Abstract: PCT No. PCT/US79/00177 Sec. 371 Date Mar. 19, 1979 Sec. 102(e) Date Mar. 19, 1979 PCT Filed Mar. 19, 1979 Ser. No.An energy-absorbing preloaded pad assembly (17,117) for use in stabilizing relatively movable portions of a structure, such as vehicle structure (10). The stabilizing pad assemblies may be utilized for stabilizing oscillations of a stabilizer bar (12) relative to a frame (11) of a vehicle (10) and may include preloaded pads (19). A removable clamp (21,121) cooperates with a cover plate (20,120) of the pad assembly to provide the desired preload to the pad and permit facilitated installation of the stabilizer bar in the vehicle structure, such as to permit ready installation of the pivot structure (113). Upon assembly of the vehicle structure, the removable clamp (21,121) is disassembled permitting reuse thereof with other similar pad assemblies. Removal of the clamp frees the pad for stabilizing functioning in the assembly in the normal manner.

Abstract: A fill and vent valve assembly has a bore in a first member and a cylindrical stem of a second member positioned within the bore. A blind bore extends inwardly from an inner end of the stem and has an internal threaded section. First and second passages in the stem communicate the blind bore with a passage device which communicates the bore of the first member with a fluid chamber. A fill valve has an external threaded section threaded into the internal threaded section of the stem and is movable between a first position at which a valve seat of the valve is in sealing engagement with the inner end of the stem and the first and second passages are blocked from communication with ambient and a second position at which the valve seat is spaced from the inner end and the second passage is in communication with ambient for purging air from the fluid chamber in response to fluid being forced through the fill valve and into the fluid chamber through the first passage.

Abstract: In a track tensioning apparatus for a tracked vehicle, recoil lock device is provided to prevent unintentional release of a prestressed helical spring during disassembly of the apparatus. Partial compression of the spring is necessary for assembly or disassembly of the track tensioning apparatus and installation or removal of the recoil lock device. Such compression may be accomplished by utilizing the tensioning apparatus, or before assembly by utilizing a specially configured compression device. The recoil lock device are retained in a lock position by a retainer ring engaging narrowed mid-portions of spatially separated pin members of the recoil lock device.

Abstract: A fill and relief valve arrangement for the introduction of fluid into and the selective venting of fluid from a fluid chamber includes a fill valve adjustably positioned within an open ended bore formed in a body with one end of the bore in communication with the fluid chamber. In one position of the fill valve, a flared end portion thereof is in sealing engagement with a valve seat formed at the one end of the bore for isolating the fluid chamber from a vent port open to the atmosphere with the fill valve being adjustable for moving the flared end portion inwardly away from the valve seat to establish communication between the fluid chamber and the vent port for venting the fluid chamber to the atmosphere.