Abstract: A clutch hydraulic slave cylinder comprising a cylinder body, a primary piston sealingly reciprocable relative to the body and co-operating with the body to form a first fluid chamber within said body, and a secondary piston sealingly reciprocable relative to the primary piston and co-operating with the primary piston to form a second fluid chamber. the second fluid chamber is connected to the first fluid chamber through a valve means. The primary piston is biased by a spring means from a fully retracted condition to an at-rest condition in which it can exert a pre-load on a clutch bearing, and said valve means is open when the primary piston is in the fully retracted condition, and is closed when the primary piston is in the at-rest condition.

Abstract: A system for preventing a vehicle from running away downhill and for ensuring a smooth take-up from rest, in which signals proportional to engine speed (Ve) and vehicle speed (Vdp) are used. The engine speed signal is compared with a reference signal (Vs) to produce an engagement signal (E) which controls a clutch actuation means for engagement of the clutch. The vehicle speed signal (Vdp) and the engine speed signal (Ve) are fed into a filter (71) which produces a clutch actuation signal if either (Vdp or E) exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A disc brake caliper has two limbs which, in use, straddle an outer periphery of a brake disc to support friction pads on each side of the disc. Each caliper limb supports at least two friction pads arranged side by side in a circumferentially sequential array with the trailing edges of each pad abutting the leading edge of any circumferentially adjacent pad in the array to transmit torque loads from one pad to the adjacent pad.

Abstract: A hydraulic master cylinder and reservoir assembly having a master cylinder body with a fluid reservoir, and a master cylinder bore with a piston assembly sealingly reciprocal within the bore. The fluid reservoir has at least a portion thereof concentric with the master cylinder bore and is sealed from the atmosphere by a rolling diaphragm, which is sealingly slidable relative to an internal surface of the reservoir allowing the volume of fluid within the reservoir to expand or contract.

Abstract: A differential mechanism having two output cam members, each having a single annular cam surface with pairs of inclined surfaces. Relative contra rotation of the output cam members cause cam followers to slide axially, and a housing engages the cam followers which are slideably supported by the housing moving the followers circumferentially relative to the output cam members. The two cam output members are thrust axially against the housing during drive of the cam output members through the followers and at least one cam output member acts against the housing through a friction thrust washer. This mechanism allows control of the torque ratio between inside and outside output shafts of a vehicle when turning a corner.

Abstract: A beverage carbonator constructed as a pitcher shaped pressure vessel which functions as a carbonation chamber and which has a water canister and a gas generation chamber removably positioned inside the carbonation chamber. Carbon dioxide is produced by releasing internally stored water from the water canister into a carbon dioxide generating chemical in the gas generation chamber and then the carbon dioxide passes into the carbonation chamber where it is dissolved into a liquid beverage.

Abstract: A clutch control system for a motor vehicle having an engine (10), a gearbox (12) having a plurality of gear ratios, and a clutch (14) providing a drive connection between the engine and the gearbox. The control system includes a clutch actuation means (22) for controlling the state of engagement of the clutch and a control unit (36) which receives signals from a plurality of vehicle operating parameter sensors including a gear sensor (32) which indicates that a gear ratio is engaged in the gearbox. The control unit (36) processes these signals to produce a command signal for operation of the clutch actuating means. The control unit (36) ensures that if on powering-up of the control unit (36) the control unit receives a signal from the gear sensor (32) indicating that a gear ratio is engaged in the gearbox (12), the control unit inhibits disengagement of the clutch (14) by the clutch actuation means (22).

Abstract: A hydraulic annular slave cylinder (16) for a motor vehicle clutch having an annular body (21) with inner and outer cylindrical sidewalls (22, 23) having a fluid chamber (55) formed therebetween. The inner sidewalll (22) extends axially beyond the outer sidewall (23) and a piston member (41) is sealingly slideable on the radially outer surfaces of the two walls (22, 23). A clutch release bearing (60) is mounted concentrically of the piston member (41) and fluid chamber (55).

Abstract: A clutch control system having an engine speed sensor (26) for monitoring the speed of an engine (10), a clutch actuation sensor (34) for monitoring the operation of a clutch slave cylinder (22), a throttle position sensor (30) and a control unit (36) receives signals from the sensors (26, 34, 30) and determines when clutch control is required. When it is, the control unit switches to a reference mode in which, in a continuous closed loop operation, an engine speed signal Ve is compared to a reference speed signal Vr and the clutch is engaged or disengaged slightly to make the engine speed approach the reference speed.

Abstract: A removeable shoestring cover for athletic shoes which provides an upwardly facing wiping surface of suede or other suitable material and which cover is attached to the shoestrings at the upper and lower edge of the cover by flaps which fold around portions of the shoestrings and which flaps are held in the retaining position by a hook and loop type fastener or other suitable fastener.

Abstract: A vehicle mirror having an image reflecting surface and a distance indicating light reflective indicia of contrasting reflectivity to the image reflecting surface, the indicia being located in such a position on the mirror that when a just passed vehicle appears on the mirror at a certain location with respect to the indicia, it is safe to pull over into the lane in front of the just passed vehicle. One embodiment of the distance indicating indicia is a reflective horizontal line located below the center of the mirror.

Abstract: An automatic float-activated drain valve for a liquid reservoir used in the accumulation of condensable materials and other contaminants from pneumatic systems and the like. The float is connected by a flexible tether to a lever arm which opens a pilot valve when the reservoir fills with water and the float moves to the top of the reservoir. The pilot valve permits air pressure to flow to an actuator which opens the drain valve.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus including a plurality of omnidirectional hydrophone sensors in a particularly configured array comprised of ring members which are carried between a plurality of tensioned cables, the cables being tensioned by an anchor weight at the bottom end of the array and a capsule float at the top end, the configuration enabling simplified signal processing techniques to achieve sound source discrimination in both azimuth and elevation within an underwater environment.

Abstract: A vehicle clutch actuation system and a manually adjustable cable (12) therefor, the cable having an elongated end fitting (13) for transferring operating loads to a lever (22). The end fitting (13) comprises an inner and outer part (14 and 15) respectively and the inner part has a plurality of longitudinally spaced grooves (16) thereon and a resilient clip (25) which is selectively locatable in any one of said grooves. The inner part (14) is telescopically mounted in the outer part (15), with the clip (25) abutable against the outer part (15), which has an abutment seat (19) thereon for seating against the lever (22).

Abstract: A hydraulic clutch slave cylinder (16) for a motor vehicle clutch comprising an annular body (21) having inner and outer cylindrical walls (22,23) defining a annular bore (40) therebetween, and a piston (31) having annular portion (32) sealingly slideable in the annular bore (40), an outer portion (34) concentric with the inner portion and telescopically co-extensive with the outer cylindrical wall (23). The radially outer portion (34) of the piston has a radially outwardly extending flange (37) at its end away from the mouth of the bore, which in use engages a clutch release bearing assembly (20) which surrounds the piston and annular bore (40) in the retracted condition of the cylinder.

Abstract: This invention provides a heating/cooling system including a heating/cooling apparatus, the apparatus comprising a blower unit connected to a heat exchanger unit and both units are enclosed within a duct structure which is continuous from an upstream input end to a downstream output end. The blower unit comprises an electric motor direct-coupled to an impeller and the heat exchanger unit comprises a heat transfer assembly and both blower and heat exchanger units are of a size and configuration as to facilitate their mounting within the space defined by, for example, a pair of building floor joists. The space between the floor joists may be enclosed to function as a return air duct to the apparatus. The heating/cooling apparatus may be adapted for humidifying and dehumidifying air being pumped through the apparatus by the blower unit.

Abstract: A windowed display panel assembly for retaining multiple flat collectible items such as sports cards, photographs and other flat items in such manner that the items can be viewed from both sides without removing the items from the panel. The assembly has a rigid transparent front panel, a flexible transparent pocketed rear sheet which is retained in surface contact with the front panel by a peripheral frame to form a rigid assembly which provides both front and back viewing of cards displayed in the assembly and permits the cards to be easily removed and replaced in the assembly.

Abstract: A friction clutch assembly for an internal combustion engine and which includes a flywheel, a driven plate, a coaxial annular clutch cover assembly including a spring urging a pressure plate towards the flywheel to clamp the driven plate therebetween. The clutch assembly is attachable to the vehicle crankshaft via an intermediate plate which transmits the torque load from the crankshaft to the flywheel. A clutch release cylinder is mounted on the cover and is operable to relieve the clamp load acting on the driven plate.

Abstract: A configuration for a splashguard as may be mounted rearwardly of at least one vehicle wheel to deflect and redirect water and other substances being sprayed rearwardly by a rotating tire. The splashguard comprises a rectangularly shaped body having a plurality of angularly disposed vanes or louvers which function to deflect and redirect water droplets and other materials downwardly upward the roadway surface rather than sidewardly or rearwardly into the paths of following traffic.

Abstract: This invention provides an electronics device applicable to the well-known and understood "01" dartboard games which provides a display of the highest percentage target scores a darts player may use to gain an "out" in the shortest manner and win the game. A microprocessor within the device interrogates a memory store containing a lookup table of scores within a particular range and provides a selection of target score "outs" which the player may use to "out" from the score points that he happens to have at the time.