The machine translates linear reciprocating motion to rotating motion by placing two wedge cams on opposite sides of an opening in a reciprocating piston. The cams operate on a rotating follower within the opening, moving it in a complete rotation when the piston moves through a complete reciprocation or cycle. The wedges and the rotating follower surfaces are such that a line connecting the point of contact between them and the axis of rotation of the rotating follower will always be perpendicu...

Devices are provided for translating linear motion into rotary motion. The devices are particularly suited for use with mechanisms known as thermal motors or thermal actuators. These devices include a rotatable member, means associated with the rotatable member and adapted to be acted upon to impart a moment of rotation to the rotatable member, and means communicating between linearly driven means the motion of which is to be translated into rotary motion and means associated with the rotatable ...

Apparatus is provided for moving an object in an oscillatory manner and in an arcuate path through the use of a fluid. The apparatus basically includes a hollow member or elongate tube having a curved portion and means for supplying fluid in pulses or at an increasing rate and then at a decreasing rate of flow to the tube on one side of the curved portion. The change in velocity of the fluid and the rate of change cause the movement of the tube due to inertia and, to a lesser extent, friction of...

A novel motion simulation device adaptable as a training, amusement or playground device is provided which comprises a support structure pivotally attached at one end to an overhead suspension, and supporting, near the other end, a passenger carrying body; a resiliently extensible tether connected at one end to the support structure near the passenger carrying body, and at the other end to a substantially fixed point below the point of suspension, to limit and define the pattern of swinging moti...

Relative axial motion of a pair of strut members is converted into rotation of an escapement mechanism, which in turn oscillates a balance wheel. If the rotational velocity exceeds a predetermined minimum, the balance wheel inertia initiates a momentary motion snubbing action. The device used to convert reciprocation of the strut members into rotary motion is releasable so as to permit the operational testing of the motion snubbing mechanism while the strut is mounted in its operational environm...

An accumulator conveyor is equipped with sensors which respond to article movement by pivoting about a vertical axis as the result of having a pair of laterally spaced wheels on opposite ends of a shaft with one wheel driven by the propelling member and the other by an article supporting roller. The first wheel is larger than the second wheel and is attached to the shaft while the second wheel is connected to the shaft by a one-way clutch. Pivotal movement of the sensor results from differentiat...

A motion translator is used in an impact printer of the type having a printhead and platen that move relative to each other, for driving the print ribbon in a single, fixed direction. A drive cable has each end connected to opposite sides of the frame of the printer and is wrapped 360.degree. around a flange of the outer housing of the translator. The translator is rotatably mounted on the printhead carriage so that as the carriage moves relative to the platen, the housing is rotated by the driv...

Apparatus for converting multi-directional input to uni-directional output having a plurality of drivers rotated by the input and moveable to alternate positions with respect to opposed surfaces on the output driven member for frictional drive of the driven member. The drivers are moved to alternate positions automatically upon change of direction of the input.

A motion toy consists of a toy body and a power feeder. The toy body contains a driving mechanism for driving a movement mechanism and a fixed terminal on one side thereof. The power feeder is provided independently of the toy body and formed in a desired shape and has a connection terminal which can be detachably connected to the fixed terminal. The driving mechanism for driving the movement mechanisms is provided within the head of the toy body, and the fixed terminal is arranged within the mo...

A motion retarder particularly useful for regulating rotary movement of a shaft, for example, includes an inner and outer tension unit carried on a bolt shaped rod. Arcurate end segments of a pressure member of each unit are positioned in an opposing manner to define a pair of shaft holding spaces. A spring carried on the rod between the inner unit and a head portion of the rod may be advanced through a threaded connection between an end of the rod and a lock-type nut forming part of the outer u...