Abstract: A vehicle brake system in which an output member is axially displaceable by the application of differential fluid pressure, under the control of a valve operable by an input member, across a movable internal wall which divides a housing of the booster into a pair of fluid chambers. Displacement of the movable wall is communicated to the output member via a lever mechanism providing a mechanical advantage between said movable wall and the output member. The lever mechanism comprises first and second levers. The second lever is pivotable relative to the input and output members at respective pivot points.

Abstract: An electrical terminal assembly for releasably connecting a branch lead to a through lead without disturbing the continuity of the through lead has an insulating housing in two, snap-engaging parts fitted on opposite sides of the through lead. The body part holds a metal terminal member made from a flat blank and formed at one end as a socket of a flat blade plug and socket connector. A flat blade connector on the branch lead can be inserted in the socket through an aperture in the body part. The other end of the terminal member is bent into tubular shape leaving a gap between its edges. An aligned slot is formed in the opposite wall. The edges of the gap and slot pierce the insulation of the conductor and make contact with its core when the two body parts are interengaged about the conductor.

Abstract: An offset screen-printing machine for applying a design in color to the surfaces of a succession of articles, such as articles of ceramic ware, comprising a transfer plate affording a flat, non-absorbent, surface constituting an intermediate surface, screen-printing means enabling color to be applied by a screen-printing process on to that intermediate surface, an article support for supporting an article to which the design is to be applied, a deformable transfer pad in the shape of an inverted dome, and blade means operative to scrape residual color from the intermediate surface.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with making a multi-layer pizza type product wherein, instead of a single pastry layer, two pastry layers are provided with a layer of ingredients over the second pastry layer. The method includes adding as a final layer over a first prebaked pastry layer, a layer of cheese, then stretching over this a layer of unbaked dough, partially baking the layers, adding a layer of ingredients to the upper surface of the partially baked pastry layer, and then baking the entire assembly at a specified temperature for a specified period of time until done.

Abstract: A disc brake wear indicator which in use is secured within a bore in the carrier member of a pinsliding caliper disc brake comprises electrical conductors which are normally electrically connected by a ring secured to a sleeve. A probe is secured to one of the caliper pins by a spring ring and is coupled to the sleeve by a lost-motion connection formed by flanges. The indicator is secured in the bore when the brake pads are new, and because the ring will grip the pin-bore at any point along its length the initial position of the flanges shown in the drawings is always obtained regardless of manufacturing tolerances in the brake components. After predetermined brake pad wear the pin will have moved along the bore sufficiently to bring the flanges into contact and move the ring away from the conductors to provide a brake pad wear signal.

Abstract: In a disc brake of the spreading type an automatic adjuster is located within the housing of the brake. The adjuster comprises an extensible strut which acts between radial lugs on pressure plates to maintain the pressure plates in relative angular positions in which the braking clearances are maintained within the predetermined limits. In the construction described the strut is coupled at each end to a respective plate through a lever which is urged into a neutral position by a spring. The load in the spring is chosen to permit the lever to move angularly about a pivotal connection with its respective plate and prevent the effective length of the strut from being increased further as a result of loads which are transmitted through the strut as a consequence of structural deflection of the housing. The adjuster is therefore said to be "load-insensitive" for both directions of disc rotation.

Abstract: A control valve assembly for a dual circuit braking system has two valves controlling the pressure in the respective circuits. In order to ensure substantially equal braking pressures in the circuits, a pressure equalizing piston is provided which is free floating in a bore interconnecting outlets of the valve assembly. The braking pressure can thus be equalized even after closure of the valves. One valve is preferably inertia-responsive.

Abstract: An hydro-pneumatic suspension device comprises a pressure chamber and a working chamber which are separated from each other by a first diaphragm. The pressure chamber contains a trapped volume of gas under pressure for supporting the load on a wheel or axle, the working chamber contains a volume of liquid under pressure which is trapped between the first diaphragm, and oppositely acting one-way valves or restrictors are provided for damping liquid flow in the working chamber. The side of the second diaphragm remote from the working chamber is subjected to a supply of liquid of which the pressure can be altered to compensate for changes in pressure in the pressure chamber due to changes in the loading on a vehicle.

Abstract: A pump assembly for an hydraulic braking system comprises a housing having an inlet for connection to a tank for liquid, an outlet for connection to an hydraulic accumulator, and a piston reciprocably mounted in a bore in the housing to draw liquid into a working chamber during an induction stroke and to force it to the outlet during a power stroke. A drive mechanism is provided for moving the piston in one direction during the induction stroke, and the piston is moved in the opposite direction during the power stroke by subjecting the piston to pressure at the outlet.

Abstract: In order to reduce the distortion of a servo booster housing in use the booster is provided with one or more ties which extend through the movable wall for transmitting reaction forces directly from the master cylinder housing to the vehicle bulkhead between which the booster is mounted. This enables a housing of lighter weight, such as a plastics housing, to be employed, and an overall saving in weight may be achieved. The front or rear housing wall, or both, is provided with a sleeve which encases part of the tie within the housing. The sleeve may perform various functions: it may be keyed to the tie to resist turning of the tie, it may be arranged to support a rolling diaphragm sealing the tie to the movable wall, and its free end may locate a peripheral bead on the rolling diaphragm.

Abstract: In a butterfly valve, comprising a valve disk which is pivotally mounted in a valve housing for movement between a closed position, in which it prevents the flow of fluid along a passageway defined by the housing, and an open position in which the flow of fluid is allowed, an annular seal is provided to seal between the periphery of the disk and the wall of the passageway when the disk is in its closed position. The seal comprises two deformable sealing members of P.C.T.F.E. with a rigid fireproof ring independently mounted between the sealing elements. The disk is located for pivotal movement by locating means constituted by fire-destructible members of a similar material to that of the sealing elements, so that in the event of a fire that destroys the sealing elements the disk becomes free to move a small distance along the passageway into engagement with the fireproof ring to effect a seal.

Abstract: An internal shoe drum brake comprises a pair of brake shoes, an adjustable length strut extending between the shoes and having a ratchet movement of which adjusts the length of the strut, an actuating lever pivotally connected to one end of the strut and engaging one shoe, the lever being so arranged that a force acting on one end in a direction generally parallel to the drum axis rotates the lever to exert a force on one shoe and a reaction force through the intermediary of the strut on the other shoe to urge said shoes apart, and a pawl engageable with the ratchet. To reduce the number of parts the pawl is pivotally mounted on the other shoe and is rotatable about its pivot to move the ratchet and thereby adjust the length of the strut when there is excess wear of the shoes. Furthermore, the strut preferably has a portion which is engageable with a surface portion of the brake back plate, or a member secured to the back plate, to react forces to the back plate.

Abstract: Anti-skid brake control systems are described in which anti-skid brake control modules associated with the braked axles are each provided with a failsafe circuit and these failsafe circuits are connected in cascade fashion to form a chain so that an input signal applied to a first failsafe circuit will propagate through the chain of failsafe circuits to the output of the last failsafe circuit only if the wiring connecting the modules is correct, the failsafe circuits are themselves operating correctly and electrical power is being supplied to each module, a warning being given to the driver of the vehicle if the output signal from the last failsafe circuit fails. In a previously proposed system the warning given is only produced in the event of a fault, and there is no positive indication of correct operation of the system at switch on.

Abstract: Disclosed is a urokinase preparation for oral administration which is effective for remedy of thrombosis such as cerebral thrombosis and cardiac infarction. This preparation comprises urokinase and, incorporated therein, glycoprotein.

Abstract: In order to reduce the distortion of a servo booster housing in use the booster is provided with one or more force transmitting means which extend through the movable wall for transmitting reaction forces directly from the master cylinder housing to the vehicle bulkhead between which the booster is mounted. This enables a housing of lighter weight to be employed, and an overall saving in weight may be achieved.

Abstract: The invention relates to master cylinder and actuator assemblies in which a push rod connected to the actuator extends forwardly through a vehicle mounting member and is engageable at its forward end with a piston, there normally being a clearance between the push rod and the piston in their inoperative positions. Such assemblies suffer from the disadvantage that a desired working clearance is difficult to attain due to manufacturing tolerances. Embodiments of the present invention overcome that disadvantage and provide an assembly which includes a lateral projection (10) on the push rod (5), which projection limits rearward movement of the push rod relative to the mounting member (3).

Abstract: In order to reduce the distortion of a servo booster bousing in use the booster is provided with one or more ties which extend through the movable wall for transmitting reaction forces directly from the master cylinder housing to the vehicle bulkhead. This enables a housing of lighter weight to be employed, and an overall saving in weight to be achieved. A diaphragm support plate of the movable wall is sealed to the tie by a rolling diaphragm, and the support plate is provided with a tubular extension co-axial with the tie.

Abstract: An anti-skid brake conrol system includes a sensor which produces a signal proportional to the acceleration of a braked wheel and a comparator that responds to the acceleration signal by producing a signal which undergoes a step change at set acceleration levels so as to divide successive deceleration/acceleration cycles into successive acceleration periods separated by intermediate periods. The output of the comparator is integrated to produce an output signal which changes in a progressive manner in one sense during each acceleration period and in the opposite sense during each intermediate period so as to vary in accordance with surface friction conditions. The output signal is used to vary a control parameter or function within the system in accordance with the surface friction conditions.

Abstract: A device for blasting descaling slurry jets against the surfaces of sheet metal is disclosed, thereby descaling the same prior to cold rolling.

Abstract: An adapter is disclosed which is particularly suited to adapting a four wire signal lamp system as provided on many foreign automotive vehicles to the three wire system utilized on many American vehicles. The adapter is arranged to convert the normally common circuit of brake lamps of the four wire towed vehicle into two independent circuits utilizing in situ wiring of a turn lamp for one of the brake lamp circuits while disconnecting the two brake lamps from each other. The resulting independent brake lamp circuits are then connected to the independent combined turn and brake lamp circuits of the towing vehicle.