Abstract: An electrical snap-action type switch contact blade (80) is provided. Blade (80) has a base (6) and an electrical contact region (10) intermediate a pair of spaced-apart support legs (14) that extend angularly away from base (6) to respective free-ends. A tongue (12) extends arcuately away from region (10) in a direction opposite to support legs (14) and towards base (6) to a free-end (23). Free-end (23) of tongue (12) and the free-ends of support legs (14) respectively engage spaced-apart anchoring sites to secure blade (80) to the switch frame. Blade (80) can be actuated by application and removal of a Force (F) both against base (6) and for a prescribed distance (X) along support legs (14).

Abstract: A press-fit splined connection is provided for joining rotary members (4) and (6) together with member (4) having at least one elongate groove (1) having opposite sidewalls and member (6) having at least one elongate tooth (8) having opposite side walls and operative to register with and be slideably received in groove (10) to provide the splined connection between members (4) and (6).The press-fit is provided by the sidewalls of one of tooth (8) or groove (10) having a sinusoidal configuration to provide convex surfaces (16) that impinge upon the sidewall adjacent thereto either at about the same location or at about one-half period apart with sufficient interference to provide the press-fit between tooth (8) and groove (10). Either of tooth (8) or groove (10) having the sinusoidal configuration preferably includes a straight portion for a predetermined length "L" at either or both of its ends to facilitate assembling members (4) and (6) together.

Abstract: An electrically actuated shift mechanism (100) is provided that is mountable upon a manual mechanical change gear transmission and operable to move a shift finger (20) in an (X--X) direction into registration with a selected shift rail and then move the shift rail in a (Y--Y) direction to effect the gear shift is response to either a selected operator input signal (S.sub.1) or a speed signal (S.sub.2).

Abstract: A brake shoe guide member (50) is provided that is adapted to be firmly secured to the brake spider (38) and which features a pair of spaced-apart guide surfaces (56, 56) on one side of the brake shoe web (16) and an opposed guide surface (58) on an opposite side of web (16) intermediate surfaces (56, 56) such that web (16) is held in substantial parallel alignment with spider (38) by guide surfaces (56, 56 and 58) as web (16) moves therebetween when the brake shoe moves between the retracted and expanded positions.

Abstract: A Hall-Effect position sensing system is provided that is particularly advantageous for use in vehicular applications such as for sensing position of a transmission gear change shift rail by requiring only a single power conductor (34) between a Hall-Effect switch device (90) and a remote power source (20) such as a battery by connecting a signal output terminal (16) of device (90) to conductor (34) in close proximity to device (90) and including a drop resistor (r.sub.1) such that a micro-processor (24) is able to provide an output control signal (32) indicative of position by monitoring the effect of the output signal of device (R) on conductor (34).

Abstract: A locking mechanism (100) for locking an electronic module (10) to a heat sink plate (12) is provided. Mechanism (100) features a slide block (16) slidably disposed in a slide track that is secured to plate (12). Block (16) is urged into heat transfer contacting engagement with module (10) by means of a shaft member (18) having a detent pin (34) that is biased by a resiient biasing member (44) outwardly into an opening (20) in the slide track wall (14) to positively lock block (16) against module (10) and requiring compression of member (44) through opening (20) from outside of the slide track wall to release block (16) from module (10).

Abstract: An improved, thin walled fastener for retaining studs, rods, or the like is provided. The fastener is of the push-on type comprising a one-piece, generally thin, stamped sheet metal resilient body defining a generally centrally located stud retaining aperture for receipt and retention of studs, rods or the like. The body is preferably generally frusto-conical or dome shaped in cross section. The fastener is formed by punching or shearing a hole in a blank and then forming a generally dome shaped impression in the blank, the impression being generally coaxial with the axis of the punched hole. The required transverse extensions of the body are minimized by the utilization of the relatively smooth continuous edge of the punched hole rather than the burred edge of a punched hole as the stud retaining edge of the fastener stud retaining aperture.

Abstract: A central tire deflation system for emergency vehicles, such as fire trucks, rescue vehicles located at airports, enabling the operator to deflate all of the tires of the emergency vehicle to a predetermined minimum pressure while traveling to a crash site so that the "footprint" of the tires is increased at or about the time the vehicle reaches soft terrain. The minimum tire pressure is obtained by a minimum pressure valve which senses tire pressure as the tires are being deflated and stops deflation of the tires when the predetermined minimum pressure is sensed.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments (60, 70) of a fastener adapted to secure any selected one of a plurality of threaded members (S") are provided. Fastener (60) features substantially parallel spaced-apart flat plate members (2, 4) preferably folded from one piece to provide a resilient end fold (6) connecting them together at one end and which features respective apertures (28, 26) that are axially offset by a distance ("x") and have respective thread engaging edges (24, 20) about at least a portion of their respective peripheries that are oriented to cause at least one of plates (2, 4) to rotate relative the other a distance effective to enable apertures (28, 26) to align sufficiently to enable threaded members ("S") to advance rotationally therethrough with end fold (6) further adapted to impart a resistive force against the threads that is effective to enhance the secured relationship therebetween.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated chain or belt tensioner is provided which in a preferred embodiment (500) features a piston or dynamic plunger (56) slidably received within a bore (54) of a housing (52) that includes a fluid chamber (65) that is vented by at least one air vent (76) extending through housing (52) that is oriented relative bore (54) such that tensioner (500) can be rotated a predetermined angular amount alpha relative horizontal with vent (76) maintaining a slope (B) greater than zero enabling entrapped air to escape from chamber (64) and preventing a substantial amount of fluid to drain therefrom by gravity when unpressurized.

Abstract: Provided are improved nickel-based surfacing alloys containing from about 0.2% to about 5.0% by weight of either or both hafnium and niobium to the total alloy weight and iron-based surfacing alloys containing the combination of about 1.5% to about 2.5% by weight carbon in conjunction with from about 1.0% to about 2.5.% silicon whereby both types of alloys are characterized by having reduced porosity arising during the process of depositing them in a molten state by a weld surfacing process upon a nitrogen containing steel substrate.

Abstract: An "H" shaped retainer (60) is provided for retaining trunnions (42) of a brake cam follower roller (18) in open-sided bearing surfaces (20) at the end of spaced-apart webs (34) extending from a brake shoe (8). Retainer (60) features a bridging portion (26) adapted to be disposed intermediate webs (34) and has resilient arms (28) at opposite ends that respectively extend towards and around trunnions (42) and thence towards and past portions (26) and thence outwardly to releasably engage and releasably secure fastener (60) to webs (34) in which, in a preferred embodiment, the ends of the arms are shaped into helical coils (30) that are adapted to extend into openings (44) through each web (34).

Abstract: A vehicular headlight position adjusting assembly (100) is provided. Assembly (100) includes a two-part housing (2, 4) within which meshingly engaged gears (22, 32) are rotationally supported in a manner providing an angular relationship between their respective rotational axis. Gears (22, 32) are rotated by an input drive member (16) extending from housing (2, 4). Gear (32) is threadingly engaged with an adjustment member (20) having an end operatively engaged with a movable frame (46) upon which the headlight is mounted and having an elongate flat (26) that slidingly engages a projection (24) of gear (22) operative to prevent adjustment member (20) from rotating such that rotation of drive member (16) in opposite directions causes adjustment member (20) to traverse without rotation in opposite directions to adjust the headlight position.

Abstract: A cam follower and process of manufacture in which a hardenable cast iron reaction member is welded, as by high energy beam welding, to the end of a tubular, mild steel base member. The surface of the reaction member may be decarburized before welding. The weld is preferably characterized by austenitic properties and is formed by an alloy of nickel with the metal of the cam follower members.

Abstract: A compression type load cell (50) is provided for measuring a load (L) applied to an object (3). Cell (50) has a first end (7) adapted to receive load (L) thereupon and an opposite end (9) adapted to support cell (50) upon object (3) with end (7) adapted to direct load (L) axially along a central longitudinal axis (x) of cell (50). Cell (50) has a reduced section (8) having a first pair of bores (14,14') therethrough that are preferably oriented substantially transverse to axis (x) and are spaced-apart from each other substantially symmetrically on opposite sides of axis (x). Reduced section (8) has a second pair of bores (16,16') therethrough between bores (14,14') and end (9) that are preferably substantially transverse to axis (x) and respectively axially aligned with bores (14,14').

Abstract: A process for making silicon nitride articles such as an internal combustion valve (8) by coating or causing silicon to grow on powdered silicon nitride particles through a vapor phase reaction and then forming and nitriding the articles in substantially less time than had the article been formed entirely from powdered silicon.

Abstract: A hand tool (40) is provided for removing a cover (2) from a package (4), such as an electronic circuitry package, having respective adjacent facing surfaces (22) and (23) on opposite sides thereof. Tool (40) has a pair of spaced-apart resilient arms (8) and (10) having respective free-ends (14) and (16) provided with jaw members (24) respectively having a lip (18) operative to engage surface (22) and provide support for cover (2) and are further adapted to provide a wedging action between surfaces (22) and (23) effective to urge cover (2) away from package (4) when arms (8) and (10) are contracted towards each other. Arms (8) and (10) are additionally provided with resilient biasing means (26) on facing surfaces effective to prevent lips (18) from engaging surface (22) when arms (8) and (10) are in a relaxed condition to facilitate removal of cover ( 2) from tool (40) and to impart a biasing force F.sub.c against opposite sides (20) of cover (2) when arms (8) and (10) are contracted towards each other.

Abstract: A push-on type fastener (40) is provided for securing a cylindrical member such as a stud shank to an object. Fastener (40) includes generally axially aligned entrance opening (4) and exit aperture (6) surrounded by a resilient hollow projection (2) having a circumferentially continuous side wall. Aperture (6) is a non-circular opening defined between at least two retaining edges of projection (2) that are operative to provide engagement with the cylindrical member enabling the member to slide axially through exit aperture (6) from entrance opening (4) but inhibit movement in the opposite direction and which respectively include warped arcuate sections (3) adjacent the intersection between the respective extermities thereof that are operative to provide a stiffener for the retaining edges for smaller shank diameters and to stretch and prevent the retaining edges for splitting for larger shank diameters.

Abstract: An engine idling speed sensing system (34) is provided. System (34) includes circuitry (26) having memory portion (31) and is operative to receive a transmission signal (24); clutch signal (20); throttle signal (21); and engine speed signal (16), and process them and store the result in memory portion (31) according to their respective conditions to provide a stored idling speed value which can be used as a reference point for control for example of a clutch member (4) for enabling smooth engagement of change gears of an automatic transmission (6).

Abstract: A vehicle component such as a transmission blocker ring (81) having an improved friction material (56) is provided. Friction material (56) comprises a composite of from about 25% to about 75% by weight of a flurocarbon polymer and from about 75% to about 25% by weight of substantially uniformly dispersed ceramic fiber and which is provided with controlled crystallinity by reason of having been cooled at a rate of less than about 20.degree. C. per minute after having been sintered at a predetermined sintering or annealing temperature and time for the friction material.