Abstract: Two longitudinally extending conveyors are connected by a plurality of novel hinge structures for movement between a first position with the two conveyors substantially in line, and a second position with one of the conveyors folded parallel to and on top of the other conveyor. One conveyor called a skate conveyor is referred to as the basic conveyor, while the other shorter conveyor is commonly called a stick conveyor and is herein referred to as the extension conveyor. Each hinge structure comprises a flat coupling hinge leaf generally triangular in shape and having acute apexes respectively one at each end. Each of the hinge structures includes a control link and pivotal connections respectively connected to the basic and extension conveyors, while a control link has a pivotal connection at one end with the hinge leaf near the obtuse apex at one end and is connected to the extension conveyor at its other end.

Abstract: A variable thickness fabric mat for use in railroad track structures, and particularly at stress transition zones in the railroad track; the mat is preferably formed of non-woven, multi-layered fabric, with the layers connected together, as for instance by needle punching to form an integral member. The mats are applicable for use with poor load bearing soils, and form a generally stepped, resilient bed for conventional railroad track structure, to help support and progressively spread the stress from the wheeled traffic, over a wider area. The mats provide for effective passing of runoff water, and aid in drainage of water from the soil beneath the mats, to thus improve the track support. The invention also provides a method of forming a railroad track construction so as to spread the stress from wheeled traffic at stress transition zones, over wider areas.

Abstract: An electrical switch having spaced stationary contacts and a contact carrier carrying a bridging contact in linear reciprocation relative to the stationary contacts, with the bridging contact biased toward the stationary contacts. The bridging contact has spaced opposite contacting ends forming a leading contact end and a trailing contact end for sliding movement between a bridging position where the contacting ends contact their respective stationary contacts, and a non-bridging position where the leading contact end is out of engagement with its stationary contact. The bridging contact is rotatably hinged to the contact carrier and a projection is disposed between the stationary contacts for engagement with the leading contact end for pivoting and lifting the leading contact end from its stationary contact in coaction with the hinged connection with a quick break action during movement of the contact carrier to the non-bridging position.

Abstract: An air-fuel mixing device for mixing solid pulverized fuel with air in preselected ratios prior to combustion including an upstanding hollow tube forming an air-fuel mixing chamber, with a table disposed in the tube intermediate the top and bottom ends thereof whereby the table edges are spaced from the walls of the tube to provide an air passageway therebetween. A fuel feeder feeds pulverized fuel into the top of the tube thence onto the table and off the edges thereof in preselected amounts. A blower feeds pressurized air into the lower end of the tube and then upwardly past the table edges whereby such upwardly flowing air catches the pulverized fuel overflow from the table and mixes therewith to form an air-fuel mixture which is channeled from the tube to associated fuel burners.

Abstract: A car ramp and drip pan assembly for placement under parked motor vehicles to catch fluid and particle drippings therefrom including a rectangular tray for catching the drippings, a pair of elongated racks positioned in the tray parallel to the sides of the tray and upon which the vehicle is driven thus spacing the vehicle wheels above the bottom of the tray so that the wheels do not touch the drippings, and a ramp connected to the entrance edge of the tray enabling easy entry of a vehicle onto the racks. A pair of tire stops is selectively positionable on the racks for stopping the vehicle at a predetermined position on the assembly. The tray perimeter is formed of a continuous upstanding flange to contain the drippings within the tray. The ramp has a transverse slot formed in its underside to coactively fit onto the flange on the entrance edge of the tray. The racks and ramp have their upper surfaces corrugated to provide traction for the vehicle wheels.

Abstract: This invention is an implement for (1) preventing injuries to human knees by absorbing and spreading an external blow and (2) orthopedic procedures for therapy and rehabilitation. The concept is a (A) floating rocker connection axis beside the leg joint, which connects to (B) substantially rigid tongues encased in (C) substantially rigid sleeves fitted to the limbs above and below the rocker connection, appropriately padded for comfortable fit and wrapped with conventional taping. As the leg bends the tongues slide randomly in respective sleeves and the rocker connection adjusts to the pulls and pushes of the tongues, floating with the limb joint's natural hinge. One embodiment employs multiple narrow tongues for differential sliding inside the sleeves for easier more flexible motion in non-contact service.

Abstract: A ceramic multi-layer capacitor which uses specifically formulated electrode inks comprising a mixture of thermoplastic vehicles in combination with finely divided metal powders. The resultant thermoplastic electrode ink can be screen printed onto dielectric ware and immediately laminated, without a drying step. Multi-layer designs may be 50 or more layers wherein the thermoplastic components volatize at an appropriate time/temperature schedule to prevent slumping or delamination and to be chemically compatible with the organic binder components in the dielectric ware.

Abstract: A fabric of amorphous silica is provided having greatly improved life for bag collectors at high temperatures. This is accomplished by applying a thin coating of gold on the amorphous silica fibers of which the fabric is made. The gold is non-reactive at high temperature and has sufficient lubricity to lubricate the fibers and prevent abrasion of adjacent fibers by each other. The gold coating additionally helps protect the amorphous silica fibers from devitrification. An additional coating of indium may also be applied to form a liquid film at high temperature for increased lubrication. The coating may be applied by dipping or spraying the fabric.

Abstract: A fluid powered compression molding press or the like in which members such as platen members are movable relatively toward one another to develop high pressures therebetween, such as for instance forming a workpiece or work material in a compression die, and including means for compensating for tilting movement of the movable member relative to the other member by creating a force moment acting on the movable member in a direction opposite to the direction of tilting movement. The compensating means includes leveling units adapted for engaging coaction with the movable member and coupled into a closed fluid system including slave units and a control unit operatively connected together, whereby the control unit operates to generate reaction pressure in the respective leveling unit via the respective of said slave units.

Abstract: A filter is disclosed for removing loose particles carried in a liquid stream such as loose paper particles in a bottle washing machine. An outer tank surrounds an inner rotatable finely perforated drum mounted on an axial shaft running throughout the drum and tank. The shaft is hollow with spaced perforations and a back-wash liquid may be passed through the shaft to wash away small paper particles which may stick to the drum after an operation of the filter cycle. The contaminated liquid enters the outer tank near one end and passes along the length of the drum and through the perforated periphery thereof then out a clear discharge opening at a far end of the device.

Abstract: A rotationally molded hollow article and a process for molding such an article, wherein the article is formed of a mixture of plastic pellets and powder both of which are copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, having a predetermined range of pellet to powder mixture ratio, and with such mixture having a predetermined melt index range, the article being characterized by having substantial "bounce" characteristics generally equivalent to those possessed by hollow, non-cellular articles made of known thermoplastic compositions or known rubber-like compositions of natural and/or synthetic polymers, as well as those possessed by solid cellular articles made from other known thermoplastics or from known rubber-like compositions of natural or synthetic polymers.

Abstract: A cushioning dunnage producing and handling mechanism which is of relatively compact nature utilizing a multiply roll of sheet-like stock material, such as paper. As the stock is pulled off the composite roll, the edges are rolled inwardly in a longitudinally convergent chute, into generally superimposed condition. Pusher means urges the sheet-like stock material laterally toward a confronting surface of the chute. Then the inwardly rolled stock is passed into a crumpler section where mechanism attach together the confronting portions of the rolled edges of the stock material generally centrally, in a direction lengthwise thereof, to retain the dunnage product in highly compressible, lightweight pad-like form. A transfer vehicle is adapted to coact with the dunnage producing mechanism for storing a preselected amount of the pad-like dunnage product on the vehicle, whereupon the vehicle can be moved to a location distant from the dunnage producing mechanism for use at the distant location.

Abstract: An adjustable manhole cover support structure including a peripheral frame adapted for placement in the opening of a manhole housing, a peripheral manhole adjusting ring portion disposed on the frame, and a lateral support ring portion disposed on the adjusting ring. The adjusting ring portion has a peripheral inner seat for receiving the manhole cover. The lateral support ring portion is formed as a unit with the adjusting ring portion and projects generally rigidly upwardly therefrom to restrain the adjusted and elevated manhole cover against lateral movement relative to the frame.

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 curvettes 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 thence 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 weather instrumentation station including a louvered instrument housing containing weather instruments. An exterior double-walled housing radiation shield is disposed over the instrument housing in spaced relation thereto to shield the instrument housing from the sun. A double-walled auxiliary shield may be positioned over at least one open side of the housing shield in spaced relation thereto to shield sun rays from the instrument housing on such open side. The housing shield and the auxiliary shield inner walls are formed of thermoplastic or aluminized asbestos material, and the outer walls of stainless steel. The housing shield roof is peaked to forestall accumulation of water and snow thereon. The instrumentation station may have a chimney to increase interior air circulation.There is also provided a rainwater gauge including a rainwater receiving flask with a funnel disposed over the flask to channel rainwater therein.

Abstract: This application presents a method and apparatus for arranging and combining bottles standing on end which includes feeding a miscellaneous collection of the bottles toward a conveyor, receiving the bottles and conveying them in a direction along plural parallel paths spaced apart less than the diameter of the bottles, nudging the bottles toward these paths as the bottles move along, then guiding the bottles laterally inward of the parallel paths and again nudging the bottles onto the laterally inward paths.

Abstract: A portable tool and associated method for exerting crimping-like pressure on a tubular-like object, such as a boiler tube or the like, for deforming the latter from the exterior thereof, in order to diminish its peripheral dimension and facilitate its removal from secured relation to a boiler drum or the like; the tool comprises a frame with a power unit coacting with the frame and having a force applying head coupled to the power unit for applying a crimping force along an area running generally lengthwise of the exterior of the tubular-like object, when the latter is held between the frame and the head.

Abstract: Cleaned bottles, as from a bottle washing machine, travel along a path carried by conveyor in a predetermined orientation evenly spaced, one bottle from another. The carrier moves the bottles from a generally horizontal position to a position approaching the vertical at which time the bottle will slide out of its usual receptacle. At the bottle discharge point, a rotatable generally helical structure is provided made of spaced rods and this device carries one or more shoes, each shoe arriving at the specified point in time with the discharge of a given bottle from the arrangement of bottles in the bottle carrier. Guided by the shoe, the bottle then is lowered by the helical structure to land in an upright position on a receiving platform. The generally helical structure is so arranged that after a bottle is deposited on its platform, the rod structure, or similar structure pushes the bottle outwardly away from the machine onto its receiving conveyor.

Abstract: A hardy, evergreen azalea which is also suitable for forcing, having vivid pink blossoms and variegated foliage.