Abstract: A fiberglass reinforced plastics steering wheel is disclosed and a mold and method for making same. The wheel is made by disposing binder and the fiberglass in an annular cavity and in ramp-like radial cavities of a mold and are pressed into shape by a wedge-shaped member.

Abstract: An energy absorbing beam is shown which may be manufactured by wrapping several side-by-side strands of resin coated filaments about an increasing number of pins mounted upon a base. The base then becomes part of a mold to which heat and pressure is applied for forming the coated filaments into a beam having a variable cross section with variable thickness. Devices for fastening the beam may be molded into the beam by passing the coated filaments about the fasteners as the filaments are wrapped about the pins.

Abstract: A leaf spring suspension system for supporting a vehicle is disclosed wherein one end of the spring is longitudinally moveable in load-transferring relationship with the vehicle at varying longitudinal positions along the vehicle frame. Thus, regardless of spring deflection, the axle remains equidistant between the longitudinal positions at which the vehicle's load is transferred to spring, thereby equalizing the load at each end of the spring.

Abstract: A digital odometer having a mechanical memory in the form of an encoder supplies binary data to a logic control and memory which may be a microprocessor. Both total distance and trip distance are stored in memories in the logic control and memory and are supplied to digital displays.

Abstract: An automatic adjusting mechanism for a drum brake is disclosed. A spring-loaded adjusting lever is pivotally mounted on the web of one of the brake shoes such that the pivotal movement of the adjusting lever is limited to a predetermined amount of rotation. The adjusting lever is preferably of a stamped construction and includes discreet axially-protruding pads for low-friction engagement with the web of the brake shoe upon which it is mounted.

Abstract: A slack adjuster for axially moved push rods is provided. An axially extending rotating actuating shaft turns a helical, driving cam member that in turn axially displaces a non-rotating driven cam member. The driving and driven helical cam members are located in a housing with the actuating shaft extending out of one end thereof and a threaded push rod extending out of the other end of the housing. A helical return spring is positioned between the driven cam and the inner wall of the housing to bias the cam members together. The push rod is held against rotation internally of the housing by a flange whose periphery is frictionally engaged by the return spring. A nut is threaded onto the rod and engaged by the driven cam member to transmit axial force to the push rod; and relative extension of the push rod from the cam members is accomplished by a one way spring brake acting on the nut and a disc clutch drive between the driving cam and nut.

Abstract: An electronic control for electrically operated brakes utilizing solid state electronic components to control the braking mechanism in a towed vehicle. A transducer develops a control signal corresponding to the braking effort desired, and may be actuated by the hydraulic brake system of the towing vehicle or, alternately, may be actuated from the brake foot pedal itself or from a manual control. Power is applied to the brakes as a pulsating voltage, the pulse width of which is varied in response to the control signal. The pulse width is decreased with increasing currents to limit the power in the circuit when a short occurs in the towed vehicle brake circuit. The electronic control also may be used in other applications.

Abstract: Pneumatic valve construction comprising a valve chamber having opposing inlet ports with opposing axially located valve seats, and a ball therebetween constructed and arranged to move off of one valve seat into engagement with the other valve seat upon an unbalance in pressure. The construction includes a bottom outlet port that extends to the top of another larger cylindrical chamber having an elastomeric piston therein with fluid flow clearance between the piston and the side walls of the chamber. A tubular exhaust port extends axially inwardly from the bottom side of the chamber to abut the bottom side of the rubber piston. An annular fluid flow chamber exists between the tubular exhaust seat and the side walls of the cylindrical chamber to allow flow past the piston through the space to a delivery port.

Abstract: A method of duplicating shapes embodying resinous material and more particularly fiber reinforced resinous material is taught. The method includes the formation of a mold separation sheet conforming to the mold contours, placing the separation sheet within the mold and charging the mold with the desired resinous mixture. Upon curing of the resinous mixture and ejection of the article from the mold the separation sheet is removed and discarded.

Abstract: A pin type floating caliper low drag disc brake for a vehicle is disclosed in which the braking torque is transferred directly to a vehicle frame member for a non-steerable wheel and directly to a wheel spindle for a steerable wheel. An outboard brake pad assembly is mounted on the caliper which floats on a first pin located adjacent the leading edge of the caliper and an inboard brake pad assembly floats on a second pin located adjacent the trailing edge of the caliper. The braking torque is transferred through the pins to the vehicle.

Abstract: A radial truing device is disclosed having two sets of parallel jaws that are spaced apart to engage the opposite bead seats of a wheel, and the like. The jaws comprise radially extending slides, and each set of jaws is actuated by a separate ring, which rotates to move overcenter devices to an inline position to move the jaws radially inwardly. The overcenter devices bear against one half of a ring, and an antifriction bearing capable of absorbing radial and lateral movement is positioned between the other half of the ring and the frame. In the preferred embodiment, the overcenter devices are toggles that are connected to the jaws and to the rings by pins, and the bearings are generally in line with the connection of the overcenter device and the ring, so that the overcenter devices run true.

Abstract: An improved electromagnet assembly is disclosed for use in electrically actuated drum brakes. The electromagnet assembly has a cup shaped stamped metal housing. A center pole is mounted in a central opening in the housing which has stepped edges so as to alternately engage the center pole and form arcuate gaps about the center pole. A flux washer is positioned on the center pole to bridge the gaps for increasing the efficiency of the electromagnet. A solenoid winding is positioned within the opening defined by the housing, the flux washer and the center pole and the opening is closed with a friction material.

Abstract: An improved dual polarity substitution circuit for energizing a secondary load, such as an incandescent lamp, upon failure of a primary load. Dual polarity is achieved through the use of parallel PNP and NPN transistors, one of which conducts so long as the primary load is functional. Upon failure of the primary load and interruption of current flow in the conducting one of the transistors, a bidirectional switch such as a triac is fired to energize the secondary load.

Abstract: An improved slack adjuster used for establishing the running clearance between brake shoes and a brake drum. A brake actuating cam is attached to a worm gear mounted in a slack adjuster housing. When the slack adjuster is rotated through greater than a predetermined increment which establishes the running clearance for the brakes, a worm is rotated to change the angular position between the worm gear and the slack adjuster housing.

Abstract: A secondary and/or piggy-back brake pedal transducer assembly adapted to be secured to a primary brake pedal, said secondary or piggy-back pedal being moveable with respect to the primary brake pedal responsive to foot pressure and including novel spring means and an integral lever controlled by that said spring means, said lever being deflectible to correspondingly deflect a plunger member of a connected potentiometer to thereby develop an electric signal proportionate to said foot pressure, said signal being translatable to corresponding electrical energization of an electric brake situated on a vehicle towed by the vehicle bearing said secondary or piggy-back brake assembly.

Abstract: A double pivot or toggle action hinge action and a latching or keeping function are combined in a single entity for the purpose of hinging a door as well as serving as the mechanism to lock the door in a closed position. The combined assembly includes a shaft defining a first pivot axis and interdigitated hinge members on the shaft and on the associated door which are pivotally joined about a second axis parallel to the first axis and a handle is connected to the shaft to control the toggling action of the hinge and, finally, the door is provided with a latch or keeper which is adapted to capture and retain the handle whereby positively to hold the assembly in door-closed position.