Abstract: Greater overall speed of crane operation is made possible by using a plurality of hydraulic piston-cylinder sets together with valving which can direct the pumped hydraulic fluid selectively to either of the cylinder sets or to both of them. Preferably the two cylinder sets are of different speed-load characteristics so that the same supply of pressured oil will raise the boom faster when supplied to one than when supplied to the other. When the boom must be raised with maximum load, the same oil supply will be directed to both cylinder sets, thereby giving the maximum lifting power with a given available oil pressure and the slowest raising speed. The overall time required to accomplish a given task is reduced because most of the time the boom can be raised or lowered at a faster speed than that slow speed which must be provided for handling heaviest loads. Speeds are selected by operating one or both of two handles to the up or down position, each handle controlling its own valve spool.

Abstract: A track has spaced rails, each of which holds a plurality of clips, each clip being at a respective station. Thus, there are a pair of clips at each station. A multiple socket unit is mountable between the rails at each station or at adjacent stations. An electrical component, as for example a relay, can be plugged into each socket unit and when so plugged in is engaged by the clips which hold the component unit and the socket unit together and the combination of the two locked to the track at the station(s).

Abstract: An explosion-proof electrical enclosure has a body, switch mounted within the body, two threaded caps cooperatively engaging manually defeatable locking bolts in the body which prevent rotation of the caps and manually operated interlocking mechanism mounted in the body to actuate a switch and prevent unlocking of the bolts in the switch on position.

Abstract: From an extruder head a descending column of edible substance or medicament encased in a casing forming material of gelatin or dough is extruded. The casing forming material may be a single color or different colors on opposite sides. This column is pinched off by a pair of rotating wheels each having half cavities therein to form capsules or sticks of encased edible substance or medicament. The casing material is then hardened.

Abstract: Apparatus for immobilization of infant patients during exposure of X-ray film, particularly in connection with studies requiring the so-called frog-leg position. Use of this invention permits considerable reduction in the extent of exposure of the patient's body, and eliminates the need of manual restraint of extremities and exposure of a non-patient to radiation. Moreover, the required size of film is much reduced. In a preferred embodiment antero-posterior projections of a patient in both straight supine, and frog-leg positions are shown on a single 10 x 12 inch film. The invention virtually eliminates the need to re-expose because of movement of the patient.

Abstract: The locking apparatus on a flatbed vehicle, etc., for engaging the corner fitting on a container carried thereby includes a shank with a crosshead which is moved into the corner fitting and is rotated 90.degree. to engage the locking device. The shank has an annular rack thereon. A gear segment engages this rack and is rotated manually to push the rack one way or the other to establish the desired axial position of the shank. On the distal end of the shank is a gear which engages a gear on a rotatable locking member. The locking member has teeth which engage the teeth of the rack to prevent axial movement of the rack and shank when the crosshead on the shank is in the locked position in the container corner fitting. The locking member is rotatable to move its teeth away from the rack and that rotation correspondingly rotates the shank.

Abstract: A slider arrangement for potentiometers is presented, which provides good contact between the potentiometer resistor and the slider with low friction and low wear. With each position of slider guide means, the slider contacts the potentiometer resistor in an associated well defined point regardless of the direction of movement of the guide means. To this end the slider comprises a wire helix in crossed relation to the potentiometer resistor. The wire helix is urged into engagement with the potentiometer resistor by a strap extending into the wire helix and engaging the inner side thereof under spring tension, whereby engagement between helix and strap and the required contact pressure between helix and potentiometer resistor is established. The strap has bays or recesses in the area of the potentiometer resistor to permit the turns of the wire helix to conform to the cross sectional contour of the resistor.

Abstract: The invention may be used with a boom or the like which is raised and lowered by double-acting hydraulic cylinder means provided with a pilot-actuated safety valve at its bottom such that the boom can only go down when pilot pressure (normally from the downthrust line) is applied to this safety valve. The main manual valve has a four-position spool which provides a float position reached by moving through the lowering position. As the main valve is moved to the float position, its manual actuation mechanism actuates an auxiliary valve to supply pilot pressure to the safety valve to open the safety valve to allow the cylinder to achieve the desired floating action. This pilot pressure supply is through a shuttle valve which alternatively lets pilot pressure be applied to this safety valve as here stated or, from the downthrust, without ever connecting the two sources.

Abstract: An insulative frame-strip assembly comprises metallic inner and outer side members splined together by a rigidly-acting insulating or frost-barrier splicing strip. These three main parts are extrusions assembled by transverse movements, instead of being threaded end for end or requiring molding of the splicing strip in situ. Inadvertent disassembly in handling is prevented by locking made effective by a pressed-in locking strip. The locking may use interlocking formations or only friction, and either may be aided by torsional pressure. The locking strip is inserted through the pane-receiving channel so that inserting the pane therein prevents removal of the locking strip and adds to its locking forces. Hooked webs on the two metal side members extend transversely in slightly spaced parallel planes, the end of each being a flange extending toward the other web and snugly engaging the spline strip to use its compressive strength.

Abstract: A first bracket is secured to one of a pair of doors hinged to a door frame for closing the same; a second bracket is secured to the other of the pair of doors; and the brackets are disposed in overlapping relationship, and include means which are interengageable, when the doors are in closed position.

Abstract: In a planetary wheel drive, disc braking is provided with the discs located outwardly of the gearing so as to be readily accessible for servicing. One set of discs is splined to the drive shaft, rotating faster than the wheel by the factor of the gear ratio, so that advantages comparable to all those advantages heretofore attained by high ratio planetary wheel braking are still attained, with the accessibility here achieved.INTRODUCTIONThe invention to which the present disclosure is offered for public dissemination in the event that adequate patent protection is available relates to braking for planetary wheel drives. Planetary wheel drives or final drives are commonly used in trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles and may have a gear ratio of the order of 5 to 1 which is considered very advantageous.

Abstract: The invention is especially suitable when front and rear wheels are hydraulically steered, each set by its own hydraulic cylinder, the two cylinders being connected in hydraulic tandem so that the same angularity of steering will be imparted to both sets of wheels. The self-synchronizing of the present invention overcomes a serious prior fault that occasionally a nonsynchronous relationship would develop. The present invention opens a synchronizing valve on the occasion of each extreme swing of the wheels. A check valve then ensures a synchronized return swing.

Abstract: A thermoformed plastic package for long, thin, round articles, such as thermometers and catheters, is provided with a receiving trough which is approximately equal in width but may be somewhat shallower than the diameter of the article, keepers being spaced along the length of the trough extending inwardly from both sides and outwardly away from the open side of the trough whereby to maximize the space efficiency of the package by minimizing the depth of the trough necessary to accomodate and retain the article therein. The keepers may be opposite each other or somewhat staggered. The oral thermometer package disclosed provides a convenient protective case for the thermometer when not in use and a container for a supply of sanitary sheaths for use with the thermometer.

Abstract: All of the components of a sump pump apparatus necessary to be in the sump are enclosed in a common case. In one embodiment, this case is of plastic and holds the motor means, the pump impeller and at least part of the water level sensors. The motor means is in a bell holding trapped air so that the water cannot reach the motor means. In one such embodiment the motor means is a single D.C. motor and in another embodiment it consists of a D.C. motor coupled by a one-way clutch to an A.C. motor which in turn is connected to the pump impeller. In each of these two embodiments, the water level sensor includes a tube having an open end in the bell to sample the air pressure in the bell and an end externally of the sump connected to a pressure actuated switch which turns on the motor means at a particular air pressure above ambient. Also within the bell is a float operated switch serving as a back-up to the air actuated switch. Using two motors, as mentioned above, the A.C.

Abstract: A closure for a container is formed by a plastic body part and a plastic closure part connected by a thin, integral section which forms a "score" line of easy tearability. The closure part has an annular wall slightly smaller than an annular wall of the body part. The score line is adjacent the bottom of the annular wall of the closure part and the top of the annular wall of the body part. Thus after the plastic has been torn along the score line, the annular wall of the closure part slips within the annular wall of the body part to form a reusable closure. The annular wall of the closure part and the annular wall of the body part have conformations that interlock when the two parts are so slipped together to releasably hold the closure part in place.

Abstract: A shock absorber having a pressure tube with metering bores defining metering orifices through which fluid is metered upon application of impact forces to a piston assembly slidable in the pressure tube, and an adjustable metering sleeve with ports adjacent the metering orifices for regulating the flow of fluid through the orifices.

Abstract: A shock absorber having passageways through which fluid is metered from a primary chamber upon application of an impact force to a piston assembly slidable in the chamber, and an adjustable flow control member for regulating the flow of fluid through the passageways to an accumulator chamber within the flow control member.

Abstract: A metal housing of a light fixture has a cover hinged over the front access opening. Within the housing is a halogen lamp or light bulb. Surrounding the lamp and facing forwardly is a reflector of generally parabolic shape. Extending across the back of the reflector parallel to the lamp is a forwardly extending ridge. A glass is held in the cover by clips frictionally engaged in pockets spaced about the inside of the cover. The cover hinge is formed by parts on the cover and housing, which parts are of generally "U" configuration. The pivot pin extends through the U of these parts. The parts are so positioned with respect to each other and stops are provided so as to prevent the disengagement of the pins by movement through the open end of the U. Within the housing are heat sinks to protect the lamp sockets.

Abstract: A hydraulic dashpot having a pressure tube with a port defining a metering orifice through which fluid is metered upon application of impact forces to a piston assembly slidable in the pressure tube, and wherein the pressure tube is rotatable for adjusting the position of the orifice relative to a spiral valve edge for varying the effective area of the orifice.

Abstract: A snack food product is made by frying in hot oil thin pieces of dough made from rusk crumbs, starch, water and, as desired, flavoring and emulsifying ingredients. The product is characterized by relatively dense surface layers and porous interiors.