Abstract: A steering mechanism for a boat utilizing a hull which is provided with a rudder apparatus. The rudder apparatus has an end portion extending outwardly from the boat hull with top and bottom portions. The rudder apparatus may be turned or flipped transversely relative to the boat hull and/or twisted such that the top portion of the rudder apparatus and the bottom portion of the rudder apparatus are moved transversely and oppositely relative to one another.
Abstract: A knee brace utilizing first and second brace members and first and second elements which are interlinked to one another. The first and second brace members are adapted for attachment to the femoral and tibial regions of the leg. The first and second brace members each include a first and second second portion. The first element pivotally connects to the first brace member at a first pivot and to the second brace member at a second pivot. The second brace member also pivotally connects to the second element at a third pivot. The second element pivotally connects to the first brace member at a fourth pivot. The first and second elements may sandwich or bracket the first and second brace members, which are generally positioned in a coplanar relationship. Position of the first brace member relative to the second brace member permits selected translation between these brace members.
Abstract: A rotary engine having an epitrochoidal engine component and a supercharger component connected to the engine component by a variable transmission, the engine component having valve plugs for varying the effective displacement of air compression according to engine load and speed, the engine component having a regional combustion chamber design and fuel injection system designed to improve the timing and completeness of combustion.
Abstract: A bar puller for a numerically controlled turret lathe having a mounting member for mounting the bar puller to one of the stations of a rotary turret on the lathe, the bar puller having a pair of gripping jaws that are pivotally mounted between clevis plates on pivot pins and biased by a plurality of compression springs, the jaw blocks carrying adjustable gripping members that engage the end of a bar stock and draw the bar stock in the chuck on displacement of the turret carriage with the gripping jaws being released by further displacement of the turret carriage after a chuck has been secured on the stock.
Abstract: A thermal engine utilizing a positive displacement rotary expander and preferably a positive displacement rotary compressor in conjunction with an external substantially steady-state thermal source, such as a continuous fuel combustor, the external source heating a high pressure gas that is directed from the thermal source to the rotary expander wherein the gases expand driving a rotor in the positive displacement rotary engine before discharge.
Abstract: A raceway for guiding containers relative to a structure utilizing a yoke which is anchored to the structure. Elongated rods are each fastened in spaced relationship to the yoke structure by a clamp. The clamp includes a body portion with a slot for holding each of the rods while extending a portion of each of the rods beyond the body of the clamp.
Abstract: A method and composition for chip sealing a roadway utilizing a coating containing a parent binding material. Stone chips are then spread onto the parent binding material to form a composite having an upper surface. A liquid composition is then applied over the upper surface of the composite. The liquid composition includes an emulsion of liquid asphalt, a lignosulfonic acid salt, and water.
Abstract: An improved doctor-blade assembly for a flexographic press having an ink metering roller, in which the doctor-blade assembly includes an ink fountain having elastomer seals to improve end sealing of the ink fountain and to improve division of the fountain into discrete sections without cross bleed of different inks, and in which the assembly includes protective guard boots on an actuating mechanism that displaces the ink fountain into operating position with an ink metering roller to prevent crusting of ink in the actuating mechanism, affecting alignment of the assembly in the operating position.
Abstract: A method of protecting the finish on a vehicle employs the immersing of a sheet of waste cellulose fiber material in an aqueous bath to render the sheet of cellulose fiber material pliable. A form in the shape of a portion of the vehicle to be protected is provided and the sheet of pliable material is placed over the form. The pliable cellulose material is dried to add rigidity to the same in the form of a shield. The finished shield is then placed on a vehicle to protect the finish characteristics such as exterior paint, trim, glass, and the like.
Abstract: A device for harvesting fruit for biological entities such as a tree or bush utilizing a frame member. The frame member includes a first cutting edge portion and a second cutting edge portion which is linked to the frame member. The first and second cutting edge portions are positioned adjacent one another and form a converging channel which is capable of severing attachment of the fruit attached to the tree. Handle means is also included for permitting the user to grip the frame member and capture fruit in the channel portion formed by the first and second cutting edges.
Abstract: A nitrogen test kit for determining the relative level of nitrogen of a user who is involved in a health program where diet and exercise are monitored and adjusted for optimizing physical development, the kit including a plastic stick having a reagent zone on which is included a reactant such as urease, and a pH indicator such as bromthymol blue, used in conjunction with color chart blocks representing a range of urea nitrogen concentrations, wherein the user's urine nitrogen content can be determined by comparing the altered color of the reagent zone of an exposed test strip to the color chart and compared with a personal baseline level, developed from a number of tests under controlled conditions, for determining the present protein nitrogen turnover and approximate balance.
Abstract: An intraocular lens utilizing an optical portion which is capable of vision correction. The optical portion connects to a flexible body which includes a fissure permitting said flexible body to unravel into to an element having a relatively narrow transverse dimension. The flexible body is also capable of reforming into a substantially unitary element having a relatively large transverse dimension.
Abstract: A gas turbine blade unit for use in a blade assembly in a gas turbine engine having a combustion chamber in which fuel and air are burned to produce combustion gases, the turbine blade assembly having internal channels for mixing liquid and air within the blade unit for discharge as a vapor-air mixture into the combustion chamber.
Abstract: A nut cracking machine constructed to crack nuts of different size in a continuous operation is provided, the machine having first and second disks that are spaced apart with opposed tapered faces forming a narrowing gap therebetween, the first disk being rotated on a first axis and the second disk being rotated together with the first disk on a second axis slightly skewed from the first axis such that the face of one disk is oblique to the face of the other disk and when rotated together, the gap between the faces of the disks has a wide sector and a narrow sector. The machine includes a feed mechanism to feed nuts of different size to the space between the disks where the space is widest, the nuts advancing between the tapered faces until the nuts are engaged by the disks and are then transported to where the gap narrows, the disks compressing the nuts therebetween and cracking the shells.
Abstract: A resistance mechanism for exercising equipment that includes a frame structure on which is mounted a positive-displacement rotary pump, the pump having a housing with a rotor that pumps fluid through a closed circuit which includes a reservoir and conduit leading to the pump and conduit leading from the pump to the reservoir. The pump rotor is connected to an actuator for rotating the rotor and pumping fluid through the circuit with the circuit having a valve to constrict the conduit leading from the pump to vary the force required to pump fluid through the closed circuit.
Abstract: An improved engine block and crankshaft bearing assembly with an arrangement of the engine block and the bearing assembly that simplifies casting of the engine block, with the block having cylinders and a crankcase with opposed spaced support structures in the crankcase for mounting thin profile, forged steel upper bearing caps between adjacent cylinders with the upper bearing caps spanning the spaced support structures and coupling to conventional bearing caps for at least the main bearings of the crankshaft between the end bearings.