Abstract: A connector bracket for holding two or more multi-wire electrical connectors for mating engagement with a junction block or other electrical component has a wire shield which is attached to the bracket after the connectors are inserted therein. The wire shield has retention arms which contact rear surfaces of the connectors to prevent the connectors from being dislodged from their proper positions within the bracket during mating of the bracket with the junction block.

Abstract: A pushrod assembly for use in association with a vehicle clutch control system of the type including a slave cylinder having an output member adapted for control of the clutch mechanism of the vehicle, a master cylinder for supplying hydraulic fluid to the slave cylinder, and a clutch control pedal assembly for actuating the master cylinder via the pushrod assembly. The pushrod assembly is connected at a forward end thereof to the master cylinder piston and is adapted for connection at a rearward end thereof to the clutch pedal arm and includes an isolator member of resilient material carried by the pushrod and interposed between the rearward pushrod end and the clutch pedal in a position to be resiliently distorted in response to movement of the control pedal in a release direction relative to the pushrod.

Abstract: Anodes, cathodes, and/or solid electrolytes (or separator layers) of an electrochemical cell can be fabricated from aqueous compositions containing monomers and/or polymers. In one formulation, the aqueous composition contains binding materials that are polymerized and crosslinked. In a second formulation, the composition is a latex having as aqueous phase and a solid polymer phase. Upon removal of water, the compositions provide a polymeric structure suitable for use as an electrode or solid electrolyte.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having two or more p-n junctions, being in particular a bipolar transistor or a thyristor. The device has an gold ion implant in a region of the device between two of or the two p-n junctions, which region is the base in the case of a bipolar transistor, located away from the current carrying active region of the device. The device has a low resistance and may be turned off rapidly because the implanted gold provides recombination centers which act as a sink for carriers drawing them from the active region.

Abstract: An improved automatic length-adjusting end fitting for a cable assembly consisting of a conduit and a wire slidably positioned therein reacts to increases in the length of the wire and/or decreases in the length of the conduit by automatically lengthening the conduit to thereby take up a portion of the slack in the wire and return the cable assembly to its desired condition. The fitting includes a hollow housing and a cylindrical core disposed therein for sliding and rotating movement with respect to the housing. The conduit is connected to the end of the core and the wire extends completely through the core and housing. The outer surface of the core has three recesses, each of which forms a series of stair-step notches. Three axially aligned ridges are disposed on the interior surface of the housing engage respective notches, depending on how far the core is inserted into the housing.

Abstract: An adapter for mating two or more electrical circuit components to a power distribution box receptacle designed to receive a relay or other circuit component having at least four terminals. The adapter includes a hollow body formed of an electrically non-conductive material, a plurality of contacts disposed within the interior of the body, and means for positioning and frictionally engaging the circuit components so as to retain them within the adapter and with their terminals in electrical connection with the contacts. The contacts are in electrical connection with respective adapter terminals projecting from the adapter body in a configuration substantially identical with the terminals of the circuit component which the adapter replaces, so that the adapter terminals are matable with the receptacle to place the components in connection with circuitry internal to the power distribution box.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing a propulsive force to a dynamic body without having to interact with an external mass. The technique is based on an internal exchange of kinetic energy working in concert with the influence of an ancillary force such as gravity to produce a net momentum change in the body. In one embodiment a body may be rotated through space without having to expel propellant or otherwise resort to an interaction with an external mass. In another embodiment, the invention can be used to dampen a swaying motion or vibration of a body such as a tall, earth-bound tower or a beam in a space station when there is no convenient external mass to which the body may be anchored.

Abstract: A wire harness protector having an open slide trough closed by a removable cover, and containing an internal wire harness carrier attached to the harness, for example by taping, and connected to the cover to slide in the trough when the cover is closed. The carrier is generally L-shaped, and the trough has a wire slot formed in a sidewall thereof generally parallel to the guide slot in the cover, such that the wire harness is redirected laterally within the trough by the carrier, with an incoming end sliding longitudinally in the trough, and an outgoing end sliding laterally through the wire slot in the side wall. The wire harness protector according to the invention is especially useful for protecting and controlling wire harness slack found between hinged and sliding surfaces in a vehicle, for example doors, hoods and trunk lids.

Abstract: A double booted flexible entry boot provides a fluid-tight fitting between a wall of a fluid containment region and a conduit passing through the wall. An inner seal member is disposed within the containment region, and a first securing plate is disposed within the containment region and mounted to the inner seal member. A first flexibly rigid, hollow support sleeve extends outwardly from the inner seal member, and a mechanism releasably attaches the first hollow support sleeve to the conduit. An outer seal member is disposed outside of the containment region, and a second securing plate is disposed outside of the containment region and mounted to the outer seal member.

Abstract: An anti-rotational fastener for securing an electrical connector or other wire harness component to a surface having two holes formed therein. The fastener has a base which is attached to the connector, a first mounting stem fixed to the base, and a second mounting stem that can be locked to the base at any of several mounting positions to adjust the distance between the mounting stems. The fastener may thus be used with differently-spaced sets of mounting holes. The fastener is preferably formed with an integral flexible strap connecting the second mounting stem to the base so that the fastener may be molded as a single piece. The strap bends as necessary to allow the second mounting stem to be secured to the base in any one of the mounting locations.

Abstract: A mister for use with fans having blades protected by a guard wherein the mister is mounted on the guard and through a plurality of water atomizing nozzles projects a mist into the fan airflow to produce a cooling effect by the evaporation of the moist air. The mister may be used with original equipment fans, or may be retrofitted to existing guarded fans and economically produces a distribution of water particles within the airflow.

Abstract: An active integrated circuit transponder with on-board power supply is mounted in or on a vehicle tire. A pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a tire rotation sensor are mounted on a substrate along with the integrated circuit transponder chip, the power supply and an antenna. Upon receiving an interrogation signal from a remote source, the transponder activates the sensors to sense tire pressure and temperature and transmits an encoded radio frequency signal to the remote source containing serial, encoded tire identification, tire position on the vehicle, current tire pressure, current tire temperature and accumulated tire revolutions, as well as maximum and/or minimum tire and temperature pressure values encountered over a predetermined time period and other information specific to the tire.

Abstract: A coin guiding device (1) is proposed which contains a coin channel (2) as well as a device for steadying coins and containing a swivelling pressing member (4) with wedge-shaped surfaces (9, 10). The pressing member (4) has an intake (6), substantially parallel to one wall (5) of the coin channel (2) and delimited by a lateral guide 7. Moreover, the coin guiding device (1) has a runner (3) disposed after the pressing member (4).

Abstract: The invention provides a compact, combined stretcher-compressor assembly which utilizes a single grating element. The single grating element is preferably a holographic transmission grating element. The grating element has first and second surfaces which are opposed major surfaces with a thickness between the surfaces. The grating pattern is patterned in or on the grating element. The grating element is arranged in the assembly to receive a beam for stretching laser pulses in a stretcher beam path, and in the same arrangement, to receive a beam for compressing laser beam pulses in a compressor beam path. The stretcher and compressor beam paths pass through the single grating element. Respective reflecting means are arranged to provide a desired number of passes through the grating element by the stretcher beam path, and through the grating element by the compressor beam path.

Abstract: A clamping apparatus, for use with an actuator, has a housing with a guide track mounted on or formed in the housing. A roller or cam operably engages with the guide track such that the cam can be moved and positioned along the guide track by way of the actuator. At least one pivoting arm is pivotally mounted on the housing adjacent to and spaced from the guide track. Each pivoting arm has an elongate slot adjacent to the shoulder. The elongate slot has two arcuate surfaces positioned parallel to each other and has two end surfaces joining the arcuate surfaces to define a closed loop surface. The cam is positioned within the elongate slot of each pivoting arm to pivot each pivoting arm between a clamped position and a released position as the cam is moved along the guide track and driven against the arcuate surfaces of each pivoting arm.

Abstract: A first connector has a series of movable terminals having bifurcated ends comprising first and second prongs spaced apart from one another and a pair of parallel, rotatable cam members disposed on either side of the first prongs to sandwiching them therebetween. The cam members are elliptical in cross section and are connected with one another by intermeshing gears to rotate in unison. A second connector has a series of fixed terminals and a pair of actuation arms extending parallel with the terminals and having toothed ends. As the first and second connectors are moved into engagement with one another, the fixed terminals are inserted between the first and second prongs and the toothed ends engage the gears, rotating the cam members so they deflect the movable terminals to bring the second prongs into contact with the fixed terminals.

Abstract: A flexible entry boot assembly provides a fluid-tight fitting between a wall of a fluid containment region and a conduit passing through the wall. The flexible entry boot assembly comprises a seal member disposed within the containment region. A securing plate, disposed within the containment region, is releasably mounted to the seal member. A hollow support sleeve, integral with the seal member, extends axially into the containment region. The support sleeve has an outer surface and an inner, conduit receiving surface, and further has a degree of flexibility sufficient to allow for the insertion of the conduit at angles equal to or other than an angle normal to the fluid containment wall while maintaining a fluid-tight environment. The flexible boot assembly further comprises a mechanism for releasably attaching the hollow support sleeve to the conduit. A flexible, corrosion resistant sealing ring member is disposed outside the containment region.

Abstract: A method is provided for removing contaminants from water. The method comprises contacting the contaminants in the water with an organoclay having a positive or negative charge on its surface. Using this method, organic and inorganic contaminants can be removed with such charged organoclays.