Abstract: A guide ring for a piston comprises a split ring member having end edges which can be spread apart to slip the guide over the piston head and into a circumferential groove on an outer surface of a skirt portion of the piston head with the portions of the guide ring located in the pin bore area, including the end edges, being flattened. The guide ring is axially elongated and overlaps the piston pin bores. The guide ring is formed of low friction polyimide material which is firm yet flexible, compressible, and returns to its preformed configuration when the end edges are released.

Abstract: A switching device has a housing containing a magnetic latching relay that operates a set of contacts to respective closed and open conditions. Plural terminals provide for connection of the switching device with controlling circuitry that operates the relay and with controlled circuitry that utilizes the condition of the set of contacts for a control purpose. A thin-line fuse separably mounts on the exterior of the switching device to form a series circuit with the set of contacts between a pair of the terminals that provide connection with the controlled circuitry. The controlling circuitry provides pulse signals to other terminals to operate the relay. The housing further contains a capacitor and LED connected in parallel with the fuse and in series with a resistor so that the LED lights when the fuse is removed or blown. A mechanical override having an external actuator can operate the contacts in the event that they are not operated by the controlling circuitry operating the latching relay.

Abstract: The present invention permits reliable lifting and inverting of one or more casting core elements and positioning the one or more casting core elements in a mold flask. The invention generally includes an outer frame and an inner frame assembly, which are coupled such that they may move vertically relative to each other. The invention further includes apparatus which engage the casting core and invert the casting core, and further align the casting core to a mold to which the core is transferred. The present invention also allows for simultaneous engaging, inverting and aligning of a plurality of core elements. The present invention allows cores to be inventoried and located for automatic handling in a position that permits visual inspection and reliable handling and placement at high production rates therefor.

Abstract: A system for selectively locking a steering-column-mounted transmission shifter in a park position that places the transmission in one of two neutral positions. An electrically operated shift lock releasably locks the shifter in park position. The shift lock is under the control of an electric circuit that contains first and second shift lock relays having normally open contacts connected in series to the shift lock. The electric circuit operatively couples the relays' coils with the ignition switch, a transmission neutral position sensing switch, and a service brake sensing switch. When the service brakes are applied and the ignition switch is on, the shift lock is operated to release the shifter, allowing the shifter to be moved to other positions.

Abstract: A fuel tank system includes a fuel tank defined by an external wrapper or skin within which fuel tank reinforcing support structures are incorporated, the fuel tank support structures further incorporating a tank mounting system for producing simplified mounting of the fuel tank system to a desired portion of a frame rail of a vehicle. The unibody construction produces an enhanced, significantly elevated level of ground clearance for the fuel tank system, the clearance being defined by the bottom wall surface of the fuel tank of the system.

Abstract: An exhaust pressure capacitive transducer includes an improved pressure sensing cavity configuration. The cavity is either in the form of a wide cylinder or a cone so that the housing structure does not underlie the deflecting portion of the diaphragm but only the nondeflecting peripheral edge portion thereof to eliminating any ledges underlying the diaphragm which could collect soot thereon and prevent the diaphragm from returning to its undeflected position and giving an improper pressure reading.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing NOx emissions in diesel engine exhaust air includes a secondary burner engaged within an air intake system of the engine, upstream of an intercooler in the intake system, the secondary burner being actuated during warm temperature operation of the engine to fumigate the intake air with CO.sub.2 thus decreasing NOx output in the exhaust gases. A primary burner disposed between the intercooler and the intake manifold may be selectively operated during cold startup operation of the engine. The apparatus may further include an oxidation catalyst in an exhaust gas line from the engine to eliminate hydrocarbons from the engine exhaust emissions. In an alternative embodiment, the primary burner is eliminated and the intake air from the secondary burner is selectively bypassed around the intercooler to provide cold startup operation.

Abstract: Results of self-testing of portions of an automotive vehicle's electronic instrument cluster are displayed on the cluster's speedometer and tachometer. A fault in a particular portion is indicated by operating the pointers of both meters in unison by repetitive sweeping from zero to a particular location corresponding to the particular portion containing the fault. Detection of no faults is indicated by sweeping both pointers in unison from zero to maximum and back. A person can judge the movements of the meters by observing whether the pointers sweep smoothly in unison or in an erratic manner.

Abstract: A flexible gear support for a PTO gear box for an internal combustion engine is a relatively inexpensive unitary structure comprising two concentrically spaced rings which are engaged together by a flexible web extending therebetween. The gear support replaces very expensive ball bearings of precise tolerance which support a main input gear of the PTO unit during assembly and testing thereof. Further, a ring shipping spacer may be used with the gear support, if desired, to accommodate any shock loads during shipping and handling should the particular gear support be of a spring rate insufficient to accommodate such shocks.

Abstract: A hood control apparatus comprises at least one counterbalancing spring engaged between a forward tilt hood and a top surface radiator frame mounted under the hood. The spring is chosen to have a spring rate such that, when the hood is opened, the spring supports the hood in an open equilibrium position less than fully open. A locking latch device is provided for latching the hood in the open position against unintended closure thereof.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle exterior illumination circuit includes a main headlamp circuit, including a headlamp switch, for operating the headlamps at full intensity and a DRL control incorporating voltage-dropping resistance in a daytime running headlamp circuit for achieving reduced intensity daytime running illumination. The resistance is provided by a plurality of resistance wires mutually connected in parallel in a wiring harness carrying electric current to the headlamp filaments. The headlamp switch is provided not only with the usual set of normally open contacts that close when the headlamp switch is turned on to provide full nominal supply voltage to the similarly rated headlamps, but also a set of normally closed contacts that allows DRL operation when the headlamp switch is off but disallows DRL operation when the headlamp switch is on.

Abstract: A circuit for implementing dual dimmer controls in an automotive vehicle having right- and left-side driver stations. The circuit can be used with existing control switches, thereby avoiding changing or redesigning those switches. The circuit uses several relays, connected in a novel configuration with other existing components.