Abstract: An inexpensive modular partition wall is provided by panels which include a substantially planar, rectangular central part bordered on opposite sides by substantially planar, rectangular side parts having connector members on opposed sides and integral therewith. Each connector member is generally V-shaped with one arm truncated so as to fit under a line of locking tabs on a like connector member into which it is inserted. Two connectors can be joined together hermaphroditically in the sense that a first connector can be inserted into a second connector or the second connector can be inserted into the first to give the same effect. Panels connected to one another to form a wall can persist or alternate in the gender of their connectedness. Construction of a wall proceeds extremely rapidly, since there are no screw-fastening steps to make. Top and bottom channel members may be employed to increase the rigidity of the wall.

Abstract: Improved optical holographic apparatuses are disclosed for making white light viewable rainbow holograms in one step utilizing concave mirror optics. On-axis and off-axis configurations are presented for holography of real objects and for reduced image holography of a real image projection from a laser transmission hologram. An optical apparatus and curved recording devices are devised to reduce and/or eliminate certain aberrations introduced by the concave mirror. To yield a wide holographic field of view at low cost, small diameter mirrors are employed in two alternative devices for replacing a single concave mirror in the various embodiments. Two methods are then presented to obtain reduced image size one-step rainbow holograms from a full size object or holographic image.

Abstract: A simulated leaded glass panel incorporates a glass backing sheet on which are mounted glass pieces having thin beveled edges and positioned in a desired pattern. The beveled pieces are affixed to the glass by liquid adhesive which may be activated by the application of ultraviolet light. Adhesive-backed lead strips are positioned to outline the beveled pieces and are correspondingly placed on the underside of the glass sheet to achieve the desired effect of leaded glass. Textured film pieces may be placed adjacent the beveled pieces to achieve a desired frosted glass effect.

Abstract: Apparatus for cooling pliant film bearings of turbomachinery or the like and for protecting such bearings against heat transfer from the turbine side of the machinery. The turbomachine incorporates a hollow shaft for better cooling. Embodiments of the invention circulate cooling air through the interior of the hollow shaft and provide various structural configurations to thermally isolate the bearing shaft from the turbine wheel.

Abstract: Apparatus for facilitating the collection and disposal of solid pet wastes. It includes a long-handled reciprocable implement having a pair of jaws at the distal end and a pair of handles at the proximal end connected to open and close the jaws. A disposable container having a pair of clamshell-shaped halves adapted to releasably receive mating retaining portions of the jaws is adapted to be manipulated by the jaws so as to open and close while picking up pet waste deposits. When it is ready for disposal, the edges of the container are secured together and manipulation of the jaws releases the container for dropping into a waste repository.

Abstract: A revetment mattress for preventing the erosion of earthen structures comprising a revetment fabric having a pair of layers of flexible pervious plastic material interconnected by intermittent and staggered spacer threads. This structure has the ability to maintain the layers in a substantially parallel relationship once the mattress has been injected with filler material.

Abstract: A liquid level sensing apparatus for detecting leaks in storage tanks. A buoyancy member is at least partially immersed in the liquid, suspended from a pivoted, counterbalanced, parallelogram support arrangement with a radio frequency target sensing element for electrical readout of displacement. Two such apparatus are incorporated in a system with a provision for measuring a portion of the liquid of the tank in isolation from the remainder, in order to provide for temperature compensation.

Abstract: A device for use as a float switch device for use in a liquid medium is disclosed which has a magnetic latching feature used to produce an offset, with the switch actuating in a first manner when the liquid level drops to a first level, and actuating in a second manner when the liquid level rises to a second level which is aabove the first level by a selected offset distance. The float element has two buoyant disks on the ends of a hollow cylinder, with switching magnets being located intermediate the two buoyant disks, and latch magnets being located on the bottom of the bottom buoyant disk. The float element slides vertically on a switch stem having a magnetic reed switch therein and a steel washer on the bottom thereof, with the float element being latched in a downward position by the latch magnets until the liquid level rises to the level of the upper buoyant disk, resulting in crisp and precise operation of the switching function.

Abstract: A generally tubular container integrally formed and communicating with a microscope slide member having an enclosed specimen chamber. The container is adapted to serve as a centrifugation tube and a permanent handle for manipulation of the microscope slide member. The back of the device is generally flat and the front and sides of the collection tube are generally rounded except for a concave region extending longitudinally from the upper face of the microscope slide member to provide clearance for rotating a lens turret for high power viewing of a specimen in the slide chamber.

Abstract: A combination air data probe performs a number of different pressure measurements from a single structure. Measurements of total pressure and total temperature are performed in an improved structural configuration which renders these measurements substantially insensitive to aircraft angle of attack. Static temperature is computed free of recovery factor error because of compensatory effects in the pressure and temperature signals. Another part of the probe provides measurement of static pressure and pressures for determining angle of attack.

Abstract: A system for automatically controlling the pressure maintained in a plurality of fluid-filled cylinders supporting a sleep surface in order to maintain a desired degree of firmness/softness. In one mode, the system permits the user to set the desired level of firmness and then the system acts to maintain that level under the conditions encountered in use, either venting if an above-setting pressure is sensed or pumping to fill if a below-setting pressure is detected. In another mode, the user is enabled to manually activate either the pump or the vent in order to vary the firmness to his choice.

Abstract: A housing encloses a pair of stripping wheel assemblies adustably mounted for rotation about a central axis on a rotatable frame which is driven by a motor. Each stripping wheel assembly includes an abrasive or stripping wheel positioned to abrade the surface of a wire inserted along the central axis. In one arrangement each stripping wheel assembly comprises a pair of bearing blocks which mount the stripping wheel to be driven via a pair of spur gears. The drive gear is affixed to a drive roller which is driven by rolling contact with the transverse inner surface of the end of the housing. In another arrangement, the stripping wheels are mounted on the same shafts as their respective drive gears which are rotated by engagement with a series of pins mounted in a circle and contacted in succession by the drive gears as the assemblies revolve about the central axis. The stripping wheel assemblies are adjustable radially inward or outward to accommodate different wire sizes.

Abstract: A dental fixator device includes a vertical staff, an upper horizontal arm, a lower horizontal arm, and a pair of clamps on each of the two arms, one of the clamps of each arm being adjacent the rear thereof and slidable on a jig towards the front clamp of the arm, each pair of clamps thereby holding releasably a dental model or cast against the associated arm. The clamps can be pivoted in a horizontal plane and include barrel-shaped serrated gripping surfaces on opposite ends thereof. Each arm has a front flange through which a longitudinal screw runs to the jig for moving the jig along the arm. The upper arm is connected to a cylinder, in turn connected to the staff so that the arm can be rotated around its longitudinal axis. The front end of the cylinder may be pivotably connected to the upper arm and locked in position at a selected angle to the cylinder to accommodate work on the dental models or casts borne on the arms.

Abstract: A device for use for mounting a bicycle seat onto the frame of a bicycle is disclosed which uses a variable height mechanism which may be quickly and conveniently adjusted between two heights by moving the seat slightly to the side and then up or down to the selected position. A spring is used to provide both a torsion force retaining the mechanism in its locked position until the seat is to be adjusted, and a compressive force to bias the seat into its higher position. A guide mechanism is used to limit the relative movement between a lower segment and an upper segment to two locking positions at opposite ends of a guided vertical relative movement.

Abstract: A blind setting rivet which may be used to secure two layers of materials together is disclosed which drills and deburrs its own aperture through the two layers of materials and attaches the materials together in a secure, water-resistant, sealed manner. The rivet includes deburring ears to remove any burrs from the drilling operation, thus ensuring that the rivet head will fit in a flat manner on the outside surface of the materials to be secured. The shaft used to set the rivet has a plurality of spiral flutes located around the circumference thereof, which spiral flutes ensure the application of a uniform amount of force to set the rivet prior to fracture of the shaft.

Abstract: A unitary centrifuge tube and separable sediment dispenser comprises a generally tubular portion with a conical taper connected by a short tube to a sediment receptacle. The receptacle is designed to be easily separated from the centrifuge tube by twisting the receptacle and centrifuge tube with respect to each other. A short segment of the connecting tube which remains attached to the sediment receptacle allows convenient dispensing of the enclosed sediment by squeezing two opposed walls of the container. A second pair of opposed transverse sidewalls is designed to resist flexing during the separation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for holding a generally cylindrical workpiece for honing or otherwise machining an internal bore. The workpiece is held by a gripping surface over most of the innermost turn of a spirally wound spring and coil. The workpiece is grasped circumferentially over its outer surface without excess contact pressure at any particular point. A tendency of the machining operation to rotate the workpiece serves to secure the workpiece more tightly in position by tightening the outer turns of the spring band coil. A rotatable tensioning member acts under the influence of a biasing spring to decrease the diameter of the innermost turn of the spring band coil to bring the gripping surface into contact with the workpiece. A method for adapting the work-holding apparatus to smaller or irregularly shaped workpieces consists of molding an annular piece around the workpiece.

Abstract: A miniature light-weight electric soldering iron includes a hollow handle terminating in a conical air deflecting arrangement through which a cone-shaped curtain of relatively high velocity air is applied to the work area in a circular or elliptical region surrounding the point at which molten solder is being applied by the hot soldering iron tip thereby entraining and dissipating noxious fumes which may be generated from the soldering flux by the hot soldering iron tip. In one embodiment, the soldering iron handle is provided with a plurality of wall air inlet openings and a tiny motor and fan are incorporated to draw air into the handle through these openings and then direct it out through a truncated cone-shaped deflector to develop the air curtain. In another arrangement, the motor and fan are dispensed with and the cone-shaped deflector is coupled to a convenient pressure source, such as an air line. The flow of air further serves to maintain the handle at a comfortably cool temperature.

Abstract: An exposure station and a film transport comprise apparatus for recording a series of strip holograms on a continuous length of non-perforated film. The apparatus includes a vacuum-platen for keeping the film stable during holographic recording and a film stepping mechanism for advancing the film in equal steps between successive exposures. The film stepping mechanism is operationally coupled to the vacuum-platen and includes a drive arm that grips the film during each advance and releases the film without backlash between successive film advances. The film stepping mechanism includes a single-acting vacuum cylinder for moving the drive arm. The apparatus does not introduce strain in the film during the transport process which could result in non-uniform demodulation of the successive strip holograms. The stepping increment (holographic strip width) is adjustable with accurate increments as small as 0.005" being obtainable.

Abstract: A roll-up or curtain type door is disclosed which has modular components which are interchangeable for use on either side of the door, thereby reducing significantly the number of parts which must be manufactured for the door. The number of hardware items is also reduced significantly by designing components which slide together in a secure locking fashion, resulting in better ease of assembly and installation. In one embodiment, the roll-up door of the present invention is used to secure a storage unit with shelves.