Abstract: An improved cutting tool is provided for performing a number of different cutting functions. A pair of radial cutting edges are provided for boring and chamfering. Peripheral cutting edges are provided for slotting and profile milling. Relatively shallow flutes having a large convex surface portion give the tool rigidity for all cutting operations.

Abstract: A vacuum packaged flotation device is provided comprising the combination of an inflatable flotation device, equipment for inflating the flotation device which comprises a valve, a container for holding an inflating medium and the inflating medium, and a sealed vacuum package containing the inflatable flotation device and the equipment for inflating same, which is provided with at least one device for automatically or manually, actuating the inflation of the flotation device; wherein the inflation of the flotation device is triggered by a pull force which acts either automatically or manually on one or more connecting lanyards which are attached at one end to the actuation device, which lanyards extend through the vacuum package in such a manner as to preserve the integrity of the vacuum seal, while at the same time allowing the manual triggering of the actuation device with the exertion of a pull force of no more than about 7-15 Kg from any of a plurality of angles.

Abstract: A shielded cable is provided having good electrical properties and which may be easily terminated. The cable includes an insulated conductor which is encased within a thermoplastic tape, a supported tape, and a metallic shield. The tapes are bonded together during a heating step so that any gaps or voids are eliminated by thermoplastic flow. They may also be peeled as a unit from the insulation during a terminating operation.

Abstract: In a digital pretimed traffic controller of the type used to control traffic signals at an intersection during a selected signal cycle there is provided an improvement wherein a demand signal, such as created by a detector, is directed to the controller. The demand signal is used for selecting one of a plurality of interval sequences within a fixed time cycle background. In this manner, the digital pretimed controller is compatible with electro-mechanical controllers and still retains traffic actuation versatility. The controller also is constructed to assure that the overall cycle length and the programmable individual interval times are identical before the particular timing plan can be accepted by the controller.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for heating a plurality of sheets of plastic material between adjacent ones of a plurality of vertically stacked and individually heated platens. The platens are vertically displaceable together and relative to one another, and any two vertically adjacent platens are vertically separable relative to a fixed horizontal pass line to facilitate removing a heated plastic sheet from between the platens and introducing a plastic sheet to be heated therebetween. Vertical separation is achieved by latching the upper one of two adjacent platens in a fixed holding position above the pass line and lowering the lower one of the two platens and any other platens of the stack therebeneath to position the upper surface of the lowered platen at the pass line. Sheet discharge and feed mechanisms are then operable respectively to remove a heated sheet from the lower platen and introduce a sheet to be heated onto the lower platen.

Abstract: A snap action toggle switch having a spring contact element formed of resilient metal strip material and including a U-shaped body member rigidified against flexure and comprised of a pair of spaced parallel side legs integral with and connected at one end by a flat base end portion and a plate spring member connected at one end with said base end portion and extending flatwise therefrom in the same general direction as the side legs and located therebetween.

Abstract: An apparatus for turning or milling a workpiece is provided. The apparatus includes a first sleeve having an eccentric bore and a second sleeve positioned within this bore. The second sleeve also has an eccentric bore within which a tool mandrel or spindle is rotatably positioned. The sleeves are rotatable both as a unit and with respect to each other. When rotated with respect to each other, the axis of the mandrel may be moved off center to permit the turning or milling of the workpiece.

Abstract: A closure assembly is provided for sealing vessel manways, coke drums and other high temperature connections. It includes a cover member, a substantially cylindrical retaining member, a crush ring slidable with respect to the retaining member, a stop member, and a sealing ring positioned between an end of the crush ring and the stop member. Tightening screws or bolts pass through the cover member and contact the crush ring. They may be employed for moving the crush ring toward the stop member thereby compressing the sealing ring. The sealing ring may be a graphite ribbon wrapped a number of times about the retaining member.

Abstract: In a ball and socket joint comprising a ball and a socket in mutual swivelling sliding engagement with each other, the ball having a stud integrally formed at one end thereof and projecting outwardly through one end of the socket, the improvement consisting in forming the socket with a diverging frusto-conical flange extending in the direction of the stud and defining an integrally formed retention flange for a flexible oil-resistant seal having a bellows type body provided at one end with an annular band stretched over the periphery of the stud and at the other end with a reinforcing bead stretched over the retention flange.

Abstract: In a submersible pump of the type comprising a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet and an interconnecting valve chamber in which a valve member reciprocates to force liquid from the inlet to the outlet of the pump there is provided an improved valve member which uses a valve having an elongated body formed from a generally conical coil spring with abutting convolutions. The convolutions are opened when the valve member moves away from the pumping direction and closed when the valve member moves in the pumping direction.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint having a ball provided with an integral stud projecting outwardly through an end of the socket, a portion of the peripheral spherical surface of the ball being in swivelling sliding engagement with a corresponding partial spherical bore in the socket, and a generally disk-shaped retainer member holding the ball in assembly in the socket and applying a pre-load bias to the ball urging the bearing spherical surfaces in mutual engagement, the retainer member having an integral or separate spherical recess in swivelling sliding engagement with a portion of the peripheral surface of the ball opposite to the stud. The ball is a full ball or alternatively a partial ball having a substantially hemispherical protuberance of smaller diameter in engagement with the spherical recess in the retainer member.

Abstract: A spring mat assembly for a seat or seat back frame has a pair of relatively widely spaced longitudinal bolster wires across which a plurality of relatively closely spaced transverse stringer wires are connected as by wrapping therearound. The stringer wires extend outwardly beyond each of the bolster wires to form wing edges including a fixed wing at each end of the assembly for attachment to the seat frame, and a free wing on at least one end of the assembly to form with the adjacent fixed wing a split-wing edge on the assembly. The outwardly projecting portions of the stringer wires forming the free wing portion or portions preferably extend at an obtuse angle to their intermediate portions extending between the bolster wires, and they are interconnected at their outermost ends by a longitudinal wire as by being tightly hooked therearound.

Abstract: In a door jamb switch of the type having a first member adapted to be fixedly secured onto a door jamb of a motor vehicle, a switch element having a first actuated condition and a second actuated condition and a plunger mounted for reciprocation in the fixed first member along an axis between a first, door opened, position with the switch element in its first actuated condition and a second, door closed, position with the switch element in the second actuated condition there is provided an improvement. The plunger carries a generally cylindrical water deflector sleeve concentric with the movable axis of the plunger and telescoped around the plunger mounting sleeve. This deflector sleeve is secured onto the plunger at its outer end and is free standing at its inner end so that the sleeve reciprocates over the open end of the mounting sleeve with movement of the plunger to prevent the flow of water into the open end of the mounting sleeve.

Abstract: In a base station for monitoring the status of several function conditions at remote call boxes, each box of which is assigned a distinctive identification code and is capable of selecting and transmitting a message in the form of a plurality of successive signals upon a change in a function condition, which station includes a message decoder, wherein, upon decoding a given box identification code in a message being processed by the base station, a particular one of a plurality of output selector signals is generated. In response to the coded message being processed, a particular output function corresponding to the call box status is generated. A data transfer device directs the output function signal in parallel to a plurality of output matrices, while a selector/decoder device energizes a selected one of the matrixes in response to the output selector signal, thereby displaying the message processed by the base station at the selected matrix.

Abstract: Vitreous optical fibers provided with hermetically sealed coatings applied by method and apparatus comprising; drawing a fiber directly from a fiber extruder into and through an elongated chamber having inert gas air locks at its opposite ends.

Abstract: An improvement in a device adapted to be connected to a pipeline for launching generally spherical pigs into the pipeline, which device includes an elongated barrel secured to the pipeline and having a forward end for passage of a pig from the barrel and an escapement means for allowing passage of the pig from the barrel into the pipeline. The improvement involves an elongated pig receptacle having an open end and adapted to be telescopically moved into the barrel to an inserted position with the opened end at the forward end of the barrel and the escapement means includes a first member carried by the receptacle, a second member fixed onto the barrel and interconnecting means for drivingly interconnecting the first and second members when the receptacle is in the inserted position within the barrel so that the member secured on the barrel can be moved in a manner to operate the member fixed and carried by the receptacle.

Abstract: A relay mounting device for securing a relay having a front face, with visual or manipulative components thereon, onto a support panel having a front surface, a parallel rear surface and an access opening therethrough. This device comprises a unitary body with a bezel portion adapted to engage the front surface of the panel and defining a central opening, a relay supporting cradle depending from the bezel portion and adapted to extend through the panel access opening wherein the cradle defines a relay receiving nest and means for fastening the body onto the panel with the central opening of the body exposing the relay receiving nest at the front surface of the panel whereby a relay supported in the nest will have its front face exposed for observation and/or manipulation.

Abstract: A vehicle windshield cleaning system is disclosed which includes windshield wiper blades reciprocally driven by an electric motor, and an associated pump driven by an electric motor for dispensing windshield washing liquid onto a windshield to be cleaned. A manually positionable mode selector component in the electric control circuit for the blade and pump motors provides for selectively actuating the wiper blades in mist, pulse, low speed, high speed and wash modes. In the pulse mode, the blade drive motor is energized to intermittently oscillate the wiper blades through succeeding cycles with a time delay therebetween, and in the wash mode the pump motor is energized for a period of time which determines the amount of washer fluid dispensed onto a windshield.

Abstract: In an industrial mechanical press, anti-friction gibs are provided to replace conventional V-type bronze gibs without requiring extensive rebuilding of the press. Linear roller bearings, and their associated flat races, are substituted for plain bronze gibs which enable zero clearance to be obtained between the press slide and frame, thereby effectively reducing off-center die loading and friction on the slide.