Abstract: A locking fastener in accordance with the invention comprises a head or a nut body having a radially outer surface defining an outer periphery of selectible configuration and a height dimension defining an axial direction. A shank or a locking neck portion extends axially from the head or nut body and has a radially outer surface defining an outer diameter of smaller cross-sectional dimension than the outer periphery of the head or nut body. A substantially flat radially extending locking surface is defined on the head or nut body between the outer surface thereof and the outer surface of the shank or locking neck, and a plurality of raised locking ribs extend across at least a portion of the locking surface, each of the ribs being arranged angularly offset in a direction corresponding to the direction of rotation of the nut to attain advancement toward a clamped engagement, (viz.

Abstract: A driver assembly for driving fasteners into a workpiece comprises a multilobular fastener engaging portion for engagement in a complementary multilobular socket or recess on a fastener. Each lobe is bounded on opposite sides by a flute, and each lobe includes a driving side wall and a trailing tapered side wall. The driving side walls are adapted to contact the complementary lobular portions of the fastener for applying torque to the fastener, while the trailing tapered side wall is aligned to contact the complementary lobular portion in wedged engagement at a point when the fastener is applied to the fastener portion. A fastener socket is also provided having a driven side wall and a trailing tapered side wall, which is constructed substantially similarly to the tapered side wall of the drive bit and which provides similar attributes.

Abstract: A self piercing cover assembly for concealing an air bag restraint system in a vehicle passenger compartment has a retractable cutter blade that is attached to the underside of an instrument panel next to front end of an invisible door beneath the instrument panel. When the air bag inflates, the cutter blade is pushed up by a deflector shield against the bias of springs and cuts through the instrument panel at several locations making it easier for the door to swing open. The deflector shield is then bent and broken off or deformed by the inflating air bag to provide a shield for protecting against contact with the sharp edges of the cutter blade. The shield and cutter blade retract under the action of the springs so that the shielded cutting edge is below the surface of the instrument panel to provide primary protection against contact with the sharp edges of the cutter blade after the air bag collapses.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for molding a thin-wall plastic shell includes a powder box (12) and a mold box (14). The powder box (12) is positioned to an operative position wherein an opening (18) in the powder box (12) is brought in proximity to the mold surface (20) of the mold. A contoured selective charge application panel (36) has a gasket (30) about the end thereof and the selective charge application panel (36) is extended vertically from the opening (18) at variable heights to perfect a sealed surface at the opening (18) and the periphery (22) of the mold surface (20) to mask vertically extending waste surfaces (14a, 14b).

Abstract: An aluminum object is manufactured by a process including chromate conversion coating of the aluminum object; sequentially applying a primer coat to the outer surface and thereafter applying a dielectric substrate basecoat; vacuum metallizing a corrosion prone metal, namely indium, on the dielectric substrate basecoat to form "islands" of the indium that are top coated with a clear resinous layer to encapsulate and insulate the islands, one from another. The indium islands are less than one thousand angstroms thick and have an average diameter of less than three thousand angstroms. The island structure is etched following the growth of the metal as it is deposited between the nucleation stage and the stage of channelization of formation of an electrically conductive film. The etchant is selected to clear channels between island structures to improve adhesion of a dielectric resinous top coat to the dielectric substrate by order of magnitude to adhesion to the islands.

Abstract: A cover for an air bag unit is disclosed having a patterned tear seam therein defined by an integrally bonded, thermoplastic filler strip as the cover material and comprising a material having properties different than that of the cover material. Apparatus for forming the cover includes a thin shell mold having an inner surface that is heated to melt thermoplastic material cast thereon. A powder box adapted to contain thermoplastic material therein for distribution onto the thin shell mold carries a gasket having a shape corresponding to the tear seam shape. The powder box and gasket are adapted to be connected to the thin shell mold for forming a sealed footprint on the inner surface during distribution of the cast material against heated surface portions of the thin shell mold to form a thermoplastic cover with an opening therein that have the tear seam pattern. The opening is later filled with the lesser strength thermoplastic material to form an integrally bonded thermoplastic filler strip.

Abstract: A fastener mandrel has formed on one end a shoulder and a twisted, generally rectangular shaped head adjoining the shoulder. In setting the fastener in a workpiece, the shoulder enlarges the end of a tubular rivet and clamps workpieces together in combination with a preformed head on the other end of the rivet. The mandrel head deforms the rivet tail into a twisted appearing shape with a somewhat elliptical cross-section that partially encloses the mandrel head to provide good stem retention and prevent axial looseness. A plurality of axial ribs on the mandrel stem are drawn into a reduced diameter section of the rivet head end when the rivet is set, thereby providing additional stem retention and torsional interference.

Abstract: A jet level sensor used for controlling the liquid level in a tank such as a fuel tank. The sensor includes a nozzle and receiver supported within a bracket so that the nozzle and receiver and the associated conduits are freely rotatable with respect to the bracket. A manifold is coupled to the receiver for providing a plurality of output pressure signals indicative of the liquid level within the tank. The sensor is connected to a system which includes a main inlet valve and redundant relay valves which are fluid pressure responsive and which shut off responsive to the absence of a pressure signal from the sensor when the liquid within the tank reaches a predetermined desired level. Also provided are shut-off valves connected to be responsive to a tank and nozzle failure over-pressure condition at the inlet or within the tank.

Abstract: An electrohydraulic servovalve including a tailoring circuit coupled to provide a predetermined input signal to the motor of the valve. The predetermined signal functions to control the flow of fluid from the valve to effect a desired result. The electrohydraulic servovalve includes a housing defining round flow ports with a spool valve for metering flow through the ports. The spool valve substantially overlaps the round flow ports. The tailoring circuit includes a plurality of amplifiers each of which has a different gain. A command signal is applied to the amplifier and the output from the amplifiers is summed to provide an input signal to the motor of the electrohydraulic servovalve.

Abstract: A bright trim article is manufactured by a process including applying a primer coat material to the outer surface of a raw part and thereafter applying a dielectric substrate basecoat by rotation and spray painting to prevent orange peel; thereafter vacuum metallizing a corrosion prone metal, namely indium, on the dielectric substrate basecoat to form "islands" of the indium that are etched following the growth of the metal as it is deposited after the nucleation stage and the stage of channelization but before the formation of an electrically conductive film; thereafter applying a clear resinous topcoat material by rotating the base-coated part and spraying the resinous topcoat material to prevent an orange peel surface while filling the channels and covering the islands to encapsulate and insulate the islands, one from another.A preferred application of this invention is the manufacture of trim parts for the automotive, plumbing and building industries.

Abstract: The modular dual mug and cup holder is allowed access upon sliding opening movement of the holder out of a housing, such as an armrest, into an open position. In a closed position, the holder slides into the housing disallowing access thereto. The holder includes a sliding member having a center planar divider with arcuate cutouts therein, and a pair of arcuate cup members producing generally circular cavities with the center support for holding containers or cups. In the closed position, the arcuate cup members are pivoted in overlapping orientation with one another and with the center planar divider for compact insertion within the housing. The holders slide outwardly automatically upon release of a push-push latch and a biasing spring.

Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting the orientation of vehicle headlamps includes a gear structure coupled to an adjusting member adapted for securement to the headlamp so that rotation of the gear structure imparts linear movement to the adjusting member which adjusts orientation of the headlamp. The adjusting member can be either a translating rack or a drive screw and the preferred drive structure includes a worm drive gear which drives an adjusting gear operatively engaged to provide translation of the rack or the screw. The adjusting member can provide locking of two housing portions which enclose the gear structure. Prevailing torque on the gears as well as the adjusting member can be provided by the locking action of the adjusting member or a drive shaft extending from the drive gear.

Abstract: A mold press assembly has an outer press frame carrying first and second inner frames that are interlocked to the press frame during relative vertical movements of an upper platen and a lower platen for defining a throat distance for receiving mold parts connected thereto and the first and second inner frames connect on first and second drive shafts for pivotal booking movement. The shafts are connected at one end to an electric motor and connected at other points therealong to ball screws for vertically positioning an upper platen with respect to the outer press frame and for reciprocating the lower platen outwardly with respect to the pivoted second inner frame; and the first and second inner frames are driven by other ball screws and electric motors to pivot about the first and second drive shafts for providing access to mold parts connected to the upper and lower platens.

Abstract: A door (20) for a separation table (10) is pivotably installed within discharge chute (12). The door is pivotable between a closed position and an open position. The door has a distal planar section (24) that lies horizontally against the floor wall (38) of the discharge chute when in a closed position. The door when in the open position has a curved contour section (26) that defines the lowest extent (47) of the door and upper wall of opening (47). A stop limit mechanism (50) includes a bar 52 that is adjustably mounted within discharge chute (12) to limit the opening of the door (20).

Abstract: An airbag assembly (10) includes a sheet metal door subassembly (36) with a cross cut (40) and two side cuts (38) that fully covers an airbag escape opening (34) in a primary substrate (32). The inflation of the airbag (16) causes two doors (42) of the subassembly 36, to bend around the primary substrate (32) at upper and lower sides of an airbag escape opening (34). A cutting edge (44) is located at one end (46) of one of the two doors (42) and cuts an opening through the outer uninterrupted cover (25) so the airbag (16) may expand therethrough into the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The subassembly (36) has a continuous periphery (36a) that is connected by a reduced number of rivets (26).

Abstract: There is disclosed a torque transmitting or coupling arrangement for a fastener drive system or the like, wherein the respective externally configured and internally configured components are provided with a series of mating, elliptically curved flutes and lobes. In both the externally and internally configured components, the flutes and lobes are defined by a first series of elliptically curved surfaces which alternate with a second series of elliptically curved surfaces, with the respective surfaces merging smoothly and generally tangentially to define the alternating flutes and lobes on each said component. One of the components, either the externally configured or the internally configured component will preferably have the flutes and lobes thereon generated from ellipses of substantially equal dimension. The other component, of necessity, will have the flutes and lobes generated from ellipses of differing dimensions.

Abstract: A fuel injector system for a combustor of a gas turbine engine includes first and second fuel injectors rendered operative to discharge fuel to the combustor during a high power regime of engine operation and rendered non-operative during a lower power regime of engine operation. The first and second fuel injectors include respective first and second fuel discharge passages in fuel flow communication to one another and to the combustor via associated fuel discharge lips to sustain a flame region. The first and second fuel injectors are operatively associated with respective first and second air discharge means having air discharge lips for discharging air to the combustor for sustaining the flame region therein. When the fuel injectors are rendered non-operative, different pneumatic pressures are established at the fuel discharge lips to purge fuel from the fuel injectors to the combustor.