Abstract: An energy conversion cell for converting electric power into heat. The cell includes a non-conductive housing formed of spaced, preferably glass outer plates sealed along common perimeters thereof to define a closed interior volume or chamber. At least two catalytic plates are held spaced apart in the interior volume, preferably separated by a dielectric plate. The catalytic plates are preferably formed of very thin palladium plate material. A gas passage in gas communication with the interior volume is connectable to a source of pressurized hydrogen (H2) or deuterium (D2) gas deliverable into said interior volume. A high voltage a.c. electric power source is connectable through a high voltage step-up transformer between each of the catalytic plates whereby, when a.c. electric current flows through the catalytic plates and across the dielectric plate, the interior volume, being filled with hydrogen or deuterium gas, heat is produced within the interior volume for external use.

Abstract: A rivet table connected to the nosepiece of a rivet setting apparatus. The rivet table includes an outer sleeve which controllably slides back and forth within the nosepiece and supports opposing jaws pivotally connected to the outer sleeve about spaced transverse pivot axes. The jaws pivot between a closed position and an open position, biased toward the closed position and define a flat transverse distal rivet head receiving surface, and a central mandrel-receiving aperture therebetween to slidably receive a rivet mandrel and to support the rivet head against said rivet head receiving surface during rivet setting. The jaws are momentarily forced into the open position by the mandrel moving laterally into the aperture and being carried on a flexible strip. The exposed surface of the rivet head is thereby substantially free of tool marks after being set.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for protecting a specimen tree from substantial cold weather damage. The apparatus includes a hollow housing preferably having a generally flattened configuration and being adapted in horizontal size for positioning beneath, and being substantially smaller than, a canopy perimeter width of the tree. An air movement source is mounted within, and arranged to draw air into the housing preferably through apertures in a lower panel thereof. Air discharge openings are formed around an edge perimeter of said housing for discharging air generally laterally or radially outwardly therefrom produced by the air movement source. A ground support is connectable to and for holding the housing above the ground and beneath a canopy of the tree so that discharging air protectively intermingles with, and produces airflow around the foliage of the tree. An air heat source is also provided which enhances foliage protection.

Abstract: For use in warming a rider on a motorcycle having a heat-producing engine, a portable heat transfer system and method of warmth. The system includes an air blower having an air inlet and an air outlet and being adapted to be positioned and secured preferably behind the engine in an area of heated air build-up beneath a rider seat where heat as a byproduct of engine operation accumulates. The air blower is connectable to an electric power source of the motorcycle to operate the air blower. An elongated flexible air transfer conduit is connectable at one end thereof to the air outlet of the air blower while an air outlet nozzle is connected to another end of the conduit. The outlet nozzle is adapted in size and shape to be inserted and held beneath a conventional upper torso garment worn by the rider whereby warmed air is drawn into the conduct from the area of heated air build-up by the air blower is discharged from the nozzle beneath the upper torso garment to warm the rider.

Abstract: An inflatable fender system for protecting a watercraft from damaging contact with a permanent object, such as a dock, wharf, piling and rafted watercraft. Two elongated flexible substantially airtight tubular fenders are provided having a generally flat cross section when uninflated, rolled into a coil and stored at the stern of the watercraft. Each of the tubular fenders is independently extendable along a substantial portion of the length of the watercraft. A controlled air supply or AC or DC compressor on the watercraft is operably connected to each of the tubular fenders for independently selectively inflating and expanding the tubular fenders from the flat cross section during deployment. A hanger system, preferably including a plurality of hangers connectable in spaced relation between the watercraft and each of the tubular fenders support the tubular fenders during deployment to protect the side and gunnels of the watercraft.

Abstract: A building inside fire extinguishing system, the building having a standard roof pitch and corresponding peak angle. The system including a main water supply line extending along the base or lower margin of the roof and having spaced parallel upright pipe nipples attached to the main water supply line, a plurality of feed lines extending upwardly from the main water supply line parallel to the roof and a plurality of spaced water sprinkler heads operably attached to each of the feed lines. To interconnect the upper end of each upright nipple, an array of roof slope sprinkler fittings is provided, one of which is selected angularly matching the roof pitch. These sprinkler fittings each include an angled hollow body having a female threaded inlet and a female threaded outlet angularly oriented at different standard roof pitch angles one of which will equal the standard pitch of the roof. Each fitting is threadable directly to and between the pipe nipple and a lower end of the feed line.

Abstract: In a cymbal mounting arrangement including a cymbal rod having a threaded distal end for receiving and supporting a cymbal thereover, an improvement including a quick-release locking device for retaining the cymbal on the rod. The locking device includes an elongated body having a longitudinal bore formed therethrough sized for close slidable engagement over the distal end of the cymbal rod. The locking device also includes a spring biased release arm pivotally connected within a cavity formed into the side of the body about a transverse pivot axis. The release arm is configured having thread-engaging teeth at a proximal end thereof which biasingly engage against a limited number of threads of the distal end of the cymbal rod. An upper distal end of the release arm, when pivoted toward said body, releases the teeth from engagement with the threads of the distal end of the cymbal rod, allowing the locking device to be repositioned along the distal end of the cymbal rod or removed therefrom.

Abstract: A seawall element and installation apparatus therefor, the seawall element including an elongated plastic tubular member having a uniform hollow elliptic or oval-shaped cross section and open at each end thereof. The tubular member has a cylindrically-shaped male portion and cavity interlocking arrangement for interlocking two side by side tubular members together by slidable overlapping substantially watertight engagement lengthwise of one tubular member to another. A seawall structure includes a plurality of these seawall tubular members positioned side by side in self-locking engagement to form a row and supported by being supportively embedded into the earth. An elongated cast concrete reinforcing cap extends along and interconnects an upper end portion of each of the seawall tubular members and extends monolithically into each of the tubular member upon deployment. An apparatus for water jetting each tubular member into bottom ground is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pilot operated pressure valve which limits the rate of pressure rise and substantially eliminates excessive system and tank pressure spikes. Because the pilot ball downstream of the damping orifice is held off the pilot seat in the normal starting condition by a pilot return spring, the main piston will open immediately when system pressure overcomes the low bias pressure of the main spring. A pilot pressure bypass port, which selectively deactivates the pilot chamber features, may also be included.

Abstract: A radar controlled automatic target illumination system for marine and other moving vessels. A radar system operably connected to the vessel produces an electronic signal corresponding to an azimuth of a target relative to, and in proximity to the vessel. An array of lights are connected to the vessel, each light being aimed outwardly in a different lighting sector, the sectors being adjacent one to another around the vessel, each of said lights, when automatically activated, illuminating one lighting sector. An electronic processor is operably connected between the radar system and the array of lights for the automatic selective activation of one or more of the lights to illuminate the target within a corresponding lighting sector which the radar system has identified.

Abstract: A system and trash receptacle for compacting trash within the trash receptacle including a receptacle having upstanding front, side and back panels, a closed bottom, and a lid. The front panel is pivotably movable about a lower pivot axis located at a lower margin thereof by a drivable power unit operably connected between one side panel and front panel. This pivotal movement of the front panel into the interior volume of the receptacle compacts the trash within the receptacle to minimize the frequency of receptacle emptying required. A vehicle includes a power output which is temporarily engagable with the power unit as the vehicle is driven up to the trash receptacle, the power output driving the power unit to close the front panel to compact the trash within the receptacle.

Abstract: A ferrule connectable to a fiber optic cable having an exposed portion of a length of optical fiber extending from a protective buffer. The ferrule includes a cylindrical body preferably having a mostly hollow interior open at a proximal end thereof adapted in size to receive an end portion of the buffer. An optical fiber bore coaxial with the hollow interior extends longitudinally through a distal end portion of the body sized to slidably receive the optical fiber therethrough. The distal end portion is mechanically deformable to frictionally engage the optical fiber within the bore, the distal end face being either conically shaped or including an outwardly extending ring resulting in the distal end face being a substantially planar surface, whereby a projecting length of the optical fiber extending beyond the distal end face may be cleaved in very close proximity to the distal end face.

Abstract: A wing nut installation clutch drive device and method of installing and removing a hurricane shutter. An elastomeric body includes a bore extending longitudinally therethrough for tightly frictionally receiving a drive shaft, a portion of the length of which is tightly frictionally engaged in the bore wherein a rotational force applied by a drive motor engaged with an exposed portion of the drive shaft is translated to the body. A cavity is formed into a distal end of the body adapted to biasingly engage over a wing nut including the hub and wing members thereof whereby the rotational force is applied to install and tighten the wing nut or to loosen and remove the wing nut from threaded engagement with a threaded shaft of each of a plurality of bolts used to retain the shutter without damaging or over tightening the wing nut. An anti-slip improved bolt head of the bolt is also provided.

Abstract: A golf club swinging guide releasably attachable to a lower end of a golf club shaft. The guide includes a housing having a stationary member with an alignment portion which is adjustably alignable perpendicular to the striking face of the golf club head. A wind vane is connected for free rotation to the housing about an upright axis of rotation oriented generally parallel to the club shaft. The wind vane, being responsive to movement of air, thereby visually aligns itself to the direction that the golf club is swung. Visual misalignment between the stationary portion and the actual direction of golf club swing at the moment of golf ball impact is discerned by an electronic circuit within the housing producing a sensorially perceivable output.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece including a hollow casing, an electronic L.E.D. module disposed in the casing, the module including a digital time and date display. A glass crystal is connected into an open bezel of the casing and covers the module and the display. By selective manual finger contact with the casing, the display is preferably orientable for reading alternately from either side of the timepiece by the wearer or by an observer. An illuminated image projection separate from the display preferably emanates from a top surface of the casing adjacent the crystal. Preferred first and second touch command bars extend around a different portion of a perimeter of the crystal wherein, when manually touched, current time or current calendar information is displayed. A thin film lamination may be attached atop the module or on an inner surface of the crystal for color enhancement of the display.

Abstract: A fluid flow control valve for use in a fluid applicator tip which is connectable onto an open end of a resiliently squeezable container. The valve includes a valve body defining a flow aperture formed centrally therethrough. A separate sealing ball is held in coaxial alignment and gravity biased seated against the flow aperture and oriented downstream of fluid flow through the flow aperture from the open end of the container. The valve is thus normally closed and opens or unseats automatically when at least partially inverted to permit fluid to flow through the fluid aperture when the container is held in at least a somewhat inverted orientation and squeezed to increase fluid pressure to open or unseat the sealing ball. The sealing ball automatically reseats when the container is righted and there is no substantial pressure within the container, preventing virtually all air from drying the fluid within the container.

Abstract: A trailer hitch facilitating proper alignment and connection to the hitch coupler of a trailer. The trailer hitch includes a tow bar assembly and a throat having spaced parallel top and floor panels generally equal in spacing to a vertical thickness of the tow bar and rearwardly diverging side panels. The front of the throat is connected or connectable to an elongated tubular extension or receiver and is sized to be slidably carried within the throat assembly. A slide bar is carried between the tow bar and the throat and includes a stop which limits the distance the tow bar may be extended rearwardly from the throat and, when in the fully or a partially extended position, is movable side-to-side to facilitate proper coupling alignment between the hitch ball and a hitch coupling of a trailer.

Abstract: A telephone call redirection system for misdialed telephone numbers is provided. When a caller physically and unintentionally dials one of a set of first numbers subscribed to by the system, the system recognizes the number intended by the caller, and provides the caller with the option of being redirected. If interested, the caller dials another number offered by the system to hear of the desired, intended number.