Abstract: A vehicle seat and occupant restraint arrangement for a vehicle is provided which, in a preferred embodiment, includes a seat pan member having forward and rearward ends, a seat back joined with the seat pan rearward end, the seat back having an upper end, a D-ring joined to the seat back generally adjacent the upper end of the seat back, an anchor being generally fixed with respect to the vehicle, an occupant restraint belt with a first end operatively associated with the anchor, the restraint belt being threaded through the D-ring, and a lock plate mounted on legs of the D-ring to catch the occupant restraint belt upon sudden excessive acceleration of the vehicle in the forward direction to tension the restraint belt between the D-ring and the anchor to minimize angular movement of the seat back rearwardly.

Abstract: A countershaft transmission has an input shaft and a coaxial output shaft which are disposed in parallel with a pair of countershafts. The countershafts position and support a floating bearing support which is positioned to support ends of the input and output shafts. The countershafts each have a selectively engageable clutch disposed thereon which selectively control the establishment of drive ratios between the input shaft and the respective countershafts. A plurality of forward and reverse ratios are selectively established, between the input and output shafts through the countershafts, by selectively engaging a plurality of synchronizers. The synchronizers cooperate with a plurality of ratio gears on the countershafts and output shaft to establish the ratios. The ratio gears that establish the lowest forward ratios are fully disengageable from their respective countershafts.

Abstract: An electromagnetic air conditioning compressor clutch of the type that mounts the armature through an elastomeric pad. The flexibility of the pad can lead to undesired radial whirl of the armature about the shaft of the compressor, which is compensated for without affecting the flexibility of the pad. The armature is fixed to the outer edge of the pad by an outer ring which has an axially extending, cylindrical sleeve. A guide plate fixed to the compressor shaft has a cylindrical guide flange that axially overlaps the outer ring sleeve, closely, but slidably. The ring, and the armature, can therefore move axially as the pad is flexed, but are guided radially and circumferentially.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a current source, first and second wheels through which a current from the current source selectively flows, and a source of gas, wherein the first and second wheels receive first and second pieces of metal having overlapping portions, force the first and second pieces of metal together at said overlapping portions. The current from the current source flows through the first and second wheels in the overlapping portions of the first and second pieces of metal, generating heat in said first and second pieces of metal sufficient to melt a coating on the first and second sheets of metal where the first and second sheets of metal contact and overlap. The source of gas comprises removes said melted coatings away from the overlapping portions of metal to clean the metal surfaces in preparation for movement to a weld station where the pieces of metal are resistive seam welded or laser lap seam welded.

Abstract: A vehicle body structure of a vehicle has a pair of body side frame sub-assemblies running longitudinally on the vehicle and an underbody sub-assembly extending transversely across the vehicle. Each of the body side frame assemblies has a body side outer panel having a lower horizontal flange extending longitudinally and projecting outboard, and a forward vertical flange projecting outboard. A longitudinally extending rocker inner frame of the body side frame assembly has an inboard vertical wall spaced inboard from the body side outer panel and a lower horizontal wall projecting outboard having an extreme outboard portion underlying the lower horizontal flange of the body side outer panel. The underbody sub-assembly has a generally planar floor pan having a pair of longitudinal edges and a horizontal surface adjacent to each of the longitudinal edges underlying and engaging the lower horizontal wall of the rocker inner frame of one of the body side frame sub-assemblies.

Abstract: An optical coupler is provided which includes a light source; a conduit spaced from the light source with a major axis intersecting the light source, the conduit having a circular opening for receiving light from the light source; a first reflector surface of a partial rotated ellipse positioned to place the light source at the focus of the ellipse, the first surface having an extreme end with a first angle between the focus of the ellipse and the extreme end; and a second reflector surface juxtaposed between the first reflector surface and the conduit, the second reflector surface being generated from a compound parabola with a focus along the circular opening of the conduit with a parabolic axis at an angle generally equal to the first angle from the major axis of the cable rotated along the major axis of the cable.

Abstract: A design for a plastic bearing ball separator is moldable by a true, axial draw technique, which provides no resistance to mold parting, but which also provides complete, gripping ball pockets without limiting the degree to which the ball row can be closely packed. Each ball is gripped between a pair of hook shaped fingers which have ball contact zones facing in one direction, and a ball seat between them that faces in the opposite direction. The ball contact zones touch one side of the ball, and since the fingers wrap around the ball in such a way as to miss the centers of the balls, the ball packing or spacing is not restricted. The ball seats touch the other side of the balls, and have no circumferential overlap with the ball contact zones, so the cage may be molded by molds that form the oppositely axially facing surfaces without conflict, and without restriction as the molds are parted.

Abstract: An automotive A/C compressor has a novel discharge valve design that can be easily installed even though the compressor shell is made up of only two housings, each of which integrates head, cylinder bore and discharge chamber, leaving no access between the integral head and bore. A plurality of cylindrical mounting bosses are molded into the heads, one central to each bore. The plane in which the end of each boss is located can be machined independently from the axially overlapping cylinder bore, which assures an intersection of the two. The discharge valve is sized to fit through the other end of the bore into abutment with the boss, and carries a seal that is likewise assured of sealing contact with the bore.

Abstract: A torque transmitting structure for an automatic transmission has an inner hub for rotating the structure and an outer annular shell. The annular shell has an internal radial spline portion, an external brake surface, a torque tube and an axially facing drive connecting surface. The annular shell is manufactured in a flow forming process, wherein a cup-shaped blank is secured on a mandrel which has a shape complementary to the internal shape of the shell. Forming rolls engage the outer surface and are moved axially relative to the mandrel in a manner to form the desired outer contour of the shell. After the flow forming operation, the shell is removed from the mandrel, the axial drive connection is formed by metal removal and the hub is bonded to the shell.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a spark plug boot with an improved lubricant including a perfluoroalkylpolyether, which may be blended with an extender such as a polydimethylsiloxane grease. A mixture of ratios can be utilized for desired characteristics ranging from 100:0 to 25:75 weight percent perfluoroalkylpolyether to polydimethylsiloxane.

Abstract: An integral variable reluctance sensor and bearing grease seal assembly (sensor assembly) has at least one magnet and an annular wire coil secured at the interior of a housing which seals an annular space between a dynamic inner race and a static outer race. The sensor assembly is characterized by a relatively large flux change and resulting large peak to peak periodic output due to exploitation of the outer race and housing as high permeance flux paths in the sensor magnetic circuit and an additive arrangement of plural magnets. Sensor output signal strength is variable in step with the number of magnets and output variations due to air gap variations are minimized by symmetrical distribution of the same. The sensor assembly is further characterized by a single dynamic seal and no moving parts.

Abstract: An electronic variable orifice flow control valve includes a valve body mounted on a hydraulic pump housing in a valve bore of the housing, a valve seat on the valve body, a metering rod cooperating with the vale seat in defining a variable orifice, and a solenoid having an armature connected to the metering rod and mounted on a body of the solenoid for bodily shiftable movement between retracted and extended positions. The solenoid body has a concentric discharge type discharge port therein, i.e. a discharge port through which fluid flows concentric with a longitudinal centerline of the valve bore, and the solenoid armature is tubular so that a fluid flow path is defined from the variable orifice to the concentric discharge type discharge port through the armature.

Abstract: According to the invention, a vehicle has an air bag module mounted beneath an opening in a vehicle panel. The module includes an inflatable air bag for deployment through the opening. A cover door closes the opening and is hingedly connected to the vehicle panel for movement away from the opening. An air bag deflection shield is underlying and separate from the cover door and overlying the air bag and module. The deflection shield has a forward edge hingedly connected to the module to enable the inflating air bag to pivot the deflection shield away from the module so that the deflection shield engages and moves the cover door away from the opening. A flexible strap limits the pivotal movement of the deflection shield to a predetermined position such that upon air bag deployment, the deflection shield directs the inflating air bag rearwardly and downwardly towards a vehicle occupant and shields the cover door from contact by the inflating air bag.

Abstract: An impact beam includes front, rear, top and bottom side walls connected to form a closed cross section. A foam gusset is formed in place and secured inside the impact beam, preferably along the midpoint of the impact beam. The gusset spans the distance between the front and rear walls, as well as the distance between the side walls to provide increased resistance to deformation.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp assembly is provided including a bulb providing a source of illumination: a reflector housing for mounting the bulb and providing a reflector surface with a forward ledge extending therefrom; a bulb shield for restricting illumination from the bulb and including a generally tubular portion for surrounding the bulb and a leg extending therefrom, the bulb shield also having a foot to support the leg on the housing ledge; and wherein the foot has a snap fit connection with the housing ledge.

Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle has a tubular body adapted to receive fuel from a fuel line. A restriction member received at the inlet end of the tubular member limits the flow of fuel into the nozzle and is adjustable between minimum and maximum flow rates. The restriction member has an upstream member with a maximum flow orifice through which fuel entering the nozzle passes. A downstream restriction member nests within the upstream member such that a wall of the downstream member is in circumjacent, sliding relationship to a corresponding wall in the upstream member. The downstream member has a minimum flow orifice for establishing the minimum fuel flow into the nozzle and orifices in the wall portion which are blocked by the wall portion of the upstream member in the minimum flow position of the members and are subject to progressive unblocking to thereby establish a flow rate through the nozzle above the minimum.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising, in combination, an AC motor, a solid state switch controlling the AC motor, the solid state switch switchable between an on state in which an electric current flows through the solid state switch and an off state in which electric current does not flow through the solid state switch, the solid state switch characterized by a turn off time such that, when the solid state switch is switched between the on state and the off state, at least a portion of the electric current flows through the solid state switch during the turn off time, a first switch circuit for switching off the solid state switch to prevent the electric current from flowing to the AC motor, a diode bridge coupled across the AC motor, a second switch circuit for controllably switching the diode bridge between an active state in which electric current may flow through the diode bridge and an inactive state in which electric current may not flow through the diode bridge, a control circuit for controlling the second switch

Abstract: A film having a unique asymmetrical hysteresis, a method of making, and a method of using such a film in and/or as a device. An example describes a distinctive ferroelectric device as an infrared detector that operates at generally ambient conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle drivetrain. The drivetrain includes an input shaft means and a fluid torque converter having a cover, an impeller and a turbine. A starter ring gear is secured to the torque converter cover to be engaged by a starter pinion. A coupling having first and second inertia masses operatively connects said input shaft means to the cover of the torque converter. An input isolator is disposed between the first and second inertia masses for permitting relative movement therebetween. A cranking clutch includes a driveplate and a Belleville spring, the Belleville spring biasing the driveplate against the torque converter cover and reducing the likelihood of the starter pinion disengaging prematurely from the starter ring gear during the engine start procedure.

Abstract: A torque converter has an end cover or input shell which is stamped from a sheet metal plate and has a stiffening fluid portion and an outer flow formed annular rim. The impeller, turbine and stator are assembled along with a torque converter clutch after which the rim portion of the end cover is welded to the impeller. The impeller and the cover have a flange or radially extending portion that is selectively trimmed to control the dynamic balance of the assembly. The turbine member is cast with the outer core and blade portions integral and an inner core member is welded thereto. This is completed prior to assembly within the torque converter.