Abstract: An oil filter for an engine is in the form of a reservoir mounted in an oil pan having a closed interior volume and an open top edge spaced from an adjoining oil pan sidewall and positioned to receive oil with entrained debris as the oil flows by gravity after being centrifugally flung radially outward from the moving engine components. The debris separates from the oil in the reservoir, with clean oil overflowing the top edge of the wall for recirculation in the engine.

Abstract: A fail-safe engine coolant thermostat includes a body having a bore with an inlet and an outlet. A thermal actuator capable of extended and retracted positions due to coolant temperature is disposed in the body. A valve plate is pivotally mounted in the body to open and close fluid flow through the body. A connecting member is coupled between the thermal actuator and the valve plate to pivot the valve plate to the closed flow position. A pivot connection of the valve plate to the body is diametrically off center to the valve plate to pivot to the fluid flow open position under coolant fluid flow pressure unless the thermal actuator, at cold fluid temperatures, pivots the value plate to the closed position through the connecting member. An adjustment is provided for the connecting member to enable adjustment of the valve plate to the full closed position.

Abstract: A fluid cooled vehicle brake includes a fluid flow passage disposed in fluid communication with a brake shoe rim carrying a layer of friction material. A pair of spaced support webs are coupled to an inner surface of an annular inner surface of the rib. A water jacket is sealingly joined to the pair of webs and the inner surface of the rim to form a fluid flow passage between an inlet port formed in one of the support webs along the inner surface of the rim and out through an outlet port formed in one of the support webs. High thermal conductive members may be disposed within the layer of friction material to conduct heat to the rim. Heat radiator members are mounted within the coolant passageway.

Abstract: A fail-safe engine coolant thermostat includes a body having a bore with an inlet and an outlet. A thermal actuator capable of extended and retracted positions due to coolant temperature is disposed in the body. A valve plate is pivotally mounted in the body to open and close fluid flow through the body. A connecting member is coupled between the thermal actuator and the valve plate to pivot the valve plate to the closed flow position. A pivot connection of the valve plate to the body is diametrically off center to the valve plate to pivot to the fluid flow open position under coolant fluid flow pressure unless the thermal actuator, at cold fluid temperatures, pivots the value plate to the closed position through the connecting member. An adjustment is provided for the connecting member to enable adjustment of the valve plate to the full closed position.

Abstract: A fluid cooled vehicle brake includes a fluid flow passageway disposed in fluid communication with a brake shoe rim carrying a layer of friction material. High thermal conductive members may be disposed within the layer of friction material to conduct heat to the rim. Heat radiator members are mounted within the coolant passageway. A brake fluid flow control includes a diverter valve responsive to brake pedal activation to divert fluid flow from the vehicle heater fluid flow loop to the brake shoe.

Abstract: A golf tee height set apparatus includes a golf tee with a shank having a lower end extending between a pointed tip and a shoulder intermediate the opposite ends of the shank. The shoulder defines a surface extending radially outward from the lower end of the shank. The upper end increases in diameter from the shoulder to a ball receiving surface. A stopper in the form of a disc is slidable over the lower end of the shank into engagement with the shoulder. The stopper has an outer dimension suitable for resisting insertion of the tee into the ground beyond the stopper thereby setting a constantly repeatable height of the ball receiving surface of the golf tee above the ground. A plurality of like tees, each with a different dimension of the lower end or the upper end may be provided as a group of tees to provide repeatability for different tee shots.

Abstract: A variable displacement engine for a vehicle has a sequential fuel injector firing order to sequence the fuel injector firing signals to the fuel injectors of each cylinder of the engine in a sequential manner regardless of the number of cylinders which are operated under any given engine load. A connecting bridge connects the injector firing signals as determined by the engine controller for the desired number of operative cylinders under any load to the fuel injectors in a sequential, manner as the bridge sequences through positions after each injector firing cycle. A solid torque tube system rigidly interconnects the engine, the transmission and the rear axle of the vehicle to form a solid torque member having a natural frequency of oscillation higher than any vibrational frequency that can occur during operation of the vehicle. A rigid torque tube is fixedly connected between the transmission and the rear axle.

Abstract: A ring gap seal for use on the top compression ring of a piston in an internal combustion engine, an air compressor, a fluid pump, a refrigeration pump, or a rotating shaft seal. In one embodiment, the ring gap seal comprises a lip portion adapted to be seated in a slot formed in the upper face of a compression ring and overlying the ring gap in the ring. The seal lip portion is carried by a supporting wall portion disposed at a right angle to the lip portion. A pair of integral spring arms are integral with the wall portion and they engage the inner wall of the ring groove of a piston in which the compression ring and gap seal are mounted so as to urge the seal lip portion outwardly. The explosive gas pressure created in the operation of the engine exerts a downward and outward pressure on the gap seal to seal the top and inner ends of the compression ring gap.

Abstract: A combustion pressure responsive transducer energizes a solenoid valve assembly which varies an induction passage pressure signal to control a pressure responsive servomotor. The servomotor regulates a combustion parameter to limit peak combustion pressure to a selected value during subsequent combustion events and thus inhibit the formation and emission of oxides of nitrogen. In one embodiment the servomotor regulates the ignition timing, while in a second embodiment the servomotor regulates exhaust gas recirculation.