Abstract: A dual action piston assembly 10 includes a piston 12 with compression passageways 18 and rebound passageways 20 with each set of passageways covered by a valve disc 22 and 24 respectively. Each valve disc is seated on a land by a spring biased valve seat 26 and 28 respectively. The rebound valve seat 28 has a debossed section 34 which is spaced away from the valve disc 24 to form a clearance 36 such that when fluid pressure within rebound passageway 20 presses against valve disc 24, the valve disc portion under the debossed section 34 flexes to modulate fluid flow before the valve seat 28 lifts from a higher pressure within the rebound passageway against a spring 42 to allow for smooth modulation of hydraulic fluid passing therethrough.

Abstract: A liquid propellant velocity assistance mechanism for a gun in one embodiment includes separate gas operated injectors for metering liquid fuel and liquid oxidizer into the bore of the gun after it has been fired and before the projectile has left the barrel. Each injector has an inlet connecting the bore of the gun to a gas receiving cavity section. An outlet extends from the liquid receiving cavity section to the bore. A piston separates the two cavity sections and is slidably moveable to increase and decrease the volume of each section. A valve normally closes the outlet between the liquid receiving cavity and the bore and is openable in response to liquid pressure. The high pressure gas behind the projectile when the gun is fired flows into the gas receiving section and pushes against the piston to create such higher liquid pressure.

Abstract: A flexible steering wheel rim having an upper portion with a stack of arcuate leaf springs canted forwardly and toward the steering wheel. The leaf springs are mounted to a seat in the lower portion of the rim which has a flat surface inclined fowardly and toward the center of the steering wheel. A clamp circumscribes the wire and leaf springs and has a rearward wall which is pitched rearwardly and toward the center of the steering wheel. The leaf springs are deformable upon impact in a forward or rearward direction parallel to the axis of the steering wheel. The leaf springs flex when a rear axial force is present such that they become canted rearward and toward the center of the steering wheel.

Abstract: A filler pipe seal having an annular body forming an interference fit between a filler pipe and fuel tank with an integral tubular skirt depending from the annular body and extending into the fuel tank beyond the open lower end of the filler pipe to provide precisely determined fuel tank capacity defined by the lower end of the tubular skirt.

Abstract: A fuel cap assembly 10 includes a fuel cap 14 rotatably mounted on one end 28 of a tether 16 which has a second end 36 rigidly secured to a motor vehicle 12. The tether 16 is sufficiently stiff to suspend the gas cap away from the vehicle panel 26 when the cap is disengaged from the spout 18.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a steering wheel or other component adapted to be mounted on a steering wheel includes the steps of placing an insert on a tapered mandrel and deforming the insert by forcing it on the tapered mandrel and moulding the component about the insert when it is engaged on the mandrel.

Abstract: An externally powered twin-barrel shuttle gun which has a shuttle having two firing chambers. The shuttle linearly moves between two positions so that the firing chambers are alternately fed a round of ammunition and discharged. The feed system has a pair of augers, each with a helical groove therein which receives a round of ammunition which obtains a dwell position on the zero pitched section of the grooves. A ramming system rams a round of ammunition to the firing chamber aligned therewith and simultaneously ejects any spent cartridge through a forward aperture in the housing. The spent cartridge is frictionally engaged by an axially aligned acceleration belt which quickly withdraws the spent cartridge from the firing chamber and accelerates it onto a deflection cam.

Abstract: A valve timing device for an internal combustion engine includes a hub with an internal helical groove which engages a tracking post extending from a cylindrical surface of a crankshaft. A locking cap is placed at the outer end of the crankshaft spaced apart from the hub with a compression spring wrapped about the crankshaft between the hub and the locking cap. A sprocket is keyed onto the hub and trained about a chain which is drivingly trained about a conventional camshaft. As the crankshaft speed is increased, inertial loads of the camshaft causes the sprocket and hub to rotate relative to the crankshaft which axially moves the hub a predetermined amount along the crankshaft to compress the spring until the resilient forces of the spring counterbalances the inertia forces of the camshaft.As the hub is angularly positioned, the camshaft becomes angularly retarded relative to the crankshaft such that the valve operation is delayed with respect to the piston operation as the engine speed increases.

Abstract: A manifold for an internal combustion engine comprises a plurality of body parts each formed as an integral casting by pressure casting. A first body part has a mounting flange for the manifold, a plurality of open channels communicating with respective apertures in the mounting flange, and a water chamber communicating with a port in the flange and a further port in the first body part. A second body part overlies the channels so that the first and second body parts define a plurality of gas conduits effecting communication between the apertures and a common orifice. The first and second parts are sealed together along opposed side faces adjacent their outer peripheral edges. The seal along opposing sides allows access to the joints from the exterior of the assembly, permitting connection by electron beam welding or an adhesive, since all the joints are located on the exterior of the assembly a smoother interior surface is preserved and visual inspection of each joint is possible as it is made.

Abstract: An upper mount for a MacPherson strut assembly having a mounting plate with an upper and lower elastomeric pad mounted thereto with retaining plates clamping the two pads and having two outer elastomeric isolators above and below the two retaining plates and having a third and fourth retaining plate clamping the outer two elastomeric pads to provide an isolating upper mount which isolates rebound vibrations, jounce vibrations and side load vibrations.

Abstract: A brake wear indicator system includes a brake pad having a support plate, a layer of friction material secured thereto and an electrical contact assembly which extends through the support plate to project into the layer of friction material and which comprises two terminal portions electrically insulated from each other and a connecting portion which electrically connects the terminal portions and is located wholly within the layer of friction material. The connecting portion is arranged to be exposed and abraded after prolonged abrasion of the friction material by contact with a braking surface whereby electrical contact between the terminal portions is broken.

Abstract: A pump for a multi-cylinder piston engine has a plurality of C-shaped tubular members each with a hollow interior which has one end open to the hollow interior and sealably mounted to a housing with an inlet and outlet with a passage in communication with the inlet and outlet and the hollow interior. A cam shaft is rotatably mounted within the convex area defined by each C-shaped member which operably engages a pivotably mounted deflector panel which deflects a free end of the C-shaped member to change the volume of the hollow interior which forces fluid through the inlet into the passageway. The deflector member also is movable to disengage from the C-shaped member to decrease the volume of the hollow interior and force fluid through the outlet from the passageway.

Abstract: A hydraulic tappet includes a tubular cylinder sideable within a bore of a housing, a piston with a reservoir slideably mounted within the tubular cylinder, a lower piston spring biased away from the piston with the reservoir forming a pressure chamber therebetween. The reservoir being in open communication with pressure oil ports and the pressure chamber selectively being closed or open to said reservoir. The closing or opening of the pressure chamber being controlled by the lower piston and cylinder riding on tracks of a cam which control the relative position of the cylinder and lower piston.

Abstract: A camshaft post assembly is mounted onto an axial end of a camshaft and axially extends therebeyond. The camshaft post has an outwardly extending rim which has a sprocket ring mounted thereon and an eccentric pilot surface with a fuel pump cam mounted thereon and at its outer axially end a helical distributor gear frictionally locked thereon. The cam post has internal passages for lubricant which allows an oil pump to pumpoil therethrough which passes the oil through the camshaft, through the cam post, and through outlets which centrifugally spray oil onto the sprocket ring and distributor gear.

Abstract: A steering column has an upper column section and a lower column section with an intermediate collapsible tubular member in torque transmitting engagement with the upper and lower column sections. Each column section has an end telescoping into the tubular collapsible member. Each end is square in cross-section with one end having a slightly larger cross-sectional area than the other such that the smaller one is received therein and prevents free relative rotation of the two column sections if the collapsible member is ruptured.

Abstract: A steering column assembly having upper and lower telescoping shaft sections, a jacket surrounding the upper shaft section and an extensible deforming member surrounding the jacket and connected at one end thereto. A U-shaped clamp clamps onto the deforming member and is pivotably mounted to a mounting bracket. The deformable member slides through the clamp upon manual adjustment of the steeing shafts to form a steering column of a desired length but, upon impact, the clamp pivots with respect to the mounting bracket and increases its clamping force upon the deformable member to prevent sliding of the jacket.

Abstract: An inertia operated clutch has a rotatable input member and coaxially rotatable output member, with a torque transmitting member which has a mass member connected thereto and a spring biasing the mass member to move the torque transmitting member to one of the torque transmitting or disengaged positions. The mass member is mounted such that angular acceleration of the input member above a predetermined rate causes inertia of the mass to overcome the biasing force of the spring to move the torque transmitting member to the other of the torque transmitting or non-torque transmitting position.

Abstract: Composite brake drums are made by die casting aluminum or other light weight metal around (A) the periphery of a substantially biplanar stamped steel drum back having a plurality of alternating holes and voids in its outermost edge in a plane and (B) a cast iron braking ring with smooth inner braking surface and rough outer surface whereby the lightweight die cast fills the holes and voids and interlocks with the rough outer surface to provide a brake drum of unitary construction that has improved braking performance with reduced weight and cost, especially compared to similar brake drums having a drum back of cast lightweight metal.

Abstract: A brake disc rotor is formed from two disc shaped members with each disc having a flat surface and integrally formed fins extending from an opposing surface thereof. The ends of the fins are welded together to form the rotor. The fins of one member are welded to a convoluted outer rim section of a hat which is secured to a wheel bearing assembly.

Abstract: Composition brake drums are made by die casting aluminum or other light weight metal around (A) the periphery of a substantially biplanar stamped steel drum back having a plurality of alternating holes and voids in its outermost edge in a plane and (B) a cast iron braking ring with smooth inner braking surface and rough outer surface whereby the lightweight die cast fills the holes and voids and interlocks with the rough outer surface to provide a brake drum of unitary construction that has improved braking performance with reduced weight and cost, especially compared to similar brake drums having a drum back of cast lightweight metal.