Abstract: A power-operated lift and presenting mechanism is disclosed which lifts an article stored on a platform member in a vehicle trunk to an upwardly lifted position. A start assist member is included to assist in the initial movement of the platform member from a lowered stored position to the upwardly lifted position. The platform member is forced upwardly at two locations when it initially begins to move. The motor has a short period of time to warm up before it begins lifting the platform member. The lift and presenting mechanism is incorporated into controls for vehicle, such that when a trunk opening switch within the vehicle cab is actuated, the lift and presenting mechanism is automatically actuated to drive the platform member to an upwardly lifted position. A switch is placed in an easily accessible position within the vehicle trunk and includes a kill switch to disconnect the automatic actuation.

Abstract: A fluid cylinder has improved wear rings in a combination that includes a tube having a tubular wall and first and second end caps. The tubular wall defines a cylinder bore that has a central axis. Each end cap also has a bore extending along the central axis. A piston assembly is mounted in the cylinder bore with a piston rod mounted in the bore of one of the end caps, so that the piston assembly is slidable along the central axis. The piston assembly includes a piston head that has a reservoir defined by an annular recess opening toward the tubular wall. The reservoir houses a prepacked lubricant. One wear ring closes off the annular recess from the tubular wall. The wear ring seal has a plurality of radial apertures extending therethrough, through which lubricant is capable of flowing to lubricate the piston assembly. Another wear ring closes off a reservoir in the bore of an end cap and functions as the first mentioned wear ring also to lubricate the piston assembly.

Abstract: A shield member is disclosed for protecting a cylinder barrel. In one embodiment, the shield member is received upon the tie rods that secure the head and end plate of the cylinder assembly. This shield member protects the surface of the cylinder barrel from any accidental impact. A channel portion at an inner periphery of the shield member will bow inwardly to absorb the force of any impact that is received on the shield member. The shield member is preferably extruded from urethane and may be cut to the appropriate lengths for a particular cylinder assembly. The shield member may be utilized on any one of the four quadrants of a standard cylinder barrel. That is, if one of the quadrants of the cylinder barrel is not in danger of impact, it is not necessary to have a shield member disposed on that particular quadrant. A second embodiment is disclosed to protect cylinder assemblies that do not use tie rods.

Abstract: An improved electrode holder is disclosed that ensures a fluid cooled electrode will have an outer shank properly positioned relative to a cooling fluid tube. The electrode holder includes a ring portion with an inner periphery having an O-ring and a plurality of jaw teeth which receive the electrode. The electrode has a conically tapered portion at one end which extends from a first diameter outwardly to a second diameter. The inner periphery of the ring portion is of a third diameter intermediate the first and second diameter of the conically tapered portion. The conically tapered portion of the electrode is received within the inner periphery of the ring portion to a certain extent. At a predetermined point the O-ring within the ring portion abuts the conically tapered portion defining a desired position for the electrode. The cooling fluid tube is positioned within a body at a fixed point and is received within the electrode.