Abstract: A seat/flatbed/drop-in-container assembly for a cart comprises a framework extending from and supported by the cart, including at least one support member, and defining a volume of space interiorly of the support member and a remaining portion of the framework. A seat is supported by the framework within the volume of space and adapted to extend to define a flatbed supported by the framework within the volume of space. A container is adapted to be dropped in the volume of space and supported upon the flatbed. To secure the container to the framework upon the flatbed, the support member extends through an aperture disposed completely through the container and/or is interferingly fitted between a body of the container and lip of a rim thereof. Alternatively, to secure the container upon the flatbed, the seat includes a seat back, and the container defines a flange that holds the seat back.

Abstract: A vehicle seat assembly having a seatback frame, an upper armature that is movable relative to the seatback frame and a head restraint mounted on the upper armature. A linkage assembly operatively interconnects the upper armature and an impact body such that movement of the impact body relative to the seatback frame acts on the linkage assembly to move the upper armature relative to the seatback frame to cause the head restraint to move toward the occupant. The linkage assembly includes a linkage and a coupler movably connected to the linkage. The coupler includes a first member movably connected to the seatback frame and a second member movably connected to the first member at a location below the upper end of the impact body.

Abstract: A locking differential for an automotive vehicle including a housing and a differential mechanism supported in the housing. The differential mechanism includes a pair of clutch members disposed in spaced axial relationship with respect to each other wherein each clutch member includes a groove disposed in an opposed inwardly directing face that is adapted to receive a cross pin. Each of the grooves includes a working surface extending laterally relative to each other. Each of the working surfaces defines a screw involute surface such that the cross pin contacts the working surface along a line extending in the direction of the cross pin in the event of differential rotation of an axle half shaft relative to the housing. Alternatively, each of the working surfaces defines a slightly convex surface in one plane such that the cross pin contacts the working surface at a point defined thereon.

Abstract: A wireless communication module includes: amounting board including a dielectric frame and a dielectric panel that are stacked together, the frame defining a frame space; at least one electronic component mounted on the mounting board and extending into the frame space; and a plurality of conductive bodies embedded in the dielectric frame and surrounding the frame space so as to prevent electromagnetic interference resulting from the electronic component.

Abstract: A bottom of a snowplow defines a front, plowing surface and an inverted shelf disposed directly behind the plowing surface, and the shelf defines a first side abutting against a rear of the plowing surface and a second side of the shelf extending away from the rear of the plowing surface. A backblade-and-snowplow system comprises a bent, rigid blade defining a top and back and at least one hole in the top of the blade corresponding to a hole defined in the second side of the shelf. At least one fastening mechanism is passed through the corresponding hole defined in the second side of the shelf and the hole defined in the top of the blade to secure the blade to the shelf. At least one L-shaped bracket defines a top edge secured along the top and back of the blade and a first side of the bracket positioned flush with the first side of the shelf.

Abstract: A piston and connecting rod assembly wherein the piston includes an inner cooling gallery defined in the body thereof beneath the crown of the piston, an outer cooling gallery defined between the skirt of the piston and the body and beneath the crown. A pin bore is formed in the body. A connecting rod is adapted to interconnect the piston and crankshaft where the connecting rod has at least one end with a bore extending therethrough and adapted to be aligned with the pin bore of the piston. At least one end of the connecting rod is in fluid communication with the inner cooling gallery of the piston and includes a reservoir formed on the end of the connecting rod which is adapted to collect coolant therein.

Abstract: A method is provided of emulating and visualizing machine tool behavior for a programmable logic controller logical verification system for manufacturing a motor vehicle. The method includes the steps of constructing a mechanical model. The method also includes the steps of viewing motion of the mechanical model in a motion viewer and determining whether the motion of the mechanical model is acceptable. The method further includes the steps of replicating the motion previously defined with PLC code if the motion of the mechanical model was acceptable and using the accepted motion of the mechanical model to compare the behavior of the PLC code relative to the accepted motion.

Abstract: A differential gear mechanism including a gear case having a body defining a gear chamber having a pair of opposed openings with a pair of output gears rotatably supported in the gear chamber adjacent to the openings. At least one of the output gears has a hub with a tapered portion facing an adjacent opening. At least one of the openings includes an inner chamfer portion that corresponds to an adjacent tapered portion. The gear case and gear set cooperate to move the output gear such that the tapered portion is disposed in frictional, torque translating engagement with a chamfered portion to bias torque translated through the differential to the output shafts under predetermined conditions.

Abstract: An electronically controlled locking differential includes an electromagnetic coil and a control system adapted to control operation of the differential. The control system has a module adapted to be mounted under a dashboard of a vehicle and a circuit electrically interfacing with the module. The circuit has a latching switch that is electrically connected to first and/or second sources of power and adapted to provide latching power of the differential. A latching component is electrically connected to the latching switch and adapted to provide latching power of the differential. The circuit is disabled when power to the control system is turned off and in “standby” mode when power to the control system is turned on. Upon the latching switch being activated, current flows through the circuit to activate the latching component, and the differential is actuated.

Abstract: An electronically controlled locking differential includes an electromagnetic coil and a wire harness adapted to logically control operation of the differential and having a circuit. The circuit has a latching switch that is electrically connected to a first source of power and adapted to provide latching power of the differential. A double-pole, double-throw control relay is electrically connected to the latching switch and includes a first switch, a second switch, and a coil. The second switch is adapted to “jump” the latching switch. The circuit is disabled when power to the harness is turned off and in “standby” mode when power to the harness is turned on. Upon the latching switch being activated, current flows from a starting point of the circuit through the circuit to activate the relay, the first switch closes to energize the differential, the second switch closes such that the current “jumps” the latching switch, and the differential is actuated.

Abstract: A method for producing a rear crossmember for a vehicle seat that includes the steps of providing metal plate stock having a first edge and a second edge as well as performing a simultaneous punching and clinching operation to locate and secure a plurality of threaded fasteners into the plate stock at predetermined points. This operation causes an opening to be punched through the plate stock and the fasteners to be permanently retained in the plate stock at the openings. The plurality of fasteners provide threaded connection points that are employed in the further construction of the vehicle seat. A rolling operation is employed to cause the first edge of the plate stock to come into close proximity with the second edge of the plate stock in such a manner as to form the desired cross-sectional shape for the rear crossmember and a welding operation used to secure the first edge to the second edge thereby forming the rolled plate stock into the desired rear crossmember.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a connecting rod assembly including the steps of defining a small end of a connecting rod assembly having a terminal end and then defining a pin bore extending through the small end of the connecting rod assembly. A pair of channels is formed on opposite sides of the small end of the connecting rod assembly wherein the axis of each of the channels is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pin bore. At least partially annular grooves are formed within the pin bore adjacent the distal end of the pin bore. The connecting rod assembly is then machined to reduce the width of the small end between each channel and the terminal end to provide a small end having a reduced width configuration wherein the grooves are disposed along at least a portion of the distal end to reduce the need to deburr the area adjacent the pin bore.

Abstract: A universal holding fixture assembly includes a plurality of linear actuators supported by the fixture and adapted to engage and support a workpiece relative to the fixture. A linear displacement member is supported by a housing and adapted to move between retracted and extended positions. An end effector assembly is operatively supported by the linear actuator and adapted to engage the workpiece when the linear displacement member is in its extended position. A sensor is operatively supported by the end effector assembly and is responsive to contact with the workpiece to establish a datum of the position of the linear actuator relative to the workpiece.

Abstract: A torsional vibration damper includes a primary element with at least one primary driver, a secondary element with at least one secondary driver, at least one spring device between the primary and secondary drivers for resiliently elastic coupling of the primary and secondary elements, and at least one end block arranged on an end side of the spring device. The primary element is rotatable relative to the secondary element from a neutral position into a first position, in which the primary driver is supported only on the spring device, and from the first position onward into a second position, in which the primary driver is supported on the spring device and on the end block. In the first and second positions of the primary element, torque of the torsional vibration damper can be transmitted exclusively directly between the primary driver and spring device.

Abstract: A torsional vibration damper includes at least one spring element and a sliding block. The sliding block includes a first surface section that operatively faces an adjacent spring element, is harder than another surface section of the sliding block, has first and/or second supporting surfaces for radial support of the spring element, and has first and/or second supporting surfaces for axial support of the spring element. A second surface section has a sliding surface for sliding support of the sliding block, and a basic body includes plastic. The first and/or second surface section(s) is/are formed by at least one first insert that is harder than the plastic. The first surface section is formed by at least two elongate second inserts that are spaced apart from one another and projected and on which the spring element can be supported in a centering manner in a radial direction.

Abstract: A locking differential mechanism for supplying torque from a driveshaft to a pair of aligned output shafts including a pair of side gears, a central driver, and a pair of clutch members operatively coupled for rotation with the corresponding one of the pair of side gears. A cam assembly includes a pair of cam members. Each of the pair of cam members includes a plurality of camming teeth extending toward the corresponding teeth on the opposed cam member. Each of the cam members is movable from a first position where the cam teeth are disposed in meshing relationship with respect to each other when the pair of side gears are rotating at substantially the same speed and a second position spaced axially from the first position along the associated side gear so as to move an associated clutch member from its first position to its second position out of driven relationship with the central driver in response to a difference in rotational speed of the associated pair of side gears.

Abstract: A method for controlling the wastegate in a turbocharged internal combustion engine including the steps of: determining, during a design phase, a control law which provides an objective opening of a controlling actuator of the wastegate according to the supercharging pressure; determining an objective supercharging pressure; measuring an actual supercharging pressure; determining a first open loop contribution of an objective position of a controlling actuator of the wastegate by means of the control law and according to the objective supercharging pressure; determining a second closed loop contribution of the objective position of the controlling actuator of the wastegate; and calculating the objective position of the controlling actuator of the wastegate by adding the two contributions.

Abstract: A vehicle step includes a step member and first and second extending and retracting devices connected to the step member for moving it between extended and retracted positions. Each of the extending and retracting devices includes a mounting bracket adapted to be fixed to a vehicle body, a step bracket connected to the step member, first and second arms each defining a lower end rotatably connected to the step bracket and an upper end, and a third arm defining an upper end rotatably connected to the mounting bracket and a lower end rotatably connected to the upper end of the first or second arm. The upper end of the other of the first or second arm is rotatably connected to the mounting bracket. The vehicle step includes also driving devices that drive respectively the extending and retracting devices to move the step member between the extended and retracted positions.

Abstract: A telescoping ladder jack supports a scaffolding plank and comprises a main member. A telescoping beam includes longitudinally spaced holes on each side of the telescoping beam and is inserted into or extracted from the main member. A locking mechanism is mounted to the main member and inserted into one of the holes to fix the telescoping beam at a desired length extracted from the main member. Ladder rung hooks are attached to a first bracket, which receives and is pivotally attached to the main member and has one of the hooks attached to each opposing end of the first bracket. A device for adjusting incline includes a second bracket mounted to a bottom of the main member (the second bracket including at least one series of recessed locking joints) and a bracing arm movably fastened to the second bracket by a locking pin oriented through a first end of the bracing arm and pivotally mounted to the first bracket at a second end of the bracing arm.