Abstract: An apparatus for connecting a steering column control module to a steering column of a vehicle comprises a bracket for mounting the steering column control module and a collet for interconnecting the bracket and the steering column. The collet snaps into engagement with the bracket and with the steering column. One of the bracket and the collet includes a first projection and the other of the bracket and the collet including a recess for receiving the first projection. The recess includes a second projection for engagement with the first projection when the first projection is received in the recess.

Abstract: Speed regulator mechanism and mechanical motor for applications in thermal vacuum on satellites. It comprises an escapement wheel (1) and a detent (5), the escapement wheel (1) being actuated by a spring, if the mechanism acts as a motor, or by the same device whose speed it controls, if the mechanism acts as a regulator, and with which is coupled the shaft (2) for connection to the structure to be deployed, either directly or indirectly through a step-up gear wheel train (3, 4), and the detent (5) carrying a flywheel (7) connected to its shaft (6). The mechanism is suitable for deploying structures such as antennas, panels or any specimen liable to be deployed on satellites placed in orbit or located in any environment.

Abstract: A stepper drive for a step-type transformer has an upper geneva wheel rotatable about a wheel axis, a lower geneva wheel spaced below the upper wheel and also rotatable about the axis, and a driver rotatable about a driver axis adjacent the wheels and having an upper abutment engageable with the upper wheel and a lower abutment engageable with the lower wheel and offset by about 180.degree. relative to the driver axis from the upper abutment. A selector abutment is provided on the upper wheel offset from the axis thereof. A selector lever pivotal about a selector axis offset from the wheel axis is engageble with the selector abutment in end positions of the upper wheel. A blocking plate shiftable radially on the lever between an actuated position and an unactuated position is urged by a spring into the unactuated position.

Abstract: In a governor of the type which is used for regulating the angular velocity of a toothed gear wheel which is biased to rotate, the improvement which comprises an inertial mass affixed to one end of a spring, the other end of the spring being affixed to a ratchet bar of the governor whereby said end of the spring affixed to the inertial mass moves from an unloaded position just before a change in direction of oscillation, to a loaded position, and then back to an unloaded position just after the direction of oscillation has changed.

Abstract: A braking device is provided to reduce the speed at which a shiftable spring motor runs down. The braking device includes a pallet which is mounted so that it can oscillate, the pallet having a pair or arms which cooperate with the teeth of an escape wheel 13 which rotates as the spring runs down. The pallet is connected to a pendulum weight. The depth of engagement of the arms of the pallet in the teeth of the escape wheel as well as the amplitude of oscillation of the pallet and/or the pendulum weight connected therewith allow the braking action to be changed and hence the speed at which the motor runs down in one of a plurality of selectable shift positions.

Abstract: A rotary drive mechanism for toys, kinetic sculptures, and the like, employs a pawl and ratchet mechanism to transmit driving torque between a driving wheel and a driven inertia wheel. The driving wheel may itself be driven by means of a drive string that may frictionally engage a circular drive surface to permit the driving wheel to be rotated independently with limited slippage between the string and the drive surface. A fixed and uniform amount of energy can be imparted to the driving wheel and the driven wheel through a spring that is connected to the drive string and preloaded by a predetermined amount. A second inertia wheel can be mounted coaxially of the one inertia wheel and both wheels may operate with random motion through an interference coupling. The pawl and ratchet mechanism in one embodiment forms an escapement to provide intermittent drive to the wheels. The inertia wheel is rotationally unbalanced with a weight offset from the axis of rotation.

Abstract: The pulley comprises an annular portion which extends radially beyond a grooved ring around which a belt for driving the recorder extends. In order to permit fixing this pulley to a wheel hub flange of variable diameter by means of nose portions, each nose portion is formed at the end of an arm whose other end is pivotally mounted on the ring and can be retained in any of a plurality of angular positions which are defined by steps provided on the edges of slots in which studs formed on each of the arms are guided.

Abstract: An escapement device has a latch plate interposed between an input and output shaft. The latch plate is pivotably connected to the input and output shafts. The latch plate has a shoulder which abuts a coaxially mounted gear ring. The output shaft is spring loaded to rotate in one direction. The input shaft can be rotated to disengage the shoulder of the latch from one of the gear ring teeth to allow the output shaft to rotate under its spring bias until the output shaft repositions the latch shoulder to reengage another one of the gear ring teeth.

Abstract: Relative axial motion of a pair of strut members is converted into rotation of an escapement mechanism, which in turn oscillates a balance wheel. If the rotational velocity exceeds a predetermined minimum, the balance wheel inertia initiates a momentary motion snubbing action.The device used to convert reciprocation of the strut members into rotary motion is releasable so as to permit the operational testing of the motion snubbing mechanism while the strut is mounted in its operational environment.

Abstract: A belt tensioning device for an endless drive belt for a vehicle accessories drive system. A sheet metal bracket is adapted to be mounted on an engine in a stationary position adjacent the drive belt and has a lever plate pivotally mounted thereon. An idler pulley is rotatably mounted on the lever plate and is movable into belt tensioning engagement by coil springs mounted on the bracket and engaged with the lever plate. A pair of pockets is formed in the bracket, each of which has an inclined surface which extends upwardly toward the lever plate. A camming block formed of a friction material is movably mounted in each pocket. Each block has an angled surface which is slidably engaged with the inclined surface of the pocket and has a planar coupling surface which frictionally engages the lever plate. The friction blocks provide a damping force on the lever plate when the lever plate attempts to move in the non-belt tensioning direction.

Abstract: A safety mechanism for the trajectory for a projectile fuse.The mechanism uses a symmetrical escapement of the cylindrical dead-beat type which does not comprise an inlet lip. The balance comprises two cheeks located one on each side of the escapement wheel, a cylindrical sector being provided on each cheek. Impulses provided by the escapement wheel are transmitted alternately to one of the two sectors then to the other sector, thereby causing the balance to oscillate first in one direction and then in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A mechanical, seismic-shock-absorbing snubber adapted to accept extremely high impact loads that may be imposed upon it by reason of its interposition between heavy, relatively moveable structures. While permitting essentially unrestricted, slow, relative motion between the structures, such as may be caused by thermal effects (e.g., the expansion or contraction of a high pressure steam pipe yieldably attached by way of hangers or supports to a building structure as in a nuclear power plant), the snubber limits both the velocity and acceleration of relative motion between the structures such as might result from violent seismic shock or vibration. The snubber employs, as its damping mechanism, an escapement wheel, which rotates in response to relative movement of the structures between which the snubber is interposed and employs a cooperating, pivoted, pallet member of predetermined effective mass driven by the escapement wheel into oscillation.

Abstract: A pump assembly to be used for mining, and the like, is supported on rope-like members (32, 110, 112, 140, 181, 190) of an endless conveyer. In one type of embodiments a channel-shaped mounting member (20, 72, 138, 164, 192) of the pump assembly straddles the rope-like support members and allows the weight distribution of the pump assembly to cause a drive wheel (16, 68, 142, 146, 196) of the pump assembly to come into contact with the endless conveyer (28, 144, 198) to thereby drive a pump (18, 76, 134, 160, 182) of the pump assembly. In a particular one of these types of embodiments the pump (134) is mounted inside the rope-like support member (140) to urge the drive wheel (142) downwardly against the return portion (144) of the endless conveyer and in other particular ones of these types of embodiments the pump (18, 76, 160) is located outside the rope-like support member (32, 181) so that the drive wheel (16, 68, 146) is urged upwardly against the conveying portion (28 ) of the endless conveyer.

Abstract: A driving wheel for a cycle speedometer which is adapted to engage a driving belt in communication with the cycle speedometer. The driving wheel is attached to the cycle wheel or wheel block by a plurality of radially located resilient hooks.

Abstract: A turntable is provided for a microwave oven for rotating foodstuffs placed thereon and effecting uniform heating of the foodstuffs. The turntable includes a base, a rotatable table for receiving foodstuffs, and drive means mounted on the base for rotatably driving the table. The base, table, and drive means are incorporated in a portable, freestanding structure which is adapted for placement and removal from a microwave oven.

Abstract: An assembly comprising an escapement timepiece pallet anchor and its frame is disclosed, wherein the pallet anchor is in the form of one piece of plastics material having three arms and is rotatably mounted on the frame. The assembly comprises means for limiting the angle of rotation of the pallet anchor, which means include at least one auxiliary portion on the piece forming the pallet anchor and at least one part rigid with the frame disposed to cooperate with said auxiliary portion.

Abstract: Digital control signals can be accepted and translated directly into low inertia, high torque intermittent rotary motion by this fast time response apparatus which comprises a low mass, rotatably mounted driving member, a source of driving torque such as a torque motor, a low rotary inertia torsion member which interconnects the driving member with the torque member to thereby apply torque to rotate the driving member, reciprocatably operated escapement means for controlling the rotation of the driving member, and a two-ended toggle linkage connected at one end in an operating relationship with the escapement means, and at the other end to a mechanism which supplies a reciprocating driving force. The toggle linkage has a normally flexible knee joint which can be selectively locked by electromechanical means to which the digital signals are supplied.

Abstract: A pendulum clock mechanism may have an escapement coupled to a conventional pendulum bob by means of an anchor arbor which is frictionally or slip coupled to an anchor having at least a pair of pallet pins symmetrically disposed thereon for engagement to an escape wheel. The pallet pins engage the escape wheel in a conventional manner to regulate the operation of a conventional clock gear train. The anchor automatically rotates to a position of design equilibrium regardless of improper vertical installment of the clock or excessive torques applied to the escapement mechanism.

Abstract: A tractor mounted log splitting apparatus is provided having a log splitting tool and log stop bar and support assembly which are adapted for mounted interengagement with power drive means attached to the tractor and projecting laterally outward from a frame structure thereof. The tractor includes a frame engine power unit and driving wheels mounted thereon with power drive means extending axially forward of the frame. This apparatus also includes a rear stabilizing support adapted to be secured to a rear portion of the tractor frame. The log splitting tool includes a conically shaped splitter head provided with a spiral auger surface and an axial mounting and drive shaft which extends from the base of the splitter head and which shaft is mechanically interengageable with the power drive means.

Abstract: A mechanical spring-powered hand-held digital stopwatch having a gear-operated decade counter display assembly, a spring-powered windup mechanism adapted to reset the counter during winding and a cam adjustable timing escapement mechanism, the escapement mechanism including an escapement gear actuating a balance through a limited pivotal angle, the angle of pivoting being governed by cam means interposed between a pair of arms carried by the balance.

Abstract: A damping mechanism for a rotating-head tensiometer, of the kind with a handle and a measuring head rotatably attached thereto, having an escapement pivoted about its own center of mass, and engaged with a toothed surface, such that, as the measuring head rotates, the escapement oscillates and the desired damping of the measuring head is provided by the inertial resistance of the escapement to oscillation.

Abstract: A counting mechanism for a timepiece in which the drive means therefor oscillates a counting wheel, which in turn drives a co-axially mounted ratchet wheel in one direction. The counting wheel and ratchet wheel are interconnected so that during each oscillation of the counting wheel, both wheels first move in unison in one direction and then the counting wheel alone is driven in the other direction against a resilient coupling member while the ratchet wheel is held stationary by a pawl. The counting wheel is released between each cycle of oscillations, so that it can be returned by the resilient coupling member to its normal position with respect to the ratchet wheel.

Abstract: This invention refers to a high efficiency escapement wherein the pallets embrace more than one fifth of the teeth of the pallets wheel, and wherein the entry-pallet embraces relative to the line joining the center of the escape wheel to the pallet staff at least one tooth more of said wheel than the exit-pallet relative to said joining line.

Abstract: This invention relates to log splitters and more particularly to an apparatus adapted for use with a conventional four wheel garden tractor. The apparatus is characterized by a log splitting tool that is removably mounted on a hub of a driven wheel of the tractor and further includes a tractor lifting and support framework which is readily attached to the rear of the tractor and provides means for lifting the driven wheel to a position clear of the ground and further serves to stably support the tractor in this position. As another feature, the tractor lifting and support means is adjustable to a mobile position and therein functions as a transporting bracket for the log splittng tool when it is removed from mounted relationship on the driven wheel.

Abstract: A timepiece has a counting mechanism for counting the oscillations of the oscillating regulating member. The counting mechanism includes a plastic block with a retaining pawl and a driving pawl embedded within it. The block has a notch whose two walls serve to limit the movement of a first portion of the driving pawl which is embedded by one extremity in the block and passes through the notch to an elbow formed in the driving pawl which cooperates with the oscillating member to drive a ratchet wheel by a second driving portion of the driving pawl. The retaining pawl has one extremity embedded in an elastic portion of the block and the other cooperates with the ratchet. The block has an eccentric member abutting the elastic portion to adjust the position of the retaining pawl.

Abstract: A counting mechanism for timepiece having a bidirectional step by step motor, in which the rotor of the said motor cooperates directly with a counting wheel in such a way as to drive it only in one direction, this counting wheel being submitted to the action of a magnet which determines, at each step, its position while cooperating successively with each tooth of its toothing.

Abstract: A mechanism with two moving parts to act as a 120.degree. indexing or escapement drive using a rotating member and a pivoting arm which are shaped to act together with a closely defined geometric relationship. As an escapement, a wheel, provided with three acting points or pins, will have a 120.degree. escapement motion for each oscillating cycle of a pivoting escapement arm. As an indexing drive, the same basic parts, aided by drive and backup means, will act in reverse: the oscillating pivoting arm is driving or indexing the wheel 120.degree. per each oscillating cycle wherein the driven angle per each half cycle of oscillation could vary between an equal 60.degree.-60.degree. proportion and the other extreme of a 120.degree.-0.degree. proportion. The positive tie-in of the wheel and pivoting arm throughout the full oscillating cycle permits the use of the mechanism in either direction as an escapement or indexing drive or a combination of both.

Abstract: In an electric timepiece an electric motor continuously rotates a disk carrying an eccentric pin that is engageable inside a heart-shaped opening formed in an actuating member carrying a pair of pallet pins engageable with and between the teeth on opposite sides of an escape wheel. This member is carried on a pair of spring-steel arms integrally formed with the actuating member and serving to urge the member into one end position. An abutment formed on the member is engageable against the periphery of the drive disk to prevent accidental stepping of the escape wheel except when the eccentric pin engages the cam and a notch formed on the disk aligns with this abutment.

Abstract: An escapement-type drive mechanism for watches and the like comprises an escapement wheel formed with a circumferential array of teeth spaced apart by respective radial slots and having displacement faces inclined to respective radii. An angularly oscillatable inverse anchor-shaped lever is engageable with the wheel for intermittently rotating it. The lever is formed with a pair of spaced-apart pallets (pins) mounted for lost motion on the lever and alternately engageable with the faces and receivable in the slots to step the wheel upon angular oscillation of the lever. Magnetic means on the lever yieldably biases each of the pallets in a respective direction of its lost motion relative to the lever.

Abstract: A timepiece mechanism including an escapement or counting wheel. A balance wheel with two abutting members cooperates with the teeth of the escapement or counting wheel. The action of one abutting member causes the escapement or counting wheel to leave a rest position against the influence of a magnet; the action of the second abutting member furnishes driving energy to the balance wheel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a counter feed mechanism as used in digital clock comprising a cam member adapted for advanced rotation and another cam member adapted for delayed rotation both arranged on a common axis so that the advanced rotation of the first-mentioned cam member under a drive force transmitted from a clock mechanism twists a coil spring stretched between both cam members, which is, in turn, charged with energy for rotation of the second-mentioned cam member and, upon rotary displacement of the first-mentioned cam member by a predetermined angle, said second cam member is released to be rotated at once so as to advance a rotary wheel step by step.