Abstract: A sealing ring for a drive axle for a mobile vehicle such as a medium or heavy duty truck. The sealing ring is for the interface between the shaft end flange of the axle and the outer hub mounting face of the wheel hub which allows for metal to metal contact between shaft end flange and the wheel hub mounting faces. The sealing ring has a shaft side which is compressed upon installation into a recess in the shaft end flange of the axle and the sealing ring has a hub side which fits adjacent to an inner radial wall of the wheel hub to seal lubricant in the cavity of the wheel hub. The sealing ring is resistant to tearing during installation.

Abstract: An improved school bus door operator for a school bus, or other public transportation vehicle or bus. The improved school bus door operator of this invention consists of a linear actuated school bus door operator with a handle for operation by the driver and the linkage tying the operator to the school bus door. The linear actuated school bus door operator allows the driver of the school bus to open and close the school bus door with a back and forth short-stroke linear movement of the handle. This should reduce repetitive stress injuries which school bus drivers have occasioned. The improved school bus door operator generally consists of a handle slide mechanism, a rotatable pivot arm, and a door linkage arm engaged to the school bus door. The handle slide mechanism further consists of a slide arm that may be moved linearly within the handle slide mechanism. The slide arm has a handle that juts out generally in a vertical direction at a rearward portion of the slide arm.

Abstract: A fuel injection event controller for a fuel injection nozzle includes a hydraulic lock device for selectively restricting the translatory opening of a fuel injection nozzle needle valve, the needle valve delivering a quantity of a fuel to a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. Methods of effecting rate shaping of the injection charge and of providing a two stage injection event are included.

Abstract: A front air suspension system for a mobile vehicle such as a medium or heavy truck or school bus. The system has horizontally mounted shock absorbers engaged at a rear end to each of the frame rails of the chassis and at a forward end to a bell crank. The bell crank is pivotably engaged in its center to the frame rails and on its opposite side to an upper portion of a vertical link. The lower portion of the vertical link is engaged to a trailing beam. An air spring is engaged between each frame rail and the trailing beams. The bell crank transfers energy between the shock absorber and the air springs to dampen air spring induced movement of the chassis. The vertical link and bell crank combination provide lateral support for the sprung mass.

Abstract: A modular air tank assembly for a mobile vehicle such as a heavy duty highway tractor trailer truck and the process of assembling and installing the modular air tank assembly onto a vehicle. More specifically, the modular air tank assembly is comprised of two "J" shaped brackets, and one or two air tanks seated within the lower portion of the J-brackets and held in place by curved contour retaining elements. The modular air tank assembly may be assembled separate from the main vehicle assembly line and then brought to the line as a unit for installation. The modular assembly includes all tank-to-tank plumbing fittings, check valves, tank drain valves, and local drain valve operator strings which are installed to the assembly separate from the main vehicle assembly line.

Abstract: The closed joint leaf spring mounting assembly for a mobile vehicle with a body and at least two axles may have a suspension bracket configured to be permanently fixed upon an axle housing for enclosing one of the axles and to include a plurality of vertical throughbores therein, a leaf spring having conformed surface to be congruous with areas of the suspension bracket including the throughbores, and including vertical throughbores therein which align with and form a continuation of the throughbores in the bracket, and a plurality of connectors, such as cap screws, for engagement within the aligned throughbores of the spring end and bracket for securing the structures together.

Abstract: The vehicle seat suspension system of the present invention utilizes an extensible linkage supporting a seat frame. Height adjustment of the seat frame on the extensible linkage is done through an adjustable air spring. Movement of the seat frame due to jostling of the vehicle is normally dampened using a variable damping rate, extensible shock absorber. The damping rate is essentially pushed in infinity, fully locking the shock absorber positionally in response to detection of an accident condition. In one embodiment of the invention, a bleed valve between the compression and rebound chambers of the shock absorber is closed to effect lock up. In an alternative embodiment, the electrorheological or magnetorheological working fluid of a shock absorber may be solidified to lock positionally the shock absorber. Condition detection sensors include accelerometers and roll over detectors. To allow for the possible loss of vehicle power, the lock up signal is supplied by an independent power source.

Abstract: The apparatus for providing access steps to a vehicle and a method of installing same on a heavy or medium duty truck. In its most basic form, the apparatus is comprised of an access step and two step brackets. The brackets are installed to outer surfaces of the tank straps which hold a fuel tank to a frame rail of the vehicle. The access step and step brackets have tabs and flaps or slots which can be combined to attach the access step to the step brackets with a reduced number of fasteners.

Abstract: An electronic engine control for reducing, and ideally eliminating, accumulation of products of incomplete combustion that result from cold ambient conditions acting on the engine and that otherwise might ultimately affect engine operation before the useful life of an engine has elapsed. An idle speed control has a first source providing a signal corresponding to ambient air temperature, a second source providing a signal corresponding to engine coolant temperature, a third source providing a signal indicating that an engine is running substantially in an idle condition, and a processor that processes the signals from the first source, the second source, and the third source to develop an idle speed control signal for controlling engine idle speed by regulating the engine coolant temperature to a defined coolant temperature when the engine is running in an idle condition and the ambient air temperature does not concurrently exceed a defined air temperature.

Abstract: An aerodynamic windshield to door frame interface on a mobile ground vehicle, such as a medium or heavy duty highway truck. More specifically, the interface including the windshield and front door frame, sometimes referred to as the "A" pillar, contains a third order mathematical ellipse when viewed from the top of the vehicle. The inclusion of the third order ellipse in the "A" pillar and in some cases the outer edge of the windshield moves the rear point of tangency further back along the vehicle cab.

Abstract: An assembly that removes air from the housing of an axle assembly in combination with the axle assembly for use with a vhicle. The assembly is vomprised of a modified differential housing having an air flow channel therein extending from an inner chamber of the housing to a face of the differentiao housing which abuts ayoke of a drive shaft, the channel emptying into an area over which an seal protector is engaged for protecting a seal provided between the yoke and the differential, the seal protector having an edge port in a circumferential edge thereof which aligns with a cooperating cored hole in a corresponding circumferential area of the housing intermittently, the seal protector being engaged to the drive shaft yode and rotating therewith. The intermittent alignment of the edge port and the cored hole allows venting of the inner chamber of the differential housing to the outside atmosphere.

Abstract: A crankshaft-mounted cooling fan is described for an internal combustion engine. The cooling fan has an adapter (104) mounted on the engine's crankshaft (102). The adapter (104) is capable of being coupled to a power takeoff device (164). First and second adapter bearings (170, 172) are operatively connected to the adapter (104) and to a planetary gear assembly (141). The planetary gear assembly (141) is operatively connected to a fan housing (110), which connects to the engine. A clutch assembly (136) is attached to the adapter (104) in a position where it may engage the planetary gear housing (141). A solenoid (132) is connected to the fan housing (110) and is disposed for activating the clutch assembly (136). A fan blade set (174) is coupled to the planet gear assembly (141), which enables the fan blade set (174) to rotate at a faster speed than the engine. The clutch assembly (13) may be engaged or disengaged depending on the operating parameters of the engine or a motor vehicle.

Abstract: The apparatus for monitoring and recording operational characteristics of heavy or medium duty vehicle power steering systems and a method of using same in testing the operation and response of a steering system in a heavy or medium duty truck including school buses. In its most basic form, the apparatus is comprised of a data collection computer means for collecting data input and displaying output data, a steering wheel rotation measuring assembly, a driver side pitman arm angle measuring device, a passenger side wheel turn angle measuring device, and a driver side wheel turn angle measuring device. The apparatus is generally installed on a temporary basis for troubleshooting and analysis, however, the steering wheel rotation measuring assembly may be permanently installed on a vehicle to give the driver an accurate indication of steering wheel turns or an alarm when the wheel has been turned to its maximum value.

Abstract: A method is provided for installing an oil pan heater on an oil pan while the oil pan is mounted on an engine block. Oil is drained from the engine oil pan. Then the engine oil pan is pierced to provide a pilot hole having pierced ends extending into the engine oil pan. A circular chamfered groove is formed surrounding the pilot hole so as to provide an oil pan thickness at a base of the chamfered groove. A pull is inserted into the oil pan through the pilot hole to engage an internal portion of the oil pan surrounding the pilot hole. The pull extracts a circular slug from the oil pan and a substantially circular hole is formed in the oil pan. An expandable heater bushing is inserted in the substantially circular hole. The heater bushing has an expandable tubular section extending from an enlarged head. The tubular section is crimped and the enlarged head is sealed to the oil pan. Then the heater is attached to the enlarged head.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement for a modular component such as a fuel tank for a vehicle such as a truck and a method of installing same on the vehicle. The method is accomplished via a combination of a set or sets of two brackets and an initial alignment means for each set of brackets. The initial alignment means is comprised of two mating components, with one mating component being a portion of one bracket and the other mating component being a portion of the second bracket. One bracket of each set is installed directly to a portion of the vehicle under manufacture, such as to the frame rail. A modular assembly is assembled separately with the second bracket of each set installed on the modular assembly. The sets of brackets are joined via the initial alignment means attaching the modular assembly to the vehicle.

Abstract: A turn lock bezel mounts an instrument gauge on an instrument panel by exerting axial retention forces that force a bezel ring against a front margin of a mounting aperture in the instrument panel and a dial graphic and dial plate of the gauge against a rear edge of a retaining ring that holds a window glass in the bezel ring and passes axially into the mounting aperture. In a first embodiment, when the bezel is turned a small acute angle in one direction, it can be extracted from the mounting aperture leaving the gauge behind in the instrument panel, and when turned a small acute angle further, the bezel can still be extracted, but it now extracts the gauge too. In a second embodiment, a lost motion connection is provided between the bezel and the gauge so that finger tip clearance will exist between the rear edge of the bezel ring and the instrument panel before the bezel begins to extract the gauge.

Abstract: A circuit interfaces the brake, the drivetrain, and an accessory driven from the engine through a power take-off with the engine control so as to disallow application of the brake from discontinuing running of the engine at running speed set by the throttle control input whenever there is concurrence of a first input selecting placement of the accessory device in driven relationship to the power shaft, of a second input distinguishing that the transmission is in non-neutral position, and of a third input indicating vehicle speed is below a certain limit. The circuit allows a driver of the vehicle to apply the brake and operate the accessory without interrupting the set running speed of the engine so long the vehicle speed is below the certain limit.

Abstract: A hydraulically-assisted engine valve actuator and method for assisting in the actuation of an engine valve includes a translatable pilot valve that is operably coupled to and controlled by a pilot valve positioning system. A servo piston is in fluid communication with the pilot valve and is operably coupled to the engine valve. The pilot valve positioning system controls translation of the pilot valve to meter hydraulic fluid under pressure to and from the servo piston. The hydraulic fluid under pressure causes the servo piston to closely follow the translation of the pilot valve to effect a desired profile of translational opening and closing motion of the engine valve.