Abstract: A combustion system for a divided chamber engine that incorporates a pre-combustion chamber disposed to one side of the cylinder and that communicates with the main combustion chamber through two diverging transfer passages the open ends of which are aimed to direct the discharge from the pre-combustion chamber towards the sides of the combustion chamber and not at the center of the piston or the exhaust valve wherein the localized temperature at the piston's center is reduced and the exhaust valve temperature is not elevated.

Abstract: A transversely mounted vehicle powertrain includes a transmission differential encased in a housing, a half shaft bearing support, and a link shaft extending between the transmission differential housing and the half shaft bearing support. An inventive tubular member encircles the link shaft to increase the lateral ridigity of the powertrain. A bracket is attached to one end of the tubular member and is mounted to the transmission differential housing. The opposite end of the tubular member is secured to the half shaft bearing support. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tubular member, the bracket, and the half shaft bearing support are cast as a single, integral metal piece.

Abstract: A hood for closing an engine compartment of an automotive vehicle having at least one component in the compartment which it desired to subject to a flow of cooling air. The hood has an inner panel and an outer panel. The inner panel is shaped to form a channel. The outer panel overlies the channel to form a duct. The duct has an air inlet and an air outlet downstream from the air inlet. During forward motion of the vehicle, air will enter the air inlet and flow through the duct, exiting at the air outlet to subject the component to a flow of cooling air.

Abstract: An automatic transmission has a planetary gear set with a ratio controlling rotatable reaction element capable of either clockwise or counterclockwise rotation in accordance with different inputs to the gear set and resultant reactive torque loads applied thereto. A circular double acting brake band is used to selectively hold the reaction element stationary when desired and has opposite end portions that alternately serve as control application inputs or a grounding function. In one operative mode, a first end portion of the band receives an apply control force causing the second end portion to be grounded so that the band frictionally secures the reaction element from rotation in a first rotary direction and to thereby enable a first gear ratio.

Abstract: An energy absorbing interior trim component of plastics is attached to a supporting structural member of a vehicle by one or more special fastening devices. The trim component has a shell-like main housing defining an interior cavity that contains a plurality of laterally spaced energy absorbing ribs, which are designed to deform and collapse upon predetermined impact loads applied to the trim component. The ribs are strategically located and sized for optimized energy absorbing purposes and in accordance with the interior dimensions and shape of the trim component. Each fastening device comprises a steel spring clip having laterally spaced clamping jaw arms for easy installation and substantially permanent attachment to the ribs and having an attachment head which readily fastens into structure defining a narrow elongated slot in the supporting structural member.

Abstract: A piston is reciprocable in a cylinder of a valve body. A spring in the cylinder has one end bearing against the piston. An abutment holds a retainer in bearing engagement with the opposite end of the spring to hold the spring under compression. The valve body has a slot through which the retainer may be introduced transversely into the cylinder when the spring is further compressed. The retainer has a locking tab. The valve body has an axial notch extending from the slot in a direction away from the spring to clear the tab when the spring is further compressed by a tool and the retainer is introduced. When the tool is withdrawn and the retainer is forced back against the abutment by the spring, the tab extends beyond the notch to be overlain and trapped or blocked by a portion of the valve body to prevent the retainer from falling out of the cylinder through the slot.

Abstract: A piston-type fuel pump has two or more cylinder bores in a barrel. A piston in each cylinder bore has a port for admitting fuel into the cylinder bore. A swash plate assembly includes a wobble plate connected to each of the pistons. The wobble plate is given an oscillatory motion producing reciprocal movement of the pistons. A thin-walled metal bellows defines a closed interior space surrounding the pistons to prevent escape of fuel.

Abstract: A remote mirror adjustment mechanism for manually adjusting the position of a vehicle side rear-view mirror wherein the adjustment mechanism has a base member having an annular edge for engaging and mounting the adjustment mechanism to a substantially flat interior panel of the vehicle and forming a recessed space in the panel. The base member includes a concave socket for rotatably receiving a ball socket there against. An elongated arm member is mounted to the ball socket and biased from an actuation position with the arm member extending outwardly from the recessed space and beyond the annular edge to a rest position retracted in the recessed space and below the annular edge. A plurality of cables interconnect the ball socket and the side rear-view mirror to provide angular adjustment of the mirror when the arm member rotates the ball socket in the actuation position. A housing defining a cavity encloses the ball socket against the concave socket of the base member.

Abstract: A transmission assembly and method for controlling a torque converter of a transmission assembly in which an electronic controller monitors the load on the vehicle power train in addition to a number of other vehicle dynamics, including the currently engaged gear ratio and the temperature of the transmission fluid. The electronic controller is operable for causing the activation of the converter clutch in response to a number of predetermined operating conditions, one of which includes the operation of the vehicle when the fluid in the torque converter exceeds a predetermined temperature and the vehicle power train is operated under a heavy load for a period of time which exceeds a predetermined time interval. Engagement of the converter clutch during such times inhibits relative rotation between the torque converter turbine and impeller, improving fuel economy and preventing the torque converter from generating a substantial amount of heat.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine for a vehicle includes a crankshaft, a piston movable through a cycle, a piston rod connecting the piston and the crankshaft, an oil pan spaced from the crankshaft, and an oil source providing pressurized oil. An inventive windage tray is positioned between the crankshaft and the oil pan. The windage tray includes a passage having an inlet port receiving the pressurized oil and a first outlet port directing a first stream of the pressurized oil at the piston. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the passage further includes a second outlet port directing a second stream of pressurized oil at the piston. The first outlet port is positioned to direct the first stream of pressurized oil upon the piston unobstructed by the piston rod during a first portion of the piston cycle. The second outlet port is positioned to direct the second stream of pressurized oil upon the piston unobstructed by the piston rod during the remaining portion of the piston cycle.

Abstract: A control valve for an onboard refuel vapor recovery system employing two bleed orifices in the body of the control valve that are effective to provide different time intervals for continuing to dispense fuel into the fuel tank after an initial fill nozzle shut-off.

Abstract: A manual shift lever connection mechanism for connecting a shift handle to the stub shaft of a transmission. The connection mechanism has a sleeve portion disposed about said stub shaft and an insert member for engaging the stub shaft disposed within said sleeve portion. The insert member further has an engagement mechanism for engaging a disassembly tool.

Abstract: A unitary cover includes a base and a cap portion which are moveable relative to one another into a closed operative condition to conceal a fastener head or nut. The generally flat base has an aperture therethrough for extension of the fastener's shank while the portions about the aperture serve as a washer for the fastener head or nut. The cap portion has an oblong and dome-like shape and shares a thin edge with an edge of the base which forms a living hinge therebetween to allow the base and cap to pivot between opened and closed operative positions with respect to one another. Free edge portions of the base and of the cap engage when moved into a closed operative position. Specifically, an inwardly projecting catch formation on the cap edge encounters a beveled formation on the base edge to flex the cap edge outward an allow the catch formation to be trapped by the bevel formation thereby securing the edges together.

Abstract: A framing structure for the rear portion of an automobile, including a pair of spaced and generally vertically oriented suspension strut towers each tower fixed at lower and upper end portions to a lower cross beam and a unitary upper cross beam respectively and with each cross beam extending the full width of the vehicle and with each beam having a closed cross-sectional configuration providing a high degree of structural rigidity as a mounting platform for the left and right rear wheel suspensions.

Abstract: A one-piece floating spring nut that has overlying upper and lower flattened leaves that extend from separated free ends into connection with a u-shaped spring hinge that resiliently joins the arms at their inboard ends. The upper leaf has a centralized nut locating and retaining collar extruded therefrom that also serves as a guide and through passage for a threaded fastener. The lower leaf has an extruded sleeve portion aligned with the locating and retaining collar, which is internally threaded to threadly receive the threaded fastener. The locating and retaining collar has a generally cylindrical configuration that extends with clearance into an opening in a support member to retain the spring nut in a pre-assembled position on the support member. The collar further cooperates with the edge of the enlarged opening to establish the amount of adjustment that the nut can float relative to the support.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a piston reciprocable in a cylinder toward and away from a combustion chamber. An intake valve admits air into the combustion chamber. An exhaust valve discharges products of combustion from the combustion chamber. A fuel injector is positioned to direct a plume of fuel into the combustion chamber along a path and in a direction to impinge upon the exhaust valve. The piston has an end face formed with a concave recess or pocket adjacent the exhaust valve. The exhaust valve is constructed and arranged to deflect fuel impinging thereon into the recess. The recess being shaped to redirect fuel back toward the path of the plume of fuel.

Abstract: An oil level indicator assembly for a vehicle engine including an elongated indicator member removably housed in a tubular sleeve which has spaced upper end and lower end portions with an interior passage therebetween and an internal shoulder-like formation therein. The elongated indicator member has a coil spring formation adapted to engage the shoulder-like formation when the indicator and sleeve are in an assembled relationship, thereby establishing a predetermined length of the indicator to project into the engine oil. The effect of oil on indicia formed on the indicator member when withdrawn from the sleeve member shows the level of oil in the engine.

Abstract: A filling aid for field filling the engine cooling system of automotive vehicles with cooling liquids. For field service, the filling aid is mounted in a stabilized upright orientation by an integral fluid sealing connection to a filler neck of the deareation chamber of a coolant bottle of the system so that it extends above the bottle. Coolant is added into the cooling system through the filling aid until the filling aid and deareation chamber are filled with coolant. Because a taller column of coolant has been established by use of the filling aid, potential energy is increased and coolant is quickly fed by increased pressure and force into the engine cooling system. When sufficient coolant fills the system, any coolant left in the filling aid may be released by removing a closure clamp previously installed on an overflow tube leading from the deareation chamber so that it drains with no spills from the filling aid to an overflow chamber of the coolant bottle.

Abstract: A seat ramp is provided for effectuating the insertion and removal of vehicle seats. The removal ramp has at least one track member with an arcuate vehicle engagement portion, a surface engagement portion opposite the arcuate vehicle engagement portion, a mid portion integrally formed between the arcuate vehicle engagement portion and the surface engagement portion, and a sleeve attached underneath the track member adjacent to the arcuate vehicle engagement portion. A track retention apparatus is attached to the vehicle and has a cross member that extends through the sleeve of, and is perpendicular to, the track member. Once inserted onto the cross member, the track member is slidable along the cross member. A device is also provided for attaching the track retention apparatus to the vehicle.

Abstract: An improved delivery valve for a plunger type fuel distribution pump characterized by ease of manufacture, lightness, and enhance performance in achieving both a check valve function and a retraction volume function. Specifically, previous machined constructions utilized a conically configured check valve and machined grooves which in the improved design are replaced by a commercially available high-precision, smoothly finished steel bearing ball element and by lightweight, tubular stem design.