Abstract: A sound-slide projector of a basic form illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,732,000 is equipped with a keyboard which controls a digital servomotor to position a slide tray for random access to the sound-slides. Operation of a mechanical slide-changing mechanism formerly cyclically operated in a predetermined time by a flywheel is temporarily interrupted by a solenoid while the servomotor positions the slide tray to provide variable timing required for random selection of sound slides.

Abstract: A simulated floor-mounted gearshift lever for use in driver trainers to simulate either automatic or manual gearshift operation moves magnets to operate reed switches on a circuit card. Simple and economical mechanical linkage means provides realistic "feel" upon operation of the lever and allows ready conversion between "automatic" and "manual" simulation modes.

Abstract: A battery-powered thyristor-controlled lift truck traction motor control system includes simple and economical means for providing plugging torque in a continuous or proportional manner. A dual-motor drive system disclosed allows series motors to be operated in parallel from a single thyristor control system during both acceleration and plugging conditions, and allows the two motors to be operated at widely different speeds without large currents circulating between them.

Abstract: An improved assembly for aligning elongate pieces of wood such as cants on a roller conveyor and for rotating them about their lengthwise axes includes a plurality of kicker arms extending radially from a rotatable shaft up between the rollers of the conveyor, so that rotation of the shaft allows the kicker arms to press a cant against a guide plate extending along one side of the conveyor surface. A plurality of pusher arms slidingly mounted on the kicker arms and extendable to engage a lower corner of the cant to rotate the same.

Abstract: A counterbalanced lift truck mast is adjustable to a plurality of discrete different longitudinal positions between the truck load bearing wheels to overcome additional counterweighting requirements or load de-rating if various load manipulators position the load at varying distances from the load wheels. The load bearing wheels are driven through separate very narrow gear train housings to provide adequate space for mast adjustment.

Abstract: The fork carriage of a side-loader truck is journalled for rotation about a vertical axis between two arms, one above and one below the carriage, which transmit lateral load moments to a narrow vertical member. A vertically-extending torque shaft journalled on the vertical member carries gears on its opposite ends. The gears engage laterally-extending racks spaced widely vertically apart on a rearward carriage, so that lateral load moments apply minimum forces to the racks, and rotation of the torque shaft also serves to laterally position the vertical member and the fork carriage. The rearward carriage may comprise an elevatable, mast-guided laterally-fixed carriage, or an intermediate carriage may be interposed between the vertical member and the laterally-fixed carriage to provide greater lateral load extension. An intermediate carriage having a roller arrangement insuring adequate support at any lateral load position is shown.

Abstract: Improved "climb-cut" wood sawing machinery, including a top-arbor, single-arbor gang-blade ripping saw, includes means for controlling the disposition of feed-roll drive chain slack to eliminate accidental high-speed ejection of wood pieces. A feed roll motor drives the first of a series of cascaded chain-driven feed rolls, and a slip clutch also driven by the feed motor applies a retarding torque to the last feed roll of the series. In alternative embodiments disclosed, the retarding torque is instead applied by a brake, a separate hydraulic motor or a separate electric motor.

Abstract: An economical easily-installable and easily-removable seal assembly for use on water well casings comprises a dome having a vertically-movable central shaft fastened to a lower flange means so that rotation of a nut to lift the shaft compresses a rubber ring between the flange means and a lower rim of the dome, radially expanding the ring to grip the inside of a well casing with uniform pressure around the periphery of the ring, and also compresses an upper ring between the dome and the shaft.

Abstract: A sawmill assembly allows a single operator to selectively control both cutting to length and gang sawing of cants to make pallet stock, eliminating the danger and labor of hand feeding a gang saw, and allowing efficient use of wood by operator selection of gang saw cut direction. A rapidly-acting improved cant turner is disclosed.

Abstract: A removable added roof structure for a mobile home comprises a first pair of strips permanently mounted to extend along the sides of the existing mobile home near the roof line, a plurality of pairs of vertical posts spaced across from each other extending upwardly from the strips to support a pair of longitudinal stringer members above the existing roof and to support lateral brackets extending between each pair of the posts, with further vertical posts extending upwardly from near the centerline of the mobile home to support a pair of ridgepole extrusion strips, with aluminum roof panels extending from the ridgepole extrusion strips beyond the longitudinal stringer members to carry eavestrough members attached to the roof panels and connected to the first pair of strips by brackets between which a perforated sheet material extends.

Abstract: Artificial logs are made by forcing a mixture of wood chips and a binder such as wax or paraffin through a tube by means of a feed screw. A section of the tube beyond the feed screw includes a short first portion of constant diameter which by itself has an insufficient length to provide enough friction to generate adequate pressure, followed by a second portion of variable cross-section, the cross-section of which is controlled by a predetermined force, so that friction and pressure in both sections may be readily controlled and limited to values which adequately form logs without the use of excessive power or the generation of excessive heat. By periodically varying the force on the adjustable section portion, a continuous length of log stock being formed may be severed into successive lengths without need for a subsequent sawing operation.

Abstract: Shear plates for connecting wooden members comprise a stamped circular piece of metal sheet having an outer flange and a central hub. A circular washer is swaged into the hub.

Abstract: Water-color pictures having neat border edges rendering them suitable for framing are made by cutting a rectangular opening of a desired size through a ruled transparent plastic top sheet adhesively secured in removable fashion to a back sheet of water-color paper and removing the cut portion of the plastic sheet to provide a sight area within which a picture or the like may be colored. The remaining portion of the plastic sheet-framing the sight area prevents the watercolors from extending beyond the sight area, and upon completion of the coloring, the remaining portion of the plastic sheet is stripped from the back sheet, whereupon the back or mat sheet is then ready for framing and/or display.

Abstract: Trains of echo signals occurring from repetitively transmitted ultrasonic pulses are stored in a shift register in accordance with their times of occurrence, and the stages of the shift register are connected to illuminate respective light-emitting diodes arranged in a linear array, providing a display indicating the depths of density changes in animal matter or the like being inspected.

Abstract: A seal for the upper ends of waterwell casings includes a pair of cup-like devices, one inside the other, which extend over the end of the casing, and a central shaft which urges the cup devices apart to expand a rubber seal ring tightly against the outer periphery of the well casing.

Abstract: Energy required for production of carbonated beverages is reduced and other advantages obtained by chilling water solely prior to carbonation, carbonating the chilled water at a higher than usual temperature by passing it through a filamentary metal mass in a carbon dioxide atmosphere, and blending the chilled carbonated water with syrup using two positive-displacement pumping heads driven in common through pumping strokes of adjustable length. The apparatus may be hot sanitized quickly and easily.

Abstract: Articles such as glass jars filled with food products are inspected for defects by scanning an x-ray image to provide video signals which are processed in a novel manner to provide increased sensitivity to detect very small foreign particles without decreasing a tolerance for normal variations, to inspect substantially the entire contents of a container such as a jar even if it has a varying diameter, without the need for precise positioning of the articles within an inspection zone, and without a need for an x-ray or optical mask tailored to fit each type of jar to be inspected.