Abstract: In a radio of the type having a selectively operable transmitter portion and an associated receiver portion for two-way communication, such as a CB radio, plus an auxilliary receiver for reproducing auxilliary audio signals, such as an AM/FM radio, a system is provided for automatically interrupting the audio signal output of the auxilliary receiver whenever the transmitter portion is operated. When the transmit/receive switch is in the transmit position, an auxilliary electronic switch interrupts the audio output of the auxilliary receiver by by-passing to ground the audio signal input to the audio amplifier section of the auxilliary receiver.

Abstract: An unsheathed grease-filled cable stub has the grease removed from around the insulated wires by subjecting the cable stub to radiant heat over the length of the stub and over a major portion of its circumference while the stub is supported on a flexible open mesh of material that overlies a trough. The heated grease melts and flows downwardly for collection into the trough, the grease also flowing through the supporting mesh. The heating temperature of the cable stub is kept low enough to prevent damage to the insulation of the wires.

Abstract: A surface replacement knee joint prosthesis is provided which restrains axial and lateral rotation of the knee joint when the leg is fully extended, and superior-inferior dislocation at all times. The prosthesis has femoral and tibial members articulated by spaced spheroidal load-sharing condylar surfaces with substantially matching radii of curvature. The femoral member defines a tapering channel positioned between the spaced condylar surfaces. A stem having a truncated head projects superiorly from the tibial member and progressively engages the tapering channel during extension, for restraining the rotation and dislocation of the knee joint when the leg is fully extended. When the leg is in flexion, the clearance between the stem and the diverging arms which define the channel allows axial and lateral rotation as in a natural knee joint.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating meat comprises introducing pieces of meat into a tumbling drum rotatable about a horizontal axis and which contains circumferentially spaced rods on the inside of the drum adjacent to its periphery and parallel to the axis of rotation. The rods contain teeth so that upon rotation of the drum the meat is tumbled causing the teeth to produce a mass of small cuts in the surface of the meat. The drum is sealed by a watertight door that is readily opened and closed, as needed. The tumbling process takes approximately 20 minutes. The tumbling in combination with the formation of small cuts in the surface of the meat increases the exposure of myosin protein at the meat surface and also improves color uniformity and dispersion of pickling solution in the meat.

Abstract: A fishing rod of hollow tubular construction with a side inlet opening for the fishing line adjacent the handle end and a line exit opening adjacent the tip of the rod. Within the tubular rod are located spaced line guides at intervals which are progressively shorter towards the tip of the rod, the line guides being formed of an anti-friction material and so positioned and constructed that when the fishing rod is bent through about 90.degree. the fishing line will not contact the interior surface of the rod.

Abstract: An apparatus for reminding a driver to turn off automobile headlights before locking the automobile door, comprises a sheath member defining an enclosure for concealing an interior automobile door lock actuating post and removably mountable thereover. A cooperating bracket member is mounted to the sheath member and movable relative thereto for engaging an automobile window slot adjacent to the door lock actuating post. Cooperatively, the bracket acts to maintain the sheath member in position so as to conceal the door lock actuating post. Consequently, the apparatus must be physically removed from the door locking post by the driver in order to actuate the post to its locking position, thereby reminding the driver to turn off the automobile headlights before locking the door.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a tool for pulling and removing annular or ring-shaped seals from an automobile transmission housing or the like. The overall tool includes an elongated main section having a first end and a second end, with a bifurcated fitting of special design mounted at a second end. The novel fitting includes a pair of spaced apart projections, and a pivotal member mounted therebetween. The pivotal member has a first end which includes a hook structure and is mounted for pivotal movement between the bifurcated fitting projections at a pivot point intermediate the ends thereof.

Abstract: A fluid flow control valve assembly provides metering of the hydraulic fluid from a cylinder port at a constant desired rate for lowering a load at a corresponding constant rate which has been raised by the cylinder. The valve assembly comprises a normally closed valve having an input orifice communicating with the cylinder port and an output orifice and is selectively actuable for permitting the flow of fluid from the cylinder. A normally closed pressure compensating valve has an input orifice communicating with the normally closed valve output orifice, an output orifice, and a control input adapted for direct communication with the cylinder port for continuously sensing the fluid pressure within the cylinder. The pressure compensating valve maintains a constant fluid flow pressure differential and a constant fluid flow rate from the cylinder.

Abstract: A machine is provided for the root-pruning of plants growing in rows, such that the root system of the plants will be small in circumference but finely-branched. The machine has, for each plant row, a knife unit for forming a groove in the ground and root-pruning the plants. Each knife unit comprises a first and second knife, wherein the first knife is forward of the second knife and lies in a vertical plane parallel to the direction of travel of the machine. The second knife has a cutting blade comprising a substantially vertical blade portion and a substantially horizontal blade portion. The first and second knives are rigidly interconnected and arranged for reciprocatory movement in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of the machine. A compactor is disposed behind the second knife for reclosing the groove made in the ground by the knife unit.

Abstract: A tri-state encoding circuit for use with an electronic musical instrument encodes one of three possible states of a device such as a switch, utilizing only a single input line from that device. The tri-state encoding circuit includes, in the case of a single-pole, double-throw switch, a first signal source which feeds signals of like frequency and duty cycle, but 180.degree. out of phase to the respective fixed contacts of the switch. A first gating element is interposed between a source of biasing signal and the movable contact of the switch. Second and third gating elements receive control signals from a further signal source, these control signals being of like frequency and duty cycle but 180.degree. out of phase. These second control signals are also of the same frequency as the first control signals, but may have a different duty cycle.

Abstract: A line protector for protecting telephone lines and the like from over-voltage or over-voltage current conditions includes a primary arrester of the gas tube type and a secondary or back-up arrester of the air gap type. The gas tube is housed within a cup, and a flange on one of the electrodes of the gas tube cooperates with an end portion of the cup to define an annular configuration for the air gap. An insulator is adjacent to the electrode flange and serves as an abutment for the end portion of the cup to assist in maintaining the air gap. The insulator also maintains the gas tube within the cup.

Abstract: A portamento system is disclosed for use with an electronic musical instrument, and particularly with a monotonic keyboard instrument which utilizes master oscillator/divider elements for tone generation. The portamento system utilizes a voltage controlled oscillator, and an oscillator control circuit comprising a unique combination of a phase/frequency detector and a circuit for varying and controlling lock up rate and expanding the frequency range of the system which may be either a ramp and hold circuit or a frequency tachometer circuit. The voltage controlled oscillator is thus locked on to the input frequency from the electronic musical instrument with substantially zero phase and frequency error. The system is capable of reaching the input frequency as slowly or as rapidly as desired and will operate over a wide frequency range.

Abstract: A method and composition are provided for preparing slurry explosive formulations characterized in containing separate liquid and particulate phases. The liquid phase is a detonation insensitive paste-like pre-mix composition having an extended shelf life and being adapted for ultimate combination with sufficient particulate material to form an efficient explosive. The pre-mix composition includes a gum or thickener but is not gelled or cross-linked, in order to facilitate ultimate on-site mixing in a rapid manner and without the need for complex equipment.

Abstract: A method and composition are provided for making a finished concrete structure having a water-impervious surface. A particulate composition of a paraffin wax material, glyceryl fatty-acid esters, and stearic or palmitic acid is added to the aggregate phase and mixed in a wet hydraulic Portland cement mixture. The resultant slurry is then poured and cured. The surface of the cured structure is thereafter heated as by solarization under black pigmented polyethylene sheets to cause the wax particles to melt and invade capillary and other interstices in the surface region of the concrete structure, thereby rendering said structure impervious to the infusion of water and water solubles.

Abstract: A binary interpolator circuit is embodied in an electronic musical instrument for producing a relatively smooth, inaudible transition between steps of different amplitude in a stepwise advancing or decreasing waveform, such as an envelope signal for a note from a percussive type instrument or voice such as a piano. The binary interpolator circuit includes a counter circuit for producing a sequence of stepwise changing binary coded signals and a combining circuit for combining the interpolating signals, in the sequence produced, with a binary coded scaling signal corresponding to the amplitude difference between the two points in the stepwise changing waveform between which interpolation is desired. A comparator circuit compares the interpolating signals, in the sequence produced, with the scaling signal and produces an output control signal for indicating whether the binary coded numbers corresponding to the respective interpolating and scaling signal are equal.

Abstract: An interconnection is provided for a human body implant having a polymeric articular surface member supported by a substantially rigid, metallic base plate. Reversely tapered apertures in the supporting base plate enclose portions of the unitary polymeric surface member, which portions protrude past the general interface of the surface member and base plate.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fastener assembly comprised of a screw fastener member having a driver head, a threaded shank portion and an unthreaded shank portion intermediate the threaded shank portion and the driver head. The unthreaded shank portion also includes a protruding portion defining an effective diameter greater than the major diameter of the threaded portion. This portion is formed by rolling a groove into the unthreaded shank portion in such a manner as to provide an annular projection having a tapered surface portion. There is further included a helical compression spring member having at least one end portion formed to an inner diameter larger than the major thread diameter, but smaller than the diameter of the protruding portion of the unthreaded shank portion.

Abstract: A disposable urethral catheter assembly includes a flexible bag in which are defined a number of chambers. In an upper chamber, a catheter is contained in a sterile environment. When the catheter is inserted into the urethra, the fluid flows into the bag and into a lower sample chamber, excess fluid being collected in the upper chamber. After catheter use, a cannula plug seals a first barrier between the upper and lower chamber and thus isolates the sample in the lower chamber. The upper chamber, its contents and the catheter are discarded, and the lower sample chamber and its contents are sent to a laboratory for analysis and culture.