Abstract: In an anti-skid vehicle braking system an electronic control unit is arranged to control the operation of an anti-skid valve assembly for modulating the fluid pressure applied to a brake actuator. A wheel speed sensor measures the speed of a braked wheel and produces a signal which is converted into a deceleration signal by a conditioning circuit and a differentiator and compared in a comparator with a deceleration threshold value. A pressure sensor provides a pressure signal corresponding to the current brake actuator pressure and a pressure signal conditioning circuit modifies the pressure signal to take account of a load signal produced by a load sensor which measures the loading of the braked wheel. The deceleration threshold value is produced by modulation of a constant threshold value in a threshold generator circuit and a threshold modulator circuit in response to the modified pressure signal.

Abstract: A member of composite material incorporates at least one strain responsive member within a part at which a strain is induced by a load in use. A signal which is a function of a strain detetected by the strain responsive member is communicated to an indicator or monitoring device which registers the applied load causing the strain.In one embodiment a leaf spring for a vehicle comprises upper and lower elements of one or more superimposed strips of pre-impregnated longitudinally extending carbon fibres and an inner element of one or more strips of pre-impregnated glass fibres. During laying up of the strips two strain gauges (13, 14), which may be on or integral with a carrier strip, and their leads (13a, 13b, 14a, 14b) are introduced into the active length of the spring which experiences a bending moment on the application of a load. The gauges are positioned at a pre-determined distance apart which is maintained when the member is cured, as by hot press moulding.

Abstract: There is provided a process for production of o-(2,6-dichloroanilino)phenylacetic acid or a salt thereof by reacting o-chlorophenylacetic acid or an alkali metal salt thereof with 2,6-dichloroaniline in the presence of a base and at least 0.5 mol of a copper catalyst per mol of o-chlorophenylacetic acid in a polar solvent.

Abstract: In a dual hydraulic braking system in which brakes on opposite sides of a vehicle can be applied simultaneously for retarding or independently for steering the vehicle, a dual control valve assembly ensures that the brakes on one side cannot be applied before the brakes on the opposite side. When the brakes on one side are to be applied independently, a stem carrying inlet and exhaust valve heads moves with a pedal-operated piston so that the exhaust valve head engages with a valve spool to close an exhaust passage. The spool moves with the piston and head until it is arrested by a stop face, whereafter a seating on the piston moves away from the inlet valve head to allow pressurized fluid to be supplied to the outlet for the brakes. When the brakes are to be applied simultaneously, a volume of fluid trapped in a transfer connection between the exhaust valve heads arrests movement of the spools to ensure that the inlet valves open simultaneously.

Abstract: An hydraulic braking system for vehicles comprises a single pedal-operated master cylinder, a selector valve assembly and a double-acting valve incorporated into a common housing, and an actuator for a brake on either side of the vehicle. A lever acts to close a diverter valve to cut-off the supply of fluid to the actuator on one side when the brake on the other side is to be applied, so that one brake is applied independently of the brake on the other side. Each actuator comprises a differential piston which works in a stepped bore to apply the brake, and when one of the valves closes, the lever simultaneously acts on the double-acting valve to increase the effective area of the actuator for the applied brake. A greater output torque is therefore obtained from the brake on one side when the brake on that side is applied independently than when the brakes on both sides are applied simultaneously.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for calcining raw materials in the form of powder or particles. The gases entrain the particles to spiral upward in the calcining furnace. In an upper throttle chamber the relatively coarse particles which have not been completely calcined are separated from the gas flow and returned into the calcining zone to be calcined again. This pattern of material flow is repeated several times. The calcining efficiency can be improved, so that the furnace can be made small in size. The uniformly calcined particles are discharged from the top of the furnace and introduced into one or more cyclone separators through an outlet duct including a 180.degree. bend section.

Abstract: An automatic plate freezer in which articles are fed in rows on to a plate to be loaded and are advanced along the plate by driving members on a drive element supported on the next plate above, the driving members being movable between a first article engaging position for article advance and a second free position by a positioning member coupled to each driving member by a positioning means.

Abstract: In an anti-skid braking system a supply of operating fluid from a master cylinder to a vehicle brake is modulated in accordance with skid signals from a skid sensing mechanism. The system incorporates an hydraulic pump of the double-acting type having a plunger working in a bore and a working chamber which is in communication with a modulator assembly adapted to control brake application following skid correction.

Abstract: The present specification discloses a pin slider disc brake comprising a torque-taking member and a caliper member, the members being slidable relative to one another by at least one pin connection. Each pin connection comprises an elongate, preferably cylindrical, pin guide which can be made of a corrosion-resistant material, the pin guide being detachably secured to, for example, the torque-taking member. The pin guide has a blind bore extending therethrough, in which a pin secured to the caliper member can freely slide, and the pin guide is so mounted to present an external surface which acts as a friction pad support surface. Thus, the pin guide can be relatively cheaply manufactured of corrosion-resistant material and simply replaced in the event of damage or wear.

Abstract: A friction pad assembly comprises a backing plate having friction material secured thereto, and an anti-rattle spring having a bent portion intermediate its ends, the bent portion seating in a recess in the backing plate. To avoid problems caused by heat when the spring is held in place in the recess by the friction material and located before heat bonding of the friction material, the recess is accessible to secure the spring to the backing plate after the friction material is secured to the backing plate. The bent portion is preferably retained in position in the recess by its own resilience.

Abstract: In a high pressure hydraulic system a source supplies pressurized fluid to a slave unit through a control valve which maintains the slave unit in a desired condition. Leakage from the slave unit past the control valve with the source inoperative is undesirable, but it is difficult at high pressures to provide cheaply a control valve with leakproof seals which requires small valve-operating forces. The control valve therefore has first and second ports communicating with the source and the slave unit, and a valve member movable to close either port or to an open position to allow communication between the ports. Movement of the valve member is controlled by the pressure differential across it; fluid flow past it, and forces produced by valve-operating solenoids. The slave unit may be an hydraulic suspension strut, and the system may comprise a vehicle suspension levelling system, with the solenoids and the source being manipulated as required by an electronic control system.

Abstract: An improved bucket wheel for a dredge having a flush jet arrangement for clearing the buckets of sticky material, an improved divider arrangement for preventing entrance of oversized objects into the buckets and means for expelling air trapped in buckets when the wheel is operating only partially submerged. The flush jet operates through the open bottom of each bucket to expel matter from the buckets substantially radially outwardly. The air expeller is an escape path, such as a chordal flat, between the hub and rim of the wheel in the region where air might be trapped by the buckets. The divider is a plate securely attached to each bucket of adjacent pairs of buckets and lying in the mid-plane of the wheel.

Abstract: One end of a casing in which a rotating shaft is supported by a floating metal bush is extended to surround the outer periphery of an oil thrower formed adjacent to an end of the shaft so that an oil-thrower space is defined by the shaft, the oil thrower, the casing and the floating metal bush, and an arcuate opening is formed through the wall of the casing so that the lubricating oil trapped in the oil-thrower space is discharged through this opening to an oil outlet.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel brake, particularly for a railway vehicle, has an elongate friction pad for engagement with a braking surface. In order to provide for adjustment of the pad without excessive length of the brake, the friction pad is hollow and an elongate adjuster member is located within the friction pad. Relative rotation of the pad and adjuster member, which occurs when there is excessive wear of the friction material, causes axial movement of the friction material to compensate for the wear.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel immunotherapeutic agent for tumors, which comprises as an active component a lipopolysaccharide derived from human tubercle bacillus or a lipopolysaccharide formed by chemically modifying said lipopolysaccharide.

Abstract: An oil seal for bearing of turbocharger is constructed so as to have an excellent sealing effect in which a lubricating oil flowing through the oil seal is subjected to the centrifugal force in such a way that the lubricating oil is forced to return toward a lubricating oil chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides an actuator mechanism comprising an axially rotatable actuator shaft and an actuator member which, in use, can be moved axially to actuate a brake. The actuator shaft and actuator member are interconnected by an assembly which comprises a first fast thread and a second fast thread. The first fast thread has a greater pitch angle than said second fast thread and is arranged to, in use, move the actuator member to take up any slack to cause friction surfaces of the brake to interengage. Said second thread subsequently moves the actuator member to apply the brake. By this arrangement the advantages of the two types of fast thread are utilized, the first fast thread quickly taking up the shock and the second fast thread being capable of applying the brake.

Abstract: In a high pressure hydraulic system wherein a source supplies pressurized fluid to a slave unit through a control valve operative to maintain the slave unit in a desired condition, leakage from the slave unit past the control valve when the source is inoperative is prevented by a control valve comprising two solenoid-operated valves, oppositely acting and arranged in series between the source and the slave unit, each valve being closed to prevent flow through the valve in a direction towards the other valve and opened to permit flow in both directions, under the control of a solenoid and the pressure differential acting across the valve. A seating portion on the valve located between the other valve and the slave unit is of elastomeric material to provide a leakproof seal when that valve is closed.

Abstract: A vehicle drum brake comprises an automatic adjuster with thermal compensation, so that the brake does not become over-adjusted following thermal expansion and subsequent contraction of the drum. The adjuster overcomes the problems associated with adjusters which at high temperatures are disabled, and so might leave the brake under-adjusted. The adjuster comprises a bimetallic strip or equivalent incorporated into the adjuster strut to expand the strut when the drum expands, and to contract the strut when the drum contracts. Thus the adjuster takes up excess slack due to lining wear, but not that due to drum expansion. The adjuster is suited for use on those drum brake adjusters where the strut is lengthened by operation of the service brake actuator, and not of the handbrake actuator.

Abstract: In a fluid pressure-operated anti-skid braking system for rail and other vehicles operating fluid from a supply for actuating a wheel brake is supplied to the brake through a fluid-flow control valve interposed in the line between the supply and the brake. Deceleration responsive sensors responsive to a skid signal are incorporated for operating the valve to relieve the brake pressure of the fluid supplied to the brake when the deceleration of the wheel is excessive and exceeds a predetermined value. The valve incorporates a fluid pressure memory chamber for sensing the skid pressure, and the memory chamber provides a datum or changeover point between first and second successive stages of brake re-application following a skid.