Abstract: An ignition terminal assembly for attachment to an ignition cable comprises an elongated terminal and a C-shaped retention clip. The elongated terminal has a forward contact cup which a wide gap at the front end which allows the ignition terminal assembly to be disconnected from a mating terminal at a substantial angle without distorting and damaging the ignition terminal assembly. The elongated terminal has an intermediate wall which is joined to the top wall of the contact cup above of the longitudinal centerline of the elongated terminal and to a closed bottom wall of a crimp barrel below the longitudinal centerline so that intermediate wall forms a stop for ignition cable which is attached to the terminal assembly by the crimp barrel.

Abstract: A sealed electrical and pneumatic connector for a hollow piston rod or the like comprises mating connector bodies which provide pneumatic and multiple electrical interfaces. The pneumatic interface includes a hose which carries seals and a slide for sealing the pneumatic interface effectively. The upper connector body houses conductor seals and carries an external seal sleeve for sealing the opening of the hollow piston rod. The upper connector is retained by a retainer which assures proper positioning of the electrical terminals. The retainer is locked by a clamp which assures proper mating of the connector bodies.

Abstract: An insert molded multiple contact electrical connector comprising a molded insert of thermoplastic insulating material having a barrel shaped body which has a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves and a plurality of cable grips. The cable grips are formed by semicircular grooves in parallel segments of a polygonal flange at one end of the barrel shaped body. A plurality of electrical contacts which are attached to a plurality of electric cables by core and insulation crimp wings are disposed in the grooves and the cable grips respectively to form a subassembly. An outer housing of thermoplastic insulating material is molded over the subassembly in a die which has a plurality of cable grip parts which cooperate with the respective cable grips of the molded insert to retain and seal around the electric cables individually and to space the electric cables from each other when the outer housing of thermoplastic insulating material is molded over the subassembly.

Abstract: An electrical connector has an interface seal mounted on a plug portion of a thermoplastic connector body which serves as the mounting surface for the interface seal. The plug portion has a conformation which opens onto the mounting surface and the interface seal has a retainer portion which snaps into the conformation to assure that the interface seal is always correctly positioned. The interface seal has a sealing portion which is made of silicone compounds and the retainer portion is made from thermoplastic material or silicone compounds having a substantially higher durometer than the silicone compounds of the sealing portion.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint of an axle shaft assembly has a drive hub which receives a splined shaft in an extension which projects from a drive bell. The splined shaft is held in the drive hub in such a position that it can be pushed further into the drive hub after removal of a locking ring. This makes it possible to shorten the axle shaft assembly for the purpose of mounting by an additional amount in comparison to prior-art axle shaft assemblies.

Abstract: A test assembly for testing a preassembled wiring harness for location of mounting brackets at spaced points on the harness assembly and for evaluating terminals of the wiring harness includes a faceplate with a plurality of slots formed across the full planar extent thereof to accommodate a variety of different holder and detecting device layouts corresponding to a variety of types of wiring harness configurations. A separate faceplate is supported on each of a plurality of modular units joined together to accept different length wiring harness configurations. Standard length cables are connected to each of the holders and detecting devices. The cables have a connector wired thereto which fits through the slots to provide access from the faceplate to the interface cards without splicing into the wiring system.

Abstract: An insulation displacement terminal assembly comprises an insulation displacement terminal having a U-shaped insulation displacement portion which has two plate sections that are connected by a bight and insulation displacement slots that extend through the bight and down into the plate sections in aligned pairs of insulation piercing slot portions. A plurality of insulated electric cables are disposed in the insulation piercing slot portions and retained therein to form a sub-assembly. The sub-assembly is assembled into a slide-in insulator housing portion which has slots in its opposed side walls through which the insulated electric cables of the sub-assembly extend and a retention tongue that is cantilevered from a back wall of the housing portion and runs parallel to the slotted side walls to project between the insulated electric cables and the bight of the insulation displacement terminal to retain the electric cables down in the insulation displacement slot portions.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a connector body having a plurality of longitudinal cavities which include rearward sealing portions, terminals disposed in the cavities and attached to conductors which extend out of the rearward sealing portions of the cavities and elastomeric seal sleeves for sealing the conductor end of the electrical connector. A conductor seal lock attached to the conductor end of the connector body has towers coaxially disposed on the conductors and axially compressing the elastomeric seal sleeves to ensure full insertion of the terminals and the accurate positioning of the terminals in the cavities.

Abstract: A sealing grommet assembly comprises a support plate having a seal well in which an elastomeric cable seal is disposed. The grommet assembly is made in conjunction with a wiring harness having an electrical end connector which also has an elastomeric cable seal. The grommet assembly and electrical end connector are processed in a juxtaposed relationship for inserting the electrical conductors of the wiring harness through the juxtaposed parts simultaneously prior to termination of the electrical conductors.

Abstract: A telescopic tripot universal joint comprises an outer drive member having three radial drive channels which include two flat longitudinal drive tracks, an inner drive member having three radial trunnions having cylindrical bearing surfaces, and three intermediate drive rollers disposed in the respective radial drive channels and rotatably and slideably mounted on the respective radial trunnions. Each intermediate drive roller has a radial bore which is convexly shaped so as to permit a slight universally pivoting or wobbling movement of the intermediate drive roller on the radial trunnions and the radial trunnions have stops for limiting outward movement of the drive rollers during operation of the telescopic tripot universal joint. A full complement of cylindrical needle rollers is disposed between the convexly shaped radial bore of each intermediate drive roller and the cylindrical bearing surface of the respective trunnion.

Abstract: A fuse package for a row of plug-in type fuses comprises a cover, a fuse retainer and an insulator block. The fuses are initially held within the cover by the fuse retainer which maintains the cover and fuses as a unitary assembly that is separately handled and installed on the insulator block. When installed the fuse retainer locks onto the insulator block and is released from the cover so that the fuses stay with the insulator block when the cover is removed.

Abstract: A wheel bearing assembly comprises a wheel hub, a bearing assembly and a retainer for retaining the inner ring of the bearing assembly on the wheel hub. The retainer includes a retaining ring and a load ring which is plastically deformed radially inwardly so that the inner ring of the bearing assembly is biased against an annular shoulder of the wheel hub under a substantial axial preload.

Abstract: An instrument panel cluster includes a printed circuit board having a plurality of liquid crystal subassemblies secured thereto, each of which includes a columnar terminal block with a beam configured light pipe cantilevered from one side of the block to locate the free end of the beam at a light source on the printed circuit board to direct light therefrom across the planar extent of an illuminating surface on the beam for backlighting a liquid crystal display; and wherein the liquid crystal display and light pipe are configured to be releasably connected to the terminal block by a spring clip means that biases the liquid crystal display against an elastomeric connector supported by the terminal block to electrically connect the liquid crystal display to a printed circuit board and thereby enabling the light pipe and liquid crystal display to be interconnected and preassembled for testing and adjustment of the light pipe with respect to the liquid crystal display prior to final assembly of an instrument pane

Abstract: A four-wheel drive vehicle has a permanently driven axle. A planetary gear set and viscous clutch are located in the power train leading to the second axle. The annular gear of the planetary gear set is mounted rotatably and can be stopped by a brake band. When the brake band is tensioned, the four-wheel drive, which is running via the viscous clutch, is in the state of readiness, while it is ineffective when the brake band is released.

Abstract: A miniature female electrical terminal of unitary sheet metal construction comprises a receptacle, a forward appendage which is juxtaposed the receptacle and which has a tang and spaced side rails which protect the latch tang, and a rearward appendage for assistance in inserting the terminal into a terminal cavity of a connector body.

Abstract: A sealed electrical connection comprises a socket connector and an electrical connector plug assembly. The electrical connector plug assembly comprises a combined holder-latch member for a plurality of subassemblies which include elastomeric seals fitted onto insulator housings forming part of ignition cable termination assemblies.

Abstract: A telescopic tripot universal joint comprises an inner drive member which has three radial trunnions, an outer drive member which has three radial drive channels and three drive assemblies which comprise drive blocks, bearing rollers and cage structure to retain the bearing rollers which is attached to the drive block in a fixed relationship. The radial trunnions have outer radial projections which are disposed in outer radial grooves of the radial drive channels and engage radial walls in the member and prevent the drive assemblies from engaging or bottoming out on an inner end wall of the outer drive member.

Abstract: A telescopic tripot universal joint comprises an inner drive member which has spherical trunnions, an outer drive member which has drive channels with parallel, planar side walls and drive assemblies which are pivotally mounted on the spherical trunnions and disposed in the drive channels. The drive assemblies comprise intermediate drive blocks, bearing rollers which engage the side walls of the drive channels to transmit torque and cage structure which retains the bearing rollers and which is secured to the intermediate drive blocks for simultaneous movement with the intermediate drive block.

Abstract: An insulation displacement terminal comprises a base having a pair of integrally connected side plates and an integrally connected flex arm disposed between the side plates. The side plates have guide grooves formed in part by inwardly staggered legs. The flex arm has laterally spaced plates which bias an insulated conductor received in the guide grooves against the edges of inwardly staggered legs of the side plates to establish a four point electrical contact with the core of the insulated conductor under the constant pressure of the flex arm.

Abstract: An ignition lead arrangement comprising individual ignition leads which are constructed as flat cables which are integrated to a single molding for connection to an ignition distributor. The arrangement also comprises the necessary sockets for connection to the spark plugs and ignition coil which are covered with the insulating rubber which also forms the insulating material for the individual ignition leads.