Abstract: A landing gear load sensor (24) for an aircraft (10) having a skid type landing gear (14) is provided. The sensor (24) includes a shear beam (30) having a loadbearing area (40). Structure (32, 34) is provided for mounting the shear beam (30) to the aircraft (10), such that the loadbearing area (40) is disposed adjacent the landing gear (14). Structure (50) is disposed on the shear beam (30) between the mounting structure (32, 34) and the loadbearing area (40) for sensing shear load on the shear beam (30).

Abstract: A method for heating a plurality of molds for casting heat fusable thermoplastic material each of the molds having casting surfaces and each of the molds having outer mold profiles which differ and wherein the molds are moveable into a mold chamber including the steps of providing a hot air distributor with different tube length profiles thereon; advancing a selected mold into the heating chamber and indexing the distributor to selectively match the outer profile of a selected mold with a selected tube length profile and directing hot air through the selected tube length profile for uniformly raising the temperature of the selected mold and casting heat fusable thermoplastic material in the heated mold to cause the heat fusable thermoplastic to adhere to the casting surface.

Abstract: A broach or other tool having a plurality of cutting teeth along its length is produced by simultaneously grinding a plurality of preformed cutting teeth having overside dimensions, such as oversize outer diameters, using a rotating dressed generally cylindrical grinding wheel engaging the oversize teeth along a length of the broach preform to impart reduced final print dimensions such as final outer diameters to the oversize teeth. Outer diameters which increase from one tooth to the next and outer diameters which remain constant for several adjacent teeth can be simultaneously ground. Different clearance angles can also be imparted during the grinding operation.

Abstract: A blade guard system for power driven rotary saws having a drive shaft arm rotatable between inboard and outboard cutting positions relative to the chassis, a blade guard disposed about a portion of the saw blade and rotatably attached to the saw blade shaft. An arcuate track slot is disposed on the inner wall of the blade guard adjacent to the drive shaft arm. A blade guard adjust arm is pivotally mounted at one end to the drive shaft arm and the other end of the blade guard adjust arm being releasably attachable at selected locations along the track slot to position the blade guard in desired protective positions. When the blade guard adjust arm is released from the track slot, rotation of the blade guard and the blade guard adjust arm to selected protective positions is permitted without the need to remove the blade guard or blade from the saw blade shaft.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a debris collector bag for receiving grass clippings, leaves and debris which has a concave surface in which includes a concave slit opening from which the collected debris is removed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pressure-drop sensor valve system for controlling the movement of a fluid operated, ram-type device, such as that used to drive a panel punch. The valve-like device includes a main passage having an inlet for pressurized fluid and an outlet connectable to the ram-type device. Disposed intermediate said inlet and outlet is a fluid chamber. A poppet valve is positioned between said fluid chamber and an accumulator chamber in the body of the device. A fluid by-pass is connected to the fluid passage and a reservoir, and is blocked when the poppet valve is closed and opened when said valve is opened. A piston member is provided with its stem in the accumulator chamber opposite the poppet valve, both said member and valve being slightably movable by separate compression springs. A check valve is positioned in an axial passage of the poppet valve.

Abstract: The tracks of a tracked vehicle are subject to a tension control system which includes a movable idler wheel for applying force to each track, a hydraulic actuator for dynamically applying force to each track at a zero spring rate, a pilot controlled check valve for selectively locking the actuator against tension relieving return movement, and a control sensitive to vehicle steering, direction of movement, acceleration and deceleration for deciding according to a preset program whether each actuator should be locked or free to move. An operator controlled switch modifies system hydraulic pressure to permit an optional low pressure operation.

Abstract: A pour mold includes two parts one of which forms a mold cavity and the other of which forms the lid for the mold cavity; the lid includes a retractable pilot pin and vacuum cups for positioning a mold insert within the mold cavity automatically upon lid closure. The pilot pin loosely pilots the insert in the mold as it closes and as the vacuum cups pull the insert toward the lid during such closure. The vacuum cups hold the insert against the lid continuously during foam injection, foam reaction and cure and as the lid is separated from the mold cavity part so as to automatically remove the finished part from the mold when the lid is separated therefrom.

Abstract: A vehicle interior part such as a glove box door or console door and its method of manufacture includes an outer shell backed by foam material which is bonded to a mold insert that reinforces the part and defines an exposed back. The insert includes a peripheral edge spaced with respect to a continuously formed raw peripheral edge of the shell and further includes a flange portion that is post formed so as to be bonded to and located in a net out relationship with the raw edge to define a finished surface appearance.

Abstract: An end connector for connecting the ends of an expansible watch band to conventional spring bars or the like carried on a watch case. The end connector is inserted between the endmost top and bottom links of the band and is engageable with the staples providing an interconnection therebetween.

Abstract: A cartridge air filter for use with an internal combustion engine and method of making the air filter. The air filter comprises a fuel spitback shield having means for collecting spitback fuel from a carburetor and means for substantially containing collected fuel spitback with the collecting means for re-injection into the engine.

Abstract: A jack hold down apparatus is provided for threadably engaging an elongate, projecting externally threaded post member and advancing and retracting therealong for respectively engaging and disengaging an edge part of an automotive jack for holding the same in, and releasing the same from, engagement with a given surface. The apparatus comprises a first component comprising a jack-engaging member including a body having a through opening for receiving the post member therethrough and defining an axis, a radially projecting lip portion for engaging an edge part of the jack, and an axially projecting connecting portion for receiving a second component. The second component comprises a manually graspable knob having a through opening coxially alignabel with the through opening of the first component and a cooperating connecting portion alignable with the first component connecting portion for assembly therewith in a generally radial direction, so as to be non-removable therefrom in the axial direction.

Abstract: A retainer mold for forming foamed automotive articles, particularly instrument panels, after a thin vinyl skin shell has been mounted in the mold. The mold includes a plurality of die block assemblies mounted in recesses formed in a surface of the mold cavity. Each die block assembly includes a plate member secured in the recess, and a die block slidably mounted within controlled limits on the plate member, and adapted to be covered by the shell and to be moved as required to prevent wrinkling or bridging of the portion of the shell extending between adjacent die blocks.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein comprises a hand held optical probe axially insertable into the fastener holes of a multilayered panel for measuring the gap between the edges of the panels at the hole site. The hand held probe includes a light source, two bundles of optical fibers for directing light axially into a fastener hole, the tip end of the bundles being directed at a right angle to the axis of the fastener hole so that the panel edges are illuminated. When the probe is at gap depth the light energy reflected from the panel edges is directed by a right angle prism through a lens system in the probe to a video scanning camera which provides an electronic video image of the gap size. A spring biased conical guide mounted on the housing of the probe, and through which the tip end of the probe projects serves to center the tip end of the probe in the fasterner hole.

Abstract: In pressure forming splines or teeth in the sleeve of a clutch hub and the like, a rotatable toothed mandrel and a pair of sliding toothed racks are offset relative to one another such that when the sleeve of the clutch hub blank is placed on the mandrel, a ring-shaped lip portion of the sleeve adjacent the open sleeve end is not intermeshed between the mandrel teeth and rack teeth and thus is not splined and such that a transition region between the cylindrical oil seal surface and the sleeve is splined. The clutch hub thus includes splines on the sleeve terminating short of the open sleeve end in an unsplined ring-shaped lip portion and extending at the other end contiguous with splines formed in the transition region between the oil seal surface and sleeve. A clutch hub can thereby be manufactured having, in combination, a longitudinal tooth taper (bellmouth) within required close tolerances, e.g., within 0.010 inch, preferably within 0.

Abstract: An airflow controller for use in an air filter for an internal combustion engine. The airflow controller comprises a frame and means for movably mounting the frame in the air filter for relatively lateral movement therein. The airflow controller frame comprises a plate that can restrict airflow into a carburetor to choke an engine and a spitback shield having an air intake volute and a venturi cone.

Abstract: Honeycomb structure assemblies comprising walled structures which admit fluid such as air for purposes of cooling or heating the walls thereof or for other purposes. The assemblies comprise spaced inner and outer walls united by means of an internal honeycomb structure comprising aligned cells having opposed interior and exterior gaps open to adjacent cells, which causes the admitted fluid to undulate through said gaps into contact with both of the walls, such as for uniform cooling or heating. The honeycomb structure contains flanges which are secured to one or both walls for uniform strength and resistance to separation under the stress of use.

Abstract: A protective boot is suited to protect from foreign matter the intermediate mechanism of a tool having jaws and handles which are operatively interconnected by the intermediate mechanism.

Abstract: An improved fastener provides axially extending teeth on a narrow shoulder adjacent the fastener head. The teeth bite into sheet material, and are particularly useful in biting into the surface of a thin sheet which is fastened to a thicker sheet material. The teeth extend from a shoulder formed on a medial collar between the head and a threaded shank. The narrow shoulder has a larger diameter than the end of the threaded shank to which the shoulder is joined. The teeth can be formed by cold-flow of the material of the shoulder so that the teeth axially extend from the outer peripheral edge of the shoulder in order to bite into the thin sheet metal proximate the annular periphery of the aperture in which the threaded shank is engaged. Preferably, the teeth axially overlap the threading of the shank which extends entirely to its junction with the shoulder, and the teeth are fabricated after the shank thread in order to enable such overlap by the teeth.