Abstract: Latch assembly for securing vehicle doors and other closures such as boot lids or tail gates co-acts with a conventional striker releasably retained by a pivoted claw or other catch mechanism to hold the striker in a mouth of the assembly. A displaceable jaw or, preferably, pair of opposing jaws conveniently form part of a unitary sub-assembly including a yoke connecting inner ends of the jaws which is displaceable inwardly of the mouth. The jaws have wedging surfaces that co-act with corresponding wedging surfaces of a latch body to provide laterally inward wedging action as the jaws are carried inwardly by the striker for positive non-rattle location of the latter. A resilient buffer may be provided which is compressed by the striker at the closed position.

Abstract: A power operable door latch and lock mechanism for a vehicle having a central locking system includes a power actuator assembly including an actuating lever drivingly connected to blocking means of the mechanism, a main drive motor for selective powered movement of the lever between locked and unlocked positions, a manual locking lever for operative connection to a non-key controlled manually operable element, and a linkage serving to interconnect the manual lever and actuating lever for manual locking and unlocking independently of the drive motor. The linkage includes a sliding length connected at one end to the actuating lever and having a first guide slot accommodating a connecting pin of the linkage. A rocker arm of the manual locking lever has a second guide slot co-acting with the connecting pin with lost motion for selective transmission of movement of the manual lever to the linkage.

Abstract: An apparatus for position detection using signal patterns created by use of a fixed disk having three conductive patterns disposed thereon. The first and second patterns are annular conductive paths which are concentric with respect to one another and the third pattern consists of radially extending conductive portions which are electrically connected to the second pattern. A brush carried by a rotating member whose position is sought to be determined is maintained in contact with the first and third pattern. In this manner an electrical signal variation is encountered as the radially extending conductive portions are encountered by the brush upon rotation thereof. This variation is thus correlated to the pattern defined on the third pattern. A microprocessor is used to add and subtract signals as the brush is rotated from a reference position based upon an indicia of motor direction.

Abstract: The window winder comprises at least one guide rail (2) for a slider (4) slidably mounted on this rail and supporting the wiondow glass (1), at least one cable (11, 8, 6) passing round at least one return pulley (14 . . . ) mounted on one end of the rail, and a driving element (13) driving the cable(s). The slider (1) is made in at least two parts, namely a front guide part (4a) slidable on the rail (2) and a rear part (4b) which supports the window glass and is mounted on the front part to be slidable through a given travel, the cable being fixed to the rear part (4b). These two parts are slidable relative to the rail and relative to one another, so that, at the end of the travel of the front part (4a) along the rail, the rear part can slide through said given travel. This arrangement permits reducing the height of the guide rails of window winders of the Bowden cable type without modifying the travel of the slider(s) and of the window glass and facilitating the mounting of these window winders.

Abstract: A method of forming vehicle wheel rims includes utilizing linear friction welding. A generally planar piece of metal material is placed into a coil position with two ends in abutment. The abutting ends are oscillated or moved, in a generally linear pattern, relative to each other to increase the temperature of the metal at each end. After the temperature has been increased sufficiently, without reaching the melting temperature of the metal, the linear motion is stopped. The ends are then aligned precisely and forced together with an increased axial load. After cooling, the two ends are permanently joined together with an essentially defect-free welded joint.

Abstract: This brake comprises a housing (1) intended to be mounted preferably close to the rear crossmember of the vehicle and which contains a gearwheel (2), a nut (3) fastened axially through the wheel, able to move in translation on either side thereof, and profiled so that it can be driven in rotation by the wheel, cables (8,9) connected to the braking members passing through the housing on each side of the nut and connected to the latter so that the rotation of the nut in one direction or the other gives rise to the application or release of the braking members; an electric motor (16) for driving the wheel in rotation is connected to a control button (17) which can be actuated from the driving position of the vehicle. This brake allows a gain in storage space and habitability of the vehicle, eliminates the need for adjustments upon assembly or during the life of the vehicle, guarantees a balanced distribution of the brake-application force between the two members and reduces the length of the cables.