General Electric Company

Ronald J Boyd

Wing Law

Brenda L Anderson

Gary L Wilson

An adapter and standoff for an ultrasound probe includes a first compression molded coupler portion and a second compression molded receptacle portion which are assembled to define a fluid cavity for coupling ultrasound waves and a receptacle for receiving a probe head. The coupler portion includes a first housing with a coupling surface on one end thereof and an opening on an opposing end. The receptacle portion includes a second housing with a coupling surface on one end and an opening on an opposing end. The second housing is inserted into the opening of the first housing with the coupling surfaces and the first housing defining the fluid cavity, the opening of the second housing receiving a probe head. The second housing further includes a vent hole for venting air from the fluid cavity and a filler hole for receiving a needle and filling the fluid cavity with a fluid. The receptacle portion includes an adapter ridge which receives a groove in a probe when the probe is fully inserted into the receptacle portion. At least one groove can be provided on an internal surface of the second housing whereby an excess of coupling gel between the probe and the receptacle portion can exit when the probe is fully inserted into the receptacle portion. A tactile feel on an external surface of the second housing aligns with a tactile feel on the probe to ensure proper assembly of the adapter and probe.

Standoff adapter for ultrasound probe

A braking arrangement for vehicles having a 'dead man' brake, and which includes means for rendering the dead man brake ineffective during a particular mode of operation. A three-position brake control handle is pivotally mounted on the stationary structure of the vehicle, and includes cam means in camming relation to cam follower means carried by an actuator rod. In the 'transport' position of the control handle manual pressure is continuously applied to the handle, the camming engagement of the handle with the cam follower means moving the actuator rod to a position in which the brake shoe is moved against a spring out of engagement with the brake drum. If manual pressure is released from the brake control handle when in 'transport' position, the handle is automatically moved by the spring to the 'dead man' position in which the spring causes the brake shoe to be moved into braking engagement with the brake drum. In a third or procedural/storage position of the brake control handle, the camming relation between the handle and the cam follower causes the actuator rod to be moved to a position in which the brake shoe is out of engagement with the brake drum of the wheel without continuous force on the control handle. A separate pivotally movable support means is provided for each brake shoe for distributing the braking force equally between the two wheels which are being braked despite any inequalities between the braking surfaces of the two wheels.

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Sacramento, CA, United States of America

Ronald J Boyd