Abstract: A piston ring assembly comprises a piston ring, a spring for providing an outward force on the ring, and a rail for engaging a cylinder wall. The piston ring is retained in a piston groove in a piston. During upward movement of the piston in a cylinder, oil above the ring face is forced between the first front surface and the top surface into the piston groove to an inner portion of the piston groove. During downward movement of the piston, the downward force urges cocking of the piston ring about the ring face to tilt the ring face away from the cylinder wall, leaving the lower front of the ring face in scraping abutment with the cylinder wall.

Abstract: A structure for securing a flexible boot to a face of the outer race of a constant velocity joint which includes providing the boot with a generally annular flat flange portion having a uniform thickness and a plurality of apertures formed therethrough. A securing structure includes a generally annular retaining ring having a corresponding plurality of apertures formed therethrough, with an axially extending collar portion formed about each of the apertures. The axial lengths of the collar portions are approximately 80 percent of the thickness of the boot flange. The boot is secured to the face of the outer race by disposing the retaining ring thereabout such that the collar portions extend through the boot flange apertures. Respective threaded fasteners are inserted through the retaining ring and boot flange apertures into axially extending bores formed in the outer race, which fasteners may be the way by which the joint is mounted.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for measuring operating parameters of a rotating shaft, which apparatus includes an encoder module attached to a first end of the shaft, an elongate member having a first end attached to a second end of the shaft and extending along the shaft, and an encoder disk attached to a second end of the elongate member and operatively disposed in proximity to the encoder module, such that twisting of the shaft caused by torque applied thereto will cause relative angular displacement between the encoder module and the encoder disk.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for measuring operating parameters of a rotating shaft, which apparatus includes an encoder module attached to a first end of the shaft, an elongate member having a first end attached to a second end of the shaft and extending along the shaft, and an encoder disk attached to a second end of the elongate member and operatively disposed in proximity to the encoder module, such that twisting of the shaft caused by torque applied thereto will cause relative angular displacement between the encoder module and the encoder disk.

Abstract: A self-adjusting mechanism for a friction clutch of the type having movable pressure plate, adjusting ring, release sleeve, and release lever having ends engaging adjusting ring and release sleeve with intermediate point on release lever engaging pressure plate. Release yoke is engagable with release sleeve to move release sleeve away from pressure plate, release yoke having a selected free play distance between unengaged and engaged positions with respect to release sleeve, free travel distance decreasing as friction surfaces wear. Mechanism includes: sensing mechanism to sense a decrease in free travel distance as engagement occurs and adjusting mechanism responsive to sensing mechanism to cause adjusting ring to advance toward pressure plate as disengagement subsequently occurs, compensating for decrease in free travel distance.

Abstract: A vehicle axle assembly includes a pair of output shafts having a first rotational axis, an input shaft having a second rotational axis oriented at an angle which is not perpendicular to the first rotational axis of the pair of output shafts, and an intermediate shaft having a third rotational axis oriented at an angle which is perpendicular to the first rotational axis of the pair of output shafts. The input shaft includes a first gear of a first gear set disposed between a pair of tapered roller bearings. A pinion nut attached thereto exerts a clamp force, which is prevented from affecting a preloading force on the tapered roller bearings by a shoulder formed on the input shaft. The intermediate shaft includes a second gear of the first gear set, wherein the first gear set forms an angled connection between the input shaft and the intermediate shaft for achieving a first reduction.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a release mechanism for a wet clutch of the type including a clutch pack having interleaved driven and intermediate disks, the driven disks being attached to a rotatable shaft and the intermediate disks being attached to a driven hub, a pressure plate disposed so as to apply clamping pressure to the clutch pack so as to cause the interleaved disks to frictionally engage each other, and a spring to apply the clamping pressure to the pressure plate, the release mechanism including: an air operated diaphragm operatively connected to the pressure plate to draw the pressure plate from the clutch pack and release the clamping pressure therefrom.

Abstract: A valve stem seal assembly adapted for a reciprocable valve stem disposed within a valve guide can tolerate major variations in the guide height. The assembly includes a lower hollow cylindrical shell and an upper hollow cylindrical shell, both disposed about the valve guide. The upper hollow cylindrical shell is capable of being telescopically received within the lower hollow cylindrical shell in a slip-fit relationship. A seal member is secured to the upper hollow cylindrical shell, the seal member extending radially inwardly so as to engage the reciprocable valve stem and extending axially downwardly so as to engage the valve guide.

Abstract: A clutch/brake mechanism designed for use in a power driven system which delivers relatively high braking and driving power while avoiding simultaneous engagement of the clutch and the brake includes a device for actuating the clutch and the brake such that the clutch is effectively engaged by relatively slight actuation of the actuator device and the brake is effectively engaged by relatively considerable actuation of the actuator device.

Abstract: A vehicle frame of box beam construction containing within the box beam a spacer tube matrix or web which positons spacer tubes in alignment with aligned apertures within the sidewall of the box beam. The spacer tubes allow substantial clamping force to be applied by bolts passing thru the aligned apertures to attach vehicle parts to the frame.

Abstract: An improved limited slip differential gear assembly for driving each axle of a pair of coaxially aligned vehicle axles at the same rotational speed or at relatively different rotational speeds as conditions require. The assembly includes an improved externally controllable clutch mechanism for preventing excessive relative rotation of the axles. The amount of the clutch force being applied to resist relative rotation may be varied independently of the relative rotational speed of the axles and also of the torque level in the gear assembly. Preferably the clutch mechanism is incorporated in a planetary wheel type differential and is activated electromagnetically. The clutch mechanism may include a cam operated supplemental clutch device for applying an additional clutch force in response to any continued relative rotation which may occur after the first clutching force has been applied by the electromagnet.

Abstract: A mechanism and method for operating a device for crimping a metal outer sleeve of a hose connector around the end of a flexible hose. The device has a constrictor collet assembly for radially inwardly deforming the sleeve in response to axial movement of the collet assembly in a frusto conical die ring. Axial movement is imparted by a ram and a pair of pusher members mounted between the ram face and the collet assembly. The pusher members are swung between open and closed positions by the operating mechanism which has a pair of lever arms connected to the pusher members at one end and to a pintle at the other end. The pintle is slidably mounted for lateral movement in a slot.

Abstract: A torque limiting clutch brake 50 has an inner brake assembly 55 and an outer cover assembly 60 mounted for relative rotation on the brake assembly. The brake assembly 55 includes a brake washer 52 adapted to be driven by a shaft, and an intermediate plate 51 connected to the brake washer by a lost motion coupling. The cover assembly includes wave washers 62 frictionally engaged with the intermediate plate 51 for torque limiting characteristics.

Abstract: An axle outer end is disclosed including a planetary reduction drive unit and a multiple disc friction brake. The friction brake includes a plurality of rotatable and non-rotatable discs for selectively interconnecting the ring and sun gears of the planetary drive unit. The friction brake also includes a piston for engaging and moving the discs into frictional contact with the planetary drive unit carrier to restrain rotation of the sun gear and output member. The piston is contained in a chamber formed by a portion of the planetary drive unit ring gear and a portion of an adapter secured to the outer end of a non-rotatable spindle. An improved oil circulation system is incorporated in the axle outer end to supply oil to the disc stack and permit the oil to return the main oil sump.

Abstract: A flexible hose has a thermoplastic core tube, a reinforcing layer surrounding the core tube, an elastomeric sheath surrounding and bonded to the reinforcing layer, and a plastic fiber protection layer surrounding and adhering to the sheath. The hose can be made by applying a layer of viscous cement to the reinforcing layer applied around the core tube, wrapping the viscous cement layer, with an overlapping seam, with a calendered layer stock of elastomeric material, and applying an abrasion protection layer around the elastomeric material. The hose is self-curing at ambient temperature and can be made on conventional hose manufacturing equipment.

Abstract: An axle outer end is disclosed including a planetary reduction drive unit and a multiple disc friction brake. The friction brake includes a plurality of rotatable and non-rotatable discs for selectively interconnecting the ring and sun gears of the planetary drive unit. The friction brake also includes a piston for engaging and moving the discs into frictional contact with the planetary drive unit carrier to restrain rotation of the sun gear and output member. The piston is contained in a chamber formed by a portion of the planetary drive unit ring gear and a portion of an adapter secured to the outer end of a non-rotatable spindle. An improved oil circulation system is incorporated in the axle outer end to supply oil to the disc stack and permit the oil to return the main oil sump.

Abstract: A non-differential drive axle which utilizes a pair of bi-directional overunning clutches. The axle includes a housing within which a gear support is rotatably journalled. An intermediate shaft is connected to a gear support and is rotatably journalled at one end in the housing. The axle includes a pair of output shafts, one of which can be connected to the gear support for conjoint rotation by one of the overrunning clutches. The other output shaft can be connected to the intermediate shaft for conjoint rotation by the other overrunning clutch.