Abstract: The advantage of the theoretically correct Ackerman steering of land vehicles is well documented in the literature. Steering forces, vehicle handling, and tire wear are greatly improved by having correct toe angles of all steerable wheels. Adjustements in the suspension system and steering apparatus at the factory only provide first-order corrections to toe angles. A process for actively adjusting toe angles during operation of the vehicle is disclosed in this invention. Vehicle dynamics measuring devices to sense vehicle motion or position steering devices to measure toe angles are used in this process. Secondary toe angle corrections can be actively provided to account for inherent toe angle changes during maneuvers of the vehicle. An aftermarket apparatus for actively adjusting the toe angle is an embodiment of this invention.

Abstract: A membrane device comprising a macroporous block of sintered material with the pores at each end of the block being filled with a porous sintered material, wherein the porous sintered material comprises at least two types of grain: grains of a first type called "frame" grains having a diameter lying in the range about 1% to about 20% of the diameter of the pores in said block; and grains of a second type called "finishing"grains having a diameter lying in the range about 0.2% to about 20% of the diameter of the frame grains, with the finishing grains being received in the pores defined between the frame grains.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for immobilizing, by an hydraulic binder, radioactive ion exchange resins or IER, which can contain borates in a quantity which can reach up to the equivalent of 1000 g H.sub.3 BO.sub.3 /kg of dry IER, wherein the IER are decanted and then placed in contact for a maximum of three hours with an eluant solution of 100 to 300 g/l in Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2 in the proportion of 1 to 2 l/kg of decanted IER, an hydraulic binder of low hydration heat being added to the medium of pH.gtoreq.9 so that the ratio of the water of the eluant solution to the binder (by weight) is between 0.3 and 0.5 and that the incorporation rate:dry IER/final product (by weight) is between 3% and 10%.

Abstract: The process of treatment according to this invention is applied to a textile piece--weave, knit or finished article--constituted wholly or partly by yarns of continuous filaments with adherent microfilaments, obtained by star--or lamellar spinning, for example comprising six to eight unitary microfilaments of 0.2 to 0.4 dtex. It consists in subjecting said piece, resting on a support screen, to the action of jets of water at a pressure of at least 4.multidot.10.sup.6 Pa, whereby the structure of the piece is modified and the unitary microfilaments are separated.

Abstract: A method for preparing, at an animal feedlot, a suspension of microaerophilic or anaerobic bacteria at a known, accurate concentration in anticipation of dispensing the suspension of bacteria into animal feed or drinking water. The method allows the livestock feedlot or poultry operators to maintain the suspension of bacteria in a substantially viable condition without significant loss of viability and without requiring constant or intermittent agitation after the suspension is created. Refrigeration of the suspension is also unnecessary if the suspension of bacteria is dispensed within a predetermined period of time after preparation.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electromechanical control having a centrifugal structure comprising a shaft (22) driven in rotation by an electric motor (20) and defining an axis, at least two flyweights (38) capable of moving under the effect of a centrifugal force between a plate (34) and a disk (32), the plate (34) being able to be driven in rotation by the shaft, and a wedge device (12). According to the invention, the shaft (22) is mounted movably in axial translation to drive in translation the wedge device (12), and the plate (34) is axially fixed whereas the disk (32), which solidly fixed to an axial sleeve (30) forming, with the end (24) of the shaft (22), a lockable screw-nut assembly, is capable of axial translation and can be driven in rotation by the shaft (22), the radial position of the flyweights (38) determining the separation of the disk (32) and the plate (34). Application to the braking of vehicles.

Abstract: A device for the control of a double-acting hydraulic jack (10) comprises in a main circuit, a distributor assembly (28, 28', 34, 34') electrically controlled and commanding the putting of each of the two chambers (14, 16) of the jack selectively in relation with a source of fluid under high pressure (20, 26) or with a reservoir of fluid at low pressure (24), and an auxiliary circuit controlled by a mechanism (76) sensitive to the position of the piston (12) of the jack (10). The auxiliary circuit comprises a slide distributor (50) which ensures the return of the piston (12) of the jack (10) into a rest position in the event of a failure of the electrical control mechanism by governing the distributor assembly (34, 34') of the main circuit.

Abstract: A device for separating particles in a liquid in which a paper suspension to be cleaned and supplied to a chamber of revolution (1) rotating about an axis (2). Movable deviators (7, 8) precede the fixed outlets (9, 10) to intercept most of the through-put of the suspension in the region of the periphery of the chamber (1), then deviate it towards the longitudinal axis of rotation (2) so as to recover most of the kinetic energy of rotation. The outlets (7, 8, 9, 10) are situated at the opposite end to that of chamber (1) from the supply (5, 6) and are arranged at the periphery of this chamber (1). A diabolo-shaped central body of revolution (11) is arranged inside the chamber, along the longitudinal axis of rotation (2) for rotation about its axis and with a radial run-off (12) in the vicinity of its smallest cross-section connected to an axial outlet duct (13).

Abstract: The instantaneous load sensor of a motor vehicle is incorporated in a suspension assembly of the vehicle, and comprises a suspension element (1) fastened via an elastic mechanism (3) to a rod (5) carried by a yoke (7). The rod (5) is a blind hollow tube, in which a slot (12) has been made substantially in the axis of the suspension element (1) and opposite the latter, so as to allow the elastic mechanism (3) to penetrate into the tube (5), a sensor (10) of the pressure prevailing in the tube hermetically closing the open end of the tube.

Abstract: The caliper disc brake comprises at least one hydraulic working chamber (20) intended for spacing apart from one another a piston (16) bearing on one brake shoe (12) and a caliper (18) bearing on the other brake shoe (14). The inner walls of the working chamber (20) are covered with a layer (22, 24) of a thermally insulated material.

Abstract: Significant improvements in heavy and medium duty truck tire wear and endurance are a result of this drive axle tire tread design. The traction and center tread blocks are shaped to give a uni-directional sculpture where the blocks and zigzag grooves regress from the mid-circumferential plane with forward rotation of the tire. The polygonal shaped traction tread blocks have a leading face with a lead slope angle (with respect to a normal from the surface area) greater that the trail slope angle of the trailing face. The lateral groove bottom surface configuration is a circle in the plane parallel to the principal tangential stresses on the surface area of the traction tread block due to a tractive effort of driving or braking. The result is a drive axle tread design with a uniform wear pattern, improved wear rates and improved endurance from groove fatigue while maintaining high levels of snow, wet and dry traction, rolling resistance, casing endurance, and noise abatement.

Abstract: A brake motor subassembly comprises a control piston (10) having an internal cavity delimited by a base wall (18) and, at the periphery, by a stepped bore (20, 22, 24) and having a mechanical actuating device acting on the control piston via an automatic compensation device formed by a screw-nut device (34) stressed towards the base wall, via a washer (26) and an axial thrust ball bearing (32), by a resilient member (28) supported on a ring (30) fixed at the end of the control piston axially opposite the base wall, and a pilot piston (44) having a first cylindrical peripheral surface of larger diameter (46) sealingly slideably cooperating with an end of reduced diameter (20) of the stepped bore and, in the vicinity of its end (50) axially opposite to the first peripheral surface (46) and cooperating with the washer (26), a second peripheral surface of reduced diameter (54) sealingly slideably cooperating with an annular seal (38) associated with a retaining washer (40) resting axially against a shoulder (42)

Abstract: A hollow elongate pushbutton receives a nozzle rod 2, and is mounted at a mid-portion on the valve rod of a liquid spray pump intended to operate under pressures on the order of more than 100 bars, and at a repetition rate of 50 Hz or more. The center of gravity of the pushbutton and nozzle rod assembly lies on the axis of the valve rod, to avoid vibrations during use.

Abstract: The brake circuit with hydraulic amplification of the input force is connected to a working chamber of a master cylinder (1) controlled by a brake pedal and comprises a source of fluid under high pressure (5), a brake motor (12) and a first valve (10) which, by way of a non-return valve (17), makes or breaks communication between the source of fluid under pressure (5) and the brake motor (12) as a function of the difference between the pressures of the fluid of the source and the fluid in the working chamber of the master cylinder. The brake circuit comprises, furthermore, a second valve (20) pilot-controlled by the pressure of the fluid of the source (5) and having a shutter (24) normally breaking communication between the working chamber and the brake motor (12) and making this communication in the event of a failure of the source.

Abstract: The booster comprises, arranged coaxially, a piston 4, a plunger 20 seated in the piston and integral with a control rod 12, a push rod 16, a reaction disc 14 and an assembly of valve shutters interacting with one end of the plunger and with a seat 18 forming part of the piston. The assembly of valve shutters comprises a first shutter 24 coming to bear on the seat 18 and a second shutter 34 accompanying the plunger 20 until its stroke is stopped by a counterstop 58, the axial position of which is adjustable from outside.

Abstract: Device for setting a rock bolt. The device is provided with a bolt magazine (6) arranged on a feed beam (1). Rock bolts (8) are transferred from the bolt magazine to the setting position in line with a hole drilled in the rock by means of a swingable arm (9) and displacement of a bolt setting machine (5).

Abstract: A brake release apparatus for a vehicle equipped with a spring-applied hydraulically-released brake system. The apparatus includes a tow hook attached to the vehicle and operably connected to a hydraulic cylinder so that a towing force on the tow hook actuates the hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder is connected to transmit a hydraulic pressure to the vehicle brakes, releasing the brakes to permit towing. A spring returns the tow hook to its original position when the towing force is removed, thereby permitting the spring-activated brakes to be reapplied.

Abstract: An insert-connecting toy which is insert-connected by several irregular construction units, in which, said construction units are dividing into meta-elements and sub-elements; the thickness of the thinnest sub-element is taken as an unit thickness; and the thicknesses of the other sub-elements are integer number times the unit thickness; several grooves are arranged on the meta-element, and the width of said groove and the width of the laminate convex bank formed by said grooves are all integer number times the unit thickness; and several grooves are also arranged on at least one of the sub-elements, and the width of the groove and the width of the laminate convex bank formed by said grooves are also integer number times the unit thickness; and therefore a multiple insert-connecting model can be constructed. So said construction units can be insert-connected into stereo animal models which are lifelike in shape, vivid in mold-making and very attractive to children.

Abstract: The artificial pancreas comprises a unit for automatic and periodical withdrawal of blood samples from the body of a patient (M), a unit for measuring the glycemia of this sample, a unit (8) for injecting insulin or glucose, and a unit (U) for calculation and data processing in order to determine the amount of insulin or glucose which is to be administered to the patient as a function of the glucose level measured by the measurement unit, and to control consequently the injection unit (8).