Abstract: An electrical warning system for malfunctions in refrigeration equipment driven by an electric motor comprises a main resistor connected in series with the motor to cause only a small voltage drop in the power supply to the motor, a high amp shunt across the main resistor comprising a diode, resistor and light-emitting diode, and a low amp shunt across the main resistor comprising a diode and light-emitting diode with the latter having in parallel a capacitor as well as a resistor in series with a zener diode.

Abstract: An easel for display objects such as pictures and placards is formed by two flexible tabs hinged at the back of the display object and adapted to be locked in crossed relation in order to support the display object in an upward position.Cardboard and plastics are preferred flexible materials for making the novel easel. A flexible sheet can be die-cut to produce the two tabs that remain hinged to the sheet. The easel, with or without a picture frame, can also be produced by injection molding of a plastic.The easel tabs can be locked in adjustably crossed relation to vary the tilt of the upwardly held display object.

Abstract: In electronic devices for measuring pressures in vacuum systems, the metal elements which undergo thermal deterioration are made readily replaceable by making them parts of a simple plug-in unit. Thus, in ionization gauges, the filament and grid or electron collector are mounted on the novel plug-in unit. In thermocouple pressure gauges, the heater and attached thermocouple are mounted on the plug-in unit. Plug-in units have been designed to function, alternatively, as ionization gauge and as thermocouple gauge, thus providing new gauges capable of measuring broader pressure ranges than is possible with either an ionization gauge or a thermocouple gauge.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting leakage in a vacuum system involves a moisture trap chamber connected to the vacuum system and to a pressure gauge. Moisture in the trap chamber is captured by freezing or by a moisture adsorbent to reduce the residual water vapor pressure therein to a negligible amount. The pressure gauge is then read to determine whether the vacuum system is leaky. By directing a stream of carbon dioxide or helium at potentially leaky parts of the vacuum system, the apparatus can be used with supplemental means to locate leaks.

Abstract: A new gaming die is an equilateral tetrahedron with each of its four sides in the form of a recessed triangular pyramid. The resulting twelve congruent triangular facets of the novel die may carry numerals, letters or other characters depending on the game for which the die or dice are designed. A unique feature of the tetrahedral die is that it can be cheaply produced by the injection molding of a thermoplastic.

Abstract: In the agriculture of various crops, required weeding or defoliation is commonly achieved by the application of chemicals or by flaming. Health and environmental hazards limit the number of chemicals which can be used. Chemicals are slow acting and can be prematurely washed away by rain. Flaming requires careful control and in many cases is impractical. Cryogenic defoliation carried out by spraying an inert liquefied gas such as nitrogen presents no health and environmental hazards and is not impaired by subsequent rain.

Abstract: Land-fill gas containing principally methane and carbon dioxide is injected into a partially depleted oil reservoir to stimulate crude oil production. Solution of injected gas, especially carbon dioxide, in the crude oil materially reduces its viscosity which together with pressurization increases oil flow. Gas separated from produced oil is fractionated into valuable methane-rich gas and carbon dioxide-rich gas which is recycled to the oil reservoir. Part or all of the land-fill gas may be first fractionated and the resultant carbon dioxide-rich gas then injected into the reservoir.

Abstract: An improved pistol holster features lock-in means to prevent removal of the gun from the holster by an unauthorized person or by fall or other unexpected movement of the wearer of the holster. A pin attached to a flexible strap or flap on the outer wall of the holster extends through the trigger guard of the pistol and the end of the pin is captured in holding means fastened to the inner wall of the holster. Thus, the locked-in pistol cannot be withdrawn from the holster without first pulling the strap to separate the pin from the holding means.

Abstract: Remote controls of the type in which a push-pull blade extends through a tubular sheath and is supported on its opposite sides by rolling elements held spaced from one another by cage strips are improved by providing openings in the push-pull blade to capture the rolling elements and thus obviate the cage strips. A feature of the improvement is that the openings in the blade are dimensioned to permit the rolling elements on opposite sides of the blade to be in rolling contact with each other.

Abstract: A solar collector device having a plurality of parallel collector tubes mounted between a pair of header members through which a heat carrying liquid flows. The collector tubes each have a plane surface exposed to the solar rays and extending laterally substantially equal to the maximum diameter of the respective tubes. The edges of adjacent tubes abut each other to form a substantially continuous planar collector surface. The tubes are moreover, made of a highly efficient conductor of thermal energy, namely a specialized copper alloy. A method of forming such tubes with planar surfaces for use in solar energy collectors is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methane-containing gases with an appreciable content of carbon dioxide are scrubbed with cold methanol to remove the bulk of the carbon dioxide in a simple system comprising a single gas-liquid contact column and featuring regeneration of the methanol containing carbon dioxide solely by multiple-stage flashing. Land-fill gases containing methane and carbon dioxide as the principal components can be economically processed in such a system to yield methane-rich fuel gases.

Abstract: When wrappers are applied to cigar bunches by rolling the bunches over the wrappers while laid on a supporting surface, the tail portion of each wrapper will not properly wrap itself around a shaped head of the bunch. A mechanism to overcome this problem involves a specially designed header block which presses the initial part of the wrapper tail against the shaped head of the rolling bunch, retracts from this pressing operation while the final part or extremity of the tail is being lifted from the supporting surface by the rolling bunch and then presses the lifted extremity of the wrapper tail against the shaped head of the rolling bunch.

Abstract: An effective seal against the infiltration of foreign matter into a push-pull remote control is provided by a spring-loaded ring seal disposed in contact with a slidable end rod of the control. The ring seal is formed by a plastic C-shaped channel which holds a metal helical spring. One of the two spring-loaded side walls of the C-shaped channel presses against the cylindrical surface of the end rod and thus impedes the penetration of dust and vapors into the remote control.

Abstract: A trolling harness for fish bait comprises an arcuate blade which is inserted lengthwise through the fish used as bait and a locking member which holds the fish bait in place on the arcuate blade. The locking member is weighted so that it acts as the keel of the harness when pulled through the water during trolling. The harness includes one or more fish hooks.

Abstract: A flexible coupling for rotatable shafts in the form of a metal bellows features a concentric sleeve which is fastened to one end of the coupling and which terminates in a plurality of fingers or keys projecting into, but without contact with, slots in the opposite end of the coupling. In normal use, the coupling transmits rotary motion from one shaft to the other shaft solely through the connecting bellows which provides the flexibility required for small amounts of misalignment and obliqueness of the coupled shafts. If the bellows broke, the concentric sleeve would function as the fail-safe coupling member to continue the transmission of the rotary motion.

Abstract: Flexible remote controls of the type in which at least one push-pull blade extends through a tubular sheath and is supported on its opposite sides by a linear series of spaced balls are improved by placing two linear series of spaced balls in contact with each of the opposite sides of each push-pull blade in the remote control.

Abstract: An adjustable apparatus can cut V-shaped segments of different dimensions from continuous sheets so that the V-shaped segments of different dimensions are suitable for application as wrappers to double cigar bunches of different dimensions. The apparatus can also cut the two tails of each V-shaped segment into flag-shaped configurations which will permit the smooth application of the two tails to the opposite ends of double cigar bunches having rounded ends.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying colored lines on ice, in which a roller can be moved over ice in a positive and controllable manner, is provided with at least one wheel having a multiplicity of small protrusions or points on its peripheral surface. The protrusions on the tread of the wheel dig into the ice to give easy traction and thus ensure proper rotation of the roller without undesired swerving slippage.