Abstract: A cam-operated timer for a household appliance. The timer includes a rotatable cam-carrying member having cam surfaces, a drive mechanism to rotate the cam-carrying member, a plurality of cam-actuated switches each mounted for engagement with a cam surface, and a textured surface and an audible and/or tactile feedback member. The audible and/or tactile feedback member is positioned to move across the textured surface to generate audible and/or tactile feedback in response to at least manual rotation of the cam-carrying member.

Abstract: A cam-operated timer for a household appliance including a housing and a switch wafer mounting in the housing used to receive and locate the wafers to prevent inaccuracies in wafer thickness from accumulating through the stack of wafers. The switch wafer mounting includes first and second locating features for receiving first and second switch arm wafers. The first switch arm wafer rests against the first locating feature, and the second switch arm wafer is stacked atop the first switch arm wafer and rests against the second locating feature.

Abstract: A cam-operated timer for a household appliance features lanced switch arm contacts. A contacting surface of at least one switch arm includes a tear in the surface of the switch arm. Adjacent the tear, a first portion of the contact surface is deflected away from the surface of the switch arm in a first direction, whereby a sharp contact edge is created. The sharp contact edge permits the switch arms to make good contact with adjacent switch arms.

Abstract: A cam-operated timer for a household appliance features lanced switch arm contacts. A contacting surface of at least one switch arm includes a tear in the surface of the switch arm. Adjacent the tear, a first portion of the contact surface is deflected away from the surface of the switch arm in a first direction, whereby a sharp contact edge is created. The sharp contact edge permits the switch arms to make good contact with adjacent switch arms.

Abstract: A cam-operated timer for a household appliance includes a motor having a stator plate and a rotor mounted for rotation in the stator plate. The geartrain comprises meshing gears positioned on both opposite sides of the stator plate and mounted directly to the stator, for providing a gear reduction of the rotation of the motor.

Abstract: A cam-operated timer for a household appliance including a housing and a switch wafer mounting in the housing used to receive and locate the wafers to prevent inaccuracies in wafer thickness from accumulating through the stack of wafers. The switch wafer mounting includes first and second locating features for receiving first and second switch arm wafers. The first switch arm wafer rests against the first locating feature, and the second switch arm wafer is stacked atop the first switch arm wafer and rests against the second locating feature.

Abstract: A motorized door latch assembly for locking an oven door in a locked and sealed position for purposes of cleaning the oven. A motor and cam cause a latch rod extending from side to side to translate, causing a latch plate to move between three different positions. In one position the latch plate prevents the oven door from opening. From this position, the latch plate is pulled inwardly, orthogonal to the direction of motion of the latch rod, so the oven door is in a locked and sealed position. In its locked and sealed position the door may be opened by biasing the latch plate against the bias of a biaser extending between a fixed location on a mounting plate and a fixed location on the latch plate.

Abstract: Cam-operated timers for various appliances, such as a clothes washer and a dryer, wherein the timers that are nearly identical from the user's standpoint. For example, the timer may be provided on both a clothes washer and a dryer. Each timer may be set and started in a same or similar manner. The timers each include a rotatable cam-carrying member having cam surfaces thereon, a timing motor, a drive mechanism, a plurality of cam-actuated switches and members generating a motion pattern, audible and/or tactile feedback, and both timers in response to actions by an operator setting the timer.

Abstract: A cam-operated timer for a household appliance has a variety of improvements. An audible and tactile feedback member engages a textured surface on the cam wheel, to produce desired audible and tactile feedback when the timer is manually set. When the timer is manually set, the cam-actuated switches are moved away from the cam surfaces, and a clutch is opened to permit bi-directional slip between the cam wheel and motor, so that the sole source of audible and tactile feedback is the audible and tactile feedback member. The timer also features lanced switch arm contacts, that provide a sharp contact edge to permit the switch arms to make good contact with adjacent switch arms. The switch arms are mounted in a stack of wafers, where each wafer may have switch arms of differing thickness or metal, allowing high current and low current switches to be mixed. Features in the housing are used to receive and locate the wafers to prevent inaccuracies in wafer thickness from accumulating through the stack of wafers.

Abstract: A motorized door latch assembly for locking an oven door in a locked and sealed position for purposes of cleaning the oven. A motor and cam cause a latch rod extending from side to side to translate, causing a latch plate to move between three different positions. In one position the latch plate prevents the oven door from opening. From this position, the latch plate is pulled inwardly, orthogonal to the direction of motion of the latch rod, so the oven door is in a locked and sealed position. In its locked and sealed position the door may be opened by biasing the latch plate against the bias of a biaser extending between a fixed location on a mounting plate and a fixed location on the latch plate.

Abstract: A cam-operated timer for a household appliance has a variety of improvements. An audible and tactile feedback member engages a textured surface on the cam wheel, to produce desired audible and tactile feedback when the timer is manually set. When the timer is manually set, the cam-actuated switches are moved away from the cam surfaces, and a clutch is opened to permit bi-directional slip between the cam wheel and motor, so that the sole source of audible and tactile feedback is the audible and tactile feedback member. The timer also features lanced switch arm contacts, that provide a sharp contact edge to permit the switch arms to make good contact with adjacent switch arms. The switch arms are mounted in a stack of wafers, where each wafer may have switch arms of differing thickness or metal, allowing high current and low current switches to be mixed. Features in the housing are used to receive and locate the wafers to prevent inaccuracies in wafer thickness from accumulating through the stack of wafers.

Abstract: A pressure transducer of the type providing a continuous electrical output signal indicative of the variation in sensed pressure having a metallic preferably aluminum armature attached for movement with a resilient pressure responsive diaphragm. A resonant circuit includes a coil disposed adjacent the armature and an oscillator provides current flow in the coil which generates eddy currents in the armature; and, movement of the diaphragm and armature causes the eddy currents therein to alter the effective inductive reactance of the coil and shift the frequency of resonance of the circuit. Circuit means are provided to emit an output signal indicative of the frequency shift for enabling a continuous determination to be made of the sensed pressure on the diaphragm. An auxiliary snap-action switch is provided remotely from the diaphragm and is actuated by a non-metallic rod from the armature passing through the central region of the coil. The circuitry is preferably mounted on a p.c.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-contacting liquid measurement system (60) preferably adapted to provide an averaged measurement in suitable units of measure of liquid (2), such as fuel, in a pressurized or unpressurized tank (4), such as a vehicular fuel tank, having an irregular shape such as irregular shaped bottom (6). The irregularity of bottom (6) results in variations in depth of liquid (2) across tank (4) that are accounted for by disposing a plurality of conduits (10, 12 14) in an array across tank (4) predetermined to provide the accuracy of measurement desired. Conduits (10, 12, 14) have respective ends (16, 18, 20) immersed in liquid (2) as close to bottom (6) as practical and are operable to provide respective liquid pressure signals (P.sub.1, P.sub.2 and P.sub.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for controlling both cruising speed and engine idling speed of a vehicle. The system includes an electronic control module that controls an actuator (100) having a moveable member preferably in the form of a gear rack (6) that is pivotably mounted to an intermediate member (8) that is operably connected to the engine throttle and adapted to move in opposite directions along a frame (2) of the actuator. The actuator is provided with means, preferably in the form of an idle speed control switch (34), for sensing when the throttle is being controlled by the operator and causing the control module to switch its output from a second control signal to a first control signal and feedback means, preferably in the form of a differentiating switch (47), for determining an idle speed pick-up position for the moveable member that is more than the desired regulated engine idle speed position but not more than the operator selected cruising speed position.

Abstract: A vacuum operated EGR valve/controller having a vacuum signal responsive diaphragm converted to operate the EGR poppet valve. A flow limiting orifice is provided upstream of the valve and a flow sensing pressure tap provided intermediate the valve and the orifice. Flow pressure is sensed by a piezoresistive transducer which gives an electrical signal indicative thereof. In one embodiment, the transducer is stationary and flow sensing tube is extended to the valve body. In a second embodiment, the transducer is mounted on the diaphragm for movement therewith and flow sensing is internal through the valve actuator. In another embodiment, a flow sensing orifice is provided downstream of the valve and the transducers has a reference and dynamic probe for sensing the differential of flow pressure on opposite sides of the sensing orifice.