Abstract: A demountable multi-purpose exercise device including a pair of elongate plunger members, a central guide member having a pair of oppositely disposed portions for demountable telescopic engagement with the pair of elongate plunger members. Further included is a depressible resilient means disposed between the pair of elongate plunger members and the central guide member, operative to permit mutual contraction of the plunger members in response to opposing axial forces applied thereto. There is an elongate flexible member longitudinally looped about the exercise device in engagement with the pair of elongate plunger members. Further, there are included, for use with the exercise device an exercise apparatus comprising retractable spool or drum members in cylindrical casings and elongate flexible members fixably attached and resiliently coiled about the spool members to be uncoiled in response to a force applied thereto.

Abstract: A pump of the rotor/stator type for wet cementitious material includes a suction housing for receiving and directing the material into a rotor/stator combination for delivery to the location of use. The suction housing is in the form of a rectangular closed structure having a material receiving flange and enclosing coupling between a drive shaft and an end of a rotor. The housing includes top, bottom and side panels, one of which includes the aforementioned material receiving flange. Each of the panels is easily removed from the suction housing to facilitate cleaning and removal of material residue after use, as well as maintenance and repair of the pump. Cementitious material may be introduced through either the top, bottom or either of the side panels by appropriate positioning of the material receiving flange. The pump further includes a lubricant reservoir for lubricating the drive shaft to extend pump operating lifetime.

Abstract: An electrical handlamp includes a casing molded in two sections which are secured together and cooperate to define a handle for housing a lamp socket and wire connections from a supply cord to the socket. One handle section is integrally molded to provide a closed half shell for partially surrounding and housing a lamp. A protective cage is mounted for rotation about an axis between a closed position protecting the lamp and an open position for replacing the lamp. A hook at the top of the half shell rotatably mounts the top of the protective cage, and the bottom of the cage is rotatably received on the socket. A clasp releaseably latches the cage to the half shell in the closed position of the cage.

Abstract: A floor arrangement for use with livestock such as in a barn is in the form of a concrete panel and includes plural spaced, elongated, linear flumes, or channels, disposed within the panel and extending its length. Each flume is generally cylindrical in shape and opens to the upper surface of the panel via a narrow slot in the upper surface. Animal waste enters the flume via its upper slot and is carried away by flowing water introduced at a first end of the flume and discharged at a second, opposed end. The panel's upper surface is notched to provide safe, stable footing for the animals, with the notches terminating in a slot to facilitate discharge of animal waste into the spaced flumes. The floor is comprised of plural connected panels, with the flumes of adjacent floor panels aligned to provide continuous flow channels extending the entire floor.

Abstract: A method of electrochemically reducing a metal oxide to the metal in an electrochemical cell is disclosed along with the cell. Each of the anode and cathode operate at their respective maximum reaction rates. An electrolyte and an anode at which oxygen can be evolved, and a cathode including a metal oxide to be reduced are included as is a third electrode with independent power supplies connecting the anode and the third electrode and the cathode and the third electrode.

Abstract: A zero-voltage-switched, full-bridge, phase-shifted DC-DC converter for use in a DC power supply or battery charger includes a power transformer, four switching transistors connected to form a full bridge, and a decoupling capacitor and resonant inductor connected in series to the primary winding of the power transformer. At high loads, i.e., high output voltages, the resonant inductor charges the stray and internal capacitance of the switching transistors. Under light loads or in a no-load condition, with the current through the resonant inductor insufficient to allow the inductor to recharge these capacitances, the combination of a second inductor connected at one end to the central tap of the power transformer's primary winding and at its second opposed end to the middle point of a capacitive voltage divider, permits the second inductor to store enough energy to effectively recharge the stray and internal capacitance of the switching transistors for improved operating efficiency.

Abstract: A foldable implement frame and hitch having a front end for attachment to a draft vehicle having dedicated transport wheels movable between a stored position wherein the transport wheels are out of contact with the ground and a transport position wherein the dedicated transport wheels engage the ground and support the implement frame. The dedicated transport wheels are longitudinally movable along one of the telescoping main frame members toward and away from the draft vehicle to change the center of gravity of said foldable implement frame. Additional pivots in the wings provide greater contouring following capabilities.

Abstract: A casing spacer comprised of high strength plastic includes two complementary nut and bolt connected members each having an arcuate inner portion adapted for tight-fitting engagement with a pipe's outer surface and plural linear ribs (risers) extending radially outwardly from the arcuate inner portion and adapted to engage an inner surface of an outer casing maintains the pipe in fixed position within the casing. The arcuate inner portion of each member is flexible so that its entire inner surface contacts the pipe's outer surface for a range of pipe diameters, permitting only two members of fixed size to be used with variously sized pipes. Each casing spacer member includes an aperture in its flexible, arcuate inner portion which is disposed between aligned risers and is adapted to receive and retain a non-slip member frictionally engaging the pipe's outer surface for maintaining the casing spacer in fixed position on the pipe.

Abstract: A method for reducing the concentration of non-superconducting phases during the heat treatment of Pb doped Ag/Bi-2223 composites having Bi-2223 and Bi-2212 superconducting phases is disclosed. A Pb doped Ag/Bi-2223 composite having Bi-2223 and Bi-2212 superconducting phases is heated in an atmosphere having an oxygen partial pressure not less than about 0.04 atmospheres and the temperature is maintained at the lower of a non-superconducting phase take-off temperature and the Bi-2223 superconducting phase grain growth take-off temperature. The oxygen partial pressure is varied and the temperature is varied between about 815° C. and about 835° C. to produce not less than 80 percent conversion to Pb doped Bi-2223 superconducting phase and not greater than about 20 volume percent non-superconducting phases. The oxygen partial pressure is preferably varied between about 0.04 and about 0.21 atmospheres. A product by the method is disclosed.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting the height above the soil of harvesting machinery such as a combine header includes an elongated, curved, flexible arm attached at one end to a rotation sensor mounted to the harvester. The sensor arm is concave in an upward direction and includes and outer sheath such as of plastic and an inner metal rod for increased strength to resist breakage such as during turns and when traversing irregular terrain. The arm is positioned forward of, or immediately adjacent to, the lowest part of the harvester which includes a cutter assembly for cutting and separating the crop. As the harvester encounters upraised portions of the soil, the arm's point of contact with the soil moves forward along the arm to provide an increasingly early warning of upraised soil to facilitate early height adjustment and the avoidance of soil contact and possible damage to the harvester.

Abstract: A flying inspect trap includes large, multi-directional, oppositely facing ingress openings to elongated chambers housing UV lamps emitting insect attractant light. A disposable cartridge has two sections which mate together to form a container for a roll of adhesive trapping medium. The cartridge sections are opened and spread apart to fit beneath the UV lamps. A motor indexes the adhesive medium so that some unused portion is always available for trapping insects until the roll is exhausted. The spent roll is then rolled into one cartridge section externally; and the two cartridge sections are coupled together to encase the spent roll for disposal.

Abstract: A self-supporting hinge assembly structurally arranged to provide a hinge on the opposite edges of a door or closure member is disclosed. The hinge assembly includes a pair of support members, one support member being mounted to the container frame and the other support member being mounted to the inside surface of the container door or closure and a pair of closing arm members positioned within the pair of support members. The ends of the closing arm members are selectively and pivotally mounted to the ends of the support members.

Abstract: A roll-up curtain assembly includes plural, vertically spaced, horizontal roll-up rods extending across an opening. Each roll-up rod is coupled to a respective flexible curtain section and an electric motor. Actuation of the electric motor in a first direction of rotation causes rotation of the roll-up rod in a first direction for rolling the flexible curtain section onto the rod and moving the curtain assembly to the retracted, or open, position. Actuation of the electric motor in a second, opposed direction of rotation lowers the roll-up rod resulting in an unwinding of the curtain section from the rod allowing the curtain assembly to assume the extended, or closed, position. Plural vertically spaced curtain sections each having a respective motor/roll-up rod combination are coupled together and move upward or downward in unison.

Abstract: A method of continuously producing a non-oxide ceramic formed of a metal constituent and a non-metal constituent. A salt of the metal constituent and a compound of the non-metal constituent and a compound of the non-metal constituent are introduced into a liquid alkali metal or a liquid alkaline earth metal or mixtures to react the constituents substantially submerged in the liquid metal to form ceramic particles. The liquid metal is present in excess of the stoichiometric amount necessary to convert the constituents into ceramic particles to absorb the heat of reaction to maintain the temperature of the ceramic particles below the sintering temperature. Ceramic particles made by the method are part of the invention.

Abstract: A negative electrode is disclosed for a non-aqueous electrochemical cell. The electrode has an intermetallic compound as its basic structural unit with the formula M2M? in which M and M? are selected from two or more metal elements including Si, and the M2M? structure is a Cu2Sb-type structure. Preferably M is Cu, Mn and/or Li, and M? is Sb. Also disclosed is a non-aqueous electrochemical cell having a negative electrode of the type described, an electrolyte and a positive electrode. A plurality of cells may be arranged to form a battery.

Abstract: An industrial Ethernet switching hub includes a casing in which a plurality of industrial Ethernet connector assemblies are mounted. Each Connector assembly includes a rigid connector receptacle sealed to the casing and receiving an Ethernet connector. The casing of each connector assembly has an externally threaded extension for receiving a mating Ethernet connector. A quick disconnect power connector is also mounted to the casing and a switch IC controller is embedded in the casing for data signal routing among the Ethernet connectors.

Abstract: A floor scrubber includes a forward cylindrical brush with adjustable down pressure. The cylindrical brush is sprayed uniformly with a controlled amount of water or solution and moves debris forward with a direct propelling action into a collection hopper. A set of three disc brushes is located behind the cylindrical brush, followed by a suction liquid recovery device for suctioning spent solution. A control system allows independent use of the forward cylindrical brush, or the rear disc brush set, or all brushes. A floor-engaging flap having a central opening extends transverse of the machine behind the cylindrical brush to channel water from the cylindrical brush to the disc brush set and then to the suction recovery device.

Abstract: An agricultural implement with an elongated bar having a front side nearer in use to a drive vehicle and a rear side. A first plurality of row units are laterally spaced apart along the bar and extend rearwardly thereof connected through parallel linkage to the front side of the elongated bar. A second plurality of row units are laterally spaced apart along the bar and extend rearwardly thereof interleaved with the first plurality of row units and connected through parallel linkage to the rear side of the bar. Parallel linkage for both the first and second plurality of row units is directly mounted to and extends rearwardly of and below the bar to position all row units to the rear of the bar, allowing both field crops or row crops to be planted.