Abstract: Herein disclosed a suction cup device including: a case; a suction cup of which a surface on one side in the thickness direction thereof is a suction surface and a surface on the other side is a back surface; a displacement mechanism provided in the case and operative to support a central part in the radial direction of the back surface of the suction cup in such a manner that the central part can be displaced in the thickness direction; and a contact part which is provided in the case and which, when the suction surface makes suction contact with a surface to be sucked, can make contact with a part, on the outside of the suction contact part of the surface to be sucked, of the surface to be sucked, wherein the contact part includes a plurality of contact elements spaced from each other and making contact with a plurality of parts of said surface to be sucked which are spaced at intervals in the circumferential direction of the suction cup.

Abstract: A patient care equipment support is transferable between a first device having a first coupling member and a second device having a second coupling member. The equipment support comprises an equipment supporting portion configured to support patient care equipment, and a coupler extending downwardly from the equipment supporting portion. The coupler has a central opening and a plurality of peripheral openings disposed about the central opening. The first coupling member engages the central opening and at least one of the peripheral openings when the equipment support is carried by the first device. The second coupling member engages the central opening and at least one of the remaining peripheral openings when the equipment support is transferred to the second device.

Abstract: A hook is provided for simultaneously supporting a shower curtain and a shower curtain liner in side by side spaced, parallel relation on a shower curtain rod. The shower curtain and the shower curtain liner each have an opening therein proximate the top edge thereof. The hook includes a portion for engaging the rod. First and second spaced support portions, each of which is connected to the rod engaging portion, are provided. Each of the support portions includes a generally “U” shaped portion defined in part by an upstanding member. The upstanding member of the first support portion is adapted to be received through the opening in the shower curtain to retain the shower curtain. The upstanding member of the second support portion is adapted to be received through the opening in the shower curtain liner to retain the shower curtain liner. The hook is fabricated from a single continuous wire section by making a series of bends therein.

Abstract: A shelf bracket having a ledge and a plurality of side members, the shelf bracket being formed from a blank. The blank has a plurality of side portions, which can be bent downwardly to create the side members. The blank also has a ledge portion which forms the ledge of the shelf bracket. The side portions and the ledge portion of the blank are separated by a plurality of bend lines, to facilitate bending for the formation of the shelf bracket. The blank desirably has a lip portion which can be bent upwardly to form a lip of the shelf bracket. The blank can also have a plurality of stiffener portions which can be bent to create stiffeners in the shelf bracket, and one or more ribs in the side portions to provide strength to the shelf bracket.

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing the number of utility slots in an awning tube utility track is described. The apparatus comprises a track mount and at least two utility tracks coupled with and parallel to the track mount. In a specific example, each utility track comprises a first opening parallel to the track mount and a second opening orthogonal to the track mount.

Abstract: A wall-mount support includes: a wall bracket adapted to be mounted on a wall, defining a vertical track, and having front and rear connecting ends disposed outwardly of the vertical track; a carrier mounted slidably on the vertical track; a supporting unit connected to the carrier and adapted to support an electronic device thereon; and an arcuate cover plate having front and rear ends. The front and rear ends of the arcuate cover plate are respectively connected to the front and rear connecting ends of the wall bracket to define an accommodating space between the cover plate and the wall bracket. The arcuate cover plate is pivoted to one of the front and rear connecting ends of the wall bracket so as to be rotatable relative to the wall bracket about an axis parallel to the vertical track between opened and closed positions.

Abstract: A compressed gas cylinder hanger having resiliently flexible engagement with the neck of the compressed gas cylinder to fix or resist rotation of the compressed gas cylinder hanger about neck.

Abstract: A beverage container is provided for mounting to vehicles such as power boats, sailboats and recreational vehicles. The beverage container holder is adapted for mounting to support platforms on the vehicle which may be any suitable vehicle structure such as the armrest of a chair. The beverage container holder comprises a mounting ring which is first rigidly affixed to the support platform, and further comprises a cylindrical can having an upper circumferential rim which fits over the mounting ring and includes detents that positively lock the rim onto the mounting ring.

Abstract: A container securing device includes a housing portion, with a cylindrical shape, the top of which is open, and which is intended to house a beverage container. A flap is positioned within a hole that is formed within a surrounding wall of the housing portion, and is installed so as to be capable of moving either out of the housing portion, or into the housing portion, in response to the container being inserted into, or extracted from, the housing portion. An impelling (biasing) component forces the flap toward the interior direction of the housing unit. The flap is capable of moving to a location that secures the container when the container is fully housed within the housing portion.

Abstract: A stand for a display is provided. The stand can reduce a delivery volume of the display and can provide for adjustment of a rotation angle thereof during use. The stand may include a support connected to a lower portion of the display, a pivot block pivotably coupled to the support, a rear base connected to the pivot block, a swivel that pivotably couples the pivot block and the rear base, and a front base coupled to the rear base.

Abstract: A support post assembly with mounting bracket assembly and hinge plate with defined bend lines and break points are provided to prevent or reduce damage to objects attached to the support post assembly. The hinge plate has an enhanced section having a channel formed transversely thereacross to function as a bend line when the support post assembly is subjected to a predetermined force. A section of reduced or removed material further directs the force to the weakened area to guide the bending, and openings in the bend line guide breaking or tearing of the plate. Damage is limited to the hinge plate, which is easily replaced. A mounting bracket assembly having a two-piece body for connecting or splicing support posts together includes a strap with crosspiece configured to provide a desired bend line or breakpoint.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pedestal stand for a laundry treatment machine (1) such as a washing machine, a washer dryer or a tumble dryer, having a housing (3) which comprises a supporting plate (6), side walls (5), front frame (25) [sic; (26)] and a rear wall plus a bottom plate (8) with bearing feet (9), whereby the supporting plate (6) has holes (12) into which threaded stud bolts (11) attached to the underside of the laundry treatment machine (1) can be inserted and screwed down. Within the housing (3), a stud bolt (14) is arranged on the essentially vertical axis (A) between the openings (12) in the supporting plate (6) and the bearing feet (9) on the bottom plate (8) of the housing (3).

Abstract: An electrically controlled proportional valve provides for precise control of armature movement using an armature which is positioned at the center of the valve by centering leaf springs. The armature is supported and biased axially by angled leaf springs that support the armature in an orbital fashion. These angled orbital leaf springs support the armature for elastic movement in the axial direction, and hold it biased against a first port, so that the armature functions as a valve element, which normally closes that port. A magnet coil is positioned so that when an electrical current passes through the coil, it exerts a force on the armature which overcomes the bias of the orbital leaf springs and draws the armature away from the first port and toward the magnet coil.

Abstract: The invention has been made to provide a flow control valve capable of preventing adhesion between a fixed core and a movable core and increasing an attractive force, so that flow control can be performed with high accuracy. In a flow control valve 10, a first fixed core 23a is fixed in an upper part of a coil bobbin 21, a second fixed core 23b is fixed in a lower part of the coil bobbin 21, and the movable core 24 is formed at its lower end with a flange 24a having a diameter larger than an inner diameter of the coil bobbin 21. The movable core 24 is placed inside a cylindrical part 28a of the flared pipe 28 so that a distance D1 between the first fixed core 23a and the movable core 24 is larger than a distance D2 between the flange 24a and a disc part 28b of the flared pipe 28.

Abstract: A winch assembly (10) comprises a winch drum (18) rotatable about a first axis and carrying a spoolable medium, such as wireline (14) for use in deploying and retrieving tooling into and from a well bore. A carriage sheave (30) mounted on a drive screw (34) is positioned adjacent the winch drum (18), wherein the drive screw (34) is rotatable about a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis. In use, the carriage sheave (30) engages the spoolable medium and is translated by the drive screw (34) in reverse directions to follow the fleeting motion of the spoolable medium as the medium is paid out and/or in from the winch drum (18). In a disclosed embodiment, the winch drum (18) is mounted vertically on a tubular body (22), through which tubular body (22) the spoolable medium extends into the well bore. In one embodiment the winch assembly (10) forms part of a subsea well intervention system.

Abstract: A deck and stair railing has top and bottom rails joined to upright posts and upright tubes extended between the rails. Ball knobs mounted on plates or the rails are secured with deck screws to the rails to retain the tubes in assembled relation with the rails. The ball knobs have continuous circumferential ribs located in force fit relation with inside surfaces of the tubes. The tubes have projections that engage the ball knobs to prevent the tubes from rotating relative to the ball knobs.

Abstract: A fragrance disperser in one form includes a single fan that passes air over a wicked single or double fragrance. A second form has the fan reversible to provide two different airstreams that evaporate respective different fragrances one after the other. Where two fragrances are provided, the evaporation may be by respective electrical heaters. A fragrance source may be formed by two sheets joined together to form two chambers each receiving a respective wick and having respective exposed wick portions. The source may incorporate a source of electrical power. An alternative source has a reservoir for fragrance and a wick located in an air passage forming part of the source so that an air flow is guided through the passage past the wick to evaporate fragrance. Where two fragrances are provided, the fragrance sources may be located side-by-side and matching fragrances may have, for example, matching indicia on the sources so that the match can be easily determined visually.

Abstract: The invention relates to a packing structure (1) for a fluid exchange column, the packing structure defining an exchange surface for at least one down-flowing liquid phase that is to be put into intimate contact with at least one up-flowing gas phase, the structure including a volume formed by a plurality of rows of bundles of tubes (10), each bundle having four tubes (10a-10d) respectively oriented along four directions (D10a-D10d) forming an angle relative to the axis of the structure, the plurality of tubes forming a plurality of passages opening out to the outside surface of the structure (1).

Abstract: The invention provides for a radially flexible bushing, comprising an outer annular element, an inner rigid element surrounded by the outer element, an elastomer body, which adherently attaches the inner rigid element and the outer element. The elastomer body comprises spaced-apart arms extending radially from the inner rigid element to the outer element. It further comprises at least one radial stop for limiting the radial displacement of the inner rigid element. The radial stop, which is positioned on the outer element between the arms, comprises an arch having extremities joined to the outer element and a top oriented towards the rigid element. The arch defines together with the outer element a tubular cavity.

Abstract: A quick-action cylinder with safety device to prevent blocking is described, wherein the quick-action cylinder provides a mechanical lock for a center draw-in nipple (2) in a center bore (23) in a housing of a quick-action cylinder, wherein in the locked position one or more locking members (3) are urged into contact with an exterior periphery of the draw-in nipple by a force of a spring assembly (12) which is arranged in the housing in one or several spring compartments (13), and wherein the unlocked position of the draw-in nipple (2) is attained by applying pressure to a locking piston (7) which operates to oppose the force of the spring assembly. The safety device prevents self-blocking of the locking device of the draw-in nipple (2) in the center bore (23) when the pressure medium enters the spring compartment (13) of the spring assembly (12) from the cylinder space (11) of the locking piston.

Abstract: A manual feed tray including a cover member pivotally supported at a lower end and assuming a storage position and a sheet feeding position; a sheet feeding platform situated at the lower end side of the cover member in the sheet feeding position, and mounted to the cover member so as to be capable of sliding toward the upper end side of the cover member and so as to leave a gap between the sheet feeding platform and itself; and an extension member assuming a storage position in which the extension member is stored in the gap between the sheet feeding table and the cover member and a pulled-out position.

Abstract: A sheet tray device including (a) a first tray and (b) a second tray which is disposed on an upper side of the first tray and which includes (b-1) a support member which bridges between opposite side walls of the first tray and which is movable relative to the opposite side walls, and (b-2) a supported body pivotably supported by the support member. Each of the opposite side walls includes a first rail portion and a second rail portion that is located on an upper side of the first rail portion. The support member includes (i) a main slide portion that is slidably held in contact with an upper surface of the first rail portion, (ii) a removal-preventing slide portion that extends through a space between the first and second rail portions, and (iii) a rotation-preventing slide portion that is slidably held in contact with a side surface of the first rail portion. Also disclosed is an image forming apparatus including the sheet tray device.

Abstract: A sheet carrying device includes a pickup roller sending out a sheet to a carrying path one by one from a document mounting tray, a roller first driving motor rotating the pickup roller, a control section controlling the roller first driving motor, and a slip detecting device detecting whether the pickup roller slips in an amount not less than a predetermined amount in carrying the sheet. Detecting that the pickup roller slips, the control section controls the roller first driving motor to perform a slip-settling operation for decreasing a start-up acceleration of the pickup roller from a time when starting to rotate to a time when reaching a predetermined speed. This allows reliably carrying a sheet and suppressing a decrease in a carrying speed of the sheet in order to prevent a decrease in a speed of a process including sheet carrying, even when the pickup roller slips in feeding the sheet from the sheet mounting tray.

Abstract: A sheet carrying device includes: a pickup roller sending out a sheet on a sheet mounting tray into a carrying path one sheet at a time; a sheet carrying device rotating the pickup roller; a control section controlling a roller first driving motor; and a carrying delay detecting section detecting delay in sheet carrying carried out by the pickup roller. The control section controls the roller first driving motor, in a case where the delay in the sheet carrying is detected by the carrying delay detecting section, so that (i) the pickup roller once stops and then restarts rotating and (ii) a start-up acceleration of the pickup roller, which start-up acceleration is an acceleration from the restart of rotation to arrival at a predetermined speed, becomes lower than a first start-up acceleration from start of rotation of the pickup roller to arrival at the predetermined speed in a case where there is no delay in the sheet carrying.

Abstract: A common driving source transmits a drive force to a driving unit that drives a feeding unit and a conveying unit. The driving source is a motor that rotates in either of a normal direction and a reverse direction. The feeding unit includes a mechanical drive-blocking mechanism in its driving sequence. The conveying unit includes a two-system driving sequence and a mechanical drive-blocking mechanism in the driving sequence so as to rotate in one direction regardless of a rotating direction of the driving source. A reduction ratio of each driving sequence in the conveying unit is identical.

Abstract: A sheet feeder (1) having a stack hopper (9) for holding a stack of sheets (8), and feed belts (5, 6, 7) for advancing the bottom-most sheet from the stack, has traction belts (110, 111, 112) between the feed belts. The traction belts extend around a shaft (25) beneath the hopper and around a shaft (27) positioned intermediate the reach of the feed belts, a short distance short of separators (30, 31). The traction belts are preferably thicker than the feed belts and textured on their outer surface.

Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes conveying suction belts which have a function of rotating an adsorbed sheet and a function of conveying the sheet; a suction fan 112 which adsorbs the sheet to the belts; CCDs which detect a position and an skew in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction while the sheet is adsorbed to the belts; and a control device for driving the belts to rotate the sheet according to signals of CCDs in order to correct an attitude of the sheet adsorbed to the belts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a fluffer port in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving an input from one or more sensors; the one or more sensing at least one of media type, media weight, temperature, and humidity, selecting a fluffer port configuration from a plurality of fluffer port configurations based on the received sensor input, and sending a signal to fluff a media stack using the selected fluffer port configuration.

Abstract: A feed device includes a feed roller and a return lever member. The feed roller picks up a first recording medium from recording media stacked on a stacking unit and feeds the first recording medium downstream via a feed path. The return lever member pushes back upstream a second recording medium that has unnecessarily entered the feed path in feeding the first recording medium downstream. The stacking unit includes an end support portion that supports a leading end of the recording media from below. The return lever member includes a lever unit capable of being protruded into and retracted from the feed path. The lever unit pushes back the second recording medium upstream when protruding into the feed path. The lever unit includes a return operative portion that pushes back the second recording medium upstream and a raising portion that raises the second recording medium above the end support portion.

Abstract: Sheet feeding device including: a tray unit having a feeding tray for supporting a loaded-on document's trailing end, and a tilting tray for supporting its leading end; a feeding unit that feeds loaded-on documents from off the feeding and tilting trays; and an elevating mechanism that raises/lowers the tilting tray between the positions where documents are set onto and fed from it. The tilting tray is elevated by a lever that comes out of an opening in a feeding-unit cover, in which state the tray unit, which is pivotable with respect to the sheet feeding unit, is kept from pivoting. Otherwise, when the tray unit is pivoted upward from or returned to the load-on document position, tilting-tray movement, in conjunction with the pivoting action, with respect to the feeding tray is restrained.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for feeding out end sheets from a stack of sheets comprises that a driver acting against the end sheet of the stack (1) first displaces the end sheet in the plane thereof toward a support for elastic bulging of the end sheet, and then displaces the buckled end sheet away from the support, to a separating arrangement for the separation of sheets that unintentionally are accompanying the end sheet (21) fed out. The driver being carried by a spring arrangement, which offers an increasing support force to the driver upon the advancement of the stack by means of a pusher acting against the rear end of the stack. A sensor detects the displacement position of the driver, and activates the driver for a sheet-outfeed operation when the distance sensor detects a displacement position of the driver corresponding to a predetermined abutment force of the driver against the end sheet. Between the sheet-outfeed operations, the pusher is unloaded.

Abstract: A method and a device combine auxiliary and main stacks in a delivery or feeder of a machine for processing printing materials. The device includes a rake that can be moved in and out between the main and auxiliary stacks by a motor drive. A control computer controls the motor drive of the rake. Different speed profiles are stored in the control computer for the drive of the rake as a function of the printing materials in the stacks. A sheet-fed offset printing press having the device is also provided.

Abstract: A device for stacking flat, flexible postal items in a stacking compartment in an upright position includes a stacking roller positionable in proximity of the stacking compartment. A covered belt system feeds the postal items consecutively to the stacking roller, wherein the belt system has a first belt and a second belt. A deflection roller on an axis deflects the first belt from the second belt so that the second belt continuous to transport a postal item to the stacking roller. A first profile roller on the deflection roller has a predetermined roller length and includes a number of diameter taperings over its roller length. Deflectable pressure means press the postal items into the diameter taperings of the first profile roller to reduce a free flexible lengths of a postal items.

Abstract: A post-processing apparatus has a standby tray to receive a paper sheet to be supplied from a digital copier, a processing tray to receive a paper sheet dropped from a standby tray, a feed member which guides the rear end of a paper sheet received in a standby tray in the feeding direction to a processing tray, and scrapes and sends the rear end of a paper sheet dropped onto a processing tray to a stopper, a press member which clamps the rear end of a paper sheet received in a standby tray by cooperating with two feed members, and a stapler to staple the aligned rear ends of paper sheets. When a first paper sheet is supplied to the standby tray, the press member presses the rear end of the first paper sheet, to receive a second paper.

Abstract: A paper discharge tray 6 includes: a paper loading portion 7 provided in a bent form including a first tray surface 7a and a second tray surface 7b; a rear wall 8 for supporting and aligning the trailing end of paper discharged on the paper loading portion 7; and an installation portion 10 provided along the paper loading portion 7. On two portions of the first tray surface 7a, there are provided guide members 11 each having a first slope 11a that inclines upward in the paper discharge direction (direction indicated by an arrow A in the figure). When paper of a predetermined size is discharged on the guide members 11, the paper slides down along the first slopes 11a and the second tray surface 7c, and then is loaded with the trailing end of the paper aligned by the rear wall 8.

Abstract: An image-forming device includes an extension tray and an engaging unit. The cover member is capable of opening and closing thereon. The extension tray is rotatably attached to an upper part of the cover member. The engaging unit engages the cover member with the main casing when the cover member is closed. The engaging unit includes an engagement part, an engaging part, and an operating part. The operating part disengages the engaging part from the engagement part when operated. The operating part is capable of being operated when the extension tray is closed.

Abstract: A method for deskewing a sheet. The method includes positioning a lower roller pair and at least one upper roller pair to form a substantially vertical transport path, wherein the lower roller pair and at least one upper roller pair each form a nip. The method includes driving the lower roller pair and the at least one upper roller pair so as to transport the sheet upward along the substantially vertical transport path, opening the nip formed by the at least one upper roller pair as a trailing edge of the sheet approaches the lower roller pair. The method further includes continuing to drive the lower roller pair so that the trailing edge passes through the nip formed by the lower roller pair and upward movement of the sheet ceases with the trailing edge supported by the lower roller pair, wherein gravity and continued rotation of the lower roller pair work together align the trailing edge with the lower roller pair.

Abstract: A method and system for performing sheet registration are disclosed. Output values for a sheet may be identified within a reference frame. A difference between each output value and a corresponding desired output value may be determined. Input values may be determined based on at least the differences. State feedback values may be determined based on information received from one or more sensors. Acceleration values may be determined for multiple drive rolls based on the input values and the state feedback values. A desired angular velocity for each drive roll may be determined based on the corresponding acceleration value. A motor voltage may be determined for each drive roll that tracks an observed angular velocity value to the desired angular velocity value. The acceleration values may create a linear differential relationship between the input values and the output values. The steps may be performed multiple times.

Abstract: A device for aligning flat objects, in particular mail items, has a base face, a side wall, and at least one spindle thread, which is let into the base face. The spindle thread is embodied to transport flat objects lying on the base face in a conveyance direction, thereby pushing them against the side wall. The spindle thread has at least one aligning region. Each aligning region is subdivided respectively into a decompression segment and a compression segment. The pitch of the spindle thread increases along the conveyance direction in each decompression segment and decreases in each compression segment.

Abstract: A sheet-conveying device conveys a recording medium to a sheet support surface positioned downstream of the sheet-conveying device in a sheet-conveying direction when recording an image with an image-recording unit. A drive roller and a follower roller define a nip line therebetween. The nip line is positioned above the sheet support surface. A first support member rotatably supports the follower roller. A moving unit moves the first support member from a first position to a second position upstream of the first position in the paper-conveying direction immediately after a trailing edge of the recording medium leaves the sheet-conveying unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first sheet conveying passage that conveys a sheet through an image forming section. A sheet-discharging roller is on an outlet side of the first sheet conveying passage and can rotate in opposite directions. A second sheet conveying passage has an inlet connected to the first sheet conveying passage downstream from the image forming section and an outlet connected to the first sheet conveying passage upstream from the image forming section. A controller controls double-sided printing by causing the sheet-discharging roller to rotate forward to advance the sheet outside the sheet-discharging roller, and then to rotate in reverse to execute a switchback for transporting the sheet to the inlet side of the second sheet conveying passage and then to return the sheet to the upstream of the image forming section. An assisting mechanism adjusts a posture of the sheet to assist the switchback.

Abstract: A tactile scratch media apparatus and method are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a scratch media having a tactile data pattern to provide information to a user and a scratch region on the scratch media having a plurality of layers that conceal the tactile data pattern. The tactile data pattern may include a raised tactile data and/or an indented tactile data. The raised tactile data and the indented tactile data may be a braille character, an alphanumerical character and/or a tangible data. The surface edge of the raised tactile data and/or the indented tactile data of the tactile data pattern may be curved. The tactile data pattern may be arranged according to an overlapping pattern arrangement and/or a non-overlapping pattern arrangement. The arrangement of the overlapping pattern arrangement and the non-overlapping pattern arrangement may be based on a combination of a print data and the raised tactile data and/or the indented tactile data.

Abstract: A gaming apparatus for allowing players to explore decisions made in response to changing circumstances and to engage with the contradictions of competing needs. The gaming apparatus comprises a game board and game pieces. The game board is divided into an inner play area and an outer play area that surrounds the inner play area. An outer game piece traversing the outer play area determines functionality of one or more inner game pieces positioned on the inner play area. In each round of a game play, a player is either a Giver or a Taker, and moves inner game pieces according to their Point of View. Players' Points of View may exchange in every round. A player's goal is to be the Giver, since only the Giver can win. However, the Giver only wins when all four blue human being game pieces from a pyramid and meet Eye to Eye.

Abstract: A card game and method of playing the card game is disclosed. The card game is premised on the game of Texas Hold'em and pits a player against one or more virtual players. Initially, the player places a blind wager and then the player and multiple virtual players are provided two hole cards. The player's two hole cards are provided face-up and each virtual player receives the hole cards face down. In one version, at least one virtual hand is eliminated from play during the game. Elimination criteria can be based on a ranking of the virtual player's hand or other suitable criteria. At the end of the game the player's hand is compared to each remaining virtual player's hand. If the player's hand outranks each virtual player's hand, the player wins a payout. A hand swap or exchange, “All In” wager and a side wager are other features of the game.

Abstract: A bearing seal includes a radially split stator and a rotor. The rotor is enclosed within the stator along the internal length of the rotor. The rotor may, optionally, also be radially split.

Abstract: Flat gasket with a gasket plate comprising at least one sheet metal layer, at least one fluid through-opening to be sealed, and a plurality of screw through-openings, the sheet metal layer having at least one supporting element for receiving pressing forces, and the supporting element being in the form of a bead stamped into the sheet metal layer; in order to improve the durability of the supporting bead while in operation, the bead is designed so as to form with its bead crest, in a plan view of the sheet metal layer, an endless continuous line closed within itself, so that the bead does not have any free bead ends.

Abstract: A housing part (10) for a drive unit, as well as a method and mold for manufacturing such a housing part, which housing part (10) is composed of a first component (11) and has a radial seal (28) formed onto it composed of a second, elastic component (60), which has a radial sealing surface (40) for sealing a housing in a watertight fashion; the housing part (10) and radial seal (28) are produced by means of an injection molding process; at least one riser dome (36) is formed onto the radial seal (28) and extends from the radial sealing surface (40) in the axial direction (12).

Abstract: An expandable mandrel for holding a part has a shank with inclined radial slots slidably engaged by keys. The keys are coordinated by a collar which engages an extension on each key. A platen affixes to the shank of the mandrel to provide a stop that will index the position of a part mounted onto the mandrel. The platen has radial key passages to allow longitudinal movement of the keys in the slots. The platen preferably has resilient indexing nubs to engage the part. Preferably, the position of the platen on the mandrel can be adjusted by a set screw engaging one of several indexing holes or engaging a longitudinal guide track. For machining in a wet environment, the slots can be provided with longitudinal rails and the keys provided with transverse channels to remove liquid from between the keys and the slots.

Abstract: A chuck with a generally cylindrical body having a tail section configured to receive a drive shaft of a driver and a nose section having an axial bore formed therein. A plurality of jaws is movably disposed with respect to the body. A nut is rotatably mounted about the body and operatively engages the jaws. A sleeve is non-rotatably coupled to the nut. A shield cap is rotatably secured about the nose section of the body. The chuck also includes a first ring and a second ring that rotates relative to the nut over a limited arc. One of the first ring and the second ring defines a ratchet and the other defines at least one deflectable tab that is biased toward and engages the ratchet.

Abstract: A roll control system comprising a front torsion bar; a front first hydraulic actuator; a front second hydraulic actuator; a rear torsion bar; a rear first hydraulic actuator; a rear second hydraulic actuator; and control means connected to the hydraulic actuators and controlling the operation thereof on detection of a predetermined vehicle condition; wherein each hydraulic actuator comprises a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber; wherein the control means comprises a source of fluid pressure, a fluid reservoir, a pressure control valve fluidly connected between the pressure source and the reservoir, and at least three pressure relief valves each having two positions to fluidly connect the fluid chambers of the hydraulic actuators either to the pressure source or to the fluid reservoir; wherein the pressure relief valves are positioned on detection of the predetermined vehicle condition to apply a fluid pressure to the first fluid chamber of the first front hydraulic actuator and to the second flui