Abstract: A small metal shield is disclosed which lengthens the life of the rectangular springs in starter drives for internal combustion engines. The shield has a rectangular face which slightly overlaps the edges of the spring and a projection which seats the shield in the spring between the end of the spring and the cylindrical roller. The projection may be perpendicular to the face or at a slight angle from the perpendicular.

Abstract: An apparatus for uncoupling a threaded joint between a pump or turbine shaft and an impeller using the power of a hydraulic cylinder is disclosed. The apparatus has a housing with a V-shaped upper surface for supporting the end of the pump adjacent the impeller, a vertical support for supporting the opposite end of the pump which is adjustable in height and distance from the housing, and a hydraulic cylinder which is pivotally mounted on the side of the housing remote from the support. The rod of the hydraulic cylinder has attached to it a chain and hook for attachment to the impeller blade.

Abstract: The invention provides a roof tile which is designed in such a way as to interlock and slidingly engage with all surrounding neighbor roof tiles such that lifting of the top tiles from the bottom tiles is prevented. The invention further provides a roofing system comprising these roof tiles. Moreover, the invention provides fastening elements and profiles for securing the roof tiles to purlins.

Abstract: A safety cover plate for electrical outlets is disclosed which has a spring-biased cover plate. The plate slides on short legs which also bias the plate in a vertical direction. The plate slides between an open fixed position, and a closed fixed position.

Abstract: An adjustable food forming device for producing individual patties from foods, such as ground meat and the like and a method for using such device. A circumferential cutting means such as a mold cup containing a patty ejector or mold plate and a thickness adjustment means is provided. The circumferential cutting means has a sleeve connected thereto which extends upwardly from the mold cup. A shaft extends upwardly from the center of the mold plate within the sleeve. The height of the mold plate relative to the base of the mold cup determines the thickness of the patty to be produced. The height is determined by the arrangement of a key protruding from the wall of one of the plunger shaft or sleeve member, the key being slidably engaged in one of a plurality of keyways of differing lengths inscribed in the wall of the other of the sleeve member or plunger shaft.

Abstract: An embryo freezer is disclosed in which the freezing chamber is mounted in the neck of a liquid nitrogen tank. The rate of cooling of the freezing chamber is regulated by adjusting the height of the freezing chamber within the neck of the liquid nitrogen tank. The embryo is stored in a straw which is in turn suspended in liquid methyl hydrate within the freezing chamber. Air is bubbled through the liquid in the freezing chamber to maintain a uniform temperature throughout the freezing chamber.

Abstract: A tool for applying insulating strip such as SWIGGLE STRIP.TM. used to seal double-paned glass is disclosed. The tool has a guide which slides along the edge of the pane and rollers which guide the strip through the tool and press it against the surface of the pane.

Abstract: A railing system which combines wooden posts with an aluminum railing cap is provided. Anchor clips are utilized at spaced locations on the top horizontal wooden rail to secure the aluminum cap and act as a spacer. A post anchor is provided which allows the wooden posts to be readily secured to a horizontal surface.

Abstract: The continuously variable transmission of the present invention comprises a pair of elements such as toroidal discs, spaced from each other and rotatable about a transmission axis and having facing surfaces, a third element rotatable about the transmission axis, having at least one roller rotatably mounted on a portion of the third element between the first and second elements for peripheral surface contact with the facing concave surfaces of the first and elements, and means for shifting the points of contact between the roller and the first element and the roller and the second element so as to change the radii from the transmission axis of the points of contact. Preferably, the discs are the driver elements, and the third element is the driven element.

Abstract: A furnace register humidifier having a rectilinear body formed by a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of end walls. A peripheral lip extends around an open end of the body for supporting the latter from perimeter edges of a floor furnace duct opening. A water trough is formed in an interior of the body extending along a length thereof such that an air flow channel is formed between the trough and a first one of the pair of side walls. The trough is adapted to receive a portion of a water wick extending across the air flow channel. A support is provided for the extended portion of the wick.

Abstract: Novel epoxy-urethane resins are produced by the reaction of a urethane-alkanolamine adduct with an epoxy resin. The urethane-alkanolamine adduct is prepared by reacting a urethane prepolymer with a sterically hindered N-substituted ethanolamine such as t-butyl ethanolamine. The epoxy-urethane resin can be cured using ordinary epoxy curing agents for application as waterproofing membranes, joint sealants, and adhesives. Two-part resin systems comprising epoxy-urethane resins of the invention as the first part, and an appropriate curing agent as the second part avoid disadvantages characteristic of resin mixtures that rely on urethane cure chemistry.

Abstract: A bingo chip comprises a transparent chip body having opposed faces, and a ferromagnetic ring. The ferromagnetic ring extends adjacent substantially the entire outer periphery of the chip body and is affixed between the faces therof, an outer periphery of the ring not extending beyond the outer periphery of the chip body and preferably being flush therewith. A method of making such a bingo chip comprises forming a chip body about a hole in a ferromagnetic sheet followed by trimming of the ferromagnetic sheet flush with the outer periphery of the chip body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a casting positioning apparatus, which is used to position a casting in relation to an upper end of manhole. The apparatus includes a sleeve unit which has open upper and lower ends, and which is moveable in lateral dimensions between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the lower end of the sleeve unit can freely engage with the upper end of the manhole. In the second position, the upper end of the sleeve unit can support the casting in a position mounted on it, while at the same time an engaging section of the lower end of the sleeve unit can frictionally engage against a side of the upper end of the manhole. Such frictional engagement is with sufficient force such that the sleeve and the mounted casting can be supported by such engagement, while allowing the upper end of the sleeve to be moved with respect to the upper end of the manhole. By such means, the casting can be positioned with respect to the upper end of the manhole.

Abstract: A round bale handler comprises a frame with a rear member, and a spike. The spike has a pointed front end to penetrate the round bale, and a rear end pivotally connected to the frame so that the spike is swingable between forward and sideways positions. The spike is of a sufficient length such that a front portion of it can penetrate through the axis of the bale and extend substantially along the entire length of it. Stop means are provided for releasably retaining the spike in the forward position and preventing it from swinging beyond each sideways position. A method of using the handler is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for tightening chains, cables or ropes is disclosed. Previously, turnbuckles or load binders, the latter operating on the principle of the lever, have been used to tighten two ends of a chain or cable around an object, or the ends of two chains which have been secured at their other ends. Such devices are hand-operated and accordingly can only apply limited tension to the chain or cable. The present invention provides a device whereby an air-gun or pneumatic wrench or other power tool can be used to tighten the chain or cable to much greater tension. The device utilizes a threaded bolt which is secured to one end of the chain and which, by the rotation of a threaded socket, is drawn through a sleeve to which the other end of the chain is secured, thereby tightening the chain.

Abstract: A cigarette holder for use on an ashtray consists of two cylindrical rings each mounted on a deformable elastic supporting member. The rings are so spaced as to be displaced by and grip a cigarette placed between them and thereby prevent the cigarette from falling off the ashtray. The use of the cigarette holder in a stackable ashtray configuration in which the upper ashtray unit is screwed into the lower ashtray unit is also shown.

Abstract: A gas safety valve is provided which has a valve chamber within a housing, and a gas inlet and outlet respectively communicating with an inlet and outlet end of the valve chamber. Valve means are disposed in the valve chamber for allowing gas to flow from the inlet to the outlet when the valve means is in an open position, and preventing gas flow when the valve means is in a closed position at either end of the valve chamber. The valve means may comprise a piston having a tortuous gas transmitting opening therein, the resistance to gas flow caused by the tortuous opening rendering the valve means responsive to slight variations in gas pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet. Resilient means are provided which extend between the outlet and the valve means.