Abstract: An orifice meter comprised of two concentric flanges and a center plate assembly is described. The center plate assembly includes an orifice plate holder arranged to rotate within the orifice meter around a shaft extending from the center of the center plate assembly and protruding through one of the flanges. Rotating the shaft will align one of the orifice plates in the orifice plate holder with the inlet and outlet pipe openings in the flanges. Thus, the orifice meter herein described does not have to be disconnected to change orifice plates. Pressure transducers are included in the flanges to determine the pressure upstream and downstream of the orifice plate. An inspection plug installed in one of the flanges allows for easy inspection and changing of the orifice plates, meaning that the orifice meter herein described does not have to be disconnected to replace or service the orifice plates.

Abstract: A series of design features which render filing and similar cabinets resistant to water entry are described. The design features may either be incorporated at the time of manufacture or retro-fitted onto certain types of existing cabinets. The features comprise water deflectors mounted above drawers or compartments of filing cabinets, the water deflectors having a downwardly sloping front face for deflecting falling water away from the drawers or compartments and flanges fitted onto the sides and bottom of the drawers or compartments, thereby eliminating any gaps between the frame of the filing cabinet and the drawers or compartments of the filing cabinet, which will in turn prevent water entry into the filing cabinet.

Abstract: While measuring racks and the like are known to count or measure the number of coins required to wrap same into rolls, the actual wrapping requires considerable experience and dexterity and can be time consuming. The present device consists of a relatively thin plastic or card semi-circular trough having closed ends and a length equal to the required number of coins in a roil of that particular denomination with the curvature of the trough and length thereof varying with each denomination of coin. The entire trough and measured contents may then be wrapped in a conventional coin wrapper readily and easily as the closed ends of the trough retain the coins during the rollng process.

Abstract: When dispensing unhomogenized materials from bottles such as those containing some salad dressings, mint sauce and the like, it is difficult to obtain a portion thereof with the correct proportions of the unmixed ingredients even though they are shaken before dispensing, because of the rapid settlement of the heavier fraction or fractions. The present device consists of a small cylinder insertable in or formed integrally with the bottle neck and having a vertical web dividing the neck into two chambers, one chamber being open at the upper and lower ends and the other being closed at the base and open at the top to communicate with the top portion of the first chamber. When the cap is secured to the top of the bottle neck, the contents can be shaken whereupon the bottle is inverted so that the contents flow through the first chamber and fill the second chamber.

Abstract: This is a method and apparatus for monitoring the effective load carried by a crane having a luffing boom of variable effective length. The method includes generating a first signal corresponding to the magnitude of the load supported by the boom and then a second signal corresponding to the effective radius. Calculations are made to calculate a moment value and displaying same. This is then compared with a predetermined maximum permissible moment value and a warning signal is generated it if differs from the maximum load moment value by less than a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An automatic switching valve mounted between two fluctuating pressure sources automatically switches from one source to the other to supply gas or liquid from the source that is under the higher pressure. A T- housing conveys gas or liquid from either side and out of the central stem. Tapered, spring loaded plugs or valves in either side engage with tapered seats and are maintained in contact with the seats by springs which permit one or the other valve to open when the pressure on one valve exceeds the tension of the spring of the other valve. If the pressure is equal on both sides, both valves will open simultaneously if pressure is greater than cracking pressure.

Abstract: The device includes a wheel mounted frame having a detachable base plate, when used as a shredder, a small engine on the upper side of the frame and an internal blade enclosure within said frame, a small chute to limit the intake and prevent overloading from occurring, and a discharge on the internal enclosure opposite to the intake or loading chute. Two cutting blades are mounted on the motor drive shaft which extends vertically into the internal enclosure, an upper blade having a downturned outer end portion to draw air in through the air intake chute and a lower blade radially spaced from the upper blade by 90 degrees and having an upturned outer end portion to prevent material from building up upon the base plate. When used as a lawnmower, the base plate is removed and a plurality of radially extending stabilizer rods is substituted thus providing an open base so that the lowermost cutting blade can engage the grass.

Abstract: A frame strip for use in window frames or other arrangements for securing the edge of either a flexible sheet or a rigid sheet provides a strip member incorporating a cavity having two sides. One side is straight and the other side is generally parallel to the first side and incorporates a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being closer to the first side than the second portion and being interconnected by a curved section. The space between the first portion and the first side is sufficient to receive the narrow side of a rectangular locking member, the other side of which is shorter than the distance between the edge of the interconnecting portion and the bottom of the cavity and longer than the space between the second portion and the first side so that the locking member is prevented from rotation within the cavity to retain a flexible sheet wrapped therearound.

Abstract: A tree transporter comprises a plurality of buckets pivotally mounted on a rectangular frame. The frame has two sides and a central beam mounted higher than the sides together with a number of transverse beams so as to form square cells between the sides and the central beam in which the buckets can be received. The buckets are supported for pivotal movement on collars attached to the outer surface of the bucket with the axis of rotation inclined relative to the plane of an open mouth of the bucket so that the axis intersects the side wall of the bucket on one side higher than on the other side. In addition the axis of rotation is arranged diagonally relative to the square cells and inclined upwardly from one side to the higher central beam so that the bucket when it pivots moves from a position where the axis of the bucket points outwardly from the side for loading to a transport position wherein the axis of the bucket lies along the framework.

Abstract: A propulsion system for a vessel comprises a conventional screw and rudder arrangement and includes one or more rotor sails in the form of an elliptical cylinder upstanding from the deck of the vessel formed from a rigid outer surface which is rotatable about a central longitudinal axis. The rotation by the Magnus effect develops a propulsion force transverse to wind currents crossing the vessel. The speed of rotation, direction of rotation and a position of park of the cylinder can be controlled. The position of park allows the major axis to be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the vessel or with the direction of the wind for feathering or transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vessel to act as a conventional sail downwind.

Abstract: A pipe plugging tool for use in cutting and then soldering a fitting to a pipe includes a shaft, sleeve, compressible plug and nut arranged so that the nut can be rotated to axially compress the plug so that it radially expands into contact with the inner surface of the pipe. A stop member can be removably and adjustably positioned on the sleeve to set the location of the plug relative to the end of the pipe so that the nut is exposed when the fitting has been completed and so that the plug is spaced from the soldering heat sufficient distance to prevent degradation of the plug. A bag including a zipper and hook loop connecting fabric can be wrapped around the pipe prior to cutting. The bag has sleeves through which the hands of the operator can pass so that the cutting and plugging can be completed inside the bag and any escaping water collected at the bottom of the bag.

Abstract: A corner member for locating at right angles spacer strips of a sealed window unit includes a pair of legs at right angles each for extending into an adjacent end of one of the strips. The strips are of the type formed from fiberglass reinforced resin pultrusion defining a slot along the inner surface. To prevent the slot opening when the leg is inserted into the hollow interior of the strip, the leg includes a pair of laterally extending projections for engaging the strip in compression fit only at the junctions between the sides and outer edge of the strip.

Abstract: A device for installation in a motor vehicle for recording distances traveled on business or non-business journeys comprises an input from the vehicle indicative of the distance traveled by the vehicle and manually operable keys for inputting into the device the purpose of the journey. The distance traveled and the purpose can be recorded for later printing on a paper supply contained within the device. A clock also records the time and data of the journey. Gas purchases can be recorded. A decimal keyboard can be used to require the introduction of an identification code before the device can be operated.