Abstract: Two embodiments (10 and 110) of an adjustable pedal assembly are characterized by a first component (34 or 134) surrounding one half of a worm gear (30 or 130) and a first length of the worm (32 or 132) and a second component (36 or 136) surrounding the other one half of the worm gear (30 or 130) and a second length of the worm (32 or 132). A support (12 or 112) includes a pocket holding the first (34 or 134) and second (36 or 136) components in abutting relationship with one another. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, the pocket (46) is defined by and within the support (12) and the support (12) includes flexible tabs (48) for snapping the first (34 or 134) and second (36 or 136) components into the pocket (46). In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the pocket (146) is defined by a box-like clamp (146) extending about the first (38 or 138) and second (42 or 142) covers and attached to the support (112) by a fastener (160).

Abstract: A handle assembly (1) has a handle body (4), an arm (8) and a trigger mechanism (6). The handle body (4) has a recess (18) for receiving an instrument to be held by the handle assembly (1). The arm (8) pivots in relation to the handle body (4) and the trigger mechanism (6) holds the arm (8) in two positions relative to the handle body (4). A third position enables the arm (8) to be detached from the handle body (4). In the first position, the arm (8) is locked adjacent the handle body (4) such that a projection (30) from the arm (8) engages the recess (18) in which a neck of an instrument being held can be inserted.

Abstract: A clipless bicycle with a latch release mechanism that is concentric to the spindle axis that allows cleat engagement on four sides of the pedal. The pedal includes a spindle with a thread on one end for attachment to a bicycle crank arm, a housing that rotates about the spindle on bearings, two U-shaped members that are affixed to opposite sides of the housing, two sleeves that slip over opposite ends of the housing allowing the sleeves to rotate concentrically about the axis of the spindle, two U-shaped members that are affixed to opposite sides of the sleeves, a torsion spring that is concentrically positioned over the housing such that it holds the U-shaped members that are attached to the housing perpendicular to the U-shaped members that are affixed to the sleeves, and a cleat for mounting on the bottom of a bicycling shoe that can releasibly engage between any of the four adjacent pairs of U-shaped members. The spring has a coil axis that is coincident with the spindle axis.

Abstract: A transmission casing has a valve-body fixing face inside an outer peripheral face includes a control valve assembly having an outer periphery formed with two protrusions which are parallel to the valve-body fixing face of the transmission casing. Each protrusion has an extent substantially corresponding to a finger's length.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an automatic transmission for a vehicle with an electrohydraulic control. More particularly, the hydraulic control unit and the electronic control unit are mounted adjacent relative to each other on a flange at an end of the transmission.

Abstract: A device which can be used with the palm of one hand to manually remove and replace threaded caps on bottles, particularly childproof caps on medicine bottles having a maximum diameter of approximately five inches, and a method for its use. The device comprises a base plate, a top plate having a central opening and being positioned substantially parallel to the base plate, an upright open-ended cylinder connected between the base plate and the top plate, a plurality of flexible flap-like bottle gripping members extending across the upper opening of the cylinder and substantially covering the opening, as well as a gripping mat centrally positioned within the bottom of the cylinder and attached to the upper surface of the base plate. When a bottle needing to have its cap removed or replaced is inserted into the cylinder, the flap-like bottle gripping members are forced downwardly and become biased against the outside surface of the bottle to hold it in an essentially upright orientation.

Abstract: A ratchet wrench stop member positioning arrangement having a stop member mounted in a transversely extended side hole in the body thereof and forced by a spring member into engagement with peripheral teeth of a ratchet wheel in a box in one end of the body, wherein the longitudinal central axis of the side hole defines with the horizontal line which passes through the center of the box a container angle at about 8˜18° so that the angle of action produced between the stop member and the ratchet wheel during the operation of the ratchet wrench is minimized, reducing the formation of inactive componenet of force.

Abstract: A ratchet wrench including a handle, a drive stud, and a ratchet mechanism further includes a tool release mechanism. The tool release mechanism includes a tool release actuator which forms a recess. A reversing lever is coupled to the ratchet mechanism and is movable to forward, non-ratcheting and reverse positions to select a forward ratchet direction, a non-ratcheting action, and a reverse ratchet direction, respectively, for the ratchet mechanism. The direction control element carries a protruding element that is shaped to fit into a recess in the tool release actuator when the direction control element is in the forward position, to remain outside the recess when the direction control element is in the non-ratcheting position, and to fit into the recess when the direction control element is in the reverse position. The protruding element impedes inadvertent operation of the tool release mechanism when the direction control mechanism is in either the forward or the reverse positions.

Abstract: A ratchet wrench includes a ring-shaped head having a threaded inner periphery and an operation member is rotatably retained in the head. The operation member has a ridge member extending from one end thereof and two pawl members are respectively retained on two sides of the ridge member. Each pawl member has a first side with teeth defined therein and a second side of each pawl member includes two inclined surfaces on two end of the second side and a straight surface is connected between the two inclined surfaces. The teeth of each pawl member are engageable with the threaded inner periphery of the head. One of the two inclined surfaces and the straight surface of each pawl member is engaged with respective one of the two parallel surfaces of the ridge member. An operation disk is mounted to the head and two torsion springs are respectively connected between the two pawl members and the operation disk.

Abstract: The invention is an adjustable wrench comprising a stationary arm with a terminal end and a grip end, the terminal end defining a lower bolt claw. A ratchet arm is slidably coupled to the stationary arm, the ratchet being movable to control the movement of upper and central bolt claws. The upper, central, and lower bolt claws are fitted to the shape of a standard hexagonal bolt head, being adjustable to different sized bolts upon up or down movement of the ratchet arm relative to the stationary arm. The central bolt claw is fitted through a slot in the upper bolt claw which defines an inclined ramp surface such that movement of one claw is coupled to movement of the other claw. The claws move cooperatively in reaction to the stationary, lower bolt claw to form a tightly fitted surface for a bolt head. The stationary arm has a complex profile on its lower surface for contact with a ratchet pawl pivotally attached to the ratchet arm.

Abstract: A screwdriver pen has a forward elongate housing containing four side-by-side screwdriver heads that can slide partially out of the housing selectively for use. A separately formed rear housing slidingly supports four respective manually operable actuators. When an actuator is slid forwards it bears against a respective push wire to move a head into a forward position for use. The housings are joined together using an apertured annular collar and a pin. The pin holds the housings together and prevents relative rotation between the housings.

Abstract: An automatic stop machine for a screw striking machine includes a driver bit, an air pressure cylinder having a piston, and an air motor driving the piston and rotationally driving the driver bit. The automatic stop machine comprises an open/close valve, a contact arm, and an air passage. The open/close valve is disposed in an air supply passage to the air motor. The contact arm freely slidable along a nose portion of the screw striking machine, projects from the leading end of the nose portion, and stops the air motor by closing the open/close valve when the contact arm is pushed into a main body of the screw striking machine and is moved upwardly as the screw is screwed. The air passage in which pressurized air passes from a space defined by a back surface of the piston in the piston when the piston reaches the vicinity of bottom dead point.

Abstract: A tube cutter designed for cutting a pipe where access is limited to the interior of the tube only. A rotatable cutter head mounted at the end of an elongated drive shaft carries a plurality of cuffing wheels. The tube cutter is inserted into a tube to be cut from one end thereof using the elongated drive shaft to position the cutter head in the tube. When the cutter head is inserted into the predetermined location, a feed drive is energized which rotates a scroll head to cause the cutting wheels to move in a radial direction to advance and engage the interior surface of the tube in a concentric manner undergoing cutting. When the tube has been severed, the feed drive rotation is reversed to retract the cutting wheels into the rotatable head, so as to enable removal of the rotary tube cutter from the tube.

Abstract: A hydraulic press is provided with a fixed base and at least one rail. The hydraulic press is slidably disposed on the rail. A die is slidably mounted on the hydraulic press for operatively engaging a moving coil of material upon activation of the hydraulic press. A clamp is fixably connected with the die and is slidably mounted on the hydraulic press. The clamp has a pneumatically powered anvil which secures itself to the moving coil of material to cause the clamp and the die to move along with the moving coil of material. A first stop is disposed between the press and the die for providing engagement there between to stop relative movement between the die and the hydraulic press. An accelerator displaces the hydraulic press with respect to the base to move along with the moving coil of material. The clamp holds the material while the die engages the moving coil of material to ensure tension in the moving coil of material.

Abstract: The pipe cutter includes a jigsaw with a motor that reciprocates a saw blade back and forth. A way is clamped to the jigsaw. A workpiece holder is slidably mounted on the way. The workpiece holder has a workpiece slot with a base, two side walls and a saw blade slot. A handle is attached to the workpiece holder. A pipe that is to be cut is placed in the workpiece slot and the workpiece holder is moved along the way toward the saw blade. The saw blade forces the pipe toward the base of the workpiece slot and cuts the pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a movable sheet of web material onto predetermined lengths including a pair of upper and lower cutoff rolls and a retractable cutoff blade. A slide mechanism is utilized to move in a direction transverse to the movement of the sheet of web material to selectively engage and disengage the cutoff blade.

Abstract: A rotatable knife roll with at least one foil knife secured on a portion of the body of the roll and having a sharp and endless cutting edge closed within itself to cut out window openings. There are breakthroughs for suction apertures arranged within the cutting edge. There is at least one suction-air control valve arranged on the face side of the roll body. The valve is rotatable relative to this portion of the roll. The suction-air control valve has at least one suction-air-control channel and at least one fresh-air channel. There are suction apertures for temporarily retaining a letter envelope blank over a suction and transport angle zone &agr;, and for retaining a piece of material cut out by the foil knife across a suction and transport angle zone &bgr;. The suction apertures are arranged in rows to which suction channels are allocated in the part of the roll body.

Abstract: An automatic food product cutting apparatus is provided that employs a continuously rotating table arranged with multiple cutter cups, each cup being aligned with a plunger that rotates with the table. The plungers are driven to force fruit through the cup and to withdraw from the cup by cam following rollers that follow a generally elliptical cam track. The cam track is concentric to but does not rotate with the table. With this arrangement, a single drive motor is used to power both the rotation of the table and the plunging force to push the food product through the cutter cups, thereby achieving smooth, continuous operation.

Abstract: A punch assembly includes a frame that has a pair of arms forming a deep throat for receiving material to be punched, and a single acting punch and die set held by the outer ends of the arms. The punch is actuated with a lever mounting a swing frame that is supported so that when the punch is to be changed, the swing frame can be moved out the way and the punch removed. The die can also be removed when the swing frame is moved away from its working position. The punch can be actuated through the lever either with a manual handle, or with a power actuator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for attaching tooth bits to a saw blade body. The mating surface (8) of an attachment point provided in the blade body, transverse to the blade's direction of motion (A), is formed such that it is rearwardly oblique at its outermost part, whereby the blade body (4) may bypass a broken tooth bit fragment (5) without being damaged. A discontinuity point, at which the tooth bit (2) fractures controllably, may also be formed in the tooth bit (2). The invention further relates to an arrangement for attaching the tooth bits (2) to the blade body (4) used in sawing. In the arrangement, the outermost part of the mating surface (8) supporting the tooth bit (2) is formed to be rearwardly oblique and the tooth bit (2) has a given protrusion (10) with respect to the blade body (4), with the result that the blade body (4) may bypass the tooth bit fragment (5) without breakage.

Abstract: A line charge has a series of spaced-apart warheads coupled to strength members and a detonating cord freely extends through bores in the warheads. A rocket motor at one end of the strength members pulls the line charge across an obstacle laden area. An anchored tether or drogue chute at the other end arrests flight of the line charge and it drops across the area. The thermoplastic, polymeric, or metallic strength members provide strain management to withstand the severe deployment forces and to preclude damage to the detonating cord. Strain is absorbed by the elastic deformation of the strength members coupled to the warheads. Strain also is reduced through direct dissipation of energy by dynamic frictional losses created between strength members, coupling components, and anchoring devices during deployment when slippage occurs between the strength members and coupling components and anchoring devices.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is an ammunition element (3,4) feed device (1) for an artillery cannon, notably in projectiles (3) or propellant charge modules (4), and comprising at least one storage magazine (2) for the ammunition elements that incorporates at least one row (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d), a device (28) to transfer the ammunition elements from the magazine to a loading chute (5) and motor means enabling the ammunition elements to be moved up one row to bring them onto the transfer device (28), feed device is characterized in that each row (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) of the magazine comprises: a support plate (12) on which the ammunition elements (3,4) are arranged with their axes perpendicular to their direction of movement in the row, at least one conveyor belt (15) activated by motorization (16), said belt pressed to the ammunition elements of the row and constituting the motor means.

Abstract: Reaction transmitting means of a brake booster includes a parallel combination of a first and a second reaction transmitting path each transmitting a brake reaction from a reaction disc to a valve plunger. The first reaction transmitting path includes a spring charged to a preset load, and the second reaction transmitting path includes a viscoelastic member as may be formed of rubber. With this construction, a hysteresis is obtained in both a low range of servo ratio during an initial phase of operation of a brake booster and a higher range of servo ratio during a later phase of operation, which occur before and after the spring in the reaction transmitting mechanism is compressed, thus allowing a good brake feeling to be maintained.

Abstract: A rodless cylinder comprises a cylinder tube and guide shafts which are arranged in parallel to one another. The cylinder tube comprises a piston therein which is displaceable in the axial direction. Driving magnets are provided on outer circumference of the piston. A slider, which is displaceable in the axial direction, is provided on the guide shafts. The slider is supported on the guide shafts by the aid of ball bushes. Driven magnets, which correspond to the driving magnets, are provided in a hole of the slider. Inner circumferential surfaces of the driven magnets are slightly separated from an outer circumferential surface of the cylinder tube. Accordingly, it is unnecessary to apply any surface treatment to the cylinder tube, and it is possible to avoid appearance of dust or the like. It is unnecessary to assemble the rodless cylinder with a high degree of accuracy, and thus the production cost can be reduced.

Abstract: A method of making an elastomeric diaphragm includes preparing a mixture of an elastomer containing dispersed fibers; heating the mixture so that the mixture flows under pressure; injecting the mixture into a mold having a cavity in the configuration of a diaphragm with a central axis of symmetry, so that the mixture flows into the mold along the central axis of symmetry of the diaphragm and, within the mold, parallel to the central axis of symmetry, until the mold is filled, with the fibers substantially oriented to lie within planes including the central axis of symmetry; at least partially curing the diaphragm; opening the mold; and removing the diaphragm from the mold. An elastomeric diaphragm has a central axis of symmetry and includes an elastomeric body with reinforcing fibers dispersed throughout the elastomeric body, the fibers being oriented to lie within planes including the central axis of symmetry.

Abstract: The present invention aims at reducing the amount of oil consumption in a piston using a piston ring continuously formed of resin without being provided with an abutment. A stepped portion is formed on a third land, which is located below a second ring having a construction wherein an outer ring continuously formed of polyimide without being provided with an abutment is pressed against a cylinder wall by a coil expander via an inner ring continuously formed of PTFE without being provided with an abutment. Oil spill ports are provided so as to allow communication between the stepped portion and an inner wall of the piston.

Abstract: The invention concerns a brewing unit comprising a body (10) with a longitudinal axis (V) containing an infusion chamber (31) capable of receiving a pressing plunger (62) mounted mobile along the axis (V) by a drive mechanism (59), pumping member (40) for circulating water and brew, and a boiler (60) for heating the water for the preparation of the brew in the chamber (31). The invention is characterized in that the boiler (60) and the body (10) are formed in one single piece made of a heat conducting material with heating electrical resistance (26), water heating and passage channels (30) whereof the inlets (33) are connected to a cold water reservoir (R) and the ends (33′) emerge in the brewing chamber (31); and the pressing plunger (62) has a conduit (42) for the passage of the brew emerging through an outlet (42b), whereas the pumping member (40) is adapted to generate an ascending circulation of water in the brewing chamber (31) towards the conduit (42).

Abstract: A toaster/heater assembly for toasting and heating food products has a housing containing a frame, and a heating chamber having a toaster/heater ensemble which heats two compartments of the chamber. The ensemble has a middle unit and two side units, each of which are divided into two insulating boards having side edges with nibs separated by notches. A pair of lower terminals are spaced from each other and connected to ends of a heating element. For the side units, the heating element winds from a terminal around the nibs and notches of one board section to then cross to the other board section to likewise wind, so that almost all of the strands of the element face a heating compartment. The middle unit heating element winds through the notches and nibs and crosses to the other board section and likewise winds about it so that heat radiates from both of its sides to two different compartments.

Abstract: A toasting apparatus is provided which includes a housing, a base having first and second side walls and a plurality of slots disposed within the housing at an angle less than about 45° from top planar surfaces of the first and second side walls of the base. Each slot has a width less than about 0.5 inches (about 1.27 cm).

Abstract: A collapsible barbecue grill includes a tray-like ash/grease catcher having a predetermined depth. The ash/grease catcher is provided at a bottom surface with a pair of wheeled collapsible legs and locating means, along two lateral walls of its top surface with two outward bent edges to provide two supporting frames, and along a rear wall of its top surface with an inward bent edge to provide a baffle, such that a cooking grid having front hooks is removably positioned on and between the two supporting frames and below the baffle. The ash/grease catcher is also provided at an outer front surface with a handle, and near middle points of outer surfaces of its two lateral walls with two bar receivers for a suspension grid set to detachably mount thereto.

Abstract: A rotary blancher that is substantially sealed during operation to increase food product heating speed and efficiency. The blancher has a sealed housing, a novel substantially sealed food product inlet, and a novel substantially sealed food product outlet. A heat transfer medium, such as water or only steam, is introduced into the blancher to heat the food product inside the blancher. During operation, food products are substantially continuously introduced into the blancher through the food product inlet, processed by the blancher, and thereafter discharged from the blancher through the food product outlet. As a result, a greater amount of food products can be more quickly heated to a desired temperature using a blancher of this invention as compared to a blancher that is not sealed.

Abstract: A tortilla forming machine for molding dough into a tortilla shell having a top, a bottom, a peripheral edge, and a thickness. The forming machine includes a first member having a first forming surface, a second member having a second forming surface moveable toward and away from the first forming surface, and at least one removable sizing ring. The sizing ring includes a first edge and an opposing second edge, an inner surface and a height defining a cavity between the first and second forming surfaces when the first forming surface is adjacent the first edge and the second forming surface is adjacent the second edge such that the inner surface of the ring forms the peripheral edge of the tortilla shell and the height of the ring forms the thickness of the tortilla shell.

Abstract: A high production nutcracking apparatus wherein the nuts are fed from a hopper on a feed conveyor which has an upwardly inclined segment which passes through the hopper, a horizontal segment which leads to the cracking apparatus, and an arcuate transition juncture which is between the two segments. The nuts are singularized and oriented while being advanced on the feed conveyor, by means of a free floating covering plate which continuously overlies the feed conveyor from a point along the upwardly inclined segment, along the transition juncture, and to a delivery point where the nuts are lifted from the conveyor by a cracking apparatus. The cracking apparatus comprises a plurality of cracking units mounted on a rotatable turret, and the rotating cracking units are cyclically controlled so as to clampingly engage and lift each oriented nut from the advancing conveyor, and so as to preserve its orientation.

Abstract: A stamping press has a pair of plates defining a press gap between them, a hydraulic ram to produce relative movement between the plates to close the press gap and apply pressure to the die against a substrate in the gap, a hydraulic pump driven by an electric motor through a flywheel means for shutting off the motor on reaching a predetermined pressure in the circuit, and a dump valve for dumping hydraulic pressure from the circuit.

Abstract: A tube printer and method for printing information on an interior surface of a tube. The tube printer including a housing, an ink wheel assembly and a print wheel. The housing having at least two side members interconnected by a top plate extending there between and including spring biased guide wheels that cooperatively center the housing within the tube. An operating handle is operatively attached to an end of the housing to provide a means to push and pull the tube printer within the tube. The ink wheel assembly is operatively positioned between the side members of the housing and the print wheel is operatively positioned between the side members of the housing and adjacent the ink wheel and includes a raised surface containing the information to be printed on the interior surface of the tube.

Abstract: A stencil printer includes a plurality of ink drums spaced from each other in the direction of paper conveyance and each having a respective master wrapped therearound. An upstream ink drum and pressing means movable into and out of contact with the upstream ink drum define an upstream print position. A downstream ink drum and pressing means movable into and out of contact with the downstream ink drum define a downstream print position. An intermediate conveyor is located between the upstream print position and the downstream print position for conveying a paper carrying an image printed at the upstream print position toward the downstream print position. A distance which the paper moves from the upstream print position to the downstream print position is longer than a distance between the upstream print position and the downstream print position. Defective printing is reduced even when the peripheral speed of the upstream ink drum and that of the downstream ink drum are different from each other.

Abstract: Multicolor prints should be economically producible in a printing machine suited for automation. For this purpose a printing machine is configured which operates according to the collecting (collect-run) principle. The multicolor prints are collected either on a rubber cylinder (21) or on a printing cylinder (5). The printing machine is capable of processing two printing colors in a printing unit (11, 12). For the execution of the collecting printing, the sheets are fed in a cycle offset to the rotation of the collecting cylinder. For the printing of both sides double-sized sheet-conducting drums (6, 13, 14) are provided, or cylinders with a turning device or alternately set-on printing units.

Abstract: A continuous image transfer belt which is useable in a variable image size offset press system and which is adapted to permit the press to print a variety of different sized printed matter is provided. The image transfer belt includes at least one base ply, at least one layer of a compressible material over the base ply, and a surface ply over the layer of compressible material Preferably, the belt is continuous. The belt is used in an offset printing system having the capability to print variable-sized images. The system includes a source of ink; at least one plate cylinder and a replaceable sleeve for the plate cylinder, and a printing plate which is adapted to receive ink from the ink source.

Abstract: A continuous image transfer belt which is useable in a variable image size offset press system and which is adapted to permit the press to print a variety of different sized printed matter is provided. The image transfer belt includes at least one base ply, at least one layer of a compressible material over the base ply, and a surface ply over the layer of compressible material. Preferably, the belt is continuous. The belt is used in an offset printing system having the capability to print variable-sized images. The system includes a source of ink; at least one plate cylinder and a replaceable sleeve for the plate cylinder, and a printing plate which is adapted to receive ink from the ink source.

Abstract: A reversible printing blanket to be used with offset printing machines. The reversible printing blanket has two opposing lithographic printing faces. The blanket comprises a first external lithographic layer providing a first printing face, a second external lithographic layer providing a second printing face, and at least one compressible layer between the lithographic layers. Such reversible printing blanket allows impressions to be made by both sides of the blanket in such a way as to permit two separate printing jobs.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing procession of a gapless tubular printing blanket in an offset printing press caused by at least one fluid wave having a certain pressure trapped at an interface of the printing blanket and a blanket cylinder. The apparatus includes a blanket cylinder which is adapted to receive the printing blanket for mounting on its circumferential surface. The blanket cylinder has at least one path which connects an interface of the blanket cylinder and the printing blanket to a region of pressure lower than the pressure in the fluid wave. The path allows the fluid wave, which is trapped at the interface and advancing in front of a nip between the blanket cylinder and an adjacent cylinder, to escape to the region of low pressure.

Abstract: A sheet unloading apparatus is used for rotary drum rotatable in one direction along with a paper sheet which is wound around a peripheral surface of the rotary drum and at rear end mechanically engaged in an engagement groove formed in the peripheral surface. The sheet unloading apparatus includes a separation paws for separating a front end of the paper sheet from the rotary drum by contacting the peripheral surface of the rotary drum while the rotary drum rotates in the one direction, and a pair of pinch rollers for rotating to pinch and feed out the paper sheet supplied according to the rotation of the rotary drum in a state where the front end of the paper sheet is separated from the rotary drum by the separation pawl and the rear end of the paper sheet is engaged in the engagement groove.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for adjusting the position of a printing screen having a center of rotation mounted on a screen frame for use in screen printing processes are disclosed. The apparatus includes a screen frame with a printing screen mounted thereon, a screen frame holder, a plurality of first arcuate guides mounted on the screen frame defining an arc with a predetermined circumference defined by a predetermined radius, a plurality of guide rollers mounted on the screen frame holder and corresponding to the plurality of first arcuate guides whereby the plurality of guide rollers movably supports the plurality of first arcuate guides and an adjustment mechanism adapted to urge the screen frame around the center of rotation of the printing screen.

Abstract: A printing unit in a lithographic web fed rotary printing press has a plate cylinder and an associated blanket cylinder mechanically coupled via a gear train. A first drive motor drives both the plate cylinder and blanket cylinder. An impression cylinder is associated with the blanket cylinder, the impression cylinder being in rolling contact with the blanket cylinder and being driven by a second drive motor. The web passes through a nip formed between the impression cylinder and the blanket cylinder for printing. A clutch is provided for interrupting a drive connection between the first drive motor and the blanket cylinder, as is a throw-off mechanism for separating the plate cylinder from the blanket cylinder. With the printing unit, the blanket cylinder can remain in rolling contact with the impression cylinder and be friction-driven by the web after the drive connection has been interrupted.

Abstract: An electric pyrotechnic cartridge or primer device comprises a generally cylindrical nonconductive plastic body having a conical cavity opening to one end wall, a rod-like electrode centered in the cavity and extending to the opposite end wall and a second rod-like electrode extending from a side wall of the body into the cavity in proximity to but spaced from the first electrode. Alternatively, the second electrode may comprise a coating of conductive material applied to a conical wall surface defining the cavity. An explosive or pyrotechnic charge is disposed in the cavity and is ignited by a high voltage electric signal imposed on the electrodes. The electrodes are preferably formed of an ABS plastic composition which may be filled or doped with carbon, carbon fibers, metal particles, aluminized fiberglass, and explosive compositions selected from combinations of boron, molybdenum trioxide, magnesium, barium chromate, potassium perclorate, a fluoroelastomer and polytetrafluoroethylene.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator, comprising a first gas-generating stage and at least one gas-generating stage arranged downstream of the first stage, and also comprising a device for detecting a pressure change in the gas generator, wherein the device for detecting the pressure change comprises a chamber divided by a movable part into two partial chambers which are gas-tight with respect to each other, the partial chambers having openings which are in flow connection with the first stage and each have different cross-sectional areas, so that the pressure change spreads at different speeds in the two partial chambers and brings about a movement of the movable part, and the movable part being connected with a movement meter, which due to the movement of the movable part generates an electrical impulse to activate the second stage.

Abstract: An improved trolley for use on a track. The improved trolley is of a sandwich construction having a wear resistant interior and a pair of metal end plates. The wear resistant material is preferably plastic or other material designed to avoid damaging a track along which the trolley rides. The end plates are preferably stainless steel and of a diameter greater than the diameter of the center wheel to prevent the trolley from becoming dislodged from a track. By providing a sandwich of long wearing and non brittle materials, the longevity of the trolley is increased and corrosion concerns associated with prior art devices is substantially alleviated.

Abstract: A trolley wheel for a load lifting apparatus that is movable along a rail having a horizontal supporting surface. The wheel includes a crowned tread surface for rolling contact with the rail and a flange for stabilizing the tread surface in position on the rail. The flange includes a substantially crowned realigning portion for realignment of the wheels on the rail with minimal contact or binding. The flange also includes an undercut portion for added clearance between the flange and the rail. Preferably, the crowned tread surface and crowned realigning portions are heat treated for improved wear resistance. The undercut may also be heat treated for added toughness.

Abstract: An aerator pad for a railroad hopper car has a fabric body member that overlies an aeration assembly slope sheet. The body member has a perimeter portion with indentations formed in the edges thereof. A gasket is molded to the perimeter of the body member. Bolt holes in the gasket are spaced from the fabric so that no edge or perimeter portion of the fabric is exposed to atmosphere. The gasket is located between mating flanges of the aeration assembly and car body. Spacer buttons lift the body member off the slope sheet and a wear pad prevents vibration induced deterioration at the gas inlet opening in the slope sheet.

Abstract: A railcar has a substructure, a superstructure and intermediate webwork sides joining the substructure and the superstructure to form a truss-like structure for carrying automobiles. The resultant truss-like structure does not have a straight through center sill, but does retain end stub sills. The main deck of this structure can be depressed between the railcar trucks, and, in combination with a vehicle supporting deck structure allows vehicles of a greater height to be carried in the depressed center than over the end structure above the railcar trucks. The integrated structure, including a structurally significant roof frame, is also used to support the vehicle carrying decking.