Abstract: The assembly is used for supporting pipes, etc from the ceilings of industrial buildings. Conventional pipe hangars are of screwed rod, (typically 3/8 inch) and the assembly includes a U-shaped clevis, which fits over the screwed rod. A bolt protruding into the space between the limbs of the U-shape engages the rod, and acts to clamp the clevis to the rod. The bolt lies off-center with respect to the rod. The bolt, when tightened, also clamps the clevis to a pipe-stay member of the assembly.

Abstract: The device includes a fixed component (30) which is in two half-shells which clamp, sideways-on, around the fixed mast (3), and a rotatable component (28) which also is in two half-shells which, when assembled around the mast, are guided for rotation relative to the mast. Several rotation apparatuses (one per antenna) may be attached at different points on the height of the mast, so that each antenna (19) may be orientated independently of the other antennas towards the appropriate TV transmitting station. The stub shaft (29) on which the antenna (19) is carried may be rotatable relative to the housing (28), and so geared that a 180 deg rotation of the housing produces a 360 deg rotation of the shaft and antenna.

Abstract: The machine includes a reciprocating piston/hammer (10) assembly, which is constrained against rotation in the cylinder (8). This allows the cutting bit to apply concentrated action along a line, and thus is useful for cutting grooves. The cutting bars (40) are arranged in sequence to enter progressively deeper into the groove. Many bits are arranged side by side, for cutting parallel grooves simultaneously.

Abstract: The spectacle case (20) is of the open-mouth type. The case includes an inner lining (25) of thin cotton, which is stitched top (30) and bottom (36) into a stiff outer cover (23). The stitching is so arranged as to leave the central portion of the lining loose and able to expand and move laterally, within the outer cover. An encircling elastic band (27) creates a pinched waist (40) in the lining. The elastic band tightens the lining around the nose cut-out (43) of spectacles (40) inserted into the case, thereby retaining the spectacles securely.

Abstract: Particulate material from a conveyor belt (12) may be removed by a conveyor belt scraper comprising a flexible wear element (16) for bearing against the working surface of the conveyor belt and a housing (14) shaped and dimensioned for dispensing one end of the wear element against the conveyor belt and for storing the rest of the wear element in the interior (18) of the housing (14). The transverse dimensions (A--A,B--B) of the interior of the housing are less than the length of the wear element (16). The housing is pressure-tight up to a given operating pressure when the wear element is within the housing. The housing (14) is adapted to be filled by a fluid, such as a gas or liquid, which when compressed acts directly on the wear element within the housing to force the wear element against the conveyor belt and to maintain the wear element against the conveyor belt as the element (16) wears.

Abstract: The packing-seal is shown in use in a borehole as a level-isolating seal for a groundwater sampler. The packing-seal shown includes an expandable annulus of Dowell (TM) water-expandable material. Surrounding that is a pressure-sleeve of rubber. A sheet of woven Kevlar (TM) is wrapped circumferentially around the sleeve and the Dowell annulus, such that the ends of the Kevlar sheet overlap. Outside the Kevlar is an outer rubber sleeve. Upon expansion of the packing seal to fill the borehole, the Kevlar sheet unwraps to allow the Dowell to expand without restraint. Once the packing seal has filled the borehole, the Kevlar sheet is prevented from unwrapping further. If the borehole contains a fissure the Kevlar provides a rigid bridge over the fissure, and prevents the packing-seal from ballooning out into the fissure.

Abstract: The apparatus is concerned with an economical and efficient means for getting plants (e.g., lettuces, strawberries, etc.) into and out of the hydroponic growing troughs. The many troughs are stacked together in a rack. The troughs need not be moved for access purposes, relative to the rack, for insertion and removal of plants. Instead, the plants are placed on a flexible strip of fabric e.g. cheesecloth. The cheesecloth is drawn into the trough, and the plants are placed thereupon one by one as the strip moves progressively into the trough. This arrangement reduces the need for access room, and permits a maximum utilization of space in the growing room. The fact that the troughs never move also simplifies the lighting, ventilation, water supply and drainage structures.

Abstract: A wallet is disclosed which incorporates an electrical alarm circuit for signalling that e.g. a credit card has not been properly returned to its compartment in the wallet. The electrical current is transferred from compartment to compartment, and from the battery and buzzer portion, by means of contact pads and zones which come together when the wallet is closed. The need to conduct electricity through the hinge area is eliminated.

Abstract: The lift is movable from site to site, and is suitable for lifting wide vehicles, such as trucks. The lift comprises a rectangular base frame (12) to which are hinged two side wings (14). The side wings fold up for transit. Corner pillars (16) for raising the vehicle are located on the side wings. Hydraulic actuators (56) are located inside the crossbeams (20) which bridge between the corner pillars. The lift includes jacklegs (25) which are used to raise the side wings, and to jack the lift for assembling road wheels.

Abstract: One electrode of the probe is its tubular outer sleeve (3), and the other is its central rod (4). The insulators (9,16) separating the two are attached rigidly to the central rod, whereby the outer sleeve may slide off the probe for cleaning and servicing purposes. The outer sleeve is held in place simply by friction from the O-ring seals (12,30). When the sleeve is removed, the central rod, insulators, etc., remain as a structurally complete sub-assembly. Electrical contact with the outer sleeve is made through an expandable canted coil spring (20), mounted on an insulator. The central rod is formed with a massive center section (7), for weighting the probe. The probe is supported on a graduated tape (36), in which are embedded the electrical leads (38) to the probe. The leads are securely attached and sealed in place by means of heat-shrinkable material (50), which is wrapped around the leads, heat-shrunk, and compressed into a pocket (27).

Abstract: A foldable baseboard is provided with sixteen fixed tablets, arranged in regular rows. Thirty-three movable tablets are placed in the spaces between the fixed tablets, to make a 7.times.7 square. The tablets are marked out with roads to define paths along which counters may be moved, towards a target tablet. One extra movable tablet is provided, by means of which a player can push a row of the movable tablets, thus improving the road layout, and enabling him to move his counter towards the target. The game apparatus includes target cards, and game money.

Abstract: The mailbox support-mounting disclosed has a pivoting arm. If the mounting receives a blow, e.g. from a snow-plow blade or from a vandal, the arm swings aside. After swinging aside, the arm resets itself to a central equilibrium position. The restoring force to reset the arm is provided by gravity, in that the pivot axis is set at an angle, and slopes forwards towards the road. The pivot bearing is sturdy and well-located, yet the bearing is inexpensive and not prone to seizure.

Abstract: Mine tailings containing iron sulphides can cause acidity in groundwater travelling down through the tailings, if the tailings ever become exposed to the air. In the worst case, if only an upper level of the tailings becomes exposed, the amount of acidity produced is as if the whole body of tailings were exposed, because ferric ions in the water seeping down from the vadose region to the still-unexposed anaerobic regions tend to cause oxidation of the sulphides below, as if they too had become exposed. A layer of organic carbon (in the form of wood chippings, seaweed, etc) is added to the body of tailings, just below the (stabilized) water table. Water seeping down from the vadose region encounters the carbon before reaching the anaerobic sulphides, and most of the oxidation-producing tendency of the ions in this water is dissipated on the carbon, by bacterial action, leaving the anaerobic sulphides below unchanged.

Abstract: A probe is disclosed, for lowering into a water-well or other hole. The probe includes conductivity measuring electrodes, to distinguish between e.g., water and contaminants, such as gasoline. The probe also includes an optical sensing facility to locate the junction between air and liquid. The probe comprises a transparent plastic tube, mounted inside a housing. A beam of light from a LED passes obliquely through the plastic tube and onto a photo-transistor. When liquid is encountered in the well, the liquid enters the tube: the change in refractive index now directs the beam away from the photo-transistor. The optical and conductivity sensors are both actuated at the same depth.

Abstract: The device is for preventing the casual theft of a saddle from a bicycle that has a quick-release saddle adjustment, and is particularly useful with mountain bikes. The device comprises a plastic-covered steel cable, with a loop at each end. One loop passes over the rail of the saddle, the other loop passes over the rear stay. The device includes two clips that are suitable for forming the loops in situ on the bicycle. The clips are squeezed down onto the cable with pliers. A preferred clip is 8-shaped.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a sample-holder comprising a tube (16) of thin aluminum, and a piston (12) slidable in the tube. The piston is mounted on a solid, robust piston rod (14). To drive the apparatus down to the depth at which the sample is to be taken, the piston and tube are locked together, and travel down in unison, most of the force of the hammer blows being taken by the robust piston rod. When sampling depth is reached, the piston rod (14) is uncoupled, and the piston (12) is restrained by means of a cable (36) to the surface; further hammering now drives only the tube (16) downwards, not the piston. The tube being thin, the drive force is must less, whereby the tube does not collapse, as the sample enters the tube.

Abstract: A method of preparing the traditional salted-and-dried fish is disclosed. The dried fish is first soaked in cold water to re-hydrate the fish and to reduce the salt content. Secondly, the re-hydrated fish is centrifuged until almost dry. The almost-dry fish is sealed in cans, and then cooked. The product is more nutritious and more tasty than salted-and-dried fish prepared in the home, and is far more convenient in that it can be eaten straight from the can.

Abstract: The sampler includes a cylinder, plugged at the lower end, the plug having a first one-way check valve to permit the sample to flow upwards into the chamber. A piston is slidable in the bore, and includes a second one-way check valve, which permits the sample to flow upwards through the piston. In use, the sampler is pressurized from above, in order to hold both valves closed, and lowered to the correct depth; the pressure is released, and the sample flushes through the chamber of the sampler. The sampler is then re-pressurized, and drawn to the surface, with the sample remaining totally contained and maintained at depth-pressure. The sample may be transferred out of the chamber for analysis, by pressurizing the piston, without the sample losing its depth-pressure status.