Abstract: An instrument for retracting soft tissue during oral and maxillofacial surgery has a handle, a palm engaging lesser blade at one end of the handle and a greater active blade which extends at an adjustable angle from the other end of the handle.

Abstract: In a valve assembly for a pressurized fluid dispensing container, such as those commonly known as aerosol cans, the filling with propellant gas at the very high speed and pressure needed to meet current production rates presents problems. The invention involves crimping the center boss of the sheet metal mounting cup in such a way, and at a point below the enlarged head portion of the valve housing, that the part of the boss above the crimp and around the valve housing bows outwards to provide clearance for "gassing". There are notches in the lower part of the outside of the head portion but these stop short of the upper face of the head. The valve stem may also have external axial grooves placed to increase the effective cross-sectional area during gassing.

Abstract: The invention overcomes the problem of a cocking valve in a pressure control unit for use in a vehicle braking system. The valve is provided with a body assembly defining an external cylindrical surface slidably engaging the internal surface of a valve chamber, the engaged cylindrical surfaces having sufficient axial extent as to positively prevent said valve from cocking or moving laterally out of a co-axial position with a movable valve seat.

Abstract: In the ultrasonic testing of a casting for defects an ultrasonic probe is mounted in a tank of water and scans across a surface of the casting which faces downwards just below the surface of the water. A pantograph linkage interconnects the probe with a pointer that is movable by an operator over a facsimile of the surface scanned by the probe. The interconnection is such that each position of the probe is represented by a corresponding position of the pointer and as the pointer is moved over the facsimile of the surface the probe scans the surface of the casting. The water ensures that there is good acoustic coupling between the probe and casting and the pantograph linkage reduces the skill and concentration required by the operator. Conveniently, only anomalous signals arising from defects are passed on from the probe to the operator.

Abstract: A process for sugar-coating a solid preparation such as tablet, pill, granule or grain with a sugar-coating liquid comprising pullulan and/or a water-soluble derivative thereof dissolved in an aqueous solution of sucrose. The solid preparation sugar-coated by the above-mentioned process exhibits an enhanced impact strength and shelf life.

Abstract: A radio transmitting and receiving system for operating the doors of an automobile to locked or unlocked condition and unlocking the automobile trunk or hood. The unlocking code may also activate the electric power to the engine starter motor, hood and manual switches of the power door operating motor.

Abstract: A foundry binder of the water-soluble alkali metal polyacrylate type having additives that include lime is cured by the use of the vapour of a low-boiling point organic ester having not more than three carbon atoms, primarily methyl formate, entrained in a carrier gas, e.g. carbon dioxide or nitrogen.

Abstract: A spot type disc brake comprises a floating caliper supported for displacement on a carrier by a pair of guide pins and corresponding guide bores. The caliper straddles a pair of brake pads one of which is adapted to be pressed into contact with a brake disc directly by a brake actuator and the other one by displacement of the caliper caused by the brake actuator. The brake further comprises sealing members sealing the sliding surfaces of each guide pin and the corresponding guide bore. Each guide pin includes a collar in the area of that end which extends from the guide bore toward the brake disc, and the respective sealing member is arranged to be protected behind the collar.

Abstract: The concern is with reducing the deceleration rate of an over-running flywheel following actuation of an associated camming means, by reducing the torque of an axially biassed clutch, to provide a more reliable wheel speed analogue. In one construction the clutch may consist of two clutch discs engaging with the thrust member of a camming means. The clutch torque is reduced following expansion of the camming means by reducing the frictional engagement force between one disc and the thrust member, this being effected by a change in the mechanical advantage of a lever acting on the flywheel as the lever accommodates expansion of the camming means. In another construction the fluid pressure force on a clutch biassing piston is varied to vary the clutch torque, and in yet other arrangements, a magnetic clutch biassing force is varied.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure regulating valve for an hydraulic vehicle braking system, comprising a housing which has a main cylinder connection and an inlet chamber connected therewith, as well as a wheel cylinder connection and an outlet chamber connected therewith. A piston is arranged between the two chambers and normally leaves open a connection between them. A valve member is adapted to be moved when a certain deceleration force acting upon it is exceeded into a closed position in which it interrupts the connection between the two chambers. Thereupon, when pressure in the inlet chamber continues to increase, the piston enlarges said inlet chamber at the expense of the outlet chamber. A throttle member is arranged in the outlet chamber and normally leaves open the wheel cylinder connection but is adapted to be moved by the flowing brake fluid on sudden brake actuation into a position in which it partially covers the wheel cylinder connection.

Abstract: A seating platform e.g. for domestic furniture or motor vehicle seats comprises at least one moulded elastic element mounted on a frame member and covered by a non-stretch sheet which, upon installation, is only lightly tensioned. The elastic element is of a substantially incompressible material, e.g. a rubber composition high in natural rubber, and includes spaced apart grooves which permit controlled transverse deformation of the element upon loading of the platform.

Abstract: Dust-pressed plates (P) are trimmed to a predetermined peripheral profile by means of three milling cutters rotating at around 12,000 r.p.m. The cutters are uniformly spaced about a central axis and operate simultaneously on the periphery of a plate while the plate is rotated about the axis. The cutters are located during trimming by means of a profile cam which is in registration with the plate mounted on a ware support. To ensure registration with the cam, a plate is centered by a centering unit before being orientated by orientating mechanism and transferred to the ware support. Each plate is delivered to the centering unit with a reference feature at a predetermined position on its periphery, the orientating mechanism being arranged to search for that feature before rotating the plate to bring it into the required orientation for registration with the cam.

Abstract: A game is played by two teams of two players who are positioned about the four sides of a rotatable playing board. The play area of each player is shielded from the others by four vanes which extend radially at 90.degree. spacings from a shaft mounted on the playing board. The board, shaft and vanes are rotatable through 180.degree.. Identical play cards, information cards and pins are distributed to the players and the play cards are provided with holes corresponding to data on the information cards. The players place their play cards on their play areas and each player attempts to insert a pin in each correct hole.

Abstract: Running gear comprises a beam having upwardly directed, aligned, first brackets at or towards each end for attachment of the beam transversely to a trailer, aligned second brackets depending from the beam at or towards its ends, at least one third bracket depending from the beam in alignment with and intermediate the second brackets, arms respectively pivoted at their front ends to a second bracket and the or a third bracket and carrying stub axles at their rear ends on which are brake means and wheel mounting means, and rigid with and extending rearwardly from each arm and stub axle assembly a member having a platform for an air spring. The running gear is fixed as a unit to a trailer chassis by the first brackets. Preferably the beam is tubular of vertically elongated hexagonal cross-section, and upper and lower regions of the section are embraced by the first and second brackets respectively.

Abstract: In the headset of a bicycle in which a clamping ring connected to the fork stem is compressed by a locknut into engagement with the handlebar stem, to thereby connect the handlebar stem to the fork stem, means are provided for locking the clamping ring to the fork stem to prevent undesired movement of the handlebars with respect to the fork stem.

Abstract: A power assisted respirator comprises a facepiece for covering at least the nose and mouth of the wearer which has an outlet provided with a one-way exhale valve which is openable to permit air to flow out of the facepiece when a predetermined pressure P is established within the facepiece. A pump unit supplies air to the space within the facepiece. The pump unit may be connected to an inlet of the facepiece by a flexible hose or may be mounted directly on or in the facepiece. A filter canister is connected to the inlet of the pump means for filtering air supplied to the facepiece. A one-way inlet valve is provided in the path of air flowing from the pump unit to the facepiece and a pressure sensor is provided for sensing the pressure of air in the region of the pump unit inlet for causing deenergisation of the pump unit when the pressure in the region of the pump unit inlet exceeds a predetermined level.

Abstract: The preparation of the hitherto unknown benzoheterazolo[3,2-a]quinolinium salts via, the photochemically induced cyclization of 2-chlorostyrylbenzoheterazoles is described. The new products show cytotoxic, antitumor and antiviral activity.

Abstract: A strut (40), whose effective length depends on the relative positions of two strut portions (42,44) adjustable with respect to each other is connected in parallel with a brake actuating mechanism (18). One strut portion (44) has at least one part adjustable transversely of the longitudinal direction of the strut (40) and upon actuation of the brake tends to increase the length of the strut (40). This strut portion (44) has an operable connection with an intermediate member (24) which is supported on one of two structural members (128, 136) transmitting the actuating force independently of the strut (40) for rotation around the axis (B) of the brake actuating device (18) and is rotatable against the frictional resistance thereof only as long as this does not surpass a given value. In this way, the strut (40) is prevented from unnecessary or over-adjustment upon particularly forceful actuation of the brake.

Abstract: An insert for an article of footwear is made as a unitary moulding of a flexible plastics material. It comprises a plurality of internally screw-threaded sockets, for receiving externally screw-threaded spigots on ground-engaging studs, and a support interconnecting the sockets. The support may be of laminar form and may be perforate or imperforate. Each socket may be closed at its upper end. At least one of the bearing surfaces of the internal screw-thread in each socket may be shaped so that in a cross-section containing the axis of the screw-thread the bearing surface appears as a straight line at least substantially normal to the axis. The insert may be incorporated in a sole or heel that is moulded around it or may be secured between the layers of a laminated sole or heel.