Abstract: A liquid filter includes a housing having a pressure chamber portion in which a filtering media is carried and a support engaging portion which attaches the housing to the engine upon which the filter is mounted. The support engaging portion includes a radially projecting section which mounts the usual gasket which effects a seal between the housing and a sealing surface on the engine. The radially projecting portion cooperates with the portion of the housing containing the filter to define a circumferentially extending groove therebetween, which isolates the gasket from the distorting forces generated in the housing by hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: A liquid filter for an internal combustion engine includes a filter cartridge housed within an outer shell closed by an end member. The end member provides a central outlet opening and circumferentially spaced inlet openings circumscribing the outlet opening and spaced radially therefrom. An annular fixture is mounted on the end closure between the outlet opening and the inlet openings and supports a circumferentially extending seal. The seal includes a central portion which seals between the fixture and the cartridge, and also includes a first radially projecting deflectable portion which prevents drainback of liquid filtrate through the inlet openings upon engine shutoff, and also includes a second deflectable portion which controls bypass flow. The fixture further includes axially projecting members which are engaged by the filter cartridge to hold the latter in fluid-tight engagement with the valve member.

Abstract: An exhaust gas driven turbocharger includes a shaft rotatably mounted in a housing by a bearing assembly. A compressor wheel and a turbine wheel are mounted on opposite ends of the shaft. Exhaust gasses are directed to the upstream side of the turbine wheel by an inlet scroll defined between one end of the housing and the turbine wheel. A collector chamber is defined between the downstream side of the turbine wheel and the portion of the housing within which the bearings are mounted. Accordingly, the relatively cooler exhaust gasses on the downstream side of the turbocharger are adjacent the bearings, thereby minimizing heat transfer unto the bearings. Flow through the turbine wheel is in substantially an axial direction.

Abstract: A proportioning control valve for heavy duty fluid pressure braking system includes a proportioning piston which is normally held in engagement with an abutment by control pressure. A tare pressure spring urges a caging member into engagement with a stop which is spaced a predetermined distance from the end of the proportioning piston, which is less than the distance between the valve engaging member carried by the proportioning piston in the proportioning valve member. Upon loss of pressure at the control pressure port, the proportioning piston is urged toward the caging member. The proportioning piston moves between the gap defined between the end of the proportioning piston and the caging member without opposition from the tare pressure spring, thereby permitting the full force of fluid pressure to break seal friction between the seals carried by the proportioning piston and the wall of the housing.

Abstract: A control valve for a fluid pressure braking system includes a housing which receives a pair of identical plungers and corresponding springs acting on the plunger which activate automatically at different trip pressures. The differential trip pressures are attained by providing different valve seating areas on the housing and spring cavities of different depths.

Abstract: A brake actuating lever is connected to a fluid actuator through a thrust rod extending from the fluid actuator and a yoke pivotally mounted on the lever. An adaptor is movable along the thrust rod and is received within the yoke when the rod and yoke are to be connected. A split retaining ring engages mating grooves in the adaptor and in the yoke to provide a releasable connection between the yoke and the thrust rod.

Abstract: An electrical connector for connecting the cables interconnecting the tractor and trailer portion of a combination vehicle includes axially offset portions, each of which carries a set of electrical conductors. The conductors in one of the portions provide the standard electrical connections between the portions of the vehicle for tail lights, turn signals, etc. Conductors in the other portion provide the connections for an electropneumatic actuated braking system. The offset portions are designed so that the portion carrying the connections for the tail lights, stop lights, turn signals, etc are compatible with existing connectors so that a portion of the vehicle equipped with an electropneumatic system may be used with another portion of the vehicle which is not equipped with an electropneumatic braking system.

Abstract: A fault indicating mechanism for an electronic system, such as a vehicle adaptive braking system, includes a series of visual indicators, such as light emitting diodes, on one surface of the housing within which the electronic components comprising the system are sealed. Each of the indicators is activated in response to a predetermined malfunction sensed in the system, such as a defective speed sensor, defective modulator, or a defect in the electronic circuitry. A magnetically responsive switch is sealed within the housing adjacent the indicators, but is not visible from the exterior of the housing. The indicators are reset when the system is repaired by the mechanic who holds a common magnet against the housing adjacent the switch. When the switch is activated by a magnet, all of the indicators flash on and are then turned off. A non-volatile RAM stores malfunctions sensed by the system when the system is powered down, so that all malfunctions are again indicated immediately when the system is powered up.

Abstract: A clutch drive for a vehicle engine cooling fan includes a pulley portion which is driven by the vehicle engine, a fan plate which rotatably mounts the engine cooling fan, and a pressure plate which engages the fan plate to drive the latter when the clutch is engaged. Torque transmission from the pulley to the pressure plate is through a series of circumferentially spaced coiled springs which also yieldabel urge the pressure plate into driving engagement with the fan plate. A spring stabilizer defines a circumferentially extending cavity which receives several coils of the spring to stabilize the latter and to prevent displacement of the coils circumferentially with respect to each other during engagement and disengagement of the clutch. The stabilizer also slidably engages both the pressure plate and the pulley, thereby taking up clearances between the various members to prevent rattling and also to assist in the transmission of torque to the pressure plate.

Abstract: In an adaptation of an air dryer assembly for removing moisture from a stream of compressed air a container comprising a first part 15 and a second part 7 with a separable annular seal 17 and the adaptation including passageways for directing flow of compressed air from one part 2 of the main body via the inner container to another part 3 of the main body.

Abstract: A molded article, for example, a filter or a preform used in the manufacture of fiber-reinforced composites, is manufactured from an air laid batt from a single fiber type or a mixture of fibers. The batt is either resinated with a thermoplastic material or includes a thermoplastic binder fiber. The batt is formed into the desired shape of the molded article in a through-air mold and heated sufficiently to set the thermoplastic material, so that the resulting article retains the desired shape. If the article is to be used as a fluid filter, it can be used either as it is removed from the mold if a filter of uniform density is desired, of the article can be further processed in a compression mold to densify portions of the article to thereby form, for example, a fluid impervious portion used as a gasket. If the article is to be used as a preform for a structural composite, it is then to be transferred to a resin injection mold.

Abstract: An integrated anti-lock braking system includes a master cylinder, a modulator valve assembly, an electric motor pump, a brake proportioning valve, and a differential pressure valve all integrated into a common assembly. Primary and secondary fluid passages defined within the housing are provided to communicate the various devices included within the assembly. The assembly includes a bracket engaging portion upon which a mounting bracket is provided to attach the assembly to the vehicle and which is capable of mounting the assembly to accommodate mounting at selected angles.

Abstract: A knob and shaft assembly for operating, for example, a vehicle air brake control valve includes a knob member having a front face and a barrel projecting the face, and a shaft member which is threadedly engaged with the threads carried on the circumferentially extending wall defining cavity within the barrel. The assembly is provided with locking detents comprising protrusions on the shaft which are received within apertures on the barrel to releasably lock the knob member to the shaft member, thereby preventing the members from being accidentally becoming disengaged, and also assuring the proper orientation of the knob with respect to the shaft to permit indicia embossed on the knob member to be easily read by the operator.

Abstract: A fluid filter is formed by manufacturing an air laid batt containing randomly disposed structural fibers and a thermoplastic binder fiber. The interstices between the fibers are fixed by applying a latex resin to the batt, thereby fixing the pore sizes of the filtering media before the filtering media is molded. The filtering media is then molded into shape by using a plunger to tuck the media into an open cavity mold. The mold may be heated and pressure may be applied to the batt to mold the batt.

Abstract: Filtering media consist of formable air laid batting comprising a thermoplastic or thermosetting binder resin and a fiber mixture comprising coarse fibers, such as wood pulp and man-made fibers, having a diameter of at least 20 microns, and fiberglass or other fibers having a diameter of less than about 3 microns.

Abstract: A fluid pressure braking system includes pressure sensors in each of the supply and service reservoirs and in the supply line to the trailer. The system includes an air compressor which is loaded and unloaded in response to variations in the pressure level in the supply reservoir by actuation of a solenoid valve by an electronic control module which is responsive to the pressure sensors. The system includes spring brakes which are controlled by the control module through actuation of solenoid valves. The control module is similarly responsive to supply line pressure and the pressure level in the supply line to control a solenoid valve which controls communication through the supply line.

Abstract: An air filter assembly includes a housing and an annular filter cartridge received within the housing. The cartridge includes a circumferentially extending, axially projecting, substantially smooth sealing surface circumscribing the inner diameter of the cartridge adjacent one end thereof. The housing includes a seal supporting projecting arm which projects into the chamber adjacent the sealing surface. A seal is mounted on the arm and retained thereon by a seal retaining clamp. The seal includes a radially projecting portion which sealingly engages the sealing surface on the cartridge.

Abstract: A proportioning control valve for a fluid pressure braking system for a tractor-trailer combination vehicle permits unproportioned communication of control pressure when the tractor is pulling a trailer but proportions communication of control pressure when the tractor is operated without a trailer to establish a proportionally lower pressure level at the outlet of the valve. When the pressure level at the control port exceeds a predetermined level established by a spring, the control valve proportions at a rate which increases the pressure level at the outlet at a rate greater than the rate of increase of control pressure until the unproportioned pressure level is attained.

Abstract: An air filter assembly for the air intake system of an internal combustion engine includes a housing which receives a removable, replaceable filter cartridge. The lower end of the filter housing includes a hub assembly which defines the outlet opening from the housing. A removable, replaceable bridge assembly extends into the housing from the outlet opening and provides an axial support for the filter cartridge. The bridge and hub assembly are provided with cooperating releasable retaining mechanism comprising a rib projecting into the outlet opening which engages a circumferentially extending ring on the bridge assembly to prevent the bridge assembly from being pulled into the housing. The bridge is also provided with deflectable arms which also engage the rib to prevent the bridge from being pushed out of the housing unless the arms are deflected when the bridge is to be withdrawn from the housing.

Abstract: An electronically controlled fluid pressure braking system for a heavy duty vehicle includes an operator controlled mechanism which generates independent brake pressure command signals, each of which are transmitted to separate auxiliary controllers. Each of the controllers transmits its command signal to the other auxiliary controllers and also to a master control unit. The master control unit sorts between the command signals and generates a preliminary brake pressure request signal which is transmitted back to each of the auxiliary controllers. Each of the auxiliary controllers then examines the brake pressure request signal received from the master controller and actuates the corresponding vehicle brakes if the pressure request signal is within normal limits. If the signal is not within normal limits, each of the auxiliary controllers is capable of generating a brake pressure request signal independently of the master control unit.