Abstract: A door lock actuator including a single non-reversible drive motor for generating step-wise rotation of an output shaft through an indexing assembly which is decoupled from the motor during periods of operation. The indexing assembly includes an index pin plate coupled to a drive gear for rotation therewith. The plate includes a plurality of spaced pins which are positioned to contact a rotating paddle driven by the drive motor. The paddle successively contacts the pins in a portion of its rotation to cause corresponding rotation of the drive gear and the output gear which is meshingly engaged therewith. The output gear is coupled to an output shaft having twin cams positioned thereon for manipulating door latch pawls to control the door lock state. An override mechanism is provided which includes top and bottom override arms driven by rotation of a key in the key cylinder.

Abstract: A method of making a collimator having a generally honeycomb shape made from sheets of thin metal. The sheets are deformed using a progressive form die assembly into what may be termed truncated pyramids alternately inverted with top and bottom major flats connected by slant walls. Successive sheets are joined together by displacing them relative to each other so that the top major flats of the truncated pyramids of one sheet contact the bottom major flats of the succeeding sheet. Advantageously, the edges of the sheet are tapered to a pointed edge by the progressive form die assembly, which may also form roughened surfaces on the sheets by swedging. Edges of the slant walls which connect top and bottom major flats of the truncated pyramid shape are provided with a dual taper, and the edges of the major flats are provided with a single taper. When successive sheets are joined, the top and bottom major flats of successive sheets form a dual tapered edge from the single tapered edges on the flats of each sheet.

Abstract: An automotive brake switch including a body having a linearly traveling profiled carriage which makes or breaks various circuits as the carriage travels. The switch includes a plunger which, at first, is free to move relative to the carriage, but upon installation is locked to the carriage. A rotatable lever arm holds the carriage in a desired neutral operating position, and maintains free movement of the plunger relative to the carriage. When the switch body is installed, the plunger comes into contact with an arm of the brake which causes the brake to move against the force from a spring to assume a desired adjustment position relative to the carriage for proper operation. The rotatable lever arm is turned to lock the plunger to the carriage and to free the carriage for travel within the body. Thereafter, the carriage responds to movement of the plunger caused by the brake arm to make and break circuits in the normal fashion to control the operation of cruise control, stop lamps, etc.

Abstract: A conveyor system for the transport of carriers such as trays in which the transport medium is two or more endless loops of round polycord, such as polyurethane belts, or cables, on which the trays are carried. In the drive system, the belts follow a figure-8 path and pass through the conveyor bed, are wrapped around a drive pulley driven by a reducer/motor, and return through the bed while maintaining continuous contact with the carriers. Corners on the conveyor bed are provided with mini-sheaves having partially open faces, around which the cables pass, the cables being of sufficient diameter to extend above the reduced diameter flange of the open-faced sheaves and remain in continuous contact with the bottom surface of the carriers.

Abstract: A tow socket connector for receiving a plug from a towed vehicle and having multiple electrical terminals sealed axially through the socket from one side to the other. Each terminal is locked in its associated opening in the connector by a snap member and the thickness of each terminal is expanded by jogs formed along a portion of its length to provide a slide fit and a sealant block between the terminal and its opening. Each terminal includes a horizontal opening to permit the flow of sealant in a well formed at the upper end of the socket.

Abstract: A dual pivot material handler including a base section, a container, a pivot frame, a hydraulic power unit, a hydraulic control unit, and hydraulic cylinders for rotating the container about two pivot points. The container is pivotably mounted to one end of the pivot frame at a container pivot point, and a second end of the pivot frame is pivotably mounted to the base section at a base section pivot point. To rotate the container about the container and base section pivot points, hydraulic cylinders are mounted between the pivot frame and the container and between the base section and the pivot frame. At the initiation of a dump cycle, the cylinders mounted between the pivot frame and the container are actuated to rotate the container about the container pivot point to a horizontal position. In the horizontal position, the container rests on the pivot frame.

Abstract: A non-contact angular position sensor for sensing the position of a pivotably mounted device, which includes a housing containing a generally spherical socket having a relatively large pivot ball mounted for rotation in the socket, the ball including a spherical magnet having its center coincident with that of the pivot ball, magnetic sensing elements cooperating with and mounted at a fixed distance from the magnet, a joystick having its axis passing through the center of the spherical magnet, and output apparatus connected to the magnetic sensing elements to provide a signal representative of the orientation of the joystick.

Abstract: A direct-connect trailer tow interconnector for connecting the electrical circuits of a tow vehicle with similar circuits of a trailer in which a one-piece shell socket accepts a standard trailer plug at one end and is compatible with the fitting of a tow vehicle harness at the other end. Pass-through conductors, each of which is made from a single metal blank, form terminals compatible with those of the trailer plug and also with those of the vehicle harness fitting. A cover is provided with a spring-loaded floating hinge to permit flat sealing protecting the interconnector from environmental hazards, and a flushing passage is formed through the cover to remove debris from the floating hinge.

Abstract: An automotive inertia switch including a switch body which houses a movable plunger weight; a button guide structure with a cylindrical nest, a switch reset button, a wiper contact, and a compression spring. Switching action is caused by the vertical movement of the weight. In an untripped state, a tip of the weight is spring biased by the compression spring into the nest. In response to a rapid change in the acceleration of the vehicle, e.g. a crash, the tip is dislodged from the nest and the weight is forced by the spring to move upwardly against the button. Vertical movement of the weight causes the wiper contact, which is in pressing engagement with the opposite end of the weight, to move between switching positions to make and break electrical connection of a common terminal to the fuel pump or a switch status indicator. The tripped status of the switch may be indicated by the switch status indicator, or by visual observation of the outward projection of the button.

Abstract: An auxiliary reverser switch for a vehicle which includes a housing mounted in the vehicle in proximity to the operator and having a lever for selecting FORWARD, NEUTRAL and REVERSE positions for vehicle movement. The reverser switch is in addition to a standard range controller having a PARK and other positions and overrides control by the range controller only when a solenoid electrically connected in series with the ignition switch, the range controller, and the reverser switch is energized. The lever is mechanically connected to a rotor which breaks and establishes electrical contact to determine the direction of vehicle travel. The switch is self-canceling in that the lever is automatically returned to a HOME position displaced from the NEUTRAL position upon movement of the range controller to the PARK position or turning off the ignition switch.

Abstract: An input festoon is provided in a web supply apparatus for automatically splicing a relatively stiff web of material such a liner board for making corrugated board. The input festoon includes a dancer roll which is movable along a track to allow storage of a ready web as the ready web is pre-accelerated by an accelerator roll to a running speed prior to creation of a splice at a splice head. Tail grab sensors are mounted on the apparatus above the web between the input roll and the splice head adjacent the input roll. The tail grab sensor detects tears or breaks in the web and provides an electrical signal to initiate a splice. A vacuum box including a pivotable vacuum bar is provided for creating a high speed butt splice. A method of creating a high speed butt splice using the vacuum box is also presented.

Abstract: A front removable gauge assembly including a case gauge housing for locking the assembly to an instrument panel. A printed circuit board is mounted within the case gauge housing in electrical contact with conductors of a connector shell which extends from the case gauge housing for electrically connecting elements on the printed circuit board to an instrument signal source. A front removable gauge unit is removably mounted within the case gauge housing and contains an instrument assembly which can be mounted for 90-degree or 255-degree pointer sweep. From the bottom of the front removable gauge unit, a connector stud and wiper contacts extend. The connector stud has a protruding key which engages the bottom surface of the printed circuit board upon clockwise rotation of the front removable gauge unit to thereby removably lock it to the printed circuit boards.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for attracting insects, especially black flies and mosquitoes, in which the physical effects associated with the skin areas of prey-animals are simulated. Basic elements of the apparatus include warmed elastic-walled holders of pulsed fluid which may be in the form of elastic tubing through which warm fluid flows in pulses arranged to produce various physical effects associated with the underlying vasculature. Power for fluid heating and pulsing action may be provided by solar electrical, mechanical, nuclear, chemical or other source. Killing of insects or collection of live or dead insects may be accomplished by trapping or execution electrically, mechanically, or chemically.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the treatment of pollutants in gases which includes a plasma reactor chamber having sawtooth electrodes through which said gases flow, a generator of high voltage pulses of short width, high repetition rate and rapid rise time being coupled to said reactor with matched impedance, causing pulsed streamer discharges to be initiated at said chamber electrodes, increasing the effective plasma volume for more efficient pollutant reduction.

Abstract: An award plaque including a picture display assembly, on the top surface of which organizational and individual identifying data may be disposed and a securely retained three-dimensional emblem may be mounted. The mounting of the emblem fixes the emblem in place on the plaque and is hidden from view and inaccessible after the plaque is completely assembled to prevent loss or casual pilferage of the emblem. On the bottom surface of the plaque, a wall hanger and easel stand are provided.

Abstract: A hot and cold therapeutic pillow which includes a cervical roll having relatively firm ends and a relatively soft middle portion. The core of the pillow is hollow and accommodates a cylindrical gel pack which may be heated by microwave radiation or cooled by freezing. The cervical roll may be integrally combined with a head cradle which has a soft middle or central portion and firm ends.

Abstract: Pallet loading apparatus including a three-sided enclosure open at top and bottom in which a cantilver-supported lifting platform is vertically reciprocable and driven by a hydraulic system housed in the rear wall of the enclosure, the rear wall being comprised of relatively widely spaced panels and the side walls being relatively narrow. The platform may be locked in position at a predetermined height within the three-sided enclosure to permit its movement from place to place by a hand pallet jack or forklift.

Abstract: A mattress cover in which a convoluted sheet of foam is removably enclosed in a pocket or pouch composed of two layers, at least one of which is quilted to enclose quantities of fiber batting. A zippered closure joins the two layers and may be opened to remove the layer of foam and permit effective laundering of the outer layers.