Abstract: A system for continuously providing direct readouts of horsepower and efficiency of a rotating shaft, which includes a husk assembly associated with the shaft and providing electrical signals proportional to shaft torque, a tachometer for providing electrical signals proportional to shaft rotational speed, electrical circuitry for electronically multiplying the torque signals by the RPM signals to determine shaft horsepower, and a dividing network for dividing the shaft horsepower signal into an electrical signal representing the rate of fuel consumption to provide a continuous indication of instantaneous system efficiency.

Abstract: For the purpose of separating castings from the sand or similar material forming a string of moulds, each of the castings proper together with a lump of heat damaged mould material totally surrounding the castings is separated from the mould string. After having been subjected to an appropriate degree of cooling, the castings are separated from the lump material which, after sufficient regeneration, may be re-used together with the non-damaged material of the moulds.

Abstract: The invention uses frequency control of lamps and magazines in projectors and is especially adapted for programmed control by recording the frequency signals produced by previous rehearsal of the programme under manual control. The circuit uses an integrated voltage from the frequency signal to control threshold devices operating triggered switches controlling supply to the lamps, and to actuate a magazine control; a saw tooth signal being used as the basic timing signal in operating the lamps.

Abstract: A wheel chair having electric driving means arranged to drive the rear wheels of the chair, each rear wheel and its associated electric driving means is supported by a wheel plate connected to the wheel chair frame by a resilient mounting embodying a suspension media providing independent suspension for the rear wheels. The electric driving means comprises one electric motor for each rear wheel with drive transmission to the associated wheel.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing and wrapping labels comprising blanking means for cutting blanks from a stack of sheets, punching means for punching the stacks of blanks, and wrapping means for wrapping stacks of labels. A table is provided which carries a conveyor. The table and conveyor serve to intermittently move a stack of sheets in two directions, which are at right angles to each other. Severing means are provided, which comprise a blanking tool and a punching tool, which act in a vertical succession. Wrapping means succeed the severing means and are disposed below the same.

Abstract: A valve assembly having a plurality of coaxial disposed bores, a central one thereof being slightly enlarged in diameter and accommodating a plurality of ring inserts for cooperation with a number of thin disc valve members each carrying an O-ring seal in a rectangular peripheral groove. The valve assembly includes at least two ports communicating with the enlarged interior bore on opposite sides of the annular ring insert, and at least one axial aperture extends through the side walls of the groove of the disc valves to enable release of pressure otherwise existing under the O-ring seal.

Abstract: A valve assembly having a plurality of coaxial disposed bores, a central one thereof being slightly enlarged in diameter and accommodating a plurality of ring inserts for cooperation with a number of thin disc valve members each carrying an O-ring seal in a rectangular peripheral groove. The valve assembly includes at least two ports communicating with the enlarged interior bore on opposite sides of the annular ring insert, and at least one axial aperture extends through the side walls of the groove of the disc valves to enable release of pressure otherwise existing under the O-ring seal.

Abstract: The racket comprises a closed frame, a stringing which is stretched in this frame and forms a striking surface, and a handle for holding the racket. The handle merges at one end into the frame and forms an integral body therewith. Said body comprises an elongated core of an initially expansible material, and mainly longitudinally extending reinforcing fibers surrounding said core. The body is stiffened by structural straps at the outer surfaces of the handle and frame, which outer surfaces extend substantially at right angles to the striking surface, and on the inner surfaces of the frame, which inner surfaces extend substantially at right angles to the striking surface. The elongated core extends from the free end of the handle and through the latter into the frame and extends entirely around the frame.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for the automatic measurement of tunnel sections with a gas-laser and optical means, comprising further an image analyzer which comprises a rotatable disc, an opto-electronic group with light sources, photocells, a photomultiplier and a counter, said image analyzer indicating a value which is proportional to the distance between the tunnel axis and the impact point of the laser beam on the tunnel wall.

Abstract: The invention provides an unbalanced, butterfly check valve including a hollow main body member having a frusto-conical valve seat disposed interiorly therein, and a valve closure member in the form of a generally circular plate having a frusto-conical periphery conforming to the valve seat; the valve closure member is disposed for pivotal movement about an axis normal to the axis of the main body member and laterally offset from the center thereof. The center of gravity of the valve closure member biases the same to the closed position and is located such that the torque required to open the valve decreases as the closure member moves from its closed position to its open position. The closure member may be also fluid-dynamically profiled so as to remain open in response to a minimum flow condition and to rapidly become closed upon the occurrence in a change in flow direction.

Abstract: A control system for hydraulic presses comprising a plurality of press rams, an intensifier having a primary chamber which is connected by a supply conduit to a pump, and a valve which is associated with the primary chamber and when open permits the liquid under pressure to return through a return conduit into a reservoir, the primary chamber being constantly supplied by the pump with high-pressure liquid at a constant rate, and the valve associated with the primary chamber being controlled to move in synchronism with the reciprocating motion of the press rams so that it is closed during the forward stroke and open during the return stroke of the press rams.

Abstract: A safety ski binding comprises a footplate and a tie rod which is mounted on said footplate and is adapted to be displaceable against spring force in the axis of symmetry of the footplate. This axis of symmetry extends in the longitudinal direction of the ski when the binding is in position for a downhill run. Said tie rod is adapted to be held in position by a tightener. Two pairs of rollers are carried by the tie rod and the footplate, respectively. The axles of said rollers extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of the tie rod and parallel to the plate and are secured to the tie rod and the plate, respectively. Said tie rod has a portion which extends within a guide and is provided adjacent to the tightener with an upwardly directed release nose.

Abstract: An underground automatic parking system has a vertical well with two spaced elongated vertical side compartments each having a plurality of parking spaces. An elevator with a car transfer mechanism is located between the compartments. A plurality of slides are arranged in the parking spaces. Each slide has two side headers of triangular form and a rectangular frame which supports a corresponding plurality of vehicle carrying platforms. The slides are horizontally displaceable on tracks arranged along the ends of each parking space of the well between a retracted position within one of the side compartments and an extended position to intersect the path of the transfer mechanism on the elevator.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece including a time-keeping circuit having serially connected counters generating day, hour, minute and second signals; a four digit display connected to the counters; a selecting circuit coupled to the counters and having one mode for the display of two units of real time, and a plurality of other modes for the selection and display of each single unit of time for correction; a first switch connected to the selecting circuit and actuable to sequentially advance the selecting circuit from one mode to another; and a second switch coupled to the selecting circuit and the counters for causing the display of a different two units of real time when the selecting circuit is in the first mode, and for correcting each individually selected unit of time when the selecting circuit is in one of its other modes.

Abstract: A protective breastplate rigidly attached to the straps of a vehicle seat belt in which fiber reinforced material layers are shaped to form an air-tight, hollow chamber anatomically adapted to the upper thorax and abdomen of a vehicle occupant; a metal mesh lining is provided on the interior of the chamber to prevent pointed objects from piercing the protector, and an air intake valve is attached at the bottom.

Abstract: The process is characterized in that hot gas are blown at right angle with the front face of the parts to be brazed into the contiguous areas of an enclosure. The speed of the hot gas in a first area is regulated in order to ensure pre-heating, the speed in a second area is regulated in order to increase the temperature to the brazing temperature and the speed in a third area is regulated in order to ensure at least a partial cooling of the parts before they are withdrawn from the enclosure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detection whether an input signal is periodic or aperiodic, wherein reference pulses at a constant frequency are added during a first interval determined by a number of cycles of the input signal and reference pulses at the same frequency are substracted during a second interval determined by an equal number of cycles of the input signal. If the input signal is periodic, the counting result is zero or nearly zero since the counting intervals have been of equal duration. If the input signal is aperiodic, the counting result differs from zero because the counting intervals have not been of equal duration.

Abstract: A folded carton having dispensing means, wherein said dispensing means comprises a displaceable slide which has two terminal positions, in the first of which it exposes a dispensing aperture and in the second, covers the dispensing aperture, the slide being connected to a link portion, the slide and link portion being displaceable between portions of the carton which are capable of elastic displacement in a direction transverse to the plane of the slide, the link portion being thereby displaceable through a dead-center position and firmly held in its terminal positions between said portions of the carton capable of elastic displacement.

Abstract: A plurality of individual batteries are independently mounted for reciprocatory movement according to the motion of a supporting vehicle, and means are actuated by the reciprocal movement of the batteries for converting such movement to constant rotary movement to drive means for regenerating said batteries. The batteries are disposed in spaced relation to facilitate cooling.

Abstract: The invention is related to a device for determining the position of a structural element to which is affixed a scale composed of regularly spaced markings which are optically cast onto a line scanner containing regularly spaced photosensitive elements, the spacing between photosensitive elements being a subdivision of the distance between two adjacent markings of the scale. The output of the line scanner is coupled to a processing network which detects shifts in the shadows of the cast markings to evaluate the position of the element with precision. A pulse generator in the processing network provides pulses at a frequency which is a multiple of the rate of scanning of the photosensitive elements for measurement of a subdivision of the distance separating two photosensitive elements of the line scanner to obtain greater precision.