Abstract: An improved MacPherson strut configuration for use in an automobile suspension system is disclosed. The strut includes a strut cylinder and a pressure cylinder having an upper end, and a piston with a piston rod extending from within the pressure cylinder and attached to the body of a vehicle. A jounce bumper is attached about the piston rod between the body and the upper end of the pressure cylinder, and a striker plate is secured about the piston rod between the jounce bumper and the end of the strut cylinder. In the preferred embodiment, the striker plate has a central bore providing an interface fit with a piston rod; it further includes lower parallel surfaces extending radially inward to a concave central portion of the plate that is concentric with and adjacent to the central bore. Also in the preferred embodiment, the striker plate is composed of an elastic polymer.

Abstract: An improved torque control mechanism for a rotary vane, air motor tool includes acceleration and speed responsive slidable elements positioned in grooves that lie in a plane transverse to the spin axis of the motor and which form an angle with the radii extending from the spin axis. The elements cooperate with a cam plate which operates a fluid supply valve to close off air supply to the tool whenever torque of the tool causes the speed of the motor to decrease below a threshold level. A bypass valve and passage is manually operable to initiate operation of the air motor. An auxiliary low volume, low pressure valve and passage permits an operator to provide minor adjustments of the orientation of the output shaft of the tool. For reverse operation, the speed and acceleration control is eliminated by operation of a reverse operation control mechanism.

Abstract: Wheelchair comprising an underframe with front and rear wheels, and a seat part (1) which is adjustable relative to the underframe, which seat part (1) can be tilted forward and backward relative to the underframe in such a way that the overall center of gravity (6) of seat part (1) and wheelchair user (5) essentially assumes a fixed position relative to the underframe.

Abstract: A yarn splicer having a closable pneumatic chamber which is permanently open at each end so as to receive the yarns to be spliced from opposite ends, discrete yarn rolling means arranged on either side of the splicer adjacent each end of the chamber to engage the running portion of a respective yarn in the chamber, and yarn gripping means also disposed at either end of the chamber to engage the respective loose ends of the yarns. Actuation of the splicer results in a prescribed rolling action on the yarns in a direction to completely detwist them, and deactivation results in an equal and opposite action on the yarns so as to restore the original twist.The preferred arrangement has a biased lost motion linkage between the actuation means and the chamber-mechanism which provides a drive to the rolling means and gives an over-twist to the yarns during detwisting and which recovers the over-twist as well as restoring the original twist at the termination of the splice.

Abstract: A carriage is mounted for longitudinal movement on the elevator of a stacker crane and carries a rod adapted to engage the flange on the container drawer to move the drawer in and out of the storage rack. The rod is mounted on a pair of chains trained on sprockets at opposed sides of the carriage. Drive means is provided for moving the carriage back and forth into and out of contact with the storage rack at the level where the drawer enters the slot or bin in the rack. As the chains move on the sprockets, the extractor rod engages the flange on the drawer and, depending upon the direction the chains are moving, either pulls the drawer out or pushes it into its slot. The container drawer slides on suitable supports in the rack and on the carriage.

Abstract: An apparatus and method converts an existing printing press to offset printing. An auxiliary frame and two auxiliary impression cylinders are mounted to the press and existing cylinders are adapted for offset printing. A new web path is defined to the cylinders, through an auxiliary cross brace member. The shafts of auxiliary cylinders are eccentrically mounted dead shafts. The cylinder surface is friction driven by the web. Bearers smooth the movement of the cylinders across the blanket slots. The auxiliary cylinders are maintained on impression by an incompressible fluid for uniform impression and thrown off rapidly by a pressurized gas.

Abstract: A slot forming a splicing chamber is closed by sliding action between contacting surfaces of two bodies linked at a point which is perpendicularly spaced from both surfaces. The closure surface comprises the crown of a piston. The piston has a central orifice and is slidable in a bore in one of the bodies to which pressurized air is admitted. When the chamber is closed the orifice registers with the slot and allows a blast of air to pass from the bore into the slot.

Abstract: An extraction turbine system in which the condenser connects to a venting system to remove non-condensing air flows penetrating the system and gases entrained in the steam and condensate and a portion of exhaust steam. The venting system has a steam jet compressor to provide the suction for removing the gases and steam. The motive end of the compressor is fed by a steam line connecting to the lowest pressure extraction point on the turbine (next to the turbine exhaust point), which pressure is below atmospheric. This construction reduces the power requirement for removing the gases and steam; it recovers heat energy from the steam exhausted from the turbine, preheats the condensate, and correspondingly gains additional mechanical energy from the turbine.

Abstract: A dimension-measuring probe for fine measurements having a probe lever pivoted between its ends to provide an indicator arm and a sensing arm on opposite sides of the pivot. The sensing arm terminates in a pivot point. Spring means separate from the probe lever is provided next to the probe lever and connects to the probe point. The spring means serves to urge the probe point into contact with a work piece being measured. This structure eliminates stress on the sensing arm which tends to bend the arm and cause errors in measurement.

Abstract: Means to decrease the effects of polymerization shrinkage, increase stiffness, decrease the coefficient of thermal expansion and improve the durability of composite restorations by use of inserts are disclosed. Pieces of an aluminoborosilicate glass are phase-separated by heating to 870.degree. C. for 2 hours producing opaque inserts with silica-rich surfaces. Boiling for 1 hour in aqueous 0.5 N NaOH solution removes the surface layer, and produces a rough-textured surface with increased area. The surface texture plus treatment with an organofunctional silane provides for both micromechanical and chemical bonding with composite resins. Cavities in teeth are partially filled with unhardened composite material, and inserts of appropriate size and shape are pressed into the cavity so that the insert constitutes as much as possible of the finished restoration and its surface. The excess extruded composite material is removed with a hand instrument, and the composite containing the insert is light cured.

Abstract: A device for detecting fluorescence on the surface of the earth is disclosed. The device includes a laser installed in a vehicle, means for irradiating an essentially linear surface area in front of and transverse to the vehicle, a directing device for directing the spread beam downward to illuminate the earth's surface and means for detecting fluorescence on the illuminated surface. The inventive device permits the rapid and effective exploration of a relatively large area without gaps of the earth's surface for fluorescent substances.

Abstract: A device for measuring small distances, provided with a sensing tip mounted to be movable in the direction of the length to be measured, a transducer for converting the movements of the sensing tip into corresponding electric signals, and indicating means to indicate such signals. The transducer comprises an optical interferometer provided with a measuring waveguide. One end of the waveguide is connected to a laser and the other end to optical means for directing the light onto a measuring mirror disposed at a distance. The light is reflected by the mirror back to the optical means. The measuring mirror is connected to the sensing tip. The interferometer further includes a reference waveguide linked to the measuring waveguide. The reference waveguide has a mirror disposed at one end and a photoelectric transduer at the other end. The transducer is connected to the indicating means for indicating the output signals of the transducer.

Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous manufacture of an endless strip of thin chipboard includes means for depositing wood chips mixed with a bonding agent onto a horizontally-disposed section of a continuously revolving pretensioned conveyor belt. This apparatus is further provided with a heated compression drum adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor belt. An endless steel belt partially encircles the compression drum surface to provide a compression gap between the steel belt and the drum surface. The improvement comprises a first deflector roller mounted adjacent the point where the chips enter the gap; a second deflector roller beneath said depositing means; and the conveyor belt being endless, made from textile material and trained around the first and second deflector rollers to convey the chips to the gap.

Abstract: A soft gelatin capsule comprising a shell of gelatin and a softener, and a filling consisting of a polyethylene glycol and a low polyhydric alcohol and at least one active substance, characterized in that(a) the dried shell of the capsule contains 4 to 40% by weight of sorbital or sorbitanes;(b) at least 50% by weight of the polyethylene glycol used in the filling for dissolving or suspending the active substance is a polyethylene glycol having a mean molecular weight of 600; and(c) the capsule filling comprises up to 20% by weight of glycerol and/or 1,2-propylene glycol.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pliers for contracting CV boot band clamps having crossed lever arms, with each lever arm having a jaw at one end, a grippable handle at the other, and a drive socket between the handle and jaw. The pliers also has a thrust plate with an anvil that moves toward the jaws as they are brought together by closing the pliers.

Abstract: A high speed floor burnishing machine in which fine particles generated by the burnishing action are confined, having a burnishing disc which is completely enclosed in a housing. The housing has a peripheral domed flange terminating in a sponge rubber skirt in contact with the floor, and is mounted to float in response to unevenness in the floor level. The weight of the housing compresses the skirt to the extent of 0.19 to 0.25 pounds per linear inch of skirt circumference to seal the enclosure. In one form of the invention the housing floats on a pair of sleeves surrounding bolts screwed into the base of the machine. In another form the housing is suspended from a flexible diaphragm surrounding the drive shaft.

Abstract: An improved carrying device for a coil of barbed wire having chordal supports and a handle. Each chordal support has an end section extending inside of the coil of wire and a central section within the hollow, central core of the coil. The handle includes hooks that interconnect to the central sections of the chordal supports. Even though the chordal supports rest only within the top section of the coil of wire, the entire coil may be lifted by raising the central section of the handle.

Abstract: A molded plastic tackle box is adapted for use by fishermen to store and transport items of tackle, bait, fishing accessories and other equipment. The box has a selectively movable storage deck adapted to temporarily and safely hold a limited number of such items. The storage deck may be mounted in the box during normal usage and transportation of the box. However while fishing, the storage deck may be mounted outside of the box on the side wall of the box. When the deck is so mounted, the lid of the box may be closed so as to prevent rain water and other casual water from getting into the box and to preclude the spillage of the contents of the box if it would happened to be bumped or tipped over.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing fluids in accurate predetermined quantities has a feed line for a first fluid (water) under pressure, a suction line for a second fluid (disinfectant) which is to be mixed to the first fluid, and an injector in the form of a fluid jet pump, to which, on the intake side, the feed line is connected. A magnetic valve is positioned in the first fluid feed line. To maintain a precise dosing and to prevent a backflow of the mixture, the feed line is connected to a pressure equalizing container, the fluid level of which is regulated by a fluid pressure switch which controls the magnetic valve. An outlet line from the pressure equalizing container communicates with the inlet of the injector through an air gap.