Abstract: An overtravel absorbing drive connection for a servo operated rotary actuated valve having an external shaft means. A crank pin provided on the external portion of the shaft means is engaged on opposite sides thereof respectively by a pair of resilient arms extending from driving hub of a connector attached to the servo output shaft. Continued rotation of the servo output shaft after closure of the valve is absorbed by resilient bending of the connector arms.

Abstract: An electromagnetically actuated, pilot operated valve having a nonmetallic body with a pressure responsive disphragm for opening the main valve and defining, in cooperation with a guide member, a pilot chamber having an armature/pilot valve member movably received thereon. The guide member has a bleed-supply hole formed therein and is secured to the body by an annular member attached to the body by nonmetallic weldment and integrally defining a cup into which a solenoid coil is received over the guide member and potted by liquid-cast insulating material. An armature guide member-diaphragm subassembly has the guide with armature received therein with the diaphragm peripherally secured thereto by a ring pressed thereover, the ring interfitting with cooperating body surfaces to define restricted passage to filter flow to the pilot chamber bleed hole.

Abstract: A programmer for an appliance having a single timing motor drive for a rotating cam drum which actuates plural appliance program function switches. An advance pawl drives the cam drum in one direction when selectively engaged with a toothed wheel on the drum and drives through a first rotary frictional coupling. A gear train drives continuously through a second rotary frictional coupling and drives the cam drum in a reverse direction when the advance pawl is disengaged. When the pawl is engaged, the second rotary frictional coupling slips and is overdriven in a direction opposite its driving direction by said first frictional coupling.

Abstract: An engine coolant thermostat having an annular mounting member with the poppet seat and outer peripheral mounting flange covered with a unitary elastomer cover. A thermally responsive actuator means with a movable output force member is registered against a mounting bracket extending from the mounting member. Rod means is slidably received through the poppet and upon a calibrated lost motion movement of the output force member effects opening of the poppet. A spring biases the poppet closed and is overcome at a predetermined coolant pressure to permit the poppet to open as a pressure relief valve.

Abstract: An automatic control system for regulating the temperature of blower air discharged over a heater core to a vehicle passenger compartment. A thermistor is disposed to sense discharge air adjacent the heater core and provide a temperature signal. An electrical indication is provided of the condition of a servomotor driven valve controlling water flow to the heater core. An electrical reference signal is provided indicative of a user selected relative change of flow discharge air temperature. A signal is provided indicating the speed of the water pump circulating liquid to the heater core. The signals are summed and the valve sums driven until the sum is zero and the valve modulated to maintain the sum at zero for regulating blower air discharge temperature constant.

Abstract: A switch assembly having first and second snap acting switches sequentially actuated by user movement of a single rocker which contains a cantilever blade spring for effecting actuation of the first switch; and, upon continued user movement of the rocker overtravel of the first snap acting switch is absorbed by resilient movement of the cantilever blade member.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling bi-directional operation of a vehicle window lift motor having a toroidal coil sensing counter-emf perturbations in the motor current line. An EXPRESS mode switch, upon momentary actuation, latches an electronic switch to operate a relay to provide continuous motor rotation for lowering the window. Subsequent momentary switch actuation unlatches the electronic switch to cut interrupt window motor current. Window lift motor stall is detected by a toroidal coil which senses loss of motor line perturbations and unlatches the electronic switch to open circuit the motor relay.

Abstract: A temperature control system for a passenger van having individual temperature selection controls for passengers in the forward and rear sections of the passenger compartment. Separate exothermic heat exchangers for circulation of engine coolant therethrough are provided for the forward and rear passengers. Each heat exchanger is supplied by a coolant control valve and individual blowers provide a stream of forced air over the heat exchangers. A thermistor senses the temperature of the air discharge over each heat exchanger and a controller sums the sensed temperature signal with a user selected relative temperature reference signal provided independently by the forward and/or rear passenger selector inputs and a valve position signal; and, the controller generates a control signal proportional to the summation.

Abstract: A servoactuator for a vehicle throttle having a direct current motor driving a speed reducer with the output thereof connected to slidably move a fulcrum member having a lever arm pivoted thereon. The lever arm has a cable to the engine throttle connected to one end and a cable to the vehicle accelerator pedal connected to the other end on the opposite side of the pivot. In one embodiment the speed reducer drives an axial lead screw threaded in the fulcrum member. In a second embodiment the speed reducer output is a slotted crank arm having a pin on the fulcrum member slidably received therein. In a third embodiment the speed reducer output is connected by a two-bar linkage to the fulcrum member. A potentiometer is disposed to have the movable element thereof moved by one end of the lever to provide a throttle position feedback signal for use by an external motor control signal generator. The servoactuator is intended for use with a vehicle traction control system.

Abstract: An electromechanical programmer having a user push-push reset action on the shaft of a rotary cam drum for actuating plural appliance function switches. Successive user push movements alternately latch and release the shaft between first and second axial positions. In the first axial position the shaft moves an auxiliary cam to close a line power switch for energizing a motorized cam drum advance and powering the program switches; and, the shaft is free-rotating with respect to the cam drum. In the second axial position the shaft moves an auxiliary cam to open the line power switch; and, the shaft is clutched to the drum to enable user rotation of the drum for appliance program interval selection.

Abstract: A programmer/timer for an appliance of the type having a rotatable cam drum advanced for sequential actuation and deactuation of a plurality of electrical switches. The drum is advanced or indexed intermittently by an oscillating advance pawl engaging a ratchet wheel and also continuously by a gear driven by a common motor for oscillating the advance pawl. The ratchet wheel has a hub which is frictionally engaged to drive the cam drum. The driven gear in turn is frictionally engaged with the hub to also drive the ratchet wheel. When the advance pawl engages the ratchet wheel for intermittent drive, the driven gear slips on the ratchet hub. Upon user selection, a separate cam track lifts the advance pawl to permit the driven gear to continuously drive the ratchet wheel.

Abstract: A refrigeration system employing a mechanical thermal expansion valve with a self-heated thermistor sensing saturation temperature at a high pressure inlet and a second thermistor sensing saturation temperature at the evaporator outlet. A microprocessor based controller compares the sensed temperature with stored limits and provides output signals to a relay for cycling the condenser fan responsive to high side pressure and the compressor clutch responsive to the low pressure side temperature. For low pressure drop evaporators, the second thermistor may be disposed at the evaporator inlet.

Abstract: A motorized water valve of the butterfly-type having the motor case and gear reduction housing formed integrally with the valving chamber. The metal butterfly has elastomeric material formed thereover to provide improved sealing and prevent leakage when the valve is closed thereby enabling substantially shortened warm-up in thermostat application. The control system employs the valve at the engine block outlet to control coolant flow to the radiator in response to an electrical control signal based upon comparison of the sensed block temperature with a desired engine temperature. The control system also employs the valve to control coolant flow to the heater core in response to an electrical control signal based upon a comparison of sensed in-car temperature and a desired in-car temperature selectd by the driver. Heater core discharge air may also be sensed and included in the comparison to provide a control signal to permit automatic in-car temperature regulation.

Abstract: A low voltage direct current motorized servoactuator having an output gear position feedback potentiometer with a ring gear received initially loosely on the potentiometer shaft and in engagement with the output gear. A collar keyed hinged to the potentiometer shaft, but axially movable thereon, permits the output gear to be positioned independently of the potentiometer for calibration without disengaging the ring gear. With the output gear in the desired position, the potentiometer shaft is rotated until the potentiometer reads the desired percentage of its full scale resistance or voltage output; and, the collar is then moved axially to a press fit with the ring gear to lock the calibration and thereafter to rotate the potentiometer shaft with rotation of the ring gear. The motor drive pinion is a worm formed of material having a minor fraction (18%) of chloro-fluorinated polymer and a lesser fraction (2%) of lubricant, balance polyimide plastic material.

Abstract: A stationary tray melt-out ice maker for forming individual ice sections in a refrigerator. The tray has a plurality of crescent-shaped ice molding cavities and one arm of a rotatable harvesting comb is immersed in each ice molding cavity for freezing of ice with the arm embedded therein. Upon heating of the tray, the harvest comb is rotated such that the ice embedded arm sweeps the individual crescent-shaped ice from the molding cavities. Continued rotation of the comb causes the ice to contact stationary strippers which cause fracturing and stripping of the crescent-shaped ice from the arm and harvesting of two quarter round sections of ice from each crescent-shaped ice formation.

Abstract: An icemaker for a refrigerator having a motorized cam actuated switch for controlling the water fill valve and motor hold switch. The cam tracks for each switch has an undercut radial step. The switches each have a lower contact blade and upper contact blade with an intermediate blade of longer length. A spacer attached to the upper or lower contact blade maintains a predetermined minimum spacing therebetween. The lower contact blade drops first over the step allowing the upper blade to close against the intermediate blade energizing the water valve and opening the lower contact set. The intermediate blade then drops over the step, closing the lower contact blade set and the spacer holds the upper contact set open for deenergizing the water valve. A similar fast action switch is employed as a motor hold switch during periods when the ice sensing thermostat is open.

Abstract: A relatively quiet switch assembly having a plurality of spaced contact sets with snap-acting transfer actuation and interconnected by a common bus plate. The bus plate is formed of a swandwich construction having a thin (0.001 Inch) core layer of visco-elastic polymer and thicker layers of copper bonded to both sides of the core layer for sound attenuation upon contact transfer. Where the bus plate is formed to a right-angle bend of R/t-1.2 the inner layer is formed of half-hard material and the outer layer of fully annealed material.

Abstract: A solenoid operated refrigerant expansion valve, particularly for automotive air conditioning systems, having a center-post guided tubular armature which slides on the post to provide valving of cross-ports communicating with a hollow region in the post which communicates with the valve outlet. The tubular armature has a pair of sleeves disposed on the interior at opposite ends thereof which provide the sole sliding contact surfaces on the post for minimizing friction therebetween to reduce the tendency of the armature to seize on the post.

Abstract: An icemaker for a refrigerator having a stationary tray with plural curved-bottom cavities for molding crescent ice. An electrical heater melts the ice surface of the tray bottom to permit freeze embedded ejector tine of a rotary harvesting means to sweep the crescent ice from the tray. A stationary stripper cam surface forces the ice radially from the ejector tine which has wedging surfaces thereon to facilitate fracture of the ice for harvesting into half-crescent sections.

Abstract: A wound bobbin coil (A) and a fuse (B) are interconnected electrically in series. The coil and the fuse are mounted closely adjacent and molded into a tough, nylon encapsulation (C). The series connected coil and fuse are connected with electrical terminals (26, 30) to form a unitary electrical component which is readily connected with associated circuitry. In this manner, when the coil becomes damaged sufficiently to blow the fuse, both the coil and the fuse must be replaced. A repairman cannot short the fuse or merely replace the fuse and allow a damaged coil to continue functioning. In the preferred utilization of the present coil in a freezer compartment ice maker, coil failures can cause flooding, overheating, and other catastrophic damage to a refrigerator/freezer.