Abstract: There is disclosed an automatic space take-up device which comprises a pair of generally cylindrical and axially aligned bodies, each having a central through aperture, with a flat base at their outer ends, and having opposed inclined ramps, with a cylindrical sleeve receiving and surrounding the bodies, and a torsion spring received within the central aperture of the bodies and secured at its opposite ends to a respective one of said bodies. One of the bodies is permanently attached to the sleeve and the other body is rotationally and axially moveable within said sleeve and is biased axially outwardly by the torsion spring. The take-up device also includes aligned apertures in the moveable body and in the sleeve with a lock pin removably received in said aligned apertures to restrain said moveable body against the resilient bias of said torsion spring.

Abstract: There is disclosed a housing for a thin, flat display screen such as a liquid crystal display. The housing is formed of components comprising a front housing section having a front panel with an opening for exposing the screen of a flat screen device placed within the housing and a rear cover therefor which includes a hinged attachment to the front housing section which is recessed and inaccessible from the exterior of the closed housing. The assembly of front housing section and rear cover is secured with tangs carried on the lower rear edges of these components. The housing is adapted to be mounted in the chair arm of a passenger seat of commercial airliners, and includes a mounting bracket permitting it to be stowed within the chair arm when not in use. In this application it is essential that the housing have an outer covering of impact absorbing material to protect passengers from injury upon impact against the housing. It is also important that the housing be tamper and intrusion proof.

Abstract: An armrest that has a plurality of telescopic trays that collapse to allow a viewing device to be retracted from a stowing compartment within the armrest. The telescopic trays can then be rolled back while the viewing device is displayed, allowing the passenger to utilize both the monitor and the trays. The viewing device is connected to a slide plate that slides along a track that is mounted within the stowing compartment. The plate and track allow the monitor to be retracted from the compartment. The viewing device is also attached to a pair of joints, such that the device can be rotated about the x, y and z axis, to allow the passenger to display and move the monitor into the most comfortable position.

Abstract: A display unit that can retract heavy monitors into a stowing cavity when the retracting actuator of the unit becomes inoperative. The display unit has a spring motor with at least two nested torsional springs attached in parallel to provide the torque necessary to retract the monitor. The monitor is connected to a frame such that the monitor can move from a first stowed position to a second viewing position. Attached to the frame and monitor is an actuator typically of the ball screw variety, that rotates the monitor into the two position described. The monitor moves into the viewing position when the ball screw is rotated in a first direction, the monitor further being lifted into the stowed position when the ball screw is rotated into a second opposite direction. The actuator is typically driven by an electric motor adapted to rotate the ball screw in both directions.

Abstract: An armrest that has a plurality of telescopic trays that collapse to allow a viewing device to be retracted from a stowing compartment within the armrest. The telescopic trays can then be rolled back while the viewing device is displayed, allowing the passenger to utilize both the monitor and the trays. The viewing device is connected to a slide plate that slides along a track that is mounted within the stowing compartment. The plate and track allow the monitor to be retracted from the compartment. The viewing device is also attached to a pair of joints, such that the device can be rotated about the x, y and z axis, to allow the passenger to display and move the monitor into the most comfortable position.

Abstract: There is disclosed a mixer ideally suited for mixing of viscous, pasty and semi-solid materials. The mixer comprises at least one propeller having a central hub fixedly secured to the drive shaft and a plurality of axially pitched, radial blades carried by the hub. Preferably the blades terminate in an outer, annular thin rim. The propeller is used in an assembly which includes a stator that is supported by a spider having a second hub that is slideably and rotatably received over the drive shaft and that supports a plurality of arms which surround the propeller. A second plurality of axially pitched, radial blades are carried by the second hub, preferably of equal number and substantially the same configuration as the first plurality of blades of the propeller. These blades are centrally supported by a third hub which is also slideably and rotatably received over the drive shaft and the blades preferably terminate in a second, outer, annular thin rim which is also attached to the arms of the spider.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pinch valve of greatly improved performance. The pinch valve has a housing with end plates having apertures forming a through passageway to receive a flexible conduit. The housing is split through the apertures of the end plates, into two halves, forming upper and lower saddles that are detachably interconnected to permit assembly of the housing about a flexible conduit, thereby eliminating cutting or breaking of the flexible conduit to insert or to relocate the pinch valve. The upper half of the housing carries a stationary bar or anvil and a circular cam actuator moves the valve member through a complete, 360 degree, rotation in a sinusoidal action movement. This action gives the valve a great mechanical advantage at shutoff position, permitting use of a small, lightweight valve structure.