Abstract: An inflatable hydroplane apparatus uses a pneumatic vehicle innertube with a flexible fabric cover including an annular flexible fabric positioned partly covering said innertube and forming a smooth bottom therefor. A handle strap is stitched to said cover for the rider to hold on to and a tow rope attaching strap is stitched to the bottom portion of the cover for attaching a tow rope from a boat for pulling the hydroplane. The innertube is inflated in the cover to form the hydroplane and deflated for storage.

Abstract: A flexible electrode catheter for rapid endocardial insertion has a "J"-shaped curved configuration. A wing extends laterally from the catheter at the proximal end, and has an established relationship between the lateral direction of the wing and the direction of the curve, allowing the physician to control the orientation of the distal end during and after insertion within the heart. The wing may then be used to stabilize the electrode by taping to the patient's skin. The curved end is opened between 20.degree.-50.degree. from the longitudinal axis of the catheter.

Abstract: A thermoformable plastic commerical refuse container is rotationally molded with a pair of metal lifting sleeves in situ' molded into the container. The side walls of the container are designed to accept the metal sleeves internally of the container and to distribute the lifting stress over the wall. The container walls are outwardly projected above the sleeves so as to increase the available storage volume of the container. An improved box-shaped top flange design is used to tie the walls of the container together and to provide increased strength and rigidity.

Abstract: A self flashing skylight for installation on the downwardly sloping roof is disclosed, in which a central portion is convexly curved and the side edges are provided with channels adjacent the convexly curved portion so that rain water impinging on the skylight will tend to be diverted into the channels which direct the water to the bottom of the skylight.

Abstract: An improved hermetically sealed composite container formed by double-seaming a pair of compounded metal ends to extended length flanges on the opposite ends of a can body so that the compound is bonded to an inner liner on the can body to provide an effective seal. The compound material is placed in the seaming panel and curl area of the metal ends so as to provide a more extensive seal area when the metal ends are double-seamed with the extended flanges on the can body. The extended length flanges provide a considerably greater contact area between the can body inner liner and the metal ends when the metal ends are double-seamed to the can body.

Abstract: An all electronic interconnect system having high flexibility, low cost, and higher reliability. A central matrix is formed from a multiplicity of solid state analog switches in which each switch is controlled by a digital address. Each switch can connect a common switch point to one of a multiplicity of outputs. For use with digital devices such as computers and peripherals, a multiplicity of rows of the matrix may be connected to accept an N-bit parallel byte and to output such an input selectively to one of several channels. The channel to which the input is connected is selected by a digital address to each of the analog switches in the row. By using a multiplicity of rows, the matrix is built up to interconnect a number of input digital devices to a number of output devices through control of the electronic addresses. Control circuits are provided which permit rapid interconnection of any input device to any output device.

Abstract: A game apparatus including a manipulatable container with a sinuous track having a concave surface mounted within the container and extending along a three dimensional path between a starting point and a finishing point, the track including a longitudinal twist between the starting point and the finishing point. A ball rolls along the track as the game is manipulated by a user. The container may contain two compartments communicating with one another through an aperture.

Abstract: A method and system for harvesting fruit, such as citrus fruit. A modularized housing is provided with a mechanism for disposing the housing opposite a picking zone of a tree, with an open side thereof defining a picking aperture. The picking zone is illuminated, and an electronic camera at the geometric center of the housing having a 256.times.256 sensor array records the picking zone. Electronic processing circuits identify the X-Y coordinates with respect to the aperture of each identified fruit with color discrimination means utilized for such identification. The X-Y coordinates are stored in memory. An extensible picking arm is then placed with a pivot at the geometric center and sequentially extended through each stored X-Y coordinate. An optical seeker, having a light source and a quadrature optical detector, disposed at the distal end of the arm detects a fruit in the path of the extending arm and controls the movement of the arm to cause a severance head on the arm to contact the fruit.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting an automatic firearm of high caliber including a frame, a receiver mounted on the frame, a barrel mounted on the receiver, a bolt disposed on the receiver telescopically moveable relative to the breech end of the barrel against the action of a recoil spring, and the bolt being controlled by a sear which is movable in response to the movement of the weapon trigger and a disconnect lever, to a low caliber automatic firearm is disclosed. The apparatus for conversion includes a frame disposed in the receiver of the firearm, a low mass bolt assembly including a bolt carrier, a bolt, and a sear foot disposed in sliding contact with the frame. A pivotable camming lever is attached to the frame and pivots in response to impact from the bolt carrier. The camming lever provides sufficient mechanical advantage to enable the forward impact of the low mass bolt assembly to depress the disconnect lever on the original weapon.

Abstract: A radiation detector having a plurality of discrete fields of view with respect to a plurality of sensing elements. The sensing elements are connected such that their output signals are summed to zero if all elements are receiving the same radiation. Optical elements focus on the sensing elements to produce the discrete fields of view and are adapted to produce non-uniform sensitivity of the patterns over the solid angle thereof whereby a non-zero output will be produced when the sensing elements receive differing amounts of radiation. In one embodiment, a shield is disposed between elements to block radiation to a sensing element from one portion of the solid angle and to pass radiation from another portion of the solid angle.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for mixing concrete or the like is described and includes a support frame, a rotational drive mounted to the frame, a drum liner support rotatably connected to the rotational drive and a drum liner connected to and supported by the drum liner support and comprising a container having one open end for receiving therewithin the material to be mixed.

Abstract: A system for conditioning and removing aquatic plants growing on the surface of a body of water includes a water craft having at least one rotatable drum, the specific density of which is less than one. Conditioning ribs extend away from the outer peripheral surface of the drum and a prime mover is provided for moving the craft across an area of compacted aquatic plants. The drum is rotated to permit the ribs to separate and condition the plants for a relatively uniform distribution across the surface of the water. The craft has means, such as a rope, cable or pushing fork for drawing the aquatic plants into a conveyor for removal. The water craft is provided with a steering mechanism of rugged construction permitting relatively facile movement.

Abstract: An electric ceiling fan of minimum practical axial depth for conserving needed head room includes a wheel-like frame; a fan motor nested therein; a fan blades assembly nested around and driven by such motor; a shallow support adapted to be attached directly to a ceiling; shallow hanger arms pivotally suspending the frame from the support for generally varying the air flow; a shallow, air pervious upper guard enclosing the motor and fan blades assembly; a step motor nested in the frame beneath the fan motor; a thin air pervious lower guard nested within the frame, driven by the step motor in the same direction as the fan blades assembly, but at much lower speed, and having radially spaced parallel vanes directing the downwardly flowing air in both axial and outwardly inclined, slowly revolving columns, for distributing the air over a wider area, while avoiding excessive air flow and "dead spots" beneath the fan; and a control mechanism including a separate switch for operating the step motor independently of t

Abstract: A high speed processor for a digital modem which transmits and receives data over voice grade telephone lines, for performing logical addition and subtraction operations during encoding and decoding of data as phase shift keyed modulation. A quarter square multiplying circuit is provided which executes multiplying operations at high speed. A discrete-input multiplexer is provided and controlled to bring single-bit variables into the processor as word variables permitting logic operations to be performed rapidly and efficiently. A bitwise logic circuit is provided in conjunction with the multiplexer and the processor to perform logic operations on bit pairs within the same word or on pairs of bits from different locations in two different operands. An interrupt subsystem includes a toggle circuit which alternately monitors for transmit and receive interrupts.

Abstract: Large power transformers such as used at electrical generating plants utilize oil for cooling with the heat removed by air cooled radiators. Several air cooled radiators are removed from the transformers and the oil circulated through plate heat exchangers which provide a heat transfer path to a fluid cooling medium such as water. Flow transducers and electrical temperature sensors may be used to monitor the flow rates of the oil and water, and the temperature of the oil and water in various parts of the system. These parameters are controlled to maximize the transfer of waste heat from the transformer to the water. The heated water is then utilized to perform useful work. For example, in a power plant having package boilers, the boiler makeup water is preheated with the transformer waste heat thereby reducing the energy requirements of the system.

Abstract: A Snyder-type distilling column having improved floating ball vapor valves. When used in a standard Snyder-type column, the valve comprises a spherical upper portion and a downwardly extending guide stem. When used in a microcolumn, the upper portion is mushroom shaped with a downwardly extending guide stem. The lower surface of either upper portion forms the valve face and includes multiple indentations therein. When a ball valve is closed, the indentations form by-pass passages to permit draining of condensed liquids therethrough thereby preventing flooding of the column. The indentations also permit the passage of vapors through the ball valve indentations thereby preventing sticking which can occur with a tight fitting ball valve and cause rotation of the ball valve during use which also assists in preventing sticking.

Abstract: An easy open pull-tab container and related method comprises a generally planar end having a line of weakness defining a tear line so that a portion of the end is partially removable, the tear line lying in the plane of the end. A pull-tab is provided for severing the portion along the tear line, with first and second portions of the end wall on opposite sides of, and spaced from the line of weakness, extending underneath the area adjacent the line of weakness and to form blunt, protective shoulders at the line of weakness. The protective shoulders are formed via first and second concentric grooves in the end, the grooves extending below the level of the end to form inner and outer beads, the inner bead extending substantially below the outer bead. A central bead is formed in the end between the first and second concentric grooves, the central head extending above the level of the end.