Abstract: The invention is an improvement in the construction of the sailboard portion of windsurfers wherein the usual hard-foam slab hull typical of surfboard construction is replaced by a slab of soft foam, the only rigid structure of the entire board being a pair of closely spaced fiberglass stringers longitudinally extended along the midline of the board, and mounts for the mast, daggerboard and fin, which mounts are sandwiched between the two longitudinal stringers which are embedded centrally in the soft foam slab.

Abstract: A balloon catheter wherein the balloon is inverted within the distal end of the catheter for eversion therefrom and extrusion through a partially occluded blood vessel in response to the exertion of internal fluid pressure on the balloon. The catheter is designed to extrude through the occluded vessel in advance of substantial lateral expansion and, upon full extension, is adapted to expand to a condition at least partially dilating the occlusion. A cord connected to the balloon and extending through the catheter provides means whereby tension may be applied to the balloon to reinvert it within the catheter. A reservoir in communication with the inner lumen of the catheter provides a closed fluid-filled system whereby the balloon may be sequentially everted and reinverted without venting outside of the system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use with a bushing assembly of the type wherein glass fibers are drawn through an orifice plate having a flat undersurface against which bulk gas is directed to effect cooling and fiber attentuation. A selectively adjustable bulk gas nozzle has a plurality of discharge conduits with valves therein which are adjustable and capable of being selectively operated to close the conduits or return the conduits to a preset open condition. The nozzle and/or a binder applicator are supported for select movement toward and away from the path of the fiber being drawn from the orifice plate. A detector senses the presence of fiber being drawn from the orifice plate and, in the event of fiber break-out, initiates a series of steps to warn the operator of the bushing assembly and, in the event the break-out condition is not corrected, shut down the drawing operation.

Abstract: A retaining wall comprised of stacked precast stretchers having stacking pads with oppositely disposed slots formed therein for the receipt of connectors. The connectors comprise plates interposed between the pads and pins secured to the plates for engagement with the slots. Anchor rods are secured to the plates for attachment to embedded anchors.

Abstract: Bulk coal, i.e. coal in coal cars, in piles, in bins, in ships, or in any other place where coal fines tend to become entrained in ambient air, is protectively coated to prevent the loss of coal fines. The coal is first coated with a wetting agent and then coated with an emulsion of crude coal tar in water containing a cationic emulsifying agent.

Abstract: An elongate concrete element is adjustably secured to the top of a retaining wall to provide a cap which may be adjusted for elevation and inclination relative to the wall. The element is provided with a skirt which extends over the side of the wall to span the space between the element and the wall. The element provides a forming surface against which a cementitious material, such as a concrete roadway, may be poured. The forming surface and skirt prevent the cementitious material from passing through or over the wall. The element also provides a screeding edge for the cementitious material.

Abstract: A mixing device is made up of a pail and a pair of parallel, offset, oppositely directed baffles fixedly secured to the interior of the pail.

Abstract: A pair of cables are employed to raise and lower the lance of a basic oxygen steelmaking furnace. A centrally suspended equalizer bar is connected between the cables and a load detector is connected to the bar to sense the weight of a lance being hoisted. The detector functions to sense the build up of a slag skull on the lance.

Abstract: Whole oriented onions are sliced in a slicer by holding the onions on a horizontal cutter-bearing plate and by rotating the plate to continuously remove slices from the lower ends of the onions until the onions are fully sliced. Non-oriented onions are recirculated between a feed hopper and the conveyor leading to the slicer.

Abstract: The production of relatively low phosphorous, semifinished steel from blended presized granules of high phosphorous iron ore and limestone, directly and selectively reducing the iron oxide to sponge iron and calcined lime with the current of hot reducing gases in a shaft furnace, charging heated granules directly to a melting furnace to obtain semifinished steel and slagging off phosphorous and other undesirable components and thereafter refining the semifinished steel in a conventional electric furnace.

Abstract: A continuous cleaning and preheating system for steel strip to be annealed prior to being coated or otherwise treated wherein controlled reducing steps are employed to remove surface contaminants from the strip, which system uses direct flame heating whereby the combustion gases from open flame burners within a closed furnace flow into and along a restricted elongated tubular zone so that the gases are in direct contact with the strip as it enters and passes through the tubular zone and the furnace in a direction countercurrent to the flow of the said gases.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner power and control system wherein a single pair of conductors is employed to transmit electrical power to a remote motor driven agitator and to selectively energize the blower motor of the cleaner. Photo electric means is employed to sense current flow in the conductors and trigger the power switch for the blower in response to the sensing of such flow. A switch includes a load capacitor which may be selectively connected between the conductors to establish current flow therethrough without activating the remote motor driven agitator. In one embodiment, the power supply for the agitator motor is separate from that of the blower and a sensor is provided in the vicinity at which the agitator is connected to sense the supply of power thereto and activate the blower in response to such supply.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use with a bushing assembly of the type wherein glass fibers are drawn through an orifice plate having a flat undersurface against which bulk gas is directed to effect cooling and fiber attentuation. A selectively adjustable bulk gas nozzle has a plurality of discharge conduits with valves therein which are adjustable and capable of being selectively operated to close the conduits or return the conduits to a preset open condition. Mounting means supports the nozzle and/or a binder applicator for select movement toward and away from the path of fiber being drawn from the orifice plate. A detector senses the presence of fiber being drawn from the orifice plate and, in the event of fiber break-out, initiates a series of steps to warn the operator of the bushing assembly and, in the event the break-out condition is not corrected, shut down the drawing operation.

Abstract: A tie rod assembly to secure form panel elements in edge to edge engagement and tie opposed panels made of such elements in spaced apart relationship. The assembly employs a tie rod having a length less than the distance between the opposed panels and gripper mechanisms releasably engageable with the ends of the tie rod and proportioned for extension through tie rod openings formed in the panels. Key elements are engageable with the gripper mechanisms and the panel elements to lock the mechanisms in engagement with the rod and secure the panel elements in place. The rod is provided with enlarged heads at either end thereof for engagement by the gripper mechanisms and, in a preferred embodiment, the sides of the head are flattened.

Abstract: First and second rotary turrets are connected by a drive belt or chain which carries cups to carry and support the olives while they are being pitted and stuffed. Pitting takes place as the belt passes around one of the turrets and stuffing takes place while the belt passes around the other turret.A folded stuffing strip is fed radially of the stuffing turret and knives carried by the stuffing turret move transversely of the strip to cut off stuffing pieces and carry them away in vertical, stuffing alignment with the cups.

Abstract: Drum parts, i.e. heads, bottoms and lids, are conveyed through pre-treatment, resin powder spray, and resin curing stations by a monorail conveyor system which has improved hold down means and shield means to prevent the parts from swinging and to prevent the outer side of the parts from being coated.

Abstract: A lever of the second class is employed to prise a mold cap free of an ingot mold by tipping the cap about a point on its periphery which is in engagement with the mold mouth. The lifting lever is operated by a power cylinder. A carrier for the lever and its power cylinder is provided to transfer the mold cap from the mold to the pouring platform and back to the mold.