Abstract: An improved thermal expansion compensation manifold support is disclosed. The support includes a spring having a barrel and a skirt extending from the barrel, the skirt forming a recess. The spring has a first shoulder extending into the recess, and an end opposite the barrel. The support also includes a block having opposite ends, a finger portion formed at one end and a second shoulder formed at the opposite end. The finger has an end opposite the second shoulder, with the finger being dimensioned and configured to be inserted into the skirt's recess. The skirt and the block are dimensioned and configured such that when the finger is inserted into the recess, the skirt end abuts against the second shoulder and the finger end is separated from the first shoulder by a gap.

Abstract: A method of assembling a differential assembly and a biasing element for a differential wherein the biasing element may be added or removed from an assembled differential without having to remove the pinion shaft. The biasing element is generally a W-spring that includes a center opening and open sides that face the same direction to facilitate the addition or removal of the biasing element.

Abstract: A metering blade suspension system utilizes a leaf spring that performs multiple combined functions such as supporting a metering blade assembly, controlling the angle, position and/or load of the blade assembly while allowing the assembly to pivot in a quasi-frictionless motion, locking the blade assembly in place, providing an electrical connection and/or bleeding static charge.

Abstract: Synthetic molecular spring device featuring: (a) a synthetic molecular assembly, SMA, each scalable chemical module including: (i) at least one atom, M, (ii) at least one complexing group, CG, complexed to an atom, M, (iii) at least one axial ligand, AL, reversibly physicochemically paired with at least one atom, M, complexed to a complexing group, CG, (iv) at least one substantially elastic molecular linker, ML, having body and two ends with at least one chemically bonded to another component of SMA; (b) activating mechanism, AM, operatively directed to an atom-axial ligand pair, whereby following activating mechanism, AM, sending activating signal, AS/AS′, to an atom-axial ligand pair for physicochemically modifying the atom-axial ligand pair, there is activating at least one cycle of spring-type elastic reversible transitions between contracted and expanded linear conformational states of molecular linker, ML. Optionally includes (v) chemical connectors, CC, and/or, (vi) binding sites, BS.

Abstract: A device for the control of vibrations comprises a retainer resting on a base and a plurality of bearings disposed within the retainer. The bearings are arranged in a first layer and a second layer. The second layer is disposed on the first layer. The first layer comprises three or more bearings and the second layer comprising one or more bearings. Each bearing in the first layer is constrained on its bottom only by a substantially flat portion of the base, on its side by the retainer and is in contact with at least two adjacent bearings in the first layer. The bearings in the first layer support the bearing in the second layer. The retainer has a surface which is in substantially tangential contact with the bearings in the first layer.

Abstract: A strut exercise assembly for an aircraft comprises a fluid strut telescopic along a path. A couple selectively connects the fluid strut to a driver. The driver telescopes the fluid strut along a path through the couple.

Abstract: An impact absorber for protecting a protected item against damage or injury upon impact includes a formed metallic structure having at least one Nitinol member having a grounded portion in contact with a first structure positioned to engage the protected item, and an impact receiving portion. In one embodiment, the formed metallic structure includes a plurality of Nitinol wires connected together at opposite polar regions in the form of a wire-frame sphere. The wires in the wire-frame sphere may be superelastic austenitic Nitinol in a strained condition. A release device holds the wire-frame sphere in a collapsed condition and may be actuated to release the strained superelastic Nitinol structure to a deployed position at which the deployed superelastic Nitinol structure is positioned to engage and absorb energy from the protected item impacting the impact absorber.

Abstract: A spring bushing, in particular for prestressing a piezoelectric actuator in a valve for controlling fluids, is disclosed, which is a one-piece deep-drawn part, which is hollow and at least approximately cylindrical. The one-piece body is provided with a number of openings distributed over the circumference and length of the body.

Abstract: A spring designed to be mounted adjacent and in conformance with a convex or concave surface that has varying radii of curvature. The stiffness against bending of the spring varies along its longitudinal axis. The stiffness against bending of various portions of the spring is proportional to the radii of curvature of portions of the surface adjacent which each portion of the spring is to be disposed. The mounting structure for the spring includes female mounting members that are to be engaged to male mounting members. The female mounting members and male mounting members can be engaged to one another by sliding the two components together. The spring and mounting system are particularly well adapted for holding objects adjacent an inner surface of body panels of a vehicle.

Abstract: A seat post axially slides into an insert sleeve that fits into a bicycle frame in the place of a conventional seat post. The seat post has a long keyway along the front and a narrower keyway or tubular section along the posts back. Along the inner wall of the front keyway is a plurality of holes sized to receive a locking pin. Connected to the inner wall of the insert sleeve is a support key unit that slides within the front keyway of the seat post, as the seat post is moved up and down. In the support key, the height adjusting, locking pin is housed as well as a hanger is formed where one end of the elastic spring is attached. The elastic spring is then brought around a pulley positioned within the bottom portion of the seat post, brought up the rear keyway and is attached at the top of the seat post in a downward pointing hanger. The elastic spring acts as if it were attached from the bottom of the seat post to the bottom of the support key.

Abstract: A spring element is made of a spring material and is formed into a generally elliptical shape. Two mounting pins extend in a normal direction through parallel relatively short segments of said elliptically-shaped spring element. The mounting pins are substantially aligned with the shorter of the two axis of the elliptically-shaped spring element so as to extend both inwardly and outwardly of said elliptically-shaped spring element. An elastomeric coating is applied around substantially all of the spring elements and a pair of blocks, each of which surrounds one of the mounting pins receives one of the mounting pins. A number of spring elements are joined together by two parallel, spaced-apart coupling links which contain cavities therein to receive one of the blocks of each of the spring elements.

Abstract: A vibration isolator is mounted on a floor of an ambulance and includes a lower frame movably mounted on the floor and an upper frame vertically movably mounted on the lower frame via a link mechanism. The vibration isolator also includes a plurality of magnetic springs interposed between the upper and lower frames and each having a plurality of permanent magnets with like magnetic poles opposed to each other. A vertical vibration of the upper frame is restrained by the plurality of magnetic springs, and the front side of the vibration isolator is lifted upon receipt of a forward acceleration.

Abstract: A compliant, bistable mechanism has a plurality of segments coupled end-to-end in a series to form a continuous chain of segments. The plurality of segments includes at least two rigid segments and at least one relatively flexible and resilient segment. Adjacent rigid segments are coupled by flexible joints or pin joints. The flexible and resilient segment is coupled to adjacent segments either fixedly or by pin joints. There are at least four pin joints, flexible joints, and/or flexible and resilient segments. The joints allow relative movement of the segments while the flexible and resilient segment resists movement and biases the segments. The segments move between first and second stable equilibrium positions. The segments have a pseudo-rigid-body model resembling a four-bar linkage. The segments and flexible joints may be integrally formed. First and second electrical contacts may be coupled to the segments to form an electrical connection as the segments move to one of the positions.

Abstract: An apparatus that supports a load and limits shock force from being transmitted through the four elongated struts that are positioned to support the load. The struts are aligned at an acute angle relative to a base when no shock force is applied to the load. The struts pivot to a second smaller acute angle relative to the base when a shock force is applied to the load. A pair of leaf-springs, which may consist of a stack of several leaf-springs, is associated with each pair of struts so that when a shock force is applied to the load, the leaf-springs apply a return force that drives the struts back to the first acute angle alignment with the base. Restraint members coupled to the struts are used to align them at the first angle relative to said base when no shock force is applied to the load.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing raised contacts on the surface of an electronic component includes bonding one end of a wire to an area, such as a terminal, of the electronic component, and shaping the wire into a wire stem configuration (including straight, bent two-dimensionally, bent three-dimensionally). A coating, having one or more layers, is deposited on the wire stem to (i) impart resilient mechanical characteristics to the shaped wire stem and (ii) more securely attach ("anchor") the wire stem to the terminal. Gold is one of several materials described that may be selected for the wire stem. A variety of materials for the coating, and their mechanical properties, are described. The wire stems may be shaped as loops, for example originating and terminating on the same terminal of the electronic component, and overcoated with solder. The use of a barrier layer to prevent unwanted reactions between the wire stem and its environment (e.g., with a solder overcoat) is described.

Abstract: A magnetic spring has at least two permanent magnets (2 and 4) spaced from each other in a kinetic mechanism. At the time of input and at the time of output, the geometric dimensions between the two permanent magnets are changed by the kinetic mechanism or an external force. The change in geometric dimensions is converted into a repulsive force in the kinetic mechanism, thereby (1) making the repulsive force from a balanced position of the two permanent magnets greater at the time of output than at the time of input, or (2) deriving a damping term of the magnetic spring to provide nonlinear damping and spring characteristics.

Abstract: A mechanical stop for a moving body that minimizes bounce of the moving body after the body has hit the stop. The mechanical stop includes a flat plate having a plurality of generally triangular sectors defined by radial slits. The slits or triangular sectors prevent excessively large diaphragm stresses in the material of the plate and also reflect the flexural waves in the plate in such a way that the waves have difficulty returning to the contact area where the moving body has hit the stop and are maximally dissipated by internal friction of the plate. The mechanical stop may include a lever between the moving body and the flat plate to change the effective mass of the moving body, a spring to mediate the impact of the moving body, a relatively rigid support for the lever to minimize moments produced in a base for the flat plate, and straight line plate supports for some or all of the sectors of the flat plate to provide desirable reflections for the flexural waves in the plate.

Abstract: Described is a particular procedure to make structures from longitudinal helical metal strips, the same are adecuate to conform different objects, such as plates, planks, sheets, tubes, shafts, etc. and they are porous, flexible, highly resistant and with great ability to absorb the different applications to which they may be subjected, i.e. mechanical, caloric, sound, etc. The procedure consists in stinging the entangled metal strips, each metal strip with its adyacent, until "layers" are formed, and these, in turn, are entangled to each other until a structure is formed, which gaps determining the porosity will be at least the same size than the thickness of the filament constituting the metal strip. The layers may be formed by metal strips made of any type of material (metallic, synthetic, etc.) and they may be combined among them.

Abstract: An oxygen concentration detector easily assembled without producing conducting malfunctions at an external electrode includes a cylindrical housing and a detecting element being inserted into and disposed inside the housing. Powdery seal materials made of ceramic power are filled under pressure between a top portion of the detecting element and the housing. The detecting element has the external electrode at an external surface thereof and a lead portion extending upwardly from the external electrode. A ring-shaped conducting member is installed between the lead portion of the detecting element and the housing as a ground to conduct electricity therebetween and has a resilient contacting piece in contact with the lead portion at an inner peripheral portion of the ring-shaped conducting member.

Abstract: A mechanical flexure with two legs in a symmetrical structure that provides straight line motion when a force is applied to one leg end, along an axis through both leg ends. Such a force translates leg ends solely along said axis in a straight line, without deviation in an orthogonal axis. Components attached to flexure leg ends will thus travel in a straight line in a single axis over a useful range. The flexure could also provide rotational translation over small angular ranges when used with appropriate hardware configurations. The flexure is capable of integral manufacture with other components and simultaneously provides alignment and translation functions.

Abstract: A vibration damping structure for a machine tool is provided. The structure includes first and second plate members disposed in an opposing spaced apart relationship with one another. A cast structure formed of a polymer concrete extends between the first and second plate members. A first structure is attached to the first plate member and extends inwardly of the cast structure. The first structure has a compression surface extending in a spaced apart relationship from the surface of the first plate member. A second structure is attached to the second plate member and extends inwardly of the cast structure.

Abstract: A damping body for damping periodically alternating loads uses a shape-memory alloy material to govern the damping. The damping body is sintered from metal grains or is laminated from a plurality of perforated sheet-metal layers. The individual sheet-metal layers are orientated transversely or parallel to the loading direction and are connected to one another over the full surface area. A combination formed from a multiplicity of round pins orientated parallel to the loading direction and having enclosed gussets can also be used as a damping body. A certain hollow-space portion inside the damping body can also be created by drilling, slitting or grooving. The proportion of the open pore or bore volume of the damping body to the total volume is at least 5%, preferably about 15 to 40%.

Abstract: A resin shock absorber comprising a compression deformable portion made of a resin having a flexural modulus of elasticity of 500 to 20,000 kg/cm.sup.2, said shock absorber having a yield strength of 2 to 25 kN/m.sup.2 and a compressive energy absorption efficiency of 50% or higher. The shock absorber of the present invention has a high energy absorption efficiency for its reaction force, superior restorability, and is maintenance-free since the absorber has resistance against corrosion, water and weather. Therefore, the absorber is applicable to the use in the sea, on the ground, as well as above the ground. Furthermore, the shock absorber can be easily extended on demand into a block shock absorber, which is light in weight and simple in structure and capable of exhibiting uniform cushion characteristics over an extended area.

Abstract: The invention is a kit of parts to be retrofitted to a type of garage-door spring that functions in extension and may break near its retention hook, which may be an integral hook formed by bending of the spring material itself. The kit of this invention improves safety by reducing the chance of the spring-retention hooks' breaking. The kit has two major parts which are easily assembled together and attached to an existing spring without the use of tools. A disk-shaped centering clement contacts the spring coils at least at three positions on its rim, thereby distributing stress over a significantly larger area than the conventional integral retention hooks. The disk has an aperture, a notch, and a flat. A hook element fits through the notch and aperture, and a dogleg portion of the hook element extends beyond the disk's rim contacting the spring's end to help prevent the spring from turning.

Abstract: A thin sheet of metal is patterned, folded, and joined to produce an array of compression springs, each of which exhibits constant force characteristics over a useful range of deflections to allow the array to apply nearly constant specified forces to closely spaced items which may be of varying size or height. As the springs are loaded from a relaxed state, the rate of force increase per unit of increased deflection is initially high, tapering off to nearly zero force increase with subsequent increases in deflection. This region of minimal force increase per unit of increased deflection (i.e. a "near constant force" band) extends over a useful range of deflections. The springs are self guiding and balanced, producing no lateral force on a perpendicularly applied load.

Abstract: A metallic damping body for damping shock-type and/or periodically changing stresses, consists of a shape-memory alloy material for effecting the damping. In order to be able to achieve a high damping effect even under a high mechanical stress on the damping body, the shape-memory alloy is selected such that it is in a state of austenitic microstructure at the operating temperature of the damping body. A sufficiently high mechanical prestress is applied to the damping body so that the damping working range is within the range of the pseudoelastic strain which starts below the proportionality limit in the stress/strain diagram of the shape-memory alloy. When the damping body is compressively stressed, a multiplicity of closely adjacent, small, uniformly distributed voids are present in the interior thereof, which together make up at least about 5%, preferably about 15 to 40%, of the total volume of the damping body.

Abstract: A lightweight, easy to fashion, easy to use, lockable spring clip to hold or retain any pin, hinge or body with drilled holes regardless of the location of the holes or shape of the body. Of one piece construction, utilizing a two stage locking procedure, but requiring no tools or special knowledge, this lockable spring clip offers strength, reliability, reusability and versatility not previously available.

Abstract: A door control system for dishwashers having doors mounted for pivotal movement between a vertical closed position and a horizontal open position. Pivot brackets are provided on each side of the door to support the door for such pivotal movement. A counterbalancing spring is connected to the bracket to produce a resilient force urging the door toward the closed position. A damper is also connected to the bracket to control the rate of movement of the door so that the door slowly and gently approaches the open position. The system functions effectively without adjustment of the spring even when the weight of the door is changed by the addition of decorative panels to the outside of the door.

Abstract: A spring design particularly suitable for use in the core of a nuclear reactor includes one surface having a first material oriented in a longitudinal direction, and another surface having a second material oriented in a transverse direction. The respective surfaces exhibit different amounts of irraditation induced strain.

Abstract: A switching device includes operating members independently movably supported at opposite sides of a lid, a spring having a pair of rotary shaft parts disposed on the inner side of the lid so as to advance or retreat under the influence of the resilient pressure of the spring, and lock members disposed on opposite sides of an opening of a box body so as to detachably fasten the rotary shaft parts thereto. The rotary shaft parts are connected to the operating members so as to urge the operating members outwardly away from each other by virtue of the resilient pressure of the spring and are removed from the lock members by depressing motion the operating members. Owing to the construction, the lid is ensured to produce an infallible shut state on the box body by bringing the rotary shaft parts into engagement with the lock members due to the resilient pressure of the spring.

Abstract: A dual-rate surface effect damper with extended useful life. The dual rate is provided by two cylindrical liners which have different inner diameters which engage a damping piston having protrusions which have an interference fit with the liner. Features which extended life include heat dissipative elements such as internal and external fins, a convective heat transfer path for cooling air through the piston and a lubricant of MoS.sub.2 dispersed in a Teflon.RTM.-filled flurosilicone. Maintaining the temperature of the elastomer below about 200.degree. F. (93.3.degree. C.) is critical to avoiding thermal breakdown. In addition, the elastomer and metallic surfaces can undergo a surface treatment to reduce their tendency to abraid and to cause abrasion, respectively.

Abstract: A reflow solder head has its heater bar (30) mounted so as to cause the heater bar to contact a tilted reflow surface (50) and align itself with the tilted surface without tip skid. The heater bar is mounted to its movable drive ram (40) by two independent pivots (36,42), both nominally positioned on a line normal to and in the center of the heater bar itself. The first pivot (36) closer to the heater bar allows the heater bar to rotate about its first point of contact (54) with the tilted reflow surface. The second pivot (42) allows lateral movement of the first pivot (36) without tip skid during the rotation of the heater bar about its first point of contact. This double pivot mechanism eliminates the tendency of the heater bar to skid along the reflow surface.

Abstract: The instantaneous load sensor of a motor vehicle is incorporated in a suspension assembly of the vehicle, and comprises a suspension element (1) fastened via an elastic mechanism (3) to a rod (5) carried by a yoke (7). The rod (5) is a blind hollow tube, in which a slot (12) has been made substantially in the axis of the suspension element (1) and opposite the latter, so as to allow the elastic mechanism (3) to penetrate into the tube (5), a sensor (10) of the pressure prevailing in the tube hermetically closing the open end of the tube.

Abstract: This invention relates to a spring two states of stable equilibrium. This spring is to be used for accumulation of elastic strain energy and for setting the mutual position of movable co-acting parts. The spring consists of at least one pair of elastic strips and two shaped elements determined by the angles, the elastic strips of each pair being connected to one another, preferably at their ends, with arms of the shaped elements in such a way that between the neighboring sides of the strips there is a slot of length and a variable width. Strips are situated in relation to one another in such a way that they are inclined at an angle as determined by the inclination angle of shaped elements. The invention is applicable for clamping various parts, for instance, for closing kinematic chains, for accumulation of elastic strain energy in bumpers, as well as for ensuring the state of equilibrium of component parts of various mechanisms.

Abstract: According to an illustrative example of the invention, a gas spring comprises a cylinder and a piston rod. The piston rod is axially movable with respect to the cylinder and has a fastening eye mounted on the outer end of the piston rod. A tubular protection member surrounds an end portion of the cylinder adjacent to the end of the cylinder which is passed by the piston rod. The other end of the protection tube surrounds a holding disk fixed to the piston rod adjacent to the fastening eye. The protection tube and the piston rod define an air space therebetween. The air space is substantially tight against a liquid treating agent, such as a lacquer. On the other hand, the air space is in air flow connection with the surrounding atmosphere so that in response to axial movement of the piston rod with respect to the cylinder, excesssive pressure within the air space is prevented.

Abstract: A link asssembly includes a jointed arm terminating in a barrel portion at one end and a collar portion at the opposite end. The barrel portion is mounted to a control arm by a fastener. The collar portion receives a tubular stabilizer bar. During operation, the jointed arm provides a working angle large enough to accommodate the movement between the stabilizer bar and the link assembly.

Abstract: A spring failure detection and safety system comprising detection devices for continuously monitoring the life of a spring, and detecting and signalling its imminent or actual failure. The system also may comprise warning devices that have sensory outputs capable of informing a human operator of a spring failure. It may also comprise a memory device that would receive and store the failure detection signal, for example, for the purpose of informing maintenance personnel of the failure, or to serve as part of a test or failure evaluation system. The invention may also comprise a safety feature consisting of one or more springs to operate redundantly with the first spring, to protect against spring failure.

Abstract: A spring member is formed of at least two layers metallurgically bonded together uniformly and having significantly different rates of irradiation growth, so that the differential growth of the layers results in increased stress in a predetermined direction. The layers may be of different metals or of similar metals which have been treated to give them different growth rates, such as zircaloy with different tin and oxygen content. Examples of other properties which may be used to obtain differential growth rates for the two layers when they are of material with substantially the same constituents are alpha-beta phase transformation temperature, the annealing temperature, the work history, partial recrystallization, and precipitation hardening.

Abstract: A spring consisting of a rope having a plurality of strands each containing a plurality of monofilaments, and a cured binder which has saturated the rope under pressure to cause it to be self-sustaining in spring form. A method of fabricating a spring including the steps of providing a conventional rope composed of a plurality of monofilaments, saturating the rope under pressure with a binder to form a combined rope and binder, forming the combined rope and binder into a predetermined spring shape, and curing the binder to cause the spring to be self-sustaining in the formed predetermined spring shape. A self-damping spring formed by the foregoing method wherein the rope is of the twisted type, and the amount of damping being dependent on the angularity of the twisting. A spring consisting of a first portion of a rope impregnated with binder to hold the spring in a self-sustaining shape and an untreated second rope portion formed integrally with the first portion.

Abstract: A micromechanical bending spring joint is formed of selectively etched wafer material. The joint includes a pair of leaf springs arranged alongside each other. Each spring is inclined at an oblique angle to the opposed surfaces of the wafer and such springs cross to define a point of intersection. The joint, selectively etched from a single wafer, is characterized by high precision of fulcrum position, bending spring constant and transverse axis rigidity.

Abstract: A multiturn, crest to crest, waved compression spring is formed with flat circular shim end portions which form load support surfaces at opposite ends of the spring which are generally perpendicular to the spring longitudinal axis. The compression spring includes three distinct wave regions in which the first distinct wave region has a constant, preselected amplitude, the second distinct wave region has a gradually and incrementally diminishing amplitude and the third distinct wave region has a constant zero amplitude.

Abstract: A spring for each end of a tubular carrier to secure them against sliding and slipping within the tube. The spring having a tongue carrying on its tip an upwardly jutting pin which is upwardly resilient. The pin latches into through apertures in the top wall of the carrier and may have a camming means forward of the pin comprising a pair of ramps extending forward and down from the pin and symmetrical about a longitudinal axis.The tongue has a base and in one embodiment extends rearward of the base. In a preferred embodiment the tongue has a base and extends forward of the base. The tongue may have a surround, and in the preferred embodiment the tongue may extend forward of a lower ledge at the rear of the surround.In use, as the spring enters the carrier against a chip, the pin is cammed down. When the spring is compressed against the chip sufficiently, the pin enters an aperture in the top wall of the carrier, and latches the spring.

Abstract: In a positive displacement machine, a rotor has screw grooves in which pressure chambers are variably limited, at one end, by teeth of a plastic pinion which is the front element of a composite pinion meshing with the grooves. A metal backing pinion supports the plastic pinion. The metal pinion and plastic pinion are rotatable with respect to each other about the axis of rotation of the composite pinion, in conjunction with a deformation of a resilient angular coupling provided between them. This coupling is a metal blade at least partly surrounding the backing pinion shaft between the plastic pinion and the backing pinion, in a groove of the backing pinion. One end of the blade is secured to the plastic pinion, the other end of the blade is secured to the backing pinion. Several embodiments of the blade are disclosed.

Abstract: In combination with vehicle wheels a means for performing reduction of effective vehicle bearing weight thereby mitigating rolling resistance thereof enhancing energy efficiency. Attachment to be radially fixed on and around a vehicle wheel and configured to extend beyond the periphery of the wheel in a prolapse condition not common to wheel art. The attachment shall be displaceable and capable of energy storage and release sequaciously.Operation shall be via the nutation of the extended attachment with each nutating cycle bifurcated by the vehicle bearing weight area thereof allowing the bearing weight to be transferred to the displaceable attachments dynamically. The effective bearing weight of the vehicle is reduced and thereof deformations to the vehicle wheel and roadway are mitigated. Reduction of the deformations mitigate nonproductive energy transfer from the vehicle wheel and roadway structure.

Abstract: An actuator device for a trigger operable within a housing of an automatic nozzle of a gasoline pump is provided and consists of a pair of jaws, each formed transversely onto an opposite end of a web of a predetermined length. The upper jaw fits over the housing while the lower jaw fits under the trigger when the trigger is pulled up for operation.

Abstract: A pendulum for suspending a swinging article from a support structure includes an elongated core having longitudinal ends, enlarged tension heads disposed on each of the longitudinal ends and operable to be engaged and supported by the article and the support structure, a plurality of stiff toroidal elements strung on the elongated core, one of the toroidal elements being a first end toroidal element which is spaced from one of the tension heads, another of the toroidal elements being a second toroidal element which is spaced from the other of the tension heads.

Abstract: A damper device comprises damping structure and a spring device and is advantageously used for a door swingably supported by a shaft to be opened and shut between a totally shut position and a totally opened position and opened under the influence of its own weight at least from a position intermediate of the aforementioned two positions to the totally opened state. The damper element acts against the motion of the door. The spring element biases the door in the shutting direction at least from the intermediate position to the totally opened position.

Abstract: An electrically controlled spring element according to the invention comprises one or more basic spring elements and a mechanical transformer to increase the stretch of the spring element. The basic spring element comprises two mechanically connected elements with an intermediate transmission for power output, each of the elements consisting of a rod pre-magnetized by permanent magnets and consisting of highly magnetostrictive material (Terfenol), a surrounding excitation coil and an outer frame holding the parts together. The magnetic orientation of the pre-magnetization and the coils shall be such that, regardless of the direction of the control current, the electrically controlled excitation is always directed in the same direction as the pre-magnization in one element and is always directed in the opposite direction to the pre-magnetization in the other element.

Abstract: A protective device for use on a wheeled vehicle such as a tractor pulled trailer equipped with an air brake is provided. The air brake includes a housing generally disposed lengthwise of the trailer and comprises a transversely disposed diaphragm in a medial portion thereof with air pressure communicating with the front side of the diaphragm and further comprises a heavy coiled spring positioned in opposition to the air pressure on the rear side of the diaphragm. A protective device in the form of a perforated plate is mounted adjacent to and rearwardly of the housing so as to be in the path of the coiled spring in the event of rupturing of the housing, as from corrosion, and releasement of the spring therefrom, to prevent the spring from being projected rearwardly away from the housing.

Abstract: A high-temperature gas cooled nuclear reactor system comprises a containment building, a concrete reactor pressure vessel inside the containment building, and a safety relief valve connected to the concrete reactor pressure vessel. The spring of the safety valve consists of a material with a spring constant decreasing as temperature rises. A heat exchanger is provided in close proximity to cool the spring of the safety valve which is subject to the heat of the reactor coolant escaping when the safety valve is open. The heat exchanger of the safety valve is connected to a liner cooling system of the concrete reactor pressure vessel.