Abstract: A fluid regulating device includes a valve housing formed with a piston receiving chamber that has a piston member slidingly and sealingly disposed therein to divide the piston receiving chamber into a volume-variable gas compartment filled with pressurized gas and a volume-variable fluid compartment. A regulator receiving chamber has a large-diameter rod receiving section, and a small-diameter fluid channel with a rate control section that is aligned with and that extends from the rod receiving section. The fluid channel interconects fluidly the rod receiving section and the fluid compartment.

Abstract: A braking apparatus for a hydraulic motor has a housing and a cylinder block. The apparatus includes fixed side frictional plates mounted to the housing and movable side frictional plates mounted to the cylinder block. In addition, a piston for pressing the fixed side frictional plates against the movable side frictional plates is also provided. A spring for thrusting the piston to move in a first direction thus tending to establish a first state in which the two sets of frictional plates are pressed together is also included. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a piston driving pressure receiving chamber disposed between the housing and the piston for thrusting the piston to move in a second direction under a pressure that is introduced into the piston driving pressure receiving chamber to establish a second state in which the two sets of frictional plates are separated from each other.

Abstract: A solenoid-operated flow control valve is disclosed which comprises a housing having a bore, a solenoid coil, an armature, an inlet and an outlet, a permanent communication between an inlet and an outlet comprising a first and a second flow path connected in parallel between the inlet and the outlet, the first flow path being closable and the second flow path providing permanent communication between the outlet, an exhaust, a seating and a valve assembly including a hollow valve body working in the bore, the armature being responsive to the coil to open the exhaust to determine a pressure differential across the valve body, the pressure differential in turn causing the valve body to move in the bore so as to co-operate with the seating, whereby the valve body provides selective communication between the inlet, outlet and exhaust, and whereby upon deenergisation of the coil the flow control valve controls the rate of reapplication of pressure to the outlet.

Abstract: A shopping cart has a brake added as an improvement. The assembly is completely enclosed within a wheel of the shopping cart and is automatically engaged when a predetermined speed is reached. When the cart is propelled beyond a normal operating speed either by being pushed or when unattended, the brake will engage. The brake is actuated by centrifugal force acting on a mechanism contained within the wheel, consisting of rotating weights and ratchet assemblies that engage to dissipate rotational energy by means of a friction connection to the axle of the wheel. Gears cause the weights to rotate at a faster rate than the wheel, so that heavier weights and counter weight springs may be used, making the brake less susceptible to actuation by jolts when the cart is pushed over uneven surfaces. The brake, being internal to the wheel assembly is protected from the effects of weather and physical abuse.

Abstract: A propulsion system for a magnetically movable vehicle includes at least one means for producing a horizontal magnetic field mounted to the vehicle; a conductor adjacent to, but not in physical contact with, the means for producing a horizontal magnetic filed; and means for passing direct current through the conductor; wherein, the conductor is oriented so that the current passing through the conductor will interact with the horizontal magnetic field to generate a linear force sufficient to move the vehicle.

Abstract: A hydraulically damping rubber sleeve spring containing two annular parts is disclosed. The parts are assembled axially, and each annular part has an inner support sleeve and an outer support sleeve surrounding the inner one with radial spacing, as well as a spring element made of an elastomeric material which connects the support sleeves. The annular parts are provided with at least two recesses, and are configured and assembled such that the recesses complement one another to form first and second fluid-filled working chambers. The chambers are sealed with respect to the environment and joined to one another, in a manner allowing fluid to pass, by at least one damping passage. The two spring elements of the annular parts are braceable against one another in such a way that the axial and radial spring stiffness can be adjusted separately from one another.

Abstract: Shock absorber with adjustable damping force, comprising a pressure tube filled with damping medium, in which a piston on an axially movable piston rod divides a work chamber into a piston-side and a non piston-side chamber, whereby there is a damping medium flow between the two work chambers, which is divided into a main flow and a bypass flow, a damping valve device consisting of a damping valve body, with a main stage valve for each flow direction, each of which is formed by a main stage valve body, and a pilot stage valve which activates the main stage valve, an adjustable actuator, which controls a flow connection between the control chamber and a work chamber, whereby the control chamber is limited axially by the first and second spring-loaded main stage valve bodies, whereby the first main stage valve body, during the inflow from the closed valve position into an open position, is moved axially into the control chamber toward the second main stage valve body, which is held in the closed valve position