Abstract: A portable turntable apparatus for use in microwave ovens which is used as a supporting base for a container of food which is cooked within the oven and adapted to gradually rotate the same, the apparatus including a motor including metallic materials which motor is mounted in and enclosed by a metal housing and an outer enclosure comprising a cover and base of non-metallic material to prohibit electrical arcing between the motor and the oven walls. The housing is provided with smooth outer surfaces and a minimal sized aperture opening to allow a driving connection between the motor and the enclosure cover.

Abstract: Multi-legged apparatus for frictionally engaging the interior of a chimney flue liner and inserting same in a chimney via a stanchion or multi-sectioned rods. Each L-shaped leg is containably and rotatably mounted to a center threaded rod. The legs are expandable via a moving carrier containing cantilever arms connected to each of said L-shaped arms, such that by moving said carrier up or down along said center rod, said arms radially expand or contract from said center shaft.

Abstract: Improved multi-cylinder pumps wherein a plurality of co-planar positioned connecting rods are radially disposed about a crankshaft and wherein a plurality of generally cylindrical spool-like wrist pins are rotatively coupled to the connecting rods. The improvement comprises an assembly wherein the wrist pins have opposed end regions bordering a smaller diameter central region that contains one or more ring receiving grooves and which wrist pins are mountable in overlapping relation to retainer ring containing grooves formed in the connecting rods. Upon mounting retainer rings in the connecting rod grooves and inserting and rotatively locking the wrist pins in the connecting rods, the connecting rods, wrist pins and retainer rings are integrally locked together in radially extending relation.

Abstract: An epicyclic planetary gear system having a plurality of partially meshed straight-cut primary and secondary planetary gears slidably mounted in a slidable differential housing and partially meshed with respective straight-cut input and output gears. Forward drive is achieved in each of a plurality of forward drive ranges by the respective coupling of the primary planet gears with the secondary planet gears and output gear and the secondary planet gears with the input gear. Reverse drive is similarly achieved for each of the forward ranges via the coupling of the input gear only with the secondary planet gears and the output gear only with the primary planet gears, while restraining rotation of the differential housing.

Abstract: A utensil for preparing food in a microwave oven. The utensil is provided with a ferritic-silicone coating upon a metal platter, which ferritic coating is covered by a silicone coating to prevent entry of air to the ferrite which would otherwise result in oxidation and degradation of the microwave heating properties of the ferrite. The metal platter rests upon and within a housing made of a material which is highly transmissive of microwaves and having a very low absorbence of microwave energy so that it remains cool. The housing serves to insulate the platter electrically and thermally from its surroundings.

Abstract: The combination of a suspension arm, a stub axle having an axis and projecting from the arm in a first direction, means pivotally mounting the arm for movement about a second axis parallel to the axis of the axle, and motor means for causing the movement of the arm between, and maintaining it in, first and second extreme positions.

Abstract: A coupling arrangement for drivably interconnecting the PTO shaft of a tractor with a driven shaft for an implement to be operatively towed and powered by the tractor. The implement includes an input power shaft, and the tractor portion of the apparatus includes linkage means for moving the power input shaft with respect to the PTO shaft to render the axes coincident, with means being provided to create a power transmitting coupling or connection between the PTO shaft and the power input shaft.

Abstract: A seal containing cast adaptor member having inlet and outlet ports for hose coupling to an externally mounted disposable cartridge-type oil filter. The housing thus permits the engine's conversion from a conventional often inaccessibly placed spin-off filter or smaller replaceable cartridge filter to a larger capacity, externally mounted filter.

Abstract: An induction heating process and apparatus for flameless heating of metallic dental laboratory tools, medical instruments, and the like. The induction heating coil is energized by placement of instruments within the annular zone formed by the windings of the coil, and differential light sensors are utilized to compensate for variations in ambient light levels.

Abstract: A machine automatically applies a tin tie strip across the top of bags in a predetermined series of steps wherein the bag top is closed downwardly twice in a double fold after the tin tie strip is affixed to one of the bag side walls. Glue applied to the exposed, outside surface of the first fold holds the bag top closed in the double fold condition. Bendable lengths of the tin tie strip projecting from the leading and trailing edges of the bag side wall are sequentially bent around the bag top through full 180.degree. turns into snug engagement with the other bag side wall as bags are moved through the machine by conveyor means.

Abstract: In a steering ski, for a snowmobile, of the type having an elongated body continuous with an upturned forward tip, the improvement which comprises flares extending along the body and upturned at angles in the range between 30.degree. and 60.degree., the flares continuing around the forward tip in a downwardly concave arcuate lip configuration.

Abstract: A monolithic variable jet carburetor comprising an air intake, an associated variable jet and an underlying fuel reservoir, all contained within a pressurized and heated chamber and whereby the fuel is injected into the reservoir under pressure and is atomized via an overlying wire mesh screen and vaporized as it traverses the remainder of the heated delivery path to the air intake. The heated chamber is adapted to heat the fuel at all points intermediate the float chamber and air intake venturi via hot engine gasses or heated engine coolant and wherein the float chamber is further pressurized via an air pump. Pressure/temperature sensors control the relative ratios thereof during normal engine cycling under various load conditions.

Abstract: A keyboard having a side-lighted transparent support plane including a plurality of light-pipes vertically projecting therefrom through an overlying foam over-travel pad. A pair of patterned membrane switch layers, separated by a low density foam spacer, overly the over-travel pad and are positioned relative to a plurality of key-caps slidably mounted to the light-pipes. The sensation of key travel is achieved via the over-travel pad and/or a foam spring mounted beneath the key-caps with switch contact being made intermediate full key depression. An audible click is achieved via overlapping slidably abrasive projections.

Abstract: A hitch pin for securing a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle comprising an elongated pin member having first and second ends and a radially extending collar formed therebetween and a bail member attached to the pin proximate one end thereof. A toroidal case containing a magnet and having a magnetically permeable material as a base is disposed about the pin between the collar and the bail. A compression-type helical spring surrounds the pin intermediate the case and the bail for normally urging the magnet case against the collar but allowing the case to be displaced against the force of the spring.

Abstract: A temperature control system for a liquid chromatographic column includes a thin film heater/sensor comprising a foil-like patterned heating element adhesively mounted between a pair of flexible electrically insulative layers. A patterned foil-like temperature sensing element is also coextensively adhesively mounted between the insulative layers in temperature sensing relationship to the heating element. The thin film heater/sensor is wrapped around the chromatographic column and is uniformly compressively secured in contact therewith by a spirally tubularly wound length of flexible wrapping. A remote temperature sensing element controls the heat output of the heating element a linear proportional fashion, thereby maintaining a predetermined temperature gradient over the length of the column. A pre and post-column heaters may be similarly wrapped with a thin film heater/sensors so as to appropriately control the temperature of the liquid entering or leaving the column.

Abstract: An improved double-acting fluid cylinder with primary and secondary chambers of tandem construction, wherein the primary chamber is utilized to provide ram motion in a first direction and wherein the tandemly arranged secondary chamber is provided with a resiliently biased secondary piston to buffer and control the rate of motion induced in the ram, and also to drive the ram in a direction opposite the first direction so as to control the ultimate amplitude or extent of motion induced in the ram in response to forces applied within the primary chamber.

Abstract: A boat mooring arrangement which permits the boat to rise and drop vertically with tides or wave action, but which constrains the boat from lateral movement relative to a fixed dock or pier. A pair of cylindrical posts are affixed to the dock or pier at spaced-apart locations and extend vertically downward therefrom for a predetermined distance below the surface of the water. Associated with each of these posts is a carriage assembly comprising a U-shaped collar having rollers journaled for rotation across the spaced-apart legs of the U-shaped collar. The carriage assemblies cooperate with the exterior surface of the posts and ride up and down with respect to the posts when the carriage assemblies are fastened to the boat to be moored by suitable tie lines and changes in water level are encountered.

Abstract: A cartridge assembly for a printing machine of the type used to imprint alpha/numeric or other graphic information onto a continuous strip of tape using a carbon coated or otherwise colored ribbon. The cartridge assembly comprises two separate housings, one containing the spool or plastic tape and the other for containing the spool of carbon/ink coated ribbon and a means are provided for releasably coupling the two housings together such that as the tape and ribbon are drawn from their respective spools, they enter the print station of the machine in a face-to-face juxtaposed orientation.

Abstract: An improved fertilizer distribution system including a bottom fed distributor manifold for insuring the agitation of the liquid fertilizers and a liquid manometer indicating relative internal pressure. Detachable inlet and outlet assemblies permit the changing of orifices mounted therein so as to accommodate system requirements. The manifold chamber and the individual outlet assemblies are open to the atmosphere to facilitate drain down and flow through the outlet assemblies.

Abstract: In a refrigeration system including a refrigerating coil, for circulating refrigerant to cool the space ambient thereto, and a defrost pan beneath the coil having a liquid drain outlet so that ice formed thereon by water condensing from the space drops therefrom to the pan, the improvement which comprises a heater pad mounted in the defrost pan to receive ice dropping from the coil, the heater pad comprising a generally flat array of laterally spaced elongated members of good heat conductivity having flat lower surfaces in contact with the defrost pan and flat upper surfaces jointly defining a longitudinally slotted substantially continuous ice receiving plane, the surfaces being in heat conductive relation with central fluid conducting bores, and the pad further comprising conduits for conducting heated fluid to and from the bores in a desired flow pattern to supply heat for conduction to the surfaces.