Abstract: A solar tracker including a torque tube, a plurality of bearings configured to receive the torque tube, a plurality of piers each configured to receive one of the plurality of bearings, and a lock-out device mounted on one of the plurality of piers and operatively associated with at least one of the plurality of bearings, the lock out device configured to periodically engage and disengage openings formed in the bearings to limit movement of the torque tube and to transfer load from the torque tube to the pier on which it is mounted.

Abstract: A speed reducer including: an input shaft; a first barrel cam; a first output table; an intermediate shaft; a second cam; and a second output table, in the first output table, the plurality of first cam followers being provided concentrically around a rotation center position of the intermediate shaft, concerning a certain first cam follower among the plurality of first cam followers, when a center position of the certain first cam follower when the certain first cam follower has been moved to a farthest end on one side in the up-down direction is defined as a reference position, a center position of the first barrel cam being shifted to another side in the up-down direction with respect to the reference position, an engagement center position in the front-rear direction between an engagement start position and an engagement end position being shifted either of forward and rearward with respect to the reference position.

Abstract: A roller gear cam mechanism is equipped with a cam and a rotating member along the outer circumferential direction of which multiple bearings are arranged. The bearings are equipped with a shaft member and an outer ring portion capable of rotating around the shaft member. The outer circumferential surface of the outer ring portion has an arc shape, and in a cross section of the cam that includes the cam axis line, a contact portion of a cam rib making contact with the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring portion has an arc shape. The arc shape of the outer ring portion is formed so as to conform to the arc shape of the cam rib. The radius of curvature of the arc of the outer ring portion and the radius of curvature of the arc of the cam rib are determined in association with each other.

Abstract: There is described a helicopter having a transmission for transmitting motion from a driving member to a driven member; the transmission has at least a first gear driven by the driving member, and a second gear meshing with the first gear and in turn driving the driven member; the first and second gear have teeth shaped so that the gears mesh with one another at at least two pairs of respective simultaneously meshing teeth; the teeth of at least one of the gears have a profile having an end portion relieved with respect to a starting theoretical involute; and the pattern of the distance between the points of the end portion and the starting involute along an axis of the tooth has at least a first and a second segment sloping with respect to each other.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus comprises a rotary shaft member connected to a steering wheel, an elongate member, a rack-and-pinion mechanism, a ball screw mechanism constructed of a screw member, a nut member and a multiplicity of balls interposed between the screw member and the nut member, an electric motor unit, and a meshing type rotation decelerating mechanism including a plurality of meshing components. The meshing components include an output shaft pinion gear, a deceleration gear, and an intermediate gear, interposed between the output shaft pinion gear and the deceleration gear, having a contact portion composed of a synthetic resin.

Abstract: This invention relates to an overhead door closer with slide arm assembly having a toothed pinion that is eccentrically supported and presents a circular rolling curve, which pinion meshes with a toothed rack arranged at a piston. The invention concentrates on a particular embodiment of the rolling curve and of the teeth of the toothed rack in adaptation to a toothing of the pinion. Furthermore, the invention concentrates on an improved embodiment of the delayed closing operation in order to achieve an optimized movement pattern of the piston within the housing of the overhead door closer with slide arm assembly.

Abstract: A contamination resistant probe attachment device attaches over an opening in a top cover of a disc drive to couple a testing probe to the interior of the disc drive. The attachment device has a base for surrounding and attaching around the opening in the top cover in the disc drive and a centrally located aperture for communicating with an upwardly extending flexible tube. The flexible tube having a first and second end, the first end attaching to the base and a second end defining an engagement opening throughwhich a disc drive testing probe is inserted.

Abstract: A low-play planetary gear mechanism for high rotational speeds and low torque transmission and having roller bearings for the parts which rotate within the gear mechanism. The gear mechanism is designed for a long, maintenance-free service life in continuous operation at high drive speeds. To accomplish this, the running surfaces of at least some of the gears are coated with a coating that has a higher wear resistance and a lower coefficient of friction than the respectively associated base material. As such, all of the surfaces of the gear mechanism which come into contact with one another are able to run for long periods at the end of assembly of the gear mechanism. With this gear mechanism, there is no circulating lubricating oil originating from a lubricating-oil collection chamber and which flows freely around any of the moving parts of the gear mechanism.

Abstract: A flexible meshing type gear device 1 has an internal gear 2 having internal teeth 21, a flexible external gear 3 having external teeth 31, and a wave generator 4. Only the internal teeth 21 of the internal gear 2 are formed thereon with a metal plated coating 21a. Further, a tooth profile 211 of the internal teeth 21 of the rigid internal gear 2 before metal plating is modified from a desired tooth profile of the internal teeth so that a tooth profile 212 defined by a surface of the internal teeth 21 after metal plating corresponds substantially to the desired tooth profile of the internal teeth for assuring a proper meshing between the internal and external gears. Accordingly, a flexible meshing type gear device having a high wear resistance can be realized while maintaining a high fatigue strength of the external gear and a proper meshing between gears.

Abstract: A gear device improved in lowering the product of the load F acting on a pair of intermeshing teeth and the relative sliding velocity v at the area of contact of the gears, thereby minimizing the frictional heat. The gear device includes a first gear and a second gear each having a tooth profile formed by an involute curve. At least one of the first and second gears is provided with the tooth profile corrected by a combination of a correction curve W and the involute curve. On plane coordinates consisting of an x axis, an origin and a y axis which intersects with the x axis at the origin, the correction curve W is expressed by equations passing through points P.sub.1 (x.sub.1, y.sub.1) and P.sub.2 (x.sub.2, y.sub.2) and satisfying the conditions of: y=0, dy/dx=0 at the origin when x.sub.1 <x.sub.2 and y.sub.1 <y.sub.2. The x axis is the line of action indicative of a locus along which an intermeshing point moves while the first gear transmits a force to the second gear.

Abstract: A differential drive having a differential carrier rotatably supported in a differential housing is disclosed. Two axle shaft gears are rotatably held in cylindrical bores in the differential carrier and are arranged coaxially relative to one another. A plurality of differential gears are supported in an axis-less way in bores in the differential carrier and are arranged so as to be axis-parallel. One group of the differential gears engages the one of the axle shaft gears and the other group engages the other of the axle shaft gears. At least one of the group of the differential gears engages the respective other group of the differential gears. At least the tooth heads of the differential gears are provided with grooves, with at least the bores or pockets for the differential gears in the differential carrier being provided with grooves.

Abstract: In an intermittent torque transmission device, an input shaft is provided to have a cylindrical cam face. An output shaft has a wheel provided in a manner to intersect the input shaft. A plurality of recesses are provided on an upper surface of the wheel along a predetermined base circle. A cam groove is provided on the cylindrical cam face of the input shaft. A spherical ball is rotatably provided in each of the recesses of the wheel while engaging against the cam groove so as to intermittently rotate the wheel of the output shaft in association with the rotational movement of the input shaft.

Abstract: The peripheral teeth of a gear body are made of alloy tool steel and coated with a manganese-phosphate-treated layer and then with a solid lubricating film. The alloy tool steel of which the teeth of the gear body cooperates with the manganese phosphate layer to act on the solid lubricating film. The taking-in force of the solid lubricating film can be thus increased at the surface thereof. The bonding strength of the solid lubricating film can be increased as well. This can prevent the solid lubricating films on teeth of the two gear bodies engaged from being separated from each other.

Abstract: A ball-retaining structure in a power transmission apparatus for transmitting power by means of magnetic balls arranged between non-magnetic rotating bodies is disclosed, in which a magnet or magnets are arranged within either one of the rotating bodies in the vicinity of the balls.

Abstract: A tooth gearing having a resilient coating affixed to the engaging surfaces of gear teeth, the coating having a thickness and coefficient of friction such that the sliding and external friction that would occur between gear teeth not having the coating is taken up by shear deformation of the coating.

Abstract: The power transfer of the present invention employs a driver having a medial section which includes a plurality of continuous, helical grooves and a plurality of axially aligned transfer material return flow paths. The medial section terminates at each end in a generally cylindrical head, each of which is provided with grooves which communicate with the medial section grooves. The head grooves conduct the power transfer material to the axial paths for axial flow through the driver. The power transfer material flows through the helical grooves, through the head openings, if so embodied or if used, through the head cooperating grooves and the axially aligned paths to travel a complete, circuitous route about and through the driver.

Abstract: A worm-wheel assembly wherein anti-friction balls are recirculated through elical grooves in the worm to increase the efficiency of the driving operation. This driving system is believed to have the advantages of good distribution of load forces, smooth and silent operation, very great speed reduction, high force transmission efficiency, and long service life.

Abstract: The power transfer of the present invention employs a driver having a medial section which includes a plurality of continuous, helical grooves and a plurality of axially aligned transfer material return flow paths. The medial section terminates at each end in a generally cylindrical head, each of which is provided with grooves which communicate with the medial section grooves. The head grooves conduct the power transfer material to the axial paths for axial flow through the driver. The power transfer material flows through the helical grooves, through the head openings, .[.if so embodied or if used,.]. through the head cooperating grooves and the axially aligned paths to travel a complete, circuitous route about and through the driver.