Abstract: In the representative embodiment of the invention described herein, an adjustable sprinkler for a fire protection system has a sprinkler assembly tube which is mounted for longitudinal movement in a bore extending longitudinally into a component of a fluid supply piping network for the fire protection system. A latching device is resiliently urged into the bore of the component to prevent accidental removal of the sprinkler assembly tube during its longitudinal movement in the bore by releasably engaging the sprinkler assembly tube before it is completely removed from the bore. When the sprinkler assembly tube is disengaged by the latching device, the sprinkler assembly tube can be removed from the bore.

Abstract: A telescopic spring has an outer spring member and an inner spring member movable inward and outward of a cavity in the outer spring member. Fasteners on the spring members outside the cavity permit the spring members to be fastened to respective objects. A compressed gas in the cavity outwardly biases the inner spring member. One of the spring members carries a contact element which engages a conductive face portion of the inner spring member during one portion of the movement of the inner spring member. Insulating matter insulates the contact element from the conductive face portion during another portion of the movement. Two electrical connectors outside the cavity are conductively connected to the contact element and the conductive face portion respectively.

Abstract: A gas spring includes a cylinder having two axial portions of different cross section and two pistons mounted on a common piston rod and respectively matching the cross sections of the cylinder portions. The pistons are spaced on the piston rod so that they are either both in the wider cylinder portion or respectively received in the two portions. A first throttling passage permits flow of fluid between the two cylinder compartments separated by the larger piston, and a second throttling passage by-passes the smaller piston only during movement inward of the smaller cylinder portion to permit flow of fluid out of that cylinder portion. A valve arrangement is biased for sealing the two parts of the cylinder cavity separated by the smaller piston when the latter is in the smaller cylinder portion, but does not move inward of that portion. The valve arrangement responds to a sufficient, axially applied force for connecting the two cavity parts.

Abstract: In the illustrative embodiments of the invention disclosed, a non-aerosol pump includes a housing, a barrel within the housing forming a valve chamber, a pumping chamber within the barrel, a valve gland within the valve chamber for controlling intake and discharge flow to and from the pumping chamber, and a hand or finger-operated plunger for operating the pump. The valve gland has a circular seal lip on its axially outer surface for establishing a circular seal around the opening from the valve chamber to the pumping chamber. As pressure within the pumping chamber exceeds and falls below predetermined limits, the valve gland snaps open and closed, respectively, to provide a sharp on-off spray discharge. The check valve for controlling flow from the container to the pumping chamber may be formed integrally with the valve gland and of the same material or, alternatively, may comprise a ball check valve located within the gland.

Abstract: A workbench of saw-horse height has its top formed by a pair of longitudinally extending top members which form a working surface and which are carried by transverse supports. One of the top members is fixed with respect to the supports but the other is horizontally movable towards and away from the fixed top member to form a vice between the opposed vertical faces of the top members. Adjacent each end the top members are interconnected by screw threaded rods which are restrained against axial movement at their ends adjacent the fixed top members but which are received in nuts connected to the movable top member. The connection of the nut to the movable top member allows independent operation of the screw threaded rods to permit the gap between the vertical faces to be greater at one end than at the other.

Abstract: In the illustrative embodiments of the invention disclosed, the lithology of an earth formation traversed by a well bore is investigated by irradiating the formation with a neutron source and generating an energy spectrum of the activation gamma rays resulting therefrom. From the spectrum thus obtained, the levels of the activation gamma radiation emitted by .sup.27 Mg and that emitted by .sup.49 Ca are determined. The two intensity measurements are then combined, e.g. by forming a cross-plot or ratio thereof, to provide an indication of the lithology of the earth formation and, in particular, of the extent of dolomitization of the formation.

Abstract: An electrolyte solution and the method of using same for electrodeposition of black chromium on a substrate, said solution comprising water, trivalent chromium ions, ions of a metal selected from the group consisting of iron and cobalt, a weak complexing agent for the trivalent chromium ions, and phosphate ions. The preferred complexing agents are hypophosphite or formate.

Abstract: New 1,3-disubstituted propanol-(2) derivatives and their nicotinic acid esters of the general formula ##STR1## and their therapeutically acceptable salts, processes for preparing the same and the use thereof and pharmaceutical preparations containing the same for the treatment of hyperlipemia.

Abstract: The synthesis of L-.gamma.-glutamyl-DOPA (L-.gamma.-glutamyl-L-3,4-dihydroxy-phenylalanine) and its use selectively to increase renal blood flow in mammals.

Abstract: In a process for preparing simulated berries by co-extruding alginate or low-methoxy pectate round fruit pulp, puree or a fruit-flavored solution to give drops coated with the alginate or low-methoxy pectate, damage and inconvenient splashing as drops enter a setting bath of a solution of edible calcium salt is reduced by foaming the surface of the bath. Foaming can be achieved in a preferred form of the invention by bubbling air under the surface of the bath to ensure constant breaking of the surface of the bath.

Abstract: A photocomposing machine and font strip therefor are described which allow type designers to have the flexibility to design typographical characters which are kerned. The photocomposing machine is able to automatically kern those characters which are designed to be kerned. The automatic kerning is accomplished by intentionally offsetting each character's placement on the font strip to the left with respect to the machine's aperture, and providing an optical system in the photocomposing machine which intentionally offsets the projection of the font strip through the aperture of the machine to the right, thereby cancelling the offset of unkerned characters. Kerned characters are placed to the right on the font strip in order to allow the machine's optical system offset to overlap the image of kerned characters on the space normally reserved for the next character.