Abstract: A disk storage device has a simultaneous data transfer head means (2284) having a plurality of data transducer means (2570) for the simultaneous storage and/or retrieval of a plurality of data on a disk means. The device makes it feasible for the simultaneous transfer of data to and from a disk storage device with a storage area formed thereon (2272), thereby increasing the I/O between the processing unit and the storage device. The magnetic data transfer transducer is fabricated on a substrate by thin film techniques with each element, including the head gap, being successively formed on more elements previously formed.

Abstract: A segmental, anchored, vertical, precast, retaining wall system includes an array of wall panels which can be assembled edge to edge to form a multi-tiered structure. The wall panels are formed with vertical tee stems having bearing surfaces for interlocking wall panels on different tiers and for distributing earth loads between the tiers. Tie rods attached to the tee stems connect the wall panels to precast anchor blocks embedded in the backfill at different vertical levels. The tie rods are protected from corrosion by a sealed tie rod sleeve. The tie rod sleeve is displaced relative to the tie rods during vertical settlement of the backfill to prevent stresses in the tie rod. The retaining wall is self supporting during assembly and can be assembled on a cast-in-place foundation beam without the requirement of additional bracing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing material, such as trash, refuse, garbage and the like, to a specified size of particles. The apparatus is directed to a single comminuting chamber means as well as to a combination of first and second comminuting chamber means. The first comminuting chamber means includes in the lower portion of said chamber means a flow passage means of varying volume through which the particles pass thereby preventing wedging or packing of the particles in the first comminuting chamber means during the comminution of the material therein. The second comminuting chamber means includes a screenless hammer mill means having holding bars or means for holding pieces of material that exceed a predetermined length until said pieces are reduced to a length equal to or less than said predetermined length.

Abstract: A method of playing a blackjack type of card game in which the players play against one another rather than against a dealer. Initially, each player places an identical wager to form a pot and then receives two cards face down from a dealer. The dealer receives no cards but the house collects a rake from each pot. A player may split pairs, draw additional cards or stand. A player receiving a blackjack on the first two cards (i.e., ace and ten value card) or scoring the highest card sum without exceeding 21 wins the pot. If two or more players receive a blackjack on the first two cards, all tie, and the game is repeated using the same pot. If two or more players achieve the same card sum, then a predetermined schedule may be used to ascertain that all tie, and the game is repeated using the same pot.

Abstract: An apparatus for tying elongated members together includes an attachment element and a mating centering element. In use, the attachment element is attached to one of the members to be tied and the centering element is used to align and juxtapose the attached member to a stationary member. Two coils of wire are wrapped around the attachment element and centering element. Upon separation of the rod attachment and rod centering elements, the coils of wire are adapted to tighten around the aligned members and tie the members together. The apparatus of the invention is particularly suited to blind tying reinforcing rods in a structure formed of concrete masonry units.

Abstract: A method and system for producing a collimated beam of light having a substantially uniform flux density across the entire beam includes a light source adapted to emit light rays; a light integrator adapted to collimate the light rays and provide a uniform flux intensity; and a pair of reflectors adapted to reflect all of the light from the light source into the light integrator. The light integrator includes a fly-eye arrangement of light pipes. Each light pipe includes a pair of lenses adapted to bend the light rays towards the normal to collimate the light rays. In addition the light pipes may be juxtaposed to produce a collimated light beam having a uniform flux density and a desired geometrical configuration (i.e. rectangular, circular).

Abstract: This invention relates to a three-dimensional image display device comprising two or more parallel elements, each element being formed from a transparent material, each element having a coating formed thereon, the coating including means for reflecting a portion of a beam of light having a selected predetermined orientation of a chosen component of electric field vectors and means for passing the remaining portion of the beam of light. The coating may also include an absorbing means including a dielectric absorbing means for a photo responsive means including a dielectric sensitive means.

Abstract: A seal cutter for cutting seal material formed on a bottle neck, such as a wine bottle, includes a handle, a stationary jaw member and a movable jaw member. The movable jaw member is formed with a base portion slidably mounted to a track formed on the handle. A spring biased adjustment member is slidably mounted within a channel formed in the handle for adjustably locking the position of the movable jaw member with respect to the stationary jaw member. The adjustment member includes a triangular shaped tooth that mates with triangular shaped slots formed on the base of the movable jaw member to lock the position of the movable jaw member. A cutter wheel is rotatably mounted to the stationary jaw member for cutting the seal material on a bottle that is held between the stationary and movable jaw members.

Abstract: A three stage centrifuge especially adapted to the separation of oil, water, and solid particles in an emulsion. As an example, the centrifuge may be used to separate sediment and water from a petroleum product such as crude oil. The three stage centrifuge includes a rotatable bowl that spins the emulsion to separate the fluid oil and water into separate pools within the bowl. The solid particles are also moved radially outward within the rotatable bowl by centrifugal force. A conveyor auger contacts the solid particles and discharges the solids from the rotatable bowl through a solids discharge port. Oil discharge tubes contact the oil pool confined between oil baffle plates on the conveyor auger and allow the oil to be discharged from the rotatable bowl. Water weirs contact the water pool and allow the water to be discharged from the rotatable bowl.

Abstract: This invention relates to a blower of a centrifugal turbomachine type for producing fluid pressure from mechanical energy. The invention relates to the guide vane rows or vaned diffuser used in centrifugal blowers. The vaned diffuser is located downstream by the impeller. The impellers of the centrifugal blowers can have blades which are backwardly curved, radially ending or forwardly curved. Each of these impellers can have a vaned or vaneless diffusing system following the impeller. During operation of the impeller blades at the design point, the average outlet relative velocity is equal to or greater than 0.6 times the inlet relative velocity at the hub of the impeller portion of the impeller blades and the angle of flow deflection within the impeller blades is at least equal to approximately 50.degree. or more. The centrifugal turbomachine also includes a series of guide vane rows, each of said guide vane rows, including at least a forward row of blades and an aft row of blades.

Abstract: A protective cover for concealing the visible exterior of a tape player or the like mounted in a vehicle dashboard. The protective cover comprises a face plate, a tubular extension member that encloses the visible portion and control knobs of the tape player, a mounting blank which inserts into the tape cartridge opening of the tape player, and adjustable fastening means for hingedly attaching the mounting blank to the face plate and extension member. In use the face plate may be mounted at an angle which conforms to the slope of the dashboard. Additionally, indicia such as decals may be attached to the exterior of the face plate to resemble dashboard components.

Abstract: An improved neck support for a nasal cannula assembly. The neck support includes a support bracket having a central opening therethrough for receiving and engaging a main oxygen supply conduit of the nasal cannula assembly to attach the nasal cannula assembly to the support bracket. The central opening includes an access slot for the main oxygen supply conduit. The neck support further includes a flexible chain which attaches to the support bracket and which can be placed loosely around a patient's neck. In use, the neck support can be rested against the patient's body and supported by the flexible chain about the patient's neck such that a substantial portion of the weight of the nasal cannula assembly is borne by the patient's neck.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing fluid pressure from mechanical energy. The apparatus is of the turbomachine type and includes blowers, compressors, pumps, turbines, fluid motors, and the like. This invention also relates to a method of generating pressurized fluid in which the flow of fluid is first deflected by a substantial amount while simultaneously maintaining the relative velocity following said deflection approximately equal to the relative velocity prior to said deflection fluid at least at one location between hub and tip followed by generating pressure by turning back the flow of fluid by an amount approximately equal to the amount of deflection of the fluid while simultaneously decelerating the flow of fluid and keeping the ratio of the axial through flow velocity through the fluid flow path to the outlet velocity following the generation of said deflection equal to approximately 0.66 or less.

Abstract: Disclosed is a camera case having an air permeable, resilient body and air permeable resilient end plates. A novel method of assembling the case is also disclosed. The body of the case has first and second end edge portions and first and second side edge portions. The body also defines a front, bottom and rear walls and a closing flap of the case. Each end plate has a front edge portion, a bottom edge portion, a rear edge portion, a top edge portion and a notched edge portion. The notched edge portion is sized and configured to mate with the first end edge portion of the body so that outer surface of the front wall and the top edge portions of each end plate will be flush with each other when they are joined together. The case is assembled by applying adhesive to the notched edge portions, the front edge portions, the bottom edge portions and the rear edge portions of the end plates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for joining overlapping sheets of thermally sealable material is disclosed. The method includes applying moving pressure to the sheets to define a moving compressed portion on the sheets, inserting heating means between the overlapping sheets and positioning and maintaining the heating means against an upstream face of the moving compressed portion so that the heating means and moving compressed portion move in unison. The sheets are heated by the heating means as such movement in unison takes place to form a liquified interfacial region between the sheets when the sheets are engulfed by the moving compressed portion. The sheets are joined to each other when the liquified interfacial region cools and solidifies. The heating means is sized and configured to cooperate and move in unison with a selected compressing means which compresses and moves the moving compressed portion along the sheets.

Abstract: A capacitor comprising a sealed hollow glass container, inductor means, a portion of which is mounted within said sealed glass container, two or more layers of material deposited on the exposed surfaces contained within the sealed glass container and a gaseous mixture filling said sealed glass container having a pressure, at 25.degree. C., of approximately 100 torr or more, the gases in said mixture being selected from a group of gases consisting of helium, neon, argon, krypton and xenon. The amounts of argon, neon and xenon do not, individually, exceed approximately 50%, by volume, of the total volume of said gaseous mixture. The amount of helium varies from approximately 10% to 90%, by volume, of the total volume of said gaseous mixture and the amount of krypton does not exceed approximately 20%, by volume, of the total volume of said gaseous mixture. The purity of the gases is approximately 99% or more.