Abstract: A dual brake valve assembly including two co-axial primary and secondary valves for primary and secondary braking circuits is modified to include an auxiliary exhaust valve operable in conjunction with the pressure plate and a secondary piston for controlling operation of the secondary valve in response to operation of the primary valve. When the valve assembly is operated to apply the brakes, the auxiliary exhaust valve remains closed to prevent the premature release of fluid from the primary circuit irrespective of uncontrolled relative movement between parts of the valve assembly.

Abstract: A device which stabilizes the sheath of an endoscope or arthroscope during surgery. The device is a relatively thin, flat, flexible plate of plastic material and is adapted to be placed against a patient's body at the area where penetration is made by the scope sheath. The plate is formed with a predetermined sized central hole and the sheath is slidably inserted through the hole and has an interference fit with the surrounding plate material. The plate provides a stable base for the scope to be slidably moved with respect to the plate to adjust the depth of penetration. The plate preferably has a bow or generally figure-eight configuration which provides sufficient surface area at both ends of the plate to provide a stable base for the scope while permitting other surgical instruments to be inserted into the patient's body closely adjacent the scope due to the concavity of the plate sides. Various mechanisms can be mounted in the central plate hole to accommodate various sizes of scope sheaths.

Abstract: A device for breaking coal and for separating predetermined size coal particles and impurities therefrom. A supply of coal containing rock, shale and other impurities is dumped in a hopper through a top opening. A zigzag-shaped passageway extends from the top to the bottom of the hopper and has a single double action accelerator rotor or a pair of accelerator rotors mounted therein. The rotors increase the speed of the deposited materials that are moving by gravity through the passageway by striking the material and propelling it in the same direction that it was moving prior to being struck. The coal is split upon impact against splitting grates. Chutes located beneath the splitting grates receive the coal particles which pass through sized openings formed in the grates and deposit it in a collection area. The rotors each include a shaft with a plurality of radially outwardly extending blades.

Abstract: A reusable molded plastic package for holding audio cassettes which enables the cassettes to be stored and displayed in racks heretofore used for record discs and eight-track audio tapes and which includes a slide lock which secures the cassette in the package preventing its unauthorized removal therefrom. In one embodiment, the cassette is mounted in a transverse position at one end of the package enabling the contents of the cassette to be viewed from the end of the package when stored in a horizontal position. In another embodiment, the cassette is mounted in a longitudinal position at one end of the cassette whereby the contents can be read from the front of the cassette when stored in a vertical position. In still another embodiment the package can store either an audio cassette or a compact disc. The slide lock is retracted from its locked position by a manually operated key.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a cylinder with a porting ring adjacent the cylinder head to reduce the diameter of the cylinder. The piston in the cylinder has a reduced diameter crown portion complementary to the porting ring and an upper face on the crown provided with a small clearance from the cylinder head to provide a large squish area. A primary combustion chamber of "dogbone" shape is provided in the crown, while a secondary combustion chamber is provided under the crown. On the power stroke, the sparking plug ignites the air/fuel mixture in the primary combustion chamber and the pressure pulse generated pushes the piston down the cylinder. When the piston crown clears the porting ring, the air/fuel mixture in the secondary combustion chamber is ignited and a second pressure pulse is applied to the piston. The slower, staged, burning of the air/fuel mixture in the cylinder applies a more powerful driving force to the piston, generating increased torque.