Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering a work part to an assembly line worker using a dolly assembly in a first configuration and retrieving the work part from the dolly assembly by the assembly line work while the dolly assembly is in a second configuration. According to some embodiments, a dolly assembly is provided comprising a base assembly having a support member and a mobility mechanism, the support member positioned obliquely with respect to a horizontal plane. The dolly assembly also includes a part-carrying member rotationally connected to the support member and having a part-holding structure for receiving a work part. The part-carrying member extends downward at an angle below the horizontal plane when in a first configuration, and extends upward from at an angle above the horizontal plane when in a second configuration.

Abstract: A clack valve assembly comprising: a valve seat comprising an opening; a bearing comprising a recess with a base, a mouth, and a pair of side walls between the base and the mouth; a lid comprising a lid plate and a shaft, the shaft being received in the recess of the bearing; and a shaft retaining member which closes the mouth of the recess in the bearing, thus retaining the shaft within the recess. The shaft and the lid plate are integrally formed elements of a single part. The shaft can rotate within the recess to enable the lid to rotate from a closed position in which the lid engages the valve seat and covers the opening, to an open position in which the lid lifts away from the valve seat enabling fluid to flow through the opening in the valve seat.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of treating and preventing disorders associated with elevated TNF-? and/or IL-1? by administering therapeutic amounts of stearidonic acid. Further provided are methods for down-regulating TNF-? and/or IL-1? and assays for determining the presence, absence, or quantity of TNF-? and/or IL-1? in a subject in conjunction with a regimen of stearidonic acid administration.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of treating and preventing disorders associated with elevated TNF-&agr; and/or IL-1&bgr; by administering therapeutic amounts of stearidonic acid. Further provided are methods for down-regulating TNF-&agr; and/or IL-1&bgr; and assays for determining the presence, absence, or quantity of TNF-&agr; and/or IL-1&bgr; in a subject in conjunction with a regimen of stearidonic acid administration.

Abstract: The attenuator includes an externally threaded sleeve for receiving standard ferrules within its bore at opposite ends, an internally threaded adjuster for threaded engagement about the sleeve and a ferrule locking nut threadedly engageable about the adjuster for clamping a ferrule at one end of the sleeve between the adjuster and ferrule locking nut. By relatively threading the sleeve and adjuster, the ferrule may be displaced relative to the sleeve whereby the end face of the optical fiber carried thereby is adjustably spaced from the end face of an optical fiber carried by a ferrule fixed on the sleeve at the opposite end thereof.

Abstract: A braked twin-wheel caster assembly consists of five components--a body, two indentical wheels, a metal wheel spindle and a locking lever. A molded brake lever, rockable between a wheel-locking position and an unlocking position in which the wheels are free to turn, has an intermediate mounting portion which pivots in a bearing recess in the moulded body. The bearing recess is disposed towards the trailing end of the body, and it is open at an outer aperture and also at an inner aperture. An outer end portion of the locking lever projects through the outer aperture to provide an operating member for external operation. An inner end portion of the locking lever projects from said inner aperture to provide a locking member for engagement with the caster wheels. The intermediate portion of the locking lever is molded so that it can be resiliently compressed sufficiently for it to be inserted into the bearing recess through the outer aperture.

Abstract: A twin-wheel castor incorporates brake means comprising an externally-operable brake member which is rockably mounted in a body of the castor for engagement with the wheels of the castor to lock the wheels against rotation. The brake member has a detent projection engageable with a formation of the body to retain the brake member in the braking position, and projecting locking stubs which are engageable between internally projecting webs of the wheels to lock the latter against rotation. The locking stubs are resiliently mounted so that their connection to the main body of the locking member on which the detent projection is mounted will yield, should locking movement of the locking stubs be blocked by engagement with the edge of one of the webs, thus allowing the detent projection to engage the body formation and retain the locking member in the locking position. Thus, as soon as the wheel concerned turns, the resilient mounting of the locking stubs causes the latter to move into a wheel-locking position.

Abstract: A reciprocatory device in the form of a roller door catch has a reciprocatory plunger slidable in a fixed tubular housing and retained therein by an adjustment member. The plunger is urged to a normal resting position by a compression return spring. At its outer end the plunger rotatably supports a catch roller engageable with a recessed keeper mounted on the door frame. The adjustment member has a stem portion which projects into a blind bore at the inner end of the plunger, and this stem has radial stub projections which engage with a helical rib providing a screw thread within said bore, with a clearance in the axial direction approximating to the normal range of plunger reciprocation on door opening and closure. The adjustment member has a head portion with a frusto-conical clutch face which frictionally engages a mating clutch face at the inner end of the housing.

Abstract: Mould closing, clamping and opening means for the split mould of a pressure moulding machine comprises a pair of elongated arms each pivotally attached to the moving platen of the machine at one end and free at the other end, and extending lengthwise between the moving platen and a hydraulic rear clamping platen. During a mould operation the free ends of the arms engage the rear clamping platen so as to act as struts between the rear clamping platen and the moving platen during a mould clamping operation, but during a mould opening operation the arms are swung by an hydraulic cylinder to a position in which they register with openings in the rear clamping platen so that the arms may pass rearwardly through the openings as the mould opens.

Abstract: A twin-wheel castor has a moulded body with a through bearing bore in which stub axles of twin moulded wheels are received. The axles have circumferential grooves respectively engaged by two axially-spaced circumferential series of internal body projections moulded within the through bore of the body. The projections are arranged with the two series thereof angularly staggered so that in axial projection no two projections overlap. The engagement of the projections with the axle grooves provides positive retention of the wheels with snap-on assembly thereof to the body.