Abstract: A brake for retarding rotation of a powered shaft in which the shaft includes a crankshaft section having opposed pistons disposed on the crank section, pistons oriented in respective laterally extending cylinders, sections of the cylinder on a side of the piston remote from the crankshaft provided with springs operatively abutting against a face of the piston to alter the resistance against the piston, and a hydraulically actuated device for increasing the spring pressure applied on the piston face so that when the hydraulic device is actuated, the piston meets increasing resistance to continue motion in the cylinder away from the crankshaft, in such a manner that rotation of the shaft is retarded in precise amounts.

Abstract: A carbon spring composed substantially of carbonaceous carbon or graphite carbon is prepared by shaping an organic linear material to a coiled spring and thereafter heating it to carbonize.

Abstract: A cylindrical helically coiled compression spring made of a length of wire or rod having a circular cross section, the spring having interior windings providing the main spring action and end winding portions at least one of which is arranged to be supported against a spring disc, and the wire rod being formed to have a diameter which is greater in the region of the at least one end winding portion than in the region of the interior windings.

Abstract: Disclosed is a spring operating beyond the elastic limit of the material of which it is constructed, the spring including a length of resilient material having terminal end portions and a central body portion, one of the terminal end portions being adapted for connection to a first member. A convoluted portion of the resilient material has a central axis substantially perpendicular to the body portion and is adapted for connection to a second member, at least the convoluted portion being dimensioned so that upon separation of the first and second members due to a predetermined load, the convoluted portion uncoils and is stressed beyond the yield point of the material so that a substantially constant load placed on the convoluted portion by member separation effects further uncoiling of the convoluted portion.

Abstract: A flexible coupling for torque transmission having a plurality of helical beams extending between the coupling ends, the helical beams having beam cross-sectional dimensions selected to provide equal stresses in operation at the inner and outer diameters of the beams, irrespective of direction of rotation and being of a ratio of depth to thickness to provide for substantially simultaneous failure in the buckling and elastic modes when rotated in a direction opposite the direction of beam spiral, whereby the load capacity of the coupling is independent of the direction of coupling rotation.

Abstract: A slam-shut valve provides overpressure protection in a pipeline in the event of regulator failure. The slam-shut valve is normally held latched in the open position. Overpressure or failure of the regulator will automatically trigger operation of the slam-shut valve to close the same and prevent further passage of the gas through the pipeline. The slam-shut valve is manually reset to the open position once it has been triggered closed.The invention includes mounting the closing spring upon the lever in loaded position. The latch lever forms a subassembly, which in turn, is installed in the housing of the slam-shut valve to operatively interconnect the latch and release mechanisms and the reset mechanism. Subsequent to installing the lever, on end of the loaded closing spring is released from the lever to snap into position against the adjacent housing wall to bias the lever to the closed position. However, closing is normally prevented by the latch which releasably holds the lever in the open position.

Abstract: An improved garter spring actuated valve rotator device wherein annular spring damping means are included internally of the coils of the garter spring.

Abstract: A spring loading system achieves substantially zero-rate by winding an unstressed, say flat, spring strip onto a former of constant curvature so as to pass from the unstressed state through a region of predetermined shape to conform with the former. The net energy expended/released in winding/unwinding the strip is directly related to the amount of strip wound onto/off the former, whatever the total length of strip wound. The system is coupled to a driven member by an inextensible string wound on the former in opposition to the spring which is held in tension by the torque exerted on the former by the wound spring.

Abstract: Improved multiple mode dampers for damping Aeolian vibrations of electrical cables are provided which employ a single mass and two resilient support members that are respectively connected between separate points of the mass and separate points of the cable. The modes of vibration of the damper are made interdependent by utilizing springs having different moments of stiffness with respect to the center of gravity of the mass. The mass is made of concrete. The improvement comprises the use of springs which are independently connected to the cable at different points permitting the spreading of the springs which can be accomplished economically and yet permit an increase of the rotational torque exerted on the damper by the cable. This facilitates concentration of damper vibration resonance frequencies at critical wind speeds which would ordinarily induce great dynamic mechanical stress in electrical cables.

Abstract: An endless coil spring whose convolutions surround a substantially circular line which extends through the hollow interior of the coil spring. This line surrounds inner portions of the convolutions which press against each other. The convolutions have outer portions which surround the line and which are spaced from each other with these outer portions of the convolutions circumferentially offset with respect to the inner portions thereof.