Abstract: A low-profile, flat twin sheet thermoformed pallet adapted to carry and store relatively, heavy, bulky manufactured components having a high load profile relative to the low flat pallet profile. The disclosed pallet exemplary embodiment is particularly constructed for shipping and storing automotive vehicle passenger seats. The disclosed embodiment is a vehicle standardized pallet having cooperative seat load nesting compartments and a permanent on-board seat belt latching system capable of removable receiving and securely attaching, with the same extendable belt latch operating procedure, any one of the various different types of vehicle seat constructions, in pallet load groups of one or more, with the seats resting on their feet, and occupying predetermined positions in a given orientation thereon corresponding to their desired vehicle assembly orientation and sequence in use.

Abstract: A method of making a pair of rotary die cylinders with lands having coacting cutting edges which cut blanks from a web of material passing through the nip of the rotating dies. In cross section each land has an outer face and a pair of spaced apart side faces which are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the chord of the outer face to provide a clean cut and facilitate release of the cut blank from the cutting blades as it emerges from the nip of the dies. The die cylinders are journalled for rotation by recesses with frusto conical locating surfaces in their opposed ends. Each die cylinder is made by machining the recesses in the opposed ends of a generally cylindrical workpiece of tool steel and then utilizing the recesses to locate and orient the workpiece relative to a cutting tool to produce a cylindrical surface on the workpiece concentric with the axis of the recesses and then to machine away portions of the periphery of the cylindrical surface to form the cutting blade lands thereon.

Abstract: A die transfer system for transferring workpieces through successive dies stations in a stamping press includes an elongated finger bar having spaced fingers for engaging workpieces at successive die stations. A drive module for reciprocating the finger bar laterally into and out of engagement with the workpieces at the die stations, and for lifting the workpieces above the level of the die stations for longitudinal transfer between die stations. The drive module has a crank arm coupled to the drive shaft for rotating the crank arm about an axis parallel to the finger bar. A cam plate is coupled to the finger bar and mounted for movement lateral to the crank arm axis and the finger bar. A cam follower is mounted on the crank arm and disposed in a slot on the cam plate, such that rotation of the drive shaft rotates the crank arm and propels the cam follower along the slot to move the cam plate and finger bar horizontally and vertically in sequence.

Abstract: A method of separating jumpless add-on cards having identical I/O ports onto different I/O ports by first providing a special comparator in the hardware and then providing a software program to produce different responses from different add-on cards even though such cards are using the same I/O ports.

Abstract: A nestable open head container has a generally circular tapered sidewall and an enlarged diameter nesting ring which prevents the lids of adjacent containers from contacting each other during shipping and provides a nesting seat adjacent the top of the sidewall. When inserting a second container into a first container to nest them, the nesting seat of the second container contacts the rim of the first container to limit the depth of insertion of the second container. This maintains a gap between the containers when nested and substantially reduces the frictional engagement between them. A banding channel is formed in the container to receive a substantially inextensible band that releasably secures at least two containers adjacent to each other for increased stability of a package of containers during shipping.

Abstract: A rotary pump for volatile hydrocarbon fuels for use in a fuel system of an internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle. A pulsation chamber allows purging of fuel vapor from the pump and dampens expansion and contraction of the fuel and vapor due to pressure pulses created during the pumping cycle thereby greatly reducing audible noise of the operating pump. The pulsation chamber has an axial passage with an outlet for returning fuel and vapor from the pulsation chamber to the fuel supply.

Abstract: A die transfer system that includes a lower die, an upper die carried for reciprocal movement toward and away from the lower die to perform at least one operation on a workpiece positioned therebetween, and a conveyor arrangement for sequentially conveying workpieces between the dies. The conveyor arrangement includes a conveyor disposed on at least one lateral side of the lower die having hands for engaging successive workpieces and indexing the workpieces longitudinally of the lower die between the die stations. The conveyor is mounted on a wheeled cart carried by a support base, such as a bolster or the plant floor. The wheeled cart is selectively releasably fastened to the support base in such a way that the cart, and the conveyor carried by the cart, may be moved away from the lower die for operator access to the conveyor, and the upper and lower dies.

Abstract: An above ground storage container assembly comprises a steel tank for volatile liquid housed within a concrete vault. The walls of the vault are spaced from the tank to provide an air envelop around the tank. The air envelop is vented to prevent the tank from rusting or corroding. Lifting bars are anchored in the vault so that the entire assembly may be raised. A spill trap surrounds the fill opening from the tank and also surrounds a drain hole with removable plug.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle supplemental restraint system that includes an air bag positioned within the vehicle opposite the passenger side of the front seat, and electronics coupled to one or more impact sensors for activating the air bag in the event of a vehicle impact. Occupancy sensors are provided at the passenger seat for sensing seat occupancy and inhibiting activation of the air bag when the seat is either unoccupied or occupied by a rear-facing infant seat. System status is displayed to a vehicle operator, and the operator is provided with an opportunity to override the occupancy sensors and enable activation of the air bag.

Abstract: Apparatus for preventing runaway of trolleys in a power-and-free conveyor system that includes a friction bar that extends lengthwise of the free conveyor track on a side of the track remote from the power conveyor for motion lengthwise of the track at an acute angle to the direction of motion of the trolleys along the track. The friction bar is releasably biased laterally outwardly from the track and in a direction lengthwise of the track opposed to the direction of trolley motion on the track so that trolleys may travel freely along the free conveyor track past the bar.

Abstract: A lacrosse head having an open frame with sidewalls that curve continuously from the base to the lip of the frame so as to define a curved scoop-like frame geometry when viewed in side elevation. The frame base has an angulated ball rest surface and a shoulder recessed therefrom at which a net is attached to the base. The lip that interconnects the frame sidewalls remote from the base has an outside surface angle that cooperates with the scoop-like geometry of the sidewalls to enhance control of ground balls. The overall scoop-like construction of the head frame provides improved feel during play, and enhanced ball control and pass/shot velocity. The recessed base shoulder, particularly when combined with the angulated ball-rest surface, protects the net attachment knots from abrasion, and also improves ball control during one-handed vertical cradling.

Abstract: A power drive unit for aircraft cargo handling systems that includes an electric motor and a drive roller mounted on for rotation about an axis parallel to the motor output shaft for engagement with cargo to be driven by the unit. A planetary gear differential and a torque control arrangement couple the motor output shaft to a self-erecting mechanism for lifting the unit into engagement with cargo, and to the drive roller for propelling the cargo. A scrub sensor is coupled to the drive roller for modulating application of electrical power to the motor when the drive roller is scrubbing against cargo engaged by the roller.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for use on vehicles having road wheels with pneumatic tires that includes sensors that produce signals that are a measure of the rotational speed of said wheels, indicators arranged to provide information to the driver of the vehicle, and a computer operably associated with said sensors and indicators. The computer is arranged to monitor the wheel speed sensors during vehicle operation, and to perform at least one of the functions of: determining a value that represents tire inflation pressure and signaling the driver when this value falls below a predetermined value, determining a value that represents tire inflation pressure and signaling this value to the driver, calculating a value that represents vehicle speed and signaling this value to the driver, and calculating a value that represents distance traveled by the vehicle and signaling this distance to the driver.

Abstract: An improved wheel disc and disc and and rim wheel assembly, and method and press apparatus for manufacturing the same. The wheel disc is adapted for telescopic press fit precision mounting into a mating wheel rim to form the wheel assembly. A flat disc blank is progressively die formed into a disc preform having a cross-sectional contour proximating that of the finished disc. The disc preform is then placed in a segmental expand punch and die tooling of the press apparatus which operates to apply radial expansion pressure to substantially the entire inner circumference of the peripheral flange portion of the disc preform to thereby permanently deform the same into a finished flange portion on the disc having precision finished predetermined dimensions.

Abstract: A device for detecting an operation state of a telephone hook switch in a telephone includes a timer, a controlling circuit, a counter and a table electrically interconnected. According to the present invention, the abnormal signals generated by the hook switch cannot be accepted by an exchange or even if the signals are accepted by the exchanger, the mute function of the telephone will be utilized to make the users unable to listen to each other.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for use in a bag forming/filling/sealing machine for controlling the operations of a film transportation motor (10) and an article transportation motor (18) based on the operation of a sealer driving motor (25) which is driven at a cyclic variable speed. The rotation cycles of the respective motors (10, 18, 25) are determined, based on a reference pulse which is generated by a crystal oscillator (28) and input to a central processing unit (27). When a value of the length of articles (19) to be packaged is input to the central processing unit (27), the central processing unit (27) specifies constant speeds of the film transportation motor (10) and the article transportation motor (18) and a cyclic variable speed of the sealer driving motor (25).

Abstract: A force motivating a strut to incline itself in the running direction (front-and-rear direction) of a movable main body is produced by impact stress caused by accelerating, decelerating or stopping the operation of a delivery device. Such force can securely be received by a bottom frame structure as well as by a reinforcing structure of the portions of projected corner members protruding in the running direction which are formed integrally with a cylindrical body of the strut at respective corners thereof. A force motivating the strut to incline itself in the direction orthogonal to the running direction is produced by inward/outward load delivery operation by means of a delivery instrument provided on a carriage. Such force can also securely be received by the bottom frame structure as well as by the reinforcing structure of the portions of the projected corner members protruding in the orthogonal direction.

Abstract: The subject matter of this invention relates to a method of making glass fiber mat reinforcement material with a thermoplastic adhesive powder. Fiberglass strands are chopped and randomly air dropped onto a Teflon.RTM. coated conveyor belt to form a loose mat. A water mist is then applied to the loose mat and transport belt, before a powdered adhesive is dispensed. Heat is applied to plasticize the adhesive and finally the adhesive is solidified by cooling. The adhesive will then release from the transport belt and is adhered to the material forming the fiberglass reinforcement mat.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for rapidly conveying workpieces successively through multiple stations by providing an integrated dual shuttle transfer mechanism conveyor operable in an intermittent repetitive lift and carry workpiece travel cycle mode. The dual shuttles cooperate to alternately advance an in-line array of workpieces at twice the rate of a conventional single shuttle by successively alternately handing off the workpiece array from the workpiece loaded shuttle to the companion empty shuttle for the next array advance thereon while the other shuttle as so unloaded retracts to reload a workpiece on its upstream end. Workpiece carrier rails of each shuttle reciprocable vertically adjacent and past one another between upper and lower elevational limits and horizontally between advance and retract stroke end limits. A shuttle drive causes the dual sets of carrier rails to move through identical closed loop lift and carry travel paths disposed in laterally adjacent vertical planes and in a 180.

Abstract: A framing system having upright stands on opposite sides of a vehicle body support. Welding fixtures are mounted on the stands having welding tools for performing welding operations on a vehicle body. The stands are supported for linear movement toward and away from an operative position adjacent the vehicle body support. Loaders are provided for transferring fixtures to and from the stands.