Abstract: A microprocessor based control for an automotive air conditioner receives inputs from transducers which measure suction gas pressure and temperature and ambient air temperature and provides outputs for compressor clutch control and instrument panel lights. The control includes a table of warning temperatures and critical temperatures of suction gas for various ranges of ambient temperature. The control is programmed to carry out the process of comparing compressor on times to a threshold and shutting down the compressor when the on times are repeatedly less than the threshold, looking up table values for warning temperature and critical temperature for the current ambient temperature, comparing suction gas temperatures to the table values and shutting down the compressor when the temperature is repeatedly above the critical temperature and giving a warning when the temperature is repeatedly above the warning temperature.

Abstract: A heat exchanger having a plurality of flat and elongated tube passes operatively interconnected therein with inlet and outlet openings adjacent to one another so that refrigerant flowing therethrough can transfer the heat energy from a cross flow of air streaming between the tube passes. The tube passes have a divider rib offset so that the volume on the outlet or increased quantity side of each pass is greater than the volume on the inlet or low quantity vapor side. With a large volume available for vapor expansion, pressure drop is minimized and heat transfer performance is maximized in the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A swash plate compressor for a motor vehicle air conditioning system has a lubrication channel in each of its valve plate faces which is open partially along its length by one of the suction reed valves to connect the compressor's crankcase directly with one of the pumping chambers in parallel with this valve's suction port during the intake stroke and is then closed by this suction valve along with the suction port during the discharge stroke.

Abstract: In an automotive heater or air conditioner system the temperature control and the mode control for directing air flow to the desired outlet is controlled by a single actuator. A mixing chamber has inlet and outlet end walls for temperature control and mode control, respectively. Each wall has openings for air flow and has an associated rotary door for controlling air flow through the openings. The rotary doors are mounted on a common shaft for simultaneous rotation and the shaft is driven by a single actuator. A heater core is mounted in the chamber adjacent an opening in the inlet end wall. A mixer device blends hot and cold air in the chamber.

Abstract: A composite piston for an automotive air conditioning compressor is provided having an aluminum shank or piston rod, a reinforced plastic piston head and a steel ball for engaging a socket plate or the like. The shank has a distal end that has a slight reverse taper and a knurled surface for providing attachment to the plastic head that is molded thereon. The proximal end of the shank has a barrel to which the steel ball is press fitted. The shank is provided with a first collar adjacent the knurled distal end of the shank and a second collar adjacent to and intermediate the first collar and the proximal end of the shank. The first collar provides a seal for the mold cavity into which plastic is injected to form the piston head over the knurled surface of the shank. The second collar provides a support for the press fit operation of the steel ball onto the distal end of the shank.

Abstract: An end attachment assembly for a twisted rope torsion bar includes an anchor nut and a plurality of strap wrenches. A plurality of tie rods and a washer secure the assembly and transmit the torque. The torison bar is preferably fabricated of a lightweight glass fiber/epoxy composite material formed in a rope. In operation, the application of torque to the anchor nut results in a rotating/pivoting action by the strap wrenches. The strap associated with each strap wrench loops around the torsion bar and overlaps itself in the area of engagement with a cross bar that forms a cam. As the cross bar rotates/pivots and presses against the engaging portion of the strap, the strap firmly grips the torsion rod. The strap resists by frictional engagement any sliding motion over the torsion bar and against itself in the overlapping region. This compressive action adjusts for the diametral change of the torsion bar upon the application of torque and results in a tighter and tighter grip to the torsion bar.

Abstract: A rotary air valve for a motor vehicle air conditioning, heating and ventilation system has a spring biased floating valve mounted on a rotary valve frame. The floating valve is spring biased radially outward against the interior of the case so that arcuate ribs at opposite ends thereof remain engaged in internal grooves in the case to provide sealing at these locations while the other oppositely arranged edges of the valve are contacted by seals that are mounted within the case on opposite sides of the openings controlled by the valve.

Abstract: A motor vehicle power steering installation has a heat exchanger mounted in a hollow portion of a motor vehicle frame where air passes through at a velocity higher than that outside the motor vehicle frame.

Abstract: A deflatable sealing member forms a weatherstip to seal a closure opening. The sealing member includes an operative tubular section designed to provide tight interference engagement between the closure and vehicle body when vented to atmosphere and expanded by built-in resilient memory. A bellows pump is connected to the sealing member through a flow control circuit. The bellows pump serves to deflate the sealing member during closing of the closure. The bellows pump is adpated for convenient mounting in a cavity in the closure or vehicle body spaced from the closure hinge area. A flexible cable connects the bellows pump to the closure or vehicle body to provide the necessary actuation for operation of the bellows pump in response to the swinging movement of the closure. As the closure closes, a bleed port at the pump vents the sealing member to ambient pressure, and the sealing member expands by resilient memory to its full cross section so as to provide a tight seal.

Abstract: A baffle between the blower and the heat exchanger of a ventilation system evenly distributes air flow over the heat exchanger surface which air flow otherwise would be concentrated along one wall of the system housing and through a localized portion of the heat exchanger. The baffle has a flat panel mounted on the wall adjacent the concentrated air flow and has spaced curved vanes extending into the air stream to direct portions of the stream away from the wall. Diffusers between and downstream of the vanes spread out air currents which pass between the vanes.

Abstract: The hydraulic mount assembly is disclosed having a partition forming two hydraulic chambers. A primary chamber is formed by an elastomeric member and a second chamber by a resilient diaphragm. The partition is formed by a pair of plates that define an intermediate cell between the chambers. The partition plates are both formed of conductive material and are connected by a conductor to ground potential. An intermediate plate of conducting material is mounted between the plates within the cell on spaced insulating pads. Preferably, the intermediate plate includes a peripheral skirt extending toward a cooperating continuous channel formed in one of the partition plates so as to form a dome with increased surface area and a tortuous pathway for the flow of fluid through the cell between the primary and secondary chambers. The plates are connected to a control circuit including a system controller with transducers that sense the operating conditions of the vehicle.

Abstract: A deflatable sealing member forms a weatherstrip to seal a closure opening. The sealing member includes an operative tubular section designed to provide tight interference engagement between the closure and vehicle body when vented to atmosphere and expanded by built-in resilient memory. A bellows pump is connected to the sealing member through a flow control circuit. The bellows pump serves to deflate the sealing member during closing of the closure. The bellows pump is adapted for convenient mounting in a cavity in the closure or vehicle body spaced from the closure hinge area. A flexible cable connects the bellows pump to the closure or vehicle body to provide the necessary actuation for operation of the bellows pump in response to the swinging movement of the closure. As the closure closes, a bleed port of fixed or variable size located at the pump vents the sealing member to ambient pressure, and the sealing member expands by resilient memory to its full cross section so as to provide a tight seal.

Abstract: An end attachment assembly for a twisted rope torsion bar includes an anchor nut and an internal elastomeric bushing cooperatively mating with the nut. The elastomeric bushing is molded onto the end of the twisted rope torsion bar. The torsion bar is fabricated of a lightweight glass fiber/epoxy composite material. The elastomeric bushing has external splines cooperating and mating with splines on the inner bore of the anchor nut. The end attachment assembly compresses the end of the twisted rope torsion bar to reduce stress concentration and prevent separation, i.e. the application of torque to the anchor nut transmits a like amount of torque to the elastomeric bushing to compress and more firmly grip the twisted rope torsion bar. The elastomeric bushing is compressed radially inwardly by the cam shape of the mating splines. Advantageously, the elastomeric bushing proportionally increases the grip on the end of the torsion bar so that the joint is made tighter and tighter under increased torque.

Abstract: Geared drive for reset trip odometer in which a transfer tooth on each of the rotatable odometer wheels is immediately ahead of the tooth space in the circular track on the wheels for tracking the wide teeth of the associated transfer pinion gear and laterally clear of the narrow pinion teeth. With the wide teeth normally riding on the track of the wheel, there is a gear locking action if a reverse drive occurs to limit wheel droop from a reference line and anti-locking action when reset is attempted so that the wheels can be forwardly driven to record trip distances.

Abstract: An end fitting for a serpentine heat exchanger couples an inlet or outlet port to a pair of flat tubes comprising the heat exchanger core. The fitting comprises three laminated plates and a nipple coupled to an opening in the outermost of the plates. The inner plate is a header plate with the slots for receiving the flat tubing. A spacer plate interconnects the outer and inner plates and has an aperture shaped to couple the port to the slots for defining a fluid flow path. The plates are stamped from aluminum sheet stock clad with a brazing alloy. The plates are assembled and secured by a steel rivet and the nipple is attached. The parts are joined by brazing. The fitting can be brazed to the exchanger core at the same time.

Abstract: An end fitting for a serpentine heat exchanger couples an inlet or outlet port to a pair of flat tubes comprising the heat exchange core. The fitting comprises three laminated plates and a nipple coupled to an opening in the outermost of the plates. The inner plate is a header plate with slots for receiving the flat tubing. A spacer plate interconnects the outer and inner plates and has an aperture shaped to couple the port to the slots for defining a fluid flow path. The plates are stamped from aluminum sheet stock clad with a brazing alloy. The plates are assembled and secured by a steel rivet and the nipple is attached. The parts are joined by brazing. The fitting can be brazed to the exchanger core at the same time.

Abstract: A transmission oil cooler has spaced elongated plates secured at the margins and ports at either end to define an oil flow channel. A center disposed between the plates for creating turbulence in the oil and enhancing heat transfer comprises a metal sheet folded to form generally planar fins in side-by-side relationship and the fins having louvers extending over most of their area. The center is disposed in the flow channel with the planes of the fins transverse to the oil flow or alternatively with the planes of the fins parallel to the oil flow.

Abstract: Serpentine heat exchanger tubes are formed with spaces smaller than the fins which must fit in the spaces, the tubes are elastically spread apart so that tubes can be inserted, and the tubes are then allowed to contract to grip the elements for good contact and to help maintain the assembly until a brazing operation. A machine for inserting the fins has spreader blades for insertion into the tube spaces remote from the tube bends, and including sets of blades which then are moved toward the bends to fully dilate the spaces to permit easy insertion of the fins.

Abstract: A telescoping connector for a coupling assembly is disclosed having a first telescoping tubular member connected to a fluid line and a second telescoping tubular member. The second tubular member includes internal threads adapted to engage cooperating external threads on the first tubular member. The first tubular member is integrally attached to the fluid line and the threads of the second telescoping tubular member are threaded over the threads on the first tubular member and run out. The threads on the second tubular member can then axially slide over a limited neck portion of the first tubular member defined by the distance between its threads and a shoulder formed thereon. This telescoping axial movement enhances the connection process of solid wall, stationary fluid lines. A dual O-ring assembly prevents fluid leakage between the telescoping tubular members.

Abstract: A hydraulic-elastomeric mount has a pair of liquid filled chambers formed by elastomeric walls and separated by a rigid partition having an orifice that connects the chambers to effect damping. The partition supports a damping decoupler for limited reciprocal movement so as to effect cyclic volume change in the chambers to eliminate damping under certain conditions. A bypass through the decoupler acts to smoothen the transition between damping and no damping and also lowers the damping level to a prescribed value.