Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of air cell cushioning dunnage material, for protective cushioning purposes in packaging or other purposes, with the air cell product possessing substantial strength, and the ability to retain its original thickness under load. The method and apparatus are such that the apparatus can be halted in its operation without injurious effects to the dunnage product being produced, and can be restarted to again commence production of the cushioning dunnage product. The apparatus and method utilize flexible thermoplastic sheets or film of material, to produce the air cell product, with the plastic sheets being preferably formed of a composite of an intermediate stratum of relatively high density high melting point plastic, and exterior stratums of relatively low density, low melting point thermoplastic bonded to the intermediate stratum. Various other embodiments of flexible air cell sheeting are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the production of thermoplastic film air cell cushioning product. The method and apparatus utilize as stock material flexible thermoplastic film formed of a composite of a stratum of relatively high density, high melting point thermoplastic and another stratum of relatively low density, low melting point thermoplastic bonded to the first mentioned stratum.

Abstract: A mixture of oil, mostly finely divided solids, and water (a typical example would be steel rolling mill scale mixture) is one of the feed materials for this process. Most of the water is first drawn off. Then the material is fed through a plurality of mixers, and after each mixer the entire composition is passed through a separator, herein described as a dewetting apparatus, which separates the fine solids from the oil and solvent and returns the expended solvent upstream toward the feed point. The diminished volume of material then passes through a final dewetting screen where the solids are washed by a small stream of fresh solvent and the fine solids then pass through a dryer. All expended solvent is collected and passed through a fractionating still which separates the recovered oil, for storage, and the solvent vapors pass through a condenser to a regenerated solvent storage tank. All of the expended solvent is saved and used over repeatedly.

Abstract: A piston type valve including a valve body having a horizontally disposed fluid flow passageway with an inlet at one end of the passageway and an outlet at the other end of the passageway. A valve piston is mounted in the body for selective vertical movement to and away from the passageway inlet and outlet to selectively close and open the passageway and control fluid flow therethrough. A debris holding tank is disposed on the valve body below the fluid flow passageway and is in fluid flow communication therewith. The passageway outlet has its bottom portion disposed higher than the bottom portion of the inlet whereby debris contained in the fluid flow through the passageway strikes the outlet bottom portion and falls into the tank. The valve piston is cylindrical and is mounted on vertical guide rods to guide the piston in its vertical movement and to prevent it from turning in a horizontal plane.

Abstract: A liquid level valve for use in filling a liquid storage tank to control (in response to increased air pressure within the liquid level valve) the tank emergency loading valve which is held open by pressurized air.The liquid level valve has an air control cavity connected to the pressurized air and an actuating cavity which exhausts to the atmosphere and is disposed above the air control cavity and connected to it via an actuating passageway. An air control diaphragm divides the air control cavity into upper and lower portions and controls the flow of pressurized air into such lower portion which exhausts to the atmosphere. The air control diaphragm has a small air control passageway (of smaller diameter than the actuating passageway) allowing pressurized air into the air control cavity upper portion, thus permitting the pressurized air to act on both sides of the air control diaphragm.

Abstract: A containment reservoir for a liquid, such as petroleum oil, comprising, a walled ground containment space or pit, opening upwardly, with the space containing a liquid impervious flexible liner generally following the contour of the space, and with the liner comprising a layer of pervious fabric material having on at least one of its sides a layer of liquid impervious material, such as rubber, the liner being operable to prevent escape of liquid through the liner from the containment space; means are provided coacting with the liner covered containment space for removing liquid from the reservoir. A covering layer of pervious fabric material filters anything, including liquid, passing into the reservoir. A method of forming the reservoir from predetermined width strips of liner stock, and a method of retaining and salvaging oil spilled along a railroad track environment is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel system especially designed for use with an internal combustion engine or the like in which fuel system is operable therewith to provide fuel fumes or vapor to the engine from a source of liquid ignitable vaporizable fuel, such as gasoline, of sufficient quantity whereby to significantly increase the efficiency of the engine and thus substantially increase the per gallon mileage rate for the engine when used in an automotive vehicle or the like, and one using liquid fuel as the original fuel source. The system includes improved means for fuming the liquid fuel.

Abstract: A variable thickness fabric mat for use at a stress transition zone juncture such as at a bridge-roadway juncture or a railroad crossing-roadway juncture, for more evenly spreading the stress forces from traffic thereover to the underlying support surfaces. The variable thickness mat is preferably formed of non-woven fabric and is of variable thickness in a direction lengthwise of the mat as well as in a direction transverse of the mat.

Abstract: A sealing device for a balloon comprising a thin deformable strip of foil attached to a flexible balloon retainer line, with the strip being of a thickness that it may be readily wound about the neck of the inflated balloon by one's fingers and when in such position being self sustained in such wound condition, to prevent the escape of air or gas through the balloon neck portion, while at the same time attaching the retainer line to the balloon. The foil strip is coated on one side with pressure-sensitive adhesive, one end of the line laid lengthwise on the adhesive and the strip folded to simultaneously form the sealing device and attach the line. The foil may have a thickness of approximately 0.001 to 0.002 inches.

Abstract: A band clamping device including a frame having an elongated planar base and a pair of spaced parallel side walls extending upwardly from the sides of the base. A rotary winding shaft extends transversely across the frame and is rotatably mounted in the side walls. The shaft has ratchet teeth disposed circumferentially around its circumference adjacent one end of the shaft interiorly of the spaced walls to form a ratchet wheel on the shaft. The elongated base has an extension at one end bent over upwardly partially upon itself with a part of the free end of the bent over portion forming a resilient pawl operatively and resiliently engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel for releasably holding the shaft from rotating. A flexible clamping band is provided for encircling an associated object to be clamped and is secured at one end to the base.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for automatically taking monochromatic light absorbance measurements on a plurality of fluid samples such as serum. The fluid samples to be processed are contained in a vessel having a plurality of cuvettes into each of which is disposed a fluid sample to be analyzed and which vessel is on a processing path and moved by a unique drive belt mechanism capable of providing a plurality of movements to the vessel in different directions and selectively to a first position or station whereat the cuvettes in said vessel are washed and evacuated of any unbound materials and then to a second station whereat a reagent is sequentially and serially added to each of the cuvettes, after which the fluid sample in each cuvette is exposed to a monochromatic light absorbance measuring device straddling the track at said second position and a spectroanalysis is made thereof.

Abstract: A containment reservoir for a liquid, such as petroleum oil, comprising, a walled ground containment space or pit, opening upwardly, with the space containing a liquid impervious flexible liner generally following the contour of the space, and with the liner comprising a layer of pervious fabric material having on at least one of its sides a layer of liquid impervious material, such as rubber, the liner being operable to prevent escape of liquid through the liner from the containment space; means are provided coacting with the liner covered containment space for removing liquid from the reservoir. A covering layer of pervious fabric material filters anything, including liquid, passing into the reservoir. A method of forming the reservoir from predetermined width strips of liner stock, and a method of retaining and salvaging oil spilled along a railroad track environment is also disclosed.

Abstract: A high performance speedboat with a planing type hull and incorporating a drive mechanism having a one or two-speed-forward, step-up, V-gear, hydraulic transmission, which connects the engine drive shaft and the propeller shaft in V-drive structure. The propeller shaft extends rearwardly through the boat transom to provide a "thru-drive" system in coaction with a unitary strut and stern steering support assembly for placement on the boat transom. Such assembly includes a planar transom member secured to the boat transom, and a rearwardly extending, generally horizontal, planar structural member secured to the transom member and extending rearwardly of the boat. The structural member is bifurcated and has a pair of spaced rear end portions having rudder support means operatively disposed thereon for receiving rudder assemblies therein. Also provided is a pair of spaced strut support members secured to the assembly and extending downwardly therefrom with each having a propeller shaft support.

Abstract: An electric switch mechanism for portable electric motor drive type tools having a reciprocable contact carrier and a movable electrically conductive bridging contact carried by the contact carrier for making and breaking electrical contact with coacting stationary contacts in the switch mechanism. The bridging contact has a protuberance at each point of contact with the contact carrier to ensure that such contact therebetween at each such point is always at the same spot(s) on the bridging contact when the bridging contact is reciprocated by the contact carrier in either direction.

Abstract: A training or practice device especially designed for use on athletic club type of equipment such as a golf club, tennis racket, baseball bat or the like which is swung to strike a game ball during normal game use and which device is releasably attached to the club, racket or bat and operable to provide an audible and visual indication when the swing of said equipment is proper. The device includes an element that is actuatable to give an audible and visual indication when the swing of the club type equipment has the optimum velocity and power for striking the game ball. The element is manually resettable after each swing of the equipment for subsequent and repeatable use of said equipment whereby the user, by practice, may repeatedly obtain the optimum velocity and power on each swing of the equipment.

Abstract: A fuel system and electronic control therefor which is especially designed for use with an internal combustion engine or the like in which said fuel system is operable to provide fuel fumes or vapor to the engine from a source of liquid ignitable vaporizable fuel, such as gasoline, of sufficient quantity whereby to significantly increase the efficiency of the engine and thus substantially increase the per gallon mileage rate for the engine when used in an automotive vehicle or the like, and one using liquid fuel as the original fuel source. The system incorporates an electronic control operable to monitor the combustion of the vaporizable fuel and which control is responsive to a change in engine demand for said fuel to maintain the optimum ratio of vaporized fuel and air in the mixture delivered to the engine for combustion.

Abstract: The invention is the design of a heat pump and heating and air conditioning system that improves the performance at part loads, and lowers the operating costs by heat storage and/or modulating the output of the system to meet the heating and cooling needs of the building. The invention uses the technologies of refrigeration, thermodynamics, fluid flow, heat transfer, and solid state electronics. The output and electric power requirements of the system are modulated by an electronic controller that can vary the speed of the compressor motor by changing the frequency of the electric power to the motor of the refrigerant compressor. The two most important components of the system, that are an improvement in the state of the art of heat pumps systems, are the design and use of a modulating thermosiphon evaporator (MTSE) and a zoned heat storage system (ZHSS).

Abstract: A new and distinct juniper branch was discovered, from which a number of cuttings were made and rooted, said branch being discovered on an unpatented variety of (parent) juniper plant identified as Juniperus .times. Media.