Abstract: A coin acceptor mechanism (10) for recognizing the valid input of a coin (18) into a coin operated device wherein the mechanism (10) includes a sensor (28) which produces an electrical signal (30) indicative of the sensed presence or absence of a coin. A microprocessor (14) generates a periodic pulsed signal (46) and during a predetermined time period counts the number of pulses generated while the sensor output signal (30) indicates that a coin is present. Upon expiration of the predetermined time period, and once the sensor output signal (30) indicates the absence of a coin, pulses generated thereafter are counted. Once this count exceeds a predetermined value, a valid input is indicated if the first count also exceeded a predefined number.

Abstract: An aluminum header has spaced inlet and outlet ports formed thereon to closely interfit inlet and outlet tubes. A U-shaped standpipe has one end swaged in the outlet port and the opposite end spaced adjacent the header surface to control flow into the standpipe. A permeable dessicant filled pouch is folded over the standpipe and a deep drawn aluminum canister is received over the pouch and standpipe and welded to the header. An inlet tube with a convolution is received in the inlet port and header material deformed over the convolution to retain the tube. A separate outlet tube with a convolution adjacent one end is inserted in the outlet port from the side opposite the standpipe and header material deformed over the convolution to retain the tube in the outlet port. A bleed hole for lubricant is formed in the standpipe and a filter cartridge received over the standpipe and located over the bleed hole.

Abstract: A triac-based electronic control system (20) for an electrical appliance which alternately applies and disrupts power in full cycles or full half cycles. Each zero crossing in a wave cycle is detected and this information is input into a microprocessor (U1) along with a user selected power level. The microprocessor outputs a triac control signal (36) to alternately turn ON and turn OFF power to a heater element (22) to produce a duty cycle used to achieve the desired heating level.

Abstract: A gas burner valve switch having an annular rotor engaging the valve shaft for rotation with the shaft. An annular resilient seal in a groove on the rotor flange seals against the underside of the casing cover to prevent entry of foreign matter. The rotor is journalled for rotation in the housing which has spaced terminals which connect, via insulation displacement, with a pair of continuous spaced electrical leads laid in channels and extending through the housing. In one embodiment the rotor has a cam which actuates a moveable blade arm attached to one of the pair of terminals to effect closing against the other terminals. In another embodiment an annular wiper ring acts as a shorting bar between the terminal for switching upon user rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: A switch housing or rocker actuator with a pair of oppositely directed pivot trunnions journaled in a housing with a lever portion extending through the housing and sealed by a flexible boot. A generally "W" shaped flat plastic centering spring with a central aperature is assembled over the lever and registered on the trunnions to form a rocker sub-assembly which is inserted in the housing with a pre-placed boot. The centering spring has the reaction ends barbed for frictionally engaging the inner surface of the housing.

Abstract: A cam disc has a dual row of ratchet teeth on the periphery for dual rate of advancement by either of two oscillating motorized advance pawls. The disc has alternating high and low concentric cam tracks formed on one face. A plate is registered on the cam disc hub and has integrally formed plural resilient cam follower arms with each arm having a plastic cam track follower tip molded over the tip. The molded tips make contact with a stationary portion of the plate to limit follower travel when the cam is retracted by user movement of the shaft for setting the cam position. The high and low cam tracks engage adjacent follower arm pairs to effect a drop-to-make and drop-to-break action to each of a plurality of SPDT switches disposed for actuation by the cam followers.

Abstract: A combined connector terminal blade contact is formed by stamping a flat blank from sheet stock and following an end portion to form a double thickness connector terminal which is sufficiently rigid to provide for mounting through a slot in a housing; and, the terminal portion is intended to extend through the housing for external electrical connection thereto. An electrical contact is welded to the blade portion for forming one side of a switch.

Abstract: A motor actuated foldable vehicle outside rearview mirror which can also be manually folded to and from the service position. A first friction coupling is provided between one of the motor actuated parts and the mirror carrier. A second friction coupling is provided to detent the service position. Stops are provided on the mirror carrier and base to limit forward and rearward folding. A third friction coupling is provided which is active in the service position to provide greater resistance to forward folding than to rearward folding. Stationary concentric contact strip are provided on the carrier and moveable wipers on the stationary strips provide switching for energizing the motor on the carrier for powering folding.

Abstract: A balanced pressure spool valve has a collector groove formed on the periphery of the valving spool adjacent the valving land, with an annular armature attached to the spool. The collector groove has a radially extending bleed hole which communicates with the axially extending pressure equalization bore in the spool. A solenoid coil upon increased current flow electromagnetically acts on the armature to progressively move the spool and the valving land closes outlet ports formed in the valving bore in which the spool is received. The collector groove intersects the outlet ports to provide bleed flow as the ports are closed by the valving land, thus attenuating the effect of any pressure force imbalance created by the increased flow velocity as the outlet ports are closed.

Abstract: An automotive steering column switch arranged on the end of a jacket (7) accommodating the steering column (8) and featuring several separate switches (12) consisting each of a casing (5, 15) with electrical connectors (13) and an actuating member (3, 16), at least one separate switch (2) can be slipped on the other separate switch (1) against the force of a spring (20) and with interaction of appropriate guiding means (19). The limit position of the separate switches (1, 2) relative to each other is fixed by a releasable clip connector (21).

Abstract: Water enters a common manifold at one or more individually line valved inlet ports, and is routed selectively by direct acting type solenoid operated valves to plural exit ports from the manifold.One exit port solenoid valve is normally open and the solenoid valves for each of the other exit ports are normally closed. For instance valve 5a controls all three ports 3a-3c.The line valves are closed thus lowering the pressure within manifold 1, whenever any one or more of exit valves is to be actuated--i.e., closing the normally open or opening the normally closed valves which are low force directing acting.If desired, the normally open (N.O.) exit valve may have a small central hole in the moveable valve poppet for allowing a pilot flow for lowering of pressure, when this normally open valve is in the closed position and is to be allowed to open without requirement for a very strong return spring 21. The N.O.

Abstract: A solenoid operated proportional control expansion valve having a tubular armature guide of non-magnetic material disposed externally of the valve blocks with a magnetic pole piece welded on the end of the tubular guide. A plastic encapsulated coil is received over the guide. The armature guide has a flange therein which in one embodiment is welded to a second flanged tube threaded into the valve blocks. In other embodiments the guide flange is directly mechanically fastened to the valve block. A cup-shaped pole frame is received over the coil for completing the magnetic flux loop about the coil.

Abstract: A receiver/drier/filter for refrigerant having an aluminum cannister formed integrally with one end closed and an inlet tube and outlet standpipe extending through ports in the closed end and brazed therein with the external tube ends formed at right angles to facilitate external connection. A center tube is received over and sealed on the standpipe with a desiccant filled basket having a cover plate washer received over the center tube through the open end of the cannister as a subassembly. An aluminum cap is brazed over the open end of the cannister to seal the assembly. Alternatively, the basket and center tube are molded integrally of plastic.

Abstract: The invention features, (i) a fan-shaped or otherwise axially deformable washer structure (4D) between a screwed element (5,5A) and a valve body member or coil jacket (3); (ii) a conical preferably self-tapping or self-cutting, a fine, screw thread (8) moving with the element; (iii) a thin valve carcass which may be distorted or even broken by normal screw-in pressures encountered, or by heating-up effects; (iv) the washer forming part of or being integral with the magnetic circuit of the solenoid; (v) a return spring (7A) in the gap (7), between the two armature parts (5,6) e.g., lodged in recesses in the adjacent faces thereof; and (vi) an annular recess (9) in the periphery of the "fixed" armature part (5), to accommodate an O-ring, if satisfactory fluid sealing should require it; also a further axial interval (10) to accommodate a certain freedom of screw-in.

Abstract: A unitary cup-shaped grid member having a grid of holes in the closed end is inserted in the inlet of a valve and a cup-shaped fine-mesh primary filter screen inserted therein and snap-locked in place. In the event the screen clogs and is removed by the user, the grid provides some back-up or auxiliary course filtering to protect the valve in service after removal of the primary filter screen.

Abstract: A solenoid operated valve suitable for use as a refrigerant expansion valve. An electrical receptacle is attached to the side of the valve body and has thermistor probes attached for sensing temperature in port provided in the body. The receptacle has terminals in a recess on one end enabling the solenoid to be attached to the valve and plug-in to the receptacle. The solenoid terminals and the probes are converted internally in the receptacle to recessed connector pins in the opposite end of the receptacle to enable a single, multi-in external harness connector to connect the solenoid and probes by plug-in to the receptacle.

Abstract: Rotational switch, in particular gear box switches, comprising a housing carrying terminals (9), the housing being provided with fixed contacts (10) arranged concentrically with one another in two parallel planes (11,12), and a contact bridge (13) electrically connecting the fixed contacts (10), characterized in that, in each plane (11, 12) the fixed contacts (10) consist of at least one printed pattern (14) which patterns in each plane (11, 12) are sprayed on contact carriers (15) equipped with distancing pieces (17) and adapting elements (18). The contact carriers (15) cooperate with a contact module (16), and contact bridge (13) is held via spring loading in a switching member (22) which rotates in the housing (1). The contact bridge (13) thereby slides within the contact volume (2) formed by the distancing piece (17) of the contact carrier (15), over the exposed contact surfaces (21) of the printed pattern (14) which are oriented towards the contact volume (20).

Abstract: A fuel gas burner has a supply tube formed with a supply orifice in one end surrounded by aspirator vanes. The burner has a venturi member with a reduced diameter throat region received in the burner inlet. The aspirator vanes frictionally engage the throat region of the venturi. In one embodiment of the venturi comprises a helically wound wire and in another embodiment an annular member with turbulating surfaces formed downstream of the throat.

Abstract: A transducer housing for mounting a port in a combustion chamber has a metal diaphragm exposed to the combustion gasses. The pressure of the combustion gasses deflects the diaphragm which locally deflects a simply supported beam. The beam is formed of refractory material having epitaxially grown crystalline piezoresistors formed on one surface of the beam and connected in a bridge circuit. Noble metal foil leads connect to the piezoresistors to form the bridge and provide attachment pads. The pads are noble metal welded to other noble metal foil pads provided on a ceramic substrate to form a sensor subassembly for mounting adjacent the diaphragm to form a transducer.

Abstract: A capacitance change switch with a resiliently deformable conductive pad compressible against a dielectric coating on the surface of a pair of spaced coplanar thin foil plates formed on a refractory substrate. The pad forms with the plates a pair of capacitors electrically in series. User movement of an actuator causes pad compression and a significant electrically detectible change in capacitance for effecting a switching function. In one embodiment the pad is formed of conductive elastomer and in another embodiment the pad is formed of non-conductive elastomer with a conductive foil covering.