Abstract: A gear lever actuator is provided for remotely or automatically moving the gear lever of a gearbox connected to an engine to be tested. The gear lever actuator comprises a first actuator for moving the gear lever between a neutral plane and gear selecting positions on either side of the neutral plane. Movable jaws are provided for clamping the gear lever during gear changing and for disengaging the gear lever when the engine and gearbox are running under load. The gear lever is then free to jump out of gear upon the occurrence of a fault, thus preventing damage to the gearbox.

Abstract: The speed (54, 56) of the free turbine (40) of a helicopter engine (20) is compared (103) with the speed (105, 106) of the helicopter rotor (10) to indicate (101, 102) autorotation, and the deceleration (108) of the rotor above a threshold magnitude (110) is utilized (81, 68, 69) to increase fuel flow (72) to the engine in anticipation of rotor speed droop which would otherwise occur during recovery from the autorotation maneuver.

Abstract: A viscous coupling adapted to be positioned within the housing of a torque converter automatic transmission for use as a bypass of the torque converter and including an annular clutch lining secured to a side face of the outer peripheral portion of the coupling and a control valve assembly positioned in the outer peripheral portion to cushion the impact of engagement of the annular clutch lining with the confronting surface of the torque converter housing. The control valve assembly includes a rolling diaphragm which extends across the open end of an axially extending bore in the outer peripheral portion and is arranged to rollingly traverse the bore to successively cover or uncover a series of axially spaced leakage holes communicating with the main chamber of the torque converter and the bore.

Abstract: An oil shear clutch-brake unit includes a housing rotatably supporting an input shaft and an output shaft in axial alignment, and the housing encloses a set of interfitting clutch plates and discs for coupling the input shaft to the output shaft and a set of interfitting brake plates and discs for braking the output shaft. A non-rotating piston is also enclosed within the housing and is fluid actuated in both directions from a spring biased neutral position for either clamping the clutch plates and discs or clamping the brake plates and discs. A cooling and lubricating oil is circulated within the housing and between the plates and discs, and the pressure of the fluid for actuating the piston is adjustable for selecting the torque transmitted through the clutch and brake.

Abstract: A brake pedal contacts a pin holding the push rod for the master cylinder, applying the hydraulic service brakes in the normal manner when the pedal is depressed. When the transmission lever is shifted into the park position a solenoid type servo is energized, engaging a pawl, mounted on the brake pedal, with a gear sector pivoted about the pivot point of the brake pedal. A one-way spring clutch is energized to hold the link in which the push rod pin is installed in the applied position during parking brake apply, retaining hydraulic brake pressure during that operation. When shifting to park, the brake pedal is raised by a vacuum servo so that the pedal can be actuated to apply the parking brake without contacting the push rod pin, and therefore without hydraulic pressure resistance. Movement of the pedal with the pawl engaged exerts tension on the parking brake cable through the gear sector to apply to parking the brake.

Abstract: A system for controlling an electro-magnetic clutch of an internal combustion engine mounted on a car which is capable of eliminating residual magnetism during the deceleration of the car. The electro-magnetic clutch has a drive member secured to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, a driven member adjacent the drive member and a magnetizing coil provided in one of the members. An accelerator switch is provided for detecting the deceleration of the car and a car speed switch is provided for producing a signal when the car speed decreases below a predetermined speed. Both of output signals of the accelerator switch and the car speed switch are fed to a control circuit. The control circuit is such that the current flowing through the magnetizing coil is inverted upon occurrence of these output signals of the accelerator switch and the car speed switch, so that the residual magnetism in the clutch is eliminated.

Abstract: A first input shaft and an output shaft are supported in axial alignment by a housing which contains oil and also supports an annular second input shaft coaxial with the output shaft. The input shafts may be selectively coupled to the output shaft by compressing corresponding clutch sets of interfitting annular plates and discs, and the output shaft may be quickly stopped by compressing a brake set of interfitting annular plates and discs. The brake set is disposed between the two clutch sets, and a pair of non-rotating fluid actuated pistons are arranged between the corresponding clutch sets and the brake set. The output shaft has fluid impeller hub portions for recirculating oil outwardly between the sets of plates and discs and the input shafts are driven by corresponding electric motors or by a single double-ended electric motor.

Abstract: A vehicle clutch having clutch plate and disc members within a sealed clutch housing operative to effect engagement and disengagement of the clutch by operation of a disengaging member. An oil pump structurally associated with the disengaging member provides oil for the clutch through a guide wheel which is axially movable together with the disengaging member. In the engaged position, a deflector directs an oil stream from the guide wheel through openings to the clutch plate and disc members, while in the disengaged position a pump wheel is provided with pump impeller blades to deflect the oil stream from the guide wheel away from the clutch plate and disc members.

Abstract: A brake control mechanism (14) includes a housing (20) with a stepped bore (22). A valve member (44) cooperates with a seat (46) to close communication from a master cylinder (10) to a brake assembly (12) when a vehicle is going up a hill. An actuator assembly (78) is operatively coupled to a clutch assembly (16) and is comprised of a plate (50) to control operation of the valve assembly in response to actuation of the clutch assembly (16). The plate (50) includes a relatively small axial dimension and forms a central opening (54) for receiving the valve member (44).

Abstract: In a fly wheel power press having a rotatable drive shaft mounted in a housing and with an H-shaped yoke to which pivot pins are mounted and from which a pair of clutch shoes and brake shoes depend, an adjustment mechanism having a knurled portion on the pin and a cooperating knurled aperture in a lock plate which is in sliding engagement with the knurled portion of the pin so as to permit securement of the lock plate, and thereby the clutch and brake shoes, in a pre-selected adjusted position to one of the uprights is disclosed.

Abstract: A direct coupled clutch is provided in parallel to a fluid type torque converter of an automatic transmission, and the supply of oil pressure to a hydraulic servo for the direct coupled clutch is controlled by an electromagnetic valve. When an accelerator pedal is returned with speed higher than a predetermined value, the direct coupled clutch is maintained in the disengaged condition only for a predetermined time so that impact caused by abrupt change in torque of an engine can be avoided.

Abstract: The vehicle braking system has an arrangement for applying the brakes in an emergency caused by loss of hydraulic fluid by depressing the brake pedal beyond its normal travel. The system also can apply the brakes for parking by shifting the gear shift lever to the park position and depressing the brake pedal. In both cases, the foot pedal operated brakes of the vehicle are operated without any need for separate parking or emergency brakes.

Abstract: A system for controlling an electromagnetic clutch of an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle, which is capable of eliminating the residual magnetism during operation of a shift lever of a transmission. The electromagnetic clutch has a drive member secured to a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, a driven member adjacent the drive member, and a magnetizing coil provided in one of the members. A neutral switch is provided for detecting when the shift lever is in a neutral position and a switch for detecting acceleration is provided for producing a signal when the engine is not accelerated. Both signals of the switches are fed to a control circuit. The control circuit is so arranged that the current flowing through the magnetizing coil is inverted in dependency on the output signals, so that the residual magnetism in the clutch may be eliminated.

Abstract: A segmented annular clutch plate for use in any conventional clutch plate chanism. The segments are of equal arcuate dimension so that they are interchangeable. Each segment possesses the same annular uniformily serrated surface. Each segment may be provided with a key-slot mating connection to restrict the radial movement of the clutch plate while in operation. The clutch plates are designed and oriented so that in the clutch assembly the plates in one set of plates have different numbers of segments than the plates in the other set of plates, whereby adjoining plates can have only two segment joints in axial alignment at any one instant.

Abstract: A system for controlling an electromagnetic clutch of an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle, which has a magnetizing coil and a transmission. A vehicle speed detecting circuit is provided for producing an output when the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined speed and another detecting circuit for a vehicle travelling condition is provided for producing an output by signals from a top-gear switch provided in the transmission and from an engine speed switch. A trouble detecting circuit is provided for producing a trouble signal when the output of the speed detecting circuit is not applied in spite of the output of the vehicle travelling condition detecting circuit. A gate device is responsive to the trouble signal for producing an output which is applied to a switching transistor. The transistor is turned on by the output, so that clutch current passes through the magnetizing coil for engaging the circuit.

Abstract: A vehicle power train of the type including a torque converter for coupling an internal combustion engine to a transmission, and a hydraulically actuated lockup clutch for bypassing the torque converter and mechanically coupling the engine to the transmission. The transmission is of the type having a plurality of hydraulically actuated shift clutches for selecting a desired speed ratio and a desired direction of vehicle travel. During each shift of the transmission a pressure control valve arrangement acts to temporarily drop and then gradually increase the pressurized fluid delivered to the transmission and to the lockup clutch. Interposed between the pressure control valve arrangement and the lockup clutch, a delay valve automatically closes to place the lockup clutch in communication with a fluid drain when the output pressure of the pressure control valve arrangement drops upon shifting of the transmission, and reopens when the output pressure rises to a predetermined level.

Abstract: A vehicle park engagement apparatus for a vehicle enables the vehicle transmission selector lever to be fully urged into the park position detent. The apparatus includes a bracket for rotatably supporting one end of a bell crank rod which is rotatably mounted at an opposed end in a fixed position on the vehicle. The bracket is constructed so as to allow translation of the one end of the bell crank rod after the transmission linkage has fully engaged the park position stop to permit further travel of the selector lever into the park position detent. In one embodiment, the bracket is provided with an elongated, horizontally extending slot to permit translation of the one end of the bell crank rod. In another embodiment, the bracket is movably placed into engagement with the vehicle so as to enable the bracket and the bell crank rod rotatably mounted therein to translate after the transmission linkage has stationarily engaged the park position in the transmission.

Abstract: A safety circuit for an electronic throttle control for internal combustion engines, especially for a so-called electronic accelerator system in motor vehicles which include a brake pedal, a set value transmitter coupled to an accelerator, an electronic circuit that acts on a stepping motor, and a clutch interposed between the stepping motor and a throttle actuated by the stepping motor, with the throttle being coupled to an idle return device. The clutch is adapted to be engaged when the accelerator and brake pedal are not simultaneously actuated and when the gas pedal is actuated alone or together with the brake pedal. The clutch is adapted to be disengaged when the brake pedal alone is actuated.

Abstract: An electro-rheological fluid is used as a transmission fluid between confronting, rotatable sets of clutch plates across which a potential difference can be applied so as to vary the viscous shear characteristic of the interjacent fluid. Differential arrangements of the clutch plates ensure cancellation of residual drag effects and the clutch can be electrically varied substantially from complete disengagement to solid engagement.