A starting strategy for a power train of a motor vehicle including an internal combustion engine fitted with a drive shaft extending along a longitudinal axis, an alternator-starter, a first pulley that is designed to be driven in rotation by the drive shaft, a pulley that is rigidly connected to a shaft of the alternator-starter, a belt encircling said two pulleys, and a coupling/decoupling system between the first pulley and the drive shaft of the engine, characterized in that the starting strategy includes a preparation procedure for said belt in cold weather.

A lawn mower (10) may include a blade housing (20), an engine (30), a mobility assembly (310); and a drive system (300). The engine (30) may be operably coupled to the blade housing (20) and configured to selectively rotate a drive shaft (130). The mobility assembly (310) may include a first set of wheels (40, 42) and be selectively operably coupled to the engine (30) to provide mobility of the lawn mower responsive at least in part to operation of the engine (30). The drive system (300) may include a first transmission (110, 120), a flexible driving member (100), a disengagement assembly (116), and a remote actuator. The a disengagement assembly (116) may include a latching lever (125), where the latching lever (125) is configured to switch the first transmission (110, 120) between a disengaged mode and an engaged mode, and where the latching lever (125) is configured to move between a disengaged position corresponding to the disengaged mode and an engaged position corresponding to the engaged mode. The remote actuator may be operably coupled to the flexible driving member (100), where responsive to actuation of the remote actuator, the flexible driving member (100) engages a) the latching lever (125) to move the latching lever (125) to the engaged position to thereby place the first transmission (110, 120) in the engaged mode; and b) the first transmission (110, 120) to provide drive power from the drive shaft (130) to the first set of wheels (40, 42).

A lawn mower (10) may include a blade housing (20), an engine (30), a mobility assembly (310); and a drive system (300). The engine (30) may be operably coupled to the blade housing (20) and configured to selectively rotate a drive shaft (130). The mobility assembly (310) may include a first set of wheels (40, 42) and be selectively operably coupled to the engine (30) to provide mobility of the lawn mower responsive at least in part to operation of the engine (30). The drive system (300) may include a first transmission (110, 120), a flexible driving member (100), a disengagement assembly (116), and a remote actuator. The a disengagement assembly (116) may include a latching lever (125), where the latching lever (125) is configured to switch the first transmission (110, 120) between a disengaged mode and an engaged mode, and where the latching lever (125) is configured to move between a disengaged position corresponding to the disengaged mode and an engaged position corresponding to the engaged mode. The remote actuator may be operably coupled to the flexible driving member (100), where responsive to actuation of the remote actuator, the flexible driving member (100) engages a) the latching lever (125) to move the latching lever (125) to the engaged position to thereby place the first transmission (110, 120) in the engaged mode; and b) the first transmission (110, 120) to provide drive power from the drive shaft (130) to the first set of wheels (40, 42).

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple-structured tensioner capable of consistently exhibiting the check valve function irrespective of the form of oil supply passages. The tensioner includes a plunger, a housing, a biasing unit, an oil supply passage, and a check valve. The check valve includes a plurality of valve members and a ball seat member. The ball seat member includes a plurality of oil passages and a plurality of seat parts. The check valve further includes a passage forming member having an oil inlet disposed between the plurality of oil passages and the oil supply passage.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple-structured tensioner capable of consistently exhibiting the check valve function irrespective of the form of oil supply passages. The tensioner includes a plunger, a housing, a biasing unit, an oil supply passage, and a check valve. The check valve includes a plurality of valve members and a ball seat member. The ball seat member includes a plurality of oil passages and a plurality of seat parts. The check valve further includes a passage forming member having an oil inlet disposed between the plurality of oil passages and the oil supply passage.

An alternator driving apparatus for driving an alternator may include a crank pulley mounted on a crank shaft of an engine, an alternator pulley connected to the crank pulley through a driving belt, an alternator shaft connected between the alternator and the alternator pulley, and a rotation speed varying mechanism configured to vary a rotation speed of the alternator shaft.

An alternator driving apparatus for driving an alternator may include a crank pulley mounted on a crank shaft of an engine, an alternator pulley connected to the crank pulley through a driving belt, an alternator shaft connected between the alternator and the alternator pulley, and a rotation speed varying mechanism configured to vary a rotation speed of the alternator shaft.

The present invention relates to an epicyclic speed reducer (1), comprising a casing (4) comprising a first (2a) and a second opening (2b) arranged on opposite faces of said casing (4). The casing (4) houses inside it: a first sun gear (20) fastened inside the casing (4) at said first opening (2a); a second sun gear (30) coaxial with the first sun gear (20) with the axis passing from the first opening (2a) to the second opening (2b); a first planet gear (8a, 8b) adapted to describe a circular orbit around the first sun gear (20); a second planet gear (9a, 9b) adapted to describe a circular orbit around the second sun gear (30); a supporting element (5) interposed between the first (20) and second (30) sun gear and adapted to rotate around the axis, the supporting element (5) connected to the first (8a, 8b) and second (9a, 9b) planet gear in such a way as to allow a relative rotation of the supporting element (5) with respect to the first (8a, 8b) and second (9a, 9b) planet gear; a first belt (10) connected to the first planet gear (8a, 8b) and to the first sun gear (20); a second belt (11) connected to the second planet gear (9a, 9b) and to the second sun gear (30). Moreover the supporting element (5) is provided with a seat (21) coaxial with the axis and adapted to be fitted on one end (2) of a driving shaft such that when the seat is fitted on the driving shaft the supporting element (5) and the driving shaft are rigidly connected.

The present invention relates to an epicyclic speed reducer (1), comprising a casing (4) comprising a first (2a) and a second opening (2b) arranged on opposite faces of said casing (4). The casing (4) houses inside it: a first sun gear (20) fastened inside the casing (4) at said first opening (2a); a second sun gear (30) coaxial with the first sun gear (20) with the axis passing from the first opening (2a) to the second opening (2b); a first planet gear (8a, 8b) adapted to describe a circular orbit around the first sun gear (20); a second planet gear (9a, 9b) adapted to describe a circular orbit around the second sun gear (30); a supporting element (5) interposed between the first (20) and second (30) sun gear and adapted to rotate around the axis, the supporting element (5) connected to the first (8a, 8b) and second (9a, 9b) planet gear in such a way as to allow a relative rotation of the supporting element (5) with respect to the first (8a, 8b) and second (9a, 9b) planet gear; a first belt (10) connected to the first planet gear (8a, 8b) and to the first sun gear (20); a second belt (11) connected to the second planet gear (9a, 9b) and to the second sun gear (30). Moreover the supporting element (5) is provided with a seat (21) coaxial with the axis and adapted to be fitted on one end (2) of a driving shaft such that when the seat is fitted on the driving shaft the supporting element (5) and the driving shaft are rigidly connected.

A two-speed pulley assembly for an engine accessory drive includes a planetary gear, a pulley, a friction clutch, a one-way clutch, and a torsional isolator. The planetary gear has a ring gear, a sun gear, a planet carrier and at least one planet gear. The planet carrier is arranged for driving engagement with an engine crankshaft. The pulley circumscribes the ring gear and is in driving engagement with the ring gear. The friction clutch is arranged to selectively prevent rotation of the sun gear. The one-way clutch permits rotation of the sun gear relative to the ring gear in a first rotational direction, and prevents rotation of the sun gear relative to the ring gear in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction. The torsional isolator is drivingly connected to the planet carrier and arranged to rotate at a same speed as the planet carrier.