Abstract: An anti-rattle or biasing member is positioned between the torque receiving member of an automotive disc brake and the brake shoe backing plate urging said backing plate into an anti-rattling engagement with said torque carrying member.

Abstract: A wheel rim construction that cooperates with the tire bead seat to insure retention of the tire, even under a "run flat" condition. The bead seat portion of the rim is formed with a plurality of circumferentially extending radial projections that cause gripping of the tire bead to form a mechanical interlock between the projections and wheel flange. The radial projections are formed during the roll forming of the wheel rim by extruding the rim material into grooves in the upper finishing roll so that the permanently formed projections lie radially outward of the basic rim profile.

Abstract: An improved method of making vehicle wheel rims particularly suitable for use with materials having relatively low ductility, such as aluminum, is disclosed. A circumferential drop center well is formed about the periphery of the band and work hardened so that the well material exhibits higher strength and lower ductility than the remaining band material. The strength and ductility differential between the well and band material adjacent thereto assists in confining material movement in subsequent rim forming operations and induces drawing of the rim bead seat area material.

Abstract: A low cost skid control system is disclosed that incorporates a skid detector circuit for detecting a skid condition in combination with a hold capacitor ramp circuit that maintains the brake release signal beyond the termination of the skid signal from the output of the detector circuit when a severe skid condition is encountered. The level of charge on the hold capacitor ramp circuit is adapted to relate to the severity of the wheel speed departure from the approximated vehicle speed. In one embodiment, this is accomplished indirectly by providing a peak acceleration circuit which stores the maximum wheel acceleration value attained during wheel spin-up when brake pressure is relieved. The peak acceleration value is then utilized to vary the charge rate of the hold-on capacitor during the succeeding braking period.

Abstract: An electromagnetically actuated drum type brake embodying an improved support for the actuating magnet. The magnet is supported by a lever and when energized effects pivotal movement of the lever to actuate the brake. The support between the lever and magnet permits some floating movement of the magnet so as to accommodate for surface irregularities and relative movement between the magnet and the lever as is necessary to effect brake actuation. The support, however, restricts the degree of relative movement between the magnet and lever to acceptable values while transmitting the actuating force from the magnet to the lever. The support comprises an integral tab formed at the outer end of the lever which extends into an aperture in the magnet with sufficient clearance to permit limited movement in several directions. Rotary movement is, however, not restricted by this connection.

Abstract: A resilient "C" shaped propeller guard, pivotally attached to the propeller housing below the propeller and linked to a movable semi-rigid cable at its other end, transmits impact forces upon the guard through the cable thereby shifting the output of an outboard motor to the neutral position when the guard encounters propeller damaging objects.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are presented for thermally intermixing, blending and homogenizing additive constituents into a molten host glass composition as it flows through a forehearth channel. The additive composition in solid or molten form, is introduced into a thermally rising flow of molten host glass and thermally intermixed therein by successive descending and rising thermal currents.

Abstract: Arrangement for and methods of operating electrically heated submerged throats between glass melter and final conditioning zones are disclosed which enable the pull rate of glass to be reduced while maintaining temperature control and to be stopped without freezing the molten glass in the throat. High rates of heat loss in the throat region are compensated for with a high voltage power supply to electrodes positioned for Joule effect heating of the glass in the throat. Thermal adjustment at maximum pull rates is enhanced by the use of cooled electrodes in the throat as heat extractors with no electrical energy supplied. Low or zero pull rates can be tolerated without throat freeze-up by connecting additional voltage sources in series with the supply to the throat electrode.

Abstract: A programmed method for the preparation of an intermediate polyester resin is disclosed. The process is monitored and controlled by a supervisory on line computer which supervises the three phases of the process: the charging phase; the temperature elevation phase and the cooking phase. During the critical temperature elevation phase the supervisory program assures that a runaway exothermic chemical reaction does not occur. This is accomplished by periodically reading batch temperature and comparing it with an emperically determined temperature time curve stored within the program. Heat input or removal is then ordered depending upon the relationship of the batch temperature and the temperature time curve.

Abstract: A method of anticipating electrode failure by monitoring the current, voltage and resistance between electrode pairs in a Joule effect heating system. A relatively rapid change in monitored resistance is an indication of an incipient failure. Alarm indicators, instruction print out, and/or process controls can be actuated in response to a given current voltage or resistance change. Plural electrode pairs are monitored by multiplexing to provide a repetitive cyclic scan of the parameters between pairs. Distortion of current and voltage values is minimized, where selective portions of regular power pulses are gated for control of heating, and complex waveforms result by employing true r.m.s. values of current and voltage developed in true r.m.s. to d.c. converters.

Abstract: Friction compositions of glass fibers bonded with cured organic binders and containing a heat-conducting particulate metal and a binder modifying agent are disclosed. The compositions can optionally contain friction-modifying materials, an elastomer or particulate fillers. The compositions have particular utility as brake or clutch materials and are excellent for automotive application.

Abstract: A fiberizer with an ignition system is provided. The fiberizer includes an annular combustion chamber with a downwardly directed annular slot positioned to direct the hot products of combustion toward a fiber spinner. The fiberizer has a plurality of radiant cup burners disposed uniformly therearound in an upper portion of the chamber. An ignition burner is located between two of the radiant cup burners and directs a long ignition flame therebetween. The ignition system includes a spark plug for igniting an air-gas mixture in an end of the ignition burner and controls are designed to supply the air-gas mixture to the burner and to provide a spark for the spark plug simultaneously.