Abstract: A toilet tank ballcock which includes an adjustable detent arm pivotally mounted above the ballcock float to swing into a latching position below the float and thereby prevent the float from lowering except pursuant to an intentional flush of the tank. The ballcock also has a fully and conveniently adjustable riser column and float linkage rod to allow for easy control of the volume of water delivered by each flush.

Abstract: An improved foot pedal for controlling the speed of a vehicle having a hydrostatic transmission has an adjustable inclination to reduce driver fatigue during extended periods of same speed operation and to accommodate drivers of various stature.

Abstract: A sound absorbing and heat insulating fiber slab containing cellulose fibers which are bonded together with the aid of an inorganic, flame-proof binder is characterized in that the binder belongs to the group of polymeric silicates which dry at room temperature. The binder is homogeneously distributed in the slab and bonds mutually adjacent fibers in a punctiform fashion, to form a coherent matrix. The slab has a density of from 30 to 70 kg/m.sup.3 and the binder is present in an amount of 1-20 percent by weight.

Abstract: A masking system including a water soluble liquid masking composition to be spray-applied in film form to a limited area of a configured surface having a contiguous area to be coated for suppressing dust in the limited area and to prevent dust from migrating to and marring the quality of the coating, comprising an aliphatic polyhydroxy liquid carrier in which are dispersed a thickener and surfactant, the viscosity of the film being such that it remains substantially continuous on a vertical panel.

Abstract: A mechanical face seal for a high speed, rotary fluid pressure device comprising rotating and stationary seal rings disposed in a housing and having confronting radial seal faces normally biased into engagement with one another. Oppositely inclined sets of spiral grooves are formed in the seal face of one ring, one set functioning to pump fluid from the reservoir downstream between the seal faces, and the other set functioning to pump fluid between the faces upstream back toward the reservoir. Each downstream pumping groove preferably intersects only one upstream pumping groove. Fluid pressure between the faces forms a gap therebetween, and the reversely inclined groove construction minimizes fluid loss or leakage.

Abstract: An orthopaedic or prosthetic joint comprising a linkage having a number of fixed-length links and a spring link of variable length, wherein there are five fixed-length links which are pivotally connected together in a geometric pattern such that the spring link acts to hold the joint in any one of a number of angles of flexion.

Abstract: A totally split mechanical face seal being installable and replaceable without necessitating breakdown of the shaft and/or housing. The inventive split seal is well suited for replacement of packing or stuffing in heavy duty or inaccessible locations. The inventive seals include a sealing element that seals the primary ring against the shaft and rigidly positions the primary ring in the axial, circumferential and radial directions, and also includes a sealing element which seals the mating ring against the housing and non-rigidly positions the mating ring in the axial direction while simultaneously providing an axial biasing force on the mating ring to provide mating contact of the two rings.

Abstract: A diverter mechanism for a bedpan rinsing apparatus includes a diverter valve body and a nozzle pivot mounted within the valve body. A bedpan rinsing arm assembly is positioned within a passage in the nozzle pivot. The improvement is a seal between the nozzle pivot and arm assembly in which the device that locks the arm assembly to the nozzle pivot moves the arm assembly toward the seal as the locking device moves to a locking position.

Abstract: A device for cutting and clamping dental floss includes a cutting element and a clamping element. The cutting element has a portion thereof formed and adapted to sever dental floss when it is pulled thereacross. The clamping element is adjacent the cutting element and cooperates with it to accessibly hold the dental floss supply cut end after severing.

Abstract: A mechanical seal for use between a housing and a rotatable shaft supported by the housing having adjacent annular primary and mating sealing rings, each ring having a generally radial sealing face and means for sealing and nonrotatably retaining the first sealing ring relative to the housing, and means sealing and nonrotatably retaining the second sealing ring so that it rotates with the shaft. One sealing ring is movable axially of the shaft, and biasing means urge this one ring toward the other sealing ring, which is axially fixed relative to the shaft. The axially movable sealing ring is centered coaxially with respect to the axis of the axially fixed sealing ring through engagement of a centering element which is centered relative to the shaft and which engages the axially movable sealing ring to center it relative to the shaft. The centering element engages the axially movable sealing ring and includes an integral pinless retainer.

Abstract: A molded knob of the type which frictionally engages and fits over the end of a shaft, which shaft end is of generally U-shaped, transverse cross-section created by the removal of a portion of a circular tubular shaft. A hub is formed as part of the knob. A shaft-receiving socket of generally circular, transverse cross-section is formed in the hub. A pair of generally L-shaped fingers are formed as part of the hub and extend the depth of the socket. The L-shaped fingers are positioned back-to-back to define a U-shaped slot between the fingers and hub, which U-shaped slot receives the U-shaped end of the shaft. Each L-shaped finger has a base portion which is molded integrally with the core and a back portion which extends cantileverly from the base portion, with the base and back portions connected by an integral hinge. The back portions of the L-shaped fingers are spaced from each other about their integral hinges and are flexible so as to bend toward each other when the shaft is inserted in the socket.

Abstract: A flush valve includes a body having a water inlet and a water outlet. There is an inner cover mounted on the body and with portions of the flush valve defines a chamber which is in communication with the flush valve inlet. A sensor for detecting the presence of an object adjacent the flush valve is mounted on the inner cover, as is an electrical circuit for causing operation of the flush valve. There is an outer cover which encloses the inner cover, sensor, and electrical circuit. The outer cover is formed of a plastic which will transmit radiation from the sensor whereby the sensor can detect the presence of an object adjacent the flush valve. The inner and outer cover have interfitting lugs which restrict relative rotation therebetween and provide a means for attaching the covers to the flush valve body through the use of a ring which applies a load only to the inner cover.

Abstract: In the case of a hydraulic control device for an oscillating load moving system comprising a double-acting hydroconsumer (V), which is adapted to be selectively connected to a pressure source (P) or to a reservoir (T) via two separate main lines (9, 10) and a control valve (C), and further comprising a load supporting valve (H), which is arranged in at least one main line (10) between the control valve (C) and the hydroconsumer (V) and which is adapted to be opened from the other main line (9) via a pilot line (16), a damping device (X), which consists of a bypass line (23) and an interference throttle aperture (D2), is connected to the pilot line (16) of the load supporting valve (H). The pilot line (16) has provided therein a throttle aperture (D1) which is smaller than the interference throttle aperture (D2).

Abstract: A railroad hopper car discharge gate has slope sheets which terminate in a longitudinally extending lip, with the lips being spaced and there being a trough secured to the slope sheets beneath the spaced lips. Discharge from the gate is controlled by a rotatable longitudinal discharge valve shaft which extends between the lips of the slope sheets and is positioned to control flow from the gate interior above the slope sheets to the discharge trough. There is an operating handle for each end of the shaft, with the handles each being movable between a position in which the handle is locked on the shaft for rotation therewith, and a position in which the shaft is rotatable relative to the handle. There are stops positioned adjacent each handle for limiting rotation thereof. The valve shaft has a pair of axially spaced and axially extending recessed areas which are circumferentially non-aligned, but in part circumferentially overlapping.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring metal corrosion rate in solutions, including solutions having low ionic strength. Three electrodes including a counterelectrode, a reference electrode, and a working metal electrode are dispossed in close proximity to each other and an ion conducting, but electrically insulating, material is provided between at least the reference and working metal electrodes. The ion conducting material provides a pathway for ions to travel between the electrodes other than through the solution without also creating a short circuit between the elctrodes.

Abstract: A discharge gate for a railroad hopper car has slope sheets terminating in longitudinally extending spaced lips. A through is secured to the slope sheets beneath the lips and a rotatable valve shaft controls the flow of material from the interior of the gate above the slope sheets to the discharge trough. The valve shaft has axially spaced and axially extending recessed areas and an intermediate full diameter portion between recesses. A spacer extends circumferentially about the shaft intermediate portion and radially outwardly therefrom. The spacer is in contact with the slope sheet lips and locates the shaft out of contact therewith.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining accumulated film thickness at the inside diameter of a main stream conduit conducting a main stream of a flowing fluid by employing:a transparent shunt conduit to shunt from the main stream a sample stream of the process fluid,a reference light emitter and light detector at a reference section of the shunt where any appreciable film is removed, an upstream sample light emitter and detector opposed thereto,a common source of light so that respective emitters emit light beams of the same intensity, and means for determining concurrently analogs of light received by the detectors, whereby film thickness may be determined for the sample.

Abstract: A one-piece, unitary, molded resin wall sleeve precursor has two cup-shaped end sections of external diameter D1 each having a hollow transition section of enlarged diameter that connects the end section to a sleeve of internal diameter D1; one transition section has an outer diameter D2 and the other has an inner diameter just slightly larger than D2. D2 is appreciably larger than D1. A wall sleeve assembly of extended length is derived from two of these precursor members by cutting off the end sections; the precursor members can then be joined with a strong, inexpensive, welded joint to afford a long wall sleeve of consistent internal diameter.