Abstract: A motor includes a shaft having a load end portion and a retained end portion. The motor further includes a case assembly having a first end wall and a second end wall, wherein the first end wall has a recessed area defined therein, and the second end wall has an opening defined therein through which the load end portion of the shaft extends. Additionally, the motor includes a bearing which rotatably supports the retained end portion of the shaft, a portion of the bearing being positioned in the recessed area. A method of supporting a shaft of a motor within a case is also disclosed.

Abstract: A circuit for conditioning and digitizing an analog input signal that includes a control circuit taking the form of a delta modulator that has a comparator, a clock-controlled flip-flop, a digital accumulator and a digital-to-analog converter. The comparator compares the analog input signal with an adapted signal. The comparator output is conducted to the flip-flop which produces a binary data stream representative of the difference between the comparator inputs. The digital output signal is generated by the accumulator which if fed with an integration constant that is a function of the output signal of the flip-flop. The digital output signal of the accumulator is converted into a square wave signal, which corresponds to the analog input signal, by way of a digital low-pass filter and a threshold value comparator to which the mean value of the digital output signal is supplied as a threshold value.

Abstract: A self-warming battery for use in tactical electronics systems, having a housing containing one or more commercially available alkaline manganese dioxide battery cells, a temperature sensor disposed adjacent to the battery cells for monitoring the temperature thereof, load resistors disposed adjacent to the battery cells for cell warming, and a battery self-warming circuit disposed in the housing. The battery self-warming circuit is coupled to the battery cells and the temperature sensor, and selectively causes current flow through the battery cells in an initializing mode when the temperature sensor detects that the battery cells are below a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A system and method for sealing a pressure area in a washer pump is disclosed. The system and method provides designed interference and contact points between a plurality of adjacent walls which are arranged to define a serpentine channel and which are integrally molded into a pump housing and a motor housing. At least one of the plurality of walls becomes biased in response to fluid pressure in a pressure area such that it engages one or more of the plurality of walls in the mating housing to provide at least one seal to seal the pressure area. The walls may be provided with a beveled edge to facilitate providing a "point contact" to enhance sealing. The system and method reduce or entirely eliminate the need for an O-ring between, for example, the pump housing and the motor housing.

Abstract: A steering column switch that may be used as a gear shifting mechanism and can only be pivoted from its neutral position into one of its operating positions via a special manipulation. This measure prevents the transmission of a vehicle from being unintentionally shifted into gear or from changing from forward to reverse mode if the transmission is in gear. A prestressed holding element is provided in the steering column switch. This holding element locks the driver of the steering column switch in the neutral position until the holding element is moved into its unlocked position by pivoting the shift lever relative to the driver. In this position of the shift lever, the driver may be pivoted so as to shift the transmission.

Abstract: An IC card is provided, of the type that has a cardbus shield (30) with a shield plate (132) mounted on the top of a front connector (12) and with shield tails (36) extending rearwardly and downwardly to secondary ground traces (50) on a circuit board (34), wherein the IC card includes a dielectric cardbus bridge with a crosspiece (100). The crosspiece supports the middle (104) of the front end (102) of the sheet metal top cover so it is held securely out of contact with the cardbus shield but lies above at least portions of the contact tails (130) that extend from the rear of the front connector to signal traces on the circuit board. The crosspiece is supported to lie over the circuit board closely behind the rear end (136) of the shield plate, with the crosspiece having a top cover support surface (112) on which the front end of the cover middle lies.

Abstract: This invention deals with a system and method for manufacturing a drive gear having a plurality of teeth in cross section where the teeth are situated on a drive shaft in a substantially parallel manner. The drive gear is characterized in that the teeth are substantially parallel to each other and contact mating driven teeth at points which define an arc which is not concentric about an axis of the driven gear. The drive gear is characterized in that it has multi-tooth contact points which do not contact the teeth of the mating gear at exactly the same contact point on the mating teeth, thereby lengthening the life of the driven gear as well as distributing the torque load to a plurality of teeth. A method and procedure for generating a drive gear having the features of the present invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: A multi-level network security system is disclosed for a computer host device coupled to at least one computer network. The system including a secure network interface Unit (SNIU) contained within a communications stack of the computer device that operates at a user layer communications protocol. The SNIU communicates with other like SNIU devices on the network by establishing an association, thereby creating a global security perimeter for end-to-end communications and wherein the network may be individually secure or non-secure without compromising security of communications within the global security perimeter. The SNIU includes a host/network interface for receiving messages sent between the computer device and network. The interface operative to convert the received messages to and from a format utilized by the network. A message parser for determining whether the association already exists with another SNIU device.

Abstract: An electromechanically actuated disc brake system for motor vehicles comprising a floating caliper and an actuating unit mounted with the caliper. The actuating unit is an electric motor which, by interpolation of a reducing gear, powers an actuating element, which in turn controls one of two sliding friction linings mounted inside the brake caliper, to interact with the disc brake. With the intent to reduce axial dimensions of the actuating unit, the present invention includes an electric motor with a rotor of ring-shaped design to radially surround the reducing gear.

Abstract: A brake system for automotive vehicles includes a pressure generator to which wheel brake cylinders associated with the individual vehicle wheels are connected by way of hydraulic connections. Actuator units including a cylinder-and-piston assembly and an actuator are inserted into the hydraulic connections. The actuator units permit shutting off the hydraulic connections. To convert the brake system into an active brake system, when the pressure generator and at least one actuator unit are simultaneously actuated, the force resulting from the pressure build-up in the pressure generator and the external actuating force produced by the actuator are applied jointly to the piston of the cylinder-and-piston assembly.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for mixed enclave operation of a computer network with users employing a multi-level network security interface and users without any network security interface. Either the network security user selects or the network security interface automatically selects whether communications are permissible with other unsecured users. Where a mixed enclave operation is selected, the network security user identifies when communications are being undertaken with another secured user or a non-secured user. Communications with a non-secured user at a lower security level entail securing the data residing with the secured user from transmission back to the non-secured user.

Abstract: A fluid level indicator for a brake fluid reservoir is disclosed which comprises a socket and circuit board which, once assembled, are installed within a chamber integrally molded with the fluid reservoir. The circuit board is assembled to the socket, which is in turn attached to an instrument panel warning device. In an alternative embodiment, the circuit board is formed integrally with connector pins, and injection molded about to form a socket assembly. The assembly is then attached to the instrument panel and installed within the chamber.

Abstract: A closed, hollow body has a suspending and tethering, electrical cable joined thereto, the latter conducting electrical power to and from a microswitch confined within the body. A switch actuator is engaged and disengaged by a weight, within the body, the weight being pivotably supported therein, and having a center of gravity which is offset from a central, longitudinal axis of the sensor.

Abstract: A quick connect coupling connects a first fluid conduit to a second fluid conduit. The quick connect coupling includes a first single or multi-layer tube which is either metal or plastic and has a wall expanded radially outwardly adjacent a longitudinal end to define an integrally formed female portion of the coupling. The expanded end has at least two apertures extending through the wall adjacent the longitudinal end of the tube. A second tube which is either metal or plastic and has a first end with a radially outwardly projecting annular flange spaced longitudinally from the first end. The first end and the annular flange are engageable within the expanded end of the first tube. The first end of the second tube defines the male portion of the coupling. An elongated housing member has an outer periphery engageable within the expanded end of the first tube and has an aperture extending longitudinally therethrough for fluid communication between the first and second tubes.

Abstract: An electrical connector 12 is provided for receiving and contacting pads on a smart card C, the connector including a molded dielectric support 14 that forms a card-holding recess 22, and a cover 52 that holds down the card against contacting ends 40 of contacts mounted on the support. When the card is fully inserted into the recess, with a rear edge 32 of the card abutting a recess rear wall 30, the front edge 50 of the fully inserted card projects forward of the recess front end 24, to provide a forwardly-projecting card portion that can be readily gripped to pull out the card. The cover 52 has depending sides 61 with lower ends 63 that project towards each other, so the cover can be slid in place around the support. The forward end 56 of the cover can lie rearward of the recess rear end.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for mounting and keeping together parts in a submersible pump unit.Two groups of screw joints (15) and (16) respectively are alternatively arranged around the periphery of the pump unit, the first group of said joints (15) connectings the stator housing (8) and the seal housing (4) via a ring (13), while the other group of joints (16) connect said ring (13), said pump housing (5) and a cooling jacket (10) surrounding said stator housing (8).

Abstract: A variable force windshield wiper system for an automobile has a rod which is slidably received within a bore of the drive shaft of the wiper system. The end of the rod contacts a lever arm when the rod extends out from the drive shaft. The lever arm is connected to a spring. The other end of the spring is connected to the windshield wiper arm. As the distance of the rod outside the drive shaft increases, the lever arm rotates about a fulcrum and extends the spring thereby increasing the downward force of the wiper arm toward the windshield. To move the rod, a cam having a threaded exterior surface is mounted on the drive shaft and is attached to the rod. A nut having a threaded interior surface engages the threads of the cam. The nut and cam rotate together if no wiper force change is desired The exterior surface of the nut has ratchet teeth. A pawl is used to selectively engage the ratchet teeth of the nut.

Abstract: A driving crank for a windshield wiper system, wherein the crank lever is made of deep-drawn sheet metal. The crank lever has a rear part and a circumferential edge beaded towards one side of the rear part. At one end, the crank lever has an opening with an edge beaded towards the same side so as to form an inner cone. To prevent the inner cone from expanding and to reliably transmit high torques between the driving crank and the shaft to be secured in the opening, and vice-versa, the inner cone is expanded from the rear part.

Abstract: A device (70) is provided for a pair of clip lock connectors (12, 14), wherein the device can be slid forward (F) from a release position to a locked position, only when the connectors are fully mated, and which then prevents connector unmating unless the device is slid back to its release position. The device has a pair of bars (80) which, in the release position, lie rearward of spring sides (24, 26) of a spring clip (20). During initial mating of the connectors, the spring sides block forward movement of the bars. When full connector mating is reached and the spring sides snap into slots, the device can be slid forward to its locked position and the bars lie immediately outside the spring sides. The device has deflectable arms (92, 110) and is initially held in its release position by a wall (102) on an arm projection (90), which lies behind a barrier (94).

Abstract: A method for separating elements associated within a body includes creating a separation region within the body, between the elements, leaving a region of the body which is to be thinned. The method then requires depositing a delay layer on the body, with an opening around the separation region. The delay layer has a predetermined removal rate relative to the removal rate of the body. Lastly, the method requires removing a predetermined amount of the delay layer, the separation region, and the region of the body to be thinned. Preferably, the removing is accomplished by etching, such as plasma etching, and the etch rate of the delay layer is lower than the etch rate for the separation region. In a preferred method, the predetermined removal rate and the positions of the openings in the delay layer are selected so that upon after etching, the elements remaining have a predetermined locus dependent thickness.