Abstract: A device for supplying cold outside air of controlled volume and direction to a fireplace. The device includes a housing carrying an adjustable volume damper and direction damper for controlling the volume and direction of air flow from the device. Means are provided for maintaining the desired position of the direction damper and for limiting the directionality thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flat storable blast hole liner of the type used for lining blast holes in the mining industry. The liner has a pocket arrangement at its lower end for holding weighting material, the weighted pocket facilitating insertion of the liner, when empty of explosive, into a blast hole. The pocket arrangement comprises two pockets at the bottom of the liner and on opposite sides thereof, either of which may be filled with weighting material. The weighted pocket provides the liner with a generally rounded, bullet-shaped lower end. As the liner is lowered into a blast hole, the pointedness of the lower end tends to center the liner in the hole. Upon reaching the bottom of the hole the weighted pocket sags to one side of the hole and thereby allows later added explosive material to be received at the very bottom of the hole.

Abstract: A gas-operated liquid pump which includes an outer, stationary compartment and an inner compartment movable between upper and lower positions in the outer compartment. The inner compartment has positive buoyancy in the liquid to be pumped. Valve means operated by movement of the inner container is provided to cause gas admitted to the inner container to displace liquid therefrom when the inner container is in its upper position, and to permit gas to escape from the inner compartment when the latter is in its lower position. The pump makes use of a continuous stream of compressed gas such as air to provide a pulsating flow of liquid. The pump is useful in aquariums to create water movement or to pump water to a filter.

Abstract: A disposable, tube-and-shell heat exchanger for controlling the temperature of blood. The tube portion includes a plurality of parallel tubes having serpentine inserts therein in heat-exchange contact with smooth inner walls of the tubes. The tubes are of sufficient number, length and flow area to permit gentle laminar blood flow at 37.degree. C. of up to five liters per minute.

Abstract: A fluid, self-leveling, sand-containing flooring preparation, and a method for its production and use. The flooring preparation includes 10 parts by weight of a calcium sulfate hemihydrate-rich composition, from 13 to about 30 parts by weight of sand, and sufficient water in the range of about 5 to about 8.5 parts by weight to provide the slurry, when mixed violently, with a runny, fluid, self-leveling consistency. When poured onto an appropriate substrate, the slurry hardens or cures with minimum expansion into a hard flooring layer having a smooth level upper surface and having sand distributed substantially uniformly through its thickness.

Abstract: An ashtray having a top upon which lit cigarettes or the like may be rested and having a plurality of holes therethrough through which smoke from the cigarette may be drawn downwardly through odor-treating material. The holes in the top are such as to permit the smoke-entraining downward flow of air therethrough while yet substantially preventing the passage of cigarette ashes.

Abstract: An easily assembled and disassembled free-standing modular furniture unit which may be particularly adapted for use in hospital pharmacies or the like. The unit comprises a lower section which includes a self-supporting, generally parallelepiped-shaped container having top and bottom walls, and an upper section. The top wall of the lower section has at least a pair of spaced holes therethrough, and the bottom wall includes upwardly exposed brackets which are vertically aligned with the top wall holes. The unit includes at least a pair of upright support posts carrying the upper section at their upper ends and extending slideably downwardly through the top wall holes in snug, supportive relationship with the holes. The bottom ends of the posts are releasably secured to the brackets. By upward removal of the posts from the holes in the lower section, the upper and lower sections may be disconnected and may be readily replaced with other furniture sections.

Abstract: A gas monitor system to monitor combustable or flammable gases present in the exhaust flue of the monitored equipment and to adjust the damper on a real time basis as the system is operated to continuously adjust the concentration of combustible or flammable gases in the monitored equipment. The system also includes self-check calibration circuitry to regularly check that the system is in calibration and that the sensor element in the exhaust has not suffered from a sensitivity decrease. Calibration gas is fed to the sensor on a regular basis. If the calibration circuitry does not complete a proper timing cycle, the system is disabled indicating that the instrument is out of calibration or the sensor is defective.

Abstract: A rotary tool having an opening with a first set of peripheral notches providing bearing surfaces for engaging English size driving portions of threaded members and a second set of peripheral notches providing bearing surfaces for engaging metric size driving portions of threaded members.

Abstract: A variable capacitor having a ceramic stator with a flat major surface for engaging a flat conductive rotor plate mounted on a shaft extending through the stator. The other major surface of the stator has a transverse slot having a capacitance forming electrode over the bottom portion that is substantially parallel to the flat major surface. A spring biased rotor terminal is affixed to the end of the shaft extending through the stator.

Abstract: A hollow, open ended tube of flexible, semirigid material which has internally projecting ridges that are so shaped and positioned as to produce a musical tone when air flow is induced through the tube by holding it at one end and swinging the other end around in a generally circular path to create a pressure differential between the two ends of the tube or by mounting the tube on the exterior of a vehicle in line with the relative airstream when the vehicle is in motion. The tube may be attached at one end to a hollow, extensible, spring-loaded handle.

Abstract: An improved router bit that has numerous advantages over conventional router bits; the bit of the present invention allowing chips to fall through quite readily, making a smoother cut and having other advantages; the bit having two or more flutes, one of the flutes having a cutting edge with a radius of conventional bits, the other flute or flutes being radially shorter, thus giving such flute or flutes a less circular limit.

Abstract: A convection oven of the rack type for treating goods, e.g., baking bread, including a rotating duct which sequentially delivers heated air to a series of ducts which distribute the heated air across the oven chamber according to a flow pattern which provides uniform treatment of the goods while maintaining the goods and the rack stationary with respect to the oven chamber.

Abstract: A performance method and apparatus for evaluating the bouncing or rebounding characteristics of objects such as balls used in games, and for evaluating the energy-absorbing and surface characteristics of playing surfaces of games.

Abstract: A fuel system for providing fully vaporized, air-free gasoline to a carburetor of an internal combustion engine. The system includes an air-free liquid gasoline receptacle having means maintaining a liquid free space above the surface of liquid gasoline in the receptacle, a heater within the receptacle and having an expanded surface of which at least a substantial portion extends upwardly out of the liquid gasoline into the space there above, means for producing a vacuum within the receptacle to promote evaporation of liquid gasoline from the expanded surface and for compressing the resulting gasoline vapors, and air-free means for filtering condensed droplets of gasoline from the resulting gas vapors.

Abstract: The jet power unit of a water craft is provided with a steering plate which is deflectable upwardly but which is continuously oriented in the direction of but spaced below the flow of water from the jet. The jet power unit preferably includes movable steering deflectors at its exhaust port which steer the craft by deflecting the jet flow to one side or the other, the steering plate including linkage means for pivoting the plate relative to the craft in response to movement of the jet deflectors to maintain the plane of the steering plate parallel to the direction of jet flow.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of producing a Leporello folding of a web of material including a pair of rollers driven by unidirectional drive devices and continually revolved in a same direction and directing the web of material upwardly between the nip of the rollers, a pair of belt conveyors receiving the web of material, the conveyor belts travelling in the same direction, and reversing frequently to carry the web first in one horizontal direction and then in the opposite horizontal direction, a receptacle receiving the web folded on the conveyor belts and containing a weight for maintaining pressure between the web and the conveyors and a drive apparatus continually driving the rollers slightly slower than the conveyor belts.

Abstract: Apparatus for the treatment of non-conductive foils or the like by subjecting them to a corona discharge of the type including two elongated electrodes with a gap between them and means for passing the foil or other sheeting through the gap has one of its electrodes, which is preferably the positive electrode, in the form of a profiled roller. The profile of the electrode roller comprises a series of ridges with troughs between them extending along the length of the roller parallel to its axis. The second electrode is also preferably in the form of a roller which has a smooth surface and is coated with dielectric material.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus including a mixing chamber with a reciprocating valve piston and a separate "recycle" chamber with a reciprocating grooved plunger. Piston and plunger are controlled in unison by a piston and cylinder assembly. In the "open" position of the valve piston pressurized components supplied through inlet conduits may enter the mixing chamber. In the "closing" position of the valve piston, the components supplied are by-passed across the grooved plunger back to their respective reservoirs.