Abstract: A connector assembly for use with either a four or seven way vehicle input harness. A housing is secured to a rear end location of the vehicle. A circuit board is secured within the housing. A first plurality of terminals defines the four way connector and a second plurality of terminals defines the seven way connector. Each of the terminals communicates with selected circuits and further defines input plugs accessible through the housing by the towed vehicle input harness. An electrical supply of the vehicle is engaged through the housing in order to electrically communicate the towing vehicle's electrical supply. A magnetically switching transistor operates, in combination with a magnet, to enable or disable power to each of the connectors based upon the positioning of an access cover associated with the connectors and indicative of the presence of a wire engaging harness.

Abstract: A power management and distribution assembly for use with a battery. A housing is secured to a face of the battery and includes a first terminal engaging the negative battery terminal, and a second terminal engaging the positive battery terminal. An energy management subassembly is in operative commnication with the negative terminal; a cut-off switch subassembly likewise being in operative communication with the positive terminal. Electrical components, such as fuses, relays and controllers, are arranged upon a circuit board mounted within the housing in electrical communication with both the energy management and cut-off switch subassemblies. A cover secures over an exposed face of the housing and an access door is defined in the cover and is openable to reveal the electrical components. Power feed output connectors and wire harness output connectors are associated with the energy management subassembly and are accessible from locations exterior the housing.

Abstract: A bussed electrical center for providing customizable current flow to electrical output components. An upper insulating layer has a first and second faces and exhibits a plurality of apertures through which are engaged male terminals pins, these further in operative communication with the electrical output components. A lower insulating layer has first and second faces exhibiting an apertured pattern according to a first specified configuration. A conductive grid overlays the first face of the lower insulating layer, an apertured pattern being defined in the grid according to a second specified configuration and further defined by interconnecting web portions, exposed by the apertured pattern in the lower insulating layer. Upon assembly of the insulating layers, with the grid stacked together, exposed web portions of the grid capable of being sectioned through the apertured pattern in the lower insulating layer and to establish a selected current flow direction across the grid.

Abstract: A water-tight splice connector made from an existing connector, including a first housing and a plurality of pins mounted in means for splicing the pins together located in the housing. A first seal member is located at one end of the housing behind the splicing means and pins. A retainer member engages the housing behind the seal member to protect and secure the seal member in place in the housing. A terminal locking member is insertable in the end of the housing opposite the end receiving seal member to lock and align the pins in place within the housing. A second seal member is located in a second housing containing female terminals for receiving the pins in the first housing. An interfacial seal member is located between the first housing and second housing to seal both housings from outside moisture and water. In the case where the first and second housings are used to connect the wires of two harnesses together, the splicing means is made smaller to permit the wires to bypass the splicing means.

Abstract: A switch having a carriage with a pair of substantially opposite sides and a contact surface of conductive parts facing one of the sides and a reaction surface facing the other of the sides in spaced relation therewith, and wherein the carriage is movable relative to and substantially parallel with the contact surface and the reaction surface, and has an improved contact mechanism carried by the carriage. The carriage has plural openings extending therethrough perpendicular to the contact surface and the reaction surface. The contact mechanism comprises a respective plurality of plungers, springs, conductive contact members and a common conductive retainer. Each contact member is slidably disposed in a respective one of the carriage openings and is adapted for engagement with the contact surface. Each spring is interposed in compression between a respective contact member and a respective plunger.

Abstract: A switch for controlling wiper delay includes a housing, a circuit board having a contact pattern of several parts on a surface thereof positioned in the housing, some of the contact pattern parts being arranged in a closely-spaced, radially-extending array, a carriage rotatable in the housing, electrical contacts mounted on the carriage and disposed for engagement with selected parts of the contact pattern as a function of the position of the carriage, a discrete resistive element having at least three conductive leads extending therefrom and subdividing the resistive element into a resistor network having a plurality of resistive values, each conductive lead of the resistive element being conductively affixed to a respective one of the contact pattern parts in the array, and wherein the carriage is manually actuatable to place the electrical contact into contact with successive ones of the contact pattern parts in the array to vary the interval between sweeps of a wiper.

Abstract: A switch, as for a windshield wiper, has a housing, a carriage rotatable in the housing in opposite directions from a first position to respective second and third positions, one or more electrical contacts mounted on and moving with the carriage, a conductive contact surface fixed in the housing for engagement by the contacts moving with the carriage, a primary actuation member which is manually actuatable from a first to a second position and may control a windshield washer, a drive member carried by the primary actuation member along a path, a resilient reaction member affixed to the carriage and extending into the path of the drive member for engagement therewith and displacement thereby, and wherein the carriage is displaced from the first to the second position by the displacement of the reaction member. The reaction member is the cantilevered arm of a torsion spring.

Abstract: A device (10) for filling a pneumatic tire and sensing the air pressure therein has a check valve (20) disposed within a valve stem (126b) and a pressure sensing switch which is temperature compensated to adjust for air pressure changes within the tire due to changes in ambient temperature. Substantially perfect compensation can be achieved, within a limited range of operation, whereby the set point pressure versus temperature characteristic will track with the related tire pressure versus temperature characteristic. A sealed capsule (110) is assembled and pressurized prior to installation within the device. A manual set point calibration feature is provided. The switch can be employed independently of, as well as in conjunction with, the check valve.

Abstract: A device for filling a pneumatic tire and sensing the air pressure therein has a check valve disposed within a valve stem and a pressure sensing switch which is temperature compensated to adjust for air pressure changes within the tire due to changes in ambient temperature. Substantially perfect compensation can be achieved, within a limited range of operation, whereby the set point pressure versus temperature characteristic will track with the related tire pressure versus temperature characteristic. A manual set point adjustment feature is provided whereby the switch can be calibrated after it is assembled within a wheel and pneumatic tire. The switch can also be employed independently of, as well as in conjunction with, the check valve.

Abstract: A low pressure drop air flowmeter for an automobile engine is disclosed. The meter contains a main air flow passage, a relatively small venturi to receive a portion of the air flow, pressure ports for sensing stagnation and static pressure and a set of swirl vanes disposed adjacent the outlet of the venturi and operative to impart a swirl to the remainder of the air in the main passage, thereby creating a reduced pressure at the venturi outlet for amplifying the pressure difference between the stagnation and static pressure without appreciably increasing the pressure drop across the flowmeter. A tertiary passage provides a path of fluid communication between points upstream and downstream of the swirl vanes. This passage can be selectively opened or restricted by a valve which, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, opens the tertiary passage with increasing overall flow rate.

Abstract: A low pressure drop air flowmeter for an automotive engine is disclosed. The meter includes a main air flow passage, a relatively small venturi to receive a portion of the air flow, a pressure port for sensing stagnation pressure in the main passage, a pressure port for sensing static pressure in the throat of the venturi, and a set of swirl vanes disposed adjacent the outlet of the venturi and operative to impart a swirl to the remainder of the air in the main passage, thereby creating a reduced pressure at the venturi outlet for amplifying the pressure difference between the stagnation and static pressure without appreciably increasing the pressure drop across the flowmeter. A geometrically reconfigurable element is included in the main passage resulting in a swirl rate which increases with increasing air flow but at a decreasing rate. This characteristic results in an output pressure differential signal which varies substantially linearly with flow rate over a relatively large range of operation.