Abstract: A touch probe has a stylus holder 16 which is supported on a radially extending flange 14 in a kinematic seat comprising pairs of balls 20 supporting rollers 24. To avoid the use of glue to fix the balls in position, the balls are located and clamped in recesses 22 on flange 14. Clamping pressure is provided by a plug 30 which is forced towards the flange by rolling a lip 54 over the protruding end of the plug. Other alternative constructions for providing the clamping force are described. An electrical circuit through the balls for producing a trigger signal includes a flexible member 40 on which electrical conducting elements 44 are formed. The member is positioned on the flange to overlie the recesses so that it is deformed into the recesses when the clamping force is applied. By making use of the clamping force in this way good electrical connections between the balls and the conducting elements is ensured and the need to connect wires to the balls is avoided.

Abstract: Heavy density honeycomb structures which include alternating layers of primary corrugated sheets and bisector sheets which are bonded together. The primary corrugated sheets are offset so that the bisector sheets are bonded to the corrugated sheet nodes so that the upper and lower bonding locations on each bisector sheet are displaced from each other. This displacement provides flexibility regions in the bisector sheets which enhance the formability of the heavy density honeycomb. The displaced node configuration is useful for enhancing thermal formability of both metallic and non-metallic honeycomb structures. The offset configuration is used with both substantially flat bisector sheets and corrugated bisector sheets.

Abstract: An optical metrological scale produced by a rolling method, to give a profiled upper scale surface which is imparted by an embossing roller. To prevent uneven strains, which could affect the pitch of the scale, the support roller has a similar embossing profile, so that the lower side of the scale is also given a profiled surface. The embossing roller is freely rotatable, while the support roller is driven.

Abstract: A tape scale applicator (100) has a guiding channel (142) for aligning a metrological scale (126) relative to a substrate (150) to which the scale is applied. The applicator (100) is attached to a mounting bracket (153) for a read head (used to read the scale) provided on a member (154), which moves relative to the substrate (150). The applicator (100) is used to apply the scale (126) to the substrate in order to ensure that the scale (126) has a precise alignment with the read head, once the read head is connected to the mounting bracket (153). The tape scale (126) has a backing strip (140) which is removed via a second channel (170) as the scale (126) passes through the guiding channel (142).

Abstract: A handbrake arrangement for railroad freight cars is disclosed that will connect a mechanical handbrake operating mechanism to the brake equipment (brake beams and brake shoes) on 2, 3, or more trucks on the same freight car. It is especially useful on articulated freight cars consisting of multiple units in order to satisfy handbrake power requirements required by industry and Federal regulations, but a similar arrangement may be used on special purpose cars having a multiplicity of trucks. On an articulated car, consisting of a number of units, there is a multiplicity of trucks and because of the size and weight characteristics of the car, it is desirable to connect the handbrake mechanism to a number of the trucks in order to provide adequate handbrake power.

Abstract: A series of relatively lightweight, short, articulately interconnected cars is disclosed for transporting trailers or other cargo containers on a railway. The interior cars of the series include a center sill which constitutes a narrow width underframe and a length substantially equal to the length of a car, a pair of end sills connected perpendicularly to the center sill at opposite ends thereof and having a width extending beyond each side of the center sill, support members interconnecting the ends of the end sills with the center sill, and male and female portions of an articulated connector respectively attached to each end of a car. End cars have one end, constructed similarly, but are provided with conventional semi-automatic couplings on the other end in place of a portion of the articulated connector. The articulated connectors are mounted on a single conventional railway truck which spans the adjacent ends of interconnected cars and further supports the support members.