Abstract: A debris shield is disclosed for preventing debris from being sucked into the recirculate inlet of certain trucks used in the rental truck industry and thereby clogging the air conditioning evaporator coils and other components of the air conditioning system. The shield includes a segmented frame configured to fit over an opening of the system in such a way that any debris sucked into the recirculate inlet within the cab encounters and is arrested by the shield before reaching sensitive components. A method of shielding an automotive air conditioning system from entrained debris also is disclosed.

Abstract: A continuous flow regulator for vehicle heating systems includes a body configured to be connected in-line with coolant flowing through the heating coil of the heating system. A spring biased ball valve assembly is disposed in the body and is configured to restrict flow through the regulator in response to increasing flow rate of coolant and to open flow through the regulator in response to decreasing flow rate of coolant. Flow rate of coolant is therefore continuously adjusted and regulated to protect the heater core from corrosion due to high coolant flows therethrough.

Abstract: An in-line filter is disclosed for filtering fluid flowing through a hydraulic system, particularly an automotive hydraulic system. The filter has a magnetic base with a central opening at its outlet and a seat with a central opening at its inlet. The base and the seat are joined by a cylindrical filter element made of a magnetically susceptible mesh screen material. A spring within the filter element biases a ball against the central opening of the seat normally sealing off the opening and forcing fluid to flow through the filter element to be filtered. If the mesh screen becomes clogged, backpressure forces the ball away from the seat against the bias of the spring to allow fluid to bypass the filter element and flow directly through the filter. Ferrous debris within the fluid flow continues to be captured by attraction to the magnetic base and the magnetized filter element.

Abstract: A fluid flow regulator has a body defining a tapered central passageway. A ferrous or magnetic ball is disposed within the central passageway and may be biased to a predetermined location within the passageway by a spring. An electromagnet is disposed at one end of the passageway. Varying electrical power to the electromagnet attracts or repels the ball thereby moving it to different locations within the tapered passageway to vary the flow through the passageway.

Abstract: A power steering fluid filter includes a housing that defines an interior chamber, an inlet port communicating with the upstream end of the interior chamber, and an outlet port communicating with the downstream end of the interior chamber. A movable thimble filter is disposed within the housing and an annular magnet is located at the mouth of the thimble filter. A spring biases the thimble filter and magnet toward the inlet port of the housing. In use, power steering fluid passes through the housing and debris is captured by the thimble filter. Ferrous particles entrained in the fluid flow are attracted to and captured by the magnet. When the thimble filter becomes clogged, it is displaced by the pressure of the fluid against the clogged filter so that fluid can flow around and bypass the thimble filter while still being exposed to the magnet for removing ferrous particles.

Abstract: A service port cap has a body configured to be snapped onto a service port such as an automotive air conditioning service port. The cap has an axial slot allowing the body to spread as it is pressed onto the service port. A rubberized plug in the top of the cap bears and seals against the end of the service port. Should a fluid leak develop through the service port, the rubberized plug maintains a seal until the pressure is sufficient to overcome the seal created by the plug. At this point, the leaking fluid is directed out through the axial slot in the cap. Thus, the cap does not blow off and the flow of leaking fluid is controlled so that it does not spew. One embodiment includes a locking ring that slides to a locking position to lock the cap onto a service or other port to form a fixed seal.

Abstract: An in-line filter is disclosed for filtering fluid flowing through a hydraulic system, particularly an automotive hydraulic system. The filter has a magnetic base with a central opening at its outlet and a seat with a central opening at its inlet. The base and the seat are joined by a cylindrical filter element made of a magnetically susceptible mesh screen material. A spring within the filter element biases a ball against the central opening of the seat normally sealing off the opening and forcing fluid to flow through the filter element to be filtered. If the mesh screen becomes clogged, backpressure forces the ball away from the seat against the bias of the spring to allow fluid to bypass the filter element and flow directly through the filter. Ferrous debris within the fluid flow continues to be captured by attraction to the magnetic base and the magnetized filter element.

Abstract: A continuous flow regulator for vehicle heating systems includes a body configured to be connected in-line with coolant flowing through the heating coil of the heating system. A spring biased ball valve assembly is disposed in the body and is configured to restrict flow through the regulator in response to increasing flow rate of coolant and to open flow through the regulator in response to decreasing flow rate of coolant. Flow rate of coolant is therefore continuously adjusted and regulated to protect the heater core from corrosion due to high coolant flows therethrough.

Abstract: A connector connects the ends of two fluid lines, it is useful for connecting and sealing the ends of refrigerant lines in an automotive air conditioner. A resilient seal is disposed about the end of a fluid line within each end of the passageway and a combination slotted ferrule and sealing ring member formed with a sealing ring portion and a ferrule portion is captured between the seal and a compression nut treaded onto the end of the body. When the nut is tightened onto the end, it causes the ferrule portion to deform and collapse inwardly to grasp and hold the fluid line securely in place and simultaneously drives the sealing ring portion against the seal to compress the seal, which expands to form a fluid-tight seal around the end of the fluid line.

Abstract: A power steering fluid filter has a housing that defines an interior chamber, an inlet port communicating with the upstream end of the interior chamber, and an outlet port communicating with the downstream end of the interior chamber. The housing is for spicing inline with a power steering fluid hose via its inlet and outlet ports. A thimble filter is disposed within the housing and an annular magnet is located at the mouth of the thimble filter. A spring biases the thimble filter and magnet toward the inlet port of the housing. In use, power steering fluid passes through the housing and debris is captured by the thimble filter. Ferrous particles entrained in the fluid flow are attracted to and captured by the magnet. When the thimble filter becomes clogged, it is displaced by the pressure of the fluid against the clogged filter so that fluid can flow around and bypass the thimble filter while still being exposed to the magnet for removing ferrous particles.

Abstract: A connector connects the ends of two fluid lines, it is useful for connecting and sealing the ends of refrigerant lines in an automotive air conditioner. A resilient seal is disposed about the end of a fluid line within each end of the passageway and a combination slotted ferrule and sealing ring member formed with a sealing ring portion and a ferrule portion is captured between the seal and a compression nut treaded onto the end of the body.

Abstract: An axial piston hydraulic device. The device has a housing that uses a servo piston in order to control the displacement of a swashplate within the device. By using a servo member disposed within a cavity of an end cap on the housing the axial piston hydraulic device is able to provide three operating positions depending on the angle of the swashplate.

Abstract: An axial piston hydraulic device. The device has a housing that uses a servo piston in order to control the displacement of a swashplate within the device. By using a servo member disposed within a cavity of an end cap on the housing the axial piston hydraulic device is able to provide three operating positions depending on the angle of the swashplate.

Abstract: An improved rotary spool control system for a closed hydrostatic circuit and method to use the same. The control spool utilizes metering of the spool notches and specifically the metering of the servo drain notch wherein the drain notch is of irregular cross sectional shape. Because of the metering and irregular cross sectional shape, this spool is able to provide an aggressive response while still having smooth linear control. The method of creating the feedback control includes displacing pressurized fluid through the hydrostatic circuit rotating the control spool to create an error signal removing the error signal with a control sleeve and metering the servo piston drain with the irregularly shaped metering porting notch.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for recovering chlorine from a feed stream containing metal chlorides using a tubular reactor wherein a hot oxygen containing gas has an initial velocity such that the resulting velocity of the bulk gas formed from mixing the oxygen containing gas with the metal chloride feed stream and a scrubs feed stream is sufficient to remove wall deposits as fast as such deposits are formed.