Abstract: A modular automobile power distribution box having a housing for mounting a plurality of interchangeable support modules. Each support module is adapted for supporting a specific electrical component such as an ISO relay, a mini-fuse, a maxi-fuse, etc., and the support modules are uniform so as to permit interchangeable positioning within the housing for selective variation of combinations of electrical components.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine of the type having rolling element bearing assemblies larger than the commutator and armature and brushcard subassemblies for automated assembly with the brushcard having a displaceable brush retainer for retaining the brushes to form an unobstructed passageway for the bearing assembly and the armature having a self-positioning actuator disk for automatically displacing the brush retainer during assembly so the brushes engage the commutator.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly having a first connector mounted to a battery cable, a second connector mounted to a load circuit lead, a connector housing with internal contacts for electrically interconnecting the first and second connectors and a turnbuckle assembly for concurrently driving the first and second connectors to automatically disconnect the power side connector from the internal contacts of the housing when disconnecting the second connector from the housing.

Abstract: An engine starter pinion drive and method for assembly which comprises a starter motor with an armature shaft, a clutch subassembly, a pinion gear for engaging and disengaging an engine drive gear, an anti-drift spring and a retainer sleeve locking the clutch subassembly in position on the armature shaft. The retainer sleeve is configured for axial push-on mounting to the armature shaft with a plurality of tabs for snap lock engagement with a groove in the armature shaft.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling an armature subassembly to a relay subassembly which includes (a) positioning the armature subassembly so the proximal end of the contactor is adjacent the upper wall of the relay frame and the armature is adjacent the front edge of the frame; (b) mechanically moving and holding the distal end of the contactor blade against the relay subassembly so that the armature is flush against the front edge of the frame; (c) mechanically moving and holding the proximal end of the contactor blade against the upper wall of the frame without inducing lateral movement or stress in the contactor blade; (d) relieving position-affecting stress on the contactor blade; (e) releasing the distal end of the contactor blade to assume a rest position so that the armature and front edge forms a gap; and (f) welding the proximal end of the contactor to the frame wall.

Abstract: A battery post connector having a body member formed from sheet metal comprising a clamp section for attachment to a terminal post and a base section for rigid connection to a battery cable. The clamp section has an inner surface adapted to grippingly engage a battery post to inhibit angular rotation and includes elongated slots disposed oblique to the central axis of the battery post with opposite edges adapted to penetrate the battery post and a coined pattern extending adjacent and parallel to the slots. The terminal is clamped to the battery post by a nut and bolt assembly with the nut being force fit mounted to the clamp section for good electrical continuity therewith and heat sink characteristics and the bolt having a captured bolt head for positive mechanical opening of the connector.

Abstract: An automobile window lift mechanism having a lift arm assembly for raising and lowering a window along a travel path between an open and closed position, a pinion gear for supplying rotative force from a motor or manual handle for actuating the lift arm assembly, and a gear train interconnecting the pinion gear and the lift arm assembly to provide a substantially instantaneous increase in mechanical advantage and window closing force as the window engages an upper seal in the closed position. The gear train includes a gear reduction configuration and/or an increased lever effort arm to increase the mechanical advantage only during the closing movement of the window as it engages the upper seal.

Abstract: A brake/shift interlock assembly is mounted on the steering column in operational cooperation with a column mounted shift control mechanism for an automatic transmission. The brake/shift interlock assembly includes a pivotal latch for selectively locking the detent bar of the shift control mechanism in the park position, a solenoid assembly with an actuator rod for magnetically holding the latch in the locking position, a return spring for normally biasing the actuator rod and latch in the locking position, a spring lever for selectively moving the latch to an unlock position and an electrical control circuit for energizing the solenoid when the ignition system is on and the foot brake switch is open.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine in the form of a windshield wiper motor having an armature shaft with a worm driving a worm gear mounted in a gear end housing. The armature shaft bearing is positioned against a shoulder on the shaft by a washer and push-on retainer. The bearing is slip-fit mounted in the gear end housing and a U-shaped retainer is mounted in a slot in the gear end housing adjacent the bearing such that the retainer engages the bearing to retain it against axial loading on the shaft. A bowed washer is mounted to engage the bearing to urge it against the retainer.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine of the type having rolling element bearing assemblies larger than the commutator and armature and brushcard subassemblies for automated assembly with the brushcard having a displaceable brush retainer for retaining the brushes to form an unobstructed passageway for the bearing assembly and the armature having a self-positioning actuator disk for automatically displacing the brush retainer during assembly so the brushes engage the commutator.

Abstract: An automobile wiring harness conduit having a corrugated tubular wall member of resilient plastic material and an outer covering of flexible sound-deadening foamed material with an axial slit from end-to-end through the outer covering and the wall member.

Abstract: The invention is directed to cooled mirror assemblies which include, in combination, a first heat exchanger plate having an upper surface forming a mirror facesheet and a plurality of cooling channels thereunder, a second distribution plate disposed underneath the first plate, which has an upper foam layer, hydraulic apparatus for feeding coolant fluid to the cooling channels and to the foam layer, and hydraulic apparatus for bleeding the coolant from the cooling channels and from the foam layer. According to one aspect of the invention the hydraulic apparatus for bleeding the coolant fluid is disposed closely adjacent the hydraulic apparatus for feeding the coolant fluid to counteract the effect of the temperature rise of the cooling fluid on the distortion of the mirror assembly.

Abstract: A three-axis adjustment detector mounting assembly in a spectrometer comprising first and second interconnected support plates with a pivot ball assembly interconnecting the first plate to the spectrometer for pivotal positioning of the first plate about first and second axes and a plurality of pivot ball assemblies interconnecting the first and second plate for pivotal positioning of the second plate about a third axis with a detector element mounted to the second plate such that a first adjustment screw mounted to the first plate moves the detector along a horizontal x-axis, a second adjustment screw mounted to the first plate moves the detector orthogonally along a z-axis, and a third adjustment screw mounted to the second plate moves the detector vertically along a y-axis for three-axis detector alignment.

Abstract: A variable width transparent photographic film vacuum hold-down device. Two spaced parallel vacuum slits formed on a flat platen are connected by the longitudinal edges of the film, and when covered by a flexible cover sheet form two vacuum channels holding the film flat and unobscured to the extreme edges. Any film width not exceeding the length of the vacuum slits is held without any modification or adjustment to the device. Any length of film can be used.

Abstract: The automatic serial testing of the heats of transformation of material samples is accomplished. The samples are enclosed in capsules which are placed into sample carriers on a turntable. A transfer mechanism transfers the capsules from the turntable to a controllably heatable test sample receiver and, after the measurement, back to the turntable. The entire arrangement is located in a housing filled with nitrogen. The sample carriers with the capsules can be inserted into this housing and onto the turntable through an air lock.

Abstract: Disclosed is a chromatographic column having an elongated housing, an elongated central core element, a plurality of annular, concentric would fiber layers, so as to form a plurality of uniform fluid passageway, though the housing, and a coating of stationary phase material on the passageways.

Abstract: The system includes a synchronous voltage-to-frequency converter connected to receive an analog input signal voltage and to generate a train of output pulses. A counter is connected to receive and count the output pulses and a digital register is connected to the counter for periodically receiving and storing the count in the counter. A conversion interval timer circuit is connected to control the operation of the counter and the register to determine a conversion interval during which the output pulses from the synchronous voltage-to-frequency converter are accumulated in the counter and then stored in the register. The conversion interval timer circuit is operable to determine the end of a prior conversion interval and the beginning of a new conversion interval in response to a predetermined phase of a predetermined cycle of the ac power line voltage.

Abstract: A gas chromatography system having a chromatography column, a detector for analyzing sample components with a detection chamber connected to the column outlet, and a switching assembly for selectively alternately filling the detector chamber with carrier gas for a base line measurement and with effluent for analysis. The switching assembly includes a gas chamber connected to the detector chamber, a source of carrier gas and hot wire filament for selectively heating gas in the gas chamber to cause the carrier to be expelled from the gas chamber to fill the detection chamber for a base line measurement and for cooling gas in the gas chamber to withdraw the carrier gas from the detection chamber so as to draw effluent from the column outlet to thereby fill the detection chamber for an analytical measurement.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for performing power compensation in a differential scanning calorimeter. The device operates by first subjecting only a reference material, in a single furnace, to a predetermined, variable, temperature program supplied by a program control. The values of the heating power supplied to the reference material are stored in a memory as a function of the temperature measured at the single furnace by a temperature sensor. The sample is then exposed, in the same furnace, to heating powers which are consecutively applied to the furnace, under program control, in accordance with the values stored in memory. The real temperatures of the sample are then measured by the temperature sensor. A supplementary compensating heating power is supplied to the sample, which power varies in accordance with the difference between the stored, programmed temperature and the real temperature in the sense of eliminating this temperature difference.

Abstract: An ionization detector for gas chromatography employs as an electron source a film (66) of gold deposited on an ultra-violet lamp (64) within a cylindrical glass body (60) closed at the ends by PTFE plugs (62 and 68). A jet anode (72) receiving effluent from a chromatographic column has its nozzle (74) adjacent the lamp (64) with a triode collector ring (78) between them. A ground wire (80) is connected to the gold film (66). Ultra-violet radiation from the lamp (64) produces a cloud of gold electrons and the consequent ionization of sample molecules from the jet (72) with a corresponding current when voltage is applied.