Abstract: A device especially adapted for measuring the thickness of coatings on small, complexly-shaped parts, such as, for example, electronic connectors, electronic contacts, or the like. The device includes a source of beta radiation and a radiation detector whereby backscatter of the radiation from the coated part can be detected and the thickness of the coating ascertained. The radiation source and detector are positioned in overlying relationship to the coated part and a microscope is provided to accurately position the device with respect to the part. Means are provided to control the rate of descent of the radiation source and radiation detector from its suspended position to its operating position and the resulting impact it makes with the coated part to thereby promote uniformity of readings from operator to operator, and also to avoid excessive impact with the part, thereby improving accuracy of measurement and eliminating damage to the parts.

Abstract: An inflatable head harness for quickly orienting and securing a device, such as a respiratory mask, in position on the head of a user. The harness comprises a loop to fit around the head, the loop having a longitudinally elastically extensible outer tube and a folded, inflatable, substantially inelastic inner tube positioned within the outer. The inner tube has a greater length than the outer tube and is positioned therein in folded or pleated form. The inner tube is enlarged by means of pressurized fluid, causing the outer tube to extend longitudinally to thereby increase the diameter of the loop and enable it to be slipped over the head. When the pressure is released, the elasticity of the outer tube causes it to contract longitudinally so that the loop is in gripping engagement with the head of the user.

Abstract: An elastomeric seal member for sealing roadway and structural expansion joints. The seal member is of generally rectangular configuration and includes top, bottom, and side walls, the side walls being linear and the top and bottom walls including means to cause deflection thereof to occur in a downward direction. Internal support members include right and left spaced apart struts, upper and lower spaced apart ribs, and corner trusses. The struts extend from the top wall to the bottom wall, each strut including generally straight upper and lower portions, the spacing between the upper ends of the upper portions either being the same or slightly greater than the spacing between the lower ends of the upper portions, and the lower portions of the struts extending downwardly and outwardly from the upper portions. The upper and lower ribs are positioned between the top and bottom walls and extend transversely from one of the side walls to the other side wall.

Abstract: A pressure demand breathing apparatus having a facemask connected through a pressure demand regulator with a shut-off device that operates automatically to interrupt the supply of air to the mask when the facemask is removed. The device operates with a time delay to permit momentary user-induced high flow rates without interrupting the supply.

Abstract: In the gasketing of plate heat exchangers, it has long been conventional for a compressible elastomer gasket to be secured in a gasket recess by means of an adhesive. In accordance with the invention, it is proposed that a gasket should be in two parts, namely a relatively hard outer part which is secured by adhesive or otherwise to a plate, and a soft sealing part which is received in a gasket recess defined in part by the outer part and is mechanically retained by the outer part so that it can be comparatively easily installed and removed.

Abstract: A stake system for flatbed vehicles wherein a single size stake body can be utilized with a suitably configured adapter secured to the lower portion thereof. The adapters are each sized to fit a particular stake pocket and enable the use of the single size stake body in conjunction with differently sized pockets. The stake bodies include slots for receiving sidewall-defining panels and they also include internally positioned retainers to receive and position a fastener element to facilitate the attachment of the adapter to the stake body. Additionally, a removable corner adapter permits the use of the same stake body cross section at each corner of the vehicle bed to receive and retain sidewall-defining panels at right angles to each other.

Abstract: A belt buckle comprising a body adapted to be connected to a belt for wearing on a user and having a structure which simulates a known object having a movable component, for example an automobile, bell or animal such as a bird. An element is movably connected to the body and located so as to be exposed to view when the buckle is worn on the user, and the element has a structure which simulates the movable component of the object, for example the automobile hood, bell striker or bird beak. An operator member is movably carried by the body and responsive to manual operation, and a motion transmission mechanism carried by the body and operatively connected to the element and to the operator member converts movement of the operator member in response to manual operation into movement of the element relative to the body. As a result, activity of the known object is simulated.

Abstract: A portable device for measuring coating thickness incorporating a radioactive isotope source and a detector. The device is capable of being readily moved from place to place to measure the thickness of thin film coatings applied to various types of substrates, and incorporates spring means for bringing the isotope source holder into intimate contact with the area to be measured and for holding it in that position. The device also includes a locating system whereby a cross-hair or other image is projected onto the surface of the coating the thickness of which is to be measured, at the point where the source holder would contact the coating surface, permitting extremely accurate locating of the device with respect to the area being measured to thereby facilitate the measuring operation and to permit it to be done in an accurate, speedy, and efficient manner.

Abstract: A system for the radiation backscatter measurement of coating thicknesses has a stand for supporting a workpiece, and a probe body removably mounted on the stand and carrying a radiation source, a radiation detector and a sighting device, the probe body being vertically adjustable on the stand to selectively vary the height of the workpiece-receiving throat. The probe body is self-supporting independently of the stand on a workpiece or other supporting surface and can be inverted to provide its own workpiece support, being self-supporting when inverted. The source and detector are movable simultaneously as a unit with the sighting device to position first one and then the other in operative alinement with the axis of measurement.

Abstract: An anode assembly for a lithium-halogen cell including halogen-containing cathode material, i.e. depolarizer, such as an iodine-organic complex wherein the anode comprises an electrical conductor sandwiched between a pair of lithium plates defining substantially oppositely directed lithium surfaces terminating in a peripheral lithium edge and characterized by a major portion of the length of the peripheral edge being exposed to the cathode material. This greatly increases the available internal volume of the cell for cathode material which, in turn, increases the theoretical ampere-hour rating of the cell. At least one and preferably both oppositely directed lithium surfaces have formations such as ribs or the equivalent which increases the surface area thereof, and the formations terminate a short distance from the edge to form a marginal type, peripheral border and highly effective seal therearound.

Abstract: A strip recoiling drum including a gripper slot and a movable gripper bar for gripping the end of a strip to be recoiled and a pair of axially pivotable drum walls to vary the drum circumference. The gripper bar and drum walls are movable by means of longitudinally movable internal wedge members which are simultaneously actuated by an hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement to close the gripper slot and expand the drum circumference. The gripper bar includes wedge elements which engage cooperating wedge elements on the gripper wedge member and a radially movable wedge to move the drum walls is cooperatively engaged with an axially movable drum wedge actuator member. Initial movement of the wedge members grasps the leading edge of the strip in the gripper slot and simultaneously moves the drum walls outwardly to their maximum circumference positions.

Abstract: A method for sealing a rim-like opening in a glass container is described. The surface of the opening is treated with tin and/or titanium oxide precursors and with or without one or more of the groups consisting of fluorides, sulfur oxides and sulfur oxide precursors and then overcoated with a chromium III organic metallic complex. A membrane comprising a thermoplastic film is pressed onto the coated opening surface and heated to cause glass-plastic adhesion, forming a closure. The coating steps may be applied to glass containers immediately after forming and annealing as appropriate, or may be applied to glass containers taken from storage.

Abstract: A gas filter container for housing a filter capable of filtering gases containing toxic components. The container includes a flexible end wall adapted to be positioned against the body of the user and is secured by means of a series of straps, two of which are adapted to be attached to a harness structure, such as a parachute harness, worn by the user, in a readily separable fashion so that disconnection of the harness will simultaneously free the two straps connected to the gas filter container. The flexible end wall includes inwardly-directed projections to space the wall from the filter inlet when the wall is deflected and thereby maintain a communication path to the filter inlet.

Abstract: An enteric feeding tube including a weighted bolus at its distal end to facilitate insertion and positioning of the tube within the gastrointestinal tract. The tube includes a plurality of spaced apertures adjacent its distal end for the introduction to or extraction from the gastrointestinal tract of fluids or comminuted solids. The weighted bolus includes a plurality of tungsten carbide spheres to provide the necessary weight for proper placement, the spheres being arranged in side-by-side relationship within the tubular bolus, which is so sized as to permit limited axial movement of the spheres to facilitate bending of the bolus as necessary.

Abstract: A hanging display pack comprises a packing plate or lamina on which an article having a hole is mounted. The lamina has a hole disposed in respect of size and position for coaction with the article's hole. A locking body similar to the male part of a press stud is adapted for insertion through the holes of the lamina and article to lock them to each other and has therefore a projection at one end for preventing the body from being pushed through the lamina, and at its opposing insertion end it has snap teeth resiliently adapted for snapping out after they have been inserted through the hole in the article. The body is made from elastic material and has a substantially cylindrical form with a hemispherical top and is open at its base. At its top it has one or more through slits which are disposed on or parallel to a line between two mutually opposing areas occupied by the snap teeth.

Abstract: A mechanism for controlling the speed and direction of a self-propelled machine, such as, for example, a floor cleaning machine, or the like. A rotatable control handle is provided and includes a speed control cam which moves a variable resistor slide member by means of a speed control arm connected to the cam follower. The variable resistor is connected between a battery power source and a propulsion motor to control the voltage to a speed control. The handle has a neutral position at which the machine is stationary, and rotation of the handle about its own axis in either direction will cause the motor to move the machine, the direction of rotation determining the direction of movement. The control handle carries a series of direction control cams which operate switches to control the direction of flow of current to the motor and thereby the direction in which the machine moves.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating rheumatoid arthritis by direct injection of electrically generated gold ions into the patient's joint. The gold ions are electrically generated by anodal corrosion of a gold electrode, such as by passing a constant electric current through the gold electrode which can be a thin wire and which is surgically placed in contact with the arthritic joint. The apparatus comprises a source of direct current including a battery and a constant current generator, a gold electrode connected to the source electrically as an anode and adapted to be placed surgically in operative contact with the arthritic joint, and an indifferent electrode connected to the source electrically as a cathode and adapted to be placed in operative contact with the patient's body spaced from the joint. The entire apparatus can be implanted in the patient's body.

Abstract: A toy bank of the coin-operated type including a housing having a coin storage region and an external action surface, a coin-receiving opening in the surface communicating with the storage region, an electrically-operated coin propelling mechanism carried by the housing for moving a coin along the surface and through the opening, and a pair of electrical contacts carried by the housing connected in controlling relation to the propelling mechanism and positioned to receive a coin placed thereon to bridge the contacts. When the coin is placed on both contacts it completes an electrical circuit through the coin to operate the propelling mechanism to move the coin along the action surface through the opening and into the storage region. The propelling mechanism can comprise an electric motor and coin striking member fixed to the motor shaft. The striking member can simulate an athletic game player such as a hockey player and the coin receiving opening can simulate the game scoring area such as a hockey net.

Abstract: An anode assembly for a lithium-halogen cell including halogen-containing cathode material, i.e. depolarizer, such as an iodine-organic complex wherein the anode comprises an electrical conductor sandwiched between a pair of lithium plates defining substantially oppositely directed lithium surfaces terminating in a peripheral lithium edge and characterized by a major portion of the length of the peripheral edge being exposed to the cathode material. This greatly increases the available internal volume of the cell for cathode material which, in turn, increases the theoretical ampere-hour rating of the cell. At least one and preferably both oppositely directed lithium surfaces have formations such as ribs or the equivalent which increases the surface area thereof, and the formations terminate a short distance from the edge to form a marginal type, peripheral border and highly effective seal therearound.