Abstract: A telescopic steering column for motor vehicles with a steering shaft 1, whose axial, plastic-coated teeth 1.1, which are arranged at least in some areas, engage complementary teeth 2.1 of the steering column jacket 2, which accommodates and guides the steering shaft and which is accommodated in a housing of the steering column, wherein a securing element 3 engages a recess 2.2 of the steering column jacket 2 with at least one hook-shaped claw 3.1 on one side and is supported at or in the end section of the steering column jacket 2 via a radially directed shoulder 3.2 on the other side and thus forms an axial displacement limitation of the steering shaft 1 in at least one direction.

Abstract: A coupling mechanism (1) has a threaded body (12) adapted to establish a threaded coupling when rotated, a housing (2) being rotatable by the application of torque thereto, a thrust member (6) coupling the threaded body (12) and the housing (2) for rotation together until a torque limit is attained, and the thrust member (6) decoupling from the threaded body (12) by displacement of the thrust member (6) against frictional resistance of peaked ridges (16) and a bias by a resilient spring (5).

Abstract: A re-attachable safety connector may be a single unit or may have a number of components working together as one unit. In the embodiments that have multiple components, connection of the components together may be accomplished by use of a series of pins inserted into a plurality of through bores in the body of the components at the mid-portions, as illustrated herein. Depending on the materials used to manufacture each of the elements of a given embodiment, the pin series may be sheared in half in order to provide for a safety release, or the properties of molded plastic as flexible may be relied upon in order to accomplish a safety release. Second through fourth embodiments are capsule shaped and provide for re-attachment of the chain.

Abstract: A breakaway system (10) for detachably connecting a tension transmitting belt (12) to a pin (20) includes a connector (24) having a pair of jaws (34a, 34b) that clamp against the sides of the pin to preload the connector to the pin thereby preventing relative motion between the jaws and the pin. When the tension load acting between the belt and pin exceeds a threshold level, the jaws of the connector spread sufficiently to allow the pin (20) to pass through an exit gap (42) at the ends of the jaws, which gap is of a nominal width that is smaller than the width of the pin.

Abstract: An overload protector is provided which is secured to a robot arm and a tool to protect the tool form being overloaded or forced into an abnormal position. A rocker assembly is located within the cavity in the protector and the cavity is pressurized in order to force a wall of the rocker assembly into a sealing relationship with a wall of the cavity. The rocker assembly has a peripheral wall in which a number of semi-conical detents are formed in the wall of the cavity. The detents are accommodated in the recesses when the rocker assembly is in a sealing relationship with the cavity wall. When the tool is overloaded or forced into an abnormal position the rocker assembly rocks in the cavity with resulting leakage of fluid from the cavity and a drop of pressure. A pressure switch detects that drop and signals the robot to stop.

Abstract: A new overload protection device has been invented of the type in which components are fixed mutually by means of a safety member adapted to be cut or broken when the components are subjected to an overload, wherein the safety member is a thread spiral or spirals adapted to be cut loose from a member, rod or sleeve when the thread spiral (or spirals) is subjected to an overload.

Abstract: Telescopic shafts having a peripheral zone of a male member having grooves and ribs which grooves and ribs are interrupted longitudinally according to a sliding zone, which zone, in one embodiment, terminates in proximity to a fork member of a U-joint and in another embodiment, terminates at a limit of one of the extremes of the fork member.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rod connector assembly for removably securing a control rod to a spider structure. The rod connector assembly includes a tubular boss fixedly secured to the spider structure and a mounting assembly which includes a receiving structure and a biasing structure. The assembly also includes a cap having a cavity formed therein, the biasing structure including a driver and disposed in the cavity such that the driver extends outwardly from the cavity and into the boss, and wherein the cap is secured to the boss. When the control rod is in a prescribed position with respect to the boss, the mounting assembly is operative to resist rotation of the control rod upon application to the control rod of an amount of torque less than a predetermined amount of torque.

Abstract: The invention features a new and improved safety treatment for rails, such as a highway guardrail or barrier, which through compression of elongated segments of a telescoping terminal dissipates energy from vehicle impacts approaching from substantially upstream of the rail and reduce the hazard of "spearing." The impact energy is resisted by frictional and, in preferred embodiments, mechanical compression by a smaller segment of a filler disposed within a larger segment. In some embodiments, the invention further provides a nose piece to further reduce the spearing effect.

Abstract: A vehicle headlamp wiper apparatus having a wiper shaft which projects longitudinally outward from a housing toward the front of the vehicle. A locking device which axially fixes the shaft against longitudinal displacement relative to the housing is designed to release the shaft, and allow longitudinal displacement upon application of a longitudinal load of predetermined magnitude.

Abstract: An improved suspended line cable breakaway device includes a first body portion for connecting to a first end of a support cable and a second body portion for connecting to a second end of the support cable. The first body portion includes resilient fingers having nubs, which are releasably received by slots contained in a cavity wall of the second body portion. A biased spreader, slidably contained in a cavity in the second body portion, is displacable axially along the cavity by an external force along the support cable to urge the nubs outwardly such that the second body portion is disengaged from the first body portion, simultaneously disconnecting component lines of a first end of a suspended line from corresponding component lines of a second end of the suspended line. A shield protects the component line connections, which are spaced internal to the device, from the elements.

Abstract: A clamp for fixedly mounting the lower end of a remote speed control cable that controls the speed of a small internal combustion engine. The clamp includes a clip member removably attachable to the casing of the remote speed control cable and a mounting bracket on the engine for receiving and removably mounting the clip member thereon. The clip member is U-shaped with each side of the U having a bifurcated end defining a pair of legs having a cable receiving open therebetween dimensioned to tightly engage the casing of the cable. In one form, the mounting bracket includes a pair of horizontally extending and vertically spaced apart support ears having aligned clip receiving openings for snugly receiving the clip member, and in another form the bracket includes an upstanding support member about which opposite sides of the U-shaped clip member are disposed.

Abstract: An improved boat anchor assembly including an anchor shank having a fluke pivotally connected thereto and supported for angular displacement about an axis normally related to the longitudinal axis of the shank, motion limiting stops mounted on the shank for arresting pivotal motion of the flukes relative the shank, the shank being provided with a pivotal coupling interposed between the ends thereof and pins for imparting stability to the shank and adapted to deform under angularly applied loads of predetermined magnitudes whereby the shank-fluke connection is permitted to "break" for facilitating recovery of the anchor.

Abstract: An agricultural implement, such as a baler, has a fly-wheel connection that disconnects drive to the ram and other baler parts upon overload. The fly-wheel includes a first member on a driving shaft that is connected to a second member on a driven shaft through at least one shear pin. Preferably, there are a plurality of pins that can be advanced upon overload and reduction in driving speed, to automatically re-establish connection between the two members.

Abstract: A detachable connection for use in applications where detachment or shear of the connection is desirable or foreseen as a necessity. An improvement in a connection between two structural elements having identical, but oppositely oriented complemental connecting portions which mate, forming an enclosed space through which is inserted a deformable coupling member with cross section different from the cross section of the enclosed space. The improved connection will disconnect when subjected to predetermined forces, leaving the oppositely oriented structural elements undamaged.

Abstract: A releasable mounting system includes a deformable bracket for holding an article. The bracket is formed with a recess which deforms with the bracket. A second element which is fixed to a support is also deformable and includes a plurality of tangs the inner surfaces of which define a central opening and the outer surfaces of which abut the inner walls of the recess. A wedge located in the central opening and secured to the bracket wedges the tangs against the recess walls. Upon distortion of the bracket, the recess distorts permitting at least one of the tangs to disengage from the recess, the central opening to enlarge, and the wedge to pass through the opening, thereby disengaging the article from the support.

Abstract: An adaptor bolt to permit fitting wheels having a given bolt hole circle diameter to wheel studs having a different circle diameter. The kit is made up of a plurality of adaptor bolts each comprising an internally threaded bore located eccentrically in the bolt with respect to its external threads. The internal threads fit on the studs and cap nuts fit on the external threads to mount the wheel on the adaptor bolts. Friction increasing devices are provided on the internal threads to hold the adaptor bolts in various adjusted positions defining different diameter bolt circles.