Abstract: An electrical junction block for an automotive vehicle comprises a housing containing a planar, multilayer busbar and a printed circuit board, the busbar and the printed circuit board being maintained in parallel and electrically insulated relationship to one another. A plurality of receptacles are formed on the exterior surfaces of the housing to receive mating electrical components such as fuses, relays, and wiring harness connectors. Electrical connection between the printed circuit board and the electrical components is via a plurality of printed circuit board connection terminals having first ends which make electrical contact with the face of the printed circuit board oriented toward the busbar and second ends which pass through holes in the busbar and then through apertures in the housing and into the receptacles.

Abstract: A power actuated gripper for engaging and holding a workpiece wherein a cam surface is pivotally linked to a reciprocating actuator for actuating at least one of a first and second jaws between a clamped position, wherein the first and second jaws engage and hold the workpiece, and an unclamped position, wherein the first and second jaws disengage and release the workpiece. The reciprocating linear actuator provides a fluid motor with a piston and piston rod for providing linear reciprocal movement. The piston rod is connected to a coupling member which is pivotally connected to a pair of linkage members for each of the first and second jaws. A pair of lever arms are pivotally connected to the linkage members and are integral with a shaft link. The cam surface is formed on the shaft link and actuates a cam follower, biased toward the cam surface, connected to the first and second jaws.

Abstract: An improved composite ski structure comprising a core with a successful layering of at least two alternately diagonally offset composite layers, covered by two outer longitudinal layers. Both the top and bottom surfaces of the core are layered in this fashion, and the composite layers are preferably applied as a multi-layered outer laminate wrapped fully around the core. In a preferred form, a multi-functional epoxy is applied to bond the inner surface of the composite laminate to the core. In a further form of the invention at least the tip, and preferably also the tail of the core are formed from composite inserts, and at least the tip section of the outer laminate is cut in a herringbone pattern to be wrapped around a curved/angled tip without stress cracking. The invention also comprises a method for making a ski structure as described.

Abstract: An eyelet terminal comprises a ring with a plurality of tabs formed around the inner circumference thereof, the tabs projecting out of the plane of the ring and adapted to interlockingly engage tabs of identical terminals to secure the terminals to one another in a stacked, coaxial configuration prior to the terminals being bolted to a surface. A terminal may be secured to an adjacent terminal in any of several alternative relative angular positions. In one embodiment, the tabs are canted about a radially extending line to lie in a plane oblique to the plane of the ring and project below a lower surface of the ring such that sharp edges of the tabs are urged into contact with the surface to which the terminal stack is bolted. In another embodiment, the tabs are stair-step shaped and extend only above an upper surface of the ring.

Abstract: A method of attaching a vehicle door handle to the outer skin of a vehicle door, and a door handle assembly to facilitate such attachment. The door skin is provided with a pair of apertures and a plurality of lugs are provided on an inner planar face of the door handle assembly together with a spring clip proximate one end of the planar surface. The door handle is mounted on the door by passing the lugs through the apertures while deflecting the spring clip inwardly and thereafter sliding the door handle assembly over the door skin to move web portions on the lugs into wedging engagement with respective edge portions of the apertures while moving the spring clip into latching engagement with a transverse edge portion of one of the apertures. Flange portions on the lugs are simultaneously positioned beneath respective inner surfaces on the skin to complete the attachment of the door handle to the skin.

Abstract: A multistage pump or compressor includes a series of axial flow stages. Each stage comprises an impeller for imparting whirl to the pumped fluid in one direction and a stator including vanes for imparting whirl to the pumped fluid in the opposite direction. The stator vanes define flow passages configured such that the fluid flows through the passages at substantially constant absolute velocity. The average ratio of stage axial length to impeller diameter for each axial flow stage is less than 0.4.

Abstract: A method of producing an electrical circuit board comprises mounting electrically conducting circuit elements moulded from plastics material on a preformed board. The circuit elements are preferably made electrically conducting prior to mounting on the board by plating with an electrical conductor. The method is of particular utility in the manufacture of three-dimensional circuit boards.

Abstract: An inventive liquid level operated control valve which shuts off refueling with a two-stage closing operation providing an initial soft shutoff and a final shutoff. A first valve element is spring-biased within a first valve cage on the upper end of the float mechanism to seal against a primary vent outlet to provide the initial shutoff. A second valve element contained in a second valve cage within the first valve cage is coaxially arranged with the first valve element and serves to close a secondary vent outlet through the first valve element for the final shutoff. The decorking operation of the valve is improved with a dual peelaway action, in which both the first and second valve cages are configured to circumferentially peel their respective valve elements from their respective sealing positions.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for releasably locking a rotatable arm 3 to a generally cylindrical axle or wheel 6. The mechanism comprises a slot 7 extending around a region of the axle 6, the slot having first and second abutment surfaces spaced apart in the direction of said movement. A heel member 17, rigidly fixed to the arm 3, projects from the arm into the slot and provides third and fourth spaced apart abutment surfaces 19,27, said third abutment surface 19 being arranged to engage said first abutment surface 18 to prevent rotation of the axle 6 in a first direction. A locking wedge 21 is provided which is moveable between a first release position in which the wedge lies outside the slot 7 and a second locking position in which the wedge projects into the slot to engage said second abutment surface 10 of the slot and said fourth abutment surface 27 of the heel member 17 to prevent rotation of the axle 6 in a second direction opposite to said first direction.

Abstract: A dryer is provided for automatically drying the upper contour surface of a vehicle. The dryer includes a frame, a nozzle for directing a stream of air against the vehicle, and an arm pivotally connecting the nozzle to the frame. A drive mechanism raises and lowers the arm to enable the nozzle to follow the contour of the vehicle. The drive mechanism includes a follower affixed to the arm, a rotary drive member cooperating with the follower and a drive motor operably connected to the drive member. The nozzle and arm are lowered by the force of gravity which urges a follower into engagement with the drive member. The follower is capable of being lifted free of the drive member to enable the nozzle to rise up in the event of contact with the vehicle thereby minimizing damage thereto.

Abstract: A fuel enriched ignitor for a fuel gas burner appliance wherein a fuel enricher tube is provided with a coupling having a threaded insert which, by way of a metering orifice, matches the enricher tube to the particular fuel gas being used. By both two-element and three-element ignitors are disclosed. The ignitor is also illustrated in a gas supply system having a single main valve which serves both the enricher tube and the primary appliance burner.

Abstract: A support for parts being electrostatically coated or painted as mounted upon an electrically charged rack wherein the support is formed of a flexible material and includes a flexible electrical conductive portion engaging the rack and part permitting the part to be charged, and a flexible non-conductive portion frictionally engaging the part. The support may include a masking cover defined on either of the portions engaging and protecting the part from painting. The support may be formed of thermoset rubber material, thermoplastics, polyvinylchloride material, or the like.

Abstract: A compact chain belt-type conveyor for conveying articles along a non-linear path through an industrial washer and drier. The chain belt-type conveyor provides an article sensing means wherein the sensing means is responsive to the presence of an article at a predetermined station along a predetermined non-linear path. A signalling means, responsive to the sensing means, signals a driving means to stop the conveyor when an article is present at the predetermined station for a predetermined amount of time and starts when an article is absent from the predetermined station. The signalling means ensures that each article will only be placed through one washing and drying cycle since a washed article must be removed from the predetermined station of the conveyor before the driving means will continue to drive the conveyor. An article holding means may be provided to secure the articles along the conveyor and provide proper orientation of the articles through the washing and drying process.

Abstract: A flexible strain relief device having a center through aperture for receiving cable end portions to be installed into a carrier. The strain relief device has a solid cone shaped portion and a rectangular portion constructed of flexible material having self-extinguishing properties. The rectangular portion is configured to permanently bond to a nut adapter. The perimeter defining the through aperture of the solid cone-shaped portion includes angled circumferential ribs extending partially into the aperture for providing ease during insertion of the cable end portions and resistance for removal of the cable end portions. The nut adapter includes a first member secured to an upper portion of the inner perimeter defining the through aperture; and a rotatable member which is rotatably attached to the first member for operative connection to the carrier so that cone-shaped portion can rotate relative to the carrier.

Abstract: A cylinder liner for use in an internal combustion engine having a cylinder block with a cylinder bore adapted to carry a piston therein. The liner comprises a body formed from a powdered metal material, the body formed therefrom being rigid and wear resistant. The body comprises a smooth, inner, piston-directing surface; an outer, cylinder bore-contacting surface; and an upper, combustion containing area. A mechanism is provided for improving transfer of heat from the combustion containing area to the cylinder block. A mechanism, disposed within the piston-directing surface, is provided for improving piston scuff resistance while maintaining piston-directing surface smoothness.

Abstract: An electrohydraulic actuator has a housing divided into pump and cylinder portions respectively containing a centrifugal impeller driven through a hub by an externally mounted motor, and a pushrod actuated by a piston and arranged to advance the piston and pushrod to deliver thrust when the motor is operated. The major parts except the motor and the pushrod are castings and only one size castings are required for a large range of thrust capacities. The impeller casting is machined to a diameter suitable for a desired thrust and a motor of required speed and horsepower for that thrust capacity is selected to drive the impeller.

Abstract: A fan unit for a building's air handling system comprising a support structure including a front wall with an air inlet opening formed therein and a bladed fan wheel rotatably mounted on the support structure about its central axis and having an axial air intake on a front side thereof confronting the inlet opening. The fan wheel has an annular air outlet extending about its circumference. A fixed centerbody directs air flow into and within the fan wheel and extends along the central axis from a relatively narrow front end located in the air inlet opening to a wider rear end located within the fan wheel. This centerbody has an annular exterior surface which curves outwardly in a section thereof adjacent the wider rear end. The centerbody extends through the axial air intake of the fan wheel. Support struts rigidly support the centerbody in a fixed position. Preferably the centerbody is filled with sound attenuating material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aiming a vehicle headlight to a standard image pattern includes a frame movable relative to the vehicle. A housing carried on a vertically adjustable housing includes a lens focusing a headlight beam onto a reflective screen which reflects the beam image to a camera. A control compares the digitized image output from the camera with a standard image pattern and generates a correlation factor based on the difference between the reflected image and a standard image. Based on the difference, the control generates output signals to an adjustment device engagable with the headlight mounting frame to adjust the position of the mounting frame to reduce the difference to zero.

Abstract: A yarn creel 20 includes vertical ducts 27 having openings 28 therein through which air is directed towards the upper surfaces of yarn cones 22 mounted on pins 21. Yarn drawn off from the cones 22 exits the creel 20 via tubes 23 whose entrance ends 24 are contained within a further duct 25, the duct 25 having slots 26 through which air is drawn from the interior of the creel 20. A fan 30 circulates this air so that it is re-emitted from the openings 28 in the duct 27. A continuous air stream is thus created over those points which are most susceptible to accumulation of lint. In an alternative embodiment, the yarn tubes extend with clearance through openings in the duct so that their entrance ends are disposed externally of the duct but close to those openings.

Abstract: A corrosion protector particularly suitable for use with pressurized gas relief valve systems using conduits in which moisture may enter. The valve corrosion protector comprises a spacer located between the bolted flanges of components of the gas exhaust system, and a tubular neck attached to the spacer extends toward the conduit system exit. The neck is of a diameter less than the inner diameter of the associated conduit and flange whereby moisture upon the inner walls of the conduit system is collected between the conduit and the neck, and a bleed passage adjacent the spacer bleeds the moisture from the conduit system preventing such moisture from contacting the valve and causing corrosion.