Modular tracker systems that include at least first and second tables or are continuous without the use of tables, a single motor driving the first and second tables, first and second intra-table drive shafts and an inter-table drive shaft. Each table includes a support structure including first and second mounting posts, a frame supported by the support structure, at least one solar panel supported by the frame, and first and second gearboxes being concentrically aligned for each table. The first and second gearboxes are each configured to produce first and second outputs. The first output has a first rotational speed, and the second output has a second rotational speed less than the first rotational speed, and is operatively coupled to the frame. The inter-table drive shaft couples the second gearbox of the first table with the first gearbox of the second table, whereby the first and second tables are rotated synchronously.

A cable drive device of an adjustment system of a motor vehicle has an actuating drive and a cable drive housing in which a cable drum that is rotatably coupled to the actuating drive and has a traction cable wound thereon is received. The cable drum, for receiving a cable nipple fastened to the traction cable, on at least one end side has a nipple chamber having a chamber opening and mutually spaced apart chamber walls. The nipple chamber on at least one of the chamber walls has a delimiting element. The cable nipple when introduced into the nipple chamber by way of the chamber opening engaging below the delimiting element.

A universal joint (U-joint) assembly transmits torque from a drive component to a driven component across an articulating joint. The U-joint assembly includes male and female U-joint members, a central ball joint, and a retaining device configured to secure the assembly in an assembled configuration. The female U-joint member includes a cavity extending into a receptacle end thereof. The cavity terminates in a circular receptacle and includes a plurality of rectangular channels extending radially outward from the cavity at equal intervals, each channel defined by three planar drive surfaces. The male U-joint member has a drive end with a plurality of corresponding rectangular extensions protruding from an outer periphery of the drive end, each extension including a plurality of axial angular surfaces. When assembled, each of the angular surfaces of the drive end opposes a corresponding one of the drive surfaces of the cavity. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

A cable drive device of an adjustment system of a motor vehicle has an actuating drive and a cable drive housing in which a cable drum that is rotatably coupled to the actuating drive and has a traction cable wound thereon is received. The cable drum, for receiving a cable nipple fastened to the traction cable, on at least one end side has a nipple chamber having a chamber opening and mutually spaced apart chamber walls. The nipple chamber on at least one of the chamber walls has a delimiting element. The cable nipple when introduced into the nipple chamber by way of the chamber opening engaging below the delimiting element.

A gas turbine engine for an aircraft includes an engine core with a turbine, a compressor, and a core shaft connecting the turbine and compressor; a fan upstream of the engine core including a plurality of fan blades; and a gearbox that receives an input from a gearbox input shaft portion of the core shaft and outputs drive to a fan shaft so as to drive the fan at a lower rotational speed than the core shaft, the gearbox being an epicyclic gearbox including a sun gear, a plurality of planet gears, a ring gear, and a planet carrier arranged to have the plurality of planet gears mounted thereon, and wherein the sun gear receives input from the core shaft. At cruise conditions the torque on the core shaft is greater than 10,000 Nm and a ratio of core shaft stiffness to core shaft torque is within a specified range.

A gas turbine engine for an aircraft includes an engine core with a turbine, a compressor, and a core shaft connecting the turbine and compressor; a fan upstream of the engine core including a plurality of fan blades; and a gearbox that receives an input from a gearbox input shaft portion of the core shaft and outputs drive to a fan shaft so as to drive the fan at a lower rotational speed than the core shaft, the gearbox being an epicyclic gearbox including a sun gear, a plurality of planet gears, a ring gear, and a planet carrier arranged to have the plurality of planet gears mounted thereon, and wherein the sun gear receives input from the core shaft. At cruise conditions the torque on the core shaft is greater than 10,000 Nm and a ratio of core shaft stiffness to core shaft torque is within a specified range.

A transmission assembly includes a cavity in a female U-joint having a groove that extends radially outward from an inner diameter thereof and bounded by three planar drive surfaces. A male U-joint member includes a drive end includes a longitudinal rectangular extension protruding radially outward from a periphery and positioned within the groove of the cavity. The drive end includes a longitudinal rectangular insert has a portion forming the extension positioned within the groove and retained within the drive end. The extension includes (1) opposing longitudinal sides, each forming a side crest disposed between a pair of angular side surfaces that extend axially from the side crest inward toward a center of the extension, and (2) a top side forming a top crest disposed between a pair of angular top surfaces that extend axially from the top crest downward toward the center of the extension.

A transmission assembly includes a cavity in a female U-joint having a groove that extends radially outward from an inner diameter thereof and bounded by three planar drive surfaces. A male U-joint member includes a drive end includes a longitudinal rectangular extension protruding radially outward from a periphery and positioned within the groove of the cavity. The drive end includes a longitudinal rectangular insert has a portion forming the extension positioned within the groove and retained within the drive end. The extension includes (1) opposing longitudinal sides, each forming a side crest disposed between a pair of angular side surfaces that extend axially from the side crest inward toward a center of the extension, and (2) a top side forming a top crest disposed between a pair of angular top surfaces that extend axially from the top crest downward toward the center of the extension.

A method of manufacturing a torsion bar includes cutting a stock torsion bar material to a desired torsion bar length to form the torsion bar. The method also includes forming a first end portion by removing material from the torsion bar to form a first annular groove extending circumferentially about the torsion bar. The method further includes forming a second end portion by removing material from the torsion bar to form a second annular groove extending circumferentially about the torsion bar.

A method of manufacturing a torsion bar includes cutting a stock torsion bar material to a desired torsion bar length to form the torsion bar. The method also includes forming a first end portion by removing material from the torsion bar to form a first annular groove extending circumferentially about the torsion bar. The method further includes forming a second end portion by removing material from the torsion bar to form a second annular groove extending circumferentially about the torsion bar.