A method of fabricating a chain tensioner includes bending a sheet metal blank to form a connector portion perpendicular to a flat base. The connector portion has an arm extending beyond the base. The method further includes stamping an end of the arm to curl the end into a hollow cylinder having an axis perpendicular the flat base. Curling the end into a hollow cylinder may be performed in a series of stamping operations. The blank may define a gap which extends around a narrower portion of the arm after the end is curled into the hollow cylinder.

An omnidirectional wheel and a three-wheeled vehicle using the same are provided. The omnidirectional wheel includes a tire that is formed in the shape of an open torus having an open portion and a main rotation unit that is connected to the tire to rotate the tire about a main rotation axis passing through the center of an inner opening formed in a circular hole shape by the tire. A circumferential rotation unit connects opposite ends of the tire that form the open portion therebetween and rotates the tire about a circumferential axis formed in a circumferential direction of the tire to move the tire in a direction parallel to the main rotation axis.

An omnidirectional wheel and a three-wheeled vehicle using the same are provided. The omnidirectional wheel includes a tire that is formed in the shape of an open torus having an open portion and a main rotation unit that is connected to the tire to rotate the tire about a main rotation axis passing through the center of an inner opening formed in a circular hole shape by the tire. A circumferential rotation unit connects opposite ends of the tire that form the open portion therebetween and rotates the tire about a circumferential axis formed in a circumferential direction of the tire to move the tire in a direction parallel to the main rotation axis.

The present disclosure relates to a steering-assisting device. Specifically, a steering-assisting device according to the present disclosure comprises: a stator having a plurality of coils wound thereon; a rotor which is rotated by the stator; and a connection part for transferring rotation force generated in accordance with rotation of the rotor to a rack bar, wherein the connection part is connected to the rack bar in a manner for minimizing vibration generated according to a winding pattern of the stator when at least one of the coils of the stator malfunctions.

A transmission system using a toothed belt includes a belt body made of elastomer and a core wire made of carbon fiber and provided so as to be embedded in the belt body and form a helix having a pitch in a belt width direction. The belt body includes a flat band portion having a horizontally long rectangular cross section and a plurality of tooth portions integrally provided on an inner peripheral side of the flat band portion. A belt tension T0.2 per belt width of 1 mm when a belt elongation rate is 0.2% is 70 N/mm or more, an amount of backlash between the toothed belt and a toothed pulley is 0.10 mm or more and less than 0.65 mm, a hardness of the belt body is 89° or more in JIS K 6253 Durometer Type A, and a surface dynamic friction coefficient is 1.5 or less.

A drive transmission device is provided with a drive pulley driven by a motor, a driven pulley in which a bulging part crowned in a shape bulging outward in the radial direction is formed over the entire circumference of the outer peripheral surface, a belt wound around the drive pulley and the driven pulley, and a first measurement unit for measuring rotation unevenness of the drive pulley. The drive pulley has a uniform diameter in the axial direction which is a smaller diameter than that of the driven pulley. The belt is bent and deformed along the bulging part of the driven pulley so that the axial center portion is expanded outward the axial end portion. The axial end of the belt contacts the outer peripheral surface of the drive pulley, but does not contact the outer peripheral surface of the driven pulley.

A drive transmission device is provided with a drive pulley driven by a motor, a driven pulley in which a bulging part crowned in a shape bulging outward in the radial direction is formed over the entire circumference of the outer peripheral surface, a belt wound around the drive pulley and the driven pulley, and a first measurement unit for measuring rotation unevenness of the drive pulley. The drive pulley has a uniform diameter in the axial direction which is a smaller diameter than that of the driven pulley. The belt is bent and deformed along the bulging part of the driven pulley so that the axial center portion is expanded outward the axial end portion. The axial end of the belt contacts the outer peripheral surface of the drive pulley, but does not contact the outer peripheral surface of the driven pulley.

A steering system of a vehicle includes a toothed rack which is connectable to wheels of the vehicle to turn the wheels, a steering drive for displacing the toothed rack with a motor unit and a gear unit where the gear unit is connected to the toothed rack and converts a rotation of the motor unit into a displacement of the toothed rack, and a force transmission element disposed between the motor unit and gear unit. The force transmission element has a core element and a covering element which at least partially surrounds the core element. The core element has a greater strength than the covering element and has protruding regions for producing a positive-locking connection with respect to the motor unit and the gear unit and has connection regions which connect the protruding regions. The covering element is in direct contact with the motor unit and the gear unit.

A power transmission apparatus includes a first pulley and a second pulley. A belt is extended around them. A supply unit supplies a voltage such that the first pulley and the belt are electrostatically attracted and that the second pulley and the belt are electrostatically attracted. The belt includes a conductor layer. At least one pulley includes a first electrode to which a first voltage is applied and a second electrode that is insulated from the first electrode and to which a second voltage is applied. An insulating layer or a dielectric layer is arranged between the conductor layer of the belt and the first electrode of the at least one pulley and an insulating layer or a dielectric layer is arranged between the conductor layer of the belt and the second electrode of the at least one pulley.

A power transmission apparatus includes a first pulley and a second pulley. A belt is extended around them. A supply unit supplies a voltage such that the first pulley and the belt are electrostatically attracted and that the second pulley and the belt are electrostatically attracted. The belt includes a conductor layer. At least one pulley includes a first electrode to which a first voltage is applied and a second electrode that is insulated from the first electrode and to which a second voltage is applied. An insulating layer or a dielectric layer is arranged between the conductor layer of the belt and the first electrode of the at least one pulley and an insulating layer or a dielectric layer is arranged between the conductor layer of the belt and the second electrode of the at least one pulley.