Abstract: The present invention comprises a lifting apparatus installed near or upon a generally horizontal raised bed of a vehicle for safely moving a wheelchair and its occupant operator to and from the raised bed. The lift apparatus uses a single actuating means to automatically and sequentially serve three distinct functions: (1) appropriately engages one or more safety barriers before a laterally extending support platform is moved, thereby preventing the wheelchair and operator from falling off of the platform; (2) moves the platform between a lower support position located at ground level and an upper support position located at floor level; and (3) moves the platform between a generally horizontal, laterally extending support position and a compact, generally upright stowed position. The lift apparatus is also designed to prevent an appendage of the operator from becoming pinched when the support platform is raised from the support position to the stowed position.

Abstract: A vortex flowmeter in which the vortex-shedder and the vortex sensor comprise two distinct, easily separable assemblies that may be readily removed and/or assembled from the interior of a flow conduit. The sensor is housed in a body fixedly suspended within the conduit by an integrally connected support structure extending outwardly through an opening in the conduit wall. The shedder comprises a blunt front face extending across the interior of the conduit for producing vortices and a bar-member joined to the front face and extending downstream therefrom defining an area for detecting the vortices. The bar-member is formed with a lateral recess that matches the pattern of the sensor and support structure such that when the shedder is positioned to engage the sensor, the overall bar-member configuration is preserved to assure good measurement results. Outside of the conduit, the support structure is securely fastened to the conduit so as to firmly hold the sensor within the shaped recess.