Abstract: A composite barrier can and method of making same for use with industrial magnetic drive pumps. The barrier can is used to prevent leakage between the inner magnet assembly attached to the pump and the outer magnet assembly attached to the pump drive or motor. The barrier can is a non-metallic, composite barrier can composed of fiber and resin and includes a pole piece. The nonmetallic material and high strength configuration of the composite barrier can permits pump operation at high speeds and pressures with negligible eddy current generation. Using the composite barrier can results in minimizing heat developed in the coupling area and minimizing horsepower required from the motor. A resistance temperature detector is operatively positioned on the exterior of or within the fiber layer of the can such that the sensing portion of the detector is located proximate the closed end of the can. A method of manufacturing the barrier can is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle accelerator pedal apparatus has a fixed base (i.e., a base fixed with respect to the vehicle upon which the apparatus is used) and an accelerator pedal pivot-mounted with respect to the base. The improvement comprises a frame pivot-mounted with respect to the base and defining an included angle therebetween. A sensor is mounted on the frame and an articulated linkage extends between the pedal and the sensor. A position-adjustment mechanism coacts between the base and the frame and sets the included angle. In a highly preferred embodiment, the mechanism includes plural, spaced-apart apertures through a base wall. Each aperture is in registry with a separate radial normal to the pedal pivot axis and by extending a pin through any one of the apertures, the included angle between the fixed base and the movable frame may be adjusted. In a specific embodiment, the spacing between any adjacent pair of radials is about 6.degree..

Abstract: A vehicular accelerator pedal apparatus for electronic control of vehicle engine speed. The apparatus has a pedal position sensor with a rotatable stem, an accelerator pedal and an actuator bar extending from the pedal toward the sensor mounting bracket. In the improvement, the actuator bar is connected to a drive shaft which is pivot-mounted on the bracket. An actuator linkage is coupled to and pivoted by the drive shaft and extends between such the drive shaft and the sensor stem. The linkage includes first and second links imparting rotary motion to the stem when the linkage is pivoted by movement of the pedal. The second link is available in several different lengths and the apparatus thereby accommodates each of several different sensors by using a second link having the length appropriate for a particular sensor.

Abstract: The new tilt steering mechanism includes a housing having a tower and a pair of C-shaped clamps comprising a locking apparatus fixed with respect to the tower. Each clamp has a locking quadrant formed by alternating ridges and grooves. A swivel bar extends along a swivel axis and is trunnion-mounted for pivoting movement with respect to the tower and the clamps. An annular, ring-like locking device is mounted on the swivel bar for movement therealong and is spring biased toward the clamps. Such locking device includes a pair of wedge-shaped locking members for selectively engaging grooves in respective quadrants on the clamps. Other features for excluding dirt from the mechanism and, in the case of a mechanism used to drive a pump and steer a boat, for driving the pump and checking oil level are also disclosed.

Abstract: A composite barrier can and method of making same for use with industrial magnetic drive pumps. The barrier can is used to prevent leakage between the inner magnet assembly attached to the pump and the outer magnet assembly attached to the pump drive or motor. The barrier can is a non-metallic, composite barrier can composed of fiber and resin and includes a pole piece. The nonmetallic material and high strength configuration of the composite barrier can permits pump operation at high speeds and pressures with negligible eddy current generation. Using the composite barrier can results in minimizing heat developed in the coupling area and minimizing horsepower required from the motor. A resistance temperature detector is operatively positioned on the exterior of or within the fiber layer of the can such that the sensing portion of the detector is located proximate the closed end of the can. A method of manufacturing the barrier can is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lighting apparatus of the type having a retainer, a lamp holder held by the retainer, and a lamp secured with respect to such holder. In the improvement, the lamp holder has a pair of support edges spaced from one another by a first dimension. The retainer includes first and second notches, each having a pair of notch edges spaced from one another by a second dimension which is greater than the first dimension. So configured, the holder may be removed through the notches without having access to the rear of the apparatus. In a specific embodiment, the lamp holder is a sphere truncated along two planes to form an "eyeball-like" structure which may be moved in the retainer for adjusting the position of the light beam. A new method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a remote-control apparatus having a base and a first slider supported with respect to the base. A first cable includes a first conduit and a first core coupled to the slider and movable in the first conduit. An output cable includes a clamped conduit supported with respect to the base and having an output core movable in the clamped conduit. In the improvement, the apparatus includes a second slider supported with respect to the base. A second cable has a second conduit and a second core coupled to the second slider and movable in the second conduit. The first core and the output core are coupled to the first slider and the second core is coupled to the second slider. A new method for remotely controlling a mechanism, e.g., a boat outboard engine throttle or clutch, is also disclosed.

Abstract: The new "universal" mounting bracket is used to couple a hydraulic steering cylinder to one of first and second brands of outboard engines. Such bracket has first and second groups of holes, the holes comprising each group positionally corresponding to a bracket attachment hole in the first or second brand of engine. The cylinder has first and second spaced mounting faces that are angled with respect to a cylinder axis. The bracket has first and second end members contacting the first and second faces, respectively. A mounting face and its respective end member are in compression when resisting steering force.The bracket optionally includes at least one cutout area (and preferably two or more cutout areas) for fitting the bracket around a Zerk fitting on a particular brand or brands of engine.

Abstract: A hydraulic helm pump used for vessel steering has a housing, a barrel rotating in the housing, and one or more cylindrical pistons reciprocating in the barrel. The barrel has a separate abutment surface at the end of each piston bore and spaced from each respective piston. The pistons are solid, not hollow. A compression spring is interposed between each respective piston and the abutment surface and the spring outside diameter is about equal to the maximum diameter of the piston. When each piston is in its forward position, its forward end is very close to the abutment surface, thereby reducing unswept volume. And each piston return spring occupies most of the remaining otherwise-unswept volume between the piston and its bore. The pistons are random-fitted to their bores and include resilient piston-and-bore seal members.

Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder for steering a tiltable boat engine includes a cylinder housing with first and second housing ends. In the improvement, at least the first end includes a reduced-dimension relief portion preventing the cylinder first end from contacting the engine when the engine is tilted. A new method for making such a cylinder includes the steps of forming a cylinder housing having a mid-section and first and second housing ends and shaping a relief portion at the first end. The cylinder first end is thereby prevented from contacting the engine (and, particularly, the engine stern bracket) when the engine is tilted. The invention also involves unique manufacturing and assembly techniques.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a new valve and a hydraulic system incorporating such valve. A mode-selection assembly on the valve is adjustable between an open-loop position for system purging and a closed-loop position for normal system operation. A sealing member moves with the spool and with the mode-selection assembly in the open-loop position, the sealing member may be urged against a stationary abutment member in the valve. Such cooperative sealing member/abutment member contact blocks the closed-loop flow path and causes fluid to be "rerouted" to tank rather than back to the pump. The system is thereby temporarily converted to open-loop configuration for purging and is restored to closed-loop configuration by moving the mode-selection assembly to the closed-loop position. The new valve is particularly useful in hydraulic steering circuits for boats.

Abstract: A positive displacement rotary axial screw pump which comprises a series of sealed closures formed by meshing of the rotors for building the internal pressure gradient of the pump from the pump inlet to its outlet. A programmable logic circuit is provided for signaling impending abnormal pressure conditions in the pump and, upon the onset of such conditions, modifying pump operation to compensate for the abnormal conditions. A pressure monitoring device detects selected disruption in the normal pressure gradient of the pump indicative of the impending abnormal conditions and signals the logic circuit of the impending conditions. The pressure monitoring device includes a pressure sensing device associated with at least one isolated volume for sensing internal pressure gradients of the pump.

Abstract: Disclosed is a high strength, self-lubricating, non-metallic gear which requires no lubrication when running with a metallic gear. The gears are cut with a non-standard tooth form to provide superior power transmission performance and the metallic gear is selected from special pinions having range indicators for assuring proper gear and pinion combination.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved spillstrip ring for use in forming a tip seal in an axial flow elastic fluid turbine having one or more stages. Each turbine stage has a diaphragm and a rotor. The spillstrip ring consists of an arrangement of spillstrips mounted in a circumferentially groove formed in the diaphragm. Each spillstrip includes a body portion having a longitudinal extent, a vertical extent, and a horizontal extent, and is particularly adapted for mounting in the circumferential groove in the diaphragm. At least one projection extends from the body portion substantially parallel to the vertical extent thereof, and along the longitudinal extent of the body portion. Such projection has tapered side walls which converge to a tip seal that continuously extends along the longitudinal extent of the body portion.

Abstract: The disclosure involves a hydraulic cylinder having an elongate interior chamber, a piston movable in the chamber, and a first fluid passage generally parallel to the chamber. In the improvement, the cylinder includes a second fluid passage generally parallel to the chamber and both passages terminate at faces at either end of the cylinder housing. Air bleed fittings and hydraulic fluid fittings are at the faces and because of such location, jammed and broken fittings and damage to the boat transom and other structure are substantially avoided. And since each passage has both bleed and fluid fittings, it is not necessary to "crack" a fluid fitting to bleed the cylinder during installation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new dynamic sealing device and a related remote control cable. The device, made of a thermoplastic polyurethane, has a pair of sealing ridges of differing diameter which bear against a rod moving with respect to the outer cable portion, i.e., the conduit. The outer ridge excludes airborne contaminants and the inner ridge retains a synthetic lubricant. The jacket of the cable core is made of nylon 12 which, like the thermoplastic polyurethane and the lubricant, has PTFE as a constituent. The "gap" between the core and the conduit is decreased compared to corresponding prior art cable and the core jacket thickness is about three times that of corresponding prior art cable. Core column strength is about doubled and the new device and cable exhibit a number of other performance advantages as explained in the specification.

Abstract: A programmable hand-actuatable controller and method of producing control signals using same are disclosed. The programmable controller has a compact housing from which a rotatable shift lever extends. A twist grip type handle is rotatably mounted to the end portion of the shift lever. A flexible electronic circuit carrying Hall-effect sensor is affixed to the lever and is electrically interfaced with a signal processing module contained within the housing. Directional control signals are produced when shift lever is shifted to any of three detented positions about a first rotational axis for selections of forward, neutral, and reverse directions. Gear ratio control signals are produced for selection of various gear ratios when the handle is rotated to any of a plurality of detented positions about a second rotational axis disposed along the longitudinal extent of the lever.

Abstract: In a turbine inclusive of: a turbine shaft having a longitudinal axis, a steam pipe, a casing circumadjacent the pipe, the pipe and casing being shiftable in vertical and transverse and axial directions relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and a seal assembly disposed between the pipe and casing and comprising a stack of interdigitated relatively large and small piston rings, each large ring loosely fitting inside the shell during nonoperative conditions and having teeth firmly and sealingly engaging the casing during operative conditions; and having a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than that of the casing for expanding at a rate faster than the expansion rate of the casing under a condition of increased temperature, each small ring loosely fitting around the pipe during nonoperative conditions and having teeth firmly and sealingly engaging the pipe during operative conditions; and having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than that of the pipe for expanding at a rate slower than the

Abstract: Disclosed is a high strength, self-lubricating, non-metallic gear which requires no lubrication when running with a metallic gear. The gears are secured to their shafts with keyless retaining devices, and the gear set is cut with a non-standard tooth form to provide superior power transmission performance.

Abstract: A gas-flow sensor features delayed-action response to physical changes in gases as they flow through the sensor, thus avoiding transient flow-metering displacements in response to such change. The delayed-action response is attributable to blind hole and blind-bore configurations within which cylindrical plunger elements must displace in the course of changing gas flow, and the delayed-action response is controlled by provision of predetermined clearances between parts that telescope in the course of sensor operation.