Abstract: A friction component for a clutch or brake including a facing of friction material and at least one metal section of plate-like form embedded in a rear surface of that facing and having an integral rivet or other fastener projecting outwardly from the facing rear surface. The metal section extends across a relatively small part of the facing rear surface and if there is a plurality of such sections they may be interconnected through integral bands. In the case of an annular friction component the metal sections are spaced circumferentially around the friction facing and if connecting bands are used they are preferably adjacent the inner periphery of the facing.

Abstract: Reconsolidated wood product (22) formed by compressing and bonding natural wood which has been rended to form open lattice work webs (14) of naturally interconnected wood strands. The webs (14) are laid over each other in overlapping fashion so as to extend at an angle to the direction of extent of the product (22), with opposite ends of the webs being closest to respective opposed surfaces (60, 64) of the product.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming a reconsolidated wood product from natural wood which has been rended to form flexible open lattice work webs (14) of naturally interconnected wood strands. The webs (14) are laid one over the other in overlapping fashion, treated with a bonding agent, and compressed in a compression apparatus (100) having two members (102, 104) which are cyclically moved towards each other, to effect compression of the webs, and then moved away from each other to permit further webs to be positioned for compression in the compression device. Movement of the webs through the apparatus is effected by engaging the bonded webs, after compression and when the members (102, 104) are moved away from each other, so as to draw following laid in webs (14) into the space between the members (102, 104).

Abstract: A vehicle brake system for an arrangement having a prime mover and at least one tandem trailer. The system includes a respective sub-system for the prime mover and each tandem trailer and each sub-system has a plurality of spring brakes which are held out of a park mode by pressurized air in a hold-back chamber and are caused to operate in a normal manner by pressurized air supplied to a service chamber. Each sub-system includes a service relay valve which is operable to connect pressurized air with the service chambers of the respective spring brakes and the prime mover sub-system includes a control relay valve which is operable to cause operation of the service relay valves of that sub-system and the adjacent tandem trailer sub-system. If there are two or more tandem trailers, each tandem trailer sub-system apart from the last includes a control relay valve and each succeeding control relay valve is operated as a consequence of operation of the control relay valve of the respective preceding sub-system.

Abstract: A relay valve for a vehicle brake system having an operating piston which moves in one direction in response to entry of a control pressure into one part of the valve and which by that movement causes an orifice to open whereby working pressure is allowed to enter another part of the valve and pass from there through various outlets. There are six outlets and each is connected to a respective brake assembly of the vehicle brake system. A damping piston is connected to the operating piston so as to move therewith and is subjected to the same pressure as that acting against one side of the operating piston but in a manner such as to provide resistance to movement of the operating piston in the aforementioned one direction.

Abstract: A metal working press having a base, a die set located over the base, and coaxial primary and secondary rams movable towards and away from the base to drive the die set through a working stroke and return it to an open condition. The die set includes upper and lower die assemblies and the upper die assembly is connected to the primary ram in such a manner as to prevent axial separation but permit lateral movement of the die set relative to the ram whereby the die set can be moved into and out of the press. The upper die assembly includes two die members which are relatively movable in the axial direction of the ram and the extent of that relative movement is preset by a lost motion mechanism existing in the connection between the primary ram and the upper die assembly and also by engagement between opposed surfaces of the two rams.

Abstract: A torque wrench having a reaction bar and an arm extending laterally in the same direction from a work engaging head. The arm is flexed in response to torque applied to the head through the bar and cooperable members on the bar and arm respectively engage as a consequence of that flexing. The member on the bar is a pivoted lever which responds to the aforementioned engagement to swing towards a signal generating position at which it causes a switch to operate to close a circuit contained within a handle part of the bar. The circuit includes audible and visible signal means and those means are energized while the circuit remains closed. The switch is normally urged towards a circuit closed position but is prevented from reaching that position by a blocking member, and the aforementioned pivoted lever renders that blocking member inoperative when the pivoted lever is swung into its signal generating position.

Abstract: An emergency locking reel for a safety belt and being of the kind having a frame which is securable to a support, a spool rotatably mounted on that frame, and locking means operable to prevent rotation of that spool in a belt unwinding direction. The locking means comprises a toothed ring secured to the frame and a pawl rotatable with the spool and movable relative thereto to engage the ring. According to the invention, an inertia plate is provided separate from the pawl and is mounted on the spool spindle for limited relative rotation. A ratchet wheel is connected to the pawl for rotation therewith and carries a detent which responds to relative rotation between the wheel and inertia plate to stop rotation of the wheel and thereby cause the pawl to engage the ring. A spring resists that relative rotation between the wheel and inertia plate.

Abstract: A cushion for location on a vehicle seat to provide an elevated seating surface for a child, and having upstanding side walls. A recess is formed in the front edge of each side wall for receiving part of the normal vehicle seat safety belt, and that recess is increased in depth downwardly at a location spaced from the front edge of the side wall so as to resist separation of the belt from the cushion. The effective height of the cushion can be increased by locating a temporary elevating platform beneath the cushion or over its upper surface. The body of the cushion comprises a metal frame, a core of resilient material moulded around that frame, and an outer skin covering the core.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for dynamically measuring vehicle front end parameters such as toe-in (or toe-out) and camber angle. The apparatus includes a separate pair of support rollers for supporting each vehicle front wheel and causing rotation thereof. A sensing roller is adapted to contact the tire tread surface at the lowermost point of the tire so as to be rotated by rotation of the wheel. The axis of the sensing roller is arranged transverse to the plane of rotation of the wheel such that any toe-in or toe-out of the wheel causes a transverse or generally axial displacement of the sensing roller to a position wherein the axis of the sensing roller is normal to the toe-in or toe-out direction of the wheel. The sensing roller is mounted on an axle which forms one bar of a trapezium shaped four bar linkage which causes said sensing roller to pivot about an effective pivot point which is arranged, by means of said linkage, a considerable distance away from the wheel.

Abstract: A cushion for location on a vehicle seat to provide an elevated seating surface for a child, and having upstanding side walls. A recess is formed in the front edge of each side wall for receiving part of the normal vehicle seat safety belt, and that recess is increased in depth downwardly at a location spaced from the front edge of the side wall so as to resist separation of the belt from the cushion. The effective height of the cushion can be increased by locating a temporary elevating platform beneath the cushion or over its upper surface. The body of the cushion comprises a metal frame, a core of resilient material moulded around that frame, and an outer skin covering the core.

Abstract: A traversing mechanism of the kind in which a carriage is alternately releasably clamped to a respective one of two parallel runs of an endless belt so as to be reciprocated along a guided path. A coupling wheel is rotatably mounted on the carriage at a location between the two belt runs and has a plurality of radially projecting lobes provided around its outer periphery. In operation, the wheel is rotated in stepwise fashion as permitted by a sliding escapement, to sequentially adopt a plurality of operative positions in each of which a run of the belt is clamped between a wheel lobe and one of the backing surfaces. Each backing surface is mounted for movement towards and away from the respective adjacent belt run under the influence of a camming actuator.

Abstract: A cycle exerciser having a vaned wheel rotatably mounted on a frame and arranged to absorb energy by movement of the broad surfaces of the vanes against the surrounding body of air. Rotation of the wheel is effected through a pair of foot pedals and connected chain and sprocket mechanism, and/or through a pair of handle bars. Each handle bar is pivotally connected to the frame and is also connected to a respective eccentric through a crank ring rotatably mounted on that eccentric and a drive bar connected to both the crank ring and the handle bar. The two eccentrics are arranged 180.degree. out of phase and are connected to the foot pedal assembly so as to rotate in response to both pivotal movement of the handle bars and operation of the foot pedals. As the eccentrics are drivably connected to the vaned wheel, that wheel is caused to rotate in response to rotation of the eccentrics.

Abstract: The invention relates to machines which determine the unbalance in a workpiece by rotating the workpiece and measuring the unbalance forces reacted into the machine frame. A drive arrangement is disclosed for rotating a spindle supporting the workpiece in such a machine for balancing vehicle wheels. The arrangement comprises a spindle housing for rotatably supporting the spindle and mounted on a base frame in a manner whereby the forces are reacted into a single direction and measured. The invention resides in the drive arrangement which includes speed changing means in the form of a worm gear on the spindle and a worm drive mounted on the spindle housing. A drive motor for driving the worm is mounted on the machine frame, that is, away from the spindle housing and drives the worm by means of a belt drive between a motor pulley and a pulley connected to the worm.

Abstract: This specification discloses an improved electrophotographic image receiving plate having a base including one or more electrophotographic layers and an array of electrically discrete conducting elements arranged in electrical contact with one of the photoconductive layers, and an electrically conducting grid arranged adjacent to but insulated from each of the discrete elements. In one form the grid surrounds the discrete elements and is coplanar therewith. In another embodiment the grid is applied to an insulating layer deposited over the discrete elements. In use, a potential difference is applied between the grid and the discrete elements to create an electric field which develops an image on the discrete elements.

Abstract: A spindle mounting for a wheel balancing machine of the kind in which the spindle is arranged substantially horizontal and has a cantilevered end portion for receiving a wheel to be balanced. The mounting includes a housing for rotatably supporting the spindle, and flexible support means connecting that housing to a base which is securable to a frame of the balancing machine. The support means includes at least three elongate support members which extend transverse to the spindle axis and are arranged in spaced side by side relationship, and an elongate restraining member arranged substantially parallel to the spindle. The support members are connected between the housing and base to provide column supports for the housing, and the restraining member has its opposite end portions connected to the housing and base respectively to hold the housing against endwise movement relative to the base.

Abstract: A torque wrench of the "break" type in which the handle moves relative to the workhead when the preselected tension has been reached, thereby providing a signal which can be felt by the user. The handle is pivotally connected to the workhead, and a tension control mechanism acts between the handle and workhead to prevent pivotal movement of the handle in one direction relative to the workhead until the preselected tension has been reached. The tension control mechanism is adjustable to allow variation of the "break torque," and includes a lever which is pivotally connected to the workhead and coacts with a reaction member connected to the handle. A spring influenced plunger acts on the lever through a toggle bar to hold the lever in an operative position, at which position the handle is held against pivotal movement relative to the workhead, and the toggle bar has its longitudinal axis at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the plunger.