Abstract: A diaphragm for a diaphragm-actuated fluid-transfer control device, which comprises a flexible, substantially non-stretchable diaphragm body of a substantially circular outline surrounded and delimited by a beaded rim, the body having a substantially dish-like, bi-stable shape invertible from the first stable state, in which a first body surface is convex and a second body surface, concave, to the second stable state, in which the first body surface is rendered concave and the second body surface, convex. The device further comprises at least one substantially rigid, elongated arm fixedly embedded in the diaphragm to a depth exceeding the radial width of the beaded rim, the free end of which arm projects beyond the beaded rim. There is also described a diaphragm-actuated fluid transfer control device including the diaphragm.

Abstract: A diaphragm piston assembly in which an annular ring member is provided, preferably at the outer clamping periphery of the diaphragm between the underside of the diaphragm and body, to exert a force on the diaphragm in the direction of the cover that clamps the diaphragm to the body, thereby encouraging the diaphragm convolution to assume a disposition in a preferred direction corresponding to the direction in which the convolution is predisposed by the inherent "spring effect" of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A brake failure warning system for a dual hydraulic master cylinder for use with a motor vehicle. The warning system employs a pair of Hall Effect magnetic sensors which are positioned on the exterior of a plastic cylinder in association with the two pistons mounted within the bore of the cylinder. The pistons have ferrous frustoconical portions which coact with the respective sensors to generate position signals that vary as the pistons move in the bore past the respective sensors. The two position signals are fed to a logic board which compares the signals and generates an error or warning signal in the event that the difference between the two signals exceeds a predetermined amount indicative of failure of one of the two braking systems of the vehicle.

Abstract: A centrifugal water pump especially adapted for fish and live bait live wells in which the pumping chamber is horizontally oriented and such chamber has two wall portions or sectors of different radii, one wall portion having a radius substantially the same as the outermost radial path of the impeller blades of the impeller and the other wall portion being substantially greater, such wall portions being connected by spaced walls, one of the walls being located immediately adjacent the upwardly extending passageway of the outlet of the pump. In the preferred embodiment, a divider wall is located and extends longitudinally in the passageway of said outlet dividing said passageway into two passageways.

Abstract: Machine to clean and rehabilitate railway ballast and railway road beds, which can: (1) remove the ballast, clean the ballast and then replace the ballast, or (2) remove the old ballast and replace it with new ballast. The machine, while riding on the railroad tracks, can remove the metalling of the ballast from the railroad track, then run the material through a riddle to clean the metalling, and finally replace the material. Alternatively, the machine may remove the metalling, then by reversing the direction of a distrubution conveyor, the machine can replace the old metalling with entirely new metalling brought to the distribution conveyor by various feed conveyors. In this alternative mode of operation, the machine can lay a two layered ballast consisting of two different materials.

Abstract: A fluid pump having a pump housing, and an impeller in the housing and coupled to the drive shaft of a drive motor. An improved main seal is provided in the housing to seal the hole through which the drive shaft extends. The seal includes a carbon seal member having a flat end face in sliding relationship to the flat end face of a ceramic seal rotatable with the drive shaft and the impeller. The seal further includes a pre-loaded element which forces the two seal faces together. An improved mounting bracket is provided to mount the drive motor and the pump housing on a fixed support. The mounting bracket includes a central mounting plate and a pair of inclined, side wings which extend from the pump housing toward the drive motor so as to eliminate the need for a second bracket on the opposite side of the motor.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated swash-plate apparatus includes a cylinder block rotatably supported in a case and having a plurality of axial cylinders arranged in an annular pattern, the case having an end plate for bearing a thrust load from the cylinder block, a plurality of plungers received respectively in the cylinders, a swash plate supported in the case by trunnions and slidably held against the free ends of the plungers, an actuator for tilting the swash plate, the plungers being movable into and out of the respective cylinders by a stroke which is variable according to the angle of inclination of the swash plate, a support member by which the trunnions are rotatably supported, and a tension member coupling the end plate and the support member to each other. The apparatus also includes a stopper mounted in the case for engaging a back of the swash plate to limit the maximum angle of inclination of the swash plate.

Abstract: A compact master cylinder suitable, for example, for vehicle clutch or brake systems. An integral fluid reservoir body is connected to a piston stem extending to a piston head in the cylinder. The stem has a longitudinal passage connected to an orifice at the reservoir inlet. This orifice is valved by a valve closure member having a spherical head and an elastomeric cap. In the retracted state a stop secured to the cylinder limits movement of the piston out of the bore and the valve closure member opens to allow entry of make-up fluid from the reservoir.

Abstract: A ballast cleaning machine comprises a machine frame comprising two frame parts, one of the ends of one machine frame part adjoining one of the ends of the other machine frame part while the machine frame part ends opposite to the one ends are remote from each other, and the adjoining machine frame part ends being pivotally linked to each other for pivoting about a vertical axis. Respective undercarriages support the machine frame on the track, two of the undercarriages being arranged at the remote machine part ends and a third one of the undercarriages being arranged on one of the machine frame parts in the range of the vertical pivoting axis.

Abstract: Rotary piston and barrel machine comprising a thrust plate inclined in relation to its geometrical spin axis which coicides with the geometrical axis of the barrel, the central part of the inclined plate comprising a spherical bearing which revolves freely around a fixed central toggle type joint anchored to the central part of the barrel, whereas the barrel is connected to a rigid peripheral housing, the central toggle type joint being integral with a rigid half shaft connected to the rear part of the housing, characterized by at least one rod connected rigidly to the toggle type joint, as well as to a piston disposed inside a bore of the barrel and subjected to the action of an under-pressure fluid so that at least one part of the axial stresses applied to the toggle type joint is transmitted to the barrel without being applied to the housing.

Abstract: In a drive device for pumps consisting of a pump impeller mounted in a pump chamber, a pump cover covers the pump chamber and has an extension and a bore passing from the pump chamber to the outside. A shaft is connected at its inner end to the pump impeller and at its outer end in a torsion-proof manner by way of a coupling element to a drive wheel. A bearing supports the shaft and drive wheel in the housing bore and extension respectively. The coupling element is formed by an external edge rigidly connected to the drive wheel and covers the outer bearing and the extension laterally on the outside. A cover plate with a center section connects in a torsion-proof manner to the shaft, and is adjusted to elastically adjust the cover plate relative to the pump cover either inward toward the pump chamber or outward away from the pump chamber, thereby providing for automatic adjustment of the radial and axial load-supporting bearings means to remove their play.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump has a floating casing ring which is deflectable in response to contact by an impeller of the pump.

Abstract: A multi-stage diffuser-type centrifugal pump suitable for feeding under pressure a low-temperature fluid such as a liquefied gas. Stages are respectively provided between adjacent ones of impellers provided in a plurality of stages. A cylindrical stage casing is provided in such a manner as to surround the stages, a sealant is provided between each stage and the stage casing to form a channel flow on an inner peripheral surface of the stage casing for flow from an upstream-side impeller to a downstream-side impeller. In addition, the sealant has a coefficient of thermal expansion which differs from the coefficient of thermal expansion of the stage and the stage casing.

Abstract: A nozzle vane assembly for a gas turbine exhibits a number of circumferentially spaced vanes connected to a shroud. A second, concentric shroud is arranged separately and urged axially against the unrestrained ends of the vanes through a spring loaded clamping device. This arrangement serves to alleviate thermal stresses and thermal fatigue in the vane assembly.

Abstract: In order to achieve less deformation under gas pressure load and also under thermal load, the bottom piece of a piston with ring-carrying barrel is configured as a supporting cone tapering towards the piston pin and connected with the piston pin bosses by means of supporting elements. Cone, bosses and supporting elements are made in one piece. The supporting elements comprise walls extending essentially parallel to the axis of the piston pin. First distance (A) to the outer perimeter of the piston in the direction of the piston pin axis (Y--Y) are greater than the corresponding second distances (B) normal to this axis. The end parts of the walls are curved inwardly and leave open an area around an axis (X--X) normal to the piston pin axis.

Abstract: The barrel pump has at the lower end of its housing wall a sliding sleeve which--in the open position--exposes the inlet openings at the lower end of the housing wall and--in the closed position--in which it rests against a base plate, closes these inlet openings. The base plate projects in the radial direction beyond the housing wall and, consequently, closes the pump from below. Penetration by the liquid can, hence, only occur through the inlet openings provided on the periphery of the housing wall of the pump. Displacement of the sliding sleeve takes place in that at the underside of the sliding sleeve pressure pieces are provided, which in the close position project beyond the base plate downward and upon the pump being placed down due to the weight of the pump acting downward are displaced upward against the action of a spring acting on the sliding sleeve which frees the sliding sleeve from its sealing contact on the base plate and, consequently, permits entrance of the liquid through the inlet openings.

Abstract: A hydraulic master cylinder formed by telescopically fastening together a pair of cylinder housings to form a cylinder. A piston in the cylinder is operative to transfer hydraulic fluid to a slave cylinder connected to the master cylinder. The pressure or power stroke of the piston is effected by exerting a pull on the piston by a pull cable attached to one side of the piston. A body, attached to one of the cylinder housing, provides a reservoir for hydraulic fluids. A cap on the reservoir closes a fluid filling opening. Expansion bellows in the reservoir accommodates changes in the fluid level in the reservoir as the piston is being reciprocated. The bellows is connected to the cap so as to be removed as a unit with the cap when the reservoir is being filled.

Abstract: A proportioning valve (40) is disposed within a stepped bore (13) of a master cylinder (10). The proportioning valve (40) defines with the stepped bore (13) a primary pressure receiving chamber (26) and a secondary pressure receiving chamber (28). The proportioning valve (40) includes a two-part piston (58) which includes a primary piston part (52) and a secondary piston part (54) coupled together by a lost motion coupling (53, 55). The piston parts (52, 54) are biased apart by a spring (78), and a sleeve (43) is disposed about the two-part piston (50). Seals (46, 47, 69) are disposed about the primary piston part (52), sleeve (43) and secondary piston part (54) to define an intermediate vented chamber (90), wherein a vent (19) communicates with a reservoir.

Abstract: A system for the control of a fluid flow control valve which controls the supply of fluid to an actuator to control the movement of a component such as a tractor implement hitch in response to a selected operating parameter such as hitch position or draft force. The system enables the desired value of the selected parameter to be set and this desired value is compared with the actual sensed value of the parameter to provide a parameter error signal. A start-up control function is provided to improve the initial speed of response of the system. The start-up control function is arranged on each detection of a parameter error signal to apply a start-up signal to the valve to initiate movement of the component and, if no movement results, to increase the start-up signal until movement of the component is detected whereupon the increase in the start-up signal is stopped and the magnitude of the signal applied to the valve is dependent on the parameter error signal so as to tend to reduce the error signal to zero.

Abstract: A spring force actuator comprising a housing, an output member axially moveable in the housing, a spring captive between the member and the end wall of the housing. The actuator further comprises an axially located screw-threaded wind-off element operable to apply an opposing force to the spring between the output member and the end wall. The wind-off element is threadedly cooperable with a nut which is non-rotationally captive in an externally accessible recess of the end wall.