Abstract: A bracket for adjustably mounting a timber member on a rack is disclosed which has a U-shaped band with two vertical arms joined by a horizontal base, with each arm having a fastener hole to permit rigid fastening of a timber member within the arms of the band. An L-shaped hook extends outwardly from one arm and is in substantially the same plane as the arm. The hook is adapted to engage within a slot in a vertically mounted rack. An end plate is preferably attached to the band perpendicular to the band so as to resist movement of the timber member within the band parallel to the arms and in the direction of the hooks. The hook preferably has a portion adapted to engage in the slot in the rack which is tapered so as to permit a wedging of the hook into the slot. A kit for the assembly of timber members into a structural frame of this invention comprises a rack with a plurality of vertically spaced slots with fastener openings to permit mounting the racks to the face of a timber beam and a hook bracket.

Abstract: A gear hinge has a bearing fitted into opposed notches which open out of the meshed gear segments for the leaves. The bearing has blocks provided with knuckles which interlock to prevent the blocks, and the leaves as well, from moving longitudinally with respect to each other.

Abstract: An improved release mechanism for a hydraulically operated clutch. A tubular cylinder is formed between stationary inner and outer housings. A tubular piston has an inner end extending into the cylinder and has an outer end mounting a thrust bearing. Rotating clutch release levers engage the thrust bearing. One or more radial holes extend through the piston adjacent the inner end. Pins positioned in the holes extend into inner housing grooves which extend parallel to an axis of the release mechanism. The pins and grooves prevent rotation of the piston relative to the stationary housings, while allowing axial piston movement. A retainer ring is positioned in an annular groove in the exterior of the piston. The retainer ring both retains the pins in the piston holes and retains the piston in the cylinder.

Abstract: A vehicle trailer assembly is disclosed having a roll back frame for transport of a vehicle. A squat mechanism allows the roll back frame to define a smaller approach angle than normal with respect to the ground when in a loading position. The squat mechanism is self-actuated by movement of the roll back frame to the loading position and is self-releasing by return of the roll back frame to a transport position. The squat mechanism consists of a two bar mechanical linkage that compresses a spring which supports a main frame. By compressing the spring, the main frame is vertically lowered and the roll back frame, which pivots with respect to the main frame moves downwardly through a lesser distance. This lessens the approach angle to the roll back frame.

Abstract: A vehicle mechanical transmission includes a conventional shift lever which enables the vehicle driver to manually select lower gear ratios, and an automatic shifting mechanism which provides automatic shifting between selected higher ratios once the driver has moved the shift lever to an "automatic" position. The transmission includes a plurality of shift rails which are individually and selectively moveable from a neutral position to two different gear positions. In accordance with the present invention, the shift lever is only coupled to mechanically shift a portion of the shift rails, typically those shift rails corresponding to the lower gear ratios. Once all the lower ratios have been selected, the driver can move the shift lever to an "automatic" position. When in this position, the shift lever actuates an electronic control, which in turn automatically controls the shifting of at least one shift rail in accordance with the status of various monitored vehicle operating parameters.

Abstract: A pinless hinge structure including a pair of longitudinally extending hinge members which are rotatably joined to each other and a longitudinally extending clamp member for maintaining said hinge member in rotatable association relative to each other. A torsion spring engages each hinge member and provides a self-operating feature to the hinge structure.

Abstract: A pinless hinge structure having two hinge members which are rotatably joined for movement between open and closed positions. The hinge members have longitudinally extending gear segments which intermesh with an interior surface on a clamp member such that each hinge member moves about an axis of rotation which shifts as a function of the position of the hinge members. A thrust bearing assembly inhibits relative longitudinal movement between the hinge members and the clamp member.

Abstract: A thrust bearing assembly for a pinless hinge structure having two longitudinally extending hinge members which are rotatory joined to each other and a longitudinally extending clamp member. The thrust bearing assembly includes a thrust bearing member having multiple bearing support surfaces which are longitudinally joined to each other. Each bearing surface is preferably non metallic and extends laterally across adjacent longitudinal edges of the hinge members to inhibit relative longitudinal movement between the hinge members.

Abstract: A pinless hinge structure having two hinge members which are rotatable relative to each other through an angle greater than 180 degrees. The hinge members are rotatably joined along their adjacent longitudinal edges by mutually intermeshed gear segments which are maintained in rotatable association by a clamp member. Each hinge member is further configured with a leg segment extending outwardly from each gear segment. The leg segments and the clamp member are configured to allow the hinge members to rotatably traverse a greater than 180 degree arcuate path of travel relative to each other.

Abstract: A thrust bearing assembly for a hinge structure having two geared hinge members and a clamp member. The geared hinge members are maintained in rotatable, intermeshing relation along their adjacent longitudinally extending edges by the clamp members to permit smooth and uniform movement of the hinge structure. The thrust bearing assembly of the present invention includes a pair of non-metallic interconnected inserts arranged in side-by-side order to extend laterally across and inhibit relative longitudinal movements between the hinge members. The interconnected inserts are configured to facilitate their insertion in and removal from the hinge structure while maintaining the hinge members in mesh.

Abstract: A multiple piece thrust bearing assembly for a hinge structure having two hinge members and a clamp member. The hinge members are rotatably joined along their adjacent longitudinally extending edges by intermeshing gear segments which are held together by the clamp member to permit smooth and uniform movement of the hinge members. The multi-piece thrust bearing assembly of the present invention comprises a thrust bearing member and bearing inserts arranged between the thrust bearing member and each of the hinge members for improving durability of the thrust bearing assembly and, thereby, the hinge structure. The thrust bearing member of the bearing assembly is formed from a non-metallic material which extends laterally across the hinge members to inhibit their longitudinal movement relative to each other.

Abstract: A kit for assembling timbers into a play structure is disclosed. The kit includes a frame bracket which has a frame segment joined at a right angle to a beam segment. The frame segment has four nail or screw holes and the beam segment has two nail or screw holes. The beam segment has a square bolt hole for receiving a carriage bolt. The frame segment is adapted to joining two timbers into an A-frame so formed to a transverse overhead laminated beam. The kit also has a frame brace with a body plate having a flange joined to it at such an angle that when the body is placed flat on the A-frame, the flange lies flat on the beam. The frame brace has nail or screw holes and bolt holes in both the body and the flange. The kit also contains rectangular flat beam clamps adapted to attachment across the laminations of the beam so as to restrict the separating of the laminations. The beam clamps have at least two nail holes and a central bolt hole.

Abstract: A hill holder device for a vehicle manual transmission includes a releasable one-way clutch which is coupled to the countershaft of the transmission. In particular, the one-way clutch includes a sprag clutch having an inner race secured to the countershaft, and an outer race secured to the vehicle transmission case by means of a releasable locking mechanism. When the locking mechanism is in its locked position, the sprag clutch enables rotation of the countershaft in only one direction. Thus, if the transmission is in a forward gear and comes to a stop on an ascending grade, the hill holder will lock the vehicle drive train and prevent the vehicle from rolling back down the grade, without requiring the driver to apply the brakes. Similarly, if the vehicle is in a reverse gear and is stopped on a descending grade, the hill holder will prevent the vehicle from rolling in a forward direction down the grade.

Abstract: A storage and retrieval subsystem in a data processing system includes a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges, a host computer, and a library storage module storing the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges in substantially upright positions. The library storage module includes a first cylindrical array of storage cells centered about a vertical axis, a second cylindrical array concentrically arranged about the first array, and a library tape unit including a plurality of tape drives, each of the tape drives being adapted to receive one of the magnetic tape cartridges in a substantially horizontal transducing position. A robot within the library storage module is used to transfer selected ones of the magnetic tape cartridges between their substantially upright positions and the substantially horizontal transducing positions at a selected tape drive.

Abstract: An automatic load/unload apparatus is disclosed for handling of workpieces that must be removed from protective cartridges prior to use. In particular, the workpiece to be handled is an optical disk adapted for use in an optical disk information storage device. The load/unload apparatus includes a guide frame, a cartridge pull-in tray, a cartridge insert separator, reciprocating means for moving the pull-in tray and separator, and an elevator assembly. During a load operation, the cartridge is inserted into the information storage device wherein the load/unload apparatus is housed. The cartridge is received in the guide frame and opened, allowing the pull-in tray to be slideably removed. The disk is separated from the pull-in tray and raised by the elevator assembly to a desired position. An unload operation proceeds in a reverse sequence.

Abstract: A thermally stable, oxidation resistant ceramic Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 material is disclosed. The material has a substantially pure primary phase formed of substantially pure silicon nitride. A substantially pure secondary phase of the material is formed of a material selected from the group consisting essentially of Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 /SiO.sub.2 /4Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 /SiO.sub.2 /2Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 and Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 /4SiO.sub.2 /5Y.sub.2 O.sub.3. The primary phase may be in the form of individual grains and the secondary phase may be in the form of grain boundaries between the individual grains.

Abstract: A method is disclosed in this specification for forming a densified silicon nitride article. The method is initiated by forming a reaction bonded article of moderate density. This moderate density reaction bonded article has a primary phase of substantially pure grains of silicon nitride surrounded by a secondary grain boundary phase. The secondary grain boundary phase contains silicon nitride, silicon dioxide and a densification aid incorporated in the reaction bonded article of moderate density. The compounds forming the secondary grain boundary phase are present either in their pure forms or interacted with one another. The reaction bonded article is packed in a packing powder which contains portions of the pure compounds found in or interacted with one another to define the secondary grain boundary phase.

Abstract: A pacifier for infants, having a nipple provided with a chamber, the wall of which has perforations. In use, the chamber is supplied with flavored sweets such as pellets of candy, of frozen fruit juices. When the nipple is then placed in the infant's mouth, saliva therein circulates through the perforations thereof and the resulting sweetened fluid flowing therethrough encourages the infant to retain the nipple in its mouth and not eject it.