Abstract: A claw binder features the provision of groups of pairs of claw halves, which vary in size and are adapted to be removably/interchangeably fixed to a base of the binder in order to selectively accommodate the binder to support stacks of sheet material of substantially different thicknesses.

Abstract: An improved hasp construction is disclosed for use in releasably securing a pair of adjacently disposed closures in a closed condition relative to a closure bounding frame; the hasp including a first plate secured to one of the closures and a second plate hingedly mounted on the first plate for movement between an operative position in which it overlies the second closure and cooperates with a frame mounted staple to releasably secure both of the closures in their closed condition and inoperative position in which it is removed from cooperative association with the staple and arranged to overlie the first closure to permit selective opening movements of the closures relative to one another and the frame.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process and apparatus whereby typically furnished commercially nitrogen tetroxide propellants for rocket engines may be upgraded to decrease flow decay problems and to increase the shelf life of the product; thereby providing for longer duration trouble-free rocket engine performance. The raw MON material is initially converted if necessary to the "Red" type; dissolved iron salts and other dirt particulates are removed by cooling and filtering, and thenceforth throughout the process the material is filtered at each transfer operation. Specific apparatus arrangements are provided for facilitating the process and the end product is of increased purity; whereby upon being furnished to an engine for test or vehicle launching purposes the program may proceed as scheduled and the vehicle may be maintained in space for a longer period of time.

Abstract: A button securing device having a base portion; a standoff post joined to the base portion and formed with a locking slot; and a filament portion joined to the standoff post and adapted to be passed in a single direction through a fabric to which a button is to be attached sufficiently to pull the standoff post through the fabric and position the fabric against the base portion, threaded through holes of the button and finally secured within the locking slot of the standoff post. The height of the standoff post determines the standoff distance or spacing between the button and the fabric.

Abstract: An infinitely variable ratio transmission is disclosed in which the rotary output of the crank shaft of an internal combustion engine is imparted to an output or drive shaft in a stepwise manner via an adjustable speed drive linkage and Sprague clutch arrangement coupled to the crank and output shafts. The output shaft is in turn coupled to the wheels of a vehicle via a direction change or forward/reverse mechanism and gear/differential assembly. Operation of the adjustable speed drive linkage may be controlled by a microprocessor system, which is programmed to control overall engine/transmission operation in a manner promoting maximum fuel efficiency.

Abstract: A drawer or storage unit suspension system having a pair of horizontally spaced, elongated case channels supported by the underside of an enclosure; a pair of drawer rails supported for linear movement by bearings located between the drawer rails and the case channels; an upright drawer support edge on each drawer rail and an open slot at the forward end of each upright for the gravity support of a drawer having side projecting flanges and side lugs resting, respectively, on the upright support edge and the open slot.

Abstract: There is disclosed for use in powering a hoist or the like a pressured fluid powered machine of the rotary vane motor or pump type, improved means for "lifting" and maintaining the vanes in pressure-sealing contact with the wall of the machine casing, and for substantially preventing pressure losses around the ends of the vanes particularly when the machine is starting up and/or operating at low speeds. A pair of resilient "lifting rings" are provided to ride under the vanes at opposite ends thereof and "air cushion" float about specially shaped seals fixed upon opposite ends of the casing, so as to function at all times to maintain the vanes in contact with the machine casing inner wall. The seals operate to prevent fluid leakages via the vane accommodating slots in the machine rotor around the ends of the vanes; thereby providing the machine with a smooth torque output capability at start-up and low operating speeds, such as is of particular importance in hoisting machine systems.

Abstract: There is disclosed a clutch/brake mechanism of the "disc" type wherein the coacting friction producing members are severally configured of frusto-conical and planar form whereby sealing contact is maintained at the peripheral surfaces thereof when in a brake-released condition to thereby prevent entrance of external contaminants into the brake-clutch mechanism.

Abstract: There is herein disclosed an improved system for rapidly filling containers precisely to prescribed load weights with articles of the so-called pellet/pill/tablet type; employing in combination, a high speed bulk-loading means and supplementary loading means operable to "polish off" the finalizing loading operation. Incidental thereto, the supplementary loading means is operated to contribute to the bulk-loading operation.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pneumatic powered hoist wherein the motor driving the load lift wheel is located within a substantially sealed housing which also encloses the hoist gear and brake mechanisms. The motor exhausts into the housing allowing the exhaust to expand and circulate throughout the housing while cooling and lubricating the mechanisms therein and exit through restricted chain guides leading to and from the load lift wheel; the exhaust further expanding and cooling and lubricating the chain. The high pressure, staccato exhausts from the motor are attenuated and muffled interiorly of the housing.

Abstract: An exposure indicator for photographic plate makers including a comparator having a control input, an inverting input and an output; a light emitting diode having its anode connected to the control input for developing a reverse bias signal at said control input in response to illumination from the plate maker light source whereby an output comparator signal is generated when the control input signal exceeds a reference signal at the comparator's inverting input; the output signal forward biasing the light emitting diode to its light emitting state and also fed back to the control input to maintain the light emitting diode in such emitting state; and vacuum operated switch means to provide power to the indicator circuit in response to vacuum actuation of the plate maker flexible blanket.

Abstract: A tool for trimming lapping edge portions of sheet material, such as linoleum, to form a butt seam. The tool includes a roller supported base intended to be moved lengthwise of and in a straddling relationship relative to the overlapping portions; a tool operating handle pivotally supported on the base and fitted with a cutting blade; a lock device for selectively retaining the handle in either blade change or cutting/carrying positions; and an adjustment device for selectively controlling the depth of cut of the blade, while in its cutting/carrying position, such that the depth of cut is independent of pressure applied by an operator to the handle for purposes of effecting movement of the tool lengthwise of the overlapping edge portions during a seam cutting operation.

Abstract: A file cabinet having drawers and doors and an anti-tip lock mechanism that simultaneously locks all closed doors and drawers when in a locking mode and that permits movement of a single drawer from its closed to its open position while simultaneously locking both the remaining unopened doors and all of the other drawers against movement from their closed to their open positions when in an unlocked mode.

Abstract: A wrecker attachment in kit form for mounting on the bed of a truck in rigid relationship with its underlying frame. The wrecker attachment includes a back post assembly for mounting a boom assembly, a floor plate assembly for bracing the back post assembly and positionally locating same on the truck bed, and mounting plate assemblies for clamping the back post and floor plate assemblies relative to the truck bed and rigidly securing same to the truck frame. The construction and method of assembling the wrecker attachment allows same to be accommodated for use with trucks having differing spacings between the channels comprising their frames and/or between such frames and the under side of their beds, as well as for inaccuracies in alignment or centering of such attachment relative to the frame of any given truck.

Abstract: There is disclosed a commodity transport conveyor mounted on a weighing device; the conveyor being powered by a drive roller housing an electric motor. The stator of the motor is fixed to the conveyor frame and the rotor of the motor drives the roller and is in dynamic balance therewith.

Abstract: There is disclosed in a positive expulsion fluid storage tank an improved pressure responsive diaphragm of the rolling inversion type. The diaphragm is of gradually increasing wall thickness advancing from the rim thereof towards the crown portion thereof, and the crown portion of the diaphragm is radially gradated into a thinner mid-crown portion.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for cleaning and passivating stainless steel apparatus used in the manufacture, transport, storage and/or use of nitrogen oxides. The process involves sequentially treating stainless steel surfaces of apparatus which contact a nitrogen oxide, with various solutions, in such manner as to enable the apparatus to substantially maintain the quality of the nitrogen oxide to be manufactured, transported, stored and/or used therein. Thus, for example, the purity of nitrogen tetroxide, used as a propellant for rocket engines and the like, may be maintained longer, the shelf life significantly increased and rocket engine flow decay problems markedly reduced through use of the disclosed cleaning and passivating process.

Abstract: A compact bistable, magnetically operated fuel valve embodies an upper portion comprising a pair of similarly poled and spaced apart permanent magnets defining vertical side walls of an enclosure space which is completed by a pair of pole plates sandwiching the permanent magnets therebetween. The pole plates provide pole faces at their opposite ends and the two sets of pole faces define air gaps. Within the space there is located an armature of plate like form centrally mounted on an upstanding flexure tube. A valve actuating rod is connected at one end to the free end of the flexure tube and projects therethrough downwardly into a valve block. The valve block presents at least one fuel chamber provided with means for supplying pressurized propellant thereto and is provided with oppositely directed fuel outlets to which oppositely directed thrusters are connected.

Abstract: A lock unit incorporates an improved coin counter or mechanism adapted to selectively accommodate the lock unit for operation by one or more coins of a given denomination.

Abstract: A post office locker for use in the delivery of both letters and packages to tenants of a multiple tenant building or the like, wherein packages are stored in appropriately sized storage cabinets to which access may be gained by intended recipients by use of access keys placed by a mailman in the letter boxes of such recipients. Each cabinet is fitted with a latch mechanism permitting recipients to return doors of cabinets from which packages have been removed to locked condition in a manner providing for the "capture" of the access keys until removed by a mailman for subsequent use. Preferably, the doors are fitted with return mechanisms providing for locking of such doors automatically upon return thereof into closed condition.