Abstract: A composite intermediate structure for joining two dissimilar materials together. The structure has a non-porous base with two bonding faces. A porous member is bonded to each of the faces. The base may be a metallic foil and the porous members may each be a metallic mesh.

Abstract: A starter drive for an internal combustion engine having a clutch to provide rotary torque from a starter motor to a pinion gear connectable to a gear associated with an engine. The clutch has means for indexing the pinion gear to engage the gear associated with the engine, means for maintaining the teeth of the clutch engaged during the indexing function, means for automatically separating the clutch teeth when the engine starts and for maintaining separation of the teeth as long as the rotational speed of the pinion gear is greater than a predetermined speed. The starter drive includes two serially arranged resilient members between a driven clutch member and the sleeve on which the starter drive is slidably mounted. The housing is resiliently suspended between the two resilient members.

Abstract: An electromagnetic fan clutch having a radial flange adapted to be mounted to the fan drive hub of an internal combustion engine and an axial shaft connected to the radial flange. A fan hub, adapted to have a fan mounted thereto, is rotatably connected to the drive shaft adjacent to the radial flange. The radial flange has an axial hub spacing the fan hub from the flange portion of the radial flange a distance sufficient for the insertion of mounting bolts. An annular armature is connected to the fan hub by a plurality of leaf springs axially biasing the armature away from a stator. The stator is fixedly attached to the axial shaft and rotates therewith. A solenoid coil enclosed in a coil housing is disposed adjacent the stator. The coil housing is rotatably connected to the axial shaft and is held stationary by an anchor strap connected between the coil housing and a convenient stationary member in the engine compartment.

Abstract: A pressure differential bypass sensor switch with thermal lockout that utilizes change in position of a permanent magnet carried by a reciprocable piston responsive to pressure differential in a fluid system to actuate a magnetically actuatable electrical switch. Opposite sides of the reciprocable piston are exposed, respectively, to high pressure and low pressure sides of a filter located in a fluid circulating system. The reciprocable piston is normally positioned at the high pressure side of a passage in which it reciprocates, due to biasing by a spring acting on it from the low pressure side of the passage. As the filter becomes clogged, the pressure differential across it and, therefore, across the reciprocable piston will increase. The bypass sensor is calibrated so that a maximum allowable pressure differential in the fluid system will drive the reciprocable piston to the low pressure side of the passage.

Abstract: One set of circumferentially juxtaposed axial surfaces of the motor magnets of a wet motor gerotor pump are separated circumferentially by a tunnel device having a central bridge portion radially just clearing the rotating armature and bounded by a pair of leg portions extending radially outwards from the central bridge portion to establish a substantially laminar flow path for the fuel. The tunnel device further spaces the armature relative to the gerotor pump cavity. A vent valve is provided in the outlet housing of the pump. A spring biases a ball valve against an imperfect seat encircling the inlet passage to provide a permanent vent bypass passage therebetween. The spring seats the ball valve against the imperfect seat to permit fuel vapors to vent through the vent outlet passage until liquid reaches the ball valve. The liquid then overcomes the bias of the spring to seat the ball against an outlet seat encircling the outlet passage to close the same.

Abstract: A clutch assembly for mounting to a rotatable element adjacent to a non-rotatable element. The clutch assembly has a first clutch member capable of being mounted to the rotatable element, a clutch body capable of being mounted to the rotatable element adjacent to the first clutch member, and a second clutch member axially movably interconnected with the clutch body. The first and second clutch members are normally biased into engagement. A brake is interposed the non-rotating element and the clutch body. The brake is automatically operable to inhibit rotation of the clutch body upon selective disengagement of the first and second clutch members.

Abstract: A non-magnetic molded plastic bobbin has a bore by which the bobbin is slip-fitted upon the cylindrical outer surface of the inner body carried by the rotating shaft. An integrally molded radial thrust flange at one end of the bobbin slip-fits against a radial flange of the inner body and defines an annular recess for the winding of a coil on the bobbin. The molded plastic bobbin also has an annular recess which extends concentric with the bore to receive the magnet body therewithin. A ridge is molded integrally with the bobbin on the wall thereof defining the magnet body annular recess and engages against the magnet body to retain the magnet body within the recess. A plurality of snap fingers are molded integrally with the bobbin and project inwardly from the bore thereof into slip-fitting relationship within an annular groove in the inner body to enable rotation of the inner body relative the stationary bobbin while retaining the bobbin axially relative the inner body.

Abstract: A low cost electromagnetic fluid pump having molded structural plastic housing components, a biased reciprocating hollow piston, and a pair of plastic flapper valves providing for a unidirectional fluid flow is disclosed. An integrated circuit timer periodically energizes a solenoid coil producing an oscillating magnetic field reciprocating the piston.

Abstract: An engine starter drive device having a sleeve member slidably and mounted for rotation on a power shaft of a motor is disclosed. The sleeve is connected to a mounting shaft which is mounted adjacent to the power shaft. A pinion gear is mounted on the mounting shaft. A driving clutch member is mounted on external helical splines formed on the sleeve. The driving member is connected in one direction of rotation to a driven clutch member by axially extending clutch teeth. The driven member is connected to the pinion gear for rotation therewith. Between the driving and driven clutch members is a centrifugal separator member which moves the driving clutch member away from the driven clutch member above a predetermined rotational speed. The pinion gear thus is mounted on that portion of the mounting shaft that is isolated from the outer environment.

Abstract: A two stage positive shift starter drive system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. A pair of electrical switches are sequentially actuated by an actuator solenoid engaging the starter drive's pinion gear with the engine's ring gear. The first switch actuated after a predetermined displacement of the solenoid's armature applies electrical power to the cranking motor through a resistance connected in series with the cranking motor and connected in parallel with the solenoid pull-in coil. The resistance reduces the electrical power applied to the cranking motor and the potential across the solenoid pull-in coil thereby reducing the rotational speed and the engagement force applied to the pinion gear. The end of the armature travel closes the second switch applying full power to the cranking motor permitting normal cranking of the engine with the pinion gear fully engaged with the ring gear.

Abstract: A single surface electromagnetic cone clutch or braking device is disclosed which transmits torque from an input shaft to a drive plate member, through a plurality of spherical members, to a conical friction ring member and then to the output member. The spherical members are located in mutually opposing conical recesses within the drive plate member and an annular flange which is secured to the friction ring member. The clutch engaging forces are increased by the camming action of the spherical members in the conical recesses. The drive plate member also has a flexing member which permits the drive plate member to flex axially in order to minimize backlash noise associated with spherical balls engaging conical recesses. The armature is disposed normal to the electromagnetic winding to enable a large axially directed flex path to provide for a strong clutch engaging force.

Abstract: An electromagnetic fluid pump having a magnet attached to a reciprocating piston and a Hall effect switch detecting the magnetic field generated by the moving magnet. In a first position of the magnet, the magnetic field through the hall effect switch is in a first direction causing the hall effect switch to generate a signal having a first polarity. In a second position of the magnet the magnetic field through the hall effect switch is reversed, reversing the polarity of the signal generated by the hall effect switch. An electronic switch circuit responsive to the signal generated by the hall effect having the first polarity to energize the solenoid coil to retract the piston from the first position to the second position against the force of a spring and further responsive to the signal having a reversed polarity to deenergize the solenoid coil when the piston is in said second position.