Abstract: An automatic gearbox has a planetary gear system and fluid pressure operated friction elements which are operable to act on the gear system to change the gear ratios thereof. Operation of the friction elements is controlled by electronic circuits on the basis of electrical signals indicative of vehicle speed and throttle opening. A manually operable switch is provided for selecting reverse gear and for providing manual overriding signals for the selection of forward gears. The electronic circuits are so arranged that, when a gear is selected manually, operation of the friction elements associated with the gear or gears higher than the selected gear is not carried out until vehicle speeds at least equal to the vehicle speeds at which the said friction elements are operated at full throttle opening in the automatic mode of operation.

Abstract: A liquid pressure braking system for a vehicle has a master cylinder which is connected to the brake operating motor cylinder on each wheel of the vehicle through a respective pressure control valve. Each pressure control valve is operated by a plunger which is linked to the suspension of the respective wheel by a respective torsion bar. Each torsion bar exerts a biassing load on the respective plunger which varies with the load supported by the respective wheel and which acts upon that plunger to open that valve. The action of the biassing load on each plunger is opposed by the loading on that plunger due to liquid pressure in the respective motor cylinder. A compression spring acts on the plunger of each pressure control valve which controls liquid pressure fed to the motor cylinders that operate the front wheel brakes so that those two valves are held open for all straight ahead braking.

Abstract: An aircraft undercarriage suspension includes a liquid filled telescopic suspension strut and a gas spring. Liquid displaced by the strut into the gas spring is selectively directed through alternative flow restrictors, one of which is matched for optimum damping during aircraft landing and the other of which is matched for optimum damping during taxing. A ride control valve operates on the nose wheel undercarriage to control aircraft pitching, the ride control hydraulic system being separated from the damping oil by a floating piston.

Abstract: A platform for supporting the load and adapted in use to be inclined to the horizontal at one angle at the infeed position and inclined to the horizontal at another angle at the discharge position; it is provided with an apparatus for changing the inclination of the platform during its elevation from the infeed position to the discharge position with a low friction surface on the platform and provided by ball castors. A pneumatic ram for elevating the platform and load from the infeed position to the discharge position and for lowering the platform from the discharge position to the infeed position is provided with the pneumatic ram being attached to the platform by the cooperation of a ball carried on the ram and a ball socket on the underside of said platform. It has a device preventing infeed of a load other than when the platform is in the infeed position; and apparatus preventing discharge of a load other than when the platform is in the discharge position.

Abstract: This invention relates to clutch driven plates having an annular component which carries the friction facings and which is mounted for limited rotary movement on a hub so that it extends between a pair of radially extending discs which are fixed to the hub by engagement of serrations formed at their inner peripheral edges in grooves in the hub. The hub has three spaced annular rims which co-operate to form two spaced annular grooves. The two outer rims taper outwardly and the central rim, which is cylindrical, locates a cylindrical spacer which spaces the disc apart. The grooves which receive the serrations are formed in the outer rims. During assembly of the clutch driven plate, the discs are forced axially on to the hub. The grooves are cut by the serrations during assembly and the material that is cut from each rim of the hub by the formation of the grooves is directed into the adjacent annular groove. Once the disc are located against the spacer, the hub is deformed to retain the discs on the hub.

Abstract: A liquid pressure braking system for a vehicle has a master cylinder which is connected to the brake operating motor cylinder on each front wheel of the vehicle through a respective liquid pressure intensifier. Each intensifier has a differential area piston. The differential liquid pressure on the piston, which tends to close the valve and render the intensifier effective to increase the liquid pressure at its outlet as compared with its liquid pressure inlet, is opposed by a spring which reacts against a stepped plunger. The plunger projects towards a link 18 of a mechanism which interconnects suspension components of the two front wheels.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting vacuum sources from contamination occasioned by aspiration of fluids or aerosols from a device operated by such vacuum sources, having an enclosed vessel in communication with the device, a filter in communication with the enclosed vessel to entrap aerosols and a vacuum-breaking valve alternately in communication with atmosphere & vacuum in communication with the filter to control the application of the vacuum by the vacuum source to the device. The vacuum-breaking valve is operated by a switch assembly mounted within the enclosed vessel and in electrical communication with a solenoid designed to operate a valve member within the vacuum-breaking valve.

Abstract: A dual clutch, e.g. for agricultural tractors having separate wheel and power take off drives, has a driving plate spaced from a flywheel with two pressure plates interposed. A single Belleville spring clamps one driven plate between one pressure plate and the flywheel and the other driven plate between the other pressure plate and the driving plate. A plurality of release levers pivot on the driving plate to each operate the one pressure plate through a link and the other pressure plate through an adjustable toggle mechanism. The driven plates may drive the same shaft.

Abstract: A dancing slipper which is made of a relatively rigid skeleton frame having an opening in the toe portion thereof and provided with a moldable insert member which is pliable and soft when mildly heated to a predetermined temperature so as to conform to the toe configuration of the wearer or ballerina or person using this shoe and which insert may be readily removable for replacement and for remolding purposes.

Abstract: A safety flask for freeze drying being formed of chemically-resistant and shock-resistant materials, including a container flask, a cover assembly and a tube removably inserted through the cover assembly so as to be in communication with the interior of the container flask for connection to a vacuum source. Sealing means is mounted in the cover assembly to provide a fluid-tight seal between the tube and the cover assembly. A filter is removably mounted on the cover assembly over the point of communication of the tube with the container flask to prevent cross-contamination between samples and to prevent the sample from being withdrawn by the vacuum. A vacuum release device is mounted on the tube to permit easy removal of the flask.

Abstract: A combination armrest, trash receptacle, ashtray and cash container comprising an elongated substantially rectangular member having a substantially horizontal top forming an arm rest and with substantially vertical side wall co-extensive with said horizontal member with the front portion of the member being provided with a dish shaped container forming a cash tray with an elongated middle section forming a trash receptacle and a rearward section forming an ashtray with the horizontal section being provided with a hinge rod and the horizontal member having three separate doors hinged to the rod so that the three compartments therein can be separately opened. The trash receptacle in the middle of the horizontal portion is further provided with a cutout or opening to grasp for closing the vehicle and with the member further having a hinged bottom portion adjacent the middle and rear trash and ash sections for emptying the debris therefrom.

Abstract: A power plant comprising combustion means for generating heat for use in a power plant with at least two hot gas engines, comprising first and second working fluid spaces, reciprocating means for varying the volume of working fluid spaces, heating means adjacent said first working fluid space, a source of cooling fluid, first conduit means connecting said source of cooling fluid and said cooling means to convey cooling fluid from said source of cooling fluid to said cooling means to cool working fluid in said second working fluid space and means for conveying the products of combustion from said combustion means to the heating means to heat working fluid in said first working fluid space; second conduit means in communication with the cooling means one said hot gas engine and the combustion means to convey cooling fluid from the cooling means of said one hot gas engine to the combustion means for participation in combustion therein, the cooling means of said second hot gas engine being independent of the comb

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a pivot joint having means for indicating wear thereof. The pivot joint comprises a headed pin, a socket in which the head is engaged and from which the pin projects, mating bearing surfaces on the head and the socket such that the pin is movable angularly with respect to the socket, a wear indicator extending through an aperture in the sockets and having its inner end engageable with the head, and a diaphragm which extends between the indicator and the socket to seal the bearing surfaces against ingress of foreign matter through the aperture.

Abstract: An aircraft undercarriage includes a liquid filled telescopic suspension strut and a compressed gas chamber separated from the liquid in the strut by a floating piston. Liquid is added to or taken away from the strut by a ride control valve operated by a ride control mechanism sensitive to relative displacement of the airframe and undercarriage wheel so that the aircraft is maintained at a constant height during taxiing. Shut-off valves isolate the strut from the hydraulic system of the aircraft during flight and landing touchdown.

Abstract: An apparatus for canning fruit and the like. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a platform having a plurality of legs thereon for placing it in a frying pan or other pan with the platform extending contiguous to the sides of the frying pan so that water placed in the frying pan will generate steam which will pass through holes in the platform. The platform is provided with a removable chamber which encloses a plurality of containers within the chamber and the chamber is provided with an outlet opening in the bottom thereof. The legs extending from the platform may also be passages for the admission of condensed steam back to frying pan and the holes in the platform may be provided with tubular passage means extending into the steam chamber.

Abstract: A fluid pressure operated braking system of the kind which includes an electrical system which is associated with wheels of the vehicle and arranged to regulate the braking force applied to the associated wheels, and which is operable automatically to effect release of a brake acting on the associated wheels when the deceleration thereof exceeds a predetermined amount and to re-apply the brake when the angular velocity of the respective wheels approaches that at which the periphery of the wheel rolls on the road surface without slipping. The system senses the time for which the brake is released and if the sensed time is greater than a predetermined time, the electrical system is rendered inoperative to permit re-application of the brake.

Abstract: A clutch driven plate having an annular component which carries the friction facings and which is mounted for limited rotary movement on a hub so that it extends between a pair of radially extending discs which are fixed to the hub. One or both discs have integral bent-over tongues which project into corresponding circumferentially extending slots in the annular component and serve as stops which limit the rotary movement of the annular component relative to the hub. Also at least one of the discs is fixed in relation to the hub by engagement in grooves formed in the hub of serrations formed in its inner peripheral edge or vice versa. The serrations may be formed of a material which is harder than that in which the grooves are formed, the grooves being cut by the serrations during assembly of the disc onto the hub. Alternatively both the serrations and the grooves may be preformed and the serrations may be engaged within the grooves with an interference fit.