Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner for a wrapped power transmission device designed to minimize the amount of air present in the pressure chamber. The hydraulic tensioner includes a combination pressure relief-check valve for use with a hollow piston pressure chamber containing a spring within the pressure chamber to bias the piston outward from the bore. The valve housing is designed to reduce the volume of fluid contained within the pressure chamber minimizing the amount of air which may become trapped in the pressure chamber thus improving the performance of the tensioner.

Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner is provided with a plunger slidably fitted in a cavity in the tensioner housing and biased in a protruding direction by a spring and fluid. An integral inlet check and pressure relief valve is positioned in the cavity and permits fluid to only flow into the cavity and thereby protrude the plunger but not out of the cavity until a high pressure condition is reached whereupon fluid is relieved out of the cavity back to the fluid source. The integral inlet check and pressure relief valve includes a check spring biasing a valve member a against a pressure relief disk that is biased against the valve member by a pressure relief spring.

Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner for operation of a dual chain system including at least one piston maintaining force on two chain guide arms. One embodiment includes an inner and outer piston with a first spring within the bore and a second spring on top of the housing, where each piston contacts a chain guide arm. A second embodiment includes one piston with a fulcrum arm contacting the chain guide arms. A third embodiment includes two pistons arranged side-by-side sharing the same chamber and check valve assembly.

Abstract: A vibration damper assembly to absorb vibrations in a camshaft and sprocket system has a sprocket positioned around a camshaft, an inertia ring positioned around the camshaft and adjacent the sprocket, yet capable of moving independently of the sprocket, and a hub member positioned around the camshaft adjacent the inertia ring. Frictional material is interposed between the hub member and a rim portion of the inertia ring whereby the inertia ring and hub member slide with respect to one another along the frictional material to absorb vibrations from the camshaft through heat dissipation.

Abstract: A chain tensioner system having a dual arm blade and a hydraulic tensioner. A hydraulic tensioner applies force against the free ends of the dual arms. Each arm is supported in two places, i.e., at the pivot point and against the tensioner piston. A face material that has a high P/V rating is added to the surface of the arm. The arms are simple flat plastic shoes with a hole at one end for the pivot point. A blade spring can be inserted into one or both of the plastic shoes. The tensioner piston moves in and out, the arms in the dual arm tensioner system slide against one another. As one of the tensioner arms applies the force to the chain the other arm damps the movement of the first arm.

Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner with a sealing element to provide fluid leakage from a fluid filled chamber. The tensioner includes a housing having a fluid filled chamber and a hollow piston slidably received within the chamber and biased in a protruding direction by a spring. A sealing element is positioned in a groove in the piston or is mounted in the inner wall of the chamber. The sealing element is discontinuous so as to permit the passage of fluid from the fluid filled chamber to outside of the hydraulic tensioner. Fluid leakage is limited and controlled by discontinuity size of the sealing element.

Abstract: A dry tuned damper (10) for mounting on an outboard end of a camshaft (C), the damper (10) having an annular housing (12) defined by inner and outer annular walls (14, 16) and an end wall (18) extending transversely therebetween, with a partition (20) extending diametrically between the inner and outer walls (14, 16) to divide the housing (12) into an opposed pair of compartments (22, 24). Shoes (26, 28) are positioned in the compartments (22, 24) and are biased outwardly against the outer wall (16) by a multitude of compression spring assemblies (30) each of which comprises a concentric pair of inner and outer springs (34, 36) trapped between the partition (20) and one of the shoes (26, 28) and slidably and retained by a pin (32) that extends through the partition (20) between the compartments (22, 24) and concentrically through the opposed pair of inner springs (34).

Abstract: An on demand vehicle drive system monitors vehicle performance and operating conditions and controls torque delivery to the vehicle wheels. The system includes a plurality of speed and position sensors, a transfer case having primary and secondary output shafts driving primary and secondary axles and a microcontroller. The sensors include a vehicle speed sensor, a pair of primary and secondary drive shaft speed sensors, and brake and driveline status sensors. The transfer case includes a modulating electromagnetic clutch controlled by the microcontroller which is incrementally engaged to transfer torque from the primary output shaft to the secondary output shaft. When the speed of either the front or the rear drive shafts overruns, i.e., exceeds, the speed of the other drive shaft by a predetermined value related to the vehicle speed, indicating that wheel slip is present, clutch current is incrementally increased to increase clutch engagement and torque transfer to the secondary axle.

Abstract: An on demand vehicle drive system monitors vehicle performance and operating conditions and controls torque delivery to the vehicle wheels. The system includes a plurality of speed and position sensors, a transfer case having primary and secondary output shafts driving primary and secondary drive shafts, differentials and axles and a microcontroller. The sensors include a vehicle speed sensor, a pair of primary and secondary drive shaft speed sensors, and brake and driveline status sensors. The transfer case includes a modulating electromagnetic clutch comprising a primary, cone clutch assembly which functions as a pilot device to actuate a secondary, disc pack clutch assembly. The electromagnetic clutch is controlled by the microcontroller which is incrementally engaged to transfer torque from the primary output shaft to the secondary output shaft. When the speed of either the front or the rear drive shaft overruns, i.e.

Abstract: A vibration damper assembly to absorb vibrations in a camshaft and sprocket system has a sprocket positioned around a camshaft, an inertia ring positioned around the camshaft and adjacent the sprocket, yet capable of moving independently of the sprocket, and a hub member positioned around the camshaft adjacent the inertia ring. Frictional material is interposed between said hub member and a rim portion of the inertia ring whereby the inertia ring and hub member slide with respect to one another along said frictional material to absorb vibrations from the camshaft through heat dissipation.

Abstract: The service life of a conventional free fluoride ion sensitive electrode can be improved by shielding the outer casing of the conventional electrode against contact with the liquid composition in which the free fluoride ions concentration is to be measured, particularly when the solution is a hot acid solution containing surfactants and/or oxidizing agents, such as is normally used for cleaning aluminum beverage containers or providing a protective surface treatment to aluminum surfaces.

Abstract: An on demand vehicle drive system monitors vehicle performance and operating conditions and controls torque delivery to the vehicle wheels. The system includes a plurality of speed and position sensors, a transfer case having primary and secondary output shafts driving primary and secondary drive shafts, differentials and axles and a microcontroller. The sensors include a vehicle speed sensor, a pair of primary and secondary drive shaft speed sensors, and brake and driveline status sensors. The transfer case includes a modulating electromagnetic clutch comprising a primary, cone clutch assembly which functions as a pilot device to actuate a secondary, disc pack clutch assembly. The electromagnetic clutch is controlled by the microcontroller which is incrementally engaged to transfer torque from the primary output shaft to the secondary output shaft. When the speed of either the front or the rear drive shaft overruns, i.e.

Abstract: An on demand vehicle drive system monitors vehicle performance and operating conditions and controls torque delivery to the vehicle wheels. The system includes a plurality of speed and position sensors, a transfer case having primary and secondary output shafts driving primary and secondary axles and a microcontroller. The sensors include a vehicle speed sensor, a pair of primary and secondary drive shaft speed sensors, and brake and driveline status sensors. The transfer case includes a modulating electromagnetic clutch controlled by the microcontroller which is incrementally engaged to transfer torque from the primary output shaft to the secondary output shaft. When the speed of either the front or the rear drive shafts overruns, i.e., exceeds, the speed of the other drive shaft by a predetermined value related to the vehicle speed, indicating that wheel slip is present, clutch current is incrementally increased to increase clutch engagement and torque transfer to the secondary axle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a blade-type chain tensioner having two shoes and a blade spring, with one shoe adapted to impart tension to a chain and overlapping the other shoe which is connected to the blade spring. The present invention includes a method for assembling a dual blade chain tensioner comprising the steps of providing a blade spring and two shoes, positioning the blade spring into slots in each shoe and then rotating one shoe over the other shoe and towards the blade spring. A temporary locking pin may be attached to hold the assembly together.

Abstract: An on demand vehicle drive system monitors vehicle performance and operating conditions and controls torque delivery to the vehicle wheels. The system includes a plurality of speed and position sensors, a transfer case having primary and secondary output shafts driving primary and secondary axles and a microcontroller. The sensors include a vehicle speed sensor, a pair of primary and secondary drive shaft speed sensors, and brake and driveline status sensors. The transfer case includes a modulating electromagnetic clutch controlled by the microcontroller which is incrementally engaged to transfer torque from the primary output shaft to the secondary output shaft. When the speed of either the front or the rear drive shafts overruns, i.e., exceeds, the speed of the other drive shaft by a predetermined value related to the vehicle speed, indicating that wheel slip is present, clutch current is incrementally increased to increase clutch engagement and torque transfer to the secondary axle.

Abstract: A protective carrying case for a video camera has peripheral side walls and a bottom wall defining a camera-receiving receptacle with an open top through which a camera can be inserted and removed. The case is provided with a top cover that is arranged to normally close the open top of the camera-receiving receptacle, and a side wall of the receptacle is preferably provided with a door-opening that is normally closed by a door for enabling a person carrying the encased camera to slip a hand into the receptacle when the door is partially or fully open for operating the camera, either without removing it from the case and its receiving receptacle or for removing the camera free and clear of the case and its receiving receptacle.

Abstract: A lift is placeable in a waterbody for a watercraft having a water intake port and a water drawing device for drawing water through the water intake port. The lift includes a tank. The tank has an interior and an exterior, with the interior including a chamber. The tank also has an upper surface configured for receiving the watercraft, and a water inflow port and a selectively actuable valve for permitting water to flow into the chamber. A water outflow port is provided which is configured to be matable with the water intake port. The water intake port of the watercraft can be mated with the water outflow port of the tank to permit the water drawing device of the watercraft to draw water out of the tank.

Abstract: A primed polymeric article is provided. The article comprises a polymeric substrate having graft polymerized thereon at least one organic nucleophilic graft-polymerizable monomer or salt thereof which is capable of accelerating the cure of a cyanoacrylate adhesive. The invention also provides an article wherein the primed polymeric article is adhered to a substrate with a cyanoacrylate adhesive and a method for adhering a polymeric first substrate to a second substrate with a cyanoacrylate adhesive.

Abstract: A primed polymeric article is provided. The article comprises a polymeric substrate having graft polymerized thereon at least one organic nucleophilic graft-polymerizable monomer or salt thereof which is capable of accelerating the cure of a cyanoacrylate adhesive. The invention also provides an article wherein the primed polymeric article is adhered to a substrate with a cyanoacrylate adhesive and a method for adhering a polymeric first substrate to a second substrate with a cyanoacrylate adhesive.

Abstract: Semicrystalline polymers and copolymers having migratory additives therein can be provided with reduced migration. A surface layer of the polymer of copolymer article is rendered quasi-amorphous and a film less penetrable by said migratory additives than the polymer or copolymer is adhered thereto.