Abstract: Disclosed are a closure construction for a container, such as a steel drum, embodying a flange member having an internally threaded opening adapted to be closed by an externally threaded cap, the flange member having an integral flange portion that is firmly secured in an offset portion of the container wall by means of spaced protuberances at the outer edge of the flange portion that are tightly engaged by the offset portion of the container wall, the protuberances being formed in the flange portion while the container wall adjacent the flange portion is secured against deformation, so that formation of the protuberances causes deformations of the container wall at and around the protuberances which firmly lock the flange member in place by engagement with the protuberances. Also disclosed are a method of making the closure construction, and apparatus for making it.

Abstract: A golf distance indicator system provides a measurement of the distance between a golfer and the green which he is approaching. The system comprises a base unit mounted at or near the pin on the green and a remote unit carried by the golfer. Upon command, the remote unit transmits a radio pulse to the base unit. The base unit immediately returns an acoustic or sonic signal, preferably an ultrasonic signal, in response to the received radio pulse. The remote unit includes internal logic for determining the distance from the base unit to the remote unit from the time interval between the transmission of the radio pulse and the reception of the ultrasonic signal based upon the speed of sound waves through air. The remote unit also receives input wind conditions and determines range and direction corrections to the actual distance based upon these wind conditions. From the wind corrected distance, the remote unit automatically selects the proper club for the next shot.

Abstract: Stereoscopic patterns are disclosed which have a multiplicity of representations on a backing, with the representations spaced apart in substantially horizontal rows. The spacing between pairs of adjacent representations is varied to produce a stereoscopic effect. The resulting pattern is continuous, eliminating the ghost images associated with prior art stereoscopic pictures. The representations may be identical, may be varied shapes formed of identical elements, or may be a sequential series of perspective views of the same subject. The patterns may be viewed stereoscopically in either of two manners: by diverging or straightening one's line of vision while holding the pattern relatively close, or by converging or crossing one's line of vision while holding the pattern relatively far away. When viewed in the first manner, the patterns simulate distance vision while being held close-up, providing relaxing viewing to the eyes of one engaged in close work.

Abstract: A housing for an elongated opening such as a cylindrical passage which has a portion subject to severe conditions such as abrasion, heat, pressure, wear or corrosion which tend to deteriorate the wall of said opening, has a replaceable sleeve in the opening only at the portion exposed to such severe conditions. The housing, illustrated as a metal barrel for a plastic injection molding apparatus, has an elongated aperture or bore having a cross section larger than the desired cross section of the passage. A metal tubular inner sleeve defining the passage is held in the bore of the housing by a tight fit. The sleeve has at least one groove extending longitudinally on the exterior of the sleeve which forms a cavity with the housing wall. The end of the groove at at least the exposed end of the sleeve is closed by a closure portion or ridge. The sleeve can be removed by drilling a hole through the closure portion to permit access to the groove cavity and permit introduction of explosive material into the cavity.

Abstract: A load indicator is disclosed which has a spring washer portion and two levers. As the washer portion is deflected under compression, the levers deflect and amplify the deflection of different sections of the washer portion. The levers are mounted such that they deflect toward each other as the washer portion is compressed. The position of the levers is calibrated so that the tips of the levers are aligned when a predetermined load is placed on the washer portion, providing an easy and accurate visual and tactile indication of the attainment of the predetermined load level.

Abstract: A portable lightweight angle grinder is disclosed having a motor housing with a handgrip and throttle lever, a rotary air motor driving a motor spindle, an elongated air-cooled tubular extension housing adjustably mounted on said motor housing, a work spindle near the end of said extension, toothed pulleys on the work spindle and the motor spindle, and an endless neoprene belt within said extension housing with teeth that mesh with the teeth of said pulleys. The unique toothed belt drive requires no lubrication, operates efficiently at speeds up to 25,000 revolutions per minute and at least twice that normally used in conventional angle grinders using gear drives, and can be maintained in service at a fraction of the cost of the prior devices.

Abstract: A sign holder is disclosed which has a generally flat base of resilient material and two projections thereon. The first projection has a convex, sloped side surface, and the second projection has a corresponding concave, sloped side surface spaced from the convex side surface of the first projection. An arcuate wedge-shaped trough is formed between the side surfaces of the projections. The edge of a sign card or board is inserted in the trough and removably held upright thereby. The wedge shape of the trough and the resilient material of the base combine to firmly grip the edge of the sign card.

Abstract: A work-supporting device such as a sawhorse that is light and strong and which can be easily assembled and knocked down into a compact form without requiring any screws, bolts, clamps or similar fastening devices. The sawhorse has a cross beam with vertical, rectangular, hollow recesses extending from its bottom side into which at least two pairs of legs may be inserted. The legs are shaped so as to provide a wedging fit within the recesses and an interlock is also provided between the legs and the cross beam so that the legs remain securely in place, although they can be readily inserted and removed. The sawhorse preferably is made from a structural foam thermoplastic material having sufficient strength that the sawhorse is capable of supporting heavy loads. The material will not rot, splinter, warp or rust.

Abstract: Baling apparatus is disclosed which is capable of baling waste material which is not shredded prior to being fed into the baler. The apparatus includes an enlarged baling chamber with two reciprocal baling heads moving in perpendicular direction, each having a shearing blade fixed thereto which engage each other and a blade fixed to the side wall of the chamber to shear off material extending above the baling chamber.

Abstract: A plant package is disclosed which protects and maintains the plant during shipment, storage and display and which permits the marketing of plants through self-service outlets. The package has an outer light-transmissive plastic container which is generally prismatic-shaped with a polygonal cross section. The container has generally flat rectangular side panels connected by upright supporting seams. The container is hermetically sealed, and preferably inflated. Within the container, there is a flexible closed bag which contains the plant roots and soil. The soil bag has holes therein for the transmission of moisture from the bottom of the container to the plant roots.

Abstract: Apparatus for charging material into a shaft furnace, such as a blast furnace. The apparatus includes gas lock means for introducing charge material into the furnace while the furnace is under gas pressure, and distributor means below the gas lock means that causes charge material to be deposited and distributed in the upper portion or throat of the furnace either toward the outer periphery of the cross section in the furnace bounded by the interior surface of the furnace wall or toward the center of such cross section, or in both places, to provide an upper surface or stockline or charge material that is essentially level or of any other desired shape within substantial limits.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making flexible rubber tubing with axially spaced annular or helical corrugations. A sleeve of uncured vulcanizable rubber is slipped over a forming mandrel and an external form comprising a length of flexible, corrugated, axially compressible rubber tubing is positioned over the sleeve. The interior wall of the external form defines a shaping surface for use in forming embryonic corrugations in the sleeve. The sleeve is radially expanded into the shaping surface and the form and sleeve are axially compressed concertina-fashion to increase the radial dimensions of bulged portions of the sleeve between the corrugations of the external form to make embryonic corrugations in the sleeve. The sleeve and external form are then removed from the forming mandrel and the sleeve is placed on a curing mandrel with the corrugations at desired spacings, after which the sleeve is cured.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for continuously, evenly and uniformly coating one side only of a moving strip of material, such as steel, with molten zinc or other fluid coating material while effectively preventing the coating material from contacting the opposite side of the moving strip.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device used primarily, but not exclusively for splitting logs.The purpose of the device is to provide a means for splitting wood into a usable dimension by expanding a bellows type membrane using a low pressure medium source under a restrained log forcing it into a set of shearing blades.

Abstract: A filling tube for use in a container filling machine in which the tube is vertically disposed within a container as the container is being filled with a liquid. The lower end of the tube is adapted for insertion downwardly into the container and the upper end of the tube is provided with means for attachment to the filling machine. The lower end of the tube has an externally threaded portion with a pair of annular sealing portions, one sealing portion on either side of the threaded portion. A protective end tip member formed of a soft, low moisture absorbent material is secured to the lower end of the tube. The soft tip member minimizes damage to glass containers as the filling tube is inserted into the container. The tip member has an internally threaded portion which engages the externally threaded portion of the tube to secure the tip to the tube.

Abstract: There is disclosed a baling apparatus particularly suitable for baling bagasse and similar materials. The apparatus includes a baling chamber formed by a frame having a floor and enclosing sides. A baling head within the chamber is reciprocal between a retracted position and an advanced position, and a ram means connected to the baling head reciprocates the head between its advanced and retracted positions. A support member is mounted on the frame behind the retracted position of the baling head. Anchored at one end in the support member is a mandrel having its other end extending through clearance in the baling head and extending into the baling chamber. The apparatus produces bales having a longitudinally extending opening which tends to prevent the decomposition and decay of the baled material, such as bagasse.

Abstract: A continuous deep hydrogenation coal liquefaction process is disclosed wherein a slurry of powdered coal or other carbonaceous material in a recycle solvent is passed with hydrogen through a hydroextraction unit, the heavy coal extract remaining after removal of gas and oil is then fed into a low-temperature fluidized-bed pyrolysis unit, and the char and ash is fed from the pyrolysis unit to a high-temperature fluidized-bed char gasification unit. The gasification unit is specially constructed to provide continuous ash agglomeration and has a funnel-shaped grid plate at the bottom of the fluidized bed and an elutriation leg of reduced diameter at the bottom of the grid plate. Air or oxygen is introduced near the top of the elutriation leg to provide a high temperature such that the ash particles are continuously softened and caused to accrete or agglomerate in a hot spouting zone at the base of the grid plate.

Abstract: Bale tying apparatus for use with a continuous extrusion reciprocating baler and comprising tie wire dispensing and guide means on opposite sides of the baler and wire pullers, twisters and cutters all on the same side of the baler. The wire pullers extend from one side to the other of the baler through slots in the baling head and engage wires on the other side and pull them to the one side and together with the wire extending therealong. The pullers position both wires adjacent the twisters and cutter. The twisters turn in opposite directions to produce twisted joints in the tie wires.

Abstract: A portable fluorescent light utilizing a fluorescent tube mounted in an elongated transparent tubular plastic housing with protective end caps. A power cord with associated ballast is used to connect the unit to a power source. Sockets for the fluorescent lamp are mounted on special socket supports inserted in each end of the housing. The socket supports are each in the form of an elongated metal strip bent into a four-legged generally rectangular shape.

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus for introducing particulate material, such as finely divided coal, into a vessel, such as a coal gasifier, having a gas pressure different from atmospheric pressure, comprising a gas lock chamber having at each of its feed and discharge ends an openable and closable material-holding valve below which is a movable openable and closable gas sealing valve, and means below the gas sealing valve for clearing away particulate material from the space through which the sealing valve moves from its opened position to its closed position, to insure that a tight gas seal can be achieved. Also disclosed is a gas valve having a seat radially spaced from the conduit through which material is distributed, to aid in gas sealing. Systems are also disclosed for automatically controlling the pressure in the gas lock chamber to enable it to act as a gas lock, and the operation of the various material holding and gas sealing valves, and clearing means.