Abstract: An adjustable mounting assembly for a steerable wheel assembly. A cam member is rotatably disposed within a recess formed in the lower arm of a yoke assembly. An eccentric cylinder of the cam member extends within a vertically oriented slot formed in a ball joint forging which is in turn adjustable secured to the lower arm of the yoke. By simply rotating the cam member, the eccentric cylinder engages the slot and moves the ball joint forging in a horizontal direction to adjust the caster of the wheel assembly. The vertical slot in the ball joint forging prevents vertical movement to facilitate adjustment of the caster without affecting a camber setting, the distance between the upper and lower ball joints, or ball joint pre-loading. Horizontal slots are formed in the lower arm to align with boltholes formed in the ball joint forging to allow the forging to be bolted to the lower arm over a range of horizontal positions. A method of adjusting the camber of the wheel assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A handle for controlling a lock of a vehicle door has a connecting structure for connection to the door; a control lever hinged to the connecting structure and gripped by a user; and a control device for setting only the one lock to a safety-off mode; the handle having a respective electric aerial, which is carried by the lever, detects an identification code carried by the user, and is connected to the control device to supply the control device with an enabling signal as the user approaches the vehicle.

Abstract: A liner assembly for a manhole or passage comprises a multiple-ply, generally cylindrical tube. The outermost ply includes inner and outer surfaces and is adapted for being impregnated with material for rigidifying and bonding the outer surface of the outermost ply to a manhole or passage. The innermost ply includes inner and outer surfaces and is adapted for being impregnated with a material for rigidifying the innermost ply. An impermeable ply is disposed between the innermost and outermost plies. The impermeable ply includes an impermeable membrane having fibers impregnated on the inner and outer surfaces of the impermeable ply. The fibers of the inner surface of the impermeable ply bond with the epoxy impregnated outer surface of the innermost ply. Likewise, the fibers of the outer surface of the impermeable ply bond with the epoxy impregnated inner surface of the outermost ply, so that the manhole or passage becomes structurally reinforced.

Abstract: A shift device for actuating at least one gear mechanism on a bicycle, comprising a housing for securing the shift device on the bicycle, a grip element for actuating the shift device, a rotary element and a cable storage device, in particular a spool for winding up a cable to actuate the gear mechanism where the rotary element is connected to the spool and has at least one detent pawl which engages in detent toothing of the housing. It is advantageous that the drive feature on the grip element takes the rotary element along directly in one direction of rotation, whereas the movement of the rotary element in the opposite direction of rotation is effected by release of the detent pawl.

Abstract: The drive axles of a motor vehicle differential assembly are secured within the central bores provided in the side gears of the differential assembly by a pair of arcuate retaining element having a rounded cross section which preferably is a piece of bar stock bent to define a 180° half-ring element that is securely held between an arcuate groove formed along the circumference of the axle and a rounded abutment surface provided on the side gear. The arcuate groove and rounded abutment surface reduce stress risers and eliminate the counterbore typically provided in the side gear. Moreover, the pair of retaining elements maximizes the frictional contact by circumscribing the axle by approximately 360°.

Abstract: A brake cylinder device with a built-in automatic shoe clearance adjustment device which prevents a chance of misassembly, loosing, or omitting the spacer. The brake cylinder device includes an adjustment bolt screwed into a pair of pistons symmetrically slidably positioned inside a cylinder body. A locator spring is positioned between both adjustment bolts. A locator is positioned at the end of the locator spring, and a spacer engages the top end of the locator and has a supporting portion to support the top end on the axis of the adjustment bolt. The supporting portion of the spacer has the front and back surfaces of the same shape.

Abstract: A soft heater, containing metal, carbon or conductive ink coated textile threads, embroidered on, laminated between or woven into a nonconductive substrate to form electrical heating circuits. The heating element may be manufactured in a form of strip, sheet, sleeve or strand of electrically conductive threads for incorporation into plurality of articles. The heating element is shaped or embroidered in a desired pattern. The embroidered heater may be used for a night vision identification purposes.

Abstract: A labyrinth seal for use in a centrifugal pump. The seal may eliminate rotating surfaces from rubbing directly against groove surfaces during installation thereby eliminating or reducing the scraping of material from rotating surfaces. Therefore, generation of fine powder from such scraping is reduced or substantially eliminated. A stationary covering is provided over the outer surface or periphery of a rotating member in order to make maintenance personnel less susceptible to injury. No heat process is required for assembly (although some may be used in certain embodiments). A radial trap system is provided for enhancing performance of the seal, including a recess or cutout in the face of a stationary member.

Abstract: The user interface has a display unit for displaying user-activatable functions, and a selecting and activating device for selecting and activating the functions and operating according to a selection scheme having four selection directions arranged in the form of a cross. The display unit has four display sectors for displaying respective functions, and which are selected by operating the selecting and activating device in the aforementioned selection directions, and are also arranged in the form of a cross corresponding with that of the selection directions.

Abstract: A pressing device includes a pressing tool, an electric motor for driving the tool, and a rechargeable battery for supplying energy to the electric motor. A control device has a voltage comparison element that performs a voltage comparison between the battery voltage and a limit voltage. The control device generates an attention signal and/or limits activation of the electric motor if the voltage comparison element indicates that the battery voltage is equal to or less than the limit voltage. The control device includes an interval element with at least one storable interval. A load element acts upon the battery so that it generates a varying voltage curve. The interval element is activated when the load element is on and voltage comparison is made during a predetermined interval.

Abstract: An adjustable pinion offset in a differential axle assembly. The offset between a pinion gear and shaft relative to a ring gear in the differential axle assembly is adjustable due to an eccentric mounting of the pinion assembly relative to the differential housing containing the ring gear. The pinion shaft is eccentrically mounted within a bore of the differential housing such that a simple rotation of the pinion assembly about the eccentric pilot mounting adjusts the position of the pinion shaft with respect to the ring gear to adjust pinion offset. Once properly positioned, the pinion assembly is secured to the differential housing to maintain the desired position. This invention substantially reduces the noise associated with gear offset error.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rotary air coupling that distributes air to tires mounted on a rotating hub of a driven axle. The coupling is positioned adjacent the parking brake of a rear disk brake configuration. In the preferred design, the rotary member is connected to the hub and rotor assembly via rotor mounting bolts and a stationary component is disposed on the axle tube to provide a rotary air coupling that minimizes change to existing wheel assemblies.

Abstract: A parallel resistor array for progressively detecting brake lining wear. A plurality of conductors are embedded within a brake lining or otherwise disposed between the brake surface and an actuator. Each of the conductors is connected to a resistor that is in turn connected to an indicator circuit. The indicator circuit is also connected to the brake surface. The conductors have progressively increasing lengths extending from the brake surface to the actuator. When the brakes are applied, the brake surface may contact at least one of the conductors to close the indicator circuit. As the brake lining wears, each of the conductors progressively contact the brake surface when the brakes are applied thus progressively adding a resistor to the indicator circuit. The conductors and resistors are arranged in parallel and thus as the brake lining wears, the overall resistance in the indicator circuit progressively decreases.

Abstract: A progressive brake lining wear and temperature sensor having a plurality of parallel arranged spaced apart resistors in connection with a sensing circuit. Each resistor is mounted onto a PC board which in turn is encapsulated within a single molding. A thermistor is also mounted onto the PC board within the molding to sense lining temperature. The thermistor is connected to a ground lead. The ground lead, resistance lead and thermistor lead emerge from the encapsulated sensor for connection to the sensing circuit. The sensor is disposed within the brake lining and is connected to the brake shoe by a securement clip. As the brake lining progressively wears, the resistors are progressively worn away thus changing the overall resistance of the sensor. The change in resistance indicates state of wear. Preferably, three resistors are employed to indicate four degrees of brake lining wear.

Abstract: The invention relates to a handle (10) for operating an opening leaf of a motor vehicle comprising an operating lever handle (14) which is intended to be moved by the user from a position of rest into a position for opening, and a transmission member (22) which normally moves with the lever handle (14) from a position of rest into a position of opening and which is connected to a linkage (64) for operating a lock, wherein the transmission member (22) is connected to the lever handle (14) by means of a disengageable mechanism (49, 22, 68, 66), the engagement of which is brought about by the vehicle antitheft unit and which, in its disengaged state, stores up at least some of the mechanical energy of opening applied to the lever handle by the user so as then to restore this energy to the transmission member during engagement.

Abstract: An assembly to effect adjustments to the end play, or preloading, of a bearing set. The adjusting assembly utilizes a threaded bearing cup body and a correspondingly threaded adjusting ring. The bearing cup body abuts the outer race of the bearing and the adjusting ring is threaded onto the bearing cup body and abuts a fixed or stationary housing surface. The adjusting ring is rotated to adjust bearing preload and provide proper spacing. The bearing cap is then placed to lock the bearing adjusting assembly in place.

Abstract: The invention concerns a clutch friction, comprising a reaction plate (202) designed to be locked in rotation on an input shaft a friction disk (200), bearing at its external periphery at least one friction lining (201), designed to be locked in rotation on an output shaft, a pressure plate (1), a cover (2) fixed on the reaction plate (202), clutch means with axial action (3) controlled by releasing means and which operate between the cover (2) and the pressure plate (1) via support means (14), the pressure plate (1) being interlocked in rotation with the cover (2) while being capable of moving axially relative thereto and subjected to the action of elastic return means returning the pressure plate (1) axially towards the cover (2).

Abstract: A pivotal ball joint assembly includes a ball joint, an input/output member, and a sealing element to provide a sealing surface abutting the boot seal and to prevent contamination of the boot seal during movement and articulation of the input/output member relative to the ball joint. The ball joint has a socket body and a ball stud pivotally mounted to the socket body. The ball stud has a shank portion that extends therefrom and is aligned along a shank axis. An elastic boot seal that extends between the ball stud and socket body is also included. The pivotal ball joint assembly also includes an input/output member affixed to the ball stud shank portion so that the socket body is able to freely rotate relative to the input/output shaft about the shank axis. The pivotal ball joint assembly is further rotatable through a limited range about a transverse axis perpendicular to the shank axis.

Abstract: A multi-axis suspension system for a vehicle includes a wishbone assembly rotatably connected to the frame about a longitudinal axis. An axle housing is connected to the wishbone assembly via a pair of four bar linkages. A pair of extendable hydraulic cylinders forms a supplemental connection between the rigid axle housing and the wishbone assembly. A hydraulic control circuit controls the length of the hydraulic cylinders to selectively control the relative distance between the axle housing and the wishbone assembly.