Automotive Products, Inc.

Automotive Products (usa), Inc.

Richard A Nix

Keith V Leigh-Monstevens

David J Compton

David C Barker

Leslie P Branum

David L Wrobleski

Scott Lee Loring

Michael James Woodard

David C Peterson

Mark W Rei

Charles A Kassin

Michael L Schwartz

Andre Tobiasz

Paul M Regula

Benjamin Chetwood Struve

Rajiv Iyer

Julie A Hartig

Steven R Hojnacki

Darrin F Wilber

Remy Vo

Paul Platteaux

Compton, David J

Timothy M Dangel

Thomas J Kudzia

Claude A Patalidis, Deceased

Marina Kassin

A method and apparatus for molding a right angle connector onto a tube end portion. The tube end portion is positioned in a mold cavity; an axially extending core is positioned in the mold cavity with the axis of the core at a right angle to the axis of the tube end portion and with an inboard end of the core positioned proximate the open end of the tube end portion; a molten plastic material is injected into the mold cavity in surrounding relation to the core and the tube end portion; and the core is removed to form a connector fixedly secured to the tube end portion and having a central axial bore communicating with the open end of the tube, extending at a right angle to the central axis of the tube end portion, and conforming to the configuration of the core.

Right angle tube connector

A hydraulic clutch actuator system having a vibration damper in the system including an elastomeric diaphragm and a steel diaphragm. One face of the elastomeric diaphragm is in communication with fluid in the system so that the diaphragm may deflect in response to low frequency system vibrations to effect damping of these vibrations. The steel diaphragm is positioned generally parallel to and proximate the other face of the elastomeric diaphragm so as to form a back-up for the elastomeric diaphragm so that the elastomeric diaphragm may deform against the steel diaphragm in response to high frequency system vibrations to cause deflection of the steel diaphragm to effect damping of the high frequency vibrations. An apertured stop structure above the elastomeric diaphragm functions to limit upward excursions of the elastomeric diaphragm and further functions to maintain communication between the chamber above the elastomeric diaphragm and the damper port to the system.

Elastomeric damper for hydraulic clutch actuator

A clutch hydraulic actuator system having a vibration damper provided in the system between a master cylinder and a slave cylinder of the system. The damper includes an elastomeric diaphragm and a spring steel diaphragm. One face of the elastomeric diaphragm is in fluid communication with hydraulic fluid in the system so that the elastomeric diaphragm may deflect in response to low frequency vibrations transmitted through hydraulic fluid in the system to effect damping of the low frequency vibrations. The spring steel diaphragm is positioned in the system generally parallel to and proximate the other face of the elastomeric diaphragm so as to form a backup for the elastomeric diaphragm so that the elastomeric diaphragm may deform against the spring steel diaphragm in response to high frequency vibrations transmitted through the hydraulic fluid to cause deflection of the spring steel diaphragm to effect damping of the high frequency vibrations.

Dual action damper for hydraulic clutch actuator

A hydraulic control apparatus having a master cylinder, a slave cylinder, and a conduit connecting the master cylinder to the slave cylinder is constituted as separate modular units interconnected by a quick connect coupling including a female coupler member and a male coupler member. In addition to providing part of the quick connect coupling between the modular units the female coupler member is provided with a bleed system to facilitate removal and addition of hydraulic fluid to the system as required in relation to initial manufacturer and installation and in relation to field maintenance.

Quick connect coupling for a hydraulic control system

A damper for use with a hydraulic actuator of the type including a master cylinder and a slave cylinder with a conduit interconnecting the outlet of the master cylinder and the inlet of the slave cylinder. The damper is positioned in the conduit between the master cylinder and the slave cylinder and includes a housing member defining a chamber opening in one face of the housing member and a mounting bracket plate. The mounting bracket plate includes a housing portion corresponding in size and configuration to the one face of the housing member and is positioned against the one face of the housing member to coact with the housing member to seal the chamber. The bracket plate further includes a bracket portion extending outwardly from the housing portion in the form of mounting arms which are utilized to facilitate mounting of the damper to a fixed vehicle structure. A diaphragm is fixedly positioned in the chamber and divides the chamber into a first chamber portion between one side of the diaphragm and the housing member and a second chamber portion between the opposite side of the diaphragm and the housing portion of the bracket plate. This construction enables a single member to function to define the damper diaphragm chamber and further define the mounting bracket to secure the damper within the vehicle.

Damper with integral bracket

A quick connect coupling for use in a hydraulic clutch control system including a hydraulic master cylinder and a hydraulic slave cylinder. One of the coupler members of the quick connect coupling includes a central axial passage defining an inlet at one end of the passage and including a diaphragm positioned at the other end of the passage at right angles to the passage in fluid communication with fluid flowing through the passage. The passage further includes a radial passage portion communicating with the central passage and extending to a fluid port for the coupler member. Hydraulic fluid flowing through the coupler member communicates with an inboard face of the diaphragm so that the diaphragm functions to attenuate pulsations in the hydraulic fluid and preclude transmission of the pulsations rearwardly in the system to the clutch pedal.

Quick connect coupling for a hydraulic control system including integral

Actuator with an overflow chamber and means for returning the fluid from

An external slave cylinder particularly suited for use in a hydraulic clutch release system for a motor vehicle. The cylinder includes a cylindrical body defining a bore, a piston slidably mounted in the bore, a seal positioned between the piston and the bore, a pushrod engaging the rear end of the piston and extending out of the bore, and a preload spring. The spring comprises a conical coil spring positioned exteriorly of the bore, bearing at the reduced diameter rear end thereof against the rear end of the pushrod, and bearing at the large diameter front end thereof against the rear end of the body in surrounding relation to the pushrod. The seal has a cup-shaped configuration and fits over a nose portion provided on the front end of the piston. The seal includes a peripheral lip portion sealingly engaging the bore and a base portion closing the area within the peripheral lip portion and seated against the front end of the piston. The full cup-shaped configuration of the seal eliminates the usual internal leak path between the inner periphery of the seal and the piston.

External slave cylinder for hydraulic clutch release system

A damper for use in a hydraulic clutch actuator to attenuate vibrations transmitted from the crankshaft of the engine of the associated vehicle to the clutch pedal. The baffle includes an elongated cylindrical housing positioned in the conduit interconnecting the master and slave cylinders of the actuator coaxial with the axis of the conduit and including a spring biased piston mounted in the bore of the housing. The housing is open at its rear end and closed at its front end by an end wall defining an outlet port for the damper and the piston includes a central through passage defining the inlet port of the damper at the rear end of the through passage. A baffle is provided at the front end of the piston to provide a circuitous path between the central passage of the piston and the outlet port of the damper. The front face of the baffle includes a hemispherical surface which deflects attenuations entering the housing from the slave cylinder and routes the attenuations through the circuitous path defined by the baffle.

Damper for hydraulic clutch actuator

A hydraulic control apparatus, more particularly for operating a motor vehicle clutch release mechanism, comprising a master cylinder, a slave cylinder and a conduit connecting the master cylinder to the slave cylinder. The apparatus is in the form of separate modular units which are separately filled with hydraulic fluid, and the filled modular units are shipped unconnected to a user. Each modular unit is provided with a leakproof quick-connect connector member, through which filling of the modular unit may be effected, and which mates with a complementary leakproof quick-connect connector member of another modular unit, such that after installation on a utilization device, a motor vehicle for example, complementary connector members are reconnected, thus opening ports in each connector member placing each member in fluid communication with the other. Preferably, the two connector members are provided with a one-way locking arrangement preventing separation of the connector members after coupling. Alternatively, the two connector members may be disconnected by a special tool to enable disconnecting the members without loss of hydraulic fluid, for the purpose of repair or replacement of components.

Modular hydraulic control apparatus

An end cap adapted to be inserted into one end of a hydraulic cylinder having a body of plastic material defining a bore open at one end thereof and an end wall at the other end thereof closing the bore. A cylindrical tube is positioned within the bore and a piston is reciprocal within the tube. The end cap sandwiches the tube between the end cap and the end wall and the end cap includes radially extending circumferentially spaced ribs which collapse against the tube as the end cap is inserted into the cylinder.

Hydraulic cylinder

A reservoir construction for use with a hydraulic clutch actuator for a motor vehicle. The reservoir includes a blow molded bellows portion including a plurality of pleats or convolutions and is arranged to be moved to a stressed expanded condition in response to filling of the system so that the reservoir serves not only as a source of hydraulic fluid for the system but also serves to pressurize the system by virtue of its stressed condition. The reservoir may comprise a two-part assembly including a main body member and a lid closing the upper end of the main body member, in which case the system is filled through the upper end of the main body member, the lid is secured to the upper end of the main body member, and the output member of the associated slave cylinder is retracted to pressurize the system. Alternatively, the reservoir may comprise a single unitary member with a sealed upper end and the system may be filled and pressurized through a quick connect coupler secured to the free end of a conduit connected to the discharge end of the master cylinder assembly.

Hydraulic control system with prefilled pressurized reservoir

Modular prefilled hydraulic control apparatus

A damper for use in a hydraulic clutch actuator to attenuate vibrations transmitted from the crankshaft of the engine of the associated vehicle to the clutch pedal. The baffle includes an elongated cylindrical housing positioned in the conduit interconnecting the master and slave cylinders of the actuator coaxial with the axis of the conduit and including a spring biased piston mounted in the bore of the housing. The housing is open at its rear end and closed at its front end by an end wall defining an outlet port for the damper and the piston includes a central through passage defining the inlet port of the damper at the rear end of the through passage. A baffle is provided at the front end of the piston to provide a circuitous path between the central passage of the piston and the outlet port of the damper. In an alternate embodiment, the damper further includes the male half of a quick connect coupling so as to facilitate the use of the damper in a clutch actuator of the type including separate prefilled modules which are connected by the quick coupler following installation of the separate modules.

A hydraulic control apparatus, having a master cylinder, a slave cylinder and a conduit connecting the master cylinder to the slave cylinder, is made of separate modular units interconnectable by leakproof connectors. The apparatus is prefilled with hydraulic fluid while the separate modular units are interconnected, and after filling the separate modular units are disconnected and shipped to a user, unconnected but filled with hydraulic fluid. Alternatively, the separate modular units may be individually filled with hydraulic fluid, and shipped to a user unconnected but each filled with hydraulic fluid. After installation on a utilization device, for example a motor vehicle, the complementary connector members are reconnected for placing the individual modular units in hydraulic fluid communication. The connectors take the form of complementary members which are arranged to open fluid passageway during connection. A one-way locking or retainer clip is disposed in one connector member for interlocking engagement with appropriate abutments in the other connector member for preventing separation of the members after coupling. The connector members may be disconnected by using an appropriate tool, or by providing a disconnect element built in one of the connector members, to enable disconnecting the members after installation of the apparatus on a motor vehicle for example, for the purpose of repair or replacement of components.

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Utica, MI, United States of America

Richard A Nix