Abstract: A piston for diesel engines includes a piston body formed with a closed oil gallery and a pair of pin bosses having axially aligned pin bores whose surfaces are spaced from one another about their circumference across an intervening gap between the pin bosses. The pin bore surfaces are each formed with a recess which extends in the axial direction of the pin bores across the full width of each of the pin bore surfaces. An oil passage leads from the gallery to each of the recesses and feeds the recesses with lubricating oil from the gallery. The recesses act as retention basins or reservoirs which collect and supply the pin bore surfaces with lubricating oil during the fall cycle of the piston.

Abstract: A method of detecting premature wear of engine bearings in locomotive engine applications includes incorporating bismuth as a tracer element into the liner of bearing metal applied to a rigid metal backing of the bearing. A soft metal overlay free of bismuth is applied over the bearing liner and the bearing installed in the engine. The engine oil is periodically tested for the presence of bismuth. Early detection indicates premature wear of the overlay, enabling corrective action to be taken to protect the engine.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed with interchangeable tooling modules for use in a base operating machine. Disconnectible welding current contactor members connect the tooling module to a power supply/transformer of the base operating machine when the module is installed. The module is movable on a guide between uninstalled and installed locations and the contactor members are closed upon installation of the module. A set of fluid pressure and electrical connector members have complementary mating parts mounted on a module connector plate and on a machine connector plate of the base operating machine. An actuator moves the machine connector plate from a retracted position to an extended position for connecting the complementary connector members after the module is installed.

Abstract: An aluminum thrust washer that has a wrought aluminum matrix that includes from 2 to 20 weight percent silicon, 0.1 to 4 weight percent of copper, with the remainder pure aluminum. The aluminum thrust washer is formed of a mono-metal structure without a backing layer. The wrought aluminum matrix has mechanical properties such that the aluminum matrix wears away, leaving silicon particles exposed at a thrust face of the washer, such that the density of silicon particles is continually increasing as the thrust washer is utilized.

Abstract: A dual alloy metallic piston is made by casting a first alloy into a mold to form a corresponding first portion. Before the first alloy solidifies, a second alloy is cast into the mold to form a corresponding second portion of the piston. The first and second portions are joined across a transition zone which is a blend of the two alloys.

Abstract: A ferrous cylinder liner for use in diesel engines equipped with exhaust gas recirculation has at least a portion of its inner surface covered by an electroless coating of nickel. The coating has a maximum thickness of 8 micrometers and presents a continuous, non-porous barrier which protects the ferrous liner against attack from the corrosive EGR environment.

Abstract: An optical waveguide connector (100) includes a first component (130) defining a first channel portion (145) formed along a length of an inner surface thereof. The first channel portion (145) is sized to receive a waveguide (120). A second component (135) defines a second channel portion (145) along a length of an inner surface thereof. The second channel portion (145) also is sized to receive a waveguide (120). A fastening mechanism fastens the first component (130) to the second component (135) such that the waveguides (120) are held in position. The first and second channel portions form a channel (145) having a reflective inner surface (150) and a central portion (167). The central portion (167) surrounds and conforms in shape to the waveguides (120).

Abstract: The frameless end dump fifth wheel trailer includes a cargo container. A rear axle and wheels support the rear portion of the cargo container. A hydraulic cylinder is pivotally attached to the front portion of the container. A piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder is pivotally attached to a kingpin plate assembly. A kingpin is secured to the plate assembly. A tension frame assembly is pivotally attached to the plate assembly and to the center portion of the container. Two mast members are secured to the plate assembly. A pair of kingpin plate control arms have forward ends each of which is pivotally attached to one of the masts and rear ends pivotally attached to the center portion of the cargo container. A flat bottom surface of the kingpin plate is held in a substantially horizontal position by the plate control arms.

Abstract: Novel polymer-supported quenching reagents of Formula I, P—L—Q  I wherein P is a polymer of low chemical reactivity which is soluble or insoluble; Q is one or more quenching reagents, or an acid or base addition salts thereof, that are capable of selective covalent reaction with unwanted byproducts, or excess reagents; and L is one or more chemically robust linkers that join P and Q; are described, as well as methods for their preparation and methods for their use in the rapid purification of synthetic intermediates and products in organic synthesis, combinatorial chemistry and automated organic synthesis.

Abstract: A transfer line apparatus for performing multiple machining operations on each of a plurality of workpieces in a transfer line. The apparatus includes a plurality of different kinds of machining units disposed at respective machining stations along a transfer path. A workpiece transporter moves workpieces along the transfer path to position each of the workpieces at each of the machining stations and allow each of the machining units to machine each of the workpieces as the workpieces move along the transfer path. A controller connected to the machining units responds to an inspection command by causing all machining units downstream from a designated machining unit along the transfer path to allow a workpiece selected for inspection to pass by without being machined by the downstream units. This allows the workpiece to be inspected in a form that the remaining machining units have not altered.

Abstract: A mirror assembly for a vehicle with a light is provided. The mirror assembly includes an exterior mirror assembly that is attached to the vehicle. A light source is removably positioned inside the exterior mirror assembly. A waveguide is positioned to transmit light from the light source to a location outside the exterior mirror assembly. The light source is secured to a light holder which is positioned inside and attached to the exterior mirror assembly. The light holder is configured to efficiently couple light from the light source to the waveguide.

Abstract: An elongated portable structure for use as a tent or the like, having at least one end panel. The end panel has a sheet of substantially non-stretchable flexible fabric material disposed in a generally upright orientation. Two hoops of flexible, resilient, strip material are attached to the sheet. The sheet has portions in the spaces within the hoops to maintain the hoops taut and to resist collapse or distortion of the hoops. A flexible fabric cover extends from the end panel to provide shelter for a person occupying the structure. The hoops are capable of being twisted into a flat coil of reduced diameter for storage. The structure may have a second end panel with hoops, similar to the first end panel.

Abstract: A gasket is provided for use between an engine block and a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine. The engine block has a combustion chamber fitted with a liner. A liner seal is compressed between an end of the liner and the cylinder head. The pressure of combustion tends to flex the cylinder head away from the engine block at a location away from the bolts which secure the head to the block, forming a gap. The gasket has an opening adapted to register with the combustion chamber. A thickened ring portion on the gasket surrounds the opening and serves as a load limiter for the seal, takes up the gap between the head and block caused by flexing, and provides a path for unloading combustion forces to limit movement of the liner.

Abstract: An ignition coil for motor vehicles with a single output terminal comprises a body (16) carrying at one of its ends a flexible cap (18) provided with a seat (24) designed to receive an end (10) of a spark plug. The cap (18) comprises a high-voltage terminal (38, 40) electrically connected to the high-voltage winding of the coil and provided with a connection portion designed to receive a terminal (14) of the plug (10). A diode (26) is housed inside said cap (18) and is connected in series between two portions (38, 40) of said high-voltage terminal.

Abstract: The kennel for mounting on a pick-up truck has left and right kennel support plates. Front and rear trusses have their ends fixed to the left and right support plates. A roof panel is attached to the front and rear trusses. A rear wall is pivotally attached to the rear truss and extends vertically downward from a horizontal pivot axis when in a closed position. The rear wall pivots about the pivot axis to a vertical position above the pivot axis and adjacent to the rear side of the rear truss to provide ingress and egress. Side openings in the kennel permit a dog to extend his nose and at least part of his head from the kennel. An adjustable bar changes the height and the size of each side opening. The support plates hold the entire weight of the kennel.

Abstract: An aerosol aqueous cleaning composition having: an effective mineral dissolving amount of an organic acid of at least 5% by weight of the cleaning compositions; an effective amount of a spore forming microbial composition; an effective cleaning amount of a blend of wetting agents, the first wetting agent having a hydrophobic/lipophobic number (HLB) of about 10 and higher and a second wetting agent having an HLB number of about 5 or less; an effective amount of a thickening agent; an effective amount of a propellant and water.

Abstract: A database having fixed length records stored together in record number order and an index structure for the database. The index structure comprises a separate index for each searchable field of the records. For purposes of indexing, the records are logically divided into fine slices of 8,000 records each, and the fine slices are grouped into coarse slices of 4,000 fine slices each. The indexes include fine and coarse keys, each of which corresponds to a particular data value and a particular fine or coarse slice. Associated with each key is a link that is used to determine which records contain the data value. For the fine keys, the link includes a pointer to a bit vector that has a single bit for each of the records within the fine slice associated with the key. For the coarse keys, the link includes a pointer to a bit vector that has a single bit for each of the fine slices contained in the coarse slice.

Abstract: An engine cover with integrated ignition system components that provides a protective enclosure for ignition coils in a distributorless ignition system of an internal combustion engine. The cover serves as a cylinder head cover for sealing over the valve assembly of the engine and for that purpose includes a plastic housing having an upper wall and side walls that extend downwardly to a perimeter mounting surface of the housing. The housing includes a unitary compartment that is located above the upper wall. The ignition coils are mounted within the compartment and are electrically connected via terminals to high voltage leads that are embedded in the upper wall and that extend laterally to a corresponding second group of terminals located at the lower surface of the upper wall. These terminals are positioned so as to electrically connect to the engine spark plugs when the cover is installed on the engine.