Abstract: A passive restraint load limiting steering column support assembly for a motor vehicle which, in effect, provides a fuse in the primary collapsible steering column assembly for allowing the system to accept impact loads greater than the design impact load and those which impact the system in a direction other than that for which it was designed. The system includes a collapsible energy absorbing steering column assembly having upper and lower column tubes telescopically engaged within one another, the steering shaft rotatably suspended within the upper and lower column tubes and the steering wheel secured to the rearward end of the steering shaft. A primary energy absorbing system is affixed to the steering column assembly and secures it to a steering column support member, with the primary energy absorbing system allowing the upper column tube to collapse upon the lower column tube over a predetermined distance in a controlled manner to absorb an impact load of a first predetermined magnitude.

Abstract: An engine bearing having an aluminum-lead bearing alloy and a method of casting such aluminum-lead alloys in which the bimetal lining after bonding of the alloy has no lead gradient and contains no lead ribbons of significant size.

Abstract: A method for securing workpieces of composite type materials and including a fastener adapted to be located in aligned bores in such workpieces with a preselected interference fit, with the fastener comprising a pin having an elongated shank, an enlarged head and enlarged diameter smooth shank section adjacent the pin head, and further having a threaded section extending from the smooth shank section to a breakneck groove located in the shank to define a frangible portion at its free end, the breakneck groove adapted to fracture at a preselected axial load of generally low magnitude, a thin gauged expansion sleeve having an inside diameter less than the diameter of the smooth shank section, the sleeve having an outside diameter permitting the assembly of the sleeve into the workpiece bores with a snug fit, the breakneck groove having an axial strength at least equal to the maximum axial load required to pull the pin member fully into the sleeve with the smooth pin shank section expanding the sleeve into the w

Abstract: An energy absorbing vehicular steering column assembly (10) including telescopically engaged upper and lower column tubes (16,17). The upper column tube (16) being mounted to a steering column support member (12) at its rearward end by a break-away coupling member or bracket (20) affixed to the upper column tube and having shear modules (44) forming a portion of the bracket, thus allowing it to break-away from the steering column support member upon driver impact. The remainder of the steering column assembly including means (22) for absorbing impact loads through a plastic deformation as the column tubes move together axially during a collision, and a pair of axially oriented relatively non-deformable plate-like slide members (60) secured to the steering column support member (12) and positioned between the break-away coupling and the steering column support member and on which a portion (42) of the break-away bracket or coupling member may slide as the upper column tube is collapsing.

Abstract: An improved suspension system for a mobile machine adapted to work a material associated with a horizontal surface includes a frame mounting a prime mover. An arbor shaft extends transversely across the frame adjacent to a front end of the machine and is drivingly connected to the prime mover. The suspension system includes a live rear axle and a front axle assembly that is extendable and retractable whereby the machine is movable between raised and lowered positions. A rotating tool is mounted on the arbor shaft. Lowering the machine from its raised position engages the tool with the material. The improvement to the suspension system comprises a support device for providing extra support to the frame when the machine is in its lowered position, the support device being adapted to stabilize the machine when the tool exerts an upward reactionary force on the machine front end.

Abstract: An improved process and an improved composite bearing material produced thereby comprising a hard metal backing strip having leaded-bronze bearing lining tenaciously bonded to at least one face surface thereof and wherein the bearing lining is characterized by having the lead constituent thereof substantially uniformly distributed throughout the lining matrix in the form of extremely fine-sized particles providing improved operating characteristics to the bearing materials fabricated therefrom.

Abstract: A one-piece blade shroud and vacuum duct system for removing a water and swarf slurry from a pavement grooving site includes an adjustable intake nozzle for directly receiving the slurry hurled by the rotating blades of a pavement grooving machine. Only two nozzles are used in order to simplify the vacuum ducting and to improve the efficiency of the system. By disposing a water jet assembly within the blade shroud, efficiency is further increased.

Abstract: A radial lip seal (10) having a sealing lip (16) made of first and second materials arranged in alternating regions (20,22) and forming a continuous contact band. The seal is a rotational seal for contacting a shaft or sleeve in a relatively rotatable relationship. The first and second materials have differing physical characteristics to increase hydrodynamic activity at the sealing lip (16). The first material may be a polytetrafluoroethylene material and the second material disclosed may be silicone, fluoroelastomer, nitrile, ethylene acrylic or polyacrylate elastomers. The boundaries (42) between the first and second materials at the contact band preferably intersect the circumferentially extending contact band at an angle. A method of making a radial lip seal is also disclosed wherein an annular wafer (32) of a first material having an undulating circumferential edge (34) with spaced radially recessed portions (36) is placed in a mold (44).

Abstract: A gear-within-gear positive displacement pump, such as an automotive fuel pump, is disclosed having a pump chamber, an internal gear within the pump chamber, and an external gear within the internal gear. The pump chamber has an inlet and an outlet. The external gear is rotatably driven thereby causing the internal gear to rotate and further causing the teeth of the internal and external gears to unmesh thereby drawing fluid into the pump chamber between the gears and further causing the teeth of the gears to mesh so as to positively force the fluid out of the pump chamber. A pressure balancing passage way is provided between the portion of the pump housing in which the gear teeth mesh thereby permitting fluid under pressure to be directed to the exterior of the internal gear so as to pressure bias the internal gear generally toward the inlet and to at least in part balance the pressure forces on the internal gear with a consequent reduction of noise and increase in pump efficiency.

Abstract: A lip seal having enhanced shock loading capabilities includes a rigid case member coated with an elastomeric material. A composite annular sealing lip having a bonding portion formed of an elastomeric material and a contact portion formed of polytetrafluoroethylene is bonded to the case member such that a shock absorbing elastomer to adhesive to elastomer interface is formed between the sealing lip and the case coating.

Abstract: A process for making a composite bearing material comprising a steel backed, prealloyed, lead-bronze sintered powder metal matrix whereby the first sinter step includes induction heating the prealloyed powder and steel backing to above 650.degree. C. and thereafter sintering the same at temperatures of about 850.degree. C. in a second sintering furnace. A composite bearing material made by the same process and comprising a lead particle size averaging less than about 8 microns and having no lead islands larger than about 44 microns.

Abstract: A cutting tool such as a tile saw is pivotally connected to a linear guide rod with a four-bar linkage. The linkage allows the cutting tool to be raised and lowered over a work table to facilitate plunge cutting. One link of the four-bar linkage is mounted over the linear guide rod in a fixed perpendicular relationship with the surface of the work table to ensure that the blade of the cutting tool is maintained in a similar perpendicular orientation throughout plunge cutting. This is achieved by adjusting the links of the four-bar linkage as a parallelogram linkage. A linear bearing is fitted between the fixed perpendicular link and the guide rod to allow the cutting tool and linkage to freely slide along an accurate linear cutting path.

Abstract: A clutch release bearing assembly includes a tubular plastic carrier member for actuating a self-aligning clutch release bearing. The bearing is connected to the carrier with a rigid annular clip. The rigid clip is formed with recesses or tabs which receive or engage complimentary mating portions provided on the carrier. A radial flange is formed on the clip for axially restraining the bearing on the carrier. Bearing seals may be provided on the flange to prevent debris from entering the bearing assembly.

Abstract: An offset nose assembly for swaging a fastener collar about a fastener pin includes an anvil housing which is rotatably mounted within a tubular sleeve portion of a hydraulically actuated installation tool. A collet is slidably fitted within the anvil housing and is connected to a piston of the installation tool via a smooth-walled drawbar and tubular adapter coupling. The drawbar is received within smooth-walled bores formed within the collet and the tubular adapter coupling. The tubular adapter coupling is closely fitted within a tubular portion of the anvil housing and is adapted to be securely fixed to the reciprocating piston of an installation tool. The anvil housing is mounted to the installation tool with a split ring and fastening nut in a manner which ensures an axial clearance is maintained between the installation tool and the anvil housing thereby providing free rotational movement of the anvil housing around the tool.

Abstract: An improved clutch release bearing assembly includes a sliding sleeve providing first and second sliding surfaces respectively facing the bore of a bearing and a guide element extending through the bore, both surfaces minimizing binding, wear or excessive friction between the bearing and the guide element during relative reciprocal motion therebetween. The sleeve, preferably fashioned from plastic, finds particular utility in a clutch release bearing surrounding a transmission shaft retainer or quill tube. The length of the sleeve is such that the bearing may slide on an outer sliding surface for a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A belt tensioning device includes a resilient coupling which interconnects an idler pulley hub and a stationary mounting member. A ratchet and pawl mechanism interconnects the hub and the stationary mounting member to prevent the belt from overcoming the biasing force of the tensioning device during high belt loads. A resilient biasing element such as an elastomeric element is located between the ratchet and pawl mechanism and the stationary mounting member to allow limited movement of the idler pulley hub away from a belt in order to relieve belt tension such as caused during thermal expansion of an engine block.

Abstract: Method and Tool for removing a swaged collar from a pin member of a lockbolt type fastener by using a tool having a housing with an opening therein having opposite wall, one wall having a pair of fixed spaced blades extending longitudinally of the collar and the other opposite wall having a piston operated ram, whereby said ram forces said collar against said blades to cut through and spread said collar to separate the collar from the pin member.

Abstract: A non-deleterious coating composition for the deposition of a dry film lubricant coating on a rubber sealing element comprises:(a) 1 to 10% by weight of a component selected from the group consisting of waxes and normally solid aliphatic alcohols;(b) 1 to 10% by weight of a lubricating oil; and(c) the balance being a solvent for (a) and (b); wherein the solvent, when applied to the rubber sealing element, in said coating composition, evaporates from the coating composition before any substantial degradation of the physical properties of the rubber sealing element occurs. A method for coating a rubber sealing element and the rubber sealing element coated with the dry film lubricant are also disclosed. The invention finds particular applicability in the lubrication of rubber sealing elements, e.g., O-rings, which will be utilized in the manufacture of devices by automated assembly techniques.

Abstract: A nosepiece for setting lockbolt fasteners includes an anvil housing connected to a collet member via a roll pin. The roll pin securely anchors a drawbar within the collet to form an non-threaded connection therebetween. The drawbar is adapted to be connected to and rigidly supported within a piston of an installation tool. The rigidity of the piston and tool is transferred to the nosepiece by the drawbar so as to prevent nosepiece deflection during setting of the lockbolt.

Abstract: A system for producing a first and second series of blind fasteners each in uniformly varying grip increments for securing workpieces varying in total thickness, each blind fastener comprising a tubular sleeve, a pin and lock collar, the sleeve adapted to be located in aligned openings in the workpieces with the fastener adapted to secure the plurality of workpieces together by means of a relative axial force applied between the pin and the sleeve, the sleeve having a relatively straight sleeve shank terminating at one end in an enlarged sleeve head, the first series sleeve heads being of the flush head type and the second series sleeve heads being of the protruding head type having a generally streamlined low profile configuration, each of the first series of sleeves being related to each of said second series of sleeves of the next largest grip increment such that the overall lengths of the first series of said sleeves and the related ones of the second series of sleeves are substantially the same, the pins