Abstract: The filter assembly includes a filter unit disposed in a vertical tank and includes a first end plate or drain head having an opening in fluid communication with a filtrate port in the tank, a longitudinally movable second end plate or compression head spaced in generally parallel relationship to the drain head and an elongated sleeve of flexible filter material, such as a woven fabric, connected to and extending between the drain and compression heads to define a filtrate chamber. When the filter tube is in an expanded or extended condition (filtering position), a portion of the fluid, such as a wash water from a vehicle washing facility, entering the tank passes through the filter tube into the filter chamber and the thus-filtered water exits therefrom through the filtrate port. Excess wash water in the tank overflows through an overflow outlet.

Abstract: The device for reducing the volume of an aqueous waste effluent includes a holding tank, a heating tank for receiving waste effluent from the holding tank and including a heater for heating the waste effluent to a predetermined temperature which is below the boiling point of water and high enough to cause a portion of the water to evaporate and be discharged as water vapors, an agitation pump for continuously recirculating the liquids contents of the heating tank and filter units mounted on top of the heating tank for separating solids and particulate matter from the resulting slurry and returning the filtrate to the heating tank.

Abstract: The wire cutter includes a pair of elastomeric gripping members mounted in the throat of the wire cutter and having closely spaced, opposed, inner faces which extend generally perpendicularly to the cutting plane of the cutting edges and clamp a short segment of wire therebetween as it is clipped from a larger section of wire. The gripping members preferably are made from a polyurethane elastomer and preferably are cast or formed in situ by pouring a liquid mixture of a polyurethane prepolymer and curing agent in the pocket defined by the throat and, in some cases, a mold surrounding the wire cutter jaws.

Abstract: A porous, woven carbon fabric friction material is bonded to a solid substrate, such as a conical transmission synchronizer, with a high temperature thermosetting adhesive, such as a synthetic rubber-phenolic resin base adhesive. Prior to applying the adhesive, a thin layer of one surface of the friction material is removed, such as by contacting the surface with a band-type sander, to break through the pyrolytic carbon coating on the substantial portion of the carbon fibers. The adhesive is applied to the abraded surface of the friction material and/or a roughened surface on the solid substrate, the friction material is clamped to the solid substrate and the thus-assembled parts are heated to at least substantially cure the adhesive. Improved bonds between the adhesive and friction material are produced and a tendency for the adhesive to "bleed through" the pores of the friction material and migrate to the friction surface during curing is significantly reduced.

Abstract: The ring binding mechanism includes one or more partial rings which are slidably mounted in arcuate tracks in a base plate member for rotational movement between a loading position wherein an opening between the ends of the rings is accessible to install or remove sheets of paper or the like and a loaded position wherein the opening is located beneath the surface of the base plate member. The tracks, base plate member and rings include parts which cooperate to releasably lock the rings in the loaded position. In one embodiment, the ring binding mechanism is installed on a one-piece cover including a spine section defined between laterally spaced hinged sections. The spine section is either mounted directly on the base plate member or sandwiched between the base plate member and a back plate member which are secured together with snap-in fingers. The binder can be transported in an unassembled condition and assembled at the point of use by the user.

Abstract: The milking tube section of a milking inflation includes an elongated stem portion having a claw end portion which has an upper end located above the outer end of a milker claw nipple when installed thereon. The stem portion has a circumferentially extending, generally V-shaped groove at a location near the lower end of a teat cup shell in which the inflation is installed and/or at a location adjacent the upper end of the claw end portion. These grooves are arranged to permit substantial relative bending of portions adjacent each groove without substantial crimping which causes a reduction in the internal cross sectional area of the flow passage extending through the milking tube section. The resulting flexibility facilitates installation of a teat cup assembly on a cow's teat and provides improved teat-hanging characteristics.

Abstract: The milking tube section for a milking inflation is provided with a plurality of axially spaced, circumferentially extending grooves which define segments having opposed edges and which are dimensioned to permit relative movement of the sides of adjacent segments and afford a predetermined degree of bending movement of one segment relative to the adjacent segment in one direction without causing a substantial reduction in the internal cross sectional area of the flow passage through the stem portion of the milking tube section. The grooves are also dimensioned so that, after such predetermined bending in one direction, the edges of adjacent segments on one side of the stem portion abut and hinder further bending of the stem portion in that direction.

Abstract: A side terminal battery includes a terminal having a plug formed of relatively deformable lead disposed within an aperture formed in the battery casing, and a one-piece battery terminal insert embedded within the lead so as to be accessible from the exterior of the battery. An interior, closed-ended cavity, opening through the exposed end of the insert, is formed within the insert and includes interior threads for engaging a threaded battery connector fastener. The interior threads terminate before reaching the closed end of the cavity such that a true indication of battery connector fastener tightness is provided. The closed end wall of the insert forms a barrier between the end of the fastener and the interior of the battery casing, and a plurality of serrations on the outer surface of the insert permit the insert to rotate within the lead plug when a torque in excess of a predetermined maximum is applied to the insert.

Abstract: The retinal tack includes a generally conical, sharply pointed forward end portion for piercing through the retina, choroid, and sclera, an elongated, generally cylindrical retaining portion having a longitudinal dimension approximating the thickness of a patient's retina, choroid, and sclera and including one or more peripheral grooves for receiving sclera tissue displaced during insertion of the forward end portion, and an enlarged head having a radially extending flange portion for engaging the retina in the area of the opening formed in the retina. The tack is carried in the tip of a tubular probe selectively connected in fluid communication with sources of negative and positive pressures and the head includes a seat portion which sealingly engages a complementary seat in the probe tip when a negative pressure is applied to the probe.

Abstract: A sterilizing device includes a heating chamber having a reservoir containing a substantially inert, vaporizable liquid having a boiling point sufficiently high to kill microorganisms unsafe for humans. The sterilizing liquid is heated to boiling by a heater submerged therein. The articles to be sterilized are placed in a perforated tray located in the chamber above the reservoir and are contacted by a blanket of substantially saturated vapors of the sterilizing liquid. A temperature controller turns the heater off and on in response to the vapor blanket rising to and falling below a predetermined level above the tray. A counter counting the number of electrical impulses or cycles thereafter transmitted to the heater turns off the heater after a predetermined number of such cycles and a fan or similar cooling apparatus is energized to cool the chamber and condense the vapors.

Abstract: The device for driving tongue and groove flooring panels into a mated or seated position for installation on floor joist has a weighted head including a rear face adapted to impact the outer edge of an elongated seated member resting on the floor joist and abutting an outer edge of the flooring panel to be installed. The head also includes an elongated opening for slidably receiving the upper portion of a floor joist. The head is moved back and forth along a floor joist to impact the seating member and drive the panel into a seated position by an elongated handle extending upwardly and rearwardly at an incline from the head. The handle is long enough to permit a workman to straddle a previously installed panel and the panel being installed while driving the latter panel into a fully seated position. The width of the groove and the head approximates the width or thickness of the floor joist.

Abstract: The fluid-powered, reciprocating motor includes a cylinder having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, a differential area piston mounted in the cylinder, and an output or power shaft connected to the piston. A pressurized fluid, either a gas or a liquid, is continuously introduced into the cylinder inlet chamber and acts on the smaller piston area to move the piston in one direction. A small stream of the fluid flows from the cylinder inlet chamber into the cylinder outlet chamber through a control passage in the piston and is exhausted from the cylinder outlet chamber through an outlet passage until the piston is moved far enough for a valve member carried by the piston to close the outlet passage. Fluid pressure subsequently building up in the cylinder outlet chamber acts on the larger piston area and moves the piston in the opposite direction.

Abstract: The fluid infusion device includes a primary and an auxiliary fluid pump capable of providing a substantially continuous flow of a fluid, such as air. A pressure regulator driven by a reversible electric motor regulates the air pressure and the flow of pressurized air through an disposable air delivery unit, consisting of a millipore, bacterial static filter and a tube removably connected to an air outlet is controlled by a normally closed, solenoid-operated infusion valve. Separate pressure transducers detect the pump output pressure, the regulator outlet or preset pressure, and the infusion pressure downstream of the infusion valve when it is open.

Abstract: The fishing rod holder includes an elongated, open ended tubular member for receiving the end of a fishing rod and a support bracket having a rear end, a front end including a support portion engaged by the tubular member and located above the rear end, and an elongated base portion located between and below the rear end front ends. The upper portion of the tubular member rear end is connected to the upper edge of the support bracket rear end for pivotal movement of the tubular member through a generally vertical plane and about a pivot axis located rearwardly and above the longitudinal axis of the tubular member between a forwardly inclined resting position engaging the support portion of the bracket and a raised position. The base portion of the bracket is removably mounted on a support, such as boat oarlock, a troll board, pier, or the like, by a pin which is mounted on and depends from the base portion and fits into a hole in the support.

Abstract: An exercise device for improving a golf swing comprising a grip on an upper end of a shaft, a series of perforated circular discs weighing 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 ounces, respectively, adapted to fit securely on the shaft, progressing geometrically in weight and a means for releasably securing any combination of the perforated discs on a lower end of the shaft. The means includes a lower base plate on the shaft secured against axial movement toward the lower end of the shaft and an upper collar releasably secured on the shaft. The lower surface of the base plate contains an annular recess which surrounds a pin that is threaded into a transverse bore in the shaft.

Abstract: The tracer unit, which is particularly adaptable for ammunition used in hand guns and submachine guns, consists of a base charge including about 70 to about 90 weight % strontium peroxide, about 5 to about 15 weight % calcium resinate and about 5 to about 10 weight % magnesium and an igniter charge covering the base charge and including about 40 to about 60 weight % calcium resinate, about 20 to about 30 weight % strontium nitrate and about 20 to about 30 weight % magnesium. A small cavity in the rear end of a projectile is partially filled with the base charge which is tamped into the cavity by the application of a low pressure, such as by hand tamping with a metal plunger or the like. The igniter charge is added to the projectile cavity on top of the base charge and, after drying, the exposed surface of the igniter charge is covered with a compatible moisture proofing material, such as shellac.

Abstract: The heat recovery device includes a section of standard flue pipe carrying a single row of a plurality of hollow, cylindrical heating tubes extending diametrically through the flue pipe section and a separate housing defining an air flow chamber surrounding the portion of the flue pipe section containing the heating tubes. A fan inside the housing draws ambient air into the housing and propels a flow of air toward a heated air outlet, both through the heating tubes and over the outer surface of the flue pipe section. A catalytic combustor for reducing air pollutants and potential creosote deposits is mounted in the flue pipe section upstream of the heating tubes. The flue pipe assembly is removably mounted on the housing so it can be removed in the event it fatigues and/or becomes plugged with carbon or creosote deposits during use. A thermostat on the flue pipe section turns the fan on and off when the temperature in the flue pipe section is respectively above and below a predetermined temperature.