Abstract: An improved slack adjuster (10) of the clearance sensing type for brakes of the type having a running clearance adjustable by controlled rotation of a shaft (52) such as cam (14) actuated brakes. The slack adjuster includes a one-way drive mechanism including a spring clutch (86) wrapped around the ends of a driving shaft (62) and a driven shaft (52) which is adapted to slip when the torque necessary to rotate the driven shaft exceeds a predetermined limit. The surface (138) of the driven shaft under the spring clutch is provided with a deposit (142) of material different from the remainder of the shaft which will improve the wear and/or frictional characteristics of the surface. The improvement comprises providing a shoulder (148) at the end (146) of the surface of the driven shaft closest the driving shaft which has been found to improve the resistance of the deposit to chip and/or separate from the shaft during assembly and/or use.

Abstract: A relief valve, particularly adapted for use on racing car tires, which pops open to relieve at a set pressure and then reseats at a pressure slightly lower than the opening pressure. The valve includes a diaphragm (28) a diaphragm retaining plate (36) which has a resilient sealing element (39) molded or otherwise attached to it, a valve seat attached to the center of the diaphragm, and a compression spring (26) acting on the diaphragm to bias the valve seat against the resilient sealing element. When the valve pops open against the spring force, the area above the diaphragm is exposed to a venting pressure, via a port formed through the valve seat and through the diaphragm, which is higher than atmospheric and thus adds to the spring force, resulting in a resealing pressure which is slightly less than the opening pressure.

Abstract: A viscous fan clutch is typically employed in a fan drive mechanism within a truck or automobile. A shaft, driven by the engine, rotates a clutch member within the fan drive. The clutch member is arranged for fluid engagement with a body member for the transmission of torque thereto when fluid is disposed in an operating chamber defined by complimentary shear surfaces in the clutch and body members. During relative rotation between the two members, fluid is pumped through a return passage to a valve coaxially disposed with the driven shaft which selectively directs a flow of viscous fluid alternately to a storage chamber or directly back into the operating chamber. The valve is biased into a first position in which the fluid is directed into a fluid storage chamber and is actuated into the second position by means of a coaxially disposed solenoid acting upon ferrous metal members of the valve.

Abstract: A compact device for synchronizing the rotational speed of a gear with a shaft in a transmission. The device comprises a friction clutch including first and second cone clutch members, a positive clutch including first and second jaw clutch members, a plurality of springs reacting between the second members for biasing the second cone member toward engagement with the first cone member, a stop means for preventing engagement of the second cone with the first cone member until initial sliding movement of the first jaw member, and a blocker means for preventing engagement of the positive clutch until the friction clutch brings the gear to substantial synchronism with the shaft. The second jaw member includes an outer circumferential surface which supports an inner circumferential surface of the second cone member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a regenerative braking system for an automotive vehicle. The system includes a regenerative braking device and an electronic control therefor. The regenerative device includes a transmission assembly and an energy storage assembly. The transmission assembly includes first and second power paths operative, respectively, when actuated to effect the flow of energy to and from the storage assembly. The storage assembly includes a plurality of cylindrical rubber bars which are torsionally stressed via the first path during vehicle braking and drained of the torsional stress via the second path during vehicle acceleration.

Abstract: A regulator assembly for an automatic temperature control system for the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle. Regulation is by vacuum signal modulated by a sensor responsive to the difference between a selected temperature and the temperature of air in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. A vacuum actuator operated by the modulated vacuum signal is provided for operating an air-blend door for controlling the passage of blower driven heated and cooled air into the passenger compartment. The regulator includes a compact removable vacuum signal modulator subassembly of a bimetal temperature sensing element directly coupled to a vacuum signal modulator valve. Direct feedback of the position of the vacuum actuator to the bimetal sensing element is provided. The modulator is of the type employing balancing of the pressure forces of the vacuum signal against the bias of the bimetal element for positioning the modulator valve.

Abstract: A hydraulic fluid storage tank for an industrial vehicle. A small surge tank (44) is mounted on top of a main tank (10) and communicates with the main tank via a drain back hole (49) formed in the top of the main tank. A first breather tube (46), having one end opening within the surge tank, extends directly into the main tank. A second breather tube (48), having one end opening within the surge tank, enters the main tank through the drain back hole, extends along the top of the tank, and opens into the tank at a point substantially rearward of the first vent tube. If, due to movement of the vehicle, one of the breather tubes becomes filled with oil, the other will still function. Oil which momentarily floods one of the breather tubes enters the surge tank and drains back to the main tank via the drain back hole.

Abstract: A combined unloader and check valve for use with a motor driven air compressor (70) in which pressure trapped in the compressor head when the compressor is shut down is unloaded by means of an unloaded valve element (44) which opens a port (26) to unload the head pressure to atmosphere through an exhaust port (62) in response to the closing of a check valve element (34) in the compressor outlet line. When the compressor is operating and the check valve is open, pressure above the unloading valve element keeps the unloading valve element in position to shut off flow through the exhaust port. Air trapped above the unloader valve element when the check valve is initially closed is bled off through a filter element (52). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the unloader valve element (144) is in the form of a diaphragm. The filter element (52) can be a compressible material to permit adjustment of the bleed rate therethrough by varying the density thereof by means of an adjustable bleed screw (48).

Abstract: Temperature responsive viscous fan drive having a reduced pump-out time. A pair of diametrically opposed notches opening radially outwardly are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the clutch member of the drive. The notches extend parallel to the axis of rotation of the clutch member between the sides thereof. An impeller element secured to the housing member of the drive is aligned with the notches and located adjacent one side of the clutch member to pump fluid from the operating chamber into the storage chamber. The outer peripheral surface of the clutch member is relatively close to the inner peripheral surface of the housing member.

Abstract: For use with a differential, annular friction discs configured to insure mating frictional contact between adjacent discs along a desired line of contact. The discs are selectively connected to either a side gear or the housing of the differential. At least one of the friction discs contain a relatively flat annular surface which is located on the opposite side of another surface having a pair of radially spaced annular projections for engagement with a relatively flat annular surface of an adjacent disc. At least one other friction disc has a relatively flat annular surface with an opposed surface having an annular projection spaced radially intermediate the radial space projection on the previously mentioned disc. The single annular projection is for engagement with a relatively flat surface of an adjacent friction disc. The discs are located between the side gear and the housing of a differential.

Abstract: An end stop for a link chain hoist (10) in which a ring (28) is received through the opening (22a) of the next-to-last load chain link (20a) on one side of the third last link (20c), with the last load chain link (20b) received in the opening (22a) on the other side of the third last link to force the next to the last link sideways relative to the remainder of the load chain to define an end stop engageable with the chain guide (16) of the hoist.

Abstract: A wedge type actuator assembly for a disc brake employing a roller bearing assembly interposed between the wedge member and the tappet and including a generally U-shaped cage member embracing the wedge member and having a plurality of transversely extending slots each journally receiving a roller bearing. The wedge member includes raised ribs on each end face which guide on the adjacent housing surfaces. The end portions of the cage member guide on the portions of the end faces of the wedge member between the raised rib and the wedge face and include steps which coact with steps defined by the raised ribs to restore relative indexing of the roller bearing assembly and wedge member in the event the indexing becomes disturbed.

Abstract: A fluid coupling device is disclosed of the type including an output coupling member, a cover, a valve plate separating the fluid reservoir chamber from the fluid operating chamber, and an input coupling member rotatably disposed in the operating chamber. Valving controls the flow of fluid between the reservoir and the operating chamber in response to variations in a condition such as temperature. The input member has a front face adjacent the valve plate and a rear face cooperating with the adjacent surface of the output member to define interdigitated lands and grooves. The input member defines a plurality of fluid passages permitting direct axial communication of fluid between the front face and the lands and grooves. This direct flow into and out of the lands and grooves is effective to reduce substantially the time required to achieve full engagement and full disengagement of the coupling.

Abstract: A low pressure drop air flowmeter for an automobile engine is disclosed. The meter contains a main air flow passage, a relatively small venturi to receive a portion of the air flow, pressure ports for sensing stagnation and static pressure and a set of swirl vanes disposed adjacent the outlet of the venturi and operative to impart a swirl to the remainder of the air in the main passage, thereby creating a reduced pressure at the venturi outlet for amplifying the pressure difference between the stagnation and static pressure without appreciably increasing the pressure drop across the flowmeter. A tertiary passage provides a path of fluid communication between points upstream and downstream of the swirl vanes. This passage can be selectively opened or restricted by a valve which, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, opens the tertiary passage with increasing overall flow rate.

Abstract: An improved valve disabler control for a multi-cylinder engine having individually pivoted rocker arms and an intake and exhaust valve pair for each cylinder. Half of the valve pairs are provided with valve disablers having rotatable sleeves. Rotation of the sleeves counterclockwise (ccw) allows sliding movement of the rocker arm fulcrums, thereby disabling the valves; clockwise (cw) rotation of the sleeves prevents sliding movement of the fulcrums, thereby enabling the valves. The improved control includes a link and a spring interconnecting the disabler sleeves for each valve pair. Each link rotates the intake valve disabler sleeve ccw in response to ccw rotation of the exhaust valve disabling sleeve. A slot connecting each link to the intake valve disabler sleeve allows cw rotation of the exhaust valve disabler sleeve before cw rotation of the intake valve disabler sleeve. Each spring provides a cw biasing force to the sleeves. The biasing force increases in response to ccw rotation of the sleeves.

Abstract: A hydraulic lash adjuster for valve gear of an internal combustion engine, the lash adjuster being of the type which operates from oil received under pressure from a gallery provided in the engine lubricant supply system. The body of the adjuster has a movable plunger with a one-way check valve for admitting and retaining oil in a chamber between the adjuster body and the plunger. A portion of the plunger includes a pivot surface for pivotally engaging associated components of the valve gear with a reservoir formed in the plunger which communicates with a one-way valve for admitting oil to the chamber. An inlet metering means including an annular metering land provides exclusive lubricant communication to the reservoir from an oil entry port in the body.

Abstract: An agricultural irrigation system having a fluid dispersion nozzle for controlling the flow rate and generating a resultant fluid stream characterized by uniform dispersal along the stream path. The nozzle has a housing member (10) which defines an inlet passageway (16), a nozzle outlet orifice (32), and an intermediate fluid chamber (30). A resilient flow control member (34) is located within the fluid chamber (30) and has an orifice (36) centrally located therein and axially aligned with the inlet passage (16) and the nozzle orifice (32). The nozzle orifice has located along the inner periphery thereof a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced and radially inwardly projecting deflector members (38, 40, 42) which are effective for reducing a portion of the resultant fluid stream velocity therethrough. The fluid dispersion nozzle is mounted on a rotary sprinkler head (50) which receives a supply of pressurized irrigation fluid from an irrigation system primary conduit (56).

Abstract: Tire pressure monitors are incorporated in vehicles having pneumatic tires to continuously or periodically measure the air pressure in the tires and to alert the driver should the pressure in one of the tires fall below a predetermined value. A self-contained generator-transmitter unit is affixed to each wheel, each unit monitoring the air pressure in the tire associated therewith and generating an RF signal when the pressure falls below a predetermined value. A receiver, located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, receives the signal(s) from the generator-transmitter units to indicate a low tire condition to the vehicle operator. The generators operate only during rotation of the wheels which effect relative rotation between two members in each generator, one member carrying a permanent magnet and the other carrying an inductor.

Abstract: A viscous fluid coupling employing an electro magnet which receives electrical pulses in response to a signal received from a heat sensing device to operate a valve arm to seal and unseal an inlet passage fluidly communicating an operating chamber with a storage chamber. The operating chamber is defined by a clutch member and a housing member that are rotatably disposed relative to one another. The storage chamber is defined by the housing and is in fluid communication with the operating chamber via a discharge passage and the inlet passage. A pump displaces fluid from the operating chamber through the discharge passage into the storage chamber. The inlet passage directs fluid when unsealed from the storage chamber to the operating chamber. The valve arm is moved in one direction in response to inducing a magnetic field and in the other direction by a spring when the magnetic field is not induced.

Abstract: A hydraulic lash adjuster for valve gear of an internal combustion engine, the hydraulic lash adjuster being of the type which operates from oil received under pressure from a gallery provided in the engine lubricant supply system to compensate for lash in the valve train. The body of the lash adjuster has a movable plunger assembly provided therein including upper and lower plunger members each having a bore therein which define upper and lower fluid reservoirs, respectively. A one way check valve is located between the lash adjuster body and the lower plunger member. A thin walled, cup shaped metal separator is received in the lower end of the upper plunger member for fluidly isolating the fluid reservoirs. The separator member is held in place by a plurality of outwardly turned retaining tabs extending from the open end thereof which engage the upper end of the lower plunger member. Annular metering passages meter the pressurized engine oil for supplying fluid to the lower and upper fluid reservoirs.