Abstract: A robotic gripper apparatus having a pair of finger support assemblies associated with a slot and a slotted disk provides longitudinal movement when the slotted disk is rotated. The apparatus includes a mechanism for varying the circumferential position of the finger support assemblies around the circumference of the apparatus about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the slotted disk.

Abstract: A plate is disclosed for use in a plate-fin heat exchanger, comprising a generally planar elongated member having a longitudinal rib disposed along the longitudinal length of the member. The plate further includes a first plurality of beads having a height greater than the height of the rib as well as a second plurality of beads having a height approximately equal to the height of the longitudinal rib. The beads are arranged generally in rows having a planar space of predetermined longitudinal length therebetween into which an adjoining row of beads is placed when a pair of identical plates are laminated together in a face-to-face relationship and forming a heat exchanger. A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of stacked plates generally as described above is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for mechanically applying a weather strip or other channel-shaped strip to a peripheral lip of a body or an opening, notably a vehicle door opening. The apparatus comprises a plurality of radially extensible arms extending from a centrally defined hub, each arm being operative to grip and apply the strip to the lip. The apparatus further includes a device for gripping the free ends of the sealing strip after the strip has been fed through the apparatus and for indenting the free ends radially inward while the remainder of the strip is applied to the lip. The free ends are then applied to the lip in abutting relationship. A method for applying the sealing strip is also disclosed.

Abstract: An aluminum casting alloy consisting of, by weight, of 7.0-13.0% copper, 0.4-1.2% manganese, 0.21-40% vanadium, 0.31-0.70% zirconium; impurities limited to: less than to 0.6% Si, less than 0.8% Fe, less than 0.2% zinc, less than 0.1% Mn, less than 0.2% Ni, and the remainder being essentially aluminum. There is an absence of titanium, cobalt, molybdenum, tungsten, chromium, boron, tantalum, and niobium. The alloy has, at room temperature, a UTS of about 61 ksi, a YS of about 49 ksi, a tensile elongation of about 6%, and tensile modulus elasticity of about 11.5 MSI, a compressive yield strength of about 53 ksi, a compressive modulus of elasticity of about 18 MSi; high temperature physical properties at 500.degree. F., after 1000 hours exposure to 500.degree. F., comprise a tensile strength of 33 ksi or greater, a tensile yield strength of 23 ksi or greater, a tensile elongation of about 9%, and tensile modulus of elasticity of 10 msi.

Abstract: An air cleaner for an internal combustion engine includes a filter element and a housing having the filter element situated therein, with the housing having an outlet for allowing filtered air to flow to the engine and an inlet permitting entry of air into the housing. The outlet includes a venturi which is integral with the outer wall of the housing and which defines a passage through the wall, with the venturi expanding radially on the inner side of the housing's outer wall.

Abstract: A tube coupling and combination retainer and disassembly tool includes a first tube having a first end portion for telescopically receiving a second tube therein and a second tube having a second end portion including a structure for telescopically engaging the first end portion and a first fastening device for securing the first and second end portions to each other. A tube coupling and retainer according to the present invention further includes a second fastening structure for selectively securing the first and second end portions to each other and for disengaging the first fastening structure upon demand.

Abstract: A method of making a connecting rod for attachment to a bearing journal by separation of parts of the connecting rod, comprising: (a) forging a powder metal sintered preform to provide a one-piece connecting rod having an annular wall defining a crank opening with a center axis and with stress risers for establishing a cracking plane that extends across said crank opening; (b) providing access for a compression coupling across the cracking plane; (c) while at ambient conditions, applying tension substantially uniformly across the cracking plane to propagate fracture from the stress risers along said cracking plane and thereby separate the connecting rod into a cap and body with cracked surfaces; and (d) remating the cap and body by applying a compression coupling through the access to draw said cap and body together under guidance and with metal yielding pressure to effect substantially an exact rematch of said cracked surfaces.

Abstract: A superhard carbon composition, having a crystal structure cell consisting of (i) a unit cell of six carbon atoms with crystallographic hexagonal symmetry, (ii) all carbon atoms in flat three-fold coordinated configurations (sp.sup.2 bonding), and (iii) carbon atoms in layers of chains which zig-zag in a direction normal to the layers with each layer being rotated 60.degree. with respect to its adjacent layer. The composition has a density of about 3.2 g/cm.sup.3, a bulk modulus and a hardness exceeding diamond (bulk modulus is 6.9 Mbar), and a bonding length of 1.45-1.47 angstroms.

Abstract: The invention relates to an air cleaner comprising a generally bell-shaped air cleaner housing and a generally frustoconical filter positioned concentrically within the housing. The housing has an air inlet at its small end and an air outlet at its large end for the flow of air generally axially into and out of the housing. The filter has a filter element coaxially juxtaposed the interior surface of the housing. The filter element is generally annular and has an upstream portion and a downstream portion. The downstream portion of a member supportably engages the upstream portion of the filter element. The upstream portion of the filter element has a diameter larger than the diameter of the member downstream portion. The member blocks the flow of air into the interior of the filter element and directs air axially along the exterior of the filter element. A downstream annular support piece engages the downstream end of the filter element.

Abstract: Method of making exactly remateable cracked connecting rods comprised of forged wrought steel possessing typical ductility, said rods having a big end with a big bore therein and an arm-like body extending therefrom with a small end at its extremity, the big end having crack initiating crevices formed therein to promote a cracking plane, comprising the following steps: (a) placing the big bore of an uncracked connecting rod onto a nestable separable pair of cantilevered hemispherical blocks complementary to the internal shape of the big bore; (b) continuously and uniformly separating the cantilevers of said blocks to initially assure contact of said blocks with the rod at a tangent point aligned substantially on the longitudinal axis of the uncracked connecting rod, and thereafter to exert sufficient force through said cantilevers to the blocks to pull apart the connecting rod at the cracking plane determined by said crack initiating crevices, the connecting rod cap and body being free to experience small but

Abstract: A molded assembly comprising a wall made from a plastic sheet that is pliable at a first elevated temperature. A body having a penetrating portion and a connecting portion forms an aperture in the wall, the connecting portion extends through the aperture and is made from a material resistant to melting at the first temperature. The connecting portion is made from a material that will at least partially melt at the first temperature. The connecting portion engages one surface of the wall, whereby when the wall is raised to the first temperature, the connecting portion partially melts and becomes integral with the wall when returned to ambient temperature.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is described in which each combustion chamber (10) in the engine has an associated auxiliary chamber (18), and in which, for low compression ratio operation, the auxiliary chamber (18) is constantly connected to the combustion chamber (10) and, for high compression ratio operation, the auxiliary chamber (18) is connected to the combustion chamber (10) by a one way valve (24, 36, 38, 40) which permits gas flow only in the direction from the combustion chamber (10) towards the auxiliary chamber (18).

Abstract: Where a circumferential surface has to be ground on a workpiece and the workpiece is being rotated around an axis which is not concentric with the surface, both the grinding wheel axis and the workpiece rotation axis are displaced during the course of each workpiece revolution. The result is that the point of contact between the grinding wheel and workpiece surface always lies on a straight line.

Abstract: An electronic fuel injector for an internal combustion engine includes an electromagnetic coil assembly and a valve assembly responsive to the coil with the valve assembly including a valve stop having a sealing surface for contacting a valve pintle and a semi-floating pintle reciprocably mounted above the valve stop and having a first axial portion extending within an armature and a second axial portion which is not piloted and which has a sealing surface for contacting the sealing surface of the valve stop.

Abstract: An impact absorbing vehicular device for cushioning an occupant's knees or other extremities, the device including a contacting interior panel member supported by one or more impact absorbing brackets in the form of a U-shaped channel member having non-parallel sides in three normal views (e.g., side view, plan view, front view) and with the contacting interior panel being supported by the base wall of the channel member. The side walls of the channel member including ribs or darts extending normal to the base wall to encourage the formation of a plurality of folds, rather than a single fold, in response to a high energy impact. The side walls, in one embodiment, each being bowed outwardly from one another.

Abstract: An adjustable headlight is described having a reflector 14 movably mounted within an outer casing 12 and an actuator 26 fitted to an opening in the outer casing 12 and having an output shaft 26 extending through the opening in the casing and connected to the reflector 14 to enable the reflector to be pivoted within the casing 12 to adjust the headlight beam, the output shaft 28 of the actuator 26 being connected to the reflector by means of a bayonet fitting 30, 32.

Abstract: A composite intake or exhaust valve for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The composite engine valve comprises a valve head of lightweight, heat resistant metal alloy material and a valve stem of lightweight, heat resistant ceramic based material. The valve head has an integral valve head insert around which the valve stem is molded to integrate the valve head and valve stem into a composite valve. The valve head insert is provided with anti-rotation means to prevent rotation of the valve head relative to the valve stem during use. The valve head insert is also provided with anti-tension means to prevent separation of the valve head from the valve stem during use.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for simultaneously measuring each constituent film in a multi-layer coating. Near Infrared Reflectance (NIR) measurements are taken at the peak and reference wavelength for a series of calibration samples. Based on these measurements, a relationship is established between the film NIR and thickness. A measuring NIR spectrometer is supplied with the relationship and a target sample is irradiated with near infrared radiation at each peak and reference wavelength. The measuring spectrometer measures the amount of NIR and computes the individual film thicknesses using the relationship supplied to it. Individual film thicknesses can be visually displayed, and/or directed to the film applying apparatus. If the thickness of an individual film layer deviates from a predetermined valve, the film applying apparatus is manipulated to apply the desired thickness of film.

Abstract: To adjust axial and radial movement of a thrust plug associated with end play of a rotating shaft, the thrust plug receives the shaft on one side and has a shoulder surface extending from the other side of the thrust plug. A housing position supports a retainer cap which receives the thrust plug so the thrust plug can have some axial movement. The thrust plug shoulder is higher than the thickness of the retainer cap, so that predetermined amount of axial play (c) can be accurately and exactly established. Radial movement of the thrust plug within a housing cavity is achieved by having a thrust plug diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter of the housing cavity, and having an O-ring about the thrust plug which engages the housing cavity and provides a pivot point.

Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine includes a housing for receiving liquid fuel and having a terminal provision for connecting the injector to an engine control computer, a solenoid coil operatively connected with the terminal provision, an orifice plate containing at least one orifice for discharging fuel from the injector, and a valve element positioned to cooperate with the orifice plate and to control the flow of fuel from the injector, with the valve element comprising a generally planar first segment which is immovable with respect to the injector housing and a second segment cantilevered from the first segment and having an armature attached thereto so that fuel will be allowed to flow from the injector when the injector solenoid coil is excited.