In the present invention, one or both of an active wheel or a passive wheel is composed of an eccentric transmission wheel and is combined with a synchronous transmission belt for forming an eccentric wheel transmission wheel series, so that when the feet input forces at different angles from the treadle shafts of the treadles to an active wheel shaft combined on the active wheel through cranks, the active wheel forms different transmission speed ratios relative to the passive wheel according to the treadle angle, and random inward packing is performed to the transmission belt (100) of the engage end of the eccentric passive wheel (413) during the transmission for stabling the operation.

A vehicle powertrain has an engine, a driving shaft having a passage defined therein, a driven shaft, a pump, a hydraulic fluid reservoir, and a CVT. A driving pulley of the CVT includes a fixed sheave and a movable sheave disposed on the driving shaft for rotation therewith, a spring biasing a movable sheave away from the fixed sheave, and a CVT chamber fluidly communicating with the passage of the driving shaft. The pump supplies hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the passage in the driving shaft. The hydraulic fluid flows from the passage to the CVT chamber to create a hydraulic pressure in the CVT chamber. The hydraulic pressure in the CVT chamber biases the movable sheave toward the fixed sheave.

A bicycle transmission control apparatus comprises a control unit that provides a first signal to operate a first derailleur a gear shift distance from a first origin sprocket to a first destination sprocket. The control unit receives a condition signal that indicates a condition resulting from at least one of the first derailleur and a second derailleur; and an adjustment controller moves the first derailleur an adjustment distance less than the gear shift distance in response to the condition signal.

A chain cleaner capable of cleaning dirt and debris from the roller chain of a chain driven vehicle is provided. The chain cleaner is a polymer sheet. The sheet has a leading and a trailing edge, upper and lower surfaces, and a bilateral axis defining a chain line. The chain line extends from the leading to the trailing edge. A clear slot is positioned in the sheet adjacent to the trailing edge. The slot has a predetermined height and width which is at least equal to a respective height and width of the chain to be cleaned. The chain is thereby capable of biased directional travel against the lower and upper surfaces and through the slot, along the chain line when operating the chain drive of the vehicle. The chain cleaner includes an assembly for attaching the sheet to the vehicle adjacent to the leading edge.

An energy harvesting system comprises a first region having a first temperature and a second region. A conduit is located at least partially within the first region. A heat engine configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a shape memory alloy forming at least one generally continuous loop. The shape memory alloy is disposed in heat exchange contact with the first region and the second region. The shape memory alloy is driven to rotate around at least a portion of the conduit by the response of the shape memory alloy to the temperature difference between the first region and the second region. At least one pulley is driven by the rotation of the shape memory alloy, and the at least one pulley is operatively connected to a component to thereby drive the component.

A conveyor chain constructed so as to prevent a leakage of lubricant oil to the outside. The conveyor chain comprises a plurality of bearing elements operable to revolve in a raceway between an outer circumferential surface of a bush and an inner circumferential surface of a roller. A pair of right and left thrust bearing annular members are press-fitted onto the outer circumferential surface of the bush and are positioned between the inner side surface of an inner link plate and the outwardly-facing end surfaces of the bearing elements. Annular sealing members for sealing lubricant oil within bearing element raceway are disposed between the inner circumferential surface of the roller and an inner circumferential surface of the thrust bearing annular member. The sealing members slidably contact but are not deformed by the inner circumferential surface of the roller.

A sealing arrangement used to create a seal between a first part of a chain and a second part of the chain, wherein the second part can at least be pivoted in relation to the first part, includes a sealing ring with an annular sealing lip for sealing a lubricant area between parts which can be pivoted towards each other, and an elastic ring which is adapted to be fixed to one of the parts and which is adapted to exert pressure in the sealing ring. In addition, a supporting ring is arranged between the sealing ring and the elastic ring.

A belt-type stepless transmission is provided with: an input shaft; an input pulley having a stationary sheave and a movable sheave; a transmission shaft disposed parallel to the input shaft; an output pulley having a stationary sheave and a movable sheave; a belt wound around the input pulley and the pulley; an output shaft disposed coaxially with the transmission shaft; and a cam mechanism having a sheave-side cam which is provided and affixed to the movable sheave and a shaft-side cam which is provided and affixed to the output shaft and causing the sheave-side cam and the shaft-side cam to make contact with each other to thereby enable the transmission of torque between the movable sheave and the output shaft and apply an axial pressing force corresponding to the torque to the movable sheave.

A clamping device (1) of a traction mechanism drive, comprising a fixedly positioned base part (2), with which a pivot arm (3) is associated. The pivot arm (3) can be pivoted via a rotary bearing, consisting of a hub (9), a pin (5) of the base part (2) and a sliding bearing (10). A spring means (12) inserted between the base part (2) and the pivot arm (3) exerts an expansion force and effects a non-positive support of a tensioning roller (11) that is connected to the pivot arm (3) on a traction mechanism. In order to damp adjusting movements of the pivot arm (3), a damping device (13) is provided, which comprises two separate spring-loaded friction elements. For this purpose, a friction disk (14) is supported with form fit on the supporting disk (8) connected to the pin (5) of the base part (2) and with friction fit on the pivot arm (3). The damping device (13) further comprises a friction ring (17), which is fixed to the pivot arm (3) and is supported with friction fit on an inner wall (19) of the crucible-shaped base part (2) and which directly cooperates with the spring means (12).

This invention is applicable to bicycle non-circular chainrings or ovoid chainrings, attachable to a drive crank arm with a spider, forming a structure with anchorage points distributed in a star like shape; the said ovoid chainring (1) having a major diameter, whose angle with the said crank arm measured in the pedaling direction defines its orientation; whereas, said ovoid chainring has a number of anchorage points to said spider which is a multiple of the number of anchorage points of the spider, constituting multiple anchorage options to this crank arm, separated in such a distance that respective orientation values differ in 3°; and for such a small variation, the proposed constructive solution is equipping the ovoid chainring with consecutive overlapped holes and respective countersinks with different depth, forming stair steps which help supporting tangential loads to the chainring.

A bicycle gear shift control system capable of avoiding frequent gear shifting includes: a power module; a microcomputer electrically connected to the power module for allowing a cyclist to switch between the automatic gear shifting mode and a manual gear shifting mode; a gear shifting driver electrically connected to the microcomputer, substantially connected to a derailleur, and instructed by the microcomputer to drive the derailleur to perform gear shift control; and a manual shifting controller electrically connected to the microcomputer. The microcomputer has an automatic gear shifting logic whereby the microcomputer determines the timing of automatic gear shifting and performs gear shifting. The microcomputer further has a gear shifting delay logic that involves delaying for a delay time interval from commencement of gear shifting according to a gear shifting criterion and ruling out all other gear shifting commands during the delay time interval.

A method for joining structural elements onto a shaft may include generating at least one projection at a respective joining position on the shaft, sliding at least one of the structural elements over at least one projection and maintaining the structural elements in at least on projection.

A continuously variable transmission for a vehicle comprises a primary pulley, a secondary pulley, and a belt entrained around both pulleys in an opposite manner between the fixed and movable sheaves thereof. One pulley carries a selectively deployable stop that may be placed into position to mechanically limit the range of motion between the fixed and movable sheaves. This establishes an actual maximum transmission ratio that is larger than the nominal minimum transmission ratio but smaller than the nominal maximum transmission ratio achievable by the transmission during normal operation thereof. When such a transmission is used on a utility vehicle attached to a substance dispensing applicator operatively driven by the vehicle's engine, the application rate stays substantially constant despite changes in engine speed when the user keeps the transmission upshifted to the actual maximum transmission ratio set by the position of the deployed stop.

A rear bicycle sprocket for use with a multi-gear rear cassette is provided. The sprocket includes a chain engaging portion and a mounting portion having generally annular shape about a central axis and a plurality of support arms, integrally formed with the chain engaging portion and with the mounting portion. The sprocket further includes a plurality of space maintaining protrusions, each space maintaining protrusion extending axially forwardly from an axially forward surface of a corresponding support arm and integrally formed therewith. A multi-gear rear cassette having a plurality of sprockets coaxially mounted together wherein the plurality of sprockets includes the rear bicycle sprocket mounted axially rearmost and a bicycle including the multi-gear rear cassette are further provided.

A friction drive belt has a pulley contact portion of a belt body, and at least the pulley contact portion is made of a rubber composition. Numerous pores are formed in a surface of the pulley contact portion of the belt body, and numerous small protrusions having an average height of 4-40 μm are formed to protrude from the surface.

A driving device includes a stretched member, and a first rotation member and a second rotation member that support the stretched member in a stretched manner. The first rotation member has a first rotation axis, and the second rotation member has a second rotation axis. The first rotation member includes a plurality of members arranged in an axial direction of the first rotation axis.

A belt-type continuously variable transmission for a vehicle includes: a primary pulley including a first fixed sheave fixed to an input shaft, and a first movable sheave relatively non-rotatable and relatively movable in axial direction to the input shaft due to spline-fitting of a female spline formed on an inner circumferential portion thereof to a male spline formed on the input shaft; a secondary pulley including a second fixed sheave fixed to an output shaft in parallel with the input shaft, and a second movable sheave relatively non-rotatable and relatively movable in the axial direction to the output shaft due to spline-fitting of a female spline formed on an inner circumferential portion thereof to a male spline formed on the output shaft; and a transmission belt, the belt-type continuously variable transmission for a vehicle disposed with at least one of a first groove width defining portion disposed on the primary pulley for defining a maximum groove width of the first pulley groove and a second groove width defining portion disposed on the secondary pulley for defining a maximum groove width of the second pulley groove, the first groove width defining portion and the second groove width defining portion being disposed on one shaft of the input shaft and the output shaft, and the other shaft having a uniform shaft diameter in an range of sliding of the first movable sheave or the second movable sheave in the axial direction except a site with the male spline formed, the other shaft being disposed on the opposite side to the one shaft.

A distributed drive includes a frame, a main sprocket, and a plurality of drive assemblies mounted therearound for rotation of the main sprocket. The main sprocket has a circumferential drive rim around which the drive assemblies are mounted in driving engagement with the drive rim so as to selectively rotate the main sprocket relative to the frame. Each drive assembly includes at least two auxiliary sprockets lying substantially in the plane of the main sprocket. An endless belt is mounted around the auxiliary sprockets so that a span of the endless belt spans between a pair of the auxiliary sprockets in an arc-of-contact with the drive rim. At least one of the two auxiliary sprockets is a selectively driven drive sprocket for selective rotation of the main sprocket.

An arrangement for supplying oil to a chain drive which drives a transmission oil pump that is axially offset relative to a torque converter and embedded in an intermediate plate in a vehicle having a torque converter. The driven sprocket of the chain drive is supported by a converter neck mounted in a centering plate. A seal is provided between the converter neck and the sprocket and is arranged adjacent the sliding fit between the converter neck and the sprocket. To compensate for the suppression of lubrication of the seal, the neck bearing and the chain drive, a valve is integrated in the intermediate plate, and a duct is provided in the plane, in which the centering plate is screwed to the intermediate plate, such that excess oil flowing from the valve is selectively directed to the seal, the neck bearing and the chain drive.

A hydraulic damper for providing fluid damping to a tensioner in a drive system that includes a damper cup, which is mounted to the tensioner and configured to rotate about a central axle in tandem with the tensioner, an end plate having an outer face and an inner face, which is attached to the damper cup forming a fluid chamber, a peg attached to the end plate and extending away from the inner face and toward the damping cup, a damping fluid, which is contained within the fluid chamber, a plurality of shear plates housed within the fluid chamber comprising alternating fixed plates engaged with a fixed component of the tensioner and rotatable plates engaged with a rotatable component of the tensioner where the peg extends through openings in each of the shear plates allowing for rotation of the rotatable plate with the rotation of the peg.

A vehicle has a motor-gear unit, a trailing wheel of the vehicle being connected the output shaft of the gear and an input shaft of the gear being connected to a motor. The gear has an outer wheel, an inner wheel and a traction means extending between the outer wheel and the inner wheel. A revolving transmitter is also provided which lifts the traction means off the outer periphery of the inner wheel and pushes it against the inner periphery of the outer wheel.

In a silent chain transmission, noise performance is improved by preventing guide plates of a silent chain from contacting sprocket teeth before the link plates of the chain contact the sprocket teeth. The silent chain transmission comprises a silent chain in engagement with a sprocket. The silent chain comprises guide rows, each having a pair of guide plates and a plurality of middle link plates, and non-guide rows, each having a plurality of inner link plates. An engagement starting point of the middle link plate with a sprocket tooth and an engagement starting point of the inner link plate with the sprocket tooth are set at positions such that the guide plate is prevented from contacting the sprocket tooth before the respective link plates start to engage the sprocket tooth when runout of the chain in the direction of its width occurs.

A belt unit includes an endless belt member, a first roller provided on an inner circumferential surface side of the belt member, and a stretching member provided on the inner circumferential surface side of the belt member. The stretching member is configured to stretch the belt member. A circumferential length of the belt member at a center portion in a widthwise direction of the belt member is shorter than a circumferential length of the belt member at an end portion in the widthwise direction of the belt member.

A clip-type mechanism for tensioning slack in a chain. A spring-biased piston is positioned in a bore in a housing. A ratchet rack is positioned on the piston, along with a clip member. A recess in the housing bore has an annular member with a hardened surface to reduce wear.

A chain ring protector having a substantially planar mounting bracket operably secured to the bottom bracket sleeve of a vehicle with a durable semi-circumferential guard extending therefrom is disclosed. The durable guard has a substantially arcuate outer edge sized to approximate the outer diameter of a chain ring, and it is operably secured to the planar mounting bracket such that the outer edge extends slightly beyond the outer diameter of the portion of the chain ring extending below the bottom bracket sleeve.

A chain belt-type continuously variable transmission in which ratchet-type chain belts are wound on driving and driven pulley devices, each of which has a variable diameter, in order to control the shift ratio. Driving belt supports are disposed in a driving pulley device so as to radially contract and expand. Driven belt supports are disposed in a driven pulley device so as to radially contract and expand. Teeth in the front portions of the driving belt supports and the driven belt supports and teeth in the rear portions of the driving belt supports and the driven belt supports are oriented in opposite directions. Front and rear ratchet gears formed on the driving belt supports and the front and rear ratchet gears formed on the driven belt supports are oriented in opposite directions and are arranged in alternating positions without being formed at corresponding positions in a line.

A pulley assembly having a body, a shaft mount and a plurality of bolts is disclosed. The body is aligned to the shaft mount by providing a tight tolerance between a shoulder portion of the bolt and a neck portion of a counter sunk hole formed in the body. Additionally, an outer surface of the body may have a pattern of friction lines or patches formed by fusing particulate matter to the outer surface with heat generated by a laser beam.

A belt-driven continuously variable transmission having a downsized torque cam assembly for creating forward thrust to push a movable sheave toward a fixed sheave. The belt-driven continuously variable transmission is adapted to output a torque while changing a speed ratio continuously by altering an effective diameter position of a driving belt. The belt-driven continuously variable transmission is comprised of: an output gear, which is fitted onto the rotary shaft of the driven pulley to output the torque while being allowed to rotate relatively; a piston, which is fitted onto the rotary shaft of the driven pulley between the movable sheave and the output gear while being allowed to rotate integrally with the movable sheave and to reciprocate in an axial direction of the rotary shaft, and which increases an internal pressure of the hydraulic chamber by moving toward the movable sheave; and a torque cam assembly, which is interposed between the piston and the output gear, and which pushes the piston toward the movable sheave when the torque transmitted through the driven pulley is increased.

An isolating decoupler comprising a shaft, a pulley journalled to the shaft, a torsion spring engaged with the pulley, a wrap spring frictionally engageable with the shaft, the torsion spring and wrap spring connected in series such that each is torsionally loaded in a winding direction, the wrap spring comprising a variable cross-section having a first cross sectional dimension and a second cross sectional dimension, and the wrap spring temporarily releasable from the shaft in an overtorque condition by contact with the pulley urging the wrap spring in an unwinding direction.

A transmission system for vehicles, including bicycles, is disclosed. The system aligns a chain or other drive means to a center of each of a plurality of provided sprockets, allows for a smaller, lighter and more durable shifter/controller, and reduces various complications associated with cable slack and shifting. A derailleur is provided with linear actuated features to directly translate drive means from one position to another along a desired path.

A secondary assembly drive of an internal combustion engine and a method for operating same are provided. The secondary assembly drive includes: a first drive wheel (1) which can be rotatably connected to a crank shaft (CR) of the internal combustion engine, an electric machine which can be operated either as a generator (AL) of as a motor (M) and a second drive wheel (2) which can be rotatably connected to the electric machine (AL, M), an air-conditioning compressor (A/C) and a third drive wheel (3) which can be rotatably connected to the air-conditioning compressor, a traction element (4) which rotates infinitely and which wraps around the drive wheels, and an actuable clutch (7) for disconnecting the drive of the electric machine and of the air-conditioning compressor from the crankshaft when necessary. In addition, the air-conditioning compressor is designed for operation in both rotational directions, and a reversal of the rotational direction between the generator operating mode and the motor operating mode of the electric machine is provided.

The invention relates to a multipart sprocket (1), in which an inner ring (2) for fixing the multipart sprocket (1) to a wheel hub comprises through-holes (5) which are located on a common hole circle, wherein the inner ring (2) on the periphery thereof comprises radially outwardly directed inner ring lugs (2A) for receiving a gear rim (8), and the gear rim (8) comprises radially inwardly directed gear rim lugs (11) which are spatially associated with the radially outwardly directed inner ring lugs (2A), and means (12, 13, 14) are present, which connect the inner ring (2) and the gear rim (8) axially and radially.

A method for electronically controlling a bicycle gearshift comprising at least one derailleur is disclosed, comprising the sequential steps of: a) imparting a movement on the derailleur of the gearshift until the derailleur is in an intended position;b) waiting for a predetermined time period,c) performing a check whether the derailleur is in the intended position, within a possible predetermined tolerance,d) in case said check has a negative outcome, imparting a movement on the derailleur of the gearshift until the derailleur is in the intended position. A derailleur and an electronically servo-assisted bicycle gearshift comprising control electronics comprising modules adapted to carry out the method outlined above are also disclosed.

A derailleur device, particularly a rear derailleur, includes at least one locking device for locking a chain guide at least in one locking position that is different from the starting position in relation to a movable element, and it is provided therein that the locking device includes a locking element displaceable between a passive position, in which the chain guide is released in relation to the movable element, and at least one active position, in which the chain guide is held in the at least one locking position.

A secondary assembly drive of an internal combustion engine and a method for operating same are provided. The secondary assembly drive includes, in two drive planes, an assembly drive (2) and a starter drive (12) and permits, in addition to a normal operating mode, the following operating modes: —starting of the internal combustion engine, —boosting of the internal combustion engine, —air-conditioning, and —deactivation of the assembly drive (2).

The present invention is structured by using one or both of an active wheel and a passive wheel being composed of an eccentric transmission wheel and being combined with a synchronous transmission belt for forming an eccentric wheel transmission wheel series, so that in the reciprocal treadle performed by the human's feet, when the feet input forces at different angles from the treadle shafts of the treadles to an active wheel shaft combined on the active wheel through cranks, the active wheel forms different transmission speed ratios relative to the passive wheel according to the treadle angle.

A power transmission belt comprising cord, elastomeric undercord, at least one pair of opposing v-shaped pulley contact surfaces, and having discontinuous fiber embedded in the undercord, some of which protrude from a contact surface. The fiber comprises deformable polymer, such as nylon, and the fiber protrusions are substantially erect with respect to the surface and substantially straight or slightly bowed, especially near the free end, and the fiber protrusions are deformed from an original cross-sectional shape, which may be substantially round or oval or the like, to an elongated, oval, oblong, kidney, or flattened circle shape. The protruding fiber length is at least two fiber diameters.

A novel soybean variety, designated XR31L13 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XR31L13, cells from soybean variety XR31L13, plants of soybean XR31L13, and plant parts of soybean variety XR31L13. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XR31L13 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XR31L13, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XR31L13, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XR31L13. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XR31L13 are further provided.

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01045772. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01045772. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01045772 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01045772 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01046169. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01046169. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01046169 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01046169 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1036101. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1036101. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1036101 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1036101 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1036360. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1036360. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1036360 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1036360 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.

The cotton variety FM 2011GT is disclosed. The invention relates to seeds, plants, plant cells, plant tissue, harvested products and cotton lint as well as to hybrid cotton plants and seeds obtained by repeatedly crossing plants of variety FM 2011GT with other plants. The invention also relates to plants and varieties produced by the method of essential derivation from plants of FM 2011GT and to plants of FM 2011GT reproduced by vegetative methods, including but not limited to tissue culture of regenerable cells or tissue from FM 2011GT.

The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated DC4016YD, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line DC4016YD with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line DC4016YD, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line DC4016YD, and plants produced according to these methods.

The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated HID3483, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line HID3483 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line HID3483, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line HID3483, and plants produced according to these methods.

The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated KLI6131, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line KLI6131 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line KLI6131, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line KLI6131, and plants produced according to these methods.

The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated KDL6289, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line KDL6289 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line KDL6289, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line KDL6289, and plants produced according to these methods.

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV052803. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV052803, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV052803 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV052803 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV052803.

This invention relates to methods for improved cell-based therapies for retinal degeneration and for differentiating human embryonic stem cells and human embryo-derived into retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and other retinal progenitor cells.

Provided herein are mitochondrial-nuclear exchanged cells and animals comprising mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from one subject and nuclear DNA (nDNA) from a different subject. Methods for producing a mitochondrial-nuclear exchanged animal and animals made by the methods are provided. Also provided are methods of screening for agents useful for treating a disease or disorder using mitochondrial-nuclear exchanged animals or cells, tissues or organs thereof.