Abstract: A hydraulic master and slave cylinder assembly of the type in which a piston is positioned in the master cylinder, a piston rod is connected to the piston and extends out of the input end of the master cylinder, a piston is positioned in the slave cylinder, a piston rod is connected to the slave cylinder piston and extends out of the output end of the slave cylinder, a first conduit extends between the output end of the master cylinder and the input end of the slave cylinder, and a second conduit extends between the input end of the master cylinder and the output end of the slave cylinder.

Abstract: An electric actuator for use in engaging and disengaging the clutch of a manual transmission motor vehicle. The actuator comprises an electric motor which is sized to be positioned within the housing of the clutch. The motor includes an annular armature assembly which is positioned concentrically around the clutch shaft and which drives a nut member which in turn drives a screw member to move the release bearing linearly to engage and disengage the clutch. In one embodiment, the nut and screw comprise an acme thread arrangement and in another embodiment the nut and screw are of the ball type. In one embodiment the screw advances linearly in response to rotation of the armature assembly and in another embodiment the housing and armature assembly advance linearly in response to rotation of the armature assembly while the screw remains fixed.

Abstract: The clutch is of the pull type having a detent ring between a first member and a second member, and having a detent release sleeve. On release of the detent ring, the members can be separated with the detent ring and sleeve carried on respective members. The sleeve has a peripheral surface engageable within the ring, the surface having a formation thereon whereby during separation of the members following release of the detent ring, relative movement will take place between the detent release sleeve and the member on which it is carried.

Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder and the method of making such hydraulic cylinder of a tubular sleeve and a housing of dissimilar material cast or molded around the sleeve. The sleeve is provided at least at one end with a portion projecting into the material of the housing, such projection being preferably in the form of an annular bead with a corresponding internally disposed groove. The other end of the sleeve has an internally radially projecting flange projecting into the material of the housing, and the elastomeric O-ring is disposed at the junction between the internal surface of the flange and the surface of the sleeve bore to provide a seal for the pressure end of the cylinder.

Abstract: A master cylinder of the center feed type including a cylinder defining an axially extending pressure chamber and including a reservoir port proximate the front end of the cylinder for connection with a fluid reservoir; a piston slidably positioned in the cylinder and adapted for coaction with a piston rod extending into the rear end of the cylinder; a valve assembly in the pressure chamber including a valving member proximate the reservoir port and a valve stem secured to the valving member and extending axially rearwardly in the pressure chamber; and a retainer on the front end of the piston.

Abstract: A hydraulic actuator assembly of the type including a hydraulic system comprising a master cylinder, a slave cylinder, and a conduit interconnecting the master and slave cylinder. One-way valve means are provided, either mounted on the master cylinder or interposed in the conduit interconnecting the master and slave cylinders, and these valve means function to block communication between the system and the associated reservoir when the system if pressurized but allow flow of replenishing fluid from the reservoir into the system when the system is depressurized to compensate for system losses and wear in the associated vehicular mechanism. The valve further includes a manual override member in the form of a plunger which is manually depressed and which moves a valving member of the valve to a position in which it establishes communication between the reservoir port and the system port so that fluid may be moved from the system and into the reservoir even when the system is pressurized.

Abstract: An annular seal of the four point type in which a pair of annular seals are provided on one side of the seal to provide an effective pressure seal for the associated pressure chamber and a further pair of seals are provided on the other side of the seal to preclude the entry of contaminants into the sealing interface. The seal is formed as an assembly including a rigid insert ring member and an annular seal member of elastomeric material having a rectangular configuration in transverse cross section defining the four separate annular sealing surfaces at each of its four corners. In one form of the invention, the annular insert member comprises a discrete ring member which is substantially totally encapsulated by the surrounding elastomeric material and in a further form of the invention the insert member is constituted by the free annular end portion of an annular piston member to which the elastomeric sealing material is bonded to form the seal assembly.

Abstract: A friction material and carrier assembly (which is to be used in the construction of a driven plate of a dry friction clutch) comprises a circular carrier plate having at its periphery radially extending spokes or paddles which are elastically pliable axially of the carrier plate. Two annular friction facings which are resilient and capable of flexing are bonded by respective layers of silicone rubber to opposite sides of the paddles. Each rubber layer can be formed by a plurality of strips or beads of rubber. The paddles arrangement is capable of sinuous flexing circumferentially of the assembly, and when the assembly is in a driven plate in a clutch applying the clamp load specified for the clutch, the overall axial thickness of the combination formed by the paddles and rubber layers and the friction facings is reduced by between 0.05 mm and 2.00 mm.

Abstract: An inertia valve includes a valve member which is free to move axially in a cylindrical housing between a baffle plate and a valve seat. The baffle plate is provided with at least one collapsible formation which may be partially crushed against an adjacent wall of the housing to provide approximate location of the baffle plate relative to the valve seat and an adjustable screw demise for accurately adjusting free movement of the valve member after assembly of the valve.

Abstract: An electric shift apparatus for use with a motor vehicle having an automatic transmission. The apparatus includes a power module adapted to be mounted on the housing of the transmission proximate the transmission mode select lever and the transmission kick-down lever and a control module adapted to be mounted in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The power module includes an electric motor assembly drivingly connected to the free end of the mode select lever and a solenoid drivingly connected to the free end of the kick-down lever. The control module includes a plurality of push button members corresponding respectively to the transmission shift positions. An encoder device carried by the motor assembly of the power module provides a constant coded signal indicating the instantaneous position of the transmission mode select lever and this coded signal is compared by comparator means in the logic of the control unit with the selected shift position.

Abstract: A hydraulic apparatus for remotely controlling the operative mode selector of a motor vehicle automatic transmission. The apparatus comprises a master cylinder having an input member operatively connected to the transmission operative mode selection or shift lever placed at the disposal of the motor vehicle operator, and a slave cylinder mounted on or proximate the transmission casing and having an output member connected to the transmission operative mode selector, the master cylinder and the slave cylinder being placed in fluid communication through flexible conduits such that each displacement of the master cylinder piston as a result of displacement of the master cylinder input member causes a corresponding displacement of the slave cylinder piston coupled to the slave cylinder output member.

Abstract: A torsional vibration damper for the driven plate of a friction clutch comprises a hub, a flange extending radially out from the hub and an outer member comprising an annular side plate arranged to one side of the flange and having a central aperture such that the side plate surrounds the hub with a clearance. The side plate is capable of limited angular movement relative to the flange with circumferentially directed resilient means acting between the flange and the side plate to control the angular movement. A friction damper is provided between the hub and the side plate and comprises a resilient friction element supported in the central aperture of the side plate and bearing against the outer surface of the hub.

Abstract: A clutch assembly for independently controlling transmission of drive to a pair of concentric output shafts, comprises a first driven plate mounted on the inner shaft and arranged to be clamped between a first pressure plate and a driven fly wheel; and a second driven plate mounted on the outer shaft and arranged to be clamped between a second pressure plate and a reaction plate. Spring elements, are arranged to act against a pair of coaxial cover members, to urge the pressure plate into clamping engagement with driven plate and pressure plate into clamping engagement with driven plate; and release bearings are provided to selectively remove the clamping load applied to the driven plates. The cover members and reaction plate are drivingly interconnected and adapted to be connected in axially fixed realtionship to the fly wheel, and pressure plates are drivingly connected to the cover members and reaction plate while being moveable axially thereof.

Abstract: A bearing assembly having particular usefulness as a throw-out or release bearing for a motor vehicle mechanical clutch. The bearing assembly has a cylindrical housing provided with an annular end wall engaged with, or mounted on, the flange of a bearing carrier. The non-revolving race of the bearing is engaged against the housing end wall such as to permit lateral displacement of the race relative to the housing end wall. The revolving race of the bearing supports an annular adapter having an outwardly extending flange engaged with the release fingers of the clutch mechanism. The housing is closed by an annular end cap having a flange radially extending between the end face of the revolving race and the adapter flange and provided with a seal having its lip engaged with the revolving race end face or with the back surface of the adapter flange. A second annular seal is preferably provided between the end of the adapter opposite to the flange and the surface of the housing end wall.

Abstract: In a diaphragm spring clutch, a clutch driven plate is clampable against a rotatably driven counter - pressure plate by a pressure plate urged by a diaphragm spring. To cushion clutch re-engagements the pressure plate has an annular array of spaced lands facing the diaphragm spring and supporting a resilient fulcrum ring having spanning portions spanning the spaces between the lands, the spanning portions of the fulcrum ring being in contact with respective radial ribs on a face of the diaphragm spring. As the diaphragm spring increasingly urges the pressure plate during a clutch re-engagement, the spanning portions of the fulcrum ring are resiliently deformed by the ribs into the spaces between lands to axially cushion the re-engagement.

Abstract: A retainer assembly for use with an hydraulic clutch actuator of the type including a master cylinder and a slave cylinder in fluid communication with one another. The retainer assembly acts to maintain the output member of the slave cylinder in a retracted position during shipment, storage, and vehicular installation of the hydraulic actuator. The assembly includes a rupturable plastic strap having a control socket and connected as a harness over the end of the slave cylinder output rod. The assembly further includes a non-rupturable steel wire positioned over the socket portion of the plastic strap. The free ends of the wire are clipped around the mounting flange of the cylinder body.

Abstract: A hydraulic master cylinder has a piston of cylindrical section slidably sealed within the cylinder bore. An insert is mounted on the piston and defines an axial groove for engagement of an abutment projecting laterally into the cylinder bore, and a transverse slot for retention of a lever which is adapted to engage the abutment to control the opening and closing of a breather valve.

Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus, more particularly for operating a motor vehicle clutch release mechanism, comprising a master cylinder, a slave cylinder and a conduit connecting the master cylinder to the slave cylinder. The apparatus is in the form of separate modular units which are separately, but simultaneously, filled with hydraulic fluid after simultaneous evacuation of atmospheric air from the apparatus modular units and test of the integrity of the modular units, and the pre-tested and prefilled modular units are shipped unconnected to a user.

Abstract: A vehicle antilock braking system comprises a servo for varying the effort applied by a brake on a wheel of the vehicle, a valve being provided to selectively connect the servo to a source of relatively high pressure or a source of relatively low pressure, via passageways of relatively high or relatively low restriction, so that the servo may be controlled to reduce or reapply braking effort at relatively slow or fast rates, depending on the acceleration or deceleration of the wheel.

Abstract: A modular structure for a hydraulic cylinder permitting the cylinder to be used in combination with a reservoir of hydraulic fluid either installed on the cylinder itself or at a remote location with a conduit connection to the cylinder. The cylinder is provided with a peripherally threaded portion over which a tubular member formed integral with the reservoir, or in the alternative, provided with a connector for connection of the cylinder to a remotely located reservoir is fitted. The tubular member-fluid reservoir assembly and the tubular member-connector assembly are interchangeable.