Abstract: An improved manual seat adjuster for selectively positioning a seat which requires as little space as possible to operate and that includes a primary and secondary locking arrangement for resisting greater than normal loading which may be experienced by the seat adjuster.

Abstract: A Hall generator includes a substrate body of single crystalline semi-insulating gallium arsenide having a surface. A thin layer, no greater than about 5 micrometers in thickness, of single crystalline indium arsenide is on the surface of the body and is in the form of four arms joined at a common point to form a cross. A separate metal contact is on each of the arms at the free end thereof. An accumulation layer is adjacent the outer surface of the indium arsenide layer and extends along the entire surface of the indium arsenide layer between the contacts. The accumulation layer is effective to provide a magnetic sensitivity and range of operating temperatures as if the indium arsenide layer was much thinner and had a much higher electron density and electron mobility. Electrical devices, such as field effect transistors, may be formed in the body and the surface and electrically connected to the contacts of the Hall generator in a desired circuit.

Abstract: A convection braze furnace for brazing aluminum heat exchangers in an inert gas rich atmosphere includes entrance and exit vestibules forming atmosphere barriers of suspended stainless steel strips. The interior of the braze furnace is divided into multiple zones for progressively heating the heat exchangers to a brazing temperature and then cooling the heat exchangers in the final zone. An impeller circulates the heated inert gas atmosphere within each zone to accelerate heat transfer. A chain type conveyor supports the heat exchangers as they are moved through the braze furnace. An isolated return tube surrounds the lower return side of the conveyor chain as it passes through the braze furnace. The braze furnace housing is comprised of inner and outer shells having an inert gas pressurized cavity interstitial therebetween. The inner shell includes a plurality of expansion strips having generally ellipsoidal corner expansion joints.

Abstract: A torque limiter suitable for use in a gear train is provided having at least one gear connected with a first driven member and another gear being connected with a motive source for transmitting torque from the motive source to the first driven member. One of the gears has an inner hub and an outer ring with spring means preventing relative motion between the hub and the ring unless a predetermined torque value is exceeded whereby the hub has angular rotation with respect to the ring.

Abstract: A cope flask is precisely centered relative to a cope pattern by a flask displacement mechanism affixed to a cope stool which lineraly shifts the flask relative to the pattern while taking up clearance between the locator pins of the cope flask and the locator bushing in the stool. This precision centering is maintained while mold sand is poured into the flask and compacted. The cope mold comprising the flask and the hardened sand is stripped from the stool for subsequent mating with a drag mold made in a similar manner but with the drag stool having locator pins secured in its top surface and the locator bushings provided in the drag flask. As with the cope mold making procedure, the drag flask is precisely centered relative to the drag pattern by linearly moving the drag flask to take up clearance between the centering pins and the centering bushings in the drag with the displacement mechanism.

Abstract: An engine turbocharger, particularly of the two cycle diesel type for railway locomotives and other applications, has a rotor with an overhung compressor supported by a compressor journal bearing and thrust flange combination. The bearing combines a multi (two) lobed offset cylindrical wedge film inner surface with a close clearance squeeze film outer surface that causes the bearing to float laterally in a support member to damp shaft runout while supporting the rotor on load controlling oil wedges. The fixed flange provides thrust control and provides a loose pin connection with the bearing that prevents rotation while permitting its squeeze film damping lateral motion. Particular pressure lubrication provides oil to the bearing interior and exterior adequate for the oil wedge supporting and squeeze film damping functions.

Abstract: A pump drip collector is easily provided to a pump housing of a particular shape. A cylindrical drum of L-shaped cross section, incapable of serving as a drip collector by itself, is adapted to be freely pressed over a cylindrical protrusion from a flat face of the pump housing. When a circular end edge of the drum engages the face, it is spun welded in place. Thereafter, the drum and pump face together provide a complete drip collector. The drum may also pilot on the outside of the protrusion to maintain concentricity during the spinning process.

Abstract: A vehicle emissions test shed is able to accommodate internal pressure changes due to temperature changes or other causes during a test cycle, which would otherwise cause a measurement threatening air exchange. The pressure is kept constant, without changing the shed volume and without withdrawing air and fuel vapor from within the shed. Airtight compensation bladders within the shed are inflated or exhausted in response to a sensed incipient pressure drop or rise. The pressure is automatically kept substantially constant, preventing leaks in or out of the shed.

Abstract: Portable apparatus is provided for terminating a plastic fiber optic cable mounted in a terminal connector by melting the fiber ends to form a smooth, flat end surface on each. The apparatus comprises a housing having a pistol grip, a holder for positioning a connector with the fiber ends protruding therefrom, and a heater. A polished plate is mounted on a trigger-operated holder for movement between a biased position normally engaging the heater and a position engaging the fiber ends. A heater switch energizes the heater; a temperature detector senses when the heater has reached a predetermined high temperature and illuminates an L.E.D. The operator then actuates the trigger to move the plate into engagement with the fiber ends to melt them. When the plate has cooled to a predetermined low temperature, indicating that the fiber ends are solidified, the L.E.D. extinguishes and the trigger can be released. A spring then moves the plate back into contact with the heater and the connector can be removed.

Abstract: A fluid pumping assembly including a control valve mounted in a control valve boss having an inlet exposed to the elevated discharge pressure of the discharge chamber and an outlet exposed to the reduced pressure of the crank case. The control valve is responsive to pressure differentials between the crank case and the discharge chamber and provides a fluid path between the crank case and the discharge chamber to allow lubricating fluid from the discharge chamber to be injected into the crank case through the fluid path provided by the control valve under the influence of the pressure differential existing between the crank case and the discharge chamber. The control valve boss partially bifurcates the discharge chamber to form first and second reservoirs such that oil is disposed on either side of the control valve boss in the first and second reservoirs.

Abstract: A mounting for an electric fuel pump on a rigid metal return fuel conduit in a fuel tank of an automobile includes a plastic support having a center body with a stepped bore therein for receiving the lower end of the return fuel conduit and a pair of integral flexible arms extending in opposite directions from the center body. The return fuel conduit has an annular shoulder which engages a shoulder on the center body to limit penetration of the return fuel conduit into the bore. The return fuel conduit also has a plurality of lugs thereon permanently deformed into notches in the center body to capture the center body between the lugs and the shoulder on the return fuel conduit. The flexible arms have wrapped positions around the fuel pump and an annular rubber isolator thereon clamping the fuel pump and the isolator to the center body.

Abstract: A method of aligning front wheels of a vehicle so that the steering wheel of the vehicle is centered when the vehicle is driven including the steps of aligning the front wheels in centered positions corresponding to straight ahead driving while the steering wheel is immobilized in a centered position likewise corresponding to straight-ahead driving and then turning the steering wheel from a first off-center position through its centered position in a first direction and from a second off-center position through its centered position in an opposite second direction with at least a fraction of the weight of the vehicle on the front wheels.

Abstract: A throttle cable linkage for a throttle valve comprises a throttle cam having a shaft opening enabling placement of the throttle cam on a throttle shaft of the throttle valve. The throttle cam includes a cable socket having a socket axis, an open socket inlet and a socket base. The throttle cam has a pilot trough and a ramp trough. The ramp trough has an interior ramp slot which extends along the length of the ramp trough and into the socket base. A throttle cable assembly includes a throttle cable and a cable knob. The throttle cable is sufficiently stiff so that control of a portion of it away from the cable knob can enable piloting of the cable knob through the pilot and ramp troughs causing the cable knob to fall toward the socket axis with the throttle cable falling through the ramp slot into the cable socket so that the cable knob is adjacent to the socket inlet.

Abstract: A variable camshaft phaser (VCP) has lash take up drive piston assemblies with inner and outer helical splines for phase changing and return springs mounted in pockets in the pistons to shorten overall length for a compact unit and also relieve lash take-up friction on the piston return strokes. Numerous other features are included. A three-way feed-discharge valve limits oil flow to that necessary to operate the drive pistons for phasing.

Abstract: A bubbler liquid level sensing apparatus comprises a liquid storage tank with a vapor region and a fluid region and first and second sensing tubes exposed to the vapor region and fluid region, respectively. A pump with an inlet and an outlet is included, the inlet is pneumatically coupled to the first sensing tube and the outlet is pneumatically coupled to the second sensing tube. First and second controllable valves each have a first input. The first input of the first controllable valve is pneumatically coupled to the first sensing tube and the first input of the second controllable valve is pneumatically coupled to the second sensing tube. The first and second controllable valves each also have a second input pneumatically coupled to the atmosphere, wherein each of the controllable valves has an output that is selectively pneumatically coupled to either the first input or second input of said valve.

Abstract: An idle speed regulating system is described for an internal combustion engine operating according to a fuel based control strategy, wherein the amount of fuel delivered the engine is determined directly as a function of the demand for engine output power and the amount of air supplied to the engine is controlled as a function of the quantity of delivered fuel. The system senses the actual idling rotational speed of the engine, derives a desired idling speed for the engine, and reduces the difference between the desired and actual idling speeds by adjusting the flow rate of the quantity of fuel delivered to the engine as a function of the difference between the desired and actual idling speeds. More specifically, the rate of fuel flow is adjusted in accordance with the sum of an open-loop feedforward value, a closed-loop feedback value, and preferably an adaptive learning correction value.

Abstract: A heater core is mounted over an opening in a wall of a heater and air conditioner case and secured by a single spring steel strap having a straight portion extending parallel to the tubes of the core and bearing on the header flanges. The strap has terminal hook portions which engage anchor apertures in the web outboard of the core. The apertures have flanged edges for engagement by the hook portions and the strap is manually flexed for engagement or disengagement of the hook portions during installation or removal of the strap so that no tools are required. One embodiment has a hook on one end of the strap and a snap fastener on the other end. Another embodiment has identical hooks on both ends of the strap.

Abstract: A wheel cover retention system has a wheel cover with a cover face for covering a central portion of a wheel and a plurality of integral tubular extensions for attaching the wheel cover to the lug nuts of the wheel. Each extension has an outer end which opens onto the cover face and also including a plurality of slots extending axially from an inner end with the slots providing a plurality of fingers which axially forcibly engage with an annular rib of a respective lug nut. The fingers each have an abutment with a tapered wall for engaging the lug nut for flexing the finger radially outward as the wheel cover moves axially towards the wheel and a retaining wall for engaging the lug nut restricting disengaging of the fingers with the abutment. A one-piece wire band retainer has a plurality of circumferentially expanding rings.

Abstract: A window receiving assembly is carried by a frame of a vehicle door. A metallic channel has a mounting surface for mounting to the frame and a pair of side walls projecting from the mounting surface and defines a window receiving channel with an opening. The inboard side wall of the metallic channel has an edge rolled into the window receiving channel defining a lip and the outboard side wall consists of an upper portion in proximity to the mounting surface and a lower portion where the lower portion is rolled into the window receiving channel. A molding is extruded to the lower portion of the channel forming a sealing surface for engaging an exterior surface of the window. The sealing surface of the molding and the upper portion of the outboard side of the channel define a void where the window receiving channel widens compared to the opening.

Abstract: A one-piece metallic belt driven pulley has a hub, an annular belt engaging wall having an outer belt engaging surface and a radially extending web that connects the hub and belt engaging wall. The hub has an internal bore defined by a tubular inner surface. At least a portion of the tubular inner surface that defines the bore has a plurality of axially spaced threads to form an axially extending threaded portion. In use, the threaded portion of the bore is threaded onto an axially extending thread on an outer surface of the shaft to secure the pulley to the shaft. One end of the hub takes the form of a nut having a hexagonal outer configuration that is adapted to be engaged by a tool for screwing the pulley onto the shaft. The other end of the hub forms an axially extending integral spacer, the end of which is located outwardly of an end surface of the pulley.