism between the pair of axle sections and the chain wheel effective to cause the angular velocity of one crank arm to decrease relative to the other for a portion of a rotary cycle, and then to increase relative to the other for the remaining portion of a rotary cycle, such that as the one crank arm approaches the lower dead-center position after completing a forceful downward stroke, the other crank arm has passed the upper dead-center position preparatory to starting another forceful downward stroke.

Abstract: A speed ratio control system for a continuously variable transmission is provided, wherein an oil flowrate to a hydraulic servo of an input or an output V-shaped pulley device is varied by a flow control valve, so that a speed ratio between the input and the output sides can be continuously changed. The system determines a deviation between a target value and a measured value and corrects the measured value in accordance with at least the characteristics of the flow control valve, so that the deviation and a rate of change per unit time of the speed ratio, or the deviation and a rate of change per unit time of a rotational speed of the input or output pulleys, will have a linear relationship over the entire area of control. This system avoids poor feedback gain because of the non-linearity of the characteristics of the flow control valve. Thus, the feedback gain is acceptable over the entire area of control of the continuously variable transmission.

Abstract: An adjustable speed automatic transmission includes a variable speed pulley mechanism, a fixed speed ratio drive mechanism and a plurality of clutches in combination. The clutches are selectively engaged to control ouput speed in a low speed range by coupling the variable speed pulley mechanism and the fixed speed ratio drive mehcanism between an input and an output shaft. Alternatively, in a high speed range the clutches are selectively engaged to drive the output shaft directly from the input shaft.

Abstract: An automatic transmission for a bicycle includes a rotatably supported wheel, an endless drive chain which is manually driven and held against axial movement relative to the wheel, a shift member which is rotationally and axially movable relative to the wheel and has thereon two axially spaced sprockets of different size which can each be engaged and driven by the chain, an arrangement responsive to the speed of the wheel for urging the shift member to move in respective axial directions as the wheel speed increases and decreases, and an arrangement responsive to the amount of force being applied by the cyclist for offering increased resistance to axial movement of the shift member in a direction which would upshift the transmission to a higher gear in response to an increase in bicycle speed. The arrangement responsive to the magnitude of the force applied by the cyclist also forces the transmission to downshift when the cyclist is applying a relatively large force to the pedals.

Abstract: An improved transmission mechanism for a gymnastic bicycle, in which the loaded fly wheel is mounted on the same shaft of the driving wheel, being in parallel with the same. The mechanism also comprises a set of transmission wheels so as to have the rotation speed ratio between the driving wheel and the loaded fly wheel reached 1:9. This transmission mechanism not only can obtain a high speed exercise result, but also can reduce the dimensions of the loaded fly wheel, and can improve the form of the bicycle, reduce the length of the transmission mechanism, and reduce the whole length of the gymnastic bicycle as well.

Abstract: The device is provided with a positioning mechanism having a positioning member, a switching mechanism for switching the positioning mechanism from an operating mode thereof to a non-operating mode and a friction mechanism for applying a resistance to rotation of the lever body when the positioning mechanism is switched to the non-operating mode. Gaps are provided between the positioning member and the lever body, whereby the positioning member is adapted to follow the rotation of the lever body with a predetermined delay when the positioning member is in the operating mode. When the positioning mechanism is switched to the non-operating mode, the positioning member follows the rotation of the lever body without delay because the rotational idling of the positioning member caused by the gaps is eliminated.

Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch is disclosed which includes a pulley and an electromagnetic coil. A hub is secured on a drive shaft and has a radially extending flange portion which faces the pulley at a predetermined axial gap. An armature plate is disposed in the axial gap between the pulley and the radially extending flange portion of the hub. The armature plate is elastically connected to the flange portion of the hub by a plurality of spring members. The spring members are provided with a pair of fittings radially opposed to one another at a predetermined radial gap to prevent excessive bending of the spring members during initial operation of the electromagnetic clutch. When the armature plate beings to rotate, each spring member bends to reduce the gap between the pair of radially opposed fittings to thereby absorb the impact force.

Abstract: An automatic speed variating means for bicycle includes a pedal having a driving rod, a speed controller having a magnetic actuator driven by the bicycle wheel and a driving chain driven by the driving rod wherein the depression of the pedal may drive the chain for normal bicycle running and the faster bicycle running may operate the magnetic actuator to exert a greater torque to automatically adjust the speed controller for faster speed variation.

Abstract: Transmission systems in which a driven sprocket is driven by way of a chain by a driving sprocket which is driven by drive means at a constant speed of rotation, are provided with oscillating or reciprocating idler sprockets for superimposing on the constant speed of rotation drive a periodic, cyclic motion changing the speed of rotation of the driven sprocket, which periodic cyclic motion increases the length of the portion of said chain extending between the exit side of said driven sprocket and the entrant side of said driving sprocket while shortening by a corresponding amount the length of the portion of said chain extending between the exit side of said driving member and the entrant side of said driven member during one-half cycle of said cyclic motion and vice versa during the other half cycle of said cyclic motion.

Abstract: A multi-ratio drive including a first sprocket having a first plate with a plurality of concentric circular rows of holes therein for receiving pins in a fully retracted position, a second plate spaced from the first plate and coaxial therewith, a shifting mechanism for moving the retracted pins in a predetermined row from their retracted position to an extended position while causing any pins outside of the predetermined row to remain in a retracted position, a flexible chain having a plurality of spaced links each with a concave configuration for encircling the extended pins to thereby provide a driving engagement with the extended pins, a second sprocket spaced from the first sprocket and having a plurality of second concentric circular rows of holes for receiving second pins therein and a second shifting mechanism for moving the second pins between retracted positions where they are not engaged by the chain to an extended position where they are so engaged so as to provide a driving relationship of a pred

Abstract: Method and apparatus of conveying a sheet in a turning action to alter its path of movement. The operator has the option of conveying the sheet through a bump turn mode or a flow turn mode. In the bump turn mode, the original sheet leading edge on a first conveyor is not the leading edge on the second conveyor but instead the sheet side edge becomes the leading edge. In the flow turn mode, the operator can drive the conveyor members of the first conveyor so that the sheet is rotated ninety degrees on the first conveyor and is then deposited onto the second conveyor so that the sheet leading edge on the first conveyor is also the leading edge on the second conveyor. The apparatus consists of a first conveyor and a second conveyor with the first conveyor having individually driven members for the optional modes mentioned.

Abstract: A stepless transmission device for a bicycle which has sufficient durability and smooth operation characteristics for practical use is provided. The transmission device can steplessly change the rotational ratio of a wheel to a drive sprocket by changing the oscillation angle of rachet arms which are radially disposed on the periphery of a disk fixed to a shaft for said sprocket. The transmission device is characterized in that said rachet arms incorporated with respective crank arms are pivoted to said sprocket in positions equally distributed on a coaxial circle, and one end of each crank arm constitutes a guide pin, said guide pin being engaged in an annular groove which is coaxially provided in a rotatable bearing race the eccentricity of which can be changed.

Abstract: A transmission system is provided for differential speed control. An endless, resilient member in the form of an endless belt is driven by an input pulley. The speed differential is derived by using the input speed taken from one effective radius of the resilient element and picking the output speed from a different effective radius of the resilient element, with the different effective radii being variably selectable. Thus an output pulley has its periphery in contact with the resilient member and a control carriage coupled to the resilient member is operative to vary the curvature of the resilient member with respect to the periphery of the output pulley. In this manner, the neutral axis of the resilient member is varied to control the speed of the surface of the resilient member that is contacting the periphery of the output pulley.