Abstract: A fan clutch construction and method of making the same are provided, the fan clutch construction comprising a drive plate rotatably mounted in a chamber of a housing and a scoop plate disposed in the chamber and being operatively interconnected to the housing to cause rotation of the housing when the scoop plate is rotated by the rotation of the drive plate, the scoop plate having a dam that cooperates with the drive plate to cause rotation of the scoop plate through a fluid coupling drive arrangement with the drive plate, the dam having a surface that provides a substantially zero clearance with the drive plate when relative movement is provided between the drive plate and the scoop plate.

Abstract: A fan clutch construction and method of making the same are provided, the fan clutch construction comprising a drive plate rotatably mounted in a chamber of a housing and a scoop plate disposed in the chamber and being operatively interconnected to the housing to cause rotation of the housing when the scoop plate is rotated by the rotation of the drive plate, the scoop plate having a dam that cooperates with the drive plate to cause rotation of the scoop plate through a fluid coupling drive arrangement with the drive plate, the dam having a surface that provides a substantially zero clearance with the drive plate when relative movement is provided between the drive plate and the scoop plate.

Abstract: A branched hose construction, part therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the method comprising the steps of disposing a mark on a length of hose that straddles the location where the hose is to be cut into two hose sections whereby the cutting of the length of hose into the two hose sections provides two parts of the mark respectively on the cut ends of the two hose sections, aligning the parts of the mark with orienting means on a T-connector during the step of telescoping the cut ends of the two hose sections onto the opposite ends of the T-connector so that such oriented relation is permanently maintained after a sleeve-like member has been injection molded from polymeric material over the cut ends of the hose section and a part of the T-connector body that is exposed between the cut ends of the two hose sections.

Abstract: A belt tensioner, an actuator therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the actuator of the tensioner having a rotatable shaft that is operatively interconnected to a spring and is provided with opposite ends one of which is operatively interconnected to a piston, the actuator having a casing provided with an internal recess therein that receives the other end of the shaft therein, the spring being adapted to rotate the shaft to extend the piston while the other end of the shaft rotates in the recess and bears against an end surface thereof, the other end of the shaft comprising a thrust washer assembled to the shaft to be carried thereby.

Abstract: A system for conveying a fluid through an under-the-ground location and method of making the same are provided, the system comprising a primary flexible conduit for conveying the fluid therethrough and having an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface, and an outer secondary conduit having at least a portion of the primary conduit removably disposed therein and having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface that engages the ground in the under-the-ground location thereof, the secondary conduit having the inner peripheral surface thereof comprising a helically disposed and inwardly directed projection thereof that engages the outer peripheral surface of the primary conduit in a spiral manner and cooperates therewith to define a helically disposed passage that extends therebetween throughout substantially the entire engagement area thereof.

Abstract: A tensioner for a power transmission belt that is adapted to be operated in an endless path and method of making the same are provided, the tensioner including a one-piece support member for being fixed relative to the belt, and a belt engaging arm movably carried by the support member, the support member having a pivot opening passing therethrough and having an annular surface disposed substantially concentrically about the longitudinal axis of the pivot opening thereof, the belt engaging arm having a pivot part thereof rotatably disposed in the pivot opening so as to rotate therein, the support member being formed of polymeric material and the belt engaging arm having an annular surface directly disposed in sliding engagement with the annular surface of the support member.

Abstract: A power steering attenuation hose construction and method of making the same are provided, the hose construction comprising an outer flexible hose unit having an inlet end and an outlet end, a restrictor unit disposed in the outer hose unit and dividing the interior of the outer hose unit into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber interconnected by the restrictor unit, a first flexible tuning cable unit being interconnected to the inlet end and being disposed in the inlet chamber, and a second flexible tuning cable unit being interconnected to the restrictor unit and being disposed in the outlet chamber, each of the tuning cable units having an open outlet end spaced from the outlet end of its respective chamber, the ratio of the effective length of the first tuning cable unit to the effective length of the second tuning cable being approximately 3 to 2 or higher.

Abstract: A method of making tooth belts by formation thereof about the outer peripheral surface of a building drum having a generally cylindrical configuration and a surface defining a series of parallel, tooth-shaped grooves. The belts are formed by wrapping a fabric circumferentially around the building drum and winding a cord of tensile material helically about the fabric. A layer of thermoplastic material is formed about the cord of tensile material, and a cord of shrink material is wrapped helically about the layer of thermoplastic material. The shrink material has a higher softening temperature than the thermoplastic material and will shrink at a temperature below its softening temperature. Pressurized steam is applied to the shrink material at a temperature below its softening temperature and between the softening temperature and the melting temperature of the thermoplastic material.

Abstract: The combination of an endless power transmission belt construction and a pulley therefor, the belt construction and methods of making the same are provided, the belt construction having opposed inner and outer surfaces with one surface defining a plurality of longitudinally disposed and alternately spaced apart like projections and grooves that are adapted to mesh with a ribbed surface of one pulley, and a planar surface adapted to operate on a planar surface of another pulley, wherein the planar surface of the belt construction comprises a polymeric material. The polymeric material of the planar surface provides a greater tractive force on the planar surface of the pulley. The planar surface further provides means to prevent abrasive particles accumulating thereon, thereby reducing wear upon the planar surface of the pulley.

Abstract: A system for dispensing fuel, a hose assembly therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the hose assembly having a spider to maintain the inner hose thereof concentric within the outer hose thereof, the spider being secured to the inner hose and to the dispensing nozzle so that the nozzle, the spider and the inner hose are adapted to rotate in unison relative to the liquid fuel source unit of the system whereby a tubular unit interconnected to a venturi unit in the nozzle and leading to a drape area within the hose assembly for evacuating any liquid collecting in the vapor recovery passage thereof will also rotate in unison with the nozzle, the spider and the inner hose.

Abstract: The combination of an endless power transmission belt construction and a pulley therefor, the belt construction and methods of making the same are provided, the belt construction having opposed inner and outer surfaces with each surface defining a plurality of longitudinally disposed and alternately spaced apart like projections and grooves that are adapted to mesh with a ribbed surface of a pulley, the depth of the grooves of each of the surfaces of the belt construction being substantially less than the approximately 2.4 mm depth of the grooves of the known belt construction that is adapted to have one of the opposed surfaces thereof mesh with the ribbed surface of the pulley, the belt construction also comprising a cushion section and cords with the cushion section being initially disposed on only one side of the cords and the cords thereafter being embedded therein.

Abstract: An endless power transmission belt construction, cord therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the cord having the yarns and the plies thereof respectively twisted on a 2 for 1 twister so as to cause the longitudinal axes of the fiber filaments to be disposed generally in the longitudinal direction of the cord with the denier of the fiber filaments of each yarn being approximately 1500, the twist multiplier for the three plies being 3.7687 as the three plies are twisted together at a rate of approximately 2.9 turns per linear inch of the cord, the twist multiplier for the two yarns being 3.6765 as the two yarns for each ply are twisted together at a rate of approximately 4.9 turns per linear inch of that ply, and the fiber filaments comprising p-aramid that comprises co-poly (paraphenylene/3,4' oxydiphenylene terephthalamide).

Abstract: A belt tensioner, an actuator therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the actuator of the tensioner having a rotatable shaft that is operatively interconnected to a spring and is provided with opposite ends one of which is operatively interconnected to a piston, the actuator having a casing provided with an internal recess therein that receives the other end of the shaft therein, the spring being adapted to rotate the shaft to extend the piston while the other end of the shaft rotates in the recess and bears against an end surface thereof, the other end of the shaft comprising a thrust washer assembled to the shaft to be carried thereby.

Abstract: A hose assembly having opposite ends and having a first fluid passage therein for conveying a volatile liquid in one direction from one of the ends thereof to a container adjacent the other of the ends thereof and a second fluid passage therein for returning the vapors of the volatile liquid fuel from the container to the one end thereof, the assembly comprising a flexible inner hose having an outer peripheral surface and defining one of the fluid passages therein, a flexible outer hose having an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface and being disposed around the inner hose, the inner peripheral surface of the outer hose and the outer peripheral surface of the inner hose defining the other of the fluid passages therebetween, the outer hose comprising a corrugated tube that has the corrugations thereof extending throughout the entire length thereof, and a cuff secured to one of the ends of the outer hose, the cuff covering the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of that

Abstract: A belt tensioning system, a belt tensioner therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the belt tensioning system comprising a tensioner arm pivotally mounted to a support, and a wound coiled spring having opposed ends one of which is operatively interconnected to an abutment of the support and the other of which is operatively interconnected to the arm, the arm having a shoulder for being engaged by the one of the opposed ends of the wound coiled spring so as to permit removal of the arm and the wound coiled spring as a self-contained unit from the support when the arm is pivoted to a certain position where the shoulder of the arm engages the one end of the spring and effectively moves the one end of the wound coiled spring out of contact with the abutment of the support.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner hose and method and apparatus of making the same are provided, the hose having opposite ends and a plurality of annular corrugations between the opposite ends thereof, the corrugations comprising a plurality of alternating annular crests and annular valleys that are interconnected together by annular sidewalls, each valley and each crest defining a radius at the apex thereof, each valley being narrower than the crests and having a smaller radius than the crests.

Abstract: A hose assembly, a hose coupling and a part therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the hose assembly having a tubular insert portion of a hose coupling inserted into one end of a hose, the external peripheral surface of the insert portion having a plurality of spaced apart annular ridges and having a plurality of spaced apart annular grooves therein that are separated from each other by the annular ridges so that the insert portion has medial grooves intermediate opposite end grooves thereof, the end grooves being narrower than the medial grooves.

Abstract: A hose construction, coupling therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the hose construction comprising a tubular hose and a coupling secured to one end of the tubular hose, the inner peripheral surface of the tubular hose comprising an inner corrugated lose made of polymeric material and having inwardly convex projections with recesses therebetween and extending from one end of the tubular hose to the other end thereof, the coupling having an insert disposed in the one end of the tubular hose and being radially outwardly expanded into sealing relation with the inner corrugated hose, the insert having an outer peripheral surface defined by a plurality of outwardly convex projections with recesses therebetween, the projections of the insert being respectively received in the recesses of the inner hose and the projections of the inner hose being respectively received in the recesses of the insert whereby the interior of the tubular hose is substantially sealed to the interior of the coupling.

Abstract: A hose construction and method of making the same are provided, the hose construction comprising a tubular flexible hose having opposite ends, fastening structure, and a clamp fastened to one of the ends of the hose with the fastening structure for substantially circumferentially and radially inwardly clamping the one end onto a member that has been inserted into the one end, the clamp having end projections for being toggled together to circumferentially enlarge the clamp and hold the clamp out of its clamping condition and for being released from each other so as to be circumferentially moved apart from each other as the clamp circumferentially shrinks into its clamping condition by the natural spring force of the clamp, the fastening structure comprising a single spot of adhesive disposed between and against the clamp and the hose at a point on the hose that is located substantially diametrically opposite the point on the hose where the end projections of the clamp are adapted to be toggled together.