Abstract: A hand operated de-icer for cleaning ice and snow from a windshield of a vehicle including a sprayer that forces an antifreeze liquid from its bottle through a heated nozzle onto the windshield. The sprayer includes a pump with a trigger mounted on the bottle that is squeezed by hand to eject the heated liquid. A momentary on switch is also mounted on the trigger so that electrical current passes through the heater element in the nozzle only when the trigger is squeezed. In another embodiment, a second switch in series with a limiting resistor is connected across the momentary switch to apply low heat continually when required. A brush, scraper, sponge or squeegee are interchangeably mounted on the nozzle for brushing away melting ice and snow.

Abstract: A circuit for permitting communication between stations of a local area network connected to a central office wherein interference such as the dial tone from the central office is eliminated during station to station communication. The modem of a first station has a data processor which analyzes a number dialed at the first station. When the number is intended for a second station who is a network member, the central station is disconnected from the first station and line current is supplied by a current generator local to the first station. The signal is transmitted from the first to the second station by capacitive coupling. A telephone pickup is made at the second station and when the incoming call is from the first station, then line current to the second station is received from a current generator local to the second station and not from the central station thereby eliminating dial tone.

Abstract: A pallet for mounting components on a double sided PCB including a fab (panel) having a frame area surrounding a depression. A shoulder around the depression is dimensioned to support the fab. The fab is laid on the shoulder with the a group of components mounted in a previous reflow operation in the space between the depression and a first area of the fab. The print, pick and place and reflow operations are performed to mount a second group of components on the opposite side of the fab. The first area of the fab is shielded from the heat of the oven so that the first components do not separate from the fab during the second reflow step. Standoffs in the depression prevent sagging of the board. Another area of the pallet has a recessed area with cutouts for wave soldering components located on the third area of the fab.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning squeegees of the type having a handle with one edge joined to an edge of an elastomeric flat plate having a scraping edge. The apparatus includes a pair of brushes such as flat brushes used to scrub floors and supported facing one another so that bristles of one brush touch bristles of the other brush. A tube with a row of apertures is positioned along an upper edge of each brush An appropriate solvent is pumped through the tubes and flushes the surfaces of the plate of the squeegee as the plate is swiped between the brushes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing a group of species of metal ions from an aqueous solution to be purified which involves the steps for each species in succession of adjusting the pH of the aqueous solution to a value where hydroxide precipitates of said species in its highest valency state are insoluble, then passing the aqueous solution through an ion state modification cell to raise the valence of the respective species to its highest valency state thus causing the ion specie to form the insoluble hydroxide, then removing the precipitated hydroxide from the aqueous solution by appropriate steps of settling and press filtering. A magnetic field is imposed between the electrodes which improves the efficiency of the ion state modification step.

Abstract: An apparatus for a large throughput fabric processing operation including a conveyor belt passing under a row of washers and having an extraction (spinning) apparatus at the end of the belt. The production line involves top loading each washer as required and dumping the batches of fabric on the belt after completing the washing step. The extraction step involves varying the rate of spin and the tilt of the extraction cyclinder in order to maintain an even distribution of fabric and then rocking the extractor to loosen the load from the inside surface of the extractor. Processing oprations to which this invention may be applied include, laundering, dyeing and drycleaning.

Abstract: A training device for developing a golfers swing based on a principle of driving a spike fixed to the sweet spot of a striking surface of a golf club, into the flat target surface of a slab of material selected to permit penetration and fixation of the spike in the target surface. The slab is preferably styrofoam and is supported by a stake inserted through the slab and into the ground. In an alternative arrangement, the slab is temporarily supported in its erect position by inserting its lower end in a slot in a pad.

Abstract: An apparatus used in a process for supporting a printed circuit board during a wave soldering operation including a frame with a frame opening in which a surface of the frame supports the board and also serves as a reference surface for vertically positioning the board above the solder pool. The board is secured against the reference surface with spring loaded clamps. Stiffeners preferably being an aluminum extrusion having a Tee or angle cross section is mounted along the outside edge of the reference surface of the frame and has a second reference surface facing in a direction opposite the reference surface of the frame. The second reference surface on the extrusion is accessible for support by a slide rail so that the height of the reference surface of the frame above the surface of the pool is independent of the thickness of the board or frame.

Abstract: A system for enabling a host computer connected to a central station by a PSTN line to communicate with a second host computer or an Internet Service Provider (ISP) at a rate of 56 kilobytes per second. The system and hosts are operated using PCM-AM modulation. In one embodiment, where the central station is connected by a digital (T-1), to an ISP, the central station has a transmit clock and a receive clock that is slave to the transmit clock of the central station. A receiving section of the host has a clock synchronized with the transmit clock of the central station and the transmit clock of the host is synchronized with the receiving clock of the host. In another embodiment, communication of each host is conducted through PSTN lines to through a central station. The receivers and transmitter of both hosts are controlled by four clocks all synchronized to the first transmitter clock to initiate communication.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for storing boxes of perishable products and providing that refrigerated air flows relatively uniformly through the stack. The apparatus is an elongated inflatable bag divided into sections by baffles, each section being inflatable independent of the other sections. The bag forms a roof over a corridor between two rows of stacks and a panel encloses one end of the corridor opposite the opposite end which is closed off by the cargo wall. Refrigerated air forced into the corridor at floor level at one end of the corridor is diverted through the stacks of boxes.

Abstract: A frame comprising four angles each angle having two legs, each leg connected to a a leg of a neighboring angle wherein locations of attachment of the legs are adjustable so as to accommodate a range of sizes of boards for a surface mount manufacturing process. One leg of each angle has a tongue and the other leg has a groove so that tongue of one leg slideably engages the groove of the leg of a neighboring angle to enable adjustment in size of the frame opening. The board is supported on a shoulder around the frame opening with the surface of the board opposite the supporting shoulder surface coplanar with the plane surface of the frame. A flat spring loaded rotatable finger on the plan surface in one corner of the board urges the board toward the opposite corner of the frame.

Abstract: A combination chamfering tool and cutting tool for a milling machine that machines a wall and leaves a chamfered comer including a shaft having one section (12) dimensioned to slip into a mill collet. Another larger cylindrical section (14) is joined end- to- end with the one section and has a conical end (16). A pair of cutting flutes (18) are formed on the conical surface (16). A central bore (20) extends the entire length of the shaft and is dimensioned to accept a mill cutter (22) slip fitted into the bore (20). A set screw (24) secures the cutter (34) in the bore (20). In one embodiment, a part of the bore is threaded and an allen screw (34) is a positioning stop for the cutter (22). In another embodiment, a cylindrical sleeve is journalled onto the shaft forming a chamber.

Abstract: A rack for supporting a motorcycle at a convenient height by a support under each wheel so that the space between the wheels and under the seat are accessible for servicing/repairing otherwise hard to reach parts. The rack section under the front wheel includes a platform horizontally supported on legs. The support surface has a pair of walls, formed in one embodiment by a pair of angle brackets adjustably spaced from one another and a stop wall, perpendicular to the angle brackets and positioned to prevent the motor cycle from rolling off the rack. Tie down straps fasten the motorcycle to the rack for further stabilization.

Abstract: A drill jig for installing a lockset in a hanging door with an aperture for the lockset. The drill jig has a plate with a plug on one side dimensioned to fit into the aperture. An array of drill bushings is mounted in the plate aligned with a level on the top edge of the plate. Rubber feet protect the the door from being marred by the plate. The plate is positioned against the door in preparation for drilling holes through the drill bushing into the door. A tool is provided having a tee hook which is inserted through the door aperture from a side of the door opposite the drill jig and temporarily secures the drill jig against the door during the drilling operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for injecting a drug into a precisely selected location in a patient's body which is a combination scanner and drug injector. The scanner is a planar array of ultrasonic transducers which transmits a focused ultrasonic beam over the entire region of interest. The injector is preferably a hypodermic syringe mounted with the array on a base. The syringe is mounted to slide between one position where the injector conduit is retracted from the patient and another position where the adjustably positioned exit end of the conduit is in the desired location for injection of the drug. As the operator holds the scanner-injector against the patient's body with injector conduit retracted, he views on a monitor screen a virtual image of the conduit which is the image of the conduit after the conduit is injected into the body.

Abstract: A variable transmission hub especially for a bicycle featuring a hub housing with spoke ends attached and rotatably mounted on the wheel axel. The conical hub has an internal surface with gears concentrically formed on the internal surface providing a set of concentric gears having a range of ratios. Independent gear assemblies couple each internal gear to a drive cylinder rotatably mounted on the axle and having a drive gear (sprocket) mounted on one end. A cam cylinder is mounted to slide on the axle which, at a selected location along the axle forces a clutch pin slidably positioned in the drive sleeve to engage the selected sun gear. The position of the sliding cam is selected by the user pulling on one end of a cable whose other end is secured to the sliding cam cylinder.

Abstract: A workman's service cart for storing and transporting a ladder, tools, a carton of fluorescent light cylinders and tools related to maintenance of a fluorescent light fixtures including a base platform with wheels on a bottom side and a superstructure on the top side including a slant panel for extending from the base panel for supporting the ladder and connected to an edge of top panel. The top panel has an aperture for inserting the carton of fluorescent light cylinders on one side of a vertical partition panel. An array of shelves is located on the other side of the partition panel. The cart is built to permit a workman to stand on the top panel and exchange fluorescent light cylinders successively without having to climb down the ladder for each cylinder.

Abstract: A bite-block for protecting the mouth of a patient receiving electroconvulsive therapy includes a U-shaped frame made from a unitary piece of a flexible material, such as expanded polyethylene foam, having a first side and an opposite second side. The U-shaped frame includes a body portion and two spaced-apart lobes extending therefrom. The two lobes define a gap therebetween. A force absorbing pad extends upwardly from the first side along at least a portion of each of the two lobes. A handle portion may be added so that the frame is Y-shaped.

Abstract: An adjustable wrench having a handle with two handle sections himgeably joined end to end with a jaw section mounted on one free end of one section. A clip is provided for locking orientation of the two sections with respect to one another for turning fasteners that are located in awkwardly accessible locations. Indicia on the jaws of the wrench indicate spacing of the jaws for standard sizes. The gripping surfaces of the moveable jaw has an area that is parallel to an area of the fixed jaw for quick accessibility of the wrench. The gripping surfaces of the fixed and moveable jaws also have areas that are contoured to present broad areas of contact to either a hexagonal fastener or a square fastener.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing hydrocarbon contaminants and heavy metal ion contaminants from wastewater stream comprising the introduction of iron ions into the stream. In one embodiment, the ions are introduced by applying an electrical current through a bed of iron particulates in the form of steel wool and iron nodules. In another embodiment, the iron salts are added to the waste stream and the iron ions are reduced to a more reactive lower valence state by electric current.