Abstract: A shaft adapter for a fan motor, and the like, has an elongated configuration with a shaft receiving socket provided in at least one end of the adapter. By cutting away at least a portion of the end of the adapter provided with the socket so as to form a flat portion communicating with the socket and form a flat portion defining a slot, the shaft adapter can be employed with shafts and fan blade hubs provided with flats, set screws, keys, and the like.

Abstract: An automatic slack adjuster for a vehicle braking system includes a yoke assembly which is pivotally mounted on the adjuster body and which is adapted to be connected to a push rod actuated by a fluid pressure actuator. The yoke assembly includes a recess having an entrance which is adapted to receive the end of the push rod. An adapter member is threaded on the end of the push rod received in the recess, and a U-shaped connector penetrates the body of the yoke to engage a circumferentially extending groove on the adapter, to thereby define a nonthrust transmitting connection between the yoke and the push rod. The yoke assembly defines a thrust receiving surface which circumscribes the entrance to the recess, and a thrust washer slidable on the push rod is held at a thrust transmitting engagement with the thrust receiving surface by a nut which is threaded on the end of the push rod.

Abstract: A connecting device is described in which two complementary connecting elements comprise several interengaging locking portions with holes for driving pins thereinto to interlock the connecting elements, and spaces inside the locking portions to permit continued driving of the pins thereinto to thereby realize unlocking of the connecting elements.

Abstract: A pivotable and removably securable joining structure particularly suited for joining wooden structures including a first wooden member having a substantially cylindrical hole therein, and a second wooden member having disposed therein a substantially cylindrical dowel extending outwardly thereof and a pin located within the second member disposed substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the dowel and extending through the dowel. The dowel is made of a plastic material and has a diametrical size substantially equal to the diametrical size of the cylindrical hole in the first member.

Abstract: A goose-neck fitting used to form a universal joint between a boat mast and a hollow thin-walled boom or spinnaker pole comprises a tubular socket received into the end of the pole adjacent the mast. The sleeve is suspended in the pole parallel to the pole axis by footings which, with the sleeve, form an H-like truss that extends between the opposite walls of the pole for an appreciable distance inward from the pole end. When in use the sleeve receives a male connector member swivelly mounted on the mast, the goose-neck connection opposes shear forces acting on the pole so as to maintain the pole in the proper orientation with respect to the mast and enable the pole end to withstand the substantial shear forces acting upon it at the point of its connection to the mast.

Abstract: An elastic connection of an axial joint with the connecting linkage of a motor vehicle steering gear, comprises a housing which has an opening at each end with one end opening into a spherical cavity for supporting the ball head of an axial joint and the opposite end opening into a cylindrical cavity. The cylindrical cavity contains an inner metal sleeve which is adapted to be connected to a connecting linkage which is held in position by an elastic bearing bushing which is firmly adhered thereto, such as by vulcanizing. The outer periphery of the elastic bushing is secured to a steering part secured in the cylindrical recess of the housing. The inner sleeve includes an annular collar adjacent the opening at the cylindrical recess end of the housing at a location adjacent the end which is formed with a downturned flange of both the housing and the outer bearing sleeve part.

Abstract: A joint between two bodies of limited relative mobility, such as the wheelbase and the chassis of a vehicle, comprises a male member or stem fastened to one body and a female member or socket fastened to the other body, the two members being interfitted with interposition of a resilient ring allowing universal elastic deformation. At least one member is secured to its body through a pivotal connection permitting a limited relative swing in a plane including the joint axis, the swing being resisted by a resilient cushion. This affords increased elastic deformability in a preferred direction, e.g. longitudinally of the vehicle.

Abstract: A shaft adapter for a fan motor has an elongated configuration with a fan motor shaft receiving socket portion provided at one end and a fan blade mounting shaft provided at the other end. By making a receptacle formed in the socket portion of a different diameter than the shaft, different diameter motor shafts and fan blade shaft receiving bores can be connected to one another. The adapter is preferably constructed from a rigid yet relatively soft material to facilitate cutting off of the shaft at a desired length for a particular installation.

Abstract: A plastic adapter or connection for a broom or mop pole handle including a screw threaded area for securement to the broom head and a socket thereon for the reception of the end of the broom handle wherein means is provided to space the proximate end of the broom handle from the bottom of the socket in the connector, and means also being provided for spacing the periphery of the proximate end portion of the handle from the interior side wall of the socket.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump assembly for use in nuclear reactor plants has a vertical motor shaft, a vertical pump shaft which is coaxial with and is located below and spaced apart from the motor shaft, an intermediate shaft which is coaxial with and is located between the pump shaft and motor shaft, a flexible coupling between the lower end of the motor shaft and the upper end of the intermediate shaft, and a rigid coupling between the upper end of the pump shaft and the lower end of the intermediate shaft. The intermediate shaft is rotatable in radial and/or axial bearings which are installed in a stationary housing, and the intermediate shaft is movable axially of the housing between a lower end position in which the rigid coupling is engaged and a raised position in which the rigid coupling is disengaged and the bearings and/or seals for the pump shaft are accessible.