Abstract: A press apparatus is described for forcefully pressing a connector (14, FIG. 1) against a circuit board (12) to press projections (34) of the connector into circuit board holes (22), which minimizes set up time. The press includes a pair of platforms (60, 62, FIG. 2) on which a circuit board with a connector thereon is laid, an upper tooling arrangement (102) mounted on a ram, and a lower tooling arrangement (100) mounted on a stationary base (78). When the ram is lowered, it causes the circuit board and the connector thereon to move down against the lower tooling arrangement, and then seat the connector. The force of the ram is transmitted through the connector and circuit board to the lower tooling arrangement, so in many cases the stroke of the ram does not have to be adjusted for the thickness of the particular circuit board or connector.

Abstract: An electrical device with a punched plate embedded in a plastic plate is described. The punched-out conductive contact elements are still interconnected prior to the embedding operation for ease of manipulation of the plate. The link of the conductive contact elements is a U-shaped tab which, prior to the embedding operation, stands roughly perpendicular on the conductive contact elements and is cut after the manufacture of the plastic plate. This cutting operation of the conductive contact elements is possible without holes in the plastic plate.

Abstract: The description relates to a contact spring arrangement. The contact springs have contact heads (2) each having a convex contact surface and two side surfaces. According to the invention, recesses (7, 17, 18) are embossed in the surfaces of the contact head, with the result that the contact surfaces (4) are smoothed and made wider.

Abstract: A unitary assembly of tubing and an end fitting. The end fitting includes a threaded fastener fitting having a tubular bore extending therethrough. A conical transition is coaxially provided to the bore at the thread/hex interface where the bore constricts. The end of the tubing is coaxially impacted, expanded and sized to an external configuration and dimension that achieves an interference fit relative to the tubular bore through the end fitting. The non-expanded end of the tubing is inserted into the larger of the two bores in the end fitting passed the conical transition and through the smaller bore until it experiences interference from the expansion. The interference is overcome by pressing the expansion into the bore in the end fitting until the expansion is completely seated into the end fitting. The expanded tube and end fitting is machined coaxially using a five step tool.

Abstract: A pump housing has a plurality of chambers formed therein, and a shaft journaled within, the shaft having impellers keyed thereto. Each chamber has one of the impellers disposed therein. One of the impellers is the primary liquid-working element, and has rigid vanes. The vanes are generously spaced apart from the enclosing chamber walls. A second impeller has flexible vanes, and serves as a priming element; it has an intimate fit in its chamber and cooperates with an outlet flapper valve to create a negative pressure in the liquid inlet. Consequently, the pump can self-prime even when absolutely dry.

Abstract: A steering column switch is contained within a switch housing and a control lever is rotatably supported in a carrier. The carrier is rotatable transversely to the motion plane of the control lever in the switch housing. The control lever is pivotable in succession about two axes allocated to the actuation of two corresponding switches. The steering column switch greatly extends switch life by using suitable limiting components within the lever which reduce the wear on the lever caused by switching actuation. An improved embodiment includes providing the pivoting lever with a longitudinal aperture for pivoting the lever about two axes.

Abstract: Electrical switch, especially for detecting the presence of an electronic memory card in a card reader device. An electrical switch (10) includes a trigger button (14) which is slidingly mounted in a switch box (12), a mobile contact element (62) which is connected to the button (14) and which interacts with at least fixed contact element (50,52) carried by the box (12) of the switch, and a spring and the mobile contact element (44,62) elastically returns the button (14) to a stable inactive position, in which the value of the reutrn force (F) decreases when the actuation travel (C) of the button (14) exceeds a predetermined value (C1), characterized in that the predetermined value (C1) of the travel corresponds to the triggering of the switch.

Abstract: An illuminator device for a night vision apparatus, the illuminator device providing supplemental illumination of remotely located objects to be viewed through the night vision apparatus under a low light condition. The illuminator device comprises a housing, light source coupled to one end of the housing for generating a light to illuminate the remotely located objects. The illuminator device further comprises focusing lens for condensing the light generated by the light source into a concentrated light beam having a pattern of consistent brightness which enables substantially long range illumination. The focusing lens is located a given distance away from the light source in a location which is remote from the end of the housing.

Abstract: An electrical switch selectively controls an ignition circuit and accessory circuits of a motor vehicle. The electrical switch includes a rotatable member with radially extending side walls having cam surfaces formed thereon for operably actuating electrically conductive leaf spring members to individually open and close electrical circuits in response to positioning the rotatable member in predefined angular positions. The electrical switch can include both high current and low current leaf spring members in a single switch assembly capable of being assembled from one side.

Abstract: The invention relates to a retaining means for magnets of magnetic clutch for pump drives and has an outer rotor receiving magnets on its inner side and an inner rotor receiving magnets on its outer side, the magnets being disposed evenly around the periphery of the rotors, while disposed coaxially of both sides of the magnets are thin annular disks having a number of straps which partially engage over the magnets on the side remote from the rotor, at least one strap engaging over one magnet in each case.

Abstract: An present invention is an illuminator device designed to be coupled to the tripod mount of a night vision device which allows a user to adjust the direction of a beam of light projected by an illuminator relative to the line of sight of the night vision device. The illuminator device includes an light source and a mounting assembly. The mounting assembly is biased against the night vision device thereby maintaining the direction of a projected beam from the light source substantially parallel to the line of sight of the night vision device. The mounting assembly includes a rigid member whose longitudinal axis is maintained substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface the night vision device and a free-floating member attached to the illuminator whose position can be changed relative to the line of sight of the night vision device.

Abstract: A disc brake for the wheel of a motor vehicle includes a rotor mounted to the wheel, and a caliper straddling the rotor and supporting a brake pad on either side thereof. In order to accommodate packaging constraints within the wheel's rim, the outboard pad and the rotor's outboard friction surface are both positioned radially inwardly of the inboard pad and inboard rotor friction surface. A hydraulic piston located in the inboard portion of the caliper first urges the inboard pad along the piston's longitudinal axis into initial engagement with the rotor's inboard friction surface, whereupon the piston acts through the caliper's bridge and finger area to urge the outboard pad into engagement with the rotor's outboard friction surface. The effective radius of each pad is less than the radial offset of the piston's longitudinal axis from the rotational axis of the wheel and rotor so as to reduce the bending moment applied to the rotor upon braking.

Abstract: A two-piece stamped caliper adapter includes a cast iron anchor and a stamped steel adapter plate. The stamped adapter plate includes reinforcement ribs for providing structural rigidity and stiffness to withstand the loads imposed by a vehicle wheel brake system. A stamped caliper adapter makes a redundant drum brake assembly more readily adaptable to most vehicles and provides other cost-saving economies. In the preferred embodiment, the cast iron anchor and the stamped steel adapter plate are bolted together and the stamped steel adapter plate is spot welded to a drum brake assembly backing plate.

Abstract: A multi-layer tube comprises a metal tube having an outer surface and a zinc layer bonded to the metal tube outer surface, wherein the zinc layer is selected from the group consisting of zinc plating, zinc nickel alloys, zinc cobalt alloys, zinc aluminum alloys, and mixtures thereof. A surface treatment layer is bonded to the zinc layer, wherein the surface treatment layer is selected from the group consisting of a zinc/aluminum/rare earth alloy, phosphate, chromate and mixtures thereof. A first polymeric layer is bonded to the surface treatment layer, wherein the first polymeric layer is selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic elastomer, an ionomer, a nylon, a fluoropolymer, and mixtures thereof. A second polymeric layer is bonded to the first polymeric layer, wherein the second polymeric layer is selected from the group consisting of a nylon, a thermoplastic elastomer, a fluoropolymer, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An airfoil defining the shape of the blades of a vehicle engine-cooling fan assembly. The airfoil has a leading edge; a rounded, bulbous nose section adjacent the leading edge; a trailing edge; a curved pressure surface extending smoothly and without discontinuity from the nose section to the trailing edge; a curved suction surface extending smoothly and without discontinuity from the nose section to the trailing edge; and a thin aft section formed adjacent the trailing edge and between the pressure surface and the suction surface. The aft section has a camber at its location of maximum camber of between 5 and 12% of the chord of the airfoil.

Abstract: A connector system is provided wherein each connector (12, 16, FIG. 2 ) has a grommet retainer (102, 120) that retains a grommet (100, 114) at the rear of the connector, and wherein when the connectors are mated they securely hold a first connector within a mounting wall. Each connector has a retainer lying rearward of a grommet and having a plurality of retainer holes (104) that pass wires that extend through the grommet, the retainer having walls which engage the grommet to retain it and assure proper orientation of the retainer so the holes of the retainer and grommet are aligned. A first connector (12) which can be inserted into a hole (30) of a mounting wall (14), has resilient tines (36, 38) that press against the hole surface and that have latch parts (56) at their front ends that form shoulders (60) that engage a face (34) of the wall.

Abstract: A system is described for electrically grounding plug and receptacle connectors (12, 16, FIG. 3) as they mate, which occupies minimal space that would otherwise be occupied by regular pin-and-socket contacts, and which isolates sparks created during ground connections. Each connector has a dielectric housing (54, 80) lying at the end of a circuit board (60, 82). The receptacle connector has a shield (100) extending around its dielectric housing, the shield having a tab (162) that is soldered to a grounded trace (160) on the corresponding circuit board. The plug connector carries a plug ground member (142) that has a front end (144) for engaging the shield on the connector member when the connectors mate, the plug ground member having a rear end forming a tab (172) that is soldered to a grounded trace (174) on its corresponding circuit board. The plug ground member lies in a groove (140) of the dielectric housing, with a resilient bent portion (146) projecting out of the groove.

Abstract: An electric motor driven fan particularly for use on motor vehicles where water may be splashed into and onto the fan motor, includes a labyrinth-like seal in which a pair of concentric rings are formed on an integral with the fan hub and extend toward the drive motor defining an annular space therebetween, and the motor mounting bracket is provided with a non-rotating ring concentric to the pair of rings on the hub and extending from the bracket into the annular space, thereby preventing direct splash in or straight line intrusion of water into the space between the motor housing and the hub.

Abstract: An interlock switch for electrically coupling opposing surfaces of a circuit card assembly, wherein each of the surfaces includes a contact pattern defining circuit and switch functions. The interlock switch comprises a pair of contacts which engage the contact patterns on the circuit card assembly to electrically couple the circuits located on the oppositely facing surfaces thereof and a switch body for housing the contacts. The switch body includes a slot for solder-free coupling the switch to an edge of the circuit card assembly. The slot enables the switch to selectively reciprocate among three switch positions on the edge of the circuit card assembly to provide either an open circuit or a closed circuit on the circuit card assembly in any one of three switch positions for each contact. A spring is housed within the switch body for biasing the switch from one of the three positions making it a momentary position.