Abstract: An improved by-pass valve (1) for use in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine has control means (69) responsive to engine vacuum for exposing a chamber (27) to engine vacuum. The control means is responsive to an abrupt change in engine vacuum such as occurs during engine decelerations for spoiling the vacuum in the chamber and causing a vacuum responsive means (19) to close a first valve (15) and open a second valve (17). The control means reestablishes the vacuum in the chamber after a predetermined time interval causing the vacuum responsive means to open the first valve and close the second valve. The controlled opening and closing of the first and second valves prevents engine backfires. Means (117) overrides operation of the control means when engine temperature reaches a predetermined value whereby the vacuum responsive means maintains the first valve closed and the second valve open.

Abstract: A fixed sill includes a pair of lower, outwardly extending fixed sill flanges. A generally vertical longitudinally extending support plate is integrally connected to each fixed sill flange on each side of the fixed sill. A sliding sill support is rigidly connected to each support plate. The sliding sill support includes a horizontal inwardly extending portion that also extends longitudinally inboard. The sliding sill support is located slightly below the fixed sill flange. A pair of low friction wear plates are adopted to be slipped in place upon each sliding sill support. The low friction wear plates include horizontal body portions on each side of the fixed sill upon which the sliding sill rides in moving back and forth. Each wear plate includes "U" shaped end portions which wrap around in the inner and outer ends of the sliding sill support.

Abstract: A carburetor improvement comprising a step-up spring (S) seat (1) attachable to a metering rod lifter (L). The step-up spring bears against the spring seat rather than against a step-up piston (P). Part throttle adjustment of the step-up piston position on the metering rod lifter does not alter the step-up spring force from that which the step-up spring is designed to exert when changes in engine vacuum occur and a throttle shaft (TS) is stationary.

Abstract: A control system (1) for bleeding air into the high speed and low speed fuel circuits (HS and LS) of a carburetor (C) mounted on an internal combustion engine (E). The carburetor has an air passage (AP) to which fuel is delivered to mix with air and form a mixture combusted in the engine. Air is directed from an air inlet (9) through a first air flow path (5) to the high speed fuel circuit and through a second air flow path (7) to the low speed fuel circuit. An isolator (57) prevents crossover of air from one air flow path to the other. A flow control (77) opens and closes the first and second air flow paths, the flow control opening and closing both air flow paths substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: A reversible d.c. motor adjusts the position to which a carburetor throttle valve closes. The throttle valve is mounted on a throttle shaft to one end of which is attached a throttle lever. The motor has an extendable and retractable member one end of which contacts the throttle lever, a rotatable shaft which rotates in one direction or the other when the motor is energized and a gear arrangement for translating rotary movement of the shaft into linear movement of the member. An improvement comprises a switch for de-energizing the motor as the member approaches either extreme of its extending or retracting movement. Deenergization of the motor stops movement of the member before the respective extreme is exceeded thereby to prevent damage to the motor.

Abstract: A control system improvement. A high speed air bleed path and a low speed air bleed path respectively bleed air into the high speed and low speed fuel circuits of a carburetor through either fuel circuit at any one time. A solenoid responsive to a control signal opens and closes the air bleed to control the quantity of air bled into the high speed and low speed circuits. The solenoid includes an isolator for isolating the high speed air bleed path from the low speed air bleed path to prevent cross flow of air from one air bleed path to the other. Cross flow of air between the paths adversely affects the degree of control over the delivery of fuel through the high speed and low speed fuel circuits.

Abstract: A carburetor improvement for inhibiting tampering with a thermostatic choke coil after carburetor manufacture. A cover (3) fits over a choke coil housing (H) to enclose a choke lever, the thermostatic coil being mounted inside the cover. The cover has a circumferential flange (5) which abuts the outer surface of the housing, the flange having a notch (9) formed therein and the cover being rotatable about the outer surface of the housing to position one end of the coil relative to the choke lever. A retainer (7) locks the cover in a fixed position once the one end of the coil is located with respect to the choke lever. The retainer has a tab (11) insertable in the notch to prevent further rotation of the cover. A screw (15) having a detachable head (17) unremovably secures the retainer to the carburetor whereby once the retainer is secured, further movement of the cover is prevented.

Abstract: A carburetor improvement for connecting a link (R) to a movable carburetor part (L3) so the connection is tamper resistant. A swivel (3) has a longitudinal bore (5) extending substantially therethrough and a transverse bore (7) through which the link extends. A clevis (13) comprises a pin (15) insertable through an opening (O) in the movable part. The pin has a head (17) and the diameter of the pin is equal to the diameter of the longitudinal bore in the swivel for the pin to be inserted into the bore. The end of the pin inserted thereinto has a generally U-shaped opening (19) at its end, the length of the opening being greater than the diameter of the link and the width of the opening being equal thereto. The inner end of the longitudinal bore has a decreasing diameter whereby the sidewalls (21) of the U-shaped portion of the pin are pinched together and press against the body of the link to capture the link in the swivel with sufficient force to prevent adjustment of the link.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically controlling the idle speed of an internal combustion automobile engine. A sensor senses the operating speed of the engine and develops an electrical signal representative thereof. Movement of a carburetor throttle valve from an open to a substantially closed position is sensed and an electrical signal indicative thereof is generated. Closure of the throttle valve indicates the engine is operating at idle. A controller is responsive to the second electrical signal to process the electrical signal from the sensor and generate an electrical control signal. The controller processes the electrical signal from the sensor means in accordance with a predetermined format based upon a transfer function derived for the engine. An electromechanical device is responsive to the control signal for moving the throttle valve to a desired position at which engine idle speed is a preselected speed determined in accordance with the transfer function.

Abstract: Apparatus for venting fuel vapors present in the fuel bowl of a carburetor for an internal combustion engine. A carburetor has at least one air passage through which air is drawn into the engine, a throttle valve positioned in the air passage and movable between an open and a closed position to control the flow of air therethrough, a fuel circuit by which fuel is delivered from the fuel bowl to the air passage for mixing with air passing therethrough, and means responsive to the movement of the throttle valve for controlling the quantity of fuel delivered through the fuel circuit. A fuel bowl cover has a vent through which fuel vapors discharge when the vent is open and a valve opens and closes the vent. A fuel pump supplies fuel from the fuel bowl to the air passage as the throttle valve opens and moves the valve to a vent opening position in response to the movement of the throttle valve. The pump is actuated as the throttle valve opens whereby the valve is opened and vapors in the fuel bowl are vented.

Abstract: Apparatus for simulating the operating characteristics of an automobile engine. The ignition system of the engine is electrically simulated and an electrical signal representative of engine revolutions per minute under various engine operation conditions is generated. A transfer function derived for the engine is implemented to control generation of the electrical signal. Engine acceleration and deceleration is simulated. An oxygen sensor normally positioned in an exhaust system of the engine is simulated with an electrical signal representative of an output signal supplied by the oxygen sensor being generated. Operation of a first electromechanical device controlled by an engine control sysem is simulated as is the operation of a second electromechanical device. The apparatus is useful for testing and calibrating a feedback and automatic idle speed control system for the automobile.

Abstract: A crashworthy fuel pump has a body in which is formed a fuel intake cavity, a fuel discharge cavity, and a fuel pumping chamber. The body has an open end around the periphery of which is formed a lip. A flexible diaphragm is insertable into the open end of the body and the lip is bendable over the outer margin of the diaphragm to clamp the diaphragm within the body. A housing has one end formed for abutment with the open end portion of the body. The body and the housing are clamped together to form a unified assembly. The clamp is sufficiently strong to hold the assembly together when the assembly is subjected to normal forces, but breaks apart when the assembly is subjected to abnormal forces such as occur during a crash whereby the housing and the body can move apart from each other, the movement apart helping maintain the leak integrity of the diaphragm and the body.

Abstract: A carburetor for an internal combustion engine has a conduit through which air is drawn into the engine, a source of fuel, and means for delivering fuel from the source to the conduit for mixing with air to form an air-fuel mixture combusted in the engine. An improvement comprises a throttle valve positioned at the inlet to the conduit and movable between a closed and an open position to control the quantity of air drawn into the engine.An outlet is defined for the fuel to be delivered to the conduit, fuel discharged through the outlet being atomized by the air flowing past the outlet.The air flowing past the fuel outlet flows therepast at substantially sonic velocities thereby to improve fuel atomization and enhance mixing of the air and fuel.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention an open top railway car is provided in which the car body is divided longitudinally into at least two body sections having opposite ends which are pivotally mounted on vertically extending supports attached to a car underframe. The body sections include respective transversely spaced side walls, at least one end wall, and bottom walls having inner edges which abut and/or overlap in closed position to define the bottom of the car. To achieve increased volumetric carrying capacity, the bottoms are horizontal and extend outboard of the wheels. Each of the body sections is pivotable from the closed position to an open position in which the inner edges of the bottom walls are spaced apart to allow discharge of lading between the rails. An energy saving unloading system is also disclosed for unloading the cars.

Abstract: In a pressurized railway hopper car vertical and horizontal reinforcement members are strategically located relative to the car side plate to counteract the moment M caused by the internal pressure applied to the side sheets and to the roof. The vertical reinforcement member is spaced inwardly from the shear center of the side plate a distance determined by dividing the value of the moment M by the vertical component of the membrane pressure loads applied to the roof and to the side sheet. Horizontally extending reinforcements are provided extending between the laterally spaced side plates which are attached to the side plates at approximately the shear center of the side plate. With the horizontal and vertical members thus located, the vertical and horizontal reinforcing members will carry substantially axial loads only, essentially eliminating bending, and thus may be of reduced size as compared to the size which would be required if these members also carried bending loads.

Abstract: A machine draws stock from a source to a first work station at which a first operation is performed on the stock. The stock is then delivered to a second work station so a second operation may be performed on the stock. The machine has an electromechanical system which drives the machine and a switch energizes and deenergizes the system. The stock is engaged by a lever arm as it moves toward the first work station, the lever arm being held in a first position when engaging the stock and moving from the first position toward a second position when the end of the stock is reached. A contact bar moves the switch from its "on" to its "off" position to deactivate the electromechanical system and terminate the drawing of stock. The lever arm and the contact bar are interconnected so movement of the lever arm from its first position to its second position is transmitted to the contact bar.

Abstract: The vacuum motor and link assembly used to pull-off a carburetor choke valve when an engine is started is made tamper resistant to prevent someone from changing the position at which the vacuum motor causes the choke valve to open. A cover is installed on the carburetor and shrouds the vacuum motor, link, and the portion of a choke shaft to which the link is connected thereby to prevent access to these parts.

Abstract: A tank car stub sill support structure is provided in which a half ring is attached to the inner end of a stub center sill at each end of the car. The half ring includes a top cover plate which engages the lower half of the tank, and a lower cover plate which is vertically spaced below the top cover plate. A vertical web joins the top cover plate and the bottom cover plate. The height of the vertical web and the distance between the top cover plate and the bottom cover plate varies in accordance with the bending moment applied to the ring by the tank and lading in the car. Thus the height of the vertical web is maximum at the centerline of the car and decreases to a minimum at the sides of the car. The stub sill is welded to the upper cover plate, bottom cover plate and to the vertical web on the outboard side of the vertical web. The coupler impact loads are thus transmitted into the upper cover plate and into the tank substantially entirely in shear.

Abstract: A crashworthy fuel pump improvement comprises a control valve having a valve seat pressed into the fuel discharge cavity of the fuel pump. The valve seat is of a heat treated material and a seal is formed between the seat and the wall of the cavity to prevent fuel leaks in the event of a crash.

Abstract: A collar sized to fit over a fuel pump tower at the outer end of the tower. The collar has an opening sized to accomodate a conduit integrally formed with the tower thus for the collar to fit about the conduit. The collar is attachable to the tower to reinforce the tower so the tower does not tear when the tower or conduit is subjected to abnormal forces during a crash.