Abstract: A method for predicting vehicle speed in a braking control system for wheeled vehicles, where a signal representing wheel speed before braking is used to trigger charging of a capacitor in an electronic unit. The capacitor voltage is reduced during braking in response to a predetermined retardation value in order to correspond to an instantaneous value for the vehicle speed. The vehicle speed signal is compared with a wheel speed signal, which comparison triggers, when the wheel speed signal exceeds the vehicle speed signal, up-dating of the capacitor voltage level to a value corresponding to the actual wheel speed signal. When up-dating the vehicle speed signal, the preselected retardation value is gradually lowered by a value corresponding to the magnitude of the actual up-dating.

Abstract: Triangular net-like arm restraining members, one for each side of an aircraft ejection seat, extend during the first phase of ejection so that each has an upper corner near the top of the back portion of the seat, a front corner near the front of the horizontal seat portion, and a lower corner near the junction of the back and seat portions. The upper corner of each restraining member is anchored near the top of the back portion, at its side thereof. The restraining members are normally furled and extend laterally outwardly from the back portion to the cabin wall, thence forwardly along the cabin wall, to be spaced, embracing relation to the seat occupant's shoulders. Upon ejection, one tension element for each restraining member draws its front corner forwardly, downwardly and laterally inwardly; another draws its lower corner downwardly.

Abstract: Driverless vehicles move in one direction along a path divided into blocks. Movement command signals are radiated from plural elongated radiators per block, arranged end-to-end, the last in each block a departure radiator wholly within the block. A receiver in each vehicle comprises a memory element established in active condition by a momentary "clear" signal and maintained in active condition by a continuous succession of movement command signals. A departure radiator emits no movement command signals while the block directly ahead of it is occupied, but it emits a "clear" signal and continuous movement command signals when that block is safe for entry. Only departure radiators emit "clear" signals; hence, a vehicle which slides into an occupied block cannot continue moving in that block.

Abstract: A bearing arrangement for a non-powered vehicle wheel. The wheel is provided with a hub neck for cooperation with a recess in a steering spindle. Said recess supports the outer rings of two roller bearings, the inner rings of which support the hub neck. The bearings are axially spaced apart by means of spacer sleeves. The wheel hub is secured axially by means of a centrally positioned hub bolt that passes freely through a hole in the hub and with its free end is screwed into a nut that is axially secured relative to said recess and that is rotating together with the inner ring of the inner bearing.

Abstract: A microwave signal that varies linearly in frequency through a sweep period is radiated to and reflected back from a target body. In one mixer the directly generated signal is mixed with the reflected signal to produce a difference frequency corresponding to distance; another mixer mixes the directly generated signal with the same signal delayed for a constant time, to produce a reference difference frequency. Each difference frequency is digitized as a pulse train. The sweep period is divided into successive short time intervals, each of which can begin with a pulse of the lower frequency train and to each of which is assigned a numerical weighting factor, said factors for successive intervals differing stepwise in value. Pulses of each train occurring during each such interval are multiplied by the factor for the interval. All such multiplied pulses are counted through the sweep period to obtain a pair of pulse totals, and a quotient relationship between those totals gives an accurate measure of distance.

Abstract: A device for compensating temperature dependent volume variations in a closed pressure medium system where at least two variable volume members are connected via a pipe to each other for transfer of movement between each other. At least one of the movement transmitting members has two ends freely movable relative to the pipe. One of the ends cooperates with a support, the position of which varies with the temperature as the volume of a flexible means, which is rigidly attached to the pipe, changes. The other end of the movement transmitting member is freely movable relative to the flexible means.

Abstract: Driverless vehicles, confined to motion in one direction along a defined path divided into blocks, receive commands from a central unit in the form of encoded command signals radiated from an elongated radiator. Each vehicle progresses only while receiving signals regularly. The radiator comprises two parallel stretches, each extending all along the path but divided into sections, each section being as long as a block but extending across a block boundary, with a section of each stretch paired with a laterally adjacent section of the other stretch. In each section pair, the segment of one section that lies in one block is shielded, the remainder unshielded; the other section of the pair has opposite shielded and unshielded segments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to vehicle bumper assemblies of the type which includes at least one profiled, preferably U-shaped beam or the like adapted to be securely mounted to the frame and/or the body of the vehicle in a manner whereby the outer contours of the bumper are located outside the vehicle body or part thereof and are active in a shock absorbing capacity. Such an envisaged assembly is provided with a number of shock absorbing insert members arranged to bear against the web of the beam structure and to extend externally of the beam profile to an extent which is at least one fourth of its total height. It is basically characterized in that the beam is provided with a plurality of stays or plates which extend transversely between the longitudinally extending limb portions of said beam and which divide the beam into pocket-like sections in which the inserts are individually mountably arranged.

Abstract: Various items of information are transmitted to a body moving above the surface by a pulsed fan-shaped beam of radiant energy having a flatwise angular sweep. Each such item can comprise two or more kinds of data, e.g., beam angle data and beam identification data. To each different item to be transmitted is assigned a unique whole number. Every interval between successive beam pulses has a duration equal to a non-characterizing time period of invariant duration plus a stepwise variable characterizing time period measurable in a whole number of short, uniform time units. The number of such time units in the characterizing time period of an interval corresponds to the number assigned to an item of information to be transmitted during that interval. At the body, clock pulses are generated at a steady rate such that a whole number thereof are issued per time unit, and are counted during the characterizing period of each interval, for decoding the then-transmitted item of information.

Abstract: An electrical generator for projectiles and the like comprises a piezoelectric element housed in a cavity through which air is forced by missile movement. A reed-like tongue in the cavity has one end captive, its other end near a ram air inlet that terminates in a nozzle outlet which is aligned with the tongue and is so configured as to enable the ram air to impart vigorous vibration to the tongue. The piezoelectric element has a vibration transmitting connection with the tongue, near the captive end of the latter.

Abstract: The invention relates to silencers for damping sound waves created in gases, comprising a series of thin-walled, tubular damping units and an inner tube for conducting gases through the end walls of the units, the tube having openings communicating with the chambers defined in each unit. In accordance with the invention each damping unit is surrounded by an outer tube which is connected in a gas-tight fashion through two end walls with the cylindrical surface of the damping unit, and the space between the cylindrical surface and the outer tube is divided into at least two chambers communicating with the inner tube through a transversely-extending branch pipe.

Abstract: A device for regulating the adjustment of vehicle headlights in response to the vehicle load. The headlights are pivotally mounted in the vehicle body, and a relative movement between the vehicle body and the rear axle, caused by a load change is transferred to the headlights via a system of pipes and bellows containing a liquid.

Abstract: A cellular section for shock absorption having a longitudinal rear support side and a longitudinal front impact side. Between these sides there is a number of cells having their axis perpendicular to the support side. In a position between the support side and the impact side there is a longitudinal inner wall which constitutes a bottom for cells opening out backwards towards the support side and for cells opening out forwards towards the impact side. In this way each cell can stand a higher buckling load in impact, since the buckling length is reduced.

Abstract: A method and a device for regulating a vehicle wheel braking cycle. The braking pressure is caused to vary in response to control parameters, causing the wheel to decelerate and accelerate in an alternating fashion. During acceleration the value of acceleration is measured, and a signal representing the maximum acceleration is compared with a braking pressure signal for the purpose of determining the amount of pressure increase needed over the braking pressure used during the acceleration. The braking pressure is then increased to the value determined by the maximum wheel acceleration.

Abstract: A valve unit for controlling air flow and braking pressure in the brake cylinder of a pneumatic braking system. The valve unit has an inlet and an outlet valve assembly each of which are controlled by a solenoid valve, which is in turn controlled by an electronic braking control system. In the inlet valve assembly there is a valve diaphragm which on one side is biased by one pressure to close the valve unit, and which on the opposite side is biased by two pressures to open the valve unit. The ratio between the areas affected by the respective pressures is selected in such a way that the brake cylinder pressure is raised in essentially constant steps.

Abstract: An operating device for locking mechanisms in doors or the like, especially on vehicles. A sealed system of flexible bellows interconnected by pipes is used to transfer a manual compression of an actuating bellows into an expansion of a bellows which is actuating the bolt of a locking mechanism.

Abstract: A cant extending transversely across parallel belt conveyors moving in unison is carried forwardly by them to a scanning station at which the cant is arrested by engaging it at two points on its leading edge. The points of engagement define a reference line on the cant and a coinciding fixed datum line. After scanning, the cant is released to resume forward movement towards an orienting station at which the same two points on it are engaged by orienting stops adjusted to distances from the datum line that are determined by calculations based on scanning data. As arrested and oriented by the orienting stops, the cant is transferred to a roller conveyor that has bodily vertical motion relative to the belt conveyors. The roller conveyor translates the cant, in a direction transverse to the belt conveyor stretches, through edging cutters.

Abstract: The valve seat of a butterfly valve is defined by a circular edge on a land-like radially inward projection in the valve housing, lying in a plane normal to the axis of the fluid passage through the seat. The valve member rotates about a pivot axis which is transverse to the passage axis, spaced in one direction from it and spaced to one side of said plane. The valve member has a peripheral sealing surface corresponding to the frustum of an oblique circular cone symmetrical to a plane containing the passage axis and normal to the pivot axis, which cone (considering the valve member in closed position) has its apex at the other side of the valve seat plane and spaced in said one direction from the passage axis.

Abstract: An elongated workpiece having unfinished side surfaces inclined laterally downwardly and outwardly from a finished top surface is scanned to produce signals denoting location of the longitudinal edges of the top surface at numerous points along them. A swinging plane mirror defines an elongated scanning zone which extends across the workpiece and is translated all along it. The workpiece is alternately illuminated from opposite sides at a low angle of incidence to its top surface to shadow first one side surface, then the other. Scanning lengthwise along the scanning zone is synchronized with translation of that zone and with lighting alternation. A preferred apparatus is disclosed for establishing a reference line on the workpiece to which scanning data can be related.

Abstract: Fluid forming apparatus having a constant-volume pressure cavity has oppositely movable rigid forming tool parts, each connected with a piston comprising a double acting cylinder mechanism. Forming pressure is developed by hydraulically forcing one tool part in the direction that tends to reduce cavity volume, thus, by reaction, forcing the other tool part in the opposite direction against restraint. A cam mechanism moving with said one tool part defines a pressure program. Sensor means, cooperating with the cam and with pressure regulating valve mechanism, controls pressure of the fluid driving said one tool part in accordance with the program and the position of that tool part.