Abstract: An axial piston swash plate refrigerant compressor is provided with a discharge gas baffle and pulse attenuation device that reroutes the discharge gas from one discharge cavity away from the compressor outlet to meet with that from another discharge cavity in an attenuation chamber and thereafter further attenuate the combined discharge prior to delivery to the compressor outlet.

Abstract: A motor vehicle wheel suspension has a composite leaf spring arranged transversely supporting a wheel support. A pivot retainer and tuneable rubber bushing arrangement supports the spring on the vehicle frame so that the spring is positively retained thereon while elastically supported with a tuneable fore/aft, vertical and lateral compliance and while also being pivotal about an axis intersecting at right angles with the neutral shear plane of the spring.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for an engine cooling system with the coolant fluid maintained in a state of nucleate boiling at a selected location in the coolant passages of the engine. The cooling system comprises a radiator and a coolant reservoir with a variable speed circulating pump for circulating the coolant through the coolant passages in the engine and through the radiator. A coolant pressure pump with a servo motor is adapted to pump coolant between the radiator and the reservoir as needed and to adjust the static pressure of the coolant. The coolant flow through the radiator is adjusted to maintain the coolant at a selected location at a control temperature which will maintain a safe metal operating temperature for the engine. The static pressure of the coolant is adjusted to a value at which the saturation temperature of the coolant is near the control temperature so that nucleate boiling will occur at the selected location.

Abstract: A hydraulic-elastomeric vehicle engine mount basically comprising a pair of rigid mounting members, a hollow elastomeric body connecting the members, an elastomeric diaphragm cooperating with the body to form a closed cavity that is filled with a liquid, a partition dividing the cavity into a chamber enclosed by the body and a chamber enclosed by the diaphragm, a damping orifice connecting the chambers so as to provide hydraulic damping as one mounting member is forced to vibrate relative to the other in opposite directions, and a damping decoupler mounted for limited movement on the partition so as to effect cyclic volume change in the chambers and thereby permit vibratory amplitudes without hydraulic damping.

Abstract: Method and apparatus therefor for forming an inner tube and turbulator for a concentric tube heat exchanger from a stock length of tube comprising the steps of simultaneously mechanically forming a bell-shaped sealing and outer tube attaching section in the ends of the tube while also sealing the ends, applying hydraulic pressure to the interior of the tube to form outwardly projecting turbulator bumps in the tube at places located about and along the length thereof, and increasing the mechanical forming force with increasing hydraforming force so that the latter opposes the former and only their net force acts on the bell-shaped sections to maintain the sealing during the hydraforming to prevent coining of these sections.

Abstract: A hydraulic mount has a flexible decoupler with an opening therethrough and grooves intersecting therewith providing a controlled fluid connection between liquid filled chambers to control the damping. Fluid flow between the chambers is restricted as the flexible decoupler contacts one of two sandwiching valve portions, formed as part of a partition member, and further fluid flow is allowed only through the decoupler grooves.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sealing between a movable vehicular closure and body, especially adapted for an automobile, is disclosed. A deflatable sealing member forms a weatherstrip to seal the opening in the vehicle body and includes an operable tubular portion and an integral mounting portion. The sealing member is designed for resilient interference engagement between the closure and the body when expanded by the built-in resilient memory. The closure is mounted so as to provide relative transverse movement between the sealing member and one of said closure and said body during closing. In order to deflate the sealing member, a vacuum source, which may be a bellows pump, separate electric pump, engine vacuum, or the like, is connected to the single port of the sealing member and is activated at least during the closing of the closure. After closing, the control valves switch from the vacuum source to a vent to ambient pressure thereby inflating the sealing member.

Abstract: An integral receiver/dehydrator and expansion valve is disclosed in an automotive air conditioning system. A common housing comprises a receiver/dehydrator container surmounted by a connector body in a unitary construction. An electronically controlled expansion valve is disposed in an axial passage in the connector body and a valve chamber in the body connects the draw tube of the receiver/dehydrator to the valve orifice. An annular groove in the common wall between the connector body and the receiver/dehydrator container is connected by a radial passage through the body with the suction line of the receiver/dehydrator from the condenser. An annular chamber surrounding the valve outlet port is connected by a radial passage to the suction line of the evaporator. The radial passages may be disposed at any desired angle on the body to accommodate the connection of the receiver/dehydrator suction line and the evaporation suction line.

Abstract: A quick connect tube coupling has a connector body with an external threaded portion and a passage extending therethrough. A sheet metal nut and tube retainer member has an opening therethrough with a helical edge engaging the external threaded portion to threadably connect the connector body and this member. The connector body passage is adapted to receive and telescopically pilot a tube end on opposite sides of an O-ring mounted in a groove in this passage. The O-ring is adapted to receive and peripherally seal the tube end.

Abstract: A hydraulic mount assembly is disclosed having a partition including a hydraulic damping decoupler between two hydraulic chambers. One chamber is formed by an elastomeric member and the other by a resilient diaphragm. During dynamic loading of the mount, fluid passes between the two chambers of the mount causing expansion and contraction of the diaphragm. A pneumatic bladder is positioned to exert external pressure against the diaphragm in order to change the damping characteristics of the mount. As the bladder is expanded, the diaphragm is stiffened and the fluid flow between the two chambers in the hydraulic mount is restricted. When the bladder is deflated, the pressure against the diaphragm is reduced or effectively removed thereby restoring full freedom of movement of the fluid in the hydraulic mount. By actively controlling the diaphragm expansion in this manner, the dynamic characteristics of the mount are varied.

Abstract: An evaporator assembly includes a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A heat exchange core is in direct fluid communication with the fluid inlet for interchanging heat between refrigerant and air flow over the core. An accumulator chamber is contained within the housing and is in direct fluid communication between the heat exchange core and the fluid outlet for collecting and separating vaporized and unvaporized refrigerant directly from the heat exchange core and for providing an environment of vaporized refrigerant about said fluid outlet.

Abstract: A variable displacement wobble plate compressor is disclosed having a bearing body with a slot and cylindrical guide surfaces such that the bearing body operates directly between a guide rod and a wobble plate to prevent rotation while permitting angulation of the latter.

Abstract: A low refrigerant charge detecting device comprises a refrigerant superheat temperature transducer that senses refrigerant leaving the evaporator and provides a positional output indicative of the superheat temperature of the sensed refrigerant, an ambient air temperature transducer that senses ambient air and provides a positional output indicative of the ambient air temperature, and a low charge signal effecter that responds to both the positional outputs and provides a low charge signal at predetermined refrigerant superheat and ambient air temperatures.

Abstract: A vehicle steering wheel includes an annular metal core with a molded plastic body and may include an outer molded layer of vinyl, wrap of leather or the like. A recess is provided extending along the inside rim of the wheel. An elastomeric cover, such as urethane rubber, covers the switch. Annular voids in the elastomeric cover may be selectively placed to provide the desired resilient characteristic. The strip switch preferably includes two outer strips and one inner strip of thin, flexible plastic. Electrically conductive, silver ink coatings are provided on the two outer strips facing each other to form strip contacts and having leads connected to the horn circuit. An inner strip or ribbon forms an insulator with openings to allow engagement of the two conductor strips under tactile pressure at any point around the rim. The inner ribbon is coated on both sides with adhesive to hold the strips together in an integral unit.

Abstract: An air cleaner has a casing having an air inlet and an air outlet with an air filter therebetween. A sump with a drain hole is formed in the casing between the filter and outlet. A valve opens the drain hole to drain the sump in response to the collection of a predetermined amount of liquid thereabove in the sump collected from air passing from the filter to the outlet. And an air filter filters any air passing through the drain hole from outside the casing should the valve open while air is passing from the normal inlet to the outlet.

Abstract: The reinforcements in a radiator core assembly are perforated so as to form a shear zone in the legs thereof that maintain rigidity in the reinforcements for stacking and brazing and can be readily sheared thereafter.

Abstract: An exhaust pipe system for an articulated motor vehicle comprising at least a first part and a second part, the first and second parts being pivotable relative to one another, the exhaust pipe system comprising a first rigid portion securable to the first part of the vehicle; a second rigid portion securable to the second part of the vehicle; and an intermediate flexible portion connected at its ends to the rigid portions, the flexible portion comprising a coupling comprising two parts which are releasably secured together by fastening means to provide a substantially gas-tight seal between the two parts of the coupling, the fastening means being such that, when the two parts of the coupling are subjected to a force, relative to one another, above a predetermined level, the fastening means is released allowing the two parts of the coupling to separate from one another without damaging any of the exhaust pipe system.

Abstract: A simulated vehicle lamp for use in modeling a vehicle comprises a pliable light reflecting sheet, a pliable simulated lens sheet, and a pliable magnifying lens sheet interposed between the light reflecting sheet and simulated lens sheet.

Abstract: A linear to rotary actuator is disclosed having a fluid pressure operated diaphragm whose linear movement is translated into rotary movement of an output member by a helical coupling therebetween. The coupling comprises a coupling member that is insert molded in the diaphram so as to extend therethrough and interlock therewith while preventing fluid from passing from one diaphragm side to the other. The coupling member has a combined guide and anti-rotation portion extending from one side of the diaphragm that slidably engages a stationary guide so as to guide linear movement while preventing rotational movement of the coupling member and further has a helix extending from the other side of the diaphragm that slidably engages in a slot in a section that meshes with a gear connected to the output member whereby linear movement of the diaphragm forces linear non-rotational movement of the coupling memmer and thereby rotary movement of the output member.

Abstract: A vacuum operated actuator is provided with a centering mechanism that operates with a single spring to normally locate the output in a mid-position and also return same from both an extended position and a retracted position. The centering mechanism also includes a connector that may be changed to adjust the output for connection with the device to be actuated without changing the centering and return operation.