Abstract: A retractable clothesline device (10) for storing a clothesline (12) when in a fully retracted position and enabling the clothesline (12) to be readily extended from its retracted position for use, the device (10) including an outer housing (14) and a spool (26) disposed within the housing (14) for retaining a clothesline (12) thereon. A spring is operatively connected to the spool (26) for being in a biased condition when the clothesline (12) is in an extended position and in a substantially unbiased condition relative to the biased condition when the clothesline (12) is in a fully retracted position. The device (10) includes an upper shelf (122) disposed directly over the spool (26) and a bottom shelf (124) disposed directly below the spool (26), the upper and bottom shelves (122,124) extending radially outwardly from the spool (26) substantially to the front wall (120) of the housing (14) to prevent the clothesline (12) from winding off of the spool (26) and into the housing (14).

Abstract: A crankhandle assembly has a cylindrically-hollow handle member rotatably mounted on a shaft or core element. The shaft has complementary stepped contours at each end and the handle has bearing cups at each end positioned to form with said stepped contours a ball bearing race, a thrust bearing, and a handle race. The bearing cup elements are centered in the handle by axially and radially disposed fins.

Abstract: A dumping apparatus for roll-out cart waste receptacles employs a tipper plate which includes a lifting mechanism and a lock plate which includes a locking mechanism. The tipper and lock plates are mounted for pivotal movement about respective first and second pivot axes on a mounting support that is attachable to a waste collection vehicle. A hydraulic cylinder has a trunnion mounting to the mounting support and an extensible rod member that is pivotally attached at one end to the tipper plate. The hydraulic cylinder functions as a drive mechanism for moving the tipper plate about the first pivot axis. The pivotal movement of the tipper plate causes the lifting mechanism to engage the pick-up bar and thereby lift the receptacle to bring its lock bar into engagement with the locking mechanism of the lock plate. The lock plate at all times moves about the second pivot axis in cooperation with and in the same rotational sense as the driven pivotal movement of the tipper plate.

Abstract: A seat assembly (10) comprising a seat portion (12) and back rest (14) supported on a seat frame (30) with a thigh support (26) movably supported forward of the seat portion (12). The thigh support (26) includes a support portion (42) extending from the seat frame (30) and a bolster (28) supported by the support portion (42). A spring arrangement (44) resiliently interconnects the support portion (42) and the bolster (26) for allowing movement of the entire bolster (26) relative to the support portion (42); for this purpose a pair of leaf springs (46) support the bolster portion (26) in a cantilevered fashion from the support portion (42) and are disposed adjacent each end of the bolster (28). A pair of slideways (52) and corresponding slide members (54) are secured to the frame structure, allowing the bolster (28) to extend between a fully extended to a fully retracted position.

Abstract: A furniture spring assembly (10,10',10") provides support for a torsion bar spring (16) between spaced frame members (12,14). An elongated support (44) of the spring assembly extends from a fishmouth torsion bar (22) at a frame mounted end (18) of the spring (16) to a foot (42) at the other spring end (38) and then for connection to the other frame member (14). Each of three preferred embodiments of the elongated support preferably includes a helical spring (71) that provides the connection thereof to the frame member (14). One embodiment of the support (44) includes an elongated metal strip (72) having a first end (74) hooked to the fishmouth torsion bar (22) and having a second end (76) including an attachment flange (80) and an attachment loop (82) that are secured to the foot (42) of the second spring end.

Abstract: An axle lift mechanism (100) is used on a vehicle having a normally lowered axle/wheel assembly to automatically lift and maintain the assembly in a raised position when the vehicle is not heavily loaded. A trailing arm (62) connected to the vehicle axle (12) is pivotably coupled at one end to the vehicle frame (68) and mounts an air spring (26) at its opposing end to transmit load to the axle (12) when the air spring (26) is inflated. The lift mechanism (100) includes a flexible strap (102) secured at one end to the trailing arm (62) and wound around a pivotable cam (108). The opposing end of the strap (102) is coupled to a rod (128) adjustably engaged with a spring cup (130). A tapered coil spring (152) coaxial with the rod (128) bears against the spring cup (130) and exerts forces on the rod (128) and strap (102) sufficient to rotate the cam (108) and lift the trailing arm (62) and axle (12) to a raised position when the air spring (26) pressure is relieved.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to a method of making a porous rigid structure for use as a mold and the porous rigid structure formed thereby. Finely divided metallic particles are coated with a composition comprising a fluid thermosetting resin dissolved in a volatile solvent. Similarly, carbide particles are coated with the same composition of fluid thermosetting resin dissolved in a volatile solvent. The coated metallic particles and the coated carbide particles are mixed together and compacted into a predetermined shape of particles. Metallic needles are coated with the same composition of fluid thermosetting resin dissolved in a volatile solvent and mixed with fibers thereby forming a substrate structure. The substrate and the predetermined shape of particles are then compacted into a integrally bonded bi-layer to form a rigid structure.

Abstract: There is disclosed a desk having an adjustable top which is adjusted by means of telescoping legs. The legs are extended or contracted by means of a gearbox assembly mounted between two guided members of the telescoping legs which assembly in turn is affixed to the desk top by means of a channel member extending toward the front and parallel to the base members of the desk. The desk also has a channel provided for electrical wiring which may be opened and snapped closed, as desired.

Abstract: A remote control system including a central encoder for transmitting a single sequence of control pulses to a plurality of remote decoders, each of which performs a predetermined function when it has received a selected number of pulses. Reliability of the system is enhanced by including in the encoder and all of the decoders a number of electromechanical relays arranged in a special triple redundant configuration, such that no failure in any one relay can cause a decoder to perform its function at an undesired time or can prevent a decoder from properly performing its function at a desired time. In addition, the special use of supplemental relay contacts ensures that no failure of any solid state device in the encoder or decoders can cause a decoder to perform its function at an undesired time.

Abstract: A rotary vane pump includes a shaft of uniform diameter over at least the portion of its length passing through a cavity in a liner member which is eccentric to the shaft and a pair of end bearings defining opposite end faces of the cavity. Vanes extend from the shaft into contact with the eccentric cavity and define pumping pockets which expand and contract as the shaft rotates. The rotating shaft is mounted substantially tangent to the cavity in the liner and is journal mounted in such end bearings which seal opposite ends of the pumping pockets. The vanes are positioned axially of the shaft by means of a groove formed in one end face of the liner and corresponding tabs which project radially from each of the vanes. Alternatively, the groove may be formed by providing a separate wafer adjacent one end of the pump liner having an internal bore of a greater diameter than the internal diameter of the liner.

Abstract: In a vehicle with a frame and ground-engaging wheels suspended therefrom by a suspension having, on each side of the vehicle, a bracket rigidly secured to the frame; a trailing arm pivotably mounted to the bracket and having two sets of openings, each set aligned transversely of the trailing arm; an air spring rigidly connected to and between the frame and the trailing arm; and a bushing extending between each set of aligned openings and positioned within the trailing arm. An axle is rigidly connected to each trailing arm by an axle bracket. Each axle bracket comprises a wrapper rigidly secured to the axle; two plates rigidly secured to the wrapper, each plate having two apertures aligned with the two sets of openings; a shock mounting bracket rigidly secured to one of the plates; and four gussets rigidly secured to and between the plates and the wrapper to add rigidity to the axle bracket to aid in withstanding torsional and lateral forces exerted thereon incidental to the operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension element adjustment apparatus including improved structure for adjusting suspension elements to any of a plurality of discrete positions for alignment thereof wherein pairs of relatively adjustable elements are connected to respective pairs of plate members having formed surfaces for mutual interengagement of the pairs of plates in any of such discrete positions of adjustment. The formed surfaces preferably are vertically oriented serrations which permit relative horizontal adjustment between the pairs of plates, and hence between the suspension elements connected thereto.

Abstract: Traffic control apparatus of the wheeled trailer type having pairs of links for selectively and uniformly moving a traffic control message panel between a substantially vertical display position and a substantially horizontal storage/transit position. Three pairs of links are controlled by a winch-cable system coupled thereto to control the pivoting movements of the pairs of links to cause the smooth movement of the traffic control message panel between positions. The pivot points for the pairs of linkages are preselected to minimize the tension on the winch cable during the panel movements between positions.

Abstract: A seal for coupling or valve assemblies employing flapper valves or the like has two axially and radially offset annular sealing members that are integrally joined by a relatively thin folding web section that provides the necessary flexibility to the seal. The radially outer sealing member is adapted to be clamped by a valve plate to the coupling or valve assembly housing to provide a first static seal surrounding the flow passage in the housing, whereas the radially inner sealing member essentially floats at the axial inner end of the web. The radially inner sealing member is adapted to be engaged by the flapper valve when moved to the closed position to provide a second static seal at the flapper valve face preventing flow through the coupling or valve assembly in either direction.

Abstract: Containment vessels including external aircraft fuel tanks having an internal plastic liner compatible with the substance to be stored in the vessel or tank. The plastic liner is manufactured from a cold formable thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer material that can be formed to the desired material configuration of the vessel. In a fuel tank the annular structural elements of the tank can be smoothly enveloped to provide a seamless, fluid tight liner having superior physical and chemical properties.A method of cold forming the plastic liner from a tubular element to achieve a seamless liner for a containment vessel is disclosed.

Abstract: A bidirectional valve useful at all temperatures from cryogenic to extreme fire temperatures. The sealing means for the bidirectional valve comprises a metallic sealing element having a pair of spaced sealing lobes defined thereon which are coated with a Teflon compound. A third sealing lobe is defined on the metallic sealing element between the pair of sealing lobes and is constructed solely of metal. A pair of coated sealing lobes further function as wipers to prevent sand, dirt or similar foreign particles from becoming crushed between the valve disc and metallic sealing lobe during the final closing of the valve. When the valve is exposed to fire conditions, the Teflon coated sealing lobes melt out leaving the metallic lobe as the fire safe sealing lobe.

Abstract: A trailer frame structure of substantially side by side longitudinally extending generally gable shaped solid web truss members which generally incline upwardly from a hitch to a body supporting rear portion while diverging toward the rear portion. The rear portion has an upper support surface substantially parallel to the ground to receive a dump body or other load. The gable shape of the frame provides increased strength at a high stress location to resist breakage and cracking under high loads.

Abstract: A mechanical drive mechanism of the endless belt and pulley type having an improved belt tensioning arrangement. The shaft of the machine being driven (or that of the driving member itself) is eccentrically journaled with respect to its cylindrical bearing hub and a rigid arm having a first bore therethrough is disposed with the hub of the machine centered in that first bore. Located at the opposed end of the rigid arm is a parallel bore in which the other drive or driven shaft is journaled. Because of the eccentricity between the first shaft and its hub, as the arm is rotated about the hub as a center, the distance between the centers of the driving and driven shafts is increased or decreased, depending upon the direction of rotation of the rigid arm. As such, the tension of the endless belt coupling the drive and driven pulleys can be varied.

Abstract: A transfer for conveyors has a spiral shaped sweep which is rotated to cause it to engage selected articles on a conveyor and push them off laterally. The sweep is supported on and rotated by a shaft which is inclined to the vertical and toward the conveyor whereby the circular path traced by its outer end is in an inclined plane and as it moves to its retracted position it moves upwardly. As it moves across the conveyor it has a zone of maximum approach to the conveyor surface which moves across the conveyor surface and outwardly along the sweep as the sweep rotates to its maximum extended position.

Abstract: A track for conveyor chain is provided by a plastic member having sides and a flat cross web supported by a U-shaped channel to provide a low friction guide way for both the upper and return runs of the chain. The plastic guide way for both runs can be a pair of identical members or a single extrusion. The guide way and channel can be factory assembled in units of suitable length and mounted to the conveyor track at the point of installation with use of simple tools and without requiring any special skills.