Abstract: An input compounding torque converter is provided for converting and multiplying torque from a prime mover to an input shaft of a transmission. The input compounding torque converter includes an impeller operatively connected for rotation with a prime mover and a turbine fluidly connected in driving relationship with the impeller for receiving torque from the impeller. The input compounding torque converter also includes a bidirectional planetary gearset and brake interconnecting the turbine and an input shaft of a transmission for multiplying torque from the turbine to the input shaft regardless of the power flow direction.

Abstract: A manual transmission shift control apparatus wherein dual cables lead from a floor-mounted shift control lever assembly directly, i.e., without bending, to dual select and shift shafts operatively connected to the transmission. The dual shafts are rotatably mounted and operated in a housing on top of the transmission. A selector mechanism bearing a shift finger is rotatably and slidably mounted on a shaft in the housing, such that, through suitable linkage, the shift finger is selectively rotated by the rotated select shaft into 1/2, 3/4, or 5/R shift positions, and then slid by the rotated shift shaft into the 1, 3 or 5 shift ratios in one direction, or the 2, 4 or R shift ratios in the other direction.

Abstract: A wheelchair lift apparatus which may be adapted for use in an existing motor vehicle in lieu of a seat structure removably coupled to the floor pan. The lift apparatus includes a motor driven horizontal screw for laterally moving a platform across the vehicle to exit the rear passenger compartment through a side door opening. The platform has a vertical side extension and carries a foldable wheelchair, for example, whose two sides collapse inwardly. The lift apparatus further includes motor driven linkage members for pivoting the platform and folded wheelchair from outside the rear passenger compartment toward the front of the vehicle. The platform and folded wheelchair are next vertically adjusted alongside either the driver or a front seat passenger door opening, depending upon whether the side door opening is on the right or left side of the vehicle.

Abstract: An automotive suspension strut upper mounting assembly providing increased stroke length and enhanced spring rate tunability with the major working area of the mount being located above the body panel attachment surface. The mount comprises a housing including upper and lower closures readily assembled to enclose a composite isolator mount comprising an inner metal cup bonded to an outer elastomeric ring. The composite ring has a concentric sleeve embedded therein defining inner and outer body portions providing an increased spring rate for stiffening lateral vehicle motion caused by handling maneuvers. The inner and outer body portions are each formed with a pair of diametrically opposed fore and aft voids selectively reducing the spring rate thereby softening longitudinally imposed impact loads.

Abstract: A column-mounted shift control assembly includes a gate and mounting bracket, a shift lever unit rotatably mounted on the bracket, a shift handle pivotally mounted on the shift lever unit, and resilient means for urging the terminal end of the shift handle toward the bracket. The latter includes a planar gate portion having detents formed on an edge thereof for selective cooperation with the shift handle terminal end to select a desired transmission shift position. An ignition interlock mechanism cooperates with the terminal end of the shift handle to prevent its movement out of the Park detent position unless the ignition switch key is turned on, and further prevents the ignition switch from being turned back to Lock unless the terminal end is in Park position, thus preventing key extraction.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a park locking mechanism for a selected gear of a vehicle transmission. The mechanism includes a manually actuatable shift rod, a pivotally mounted pawl lever for selectively engaging the gear, a rod assembly operatively connected to the pawl lever, a rotatable rod operatively connected to the shift rod, an actuating lever secured to the rotatable rod for rotation therewith, "lock" and "unlock" recesses formed in the distal end of the actuating lever, spring-loaded lug means for alternately engaging said recesses, and an opening formed in the actuating lever for connection with the rod assembly for pivoting the pawl lever into engagement with said selected gear when the PARK mode is selected by the operator.

Abstract: A tailgate handle assembly in a housing including a flush-mounted handle and an adjacent key cylinder. The housing is spaced apart from a tailgate latch mechanism. A laterally extending lever is slidably actuated on the housing from a locked mode to an unlocked mode manually by rotation of the key cylinder, or electrically via a power actuator, and then pivoted by manual lift-pulling on the handle, to thereby lift a latch rod extending between the lever and the latch mechanism to actuate the latter. An electrical limit switch is mounted on the handle assembly, adapted to being actuated by one slidable movement of the lever to unlock the latch of an upwardly pivotable tailgate window.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of adjusting backlash for a north-south transaxle. The method includes the steps of forming a case having a first passageway extending longitudinally and a second passageway spaced from the first passageway and being generally parallel to the first passageway and extending longitudinally and a cavity at one end of the second passageway having an opening generally perpendicular to the passageway. The method also includes disposing a transmission assembly in the first passageway and a transfer assembly in the second passageway and a differential assembly in the cavity and engaging the transfer assembly. The method further includes preloading the differential assembly, determining the amount of backlash between the differential assembly and transfer assembly, and adjusting the backlash between the differential assembly and transfer assembly.

Abstract: A method of assembly for a north-south transaxle includes the steps of forming a case with a longitudinal passageway and having an opening generally perpendicular to the passageway. The method also includes forming a head portion and a shaft portion extending from the head portion and installing a front bearing about the transfer shaft and in the passageway. The method further includes installing the transfer shaft in the passageway, installing a rear bearing about the transfer shaft and in the passageway, and retaining the front and rear bearings and transfer shaft in the passageway.

Abstract: A column-mounted shift control assembly includes an integral gate and mounting bracket, a shift lever unit rotatably mounted on the bracket, a shift handle pivotally mounted on the shift lever unit, and resilient means for urging the terminal end of the shift handle toward the bracket. The latter includes a planar gate portion having detents formed on an edge thereof for selective cooperation with the shift handle terminal end to select a desired transmission shift position.

Abstract: A double wishbone suspension system for a motor vehicle which achieves reduced roll center movement and wheel camber change relative to the vehicle body in jounce and rebound of the vehicle wheels throughout their suspension travel while requiring minimal packaging space. The system comprises upper and lower inwardly bifurcated control arms wherein each arm has an outer apex connected by a ball joint to a wheel carrier. The lower arm forked portions have the inner ends thereof pivotally connected to a lower pivot pin supported by a body bracket. The upper arm forked portions have the inner ends thereof pivotally connected to a floating upper pivot pin. A pair of first upstanding links each have their lower end pivotally connected at an intermediate point of an associated lower arm forked portion and an upper end pivotally connected to the upper floating pivot pin.

Abstract: A handle assembly is adapted for installation in a vehicle panel aperture from the outboard side of the panel. The assembly housing has an inboard projecting threaded stem supporting a one-piece L-shaped clip retained thereon in a pre-installation raised position a nut tightened on the stem. The clip comprises a vertically disposed head portion, having a vertical mounting slot receiving the stem, and a horizontally disposed body portion having a pair of fingers projecting toward the panel aperture. Upon the installer positioning the handle member in the panel aperture and loosening the nut, the clip descends in a predetermined manner wherein the fingers engage the aperture lower edge. Tightening the nut advances the clip outboard such that vertically disposed bearing edges thereon are urged into locking contact with the panel aperture flanged boarder.

Abstract: A fastening arrangement for attaching a handgrip knob assembly to a vehicle gearshift lever rod. The knob has a through cavity comprising an upper cavity portion, an intermediate cavity portion supporting a metal insert, and a lower upwardly tapered cavity portion. The insert upper surface defining a bottom wall clamping surface of the upper cavity portion bottom wall. An internally threaded insert through bore is divided from a lower counterbored portion by an internal stop shoulder. The shift lever rod has an upper threaded stem connected by a cylindrical shank portion to an upwardly tapered rod section while the stem portion terminates in a frustoconical pilot end. A rod external stop shoulder divides the stem and shank sections. A spring steel drive washer, having a central aperture intermeshed with an upper crown portion of a locknut, is initially press-fitted in the upper cavity until its outer edge frictionally engages a serrated portion of the upper cavity.

Abstract: A north-south transaxle includes a case having a first passageway extending longitudinally and a second passageway spaced from the first passageway and being generally parallel to the first passageway and extending longitudinally. The transaxle also includes a transmission assembly disposed in the first passageway and having a first shaft portion extending through the first passageway at one end thereof and a transfer assembly disposed in the second passageway and having a second shaft portion extending through the second passageway at one end thereof. The transaxle includes first and second bearings rotatably supporting the first and second shaft portions in the first and second passageways, and an assembly for retaining the first and second bearings and the first and second shaft portions in the first and second passageways.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for attaching a decorative molding strip to an open keyhole-shaped slotted passage terminating in a lock hole provided in a vehicle body flange upper edge. A T-like fastener, integrally molded of elastomeric material, has a block-shaped head joined to the backside of a molding member by a V-shaped stem. The head inboard surface and the molding backside form layered grooves therebetween on either side of the stem. The head has a base from which project pair of upstanding forked portions separated by a V-shaped compression notch. The notch terminates in a radiused root having upwardly diverging walls disposed at a predetermined acute angle. The stem has upwardly diverging arms from a juncture the interior walls of which define a root profile matching the notch root profile.

Abstract: A lubrication system for a north-south transaxle includes a case having a passageway extending longitudinally and a cavity at one end of the passageway having an opening generally perpendicular to the passageway. The lubrication system also includes a transfer assembly disposed in the passageway and a differential assembly disposed in the cavity and engaging the transfer assembly. The lubrication system further includes means for delivering fluid in the cavity to the transfer assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for self-replenishment of the solution contained within an automobile windshield washer system. Water is extracted from air such as through the use of a desiccant system in combination with an automobile air conditioning system. This water is combined with a stored concentrated anti-freeze liquid in a preselected ratio to produce a windshield washer solution having sufficient freezing point depression for use during winter weather conditions.

Abstract: A north-south transaxle includes a case having a first passageway extending longitudinally, a second passageway spaced from the first passageway and being generally parallel to the first passageway and extending longitudinally, and a cavity at one end of the second passageway having an opening generally perpendicular to the second passageway. The transaxle also includes a transmission assembly disposed in the first passageway, a transfer assembly disposed in the second passageway and a structure interconnecting the transmission assembly and transfer assembly for transferring torque from the transmission assembly to the transfer assembly. The transaxle further includes a differential assembly disposed in the cavity and the transaxle is structured to thermally compensate preload on the differential assembly over a temperature operating range.

Abstract: A north-south transaxle includes a case having a first passageway extending longitudinally and a second passageway spaced from the first passageway and being generally parallel to the first passageway and extending longitudinally. The transaxle also includes a transmission assembly disposed in the first passageway and having a first shaft portion extending through the first passageway at one end thereof and a transfer assembly disposed in the second passageway and having a second shaft portion extending through the second passageway at one end thereof. The transaxle includes first and second sprocket wheels disposed about the first and second shaft portions, respectively, a chain disposed about the first and second sprocket wheels and a snubber located on tension side of the chain for a dampening vibrations or excursions in the chain.

Abstract: A valve assembly in a fluid system of an automatic transmission for controlling the lock-up of the torque converter assembly of the automatic transmission includes a regulator valve for establishing a pressure level of fluid flow from a fluid source, a torque converter control valve for controlling fluid pressure to the torque converter assembly during the disengagement operating mode, and a lock-up valve receiving fluid pressure feedback from the torque converter control valve to close a fluid path during the disengagement operating mode and opening the fluid path for allowing fluid pressure to the apply side of the torque converter assembly during the engagement operating mode.