Abstract: A master cylinder construction for automotive brake systems incorporating a servo mechanism in which the master cylinder consists of primary, secondary and fast fill pistons arranged in tandem, the fast fill piston operating in a bore of a larger diameter than that of the primary and secondary pistons the arrangement being characterized in that the fast fill piston is of hollow annular construction consisting of an inner cylindrical wall and an outer cylindrical wall joined together at one end and defining between them an annular space open at the other end, the outer wall being arranged to stroke past a seal into an annular cavity at one end of the master cylinder surrounding part of the bore of the primary piston of the master cylinder and to displace fluid therefrom. The primary piston is constructed to move simultaneously within its bore and to displace fluid therefrom to initiate movement of the secondary piston.

Abstract: A coin testing apparatus (10) comprises a coin passageway, a coin track (13) along which coins pass on their edges through the coin passageway and an inductor (16) adjacent the coin passageway. The inductor is connected in an oscillating circuit (40) so that the inductor (16) produces an oscillating magnetic field in the coin passageway. The frequency of the oscillating circuit is measured using a counter (41). A number representative of the idle frequency is stored in register (44). When a coin passes the inductor (16), the apparatus (10) detects whether the resulting frequency shift corresponds to the shift for an acceptable coin by comparing the difference between the number stored in register (44) and the number stored in counter (41) with a number previously stored in memory (48). The inductor (16) is oblong and has its major axis perpendicular to the track so that the arrangement is sensitive to variations in diameter over a large range of diameters.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a coherent and substantially uniform sheet of dry fibrous material comprises a feed conveyor arranged to receive and convey the fibrous material, a spreader, a collection conveyor positioned to receive and convey fibrous material discharged by the spreader and means for consolidating the fibrous material received by the collection conveyor. The spreader has a first member which comprises an assembly of blades extending across the feed conveyor and rotatable so that the blades at their lowest position are closely adjacent to the feed conveyor and rotate towards the fibrous material on the feed conveyor to lift the fibrous material off the feed conveyor, and a second member positioned so that fibrous material thus lifted off the conveyor is subjected to a fibre-separating action between the first and second members before being discharged from the spreader.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a plastic case for housing electronic instruments and the like, having a top and bottom panel with two side panels connecting them. The edges of the top and bottom panels are mounted for telescoping movement in the side panels to enable adjustment of the case to the size of instrument housed.