Abstract: A stud welding system which utilizes a stud welding gun capable of interacting with the stud welding power supply and welding controller in a manner such that the extent and rate of lift, duration of holding and lift position and extent and rate of plunge can be independently varied and controlled over a wide range. The interactive stud welding gun utilizes a stepping motor in the stud welding gun which actuates the gun shaft assembly and its associated chuck carrying the stud to be welded. A transducer associated with the stud welding gun senses the position of the gun shaft assembly relative to the gun body and provides a reference signal therefor. A microprocessor controlled interactive gun control responds to the signal from the tranducer to determine gun shaft assembly position and generates an energization signal for the stepping motor to drive the gun shaft between lift, hold and plunge positions preprogrammed into the interactive gun control.

Abstract: Improvements are disclosed to conventional brake slack adjuster mechanisms of the type which are employed upon heavy equipment such as dump trucks and the like which mechanisms are anchored to the axle of the truck and utilize a worm drive and spline arrangement within an adjuster housing to drive a spline shaft interconnected to the brake assembly to adjust the brakes. The worm drive is driven by a worm drive adjusting bolt which has an adjusting bolt head which interreacts with a spring loaded adjusting bolt head socket lock which may be forced out of disenagagement with the adjusting bolt head to permit adjusting of the brakes by the worm-spline drive arrangement and which adjusting bolt head socket lock upon release engages the adjusting bolt head to lock the adjusting bolt head against misadjustment.

Abstract: Improvements to standard sewing machine cabinets are disclosed which provide for use of an additional sewing machine such as a serger. The improvements include a swivel panel secured to a side panel of the sewing machine cabinet which is hinged so as to swing between a position parallel to and perpendicular to the side panel of the cabinet. A work table is hinged at one end to the top of the swivel panel and can be moved between a folded position when parallel to the swivel panel and in an erected position when in a position perpendicular to the swivel panel. When in erected position, the work table may be swiveled between straight positions in line with the cabinet top to an L position when perpendicular to the cabinet top or alternately folded away in a compact position.

Abstract: A trash container supporting apparatus for supporting a plurality of trash containers permitting separation of different categories of trash for recycling purposes. The supporting apparatus includes a frame and a plurality of trash container supports pivotally interconnected to the trash container frame and adapted to receive and support a plurality of trash containers. The trash container frame further includes an axle and pair of wheels positioned at one end and a combination handle and stand positioned at the opposite end of the trash container frame. The frame may be tilted between a generally vertical position for conservation of space and a horizontal position while the trash containers remain in a generally vertical position to retain the trash.

Abstract: A substitute for tomato puree prepared from the pureed pulp of squash chosen from the group of summer squash and the pureed pulp of peppers chosen from the group consisting of sweet peppers which have ripened to a red color mixed in the ratio of approximately two parts of squash pulp to one part pepper pulp by raw vegetable weight.

Abstract: A sleeper having two pairs of protuberances upstanding from its upper portion, the protuberances of each pair defining between them a rail seat, apertures in the upper wall of the sleeper which extend from the protuberances for a short distance away from the rail seat, four U-shaped clips engaging each sleeper, each U-shaped clip having an upper toe, which bears downwardly on the upper portion of the rail, a heel engaging the upper surface of the sleeper adjacent the relevant aperture, and a lower toe extending through an aperture in the rail and bearing upwardly against the undersurface of a respective protuberance.

Abstract: A combination trash receptacle for storing newspapers and other trash separately which includes a lower newspaper receptacle formed of a receptacle base having a floor and upwardly extending walls for receipt of the newspapers and positioned thereupon an upper trash receptacle having a floor therein and upwardly extending walls and dimensioned so as to nest upon the lower newspaper receptacle. A newspaper slot is positioned within one of the walls of the upper trash receptacle to permit passage of newspapers into the lower newspaper receptacle. A binding twine receptacle receives a ball of twine and dispenses the twine to a shuttle bar operating within a shuttle bar channel within the receptacle base to permit passage of the twine beneath the newspapers to aid in binding of the newspapers when the upper and lower receptacles are separated. An air vent in the back wall of the upper trash receptacle aids in insertion and withdrawal of trash bags.

Abstract: A golf putting practice system is disclosed which includes a spherical ball having the approximate weight and surface resiliency characteristics of a regulation golf ball but of increased diameter (in the range of 2 to 3 inches) but less than the diameter of a regulation golf putting hole and further wherein the surface thereof includes a pattern of dimples of configuration corresponding to that of a regulation golf ball but proportionately larger in accordance with the difference between the incrased diameter of the practice ball and the diameter of a regulation golf ball. The system further includes putting instructions prescribing certain putting drills based upon certain putting principles which drills utilize one or more practice balls to achieve proficiency of certain putting absolutes.

Abstract: A multi-document file folder is disclosed which includes an outer file jacket having front and rear panels and a multi-pocket file folder insert having insert pockets adapted to be positioned within the file jacket. The insert pockets of the insert are of a predetermined depth and are staggered vertically upwardly in a rearward direction to expose the upper edges of the pockets one behind the other. A window within the front panel of the file jacket is provided in alignment with the upper edges of the file folder insert pockets to thus reveal the presence or absence of documents filed within the insert pockets.

Abstract: Valving apparatus for use in automotive vehicles which employ an air pressure system utilizing an air pressure tank, a wet tank interconnected to the air pressure tank for accumulating moisture and a manual valving system for draining moisutre from the wet tank. The manual valve is replaced by an automatic valve which has an inlet port connected to the drain line from the wet tank and an outlet port vented to atmosphere and operable between open and closed positions. The valve actuation means is interconnected to the electrical system of the vehicle and also to the pressure system of the vehicle and is operable to move the valving means to a closed position during operation of the vehicle and to an open position during vehicle shut down to automatically drain moisture from the wet tank while the vehicle is idle.

Abstract: A three sided envelope opening and extraction apparatus and method are disclosed. The envelopes pass from a supply hopper to three envelope slicing devices which open three sides of the envelope and thereafter, the envelopes are disposed into a transport system for conveyance to the opening apparatus with the unopened edge positioned generally downwardly. The opening apparatus includes opposed elongate folder blades which close upon the side panels of the envelope approximately one third of the distance above the unopened edge thereof to clamp the envelope therebetween. An opposed pair of elongate grasping members including suction cups engage the opposed panels of the envelope above the folder blades and pull the opposed panels downwardly and tautly against the folder blades to provide a deformed and permanent crease in the envelope panels along the folder blade edges whereupon the folder blades and grasping members release the envelope panels and are withdrawn away from the envelope panels.

Abstract: A highly innovative new technique of developing AC to DC power sources for various applications has been described. Such technique of generating DC power is different from the conventional linear and switching power conversion techniques and this new technology has been called the Solid State Power Supply (SSPS) Technology. The principle of operation depends upon high-frequency pulsed power switching followed by high energy charge-discharge principles as applied to power conversion technology. The use of fast turn-on power MOSFETs enables the application of high frequency switching on this power technology. While the non-isolated SSPS is claimed to be transformerless, the isolated SSPS requires the use of a transformer for input-output isolation. The input and output filtering is reduced tremendously, thereby reducing the size of such power supplies.

Abstract: A railway anticollision apparatus and method is disclosed in which machine readable trackside markers such as bar code markers are utilized along the track and are read by apparatus on board the train to provide track number identification, milepost identification and train direction. On board the train is equipment to provide train identification and train speed. This information is transmitted through transponders between trains and to a central station and is processed by apparatus on board the respective trains and the central location to provide visual and audible signals indicative of a potential train collision.

Abstract: Cold weather riding pants are disclosed and are formed of a basic pants structure of a composite of an outer fabric, an intermediate layer of thermal insulation and an inner lining inside of the riding pants. A biaxially stretchable elastic insert is positioned along the outside side of each leg pant as well as in the upper portion of the seat of the pants. A frictional material insert is secured along the inside side of each leg pant together with an adjustable stirrup along the bottom of each leg pant. A pant leg zipper and/or an adjustable strap for gathering the lower portion of each leg pant is used to provide lower pant leg opening adjustment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for shaping a solid body of soft material wherein the body is notched on one side, a rough cutter moves inwardly through the other side of the body to enter the closed end of the notch and sever body material without breaking, and a finish cutter than removes relatively little material to produce a finish cut.

Abstract: An insulation hanger for supporting a compressible insulation blanket upon a supporting wall which is formed of three pieces, the first of which is an end weldable stud welded to the supporting surface and upon which the blanket to be secured is impaled. The end weldable stud includes a plurality of annular grooves of reduced cross section providing a shoulder at the juncture between the groove and the body of the stud. A flat washer like blanket retainer is utilized which has a keyhole aperture which permits the retainer to pass over the stud through a larger hole to compress the blanket and thereafter to be moved translationally to an aperture of size approximating the groove to interlock the blanket retainer with the shoulder of the stud.

Abstract: An orthopedic cervical pillow is disclosed which has a substantially flat undersurface and an uppersurface contoured to form a back engaging portion transitioning into a convex neck engaging portion further transitioning into a head engaging portion. Self-adjusting lift of the back and neck engaging portions is accomplished by means of a relieved section in the undersurface of the pillow generally beneath the head engaging portion. The relieved section extends entirely across the width of the pillow and extends from a forwardmost point underneath the neck engaging portion to approximately halfway under the head engaging portion wherein the contour of the relieved section assumes a substantially vertical contour at its rearmost portion.

Abstract: An assembly is disclosed for securing a railroad rail to a base plate with a resilient fastener clip. The base plate is heated, punched and reforged to provide a clip locking shoulder which includes an aperture through the base plate and an undercut in the shoulder formed by first and second clip engaging surfaces forming a generally V-shaped clip interlock. The fastener clip is of generally U-shape configuration having an upper limb and lower limb interconnected by a heel portion. The lower limb terminates in a clip lock of generally V-shaped configuration complementary to the clip interlock of the clip shoulder and the clip interlock terminates in a clip lead-in formed at an angle complementary to the angulation of the first clip engaging surface.

Abstract: A track lighting system is disclosed for decoratively supporting and concealing an elongate standard transversely adjustable lighting track and associated track clamp and lighting fixture upon a flat surface such as a common wall or ceiling. A decorative flat panel member or planar member is positioned upon the wall or ceiling and the elongate standard lighting track positioned thereupon. Decorative trim or molding is provided around the opposed side walls and end walls of the planar member as well as around the side walls and end walls of the lighting track. A hollow boxlike track cover member having side walls and an end wall is positioned over the lighting track and associated molding and has cutouts in two of the opposed side walls complementary with the cross section of the lighting track and associated decorative molding.