Abstract: A valve assembly including three separate gate valves aligned serially with one another and a mechanical linkage for operating the three separate gates in coordination with one another to permit small pieces of lumpy or granular and particulate solid materials to flow under influence of gravity through the three valves from a low pressure zone into a high pressure zone, without reverse flow of material from the high pressure zone to the low pressure zone. Each gate is biased to a closed condition and provides a substantially airtight seal when it is closed to prevent reverse flow from the high pressure zone to the low pressure zone. A mechanical linkage opens the first and last gates simultaneously and alternatingly opens the middle gate when the first and last gates are closed.

Abstract: An integrated system for the treatment of waste products such as domestic, industrial, or commercial trash comprises the placement of waste in barrel-shaped, self-supporting containers, compaction of the waste in the containers in an especially adapted waste compactor, and the fitting of covers to the containers to provide sealed readily transportable and disposable packages of compacted waste.

Abstract: Apparatus for comminuting scrap materials, particularly fiber-reinforced resilient materials such as scrap tires, includes a pair of generally cylindrical cutter rolls mounted for rotation with parallel cutter discs of each roll intermeshed closely between cutter discs of the cutter roll. The cutter discs on each cutter roll are of a series of thicknesses, and each cutter disc includes a plurality of cutter segments attached about its periphery. Cutter segments are reversible end-for-end to present a sharp edge for drawing scrap material between the intermeshed cutter rolls. A method of sharpening the apparatus includes removing worn cutter segments from the cutter discs, grinding lateral surfaces of each cutter segment, and thereafter fastening the cutter segments on a next thinner one of the cutter discs. Annular clearing rings surround the shaft of each cutter roll between neighboring cutter discs of that cutter roll.

Abstract: A method for improving the stability of steering of a motor vehicle equipped with radius members resiliently attached at one end thereof to the frame or body of a vehicle and at another end thereof to a vertically movable part of a suspension assembly of the vehicle, and a device for use according to the method. A flexible spacer of material such as laminated cloth impregnated with a tough rubber-like material is placed between a bushing surrounding a radius member and a restraining device holding the bushing on a radius member, permitting the bushing to be compressed axially along the radius member, thus reducing the amount of freedom of motion of the radius member in a direction generally longitudinal of the vehicle, without the necessity to remove and replace the entire bushing with a new one.

Abstract: Apparatus for stabilizing a rotating block of wood from which veneer is being peeled in a veneer lathe, and a method for its operation. A block stabilizer includes a massive stabilizer head having paired rollers which extend along a majority of the length of the block of wood, parallel with the axis of rotation of the block being peeled. Sensors produce electrical signals used to inform a computer of the location of the veneer knife. The computer provides position orders to move the block stabilizer head to hold the surfaces of the rollers at the expected location of the peripheral surface of the block in response to movement of the veneer knife during the entire process of peeling veneer from the block.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for adapting a multi-mode scanning technique employed to optically scan the display panel of a scanned display device to provide for the time required by the user to adjust to a change in scanning mode. Each scanning mode has a predetermined scan transition time during which scan transitions are made. The adaptation consists of lengthening a predetermined number of scan transition times immediately following the beginning of a scanning mode, with the lengthening increment shorter for each successive preselected scan transition time, and with the lengthening occurring automatically in response to a change or beginning of a scanning mode.

Abstract: A squeegee attachment for a wet/dry vacuum cleaner having an elongate cleaning head and a deformable blade inserted into the head such that the blade barely extends past a lower portion of the cleaning head which forms part of a suction part, the blade effectively blocking the part in its nondeformed position and opening the part in its deformed position so as to create a maximum amount of suction at the surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: A capping head for a core-capping apparatus adapted to fix conforming sleeves within tubular fiber cores is constructed from a one-piece cylindrical shell having a bore therethrough to accommodate axial sliding movement of a partially conical, power actuated, tapered ram. Independent, individual punches and crimping heads are extensibly and retractably seated within recesses formed in the periphery of the shell and operatively communicate with the tapered ram through respective ball bearings located in guide passages which extend radially outward from the bore of the shell so that linear axial movement of the tapered ram within the shell causes corresponding linear, radially outward movement of the ball bearings and their respective punches and crimping heads, extending the punches and crimping heads outside of the periphery of the shell.

Abstract: A portable ski rest is provided for use on a ski lift chair to support the skis of a skier seated thereon. The portable ski rest includes a ski support member upon which the skier's skis rest. The ski support member is suspended on an elongate flexible cord from a bracket which is placed between the skier's thighs and the chair seat. The elongate flexible cord is woven through the bracket and connects to a belt worn at the skier's waist. When the skier places his feet and skis on the ski support member, their full weight is transmitted by a first section of the flexible cord extending between the bracket and ski support member as a tensile force to the bracket. The section of flexible cord extending between the bracket and the belt transmits a tensile force which is less than the force in the first section, the balance of the force being borne by the chair seat. A carrier is provided on the belt for carrying the ski support member in a stowed, portable position when the ski rest is not in use.

Abstract: A sling assembly for carrying shoulder-fired weapons, particularly military rifles, in an upright horizontal ready position. A strap portion of the sling assembly extends rearwardly from a sling swivel on the bottom of the butt stock and then extends upwardly along the butt plate on the rear side of the butt stock, where it is retained detachably by a sleeve slidably disposed on the strap. The sleeve includes a portion of a detachable connector to hold the sleeve and strap against the butt plate, the other mating portion of the fastener being located on the butt end of the stock. The sleeve extends high enough relative to the butt stock so that raising the rifle to the user's shoulder separates the parts of the detachable connector, allowing the sleeve and strap portions of the sling assembly to fall clear of the butt end of the stock while the sling remains connected to the weapon by the sling swivel.

Abstract: A board game in which two opposing sets of playing pieces are moved one at a time according to specific rules on a square board having 100 square playing spaces in alternating turns of play. Each set of playing pieces includes twenty playing pieces which are placed on the game board in an initial array, and a Home Stone playing piece which is placed upon the board at a later stage of play. The playing pieces are divided into ten different types, each type having different capabilities for movement or capture of opposing playing pieces. Each of the pieces initially arrayed upon the game board is capable of capturing any piece belonging to the opposing set, but the Home Stone playing piece of each set, which is placed upon the game board at a later stage of the game, is incapable of capturing opposing pieces. Captured pieces are removed from the game board, and the object of the game is to capture the Home Stone playing piece of the opposing set.

Abstract: A multi-conductor cable including a plurality of miniature coaxial conductor pairs, each including an inner conductor supported by a very thin tubular layer of solid, relatively stiff dielectic material, surrounded by a much thicker wrapping of dielectric tape having a lower dielectric constant than that of the tubular layer. An outer conductor of multiple strands of wire is helically laid about the dielectric tape wrapping. The tubular layer provides mechanical support for each inner conductor, protecting against breakage due to bending of the individual conductor strands, without significantly increasing either the capacitance or diameter of the coaxial conductor pairs.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for insulating an electric furnace having resistive heating elements in which precast support rings comprising studs, a ring and a plurality of rods are welded to a furnace wall alternatively with placing batts of ceramic fiber insulation over the support rings against the furnace wall to form an inner insulated furnace wall. The rods have rotatably mounted removable ceramic hangers having an inner hook for supporting a serpentine electric heating element such that there is no danger of a short circuit with the metal support ring if the hanger fails.

Abstract: An abrasion-resistant high-chromium type of alloyed white iron, which can be hardened and toughened by refrigeration at sub-zero temperatures, containing as its essential alloying constituents about 2.6% to about 3.6% carbon, about 12% to about 22% chromium, about 0.5% to about 1.1% manganese, about 1.0% to about 3.0% molybdenum, about 0.5% to about 1.5% copper, about equal amounts of nickel and silicon in the range from about 1.4% to about 2.5% of each, and the balance iron along with conventional residual elements and incidental impurities present in usual amounts.

Abstract: A raster graphic refresh memory architecture offering increased access speed. The memory takes advantage of the "page mode" of operation of dynamic random-access memory integrated circuit devices which require two separate device addresses for random access to a storage location therein but permit in "page mode" a first address corresponding to a set of storage locations to be maintained while changing the second address for more rapid access. The memory is organized so that a portion of the second device address is allocated to the least significant bits of one dimension of the display address and another portion of the second device is allocated to the least significant bits of another dimension of the display address, thereby forming a two-dimensional cell of storage locations on a single page corresponding to a region on the display.

Abstract: A sign for displaying prices and other information, in which at least one numeral character is changeable to display any numeral from zero through nine. A plurality of flap members are each pivotably attached to a flat foundation portion of the sign by resilient clips which hold a portion of each flap closely against a flat front side of the foundation member, thus holding the entire flap against the front side of the sign to prevent the flaps from being caught by wind. The flaps can be overturned by use of a tool including a spatula-like end, to display selectively a background colored face of the flap, covering a contrastingly colored portion of the foundation member, or to display the opposite face of the flap, which is of the contrasting color, and uncover the contrastingly colored portion of the foundation member. The spring clips are movable to permit the flap to be overturned, yet resiliently urge the flap against the front side of the foundation member at other times.

Abstract: A connector assembly for effecting mechanical and electrical connection between a portion of a security alarm or similar circuit mounted on a swinging door or window and a portion of such a circuit located on fixed structure adjacent the door or window, including a resilient electrical cable mechanically connecting a pair of terminal housings which protectively cover the cable and terminals at the ends of the cable when the housings are located adjacent one another with the door closed. The housings may also enclose an electrical sensor, such as a magnetically actuated switch and an actuating magnet, electrically connected with the terminals, for connection with a security alarm circuit.