Did You Know...
...that in the early 1940s GE engineer James Wright was charged with a task of utmost importance to the war effort: develop a cheap substitute for rubber that could be used to produce tires, gas masks and a whole host of military gear. Wright tackled the task diligently -- and wound up inventing Silly Putty.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 5649612 | Brake bracket assembly An improved bracket member for a vehicle brake system is disclosed. The bracket member has a wing bracket at one end for mounting of a brake actuating mechanism and a mounting plate at the opposite end for connection to the spider of the brake assembly. A... | 07/22/1997 |
| 5638928 | Brake center tracking roller and cam arrangement A vehicle wheel drum brake assembly includes an improved brake actuator assembly having a stabilizing cam and roller design. The cam and roller include a centering and guiding surface that cooperate to prevent relative movement between the cam and the rol... | 06/17/1997 |
| 5607034 | Cam brake shoe with formed edges An improved brake shoe table includes the edges of the brake shoe table being bent radially inwardly relative to the remainder of the table by between 45 and 90 degrees. The bent edges increase the rigidity of the brake shoe and also reduce localized lini... | 03/04/1997 |
| 5599150 | Clevis pin retainer clips A hitch pin for maintaining a clevis pin in a bore including a continuous wire member formed to include a straight portion ending in a constant radius hinge portion. A parallel portion extends from the hinge portion to a constant radius barb portion. The ... | 02/04/1997 |
| 5600324 | Keyless entry system using a rolling code A keyless entry system which employs an identification code for each transmitter, a key sequence number, and a rolling code generated by a polynomial equation ensure unauthorized access. The system provides for resynchronization in the event of battery re... | 02/04/1997 |
| 5582558 | Combined system for assisting shifting of manual transmission A vehicle drive incorporates a speed control that assists an operator in shifting the transmission without requiring the clutch, or synchronization of engine speed. An operator is provided with a single switch that allows a prediction of the next shift di... | 12/10/1996 |
| 5579485 | Apparatus for remote implementation of a command A remote signal transmitter that is capable of producing a command comprising a signal including a first value and an answer calculated using the first value as an input variable in a transfer function. The transmitter broadcasts the signal to a receiver ... | 11/26/1996 |
| 5573477 | Method and apparatus for assisting in shifting transmission to neutral An operator of a vehicle may request torque reduction on the connection between a transmission and an engine, or may use a clutch. A switch is provided to send a torque elimination request. Upon receiving the request, an engine control adjusts engine fuel... | 11/12/1996 |
| 5571059 | Operator input system for gear shift assist mechanism An operator input control system for a system to assist shifting in a multi-speed transmission includes a switch that allows an operator to provide an indication of the direction of the next shift. The operator is also provided with a switch that allows a... | 11/05/1996 |
| 5569115 | Engine speed synchronization system for assisting in manual transmission shifting An improved system for synchronizing the output speed of an engine with that necessary at the next expected gear to achieve a desired speed ratio updates and monitors the currently engaged gear. In this way, the system improves upon prior systems that att... | 10/29/1996 |
| 5562546 | Snap in plug for a slip yoke A plug closes the end bore of a slip yoke. A plurality of teeth are cast into a counterbore formed at an end of the slip yoke. The rigid plug snaps behind the teeth to be retained within the counterbore. The teeth are circumferentially spaced and may be f... | 10/08/1996 |
| 5497578 | Window regulator with cushioned up stop A cross-arm window regulator for moving a window between raised, intermediate and lowered positions in a vehicle door, includes a resilient stop cushion housed in the lift channel mounted on the glass. Sliders mounted on the ends of the lift and cross arm... | 03/12/1996 |
| 5486724 | System for control of actuators and switches by a remotely located microcontroller using a two buss system A two buss system to accomplish; 1) communication from contact pairs located at vehicle access points such as a vehicle door or trunk to a central controller; and 2) transmitting current for energization of actuators to implement respective commands such ... | 01/23/1996 |
| 5484041 | Composite brake piston with internal cushion and stop A brake system having a caliper which defines a bore for slideably receiving a piston. The piston defines a hydraulic chamber at one end and generates a force in response to hydraulic pressure applied thereto. This force is then transmitted through the pi... | 01/16/1996 |
| 5433301 | Disc brake assembly including a configured load plate A force application system for a disc brake assembly in which twin pistons engage a configured load plate featuring stiffening ribs at specific locations to maximize the stiffness thereof seeking to provide uniformity of pressure transmitted therethrough ... | 07/18/1995 |
| 5404008 | Control system for detecting intrusion of a light curtain A light curtain system having a series of light emitting diodes is arranged to produce a beam of light which is modulated at about 40 KHz. The light is broadcast across a physical space in which intrusion detection is desired and received by respectively ... | 04/04/1995 |
| 5360351 | Housing for the interface between a motor vehicle lock, its actuator and the electrical connection harness of the vehicle An actuator which is physically secured to the locking mechanism by means of a first electrical connector. The motor of the actuator is provided with power through a second electrical connector which supplies power thereto through the first connector. The... | 11/01/1994 |
| 5349878 | Horizontal seat position adjuster A mechanism used to control the vertical height as well as fore-aft position of a vehicle seat while presenting a minimum height profile when adjusted to minimum vertical elevation. The seat is connected to a pair of rails, one stationary and one reciproc... | 09/27/1994 |
| 5350955 | Apparatus for position detection and verification thereof using pulse patterns having sequentially unique properties An apparatus for position detection using pulse patterns created by use of a fixed disk having three conductive patterns disposed thereon. The first and second patterns are annular conductive paths which are coaxial with respect to one another and the thi... | 09/27/1994 |
| 5348570 | Axle housing breather A venting mechanism which includes three members. A first member having threads defined thereon connected to a second offering a hexagonally shaped external surface. The third member features a bore which defines an annular surface at the intersection wit... | 09/20/1994 |
| 5349459 | Secure remote control system A vehicle access transmitter and receiver pair which cooperate to implement a code transmission strategy which requires a minimum amount of energy thereby accomplishing maximum battery life while achieving operations secure from unauthorized access. The t... | 09/20/1994 |
| 5325945 | Vehicle brake support assembly A brake support assembly for a vehicle including a stamped metal spider having a planar mounting portion and a pair of diametrically opposed support portions. A first support portion includes a first pair of ribs extending along opposite edges thereof as ... | 07/05/1994 |
| 5319797 | Remote vehicle access featuring high security A remote signal transmitter capable of producing a radio frequency signal for implementation of access commands including an oscillator circuit which is alternatively capable of producing a fixed frequency signal or a modulated frequency signal as a resul... | 06/07/1994 |
| 5305856 | Automatic slack adjusting mechanism including a low friction adjusting gear An automatic slack adjusting mechanism for a rotary oscillatory cam actuated brake assembly including an elongated housing having an opening therethrough and a bore, a worm gear rotatably mounted in the opening, a shaft mounted for rotation in the bore an... | 04/26/1994 |
| 5299771 | Vertical seat position adjuster A mechanism used to control the vertical height as well as fore-aft position of a vehicle seat while presenting a minimum height profile when adjusted to minimum vertical elevation. The seat is connected to a pair of rails, one stationary and one reciproc... | 04/05/1994 |
| 5296658 | Safety edge switch for detection of obstructions encountered by a moving object A safety edge switch which may be utilized to sense an obstruction present in a window opening upon closure of the respective window of an automotive vehicle. The switch may be secured to a window opening by adhesive attachment. The switch includes an out... | 03/22/1994 |
| 5293787 | Rotors having a combined function of providing a variable reluctance magnetic path and an axial thrust bearing surface A rotor for use in speed sensing a transmission output shaft including circumferentially alternating teeth and voids which offers a variable reluctance flux path upon relative rotation thereof with respect to a fixed sensor. The rotor also includes an inw... | 03/15/1994 |
| 5252872 | Diametral runout reducer for driving a rotary sensor A diametral runout reducer adapted to drive a rotor for exciting a stator of a speed sensor located in a differential carrier. The rotor is driven by a diametral runout reducer. The runout reducer includes an annular axially extending member having a firs... | 10/12/1993 |
| 5223760 | Wheel speed sensor for drive axle An axially compact rotational sensor adaptable to a drive axle for determining the rotational speed of the differential case which is the average speed of the wheels associated therewith. In a second embodiment dual rotational sensors are incorporated in ... | 06/29/1993 |
| 5222814 | Vehicle seat track assembly Telescoping lower and upper tracks which comprises nested open channel sections. The lower track includes a three sided channel with opposing sides each forming one half of a bearing race. The open portion of the channel is defined by in-turned lips which... | 06/29/1993 |
| 5224211 | Method and apparatus for non-contact extraction of on-board vehicle trip recorders The present invention includes an optical interface accomplished by physically securing mating male and female portions of extractor/extractee members so as to accomplish alignment of respectively interacting infrared light emitting diodes with photo diod... | 06/29/1993 |
| 5222402 | Horizontal seat position adjuster A mechanism used to control the vertical height as well as fore-aft position of a vehicle seat while presenting a minimum height profile when adjusted to minimum vertical elevation. The seat is connected to a pair of rails, one stationary and one reciproc... | 06/29/1993 |
| 5222710 | Vertical seat position adjuster A mechanism used to control the vertical height as well as fore-aft position of a vehicle seat while presenting a minimum height profile when adjusted to minimum vertical elevation. The seat is connected to a pair of rails, one stationary and one reciproc... | 06/29/1993 |
| 5207113 | Sleeve for aligning two discrete structures having adjoining bores A sleeve which may be used to align a reciprocable member with operations performed in structurally discrete abutting members. The sleeve has coaxial axially extending diametral portions each having different diameters. The juncture of the diametral porti... | 05/04/1993 |
| 5193129 | Pressure sensor utilizing microbending of a fiber optic cable woven through a ladder shaped structure A pressure detector including a fiber optical cable woven through a ladder-like structure which is then encapsulated and surrounded by a cover. Light transmitted through the fiber optic cable is diminished to a value less than a threshold value upon the o... | 03/09/1993 |
| 5191529 | Trip recorder operation and memory retention extension through multiple battery backup and a load shedding strategy triggered by a primary power interruption A dual battery backup system which provides power to selected portions of a trip recorder according to a load shedding strategy to maximize duration of operation and data retention in the event of interruption of primary power supply. The trip recorder is... | 03/02/1993 |
| 5171069 | Antilock brake system and method incorporating a pressure feedback An air brake system for a truck includes a treadle valve, a pilot control isolation valve, an exhaust valve, a relay valve, an air pressure transducer, a wheel speed sensor, an electronic control unit (ECU) and an air brake chamber associated with a brake... | 12/15/1992 |
| 5125326 | Three position actuator having a neutral normal position for shifting a two speed transfer case A three position actuator which is used to position the gear range control lever on a two speed transfer case. Three positions are required to achieve HIGH, LOW and NEUTRAL. Two individual air chambers may be selectively charged with compressed air to mov... | 06/30/1992 |
| 5111098 | Unitary rotational speed sensor Four embodiments of a reluctance type rotational speed sensor are disclosed. In the first embodiment, an annular magnet circumscribes a sensing coil having a unitary rotor nested within it, and is disposed between two elements which comprise the stator. I... | 05/05/1992 |
| 5111138 | Speed sensor having a closed magnetic flux path for sensing speed from an axial face of a rotating member Speed sensor utilizing a stator which includes two circumferentially spaced elements which are interconnected by a low magnetic permeability member. The elements have alternating regions which provide a variation in magnetic permeability. A rotor which is... | 05/05/1992 |
