Abstract: A method of producing formable material of dissimilar polymers and the amalgamated product produced thereby in which mixed thermoplastic polymers have a small percentage of blown asphalt combined therewith, the asphalt acting somewhat as a flux to promote commingling and amalgamation of the polymers during processing to form a product as in extrusion and injection molding operations.

Abstract: A pipe lifting steel wire cable sling and lift device principally for lifting concrete pipe sections provided with a central lift aperture through their wall, the sling having a centering ferrule about a lift ferrule for guiding the sling cable through the lift aperture and the lift device including a long handled slotted plate having a flared opening to its slot and being curved to conform to the interior of the pipe section to be lifted, the plate being backed by a matching slotted back plate having a pocket region at the end of its slot for holding the lift ferrule therein during pipe lifting operations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in which a disk-type ditcher adaptable to being drawn by a tractor can dig ditches under control of a laser system by which a desired ditch grade can be selected. The ditcher incorporates a disk rotatable in a generally vertical plane transverse to the line of travel of the ditcher, the disk having circumferentially spaced scoops which during rotation function in cooperation with a bottom-cutting blade and soil plowing section to lift the cut soil for discharge from an angularly oriented overlying chute for directing soil particles a pre-selected lateral distance from the line of travel of the tractor. A pair of forwardly and oppositely positioned angularly adjustable side cutting or scraping blades can be provided in spaced relation on opposite sides of the center line of travel to impart steeper side walls to the ditch than would otherwise be formed with the circular disk alone.

Abstract: A fluid energy turbine has a radial flow rotor in which fluid driven blades are peripherally distributed about a horizontal axis and in which auxiliary biased outlet gates are provided for release of high fluid pressures to govern turbine speed such as in high storm winds. The blades additionally may be made featherable to govern the turbine speed by feathering the blades either preceding or after the gate openings or simultaneously as preset by the degree of biasing of both determined by matching to weather conditions in the area of use. In other embodiments, the gates are interconnected to the featherable blades for coordinated operation by means such as cables or rods.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing shipping rolls of wrinkle free ballistics type film faced composite sheet material which when assembled and cured on a shipping tube is subject to having surface wrinkles and creases. By assembling the material on a forming roll of large diameter, such that the thickness of the wound wraps of a given length of the sheet material is relatively thin, the deformation of each wrap is minimized during heat and compression curing and the cured material is free of surface wrinkles and creases. The cure-stabilized material then can be unwound and cut to desired length and wound on a small diameter shipping tube to provide a shipping package of material free of wrinkles and creases. The curing apparatus includes a cylinder with an internally lined inflatable bladder, such cylinder being adaptable to being moved into surrounding relation with the sheet material.

Abstract: A bladder type damper assembly formed of a flexible envelope of fluid impermeable plastic material incorporating an insert made of two segments of rigid sheet material joined in hinged relation at one edge and moveable between a flat association and a preselected open angular orientation. The fluid conformable portion of the bladder envelope between the open edges of the insert segments provides a folding region in the form of a valley configuration provided by seaming the two overlapping layers of the bladder between the two insert segments when folded in flat relation. The seam is formed by applying heat and pressure to the two bladder layers through an opening in one or both of the insert segments with separator material appropriately placed.

Abstract: A compact portable unit incorporating a noxious gas concentration alarm system and method adapted to setting off an alarm to warn of the presence of a dangerously high level concentration of carbon monoxide in an environment and when lower levels of concentration are present for time periods which are predetermined to be hazardous to an individual in the environment. A specific embodiment is disclosed in which two or more timed levels of carbon monoxide concentration are arranged to set off an alarm and/or automatic shutdown of the CO producing mechanism when the measured time of presence of each concentration level is hazardous to an individual in the environment.

Abstract: A method and means for producing disks of tightly packed on-end aligned fibers wherein side-by-side filament tows are surrounded and pulled by a Chinese-finger type gripper sleeve which tightens about the tows and compacts the filaments as it is pulled. The gripper sleeve and filament assembly is further compacted by being pulled through a draw-down die and into a tube surrounded by a backup casing. The highly compacted mass of filaments with the surrounding portion of the sleeve within the tube are cut free from the external portion of the portion of the puller sleeve and the loaded tube is removed from the casing. A plurality of disks of predetermined thickness containing the desired highly compacted on-end aligned fibers are then formed by cross-sectionally cutting the filament loaded tube segment by segment.

Abstract: A plastic structural panel and ground erosion barrier made therefrom in which the panel is in strip form relatively narrow compared to its length and which in general is a stretched Z-shaped cross sectional design with opposed male and female interlock edges for mating association with adjacent panel strips. The panel strip design has a "V" configuration on opposite faces and allows optional top-to-top alignment of adjacent panels for a composite deep "V" cross sectional shaped wall or alternate top-to-bottom turnover of adjacent panel strips to provide a thicker box ribbed cross sectional shape for the wall. The composite deep V-shaped cross section provides a greater breadth of coverage but less section modulus than the box ribbed construction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in which a laser controllable ditcher drawn by a tractor to which it is attached for forming ditches, furrows and the like incorporates a cutting disk which is adjustably inclined downwardly toward the rear of its direction of travel such that its under face forms an acute angle with the ground beneath so that its leading edge cuts into the ground. The disk is driven rotationally through a speed reducer by a driveshaft extending to the ditcher from the tractor. The disk has spaced cutters at its edge which dig into the soil and cause the soil to be lifted into the path of movement of paddles or scoops on the back side of the disk which in effect throw the soil particles a considerable distance to one side of the tractor path.

Abstract: A rotary mixer scraper blade commonly termed a beater scraper blade for a freezer machine for producing ice cream, frozen yogurt and like confectionery foods in which the mixer has diametrically opposite scraping blades at opposite ends thereof. The scraper blades have a generally triangular cross sectional shape with a thick body portion narrowing to the thin scraping edge thus presenting a leading face of the blade which is presented at an angle which facilitates removal therefrom of material it engages during mixing and scraping thus reducing tendencies toward hangup of material thereon. Since the blades have a cross sectional shape with a thicker section than conventional blades they can be made of resinous material instead of metal because the shape imparts greater flex strength to the blades compared to conventional parallel sided blades.

Abstract: An electroluminescent laminate assembly or panel adaptable to formation of images of light generated by light emitting matter. The luminescent laminate is arranged with light emitting sections shaped in the form of images desired. In addition, different gradations in light intensities can be imparted to different segments of the field of the desired image for apparent three dimensional effects by selective provision of thick and thin regions of the light emitting matter between the electrodes. The electrodes are also disclosed as capable of formation from compositions of conductive material which in some instances can be sprayed in place and in others doctor-bladed in place to different thicknesses for application of different electrical forces to different sections of the light emitting matter of the assembly for desired preselected patterned light outputs.

Abstract: A system to aid a person in learning a prescribed diet, including food groups, allowed food portions, prescribed meal and medication schedule in which a two panel folder is provided, each panel having a set of pockets labeled for each meal and snack of a day of the diet. A clock face is pictured on each pocket, showing the average meal time, such as for a patient with diabetes and a space on each pocket for the patient to pencil in his own time for meals, if it differs from the pictured time. Several tickets or cards are also provided labeled with food group choices and medication, optionally with a picture symbol representative of the particular food group or medication. On the back of each card is a list of several foods and allowed portions of the prescribed diet, each card list being different to help the patient plan meals with different allowed foods.

Abstract: Apparatus for cooling a bed of pyroprocessed particulate material such as lime received from a source such as a kiln, the cooler including a shaft with one or more underlying hoppers through which the material flows as cooling air is forced upwardly therethrough. The invention embodies hoppers with uniform slopes at any given elevation, dual hopper slopes with one being extremely steep, internal flow guiding means, as well as an octagonal or partially octagonal wall configuration and matching scalloped octagonal hoppers. Also included is the concept of providing substantially equal areas of draw in any angular segment about the vertical center line of discharge from a hopper or cluster of hoppers. The resultant is more uniform flow of material down through the cooler and correspondingly more efficient cooling. Alternative embodiments include hopper transition pieces in lieu of the cooling shaft being constructed in an octagonal or partially octagonal configuration.

Abstract: A gear assembly for selectively shifting the driving torque in an engine driven vehicle to either a 2 or 4-wheel high mode while in motion, or from a neutral position to a 4-wheel low mode and return. The assembly has five main gears including an input set of two and an output set of three constant mesh gears rotatably mounted in fixed positions and a synchronizer in between the two sets in selective driving association with the output gear set. Selective transfer of torque from the input drive to the assembly to either or both the front and rear output shafts is effected by operation of a single shift rod which in turn moves a single fork both for activation of the synchronizer and for shifting the assembly into its 2 and 4-wheel high, neutral and 4-wheel low drive positions through interconnecting gear clutch collars. In one embodiment a pair of coaxial collars are incorporated in the gear assembly.

Abstract: A portable self-deflating fluid inflatable bladder adaptable to use as a damper for control of fluid flow in fluid supply systems and more specifically for control of air flow in heating and air conditioning ducts such as may be effectively used in zone controlled air conditioning systems. The bladder is an assembly of two layers of sheet material sealed together, one layer being a flat base sheet of semi-rigid flexible material having an internal memory causing it to return to its flat shape upon removal of flexing forces, the other layer being a flexible conformable material without shape memory so that it responds to make space for the volume of air pumped between the layers by way of a connection thereto. Inflation stresses on the base sheet cause it to be self-deflating and enables the bladder to be closely regulated in size for corresponding close control of air flow through an air passage in which the bladder is installed.

Abstract: A fluid energy converter having a squirrel-cage-like rotor in which blades peripherally distributed about a horizontal axis of rotation are in a plane generally parallel to the axis of rotation. An entry at one end of the rotor is arranged to face the oncoming fluid for receipt thereof. A contoured deflector on the interior of the rotor forms an annular path or duct for redirecting the predominantly axial flow of fluid from the entry outwardly to the peripherally distributed blades and through the slots therebetween. The total area of the slots exists through which the fluid passes is preferably made less than either the entry area of the cross-sectional area of the duct leading to the blades such that the blades act as a constriction in the fluid passageway, somewhat as a venturi restriction in the flow path.

Abstract: Apparatus for minimizing dust in a kiln system for pyroprocessed particulate material such as lime received from a source such as a kiln. A suction nozzle is located in close proximity to the underside of a stream of falling particles discharging from a kiln where fines are noted to be characteristically concentrated and another suction nozzle is located under an underlying grate immediately adjacent the stream of falling particles channeled through the grate and in the zone of highest concentration of fines. By thus locating the nozzles in the zones of maximum concentration of fines significant quantities of dust can be removed by utilizing only a small fraction of the air and power required with other dust removal systems.

Abstract: An energy saving electroluminescent sheet or panel adaptable to lighting of writing or drawing sheets to permit writing thereon in the dark or to lighting sheets to permit reading of written or other intelligible matter thereon. The luminescent sheet or panel has a light field composed of a number of electrically activatable light segments adaptable to activation independently or in sequence at an intermittent rate or frequency sufficient that the normal eye persistence of observers will produce in effect a coherent light output from the entire light field or selected portions of the light field with a relatively small power source. The light segments can be aligned in any of a number of relationships such, for example, as in side-by-side relation, in radially extending relation or in circumferentially relation.

Abstract: A vehicle torque transfer gear assembly unit for driving four wheels of a vehicle in which both the rear and front output shafts of the unit are capable of straight line connected relation with the rear and front drive shafts of the vehicle thereby eliminating the need for complex compound angled connecting means. The preferred embodiment exemplifying the invention is a five gear assembly of two input gears and three output gears selectively connectable for two wheel or four wheel high speed operation, or four wheel low speed operation beside a neutral mode. The rear output shaft is aligned in a straight line with the rear drive shaft extending downwardly toward the rear wheel differential while the front output shaft extends downwardly in the opposite direction to the front drive shaft toward the front wheel differential.