Abstract: A shift module assembly for controlling the movement of a vehicle transmission out of a park condition responsive to a condition of the ignition system of the vehicle and responsive to a position of the vehicle brake pedal includes a moveable swing arm adapted to selectively control the condition of the vehicle transmission. The swing arm is in a park position when the vehicle transmission is in the park condition. The swing arm is locked in an immobile position by a solenoid operated armature shaft when the swing arm is placed in the park position. The armature shaft is in direct contact with said swing arm when said swing arm is in the locked position. The armature shaft releases the swing arm from the locked position upon actuation of the vehicle ignition system and depression of the vehicle brake pedal. The swing arm includes a stress line that will cause the swing arm to break along the stress line before, the swing arm is moved out of the park position if excessive force is applied to the swing arm.

Abstract: A steering column tilt adjusting system for releasably locking a steering column assembly. The pawl is pivotally coupled to the rack and may be pivotally and slidably moved between fully compressed and fully extended positions. The system includes a pawl, a rack, and a pair of side slide plates. Each of the pawl and the rack support a set of rack teeth. The pawl and rack, which are slidable relative to one another, permit adjustment of the system to a fully compressed locked position (teeth of the pawl engaging the teeth of the rack), a fully compressed unlocked position (the teeth of the pawl and those of the rack are not engaged), a fully extended unlocked position (the teeth are not engaged) or a fully extended locked position (the teeth of the pawl engaging the teeth of the rack). In operation, the length of the adjustment system is unlocked, adjusted and relocked to cause the steering column steering wheel to be repositioned as the driver wants.

Abstract: The multiplate clutch for an automatic transmission includes a composite separator plate that reduces chatter and the frequency of vibrations transmitted through the separator plate. The separator plate includes a first rigid steel member, a second rigid steel member, and a layer of a viscoelastic material bonded between the two rigid members. The separator plate has projections extending from the first and second rigid members and the viscoelastic layer to engage a rotating drum or a splined shaft. Each of the rigid members has a thickness of between 0.010 to 0.090 inches, and the viscoelastic layer has a thickness of between 0.001 to 0.005 inches.