Abstract: An improved power steering apparatus includes a variable displacement pump. During a steering operation, a flow control valve effects operation of a motor assembly to vary the displacement of the pump as a function of variations in the demand for power steering fluid. Upon initiation of a steering operation, the displacement of the pump must be quickly increased to enable it to satisfy the impending demand for power steering fluid. Therefore upon initial rotation of a steering wheel, a steering controller restricts a flow of fluid to operate the motor assembly independently of the flow control valve. The displacement of the pump can thus increase before the flow control valve can be actuated during an initial portion of a steering operation.

Abstract: A high pressure electrical conductivity probe generally used as a liquid level indicator having a high pressure mechanical seal between an insulator and a metal mounting body and an electrode connector. The high pressure mechanical seal is effected using a cylindrical insulator with planar end faces which are located in and sheathed in cylindrical recesses in the metal mounting body and the electrode connector. Preferred sealing means include flexible expanded graphite gaskets or a mechanical interference fit.

Abstract: An improved bearing plate is used to support a portion of a mine roof. The bearing plate is stamped from sheet metal and has elongated ribs which define grooves facing toward a back side of the bearing plate. Reinforcing members are disposed in the grooves and are fixedly connected to the bearing plate. The reinforcing members increase the resistance of the bearing plate to deflection under the influence of loads applied to the bearing plate by the mine roof.

Abstract: Drive device for moving the end fitting of a passive safety belt along a predetermined motion track which has track sections extending at an angle to each other, by means of a flexible pulling and pushing means which can be driven by a drive and is coupled to the end fitting to be moved. The pulling and pushing means are guided with radial play relative to the pulling means axis in a guide extending along the motion track and have links which can move relative to each other and are arranged with axial spacing in a fixed relationship to each other.

Abstract: An AM stereo demodulator having monophonic and stereophonic modes of operation and adapted to demodulate a QAM signal whose quadrature-phase signal has a low frequency slot containing substantially no information signal therein. The demodulator includes a low-pass filter for filtering the quadrature-phase signal so as to provide a filtered signal containing only signals in the low frequency slot of the quadrature-phase signal. A window comparator compares the amplitude of the filtered signal with two threshold levels and provides a first output signal when the filtered signal is outside of the range bounded by the threshold levels. A circuit is included for placing the AM stereo demodulator in the monophonic mode of operation in response to the first output signal.

Abstract: A display package for an article such as a nailpolish bottle is formed from a single sheet of material which is folded into the package. The package includes an article retaining portion and a display portion for containing display material. The article retaining portion includes a three layer bottom portion, an angle panel joined to one end of the bottom portion, and an upright panel joined to the opposite end of the bottom portion. The angle panel and upright panel are foldably joined at their other ends. The angle panel includes an opening dimensioned to allow part of the article to be visible for display purposes while at the same time to prevent the article from being removed through the opening. The display portion of the package comprises a single layer back panel which extends upwardly from the article retaining portion of the package. The display portion is a single thickness of material, while the package back is of a double thickness on the lower part of the package.

Abstract: A power assisted steering gear has a toothed part 1 such as a pinion coupled through a torque responsive rod 12 to an input shaft 4 so that rotation of the shaft 4 rotates the pinion 1 to drive an output member having a servo motor associated therewith. Fluid flow to the servo motor for power assistance is controlled by the valve 6 by displacement of component parts of the valve during relative rotation between the input shaft 4 and the pinion 1 as permitted by the rod 12.The valve 6 and pinion 1 form a unified assembly 7 carried on the shaft 4 and which is inserted into and removed from the housing 3 (by way of a side port 15) in unit manner. The assembly 7 is retained in the housing 3 solely by means, such as a spring clip 25, which is readily accessible from the exterior of the housing.The unified assembly 7 is rotatably borne in the housing by bearings 16 and 17 which may form part of the assembly for removal therewith or be retained within the housing following removal of the unified assembly.

Abstract: An electric-oil pressure power steering system for a vehicle is described which comprises an oil pump driven by an electric motor for supplying power fluid to a power cylinder, a steering wheel connected to a control valve for controlling the supply of the power fluid, and an electronic switching device for controlling the supply of electric power to said motor in response to the change of a vehicle speed, said electronic switching device including a means for controlling continuously the supply of the electric power and a means for controlling discontinuously or variably the supply of the electric power.

Abstract: An apparatus for sequentially stitching groups of sheets includes a reject assembly which directs groups of sheets containing either more or less than a predetermined number of sheets to a receiving station without being stitched. If a desired number of sheets is in a group, the group will move through the reject station to a stitching station and then through a folding apparatus at one of two discharge stations. The reject assembly includes a ramp which is movable between a retracted position aligned with a main support surface and an extended position projecting upwardly from the main support surface to a reject conveyor. A main conveyor pushes a group of sheets containing more or less than a predetermined number of sheets up the ramp to a reject conveyor which conducts the groups of sheets to a receiving station.

Abstract: A system for automatically setting up a color television camera. Register error is detected by correlating the times of occurrence of level transitions in two video signals. A unipolar pulse is provided in response to a level transition in one of the video signals, and a pulse having a positive and a negative lobe is provided in response to a level transition in the other of the video signals. The two pulse signals are multiplied. The product of the two pulse signals is integrated to produce a signal whose amplitude and polarity varies with register error. A microprocessor control system detects size and centering errors by measuring register error at different spots on the raster. Before correcting setup errors, the microprocessor verifies that there are adequate level transitions in the imaged scene by methodically adjusting the setup controls over a range of values and noting whether the measured register or size errors change accordingly.

Abstract: A transfer vehicle with a special clamping mechanism for clamping a stack of signatures supported on a stacker, and for maintaining clamping engagement with the stack as the transfer vehicle moves the stack to a delivery position. The clamping mechanism can bring an end board over to the stacker, and deposits the end board on the stacker as the clamping mechanism engages a stack. The clamping mechanism also has independently movable clamp members that can move to different coextents in applying pressures to different portions of a stack of signatures during the clamping process. Still further, the clamping mechanism is designed to positively contain a signature stack that is removed from a stacker.

Abstract: An improved signature handling apparatus includes a plurality of signature feeders which are operatable to form groups of signatures on a conveyor. Detectors are associated with the signature feeders to detect a signature misfeed and a resulting defective group of signatures. The conveyor sequentially transports the groups of signatures to a delivery assembly which directs groups of signatures containing a predetermined number of signatures to a trimmer. The delivery assembly directs defective groups of signatures containing less than the predetermined number of signatures to a reject tray. The delivery assembly includes a nip through which the signatures are fed from the conveyor. The size of the nip can be varied by varying the distance between rollers disposed on opposite sides of the nip.

Abstract: A control circuit for use in controlling both the speed and direction of an AC energized DC motor in a linear relationship to the magnitude and polarity of a DC reference signal. This is accomplished with a triggerable bidirectional current conducting device, such as a triac, which is connected in series with a DC motor across an AC power supply source. A control circuit serves to trigger the bidirectional current conducting device into conduction at a selected firing angle during the positive or negative half cycle of the AC source in such a way that the firing angle is linearly related to the magnitude and polarity of a DC reference signal.

Abstract: Belt band clamping device for safety belt in motor vehicles having a roll-up roller on which the belt is wound and unwound, and a swivelable deflector member having a cambered deflector surface which interacts with a fixed clamping surface in such manner that an increased torque acting on the deflector, tilts it, and causes the belt to be locked between the clamping surface and the deflector member.

Abstract: A bushing is disclosed for protecting a printed circuit board mounted potentiometer or the like from transverse and axial loads which are applied to the potentiometer during adjustment thereof. The potentiometer or other control device has a control shaft which protrudes through a panel opening and which has a knob mounted on the distal end thereof. The bushing fits over the control shaft between the panel and the knob such that axial and radial forces applied to the knob are transmitted to the panel by the bushing. These forces are therefore absorbed by the panel rather than the attachments between the printed circuit board and the potentiometer.

Abstract: A power assisted steering gear has a toothed part 1 such as a pinion coupled through a torque responsive rod 12 to an input shaft 4 so that rotation of the shaft 4 rotates the pinion 1 to drive an output member having a servo motor associated therewith. Fluid flow to the servo motor for power assistance is controlled by a valve 6 by displacement of component parts of the valve during relative rotation between the input shaft 4 and the pinion 1 as permitted by the rod 12.The toothed part 1 is rotatably borne in the housing by a bearing 16 which journals a shaft part 19 formed by an extension of the rod 12 through the toothed part 1.The valve 6 and pinion 1 may form a unified assembly 7 carried on the shaft 4 and which is inserted into and removed from the housing 3 in unit manner.

Abstract: An improved pump assembly is used to supply fuel to an aircraft engine and includes a positive displacement pump which supplies fuel during low speed operation of the pump assembly and a centrifugal pump which supplies fuel during relatively high speed operation of the pump assembly. The positive displacement pump has a plurality of vanes connected with an impeller of the centrifugal pump. The vanes are forced radially inwardly against a stationary cam surface by fluid pressure. The fluid pressure is conducted from an outlet of the positive displacement pump through a passage in the impeller of the centrifugal pump to pressure chambers disposed at outer ends of the vanes. By providing the fluid pressure passage in the impeller of the centrifugal pump, the axial length of the pump assembly tends to be minimized. The positive displacement pump is rendered ineffective to pump fluid when the output pressure from the centrifugal pump equals the output pressure from the positive displacement pump.

Abstract: An inker for applying ink to a lithographic printing plate having ink-receptive and ink-rejecting areas. Certain of the ink-receptive areas of the plate are to print substantially the same color as the other of the ink-receptive areas and are disposed in axially adjacent circumferential sections of the printing plate. The circumferential sections of the printing plate have different percentages of ink-receptive areas. The inker comprises a form roll having a cylindrical outer surface, means for applying an ink film to the entire cylindrical outer surface of the form roll and means for supporting the form roll so that the cylindrical outer surface has an ink-transferring engagement with the printing plate. A smooth coating of ink is applied to the axially adjacent circumferential ink-receptive sections of the printing plate due to axial movement of the form roll while the form roll is in the ink-transferring engagement with the printing plate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a foldable multifunctional carriage, particularly for use in performing cleaning and maintenance tasks in hospitals, of the type comprising rollers on which are mounted a rigid portion and a foldable framework which can be placed either in an operative unfolded position or in an inoperative folded position.The carriage is characterized in that said rigid portion consists of a chassis (2) horizontally resting on said rollers (3), and in that said framework (1) has a pair of arms (4, 5) pivotally mounted on a front portion of said chassis (2), a U-shaped frame (7) being pivotally mounted between said pair of arms so as to form a strut adapted to abut against a stop (12) integrally formed with said chassis (2) to secure said framework (1) in its unfolded position, said pair of arms (4, 5) carrying, therebetween, if desired, one or more support members (8, 36, 37) for articles or utensils to be carried on the carriage.