Abstract: A dental flossing apparatus includes a body having a gripping portion and a bifurcated distal portion defining a pair of tines and a slot between them, and a rocker member pivotally connected to the body. The opposite ends of a strand of dental floss are so connected to the body and/or rocker member that the user can selectively rock the rocker member and cause an intermediate portion of the dental floss to be reciprocated between the guiding tines for better cleaning the facing surfaces of adjacent teeth.

Abstract: Heretofore, auxiliary air was directed to a particulate filter assembly of a supercharged diesel engine for proper regeneration thereof by a relatively large auxiliary air compressor, or alternatively from a take-off duct communicating with the inlet manifold of the diesel engine. The former solution often requires a governed compressor for improved efficiency and is expensive, and the latter does not provide satisfactory regeneration throughout the full operating range of the engine.

Abstract: Prior art trap regeneration devices employ one or two relatively large ceramic trap cores, and a regeneration cycle that burns off the soot in a direction that subjects the porous walls to excessive temperature spikes. Moreover, during regeneration it is normal to bypass dirty exhaust gas directly to the atmosphere. In a first embodiment the subject trap regeneration apparatus includes an electrical heating element and a reverse flow device for each of a plurality of relatively smaller trap cores arranged in a housing, with each reverse flow device constructed for directing a source of air at a controlled rate toward the normal second end of the trap core, heating the air, forcing the heated air through the trap core to the first end, and to controllably burn out particulate matter while the remaining trap cores are functioning to filter the exhaust gases in the normal flow direction.

Abstract: Prior art non-generated, tip-relieved spiral bevel gears had tip-relieved surfaces that were nonuniform from the toe to the heel thereof. The subject tip-relieved spiral bevel gear is adapted to be manufactured by a gear generating machine, and includes a plurality of modified gear teeth individually having a convex tooth face and a relatively uniform tip-relieved surface on the convex tooth face from the toe to the heel portion thereof substantially parallel to the face angle at the outer tip surface. A two-pass method of machining the modified gear teeth is described.

Abstract: A gas sampling device includes a dilution tunnel of particularly effective construction that reduces contamination or soiling of the ducting leading to a filter assembly and improves the accuracy of the results. The gas sampling device has a sampling probe disposable in the gas stream of an engine or the like, and a controlled source of clean and pressurized diluent air. The dilution tunnel includes an air distribution tube defining a plurality of distribution holes therethrough, a collar defining a first annular chamber about the air distribution tube that is connected to the air source, and a porous center tube having a plurality of micron-sized pores connected between the sampling probe and the filter assembly. A second annular chamber is defined between both tubes, and the diluent air supplied thereto is uniformly passed through the porous center tube to effect good mixing of the exhaust gas and diluent air while providing a boundary layer of diluent air that keeps the center tube clean.

Abstract: A work vehicle includes lefthand and righthand suspension mechanisms individually having an elastomeric belt entrained about a plurality of roller wheels and a fron wheel assembly, with the front wheel assembly having inboard and outboard side portions connected together by a shaft and being mounted on a pivotable support member. The subject wet disc brake mechanism includes an annular housing assembly supporting the wheel shaft, a brake hub connected to the shaft, a brake assembly having a plurality of interleaved plates disposed within the housing assembly, and a plurality of internal passages for the ingress of a cooling fluid radially inwardly of the plates, the egress of the fluid radially outwardly of a collecting chamber defined within the housing assembly, and for delivering a control fluid to a service brake piston and a parking brake piston arranged in a compact overlapping manner.

Abstract: Large earthmoving vehicles require complex mechanisms for mechanically driving the auxiliary power units. The subject drive mechanism includes an elevating transfer gear train at the rear frame portion of the vehicle that drives a rear auxiliary power unit via an upper transfer gear, and that drives a front auxiliary power unit on the front frame portion of the vehicle through a relatively long drive shaft system extending from the upper transfer gear. A torsionally tuned spring coupling having a plurality of compression spring sets arranged in at least two circular arrays is incorporated between the engine and an input gear of the transfer gear train for providing two stiffness rates and effectively isolating the drive mechanism from the torsional excitation pulses of the engine and the effects of gear shifting of an associated transmission for powerably driving the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicular steering and transmission shifting control mechanism includes a transversally rockable control handle and a steering actuator element connected at the bottom thereof to selectively depress either a left or right actuating plunger of a hydraulic pilot valve assembly for effecting steering. The control handle is contoured to be easily grasped and to position an electrical switch actuating element for comfortable movement by an operator's thumb to change the speed of a multi-speed transmission through an associated electronic transmission control system. A three-way electrical switch actuating element at the front of the control handle is adapted to be rocked to select one of forward, neutral, and reverse modes of the transmission.

Abstract: A vehicle such as an earthmoving wheel loader has an engine, a torque converter having an impeller element, a reactor element and a turbine element, and an input clutch connected between the engine and the impeller element. An electrohydraulic control device is provided to controllably engage the input clutch and that includes a microprocessor-based electronic control module, an actuator mechanism having a control member that is progressively movable between first, second and third positions to deliver a first electrical signal to the electronic control module, and a valve for directing fluid to the input clutch at a decreasing pressure level when the control member is moved from the first to the second positions in response to another signal from the electronic control module. The electronic control module is programmed to maintain at least a minimal pressure level to the actuating piston of the input clutch when the control member is between the second and third positions.

Abstract: A particularly compact planetary gear mechanism includes an axially shiftable ring gear to provide either a direct drive mode or a speed reduction ratio mode between an input sun gear thereof and an output planet carrier thereof. In a first embodiment, the ring gear is urged in a first direction by a compressible spring apparatus to a conjoint coupled relationship with the sun gear for direct drive. In a less frequently used mode the ring gear is urged by a hydraulically actuated annular piston closely encircling it into a fixed relationship with a stationary coupling in opposition to the compressible spring apparatus. A second embodiment has no spring apparatus so that the annular piston is hydraulically biased in either axial direction for positively shifting the ring gear.

Abstract: A vehicular steering mechanism of overly complex construction is known which displaces a left turn control valve or a right turn control valve through separated cams in response to the rotation of a steering wheel. The subject steering mechanism is simpler, more economical and more compact by including an input shaft and a single actuating cam which are conjointly rotatable away from a neutral position in either direction. The actuating cam defines a profiled guide slot of a substantially spiral shape, and a cam follower assembly is cooperatively associated therewith including a cam following roller wheel that is received in the profiled guide slot. The cam follower assembly includes a bellcrank supporting the roller wheel and indirectly connected to a left turn control valve and a right turn control valve. The vehicle is steered by the controlled rotation of the bellcrank and the subsequent displacement of the control valves and. The steering mechanism also includes an effective centering and stop assembly.

Abstract: Present day diesel engines having aluminum piston assemblies are limited to combustion chamber pressures of approximately 12,410 kPa (1,800 psi) whereas the desire is to increase such pressures up to the 15,170 kPa (2,200 psi) range. To reach such levels the instant engine has a piston assembly including a steel piston member having an upper cylindrical portion of a diameter D and defining a top surface, a depending tubular wall having a top ring groove a minimal elevational distance TRH below the top surface, and an annular cooling recess located beneath the top surface and juxtaposed to the top ring groove for removing heat away therefrom in use. The piston member is preferably forged and subsequently machined to precisely controllable dimensions, and has a ratio of TRH to D of less than 0.06. Moreover, the piston assembly is preferably of the articulated type and includes a forged aluminum piston skirt connected to the piston member through a common wrist pin.

Abstract: A vehicular control mechanism is known that incorporates a steering assembly swingable about an upstanding axis in either direction from a central NEUTRAL position. Even if the transmission is not powerably driving an associated cross drive mechanism the angular displacement of the steering assembly away from NEUTRAL could cause an input to the cross drive and an undesirable movement of the vehicle under some circumstances. To obviate this, an indexing device is provided that is responsive to the movement of an actuating lever pivotally mounted on a steering assembly between BRAKE-OFF and BRAKE-ON positions. The vehicle frame defines an indexing pocket, and an elongate locking element is reciprocally mounted on the steering assembly and interconnectable with the pocket when the steering assembly is angularly positioned in NEUTRAL.

Abstract: An electrical transmission control mechanism includes first and second control members which are individually limitedly rotatable to respectively select the directional and neutral modes or the speed ratio modes of a transmission. First and second electrical rotary type switching devices which are respectively responsive to the movement of the control members are disposed within the mechanism for controllably disconnecting the supply and ground side leads of one of a plurality of transmission clutch actuating solenoids and connecting the supply and ground side leads of another one to minimize the possibility of any inadvertent electrical short in causing unexpected operation of the transmission. Each of the compact and reliable rotary switching devices has a plurality of upstanding contact members arranged at preselected radii and a plurality of radially oriented wiper members that make selected contact with pairs of the contact members to provide a multitude of desirable operating functions.

Abstract: The installation of a power train module on the frame of a track-type vehicle is simplified and noise transmisson to the frame is significantly reduced by a mounting arrangement including a pair of first elastomeric coupling devices and a pair of second elastomeric coupling devices for resiliently connecting the power train module to the main frame. The power train module has a pair of oppositely extending hollow trunnions, a wheel rotatably supported on each trunnion, an output drive train for driving each wheel, and an endless drive belt frictionally driven by each wheel. The frame has a pair of generally semicylindrical pockets which face upwardly and rearwardly and the first coupling devices are seated in the respective pockets in embracing relationship to the trunnions such that the drive wheels are elevated above the ground. The second coupling devices are connected to the frame for resisting rotational forces of the power train module about the axis of the trunnions.

Abstract: A vehicle capable of high speed operation over rough terrain has a suspension system including an elevated drive wheel, a front idler wheel, and a rear idler wheel with an elastomeric drive belt entrained therearound. The drive belt is driven by friction, and the suspension system includes a front suspension strut device having a recoil mechanism and a resilient front strut that resiliently biases the front idler wheel forwardly and downwardly. A braking device is in a protected location within side portions of the front idler wheel and reacts against the front suspension strut device to brake the vehicle. Such braking reaction minimizes the reduction of frictional engagement between the drive wheel and the drive belt due to the reaction of the drive belt against the recoil mechanism when traveling forwardly.

Abstract: A balanced free-planet drive mechanism includes a reaction ring gear, an output ring gear, an input sun gear arranged along a central axis, and a plurality of floating planet elements individually having a first planet gear engaged with the sun gear, a second planet gear engaged with the output ring gear, and a third planet gear engaged with the reaction ring gear. A required first rolling ring gear resists radially inward movement of the planet elements adjacent the third planet gear, and an optional second rolling ring gear resists radially inward movement of the planet elements adjacent the first planet gears to maintain the planetary elements essentially parallel to the central axis. A plurality of ring segments are connected to the output ring gear and engage a groove in each of the planet elements to maintain the planet elements in a preselected axial position and to transmit relatively low thrust forces.

Abstract: A countershaft transmission includes an input shaft, a countershaft, an output shaft, first and second disc type directional clutches associated with the input shaft, and disc type speed clutches associated with the countershaft and output shaft to selectively connect a plurality of constantly meshing gears in preselected patterns to provide three forward speeds and three reverse speeds for a work vehicle such as a track-type tractor. The gears and clutches are functionally arranged in a forward and reverse mechanism serially connected to a three-speed mechanism and a speed reduction ratio change can be made to the speed mechanism without effecting the speed reduction ratio of the forward and reverse mechanism. Reverse speeds greater than 20% faster than the corresponding forward speeds are possible using a three-gear train in the forward and reverse mechanism. The gears, and the directional and speed clutches are arranged to provide a radially and longitudinally compact transmission.

Abstract: A vehicular drive train includes a torque converter having a bladed impeller element, a bladed turbine element, and a bladed reactor element defining a toroidal chamber within an engine-driven rotating housing. The impeller element is relatively inaccessible because it is contained within the rotating housing, yet it is desirable to monitor its speed in order to better control the operation of the drive train. A speed sensor apparatus is therefore provided which includes a ring magnet connected to rotate with the impeller element, a sensor unit connected to a stationary carrier assembly close to the ring magnet, an external electrical connector, and a wiring harness interconnecting the sensor unit and the electrical connector. Preferably, the sensor unit delivers two digital pulse signals to an associated microprocessor for precise control of the input clutch assembly. The ring magnet and the sensor unit are located radially inwardly of the toroidal chamber such that no additional space is required.