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 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 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 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.

Abstract: A switch biasing member (20) is provided that features substantially transverse apposed resilient arm pairs (A.sub.1, A.sub.2) and (B.sub.1, B.sub.2) that extend from a support member (5) to respective preferably arcuately shaped spaced-apart free-ends (14, 14') and (16, 16') that are operative to engage an actuator (2) and impose respective forces (F.sub.1) and F.sub.2) that respectively increasingly and then decreasingly appose movement of actuator (2) axialy between two positions such that the combination of forces (F.sub.1) and F.sub.2) provide a tactile feel to operation of actuator (2).

Abstract: A brake clearance sensing and control system (60) is provided for controlling brake released clearance (c) between a frictional braking member (6) and a rotary brake surface (15). System (60) includes an air flow rate sensor (18) operative to provide a signal (26) indicative of air flow rate through conduit (4) between a pressurized air source (2) and a gap (16) between frictional member (6) and rotary brake surface (15) that is a function of clearance (c) and which creates a variable air flow restriction. System (60) preferably includes a pulse control (20) operative to cause pressurized air to flow through conduit (4) only in the brake released condition and signal (26) is operative to either or both provide a warning signal (32) when clearance (c) has exceeded a predetermined maxiumum and to enable an adjusting mechanism to adjust clearance (c) to a desired predetermined clearance in the brake released condition.

Abstract: Provided is a transmission gear change shift bar housing assembly (100) that features a pair of shift bars (18, 24) respectively slidably disposed within bores (7, 9) in a housing (4) that are respectively attached to pistons (14, 22) that respectively define fluid pressurizable chambers (A, B and D) with chambers (A) and (D) being in fluid communication with each other in conjunction with and end housing (38) having an enlarged fluid pressurizable chamber (C) containing an enlarged piston (42) engagable with piston (14) and a fluid pressurizable chamber (E) in fluid communication with piston (22) such that selective pressurization of one or more of chambers (A, B, C, D and E) is able to move shift bar (18) between a neutral position (N) and two axial displaced positions (P.sub.1, P.sub.

Abstract: An improved vehicular speed control system is provided that includes a logic member (2) operative to receive and process a gear ratio position signal (14) and either a vehicle speed signal (6) or an engine speed signal (7) and provide an output control signal (21) to an actuator (22) operative to control the engine throttle (24) or the like to maintain engine speed only when certain predetermined optimum gear ratios are engaged by an operator of the vehicle.

Abstract: An improved electromagnetic coupling circuit (16) is provided that features a rotor (18) carrying rotary windings (39) rotated by a rotary member (2) within an annular air gap (41) between two magnetic stator sections (34, 34') in which are disposed stator windings (40) and of which at least one of stator sections (34, 34') comprises a plurality of circumferentially-spaced wedge shaped segments (50) mounted upon a support member (27, 27') and having at least a portion of their respective facing edges in electrical contact with each other enabling low cost manufacture of large diameter stator sections.

Abstract: A process for providing an engine valve (2) with varied microstructure grain size is provided. The process includes the steps of: providing a slug (4) of suitable metallic valve composition having a grain size of less than about A.S.T.M. 8; solution heat treating slug (4) to provide a larger grain size and to substantially dissolve carbonitride stringers if present; and forging the solution heat treated slug (4) in a manner that provides a substantially uniformly distributed A.S.T.M. grain size of about 1 to about 7 in a central region beneath the combustion face of head (14) of valve (2) while cold working a seat face (16) on head (14) and extruding the stem (10) of valve (2) such that its microstructure grain size is less than about A.S.T.M. 8.

Abstract: An engine poppet valve is manufactured to have a microstructure that varies by location to match the stresses, temperature, wear and other conditions encountered in service. The microstructure is characterized by a coarse grain size in the head adjacent its combustion face, a fine grain size in the head adjacent its seat face, and a fine grain size in the stem.

Abstract: A fastening assembly is provided for supporting an elongate member through a substantially circular opening through a frame. The assembly comprises a support member (60) having a flange portion (2) larger than the frame opening with a body portion (4) extending transversely therefrom. A bore (6) for receiving the elongate member therethrough extends through flange portion (2) and body portion (4). Body portion (4) includes a transverse groove (8) and at least one axially extending groove (10) in its outer surface that are respectively exposed on the opposite side of the frame opening into which support member (60) is received. The assembly includes a retainer clip (70) operable to engage groove (8) and secure support member (60) axially within the frame opening and at least one resilient arm operable to engage axial groove (10) and prevent clip (70) from rotating with the frame including means for preventing rotation of retainer clip (70).

Abstract: A control system (70, 70A) is provided that is particularly advantageous for controlling an automatic vehicular clutch. Linkage (23, 23A) for operating the clutch preferably includes a control arm (18, 18A) that is engageable by a latch member (20, 20A) that is driven by either a force actuator (37, 37A) and/or a speed signal (48, 48A) and is operable to hold the clutch in either the engaged or disengaged condition in the event of fluid pressure loss below or rise above a predetermined amount according to the type of clutch and other parameters.

Abstract: A new solution heat treated engine poppet valve has been developed which has a microstructure characterized by a large grain size in the head for optimum high temperature creep and fatigue properties and a finer grain size in the stem for good low temperature strength and fatigue properties.