Abstract: A shaft is coupled to a circumjacent gear substantially midway between the bearings at each side of the gear. This substantially equalizes the vertical loading on the gear bearings--eliminating the tilt or cant in the gear which would otherwise result, and minimizing abnormal tooth wear in the gearing system. An example of the present invention is a long driving shaft such as the drive shaft of a propeller in a large ship.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of visually examining the sidewalls of a bore hole include a down hole video tool lowered into the bore hole by means of a cable and winch on the surface. The apparatus includes a wide angle video camera at its lower section. An upper section houses a power supply/triplexer, a telemetry board, an FM modulator video amplifier transmission board, gyroscope data interface board, and a gyroscope for showing the directional orientation of the camera and apparatus in the bore hole. The gyroscope orientation and the visual image of the portion of the sidewall viewed is transmitted to a video display monitor in an equipment van on the surface. The image on the screen includes a directional reference point so that the direction of a portion of the sidewall being viewed can be ascertained. The camera images are recorded by a video cassette recorder for a permanent record of the visualization of the entire length of the bore hole.

Abstract: A wheelchair locking device which attaches to both wheelchair hand brakes, thereby activating both brakes when one brake is activated, and which folds when used with a folding wheelchair.

Abstract: A control system and circuit for use with one or more inductance-type actuators, such as solenoid controlled water sprinkler valves, having a relatively low impedance at low frequencies, which serves to operate the actuators, for example, when ground moisture falls below a preset level. A sensor having a relatively high impedance at low frequencies, and which for example may be moisture variable, is provided for each actuator. The control circuit is connected to the actuator over appropriate electric leads, and the same leads are used to connect the sensor back to the control circuit thereby obviating the need for extra wires and difficult retrofits.

Abstract: Process for forming and securing a polymeric sheet onto a planer board, process for making a lap desk, a die apparatus used in the process, and the laminated board product. The process includes the steps of gluing an oversize sheet onto the board and drawing the board through a heated die to bend the edges of the sheet onto the periphery of the board. The lap desk is formed by gluing a bag to the periphery of the board, filling the bag with stuffing, and drawing the sheet, board and stuffed bag through the die to laminate the sheet to the board. The die apparatus includes a frame to hold the assembly as it is drawn through the die, and a press for pushing the assembly through the die.

Abstract: A two-way animal door and frame having an outside frame and an inside frame is adapted to fit over a cut out opening in a door or a wall for allowing passage of a pet through a pliant door and border so that the pliant door and border will seal off the opening when not in use to prevent cold air and the like from entering the house. The upper ends of the pliant door and pliant U-shaped border are attached to one of the frames by a peg-and-hole securement. The two frames fit flush to their respective side of the door or wall and are secured to each other by nuts and bolts to keep both frames in place and for pushing the edges of both frames and the pliant door and border flush against the door or wall.

Abstract: A coupling member or joint is provided with a projecting lead screw adapted to be threaded into a tapped bore of a structural member. The lead screw is rotated by a worm operated exteriorly of the coupling member by a suitable wrench. A pair of such lead screws projecting oppositely along a given axis adapt the joint particularly for coupling aligned rails.

Abstract: A plurality of parallel rows of short flexible tubes lead from a housing. Each row is provided with an elongate bar in which each tube is provided with a transverse fluid passage leading to a port by means of which the respective tube may be connected to an outside fluid conduit. Each elongate bar, by virtue of the flexibility of the tubes, may be pivoted to one side, thereby giving access to connections at interior bars. The structure has particular utility in a system where a plruality of fluid pressure pickups are fed to individual pressure measuring transducers in the housing. Partitions and actuating bladders are interposed between the flexible tubes, so that inflation of a given bladder will pinch off a row of flexible tubes and allow a selected group or row of tubes to be selectively connected to the pickups. In this way a limited number of transducers in the housing may be used to successively measure a much larger number of fluid pressure pickup points, by time sharing use of the transducers.

Abstract: A gaging and storage rack for wrench sockets consisting of a base and a plurality of posts projecting upwardly therefrom. Each post is composed of two sections: a lower section adapted to receive a particular size of socket, and an upper section of uniform size adapted to receive and project above the drive hole in the socket. Associated with each post is a marking of the dimension or size of the socket which the lower section is adapted to receive.

Abstract: A hydraulic drive system has a pair of cylinder/piston assemblies cascaded together and interfaced by a frame. The two assemblies are parallel, but not co-axial, so that in retracted position they may reside side-by-side, thereby minimizing the longitudinal space required to accommodate the system when in retracted position. Lateral torque resulting from the offset between the axes of the two cylinder/piston assemblies is resisted by causing the interfacing frame to slide against and ride between a pair of longitudinal rails, which resist the lateral forces resulting from the torquing of the frame.

Abstract: The mechanism is used to dampen the recoil or kickback effects of a machine, such as a machine gun, jack hammer, or the like which generates short duration, high-amplitude unidirectional forces. The mechanism includes an ancillary mass interposed between the base and the recoil mass. A relatively stiff spring is engaged at one end to the recoil mass, which is in contact with the ancillary mass at the other end only over part of the recoil cycle. A constant force spring mechanism is interposed between the ancillary mass and the base and is engaged at one end to the base and may be engaged to the ancillary mass at the other end. The mechanism prevents motion of the recoil mass and reduces the maximum recoil force transmitted to the base by transferring the original short-duration, high-amplitude recoil driving force impulse first to the ancillary mass, in the form of momentum of the ancillary mass, and subsequently to the base as a longer duration, lower amplitude recoil force.

Abstract: An idler pulley adjustment mechanism for use with a sanding belt tightly wound on three co-planar pulleys includes a means for adjusting one of the pulleys in at least two axes. There is provided a vertical shaft secured to a hanger which is attached to a frame. Below the hanger is a tracking bracket secured to the shaft. The tracking bracket is adjustable by an offset threaded shaft for rotating the corresponding pulley shaft in one axis. A spring biases the tracking bracket relative to the upright frame. A second adjustable member is pivotally attached to the first adjustable member for providing adjustment of the pulley along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. A set screw extending from the frame pivots the second adjustable member.

Abstract: An apple corer having four molded plastic components are fitted together to form the invention. They are a hollow cutting tube, a core remover slidable along the cutting tube, a handle attached at the end of the cutting tube, and a compression plug inserted at the same end for locking the handle in place. The tip of the cutting tube has serrated teeth for smooth boring into the apple. In operation, the handle is oscillated while applying pressure to it. This causes the cutting tube to bore through the apple. The tube is removed from the apple and the resulting core left in the tube is ejected by sliding the core remover towards the tip of the cutter. The corer can also be used for partial removal of the apple core when stuffed apples are desired. In this situation prongs are attached to the end of the core remover. The cutter is bored partially into the apple, the core remover is slid against the face of the apple causing the prongs to impale the apple and hold the core in place.

Abstract: A carrier is designed for holding and independently adjusting a hanging vertical louver. A plurality of carriers form a blind for creating privacy and modifying the amount of light transmitted through a window and into a room. The carriers are movable along the channels of an overhead rail which is installed at the top of the window casement. The louvers can be oscillated in a synchronized manner by rotating a splined shaft running through each carrier. Each carrier provides for adjustment of its supported louver to allow the face of the louver to be independently adjusted and reset vis-a-vis the window and the other louvers. There is another adjustment spacer for allowing the plurality of carriers, and therefore louvers, to be evenly spaced in a window casement having a non-standard width. The louver is securely but demountably attached to the carrier by a pendant member having a resilient pair of fingers. The pendant member allows the louver to hang vertically even when the headrail is not installed level.

Abstract: An adjustable motorcycle passenger floorboard is attached at either side of a motorcycle frame below the rear seat. The device has a cylindrical rail having a brace at either end. The braces have slotted bolt holes for allowing the device to be bolted to the frame. A split clamp is attached around the cylindrical rail. The clamp, when loosened, can be slid between the braces of the cylindrical rail for allowing a continuous adjustment of the floorboard. The floorboard is attached to the clamp by a bar which can be rotated about its axis in a notched recess in the clamp for adjusting the attitude of the floorboard relative to the motorcycle. There are two adjustments in the device; one for adjusting the floorboard in a fore and aft position relative to the frame, and the other for adjusting the attitude or rake of the floorboard relative to the frame.

Abstract: Process for forming and securing a polymeric sheet onto a planer board, process for making a lap desk, a die apparatus used in the process, and the laminated board product. The process includes the steps of gluing an oversize sheet onto the board and drawing the board through a heated die to bend the edges of the sheet onto the periphery of the board. The lap desk is formed by gluing a bag to the periphery of the board, filling the bag with stuffing, and drawing the sheet, board and stuffed bag through the die to laminate the sheet to the board. The die apparatus includes a frame to hold the assembly as it is drawn through the die, and a press for pushing the assembly through the die.

Abstract: A control valve which can randomly select any one of a plurality of conduits for controlling the flow to a single output port. The valve is comprised of base plate and a cover or bearing plate, which together form a housing having a cavity. A slider or block of the same shape, but slightly smaller than the cavity, is confined in, but may move freely in the cavity to align a port in the base plate with ports in the slider. The slider has a plurality of ports and as the slider is moved from one corner of the cavity to another, the ports in the slider are selectively aligned with the port in the base plate. Fluid conduits may be connected directly to the ports in the slider through an aperture in the bearing plate. Actuators in the walls of the cavity selectively move the slider from corner to corner. The actuators may be driven by any suitable means.