Abstract: A bearing liner comprises an elongated resilient non-metallic unitary structure having a plurality of generally planar sides for placement between a steering sleeve and correspondingly planar-sided steering shaft. The liner is adapted to receive the steering shaft, and in a preferred form comprises four sides having a square cross-section. Each juxtaposed side is joined together by a flexible web which has a cross-section substantially thinner than the average cross-sections of the sides. Each of the sides includes two arcuate, axially extending integral spring channels which define its edges and which are designed to accommodate torsional lost motion between the steering shaft and sleeve members. In a preferred form, the liner is formed of an injection molded composition of nylon having carbon fibers and polytetraflouroethylene, the carbon fiber imparting strength to the composition, the polytetrafluoroethylene supplying lubricity.

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure system includes a pump and a dry valve situated in the inlet of the pump, the dry valve being actuated by a pilot valve capable of capturing the pressure differentials between inlet and outlet of the pump for shifting the dry valve between opened and closed positions. In the dry operational mode, the pump inlet operates at a pressure below atmospheric, thus providing a pressure differential substantial enough to move the dry valve to an opened position. In the preferred form, the pilot valve is a solenoid actuated two-position, four-way, spring loaded valve. The dry valve is a gate valve directly coupled to a fluid control motor.

Abstract: An anti-rattle device for a multiple disc friction clutch assembly also doubles as a clutch disc separator device. In a preferred form, the device is formed of spring steel, and is adapted to be received on a radially extending lug of a clutch plate. The device has an elongate body adapted to extend generally tangentially to the circumference of the clutch plate. The device includes a lug-receiving slot in one of two elongate boundary edges, and is adapted to be trapped between the circumferential contours of a clutch cover bracket and the clutch plate. The device is installed on the lug without special tools, and is retained on the lug solely by friction.

Abstract: A compound shift lever mechanism employs a noise and vibration damper assembly for isolating an upper shift lever from a lower shift lever of a transmission. In a preferred form, the levers are held in spaced, coaxial alignment for unitary movement in a plurality of planes by a damper which comprises two parts. The first part is a cylindrical elastomeric sleeve defining axially spaced female end portions comprising bores which frictionally overlie and snugly encase the two lever end portions which extend thereinto. The second part is a cylindrical metallic shell which circumferentially encapsulates the elastomeric sleeve which contains the respective ends of the upper and lower levers. The shell thus radially encapsulates both of the end portions, as well as the sleeve, which incorporates a midportion containing a radial internal barrier to prevent direct physical contact between the extremities of the levers.

Abstract: A modular compound valve assembly for an automotive oil filter includes a relief valve subassembly and a clean-side anti-drainback valve subassembly sharing a common unitary valve body. In one preferred form, the valve body is formed of a stepped cylinder, wherein axially opposed surfaces of a first step comprise respective seats for first and second springs utilized in the two valve subassemblies. The first spring (for the relief valve) is entirely contained within the valve body, while the second spring (for the anti-drainback valve) is external to the valve body although supported thereon. The second spring is a frustoconically-shaped spring biased between the first step of the valve body and an external circular disc spaced from but fixed to a plunger of the anti-drainback valve.

Abstract: A metallic hose coupling assembly provides an improved coupling insert for flexible elastomeric hose. The insert contains a series of external barbs defined by repeating asymmetrical axially inversely oriented pairs of frustoconical segments spaced apart by and contiguous with cylindrical segments positioned therebetween. Each mated pair of frustoconical segments interfaces with a cylindrical segment in a manner which defines rounded interface edges having radii which fall within a range of 15 to 25 thousandths of an inch. The latter configuration of barb provides an effective means of preventing fracture of elastomer hose ends when subjected to relatively high pressure hydraulic applications.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint assembly incorporates an internal preload whereby a relatiely constant torque may be realized over the useful life of the assembly. In a preferred form, the assembly includes a housing having a ball socket cavity, a ball, a pair of socket beraings supporting the ball, and a stud shaft integral with the ball. The housing defines an axis along which the socket bearings position and retain the ball for limited oscillatory movement within the housing. One socket bearing defines a ring through which the stud shaft extends for coupling to the tie rod end of a steering arm assembly. The other socket bearing is cup-shaped and formed of an extrudable plastic material. A radially oriented seat in the housing is adapted to support a conical disc spring washer interposed between the seat and the cup-shaped bearing. The conical washer is preferably a Belleville spring capable of providing a relatively constant force over a limited deflection range.

Abstract: A mold locator is adapted to support and position a wound electromagnetic coil within a mold for encapsulation of the coil by dielectric media. In one preferred form, the locator includes an annular central body having arms extending radially from the central body. In addition to having a pair of stiffening ribs extending along the sides thereof, each arm incorporates a channel for carrying a wire lead. The central body is annular in shape and defines an interior wall having a plurality of radially extending detents adapted to make point contacts with a centering arbor in the mold. Similarly, each radially extending arm of the mold locator incorporates at least one detent adapted to make a point contact with the floor or bottom of the mold cavity. Collectively, the detents operate to limit surface contact between the locator and the internal surfaces of the mold.

Abstract: An interlocking clutch brake provides first and second parts adapted to radially fit together to form a disc-shaped body having a central aperture for engaging a clutch shaft. Both first and second parts are U-shaped, and are interlocked together by means of mating tongue and groove members. The first and second parts employ bores which are adapted to become axially aligned for receiving the ends of a bowed spring. The bowed portion of the spring is adapted to become partially flattened as a bolt, secured through an aperture in the spring to a threaded aperture in the second part, is rotated by a hand-tool. Partial flattening of the bowed portion causes the spring ends to spread apart to engage respective sets of aligned bores for retaining the two parts together.

Abstract: A drive assembly is adapted for engagement with a driven clutch plate of a heavy-duty truck. The drive assembly incorporates a drive pin comprising a shank inserted into a flywheel, and a spindle which extends radially inwardly from the flywheel. A drive head is rotatably mounted on the spindle, which incorporates a groove containing a compressible friction ring for assuring frictional retention of the head. The drive pin includes a shoulder situated intermediate shank and spindle, the shoulder incorporating a frustoconical portion to provide a tapered bearing surface for rotatably supporting the drive head on the spindle. The shoulder also contains a radially extending annulus which faces the shank, the annulus adapted for limiting depth of insertion of the shank into the flywheel. In the same preferred form, the drive head has a tapered counterbore to matingly engage the frustoconical portion, and also contains a plurality of chamfered surfaces adjacent opposed ends of the head.

Abstract: An apparatus for deburring radial end surfaces of axially oriented splines abutting annular grooves formed in workpieces such as mainshaft gears. The apparatus includes an axially oriented reference body and a splined workpiece support member rotatably mounted with respect to the reference body. Design of the apparatus is adaptable for deburring a workpiece having either male or female splines, wherein the splines are located in an annular recess disposed within the workpiece. In a preferred form, the apparatus includes a radially oriented cutting ring adapted to engage a radially extending groove for removal of burrs from rear surfaces of the axially extending splines. Also in a preferred form, the apparatus includes a device for axially adjusting the position of the cutting ring relative to various lengths of splines to be deburred.

Abstract: A plurality of positioning grommets are fixed to a gasket for use in an internal combustion engine. The gasket is adapted to provide sealing between two separate but communicating engine parts which contain mating bores for passage of mechanical fasteners. One of the parts includes at least two counterbores, each concentrically aligned with one mechanical fastener bore. Each counterbore is adapted to receive a grommet sized and toleranced to assure clearance from the sidewall and bottom of the counterbore, and hence to provide an interference-free grommet-counterbore mating. In a preferred form, each grommet body contains a plurality of circumferentially spaced integral detents.

Abstract: A lateral displacement measuring apparatus by which the circumference of an extrudable solid specimen may be continuously measured while the specimen is subjected to compressive forces along an axis. In a preferred form, the apparatus includes a pair of platens, one fixed and one movable, adapted to compressively load the specimen to its functional or performance limit. A first end of a tensile member is coupled to a displacement transducer, the tensile member being in contacting lateral engagement with the specimen, the other end of the tensile member being secured rigidly to an adjustable but fixed support. As the platens are loaded together, thereby squeezing the specimen, the transducer produces a signal corresponding to the magnitude of lateral expansion of the specimen.

Abstract: An electromagnetic speed change apparatus is effective to shift a sleeve from a first speed position to a second against the bias of a spring. In a preferred form, the apparatus includes an armature fixed to a shifting sleeve for rotation and axial movement therewith, one end of the shifting sleeve splined to an output shaft, the opposite end of the shifting sleeve selectively engagable with an internally splined aperture positioned in one end of an input shaft or with an internally splined carrier aperture axially spaced from the input shaft end. The shifting sleeve has a minor diameter portion and a major portion larger than the minor portion. The major portion is piloted by a support member disposed in the end of the input shaft. In a preferred form, a neck bridges the major and minor diameter portions of the sleeve, and provides a limit to axial movement of the shifting sleeve whenever the neck comes into contact with the support member.

Abstract: A transmission shift lever biasing assembly includes a plunger pin having a shoulder, the pin containing a plurality of reduced diameter detent grooves along its longitudinal axis at an end opposite the shoulder. Each groove defines a pair of opposed ramps, and an end cap is adapted to receive and contain a portion of the plunger containing the grooves and ramps. An annular pusher element surrounds the plunger pin, and includes angled cam surfaces adapted to engage a plurality of balls interposed between the pusher element and an end face of the housing. The pusher element bears against the balls by means of a spring contained within the housing. The spring is seated on the shoulder of the plunger pin and bears against the pusher element to urge the balls into one of the detent grooves corresponding to a selected shift rail.

Abstract: A sub-assembly consisting of a synthetic plastic hub cover, separate fastener members, and a gasket improves efficiency in the production line mounting of hub covers to vehicular wheel ends. In a preferred form, each sub-assembly incorporates a plurality of fasteners (i.e. mounting bolts), lock washers, and a gasket, all secured to a moldable cover. The cover includes a plurality of cylindrical mounting apertures, each aperture containing an integrally molded segmented, tapered flange of a predetermined thickness. In a preferred embodiment the segments are designed to elastically flex upon insertion of a fastener through the aperture for retaining the fastener within the aperture. The gasket is retained against the cover via shafts of the bolts.

Abstract: A ball deflector for a recirculating ball screw and nut assembly provides a plurality of adjustable semi-spherical locator bosses along an elongated body portion thereof for enhancing fitment of said deflector within a segment of the nut groove during assembly. In a preferred form, the bosses are disposed in adjacent quadrants on an upper body portion of the elongated deflector body, and are arranged in pairs, each disposed at opposite ends of the deflector body and located adjacent the ends of the deflector. The bosses are adjusted by a grinder or other metal removal device to compensate for tolerance variations.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a nose portion of a clutch lever includes providing a pair of lever mounting brackets on a clutch cover. The mounting brackets, which control pivotal movement of the tail portion of the lever, have ears which are angularly displaced by a fastener to effect adjustment of the nose portion to a desired position relative to the clutch cover. This procedure permits the use of relatively common hardware without requiring additional expensive or cumbersome apparatus. In one preferred form, the adjustment technique utilized a five inch lever, and provided approximately 0.090 thousandths of an inch of adjustment of the nose end of the lever, with an associated angular displacement of the clutch bracket ears of only 2-5 degrees.

Abstract: A ball screw and nut assembly includes an improved ball return system designed to avoid abrupt directional changes in the recirculation path of ball bearings from one end of a nut to the other. A return tube, secured to the nut, is formed in two sections, each having a major leg and a minor leg. The ends of respective major legs are adapted to butt together along the centerline of the ball screw nut. The minor legs, joined by elbows to the major legs, are disposed at angles equal to ninety degrees minus the helix angle of the ball screw and nut. The nut contains transverse apertures at its respective ends to provide counterbores for support of the minor legs, each leg also extending tangentially to the groove in the nut at the location of its interface with the groove. The result is a return tube system which avoids abrupt directional changes in the travel path of the balls.

Abstract: A drive line joint assembly (10) has splined driving and driven members (13,20), one of which has a protuberance (36) which extends axially along a spline (16,18) thereof to insure the absence of radial tolerance for balancing purpose. In a preferred form, a forged steel spline (16) has a resilient coating (40) bonded thereto, the coating preferably of a nylon or of other material having comparable low friction quality. The resilient protuberance is an integral part of the latter low friction coating and is formed by a broaching tool after the coating material has been applied to the spline. In a preferred embodiment, the proturberance extends only 0.001 to 0.003 inch above the surface of the coating, wherein the coating has a thickness in the range of 0.007 to 0.014 inch over the steel body portion of the spline. At least three of the protuberances are preferred, each circumferentially spaced from the other.