Abstract: A spool for storing and transporting heavy strand material, particularly wire, includes a hollow shell with integral legs and reinforcing means in the interior of the shell. In one embodiment, the reinforcing means is a foam filling, which in a second embodiment, the reinforcing means comprises integral braces in the interior of the shell. A cap on the spool allows two or four spools to be banded together in a package assembly. The cap is also configured to permmit stacking of the spools.

Abstract: A spool for storing and transporting heavy strand material, particularly wire, includes a hollow shell with integral legs and reinforcing means in the interior of the shell. In one embodiment, the reinforcing means is a foam filling, which in a second embodiment, the reinforcing means comprises integral braces in the interior of the shell. A cap on the spool allows two or four spools to be banded together in a package assembly. The cap is also configured to permit stacking of the spools.

Abstract: A connector assembly in which a W-shaped clip inserted in a housing cavity makes electrical contact to an insulated electrical conductor in the housing. Each leg of the W-shaped clip has a wire receiving slot therein, which extends from the bight of the leg partially up the walls of the leg. Further, the slots in each leg are parallel to one another and are axially aligned with one another, so that as the clip is inserted into the cavity, the wire receiving slots cut through the film type insulation on the conductor to make electrical contact to it. A pair of wire guiding slots in the housing and a wire support platform serve to locate the wire in the cavity for proper positioning to insert the clip. In addition, one of the wire guiding slots is shorter than the other, and cooperates with a wire receiving slot to permit the end of the electrical conductor to be pulled slightly into the cavity when the clip is inserted therein.

Abstract: A splice for an optical ribbon utilizes the elongated strain relief members in the ribbon as guide members to form a space in which the optical channels of the two ribbons are axially aligned to optically connect them. The splice and corresponding splicing method are particularly useful to gang splice two optical ribbons.

Abstract: A lamp outage indicator circuit for sensing and indicating outage of remotely located lamps in a vehicle. The lamp outage indicator employs a semiconductor sensing device to sense the voltage excursion which occurs when a lamp burns out. The sensing semiconductor is located in a bridge circuit to negate the effects of voltage and temperature fluctuations on the operating point of the circuit. Further, the sensing semiconductor device is located in the circuit so that in the normal operating state, a reference semiconductor device is on while the sensing semiconductor device is off. Lamp outage causes the current to shift from the reference semiconductor device to the sensing semiconductor device so as to turn the reference device off, and the sensing device on to energize an appropriate indicator. In one embodiment, the sensing semiconductor device is a light emitting diode while in a second embodiment, the sensing semiconductor device is a transistor.

Abstract: A padring for a loudspeaker is formed of a hot melt type material. The padring is easily attached to the housing by applying heat and also serves as a means of attaching a screen to the speaker. In the method of forming the padring, the hot melt type material is extruded into a continuous flat sheet and the padrings are cut from the sheet. Any scrap formed when the padrings are cut from the sheet can be recycled to the extruder reservoir since the hot melt material exhibits little thermal degradation. Consequently, the method of manufacturing the padring of the invention is a scrapless method.

Abstract: An indicator circuit for indicating whether an incandescent type lamp is burned out. The indicator circuits include a voltage reference source and an indicator LED which is normally biased just below the knee of its conduction curve, but which is biased into conduction whenever the monitored lamp burns out. A bridge circuit is utilized so that relatively small variations in power source voltage do not affect the operating point of the circuit.

Abstract: A ribbon consisting of a plurality of optical channels each of which is situated between two strength members of greater diameter than the optical channels. A sheath surrounds the strength member and optical fibers in such a manner that it is bonded only to the strength members, thus permitting the optical channels to move relative to the strength members. If desired, a cushion tape may be interleaved between the optical channels and strength members to prevent the strength members from abrading the fibers. Further, if desired, the sheath may be formed of two tapes suitably bonded to one another at their longitudinal edges.A cable made from the optical ribbon of the invention includes a central core around which the ribbon is spirally wrapped and an impact sheath is applied thereover.

Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel injection valve having an electromagnetic actuator for moving a ball valve cooperating with a fixed valve seat. A metering orifice is located downstream from said valve seat and means for imparting a radial velocity component to fuel issuing from the injection valve is located in between the valve seat and the orifice. In addition, means is provided for minimizing the volume between the swirl means and the orifice without unduly restricting flow.

Abstract: A thermal relay construction capable of operating a pair of electrical contacts. The thermal relay includes an electrical heater of the self-regulating PTC type which is mounted upon and thermally coupled directly to a bimetal snap disc so that heat generated by the heater causes the bimetal snap disc to overcenter and operate the electrical contacts. The other electrical connection to the heater is made through a compensating blade which bears against the heater to compensate for ambient temperature effects on the thermal relay. An electric range oven control uses temperature sensitive electrical contacts in conjunction with the thermal relay to control the oven heaters.

Abstract: An ignition system is disclosed which controls an electrically operated fuel valve and a spark generating apparatus to cause the fuel to be ignited at a fuel burning apparatus. The system also includes a flame sensing means which inhibits operation of an oscillator a predetermined time interval after operation is initiated in the event a flame at the fuel burning apparatus is not detected by the flame sensing means. The output of the oscillator is applied to a voltage converter which, in turn, controls valve actuation and spark generation. The invention can be used to light either a main burner directly, or indirectly through a pilot burner.

Abstract: A four way valve assembly for a reversible cycle refrigeration system in which a rotary valve accomplishes the switching between heating and cooling modes. The rotary valve is mounted in a cavity in a housing and is designed to be rotated by a unidirectional electric motor. The rotary valve comprises a plate having a pair of recesses in it, which each acts to connect a pair of ports in a base plate together. A high pressure bypass port maintains the pressure in the cavity at a relatively high level such that the high pressure tends to increase the abutting contact between the valve plate and the base plate. A cam and switch arrangement provides the necessary control to stop and start the electric motor.

Abstract: A door lock actuator includes a reversible linear power drive means for actuating the lock and manual means for actuating the lock. Whenever the manual means is used to actuate the lock, the power drive means is reversed through the lock mechanism. If the drive means should become jammed for any reason, the present invention provides a simple yet reliable override bracket which still allows the lock to be manually actuated by allowing the drive means to be disjoined from its mounting.

Abstract: A thermal relay having main contacts and normally closed auxiliary contacts, a thermally responsive actuator for sequentially operating the main and normally closed auxiliary contacts, and an electric heater for causing said thermally responsive actuator to move. The power supplied to the electric heater is controlled by the auxiliary contacts so that the position of the thermally responsive actuator in the operated position is self-regulated. Because the position of the thermally responsive actuator in the operated position is self-regulated, the time for deactuation of the relay is reduced from prior art relays. One use of the relay of the invention is that of a cornering relay in an automobile signal light system whereby the relay is actuated by the signal light flasher to actuate a cornering lamp.

Abstract: A valve and switch assembly having a rotatably movable actuating mechanism in common. The actuating mechanism acts to actuate both devices when rotated. A latch mechanism, however, prevents rotation of the actuating mechanism when it is rotated to a first position. The latch is deactuated by axially depressing or collapsing the actuating mechanism and then rotating it. An additional unique feature lies in the switch assembly in which the switch contacts are electrically insulated from the actuating mechanism.

Abstract: An electromagnetic fuel injection valve which exhibits faster opening and closing times as well as being more linear in flow characteristics than prior art valves. The fuel injector valve of the invention accomplishes these desirdata by providing a combination of design improvements over prior art electromagnetic fuel injector valves. Most notable among the design improvements are: a lighweight plunger, a flat-faced armature, dual adjustment of the valve seat and biasing on the plunger, and a wet coil construction whereby the electromagnetic coil is cooled by fluid flowing through the valve.

Abstract: A wire annealing apparatus of the type in which an annealing current resistively heats the wire to soften it. The annealing current is caused to flow as a result of a potential difference applied to a section of wire through low friction-free running contact pulleys. Each of the contact pulleys is as friction-free as possible because it is rotatably supported by a ball bearing on a shaft which is rotatably driven at or near the rotational speed at which the pulley is rotated by the wire. The annealing current path between the shaft and the contact pulley is completed through a low friction electrical connector assembly. Annealing current is provided from flowing through the supporting ball bearing.

Abstract: A combination thermostat tip switch assembly in which a bimetal member carrying a double-faced contact is mounted in a stack assembly between two resilient contact leaves each carrying an electrical contact adapted to mate with the double-faced contact. The stack is mounted on a rigid base member which supports an adjusting mechanism adapted to cooperate with one of the contact leaves so as to provide an adjustment of the operating temperature of the thermostat. A position sensitive mechanism in the form of a pendulum is mounted on one of the contact leaves and cooperates with the other contact leaf to move the two away from one another.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive electrical contact member which surrounds a first electrical conductor and completes an electrical connection between the first conductor and a second electrical conductor in response to relative pressure exerted thereon by the two conductors. As an example, the pressure sensitive electrical contact member may be used as an insulating sleeve which surrounds that portion of an electro-plating rack upon which the articles to be plated are supported. The sleeve includes a pressure sensitive electrical contact portion which is normally nonconductive but becomes conductive when the article to be plated is placed on the rack so as to complete an electrical connection between the article and the rack. Because only substantially that portion of the pressure sensitive electrical contact that the article contacts is electrically conductive, the effects of parasitic plating on the rack are greatly minimized.

Abstract: A high pressure safety valve which automatically closes when high pressure conditions exist. The high pressure valve includes a diaphragm valve and a snap acting assembly connected to the diaphragm valve which acts to snap it closed when a high pressure condition is detected. The safety valve of the present invention may also include a relief valve which opens when the diaphragm valve closes to relieve pressure at the outlet of the safety valve. In addition, the safety valve of the present invention can be manually reset only after the high pressure condition has been corrected.