Abstract: A shock and overload relieving pawl structure for driving and indexing operations in which the pawl element is part of a floating carrier structure having simple and complex multi-angular mobility in coaction with a bi-directional normalizing spring arrangement all operative such that the carrier and its pawl element are capable of multiplex yieldability linearly, angularly or in compound linear and angular displacement from a normal operating position responsive to engagement with or by the working load or mechanism in either driving or indexing action, as in ratcheting, advancing, or arresting gears and analogous toothed and notched members, with capability of relieving adjustment in the event the engaged or controlled member becomes immovable due to malfunction or intentional restraint. The pawl structure may take variant forms for adaptation to gears, levers, slides, etc. in rotary, oscillatory, or reciprocatory action.

Abstract: Mechanism for repositioning one of a set of symbol-displaying spinning reels in game apparatus to change the symbol display. A reel-stepping gear with yieldable jambproof overload-responsive driving components changes the position of the reel by coaction with an associated code disc to step the reel in either direction once per duty cycle of the gear and change the position of the reel by an angular amount equal to the spacing of the symbols thereon, while also releasing the existing reel-indexing mechanism so the reel is free to move and then re-indexing the reel in its new position once in each duty cycle. Free-wheeling of the released reel is prevented during the repositioning operation by an automatic brake. Any number of duty cycles may be initiated to change the position of the reel a corresponding number of steps in a given game cycle.

Abstract: An electronic tuning aid with luminous digital readout adapted by structural and functional features to be operational by placement on the body of string and musical instruments such as the guitar. A shiftable photoelectric probe constituting a unitized component of the device is of an optical character uniquely sensitive to both damped and undamped string vibration of slight amplitude to activate included solid-state counting and translating components affording a numeric display of the frequency of individually selected strings. Steel strings are automatically driven in sustained vibration by an electromagnetic drive system affecting only the selected string and timed by such string in a feedback circuit with the probe.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing paper money or currency bills according to which the bills are lodged in transparent containers fed from a magazine adapted for use in vending, amusement, gaming and other coin-operated or coin-handling machines. The dispensing mechanism is provided with open portions through which the transparent bill containers can be seen through a viewing window in the associated vending-like machine. An electromagnetic dispensing and safety lockout mechanism activates a dispensing gate to release one bill container at a time under control of circuit means in the vending or like associated machine.

Abstract: A mechanical governor and timer of the gear train type operative in combination with cyclically operating mechanisms, particularly game apparatus of the spinning reel type having a repetitious reversal pattern alternating in forward and reverse rotation phases in each duty cycle. Erratic timing and reel machine failure caused by localized gear and bearing wear produced in conventional timers due to the reversal pattern, is eliminated by a form of governor in which the input gear has as a part thereof an input spindle journalled in roller bearings operating in overriding clutch action in the gear hub and adapted for direct coupling with a countershaft component in the game apparatus to render the entire timing gear system unidirectional.

Abstract: An electronic readout assembly in which the readout unit is captured in a frame which is secured in upright display position on a circuit board which in turn is slideably seated in a bracket adapted for utilization mounting, the readout being of the flat plate type having an array of contact prongs projecting from a bottom edge thereof, and the frame having a bottom opening through which the prongs engage with circuit connections on the circuit board. The frame also has open portions which expose the prongs to convenient access for test purposes in a region between the frame and circuit board.

Abstract: Coin handling apparatus operative to pay out selectively presettable numbers of coins and automatically substitute paper money when the number of coins called for exceeds some arbitrary limit whereby risk of depleting the supply of coins by a succession of large withdrawals is alleviated, or alternatively to dispense some predetermined number of coins or an equivalent or other denomination of paper money or tickets depending on the adjustment of a value-setting switch.

Abstract: A coin agitating attachment for use on rotary coin transport discs fed by a coin hopper for coin-dispensing and counting machines. The attachment can be made in several configurations of elastomeric materials each characterized by at least a superficial resiliency of limited stiffness such that any point of impact with or by a coin presents a yieldable contact surface which is nevertheless sufficiently rigid to repel and drive the coins while retaining the original shape or configuration.

Abstract: A grinding machine with a high production rate for pre-pointing drill bodies and the like in automatic duty cycles wherein separate grinding heads and a chuck head are respectively shiftable to and from a working position to grind both ends of the drill body simultaneously. The chuck head includes a special through-feeding rotary chuck which is journalled at its periphery and through which the work pieces are loaded and unloaded sequentially and unidirectionally by a fast-acting loading plunger advancing rapidly in an initial portion of its loading stroke, with completion at a slowed rate for accurate lodgement of the drill bodies with both ends precisely positioned for engagement by the grinding wheels.

Abstract: A high-volume, heavy-duty, magnetically-coupled centrifugal pump having flow-dividing duct configurations directing the influx to opposite sides of the impeller as the result of assembly of mating body sections defining a multi-chambered pump body and including major partitioning web and cavity configurations with cooperative plate means affording certain inflow-chamber, shaft-support, and turbulence-suppressing chamber configurations operative to diminish turbulence volume and also block transfer of turbulence effects from the magnet rotor back to the impeller while permitting liquid to fill into the magnet chamber, the magnet rotor having web and passage configurations operative to force liquid and create pressure behind the rotor to create counterforces opposing certain thrust forces.

Abstract: An automatic grinding machine adapted to cut and relieve spiral drill flutes and perform analogous form-relieving operations requiring helical advance of the work, wherein a linearly-moving carriage travels a rotary spindle and its work chuck relative to a grinding wheel in programmed duty cycles under control of logic circuitry with optional manual override control. Separate electric motors for the carriage and spindle are activated at adjustable speed ratios by digitally set binary drive pulses enabling instant change of helix angle or lead ratios and other working parameters by adjustment of digital switches at a simple control panel. A reversible tool head affords automatic cross-cutting capabilities; and a system of pulse-controlled indexing of the work is provided to increase the production rate of the machine by a method which effects the indexing as a function of the otherwise idle return travel of the carriage for restarting in successive work excursions.

Abstract: Flame supervisory method and apparatus in which a cross-checking relay system is controlled jointly by time-delay factors and a two-state control signal derived from the flame and having respectively pre-flame and flame-responsive polarity characteristics produced by reflexive bias and regenerative amplification and conversion of the basic flame-detection current to a control signal determining either switch-over to full flame burner operation or lock out of the system under ignition failure conditions. The two control states of the converted flame-detection signal are of a self-locking character, the pre-flame state tending to inhibit false response of the relay system to spurious flame signals, and the converted control signal in general being highly discriminative owing to an abrupt, non-linear change in polarity differentiating it from the pre-flame state.

Abstract: An auxiliary fraud-deterrent guard method and means for use with handle-operated reel-spinning mechanisms such as poker, fruit and slot machines which employ a trip lever requiring complete, non-retrogressive movement of the operating handle for initiation of a proper operating cycle, wherein retrogression is prevented by a blocking dog which enters behind the advancing trip lever and is automatically displaced to non-obstructing position by the decoupling action of a pawl which frees the trip lever from the handle at trip-out position. An additional feature provides a simple adaptor means mounting the dog for quick installation on existing equipment.

Abstract: Cylindrical impeller-coupling magnets of the ceramic type in magnetically-coupled centrifugal pumps according to the disclosure are encircled by guard banding to aid in retaining the cylindrical configuration in cases of cracking and fissuring in the magnet body occasioned by exposure to superheated liquids in the impeller chamber. Supplements to the subject: the banding may be characterized as (1) non-metallic or metallic and non-magnetic; (2) multiple narrow bands or a single wide banding embracing the cylindrical aspect of the magnet in its entirety; (3) the cylindrical aspect of a cup-shaped metallic jacket with a bottom portion additionally shielding one axial end of the magnet; (4) the cylindrical aspect of a totally-enclosing encasement; (5) of thin cross section to lie upon the cylindrical surface (6) of moderately thick ring-like stock seating in recessing grooves in the cylindrical surface; (7) in all forms constrained against projection more than slightly into the magnetic air gap.

Abstract: A magnetically-coupled centrifugal type of pump characterized in that the pump housing comprises two members which can be made by molding, for example in plastic, and one of the body members has formed as integral parts thereof two reversely opening magnet wells, one for the inner driven coupling magnet and the other for the outer driving magnet; and the shaft mounting the impeller is footed on either member as an integral part of such member. Supplements to the subject: (1) the shaft may be separable and if so, has a sealing ring seated in a groove in the wall on which it is mounted or in the juxtaposed foot of the spindle; and (2) if the shaft is formed integrally, it may include a long metallic internal warp-preventing member.