Abstract: An improved power tool torque and weight balancing apparatus for use in in-line assembly processes that require power tools, such as in the assembly of automotive engines. The power tool and weight balancing apparatus consists of a pivoting mounting frame, either suspended from a rail or fixedly mounted on a four-roller trolley, attached to a balancer frame that holds an air or spring powered balancer mechanism. The balancer mechanism has a cable with a swivel connector attachment which travels inside a set of telescoping tube members and attaches to a mechanism for holding a power tool. The mechanism for holding a power tool may hold a horizontally or vertically mounted power tool and is pivotable 360 degrees for operator convenience.

Abstract: There is disclosed a combustion-state detecting circuit of a combustion apparatus installed in a combustion chamber, including: a flame detector that has a heat-emitting device for emitting heat on application of an alternating current signal, and produces a potential difference between the current applied to the heat-emitting device and flame-electric current produced by ignition occurring within the combustion chamber; a rectifier that changes the alternating current signal provided by the flame detector into a direct current signal; an inversion amplifier that inverts the direct current signal produced by the rectifier with respect to a reference signal and increases the magnitude of the inverted signal; and a flame discriminator that compares the output signal of the inversion amplifier with a flame discriminating reference signal to determine if ignition occurs.

Abstract: There is disclosed a combustion control circuit of a combustion apparatus with a driving signal generator, an exhaust fan controller and a gas valve controller, including: a combustion state detector for detecting the state of combustion occurring within a combustion chamber according to an output signal of a flame sensor installed in the combustion chamber, and for producing a signal corresponding to the state of combustion; a reference signal generator for producing a reference signal in response to each output signal of a temperature sensor and a flow sensor; a comparator for comparing the output signal of the combustion state detector with the output signal of the reference signal generator, and for outputting a signal corresponding to a difference therebetween; and an adder for adding the output signal of the comparator to the output signal of the driving signal-generator, and for respectively applying an output to each one of the exhaust fan controller and the gas valve controller.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a clamping means for fixing the apparatus to a vertical surface such as a door or a wall, an elastic resistance band and a resistance harness. In a preferred embodiment, the clamping means includes a lag screw having a hook portion adjacent one end. One end of the resistance band is attached to the hook portion of the lag screw and the other end is attached to the resistance harness. In another preferred embodiment, the exercise apparatus further includes an adjustment means for adjusting the vertical location of the resistance harness relative to the clamping means, and the clamping means includes a U-shaped Bracket. The adjustment means includes a belt having one end attached to the U-shaped bracket, and the free end threaded first through an adjustment buckle and then through a hook attached to one end of the resistance band. The other end of the resistance band is attached to the resistance harness.

Abstract: A safety binding for snowboards has a base plate (1) on which the snowboarder's boot is fastened. This base plate (1) is fixed in its turning position by a spring plunger (8) and a stop pin (7), but can be turned out of this position when the torque acting on it exceeds a value preset by the initial tension of the spring (10) of the spring plunger (8). The base plate (1) is rigidly connected with the snowboard by means of a turning plate (2) and is not detached from the snowboard even in the case of a "turning release".

Abstract: A system for improving the handling of a resin coated substrate for molding and smoothing into an orthopedic cast includes a core which is coated with a substance which is substantially inert to the resinous prepolymer in a sealed storage pouch. Water, used to activate the resinous prepolymer, carries the coating to the surface of the substrate, thereby improving handling during the molding process. During normal operation, the cast applier removes the resin coated or impregnated substrate from the storage container and dips it in a water bath to initiate the polymerization process. After removal from the water bath, the applier wraps the substrate around a patient's limb and molds and smooths the substrate to form an orthopedic cast. Once the core about which the resin coated substrate is wrapped is exposed to water, the lubricant is transferred by the water to the outside portion of the cast tape, reducing the tackiness of the cast tape, thereby facilitating its overall handling.

Abstract: In the case of coding a plurality of signals which are not independent of e another, a selection of the suitable type of coding is made as a function of a similarity measure.According to one aspect of the invention, the similarity measure is determined by firstly coding one of the signals according to the intensity-stereo method and then decoding it in order to create a signal affected by coding error, whereupon the latter signal and the associated non-coded signal are transformed into the frequency domain. In the frequency domain, a selection or evaluation of the actually audible spectral components, as well as of the signal affected by coding error and of the associated signal not affected by coding error, is undertaken using a listening threshold which is determined by a psycho-acoustic calculation. Intensity-stereo coding is undertaken in the case of a high similarity measure, whereas otherwise a separate coding of the channels is performed.

Abstract: A wheel and control stick toy includes a wheel defining a transverse axis and a control stick for manipulating the wheel on a horizontal surface. The wheel includes a centrally disposed, transverse axle which is coaxial with the transverse axis of the wheel. The wheel further includes a peripherally disposed, transversely extending flange and a side wall extending between and connecting the axle and the flange. The exterior surface of the wheel preferably has a convex curvature so that the wheel can be tilted up to an angle of at least about 45 degrees from vertical. The axle of the wheel is preferably hollow and defines an opening extending through the wheel. The control stick includes an elongate rod having opposed ends. A handle portion is provided adjacent one of the opposed ends, and a stem portion is fixed to the other opposed end of the rod. The stem portion comprises a pair of opposed, inwardly extending fingers which define an opening therebetween for receiving the wheel therein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing direct reduced iron from dry compacts composed of iron oxide and carbonaceous material by feeding compacts no more than two layers deep onto a hearth and removing all the volatiles and metallizing the compacts by exposing said compacts to a radiant heat source at a temperature of from about 2400.degree. to about 2600.degree. F (1316.degree.-1427.degree. C.) for a total time period of about four to ten minutes and partially cooling the compacts while discharging them from the hearth.

Abstract: An articulation for an automobile seat includes a mobile flange having an inner toothing, a fixed flange having an inner toothing for cooperating directly with the mobile flange and an eccentric means positioned between the mobile flange and the fixed flange for biasing aa articulating element. The eccentric means including a driving axis provided with a snug and a pair of discs rotatable about the axis relative to one another. Each disc having a central recess and an arc-shaped window. The central recess having a hollow housing extending outwardly for receiving the snug of the axis. A resilient member is positioned within the arc-shaped windows of the discs and bears against bearing surfaces provided at the ends of the windows. When the two discs are spaced apart from one another by the eccentric means, the articulation ensures the clearance take-up and the irreversibility of the articulation.

Abstract: A positioning and splicing device for paper rolls having at least one carriage arranged to be movable along guides and having an upright on one side provided with slide members for guiding a second carriage that is axially movable along the upright. The second carriage is provided with a spindle for engaging a roll. The roll is raised by a movement of the spindle protruding from the roll and the carriage is moved into engagement in a rotary coupling element that is fixedly mounted, so that the spindle is supported at both ends when the sheet is un-wound from the roll.