Abstract: A guide rail splice sleeve provides for adjustable housing, gripping, and connecting of sequential guide rail segments. The device includes an elongated central member, first and second tension bars detachably connected to the central member at opposite ends thereof, and fastening elements for securely connecting the first and second tension bars independently to the central member. The independent connection of each tension bar to the central member permits sequential guide rail segments to be gripped or adjusted independently of the other. Additionally, the sleeve may include a hand tightening device so that the fastening elements may be adjusted without the need for tools. Also, the sleeve may include an extension for spanning any gap between non-abutting ends of adjacent guide rail segments.

Abstract: A clamp for securing a torque transmitting coupling between an intermediate shaft and a drive tube in a vehicle steering column consists of a strap wrapped upon itself in a substantially circular form with its ends overlapping, the strap having a radial hole formed through the overlapping ends, and a bolt inserted through the radial hole and threadably engageable with a threaded nut within the circular form of the strap. The bolt preferably has a flared tip for trapping the bolt within the nut and for extending into and through a hole in a wall of the drive tube to engage a recess in the intermediate shaft. It also has an undercut portion above the flared tip for disengaging from threads of the nut when the flared tip is retracted into the wall of the drive tube. Until the shaft is properly positioned in the tube, the threads of the bolt and nut are prevented from engaging to tighten the clamp. The flared tip may have threads to permit easy assembly with the nut and the strap.

Abstract: A connecting rod 10 having a generally elongated body portion 15 which includes a piston-connecting end portion 12 and a crankshaft-receiving end portion 13. The connecting rod 10 is selectively fractured, thereby separating cap portion 14 from the body 15 and the crankshaft-receiving end portion 13 and forming surfaces 28, 30, 32, and 34. Dissimilar fasteners 24, 26 selectively connect the separated cap portion 14 to the body 15 and substantially ensure that surface pairs 28, 30 and 32, 34 engagingly mate when the connecting rod 10 is operatively reassembled upon the crankshaft.

Abstract: A steering wheel attachment assembly and a method of assembling the steering wheel attachment to a steering wheel shaft is presented. More particularly, a back mounting plate for attachment to a steering wheel module. The back mounting plate includes a through which extends from a first side of the back mounting plate to a center opening. Integrally formed within the back mounting plate is a hub which is disposed in the center opening. The hub includes an opening formed in the center thereof which receives one end of the steering wheel shaft. The hub further includes a side bore and trough combination permit an assembler to gain access to the steering shaft disposed within the hub opening. The steering wheel shaft is securely but removably coupled to the back mounting plate by an interface lock and a taper lock with the hub.

Abstract: A guide rail splice sleeve device provides for adjustable housing, gripping, and connecting of sequential guide rails. The device includes an elongated central member, a first and second tension bar detachably connected to the central member at opposite ends thereof, and fastening elements for securely connecting the first and second tension bars independently to the central member. Advantageously the central member and tension bars have integral flanges to aid in support of the guide rails. The independent connection of each tension bar to the central member permits sequential guide rail segments to be gripped or adjusted independently of the other. Additionally, the sleeve may include a hand tightening device so that the fastening elements may be adjusted without the need for tools. Also, the sleeve may include an extension for spanning any gap between non-abutting ends of adjacent guide rail segments connected by the sleeve.

Abstract: A tool coupling includes first and second bodies held together by a clamping mechanism. The first body includes a first surface having a first serration formed therein, a first hole extending through the first surface, and a side surface having a second hole extending therethrough and intersecting the first hole. The second body includes a second surface facing the first surface and including a second serration configured to mesh with the first serration. A drawbar projects from the second surface and extends into the first hole. The drawbar includes a plurality of wedge surfaces. The clamping mechanism includes a screw disposed in the second hole and nuts threadedly mounted thereon for movement toward and away from the drawbar. Each nut includes a plurality of wedge surfaces arranged to engage the wedge surfaces of the drawbar to pull the second body toward the first body in a manner bringing the first and second serrations into meshing engagement with one another.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for display, having a tailpipe attachment piece, adapted for coupling to the exhaust pipe of a vehicle, a receiver piece coupled to the tailpipe attachment piece, wherein the receiver piece is adapted for coupling to a display piece. In one embodiment, a pollution detection device includes a tailpipe attachment piece, a receiver piece coupled to the tailpipe attachment piece, and a chemical indicator coupled to the receiver piece, wherein the chemical indicator is sensitive to the chemistry of emissions. In one embodiment, a method of presenting an advertisement message is provided by attaching the message to the exhaust pipe.

Abstract: A mounting plane technology for a gas panel comprising a plurality of discreet blocks. The mounting plane of the present invention includes a track and a centering element. The centering element glides along the tracks such that modular blocks may be anchored to any position along the track. Centering elements are easily added to and removed form tracks thus maximizing the speed and flexibility of configuring or reconfiguring the modular blocks. The centering element and track have a geometrical symmetry that allows for highly precise anchoring of the modular block with respect to the mounting plane. The centering element is harder than the plane material and has grooves to increase the friction between the plane and centering element when the modular block is anchored. Centering elements are deliberately manufactured with a slight asymmetry with respect to the track so that high manufacturing yield is guaranteed.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a vehicle steering shaft (12), a mounting member (14), a locking pin (16), and a nut (120). The vehicle steering shaft (12) is rotatable about a longitudinal axis (22) to effect vehicle steering. The steering shaft (12) has a first locking pin passage (92) extending through the steering shaft (12) and transverse to the longitudinal axis (22). The first locking pin passage (92) is defined in part by first (94) and second (96) tapered surface portions. Each of the first (94) and second (96) surface portions tapers from a first circumference to a second, smaller circumference in a direction toward the longitudinal axis (22). The first (94) and second (96) tapered surface portions taper in opposite directions. The mounting member (14) is receivable on the steering shaft (12) and has a second locking pin passage (72).

Abstract: A collet nut has a nut member for threaded engagement with threads on a collet holder. A sleeve member is rotationally coupled to the nut member in a first tightening mode of the collet nut. An annular ring is rotationally coupled to the sleeve member and rotationally coupled to the nut member in the first tightening mode. Facing ramped bearing surfaces are defined between opposing faces of the annular ring and the nut member and bearing devices, such as balls, are disposed between the opposite faces. In the first tightening mode, the nut member and the annular ring rotate as a unit. In a second tightening mode, the annular ring rotates relative to the nut member so that opposing high sections of the ramped bearing surfaces are brought rotationally closer thereby forcing the annular ring axially away from the nut member which imparts an additional axial force to a collet engaging member of the collet nut.

Abstract: A tubular structural part made of composite material such as carbon strand reinforced epoxy resin is provided with an elongated flat area along the outer surface of the tubular part to avoid cracking of the part when the part is telescopically engaged with and clamped in an outer tube part. The flat clamp side area of the inner tube part prevents contact between the facing edges of an elongate split in the outer tube part which are drawn together during clamping so that the edges of the outer tube part are prevented from coming into contact with and thus gouging the outer surface of the composite tube causing cracks and eventual structural failure of the inner tube.