Abstract: A fluid handling device which when suitably configured can be used as a pump, compressor or as a rotary engine. In the illustrated application, there are three primary active components. These are two identical rotating segments or pistons and a centrally disposed rotating disk that forms chambers of variable volume with the rotating segments or pistons. The disk member carries a spherical chamber open at diametrically opposed locations to receive a pair of rotating shafts which carry the rotating segments or pistons. This spherical chamber forms a seal with complementary spherical surfaces on the rotary piston members. The disk member is journalled in two sets of bearings carried by yoke members one of which is carried by each rotating shaft.

Abstract: A structural system and components for housing or other structures and their methods of production. Panel members serve as structural elements or as filler members or both, and in some applications can be removed. The panel members are provided with mesh on one or both sides of a heat insulation core member with the mesh being welded or otherwise affixed to I-beams or reinforced concrete reinforcing steel to form a continuous structural solution. Roof panels are provided which are similar to that of the vertical walls, and the mesh on the upper surface is firmly affixed to both the columns and the reinforced concrete perimeter beam, affording a finished structure of great structural integrity. In all cases, the panels allow pouring of concrete around previously installed, reinforcing steel, allowing a final reinforced concrete structure similar to that constructed conventionally, but eliminating the extensive forming labor connected therewith.

Abstract: A shoulder traction applying apparatus which clamps to an operating table. The forearm of a patient is gripped by a tapering sleeve-like member and a cord therefrom is entrained over a pair of pulleys at opposite ends of a boom member. The remote end of the cord is selectively weighted to apply tension to the cord and achieve a desired traction. The boom is secured to the top member of a pair of separable members of which the lower member is clamped to the operating table. The top member is rotatable by a hand crank which turns a worm gear that meshes with a spur gear fixedly secured to the top member. The lower member may be raised or lowered by cranking a pinion of a rack and pinion assembly wherein the rack is mounted on the lower member. Hand controlled spring pressure locks the lower member in the position selected by the rack and pinion assembly. A caster-mounted stand stores the top and lower members when the apparatus is not in use.

Abstract: An apparatus for trimming a scrap ring from a cylindrical container body and its method of operation. A cylindrical container body, closed at one end and provided with a flange member which extends substantially at right angles to the body at the opposite open end, has a scrap ring trimmed from the flange member. The container body is fed into one of a series of hemispherical pockets of a rotary turret and is then moved laterally thereto with the aid of a vacuum holder that engages the closed end. The open end of a container is presented to a main disk cutter that rotates about its axis continuously and which travels in alignment with one of the hemispherical pockets. A frusto-conical ram is mounted on the main disk cutter and is inserted into the open end of the container to insure its roundness. An auxiliary disk cutter, whose axis is substantially at right angles to the main disk cutter, is mounted on a reciprocable bar member along with a stripper plate.

Abstract: A thigh restraining apparatus especially useful in connection with arthroscopic knee surgery wherein the surgeon may perform the operation while viewing the knee on a television screen. A bar member extends across the operating table supported by horizontally extending rail members customarily provided on operating tables. A specially designed sphygmomanometer constitutes a tourniquet member and applies a known pressure to the thigh of the patient. A strap member envelops the thigh of the patient and is reeled out or in by a screw feed as required to accommodate the patient's thigh. One end of the strap is secured and an intermediate portion is removably attached to the sphygmomanometer. If necessary, both knees may be operated upon sequentially without disturbing a required sterile field by positioning a pair of strap feeding devices on opposite sides of the bar member and securing each strap to an adjacent sphygmomanometer applied to each of the patient's thighs.

Abstract: A polyphase line voltage regulator which uses polyphase pulse saturable ferroresonant reactors in series with three separate and equal input chokes. The line voltage regulator is particularly suitable for computer operations which impose a variable current demand on the power source. The input chokes are directly coupled with an unregulated a.c. source and are provided with controlled non-linearity. LC tuned circuits inhibit the second and third harmonics from the regulated a.c. voltage. An isolation transformer is connected across the polyphase pulse saturable ferroresonant reactors and delivers a voltage regulated a.c. output voltage to a load.

Abstract: Methods of necking-in and flanging tubular can bodies having body walls of constant thickness. A pilot die initially inserted into the tubular can body reverses its direction during the necking-in operation with respect to the motion of a ring die member that contacts the exterior surface of the tubular can body member. This concurrent reverse movement of the two forming dies eliminates wrinkles in the necked-in region and produces a container body with increased columnar strength. Repetitive use of the method produces containers with two or three necked-in portions. A method is also disclosed for relubricating the necked-in area of the tubular can body between the successive necking stations.

Abstract: A bio-mass burner having a continuous feed on demand to a first combustion chamber that contains a hollow grate structure. The novel method of operation includes the use of at least one venturi tube which is in fluid communication with the hollow grate structure to establish an air flow into a second combustion chamber. Primary air to support combustion in the first chamber is supplied to the underside of the grate structure. Secondary air to support combustion in the second chamber is supplied through the hollow grate structure and then to the venturi tube in a sufficiently tortuous path through the first combustion chamber to insure that the air is superheated at the outlet of the venturi tube. A baffle arrangement in the first combustion chamber directs the fuel product toward the grate structure and assists in preventing any unburned gases from being ejected into the atmosphere.

Abstract: An archery bow is provided with a reverse stabilizer bar and a combined trigger and safety release mechanism. The reverse stabilizer bar tapers inwardly as it extends rearwardly from the bow and is made of a solid cross section so as to be capable of absorbing the shock of the bow when an arrow is released. An extension member is telescopically received within the rear of the stabilizer bar to provide variable length draw string positions. This telescoping extension member is provided with an offset end to mount a handle for receiving the combined trigger and safety release mechanism. The latter includes a cylindrical actuator spool which supports a rotatable arrow release member. The safety release mechanism is axially slidable on the actuator spool. Vertical movement of the safety release permits a trigger to be squeezed to shoot an arrow as the arrow release member rotates.

Abstract: A leg immobilizing apparatus especially useful in connection with arthroscopic knee surgery wherein the surgeon views the knee on a television screen. A flat bar member is extended across an operating table and is secured to horizontally extending rail members customarily provided on operating tables. Depending clamps from the bar member are releasably secured to the rail members. The patient's leg which is to be operated upon is cradled by a pair of plates carried by the bar member and angularly disposed thereto. A specially designed sphygmomanometer constitutes a tourniquet member and applies a known pressure to the thigh of the patient. The design permits the tourniquet member to be secured to the leg cradling apparatus. A strap resembling an automobile safety belt is anchored to the leg cradling apparatus and provides a supplementary leg holder. The patient is customarily electrically grounded and the apparatus is provided with an electrically insulating coating.

Abstract: A hand held opening apparatus with no moving parts which includes three distinctly different opening devices. One of the opening devices consists of a centrally located socket-like portion at the center of a substantially flat body portion. This opening device is adapted to be telescoped over twist-off bottle cap members. A second opening device is located at one end of the flat body portion and consists of a wedge member insertable beneath a ring pull tab of a can end easy opening member. The third opening device is used to open plastic bags or the like and consists of a blade laminated within upper and lower portions of the flat body portion at the end opposite the second opening device. The body portion may be made from a plastic material and a permanent magnet may be embedded in one surface of the flat body member to permit the apparatus to be held magnetically when not in use.

Abstract: Methods of necking-in and flanging tubular can bodies having body walls of constant thickness. A pilot die initially inserted into the tubular can body reverses its direction during the necking-in operation with respect to the motion of a ring die member that contacts the exterior surface of the tubular can body member. This concurrent reverse movement of the two forming dies eliminates wrinkles in the necked-in region and produces a container body with increased columnar strength. Repetitive use of the method produces containers with two or three necked-in portions. A method is also disclosed for relubricating the necked-in area of the tubular can body between the successive necking stations.

Abstract: A variable frequency drive for a motor-generator/alternator set which is used to supply electrical power to computer or data processing equipment. Power failures in commercially supplied power results in aberrations and erroneous computations in computers and data processing equipment. An induction motor is used to drive a generator/alternator. The induction motor is driven below the synchronous speed of the generator/alternator and a variable speed drive increases the velocity supplied to the generator/alternator, preferably to a point above its synchronous speed. Therefore, when there is a commercial power failure, the generator/alternator remains within a desired frequency range for a longer period of time than a comparable generator/alternator driven at synchronous speed.

Abstract: A carton construction and method of making an integral cutting edge therefor. An intermittent cut-score line is utilized at the juncture of the front and bottom main panels the cut segments of which extend into the front panel to provide a plurality of discrete teeth for the cutting edge. The end portions of each cut segment terminate approximately at the juncture of the front and bottom panels so that the space between the cut segments provide an axis for folding between the front and bottom panels in erecting the carton. Additionally, the individual teeth are stiffened by applying a coating thereto. The carton blank is formed into an open ended tube and a plurality of these tubes, in flattened condition, are stacked with the cutting teeth uppermost in which position they are coated, such as by a roller coating.

Abstract: A bio-mass burner having a continuous feed on demand to a first combustion chamber that contains a hollow grate structure. The novel method of operation includes the use of at least one venturi tube which is in fluid communication with the hollow grate structure to establish an air flow into a second combustion chamber. Primary air to support combustion in the first chamber is supplied to the underside of the grate structure. Secondary air to support combustion in the second chamber is supplied through the hollow grate structure and then to the venturi tube in a sufficiently tortuous path through the first combustion chamber to insure that the air is superheated at the outlet of the venturi tube. A baffle arrangement in the first combustion chamber directs the fuel product toward the grate structure and assists in preventing any unburned gases from being ejected into the atmosphere.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing and spreading ballast between and exteriorly of railroad rails and cross ties. A hand pushed or motor driven ballast spreader has a ballast hopper supported by a frame mounted on wheels engageable with the railroad rails. The hopper has an open top and an open bottom with converging lower walls. Ballast may be deposited between the rails through a door mounted horizontally beneath the frame and through a slot in a fixed chute. Ballast may also be deposited exteriorly of the heads of the cross ties by passing through the fixed chute and through a pivotally movable chute which is pivotally mounted near each lateral end of the fixed chute. Resiliently mounted blades clear excess ballast from the ties between the rails and from the heads of the ties exteriorly of the rails.

Abstract: A bio-mass burner having a continuous feed on demand to a first combustion chamber that contains a hollow grate structure. The novel method of operation includes the use of at least one venturi tube which is in fluid communication with the hollow grate structure to establish an air flow into a second combustion chamber. Primary air to support combustion in the first chamber is supplied to the underside of the grate structure. Secondary air to support combustion in the second chamber is supplied through the hollow grate structure and then to the venturi tube in a sufficiently tortuous path through the first combustion chamber to insure that the air is superheated at the outlet of the venturi tube. A baffle arrangement in the first combustion chamber directs the fuel product toward the grate structure and assists in preventing any unburned gases from being ejected into the atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for forming spirally-shaped indentations in tubular products. An internal shaft is formed with a spirally-shaped female die and an outside die consists of a single metal ball magnetically suspended from the outside die holder in registry with the spiral formation on the internal female die. The tube to be formed extends between the two dies and is clamped to prevent rotation but permitted to move in either axial direction. A threaded insert in the external die is advanced axially and then locked to predetermine the maximum indentation to be impressed into the tubular product. Thereafter, a reversible motor drives a holder for the external die and the internal shaft in unison to form a spiral indentation in the tubular product.