Abstract: An improved evaporative cooling system with an enclosed insulated chamber having an inlet, an outlet and a blower in the system located downstream of the outlet to draw air to be cooled through the chamber. A foraminous filter extends across the inlet to clean the incoming air of large solid particles. An electric motor is mounted partially across the inlet opening, having a rotating shaft and supporting a disc for rotation on the shaft. A reservoir of water chilled to between about 55 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit is supported within the bottom of the chamber and positioned for engagement by the disc during rotation, which upon rotation flings chilled water adhered droplets upwardly away from the reservoir in a fan-shaped pattern to further clean, cool and humidify the air which passes through a fog-like curtain formed by the chilled water droplets moving within the chamber, prior to exiting the chamber.

Abstract: A composite brake adapter for a caliper disc brake assembly is made up of a first pre-stamped part of a sheet of metal adapted to match an axle housing of the assembly, and of a second part cast onto an upper surface of the first part to adhere thereto, additional structural elements providing matching of the second part with a caliper of the assembly being made an integral part of the second part. A method of making a composite brake adapter for a caliper disc brake assembly comprises the steps of providing a first part of the adapter, the first part being provided with mounting holes to match an axle housing of the assembly and being made of a sheet of metal; placing the first part into a mold, and casting a second part of the adapter into the mold onto a surface of the first part. To incorporate additional structural elements of the adapter with a caliper of the assembly, the additional structural elements are placed into a precision fixture and secured within the mold prior to casting the second part.

Abstract: A flexible, electric heating pad having a self-limiting heating element is provided. The heating element includes a pair of relatively spaced conductors surrounded by a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material. A layer of electrically insulating material surrounds the PTC material. The PTC material includes a polyolefin resin having a relatively low flexural modulus. The heating element is disposed in a generally serpentine configuration within passages formed in the covering material of the heating pad. The passages are formed by joining together layers of covering material using ultrasonic welding or other suitable ways. The temperature of the heating element is controlled using controller circuit which utilizes a solid state timed interval control circuit. A safety circuit is provided for non-resettably disconnecting electrical power from the heating element if short or open circuit conditions occur therein.

Abstract: A disc brake caliper seal arrangement wherein an annular seal is provided between the caliper housing and the outside diameter of the piston provided therein. The seal provides a rollback function which returns the piston to a given running clearance between the disc rotor and brake pads after actuation of the brake. The seal is provided in a substantially square or rectangular cross-sectional configuration and is disposed in a seal groove of the caliper housing. The seal is provided with annular recesses on the ends of the parallel sides of the seal adjacent to the outside diameter of the piston. The central portion of the side of the seal which engages the outside diameter of the piston is provided with a circumferential groove. The recesses provide space of sufficient volume for the seal to deflect into before encountering the straight groove side wall, thereby eliminating the need for a machined chamfer in the housing groove.

Abstract: A drum brake shoe has a rim providing a lining support plate, the rim edges being formed with projections and recesses on either side of a center section. The width of the rim is substantially constant throughout the majority of its arcuate length. The arrangement permits the stamping of nested rim blanks, each blank extending transversely across a sheet, with approximately 25 percent less material used than would be the case if the rims were made of full constant width to support the entire brake lining. The brake lining is attached to the outer surface of the rim and is directly supported by the rim center section and the projections extending laterally therefrom. The lining is unsupported in the areas where it extends over the recesses. The projections and recesses may be generally rectangular or curvilinear.