Abstract: An apparatus and operating system to be used by a paraplegic or other crippled person has a patient-supporting walker of stable construction, braces extending entirely along the user's legs, a body-supported pneumatic system for alternately moving the legs in a pre-determined manner, and user-operated control means for operating the system.

Abstract: A method of hermetically sealing a predetermined quantity of alcohol into a chamber provided at the bottom of a stackable disposable container of plastics material by securing a lid or cover having the thickness of foil to a ledge defined at the transition of the chamber with the remainder of the container. The method involves filling the container in such manner that the ledge is not wetted by the alcohol and than securing, by a combination of the effect of heat and pressure acting on the material of the cover and that of the ledge, the lid or cover to the ledge. Conveniently, a peripheral skirt is provided around the periphery of the lid or cover which is not adhered to the container.

Abstract: A fifth wheel coupler having a jaw which is positively driven by a mechanism in response to the movement of a king pin in a coupling direction. The jaw and the mechanism are yieldably connected so as to permit the mechanism to be operated by the oncoming king pin to the full extent of the movement of both, after the jaw has been prevented from further movement due to engagement with an obstruction on the king pin.

Abstract: In an hydraulic booster a load applied to a master cylinder assembly through the booster is fed back to a pedal-operated input piston through a reducer mechanism. This provides, when a booster chamber for operating a boost piston is pressurized by boost pressure, a reaction of "feel" at the pedal which is unaffected by the magnitude of the boost pressure.

Abstract: A pair of normal sized anchoring spuds for use in water of moderate depth are mounted for reciprocal movement in a single, reciprocal spud support member which may be lowered into water of abnormal depth, with the spuds cooperating with the support member as if they were operating in water of moderate depth.

Abstract: An improved upper member for the two-part ball race of a bicycle headset is provided which is light in weight and has a ball engaging surface which follows closely the contours of the balls.

Abstract: A control valve assembly incorporates a piston and a flow control valve which are both biassed in the same direction against pressure in an hydraulic accumulator by first and second respective springs. Accumulator pressure in a control chamber also acts to urge the flow control valve in the same direction as it is biassed by the second spring and pressure from a pump acts to bias the flow control valve in the opposite direction. A pilot dump valve controlling communication between the chamber and an outlet connection is normally biassed into a closed position by a third spring. The dump valve is adapted to open at a cut-out pressure to dump pressure from the chamber, and the cut-out pressure is determined by the area of the seating of the dump valve over which the pressure in the chamber acts, and the force in the third spring. A cut-in pressure at which the dump valve closes is determined by the area of the piston and the force in the first spring.

Abstract: A storm cellar or the like is disclosed composed of a pair of portable upper and lower pre-cast concrete sections one of which seats in an inverted position on the other to define a closed compartment. Each section includes a portion of a stairway of conventional configuration, the portions matching when the sections are assembled to extend from the lower level of the top of the assembled cellar to near its floor through aligned openings in the walls of the sections, thus permitting the cellar to be fully buried in the ground while at the same time providing ready access to the cellar from ground level without requiring that any portion of the cellar itself protrude above ground level.

Abstract: A method forming a glazed tile with the edges of the glaze in the planes of the side walls of the tile including breaking protruding glaze with a compressible sheet of material.

Abstract: The backfin lump of meat is removed from the prepared body of a cooked Chesapeake Bay blue crab by cutting the body along planes which are, respectively, outside the collar bones which internally bound the lump meat cavities and converge to the center line of the back thereby providing an opening to each lump meat cavity, and then removing the lump meat through the opening using a special tool.

Abstract: Decorative tiles which may be bonded to the surfaces of columns and walls of a building are provided and a method for manufacturing the same is also disclosed. One surface of a tile blank made of a refractory material such as ceramic is coated with a metal layer by a metal spraying process so that a decorative tile looks gorgeous and even when a decorative tile is directly bonded to a concrete wall, it is not attacked or corroded.

Abstract: A strut (40) whose effective length depends on the relative positions of two strut portions (44,46) adjustable with respect to each other is connected in parallel with a brake actuating mechanism (18). One of the strut portions (44,46) is subjected to the force of a biased adjustment member acting transversely of the longitudinal direction of the strut (40) and, upon actuation of the brake, tending to increase the length of the strut (40). The adjustment member cooperates with an intermediate member (24) which is disposed between two structural members (14",22) transmitting the actuating force (P) independently of the strut (40) and which is displaceable against the frictional resistance (Q) thereof, provided said resistance does not surpass a given value. Thus the possibility of adjustment is limited by the actuating force itself which is not transmitted by the strut and, for instance, may be hydraulic.

Abstract: This specification discloses a friction pad assembly for use in a disc brake. The friction pad assembly has a pad anti-rattle spring having a coiled region intermediate its ends, the coils of said coiled region being axially spaced apart from each other and engaging in a slot in the backing plate, the slot and spring presenting planar surfaces which can interengage with each other. Thus, by virtue of the interengaging planar surfaces the coiled region can only, at most, rotate to a limited degree in the slot and thus, should one spring arm be broken, the planar surfaces prevent the coiled region from rotating within the slot when a force is applied to the other arm whereby that other spring arm can continue to function. Also, the location of the coiled region in the slot is space saving and the spaced apart coils allows the maximum spring performance to be achieved.

Abstract: A polysaccharide PS-A obtained from plants belonging to the genus Epimedium and having the following physicochemical properties, a process for preparation thereof and use as phylactic and immunostimulating agents comprising the polysaccharide PS-A as an effective component:1. Elementary analysis: C=40.92; H=6.17; Ash=very small;2. Molecular weight: 75,000.+-.25,000 (average molecular weight);3. Decomposition point: 205.degree. C.;4. pH: 7.0 (solution of 100 mg of PS-A in 50 ml of water);5. Specific rotatory power: [.alpha.].sub.D.sup.19 =-23.6.degree. (in H.sub.2 O, c=0.527);6. Infrared absorption spectrum: .nu..sub.max.sup.KBr (cm.sup.-1)/3400, 2900, 1620, 1400, 1230, 1060;7. Ultraviolet absorption spectrum: Maximum absorption is not recognized in the range of 240-400 nm.;8. Outward form: White or faint brown, amorphous powder;9. Solubility:(a) Soluble in water;(b) Insoluble in methanol, ethanol, acetone, ethyl acetate, diethyl ether, hexane and chloroform;10.

Abstract: Luff furling main and head sails are subject to sagging-off to leeward in heavy winds thereby decreasing the aerodynamic efficiency of the sails. The invention diminishes or eliminates this problem by providing a strip of sail cloth which may be interposed between the luff furling apparatus and a rigging member such as a mast or stay, the strip having a sliding connection with both members along their lengths whereby the load on the sail is transferred uniformly along the length of the rigging member and the furling apparatus is prevented from sagging to leeward.

Abstract: A suspension strut for a vehicle comprises a cylinder in which works a piston, and the piston is carried by a piston-rod which passes through an axial extension depending from a closure for one end of the cylinder. An annular chamber defined between the cylinder and the extension accommodates the whole of a volume of gas or air and a portion of a volume of hydraulic fluid which fills the remaining space in the cylinder and against which the piston works. A seal through which the piston-rod works is carried by the extension at a position which is always below the level of hydraulic fluid in the cylinder so that the gas or air is prevented from escaping past the seal by the presence of the hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: Sudden accidental or unintended movement of an automatic transmission into reverse with the engine running is prevented by substituting for the usual unitary control rod a two part arrangement, one being movable by the shift lever and the other being movable by a spring separator from the shift lever but arranged to exert a force only in the direction of a parking pawl and never in the reverse direction against any member connected to the detent plate. Thus it is impossible for a yielding cam spring to ever drive the linkage unexpectedly into reverse should a driver carelessly position a shaft lever between its reverse and park positions.

Abstract: In a dual master cylinder assembly comprising two independently and simultaneously operable master cylinders, primary pressure spaces between primary and secondary pistons are interconnected by a pipe-line, and secondary spaces between the secondary piston and adjacent ends of the master cylinders are connected to a common auxiliary braking system through a pipe-line. Each secondary piston is provided with an arrangement of passages in communication at all times with a reservoir for fluid, and normally open primary and secondary recuperation valves provide communication between the passages and the respective pressure spaces when the pistons are in their retracted positions. Simultaneous operation of both master cylinders causes both pairs of primary and secondary recuperation valves to close followed by pressurization of the fluid in both pairs of primary and secondary pressure spaces, whereby to apply simultaneously the brakes on opposite sides of the vehicle and to operate the auxiliary braking system.

Abstract: A brake pressure regulator for an hydraulic vehicle braking system. A first inlet chamber (14) and an outlet chamber (20) for a first brake circuit (HzI-RzI) are defined by piston surfaces of different sizes of a stepped piston (30) which controls a valve (40) disposed in a connection between these two chambers (14, 20). The pressure in a second inlet chamber (24) adapted to be connected to a second brake circuit (HzII-RzII) acts on an annular control piston (50) which is acted upon in opposite direction by a spring (60). The control piston (50) surrounds the stepped piston (30) without contacting the same and is sealed radially inwardly against a plug (16) which is inserted in the housing (10) and which in turn surrounds the stepped piston (30) in sealing fashion. When as switching pressure in both brake circuits (HzI-RzI, HzII-RzII) is surpassed, the stepped piston (30), aided by the control piston (50), adopts a position at which the valve (40) closes.