Abstract: An improved retaining wall construction includes a plurality of prefabricated, substantially upstanding soil retention panels connected together to define a wall facing. Each soil retention panel has a bottom surface with at least one cutout portion for receiving a lifting arm to lift and transport the soil retention panel, a first end having a projecting portion and a second end having a cutout slot. The projecting portion of one soil retention panel engages the cutout slot of anothe adjacent soil retention panel to form a keyed construction joint.Earth is exacavated along a line demarking the wall construciton, and a concrete leveling pad is placed along the line. The soil retention panel is positioned on the leveling pad by means of an apparatus for lifting having lifting arms that are slidably engageable into the cutout portion of the soil retention panel.

Abstract: An improved double clipper utilizes a heated bar to sever elastic netting material which has been clipped.

Abstract: A method of parenterally delivering aqueously unstable drugs that includes the aqueous dilution of a stable, anhydrous organic solution having the drug dissolved therein. The resulting organic-aqueous solution is physiologically suitable for parenteral delivery into a warm-blooded mammal and contains the drug in an effective dosage concentration per unit volume.

Abstract: An improved central locking system for a desk includes a plurality of stop members mounted on a pivot rod attached to a panel adjacent a series of drawers. One stop member is pivoted in response to a pin drive actuator which moves when driven by a cam associated with a control drawer horizontally adjacent the other drawers.

Abstract: An improved shirring device for sausage casing includes a station having opposed shirring wheels for shirring casing onto a mandrel. Opposed jaws positioned for movement transverse to the mandrel operate to engage shirred casing. Both the wheels and jaws are mounted on a slidable platform which is movable axially to transport shirred casing along the mandrel and to compact the shirred casing.

Abstract: An electric discharge surface conditioning apparatus includes a discharge electrode consisting of an assembly of alternating conductive and non-conductive discs which rotate about an axis. The surface of the conductive discs includes a specific pattern of slots to effect a pumping action thereby enhancing the electric discharge efficiency by circulating the fluid away from the surface of the workpiece being machined. A control arrangement for controlling the orientation of the described electrode is provided.

Abstract: A drawer with an interlocking drawer slide mechanism is disclosed. The mechanism includes a pair of slides, each attached to one side of the drawer and mateable with a slide receiver. Each slide receiver has a pair of guide pins. A plurality of slide receiver supports are provided having openings mateable with the guide pins such that the slide receivers are supported by the slide receiver supports. Each slide receiver includes a slide lock having a drawer catch. A pair of rotatable drawer stops mounted on the drawer releasably catch the drawer catch to hold the drawer in the mechanism.

Abstract: A process for continuous production of high molecular polybutyleneterephthalate by direct esterification of terephthalic acid and 1,4 butanediol in the presence of tin- or titanium-containing catalysts at preferred temperatures of 235.degree. to 250.degree. C., and preferred pressures of 0.3 to 0.6 bar during the first stage--with minimal formation of tetrahydrofurane--followed by precondensation and polycondensation at reduced pressure.

Abstract: A two-dimensional coordinate measuring pad for use, for example, to recognize handwriting. A high resistivity sheet is bounded by a lower resistivity border connected to a switched voltage source to cause a current to flow first in one direction and then in a perpendicular direction through the resistive sheet. Potential measurements at an array of precisely predetermined points are employed to generate a set of correction values which are stored in a programmable read-only memory. Thereafter, to indicate the position of an arbitrarily selected contact point on the sheet, the stored correction values for the nearest points are fetched form the memory and combined with the measured values to produce adjusted output values which more accurately indicate the positional coordinates of the contact point.

Abstract: An improved valve bridge assembly and improved method of manufacturing the same, both new and rebuilt, are disclosed. The valve bridge is of the type that actuates the exhaust valves in larger internal combustion engines, such as locomotive diesel engines, and that has oversized lash adjuster sockets due to wear. The method contemplates providing a set of oversized lash adjusters which are chosen for insertion in the oversized sockets. Also, threaded lash adjusters are disclosed.

Abstract: A multistage gas fired water heater includes a primary heating tank and a secondary tank mounted vertically over the primary tank with a plurality of primary flues located within the primary heating tank aligned with secondary flues located within the secondary tank. One of the primary flues is constructed to operate as a condensate removal pipe for draining water which forms in the secondary flues. The designated condensate removal pipe prevents water from trickling down the other primary flues or collecting in the flue manifold.

Abstract: A sausage stuffing machine includes a cylindrical sausage discharge tube which dispenses sausage material into shirred casing stored on the tube. A clipper is positioned adjacent the end of the tube for sealing the filled casing at desired intervals. A casing brake mechanism is provided at the discharge end of the tube and includes an axially translatable ring which fits over the flared end of the tube to engage the shirred casing.

Abstract: The panel lock comprises an elongated housing having resilient wedging means at each end to secure the panel lock in place in a recess in a door, panel or like member. Formed integrally with the elongated housing are a lock housing with a cylindrical opening, a central recessed portion, and a bolt housing. A lock is rotatably secured in the opening in the lock housing. A bolt is slidably positioned in the bolt housing. A spring is operative between the bolt and the bolt housing to bias the bolt outwardly from the bolt housing into locking position. An actuator is slidably secured to the elongated housing and is adapted to engage the bolt. When the actuator is moved in one direction, the bolt is biased outwardly to a latching position by the spring. Movement of the actuator in an opposite direction will move the bolt against the bias of the spring to a release position. Cam means are secured to the lock and are rotatable therewith to lock or to release the actuator.

Abstract: A cylinder lock with a removable plug incorporates a series of spring biased combinating disc tumblers which cooperate with a first key in normal lock operation. An additional, unbiased control tumbler at the end of the plug cooperates with a retention flange associated with the cylinder to retain the plug against removal from the cylinder while permitting rotation of the plug in the cylinder. The control tumbler includes a notch for receipt of the first key as well as a second, plug removal key. The first key acts against one edge of the notch to displace the control tumbler into a position which ensures that the tumbler will remain engaged with the plug retention flange regardless of the orientation of the plug.

Abstract: A wrench tool includes a plate defining a handle at one end with a manual grip and a mounting surface for opposed, pivotal gripping jaws at its opposite end.

Abstract: An ashtray for eliminating emitted smoke is disclosed. The ashtray defines, within its housing, a predetermined, fixed filter region. An air filter is positioned within and confined by the filter region to ensure that substantially all air passes through the filter medium of the air filter.

Abstract: A continuous business form assembly of a plurality of webs is disclosed. Two webs form a series of envelopes. Other webs form envelope inserts substantially free and loose in the envelopes. The inserts are joined to the assembly through only abbreviated tear tabs which are behind envelope tear strips and joined to insert web attachment strips formed into the envelopes.