Abstract: A pinion gear assembly for a starter motor which may be assembled utilizing a simple and convenient assembly process. The pinion gear assembly includes a pinion gear, a cup, a rubber washer, and a spline follower. The closed end of the cup has an opening which passes the body and teeth of the pinion gear, but does not pass intertooth fillets at one end of the pinion gear, thus keeping the pinion gear retained in the cup. The rubber washer is retained between the pinion gear and the spline follower, and acts to absorb shock and allow some movement to align teeth of the pinion gear with teeth of a mating ring gear or flywheel. In assembly, the spline follower is held in alignment with the pinion gear, and the material of the cup is pressed radially inward over the rear surface of the spline follower, forming retaining step portions for retaining the spline follower in the proper alignment.

Abstract: An electronic ignition system having an automatic shutdown feature is disclosed. In a first embodiment of the invention, should an output terminal of an integrated circuit (10, 10a) remain in a high voltage condition for a prolonged period of time, a capacitor (C100) which is charged from a constant voltage and alternately discharged through a terminal (105) of the integrated circuit, is allowed to charge, and gradually reaches the threshold voltage of a transistor (Q200) which is connected to shunting transistor (Q1), which diverts current from transistor (Q2) in series with an ignition coil primary winding (76, 76a) and gradually deenergizes the ignition system. In a second embodiment, a capacitor (C200) is charged from a constant voltage, and alternately discharged by being shorted by an inverting transistor (Q300) connected to a terminal (205) of an integrated circuit (200, 200a), which provides a signal which is the compliment of an output terminal.

Abstract: An idle speed control system for controlling the idle speed of an internal combustion engine, to conserve fuel by allowing a lowered idle speed, whenever possible, as well as offering more than normal power when needed, is disclosed. This idle speed control system includes an actuator for moving a secondary idle stop member into operative position, having both a vacuum-operated section and a solenoid section for maintaining the actuator in operative position, regardless of the state of the vacuum-operated portion. The idle speed control system further includes a control circuit responsive to engine speed which applies an output signal to the vacuum-operated section of the actuator when engine speed falls below a predetermined minimum, maintains it for a predetermined period of time, momentarily removes it to determine if the engine is presently capable of idling above the predetermined minimum speed, and reapplies the output signal if engine speed then dips below the predetermined minimum speed.

Abstract: A structure for trapping hazardous dust in a work place which also serves as a walkway is disclosed. A removable cover member (12) includes a frame and a central support member (18), the frame and central support member (18) being covered with expanded metal mesh (22). The cover rests upon a shallow pan (10), the pan (10) having a raised central ridge (28) which is aligned with the central support member (18) in the cover (12) when the cover (12) is placed on the pan (10). The central support member (18) and the central raised ridge (28) cooporate to limit the deflection of the expanded metal mesh (22) under the weight of a user. The lower pan (10) is provided with a hook (34), for engaging other similar pans (10) for assembling a walkway or other desired configuration of dust collecting pans. The pan may be filled with a non-evaporating liquid to permanentaly retain dust falling into the pan, and also dust being scraped from the shoes of a user by the expanded metal mesh.

Abstract: A phase-lock loop ties a reference input frequency such as for the rotational speed of an engine with an engine timing signal. The engine timing signal is a sawtooth with a peak to peak amplitude and with the phase of the timing signal corresponding to the instantaneous amplitude of the timing signal between its peak to peak extremes.The phase-lock loop comparison, produces a drive or speed signal which is also indicative of the reference signal frequency. The level of the drive or speed signal, is that necessary to maintain the period of the timing signal in correspondence with the reference input signal.A third signal may be generated, proportional to the engine rotational speed signal, or to any other engine parameter which is compared to the timing signal to produce a trigger signal at the appropriate phase angle of the engine rotational cycle.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine (1), having brushes which contact an armature contact surface such as commutator (6) or slip rings, is provided with a plurality of independent, individually removable brush holders (10, 100). Each brush holder is provided with either a removable pin (102) to allow brushes to contact the armature contact surface after the brush holder (10, 100) has been installed, or with a clamping bolt (40), retaining brushes (8) in a predetermined position for insertion of the brush holder, and removal of the brush holder, the brush holder being tilted or cocked to avoid contact between it and the armature contact surface. Bolting the brush holder (10, 100) into place makes electrical contact between the dynamoelectric machine and the brush holder by means of an insulated, conductive threaded aperture (34) on the exterior service of the machine, a mounting bolt (24) inserted into this aperture (34) urging a conductive portion (20) of the brush holder into electrical contact.

Abstract: An ignition system for a small internal combustion engine is disclosed, including a magnetic trigger rotor (33) having two magnets (45) disposed in arcuate slots (43), with a radial slot (41) disposed between the arcuate slots (43) for causing an abrupt flux reversal in a pickup coil (35) to generate an initial ignition timing signal, and two or more holes (47), (49) adjacent the radial slot and made in the direction of the axis of rotation of the rotor, for causing flux distortions which becomes significant at higher rotational speeds, to give a step-type ignition advance.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine (1), having brushes which contact an armature contact surface such as commutator (6) or slip rings, is provided with a plurality of independent, individually removable brush holders (10, 100). Each brush holder is provided with either a removable pin (102) to allow brushes to contact the armature contact surface after the brush holder (10, 100) has been installed, or with a clamping bolt (40), retaining brushes (8) in a predetermined position for insertion of the brush holder, and removal of the brush holder, the brush holder being tilted or cocked to avoid contact between it and the armature contact surface. Bolting the brush holder (10, 100) into place makes electrical contact between the dynamoelectric machine and the brush holder by means of an insulated, conductive threaded aperture (34) on the exterior service of the machine, a mounting bolt (24) inserted into this aperture (34) urging a conductive portion (20) of the brush holder into electrical contact.

Abstract: Means are disclosed for dissipating supercharge pressure in a hydraulic system including a reversible pump (18) directly connected to a hydraulic cylinder (22). Supercharge pressure results from unequal areas on either side of a piston (24) of a single-ended hydraulic cylinder (22). When the piston moves towards the blind end of the cylinder (22), more fluid is displaced from the cylinder than is admitted to the cylinder on the opposite side of the piston. Means responsive to a pressure at a first port (82) of the pump (18) opens a passage between the second port (76) of the pump (18) and a fluid reservoir (16), allowing fluid in excess of the pump's intake requirements to pass to the reservoir (16). In a first embodiment of the invention, a rocker mechanism (60) is actuated by a piston (66) responsive to pressure at the first port (82) pressing against a first end (20) of the rocker mechanism (60), the second end (74) of the rocker mechanism (60) displacing a check ball (38) of a keep-full valve.

Abstract: A method of preparing battery electrodes from tetrabasic lead sulfate paste including the steps of adding a carbonate material to the paste, curing the electrodes in a humid atmosphere and forming the electrodes.

Abstract: An actuating mechanism for sliding doors provided on the passenger side of conventional panel-type trucks, commonly called vans, is intended to be either installed in the vehicle at the time of its original manufacture, or installed at any later time, without substantial modification of the vehicle. A winch assembly (44) including two separate winding drums (74, 86) on a common shaft (87) and driven by the shaft through springs (162, 174) and a positive driver (170), is mounted over the rear wheel well of such a vehicle. A guide assembly (50) including a pulley (54) and a pivoting guide member (62) is installed in an aperture cut in the door frame. A single pulley (56) is installed at the lower rear corner of the door opening, and a guide tube (58) is installed in the door. A flexible cable (52) is connected to an arm added to the latch operating mechanism, and extends through the guide tube (58), around the pulley (56), through the guiding assembly (50) to the winch assembly (44), for opening the door.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine (1), having brushes which contact an armature contact surface such as commutator (6) or slip rings, is provided with a plurality of independent, individually removable brush holders (10, 100). Each brush holder is provided with either a removable pin (102) to allow brushes to contact the armature contact surface after the brush holder (10, 100) has been installed, or with a clamping bolt (40), retaining brushes (8) in a predetermined position for insertion of the brush holder, and removal of the brush holder, the brush holder being tilted or cocked to avoid contact between it and the armature contact surface. Bolting the brush holder (10, 100) into place makes electrical contact between the dynamoelectric machine and the brush holder by means of an insulated, conductive threaded aperture (34) on the exterior service of the machine, a mounting bolt (24) inserted into this aperture (34) urging a conductive portion (20) of the brush holder into electrical contact.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed whereby a sudden perceptible resistance is applied to the accelerator pedal of an automobile vehicle when the intake manifold vacuum pressure level decreases below a preselected pressure. A pneumatic motor is operated by a throttle valve that mixes the ambient and manifold vacuum. The motor controls the relative position of a helical spring relative to the throttle control and allows the throttle control and spring to engage abruptly when the manifold vacuum pressure is below the preselected level and withdraws the spring from contact with the throttle control when the manifold vacuum pressure exceeds that pressure level.

Abstract: A magneto ignition system having inherent means for providing operating biases for components thereof at temperature extremes is disclosed. The disclosed ignition system includes an ignition coil (10) having primary and secondary coil (12, 14) a solid state or semiconductor switch (24) being connected across the primary coil (12) for switching the current therein, and drive and trigger coils (20, 34). The semiconductor switch (24) is driven toward a nonconductive state, to cause an ignition impulse in the secondary coil, by semiconductor latching device (32) which shunts the signal from the drive coil (20) to ground (38). The semiconductor latching device (32) is activated by a trigger coil (34), having a separate magnetic flux path.In order to provide reliable switching at extremes of ambient temperature, means (22) responsive to the common magnetic field of the primary coil, the secondary coil, and the drive coil are provided to effectively provide operating bias to the latching device (32).

Abstract: A circuit for selecting between two or more detecting elements, such as magnetic pickups or resonant sensors (10, 12, 14) or (132, 134) spaced around a rotating member (15a, 157) to generate timing signals for an ignition system for an engine (15, 156) is disclosed. One disclosed embodiment is usable with a conventional mechanical advance to provide an additional advance above a predetermined vehicle (102) speed, and which may be negated by a vacuum switch (119) if the engine (156) is under heavy load. Another disclosed embodiment utilizes a plurality of such sensors (10, 12, 14) to provide a step-type ignition advance for an engine (15).

Abstract: A wear-indicating brush and warning circuit adapted to convey an indication to an operator that a dynamoelectric machine provided with such a brush is in need of maintenance before the brush wears to the point that a rotor contact surface is damaged by contact with electrical connections to the brush are disclosed. A brush (10) having current carrying pigtail leads (16) embedded therein includes a wear-detecting wire (20) embedded in the brush a short distance (A) beyond the lowest extent of the pigtail leads (16). The wire (20) is insulated over its periphery, including its tip (24), the insulation (26) being abraded by contact with the rotor contact surface (50), so that the wire (20) senses the voltage present thereon. Non-latching warning circuits (66, 66a) are disclosed, with and without the use of an isolating resistor within the dynamoelectric machine to permit the use of a single wire between the machine and the warning circuit.

Abstract: A mechanical structure for an ignition controller (20) for an electronic ignition system, including structure for a sensing coil carrier, a trigger rotor, and a mechanical advance mechanism is disclosed. The sensing coil carrier (28) is pivotably mounted to a shaft (22) of the ignition controller (20), and holds a sensing coil (30) a fixed radial distance from the shaft. A trigger rotor (26) having a generally circular configuration with two circumferential walls (90, 92) forming a groove, with a metallic channel member (96) embedded in the groove, is fixed to the shaft (22), so that the sensing coil carrier (28) and the trigger rotor (26) are both referenced to the same axis. The mechanical advance mechanism (24) uses identical springs (60) for primary advance, and a self centering spring (66) for secondary advance, thereby eliminating unbalanced loading that results in hysteresis in ignition advance.

Abstract: A process for the fabrication of lead acid batteries containing an acid electrolyte and negative electrodes and positive electrodes, including the steps of coating at least one said electrode with a paste containing tetrabasic lead sulfate and ammonium carbonate mixed with water, curing said electrode in a dry atmosphere, and forming said electrode.

Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder having a piston position memory element is disclosed, and is particularly adapted for use with propulsion units for watercraft. A valve seat (76,242) is frictionally retained in a bore of a cylinder (24,200) and cooperates with a valve (72,266) in a piston (70,244) to stop the piston (70,244) in a preset position by blocking the flow of fluid through the valve (72,266).In a first embodiment, a poppet valve 60 is provided to allow a piston (70) to move to dissipate the energy of a collision of a watercraft propulsion unit with a stationary object, the piston (70) being provided with a valve (72) to allow the piston (70) to return to its original position. The valve seat (76) having remained in its original position and being provided with an unrestricted aperture (78) stops the piston (70) in its original position.

Abstract: A speed limiting system particularly suited for use with magneto ignition systems for small internal combustion engines is disclosed. A shorting transistor (38) is made conductive for a predetermined time after a first trigger pulse from a trigger coil (12), thus preventing subsequent trigger pulses from being effective above a predetermined engine speed. A capacitor (44) is charged by a trigger pulse, and maintains shorting transistor (38) conductive until it is discharged through the shorting transistor (38), subsequent trigger pulses arriving while shorting transistor (38) is conductive recharging the capacitor (44). A diode (42), which also serves to prevent the capacitor (44) from discharging through the trigger coil (12), provides for normal ignition system operation by delaying operating of the shorting transistor (38) until a trigger pulse has become effective upon the gate (34) of a SCR (30).