Abstract: An apparatus to separate hair into units of three for braiding, producing several such units in one application. The preferred embodiment comprises a platform having an upper shelf and an anchor. The anchor has comb-like teeth for fixing the device to the hair of the subject. The upper shelf prevents tangling of unbraided hair above the device. A blade, fixed perpendicularly to the platform, has a plurality of teeth separated by notches of alternating depths, which receive strands of hair. A lower shelf affixed at an angle acts as a support for the separated hair strands and prevents tangling. The upper and lower shelves are made removable. The width between braids may be varied by providing teeth of different widths on the upper shelf.

Abstract: The invention adds a camping tent to pickup trucks by taking advantage of already-installed rigid pickup bed covers. Flexible tent material is adapted to be attached to the inside of a raised rigid cover, so that a tent is formed when the cover is lifted to its raised position above the bed of a pickup truck. The attachment is by means of a bracket installed on the underside of the cover. The tent is adapted to be quickly unfolded and attached to the tailgate and side panels of the truck with quick-release fastening means. Care is taken to prevent rain water from entering the shelter thus formed by folding the tent over the edge of the tailgate, attaching it to the side panels of the truck to form a water-tight interface, and providing rain flaps to deflect rain water over the fenders of the truck and away from the interior of the bed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for simplified heat-treatment to harden aluminum castings made from heat-treatable aluminum alloys, especially with a copper content of up to 5%, such as the 300-T6 series, for example those cast aluminum parts utilized in the manufacture of automobile motors: cylinder heads, engine blocks and the like; whereby the castings are directly quenched before cooling below 400.degree. C. (and preferably immediately after demolding) without undergoing the conventional steps of natural cooling followed by a re-heating "solution" heat treatment (typically of at least 470.degree. C. for at least two hours, or for a shorter time at higher temperatures) which "solution" heat treatment requires excessive and expensive equipment, energy, and production time. This invention also has the unexpected beneficial effect of avoiding development of silicon spheroidization in the alloy matrix thereby resulting in improved machining properties.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly for strip material, wherein a conveyor feeds a strip of material axially through a centering device presenting two guide elements, which are movable into respective positions contacting the strip and symmetrical in relation to a reference axis parallel to the traveling direction of the strip.

Abstract: There are disclosed a gel or polymer composition which comprises 100 parts by weight of: a graft copolymer composition formed from the graft reaction of a maleate functionalized ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymer and a maleate functionalized polypropylene with an organic diamine grafting agent, and at least 30 parts by weight of an extender oil or a low molecular weight organic component. These gel compositions have super soft properties, heat resistance, and/or damping properties.

Abstract: There is disclosed a gel or polymer composition containing: 100 parts by weight of a graft copolymer composition formed by the reaction of an organic diamine grafting agents with maleate functional groups on an elastomeric block containing block copolymer and with maleate functional groups on polypropylene, and at least 30 parts by weight of an extender oil or a low molecular weight organic component. These gel compositions have super soft properties, heat resistance, and/or damping properties.

Abstract: A method of marking a tire to indicate both the taper vector direction and the plane of the radial force first harmonic (RF1H) vector, whereby the tire, with its axis positioned vertically, is marked with a single mark in the RF1H plane and on the positive-taper side, i.e. on the taper vector out side, by a marking head fitted to a multiple-axis device for so moving the marking head as to cooperate selectively with one or other of two shoulders of the tire.

Abstract: A friction testing machine and method for measuring friction characteristics between a test sample and a friction surface. The machine and method are particularly suited for measuring the coefficient of friction between a rubber specimen or a tread element and different friction surfaces at different sliding velocities, contact pressures and orientations. A preferred embodiment of machine is self-contained and portable, configured for easy and quick changing of the friction surface, and provides for rotating the test sample about an axis normal to the sliding surface and the direction of movement of the sample relative to the friction surface. In general, a friction test machine according to the invention comprises a sample holder configured to hold a sample in frictional engagement with a friction surface, and a motion device for effecting relative movement between the friction surface and sample holder in a first direction.

Abstract: The reduction of hysteresis in a silica-filled, vulcanized elastomeric compound is produced by mixing diene monomer and optionally monovinyl aromatic monomer with a lithium amine initiator and, optionally, a modifier; effecting polymerization conditions; terminating polymerization with an amino group producing terminator to form an amine functionalized diene elastomer; compounding the amine functionalized diene elastomer with an amorphous silica filler and a vulcanization agent; and, effecting vulcanization. A pneumatic tire tread stock incorporating the vulcanized elastomer compound exhibits improved reduced hysteresis, or highly balanced wet traction, rolling resistance, snow/ice traction, and mechanical strength when compounded with silica filler and vulcanized, in the tire.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the production of prereduced iron ore, Direct Reduced Iron (DRI), or the like, in an ironmaking plant wherein the reducing gas utilized in the chemical reduction of iron oxides is generated from natural gas within the reduction reactor system by reforming the hydrocarbons with such oxidants as water and oxygen inside the reduction reactor which under steady state conditions contains metallic iron which acts as a reformation catalyst. The amount of carbon in the DRI can be reliably controlled by modifyng the relative amounts of water, carbon dioxide and oxygen in the composition of the reducing gas fed to the reduction reactor. The amount of carbon in the DRI is controlled by the amount of water in the reducing gas fed to the reduction reactor while the addition of oxygen provides the energy necessary for such DRI carburization.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of identifying wires or circuits uses plugs with light-emitting diodes ("LED's") attached across the plug contacts corresponding to the wiring circuit. All of the jacks in a terminal or patch panel are filled with such plugs prior to testing and are monitored by a first worker. A second worker, in two-way communication with the first worker, applies a test voltage at the remote terminations of the wires, causing the corresponding LED to light, but no others. The lit LED immediately identifies the circuit, which can be labeled, and the process repeated. When testing is complete, all plugs with LED's are removed from the terminal for re-use.

Abstract: A mixing head assembly attachable to a boom of an excavating machine comprising a torque tube supporting a motor mounted within the torque tube, and a mounting assembly for attaching the mixing head assembly to the boom of an excavating machine. The device has a rotatable mixing head supported by a drive shaft and driven by the motor, which mixing head supports mixing arms and other implements. The rotating casing of the mixing head defines a first cavity enclosing a bearing housing, which bearing housing defines a second cavity. The bearing housing is stationary with respect to the torque tube. Grease is forced through the first cavity and out a seal engaging the casing, thus keeping contaminants from the bearings. Oil is forced through the second cavity and recirculated to lubricate the bearings and prevent contaminates from entering the bearings. A water spray may be provided for suppressing dust. A header is provided for delivering dry or liquid reagents to the mixing site.

Abstract: A shaft sized to fit conventional hole saw mandrels has two set screw flats and a retaining head. A cylindrical roller is mounted on the shaft against the retaining head, and a cylindrical spacer is mounted by set screws on the shaft above the roller. The roller is sized to fit the diameter of holes typically desired to be enlarged. The shaft, roller and spacer assembly is mounted in the mandrel of a conventional hole saw using the second set screw flat so that the roller extends beyond the cutting edge of the saw. The roller is inserted into the existing hole and guides the hole saw as the hole saw is turned by a drill or other means. In an alternate embodiment, the roller has side flats, allowing the device to enlarge oblong holes having parallel sides.

Abstract: A processor of a cellular modem monitors for the presence of a residual echo signal during a full-duplex portion of a training sequence. In particular, the processor monitors an equalizer error signal during a full-duplex training phase that follows the half-duplex training phase for the echo canceler. If the processor detects a level of the error signal greater than a predefined threshold, the processor presumes the increase in the error signal is due to the presence of a residual echo signal and performs a predefined adjustment of the taps of the corresponding echo canceler of the cellular modem.

Abstract: A hair braiding apparatus is disclosed comprising a U-shaped rod having a left arm and a right arm, the arms offset from one another relative to the plane of the U shape, a guide for holding a first strand of hair and a second strand of hair in alignment with the left arm and the right arm, respectively, and a clamp for holding the first and second strands of hair in slideable engagement with the left and right arms of the rod respectively. Methods of braiding with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One or more of the strands may be artificial hair. A method of braiding natural hair with artificial hair using the braiding apparatus is also disclosed.