Abstract: An assembly of interconnected containers includes a plurality of containers each of which has an upper portion connected to a lower portion by a hinge or hinges with the upper portion having a pair of elongated generally parallel upwardly open channels. The container also has a pair of generally parallel generally downwardly projecting flanges structured to engage an upwardly open channel of an adjacent container and adjacent containers have either at least one of the channels engaged by a flange of an adjacent container or at least one of its flanges engaged in a channel of an adjacent container or both. The channels are preferably open having at least one end so as to permit relative sliding removal and insertion of the containers from and into the assembly. In another embodiment, a rail and flange structure is provided to interengage adjacent containers within an assembly. A container can also be provided that has a lid portion hingably attached to the upper portion of the container.

Abstract: A long travel damper assembly operatively connecting torque input and output members including a piston plate acting as a clutch plate for torque input from a vehicle engine, a hub connected to a transmission input shaft and comprising a generally flat annular plate with circumferentially spaced radial arms extending outwardly from the flange, a plurality of elongated arcuate slots formed in the hub plate, and generally wedge-shaped individual spring separators or skates having rollers positioned at their inner ends riding in the arcuate slots. A plurality of generally U-shaped torque input members are secured to the piston plate and encompass the hub arms between compression springs to act as driving elements. As an alternative, the spring separators comprise annular generally concentric rings having radial arms interposed between damper springs.

Abstract: A centrifugally-actuated roller clutch or overrunning clutch acting to engage two shafts rotating independently at different speeds to bring them into engagement in one or both directions at a predetermined rpm. The clutch assembly includes an outer race, a wave hub or inner race, clutch rollers, a spacer ring or spacer blocks to separate the rollers and a garter spring encompassing the rollers. If a freewheeling mode is required in one direction, the spacer ring or blocks are not required, and the wave form of the inner hub controls the overrunning action.

Abstract: A long travel series damper assembly for a continuously variable transmission or similar arrangement which maintains minimal contact friction while equalizing manufacturing and loading tolerances without adding additional frictional forces. This assembly runs in a dry environment and includes a hub assembly having a barrel and a pair of hub drive plates encompassing the damper assembly and providing inwardly offset drive straps, a flywheel drive plate having radially inwardly extending drive arms corresponding in number to the drive straps, a floating idler divider encompassing the hub barrel and having circumferentially spaced dividers, compression damping springs located between the flywheel drive arms, the hub drive straps and the idler dividers, and at least two intermediate retaining rings, each of which is capable of movement independent of the hub assembly in one direction of rotation to limit the friction forces of the damper assembly.

Abstract: A friction energizing drive such as a clutch disc in a friction clutch for automotive clutches, starting clutches for continuously variable transmissions and heavy-duty clutches for heavy equipment or off-the-road vehicles, wherein a ceramic material in the form of discs or buttons comprise the friction material. To smooth the generally abrupt torque curve and reduce the harsh feel of a ceramic material clutch, the ceramic material in the form of circular members, alone or secured to disc backings, are rotatably mounted on an annular clutch disc or plate located between a flywheel and pressure plate in a clutch assembly.

Abstract: A torsional vibration damper assembly for use in a torsional coupling or clutch arrangement to provide a low spring rate, high deflection amplitude characteristic, including an input means having driving arms or straps, at least two elongated bowed coil springs, each extending through an arc of approximately 180.degree., a hub having diametrically opposed radial arms normally in axial alignment with the drive arms, and a plurality of wedges which are inserted between adjacent coils of the bowed springs to separate the springs into several operative segments. The use of the wedges provides spring segments which operate in series.

Abstract: A series vibration damper assembly which includes a control device that will allow the damper to react differently in the coast direction than in the drive direction. The vibration damper assembly includes a housing having inwardly offset drive straps, a hub having radial arms aligned with the drive straps in a static condition, a plurality of spring separators positioned between the hub arms and separating damper springs received between the hub arms. The improvement of the present invention relates to a curved bypass thrust member secured to each hub arm and projecting through two damper springs and the spring separator to abut the next spring separator and prevent compression of the two springs in the coast direction.

Abstract: A pressure relief valve to control the opening of a port between two pressure vessels at a predetermined time to eliminate differential pressure between the vessels. More particularly, the lock-up clutch assembly in a torque converter is actuated due to a pressure differential on the opposite sides of the clutch or piston plate, and the pressure relief valve will open upon deceleration of the vehicle driven by the torque converter to equalize the pressure on the opposite sides of the clutch plate and allow disengagement of the clutch plate from the torque converter housing.

Abstract: A vibration damper for a clutch having a built-in rotary sensitive and applied force lag control for an automotive vehicle adapted to reduce the tip-in and tip-out effects on the clutch, such as in an automotive lock-up clutch in a torque converter. The vibration damper includes a hub having radially extending fingers, and the lag control comprises friction lag plates received on each finger for generally outward radial movement relative to the hub to frictionally engage in a channel of a vibration damper housing under centrifugal force due to rotation of the assembly. The outward movement of the lag plates may be enhanced by a camming action or resilient spring between the hub finger and lag plate.

Abstract: A vibration damper with a built-in self-energizing lag system adapted to reduce the tip-in and tip-out effects of automotive lock-up torque converters for an automatic transmission. The lag system comprises a friction lag plate having a generally wedge shape that is received in a complementary notch formed in the outer surface of each hub arm of the vibration damper and will be urged outwardly by centrifugal force to slide in a channel formed in the housing for the damper to offer a resistance to movement of the hub that is proportional to the centrifugal force resulting from engine rpm.

Abstract: An extended travel vibration damper for a lock-up clutch utilized in a torque converter where both the clutch friction surfaces and the damper structure are located radially outwardly in the torque converter housing, with the damper being formed of a plurality of annular members with damper springs to provide a compact structure where there is limited space in the torque converter.

Abstract: A torsional vibration damper assembly for extended travel of the damping assembly where the assembly is utilized in the limited space found in a housing of a torque converter between the forward converter housing wall and the turbine shell. The damper assembly is compact with an internal splined connection to the turbine hub and having an annular clutch plate secured to the periphery of the damper assembly to engage the other clutching components for a lock-up clutch. Three floating equalizers are journalled on a hub plate, with each equalizer and the hub having three radial arms, and damper springs in groups of four are positioned between the hub arms and/or equalizer arms. A spring retainer housing provides the torque input from the torque converter housing and has three pairs of axially aligned drive straps in the path of the damper springs.

Abstract: A torsional vibration damper assembly to provide extended travel for the dampening effect which is achieved by the use of two concentric series of damper springs interconnected through a common housing or intermediate member. A driving plate has two or more drive tangs secured thereon, which tangs extend inwardly into the path of the outer circle of damping springs. One or more floating divider rings are journalled in the assembly and have ears projecting into the path of the springs as do outer drive straps of the intermediate member. Floating wedges or skates are located between the springs of the inner circle along with inner drive straps of the intermediate member and hub arms in the path of the inner springs; the hub being driven through the circles of springs to drive a transmission input shaft.

Abstract: A pressure relief valve to control the opening of a port between two pressure vessels at a predetermined time to eliminate differential pressure between the vessels. More particularly, the lock-up clutch assembly in a torque converter is actuated due to a pressure differential on the opposite sides of the clutch or piston plate, and the pressure relief valve will open upon deceleration of the vehicle driven by the torque converter to equalize the pressure on the opposite sides of the clutch plate and allow disengagement of the clutch plate from the torque converter housing.

Abstract: A torsional vibration damper assembly for use in a torsion coupling or clutch arrangement to provide a low spring rate, high deflection amplitude characteristic. The assembly includes an input means having driving members operatively connected thereto, a hub assembly adapted to be operatively connected to an output means and including a housing containing at least one hub barrel and drive plates secured thereto, a plurality of floating spacers, and a plurality of compression spring sets which are arranged in two groups operating in parallel with the spring sets of each group operating in series.

Abstract: A vibration damper assembly used in a torsional coupling between driving and driven members providing a low rate, high amplitude deflection, wherein the damper assembly includes a hub operatively connected to a driven shaft and having arms, at least one floating equalizer journalled on the hub, drive tangs connected to a driving member, and two or more groups of damper springs interposed between the drive tangs, hub arms and floating equalizers. To separate the damper springs in an equalizer, a spring separator or divider is mounted for limited arcuate movement in opposed arms of the equalizers.

Abstract: A vibration damper assembly providing for extended travel in the damper operation, wherein the assembly includes a hub having an integral radial flange and three circumferentially equally spaced radially extending hub arms, a pair of equalizers journalled on the hub on opposite sides of the flange, and a housing substantially enclosing the hub and equalizers and adapted to be secured to a torque input member. Each equalizer has three circumferentially equally spaced radially extending arms, with the arms of the two equalizers alternating between the hub arms. This assembly provides for three groups of damper springs acting in parallel with three spring sets acting in series in each group.

Abstract: An extended travel vibration damper assembly for use in a torsional coupling such as a torque converter wherein the damper assembly is incorporated in a speed responsive lockup coupling between the impeller and the turbine of the torque converter. A rotatable member between the housing and turbine carries a plurality of speed-responsive actuated friction clutches and is connected to the driving housing of the vibration damper. Within the housing are a pair of floating equalizers journalled on a hub having a pair of radially extending arms, and spring sets are positioned between the hub arms and equalizers for actuation by the housing to rotate the hub which is operatively connected to the turbine of the torque converter.

Abstract: A torsional vibration damper assembly for use in a torsional coupling between a driving member and a driven member wherein the damper assembly provides a very low rate, high amplitude deflection. The damper assembly includes a hub adapted to be connected to a driven shaft and provided with a pair of oppositely extending arms, a driving plate having a pair of driving members cooperating with the hub arms, a pair of floating equalizers journalled onto the hub, and a plurality of damping springs positioned between the arms of the equalizers, the hub arms and the driving members.

Abstract: A series vibration damper assembly which includes a control device that will allow the damper to react differently in the coast direction than in the drive direction. The vibration damper assembly includes a housing having inwardly offset drive straps, a hub having radial arms aligned with the drive straps in a static condition, a plurality of spring separators positioned between the hub arms and separating damper springs received between the hub arms. The improvement of the present invention relates to a curved bypass thrust member secured to each hub arm and projecting through two damper springs and the spring separator to abut the next spring separator and prevent compression of the two springs in the coast direction.