Abstract: A system includes a calibration plate with fiducial markers, a device under test interface, an alignment stage with a rotary sub-stage and a linear sub-stage, and a camera on the alignment stage.

Abstract: An apparatus for locking a printed circuit board inside a card cage is disclosed. For one embodiment of the locking assembly, the locking assembly is mounted on a printed circuit board. The locking assembly is movable from a unlocked position to a locked position to lock the printed circuit board into the card cage. The locking assembly is unmovable to return to the unlocked position without the aid of a separate unlocking mechanism.

Abstract: A torsion isolator (34) for transmitting torque and dampening torsionals in a driveline. The isolator includes a composite c-shaped spring (48) disposed in an annular chamber (44) of a housing (38,40) filled with torque converter fluid. The spring transmits driveline torque and attenuates torsionals. The spring also functions as a fluid displacement piston by dividing the chamber into radially inner and outer volumes (44a,44b) which vary inversely in volume in response to torque changes flexing the spring. Rapid flexing of the spring increases the fluid pressure in the decreasing volume and thereby dampens or reduces the rate of spring flexing or rebound.

Abstract: A motor driven actuator having a mechanical stop radially protruding from the motor output shaft which contacts the output mechanism upon reaching an extreme of travel thereby stopping the rotation of the motor by imparting a tangential stopping force thereby stopping the movement of the output mechanism while minimizing forces generated in the actuator drive mechanism.

Abstract: A rotary positive displacement blower (10) of the Roots-type includes an improved inlet port opening (28 or 100, or 150) and an inlet duct (30) and a bypass duct (31) formed in an unitary housing member (14).

Abstract: An intake manifold (18) for an engine (10) includes a Roots-type supercharger (26) having a torsion damping mechanism (54) for reducing audible rattle of timing gears (72,74) which prevent contact of meshed lobes (28a,29a) of the supercharger rotors (28,29).

Abstract: A torsional vibration damping mechanism (30) is disclosed in a clutch plate assembly (24) for a vehicle driveline. Mechanism (30) includes a set (36) of relative high rate helical compression springs 62, 64 for transmitting torque and alternating torsionals when a transmission input shaft (22) is connected to a load, a set (38) of relatively low rate helical compression springs (66) connected in series with spring set (36) and for attenuating torsionals when the shaft (22) is not connected to a load, and a viscous damper module (48) disposed in parallel with both spring sets (36, 38) and operative to dampen recoil of both spring sets. The viscous damper module is readily fitted to known clutch plate assemblies in lieu of mechanical friction dampers previously employed to dampen recoil of the helical compression springs in such assemblies.

Abstract: An improved supercharger or blower (10) of the Roots-type with reduced airborne noise. The blower includes a housing (12) defining generally cylindrical chambers (32, 34) containing meshed lobed rotors (14, 16) having the lobes (14a, 14b, 14c, 16a, 16b, 16c) thereon formed with an end-to-end helical twist according to the relation 360.degree./2n, where n equals the number of lobes per rotor. Blower housing (12) also defines inlet and outlet ports (36, 38). The inlet port includes a longitudinal extent defined by housing wall surfaces (20f, 20h) and a transverse extent defined by housing wall surfaces 20g, 20i. Transverse wall surfaces (20g, 20i) are disposed substantially parallel to the associated rotor lobes. The outlet port includes a longitudinal extent defined by housing surfaces (20m, 20r) and a transverse extent defined by housing surfaces (20p, 20s). Spaces (32a, 34a) between adjacent lobes of each rotor transfer volumes of low-pressure inlet port air to relatively high-pressure outlet port air.

Abstract: A drive mechanism (26) momentarily reduces the speed of engine-driven accessories in response to vehicle acceleration or increased power demands to improve fuel economy and to provide additional horsepower for the vehicle. The drive mechanism includes an electromagnetic clutch (48) operative, when engaged, to drive the accessories at constant speeds relative to speeds of an engine (10) and a viscous coupling (60) operative, when first engaged, in response to disengagement of the clutch, to first drive the accessories at a minimum speed and then to increase the accessory speeds to minimize shift shocks when the clutch is reengaged. The coupling includes a housing (58) defining an annular compartment (108) containing an annular clutch member (92) and a viscous liquid. A working chamber (113) within the compartment, defined by confronting surfaces of the housing and clutch member, transmits torque from the housing to the clutch member via viscous shear in response to relative rotation therebetween.

Abstract: A viscous coupling adapted to be positioned within the housing of a torque converter automatic transmission for use as a bypass of the torque converter and including an annular clutch lining secured to a side face of the outer peripheral portion of the coupling and a control valve assembly positioned in the outer peripheral portion to cushion the impact of engagement of the annular clutch lining with the confronting surface of the torque converter housing. The control valve assembly includes a rolling diaphragm which extends across the open end of an axially extending bore in the outer peripheral portion and is arranged to rollingly traverse the bore to successively cover or uncover a series of axially spaced leakage holes communicating with the main chamber of the torque converter and the bore.

Abstract: A bypass drive line for a torque converter type automatic transmission in which the bypass drive line includes a viscous coupling and automatic transmission fluid is selectively passed through the periphery of the viscous coupling to provide a flow of cooling fluid around the coupling. The fluid flowing through the coupling enters at one face of the coupling adjacent the periphery of the coupling and then flows around the periphery of the coupling through a major sector of the circular plane of the coupling and then exits at the opposite face of the coupling at a location spaced from the entry location by a minor sector of the circular plane of the coupling, thereby providing a circuitous path through the coupling which provides a flow rate of cooling fluid through the coupling that varies in proportion to the viscosity, and thereby the temperature, of the cooling fluid.

Abstract: The actuator disclosed herein uses cyclic forces in a valve gear train of an internal combustion engine to selectively switch a pair of valve disablers between valve enabling and disabling positions. When the disablers are in the valve enabling position, rocker arm fulcrums are latched in a fixed position. When the disablers are in the disabling position, the rocker arm fulcrums are unlatched to allow sliding movement of the fulcrums. The actuator employs a spring which is preloaded to positions for switching the disablers between their enabling and disabling positions in response to movement of the rocker arms which are moved by cyclic forces from a camshaft.

Abstract: An improved valve disabler control for a multi-cylinder engine having individually pivoted rocker arms and an intake and exhaust valve pair for each cylinder. Half of the valve pairs are provided with valve disablers having rotatable sleeves. Rotation of the sleeves counterclockwise (ccw) allows sliding movement of the rocker arm fulcrums, thereby disabling the valves; clockwise (cw) rotation of the sleeves prevents sliding movement of the fulcrums, thereby enabling the valves. The improved control includes a link and a spring interconnecting the disabler sleeves for each valve pair. Each link rotates the intake valve disabler sleeve ccw in response to ccw rotation of the exhaust valve disabling sleeve. A slot connecting each link to the intake valve disabler sleeve allows cw rotation of the exhaust valve disabler sleeve before cw rotation of the intake valve disabler sleeve. Each spring provides a cw biasing force to the sleeves. The biasing force increases in response to ccw rotation of the sleeves.

Abstract: A system for optimizing the number of cylinders operating in a multicylinder engine, during ongoing engine operation. Input circuitry monitors conditions under which the engine is operating and generates corresponding input signals. Logic circuitry, based on such input signals, determines whether to then add to, subtract from, or maintain unchanged the number of cylinders operating in the engine. Output circuitry, responsive to the logic circuitry, enables and disables specific cylinders in the engine, in a preferred embodiment through valve selectors respectively provided on several cylinders of the multicylinder engine. The logic technique includes a bidirectional counting portion capable of sequential up and down counting through several steps to correspondingly sequentially enable or disable the valve selector equipped cylinders of the engine in, preferably, one cylinder steps.

Abstract: A device for disabling a poppet valve in an internal combustion engine. The engine includes a valve actuating drive train having an overhead camshaft, a hydraulic lash adjuster, and a rocker arm which pivots at one end about the lash adjuster. The disabling device is secured to the valve stem and is drivingly interposed between the valve and the other end of the rocker arm. The disabling device includes a cap and drum or first drive means moveable with the rocker arm and relative to the valve stem, first and second springs concentric to the valve stem and respectively apply a biasing force to the first and second drive means and a rotatable latch. The latch is moveable between a valve enabling position and a valve disabling position. The valve is enabled for normal opening and closing when the latch is in the valve enabling position; in this position the latch prevents relative movement between the first and second drive means and both springs bias the valve closed.

Abstract: An engine valve control mechanism for varying the amount of opening and/or timing of cylinder valve in a valve gear train of a multi-cylinder, internal combustion engine having an overhead camshaft which actuates the valve via a rocker arm pivotally bridged between the valve stem and a hydraulic lash adjuster. In one engine embodiment of the invention the valve gear train portion for each intake valve is provided with a valve control mechanism of the invention by providing a camshaft having a high lift lobe and two low lift lobes for actuating the valve and by providing a valve rocker arm including a rigid link defining a first cam follower for following the low lift lobes and a second cam follower pivotally connected to the rigid link for following the high lift lobe.

Abstract: A low-cost, motor-less carbonator has a housing having a fill chamber and a carbonation chamber. The chambers are maintained at different pressure levels to create a fluid movement from the fill chamber to the carbonation chamber. The fill chamber can be vented to allow a low pressure water feed to refill the fill tank. Carbonated water from the carbonation chamber is withdrawn on demand by a dispensing means.