Abstract: The present invention provides a bearing assembly for use in an articulated coupling apparatus which connects one end of one railway car to an adjacent end of a second railway car in a semipermanent manner. Such coupling apparatus includes a male connection member, a female connection member, and a device for securing such bearing assembly to the coupling apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides an articulated coupling apparatus which connects one end of one railway car to an adjacent end of a second railway car in a semipermanent manner. Such coupling apparatus includes a male connection member, a female connection member, a bearing assembly, and a device for securing such bearing assembly to the coupling apparatus.

Abstract: Provided is an articulable spherical connection for a railway coupling arrangement. The connection includes a male connection member having a spherical connection portion secured to one end of a body portion and a female connection member having a split body portion. Each body portion of such femal connection member having a spherical cavity formed therein to receive a portion of the spherical connection portion of the male connection member therein. A securing device is provided to secure such split body portion together around the spherical connection portion of the male member.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for securing a bearing assembly to an articulated coupling apparatus which connects one end of one railway car to an adjacent end of a second railway car in a semipermanent manner. Such coupling apparatus includes a male connection member, a female connection member, a bearing assembly, and such device for securing such bearing assembly to the coupling apparatus.

Abstract: A system for remotely controlled performance of unmanned extravehicular activity in outer space, such as satellite maintenance and repair. The system comprises an orbitable space vehicle having a worksite accessible from the exterior of the vehicle and remotely controlled means associated with the space vehicle worksite for securing at the worksite the equipment in space upon which extravehicular activity is to be performed. At least one servo actuated manipulator slave subsystem is located adjacent to the worksite for performing work there. That slave subsystem is operatively interconnected to a remote manipulator master subsystem. A bilateral force reflective position control subsystem provides the hand of the operator of the master subsystem in a natural way with a sense of feel which is proportional to the loads applied by the operator through the slave subsystem and to loads imposed by the remote environment through the slave subsystem.

Abstract: A pump recovers viscous fluid from a well area defined by a casing extending downwardly into the well. The pump includes a stationary sleeve disposed within the casing and a tubing disposed within the sleeve and reciprocatable upwardly and downwardly within the sleeve and defining a first closure within the sleeve near its bottom end. A first member is disposed on the tubing in slidable relationship to the tubing and a second member is disposed within the sleeve in co-operative relationship with the first member to define a first valve having open and closed positions. The first and second members are disposed above the first closure to define a pump chamber with the first closure. The tubing is spaced from the sleeve above the first valve to define a storage chamber with the first valve. Means define a second valve with the sleeve at a position below the first valve and have open and closed positions.

Abstract: A boring tool particularly useful for cutting counterbores in an engine block includes means for selectively engaging and disengaging an output shaft which is rotated and axially advanced during the cutting operation. Preferably, the selective engaging and disengaging means includes feed threads formed on the output shaft, and a threaded means which is selectively moveable into and out of threaded engagement with the feed threads on the output shaft. Preferably, the boring tool is of the differential-rate type wherein the output shaft is rotated at a first predetermined rotational rate and the threaded means is rotated at a second different predetermined rotational rate. The differential rotational rate establishes the advancement rate of the output shaft. The position of the output shaft and the cutter element it carries can be readily adjusted without necessity of operating the boring tool to establish the cutter position.

Abstract: A movable member is made from a relatively hard material and is provided with a first surface. A bearing liner is attached to the first surface and is provided with relatively thin, hard and incompressible characteristics. A stationary member made from a harder material than the movable member is provided with a bearing surface which is polished and which abuts the bearing liner. Means retain the movable and stationary members in an optimal bearing relationship.The movable and stationary members may be annular and may have a nested relationship so that the bearing surfaces are annular and the movable member is rotary. The retaining means may include a pair of stationary sleeves made from a similar material to the movable member and abutting each other at an intermediate position along the axial lengths of the bearing surfaces. Each of the sleeves may have a flange abutting axial extremities of the movable and stationary members.

Abstract: A movable member made from a relatively hard material is provided with a first surface. A bearing liner provided with relatively thin, hard and incompressible characteristics is attached to the first surface. A stationary member made from a harder material than the movable member is provided with a polished bearing surface which abuts the bearing liner. Means retain the members in an optimal bearing relationship.The members may be annular and may have a nested relationship. The retaining means may include a pair of stationary sleeves made from a material similar to the movable member and abutting each other at one end. Each of the sleeves may have a flange abutting axial extremities of the movable and stationary members. A pair of additional thin, hard and incompressible bearing liners may be respectively attached to the sleeve flanges at positions abutting the axial extremities of the movable and stationary members.

Abstract: A refuse compaction apparatus including a container for storing refuse under pressure, a tailgate rotatably mounted on the container for movement between an opened and a closed position. The tailgate in its opened position permits refuse to be discharged from the container and the tailgate in its closed position forms a closure with the storage container. In maintaining the tailgate in its closed position, a latch member is engageable with a keeper member with means to provide rotational movement of the latch member into a position to make contact with the keeper member. After rotational movement of the latch member, means are provided to cause translational movement of the latch member into contact with the keeper member to maintain the tailgate in a closed position.

Abstract: Refuse compaction apparatus includes a hopper with two opposite side walls and with two shafts, one in each side wall. A torque tube is disposed on the first shaft for rotation and is independent of the second shaft and is constructed to withstand high forces. A packer panel is constructed to transmit torque and to withstand twisting moments. The packer panel may be provided with an elliptical configuration in cross-section with the major axis of the ellipse extending toward the torque tube. Means couple the packer panel to the torque tube in a rigidified relationship to rotate the packer panel with the torque tube. Means also mount the packer panel on the second shaft in a stiffening relationship. A second packer panel may be disposed in the hopper for movement with the first packer panel and for independent movement relative to the first packer panel.

Abstract: In successive cycles of movement of packing panel means in a hopper, refuse is stuffed at high pressures into a progressively narrowed throat in the hopper and is churned, fragmented and compacted during such stuffing operation. At positions beyond the throat, the refuse is directed at reduced pressures through the passage into a storage body. When the pressure of the refuse in the passage reaches a particular value, a servo obtains the movement of an ejection panel in a direction to relieve such pressure. A retainer panel is movable, in accordance with the cyclic movement of the packing panel means through the hopper, between a first position opening the passage and a second position closing the passage and is disposed in the first position to define an extension of the passage. A distance accommodating human fingers is provided between the edge of the packing panel means and a curved inner surface in the hopper at a point adjacent to a sill in the hopper.

Abstract: In successive cycles of movement of packing panel means in a hopper, refuse is stuffed at high pressures into a progressively narrowed throat in the hopper and is churned, fragmented and compacted during such stuffing operation. At positions beyond the throat, the refuse is directed at reduced pressures through the passage into a storage body. When the pressure of the refuse in the passage reaches a particular value, a servo obtains the movement of an ejection panel in a direction to relieve such pressure. A retainer panel is movable, in accordance with the cyclic movement of the packing panel means through the hopper, between a first position opening the passage and a second position closing the passage and is disposed in the first position to define an extension of the passage. A distance accommodating human fingers is provided between the edge on the packing panel means and a curved inner surface in the hopper at a point adjacent to a sill in the hopper.

Abstract: A refuse compaction apparatus including a hopper and a panel rotatably positioned for movement through the hopper. The panel has a body with a generally elliptical cross-sectional configuration and a high torque-transmitting capability. Drive means are connected to only one end of the panel with the drive means imparting a rotational force to the panel at said one end, which force is transmitted throughout the panel by the generally elliptically-shaped body.A refuse compaction apparatus having a container for storing refuse under pressure and means for pressurizing refuse within the container. The container includes a first rigid frame positioned at one end and a second rigid frame positioned at the other end of the container. A plurality of longitudinal members interconnect the first and second frames and a plurality of flexible metal sheet members enclose the container with the sheet members being supported by the first and second frames and by the longitudinal members.

Abstract: Refuse compaction includes a storage body having an opening at one end for receiving refuse and having an opening at the other end. An ejection panel is movable in the storage body between the openings at the opposite ends. Hydraulic means including a cylinder, a piston and a support member are operatively coupled to the ejection panel for producing a movement of the ejection panel between the openings at the opposite ends of the storage body. Means are operatively coupled to the ejection panel, the support member and the hydraulic means for producing a pivotal movement of the support member and a displacement of the hydraulic means in the direction of movement of the ejection panel to minimize the displacement required between the cylinder and the piston for moving the ejection panel.

Abstract: In successive cycles of movement of packing panel means in a hopper, refuse is stuffed at high pressures into a progressively narrowed throat in the hopper and is churned, fragmented and compacted during such stuffing operation. At positions beyond the throat, the refuse is directed at reduced pressures through the passage into a storage body. When the pressure of the refuse in the passage reaches a particular value, a servo obtains the movement of an ejection panel in a direction to relieve such pressure. A retainer panel is movable, in accordance with the cyclic movement of the packing panel means through the hopper, between a first position opening the passage and a second position closing the passage and is disposed in the first position to define an extension of the passage. A distance accomodating human fingers is provided between an edge on the packing panel means and a curved inner surface in the hopper at a point adjacent to a sill in the hopper.

Abstract: A valve assembly including a trigger mechanism for use in controlling the supply of a compressed gas to a gas activated device, including a valve body including an inlet port for connection to the supply of compressed gas and at least one outlet port for connection to the gas activated device and with an internal recess coupled to the inlet and outlet ports, a valve member located within the recess in the valve body and intermediate the inlet and outlet ports and with the valve member having a closed position providing for no path between the inlet and outlet ports and having an open position providing for a path between the inlet and outlet ports, a spring member coupled between the valve member and the valve body for providing a force for normally moving the valve member from the closed position to the open position, a trigger mechanism mounted on the valve body and including an armed position with the trigger mechanism locked and a fired position, and with the trigger mechanism coupled to the valve member

Abstract: The upper panel of a tailgate assembly is moved in a downward and rearward convexly curved path between an upward and forward position and a rearward and lowered position and the lower panel is rotated forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the upper panel. Linkages are included in the tailgate assembly to provide this movement. A lower surface of the fixed panel may have an upwardly curved lower surface which imparts a forward direction of movement to refuse which is packed against it. The upper panel may have a curved forward surface in close proximity to a rearward surface of the fixed panel. During movement of the upper panel, the rearward surface of the fixed panel removes refuse from the curved forward surface. The upper panel is tilted as it moves and during its upward movement the lower portion of the upper panel is tilted forwardly. This imparts a forward movement to refuse which is moved through the opening into the storage body.

Abstract: A refuse collection apparatus including a storage body and a tailgate positioned rearwardly of the storage body which defines a hopper that is positioned adjacent to an opening into the storage body. An upper and a lower panel within the tailgate are pivotally connected and movably positioned with respect to the hopper. The upper panel is moved in a downward and rearward convexly curved path between an upward and forward position and a rearward and lowered position and the lower panel is rotated forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the upper panel. A fixed panel positioned in the tailgate structure defines the upper extent of the opening into the storage body and during upward movement of the upper panel, refuse is packed against the fixed panel.The lower surface of the fixed panel may have an upwardly curved lower surface which imparts a forward direction of movement to refuse which is packed against it.