Abstract: A modulation valve device comprising an inlet passage, an outlet passage selectively connected to one of a plurality of hydraulic clutches through a selector valve, an operation chamber to which the inlet and outlet passages connect, a plunger to be moved in accordance with a pressure in the operation chamber, an accumulator controllably connected to the outlet passage through a passage whose opening degree is controlled by the plunger, and a variable orifice mechanism associated to the inlet passage. The variable orifice mechanism includes a plurality of orifices which have different flow resistances and are adapted to form a part of the inlet passage, respectively. A control mechanism is provided for selecting the orifice forming a part of the inlet passage among a plurality of the orifices in accordance with the selected clutch.

Abstract: An articulated arm for supportably attaching a movable first body to a second body comprises a connector bar which fits inside a substantially hollow sheath, each of the connector bar and sheaths being pivotally attached to a first intermediate member at a first end thereof and to a second intermediate member at a second end thereof. Fasteners are provided to temporarily and disengagably fix the position of the connector bar with respect to the sheath. Hardware is described for attaching the first intermediate member to a movable first body and for attaching the second intermediate member to a second body which is substantially stationary with respect to the first body.

Abstract: The method essentially creates a lake, if one does not already exist, and uses this lake as a "moving" biological treating pond for contaminated soil sites. Contaminated soil from one side of the lake is dragged into the lake, the water of which is infested with contaminant-consuming micro-organisms, then is tilled at the bottom of the lake to fully expose the soil to biological treatment, and then is raked upwardly along an opposite side of the lake to form a shoreline of cleaned soil material. The earthmoving process is repeated until the lake has passed through the treated all of the contaminated soil site. The method performs all decontamination on-site and avoids the requirement for any backfilling of the side after decontamination of the site.

Abstract: A stair rail assembly for attachment on a stairs provides a hand rail design for a toddler or a young child. Several heart-shaped mounted brackets having angular disposed tubular sockets thereon are secured to the stair structure or wall in engagement with the tread and riser portions of the stair and support outwardly angularly extending posts which carry T-fittings on their outer end which in turn engage a longitudinally extending hand rail positioned at an appropriate height so that it is conveniently engaged by a toddler or a young child. Fasteners, such as bolts or screws, are positioned through the heart-shaped mounted brackets to secure the same to the stair structure or wall.

Abstract: Mechanism for attaching a high pressure tube to an opening in a housing using a tapered opening into which a high pressure tube is inserted. A fitting has one end positioned about the tube end and is then press fitted not only to the housing on an outer diameter fitting section but also inwardly against the tube end as well as the other fitting end being press fitted to the housing to further secure the fitting to the housing, all of the press fits providing high pressure seals. The fitting other end also provides for prealignment of a fitting cross passage with a housing side passage so that high pressure fluid flowing between the tube and the side passage has minimal directional change in passing from the cross passage to the side passage. The fitting other end is adapted to receive press fitting force in axial alignment with the fitting.

Abstract: The wire clamp of this invention is fixed to a mounting board by resilient engaging portions that extend from a base at the end of a post and spread out in a mounting hole in the mounting board. While the wire clamp is thus secured, it holds wires in its wire receiving portions. The wires are supported at a predetermined interval on the mounting board. This wire clamp is easily mounted by pushing struts toward the post with one's finger tips. The pushed struts resiliently deform, pulling up the ends of beams, which descend toward the resilient engaging portions, until the beams are almost horizontally aligned along the mounting board. The resilient resistance of the beams is reduced accordingly, which facilitates the insertion of the resilient engaging portions. Since the post, the struts, the beams, and the wire-receiving portions almost form a square, the wire clamp is rigid, and can firmly secure the wires.

Abstract: A barricade is provided for use at construction sites, on roadways and highways, and the like, or for crowd control, for example, at the scene of an emergency. The barricade includes an elongated, hollow crossbar member that comprises one or more elongated, hollow interconnecting sections, with each end of the crossbar member mounted in a collapsible A-frame support. The barricade can be collapsed from its fully-assembled, in-use configuration into a compact unit or package which takes up relatively little space so that it can be conveniently transported from place to place.

Abstract: A quick disconnect device having a locking feature for securing the quick disconnect device in a lock position is provided for connecting tooling attachments to the boom of an electromechanical feeder used with pick and place operations. The locking action utilizes a cam and follower arrangement and is provided by a detent in a lock position of the cam contour. The detent retains the cam follower in the lock position and prevents the cam follower from becoming unintentionally released, preventing the tooling attachment from becoming loose or disconnected from the boom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mounting structure for securely and accurately positioning an object on a rotatable shaft. In the preferred embodiment, the mounting structure is utilized to position a rotary bell on a rotatable shaft of a rotary atomizer coater. More specifically, the mounting structure includes a rotatable shaft member having an axis and adapted to be connected to a rotating drive mechanism. The shaft member is provided with a first tapered mounting position. An object is adapted to be securely mounted on the shaft member for rotation therewith, and is provided with an internal bore having a second tapered mounting portion engageable with the first tapered mounting portion. The first and second tapered mounting portions cooperate to accurately align the object with respect to the shaft member.

Abstract: A structure for fastening a resin member to a base member typically composed of a metallic material with a threaded bolt passed through holes provided in the resin member and the base member, comprising a metallic sleeve through which the bolt is passed fitted in the hole of the resin member, the length of the sleeve being slightly shorter than that of the hole of the resin member. Therefore, when the threaded bolt is tightened, the inner circumferential wall of the hole of the resin member collapses upon a longitudinal end of the sleeve so that the threaded bolt may be securely tightened without damaging the resin member because the metallic sleeve bears a substantial amount of the stress produced by the fastening of the threaded bolt.

Abstract: The present invention constitutes a construction joint of a bicycle frame comprising a rear dropout body having projecting portions decreasing in taper as they extend away from the body, each projecting portion defining an elongated screw hole extending along a longitudinal axis of the projecting portion, the projecting portion defining a slit extending on both sides of the screw hole; chainstay and seat stay pipes, each surrounding a projecting portion, the chainstay and seat stay pipes having gradually decreasing diameters towards the base end of the projecting portions; a screw or wedge inserted into the screw hole to enlarge the outside circumference of the projecting portion until it fixedly contacts the interior of the chainstay and seat stay pipes; and an adhesive agent spread around the projecting portion of the rear dropout body and inside the chainstay and seat stay pipes.

Abstract: A locking bar for blocking relative movement of movable parts of a device, particularly providing anti-theft nature to devices such as wheelchairs which would probably be manipulated to a collapsed condition as an incident to a theft of the device; and anti-theft nature is especially provided by the locking bar made to appear to be merely a non-removable axle, yet made shortenable for removal, and thus chair-collapsability by authorized personnel, by an internal sliding operativity which is concealed but which achieves length-changing be engagement of screw-threaded parts to permit manual torque-application to movable parts to achieve the length-changing, the sliding member being a socket whose sliding into or from its length-changed position is effected merely by tilting to achieve positioning by gravity.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a garden tool quick handle connector and relates more particularly to a connection structure for quick connection of a handle to a garden tool wherein inner convex threads of the handle are conveniently arranged to engage with outer convex threads of the handle connector. A special retaining plate is movably provided to serve as a stop to maintain the handle in its engaged position with the garden tool and to protect the connection against torsional force.

Abstract: A universal joint for use with impact wrenches and the like comprising a coupling having a bore at one end for engaging the drive shaft of a wrench and a ball receiving cavity at its other end; a socket engaging part having a ball member disposed in the ball receiving cavity; and a guide sleeve concentrically and slidably mounted for free rotation to the coupling, the guide sleeve having a substantially smooth uninterrupted outer cylindrical surface which may be held between the fingers of an operator while the joint is rotating.

Abstract: A support arrangement which allows pivoting of a non-rotatable shaft has a flexure structure and a pair of axially-displaced inner and outer hubs respectively connected to, and disposed inwardly and outwardly of, the flexure structure. The flexure structure is composed of a disk-shaped flexural elements disposed in stacked, axially spaced relation to one another and connected peripherally one to the next. The flexural elements together define a frictionless, laterally stiff, fulcrum or pivot point about which the shaft can pivot through a predefined range of angular motion. The inner hub is attached to an inner end one of the flexural elements at an interior peripheral edge thereof, whereas the outer hub is attached to an outer end one of the flexural elements at an exterior peripheral edge thereof. The shaft extends axially through the bores in the hubs and an opening in the flexure structure along a common axis, and is rigidly attached to the inner hub.

Abstract: A balustrade includes a top and bottom rail, and a plurality of plug members respectively fixed in aligned grooves of the top and bottom rails. Each of the plug members includes a U-shaped portion and two flap portions extending respectively from the U-shaped portion. Each of the U-shaped portions of the plug members has a guiding slot with two enlarged ends formed therein. A plurality of balusters of equal length are parallelly mounted between the top and bottom rails. Each of the balusters has two end portions respectively and rotatably received in one of the plug members on the top rail and one of the plug members on the bottom rail. Each of the end portions of the balusters has a retaining member fixed thereto which is slidably retained in the guiding slots to prevent the end portions of the balusters from separating from the plug members of the rails.

Abstract: A knuckle joint in which a first piece with an eye enters a jaw between two corresponding projections of a second piece having a first and a second eye respectively formed therein, and is retained by a pin member, wherein the pin member comprises a pin having a first end with a button fixed thereat and a second end. The pin passes through the eye of the first piece, which then retractably protrudes the button out from the first eye of the second piece and extends the second end to a position near the second eye of the second piece. A stopper has a protrusion which is passed through the second eye of the second piece, extending into the eye of the first piece, and joined with the second end of the pin. A slide block is passed through by the pin and inserted within the eye of the first piece, retractably protruding into the first eye of the second piece.

Abstract: The present invention is a clutch assembly used to engage a shaft. It includes a pulley adapted to be driven by a belt, pressure plates disposed on both sides of the pulley for engaging and rotating with the pulley, friction surfaces for selectively coupling the pulley to the pressure plates, and a cam mechanism coupled to the pressure plates for axially pressing one pressure plate into the friction surfaces to engage the pulley. The cam mechanism comprises a rotatable center cam plate bordered by an upper and a lower cam plate, with a plurality of balls disposed between each adjacent plate for axially moving the center cam plate when it rotates. The center cam plate presses the pressure plate by virtue of its axial movement into engagement with the pulley.

Abstract: A six-way connector, for use with structural formwork elements, comprises an upper plate a lower plate and four vertical plates extending therebetween. Each plate is provided with a plurality of apertures to enable a structural formwork element to be secured to the respective plate. At least two of the plates are provided with apertures to receive bolts from the structural formwork element so that the plates may have one structural formwork element centrally connected thereto, or two structural formwork elements connected thereto in side-by-side relationship.

Abstract: A lysimeter comprises a longitudinally extending circumferentially perforated duct having a vacuum application connection at one end thereof. A fluid permeable fabric is superposed over the duct perforations. A longitudinally extending circumferentially perforated shell extends about the duct and therewith defines a bounded volume therebetween. A granular filler substantially fills the bounded volume and the filler is sized so not to be drawn through the fluid permeable fabric so that a vacuum applied to the duct is transmitted through the shell.A ground protection system for a heap leaching site incorporating the lysimeter of the present invention is also disclosed as well as a method of assembling the lysimeter.