Abstract: A power-assist device for an automotive steering system employs spool valves of substantially identical construction and identical size to control the fluid pressure in smaller and larger area chambers of an unbalanced cylinder. For compensating difference of effective area between smaller and larger area chambers, the position of bores defned in a housing of a pressure control valve for receiving the spool valves are differed from each other so that the spool valve opening and closing an induction path for the smaller area chamber and opening closing a drain path for the larger area chamber moves at greater magnitude than that of the other spool valve which opens and closes an induction path for the larger area chamber and opens and closes an exhaust path for the smaller area chamber.

Abstract: A composite gearwheel structure for reciprocating the gripper-carrying straps in weaving looms, comprises a gearwheel body of synthetic plastic material. Its teeth are partially covered with sheet metal associated with the body and forming an integral part thereof.

Abstract: A conductor tieback connector (T) thus having a tubular body (12) connectible to the lower end of a conductor or a string of conductors (C), a downwardly extending funnel (20) with two bearing surfaces and a tapered guide (24). The tapered guide (24) aids in initial stabbing of the connector (T) over a wellhead (W) and the two bearing surfaces (26, 30) operate on the outside of the wellhead (W) to force the tieback connector (T) into angular alignment under the influence of the weight of the conductor string. Seals (14, 16), located between the tieback connector (T) and wellhead (W), are compressed with axial movement of the tieback connector (T). A two-piece internal floating bushing (42, 42a, 42b), threadible (50, 52) on the interior surface of the tieback connector (T), is moved within the interior of the wellhead (W) where locking dogs (46) engage running tool grooves (40) in the bore of the wellhead (W) to clamp the tieback connector (T) onto the wellhead (W).

Abstract: A concrete arch buried bridge made up of upper and lower arched parts of corrugated metal provided with a reinforced concrete cap with a footing at each side, having an abutment extending inward under the margin of the upper part. The margins of the respective upper and lower parts have a connection which can be left loose to enable their relative movement and tightened so that they are rigidly held together. Each margin of the lower part has a permanent connection to the adjacent abutment which allows movement in the upward and downward direction, but resists lateral movement. The bridge is constructed by first placing the lower part on a compacted fill and making the connection between the margins of the upper part and the lower part. Then, the concrete cap is formed on top of the upper part and when the concrete is set sufficiently, the connection loosened and the fill completed on top of it.

Abstract: A link coupling device comprising a ball pin and a ball retainer is disclosed, wherein the ball pin is provided with a movement-restricting projection portion and the ball retainer is provided with a movement-restricting recess portion capable of engaging with the movement-restricting projection portion when the spherical part of the ball pin is press-fitted into the press fitting part of the ball retainer.

Abstract: A support stand for a camera or other optical device comprises a head portion supported by support legs comprising first and second telescopically related tube portions, the inner tube portion forming the upper part of the respective leg and the outer tube portion forming the lower part. A fixing device for locking the tube portions of each leg relative to each other comprises an actuating rod which extends within the tube portions and which carries at its lower end first and second clamping cone members which taper in the same direction and which are co-operable with respective pressure elements surrounding same.

Abstract: Improved lock assemblies for locking two construction components together. A pair of tandem male lock assemblies each includes a rigid pin which is reciprocable with respect to a surrounding male socket between an advanced position and a retracted position. Each male lock assembly includes a transversely reciprocable lock adapted to lock the pin in at least one of, and preferably both of, its two positions. All parts of each lock assembly are retained against separation. The locks of the tandem male lock assemblies are connected for joint movement and are adapted so that, when moved from release positions to pin-locking positions, one lock engages its respective pin before the other lock engages its pin. A cooperative pair of tandem female lock assemblies may have identical jointly movable locks.

Abstract: An air mattress comprising an inflatable and deflatable flexible body enclosing an air chamber having a resilient means urging the opposite upper and lower walls of the body apart while being yieldable to permit the body to be folded and deflated. In one embodiment, removable a closure is attached to the body to be received in a portal in the wall of the body to seal the chamber closed. When the body is unfolded into a generally horizontal or planar position with the portal opened, the resilient means within the body will separate the upper and lower walls of the body drawing air from the atmosphere into the chamber, the portal may then be closed to seal the air in the chamber. The air mattress is illustrated on a foldable bed including frame portions which are foldable into overlying positions to fold and deflate the mattress and which are unfoldable into a horizontal position to unfold and inflate the mattress.

Abstract: A trench shore consisting of longitudinal panels which cover the walls of the trench and are supported by movable frames, the panels being moved forward by jacks connecting the panels to the frames which are held in place by the friction between the walls and other panels, the shore comprising a central chamber where permanent structure is installed, with a front section with sides sloping to conform to the natural slope of the ground, and a rear section with similar sloping sides to allow for tamping and consolidating backfill material around the structure installed and with bracing arranged to allow the shore to pass completed sections of manholes; the shore being also suitable for laying pipe or tunnels under water.

Abstract: A device for connecting the ends of two pipes and comprising an insert and a bushing that slides over the end of one pipe, that the insert fits into, and that has a rear face extending inward at the end toward the insert and overlapping an outside annular ridge on the end of the pipe. To facilitate removing contamination from the connection, the rear face has at least one bore therein.

Abstract: An anti-rotational joint for connecting sections of cnduits together to form a flowline or the like wherein the joint includes a means that prevents the joint from accidentally unscrewing after it is made up to its desired torque.

Abstract: A ball joint comprised of a ball with a shank, a socket having slots on the open side thereof, a steel ring with a lever for accommodating the ball joint, and a clamping mechanism which is fitted as a one-piece unit to the socket, said clamping unit being adapted to also effect clamping of the upper portion of the socket and to afford force and form-locking stabilization thereof. The clamping unit for effecting biasing in axial direction of the socket with the steel ring forming the housing of the ball joint is in the form of a knee-lever mechanism. This mechanism includes hook-like members which are arranged on the socket, said hook-like members being linked with a centrally disposed and axially displaceable thrust member. The thrust member serves as a manipulating means for actuating the knee-lever mechanism.

Abstract: A fastening device including a housing element, a body rotatable for at least an arc in the housing element, and a resilient element located between the housing element and the body. The resilient element has arms movable between a disengagement position, at which the arms are near one another and extended, and an engagement position, at which the arms are moved away from one another and retracted for a traction engagement with the walls of an engagement hole. The body has cam parts for forcing the arms from the disengagement position to the engagement position, when the body is rotated.

Abstract: A retainer for holding an electrical box in a wall is made of a single contiguous piece of almost dead soft thin sheet metal, the retainer has a folded over and flattened and work hardened nose, a two layer leading protusion, a divergent barb, an elongate shank, and a multiple purpose outward flange having a round heel and a grasping catch for receiving an insertion tool. A method of installing and retaining an electrical box has the steps of inserting the protrusion and barb, grasping the retainer and pulling it taunt, and driving an outer end into the electrical box. A method of making the retainer has the steps of shearing a rectangular piece of soft metal, forming a barb, folding over a first end and the barb, and forming a catch for an insertion tool on a second end.

Abstract: A method for producing cylindrical hollow bodies bearing on the ground along one generatrice, of large cross sectional area, by assembling on site previously prepared longitudinal components.The method consists in determining by calculation the optimum cross-sectional profile of said hollow body as a function of known parameters concerning the site, conditions of use of said hollow body and its inherent characteristics; divising said optimum cross-sectional profile into adjacent sections each corresponding to a longitudinal component of the hollow body and together providing a substantially continuous interior surface; and giving the transverse wall section of at least some of said components a variable thickness for adapting the latter component to the stresses to be exerted thereon.

Abstract: A template (26) attached to an anchor pile (12) supports a pull-in tool receptacle (28) at a predetermined location with respect to the anchor pile. The end of the pipe to be connected includes a riser mandrel (16), the lock down connector (20), and a buoyancy module (52). A bridle (42) is temporarily connected (44, 48, 50) to the end of the pipe with the pull-in cable threaded through a pull-in tool (30) and attached to the bridle.The pull-in tool is locked (32) in the frame, and engages and secures alignment pins (40) attached to the bridle when the line has been pulled in. The pipe end is moved (59) into locked engagement with the anchor pile, the bridle (42) disconnected from the pipe end, and thereafter retrieved to the surface with the pull-in tool (30).

Abstract: A heat exchanger tube assembly having one end of a copper tube soldered to the end of an aluminum tube, and a method of minimizing galvanic corrosion at the soldered joint. The aluminum tube, having a roughened inner surface for enhanced heat transfer, fits inside the copper tube at the soldered joint. A heat shrinkable thermoplastic tube having a thermosetting adhesive inner coating is placed around the joint and then heated. The heat shrinks the thermoplastic tube, causing it to contract and to adhere tightly against and around the joint. The plastic tube with its adhesive inner coating protects the joint from atmospheric moisture and thus inhibits galvanic corrosion that would eventually create a leak in the tube joint.

Abstract: The device comprises an abutment member which has seats for engaging the two rods of the saddle frame from above and is coupled to the head of the saddle pillar so as to be rotatable about a transverse axis of rotation perpendicular to the two rods but not movable vertically, and a thrust plate which engages the two rods of the saddle from below. A pair of screws is screwed substantially vertically through the head of the saddle pillar on the two sides of the transverse axis of rotation with their ends engaging the lower surface of the thrust plate, to cause clamping of the rods of the saddle against the seats of the abutment member as a result of the upward thrust exerted by the screws on the thrust plate, and to allow adjustment of the inclination of the saddle by the tightening of one of the screws and the loosening of the other.

Abstract: A fastener for joining together a plurality of panel members at their corners provides tight, aligned joinder between the panels, yet can be rapidly disconnected to facilitate the transportation of the panels. The fastener includes a central hub portion against which the corner portions of the panels to be joined together abut in mating relationship; the corner portions of such panels being preformed to the shape of the fastener central portion to enable such mating engagement. Extending from one end of the central portion is an overlapping member which fits flush against one surface of the panels to be joined while extending from the opposite end of the central portion is a second member which is in opposing relationship to the opposite surface of such panels. Clamping members attached to the second member have arms which extend towards each other at convergent angles.

Abstract: A water-bag dam or dike comprises elongate tubes adapted to be filled with water. The tubes have three equal sides and are supported by longitudinal and lateral support members so that, when filled with water, they assume the shape of a substantially equilateral, triangular prism. The tubes can be stacked to make a dam or dike twice as tall and wide on the individual tubes. The tubes and support members can be transported to a flood situs and there be erected into an effective dam or dike just by filling the tubes with water.