Abstract: A wheel finishing apparatus for abrasively finishing the front faces of automobile wheels. The apparatus has a rotating carousel hub and multiple arms connected to the carousel hub which extend out to wheel mounting ends. A wheel is rotatably mounted to each wheel mounting end such that the front face of each wheel faces a known direction of carousel rotation and forms an impingement with an orbital path traversed by the wheel mounting end. Each wheel may be independently pivoted about a respective pivot axis at each wheel mounting end for variably adjusting the impingement angle. By adjusting the impingement angle to less than ninety degrees, partially submerging the wheels in a media bath, and rotating the carousel drive structure about a central axis of rotation, the abrasive polishing media impinges the submerged portions of the front faces and rotates the wheels about their respective wheel rotational axes to abrasively finish all areas of the front faces.

Abstract: A centrifuge tube for collecting and dispensing a mixed concentrated fluid sample. The centrifuge tube has an elongated tube body with an open top end and a bottom end preferably having a dispensing spout. A divider insert is positioned inside the inner volume of the tube body to divide the inner volume into upper and lower chambers. The divider insert has a funnel shape with an inverted conical section and a funnel spout having a spout tip. The spout tip extends into the lower chamber while remaining above the bottom end. Upon filling the upper chamber with a fluid and subjecting it to centrifugal forces inside a centrifuge, a concentrated fluid sample is collected in the lower chamber with an air pocket captured between the spout tip and the divider insert. The concentrated fluid sample may then be agitated to mix the sedimented solids with the liquid of the concentrated fluid sample, and the now mixed concentrated fluid sample subsequently dispensed through the dispensing spout.

Abstract: A printing plate lockup mechanism for use in a cylinder groove of a plate cylinder. The lockup mechanism has a base plate which is held in the cylinder groove and has cutouts which permit grippers to be held by the base plate. Thrust bars take the place of conventional thrust cylinders and each thrust bar is held above a base plate by a pair of springs. Plate locating clips are also held on the base plate. The lockup mechanism of the present invention permits the conversion from a mechanical lockup system to a snap-in tooless system. It also permits the securement of downsized printing plates so that plates of a lesser width can be accommodated on printing cylinders originally designed for plates of a wider width. The printing plate lockup of the present invention can be used to replace a mechanical lockup system. The mechanical lockup system is removed from the plate cylinder and the new tooless system installed in its place.

Abstract: An extractor valve assembly for controlling fluid flow in a fluid flow path. The extractor valve assembly has an elastic valve conduit having an outer surface with a pair of grooves. The pair of grooves are formed on opposite sides of the outer surface and intersect a pinch circumference of the elastic valve conduit, and are parallel to a central axis of the elastic valve conduit. When the elastic valve is pinched along the pinch circumference by pinch blades, pinch corners are formed at the pair of grooves, such that the pinching action completely blocks fluid flow. Additionally, first and second pairs of symmetric tabs are formed on the elastic valve on opposite sides of the pinch blades, to reduce stress along the portion of the pinch perimeter which comes in contact with the pinch blades.

Abstract: A vertically-oscillating spa massager for use in a hydrotherapy hot tub by a bather, and having a massager component slidably and captively mounted on a vertical track of a base member mounted on the hot tub. The massager component oscillates in a vertically reciprocating manner on the vertical track preferably by means of a rotating drive arm pivotally attached to the base member at a pivot end and slidably connected at a swing end through an elongated aperture on the massager component. The rotating drive arm is preferably driven by a water driven turbine. Additionally, the massager component has at least one convex surface, preferably a roller, which is used to apply contact pressure on a bather and rollably perform the massage as the massager component oscillates.

Abstract: A golf swing teaching device to assist a golfer in improving his or her golf swing. The teaching device includes a frame which supports a guide shaft which is formed in the shape of an arc. A golf club is affixed at its butt end to the guide shaft. It is affixed to the guide shaft so that it may slide along the guide shaft. In this way, the golfer may swing the club and be assisted to move the butt end of the golf club in an arcuate path.

Abstract: A powder actuated tool for driving a fastener into a concrete steel or other hard surface. The tool has a main housing in which a barrel assembly is held. The barrel assembly is permitted to move in and out a short distance and is spring loaded in the out position. A cartridge is held at the inner end of the barrel. A piston is held within the barrel and has an upper end near the cartridge and a lower end adjacent a fastener to be driven. When the cartridge is detonated the piston is driven against the head of the fastener driving it into the concrete or other substrate. A firing pin is held in a breech block and is moved downwardly by contact with a firing hammer. The firing hammer is also held by the breech block and is spring loaded to move downwardly. Its downward movement is restrained by the contact of a tab resting on a ledge of the breech block.

Abstract: A glow plug construction for use in internal combustion engines has an annular washer seated at an open upper end of an outer shell having a crimp portion extending to an upper rim. The annular washer has a ridge-like upper surface, with a preferably curved configuration. And the crimp portion of the outer shell is contouredly bent around the ridge-like upper surface with the upper rim extending past and below an apex of the annular washer. In this manner, the crimp portion exerts a substantial crimp pressure along the annular washer. Furthermore, a crimping method produces the crimped glow plug construction by gradually moving a crimping die against the crimp portion. The crimping die has a concave annular die such that, upon exertion of the preferably hydraulic crimping force, the crimp portion is plastically bent around the annular washer and the upper rim extends past and below the apex of the annular washer.

Abstract: A disposable garment-protecting cover having a flexible, foldable sheet construction is provided for use when holding a baby against one's shoulder. The sheet construction has upper, lower, and middle regions which are preferably folded therebetween to cover a user's upper back, chest, and shoulder areas, respectively. The middle region has a central aperture through which a user's neck may be extended, and the lower region includes at least two vertical creases which fold the resulting vertical sections toward a back surface of the sheet construction, such that when the garment-protecting cover is donned, the lower region contours to the user's chest.

Abstract: A glow plug assembly method and construction providing a partially assembled glow plug construction having a core body positioned in a hollow plug body with insulating support elements preventing contact between the core body and the plug body. Furthermore, a bolt fastener having a head portion and a threaded shank portion is threadedly secured into the open upper end of the hollow plug body such that a flange portion of the rod-like stud, as well as the insulating support members, are clamped together in a sealing manner.

Abstract: An accessible pedestrian signal system to assist visually impaired persons to cross a signal controlled intersection. The signal system has a push button which is pressed by the pedestrian. Circuitry is provided to vibrate the push button when the signal system is programmed to send a signal that it is time to cross the intersection. Preferably, the push button is mounted on a flexible diaphragm and a vibrating movement is transmitted to the inner surface of the diaphragm when it is desired to vibrate the push button. Preferably, the pressing of the button flexes a piezo-electric member which has an output to the circuitry of the signal system.

Abstract: A spray shield apparatus for shielding against spray from a sprinkler. The spray shield apparatus has an elongated support rod capable of being anchored relative to the sprinkler. A pair of baffles are mounted to an upper shank of the support rod with least one baffle having a pivot end which pivots to different angles relative to the other baffle. Additionally, flexible tabs which extend from the upper shank are preferably used to releaseably secure the pivoting baffle(s) at the desired angle. The flexible tabs are capable of engaging and disengaging notched grooves located on an inner surface of the pivot end.

Abstract: An adjustable roller assembly for producing sheeted food products of an accurate thickness which includes an adjustable roller positioned adjacent a second roller. The adjustable roller is held in bearings which are eccentrically mounted in a pair of turnable members which are supported by a first bearing. The axis of rotation of the adjustable roller is offset from the axis of rotation of the turnable members. The polar orientation of the turnable members is continuously adjustable to provide the desired thickness of the sheeted food product. Preferably, the orientation of the turnable member at one end of the adjustable roller is adjustable independently of the roller orientation of the other turnable member.

Abstract: A process for coating an upper surface of a panel with a mesh reinforced coating includes the steps of: placing a cementitious mixture in a container having a measured slit in the bottom thereof; passing a length of mesh through the container to produce a cementitious laden mesh; moving said panel and container with respect to each other while laying said cementitious laden mesh onto the upper surface of the panel; and cutting off the mesh to provide a coated panel. The coated panel may be subjected to vibration to smooth the upper surface thereof.

Abstract: A test panel and process of preparing a test panel for evaluating the performance of inspection penetrants by inducing cracks into a brittle coating. The process utilizes a penetrating tool which has a point which is pressed in a slow measured manner into the back side of the panel which has a brittle coating on the front side to be cracked. The position of the pointed tool is carefully measured in increments of 0.05″ or smaller. The tool is driven to a depth to obtain the desired crack size, depending on the brittle coating's characteristics.

Abstract: An activator valve for providing a time temporary vacuum at an output port which is normally at atmospheric pressure. The timed vacuum is provided in response to an increase in air pressure in an interruptible vacuum chamber, such as that by briefly opening the valve between the outside of the valve and the interruptible vacuum chamber. When this pressure increases, a diaphragm holding a magnet moves downwardly attracting a ferro-magnetic disk upwardly. The ferro-magnetic disk opens a valve between the output port and a main vacuum source port. This causes a vacuum to be drawn at the output port, which in turn operates a remote device which the activator valve is controlling. When the source of outside air to the interruptible vacuum chamber is closed the outside air is then drawn from the interruptible vacuum chamber, causing the magnet to once again rise and release the ferro-magnetic member, closing the valve between the main source of vacuum and the output port.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic attachment for use with a pool brush having scrubbing bristles at a brush head portion connected to an elongated pole. The hydrodynamic attachment has a base fin connected to the pool brush opposite the scrubbing bristles, and an outer fin connected to the base fin to form a scoop pocket. The scoop pocket has a generally C-shaped cross-section such that the scoop pocket can temporally trap water when the pool brush is pushed in a downward motion. In this manner a transverse force is produced against the brush head which is then urged toward the target surface of a pool. Additionally, an improved pool brush which incorporates the hydrodynamic attachment is disclosed.

Abstract: An aircraft crash sensor activates an aircrew safety device upon sensing an aircraft impact in any direction to minimize the aircrew flail envelope and reduce the possibility of injury caused by the crash. The crash sensor is useful in a plurality of different aircraft all having different characteristics and mounting orientations for the crash sensor. It includes accelerometers which sense accelerations along three orthogonal axes. The memory contains algorithms for each of a plurality of different aircraft. The memory also contains a program which converts the acceleration data measured along the sensor's axes to acceleration data on the aircraft's orthogonal X, Y and Z axes. These converted acceleration signals are input to a microcontroller which evaluates them, by analyzing them with an algorithm contained in non-volatile programmable memory, to determine when a crash has occurred.