Abstract: A filter assembly includes a housing for releasably locking to a base for enclosing a replaceable filter element. The base includes a support over which the housing is positioned. The support includes a plurality of radially extending guide pins. A plurality of radially movable jaws are mounted on the guide pins to releasably lock the housing to the base. A rotatable cam ring is coaxially mounted on the support and includes cam slots for receiving corresponding axially extending cam engaging portions of the jaws. The jaws move radially inwardly and outwardly to lock and unlock the housing from the base in response to rotation of the cam ring.

Abstract: A cross flow fan (10) imparts both radial and axial flow components to airflow passing through the fan, resulting in a conical exit airflow. The fan includes a hub (12) and circumferentially spaced, radially extending fan blades (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24). Backing plate portion (34, 36, 38, 40, 42, and 44) is associated with each of the blades 14-24. The backing plate portions lie on a conical plane which rakes backwardly from the hub in a direction downstream from the fan. The fan blades are disposed in a plane oblique to their corresponding backing plate portions, so that they intersect the latter along a joining edge (50). Each of the fan blades includes portions having greater (56) and lesser (58) radii of curvature. The portions (58) of lesser radii of curvature cooperate with the corresponding backing plate portions (36) to provide a radial component to the flow through the fan whereas the leading edge portions (56) provide the axial flow component.

Abstract: A fluid pressure braking system for an articlated vehicle having a towed unit and a towing unit includes a source of fluid pressure carried on the towing unit and a supply line (68) and a service line (70) which communicates the braking system on the towing unit with the braking system on the towed unit. A proportioning valve (36) controls communication to the relay valve (42) which communicates braking pressure to the rear wheel service brakes of the towing unit. The proportioning valve (36) is connected through a control port (82) to an inversion valve (76). The inversion valve (76) is responsive to fluid pressure in the supply line (68) to communicate a pressure signal to the control port (82) when the pressure level in the supply line (68) drops below a predetermined level. The proportioning valve (36) is responsive to the pressure signal on the control port (82) to proportion communication to the control port of the relay valve (42).

Abstract: A braking system for a tractor-trailer combination vehicle having air brakes includes a two plunger control valve in which one of the plungers controls the brakes on the tractor and the other plunger controls the brakes on the trailer. However, the valve is designed such that actuation of the plunger controlling the brakes on the tractor to a condition effecting an application of the spring brakes on the tractor automatically actuates the other plunger to effect an automatic actuation of the spring brakes on the trailer. Operation of the plunger controlling the trailer brakes is independent of the plunger controlling the tractor brakes, so that application of the trailer spring brakes may be effected without applying the tractor spring brakes. The tractor spring brakes may be released with the trailer brakes applied to permit bobtail tractor operation or permit the trailer to be parked with the tractor spring brakes released.

Abstract: An automatic speed control for a vehicle having a source of compressed air, such as a heavy duty truck, includes a logic controller which controls a pair of solenoid valves to regulate communication between the compressed air source and an air actuated throttle. The controller is responsive to initiation of speed control by actuation of the appropriate switch by the vehicle operator to use inputs representing wheel speed (or engine speed) and the position of the vehicle throttle to generate an error signal. The controller compares the error signal with a signal representing a desired or memorized speed set by the vehicle operator and controls the air actuated throttle accordingly.

Abstract: A control valve is provided for a fluid-operated clutch. Specifically, the control valve controls fluid to the fluid-operated clutch of a vehicle cooling fan. The control valve disengages the clutch to disconnect the fan from an internal combustion engine of the vehicle when coolant temperature is low and engages the clutch to operate the fan when the coolant temperature rises to a predetermined value. The control valve has a central passage with three bores and a valve spool with three sealing members associated with the bores. Fluid is supplied under pressure to the valve and always acts in opposite directions on two of the sealing members to provide a balanced condition for the valve spool even with fluctuations in the inlet pressure of the fluid. The control valve utilizes a temperature-responsive device to move the valve spool, with the device being readily adjustable to achieve operation at desired coolant temperatures.

Abstract: A supply valve includes a housing with a bore and an outlet and a pair of inlets communicating with the bore. The valve also includes a shuttle slidable in the bore in response to a pressure differential between the inlets to communicate one of the inlets to the outlet and to close the other inlet when the pressure level at the one inlet is greater than the pressure level at the other inlet. The shuttle slides to close the one inlet and communicate the other inlet to the outlet when the pressure differential between the inlets reaches a predetermined level. The shuttle includes a pair of fluid pressure responsive areas corresponding to each of the inlets. At least one of the areas includes one portion communicated to its corresponding inlet and another portion communicated to the outlet when the corresponding inlet is closed, the other portion being communicated to the corresponding inlet when the corresponding inlet is communicated to the outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating solids and liquid components of different densities from a fluid mixture or emulsion. The apparatus is comprised of a stack of vertically disposed spaced plates that are positioned within a container and between an inlet and an outlet. The plates are corrugated and the fluid mixture flows from the inlet, and through the stack, parallel to the corrugations, whereby the solids in the mixture drop through to the bottom of the plates, and the light density liquid components flow up toward the top of the stack, while the heavy density liquid components pass through the lower portion of the stack and out towards the outlet.

Abstract: An electromechanical clutch for vehicle engine cooling fans includes a driving member mounted for rotation by the vehicle engine and a driven member carrying the engine fan and rotatably mounted on the driving member. The driven and driving members cooperate to define a circumferentially extending gap therebetween. The driving member carries an electrical coil, which is energized when the clutch is to be engaged. A band is disposed within the gap, includes an outer band member which carries a frictional material that is adapted to frictionally engage the driven member and an inner band member which is adapted to engage the driving member when the coil is actuated. The inner and outer members are connected at corresponding ends thereof. The inner member comprises arcuate segments of electromagnetic material and joining segments which interconnects the arcuate segments.

Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch for a vehicle engine cooling fan includes a driving member mounted for rotation by the vehicle engine and a driven member rotatably mounted on the driving member. The driven member carries the engine cooling fan. One end of a band is connected to the driven member, and wraps circumferentially around the driving member in the direction of the rotation of the latter. An electromagnetic coil comprising windings wound circumferentially around the driving member and rotatable therewith exert an electromagnetic force on the band when current is transmitted to the coil, drawing the band into engagement with the outer circumferential surface of the driving member, to thereby engage the clutch and cause the engine cooling fan to be rotated with the driving member.

Abstract: An air filter for filtering combustion air for an internal combustion engine includes a housing holding a filter element and an inlet snorkel tube connected to the housing. A "trap door" valve mechanism is located in the snorkel tube and includes a valve seat mounted on a support which circumscribes the inner wall of the snorkel tube and a valve element pivotally mounted on the support which is yieldably urged into sealing engagement with the valve seat when the engine is turned off. The valve mechanism presents a surface substantially transverse to the direction of air flow through the snorkel tube, so that combustion air communicated through the snorkel tube when the engine is running acts against the transverse surface urging the valve element to an opened position. The valve element is "cracked open" by a solenoid when the engine is to be started in order to permit initial air flow through the air cleaner to facilitate starting.

Abstract: A tractor/trailer vehicle fluid pressure braking control system enabling two line control of trailer service and secondary braking includes for tractor braking a service brake control valve for controlling the fluid pressure applied both to service brake actuators and to a trailer service brake control line, a secondary control valve which controls the magnitude of a counteracting pressure applied to tractor spring brakes and also to a relay valve which controls a pressure in a trailer secondary spring brake control line.

Abstract: A cooling fan for an automotive vehicle includes a spider having arms projecting from a hub. Rivets attach blades and reinforcing plates to each of the arms, and each of the rivets extends through the reinforcing plate, the blade, and the corresponding arm. Each blade has a depressed portion defining a rim circumscribing the depressed portion, and the corresponding plates have a depression defining a flange which is adapted to engage the rim when the blade is installed on its corresponding arm. The contour of the plate is different from the contour of the blade, but the rivet forces the plate to assume the contour of the blade when the plate and the blade are installed on the arm. Accordingly, the plate is preloaded to thereby transmit bending forces to the rim which would normally be taken by the portion of the blade adjacent the rivet.

Abstract: An electromechanical clutch for vehicle engine cooling fans includes a driving member mounted for rotation by the vehicle engine and a driven member rotatably mounted on the driving member. The driven member carries the engine cooling fan, and the driving member houses a magnetic coil which is energized to actuate the clutch. The driving and driven members define a circumferentially extending gap therebetween. A band is disposed within the gap, and includes an inner band member made of electromagnetic material and an outer band member comprising a resilient member with a frictional material attached to the outer circumference thereof. The inner and outer band members are joined together so that the inner and outer band members may move radially relative to one another while actuation forces may be transmitted from the inner to the outer band to the connection therebetween.

Abstract: A heavy duty automotive air cleaner for use in environments having high contaminant concentrations includes a housing carrying a vane-type centrifugal separator and a removable filter cartridge. The removable filter cartridge includes a pleated paper filtering medium and a fibrous, depth-type filtering medium. A pair of flow paths are defined through the housing between the inlet and outlet thereof. One of the flow paths extends through the depth-type media and the pleated paper medium, and the other flow path extends through the centrifugal vane-type separator and the pleated paper medium. The depth-type fibrous medium is placed upstream from the pleated paper medium, and is adapted to remove relatively fine particles from the incoming air stream as the heavier particles are centrifuged outwardly by the vane-type separator.

Abstract: A refill filter cartridge for a liquid fuel filter includes a semi-rigid plastic "blister" having an open end closed by a cover member to define a fluid receiving compartment. A pleated paper filter medium in the compartment divides the latter into inlet and outlet portions which communicate with openings in the cover member. The filter housing includes a base and a cup-shaped glass housing that cooperates with the base to define a chamber which receives the plastic blister when the refill cartridge is installed in the filter. The cover member defines cooperating surfaces which engage the base and the glass housing so that the glass housing clamps the cover member between the glass housing and the filter base. The plastic blister is shaped to conform to the inner walls of the housing so that the housing engages the walls of the blister throughout their entire area.

Abstract: An adaptive braking control circuit and a solenoid valve actuated by the control circuit is protected by a fuse which is blown when a malfunction of the solenoid exists. However, if the voltage produced by the vehicle electrical supply falls below a predtermined level insufficient to actuate the solenoid valve, the adaptive braking control circuit is disabled without blowing the fuse. A control circuit is provided which senses a malfunction in the solenoid, and which generates a fuse blowing signal which is used to actuate a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) in order to blow the fuse. However, under the low voltage condition, this fuse blowing signal is inhibited.

Abstract: An electromechanical clutch for vehicle engine cooling fans includes a driving member mounted for rotation by the vehicle engine and a driven member rotatably mounted on the driving member. The driven member carries the engine cooling fan. One end of a metal band is connected to the driven member, and wraps circumferentially around the driving member in the direction of rotation of the latter. An electromagnetic coil comprising windings wound circumferentially around the driving member and rotatable therewith exert an electromagnetic force on the band when current is transmitted to the coil, drawing the band into engagement with the outer circumferential surface of the driving member, to thereby engage the clutch and cause the engine cooling fan to be rotated with the driving member.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake booster is disclosed which includes an integral accumulator to provide a fluid pressure source for emergency failsafe braking. The accumulator includes a bore defined within the booster housing, and a piston slidably mounted in the bore which divides the latter into a pair of fluid compartments between opposite ends of the piston and corresponding ends of the bore. One of the compartments is communicated to the booster inlet port so that the compartment is charged with fluid pressure whenever the pressure level at the inlet port is above some predetermined low value. In one embodiment of the invention, the other compartment is communicated to the fluid pressure reservoir, and a relief valve is carried within the piston which controls flow of fluid between the two compartments.

Abstract: A deceleration valve for use in a vehicle emission controls system is responsive to increased engine manifold vacuum (thereby indicating a vehicle deceleration) to vent the vehicle air cleaner through the intake manifold for a controlled period of time to eliminate exhaust backfiring and to reduce hydrocarbon emissions. The valve mechanism includes a diaphragm assembly comprising an annular flexible member having an outer periphery clamped to the valve housing and an inner periphery clamped between a pair of diaphragm plates. One of the diaphragm plates has an axially projecting portion which extends through the opening in the flexible member. The other diaphragm plate has a plurality of axially extending, resilient legs which circumscribe the axially projecting portion of the first diaphragm plate and are yieldable in a radial direction so that they are able to snap into a groove on the axially projecting portion when the valve is assembled.