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).

A transmission shaft is provided comprising an input side for inputting torque, an output side for outputting torque, and a rod extending in a longitudinal direction between the input side and the output side to transfer torque along the transmission shaft. The rod comprises a first end provided at the input side, a second end provided at the output side and a torsional compliant section extending therebetween providing the transmission shaft with a torsional stiffness. The torsional compliant section comprises a cross-section which extends in the longitudinal direction to define a central core for transmitting torque directly from the first end to the second end and a radially outer section. This section also comprises a plurality ribs which extend radially and longitudinally from an outer periphery of the central core for increasing transverse stiffness of the rod.

A flexible coupling assembly for a power transmission system includes a first circular disk defining a u-shaped radial cross-section including a first leg and a second leg connected at an inner diameter thereof circumscribing an axial bore of the flexible coupling and disconnected at an outer diameter of the first circular disk configured to connect to a first rotating member interface and a second circular disk defining a u-shaped radial cross-section including a first leg and a second leg connected at an inner diameter thereof circumscribing the axial bore of the flexible coupling and disconnected at an outer diameter of the first circular disk configured to connect to a first rotating member interface.

A flexible coupling assembly for a power transmission system includes a first circular disk defining a u-shaped radial cross-section including a first leg and a second leg connected at an inner diameter thereof circumscribing an axial bore of the flexible coupling and disconnected at an outer diameter of the first circular disk configured to connect to a first rotating member interface and a second circular disk defining a u-shaped radial cross-section including a first leg and a second leg connected at an inner diameter thereof circumscribing the axial bore of the flexible coupling and disconnected at an outer diameter of the first circular disk configured to connect to a first rotating member interface.

An electronic power steering system includes: an input shaft connected to a steering shaft; an output shaft to which one end of the input shaft is connected; and a torsion bar inserted into the input shaft and the output shaft and connecting the input shaft and the output shaft, in which the torsion bar includes a first torsion bar including a first fastening portion connected to the input shaft, a second fastening portion connected to the output shaft, and a first beam portion connecting between the first fastening portion and the second fastening portion, and formed as a hollow body, and a second torsion bar including a third fastening portion coupled into the first fastening portion, a fourth fastening portion coupled into the second fastening portion, and a second beam portion connecting between the third fastening portion and the fourth fastening portion.

An electronic power steering system includes: an input shaft connected to a steering shaft; an output shaft to which one end of the input shaft is connected; and a torsion bar inserted into the input shaft and the output shaft and connecting the input shaft and the output shaft, in which the torsion bar includes a first torsion bar including a first fastening portion connected to the input shaft, a second fastening portion connected to the output shaft, and a first beam portion connecting between the first fastening portion and the second fastening portion, and formed as a hollow body, and a second torsion bar including a third fastening portion coupled into the first fastening portion, a fourth fastening portion coupled into the second fastening portion, and a second beam portion connecting between the third fastening portion and the fourth fastening portion.

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 telescopic drive shaft in a protective tube of a handheld work apparatus has one end connected to a rotational drive and the other end thereof to a driven tool. The drive shaft includes a rigid shaft segment and a connecting section. The rigid shaft segment has a hollow shaft end portion and an engagement length (E) of the connecting section engages therein. The engagement length (E) and the length of the hollow shaft end portion mutually overlap to form a joining section. The hollow shaft end portion is deformed for connecting the connecting section to the rigid shaft segment. The material of the hollow shaft end portion is compressed over its entire periphery and deformed so that the material of the hollow shaft end portion is radially displaced and is pressed in a rotative manner onto the engagement length (E) to produce a balanced, loadable connection.

A telescopic drive shaft in a protective tube of a handheld work apparatus has one end connected to a rotational drive and the other end thereof to a driven tool. The drive shaft includes a rigid shaft segment and a connecting section. The rigid shaft segment has a hollow shaft end portion and an engagement length (E) of the connecting section engages therein. The engagement length (E) and the length of the hollow shaft end portion mutually overlap to form a joining section. The hollow shaft end portion is deformed for connecting the connecting section to the rigid shaft segment. The material of the hollow shaft end portion is compressed over its entire periphery and deformed so that the material of the hollow shaft end portion is radially displaced and is pressed in a rotative manner onto the engagement length (E) to produce a balanced, loadable connection.

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.