Abstract: A pressure unit assembly for providing an electrical signal representative of sensed pressure, for example an oil pressure unit assembly for an automobile engine. The unit is adapted for fabrication by automated equipment and it makes efficient use of constituent materials. Novel features of the unit include its spring contact element, its resistive element, and its electrical terminal configuration.

Abstract: An impact absorbing bumper mounting unit for automotive vehicles includes inner and outer nested members of C-shaped configuration. The outer member has a composite shape with one corrugated end portion fixed to a bumper assembly and its other C-shaped section portion adapted for attachment to the vehicle frame. The inner member has a uniform C-shaped section with its one end fixed to the bumper assembly and its other free end spaced from the frame attached end of the outer member. The composite outer member provides an impact absorbing corrugated portion and a C-sectioned guide portion which cooperates with the inner member for controlled coaxial collapse of each mounting unit during a low speed impact obviating damage by the bumper assembly to the body work.

Abstract: An electronic tester for window grid heaters using a Hall Effect handheld probe device for use in detecting breaks in the grid lines. The instrument is intended for fabrication as an integrated circuit device to provide a low-cost unit which is advantageous for testing vehicles being mass produced. The device allows external electrical continuity testing of rear window heated grid systems obviating in-car testing on the assembly line.

Abstract: A removable cover for a pickup truck cargo box employing a standard 4.times.8 foot sheet of plywood to provide a second load level and a subjacent covered security area. A horizontally disposed channel is provided in the box front wall and stepped support surfaces are formed on the wheel housings. The tailgate has a horizontally disposed channel in its inner panel located in opposed relation with the front wall channel. The channels and wheel housing surfaces are sized to receive a standard rectangular building panel positioned with its forward edge in the front wall channel supported on the wheel housing surfaces in a horizontal plane. The panel's length results in its rearward edge being received and held in the tailgate channel upon the tailgate being pivoted to its upright closed position.

Abstract: A system for use in shutting down a motor vehicle engine upon elapse of selected sensed input conditions, comprises an electronic digital counter which begins counting in response to the occurrence of any of the selected input conditions. Logic gates and warning devices are also associated with the counter circuit. When a predetermined count is reached, it is considered indicative of excessive idle, and consequently the ignition circuit is automatically interrupted to thereby shut down the engine and conserve fuel. Prior to the actual engine shutdown the warning devices may give a pre-warning of impending shutdown.

Abstract: In an automobile having a self-starting motor and a source of an electrical energy, a heating grid for vaporizing fuel and therefore promoting easier starting. The heating grid is selectively energized by the electrical energy source and controlled by an engine start anticipated system including switch means responsive to vehicle operator initiated actions so that the heating grid is energized prior to engine starting attempts.

Abstract: A protective flexible trim molding strip for attachment to an automotive body fascia panel. A plurality of metal gromments, each in the form of an eyelet tubular sleeve, having their outer circular head flanges cemented in a recess on the back of the molding strip. A retaining metal disc is received on each sleeve free end by means of a centrally located hole of a predetermined diameter for close contact with the sleeve outer diameter. The sleeve free end is compressed by a suitable tool applying a transverse pinching force. This force laterally expands the sleeve providing a bulbous portion capturing the disc to retain the plastic strip on body panels of varying thickness while obviating dimpling of the strip.

Abstract: An improved extruded resilient flush-look window molding adapted for pre-attachment to a glass plate for concealing the gap between a body panel window opening and the edge of the glass plate. The molding has a stem portion with first and second self-biased retaining legs on one side thereof, adapted to engage the glass edge and a diverging third leg extending from the stem portion opposite side supporting an integral arcuate sectioned trim strip in cantilever fashion on the diverging leg upper end. The trim strip projects inwardly to overlie the gap and the molding stem portion. The divergent leg is self-biased for cammed inward flexing during insertion of the glass plate. Thus, the trim strip self-adjusts inwardly so as to maintain its engagement with the plate outer surface while accommodating production tolerance gaps.

Abstract: A vehicle tailgate handle latch mechanism including a pair of latch assemblies carried by casings adapted to be fixed adjacent each side of the tailgate for engagement with an associated striker member on the vehicle body. A pair of control rods are journaled on the tailgate for rotational movement about their own axis disposed parallel with the axis of the gate hinges. A central lift handle rotates the control rods about their axis such that their outboard hooked ends release pawl elements of their associated latch assemblies causing spring biased ratchet members to automatically rotate to then open position unlatching their strikers allowing the tailgate to be moved to its open position.

Abstract: A throttle body fuel injection system comprises a fuel injector which sprays fuel into an induction bore of circular cross section for mixture with induction air passing through the bore. Fuel is injected exclusively upstream of the throttle blade and apertures are provided which, when the engine is idling with the blade occupying an idle position cracked open from its closed blade position, establish communication between points upstream and downstream of the throttle blade with the apertures being of sufficient size to conduct both the induction air and the entrained fuel as a mixture, allowing sonic velocities for best fuel atomization at engine idle.

Abstract: An insertless distributor cap for use with an ignition distributor of an internal combustion engine. The cap comprises novel structure internally of the cap towers which facilitates assembly of terminal electrodes directly to the cap and improved retention when assembled.

Abstract: A spherical valve member is moved within a housing between operative positions by direct application of supply pressure and operation of a solenoid arranged to maximize mechanical force imposed on the valve member while minimizing solenoid size and eliminating the use of movable close fitting cylindrical parts which can be subject to sticking in the presence of solid contaminants.

Abstract: A fuel injection system and control valve are disclosed for use with a multi-cylinder engine such as a diesel or proco type engine. The disclosed control valve, which is of the piezoelectric type, controls the fuel injection into the individual cylinders by being connected in fluid circuit between the high pressure pump and distributor which are contained in the pump and distributor assembly. The control valve contains novel features providing improvements in the system.

Abstract: A fuel injection system and control valve are disclosed for use with a multi-cylinder engine such as a diesel or proco type engine. The disclosed control valve, which is of the piezoelectric type, controls the fuel injection into the individual cylinders by being connected in fluid circuit between the high pressure pump and distributor which are contained in the pump and distributor assembly. The control valve contains novel features providing improvements in the system.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension strut is provided with an improved bearing assembly consisting of a metallic bearing member which directly supports a portion of the rod member of the strut and a plastic seal member which sealingly engages the bearing member and provides for securely resiliently mounting the bearing assembly in a self centering manner in the structure by which the strut is fixed to the body of the vehicle.

Abstract: A knock detector for an internal combustion engine comprises a resonantly tuned knock sensor mounted on the engine, a variable gain amplifier for amplifying the signal from the knock sensor, knock and reference channels which are operatively coupled with the output of the variable gain amplifier to develop respective knock and reference channel signals, and a comparator for comparing the signal of one channel against the signal of the other channel. The gain of the variable gain amplifier, in general, is an inverse function of engine speed. The amplified signal from the variable gain amplifier is gated to a peak detector of the reference channel circuit during absence of any appreciable engine knock to develop a reference signal representing background noise. The knock channel detects peaks of the amplifier output signal, and the comparator compares the two peak detected signals to provide a knock signal when a predetermined relationship between the two is attained.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously measuring the thickness of individual layers of a multilayer plated deposit, the electrochemical potential difference between the layers, and the relative polarity of the layers, is disclosed.

Abstract: Heating apparatus for the air-fuel mixture of a vehicle engine including a perforated grid placed across the flow of the air-fuel mixture. The grid is spaced downward from the outlet of the carburetor. A bypass housing formed of permeable screen material may be placed with an open inlet end registered with the carburetor outlet and with an open outlet end registered with the face of the heating grid. During engine start and idle modes with or without use of a choke all of the fuel-air mixture passes through the grid. During off-idle engine modes which require substantially greater flow rates, a portion of the mixture may bypass the grid and pass through the permeable walls of the bypass housing.

Abstract: In a vehicle with a vapor fuel vent conduit between the fuel tank and a vapor storage means, a liquid fuel condensate trap and dump valve which opens in response to a given liquid level to discharge liquid fuel back to the fuel tank or to the fuel pump. The preferred embodiment provides a hollow housing with three ports and containing a float type valve which moves from a valve seat in response to liquid level.

Abstract: In a typical vehicle intake manifold on which is mounted a carburetor, a fluid flow director is used to turn the initial downward flow of fuel and air into a lateral direction while simultaneously transmitting heat energy to the fluid for more complete fuel evaporation. The flow director is designed to apportion fuel-air flow over all the face surfaces of several parallel spaced plate members. Except for the lowest or most remote plate member from the fluid inlet, the plates have apertures therein, the diameters of which progressively decrease with greater spacing of the plates from the manifold inlet. The plates are preferably of a ceramic material having a positive temperature coefficient or PTC which is characterized by relatively low electrical resistance at ambient temperatures, but much higher resistance at temperatures corresponding to engine operating temperatures.