Abstract: Apparatus and method for establishing reel-to-bedknife clearance in a lawn mower which has an assembly of the two elements, one movable toward and away from the other. A threaded arrangement is provided for setting the desired clearance in the apparatus, and then, upon releasing a force which moves the two cutting elements into contact with each other, a spring will re-establish the movable parts, through a lost-motion connection, to establish the desired cutting clearance.

Abstract: A cooled deformable mirror having a continuous mirror surface and a method for cooling a deformable mirror having a continuous mirror surface are disclosed. In the preferred embodiments, one or more enclosed spaces within the mirror's faceplate are supplied with coolant through one or more actuators used to deform the mirror surface and one or more other of the actuators are used to remove coolant from the mirror faceplate. The deformable mirror includes a base manifold which receives coolant from an external source and distributes the coolant to selected ones of the actuators for distribution within the faceplate. Coolant removed from the faceplate by others of the actuators is returned to the base manifold from which it is returned to the external source. Another preferred embodiment further includes a coolant distribution manifold in the faceplate to facilitate the distribution of coolant within the faceplate after the coolant has been delivered to the faceplate by the apertures in one or more actuators.

Abstract: A filter assembly including a housing and a filter element which includes a bypass/reverse flow valve coaxially disposed within the housing with the filter element and includes a central opening therethrough coaxially aligned with the opening in the filter element through which filtered fluid passes. In the forward flow direction a bypass valve opens responsive to a predetermined pressure differential appearing across the filter element to permit unfiltered fluid to flow from the source to the load without passing through the filter element. In the reverse flow direction, from the load to the source, a check valve closes and applied full load pressure to the reverse flow valve causing it to open with a second differential pressure which is lower than the bypass differential pressure to thereby permit free flow of fluid from the load to the source without passing through the filter.

Abstract: A lawn mower having a cutting reel and a bedknife as its cutting elements, and with those elements being adjustable toward and away from each other for establishing cutting clearance. A hydraulic system is utilized for establishing the pre-selected clearance and for ultimately setting that clearance and maintaining it.

Abstract: Shock absorbing apparatus includes a pair of fluid containing chambers defined by a pair of telescoping cylinders. Fluid flows from one of the chambers to another through a metering orifice proportional to the differential in pressure generated by impact loads to which the shock absorber is subjected. Upon the differential pressure exceeding a predetermined threshold level an additional flow path positioned in parallel to the metering orifice is opened by an amount proportional to the amount of differential pressure in excess of the threshold to thereby maintain a substantially constant load on the device to which the shock absorber is attached irrespective of impact loads imparted thereto.

Abstract: There is disclosed screw adapted to fasten two or more juxtaposed workpieces which comprises a threaded shank defining an axis and a major thread diameter. A drilling tip is provided which extends from the shank and includes a pair of cutting edges. Material removing extensions are formed continuously with the cutting edges and serve to extend the cutting edge in the radially outward direction at least as far as the radially outermost extent of the major thread diameter. The extensions are frangible and will fracture when a material of predetermined hardness is encountered. As such the fastener is adapted for drilling a first, enlarged bore in a first workpiece of relatively soft material, and a second smaller bore in a second workpiece of a harder material, such as metal, or the like.

Abstract: A lawn mower for a reel type lawn mower, and including mechanism for urging the bedknife cutting edge toward the reel and for positioning the bedknife cutting edge in the direction away from the reel, if desired. The cutting edge can be positioned either with a clearance or with no clearance, relative to the reel. The adjustment is automatic and consistently the same each time it is made.

Abstract: A self-clinching fastener of the type for connection to a workpiece comprising sheet material, includes a head and a shank, with a groove formed in the shank, with the head being embeddable in the sheet material to displace material thereof into the groove to form a mechanical interlock between the material of the sheet material and the fastener. The head includes a plurality of radially disposed projections extending axially outwardly of an undersurface thereof and intermediate the undersurface and the groove. These projections each include an axially facing recess therein, such that the material of the workpiece being displaced will flow into the groove and the recesses in the projections, to lock the fastener to the workpiece. The shank may also include an extruding portion to resize an aperture in the sheet material, prior to the deforming of said sheet material by said head.

Abstract: A disc-shaped stainless steel filter element including filter media formed from air-laid randomly disposed sintered fibers secured to a hub. The filter media includes opposed sheets of the fibers having perforated plate means therebetween to allow flow from the outside in. The plate means and the fiber sheets are welded together at the outer periphery thereof and the fiber sheets are welded at their inner periphery to the hub.

Abstract: A self-priming impeller type pump, particularly a centrifugal pump, is constructed so that the pump size and priming cycle time can be minimized. An impeller rotates about a generally horizontal axis within a housing having an inlet, with a diffuser portion of the housing adjacent the periphery of the impeller and defining a number of outlets. A front shroud of the impeller, adjacent the inlet, has external vanes which separate air from incoming liquid, and also facilitate recirculation of liquid from an outlet, to a recirculating liquid reservoir, and through a number of ports formed in the housing and extending generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the impeller. An air shield may be provided at the bottom of the housing to prevent air separated by diffuser peelers from passing to the recirculating ports. A reversing deflector is provided at the discharge from the topmost outlet to facilitate separation of air from liquid.

Abstract: A multi-master processor bus and a method of processing data which permits multiple microprocessors to communicate freely and inexpensively among themselves and various system resources. The bus uses a multiphase clock and latches to provide time slice signals to sequentially activate each processor, one at a time in a repetitive sequence. The bus includes cables and terminals for each of the cables with means for interconnecting each of the modules in series daisy chain fashion to selected cables.

Abstract: A positive retainer for assuring maintenance of a desired position of a check valve within a flow path within a body. The retainer is a threaded member which engages threads internally disposed within a hollow plug used to secure a check valve in a non-threaded fashion within a bore within a body through which fluid is to flow. The threaded member includes means for permitting the liquid to flow in a substantially unimpeded manner.

Abstract: A machine for the assembly of frames, e.g. of timber, comprises a first static assembly (6), and a second assembly (8) mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the first assembly (6). The static assembly (6) comprises two adjustable side assemblies (16), and supporting assemblies, comprising support members (20, 22) providing parallel spaced supporting surfaces (23) on which elongate frame members (26) may be positioned. The moving assembly (8) carries clamping devices (60) each of which provides a datum surface, and an air cylinder to move the datum surface between operative and retracted positions, and a power operated clamp member to urge a transverse component (120) of the frame into engagement with the two datum surfaces.

Abstract: Automatic compression release for a two-cycle engine is provided in a simple and effective manner by connecting a chamber defined by a diaphragm to the crankcase of the engine with a fluid flow path defining structure. In the fluid flow path, a check valve and orifice are disposed in parallel. The check valve, for example, a duckbill valve, allows the flow of fluid from the diaphragm chamber to the crankcase but not vice versa, and fluid can bleed through the orifice in either direction. The diaphragm operatively engages a valve stem, and a first spring biases the valve stem so that the valve is in open position. A second spring biases the valve to the closed position, and when the first spring is neutralized by a vacuum drawn in the diaphragm chamber, the valve will close. The valve is in communication with a pressure relief opening at an end of the engine cylinder opposite the crankcase.

Abstract: A lawnmower reel-to-bedknife adjustment system wherein the bedknife cutting edge can be automatically positioned relative to the circumference of the cutting reel. An extendable and retractable link is connected to the pivotal bedknife at a numerical advantage relative to the pivot axis and thereby provide for a fine adjustment of clearance between the reel and the bedknife upon extension and contraction of the link. The link can be extended by fluid pressure, or the like, and it can be retracted by spring pressure, and a yielding force is arranged to establish the clearance to a pre-set condition each time. Also, a manual threaded adjustment is provided along the adjustment link so that manual adjustment can be accomplished when desired.

Abstract: An adapter for a torquing tool includes an elongated body having a bore at at least one end to accommodate a working member such as a drill bit or fastener driver and a coupling means for detachably attaching the body to the tool. The improvement comprises a quick release means internal of the body member to detachably retain the working member within the bore and to the elongated body. The preferred quick release means is a spring loaded shuttle positioned in an opening radially through the body member and in communication with the bore.

Abstract: A nodalized rotor system is provided for a multi-bladed helicopter. Equally spaced radial arms each have an inboard flapping section to accommodate beam-wise blade flapping and an outboard flex section to accommodate pitch changes. A blade is coupled to the end of each arm with a cuff and pitch horn rigidly connected to the blade and pivotally connected to its arm in the region of the flapping section. The blade has a concentration of weight over the section of blade extending from about 32% to 42% of the hub-blade radius of running weight four times the running weight at 50% of the hub-blade radius. Said blade has a reduced mass at outboard 30% of the hub-blade radius, at a level of 80% of the running weight at 50% of the hub-blade radius.

Abstract: Shock absorbing struts for use on aircraft landing gear which include a pair of fluid containing chambers defined by a pair of telescoping cylinders. Fluid flows from one of the chambers to another through a metering orifice proportional to the differential in pressure generated by impact loads created upon landing or taxiing of the aircraft. Upon the differential pressure exceeding a predetermined threshold level an additional flow path positioned in parallel to the metering orifice is opened by an amount proportional to the amount of differential pressure in excess of the threshold to thereby maintain a substantially constant load on the landing gear irrespective of impact loads imparted thereto.

Abstract: A stapler device having a magazine assembly for a staple supply comprising a frame structure fixed to the housing of the stapler device. The frame structure has generally upwardly facing concave surfaces for supporting the staple supply roll at spaced positions beneath the central periphery thereof and generally upwardly facing surfaces for supporting the end portion extending from the roll at positions beneath the central extent thereof leading to the guide path in the stapler device. A cover is pivoted to the frame between opened and closed positions and includes a curved peripheral wall and a pair of marginal side walls along the curved edges of the peripheral wall. A pair of transversely spaced locking elements are fixed with respect to the frame structure and the cover has locking surfaces adjacent the forward end portion thereof for engaging the locking elements to retain the cover in its closed position.