Abstract: A proportional flow valve wherein inlet fluid pressure urges the valve member toward the valve seat. A pressure member, which may be a piston, has an effective area substantially larger than that of the valve member, and is also selectively subjected to inlet fluid pressure to urge the valve member away from the valve seat, so as to open the valve and keep it open. A solenoid actuator determines the position of a pilot valve member which controls the flow of inlet fluid to the pressure member, and hence controls the location of the pressure member and the spacing of the valve member from the valve seat. The position of the pilot valve member, and hence the spacing of the valve member from the valve seat, is proportional to the amount of electric current applied to the actuator.

Abstract: A labelled padlock has a body circumscribed by a heat shrunk plastic sleeve displaying a notice. The notice can be imprinted on a hermetically sealed label adhesively affixed to the body of the padlock before a transparent sleeve is applied, or on a surface of the sleeve itself.

Abstract: A color swatch arrangement for use in selecting colors for four-color offset printing, and a method for creating such an arrangement, involves dividing the visible spectrum into a plurality of distinct hues, and determining the proportions of yellow, red, and blue dot densities needed to create color swatches of each distinct hue. A series of lighter-and-lighter tint swatches associated with each distinct hue are created by reducing each of the yellow, red, and blue dot densities in steps. A series of darker shade swatches is created by adding a proportion of black dot density to each distinct hue and all the stepped lighter tints created from it, and a series of darker-and-darker shade swatches are produced by adding greater proportions of black dot density in stages to all the stepped lighter tints.

Abstract: An opener for a videotape cassette case of the type having a body and a cover hinged to the body, the body and cover presenting two parallel spaced-apart flanges when the case is closed. The opener includes a rigid element, which may be a flat plate, having a shoulder portion wider than the spacing between the case flanges when the case is closed, the shoulder portion tapering toward a nose portion which is narrower than the spacing between the case flanges when the case is closed. A closed videotape cassette case is opened by inserting the nose portion of the opener into one end of the space between the flanges and moving the case with respect to the opener so as to bring the shoulder portion between the flanges to urge the flanges apart. Continued movement of the case with respect to the shoulder portion of the opener causes the flanges to progressively separate from each other so as to pry the cover from the body and thereby open the case.

Abstract: A toy ball having a soild body of foam plastic material and a noisemaker completely embedded within the foam plastic body. The noise maker includes a hollow rigid housing, which may be formed of a hard plastic, and a marble within the housing free to roll around therein so as to create a clattering sound when the ball is shaken, thrown, and caught. The internal surface of the housing has inwardly-projecting ridges to enhance the clatter produced as the marble, which may be a steel ball, rolls around within the housing. The foam plastic body of the ball is made in a mold cavity having the shape of the ball to be produced. While the mold is open, the noisemaker is resiliently suspended along the centerline of the mold cavity so that the center of the noisemaker substantially coincides with the midpoint of the mold cavity centerline. Plastic material is placed within the mold cavity, the mold is closed, and the plastic foam expands to fill the mold cavity, at the same time completely surrounding the noisemaker.

Abstract: An electrical switch contact arrangement having a spring which snaps the movable arcing contact away from the stationary arcing contact at a high rate of speed to open the arcing contacts, but only after the movable main contact has moved through a considerable portion, for example, at least about 50%, of its opening movement away from the stationary main contact. The spring is tensioned as the main contacts open. At an intermediate point during the opening movement of the movable main contact, the moveable main contact positively initiates opening movement of the arcing contacts whereupon the spring snaps the arcing contacts open at a high rate of speed independent of the opening speed of the main contacts.

Abstract: A water-jet propulsion system for ships, which are intended to be used in shallow waters. A semi-axial, bladed turbine wheel with a vertical axis of rotation is disposed so that it can rotate in a well-shaped pressure housing. Into the pressure housing, the driving mechanism for the turbine wheel is introduced from above through a cover plate. At the lower end, the pressure housing is closed off by a bottom plate, which has a concentric, centrally disposed water inlet for axial flow against the turbine wheel and at least one water outlet with a shallow inclination. A guiding apparatus in which the flow energy of the water conveyed by the turbine wheel is largely converted into pressure energy is disposed between the outlet end of the conveying channels of the turbine wheel and the at least one water outlet.

Abstract: A vocal signal removing device includes a member for connecting one of the left or right side positive output terminals of a stereophonic sound reproducing device, e.g., tape, compact disk, or phonograph player, to the corresponding left or right side positive input terminal of an amplifier, and a member for connecting the other positive output terminal of the reproducing device to the negative input terminal of the amplifier on the side opposite the side to which the one positive input terminal is connected. A switch may be provided for effecting alternative connections to provide full stereo sound or monophonic sound including the vocal signal.

Abstract: An ellipse is rotated in such a way that the time interval which elapses between the successive passages of the major axis of the ellipse and the minor axis of the ellipse through the same position corresponds to the time interval which elapses between a successive high tide and low tide. The ellipse is rotated substantially in phase with the lunar cycle.

Abstract: A composition for enhancing performance, e.g., improving subjective vigor, decreasing fatigue, diminishing subjective confusion, and decreasing tension and anxiety. The composition comprises an indirect-acting sympathomimetic drug and tyrosine or a tyrosine precursor. The drug may be phenylpropanolamine, amphetamine, or ephedrine. The tyrosine enhances the known performance-enhancing activity of the drug.

Abstract: A brushless dc motor comprising a stator, and a rotor incorporating a hollow cylindrical permanent magnet. The rotor magnet has sectors magnetized radially in opposite directions to define poles of opposite polarity extending around the circumference of the magnet. The magnet is completely magnetized so as to leave no non-magnetized sectors between the poles of the magnet. The magnet has grooves in its surface facing the stator, the grooves extending in the longitudinal direction of the magnet. Each groove is offset from, or non-symmetrical with respect to, the center of the rotor pole in which it is located.

Abstract: An automatic transfer switch having two sets of phase switches, one set for connection between a normal source of power and a load, and the other set for connection between an emergency power source and the load. The transfer switch includes two pairs of neutral switches, one pair for connection in parallel between the normal source neutral and the load neutral, and the other pair for connection in parallel between the emergency source neutral and the load neutral. The phase switches can operate to provide an "open transition" transfer, wherein the phase switches connecting the load to one source open before closing of the phase switches which connect the load to the other source, or a "closed transition" transfer, wherein the phase switches connecting the load to one source open after closing of the phase switches which connect the load to the other source.

Abstract: A manual operator for opening and closing an electrical switch, including a switch-driving element, a relatively rotatable handle element, and a resilient transmission, e.g., a leaf spring or springs, extending between the two elements. An abutment is fixed to one of the elements and a follower is fixed to the other, the abutment engaging the follower only after the resilient transmission has been tensioned by rotation of the handle element. When the driving element engages a portion of the switch mechanism, initial rotation of the handle causes the resilient transmission to be tensioned and the abutment to engage the follower. Further rotation of the handle is transmitted through the abutment and follower to the driving element to initiate the movement of the switch mechanism, following which the tensioned resilient transmission instantly shifts the switch mechanism through the remainder of its movement to snap the switch open or closed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a container for environmentally controlled and temperature-regulated transport of perishable goods, the environment-controlling unit being arranged in the essentially cuboid container in the region of the one end face thereof as a component, which is to be allocated to the container and to be separated from it. The environment-controlling unit is broken up into functionally connected components, or is composed of components, which are functionally connected with one another, the components being allocated to the region or regions between the temperature-regulating unit and a container corner post at the side of the temperature-regulating unit. In this way, space within the container is utilized, which previously was unused and was filled with foam, as were the container side walls, in order to avoid heat bridges.

Abstract: The case of a composite propellent charge cartridge exhibits cracks, after shooting, at the sharp transition of the extractor rim. This has a disadvantageous effect on the number of possible reloadings. The present case permits frequent reloading with little reconditioning. A rotationally symmetrical molding is placed on the case, and at least partially forms the extractor rim. The surface of the case that is in contact with the molding is rounded and smoothed at least at highly stressed points. The reusable cartridge case, with the molding, is suitable for composite propellent charge cartridges.