Abstract: An anchor collar or bracket (100) is provided that is adapted to fit loosely about a shaft (34) of a rotary drum brake assembly such as assembly (200). Bracket (100) is adapted to secure at least one pair of resilient biasing members such as coiled springs (36 and 36') to respective pivotally mounted opposed brake shoe assemblies (20 and 20') and resiliently urge them towards each other upon release of the brake while being able to be moved to enable access to hidden portions therebehind.

Abstract: A vehicular headlamp position adjustment assembly (50) is provided that features a ball and socket type connection between an adjustment screw (8) and a support member (18) for adjusting position of a headlamp (2) mounted on a movable frame (4) relative to a fixed frame (6). Support member (18) is adapted to be received through an opening in either movable frame (4) or fixed frame (6) and be releasably secured thereto by means of a clip such as a "U" shaped clip (32). Adjustment screw (8) has a boss (14) adapted to be received in a cavity (16) within support member (18) and is preferably adapted to be rotated from either end.

Abstract: Powdered metal parts, especitally valve parts of an internal combustion engine which are subject to adhesive wear in service, withstand such wear substantially better when they have substantially uniformly dispersed through them from about 0.75% to about 7.0% by weight of hydrate magnesium silicate (talc).

Abstract: A moisture sensor (100) is provided that utilizes a sulfonated fluorocarbon film (10) having a thickness of less than about one micron and capable of providing accurate measurements of humidity and extremely fast response to change in humidity. A preferred embodiment of an electrical system (150) is disclosed for use with sensor (100) and a sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene perfluoroether copolymer form of the film is especially preferred.

Abstract: A press-in fastener clip (50) is provided that features a resilient locking arm (10) having a surface (18) adapted to releasably secure clip (50) to an aperture (16). Clip (50) has a V shaped insertion leg (8) that is operative to assist in securing clip (50) to aperture (16) as well as to automatically urge clip (50) outwardly therefrom upon manual release of locking arm (10).

Abstract: A vehicle headlight position adjustment assembly is provided that in a preferred embodiment (100) has a rotary input member (8) that upon rotation causes a threaded output adjustment member (6) to transverse axially through openings (34) and (34') in opposite side walls of first housing part (2) of a two part housing. The second part (4) or cover for the housing includes at least one pedestal (44) and preferably two spaced-apart pedestals (44) and (44') having apertures therethrough through which output member 6 extends enabling the pedestals to hold housing parts 2 and 4 together in the event that they become detached from each other.

Abstract: Provided is a snap ring assembly (100) for use in holding papers together such as in a two or three-ring looseleaf notebook or binder. Assembly (100) is preferably a one-piece molded construction including an elongate base portion (30) extending between sidewalls including respective proximate sections (32, 32') extending transversly therefrom and distal sections (34, 34') that are separated by respective hinge sections (38, 38') and respective free-ends that are configured to matingly engage to cause ring sections (38, 38') to snap together to provide a closed connection when distal sections (34, 34') are pivoted for a predetermined distance toward each other.

Abstract: A slack adjuster (500) is provided that is particularly advantageous for use in tensioning vehicular timing belts or chains. Adjuster (500) has substantially coaxially aligned status plunger (48), dynamic plunger (74), and sleeve (66). A first check valve (56) controls fluid flow between a first low pressure fluid reservoir or chamber (50) on plunger (48) and a second fluid chamber (84) in plunger (74). A second check valve (80) controls fluid flow between chamber (84) and a third fluid chamber in sleeve 66 includes a passageway (84) and also operates to prevent air from re-entering chamber (82) from passsageway (84).

Abstract: A process is provided for automatically reforming rotary drum brake shoes preferably by an apparatus 100 that includes an adjustable sensing member (30) that monitors the distance ("L") between end openings (8) and (12) of a brake shoe (2) supported by support member (26, 26') adjacent its opposite ends. Member (30) generates a reference signal that is compared to stored dimensional standards established therefor and, if not within the limits, a control signal is generated that causes a bending member (20) to bend brake shoe (2) transversely between supports (26, 26') until its configuration falls within the dimensional limits established therefor. Apparatus (100) is preferably operative to first monitor the width ("X") of openings (8) and (12) and, if outside of the tolerance standards established therefor, enable the reforming process to be stopped rather than continue.

Abstract: A system is provided for approximating rotational speed of a oscillating rotational member such as a vehicular transmission input or output shaft (2). The system includes a rotational speed sensor (4) and a processor (6) operable to provide at an output signal (S.sub.approx.) equal to at least one of signals (S.sub.3, S'.sub.3, S.sub.5, S'.sub.5 and S.sub.7 S'.sub.7) according to the number of speed measurements made by sensor (4) within a predetermined time period (T).

Abstract: A twin countershaft transmission (100) is provided having axially adjacent floating mainshaft gears such as referenced by numerals (30) and (32) whose axial thrust when engaged is transmitted to the mainshaft (48) rather than to the adjacent gear by means of gears (30) and (32) having respective flanges (42) and (44) that extend radially inwardly between their axially spaced-apart thrust washers (46, 50, 52) splined to mainshaft (48).

Abstract: An improved method is provided for finish machining forged and/or rough-cut teeth (8) of a ring gear (40) by which a rotary tool such as a rotary carbide milling tool (24) is rotated about a rotational axis "r" that projectionally intersects a bottom surface (12) of tooth (8) as it tracks along a predetermined tool path enabling the rotary tool to be in close proximity to sidewalls (14 and 14') of teeth (8) and thereby eliminating the practice of having to normalize the ring gear microstructure prior to machining teeth (8).

Abstract: The occurrence of porosity in hardfacing deposits produced by plasma transferred arc welding is significantly reduced by blending a porosity reducing agent preferably aluminum and/or manganese, with the hardfacing powder.

Abstract: A bolt lock assembly (40) and a nut lock assembly (60) are provided that respectively include a collar member (16) that is moveable in opposite axial directions in a counterbore (12) in an object (4) and is biased outwardly therefrom by a coiled spring (20). Counterbore (12) has at least one slot (14) extending radially outwardly therefrom and collar member (16) has at least one locking member (18) extending therefrom having a portion registerable with and remaining in slot (18) and a portion adapted to engage locking surfaces on a bolt head (6) of bolt (2) or a nut (24) when collar member (16) is urged outwardly from counterbore (12) to provide the locked engagement therebetween.

Abstract: An improved fluid operated (X-Y) shifting mechanism (100) is provided for shifting gears or clutches of a mechanical change gear transmission. Mechanism (100) features a shift finger (14) that is secured to a shaft (6) that is moved in an axial (Y--Y) direction by at least one piston (28) and is pivoted in a substantially transverse (X--X) direction by at least one piston (12) having a bore (10) in which an end of shaft (6) is supported and operative to rotate relative thereto to substantially lessen rotational inertia in encountered shifting in the (X--X) direction particularly during cold weather.

Abstract: Processes are provided for cleaning metal in preparation for painting, coating, welding or other subsequent process. The processes all include rinsing the metal with a solution of deionized water and a water soluble amine having a vapor pressure of at least about 10% of the vapor pressure of water at 20.degree. C. resulting in an essentially residue and water spot free surface promoting welding and bonding of the paint or coating thereto as well as enhancing other subsequent processes that may be scheduled therefore.

Abstract: A cleaning process is provided that is particularly advantageous for removing oil or oil-like material from porous parts such as porous internal combustion engine components such as valves.The process utilizes oil solubilizing solvents as well as alkaline soap and water solutions and mixtures of water soluble amines and water or deionized water in conjunction with alternate pressure and vacuum cycling to effect the cleaning.

Abstract: A clip (60) is provided for holding a union (50) joining two tubes (34, 36) together. Clip (60) has a pair of spaced-apart plate members (4,6) integrally joined at one end (10) for receiving union (50) therebetween with plate members (4,6) having respective slots (14,12) for receiving the tubes thereto. Plate members (4,6) have at least one resilient arm (16) operative to hold the tubes in the slots and at least one latch member (18) is provided for bridging across slots (14,12) and holding plates (4,6) against union (50).

Abstract: A test fixture is provided for contacting selected terminals (10, 10') of an electrical assembly for testing by a test device (28). The fixture includes spaced-apart upper platen (2), middle platen (4), and lower platen (6) that are selectively movable according to a selected one of: (a) platen (6) being secured against movement relative platens (2) and (4) and platens (2) and (4) being concurrently and/or independently movable towards and away from platen (6) and; (b) platens (2) and (4) are being secured against movement relative platen (6) and platen (6) being movable towards and away therefrom and; (c) platen (4) being secured against movement relative platens (2) and (6) and platens (2) and (6) being concurrently and/or independently movable relative platen (4). The assembly to be tested is mounted on platen (2) and slected electrical contacts (24, 24') extending towards platen (4) are respectively mounted on platen ( 6).

Abstract: A resilient cage (100) is provided for retaining a check-valve (56) in registration with a passageway (54) through an end wall of the static plunger (48) for controlling fluid flow from a first fluid chamber (50) into a second fluid chamber (60). Static plunger (48) includes an annular groove (52) in its outer surface proximate the end wall and cage (100) includes a radially inwardly extending flange (6) that is adapted to extend into groove (52) and secure cage (100) in the manner of an end cap about the end of static plunger (48). Cage (100) also serves to retain static plunger (48) together with a dynamic plunger (28) containing chamber (60) against the force of a spring (64) tending to separate plungers (28 and 48) after assembly.