Abstract: A compact radial force measuring apparatus for determining variations in radial force exhibited by a tire and rim assembly permits mounting of a tire and rim assembly on a rigidly mounted rotatable hub assembly. A rotatable drum having a diameter substantially smaller than that of the tire and rim assembly is disposed with its rotational axis parallel to the rotational axis of the hub assembly and is then brought into contact against a circumferential area of the mounted tire and rim assembly with a force that will load the tire and rim assembly to a desired level. The load force is measured by a force sensor such as a load cell. The tire and rim assembly and drum are then rotated, either manually or by other means, while holding the tire-to-drum center-to-center dimension constant. Variations in the force attempting to change the center-to-center dimension exerted by the tire and rim assembly against the drum are sensed, and recorded.

Abstract: A side view mirror assembly having a housing and a spring biased mirror installed within the housing, the mirror having its reflecting surface facing outwardly of the housing, and a mirror orientation adjusting assembly including a pair of nested hemispheres detachably engaged for limited movement one relative to the other, one of said hemispheres having the mirror secured thereto, a clamp including a high strength spring arranged to immobilize said hemispheres in an effectively locked condition, and an electromagnet disposed when energized to reduce the effective force of the spring on the clamp so as to permit limited movement of the mirror carrying hemisphere for adjusting the orientation thereof. A suitable switch is coupled between the electromagnet and the vehicle battery, the ignition switch of the vehicle being interposed between said first mentioned switch and the vehicle battery.

Abstract: A trailer stability monitor for tractor-trailer vehicles including a motion sensor and signal responsive r.f. transmitter responsive thereto mounted on the trailer and a r.f. signal receiver coupled to alarm means and mounted on the tractor, preferably in the cab thereof, for receiving the signal from said transmitter and causing an alarm to warn the operator of the tractor-trailer of conditions conducive to rollover to permit remedial measures to be undertaken to avoid such incident. The motion sensor includes a pair of angular mounted normally open mercury switches arranged to detect lateral forces to the right or left to a degree conducive to rollover. A vertically oriented normally closed mercury inertia switch is connected in series with the pair of angular mounted parallel connected switches to momentarily disable the circuit to prevent spurious signals from bumps. The switch array is connected in series with a battery and a lower power r.f.

Abstract: A daytime running light circuit is integrated with the existing headlight circuit of an automotive vehicle. The daytime running light circuit functions to automatically illuminate the headlights at reduced intensity when the vehicle is running and the headlight switch is turned off. Any time, however, that the headlight switch is turned on, the headlights are illuminated at full intensity. The daytime running light circuit comprises a day relay and a night relay. The night relay is responsive to the headlight switch being turned on for preventing operation of the daytime relay which would otherwise illuminate the headlamps at reduced intensity if the vehicle were running and the headlight switch off. When the headlight switch is off, the night relay enables the day relay to be operated whenever the vehicle is running. Indication that the vehicle is running is obtained from the alternator "R" terminal.

Abstract: An oil level gauge including an ullage rod that is segmented and retained as a unit by a tensioned cable and having a fluted surface in the fluid measuring area to assure accurate nonwiping reading of the oil level.

Abstract: A relatively thin, post-mounted valve lever having a ball bearing pivot for operating an intake or exhaust valve of an internal combustion engine and having a lateral bearing surface which slidably engages aligned spaced lateral surfaces on a wide supporting post which maintain the rocking plane within the valve lever. A retainer is disposed on the top side of the post and extends into the central opening in the valve lever to prevent the rocker arm, post, and ball bearing from becoming disassembled.

Abstract: A vehicle having an engine compartment and a hood enclosing the engine compartment and opening forwardly of the vehicle about a horizontal pivot axis located forward of the engine is provided with an air cleaner removably mounted within an enclosed compartment on the under side of the hood and a clean air passage disposed within said hood extends from a first end open to the clean side of said air cleaner to an outlet in said hood adjacent the horizontal pivot axis. A flexible hose connects the clean air passage outlet to the engine air intake to permit opening and closing the hood without breaking the clean air connection. The intake air to the air cleaner is preferably drawn through an air passage in the hood extending from an inlet adjacent the grille to the dirty air side of the air cleaner.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inventive container which is attached to a pallet and can be folded on top of the pallet when in return shipment or in storage. The inventive container may be readily assembled without the use of hand tools and is sturdy enough to hold relatively heavy pieces of material in a stacked manner. The container essentially comprises a pallet crisscrossed by two cardboard floor boards which have end flaps which fold up and are then surrounded by a tubular cardboard member.

Abstract: An improved configuration of the intake manifold interface of a diesel engine cylinder head includes semicylindrical columnar structures disposed adjacent intermeidater port inlets, the columnar structures being separated by a depressed chamber in the interface surface. The end port inlets are provided with a columnar structure to the inboard side thereof with the outboard side of each end port inlet being a smooth continuation of the inner wall of an intake manifold to be mated against a planar sealing surface disposed around the interface surface of the cylinder head.

Abstract: The truck operation monitoring system is mounted in a truck cab and comprises: a plurality of sensors each positioned to sense an operating parameter of the truck; at least one primary instrumentation module mounted in the truck cab and including a data processing apparatus, means for coupling the sensors to the processing apparatus, memory means coupled to the data processing apparatus for storing data picked up from the sensors, and display means coupled to the data processing apparatus; means for manually calling up information on the display means and/or for inputting information into the processing apparatus; and means for communicating the memory means with a larger data processing apparatus. The system can also include a secondary instrumentation module mounted in the truck cab and having second display means for displaying truck operating parameters. The means for calling up or inputting information can be realized by a keyboard on the secondary instrumentation module.

Abstract: In combination with a diesel engine, an engine air intake conduit leading preferably to a turbocharger, a source of fuel, and a circuitous fuel path supplying fuel to the engine from the source and returning uncombusted fuel from the engine to the source, is a fuel cooler. The fuel cooler is mounted within the engine air intake conduit upstream of the turbocharger, if present, in a manner allowing intake air to flow through a central passageway of the cooler to the turbocharger. The fuel cooler is further engaged within the circuitous fuel path in a manner allowing heated fuel to travel through a peripheral passageway formed in the fuel cooler. The peripheral passageway is contiguous to the central passageway whereby heat from the heated fuel is transferred to the intake air, thus cooling the fuel. The fuel cooler is used preferably in cooling uncombusted diesel fuel being returned toward the storage tanks of a vehicle from the engine.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system includes an elongate dual leaf spring assembly mounted at each end thereof to a vehicle frame member and which is adapted to be engaged over an axle of the vehicle at an approximate midpoint along the length thereof. A brake torque reaction beam comprising a thick, planar half leaf spring member has one end thereof engaged between the leaf spring assembly and the axle. The other end of the reaction beam member extends rearwardly away from the midpoint of the leaf spring assembly a predetermined distance which is slightly less than to greater than the distance the leaf spring assembly extends rearwardly. In a preferred embodiment, an air bag is suspended from the vehicle frame member and interposed between the frame member and the leaf spring assembly at the approximate midpoint thereof and is engaged to the leaf spring assembly.

Abstract: An ambient air-to-engine fluid heat exchanger, vehicle having independent ambient air modulators are provided for both the radiator and the charge air cooler in the form of an apertured plate mounted adjacent the face of the heat exchanger and controllably slidable to bring the plate apertures in registry with the ambient air openings of the heat exchanger. For the heat exchanger for engine coolant, the front face of the heat exchanger comprises a second plate having the heat exchanger ambient air openings therein. For the charge air cooler, a second plate is unnecessary because, in an air-to-air heat exchanger, the charge air tubes are about the same width as the ambient air passages and thus the tubes can block the air flow through the modulator apertures when the plate is positioned to do so. The modulator plate is further preferably provided with integral louver portions between the apertures for channelling and streamlining the ambient air flow into the apertures and heat exchanger.

Abstract: An electronic module interfaces a microcomputer with the fuel injection equipment of a diesel engine so that the microcomputer, acting through the module, exercises control over the fuel injected into the engine. A pulse width modulated fuel deliver control signal issued by the microcomputer is transmitted through the module to energize a proportional solenoid actuator that positions the fuel rack. Rack position is sensed by an eddy current sensor that provides feedback through the module to the microcomputer so that the rack position is closed-loop controlled. The sensor has a measurement coil for measuring rack position and a reference coil for temperature compensation. The two coils are connected in a circuit of the module that produces a pulse width modulated feedback signal which is supplied to the microcomputer in synchronism with the fuel deliver control signal. This latter circuit comprises an L/R monostable for each coil and pulse stretchers that stretch the output pulses from the monostables.

Abstract: A fuel feed line having a swivel supported horizontal pick-up tube to draw fuel from the fuel tank where the fuel is of maximum depth. The depth of fuel in the tank may vary due to gravitational or centrifugal forces acting on the fuel.

Abstract: A truck cab door system for increased right side viewing area includes a truck cab door having an inner skin panel and an outer skin panel spaced apart but joined together along the end edges thereof. A relatively large opening in an upper portion of the door skin panels provides a field of vision through a correspondingly dimensioned glass panel of a dropping glass window assembly received between the skin panels and within and closing off the opening when in a raised position thereof. A mechanism for causing selective dropping or raising of the glass panel of the dropping glass window assembly is operatively engaged to a mechanism for supporting the glass panel. A second, comparatively large opening is provided in a lower portion of each door skin panel with a viewing window assembly including a window panel fixed within the second opening of the outer skin panel and a clear panel removably mounted over the second opening of the inner skin panel.

Abstract: A modular automotive air conditioning system has all of the refrigerant loop components, i.e., compressor, condenser, receiver-drier, and evaporator, mounted on the engine as discrete components to form a unit which can be tested, and repaired if necessary, prior to installation of the engine and refrigerant loop together in the vehicle. The vehicle radiator is also mounted on the engine to facilitate the condenser mounting. In the vehicle, the evaporator is connected to the dash-mounted vehicle heater and blower with a flexible duct to accommodate relative motion between the engine-mounted evaporator and the heater.

Abstract: An integral exhaust pipe and mounting bracket for use with the engine exhaust system of medium or heavy duty trucks which have a structural framework. A mounting plate is secured to one end of the exhaust pipe and mounted to the structural framework of the truck. The opposite end of the exhaust pipe is oriented generally vertically generally parallel to the wall of the truck cab but otherwise free standing. A lateral brace bridges the mounting plate and the opposite end and is secured therebetween. The exhaust pipe, mounting plate and lateral brace complete the integral mounting bracket with the exhaust pipe being utilized as a structural member instead of being a nonstructural mass attached to a bracket and supported as a dead weight thereon.