Abstract: A torque sensing device has a torque transmitting member with ends which are relatively rotatable around a member axis in response to an applied torque. Lost motion components rotating with the member ends have portions compactly extending along the member axis to engage the other component to limit such rotation after a predetermined degree of relative rotation has occurred. Two ferromagnetic elements rotating with the respective lost motion components have portions which extend along the member axis into interleaved relation with corresponding portions of the other element to form spaced pairs of respective element portions at each of two sides of a plane which extends transversely across the member axis. The elements respond to relative rotation of the torque transmitting member ends to proportionally increase the spacing in the pairs of element portions at one side of the noted plane and to decrease the spacing in the pairs of element portions at an opposite side of the plane.

Abstract: A supplementary heating system particularly suitable for an automotive vehicle comprises a step down transformer coupled to the stator windings of the vehicle's alternator and a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) of resistivity heater electrically connected intermediate the stator windings and the transformer in parallel with the transformer. Due to the presence of the transformer the voltage regulator causes the alternator to operate at a higher than customary voltage to provide the conventional 14.4 volts for the vehicle's normal electrical loads with the high voltage used to energize the heater. The heater can be in the form of a so-called "honeycomb" having a plurality of parallely extending passages or cells disposed in the air stream going from the main heater into the passenger compartment and can be either a multiphase, single phase or direct current type.

Abstract: A dual function sensor particularly useful with vehicular coolant systems indicates when a coolant liquid becomes corrosive to such cooling system materials as well as when the liquid falls to a low level condition. A reference and a sense electrode are used to probe the condition of the coolant liquid. Integral electronics provide signal conditioning and transmitting to indicate both corrosive and low level coolant conditions. The sensor assembly mounted directly onto a tubular coupling on the vehicle radiator by pushing the assembly onto the coupling until a spring wire element snaps past a lip formed on the free distal end of the coupling. An electrical connector shroud extends from the assembly and accommodates a mating male connector which is pushed onto the shroud until a clip mounted on the male connector snaps over a locking tab located on the shroud. The male connector typically is connected to an engine control module (ECM).

Abstract: A pressure sensor comprises an improved capacitive pressure transducer having a first capacitor plate secured to a limited portion of a first surface of a relatively rigid ceramic substrate and having a diaphragm with an electrically conductive surface forming a second capacitor plate, the diaphragm being secured to the ceramic substrate at a location spaced inwardly from the periphery of that first substrate for disposing the second capacitor plate in spaced, overlying relation to the first capacitor plate to be movable in response to applied pressure for varying the capacitor formed by the plates. Support means bear against opposite surfaces of the ceramic substrate at the periphery of the substrate for mounting the transducer with the diaphragm thereof substantially free of mounting stresses to be exposed to a pressure force in a pressure zone to be monitored.

Abstract: A pressure sensor comprises an improved capacitive pressure transducer having a first capacitor plate secured to a limited portion of a first surface of a relatively rigid ceramic substrate and having a diaphragm with an electrically conductive surface forming a second capacitor plate, the diaphragm being secured to the ceramic substrate at a location spaced inwardly from the periphery of that first substrate surface for disposing the second capacitor plate in spaced, overlying relation to the first capacitor plate to be movable in response to applied pressure for varying the capacitor formed by the plates. Support means bear against opposite surfaces of the ceramic substrate at the periphery of the substrate for mounting the transducer with the diaphragm thereof substantially free of mounting stresses to be exposed to a pressure force in a pressure zone to be monitored.

Abstract: A supplementary heating system particularly suitable for an automotive vehicle comprises a step down transformer coupled to the stator windings of the vehicle's alternator and a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) of resistivity heater electrically connected intermediate the stator windings and the transformer in parallel with the transformer. Due to the presence of the transformer the voltage regulator causes the alternator to operate at a higher than customary voltage to provide the conventional 14.4 volts for the vehicle's normal electrical loads with the high voltage used to energize the heater. The heater can be in the form of a so-called "honeycomb" having a plurality of parallely extending passages or cells disposed in the air stream going from the main heater into the passenger compartment and can be either a multiphase, single phase or direct current type.

Abstract: A dual function sensor particularly useful with vehicular coolant systems indicates when a coolant liquid becomes corrosive to such cooling system materials as well as when the liquid falls to a low level condition. A reference and a sense electrode are used to probe the condition of the coolant liquid. Integral electronics provide signal conditioning and transmitting to indicate both corrosive and low level coolant conditions. The sensor assembly mounts directly onto a tubular coupling on the vehicle radiator by pushing the assembly onto the coupling until a spring wire element snaps past a lip formed on the free distal end of the coupling. An electrical connector shroud extends from the assembly and accommodates a mating male connector which is pushed onto the shroud until a clip mounted on the male connector snaps over a locking tab located on the shroud. The male connector typically is connected to an engine control module (ECM).

Abstract: A starting circuit for single phase electric motors including both split-phase and capacitor start motors includes a gate controlled solid state switch serially connected to the start winding of the motor. Rectified reference pulses from a pulse transformer are generated to turn on a first transistor to provide gating current for the solid state switch. Initially, when the motor is energized at zero rpm, the pulses are received at the switch after the start winding current passes through the zero current level to gate the switch to conduct each half cycle and energize the start winding however as the motor speeds up, the pulses are received earlier and earlier relative to the start winding current zero cross over until at a selected speed the pulses are received at the switch prior to the start winding current zero cross over with the result that the switch is no longer gated conductive. When this occurs, the voltage across the switch goes high.

Abstract: A starting circuit for single phase electric motors including both split-phase and capacitor start motors includes a gate controlled solid state switch serially connected to the start winding of the motor. Rectified reference pulses from a pulse transformer are generated to turn on a first transistor to provide gating current for the solid state switch. Initially, when the motor is energized at zero rpm, the pulses are received at the switch after the start winding current passes through the zero current level to gate the switch to conduct each half cycle and energize the start winding however as the motor speeds up, the pulses are received earlier and earlier relative to the start winding current zero cross over until at a selected speed the pulses are received at the switch prior to the start winding current zero cross over with the result that the switch is no longer gated conductive. When this occurs the voltage across the switch goes high.