Abstract: Process and apparatus for the separation and purification of oxygen and nitrogen as well as a novel membrane useful therein are disclosed. The process utilizes novel facilitated transport membranes to selectively transport oxygen from one gaseous stream to another, leaving nitrogen as a byproduct. In the method, an oxygen carrier capable of reversibly binding molecular oxygen is dissolved in a polar organic membrane which separates a gaseous feed stream such as atmospheric air and a gaseous product stream. The feed stream is maintained at a sufficiently high oxygen pressure to keep the oxygen carrier in its oxygenated form at the interface of the feed stream with the membrane, while the product stream is maintained at a sufficiently low oxygen pressure to keep the carrier in its deoxygenated form at the interface of the product stream with the membrane.

Abstract: A stator assembly for a brushless DC permanent magnet motor or generator features an internal stator with electrical windings surrounded by a permanent magnet rotor. The stator assembly includes a collar member matingly interconnecting the stator core and the winding's power supply circuit board so as to automatically position them, during manufacture of the device, in predetermined angular and axial relationships with respect to each other, and in predetermined axial relationships with respect to the rotor. The collar member also contains an axial passageway which facilitates handling of the stator assembly during manufacture.

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: A utility container for holding personal articles aboard a small catamaran sailboat, with separate internal compartments including an icebox compartment containing an icebox liner. The container is shaped to fit in a location near the front of the passenger-carrying area of the catamaran, occupying space otherwise including a front part of the trampoline. A transverse support member is located behind the container to support the front edge of the trampoline of the catamaran. A display area for instruments is included.

Abstract: A safety device for use with a repeating firearm having a magazine well for holding a box-like removable magazine, to prevent the firearm from being unintentionally fired and for providing an indication visible at some distance that the firearm is in such a safe condition. A plug having a body whose dimensions correspond with those of a portion of a magazine for such a weapon includes flanges to close the magazine-receiving opening of the magazine well, a top portion which extends from the magazine well into the space which is occupied by the bolt of the weapon when the bolt is in a position closing the breech of the firing chamber of the weapon, and a member which holds a bolt latch in a position locking the bolt open. The body includes a detent for interacting with a magazine retention latch of the firearm to retain the safety device within the magazine well, with a portion of the device being visible externally as an indication that the safety device is operatively installed in the weapon.

Abstract: A wheeled dolly is provided having a fixed coupler which permits the dolly to rigidly connect to the end of the cantilevered reach of a wheeled trailer. The dolly and trailer can be connected together to form a trailer having a reach extending between spaced-apart sets of wheels.

Abstract: A housing for a magnetic reed switch or other electrical component is housed in a compact cylindrical housing. A screw type terminal strip having recessed openings for the insertion of wires is mated to the cylindrical housing by an adapter having snap lugs for engaging flange portions in the recessed openings on one side, and a circular retainer on the other. A tab on the housing cooperates with a slot on the adapter to prevent rotation.

Abstract: A non-refillable pour spout, for use in the neck of a bottle to prevent introduction of liquid into the bottle but permit liquid already within the bottle to be poured from the bottle in any direction, includes a pair of check valves in a liquid pouring duct and a third check valve in a separate air entry conduit which extends through the pour spout alongside the liquid pouring duct. The pour spout fits within the neck of a bottle, where it is retained sealingly by a plurality of flexible collars extending about the circumference of the pourer spout. A horizontal flange extends radially about the upper end of the liquid discharge tube, a small distance above the upper end of the air entry vent conduit, to protect the air entry vent conduit against introduction of liquid and to permit liquid to be poured in any direction without spilling into the open end of the air entry conduit.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for communication by use of a single FM radio frequency, from a plurality of transmitters to a central receiver in a security alarm system or similar system. A transmitter's radio frequency signal is modulated in wide frequency swings to transmit digitally encoded address, subaddress, and sensor status information in a very brief format. A transmission is provided periodically from each transmitter, but a very low duty cycle is used to avoid interference among the transmitters. A transmitter frequency sweep provides the receiver an opportunity to lock onto a transmission before data is transmitted. Thereafter the receiver automatically tracks the rapidly varying frequency of the transmitted signal. Address and subaddress data identify each transmission and a maintenance warning ir provided by the receiver-decoder unit to identify any transmitter which fails to report within a predetermined time. Each significant sensor status change initiates a transmission from the related transmitter.

Abstract: An attachment for a chisel plow comprising a seed planter resiliently connected to the shank of the chisel plow by means of a leaf spring rod, and gauge wheels detachably connected to the seed planter for maintaining a constant planting depth relative to the ground. The resilient rod provides lateral support for the seed planter so that structural connection to the plow frame is unnecessary.

Abstract: A removable fence for a table saw is positioned on a saw table by a locking mechanism located on the fence which simultaneously grips a pair of blocks mounted on an endless flexible cable. The locking mechanism engages the blocks and raises them into frictional relation with an L-bracket mounted on the table thus preventing movement of the fence. The blocks are affixed to the cable at points equidistant from the plane of the saw blade thereby insuring parallelism of the fence relative to the plane of the saw blade. Utilizing the flexibility of the cable which permits lateral movement, the fence is removed by releasing the locking mechanism and moving the blocks laterally away from the mechanism.

Abstract: A carrier for holding pieces of yarn ready for use in making rugs and similar articles by hand comprises a perforated flexible sheet of pliable material such as strong paper. The ends of individual pieces of yarn of predetermined length extend through the perforations, with each piece of yarn bent into a "U" shape so that both ends of each piece are on the same side of the fabric sheet, but the two ends of each piece extend through different perforations. The pieces of yarn may be mechanically inserted into the sheet in locations corresponding to the locations of the pieces of yarn in the article to be made by hand, giving a preview of the appearance of the article and serving as a pattern for the handmade article.

Abstract: Material feeding and clearing apparatus for use in a material comminuting apparatus includes a plurality of elongate guide-clearer finger members which extend through the spaces between spaced apart cutting discs or similar elements of each of a pair of intermeshed cutter rolls, from an infeed side of the apparatus to an outlet side to the pair of rolls. The finger members are preferably resilient and extend through a space defined between the shaft or central spacer between spaced apart cutter discs or similar rotating elements of one of the pair of rolls and the peripheral surface or edge of a rotating cutting element of the intermeshed rotatable cutting roll. Similar guide-clearer fingers are associated with each rotatable roll and extend upwardly above the infeed side of the pair of rolls, defining an infeed chute on the infeed side.

Abstract: A probe for manually decoding a lock of the wafer combination type having an elongate body to slideably engage the keyway, the body comprising at least two hollow tubular members. Within the hollow members are rotatably disposed detecting members which detect, by means of physical contact, certain identifying portions of wafers therein which form the combination of the lock. An indicator on the outside of the probe, responsive to the detecting members, indicates the presence, type, and orientation of the wafers. The same method may be practiced without the use of the probe by viewing the interior of the lock slightly off center with a pencil beam of light to determine the same characteristic wafer portions.

Abstract: A device and method for its use for storage of a boat plug when it has been removed from the drain hole in the bottom of a boat in such a way as to remind the boat user to replace the boat plug in the drain hole before launching the boat, and to remove the boat plug from the drain hole to permit drainage of the boat when the boat is out of water. A boat plug storage receptacle may be attached to the boat, and a reminder flag may be attached to the receptacle by installation of the boat plug in the receptacle. A flexible connecting member is used to connect the reminder flag to a portion of apparatus such as a boat trailer used to support the boat while it is out of water, preferably connecting the flag to a portion of the supporting apparatus which must be disconnected from the boat before the boat can be launched or otherwise removed from the supporting apparatus. Removal of the connecting member from the boat requires loosening of the boat plug from the storage receptacle.

Abstract: Novel ion-exchange media are disclosed, the media comprising polymeric anisotropic microporous supports containing polymeric ion-exchange or ion-complexing materials. The supports are anisotropic, having small exterior pores and larger interior pores, and are preferably in the form of beads, fibers and sheets.

Abstract: The present invention is comprised of extensible piston cylinders which extend between first points located on a trailer and second points located on a gooseneck which interconnects the trailer to a tractor. The gooseneck and the trailer are rotatably coupled to one another at a common pivot point and the common pivot point, the first points and second points are arranged relative to one another such that as the piston cylinder is extended or retracted the gooseneck and trailer are respectively raised or lowered relative to the ground. The gooseneck is arranged so that it substantially encloses the piston cylinders throughout their entire range of travel thereby protecting them from damage. In addition a locking apparatus permits locking the piston cylinders to both the first and second points to present rotation of the gooseneck relative to the trailer. Thus the gooseneck and trailer can be removed from the tractor as a single unit.