Abstract: Two lamp sockets (40, 42) on a wiring board (32) behind a switch assembly (18) have identical geometries. Each comprises a through-hole with a polarizing feature. Plural discrete contact pads (44, 46, 48, 50) are disposed on the board surface spaced apart around the margin of each through-hole. Plural discrete conductor traces (52, 54, 56, 58) are printed on the board surface to run from the respective contact pads. Each socket can accept either a first model (66) or a second model (68) of lamp assembly to make either socket a status indicator for the switch assembly or a nighttime illumination socket. A common wiring board can thereby serve different requirements for the locations of status indicator and nighttime illumination lamps.

Abstract: The vehicle seat suspension system of the present invention provides an active seat suspension system responsive to conditions indicative of a collision or rollover for moving the seat downwardly to the limit of its vertical travel. The seat assembly comprises the seat, an active suspension system for maintaining an equilibrium position of the seat, sensors responsive to accident conditions for generating accident indication signals, and a seat positioning signal generator responsive to the accident indication signals for providing a seat relocation signal, where the active suspension system being responsive to the seat relocation signal for moving the seat to a retracted location.

Abstract: A butterfly hood mount system for a truck vehicle with a cab air suspension system. More specifically, the butterfly hood mount system is comprised of a four paneled butterfly hood with a center hinge rod fixed against fore-and-aft movement to a chassis component of the vehicle in the front and in the rear fixed against lateral or side to side movement of the cab of the vehicle, but capable of fore-and-aft movement relative to the cab of the vehicle.

Abstract: Rather than using the viscosity of dampening oil to establish the speed at which the movement of an air core instrument gauge moves, the speed is defined by programming speed data into memory of a microprocessor that controls the movement. When the microprocessor receives an input signal commanding the movement to move, it develops an output signal for operating the movement that is based both on the input signal and on the stored speed signal. The stored speed signal is used by the microprocessor as weight for a software filter used in development of the output signal.

Abstract: The apparatus for providing access steps to a vehicle and a method of installing same on a heavy or medium duty truck. In its most basic form, the apparatus is comprised of an access step and two step brackets. The brackets are installed to outer surfaces of the tank straps which hold a fuel tank to a frame rail of the vehicle. The access step and step brackets have tabs and flaps or slots which can be combined to attach the access step to the step brackets with a reduced number of fasteners.

Abstract: A replaceable coolant filter assembly includes a housing, a filter element having and an end plate to define a fluid path through said filter and comprising a coolant additive sensor having a sacrificial sensing element disposed within said housing in contact with said fluid path. An electrical circuit connecting a microprocessor to the sensing element is grounded through the filter housing to an engine, the microprocessor being responsive to the opening of said sensing element circuit by corrosion an alarm device.

Abstract: A fuel line assembly for an engine fuel system contains a length of nominally circular walled metal tube and a connecting fitting disposed on the tube proximate a terminus of the tube for making connection of an end of the tube containing the terminus to an engine fuel system component. The tube has a formation in a segment spaced from the terminus where the nominally circular wall has been re-formed to a non-circular oval cross section to provide an interference with the connecting fitting that prevents the fitting from sliding past the re-formation.

Abstract: The present invention describes a filter gasket (50) for removing debris from the hydraulic fluid in an internal combustion engine (10). An upper reservoir structure (30) is mounted on a front cover (14) of the engine (10) at interface (46). The front cover forms a lower reservoir (16). The upper reservoir structure (30) forms an upper reservoir (35). A gasket (42) is disposed along the interface (46) to seal the upper reservoir structure (30) to the front cover (14). A screen assembly (70) is positioned adjacent to the interface (46). The screen assembly (70) includes a filter screen (76) connected to a plate member (56). The plate member (56) operatively engages the gasket (42). The plate member (56) forces hydraulic fluid to pass through the filter screen (76), thus retaining debris that exceed the mesh size of the filter screen (76).

Abstract: The invention relates to positioning and installing a windshield within a vehicle frame. An installer places a windshield within the vehicle frame and aligns the windshield using a dart to position and engage the windshield within the windshield opening. The dart nay engage a dart-receiving slot located in the windshield's trim piece. The installer aligns the dart-receiving slot with the dart, then adjusts the position of the windshield as needed.

Abstract: A sealing ring for a drive axle for a mobile vehicle such as a medium or heavy duty truck. The sealing ring is for the interface between the shaft end flange of the axle and the outer hub mounting face of the wheel hub which allows for metal to metal contact between shaft end flange and the wheel hub mounting faces. The sealing ring has a shaft side which is compressed upon installation into a recess in the shaft end flange of the axle and the sealing ring has a hub side which fits adjacent to an inner radial wall of the wheel hub to seal lubricant in the cavity of the wheel hub. The sealing ring is resistant to tearing during installation.

Abstract: An improved school bus door operator for a school bus, or other public transportation vehicle or bus. The improved school bus door operator of this invention consists of a linear actuated school bus door operator with a handle for operation by the driver and the linkage tying the operator to the school bus door. The linear actuated school bus door operator allows the driver of the school bus to open and close the school bus door with a back and forth short-stroke linear movement of the handle. This should reduce repetitive stress injuries which school bus drivers have occasioned. The improved school bus door operator generally consists of a handle slide mechanism, a rotatable pivot arm, and a door linkage arm engaged to the school bus door. The handle slide mechanism further consists of a slide arm that may be moved linearly within the handle slide mechanism. The slide arm has a handle that juts out generally in a vertical direction at a rearward portion of the slide arm.

Abstract: A fuel injection event controller for a fuel injection nozzle includes a hydraulic lock device for selectively restricting the translatory opening of a fuel injection nozzle needle valve, the needle valve delivering a quantity of a fuel to a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. Methods of effecting rate shaping of the injection charge and of providing a two stage injection event are included.

Abstract: A front air suspension system for a mobile vehicle such as a medium or heavy truck or school bus. The system has horizontally mounted shock absorbers engaged at a rear end to each of the frame rails of the chassis and at a forward end to a bell crank. The bell crank is pivotably engaged in its center to the frame rails and on its opposite side to an upper portion of a vertical link. The lower portion of the vertical link is engaged to a trailing beam. An air spring is engaged between each frame rail and the trailing beams. The bell crank transfers energy between the shock absorber and the air springs to dampen air spring induced movement of the chassis. The vertical link and bell crank combination provide lateral support for the sprung mass.

Abstract: The closed joint leaf spring mounting assembly for a mobile vehicle with a body and at least two axles may have a suspension bracket configured to be permanently fixed upon an axle housing for enclosing one of the axles and to include a plurality of vertical throughbores therein, a leaf spring having conformed surface to be congruous with areas of the suspension bracket including the throughbores, and including vertical throughbores therein which align with and form a continuation of the throughbores in the bracket, and a plurality of connectors, such as cap screws, for engagement within the aligned throughbores of the spring end and bracket for securing the structures together.

Abstract: The vehicle seat suspension system of the present invention utilizes an extensible linkage supporting a seat frame. Height adjustment of the seat frame on the extensible linkage is done through an adjustable air spring. Movement of the seat frame due to jostling of the vehicle is normally dampened using a variable damping rate, extensible shock absorber. The damping rate is essentially pushed in infinity, fully locking the shock absorber positionally in response to detection of an accident condition. In one embodiment of the invention, a bleed valve between the compression and rebound chambers of the shock absorber is closed to effect lock up. In an alternative embodiment, the electrorheological or magnetorheological working fluid of a shock absorber may be solidified to lock positionally the shock absorber. Condition detection sensors include accelerometers and roll over detectors. To allow for the possible loss of vehicle power, the lock up signal is supplied by an independent power source.

Abstract: A modular air tank assembly for a mobile vehicle such as a heavy duty highway tractor trailer truck and the process of assembling and installing the modular air tank assembly onto a vehicle. More specifically, the modular air tank assembly is comprised of two "J" shaped brackets, and one or two air tanks seated within the lower portion of the J-brackets and held in place by curved contour retaining elements. The modular air tank assembly may be assembled separate from the main vehicle assembly line and then brought to the line as a unit for installation. The modular assembly includes all tank-to-tank plumbing fittings, check valves, tank drain valves, and local drain valve operator strings which are installed to the assembly separate from the main vehicle assembly line.

Abstract: The apparatus for providing access steps to a vehicle and a method of installing same on a heavy or medium duty truck. In its most basic form, the apparatus is comprised of an access step and two step brackets. The brackets are installed to outer surfaces of the tank straps which hold a fuel tank to a frame rail of the vehicle. The access step and step brackets have tabs and flaps or slots which can be combined to attach the access step to the step brackets with a reduced number of fasteners.

Abstract: An electronic engine control for reducing, and ideally eliminating, accumulation of products of incomplete combustion that result from cold ambient conditions acting on the engine and that otherwise might ultimately affect engine operation before the useful life of an engine has elapsed. An idle speed control has a first source providing a signal corresponding to ambient air temperature, a second source providing a signal corresponding to engine coolant temperature, a third source providing a signal indicating that an engine is running substantially in an idle condition, and a processor that processes the signals from the first source, the second source, and the third source to develop an idle speed control signal for controlling engine idle speed by regulating the engine coolant temperature to a defined coolant temperature when the engine is running in an idle condition and the ambient air temperature does not concurrently exceed a defined air temperature.

Abstract: An assembly that removes air from the housing of an axle assembly in combination with the axle assembly for use with a vhicle. The assembly is vomprised of a modified differential housing having an air flow channel therein extending from an inner chamber of the housing to a face of the differentiao housing which abuts ayoke of a drive shaft, the channel emptying into an area over which an seal protector is engaged for protecting a seal provided between the yoke and the differential, the seal protector having an edge port in a circumferential edge thereof which aligns with a cooperating cored hole in a corresponding circumferential area of the housing intermittently, the seal protector being engaged to the drive shaft yode and rotating therewith. The intermittent alignment of the edge port and the cored hole allows venting of the inner chamber of the differential housing to the outside atmosphere.