Abstract: A brush drive unit is coupled to rotating means such as an electric motor. The brush drive unit maintains first and second belt brushes in an oval configuration and in fore and aft alignment. The brush drive unit causes the motor drive shaft to rotate the first and second belt brushes in opposing directions. The brush drive unit also includes a transmission assembly which is coupled between the motor drive shaft and the first and second belt brushes to alternately rotate the first belt brush in a first direction while maintaining the second belt brush in a substantially fixed position and for rotating the second belt brush in a second direction while maintaining the first belt brush in a substantially fixed position.

Abstract: A heat exchange element is inserted directly into a water heater storage tank of a new or existing water heating system. The heat exchange element is provided with standard pipe thread connections and adapted to be installed in standard threaded openings in conventional tanks. The heat exchange element is an elongate outer tube inserted vertically through the top of the tank having the bottom end of the tube closed, and a concentric inner tube open at the bottom end. The inner tube is connected to the output of a refrigeration or air conditioning system compressor to receive the superheated refrigerant gas. The outer tube is connected to the condenser of the system. The heat from the refrigerant is transferred to the water in the storage tank thereby utilizing energy otherwise wasted. A tempering valve is used with the water storage tank to limit hot water output to a desired temperature.

Abstract: A magnetic hammer having a handle and a hammer body coupled to the handle includes a cylindrical magnetic insert having first and second ends with the magnetic poles of the insert being aligned with the central axis of the insert. A cylindrical retainer having first and second ends includes a cylindrical chamber which is sized to receive and retain the magnetic insert. The axis of the magnetic insert is aligned with the axis of the cylindrical retainer and the first end of the magnetic insert and the first end of the cylindrical retainer form the hammering face of the hammer. The second end of the cylindrical retainer is coupled to the hammer body.

Abstract: A screw press for extracting liquids from materials such as fruits, vegetables, or the like having a cylindrical barrel and a rotatable shaft and helical feed and compression screw concentric with the barrel and having the shaft extending through the barrel. A portion of the barrel rearward from the feed and compression screw forms a cylindrical pressing chamber having screen walls for passing extracted liquids therethrough. The outlet end of the cylindrical pressing chamber is closed by a circular door slidably mounted on the drive shaft. Hydraulic actuators apply adjustable pressure to the outside surface of the door closing the chamber when in a non-operating condition. When material is being pressed in the pressing chamber, the internal pressure will overcome the external pressure causing the door to open for ejection of the dried material. The inner surface of the door includes projecting cutter bars.

Abstract: A moving exposure system is provided having a semiconductor light source, which may be incorporated in a module with modulating electronics, and disposed on a moveable platform for exposing a special surface to light rays. The moving exposure system can be optically coupled to a printer's photoconductive element by means of a flat field correction device such as a lens or a fiber optic bundle, in the case of rotating motion of the light source, which maximizes the area exposed while minimizing the bulk of the exposure apparatus.

Abstract: A device for driving a tool with a reciprocating motion utilizing a rotary electric or pneumatic hand drill as a power source. The device includes a main shaft adapted to be held in a three-jaw chuck of a hand drill and having a concentric sleeve-like rear eccentric attached thereto. The shaft is arranged to rotate in a bearing in a handle frame. A forward sleeve-like eccentric is disposed on the forward end of the main shaft and adapted to slide forward and backward on the main shaft, and on a guide rod parallel to the main shaft, having a compression spring and attached to the handle frame. The front end of the forward eccentric is internally threaded to accept a tool-holding chuck. In operation, the main shaft is attached to a power hand drill which rotates the shaft. The rear eccentric rotates against the forward eccentric causing it to reciprocate and drive a tool held in a front chuck.

Abstract: A display and book combination allows for a calendar combination which swings to give access to a phone or reference book. The display is foldable into a flat position for shipping and is easily set up by folding a support panel on a base panel from a flat to an upright position where it supports the book pages and a calendar display panel.

Abstract: A graduated leverage piano action is incorporated into a piano having graduated mass hammers for striking graduated mass strings. The mass of the hammers and strings is highest for the lowest bass strings and lowest for the highest treble strings. In the piano a plurality of keys are supported by and pivoted about a balance rail which divides each key into first and second lever arms. The length of the second lever arm is defined by the location of a capstan screw which is coupled to each key. The length of the second lever arm decreases as the mass of the hammers increases. A complex mechanical linkage is coupled to each hammer and is positioned above each capstan screw for displacing each hammer when contacted by an opposing capstan screw contacts the third lever arm. The third lever arm is displaceable by the corresponding capstan screw.

Abstract: An applicator for a member having a surface, such as a tampon, includes a flexible applicator along the surface with the applicator having a convolution so as to double the applicator upon itself to form parallel walls with the convolution therebetween. The surface of the member may be exposed by relative movement of one of the walls of the applicator with respect to the member. In one embodiment, the applicator sleeve is provided with a slit extending to one end permitting the sleeve to be rolled along a direction substantially parallel with the central axis of the member, and may include an opposing second slit at the other end facilitating a pushing movement of the member through the sleeve.

Abstract: A method of making a display mount for holding calendars, photographs, and the like, is provided with a rectangular backing panel, an intermediate spacing panel mounted adjacent thereto, and a partial face panel mount in the front of the intermediate panel. The panels have been case bound with a facing material and die cut to form one or more mounting wells therein. The pockets for the mounting well use only a partial face panel allowing for easy removal of the die cut portions, and the reduction of the weight of the display mount. The method includes cutting a single piece of planar material and scoring parallel lines for folding into three panels.

Abstract: A storage bin for plural articles, such as citrus fruit, comprises a housing having an opening at the upper extremity thereof for gravity feeding the articles into the housing. The bin includes a downwardly sloped baffle in the housing for breaking the fall of the article to prevent damage to the articles, the baffle formed of plural, parallel steps, each step being spaced from adjacent steps a distance which permits the articles to pass there between in order to fill the void underneath the baffle.

Abstract: A mat adapted to be placed on the floor around the base of a commode or urinal. The mat is shaped to match the contours of the facility. A mat cover is provided formed from plastic or rubber like material having a solid base and a hingedly attached cover formed as grille work. A replaceable pad is contained in the mat cover and has an impervious plastic film base with layers of absorbent material overlaying the base, and a top previous film of non-woven material. The top film is sealed around its edges to the edges of the base film. When installed, urine falling on the grille work of the mat passes therethrough, through the permeable top film and is absorbed by the layers of absorbent material. The absorbent material may be impregnated with disinfectant and deodorizing chemicals. At suitable intervals, the mat cover is opened, the used pad removed and disposed of, the mat cover rinsed off, and a fresh pad installed.

Abstract: The environmental control system of the present invention is used in a multiple room structure which includes independently actuatable heating and cooling devices in each room. This system operates by monitoring the ambient air temperature in each room and by controlling the operation of each heating and cooling device to achieve a desired ambient air temperature in each room. The structure of the present invention includes a room status indicator which indicates the occupied or vacant status of each room. A centrally located control panel permits an operator to assign heating mode and cooling mode temperature limits to each room. A temperature sensing and control unit is positioned in each room and is coupled to the heating and cooling device in each room. The temperature sensing and control unit measures the ambient room air temperature, determines the operating mode of the heating and cooling device and controls the operating mode of the heating and cooling device in response to a control signal.

Abstract: An electronically controlled, hydraulically actuated precision governor controls the operating RPM of an internal combustion engine by repositioning the engine throttle in response to changes in engine RPM. The piston of a hydraulic actuator is coupled to the throttle. The flow of hydraulic fluid to the actuator is controlled by a specially designed hydraulic valve which includes a piston the displacement of which is regulated by controlling the pressure in a pressurized control chamber. The fluid pressure in the pressurized control chamber is regulated by a pair of electronically controlled fuel injector nozzles. The electronic circuitry which controls the two electronic fuel injector nozzles receives electronic inputs corresponding to the operating RPM of the engine, the desired engine operating RPM and engine throttle position.

Abstract: The modules of a modular bowling lane system are fabricated at a manufacturing facility. Each lane module includes a rectangular deck formed from a plurality of hardwood strips adhesively bonded side by side in a single layer. A plurality of box channel supports are coupled at intervals to the lower surface of each lane module and extend laterally across the module. One end of a jack screw is coupled to each end of each box channel support while the other end of each jack screw is coupled to the existing bowling alley leveling strips. The jack screws permit the lane modules to be leveled and vertically adjusted. Various structural components are provided to couple the modules to adjacent modules and to abutting sections of existing lane structure to thereby secure the modules and prevent relative vertical displacements. Approach fill modules are provided to fill in the gaps between the approach areas of adjacent lanes.

Abstract: A rapidly adjustable ratchet pliers having a first and second jaw member integral with a first and second handle member that pivotally cooperate to grasp a workpiece between the jaw members. The pliers also include a ratchet dog pivotally disposed in a slot of the first jaw member. The slot includes a surface defining tooth cavities and a smooth surface opposite thereof. The ratchet dog includes a biasing means that slidably and continuously contacts the smooth surface and a tooth normally biased into engagement with the tooth cavity surface.An abutment projects from a surface of the second jaw member into the slot whereby outward pivotal movement of the second handle member causes the abutment to contact a shelf of the ratchet dog and thereby release the dog from its biased engagement with the tooth cavity surface of the slot. Thereafter, the first jaw member may be adjusted relative to the second jaw member.