Abstract: A key connection having the key shaped like a round helical spring and inserted, with possible preload, into the keyslots of a triangular cross-section shape.

Abstract: A screw retainer comprises a substantially flat clip having a central resilient tang engaged by a screw for preventing withdrawal of the screw from an opening. Engagement of the screw with the tang also causes a reversely curved porton of the tang to engage an abutment for preventing withdrawal of the clip from a slot in which it is positioned adjacent a screw receiving hole.

Abstract: A meter, counter, printer or a like device wherein a shaft carries one or more wheels whose angular position with respect to the shaft must be changed, either at regular or irregular intervals. The peripheral surface of the shaft has an elongated recess which is parallel to the axis of the shaft. The inner portion of the recess receives an elongated elastic cushion, and the outer portion of the recess confines the major portion of a helical spring with spaced-apart convolutions. The smaller portion of the spring extends into a selected socket in the internal surface of a wheel or into selected sockets in the internal surface of two or more wheels which surround the shaft.

Abstract: A support body portion extends inwardly from the top rim of a plant pot and has a substantially vertical channel therethrough bounded on the outer end by the inner surface of the pot, on the inner end by a rod support groove substantially parallel with the axis of symmetry of the pot and on the sides by a pair of side walls that converge radially inward. A plant support rod is positioned in the rod support groove and extends above the pot a substantial distance so that a plant in the pot can be tied to it for support. A spring wedge having a pair of legs, at the same angle to each other as the angle of the slope of the pot side to the axis of symmetry, joined by a resilient bight portion is pushed down into the top of the vertical channel so one leg bears against the sloping wall of the pot and the other leg bears against the support rod to anchor it firmly in the vertical rod support groove.

Abstract: A pneumatic hammer is provided with a quick-change retainer which may be twisted between an open position in which a tool may be inserted or removed and a closed position in which the tool is locked within the retainer. A compressible lock rod is provided to hold the retainer in at least the closed position and preferably the open position also. A stop means limits the twisting movement at the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A ball socket assembly having a ball received in a socket member to swivel relative to the latter with the ball initially inserted into a first end portion of an elongated slot in the socket member and then shifted to the second end portion of the slot. A flange is formed on the socket member at the opening of the slot generally around the second end portion thereof to retain the ball in the socket member and a wedge is slidable in the socket member across the first end of the slot to assume an active position in which it holds the ball in the second end portion of the slot. A lip on the wedge engages the ball and holds the wedge in the active position.

Abstract: An arrangement for fastening the rotor of a side channel compressor on a shaft wherein the rotor includes a hub through which the shaft passes and the arrangement comprises: a first seating area between the rotor hub and the shaft which is sufficiently tight to provide centering of the rotor on the shaft; a second seating area between the hub and shaft which defines a clearance area therebetween sufficiently wide to receive a hardening plastic; and a hardening plastic disposed within the second seating area.

Abstract: To secure an operating handle or crank to an operating shaft while inhibiting undesired axial removal of the handle from the shaft, yet permitting controlled removal, for example for repair, a coupling element made of a yielding plastic material, for example of a polyamide resin, is slipped on the shaft, the shaft and the coupling element being formed with interengaging projections and recesses, for example a groove in the shaft and inwardly projecting shoulders on the coupling element. The coupling element itself is slit radially, so that it can be expanded and removed from the shaft by release of the interengaging projections and recesses. The operating handle is formed with recesses to receive axially projecting extensions of the coupling element which engage in the recesses to lock the handle to the coupling element and thus prevent axial removal. Rotation is transmitted between the handle and the shaft by direct engagement of splines and flutes formed on the shaft and the handle, respectively.

Abstract: A retainer arrangement for a stationary shaft, rod or the like for retaining the shaft against upward movement in an upwardly open recess or slot of a support bracket, and the combination of the retainer with the shaft and with the support bracket. The retainer arrangement comprises a retention spring clip which encircles a substantial portion, such as 270.degree., of the shaft periphery contiguous the supported end of the shaft. The upper portion of the retention spring clip is formed to include opposite laterally spaced axially extending lugs which are adapted to snap each into a corresponding retention groove carried by the respective opposite recess-bounding walls of the support bracket when the shaft is seated in the upwardly open recess or slot of the support bracket.

Abstract: A press fit sleeve bearing member supported in a bearing support in which the support portion of the bearing member is of limited length along the longitudinal dimension of the bearing member. The bearing zone is isolated from the support zone by a transition zone to isolate the bearing zone from dimensional changes due to distortions created by the press fit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for holding knobs for turning a channel selector of a television receiver or for similar purposes. A flat plate having a first group of projections adapted to bear against a notched flat portion of a rotatable shaft (tuner shaft) having a semi-circular section, and a second group of projections arrayed to bear against a portion of knob into which the shaft is inserted is employed to obtain a reliable coupling of the shaft and the knob.

Abstract: An electromagnetic friction coupling includes an armature assembly, a pole assembly and a coil energizable to effect engagement of the armature and pole assemblies. The armature assembly includes an armature plate and a hub member which are coupled together by means for compensating for misalignment between the armature plate and hub members. The hub member is adapted to be connected to a shaft for rotation therewith and the armature member is disposed coaxially of the hub member and is connected for rotation therewith. The hub member and armature plate include outer and inner surfaces, respectively, which include a plurality of substantially semicircular recesses disposed therein. Each of the recesses disposed on the armature plate and the complementary recesses on the hub member define a plurality of substantially cylindrical openings therebetween each of which is adapted to receive a rotatable cylindrical pin therein to couple the hub member and armature plate.

Abstract: A control component with a "D" shaped shaft is to be fitted with a control knob that was designed to fit onto a "dog-bone" shaped shaft. A resilient adapter in the form of a tubular sleeve has a special bore to fit on the shaft and a special configuration to fit into the bore of the knob so as to prevent relative rotational movement therebetween.

Abstract: A wedge lock wheel assembly for mounting a tire rim in which the assembly includes a hub rigidly attached to the rim having a chamber with a centerline substantially perpendicular to the disk, a plurality of stops and a plurality of pairs of paired ramps with a known hardness having complex angles relative to the disks, a plurality of sets of paired wedges positioned within the chamber capable of relative motion therebetween and having an aperture passing through each of said pairs, a generally flat and bottom surface, a slope top surface and a hardness greater than the hardness of the ramps, a plurality of restraining members for limiting the motion between sets of said wedge pairs, an axle having horizontal contact surfaces with a hardness greater than the hardness of the wedges and a plurality of connecting elements passing through said wedge apertures for establishing contact between said ramps and said slope surfaces and between said bottom surfaces and said contact surfaces.

Abstract: A means for coupling a sleeve or hub to a shaft utilizing a spring retaining clip having a centrally located resilient loop whose diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of a blind locating hole formed in the shaft. The spring retaining clip is provided with oppositely extending arms which engage a longitudinal keyway in the sleeve and the ends of the arms retain the sleeve longitudinally of the shaft.

Abstract: A screw mounting clip member is adapted to be slidably fixedly engaged in a slotted aperture adjacent an unthreaded screw-receiving borehole. A spring detent member provided on the clip extends into the borehole when the clip is fixedly mounted in place. A threaded screw is fastened in the borehole by initially being manually thrust endwise into the borehole without turning, thereby deflecting and forcefully engaging the spring detent with the screw threads. The screw may thereafter be tightened by turning the screw against the spring detent and may be unfastened only by reverse turning of the screw, in the conventional manner.

Abstract: A pump housing accommodates in it an output shaft of an electromotor which forms a unit with the pump, and a rotor having substantially slots is mounted on the output shaft for rotation. The slots accommodate sliding vanes. A mounting member mounts the rotor on the output shaft in such a manner that the motor can tilt to a limited extent about two axes which are normal to each other and to the longitudinal axis of the output shaft of the electromotor.