Abstract: A lighting assembly (10) is adjustable between flood and spot lighting conditions for selectively illuminating an interior passenger compartment in a motor vehicle. The assembly (10) includes a housing (16) which clamps to a supporting member, such as a headliner (12), via a sleeve (18) interacting with a rotary cam lock (22). An LED light source (26) is orbitally supported within the housing (16) for projecting light in a directionally adjustable manner. A lens (50) is disposed in the light path (28) and is moveable between an extended spot position for task lighting and a retracted flood position for general illumination within the interior compartment. A switch (74) is responsive to movement of the lens (50) into its spot position for automatically energizing the LED (30). The switch (74) opens, thus de-energizing the LED (30) when the lens (50) is returned to its flood condition.

Abstract: A combination valve including a metal sleeve and a valve body. The valve body is formed of a resilient material and insert bonded or vulcanized to the metal sleeve and includes a cylindrical elongated member defining a passageway therethrough and an annular umbrella portion integrally extending from the elongated member. The elongated member is disposed within the metal sleeve and has converging flexible lips. The metal sleeve includes a plurality of prongs at one end and the valve body includes a top surface. The prongs of the metal sleeve extend to the top surface of the valve body, whereby the valve can be press-fitted into location without damaging the valve body. Between the prongs of the metal sleeve are gaps which permit the molding material to flow from the umbrella portion to the elongated member during the molding of the combination valve.

Abstract: An assembly technique for closing a movable socket (10) without the need to deform or displace any portion of the socket housing (12), thereby allowing for the use of fully hardened socket housing materials. The internal components of the movable socket are installed within the housing through an opening (16), and a conical cover-plate (66) is positioned over the components, within the opening. An assembly tool (100) configured to exert pressure on the conical cover-plate is brought into engagement with the plate, and a downward load is applied, expanding the plate to seat within a circumferential groove (22) in the housing. The assembly tool includes a specifically contoured face (109) which alters the angle at which pressure is exerted against the expanding conical cover-plate as the plate deforms to a generally planar configuration, closing the opening in the housing.

Abstract: A bimetal sleeve bearing has an axial seam that is laser welded so that both the soft inner layer and hard outer layer of the sleeve are continuous and homogeneous without internal or surface cracks. The seam edges are cut and abutted so as to form an axial groove in the inner surface of the outer layer. During the laser welding operation, fused material from the inner layer flows into the groove to form a crack-free lining for the bearing.

Abstract: An annular elastomeric sealing member includes a static sealing lip and a series of projections facing the lubricant. Each projection has a convex front surface that provides two oppositely facing pumping faces and an angled rear surface that intersects the front surface at an acute angle so as to form a sharp leading edge. The sharp leading edge on each projection has a relatively small radial clearance with respect to the cylindrical surface that is to be sealed. This small clearance enables the projections to exert pumping forces on lubricant proximate to the cylindrical surface.

Abstract: Two annular sealing members are mounted at opposite ends of an anti-friction bearing to prevent leakage of lubricant out of the bearing. One of the sealing members includes a rigid annular plate having a molded elastomeric protuberance extending into an annular groove in an end surface of an inner race of the anti-friction bearing. The protuberance maintains concentricity and limits radial shifting between the sealing element and the bearing assembly.

Abstract: A finishing die is used to assemble and finish a shaft sealing. The die performs the multiple functions of staking a metal case to an elastomeric sealing boot, punching a drain hole in the side surface of the boot, and punching a hole locator notch in a flange of the metal case. The finishing die includes a carrier having a cam-type drive connection with a hole punching device so that, during the closing stroke of the forming die, the hole forming device is driven in a transverse direction to form a drain hole in the side of an elastomeric sealing boot which forms part of the shaft seal.

Abstract: A shaft bearing is formed from an aluminum alloy that has approximately 8% Sn, 2.5% Si, 2% Pb, 0.8% Cu and 0.2% Cr on a weight-percentage basis. The tin has an average particle size less than 5 microns and the silicon has an average particle size less than 5 microns. The alloy may be formed into a continuous solid strip by a quench casting operation, wherein molten alloy is fed into an interface between two internally-cooled rolls to freeze the alloy into a solid strip condition in less than one second. The aluminum alloy strip can be pressure bonded to a steel backing strip to form a composite strip useful in forming a shaft bearing.

Abstract: A shaft bearing or bushing includes a hydrodynamic wedge film lubricant pumping surface along one edge region and an essentially continuous cylindrical land surface along the other opposed edge region. Lubricant moves circumferentially along the pumping surface and axially along the continuous land surface. The bearing provides extensive surface area oil film support for the rotating shaft and may be optimized for supporting a specific shaft load distribution.

Abstract: A gasket includes an internal stiffener wire which maintains the semi-rigid shape of the gasket while it is in storage or during the process of its installation between two workpieces. Rigid compression limiter rings are attached to the wire by a tack weld or by semi-open loops formed in the wire. The loops mate with peripheral grooves in the rings. Each ring is secured within a side opening in each loop with a sliding or snap-fit connection. The rings may be loosely held within the loops to allow the rings to self align themselves with positioning pins provided in an injection mold which subsequently forms the gasket material around the wire and rings.

Abstract: A vehicle signal lamp assembly includes lamp filaments extending in a direction generally parallel to the line of action of the principal vibratory force imposed on the lamp assembly. The assembly includes a lamp having a base that mounts two or more pairs of relatively stiff filament support wires. The lamp assembly further includes a socket having a cavity mated to the cross sectional configuration of the lamp base, and resilient electrical contact leaf members in the cavity engageable with the filament support wires when the lamp base is plugged into the socket cavity. The socket is carried in a resilient mounting that provides partial shock isolation for the socket and lamp.

Abstract: An anti-lock brake system includes a relatively low cost, toothed ring for sensing vehicle speed. The toothed ring can be molded out of an elastomeric material containing finely divided particulates that are magnetically permeable. The molded, toothed ring includes magnetically permeable projecting teeth which magnetically interact with a magnetic field generated in a speed sensor to provide a pulsating voltage related to vehicle wheel speed. The toothed ring can be an integral part of an oil seal or wear sleeve positioned between a vehicle axle and wheel hub.

Abstract: A dispersion of hard, wear-resistant particles such as aluminum oxide is embedded within a shaft-engaging surface of a bearing such that the service life of a shaft and bearing assembly is extended. The relatively hard aluminum oxide particles exert a polishing action on the shaft surface to improve the wear resistance and seizure resistance of the bearing and shaft system. A tumbling barrel, vibratory bowl, air jet, brush or similar apparatus can be used to apply and embed tumbling media particles within the shaft-engaging surface. During the application period, aluminum oxide particles are transferred to the bearing member surfaces by the sliding, rubbing contact between the abrasive bodies and the individual bearing members.

Abstract: A vehicular marker lamp includes three light-emitting diodes located within a cup-shaped housing having a flat, transparent front wall or lens. Parallel V-shaped ribs in the rear surface of the lens form prisms that serve to horizontally spread the light beams emitted by the diodes. The ribs are angled differently so that the beam from each diode is spread to a different extent. A composite output beam is generated having a desired beam width and intensity. In a preferred arrangement, the width of the output beam is about 30.degree. in the vertical plane and 90.degree. in the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A manually assembled shaft seal assembly includes a plastic sealing element having an annular tubular mounting portion and a shaft-engaging sealing lip. An annular elastomeric sleeve extends around the inner and outer surfaces of the tubular mounting portion to provide a resilient mounting mechanism for the shaft seal assembly. During service at high operating temperatures, the elastomeric sleeve absorbs and accommodates stresses generated in the plastic tubular portion of the sealing element by thermal expansion. The elastomeric sleeve is in a compressed condition when mounted within a shaft seal housing so that it can expand slightly, if necessary, to compensate for shrinkage or creep in the plastic material, such that the seal assembly is prevented from becoming loose in the shaft seal housing.

Abstract: A shaft bearing is formed from an aluminum alloy that has approximately 8% Sn, 4% Si, 2% Pb and 1% Cu on a weight percentage basis. The tin has an average particle size less than five microns and the silicon has an average particle size less than 3.5 microns. The alloy is formed into a continuous solid strip by a quench casting operation, wherein molten alloy is fed into an interface between two internally-cooled rolls to freeze the alloy into a solid strip condition in less than one second. The aluminum alloy strip is pressure bonded to a steel backing strip to form a composite strip useful in forming a shaft bearing. During the pressure bonding step the thickness of the aluminum alloy strip is significantly reduced while the thickness of the steel strip remains essentially unchanged.

Abstract: A recloseable paperboard container includes a bottom wall, opposing front and back walls, and opposing side walls. The back wall includes a first major top flap connected to an upper transverse edge of the back wall, the first major top flap having a top edge lock tab protruding from an outer edge of the first major top flap. The front wall includes a second major top flap connected to an upper transverse edge of the front wall, the second major top flap having a top edge slit disposed on the upper transverse edge of the front wall. The container is sealed either by securing the second major top flap over the first major top flap using adhesive, or by securing the first major top flap over the second major top flap through engagement of the top edge lock tab with the top edge slit. An integral tear strip extends across the second major top flap and is used to open a container sealed by securing the second major top flap over the first major top flap.

Abstract: A split crankshaft bearing assembly includes two flanged half bearings adapted to collectively encircle a crankshaft. The flanges are formed with oil supply grooves that subdivide the flange surface into thrust bearing pads. Each pad includes a positively sloped ramp surface leading to a raised land surface. The rotating crankshaft drags a film of oil onto the land surface where it provides hydrodynamic thrust support for the shaft. To facilitate close tolerance control on the thrust bearing pad contour, the manufacturing process is carried out so that the oil supply grooves are formed and the thrust face presized prior to formation of the pad final contour. The pad contour is formed by a coining operation.

Abstract: An accumulator piston is formed as a two-piece plastic molding for simplifying its construction and for cost reduction and weight reduction purposes. The piston has a radially stepped construction in which each step includes a radial flange carrying an annular elastomeric sealing element. The sealing elements have deformable, resilient lips which slidably engage the side surfaces of a stepped cylinder in which the piston reciprocates. One of the elastomeric sealing elements is molded to an annular insert member that is seated in an annular recess formed in one end of the main piston body. The two-piece piston construction facilitates installation and removal of mold cavity members relative to the respective elastomeric sealing elements such that the mold cavity members can be of simplified economical construction.

Abstract: A wear sleeve is formed from a tube which is expanded radially into a true cylindrical configuration and then machined on its inner and outer surfaces to improve the tube surface finish. The machining operations include machining V-shaped annular grooves at preselected locations along the tube. Wear sleeves are cut-off from the tube on radial planes passing through the grooves so that the grooves form chamfers on the ends of the wear sleeves.