Abstract: A rocker type switch actuator for sequentially actuating plural switches upon rotation in either of opposite directions from a neutral position. The actuator has a springloaded plunger which engages a recess in the housing. The recess has a central depression for neutral position detention and steep ramps disposed spaced on either side of the neutral recess. The steep ramps provide first actuation position detent action against the plunger upon user movement of the rocker from the neutral position. The steep ramp requires a substantially/increased user applied actuation force to move the plunger beyond the initial actuation position; and, upon the plunger cresting the top of the steep ramp a sudden decrease in user applied force is tactilely discernible to provide an indication that the second switching position has been reached.

Abstract: A receiver/drier for fluid refrigerant having the housing formed of an aluminum header with a centrally disposed outlet port and off-center inlet port welded to an aluminum canister. A header sub-assembly is formed with an outlet tube with one attached to the header outlet port. A basket with a perforated bottom is filled with desiccant and the open end is attached to the header with the outlet tube ending through an aperture in the bottom of the basket. A layer of filter material is disposed adjacent the perforated bottom of the basket, the inner face of the header has plural concentric grooves interconnecting the inlet port and another layer of filter material disposed adjacent the grooved face of the header; and these grooves distribute flow over the filter in the event of contaminant accumulations in the inlet. The basket is attached to the header to complete the header sub-assembly prior to welding of the header to the aluminum canister.

Abstract: A switch assembly having a rocker type actuator user rotatable for sequentially actuating plural switches. The rocker contacts, off center a lever beam supported at its end by plungers disposed to actuate the individual membrane switches or optical activators. User applications of an initial force to the rocker causes the lever beam to pivot about the remote plunger for actuation of the switch closest to the rocker contact point. After actuation of the closest switch, user application of a greater force continues rotation of the rocker to cause the lever beam to pivot about the closest plunger for causing actuation of the remote switch. Overtravel is shared by beam deflection of the lever and columnar compression of cylindrical tower portions of the resilient membranes.

Abstract: A receiver/dryer assembly for a refrigeration system formed of a drawn aluminum canister having desiccant material contained in a basket secured to an aluminum header welded to the canister. An inlet port is provided in the header and an outlet tube is received through the desiccant basket and is attached to a central outlet port in the header. An inlet tube has an annular convolution formed on one end with an apertured attachment block bearing against the convolution on one side to compress a seal ring on the opposite side for sealing the tube over the inlet port, and the block is fastened to the header with a cap screw. A pair of aluminum studs are welded to the outside of the canister and a retaining bracket received over studs and retained by nuts threaded on the studs.

Abstract: An electrically operated line valve has its outlet connected to the inlet of the manifold for supplying the user actuated individual gas burner valves and a user actuated line power switch is closed before opening of any of the burner valves. A valve position detector signals an electronic controller which supplies power to the line switch only if a burner valve has been opened after closing of the line switch. A user actuatable manual override cable enables the line valve to be manually opened during periods of electrical power outage.

Abstract: A fill system for a washing machine utilizing a hot and cold water inlet mixing valve operated by a pair of solenoids extending in parallel arrangement from a deck surface of the valve body. At least one hot and cold water inlet fittings extend in parallel arrangement from a common side of the valve body and the single outlet extends from another side of the body. The valve is mounted with deck surface contacting the undersurface of the top of the machine cabinet with the solenoids extending through an aperture in the cabinet top and into the machine control console. The inlet fittings extend through an aperture in the back of the machine cabinet. The solenoids are thus isolated from and protected from water leaks resulting from hose attachments to the fittings.

Abstract: An appliance temperature sensor for acquisition of usable data in a noisy environment collects a plurality of temperature readings in a buffer. It then screens that batch of data to determine whether or not its noise content is acceptably low before forwarding the data to a memory for use in subsequent appliance operations. Screening consists of computing the arithmetic mean and the variance of the readings of the batch at hand. If the variance is less than a predetermined threshold level, the mean of that batch of temperature data is forwarded to the memory for subsequent use. If the variance exceeds that predetermined threshold level, the data are expunged and not used. When the number of rejected contiguous batches of data exceeds a predetermined number, an alarm is provided to alert an operator that the system is noisy.

Abstract: A switch assembly of the type having a rocker actuator user rotatable in opposite directions from a neutral position for alternate actuation of individual switches on opposite sides of the rocker each having a moveable actuator member movement of which by the rocker effects actuation of the switches. The rocker has a plurality of arcuately spaced recesses which are resiliently engaged to detent the rocker in a neutral and an actuated position. In one embodiment, the recesses engage a resilient wire beam spring extending parallel to the rocker axis. In another embodiment, the recesses are formed on a portion of the rocker which resiliently deflects to permit engagement and disengagement with a stationary pivot surface. In another embodiment, recesses in the rocker are engaged by a detent surface provided on a stationary resiliently deflectable beam extending at right angles to the rocker axis.

Abstract: A bobbin or spool is molded of thermoplastic with one end flange of substantially greater diameter with a plurality of arcuately spaced voids through the flange. A coil is wound on the bobbin and a first ferromagnetic cup with integrally formed spaced finger-like plural pole segments in a circumferential array is axially received over the smaller spool flange and coil with the pole segments extending through the voids in the larger spool flange. A second ferromagnetic stator cup with finger-like spaced plural pole segments in a circumferential array is nested against the larger spool flange with the pole segments interdigitated with the pole segments on the first cup. A third stator member interconnects the first and second stator cups through the spool; and, a permanent magnet rotor is journalled on the third pole segment within the stator pole segments. The larger spool flange has electrical connectors received in slots and attached to the ends of the coil.

Abstract: A lubrication system for the helical gear thrust washer, helical gear journal and inter-axle differential in tandem drive axles. The leading drive axle input shaft is journalled in a bearing supplied on one side with a gravity flow of lubricant from a passage receiving lubricant slinging from the power divider periphery, which receives lubricant slinging from the axle ring gear. The opposite side of the bearing has an annular lubricant chamber therearound formed by an annular baffle member surrounding the input shaft on the interior side of the bearing. The bearing is operative to pump lubricant to the annular chamber. An axial passage formed through a portion of the input shaft communicates the annular chamber with the differential gears. In one form the annular baffle member rotates with the input shaft and in the other form it is stationary.

Abstract: A sliding type adjustment mechanism for changing settings of a diaphragm type pressure switch adjusted by moving an external lever to move a plunger for changing the preload on the diaphragm. An external metal mounting bracket has a pair of spaced parallel slots which serve as ways. A plastic slider with a cam surface engaging the lever has a pair of lugs, each of which engages one of the slots for guiding the slider on the bracket. The slider has an integrally formed spring tab providing friction against the bracket to hold the slider in a selected position. A recess in the bracket relieves the tab friction at the limit of the slider travel to allow the lever to bias a steep-ramp portion of the cam surface to move the slider to an initial position.

Abstract: A torque limiting drive and programmer/timer using same. A motor drives a driving member which has drive lugs engaging the central web of a plural-armed wave spring. The wave spring arms frictionally engaged radially oppositely facing annular friction surfaces on a driven member, which in a programmer/timer is the program cam, which upon rotation of the cam is operative for sequentially actuating electrical switches. User rotation of the cam when the motor is not operative allows the wave spring arms to slip against the annular friction surfaces permitting the user to position the cam as desired.

Abstract: A valve of the type for controlling engine coolant flow to a heater core having a resilient butterfly valve formed of thermoplastic elastomeric material. The outer periphery is sufficiently resilient to absorb actuator overtravel in the seated condition. The butterfly has formed integrally therewith a central hub with torque-transmitting surfaces molded therein and a pair of oppositely disposed stiffeners extend outwardly from the hub in the central region of the butterfly. Assembly is simplified by placing the butterfly in the body and inserting a winged actuator shaft through journal holes in the body into the butterfly hub such that the wings on the shaft engage the torque-transmitting surfaces in the hub.

Abstract: A method of upsetting and flaring a thin-walled metal tubular probe with one closed end onto a non-metallic plate in a single tooling set-up. The closed end of the tubing probe is inserted in a hole in the plate and a mandrel inserted in the open end of the tube and spring biased to register against the interior of the closed end of the tube which has an anvil washer received thereover which supports the tube wall. A pilot tool is registered against the closed end of the tube; and, an annular tool is received over the mandrel and registers against the open end of the tube. With the annular tool supporting axially the open end of the tube, the pilot tool is moved against the closed end of the tube and bulges a portion of the tube in a recess provided in the plate or in the anvil washer against one side of the plate. The annular tool is then moved axially to flare the open end of the tube against the opposite side of the plate.

Abstract: A moisture-sensing circuit for a clothes dryer separates the moisture-sensing and timing functions in a way that minimizes undesirable interaction and reduces effects of tolerances in components, temperature, and supply-voltage. Separate comparators are provided for (1) the resistance of the moisture sensor as compared with a first threshold and (2) the time since occurrence of the most recent moisture signal that exceeded the first threshold, as compared with a second threshold representing a predetermined delay.

Abstract: A quieted motorized servoactuator with a sub-fractional horsepower high rpm, low voltage motor driving a gear train with about 900:1 reduction overall. The motor shaft has a metal worm meshing with a first stage thermoplastic elastomeric material, preferably polyamide polyester, of a hardness not greater than 72 on the Shore "D" scale. The first stage gear has an integral pinion meshed with a second stage gear of harder thermoplastic material, preferably acetal. The second stage gear has an integral pinion meshed with an output sector gear formed of harder thermoplastic material preferably comprising polyamide filled one-third by volume with fine glass particles.

Abstract: A fluid pressure operated servomotor having a housing shell containing a flexible diaphragm forming a fluid pressure chamber with a port through the housing connectable for receiving a fluid pressure signal. The diaphragm has a rigid insert extending therethrough and sealed thereabout with a cup shape on the interior of the chamber and having a rod pivot surface formed on the exterior side of the diaphragm. A spring inside the chamber has one end registered in the cupped shape to bias the diaphragm insert in one direction. In one embodiment, the insert is shaped to have a rod pivot surface nested in the coils spring such that the rod pivot load resists lateral buckling of the spring; and, in another embodiment, a shroud is formed on the insert about the rod pivot surface for limiting rotation of the insert with respect to the rod end.

Abstract: A unitary strip of thermally and electrically conductive spring material is formed with two rows of spring fingers formed at one end which have frictionally engaged therebetween the bus bar or plate of a solid-state device such as an FET having leads soldered to a printed circuit board. The opposite end of the strip is fastened mechanically to a conductive heat sink block on the circuit board. The strip provides electrical power, support for, and heat sinking of the solid-state device.

Abstract: A switching assembly of individually backlighted rocker actuated switches mounted in a common housing. The switch is built up by mounting connector terminals on a base, securing with an insulated anchor plate and stacking thereon an upper and lower bus, each formed of a conductive strip with plastic molded thereover. Each bus has cut-outs with portions of the conductor exposed therein and with mounting stanchions which bayonet through slots in the lower bus, and each stanchion has a switch blade staked onto it. The stationary contacts on the upper and lower bus are arranged in spaced stacked pairs with a blade mounted contact extending between each pair of stationary contacts. The upper and lower buses each have a terminal formed integrally and extending internally for bayonet contact with terminals on the base. The individual rocker actuators are mounted on the cover, which is snap-locked over the assembly of the base, busses and switches.

Abstract: An illuminated multi-position rotary selector/control switch assembly for switching substantial direct current (20 amps) at low voltages (12 V). A lower plastic housing shell is molded in a two-stage process with the first stage comprising molding platable thermoplastic resin strips and molding thereover second stage unplatable thermoplastic with exposed surface portions of said first first stage subsequently plated to form conductive strips having stationary switching contacts attached. The connector terminal pins are formed integrally with the strips in the first stage molding. The second stage thermoplastic molded thereover forms the part outline. The upper housing shell has a transparent arcuate window molded integrally therein for collecting and feeding light from a lamp to a light pipe carried by the user rotatable actuation knob.