Abstract: An acoustic levitator includes a pair of opposed sound sources which have interfering sound waves producing acoustic energy wells in which an object may be levitated. The phase of one sound source may be changed relative to the other in order to move the object along an axis between the sound sources.

Abstract: A pressure responsive driver couples a reciprocating motor output to a reciprocable piston of a double-acting pump. In one embodiment, the driver comprises a single spring and in another a pair of springs, which transfer reciprocation forces of the motor output to the piston to reciprocate the piston through its pumping strokes. The spring(s) transfers the entirety of the reciprocation forces of the motor output to the piston until a selected outlet pressure from the pump is reached, whereupon the spring(s) compresses to absorb cranking forces and limit maximum pump outlet pressure to about the selected pressure. The reciprocating motion of the motor output is divided between the spring(s) and piston, such that the extent of flexure of the spring(s) is inversely proportional to movement of the piston, whereby the spring(s) takes up any motion of the motor output not used to move the piston.

Abstract: A device for attaching the boom to different diameter masts includes a lever attached to a locking pin, which is received in a number of slots to enable circumferential adjustment.

Abstract: A laminated sail cloth includes a central layer of spaced intersecting scrim yarns which intersect at acute angles in such a matter to reinforce the fabric along the fill and bias directions of the fabric.

Abstract: A solid gelled fuel for producing a visible flame of various colors, which contains methyl alcohol as a primary ingredient in a solid gel with the addition of dibenzylidene sorbitol, cellulose ester and ethylene glycol, with a flame coloring compound being suspended in the solid.

Abstract: A magnetic dental retention appliance comprises a magnet containing subunit to be embedded in a denture, a magnetizable keeper subunit to be secured within the jaw structure of the patient for retaining the denture in the mouth, and a transmucosal insert to be implanted in the patient's jawbone for anchoring the keeper subunit to the patient's jaw; the transmucosal insert being formed of a material ideal for implantation and diverse from the requisite ferromagnetic material of the magnetizable keeper subunit; the insert being isolated from the keeper subunit by an interposed insulating member which effectively curtails or prevents corrosive galvanic action between the two, thereby facilitating use of the most ideal materials of construction for the subunits and the insert.

Abstract: A regulation golf ball is provided with a solid coating of reflective glass beads. The ball is used for night play with the use of a light source, which is aimed in the direction of flight of the ball, and the light source is used to find the ball.

Abstract: A plastic floor cleaning tool for a vacuum cleaner is characterized by two injection molded plastic pieces that are joined to form an integral structure. By using two plastic pieces to form the floor tool, each may be injection molded to a configuration such that, when they are joined, the floor tool has an aerodynamically shaped interior air flow chamber. The aerodynamically shaped chamber improves the air flow through the floor tool, so that a powerful vortex action is generated at floor level, suction is intensified and debris is aerodynamically airswept through smooth, contoured channels in the floor tool at full force and without encountering acute bends in the air flow path.

Abstract: A portable water reservoir to be worn by a firefighter to provide a supply of water for use in extinguishing fires, e.g.

Abstract: A composite for blocking electromagnetic radiation includes a central layer of wire reinforced glass fabric, an outer exposure coating of materials which absorb the radiation, and an inner layer of metal.

Abstract: A rotary safety contact featuring dual brush contacts, contained within an isolating housing, shielded from the environment, purged with compressed air to prevent the entry of potentially explosive vapors, and adapted to be connected to a conductive cylinder/roller for electrostatic assist rotogravure printing is disclosed and described.

Abstract: A paper coating system is characterized by an upstream dip roll applicator that applies an excess layer of liquid coating material onto a surface of a paper web, and an improved downstream doctor assembly for metering and leveling the coating on the web. The doctor assembly includes a doctor blade having a tip extended against and across the web and a shear plate, upstream of the blade, having a surfaces extending across and defining a gap with the web. An elongate chamber defined between the shear plate and blade extends across the web, and excess coating removed from the web by the blade flows into the chamber. Coating is drained from and uniformly along a lower end of the chamber at a rate to maintain an eddy current pool of coating in an upper end of the chamber immediately upstream of the blade/web nip, but to prevent formation of a liquid seal in the gap.

Abstract: A printable paper substitute is composed of a laminated sheet having a central layer of nonwoven spunbonded polypropylene and outer layers of pigmented polypropylene. The outer layers are capable of delamination to provide evidence of tempering.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a leaking valve on a compressed gas tank to accomodate safe transport of the tank and valve from the place of use in the field to a repair depot where the tank and valve may be safely serviced. The apparatus comprises a valve cap specifically designed for practice of the method. The method resides in the steps of placing the cap over the leaking valve and attaching the cap to the tank, filling the cap with a fusible substance in liquified form, the fusible substance having a fusion temperature in excess of ambient temperature but less than about 200.degree. F. and, upon cooling, solidifying within the cap about the valve, sealing off the cap, transporting the tank, cap and encapsulated valve from the place of use to a repair depot, at the repair depot converting the fusible substance from solidifed form to liquified form and draining the substance from the cap, and removing the cap from the tank and valve to accommodate safe servicing of the valve at the repair depot.

Abstract: A positive displacement flushable flow meter has sensing elements that are rotated by and at a rate in accordance with a flow of fluid through the flow meter. The flow meter is particularly adapted for measuring the volume flow rate of coating material supplied to spray coating apparatus, and to permit the flow meter to be quickly flushed by means of alternate bursts of relatively high velocity air and solvent, without overdriving the sensing elements and damaging the flow meter, a bypass valve is provided. During a spray coating operation, the bypass valve is closed and all of the coating material flows past and rotates the sensing elements. During a flushing operation, the bypass valve is opened to divert some of the relatively high velocity flow of air and solvent around the sensing elements, while allowing a controlled and limited amount of air and solvent to move past and rotate the elements to clean them without causing them to be overdriven.

Abstract: Small marine pleasure craft, such as jet skis, which have a tendency to "porpoise" or pitch fore and aft at cruising speeds, are provided at the aft end of the hull thereof with a ride plate and , pursuant to the invention, with a downwardly and rearwardly inclined lift or hydroplane surface on the ride plate which effectively eliminates the "porpoising" or pitching motion at cruising speeds and also enhances maneuverability and steerability of the craft at such speeds. The angle of downward inclination of the lift or hydroplane surface is quite critical, residing within a range in the order from about 3.degree. to about 6.degree.. The preferred embodiment comprises an accessory device substantially universally adaptable to existing jet skis, which is characterized by a plate having a mounting surface adapted to be secured to a jet ski ride plate and a downwardly and rearwardly inclined lift or hydroplane surface having a preferred universal angle of declination in the order of about 4.degree..

Abstract: A bottom rod safety guard in the form of a loop is suspended from a brake beam. The cable ends are looped through holes in the beam, and a latch plate extends beneath the beam to provide a releaseable connection.

Abstract: A liquid fuel burner is disclosed, comprising a cup-shaped housing having a fuel inlet; a plate enclosing the top of the housing, the plate having fuel passages therethrough; a wick on the outer surface of the plate communicating with the fuel passages; and a liquid fuel pump for delivering fuel under pressure to the inlet of the housing for conveying liquid fuel under pressure into the housing, through the fuel passages and into the wick. The burner is provided with a check valve upstream of the fuel inlet to the housing, the valve having a closure member biased in an upstream direction. The burner is ignited by a glow plug adjacent the housing and starter wick between the burner wick and glow plug.

Abstract: Apparatus for coupling a grounded color changer and associated supplies of conductive paint to an electrostatic paint sprayer isolates the color changer and paint supplies from a high voltage at the sprayer. The apparatus has at least one reservoir into which a metered volume of one color of paint to be sprayed is introduced while the reservoir and its contents are grounded. After charging the reservoir with paint and prior to supply of the paint to the sprayer, fluid lines between the reservoir and color changer are flushed to electrically isolate the reservoir and paint therein from the color changer and paint supplies. The reservoir and paint therein are then ungrounded and the paint is delivered to the sprayer for being emitted in an electrostatically charged atomized spray. At the end of spraying, the high voltage is removed from the sprayer and the reservoir and its contents are again grounded, following which the reservoir is purged of paint of the one color and reloaded with paint of another color.

Abstract: A paper tailing device accommodates automatic transfer of an initial portion of a paper web across a gap in a paper making machine during guiding of the initial portion through the machine. The paper tailing device comprises a pair of brackets, one on each side of the gap and each carrying a pair of sheaves over which carrier ropes extend. During guiding of the initial portion of the web through the machine, a side edge of the web is gripped between the carrier ropes, and at the sheaves, the ropes define an outgoing nip on one side of the gap and an incoming nip on the opposite side. To transfer the leading end of the web across the gap, the brackets are moved close together in the gap to place the nips in close facing relationship, so that as the leading end of the web exits the outgoing nip it is automatically introduced into the incoming nip.