Abstract: The apparatus, in one embodiment has a front shaft support and a guide housing coupled together for longitudinal movement relative to each other. A shaft extends through the front shaft support and the guide housing and has a drill bit coupled to its forward end. The shaft and front shaft support may be moved to a forward drilling position or to a rearward shifting position relative to the guide housing. A plurality of cams are coupled to the inside of the guide housing at different angular positions around the shaft. A cam follower is coupled to a cam follower housing which surrounds the shaft. In the shifting mode, the cam follower is disengaged from the cams. A clutch is provided for coupling the cam follower housing to the shaft when the shaft is in the shifting position such that the cam follower housing and the cam follower may be rotated with the shaft relative to the cams to allowed the cam follower to engage a selected one of the cams when the shaft is moved to the forward drilling position.

Abstract: The pad of the invention has a first set of spaced apart side members and a second set of spaced apart side members with the ends of adjacent members coupled together to form an opening between the four side members. Preferably the side members are formed of concrete. The side members have metal rods embedded therein with the ends of adjacent rods connected together. One or two parallel connecting members with metal rods may be connected to either of the two sets of side members in the opening or crossed connecting members with metal rods may be connected together and to the two sets of side members in the opening. In another embodiment the members of the pad may be formed of a hard plastic material or synthetic rubber.

Abstract: U-shaped members are provided for covering the gaps formed at the rear of a pickup truck and as seen in the rear wheel wells between the frame and side walls of the rear bed. Each U-shaped member has a central flattened portion and two flattened end portions with apertures formed therethrough for receiving threaded fasteners for attachment purposes.

Abstract: The water heating apparatus is formed by a container having spaced upper and lower walls and a cylindrical side wall having upper and lower portions extending between the upper and lower walls defining an interior of the container. An inlet opening is formed through the central portion of the upper wall. An elongated hollow flame tube is located within the interior of the container and has an upper end coupled to the inlet opening of the upper wall and extends downward. A combustion device is coupled to the inlet opening of the upper wall for directing a flame into the flame tube by way of the upper opening.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention has a food receiving apparatus including a cutting device with a cylinder operated plunger. Also provided is a conveyor having a continuous belt for carrying a stack of tortillas or the like to the food receiving apparatus. A detector is provided for detecting the stack of tortillas or the like as it enters the food receiving apparatus. The detector actuates a control system which causes the cylinder to move the plunger toward the cutting device for compressing the tortillas against the cutting device for cutting the tortillas to the desired shape. The plunger then moves away from the food receiving apparatus.

Abstract: The dockboard in one embodiment includes three upper members and two lower members which can be stored and shipped unassembled and readily assembled in the field for use. Each of the members includes a plurality of spaced apart locking members extending from one side between opposite side edges. The locking members are spaced apart from each other between opposite support edges. The five members are assembled to form a dockboard by engaging selected locking members of the two lower members with selected locking members of the center upper member such that the center upper member overlaps adjacent support edges of the two lower members and sliding the center upper member and the two lower members together. Selected locking members of the two outer end upper members are engaged with the outer locking members of the two lower members and the two outer end upper members are slid onto the assembly to form the dockboard.

Abstract: A semiautonomously directed, autonomously controlled, gyroscopically stabilized, horizontal or vertical take off and landing (HOVTOL) flying apparatus employing two vertical lift devices equally and longitudinally spaced from the center of gravity of the apparatus; continuously integrated with a drive train apparatus, optional single or multiple power means; congruously connected thereto horizontal thrust devices. Integral to the vertical lift devices; pitch axis control devices situated at the exhaust orifices therein to vector said devices exhaust slip stream by a autonomous flight control system providing pitch stability. The autonomous flight control system providing continuously all flight control of the apparatus and said system being interfaced to a semiautonomous flight director device providing discrete flight direction function codes thereto.

Abstract: The fire extinguisher includes a container filled with a fire extinguishing liquid and having a normally closed main outlet and support structure extending through an opening of the container wall. A compressed gas cartridge located in the container is supported by the support structure. The support structure has an opening formed therethrough which leads to the end of the compressed gas cartridge. A plunger, an explosive charge, and a heat sensitive fuse, the latter of which has a portion is exposed to the exterior of the container, are located in the opening of the support structure. In the presence of high temperature, the fuse causes the explosive charge to explode and force the plunger to rupture the cartridge which release the gas into the liquid in the container by way of a normally closed gas outlet formed through the wall of the support structure. This causes the liquid to be forced out of the container by way of the normally closed main outlet.

Abstract: The system includes a plurality of bins. Each bin has electrical circuitry including an infrared emitter and detector, a guiding light and a warning light. The circuitry of each bin is controlled by a computer and an input/output controller. The computer reads the bar code address on the envelope via a scanner. The address can also be typed in from the keyboard or input by speaking into a mike. The computer searches through its' data base for the address and then sends the bin number for that address to the Input/Output Controller. The I/O Controller includes a plurality of input lines leading from the detectors and a plurality of output lines leading to the guiding lights and warning lights of the bins. When the computer sends the address number to the I/O Controller, the I/O Controller lights the correct guiding light. If the mail piece is sensed in that bin, the guiding light in that bin goes off and the next piece of mail can be scanned.

Abstract: The apparatus has front and rear floatable members pivotally coupled together such that the two members may turn relative to each other. A seat is coupled to the rear member for supporting a person. Paddles are coupled to a paddle shaft supported by the front member. Pedals are coupled to the paddle shaft for rotating the paddles shaft and hence the paddles for movement of the paddles through the water for moving the apparatus in the water. In the preferred embodiment, a paddle support member is coupled to opposite ends of the paddle shaft and paddles are coupled to the outward sides of the paddle support members. In another embodiment, two rods are pivotally coupled to opposite sides of the rear end of the front member respectively. Paddles are coupled to the lower ends of the two rods respectively. Each of the paddles includes two plate members pivotally coupled to the lower end of its rod.

Abstract: The ventilation system comprises a manifold having an open bottom with two members adapted to be coupled to either of the two lower ends of the manifold for plugging one of the ends and for allowing the other lower end to be coupled to an exhaust conduit. Also provided is an intake member adapted to fit under the seat of the toilet with a rear end in communication with the interior of the manifold and with the front end located over the bowl of the toilet. In the embodiment disclosed, the intake member has an open bottom with flexible flared side walls to allow the height of the intake member to be varied to fit under the seats of different toilets.

Abstract: A process is provided for destroying the calcium carbonate crystal producing utricular macula in the inner ear of a human. An aperture is formed through the footplate of the stapes bone; the probe end of a laser is inserted into the aperture; the laser is actuated to apply energy to the ultricular macula, and the probe is removed from the ear. The laser probe has a unique shape and configuration.

Abstract: The power supply may be operated during a given cycle sequentially to produce high and low frequency drive signals for operating an ultrasonic transducer for sequentially producing an ultrasonic output at the two frequencies to carry out bonding operations at two different bond sites respectively.

Abstract: A fairing for an aircraft is provided, having a roll axis with a turret coupled to the front end of the fairing for rotation about the roll axis. An opening is formed through the front end of the turret in which a tracking member is supported for rotation between forward and rearward positions about a pitch axis transverse to the roll axis. The tracking member has a cavity with a primary optical mirror at one end and a transparent shield at an opposite end with a primary optical axis extending between the mirror and shield. The shield is slanted to minimize wind turbulence when the tracking member is located in a rearward position.

Abstract: Ground peanut hulls in the range of -150 to 250 standard size mesh are mixed with a viscosifier and added to a fluid for circulation in a borehole during drilling, completion and workover operations. Below 250 standard sieve mesh the ground peanut hulls are distributed in a range down to 700 standard sieve mesh, with some of the ground peanut hulls having a size less than 700 standard sieve mesh.

Abstract: The coiled tubing handling apparatus includes a base and a frame. First and second pairs of plate members are coupled to the frame. A drive sprocket and an idler sprocket are coupled to the first pair of plate members for supporting a first continuous gripper chain with gripper members for movement along a first path. A drive sprocket and an idler sprocket are coupled to the second pair of plate members for supporting a second continuous chain with gripper members for movement along a second path. A drive system is provided for moving the gripper chains together along the two paths for gripping and moving a tube. Two pairs of idler sprockets are coupled to each of the first and second pairs of plate members for supporting a linear bearing chain within each of the two gripper chains. A linear bearing race engages each linear bearing chain for causing the two linear bearing chains to engage the two gripper chains respectively for causing the two gripper chains to move linearly along the first and second paths.