A shift mechanism configuring an outboard motor comprises: an electric actuator that linearly moves a movable rod; and a shift shaft portion that switches from neutral to forward or reverse based on displacement of said movable rod. Moreover, a neutral adjusting mechanism enabling a neutral position of the shift mechanism to be adjusted is provided facing the shift shaft portion, by a separate body. The neutral adjusting mechanism, which comprises first and second adjusting arms that are supported in a freely rotating manner with respect to a frame and that have been biased in contrary directions to each other by elastic springing force of a coil spring, is provided in a manner that an adjusting screw mounted in the first adjusting arm capable of abutting on a shift arm always abuts on a contacting wall of the second adjusting arm capable of contacting a switch sensor.

Various machines, systems, and methods for generating calibration data for a sensorized brake pad are disclosed. In some embodiments, a system includes a fixture, a brake pad retainer, a pressure plate, an actuator and a controller. The actuator applies a pressure to the sensorized brake pad and signals from the pressure sensors are received. Calibration data is generated based on the signals received from the pressures sensors when the pressure is applied to the sensorized brake pad.

A method of producing a deflector device for a fuel tank system comprising producing a deflector device prototype from prefabricated components of a construction kit, performing fuel-refilling tests using the deflector device prototype, optionally modifying the deflector device prototype, creating a construction model for the deflector device prototype, producing a deflector device according to the construction model, optionally performing fuel-refilling tests with the deflector device produced according to the construction model and optionally producing the deflector device according to the construction model. The disclosure further provides a construction kit with prefabricated components for producing the prototype of the deflector device for the fuel tank system.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the figures, where a method for manufacturing a gearbox, the method comprising: providing a predefined interval around an integer; providing a gearbox setup; determining a speed ratio of at least two components of the gearbox setup; comparing the speed ratio with the predefined interval around the integer; and manufacturing a gearbox in accordance with the gearbox setup in dependence on the comparison.

Various machines, systems, and methods for generating calibration data for a sensorized brake pad are disclosed. In some embodiments, a system includes a fixture, a brake pad retainer, a pressure plate, an actuator and a controller. The actuator applies a pressure to the sensorized brake pad and signals from the pressure sensors are received. Calibration data is generated based on the signals received from the pressures sensors when the pressure is applied to the sensorized brake pad.

A shift mechanism configuring an outboard motor comprises: an electric actuator that linearly moves a movable rod; and a shift shaft portion that switches from neutral to forward or reverse based on displacement of said movable rod. Moreover, a neutral adjusting mechanism enabling a neutral position of the shift mechanism to be adjusted is provided facing the shift shaft portion, by a separate body. The neutral adjusting mechanism, which comprises first and second adjusting arms that are supported in a freely rotating manner with respect to a frame and that have been biased in contrary directions to each other by elastic springing force of a coil spring, is provided in a manner that an adjusting screw mounted in the first adjusting arm capable of abutting on a shift arm always abuts on a contacting wall of the second adjusting arm capable of contacting a switch sensor.

Various machines, systems, and methods for generating calibration data for a sensorized brake pad are disclosed. In some embodiments, a system includes a fixture, a brake pad retainer, a pressure plate, an actuator and a controller. The actuator applies a pressure to the sensorized brake pad and signals from the pressure sensors are received. Calibration data is generated based on the signals received from the pressures sensors when the pressure is applied to the sensorized brake pad.

An apparatus and method of transmission control includes a shift lever supported between gear positions P, R, N, D, and a sensor operably connected to a vehicle electrical system for generating a variable signal corresponding to the P, R, N, D gear positions. The electrical system is initially set to control shifting a transmission between P, R, N, and D gear positions based on initial P and D position-indicating signals and interpolated/proportional R and N position-indicated signals. The apparatus and method further include adjusting shifting control for improved shift location accuracy after worn shifter components have mechanically worn or electrically drifted, by determining new P and D gear positions when the shift lever is in component-worn P and D gear positions, respectively, and then calculating new R and N position-indicating signals.

An actuator system which may incorporate a motor, a motor controller connected to the motor, a processor connected to the motor controller, and a switch connected to the processor for engaging the motor to open and close an actuator shaft. The switch may have a position which is a test mode. Selecting the position of test mode may cause the motor to move the actuator shaft to a certain position to verify operation of the actuator shaft. The actuator shaft may stay in the certain position while the switch is in a position of test mode. The system may also incorporate a spring attached to the actuator shaft. If power fails to the motor, then the actuator spring or another mechanism may return the actuator shaft to a fail safe position. The test mode may alternatively be selected at a controller via the communications bus to the processor.

A method for automatic calibration of a position detection sensor of an automatic transmission including a gearshift actuator, the method including registering, using the position detection sensor, the position of the gearshift actuator upon power-up of the transmission; and performing a calibration of the position detection sensor if the registered position of the gearshift actuator is outside a predetermined expected position range of the gearshift actuator or within a predetermined abnormal position range of the gearshift actuator.