Casco Products Corporation

Sun Chemical Corporation

Peter J Lupoli

Donald J Mattis

Robert S Miller

John J Comerford

Brooke N Westover

Vincent G Krenke

Thomas Beauvais

A one-piece molded plastic lamp fixture for mounting a light bulb at the exterior of the clamping shell portion of an electric cigar lighter for vehicles, to provide illumination of the socket thereof. The clamping shell has a light-admitting aperture over which the bulb is positioned when carried in a body part of the plastic fixutre. An integral plastic hood is connected to the body part adjacent the bulb, and can be swung from a first position overlying and generally concealing the bulb, to a second position wherein the bulb is exposed for replacement. The body and hood portions are joined by a living hinge, and the body portion is held on the clamping shell by resilient, opposed integral retainer fingers that are receivable in openings in the shell. The hood portion has integral ears which underlie and back up the retainer fingers when the hood is swung to its first position whereby inward movement of the fingers is limited to prevent the fixture from becoming inadvertently loosened from the clamping shell. The hood and body portions, and hinge can all be molded as a single integral plastic or nylon piece.

Lamp fixture for illuminating interior of cigar lighter socket

A liquid level gauging system and sensor device for installation in the aperture of a wall of a liquid-containing vessel, including a metal fitting having a through bore and a substantially cylindrical body portion with external threads by which it can be secured in the aperture in the vessel wall, a cup-like enclosure disposed in the bore, the enclosure having a bottom wall containing a prism disposed adjacent the inner end of the bore, and a light source and a light-responsive device mounted in the enclosure. The prism has a substantially conical forward end portion for immersion in the liquid to be monitored. The conical forward end portion of the prism is characterized by an axis, and the prism has a light-admitting and light-transmitting conical recess coaxial with the conical end portion of the prism. Light rays from the source that pass into the surface of the conical recess are bent, by refraction, toward the conical end portion. Reflected rays from the conical end portion passing outwardly through the surface of the conical recess are similarly bent, by refraction, toward the light-responsive means. Especially high resolution and accuracy are possible, while maintaining good reliability and repeatability.

Liquid level gauging apparatus

An electric switch construction having a body member with a a stationary electrical contact, a movable plunger in the body member and carrying a second electrical contact, and a compression spring, one end of which is carried by the plunger. The other end of the spring preferably carries an abutment or button, intended for engagement by an actuator, such as the hood of a motor vehicle. The spring constitutes a yieldable drive or link between the actuator and plunger, to compensate for dimensional variations that normally occur in the environment in which the switch is used, as well as minimizing deleterious effects of high impulse forces that would otherwise be applied by the actuator to the switch plunger, and also the effects of overtravel of the actuator. Improved reliability and longer switch life expectancy are thus realizeable.

Electric switch construction

A float switch construction for monitoring liquid levels, comprising a float housing having a float member which is movable therein between raised and lowered positions. In the housing there is a fixed contact member and an asymmetric, elongate movable contact member, the latter having a laterally offset portion constituting a gravity-responsive mass. The housing has an electrically conductive bearing which mounts the movable contact member for both turning and pivotal movement and for conducting current to or from it. The float member and movable contact member are freely turnable with respect to one another, and have cooperable engaging portions for causing the movable contact member to pivot in response to movement of the float member. The fixed contact member has contact portions disposed annularly for engagement by the movable contact member in response to its pivotal movement irrespective of the angular orientation of the float housing. Engagement of the contact members controls a circuit from the fixed contact member to the bearing.

Switch construction employing contact having spaced-apart contact points

A pre-heater for internal combustion engines, especially adapted for use in cold climates while a vehicle is being stored, parked, or otherwise idle. The heater has a base member that is adapted to be secured in an opening of the engine block, and an electric heating element carried by the base member and exposed to the interior area of the block so as to be in contact with the coolant thereof. Electric terminals carried by the base member are connected to the heating element to effect energization thereof. An electric cable is also provided, having a plug detachable from the base member. The plug has mating terminals cooperable with the electric terminals of the base member to establish an electrical circuit through the heating element. A heat-responsive sensor device is carried by the plug, and monitors the temperature of the base member and heating element in order to effect an automatic control of the energization of the latter.

Plug having encapsulated thermal sensor, for engine block heater

An electric heater assemblage for attachment to the air intake opening of a fuel vapor recovery canister of the type containing material adapted to alternately adsorb and store, or release fuel vapor. The assemblage includes a wafer of electric resistance heating material, and electrical connections for effecting energization of the wafer. The wafer has opposite expansive surfaces, and there is a first wall located at one side of the wafer and having an expansive surface coextensive with one wafer surface, and a second wall located at the opposite side of the wafer and having an expansive surface coextensive with the other wafer surface. The first wall and wafer thus define a first chamber, and the second wall and wafer define a second chamber in communication with the first chamber at the periphery of the wafer. A housing that carries the wafers and walls directs air from the exterior of the canister into the first chamber, past one side of the wafer and its periphery and into the second chamber, past the opposite side of the wafer and thereafter to the interior of the canister, for imparting heat to the adsorbent material contained therein. The arrangement is characterized by both high efficiency and low cost.

Canister heater with PTC wafer

A fuel vapor recovery canister having a housing including an outer wall with spaced-apart vapor ports. Adsorbent material in the housing adsorbs and stores fuel vapors entering one vapor port, or under other circumstances releases such vapors for exit through one of the ports. In one embodiment the housing has interleaved baffle plates between the ports, which force vapors entering one port to flow along a serpentine path, giving maximum exposure of the vapor to the adsorbent material. In a second embodiment, a helical partition is provided, similarly forcing vapor flow to occur along a serpentine path.

Fuel vapor recovery system

An exhaust gas purification device for installation in the exhaust line of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, for igniting and vaporizing particulate matter in the exhaust stream. The device includes a canister having a tubular casing with an open end, and an end fitting having a wide mouth which fits against the open end, and thereby closing off the same. The fitting has an inlet port for connection to the exhaust pipe of the engine. Disposed within the casing is a porous filter element which traps small amounts of solid matter such as soot, and keeps it from entering the atmosphere through the vehicle's tailpipe. Igniting devices in the canister adjacent the inlet side of the filter, are located along the exhaust stream flowpath. Upon contact with the igniting devices, at least some of the particulate matter in the stream is vaporized, and passed, as a gas, through the filter. The arrangement prevents clogging of the minute openings of the filter with relatively large particles, which would otherwise block the exhaust flow and cause malfunction of the engine. The device is especially well suited for use in diesel engines, to vaporize carbon (soot) in the exhaust stream.

Engine exhaust particulate ignitor construction

Float switch construction for monitoring liquid levels

A one-piece clamping shell for electric cigar lighters, which comprises a rolled sheet-metal body of tubular configuration, having open ends and a reverse-bend clinched seam extending longitudinally between its ends. At one of its ends the body has a radially inwardly extending flange means configured as a one-turn helical thread, said flange means having notches in it, one of which is bounded by edges that are located in planes spaced axially apart an amount essentially equal to the pitch of said thread, thereby to constitute in effect a nut adapted to be screwed onto an externally threaded shell at the rear of the cigar lighter.

One-piece wrap-around clamping shell for cigar lighter

An electric switch construction having a housing with electric terminals, two concentric springs disposed in the housing and respectively connected with the terminals, and a movable contactor cup adapted to establish continuity between the terminals and a conductive, barrel portion of the housing. The outer spring biases the cup to a circuit-closing position wherein both terminals are connected to the barrel portion of the housing. A manually-engageable plunger is arranged to engage the cup. When the plunger is actuated, first one terminal is disconnected from the barrel portion of the switch, and subsequently, upon further movement of the plunger, the remaining terminal is disconnected therefrom. The plunger carries an O-ring which forms a partial seal along the bore of the housing, so as to minimize the accumulation of dirt or moisture from the surfaces where electrical contact is made or broken. As the switch is operated, the plunger tends to rotate the cup in small increments, such that different contact points on the cup are presented to the cooperable surface against which the cup is seated. As a result, improved conductivity is had over extended periods of use. In addition, the seal of the switch minimizes problems that normally occur in harsh environments such as are encountered in the automotive field.

An electric preheater for an internal combustion engine includes a heater having a metallic base member adapted to be secured to and cover an opening of an engine block and carrying an electric immersion heating element adapted to project through the opening into the coolant passage of the block. The base member has electric terminals for supplying power to the heating element. An electric power supply cable is detachably connected to the terminals by a molded plug having mating connectors embedded in a projecting resilient boss on the plug. A heat sensor, in the form of a thermistor, is embedded in the boss and has an exposed sloping leading surface at the side of the boss to facilitate insertion of the plug into a hollow recess defined by an encircling metallic side wall provided on the base around the heating element terminals. The heat sensor engages the encircling side wall portion of the base member in good heat exchange relation therewith and monitors the temperature of the heating element and base member to effect automatic control of the energization of the heating element by means of an electronic temperature control circuit.

Temperature controlled electric engine block

An electronic control circuit for actuating a solenoid-operated air-diverter valve or valves connected with the exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine, to supply supplemental air thereto. The supplemental air reacts with some of the hot exhaust gases, producing other gases which are in general less toxic than those coming directly from the engine. The circuit responds to engine speed in such a manner that, after a predetermined period of operation has elapsed during which the speed was continuously above a predetermined value, the normally energized solenoids are shut off to thus close the diverter valves and thereby interrupt the flow of supplemental air to the exhaust manifold. This prevents overheating of the exhaust system at high engine speeds. Provision is made for automatically modifying the operation of the circuit if the engine speed varies or fluctuates between relatively high and low speeds, and circuit operation is dependent on the relative time intervals involved with each type of operation. Self-diagnostic controls are also included, in order to assist the vehicle operator in determining that the circuit is functioning properly. The arrangement is such that the air-diverter valves are open most of the time, in order to minimize overall exhaust pollutants, but close when necessary in order to prevent excessive heat in the exhaust system from being developed.

Control circuit for use with air-diverter valve of internal combustion

A device for the recovery of fuel vapors originating in the fuel system of a vehicle, particularly at the gas tank thereof or in the carburetor float bowl. In one arrangement, a fuel vapor line connects the fuel tank to an input port of a fuel vapor storage and recovery canister containing activated carbon or charcoal, with another port thereof, referred to as a 'purge' port, being connected with either the engine intake manifold or else a vacuum port of the carburetor. Carried by the canister is a self-regulating electric heater assemblage adapted to heat air flowing into the canister through a large air port, thereby to also heat the charcoal. When the vehicle is idle, fumes from the gasoline tank can enter the input port of the canister to be adsorbed and stored by the charcoal. When the vehicle is operated, vacuum from the intake manifold draws air into the canister, causing the heated charcoal to release its stored fuel which is then burned in the engine. The heating action hastens the release of the stored fuel from the charcoal. Otherwise at low temperatures this release would occur very slowly. The end result is less pollution emitted into the atmosphere from the vehicle's fuel system.

Fuel vapor recovery system for automotive vehicles

A chime generator circuit of the type employed to monitor the condition of parameters associated with an automobile, such as warning functions involving headlight operation, fastening of a seat belt, or indications of the ignition key having been inadvertently left in place as the driver is leaving the vehicle, etc. The circuit employs an oscillator which is modulated at a relatively low frequency, on the order of one or two cycles per second, and a unique coupling arrangement for exciting one of the existing speakers of the automobile radio to provide the necessary audible sound. In the disclosed device, the output of a signal generator is fed directly to one speaker, and a switch is interposed in the line extending between the radio output and the speaker. When the switch is open, the radio and speaker are isolated from one another and the generator feeds the speaker directly, producing the desired sound and warning the driver that a certain condition exists. A sensor and driver circuit receives a signal from the generator when the latter is operating, and controls the switch. The generator is enabled or disabled by one or more monitor switches that are disposed at various locations about the vehicle, and which open or close depending on the conditions being monitored. By the above arrangement, there is possible a significant cost reduction by elimination of the relatively expensive transducer heretofore associated with chime generators, since the present generator employs one of the existing speakers associated with the vehicle's radio.

Growing community of inventors

Hamden, CT, United States of America

Peter J Lupoli