Abstract: An improvement in patient lifting devices comprising an upright member, a boom pivotably mounted on the upright member, a fluid cylinder pivotably mounted between the upright member and the boom, and a manually operated pump for the fluid cylinder. The improvement comprises means actuated by the pump handle for transferring fluid from the fluid cylinder to a fluid reservoir, thereby permitting the boom to lower under the combined weight of the boom itself and anyone being carried by the boom.

Abstract: A hydraulic vane-type pump or motor comprising a housing and a stator defining a rotor chamber, and a rotor for rotation in said chamber on a shaft extending axially through said housing. To prevent gouging of the walls of the rotor chamber by the sharp peripheral edges of the rotor, the rotor sidewalls are ground or offset in the area of the peripheral edges to provide sufficient clearance between the rotor sidewalls and the chamber walls. The rotor is offset to a lesser depth beginning at a point radially inwardly from the outer peripheral edge toward the center thereof to minimize excessive oil leakage normally associated with rotors which are milled to prevent gouging.

Abstract: An apparatus for laying an elongate strip in substantially uniform layers and side-by-side rows includes a conveyer assembly for receiving a generally horizontally traveling material and for delivering the same to the upper end of a hollow, generally vertically extending, universally pivotable feed chute. The lower end of the feed chute is coupled to a first slider which is mounted for reciprocal sliding movement in a first horizontal direction on a second slider mounted in turn on the main frame for reciprocal sliding movement in a second horizontal direction normal to the first. A drive assembly reciprocates the first slider at a first rate of speed and simultaneously reciprocates the second slider in the second direction and at a slower speed rate for delivering the material in the desired pattern from the lower end of the feed chute. A speed matching assembly adjusts the speed of the strip laying apparatus to that of the strip received from other process machinery.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring toe in vehicle wheels. The apparatus ordinarily includes a pair of head units. Each of the head units is mounted upon one of the front wheels of the vehicle. Each head unit includes a projecting element for projecting a light beam generally laterally across the front of the vehicle and onto a target on the opposite head unit in determining front toe of the respective front wheels. Each head unit can also project a beam generally axially from the front wheel of the vehicle to a reflector on the adjacent rear wheel for determination of rear toe of the respective rear wheels. A metering device is connected operatively to signal generators on the head units for determining the toe in each front wheel in relation to a thrust-line reference calculated from the total rear toe of the vehicle.

Abstract: A fluid operated hydraulic pump of the type using air pressure to produce high pressure hydraulic fluid wherein an air pressure driven motor and a hydraulic pump are positioned in adjacent axially aligned relationship and the air motor includes a reciprocating piston which drives the hydraulic pump. The air motor includes an exhaust passage having an expansion chamber therein for receiving exhaust air flow and including a plurality of baffles therein, the expansion chamber and the baffles functioning in combination to reduce the noise generated by the air motor without the use of other muffling material thereby avoiding undue back pressure in the air motor and increasing the speed and efficiency and operation of the air motor and the pump.

Abstract: An apparatus for causing a low force input movement from a control rod to cause a corresponding movement in an output member by force amplification through hydraulic pressure. A piston is provided that has a greater pressure area on one side than on its other side. Orifice means are provided between a pressure chamber and a control chamber and between the control chamber and the reservoir such that as said second orifice means is varied, the piston will move until a null position is reached.

Abstract: A latching mechanism for a cab which is tiltably mounted to the chassis of a vehicle. The cab is normally disposed over the engine of the vehicle in a first or lowered position and is pivotally attached to the chassis at its forward end for movement through 90.degree. to a second or raised position. The latching mechanism securely locks the cab in the lowered position and includes interengaging latching elements attached to the underside of the cab and to the chassis of the vehicle. The receiving means includes a ball detent arrangement actuated by means of a hydraulically powered cam sleeve. The ball detents move radially between a first or unlocked position and a second and locked position. When in the locked position, the detents engage shoulder portions on one latching element to securely lock the cab to the chassis.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine of the type having a pulse generator for indicating when the flywheel is in a predetermined position subsequent to top dead center and in which a pulse of predetermined amplitude is initiated by a signal from one spark plug and is terminated by a signal derived from the pulse generator. Correction is made for the reference angle between the top dead center position of the piston and the occurrence of the signal from the pulse generator by algebraically adding to the pulses a DC correction which is adjusted to conform with the known reference angle. The adjusted pulses are applied to a meter to indicate the amount of ignition advance or retard. A second meter indicates the amount of the correction voltage. The apparatus also has novel calibrating means for applying to the timing device two spaced voltage pulses spaced apart by the distance of a half cycle of a periodically varying commercial voltage of known frequency.

Abstract: A fluid operated hydraulic pump of the type using air pressure to produce high pressure hydraulic fluid wherein an air pressure driven motor and a hydraulic pump are positioned in adjacent axially aligned relationship and the air motor drives the hydraulic pump, the air motor including a reciprocable check valve for preventing air flow into the pump during the exhaust stroke of the pump thereby increasing the efficiency of the pump and reducing air flow through the pump. The check valve is disposed in the air inlet passage and is positioned in axially aligned relationship and adjacent to a reciprocable shuttle valve controlling exhaust air flow from the motor. Movement of the shuttle valve to a position permitting air to be exhausted from the air motor chamber also facilitates movement of the reciprocable check valve to a position wherein it prevents air flow into the motor.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the ignition timing of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine of the type having a pulse generator for indicating when the flywheel is in a predetermined position with respect to top dead center and in which an input signal is obtained from one particular spark plug and employed to initiate a counting operation employing a series of pulses which have a definite frequency relationship to the speed of the engine. The counting operation is started at the time that the pulse from the selected plug is received and is terminated when the reference signal is received from the pulse generator. Provision is made for compensating for different reference angles between the top dead center position and the position at which the pulse generator produces a pulse. This is done by presetting a counter in accordance with the reference angle.The apparatus can also be used as a tachometer.

Abstract: An apparatus for reforming and straightening damaged bodies and frames of vehicles whereby corrective forces are applied to the vehicle through one or more elongated force transmission elements. A force is imposed on the elongated elements respectively by means of a uniquely mounted hydraulic ram which is freely pivotable sideways and limitedly pivotable in a backward direction. Each of the hydraulic rams are attached to a frame situated beneath the vehicle to be straightened whereby the frame further supports a measuring bridge coupled to the vehicle so that the progress of a straightening operation can be readily determined. The measuring bridge includes vertical indicators which are coupled at datum points on the vehicle so that an operator can readily gauge the deformity of the vehicle longitudinally, laterally and vertically with respect to its center line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in curing vehicle tires including a tire support rim possessing a first inlet to introduce an initial pressure into an inner tube to seat a tire on the rim. The curing rim further includes a second inlet for introducing a second pressure between the inner tube and the casing of the vehicle tire to deflate the inner tube and maintain the vehicle tire in proper position during a curing operation.

Abstract: A cable bender apparatus for bending cables, for example of the type having thermoplastic insulation around copper or aluminum strands. The apparatus is connected to a cable for bending the latter to any desired degree and is actuated by, for example, a single acting fluid cylinder. The bending shoe is adjustable on a bending yoke so as to accommodate cable of different diameters and will not inadvertently become disassembled upon relaxation of the bending pressure. The bending saddle swings as the cable is being bent and the arrangement is such that the saddle remains perpendicular to the cable and will not cause the insulation to be ruined as the saddle slides slightly along the insulation.

Abstract: A proportional flow control valve comprises a directional control valve having a valve spool, a servo actuator or servo means for operating said directional control valve, and manual override means for operating the valve spool. The servo means comprises a movable ram or piston for moving the valve spool to thereby operate the directional control valve and the ram has a pair of equally sized piston areas connected thereto. The servo actuator also comprises a pilot valve having a null position and is selectively operable to apply fluid alternately to either of said piston areas to effect ram and valve spool movement in one direction or another from a null position. Means including a proportional electromagnetic device such as a proportional solenoid or force motor are provided for selectively operating the pilot valve. Feedback means are connected between the ram and the pilot valve to maintain the ram and the valve spool in a position wherein they are moved.

Abstract: Vehicle brake testing apparatus of the type in which there are yieldable restrained pairs of tread plates engaging the front wheels and rear wheels of a vehicle in which there is means for producing an electrical signal depending in value upon the braking force on each wheel, means for producing a total braking force signal depending upon the sums of the signals, means for measuring the speed of the vehicle as it is driven onto the tread plates and producing an electrical speed signal, means for dividing the integrated total force signal by the speed signal to obtain a weight signal indicative of the weight of the vehicle and means for comparing the total force signal with the weight signal to obtain an indication of the ratio between the total braking force and the weight of the vehicle and indicating whether this ratio meets acceptable standards.

Abstract: A current measuring device for measuring a current flowing in a conductor by inductive coupling to the conductor, the device having an E-shaped core of magnetic material and a slidable bar normally spaced by an air gap from one outer leg and being slidably movable away from this outer leg to permit the insertion of the conductor being measured. Two pairs of windings are placed on the other outer leg. One winding in each pair is alternately energized under the control of a transistor oscillator network, the other winding in each pair being used to supply feedback voltages to cause deenergization of the transistor then conducting. Each transistor has in series therewith a second transistor to minimize clipping of the voltage peaks. The output of the windings is applied to the input of a further transistor, the output of which is in turn applied to a current measuring device.

Abstract: A seal for a vane type fluid pressure motor or pump. The motor or pump comprises a housing having a chamber receiving a rotor, an elongated bore extends through the housing and the rotor and receives a shaft which is drivingly engaged by the motor through a splined connection. A seal assembly is disposed on either side of the rotor to prevent leakage from the area between the side walls of the rotor and the side walls of the chamber and into the elongated bore. Each seal assembly is comprised of a cylindrical sleeve affixed to a side wall of the rotor and extends axially therefrom. The assembly is disposed in an annular recess in the bore at a point adjacent the rotor. The sleeve is affixed to the rotor for rotation therewith and is spaced from an undercut portion of the housing wall. The undercut defines the annular recess. An annular elastomeric sealing member is disposed in the recess and is affixed at its radially outward side to the recess wall and surrounds and snugly engages the sleeve.

Abstract: An engine analyzer in which testing apparatus is controlled in accordance with a signal generated from voltage pulses applied to the spark plugs, the signal being converted into a square wave voltage of a frequency corresponding to the frequency of occurrence of the ignition voltage pulses. Specifically, this is accomplished by producing a first square wave voltage of one-half the frequency of occurrence of the pulses, integrating this square wave voltage to form a first triangular wave voltage of the same frequency, inverting portions of this first triangular wave voltage to form a triangular wave voltage of the same frequency as the frequency of occurrence of the pulses and differentiating this further triangular wave voltage to form a square wave voltage of the frequency of occurrence of the pulses.

Abstract: An analyzer for multicylinder internal combustion engines in which there is an electronic counter triggered by pulses from the ignition system and normally reset by the firing voltage applied to any of selected spark plugs in which the electronic counter has a plurality of stages corresponding to the number of cylinders in the engine and in which there is an electrical testing means adapted to be operated by the output signal of any one or more stages of the counter to produce an electrical effect for analyzing the performance of the engine.

Abstract: A hydraulic system and latching mechanism for a cab tiltably mounted to the chassis of a vehicle. The cab is normally disposed over the engine of the vehicle and is pivotally attached to the chassis at its forward end for movement through 90.degree.. The cab is powered by an air-motor-actuated hydraulic pump which energizes lifting cylinders disposed between the chassis and cab. When the system is energized, a hydraulically actuated latch is released prior to commencement of the tilting movement of the cab. A direction-control valve is employed which, when in the neutral or closed position, utilizes the pressures generated in the hydraulic system by the weight of the tilted cab in certain positions to assist the valve in sealing the reservoir port in the valve against leakage thereby preventing the cab from creeping.