Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing granules from slags produced in metallurgical furnaces such as blast furnaces, converter furnaces, electric furnaces, reverberatory furnaces comprising means for accelerating a stream of molten slag from a container to a velocity of at least two meters per second, and directing the stream onto a target surface from which it rebounds in the form of an inverted cone of droplets which are projected through the air to cool and to solidify them into granules.

Abstract: In an hydraulic system an unloader valve is located in a line between a pump and an hydraulic accumulator. The unloader valve is operative to prevent the accumulator from being overcharged and to allow the pump to re-charge the accumulator should the pressure stored therein fall below a desired minimum value. The unloader valve incorporates a control valve comprising a spool, and a pressure responsive slave which is operated by fluid pressure under the control of the control valve. A spring acts to bias the spool into a first position against pressure in a control chamber into which fluid is pumped through a first one-way valve. A second valve in series with the first valve is located between the first valve and an exhaust port for connection to a tank for fluid. The slave comprises inner and outer concentric piston parts which are relatively movable axially and of which the inner part is adapted to open the valve to unload the pump.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a beach mat for human use comprising a center section which may be adjusted to provide a surface on which the body may rest in a reclining or sitting position and which has bottom and head end parts. The bottom end part has side panels which may be folded under the center section to permit rigid maintenance of an upward fold in part of the center section, and the head end part has side panels pivotally connected to the center section which may be folded rearwardly from the center section to support the head end part of the center section in raised position for head and back support.

Abstract: The disclosure is of means for connecting two bodies in abutting surface-to-surface relation by means of interfitting hooks and recesses, upon relative movement of the surfaces with respect to each other.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a game comprising a board having a cross shaped playing field marked thereon which is formed by squares defined by intersecting lines, two sets of differently marked movable game pieces, and two dice. The game is played by moving the game pieces to points of intersection of the lines, and using the dice, in accordance with rules of the game.

Abstract: A motor vehicle suspension system comprises four hydro-pneumatic struts three of which are provided with sensors to detect variations in length of the struts. A control system is responsive to the sensors and operates valves to add fluid to or remove fluid from struts to maintain the length of these struts constant. The pressure within the fourth strut is controlled so that the proportion of the static roll-torque (caused by off-center loading of the vehicle) which is reacted by the front and rear axles is the same as the proportion of the static weight of the vehicle which is reacted by the front and rear axles respectively. Control of the pressure within the fourth strut is accomplished by a control valve having a valve spool which is subject to the pressures within the four struts.

Abstract: A brake shoe (1) for a railway brake has a dovetail slot (4) in its front face for receiving a projection (3) of complementary shape on a brake pad (2) for mounting the pad on the shoe, and a retainer (6) slidably mounted in an aperture in the shoe and having a tongue (8) which projects into the slot for retaining the pad on the shoe, the retainer being biased by leaf-springs (10) fixed to the rear face of the shoe into an operative position so that danger of the retainer being left in a retracted position after a pad replacement operation is eliminated.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a poncho for human use having an enclosed area at the center of the rear panel which may be inflated to form a cushion on which the wearer sits.

Abstract: An internal shoe-drum brake is disclosed in which a pair of arcuate shoes can be applied to a rotatable drum by an hydraulic actuation system for normal service braking when the brake acts as a brake of the "two-leading" shoe type and a mechanical actuation system for parking or emergency braking when the brake acts as a brake of the "duo-servo" type. The hydraulic system comprises two hydraulic pistons, each of which acts on the leading end of a respective shoe, and first and second abutments are provided against which the trailing ends of the shoes are adapted to rest. One abutment is fixed but the other abutment includes an auxiliary hydraulic piston which is adapted to be urged against a fixed stop by hydraulic pressure applied to the pistons. The reaction from the trailing end of a respective shoe tends to urge the piston away from the stop, but the area of the piston is sufficient to prevent this happening when the hydraulic pressure is acting on the piston.

Abstract: A rolling process wherein a pair of working rolls are driven at different peripheral velocities so that the peripheral velocity ratio may be varied, and the peripheral velocity ratio is so controlled that the rolling torque of each of the working rolls may be within a maximum tolerable torque which the working roll may transmit, thereby reducing the rolling force.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a spring cartridge for a spring operated re-wind mechanism such, for example, as those used with pull cord type engine starters.

Abstract: The present specification discloses a disc brake and a friction pad assembly therefor. In the brake at least one pin passes through an aperture in the backing plate of the inboard friction pad assembly to form a friction pad guide and support. A sheath of corrosion-resistant material also passes through said aperture and is preferably an interference fit therein. The sheath extends towards the plane in which the disc engaging face of the friction pad secured to the backing plate, lies, and always covers the end region of the extended portion of the pin, the sheath being contacted and abraded by the disc of the brake as the pad wears. The sheath thus protects the pin from corrosion ensuring smooth movement of the friction pad assembly.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a mechanism for raising and lowering a window, such as the window of an automobile, the mechanism being of the type in which a flexible belt or chain connected to the window is moved along a fixed track, and a window counterbalancing spring is provided.

Abstract: In a disc brake the application of the brake is initiated by angular movement of pressure plates in opposite directions, the pressure plates then moving apart into engagement with friction discs which are urged into engagement with opposed radial surfaces in a stationary housing. The angular movement is effected hydraulically by an actuator comprising a piston working in a bore of a cylinder, the axis of which is substantially at right angles to that of the brake. The piston acts through a part-spherical rocking thrust coupling associated with a pull-rod passing through the actuator with a substantial clearance, the inner end of the pull-rod being pivotally coupled to the junction of a pair of toggle links connected between lugs on the pressure plates. The outer end of the pull-rod is extended for connection through a transmission member to a hand lever for applying the brake mechanically.

Abstract: In a suspension system which is designed to maintain a nominal ride height between the body and the unsprung parts of a vehicle, the difference in wheel speed on opposite sides of the vehicle produced during cornering is used to inhibit adjustment of ride height.An electrical sensor and control unit is used to control flow of hydraulic fluid to and from a suspension unit by means of solenoid-operated valves, so as to maintain the ride height constant. A cornering sensor compares the sensed speeds of two wheels, preferably mounted on a common axle, and inhibits the control unit when the difference in speeds departs from an expected difference by more than a certain amount. The expected difference may be zero or it may be the average difference derived over a period of time.

Abstract: A stud for releasable attachment to an article of footwear, particularly for use in games and sports, comprises a support made of plastics material such as glass-filled nylon and a metal pin element. The support has an externally screw-threaded sleeve for engagement with a socket in an article of footwear and an outwardly directed flange for engagement with the lower end of the socket or with the sole of the article of footwear. The pin element comprises a stem and a ground-engaging head which may be blunt or spike-shaped. In assembly the stem is inserted into the sleeve and is then deformed as by riveting to secure the support and the pin element together.

Abstract: A fluid pressure braking system is disclosed which includes an hydraulic actuator connected to a vehicle brake and a pressure actuator for operating the hydraulic actuator and which is connected to a fluid pressure reservoir via a brake control valve. An auxiliary valve having an inlet connected to a fluid pressure source, which may be the reservoir, is responsive to a deceleration responsive inertia device which, when deceleration exceeds a predetermined value operates the valve to connect pressure from the source to a pressure operable member which operates on the actuators in opposition to the pressure at the inlet of the pressure actuator thereby effecting a pressure reduction at the outlet of the hydraulic actuator in dependence on deceleration. The auxiliary valve includes a metering feature whereby when it is opened, outlet pressure operates against a pressure area of the valve to effect metering of pressure to the pressure operable member.

Abstract: A diaphragm pump comprises a body defining a chamber in which a diaphragm is arranged to divide the chamber into a drive chamber and a pump chamber. The pump chamber has an inlet and an outlet for fluid to be pumped, each of the inlet and outlet being provided with a one-way valve. The drive chamber has an inlet for driving fluid and the inlet is provided with a valve which is open under normal operating conditions of the pump. The valve is arranged so that, if a high pressure persists in the pump chamber when the pressure in the drive chamber is relieved causing the diaphragm to expand, the diaphragm will contact the movable valve member of the valve to move it to a position closing the inlet opening so that the drive chamber is isolated from the drive fluid pressure variations while the abnormal pressure subsists in the pump chamber.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing granules from slags produced in metallurgical furnaces such as blast furnaces, converter furnaces, electric furnaces and reverberatory furnaces. A molten slag stream from a container at a velocity of at least two meters per second is impinged upon a non-wetting target surface, from which the stream rebounds in a film of projected droplets having the shape of an inverted cone. Cooling and solidifying the droplets by their projected flight in air forms solid granules.