Author: claimsbot

We claim:

1. A process for the preparation of a silica-filled, vulcanized elastomeric compound comprising:
mixing an elastomer with an amorphous silica filler, a processing aid comprising a fatty acid ester of a polyol and a cure agent; and,
effecting vulcanization.
2. A process as in claim 1 wherein the elastomer is a diene monomer homopolymer or a copolymer of a diene monomer and a monomer selected from the group consisting of a monovinyl aromatic monomer and a triene monomer.
3. A process as in claim 1 wherein the processing aid is selected from the group consisting of sorbitan dioleate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan trioleate, sorbitan sesquioleate, sorbitan laurate, sorbitan palmate and sorbitan stearate and polyoxyethylene derivatives thereof.
4. A process as in claim 1 wherein the processing aid is sorbitan monooleate.
5. A process as in claim 1 wherein the processing aid is a fatty acid ester of a glycol.
6. A process as in claim 1 wherein the elastomer is styrene butadiene rubber.
7. A process as in claim 1 including mixing the elastomer with a filler selected from the group consisting of mica, talc, urea and clay.
8. A vulcanizable silica-filled compound comprising an elastomer, a silica filler, a processing aid comprising a fatty acid ester of a polyol and a cure agent.
9. The vulcanizable silica-filled compound of claim 8 wherein the elastomer is a diene monomer homopolymer.
10. The vulcanizable silica-filled compound of claim 8 wherein the elastomer is a copolymer of at least one diene and at least one monovinyl aromatic monomer.
11. The vulcanizable silica-filled compound of claim 10 wherein the elastomer is styrene butadiene rubber.
12. The vulcanizable silica-filled compound of claim 8 wherein the processing aid is selected from the group consisting of sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan dioleate, sorbitan trioleate, sorbitan sesquioleate, sorbitan laurate, sorbitan palmate, sorbitan stearate, and polyoxyethylene derivatives thereof.
13. The vulcanizable silica-filled compound of claim 8 wherein the processing aid is sorbitan monooleate.
14. The vulcanizable silica-filled compound of claim 8 wherein the processing aid is a fatty acid ester of a polyhydroxy alcohol.
15. The vulcanizable silica-filled compound of claim 8 wherein the silica filler has a surface area of about 32 to about 400 m2g.
16. The vulcanizable silica-filled compound of claim 8 wherein the silica filler has a pH of about 5.5 to about 7.
17. The vulcanizable silica-filled compound of claim 8 further containing a carbon black filler.
18. The vulcanizable silica-filled compound of claim 8 wherein silica is present in an amount of about 1 phr to about 100 phr.
19. The vulcanizable silica-filled compound of claim 8 further containing a filler selected from the group consisting of mica, talc, urea and clay.
20. The vulcanizable silica-filled compound of claim 8 further containing a natural rubber.
21. A pneumatic tire comprising tread stock vulcanized from the vulcanizable silica-filled compound of claim 8.
22. A pneumatic tire comprising tread stock vulcanized from the vulcanizable silica-filled compound of claim 19.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A circuit configured to be programmed using a resistor, the circuit comprising:
an output terminal configured to be connected to a programming resistor,
a reference voltage source configured to generate a reference voltage on the output terminal,
a measurement and evaluation circuit configured to detect an output current on the output terminal and to generate a control signal which is dependent on the output current,
a current mirror arrangement which is coupled to an output current path containing the output terminal and which provides a reference current which is dependent on the output current and the control signal.
2. The circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the current mirror arrangement has a first current mirror having a current mirror ratio that is dependent on the control signal.
3. The circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first current mirror has at least two input transistors and at least one output transistor, the input transistors being activated or deactivated on the basis of the control signal.
4. The circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first current mirror has at least two output transistors and at least one input transistor, the output transistors being activated or deactivated on the basis of the control signal.
5. The circuit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the input transistors in the first current mirror are connected into the output current path.
6. The circuit as claimed in claim 2, in which the current mirror arrangement includes a second current mirror which generates a current which is proportional to the output current and which is supplied to the first current mirror as input current.
7. The circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measurement and evaluation circuit is configured to generate the control signal as a digital control signal.
8. The circuit as claimed in claim 3, in which the first current mirror contains switching elements connected in series with the at least two input transistors, the switching elements configured to be actuated according to the control signal.
9. The circuit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first current mirror has a logic circuit configured to generate activation signals for the switching elements on the basis of the control signal.
10. The circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measurement and evaluation circuit comprises:
a current measuring arrangement configured to provide a current measuring signal representative of the output current,
an evaluation circuit having at least one comparator operable to perform a comparison of the current measuring signal with at least one reference value, said evaluation circuit configured to generate the control signal based on the comparison.
11. The circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reference voltage source includes an internal voltage source, an operational amplifier coupled to the internal voltage source, and a regulating element coupled to the operational amplifier and the output terminal.
12. The circuit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the regulating element comprises a transistor.
13. A circuit configured to be programmed using a resistor, the circuit comprising:
an output terminal configured to be connected to a programming resistor,
a reference voltage source configured to generate a reference voltage on the output terminal,
a first circuit configured to generate a control signal corresponding to an output current on the output terminal,
a current mirror arrangement which is coupled to an output current path containing the output terminal and which provides a reference current based on the output current and the control signal.
14. The circuit of claim 13, further comprising a terminal configured to be connected to another circuit configured to set an operating parameter thereof responsive to the control signal.
15. The circuit as claimed in claim 13, wherein the current mirror arrangement has a first current mirror having a current mirror ratio that is dependent on the control signal.
16. The circuit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first current mirror has at least two input transistors and at least one output transistor, the input transistors being activated or deactivated on the basis of the control signal.
17. The circuit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first current mirror has at least two output transistors and at least one input transistor, the output transistors being activated or deactivated on the basis of the control signal.
18. The circuit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the input transistors in the first current mirror are connected into the output current path.
19. The circuit as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first circuit is configured to generate the control signal as a digital control signal.
20. The circuit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first current mirror contains switching elements connected in series with the at least two input transistors, the switching elements configured to be actuated according to the control signal.

1. A pressure regulating system for regulating pressure in a flow system having an inlet conduit with an inlet pressure and an outlet conduit with an outlet pressure, comprising:
a first pressure regulator, including:
a first diaphragm;
a first rod connected to said first diaphragm;
a first spring positioned to exert a force on said first diaphragm and said first rod;
a pipe receiving an end of said first rod; and
at least one seat mounted on said pipe, each said seat capable of sealing, an apertures in the inlet conduit; and

a second pressure regulator mounted in a location to inhibit tampering and including a bleed off mechanism mounted within and capable of inhibiting flow to the outlet conduit.
2. The pressure regulating system of claim 1, wherein said second pressure regulator includes:
a first bleed pipe; and
a housing, said first bleed pipe extending from the inlet conduit into said housing.
3. The pressure regulating system of claim 2, further including a second spring, wherein said first rod includes a collar and said pipe includes a lip, said second spring being biased between said collar and said lip.
4. The pressure regulating system of claim 3, wherein said pipe is an annular pipe including a slot, said first rod including a pin extending into said slot.
5. The pressure regulating system of claim 2, wherein said housing includes a first chamber at the inlet pressure and into which said first bleed pipe extends, a second chamber at the outlet pressure and separated from said first chamber by a second diaphragm, and a second bleed pipe extending from said second chamber to the outlet conduit.
6. The pressure regulating system of claim 5, wherein said first bleed pipe includes a fixed restriction in an end within said first chamber.
7. The pressure regulating system of claim 6, wherein said first chamber includes a second rod extending into the outlet conduit and capable of contacting said pipe, wherein said second chamber includes a second spring providing biasing force on said second diaphragm and said second rod.
8. The pressure regulating system of claim 7, wherein said bleed off mechanism comprises:
a bellows anchored to the outlet conduit;
a bleed valve anchored to the outlet conduit;
a third rod connecting said bellows and said bleed valve; and
a bleed off mechanism seat capable of sealing an aperture in the outlet conduit.
9. The pressure regulating system of claim 8, wherein said bleed off mechanism is sealed within the outlet conduit.
10. The pressure regulating system of claim 8, wherein said bellows is adapted to be compressed upon pressure within the outlet conduit exceeding a predetermined level, said compression unseating said bleed off mechanism seat from said aperture in the outlet conduit.
11. The pressure regulating system of claim 10, wherein said bleed valve includes a first leg connected to said third rod and a second leg connected to said bleed off mechanism seat.
12. The pressure regulating system of claim 10, wherein said third rod includes a bimetallic temperature corrector adapted to inhibit a change in temperature from affecting compression of said bellows.
13. A pressure regulating system for regulating pressure in a flow system having an inlet conduit with an inlet pressure and an outlet conduit with an outlet pressure, comprising:
a first pressure regulator, including:
a first diaphragm;
a first rod including a collar and a pin and being connected to said first diaphragm;
a first spring positioned to exert a force on said first diaphragm and said first rod;
an annular pipe including a lip and a slot for receiving said pin;
a second spring biased between said collar and said lip; and
first and second seats mounted on said annular pipe, said seats capable of sealing, respectively, first and second apertures in the inlet conduit; and a second pressure regulator, including:
a first bleed pipe;
a housing, said first bleed pipe extending from the inlet conduit into said housing, said housing including a first chamber at the inlet pressure and into which said first bleed pipe extends, a second chamber at the outlet pressure and separated from said first chamber by a second diaphragm, and a second bleed pipe extending from said second chamber to the outlet conduit; and
a bleed off mechanism mounted within and capable of inhibiting flow to the outlet conduit.
14. The pressure regulating system of claim 13, wherein said bleed off mechanism comprises:
a bellows anchored to the outlet conduit;
a bleed valve anchored to the outlet conduit;
a third rod connecting said bellows and said bleed valve; and
a third seat capable of sealing a third aperture in the outlet conduit.
15. The pressure regulating system of claim 14, wherein said bellows is adapted to be compressed upon pressure within the outlet conduit exceeding a predetermined level, said compression unseating said third seat from said third aperture.
16. The pressure regulating system of claim 15, wherein said bleed valve includes a first leg connected to a second leg, said first leg further connected to said third rod and said second leg further connected to said third seat.
17. The pressure regulating system of claim 16, wherein said third rod includes a bimetallic temperature corrector adapted to inhibit a change in temperature from affecting compression of said bellows.
18. A method of inhibiting tampering of a pressure regulating system regulating pressure in a flow system having an inlet conduit with an inlet pressure and an outlet conduit with an outlet pressure, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a first pressure regulator, including:
a first rod connected to a first diaphragm;
a first spring positioned to exert a force on said first diaphragm and said first rod;
a pipe receiving an end of said first rod; and
at least one seat mounted on said pipe, each said seat being capable of sealing a respective aperture in the inlet conduit; providing a second pressure regulator, including:
a first bleed pipe;
a housing, said first bleed pipe extending from the inlet conduit into said housing; and
a bleed off mechanism mounted within and capable of inhibiting flow to the outlet conduit; and

upon the outlet pressure in the outlet conduit exceeding a predetermined value, enabling said second pressure regulator to inhibit flow into the outlet conduit.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein said bleed off mechanism comprises:
a bellows anchored to the outlet conduit;
a bleed valve anchored to the outlet conduit;
a connecting rod connecting said bellows and said bleed valve; and
a bleed off mechanism seat capable of sealing an aperture in the outlet conduit; and
wherein upon the outlet pressure in the outlet conduit exceeding a predetermined value said bellows compresses and exerts a force on said connecting rod and said bleed valve sufficient to unseat said bleed off mechanism seat from said aperture in the outlet conduit.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein said housing includes:
a first chamber at the inlet pressure and into which said first bleed pipe extends, said first bleed pipe including a fixed restriction in an end within said first chamber, said first chamber having a second rod extending into the outlet conduit and capable of contacting said pipe;
a second chamber at the outlet pressure and separated from said first chamber by a second diaphragm, said second chamber including a second spring providing biasing force on said second diaphragm and said second rod; and
and a second bleed pipe extending from said second chamber to the outlet conduit;
wherein unseating said bleed off mechanism seat from said aperture in the outlet conduit enables removal of greater pressure from said first chamber than is added to said first chamber through said fixed restriction of said first bleed pipe.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein said unseating said bleed off mechanism seat from said aperture in the outlet conduit enables a combination of the outlet pressure in said second chamber and the biasing force of said second spring to overcome the pressure in said first chamber, thereby allowing said second rod to contact said pipe and move said at least one seat into sealing engagement with said respective aperture in the inlet conduit.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

I claim:

1. A truck comprising:
a pair of longitudinally-extending frame rails;
a cab carried by the frame rails of a truck, the cab having a rear wall with a notch extending from a lower edge to a roof of the cab;
a component stack mounted to and extending upward from the frame rails, the component stack including an air filter for an engine of the truck and being sized to fit within the notch; and
a plurality of jump seats located in a rearward portion of the cab, each of the jump seats being located alongside and laterally outward of each of the frame rails.
2. The truck of claim 1, wherein:
each jump seat has a seating platform located at a height no greater than upper surfaces of the frame rails.
3. The truck of claim 1, wherein:
the cab is pivotally mounted to the frame rails for tilting between a lowered position and a raised position; and
the component stack is stationarily mounted to the frame rails.
4. The truck of claim 1, wherein:
the jump seats comprise forward jump seats and rear jump seats that are arranged in opposing pairs on each lateral side of the cab.
5. The truck of claim 1, wherein:
the component stack further comprises at least one fluid tank.
6. The truck of claim 1, further comprising:
front passenger seats located in a forward portion of the cab, each of the front passenger seats having a seating platform located at a height above the upper surfaces of the frame rails.
7. The truck of claim 1, wherein:
the notch is centered along the rear wall of the cab.
8. A truck comprising:
a pair of longitudinal frame rails;
a cab pivotally mounted to the frame rails of the truck for tilting between a lowered position and a raised position, the cab having a rear wall containing a vertically-extending notch substantially centered between lateral side walls of the cab;
a vertical component stack mounted to the frame rails and sized to fit within the notch when the cab is in the lowered position, the component stack including an air filter for an engine of the truck;
front passenger seats located in a forward portion of the cab, each of the front passenger seats having a seating platform located above the frame rails when the cab is in the lowered position; and
jump seats located in a rearward portion of the cab, each of the jump seats having a seating platform that is located along an outer side of one of the frame rails and lower than the seating platforms of the front passenger seats when the cab is in the lowered position.
9. The truck of claim 8, wherein:
the seating platforms of the jump seats are no higher than the frame rails when the cab is in the lowered position.
10. The truck of claim 8, wherein:
the jump seats comprise forward jump seats and rear jump seats that are arranged in opposing pairs on each of the lateral sides of the cab.
11. The truck of claim 8, wherein:
the component stack further comprises an expansion container for a radiator of the truck.
12. A driver and passenger compartment for a fire truck, comprising:
a cab adapted to be pivotally mounted to longitudinal frame rails of a truck for tilting between a lowered position and a raised position;
the cab having a rear wall containing a vertically-extending recess extending substantially centered between lateral side walls of the cab for receiving a vertical component stack of the fire truck;
a pair of front passenger seats located in a forward portion of the cab, each of the front passenger seats having a seating platform; and
a pair of forward facing jump seats located in a rearward portion of the cab, each of the forward facing jump seats having a seating platform that is located outward of the recess and lower than the seating platforms of the front passenger seats.
13. The truck cab of claim 12, further comprising:
a pair of rearward facing jump seats mounted forward of and opposed to the forward facing jump seats, the of the rearward facing jump seats having a seating platform located lower than the seating platforms of the front passenger seats.