Abstract: A hub includes an axle. Each end of the axle has an annular groove and a longitudinal groove. A dust cap, two bearings and a cone are provided on each end of the axle. A clamping ring has a key extending inwards for engaging with the longitudinal groove of the axle. The clamping ring is tapered from an outer peripheral edge toward a center so that the clamping ring is resilient. A lock ring is engaged with each annular groove. The clamping rings stably retain the axle in place so that the axle do not move laterally.

Abstract: Apparatus for regulating air flow through an air port in a chemical recovery furnace. A plenum having an adjustable damper mounted inside a wind box associated with the furnace adjacent to the air port supplies and regulates the flow of air from the wind box to the furnace through the air port. A metal cleaning head adapted for rotatable insertion into the air port for cleaning excrescent material from the peripheral edges of the air port without blocking air flow through the port is pivotally mounted in a retracted, at-rest position adjacent to and above the air port so as not to interfere with movement of the adjustable damper. During a cleaning cycle, the damper is moved to a retracted position on the floor of the plenum so as not to interfere with the moving cleaning head. A short stroke, double articulated damper positioning mechanism facilitates movement of the damper blade in limited space.

Abstract: A wheel of a unicycle has two beams disposed in parallel in a rim. A bolt is extended between the beams. The head of the bolt is disposed away from the geometric center of the wheel and the bolt extends through the geometric center of the wheel. Two plates which are connected together by a nut are slidably disposed between the beams. The bolt is engaged with the nut. An axle is extended outward from each plate. A rotation of the head of the bolt causes the axles to move either away or toward the geometric center of the wheel.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved safety base for use in the game of baseball. Prior breakaway safety bases required anchor members permenantly installed in the ground which were expensive, difficult to install and inappropriate for amateur teams required to carry their own bases from game to game. The present invention uses flexible strips of material attached directly to the ground by small spikes or nails and provided with one element of a hook-and-loop fastener, the other element being provided on the base.

Abstract: An optical instrument for use in conducting optometric examinations which generates an alphanumeric type display simulating the optical features of displays provided by video display terminals. The instrument comprises a light source and a multi-layered screen through which light from the source may be transmitted. The screen employs light from the source in forming characters which are comprised of pixel-like light elements similar to those making up VDT generated characters. Further, the screen is operative for degrading the image quality of the characters by transforming the light elements into Gaussian type spatial profiles typical of the pixels generated by VDTs.

Abstract: An electrooptical device comprises a substrate of electrooptic material having first, second and third optical waveguide formed therein. The first and second waveguides have first and second waveguide segments respectively, and the third waveguide has third and fourth waveguide segments extending adjacent the first and second waveguide segments respectively, so that first and second directional couplers are formed. The interaction length of the first directional coupler is slightly greater than an optimum interaction length for a predetermined wavelength and the interaction length of the second directional coupler is slightly less than an optimum interaction length for the predetermined wavelength. A first electrode structure influences the first directional coupler and a second electrode structure influences the second directional coupler.

Abstract: The invention relates to a smelting furnace, particularly a D.C. arc furnace, suited for the treatment of finely-divided material, which comprises at least three electrodes suspended through the roof in order to create the electric arc. The process material is fed in through at least one feed gate (30) arranged inside the circle orbit formed by the electrodes (4, 16, 26) suspended through the furnace roof, which feed gate (30) is provided with auxiliary members in order to create an even supply of the material into the furnace. In order to discharge the gases created in the process, there is provided at least one outlet (20) outside the circle orbit formed by the electrodes (4, 16, 26).The invention also relates to a method for feeding finely divided material into the smelting furnace. According to this method, the material is fed through the feed gate (30) in suspension, either vertically or tangentially.

Abstract: A light-weight, shock-absorbing chest protector worn, for example, by participants in sports, the protector allowing air circulation to a wearer's body while providing enhanced flexibility. The protector conforms to a wearer's body and flexes inwardly and outwardly and expands and contracts vertically with the wearer's movements. The protector, which is coated with a durable coating to add color as well as additional strength to the protector, is attached to a wearer's body through the use of a harness. Apertures through the protector are shaped to "grab" a ball which strikes the protector and drop the ball near to the wearer, while also reducing the weight of the protector, providing air circulation through the protector, and giving the protector the enhanced flexibility. The protector has optional hinged pads for covering additional areas of a wearer's body without inhibiting freedom of movement.

Abstract: A boring machine includes a power unit having a housing, a drive member for engaging a boring bar, and a motor for driving the drive member to rotate relative to the housing. The boring machine also includes a bearing assembly comprising an inner bearing member defining a passage through which the boring bar extends, and an outer bearing member in which the inner bearing member is fitted in a manner permitting angular movement of the inner bearing member relative to the outer bearing member about axes perpendicular to the axis of the passage defined by the inner bearing member. In use, the bearing assembly is attached to a workpiece in a manner preventing movement of the outer bearing member relative to the workpiece, and a collapsible torque transmission linkage connects the housing of the power unit to the outer bearing member, whereby the housing unit is held against rotation relative to the outer bearing member.

Abstract: In a static random access memory formed by an array of rows and columns of memory cells, separate bit lines convey a data bit to or from memory cells of separate columns. Gates controlled by an input row address connect only a single memory cell of each column to the bit lines of the column so that only a single memory cell of the column transmits or receives a data bit on the bit line. Gates controlled by a column address connect the bit lines of only a single column to data input and output circuits. During a write cycle, the memory cell connected to each bit line pair attempts to bias the bit line pair in accordance with the state of its stored data bit, but bit line pairs of non-addressed columns are coupled to a voltage source to prevent a row addressed memory cell of that column from strongly biasing the bit lines. Following the end of a write cycle, a precharge circuit temporarily clamps all bit lines to the voltage source to precharge bit line capacitance.

Abstract: A sequencing column select circuit for a random access memory includes a decoder that decodes a column address to produce an output word having one bit asserted. The decoder transmits its output word through a first set of gates controlled by a STREAM signal to a recirculating shift register and to an output driver circuit. The shift register also supplies an output word to the output driver circuit through a second set of gates controlled by a !SHIFT signal. In response to an input word from either the shift register or the column decoder, the driver circuit produces output signals selecting memory cell columns for read or write access. When the STREAM signal is on and the !SHIFT signal is off, the decoder output word controls column selection in accordance with the column address. When the STREAM signal is off, the shift register bit shifts the driver circuit input in response to each occurrence of the !SHIFT signal so that a next column of the array is selected.

Abstract: The invention is related to a method for adjusting the knife clearance in sheet cutters. In a sheet cutter, the web material is cut by means of a cutter drum (1) rotated by drive mechanism (4) and provided with cutting knives (2), and a counter knife (5) disposed in a knife support (6) and positioned at knife clearance distance from the moving cutting knives (2). In the method according to the invention, the cutting forces acting on the cutting knives of the sheet cutters, or their effect on the structure of the sheet cutter during its operation, are measured, and the information from the measurement is used as a command variable for the knife clearance. The command variable can be determined in several different ways, and according to one embodiment of the invention, it is determined by measuring the vibration level of the structure of the sheet cutter due to the cutting forces. The invention is also related to an apparatus for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A tightly synchronized fault tolerant clock has n+1 substantially identical modules for synchronizing the clock signals of the modules and masking out faults in up to n modules. Each module has an oscillator comprising an amplifier and a regenerative feedback path. The feedback path includes a resonator for determining the oscillation frequency, a variable trimming capacitor for establishing synchronization among the oscillators in the individual modules, an isolation buffer network to eliminate single point failure and to establish a fault containment region, and a majority voter network for maintaining tight synchronization among the oscillators and masking out faults in the individual modules.

Abstract: Apparatus for attaching a component of a personal computer to a desk comprises a first plate having a hole extending therethrough, the hole having a countersunk recess at a first surface of the first plate. The first plate can be secured at its first surface to a surface of a component of a personal computer. A fastening element extends through the hole in the first plate and has a head received in the countersunk recess. A second plate has first and second surfaces and has a first hole for receiving the fastening element, whereby the fastening element may be used to secure the plates together in confronting relationship. A rod extends through a second hole in the second plate and projects from the second plate in the direction away from the first plate. The rod has a portion that is captive between the first and second plates when the plates are secured together by the fastening element.