Abstract: A floor includes a substrate and an image, with the image being visible from above the floor. The image is formed on a carrier sheet that is embedded within a coating disposed upon an upper surface of the substrate. The coating is substantially translucent and is highly durable. The carrier sheet becomes substantially invisible when embedded in the coating such that the image remains visible from above the floor and appears to be embedded therein. An associated method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved fastener driving machine includes a driver, a support, a gear mechanism, an indexing apparatus, and a head. The head is movable among a plurality of positions with respect to the driver. The machine is advantageously structured to provide a substantially constant level of torque to a delivery point on the head independent of the position of the head with respect to the driver. The gear mechanism and the indexing apparatus are both disposed on the support, with the result that the mechanical operations of the gear mechanism are separate from the mechanical operations of the indexing apparatus. The indexing apparatus includes a number of tapered first teeth and a number of tapered second teeth that are securable to one another in a number of configurations to permit the head to be movably indexed to a number of positions with respect to the driver.

Abstract: An improved detectable spool for use with a ribbon includes an improved hub which includes a core and an indication member. The indication member is a generally planar metallic member that is substantially embedded in the core, with the indication member including a support and a plurality of tabs. In at least one embodiment the indication member is a monolithically formed single-piece member, while in another embodiment the indication member is a multi-component member.

Abstract: A painting apparatus includes a conveyor having incrementally spaced attachment structures configured to secure objects thereon for painting and being movable to move the attachment structures between consecutive incremental positions in a downstream direction. The distance between consecutive incremental positions is generally equal to an incremental spacing between consecutive attachment structures. A washing station is disposed beneath the conveyor and is operable to clean objects disposed therein. A painting station downstream of the washing station includes a paint reservoir disposed beneath the conveyor and which contains a volume of paint. The reservoir can be raised to dispose the object within the volume of paint and lowered to thereby allow the object to be conveyed downstream from the painting incremental position. A heating station downstream of the paint reservoir applies heat to objects in a heating incremental position.

Abstract: A method of constructing a wall form and of forming a wall includes employing a modular concrete form system having a clamping device to clamp adjacent modular form members to one another. The clamping device includes an elongated bar, a pair of clamps mounted on the bar, and a pair of clip assemblies mounted on the bar, the bar being shaped to complementarily engage the perimeter frames of the modular form members. The jaws of the clamps retain the perimeter frames of the adjacent modular form members against the bar, which clamps the form members to the bar and retains them in a flush orientation with one another. The clip assemblies each having a slidable tie clip formed with an opening for receiving a portion of a tie therein. The tie is tapered and is nominally of a circular cross section and formed with a plurality of spaced groves at the alternate ends thereof.

Abstract: A modular sensor apparatus for detecting the location of a movable track point includes a primary sensor and a secondary sensor disposed on a sensor mount that is movable with respect to a frame that is mounted on a switch machine. The secondary sensor is offset from the primary sensor in order to permit the secondary sensor to detect the need for imminent readjustment of the track point prior to the time at which the track point becomes maladjusted and in need of immediate readjustment. The sensor mount is threadably adjustable with respect to the frame, whereby once the primary sensor has detected the position of the movable track point when it is disposed against a fixed stock rail, the sensor mount can be moved a fixed threshold distance by rotating a thumbwheel a fixed number of turns.

Abstract: A reinforced composite material includes a laminate panel adhered to a strengthening panel with a layer of adhesive that is interposed therebetween. The strengthening panel includes a reinforcement embedded therein, and may be in the form of a sheet of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP). The layer of adhesive can include a coating of a contact adhesive applied to each of the laminate panel and the strengthening panel, or can be in the form of a hot melt glue or an epoxy adhesive. A method of forming the reinforced composite material includes forming the laminate panel, forming the reinforcing panel, and adhering the laminate panel to the reinforcing panel with a layer of adhesive. The adhering step can include applying and curing a layer of hot melt adhesive, applying coatings of a contact adhesive to the laminate panel and the reinforcing panel, and applying an epoxy adhesive, and/or other steps.

Abstract: A modular sensor apparatus for detecting the location of a movable track point includes a primary sensor and a secondary sensor disposed on a sensor mount that is movable with respect to a frame that is mounted on a switch machine. The secondary sensor is offset from the primary sensor in order to permit the secondary sensor to detect the need for imminent readjustment of the track point prior to the time at which the track point becomes maladjusted and in need of immediate readjustment. The sensor mount is threadably adjustable with respect to the frame, whereby once the primary sensor has detected the position of the movable track point when it is disposed against a fixed stock rail, the sensor mount can be moved a fixed threshold distance by rotating a thumbwheel a fixed number of turns.

Abstract: An improved railroad switch apparatus includes a switch machine, a locking system lug, a detection system lug, a lock rod connecting rod, a point detector connecting rod, and a pair of movable rails. The locking system lug is mounted on a pair of lock rods of a switch machine, and the detection system lug is mounted on a point detector rod of the switch machine. The locking system lug includes a groove that receives the lock rod connecting rod and that permits a slight degree of pivoting therebetween while remaining securely mounted thereto. Similarly, the detection system lug includes a groove that receives the point detector connecting rod and that permits a slight degree of pivoting therebetween while remaining securely mounted thereto. The locking system lug and the detection system lug each include a pair of opposed convex retention surfaces formed on the groove thereof.

Abstract: A spectral dispersion device includes a transmission member formed of a translucent material and formed with an image surface, a reflection surface, and a dispersion surface. The image surface includes an image that receives a ray of visible light therethrough and into the interior of the transmission member, with the ray of light being reflected off the reflection surface within the interior of the transmission member and being dispersed through the dispersion surface to display a light pattern in the form of a spectrally-dispersed representation of the image. The light pattern is visible from the exterior of the transmission member by an observer and varies according to the position of the observer with respect to the dispersion surface.