Abstract: Device for connecting two drive elements 2 and 3 whose engagement flanks 20, 30 opposite one another are rollable positively on one another, with one drive element 3 being connected with at least one support surface 4 with a base 1 whose total length is less than the length of the drive element 3. Drive element 3 forms a curved spring path which passes through the (at least one) support surface 4 and directs engagement flank 30 of one drive element 3 toward engagement flank 20 of the other drive element 2.

Abstract: In a drive with twin helical drive gears on an axle driven by a motor with pinions at either end wherein the moto housing and axle housing are axially located by a key in mating keyways, an offset key is used to obtain axial housing adjustment by the amount of the key offset. The pinions are mounted to the motor with their teeth substantially aligned and the gears are mounted to the axle with their teeth substantially aligned, and the housings are axially positioned by an offset key to compensate for errors in tooth alignment to assure that gear backlash is centralized on both ends of the motor when the rotor is substantially centered in its range of end play.

Abstract: An antibacklash rack and pinion assembly includes longitudinally movable first and second rack members which have gear teeth thereon which mesh with the gear teeth of the pinion gear. A spring exerts a force in the same longitudinal direction of the movement of the rack members and against one of the rack members so that that rack member moves longitudinally relative to the other rack member and the teeth of that rack member are offset from the teeth of the other rack member. Thereby, opposite sides of at least one tooth of the pinion gear at all times are simultaneously positioned between and held in engagement with at least one tooth on each of the rack members to prevent backlash on movement of the teeth.

Abstract: A turntable apparatus has a turntable in combination with an indexing mechanism for use in a universal machine tool. The turntable has a spindle, and a turntable driving system is provided for driving the turntable. A driving system is used for driving an indexing mechanism for separately driving the turntable, and has an indexing shaft. A first arrangement is provided for clamping the main spindle of the turntable, and a second arrangement is provided for clamping the indexing shaft of the indexing mechanism driving system.

Abstract: A gear speed reducer having an input shaft formed with a worm which meshs with a worm gear mounted on an output shaft disposed a fixed distance from and at right angles with respect to the input shaft. The worm is provided with an involute thread that progressively becomes thinner from one end to the other end of the worm. An adjustable cartridge rotatably mounts one end of the shaft and the cartridge is adjustably mounted to permit axial adjustment of the shaft to bring a new section of the thread of the worm into engagement with the worm gear to eliminate backlash therebetween. The adjustment is quickly and easily performed without having to remove the reducer from service.

Abstract: A gear is provided with double rows of teeth having the same pitch circle, which are deviated from each other in the circumferential direction. The gear can be mutually engaged with another counterpart identical with no backlash between the meshed teeth, whereby a rotary motion can be efficiently and smoothly transmitted between the rotating gears engaged without involving vibrations and noises.

Abstract: An improvement to an electrically driven power steering apparatus which utilizes an electric motor is disclosed. A bevel gear of a greater diameter is mounted on a steering shaft so as to be axially displaceable thereon, and an urging mechanism is connected between the bevel gear and the steering shaft. The urging mechanism renders the bevel gear to be incapable of rotation relative to the steering shaft, and also urges the teeth thereof toward the teeth of a bevel gear of a reduced diameter which is coupled to the electric motor. This prevents a backlash from occurring between the both bevel gears, thus preventing the occurrence of sounds of percussion as the both gears abut against each other.

Abstract: An anti-backlash rack and pinion drive system comprising a pair of spur gears on parallel shafts engaging a rack with countertorque preload imposed by a positive timing belt engaging a pair of pulleys respectively coupled to the shafts. Slack on one side and a resilient transverse load applied to the other side of the belt provides counterspur gear tooth pressure on the rack equal to the maximum drive load effected through reversible rotation of one of the shafts.

Abstract: A recliner mechanism for a seat assembly is disclosed in which the seat back is pivotally mounted to the seat cushion by an eccentric pivot pin which enables the location of the seat back pivot point to be adjusted during assembly. The seat back forms a sector gear meshing with a pinion gear on a seat cushion as part of the recliner mechanism. By adjusting the position of the seat back pivot point, backlash between the sector gear and pinion gear can be eliminated.

Abstract: The backlash spring of a fuel control linkage is enclosed by an elastomeric sleeve which absorbs the energy of multiple resonant modes stimulated in the spring by vibratory fields. Deflections of large amplitude in the spring are minimized thereby. The sleeve has a plurality of ribs which extend axially therein and which provide an interference fit with the coils of the spring. The sleeve ribs contact as many of the spring coils as possible but minimize interference of the sleeve with the motion of the spring during the normal articulation thereof.

Abstract: A radially adjustable gearwheel for driving a cylinder of an offset press. The gear rim has a peripheral annular groove opening axially outward and dimensioned to receive a tensioning ring including inner and outer body parts engaging each other along an inclined tapered surface. A plurality of tensioning devices are mounted on the gear rim and act axially on the tensioning ring causing the inclined surfaces of the inner and outer body parts to slide against each other resulting in radial displacement of the outer body part which produces radial deformation of the gear rim.

Abstract: Pendulum gears for windshield wipers of motor vehicles are known, which pendulum gears comprise a first gear member provided with teeth, which gear member is non-rotatably seated on a driven shaft, and a second gear member provided with teeth, which gear member meshes with the first gear member, and by which the first gear member can be driven in pendulum motion between two reversing positions. The noises occurring in the reversing positions of the first gear member are to be reduced. For this purpose the tooth play between the teeth of the two gear members is decreased towards the reversing position of the first gear member. Thus a beating noise caused by the teeth when changing the tooth flanks is avoided.

Abstract: A T-drive assembly comprising an internal combustion engine with a crankshaft adapted to be mounted in a vehicle in a direction transverse to the fore-and-aft geometric vehicle axis, a geared transmission having an axis perpendicular to the axis of the crankshaft, and a cross-axis drive between the crankshaft and torque input elements of the transmission including zero backlash bevel gears, one bevel gear being secured to a mid-position on the crankshaft and the other having a tapered hub in frictional driving relationship with a tapered torque input shaft for the transmission torque input elements.

Abstract: An articulated robot having a swivel base supported on a support base for swivel movement about a vertical axis, a first arm pivoted on the swivel base for swing movement about a first swing axis perpendicular to the vertical axis and a second arm pivoted on the forward end of the first arm for swing movement about a second swing axis parallel to the first swing axis, wherein a servomotor for moving the second arm is mounted on the swivel base. The robot is provided with a gear train transmitting the rotation of the servomotor to the second arm, and the gear train is composed of a drive gear rotated by the servomotor to be rotated about the first swing axis, a driven gear fixed to the second arm for rotational movement about the second swing axis together with the second arm, and three idler gears disposed between the drive gear and driven gear for transmitting the rotation of the drive gear to the driven gear.

Abstract: A radially adjustable gearwheel for driving a cylinder of an offset press. The gear rim has three axially disposed tapered bores into which axially tapered bolts can be pressed to act radially on the gear rim. Additional axial bores are provided between the tapered bores to form expansion webs in the gear rim. The tapered bolts, in conjunction with the expansion webs, subject the gear rim to varying radial deformation in a gently rising parabolic curve depending on the tension applied to the tapered bolts so that the deformed gearwheel rolls with minimal impact and shock forces.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns an improvement for an automotive differential having helical-worm side gears operatively connected through one or more pairs of combination gears, each combination gear having a worm-wheel portion which meshes with one or the other of the side gears and a spur-gear portion which meshes with its paired combination gear. The improvement is a cylindrical mounting arrangement for one or more of the combination gears. Preferably, a cylindrical surface on a mounting washer mates with a cooperating cylindrical surface formed in the differential housing to permit slight positional-adjustment movements of the combination gear, such adjustment movements being limited to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the side gear with which the combination gear is associated.

Abstract: An indexing mechanism includes an index output shaft connected to a table or other apparatus for rotation therewith. A pinion is operatively connected to the shaft for rotation therewith to transmit rotational force to the table or apparatus. The pinion is rotated to a preset angular position by first and second drive gears, each of which are in engagement with the pinion. At least one motor is provided for carrying out rotation of the drive gears. One of the drive gears is rotated relative to the other gear in a predetermined direction into engagement with the pinion and rotates the pinion, if necessary, into contact with the other drive gear so that backlash is removed from the apparatus. This biasing action is a result of a phase shift carried out between the first and second drive gears such that one of the gears is rotated relative to the other drive gear. A particular phase shift apparatus adapted for use with the index table or apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A joint structure for an industrial robot is provided with a gear transmission mechanism to drive movable robot element, such as a swivel body (14), of an industrial robot. The joint structure comprises a driven gear (26) connected to the movable robot element, two drive pinions (28, 30) in mesh with the driven gear (26), respectively, at different positions on the driven gear (26), a belt transmission mechanism (28a, 30a, 32) operatively connecting the two drive pinions (28, 20), a tensioner (36) for adjusting the tension in the power transmission belt (32) of the belt transmission mechanism (28a, 30a, 32), and a rotative drive source (34) connected to one (28) of the two drive pinions (28, 30).

Abstract: A power splitting transmission, particularly for high energy and/or for high rotational speeds. Two sun gears are connected to the shaft of a drive starting and stopping mechanism and are coupled to each other by at least three double power splitting gears which are arranged equidistantly about the circumference of the sun gears and connected thereto by a coupling. The coupling and the connection with the shaft of the drive starting and stopping mechanism together function as a membrane coupling.

Abstract: In order to improve a spindle drive for machine tools, comprising a housing, a spindle mounted in the housing, a drive motor arranged on the housing and a gear arranged in the housing and comprising an intermediate shaft driven by the drive motor and mounted in the housing via two shaft bearings spaced from one another as well as a first gear wheel seated on the intermediate shaft, wherein for driving the spindle as C-axis the first gear wheel engages in a first position with a second gear wheel driving the spindle so as to mesh with the second gear wheel without clearance, such that it is more simple in construction it is suggested that the first shaft bearing fix the intermediate shaft immovably on the housing in a direction transverse to its axis and that the intermediate shaft be adapted to be moved back and forth by the second shaft bearing relative to the second gear wheel in an adjusting direction between the first position and a second position, the gear wheels meshing with one another in the second p

Abstract: A device for reducing mechanical rattle between a pair of interengaging gears, comprising a gear element cooperating with one gear, this gear element being rotatably mounted on a hub portion joined to the one gear, having the same tooth profile and number of teeth as the one gear and being connected to the one gear via rotationally resilient elements, which are pre-tensioned in an engagement position of the gears. The resilient elements comprise elastic elements (13; 20) which are disposed in opposing, circumferentially spaced cavities (11, 12) in the hub portion (9) and in a circumferentially inner surface of the gear element (8) that faces the hub portion (9) disposed to keep the gear element and the one gear angularly displaced relatively to each other before they are brought into engagement with the other of the pair of interengaging gears.

Abstract: A pair of reel bases mounts a tape cassette in which a tape to be run is wound. A rotating member is rotatable provided between the pair of reel bases. A belt driving mechanism has a belt for transmitting a rotational force from a driving source to the rotating member. A tape running unit has first and second rotation transmission members provided to be rotatable coaxially with the rotating member and to be brought into contact with/separated from one of the pair of reel bases in correspondence with a rotational direction of the rotating member. The first and second rotation transmission members are engaged with each other with a predetermined gap in a circumferential direction therebetween to transmit a rotational force. The predetermined gap is set to have a sufficient size for absorbing backward rotation of the rotating member caused by an after shock of the belt produced upon stop of the tape, thereby preventing backward rotation of the reel bases.

Abstract: A gearing system for a lathe is shiftable from a first position, in which conical gear wheels (16, 25, 26, 36) engage each other with play, to a second position, in which the wheels engage each other without play. Reduced wear is achieved in the first position. High precision is achieved in the second position. Preferably, the system also has parallel-toothed gear wheels (15, 24, 35) which are engaged when the conical gear wheels are disengaged.

Abstract: An antibacklash gear drive system including an internal ring gear (46) engaged with a pinion gear (76) powered by a motor drive assembly (48). The motor drive assembly together with the pinion gear is mounted on an eccentric plate (58) so that the rotational axis (72) of the pinion gear is offset from the central axis (66) of the eccentric plate (58). The eccentric plate is adapted to be rotated about its central axis (66) by an adjustment mechanism (86) whereby the distance between the rotational axis (72) of the pinion gear and the rotational axis of the ring gear is varied to increase or decrease, as desired, the engagement of the teeth of the ring and pinion gears thereby to increase or decrease the backlash between the two gears.

Abstract: A manual transmission (14') having a counter-shaft assembly (50) with a torsion damping mechanism (34) disposed therein to mitigate in-gear rattle of transmission gears. The countershaft assembly is mounted for rotation in a transmission housing (36). Assembly (50) includes a cluster gear (58) having a plurality of ratio gears (68-76) fixed thereto, a driven gear (60) journaled on the cluster gear and stops (58f, 60g) to limit relative rotation. The torsion damping mechanism includes a torsion bar (64) fixed at its ends to driven and cluster gears (60, 58), an energy damper having coulomb friction surfaces engaged by Belleville springs (80) and by opposing axial forces provided by helical gear teeth of the countershaft assembly.

Abstract: A parallel axis gear set has a first gear, a second gear in engagement with the first gear, and a third gear coaxially rotatable relative to the first gear and in engagement with the second gear. The third gear is in frictional engagement with the first gear, and the third gear includes a plurality of teeth having a tooth thickness larger than that of the second gear or the first gear. The meshing depth between the first gear and the second gear is greater than the meshing depth between the third gear and the second gear. An elevator hoist apparatus employing the gear set is also disclosed.

Abstract: A shaft bearing structure comprises a shaft which is to be rotatably supported, a bushing disposed on the shaft, the bushing having an outer surface tapered in an axial direction so as to have a frusto-conical configuration, a support member having a support opening for receiving the bushing, the support opening having an inner surface tapered in an axial direction so as to have a frusto-conical configuration, and a biasing member on the shaft biasingly urging the bushing in an axial direction such that the tapered outer surface of the bushing is biased into mating contact with the tapered inner surface of the support opening.

Abstract: Continuous joint permitting automatic compensation of clearances consisting of a fixed plate integral with the seat part and a moving plate integral with the back, this assembly capable of having an angular movement of one of the parts in relation to the other in which: an elastic bearing is inserted between the eccentric constituting a cam and a tooth part which it drives. One of the plates is provided with a shaft which is seated in a bearing aperture of the eccentric constituting a cam bearing aperture which is provided with two main support zones on which the shaft bears.

Abstract: A drive unit on the pedestal of an industrial robot includes a gear unit having a hollow output gear shaft driven by a drive motor, and the base of the industrial robot includes a bearing on which the pedestal is rotatably mounted and whose axis of rotation is essentially coincident with the axis of rotation of the output gear shaft, and a torsionally rigid but otherwise flexible shaft coupling connects the output gear shaft to the base.

Abstract: An apparatus for limiting the axial play of the shaft of a motor drive mechanism wherein the precise setting of the axial play (<<0.05 mm) is possible in a simple manner using production and assembly technology. A deformable guard plate, which is secured on its marginal side by a setscrew, in particular a standard production screw, is axially pressed in a contact zone until the desired axial play is achieved. The setscrew is axially supported in front on the case side.

Abstract: A reversible anti-backlash power transmission for selectively transmitting power in opposite directions without backlash in the gear train. The transmission includes interconnected first and second gear boxes. Each gear box includes a drive shaft having a worm associated with the drive shaft for rotation therewith, a worm gear in meshing engagement with the worm, a driven shaft associated with the worm gear for rotation therewith, and a pinion gear structurally associated with the drive shaft for rotation therewith. A rack gear is in meshing engagement with the pinion gear of each of the first and second gear boxes. An electro-magentic coupler interconnects the drive shafts of the gear boxes. The coupler allows the automatic angular displacement of the drive shafts of the two gear boxes relative to each other to eliminate gear backlash in any of the mating gears.

Abstract: A gear backlash adjusting mechanism includes a worm wheel having a gear tooth that engages the gear tooth of a worm. The gear tooth of the worm wheel is curved or tapered upwardly in the axial direction toward one end of the worm wheel. An adjusting apparatus permits the distance between the gear tooth of the worm wheel and the gear tooth of the worm to be adjusted so that the amount of backlash between the gear tooth of the worm wheel and the worm can be adjusted.

Abstract: A backlash removing mechanism for an industrial robot wherein operation for adjustment thereof can be made readily with a simplified construction without causing a play. The mechanism comprises a rotational driving means disposed in a casing, a reduction gear for reducing the speed of rotation of the rotational driving means, and a rotary shaft directly coupled at an end thereof to the output side of the reduction gear. The reduction gear is disposed for movement in a direction of an axis of the rotary shaft. A bevel gear mechanism is provided at the other end of the rotary shaft and transmits rotation of the reduced speed from the reduction gear to an output power shaft of the robot. The rotary shaft is supported for rotation by means of a bearing which is disposed for integral movement with the rotary shaft in the axial direction. The bearing is adjustably and securely positioned in the direction of the axis of the rotary shaft in the casing by a positioning mechanism.

Abstract: A drive for a printing machine with a plurality of printing mechanisms has a closed gear train arranged to connect the printing mechanisms with each other, a drive train extending parallel to the gear train and elastically connected with the latter by at least two power input points, a torsion spring arranged to be located in a trunnion of each of the printing cylinders, at a drive side of the latter, a bush arranged to be mounted in the trunnion of each of the printing mechanisms, and an axially displaceable driver arranged in the bush and form-lockingly engaging the torsion spring.

Abstract: An air compressor, which is embodied as a single or multi-cylinder/piston compressor, and which is driven by gear wheels. The drive gear or pinion of the air compressor is disposed on the air compressor crankshaft and meshes with a gear wheel on the camshaft of an internal combustion engine. Provided on the periphery of the air compressor pinion is, for a single cylinder/piston compressor, one interval having an enlarged tooth gauge, and for a multi-cylinder/piston compressor, several such intervals, the number of which corresponds to the number of times the tangential force passes through zero during one air compressor crankshaft revolution, with the centers of the intervals being coordinated with the respective top dead center position of the air compressor piston.

Abstract: A motorized anti-backlash actuator having an externally threaded rod (18) movable linearly while in rotational engagement with an inwardly threaded anti-backlash nut portion (10) and an armature (8) fixed to the nut and rotatable therewith. A field coil (4) (6) surrounds the armature (8) to excite it to impart anti-backlash linear motion to the rod.

Abstract: An electric steering apparatus which effects position adjustment by electric drive has a screw shaft parallel to upper and lower columns. A nut member rotatably supported by a housing fixed to a bracket is fixed against movement in the axial direction of the screw shaft and threadably engaged with a screw portion provided at one end of the screw shaft. In a preferred embodiment the other end of the screw shaft is pivotally connected to the upper column for pivotal movement relative to the bracket in the direction of tilt. The nut member is self-aligning in the housing, and the nut member is rotatively driven by an electric motor to move the screw shaft in the axial direction and thereby move the upper column, whereby position adjustment can be accomplished. The apparatus is provided with a back-lash preventing device in which the screw shaft is pressed against the nut member in a radial direction and the threadably engaged portions of the screw shaft and the nut member are urged against each other.

Abstract: The fluid-powered actuator having a body, an axially extending rotatable shaft with a plurality of helical grooves, and an annular piston sleeve reciprocally mounted within the body and receiving the shaft therethrough. The piston sleeve has a plurality of radial bores extending fully therethrough with an inward open end adjacent to the grooved shaft. Guide pins are rotatably disposed in each of the pistion sleeve bores and ride in the shaft grooves. An annular carrier is reciprocally mounted within the body coaxial with the piston sleeve and is adjustably axially movable relative thereto. The carrier has a plurality of radial bores extending fully therethrough with an inward end adjacent to the grooved shaft. Guide pins are rotatably disposed in each of the carrier bores and ride the shaft grooves. Rotation of the carrier is prvented is prevented relative to the piston sleeve.

Abstract: Backlash or play is avoided in a mechanical, self-adjusting gear drive having two sets of gears arranged in parallel to each other by one or more torsion springs effective between a driving shaft and a driven shaft. The gear sets form a closed gear train which contains the prestressed torsion spring (12) at any suitable point. After adjustment of the prestressing, the spring or springs eliminate any backlash throughout the whole gear train.

Abstract: In order to reduce noise attendant with conventional equipment, an electric generator for a vehicle is attached to the vehicle engine by a stay arrangement that places the point of connection between the generator stator and the engine significantly radially outwardly from the stator. The stay apparatus, further, cooperatively mounts a lid plate for sealing the coupling chamber which houses the elastic coupling connected to the generator rotor shaft. A gap provided between the facing surfaces of the lid plate and the coupling chamber is filled by an elastic seal for improving the noise-damping efficiency of the apparatus. The elastic coupler of the generator and drive shafts has alternating radial fins whose interspaces are filled with resilient material.

Abstract: A controlling transmission comprising a planetary gear mechanism in which at least one pair of intermediate gears are interposed to mesh with a sun gear and an internal gear and in which intermediate shafts respectively supporting the intermediate gears are fixed on a carrier. The indexing positions for fixing the intermediate shafts on the carrier are set such that a tooth surface contacting state, in which one of the intermediate gears meshes with the sun gear and the internal gear, and another tooth surface contacting state, in which the other of the intermediate gears meshes with the sun gear and the internal gear, are determined to have opposite power transmitting directions.

Abstract: A reclining angle adjustment device for a seat includes a shaft having a concentric portion and an eccentric portion and rotatable for adjusting the reclining angle of the seat, a tapered bushing having a tapered inner peripheral surface engaging the eccentric portion along the shaft, a gear train including an external gear and an internal gear meshing with the internal gear, the internal gear having more teeth than the external gear, a first arm having one of the external and internal gears which is rotatably fitted at its center over the concentric portion, and a second arm having the other gear which is rotatably fitted at its center over the tapered bushing. A resilient member normally presses the tapered bushing axially of the shaft in a direction to strengthen meshing engagement between the external and internal gears.

Abstract: A transmission is equipped with a planetary gear type transmission unit disposed between an input member and an output member within a casing. The transmission unit is comprised of a sun gear, a ring gear and a plurality of planet gears carried by a carrier coupled with the output member. The planet gears are in mesh with the sun gear and the ring gear. The input and output members are coupled with each other by bypassing the gears of the transmission unit in direct drive or via these gears in reduction ratio drive. The transmission is further provided with a first change-over member in mesh with the input member for selectively connecting the input member with the carrier in direct drive or with the sun gear in reduction ratio drive and a second change-over member secured to the first change-over member for engaging the ring gear with the casing in reduction ratio drive or disengaging the former from the latter in direct drive.

Abstract: A reclining angle adjustment device for a seat includes a shaft having a concentric portion and an eccentric portion and rotatable for adjusting the reclining angle of the seat, the eccentric portion comprising an axially movable tapered ring, a gear train including an external gear and an internal gear meshing with the internal gear, the internal gear having more teeth than the external gear, a first arm having one of the external and internal gears which is rotatably fitted at its center over the concentric portion, and a second arm having the other of the external and internal gears which is rotatably fitted at its center over the tapered ring. A resilient member engages the tapered ring for normally pressing the tapered ring axially along the shaft in a direction to strengthen meshing engagement between the external and internal gears.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the backlash on a differential has a clamp for holding the pinion gears to the housing, locating means for precisely positioning the housing and bevel gear relative to one another, an air cylinder to press the bevel gears towards the pinion gear, and a micrometer used to measure the travel distance of the bevel gear. The clamp preferably also includes tangs resiliently pressing the bevel gear away from the pinion gears, both to aid in separating the bevel gear from the pinion gears and to compress any clutch pack in the differential, e.g., if it is a limited slip differential.

Abstract: A tool is provided for adjusting the bearing pre-load and backlash of a differential. The tool has a U-shaped positioning member with an adjustable width base. Bi-directional ratchet heads are provided on the ends of the U, with tools thereon for engaging the side quills of the differential. Setting the ratchets to operate in opposite directions allows easy adjustment of the relative distance between the side quills, and consequently adjustment of the pre-load on the bearings for the differential. Setting the ratchets to operate in the same direction maintains a constant distance between the side quills, but shifts them back and forth in the differential housing, allowing easy adjustment of the backlash between the differential ring gear and the drive shaft pinion gear.

Abstract: In a gear arrangement consisting of two gears meshed with each other, at least one gear is constructed of a teeth portion having teeth along its circumference and a shaft portion adapted to be mounted to a support shaft, a gap space is retained between the teeth portion and the shaft portion, and an elastic body such as an O-ring, an annular spring, etc. is interposed in the gap space. And a tooth thickness of one gear of the above-mentioned two gears is made larger than that of the other gear. When the above-described two gears are meshed with each other, the teeth portion of the gear having the elastic body interposed therein moves in the radial direction with respect to the shaft portion, and thereby the teeth of the respective gears can be meshed without backlash.

Abstract: An automatic transmission of a trans-axle type in which an input shaft is disposed above a differential across an axle of a vehicle. A case for the transmission is divided into a differential case for mounting a differential and a transmission case for an automatic transmission device. A bearing plate is disposed between the differential case and the transmission case. A drive pinion formed on an end of a drive pinion shaft is engaged with a ring gear of the differential. The drive pinion shaft is rotatably mounted in the bearing plate by a bearing, and an oil pump is provided in the bearing plate around the input shaft.

Abstract: A tilting and telescope traveling steering column arrangement for an automotive vehicle. The telescope traveling mechanism of the steering column arrangement includes a pluarlity of balls which are rotatably fixed on the peripheral surface of a ring member which is fixedly mounted on a steering shaft provided with a steering wheel. The balls are positioned along an imaginary helical line on the peripheral surface of the ring member. The ring member with the balls are fitted in a sleeve formed at its inner peripheral surface with a helical groove, in such a manner that the balls are movably fitted in the helical groove. The sleeve is axially fixed to a movable bracket. The ring member is driven through a gear mechanism by an electric motor, thus axially displacing the steering shaft relative to the sleeve. The tilt mechanism of the steering column arrangement includes a tilt screw movably connecting the movable bracket and a fixed bracket fixed to a vehicle body.

Abstract: An electric steering apparatus which effects position adjustment by electric drive has a screw shaft parallel to upper and lower columns. A nut member rotatably supported by a housing fixed to a bracket is fixed against movement in the axial direction of the screw shaft and threadably engaged with a screw portion provided at one end of the screw shaft. In a preferred embodiments, the other end of the screw shaft is pivotally connected to the upper column for pivotal movement relative to the bracket in the direction of tilt, the nut member is self-aligning in the housing, and the nut member is rotatively driven by an electric motor to move the screw shaft in the axial direction and thereby move the upper column, whereby position adjustment can be accomplished. The apparatus is provided with a back-lash preventing device in which the screw shaft is pressed against the nut member in a radial direction and the threadably engaged portions of the screw shaft and the nut member are urged against each other.