Abstract: A fastener, method of fastening, a fastener and drive tool system, and a drive tool for driving a fastener in which the fastener has a leading portion or drill tip portion which is frangible and detachable from the threaded portion. The fastener includes a shank having a head formed at one end, the leading portion or drill tip at an opposite end thereof, and the threaded portion positioned intermediate the head and drill portion. A weakened or frangible portion is provided on the shank between the drill tip and the threaded portion for dividing the fastener into the threaded portion which is retained in engagement with the workpieces and the drill tip which is detached from the fastener. The method includes driving the fastener into a workpiece and detaching or fracturing the drill tip from the threaded portion generally at a predetermined location.

Abstract: A plastic top shell for use on a metallic top link of an expansible watch band, the top link having a hollow box-like configuration with open ends and with top and bottom walls joined by side walls. The plastic top shell comprises a molded body having a top surface and a bottom surface with end tabs protruding downwardly therefrom. The bottom surface has coplanar end portions adjacent to the ends tabs, with the top and bottom surfaces defining a thickness therebetween which is greater than the thickness of the end tabs. The body is configured and dimensioned to overlie the top wall of the top link, with the end tabs being bendable around the open ends of the top link to thereby firmly seat the coplanar end portions of the molded body's surface against the top link wall.

Abstract: A headlamp position indicator device is used to denote the proper aiming position of a headlamp in an adjustable headlamp assembly. The headlamp assembly includes a housing, a movable component adjustably retained in the housing, and adjustor mechanisms for aiming the movable component. The headlamp position indicator device of the present invention includes a magnet mounted on the movable component and an assembly mounted on the housing. The assembly includes a holder having a cover member mounted thereon and a position indicator mounted therebetween. The cover member has a plurality of indicia thereon. The position indicator may be a ferrous ball bearing or a pointer member. The position indicator is magnetically attracted to the magnet and moveable relative to the housing according to the position of the magnet. Once the headlamp is zeroed, a zero indicia on the cover member is moved so as to be proximate to the position indicator.

Abstract: A novel clinch-type fastener member is engaged through first and second workpieces to form a mechanically locked joint which is highly resistant to vibrational loosening. The fastener member has a first portion and a second portion defined by a shank portion which extends therefrom. The first portion has a protuberance, formed from a ring, thereon which extends outwardly therefrom. The shank portion has a projection, formed from a ring, spaced a predetermined distance from the first portion to define a retaining groove. To engage the fastener member with the workpieces, the fastener member is rotated into engagement therewith. The protuberance on the first portion engages a top surface of the first workpiece and rotational and compressive forces are applied to the fastener member thereby causing the protuberance to deform the first workpiece material to cause the material to flow into the retaining groove provided of the fastener member.

Abstract: A novel, self-sealing a headlamp adjustor mechanism is used to effect pivotal movement of a movable headlamp component in a headlamp arrangement. The headlamp adjustor mechanism includes a bushing having an initially unthreaded bore therethrough and an adjusting screw member having a shank. The shank of the adjusting screw member has a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion. When the adjusting screw member is rotated through the bore, female threads are cold-formed within the bore as the threaded portion contacts the bore and the cold-formed, female threads are deformed and collapsed against the unthreaded portion to seal the bushing against the unthreaded portion as the unthreaded portion contacts the cold-formed threads in the bore.

Abstract: A fuel injection system for a gas turbine engine combustion chamber comprises at least one pilot fuel injector having a fuel discharge passage communicated to the combustion chamber and at least one secondary fuel injector having a fuel discharge passage communicated to the combustion chamber and a fuel purging passage communicated to a higher pressure region upstream of the combustion chamber. A fuel flow control device supplies metered fuel flow to the pilot fuel injector under all regimes of engine operation and to the secondary fuel injector under certain, intermittent regimes of engine operation requiring fuel flow above a selected level. A shuttle valve is movable to a first position to provide fuel flow communication between the fuel control device and the fuel discharge passage of the secondary fuel injector for fuel injection to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A soft panel has a layer formed from thermoplastic fiber clusters comprised of a very high percentage of crooked matrix fibers and a very low percentage of crooked binder fibers with a lower melt temperature and wherein the fibers have a plurality of bends that entangle the fibers together in the clusters. The fiber clusters are blown onto a first foraminous screen that defines a retainer side of the fiber layer and through which air is being drawn. A second foraminous screen is then added to compact the fiber clusters and define a skin side of the fiber layer. Hot air is then circulated through the compacted fiber clusters to melt the binder fibers to fuse the matrix fibers together where they touch to form an integral soft springy fiber cluster layer to the shape of the screens.

Abstract: A porous preform is densified by heating while emersed in a precursor liquid. Heating is achieved by passing a current through the preform or by an induction coil immersed in the liquid. Ways to control the densification process are also described.

Abstract: A hydraulic drive tool such as a crimping apparatus which includes a crimp head assembly and a body portion which are arranged in an axially elongated configuration to balance a grip area of the apparatus along the center of gravity of the apparatus. The crimping apparatus includes a hydraulic drive assembly having a wobble plate. The hydraulic drive assembly has an axially oriented piston arrangement in a hydraulic head to position an axially arranged configuration of the hydraulic drive assembly along a central axis of the apparatus. The wobble plate is configured to provide axially displaced, non-rotational, generally linear movement of a wobble ring to transfer reciprocal movement to pistons retained in the hydraulic block. The apparatus is configured with the hydraulic drive assembly centrally positioned in the body portion with the crimping head assembly at one end and a battery power source at an opposite end.

Abstract: A vehicle having ground wheels and an engine and a radiator and a steering column. Hood segments are disposed over the aforementioned elements, and the segments are movable from positions adjacent the elements to positions remote from the elements, in order to expose the elements for servicing or the like. The several hood segments are interengageable and thereby secured in projected positions over the aforementioned elements, and they are arranged to be moved for full exposure of the aforementioned elements.

Abstract: A process for the production of a rigid multi-layer composite articles (20) prepared from reacting inter alia a sheet of an open cell foam material (22) impregnated with a binder resin, such as isocyanate resin, to fill the cells of the foam material (22) and a polymerization catalyst to cause the reaction of isocyanate and form isocyanurate linkages, urethane linkages, urea linkages, trimer linkages, biuret linkages, and/or allophante linkages to render the composite article (20) rigid, and having a layer of reinforcing fibers, such as glass fibers, completely (24) or partially (25) impregnated by the binder resin affixed to a surface of the foam material (22) by the binder resin. Fasteners (27) formed of a thermoplastic material are provided having an appropriate adhesion surface. The adhesion surface of each of the fasteners (27) is melted by any of the well known techniques such as spin welding, etc.

Abstract: A connector for joining an end of a watchband to a watch case, the end of the watchband having a terminal link and the watch case having first lugs separated by first sockets with first apertures extending through the first lugs. The connector includes metal bottom and top components. The bottom component has a rear end configured to underlie the terminal link of the watchband, and a front end with mutually spaced projections, at least two of which define hollow guides. The top component has a rear end configured to overlie the rear end of the bottom component, and a front end with mutually spaced flanges aligned with and bent around the projections on the bottom component to form second lugs separated by second sockets. The top component is joined to the bottom component with the terminal link of the watchband captured therebetween. The first and second lugs are adapted to be received respectively in the second and first sockets.

Abstract: An overrunning multiple-row sprag clutch is provided comprising an annular outer race, an inner race positioned concentrically within the outer race to define an annular space therebetween, and two or more discrete annular sprag rows, each having a plurality of discrete sprags, positioned longitudinally adjacent to one another in the annular space. The outer race has a longitudinally varying radial stiffness such that when a torque is applied to the clutch, portions of the outer race radially adjacent to each sprag row are deflected radially outward to compensate for the tiling of the sprags in the sprag row caused by torsional wind up of the inner race, thereby evenly distributing the total torque load between the sprag rows. The variable radial stiffness of the outer race may be provided by an outer race having a tapered outer diameter.

Abstract: A laser ultrasonics technique is used to characterize a composite dispersive response signal from a sample under analysis, such as a semiconductor wafer. Rather than measuring individual acoustic wave velocities at specific frequencies, an entire dispersive response signal is analyzed. In a presently preferred embodiment of this invention the entire dispersive response signal is analyzed using a wavelet-based technique, such as a discrete wavelet transform analysis technique. The discrete wavelet transform analysis technique is shown to provide an accurate, non-contact measurement of the temperature of the wafer.

Abstract: To allow a displacement sensor to operate independently of changes in the excitation signal to the transducer, a demodulating circuit utilizing a single integrator is provided wherein comparison is made between the excitation signal and a reference signal, the comparison is used to adjust an output generating circuit which generates the output from the transducer. Advantageously, the output generating circuit can provide movement information from output of the transducer which include position, velocity and acceleration.

Abstract: A quantity of fluid resin material is rendered into a flowable state without the use of solvents. The fabric then is beaded with at least one elongate bead of the flowable resin, wherein at least a portion of bead remains on the surface of the fabric to tackify the fabric and facilitate lay-up of the beaded fabric in the composite molding process. The fabric then is laid-up into a molding apparatus, wherein the bead adheres to surfaces in the molding apparatus and assists in positioning of the fabric therein. A further quantity of resin is disposed or injected under pressure into the molding apparatus and into contact with the fabric and contours of the mold. The resin then is cured to form the composite body.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a metallized substrate using the island coating method, includes depositing a coating layer containing a radiation curable non-volatile film former. The coated part is then vacuum metallized to form the metal islands of the present invention. A layer of clear resinous protective dielectric topcoat containing a radiation curable non-volatile film former is then deposited to completely cover the layer of metal islands while maintaining the aesthetic properties of the metallizing island coating system at a reduced cost and with minimal variability among parts.

Abstract: A vehicle interior trim component, such as a glove compartment or console door, and its method of fabrication includes an outer flexible shell having a peripheral contoured return flap captured within a peripheral gap provided between insert and backing panels of the component. Foam is injected into a space between the outer shell and insert panel and any gases and excess foam are allowed to escape from the foam space into an adjacent overflow chamber in a controlled manner through the gap while the return flap seals the assembly against external leakage of such excess foam.

Abstract: An automotive trim panel is made by using an apparatus and method that bond together two trim coverstock segments having different colors, gauges or textures and two rigid substrate components into a single trim panel with the two coverstock segments meeting along a finished joint line. The method includes joining the coverstock segments together to form a rough seam, supporting the substrate components on two spaced-apart movable mold components with each substrate component having a mating flange that extends into the space between the mold components, applying an adhesive layer to the substrate upper surfaces, heating the joined coverstock segments and vacuum or positive air pressure-forming them across the substrate upper surfaces with the rough seam lying midway between the spaced-apart mold components.