Abstract: A method of making an identifiable article such as a container or container preform. A molded plastic container or container preform is provided that includes a wall having at least one layer of matrix resin and at least one layer of barrier resin that is blended with an additive. The wall has at least one localized portion of predetermined geometry in which the barrier layer is thicker than surrounding portions of the wall, and within which the additive is discernable under visible or UV light so as to provide a means to prevent use of counterfeit containers.

Abstract: A limited slip differential comprises a housing having an input, a first output, and a second output rotatably mounted in the housing. A friction clutch in the housing limits slip between the first output and the second output, and a mechanism in the housing applies an axial force to the friction clutch. The mechanism includes a rotatable actuating plate and a non-rotatable, back-up plate. A motor that rotates the actuating plate is controlled by an electronic motor control which has a feed back that is responsive to the force applied by the mechanism to the friction clutch. In one embodiment, the feed back measures the angular position of the rotatable actuating plate which is mounted on an angular contact bearing. The stain or slight axial movement of the outer race of the angular contact bearing is measured to provide the feed back to the electronic motor control.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing mold charges into a mold of a compression molding machine includes at least one mold charge pick-up cup for receiving a severed charge of molten plastic, a vacuum source for applying a vacuum to the pick-up cup to retain the mold charge in the cup, and a source of gas (such as air) under pressure for periodically applying gas to the cup to release the mold charge from the cup. In one exemplary embodiment, the vacuum source applies a continuous vacuum to the cup, and the source of gas under pressure periodically applies gas to the cup to overcome the continuous vacuum at the cup. In another exemplary embodiment, vacuum and gas under pressure, are alternately applied to the cup. The vacuum source preferably includes a vacuum generator coupled to the source of gas under pressure for generating the vacuum to be applied to the cup. The vacuum source preferably includes a vacuum pump coupled to the source of gas under pressure for generating the vacuum to be applied to the cup.

Abstract: An external rear view mirror for vehicles includes a mirror head the is fixedly secured to the vehicle. A housing defines an opening and a housing rear wall. The housing rear wall defines a recess that extends along a portion thereof. A turn-signal lamp, designed to generate light, is fixedly secured to the housing rear wall. The turn-signal lamp extends into the recess. The turn-signal lamp includes a light lens that covers the turn-signal lamp. The light lens has an outside surface. The external rear view mirror also includes an optical waveguide that guides the light generated by the turn-signal lamp around the mirror head, whereby the optical waveguide is fixedly secured to the light lens.

Abstract: A vehicle tie rod adjustment device for changing the toe of a vehicle wheel by adjusting the overall length of a tie rod assembly. The tie rod adjustment device generally includes a housing, a gear train, an adjustable gear head, and a nut runner. The pivotal gear head threadably adjusts the tie rod assembly by rotatably engaging a hex or flatted portion and a lock nut, and includes one or more roller elements spaced around a guide fork recess to reduce a sliding friction with the tie rod assembly. According to another embodiment, the tie rod adjustment device includes a locking mechanism for maintaining the adjustable gear head in a proper alignment so that one or more components of the gear head can be removed.

Abstract: In a multi-cylinder piston engine, a diagnostic method of determining if there is low compression in a cylinder (5) by using a split engine brake (18) and turning the engine brake on during one cycle and the engine brake off during another cycle and measuring any difference in the power contribution of the engine between the two cycles.

Abstract: A fiber placement machine has a creel that supplies a fiber band to a presser member that applies the fiber band to a tool or form. The presser member is part of a head that is attached to the creel of the machine by a wrist that provides movement about yaw, pitch and roll axes with respect to the creel. The fiber band is supplied by a fiber band delivery system that is associated with the wrist and that is characterized by a capability to twist the fiber band in two stages about the yaw axis or the roll axis.

Abstract: A fuel system has a jet pump assembly that fills a fuel reservoir for providing a reliable source of fuel to an electric motor fuel pump located in a fuel tank for a combustion engine. The electric fuel pump preferably delivers fuel at a controlled pressure to a series of fuel injectors of the engine. A small portion of the fuel exiting the electric fuel pump is diverted to the jet pump assembly that aspirates fuel from the fuel tank and into the reservoir. A biased normally closed pressure responsive valve prevents fuel flow to the jet pump when the electric fuel pump is running under impaired conditions, thus providing all the fuel to the combustion engine typically during cold engine start conditions.

Abstract: A system for reducing escape to the atmosphere of hydrocarbon fuel vapors from a fuel tank for a combustion engine powered device including at least one functional member that directly communicates with the fuel tank and is constructed to receive and retain hydrocarbon vapors therein. The functional member may further include a bed of activated carbon-based material for adsorbing and purging of the hydrocarbon vapors. The functional member is otherwise useful to the device beyond the vapor handling function and may be incorporated into a handlebar assembly, frame component, housing, cover, and the like thereby reducing component parts and reducing cost and complexity of the device.

Abstract: A blank (1) is provided for forming a case, for example for CDs. The blank is folded such that the CD case has a carriage (14) hingedly attached to the case and offset from a case hinge, such that the carriage slides out of a pocket as the case is opened. The blank (1) is suited to automated manufacture and folding.

Abstract: An ignition device such as a spark plug having ground and center electrodes, at least one of which includes a firing tip formed from an alloy containing iridium, rhodium, tungsten, and zirconium. With the inclusion of tungsten and zirconium in the alloy, the percentage of rhodium can be kept relatively low without sacrificing the erosion resistance or reduced sparking voltage of the firing tip. In one embodiment, the firing tip contains 2% rhodium, 0.3% tungsten, 0.02% zirconium, and the balance iridium.

Abstract: A fuel system with a fuel tank having at least one opening into an interior of the fuel tank, and an electrically operated vent valve having an inlet communicated with the interior of the fuel tank and an outlet for venting fuel vapor from the fuel tank. The vent valve is movable in response to an electric signal between an open position allowing fuel vapor through the outlet and a closed position to restrict fluid flow through the outlet. A controller is operably communicated with the vent valve to control application of an electric signal to the vent valve and thereby control at least in part the movement of the vent valve between its open and closed positions. In one embodiment the controller is responsive to a fill level in the fuel tank to control the position of the vent valve and thereby the fill level attained within the fuel tank.

Abstract: A transmission brake assembly for controlling an output of a transmission of a motor vehicle includes a solenoid which is operatively engagable with a transmission. The solenoid selectively engages and disengages the transmission. A solenoid driver is electrically connected to the solenoid to drive the solenoid into and out of engagement with the transmission. The transmission brake assembly also includes a controller electrically connected to the solenoid driver. The controller turns the solenoid driver between an on state, an off state, and an intermediate state such that the solenoid partially engages the transmission to allow the motor vehicle to move forward at a minimal speed.

Abstract: A fuel delivery assembly including a fuel pump module having a mounting flange and a reservoir housing carried by the mounting flange, and an emissions canister pivotally mounted to the reservoir housing of the fuel pump module, wherein the emissions canister is pivoted relative to the reservoir housing when the assembly is inserted through an access opening of a fuel tank and assembled thereto. Preferably, the assembly is positioned within the fuel tank so that respective bearing surfaces of the fuel pump module and emissions canister are in substantially the same plane against the bottom of the fuel tank, and a longitudinal axis of the emissions canister is approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the fuel pump module.