Abstract: A pair of hull portions connected in spaced parallel relation support a water wheel and form a passageway therebetween for driving engagement of flowing water against the vanes of the water wheel. The water wheel is made up of a pair of wheel portions having peripheral gear teeth, and these teeth are engageable with gears which drive electric generators. The vanes of the water wheel are adjustable to vary the driving power thereof and have nozzles thereon arranged to discharge water under pressure to provide a boost for the wheel. A brake is provided to control rotation of the water wheel, and an auxiliary engine is provided to drive the water wheel when necessary. The longitudinal hull portions support a gate mechanism at the inlet end of the water passageway to control the flow of water through such passageway and have air chambers to buoyantly support the device. The device has vertically extendable legs for ground support.

Abstract: Kernels of grain or other particulate harvester product, trapped with chaff and other trash being returned to the ground, are caused to drop onto an impact-sensitive transducer which thereupon produces corresponding electric signals which are counted and related to harvester ground speed and header width to provide a read-out of quantity per area of particulate product lost.

Abstract: A tubular housing having a circular inner surface provided with a plurality of recesses for receiving pistons movable pivotally between a position fully retracted in said recesses and a position projecting radially inward from the housing. A rotor is supported centrally in the housing for axial rotation and has peripheral cavities equal in number to the number of pistons in the housing and capable of receiving the pistons at predetermined intervals of rotor rotation to perform with the pistons the functions of steam intake, steam expansion and exhaust. The housing has steam intake ports and exhaust outlet ports operable in conjunction with the rotor and pistons to perform the engine functions. The pistons are moved inwardly into the cavities during certain operations of the engine by levers operatively connected to the rotor.

Abstract: A tubular housing having a circular inner surface provided with a plurality of recesses receiving pistons movable pivotally between a position fully retracted in the recesses and a position projecting radially inwardly from the housing. A rotor is rotatably supported centrally in the housing and has peripheral cavities equal in number to the number of pistons in the housing and capable of receiving the pistons in portions of their pivotal movement to perform with the pistons functions of fuel intake, fuel compression, firing and exhaust. The housing has fuel intake ports, spark plugs and exhaust outlet ports operable in conjunction with the rotor and pistons to perform the engine functions. The pistons are moved inwardly into the cavities during certain operations of the engine by levers operably connected to the rotor. The engine has coolant and oil circulating structure to cool it and to lubricate it. In addition, seals are associated with the pistons and rotor to prevent the escape of power.

Abstract: An electrical inductance coil, having a central opening therethrough, is surrounded by a spaced shield of magnetic metal, and a screw of magnetic metal is mounted in engagement with one side of the shield for adjustable extension through the central opening in the coil for varying the spacing between the inner end of the screw and the confronting, opposite side of the shield.

Abstract: A transducer, capable of converting noise signals to electrical voltage signals, is mounted in contact with a movable member and the electrical voltage output thereof is converted to a current function which then is converted to a DC signal which is directly proportional to the noise generated from the movable member. This DC signal then is compared with a generated, predetermined control signal that represents the desired motion at which an event can take place, such as the shifting of a vehicle transmission between forward and reverse conditions. When the DC signal matches the control signal the event can occur, either automatically or by manual manipulation.

Abstract: A bow string support lever is pivoted intermediate its ends on an arm which is in turn pivoted on a body member which includes a pair of finger grips. A catch on one end of the lever is arranged to engage a pawl operatively associated with the body member when the lever and arm are pivoted to a cocked position, whereby to secure the lever against pivotal movement. A hook on the opposite end of the lever is arranged to receive the bow string and to support the latter when in said cocked position. Upon slight lateral movement of the body member, the catch is disengaged from the pawl whereupon the lever is released to pivot from the cocked position and allow the bow string to disengage from the hook.

Abstract: A horizontal tubular housing is supported at one of its ends across the top of a stack and a blower is mounted at one end of the housing for moving gases discharged from the stack through the housing. The housing has a plurality of laterally disposed baffle plates arranged such that when impinged by the moving stack gases, the latter will be directed in a tortuous path, preferably an initial spiral path and a subsequent zig zag path. Some of the baffle plates are adjustable to vary the turbulence of the gases in their tortuous movement. Spray nozzles are mounted in the housing at most of the baffle plates to provide curtains of liquid spray for washing the gases. The housing has a liquid drainage outlet in its bottom wall intermediate its ends, and such bottom wall is inclined downwardly from opposite ends of the housing to the outlet to provide drainage. Adjustable louvers are provided in the outlet of the blower to vary the direction of air movement from the blower across the stack.

Abstract: Support means is provided for mounting an ultrasonic oscillator for engaging washing water in a conventional sink, for use in cleaning medical instruments. One form of support means is an overflow pipe adapted to be inserted at its lower end in the drain opening of a conventional sink and stabilized at its upper end by an arm extended pivotally from the oscillator power supply control positioned adjacent the sink, the oscillator being mounted on the upper end of the overflow pipe and the overflow pipe having a water inlet opening intermediate its ends for establishing the maximum level of washing water in the sink. Another form of support means is a float structure adapted to float on washing water contained in a conventional sink, the float structure mounting an ultrasonic oscillator for engaging the washing water.

Abstract: A contact lens of the hard type, but exhibiting wettable surface characteristics, is produced from a polymer composition consisting essentially of about 90% by weight methyl methacrylate and about 10% by weight of neutralized hydroxy ethyl methacrylate.

Abstract: A U-shaped body member has key slots adjacent opposite ends thereof arranged to have removable connection at spaced points in a chain of a chain pipe wrench. A cutter bit projects adjustably beyond the bottom portion of the body member for cutting a pipe peripherally by multiple turns of the wrench around the pipe in a reverse direction from that at which the lever handle has gripping connection on a pipe. Guide and gauge wheels are provided on opposite sides of the cutter bit for guiding it in a cut and for maintaining the depth of the cut as determined by adjustment of the cutter bit.

Abstract: The elongated, hollow, thin-walled metal shaft of an operation endoscope is lined internally throughout its length by a separate thin-walled sleeve of electrical insulating material, the shaft and sleeve being mounted removably on a common head independently of each other in such manner that they are separable by relative longitudinal movement in the direction by which the sleeve is retracted rearwardly relative to the shaft, thereby affording retraction and replacement of the sleeve without removing the shaft from the operation site.

Abstract: A slicing system for automatically controlling the weight of individually sized portions of a sliced food product includes an automatic electric slicer and a scale operably associated therewith for weighing slices of a food product cut by the slicer. A photoelectric element disposed adjacent the path of the movable pointer on the scale detects the proximity of such pointer at a preselected location corresponding to a preselected weight of food product being received upon the receiving platform of the scale and opens the circuit to the slicer to stop the same. Adjusting means are provided to establish the relative position of the photoelectric element and the scale pointer for causing the circuit to break at such selected position.

Abstract: A device for installation in automotive vehicles for safely snuffing out cigarettes. The device primarily includes a base fitting in which is carried an expandable split tube which is tapered at its lower extremity in order to snuff out a cigarette completely, prior to the placing or urging it into an ashtray.