A pair of wear grooves for a linear drive assembly. One wear groove is disposed on a wear plate attached to a crosshead. This wear groove is on a front edge of the wear plate, and does not intersect any lubrication groove. Another wear groove is disposed circumferentially about an inner wall of a crosshead guide. Each of the wear grooves is observable to an operator without fully disassembling the crosshead and the crosshead guide, and each is observable from a single side of the crosshead guide. Should the wear groove not be observable, the associated component should be replaced. Should the wear groove be observable, the remaining life of the component can be determined from the groove's depth.

A pair of wear grooves for a linear drive assembly. One wear groove is disposed on a wear plate attached to a crosshead. This wear groove is on a front edge of the wear plate, and does not intersect any lubrication groove. Another wear groove is disposed circumferentially about an inner wall of a crosshead guide. Each of the wear grooves is observable to an operator without fully disassembling the crosshead and the crosshead guide, and each is observable from a single side of the crosshead guide. Should the wear groove not be observable, the associated component should be replaced. Should the wear groove be observable, the remaining life of the component can be determined from the groove's depth.

Disclosed is a continuously variable transmission which can simplify a structure and contribute to miniaturization of a device. A continuously variable transmission including a first disk unit with a first guide slot, a second disk unit with a second guide slot which the first guide slot crosses, and a guide member provided to move along the first guide slot and the second guide slot in response to relative rotation of the second disk unit to the first disk unit, includes: a rotation driving unit rotating any one of the first disk unit and the second disk unit with respect to the other one, wherein the rotation driving unit includes a barrel cam member, a linear movement member linearly moving in response to rotation of the barrel cam member, a driving cam member linearly moving together with the linear movement member, and a driven cam member rotatably connected integrally with any one of the first disk unit and the second disk unit and selectively rotating in response to the linear movement of the driving cam member.

Disclosed is a continuously variable transmission which can simplify a structure and contribute to miniaturization of a device. A continuously variable transmission including a first disk unit with a first guide slot, a second disk unit with a second guide slot which the first guide slot crosses, and a guide member provided to move along the first guide slot and the second guide slot in response to relative rotation of the second disk unit to the first disk unit, includes: a rotation driving unit rotating any one of the first disk unit and the second disk unit with respect to the other one, wherein the rotation driving unit includes a barrel cam member, a linear movement member linearly moving in response to rotation of the barrel cam member, a driving cam member linearly moving together with the linear movement member, and a driven cam member rotatably connected integrally with any one of the first disk unit and the second disk unit and selectively rotating in response to the linear movement of the driving cam member.

Counterrotating cam and follower apparatuses (C-CAFA) capable of converting reciprocating to rotational motion, and visa versa, utilizing counterrotating cams cooperating with at least one reciprocating cam follower. Apparatus cam counterrotation is ensured to be synchronously timed without necessity of prior art stationary geartrains, by and through apparatus cam follower(s) combining with counterrotating cam surfaces acting as moving follower constraints, provided that disclosed structural limitations, including those regarding cam and follower surface interface engineering slop, multiple degree of freedom cams, rotating and reciprocating follower(s), and electromechanical limitations are met when specified. Optional apparatus usages include reciprocating mass balancer, differential to reverse and or multiply shaft rotations, and apparatus combinations with connecting rods, pistons, cylinders, and or engines. Adequacy of Constraint and Newtonian Force Analysis, Cam and Follower Surface Kinematical Analysis, and Electromagnetic Cam Analysis are applied to various disclosed embodiments to teach making, using, and correlation of disclosed apparatus structure to function.

Counterrotating cam and follower apparatuses (C-CAFA) capable of converting reciprocating to rotational motion, and visa versa, utilizing counterrotating cams cooperating with at least one reciprocating cam follower. Apparatus cam counterrotation is ensured to be synchronously timed without necessity of prior art stationary geartrains, by and through apparatus cam follower(s) combining with counterrotating cam surfaces acting as moving follower constraints, provided that disclosed structural limitations, including those regarding cam and follower surface interface engineering slop, multiple degree of freedom cams, rotating and reciprocating follower(s), and electromechanical limitations are met when specified. Optional apparatus usages include reciprocating mass balancer, differential to reverse and or multiply shaft rotations, and apparatus combinations with connecting rods, pistons, cylinders, and or engines. Adequacy of Constraint and Newtonian Force Analysis, Cam and Follower Surface Kinematical Analysis, and Electromagnetic Cam Analysis are applied to various disclosed embodiments to teach making, using, and correlation of disclosed apparatus structure to function.

A pair of wear grooves for a linear drive assembly. One wear groove is disposed on a wear plate attached to a crosshead. This wear groove is on a front edge of the wear plate, and does not intersect any lubrication groove. Another wear groove is disposed circumferentially about an inner wall of a crosshead guide. Each of the wear grooves is observable to an operator without fully disassembling the crosshead and the crosshead guide, and each is observable from a single side of the crosshead guide. Should the wear groove not be observable, the associated component should be replaced. Should the wear groove be observable, the remaining life of the component can be determined from the groove's depth.

A pair of wear grooves for a linear drive assembly. One wear groove is disposed on a wear plate attached to a crosshead. This wear groove is on a front edge of the wear plate, and does not intersect any lubrication groove. Another wear groove is disposed circumferentially about an inner wall of a crosshead guide. Each of the wear grooves is observable to an operator without fully disassembling the crosshead and the crosshead guide, and each is observable from a single side of the crosshead guide. Should the wear groove not be observable, the associated component should be replaced. Should the wear groove be observable, the remaining life of the component can be determined from the groove's depth.

Apparatuses and techniques for reducing backlash between components in a transmission system are provided. The apparatuses and techniques provide a controllable torque over a target range of motion of a component in the transmission system. This eliminates the play at the interfaces between components and forces the components to maintain a controlled contact between the interfacing surfaces.

Apparatuses and techniques for reducing backlash between components in a transmission system are provided. The apparatuses and techniques provide a controllable torque over a target range of motion of a component in the transmission system. This eliminates the play at the interfaces between components and forces the components to maintain a controlled contact between the interfacing surfaces.