Abstract: A device for pulling heavy equipment across a supporting surface such as a floor. It includes a composite pad of generally rectangular shape having lengthwise and crosswise edges. The composite pad includes a lower, flexible sheet of plastic and an upper backing of rubber. The plastic sheet has a smooth lower surface for engaging the floor. The upper rubber backing has a ribbed surface for engaging the equipment. A pair of straps attached to the composite pad extend lengthwise beyond at least one crosswise edge of the composite pad. Each of the pair of straps is attached to the composite pad between the plastic sheet and the rubber backing along a lengthwise edge of the composite pad. Each of the straps terminates in a distal end located remotely of the composite pad and a handle is formed in each distal end of each strap. Each strap may extend beyond each crosswise edge of the pad.

Abstract: A railroad crossing gate electrical control system for moving a crossing gate in up and down directions and providing snubbing protection to gate movement in failure modes includes an electrical motor having two diametrically positioned permanent magnet poles and two series connected electromagnet poles. There is an armature which rotates inside of the poles. There is a motor and snub relay which has contacts connected to the armature and the series connected electromagnet poles. A terminal board has movable contacts which are connected to the motor and snub relay and to a relay coil for moving the contacts of the motor and snub relay. A source of power is connected to the terminal board, with the movable terminal board contacts controlling the application of power to the motor snub relay coil and the relay contacts for causing up and down movement and for providing snubbing of armature movement during up and down gate movement and gate failure modes.

Abstract: The reaction of alkali, alkali-earth metal hydride with water is utilized for the generation of hydrogen in a novel generator configuration. This overcomes the problems encountered in earlier hydride based generator configurations inasmuch as it overcomes the problem associated with the expansion of the hydride upon its conversion to hydroxide or oxide when reacting with water. This is accomplished by using a hydride cartridge of unique configuration. The combination of the corrugated cartridge structure and the wicking material dispersed throughout the cartridge facilitate the complete utilization of the hydride and water in a demand responsive mode. This is important in applications where intermediate hydrogen storage is impractical, as is the case in the use of these generators--e.g., for electric power generation in fuel cells in general and for Underwater Vehicles specifically because space restraints.

Abstract: A rail car truck side frame for use in a frame brace truck which has stabilizing cross braces extending between the side frames. The side frame has a top compression member and a bottom tension member which are joined by upwardly and outwardly slanted end walls. Each side frame has a pedestal horn spaced from each end wall. There is a bracket assembly at the lower end of each wall for use in mounting a cross brace. Each bracket assembly includes a three-walled channel mounting bracket, with one wall having an opening therein for the mounting of the cross brace. There is a base plate welded to an outboard side of the side frame and having a first portion welded to an upper edge of the channel mounting bracket for providing support therefor. A second portion of the base plate is welded to the side frame pedestal horn. There is a support plate welded to an inboard side of the side frame adjacent its unit guide pocket and welded to the base plate for providing support therefor.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a radial-flow filter particularly suitable for use as an input filter in a subterranean fluid (oil, gas, water) well starts with a length L of multi-perforate pipe, which may be an integral part of the production tubing of the well. The pipe is mounted in an engine lathe with the perforated length L between the headstock and the tailstock of the lathe. With the pipe rotating, a strip of metal wool, preferably stainless steel wool, is wrapped around the pipe in repeated, overlapping helical layers each aligned at an acute angle X to the pipe axis, with adjacent layers angularly displaced by an angle 2X. The completed filter may have a tubular wire mesh around the pipe, between the pipe and the innermost layer of steel wool, and a multi-perforate sheath over the outermost layer of wool.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting an incipient tumor in living tissue such as that of a human breast in accordance with differences in relative dielectric characteristics. A generator produces a non-ionizing electromagnetic input wave of preselected frequency, usually exceeding three gigahertz, and that input wave is used to irradiate the living tissue, being effectively focused into a minute, discrete volume within the tissue to develop a non-ionizing electromagnetic wave at that position. The illumination location is shifted over a portion of the living tissue in a predetermined scanning pattern. Backscatter signal returns from the living tissue are collected to develop a backscatter return signal wave.

Abstract: A soap dispenser includes a soap supply, a motor driven pump connected by tubing to the soap supply and a soap output device connected by tubing to the motor driven pump. The electric drive circuit for operating the pump motor includes a sensor for detecting a user's hands positioned to receive soap from the output device. There is a forward motor control circuit connected to the sensor and to the pump motor and responsive to a start signal from the sensor to drive the pump motor in a forward direction to supply soap to the output device. There is a volume adjust circuit connected to the forward motor control circuit and to the sensor to provide a stop signal to the forward motor control circuit a predetermined time period after receipt of a start signal from the sensor.

Abstract: A sweeping machine has a housing, wheels for moving the housing, a sweeping brush mounted on the housing, a hopper positioned adjacent the brush to receive dust and debris therefrom, a dust collection chamber on the housing, and a vacuum fan mounted on the housing and creating an air flow path from the brush through the hopper and to the dust collection chamber. There is a filter element in the air flow path, with the filter element including a plurality of generally parallel pleats having folds extending in a direction transverse to the air flow path. There is a pleat moving element extending generally transverse to the pleats and engaged with the pleats. An electric actuator is mounted on top of the pleats and a bar is associated with the actuator and movable upon actuation thereof. There is a spring connected between the pleat moving element and the filter frame.

Abstract: A panel adaptable for use in automotive trim applications has a laminate of a support layer and an A-side layer made of vinyl or cloth. The support layer is made of a thermoformable material such as foam, felt or polypropylene. The laminate is thermoformed to impart the contour of a rigid substrate to which the panel will be attached. The support layer retains the desired contour without the use of other materials. The panel may have a shirred appearance imparted thereto by the inclusion of a plurality of gathers thermoformed into the support layer.

Abstract: A faucet having multiple water discharges includes a housing, an input water connection for the housing, a stream discharge on the housing, a spray discharge on the housing, a filtered water discharge on the housing, a water filter within the housing, and a control valve in the housing connected to each of the water discharges. There is an unfiltered water flow path from the input water connection to the control valve. A manual actuator accessible from the exterior of the housing operates the control valve to direct water from the unfiltered water flow path to either the stream discharge or the spray discharge. There is a filtered water flow path from the input water connection, through the filter, to the control valve. A filtered water manual actuator accessible from the exterior of the housing operates the control valve to direct filtered water to the filtered water discharge.

Abstract: A device for the control of mosquito larvae includes a float and a self-contained electrical power source positioned on or within the float. There is a light source extending downwardly from the float and connected to the power source for activation thereof. A walled enclosure depends from the float, which enclosure will be filled with water when the float is placed upon the surface of a body of water. There is a generally 360.degree. circumferential opening generally intermediate the ends of the enclosure which permits the passage of mosquito larvae into the enclosure when attracted by the light source. The opening is located generally adjacent the light source and mosquito larvae attracted by light from the source will swim into the enclosure and then upwardly seeking air and will shortly thereafter expire due to the lack of air within the enclosure.

Abstract: A process to determine the optimal initial settings for a series of timers in a timed-contribution batch process, based on the feed material flow rate and the composition of the material. The optimum initial timer arrangement is that which results in the maximum possible product output in the shortest possible batch time; this condition is realized when all of the minimum product requirements, as determined by the minimum timer settings, are satisfied at approximately the same time. The process first monitors the accumulation rates of the various constituents of the feed material for a discrete period of time, during which time a sensing device records the individual accumulation rates. Values representing the accumulation rates are normalized to the value of the greatest accumulation rate. A multiplier is applied to the resulting ratios to determine the optimal initial minimum timer settings. The maximum timer settings may be arithmetically or algebraically derived from the minimum timer settings.

Abstract: A water valve mounting assembly for use in attaching a water valve such as a shower valve to a wall of a bathroom or other type of room having washing facilities includes a valve body positioned on the exterior side of the wall in alignment with an opening in the wall. There is a mounting plate positioned on an exterior side of the wall and aligned with the valve body and wall opening, with the mounting plate being attached to the valve body and having a generally central recessed area extending toward and into the wall opening. The mounting plate has a plurality of spaced barbs adjacent its periphery, which barbs extend toward and are embedded in the exterior surface of the wall about the wall opening, with the embedded barbs preventing turning movement of the mounting plate relative to the wall and the valve body.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an injection molded object having an outer shell with a front face and a light transmitting assembly molded into the outer shell which assembly is visible from the front face. The method includes the following steps. Supporting a light transmitting assembly on a mold projecting tool which is closable with a mold cavity tool having an interior wall which defines the front wall of the outer shell. Forming narrow passages through the light transmitting assembly to connect its front and rear faces. Closing the mold to position the front face of the light transmitting assembly adjacent the interior wall of the mold cavity tool while leaving a narrow peripheral recess therearound in communication with the narrow passages.

Abstract: A method for detecting an incipient tumor in living tissue such as that of a human breast in accordance with differences in relative dielectric characteristics. A generator produces a non-ionizing electromagnetic input wave of preselected frequency, usually exceeding three gigahertz, and that input wave is used to illuminate the living tissue, being effectively focused into a small, discrete volume within the tissue to develop a non-ionizing electromagnetic wave at that position. The illumination location is moved over a portion of the living tissue in a predetermined scanning pattern. Scattered signal returns collected from the living tissue are collected to develop a scatter return signal. The scatter return signal is employed to detect any anomaly, caused by differences in relative dielectric characteristics, that maybe indicative of the presence of a tumor in the scanned living tissue.