Abstract: The inertia drive consists of a clutch subassembly including an input head shaft, a clutch plate stack, six clutch springs, and a clutch housing; and a screw shaft/pinion subassembly including a screw shaft, a pinion and a stop nut. Spline engagements and snap rings are used to couple the clutch housing and stop nut to the screw shaft. The use of splined engagements and snap rings eliminates the need for stop nuts to be threaded onto the screw shaft, reducing manufacturing cost and increasing durability. The use of splined engagements for coupling the screw shaft to the clutch housing and the stop nut to the screw shaft also allows both the clutch housing and stop nuts to be radially positioned on the screw shaft with incremental adjustability to selectively orientate the pinion relative to both the clutch housing and the stop nut.

Abstract: The inertia drive consists of a clutch subassembly including an input head shaft, a clutch plate stack, six clutch springs, and a clutch housing; and a screw shaft/pinion subassembly including a screw shaft, a pinion and a stop nut. Spline engagements and snap rings are used to couple the clutch housing and stop nut to the screw shaft. The use of splined engagements and snap rings eliminates the need for stop nuts to be threaded onto the screw shaft, reducing manufacturing cost and increasing durability. The use of splined engagements for coupling the screw shaft to the clutch housing and the stop nut to the screw shaft also allows both the clutch housing and stop nuts to be radially positioned on the screw shaft with incremental adjustability to selectively orientate the pinion relative to both the clutch housing and the stop nut.

Abstract: An adjustable lumbar support for chairs and vehicle seats, which provides an adjustable contour to the seat back for varying degrees of lumbar support to the seat occupant is disclosed. The lumbar support includes a mounting base, a lumbar plate, and a pair of articulated linkage arms. Each of the linkage arms includes an upper and lower segment, which are pivotally connected by an elbow joint. The lower segments of each linkage arm are pivotally connected to the mounting base and the upper segments of each linkage arm are pivotally connected to the lumbar plate. A Bowden cable is connected to the linkage arms at the elbow joints, such that extending or retracting the cable pulls or pushes the elbow joints together or apart to actuate the lumbar support. The linkage mechanism composed of the linkage arms and the six pivotal joints allows the lumbar plate a limited degree of pivotal movement between its fully extended and fully retracted positions.

Abstract: The invention provides a means whereby a body such as that of a butterfly valve can be prepared with minimal machining. The manufacture of a butterfly valve is described in which the stem openings for the valve are left in their as-cast condition, the stem bushings inserted, aligned with a stem replica and then permanently locked in aligned position by filling the voids between the bushings and the walls of their openings with the same elastomeric compound from which the valve seat is molded. The compound, after curing or setting, being of such thin wall section that for all practical purposes it is a rigid material.

Abstract: A rotary plug valve which is of the type comprising a housing formed of a polymer and a rotary plug disposed in a through-passage of the housing. The plug is formed of a polymer and includes a bore selectively alignable with the through-passage to admit the passage of fluid. The plug valve is formed by forming the plug and attaching thereto a preformed polymeric shield by snap-fitting the shield onto the plug. The shield has an inner surface conforming to the periphery of the plug. The plug and shield assembly is positioned within a cavity of a mold. The cavity corresponds to the shape of the housing. A molten polymer is introduced into the cavity and intimately contacts the shield and forms the housing around the plug.

Abstract: A rotary plug valve is formed which is of the type comprising a housing formed of a polymer and a rotary plug disposed in a through-passage of the housing. The plug is formed of a polymer and includes a bore selectively alignable with the through-passage to admit the passage of fluid. The plug valve is formed by forming the plug and attaching thereto a preformed polymeric shield by snap-fitting the shield onto the plug. The shield has an inner surface conforming to the periphery of the plug. The plug and shield assembly is positioned within a cavity of a mold. The cavity corresponds to the shape of the housing. A molten polymer is introduced into the cavity and intimately contacts the shield and forms the housing around the plug.

Abstract: A cap for closing an upwardly facing, neckless opening in a vehicle radiator comprises a shell defining a chamber within the cap. The shell includes an outer end disposed without the radiator when the cap is closing the opening and an inner end disposed within the radiator when the cap is closing the opening. A first venting passageway in the outer end of the shell connects the chamber to atmosphere, and a second venting passageway in the inner end of the shell connects the chamber to the radiator interior. An outwardly facing valve seat is disposed within the chamber and a pressure-vacuum valve is urged against the seat by a spring, the valve and spring being housed within the chamber. The seat is provided by an integral annular portion of the shell which extends peripherally and radially inwardly from an interior wall of the shell. A plurality of ears for engaging the radiator opening are disposed about the outer periphery of the shell and project radially outwardly therefrom.

Abstract: Resilient O-ring seals for caps for closing vehicle fuel tank filler necks, the fuel caps having shank portions extending into the necks. The radial width of the annular space between the inner wall of such a neck and the outer wall of the shank is less than the radial dimension of the O-ring. Each O-ring includes an annular, radially outwardly facing groove defined by an axially inner lip, an axially outer lip, and a connecting web portion. As the shank with the O-ring thereon moves axially into the neck, the axially inner surface of the inner lip contacts the neck and is urged axially outwardly in a wiping action causing bending of the O-ring such that its radially inner surface is resiliently urged radially and compressively to seal the annular space. In one embodiment, the inner surface of the outer lip contacts the neck as the shank and O-ring are projected further into the neck. The outer lip of the O-ring thereby axially compressively seals the space.

Abstract: A low-profile locking cap for a threaded filler neck includes a closure member for engaging and closing the neck, a shell providing a hand grip and including a key-actuable lock, and a race disposed for rotation between the shell and closure. The race includes axially inwardly opening pockets, and the closure includes flexible pawl fingers for engaging the pockets to provide a driving connection between the closure and race which is positive in the cap removal direction and torque-limited in the cap advancing direction. The race also includes a set of peripherally spaced, radially inwardly projecting teeth, and the shell is molded to provide a pair of flexible drive fingers for engaging the peripherally spaced and radially inwardly projecting teeth to provide a driving connection between the shell and race which is positive in the cap advancing direction and torque-limited in the cap removal direction for free ratcheting of the cap when it is in position on the filler neck and locked.

Abstract: A resilient O-ring seal for an annular space between a first radially inner surface and a second radially outer surface. The radial width of the annular space is less than the radial dimension of the O-ring. The O-ring includes an annular, radially outwardly facing groove defined by an axially inner lip, an axially outer lip, and a connecting web portion. The inner and outer lips both include axially inner and outer surfaces. The web portion includes a radially inwardly facing surface and a radially outwardly facing surface. As the O-ring is projected axially into the annular space, the axially inner surface of the inner lip contacts the second surface and is urged axially outwardly in a wiping action. The axially outward wiping movement of the inner lip causes a twisting or rolling of the ring such that the web radially inner surface is urged radially outwardly at its axially inner extent and is urged radially inwardly at its axially outer extent against the first surface.