Abstract: A luggage compartment lid openable upon release of the deck lid latch and a release handle mounted in the operator compartment and connected to the latch by a cable for remotely releasing the latch upon operator actuation of the release handle. A drive gear is rotatably mounted on the latch to release the latch upon rotation of the drive gear. An actuator gear is also rotatably mounted on the latch and has gear teeth meshing with gear teeth of the drive gear. The actuator gear is connected to the cable so that operator actuation of the release handle rotates the actuator gear and the drive gear to release the latch. A shift bar is located inside the luggage compartment and is operable to selectively shaft the actuator gear away from the drive gear so that the gear teeth are disengaged and operator actuation of the release handle is thereby disconnected from the latch so that the deck lid cannot be opened without the use of a key to operate the conventional key cylinder release of the deck lid.

Abstract: A superconducting Y.sub.1 Ba.sub.2 Cu.sub.4 O.sub.2 thin film is formed by a metalorganic deposition method which comprises depositing a solution comprising neodecanoates of Y, Ba and Cu and a solvent having at least approximately 5 volume percent pyridine in xylene onto a substrate selected from the group consisting of strontium titanate, barium titanate, and sapphire; pyrolyzing the coated substrate to thermally decompose the neodecanoates at a temperature of about 500.degree. C. followed by a rapid thermal annealing.

Abstract: A compact vehicle hood latch and pop-up device can be pressembled as a unit and mounted to a vehicle and cooperate with a single striker on the hood to effect latching, pop-up and unlatching of the hood. It includes a pivotal primary latch, a detent lever cooperable with the primary latch, a pop-up lever extending across the path of the striker to effect movement of the latter to a pop-up position when the primary latch is released and a secondary latch to release the striker from its pop-up position.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation valve assembly for controlling the recirculation of exhaust gas in an internal combustion engine having a base with an exhaust gas chamber formed therein, a valve member mounted within the exhaust gas chamber for metering the flow of exhaust gas therethrough, a one piece bearing having upper and lower bearing members for precise positioning of the valve member within the exhaust gas chamber, and a valve stem support assembly for mounting the valve stem relative to the actuator having means for allowing lateral movement between the actuator and the valve member thereby eliminating side-to-side loading and resultant binding of the precisely positioned valve member within the bearing.

Abstract: A top end retainer for an air spring sleeve in an automotive strut suspension system includes an elliptic clamping flange having a perimeter equal to the circumference of the top end of the air spring sleeve so that the sleeve fits over the clamping flange without stretching. A bushing aperture in a center web attached to the clamping sleeve is offset to an end of the flange. A piston rod of the strut is received in the bushing aperture through an elastomeric bushing and the center web is connected to the sprung mass for rotation so that the strut and air spring are rotatable about a steering axis. The geometric center of the elliptic flange is further offset from the longitudinal axis of the strut than would be the case with a circular flange having a diameter equal to the diameter of the top end of the air spring sleeve so that the top end retainer according to this invention contributes to optimization of the inclination of the line along which the air spring resultant force is directed.

Abstract: Thermoformable laminate films with a decorative feature include a polymer carrier film, a paint layer and a protective clearcoat and the clearcoat and paint layer have a preconfiguration which causes desired decorative features following deformation of the laminate by a thermoforming process. The laminated film has a paint coat of a desired hue and the protective clearcoat has a variable thickness selected to produce a two tone appearance in a finished molded product. The process of manufacture includes the steps of painting a polymeric support or carrier film and laminating the painted carrier film by process steps which will control the finished appearance of the laminate when applied to an underlying relatively rigid substrate or body part.

Abstract: A preload control arm for controlling fluid flow through a viscous fluid clutch includes a rotatable control shaft mounted in the clutch. The control arm is secured to the control shaft so that flexible end portions of the control arm cover pump plate orifices in the clutch. A spring secured to the control shaft provides a force adajcent the end portions opposite the pump plate orifices to maintain the seal when the control arm is in the closed position.

Abstract: A dual-face, internally-mounted cooling fan is provided in a dynamoelectric machine, e.g. an alternating current generator. The generator includes a ventilated housing supporting a stator assembly and a rotor assembly. The fan includes a divider disk having a plurality of blades provided on each surface and is mounted to rotate with the rotor assembly. As the fan is rotated, a plurality of separate air currents are drawn axially into the housing for cooling. The divider disk prohibits substantial mixing of currents drawn from opposite ends before they are radially expelled from the housing.

Abstract: An anodized aluminum part is wear tested by forcing a ball point stylus against the part and rotating the part about an axis spaced from the stylus. A turntable driven by a motor rotates the part at a desired speed. Weights are used to determine the force on the stylus. A layer of nonconductive oil on the test area helps clear wear debris from the circular wear path due to the motion of the ball through the oil. An ohm meter is connected between the stylus and the aluminum substrate to monitor electrical continuity and thus detect when the stylus wears through the anodized coating. The time required to achieve the wear through is a measure of the wear resistance of the coating.

Abstract: A temperature sender has a spring biased thermistor located in a temperature probe housing; the housing is adapted to be connected to a female connector cover defining a receptacle for a mating connector; a multiple segment flat element terminal is molded in-situ of the cover and one of the terminal segments is located in the temperature probe housing and has connector means thereon which connect to and align a biasing spring with respect to the thermistor; two of the multiple segments are located in the receptacle with one of them serving the dual function of indexing the mating connector to the female connector cover and defining a probe point for testing electrical continuity between the terminal and thermistor and the second one of the other segments serving to electrically connect the mating connector to the thermistor to complete a sender circuit.

Abstract: An external combustion system for a stationary gas turbine engine includes a rich zone combustor, a water or steam quench stage, a lean zone combustor and a dilution stage. Fuel such as natural gas or liquid hydrocarbon, which forms no ash or slag, burns in a primary air supply in the rich zone combustor at an equivalence ratio exceeding 1 which inhibits rapid formation of of oxides of nitrogen. The effluent from the rich zone combustor is a stream of combustible gas including carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The combustible gas stream is quenched in the quench stage and mixed with a secondary supply of compressed air in the lean zone combustor. The combustible gas ignites spontaneously in the lean zone combustor and burns at an equivalence ratio of less than 1 and at a temperature below the range characterized by rapid formation of oxides of nitrogen.

Abstract: A hydraulic mount assembly includes a pair of mounting members connected to each other through a hollow elastomeric body. The body is closed by a resilient diaphragm so as to form a cavity for damping liquid. A partition is provided to divide the fluid filled cavity into two distinct chambers. A primary chamber is formed between the partition and the interior wall of the body. A secondary chamber is formed between the partition and the interior wall of the diaphragm. The partition includes at least one orifice track connecting the two chambers. There is further provided a domed orifice plate in said primary chamber. The orifice within the orifice plate allows restricted fluid communication between the primary chamber and the flow passage in the partition. During operation, this orifice provides a passive tuning mechanism for the mount by lowering the dynamic rate at higher operating frequencies.

Abstract: An injection nozzle has a flow splitter interposed between its valve head and its valve seat. An operating disc responsive to pressure in the nozzle inlet varies the position of the flow splitter between the valve seat and the valve head, maintaining the flow splitter engaged with the valve seat under low flow conditions, engaged with the valve head under high flow conditions, and spaced from both the valve seat and the valve head under intermediate flow conditions.

Abstract: An alternating current generator for supplying the electrical loads on a motor vehicle. The generator has a stator core that carries a three-phase stator or output winding. The rotor of the generator has two claw pole members that are magnetically connected by a core. A field coil is disposed about the core. The pole fingers of the claw pole members are interleaved and a plurality of permanent magnets are secured to side surfaces of the pole fingers such that there is a permanent magnet between each pair of adjacent pole fingers. The generator is arranged such that flux developed by the permanent magnets can flow through a closed magnetic path that bypasses the air gap between the rotor and stator and such that energization of the field coil with unidirectional current cause permanent magnet flux to traverse the air gap between the rotor and stator and thereby provide a useful flux for generating voltage in the stator winding.

Abstract: A liquid cooling system for an internal combustion engine charged by a turbosupercharger has forced circulation cooling of the engine and turbosupercharger. To cool the turbosupercharger after the internal combustion engine has been switched off the turbosupercharger inlet pipe contains a check valve and a return flow pipe to an expansion tank is split into branch pipes, a first pipe entering the expansion tank above the cooling liquid level and a second pipe entering the expansion tank below the cooling liquid level and having a check valve. Upon switching off the engine, the cooling liquid in the turbosupercharger is evaporated by residual heat and discharges the cooling liquid into the expansion tank in a cyclic, thrust-like process.

Abstract: A headlamp assembly having a lamp unit supported by three ball pivots each of which is connected to the reflector member of the lamp unit by a bearing member which encloses substantially all of the ball portion so as to prevent foreign material from entering the spherical bearing surface provided by the bearing member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the output torque response of a crankase scavenged, two-stroke engine to a change in throttle position by adjusting the conventional timing of cylinder fuel injection as a function of the position of the throttle and the time rate of change in the throttle position. Preferably, throttle position is measured with a potentiometer connected to the engine air intake throttle, and then filtered with a filter having a first order lag characteristic. Injection timing is advanced based upon a first predetermined schedule as a function of the measured throttle position. The difference between the measured and filtered throttle positions represents an indication of the time rate of change of throttle position and is employed to advance or retard timing in accordance with the second predetermined schedule, depending upon whether the difference is positive or negative, respectively.

Abstract: Louvered fins in fin and tube type heat exchangers extend across the spaces between adjacent tubes. Adjacent tubes are separated by a distance s and louvers in the fins extend between the tubes but stop short of the tubes to leave some plain fin area which defines a bypass channel of width b between each tube and adjacent louvers. The curve of heat transfer versus air side pressure drop increases as the ratio b/s decreases. An optimum value of b/s occurs at the knee of the curve and lower values of the ratio effect insignificant improvements in heat transfer.

Abstract: A normally closed check valve has an ephemeral seal on the entry side thereof which blocks fluid flow through the check valve at pressure differentials acting across the check valve which would normally open the check valve and cause fluid flow to occur through the check valve. The ephemeral seal is a high viscosity material which when heated to a temperature well above the normally encountered ambient temperature will become of sufficiently low viscosity to flow from the check valve entry and be removed from blocking the opening of the check valve. The ephemeral seal is usually so heated by operation of the mechanism in which the check valve and ephemeral seal are installed, such operation normally creating sufficient heat to heat the ephemeral seal to that temperature which causes it to be of sufficiently low viscosity to flow away from the check valve entry. The mechanism disclosed which uses the check valve and a preferred embodiment of the ephemeral seal is a disc brake caliper assembly.

Abstract: A two fill level system uses a valve within the tank interior having a pair of different height venting inlets to the vent pipe, with a fuel level responsive seal at one inlet and a temperature responsive seal at the other inlet.

Abstract: A fan clutch assembly for a vehicle includes a rotatable pump plate for separating a collecting chamber and a pumping chamber from a reservoir. The pump plate includes at least one wiper integrally formed with the pump plate and projecting from a pump plate surface into the pumping chamber. An aperture oriented in the direction of oncoming fluid in the pumping chamber is provided through the wiper to form an orifice for fluid to pass from the pumping chamber to the reservoir. A damming surface oriented toward the orifice is provided on the wiper for creating a pressure rise and enhancing the pump-out of fluid from the pumping chamber.

Abstract: An injector has a single tapered valve controlling fuel flow to a plurality of outlet passages. The entrance to each outlet passage has an orifice surrounded by a raised valve seat. Each valve seat is separated from the other valve seats by a recessed space. The valve pivots as it is displaced from the valve seat to allow fuel flow through the outlet passages, and is constrained against other motion within the injector. The valve seats are clustered beneath the free end of the valve. The orifices are sized to compensate for the unequal lift of the tapered valve from the valve seats.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for determining the mass of air available for combustion within a cylinder of a crankcase scavenged two-cycle engine, without the use of a mass-air flow sensor. This is achieved by estimating the mass of air under compression within a crankcase chamber, prior to its transfer to a cylinder combustion chamber. The estimate for air mass is based upon the integration of crankcase pressure over the interval of decreasing crankcase volume, while air within the crankcase is under compression. The volume of the air within the crankcase chamber is derived as a function of engine cycle position, with crankcase air temperature being derived as a function of intake air temperature. Air pressure during compression is monitored with a crankcase pressure sensor. The estimate for air mass is corrected to account for air leakage and incomplete transfer of the air between the crankcase and combustion chambers.

Abstract: An injector has a single tapered valve controlling fuel flow to a plurality of outlet passages. The entrance to each outlet passage has an orifice surrounded by a raised valve seat. Each valve seat is separated from the other valve seats by a recessed space. The valve pivots as it is displaced from the valve seat to allow fuel flow through the outlet passages, and is constrained against other motion within the injector. The valve seats are clustered beneath the free end of the valve. The orifices are sized to compensate for the unequal lift of the tapered valve from the valve seats.

Abstract: A brace connecting a generator to an internal combustion engine has spherical and cup shaped elements at its attaching ends for facilitating attachment of these components in various relative positions.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for steering a motor vehicle with a conventional steerable front axle and a steerable rear axle, in which the vehicle speed (V) and the front wheel steering angle (LWV) are detected in order to turn the rear wheels as a function of the vehicle speed (V) and the front wheel steering angle (LWV), with a limit angle (LWVgr) for the front wheel steering angle (LWV), being determined depending on the particular speed at which the vehicle is actually traveling (Vist). When a steering maneuver occurs, the actual front wheel steering angle (LWVist) is then continuously compared to the limit angle (LVWgr), and the rear wheels are turned in the same direction when the actual front wheel steering angle (LWVsit) is greater than or equal to the limit angle (LWVgr).

Abstract: A article made by the method of applying a prepainted carrier film to an automobile body part in a vacuum thermoforming process. The article comprises a prepainted carrier film surface layer, an adhesive layer, and a rigid substrate layer. The prepainted carrier film has a top surface painted by a color coat formulation containing flakes and then coated with a layer of clear coat having a thickness of no less than 15 microns. The prepainted carrier film is heated and stretched in a vacuum thermoforming process and then assembled to a substrate for an automobile body part by adhesive means. The clear coat layer retains substantially the same gloss and color appearance of the stretched prepainted carrier film as prior to such stretch.

Abstract: In an apparatus for vacuum countergravity casting of molten metal, a gas permeable, self-supporting mold is supported in an inverted casting position in an open bottom container with a particulate bed compacted about the mold. The mold may comprise a mold stack having a plurality of mold members stacked side-by side to form a plurality of mold cavities therebetween. The particulate bed may comprise loose, unbonded particulate compacted in-situ about the mold to support the mold stack in the container and press the mold members sealingly together before, during and after filling with molten metal.

Abstract: A method of producing glass fiber mat reinforced plastic panels having at least one smooth appearance surface in a set of two matched mold members having interior mold surfaces defining a mold cavity contained therein of which at least one interior surface is the mirror image of the appearance surface of the panel. The method includes the steps of placing at least one layer of glass fiber mat in a mold cavity, pouring a polymeric material into the cavity saturating the glass fiber mat, closing the two mold members together with at least one layer of a flexible sheeting material disposed over and adjacent to the interior mold surface opposing the interior mold surface producing the appearance surface of the panel, clamping the two mold members together, curing the polymeric material for a sufficient time into a hard plastic panel, and opening the matched mold members and demold a finished panel having at least one smooth appearance surface.

Abstract: A method of concurrently compacting and bonding a plurality of solid particles together including combining particles with a thermobonding agent, placing the particle-agent combination in a die having a desired shape, and applying compaction pressure to the particles while concurrently applying sufficient ultrasonic energy to the particles to densify the particles and thermally activate the thermobonding agent.

Abstract: A releasable connection device for connecting a motor driven drive cable to a closure includes a pin attached to the closure and having a spherical head. A housing member connected to the cable has an elongated slot formed in a lateral wall and receiving the spherical head of the pin. A ramp surface formed on the housing member at the end of the elongated slot furthest from the cable is engaged by the head of the pin. A spring clip mounted on the housing member has opposed spring arms which encircle the spherical head to retain the head of the pin in the elongated slot of the housing member to connect the motor driven drive element and the vehicle body closure. The spring arms yield in response to a predetermined level of forced imposed thereon by the spherical head of the pin so that the pin is ejected laterally through the opening to disconnect the drive element from the closure.

Abstract: Convoluted boot seals for use on universal joints operating at relatively large angles with the side walls of some convolutions having a series of contact ribs which are formed thereon where abrasion might cause seal wear and failure. These ribs are flexible so that they can bend over when they contact an adjacent, relatively turning side wall so that direct sliding contact and resulting abrasion between adjacent side walls are eliminated.

Abstract: An armature core subassembly and a commutator to be assembled thereon are each centered on a common axis and rotated relative to one another until a desired angular alignment is obtained between a side edge of a commutator bar and the armature core slots. This orientation is maintained while the commutator is advanced to and pressed onto the armature shaft. A commutator placing machine is described in which a tang-oriented commutator is loaded into the nosepiece of a ram assembly and the ram assembly is rotated by a stepper motor until an edge of a commutator bar is detected at a predetermined location by an optical edge detector. Prior machines for tang-orientation and orientation by insulating gaps between commutator bars are also described.

Abstract: A plastic injection molding/encapsulation apparatus for the peripheral encapsulation of a glass workpiece which is equipped with an optical sensing device including a light source, a light detector, and a light reflector to detect possible glass breakage of the workpiece and thus automatically shutting down the plastic injection process to avoid damage to the mold.

Abstract: In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a monolith extrusion die is formed by a plurality of individual tube elements bonded together as a tube stack defining a plurality of extrudable material feed holes and reference guides for a plurality of individual shaping teeth each having a root segment located in a reference guide and each having a shaping head spaced apart from adjacent shaping heads to form intersecting rows of extrusion slots having a shape corresponding to the monolith formed by extrudable material directed from the feed holes through the shaping teeth.

Abstract: A remote locomotive spotter control having a plug in remote unit to control braking and battery power to one or more traction motors for moving the locomotive from an outside location. The control system provides automatic bell operation when the brakes are released and brake application whenever the remote brake control is released. Additional features prevent operation of the spotter control until the locomotive independent brake has been set and whenever the main reservoir pressure is too low for repeated brake application. Damage to the battery through inadvertent connection to the main generator is also prevented.

Abstract: A direct injection internal combustion engine of the diesel or spark ignition type is provided with a combustion bowl recess in the head end of the piston having both a polygonal lip and a polygonal bowl with upwardly and inwardly curving reentrant sides to provide high turbulence for fuel air mixing during an extended portion of the piston compression stroke and improved combustion of the air/fuel mixture.

Abstract: A liquid float gage assembly for a fluid reservoir includes magnet containing float in a vertical tube having an adjacent vertically spaced reed switch arrangement. The float is capsule shaped with an extended round cylindrical portion having rounded axial ends; and the magnet tends to be attracted to the closest reed switch to bias the float against the inner surface of the tube. The tube has a horizontally cross-sectional shape substantially matching and just larger than an axial section of the float so that the float has a stable floating orientation with a horizontal axis and is capable of rolling during vertical movement within the tube to reduce friction due to liquid surface tension between the float and the tube. The magnet has poles at axially opposing ends thereof within the float and a circumferentially consistent spacing relative to the outer surface of the float so as to provide a substantially non-varying magnetic field strength radially adjacent the float as the float rolls.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the idling rotational speed of a direct fuel injected, crankcase scavenged, two-stroke engine are disclosed. This is accomplished by regulating the timing of engine fuel injection within the rotational cycle of the engine. If the engine idling speed is outside a predetermined range of speeds, containing a target idling speed, the timing of fuel injection is advanced within the rotational cycle of the engine to increse idling speed, or retarded to decrease idling speed. The value by which fuel injection timing is advanced or retarded is determined by the difference between the actual idling speed and the target idling speed. The target idling speed is made a function of engine operation temperature to assure that a cold engine will idle properly when first started. After fuel injection timing is changed, a predetermined period of time is waited before repeating the idle control steps, to allow engine speed to stabilize.

Abstract: A pressure regulator has a spool valve positioned by a linear motor to control flow through a spill passage from a fuel inlet to a fuel outlet and thereby control the fuel pressure in the inlet as a function of the current in the linear motor, a piston subjected to the pressure in the fuel inlet and defining a variable orifice adapted to create a reference pressure at a desired differential from the pressure in the fuel inlet, a diaphragm subjected to the reference pressure and the pressure in the air inlet, and a valve positioned by the diaphragm to control flow from the air inlet to the air outlet whereby the pressure in the air inlet is maintained at a desired differential below the pressure in the fuel inlet.

Abstract: An adjusting device (10) for coordinating the position of a pointer element (25) in a drive range indicator assembly (23) with the position of a drive range selecting lever (15) by varying the effective length of the control cable (18) operatively connected therebetween. The control cable (18) has a sheath (20) and core (16). One end of the core (16) is attached to the pointer element (25), and the other end is attached to the drive range selecting lever (15). The device (10) has a base, or frame structure (29), and a block (40) is mounted for reciprocation on the frame structure (29). One end of the sheath (20) is attached to the housing (22) of the indicator assembly (23), and the other end of the sheath (20) is attached to the block (40).

Abstract: A differential gear unit for the drive axles of motor vehicles has a positive differential lock comprising a jaw clutch plate which is connected non-rotatably but movable axially with the differential case and which works in conjunction with a jaw clutch counterplate which is mounted non-rotatably and axially immobile on a differential gear drive shaft. The jaw clutch plate also serves as an armature for an electromagnet shaped as a ring magnet, which can be switched on and off manually. The jaw clutch plate is released from the jaw clutch counterplate by the preloaded spring means when the ring magnet is switched off. The electric circuit for controlling the ring magnet includes an electronic control unit developed as a velocity sensor which allows switching on of the ring magnet only below a predetermined velocity limit of the vehicle. Above this velocity limit the ring magnet switches off automatically.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a motor vehicle with all-wheel steering, comprising a steerable front axle and a steerable rear axle. Associated with the steerable rear axle is an electrical steering gear that can be acted upon by an electronic control unit to turn the rear wheels of the rear axle out of their straight-ahead position. An additional, separate steering device independent of the electrical steering gear, is associated for this purpose with each rear wheel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of a robot or like end-of-arm tool (EOAT) for gripping workpieces by cavities in the workpieces is provided. The EOAT is connected with the robot or like and includes an extendible rod having a generally flanged end opposite the robot. The EOAT also includes at least one spacer encircling the rod between the robot or like and the flanged end of the rod, and at least two elastomeric gripper portions encircling the rod and capturing at least one spacer. The gripper portions have a first dimension when the rod is extended whereby at least one of the gripper portions can be inserted into a workpiece cavity and the gripper portions have a second dimension when the rod is retracted whereby the gripper portions can engage with the workpiece cavity to grip the workpiece.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly having a parking brake actuating lever is so arranged that the parking brake cable end may be assembled in a blind fashion to the end of the actuating lever. The cable is provided with an enlarged end or button. The cable and spring are inserted through a guide tube and pushed inwardly into the brake assembly with the guide tube or a combination of the guide tube in a separate spring guide placing the cable button in a alignment so that it is aimed at a funnel-like guide and retention member formed on the end of the parking brake actuating lever. Further axial movement of the parking brake cable and its enlarged end result in a camming action which moves the enlarged end upwardly through and beyond the slot after which it snaps back downwardly to be positioned to be able to apply cable tension forces to the parking brake actuating lever.

Abstract: A vehicle engine fuel control adapted for multi-fuel operation uses a fuel injection system in which fuel in a liquid mixture of first and second combustible fuels is injected in pulses of controlled duration at a predetermined pressure to achieve a predetermined air/fuel ratio. The first and second combustible fuels have different viscosities, so that the viscosity of the mixture changes with its composition as well as fuel temperature. The duration of the portion of the pulse duration in which fuel flows is varied in response to fuel composition and fuel temperature so as to compensate for the variation in viscosity of the fuel mixture and thus deliver the required amount of fuel with each pulse.

Abstract: A modular bolt assembly in an anti-theft steering shaft lock in an automotive steering column includes a support tube, a bolt in the support tube, a plastic retainer in an open end of the support tube and a spring between the bolt and the retainer. The retainer has three trunnions symmetrically arrayed around the its center which are received in slots in the support tube. The spring seats at the center of the retainer and biases the retainer opposite the bolt until the trunnions seat at closed ends of the slots in the support tube whereby the retainer is captured on the support tube.