Abstract: An article handling device which is particularly well suited for loading articles into a reactor furnace for processing and subsequently unloading the processed articles. The article handling device is supported and vertically movable into alignment with the reactor furnace and includes an article moving device which is reciprocally vertically elevatable and reciprocally horizontally extensible for loading the articles into the reactor furnace and subsequent unloading thereof with minimal disturbing of the reactor process residue which is inherently deposited in the interior of the reactor furnace.

Abstract: Apparatus for lifting a load through an arc includes two pivotally connected, overlapping housings which are pivoted relative to each other by a fluid operated piston disposed between the housings. The housings have overlapping sides provided with oppositely inclined cam tracks. Rollers driven by the piston and captured within the cam tracks transmit force between the sidewalls of the housings, thereby causing the housings to pivot relative to each other. One of the housings is adapted to have the load mounted thereon.

Abstract: A gripper device for transporting and registering sheets of any type under the printing heads of silk screening and the like printing machines, which comprises a box-like supporting body having hingedly connected thereto, against the bias of preloaded spring members, a plate-like element forming a flat jaw, and juxtaposed thereto, a plurality of flat surface gripper elements which are set in mutual alignment and for oscillation about a parallel axis to said juxtaposed jaw and adapted to be brought close against said juxtaposed jaw by means of at least one slide element which is driven reciprocatingly by a drive shaft from the silk screen printer, said slide element being provided with an actuating means cooperating with means associated with said flat jaw and with said plurality of juxtaposed gripper elements and adapted to produce, as said slide is being reciprocated, a rotation of said plurality of gripper elements about their own axes toward said opposed flat jaw and to allow said flat jaw to be disengaged

Abstract: A braking arrangement adapted for use in connection with a rollable cart employed in commercial airplanes includes a longitudinal base plate, which has relatively narrow end portions of a predetermined width, and two roller pairs mounted on the base plate. At least one brake mechanism is mounted on the base plate, and acts on a corresponding roller pair. The brake mechanism includes a brake rod in parallel with an axle of the roller pair, a mounting plate for the brake rod located between the rollers, which has a recess on its lower side, and a rotary disc mounted within the recess of the mounting plate, which, in turn, has a downwardly projecting portion provided with two entrainment lugs. A guide for the brake rod is mounted on the mounting plate for restraining lateral movement of the brake rod, while permitting a movement of it along a substantially vertical direction.

Abstract: An energy absorber strut includes a pair of elongated drive nuts threaded internally to mate with a drive screw having high lead threads on opposite ends so that outward movement of the nuts on the screw rotates the screw in one direction and inward movement rotates the screw in the opposite direction. A mandrel mounted to rotate with the screw is restrained from rotation by a capstan spring which surrounds and grips it. Prestressed torsion springs connected to the ends of the capstan spring permit it to unwind slightly and drag with respect to the mandrel when the torsion springs are subjected to a predetermined torque.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for the continuous and relatively labor-free fabrication of adobe bricks and the forcing of well casings into the earth. With regard to forming adobe bricks, a rotating table carries the bricks being processed from one station to the next and a novel means for applying unusually high forming pressures permits immediate forming and ejection of the bricks from the forms while at the same time producing adobe bricks of improved quality and hardness characteristics.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for continuously filtering a flow of melted plastic which includes a mechanism for purging the filter without interrupting continuous operation. A filter screen is disposed in a circular chamber within the filter housing. A collector plate including a plurality of radially oriented, triangularly shaped passages is disposed on the upstream side of the filter screen, defining triangular pockets for collecting contaminants that cannot pass through the filter screen. A collector head is rotatably disposed for selective registration with the collector pockets, and an indexing mechanism is included for sequentially stepping the collector head around the collector plate for momentary registration with each collector pocket. The collector head communicates with a contaminant discharge passage that is opened and closed in timed sequence with movement of the collector head.

Abstract: A push button type or a pull out type door handle is provided with a latch operating mechanism for actuating a vehicle door latch. In each embodiment, a mounting member attached to the vehicle door rotatably mounts a latch release lever for movement in a plane generally parallel to the door. The push button or pull out handle moves an elongated rod having a helical twist through a camming opening of like cross-section in the latch release lever to rotate the lever and release the door latch.

Abstract: A parachute control apparatus for enabling control of an unmanned slave parachute from a manned simultaneously descending parachute is described. The apparatus includes two hand held master controllers each comprising a body and a thumb operable reciprocating plunger. The plunger is coupled to a potentiometer to provide proportional control. The parachutist carries a radio transmitter including an encoder responsive to the plunger movements and an antenna. A control signal receiver is attached to the load carried by the slave parachute and includes a receiving antenna and signal decoder operative to provide drive signals for a slave parachute control line drive. The drive includes a servo system, electric motors, gearboxes and winches for operating the slave parachute control lines.

Abstract: A fastener slider holding device comprising a slider holder having a slider mount on the top and a pull tab receiving recess in one side thereof, a spring-loaded sliding member mounted in the slider holder for vertical movement, a slider holding lever having an engaging pawl at the upper end thereof for engaging the pull tab of a fastener slider, an operation rod for moving the sliding member vertically and cam means for moving the slider holding lever between the pull tab engaging and disengaging positions.

Abstract: A piston and cylinder mechanism wherein the cylinder moves relative to the piston and the cylinder has a cam follower extending outwardly therefrom for engaging a cam track, the cylinder having some lubricant therein. A cam follower shaft is mounted in the base of the cylinder and has a cam roller thereon. Conduit means is provided in the base and the shaft providing communication between the inner surface of the cam roller and the interior of the cylinder to provide for lubrication of the roller.

Abstract: A linear actuator in which a pair of relatively rotating thrust members have opposing surfaces on which are formed a plurality of concentric circular races in which a plurality of balls circulate. Each race is in the form of a helix over substantially the full circular length of the race with a step joining the ends of the helix. The steps in adjacent concentric races are spaced apart by 180.degree.. Each race over half its length is recessed so that the balls engage the opposing races along approximately half the length of each race, the recessed half of adjacent concentric races being offset by 180.degree. so that the thrust load is shared by substantially the same number of balls around the respective half-circular of the two sets of races.

Abstract: A valve arrangement for varying a cross-sectional flow area of hot gases, particularly the fuel-rich gases of a ramjet engine, comprising, a housing, a valve seat defining an intake opening for the hot gases in the housing, a conduit in the housing connected to the valve seat for supplying hot gases to the intake opening and a valve body which is slidably mounted in the housing and movable toward and away from the valve seat to vary the flow area of the hot gases. The valve body is driven by a worm mechanism having at least one spur gear directly connected to the valve body through pins which extend through inclined or helical slots in the valve body so that, rotation of the gear causes rotation and linear movement of the valve body.

Abstract: A belt tensioner for an endless drive belt for vehicle accessories has a shaft which is mounted in a fixed position adjacent the belt. A lever is pivotally mounted on the shaft and has an idler pulley rotatably mounted on an extended end of the lever. The pulley is movable into tensioning engagement with the belt by rotation of the lever. A first cam plate is slidably mounted on the shaft and is engaged with a second cam plate which is attached to the lever for rotation with the lever. The cam plates each have a plurality of a series of camming surfaces which are mutually engageable with the opposite cam plate surfaces. A plurality of spring discs are telescopically mounted on the shaft and bias the first camming block into engagement with the second block applying a rotational force on the lever to move the pulley into tensioning engagement with the drive belt.

Abstract: A highly effective, multi-purpose mechanical snubber is achieved by providing an elongated, centrally disposed, axially movable rack member controllably engaged with at least one worm, having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the central axis of the rack member and mounted for rotation about said axis in response to axial translation of the rack member. In one embodiment, the mechanical snubber also incorporates an inertial mass which is rotationally responsive to the rotational movement of the worm. By employing one or two worms and rotationally driving the inertial mass in similar or opposed directions, various alternative vibratory control systems are achieved with the single mechanical snubber construction of this invention.

Abstract: A mechanical disc brake includes a caliper floatingly supported on a stationary member, and a force converting mechanism mounted on the caliper and comprising a rotatable member rotatable in response to a rotary input force, an inclined surface formed on one side of the rotatable member, a ramp member disposed adjacent to the rotatable member with an inclined surface formed thereon for cooperating with the inclined surface of the rotatable member, and at least one ball member interposed between the inclined surfaces for reducing frictional resistance in converting the rotary input force into a linear output force. A dust cover is disposed to cover the ball and the inclined surfaces and has a first end mounted on the rotatable member and a second end mounted on the ramp member.

Abstract: An improved mechanism for converting the reciprocal motion of a drive member to pivotal motion of one or more levers includes a tooth member-receiving slot pair operatively connecting the drive member to the levers. The tooth member extends perpendicular to the axis of reciprocation of the drive member and the slot receives the tooth member in driving engagement therewith. Either the tooth member or the slot has a convex cam surface formed thereon and the other member of the pair has a flat cam-engaging surface. Rolling contact is thereby provided between the drive member and the levers when the drive member is actuated for reciprocal movement.

Abstract: A highly effective, multi-purpose mechanical snubber is achieved by providing an elongated, centrally disposed, axially moveable rack member controllably engaged with at least one worm gear, having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the central axis of the rack member and mounted for rotation about said axis in response to axial translation of the rack member. In one embodiment, the mechanical snubber also incorporates an inertial mass which is rotationally responsive to the rotational movement of the worm gear. By employing one or two worm gears and rotationally driving the inertial mass in similar or opposed directions, various alternative vibratory control systems are achieved with the single mechanical snubber construction of this invention.

Abstract: An immersion cleaner for parts and other articles. The cleaner includes a receptacle for articles, a cover unit for a container of cleaning liquid, a cam plate unit disposed on the cover and including a circumferentially extending cam track surface having axially undulating portions, and a combination receptacle support and cam follower unit. The follower rotates about a vertical axis and is disposed in the use above the cam plate. The receptacle support unit includes means adapted to engage the cam track and to ride thereover upon oscillation of said support unit about its axis. A rod is attached to a portion of the support unit and forms an operative connection between the receptacle and the support unit. The support unit is driven in an oscillating mode. This causes the receptacle to swing through an arc and to rise and fall simultaneously.

Abstract: A rectilinear positioning mechanism for precisely controlling the rectilinear position of an output member. The rectilinear positioning mechanism of this invention includes a relatively thin beam which is flexible particularly along its longitudinal length. The flexible beam is fixed against movement at one end while the other end is free to move in the longitudinal direction.There is an input mechanism located between the ends of the flexible beam for deflecting the center of the flexible beam in a controlled, precise manner to thereby change the position of the free end of the beam.The mechanism has utility as a positioning means generally and for positioning the ends of segments of a metering blade with respect to the ink fountain roller in an ink fountain assembly.

Abstract: A ramp device used to reduce wear on trojan bar dogs mounted on the ends of a trojan bar and to reduce wear on wheel lugs driven by the dogs. The wheel lugs are attached to wheels used in moving a self-propelled irrigation sprinkler.

Abstract: This invention is a reversible mechanical movement. A bearing arm is rigidly connected to an oscillatory shaft. A contact disc is rigidly attached to a rotatable shaft. The bearing arm and the contact disc contact one another to convert rotary motion to oscillating motion, or the reverse. The conversion of oscillating motion to linear reciprocating motion, or the reverse, is accomplished by conventional methods.

Abstract: This invention relates to operating mechanisms for hydraulic control systems and it is an object of the invention to provide an operating mechanism which is self-locking. The mechanism includes a bar which is slidable in a channel, one face of the bar being cut away to provide two inclined surfaces. Rollers are retained by springs in the spaces between the inclined surfaces and one side of the channel. A plate is also located between the bar and the said side of the channel and a control member serves to displace this plate along the channel. The arrangement is such that, when the plate is displaced in either direction, it pushes a respective one of the rollers towards one end of the bar, thereby allowing it to roll down the inclined surface. On the other hand, if a force is applied to the bar in either direction, a respective one of the rollers will move up the inclined surface and wedge against the side of the channel, thereby locking the bar in position.

Abstract: Mechanical brake of the pad and disc type having sure braking action, low internal friction and rapid release characteristics, and comprising a control cable responsive, movable rigid member having a directionally sloped shoulder, and follower structure having traveling tangential engagement with the member shoulder, to displace the pad into engagement with the disc for braking.

Abstract: A lever mechanism having an output end and an input end wherein the input end is pivotally mounted to a fixed support and provided with a track portion. The track portion has a spaced apart relationship to the pivot axis of the lever and is provided with a generally V-shaped portion and lateral side portions oppositely extending therefrom. A reference force is applied through a roller member which is positioned along the track by a variable input position signal applied thereto. The apex of the V-shaped portion is on a line through the pivot axis such that with the roller member held in a bottomed position and engaging both sides of the V-shaped portion there is no input moment applied to the lever mechanism and movement of the roller member in either direction from a null position produces a clockwise or counterclockwise motion of the output end of the lever mechanism, depending upon the direction of movement of the output end in response to the roller movement.

Abstract: An auxiliary brake lever for actuating the brakes of a bicycle wherein the auxiliary brake lever is operable independently of the main brake lever.

Abstract: In a spreading disc brake recesses for co-operation with balls located between pressure plates comprise straight grooves of progressively varying depth in inserts mounted in the pressure plates for angular movement about axes normal to the planes of the plates.