A system for mechanically transmitting power from a common rotational drive shaft of a seeding implement to a geared outer periphery of a seed meter. The system includes a first transmission that connects to common rotational drive shaft, a flexible drive shaft coupled to the first transmission, and a second transmission coupled to the opposite end of the flexible drive shaft. A clutch assembly connects to a flexible drive shaft assembly to selectively allow power to be transmitted from the first transmission to the second transmission. The second transmission connects to the periphery of the seed meter. The seed plate of the seed meter includes a circumferential gear along a periphery to be driven by the second transmission.

A system for mechanically transmitting power from a common rotational drive shaft of a seeding implement to a geared outer periphery of a seed meter. The system includes a first transmission that connects to common rotational drive shaft, a flexible drive shaft coupled to the first transmission, and a second transmission coupled to the opposite end of the flexible drive shaft. A clutch assembly connects to a flexible drive shaft assembly to selectively allow power to be transmitted from the first transmission to the second transmission. The second transmission connects to the periphery of the seed meter. The seed plate of the seed meter includes a circumferential gear along a periphery to be driven by the second transmission.

A drain cleaning apparatus is described that uses a FlexShaft type drain cleaning cable. The drain cleaning apparatus includes a drum housing, a rotatable cable carrier mounted within an interior of the drum housing and a transmission assembly for transferring rotary power to an end of a FlexShaft cable residing in the interior of the drum housing. Also described are systems using these apparatuses in combination with a rotary power source such as a drill. In addition, various methods of use are described.

A biostimulator transport system, such as a biostimulator delivery system, having a swaged torque shaft, is described. The torque shaft includes an outer cable coaxially arranged with an inner coil. The inner coil has a single wire coil extending around a central axis in a first helical direction, and the outer cable has several outer strands that extend around the central axis in a second helical direction that is different than the first helical direction. The outer cable can be swaged to form a close fit to the inner coil. The close fit of the swaged coaxial torque shaft structure can track to a target site through tortuous vessels and efficiently transfer torque from a handle to a docking cap of the biostimulator transport system to drive a biostimulator into the target site. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

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 method of manufacturing a torsion bar is provided. The method 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 is provided. The method 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 flexible connecting rod is manufactured from a rigid material and having a substantially cylindrical hollow body, a leading segment with a securing area and a trailing segment having a trailing edge and a securing area. The body has at least one flexible center section, each having at least one slot to provide flexibility. The slot follows a sinuous, serpentine path to form a plurality of interlocking teeth that can follow a helical or a concentric path. Each slot has a proximal end spaced from the trailing segment and a distal end spaced from the leading segment. With multiple slots the proximal end of a slot can be spaced from, and separated by an inflexible section, or adjacent to, a distal end of a subsequent slot.

A flexible connecting rod is manufactured from a rigid material and having a substantially cylindrical hollow body, a leading segment with a securing area and a trailing segment having a trailing edge and a securing area. The body has at least one flexible center section, each having at least one slot to provide flexibility. The slot follows a sinuous, serpentine path to form a plurality of interlocking teeth that can follow a helical or a concentric path. Each slot has a proximal end spaced from the trailing segment and a distal end spaced from the leading segment. With multiple slots the proximal end of a slot can be spaced from, and separated by an inflexible section, or adjacent to, a distal end of a subsequent slot.

Actuator (100) for an adjustable component, in particular of a motor vehicle, comprising a wire (10) made of a shape memory alloy having a first end portion (11) and a second end portion (12) and extending in an axial direction (A) over a variable length (L); an actuating element (20) movable in the axial direction (A) between a first position (I) and a second position (II); a floating support (30) by which the wire (10) is movably supported in the axial direction (A); a fixed support (33) by which the wire (10) is fixedly disposed in the axial direction (A); at least one abutment (40, 45) connected to the floating support (30) or the fixed support (33) and provided with a through-opening (41, 46) for the wire (10) and a support surface (42, 47) adapted to transmit a force in the radial direction (R); and having at least one elastically deformable connecting element (60, 65) which has a receiving opening (61, 66) for the wire (10), which has a variable diameter (D.sub.A1, D.sub.A2) and in which the wire (10) is clamped in the region of the first end portion (11) or the second end portion (12), and a contact surface (62, 67) which abuts against the support surface (42, 47) of the abutment (40, 45). By shortening the length (L) of the wire (10), a tensile force (F.sub.Z) can be transmitted from the wire (10) to the connecting element (60, 65, 69) by means of which the actuating element (20) can be moved from the first position (I) into the second position (II) and the contact surface (62, 67) can be braced against the support surface (42, 47) in such a manner that a counterforce having a component acting in the radial direction (R) is applied to the connecting element (60, 65) by the abutment (40, 45), the counterforce reducing the diameter (D.sub.A1, D.sub.A2) of the receiving opening (61, 66) in order to retain the wire (10) in the connecting element (60, 65).