Abstract: A wireless taillight system is provided having a taillight module (150) removably mountable on a vehicle such as a wagon (125) being pulled by a farm tractor (100). Module (150) has at least one signal lamp illuminable by a wireless control signal transmitter module (200) having a power source carried thereby that, along with module (150), is preferably operable to transmit a feed-back signal to transmitter module (200) to provide the operator with information concerning one or more of: (i) the condition of the signal lamp; (ii) the condition of the power source powering the signal lamp and; (iii) whether the function selected by an operator has in fact occurred.

Abstract: A thrust washer and retainer ring combination is provided for a vehicular transmission (100) of the type having adjacent mainshaft gears (12) and (18) floating about a mainshaft (2) that have respective flanges (40) and (42) extending radially inwardly theretowards. A thrust washer (32) is disposed in a groove (38) between flanges (40) and (42) and a pair of retainer rings (28) and (30) are respectively disposed in grooves (34) and (36) adjacent a side of flanges (40) and (42) facing away from each other to prevent gears (12) and (18) from moving axially away from each other. Retainer rings (28) and (30) have an axial width "X" that is greater than the axial width "Y" of thrust washer (32) such that thrust washer (32) cannot be inadvertently received into retainer ring grooves (34) and (36) and the radial height of thrust washer (32) is preferably high enough to prevent it from being received into retainer ring grooves (34) and (36).

Abstract: An X-control mechanism (200) using an improved and easily installed pivot pin (100) is provided for providing a cylindrical pivot surface (16) about which a pivot arm (8) is able to pivot in response to movement of a control block (6) that is selectively engageable by a primary shaft (3) movable by an operator. The pivoting of arm (8) is operative to slide an x control yoke (14) in an opposite direction along a fixedly secured control shaft (22) for selectively engaging mainshaft gears to a transmission mainshaft 32. Pivot pin (100) is operative to hold pivot arm (8) against the transmission housing (10) between an enlarged head (12) at one end and a snap ring (20) extending radially outwardly from an annular groove (18) adjacent the opposite end.

Abstract: An incinerator (200)is provided for burning combustible refuse (16) in a primary combustion chamber (2) that has an outlet (50) for exhaust heat (30) and an inlet (28) for receiving refuse (16) and an inlet (36) for receiving a mixture of pressurized oxygen and pressurized hydrogen at respective rates correlated to create a burn temperature within chamber (2) of at least 4000.degree. F. to provide exhaust heat that is more environmentally acceptable.

Abstract: A split resilient retainng ring (100) is provided that features corresponding slots (14,16) that extend circumferentially away from each other in substantial parallel relationship to the inner periphery (4) and outer periphery (6) of the ring's body portion (2) and that end in apertures (18 and (20) respectively that have a breadth greater than the width of slots (14,16). The slots (14,16) and apertures (18,20) enable fingers (22,22') of a manipulating tool (24) to be inserted thereinto and move circumferentially away from each other along slots (14) and (16) and into apertures (18) and (20) for radially expanding and contracting ring (100) for seating in a groove. A cutting tool (800) is also provided for cutting the profiled trapezoidal configuration providing slot (14) and aperture (18) facing slot (16) and aperture (20) across the split between opposed ends (10) and (12) of ring (100).

Abstract: A hoisting sling is provided that in one embodiment (100) features a pivot assembly (4) secured to at least one end of a flexible elongate lifting element such as a cable, rope or chain. A cross bar (6) is pivotally mounted in assembly (4) and is operative to pivot to a position enabling assembly (4) to be inserted through an opening in an object to be hoisted and thence pivot so as to bridge across the opening to enable the lifting element to hoist the object. In another embodiment (150), the pivot assembly (14) features a two-piece cross bar (18 and 18') that are operative to pivot towards each other to a position enabling assembly (14) to be inserted through the object opening and thence pivot away from each other to bridge across the opening.

Abstract: An automatic clutch control system (200) is provided featuring programs for establishing optimum clutch engagement starting position (CPO) under varying operating conditions. The programs include the steps of both slow and rapid clutch engagement and preferably the storage of the (CPO) determined as a fault signal whenever its fractional relationship to the previously stored optimum clutch engagement starting position (CPN) exceeds a predetermined fraction (C6) that is less than one.

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: A catapultable or rocket propelled toy helicopter (100,200) are provided that have foldable rotor blades (16 and 16') and a forwardly inclined rotor shaft surface (8) against which a rotor shaft (9) rests during flight that in combination with a balancing weight (28) enhance the spreading of rotor blades (16 and 16') at the apex of flight and the pitch and forward movement of the helicopter during flight thereafter.

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 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 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 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.