A synchronous drive is provided in which a non-circular rotor generates a fluctuating corrective torque to counteract a fluctuating load torque on a driven rotor. The angular orientation of the non-circular rotor can vary relative to the driven rotor so as to change the phase angle of the fluctuating corrective torque relative to the driving rotor. The arrangement may be applied in internal combustion engines with variable valve timing (VVT) systems, wherein the phase angle of a fluctuating load torque presented on a cam rotor, due to forces arising from actuation of intake and/or exhaust valves by the camshaft, varies relative to the crankshaft. The phase angle of the fluctuating corrective torque is also varied relative to the crankshaft to maintain phase relationship with the fluctuating load torque and thereby maintain reduced cam torsional vibrations and span tensions provided by the non-circular rotor during operation.

A connection rod coupling assembly includes a settable shape mounting second component having a lateral, primary axis and a bearing assembly including a bearing assembly body. The bearing assembly body includes a substantially cylindrical outer surface and a center axis. The bearing assembly body is coupled to the settable shape mounting second component in a non-aligned configuration. That is, the bearing assembly body center axis is offset from the settable shape mounting second component primary axis. Thus, the position of the bearing assembly body center axis is adjustable by repositioning the settable shape mounting second component relative to a settable shape mounting first component on a swing lever. The adjustment of the bearing assembly body, in turn, adjusts the range of the ram assembly and the ram assembly body.

To provide a chain guide mechanism that enables a plurality of chain guides, a chain, and a sprocket to be held together with a simple structure, such that work efficiency during assembly and maintenance is improved. The chain guide mechanism joins a plurality of chain guides that slidably guide a chain; and a connection unit is made up of arm members that extend from both sides of the chain on a chain running surface of a fixed chain guide toward a pivoting chain guide, and a coupling member including a fitting hole for a mounting boss of the pivoting chain guide to fit in.

The chain stretch detection device is configured to detect a stretch of a chain in a power transmission device. The power transmission device includes: a driving sprocket; a driven sprocket; and a chain, which is wound around the driving sprocket and the driven sprocket, and is configured to transmit power of the driving sprocket to the driven sprocket. The chain stretch detection device includes: a meshing height measurement device configured to measure meshing heights of the chain in a range in which the driven sprocket meshes with and the chain; and a signal processing device configured to determine a height difference between adjacent rollers in the chain through use of signals acquired by the meshing height measurement device and estimate an amount of the stretch of the chain based on the determined height difference.

A vehicle driveline component having a housing, first and second shafts supported by the housing for rotation about a rotary axis, a two-speed transmission in a power transmission path between the first and second shafts, a shift fork and a failsafe spring. The two-speed transmission has a movable member that is movable along the rotary axis between a high-speed position, in which the two-speed transmission operates in a first gear ratio, and a low-speed position in which the two-speed transmission operates in a second gear ratio that provides a higher speed reduction between the first and second shafts than the first gear ratio. The shift fork is coupled to the movable member for movement therewith along the rotary axis. The failsafe spring is disposed coaxially about the rotary axis and biases the movable member toward the high-speed position.

Torsional vibration dampers (TVDs) having a plurality of spokes that are asymmetric by having a changing spoke thickness in the angular direction with the greatest thickness at the position where the belt torque and the dynamic torque of the TVD act in unison are disclosed. The spokes, which connect a central member to a peripheral rim, include an asymmetrical thickness in an angular direction, as evidenced by a cross-section view transverse to a radial length of each of the plurality of spokes. Engine systems having one of the disclosed TVDs mounted to a shaft are also disclosed, for example a TVD mounted to a crankshaft.

The chain stretch detection device is configured to detect a stretch of a chain in a power transmission device. The power transmission device includes: a driving sprocket; a driven sprocket; and a chain, which is wound around the driving sprocket and the driven sprocket, and is configured to transmit power of the driving sprocket to the driven sprocket. The chain stretch detection device includes: a meshing height measurement device configured to measure meshing heights of the chain in a range in which the driven sprocket meshes with and the chain; and a signal processing device configured to determine a height difference between adjacent rollers in the chain through use of signals acquired by the meshing height measurement device and estimate an amount of the stretch of the chain based on the determined height difference.

The present invention relates to a 1. Chain casing for encasing of a chain spanning a main chain sprocket and a driven chain sprocket, such as comprising two free chain parts, a pulling chain part and a returning chain part, of preferably a vehicle, such as a bicycle comprising a frame, the chain casing comprising:a main chain sprocket cover element for covering of the chain at the main chain sprocket, such as a pedal spindle chain sprocket:a pulling chain part cover element for covering of at least a part of a pulling chain part between a main chain sprocket and the driven chain sprocket;a returning chain part cover element for covering of at least a returning chain part between the main chain sprocket and the driven chain sprocket;a chain tensioner cover element for covering of a chain tensioner assembly with the chain arranged therethrough. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a chain tensioner assembly, preferably fitting in the chain casing.

A manual drive assembly for a manually-operated window treatment based on a drive chain formed as a loop, may incorporate one or more intermediate tensioners disposed between two ends of the loop. The loop may be formed between a manual clutch mechanism coupled to the window treatment and an end tensioner. The one or more intermediate tensioners may serve to limit slack in the loop such that sides of the loop cannot be pulled to create a large loop, for example, having a gap of four inches or greater, between the hanging sides of the cord.

A vehicle driveline component having a housing, first and second shafts supported by the housing for rotation about a rotary axis, a two-speed transmission in a power transmission path between the first and second shafts, a shift fork and a failsafe spring. The two-speed transmission has a movable member that is movable along the rotary axis between a high-speed position, in which the two-speed transmission operates in a first gear ratio, and a low-speed position in which the two-speed transmission operates in a second gear ratio that provides a higher speed reduction between the first and second shafts than the first gear ratio. The shift fork is coupled to the movable member for movement therewith along the rotary axis. The failsafe spring is disposed coaxially about the rotary axis and biases the movable member toward the high-speed position.