Abstract: A vehicle steering system transmission comprising a housing, an input shaft journalled to the housing, an electric motor connected to the housing and coupled to the input shaft, an output shaft journalled to the housing, the input shaft and the output shaft coupled by a first pair of sprockets having a first belt trained therebetween and having a first ratio, the first belt and first pair of sprockets comprising a helical tooth configuration, the input shaft and the output shaft coupled by a second pair of sprockets having a second belt trained therebetween and having a second ratio, and the input shaft and the output shaft coupled by a third pair of sprockets having a third belt trained therebetween and having a third ratio.

Abstract: A flange cleat comprising a body having a first flange receiving portion and an immediately adjacent second flange receiving portion, a third flange receiving portion cooperatively disposed on the body opposite from the first flange receiving portion and the second flange receiving portion, the body having an elongate portion that extends from the third flange receiving portion, a flexible tab projecting from the elongate portion whereby the flexible tab can be depressed during installation, and the body being resiliently expandable during installation.

Abstract: A damped isolator comprising a first hub, a first pulley connected to the first hub, a bearing carrier connected to the first hub, an elastomeric member engaged with the first hub, a one-way clutch engaged with the elastomeric member, a bearing received by the bearing carrier, a second hub engaged with the one-way clutch and the bearing, and a second pulley connected to the second hub.

Abstract: A vehicle steering system transmission comprising a housing, an input shaft journalled to the housing, an electric motor connected to the housing and coupled to the input shaft, an output shaft journalled to the housing, the input shaft and the output shaft coupled by a first pair of sprockets having a first belt trained therebetween and having a first ratio, the first belt and first pair of sprockets comprising a helical tooth configuration, the input shaft and the output shaft coupled by a second pair of sprockets having a second belt trained therebetween and having a second ratio, and the input shaft and the output shaft coupled by a third pair of sprockets having a third belt trained therebetween and having a third ratio.

Abstract: A belt monitoring system employs a belt having at least one reinforcement member made from a conductive reinforcement material. A belt monitor is disposed in conjunction with the belt. The belt monitor comprises a field inductor excited by an applied signal. An electrical characteristic of at least a portion of the field inductor as influenced by changes in the electrical properties of the conductive reinforcement member is monitored in order to determine a physical condition of the conductive reinforcement member and thereby monitor a physical characteristic of the belt. This monitoring may be carried out by a sense inductor disposed adjacent or in conjunction with the field inductor.

Abstract: A method monitoring crimping of a fitting onto a hose, or the like, includes monitoring fluid pressure for carrying out the crimp at discrete diameters of the crimp, during the crimp, and analyzing crimp data reflecting the fluid pressure with respect to the diameters of the crimp during the crimp to determine if the fluid pressure is above a minimum pressure at particular diameters during the crimp, below a maximum pressure during the particular diameters during the crimp, and/or varies significantly from earlier crimps, to determine if the crimp is acceptable. A system for monitoring crimping of a fitting onto a hose end or the like might include a pressure sensor deployed in conjunction with a crimper to measure fluid pressure employed by the crimper during the crimp, a die diameter monitor and, a controller operatively connected to the crimper and sensors.

Abstract: A vehicle steering system transmission comprising a housing, an input shaft journalled to the housing, an electric motor connected to the housing and coupled to the input shaft, an output shaft journalled to the housing, the input shaft and the output shaft coupled by a first pair of sprockets having a first belt trained therebetween and having a first ratio, the first belt and first pair of sprockets comprising a helical tooth configuration, the input shaft and the output shaft coupled by a second pair of sprockets having a second belt trained therebetween and having a second ratio, and the input shaft and the output shaft coupled by a third pair of sprockets having a third belt trained therebetween and having a third ratio.

Abstract: A power transmission belt comprising a polyester tensile cord having a heat shrinkage at 100° C. of less than 1% and/or a heat shrinkage at 150° C. of less than about 1.5% and/or a dimensional stability index of less than about 6%. The belt has a heat shrinkage after 24 hours at 100° C. of less than 1%. The polyester may be that sold under the trade name A360 or A363 by Performance Fibers, Inc. or equivalent polyethylene terephthalate. The tensile cord is particularly suited for use in V-belts for variable speed drives.

Abstract: An improved flared cone fitting of the type having a male portion and a female portion having a tube, an inverted conical annulus, a nut, and a joinder portion, may be disclosed. It is improved by the joinder portion including a back-side annular face, which may define a void. The joinder portion may also include an abutment intended to contact a shoulder of a fitting nut and properly direct forces exerted on the nut.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing powder metal plates comprising feeding a predetermined mass of metal powder onto a moving tape (101), restricting the metal powder by surrounding the metal powder with vibrating boundary walls (201, 202) extending parallel to the direction of movement of the tape, rolling the metal powder at an ambient temperature to form a green compact strip (GS), continuously sintering the green compact strip in a furnace (400), forming the green compact strip to a net shape part (NS) while in the furnace, and cooling the net shape part in a non-oxidizing environment (404) at a temperature in excess of 1000 degrees Celsius.

Abstract: An isolator comprising a hub, a pulley frictionally engaged with the hub through a bushing for instantaneous rotational movement, the bushing and hub having a coefficient of friction, a resilient member engaged between the pulley and the hub for transmitting a torque, and a locking member for retaining the pulley on the hub.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a drive belt such as a transport or synchronous or power transmission belt with an elastomeric belt body having a drive side and a back side, a tensile member embedded in the belt body, and an anti-static, wear-resistant, covering fabric on at least one of the drive and back side. The anti-static fabric includes a nonconductive natural or synthetic polymeric fiber and a conductive fiber. The conductive fiber is a synthetic polymeric fiber with a conductive metallic coating. The metallic coating may be silver.

Abstract: A vehicle door comprising a first outer layer (70) and second outer layer (80), a foam portion (90) disposed between the first outer layer and the second outer layer, a compartment comprising a first outer member (10) and a second outer member (20) in parallel spaced relation, the first outer member and the second outer member joined by at least one intermediate member (30) having a flexible crease (32), a receiving cavity (A) disposed outwardly of the compartment for engaging the foam portion, the first outer member and the second outer member each disposed substantially flush with a foam portion outer surface (91,92), and the foam portion and the compartment disposed between the first outer layer and the second outer layer.

Abstract: A blower wheel comprising a centerdisk comprising a conical portion (16), a planar portion (160) for receiving a hub (7), and an arcuate portion (15) intermediate the conical portion and an outer portion (14), a plurality of blades (2) connected to the outer portion, the blades further connected to a ring (3), and a hub connected to the planar portion, the hub comprising a fastener (13) for attaching the centerdisk to a shaft (200).

Abstract: A tensioner comprising a base having a shaft, a pivot arm engaged with the shaft, a pulley journalled to the pivot arm, an arcuate damping member frictionally engaged with a pivot arm inner surface, a torsion spring having a first end engaged with the pivot arm, the torsion spring having a second end bearing upon the damping member so that upon loading of the torsion spring in the unwinding direction the damping member is compressed between the second end of the torsion spring and the base thereby causing a normal force to be imparted upon the pivot arm by said damping member.

Abstract: A self aligning belt drive system comprises a belt drive having a plurality of longitudinally spaced inner lobes each having an alignment groove. The system further comprises at least one pulley comprising a frame configured to rotate about a rotation axis and having a circular outer rim. A plurality of circumferential teeth extend radially and axially of the rim with each tooth being configured to be received between adjacent inner lugs of the drive belt. An alignment flange extends radially between circumferential teeth. The alignment flange is configured to be received in the alignment groove and the alignment flange extends no further radially from the rotational axis than the circumferential teeth. The circumferential teeth, the alignment flange and the alignment groove are configured so that with the alignment flange received in the alignment groove, the drive belt rides on the circumferential teeth.

Abstract: A fan air flow measurement sensor comprising a housing having a sensor cap, a thermistor pair disposed within the housing, each thermistor projecting through the sensor cap a predetermined distance above the sensor cap, a flange extending normally from the housing, the flange engagable with a mounting surface, a sensor circuit comprising a multiplexer for controlling each thermistor, and for measuring a condition of each thermistor, and for receiving and transmitting signals, and a cable for connecting the sensor to a multiplexing circuit.

Abstract: A sprocket comprising at least one groove for engaging a toothed belt, said groove having a flank, the flank having a groove tip radii (R1) of between approximately 105% and approximately 125% of a belt tooth root radii (R8) when the toothed belt is in rack form, said groove tip radii being joined to a groove arcuate conjugate flank portion (200) by a linear flank portion (202), and said linear flank portion being disposed at an angle (?) of between approximately 18° to approximately 24° with respect to a groove centerline (CL) and comprising a length of at least approximately 20% of a sprocket groove depth (h).

Abstract: A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator for engaging and actuating a device. The actuator includes an engagement mechanism, a bias element, and a SMA object(s). The SMA actuator may automatically and passively transfer to a backup or redundant feature that resets or extends the actuator's operational life. In one embodiment, the SMA actuator includes an additional SMA object(s) that replaces the primary SMA object(s) in the event the primary SMA object(s) breaks. The SMA actuator may also be configured to apply a dynamic stress to the SMA object during transition of the object to modify the transition temperatures of the object. The SMA actuator may be part of a fluid distribution system, such as a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and used to control the flow of fluid, such as air, from the distribution system.