Abstract: A pultruded shaped composite material of carbon fiber having a diameter not greater than 0.001 inch aligned linearly with a degree of waviness defined by an average amplitude to length (A/L) ratio of less than 0.9 percent, the matrix formed around the fiber and solidified or cured into a rigid form that will not melt during subsequent processing steps to prevent an increase in waviness during subsequent processing steps. The matrix material consists essentially of a resin present in the range of about 10 to 50 percent by volume of the composite material. The A /L ratio is determined by measuring the distribution of angularity found in the aligned carbon fibers in a selective cross section cut at five degrees to the fiber plane, wherein the standard deviation for a 300 sample angularity measurement is not greater than 0.88 degrees.

Abstract: A high gloss color finish for a plastic article is formed by coating and curing a colored primer layer (12) onto a plastic substrate (10). A light transmissive basecoat (14) is applied and cured onto the primer layer (12) to form a substrate (10) with a colored surface. Indium islands (20) are vacuum deposited onto the basecoat (12) to a thickness up to 100 Angstroms to form a visually macroscopically continuous layer (21). The island layer (21) is etched to remove smaller sized islands. A transparent topcoat (24) is applied onto the basecoat and indium islands and cured in place.

Abstract: A retractable speaker assembly for an automobile is disclosed which includes a housing containing at least one loudspeaker, a first actuator for selectively moving the housing between a retracted position and an extended position, and a second actuator for rotating the housing sideways so that the speaker can be directed toward the left or right side of the automobile interior.

Abstract: A gasketing device for forming a molded interior trim component for a vehicle utilizes a flexible planar gasket compressed between mold halves to prevent foaming material from entering the gasket area. The gasket is adapted to be secured to a structural insert and has a flexible peripheral edge that seals against the inside surface of a bezel on the insert. The gasket extends through the opening defined by the bezel to seal against a skin shell. The method includes mounting the gasket on the insert. The insert and gasket are placed on a mold half with an opposing mold half having a skin shell thereon. A foaming formulation is placed between the skin shell and insert and allowed to foam about the gasket to secure the insert to the skin shell. The product is removed, the skin shell over the gasket cut and peeled away to form an opening in the shell dimensioned smaller than the dimensions of the peripheral edge of the gasket.

Abstract: A coupling between a direct drive valve and a rotary valve for providing a rotary-to-rotary coupling therebetween. A shaft carried by the rotor of the motor defines a re-entrant bore having a plurality of flat surfaces. A rod having a plurality of flat faces on the exterior surface thereof and which is connected to the rotary valve is received in mating engagement with the bore. The shaft is slotted to provide a plurality of flexible fingers for receiving the rod.

Abstract: A hollow core instrument panel provides the look and feel of a urethane filled instrument panel without the associated disadvantages. A rigid retainer substrate provides a skeletal superstructure. A hollow shell applique is attached to the retainer substrate for providing a decorative exterior. The hollow shell applique includes a resilient upper wall, a lower wall, contoured to matingly engage the retainer substrate, a forward end wall and a rearward end wall. One or more ribs may be provided intermediate the forward and rearward end walls. The forward and rearward end walls are hook-shaped for mechanically clamping about the edges of the retainer substrate. Vent holes prevent pressure build-up within the hollow shell applique.

Abstract: The present invention envisions a headlamp calibration assembly for use with an adjustable headlamp assembly. The headlamp assembly includes a housing, a reflector adjustably retained in the housing and horizontal and vertical aiming devices. The housing has a viewing port formed therethrough for viewing inside of the housing for observing the movable headlamp component, for example the reflector. The calibration assembly includes an adjustably mounted lens positioned over the viewing port, horizontal position indicia on the reflector positioned for viewing through the lens and viewing port including a zero adjustment indicator represented by a selected one of the horizontal position indicia, and sight means on the lens in the form of indicia or the like for sighting and alignment with the horizontal position indicia to attain zero adjustment as discussed above.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for manufacturing multiple thin walled hollow shells for parts such as automobile door panels, arm rests, and instrument panels from thermoplastic plastisol includes a pair of plastisol charge boxes each forming a separate compartment and members for joining the charge boxes with an open ended mold. The mold has a divider rib thereon that is inaccessible by straight vertical engagement of a seal assembly on the divider. An indexable divider wall is operatively connected between the charge boxes so that the divider wall can be selectively extended and retracted at an angle with respect to the vertical and against the mold at the divider rib thereon for allowing separation of the casting surfaces having different colors fixed thereon and the subsequent fusing of the casting surfaces to one another at the divider.

Abstract: An adjustable automotive vehicle seat is equipped with a height adjust mechanism that includes a U-shaped frame having laterally spaced side members and a round front cross member that is mounted on the front ends of the side members for rotation about its centerline. A plurality of bow shaped leaf springs are spaced across the width of the seat with their front ends secured to the round front cross member. The rear ends of the leaf springs are secured to a slidable rear cross member. An electrically powered, reversible ball screw actuator translates the rear cross member in the longitudinal direction so that the height of the seat is adjusted by adjusting the curvature of the bow shaped leaf springs.

Abstract: A self piercing cover assembly for concealing an air bag restraint system in a vehicle passenger compartment has a plurality of retractable cutter blades that are attached to the underside of an invisible door beneath the instrument panel by leaf springs. When the air bag inflates, it pushes the cutter blades out against the bias of springs to cut through the instrument panel at several locations along the front edge of the door making it easier for the door to swing open. The cutter blades retract under the action of the leaf springs so that the cutting edges are below the surface of the cover assembly to protect against contact with the cutting edges after the air bag collapses.

Abstract: A tractor-supported lawn mower which has raising and lowering controls for automatically raising the mowers to a predetermined elevation and for automatically lowering the mowers to the ground, both raising and lowering functions being effective in response to minimal operator manual control.

Abstract: A headlamp adjusting mechanism having a housing member with a passage formed therethrough and an independent nut body is retained in the housing member. The independent nut body has a threaded aperture which is substantially coincident with the passage in the housing. An elongated threaded shaft extends through the passage in the housing and cooperatively engages the threaded aperture in the independent nut body. An assembly for driving the elongated shaft such as a mitered gear arrangement is operatively associated with the housing. The driving assembly transfers motion applied to the assembly to rotate the elongated shaft cooperatively engaged with the threaded aperture in the independent nut body to produce axial displacement of the elongated shaft through the passage.

Abstract: An air cushion vehicle having improved maneuverability is produced by providing air discharge vents for diverting at least a portion of the pressurizing cushion air from the side of the volute housing opposite that to which the vehicle is being turned, and discharging it from a thruster at said opposite side in a direction away from the direction of the turn. The thruster is located at a forward position, above the deck of the vehicle and adjacent the centerline thereof, and the discharged air produces a thrust which causes the vehicle to roll in the direction of the turn and permits cushion air to escape from beneath the vehicle at said opposite side, producing a thrust complimentary to the thrust from the volute housing.

Abstract: A power tool braking system includes a brake movably mounted to a frame of the power tool and a system for automatically moving the brake to a braking position. The brake has a first portion with a braking surface and a second portion. The system for automatically moving the brake to a braking position comprises a throttle of the power tool having a trigger with a section adapted to engage the brake second portion to move the brake to its braking position upon release of the throttle by a user.

Abstract: A deflector jet servovalve including a fluidic amplifier constructed utilizing a plurality of laminae stacked one upon the other and bonded together to form an integral laminated structure. The fluidic amplifier includes a fixed ejector and a pair of receivers disposed opposed the ejector with a movable deflector disposed between the ejector and the receivers to deflect a jet stream emanating from the ejector. Conduit means is also defined in the integral laminated structure to supply fluid under pressure to the ejector and to receive any differential fluid output therefrom.

Abstract: A wire crimping machine automatically adjusts the crimping means to the proper crimp depth for a selected size of wire and the size of the contact to be crimped onto the wire. The size of wire to be crimped is selected by the operator. As a wire is inserted into the machine for crimping, an arrangement of light emitting diodes, photo diodes, and associated circuits determine the wire's size and whether the wire is stripped. The crimping means is allowed to actuate only if the wire is stripped and the wire's size is the same as that selected by the operator.

Abstract: A high speed spindle has a motor and tool adjustment mechanism which aligns spaced bearing means to rigidly support the spindle shaft at high speed operation and to prevent excessive lateral loading of a bearing unit of the tool adjustment mechanism. The unitary motor and tool adjustment mechanism are joined together as a single unitary assembly which is mountable on a machine tool base without requiring alignment and preassembly of the motor and tool adjustment mechanism at field locations.