Abstract: A position indicator for a rotary valve actuator has a stator of one color mountable on a housing for the actuator and a rotor of a contrasting color which is connected to the actuator output shaft for rotation with it. The rotor has inner and outer coaxial cylindrical walls with windows in the outer wall. The stator has a hollow cylindrical wall in the space between the rotor walls. When the windows of the rotor and stator are in registration the inner wall of the rotor is visible and the stator is hidden to indicate one position of the actuator output shaft. When the windows of the rotor and stator are out of registration the inner wall of the rotor is hidden by the stator wall which is visible through the rotor window to indicate another position of the actuator output shaft. A circuit actuator and sensor may be mounted on the rotor and stator for generating electrical signals indicative of the actuator output shaft position in addition to the visual indication.

Abstract: A position indicator for a shaft rotatable about an axis has a housing fixed adjacent the shaft, a plurality of indicia on the housing angularly equispaced about and radially equispaced from the axis, an eccentric fixed on the shaft and having a periphery that is eccentric to the axis, and an inner indicator plate carried on the periphery of the eccentric, having a periphery with a predetermined rectified length, and formed offset from the axis with an axially throughgoing inner aperture axially alignable with the indicia. A guide fixed on the housing forms a track on which the periphery of the inner indicator plate rides. This track has a predetermined rectified length longer than the rectified length of the periphery of the inner plate so that the indicator plate rolls on the track as the shaft and eccentric rotate. An outer indicator plate fixed on the shaft adjacent the first indicator plate is formed with an axially throughgoing outer aperture axially alignable with the indicia.

Abstract: An electrical connecting device for an air bag of a motor vehicle is disclosed. An inner cylinder is secured to a steering wheel, and an outer cylinder is secured to a steering column for the steering wheel. A flexible helical stirp is disposed between the inner and outer cylinder. A sun gear is formed on an outer periphery of the inner cylinder, a ring gear is formed on a side of the outer cylinder, and planet pinion is engaged with the sun gear and the ring gear. A stopper is provided for stopping the planet pinion at revolution ends thereof, and a mark provided at a neutral position diametrically opposite to the stopper.

Abstract: An improved visual and tactile indicator (30) for indicating the status of a connection between a shaft (14) and a constant speed drive transmission (22) by a coupling mechanism (20) is disclosed. The invention utilizes a first movable member (32) which is movable along a longitudinal axis between first and second positions, the first position indicating that the shaft is connected to the rotary source of power and the second position indicating that the shaft is not connected to the rotary source of power and a second movable member (34) which is movable along a longitudinal axis between first and second positions, the second member being adjacent to the first member with the longitudinal axes being parallel. A locking mechanism (36) locks the first and second movable members longitudinally with respect to each other when the input shaft is coupled to the constant speed drive transmission by the coupling mechanism.

Abstract: For use in a hot tapping system having a plug receiving flange providing communication into the interior of a pipeline, a completion machine for attachment to the flange providing means to install or retrieve a plug from within the flange, the machine being formed of an elongated cylindrical housing having a flange portion to removably sealably engage the plug receiving flange and the housing forming a hydraulic cylinder, an elongated tubular control bar reciprocally and non-rotatably received within the housing, a piston within the cylinder secured to the control bar by which the control bar is hydraulically displaced, and a rotatable retention rod telescopically received within the control bar and having a threaded end to attach to a plug, the retention rod being secured to a plug for placement of the plug into a flange or the removal therefrom.

Abstract: A vehicle steering column control cable mounting clip for an automatic transmission indicator dial system permitting the indicator pointer to be readily aligned with the dial indicia. The system includes a curvilinear looped flexible plastic tubular conduit having one end molded to the indicator housing and its other end molded to an adjustment slide selectively movable on a tongue portion of the clip by means of an adjustment screw interconnecting the slide and the clip. A flexible cable is slidable within the shielding conduit having one unshielded end connected to a pointer carrier and its other unshielded end fixed to a column rotatable shift tube actuator arm extending through an aperture in the column outer jacket. The clip has a pair of spring legs adapted for snap-in reception into the column jacket aperture and includes an integrally hinged lock-bar operative for positively capturing the clip in the aperture.

Abstract: Steering wheel with an electric lead to a protective gas bag impact device located in the steering wheel bowl of an automotive vehicle including a current conductor formed by a conducting strip arranged with several windings within a fixedly mounted housing surrounded a steering wheel hub. One end of the cable terminates in a core fastened to the steering wheel hub while the other terminates in the housing. A disk toothed over at least part of its circumference is mounted on the housing and an actuating element engaging the toothed disk is mounted on the hub or spindle. The toothed disk is located radially in relation to the axis of the hub and the spindle and the actuating element is formed by a flange-like transport disk surrounding the spindle or the hub and equipped with a radial slot which is provided with bevelling in the area of the slot. The edges of the slot are spread to form an opening corresponding to the tooth division of the toothed disk.

Abstract: A position indicator for and method for applying the same to valve arrangements having a first strip attached to a first movable part and a second strip attached to a second stationary part of the valve arrangement. The strips have a line arranged down the middle with contrasting lines on either side for easy alignment of the indicator strips. The indicator strips are initially applied as a single strip to the first and second parts of the valve arrangement and then severed at a point between the first and second parts when the valve arrangement is in a known preferred position.

Abstract: An improved degree wheel device includes a degree wheel which is adjustably rotatable relative to the crankshaft on which it is carried. The wheel can be easily adjusted so that a zero degree reading corresponds to top dead center of piston travel. Much of the calculation necessary to determine cam phasing, cam lobe centerline, valve overlap, and the like is thereby eliminated. The degree wheel preferably includes counterclockwise 0.degree. to 360.degree. indicia for a direct and calculation-free determination of the duration of tappet lift.

Abstract: A self-adjusting selector dial shift indicator mechanism is disclosed for an automatic transmission control system. The system includes a carriage assembly having a carrier member and an indicator member slidably interlocked by resilient biasing means for joint longitudinal movement on a support housing. A pair of stops on the housing limit the reciprocal travel of the indicator member at opposite end positions wherein its pointer is aligned respectively with the dial low-drive and park indicia. A first cable section connects the carrier member to the housing. A second cable section connects the carrier to the shift lever steering column tube. Movement of the shift lever from low-drive to park overcomes the biasing means allowing the carrier member to slip relative to the indicator member at each end of the dial automatically indexing its pointer wherein manual adjustment of the cable section is eliminated.

Abstract: A method of positioning a first part such as a rotatable shaft relative to a second part, such as a tubular receiving part comprises placing a defined surface area on one of the parts which is at an elevation distinct from the remaining area of this part surface, mounting a dial gauge having a sensing pin which is displaceable inwardly and outwardly to change the reading of the dial on the other of the parts, and engaging the pin on the surface of the first part while moving the parts relatively so that the needle moves over the surface of the first part, and recording the maximum deflection of the dial as a desired point of adjustment.

Abstract: This invention relates to a valve position indicator for buried valves having a rotatably operated shaft extended to ground level. A sealed gear box unit non-rotatably mounted inside the valve position indicator has a transmission mechanism mounted about the operator shaft to effectively move an indicating device at a predetermined arc distance for every shaft revolution. Adjustable indicator plates are angularly disposed on the cover of the gear box unit to provide open and closed reference points for the indicating device. The plates are securable in a manner to permit application to valves requiring different number of turns to move the valves between their open and closed positions.

Abstract: A pressure indicating device for use with medical cannulae having balloon type sealing cuffs such as tracheal tubes. The device would be added to a normal pilot balloon to indicate having exceeded a preset pressure by having a long tubular structure that could be folded inside itself telescopically at low pressure and would pop-out at the preset pressure. When elongated or popped-out, a visual indicator would be exposed until the overpressure was corrected and the tube again tucked into itself.

Abstract: The visual indicating system comprises, in one embodiment, a number of pivoting sub-assemblies borne by the carrier so constructed that they are impelled axially upon making contact with the top of the pole, they pivot. Attached to a horizontal portion of each pivoting sub-assembly below the carrier is a shield that normally covers a brightly colored area on the undersurface of the carrier. However, when the subassembly pivots, the horizontal portion moves aside so that the area is visible from the ground. In another embodiment, the pivoting assembly includes a brightly colored flag between the carrier and the masthead which is normally unseen from the ground until the carrier approaches a predetermined position toward the top of the pole whereupon the flag is caused to pivot outwardly of the carrier into view from below.

Abstract: Suitable marks on protected places at opposite ends of a drill pipe make it possible to inspect the pipe after it has been used in a drill string to determine whether it has been subjected to excessive torque in the course of its previous use, so that it should not be used again in a new string. This reduces the risk of any pipe breaking in the new string, which would cause great trouble and expense.

Abstract: Shaft position sensing apparatus includes a group of generally parallel vanes extending generally longitudinally of the shaft axis, means for mounting the vanes in that relationship and attaching them to the shaft for rotation with the shaft, a light source providing a beam of light directed transversely of the shaft axis against the vanes, and a light sensor aligned with the light beam and positioned on the opposite side of the shaft axis from the light source for receiving varying amounts of light dependent upon the angular position of the shaft.

Abstract: A sealed pump having a rotor and a stator and including an electromagnetic system comprising magnet means and a coil mounted on the rotor and stator and arranged such that a voltage is induced in the coil when the rotor rotates eccentrically, with the said voltage depending on the eccentricity.

Abstract: A device for indicating the angular position of a rotatable member of a type adapted for mounting on a panel. A bracket for mounting the device on the panel includes a first axially extending tang adapted for insertion into a slot formed in a first portion of the indicating device. The slot includes two spring fingers extending radially inward. The spring fingers engage the tang to prevent the indicating device from rotating relative to the panel.