Abstract: A linearly adjustable force transfer element with one or more inertia-sensitive triggering mechanisms for one or two stepless, activatable blocking devices especially adapted for use with a car seat. A vertically adjustable seat frame and optionally safety belt hardware is fastened to a mounting eye of a draw rod and a bottom mounting eye is fastened to the carriage of the seat rail. In normal use, the two parts can be freely moved with respect to one another; however, in a front end collision, an inertia sensor mass travels and by means of a pressure cam tilts plates into a blocking position, which is achieved immediately, directly and steplessly. A force transfer is possible by means of the two opposing blocked parts so that adjusting elements of the seat are not loaded. The described sensor mechanism can also be combined with other sensors, e.g. a draw-out sensitive release element, and a spherical sensor, which can be addressed on all levels of deceleration, can be used.

Abstract: A braking device in an arrangement for linear movement comprising an elongated part and a part movable in relation thereto. Along substantially the entire stroke of the movable part of a piston there is at least one first braking surface movably arranged in relation to the central axis of the elongated cylinder, the braking surface being adapted for co-action with a second braking surface arranged in association with the piston.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for releasably securing a steering column of a motor vehicle to the chassis of the vehicle includes a bracket attached to the steering column, with the bracket having a plurality of rearwardly opening primary apertures therein, and a plurality of modules molded in place upon the bracket, with each of the modules registered with one of the rearwardly opening apertures, and with each of the modules including a solid body having an annular groove which (i) is formed during the molding of the module; (ii) which circumscribes a portion of the module and (iii) which is in contact with the bracket. Each module has an aperture through which a fastener may be inserted so as to secure the bracket to the chassis of the vehicle.

Abstract: A device for the support of elongate members, such as tubing in a well bore, by a stationary gripping jaw and a movable gripping jaw. The movable gripping jaw is moved by a threaded shaft which pivots about one end into and out of engagement with a partially threaded nut to facilitate rapid movement of the movable gripping jaw relative to the stationary gripping jaw while maintaining the movable gripping jaw substantially vertical at all times. The stationary gripping jaw may be selectively positioned to accommodate a range of selected tubing sizes.

Abstract: A frictional damper system particularly suited for use in preventing chatter and flutter in a liquid and two phase flow pressure relief valve. The frictional damper system includes one or more damper bodies each having a vertical through-hole and at least one inclined bore extending from the exterior of the damper body into the vertical through-hole. A friction contact member is positioned within each bore and urged inwardly by a spring device or the like. A portion of the object to be damped, such as the stem of a pressure relief valve, extends through the vertical throughhole. The type of material forming the friction member, the degree of compression by the spring device and the amount of inclination of the bore(s) is such that the vertical compression forces components of the damper spring(s) virtually negate the frictional forces created when the member to be damped moves in a first direction.

Abstract: A bowl-slip assembly is used to complete shallow wells having a tension set hold down device such as a packer or tubing anchor. The bowl includes a trap door which is opened to allow the bowl to pass around the tubing string and rest on an underlying well head support, such as a tubing head. The trap door is closed and a short set of slips placed to receive the load of the tubing string and transfer it to the tubing head at a time when it is necessary to attach a Christmas tree to the tubing string and tubing head. The trap door bowl and slips are easily installed and removed and require a minimum clearance between the top of the tubing head flange and the bottom flange of the Christmas tree.

Abstract: A linear friction lock mechanism of the type having a rod axially translatable through a lock housing, at least one locking coil spring axially fixed to the housing and having an inner coil diameter such that the coil spring normally grips the rod against such axial movement, and a lock release mechanism actuatable for unwinding the locking coil spring thereby to free the rod for movement through the housing. This linear lock is improved by providing a backup latch element mounted to the housing and spring loaded towards interlocking engagement with the rod redundantly holds the rod against axial movement through the lock housing independently of the locking coil spring to eliminate creeping of the rod through the spring. Manual and remote cable release mechanisms are optional.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved platform-mounted apparatus for holding and rapidly releasing a flexible load line having the properties of a wire rope. The invention comprises wedge gripper means for holding the line up to a tensile force substantially equal to the breaking strength of the line, with the gripper means comprising a grip frame for mounting to the platform and a pair of opposed grip wedges, the wedges having opposed internal gripping surfaces for engaging the line and external wedging surfaces that taper toward each other in the direction of the tensile force in a gripped line, each grip wedge having a wide end and a narrow end. Grip connection means connect the wide end of each grip wedge to the grip frame, said grip connection means defining a lower travel limit for each grip wedge in the direction of the tensile force in a gripped line.

Abstract: A chuck apparatus including a plurality of radially movable jaws for gripping a drill rod, each jaw being moved radially by an axially movable bowl, each jaw and the corresponding bowl surfaces are provided with two sets of camming surfaces, the first set of camming surface being oriented with a steeper angle than the second set of camming surfaces. In operation, as the bowl moves relative to the jaws with the respective first set of camming surfaces of the jaws and the bowl in contact, the jaw gripping force is relaxed and the jaws release the drill rod. As the bowl and jaws continue to move they transition to interact at their respective second set of camming surfaces whereupon, because the shallow angle of interface, the jaws are moved through a greater distance than if the first set of camming surfaces' steeper angle of interface were employed. As a result, more clearance is provided for freeing the drill rod.

Abstract: Disclosed is a line clamping device which may be remotely and repeatedly operated to clamp line passing through the device. Increasing pressure acting on a piston in the clamp housing moves slips to a position clamping the line while compressing a spring. When pressure on the piston is reduced, the spring moves the slips and piston to back to a position not clamping line.

Abstract: A locking device is formed of a base, a grabbing member and a plurality of arcuate legs flexibly connecting the base and grabbing member. The grabbing member is operatively deformable by relative movement of the base and grabbing member toward and/or away from relative coplanarity therebetween to thereby expand or contract the grabbing member into or out of releasable locking engagement with a workpiece.

Abstract: A dispensing tool for dispensing a stock material in web or tape form supplied in a roll on an open core with the stock material being under a selected tension. The tool includes a head forceably receivable in the core to support the stock material roll. The head has a spindle forming a handle, and a friction producing manually grippable unit is carried by the spindle. The manually grippable unit includes a split cylindrical member in which the spindle is journalled with the split cylindrical member being readily deformable to selectively grip the spindle and thereby restrain pay out of the stock material from the roll and thus tension the stock material. In order to facilitate gripping of the split cylindrical member in an operator's hand, a sleeve of rubber-like material having a foam appearing surface is telescoped over the split cylindrical member.

Abstract: A symmetrical braking system for a graphic recorder includes a generally cylindrical brake support supported by a carriage drive and having a combination of cam surfaces. A brake rotor is rotatable supported upon the brake support and defines an arrangement of captivating notches which receive a pair of brake shoes in an overlying arrangement. Bearing means are coupled to each of the brake shoes and are driven by the cam surfaces of the brake support. A coupling arrangement is secured to the brake rotor and provides a coupling for rotational forces between the brake rotor and an actuator beam extending through the brake structure. Rotational forces applied to the actuator beam are coupled to the brake rotor and the bearing means cooperate with the cam surfaces to move the brake shoes into or out of engagement with the actuator beam as a function of rotational position.

Abstract: Power cylinder comprising a housing having a throughbore capped by end plates defining therein a longitudinally extending chamber. A piston including a longitudinally extending body portion mounts for reciprocal movement in and in bearing relation to the portion of the wall surface which bounds the length of said chamber. The piston has a longitudinally extended through passage and brake means immediately of its outer peripheral surface. A valve device associated with the piston body includes a portion thereof in communication with the through passage. The housing has ports respectively communicating with respective end portions of the chamber for selective delivery thereto and discharge therefrom of fluid under pressure and the selective application of such fluid under pressure to one or both ends of the piston.

Abstract: A support construction including a supporting bowl to receive a plurality of circumferentially disposed slips to engage and support a tubular member. The slips include at least one pair of slip inserts that are carried in axial grooves provided on the innermost surfaces of the slips, the inserts provided as a pair of cooperating, interengaging members, the innermost slip insert relative to the tube having inwardly extending teeth to engage the tube outer surface. The inner and outer slip inserts are made from materials having a different modulus of elasticity, the modulus of elasticity of the innermost slip insert, relative to the tube axis, having a modulus of elasticity from about 3 to about 7 times greater than that of the outer slip insert, relative to the tube axis.

Abstract: A dispenser handle for controlling the speed with which flexible sheet material is stripped from a roll. The handle includes a spindle carrying at one end locking means insertable into the overside opening of a hollow cylindrical core on which the sheet material is wound. The spindle is of reduced diameter and carries, with clearance, a collapsible sleeve which the operator may squeeze to brake the spindle and hence the roll and the rate which the material is stripped from the roll.

Abstract: A gas spring for supporting a cab enclosure pivotably mounted to the body of a skid-steer vehicle. A stop tube is mounted to a piston rod and is telescopically cooperable with a cylinder body. Two parallel slots extend in a transverse direction through the stop tube. A stop slide has a pair of legs which are adapted to slide within the slots of a stop tube. A release portion of the stop slide is sized to permit the cylinder body to pass between the legs, while a stop portion is sized to prevent the cylinder body from passing between the legs. A spring urges the stop slide toward a stop position at which the stop portion of the stop slide is aligned with the cylinder body when the piston rod is extended. The cab enclosure is thereby latched to a tilt-back position.

Abstract: A seat post is axially slidable in a mounting tube member secured in a bicycle-type seat tube or mast. The seat post is biased upwardly by a main spring within the mounting tube member which as an enlarged collar at the top end. The collar supports lock mechanism including a floating gear, a floating latch member, a toggle lever and a supplemental spring. In a locked position, the gear engages the seat post rack, and gear teeth on the latch member lock the gear against rotation. A cable connects the toggle lever to a release handle on the handlebar. Actuation of the handle unlocks the gear from the seat post rack. In another embodiment, the gear is omitted and the latch member engages the seat post rack directly. In another embodiment, the toggle lever is omitted and the cable moves the latch member directly.

Abstract: This device comprises at least one pair of screw-and-nut elements cooperative with the fixed and movable parts in respect of which elements the screw angle is large enough to ensure that the efficiency of the translation to the rotation is slightly positive, and is provided with means for locking the rotary element of the pair after adjustment of the position of the movable part. This system permits the locking of the movable part in the chosen position by a relatively small force as compared to the forces to which the device is subjected. The device is useful for adjusting a table guide of a woodworking machine, or for adjusting a car seat or the seat of a stool.

Abstract: A safety device for the control lever of a construction machine having hydrostatic transmission which comprises a casing provided on the machine and a control rod rotatably connected at one end thereof with the control lever associated with the hydrostatic transmission, said control rod being formed with a slender portion at the other end portion which is slidably accommodated by the casing, said slender portion having a coil spring interposed within the casing, and said coil spring being stressed sufficiently to automatically return the control lever to the neutral position when the operator takes his hands off the control lever.

Abstract: A device for braking advancing packages being transferred on a conveyer including a pair of rubber tubes of a predetermined length having flat surfaces, the tubes being inflated toward the packages being conveyed so that the tubes interpose and stop the packages. The pair of rubber tubes can be inflated so that they expand in an upwardly inclined direction in order to slightly lift the packages above the conveyer surface. Each of the rubber tubes are provided along the conveyer and are inflated with air. In addition each rubber tube has a flat braking surface, a reinforcing part at the back of the braking surface for maintaining the flatness of the braking surface, attaching wall part and a hollow section between the braking surface and the attaching wall part so that the rubber tube is normally small and narrow, but can be enlarged when inflated with air.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a cylinder locking device for locking and stopping the piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder in a desired position. There are fitted rotatably in a housing, a pair of thick, semicylindrical halves which are formed by dividing a thick cylinder having eccentric outer and inner circumferential portions axially into two halves at the thickest and thinnest portions. The piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder is inserted slidably into the inner circumferential portions of the two semicylindrical halves. The piston rod is locked in the desired position by turning the two semicylindrical halves in the opposite directions through a pair of leaves which are attached to the two halves.

Abstract: The adjusting device (7) comprises a screw (8) and a nut (12) engaged in a housing (16). The latter and the screw cooperate with a fixed part and a movable part. The locking system comprises a locking cylinder (23) provided with inner screw threads (24-26) conjugate with outer screw threads (22) of the nut (12), and in these two series of screw threads complementary axial splines are provided so that the locking cylinder (23) locks the nut (12) against rotation when their screw threads and respective splines are in engagement with each other. The locking cylinder (23) may be controlled by a cable (29). Application in the locking in particular of adjusting devices for table guides of woodworking machines and seat structures of vehicles.

Abstract: A pneumatic cylinder device having a decleration mechanism. The pneumatic cylinder device has a pneumatic cylinder including a cylinder accomodating a piston movable in the cylinder in response to supply and discharge of compressed air and having a connected piston rod. The pneumatic cylinder further includes a position detector such as a combination of proximity switches and a magnet carried by the piston designed for producing a deceleration signal and a stopping signal when the piston rod has reached a predetermined deceleration starting position and a designated stopping position, respectively. A brake which is connected to the pneumatic cylinder is adapted for stopping the movement of the piston rod in response to the stopping signal produced by the position detector. The pneumatic cylinder device further comprises a deceleration stage connected to the brake and adapted for decelerating the piston rod in response to the deceleration signal produced by the position detector.

Abstract: An exercise rowing machine of the type having a seat carriage movable along a track unit as the exerciser manipulates pivoted rowing arms in performing a standard rowing exercise is provided with a brake assembly on the seat carriage having a brake pad which can be selectively moved into and out of frictional braking engagement with the track unit to lock the seat carriage so that alternative exercises can be performed on the machine.

Abstract: A rotor rotating angle limiter in this invention which can set the rotating angle of a rotor to more than one revolution but to less than two revolutions, and is simple in construction and highly reliable, a feature of which is that it consists of rotor (1) whose circumference is circular, stator (3) having a concentric circular arc circumference facing said rotor with a gap between them, a projection having a shorter length than the gap and also installed on the circumference of the rotor facing the stator, two projections installed on the circumference of the stator facing the rotor, having a shorter length than the gap and arranged apart along the circumference of the stator circular arc outside of the orbit of the projection on the rotor, and a rolling element which is inserted between the two projections on the stator and into the gap so that it can cross the orbit of the projection on the rotor and is also movable along the gap.

Abstract: The rectilinear jack comprises a cage defining an inner chamber at an upper portion while a lower portion of the cage is thinned out in order to form an end lug with a hole for fixation of the cage. The upper portion of the cage is substantially of a lozenge shape for enclosing a cam with two noses placed substantially at 120.degree. with respect to each other. The cam displaces two substantially V-shaped parts bearing on inclined inner walls of the inner chamber while an open lower portion thereof contains trains of rollers kept in engagement with the above parts by a spring. The trains of rollers bear on an upper portion of a jack stem having at least one connection head.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake actuator including a hydraulic parking brake that can be applied by mechanically locking up either a normal service brake application or a hand pump operated brake application. The lock-up mechanism includes a friction collar that surrounds the piston push rod and a hand pump actuated locking member that surrounds the friction collar. The friction collar and locking member have complementary conical surfaces that are engageable when hydraulic hand pump pressure is applied to a piston face of the locking member to wedge the friction member into pressure engagement with the piston push rod, as a means of locking up the push rod to obtain a parking brake. The locking member also includes a plurality of spring-like fingers that project axially from the periphery of the locking member and are provided with latching tabs adapted to enter a recess in the body to prevent return-movement of the locking member when the hydraulic hand pump operation is terminated.

Abstract: A tie-down clip is described which is adapted for retaining the rod of a pressurized suspension unit in a retracted position within the suspension unit cylinder thereby protecting the rod from damage during shipping and handling and also reduces the size of the necessary packaging for the suspension unit. The tie-down clip has a hook-shaped end which engages the cylinder of the suspension unit and a top plate which receives the piston rod and engages a stop formed by the rod to retain the rod from extension. Two embodiments are described having differing shapes of apertures in the tie-down clip top plate.

Abstract: A suspension and drive system for a mechanical microwave power divider for spacecraft applications. The mechanical power divider includes a control which extends longitudinally therethrough. Torsion springs connect each end of the control rod to fixed surfaces and an electromagnetic control is coupled to the control rod to rotate it to a predetermined angular position. A selectively energizeable friction brake surrounds at least a portion of the control rod for holding it in a predetermined angular position.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated slip assembly having a slip pivotally connected at its sides by parallel links to the side surfaces of a slip block with slip engaging surfaces which allow the slip to be engaged and disengaged from tubing or pipe and operated within a reduced area. An alternative embodiment utilizes a floating die to allow the parallel links to disengage the slip from the pipe in a compact configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting pipe includes a support member defining an inner bowl surface in which is received a plurality of layers of arcuate slip segments. Preferably, the slip segments of each layer are staggered relative to the slip segments of adjacent layers.

Abstract: A slip gripping mechanism is shown for supporting a string of cylindrical conduit within the interior bore of a circumscribing conduit. An elongate body has a plurality of spaced longitudinal slots at one end. Vertically shiftable slips are carried in the slots by side edges which engage mating profiles formed in the slots. The slots form guideways for the slips for shifting the slips upwardly and outwardly relative to the body between a set position engaging the circumscribing conduit and an unset position. Each slip has an arcuate lower surface and a selected width to thickness ratio to allow controlled flexing of the slip in the direction of the circumscribing conduit as the slip moves to the set position.

Abstract: A fluid actuator includes an internal lock assembly for locking an actuator piston to a cylinder of the actuator. A circumferential slot is located on the inner surface of the cylindrical wall for receiving locking latches which are radially extendable and retractable on the piston, and ball bearings are located between an inner aspect of each latch and a first abutment member on the piston. A second abutment member has a thickness less than about half the diameter of the ball bearings and is adapted to become wedged between the ball bearings and the first abutment means to force the latches radially outwardly into the slot for locking the piston relative to the cylinder and thereafter to abut only the latches to maintain locking.

Abstract: A locking device for a circumferentially grooved reciprocating member is disclosed. In one embodiment the locking device includes a housing, through which the reciprocating member passes, having a pair of spring biased locking elements and a release element disposed therein. Locking is achieved by insertion of the locking elements into the reciprocating member circumferential groove. Unlocking is effected by displacement of the release element towards the locking elements along a line perpendicular to the reciprocating member to withdraw the locking elements. In an alternative embodiment a spring biased retention pin is provided to selectively engage and retain the release element in proximity to the locking elements. An annular ring may be disposed about the reciprocating member adjacent the circumferential groove to displace and disengage the retention pin from the release element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid power actuator with a cylinder, a piston and a piston rod whose motion is controlled by a positioning device which halts it in selected settings. The positioning device has a row of depressions, for example gaps between the teeth of a rack, running parallel to the piston rod. A positioning plunger moves into a selected depression to lock the rod. A shutter with at least one opening therein covers the row of depressions and is adjustably affixed thereto so as to allow adjustment of the position at which the control plunger aligns with the shutter opening and slips into the selected uncovered depression to stop and lock the piston and rod.

Abstract: A safety device is provided for a cloth cutting machine having a motor driven cutting blade and a presser foot rod. The safety device (10) includes a housing (30) which in one embodiment serves as a magnetic concentrator. This housing (30) carries an electromagnet (40) which selectively activates a stopping mechanism (60) which secures the presser foot rod (16) at a selected location while the machine (12) is in operation. Upon termination of the cutting operation, the safety device (10) releases the presser foot rod (16) and allows the rod to slide under the force of gravity to its extended position such that the cutting blade (22) is shielded. In the preferred embodiment, a control circuit is provided for selectively energizing and de-energizing the electromagnet (40) which operates the stopping mechanism (60). This control mechanism releases the presser foot rod (16) upon termination of the machine operation.

Abstract: Rotary power slips mounted in the rotary table of an earth drilling rig and having slips for gripping and releasing pipe in the rotary table. The air transfer ring has concentric grooves in the upper surface. An annular seal ring is secured to the body of the rotary power slips and has a pair of air passageways. The air passageways lead to secondary fluid conduits in the body, which, in turn, lead to each end of the pneumatic cylinders to raise and lower the slips. Expansive rings are secured to the surface of the air transfer ring by mounting the edges of the rings into the grooves in the air transfer ring. When air pressure is applied through one of the primary fluid conduits, one of the expansive rings expands and cooperates with the lower surface of the seal ring to form an expansive fluid duct. The air pressure flows through a perforation in the expansive ring into the expansive fluid duct, and then through the air passageway and the secondary fluid conduit to the pneumatic cylinders.

Abstract: A rear wheel suspension system for bicycles having "on-demand" mode selection. The bicycle can be made "rigid" (no shock-absorbing movement of the rear wheel) or "sprung" (rear wheel movement) by means of a swing-arm wheel mount and an elastomer cylinder inside a rear shock absorber, which is manually actuated, such as by a remote lever on the handlebars, and connected to the shock absorber by a cable.

Abstract: A fluid-pressure-operated, double-acting working cylinder which dampens the final braking of the work piston, includes a cylinder housing with a movable work piston disposed therein, the work piston dividing the cylinder into two work chambers. A piston rod, on which the work piston is mounted, extends through the housing. At least one auxiliary braking member is disposed on at least one side of the work piston in an offset slidable relation to the work piston. A braking arrangement disposed on the auxiliary braking member is controlled by fluid pressure to brake the auxiliary braking member to a desired position within the cylinder. A dampening chamber, a dampening spring configuration is disposed between the auxiliary braking member work piston such that, following braking of the auxiliary braking member, continued movement of the work piston is effectively dampened.

Abstract: The piston cylinder type damper comprises a cylinder connected to either member of the pair of a main body and an openable object, and a piston connected to the other member of the pair and adapted to fit into the cylinder and the piston incorporates therein a check valve adapted to allow the air in the cylinder to escape from the cylinder interior while the piston is driven into the cylinder by the movement of the openable object.

Abstract: An air assisted sliding device has a pallet supported on a base. The pallet has a recess provided on the periphery of its bottom surface in which a flexible tubular sealing member is mounted. The sealing member has a memory normally contracting it so as to be flat. An air passage communicates with the interior of the flexible sealing member so that compressed air can be fed to it. A groove is evenly provided on the bottom surface of the pallet within the bounds of the recess and a separate air passage for feeding compressed air or vacuum air is communicated with the groove so that the pallet may be provided with an air film of compressed air or may be stopped and a vacuum applied to attract the pallet to the base at a predetermined position on the base. A timing belt drive or an electromagnetic motor is used.

Abstract: An articulated joint, for example in a robot arm, has a braking device which can brake movement in the joint when desired, so that forces transmitted across the joint are not transmitted through the mechanism which moves the arm. The braking device has an annular expandable, for example tubular, element which is positioned between concentric facing surfaces on either side of the joint, i.e. on the arm and on the part of the robot to which the arm is articulated. Hydraulic pressure can be applied to the expandable element to cause it to expand and lock together the concentric surfaces.

Abstract: A frictional damping assembly operated by a load bearing spring assembly, either an elastomerically damped coil spring or a reinforced elastomeric spring, together provide damped, resilient load bearing support for a telescoping load bearing assembly. The strut is particularly suitable for use in front and/or rear suspensions of light weight passenger vehicles.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a valve cap which indicates the pressure within a pneumatic tire.

Abstract: The assembly includes three damper shoes that are guided by and wedged transversely between two wedge rings, one having three curved flats and the other having three planar flats that respectively contact conforming contact surfaces of the damper shoes. The assembly is particularly useful in a frictionally damped suspension strut.

Abstract: The headframe supports tubular pipe guides in the shaft. Each guide comprises a multiplicity of pipes threaded one to another and extends below the normal range of conveyance travel in the shaft. Each guide is suspended from the headframe by a substantially solid bar depending from the headframe and threadably connected to the uppermost pipe. A bushing fixed in the shaft below the travel range has an associated pipe guide passing loosely therethrough to permit vertical and lateral movement of the pipe guide. A conveyance is suspended on wire rope from the headframe and is guided by the pipe guides. The conveyance has guide bushings slideably engaging each of the pipe guides. Weights are attached to the bottom of each of the pipe guides and the total weight added to each is not equal to that added to any other guide. This avoids having similar harmonics in the pipe guides.

Abstract: An electric pipe snubber has an annular housing, fixed to a supporting surface, surrounding a pipe and a plurality of brake means fixed to the housing radially disposed about the pipe, which are biased towards and engage a serrated section on the pipe, and a means for electromagnetically releasing the brake means to permit axial displacement of the pipe relative to the annular housing. The brake means have teeth on the end thereof which mesh with the serrations on the pipe. A pipe support system using a series of the electric pipe snubbers along a length of pipe has a control means which releases the brakes of one of the series of the snubbers while the remainder of the series restrain the pipe from axial displacement.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved device for locking reciprocating piston type fluid actuators in a desired position. The device includes a body, a piston having a lost motion connection to the body, a locking piston being movable with respect to the piston, an actuating cone supported on the piston, split locking cone elements surrounding the actuating cone and having a connection to the body, a split locking ring interconnected to the lock piston and surrounding the split locking cone elements, a housing containing the elements, a movable rod extending into the housing for engagement by said body, and means to supply fluid under pressure to the locking assembly, the application of pressure initially moving the locking assembly and when the rod is in its desired position for locking and further movement provides wedging locking of the structure in its housing bore and locks said rod in position.

Abstract: An air brake includes a service brake chamber which actuates a push rod. A collet brake chamber is partially defined by a collet brake diaphragm. A locking collet is mounted to the collet brake diaphragm and includes a bore through which the push rod passes. A collet brake spring biases the collet into a tapered collet hole to clamp the collet onto the push rod to prevent the movement of the push rod toward the brake off position. Application of pressure to the collet brake chamber overcomes the force of the collet brake spring and moves the collet away from the tapered collet hole to allow the push rod to move freely. An air supply system, including a quick release valve, a two way check valve, an emergency and parking air supply tank and a pilot check valve, in conjunction with a conventional quick release valve or another type of exhaust valve, automatically supplies air to the service brake chamber from the tank whenever the spring brake supply line is vented.