Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a door unlocking device adapted unlock a door by transmitting a signal in the air through a signal transmitter, which can unlock the door even when the power source of the signal transmitter, namely, the battery has consumed up. With a door unlocking device, upon insertion of an ignition key into the rotor of a key cylinder, a shutter is opened to operate a shutter switch. Under this condition, the rotor is turned in opposite directions from the neutral position according to a predetermined rotor turning pattern. The rotor turning pattern is discriminated by a rotor-turning-pattern discriminating circuit. Ensuring that the rotor turning pattern is the one predetermined for unlocking the door, the rotor-turning-pattern discriminating circuit activates an electric operating mechanism to cause a lock mechanism to unlock the door.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a shift locking apparatus for blocking a shifting movement unless a special operation is conducted such as the depression of a foot brake by an operator, when a shift lever of an automatic transmission is moved from a specified shift position of a parking "P" and the like to another shift position, wherein when releasing of the shift lock is conducted by an electrically operated actuator such as a solenoid, the shift lock can be released by use of a key for a vehicle even in a condition where the electrically operated actuator is not used. The operation of a key cylinder by use of the key of the vehicle by the operator causes the shift lock to be released, ensuring that the operator can move the shift lever to any other shift position, thereby permitting the vehicle to be moved even if there is some trouble such as electrical trouble.

Abstract: A central interlocking system for a motor vehicle performs in a normal operation all opening and closing functions. A vehicle provided with the system can be opened and locked without the operation of door closing motors. The outer and inner handles can be selectively blocked individually and jointly by a motor operated control member having two parallel control discs which cooperate with two locking levers. The control member can be released for opening of the door also in a purely mechanical way by turning a door lock keybolt with a key. The locking system has a simple construction and locking motors operating without loads.

Abstract: A system is provided for assuring the straightness of pipes or tubes produced by a continuous seam-welded process. Following sizing, the newly formed continuous tube passes through a straightening unit and a preliminary alignment checker. The alignment checker observes the actual spatial position of the advancing tube, and the straightening unit is adjusted in response to deviations of the observed position from the predetermined desired path to deform the tube so that it conforms to the desired path. The advancing continuous tube is then severed into individual tube sections of desired length, and some or all of the sections are inspected for straightness. In inspecting for straightness the individual sections are rotated about their longitudinal axes to place the seam-weld in a predetermined position for correlating the angular attitude of the section with that of the advancing continuous tube.

Abstract: A forming die which includes a die cavity contains a forming blank composed of a metallic alloy having superplastic properties. The forming pressure in a pressurized space adjacent the forming blank is regulated by a pressure regulator. The volume of the die cavity is determined, as is the mass of gas initially contained in the die cavity at the beginning of the forming cycle. The total forming time is empirically determined. The average gas mass flow rate that will be exhausted from the die cavity is calculated by dividing the total mass of gas initially contained in the die cavity by the total forming time. A gas mass flow meter fluidly communicates with the die cavity and measures the mass flow rate of the gas displaced by the forming blank and exhausted from the die cavity. The gas mass flow meter is continuously monitored during the forming cycle or a gas mass flow rate signal is fed back to the pressure regulator.

Abstract: A billet of extrudable metal, particularly an Al alloy is tapered at its back end. The billet is compressed longitudinally so that the metal of the tapered end is upset transversely. The compressed billet is hot extruded. The upsetting improves the fracture toughness of the back end of the extrusion. This is useful in long extrusions for the aircraft industry.

Abstract: A sheet of metal is blanked by an annular blank die to form a disk, and a peripheral portion of the disk is gripped between the blank die and a lower pressure sleeve. The peripheral portion is shifted downwardly relative to a center portion of the disk to start the forming of a center panel within the disk between an annular nose portion of a die center and a high pressure panel punch having a small panel radius and a small clearance therebetween. The peripheral portion is also gripped between a lower die core ring and an upper pressure sleeve which cooperate to form a crown and a depending lip. The center panel is shifted downwardly by the die center against the pressure of the panel punch for forming an inwardly bowed chuckwall against the die core ring and to start a countersink by wrapping the metal around the nose portion of the die center.

Abstract: A portable device for testing a pouch containing a flowable substance and manufactured from flexible film. The device includes two plates. One of the plates is moveable towards the other and one has a pressure sensor mounted flush with a surface which faces the pouch to be tested. The pouch is placed between the plates and they are moved together, pressing the pressure sensor against the pouch.

Abstract: A portable crimping tool is disclosed that includes an actuating mechanism that varies the amount of force made available to the crimping dies. A linear actuator having an axis is provided to move a movable die along that axis into crimping engagement with the mating die. The actuating mechanism includes a pair of links pivotally attached to a slide member. A wedge carried by the linear actuator engages a pair of rollers on the links, causing the rollers to move about other rollers attached to the frame, thereby causing the links to move the dies into crimping engagement.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for measuring a rate of leakage from a closed vessel enclosed in a container. Air is expelled from the container and a charge of helium-free gas is introduced. The preferred container is comprised of flexible sheets with mating edges sealed together. The flexible container is collapsed when air is expelled, and then limply charged with a known volume of helium-free gas. The vessel is pressurized with helium, the rate of accumulation of which is measured in the container gas to determine the leakage from the vessel.

Abstract: The experimental determination of the moments of inertia of a rigid body such as a golf-club head about each of three mutually perpendicular axes is described. The club head is suspended so as to swing as a pendulum about an axis that is parallel to each of the axes of interest and the moments of inertia are calculated from the periods of oscillation and physical properties of the body. The products of inertia must be calculated from the moments of inertia in multiple axis systems. Once the inertia matrix is complete, the associated ellipsoid of inertia displays the inertial properties of the rigid body without reference to a specific coordinate system. The inertia ellipsoids of two golf-club heads are determined and compared to demonstrate the procedure.

Abstract: The hardness of a metal sample is determined using a hardness tester provided with an indenter having an indenting tip and means for loading the indenter. The method comprises employing an electrically conductive indenting tip and connecting the indenter and the metal sample to the input terminals of an electric resistance measuring apparatus. The indenter is loaded up to a preset load on a reference metal sample having a known hardness and detecting the contact resistance under the load. The tester is functionally set on a metal sample to be tested and gradually the indenter is loaded until the same electrical contact resistance as detected on the reference sample is measured by the electrical resistance measuring apparatus and the load which is actually applied to the indenter is read. The hardness of the tested sample is determined through a proportionality relationship between the preset load applied to the reference sample and the load applied to the tested sample.

Abstract: A stylus profilometer having a counterbalanced stylus with a motion transducer using a vane moving between parallel, spaced-apart, conductive plates which damp the motion of the vane by means of trapped air. The vane forms an electrode with the plates so that the combination is a pair of capacitors in a balanced bridge arrangement. Motion of the stylus causes an unbalance of the bridge indicative of the extent of stylus motion. A lever arm associated with the stylus has a tip influenced by a magnetic field which biases the stylus or controls force on a surface to be measured. The entire assembly has a very low moment of inertia to reduce the effects of vibration on the stylus and thereby increase resolution of the device and reduce damage to the substrate.

Abstract: A device for determining a malfunction of an engine cylinder of an internal combustion engine, comprising a first detection unit for detecting a first engine speed at a predetermined first crank angle, and a detecting second engine speed at a predetermined second crank angle, during a power stroke of two engine cylinders under a continuous combustion cycle, a difference calculating unit for calculating a difference between the first and second engine speeds, a misfire determining unit for determining that a misfire has occurred in a corresponding engine cylinder when the difference is outside a predetermined limit, a malfunction determining unit for determining that a malfunction has occurred in the corresponding engine cylinders when a frequency at which the misfire determining unit determines that a misfire has occurred is larger than a predetermined frequency, a second detection unit for detecting a current engine load, and a first changing unit for changing at least one of the predetermined limit and the

Abstract: A cylinder identifying apparatus for a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine can generate an exact reference position signal at an earliest possible time during engine start-up operation, thereby making it possible to identify predetermined reference positions of each cylinder in a highly accurate manner. A first signal generator 1 is provided on a camshaft for generating a cylinder identifying signal SC in synchronization with the rotation of the camshaft. A second signal generator 4 is provided on a crankshaft for generating, in synchronization with the rotation of the crankshaft, a pulse signal P containing a series of pulses each corresponding to predetermined first and second crank positions of each cylinder.

Abstract: A stator of a steering angle sensor is fixed to a steering column through a combination switch case and a stationary bracket, and a rotor of the sensor is rotatably fitted over a steering shaft. A locking collar is slidably but nonrotatably connected to the rotor. The locking collar and the stator are respectively provided with a locking groove and a locking tooth which engage each other to lock the rotor in a predetermined rotational alignment. When the steering angle sensor is not mounted to a vehicle, the locking groove and the locking tooth are brought into engagement with each other by a locking spring to lock the rotor. When a steering wheel is mounted to the steering shaft in a predetermined rotational neutral position of the steering shaft, a clamping pressure caused by the mounting causes the locking collar to be moved to a lockreleasing position or disengage position and the rotor is connected to the steering shaft.

Abstract: In a properly calibrated accelerator pedal sensor that provides a signal representative of pedal position to an electronic control module for the engine, the point at which the associated idle validation switch switches to distinguish idle from non-idle lies within a limited range of positions proximate closed throttle. The invention is a method for performing an in-vehicle test that can quickly determine if the switch point is in or out of calibration. A jumper is inserted between the sensor and the vehicle wiring harness that normally connects to the sensor. The jumper comprises several test points to which a voltmeter can be connected to measure certain voltages during the test and two LED's that are observed during the test. A special slide calculator is used to convert certain test data into a form that can be readily compared with other test data to make the determination regarding the idle validation switch.

Abstract: The peak amplitude values of two different frequency pressure changes produced by the displacement device of a volume sensing arrangement, are obtained and one divided by the other to produce a value indicative of the volume of the unfilled portion of a storage vessel. The contents of the vessel are derived by subtracting the unfilled volume from the vessel capacity. In the embodiments wherein a single pressure sensor is used, the signal is simultaneously filtered with a low pass filter and a band pass filter in order to obtain static and dynamic pressure data. In some embodiments the single sensor is disposed in a chamber in which the displacement means produces two different frequency pressure variations. The chamber is communicated with the storage vessel by a pipe the length and diameter of which are selected to prevent the pressure variations produced by one of the frequencies from being transmitted therethrough.

Abstract: Methods of measuring the erodability of drilling fluid deposits and the shear stress required to remove drilling fluid deposits formed on the walls of a well bore are provided. The methods basically include introducing a drilling fluid into a test apparatus which simulates a permeable section of a well bore. Drilling fluid deposits are caused to be formed on the walls of the permeable section, and the drilling fluid is circulated through the permeable section at progressively increasing flow rates to determine the pressure drop below which no appreciable erosion of the drilling fluid deposits takes place which corresponds to the minimum shear stress required to erode the deposits. The erodability of the drilling fluid which is inversely proportioned to the minimum shear stress can also be determined. Apparatus for carrying out the methods is also provided.

Abstract: A mass flow meter includes a housing body having a fluid passageway extending therethrough with a capillary tube communicating with the fluid passageway. The capillary tube is connected through a pair of metallic sleeves mounted on a base member which in turn is fastened to the housing body. A pair of sensor coils is connected to the capillary tube to measure any fluid flow. A metal sensor case is welded airtight to the base member to encapsulate the capillary tube.

Abstract: An ultrasonic liquid-level sensing system has a sensor with a number of reflectors mounted one above the other along the length of a tube that extends upwardly from a transducer and is filled with liquid to the same height as outside the tube. Liquid height is calculated from the difference between the arrival times of the pulses reflected from the two uppermost submerged reflectors and the difference between the arrival times of pulses reflected from the surface of the liquid and the uppermost submerged reflector.

Abstract: A system to determine fluid level in a tank using several tubes extending to different levels in the tank. Gas pressure in the tubes needed to release bubbles from the exit ends of the tubes indicates the hydrostatic head at the exit ends. A control unit compares the pressures in the tubes to find the highest fluid immersed bubbler tube. The proportion of fluid above the immersed tube is calculated from the pressure and added to the height of the immersed tube to get the total fluid depth. A spring loaded fixed length member, magnetically attached to the bottom of the tank, reliably secures the exit ends of the tubes at known fixed vertical locations.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing ultrasonic flaw detection, wherein an ultrasonic transmitter transmits a pulse signal having a designated carrier frequency and a designated cycle count to an ultrasonic probe. An ultrasonic receiver receives the echo signal output from the ultrasonic probe. The peak frequency and the frequency bandwidth of the echo signal received by the ultrasonic receiving unit are detected by a signal analysis unit. A transmission control unit designates the carrier frequency and the cycle count of the pulse signal output from the ultrasonic transmission unit so that the detected peak frequency and the detected frequency bandwidth become a flaw detection condition peak frequency and a flaw detection condition frequency bandwidth, respectively.

Abstract: To carry out operational checks and inspections on equipment such as gunsights (A) for fitting at the top of the shaft supporting the rotor of a helicopter, a vibration simulator is proposed, which is controlled by three linear exciters (14) having parallel axes. The exciters (14) act on an interface plate (32) carrying a shaft (50) equipped with the gunsight (A) to be tested, at three points forming an equilateral triangle centered on the axis of the shaft. The movements of the plate (32) are limited to a translation along a vertical axis and to two rotations about two orthogonal horizontal axes by an appropriate mechanism (30,26,28,42,44, 46). A digital computer, sensitive to the signals supplied by accelerometers associated with each of the exciters, controls the latter so as to reconstitute the elementary vibrations of a helicopter shaft.

Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a liquid crystal positioned between transparent, electrically conductive films (18 and 20), that are biased by a voltage (V) which induces an electric field (E) that causes the liquid crystal to assume a first state of orientation. Application of pressure (P) to a flexible, transparent film (24) causes the conductive film (20) to move closer to or farther from the conductive film (18), thereby causing a change in the electric field (E'(P)) which causes the liquid crystal to assume a second state of orientation. Polarized light (P.sub.1) is directed into the liquid crystal and transmitted or reflected to an analyzer (A or 30). Changes in the state of orientation of the liquid crystal induced by applied pressure (P) result in a different light intensity being detected at the analyzer (A or 30) as a function of the applied pressure (P).

Abstract: A method of operating an instrument for testing the physical properties of materials in which each of a series of samples of the material to be tested is placed in a test position located between dies, the dies are closed to mould the material to a test shape, a test is carried out on the sample in the mould and after completion of the test the dies are opened and the sample is removed from the test position is characterised in that a film of material which is substantially non-adhesive to the dies under the conditions of the test is provided to cover those surfaces of the sample which, in the absence of the film, would be in contact with the dies, each sample in turn is conveyed to the test position, and mechanical elements are provided for removing each sample from the test position after the completion of the test. Apparatus suitable for use in the method of the invention is also provided.

Abstract: A method of metering the rate of flow of a dye solution from a spray nozzle for dyeing an elongate fabric material comprises spraying a test liquid equivalent to the dye solution over a plate member impervious to liquid, accumulating the test liquid and measuring the rate of its flow per unit length of time, thereby evaluating the performance of the spray nozzle. The rate of flow of such test liquid is simulated for actual dyeing operation to pre-adjust the jet pressure of the spray nozzle and/or the spaced of feed of the fabric material so as to attain uniform intensity of color on the dyed material.

Abstract: A fluid vibrating type flowmeter has a nozzle disposed in a flow passage and defining a nozzle outlet plane extending perpendicular to the flow passage, an enlarged passage disposed downstream of the nozzle and including divergent inner wall surfaces symmetric about an axis of the nozzle, a target disposed centrally of the enlarged passage for obstructing straight movement of streams jetting out of the nozzle, and a constructed passage disposed downstream of the enlarged passage and having a smaller passage width than a rear end of the enlarged passage. Each of the divergent inner wall surfaces includes a main arcuate section continuous from the nozzle outlet plane, a straight diverging wall section continuous from the main arcuate section, and an auxiliary arcuate section continuous at an upstream end thereof from the straight diverging wall section and at a downstream end thereof with the constricted passage.

Abstract: An electrical signal generated by a transducer included in a vortex sensor and conditioned by a preamplifier is supplied to a pair of parallel electronic filters respectively inhibiting transmission of the electrical signals with frequencies in a low and high ranges devided by a reference frequency, wherein a frequency detector detects the dominant frequency of the electrical signal and puts out control inputs depending on the dominant frequency of the electrical signal to two switches respectively controlling transmission of the electrical signal through the pair of parallel electronic filters; wherein the control input closes only one of the two switches depending on values of the dominant frequency of the electrical signal relative to the reference frequency in such a way that the electrical signal with frequencies in the low range is transmitted without the transmission of the high frequency noise and the electrical signal with frequencies in the high range is transmitted without the transmission of the l

Abstract: A self-exciting optical strain sensor (20) includes dual parallel bridges (22,24) having parallel facing surfaces (32,34). Light energy (38) entering a Fabry-Perot cavity (36) formed by this surfaces (32,34) induces a periodic buildup and release of energy in the cavity (36) which is directly related to the natural resonant frequency of the bridges (22,24). Analysis of the intensity of light emitted (50) from the cavity (36) determines the bridge natural frequency.

Abstract: A sample of powder granules flowing through an online conveyor is removed periodically and fed to a supply hopper where a predetermined amount of granules are stored. A small portion of the granules are removed from the supply hopper and continuously fed to the upper surface of a rotary table to form a single layer thereon. The sample on the table is optically sensed to detect foreign particles. The foreign particles are removed and subsequently the good particles are removed and passed to a weighing hopper. The ratio of good product after sensing and the sample in the hopper is calculated to determine the relative amount of foreign particles flowing in the system.

Abstract: For taking liquid samples, such as active solutions in an irradiated nuclear fuel processing plant within a confined area (10) located below a protective slab (12), use is made of vacuum pots (44), which are pneumatically transferred into a vessel (14) located beneath the slab and which are engaged on needles (40) supplied with fluid to be sampled and projecting into the bottom of the vessel. A pot (44) is moved pneumatically into a nacelle, pod or basket (76) of a rotary drum (72) by means of a transfer duct (60), which passes through a slab element (62) installed in a rotary plug (20). The positioning of the pot vertically with respect to a needle (40) is ensured by the combined rotations of the drum (72) and the plug (20). A vertical displacement of the slab element (62) ensures the sampling before the filled pot is pneumatically evacuated by the reverse path.

Abstract: New apparatus for measuring parameters such as pH, pCO.sub.2, pO.sub.2, and Hb content of physiological fluids, especially blood, is described. The apparatus comprises novel means for suspending reagent vessels (34, 35, 40, 45, 50) having shoulders (51, 52) and containing calibrating solutions, rinsing solutions etc., as well as for suspending a liquid waste vessel (26) by suspending the vessels between rods (53, 54) fed to the analyser. The reagent vessels are provided with caps (55, 58) at the top and include liquid reagent conduit extending from the outlet aperture of the cap down into the liquid. When the vessel is mounted on the analyser a fixed inlet tube extending horizontally outwardly from the analyser penetrates a seal across the outlet aperture and connects with the liquid reagent conduit.

Abstract: In a method of diagnosing the deterioration of the insulating paper in an oil-filled electric apparatus, the total amount of furfural is determined by adding the amount of furfural adsorbed on the insulating paper to the amount of furfural dissolved in insulating oil in an oil-filled electric apparatus, and the deterioration of the insulating paper is diagnosed by the correlation between the total amount of furfural determined and the polymerization degree of the insulating paper, which indicates the degree of deterioration thereof. The method thus permits the precise diagnosis of the deterioration of the insulating paper.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a measuring instrument, in particular for measuring waste gases from heating installations, comprising at least one sensor and pump arranged in a measuring channel, a microcomputer for controlling the measuring sequence and for processing the sensor signals, which is connected to an alphanumeric display device and two control elements, wherein one control element serves for paging in a selection menu, by which one menu item is displayed on the display device, and wherein the other control element serves to input in accordance with the menu item displayed.

Abstract: A differential pinion shaft is coupled to the input shaft. A crown is coupled to the output shaft. The mechanical resistance of a compensated sub-assembly, multiplied by a gear, is transmitted to a planet wheel. The speed of rotation of the planet stabilizes and, as a result, the transmission ratio between the input shaft and the output shaft stabilizes when the two forces acting on the periphery of the pinion are equal, although they then correspond to a torque much larger on the output shaft than on the planet wheel, the couple on the planet wheel being greater than that on the shaft of the compensator sub-assembly. The sub-assembly comprises an inertial load and a consuming load the joint behavior of which, depending on the speed of rotation and on the acceleration, resembles, on a smaller scale, that of the vehicle.

Abstract: A crank mechanism for the transformation of a rotary movement of a crank supported in a crankcase into reciprocating movement of a piston in a cylinder, includes an open kinematic chain composed of three pivotally connected rods with the ends of the chain being pivotally connected to the crankcase. The piston is connected to one of the intermediate pivotal connections of the three rods by another rod and a crank pin of the crank mechanism is connected to the other intermediate pivotal connection of the three rods by still another rod. Four dead centers can be obtained with the crank mechanism.

Abstract: A headlamp adjusting mechanism having a housing member with a passage formed therethrough and an independent nut body is retained in the housing member. The independent nut body has a threaded aperture which is substantially coincident with the passage in the housing. An elongated threaded shaft extends through the passage in the housing and cooperatively engages the threaded aperture in the independent nut body. An assembly for driving the elongated shaft such as a mitered gear arrangement is operatively associated with the housing. The driving assembly transfers motion applied to the assembly to rotate the elongated shaft cooperatively engaged with the threaded aperture in the independent nut body to produce axial displacement of the elongated shaft through the passage.

Abstract: A stepless speed change gear that is small in size, light in weight, simple in construction, secure in operation, long in service life and capable of high-output speed changes. An input shaft crank (3) and an input side member (4) are mounted on an input shaft (1) and an output shaft (2) via a one-way clutch mechanism (100), respectively, and the respective members are coupled to each other by means of an input connecting rod (5) and an output connecting rod (6). Also, a speed-change link (7) is coupled to a junction point (B) of these links at one end thereof, and the other end thereof (Q) is allowed to move to any position within a certain range and to be fixed at that point. Also, the one-way clutch is a rolling bearing clutch. Variable speed change can securely be obtained with a simple mechanism. In a case where the rolling bearing clutch is used, high-output speed change is possible with the stepless speed change gear that is small in size and light in weight.

Abstract: A manual transmission mechanism adapted for use in an engine-driven automotive vehicle comprising a mainshaft and a countershaft, gearing arranged on each of said shafts, and synchronizer clutch structure which is arranged to accommodate a shift linkage mechanism for actuating the synchronizer clutch sleeve so the synchronizer clutch arrangement makes possible a location of the driver-operated shift linkage in close proximity to the synchronizer clutch sleeves and permits an efficient shift pattern for the driver-controlled shifter and a simplified assembly of the linkage mechanism.

Abstract: An automatic transmission shifter for a vehicle comprises a unitary glass reinforced nylon housing open at the bottom and having interconnected, spaced upper, side and end walls. A slot is formed in the upper wall, a pair of spaced aligned apertured bosses are formed in the side walls, and integral flanges extend from the side and end walls and incorporate a plurality of spaced apertures for mounting the housing to vehicle structure. A pair of spaced, aligned position control plates, each comprising a plurality of notches, are formed interiorly on the side walls, a plurality of detent notches are formed interiorly on the housing on one of the side walls below the position control plates, and a shift cable access opening is formed in one of the end walls. A shift lever assembly including an operating lever extends upwardly through the slot.

Abstract: A gear shift apparatus includes a shaft having a first axis extending laterally with respect to a vehicle body. A bracket is secured to a pivot pin rotatable about a second axis extending laterally with respect to the first axis. A gear shift lever is secured to the bracket for unitary rotation therewith about the second axis. A sleeve is fixed to the gear shift lever for unitary motion therewith. A check ball is supported by the sleeve and urged against a cam surface of a stationary position plate. The cam surface has a plurality of recesses engaged with the check ball.

Abstract: A shifting arrangement for a synchronized motor vehicle transmission with six forward gears and one reverse gear has a longitudinally displaceably and rotatably disposed shifting shaft whose shift fingers can be introduced into mutually aligned grooves of shift tongues for the preselecting of the transmission gears. The shift tongues are pivotally connected to swinging forks which are pivotally arranged in the transmission case and, via their forks, engage in a formlocking manner in sliding sleeves of synchronizer clutches. The shifting fork of the reverse gear is fastened on a shift rod situated perpendicularly to the shifting shaft on which a guide rail is constructed for the longitudinal guiding of the shift tongues.

Abstract: A parking brake actuator for a cable-operated vehicle parking brake, comprises a mounting bracket on the vehicle, a sector gear mounted on the mounting bracket for rotation about an axis to variably tension the cable. A pedal lever is coaxially pivoted on the mounting bracket for independent rotation between a brake release position and a plurality of brake apply positions. A spiral-wound spring extends between the operating lever and the drive plate for rotating the drive plate relative to the lever to apply an initial tension on the cable. A drive clutch couples the drive plate to the lever upon initial rotation of the lever out of brake release position to enable rotation of the lever to increasingly tension the cable and apply the parking brake. The drive clutch includes a pinion gear mounted on the lever in engagement with the sector gear.

Abstract: A locking pin, in particular for the securing of shift positions of a shift linkage in automobile transmissions, comprises a hollow cylindrical shaft portion (1) which is drawn from thin-walled sheet metal and closed at one end by a bottom (2). This bottom (2) projects radially beyond the shaft portion (1). A locking element (3) projecting out of the shaft portion (1) at the open end thereof is guided longitudinally displaceable in the shaft portion (1), retained secure against loss und pre-tensioned in the locking direction by a spring (4). To obtain a locking pin which is cost-effective in manufacturing and easily dismountable, a diameter enlargement (7) serving as a stop is provided at a pre-determined distance both from the open end of the shaft portion (1) and from the bottom (2).

Abstract: A tilt couple device having a pair of mounting members with each member having a wedge-shape cam. At least one of the cams has teeth on it that engages a pinion on an operating shaft. Rotation of the operating shaft causes the pinion to rotate one cam member relative to the other in order to change the inclination of one mounting surface relative to the other.

Abstract: An automobile powertrain has at least an engine placed in an engine room and oriented so that its crankshaft is directed transversely, and a transmission placed in the engine room behind the engine. The transmission has input and output shafts arranged coaxially with each other and directed parallel to the crankshaft of the engine. An engine clutch is directly connected to the crankshaft, and a power transfer arrangement is disposed oppositely to the engine with respect to the engine clutch and operationally couples the engine clutch to the input shaft so as to transmit engine output to the transmission. The transmission, engine clutch and power transfer arrangement are independently accommodated in separate chambers of a single unit powertrain case. The transmission chamber and the power transfer chamber are connected to each other by an oil passage through which the input shaft extends from the transmission to the power transfer.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a working hydraulic pressure supplied to a mechanical power transmission applicable to an automative vehicle, the power transmission having a fluid power transmitting device such as a torque converter, in which a target duration of time during which a shifting operation occurs is retrieved from a table map according to an operating state of the fluid power transmitting device and is compared with an actual duration of time during which the shifting operation occurs. A characteristic value of the fluid power transmitting device is retrieved according to a speed ratio between input and output revolutional speeds of the fluid power transmitting device and is corrected and rewritten according to a magnitude relationship between the target and actual durations of times.

Abstract: A control system for controlling both an engine capable of selecting a plurality of output characteristics having different output torques for a throttle opening and dropping a selected output torque temporarily, and an automatic transmission connected to the engine. The control system comprises: a first decider for deciding it on the basis of data inputted that the output characteristics of the engine should be changed; a second decider for deciding it on the basis of input data including a vehicle speed and a throttle opening that a gear change should be performed; and a third decider for deciding, when the second decider decides the performance, the torque-down to be temporarily effected, to a value according to the output characteristics of the engine.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for cutting through, cutting into, perforating through or perforating into sheet material, such as papers, metal foils or plastic films, more particularly a label material disposed on a backing material which is not to be impaired, by means of a cutting disk which is to be detachably and coaxially clamped between a dolly disk and a pressure disk and the outside diameter of which is somewhat greater than the outside diameter of the dolly disk and of the pressure disk. The cutting disk is of such small thickness that the cutting work or perforating work can be carried out with its peripheral surface. To manufacture the device, the cutting disk are circularly ground, etched, dried, and then placed on a shaft for grinding or milling grooves into their peripheries.