Abstract: A drum brake backplate assembly including a wheel cylinder (30) having a tubular body (31) having an axially extending bore (32) within which two brake shoe operating pistons (33) are in sealed sliding contact to define a working chamber (48) therebetween. The pistons are displaceable away from each other along the bore on pressurisation of the working chamber and the body located on an associated brake-backplate (44) by quick-attach means (46).

Abstract: A friction damping device (50) capable of generating friction torque for controlling the relative rotation of a first and a second flywheel mass of the twin mass flywheel (10), the friction damping device comprising a first (62) and a second (51) friction member operatively connected with one flywheel mass (12) via a common drive formation (cdf) which forms part of the second friction member. A third friction member (56) is sandwiched between the first and second friction members and is operatively connected with the other flywheel mass (11), and actuating means (61, 67) is operative to axially displace the first and second friction members relative to each other to modify the friction generated by the device upon rotation of the third friction member relative to the first or second friction members resulting from relative rotation of the flywheel masses.

Abstract: A twin mass flywheel for a vehicle comprising two coaxially arranged relatively rotatable masses interconnected by a plurality of pivotal linkages. Each linkage comprises a first link pivotally connected to one flywheel mass, a second link pivotally connected to the other flywheel mass and a pivot joining the links to move radially outwardly. A resilient torque member in each common pivot operable after a predetermined rotation between the flywheel masses to resist said relative rotation. A variable hysteresis friction damping assembly, whose resistance to relative rotation changes as the relative angle of rotation is altered, acts between the flywheel masses. The damping assembly can be provided by two friction damping plates which operate at different stages of rotation. The relative rotation may be limited by a stop member on at least one of the flywheel masses which abuts an abutment surface on the other flywheel mass. The abutment surface can be resilient for cushioning abutment by the stop member.

Abstract: A twin mass flywheel (10) having a friction damper (50) and a friction plate (55) with a shaped radially outer (55a) or radially inner first periphery which cooperates with a similarly shaped first periphery of a further component (54) of the damper to transfer torque between the friction plate (55) and the further component, the first periphery of the friction plate comprising a plurality of drive surfaces (55B), at least one of which is substantially tangential or chordal to the friction plate (55). The friction plate (55) may additionally have a second periphery with second drive surfaces tangential or chordal to the friction plate or it may additionally have drive formations formed as axially projecting lugs on an axially orientated surface of the friction plate. The friction plate (55) may be manufactured by sintering techniques or may have a sintered coating applied to its friction surface.

Abstract: An electronically-controlled apparatus has a feed assembly for moving circular disk blank workpieces from a storage position to a pickup position where a pickup mechanism receives the workpiece and then carries it to an operational position within a machine tool which converts the workpiece into a pulley or like-type device while simultaneously the pickup mechanism receives a finished disk product and delivers it a collection device.

Abstract: A friction clutch having a clutch cover assembly (20) including a cover (21) attached to a flywheel (11) with at least one spring (12) acting on a pressure plate (13) to force a driven plate (15) into frictional engagement with the flywheel. The clutch also includes a number of lift straps (14) acting to move the pressure plate (13) away from the driven plate (15) when the clutch is disengaged and also includes at least one constant lift mechanism (50) which ensures that the pressure plate moves away from the driven plate by substantially the same amount during each full disengagement operation of the clutch. The constant lift mechanism includes a sensing device (55) acting to sense wear of the driven plate (15) by contact with the flywheel (11), a pin (51) fixed relative to the pressure plate (13), a stop device (56) acting to restrict the lift movement of the pressure plate, and a one-way locking device (60) acting on the pin which allows one way movement of the stop device when driven plate wear occurs.

Abstract: A manifold box adapted to contain manifolds for valves controlling the flow of potentially hazardous liquids. This is a rotationally cast sealed plastic box enclosing the valves to contain any leaks from the valves and allow any leaking liquid to drain from the box through a drain tube at the bottom of the box to prevent the liquid from leaking onto surfaces below or adjacent to the valves. Attachment engaging "tee-nuts" are cast in place within the walls of the box and fittings for tubing connections are spin welded to the walls of the box. The box has a front access opening sealingly closed by a hinged plastic cover panel. In one embodiment the box is rectangular and is designed with two adjacent sloping walls which permit drainage of liquid from the box into a drain tube regardless of whether the box is mounted vertically or horizontally. In another embodiment the box is square and has one sloping wall containing a drain connected to a drain pipe.

Abstract: A mechanical arm mechanism for moving a user surface such as an electronic monitor for a computer or television and a related keyboard or control board in an arcuate path from a stored position to one or more user positions at various selected elevations and angles of inclination. The mechanism uses at least one set of spaced apart swingable arms each of which has one end pivotally attached to a respective fixed pivot point on a support member and the opposite end pivotally attached to a respective movable pivot point on the bottom or back side of the electronic monitor with the lengths between the fixed pivot points, the moveable pivot points and the arms forming the sides of a quadrilateral which sides change their relative angular orientation as the table or board is moved in its arcuate path of travel.

Abstract: A lightweight flexible air supported enclosure which may be used as a shelter for covering storage areas, greenhouses and various other uses which may be erected inexpensively on site from strips of flexible sheet material attached together at seams using adjacent pairs of reinforcing cords or cables with the seams being sealed by internally hanging edge flaps of the sheet material. The seal is created by the flaps being held in surface to surface contact by the internal pressure of the envelope. This enclosure is especially suited for assembly on uneven surfaces without preparing the surface of the perimeter on which the enclosure is to be mounted.

Abstract: A power transmitting arrangement comprising a fluid coupling and, connected in parallel with the fluid coupling, a series arrangement of a clutch and at least one linkage arrangement (40), and upon engagement of the clutch the series arrangement directly connecting the fluid coupling input to the fluid coupling output. The linkage arrangement comprising at least an anchor link (42) mounted via a pivot (50) to the linkage arrangement input, a main link (41) mounted via a pivot to the linkage arrangement output (70). The anchor link and main link being connected together via a pivot so (60) that the linkage arrangement controls the relative rotation of the input and output of the power transmitting arrangement, when the clutch is engaged, as a result of centripetal forces acting on the links.

Abstract: A twin mass flywheel (10) in which two co-axially arranged flywheel masses (11,12) are mounted for limited angular rotation relative to each other and a plurality of pivotal linkages (40) interconnect the two flywheel masses. Each linkage comprises a first link (41) pivotally connected (43) to one (12) of the flywheel masses, a second link (42) pivotally connected (44) to the other (11) of the flywheel masses, and a pivot (45) for pivotally connecting the first and second links. A resilient member in the form of an elastomeric torsion unit (46) or spring (36) is associated with the pivotal connection (44) of at least one link (42) with its associated flywheel (11) for controlling the relative rotation of said flywheel masses (11, 12).

Abstract: A twin flywheel (210) comprising first (211) and second (212) co-axially arranged flywheel masses which are mounted for limited angular rotation relative to each other. The flywheel masses (211, 212) are interconnected by at least one linkage arrangement (240), comprising a multi-link linkage (240) having two or more circumferentially spaced main links (242, 251) pivotally mounted on the second flywheel masses with the or each circumferentially adjacent pair of main links interconnect via a generally circumferentially extending connecting linkage, and an anchor link (242) which connects the multi-linkage (240) with the first flywheel mass. Relative rotation of the flywheel masses (211, 212) causes the multi-link linkage (240) to be pivoted relative to the second flywheel mass by the anchor link, so that when the twin mass flywheel is rotating, relative rotation of the flywheel masses (211, 212) is resisted by centripetal forces acting on the linkage arrangement.

Abstract: A vehicle tire having a rotation time wear indicator associated with the tire tread which visually shows when the tire tread has worn to various levels at which levels the tire should be rotated to a different wheel position on a vehicle. The wear indicator is a plurality of pattern parts such as holes, raised portions in tread grooves or other distinctive patterns in the tread which are positioned at various radial levels of the tread with the different levels being spaced apart at different locations around the circumference of the tread. When the tread wear reaches various levels relative to the levels of the pattern parts, so that any particular pattern part is no longer visible, then it is time to rotate the tire to another wheel position.

Abstract: A machine has upper and lower die members which clamp a disk blank between them and maintain the disk blank axially on a machine vertical axis and planarly on a machine horizontal axis. The die members and disk blank are rotated via a main motor which drives one of the die members through a spur-ring gear configuration or directly along the machine vertical axis. Splitting and swaging tools are positioned to move along the machine horizontal axis to form the disk blank outer peripheral edge into a pulley groove while a splitting-swaging tool carried within a chamber formed by the die members splits and swages a disk blank bore to form upper and lower bearing retaining flanges. Various means for moving the splitting-swaging tool off of the machine vertical axis to a parallel axis are disclosed as well as various means for exact positioning of the disk blank axially on the machine vertical axis.

Abstract: A twin mass flywheel for a vehicle comprising two co-axially arranged relatively rotatable masses interconnected by a plurality of pivotal linkages. Each linkage comprises a first link pivotally connected to one flywheel mass, a second link pivotally connected to the other flywheel mass and a pivot joining the links to move radially outwardly. A resilient torque member in each common pivot operable after a predetermined rotation between the flywheel masses to resist said relative rotation. A variable hysteresis friction damping assembly, whose resistance to relative rotation changes as the relative angle of rotation is altered, acts between the flywheel masses. The damping assembly can be provided by two friction damping plates which operate at different stages of rotation. The relative rotation may be limited by a stop member on at least one of the flywheel masses which abuts an abutment surface on the other flywheel mass. The abutment surface can be resilient for cushioning abutment by the stop member.

Abstract: A syringe for giving medical injections which has an internal mechanism for releasing and retracting a needle into the syringe after the injection has been given and retaining the needle and a hollow plunger inside the barrel of the syringe to reduce the risk of accidental needle sticks. The interior of the hollow plunger is initially hydraulically sealed off by a plunger front end wall from the fluid chamber of the syringe to prevent fluid from entering the interior of the hollow plunger. After the plunger has been depressed to expel fluid from the barrel, further depression of the plunger causes cutting punch type members to sever a disc shaped flange portion of a stem type needle retaining member and the plunger front end wall thereby permitting the spring to propel the needle and needle retaining member into the hollow plunger thereby retracting the needle and retaining member inside the barrel.

Abstract: A clutch control system for the automatic control of a motor vehicle clutch which connects an engine with a gearbox under the control of a driver operated gear ratio selector lever. The control system controls both initial clutch take-up on starting of the vehicle, clutch re-engagement following each ratio change, clutch disengagement on movement of the gear selector lever to change the operative ratio of the gearbox, and clutch disengagement on the coming to rest of the vehicle. The clutch control system also warns the driver if he attempts to drive away in a designated non take-up gear or in any gear in a predetermined abusive manner and may be arranged to promote rapid engagement or disengagement of the clutch in certain abusive conditions to reduce energy generation in the clutch.