Abstract: A storable bed assembly primarily for recreational vehicles permits the lowering and raising of the bed using a pair of rear guides fixed to a wall of the recreational vehicle, and a pair of swing arm guides at the front corners of the bed frame. Linkages are provided to couple the corners of the bed frame to the guides. Counterbalancing springs in the form of compressed gas cylinders are provided to assist in raising the bed assembly to the stored position.

Abstract: In processes for retorting oil shale using recycled heat carrying ceramic balls having a critical heat flux value, efficient operation, without heat shock damage to the balls, is obtained by operating at a weight ratio of balls to shale which is greater than but substantially equal to the ratio corresponding to the critical heat flux value; and this ratio is a function of both the heat transfer coefficient at the inlet to the retort and also the difference in temperature between the heat carrying balls and the oil shale. Implementing apparatus includes arrangements for controlling the ratio of heat carrying balls to shale, as by ball feed control apparatus and/or oil shale feed control apparatus, in accordance with the difference in temperature between the ceramic balls and the shale.

Abstract: The display has a mask positioned in front of it so that an opaque part of the mask prevents viewing the display. There may be several masks for different parts of the display. The masks are preferably in the form of tapes having opaque and transparent areas. The tape-masks are intermittently and/or sequentially moved to progressively reveal the display. The display may consist of one or more lines of pictorial, textual, or three-dimensional matter.

Abstract: In a multi-channel multiplexed system, each signal-receiving input channel has a DC blocking capacitor. One of the input channels to the multiplexer is grounded making this channel a test channel. A signal-conditioner-and-amplifier network (SCAN) couples the multiplexer output to a utilization device. The spurious voltage developed across the capacitor in the test channel combined with the offset voltage across the SCAN will be substantially the same as each one of the spurious voltages developed across the capacitors in the other input channels in combination with the SCAN offset voltage. A sample-and-hold circuit consisting of a series capacitor and a normally ungrounded shunt switch is connected between the output of the SCAN and the input to the utilization device.

Abstract: An electrical connector is shown having a pin protector molded into its connector housing. The protector has a plurality of elongated, stamped apertures along one edge formed with offset perimeters which extend into the molded housing for increasing the contact surface between the housing and pin protector molded therein.

Abstract: A masonry block cutter includes four blades. The blades are arranged in two pairs with each V-shaped pair being secured together. When cutting a block having a square cross section, the cutter has a generally square configuration, with the opposed pairs of blades being pivoted at one corner of the square and having spaced-apart elongated handles extending parallel to each other and at an angle of about 45.degree. to the adjacent sides, at the opposite corner of the square. Hammer blocks are provided at the intermediate corners of the cutter, so that, when the blades are resiliently held against the block by the grip of one hand at the end of the handles, the mason may strike one of the hammer blocks and cleanly cut the masonry block at the desired point along its length.

Abstract: The invention described herein relates to a method of making a threaded nut fastener which joins with a threaded male or screw fastener wherein the threads of the nut are partially formed so as to provide for up to 80% thread-to-thread engagement of the screw threads with the nut threads.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a threaded fastener of the self-tapping type is described, where the fastener has the conventional head, shank, and pilot end. The shank includes a helically wound thread member impregnated with a carbide or other, harder substance than the metal from which the fastener is made. A method of making a thread-cutting fastener having its pilot tip end impregnated, is also described. A method utilizing a thread-rolling machine with a unique impregnating electrode is disclosed. The electrode is shown to engage the fastener selectively during the thread-rolling operation itself.

Abstract: A threaded fastener of the self-tapping type is described having the conventional head, shank, and pilot end. The shank includes a helically wound thread member impregnated with a carbide or other, harder substance than the metal from which the fastener is made. A thread-cutting fastener, having its pilot tip end impregnated is also described. A thread-rolling machine with a unique impregnating electrode is disclosed. The electrode is shown to engage the fastener selectively during the thread-rolling operation itself.

Abstract: A power supply circuit for a microwave oven which includes a magnetron, a transformer, a plural capacitor, and a current rectifier. The power supply circuit is particularly adapted to provide constant power output from the magnetron using either a 50Hz or 60Hz input power by selecting an appropriate one of said plural capacitances.

Abstract: An improved electrical crimp removable socket contact is shown, having a box-like section capable of mating with a square wrap post or round pin at one end and an open barrel section for crimping a wire and its insulation at the other end. The box-like section and open barrel section are joined by a central box section which includes a retention leaf spring and an internal stop for controlling the seating of the socket contact upon the square wrap post or round pin while, at the same time, providing a stop for the wire and strengthening the box sections when the contact is crimped onto the wire.

Abstract: A method for controlling the output torque condition of an induction motor includes the steps of generating a slip frequency in the motor proportional to the desired output torque condition while simultaneously establishing the magnitude and phase displacement of the stator current at preselected values. The invention also obtains the speed control of self excited alternating current motors.

Abstract: A harness cable connector is shown which receives a plurality of insulated wires by a press fit for retaining the wires in a spaced configuration during insertion and assembly of the wires in a printed circuit board. The cable connector is then rolled and locked into the printed circuit board to provide strain relief for the harness cable.

Abstract: An integral servomechanism is shown that mounts a synchro receiver in the form of a control transformer, a torque motor, an isolation transformer and associated electronic circuitry integrally within a housing wherein the transformer permits the utilization of integrated circuits by providing voltages stepped down from the line voltage while isolating the control transformer from the line voltage.

Abstract: A miniature electrical connector is shown having an insulated housing with a bore passing therethrough including a large passageway and a reduced passageway joined by an inwardly tapering surface. A contact is received by the passageway having three uniformly spaced, triangular based protrusions whose sides form a sharp tapered edge which tapers at a greater angle than the inwardly tapered surface of the passage for engaging that surface as the contact is inserted therein. The contact is provided with leaf spring latches which snap outwardly once beyond the reduced portion of the passageway to prevent the unauthorized removal of the contact therefrom. The uniformly spaced protrusions having sharp edges tapering at a greater angle than the inwardly tapering surface of the passage cause the contact to be self-centering while stably retaining the contact within the passageway.

Abstract: A multi-wire wiper contact is shown formed from a plurality of conductive and nonconductive wires wrapped about a mandrel to form a flat set of wires helically wrapped into a coil. The wire coil is then masked with a desired pattern and the unmasked wire is plated with a conductive metal. The metal plate which forms on the unmasked portions of the wire does not form on those unmasked wires which are nonconductive. After plating, the masking is removed, one set of wire is cut, and the wire set and plated portions holding that set are removed from the mandrel in a continuous flat strand of wire with the nonconductive wire forming a parting line for the strand. The nonconductive wire is removed from the strand and the strand is then cut and shaped into a multi-wire wiper contact for use in potentiometers and other electromechanical devices.

Abstract: A mechanical drive arrangement for a cinematograph projector. A double-sided tooth drive belt passes, in succession, over a motor driven, film take-up sprocket, idler sprocket, intermittent drive sprocket, film feed sprocket and shutter drive sprocket. The intermittent drive sprocket and intermittent motion film sprocket are mounted on a rotatable disc. The axis of rotation of the disc coincides with the circumference of the intermittent drive sprocket at the point where the plane through the axes of both mounted sprockets cuts the region of engagement of the drive belt around that circumference. In consequence, rotation of the disc moves the film anchor point, on the intermittent motion film sprocket, with only slight rotation of the shutter drive. Thereby, ghosting is avoided when racking.

Abstract: Film tensioning and controlling transport mechanism for a cinematograph film projector. The film take-up mechanism has a torque motor drive separate from the projector mechanism drive motor. The torque motor is energised first to tension film before the projector drive motor is energised. The torque motor is first energised with a series temperature-sensitive resistor so that torque, and film-tension, increases before the projector mechanism starts up. Film between the projector mechanism and the take-up spool is formed into a loop over a movable roller, which is spring-tensioned in the loop-lenghtening direction but is restrained by a dashpot in the loop-shortening direction. Film-tension reduces the loop length, but the projector drive motor is energised before the whole loop is taken up.

Abstract: A composite projector gate, aperture and light dowser assembly for a cinematograph film projector. The film guide surface through the gate area is curved convex towards the light source, film being held to curved marginal guides by flexible bands anchored before the gate, in the direction of film motion. A quick-release anchor is provided to retain the tension springs. The projection aperture comprises a removable plate in front of which, towards the light source, are spaced-apart heat screens with a horizontally-moving light-dowser blade therebetween in a space in which is provided forced air ventilation.