Self-locking lock-up means (20, 21) for a transmission mechanism (1) comprising at least one wheel and a transmission linkage collaborating with said wheel, the lock-up means comprises at least one lock-up support (22) exhibiting at least one first bearing surface and at least one wedging element (201, 211) comprising:a second bearing surface collaborating with the first bearing surface,a lock-up surface (213, 203) able to collaborate temporarily with a driving surface opposite, the wedging element being able to move in a direction of insertion along the first bearing surface between a minimum position in which the lock-up surface is furthest away from the drive surface opposite and a nominal position in which the lock-up surface is in contact with the drive surface.

Self-locking lock-up means (20, 21) for a transmission mechanism (1) comprising at least one wheel and a transmission linkage collaborating with said wheel, the lock-up means comprises at least one lock-up support (22) exhibiting at least one first bearing surface and at least one wedging element (201, 211) comprising:a second bearing surface collaborating with the first bearing surface,a lock-up surface (213, 203) able to collaborate temporarily with a driving surface opposite, the wedging element being able to move in a direction of insertion along the first bearing surface between a minimum position in which the lock-up surface is furthest away from the drive surface opposite and a nominal position in which the lock-up surface is in contact with the drive surface.

A pulley for a transmission system, including a central rotatable hub having a circumference; and a plurality of adjoining identical pulley segments rotatably mounted about the central hub circumference, wherein the adjoining pulley segments form an approximately circular stepped pulley shape and each of the pulley segments includes two sections providing two curved shelf surfaces for engaging a flexible drive member, each shelf having a different radius, forming higher and lower steps, and further wherein each of the pulley segments are independently rotatable about a radial axis with respect to the central hub.

The invention relates to a transmission comprising two circulating elements and a transmission element, such as a toothed belt. At least one circulating element comprises a number of contact elements for contact with the transmission element which determine a running radius of the transmission element, a radial guide for the contact elements, along which the latter are radially displaceable, displacement means for displacing the contact elements in the radial direction, wherein the transmission element has engagement elements such as teeth. Each of the contact elements comprises a base part which is in contact with the radial guide and with the displacement means, and an engagement member which is connected to the base part and is radially movable with respect to the base part, wherein the engagement member of at least one of the number of contact elements of the respective circulating element is in positive-locking contact with the transmission element.

An expandable and retractable wheel assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments includes a hub structure having a circular periphery and a rim expandable in circumference from a retracted circular position to one or more expanded circular positions. The rim engages and is supported by the circular periphery of the hub structure when in the retracted position. A plurality of linear actuators is attached to and supported by the hub structure. Each linear actuator includes a piston rod and a drive system for moving the piston rod from a retracted position to one or more extended positions, wherein a distal end of the piston rod engages and moves the rim when the piston rod is extended and also supports the rim in the one or more expanded rim positions.

An expandable and retractable wheel assembly in accordance with one or more embodiments includes a hub structure having a circular periphery and a rim expandable in circumference from a retracted circular position to one or more expanded circular positions. The rim engages and is supported by the circular periphery of the hub structure when in the retracted position. A plurality of linear actuators is attached to and supported by the hub structure. Each linear actuator includes a piston rod and a drive system for moving the piston rod from a retracted position to one or more extended positions, wherein a distal end of the piston rod engages and moves the rim when the piston rod is extended and also supports the rim in the one or more expanded rim positions.

Provided is a wire driving device including: wires one ends of which are attached to a movable member; pulleys to which the other ends of the individual wires are secured; driven gears that are coaxially secured to the individual pulleys; a drive gear that is connected to a driving source; and movable gears that are disposed between the drive gear and the individual driven gears and that can transmit the motive power of the driving source to the driven gears from the drive gear. The movable gears are provided in a movable manner so that the movable gears engage with the drive gear and the driven gears when the drive gear is rotated in a direction, and so that the engagements of the movable gears with at least one of the drive gear and the driven gears are released when the drive gear is rotated in the other direction.

Provided is a wire driving device including: wires one ends of which are attached to a movable member; pulleys to which the other ends of the individual wires are secured; driven gears that are coaxially secured to the individual pulleys; a drive gear that is connected to a driving source; and movable gears that are disposed between the drive gear and the individual driven gears and that can transmit the motive power of the driving source to the driven gears from the drive gear. The movable gears are provided in a movable manner so that the movable gears engage with the drive gear and the driven gears when the drive gear is rotated in a direction, and so that the engagements of the movable gears with at least one of the drive gear and the driven gears are released when the drive gear is rotated in the other direction.

A segmented pulley transmission with an actuator system is disclosed. The actuator system comprises: an engaging deflector radially movable between first active and idle positions: a disengaging deflector radially movable between second active and idle positions: and a motivator assembly for moving the engaging and disengaging deflectors between the active and idle positions. In the first active position, the engaging deflector is configured to move a plurality of pulley segments of the segmented pulley transmission from a disengaged region to an engaged region during rotational operation of the segmented pulley transmission. In the second active position, the disengaging deflector is configured to move the plurality of pulley segments from the engaged region to the disengaged region during rotational operation. In the first and second idle positions respectively, the engaging deflector and the disengaging deflector do not move the plurality of pulley segments during rotational operation of the segmented pulley transmission.

A segmented pulley transmission with an actuator system is disclosed. The actuator system comprises: an engaging deflector radially movable between first active and idle positions: a disengaging deflector radially movable between second active and idle positions: and a motivator assembly for moving the engaging and disengaging deflectors between the active and idle positions. In the first active position, the engaging deflector is configured to move a plurality of pulley segments of the segmented pulley transmission from a disengaged region to an engaged region during rotational operation of the segmented pulley transmission. In the second active position, the disengaging deflector is configured to move the plurality of pulley segments from the engaged region to the disengaged region during rotational operation. In the first and second idle positions respectively, the engaging deflector and the disengaging deflector do not move the plurality of pulley segments during rotational operation of the segmented pulley transmission.