Abstract: A collapsible steering column assembly includes a steering column mounting bracket with a deformable component that is joined to the mounting bracket and that can collapse in the event of vehicle crash thereby to absorb energy. The deformable component is restrained in a normal position by locating means and is provided with regions of weakness to allow collapse. The provision of such deformable means actually in the mounting bracket itself eliminates the need for additional brackets, for example, to achieve the same purpose.

Abstract: A hydraulic system has a rotary valve which controls multiple hydraulic dces such as double-acting piston type actuators and which prevents deactivated devices from creeping. The valve has an outer housing and a rotatable inner member which form high pressure inlet, low pressure outlet, and control stages. The control stages utilize partial commutators (part circumferential grooves) and ports on the valve member selectively to couple control ports of the housing respectively to the inlet stage or the outlet stage by rotating the inner valve member (the control ports being connected to the hydraulic devices). At the inlet and outlet stages, the valve member has full annular commutators which communicate continuously with a high pressure inlet port and a low pressure vent port of the housing as the valve member is rotated. The valve member also has internal passageways which connect each control stage partial commutator and fluid port to either the inlet commutator or the outlet commutator.

Abstract: A programmably controllable vise has mechanisms for automatic adjustment of orkpiece position relative to three orthogonal axes. The positions of the vise jaws (during clamping) establish workpiece position along a first axis, and stop members (e.g., piston actuated stops) selectively extendable from the jaws establish workpiece position along a second axis. Two levelling bars supported adjacent the jaws by respective servo-actuators (e.g., double-acting piston type actuators) which adjust the bars along the jaws establish workpiece position along the third axis, as well as workpiece tilt about the first and second axes. Because the adjustments may be made automatically, the vise may operate unattended, with workpieces being loaded and unloaded by a robot. The vise jaws preferably incorporate replaceable jaw elements which are constructed for attachment and removal by a robot and which may be machined to accommodate non-prismatic workpieces.

Abstract: Thin films of hygroscopic, halogenated organic polymer having pendant groups of a relatively strong acidic type (e.g., sulfonic groups) and pendant groups of a relatively weak acidic type (e.g., carboxylic groups) are employed for humidity sensing by electronic, acoustic, and optical techniques.