Abstract: An expansible mandrel is useful for mounting spools and the like in winding machines. The mandrel comprises asecuring elements for locating clamping segments on the periphery of the mandrel. Mutually opposed conical surfaces are movably disposed with respect to each other for causing the clamping elements to exert an outwardly directed radial pressure thereby holding a mounted spool thereon. Each clamping segment is elongated and has a longitudinal axis disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel. A plurality of recesses are distributed symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center of each segment. The recesses are bores in a specific embodiment of the invention. The clamping segments are also substantially constant in width along the entire length thereof.

Abstract: The percent error in the value of a resistor, relative to a nominal value (R.sub.n) of the resistor is determined automatically with a Wheatstone bridge having first and second branches energized by a voltage source. The first branch includes first and second series connected resistors respectively having values P and Q. The second branch includes third and fourth series connected resistors respectively having values R and A; the third resistor is the resistor being measured for percent error. The fourth resistor has a value to establish bridge balance when R = R.sub.n. A diagonal is connected across a common terminal of the first and second resistors and a common terminal of the third and fourth resistors. A voltage source driving the two branches in parallel has a value in accordance with: ##EQU1## WHERE: K = P/Q and is much less than 1,u = the voltage across the diagonal that is directly proportional to the percent error, andm = an integer.

Abstract: In a free standing target apparatus for playing cards, or other aerial projectiles, a bowl-shaped target is disposed above a backdrop of continuous sheeting material. The sheeting material slopes downwardly and converges at a receptacle located below the target. The slope of the sheeting material is steep enough to cause playing cards landing on the backdrop to slide downwardly into a stack in the receptacle. A notch is formed in the base of the receptacle, so that the stack of playing cards can be easily gripped by the player for removal. The front surface of the backdrop extends vertically to the floor to prevent misplayed cards from sliding beneath the target apparatus, and to prevent air currents from altering the trajectories of the cards. The frame of the apparatus is comprised of a plurality of straight tubing segments held together by molded sleeves. The frame can thus be easily disassembled for storage or shipment.

Abstract: A high speed transportation system designed to reduce frictional heat generated between the wheels and the track upon which the wheels are rotating in which a plurality of wheels are successively placed in contact with a track having a concave surface and removed therefrom so as to provide an "out of contact" period for cooling of the wheels. The concave surface of the track is provided with helically curved ribs which effect rotation of the carriage carrying the wheels thereby bringing the wheels successively into and out of contact with the rail.

Abstract: A pizza crust has a surface for receiving food ingredients such as sauce, cheese and the like. An aqueous dispersion containing water-soluble algin is applied to the food ingredient receiving surface. An aqueous gelling solution is applied to the algin-coated pizza crust for a period of time sufficient to form a substantially continuous edible algin-containing film along the food ingredient receiving surface. The film is sufficient to effectively retard the migration of material from food ingredients placed on the food ingredient receiving surface. A second algin-containing film is formed over the ingredients in the same manner as the first film was formed on the pizza crust. The algin-containing film used with the pizza is sufficient to retard dehydration from both the pizza crust and the food ingredients. The film is effective to reduce breaking and splitting of the pizza to improve the transportability thereof.

Abstract: A glass composition particularly useful for producing alkali-resistant glass fibers, containing, by weight, from 53 to 63% SiO.sub.2, from 21 to 23% ZrO.sub.2 and from 10 to 21% Na.sub.2 O.

Abstract: Clock and binary NRZ signals are derived from a data track of a magnetic tape. The data track includes a pattern having a substantially constant wave length of magnetic flux variations along its length. The variations are in the form of a carrier wave having only three predetermined envelope levels. One of the levels is provided for clock pulses and the other two levels are provided for the magnitudes of the binary NRZ signals. A replica of the variations is transduced by a head into an electrical signal. First and second signals are derived in response to the electric signal to respectively indicate the carrier wave having amplitudes above first and second values of the levels. The first level is greater than the level of one of the binary signals, while the second level is greater than the first level and the level of the clock pulses.

Abstract: A completely self-contained portable apparatus that is easily carried scrubs contamination from a sealed container and charges the scrubbed container with inert gas. A housing for the apparatus carries a reservoir for the gas, a service line for supplying gas from the reservoir to the container, valves, and pneumatic logic for controlling the valves. One of the valves selectively supplies gas from the reservoir to the line or vents the line in response to a pneumatic signal derived by the logic means which is powered by gas in the reservoir. The logic means sequentially derives a preselected number of the pneumatic signals so that contamination in the container is scrubbed by the sequential flow of the gas into and out of the container through the line.

Abstract: A horticultural container assembly including a container which has an open end pot and a hollow sub-base defined by an annular wall provided by an extension of the annular wall of the pot beyond the normal perforated base of such a pot, the annular wall of the sub-base terminating at a base rim for supporting the pot on a support surface with an inner peripheral wall thereof extending upward from the base rim to the perforated base and, a cup shaped saucer of a size to be telescopically received fully within the hollow sub-base by the inner peripheral wall. The perforated base, inner peripheral wall and base rim of the pot have means associated therewith for cooperatively providing with the saucer at least one drain-vent passage that is open at one end to the exterior of the sub-base of the container and having its other end in communication with the perforated base and with the interior of the saucer.

Abstract: Two yokes of magnetic material are fixedly attached to opposite axial ends of a magnet which is revolvable about its axis with a revolving shaft, an alternating magnetic field generator is positioned in the magnetic field between the two yokes to generate alternating magnetic field with revolution of the shaft, and a magnetoelectric transducer is provided in the alternating field in order to generate a pulsating electrical signal indicative of the number of the shaft revolutions.

Abstract: In a process for the reaction of phosphate rock and sulfuric acid in the presence of potassium ion to form a mixture of phosphoric acid and a precipitated gypsum wherein the presence of the potassium ion causes precipitation of fluorides from the phosphate rock as potassium silicofluoride as a coprecipitate with the gypsum, and the phosphoric acid is separated from the gypsum slurry, the potassium silicofluoride is separated from the gypsum by extraction with phosphoric acid which may contain from 0-25 weight percent of sulfuric acid based on the amount of gypsum to be extracted or such phosphoric acid which may contain some fluorine. This extraction procedure provides a substantially fluoride-free gypsum product and an extraction solution containing recoverable potassium silicofluoride.

Abstract: A double lift, open shed Jacquard loom comprises a Jacquard prism and a plurality of hooks controlled by suitable control needles. The leg of each hook contains three hook noses that are engageable with upper and lower sets of opposed, parallel knives. The sets of knives are movable toward and away from each other by a crank or camming mechanism. The hook noses are also engageable with a stationary set of arresting knives. The hook are guided and maintained separated from each other by upper and lower stationary rakes, and the upper set of knives is located above the upper rake. In order to reduce friction between the hooks and rakes caused by sliding contact therebetween, lifting of the hooks by the upper set of knives is vertically guided along a curved path, and lifting by the lower set of knives is vertically guided along a straight line path.

Abstract: Apparatus for converting a combustible material such as a hydrocarbon or carbon fuel into a gaseous fuel containing H.sub.2 and/or CO by reaction with a heated mixture of O.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O prepared by decomposition of H.sub.2 O.sub.2, characterized by the provision of a venturi section located upstream of the entrance to a reaction chamber for increasing the velocity of the flow of the O.sub.2 --H.sub.2 O mixture and arrangement of the combustible feed line to add the combustible to the mixture at the venturi.

Abstract: In a method and system for feeding prefolded recording web to a business machine, such as a computer, a plurality of receptacles containing the recording web are stored on upper and lower shelves of a portable rack positioned adjacent the computer. The shelves are spaced apart from each other by a distance sufficient to provide unobstructed flow of recording web from each of the receptacles to the computer. Any interference to the flow of recording web by the receptacles themselves is prevented by horizontal guide members attached to the rack. In one embodiment, the upper shelf has a width that is less than that of the lower shelf. This permits the rack to be located closely adjacent the computer while providing unobstructed flow of recording web to the computer from receptacles located on the lower shelf. In another embodiment, the lower shelf extends horizontally beyond the upper shelf to receive an additional receptacle for collecting recording web outfed from the computer.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon fuel is subjected to combustion in an internal combustion engine by the use of excess air, and the exhaust gas is utilized as heat and oxygen sources for partial oxidation of the hydrocarbon fuel in a separate reformer. A resulting mixture of the reformed gas and the exhaust gas is subjected to heat exchange with air to be drawn into the engine and/or the fuel to be supplied to the reformer and thereafter is supplied to a larger internal combustion engine.

Abstract: Wind conditions and anomalies in the proxmity of an airport runway approach and departure flight path may be monitored by the tethered deployment of a plurality of extremely light and expendable airborne vehicles such as kites or balloons in an array spaced from the projected runway ends and at graduated altitudes commensurate with the glide path altitude at a respective tether point. Vehicle flight conditions such as vertical and horizontal tether line repose angles and tether line strain are measured by ground level instrumentation and transmitted to appropriate receiver and display equipment. The measured data is compared to calibrated vehicle flight response to conclude wind direction and velocity at the vehicle flight position. Comparison of wind conditions at two or more flight path positions and altitudes will reveal the presence of operational conditions hazardous to aircraft.

Abstract: Radiant energy is converted into electric energy by irradiating a capacitor including a layer of an intrinsic or lightly doped semiconductor, having opposite faces on which first and second insulating layers are respectively provided. First and second metallic contacts are respectively provided on the first and second insulating layers. The radiant energy cyclically heats the dielectric to cause cyclic changes in the capacitance and resistance of the capacitor. The capacitor is initially charged to a voltage just below the breakdown voltage of the insulating and semiconductor layers by temporarily connecting it across a D.C. source to cause a current to flow through a charging resistor to the capacitor. The device can be utilized as a radiant energy detector, as well as a solar energy cell.

Abstract: An apparatus for stacking transparency frames, or other substantially flat articles, comprises a rotating cam body located between a feed-in arrangement and a receivng arrangement. The cam body is synchronized to the movement of the transparency frames on the feed-in arrangement, and guides the frames into a receiving shaft that forms a portion of the receiving arrangement. The rotating cam body provides continuous guidance to the transparency frames during movement between the feed-in and receiving arrangements. As a result, breakdowns during stacking are minimized. In one embodiment, the receiving arrangement is disposed transversely with respect to the feed-in arrangement. The cam body comprises a pair of cam discs having a circular sector configuraion. The arc length of the sector is synchronized to the spacing between the transparency frames on the feed-in arrangement. In a second embodiment, the feed-in arrangement and receiving arrangement are located in line to each other.

Abstract: A locking nut assembly comprises an axle nut, a resilient ring member and a cover member. The axle nut has a threaded bore at one end and a locking bore at the other end thereof. The threaded bore has a structural configuration which threadingly engages a bicycle axle. The outer surface of the axle nut has flat surface areas and an annular groove. The resilient ring member is disposed within the annular groove. The cover member is slidingly disposed over the outer surface of the axle nut. The cover member has a tapered, smooth outer surface and an end portion with a bore opening juxtaposed the locking bore of the axle nut. The use of the assembly prevents the untightening of the axle nut which holds the bicycle wheel in place on the bicycle frame.

Abstract: A channel shaped member is mounted on a roof within an occupant compartment. The channel shaped member slidably receives an intermediate portion of a shoulder belt that has one end received within a retractor mounted on the roof within the occupant compartment adjacent an outboard upper rear portion of a vehicle seat and that has its other end secured to an intermediate portion of a lap belt. The channel shaped member thus provides an arrangement in which the shoulder belt extends diagonally across the chest portion of the seated occupant without touching the occupant's neck.