Abstract: The outer side of a slide-out floor is supported by the outer end of an inner rail member. The inner rail member is telescopically angled within an outer rail member such that the angle increases as the inner rail member is extended, so as to position the outer end of the slide-out floor at an elevation that is substantially flush with the fixed floor when the slide-out floor is fully extended.

Abstract: A system for delivering power to a battery and to a load includes a power source that supplies energy to the battery and the load. The battery can be charged by the power source and used to supply energy or power to the load when the power source is unable to provide sufficient energy and power to the load. The system reduces injection of DC current into the load and, as a result, extends the operation life of the load, particularly if the load is an AC lighting or lamp system. The system operates the load in an optimal manner such that battery storage is maintained at near full charge, yet the lighting load operates for a maximum number of hours per night. The benefit of the system is to prevent early failure of either the lighting load or the battery.

Abstract: A hydraulic tilting device intended to be fitted on a vehicle with a tiltable cab for the purpose of tilting the tiltable cab. The tilting device has a hydraulic tilting unit with a double-acting hydraulic tilting cylinder for tilting the cab, and also a reservoir and a pump. The tilting device furthermore has an additional hydraulic cylinder, for example a locking cylinder, which additional cylinder is connected to the tilting unit via a system of lines. Each of the connecting lines comprises a part associated with the additional cylinder and a part associated with the tilting unit, which parts can be coupled to one another by a disconnectable coupling.

Abstract: A connection between a fluid line and a connecting element, in which at one end the line has an insertion part, and the connecting element is provided with an bore for accommodating the insertion part of the line, in which the line is provided with a locking shoulder, and in which the connecting element is designed to accommodate a locking element, which locking element when fitted covers the locking shoulder of the line, so that the insertion part of the line is locked in the bore of the connecting element, in which the bore, viewed in the insertion direction of the insertion part has a first part with a first diameter and connecting thereto a second part with a second diameter which is smaller than the first diameter.

Abstract: A vehicle having a slide-out room section includes an operating mechanism for moving the slide-out room section laterally relative to a stationary room section for expanding the interior volume of the vehicle. The slide-out room section has an outer end which is mounted via a vertically movable connection arrangement to the operating mechanism, and a cooperative support arrangement is provided for the inner end of the slide-out room section to enable the slide-out room section to be vertically dropped when fully extended to place the slide-out room section floor flush with the floor of the stationary room section. The cooperative support arrangement for the inner end of the slide-out room section raises the inner end of the slide-out room section when the slide-out room section is retracted, and the vertically movable connection arrangement enables the outer end of the slide-out room section to be raised upon retraction of the slide-out room section.

Abstract: A seat of a vehicle is connected to the vehicle body by a support linkage that enables movement of the seat. A hydraulic actuator is connected between the seat and the vehicle body to produce motion which counteracts the influence of the vehicle body movement on the seat. An air bag, coupled between the seat and vehicle body, has a variable spring preload to compensate for differing masses placed on the seat. A motion sensor detects movement of the seat and a displacement sensor detects seat displacement. A force sensor detects a force exerted on the actuator by an operator sitting in the seat. A controller responds to the motion and displacement sensors by operating the actuator to nullify effects of the movement of the vehicle body from acting on the seat, and responds to the force sensor by varying the spring preload of the air bag to maintain the force exerted on the actuator to within a defined range.

Abstract: A vehicle cab suspension unit has a foundation which is secured to an outer rail of the frame of the vehicle and pivotally connects one end of a track arm. The other end of the track arm is supported above the foundation by an air spring, and a cab support yoke is pivotally connected between the ends of the track arm so as to support and secure the cab at a position along the track arm between its ends. Shock absorbers are provided between the foundation and the cab support yoke on both sides of the track arm. A height control valve maintains the height of the suspension unit and elastomeric snubbers on the foundation provide limits to the range of travel of the unit.

Abstract: A cylindrical ferrule having internal threads is joined to a fiberglass fish tape having an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the internal threads. An adhesive between the fish tape and the threads bond the fiberglass and fills voids between the fish tape and threads. The cured adhesive bonded to the fish tape acts on bearing surfaces of the threads to resist loosening and pulling away from the ferrule.

Abstract: A hydraulic operating system has a cylinder which is actuated to raise, hold or lower a load against the force of gravity. An electromagnetic 3/2 valve connects a working chamber of the cylinder to a hydraulic reservoir when not energized, and permits flow from a pump to the working chamber when energized. A non-return valve prevents flow from the working chamber to the pump when the valve is energized. A three position switch operates an electric control unit to raise, lower or hold the load in an intermediate position. When holding in an intermediate position, the control unit constantly energizes the valve during a first period, after which the control unit intermittently energizes and deenergizes the valve so as to lower the load in stepwise fashion during a second period.

Abstract: An offset conduit bender has a pair of shoes which are pivotally connected to one another so that axes of the shoes remain parallel. Each shoe has a specially shaped groove in it for receiving a tube inserted into the grooves and which support the tube as the tube is bent. The grooves also have straight sections for quickly inserting a tube into the grooves from the side of the grooves. The amount of offset is accurately adjustable by a stop which is provided beneath the movable one of the shoes and the axial position of the offset relative to one end of the tube is accurately adjusted by another tube end stop. In addition, inner and outer tube deburring tools can be provided on the bender, and the bender is preferably mounted on a portable cart.

Abstract: A manually operated conduit bender head for bending electrical conduit, tubing, and the like has a sighting point defined on a lateral side of the handle socket which projects from the handle socket in a plane perpendicular to the handle and bead projections spaced along the length of the side of the shoe to provide reliable sighting of the bend angle imparted by the tool to the conduit or tubing.

Abstract: An apparatus for absorbing vibrations in a structural member, such as in an aircraft fuselage, has a mounting member for attaching to the structural member. Two masses are coupled in a cantilevered manner to the mounting member by a plurality of flexible rigid members, such as rods or plates, which act as a spring that allows the masses to vibrate with respect to the mounting member. The spring-mass assembly has a resonant frequency that matches the frequency of the vibrations in the structural member. A mechanism, connected between the two masses, exerts a variable force on the plurality of rigid members to compensate for changes in their stiffness due to changes in temperature and thereby maintain the resonant frequency substantially constant. Preferably the mechanism includes a bimetallic element that has a shape which changes with temperature variation to produce the variable force.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing vibration has a mount for attaching to a vibrating body, such as the frame of an aircraft. A plate is spaced from the mount with a mass there between. A first elastomeric ring is compressed between the mass and the mount, and a second elastomeric ring is compressed between the mass and the plate. The rings act as a spring having a stiffness that defines a resonant frequency at which the mass oscillates. Vibration in the body is reduced by the mass movement absorbing vibrational energy and the energy absorption is maximized when the mass resonates at the vibration frequency. A controller senses body vibration and operates a mechanism that alters the spacing between the mount and the plate thereby adjusting the spring stiffness. The stiffness of the spring is changed until the resonant frequency of the mass is tuned to the vibration frequency of the body.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for opening and/or closing the rear lift gate of a vehicle uses a double or single acting gas charged hydraulic cylinder. If double acting, a second piston separates the head side of the cylinder into hydraulic and gas chambers. A unidirectional (for the single acting cylinder) or a bidirectional (for the double acting cylinder) drives a pump to operate the cylinder. A solenoid actuated on-off valve selectively communicates the ports of the cylinder with tank pressure. A gas charge accumulator may also be provided. In the double acting embodiment, a two way ball shuttle valve which is vented in the center provides alternating communication between the two cylinder ports.

Abstract: A suspension system attaches an engine to a vehicle frame and includes resilient mounts that are relatively soft with respect to vibrational movement of the engine along horizontal and vertical axes. This soft connection reduces transmission of vibration from the engine to the vehicle frame. The suspension system also provides a pair of hydraulic restrainers mounted on opposite sides of the engine which react equally, but in opposite directions to loads. The hydraulic restrainers are relatively stiff with respect to torsion that results from engine rotation, yet is soft with respect to translational movement of the engine.