Abstract: A canister contains two cartridges of activated carbon for storing fuel in gasoline powered motor vehicles. A first cartridge operates to adsorb gasoline vapor produced in the fuel tank while the vehicle is not operating. The second cartridge operates to adsorb gasoline vapor from the fuel tank. Vacuum from the intake manifold or a vacuum pump draws fuel saturated air from the fuel tank and through the second cartridge thereby charging it with adsorbed fuel. Charging is terminated when fuel passes through the second cartridge without being adsorbed. Much or most of the fuel adsorbed is the lightest and most volatile fraction of the gasoline which is usually butane. Fuel vapor from both cartridges is combined with air to fuel the vehicle on initial startup thereby providing vaporized fuel to the vehicle engine and purging both cartridges of fuel.

Abstract: A method of making a hermaphroditic electric contact including steps of forming a tubular body with fingers having offset blade portions extending longitudinally from one end portion of the body, bending the blade portions to face radially inwardly of the body, cutting openings in the body to form medial wall portions, forcing the opposite ends of the tube together and allowing the wall portions to bend outwardly and form U-shaped locking shoulders, the locking shoulders being axially compressible during twisting fitment of the contact into a retention shoulder formed in a connector passage.

Abstract: A pin terminal (12) and a socket terminal (62) for coupling the free ends of a pair of optical fibers is disclosed. The terminals (12,62) are adapted for mounting in respective connector members (10,18) of the multiple terminal type. The pin terminal (12) has an optical fiber cable (14) secured at the rearward end with the fiber (50) extending partially through a channel (32). The socket terminal (62) has a cable (16) secured at its rearward end with the free end of the fiber (52) extending partially through the socket terminal. When the pin terminal is telescopically inserted into the socket terminal, the fiber (52) enters the channel (32) which includes self-aligning means for the fibers.

Abstract: A pin terminal (12) and a socket terminal (62) with self-alignment means (32, 54) in the pin is disclosed for coupling free ends of a pair of optical fibers (50, 52). The pin and socket terminal (12, 62) are adapted for mounting in respective connector members (10, 18) of the multiple terminal type. The self-alignment means for the fibers includes an alignment channel (32) in the pin and a spring wire (54) disposed in the channel. A bottom wall of the channel is a V-groove and the spring wire urges the free ends of the fibers into the V-groove when the fibers are inserted from opposite ends of the channel.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed with means for producing a tactile signal when the connector members (10,12) are in a fully mated condition. An indicator (60) is movably mounted on the coupling nut (14) and is engageable by the opposed connector member (10) when the members are in a fully mated condition. An indicator element (60) is disposed in a passage (64) in the wall of the coupling nut (14) and a cam shaped surface (66) on the indicator element engages the starting end (72) of the thread (26) of the opposed member which causes it to move abruptly, i.e. "pop out" to a signal position when the full mate condition is reached.

Abstract: An electrical contact (10) of the hermaphrodite type is disclosed for use in a mateable electrical connector. The contact (10) comprises a tubular body (12) having a mating end (16), a wire receiving end (14) and locking means (18) adapted to secure the contact in the connector. The mating end (16) includes plural contact fingers (30) with each contact finger having a radially extending blade (38) terminating in bevelled edges (40,42). The blades (38) are spaced so that the mating end of one such contact (10) may be axially inserted into the mating end of another such contact (10') with each blade of one contact being wedgingly engaged between the adjacent blades of the other contact. The locking means (18) comprises plural shoulders (44), each shoulder of which constituting a U-shaped leaf spring being formed in the wall (20) of the tubular body (12) and each being substantially compressible in the axial direction.

Abstract: A socket contact is disclosed for miniature electrical connectors of the plug and receptacle type. The socket contact (10) comprises a contact sleeve (12) with two contact fingers (66) each extending as a cantilever beam from its root in the sleeve. A reenforcing ridge (68) in each finger extends from a point spaced from the free end of the contact finger to a point past the root of the finger to increase the stiffness of the finger. The radius of each finger and the location of the ridge thereon is such that the ridge is not engaged by a mating contact pin upon insertion into the socket.

Abstract: A filter connector is disclosed having a compound filter with two filter elements (20,22) connected in cascade in the filter contact (14). Separate ground plates (40,50) are provided for each of the filter elements (20,22). Each filter element, such as a pi section filter, is provided with an electrode arrangement which facilitates connection of filter elements in cascade and minimizes susceptibility to flash-over between electrodes. The filter element comprises a center conductor (74) with a dielectric sleeve (100) coaxially thereof. A ground electrode (80) is disposed on the external surface of the sleeve, one active electrode (78) extends from the internal surface to the external surface of the sleeve over one end surface thereof and another active electrode (82) extends from the internal surface to the external surface of the sleeve over the other end surface thereof.

Abstract: An electrical contact, for use in pin and socket type connectors, is fabricated as a unitary, composite body of metal and plastic. The contact (10) comprises a tubular body (12) having a wire receiving end (16) and a mating end (14). The composite tubular body (12) includes a sleeve (18) of wire cloth which is impregnated to form multiple islands (32) of plastic between the wires (34) on the internal surface and a plastic jacket (24) on the external surface. The contact fingers (22) are surrounded by a plastic hood (40) which provides a closed entry (42) for guiding a mating pin contact (44). The socket contact (10) is fabricated by stamping wire cloth to form a sleeve blank (18') and rolling the blank to form the sleeve (18). The sleeve (18) is fitted with core members (60) and (62) and placed in a mold cavity for injection molding of the plastic.

Abstract: A closed loop control system is disclosed for controlling the air-fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine. An oxygen sensor is connected into the control loop after engine warm up when the temperature has reached its operating temperature to maintain the air-fuel ratio close to the stoichiometric value. An engine roughness detector is connected into the control loop before the oxygen sensor has reached its operating temperature to maintain the air-fuel ratio close to a predetermined lean limit. A temperature sensor and switching means controlled thereby are provided to alternately connect the roughness detector and the oxygen sensor in the control loop.

Abstract: A filter connector is disclosed with an adaptor member (14) which permits removal and replacement of the filter connector member (10) without individually disconnecting and reconnecting the wires (16). The filter connector member (10) is provided with a plurality of filter contacts (22) each having a mating end (pin 26) at the forward end and a mating end (pin 28) at the rear end. A filterless connector member (12) includes plural filterless contacts each having a wire receiving end (74) and a mating end (socket 72) adapted to mate with the pin (26) of the corresponding filter contact (22). An adaptor member (14) includes a plurality of filterless contacts (42) each having a wire receiving end (90) and having a mating end (socket 88) adapted to mate with the pin (28). The filterless contacts (42) in the adaptor (14) are individually removable and replaceable in the event of a malfunction in these contacts.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed with a coupling nut (14) of the bayonet type for the connector bodies (10, 12) and an improved locking means (16) for the coupling nut. A resilient detent element (82) is disposed in a bayonet ramp groove (54) of the coupling nut (14) so as to be deflected and engaged by the corresponding bayonet pin (32) on one of the connector bodies when the coupling nut is tightened sufficiently to draw the connector bodies into abutting relationship.