The present disclosure concerns a handrail-mounting bracket assembly for mounting a first handrail element to a second handrail element or a support structure, the bracket assembly comprising: a first handrail-mounting subassembly including a first handrail-mounting member and a first connecting member; a second handrail-mounting subassembly including a second handrail-mounting member and a second connecting member; the bracket assembly being selectively configurable in an engagement configuration in which the first and second handrail-mounting members are at least partially insertable into a bracket-engaging opening of the first handrail element, and in a mounting configuration wherein the first and second handrail-mounting members at least partially form together a handrail-mounting end portion and are locked with the first handrail element so as to prevent removal of the bracket assembly from the bracket-engaging opening once inserted therein. It also concerns a corresponding method for removably mounting a multi-pieced handrail-mounting bracket to a handrail element.

A joint ring of an endoscope comprises a joint ring body including a joint ring wall having an inner surface, an outer surface, a first end surface, and a second end surface, and a first wire guide attached to the inner surface of the joint ring wall. The first wire guide includes a first wire guide body including a first wire guide wall having a third end surface and a fourth end surface. In a central axis direction of the joint ring body, at least a first portion of the first end surface and at least a first portion of the third end surface are at a first axial position and at least a first portion of the second end surface and at least a first portion of the fourth end surface are at a second axial position.

A journal bearing for centering a misaligned pin is disclosed. The journal bearing includes an outer bushing defining an outer bore. The outer bore is offset with respect to an axis of rotation of the journal bearing by a misalignment distance. The misalignment distance represents a distance between the axis of rotation of the journal bearing and a center axis of the misaligned pin. The journal bearing further includes an inner bushing defining an inner bore. The inner bore is offset with respect to the axis of rotation of the journal bearing by the misalignment distance. The inner bushing is seated within the outer bore of the outer bushing. The inner bushing and the outer bushing are both configured to rotate relative to one another to center an inner periphery of the inner bushing around the misaligned pin.

A method for manufacturing an electrostatic chuck with multiple chucking electrodes made of ceramic pieces using metallic aluminum as the joining. The aluminum may be placed between two pieces and the assembly may be heated in the range of 770 C to 1200 C. The joining atmosphere may be non-oxygenated. After joining the exclusions in the electrode pattern may be machined by also machining through one of the plate layers. The machined exclusion slots may then be filled with epoxy or other material. An electrostatic chuck or other structure manufactured according to such methods.

A method for manufacturing an electrostatic chuck with multiple chucking electrodes made of ceramic pieces using metallic aluminum as the joining. The aluminum may be placed between two pieces and the assembly may be heated in the range of 770 C to 1200 C. The joining atmosphere may be non-oxygenated. After joining the exclusions in the electrode pattern may be machined by also machining through one of the plate layers. The machined exclusion slots may then be filled with epoxy or other material. An electrostatic chuck or other structure manufactured according to such methods.

A rotary milking platform (1) comprises a platform (3) having a circular carrier beam (7) secured to the underside of the platform (3). The carrier beam (7) is supported on a plurality of support elements (10), each of which comprise a freely rotatable roller (35) which is configured to rollably engage an under surface (38) of the carrier beam (7). Each support element (10) comprises an anchor plate (27) adjustably mounted on a corresponding ground engaging element (20) which is secured to the ground. A carrier plate (40) is carried on four guide bolts (50) extending upwardly from the anchor plate (27). Side members (41) extending downwardly from the carrier plate (40) rotatably carry the roller (35). Compression springs (59) acting between abutment washers (55) secured to the guide bolts (50) and the carrier plate (40) urge the carrier plate (40) against heads (53) of the guide bolts (50). The compression springs (59) accommodate downward and upward movement of the roller (35) in order to accommodate rising and falling of the under surface (38) of the beam (7). The compression springs (59) permit tilting movement of the roller (35) about a tilt axis (61) which extends in the direction of motion of the beam (7) in order to facilitate tilting of the roller (35) to follow any non-horizontality of the under surface (38) of the beam (7). The tilt axis is located just below a line of contact (67) of the roller (35) with the under surface (38) of the beam (7) to minimise lateral movement of the roller relative to the beam (7) as the roller (35) tilts about the tilt axis.

A rotary milking platform (1) comprises a platform (3) having a circular carrier beam (7) secured to the underside of the platform (3). The carrier beam (7) is supported on a plurality of support elements (10), each of which comprise a freely rotatable roller (35) which is configured to rollably engage an under surface (38) of the carrier beam (7). Each support element (10) comprises an anchor plate (27) adjustably mounted on a corresponding ground engaging element (20) which is secured to the ground. A carrier plate (40) is carried on four guide bolts (50) extending upwardly from the anchor plate (27). Side members (41) extending downwardly from the carrier plate (40) rotatably carry the roller (35). Compression springs (59) acting between abutment washers (55) secured to the guide bolts (50) and the carrier plate (40) urge the carrier plate (40) against heads (53) of the guide bolts (50). The compression springs (59) accommodate downward and upward movement of the roller (35) in order to accommodate rising and falling of the under surface (38) of the beam (7). The compression springs (59) permit tilting movement of the roller (35) about a tilt axis (61) which extends in the direction of motion of the beam (7) in order to facilitate tilting of the roller (35) to follow any non-horizontality of the under surface (38) of the beam (7). The tilt axis is located just below a line of contact (67) of the roller (35) with the under surface (38) of the beam (7) to minimise lateral movement of the roller relative to the beam (7) as the roller (35) tilts about the tilt axis.

An anchor assembly for receiving a fixing member. The assembly may include a shell with a substrate engagement surface. The shell defines a passage configured to receive the fixing member. The passage extends from a trailing edge end of the shell towards a leading edge end of the shell along an alignment axis. There is also provided an engagement member and a resilient member located in the passage. The resilient member is mounted in the passage such that it is fixed relative to the passage and such that an end of the resilient member is moveable with the engagement member along the passage.

Wall mounting bracket for mounting an elongate mounting rail as a cantilever arm to a wall or other supporting surface including a wall plate having mounting holes for mounting the bracket to a wall by means of male fasteners; a socket for inserting the end portion of the mounting rail, including at least two flange profiles, which at their distal end have an embracing portion to interlock with the end portion of the mounting rail thereby inhibiting movement of an inserted end portion parallel to the wall plate. At least one of the embracing portions has a fixing hole for passing through a male fastener to fix the end portion of the mounting rail to inhibit retraction of the end portion from the socket; a supporting rim within the socket, configured to interlock with the outer or inner side of the end portion of the mounting rail.

A connector includes a first joint member, a second joint member, and a fastener. The first joint member includes a first tubular outer wall at least partially enclosing a first outer cavity, and a first tubular inner wall at least partially enclosing a first inner cavity. The second joint member includes a second tubular outer wall at least partially enclosing a second outer cavity, and a second tubular inner wall at least partially enclosing a second inner cavity. The fastener extends through first and second openings of the first inner cavity, and through first and second openings of the second inner cavity to position the first joint member relative to the second joint member.