Abstract: A portable air compressor which operates from a cigarette lighter socket is housed in a generally triangular casing having a luminescent triangular hazard warning on at least one surface. The casing includes a lower compartment in which the compressor and motor are stored and an upper compartment in which the power cord and air hose are stored. The two compartments are separated by a horizontal wall having a plurality of slots defined therethrough to provide adequate ventilation between the compartments. Flip-up access panels in the sidewalls provide easy access to the top compartment for deployment of the air hose and power cord. Openings in the front and rear walls at the top and bottom of the housing assure ample ingress of air, both to supply the compressor and to establish a convective cooling flow through the compartments and the slotted wall.

Abstract: A keyless vehicle intrusion alarm is armed by momentary depression of the brake pedal or actuation of some other electrically-responsive circuit, followed by the opening and closing of a particular vehicle door within a first predetermined time period. In order to signal the operator that an arming sequence has been initiated, a short burst of the alarm is sounded after the brake pedal or other electric circuit is momentarily activated. Subsequent reentry via that door initiates a time delay during which the entrant must actuate the ignition switch to prevent an alarm from sounding. Entry through any other door, or tampering with the vehicle hood, results in immediate sounding of the alarm. The alarm sounds for a limited time interval before being automatically squelched.

Abstract: A three-wheeled vehicle is disclosed having an improved simplified, light weight, tubular frame design which provides a U-shaped anti-sway bar for resistance to twisting of the frame and allows a steering system having a pair of front wheels to be steered by a handlebar that is mounted on a vehicle frame member beneath the seat of the vehicle operator, the handlebar curving upward and wider than the seat for convenient operation and access to the vehicle seat. The frame for the seat of the operator is provided by the anti-sway bar. The front wheels mount to the frame behind operator's feet, under normal riding conditions; steering being such that sharp turns may be made without interference between the wheels on the one hand and the frame and steering members on the other.

Abstract: A spray device comprises a fluidic element formed as recesses in a first surface of one member and sealed by abutting a second surface of another member against the first surface and pressing the two members together in a forced-fit arrangement. In order to prevent leakage of fluid, the power nozzle of the element is spaced from the edges of said surface, and the supply fluid is conducted to the nozzle via a passage which intersects the nozzle from out of the plane of the element.

Abstract: A tank for the transport or storage of liquified natural gas under pressure is of generally rectangular form and has its side, top and bottom walls each composed of a series of parallel lobes of part-spherical cross-section and of say, 3.0 to 4.0 meters chord distance, each tank end consisting of either a like series of lobes or a mosaic of domes. All the inter-lobe nodes of the top wall of the tank are united to the corresponding nodes of the tank bottom by vertical tie-plates; likewise all the corresponding inter-lobe nodes of the two side walls are united by transverse tie-plates which intersect the vertical tie-plates orthogonally, and thereby define with them a plurality of tunnels of square cross-section.The tie-plates extend longitudinally to unite the end walls of the tank and are welded to one another at all tie-plates inter-sections. The tank is supported on a series of parallel support ribs or frames that connect with the tank along the inter-lobe nodes of the tank bottom.

Abstract: A used lubricating oil reclamation apparatus in which filters, heat exchangers, a vaporizer unit, pumps and other necessary equipment are all contained in a wheeled cabinet. The oil to be reclaimed is pumped through a warming heat exchanger, a first filter, a vaporizer unit, and further filters, after which appropriate additives are mixed into the decontaminated oil in a mixing tank. A vacuum is maintained on the vaporizer unit to exhaust the vapours from it via the heat exchanger and a condensate tank.

Abstract: In a radio paging system with multiple base stations covering respective geographic areas, subscribers may move freely from area to area and transfer their paging service accordingly by means of a local telephone cell. Radio-transmitted pages are confined to the specific area of the subscriber's whereabouts. Pages are automatically stored while a subscriber is in transit from one area to another. If the subscriber has been paged during the transit period, he is automatically paged when his paging service is transferred upon arrival at his destination. Pages destined for a subscriber who is remotely located are originated in the same manner as if that subscriber were operating locally, i.e. by means of a local telephone call, whether or not the page originator knows the location of the recipient (subscriber). Pages may be originated from any area throughout the system for any subscriber regardless of his location.

Abstract: A meter prover is provided in which a substantially spherical plug travels through a U-shaped calibration conduit between two delivery/receiving stations at the ends of the conduit, and each said station contains means for selectively retaining the plug in the station. The retaining means consists of a sleeve with the same cross-section as the conduit which is mounted for horizontal movement toward and away from the conduit end along a plug cage that receives and guides the plug when it emerges from the conduit end. When the sleeve is in a position where it forms a continuation of the conduit end, fluid pressure is able to force the plug through the sleeve into the conduit, but when the sleeve and plug are spaced from the conduit end the fluid is able to bypass the plug and flow directly into the conduit.

Abstract: The shredder apparatus has all high wear regions of the stationary parts protected by readily replaceable liners. A funnel fed arrangement into the shredder chamber prevents jams of material being fed to machine and build up of foil and dirt, etc., which can also cause jams. Wind vane bolts are recessed into the rotor and wind vanes are located on the lower wear side thereof and cooperating bolts are located on the low wear or protected side of the vane. A replaceable dummy wear liner is provided under the shredder screen to protect the frame and is readily replaceable and removable by lifting from its craddle. The shred heads are comprised of two parts, a yoke and a replaceable head portion to extend life of each head and provide ease of replacement.

Abstract: An emergency roadside telephone system includes a plurality of self-powered, emergency telephone terminals positioned at remote locations, such as along roadways, to permit communication with a central station in order to obtain emergency assistance. Each emergency telephone terminal has a transmitter and a receiver for communication with the central station, a handset for providing voice communication and a plurality of emergency switches carrying symbols representative of various types of emergency assistance required such that a caller can request emergency assistance either by voice communication with an operator at the central station or, if there is a language barrier, by actuating the emergency switches.

Abstract: A support system is provided for a tank for the storage of fluid media under pressure which tank has its top, bottom and side walls each made up of a series of parallel outwardly convex lobes. The bottom supports of the support system comprise A-frame cradles that are secured to external structure, and have traylike saddles at their apices in which rest blocks of load-bearing heat-insulating material shaped at their tops to fit into interlobe nodal recesses of the tank bottom. When each heat-insulating block is in correct positional relationship with the respective tank bottom recess, the tray in which it rests is filled with synthetic plastics material which sets to anchor the block in place. The support system also comprises top and bottom locating keys which likewise are located at interlobe nodes of the tank top and bottom walls, each consisting of an extension piece or tongue projecting from an interlobe node to engage external support structure.

Abstract: A bearing assembly is provided in which bearing preload is exerted by both high and low rate non-linear springs, the low rate springs being substantially collapsed when the preload is applied. A shaft is mounted in two angular contact ball bearings contained in a housing with the bearing outer races maintained a fixed distance apart. The springs are two sets of hard and soft spring washers in tandem each set acting on a respective inner bearing race through the intermediary of a respective thrust member. Mechanical stop faces engage in the event of severe axial loading to prevent such excessive loads from being transmitted through the bearings. The amount of preload applied can be discerned from the width of gaps existing between faces on the thrust members and respective end faces on the housing.

Abstract: An aircraft take-off runway, especially a ship's flight desk, is provided with a terminal ramp that curves upward to launch the aircraft in a semi-ballistic trajectory. The ramp is so configured as to have a varying contour or profile, in longitudinal section, at different regions across it, such that the path up the ramp of wheels on the center line of the aircraft is different from the path of wheels off the center line, e.g. outrigger wheels, whereby a desired pitching moment is imparted to the aircraft at launch.

Abstract: A circuit and system is presented for controlling operation of a cell or hopper for dispensing controlled quantities of similarly shaped but different small articles. Copending patent application Ser. No. 533,255 filed on Dec. 16, 1974, by Hurst et al., discloses an article dispensing system providing a plurality of rotatable dispensing hoppers or cells each for dispensing during rotation a different article, specifically a drug tablet or capsule; the number to be dispensed being freely selectable. The present invention provides a modification of such system permitting a single cell to dispense several different items without fear of intermixing items. Pursuant thereto, a cell is filled with more articles than required and the system put into operation. The circuitry for each cell terminates dispensing of an article when the selected number of articles have been delivered to a dispensing chute.

Abstract: An asynchronous logic circuit is provided having three stable states, namely two information states and a neutral state. Information is transferred between cascaded such circuits wholly under the control of such circuits and at a rate determined by the delay times through various gates. Feedback is employed between each circuit so that for any two given circuits the transfer logic is IN.fwdarw.NI, I representing an information state and N representing the neutral state. Reversible cascaded chains are discussed as well as parallel feed-in and feed-out of information, and fan-in, fan-out and recirculating loops of information. The cascaded circuits (nets) employ interface circuits comprising in most instances a specified part of the basic net circuit.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for covering on a tennis shoe the worn area resulting from dragging the rear foot when hitting the ball and moving into the play, the device comprising a side wall having a curve generally conforming to the side and front of the shoe adjacent the big toe of the wearer and an integral bottom member that extends under the worn part of the sole, the device being fabricated from a tough material more flexible than the shoe whereby in conjunction with the shape of the device it will conform more easily to various different sizes of shoes having the worn area in various locations mainly beneath and forward of the big toe.

Abstract: A windshield washer comprises a nozzle in which a liquid jet is formed and repetitively transversely swept before egressing from the nozzle body. The swept jet breaks up into liquid droplets which impinge upon a wide area of a windshield. In a preferred embodiment the nozzle is an oscillator, preferably a fluidic oscillator, in which the jet is swept oscillatorily between two extreme positions. In still another form of the invention discrete slugs of liquid are alternately issued in at least two directions from a common nozzle body.

Abstract: The auxiliary locking mechanism of my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,894,416 is more securely detended and greatly simplified in construction by forming the locking part of the mechanism that is to engage the surrounding metal as a rectangular body and forming a rectangular recess in the part of the surrounding metal that is to be engaged by the aforesaid locking part. The locking part is movable axially of the remainder of the mechanism so that when the mechanism is inserted into a rectangular opening in the side of the body remote from the rectangular recess, the locking part may be depressed and rotated to be aligned with the recess and then released so that it becomes seated in the recess and is securely detented.

Abstract: Pole-mounted equipment is adaptable for mounting on utility poles having a wide range of diameters and is relatively vandal-proof. A first equipment housing is secured to the pole by plural U-shaped bolts, the ends of which are tightly secured to the first assembly. Mounting brackets extend from the first assembly to a length greater than the largest pole diameter in said range and are secured to a second equipment housing. The brackets thereby define a uniform spacing between the first and second housings, irrespective of pole diameter. A front panel is secured to one of said housings and is protected by an access door. A cover, in the form of two generally L-section members, protects the housing from the elements and includes inwardly-projecting studs which extend into both housings where they are appropriately secured. Openings are provided in the top of the cover to accomodate the pole.

Abstract: A process timer, particularly suitable for photographic processing, provides a pre-recorded continuous spoken indication of elapsed time, thereby permitting an operator to remain aware of the progress of the process without the requirement for visual monitoring of elapsed time. The spoken elapsed time indications are at selectable intervals and may be chosen so that longer intervals (e.g. minutes) are signalled during some portions of the timing cycle and shorter intervals (e.g. seconds) are signalled during other portions of the cycle. Automatic timed operation of external equipment is also possible as is the automatic resetting of the timer upon completion of a predetermined time interval.