Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in a self-bonding fastener and to a novel method of curing the bonding material during assembly line fabrication of sheet metal products. The fastener includes a headed self-threading screw member having its head undersurface formed with an annular axially extending lip. An upper portion of the screw thread is precoated with a thermo-setting adhesive which, when heated, will uniformly bond the fastener to a sheet metal plate. As the fastener is threaded through an undersized hole in a sheet metal member, such as an automobile body, the adhesive reliquifies and is stripped from the screw thread. The adhesive is then re-deposited uniformly to completely fill a closed chamber defined between the head undersurface and the opposed sheet metal surface sealed on its periphery by the annular lip which defines the axial dimension of the adhesive thickness.

Abstract: A latching mechanism for a pivotally mounted door of an interior compartment, such as a compartment of a vehicle, is provided. The latching mechanism includes a latch mountable within the compartment and a striker plate mountable on the door. The latch includes a latching element and with the striker plate has catch means to engage the latching element upon pushing of the door to a closed position to thereby latch the door closed. The latch includes spring means which are effective to disengage the latching element upon pushing on the door after the door has first been closed and latched. The latch also includes retardation means connected to the latching element. The retardation means is effective to delay disengagement of the latching element and the catch for a short time after the door is pushed when the door is in the closed and latched condition.

Abstract: An electronic non-volatile elapsed time meter useful for generating elapsed time information when connected in parallel with an input supply voltage supplying power to a power driven device. Visual readouts are continuously generated during time of use of the input supply voltage and accumulated intervals of time of use are stored in a non-volatile memory when power is removed from the device. Upon a later resumption of power usage, the stored non-volatile data is retrieved, displayed and summed with the new generated elapsed time information. This meter is applicable to both AC and DC operations.

Abstract: An improved brake proportioning system, particularly for a vehicle such as a truck, subject to relatively large differences in loading, includes a force responsive proportioning valve inserted between a master brake cylinder and the rear brakes of the vehicle for increasing the rear braking effort relative to the front braking effort as the vehicle load increases. A device which senses the position of the rear spring of the vehicle operably connected to the force input of the proportioning valve by responding to angular movements of the pivotally mounted end portion of the rear leaf spring whereby spring flexure due to changes in vehicle load produce a corresponding input force to the proportioning valve.

Abstract: A viscous fluid rear axle coupling apparatus for a front engine vehicle having a front transaxle drivingly interconnected to its front pair of wheels. The viscous coupling apparatus includes power transfer means adapted to convert the rotation of the vehicle's longitudinal propeller shaft into rotation of an outer drum of the apparatus about a transverse axis. The outer drum concentrically surrounds a pair of coaxial right and left inner drums enclosed in a housing chamber filled with viscous fluid. Each inner drum is drivingly connected to respective right and left rear wheel output shafts extending transversely outboard therefrom. Each inner drum has a set of inner plates interleaved with a single set of outer plates of the outer drum. The apparatus functions as an interaxle and limited slip differential during four wheel drive as well as a conventional differential allowing the rear wheels to rotate different amounts during its two wheel and on-demand four wheel drive modes.

Abstract: An engine compartment sound and water shield pad fabricated of a material which provides sound and vibration control and which has an integrally formed waterproof drain tray portion. The pad is particularly suited to be carried on the underside of a vehicle hood panel which is provided with louvers to facilitate the flow of air through an engine compartment enclosed by the hood.

Abstract: A vehicle road wheel construction adaptable to provide a spoke or lace decorative appearance. The construction finds special application with cast metal wheels in which a first group of spokes or ribs are formed in the disc or spider portion of the wheel interlace with a second group of ribs or finger elements. This second group is part of an integral, one piece, cast metal cover which is detachably connected to the wheel.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine with overhead valve and overhead cam type valve gear, a self-pumping hydraulic-type lash adjuster located downward from the lubricated camshaft and supplied by oil run-off from the camshaft and associated rocker arm member. The lash adjuster includes a housing with a cylindrical aperture therein in which a first plunger member is tightly slidably fitted for reciprocation forming a power chamber with the lower end of the housing. A second plunger member is relatively loosely fitted in the aperture of the housing and has a portion extending from the upper end of the housing for receiving force inputs from the rotating camshaft and associated rocker arm member. A reservoir chamber is formed by the first and second plunger members and is communicated by one-way check valve means to the power chamber to permit flow from the reservoir to the power chamber, but not otherwise.

Abstract: In a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, it is usual to monitor the oil pressure of the engine's lubrication system to prevent damage to the engine in the event the oil pressure decreases to an unacceptable level. In this regard, a gauge or a warning light on the vehicle dashboard indicates when the oil pressure is low in response to a signal from an oil pressure transducer connected to the engine lubrication system. Herein is described an improved oil pressure transducer with a relatively easily crushable thin metal base housing member. The base housing portion is generally hollow and includes a threaded male support portion adapted to be received in a threaded aperture of the engine and fluidly communicated with the lubrication system. The base includes a molded wrenching portion of elastomeric material formed about the housing for contact by an installation tool.

Abstract: A retaining clip for positioning and holding a member which has been inserted through an opening in a plate or partition is provided. The clip has a U-shaped structure and is fabricated of a springy sheet material. Oppositely disposed first and second legs each have a central slot to thereby define four arms. Two of the arms, which are diametrically opposed, are used to flex laterally to permit insertion of a member therebetween upon insertion of the member into an opening defined by registering portions of the slots.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fastener assembly for application to a support panel to receive a threaded bolt extending through a passage in the support panel. A sheet metal element body portion has means for threadably engaging the bolt. The sheet metal element is formed with an integral attaching ramp portion of a size to pass through an open loop strap struck from a pierced transversely extending slot in the support panel. A V-shaped cut-out in said ramp portion defines a spring arm struck therefrom terminating in a downwardly bent tongue. The ramp portion has a pair of stop shoulders operative to engage the strap transversely facing walls thereby aligning the body thread engaging means with the support panel passage upon the tongue being snapped into interlocking relation with the slot.

Abstract: A container construction is provided having an erected configuration and a storage configuration. The container construction comprises a pallet, a sidewall structure, a divider and a lid. These elements may be erected into a container construction or disassembled from an erected container construction and formed into storage packs.

Abstract: An improved windshield wiper system having an articulated wiper arm assembly, in the form of a wiper arm and a drag arm, which incorporates a three-link parallelogram arrangement wherein a greater blade wiping area is attained at selected portions of the windshield. A portion of the outer end of the wiper arm is pivotally connected to one end of each of a pair of parallel outer and inner links. The other ends of the pair of links are pivotally connected to a blade support link such that the blade is maintained parallel with the wiper arm. The free end of the drag arm is pivotally connected to an intermediate point on the inner link. Consequently, the blade is positioned at a radially minimum location when the blade is at its rest or park position and a radially maximum location upon the blade traversing a predetermined arc.

Abstract: A connector assembly for easily and quickly attaching a flexible hose to a fitting such as the inlet or outlet of a heat exchanger. The connector includes a nipple-shaped member with an enlarged bead on the end over which the hose is first extended. A cup-shaped cylinder or housing having a cylindrically shaped inner recess encircles the nipple-shaped member and hose end. A coil spring extends adjacent the wall of the inner recess and is adapted to snugly slip over the outer surface of the hose end as it is inserted past the bead of the nipple-shaped member thereby gripping the hose adjacent the radial expansion thereof produced by the bead.

Abstract: A seat adjuster control mechanism for an easy entry vehicle seat track having a one position memory. An overcenter cam member is rotatably mounted on a pivotal latch plate pivoted on an upper track member. The latch plate has a detent normally biased into locking engagement with a lower track member by first spring means. Upon the seat being tilted forward a pawl, which pivots about a common axis relative to the latch plate, is rotated against the bias of second spring means and engages the latch for rotation in unison therewith. This results in pawl engaging means on the cam member releasing the pawl causing the cam member pivoted from a first pawl engaging overcenter position to a second overcenter position against the bias of third spring means. In its second overcenter position the cam member maintains the locking detent clear of its locked position enabling the seat assembly to be moved to its forwardmost easy entry and exit position.

Abstract: A spark shield is mounted within an ignition distributor to prevent damage to the components of the switch plate assembly. The spark shield is a circular, generally domed shaped membrane mounted in mating pockets of the switch plate assembly. Radial stiffening ribs project inwardly from the outer circumferential edge of the spark shield membrane.

Abstract: The cable bundler clip includes a pair of clip halves hingedly connected together to permit opening of the clip for insertion of cables and closing of the clip for bundling of cables. Latching means are provided to maintain the clip in the closed position. An internal rib structure is provided with recesses for bundling three or less cables in a secure, parallel relationship.

Abstract: The need for an accurate measure of the throttle position exists so the electronic engine controller is employed: to continuously check the position of the throttle, to memorize the lowest throttle position reading from the throttle pot, and to define this position as closed throttle. The reading is then updated to compensate for wear in the throttle blade linkages or in the potentiometric device or due to temperature or other conditions. The electronic engine controller will read and retain the lowest measured value of the potentiometric voltage output. This value will then be stored in memory and identified as the closed throttle output until it is necessary to redefine it.

Abstract: An improved rear axle beam assembly for a trailing arm suspension system. The beam assembly comprises a tubular member extending transversely between the vehicle rear wheels. A pair of first and second outer sleeves, each fixed to the rearward end of a trailing arm, concentrically surround the respective outboard end portions of the tubular member. The first sleeve is fixedly attached to the one end portion of the tubular member while the second sleeve is journally mounted on the other end portion of the tubular member. A pair of first and second wheel support castings each having a collar portion defining an axial bore fixedly receiving therein the outboard end of an associated outer sleeve. An anti-roll torsion bar is axially positioned in the journaled second sleeve end portion of the tubular member.