Abstract: A hydraulic lash adjusting tappet 10 for use in engine valve gear of the direct acting type having one end of the tappet contacting the end of the combustion chamber valve stem 26 and the other end contacting the cam-shaft lobe 16. The tappet has the body 40 formed with a tubular wall portion 42 having an inwardly extending web portion 44 intermediate the ends thereof with a tubular hub 46 disposed therewithin formed integrally with the web and extending axially therefrom. A cam face disc member 18 is attached about the periphery thereof to one end of the tubular wall. A plunger means 50 is slidably received in the tubular hub and includes a piston 64 slidable therein forming a high pressure chamber 86 within the plunger remote from the cam face and having therein one-way valve means for admitting fluid to the chamber for lash adjustment. An annular retainer 56 is received over the outward end of the hub and a passage 84 is provided through the tubular wall portion for communicating fluid to the reservoir.

Abstract: A viscous fan clutch (10) is typically employed in a fan drive mechanism within a truck or automobile. A shaft (12) driven by the engine, rotates a clutch member (24) within the fan drive. The clutch member is arranged for fluid engagement with a body member (42) for the transmission of torque thereto when the fluid is disposed in an operating chamber (70) defined by complimentary shear surfaces (30 and 56) in the clutch and body members. During relative rotation between the two members, fluid is pumped from the operating chamber to a storage chamber (76) through a return passage (111). Fluid is returned to the operating chamber via bleed ports (118). The return passage and bleed ports are selectively restricted by an electromagnetically controlled valve (112) which taps the kinetic energy of the rotating members. A control system (132) senses vehicle coolant temperature and actuates the valve as a function thereof.

Abstract: An inverter (34) which provides power to an A.C. machine (28) is controlled by a circuit (36) employing PWM control strategy whereby A.C. power is supplied to the machine at a preselectable frequency and preselectable voltage. This is accomplished by the technique of waveform notching in which the shapes of the notches are varied to determine the average energy content of the overall waveform. Through this arrangement, the operational efficiency of the A.C. machine is optimized. The control circuit includes a micro-computer which calculates optimized machine control data signals from various parametric inputs and during steady state load conditions, seeks a best V/HZ ratio to minimize battery current drawn (system losses) from a D.C. power source (32). In the preferred embodiment, the present invention is incorporated within an electric vehicle (10) employing a 144 VDC battery pack and a three-phase induction motor (18).

Abstract: A receiver time delay calibration device designed for low cost retrofitting of airborne equipment and more specifically DME equipment. In this system, the output of a VFO is applied to the RF input port of the receiver to be tested. The VFO is swept through a frequency range of the receiver until the receiver provides an output, which occurs at the operating frequency of the receiver, f.sub.t. The receiver's output at f.sub.t is used to stop the sweep of the VFO and maintain it at f.sub.t. The output of the VFO is then pulse modulated and the delay between the RF pulse applied to the input of the receiver and the corresponding video output pulse from the receiver is measured to determine the receiver delay time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a brake shoe assembly (40) for frictionally braking a moveable member such as a wheel of a motor vehicle. Assembly (40) includes a frictional liner (8) that is removeably secured to a support member (2) that is adapted to move liner (8) towards and away from the member to be braked. Liner (8) is removeably secured to member (2) by means of at least one retainer (34) having a base portion (10) in embedded securement in liner (8) from which at least one pair of spaced-apart legs (12) extend towards support member (2) and through corresponding openings (4) therethrough to respective ends (14) thereof that are adapted to facilitate removal of liner (8) for replacement or repair.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring and compensating for neutral ions in an ion beam in the dose control system of an ion implanter. The gas pressure in the implantation volume (15) is measured, and the pressure signal is converted to an effective beam current signal in accordance with a known relationship among the gas pressure, the apparent beam current as measured by a Faraday cage and the neutral beam. The resulting effective beam current signal is inputted to the dose control system.

Abstract: The compound detent mechanism (104) for a manual change gear transmission (10) of the type wherein engagement and disengagement reverse gear is controlled by a first shift rail (58) and engagement and disengagement of the lowest forward speed is controlled by an adjacent second shift rail (56) is provided. Detent mechanism (104) is carried by the shift block assembly (88) associated with the first shift rail and includes a first piston (132) resiliently blocking transverse alignment of a shift element with the contact surfaces (96, 98) associated with the second shift rail (56) associated with the lowest forward speed and a second piston element (114) resiliently blocking shifter element transverse alignment with the contact surfaces (100 and 102) associated with the first shift rail (58) associated with the reverse speed ratio.

Abstract: A reservoir height extender for a lash adjuster assembly (150) comprising an inverted hollow insert member (60) disposed in fluid reservoir chamber (42) within a plunger member (40) of assembly (150). Plunger member (40) is reciprocally moveable within a bore (38) of a body member (36) having a first fluid passageway (48) adapted to receive fluid from a fluid source and which communicates with a second fluid passageway (46) in plunger member (40) adapted to enable the fluid to flow into fluid reservoir chamber (42). Insert member (60) is displaced from a wall of plunger member (40) surrounding chamber (42) for a distance sufficient to provide a third fluid passageway (68) therebetween which communicates between passageway (46) and an opening (64) through insert member (60) that is higher than passageway (46) and which enables a substantial increase in the level of fluid within reservoir chamber (42).

Abstract: A combustible mixture composed of a flowing fuel and gaseous oxygen is ignited by exposing one or both of the constituents of the mixture to a region of corona discharge in order to generate molecular radicals which subsequently combine with radicals of the other constituent to initiate combustion. The apparatus includes at least two electrodes (14 & 16) having a voltage potential impressed thereacross to generate a region of intense electric field and means to maintain the resulting voltage-current characteristic relationship within a corona discharge region of operation (42).

Abstract: An electrical power shutdown system for an aircraft includes a battery (B), a battery relay (BR), a plurality of aircraft status sensor switches (SSW), an electrical bus (EB) leading to the power utilization system, a main battery switch (BSW), and a control unit (CS). When the status sensor switches indicate shutdown of the aircraft, the control unit activates a timer (TMR) that controls disconnect elements (Q1, IR) to cause deenergization of the battery relay after a time interval if the pilot forgets to open the main battery switch. The control unit (CS) prevents resetting (closing of the battery relay) on momentary interruption of the positive battery power under shutdown conditions but allows such resetting on momentary interruption of such positive power under normal operative conditions and prevents such resetting regardless of the status if the main battery switch is open.

Abstract: A fluid coupling device (15) is disclosed of the type including an output coupling assembly (67) and an input coupling member (81) with a shear space (90) disposed therebetween. The coupling device includes a valve assembly (117) to control the flow of fluid from a reservoir chamber (99) into the shear space (90). Movement of the valve assembly (117) is in response to variations in air pressure in a pressure chamber (59), tending to bias a piston (57) and shaft (93) in opposition to the force of a spring (113). Axial movement of the shaft (93) is translated into movement of a valve arm (127) in a plane parallel to the plane of a fluid port (119) by means of a valve actuation mechanism (109). In the subject embodiment, axial movement of a valve actuation piston (111) results in rotation of the valve assembly (117) about the axis of rotation of the device (15) for improved valve action in a remote sensing type of fluid coupling device.

Abstract: A mechanism (19) disposed in a torque converter housing (24) for damping torsionals in a vehicle driveline. The mechanism comprises a viscous coupling (22) including a housing (64) having two sidewalls (24a, 68) defining a chamber (70) containing a viscous liquid, and a clutch member (72) disposed in the chamber for viscous clutching coaction with the housing. One of the sidewalls (24a) is defined by an end wall of the torque converter housing. The housing and clutch member are interconnected by a spring assembly (20) including flat torsion springs (61, 62) which transmit steady-state driveline torque and isolate driveline torsionals. The inner surfaces (24b, 68a) of the housing each include two circumferentially spaced clutching surfaces separated by the clutch member. The clutch member has oppositely facing surfaces (72b, 72c) each which include two flat circumferentially spaced clutching surfaces.

Abstract: An improved control system for an automatic change gear transmission (10) driven by a throttle (18) controlled engine (12) is provided. The control system includes a processing unit (30) for receiving inputs indicating at least throttle position (18), engine speed (20) and vehicle speed (28) and for processing these inputs in accordance with a program to determine the correct engaged gear ratio and for issuing command signals to a transmission shifting mechanism (26). The processing unit includes of operator actuated selection means (32) for selecting a mode of operation (D.sub.1 or D.sub.L) wherein vehicle performance is maximized and the control will evaluate and execute allowable skip downshifts.

Abstract: An automatic clutch control system for controlling a vehicle master clutch (14) drivingly interposed a throttle controlled engine (12) and a change gear transmission (10) having a clutch protection portion (70) to prevent the clutch from destructively overheating due to excessive slipping is provided. The clutch protection portion (70) includes a device for maintaining a variable parameter simulating clutch operating temperature (110) and devices (104 and 116) for causing said variable parameter to be increased and decreased, respectively, at first and second rates selected to simulate clutch heating and cooling rates, respectively. A signal generating device (126) is responsive to the simulated value exceeding a predetermined limit to generate a clutch protection output singal (84) effective to cause the clutch to be operated in a non-slipping, preferably fully engaged, mode of operation.

Abstract: A one-piece sheet metal fastener (10) for joining two or more panels (14, 16) having a combined axial thickness (18) within a given range and aligned apertures (22, 24) of a given diameter (24) is provided. The fastener comprises two sidewall portions (28, 30) joined by a bight portion (32) which are aligned in the initial configuration of the fastener and which may be nonresiliently deformed by relative transverse movement of tab portions (46, 48) extending downwardly from transverse opposite sides of each sidewall portion.

Abstract: A programmer timer (10) having motor driven cams (61, 64, 62, 66) for operating electrical switching mechanisms (102, 116, 144, 138, 126). The motor comprises a pair of spaced stator plates (24, 26) with a coil (34) and permanent magnet rotor (36) therebetween, received in a walled chamber (28) in the timer housing. Motor reduction gears (44) drive a shaft (48) for driving the ratchet wheels (72, 68) and rotary cams. The motor, gear train cams and electrical switching mechanisms are contained in a single integral housing (12). Separate concentric fast and slow ratchet wheels (72, 68) are driven by a single eccentric driven pawl (14). The center of rotation of the eccentric is positioned so that drive pawl contacts the ratchet wheel at an angle at least 10.degree. greater than a tangent at the contact point, for all eccentric positions, to provide ratchet wheel advance in the event of reverse rotation of the eccentric.

Abstract: A strain gage type load sensor having a central disc with a plurality of radially outwardly extending spokes each having the ends thereof flexurally attached to an outer annular reaction portion by means of a pair of oppositely directed beams extending from the spokes at right angles thereto for flexually suspending the central disc from the annular portion. A plurality of upstanding posts supporting a common block. The beams and posts are strain gaged for sensing bending loads. In another embodiment, two central discs are stacked axially with each suspended by connection of the spokes to the annular reaction portion. A first group of strain gages is disposed at mid-radius of the spokes for sensing radial tension and compression strains in the spokes. A second group strain gages is disposed at the inner and outer spoke ends for sensing bending strains in the spokes.

Abstract: A push-push lamp socket having a socket member (2) into which a conventional lamp bulb (28) can be mounted by a first axial push and released by a second axial push for removal. In a first version, a cylindrical socket member (2) has four entry recesses (W,N,E,S) or grooves for receiving the radial lugs (24,26) of a conventional lamp bulb in either of two ninety degree orientations (W,E or N,S) and a horizontal groove (4) having slopes (16, 38) leading to pockets (30,40) on its inward and outward sides for latching the bulb lugs (24,26) in response to a first push and disengagement. Additional slopes (42,46) and pocket (44) control the lugs on a second push and disengagement to rotate the bulb lugs into the recesses (N,S) for release from the socket.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-contacting liquid measurement system (60) preferably adapted to provide an averaged measurement in suitable units of measure of liquid (2), such as fuel, in a pressurized or unpressurized tank (4), such as a vehicular fuel tank, having an irregular shape such as irregular shaped bottom (6). The irregularity of bottom (6) results in variations in depth of liquid (2) across tank (4) that are accounted for by disposing a plurality of conduits (10, 12 14) in an array across tank (4) predetermined to provide the accuracy of measurement desired. Conduits (10, 12, 14) have respective ends (16, 18, 20) immersed in liquid (2) as close to bottom (6) as practical and are operable to provide respective liquid pressure signals (P.sub.1, P.sub.2 and P.sub.

Abstract: A positive drive (10) utilizing a secondary clutch (76, 78, 132, 134) to frictionally couple the drive cam (22) and housing (12) to the output couplings (34, 36) regardless of engagement of the primary clutch (52, 54 and 66, 68) for preload and dampening purposes is provided. The magnitude of the torque transfer capacity of the secondary clutch between the drive cam and the faster rotating output coupling includes a fixed magnitude component supplied by a resilient biasing member (72 and 74) and a variable magnitude component which increases with increases in the magnitude of difference between torque transmitted to the slower and faster rotating wheels by the clutches associated therewith.