Abstract: A rotary printing machine for the printing of synthetic cork stoppers of the type having a surface which is normally non-ink receptive. A Ferris wheel mechanism is provided, having a plurality of evenly spaced carriers mounted a predetermined radial distance from and parallel to the axis of rotation for the Ferris wheel mechanism, each carrier for rotatably holding a synthetic cork stopper. An indexing drive system controls incremental rotation of the Ferris wheel mechanism through a predetermined sequence of steps, and a cork feeder introduces a single synthetic cork stopper into each of the carriers as empty ones of the carriers are presented one-by-one at the cork feeder. A corona discharger treats the surface of each synthetic cork stopper prior to being printed with sufficient energy to alter the surface energy of the cork sufficiently to permit receptivity of printing ink. A rotary printing system rotatably imprints with ink the surface of each held synthetic cork stopper with an image.

Abstract: A multi-station robotic welding assembly includes a mounting platform, and a plurality of robots attached to the mounting platform and located in respective weld stations. Each of the robots includes an elongated movable arm and wrist. A welding torch is attached to each of the robots, and is adapted for being manipulated by the movable arm and wrist. A rotatable fixture base is located on the mounting platform, and is adapted for supporting a plurality of fixtures. Each of the fixtures is adapted for holding and positioning a workpiece for welding in respective weld stations. A base indexer is adapted for repeatedly rotating the fixture base by a predetermined degree, such that the fixtures are positioned within respective weld stations for an index interval sufficient to complete welding of the workpieces.

Abstract: A method is provided for repairing a turbine nozzle segment having at least one vane disposed between outer and inner bands. The method includes separating the inner band from the nozzle segment, and joining the inner band to a newly manufactured replacement casting having an outer band and a vane. The replacement casting includes an airfoil stub. The airfoil stub is received in a recess formed in the inner band. Joining is completed by joining the airfoil stub to the inner band. The replacement casting may be modified from a newly manufactured singlet casting.

Abstract: A volumetric solid and liquid dispenser includes a drum sized for receiving and containing a predetermined volume of solid material from a solid material supply source. The supply source can be a hopper positioned above the drum. The drum is rotatably mounted to a support frame and can be rotated from a position in which it receives solid material from the supply source to a dispensing position in which it dispenses the solid material into a receptacle below. A liquid metering and dispensing container dispenses a predetermined volume of liquid into the receptacle for mixing with the solid material. The invention is particularly useful for dispensing predetermined volumes of sand and water into a cement mixer for mixing with mortar.

Abstract: A track fastener assembly for securing a seat or cargo apparatus to a floor track of a vehicle. The assembly includes a base with a longitudinal slot formed therein, and a ramp disposed in its upper surface near the forward end of the slot. A movable slide carrying locking studs runs in the longitudinal slot. A locking rod having a helical groove formed in its outer surface is operatively connected to the base and the slide. Rotation of the locking rod causes the slide to move axially along the longitudinal slot from an installation position near the aft end of the base to a locking position near the forward end of the base. As the slide moves to the locking position, the slide engages the ramp in the base, thereby deflecting the slide with the attached locking studs upwards and clamping the track fastener assembly to the track.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the removal of suspended solids from water, waste water and other effluents is disclosed. The raw fluid being extracted is placed in a pressurized equalization chamber by a pumping apparatus. The fluid might be ground in advance to reduce the size of solid particles suspended therein to a manageable size. Solids can settle from the fluid before pumping into a second chamber for further setting. Chemicals are injected between the first and second chambers. The sludge recovered from from the base of the chambers can be sterilized using conventional methods, and the separated fluid discharged from the clarification chamber is further cleaned, also using conventional methods. The method and apparatus of the present replaces or supplements conventional mainframe biological treatments.

Abstract: An optical disk of the type rotated by a spindle positioned in a centrally-located hole, and including a disk body including an annular data area, and a centrally-located, integrally-formed annular web positioned radially inward from the annular data area and covering a hole formed in the disk body. The annular web is formed sufficiently thin to be deflected upwardly out of the plane of the disk body by the spindle during placement on the spindle and during rotation. The web may be broken away from the disk, or made sufficiently thin and resilient that it will deform upwardly when placed on the spindle and resume its former position when removed.

Abstract: A passenger seat with increased knee space for an aft-seated passenger, including a seat base for being attached to a supporting deck and at least one seat frame including a seat back and seat bottom carried by the seat base. At least one arm rest assembly is carried by the seat frame and including an arm rest mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot member between a use position with an upper support surface in a horizontal position for supporting a forearm of a passenger seated in the seat, and a stowed position wherein the upper support surface of the arm rest is perpendicular to the use position. The arm rest pivot member is mounted on the seat frame at a point forward of a plane defined by the seat back carried by the seat and above a point defined by the seat bottom for allowing the knee of an aft-seated passenger to occupy space behind the pivot member of the arm rest.

Abstract: A frame saw for sawing a relatively thick piece of wooden feed stock simultaneously into a plurality of thinner pieces of wood, and including a feed assembly for continuously feeding the stock from an upstream input position to a downstream output position, and a plurality of closely spaced-apart parallel reciprocable saw blades positioned intermediate the input position and the output position for sawing the stock into thinner pieces of stock as the stock is moved by the feed assembly relative to the blades. A drive assembly is operatively connected to the blades for driving the blades in a reciprocating motion comprising alternate cutting and non-cutting strokes. A linear offset motion assembly is provided for moving the reciprocating blades alternately upstream and downstream into linearly-offset cutting and non-cutting positions relative to the stock.

Abstract: An article breaking apparatus for being mounted on an arm of a vehicle, and including a first member having a first jaw on a first end thereof and a mounting attachment on a second end remote from the first jaw for permitting the apparatus to be mounted onto the vehicle arm. The first jaw includes an article-supporting surface. A second member is pivotally mounted for movement about a first pivot axis, the second member including a second jaw having an article-engaging surface cooperable with the article-supporting surface of the first jaw and defining an article receiving opening therebetween. The second jaw is movable about the first pivot axis relative to the first jaw between an article receiving position in which the article-supporting surface of the first jaw and the article-engaging surface of the second jaw diverge away from the first pivot axis and an article breaking position in which the article-supporting and article-engaging surfaces diverge toward the first pivot axis.

Abstract: An X-ray inspection system includes an X-ray source that generates more than one beam defining an inspection plane, the beams being substantially parallel to each other; an X-ray detector having a plurality of detector arrays, each of which is aligned with one of the beams, and structure for supporting an object between the X-ray source and the X-ray detector. The X-ray source includes an electron gun and a device for steering an electron beam generated by the gun to multiple focal spots on a target.

Abstract: A blade retention assembly is provided that comprises: a disk, a plurality of blades, each having a dovetail disposed in one of an array of slots formed in the outer periphery of the disk, an annular inner retainer attached to the disk, and a plurality of arcuate blade retainers, the blade retainers being secured to the inner retainer by a hooked rabbet joint. A blade retainer is also provided, comprising an arcuate body having a planar inner face having an arcuate depression formed therein defining a sealing lip, and an aft face disposed opposite the inner face which has an arcuate rim formed therein.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for determining vane wear in rotary sliding vane pumps that operate using slideable vanes, while the pump is in operation. The invention includes a structure that allows a predetermined amount of leakage from a pumping chamber after a predetermined amount of vane length is worn away. The leakage produces a decrease in pump efficiency that is indicated by an indicating device. The indicating device serves to warn that an amount of vane wear has occurred that indicates pump inspection is warranted. The invention also includes a view port formed in the pump housing to allow inspection of the vanes without having to disassemble the pump.

Abstract: A hand winch that includes a drum for carrying a strand wound thereon and including gear teeth, a drive gear having teeth thereon mounted in a driving relation to the gear teeth of the drum, and a handle assembly mounted on the drive gear for rotating the drive gear as the handle assembly is rotated. An engagement assembly 8 is positioned intermediate the drive gear and the handle assembly for winding the strand onto or off of the drum by the handle assembly when the strand is under tension and disengaging the handle assembly from the drive gear when tension on the strand is released to allow the drum to rotate while the handle assembly is stationary.

Abstract: A data processing system for creating and administering a bond issue by a bond manager for a municipal taxing authority of a community. The apparatus includes a database configured to store for retrieval selected information regarding creation and administration of the bond issue, an element for storing and processing data representing information needed to determine bond utilization in the community governed by the municipal taxing authority, and an element for storing and processing data representing information about a specific real estate purchaser, the real estate to be purchased, the use to which the real estate will be put, and projected purchaser income and income growth to predict whether participation in a primary bond issue would be financially beneficial to the purchaser.

Abstract: An improved garment finishing machine includes an exterior housing with an entrance and an exit. An interior garment processing chamber processes garments moving downstream from the entrance to the exit. A blower draws air through the processing chamber. An air intake is located between the blower and the processing chamber. The improvement is a continuous lint filtration system. The filtration system includes a filtration medium adapted for capturing lint entrained in air drawn through the garment processing chamber and into the intake. A roller assembly is provided for mechanically advancing the filtration medium across the intake, such that a lint-covered portion of the filtration medium is automatically replaced at the intake with a clean portion of the filtration medium.

Abstract: A machining simulation method using a plurality of equally sized regular volumes such as cubes to represent the surface of a raw stock object at a relatively low resolution. Each regular volume contains a reference to that portion of the original stock surface falling within that regular volume. The regular volumes affected by the swept volume of each tool movement are readily determined, and a pointer to that tool movement is added to each affected regular volume. The finished data may be expanded in detail at any portion of interest to create fully realised surface geometry with full boundary information by combining the original stock surface and the relevant surfaces of each tool movement. The original stock object may be displayed using the low-resolution regular volumes from any convenient view point, and may be animated in real time to show the effects of each tool movement.

Abstract: A coupling member 2 is brought into a mouth 23 to contact a camming surface 61 of an engagement member 60. The member 60 rotates clockwise to bring the securement means 50 up to retain the coupling member. A camming surface 62 of the engagement member 60 contacts surface 72 of a restrictor 70 to cause the restrictor to first move anticlockwise and then to drop back in a clockwise direction to trap the engagement member in position and to prevent the securement means 50 from allowing the coupling member 2 to be released.