Abstract: A sleeve bearing assembly and method of construction therefore has an inner portion constructed from a plurality of yarns to provide a journal bearing surface for receipt of a journal for relative movement therein and an elastic outer portion injection molded at least partially about the inner portion. The plurality of yarns are woven together with at least some of the yarns being woven in a warp direction corresponding to a length of the journal bearing surface and in a weft direction corresponding to a circumferential direction of the journal bearing surface to form a backing of the inner portion. At least one of the plurality of yarns is provided as a self-lubricating yarn woven with the backing in a weft direction to substantially form the bearing surface radially inwardly of the backing.

Abstract: A sleeve bearing assembly and method of construction therefore has an inner portion constructed from a plurality of yarns to provide a journal bearing surface for receipt of a journal for relative movement therein and an elastic outer portion injection molded at least partially about the inner portion. The plurality of yarns are woven together with at least some of the yarns being woven in a warp direction corresponding to a length of the journal bearing surface and in a weft direction corresponding to a circumferential direction of the journal bearing surface to form a backing of the inner portion. At least one of the plurality of yarns is provided as a self-lubricating yarn woven with the backing in a weft direction to substantially form the bearing surface radially inwardly of the backing.

Abstract: A sleeve bearing assembly and method of construction therefore has an inner portion constructed from a plurality of yarns to provide a journal bearing surface for receipt of a journal for relative movement therein and an elastic outer portion injection molded at least partially about the inner portion. The plurality of yarns are woven together with at least some of the yarns being woven in a warp direction corresponding to a length of the journal bearing surface and in a weft direction corresponding to a circumferential direction of the journal bearing surface to form a backing of the inner portion. At least one of the plurality of yarns is provided as a self-lubricating yarn woven with the backing in a weft direction to substantially form the bearing surface radially inwardly of the backing.

Abstract: A heat shield and heat shield assembly for protecting components exposed to heat are disclosed. The heat shield includes a shroud shaped to cover the component, the shroud having heat reflective layers and a heat insulating layer. The shroud is attached to a clip for removable attachment to the component. A flexible, resilient tab extends from the shroud, the tab providing a means for attaching the heat shield to a wiring harness to form an assembly connectable to the component. The tab is bendable for relative movement of the shroud from a position spaced from the component to a position in which the shroud covers the component upon connection of the wiring harness to the component.

Abstract: A pull tape for facilitating positioning of elongated items within a protective sleeve is disclosed. The pull tape is woven of filamentary members preferably using a twill or satin weave that allows floats to form on the surface of the tape that reduce friction between the tape and the sleeve when the tape is drawn through the sleeve. Preferably, the tape is formed of multifilament warp and weft yarns woven in a plain weave with additional monofilament yarns arranged in the warp direction and woven in a twill or satin weave to form the floats in the warp direction. Additional embodiments include tapes having warp members entirely of monofilaments, as well as both warp and weft members being entirely of monofilaments.

Abstract: A drogue for drawing an elongated item through a conduit is disclosed. The drogue includes a flexible bag having a closed end and an oppositely disposed end opening. Shroud lines attached to the bag at the end opening allow attachment of the drogue to the item. A biasing member, preferably in the form of a continuous loop of flexible, resilient interconnected wire legs, is attached to the bag and positioned proximate to the end opening. The loop engages the bag over a portion of its length and biases the end opening into an open configuration to prevent its collapse and loss of pneumatic pressure as it is propelled through the conduit.

Abstract: A kit and a method for splicing together porous sleeves are disclosed. The kit includes a release liner in the form of a non-porous membrane, preferably in the shape of an elongated tube. Adhesive and an adhesive applicator may also be included. The method includes the steps of inserting the release liner within an end of a first sleeve and then inserting that sleeve end into the end of a second sleeve. The outer surface of the first sleeve engages the inner surface of the second sleeve and defines an engagement zone having a predetermined length. The release liner extends along the engagement zone. Adhesive is applied to the outer surface of the second sleeve. The adhesive penetrates the second sleeve and bonds it to the first sleeve. The release liner acts as a barrier preventing the adhesive from bonding the first sleeve closed at the splice.

Abstract: A kit and a method for splicing together porous sleeves are disclosed. The kit includes a release liner in the form of a non-porous membrane, preferably in the shape of an elongated tube. Adhesive and an adhesive applicator may also be included. The method includes the steps of inserting the release liner within an end of a first sleeve and then inserting that sleeve end into the end of a second sleeve. The outer surface of the first sleeve engages the inner surface of the second sleeve and defines an engagement zone having a predetermined length. The release liner extends along the engagement zone. Adhesive is applied to the outer surface of the second sleeve. The adhesive penetrates the second sleeve and bonds it to the first sleeve. The release liner acts as a barrier preventing the adhesive from bonding the first sleeve closed at the splice.

Abstract: A low-profile sheath for protecting elongated items is disclosed having a pair of substrates formed from flexible sheet material with opposite edges paired together to position the substrates in overlapping alignment. One pair of edges is flexibly attached together by a hinge allowing the substrates to pivot between an open and a closed position for receiving and capturing the items. The substrates are corrugated. The hinge is formed from a plurality of thinned sheet regions which alternate between being oriented in the plane of the sheet and perpendicular to it. The alternating orientation reduces the imbalance of shear stiffness between the hinge connected edges and the free edges of the substrates. An apparatus for forming the sheath having intermeshing gears with beveled teeth and facing edge surfaces is also disclosed.

Abstract: A low-profile sheath for protecting elongated items is disclosed having a pair of substrates formed from flexible sheet material with opposite edges paired together to position the substrates in overlapping alignment. One pair of edges is flexibly attached together by a hinge allowing the substrates to pivot between an open and a closed position for receiving and capturing the items. The substrates are corrugated. The hinge is formed from a plurality of thinned sheet regions which alternate between being oriented in the plane of the sheet and perpendicular to it. The alternating orientation reduces the imbalance of shear stiffness between the hinge connected edges and the free edges of the substrates. An apparatus for forming the sheath having intermeshing gears with beveled teeth and facing edge surfaces is also disclosed.

Abstract: An oven door seal comprises a braided tubular gasket of wire and a mineral fiber, such as glass fiber, a ceramic or quartz or mixtures thereof. The gasket has the characteristic of a braided structure of radial expansion upon axial compression and radial contraction upon axial extension. Clips of resilient wire are prebent in a common plane so as to have an apexed head formed near the mid point of the wire intermediate parallel sections and crossing end sections are disclosed. The clips are inserted into the gasket with the crossing ends spanning one or more filaments in the lattice structure of the braided tubular gasket and the crossing ends pass through the wall structure and are deflected generally parallel to the wall as the clip wire sections at the apex flex together. The apertures are formed in the oven door perimeter at different spacings depending upon the gasket diameter desired along the edge having a particular spacing and the clip inserted at equal spacings in an oven door.

Abstract: A wiring harness breakout clip for forming and supporting the trunk and branch portions of a wire bundle from a wiring harness is provided. The harness breakout clip mounts on a support surface and includes: a substantially rigid plate for supporting the trunk portion of the wire bundle; locating posts joined to and projecting from the plate, the locating posts being spaced apart to form a locating space for a branch portion of the wire bundle; and flexible straps joined to the plate in adjacent relation to the locating posts for fastening the wire bundle to the plate. In an alternative embodiment, the flexible straps have internesting intermediate and proximal sections and distal sections. The intermediate sections nest within recesses in the proximal sections and the distal sections nest within recesses in the internested sections.

Abstract: An electromechanical rotary switch actuator for the operation of doors of mass transit vehicles. The switch actuator discloses a crew switch actuator that incorporates the features of a rotary switch while at the same time provides low cost manufacturing of the switch actuator apparatus. The invention is a simple, yet innovative, apparatus whereby rotational control of the switch assembly is provided by a retaining member which mates with a slot grooved into a shaft mounted for rotation in the actuator body. The longitudinally axial dimension of the actuator body is small which enables the apparatus to be flush mounted to the outside walls of the transit vehicles. The crew switch actuator disclosed is operated not only by a detachable key which is also disclosed, but also may be actuated with the same keys currently being used to operate the door control switches of most mass transit systems.

Abstract: A door panel position sensor assembly for a transit vehicle is provided which comprises a door mounted actuator device and a vehicle mounted switch operating mechanism which is mounted adjacent to the path of travel of the door and is actuated by the door-mounted actuator device during movement of the door between open and closed positions. The switch operating mechanism comprises a signalling switch whose switching state indicates the position of the door and a single actuator lever which is movable by the door mounted actuator device between first and second positions to control actuation and de-actuation of the switch. A spring arrangement is located between actuator arm and the signalling switch which assists in toggling of the actuator lever and which, under the control of the actuator lever, engages the switch to provide actuation thereof.