Abstract: A position-sensing unit for determining a relative position in one or more dimensions of two units. One or more position-sensing units can be used in a multidimensional pointer, such as a control lever, for controlling a position in up to six dimensions of, e.g., and object on a display. A position-sensing unit comprises a radiation source, a detector and a screen element arranged in the beam path for partial screening off of radiation. The radiation source and the detector comprise individual or separate fields for emitting or detecting radiation, in which case it is possible to distinguish radiation associated with one field from radiation associated with other fields. The determination of a position is carried out based on a comparison between the intensities of non-screened-off radiation associated with the different fields.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for protecting the driver of a motor vehicle including a steering bracket for supporting the main steering shaft of the motor vehicle, the steering bracket including a first portion mounted on the body of the motor vehicle and a second portion mounted on the main steering shaft, the first and second portions being relatively displaceable with respect to each other, an energy absorbing tube which includes a number of grooves having different deformation resistances, a knife mounted adjacent to the energy absorbing tube so that upon relative displacement of the two portions of the steering bracket, the knife moves along one of the grooves, and a controller for setting the position of the knife with respect to one of the grooves whereby the deformation resistance of the energy absorbing tube can be adjusted by the controller.

Abstract: An air valve that comprises a concave, downwardly facing cover (4) which is carried by a pipe connector (1) connected generally coaxially thereto, wherein the upper edge-part of the pipe connector (1) is surrounded by the wall of the cover (4), a ring-shaped, upwardly facing first seat ridge (8) which is carried by and sealingly connected to the cover wall (5), a second ring-shaped seat ring (2) which is generally coaxial with the cover wall (5) and is carried by and sealingly connected to the upper end-part of the pipe connector (1), and a valve plate (11) which is vertically movable in the cover (4) and which carries an annular, rubber-elastic valve washer (20) that can rest sealingly on the first and the second seat ridges (8, 2) so as to bridge an annular air through-gap between the seat ridges. Both main surfaces of the valve washer (20) have a surface roughness which is adapted to substantially avoid strain in the outer layers of said main surfaces.

Abstract: An air-ventilating valve is adapted to allow the ambient atmosphere to enter a conduit when the ambient pressure exceeds the pressure of gas in the conduit by a essentially predetermined amount, and which also blocks the release of gas from the conduit to the ambient atmosphere. The valve includes two generally coaxial upstanding valve seat projections (6, 7) which lie essentially in a mutually common plane, and a vertically movable valve body (20) which includes a ring-shaped sealing element (4) which bridges an annular gap (5) between the upstanding projections (6, 7) when the valve is closed and sealingly abuts respective sealing projections (6; 7). The valve body (20) is adapted to move to a valve closed position under the influence of gravity. At least one upstanding projection (6, 7) is formed by two radially separated ridges (31, 32) which define an annular trough (33) therebetween. The ridges (31, 32) are both intended to lie essentially tangential to the sealing element (4) when the valve is closed.

Abstract: An industrial robot supports an operating member mounted on the robot hand for carrying out work or monitoring operation on an object. The robot has a sensor which controls the path of movement of the robot hand during the operation. The robot is provided with means which during the work operation investigates whether a quantity, sensed with the aid of the sensor, for example a sudden change in the direction of the path, fulfills a predetermined criterion and, in dependence thereon, interrupts the movement of the robot hand if the criterion is fulfilled.

Abstract: An industrial robot has a sensor mounted on a hand of the robot which senses the position of an object relative to the sensor. The sensor controls, during automatic operation of the robot, its movement in relation to the object, a robot control system determining the path of the robot in a robot coordinate system on the basis of measurement signals from the sensor. For calibration of the sensor, the sensor is automatically moved to a number of points connected to a calibration object with a known position in the robot coordinate system. At each point a number of measurements of the position of the object in relation to the sensor are made. On the basis of the measurements, those transformations are determined which transform the measurement signals of the sensor to the position of the measuring point in the robot coordinate system.

Abstract: For the inspection of a reactor vessel (1) there is used a carriage (4) provided with wheels (15) to enable the carriage to be driven around a reactor opening (2). The carriage supports a mast (36), which is provided with inspection equipment (38) which can be driven along the mast. Known apparatus of this kind block the reactor opening, thereby to prevent other work from being carried out during an inspection period, for example such work as the change of fuel elements. According to the invention, the carriage with mast and inspection equipment are so formed that a geometric projection thereof onto a plane extending perpendicularly to the geometric axis of the cylindrical reactor vessel lies within a sector of less than 180.degree., with the exception of an area outside the geometric projection of the reactor hearth onto the same plane.