Abstract: An indexing apparatus operated by a unidirectionally rotating drive shaft. The drive shaft and a driven member are rotatingly supported by a base in a spaced apart manner. An interconnecting link extends between the drive shaft and the driven member and is pivotally pinned in an offset manner at a first end to the drive shaft. A second end of the interconnecting link is pivotally pinned in an offset manner to the driven member. When the drive shaft rotates it oscillates the driven member in opposite first and second directions through an arc. A releasable engaging device carried by the driven member releasably engages an index member rotatably carried by the base.

Abstract: A shock absorber having a housing with a piston chamber and a radially spaced accumulator chamber. A piston rod having a piston at its inner end is slideably mounted in the piston chamber, while the outer end of the piston rod extends outwardly from the shock absorber housing wherein it is provided with a striker plate which is initially positioned for engagement by a load to be decelerated. The fluid passage between the accumulator and the piston chambers is provided with a tapered metering slot designed to communicate a lesser amount of oil between the piston and the accumulator chambers as the piston is decelerated, resulting in a gradual deceleration of the load exerted on the piston. An adjustable metering valve carried by the shock absorber housing is utilized to communicate oil from the piston chamber when a load is exerted on the striker plate which is less than the maximum amount the shock absorber may receive.