Abstract: Power takeoff devices (PTOs) are useful for mounting on transmissions and for performing, directly or indirectly, useful work via the mechanical energy generated by the PTO's rotatable output shaft. Systems and methods for reducing PTO gear rattle include an input gear carried on a shaft sleeve mounted on a shaft extending between opposing spaced apart walls of a PTO housing. The shaft sleeve is moveable in an axial direction along the shaft, the travel of the shaft sleeve in each direction being limited by contacting the respective wall. The shaft sleeve is biased to remain spaced apart from the walls, thereby reducing or eliminating gear rattle.

Abstract: An extensible car window shading apparatus mountable inside the car and comprising a first plurality of slats having at each longitudinal end a slat hole in which a slat spring attached to a slat stick is inserted, such that the slat stick extends outwardly from the slat hole, a second plurality of panels, the second plurality being exactly twice the first plurality, such that there is a panel at each longitudinal end of each slat, wherein each panel has a panel hole in which a panel spring is inserted, the panel hole being configured to receive the slat stick, and wherein the panels on each side of the apparatus are joined by hinges, such as to allow folding or deploying of the extensible car window shading apparatus by a user, and a support arm that keeps the extensible car window shading apparatus in folded position.

Abstract: This invention relates to windshield wiper system and method which utilizes a flexible member to account for compression loads in excess of a predetermined load, such as 30 percent greater than a maximum load for the flexible member. The system utilizes a flexible pultruded composite material having a relatively low modulus of elasticity, yet relatively high elongation characteristics. The flexible arm bends to facilitate preventing damage to components in the wiper system when a compressive load applied to the flexible member reaches a predetermined load as a result of a fatigue condition, such as snow or ice build up on the windshield.

Abstract: An input pinion shaft for a differential assembly. The input pinion shaft includes a discretely formed stem and a discretely formed gear. The stem includes an engagement surface. The gear includes a plurality of gear teeth and a mounting aperture that is sized to receive the stem such that the engagement surface and the contact surface are engaged to one another so as to facilitate transmission of rotary power therebetween. A coupling element, such as a weld, a key or a threaded fastener may also be employed to fix the stem and the gear to one another. A method for forming an input pinion shaft is also provided.

Abstract: The speed reducer comprises a first shaft which is supported so as to be able to slide axially, is suitable for being rotatingly actuated and a pinion whose set of teeth are slightly beveled is located thereon. A second shaft is supported so as to be able to slide axially with an axis parallel to the first shaft and a gear and a further pinion, are located thereon both having sets of teeth slightly beveled in opposite directions and suitable for meshing respectively with the pinion of the first shaft and with a further gear which is fixedly located on an output shaft, coaxial to the first shaft. A device is provided for adjusting the axial position of the first shaft, so as to move the sides of the conical sets of teeth of the gears closer in order to eliminate the related clearances.

Abstract: A position-feedback-control servomechanism for shifting the transmission of a vehicle has a control algorithm that adjusts the loop gains in a proportional-integral-differential controller to compensate for manufacturing variations in the apparatus as well as for temperature changes and wear. The resulting control system moves the shifting servomechanism into the selected positions accurately and as quickly as possible without permitting excessive overshooting or resonance.

Abstract: A toothed springy decoupling gear set consisting of a center gear and of two coaxial split gears abutting on both sides thereof serve as arrangement for decoupling torsional vibrations in a gear transmission, for example, in a control transmission of a reciprocating piston engine. Drawsprings located tangentially in the center gear protrude with their two spring ends out of the center gear and are suspended at the left and at the right split gear.

Abstract: A gear system adapted to eliminate backlash between a set of reversible gears. The gears are also arranged to perform without backlash when their center distances are changed. One gear of the double helical type fixed to a first shaft is in engagement with a single adjustably secured first helical gear on a second shaft. A biased helical gear is slidably arranged on the second shaft adjacent the first helical gear, forcing the teeth of the biased gear against corresponding teeth of the double helical gear, automatically removing any clearance between them thus eliminating any backlash therewith, which is desirable for gears driving matched rolls.

Abstract: A torque converter for inclusion between a driving shaft and a driven shaft. Preferably there is more than one torque generator and a gear train in parallel between the input and output shafts. The torque generators and any attached driving gears rotate about shafts whose axes are preferably symmetrically displaced about, and are stationary relative to, the axis of the input shaft. The above mentioned torque generators each preferably have a pair of radially opposed eccentrically mounted weights thereon. Preferably there are at least two pairs of weights on each torque generating train, together with means for varying the phasing between the pairs of weights. Means is also provided for accommodating slight misalignments between the shafts of the torque generating trains. Each of the torque generating trains has attached thereto at least one unidirectional clutch which allows the shafts to turn in only one direction.

Abstract: A valve timing device for an internal combustion engine includes a hub with an internal helical groove which engages a tracking post extending from a cylindrical surface of a crankshaft. A locking cap is placed at the outer end of the crankshaft spaced apart from the hub with a compression spring wrapped about the crankshaft between the hub and the locking cap. A sprocket is keyed onto the hub and trained about a chain which is drivingly trained about a conventional camshaft. As the crankshaft speed is increased, inertial loads of the camshaft causes the sprocket and hub to rotate relative to the crankshaft which axially moves the hub a predetermined amount along the crankshaft to compress the spring until the resilient forces of the spring counterbalances the inertia forces of the camshaft.As the hub is angularly positioned, the camshaft becomes angularly retarded relative to the crankshaft such that the valve operation is delayed with respect to the piston operation as the engine speed increases.

Abstract: A resetting device coupled to a thermostat which has a resetting pin actuated by depressing the same, comprises a body arranged to be movable towards and away from the resetting pin; a propelling device for launching the body in the direction of the resetting pin for depressing the resetting pin by the body in an impact-like manner; and an operating arrangement movable into an actuating position for actuating the propelling device. The resetting pin is freely movable subsequent to the impact-like engagement by the body, irrespective of the momentarily-assumed position of the operating arrangement.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed which incorporates a timing control for modifying the timing of a starter for feeding work blanks to a forming station and which features a manual control for applying a supplementary rotary input into a spindle operated differential having an output drivingly connected to the starter for effecting a desired change in the timing of starter movements in relation to a circular die fixed to the spindle at the forming station. In addition, a starter drive selector is provided having a manual interlock for selectively adjusting the number of starter operations for each revolution of the spindle and its circular die.

Abstract: An anti-backlash gear system for use between a drive shaft and a driven shaft and wherein one said shaft is provided with a gear having helical teeth thereon, said anti-backlash system comprising a gear portion fixed to the other said shaft, and meshing with said helical gear, said gear portion having a width less than the width of said helical gear, a movable gear portion, slidably mounted on said shaft, and being slidable therealong towards and away from said fixed gear portion, said movable gear portion having a width less than that of said helical gear, and having helical teeth meshing therewith, spring means engaging said movable gear portion, and urging the same normally away from said fixed gear portion, and adjustable means for moving said movable gear portion towards said fixed gear portion, against the pressure of said spring.