Abstract: A one-piece, cold-formed rocker arm of the cam-follower type includes a one-piece metal body which is cold-formed from a metal blank and is of U-shaped cross section at first and second end portions. The first end of said body has a bottom wall and two upwardly-extending side walls with a rounded recess in the bottom wall having a concave side facing downwardly for receiving an end of a lifter post on which the rocker arm can pivot. The second end of the body has a groove formed by a bottom wall with two downwardly-extending side walls and two doubled-back, upwardly-extending side walls which are structurally integral at lower edges with lower edges of the downwardly-extending side walls. The groove of the second end portion faces downwardly to receive an upper end of a valve stem. An intermediate portion of the body has two substantially parallel side walls which are structurally integral with the upwardly-extending side walls of the first and second end portions.

Abstract: A traffic barrier section with a centrally-located, built-in carrier is disclosed. The carrier includes a fluid-operated ram which is connected to an axle carrying wheels located below the ram. Then the wheels are in a retracted position, the barrier section rests on the ground and when the wheels are extended, the barrier section is supported fully on the wheels. In that position, a plurality of the barrier sections which are pivotally connected in end-to-end relationship can be moved from one construction site to another as needs change. Each axle and the wheels can be turned to a position other than perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the barrier section so that some of the barrier sections can be moved transversely to place them in other than a straight line position.

Abstract: A stronger screwdriver blade is disclosed which is particularly effective for driving round-headed screws. The screwdriver blade has an elongate shank with a tapered end extending from the shank and terminating in a tip. The tip has a straight edge perpendicular to the shank and has a predetermined length and thickness, with side edges extending back toward the shank from ends of the end edge. The tip has substantially parallel, planar sides extending back toward the shank from the end edge to inner edges which, at the side edges, are spaced a distance from the end edge which is approximately equal to the thickness of the end edge. The inner edges are curved with the planar sides being from one and one-half to three and one-half times as wide at central portions as at end portions. From the inner edges, opposite side surfaces of the tapered end extend abruptly outwardly in a direction toward the shank so that the blade tip is thicker at high stress areas thereof.

Abstract: A gear drive unit with an internal disc brake is disclosed. The brake disc is mounted for non-rotatable movement on a driven shaft in a housing of the drive unit. The housing has internal pockets for holding brake pucks at sides of the brake disc. An actuating member mounted in the housing moves one puck toward the disc when the member is rotated in a pre-selected direction. An adjustable spacer is located on the opposite side of the other brake puck and positions and backs up that puck adjacent the other side of the brake disc. The adjustment can be made outside the housing without the use of special tools. The internal brake has fewer parts, is easier to assemble, is not contaminated by dirt, leaves, and grass clippings, and the like, is not subject to damage, and does not present a possible source of injury to an operator or a child.

Abstract: A conveyor has hangers with article-carrying racks which automatically turn transversely to the direction of movement when the hangers are below angled portions of the conveyor. The conveyor is of the overhead monorail type which moves hangers along a predetermined path having a generally horizontal portion and an angled portion. The hangers carry receptacles which receive upper portions of rack hooks which carry the racks. The receptacles and upper portions of the hooks are angled in a manner to cause upright portions of the hooks to turn on their axes when the hangers move between positions below the horizontal portion of the rail and positions below the angled portion of the rail. When the upright portions of the hooks are turned, the racks are also turned to the transverse positions.

Abstract: A filtering system includes a filter drum assembly. The system includes a filter tank with a conveyor in the bottom which removes contaminants from liquid in the tank. The filter tank also has supports therein by means of which the filter drum assembly is removably supported in the tank and can be removed as a single assembly. The filter drum assembly includes a filtering drum located in the tank and supported by a suction pipe connected by a separable fitting to a suction pump. A drive shaft is vertically positioned above the drum and is rotatably supported by an end wall of the drum. The shaft drives a wiper arm having a wiper blade in contact with the filtering drum wall and the blade is periodically moved around the drum wall to clean filter cake therefrom. The wiper arm is driven by a one-way clutch, an arm, and a fluid-operated ram which is also supported by the suction pipe.

Abstract: A gear drive unit with an equalized shift is set forth. The gear drive unit is specifically a two-shaft transaxle having multiple forward speeds and at least one reverse speed. The transaxle specifically utilizes an existing transaxle housing originally designed to provide even more forward speeds. Certain existing internal components are also utilized. With the transaxle having fewer forward speeds, the forward speed gears are spaced farther apart on a shaft in the existing housing. To provide an equalized, in-line shift pattern, a shift coupling is employed between certain forward speed gears. The shift coupling connects one of the gears to the shaft when the coupling itself is engaged by a shift key of shift mechanism in the transaxle. Shifting through all gears is thereby accomplished by equal incremental movements of the shift mechanism of the transaxle.

Abstract: An animal restraint device is disclosed. It includes a tubular member which is placed in the ground in a more-or-less permanent position. Two or more of these members can be located in desirable positions around a yarn. A restraint stake to which a flexible line can be connected is placed in the tubular member to tie an animal. The tubular member has an upper collar extending outwardly from an upper end portion for visibility when the member is inserted in the ground. The upper extremity of the tubular member extends slightly above the collar. The stake has an upper ring for making a connection with a flexible line and has a rain cap below the ring which is received over the upper extremity of the tubular member and substantially prevents entry of water thereinto. A plastic cap can be placed over the upper end of the tubular member when the stake is not in place.

Abstract: A cold-formed rocker arm of the cam-follower type is specifically designed for variable-lift engines. The rocker arm comprises a one-piece metal body preferably of generally inverted U-shaped cross section throughout most of its length. The body has a top wall and two side walls extending downwardly therefrom and carrying an axle on which a cam-contacting roller is rotatably mounted and exposed through a central opening in the top wall above the roller to be engaged by a tapered cam of a cam shaft. The rocker arm has a substantially semi-spherical recess at one end to receive an end of a lifter post on which the rocker arm can pivot. The other end of the body has an open-ended channel extending longitudinally of the body to receive a rounded upper end of a valve stem. A lubrication port in the top wall of the rocker arm communicates with an inner end and with a clearance in a central portion of the channel. The clearance provides a lubrication path for the flow of oil along the channel.

Abstract: A cigarette filter rod element including an axially extending barrier tube of micro-fine fibres with a diameter of between 0.5 and 10 microns and located so that at least part of the gas flow passes through the wall of said barrier tube.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing liquid, particularly coolant used in metal-working machines, is set forth. The apparatus is adaptable for processing coolant in a wide variety of coolant systems to meet a variety of requirements of metal-working machines in a plant. The apparatus includes a coalescing unit which separates free oil from the coolant and a filtering unit which separates solid particles from the coolant. The processed coolant is then discharged back into the coolant system, along with fresh coolant. Some contaminants, including dissolved organics such as surfactants and emulsified oils remain in the coolant. Periodically, the coolant must be disposed of, being beyond its useful life in the coolant system. The coolant is then processed by an ultrafiltration unit which removes further contaminants and, if necessary, by a reverse osmosis unit which removes additional contaminants to make the remaining liquid suitable for discharge into a sewer system or the like.

Abstract: A support for rotatbly supporting a portion of a shaft, specifically a drive shaft of a vehicle, is disclosed. An intermediate drive shaft support is required when three or more universal joints are embodied in a drive line between a transmission and a differential of the vehicle. An intermediate drive shaft is sufficiently long that it tends to bend or whip to an objectionable extent. The shaft support features a simplified, lower-cost bearing having fewer rolling elements in the form of balls or rollers between inner and outer races, there being from three to six and preferably four. Two rings are located on the sides of the rolling elements to uniformly circumferentially space the elements and can also provide lubricant seals. Each of the rings has a plurality of uniformly-circumferentially spaced recesses in which portions of the rolling elements are received.

Abstract: A cold-formed, specifically stamped, rocker arm is disclosed. The rocker arm has a one-piece metal body of generally inverted U-shaped cross section throughout most of its length. The body has a top wall and two generally parallel side walls which extend downwardly therefrom and are structurally integral therewith. The side walls have annular extruded flanges extnding outwardly therefrom and forming aligned bores to receive bearings. The rocker arm body has a recess at one end to engage an end of a push rod and a surface at the other end to engage an end of a valve stem. The top wall of the rocker arm body has a splash plate extending upwardly therefrom and the wall also has a port communicating with the recess to direct oil at the splash plate which is then dispersed and more widely distributed by the plate.

Abstract: A one-piece, cold-formed rocker arm is disclosed. The rocker arm is of the boat type and includes a one-piece metal body which is cold-formed from a metal blank and is of U-shaped cross-sectional configuration throughout most of its length. The body has a bottom wall with structurally-integral side walls extending upwardly therefrom in generally parallel relationship. An intermediate, concave portion of the bottom wall has an opening therethrough which receives a fulcrum of a pivot post. One end portion of the rocker arm body has a recess to receive an end of a push rod which imparts pivotal motion to the rocker arm about the fulcrum. The other end of the rocker arm body has a pad for engaging an end of a valve stem to impart motion to the valve stem when the rocker arm is pivoted about the fulcrum. Outwardly-extending stiffening flanges are formed at upper edge portions of intermediate portions of the side walls, which provides strength and stiffness to the side walls.

Abstract: A handle particularly for use with plastic grocery bags is disclosed. The bag is of the type having two side walls with openings near the top for carrying the bag. The elongate handle is substantially rigid and the ends of the handle have notches which receive edges of the side walls at the openings. The notches are shaped such that the handle will not accidentally separate from the bag when it is set down. In a preferred form, the handle is of thin plastic which is arcuate in transverse cross section and placed in the bag opening so that the convex side faces downwardly. An intermediate part of the handle can have two longitudinally-spaced openings to receive hanger hooks to facilitate carrying clothes in a clothes bag when traveling.

Abstract: A rocker arm of the cam-follower type capable of simultaneously operating two valves of a cylinder of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. In a preferred form, the rocker arm has a one-piece, cold-formed body which is of inverted U-shaped cross section throughout much of its length. The rocker arm body is of generally Y-shaped configuration as viewed from above. The extremities of the arms of the Y-shaped body are shaped to engage ends of valve stems and the extremity of the leg of the Y-shaped body has an axle on which a cam-contacting roller is rotatably mounted. An intermediate portion of the rocker arm has an upwardly-facing recess to receive an end of a pivot post.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing liquid, particularly coolant used in metal-working machines, is set forth. The apparatus is adaptable for processing coolant in a wide variety of coolant systems to meet a variety of requirements of metal-working machines in a plant. The apparatus includes a coalescing unit which separates free oil from the coolant and a filtering unit which separates solid particles from the coolant. The processed coolant is then discharged back into the coolant system, along with fresh coolant. Some contaminants, including dissolved organics such as surfactants and emulsified oils remain in the coolant. Periodically, the coolant must be disposed of, being beyond its useful life in the coolant system. The coolant is then processed by an ultrafiltration unit which removes further contaminants and, if necessary, by a reverse osmosis unit which removes additional contaminants to make the remaining liquid suitable for discharge into a sewer system or the like.

Abstract: A screwdriver blade is provided which has greater resistance to failure. The screwdriver blade includes an elongate shank with a tapered end extending from the shank and terminating in a tip. The tip has a straight edge perpendicular to the shank and is of a predetermined thickness, with parallel, planar sides extending back from the edge a distance which is approximately equal to the thickness of the edge. Opposite surfaces of the blade end then extend abruptly outwardly in a direction toward the shank, each at an angle of approximately fifteen degrees to an axis of the blade. An analysis has indicated that the greatest stress in a screwdriver blade occurs at a predetermined distance back from the straight edge of the blade. The new blade is thicker and stronger at the areas where the greatest stress occurs.

Abstract: Versatile filtering apparatus is provided, particularly for processing liquid or coolant used with metal-working machines. The apparatus is adaptable for processing coolant in a wide variety of coolant systems to meet a variety of requirements of metal-working machines in a plant. The apparatus includes a dirty liquid tank in side-by-side relationship with a clean liquid tank, a coalescing unit, a filtering unit, an automatic supply or fill valve for supplying liquid to the apparatus from the coolant system, and an automatic discharge valve for supplying processed liquid from the apparatus back to the coolant system. The coalescing unit separates free oils from the liquid and the filtering unit separates solid particles from the liquid. The processed liquid is then discharged back to the coolant system along with fresh coolant.

Abstract: An intermediate bearing support for a drive shaft of a vehicle is set forth. An intermediate drive shaft support is required when three or more universal joints are embodied in a drive line between a transmission and a differential. The new drive shaft support is more compact, uses fewer parts which is brought about in part by the use of symmetrical designs, and is easier to assemble on a drive shaft. Bearing shields or flingers of the support are mounted on the drive shaft adjacent a bearing of the support so that the shields do not have to be specially designed to fit particular drive shafts. For replacement purposes, one replacement kit can be used to rebuild a number of different drive shaft bearing supports.