Abstract: A one-piece spring clip for mounting a flat member on a rod-like member. The clip is disposed within an aperture in the flat member and includes a body portion defining oppositely disposed slots extending axially from the end of the clip adjacent the rod-like member, and then circumferentially to permit rotation of the clip from a disengaged position to an engaged position. As the clip is rotated toward the engaged position, and the rod-like member passes through the circumferential slots, the rod-like member is drawn into engagement with the rearward surface of the flat member, thereby preventing substantial relative movement between the flat member and the rod-like member.

Abstract: An inflatable vehicle occupant restraint confinement having separate inner and outer inflatable chambers formed from a single sheet of material. Fluid port means communicating with both the inner and outer chambers is provided in the form of a cylindrical diffuser. The method of making the confinement includes folding a flat pattern of a single layer of material about its midline and seaming the margins except for a portion adapted for receiving the port means. The folded wall of the confinement thus formed is then folded inwardly to form a pocket and define new folded margins of the pocket which are then seamed together to form the pocket into an inner chamber and an outer chamber formed by the remainder of the material surrounding the inner chamber.

Abstract: An inflator assembly including a flow control device associated with a safety system for controlling flow of fluid from a fluid source into an inflatable restraint, such as an inflatable confinement associated with a vehicle for protecting an occupant during a collision. The flow control device includes a shiftable valve which is normally responsive to fluid flow initially actuated by an explosive. The shiftable valve contains or orifice which is progressively opened during the opening movement of the valve to provide for controlled flow of fluid into the restraint.

Abstract: A direct ignition system for a fuel burner of the type having an igniter, which is mounted proximate to a burner, connected electrically in series with the fuel valve actuator. The system utilizes a voltage sensitive thermal switch which electrically bypasses the fuel valve actuator until a predetermined voltage has been applied to the switch and the igniter for a period of time sufficient to heat the igniter to the ignition temperature of the fuel. When the igniter has reached the required ignition temperature, the thermal switch opens permitting actuation of the fuel valve which allows fuel to flow to the burner.

Abstract: A small gas turbine engine having a small, high speed shaft assembly including a central shaft member, a radial outflow compressor rotor secured to one end of the central shaft member with its inlet end disposed outboard of the shaft assembly, and a radial inflow turbine rotor secured to the other end of the central shaft member with its discharge end disposed outboard of the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly is supported at its ends, outboard of the rotors, by a pair of bearings which are axially secured but allow limited radial movement of the shaft assembly. An annular combustor is disposed between the turbine and compressor rotors in encircling relation to the central shaft member. Fuel is supplied to the combustor chamber from the exhaust end of the turbine through an axial passage in the shaft assembly opening at one end outboard of the exhaust end bearing and communicating at its other end with radial ports in the central shaft member arranged to sling fuel into the combustor chamber.

Abstract: A monitor actuating device and a releasable, reusable fastener therefor is provided. The monitor actuating device is designed for attachment to a monitored article and for release therefrom only by the use of a specially designed tool. The actuating device includes a pin member, such as a headed tack or the like, extending therefrom and/or therethrough, which is designed to pierce the monitored article, such as an article of clothing or the like. The reusable fastener is selectively attachable to the free end of the pin member to capture the monitored article and/or the monitor actuating device on the pin and to prevent removal of the monitored article and/or the monitor actuating device for the pin. The reusable fastener is designed for release from the pin only upon the use of a special tool to prevent, or at least render more difficult, the unauthorized removal of the monitor actuating device from the monitored article.

Abstract: A mechanical device for visually indicating the tension in a monitored bolt or the like. The device will visually indicate if the monitored bolt is subject to greater than a predetermined maximum tension or is subject to less than a predetermined minimum acceptable tension. The device will also give visual indication, generally proportional to the tension in the monitored bolt, when the tension in the monitored bolt is at less than the predetermined maximum but more than the predetermined acceptable minimum. The device includes a spring washer, preferably a helical washer, which is inserted inbetween the head of the bolt and the surface or backing plate against which the head of the bolt will bear for substantially resilient compression therebetween. The washer is selected with a spring constant such that the washer will be substantially flattened between the bolt head and the plate only upon the application of a tension to the bolt exceeding the predetermined maximum.

Abstract: A small gas turbine engine having a small, high speed shaft assembly including a central shaft member, a radial outflow compressor rotor secured to one end of the central shaft member with its inlet end disposed outboard of the shaft assembly, and a radial inflow turbine rotor secured to the other end of the central shaft member with its discharge end disposed outboard of the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly is supported at its ends, outboard of the rotors, by a pair of bearings which are axially secured but allow limited radial movement of the shaft assembly. An annular combustor is disposed between the turbine and compressor rotors in encircling relation to the central shaft member. Fuel is supplied to the combustor chamber from the exhaust end of the turbine through an axial passage in the shaft assembly opening at one end outboard of the exhaust end bearing and communicating at its other end with radial ports in the central shaft member arranged to sling fuel into the combustor chamber.

Abstract: A molded, one-piece, slip-on grip for non-rotational retention on the elongated handle of a tennis racket or the like is provided. The grip has an internal configuration designed to closely conform with many of the various cross-sectionally differently shaped handles utilized with commercially available tennis rackets. Flats of an isosceles triangular configuration are provided equally spaced around the closed end and adjacent to the end cap to provide a gripping surface.

Abstract: A skid control system is provided for use with a vehicle having a pair of spaced apart wheels and having a braking system for applying braking forces to the wheels. A brake control circuit responds to a skid signal obtained from any one of a plurality of incipient detector circuits to act upon the braking system to release the braking forces. A delayed skid signal is provided whenever the difference in wheel speeds of the two wheels exceeds a given amount. A delayed skid signal is also provided if the average wheel speed of the two wheels decreases at a rate greater than a desired decreasing rate. If both wheels decelerate, a skid signal is provided upon sensing that the faster wheel is decelerating at a rate greater than a reference rate. As the wheels spin-up toward an ideal velocity for a braked vehicle, an acceleration detector serves to insure wheel roll up on low friction surfaces. If the wheels spin up at an acceleration greater than an acceleration level, the acceleration detector output is inhibited.

Abstract: A fluid pressure device such as a hydraulic pump is provided having an improved inlet porting arrangement to permit a greater output flow rate for a given input speed. The pump is of the type including a housing defining an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber and inner and outer rotors having spaced apart axes of rotation defining a line of eccentricity. The teeth of the rotors interengage to define a plurality of expanding and contracting volume chambers. The housing includes an end face adjacent the rotors at which the inlet chamber defines an inlet port communicating with the expanding volume chambers. The inlet port is generally arcuate and extends circumferentially from approximately the line of eccentricity on one side of the device to the line of eccentricity on the opposite side of the device.

Abstract: An electromagnetic coupling is provided of the type including a housing, a rotor member disposed in the housing, and an inductor drum means disposed in the housing and rotatable relative to the rotor member. A coil means electromagnetically couples the rotor member and the inductor drum means. The inductor drum means includes a generally cylindrical drum portion having a substantially uniform magnetic reluctance. The drum portion defines an outer, heat-dissipating surface which includes a plurality of circumferentially extending, heat-dissipating grooves spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the drum portion. A means is included for directing cooling fluid into the housing to dissipate the heat generated in the inductor drum means, and a plurality of fluid-directing members are disposed on the cylindrical drum portion adjacent the heat-dissipating surface.

Abstract: A threadless coupling for coupling a pipe to a support member or for coupling two or more sections of pipe together is provided. The coupling comprises an outer sleeve or housing and a plurality of substantially identical pipe end receiving and retaining fasteners received and retained within a bore, or bores, in the outer sleeve or housing. The fasteners may be utilized in variable numbers to provide selectively variable degrees of tensile retention of the pipe to the coupling. The fasteners are serrated to better grip the lengths of pipe and to compensate for the out-of-round conditions often found on the exterior surfaces of pipe.

Abstract: An improved drive system includes a pair of hydrostatic transmissions which are driven by a common engine or prime mover and are drivingly connected with different tracks of a vehicle. The input to output speed ratios of the hydrostatic transmissions are simultaneously varied by operating a single speed control valve to port control fluid pressure to pressure responsive secondary or control motors in pump and motor actuators of the hydrostatic transmissions. A pair of charge pumps are provided to charge the hydrostatic transmissions and provide control fluid. If the fluid pressure output of either of the charge pumps falls below a predetermined level, a control arrangement reduces the control fluid pressure transmitted to the pump and motor actuators by the speed control valve to deswash or destroke both of the transmissions. The control arrangement also short circuits the hydrostatic loops interconnecting the pump and motor units. In addition, the brakes of the vehicle are engaged to stop the vehicle.

Abstract: An electromagnetic sensor assembly for use with a rotor to sense the velocity of a rotating body and wherein the electromagnetic sensor includes gauge means projecting from the sensor in an amount corresponding to the desired magnetic gap with the gauge means cooperating with the face of the rotor during assembly automatically to adjust the sensor to a final assembled position which establishes the precise gap irrespective of dimensional variations which may be present.

Abstract: A one-piece spring fastener is provided for mounting fencing wire or the like to a channel shaped support. In one embodiment the wire is mounted generally perpendicularly to the support and is free to move along its axis relative to the support. The fastener is of a generally U shape in cross-section comprising two generally parallel, spaced apart, generally T shaped members joined along substantially the entire tops thereof by a bight or interconnecting bridge portion. The top portions of the T shaped members in combination with the bight portion form a trough for receipt of the wire and the base portions of the T shaped members are generally dart shaped for non-rotational, forced receipt inbetween and retention by the inturned flanges of the channel shaped support.

Abstract: An article for defining an auxiliary compartment for providing accelerated initial warm-up of the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, and thereafter providing for continuous transfer of heat to the walls of the combustion chamber to prevent overheating of the article. The article has a central tubular heat-receiving portion with one end closed and the opposite end open in a generally cup-shaped configuration with a mounting flange provided around the rim of the open end, and a heat output portion of preferably annular configuration provided around the outer periphery of the closed end region. An aperture is provided in the closed end for communicating the interior region of the central portion with the engine combustion chamber. In one embodiment the article is sized and shaped such that the heat output portion is in contact with adjacent portions of the combustion chamber wall to provide continuous transfer of heat from the closed end of the cup to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: An improved differential drive mechanism includes a clutch which is engageable to retard relative rotation between driving and driven members. A clutch actuator assembly includes a pair of flyweights which are rotated about a central axis of the actuator assembly at a speed which varies as a function of the speed of relative rotation between the driving and driven members. Upon the occurrence of a predetermined rate of relative rotation between the driving and driven members, one of the flyweights moves outwardly from a retracted position to an extended position in which it engages a stop element and initiates actuation of the clutch. In order to promote engagement of a stop surface on the flyweight with the stop element and locking up of the differential upon movement of the flyweight to the extended position, the distance which the stop surface projects outwardly is maximized for a given extent of angular movement of the flyweight between the retracted and extended positions.

Abstract: An improved sheet metal nail utilizing a protrusion, or protuberance, aligned with the locking tangs and interposed the tangs and the leading edge of the nail is provided. The protrusion enters the media into which the nail is driven prior to entry of the tangs and thus provides a lead hole for the tangs to minimize damage thereto during the nail driving operation.

Abstract: Shiftable gearing including spring loaded means and blocker means for effecting engagement of clutch teeth. In a transmission having a main shaft and at least one countershaft, and including pairs of shiftable gears arranged on and cooperatively between said shafts, there are provided spring loaded clutches for effecting connection to one of said shafts of a selected one gear of a selected one of said pairs of said gears upon the achievement of substantial synchronization between such gear and such shaft. Blockers are provided for protecting the clutch teeth from excessive wear during such shifting and malfunctioning of said blockers is prevented in part by providing light frictional drag means between each of said blockers and the portion of said clutches rotatable with said shaft and in part by angling the leading surfaces of the blocker teeth an amount sufficient to effect an unblocking under one limited set of conditions but insufficient to prevent blocking under normal operating conditions.