Abstract: A clutch and brake assembly for alternately coupling a machine input shaft to a clutch disc or a brake disc for applying a driving torque or a braking torque to the input shaft. An axially movable cylinder is connected to a brake plate and a clutch plate. An annular piston is carried by a hub fixed to the input shaft and is connected to a rotor spaced at an axially fixed distance from the piston. The brake disc is positioned between the brake plate and the rotor while the clutch disc is positioned between the clutch plate and the rotor. A spring force normally urges the brake disc into engagement with the rotor. A pressure chamber is formed between the piston and cylinder and a passage is provided for admitting pressurized fluid to the chamber, thereby overcoming the spring force to urge the clutch disc into engagement with the rotor.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel and axle assembly having inflatable tires to be connected with an air filling device on the vehicle, which comprises an annular sealing assembly having a pair of annular radially expanding lobes which upon pressurization expand into sealing engagement and including a normally closed check valve which permits the flow of pressurized air to said lobes and prevents the flow of pressurized air into the tires until the lobes are in sealing engagement.

Abstract: A coupling assembly which includes an inflatable annular tube, a plurality of friction shoes removably attached to the tube so that the shoes move radially as the tube is inflated and deflated. The shoes include a friction pad bonded to one side of a backing plate and a driving bar also made of friction material bonded to the other side of the backing plate and joined together in a unitary structure. The driving bars fit into grooves formed in the tube to improve torque transfer between the shoes and the tube.

Abstract: A device for angularly displacing a camshaft relative to the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine to vary engine valve timing. The device comprises a hub fixed to the camshaft, an annular means threadedly engaged with the hub or with an advancing member mounted on the outer surface of the annular means. Angled lugs formed on a drive member coact with angled slots formed on the outer periphery of the advancing member. The amount of angular displacement of the drive member relative to the hub and camshaft is directly proportional to the axial displacement of the advancing member which in turn is moved axially as the annular means is moved axially along the threads on the hub or on the advancing member. The latter movement is effected by applying a retarding or braking torque to the annular means.

Abstract: A valve 10 is disclosed for effectively sealing an opening 11 in an accumulator tank 12 for a refrigeration system holding a refrigerant under very high pressure. The valve stem 17 has a cylindrical portion 29 which increases in diameter toward the flange 28 forming an arcuate concave surface 30 and a base flange 27 having a diameter larger than the opening 11 to provide an effective seal.

Abstract: A minimum pressure retention valve which is adapted to be connected in the air circuit of a vehicle load leveler system, and wherein the minimum set pressure is easily and reliably adjusted and the valve permits rapid pressurization of the load leveler system while retaining the set pressure when the air supply is off.

Abstract: An improved air chuck for tire valves having a plurality of teeth which positively lock the chuck to the valve stem by a plurality of closely spaced radially inwardly projecting fingers which are moved into engagement with the valve stem by sliding a sleeve member over the fingers. The chuck includes a means for depressing the tire valve pin and a means for sealing the outer end of the valve when the chuck is engaged.

Abstract: A disc brake unit for machinery, hoists and the like having a pair of brake shoes normally spring biased to a brake engaged condition. A hydraulically operated first piston may be hydraulically actuated to relieve the spring bias to release the spring pressure acting on the disc and thus release the brake. A second piston may then be actuated for moving the brake shoes against the disc and applying a modulated force to the disc while the fist piston is in position to oppose the spring bias, to thereby apply slip braking torque to the output shaft.

Abstract: A hydraulic lash adjuster for valve gear of an internal combustion engine, having a plunger member reservoir chamber with a fluid passageway into the chamber that is substantially lower than the actual vertical height of the chamber and with a reservoir extender means for extending the oil reservoir chamber to a height well above the height of the fluid passageway and a means to precisely meter the flow of oil from the plunger member chamber through a bleed orifice passing through the upper end of the adjuster plunger member with the metering means retained and supported by a reservoir extender means.

Abstract: A disc brake unit comprises a disc assembly of interleaved rotor discs and stator discs that are normally spring in one direction biased to a brake engaged condition. A hydraulically operated first piston engages a stator disc at one end of the unit to move it axially in opposition to the spring bias to release the pressure between the discs and thus release the brake. A non-rotatable stop adapted to contact only one intermediate stator disc is provided to prevent movement of the intermediate disc in a direction opposite to the one direction. A second piston engages a stator disc at the opposite end of the unit for moving the rotor and stator discs on one side of a stop into engagement with each other and applies a modulated force to said rotor and stator discs while the first power piston is in position to oppose the spring bias, to thereby apply slip braking torque to the output shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to a golf club grip having a knob at the cap end of the grip with the top third of the grip slightly undersized to help promote hand and wrist action for added power and with less taper and more uniform size at the lower two thirds of the grip to discourage over controlling the club.

Abstract: A relief valve (10) incorporating a poppet assembly (14) having a metallic sealing disc (46) in engagement with an annular valve seat (34). The disc is acted on by a ball (44) received within a recess formed in the end of the poppet stem (36). The disc and the ball are retained in free-floating relationship with the stem by means of a cylindrical retainer (40), which allows the ball to center itself over the disc and valve seat and thus effectively apply the closing force at a point at the center of the disc. The point application of the closing force causes the disc to flex a finite amount, which causes the disc to contact the inner edge only of the annular valve seat, thus approximating an ideal knife-edge engagement between the valve seal and the seat.

Abstract: A brake system for wheeled vehicles, especially lift trucks having one motorized drive wheel driven by a vertically mounted electric motor through a gear train. The axis of the motor is offset from the steering axis of the wheel and a disc brake is mounted at the end of the motor shaft remote from the gear train. The reaction of the disc brake is grounded to the truck frame.

Abstract: A brake or clutch having two relatively rotatable members and a hollow fluid-distensible resilient annular tube frictionally engaging one of the members. The tube is split and the ends butted together. And at the butt ends of the tube means are provided for increasing the durability and life of the tube.

Abstract: An axle beam asembly (33) for an articulated vehicle (10). The beam assembly receives a drive axle (42) of the vehicle and is mounted on a frame (28) of the vehicle for rotation about a horizontal axis (30) which is laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline (37) of the vehicle. The vehicle includes a transfer case (63) having a driveshaft (48) extending therefrom to the drive axle through a hole (46) formed in the beam assembly on an axis substantially coincident with the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle.

Abstract: A tree feller assembly for use with a tree harvesting apparatus including a support structure defining a common pivot axis with a pair of shear arm means carrying cutter blade means disposed for pivotal movement about the common pivot axis. First power actuator means connects the shear arm means together and is disposed below and forwardly of the common pivot axis for moving the cutter blade means toward and away from one another upon actuation thereof. A pair of clamp members is pivotally mounted on the support structure above the shear arm means with a second power actuator means connecting the clamp members together. The clamp members are disposed forwardly of and generally parallel to the first power actuator means for moving the clamp members toward and away from one another. A wear plate means is mounted on the support structure and is disposed between the shear arm means to provide a guide for and self-aligning action on the cutter blade means upon actuation of the first power actuator means.

Abstract: A seat switch assembly (11) which includes a ribbon switch (22) over which a corrugated actuating member (24) is laid, the assembly being imbedded within the bottom cushion (14) of the seat. The corrugations of the actuating member engage the ribbon switch at a plurality of spaced points and insure that the switch will be actuated by the weight of an operator applied at essentially any point on the bottom cushion.

Abstract: A triple passage rotor valve (10) includes a body (12) having an internal cylindrical bore (32) defined by a substantially linear internal surface, a substantially cylindrical rotor member (14) having a substantially linear outer surface (34) located within the cylindrical bore of the body member and rotatable relative to the body, first (16), second (18) and third (20) passageways disposed in the body, fourth (22), fifth (24) and sixth (26) passageways disposed in the rotor, seventh (28) and eighth (30) annular passageways for interconnecting the first and fourth passageways and second and fifth passageways, respectively, and seal means (70, 72, 74) disposed between the linear internal surface of the cylindrical bore and the outer surface of the rotor member for in part defining the seventh and eighth annular passageways and preventing the flow of fluid therebetween. The seal means includes first (70), second (72) and third (74) seal assemblies.