Abstract: A damper for damping pressure pulsations in a liquid includes an outer tube having an inner surface defining an interior cavity, and an inner tube positioned within the interior cavity of the outer tube. The inner tube includes an outer surface such that at least one chamber is formed between the inner surface of the outer tube and the outer surface of the inner tube for containing a gas. The damper includes an exterior surface configured to be surrounded by the liquid and an interior surface configured to define a passageway through the damper for the liquid. The damper can define at least two, and in one embodiment, four separate chambers for containing a gas. The damper can be part of a fuel rail assembly and is positioned within a fuel rail configured to contain pressurized fuel.

Abstract: A variable motion rocking bed is provided that includes a first support structure including a first threaded rod having a first section threaded in a first direction and a second section threaded in a second direction, a second support structure including a second threaded rod having a first section threaded in a first direction and a second section threaded in a second direction, and a frame, the frame capable of being in a rocking motion with respect to the first support structure and the second support structure. The rocking bed further includes a first pair of linkage assemblies secured between the first support structure and the frame, and a second pair of linkage assemblies secured between the second support structure and the frame.

Abstract: A fuel injector including a jacket, a valve seat, and a needle valve apparatus mounted within the jacket and engagable with the valve seat. The needle valve apparatus includes a plurality of holes for filtering fuel flowing through the injector. Each of the holes has a diameter sized to prevent passage therethrough of particles having widths of approximately 0.050 millimeters and larger. In one aspect of the invention, the needle valve apparatus includes a needle valve assembly having at least one transverse aperture through which fuel can flow and a generally tubular filter surrounding at least a portion of the needle valve assembly. The plurality of holes for filtering fuel is formed in the tubular filter. In another aspect, the needle valve apparatus includes a needle valve assembly having a needle valve with a wall that includes the plurality of holes.

Abstract: A fuel rail assembly comprising a fuel rail and a damper assembly in the fuel rail. The damper assembly includes a damper having an end and an inner surface defining a cavity, and a sealing member at least partially received in the end and bonded to the inner surface to substantially seal the cavity. The sealing member is preferably a metal wire that includes a sealing portion bonded to the inner surface to substantially seal the cavity. The bond is preferably formed by induction brazing, and the sealing member is coated with copper to facilitate the brazing. The invention also provides a fuel rail assembly comprising a fuel rail having a longitudinal axis and an inner wall. A damper assembly in the fuel rail includes a damper, and a spring locator coupled with the damper, the spring locator having two positioning portions outwardly biased to engage the inner wall of the fuel rail and position the damper assembly axially in the fuel rail. The spring locator is preferably a metal wire.

Abstract: The wiper or movable contact of an electrical potentiometer employs fingers of an oval-like transverse cross section to increase the useful service life of the potentiometer in application such as a throttle position sensor where the potentiometer may be subjected to mechanical vibration, repeated random shock loading, constant movement, etc.

Abstract: A valve employed in applications where the valve is rapidly cyclically opened and closed over extended periods of time is constructed in a manner such that the impact between a rapidly moving metal valve head and metal valve seat at valve closure is minimized to reduce noise and wear. The valve head engaging element of the valve seat may take the form of a frusto conical belleville washer located with its concave side resting on a flat planar wall surface in the valve housing or a flat washer bridging a frusto conical wall surface in the housing. Fluid filling the recess between the opposed surfaces of the washer and housing wall is expressed from the recess as the frusto conical washer is axially compressed against the wall by the closing valve head to further cushion or damp the resiliently resisted compression of the washer.

Abstract: A method for decreasing the time taken for an adhesive to set is disclosed. In a small gap (e.g. 0.005 inches or less) an adhesive such as LOCTITE 420 sets in approximately two seconds. If the gap is larger than this, the set time can be as long as fifteen minutes or more. The present invention is directed to the use of a piece of corrugated material in the gap so as to provide small gaps (i.e. 0.005 inches or less) in which the adhesive can set in a short time period (of a few seconds duration). A specific application to a magnetic read/write head is disclosed.

Abstract: A device of relatively simple construction for holding and latching a tape cartridge (or the like) is disclosed. The device comprises two spaced apart guide rails, one on each side of a recess for accepting a tape cartridge, whereby the guide rails serve to mate with corresponding grooves in the tape cartridge for receiving and guiding the cartridge into position. Two resilient biasing members are positioned adjacent the guide rails, in a one-to-one relationship, for acting against a common face of the cartridge to bias the cartridge against the guide rails. Each biasing member includes a projection for engaging a corresponding notch in the cartridge so as to inhibit the removal of the cartridge. The biasing members are contructed such that an appropriate movement of the cartridge results in the projections disengaging from the notches and allowing the cartridge to be removed (i.e. a separate release mechanism is not required).

Abstract: A relatively simple latching mechanism for a tape cartridge is disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, each latching mechanism (of which there are two in the preferred embodiment) comprises but two separate components. Each latching mechanism comprises one camming member and one buckling column spring. The springs bias the camming members in a first position such that a portion of the camming member protrudes into the path the cartridge will travel as it is inserted into the tape machine. When the cartridge is inserted, the leading edge of the cartridge engages that portion of the camming member. The camming member is pivoted and moves to a second position; the camming member comes to rest in its second position, in engagement with the notch provided as a standard feature on the bottom edge of the cartridge. Removal of the cartridge is accomplished by manually pulling the cartridge out of the tape machine.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for indexing a transducer head, such as is used in magnetic tape recording, is disclosed. A transducer head is mounted on a head carrier. The carrier supports a cam follower and the carrier and cam follower are resiliently biased against a cam. A gear train, including both a motor and the above-mentioned cam are mounted on a common support device. The support device is pivotally mounted. The head can consequently be initially indexed to a given track on the tape by pivoting the support device; this has the effect of moving the entire cam up and down and consequently the head as well. Once the head has been indexed to a given track it is moved between the various tracks by rotating the cam via the gear train.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for withdrawing tape from an internal elastic-belt-drive type cartridge is disclosed. At least one member is inserted into the cartridge, just behind the tape, where the tape is exposed by the cartridge, to exert a tensile force on the tape, in a direction generally perpendicular to the undisturbed surface of the tape and simultaneously, the reels of the cartridge are driven in their standard manner.

Abstract: A switch assembly is provided for a tape drive adapted to receive a tape cartridge. The assembly comprises a housing, first and second switches fixedly mounted on the housing, and first and second plungers mounted for reciprocal movement on the housing to actuate the first and second switches, respectively. The housing includes three orthogonal reference surfaces, all of which engage the tape drive to locate the assembly in proper relationship to the tape drive. The plungers are responsive to the tape cartridge to actuate the first switch when the tape cartridge is properly mounted on the drive and to actuate the second switch when the tape cartridge is not write-protected. The assembly may include a light source and a light-responsive switch which, together with a reflector in the tape cartridge, cooperate to detect position-indicating tape apertures.

Abstract: A device for mounting a cover to a support member is disclosed. In the exemplary embodiment the cover has a generally planar top surface and supports two side pieces protruding, in the same direction, from the top surface at approximately right angles thereto. A latching device is supported by each side piece. Each latching device comprises a plurality of prongs and is supported by the side piece such that the area of support is more remote from the top surface than are the free ends of the prongs. The prongs are biased out of the plane of the side piece. At least two recesses, one for each latching device, are provided by the support member and situated so as to mate with the latching devices when the cover is properly installed. Each recess has an internal surface at a predetermined angle to the plane of the side piece (approximately 45.degree.) against which the free ends of the prongs of the latching device can bear so as to provide a latching engagement.

Abstract: An arrangement for mounting magnetic tape heads in magnetic tape players, recorders, and other similar machines, comprises a mounting plate shaped for fixedly connecting a tape head therewith. A housing portion of the machine includes a base on which the mounting plate is pivotally supported for side-to-side, i.e., pivotal, movement, and housing sidewalls between which the side edges of the mounting plate are received. An adjustment mechanism is provided to selectively pivot the mounting plate into an aligned position, wherein the magnetic recording "gaps" of the tape head are in a substantially perpendicular relationship with the direction of motion of a magnetic tape sliding thereover. Channels are disposed along the mounting plate side edges and the adjacent housing sidewalls, and a solidifying plastic material is injected therein to form keys which positively retain the tape head in the aligned position.

Abstract: A cassette or cartridge-loading tape transport is disclosed, for use in magnetic recorders and the like, especially data recorders. The device includes tracks for slidably receiving a cassette or cartridge. A plate is slidably supported below the tracks and a drive motor is mounted on the plate. A constant-force spring biases the plate to a forward position. A plurality of lever arms supporting rollers are pivotally mounted adjacent the plate. Each lever arm includes a cam surface cooperating with a cam surface on the plate so that the rollers on the arms are moved from a lowered, inoperative position to a raised position engaging, locating and locking the cassette or cartridge within the recorder. A constant-force spring biases the lever arms to a raised position.

Abstract: A keyboard switch is actuated by the depression of a magnetized plunger into the region of a magnetic sensing device positioned at the lower extreme of plunger travel. The plunger is integrally formed of a plastic, magnetizable material and has a central, longitudinal opening that receives and registers with the sensor. The change in magnetic field intensity associated with plunger travel is detected by the sensor and translated into a signal representative of switch actuation.

Abstract: A plunger actuated, electrical switch uses a lost motion mechanism to prevent the switch from making and breaking contact more than once for each plunger depression. The plunger drives a contact element from a rest position to a contact position where electrical communication between two terminals is established and remains established until the plunger has retreated a fixed amount through a range of lost motion, whereupon it re-engages the contact element and drives it toward the rest position, breaking electrical communication between the terminals.

Abstract: A tubular fastening system for holding a plurality of members together with a predictable holding force, including a tubular eyelet of ductile but non-work hardening material pressed into a non-circular aperture formed in a rigid support plate. The predictable holding force of the tubular fastening system remains substantially constant upon attaining a predetermined radial pressure on the tubular eyelet at a significantly finite plurality of contact areas defined by the non-circular aperture in the support plate over a wide range of interference between the non-circular aperture and the tubular eyelet.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard is provided with a centrally operable elongated spacer bar that affords a smooth response to depression anywhere along its linear spans, a bail preloadably anchored at various points along the keyboard base being pivotally coupled to the extremities of the spacer bar to effectuate an even load distribution and minimal central drag upon each spacer bar depression, the preloadable anchoring of the bail at the various points along the keyboard base permitting convenient assembly of the spacer bar on the keyboard without the use of tools.