Abstract: A demonstrator for mounting, operating and displaying a multiplicity of automotive vehicle components comprises an open-frame exoskeleton of aluminum tubes. The tubes are in a configuration suggestive of the shape of an automotive vehicle. The demonstrator is light in weight, is easily shipped and is movable by a single person. A central compartment of the exoskeleton resembles a passenger compartment and has doorways similar in height and width to door openings of the vehicle. A front compartment of the demonstrator resembles a vehicle engine compartment, this compartment defining a generally horizontal window free of other structure of the demonstrator. The front compartment includes front wheel-well outlines defined by tube segments welded together. A rear compartment of the demonstrator similarly defines rear wheel-well outlines.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved linear action battery clamp usefull for attaching a battery cable to a vehicle's battery terminal. The clamp has a frame member with a fixed jaw and a fixed handle. An actuator rod is mounted in the frame the rod being mounted within first and second bores. The rod has a second jaw mounted on one end moveable towards the fixed jaw of the frame to clamp a battery terminal. A sliding actuator is mounted on the rod being adapted to move the rod linearly the actuator being juxtaposed an actuating arm attached to the frame, the arm having a pair of cam surfaces on one end juxtaposed the actuator for moving the actuator. A brake member acts on the rod the brake normally restricting the rods' linear motion serving to hold the rod in a fixed position. The brake has a release position that allows the rod to be moved in the opposite direction by hand so as to open or disengage the jaw.

Abstract: An improved blast shield for use on a wheeled military vehicle. The blast shield has at least a portion responsive to a blast under the vehicle that reacts in response to the blast to block the door of the passenger compartment whereby the occupants of the compartment are protected from ejection from the vehicle for the duration of the blast effect.

Abstract: A locking mechanism limits the motion of a vehicle cab that swings down on the vehicle chassis to rest on a floating bracket, where the floating bracket is supported by shock absorbers mounted to a chassis. The mechanism prevents upward movement of the floating bracket and thereby prevents upward swing of the cab from the chassis. The locking mechanism includes a flat arm fixed to the floating bracket and a fulcrum member fixed to the flat arm. The fulcrum member pivotally mounts a swing arm having a projection at one end. The mechanism is in a locking condition when the projection engages a mounting bracket fixed to the chassis. At different times when the cab swings down to the floating bracket, the cab's alignment with the chassis varies. The locking mechanism has features which allow it to adjust three-dimensionally to variations in this alignment.

Abstract: An improved track end connector for a double-pin track assembly of a tracked vehicle includes a novel connector body, a bolt in the connector body, track pins held by the bolt, and a retainer ring engaging both the body and the bolt. The connector body defines a smooth bore having a relief groove holding the retainer ring. The bolt is inserted through the smooth bore until threads at one end of the bolt engage a second, threaded bore in the connector body. As the bolt screws into the threaded bore, a ramp near the bolt's head expands the retainer ring. As the bolt screws further into the threaded bore, a retention groove on the bolt is clinched by the retainer ring, so that the bolt can not unscrew from the threaded bore. A smooth shank portion of the bolt seats with concave depressions in the track pins, so that the track pins do not escape from the connector body.

Abstract: A vehicle interior lighting system for use in military vehicles to minimize infrared signatures under normal operating conditions. The system has a blackout reduced signature capability, emergency interior lighting capability and a removable portion with reduced thermal signature for use in evacuating a disabled vehicle.

Abstract: An engine or other machine has an improved configuration for a connecting rod a wrist pin cradled and fastened on a saddle of the rod. The improved configuration allows fluid flow through the rod to the interior of the wrist pin while reducing the tendency for cracks in the saddle. The configuration includes a fastener which has a through bore and which extends from a void in the rod to the interior of the wrist pin. The fastener fits closely with holes in the wrist pin and the saddle, and a nut fixed in the wrist pin threads with the fastener, whereby the nut and fastener prevent relative motion between the wrist pin and the saddle. The saddle has only one aperture, so the saddle is stronger than prior designs.

Abstract: An improved gun cleaning system for use in cleaning the bore of a firearm, the system is disclosed for use with a rigid cleaning rod, having one end adapted for the attachment of cleaning elements to be moved longitudinally within the bore to remove contaminates. The system has a cleaning rod centering guide, formed as hollow frustoconical member with a closed smaller end and an open larger end, and a smooth outer surface. The interior of the guide has a series of concentric annular, triangular cross sections projections pointing inward towards the longitudinal axis of the guide so as to form a series of annular stops of decreasing diameter. The closed end of the guide has a relatively thick portion with a cylindrical opening to allow the insertion of the rigid cleaning rod and allow longitudinal motion of the cleaning rod while the maintaining the cleaning rod essentially centered within the bore.

Abstract: A vehicle designed to survive mines exploding underneath it has an impact absorbing seat assembly for holding a human occupant of the vehicle. The assembly includes a seat having lower and upper seat members and includes a mechanism connected to the floor and the seat for absorbing the impact of the vehicle floor's buckling upward due to a mine blast. A plate is connected to the lower seat member just behind the legs of the occupant, and the plate swings on a hinge mounted to the lower seat member. In its normal position, the plate forms an acute angle with the floor and a lip of the plate contacts the floor such that the lip curves away from the seat. When the floor buckles upward, the plate swings outward relative to the seat, carrying the occupant's legs with it, thereby avoiding a vertical load transferring from the floor up the occupant's legs to the occupant's knees.

Abstract: A rapidly actuating fire extinguishing system incorporates a shock tube construction. The system includes first and second shock-tube sections joined by flanges and sealed from one another by a diaphragm. The first shock tube section contains either fluid under high pressure, or a gas generator or an arc vaporization mechanism. The second shock tube section contains a volatile fluid extinguishant. When the system actuates, the diaphragm is ruptured, so that pressure in the first shock tube section initiates a shock wave that propagates through the extinguishant in the second shock tube section. The shock wave energizes the extinguishant so that it becomes highly pressurized and ruptures a second diaphragm, which is disposed between the second shock tube section and a conduit. The extinguishant then travels along the conduit to a spray head from which the extinguishant is dispersed.

Abstract: The invention is a structure for reducing the thermal signature of an assembly on a vehicle that includes a hub, a wheel on the hub and a tire on the wheel. The structure comprises a generally planar cover disposed outboard of the assembly so that an air gap is between the cover and the assembly. A set of multifunctional elements lock the wheel to the hub, space the cover from the wheel and help retain the cover in connection with the wheel. In one embodiment, the cover is an eccentric, lobed sheet metal member that completely eclipses the wheel and partly eclipses the tire from a point of view outboard of the vehicle. In another embodiment, the cover has an inner unit comprised of metal plates having an insulating disk therebetween and further comprises a flexible flange encircling the inner unit.

Abstract: An engine accessory retards or advances one or more cam shafts of an engine relative to the crankshaft during engine operation. The accessory acts upon the timing chain that engages wheels on cam shafts and crankshaft. The accessory includes a rod translatably mounted to the engine, wherein a hydraulic cylinder or an electric motor translates the rod in accordance with signals from an electronic controller. The signals from the controller are in response to values of selected variables related to engine condition or are in response to manual input. Chain engagement wheels are journalled on either end of the rod. One chain engagement wheel mates with the part of the timing chain approaching the crankshaft wheel. The other chain engagement wheel mates with the part the chain travelling away from the crankshaft wheel.

Abstract: A starting controller for a diesel engine. The controller has a microprocor that will provide a current to the glow plugs until they are heated to the desired operating temperature and will then distribute sequential pulses to the individual plugs until the engine reaches the desired operating temperature. The system can have a latching circuit that will prevent the preglow cycle from being reinitiated until the glow plugs have been allowed to cool to a level where reinitiation will not represent a substantial degrading effect on the glow plugs.

Abstract: A fastener comprises a nut surrounding a collar that in turn surrounds a t, the nut and collar holding a bracket element against a mounting surface. The collar fits closely but slidably within the nut. Of the nut or collar, one has a boss that rides upon a cam surface of the other, so that a camming relation exists between the nut and collar. Turning the nut relative to the collar will thus squeeze the collar into an interference fit with the post so that the fastener attains a locking configuration. A groove adjacent the cam surface accepts the projection and retains it such that the fastener maintains its locking condition. A predetermined torque is needed to rotate the projection to the groove, whereby the fastener is a torque controlled fastener.

Abstract: A tail pipe protector for military vehicles is formed with a plurality of gs shaped and joined to form a structure with free ends on the legs that will adapt to the various types of tail pipes. The structure is clamped in position to hold the protector in place and the clamping results in the structure being rigidified by the same action.

Abstract: A thermoelectric radiator for generating a direct current while providing at least a portion of the necessary cooling is formed with a first and second plurality of interdigitated thermoelectric lamella which are electrically joined and are connected to the positive and negative portions of the electrical system. The result is direct current flow when a heated coolant is passed over the lamella.

Abstract: An attachment for installing a solderless connector to wire ends to form an electrical connection using with a rotary hand held tool is described. The attachment has a spindle member held by the tool. The spindle has a cylindrical member attached to the spindle having a frustoconical opening sized to accept and surround a portion of a solderless connector. The frustoconical opening has a plurality of detents which hold the solderless connector firmly and apply sufficient torque to the solderless connector to twist the wires inserted into the solderless connector together when the solderless connector is rotated by the tool. The detents will release their grasp on the solderless connector when sufficient twisting has been applied to the wires to electrically connect the individual wires but prior to the point at which the wires are twisted beyond their elastic limit.

Abstract: An improved auxiliary multiple step configuration for use on a truck having rigid step attached to the upper surface of the tailgate and a self storing step which retracts substantially into the tailgate when the gate is closed and deploys automatically when the tailgate is opened.

Abstract: An improved fuel injection system for use with an internal combustion eng mounted in a vehicle. The fuel system has fuel, a fuel pump, a throttle position sensor for sensing the power requested, and an engine control unit. The improvement comprises a fuel pump control circuit using three distinct duty cycle modulator circuits to control fuel pump speed. One duty circuit is used on startup to bring the system to full operating pressure, a second duty circuit provides modulated pulses to the fuel pump to operate the fuel pump at the level set by the throttle position sensor and a third duty circuit operates the fuel pump at idle the third duty circuit maintaining the fuel flow at a level which prevents vapor lock and being also adapted to operate the fuel pump at the reduced level in the event of throttle position sensor failure.

Abstract: An auxiliary traction device for use with a wheeled vehicle to be attached o the vehicle wheels for additional traction during traverse of soft terrain. The traction device includes a spider adapted for attachment to the wheel hubs of the vehicle with a frusto-conical shaped web extending away from the wheel. An annular spool traction member having a diameter less than the diameter of the tire is mounted on the frusto-conical shaped web to provide additional traction for the vehicle in soft terrains.