Abstract: A slip joint seal for a driveshaft is between two universal joint yokes. A male splined shaft rotates with a first yoke and a female splined shaft rotates with a second yoke, with the two being mechanically engaged for slidable but nonrotational movement during operation of the driveshaft. A sealing sleeve extends from the first yoke around the male splined shaft and is of a larger diameter than the female splined shaft. The female splined shaft has a single, outwardly-facing, annular seal at its outer end, away from the second yoke, which seal engages the inner surface of the sealing sleeve. The female splined shaft also has a grease fitting for supplying grease to the shafts, with excess grease being capable of passing by the seal, which also acts as a wiper to remove contaminants within the sealing sleeve.

Abstract: A TV table assembly for use with a chair has a base plate of a sufficient size to fit under a front leg and a back leg on one side of the chair. A lower sleeve is affixed to and extends upwardly from a forward portion of the base plate. A post has a lower end removably received in the sleeve. A table has a first U-shaped bracket extending downwardly from a lower surface thereof near one end. A second U-shaped bracket has upwardly-extending flanges positioned adjacent the downwardly-extending ones. An upper sleeve is affixed to the second bracket and extends downwardly to removably receive an upper end of the post. A threaded connector extends through both sets of flanges to hold the table in a fixed position relative to a horizontal plane, when tightened. Parallel walls extend upwardly from the base plate and rearwardly of the lower sleeve to serve as a magazine rack.

Abstract: A rotary broom is mounted on the front of a vehicle, such as a tractor. The broom can be pivotally raised and lowered as well as pivoted sideways. The broom is rotatably mounted in bearing blocks which are removably supported by a generally C-shaped frame so that the broom can be removed easily for repair or replacement. A hinged hood is located above the broom and can be open for easy access to the broom. The broom is rotated by a central drive located in a middle portion of the broom so that no drive components extend beyond the sides of the frame, to eliminate interference with curbs and the like. The bearing blocks are mounted on extensions below the frame also to reduce possible interference. The broom assembly also has a hydraulic ram with a floating piston which enables the broom to contact the surface being cleaned with less pressure, causing substantially less wear on the broom bristles.

Abstract: A tester for testing sealed lamps and lamp circuits of vehicles includes an elongate housing. The housing has pointed projections extending from one end wall to be received in a base of a lamp and has blunt projections with recesses in the other end wall to receive the prongs of a plug or pigtail which is normally inserted into the base of a lamp. Each of the ends of a bottom wall of the housing have two ports through which light sources, preferably LEDs, are visible and light when the lamp or circuit is functional. A battery is also carried in the housing for the lamp circuit. In a preferred form, the end walls are slidably held by the housing so as to be removable for replacement purposes and to facilitate manufacture.

Abstract: A rocker arm of the cam-follower type simultaneously operates two valves of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The rocker arm includes an intermediate portion and two end portions. The intermediate portion has upwardly extending side walls and end walls forming a large generally rectangular opening at the top edges thereof. The side walls have aligned holes carrying an axle on which is rotatably mounted a roller which contacts an overhead cam. One end portion of the rocker arm has a downwardly-facing recess to engage an upper end of a lifter post. The other end portion of the rocker arm has a long, narrow web with downwardly-facing pads near the ends thereof and in predetermined, spaced relationship. The pads engage upper ends of two valve stems for simultaneously operating valves to which the stems are connected.

Abstract: A conveyor has an overhead rail with a chain therebelow moving rollers along the conveyor rail. A first link is affixed to the conveyor chain and extends perpendicularly thereto for all portions of the conveyor rail. A second link is located below the first and carries a part-carrying rack. A universal joint connects a lower end of the upper link and an upper end of the lower link, the latter being angled to place the universal joint yokes at angles relative to one another. When the link assembly moves up or down an ascending or descending portion of the conveyor, the rack carried by the second link is caused to pivot so that the racks can be placed closer together when moving along horizontal portions of the conveyor rail.

Abstract: A slip joint seal for a driveshaft is between two universal joint yokes. A male splined shaft rotates with a first yoke and a female splined shaft rotates with a second yoke, with the two being mechanically engaged for slidable but nonrotational movement during operation of the driveshaft. A sealing sleeve extends from the first yoke around the male splined shaft and is of a larger diameter than the female splined shaft. The female splined shaft has a first outwardly-facing, annular seal at its outer end, away from the second yoke, which seal engages the inner surface of the sealing sleeve. A propeller shaft is affixed to the end of the female splined shaft toward the second yoke and to the second yoke, preferably being of the same diameter as the sleeve. A second annular seal which is the same size and the first one is carried by an end of the male splined shaft beyond the female shaft. The second seal engages the inner surface of the propeller shaft.

Abstract: A conveyor has an overhead conveyor rail with a horizontal portion and an angled portion. A receptacle is carried by supports below the rail with the receptacle positioned transversely to the rail. A two-piece rack hanger has an upper part with an upper angular end portion received in the receptacle. The hanger has a lower part affixed to a rack for parts or articles and a pivot connects the lower part and the upper part of the hanger. Stops are associated with the receptacle and upper angular end portion of the hanger to limit transverse movement of the racks as they move on the angled portion of the conveyor. When the racks reach a limited transverse position, they are held in horizontal dispositions by the pivots between the lower and upper parts of the hanger.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint has replaceable inserts for ball grooves. The inserts and balls can be removed and replaced with new ones as needed, without the requirement of replacing the entire universal joint. The inserts can be made from solid blocks which are bored and cut in half to form inserts for the inner and outer races of the universal joint. The inserts can be machined and matched in particular ways to form a variety of designs of ball grooves.

Abstract: Filtering apparatus employs both pneumatic controls and a pneumatic drive to eliminate all electrical components. The filtering apparatus includes a perforate plate and a tank with a strip of filtering media supported on the plate. Contaminated liquid is supplied from above and clean liquid is removed from below the filtering media and plate. The filtering media is advanced across the plate by conveying apparatus. The pneumatic drive for the conveying apparatus is operated by pneumatic controls and a float which actuates the drive when the liquid in the tank rises to a predetermined level as the filtering media becomes plugged. The drive is shut off when the liquid drops to a lower predetermined level.

Abstract: A pressure intensifier drive unit has walls that form a cylinder with an intermediate divider plug separating a working chamber and a pressure intensifying chamber aligned in the cylinder. The working chamber has a working piston and a working piston rod extending from an end of the cylinder. A carrier piston is located between the working piston and the divider plug and has a cylindrical recess receiving the working piston, a hydraulic fluid chamber, and a bore. A locking piston is movably mounted on the carrier piston and locks the carrier piston in place when the working piston rod initially contacts a workpiece. A pressure intensifier piston in the pressure intensifying chamber has a pressure intensifier piston rod extending through a bore in the divider plug and through the bore in the carrier piston into the hydraulic fluid chamber.

Abstract: A one-piece, cold-formed rocker arm is of the boat-type. It includes a one-piece metal body which is cold formed from a metal blank and is of generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration throughout most of its length. The rocker arm body has two generally parallel side walls and a connecting bottom wall therebetween. The body also has inwardly-extending side walls extending from the parallel ones toward both ends of the body. The bottom wall extends between the side walls and has an opening for receiving a pivotal support, a recess for receiving a push rod at one end, and a pad for engaging an end of a valve stem at the other end. An elongate stiffening member extends between upper edges of side walls and specifically between the inwardly-extending side walls extending toward the push rod end of the body. The stiffening member preferably is a rod received in notches in the upper ends of the edges of the side walls and affixed thereto by resistance welding.

Abstract: An outboard constant velocity universal joint for a steered wheel of a vehicle includes a one-piece, structurally-integral inner race and first shaft and a one-piece, structurally-integral outer race and second shaft. The inner race has an outer surface of partially spherical configuration. The outer race has a closed end and an open end with an inner surface of partially-spherical configuration and of constant radius extending from the open end to the closed end. The inner and outer races fit closely together in the manner of a ball and socket without any cage between the surfaces thereof. A cage or retainer is located in the closed end of the outer race with a convex outer surface substantially equal in length to the radius of the inner surface of the outer race. The cage has a plurality of fingers extending only into end portions of the grooves of the inner race. The fingers have outwardly-extending flanges extending into grooves of the outer race.

Abstract: A wheelchair carrier attaches to the back of a vehicle for transporting a wheelchair. A supporting frame attaches to a trailer hitch or the like and can pivot upwardly, out of the way, when not in use. A wheelchair housing is detachably mounted on the supporting frame by a flange and rod arrangement to enable the wheelchair to be quickly mounted and removed. The wheelchair housing has a long opening at the side which is closed off by an elongate door. The door is pivoted at the bottom and swings downwardly to serve as a ramp by means of which the wheelchair can be moved into and out of the housing with minimal effort. The carrier can also be used for other vehicles for non-ambulatory people, such as small self-propelled scooters.

Abstract: A device for cleaning the contacts of a potentiometer or the like. The potentiometer has an externally threaded cylinder extending outwardly from a panel of an electronic unit and has a concentric rotatable shaft extending therethrough. The shaft has at least one internal contact which rotates when the shaft is rotated and engages a stationary contact in the form of a slide wire or the like of the potentiometer. Contaminants prevent good electrical conduction between the contacts so that the potentiometer must be cleaned, heretofore, requiring partial disassembly of the electronic unit in which it is internally located. The cleaning device has a housing with an open end and a closed end, with the open end having internal threads connecting with the external threads of the cylinder protruding from the electronic unit panel. A small tube communicates with the closed end of the housing and with a pressurized container of contact cleaning fluid.

Abstract: A low-impact drive unit operates by air under pressure. It includes aligned working and pressure chambers. The working chamber contains a working piston and a working piston rod extending from an end of the chamber. The pressure chamber contains a rear outer piston having a cylindrical recess and a central bore. An inner piston is located in the cylindrical recess and has a main piston rod extending through the bore, a bore in a separator separating the chambers, and is affixed to the working piston, so as to move together. The main rod has a longitudinal passage which supplies air from the pressure chamber to the back of the working piston under certain conditions. After the working piston rod contacts a workpiece, force of air pressure on all three pistons act on the working piston rod. An air return passage is provided to return the various components to their initial position after the working operation is complete.