Abstract: The luminous umbrella of the present invention uses a high proportion of the light generated by mounting the light bulb high on the shaft such that most of the light from the light bulb is projected at the highly reflective undersurface. The curvature of the undersurface focusses the light from the light bulb down to illuminate a space immediately around the user. This illuminated space widens towards the bottom, thereby providing the widest illumination at the ground where it is most needed. As a result of the light being efficiently focussed, the required luminosity of the light bulb is reduced, enabling the umbrella to be used using an incandescent light bulb and a few 1.5 volt batteries. Alternatively, if it is desired to provide increased illumination, the conventional incandescent bulb may be replaced with a halogen bulb. The batteries will still suffice to provide bright illumination by the halogen bulb.

Abstract: A swaged male element of a pipe connection of the type having a frusto-conical sealing surface adjacent to but separate from the load threads. The swaging is effected prior to final machining of the end of the pin and is followed by a cutting operation to remove surplus material from the interior surface of the pin. The swaging extends from the distal end of the pin proximally to include at least the distal end of the effective sealing surface, and preferably extends proximally to a point coinciding generally with the terminating proximal portion of the effective sealing area of the pin.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a magnetic field in a casting mold to slow and redirect in a controllable fashion the flow of liquid steel exiting a submerged entry nozzle in the casting mold using removable laminar elements arrangeable in a horizontal series of vertical stacked arrays in association with corresponding side-by-side laminar constituents of the magnetic field core, or independent field coils for energizing each laminar portion of the magnetic field core, or both. The removable elements are preferably stackable rectangular parallelepiped plates together forming selectably a portion or all of the poles of the core as they extend into proximity with the transverse mold sides at selected locations.

Abstract: An optimizing method for improving the efficiency of production is provided for a steel rolling mill using a Steckel mill to roll steel slab to end-product thickness, and associated downstream equipment of limited capacity to generate strip and/or plate end-product. The optimizing method allows for continuous processing of steel slab of a mass within the capacity limits of the Steckel mill and equipment upstream of the Steckel mill, but in excess of the capacity of the associated downstream equipment, by first rolling the slab in the Steckel mill to intermediate coilable thickness, and then severing the intermediate steel product to produce two derivative segments, one of a target mass within the limit of capacity of the coiler furnaces and downstream equipment, and another, typically smaller, residual segment. The residual segment is disposed of, optionally first milled to end-product thickness in the Steckel mill, and transferred to conventional downstream equipment.

Abstract: In a melt shop for melting scrap to make steel, increased tonnage output for continuous casting for a given primary melt capacity can be obtained by stacking heated ladles of molten steel in inventory at a holding station before the ladles are transferred the ladle refining station or stacking refined ladles, or both, in advance of commencement of casting.

Abstract: A vehicular transport apparatus for use with a carrier to transport other vehicles as cargo. The vehicular transport apparatus includes a support frame, a rotary mount on the support frame, a rotatable deck mounted on the rotary mount, a deck lock beside the rotatable deck that is pivotably attached to the carrier frame by a pin, a biassing means associated with the deck lock for biassing the deck lock into the lock position, and a ramp for loading the carried vehicle onto the rotatable deck, which can be secured to the rotatable deck or the support frame. The support frame is secured in a fixed position on the carrier by an attachment beam that mates with brackets attached to the carrier.

Abstract: A cable reel or cable reel assembly for use in transporting and storing cable of length, diameter and weight up to a predetermined reel capacity. The cable reel, or cable reel assembly when assembled, includes a generally cylindrical cable-receiving drum, which in the case of the cable reel assembly is assembled from a plurality of drum components, and a pair of opposed flanges that are fixed to the ends of the drum and retain wound cable in place on the drum. The drum is made of a material, and has dimensions, that enable it to resist bending under the load of the cable wound on the drum and to resist cable loading and unloading stresses. The opposed flanges resist the lateral load applied to the cable reel by the wound cable. The flanges are made from a selected blended rubber-plastics composition and have dimensions selected to resist bending due to the lateral load of the cable wound on the drum, and due to the stress applied to the flanges by the drum bearing the cable.

Abstract: A pneumatic retractable syringe in which the needle is retracted into the barrel of the syringe following use by compressed gas that is released from a gas reservoir when the gas reservoir is ruptured by applying force to the plunger after injection is completed.

Abstract: The luminous umbrella of the present invention uses a high proportion of the light generated by mounting the light bulb high on the shaft such that most of the light from the light bulb is projected on the undersurface of the umbrella canopy The undersurface has a high luminous reflectance and is curved, consequently focusing the light from the light bulb down to illuminate a space immediately around the user. This luminous space widens towards the bottom, thereby providing the widest illumination at the ground where it is most needed. As a result of the light being efficiently focussed, the required luminosity of the light bulb is reduced, enabling the umbrella to be powered using an incandescent light bulb and a few 1.5 volt batteries. Alternatively, if it is desired to provide extremely bright illumination, the conventional incandescent bulb may be replaced with a halogen bulb. The batteries still suffice to provide bright illumination by the halogen bulb.

Abstract: A vehicle for supporting cargo in two tiers includes a lower frame for supporting cargo at a lower level and an upper frame for supporting cargo in an elevated position above the lower frame. The vehicle includes a forward support tower and a rear support tower. The forward support tower is pivotally connected to and supports the forward portion of the upper frame. The rear support tower is pivotally connected to and supports the rear portion of the upper frame. The support provided to the rear portion of the upper frame by the rear support tower is longitudinally displaceable, relative to the rear support tower. The lower portion of the rear support tower is pivotally connected to and supported by the rear portion of the lower frame.

Abstract: The in-line combination of a reversing rolling mill (Steckel mill) and its coiler furnaces with accelerated controlled cooling apparatus immediately downstream thereof and associated method permits steel to be sequentially reversingly rolled to achieve an overall reduction of at least about 3:1, imparted by a first reduction while the steel is kept at a temperature above the T.sub.nr by the coiler furnaces so as to preserve an optimum opportunity for controlled recrystallization of the steel after each rolling pass, and a second reduction while the temperature of the steel drops from about the T.sub.nr to about the Ar.sub.3. The second reduction is preferably of the order of 2:1 as a result of which the steel reaches a final plate thickness. The steel product then passes through the accelerated controlled cooling apparatus, preferably applying laminar flow cooling at least to the upper surface of the steel passing therethrough so as to reduce the temperature of the steel from about the Ar.sub.

Abstract: A braille learning apparatus for use with a computer comprising a set of tactile flash cards, each individual card having a pattern of braille dots embossed on a surface of the card and two electrically connected contacts at a unique set of discrete spaced positions on the card with a preselected correspondence between the pattern of braille dots on the surface of the card and the selected positions of the contacts, and a tactile flash card reader capable of sensing the positions of the contacts on a card.

Abstract: An optimizing method for improving the efficiency of production is provided for a steel rolling mill using a Steckel mill to roll steel slab to end-product thickness, and associated downstream equipment of limited capacity to generate strip and/or plate end-product. The optimizing method allows for continuous processing of steel slab of a mass within the capacity limits of the Steckel mill and equipment upstream of the Steckel mill, but in excess of the capacity of the associated downstream equipment, by first rolling the slab in the Steckel mill to intermediate coilable thickness, and then severing the intermediate steel product to produce two derivative segments, one of a target mass within the limit of capacity of the coiler furnaces and downstream equipment, and another, typically smaller, residual segment. The residual segment is disposed of, optionally first milled to end-product thickness in the Steckel mill, and transferred to conventional downstream equipment.

Abstract: For economy of operation, as much as possible of the total length of a steel strip being rolled by a Steckel mill should be maintained at an acceptably high temperature. To this end, the trailing edge of the strip is drawn into the coiler furnace to the extent possible without losing driving control of the strip. This is enabled by providing within or in close proximity with the entrance/exit port of the coiler furnace a pair of preferably heated pinch rolls that drive the trailing edge of the strip (that has just completed a pass through the Steckel mill) into the coiler furnace as far as possible, leaving only a very short protruding portion of that trailing edge outside the coiler furnace. The strip may be left idle within the coiler furnace for as long a time as is required to bring the temperature of the wound strip up to a target operating temperature. Then the same pair of pinch rolls in or near the entrance/exit port of the coiler furnace drive the strip out of the furnace toward the Steckel mill.

Abstract: A melt shop for melting scrap steel comprises a pair of primary melting furnaces and a pair of refining facility stations. The layout for the primary melting furnaces, refining facility, associated support, and peripheral equipment and caster is a single-aisle layout with general longitudinal alignment of the major constituent elements. Scrap delivery to the primary melt furnaces may comprise trackways running perpendicular to the longitudinal layout, the discharge end of each trackway being proximate to a primary melt furnace. A single trackway is preferably provided for a pair of overhead cranes running longitudinally from the caster to the primary melt furnaces.

Abstract: A system for determining the shape and dimensions of a surface of an object includes a projector for projecting onto the object a spatially coded pattern of radiation, e.g., light. The system also includes a receiving device capable of imaging the reflected pattern, and a discriminator for determining which portion of the reflected pattern corresponds to which portion of the projected pattern. By this means, a received signal representing less than the complete reflection from the projected pattern can be correlated with a discrete portion of the scanned object. The procedure is repeated to obtain enough reliable data to generate a reasonably reliable surface profile. The resulting set of received signals and correlations are used to calculate the shape and dimensions of the object.

Abstract: A boat loader and carrier for mounting on a motor vehicle such as a pick-up truck, comprising an upper frame for supporting the boat, having forward and rearward ends and transversely spaced legs whose proximate ends are attached to the upper frame, said legs extending downwardly from the transversely spaced side edges of the rearward end of the frame, the distal ends of the legs pivotally attachable to a lower frame clamped to the pick-up truck so as to allow the upper frame to pivot about the pivotal axes between a generally horizontal carrying position above and substantially parallel with the roof of the pick-up and a loading/unloading position inclined downwardly rearwardly relative to the carrying position; a winch fixed in position forwardly relative to the pivotal axes of the legs when the loader and carrier is mounted on the vehicle, for pulling the boat onto the upper frame and for allowing the boat to be controllably lowered off the upper frame; and a cable connecting the upper and lower frames for

Abstract: A self-contained unitary assembly for peripheral devices normally located close to a Steckel mill is provided. The assembly has a frame open at both ends to receive and pass through the steel product being rolled. Above and below the pathway for the steel product are located transversely spaced arrays of descaler nozzles and their headers and also controlled cooling nozzles and their headers. Also included within the unitary assembly is the x-ray measuring gauge or other suitable measuring instrument for measuring some characteristic of the steel product. The unitary assembly is positioned between the pinch rolls and the Steckel mill. Protective steel plates or beams are provided running both transversely and longitudinally within the frame for the assembly to provide protection for the nozzles and measuring apparatus. These protective elements also serve to minimize the amount of errant water spray that might otherwise tend to enter the coiler furnace.

Abstract: Modular roll apparatus particularly suitable for conveying hot material such as a sheet of steel being processed. Each roll has its own individual water bath and drive mechanism. A water trough isolates the bath from the bearings and drive mechanism for the roll and bathes the underside of the roll to cool it. The entire modular unit can be removed from its operating position and replaced by a similar such unit. A conveyor containing a multiplicity of such units is suitable for conveying hot sheet steel or other hot material in a processing mill.