Abstract: A differential assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a differential case rotatably supported in an axle housing, opposite output shafts drivingly connected to the differential case, a friction clutch assembly for selectively engaging and disengaging the differential case and the output shaft, and a hydraulic clutch actuator for selectively frictionally loading the clutch assembly. The hydraulic clutch actuator includes a variable pressure relief valve controlled by a solenoid actuator for selectively engaging the friction clutch assembly. In order to provide the solenoid actuator with an electrical power and/or control signals in a contactless manner, the differential assembly is further provided with a transformer assembly including a primary transformer unit non-rotatably mounted to the axle housing and connected to a source of electrical energy, and a rotatable secondary transformer unit secured to an outer peripheral surface of the differential case.

Abstract: A wheel end assembly in a steering beam axle for use in a motor vehicle. The wheel end assembly comprises a tube yoke attached to an axle tube defining an axle centerline, a steering knuckle defining a steering knuckle centerline, a driving axle shaft rotatably disposed in the axle tube, a live spindle rotatably supported by the steering knuckle, a stub shaft extending through the live spindle and rotatably coupled thereto, and a universal joint connecting the driving axle shaft and the stub shaft. The steering knuckle is pivotally coupled to the tube yoke through a pair of vertically spaced swivel joints defining a steering axis. The wheel end assembly further includes a knuckle centering adjuster for adjusting the knuckle centerline by selectively moving said steering knuckle relative to said tube yoke along said steering axis in order to align the knuckle centerline to the axle centerline.

Abstract: A rigid drive axle assembly for motor vehicles, includes a support beam member having a substantially flat, enlarged central section and two opposite arm sections axially outwardly extending from the central section, a differential assembly secured to the flat central section of the support beam member, and two opposite axle shaft members outwardly extending from the differential assembly and rotatably supported by the arm sections in a spaced relationship with respect to the central section of the support beam member. The differential assembly includes a differential carrier frame member fastened to the central section of the support beam member, and provided for rotatably supporting a differential case and a drive pinion. The differential assembly is enclosed into a housing formed by a rear cover and a front cover secured to opposite surfaces of the central section of the support beam member. The rear cover incorporates two throughholes provided with self-centering seals.

Abstract: A heat pipe comprising a flat container, and a member selected from a rod, a plate and a mesh, the member being fixedly arranged between narrow walls of the container so that space is provided in the inner circumference of the container both in the direction of width and length of the container.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated torque-coupling device is provided for selectively actuating a secondary drive axle of an All-Wheel Drive motor vehicle when wheel slippage occurs with a primary axle. The torque-coupling device comprises a housing, an input shaft and an output shaft both rotatably supported within the housing, a selectively engageable friction clutch assembly for operatively coupling the input shaft to the output shaft, and hydraulic clutch actuator. The hydraulic actuator includes a hydraulic pump located within the housing and adapted to generate a hydraulic pressure to frictionally load the friction clutch assembly, and a variable pressure relief valve assembly fluidly communicating with the hydraulic pump to selectively control the hydraulic pressure generated by the pump. The variable pressure relief valve assembly includes an electro-magnetic actuator for selectively varying a release pressure of the pressure relief valve assembly based on a magnitude of an electric current applied thereto.

Abstract: A vibration dampening apparatus and method for dampening vibration of a resonating instrument such as a cymbal, cow bell, wood block or the like, in a controlled manner. A vibration dampener is mounted adjacent the resonating instrument to engages the resonating instrument at a plurality of points simultaneously to absorb and deaden vibration. According to a preferred embodiment, a cymbal damping apparatus is mounted onto a structure resembling a drummer's hi-hat cymbal stand and substitutes a lower damping member in place of what, for a hi-hat, would customarily be the bottom cymbal. The foot actuated cymbal damping apparatus dampens or deadens the cymbal's ring or vibration via application of a padded damping surface to the peripheral edge of the cymbal, which then immediately absorbs and dampens the vibrations and sound of the cymbal.

Abstract: Method for estimation of the quantity of fresh air present in the intake and exhaust manifolds of an internal combustion engine with a recirculation circuit, by an observer, applied to a system of the third order, which models the physical system constituted by the intake and exhaust manifolds; the system is obtained from differential equations, which regulate the processes of mixing of the gases, and from an equation which represents the behavior of a lambda sensor.

Abstract: An assembly for a reaction rod for shafts of automotive vehicles, more specifically, to be applied in heavy vehicles provided with pneumatic or mixed suspension, basically composed of a box provided in the end of a bar, being that this box has an internal housing in the cylindrical or spherical form where is introduced a pin with a segment also cylindrical or spherical, where is a vulcanized rubber confectioned by injection and the pin is fixed in the interior of the box by retaining rings. The reaction rod thus composed has in the injected rubber that is vulcanized in the cylindrical or ball type segment of the pin, a recess or channel that in a version is provided in the entire circumference of the injected rubber that is vulcanized on the pin, with the objective of providing a relief in small radial and angular movements, in all senses of direction, which relief is progressively reduced in the proportion that the radial and angular movement increases.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a skid plate and a method for attaching the skid plate to the bottom surface of a pre-hung door assembly to improve wear and moisture resistance. The skid plate includes a first side having a first shaped portion configured to conform to the bottom end of a first doorjamb arrangement and a second side having a second shaped portion configured to conform to the bottom end of a second doorjamb arrangement. The method for attaching the skid plate to the pre-hung door bottom surface includes applying an adhesive to bond the skid plate to the bottom surface, positioning the skid plate so that the first shaped portion and the second shaped portion align with their respective doorjamb ends, engaging tabs against the frame side surface to the doorjambs, and driving fasteners through the skid plate and tabs.

Abstract: An emission element enclosed inside an electrodeless lamp 5 is excited by an electromagnetic field of a microwave irradiated from a magnetron 2 for emitting light from the electrodeless lamp 5. A soft-starting method is provided such that an electric power enough to drive the magnetron 2 is gradually increased. The soft-starting method is to prevent the magnetron from being destroyed by self-heating due to a reflected wave of the microwave. The soft-staring method is used when a light begins to be emitted from the electrodeless lamp 5. Accordingly, the electrodeless lamp system is provided such that breakage of the magnetron caused by the self-heating due to the reflected wave of the microwave can be prevented.

Abstract: A prosthetic joint is disclosed that includes a plurality of elements, which may be provided in kit form, that can be assembled to form either a single-axis joint or a double-axis joint depending on whether an adaptor is used to join first and second elements of the joint.

Abstract: A full mold casting process in which a complete, positive model made of a thermally decomposable material is placed in a molding box and filled with sand; the sand is hardened by shaking. Casting metal is poured on the thermally decomposable model and the model is decomposed by the casting heat. In order to fill up the cavities of the model and mold moldings with crucial cavities, reliably with the molding sand, the model is provided with pass-through apertures. By introducing the flow-through holes into the casting model, preferably through the flange and button sides, all cavities of the casting model are completely filled with sand and the latter is compressed against the model. The rising of the sand in the model cavity is facilitated by the fact that the filling level of the molding sand is kept nearly constant near the model cavity to be filled until the cavity is completely filled.

Abstract: The lock for a motor vehicle opening leaf including a wheel (RD) to be driven in rotation about an axis (A1) under the action of an electric motor, the wheel driving in rotation a wrist pin (MT), the wrist pin (MT) collaborating with a member to opening said lock upon rotation of said motor. The wrist pin (MT) is secured to a plate (PT) which is mounted so that it can rotate about the axis (A1), and includes a first and a second associated member for coupling the plate (PT) and the wheel (RD). The first and second members contain a drive peg and an associated groove (RO) in the form of an arc of a circle, so that the wrist pin (MT) is free to turn about the axis (A1) through a certain angle. Thus, the lock can be opened manually when its motor fails.

Abstract: A soft and flexible heater utilizes electrically conductive threads or fibers as heating media. The conductive fibers are encapsulated by negative temperature coefficient (NTC) material, forming temperature sensing heating cables. One or more heating cables can be formed into heaters of various configurations including tapes, sleeves or sheets providing simultaneous heat radiation and local overheat protection. Such heaters may be connected in different combinations, in parallel or in series. The heater may contain continuous positive temperature coefficient (PTC) temperature sensors to precisely control the temperature in the heater. Such temperature sensors can be made of electrically conductive fibers, metal wires or fiber optical filaments. When required by the heater design, the electrically conductive threads/fibers may have a polymer base, which acts as a Thermal-Cut-Off (TCO) at predetermined temperatures. Electrically conductive fibers comprised of such polymer base can melt between 110° C.

Abstract: The invention proposes an apparatus (10) comprising a casing (12, 20, 22) which has a wall (24) arranged to be coupled in rotation to a driving shaft, a turbine wheel (30) rotatable with a hub (34) which is arranged to be coupled in rotation to a driven shaft, a generally radially oriented piston (58) which is movable axially and coupled in rotation to the casing, and an annular friction disc (74), oriented generally radially and carrying two annular friction liners (76) which are adapted to be gripped axially by the piston (58) between, respectively, itself and the inner face (73), in facing relationship with it, of the radial wall (24) of the casing; the friction disc (74) is coupled at its radially inner periphery (94) to the hub (34) of the turbine (30); the piston (58) has means (100) at its radially outer periphery for meshing with a radially outer peripheral portion (26, 102) of the casing (22).

Abstract: A device having a rigid rod mobile in a translational and/or rotational movement, whereof one end penetrates inside a recess of a piston and is fixed by a swivel to the recess of the piston directly or via an insert. The insert is mounted inside the recess of the piston, with a mechanism for axially locking the rod or the insert relative to the piston. The locking mechanism includes a stop borne by the piston to provide axial locking along a direction corresponding to the mounting direction of the rod in the piston, and a washer borne by the insert or the rod. The washer has peripheral fins elastically deformable in the radial direction and is pressed against the inner wall of the recess of the piston by being deformed to lock the insert or the rod in the opposite direction.