A Steerable Crank System including a Steerer Base firmly connected to the chassis/mainframe of a machine, said Steerer Base containing and supporting Grooved Cog Wheel situated in-line and parallel to the power driving direction in a manner that allows said Grooved Cog Wheel to rotate around its axis and drive the machine power, said Steerer Base containing and supporting a Fork in a manner that allows said Fork to rotate around its main axis and by that rotation movement it controls the steering, said Fork containing a 2.sup.nd axis supporting and housing a Crank Shaft in a manner that allows said Crank Shaft to rotate around its own axis, on said Crank Shaft attached a Butterfly Connector, said Butterfly Connector coupling together said Crank Shaft and Grooved Cog Wheel.

A Steerable Crank System including a Steerer Base firmly connected to the chassis/mainframe of a machine, said Steerer Base containing and supporting Grooved Cog Wheel situated in-line and parallel to the power driving direction in a manner that allows said Grooved Cog Wheel to rotate around its axis and drive the machine power, said Steerer Base containing and supporting a Fork in a manner that allows said Fork to rotate around its main axis and by that rotation movement it controls the steering, said Fork containing a 2.sup.nd axis supporting and housing a Crank Shaft in a manner that allows said Crank Shaft to rotate around its own axis, on said Crank Shaft attached a Butterfly Connector, said Butterfly Connector coupling together said Crank Shaft and Grooved Cog Wheel.

A compressor system includes a compressor including a rotary shaft, an impeller, and a casing, a motor including a motor rotor disposed coaxially with the rotary shaft, and a coupling shaft coupling the motor rotor to the rotary shaft. The compressor includes a compressor bearing that rotatably supports the rotary shaft, and a compressor connecting hub that is fixed to the rotary shaft at a position where the compressor connecting hub overlaps the compressor bearing in the axial direction and at a position on an inner side in the radial direction. The coupling shaft is allowed to alleviate misalignment with the compressor connecting hub. The compressor bearing rotatably supports an outer peripheral surface of the compressor connecting hub.

A torque limiter (TL) is provided for torque transmission (TT) to downstream components. The TL includes an input shaft, an output shaft and a torsional spring which is preloadable by a preload torque whereupon the torsional spring is fittable about the output shaft with the output shaft fit about the input shaft. For input shaft rotation, first TT paths proceed from the input shaft to the output shaft through the torsional spring when downstream torque of the downstream components deceeds the preload torque and a second TT path proceeds from the input shaft to an external structure when the downstream torque exceeds the preload torque.

A torque limiter (TL) is provided for torque transmission (TT) to downstream components. The TL includes an input shaft, an output shaft and a torsional spring which is preloadable by a preload torque whereupon the torsional spring is fittable about the output shaft with the output shaft fit about the input shaft. For input shaft rotation, first TT paths proceed from the input shaft to the output shaft through the torsional spring when downstream torque of the downstream components deceeds the preload torque and a second TT path proceeds from the input shaft to an external structure when the downstream torque exceeds the preload torque.

A variable stiffness joint and method to alter the stiffness of the joint with multiple stiffness levels is described wherein a plurality of stiffness bits (m) are used for enabling 2 m stiffness level variations for the joint. Each stiffness bit comprises an elastic element in mechanical connection with a clutch (21, 22, 23). The joint revolves with zero stiffness level when all the clutches (21, 22, 23) are disengaged whereas a clutch (21, 22, 23) involves one of the elastic elements which alter the stiffness of the joint. Engaging other clutches (21, 22, 23) involve more elastic elements for altering the joint stiffness and the resultant joint stiffness is determined by adding the stiffness values of all the involved springs (6, 7, 8).

A variable stiffness joint and method to alter the stiffness of the joint with multiple stiffness levels is described wherein a plurality of stiffness bits (m) are used for enabling 2 m stiffness level variations for the joint. Each stiffness bit comprises an elastic element in mechanical connection with a clutch (21, 22, 23). The joint revolves with zero stiffness level when all the clutches (21, 22, 23) are disengaged whereas a clutch (21, 22, 23) involves one of the elastic elements which alter the stiffness of the joint. Engaging other clutches (21, 22, 23) involve more elastic elements for altering the joint stiffness and the resultant joint stiffness is determined by adding the stiffness values of all the involved springs (6, 7, 8).

A torsion bar assembly comprises an input shaft, an output shaft, and a torsion bar that connects the input shaft to the output shaft. An end stop face on the input shaft that co-operates with a respective end stop face of the output shaft to limit an angular deflection of the torsion bar assembly in a first direction away from the neutral position and an end stop face on the input shaft that co-operates with a respective end stop face of the output shaft to limit an angular deflection of the torsion bar assembly in a second direction that opposes the first direction. A first alignment feature is provided at or close to the end of the input shaft nearest the output shaft and a second alignment feature is provided at or close to an end of the output shaft nearest to the input shaft, the first alignment feature facing the second alignment feature across a gap. The alignment features each define respective contact surfaces such that if the input shaft and the output shaft are pressed axially towards each other to close up the gap the contact faces co-operate to set relative angular positions of the input shaft and the output shaft to correspond to a neutral position.

A torsion bar assembly comprises an input shaft, an output shaft, and a torsion bar that connects the input shaft to the output shaft. An end stop face on the input shaft that co-operates with a respective end stop face of the output shaft to limit an angular deflection of the torsion bar assembly in a first direction away from the neutral position and an end stop face on the input shaft that co-operates with a respective end stop face of the output shaft to limit an angular deflection of the torsion bar assembly in a second direction that opposes the first direction. A first alignment feature is provided at or close to the end of the input shaft nearest the output shaft and a second alignment feature is provided at or close to an end of the output shaft nearest to the input shaft, the first alignment feature facing the second alignment feature across a gap. The alignment features each define respective contact surfaces such that if the input shaft and the output shaft are pressed axially towards each other to close up the gap the contact faces co-operate to set relative angular positions of the input shaft and the output shaft to correspond to a neutral position.

A torsion damper is configured to be disposed inside a coil spring. The torsion damper includes a body and a helical groove. The body is made of resin. Besides, the body has a columnar shape. The helical groove is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the body.