A method and apparatus are disclosed for obtaining an indication of fibre flexibility by spraying a pulp sample of preselected average fibre length against the bottom of a horizontal screen having a negative pressure thereabove whereby a selected pressure drop is applied across the screen and the pulp sample is divided into a retained and a passed fraction. The flexibility index is obtained by a ratio indicative of the fibre mass in the passed fraction or retained fraction to the fibre mass in t...

A stranded electric cable has a plurality of flexible ropes annularly disposed and helically twisted about a core consisting of a helical spring containing a flat bar which inhibits flexing of the cable in planes of desired rigidity while permitting free flexing in a desired plane. The bar is removable and replaceable from one end without disassembling the cable and spacers are provided between the bar and the spring.

Epoxy resins of increased flexibility and other improved properties are produced by curing a vicinal epoxy resin by combining the resin with a cured amount of a monoamide prepared by the condensation of fatty saturated or unsaturated monocarboxylic acids and polyoxyalkylene polyamines with an amine functionality of about 3 or greater. The cured epoxy resins are useful, for example, as thermal shock resistant encapsulations and adhesives.

This device comprises a flexible sheet member having cross convolutions oriented 45.degree. to the shear vector with spherical reliefs at the convolution junctions. The spherical reliefs are essential to the shear flexibility by interrupting the principal stress lines that act along the ridges of the convolutions. The spherical reliefs provide convolutions in both directions in the plane of the cross-convolution ridges.

This device comprises a flexible sheet member having cross convolutions oriented 45.degree. to the shear vector with spherical reliefs at the convolution junctions. The spherical reliefs are essential to the shear flexibility by interrupting the principal stress lines that act along the ridges of the convolutions. The spherical reliefs provide convolutions in both directions in the plane of the cross-convolution ridges.

An oleopneumatic suspension for motor vehicles which has, in addition to the usual suspension cylinder, a hydraulic accumulator and damper for each wheel, a regulator valve for each axle which connects additional dampers to a further hydraulic accumulator for each axle. The additional dampers and hydraulic accumulator are brought into play when the valve is open and are rendered inoperative when the valve is closed. The regulator valve may be operated by other vehicle-operating parameters.

A stent comprises one or more circumferential serpentine bands and having alternating peak portions and trough portions. The peak portions include shorter peak portions and longer peak portions. The longer peak portions are of a longitudinal extent greater than the shorter peak portions. The longer peak portions include first bent peak portions which extend in a first direction non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stent and second bent peak portions which extend in a second direction non...

A flexibility corrector for a vehicle suspension system, which comprises a resilient member mounted between suspension elements movable in relation to each other and adapted to reduce the suspension flexibility when the suspension departs from its mean position, said corrector being characterized in that said resilient member is mounted in a state of unstable equilibrium in said mean position of the suspension, whereby the force applied to the suspension when the latter departs from said mean po...

Longitudinal-flexibility suspension system for vehicle wheels comprising an arm adapted to oscillate about a fixed shaft disposed in a vertical longitudinal plane and rigid with the chassis of the vehicle, a first sleeve of elastomer mounted about said shaft and having a cylindrical outer surface formed with hollow cells spaced from one another and from the sleeve ends, said outer surface of the sleeve being in frictional contact with the inner surface of a first end of a hub while a second conn...

A guide wire with a distal portion having adjustable flexibility. The guide wire may include a distal polymeric member and a heat source. The heat source may be activated to cause the polymeric member to increase in temperature and increase in flexibility. The increase in flexibility of the distal portion of the guide wire enhances the ability of the guide wire to navigate tortuous vasculature to a target site. After the guide wire has been navigated to the target site, the heat source may be de...