Abstract: A heat exchanger having a heat absorbing or radiating panel formed from a plate which is mounted in thermal contact with a pipe or series of pipes. The panel is mounted within a seamless frame member, joining means being interposed between the panel and frame member, to locate adjacent edges of the panel and frame member and secure them together. The plate forming the panel and the frame member may be made from a single sheet of material in a single forming operation.

Abstract: A vehicle transmission clutch control including an electronic logic control which controls the transmission gear selection, a clutch position signal generator responsive to vehicle operating parameters to produce a command signal which operates a clutch control to govern the engagement of the clutch.A clutch disengagement control receives a gear change signal from the logic control and produces an output signal that can override the command signal to cause the control system to disengage the clutch. The output signal is caused to vary during a gear change and thereby alters the command signal and cause the clutch engagement to vary over the gear change period.

Abstract: Repair of pot holes in public roads, streets and highways is facilitated and improved by the use of a simple holding device which is firmly anchored in place in the pot hole before filling the hole with conventional road patching material which then permanently unites with the holding device.

Abstract: A retractable ramp or runway is pivotally connected to the bed of a truck or trailer to facilitate the loading of heavy machinery or equipment upon the bed. Fluid pressure actuated members are connected to the ramp or runway for elevating same from an inclined position to a position level with the bed of the truck or trailer.

Abstract: A technique for aligning and coupling dielectric optical waveguides comprises threading the end of a waveguide through the central opening of a triad ball connector and forming by fusion a generally spherical glass bead on the end of the waveguide using, for example, an electric arc. The waveguide is then drawn back so that the bead contacts the balls of the triad connector to accurately locate the waveguide. The bead acts as a locating element and also has beneficial focussing properties.

Abstract: A hydraulic master cylinder has pistons displaceable along the pivot axis of a brake pedal to apply the vehicle brakes. Motion between the pedal and the pistons is transmitted by balls located in a respective arcuate track formed partly in the pedal and partly in the respective piston. The master cylinder is particularly suitable for dual circuit brake systems. A master cylinder having a single piston is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle electronic control system for a friction clutch having a clutch position signal generator which senses the vehicle operating conditions and produces a command signal which dictates the state of engagement of the clutch. A clutch actuator control is responsive to the command signal, and includes a transducer that produces a feedback signal indicative of clutch position which is fed into a comparator for comparison with the command signal. The feedback signal is modified by a signal derived from a wear compensator to alter the feedback signal as the clutch wears.

Abstract: An elongate main link 2 for a chain or cable sling shaped as a pair of generally semi-circular crown portions 4 connected by parallel-extending side portions 6 has the crown portions 4 formed with inner and outer circumferentially extending flanges 8 and 10 connected by webs 12 and the side portions 6 formed with inner flanges 14 joined to outwardly extending webs 16.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the wear of the sealing faces of a mechanical face seal comprising; positioning a probe radially of the axially moveable seal face member of the seal or a component which moves axially with the seal face member; producing a signal which is directed radially outwardly from the surface of the seal face member or component so that it may be picked up by the probe; and arranging the surface of the seal face member or component such that there is a change in signal, indicative of the wear on the sealing faces, as the seal face member moves axially with respect to the probe.

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure control valve for a fluid pressure operated clutch includes a piston responsive to a pilot control pressure as a proportion of source pressure and feedback pressure indicative of fluid pressure in the clutch to connect the clutch to source pressure whenever pilot pressure exceeds feedback pressure and to connect the clutch to drain whenever feedback pressure exceeds pilot pressure.

Abstract: A rotary transmission is of the dual clutch kind and includes three gear trains through which the clutches providing alternative drive paths between a common input shaft and a common output shaft. One clutch drives the output shaft either through a two-wheel gear train or through a three-wheel train of which the first wheel is a gear wheel driven directly from the input shaft, the second wheel is a gear wheel interengaged with the first wheel and journalled on the output shaft and the third wheel is a sleeve wheel journalled on and engageable with the output shaft so that the second wheel drives the output shaft through the sleeve wheel. The other clutch is arranged to drive the output shaft either through a two-wheel gear train of which the second gear wheel is provided by the sleeve wheel or through a six-wheel gear train of which all the gear wheels are members of the first, second and third mentioned trains.

Abstract: In making a plastic bag having a filling pipe, to overcome the difficulty of separating the overlying walls of a flattened tube of plastics material, one wall (11b) of the flattened tube (10) is cut to form a flap (17) and the opposite wall (11a) of the flattened tube is cut to form an opening (14), registering with at least a part of the flap; two pairs of clamping members (22, FIG. 4) engage the flap at the location of the opening and are moved to cause the flap (17) to extend out of the plane of the first wall of the tubing; and the filling pipe (26) is then inserted between the pairs of clamping members (22) and on the inner side of the displaced flap to enter the space between the overlying walls of the tube. Thereafter the walls of the flattened tube are sealed around the filling pipe.

Abstract: A meter for measuring the rate of flow of a fluid comprises an inlet and outlet for the fluid, a surface intermediate of said inlet and outlet over which the fluid will flow in passing from inlet to outlet, a second surface maintained at a different temperature to the first surface and being connected thereto by means of a thermal bridge and means for measuring the temperature of fluid flowing over the first surface, the second surface and at an intermediate point on the thermal bridge, so as to provide a measure of the thermal insulative effect of the boundary layer formed by the flow of fluid over the first surface and hence of the rate of flow of the fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus for stirring a molten metal in an open topped mould, in for example a continuous casting process, includes means positioned above the mould for producing a magnetic field which rotates about the vertical axis of the mould and penetrates down into the mould. The magnetic field may be produced by a series of electrical conductors which are positioned about the vertical axis of the mould, each of these conductors being connected to a different phase of a multi-phase alternating current supply.

Abstract: A control system for a rotary transmission for controlling pressure during speed ratio changes. The system includes a pump for delivering fluid under pressure which fluid selectively engages speed ratio selectors to enable the drive to be transmitted through the transmission. The system also embodies a regulator for regulating the fluid pressure in response to a throttle controlled torque demand signal. The system also includes sensors arranged to provide a signal to indicate the state of a speed ratio as well as a command signal to effect a change in the speed ratio.

Abstract: A lehr for heat treating glass articles is assembled from a series of modules to define an elongated insulated tunnel. A belt conveyor extends throughout the tunnel for moving articles from one end to the other. Duct work connection between the tunnel and the ambient air and associated heating and blower means establish heating, tempering and cooling zones respectively within the lehr in the direction of conveyor movement. Temperature sensors adjacent both flights of the conveyor are linked with a control panel to permit establishment of any desired temperature curves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lehr loader apparatus generally of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,434. The improvement here lies in a mechanical coupling between the prime mover and the pusher bar cam which permits the total time of the forward pushing stroke to be greater than the time of the return stroke for any given speed of operation of the apparatus.