Abstract: An improved boring bar for machining bearings in an engine block or the like includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced wear pads which extend radially beyond the surface of the bar and form the sole points of support between the bar and the inner race of a bearing in which the bar is slideably received. Preferably, at least two of the wear pads are radially displaceable within slots on oposite circumferential sides of longitudinally aligned cutting tools which are secured to the bar. The pads are removably mounted in the slots within the bar by screws to allow rapid replacement of the pads due to wear. A thin layer of resilient material, such as neoprene rubber, is captured between the radially displaceable pads and the bottom of the slot, and urge the pads away from the bar, thereby biasing the bar in a direction away from the cutting tools and toward one side of the inner race of the bearing. The constant lateral biasing of the bar eliminates tool chatter and improves machining accuracy.

Abstract: An erosion control revetment and wall made from preformed blocks which are secured to elongate support members by interlocking sleeves. The block is formed with transversely extending slots which extend from the top end to the bottom end of the block and have an enlarged opening on the top end for receiving a tubular sleeve which encircles the elongate support members. The outer diameter of the sleeve is snugly received within the enlarged opening, but is larger than the width of the remainder of the slot, preventing unintended removal of the block from the support member. The elongate support members may be semi-rigid rods or cables. The revetment is formed from alternating rows of blocks which are offset by one elongate support member relative to blocks in adjacent rows. Alternatively, the blocks may be assembled into a wall having vertically aligned blocks or blocks which are offset relative to one another in adjacent rows.

Abstract: In combination a guide sleeve, guide post having an exterior longitudinal slot, reciprocally projected into the sleeve and a ball cage mounting a plurality of ball bearings mounted upon the post for relative longitudinal and rotary movements thereon and interposed between the post and sleeve. A roller bearing is mounted within an internal annular recess in the cage and retainingly projects into the post slot limiting longitudinal movements of the cage relative to the post. The ball cage is free for rotary movements relative to the roller bearing, the post and sleeve. A radial bore in the cage is located outwardly of the recess and has notched corners for crosswise insertion of the roller bearing into the post slot and for positioning within the annular recess. A set screw in the bore traps the roller bearing. In a modification, an internal slot in the cage is opposed to the post slot, with the slots guiding the roller into the recess.

Abstract: An articulate tow bar for use with a ride-on for pulling an independent mower unit. The tow bar has first and second members pivotally attached at adjacent ends by a lockable coupling that permits the members to be positioned alternately in a transport position or working position. The first member is pivotally attached to the tractor by a horizontal hinge and the second member is pivotally attached to the independent unit by a universal joint, the pivotal connections permit the tractor and independent unit to operate on hilly uneven terrain. Controls are located on the articulate tow bar adjacent the mower for operating the independent unit which allows the tow bar and the mower unit to be readily adaptable to conventional mowers.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled drive train having an engine-connected variable ratio speed transmission and a load-connected range gear transmission connected by a mid-mounted clutch disposed therebetween has an automatic clutch control mode of operation, with the clutch disengaged and the range transmission in gear to complete a shift, wherein the speeds of the clutch sides are synchronized before engagement by appropriately varying the ratio of the speed transmission, thereby eliminating shift shock. This automatic clutch control mode is preferably employed in combination with operating modes which control both the speed transmission ratio and engine throttle to maintain fuel efficient operation.

Abstract: Microprocessor controlled automatic power control for adjusting the engine power setting in an engine-transmission power train in which the transmission drive reduction is variable in ratio, by step change or continuously so, such as for use in farm tractors. The microprocessor control monitors the position of this automatically moving lever and the desired transmission output speed to keep the setting adjusted so that engine power is set, within a deadband, to maintain a desired engine speed preferably resulting in minimum fuel consumption or in maintaining constant transmission output speed. Preferably, the microprocessor has a higher priority primary function of also automatically adjusting the transmission drive reduction ratio, for the same purpose but with higher sensitivity. The power control lever is specifically designed to automatically return the power setting to manual control as soon as the operator grabs the handle.

Abstract: An automobile conveyor having an endless conveyor chain within a framework having top plates to support the tire of an automobile and a plurality of roller dollies spaced along the length of the chain normally positioned for movement within the framework. Each of the roller dollies includes at least one upright mounting plate connected to the conveyor chain. The plate supports three equally spaced rollers which substantially form an equilateral triangle with one roller forming the vertex of the triangle and the other two rollers being coplanar forming the base of the triangle. The one roller is adapted to operatively engage to automobile tire with the other two rollers adapted for supported movement upon the top plates.

Abstract: The invention herein involves the capture and treatment of excess uncured paint which is produced during spray painting operations. In particular, the invention relates to alkyl sulfate-based compositions which detackify excess spray paint, a method for utilizing these compositions in paint spray booth operations and a method for removing uncured paint from coated surfaces.

Abstract: A therapeutic pillow comprises a soft resilient bottom pillow section and a top pillow section thereover and peripherally interconnected. The top section includes top and bottom fabric covers peripherally interconnected with a pair of rows of stitching spaced from the ends of the pillow sections, and a transverse stitching between the rows of stitching interconnecting the covers defining a first tubular neck support of rectangular shape and a pair of laterally spaced supplemental neck supports of rectangular shape. Compacted resilient fiber stuffing is interposed within the neck supports. The bottom section includes a bottom fabric cover peripherally jointed to the top section containing a mass of loosely confined resilient fiber stuffing which underlies the top pillow section.

Abstract: A water-tight ear enclosure having a water-impervious membrane secured to a flexible, inelastic strip about a portion of an opening in the membrane and an elastic strip secured to opposite ends of the flexible, inelastic strip and to the remaining portions of the opening in the membrane. The strip is formed of a thin, polymeric material in a J shape which is adapted to be received in front of the tragus of the ear and below and behind the lobule of the ear. The elastic strip is adapted to extend around the back of the external ear and in one embodiment includes an extension extending below the ear to form a secondary seal. The flexible, inelastic strip includes an adhesive for attaching the strip to the skin of a person adjacent the ear. The membrane is a flexible plastic film. The seal is established by the combination of the adhesively secured plastic strip and the inward biasing force of the elastic strip bearing upon the back of the external ear.

Abstract: An improved die assembly for use with a punch is employed to produce stitch connections between sheets of rigid, deformable material. The die assembly includes an anvil body having a central anvil portion and a pair of arcuate depressions respectively on opposite sides of the central anvil. A pair of die portions are pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the anvil and include curved sections which are conjugally received within the depressions of the anvil body and function to transmit force applied by the punch through the curved sections to the anvil body, thereby relieving the pivotal connections from undue stress. The die portions and the anvil body are provided with opposing surfaces between which there are trapped coil springs for urging the die portions toward each other. In an alternate embodiment, biasing of the die portions toward each other is achieved by surrounding the die portions with a layer of molded, resilient material such as urethane.

Abstract: A retainer for securing a flangeless cargo liner within a truck bed compartment such that the top rail of the truck bed compartment is unobstructed. In a first embodiment, the retainer includes a cup-shaped insertable portion having an outwardly extending rim around the periphery of its open end. A series of adjustment openings are located on one of the sides of the insertable portion for receiving a fastener. The retainer is inserted through an aperture in one of the liner walls and the fastener is inserted into one of the adjustment openings for engagement against a ledge wall of the truck bed compartment. In a modified form, the insertable portion of the retainer is generally triangular in cross-section to permit easier access between the installation tool and fastener.

Abstract: A dispensing pouch containing premeasured laundry compositions comprises a flexible, porous pouch having a plurality of valves or supplementary openings along its edges. The dispensing pouch permits rapid dispersion of a highly soluble laundry detergent through the pouch valves, which open as the pouch is compressed during laundry agitation in a machine washer. Washer-resistant fabric softener/antistatic chips larger than the pouch valve openings remain inside the pouch through wet cycles, to be dispensed as they melt and wick through the porous pouch fabric in a machine dryer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a viewing screen unit (2) with a viewing screen housing (6) supported swivelably around a swivel axis (4). The viewing screen housing (6) has the shape of a circular cylinder segment, where the viewing screen plane essentially coincides with the intersecting plane (10) of the circular cylinder segment and the pivot axis (4) coincides with the cylinder axis. In a preferred embodiment, the viewing screen housing (6) is fastened swivelably onto a receiving housing (8) containing at least part of the components. The receiving housing (8) is provided with a concave recess (19) turned toward the viewing screen housing (6), which recess fits closely against the curved rear wall of the viewing screen housing. The supporting of the swivelable viewing screen housing is preferably done by supporting means which act on either the inside of the end faces or on the curved back side of the viewing screen housing (6).

Abstract: A treadmill assembly of the type including a frame, an endless generally horizontally disposed belt positioned generally at the base of the frame, a motor for driving the belt at varying speeds and a handle at the front end of and spaced above the belt so that a user running on the motorized belt may grasp the handle with his hands. A safety harness is provided for use with the treadmill assembly and includes a pair of straps adapted to be supported from support structure over the treadmill and each including a loop portion at its lower end adapted to pass through the groin of the user. The safety harness further includes a catch band extending transversely between the rear sections of the loop portions of the straps at a vertical location such as to position the band behind the user generally in the central region of the user's back.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously separating volatile metals, including zinc and lead, and non-volatile metals, including copper, from mixtures of metallic and metallic oxide. Finely pulverized metal containing material, is continuously fed into the reactor chamber along with pulverized carbonaceous material, such as coke, and also oxygen or air. The reactor chamber is intensely heated by a transferred arc plasma generator to provide sufficient heat energy which together with the reducing gases cause a reducing reaction and melt the non-volatile copper and other metals which form a puddle upon the floor of the reaction chamber and to form a layer of slag covering the puddle, and simultaneously to vaporize the volatile zinc, lead and the like metals.

Abstract: In checking a program in data processing units, the working memory, before the completion of the program, has written into it information to which respectively a false parity signal is assigned. In this way program mistakes in the program to be checked, which can be revealed in a read access to a non-normalized memory cell, are recognized instantly.

Abstract: An air system prosthesis for amputees includes a hollow body with stiff peripheral walls and an open end and a cup shaped partition defining with the walls a first socket. A hollow stump support second socket with stiff peripheral walls is snugly nested within the first socket upon the partition. The second socket includes spaced apart inner and outer walls with cup shaped closed ends interconnected and hermetically sealed at their other ends defining a continuous air chamber between the inner and outer walls adapted to snugly and frictionally receive a human stump. A manually operated air pump and pressure relief valve is mounted upon the outer wall having a normally closed air passage adapted for applying pressurized air to the chamber and for selectively exhausting air therefrom.

Abstract: A quick action fastener suitable for fastening panels or the like in face-to-face contact, including a pierce nut adapted to be secured within one of the panels and a male stud inserted through the other panel and into a through-hole in the nut. The nut includes a central, pilot portion which is diepunched through the panel and a pair of undercut grooves on opposites sides of the pilot portion, into which edges of the panel are deformed in order to securely hold the nut on the panel. The nut includes a locking element extending across the through-hole which is received within and contacts with a spiral cam slot in the stud upon partial rotation of the stud to lock the stud in the nut and thereby securely fasten the panels together. In one embodiment, the stud is axially biased from the locking element by a spring captured between the head of the stud and one of the panels while another embodiment employs a pair of wire loops forming a spring support for the locking element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a snap gage that compensates for any misalignment of a part which is to be measured. The gage has two opposed, independently pivotal levers between which a part may be positioned. The levers pivot according to the dimensions of the part with the resultant overall pivotal movement of the levers being realized at a ball contact that operates a linear plunger connected to a linear movement indicator. The levers are substantially L-shaped having a sensing arm and a translating arm which contacts the linear plunger. The ends of the translating arms are each chamfered with one having a flat surface and the other having a non-flat surface, such as a radial or V-notched surface to maintain alignment of the plunger.