Abstract: A vehicle seat support assembly including an overcenter locking mechanism with a flexible metallic band wrapped about a floor mounted support tube and connected to a seat support frame pivotal on the tube such that tensioning of the band in an overcenter manner selectively prevents pivotal seat frame movement. A locking member of the mechanism is pivotally supported on the frame for rotation about a first axis and pivotally supports one end of a link about a movable second axis with another end of the link connected to one end of the band. In a locking position of the mechanism, the ends of the link are overcenter with respect to the first axis to provide the band tensioning and consequent prevention of seat frame pivoting. A curved intermediate portion of the link between its ends extends around a pin that supports the locking member on the frame.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention there is provided a bed frame which is adjustable in width to king size and which at any width has great strength to the end that it has utility not only for beds with conventional bedding but also for water beds. The bed frame has longitudinal side rails and a longitudinal center rail, transverse end rails and a transverse center rail, the end rails and transverse center rail all being of adjustable length so as to enable adjustment of the bed to different widths and all being substantially coplanar with the longitudinal side rails and center rail, the bed having nine support legs one of which is directly underneath the connection between the transverse and longitudinal center rails and the other eight of which are adjacent the other connections between the transverse and longitudinal rails.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension for connecting an axle to the frame wherein the suspension has a spring which is mounted between the axle and the frame and a reaction bar is connected between the axle and the frame to dampen vibration of the axle with respect to the frame, the reaction bar having an annular end portion with an articulating pin concentrically mounted in the annular end portion with an annular resilient elastomeric spring which allows universal rotation and axial articulation of the pin with respect to the central axis. The reaction bar is connected to the frame at one end through an articulating pin and at the other end to the axle through another articulating pin similarly mounted in the other end of the reaction bar.

Abstract: There is described a remote switching terminal which functions as a concentrator switching stage for a central office switching system, such as a standard No. 5 crossbar switch. The remote station connects subscriber phones directly into the horizontal lines of the crossbar, which are fewer in number than the subscriber lines that normally tie into the vertical lines of the crossbar. Control of the remote station is by a microprocessor which communicates over a data link to a microprocessor at the central office. Cross connections are duplicated at the remote station so as not to interfere physically or electrically with the operation of the central office equipment.

Abstract: A warm air furnace including a plenum, a blower, heat exchanger disposed within the plenum and an air distribution chamber. The heat exchanger includes an encasement surrounding a plurality of vertically extending heat exchanger tubes. The tubes are in communication with the plenum and with the air distribution chamber. A fibrous refractory inorganic tubular flame chamber is positioned within the encasement and is partially surrounded by the vertically extending tubes. The tubes are positioned in a generally U-shaped pattern and one of the tubes contacts the flame chamber. The tubes along the sides of the pattern are interconnected by upper and lower side baffles. The baffles are vertically spaced from each other to define exhaust outlets. A rear baffle extends between the tubes along the base of the pattern. A flue extends from the encasement for exhaust of combustion gases.

Abstract: A floating support for a pair of parallel conveyor propelling members provides propelling member supporting sheaves mounted in pairs at each end of a bracket. The bracket is seated on a plurality of resilient elements such as compression springs, each of which is free for independent reaction permitting the bracket to tilt either laterally or lengthwise of the propelling members to provide uniform pressure against them at each of the sheaves.

Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed which produces linear motion from a rotating input while preventing the transmission of back forces in either direction. The mechanism includes a housing with an output shaft mounted for rotation within the housing. A rotatable input drive means is mounted coaxial with the shaft. The drive means includes a radially extending impelling portion. The output shaft extends axially on both sides of the impelling portion. A tubular hub is fixedly mounted on the housing and extends around the output shaft on each side of the impelling portion of the drive means. A pair of coil springs are wrapped around the output shaft with one spring on each side of the impelling portion of the drive means. Each spring has a release toe at one end which extends axially to the impelling portion and which is capable of being engaged by the impelling portion upon rotation of the drive means. The other end of each spring engages the shaft, so that the spring rotates with the shaft.

Abstract: An improvement in conveyors is disclosed in which the conveyor rollers are mounted in bearing blocks designed to pivot about a vertical axis and, thus, adjust to the angular relationship between the rollers and their supporting frame. The bearing blocks also provide a wear resisting and noise suppressing support for the roller shafts.

Abstract: A multi-cylinder pump for delivering fluids under high pressure which includes a multi-lobed camshaft having bearing supported yoke elements disposed in an oil-filled crankcase for coupling the camshaft to plural piston elements such that displacement of the plural piston elements occur in a desired phase relationship and improved sealing arrangements disposed between the piston and the cylinders, between the suction inlet port and the high pressure outlet port and between the cylinders and the oil-filled crankcase to prevent cross-contamination of the oil lubricant and the fluid being pumped and to prevent any substantial leakage between the high pressure outlet port and low pressure inlet port during the suction and pressure strokes of the pistons.

Abstract: An improved pressure and vacuum seal arrangement for a piston-type pump utilizing a reciprocating plunger disposed within a cylindrical sleeve. The cylindrical sleeve is provided with a pressure seal assembly adjacent the outer end thereof and a vacuum seal assembly adjacent the inner end thereof, along with an annular groove formed between the two seal assemblies to isolate the vacuum seal from the pressure seal. The annular groove, which extends around the entire inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical sleeve is in communication with the pump inlet. The pressure seal assembly comprises a generally "U"-shaped cup held between inner and outer retaining discs, and wherein the inner retaining disc is disposed with its inner peripheral edge surface in normal running contact with the surface of the plunger and with the inner disc consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene.

Abstract: A file cabinet (10) is disclosed as having a drawer interlock (18) including a plurality of lock members (24) of a unique construction that is preferably unitary and injection molded from plastic. An interlock bar (22) on which the lock members are mounted is received by a plastic sleeve (27) on side panels (14, 28) of the cabinet with the lock members mounted in a vertically spaced relationship in association with drawers (12) of the cabinet, preferably with one such interlock bar at each side of the cabinet. A vertically elongated guide (38) of each lock member extends between vertically elongated slide flanges (32) of the plastic sleeve so as to support the interlock bar for translational movement in a vertical direction between lower and upper positions. Each lock member also including a pair of upwardly extending hooks (44) located laterally inward from the adjacent inner panel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for regulating the luminous flux generated by a lamp with the degeneration of the voltage from a power source such as a battery. The regulating circuit maintains a constant luminous flux output from a lamp over a substantial range of voltages by switching the voltage to the lamp on and off at a preselected and controlled duty cycle. The principal advantage of this regulation is that only the minimum energy necessary to produce a required minimum luminous flux is used from the power sources irrespective of its voltage value within the operative range. The power pulses applied to the lamp are of a voltage that varies directly as the voltage variations of the power source and widths that vary as the inverse square of the voltage from the power source for maintaining a constant RMS voltage on the lamp and thereby constant light output flux.

Abstract: A foldable sofa bed assembly is disclosed including first and second frame subassemblies, a side frame subassembly, a front frame subassembly adapted for connection to the side frame subassembly, a linkage subassembly for operatively interconnecting the first and second frame subassemblies and the side frame subassembly for moving the first and second frame subassemblies relative to each other and relative to the side frame subassembly between a folded sofa forming position and an open bed forming position. The subassemblies can be shipped in relatively narrow containers to be later assembled together. The linkage subassembly includes a plurality of pivotally connected links pivotally connected to the side frame subassembly and operable for movement between the sofa and bed forming position. The sofa bed assembly also includes a back frame subassembly adapted for connection to the side frame subassembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for regulating the output flux generated by a lamp with the degeneration of the voltage from a power source such as a battery. The regulating circuit maintains a constant luminous flux output from a lamp over a substantial range of voltages by switching the voltage to the lamp on and off at a preselected and controlled duty cycle. The power pulses applied to the lamp have heights that vary directly as the voltage variations of the power source and widths that vary as the inverse square of the voltage from the power source for maintaining a constant RMS voltage on the lamp and thereby constant light output flux.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method disclosed for forming an axle spindle from a hollow axle blank incorporate a hollow punch having a metallic body with an inner work surface defining a work opening and a mandrel fixed within the work opening projecting toward an open end thereof from a closed end of the opening. During forming, the punch is moved relative to the axle blank in the direction the mandrel projects so that the mandrel is received within the hollow axle blank as the work surface of the punch body forms the blank about the mandrel to provide a spindle. Preferably, several punches of this type are utilized to complete the spindle forming process on the axle blank. Each punch preferably has an elongated annular shape with a round inner work surface and a round outer surface on the mandrel so that the formed spindle is of a round shape. One of the punches which causes outward material movement has an undercut on its mandrel to facilitate punch withdrawal.

Abstract: A pressure relief valve for fluid systems which accommodates partial to complete bypass of fluid while maintaining working pressure in the system, the valve comprising a housing enclosing a chamber, with a portion of the chamber being moveable, and with an inlet and an outlet communicating with the chamber. A plunger assembly is mounted within the housing and adapted for reciprocatory motion between normal and bypass operational modes, the plunger assembly comprising a plunger body slidably received within the valve housing and having seal means about the periphery thereof for sealing engagement with the inner periphery of the housing. A first spring normally biases the moveable portion of the plunger body in a direction toward the valve inlet in opposition to inlet pressure.

Abstract: A hydraulic motor of the Gerotor-type which is designed for rotation in both the clockwise and the counterclockwise direction and which includes a pair of relief valves arranged to protect the motor shaft seal, irrespective of the chosen direction of rotation. The Gerotor element also includes a pair of motoring grooves which cooperate with a feed channel formed in the surface of the motor end plate and with a corresponding shadow feed channel on the opposite motor front plate to equalize the forces on the rotor element of the Gerotor and thereby prevent distortion and binding of the rotor element due to thrust forces thereon.

Abstract: A storage unit of the disclosure includes vertical posts on which beams that connect the posts are adjustably supported at selected heights. Each post has an elongated shape of a T-shaped cross section including an imperforate outer wall, imperforate side walls that extend inwardly from the outer wall in spaced relationship to each other, inner walls that extend from the side walls toward each other in spaced relationship to the outer wall, and flanges which extend inwardly from the inner walls and are connected to each other. Mounting openings are provided in each inner wall of the post along the length thereof for use in securing the beams to the post. Each beam has an elongated shape between the posts and opposite ends which include respective notches. At least one attachment tab is mounted within each beam notch for protection when the beam is not being used and for use in securing the beam to the post by projecting through one of the post mounting openings.

Abstract: An elastomeric suspension system for wheeled vehicles includes an equalizing beam pivotably mounted about its center to a trunnion tube which is rigidly mounted to the frame of the vehicle. The trunnion tube is press fitted into an aperture in a trunnion rubber bushing which, in turn, is press fitted into an aperture in the equalizing beam. Near each end of the equalizing beam is an axle mounted transversely to the beam. Each axle has mounted thereon one end of a cylindrical elastomeric spring which is connected at its other end to the equalizing beam. A rebound shaft is slidably connected at one end to each axle and at the other end to each end of the equalizing beam to prevent excessive rebound of the equalizing beam with respect to the axles. Each axle is pivotably connected to a central portion of the equalizing beam through radius rods. The elastomeric rubber spring isolates a substantial amount of vibrations of the axle, particularly vertical vibration, from the equalizing beam.

Abstract: A vertically swingable control arm has a pivotal connection with a bracket on the vehicle frame and another connection to a bracket on the axle. One or more of these connections includes a bolt passing through aligned apertures in the bracket and control arm. The bracket apertures have a larger cross dimension than the bolt to facilitate alignment of the axle relative to the frame. The axle is initially secured in aligned relation by tightening a nut on the bolt. A plate carried by the bolt is then welded to the bracket to fix the relative alignment of the axle and frame.