Abstract: A relay supervision system is disclosed to check the presence and operability both of a relay and the associated circuitry located at a position remote from the control unit which effects the supervision. The supervision is accomplished by pulsing the relay with energy at a volt-time integral less than that required to energize the relay and displace a contact set, but sufficient to cause current flow through the winding and its associated circuit components. If the relay includes two separate windings, each winding can be separately pulsed at different times, the relay state determined, and both windings effectively supervised without changing the position of the contact sets operated by the windings.

Abstract: A security system provides for bidirectional communication between a controller and a plurality of addressable transponders. At least one transponder includes a sensor circuit for detecting motion, which motion is indicated by the transponder signalling back to the controller. During a walk test the controller sends a signal back to the transponder, completing the circuit for the visible output indicator so that subsequent motions during the walk test sequence will be immediately displayed at the transponder, without necessitating successive communication through the loop including the controller. In systems where the controller itself reports upwardly in a hierarchy of units, the walk test can confirm operability of the entire system, including other condition-indicating signals.

Abstract: A mounting frame for supporting several printed circuit boards in abutting relationship includes a pair of side frame members. At least some of the printed circuit boards have slots along or near the side edges, through which screws extend into the side frame members. The screw heads extend over and retain the printed circuit boards in position. When the screws are loosened for some of the boards, those boards can be displaced from each other but not removed from the frame. Additional loosening of one set of screws allows the removal of that one board, even if that board is not the last board in the run of boards. Cylindrical bores are provided in at least one of the side frame members to afford pivotal mounting of the frame-and-card set in an enclosure. When the frame-and-card assembly is pivoted outwardly, an additional set of cards can be mounted on the back of the frame.

Abstract: A security alarm system includes a transponder having a housing enclosing both a sensor and associated circuit means in a unitary package. The housing base includes barrel-shaped connectors, and a pc board carrying the communications components is carried by the housing cover. Flag-like connectors mate with the barrel-shaped connectors when the cover is attached to the base, and the connectors give both good mechanical indexing and retention, and effective electrical contact. Removal of the cover from the base breaks the electrical contact and thus breaks continuity back to the system controller, indicating someone has tampered with the system.

Abstract: A system for debouncing a switch circuit includes a sample circuit for providing an initial determination of the switch status, and a debounce circuit connected to operate on the output of the sample or sensing circuit to verify the actual switch status by providing a confirmation signal. The system of the invention accumulates a count related either to the rate at which the sample circuit operates, or the actual changes in state indicated by latches coupled to the sample circuit. If the count accumulates to a predetermined number before being cleared by a confirmation signal verifying the switch status, then the irregular operation is signalled. This identifies a continuous, rapid alternation between different switch states without a confirmation of an actual state change, which would otherwise be undetected by system operation.

Abstract: An alarm system includes a controller and a plurality of transponders having different addresses. Certain of the transponders include switch means for monitoring conditions, and latch circuits to retain memory of the switch conditions. The controller includes means for positive recognition of a latched alarm or trouble condition in any transponder, before the clear-alarm signal or clear-trouble signal is sent from the controller to restore the alarm circuits to their original states. This insures that an alarm or trouble condition at a transponder is not "missed" by inadvertent clearing before a positive recognition is registered in the controller.

Abstract: A power transmission system includes a multi-stage torque converter and an integrated vibration damper assembly. The torque converter fluid circuit includes, in series relation, an impeller, circulatory turbine, main turbine, and reaction member or stator. The vibration damper assembly includes an input member, an output hub assembly and a resilient member interposed between. The output hub assembly is operatively connected to the transmission output. A circulator turbine output is drivingly connected to an output shaft through the vibration damper assembly, rather than through the separate circulatory turbine drive plate of a conventional torque converter. In this matter, the vibration damper assembly where a conventional damper assembly would not provide a power output path.

Abstract: A chain-belt for engagement with the pulleys of a continuously variable transmission consists of interleaved sets of chain links joined for articulation by a joint which has a rocking action. The joint includes a pair of pins. A small camber is introduced into one or both of the pins to create a spring load between the pins and the links to retain the pins in the chain during handling and assembly. Each chain link includes a pair of spaced apertures adjacent the opposite ends; each aperture has a generally hour-glass shape with the enlarged ends receiving the pins. Also, each chain link has a pair of oppositely disposed tabs adjacent one end with the location of the tabs on the links alternating on adjacent links of each set. In addition the outermost two links of each set of links has a width substantially less than the width of the inner links in that same set.

Abstract: A gravity responsive regulation valve assembly having a housing with at least two intake ports both of which may fluidically communicate with an outlet port. The valve assembly further includes a spherical valve actuator moveable along a predetermined path of travel in response to gravitational and/or centrifugal forces for automatically closing one of the valve assembly intake ports when the housing is tilted.

Abstract: By complete removal of the friction lining material, grooves or slots are formed in a friction lining made of organic material, the grooves being openings or gaps that are initially closed at the ends. The friction lining is applied as a continuous member onto a support and the ends of the grooves are opened by removal of the friction lining material closing them.

Abstract: An adaptive clutch torque capacity control for an automotive vehicle clutch utilizing a dual area apply piston for engagement of the clutch plate for accurate control over a larger than normal torque range. The use of two piston areas allows one area to be controlled in a "coarse" fashion, while the other piston area, which is generally a small area, provides a "vernier" or fine adjustment control. The small area piston is controlled by an electronic closed loop for fine adjustment of any errors occurring in the "coarse" control.

Abstract: A double cage structure for a freewheel sprag clutch in which the inner cage ring is formed of metal and the outer cage ring is formed of a plastic material.

Abstract: A diaphragm operated valve assembly is controlled jby an electromagnetic valve assembly. A flat disc armature, which forms part of a flux path, is operable in an inner chamber to modulate the flow between the inner chamber and an exit port in response to an applied magnetic force. The level of the effective magnetic force is a function of the armature mass, and the pressure acting on the disc surface. A pole piece adjacent to the flat disc armature is slidably adjustable to establish a specified force to actuate the armature to the closed or sealing position. This specified force is proportional to the current flow through the winding of the electromagnetic valve assembly. Thus the armature operates to seal communication between the inner chamber and the exit port at a given pressure differential as a function of current flow. The travel distance between the armature and a nonmagnetic seal seat has been minimized by spring biasing the armature in proximity to the seal seat.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission including a driving shaft connected to an engine output member and a driven shaft. The shafts are interconnected by a stepless variable coupling. A bidirectional gear drive mechanism connects the driven shaft to a differential mechanism having two output shafts extending therefrom. The drive mechanism includes a two gear forward and a three gear reverse drive path, each of which is controlled by a fluid-actuated starting clutch mechanism. Each gear path is adapted to drive a transfer gear which continually intermeshes with a ring gear of the differential defining another gear mesh. By such construction, the output shafts and the engine output memeber may rotate in the same direction during a forward drive mode of operation.

Abstract: A sprocket retention/chain guide member for use in the timing drive mechanism for an internal combustion engine where a timing chain acts to rotate the engine camshaft from the crankshaft and time the opening and closing of the inlet and exhaust valves for the engine cylinders based on reciprocation of the pistons. The retention/guide member is adapted to be mounted on the front of the engine block and has oppositely disposed arcuate grooves loosely receiving the crankshaft and camshaft sprockets and guide channels on each side of the member acting as snubbers for the chain. The member, chain and sprockets form a subassembly for shipping and ease of assembly on the block with the sprockets being received on the crankshaft and camshaft. Also, a chain tensioner may form a portion of one guide channel.

Abstract: A support is disclosed for a synchronizing ring for the synchronization of gears, in which the stops for coupling to the clutch are formed from lugs which are bonded integrally to the sprocket ring or ring-shaped core. The support is produced economically by a method of punching a flat ring and drawing it into a conical ring-shaped part with an outer radial edge, forming the part and punching an outer sprocket and lugs in the edge, bending the lugs alongside the part to form stops and stamping the tooth profile for the sprocket. The flat ring may also be punched with inwardly extending lugs which are then bent upwardly along the body to form the stops.

Abstract: A two-speed gear box adapted to be mounted on the face of an automobile accessory, such as an automotive alternator to increase the speed of the alternator on demand. The gear box includes input and output shafts operatively connected by a planetary gear arrangement having first and second sun gears and a planet carrier for pairs of first and second planet gears, a band brake releasably applied to the planet carrier and a one-way clutch between the shafts to allow faster rotation of the output shaft relative to the input shaft. The planetary arrangement does not have a ring gear engaging the planet gears.

Abstract: A phase shift device utilized for the camshaft sprockets in a chain control device for an engine having separate camshafts for intake and exhaust valves in an internal combustion engine. A device supporting one or a pair of idler sprockets is shiftable, either pivotally or longitudinally to vary the chain path between a driving and a driven camshaft sprocket in such a way as to vary the phase of the driven sprocket relative to the driving sprocket. This device comprises a bracket which carries at least one idler sprocket and is either pivotally or longitudinally shiftable to vary the phase thus facilitating proper chain control.

Abstract: A hydraulically-actuated starting clutch utilized in a continuously variable transmission which includes a rotating shaft havng a housing rotating therewith, a pressure chamber in the housing receiving a piston, a pressure plate and an end plate in the housing to rotate therewith, at least one clutch plate between the pressure and end plates and operatively connected to a sleeve shaft encompassing the rotating shaft, and a diaphragm spring between the piston and pressure plate. Where there are two clutch plates, a separator formed of a pair of generally parallel plates is interposed between the clutch plates, one separator plate having an annular fulcrum ridge, which may be slotted, contacting the other plate to equilize loading on the clutch plates.

Abstract: A centrifugally controlled two-speed accessory drive for operation of one or more automotive vehicle accessories to provide a two-stage operation depending on the engine speed, the drive including a gear box secured to the face of the accessory and having an input shaft driven by a pulley and belt from the engine, an output shaft driving the accessory, and a planetary gear set connecting the shafts. The gear set includes a sun gear connected to the output shaft, a ring gear rotatably mounted in the gear box and a planet carrier rotatable with the input shaft and mounting a plurality of planetary gears between the sun gear and ring gear. A cone clutch engages the ring gear to ground it through a Belleville spring, piston and fulcrum, and centrifugal weights act to unground the ring gear; a one-way clutch between the shafts allows the output shaft to overrun the input shaft when the ring gear is grounded and rotate the output shaft with the input shaft as a unit when the ring gear is ungrounded.