Abstract: Conventionally, a container is secured in the cargo hold of an aircraft by a latch comprising a frame having a floor part to which are attached two upwardly extending side parts. At least one latch-arm is mounted on an axle set between the side parts so that it can rotate from a lower, inoperative position into an upright, locking position. Restraining means are used to fasten the latch to a floor of the cargo hold. The present invention proposes the provision of at least one resiliently deformable section in the floor part of the frame so that in use when a force is applied to the latch-arm, the side parts of the frame can move relative to the floor part as the floor part is deformed. A latch of this kind is intended to ensure increased operational reliability with no increase in weight over a conventional latch.

Abstract: A roller drive assembly comprises a drive roller mounted in a frame in such a way that the roller can be pivoted by a drive such as an electric motor from a lower retracted position when the drive roller is stationary to one of two, upper operating positions when the drive roller is rotating, dependent on the direction in which the roller is pivoted. An outer shell forming part of the drive roller for engaging an object to be conveyed defines a first larger-area frictional surface projecting above which is a plurality of second smaller-area frictional surfaces.

Abstract: A conveyor ball unit comprises a conveyor ball resting on mounting balls in a mounting shell. A retaining ring is provided to hold the conveyor ball on the mounting balls in the mounting shell. The mounting shell can be set into an opening in a supporting structure and rests on the supporting structure by way of a shell rim. The unit is fixed in place by resilient first locking elements comprising in a first embodiment of the invention resiliently deformable projections which also define radial recesses in the interior of the mounting shell into which recesses projections formed on the retaining ring can be inserted in order to fix the ring within the mounting shell.

Abstract: A conveyor ball unit comprises a conveyor ball resting on mounting balls in a mounting shell. A retaining ring is provided to hold the conveyor ball on the mounting balls in the mounting shell. The mounting shell can be set into an opening in a supporting structure and rests on the supporting structure by way of a shell rim. The unit is fixed in place by resilient first locking elements comprising in a first embodiment of the invention resiliently deformable projections which also define radial recesses in the interior of the mounting shell into which recesses projections formed on the retaining ring can be inserted in order to fix the ring within the mounting shell.

Abstract: A conveyor ball unit comprises a conveyor ball mounted on a plurality of mounting balls in a mounting shell. A spring arrangement is provided to support the mounting shell resiliently in a housing and the conveyor ball is retained on the mounting balls by a retaining ring. A first holding device is provided to keep the housing substantially perpendicular to the surface of a supporting structure for the conveyor ball unit against a force acting on the conveyor ball. A second holding device is provided to hold the housing within an opening defined in the supporting structure and is located at an upper end of the housing. To simplify installation and removal of the unit in the supporting structure, the outer periphery of the second holding device is larger than that of the housing and locking elements are provided to fix the unit in the supporting structure.

Abstract: Ball units for conveyor systems are known in which a load-bearing ball is seated in an essentially radially symmetric bearing unit having ball bearings in a bearing shell. The load-bearing ball is held in the bearing unit by a securing apparatus. The bearing unit has a supporting structure that enables the bearing unit to be fixed in an opening of a carrier plate in such a way that it can support a load. Detents are provided to lock the unit in the opening against the load direction. It is suggested that the bearing shell should be constructed integrally with the supporting structure as a semielastic formed element.

Abstract: A roller drive unit includes a frame, a drive shaft rotatably mounted in the frame, and a gear mounted on the drive shaft for engaging a drive motor. A pivot support is mounted on the drive shaft and is pivotable from lower rest position to an upper working position. A drive roll is rotatably mounted on the pivot support, and an internal gear is attached to the drive roll. A drive gear is mounted on the drive shaft, and an intermediate gear is rotatably mounted in the pivot support and is engaged between the drive gear and the internal gear. A spring is connected for biasing the pivot support to the lower rest position.

Abstract: Air filter elements employing a block of deep pleated paper and methods of their construction. A preferred filter element comprises top and bottom end members both adapted for through passage of air and a first pair of side walls, a block of deep-pleated paper between the end members and the side walls, connections between adjacent edges of the end members and the side walls, at least two connections being hinged and at least one connection being interengaging elements, sealing structure comprising a second pair of side walls and at least one flange around one end member, the material of which structure rigidifies the connections and forms a seal with the pleated paper. The sealing structure is formed preferably from an elastomer which solidifies in situ.In a preferred method of construction the first side walls are hinged up from the bottom wall around the pleated paper block and connected at the top. The second side walls and end flanges are then formed of elastomeric material.

Abstract: An air cleaner comprising a housing, a plurality of tubular dust separator elements arranged in the housing for generally straight-through flow from one end of the housing to the other, the housing defining around the separator elements a dust collecting chamber. Each separator element has vanes for imparting spin to the air entering it and a circumferential exit of limited angular extent to the dust collecting chamber at a position where the air has substantial circumferential speed. The exits, the direction of spin, and baffles (if any) being arranged to avoid conflicting air flows in the chamber and to ensure that air movement in the chamber outside the exit is in the same direction as air movement within it. Preferably the separator elements impart left and right handed spin to air passing through them, with elements of opposite hand adjacent.