Abstract: A vehicle recoil mechanism includes a two-part shaft, a collar being slidable on one part of the shaft and in operative engagement with a recoil spring, the other part of the shaft being associated with a fluid chamber, so that upon wear on the shaft by movement of the collar relative thereto, only the one part of the shaft need be replaced, without interfering with the fluid chamber.

Abstract: A refrigerator door structure comprising a door hingedly mounted on a mullion is disclosed, one or more of which may be mounted in a suitable opening through the wall of a refrigerator compartment without a frame and with or without a starter mullion to close such opening while providing access therethrough. The door and mullion are designed to be inverted to provide for either right-hand or left-hand opening of the door. The packaging of the door structure with appropriate shelving elements is described.

Abstract: A crystalline dual diamond sodium thallium type intermetallic compound is formed on a substrate surface from lithium and either aluminum, zinc or cadmium. The compound is grown within a magnetic field and, as a result, the compound is formed with a major crystallographic plane thereof aligned generally parallel to the field. Apparatus is disclosed for accomplishing formation of the compound. Silicon may later be grown on the surface of the compound.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tandem wheel arrangement for construction vehicles, such as a motor grader. Most particularly the invention relates to such an arrangement wherein both the forward and rearward wheels of the tandem wheel arrangement are mounted to levers and the levers are mounted to the vehicle frame. For example, when one of the roadwheels becomes elevated relative to the other when such roadwheel runs over a rock, a fluid circuit including cylinders interconnected between the vehicle frame and the levers, functions to change the lever relationship between the ascending and descending roadwheels such that the resistance to upward motion of the ascending wheel is reduced, a lowering force is imposed on the descending wheel to increase tractive effort thereof and the upward movement of the frame is reduced.

Abstract: A method for fitting and stabilizing an artificial limb is disclosed herewith which includes the use of an adjustable prosthetic device to obtain dynamic alignment. After dynamic alignment, the relative orientation of the elements making up the adjustable limb are determined and transferred to the uniquely configured elements for stabilization of the entire limb by welding, brazing, or the like. The invention also includes the unique structure to practice the method.

Abstract: A main frame for a track-type loader vehicle including a pair of implement supporting towers attached to horizontal rails of box construction which support pivot shafts of track roller frames and final drives of a hydrostatic drive system. Each tower includes two upright members with one member of A-frame construction having three legs of box construction arranged in a triangular shape and a wall common to all of the legs. One leg is located on one side of the wall, another leg is located at an edge of the wall adjacent the horizontal rail, and the third leg is on the other side of the wall. The two upright members support a lift arm for a loader bucket and a cylinder for lifting the lift arm, while the one upright member also carries an equalizer bar support.

Abstract: An insect trap is provided for use in combination with an open mouthed receptacle such as a conventional canning jar. The insect trap comprises a tubular core member extending a predetermined distance into the receptacle as a passageway for insects such as houseflys, and a cap member into which the core member slides, and in which the core member is snappingly held. The core and cap members each include opposed orifices which, when aligned, permit entry of insects, particularly flying insects, into the receptacle via the passageway. The insect trap also includes a member for suspending the core and cap member assemblage in the receptacle mouth. Also preferably included are guide members associated with the cap and core members so that the orifices in the assemblage are correctly aligned without requiring visual acuity.

Abstract: A lift truck having a mast assembly for lifting a load. The assembly includes a first fixed pair of spaced-apart uprights and a second movable pair of spaced-apart uprights with the second pair nested for vertical translation within the first pair, and a carriage coupled to the second pair for vertical translation in relation to the second pair. Two chains, which extend over two sheaves connected to a cross-member fixed to the upper ends of the second pair of uprights, have one end connected to a first hydraulic cylinder and their other end to the carriage. Second and third hydraulic cylinders, behind the first and second pair, are coupled to respective third and fourth sheaves about which extend additional chains having one end connected to the fixed uprights and the other end connected to the movable uprights. The first hydraulic cylinder lifts the carriage in relation to all the uprights and the second and third hydraulic cylinders simultaneously raise the second pair of uprights and the carriage.

Abstract: A box for storing a battery or the like comprises a plurality of upstanding panels (11-14) defining a storage compartment (16) and a removable cover (18) disposed over the compartment. A door (24) is movably mounted adjacent to the compartment and when closed firmly by a latch (26) holds the cover in place to attenuate noise emanating in the storage box. A sound suppressor (37) extends inwardly from the door to overlie the cover to engage and hold the cover against a support (20-23) and to attenuate noise.

Abstract: An improved emergency system (10) for a vehicle having a closed center steering valve (12), a pump (14) normally supplying fluid to the valve, and an accumulator (16) for supplying emergency pressurized fluid to the valve when the pump fails. The improvement is a flow directing circuit (18) connecting the accumulator to the valve in parallel relationship to the pump and apparatus for blocking flow from the accumulator to the valve responsive to proper operation of the pump. Adequate emergency steering is provided to a closed center steering valve system by the above arrangement.

Abstract: A manually actuatable fluid dispenser comprises a plastic bottle container which includes an upstanding bottle neck portion having a flexible bellows formed integrally on one side thereof operable by a reciprocal trigger member which engages the bellows through a trigger spring for exerting a sustained but limited force on the bellows, and reaction force on the trigger member, over extensive trigger actuation travel and speed. The upper end of the cylindrical neck of the container is closed by a dispenser body which includes a fluid passage having a check valve disposed therein for controlling the flow of fluid in the fluid passage. A fluid tube disposed in the bottle neck includes a seal for fluid isolation of the bottle neck from the bottle, and a check valve for allowing flow of fluid from the bottle into the bottle neck.

Abstract: An air intake assembly for a vehicle comprises a first housing rotatably mounted on the vehicle and a stationary second housing mounted within the first housing. A plurality of first inlets are formed through the first housing and are adapted to align with a plurality of second inlets formed through the second housing to normally permit the passage of air therethrough for engine consumption purposes. Upon further relative rotation of the housings, the inlets become misaligned to prevent the passage of air therethrough. In the preferred embodiment, inlets are formed through both side and bottom walls of the housings and disposed thereon whereby upon alignment of the inlets formed through the side walls of the housing to permit the passage of air therethrough the inlets formed through the bottom walls of the housings will be closed and vice versa.

Abstract: A prosthesis for replacement of a hip joint is flexion biased so that the prosthetic limb members affixed thereto are urged anteriorly of the body with the prosthetic foot off the ground. Thus, when the prosthetic hip joint is used with the weight activated knee joint, the flexion biasing provides swing phase motion to the leg from energy stored in the biasing member during the stance phase of that leg.

Abstract: An installation (10) for handling a workpiece W.sub.1 including a first station (12) for loading a workpiece, a second station (14) for working on the workpiece, a third station (16) for unloading the workpiece, and a conveyor (18), extending in a closed loop about the first and second stations, for transporting the workpiece from the first to the second station. The conveyor is a track of the type used on earthmoving equipment such as tractors, and whose tension is adjustable by a hydraulic cylinder arrangement (26-32) to lower part of the conveyor into a water tank (50) at the second station for plasma-arc cutting the workpiece. The third station is adjacent the second station and has two additional conveyors (66, 68) for receiving a cut workpiece, depending on the size of such cut workpiece. A cleaning apparatus (60-64) supplies jets of water onto the closed loop conveyor to clean the latter of slag.

Abstract: A shoe has a first coupling element secured on a heel portion thereof and a second coupling element, defining a heel thereon, is slidably mounted in interlocking relationship on the first coupling element. A resilient locking tab on the second coupling element engages a locking groove formed on the first coupling element and is held in locked relationship therein by a removable wedge.

Abstract: A thin-film deposition apparatus comprises a cabinet having a vessel mounted therein which defines a vacuum chamber adapted to retain processed articles. A vacuum unit is mounted adjacent to the vessel to communicate in substantially unrestricted communication with an inlet opening to the vacuum chamber for selectively evacuating the same. A valve is reciprocally mounted in a chamber communicating with the inlet opening to selectively expose the inlet opening during the evacuation process. A plurality of water-cooled and V-shaped baffles or a primary trap is mounted between the piston and the vacuum unit to provide an optically dense view of the vacuum chamber from the downstream side of the trap and to trap contaminants, such as oil droplets, prior to their ingress into the vacuum chamber from the vacuum unit. In addition, a plurality of fins or a secondary trap is mounted in nesting relationship within the baffles to provide an optically dense view of the primary trap from the vacuum chamber side thereof.

Abstract: A tubular article (F), such as a fire extinguisher, is normally retained on a bracket (10) by a releasable latch mechanism (19). An elastomeric pad (26) is compressed between an upper end of the article and the bracket for ejecting the article outwardly from the bracket upon release of the latch mechanism. A lower end (R) of the article is retained on the bracket by a lug (28) which releases the article for forward pivoting movement upon ejection thereof from the bracket.

Abstract: An improved tongue blade that may be used with frames of conventional design and forming part of a mouth gag, said blade having a handle portion that connects with a frame and a tongue-engaging portion that extends from said handle portion at an obtuse angle of between 100.degree. and 120.degree., said blade providing an improved exposure of the tonsils for surgical removal. The improved exposure is uniquely attained in the lower pole for more complete removal of the tonsil, and easier access to bleeding vessels for quicker ligation of bleeders.

Abstract: An article retention device is provided which is adapted for restraining the movement of a heavy article from a support platform, which platform includes a base and a frame upstanding therefrom. The article retention device comprises a restraining member and a mounting bracket adapted for mounting the restraining member to the frame. The restraining member is positionable to a first position to restrain the article and to a second position to release the article. Further the restraining member includes a lower portion such that at least the lower portion is movable upwardly as the restraining member is positioned to the second position to release the article.

Abstract: A stimulator device for insertion in a living body and having particular advantage for intra-cardiac use comprising a structure having a body form of a size and configuration to enable its transvenous or transarterial insertion, the surface of said body form providing electrode means for contact with a portion of the living body to be stimulated by said electrode means, and means mounted to project outwardly of and peripherally of said body form including anchor portions locating in a position displaced from said electrode means and providing means for engaging in portions of said living body to establish said electrode means in a required position of use, said electrode means having in connection therewith means to energize the same once said body form is located in its required position of use.