Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for locking and releasing objects intended for public use, such as luggage carts which can be taken from a common storage space and returned to the same. The device comprises a locking apparatus allowing each object to be automatically locked to an adjacent object or to a fixed point in compact storage position. A coin or the like is introduced into the locking apparatus to allow unlocking of the same and the concomitant release of the object by exerting a pull thereon. The locking apparatus returns the coin when the object is returned to the storage space and is locked to an adjacent object or to the fixed point. Unlocking of the object is accomplished by just exerting a pull thereon after the coin has been appropriately inserted into the locking apparatus.

Abstract: An extensometer having two spaced-apart mounting bases adapted to be mounted on a load-bearing structure with its axis of sensitivity intersecting the axis along which load-induced strains are generated at 45.degree.. The extensometer includes a pair of parallel links connecting the mounting bases through respective flexure hinges. In one embodiment, one of the links is also connected to one of the bases through an intermediate flexure hinge so that the link deforms responsive to relative movement applied between the bases along the axis of sensitivity. A strain gauge mounted on this link measures the magnitude of the deformation. In a second embodiment, a strain-instrumented measurement beam extends between the two links so that it deforms responsive to pivotal movement of the links as the mounting bases move in opposite directions along the axis of sensitivity. This embodiment of extensometer may be mounted on the load-bearing structure through three or more mounting points.

Abstract: A power assistance device has a double acting piston and cylinder whose piston rod is connected to an output. Compressed air is passed via a pair of air pressure regulators to opposite sides of the piston. Each regulator has a regulator spring, and the regulators are housed in a body which is moved upon manual effort being applied to an input to cause the springs to differentially bias so decreasing pressure on one side of the piston and increasing pressure on its opposite side, creating a pressure differential across the piston causing it to move with its piston rod to apply a magnified load to the output which is proportional to the manual effort applied to the input. The regulators could be set so that in a neutral position of the power assistance device, zero pressures exist on opposite sides of the piston. In an alternative arrangement a pair of single acting piston and cylinder devices could be used.

Abstract: A one-way clutch wherein a plurality of sprags disposed in an annular array are positioned in an annular space between concentric inner and outer rings. Each sprag has a groove formed therein substantially midway between the ends thereof. A garter spring is fitted within the grooves. An annular retainer is disposed within the annular space. The retainer has axially extending parts which are circularly joined together, whereby the axially extending parts positionally hold the sprags. A ringlike side member of generally channel-shaped cross section is confined between and has inner and outer walls which respectively slidably engage the inner and outer rings. These inner and outer walls are joined by a radial side wall which closely confines the sides of the sprags, which side wall has recesses for accommodating the axially extending parts of the retainer. This radial side wall also has radial wall portions which project between the sides of the sprags and the circularly extending parts of the retainer.

Abstract: An impact-type wire rope cutter is disclosed in which a slotted fragment guard is movably mounted to the body of the wire rope cutter. The slotted fragment guard slidably receives the cutting chisel therethrough, and it is formed so that it can be moved between an open position for receipt of a length of wire rope and a closed position immediately over the cutting area to prevent the direct expulsion or escape of fragments which can be produced by the cutting chisel during cutting. The fragment guard can be retrofit to existing cutters and easily replaced.

Abstract: The invention comprehends a remote control mechanism comprising a control device, a controlled device, and push-pull control links operatively connected at one end to said control device and at the opposite end to said controlled device, said control device being supported for pivotal movement about mutually displaced axes, said controlled device including controlled means supported for linear movement along a longitudinal axis and pivotal movement about said longitudinal axis, said control links being coincidentally moved in response to pivotal movement of said control device about one of said mutually displaced axes to effect pivotal movement of said controlled means about said longitudinal axes, and said central links being differentially relatively moved in response to pivotal movement of said control device about the other of said mutually displaced axes to effect linear movement of said controlled means along said longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A load cell having a parallelogram configuration formed by a pair of spaced-apart, generally parallel force-receiving members interconnected by a cantilever beam and a parallel spacer beam. The cantilever beam projects perpendicularly from one of the force-receiving members, and its end is secured to the other beam by a flexure hinge. The ends of the spacer beam are secured to the force-receiving members by respective flexure hinges. In order to maintain the parallelogram configuration of the load cell, the length of the spacer beam is equal to the length of the cantilever beam from the beam's virtual pivot point to its end. Rotational moments imparted to the force-receiving members apply forces to the beams along their longitudinal axes without deflecting the cantilever beam, thus making the load cell insensitive to such moments. A reduced thickness portion instrumented with semiconductor strain gauges is formed in the cantilever beam near its point of attachment with the force-receiving member.

Abstract: An incinerator including a housing defining a combustion chamber, a hearth mounted in the chamber, the hearth having a plurality of vertical openings, air passageways in the hearth each communicating with at least one of the vertical openings, a burner mounted in the housing below the hearth, and an exhaust stacking means for conducting combustion gases into the atmosphere.

Abstract: A one-way clutch wherein a plurality of sprags disposed in an annular array are positioned within an annular space between concentric inner and outer rings. Each sprag has a groove formed therein substantially midway between the ends thereof, which groove opens outwardly of the sprag in a direction which extends radially relative to the inner and outer rings. A garter spring is fitted within the grooves defined by the plurality of sprags. An annular retainer is also disposed within the annular space for holding and positionally confining the sprags. The annular retainer has axially extending parts which are circularly joined together, whereby the axially extending parts positionally hold the sprags.

Abstract: The invention comprehends a remote control mechanism having a beam swingable about a pivot to transmit a pushing force to a first cable and a pulling force to a second cable which cables are connected to locations of said beam on opposite sides of said pivot, said pushing and pulling forces being reversed when said beam is swung in opposite directions, said beam also having a third cable connected thereto at said pivot, said beam also being movable in further opposite directions in a manner such as to transmit, when moved in one such direction, pushing forces to each of said first, second and third cables, and when moved in the opposite such direction, pulling forces to each of said first, second and third cables, wherein(a) said third cable is a push cable and said first and second cables are pull cables, or(b) said third cable is a pull cable and said first and second cables are push cables.

Abstract: An oral-nasal device includes a face mask and mask-securing means. The mask has a first portion formed with a cavity to accommodate the nose of the wearer and overlie his mouth, a second portion that is a compliant seal surrounding the cavity, and a shoulder surrounding the cavity and overlying the seal. The mask-securing means includes a pressure plate which in use forces the seal to conform to the facial features of the wearer and to be continuously sealed thereto. In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the mask-securing means is secured to a diver's helmet.

Abstract: The invention comprehends a remote control mechanism comprising push-pull control links operatively connected at one end to spaced locations of a beam, said beam being pivotally movable about mutually displaced first and second axes, said spaced locations of said beam moving equally in the same direction upon pivoting of said beam about said first axis, said spaced locations of said beam moving in opposite directions relative to said control links upon pivoting of said beam about said second axis, one of said axes being fixed and the other axis rotating about said one axis when said beam is pivoted about said one axis, paired coincident movement of said control links being complementary to both said spaced locations of said beam moving equally in said same direction, and differential relative movement of said control links being complementary to said spaced locations of said beam moving in said opposite directions.

Abstract: Apparatus for lifting, repositioning and transporting relatively large storage drums that includes a carriage containing a movable frame in which is pivotably supported an open ended drum saddle. The saddle is made up of two parallel side rails joined together by a back rail. The distance between the side rails is less than the diameter of the drum whereby the drum can be cradled in a horizontal rest position within the saddle with one of its planar end walls seated against the back rail of the saddle and its cylindrical side wall resting between the two side rails. A cinching mechanism acts in cooperation with the saddle to securely lock the drum to the rails. In operation, adjustment of the frame and the saddle is accomplished independently to permit a drum to be lifted from either a horizontal or vertical rest position and brought to any desired secondary position within the operating range of the apparatus.

Abstract: The invention comprehends a pedal operated mechanism comprising a pedal, means for mounting the pedal for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal axis (considered in one orientation of said mechanism) in a substantially vertical plane, an output means adapted for operative connection to a flexible cable element, connection means operatively connecting the output means and the pedal such that the output means will translate the cable element, when operatively connected thereto, in response to pivotal movement of the pedal, and adjusting means for swivelling the output means relative to the pedal about a substantially vertical axis into any of a plurality of angular positions in a horizontal plane such that the cable element can extend in any path complementary to the angular position in which the output means is adjusted, the connection means maintaining said operative connection between the pedal and the output means in whatever angular position the output means is adjusted.

Abstract: A load disc having an annular flex plate connected to a pair of parallel mounting plates through respective support rings. The support rings are of unequal diameters so that compressive or tensile forces applied to the mounting plates cause the flex plate to spherically deform. The deformation of the flex plate produces tensile and compressive strains on opposite faces of the flex plate which are measured by strain gauges mounted on opposite faces of the flex plate. The flex plate is recessed away from the support rings at the points of attachment thereto so that the support rings intersect the flex plate at its neutral plane. Consequently, spherical deformation of the flex plate does not tend to expand or contract the support rings thereby allowing freer deformation of the flex plate and desensitizing the flex plate against lateral forces applied between the mounting plates.

Abstract: A reciprocating bearing assembly is disclosed for supporting a stoker grate carriage in a reciprocating stoker of the type having a stoker grate housing, a plurality of stationary and movable grates and a drive mechanism to reciprocate the grate carriage and movable grates of the stoker to provide a stoking action, the bearing assembly including a stub shaft fixed to the stoker housing, a bearing member journaled on the shaft with means for permitting limited angular and axial movement of the bearing member with respect to the shaft, and a downwardly opening guideway mounted on the grate carriage and engageable with a bearing surface on the bearing member to permit reciprocation of the guideway with respect to the bearing surface of the bearing member.

Abstract: A stoker consisting of a support frame, a first plurality of longitudinally spaced sets of grates mounted on the support frame, a second plurality of longitudinally spaced sets of grates mounted on the support frame, each set of the second plurality of sets of grates being interposed between the set of the first plurality of sets of grates and another set of grates, each of the sets of grates consisting of a plurality of transversly spaced grates, each of the grates having an underside surface for seating the grates and an upper surface for supporting a grate of a longitudinally successive set of grates, each transversely successive pair of grates having laterally projecting, overlapping flanges providing a tortuous air passageway between such successive pair of at least one each of the flanges terminating at a point disposed in spaced relation to the underside surface of the grate to provide a substantially longitudinal air passageway between transversely successive grates, and means for reciprocating the se

Abstract: A system for automatically stopping a multi-channel tape player after completion of recording of information on a selected channel of a multi-channel tape.

Abstract: A strain sensor or extensiometer with electrical output designed to measure relative displacements between two axially spaced points on a stressed structure comprising an elongated body with two end sections and a centrally located flexible beam extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sensor body. Relative displacements of the end sections generate two opposing symmetrical torques at the ends of the beam. These torques or bending moments are impressed onto the beam through two sets of flexible bridges which are symmetrically located but unequally spaced on opposite sides of the beam. These two torques or couples cause the beam to bend evenly over its entire length. Resistance strain gages bonded to both sides of the beam at its center measure this bending.