Abstract: Web decurling apparatus wherein a paper web is urged against a deformable roller by a decurling rod which extends parallel to the roller is provided with a series of improved bearing assemblies carried in spaced relation by a back-up beam which overlies the decurling rod to limit deflection thereof as decurling pressure is applied. Each bearing assembly is adjustable relative to the decurling rod and includes a mounting block fastened to the back-up beam, a pair of spindles each having an eccentric on one end journalled in the mounting block, and a roller bearing mounted on the eccentric end of each spindle. The other end of the spindle protrudes from the bearing block and is engageable by a tool to enable a technician to rotate the spindle about its axis and hence to rotate the bearing into proper engagement with the decurling rod. A set screw carried by the bearing block releasably engages the spindle for locking the bearing in a selected adjusted position.

Abstract: A storage rack having columns with apertures releasably mounting load support brackets is provided with clean-outs at the base of each column to enable foreign matter which enters the columns to be removed from the insides of the columns. Each column has a front flange and side flanges with bottom edges which engage a base plate. The front flange has a lower edge defining an upwardly-narrowing recess at the base of the column. A pair of gusset plates with inturned deflector flanges extend upwardly from the base plate and along the side flanges of the column. Each gusset plate has a recess in its lower edge, and weldement in each gusset plate recess secures the side flanges and the gusset plates to the base plate.

Abstract: A sport fishing chair for boats is provided with an auxiliary seat assembly which enables a fisherman to utilize a greater number of body muscles while reeling in a gamefish. The chair has a seat portion mounted to pivot on a pedestal, a rod holder in front of the seat portion, and a foot rest carried by the seat portion. The auxiliary seat assembly includes a base member secured to the seat portion of the chair, a support member superimposed on the base member for supporting the body of the fisherman, and means interposed between the seat and base members to afford sliding movement of the seat member from a retracted position overlying the chair seat to an extended position toward the foot rest. A body harness rests on the support member and is connected to the fishing reel. This structure enables a fisherman to move his body back and forth in the chair to pivot the rod and reel by alternately bending and straightening his legs.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for installation in the water tank of a toilet to reduce the quantity of water discharged from the tank during flushing while maintaining a satisfactory flushing action. The apparatus comprises a pair of flat, flexible partition elements which extend in a bowed manner between the front and rear walls of the tank on opposite sides of the tank-drain. A bead of deformable gasket material extends along the side and bottom edges of each partition, and the bead is urged into frictional engagement with the walls by the tendency of the partition to straighten from its bowed position. The partition elements form pockets on each side of the drain for containing water near the bottom of the tank while permitting water above the drain and the pockets to flow down the drain when the toilet is flushed.

Abstract: Apparatus for rolling, measuring and cutting material drawn from a selected one of a series of elongated rolls rotatably mounted horizontally in a rack. The apparatus comprises a frame having an elongated base member, a pair of arms extending forewardly therefrom, means releasably mounting the frame to the display rack, and means for forming a roll between the arms. The roll forming means includes a pair of mandrels rotatably mounted in spaced confronting relation between the arms, means to rotate the mandrels in unison about a common axis, and gripping means on each mandrel for releasably gripping marginal portions of the material. An upwardly-concave roll forming trough assembly is carried by the frame intermediate the mandrels for curling and supporting material rolled by the mandrels. The mandrels are mounted for movement axially relative to one another to enable the roll formed therebetween to be lifted from the roll forming trough assemblies.

Abstract: A dense paper comprising a web of cellulosic fibers and an impregnant dispersed throughout the web, the impregnant consisting essentially of a blend of a rigid polymeric material and an inorganic filler, in stated proportions, with the impregnant constituting a minor portion of the finished weight of the paper. A process for producing the paper is disclosed.

Abstract: An oscillating piston engine capable of running on a working fluid such as steam or compressed air comprises a bank of cylinders mounted for rotation in unison to turn a shaft in an engine block, pistons mounted for oscillation in the cylinders and rotatable in unison relative to the cylinders to turn another shaft in the engine block, control means operable in response to rotation of the cylinders for supplying and exhausting working fluid to and from opposite ends of the cylinders in alternating timed relation to cause the pistons to oscillate in the cylinders and pistons, and gearing means connecting the piston shaft and the cylinder shaft to an output shaft for converting the oscillating motion of the pistons and cylinders into unidirectional rotation of the output shaft.

Abstract: A holder for a consumable electrode used to cut metal by means of an electric arc is disclosed. The holder has an elongated barrel for containing the electrode and a pistol grip depending from the barrel for supplying electrical energy to the electrode. The exposed length of the electrode can be adjusted by a ram which slides in the barrel behind the electrode and which cooperates with clamping means actuated by a trigger on the pistol grip to secure the electrode at any adjusted length. Compressed air and electrical energy are supplied to the base of the pistol grip and are respectively communicated to a nozzle at the front end of the barrel and to the electrode. The nozzle is mounted for rotation relative to the electrode and has orifices for ejecting the air along any desired side of the electrode. Manifold means in the nozzle insures a continuous supply of compressed air to the orifices irrespective of the angular position of the nozzle.

Abstract: A rope or cable having a series of loops and/or fairings extending laterally in spaced relation along its length is disclosed. In one embodiment, the fairings are composed of a series of strands which splay outwardly from a jacket applied onto a core. In one species of this embodiment, a layer of resilient material surrounds the core, and the jacket is braided over base portions of the fairings which overlie the resilient layer. In another species of this embodiment, the core is provided by an elongated cable, and the jacket is provided by a helically-wrapped tape which anchors the strands to the cable. In another embodiment, a central core is omitted and a braided jacket surrounds base portions of the strands to secure the fairings.Methods and apparatus for producing the faired articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: A high-strength parallel yarn rope comprises a series of multi-filament rope yarns which are bounded together in parallel relation along their lengths by a binder distributed only on the surfaces of the yarns to form a flexible rope core. The core is surrounded by a braided jacket, and a flexible layer of water-impervious material adhesively and mechanically bonds the core to the jacket.A method is also disclosed for manufacturing the rope.

Abstract: A dense paper comprising a web of cellulosic fibers and an impregnant dispersed throughout the web, the impregnant consisting essentially of a blend of a rigid polymeric material and an inorganic filler, in stated proportions, with the impregnant constituting a minor portion of the finished weight of the paper. A process for producing the paper is disclosed.

Abstract: A brush holder assembly which affords ready removal and replacement of brushes is disclosed. The assembly comprises a guideway in a housing for slidably receiving a brush holder, latching means on the guideway and holder to secure the holder with the brush in operating relation in the housing, and means displaceable between the holder and the guideway from outside the housing to unlatch the holder to permit the brush and spring carried thereby to be withdrawn from the housing.

Abstract: Climbing crane for construction characterized in that a superstructural portion of the climbing crane is removably fixed on the tower, the superstructural portion provided with a travelling device for moving on the built structure.

Abstract: A lantern having a self-contained power supply and a primary source of illumination is provided with a secondary source of illumination which emits a small amount of light for enabling the lantern to be located readily in the dark.

Abstract: A rake for use in gathering fruit, such as nuts, fallen from a tree is disclosed. The rake includes a head assembly, an elongated handle for pulling the head assembly along the ground, and means for connecting the handle at an angle to the head assembly. The head assembly includes a tine bar having an array of tines depending in spaced relation therefrom. Each tine has an upturned tip, a shank connected to the tine bar, and a concave curved portion connecting the shank and tip to provide a fruit containing hopper in front of the rake. Similarly shaped retainer tines are mounted at opposite ends of the array above the level thereof to retain fruit in the hopper. To unload the hopper, the head assembly is tilted to permit the fruit to roll over a retainer tine and into a suitable container.

Abstract: An elongated article such as a rope or cord having a series of fairings spaced apart along its length is produced in a continuous manner by the method and apparatus of the present invention. The rope comprises a core having a plurality of yarns surrounded by a layer of resilient material, and a braided jacket surrounds the core and anchors the fairings thereto. The fairings are provided by a resilient fairing yarn which is fed toward the core and which is manipulated by a needle during braiding of the jacket to cause each fairing to have a base portion anchored between the jacket and the resilient layer of the core and streamer portions extending outwardly from the base portion. The needle is mounted for reciprocation parallel to the moving core upstream of the braider, and the fairing yarn passes through the eye of the needle and a first length is displaced through the path of movement of the braid yarns into engagement with a gripping assembly located downstream of the braid yarns.

Abstract: An oscillating piston internal combustion engine comprises a bank of combustion chambers mounted on the front of an engine block for rotation in an annular path to rotate an output shaft protruding from the rear of the block. Gearing inside the block converts oscillating motion of the pistons and cylinders into unidirectional rotation of the output shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus for aligning the axle of a vehicle such as a truck, bus, etc., comprises a carriage adapted to be rolled into position adjacent the axle, a beam mounted on the carriage to pivot about a horizontal axis orthogonal to the axle, and means for projecting a laser ray coaxial with the pivot axis of the beam and onto a target positioned forwardly of the axle at a predetermined location with respect to the frame of the vehicle. The underside of the axle is engaged by a pair of forks adjustably carried by the beam to position the beam parallel to the axle. A centering mechanism is provided to center the laser with respect to the axle by causing the beam pivot axis to move laterally into a central position between the wheels of the vehicle. Preferably, the laser also projects a ray rearwardly through a central bore in the beam pivot pin to facilitate alignment of the laser with the pivot axis of the beam.

Abstract: In a process for preparing tissue for microscopic examination which process includes the steps of fixing a specimen of tissue, dehydrating the fixed specimen, clearing the dehydrated specimen, and impregnating the cleared specimen with paraffin, ultrasonic energy is applied to the specimen in each of the processing steps to reduce the total preparation time. Also, the time required to stain a specimen of tissue is reduced when ultrasonic energy is applied to the specimen while immersed in the stain.

Abstract: Apparatus for constructing a block tower for a suspension bridge includes a working platform, means for raising and lowering the platform vertically along a pre-erected base of the tower, and a carriage movable horizontally on tracks on the working platform. The carriage moves between a block loading station lateral of the base and a block unloading station above the top of the tower base where the block is superimposed on other blocks of the pre-erected base. The carriage is specially designed to raise and lower the lower block and to disengage the same at the block unloading station for return to the block loading station. A method is also disclosed for constructing a tower of built-up blocks.