Abstract: An improved cylinder liner, and method for making the liner, is provided which includes a top section and a bottom section connected by a friction weld. The top section is formed from a material having a higher resistance to wear and/or a higher resistance to thermal distortion while the bottom section is formed of a less expensive material thereby minimizing costs while achieving a durable liner. A liner durability and cost optimizing arrangement is provided which limits the predetermined axial extent of the top section to an area corresponding to the greatest amount of mechanical and thermal loading thereby limiting material costs, maintaining structural integrity and maximizing durability. The method of the present invention creates an effective seamless connection between the top and bottom sections while permitting materials of different resistance properties to be utilized to maximize durability and minimize costs.

Abstract: An improved fuel injector for providing precise control over injection timing, quantity and rate shape is provided which includes a fuel pressure balancing device for balancing the fuel pressure forces acting on a needle valve element while the element is in both the closed and open positions thereby permitting an actuator to more precisely and predictably control the movement of the needle valve element. The fuel pressure balancing device includes a cavity formed in the needle valve element and pressure balancing surfaces formed on the needle valve element and positioned in the cavity. The actuator may be a piezoelectric actuator for compressing actuating fluid in an actuating fluid circuit which includes a fluid chamber positioned adjacent a needle valve element and fluidically separate from a fuel supply circuit for supplying high pressure fuel for injection. Actuating fluid pressure in the chamber acts on the needle valve element to initiate injection.

Abstract: A fluid turbine, the rotation axis of which is transverse to the direction of fluid flow, has at least two blade assemblies mounted for rotation about the rotation axis. Each blade assembly includes a streamlined elongated blade having a span parallel to the rotation axis. Each blade is pivotable about a pivot axis parallel to and spaced from the rotation axis. The pivot axis is located circumferentially ahead of the blade center of pressure with respect to the direction of turbine rotation. Each blade assembly is so constructed that its center of mass is located either at its pivot axis or circumferentially at its pivot axis and radially outboard of its pivot axis.

Abstract: An article moving attachment, and the like, including a grapple member adapted for engaging, for example, base runners of skids or pallets, or other articles, and being selectively connectable to power actuated means such as a line, through which a skid or an article can be moved from an initial position of perhaps difficult access to a subsequent position providing ready access to facilitate removal from a carrier, or unloading by a lift fork truck, and the like. The attachment includes mechanism coactable with the grapple member whereby a grappling force is directly proportional to the weight of an article being moved.

Abstract: This invention relates to an attitude meter which measures the orientation of a plane surface with respect to the magnetic North direction and a horizontal plane. The meter includes a hollow transparent sphere containing liquid for supporting a compass and a vertical indicator, combined with a rotatable arcuate scale for facilitating visual reading of the compass and relative position of the vertical indicator. More particularly, the arcuate scale includes vertical orientation indicia and is mounted for rotational displacement to a position immediately adjacent the vertical indicator. By this arrangement the vertical angle of the surface being measured may be read directly from the arcuate scale and the direction of inclination relative to the magnetic North may be determined from the point of intersection of the arcuate scale and the liquid supported compass.