Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed to provide pivotal motion between two movable members. The mechanism includes a hemispherical yoke connected to one of the movable members. A center support is connected to the remaining movable member and is nested within the yoke and spaced apart therefrom. A set of four radially projecting torsion bars are connected to the yoke and center support. The torsion bars are substantially coplanar and define a cross-shaped configuration in plan. Four braces are provided to interconnect adjacent torsion bars. Preferably, each of the torsion bars is surrounded by a tubular segment which is affixed to the radially outer end of the torsion bars. Preferably the radially inner portion of the torsion bar is supported by a rotatable bearing. The subject mechanism is low in profile, easy to mount and dismount, and provides a degree of elasticity in the vertical axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible metal joint in which two envelopes surrounding a metal core. The joint has, along its periphery which does not have an opening, at least two bosses, at which the envelope is not in contact with the joint core. A relative displacement between the flanges of the assembly between which the joint is secured consequently has no effect on the efficiency thereof.

Abstract: An elastomeric, sound and vibration damping fastener element (16) for fan motors and the like, adapted to fit between two spaced, parallel mounting flanges or plates (4,6) and comprising a brace body (18) extending between the flanges and connected thereto by buttons (20) which extend into holes in the flanges, a strip (28) which overlies the peripheral edges of the flanges at a corner, and one or more radial arms (24,26) which connect the brace to the strip.

Abstract: A universal living hinge joint includes an integral, preferably molded, body having first and second ends fixedly attached to first and second implement members, connecting the implement members to each other. The integral body has a plurality of substantially rigid sections and a plurality of flexible portions of reduced thickness defining non-parallel axes of rotation which separate and connect the rigid sections to each other. The integral body is bendable along each of the flexible portions permitting rotation of the second implement member in a wide range of angular positions with respect to the first implement member.

Abstract: A road vehicle for hauling cargo has a substantially rectangular flatbed member with front and rear upright walls. The front wall is attached to the flatbed by a semi-rigid joint and the rear wall is attached to the flatbed by a free swinging hinged joint. One or more longitudinal members extend between the top of the front and rear walls. Posts spaced longitudinally of the cargo vehicle extend from the elevated longitudinal member or members to the flatbed member. One or more of the posts are collapsible or swingable to be selectively movable to a position for unobstructed access for side loading and unloading of the vehicle.

Abstract: A post mounting assembly for mounting a post on a base has a link member provided by a resilient connector which, when the post is subjected to a displacing force that would normally damage the post, deforms to allow the post to detach from and fall clear of the base. The connector thereafter due to its resilient characteristics recovers to allow the post to be remounted on the base.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting a cymbal on the threaded end of a cymbal stand. A cylindrical fitting made of resilient material having embedded in its lower end an internally threaded plug adapted to fit onto the threaded end of the cymbal stand and having at its upper end an externally threaded shaft. A shouldered plastic washer designed to fit snugly around the fitting's threaded shaft, the shoulder of the washer sized to fit within the hole in the cymbal to be mounted on the cymbal stand. A knob having an internally threaded hole and a substantially flat lower face surrounding the hole designed to be screwed down upon the shaft of the fitting.

Abstract: A reinforced elastomer attachment joint includes an elastomer section (304) butt bonded to a FIBERGLAS section (332), a boundary line (340) being defined therebetween. One or more fabric plies (338) are embedded within the elastomer (304) and FIBERGLAS (332) sections so as to be capable of transmitting loads from the elastomer section (304) to the FIBERGLAS section (332). The rigid FIBERGLAS section (332) is capable of being drilled and countersunk so as to accomodate fastening means (306) whereby the attachment joint can be secured to basic support structure (302).

Abstract: A plastic support for attaching a plastic bumper to the metal frame of a motor vehicle comprises a metal pad having means for attaching the pad to the metal vehicle frame. The means for attaching the pad extends from, and is affixed to, one face of the pad. The pad is completely embedded in a moldable thermoplastic matrix except where the means for attaching the pad to the metal vehicle frame extends through the matrix. The matrix adjacent the other, or opposite, face of the pad is affixed to the plastic bumper, forming a plastic-to-plastic joint.

Abstract: The workpiece is initially held in a position in which it has a free sag near the center of its length, where it is subsequently supported by a backrest for milling so as to eliminate only the elastic deformation of the workpiece which is due to the free sag. The backrest comprises a supporting jaw, adapted to be disposed under the workpiece, and to be vertically raised to engage the workpiece from below in a position of initial contact, at least one retaining jaw, adapted to be disposed above the workpiece and to be moved downwardly toward the workpiece to clamp the latter against the supporting jaw, and a detector arranged to detect and store the position in which the supporting jaw initially contacts the workpiece. A first drive is operable to raise the supporting jaw and the workpiece to a preselected extent above the position of initial contact. A second drive is operable to move the retaining jaw into engagement with the workpiece which has thus been raised.

Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus includes rotatable input and output members (32, 36), relative rotation of which supplies presurized fluid from a fluid pressure source (16) to a working chamber of a hydraulic actuator (44). The members are arranged coaxially end-to-end and each member defines a transverse slot (74, 76) confronting a similar slot on the other member. A resilient member (80, 82) is received in the transverse slots and engages both input and output members to substantially prevent rotational slack therebetween.

Abstract: A breakaway registration pin (11, FIG. 2) comprises two sections, a first section (21) embedded in a glass art master (10) and a second section (22) bonded by a bonding agent to a top face (33) of the embedded first section (21). The bonding agent has a strength substantially less than the strength of the glass such that the registration pin (11) will break before the glass in art master (10) cracks when a force is applied to second section (22).

Abstract: A baby hammock should be washable. Therefore, any non-washable components should be easily removable from the washable components. The reassembly of the components should be simple. For this purpose the present hammock has longitudinal, open ended pockets or channels extending along the upper edges of the side panels and of the end panels of the hammock body. Wooden rods, also referred to as dowels, are inserted into these pockets. The ends of the rods overlap at each corner of the hammock body. Ropes interconnect the overlapping rod ends and simultaneously serve as suspension elements. The ropes extend through one or several rings at the upper rope ends. The lower rope ends pass through and around the rod ends and are tied for a safe connection. The tying is easily untied for removing the rods.

Abstract: An improved machining process using electro-erosion to form integral hinges in rods in making flexible and/or electric suspension blades for various industrial devices.The machining process includes repeatedly eroding a rod alternately on two opposite sides to form two curved indentations, one on each side of the rod at a given point along its length, using a curved cylindrical electrode, so that the rod is progressively narrowed at this point until the required thickness of hinge is obtained. The process may also include, using as reference planes, to position the eroding electrode accurately, surfaces of a frame to which the rods have been attached. In this way, the rods are accurately prepositioned and thin hinges are produced with a repeatable high accuracy.Products made by this process include a pendulum-type accelerometer and an elastic support for a gyroscope useful in aeronautical applications.

Abstract: A fan assembly for vehicles, which includes a circular boss portion integrally provided with a plurality of inwardly-extending stress-distributing projections adapted to be connected to a viscous fluid coupling device by a plurality of plate springs, each plate spring being fixedly attached to its respective stress-distributing projection by a bushing. The stress-distributing projections are formed with sockets into which protrusions on the plate springs are fixedly received. The related sockets and protrusions serve to absorb vibrations in the fan assembly and forces caused by deformation of the plate spring, and thus keep the connection between the bushing and the stress-distributing projections from loosening.

Abstract: An integrally formed releasable joint connector has a central bridge member with two bosses flexibly connected to the central bridge member and projecting in opposite directions from the opposite ends of the central bridge member. The two bosses are each generally cylindrical with an H-shaped transverse cross-section and are adapted to be received in and frictionally grip hollow structural members, such as tent poles, hollow frame members of a display counter, and the like.

Abstract: A compression rod assembly with its button end in tight engagement with a valve body of an automotive power brake unit in a socket of said body having a flow hole at the inner end of the socket has a plunger at the opposite end of said assembly in tight engagement with the piston of a master brake fluid cylinder. The button end of said assembly comprises a hollow button with an internal hollow boss and an annular space therearound. A resilient disc with its diameter complementary to the internal diameter of the button and tightly fitted therein projects from the button to engage the valve body around the flow hole, and a noncompressible disc is similarly fitted into the button, bearing against the boss and the inner side of the resilient disc. A rod is press-fitted at one end into the hollow boss bearing against the inner end thereof and the opposite end of the rod has a plunger threaded therein, the plunger having a head in said engagement with the master brake cylinder piston.

Abstract: A hinge joint assembly for flexibly connecting rigid elongated structural components in the construction of modular buildings. More specifically, the joint permits the fastening of struts (rods, tubes, or the like) about a central hub. Each joint assembly includes a plurality of lengths of resilient tubing supported in slot openings in a body member. The flattened portion of the tubing in each slot functions as a hinge for relative movement of the adjacent unflattened portions. The unflattened open end portions of the tubing function as sockets to receive one end of a structural component. Several forms of joint assembly are shown and described.

Abstract: This invention relates to an universal movable-joint device for connecting a sea-bed exploitation column to its base arranged on the sea floor. This device is essentially constituted by a joint element of resiliently deformable material interposed between the foot of the column and the base and connected to the said foot and base, respectively.

Abstract: A rotor is provided for an alternating current generator having a superconducting field winding. The rotor consists of a cylindrical outer member and a cylindrical inner member disposed coaxially inside the outer me mber. The inner rotor member carries a superconducting field winding and is cooled to maintain the winding temperature at superconducting temperatures during operation. The inner rotor member is rigidly attached at one end to the outer member and at the other end, which is the drive end, a connection is provided between the inner and outer members which has sufficient axial flexibility to allow large differential thermal expansion and contraction of the inner member, and which has sufficient torsional stiffness to transmit driving torque between the members. The flexible connection is preferably a laminated structure made up of thin slotted laminations having elements extending radially between the two rotor members and a driving connection to the inner member.

Abstract: A coupler for use in joining cargo pallets by their attach rings. The coupler, normally used in pairs, provides for uniform spacing of joined pallets and bendability between pallets, permitting the joined pallets to traverse crests and valleys without putting concentrated loads on the coupler, the pallet, or cargo floor.

Abstract: A multipartite drive pedal of synthetic plastic material for vehicles whose members are hinge-like connected with each other by way of material-integrated film hinges, whereby within the area of the upper end of the foot plate of the drive pedal, a connecting member for the pivotal connection of the foot plate with a pivotal lever projecting into the leg space is arranged on the back side thereof; a bore which is provided in the connecting member for receiving the end of the lever facing the drive pedal is arranged in a clamping member pivotal relative to the connecting member within the same plane and coupled thereto by way of a film hinge; the bore is arranged transversely to the film hinges and the clamping member is adapted to be fixed axially on the at least approximately rectilinearly extending end of the lever in various positions to compensate for relatively large manufacturing tolerances.

Abstract: A fishing reel for storing, retrieving and controlling the withdraw of fishing line from the fishing reel has support spindle means rotatably mounted with respect to a reel frame for supporting and mounting a line spool, means for preventing relative rotation between the spindle means and the line spool, drag hub means rotatably mounted to the reel frame and operationally connected to the support spindle means by a unidirectional clutch, drag shoe means for restricting rotation of the drag hub means relative to the reel frame, variable means for pre-selectably varying the contact pressure between the drag means and the drag shoe means, manual brake means for supplementally restricting rotation of the line spool and actuator means associated with the varible means and the manual brake means for actuating the variable means when the actuator means is adjusted circumferentially with respect to the reel frame and for actuating the manual brake means when the actuator is adjusted radially with respect to the reel

Abstract: A cable string for replacement of a prior art sucker rod string used in pumping oil wells with a pump jack unit. The cable string is comprised of a plurality of individual joints of multi-strand material connected together by a coupling member. Each individual joint has a pin member at each extremity thereof. Each joint is affixed in series relationship to another joint by the coupling member. The coupling member has a box connection at each extremity thereof. Hence, the pin member of adjacent joints are connected together by the box connection of the coupling member to provide a string of flexible cable joints of sufficient length to extend from proximity of the pump jack downhole through the borehole into proximity of the downhole pump. When a plurality of cable joints are connected together, the resulting length thereof is equivalent to the length of a standard solid metal joint of sucker rod.

Abstract: A flexure, useful as a universal joint between two corotating members, the flexure being capable of flexing about two orthogonal axes, but providing extremely good stiffness with respect to translational forces is accomplished in a flexure in the form of a cross including two members having a cross-shaped cross-section extending along two mutually perpendicular axes, the members terminating at each end in solid pieces with the solid pieces at the end of the one member used for attachment to one of the rotating members and the solid pieces at the ends of the other member for attachment to the second rotating member.

Abstract: A safety flexure for articulated channel-type roadway posts wherein a resilient member interconnects the upper and lower portions of the post by means of connecting studs substantially complementary in size and shape with the channel portions thereof.

Abstract: An improved frame for a building formed of structural frame members of steel or other structural metal. The structural frame members are connected together by many resilient connectors, each connector including a bolt having resilient sleeve means surrounding the same. The bolt has a head at one end and a nut threadably mounted at its opposite end. The bolt and sleeve means are inserted through aligned, oversized holes in a pair of adjacent structural members and the nut is threaded on the bolt to interconnect the structural frame members yet allow one structural frame member to slide over the other member, such as during an earthquake, to permit dissipation of energy by the heat of friction. The sleeve means also absorbs some of the energy and allows the structural frame members to return to their initial relative positions after they have been displaced relative to each other. Several embodiments of the sleeve means are disclosed.

Abstract: A flexible terminator used as a terminal connector between the ends of a tether line and the ballast or a float for the construction of a tethered breakwater unit. One end of the terminator has a unique configuration which receives the end of the tether line in such a manner that the tether line is locked into attachment to the terminator without the use of a conventional knot arrangement. The terminator has a flexible central neck portion which receives the flexion between the floats and the ballast due to the wave motion in the water, eliminating the significant fatigue and normal fiber abrasion experienced by the tether line when tied to the ballast by a typical knot. The tether line is in axial alignment with the central neck portion of the terminator, so that the pendulum action at the attachment points between the tether line and the float and the ballast are transferred to the central portion of the terminator.

Abstract: A joint interconnecting a driving member and a driven member with limited relative mobility comprises one or more elastic rings each bracketed by an outer and an inner annular plate, the plates being respectively secured to the two members. A friction coupling is inserted between one of the outer plates and one of the inner plates to damp relative oscillations between the two members without excessive heating of the elastic rings. The friction coupling may be formed by a brake lining inserted between the two plates, or a pair of such brake linings separated by a resilient annular spacer.

Abstract: A switch rail for a trolley conveyor track system is disclosed, the switch rail comprising an inherently flexible rail segment joined to a straight rail segment, the switch rail being movable from first to second switching positions for connecting a first track section selectively with second and third track sections, the flexible rail segment embodying a rigid link for limiting flexure movement thereof to movements codirectional to that in which the axis of the straight rail segment moves when the switch rail is shifted between its first and second switching positions.

Abstract: A joint inserted between a driving member and a driven member, such as a pair of substantially coaxial shafts or a shaft and a flywheel, comprises a stack of annular steel foils each having an even number of peripherally equispaced webs which are alternately secured to the two members via respective pairs of screws. The webs are interconnected by integral strips in the form of outwardly and/or inwardly bulging lobes enabling relative angular and radial shifting of the two members without exertion of a significant axial force upon them. The screws pass through mounting holes in the webs whose distance from the stack axis is greater than half the maximum radius of the foils.

Abstract: A workpiece, such as an interponent of a teleprinter is mounted for linear and pivoting movement in an elastomeric mounting element having a central section to which the workpiece is secured, a pair of end sections, and a pair of stretchable webs connecting the central section to the end sections. The end sections are mounted to a support so that the webs are stretched along a transverse mounting axis, and the workpiece is thereafter positioned by the mounting element in a stable initial position. From the initial position, the workpiece may be moved linearly or pivoted, or both, by external forces; and when so moved rotary and linear spring forces are generated in the elastomeric mounting element tending to return the workpiece toward the initial position when the external forces are removed.

Abstract: The flexible pivot includes a plurality of pairs of crossed flexible strips, each pair anchored in a pair of blocks at an angle to each other. The strips are displaced from each other edgewise and if they engage at all, engage at centers of their edges which do not move. The strips extend, and are capable of flexing, between the blocks. The intersections of the planes defined by the pairs of strips when unflexed, define a common line which is the axis of the flexible pivot. One of the blocks of each pair is secured firmly to a rigid support and the other block of each pair to a member which is pivoted. The strips are limited to flexing over a very small angle but the member which is pivoted may be mounted remotely from the axis so that the displacement of this member is amplified and is substantial.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is vibration isolating arrangement for an outboard motor having a propulsion unit mounted rearwardly of the steering axis of the outboard motor and including a powerhead, a drive shaft housing having a drive shaft, and a lower unit carrying a propeller. The mounting arrangement includes an upper mount and a pair of lower mounts secured to the propulsion unit in vertically spaced relation and rearwardly of or behind the drive shaft. The top mount includes a cross bar which has a wedged-shaped cross section with the upper and lower surfaces thereof converging in the direction of propeller thrust, which is supported by a resilient bushing within a casing, and which has outer ends extending from the casing transversely to the direction of propeller thrust for connection to a swivel bracket. The lower mounts are mounted in laterally spaced recesses provided in the drive shaft housing.