Abstract: Apparatus (100) and method are provided for forming an eye at the end of a heated leaf spring blank (2). Apparatus (100) includes a forming plate (16) operative to move angularly downwardly against a cantilevered portion (10) of blank (2) and roll it about a retractable rotary eye pin (5) to form the eye. Apparatus (100) includes neutralizing the force created by forming plate (16) against blank (2) during the rolling operation and further preferably includes a scarf blade (14) operative to move angularly to scarf or shape the end of portion (10) prior to the rolling operation.

Abstract: A motor vehicle transmission control lever (2) is provided that carries switch means for controlling a system for braking the vehicle's engine or in combination: (i) switch means for controlling a cruise control system and (ii) switch means for controlling a system for braking the vehicle's engine. The switch means for controlling the cruise control system and the engine braking system are preferably mounted on a housing (10) secured to a handle or knob (6) that is secured to transmission control lever (2) for convenient operation by the operator.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine valve (100) is provided having a stem (4) onto which a plating or coating of trivalent chromium is electrodeposited and which is then heated at a temperature of at least about 150.degree. F. for at least about 3 hours to provide a wear resistant surface that is superior to coatings of hexavalent chromium heretofor used for such purpose.

Abstract: A thrust washer combination employing three thrust washers (28, 70 and 72) is provided for maintaining separation between and for transferring axial thrust to a mainshaft (2) that has been imparted to either one adjacent floating mainshaft gears (12, 18) of a change gear transmission (100) respectively by a clutch assembly (20) or (22) during the process of selectively clutchingly engaging one of gears (12, 18) to the mainshaft to effect the rotation thereof. Gears (12) and (18) have respective adjacent flanges (42) and (44) that extend towards mainshaft (48) with thrust washer (28) being contained in an annular groove (42) therebetween and keyed for rotation with mainshaft (2) and thrust washers (70) and (72) positioned on opposite sides of flanges (40, 42) and held thereagainst by retaining rings (74) and (76) respectively.

Abstract: A roller follower (12) and bracket (20) combination for use in a rotary cam type brake shoe assembly (100) is provided in which bracket (20) is supported on a web (2) of a brake shoe in such a manner that, when a free-end (27) of bracket (20) is inserted into an opening (26) in a trunnion (24) of a pin (11) that supports roller follower (12) for rotation, bracket (20) is operative to prevent roller follower support pin (11) from being rotated by the cam to lessen noise heretofor created by the rotation of trunnion (24) against web (2).

Abstract: A clip on fastener (100) is provided that features a pair of spaced apart legs (2) and (6) extending from a closed end (9) to an open end (10) of fastener (100). Leg (6) includes a pair of resilient arms (16 and 18) that extend away from the side of the leg (6) facing away from leg (2) and end in overhanging relationship to an opening (7) through arm (16). Arm (18) extends towards closed end (9) and includes a guide tab (20) that extends angularly away from leg (2) towards open end (10). Tab (20) is operative to initiate separation of legs (2 and 6) to enhance receipt of an edge of a panel or plate (P) into open end (10).

Abstract: A vehicle suspension member such as leaf spring (50) is provided having at least one plate (3) having an irradiation exposed region (R) therein that is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis ("L/A") extending between opposite ends of plate (3) and operative to provide a metallurgical discontinuity extending therealong between opposite ends thereof that is effective to divert crack propagation in a direction generally parallel to axis ("L/A").

Abstract: A vehicle suspension member such as leaf spring (50) is provided having at least one plate (3) having an irradiation exposed region (R) therein that is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis ("L/A") extending between opposite ends of plate (3) and operative to provide a metallurgical discontinuity extending therealong between opposite ends thereof that is effective to divert crack propagation in a direction generally parallel to axis ("L/A").

Abstract: A vehicle suspension member such as a leaf spring (50) is provided comprising at least one composite leaf or plate (2) having a second layer (12) sandwiched within a first layer (10) in such a manner as to provide at least one discontinuity therein effective to divert crack propagation in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis ("L/A") extending between opposite ends of plate (2).

Abstract: A method is provided for marking a molded hand grip such as a golf grip (100) with specialized information such as a personalized signature. The method utilizes a laser marking device (50) that is operative to provide an optical beam (8) having power and optical wave length characteristics effective to vaporize a continuous groove or trench and/or adjacently positioned dots in a target region ("R") on the hand grip to which beam (8) is exposed. The marked grip is then removed from device (50) and a selected colorant (16) such as paint or ink of desired color is then deposited in the marking that is preferably bondable to the desired extent to the material from which the hand grip is molded after which any excess colorant is then removed to provide the finished hand grip having the specialized information marked thereon.

Abstract: A vehicle compound change gear transmission is provided that features an auxiliary drive gear (24) carried by a mainshaft (20) having enhanced freedom of radial movement by eliminating all radial contact between a bearing member that resiliently supports mainshaft (20) for rotation relative to a stationary housing of the transmission by utilizing prescribed spacer member combinations.

Abstract: An improved elongate key (92) is provided for securing thrust washers to a mainshaft (48) of a transmission (100). Key (92) has a substantially triangular cross-sectional configuration having rounded intersections between adjacent surfaces rendering it easily insertable axially through keyways defined between external axially extending grooves (66) in mainshaft (48) and aligned internal grooves (86) in the thrust washer which itself is preferably provided with rounded corners (90) to enhance the strength thereof.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension member such as a spring leaf or plate (50) is provided with at least one discontinuity therein that extends generally parallel to a longitudinal axis ("L/A") extending therealong between opposite ends thereof and is effective to divert crack propagation in a direction generally parallel thereto. The the discontinuity(s) are provided by methods that include compressing an elongate member (10,12) having enclosed voids (12,16) extending along its central region in one embodiment or by compressing an elongate member (26) having a plurality of enclosed voids (28) extending along its length in another embodiment or by compressing an elongate member (41) having opposite sides (43,43') that, in cross-section, have a concave shape, in yet another embodiments.

Abstract: Processes are provided that in one embodiment provide scribe or scratch marks (16) in the outer surface of an internal combustion engine valve stem (12) that are oriented at an acute angle (alpha) to the central longitudinal axis ("C") of valve stem (12) to promote stress planes that reduce the amount of stress arising in valve stem (12) from bending and reciprocating tensile forces "F" acting thereupon during operation of the engine. In another embodiment two sets of such scribe or scratch marks (26 and (28) are produced that intersect each other to provide a cross-hatch pattern and in yet another embodiment circumferentially spaced scribe or scratch marks (40) are produced in the outer surface of valve stem (36) that are substanially parallel to axis "C" and effective to reduce surface area engagable with a surrounding surface (60) of an insert (58) through which valve stem recirprocates during operation of the engine and to enable maintenance of an elastohydrodynamic lubrication film therebetween.

Abstract: A gear retainer (200) is provided that features a thrust washer (54) that is secured in a transverse groove (40) in a transmission mainshaft (3) for rotation therewith and extends outwardly therefrom into a groove defined between a radially outwardly extending second surface (50) and a retainer ring (58) disposed in a slot (47) in an axially extending first surface (46) defining a recess (42) in a floating mainshaft gear (20encircling mainshaft (3). Gear retainer (200) is operative to limit axial movement of gear (20) and to transmit axial thrust to mainshaft (3) that may have been imparted thereto by a clutching mechanism (24) during the process of clutching gear (20) to mainshaft (3). In another embodiment a gear retainer (300) is provided that includes a spacer (62) between ring (58) and thrust washer (54) that is secured for rotation with gear (20) and is operative to increase contact surface area between ring (58 ) and thrust washer (54).

Abstract: An improved braking mechanism (100) is provided for use in conjunction with a change gear transmission (50) that is selectively engagable with a vehicle engine (4) by a clutch (3). Mechanism (100) has a piston (22) slidably received in a primary fluid chamber (34) that is operative to cause mechanism (100) to act as an inertia brake upon establishment of a first set of predetermined operating conditions. Piston (22) is also slidably received in a secondary fluid chamber (36) that is operative to cause mechanism (100) to act as a hill holding brake upon establishment of a second predetermined set of operating conditions.

Abstract: A combined hole cutting and chamfering tool is provided that in a preferred embodiment referenced by numeral (100) features a body member (2) having a lead section ("A") to which is secured a cutting bit (4) having a machining element such as a hole cutting edge (6). Spaced axially from section ("A") is a chamfering section ("B") having at least one chamfer machining element such as cutting edge (12) of a cutting bit (14) facing towards section ("B") and at least one chamfer machining element such as cutting edge (8) of cutting bit (10) facing away from section ("A") and closer thereto than cutting edge (12). Tool (100) is operative to cut a hole (18) through a workpiece such as a plate and then chamfer edges surrounding the hole on opposite sides of the workpiece from one side without having to remove tool (100) from hole (18).

Abstract: A single seal fluid control valve (100) is provided that has a guide member (12) secured within a chamber (34) of a body member (2) such that an outer portion of a sealing member (18) secured to an annular securement surface (21) of guide member (12) is compressed against an annular sealing surface (17) of a shoulder (26) extending from body member (2) into chamber (34) to prevent fluid leakage therebetween. An inner exposed portion of sealing member (18) is engagable by an enlarged head (16) of a pin member (31) that is guided by and reciprocally movable relative guide member (12) and operative to compress the exposed portion of sealing member (18) sufficiently to prevent fluid leakage therebetween when urged thereagainst by a biasing spring (20) when fluid pressure at an inlet (6) of body member (2) is less than required to overcome the biasing force.

Abstract: A motor vehicle countershaft type transmission (100) is provided in which a rotary shim member (200) is employed to rotationally advance through a threaded opening (39) in an external cover plate (38) to engage and minimize end-play of the countershaft to the extent desired and then be releasably locked at the selected rotational position by a retainer (40) having one end that engages a depression (30) in the exposed end of shim member (200) and an opposite end that is releasably secured to cover plate (38).

Abstract: A system is provided for conveying fluid lubricant forwardly to lubricate a forward bearing support member (26) of a vehicular tandem axle assembly (100). The system includes a first open-sided trough (38) in to which the fluid lubricant is deposited by a differential gear assembly (14). Trough (38) is in fluid communication with a second open-sided trough (40) that slopes forwardly and downwardly to the center line of bearing member (26) and is effective to enable the fluid lubricant to flow towards and lubricate bearing member (26) while the vehicle is ascending an incline.